Katsu opens his notebook.
"Aegis, Ryosen. How sure are you two that—"
BANG!
Someone outside had pierced the barrier of the Haven of Six.
"I'm looking for a... Kentarō?"
They hear the person talking, muffled by the barrier. Who could it be?
Aegis picks his little sister, Ketsuki, up.
"This person must be dangerous. They broke through my barrier."
Shichiro stands up from his chair.
"Kentarō, who is this person?"
Kentarō yawns.
"Probably my fans."
Ryosen stands, walking past their bounty board.
"BOONE FORTUNATO. 30 MILLION."
Ryosen takes a peek outside, then looks back at the bounty board.
"Kentarō... Wasn't this the guy you bounty hunted? Did you just let him go?"
Kentarō's eyes widen.
"Bounty hunted...? You mean Boone? Boone Fortunato? He's the one that let me go. This dude is a slippery one."
Rokuro flares his staff.
"He broke through Aegis's barrier. I'll make sure he slips to his death."
"HEY! I CAN HEAR YOU GUYS!"
Everyone goes silent.
"...Especially you, Kentarō!"
Kentarō scratches his head.
"Wow. He remembers me."
Shichiro looks at him.
"That's what you're concerned about?"
"Well, it's nice to be remembered."
Ryosen walks toward the entrance.
"Let's hear what he wants."
Aegis raises his hand.
"Wait. I'll handle the barrier."
He extends his palm, and the damaged barrier begins to reconstruct itself. A faint shimmer surrounds the Haven once again.
Then—
TAP. TAP. TAP.
Someone knocks on the barrier.
"Uh... Hello? Anyone home?"
Rokuro's expression darkens.
"He's mocking us."
Katsu sighs.
"Just let him in."
Aegis looks at Katsu.
"Are you sure?"
"No. But if he wanted to attack us, I doubt he'd be knocking."
Aegis hesitates before opening a small passage through the barrier.
A man casually walks through.
He wears a relaxed smile, his hands tucked into his pockets. He looks around the Haven, taking in the furniture, the weapons, and the people staring directly at him.
His eyes land on Kentarō.
"There you are!"
Kentarō raises a hand.
"Sup."
Boone grins.
"Been a while, bounty hunter."
Kentarō grins back.
"Been a while, runaway."
Boone chuckles.
"Runaway? That's a little harsh. I'd prefer professional escape artist."
Rokuro points his staff at him.
"Enough. Explain why you're here."
Boone glances at Rokuro's staff, then at the others.
"Wow. You guys are a serious bunch."
He turns back to Kentarō.
"Anyway, I heard you're heading somewhere. Thought I'd come along."
Katsu raises an eyebrow.
"Come along? Where?"
Boone smiles.
"Wherever you're going."
A brief silence follows.
Kentarō looks at him.
"...You want to join us?"
"Yup!"
Rokuro immediately objects.
"Absolutely not."
Boone shrugs.
"Didn't say you had to like me."
Katsu closes his notebook.
"We haven't even decided on our next move. Why would you want to travel with us?"
Boone looks at him.
"Well, you see..."
He pauses, then looks back at Kentarō.
"I came here to thank someone."
Kentarō raises an eyebrow.
"Me?"
"Of course! You gave me quite the experience last time. I don't think I'll forget it."
Kentarō laughs.
"YOU were the one who got away!"
"Same difference."
Shichiro folds his arms.
"So, you're telling us you broke through our barrier just to thank him?"
"Pretty much!"
Rokuro's grip tightens around his staff.
"I don't trust him."
"Aw, come on. You wound me."
Boone walks closer to Kentarō.
"So, how's bounty hunting been?"
"Terrible. Couldn't even catch you."
"Well, you know what they say. Some people are just born lucky."
Kentarō rolls his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah. Keep talking."
Boone smiles.
"Actually, I have something for you."
Kentarō tilts his head.
"Something?"
"Yeah."
Boone's hand moves.
SHNK!
Kentarō's expression changes.
A sudden strike catches him from behind.
"KENTARŌ!"
Shichiro immediately rushes forward.
Boone pulls away and steps back, leaving Kentarō stumbling.
Katsu's eyes widen.
"YOU!"
Aegis places Ketsuki behind him.
Ryosen's expression turns cold.
Rokuro raises his staff, ice beginning to gather around it.
Boone looks at the group.
"What? You didn't think I came here to make friends, did you?"
Kentarō struggles to steady himself.
"...You little..."
Boone looks down at him.
"Sorry, bounty hunter. Nothing personal."
Kentarō falls to one knee.
Shichiro catches him.
"Kentarō! Stay with me!"
Boone takes a few steps away from the group.
"Now, then."
He raises one hand.
A strange, glowing machine appears before him.
A Gacha.
Its lights flicker, and a series of symbols begin spinning across its display.
Katsu stares at it.
"What is that?"
Boone looks at the machine with a grin.
"Well, since everyone's here..."
He cracks his knuckles.
"Let's make this interesting."
The machine displays two banners.
777 SOVEREIGN.
LETHAL ODDS.
Boone looks between them.
"Now, which one should I go for?"
Rokuro charges.
"YOU'RE NOT GETTING AWAY!"
Boone doesn't even look at him.
He presses the screen.
The Gacha begins to spin.
JACKPOT.
A bright flash fills the Haven.
And Boone Fortunato begins to laugh.
"Let's see what fate has in store for me."