AKAME ASSASINATION (71)
BOOM!
Buildings shattered under the immense pressure of Junichi's Fragment Energy. The two fighters had no set battleground—they simply moved, their conflict carving a path through whatever lay in their way. Evacuated residential blocks crumbled. Shopping districts folded like paper. Stores that had served families for generations became clouds of dust and memory.
The initial 250-meter evacuation radius was breached within seconds.
But Rika had anticipated this. Had seen beyond the obvious. The radius expanded—1 kilometer. Then 2. Emergency protocols activated across the city, ground teams working in frantic synchronization to push civilians further, faster, harder. For now, the chaos was contained.
For now.
But the decisive battle for the future had begun.
***
HOURS PRIOR TO THAT CARNAGE
For those of you unable to comprehend the scale of the city in question—Nairobi itself is an island of approximately 704 square kilometers. Though the more one considers it, the more one realizes that's not actually that large. In fact, the county they'd come from—Kisumu—combined with its surrounding territories, was significantly bigger.
Loliwe, you see, is a chain of three island clusters, each following the next in sequence:
Kisumu → Eldoret & Nakuru → Nairobi → Marsabit → Mombasa
A necklace of civilization strung across the water.
"Loliwe is a chain of islands," Koji explained during that quiet moment of planning, days ago now. It felt like another lifetime. "Meaning each city is technically a port city. Kisumu connects us to the west. Mombasa to the east. Nairobi sits at the center." He drew imaginary lines in the air. "Nakuru is only notable for housing the Aquatic Blue's general station."
Gil had frowned, the geography twisting in his mind. "Then why couldn't we just take a port in Kisumu?"
"Are you stupid?" Catherine's voice cut in before Koji could respond.
"What?!"
She planted her hands on her hips with theatrical exasperation. "We're headed to the Land of the East Sun. That's west, genius." She pointed in the appropriate direction. "So why would we take a port that goes... I don't know, east?"
"That's half right." Koji clapped his hands together, the sound drawing their attention. "But also, Kisumu doesn't handle human transportation. Fish, yes. Cargo, certainly. People?" He shook his head. "You'd be living in a shipping container for months."
"Which wouldn't really be a problem for me," Akame noted quietly.
(Akame can survive a maximum of three months without food or water. A fact. Not a boast.)
"Yeah, me either."
(Koji can last two months without food, though fresh water remains essential. Another fact.)
"I think I could handle it."
(Catherine is a spirit. The question of whether she needs to eat at all is... complicated.)
"I would've pushed myself if I had to."
(Gil would have died within three days. This, too, is simply a fact.)
Akame's gaze swept over them, cataloging, calculating. "Anyway. We should focus on what comes next. We're in Nairobi. We need tickets for a cruise ship heading west."
"That would be ideal," Koji agreed. "But with current security levels? Impossible. We'd be better off finding a private boat and winging it until we make landfall."
"How easy is that?"
Nairobi was the only port city in the southern hemisphere that specialized in human transport. Its shipping industry was legendary—a sprawling network of passenger vessels, luxury cruises, and commercial ferries that moved millions across the ocean each year.
"Not easy at all," Koji admitted. "Especially with the stops we'd need to make. Refueling. Resupply. If we're being actively pursued..." He trailed off, the implication clear.
"Then why can't we just distract everyone first?" Catherine's voice was bright, innocent of the weight of her suggestion. "You know. Cause a big scene. Then take a boat while they're not looking?"
Akame turned to look at her.
Really looked at her.
"You might be onto something," he said.
Catherine's face split into a triumphant grin. She spun to Gil, stuck out her tongue, and announced: "I'm smarter than you."
"Oh, shut up." Gil's pout was immediate and profound. "I could've thought of something too."
"If we can draw their attention long enough to give ourselves a head start," Koji mused, the plan taking shape behind his eyes, "we might lose them in one of the coastal resort coves before continuing." A rare smile touched his lips. "It might be our only viable option."
Akame nodded once. Decisive. Final.
"Then you take Catherine. Find the boat. Me and Gil will head in the opposite direction—draw everyone to us." His green eyes gleamed. "Something loud. Something that drowns out your departure."
Gil's answering grin was sharp with anticipation. "An excuse to see if I've gotten any stronger."
Koji's expression flickered—concern, perhaps, or the weight of responsibility. "Be careful, Senpai. If all the Swords are converging... you might meet our newest recruit. He shows tremendous promise." A pause. "Though I doubt he'll be able to beat you."
"You two take care as well." Akame's gaze shifted to Catherine. "There will be B-tier assassins scattered throughout the city. Stay aware."
Koji nodded.
Catherine smiled—that bright, guileless thing that made the world feel less heavy.
And Gil?
Gil burned with anticipation.
"Alright." Akame straightened. "Move out. Koji gives the signal when he's secured transport."
***
MEGA MALL — NAIROBI CENTRE
(Located uncomfortably close to the State House. Where the Prime Minister lives. Or rather... lived. Rest in pieces.)
"Did you really need to buy all those clothes?"
Koji's voice carried the particular exhaustion of a man who had spent the last two hours watching a teenage ghost try on everything in sight. They'd finally exited the fifth shop—fifth—and Catherine's arms were laden with bags containing everything from sundresses to trinkets to a truly alarming number of plush zebras.
"They were begging me to buy them, Mr. Koji." Catherine skipped ahead, utterly unburdened by the weight of her haul. "But I think I'm done." A pause. "...Maybe."
Koji sighed. It was a sound he'd made more in the past few hours than in the previous month.
"Well. It's not like I use my money for anything else." He adjusted the bags in his own hands—she'd somehow convinced him to carry half. "But I would like to spend some of it on renting a boat. If that's acceptable. Then we can shop more later."
"Mhhh..." Catherine's face scrunched in deep contemplation, as if weighing the fate of nations. "I guess that's fine." She sighed dramatically. "Although I wish I could go to all the other stores."
She sulked for exactly one second.
Then—WHAP—she kicked him square in the butt, sending him stumbling forward.
"What was that for?!" Koji caught himself, spinning with affronted dignity.
"Mr. Koji!" Catherine chirped, already skipping away. "You need to be more assertive!"
She dissolved into giggles and bolted.
Koji watched her go, the bags rustling in his grip. Another sigh escaped him—deeper this time, but not entirely without fondness.
'Kids,' he thought, 'are difficult.'
He began walking after her, weaving through the afternoon crowd.
He did not notice, a reasonable distance away, the figure that had frozen mid-stride.
The figure blending into the crowd with the practiced ease of a shinobi.
The figure whose green-blue eyes had gone wide with recognition.
"Koji?" Maomao breathed, her voice swallowed by the mall's ambient noise.
TO BE CONTINUED.....