[.-- .... -.-- / - .... . / .-.. --- -. --. / ..-. .- -.-. . -.-.-- ..--..]
LOOK OUT!!!
The centipede-looking anomaly is running through the streets, destroying cars and houses.
"Aiko-Kun, how are we gonna stop this thing!?" Fumiko shouted while on top of the anomaly.
Aiko grunted, trying to think of a plan.
"W-We can… try to… lead it towards Lake Biwa… not too far from here!" She declared.
Aoto grabs his sword and sticks it straight in where the anomaly's head is, steering it towards the lake.
"You're gonna die, you bastard! Just wait until we get across to the waters!" Aoto stated.
The anomaly lets out a loud, angry roar, twisting its body to try and get the trio off of it.
"Keep steering, Aoto-Kun! We're almost-"
Suddenly, as soon as the anomaly was about to jump into the lake, it stopped abruptly.
"What's going on… Why did it stop?" Aiko tilted her head, trying to see in front of the anomaly.
What she saw made her eyes widen.
"It's a large high point, near the torii gate," Aiko muttered.
Fumiko and Aoto's eyes focused on the high point, and they leaned in to get a closer look.
"This is probably how this anomaly was formed, but does this mean that there were many deaths here?" Aoto said while gritting his teeth.
"We gotta take it out. For some reason, the anomaly doesn't look hostile anymore," Aiko added in.
They hopped down from the anomaly, which is still standing perfectly still, and they went in front of the water.
"I can try and use my throwing knives to puncture it, but I don't know if it'll reach. I'm not getting my uniform wet…" Fumiko said while spawning multiple throwing knives.
"Here goes nothing!"
Fling…. KABOOM!!!
The high point cracks open, and the anomaly finally reacts, breaking apart the curses and turning the cracked pieces into dust.
"It's working! Keep throwing, Fumiko-Chan!" Aiko said with hope in her tone.
Fumiko continues chucking multiple throwing knives at the high point and exploding them.
Every explosion of holy energy shreds away some of the high point's structure, and after the last knife, the high point completely crumbles away.
Meanwhile, the anomaly is slowly making its way towards the water as it deteriorates.
"Thank god this stupid bastard is getting destroyed. That's one less spawner to worry about," Aoto grumbled.
Aiko slowly makes her way towards the anomaly, and she takes out a talisman.
"By the hands of the Elite Safety Committee, I hereby banish you from our world and strip you of evil permanently." She said softly.
The anomaly lets out a soft grumble as it finally falls over, completely disappearing as if it never even existed.
Fumiko lets out a whoop, throwing herself at Aiko.
"We did it, guys! We took out that anomaly! No thanks to Kazu-San… he should pay for running off like that!" She said with a pouting expression.
"Tch, yeah. I would beat the hell out of him for that! Let's report the anomaly takedown to the committee." Aoto sighed.
The trio makes their way back to the Elite Safety Committee, and the sun's already setting.
"We still haven't found Kazu-San… I really hope he's okay." Aiko said with worry in her voice.
Suddenly, they see him standing in front of the building, smoking a cigarette.
"What the hell!? Kazu-San!? Where were you? We were looking for you!!!" Fumiko shouted angrily while pointing at him.
Kazu looks up and towards the trio.
"I did the commission. That's what they called us to the main hall for. The E.S.C. officers are on the scene and investigating it right now. Where were you guys?"
Their eyes widened, not expecting that answer from him at all.
"We got attacked by an anomaly… We took care of it, thankfully, but the street it was on has collateral damage." Aiko said sheepishly.
Kazu nods, and as he was about to take another puff of his cigarette, Aoto suddenly waltzes up to him and slaps it out of his hand.
"You damn punk! We needed help, and you were nowhere to be found! You're a coward, a disgrace! I don't care about what kind of commission you were on; you still abandoned your team! What do you have to say for yourself!?"
Kazu doesn't say anything, he just looks at Aoto.
This makes Aoto even angrier as he grabs Kazu by the collar and shoves him to the door.
"ANSWER ME!!!" Aoto shouted with absolute rage.
Before things got out of hand, Aiko and Fumiko pulled Aoto off of Kazu.
"Behave, barbarian! Look at him, he looks like he's been through a lot! You know Kazu-San tends to have his cigarette when he's stressed, fighting a lot, or when he's dealing with people like you!" Fumiko frowned.
Aoto growls in anger, and he yanks away from the two, straightening out his uniform.
"Whatever! I don't need you to tell me shit, my hatred for this blindfolded asshole is none of your concern, so you both stay out of it!"
Aoto walks into the building, shoulder bumping Kazu on his way in.
"Aoto-Kun… Aoto-Kun!!! Come back!!!" Aiko runs after her brother, and Fumiko follows.
Kazu is left looking down at the ground, pondering Aoto's words.
"Damn, that was a whole bunch of drama. You guys need to get that sorted out, you humans have some real problems." Shaba snickers.