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As Sarasa said, the broadcasts are now changing to play the retraction video, and the crowd gradually begins to calm down.

As Hoshiguma walks, she wonders if she might see the reaction she hoped for from the crowd.

It need not be an awakening or an awareness of vigilance, nothing so heavy.

She just wants to see them shiver and remember what fear truly is, not just a little punctuation to spice up a happy life.

But all she hears is people excitedly repeating a single word...

'Kaidan.'

Here we are.

So little security? Looks like the station really has its hands full.

The one-horned Oni walks inside without hesitation, passing by one, two, and three station staff without being noticed.

Until the fourth...

The Ao-Oni?!

It's the Ao-Oni! Call the Kinsekikai!

I suggest you make way while I'm still asking politely.

No?

They have her surrounded. They outnumber her many to one. Yet, for some reason, there is a thought in all their minds that they cannot shake...

She outmatches them—one against many.

This is for your own good. Maybe some of you have heard about what the 'Ao-Oni of Kinsekikai' did twenty years ago, right here in Mitsukue.

Even if we're no longer clan-family, even if your oyabun... killed Uncle Tessai, I don't want to fight you, if I don't have to.

Make way. I want to see Kinbee. Don't make me do this.

Y-You won't get away!

The Kinsekikai never issued a notice of 'expulsion' or 'no-contact' to you! You're still part of the Kinsekikai, and to attack us is to attack your own family!

Do you really believe that?

No one answers.

Hoshiguma continues walking, almost nonchalantly.

There is no sound of footsteps behind her, only a slight whoosh of something flying through the air.

She does not even cast a glance at it. Be it knife or flash drive, shuriken or just a handful of beans, none of that matters anymore.

When you're throwing a knife, you really should throw it like you mean it. You might as well have been throwing roasted soybeans.

<i>Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi,</i> that's the old saying? Oni out, fortune in?

Surrender, and we can keep it at that. There's no bad blood between us.

No bad blood? Maybe you're right. But back in my day, we had a different slogan when we threw beans in Kajimachi.

We said, 'Fortune out...

'Oni in.'

She draws her sword.

The yakuza who have heard of the Ao-Oni instinctively take a step backwards. Only one of the younger members steps forward, seemingly oblivious to what he is risking for a chance at glory.

Alright then.

No one saw what the one-horned Oni did. All they saw was a blue flash, and the young yakuza fell to the ground, a bloody gash on his thigh.

Th-There's only one of her! Get her!

We're the Kinsekikai! We're the strongest! Get her! We must not disappoint the Kinsekikai or Chairman Mifune!

That's more like it.

They rush toward the striding Oni like the tide.

The Oni takes step after step forward, until the distance between her and the figure ahead closes to a hair's breadth—

Once again, the blue light, but this time, everyone sees the true nature of the Oni, no longer attempting to suppress her fury.

Hoshiguma's blade moves through the air.

Before long, there is no longer anyone standing in her way. The injuries are not fatal, but no one has the strength, or the stomach, to oppose her anymore. Only the one-horned Oni still stands tall.

Sad.