“What’s that supposed to mean?! Tell me now, Kei!” I yelled back at Kei as I dashed through the hallway.
When I left that storage room, Fantasista had “ta-ta”ed me with a little wave. Ugh, I was so angry, I could barely see straight.
He challenges us to a battle, gets a one-up on us, but we manage to catch him. The battle was just about to start!
Even if these were Kei’s orders, I’m so mad that we had to let him go.
My anger evaporated the moment I heard what Kei had to say next, though.
“There’s another crime unfolding on the deck right now.”
Huh? Another crime?!
“I thoroughly researched the Flower Song when we received Fantasista’s declaration of his next mark, and that’s when I figured out there would be a concurrent crime.”
“And you decided not to tell me about it?!”
“Calm down, Asuka. We can’t solve both crimes. Not while we’re up against Fantasista. I wanted to keep our focus on him. That’s why I leaked the second crime to the police, so we wouldn’t have to worry about it. I figured we could have the police wait back at the port, ready to arrest everyone all at once. I managed to confirm the presence of the other criminals, too.”
“Ah, so they were at the party earlier. What kind of people would be up to no good?”
“You said you saw a rich guy on the deck, right?
“Yeah. He was a big fat guy complaining at a bunch of scary guys in black suits.”
“He’s the boss of a criminal organization that steals and sells jewels.”
Ah…so he was a bad guy!
“I never thought Fantasista would use his presence against us. This is a big miscalculation on my part.”
I could hear the frustration in Kei’s tone.
“Wait, so what’s going on right now?”
“You heard the announcement earlier.”
“Yeah… No, he wouldn’t!”
“Yes, the criminals have no way of knowing that Fantasista’s announcement was fake. They think their cover has been blown, and now they’re panicking and trying to hijack the boat. They have hostages and are holed up in the control room.”
“H-hostages?! Wait, you don’t mean…?!”
“Yes, they have Himuro and Harukawa.”
Misaki and Yuzuki?!
I stopped in place; it was like all the blood in my body had drained.
—I’m gonna make them pay for this!!
I sprinted forward, practically flying down the hall. I almost came slamming into some people walking in the halls, but I managed to swiftly sidestep them, never breaking my stride!
“Calm down, Asuka! The other passengers will see you!”
“Don’t tell me to calm down! My friends are in danger! How can you act so calm, Kei?”
“That’s why we need to maintain our wits about us. Asuka, we’re going to save them, no matter what. I will use all my brainpower to make it happen. Believe in me.”
“I… I will… Right… I’m not the only one who wants to save them. Sorry, Kei. I got so angry that I lost sight of what’s important. Phantom Thief Red is both of us. I can’t let myself get ahead of us.”
Kei could hear that I had calmed down a bit and began speaking slower for me.
“I hate that we have to do this, but…let’s forget about our match with Fantasista.”
“You’re right… Right now, we need to focus on saving Misaki and the others.”
“Exactly. Let’s focus all our energy on this. So here’s the plan: We’re going to enter from the space between the ceiling and the roof.”
“Got it!”
I picked up speed again, this time finding a hallway with no one in it.
After scouting out where the roof was, I shot a wire toward an air duct. I made sure the wire was secure before pulling myself up to the ceiling. It was a lot more cramped up here than in a skyscraper, but there was enough room for me to get around.
I followed Kei’s directions until I was over the control room, careful not to make any noise. I peered into the control room from above a gap in the ceiling. The control room was much larger than I’d pictured.
It looked like it could fit up to around ten people maximum. At the front of the room was a large window, and I could see that the fireworks were still going on.
A man stood in front of that window, barking orders as the fireworks went off behind him.
“You! Hurry up and turn the boat like I told ya to!”
It was the heavyset man, and he was screaming at the crew member steering the ship.
According to Kei’s research, this man was the boss of the underground jewel-theft organization.
Next to him were two more men in black suits, who had Misaki and Yuzuki in their clutches.
The two of them had blindfolds on, with their captors holding them by the back of their necks. I also noticed a twinkle coming off something dark that was pointed at them.
“Are those…guns?! Those jerks!!”
“I know, but if you jump into that small room right now, they’ll use them. It would put Himuro and the others in danger.”
“You have a plan, though, right?”
“I’m still thinking… This is a difficult situation.”
It was rare to hear Kei describe a situation as difficult. We must’ve really been out of options.
I could see my two friends shaking in fear with the guns pointed at them. There were tears coming out from under their blindfolds.
You guys must be so scared… This is awful…
I clutched my fist.
If that guy squeezes that trigger even a little bit…!!
“Kei! We’re out of options! It’s do-or-die!”
“That’s not a plan that’ll work.”
But!
That was when it happened.
“Stop this immediately!” someone said, storming into the room.
The men all reflexively swung their guns toward the source of the voice, who was…
K-Kotone?!
“G-get outta here!” the man screamed at her, but Kotone remained steadfast, staring him down. I hadn’t seen her this intense before.
“I’m here to propose a trade. I am the eldest daughter of the Hanasato family. You should recognize me from the party earlier; I gave the introduction for the show. I believe I would make a far more valuable hostage. Exchange those children for me!”
“So you’re the daughter, eh? Ya know, I do remember seein’ you.” He grinned. “Fine, have it your way. But only one. Don’t want you slippin’ off and leavin’ us in the lurch.”
“No! I won’t run away!” Kotone shouted back at the man in desperation.
“Sorry, toots. Can’t trust ya.”
The man wasn’t willing to negotiate with her on this.
Watching him makes me so angry! If he didn’t have Misaki and Yuzuki held hostage, I’d hop on down and give him a knuckle sandwich!
“Fine… I’ll exchange myself for one of them, then.”
“That’s it; I like a lady who knows how to listen. If we have a Hanasato hostage, we might be able to negotiate with the police.”
“Argh! What are we gonna do, Kei?! Now they have Kotone…”
“All right, finished. Just in time, too.”
Kei!
“I’ve hacked the boat’s system. Your chance will come when they exchange the hostages. I want you to jump down and take control of the situation. Can you do it, Asuka?”
“You bet your computer I can! Just watch!”
“Your target is the two guns the men in suits have. You only have one chance.”
“Got it!”
I took a slow, deep breath to calm myself down.
I attached my night vision scope and got ready to pounce as I watched the scene below unfold.
“We can’t give our hostage up first ’cause she might run away. You start comin’ this way, and we’ll let the girlie go at the same time.”
One of the suited men held out Yuzuki. She had a blindfold on and was trembling horribly. I could see tears running down her cheeks—this was so awful to watch.
“Sorry, Yuzuki. Follow my voice and come straight this way. Keep going until you reach the door, okay?” Kotone instructed.
“O-okay…” Yuzuki’s voice was shaking.
“Asuka. I’m going to cut the lights as soon as they cross paths. You ready?”
Kotone started walking slowly toward the man in the suit. Yuzuki started walking at the same time.
One step, two steps, three steps… The distance between the two of them grew smaller and smaller.