There was nobody on the deck but me…
…and someone else!
That must be him!
“Not so fast, Fantasista!” I shouted.
The tuxedo-wearing figure jolted before turning around. It was the first time I’d seen him surprised.
“Oh…? I didn’t expect you to catch up with me. Perhaps I underestimated you.”
“I can see right through your puny tricks!”
Well, Kei can…
“Sigh… You’re the first to unravel my dazzling illusions. I must admit, I feel a bit shocked.”
So he said, but he certainly didn’t look or sound shocked. That confidence was still front and center.
“I’m gonna take back the Black Tear—and that clock while I’m at it!”
“You want to end this here?”
“You bet your top hat I do! And I can’t believe you put those poor girls in danger!” I glared at Fantasista. The cold wind was blowing on me, but I couldn’t feel it at all. My body was hot with anger.
“I think it’s a stretch to call that situation my fault… Well, so be it. You’ve earned it, catching up to me here. I’ll entertain your challenge a bit.”
The moment he finished this sentence, the smile vanished from his face.
Shiver.
In the next instant, I felt the hair rise on my neck.
Wh-who is this guy…? From his stance to his ability to keep his distance, I can tell he knows what he’s doing!
He knows martial arts. In fact—I bet he’s a master of something!
“Be careful, Asuka.”
I know!
An instant later, I rushed at him. He held firmly on to the black duffle bag, not moving an inch as I closed in on him.
Got ’im!
Using the momentum from my dash, I threw my weight into a punch.
“Nuh-uh, that’s not gonna work,” he said. He almost sounded bored.
Fantasista switched the direction he was facing and brought his leg up for a kick.
Guh!
I managed to dodge it by the skin of my teeth by getting low to the ground, but I could feel the wind from that kick against my hair.
If one of those kicks actually hits me, it’ll knock me out!
I came flying back up, throwing an uppercut toward his chin.
Whoosh!
Fantasista swiftly tilted his body to avoid the blow before jumping back.
If I can’t hit you with one attack, I’ll throw a whole bunch! Overhead jab! Low kick! Middle jab! Spinning kick!
I sent forward a combination of strikes, but Fantasista avoided them all.
Why can’t I hit you?!
“My turn.”
Whoosh!
I dodged to the right based on sound alone—just in time to see a swift punch land where my head had been.
I had no way of seeing that coming…! I can’t let him strike back!
I was in an awkward position now, and I threw out a kick to try to rebalance.
No!
Just as it would have connected, Fantasista disappeared. In his place was a pink ball of…something?
“What—? Huh?!”
My foot landed on the ball, which flew back and—exploded? Into a cloud of flower petals?!
“Ack! What’s this?! I can’t see anything!”
It was completely blocking my vision.
Without time to swat the petals away, I heard another sharp whoosh coming toward me, and I reflexively jumped out of the way. A little pain ran across my cheek, which started to bleed. Guess I didn’t completely avoid it that time.
“I’m surprised you dodged that one. Very nice.”
Ugh, this guy makes fun of me every step of the way! But he’s managing to keep up with me even with a duffle bag in his other hand—heck, he’s kinda winning. It’s not just his illusions—his attacks and martial arts are the real deal. He might be as fast as my dad…
How can I win this?! What can I do?!
“Is that all you have for your turn? It’s my turn now.” Fantasista came closing in on me in the blink of an eye.
He’s definitely fast!
I didn’t have enough time to step back.
Expecting to meet his attack with my own, I let loose a high kick.
In the next instant, however, Fantasista vanished again.
“—!”
Another balloon.
I know it’s a trap, but it’s too late to stop!
Thwack!
I kicked the balloon, popping it and releasing some kind of powder.
“Ow! What is this?!”
I knew it was dangerous to close my eyes, but I had to. The powder had gotten into them, and it burned. I was already tearing up.
I can’t open my eyes!
Whoosh.
Something’s coming!
On pure instinct, I threw both my arms up to guard my front.
“Wagh!”
I was hit with a powerful force that I couldn’t fully deflect, and I flew backward through the air.
Without being able to see, I had no way of knowing whether it was a kick, a punch, or something else.
“I hope you enjoy the tear powder. I’m terribly sorry, but I truly must be on my way. Your eyes should be back to tip-top shape within an hour. Please do forgive me. Now, as you can no longer see, I believe that settles this little bout of ours. Would you mind staying back here for a bit for me? Unconscious, of course.”
Still as unbothered as ever, Fantasista drew closer.
Wh-what should I do?! I stepped backward.
The pain in my eyes wasn’t letting up. I couldn’t open them at all. How was I going to fight Fantasista in complete darkness?
I can’t do it…
“Asuka, can you still fight?”
“Kei! I can’t see anything…”
“I’ll be your eyes.”
“Huh…?”
“You heard me. You think you can do it?”
—You know what? I think I can!
“No! I know I can! After all, it’s the two of us who make up Phantom Thief Red.”
“Perfect. There’s one way I can think of that can get the drop on him. If you use it, you’ll get one chance to retaliate. You’ll only have a brief second to pull it off. You think you can do it?”
“I’ve got a move in mind that might work. It’s a super-special technique!”
“Let’s go with that, then. Time to fight back!”
I could hear Fantasista’s footsteps getting closer. I purposefully stayed where I was, waiting for him. Though it was completely dark, I wasn’t worried. I had Kei acting as my eyes for me.
We can do this!
“Looks like someone’s given up. I love it when kids know how to listen.”
I could feel Fantasista close to me.
“Right!” Kei called, and I threw a right elbow.
Fantasista gasped. “Can you see already?! What the…?!”
Ooh, sounds like he’s confused. I’d be confused, too. You’re fighting someone with their eyes closed!
I felt him moving.
Here he comes!
“I’m the one full of surprises, not you!”
“In front of you! No, to your left!”
I threw a low kick to my left.
Ah! He dodged it!
“How do you know?! What is your trick here?!” Fantasista yelled at me. Now he was angry.
“What’s the matter? What happened to all that confidence?”
“Hmph, it doesn’t matter. If you can’t see, then I’ll just have to avoid fighting hand to hand.”
I sensed him create some distance.
Here it comes! This is what I was waiting for!
“Asuka!”
I know!
I opened my eyes. Everything was still blurry, but since I’d kept them shut tight for so long, I had an idea where Fantasista was!
“C’mooon!” I shot my grappling hook toward Fantasista.
“You’re not going to get me with that!” Fantasista lightly stepped to the side, causing my grappling hook to hit a chair.
Gotcha!
“Here we go!”
I pulled the trigger, and within a split second, I was close enough to reach Fantasista.
As I let the grappling hook bring me forward, I concentrated on planting my palm right into his stomach. Fantasista’s eyes went wide, but he didn’t have time to escape!
“Game over!”
Dropping my hips down low, I shoved out my palm, slamming into him with all the power in my body.
Direct hit!!
At the same time, I could feel a tremendous impact hit my ribs.
“Gu-hagh!”
The two of us bounced off each other, both falling to the deck. As Fantasista hit the ground, I could see a black diamond necklace tumbling out of his clothes.
The Black Tear!
Screwing up my face, I picked up the Black Tear. Once I had it in my hand, I succumbed to the pain, holding my left side and falling to one knee on the deck of the ship.
I didn’t think he would kick me there…but I think I hurt him worse.
I looked toward Fantasista to check, when…
Wait, what…?
The force of the attack had shifted his mask off his face, and he was in the light—so I could see his identity.
“No… No way…?!”
“Yes way… It’s me, Kyouya Orito, the magician.”
“What?! I mean, you guys both perform magic tricks, but…”
“So…” Fantasista gasped, holding his stomach. “Not only did you beat me, but you managed to take back what I stole, too. What an absolute failure. The boss is going to be really mad at me for this one…”