Looks like that fa jin my dad recently taught me really packs a punch. He’s not getting up any time soon after that.
“Huff… Puff…”
Not like I’m doing too great myself, though.
The pain in my rib cage made it difficult to breathe. Still, I managed to sit up off the deck and point my finger straight at Fantasista.
“If you ever steal something for fun again, I’m gonna steal it all back. That’s how Phantom Thief Red does things!”
I’ll do it as many times as it takes, too!
“I see… Is that your credo?” Fantasista’s glowering turned into a smile.
“Credo”? What’s, like…clay dough?
“It’s belief, in Italian.” Kei translated for me.
Oh. Okay, that one’s on him—there’s no reason to bust out random Italian, is there? Actually, I think the guy’s from Europe, right?
“Hey, Fantasista. If you give back the golden clock, I’ll consider letting you go this time.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.” Fantasista shook his head.
“Why not?!”
Do you not realize the situation you’re in?!
“Because…the clock is mine.”
It’s yours? What are you talking about? It’s Kotone’s…
“I knew it,” Kei whispered to himself.
Huh? Knew what? What’s this all mean?
“Asuka, ask him this: Are you Kyouya Hanasato?”
“‘Hanasato’…? What are you talking about?”
“Just do it.”
“Fine! But you’re gonna fill me in later, ’kay?”
I turned and looked over at Fantasista.
“Fantasista… Are you Kyouya Hanasato?”
“?!”
I could see Fantasista’s facial expression tense up at the comment.
“How did you know…?”
Wait, what?! So your real name is Kyouya Hanasato, and not Kyouya Orito? But would that mean…you and Kotone are siblings?
“I looked into why the Hanasato family treasure would be stolen, and I learned that the original heir to the Hanasato family was a son who disappeared seventeen years ago. His name was Kyouya, too. This would make him Kotone’s younger brother. The reason for his disappearance is unknown, but…ever since, Kotone has become the new heir.”
But then…
“S-so you’re actually Kotone’s younger brother…?”
Fantasista let out a big sigh. “Well…I made a truly huge error in underestimating you… Yes, I am Kyouya Hanasato. And here’s the evidence to prove it.” Fantasista stuck his hand down his collar and produced a ring that was tied around a chain. It was a gold ring with a black diamond in it.
That black diamond looks just like the Black Tear!
“This ring was once a family treasure of the Hanasato family, similar to the Golden Mechanical Clock and the Black Tear.”
Actually, Kotone mentioned something just like that…
“I’m the true heir to the Hanasato family. So this was all supposed to be mine. It was taken away from me seventeen years ago, so I simply took it back.”
“But that’s…”
“Selfish? Let me tell you one thing. I came back to Japan to get revenge on the Hanasato family, who abandoned me.”
Abandoned you? And revenge…
“So what? Do you hate Kotone because of it?!”
I saw…how you looked at her when she was on stage earlier!
There was pain in Fantasista’s eyes when I said this, but he shook his head, as if to shake off the pain.
“That’s right. I’m here for revenge, and that goes for Kotone, too!”
Though still in a weakened state, Fantasista stood as he said this.
He hasn’t recovered already, has he?!
“Asuka!”
I know!
I got up as fast as I could to chase Fantasista—but I couldn’t make it!
Fantasista placed his foot on the side rail of the deck.
“Phantom Thief Red. I’ll be back to take the Black Tear. You hold on to it for me for now. Until we meet again.”
He leaped off the boat into the ocean, and I heard a loud splash.
I ran up to the side of the cruise ship and peered over the railing, but it was too dark to see anything.
“I messed up! I can’t believe I let him get away…”
“You hit him with your strongest technique. He’s going to be feeling it for a long time, and it’ll affect his ability to move. Not to mention, we got the Black Tear back… I think that was a tie.”
“You think so…?”
Yeah… You’re right. I slumped to the ground.
“I really thought we were going to lose back there. I wish I could just go to sleep here…”
“It looks like now’s not the best time for that.”
I could hear a commotion coming from downstairs. It sounded like cruise security was coming up to the deck.
“Kei… This is over…isn’t it?”
I picked myself up and began to run.
“Yup… It’s finally…over…”
Thud.
“Kei…? Are you there?”