Kayama Esumi: Raid and Reinforcements

"So, what’s the plan?"

Onikata Kayoko asked as she watched the employees loading cargo into the truck, her hands shoved into her skirt pockets. In response, Kayama Esumi gave a slightly uncertain shrug.

"For now, I think we’ll try a classic decoy operation."

"You mean letting them attack the truck on purpose?"

"We don't know much about them. We have no idea how they strike or how many of them there are. It’ll be hard to counter them if we don't at least see how they operate."

"I suppose that makes sense."

"I’m sorry to ask this of you, Kayoko, but please be prepared for a heavy firefight if things go south."

In a decoy operation, the truck carrying the actual cargo would be the target. For Esumi and Kayoko to prevent damage, their intervention was inevitable. However, they couldn't recklessly charge in against overwhelming numbers; they had to carefully gauge the enemy's strength. While Kayoko is incredibly capable in the world of Blue Archive, she was still only a first-year high school student here. Her skills were certain, but overconfidence was a dangerous thing.

Esumi looked at Kayoko with a worried expression, but Kayoko simply let out a small sigh, her face remaining largely unreadable.

"Instead of worrying about me, shouldn't you be thinking of yourself? Fighting a crowd using only your left hand because your right is injured is reckless. If things get dangerous, just leave it to me and find somewhere to hide—"

"I can't do that."

Esumi cut her off with a firm refusal.

"This entire mess was started by people from Trinity who are too obsessed with their faction wars. This time, Gehenna is the victim. As a student of Trinity General School, it’s my duty to put out the fire my school started. Besides, I won't stand by and watch my beloved art be defiled any longer."

"......I see. That’s very like you, Esumi."

Through their five days together, Kayoko had come to understand Esumi’s almost abnormal devotion to the field of art. Esumi, who usually avoided social interaction, was now asking for help and involving herself in the very factional conflicts she detested. She wouldn't be doing this if it weren't for a feeling as strong as love.

To put it bluntly, Esumi’s love for art was borderline obsessive.

(Then again, I’m the one who agreed to help her without a second thought after only knowing her for five days, so I can't really talk.)

There had been no dramatic first meeting, no fated connection. Kayoko had simply saved Esumi from a group of delinquents due to a misunderstanding, which led to them sticking together for five days out of a mutual sense of unease. Agreeing to help her so easily might mean Kayoko was a little "crazy" in her own way, too.

After all, they belonged to Gehenna and Trinity—two schools that were still fundamentally incompatible. The sight of students from both schools getting along was rare enough, but now they were going to fight side-by-side. Anyone else would likely doubt their ears if they heard it. Fortunately, Kayoko herself felt almost no personal animosity or rejection toward Trinity; truth be told, she might have accepted the request even if it hadn't come from Esumi.

And yet, Esumi’s presence during those short five days felt a little special to her.

"Esumi. I understand your resolve. But the fact remains that your body isn't at a hundred percent. If anything happens, my top priority will be protecting you, okay?"

Kayoko approached and gently took Esumi’s injured right hand in hers.

"So, if things get dangerous, don't hesitate to call me. Don't go acting on your own. As long as you’re here in the Gehenna District, it’s my job as a Gehenna student to make sure you return to Trinity without a single scratch."

"......I’m not really a fan of being treated like a princess, you know."

"Then you’ll just have to endure it this once. Maybe once you’ve grown enough that I don't feel the need to protect you, I’ll reconsider."

"Well...... satisfying an expert like you sounds like it’s going to be a lot of work."

Esumi smiled and tried to squeeze Kayoko’s hand back, but her grip was indeed weak; Kayoko felt no pressure at all despite the effort. Kayoko felt a momentary pang of exasperation that someone so fragile would stick their nose into such trouble, but she understood that it only highlighted how much this situation angered Esumi.

"......The loading looks like it’s almost finished. We should get ready."

Following Esumi’s gaze toward the truck, it did indeed look like they were only minutes away from finishing. Kayoko let go of Esumi’s hand and asked, "By the way, what does 'getting ready' involve?" just as Esumi thrust a large paper bag against her chest.

"......What’s this?"

"Disguises. You’re wearing your Gehenna uniform, but it’s better if we don't let the enemy know which schools we’re from. There’s a chance they’ll catch wind of it and run away before we can do anything."

"Ah, I see. That’s why you’re dressed the same as before."

"Exactly. And don't worry about paying me back; I sourced those as a necessary expense. I picked them out specifically to hide those noticeable horns of yours. Do they look okay to you?"

"Heeh. So these are clothes Esumi picked out for me...... Yeah, I like them. I’ll have to pick some out for you sometime, too."

"......Please make sure they’re something a commoner would wear."

"I don't really know what else people wear, to be honest."

Esumi made a face as if she were begging for her life, clearly desperate to avoid the high-society fashion she was used to, but Kayoko—who had the sensibilities of a fairly normal high school girl—simply looked confused.

"Target sighted. Distance to target: approximately four kilometers."

"Understood. Alright, everyone, get ready."

The location was the outskirts, a short distance from the Gehenna District.

The land was a desolate wilderness with nothing but a single road built for transporting supplies and personnel. A group of men, lightly armed with firearms, huddled by the roadside as if waiting for something.

Oddly enough, they all shared the same face, height, and build, giving off an eerie presence...... but it was nothing special. They were simply adults with the generic NPC appearance so common in the world of Blue Archive.

The only difference from the in-game NPCs was that they wore jackets and jeans instead of suits. Their weaponry was a hodgepodge of submachine guns and shotguns. Their leader even wore shoulder pads, giving the group a post-apocalyptic vibe that suited the wasteland.

Of course, they weren't just a group of cosplayers. They were a dangerous criminal element that had been raiding cargo trucks from various companies in and around Gehenna for years, stealing money and goods without a second thought.

Today, as they confirmed the art supply truck approaching from the distance, the group of over ten men began their preparations. It was overkill for a single truck, but there were no rules in crime, so it didn't matter.

"Boss. There’s something extra following this truck."

"What do you mean?"

"There’s a car about a hundred meters behind it. It’s a civilian vehicle, but it’s making no move to pass. It feels suspicious."

"Indeed."

The leader’s expression darkened as he looked at his tablet. The screen displayed a logistics center several dozen kilometers away, acting as a hub for roads leading to various districts. Each road was color-coded, making the tablet look like a subway map.

"......I’ve checked the map, and this road is a straight shot. Even if a civilian car passes, there’s nothing ahead but the logistics center. I doubt a regular civilian is heading there."

"......So that car isn't just a random bystander."

"Probably an escort vehicle hired by the manufacturer. It’s a bit annoying that they’re trailing behind, but as long as they don't have a Gatling gun mounted on it, we should be able to drive them off with what we have."

"Right. I checked through the binoculars; no obvious heavy weaponry. Just a couple of girls inside."

The leader’s brow furrowed at the mention of "girls."

"Hey, what are they wearing? If it’s the Gehenna Prefect Team, this is going to be a pain. In that case, we run."

"Just two of them. It’s hard to tell from this distance, but neither is wearing a Gehenna uniform. Maybe students from another school? The one in the driver's seat looks quite refined, and the passenger is bundled up in a hoodie."

"They might be trying to look like civilians, but I don't think those runts in the Prefect Team are capable of such a contrast in disguise...... They’re probably just mercenaries hired from another district, like you said."

Relieved that the Prefect Team wasn't involved, the leader gave the order. "Alright, let’s start according to plan." His subordinate signaled with a hand, and several motorcycles and a van roared to life behind them.

"One kilometer to the truck. Give the word, Boss."

"Alright! On my signal, the motorcycle squad hits the tires. Once the truck is stopped, focus on pinning down the vehicle behind it to buy us time. Me and the van squad will neutralize the driver and seize the cargo. We’re getting a big payout from the client, but let’s grab some pocket change while we’re at it. If you see a safe, take that too!"

The leader climbed onto a motorcycle and revved the engine, submachine gun in hand.

"Remember, this is a race against time! We get what the client asked for and get out before those damn Prefects show up! You ready?!"

"YEAH!!"

The subordinate who had been watching the truck through binoculars jumped into the van, weapon in hand, as the leader kicked the motorcycle into gear.

"Move out!"

On the leader's shout, the men who had been waiting by the roadside swerved onto the asphalt and accelerated toward the truck. Even as the motorcycles and van bore down on him in the middle of the wilderness, the truck driver didn't panic. He kept his speed and made no attempt to swerve or avoid them.

Normally, a driver would speed up or try to get away. The leader felt a flicker of doubt at the driver's lack of reaction—perhaps he was relying on the escort vehicle behind him—but he raised his arm and shouted, "Now!"

Several motorcycles surged forward, and the riders aimed their sawed-off shotguns at the truck's wheels. They were clearly practiced; their shots struck true, and in an instant, all four tires were shredded.

With the truck becoming impossible to steer, the driver applied the brakes gradually to prevent a rollover and brought the vehicle to an emergency stop. The truck was dead in the water.

Following the plan, the motorcycle squad turned their attention to the escort vehicle and opened fire. The car’s windows shattered under the barrage, but the driver managed to stop before the tires could be hit. The two students inside immediately began to return fire. However, they were clearly outnumbered and seemed to be struggling to hold back the motorcyclists.

"Good! They’re pinned down! This is a race against time, move it!"

Now for the cargo and the cash. The leader jumped off his bike in front of the truck and aimed his submachine gun at the driver’s cabin, demanding surrender. The unarmed driver raised his hands as told. When ordered to hand over the keys, the driver quickly produced the key for the rear doors.

The leader glanced at the key and handed it to a subordinate who had jumped out of the van.

"I’ll keep an eye on the driver to make sure he doesn't try anything. You guys get the cargo."

"On it."

The subordinate led several men toward the back of the truck, glancing at the motorcycle squad still engaged in a fierce firefight with the escort vehicle. Reaching the locked rear doors, the subordinate had his men ready bags for the art supplies while he shoved the key into the lock.

A metallic click echoed in the air—a sound far quieter than the gunfire, yet loud enough to make the subordinate smirk at the prospect of his prize.

"Alright, let’s see—Guh?!"

His smirk vanished in a split second as a massive impact sent him reeling.

His companions stared in shock as the rear doors flew open. It wasn't the subordinate who had opened them. Someone had kicked the doors from the inside with such force that they slammed into his face, knocking him out instantly. He slumped to the ground, out for the count.

The other men moved to help him, but they froze at the sight that greeted them from inside the truck.

"Wow, riding in the back of a truck was a first for me."

"I’m used to trains, so this wasn't bad, but the shaking was pretty intense."

"Really? Esumi-chan asked, so I thought it was great!"

"......I feel carsick...... I’m going to beat these guys up to vent my stress."

Behind the doors stood six girls. They weren't just ordinary girls; unlike the two in the car, these six wore outfits the men recognized all too well. And that was the problem.

"S-Sukeban?!"

One of the men shouted in shock, and the leader and motorcycle squad all turned their heads in disbelief.

"What?! Delinquents in the cargo hold...... What the hell is going on?!"

There are countless problem students in the Gehenna District, but the Sukeban are particularly notorious. While their strength varies by group, anyone active in the lawless zones of Gehenna is a force to be reckoned with. It was said that a dozen adults could be wiped out by just three Sukeban. And now, six of them had appeared from the truck as a "big surprise."

The lack of evasive maneuvers by the driver made sense now—he had been carrying them. The vehicle behind them had been a decoy to draw their attention. Of course, the biggest question remained: why were delinquents riding in an art supply truck?

"W-Why are you here?! Why are you in a truck full of paint?!"

"Hah? Isn't it obvious?"

The girl who appeared to be the leader of the six looked bored as she leveled her assault rifle at them.

"Our 'pal' asked for a favor, so we came to back ‘er up!"

The six girls opened fire simultaneously. Unlike the men, who were mostly focused on robbery, these delinquents were looking for a fight. They were armed with high-powered assault rifles, submachine guns, and machine guns. Before they could even resist, the men from the van were suppressed under a hail of bullets.

"Alright, let’s crush the rest of them!"

"It’s a brawl! Get ready, you geezers!"

"Time to show Esumi-chan what we can do!"

"Drop dead!"

The Sukeban quickly reloaded and jumped from the truck, scattering to find cover. Their eyes were bloodshot with the thrill of combat. It was terrifying. However, the raiders were also veterans of the streets. Those who had survived the initial volley quickly began to return fire, while the rest looked to their leader for orders.

"Guh! The plan hasn't changed! Neutralize them!"

Shaking off the shock of the reinforcements, the leader gave the order and charged toward the Sukeban with his submachine gun. The motorcycle squad split, with half going to support the leader while the rest continued to pin down the two in the car. But with their numbers halved, the pressure on the escort vehicle lessened, allowing the two students inside to finally make their move.

"Esumi. Support me."

"On it."

The two in the vehicle—Onikata Kayoko and Kayama Esumi—had been using the car as a shield. Now, with the Sukeban team creating a diversion, they went on the offensive.

Esumi held her revolver, nicknamed "Niki," in her left hand and fired several suppressing shots toward the motorcycles. Kayoko didn't miss the opening and surged forward, her P30L—"Demons' Roar"—at the ready. Despite the distance between the car and the bikes, Kayoko closed the gap with incredible speed.

"Wait, since when—?!"

One of the men, shocked that his target had suddenly closed in, tried to swing his shotgun toward Kayoko. She didn't give him the chance, kicking the weapon aside before slamming several rounds into his torso.

"Guh! Why you—!"

But Kivotos residents are tough. He didn't go down from that alone. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he reached for a backup weapon, but Kayoko ended the fight with a swift spinning kick to his head. That had to have hurt—though the bullets probably hurt more.

Another man tried to take advantage of the moment Kayoko was open, but Esumi fired without hesitation. Her bullet struck his weapon-hand, forcing him to drop his gun.

"First, the arm."

"Gah!"

"Next, the chest."

"Guh!"

"Finally, the head."

"Agh?!"

She hit exactly where she said she would, the final shot to the head neutralizing him completely. It was a rapid-fire sequence that left no room for retaliation, and she had pulled it off from a considerable distance. Kayoko gave a small nod of approval. "Nice shot."

Esumi let out a satisfied breath and began to reload Niki as she walked slowly toward Kayoko.

"See? Even if I can't use my dominant hand, I’m still pretty good with my left, aren't I?"

She gave a small, proud smirk. Kayoko let out a sigh and shrugged.

"You have a surprisingly cute side, don't you, Esumi?"

Whether she was trying to prove she could still fight despite her injury or just being competitive with Kayoko, Esumi—who usually looked like a refined beauty—now had the innocent, mischievous smile of a boy. Kayoko, wearing the plain hoodie Esumi had given her, couldn't help but smile back at the unexpected gap in her personality.

Thanks to the combined efforts of Kayoko, Esumi, and the battle-hungry Sukeban, the group of thugs was completely dismantled within twenty minutes of the initial raid.