Kayama Esumi: The Airhead Girl Meets an Angel

"Thank you all for listening to my selfish request. You really saved me back there."

As over a dozen raiders lay tied up with thick ropes along the road, Kayama Esumi stood before the six Sukeban and bowed deeply in gratitude.

If it hadn't been for the reinforcements Esumi had recruited as an insurance policy—adopting a "better safe than sorry" approach—the battle likely would have dragged on or resulted in unforeseen casualties. While the enemy initially had the advantage in numbers, the combination of a group seasoned in brawling and the exceptional combat skills of Onikata Kayoko proved practically invincible. They managed to suppress the raid with far less damage than expected.

To be honest, Esumi had felt a bit guilty about relying on them, considering their only prior interaction was a brief conversation on a train a month ago. However, the Sukeban had accepted the request with surprising enthusiasm.

According to them, they wanted to help the "kind lady" who treated them like normal people, rather than the "delinquent trash" most others avoided.

It’s a secret that Esumi was moved nearly to tears by how good-hearted they were...... though it was a bit of a shock to realize she had been officially dubbed their "pal" without her knowing.

Regardless, knowing that the truck could have overturned and caused serious injuries, Esumi voiced her gratitude once more.

"Don't sweat it. If we hadn't shown up, you were planning to take them on with just you and that scary-looking girl with the handgun, right? You made the right call asking us. We know how to scrap."

"Exactly. It was good experience for the rookies, too. Everyone wins."

"I’m just happy to get your name, Esumi-chan! Getting relied on feels great! So, hey—want to hit up a cafe after this?!"

"I get carsick easily, but there were some perfectly good punching bags lying around for stress relief, so I’m fine. Just, if you call us again, please let the transport be anything but a vehicle."

"......Thank you, everyone. Truly."

Esumi turned to the two Sukeban rookies who had remained silent out of shyness and gave them a warm "You were a big help" accompanied by a smile. The two girls frantically nodded their heads in silence before turning beet-red and hiding behind the other four.

Perhaps it was a bit too much for them?

Since the adrenaline of battle hadn't quite faded, Esumi’s cheeks were flushed, giving her a somewhat enchanting appearance. Given how often people commented on her looks, she felt a sudden need to find a way to be less conspicuous.

"Alright, we’re gonna go hand these losers over to the Prefect Team. You’ve still got work to do, right? Good luck."

"We’ll contact the art supplier for you. We’ll look after the cargo and the old man driving until the tow truck and help arrive."

"Let’s go to that cafe once you’re done! It’s a promise, Esumi-chan!"

"Ignore that idiot’s pestering. Just be careful out there. Oh, and here—this is the tablet the leader was carrying. I figured it might be useful, so I pinched it."

Since one of them was demanding extreme skinship and social time in a way that reminded Esumi of a certain pink-haired girl, she gave a strained smile and a gentle "If I have time......" before accepting the tablet. She waved goodbye as she walked away, feeling a lingering sense of warmth from the encounter.

Honestly, meeting them had been a stroke of good luck, and a truly wonderful experience for Esumi.

After leaving the Sukeban, Esumi headed toward the van the raiders had been using.

Aside from the truck with its shredded tires and the escort vehicle riddled with bullet holes and shattered windows, the raiders' van was the only functional vehicle left.

All they had to do was use it to reach the location where the stolen goods were supposed to be delivered. There, they planned to find proof of the Sanctus Faction's involvement and beat the living daylights out of everyone connected to the mess.

Waiting by the van was Onikata Kayoko, leaning against the vehicle with her arms crossed, staring off into the distance. As Esumi approached, admiring how much she looked like a cool character from a story, Kayoko noticed her and turned around.

"Oh, done with the goodbyes already?"

"Yeah. It’s finished. I have a feeling we’ll run into them again eventually."

"Heeh. So you’re coming back to Gehenna then."

"Would that be a bother?"

"Not at all. I was just thinking that if I get to see you again, I’d like to just walk around the city normally with you next time."

"I see...... Well, once we settle this, I’ll join you for whatever you need, Kayoko."

"That’s rare. I thought you didn't want to get too involved with me."

"You’re helping me with a personal vendetta and taking on a non-negligible risk. I’ve put you through enough trouble that it’s the least I can do."

"Then come with me to a concert for a band I like next time. I want you to hear them."

Esumi vaguely recalled that the canon Onikata Kayoko was a fan of heavy metal. Without a moment's hesitation, she replied in a soft voice, "It’s a promise."

"Well then, shall we start the rest of the operation?"

"Right. The Sukeban gave me this tablet. Considering how well-prepared that raid was, I’m sure the clues are all inside this device. Let’s check it."

The two climbed into the van and powered on the tablet. Inside, they found data revealing every route used by various companies to transport goods to the logistics center. There were even detailed logs of departure times and the specific contents of the shipments.

"This is...... almost too much support."

Kayoko furrowed her brow as she peered over Esumi’s shoulder at the screen.

"It looks like the data is being updated in real-time. It’s basically a high-tech support tool."

"It’s a state-of-the-art model. You’re likely right. If so, there should be data pointing to their destination...... but there’s so much here, and most of it is locked......"

"I’ll find it. Leave it to me."

As soon as she spoke, Kayoko’s fingers flew across the screen, scrutinizing every corner of the stored data. She began cracking the locked files one by one as if she had discovered some underlying pattern. Esumi wanted to tell her she was getting so close she’d ruin her eyes, but she kept her mouth shut.

Kayoko was known to be quite skilled at data analysis in the original story, so Esumi—a total amateur in IT—didn't want to get in the way.

On a side note, because Esumi was the one holding the tablet, Kayoko had leaned in so close that their bodies were practically pressed together. In fact, Kayoko was operating the device while resting her head on Esumi’s shoulder.

To put it plainly, the situation looked exactly like "two lovers flirting," which left Esumi incredibly flustered. Since she usually avoided skinship or even basic physical contact, she had no idea how to handle this.

True, she had recently experienced the very specific situation of cuddling in bed with Mika, but that didn't count. Her mental state had been a mess back then, and her actions were born from a desperate need for comfort after struggling alone. That was an outlier.

Eventually, after ten or fifteen minutes, Kayoko finished the analysis with a satisfied "Found the destination."

"You’re amazing, Kayoko...... Could you, um, give me some space now?"

Having confirmed the destination on the screen, Esumi gently tried to nudge Kayoko away, signaling that the work was done. Kayoko, perhaps caught up in the mood or simply feeling mischievous, didn't resist and shifted back toward the driver's seat.

"Was the skinship that bad?"

When Kayoko asked with a seemingly apologetic look, Esumi shook her head, struggling a bit to find the right words.

"It wasn't...... bad. But I’d prefer if you didn't do that, because I might get the wrong idea...... maybe?"

"Hmm. I’m being serious, so you don't have to worry about it being a 'wrong idea'."

"I see...... Wha—?!"

Startled by the sudden bombshell, Esumi whipped her head toward Kayoko, only to see her leaning on her hand with a smirk that practically screamed "Prank successful." There was no doubt about it—Esumi had been teased.

"......You tricked me."

"Heh. Seeing a flustered face on you is a fresh look, Esumi. I got to see something good."

"......Don't look."

"Saying that just makes me want to look more, though?"

"......Stop it, it’s embarrassing."

Esumi covered her ears, which were starting to burn red with shame, and looked away. But Kayoko’s gaze didn't waver, and the feeling of being "watched" made Esumi lose her composure even further.

"......W-We don't have time. Let’s get to the destination already...... I’ll handle the navigation...... S-So, Kayoko, get the car ready!"

Sensing that letting the moment linger would be dangerous, Esumi hurriedly pulled up the map app on the tablet to set the destination. Her ears and cheeks were still flushed, and as she glanced back and forth at Kayoko like a nervous animal, her refined beauty made the sight quite a lot for the eyes to take in.

"......Esumi, you’re definitely a 'neko', so you should be careful when you’re dealing with other people."

"Huh? A cat? Do I really seem like I have that kind of personality?"

Kayoko had meant it as a warning out of concern, but Esumi seemed to have taken the word "neko" quite literally. Since Kayoko knew Esumi would likely deny the actual meaning even if she understood it, she simply started the engine without saying another word.

"Well then, lead the way, Princess. And about what I said earlier...... well, don't worry about it."

"......You didn't mean it in some weird way, right?"

"If you’re curious, why not look it up? I’m looking forward to seeing how you react."

With a playful tone, Kayoko stepped on the accelerator and drove toward the destination shown on the map.

Naturally, on the way there, Esumi would look up the slang meaning of "neko" on her phone, turn bright red, and protest, "Wait, what does this mean?!" But Kayoko simply ignored her with a quiet smile.

The girl wanted money.

The reason was simple: savings for the future. While she received a regular allowance every month, it was nowhere near enough to fund her dream of "starting her own company!" She wasn't looking for a lottery win, but she desperately wanted a significant sum.

However, she was only in her second year of middle school. In the Gehenna District where she was born and raised, the rules stated that high-paying part-time jobs weren't allowed until one reached high school. Of course, in the current lawless state of the district, such rules were meaningless, but the girl was far too serious for her own good and followed them diligently.

"......What should I do......"

One day, while walking home from school in low spirits, she happened to overhear a conversation between adults passing by.

"Hey, you hear? If you work at that factory on the outskirts of the district, you can make 500,000 yen a month."

"......Huh?"

It was pure coincidence. Because she happened to be walking near a tavern frequented by adults, she caught the words of men who had clearly had too much to drink. The answer to the problem she had been agonizing over had practically fallen into her lap. It was only natural for the girl to stop and eavesdrop.

"Hey, is that for real?"

"I’m telling you, it’s legit. I heard it from a reliable source. Apparently, it’s easy work—just slapping labels on products and packing them into boxes."

"500,000 a month for that? That factory sounds incredibly sketchy."

"Maybe. But apparently, they welcome anyone who isn't from Gehenna. They provide room and board, too...... Though the catch is you have to stay there until you quit. No outside contact allowed."

"Ah, I see. A live-in job. But why aren't Gehenna people allowed?"

"Isn't it obvious? If someone from a district with a reputation this bad shows up, it’s bad for the brand image. Apparently, the company is making a killing, so they want to avoid that."

"Makes sense. I guess we’re out of luck then."

"I hear some students from other districts go there for a quick summer job. If the pay is that good, it might be worth a shot."

"But we’re Gehenna citizens. Based on what you said, we can't do it, right?"

"Well, they won't know if you just wear a disguise."

"No way that works."

The men laughed and quickly changed the subject. They clearly weren't taking the idea seriously; it was just something to talk about over drinks.

"......This is it."

Unfortunately, for the girl who was hyper-focused on making money, it was a different story.

"School starts a long break the week after next, right? One month is plenty of time to earn some money. If what they said is true, this is my big chance to get 500,000 yen all at once!"

A child’s logic is often simple: if there’s a profit to be had, jump on it.

As a result, the girl immediately spent time walking around and gathering info on the factory on the outskirts. As soon as the school break started, she headed to the factory alone, completely lacking any sense of danger.

To ensure she wasn't recognized as being from Gehenna, she did her best to disguise herself.

She dyed her pink hair a different color, wore a large hat to hide her prominent horns, changed her glasses for a pair with a different frame, and bought a plain set of work clothes that wouldn't get in the way. In short, she completely changed her look. Whether simply hiding the horns would have been enough was a valid question, but this was the result of the girl's most earnest efforts.

She arrived at the factory full of confidence, thinking, "This is perfect!"...... and was immediately turned away.

"W-W-Whyyyyyy?!"

It was obvious. A hat alone isn't enough to hide such distinctive horns, and more importantly, she had forgotten about the student ID she handed to the interviewer. The ID, which featured her home district, her name, and even a very clear photo, loudly proclaimed that she was a student of Gehenna. The girl was simply a total klutz. It also didn't help that she had taken the adults' joke about disguises far too seriously.

However, as she was being unceremoniously kicked out, she witnessed a certain scene.

"......Oh. Is that a van?"

It was indeed a van. But it didn't look like a corporate vehicle; it seemed more like a standard civilian model. She saw workers unloading goods from the back, and two high school students who appeared to be the drivers. However, the items being unloaded bore labels she recognized.

"......Those are the labels from that art supply company in Gehenna, aren't they?"

She wasn't particularly knowledgeable, but she questioned why labels identical to the ones she saw back home were here. According to her research, this factory had nothing to do with art supplies. Did the labeling work involve this?

Suddenly, the girl was spotted by an adult who looked like a security guard. He grabbed her without warning.

"Wait! W-What are you doing?!"

She hadn't done anything wrong, but her confusion did her no good. The guard, looking panicked, spoke into his radio, and before she knew it, the girl was locked in a room inside the factory.

As it turned out, the guards were panicked because she had accidentally witnessed the unloading of goods stolen from a company in the Gehenna District. They had mistaken the girl—who had come from the same district for an interview—for a spy sent by Gehenna.

"W-W-W-What did you say—?!"

To put it bluntly, she was incredibly unlucky.

She was just an innocent middle schooler who wanted to make some money. Who could have guessed that her clumsiness would reveal her as a Gehenna student, or that she’d happen to see stolen goods being moved on her way out? Still, thanks to her klutziness and bad luck, she had realized that this factory was exactly what the adults had suspected: a corrupt enterprise that made a profit by altering stolen goods and selling them to civilians.

But realizing it meant nothing if she was locked up. Losing her freedom instead of getting a "life lesson" made the whole endeavor pointless.

"W-What should I do...... The guard took my bag...... I-I can't think of any way to get out of this room......"

The girl was still at an age where she didn't know the true terrors and harshness of the world. She could feel how precarious and dangerous her situation was, but she had no way to fix it. The thought that she might be "disposed of" to keep her quiet—a scene she’d seen in movies about crime syndicates—flashed through her mind. Overcome by fear, she curled up and began to cry. It was only natural. The room was dark, cold, and empty.

She knew it was her own fault for not researching the company and for blindly following the word of adults out of greed, but the reality of the despair closing in on her was overwhelming.

"............I’m scared............ Someone, h-help me......"

Just as her weak voice escaped her lips, an alarm began to blare throughout the factory.

"......?"

Next, the sprinklers on the ceiling activated, and water began to pour into the girl's prison. An alarm followed by sprinklers usually meant a fire had broken out.

But why now?

Suddenly, the sounds of people running frantically outside were joined by the sound of gunshots. They were intermittent at first, but soon the heavy, rapid fire of security weapons joined in, making it clear that a fierce firefight was underway. It seemed they were struggling to deal with the intruder, and the sound of the shots was steadily approaching her room.

"W-What is it? What’s happening?"

Whatever it was, something serious was going down outside. The girl moved to the corner of the room, curling into a small ball and clutching her hat as if to protect herself.

"............It’s here."

Amidst the intense gun battle outside, the girl's ears caught the faint sound of a woman’s voice. In an instant, several bullets were fired into the door, the high-pitched ring of metal on metal echoing through the room.

"Eek?!"

The girl shrieked reflexively, but the next thing she saw was the door being kicked open after its latch had been destroyed. The door slammed into the floor, and someone stepped calmly into the room.

It was a girl who possessed a beauty that could captivate anyone who looked at her.

She looked a year or two older—likely a high school student. She had light blue hair and drooping, jade-colored eyes. She was dressed in a refined outfit consisting of a collared shirt and a tailored jacket, topped with a beret. In her left hand, she held a somewhat old-fashioned revolver...... there was no mistake. It was the person she had seen driving the van outside.

Both were drenched by the water from the sprinklers. Yet, as the gunfire continued to roar outside, the sight of this brave, beautiful girl—unfazed by the noise or the cold water—brought a surge of relief to the girl who had been shaking in despair.

With a rhythmic clack of her shoes, the beautiful girl walked slowly toward her and spoke.

"You came here to work, didn't you? You really need to learn how scary society can be. Companies tied to crime aren't rare around Gehenna. You have to be careful when looking for a job."

"Ah, I...... I didn't know this was that kind of place......"

"I see...... Well, I’ll protect you and get you out of here. Next time, make sure you work somewhere legitimate...... Can you promise me that?"

"......Y-Yes. I promise!"

"Good answer. Now, take my hand...... Don't worry. I won't let a single scratch touch you."

Looking her straight in the eye, the older girl made that bold declaration without a hint of embarrassment. Her words completely stole the girl's heart.

"............Beautiful."

The word escaped her lips without her even realizing it. In that moment, with water dripping from the ends of her hair and the bright light from the hallway framing her like a halo as she reached out her right hand, she looked to the girl like an "Angel."

This was the moment that a young, middle-school-aged Rikuhama Aru first met Kayama Esumi, who was already active as a famous painter.