Checking back in with earth

Back on earth at the Ryokoma dome, Rika stood in the empty room in silence. It was unnerving and eerie to be standing in such a large room all alone, especially with booths and displays still present.

Though she wasn't alone for long as news crews stormed the place, demanding to know what went down.

"Everyone take a seat. There's more than enough now that everyone's apparently been kidnapped," Rika growled.

"'Kidnapped'!? But they're still streaming live, and on multiple channels!" a reporter stated.

Rika raised an eyebrow and grabbed the remote for the large screen on stage. She flicked it on and sure enough, there were streams of everyone in the isekai world.

"Well this is a royal mess, but I guess there's some powers that be that are keeping things streamed. Guess that means this is now a watch party... So who wants refreshments?"

...

Outside, a boy resembling JZ sighed as he stared at the long line to get into Ryokoma. With what happened at the dome, it made sense, but the boy needed to get in.

"The Desperados were involved, Skaberghast in particular. Just what does that bastard have planned?"

The boy was Okisato Tanabe, the one Sherbert had thought JZ was. He was a highschooler and grandmaster that usually sported a deadpan expression and personality. But that was more so a mask to hide his true sadistic persona. Though he didn't like "going full chuuni" as he put it, which is why the deadpan persona tended to be his default persona.

Seeing that this entrance was a bust, he went around to a different one as Ryokoma had plenty. Once inside, he tried to make his way to the dome from within, but was still faced with crowds.

"Ugh, I need to find out what happened."

"Hmm? Is that you, boy?" a voice called out.

Okisato turned to see a woman with short blonde hair, clad in drippy attire consisting of a flame-print leather jacket adorned with Sakura petals, black leather pants, and sneakers. White face paint also adorned her face, and while Okisato had met this woman before, he didn't recognize her aside from her voice.

"Maestro Himitsu?"

"That's right! I got a bit of a makeover. So, I look younger and sexier?"

"Actually... yeah. The style really is more youthful compared to your long red hair, but wait, why are you wearing face paint if this is casual attire?"

"It's both casual, and maestro attire. Now, are you trying to get into the main room?"

"With little luck. Crowds of press and curious folks are blocking everything off."

"Then let me guide ya both through," Rika smiled as she waltzed up.

Maestro Himitsu was Japan's secret chess maestro as well as Mimoko's mother, Daria Inoue. Though 40 years old, she looked young enough to pass off as a highschooler or a college student, which ironically was what she had been doing for a top secret WWCF mission.

"So you two know anything about this?" Rika asked as she parted the way.

"Only about some of the cloaked figures that are seemingly behind the kidnapping," Okisato stated.

As the three neared the stage, they noticed a large man with a beard and buzzed blonde hair, standing by.

"Well look who showed up. Hey, Sven, know what's going on?"

The man turned and shook his head. His name was Sven, and he was Astrid's younger brother as well as a cooking streamer. He had recently been working part-time with Rika and had been in the kitchen at the time of the portal appeared.

But as Okisato, Rika, and Daria joined him on stage, 4 controllers appeared.

"What are these for?"

"Your contribution to helping the others get home."

Rika froze as she recognized the voice. And as she turned, there stood a dragon-esque man with pitch black scales, greyed out eyes, and a malicious grin.

"Nero... No, Muramasa Jouzu."

"Both are right, but I'm in dragon mode for this. Now how about I give you all a run-down on what exactly happened."