Chapter 191: The Shibuya Scramble (The Bait is Re-Set)

The aftermath of Izumi's "Pastry Bomb" (as Kenji immediately dubs it) is profound. The "Grand Alliance" is in shambles. Rina and Haruka are so furious at Izumi's blatant trolling and her public "claim" on me that they can barely speak to each other. Aiwa has retreated back into her shell, clearly heartbroken and intimidated by Izumi's aggressive tactics. Miki looks like she is seriously considering moving to a remote, uninhabited island. My life is a waking nightmare of simmering tensions and awkward silences.

But the world of cosplay waits for no one's romantic drama. The "Shibuya Scramble Fest" (the flash mob event Kenji was so excited about weeks ago) is officially announced, and it is happening this weekend. It is a smaller, trendier, more guerrilla-style event. The confirmed headliners, announced via a cryptic social media blast: Ectiqa, Hime-Hime, LUNA… and Ichigo. All four of them, in the same place, at the same time.

It is a powder keg waiting for a match.

"This is it," Miki announces grimly, holding an emergency meeting in our (now very tense) club room. "This is not a formal Expo. This is a chaotic, public event. Crowd control will be a nightmare. And all four… assets… will be in close proximity."

"So what is the plan?" I ask warily, feeling like a lamb being prepped for slaughter. "More surveillance? Attack drones? Should I just wear a disguise?"

"No," Haruka says, her voice cold and decisive. She has been unusually quiet, her mind clearly working overtime since Izumi's visit. "This is not a time for hiding. This is a time for a public declaration." She looks at Rina, then at Aiwa. "She played her hand. She publicly associated herself with Rui-kun. Now, we publicly re-establish our claim."

"You mean… we fight back?" Aiwa whispers, looking terrified.

"We do more than fight," Rina says, her voice a low growl, her competitive fire reignited by Haruka's words. "We dominate. We remind everyone, especially Ichigo, who the real queens are. And who," her eyes flick to me, "the real handler belongs to."

I am no longer bait. I am a territory to be reclaimed. This is somehow even worse.

The day of the Scramble Fest arrives. Shibuya Crossing is an even bigger zoo than usual. The sidewalks are packed, all waiting for the "Cosplay Clash." Our team (minus Izumi, obviously) arrives. Rina, as Ectiqa, is debuting a sharp, urban-style "Cyber Magical Girl" costume, all neon pinks and blacks. Haruka, as Hime-Hime, is a "Street Gothic Lolita," a vision of dark lace and rebellious charm. Aiwa, as LUNA, has opted for a breathtaking "Techno-Fairy" design, with holographic, shimmering wings and fiber-optic hair. They all look incredible, a stunning trio of rival aesthetics.

And then, Ichigo appears. He is not with the other cosplayers. He just… materializes in the crowd, dressed as 'Crimson Striker Kai' from Galaxy Force Zero, a mecha pilot known for his cool arrogance and legendary skills. He looks ridiculously, infuriatingly handsome, and the crowd immediately parts for him, a wave of adoring whispers following him.

He spots our group. Rina, Haruka, and Aiwa immediately tense up, forming a subtle, protective semi-circle around me. Ichigo just smirks, that infuriatingly charming Ichigo smirk that I now know is also Izumi's smirk.

He walks right up to us, his eyes ignoring the three goddesses completely and landing directly on me.

"Rui-kun," he greets me smoothly, his voice the perfect, masculine tone of Ichigo, though I can hear the hidden layer of Izumi's mockery underneath. "Fancy meeting you here. Came to watch the show?"

"Something like that," I mumble, trying to fade into the background. Rina's hand tightens on my arm.

"Excellent," Ichigo says. He leans in conspiratorially, as if about to share a deep secret, forcing Rina, Haruka, and Aiwa to also lean in, lest they miss the vital intel. The cameras of a dozen fans are now firmly trained on this intimate, dramatic huddle.

"I just wanted to settle a debate we were having," Ichigo whispers, his voice low and charming.

"A debate?" Rina asks suspiciously.

"Yes," Ichigo confirms. He looks directly at me, his blue-contacted eyes sparkling with pure, unadulterated troll energy. "Tell me, Rui-kun… tonkotsu, or spicy miso? We need to settle this. Our next dinner reservation depends on it."

My blood runs cold. He did not just… He did. He just referenced my private ramen debate with Izumi. In front of everyone.

Rina, Haruka, and Aiwa all freeze. Their brains are working at hyperspeed, connecting the dots. Dinner? Izumi? Ramen? Ichigo? Takoyaki? Kabedon? The web of suspicion, confusion, and betrayal just tangled itself into an inescapable knot.

I just stand there, mute, horrified. Ichigo/Izumi has just, in the most public way possible, confirmed everything. That he is Izumi. That he knows me. That we have been meeting secretly. That our connection is real.

He just blew up my entire life. With a ramen-based bombshell.