Nero the hermit

Himawari stepped forward as Masaru glared at her.

"And what exactly are you accusing me of?" he asked.

"Video footage shows you violently slapping Rebelle Milverton Adler, while another image shows you assaulting the late Chizuru Segawa. The same one whom was assassinated a little over a year ago. You are now the prime suspect in ordering that hit on her and the other attendees of that rally," Himawari stated.

"The image was staged. As for the slap, I did it because she continued to maliciously slander Rika."

"Yeah, she deliberately turned the sound off so Masaru would look bad. I also heard your parents raised you two by disciplining you with slaps," Rika glared.

"So you're saying he's innocent?" Himawari glared.

"Yes. He didn't order that hit on Ookuma's bitch either-"

"HOW DARE YOU DISRESPECT COUNCILOR SEGAWA LIKE THAT! MADAM OOKUMA RESPECTED HER GREATLY!" Nakayama screeched as she pulled out her hand cuffs and leapt onto the stage.

Rika prepared to punch, but Masaru stopped her.

"No, don't attack them. Then they will arrest you," he stated.

"But they're gonna take you away," Rika pleaded.

"I actually stand with Rika on this one. Those corrupt monsters treated me horribly when they dragged me in. Lest not we forget about what they did to my mother," Matcha stated.

"Helga said she also had it rough too," Mimi added.

"And since we're on the topic, I was kidnapped and tortured by the daughters of the superintendent general!" Itsuki glared.

Audible gasps emerged from the crowd as Nakayama remained undeterred.

"I am going to replace that swine and become Superintendent general-"

"BOO! YOU'RE OOKUMA'S BITCH!" a patron jeered.

"Get out of here! I bet you made all this shit up like last time when you dragged Matcha away!" another yelled.

Himawari clicked her tongue and motioned Nakayama to leave.

"Rikuma! We are to make the arrest!" Nakayama screeched.

"We will, but not now. We won't make it out alive if we arrest him now," Himawari stated.

Nakayama begrudgingly followed Himawari out and the two left.

Everyone cheered once they were gone, except for Rika.

"So they're gonna try and arrest him again. Dammit. I guess I'll have to stay by his side," Rika thought.

                                                                             ...

Once the restaurant closed, Rika wrapped her arm around Masaru's.

"Rika, I know I said you could stay by my side, but that doesn't mean 24/7," he sighed.

"It's to protect you. Speaking of which, I think we should spend the night here rather than go to our places," Rika stated.

"Why?"

"It's safer, and they might not suspect us of staying here. There used to be a hotel in this mall so we can probably sleep there."

"And is it even safe to sleep there?"

"Mimi brought sleeping bags."

"That's not what I meant."

                                                                        ...

The two ventured into the mall and headed for where the hotel used to be.

"Really is creepy here," Rika remarked.

"It truly is unnerving walking through this place at night," Masaru stated.

"Ya know, maybe we could set up a train that travels trough the place. Oh, and you could eat on it. Maybe we could even have different themed seating areas like a rainforest area and a western area..."

Masaru simply smiled as Rika went on and on about her ideas.

                                                                                 ...

When the two reached the hotel area, Rika immediately went on guard and began to tremble.

"We aren't alone," she whispered as someone walked towards them.

The figure was a scruffy man with blonde hair clad in a black military uniform, trench coat, and top hat. He had bags under his eyes and carried a tiny bottle containing an ominous black flame within it.

"Who are you?" Rika demanded.

"Me? I'm Nero. I sleep here," the man responded as he turned and headed back.

"W- Why are you just leaving?"

"I'm saying you're good to sleep here, just don't come near my room and I won't bother you," Nero growled as he left.

Rika immediately attempted to run back with Masaru, but the door was locked.

"Won't open till 6:30 in the morning. Now rest up. You're safe in here," Nero growled.

The two reluctantly laid down their sleeping bags and surprisingly had no trouble falling asleep.

                                                                          ...

When dawn came, the two woke up and headed for the door.

"Still not open? My clock says 6:32," Rika grumbled.

Suddenly, the door opened and Mimi poked her head inside.

"How was your sleep?" she asked.

"Surprisingly well, though there was some creepy hermit squatting here," Rika stated.

"Creepy hermit?"

"Said his name was Nero and-"

"D- Did he have a bottle containing a little black flame!?"

"Yeah-"

Mimi immediately grabbed Rika and Masaru and ran out with them as fast as she could.

"Why are you-"

"Nero's one of the most dangerous assassins ever. Despite his paranoid demeanor and scrawny appearance, he's insanely dangerous and insane. That black flame he claims he got from someone called Muramasa Jouzu, can destroy literally anything, and it apparently hurts like hell if you touch it," Mimi stated.

                                                                             ...

As the three arrived out of breath to the main restaurant, they froze as they noticed someone sitting at one of the tables. It was Nero.

"Sleep nicely? Well in that case, a simple fruit smoothie will satisfy me along with some takoyaki and Col Masaru's nuggets," Nero mused as he held up his flame in a bottle.

"N- Nero. W- Why are you here!?" Mimi trembled.

"Long time no see Mimi. So you're out of cold sleep then. Well, I've basically just been squatting here for years. I hear Masaru's in need of some protection, and I can easily offer that. I'm quite territorial you know."

"How'd you get out before us?" Rika glared.

"I know the place well. Now, would you mind fulfilling my order? This cash isn't just for show," Nero snickered as he flashed a 50,000 yen note.

"*Sigh* Coming right up."

                                                                                  ...

After eating his meal, Nero grinned and headed back into the mall.

"Your food truly is refreshing. No need to worry, you'll be safe as long as you don't leave the building," he stated.

"Is it really a good idea to get close with him?" Masaru asked.

"I'd rather be friend than foe. Never have I ever encountered someone so menacing. I'd say he's the most powerful person I've ever come across," Rika trembled.

"You're that scared?"

"That monster's killed tons of people, and he's strong."

"He's also creepy. Well, I guess it's better to be friendly with him than not. That guy can destroy us effortlessly with his flame bottle if he so chooses," Mimi shuddered.