"So, what exactly are you doing?"
"Being a detective! Kids shouldn't talk!"
Shiro waved his hand impatiently. Why did he have to bump into Aina, that little dummy, here of all places?
"…You guys sure are having fun."
Looking at Iori crouched not far away, Aina could already guess these two idiots were up to something weird again.
But this time, she had no intention of getting involved. She didn't come here for those two.
Earlier, after Aina had returned, she told her two friends what she had heard—but even she found it unbelievable, thinking she had probably misheard.
So she came looking for Tokita to confirm it. But then she stumbled across the two fools…
"Forget it, I'm ignoring you."
With that, Aina ran toward Tokita. "Senior Toki—"
"I want Hamazaki's wife."
{{(°△°; "}}!
Aina, who had just started speaking, was suddenly stunned and completely speechless. She was sure this time—she hadn't misheard!
Senior Tokita… he's into married women?!
And isn't this a fish stall?! Why would someone confess their love for married women here?!
Aina's mind was cracking as she stumbled back toward her friends—this was huge, she had to tell them!
Shiro was utterly confused.
From his spot behind Iori and Aina, he only saw Tokita's lips move, and then both girls froze up. That reaction… was definitely not normal…
Wait… what kind of misunderstanding are they having this time?
Now he was seriously curious about what kind of fish Senior Tokita was trying to buy.
Ahead of him, Iori seemed to have been struck by something and continued creeping forward. A blond-haired beast was waiting for them ahead!
This time, Shiro had carefully chosen a position where he could hear what was going on. At the same time… he got a clear look at Aina, Kohei, and Chisa's faces…
So the newbies hadn't been shopping at all. Instead, they'd gathered in a very bizarre way, and clearly hadn't read the strategy guide given by their seniors!
The three of them stood in a triangle formation… surrounding Kotobuki.
Now…
They were just waiting for him to speak!
"Give me a sexy high school girl!"
{{(°△°; "}}!!!
Aina and Kohei's faces twisted in horror. No matter how many times they heard something like this, it was just too unbelievable. Sure, this kind of thing might be legal in Japan, but openly asking for high school girls like this was way too far!
Also—why would a fish stall secretly offer that kind of service?!
Shiro held a fish encyclopedia in his hands, his expression bizarre. Even though he knew they were fish names… he still had an urge to call the cops. Why, though?
As for Iori?
From Shiro's perspective, it was like Iori had opened up all his brain pathways—he looked like he'd had a sudden realization. Shiro got a bad feeling that this guy was about to do something ridiculous again…
Unfortunately, just as Iori was about to stand up, he suddenly locked eyes with Shiro.
Both of them froze. A strange brainwave started to flow between them.
'Why the hell are you here, you bastard?!'
'We agreed to work together, partner!'
'Who's your partner, you bastard! I went out of my way to hide and you still found me?'
'Come on, Kitahara~ it's called technology~'
Shiro smugly held up his phone, showing the GPS tracking app.
The professionalism left Iori speechless—why the hell would anyone use this level of tech… just to track him?
'Let's work together, Kitahara!'
'Work together?'
'Yeah. I don't care about your motive anymore, I just want the antidote. Kohei and the others will still get poisoned otherwise!'
Shiro gave Iori a reassuring look. Deep down, he was already planning how to interrogate him once they saved Kohei and the others.
'Alright then, let's do it!'
Iori agreed—but he was already prepared to bribe Shiro with either cash or a stick if necessary.
Meanwhile, the trio had shifted their attention elsewhere. Shiro thought they were getting ready to leave (Chisa was explaining the fish code to Kohei and Aina)…
That's when he and Iori stepped out—heading straight to the same fish stall!
Just then, the trio finally understood what was going on, and under their watchful gazes, Shiro and Iori announced their plan…
"I want a poisonous fish that can knock out a full-grown man with one bite!"
"I want a fish that can cure the poison from that fish!"
"… … …"
The vendor's smile froze on his face. His veins bulged as he gripped a fish, holding back his rage with sheer willpower.
"I don't have the kind of fish you're talking about…"
"What?! Isn't this market supposed to have the largest fish variety?!"
"What?! I thought with poisons, there's always an antidote nearby!"
＼(`Δ')／
The vendor couldn't take it anymore.
"You little punks came here to mess with me, didn't you?! What kind of market would sell poisonous fish?! You think the ocean is your own personal backyard or something?!"
Seeing the fish in his hand, Shiro and Iori chose to flee on the spot. At the same time, they put a big red X over the 'Okinawa Market Services' in their minds. The vendor was raging like a totally un-Japanese person!
…
Back at the villa—
In the end, Shiro and the others only bought some basic items. Well… if you consider a pig's head "basic."
Since Shiro didn't know how to cook, he just bought an entire pig's head. And now, he was being scolded fiercely by Azusa.
"Why did you bring your friend's head back?!"
"For cooking!"
"…Do you think anyone here knows how to cook that?!"
"I do!"
(-ι_- )
Looking at Shiro's proud expression, Azusa swore—she really wanted to mount his "friend's" head right onto his own stupid neck. Who among them was qualified to cook such a thing?!
Meanwhile, Iori and Kohei were arguing again…
"Spying on people while they shop isn't a good habit!"
"Yeah, well it's better than someone trying to buy poisonous fish!"
"You were definitely planning something shady again!"
"Why don't you ask Kamishiro?! He was part of it too!"
"I wasn't! I was trying to save everyone!"
"That's not what you said at the time!"
"(′｀;)?What did I say? I didn't say anything, Kitahara~ Maybe you misunderstood my look. That look was telling you to stop~(??ω??)"
"You're scum!"
Iori was totally stunned. How could someone be this shameless? They were totally in sync earlier—brainwaves and all—and now he's denying it?!
Not human, seriously!
Damn it… the poisonous fish plan is a bust!