Chapitre 32: By the Seashore
"Sorry, it was my mistake," Suguru Geto admitted regretfully. He had been warned to protect Miri Kuroi but underestimated her value to their opponents.
"It's not that big of a mistake," Satoru Gojo reassured his friend.
Sōjun Minamoto added, "The target is Tengen. We still have the initiative. Miri should be safe for now."
"So, as per the plan, we'll escort Riko Amanai to the school. Sōjun, you'll act as her double, right?" Gojo looked at Sōjun. "Your technique should allow you to mimic her appearance."
After a moment of silence, Sōjun nodded but shifted his gaze to Riko Amanai. The three men fell silent.
As expected...
"W-wait!" Riko exclaimed. "I'm coming along for the exchange!"
"Because I still don't trust you!"
Gojo rubbed his forehead. "This brat... still throwing tantrums at a time like this…"
"Even if you can rescue Miri, what if…" Riko interrupted him but then lowered her head. "...what if you can't bring her back before assimilation?"
"I... I haven't even said goodbye to her."
She clenched the hem of her clothes, her voice trembling.
The three exchanged glances.
"…"
"The kidnappers will likely contact us soon. If bringing you along reduces Miri's chances of survival, we'll have to leave you behind," Gojo said decisively.
"For now, Sōjun, prepare to disguise yourself as Riko, all right?"
Sōjun nodded.
"Wha—wait! Does that mean I can come?" Riko's eyes lit up as she wiped away tears.
"If you get scared midway and want to turn back, we won't care," Gojo warned, giving her a side glance. "Prepare yourself mentally."
"Got it. That's fine," Riko replied, gripping her phone tightly. All that mattered was seeing Miri again.
…
At 9 PM, the kidnappers finally sent their message. Riko was the first to check her phone.
"They want the exchange to happen in Okinawa?!" she exclaimed, looking at the others with urgency. "Let's go quickly!"
"Riko, calm down," Suguru placed a hand on her shoulder, meeting her gaze. "Don't fall into their rhythm and lose focus. As long as you're still here, they won't dare act rashly."
"But…" Riko forced herself to calm down, not wanting to disrupt the group's plan.
"I'll head out first to scout the situation," Sōjun stood up.
From his body emerged a larger version of Riko, who flexed her arms to test their strength before laughing and approaching the real Riko. With every step, her form shrank until she became indistinguishable from her.
"Give me your phone," the doppelgänger said, extending her hand.
Dumbfounded, Riko handed over her phone to the clone.
Taking it, Sōjun dispelled the transformation, exchanged a glance with the others, and they reached a tacit understanding.
His mission was to gather intel, create confusion, and, if the opportunity arose, rescue Miri directly.
…
The Next Day
At 9 AM, Gojo, Suguru, and Riko arrived in Okinawa.
Eyes puffy and clearly anxious, Riko rushed out of the airport and immediately spotted Miri Kuroi standing beside Sōjun.
Covering her mouth with her hand, she ran toward Miri, and they embraced tightly.
"Thank you!" Suguru approached Sōjun.
"Why are you thanking me? Protecting her is our mission," Sōjun replied.
"Even so…"
"You're such a weirdo, Mr. Weird Bangs." Sōjun waved dismissively.
Suguru squinted but decided to let it go, given his good mood.
"That was quick," Gojo joined them, nudging Sōjun with his elbow. "No trouble?"
"When I found them, they were still daydreaming about their 'future.' I cleaned up. No interrogation value—killed some, let others go…"
"In any case, the matter is temporarily resolved. We just need to escort Riko back to the school by tomorrow night," Sōjun said, clapping his hands together. He scanned the airport and noticed several suspicious individuals, his expression growing puzzled. "What's going on?"
"Don't worry. We're not the only ones in Okinawa," Suguru remarked with a raised brow.
Sōjun understood.
"Well then, with plenty of time and the perfect location... Let's hit the beach!" Gojo exclaimed, throwing his arms around the other two.
"??"
"I agree!!" Riko's eyes sparkled.
Their rescue mission turned into a vacation itinerary.
…
As a tropical destination, Okinawa boasts pleasant weather year-round, especially during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November).
Currently, it was mid-to-late March, and parts of the islands already felt like summer. And when summer comes to mind, so does the beach—sunshine, sand, and waves. Who could refuse?
Sōjun changed into beachwear: a shirt and shorts covered in golden sunflower prints.
The others also donned swimsuits, drawing attention with their muscular builds and striking appearances.
Feeling hungry, Sōjun scanned the area and spotted a small street vendor with a sign for "Grilled Squid Cakes."
He approached, casting a shadow over the cart. Behind it sat a woman in her thirties wearing a sunhat, who kept glancing at the crowd nervously.
"Hi, I'll take one," Sōjun said politely.
The woman, noticing his gaze, quickly lowered her head. "S-sure, right away."
Realizing she was one of the school's undercover agents, Sōjun averted his eyes, focusing on the cart.
The woman sighed in relief, then grabbed two metal plates, sandwiching squid coated in batter and egg wash before placing them on the grill.
The aroma of grilled squid soon wafted through the air, whetting appetites.
She opened the plates to reveal flattened, crispy squid cakes, brushed them with sauce, folded them in half, and handed them over...
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État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone