Her gaze is so piercing. I can't hold out much longer; I really want to just apologize...
His "dignity" as an adult compelled him to tough it out, and fortunately so—after dozens of seconds, Kyoko Sakura was the first to lose her cool.
"You! When do you have time? Let's have another match!"
"..."
Lancer was stunned for a moment. Another match? She wasn't here to cause trouble because she'd found out he'd turned into a raven and appeared outside her bathroom window?
The tension left Lancer, and his expression instantly became confident. Since she wasn't talking about that, there was no need for him to be timid. If she noticed something was off, that would be the real trouble.
However, Lancer relieved silence seemed to send the wrong signal to Kyoko. She seemed to think Lancer was being quiet because he wanted to reject her, so she unleashed her "Finishing Move."
"If you don't agree, I'll grab your hand right now and scream that you're molesting me!"
Kyoko words left Lancer rooted to the spot. He hadn't even said anything yet—what did she mean, "don't agree"? And this tactic... it was way too shameless, wasn't it?
Lancer glanced left and right. They were currently in the hospital's small garden. Because of the time of day, everyone was either in their wards or at the outpatient department; the garden was empty. It seemed unlikely there would be any witnesses to prove his innocence.
He glanced further away. There was indeed a camera, but its angle didn't seem to cover this spot. However, it had captured the footage of him pressing down on her head and leading her here...
Thinking about it carefully, if she actually screamed that, he could have a hundred mouths and still wouldn't be able to clear his name.
Suddenly, the smug pride on Kyoko Sakura's face flickered as she realized the aura of the man before her was beginning to change. If he had felt like "a strong and serious man" just moments ago, now he felt like "a dangerous man."
"You should know what happens when you provoke me, right?"
Faced with the pressure of Lancer aura, Kyoko instinctively took a step back. But then, she suddenly stomped forward and tilted her head up defiantly.
"If you want to start something here, bring it on! I've been wanting to have a proper fight with you anyway!"
What do you call a "thick-skinned rogue"?
It was probably the Kyoko Sakura standing right in front of him. Lancer was momentarily at a loss for words, eventually letting out a helpless sigh.
"Forget it. I don't want any trouble."
Lancer words made Kyoko breathe a sigh of relief. It had to be said that the pressure Lancer displayed just now had made her start to shrink back, but in the end, she chose to push back. She realized that if she retreated now, a "crack" would surely be left in her heart. It might seem like nothing normally, but it could change the tide of an entire battle.
But Lancer next sentence made her heart leap into her throat again.
"However, I have one condition."
A condition? Could it be—
Seeing the look of horror on Kyoko face, Lancer couldn't help but reach out and flick her forehead.
Thump!
Kyoko, her forehead now completely red, looked at Lancer in disbelief. She seemingly hadn't expected Lancer to actually strike her.
"A kid should act like a kid. Am I the kind of person who would lay a hand on a child?"
It had to be said that Lancer appearance, combined with years of training, had cultivated a special temperament. It made people feel intimidated, but few would think he was a "bad person." However, the current Lancer seemed to have forgotten the things he had done in the past. Regardless, he had at least managed to fool her for now.
Kyoko clutched her forehead, glaring at Lancer with annoyance. Clearly, she planned to give him a brutal lesson in their upcoming "match." She wanted to show him that looking scary didn't mean he could fight!
"So what do you want? Let me tell you first, I'm broke. I don't have anything on me except these clothes. Could it be... Wait!"
Seeing Lancer lift his right hand again and crook his middle finger, Kyoko hurriedly spoke to stop him, and Lancer lowered his hand.
"My request is something you can definitely fulfill—I want to research your 'Soul Gem'."
As Lancer words fell, Kyoko lowered her hand from her forehead and looked at Lancer with a serious expression.
"Are you serious?"
"Of course."
Lancer unhesitating answer made Kyoko gaze grow increasingly dangerous.
"Then do you know what the 'Soul Gem' means to us?"
"I know."
"Tch! That big-mouthed Kyubey! Doesn't it know how stupid it is to expose a weakness in front of a stranger?"
Seeing Kyoko curse Kyubey without reservation made him feel... kind of good.
His loathing for Kyubey was heartfelt and undisguised, so he didn't bother explaining to Kyoko that his source of information wasn't Kyubey at all. In fact, Lancer would have been delighted if Kyoko had just gone and skewered Kyubey with her spear.
However, from a certain perspective, the request Lancer made also demonstrated his seriousness. This caused Kyoko to fall into an uncharacteristic silence for a long while; after all, she usually wore an expression of pride.
Finally, she nodded.
"Fine."
If Mami Tomoe still lived in the "normal" world, then Kyoko Sakura, who had abandoned that world after her family died, understood the concept of "survival of the fittest" much better. She knew that losers had no right to speak in front of winners, just like the Witches they killed.
Did they defeat those Witches because they were "just"?
No, it was simply because they were stronger.
As for the Magical Girls who were weaker than the Witches, they were already dead.
Since when was there a rule in this world that "justice must defeat evil"? It was just that justice happened to be stronger.
So, wasn't it perfectly normal for Lancer, the victor, to demand something from the loser?
But—getting her Soul Gem wasn't going to be that simple!
Lancer hadn't expected Kyoko to look like she was practically on fire with resolve, but for him, her agreement was enough.
In fact, he had been troubled before about how to figure out the secrets of the Soul Gem without Kyubey finding out. This was like being handed a pillow just as he was getting sleepy!
Has my luck been getting better lately?
Lancer couldn't help but feel a bit happy, but he didn't let it show on his face. After all, someone was still standing right there.
"In that case, you decide the time and place?"
"Tonight for the time! As for the place... I'll come to the hospital to notify you."
Although Kyoko felt Lancer wasn't the type to tamper with the venue, it was better to be safe than sorry. She made the most prudent decision, and Lancer nodded in agreement. After all, he really didn't mind.
Lancer went back to his office to work, while Kyoko Sakura left the hospital directly. She still had some things to deal with, like Mami Tomoe and the others...