Episode 23: "The Reward"

Yo Kuronaka
"W-We did it..."

Yo dropped his shoulders, tension finally leaving him. He'd survived his first death game.
Not only that, but he'd avenged the Manager.
His heart swelled, having finally repaid someone who'd shown him kindness.

Yutaka Gotanda
"Thank you, Kuronaka.
We were able to avenge the Shinagawa Tribe thanks to your efforts."

Minami Oi
"I can't even imagine how to begin thanking you."

It seemed as though Yutaka and Minami felt the same gratefulness.
They'd been able to finally avenge their old home by defeating Kazuma.
Fulfillment was clearly etched in their face.

Tsuki and the rest regained their fervor, celebrating their victory.
Yo watched on as a gentle smile crossed his lips. It was peaceful, and he wanted to cherish it.

Much as he wanted it, said peace would have to be short-lived.
Because yet more cruel layoffs would occur at the end of the week. In the same plaza they now stood upon.

Even if Ichinose was gone, who knew if the one to replace him would be better, or if they'd just follow suit?
Someone just like Kazuma could rise and yet again control Shinagawa City through fear.

Some of the more jaded members of the group seemed to know that already.
The only ones still openly celebrating were those whose childlike innocence remained untouched.

Yo was snapped away from his rumination by a small, black hole opening besides him.

Zero
"Congratulations on your XG victory, Yo!
And I'll have to hand it to you! That acting was BAD! Worthy of a Razzero Award!"

Yo turned toward the voice only to be met by Zero, embodying his ugly-cute plushie appearance.
He'd likely been watching from somewhere else. As soon as he popped up, he started rattling off empty praises for the individual group members.
Yo simply sighed, his eyes drifting to look over at Yutaka and Minami. The both of them seemed bewildered, having never seen Zero's plushie form before.

Yo Kuronaka
"I can still barely take you seriously... But I hope you remember our promise."

Zero
"Of course I do! You're talking about your reward, no? I'd never make a promise I didn't intend to keep!
So, what will it be? If I were you, I'd want a lifetime supply of Shinagawa City's best food!"

Yo Kuronaka
"No. I don't need that.
What I wish for... is that you abolish this city's governing rules."

The group stirred, uneasy.

Yo had been clear. He would ask for Sui's location, and everyone else had respected his decision.
But now his mind seemed to have changed, and the group couldn't have been more surprised.

Tsuki Iroha
"Uh, hey, Yo. What about Sui?"

Tsuki was also one of Sui's childhood friends. Of course she'd be worried about his sudden change of mind.

Yo Kuronaka
"Sui is still a priority, don't worry. But I can't stand to leave the city's governing rules as they stand. I can't let more and more people die.
So... that's why I can't wish for anything other than abolishing the rules."

Yo's tone was serious and spoke to his unyielding determination. Tsuki nodded, understanding how he felt and thoroughly agreeing.

Tsuki Iroha
"I think that's a good idea!
I mean, we can't find Sui if we die, right?"

Yo Kuronaka
"Thank you. For understanding."

Relieved to have earned Tsuki’s agreement, Yo sighed as his expression softened.

Zero, however, didn't seem too fond of the idea.
Those were HIS governing rules, after all. He'd designed them himself.
He wouldn't be all too eager to just let that system be erased.

Zero
"Huuuh? But that would be dismantling the whole game!
And everyone in this city loooves it so much! You would just be a killjoy if you got in the way of everyone's fun!"

Tsuruko Semba
"That's not true!
The only one who enjoyed it was Kazuma!"

Zero
"Well, who knows! You don't know what you have until you lose it!"

Tsuruko Semba
"We can't win if you're just gonna twist everything we say..."

Zero
"Stiiill...I can't just let you go and stop the game here! Why don't you wish for something else?"

Yo Kuronaka
"So much for not making any promises you don't intend to keep."

Zero
"Well, I never intended to keep that one!
I have to agree to the wish, too!"

Yutaka Gotanda
"There's no end to the mental gymnastics you go through to justify yourself."

Zero's childish refusal irritated Yo.

(If I could just tear you to pieces now, I would...
But he's the only way we can get that reward.)

This was a conundrum for Yo.
How could they get Zero to go along with him?

Yo Kuronaka
"So, what if we just set different governing rules, then?"

Hyakuichitaro Senju
"Different how?"

Eiji Todoroki
"Hah! Let me guess. You'll go for that, won't you?"

As his companions gasped in realization, Yo nodded firmly.

Yo Kuronaka
"Yes. Let's get rid of the governing rules from here on and let everyone in the city play XB as a game!"

If there was a weakness to Zero, it was his love for games.
Yo decided he would use that obsession against him.

(But Zero's the one who replaced XB with the governing rules...)

Would this really work?

A shrill voice sliced through the tense atmosphere.

Zero
"Aww, Yo! You're suuuch a charmer!
You're still thinking of the last XB match we had together, aren't you?!
Right-o! I'll abolish Shinagawa City's governing rules and bring XB back!"

Zero was ecstatic, his tail eagerly wagging from side to side so fast he might spin away like a helicopter.
It surprised Yo just how badly he could misunderstand when his intentions were clear, but as long as Zero was cooperating, he'd just leave it at that. If anything, it should've been his approach from the start.

Zero plunged his arm back into the black hole as if rummaging through a toy box and pulled something out that looked like a magic wand. He proceeded to wave it up in the air.

Zero
"Suck-up☆Layoff☆Survive no more!
Hocus Pocus, may everyone enjoy XB with us!"

As if conjured by his silly little chant, paper confetti began falling down over Shinagawa City.
Red, white, yellow, and blue. A colorful rainfall surrounded them, everyone staring off in awe.

The confetti rained down on the CEO.

As it landed on him, he tumbled over, landing with a heavy thud. The very symbol of 'Suck-up☆Layoff☆Survive' was no more.

Tsuruko Semba
"The CEO is down... So this really means it's over!

Tsuki Iroha
"Yaaay!
Now the people of Shinagawa City won't have to suffer anymore!"

Yutaka Gotanda
"Thank you so much!!!
Kuronaka, you are the hero of this city!"

At last, the governing rules that loomed over Shinagawa City had met their end.

They'd done it. They'd won.

Yo pumped his fist in the air.
With that, the tension all around was gone, replaced with overwhelming joy.
Yutaka was, clearly, the one in the group most excited about it all.
He rushed toward Yo, slipped his hands under Yo's arms, and lifted him high into the air.

He may have done something similar to Hyakuichitaro before, but this felt more intense.
Yutaka happily tossed Yo into the air over and over, each time catching him with ease.
It was as if a parent was playing with their child.

Yo Kuronaka
"H-Hey! Mr. Gotanda! This is embarrassing!"

Yutaka Gotanda
"Nonsense!
If anything, it's not high enough to celebrate my bliss, but I might need more people for that!"

Q
"Hmm... Maybe I could help there."

Minami Oi
"Heehee! Oh, why don't you indulge us a little, Mr. Kuronaka?
It's rare to see Mr. Gotanda this happy."

Yo Kuronaka
"I-I know, but...!"

Yo's ears turned a scarlet red.
He was happy that everyone else was celebrating, of course.
But this was too much for him. To a mortifying extent.

Not to mention, those two were definitely not enjoying the sight with any grace.

Hyakuichitaro Senju
"Ahahahahaha! You look like a freakin' baby!"

Eiji Todoroki
"This is delightful!
Once NINE comes back online, I'm definitely telling Aoyama and the others about this!"

Yo Kuronaka
"P-Please don't! Anything but that! I'm begging you!"

Yo begged for them to stop, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.
If anything, they took the chance to snap candid photo after candid photo of Yo being tossed into the air. Laughter permeated the place.