Mayo Tachibana hesitated only for a moment before agreeing to Yuu Hoshimiya's request. Since her new job was built on the foundation of martial prowess, it was only logical for her employer to gauge her combat level.
"How should we test this?" Mayo asked, glancing tentatively at the other female bodyguards standing nearby. "Do you want me to fight them?"
"No. You're fighting me," Yuu replied, shaking his head. "Use your full strength. Weapons are allowed. Fight as if you are truly trying to kill me."
Mayo looked at him in surprise, but seeing the absolute seriousness in his eyes, she gave a firm nod. She could already sense a significant gap in their power; if she couldn't see the difference, she wouldn't be a professional. Likewise, she knew Yuu wouldn't make such a request unless he was certain of his victory. When the power gap is large enough, the stronger party can control the flow of battle even if the opponent fights to the death, preventing any real accidents.
Beyond that, Mayo was genuinely curious. Yuu looked younger than her, yet he carried an aura of overwhelming confidence. She considered herself "young and talented," possessing a natural physical constitution that put her at the top tier of female assassins. Combined with her unique piano-wire technique, she had made a name for herself in the underworld. Yuu wanted to see his current limit, and Mayo wanted to see just how strong her new "Boss" really was. It was a perfect match.
They moved to the estate's training grounds—a large, open facility used by the Suzuki women and their security detail for fitness and combat drills. Without further words, once the spectators moved back, Yuu and Mayo clashed.
Mayo was indeed skilled. Within the first few exchanges, Yuu realized her combat level was a full head and shoulders above any of the other bodyguards. Her tall, large-boned frame granted her strength comparable to a man's, yet she retained a woman's innate agility.
But against the current, fully-evolved Yuu, these advantages meant nothing. Within three minutes, they had exchanged dozens of blows. Mayo realized with growing dread that she was being completely suppressed. Strength, speed, reflexes—she was outclassed in every category.
Gritting her teeth after a particularly desperate block, she managed to spring back, creating distance to draw her secret weapon.
As the voluptuous "Big Rig" of a woman took her stance, Yuu's playful demeanor vanished. He had allowed her to create distance on purpose. In hand-to-hand combat, Mayo's moves were nothing but child's play to him because it was virtually impossible for her to land a hit. However, things were different now. Those razor-sharp steel wires could cause serious injury if he slipped up for even a second. No matter how enhanced his body was, flesh and blood could not compete with sharpened high-tensile wire.
Yuu focused on dodging, waiting for an opening. Unlike swords or spears, the wires were erratic and difficult to read. In Mayo's hands, they seemed alive, whipping through the air with lethal grace, momentarily forcing Yuu onto the defensive.
But while the wires were fluid, they were still a fraction of a second slower than Yuu's reactions. As time passed, Mayo's stamina began to flag. The frequency of her strikes slowed, a deliberate move to lure Yuu into a pre-woven wire trap.
She underestimated his explosiveness.
Sensing a microscopic gap in the web of steel, Yuu lunged forward. Mayo tried to snap the wires shut, but a sharp pain shot through her wrist as Yuu struck it, and she suddenly found herself airborne.
Clang!
The specialized rings fell to the floor, echoing in the hall, followed by a dull thud as Yuu executed a perfect shoulder throw, slamming the heavy, busty body of the hitwoman onto the mats.
The silent impact marked the end of the bout. Yuu wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead, finally having a clear understanding of his current standing. He could crush stone with his bare fists, but he still couldn't ignore weapons like Makoto Kyogoku could. Then again, Makoto was a monster who dodged rifle bullets.
He realized his progress in unarmed combat was entering a plateau. To see another surge in lethality, mastering a weapon was the logical next step.
Yuu glanced at the steel rings on the floor. He wondered if he should learn to use them; their concealability and lethality were impressive.
He reached down and pulled the dazed Mayo to her feet. "Mayo, can you teach me how to use those wires?"
Mayo winced as she stood. Yuu hadn't held back on that last throw. If she hadn't been a trained martial artist with a sturdy build, she wouldn't have been able to get up at all. His strength was terrifying.
"Boss... I wouldn't recommend learning this," she panted, clutching her aching back.
Yuu blinked, finding the title "Boss" surprisingly stimulating. No wonder Renya Karasuma liked hiding in the shadows; being addressed as Boss felt quite good.
"My name is Yuu Hoshimiya," he corrected. "Try not to call me Boss in public." He didn't want to draw the Black Organization's attention by using the same title as their leader.
"Understood, Hoshimiya-sama," Mayo said, adjusting quickly. "I use wires because I have a specific talent for them. If you want to master a weapon, I highly recommend Kendo."
She wasn't withholding information; she simply didn't know how to teach it. Her use of wires was purely instinctual, a talent she had refined on her own. She recommended Kendo for several reasons: it was the most systematic weapon art in Japan, it was legally easy to carry a sword (or something resembling one), and the skills were incredibly versatile.
In Japan, almost anything long and sturdy—a stick, a branch, or even a pair of chopsticks—could be wielded using Kendo principles. If Yuu had a plastic pipe in his hand today, he could have easily parried her wires and ended the fight even faster.
Yuu checked Mayo's stats with his system. [Gossamer Fingers (Blue)]: Slightly enhances hand flexibility; makes it easier to master delicate and intricate manual techniques.
Her talent specifically boosted her manual dexterity, giving her finer "micro-control" than even Yuu possessed. Since her advice made sense, Yuu decided he would spend some time at a Kendo dojo after his Karate sessions.
"I understand," Yuu said, looking at her with satisfaction. "Go rest for now. There's a doctor on the estate if you need one."
"No need... it just hurt for a second. I'm much better now," Mayo replied with a stiff, awkward smile. It had been a rough few days: a car crash, an arrest, and now a beating from her new employer.
He gestured for a mature maid to lead Mayo to her new room. Her formal employment contract, salary, and duties would be discussed with Tomoko Suzuki later that night.
As Mayo turned to leave, she gave a slight bow. Whether intentional or not, her deep cleavage and the valley between her massive breasts were presented directly to Yuu, giving him a spectacular view.
Damn, those 'headlights' are huge and white... Yuu thought, watching her sexy, long-legged figure walk away. He found himself wondering how quickly he could "drive" this high-end rig and get her to sign a Covenant.
From her demeanor, he could tell she wasn't a "loose" woman—a fact confirmed by his practiced eye. Despite her incredible body and the high-stress life of an assassin, she was still a virgin. It was a rare find. He decided to let Tomoko finish the background check before making his move.
He didn't stay long at the manor. All the women there were already marked with "Chains," and if he stayed, he'd be busy fucking until dawn. Right now, he was more focused on gathering Fate Power, and since "mobs" didn't provide any, his libido was momentarily directed toward higher goals.
By evening, he arrived back at his apartment. He now essentially owned all three units on the 26th floor. 2602 was his primary home, while 2601 served as the Kisaki Law Office and Eri and Ran's residence. 2603 was usually vacant, kept for when Sonoko or other guests stayed over.
As he opened the door to 2602, he heard the melodic laughter of Ran and Seimi Asai in the kitchen. Ever since Ran's father had been "divorced" and she moved into the luxury of the apartment, she found herself with much more free time. She frequently helped Seimi prepare the group's dinners.
The atmosphere was warm and domestic. As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of deep crimson, Eri and Midori Kuriyama returned from work. They naturally gathered at Yuu's unit, washing up and waiting for the meal.
Soon, the table was laden with delicious food. The combined culinary skills of Ran and Seimi were a match made in heaven, filling the room with mouth-watering aromas and a sense of genuine belonging.