<Nocturnal Harmonia>

[Bloodedge]

"Then relatively, you will collapse under the weight of your own incompetence when you're in a Red Gate that started as a B-rank expedition," Daisuke responded. If this girl was being scouted in truth, there were things that needed addressing. Unrealized potential was disgusting in a world that offered power with firmly-established ceilings. Those with skills that could be used to surpass their normal limitations could not be left to rest on their laurels if they were also going to take action on emergency calls. When given instruction to confront the High Orc boss, Ai complained immediately. Rangers belonged on the outside? Ludicrous. "Fool! Do you think speed like yours is only good for running away to get a proper angle? If a bullet can stun at a distance, what do you think that same bullet will do at point-blank range?" he asked rhetorically.

What Daisuke saw of Ai's speed told him she could surely manage more of a higher-risk, significantly higher reward approach. She wouldn't be at the receiving end of a High Orc's sexual assault today ─ not with those moves and the way she bounced one bullet off another to artfully strike the boss's left eye. "Like I said... Ricochet," he reiterated for the other girl, who was now effectively in the boss's blind spot while it angrily flailed about. The beast attempted to swing its left axe horizontally in Ai's direction, but a few things were in place now. That axe didn't even manage a 90 degree arc before its rear-facing blade was grabbed by Daisuke's right hand, halting its forward momentum. Also in its blind spot by proxy now, Daisuke looked up to see the grimacing creature's tusks "H'oh? Teeth like that are like one of those goals in American Football. How convenient," he commented. Daisuke had a few more words for Ai yet ─ a gift of sorts. "Step one is covering for the unawakened girl walking through the Dungeon. Step two is knowing that if one's strengths are her legs, eyes and technology, the most effective tactic would involve using all three for a singular purpose. Step three?"

[Apollymi]

Ishigami Daisuke the man who always had to have the last word. That's how Ai would remember him forever as he seemed so content to tell her flaws her life contained. She was more than a little aware of how her limitations worked, still... he was rather content to discuss these things as if she was going to walk into a dungeon alone. "Uh-huh, just gonna log that away with the rest of the information you've given me today," Ai stated, which was an honest thing but mostly just her holding on to not telling a National Hunter to shove it. Did she think her speed was only for running around for a better angle? No... did she want to put herself within firing distance of rapids creatures? No. "I am aware of how magic bullets work, yes." Ai mentioned casually.

Still, it would seem that Ai was more than a little aware of how her powers worked. Why? Well, she rather easily completed the task asked of her. It was pretty natural to follow the directions of the most powerful Hunter in a group, if only because it kept people out of danger for the most part. That dark haired girl watched with a smile on her face seeming to find this girl's sass to be appropriately placed and a good match in general. "Well, I guess when she can move like that it's sensible. That is at least part of why I keep you around~" the girl said seemingly impressed with the other lass and the blonde man. Still there was a mention from Daisuke that this creature had a mouth like a field goal, Ai had recently seen a video of a football being crushed by a hydraulic press. "Goal!~" A gentle double tap of the trigger got Ai spinning in the air and shooting that same magic bullet through the teeth of the creature in question right between its tusks into its mouth and up into the top of it's head as if she planned to fry it's brain with the high property electricity. With that done, her body fell back towards the ground.

[Bloodedge]

"Do so. When the Association expects the impossible of you, that information will save your life," Daisuke said, looking toward the blonde lass as if he knew her fate. Whether she liked hearing what he had to say or not, he felt that information would become important someday. When he reiterated the name 'Ricochet', his observations were credited as a reason the younger lass kept him around. "Hmph. A small part, no doubt," he added while effortlessly holding the Orc's axe at bay.

It was Ai's time to shine once more. What would she choose to do? Into the air she went again, one bullet launching her and another aiming between the High Orc's tusks to electrocute its brain directly. The boss wailed, and Daisuke sighed. "Almost," he said simply. If nothing else, the boss was now releasing its hold on that left axe. As gravity tried to take its hold, Daisuke lifted a foot to kick the flat of it. That kick launched the weapon into the air while the boss fought against electrocution, seeming like it would be airborne for a few moments yet. "Should I spell it out? Your legs are as much a weapon as the one you're carrying. This would have been more impactful." With that said, Daisuke leaped up, kicking the boss's face with enough restraint to tilt it upward. That same kick launched Daisuke away with an artful backflip. "Off the axe. Down the throat. Now," he ordered, knowing the axe would be showing its flat end overhead in just a moment. Without gravity working against the bullet, he reasoned that Ai's shot could properly shred the beast from within ─ especially with gravity used as a weapon instead.

[Apollymi]

Somehow, Ai found this man's advice to be something like the kind a more experienced person gave a rookie in their crew. Whether he meant them that way or not, though he wasn't the kind of veteran you liked talking to, he was the type you eventually respected. She'd lived enough of a life, "I don't like prophetic imagery. I didn't ask for weird life, it's weird enough..." Ai mentioned. Like practically going blind at the start of all this and then carrying on to have to become a fighting specialist. Whatever the case, the brown haired girl mentioned that she kept this man around because of his naming ability. "Well we all know what the big part is, Goldie~" the girl said with a flirty tone. Well, her life wasn't at all in danger and she was more than well aware. At the same time, she got to witness the personal growth of an individual. Not many people could take the advice of Ishigami Daisuke. Egos tended to get in the way, just the same growth potential couldn't be wasted, it was early on in this whole reverse isekai situation but it would be better not to lose someone potentially as good as Hayasaka Ai.

Whatever the case, Ai's moment to shine was cut a bit short. Not exactly the sort of finish she'd expected, but this was a boss creature. 'Almost', that was what he had to say, in before he went on a fuller explanation. He claimed she should be using the strength of her legs in addition to her using more gravity and to get through the situation. "That's actually pretty decent advice," Ai thought. Well, with human targets she likely would have gone the way of the body usage, but she could at least see the potential... especially if she increased the usefulness of her armor and her gun at short range. Well, she could make that adjustment a bit later, she was planning a little something after getting her hands on that phone for some more extensive study. Ah, but what about the kicks actually performed by Daisuke? Those were pretty strong indeed and then a demand for a specific kind of shot. "Hai." A singular shot in was launched directly into the axe she could see the flat of, from her current angle which would have the bullet ricocheting off the side of that axe down into the wailing mouth of the creature. "Oh, interesting way to go... unconventional tactics~" the brown haired girl claimed nodding her head.

[Bloodedge]

Someone not liking prophetic imagery was of no concern to Ishigami Daisuke. As for life being 'weird enough' as Ai put it, things wouldn't be getting any more normal going forward. "Quitter's mentality. Become exceptional, and life will bend to your will," Daisuke declared, as though sharing his own experiences from earlier years. With that, he moved on to what he'd deem the much more important topic: the 'big part' as it were. "Do we? Tell the world, why don't you?" he teased openly, grinning toward the lass.

Following his flip off the High Orc's face, Daisuke appeared to descend toward the ground as if gravity didn't even want to hold him. He landed softly just as that bullet was flying down the beast's throat, sending its body into a restrained seizure. The orc struggled, but its internal organs would not handle the electrocution in addition to that bullet tearing through its innards. Internal bleeding, electrocution and a bit of damage to its already insignificant brain would have the boss on its knees, motionless apart from dropping the other axe. Daisuke stood before it, reaching up to swipe the brown fur from around its neck. "I'd say this is more than enough to make a few variations. Two of each, at least. You never know if they might be torn to bits," he quipped. Ah, but he wasn't quite done with Ai yet either. "For a boss like this, that sort of speed for a kill would be normal for one of the weaker S-ranks. The world determines how limited someone's power is. You've already told it what you think of its rules once, right? Keep doing it."

[Apollymi]

A quitter's mentality, is what Ishigami Daisuke thought of one like Hayasaka Ai, she'd disagree. She wasn't a quitter, she was an introvert forced into way too many social interactions for her own good. "Ah, yes, no good sales pitch is complete without the 'surpass your limits' speech~" Ai mentioned almost casually, making that brown haired girl chuckle instead. All Ai wanted was to hang out in her room, read and write her stories and eat apple butter from a jar, but here she was, killing an A-rank boss orc in the middle of the night because the resident S-rank was going through a sales pitch. "Of course we do, you practically tell the whole world yourself every time you breathe~" the brown haired girl mentioned which of course would have Ai agreeing. It was obvious to every woman in the world that this man had to be above reproach in every single way, if not some jealous man or crazed woman would have posted his nudes all over the internet and punctured a hole the size of the sun in his bravado.

Ah but here they were, a High Orc falling to an A-rank hunter just because she didn't have to deal with the riffraff and with a bit of coaching. With his furs grabbed up Daisuke seemed to have nothing negative to say about the felling of the beast. In fact he was more concerned with flirting with the teen girl who technically counted as his boss. That same brown haired girl would only chuckle. "Oh? Feeling frisky today? Well, I always have a few things made when I can..." she claimed as if it was no big deal. As if she wasn't simply talking about having clothing ripped off her person in a sexual situation. The world had to have fallen into debauchery or something. After the morning she'd had... Ai wouldn't even be surprised. 'I don't know if I should be aghast or assume that this part is for me as part of the sales pitch too. I feel like I should blame Mi-tan for even thinking that could be what anyone else could think...' Ai thought as she shook her head free and let that gun come to rest over her shoulders while she stretched her spine. Of course, his observations brought the girl with her covered eyes a bit of pause, she found herself looking in his direction blatantly her eyes closed beneath her visor but that being enough to dim him a bit so he didn't overwhelm her senses. "I didn't plan to stop... I've got my own plans after all..." she stated smugly. Of course, she wasn't without an understanding of the situation so she bowed her head. "Thanks for the pointers."

[Bloodedge]

"I don't make sales pitches," Daisuke corrected. In all truth, him urging the girl to surpass her limits was a matter for her own benefit. Whether she joined the guild he associated himself with or not, he would have given such advice. "Do as you will with your own life. If you want a sales pitch, let it be one. If not, take the advice anyway and be better next time," he concluded. However he looked, Ishigami Daisuke had always been one to align himself with society, being the example, placing himself on an unreachable podium to the benefit of those who dared to climb it. Some could even say his personality demanded his awakening, hence his current connection to the brown-haired girl. "Humans are an ignorant bunch. Some might need it spelled out in big neon letters."

Whatever Ai thought of his speeches, anyone with sense in their mind would take Daisuke's advice. It seemed, at present, she had such sense. No intention of stopping her growth existed, according to the young woman herself. With her bow and words of gratitude offered, Daisuke merely grinned, smugly as always."A Hunter's job is to protect the people. Telling other Hunters how to help themselves and others should be considered part of that same job, shouldn't it?" he asked rhetorically. Without another moment of hesitation, he turned to the brunette once more. "Now, since I am apparently playing chauffeur today, where's the next whim taking us?" he asked. All the while, Rikuya was finally arriving at the proper location just to find... nothing resembling a Dungeon Break in the area. That was strange. Surely he had the right place, right? He patted his pockets, checking for a smartphone that wasn't there... realizing he'd never actually picked it up. 'Damn, I forgot it again! I'll have to check Leblanc for it in the morning. There's probably going to be a misunderstanding about that too...'

[Apollymi]

Apparently, Ishigami Daisuke didn't make sales pitches. Well, if his activities weren't part of a targeted marketing ploy to have the one called Trigger join his guild, then she was uniquely surprised. 'Sou ka, he's the entire world's standoffish big bro...' Ai decided at the end of his speech. She supposed that much like the 'Tiger Dad' archetype there were bound to be many that enjoyed his backhanded compliments and gruffer manner of speech. She could even see in her minds eye, those who would try to impress him to get a proper positive word out of him... as impossible as such a task might seem. "Hai hai," Ai managed seeming to be her usual self. Of course, the brown haired girl could only chuckle as he spoke of the ignorance of humans. "I don't think a bigger sign is needed~" she flirted just as easily and once again Ai agreed. Not an ounce of humility existed in that man's soul and she was sure it wouldn't without some crazy journey the likes of which was normally only seen in novels.

Whatever the case, Daisuke claimed that sharing such information was something he saw as a part of his job as a hunter. Though he questioned these things rhetorically, Ai could tell he was being earnest. "Hai hai, sounds about right..." she managed. Whatever the case, it seemed that pair was about to leave and Ai figured she should be maintaining the rest of the perimeter and alerting HQ about the status of the Dungeon. "Hmm, well if you wanna play at chauffeur I say we could go by the dealership. I got a new one sitting out front and a joyride sounds delightful while we wait on the new fit~" whatever she meant by that there were several underlying words that made it sound sexual. "I'll check in a couple more times until your contract is up~ Call me if you make up your mind before then~" the girl offered seeming to not care that she'd not given her number at all. But she knew the tech types. Part of the test was gaining access to the private number of the heiress. "Hai hai~" Ai offered as her head turned, she could see another incoming, with a presence that felt almost familiar now that she'd been in contact with it again. "I'll take care of the clean up, ja ne~" she offered knowing that she didn't expect this pair to stick around for very long. At the same time, she began casually wandering towards the next S-rank individual, wondering if perhaps she could put off having to report directly to HQ.

[Bloodedge]

For the next leg of a journey, the brown-haired lass spoke of picking up a new car and... going for a joyride. Such a suggestion was at least two things at once coming from her, and both were of interest to the man. "Hmph! If I'm going to reduce myself to that for the evening, I'll have to make some additional demands for compensation," he said, extending a hand toward the girl. Oddly enough, his offered hand was held sideways as opposed to palm-up. He didn't expect her to take it with her own. He had no further words to offer Ai, merely accepting that she would deal with the more boring side of things. Ah, but maybe she wouldn't? She had Rikuya in her sights after separating from the others. Since he was just wandering around stunned by the lack of Dungeon activity, perhaps they could help each other...

Meanwhile, there was a new arrival at Leblanc... or rather, a returning face. The black-haired young man identified within the System as Amamiya Ren, was walking through the front door in relative silence. A simple backpack was slung over his shoulder, his hair was slightly damp, and his body seemed relaxed. He turned around immediately after entering, not taking note of anything happening inside right away. No, it seemed he had the purpose of ensuring the door was locked before he handled anything else inside.

Of course, things were still progressing at the current residence of Kaguya. In fact... an unconscious Miyuki upstairs was stirring to consciousness randomly, hearing the slightest commotion in his drunken sleep. Perhaps that was due to the change of location downstairs? Yugi had no intention of keeping Kaguya within one room for the whole night, after all. But... where were they now, and why was Miyuki stirring?

[Apollymi]

"Oh no~ I'll have to compensate you~ Whatever will I do~" the pure sarcasm coming from that brown haired girl would only be marked further by her standing in front of that sideways stretched hand with her rear turned towards it. With Ai having said her goodbyes and knowing what was going on, this girl was easily able to do whatever she wanted. Just the same, Ai herself was in a casual movement towards one Akechi Rikuya, with a bit more of a discerning eye. "Yo!~ Seems like you're a bit late to the party~" Ai greeted the lad, knowing who he was by reputation and looks alone and only further confirming that his mana reminded her of Iino Miko.

Meanwhile at Leblanc one Iino Miko was actually dressed again and writing a note. After finding Akechi's phone while she was cleaning up the booth, she'd decided to leave it on the counter and write a note, instead of going about any of the other dozens of ways she might have returned it to him. It simply didn't seem right to place it in his inventory, given she'd not told him about the functionality. Nor did she really want to risk the gift of it popping up with her actual name attached. No matter all was well, until while she was writing the last character of that note, someone walked in. It wasn't until the door lock clicked that she looked up. While she'd managed to clean up the floor and most of the booth itself, she'd not gotten to the table top yet. "Kuso!♪~" she chirped as she moved away from the counter to go back to the table, wanting toget it cleaned off before she made eye contact with anyone.

At the same time, the pair who'd once been occupying the piano room downstairs had moved. No longer were they quietly able to keep up their tryst in the privacy of a sound proof room, no, Kaguya was currently being stretched over the back of Miyuki's arm chair in the living room. One of her legs up in the air and the other down towards the ground her toes just barely allowing her to keep her balance. The sound of their bodies colliding was lightly echoing as Kaguya moaned. "Oooah♥~ It's so rough, if you do it like that I won't be able to stop~ I'll end up passed out again~" she moaned as if being railed in such a position wasn't exactly what she'd asked for.