Though the days were getting colder, it wouldn't stop Mahoro and her daughter to go outside and spend some time in the park. As it appeared, little Mikoto was able to have some fun when being on the swings, which is all that Mahoro needed to be happy. Until a moment came that a man approached her. At first she wouldn't think anything of him, until he started speaking to her.
"Nice day, is it not?" he said, although he didn't sound like he wanted to hear Mahoro's thoughts about the weather.
Though there was this air about him that Mahoro couldn't quite place, she decided to tag along for the time being: "I'm used to different climates."
The man didn't say anything until a few seconds later: "So I hear. You're not from around here, are you?"
Some time later, we find the three of the Abarangers on their way to the Dino-House. Namely Ryouga, Yukito and Ranru. Having done what they had to do, each and everyone of them, they returned together. Ryouga was talking about what happened with Mai at school, but it wouldn't take long before the mood changed.
"... and then she came in between them so they'd stop fighting." Ryouga had only just said.
"Sounds like she's turning into a big girl." Ranru stated, "Maybe she won't need you anymore pretty soon."
"I should hope not." Ryouga laughed, until he noticed something about Yukito, "Now, you've been unusually quiet. Even to your standards."
Yukito looked at Ryouga for a moment, then turned his head away when replying: "I met this strange man earlier today."
Both Ryouga and Ranru showed some form of amazement on their faces, before Ranru decided to ask: "What kind of a man?"
"A tall one, wearing a long plaid coat and a plaid hat." Yukito described him.
That's when the other two were completely surprised, but Ryouga was the first to talk: "I met that guy too! He saw me with Mai, asked me how I feel about being a father, but somehow, the conversation took a different turn."
"He then started to ask about Akakuro with you too?" Ranru asked.
"Yes." Ryouga replied, "Why? Did he talk to you too?"
After Ranru nodded, Yukito deduced: "So somebody's trying to gather information about Doyle."
"But why?" Ranru asked, "Why would anyone be interested?"
"Someone's trying to find him?" Ryouga wondered, "Like his loved ones?"
"Or, since Doyle is an experiment to begin with..." Yukito realized, "... someone might want some more up-to-date info on him."
"Hammond..." Ranru whispered.
"Either way, it's best if we warn everyone." Ryouga decided.
The other two nodded, after which they set out to run back to the Dino-House.
Just as they arrived, Mahoro and Mikoto just arrived as well.
"Great, you're here." she sounded relieved, "There's this man I met in the park."
"Tall with plaid clothes?" Ryouga asked her, "We've met him too."
"But you didn't lose him." Yukito remarked as he pointed somewhere behind Mahoro.
And indeed, there stood the man in question, but he didn't appear to be intimidated at all: "Well... I was hoping to meet all of you at once one day."
"Are you another minion of Hammond?" Ranru asked him.
The man had a mixed expression on his face, before he answered: "Let's talk about that inside, shall we?"
"No!" Ranru stepped forward, as she raised her arm that had her Dino-brace. The other two followed her example.
"So you know him." Ryouga said, "Then there's no way we're letting you in."
In unison, the three shouted: "Bakuryuu Change!"
Disclaimer: other than the characters "Doyle" and "Hammond", characters used here are either owned by Toei Company, or based/inspired on the character originally created by Arthur Conan Doyle.