In the VIP club of Maverick's Sweet Tower, Sasagawa Ryohei tapped his cell phone against his lips. He was aware that Hayato didn't like number nineteen since he'd given the guy the hardest list, but this was beginning to get odd. Not only had he gotten Tonno's approval, but he'd gotten Charlie's approval and he'd somehow managed to get Gregory to leave his parish. On top of that, he'd managed to drink a full shot of V Special without being knocked out, which was a feat one could only manage with a very strong active Flame.
He could see why Charlie had called him.
"Is anything wrong, Ryohei?" Tan, his white tanuki partner, asked.
"Number nineteen is walking around with his Dying Will active," he said. As soon as the words left his mouth, Ryohei made his decision. Chrome, wearing her latest lolita fashion, watched him curiously as he stood and left, but none of the other Guardians commented on it since Hotaru had already briefed them on Tsuna's plans. Each and every one of them would be moving out as soon as they picked an applicant to test.
Thinking of tests, Ryohei paused at the top of the stairs and glanced back at the four still scattered around the club. "Do any of you remember how Number Nineteen got his three coupons?" The answer gave Ryohei food for thought as he headed downstairs to retrieve his car. The guy had actually gotten four coupons. Takeshi remembered him as being more motivated than the rest during the physical challenge. Lambo faintly remembered him being focused for the efficiency challenge-the only reason he remembered is because the guy had completely ignored him. Chrome remembered that he'd chosen a slightly undercooked loaf of bread, but he'd had a good reason. Number Nineteen had pointed out how it could be cooked to perfection as a garlic bread since most people finished the last step of baking at home. The answer had been an explanation thought up on the spot after Chrome informed him of his bread's deficiency, but the way he'd thought on his feet had been admirable.
As Ryohei started the engine of the small hybrid car his wife, Hana, had forced him to get, Ryohei summoned the memory of number nineteen's attempt at the planning test. He'd brought a glass of unsweetened fruit tea, a cup of plain yogurt, and a simple, low-fat peanut butter sandwich with banana slices in it. It hadn't been the best meal Ryohei had seen, but he'd been able to tell the guy had been trying to make something filling without forgetting the possibility of Ryohei's weight-training.
The guy had potential. Ryohei could feel it in his gut as he drove his car with the intent to head them off at the police station-the next place on Number Nineteen's list since Gregory had saved him a trip to the Church. He was too late. Before he even parked his car, he could see from the way Tonno, Ray, Gregory, Gigi and Danny hovered nervously outside Tonno's decommissioned transport that they'd allowed Finn to go inside by himself.
"Idiots!" he shouted. Bolting out of his car, Ryohei ran for the police station with Tan following. The police receptionist was surprised at his entrance, but Ryohei ignored her in effort to reach his destination faster. Down the hall, up a flight of stairs, and down another hall, Ryohei groaned when he saw the door to the Community Liason's Office open. Bursting through it in hopes of stopping Hibari before he could kill the applicant, he was surprised to find the guy was standing in front of Hibari's desk without a mark on him. Both Number Nineteen and Hibari were surprised at his entrance-Hibari was more angry than surprised-but the meeting he'd interrupted looked exactly like that-a meeting instead of a session with a punching bag.
"It's common discipline to knock before entering a room," Hibari said in warning. A second later, Ryohei found himself summarily dismissed as Hibari turned back to Number Nineteen. For his part, Number Nineteen stiffened respectfully, but not to the point where Hibari would be irritated by a show of fear. "You were saying...?" he said.
"I-I would be very appreciative if you could lend me your aid in whatever manner you see fit," Number Nineteen replied. Hibari paused when the guy didn't add anything further.
"Are you not going to tell me why I should bother?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I wouldn't presume to do such a thing," Number Nineteen replied. "I am new to this and your experience far exceeds my own. I can only ask for your aid and hope for the best." Hibari leaned back in his chair and Ryohei nearly lost his decorum when he saw amusement-AMUSEMENT!-dancing in his eyes. Number Nineteen had actually impressed him instead of angering him! It was a damned miracle! An even bigger miracle was when Hibari held out a finger to invite Hibird to join in the conversation. "I need a pet-sitter for the afternoon. You will watch Hibird for me. If anything happens to him, you will answer first to me and then to Hotaru Sawada. Understood?"
"Y-Yes, sir!" Number Nineteen hesitantly-and carefully!-stepped forward to hold out his hands in invitation to the bird. In response, Hibird bounced a few times on Hibari's finger before jumping into the guy's hands with a tired flap of its wings. With a few words of appreciation and a respectful bow to excuse himself, the guy left with Hibird carefully nestled in his hands.
Ryohei didn't know what to think as he left. Someone had obviously coached him in dealing with Hibari, but there were very few who made it into his office without getting pummeled. How had the guy managed?
"As soon as he arrived, he made an appointment with Kusakabe," Hibari said amid a long yawn. "And I happened to have an opening." Ryohei thumped a fist in his hand in understanding. The guy had gone through all the proper channels, so Hibari would consider it poor manners if he hadn't heard him out. After that, he'd gotten approval by simply being fearless, humble, and respectful. "However, you didn't," Hibari added as he stood with tonfas in hand.