KS: Alright, buckle in. Things are about to get interesting, developments will be made and sparks will be lit. I assure you this is building up to be something epic later in the story.

Hachiman walked around town, keeping an eye on his surroundings. He had been searching for the device that Izaya told him about. This would have been walk in a park… if Izaya had told him what the device even looked like.

Or where it was located, for that matter.

"I'm beginning to think hiring him was a bad idea," he muttered. "God as my witness, once I get this nonsense done and over with, I'm gonna fire him."

He continued walking around for an hour and a half, but his search turned out to be fruitless.

"Well, time to resort what I do best: invading people's privacy without them knowing."

And so, he used his PM to hack the others', searching for any relevant information. He started with people who looked important, or at least dressed the part. Judging from the messages he read, they seemed to be working with the government in one way or another.

"Okay, I'm on the right track. Now I just need to find out some information about this device is and what it does. As well as what it looks like."

He continued his search, subtly hacking people. It took some time and effort, but he finally found what he was looking for.

"Hello there," he said. "Let's see what you have in store for me."

He tap the message, and it was expanded in full.

Development of the Seeker is at 100% completion. The boys have put their blood, sweat and tears into this project, and it shows. I've seen them congratulate each other and a back pat here and there. Never have I felt more pride for them. I'm going to treat them to barbecue when this all over. Come by the old Seiro Electronics building and pick it up.

-Toshiro

Hachiman was elated to see what he had read. Finally, he got a lead on the device he was supposed to get. Granted, there was no info on the device's appearance, but this was a good start.

And yet, had a feeling of unease wash over him. This felt far too easy, in his opinion.

"Something doesn't add up," he said as he walked down a flight of stairs. "Why would anyone pick up a piece of advanced technology in a derelict building? It's not like they're trying to hide anything." His eyes narrowed in realization. "Or maybe… the thing that they've been working on was never there to begin with. Someone is leading me into a trap, and they've set the bait. And I have a good idea of who is responsible."

Once he reached the bottom of the stairs, Hachiman's expression hardened.

"Alright, it's official. I'm going to fire Izaya as my info broker. As for the trap, I'm going to make some preparations."

He quickly dialed a number on his PM and waited for the recipient to pick up. He soon heard a voice on the other end.

"Hello?"

"Fuyuhiko, I need some help," Hachiman said.

"What kind of help?" Fuyuhiko asked.

"I think I'm being set up by my info broker," Hachiman explained. "He sent me an tip about a device that can quickly detect anyone who breaks the laws."

"And who the info broker you're working with?"

"Izaya Orihara."

There was silence for a while. Then, Hachiman heard Fuyuhiko sigh loudly.

"Orihara? How in the world did you get tied up with that weasel?"

"He's been useful," Hachiman replied. "Helped me out every now and then, even though he's been every shade of smug about it."

"Believe me, Hachiman," Fuyuhiko said in a serious tone."His smugness should be the least of your worries right now. Many people in the underworld approach Orihara with extreme caution and prefer not to trust him as far as they can throw him. Heck, even Peko looks as if she intends to strangle him every time he's in her line of sight."

"I wouldn't put it past her to do it," Hachiman admitted. "But I'm getting off topic. Assuming a trap has been set, I'll need your help to bail me out."

"Say no more. I'll have one of my guys bring you some weapons to take in case things go south, which they inevitably will," Fuyuhiko said. "Also, I'll send some others to get you out of there should things hit the fan."

"Thanks, Fuyuhiko," Hachiman replied with sincerity. "I owe you one."

"No problem. And Hachiman?"

"What?"

"When the mess has been settled and the smoke dies down… go hire another source of information. Preferably one who won't screw you over for their amusement."

"Already put it on my to-do list before I called you," Hachiman said. "Also, I'll be at the old Seiro Electronics building in case you want to know where I'm headed."

"Got it. I'll let the boys know."

The call ended and Hachiman sighed.

"This is going to be one bumpy ride."

-At the front of the old Seiro Electronics building-

"Here you go," a man in a suit said, handing Hachiman a rifle and some metal balls. "Compliments from the boss."

"Give him my thanks," Hachiman said, taking the equipment. "When do the rest of your guys arrive."

"The boss gave them the notice and they immediately rolled out," the man said. "I'd say they'll get here at around 15 minutes."

"Gives me enough time, I suppose," Hachiman deadpanned, pocketing the balls. "Alright, wish me luck."

"Give Orihara a good blow to the face for us," the man said with a smirk.

Hachiman chuckled. "I'll see what I can do."

He walked through the front door, gripping his rifle. He looked around and saw the state of the building: completely desolate and slowly falling into decay.

"They really should tear this place down," Hachiman said as he walked down the hallway. "Why they haven't done so already is beyond my knowledge."

A noise got his attention, prompting him to swiftly turn, pointing his rifle in the direction where he heard it.

"Someone or something else must've gotten in before I did," he muttered. "Better keep my guard up, or I'm in deep trouble."

Hachiman continued walking down the dark hallways, looking around each and every corner for potential surprise attacks. He had come to an abandoned building, knowing full well that it was a trap. Yet he arrived anyway for two things: to get answers out of Izaya and to punch him in that always smug face of his. However, Hachiman was a realist at heart. He knew he would only be able to accomplish one of those things, but if he were able to accomplish the second, he would chalk it up to dumb luck. Therefore, he intended to focus on the task that took the most priority.

"Alright, if I know Izaya, he's had a flair for the dramatic. Thus, he would have to be in a place where attention would be on him. Now, seeing how this was a company building, there is one place where someone of high authority would be telling their employees what plans they had in store."

It only took a few seconds for Hachiman to figure it out. And when they passed, he knew where he had to go.

"Of course. He wouldn't pass it up for anything in the world. To the conference room!"

He immediately set forth to his destination… but not before checking for a map to see where the destination was.

Hachiman burst into the conference room, his gun aimed at the very person he sought out and was nearly set up by.

"Jig's up, Orihara," he said. "Also, you're fired."

Izaya had his back turned to Hachiman, his hands behind his back.

"I'll be honest, Hachiman," he spoke. "I often enjoyed our little repartees. It almost felt like we had a connection."

"The connection that'll be between us will be my fist to your face," Hachiman replied, slowly making his way towards Izaya.

Izaya chuckled. "Cute. Bet you took up a lot of time thinking that one up."

"Oh, we'll see how much laughing you'll be doing once I send sprawled across the floor with a dislocated jaw," Hachiman seethed.

Once he got close to Izaya, he attempted to grab his shoulder… only for his hand to pass through it. Hachiman's eyes widen in shock.

"You've gotta be freakin' kidding me," he seethed. "A holographic recording?"

Izaya, or rather, the recording of him, laughed obnoxiously as he turned around, pointing at Hachiman.

"Oh man… you should see the look on your face right now!" he said between laughs. "I had to make several different recordings to see which one would match your replies! Looks like I hit the jackpot."

Hachiman growled in anger as he kicked a chair. "Damn it all!"

"And I bet my bottom dollar that you just cursed while kicking a chair," Izaya said in a mocking tone. "But what's this? Uttering naughty language and your PM didn't go off? Very suspicious."

"Mock me further, why don't you?" Hachiman deadpanned in frustration.

"As much as I'd like to mock you further, I'm a busy man," Izaya continued. "Thus, I'll let some friends of mine handle you from this point onward. To quote a certain animated tiger, ta-ta for now."

The recording ended and Izaya disappeared. Hachiman had no time to curse his situation as the door was violently knocked down by a figure wearing full-bodied black armor, wearing a featureless mask with green glowing eyes and armed with an assault rifle.

Hachiman quickly turned around, widened his eyes at the unknown assailant with a gun and ducks behind the large table, just as the mysterious figure proceeds to fire at him. Once they finished, Hachiman got up and fired several rounds at their chest, immediately incapacitating them.

"Are they working with Izaya, or are they hear by coincidence?" he wondered. "Either way, I'm not safe here."

He quickly made his way out of the room and ran towards the stairs, where two more similar mysterious figures ran towards him. Hachiman shoots down one and kicks the other down the stairs while he ran towards him.

"I swear, if there's any more of those sons of bitches, I'm going to be really…"

As soon as Hachiman reached the bottom floor reached the bottom floor, he was met with five of the similar mysterious figures, their guns aimed at him.

"…Upset."

The figures fire at Hachiman, several pellets hitting his body and injuring him to a moderate degree. Many of them hit him in the chest while one managed hit him in the face. He fell down, and as the figures slowly approached him, a small handful of yakuza grunts kick the glass door and rush in, some shooting down the figures while the rest retrieved an injured Hachiman.

"They really did a number on him," one commented.

"I tell ya," the second grumbled. "If I didn't hate Orihara before, I do now."

"Join the club, a third snarked. "We've got jackets."

They got Hachiman into a car, who was slowly losing consciousness from the pain.

"Get us to the nearest hospital," one of the grunts ordered the driver.

"Already have it on the GPS," the driver replied.

With that, he slammed his foot on the gas pedal and drove like his life depended on it. Or rather, like Hachiman's life depended on it.

-Days later-

Hachiman sat on the edge of the bed he was resting in, his body covered with bandages over the gown he wore. The doctors were bewildered by the injuries he received, along with how quickly he recovered from them. Granted, Hachiman prided himself on his fitness, so that clearly played a factor. As well as some bed rest.

Anyway, he read a message Ayame sent to his PM. Suffice to say… it was somewhat NSFW.

Got lured to a trap and nearly got rushed by some goons wearing black? There's a dirty joke to be made here, but I can't think of one. I'll keep you posted if inspiration takes me from behind~

-Ayame

Hachiman felt his eyebrow twitch. "Why does this not surprise me…"

"There."

He flinched when he heard a familiar voice. Turning around, he saw none other than Goriki, wearing a pink apron with a heart on it over his uniform. He immediately noticed a plate of apple slices that were cut and peeled to look like rabbits.

"Spread out just for you."

"…What even?" he asked.

"I like home ec," Goriki replied in a bashful tone.

Hachiman had nothing to say in response.

Goriki left shortly after. Hachiman looked at the slices again.

"Best not to waste them," he mused.

He picked one up with the toothpick and put it in his mouth, chewing it.

"Pretty good," he complimented.

Suddenly, he felt a familiar presence. This one wasn't hostile, but it was… persistent. And he had a good idea of who it belonged it.

"God help me if I'm wrong on this…"

Against his better judgment, Hachiman turned towards the window… and saw Hyoka to climbing into his room.

"I believe an apple was the forbidden fruit that tempted Adam and Eve, although, technically the Bible's vague on this exact detail-"

She was cut off mid-sentence when she fell into the room.

"Hyoka," Hachiman greeted in a deadpan tone. "What do you want?"

"A strange question," Hyoka replied as she got up and turned to him. "To see how you're recuperating. Isn't that obvious?"

"Well, pray tell, why don't you go through the front door, check in at the desk and ask for my room number like any normal individual?" Hachiman asked in annoyance. "I mean, I've long accepted that you're the polar opposite of normal, but still."

"I'm afraid that's an entrance I can't come in," Hyoka answered. "All the hospitals and labs in the tri-prefecture area have blacklisted me."

Hachiman stared in abject disbelief at the news he heard.

"Somehow, I am both shocked and nonplussed that happened to you."

Hyoka stood up and carried with her a container covered in a small sheet, which Hachiman noticed.

"I have to give you this," she said, presenting the container.

"Can I refuse?" Hachiman asked rhetorically.

Hyoka lifted the sheet. "A special present. I trust he'll live a long life under your care."

Hachiman looked at what was inside. The container was filled with water, and in it was a Splended Garden eel with orange and white stripes. It stared at Hachiman with its large, unblinking eyes.

"…A lot more tame than what I expected."

Hyoka looked at the apple slices Hachiman was helping himself to.

"But I'm perplexed. I thought Mr. Goriki was of the belief you were lower than pond scum," she commented, pushing the tray forward so that she could sit down next to Hachiman. "But now, he's cutting your fruit into delicate bite-sized pieces. It's quite unusual."

"Let's just say me saving Anna from her stalker helped improved my image, if by a small margin," Hachiman said.

Hyoka looked out the window with her usual inquisitive, sleep-deprived look.

"Side question: can babies be created by one man thrusting his meat pickle into another man's exhaust passage?"

Hachiman stared at her in absolute disbelief.

"What unholy being possessed you to ask such a question in such a nonchalant manner?"

"I have my reasons," Hyoka answered. "Goriki's new feelings towards you have me questioning all my assumptions about what constitutes normal body melding. I'm very confused."

"Well, there's an old adage about assumptions, but I'm not going to quote it," Hachiman said irritably. "Like I said earlier, he sees me in a different light after I protected Anna."

Hyoka turned to Hachiman. "We'll return to the question of man love later. For now, I'd like to focus on waiting for the council president to arrive so that I may discuss with her a most pertinent matter."

Hachiman inhaled sharply. "About that…"

"What is it?" Hyoka asked.

"Anna didn't come by recently," Hachiman answered. "Or the days before."

"How rude," Hyoka commented. "What about a thank you card? You did protect her honor."

"She's been busy with the preparations for the trip," Hachiman replied. "Plus, I think she's got some other errands that she's taking care of, but I'm just going on what Goriki told me."

Hyoka nodded. "I see."

Silence filled the room for a few seconds, until Hachiman broke it.

"You said you were looking for Anna, right?"

(Payday 2 OST: Master Plan)

"Yes," Hyoka answered. "The student council's crackdown on inappropriate culture has ratcheted up in intensity. Unlawful detentions, surprise locker inspections, teacher-administrated body cavity searches…"

The list went on at that point.

"And you have it on good authority Anna's spearheading this racket?" Hachiman asked.

"Anna's entire life has been driven by a burning desire to surpress all forms of lewdness," Hyoka said. "But this is the first time I've ever observed her to be so forceful." She looked at Hachiman. "That's why I've been hoping to intercept and probe her here to learn why this desire's grown hotter lately."

Hachiman sighed and leaned against the bed rest. "I'd like to know as well, if I'm being honest."

A pile of magazines lay burning in the fire, its contents devoured by the unrelenting inferno. And watching over the destruction was Anna, who stared with a cold, yet determined look.

"Smut in this school… takes more than that to stop me."

(End song)

KS: Moral of this chapter: if some sleazy guy tries to offer you his services but clearly has a minimum of ten ulterior motives, kindly direct him to the nearest short pier to take a long walk off of. Oh, there's also some drama in the mix, but I digress.