Ai hummed as she watched Miyako and Ichigo interview Ogita for his job application. While Ichigo was naturally annoyed by the fact that she had promised Haruka to get a Job Interview for Ogita without his say so. Neither Ichigo or Miyako could deny that Ogita clearly knew what he was doing as a professional dancer and dance instructor as well.
"So who's this guy, Ai?" Nino asked as she walked in watching the interview happened with raised eyebrows of curiosity as she examined closer and noticed his movements. "Some kind of Dance Instructor?" She asked curiously.
Ai nodded at that. "He's a dance instructor formally of Dyna Chair until he got fired because he couldn't make the impossible happen." Ai explained a bit. "While that would have been the end of that, Dyna Chair's idol wasn't going to let him fall so he asked me to help Kan Ogita get a job interview." She said as she examined his dance movements closer. "Say what you want about him, but he clearly knows what he works and specializes for sure." Ai said.
"I can tell." Nino nodded as she examined the way that Kan held himself when he danced before Ichigo and Miyako. "Do you think he will be hired? While it's one thing to have talent and the ability to teach, it's another thing entirely if we can or will hire him." Nino asked.
"I don't know, but I hope that he will be coming out of this well enough." Ai admitted. "It's hard for people in the entertainment industry to be able to keep themselves with money unless you're like us and even then, it's not easy." She said as Nino nodded and winced in understanding.
Unless you were famous, most celebrities don't actually make that much money to begin with. As such struggling people tend to take more embarrassing job offers so they can just sustain themselves at times. And that's not even getting into the issue of how backstage personal and the people unseen generally gets underpaid or sometimes left out to dry like Ogita was.
And then the two girls paid attention to how Miyako and Ichigo were clapping once Ogita finished showing his works. And then they watched in confusion as they talked some things that they couldn't actually hear from their position. Eventually however, Ichigo said something to Ogita and now the man was smiling in genuine joy and laughing happily.
"I think it's safe to say that he got the job." Nino said with a smile as Ai smiled as well. As both Idols were happy for Ogita, as he caught a break now. "Though I am surprised that Dyna Chair let him go, people that know what they're doing and can instruct, are usually pretty hard to find, you would think that they would have kept him." Nino said with a bit a frown on her face.
Ai was silent but then spoke up. "From what I heard it as, Dyna Chair's President was making some impossible demands and then once he spoke up about the impossibility of it. He got fired." Ai said as Nino blinked in shock.
"Does she even realize how stupid that is?" Nino questioned in disbelief. "Professionals are professional for a reason, and if a professional tells you that something like that cannot work, then you listen to the Professional for a reason." Nino said shaking her head. "I heard that Dyna Chair's President was tough as nails and very intent on getting her way. But I never heard of anyone that shortsighted in existence before."
"Well from what I heard, she's very intent on turning Haruka into the biggest star that she can, and Ogita simply cannot deliver that promise." Ai said as Nino raised an eyebrow at that.
"Haruka, you mean Dyna Chair's Rising Idol in the Princess League right?" Nino asked for clarification as Ai nodded. Nino simply sighed at that. "That's not possible, even if Haruka does win the Princess League, it's not going to matter if you can't network behind the scenes. Sure you can get investors and entertainment media personal to show your star, but if your company's president is the my way or the highway type of person, then it's going to be impossible to find anyone willing to work with you." Nino pointed out.
Ai nodded and frowned. "It's probably going to get much harder for Haruka in the Entertainment Industry if that's the case, and if her previous Dance Instructor was fired on a whim. That means that she has no one teaching her how to dance right now, meaning she can easily lose the Princess League, especially with T-Set, no doubt, having dedicated dance instructors of their own." Ai noted in worry for Haruka.
"Truly, Dyna Chair's President is short sighted beyond belief." Nino sighed as she turned to Ai. "Oh yeah, I forgot to ask you, how's Markus doing?" She asked curiously as Ai straightened up and turned a bit stiff as Nino raised an eyebrow in confusion. "You do remember that I know that you're having a thing with him already, I'm just asking how's Markus is doing since I haven't seen him for the past couple of days." She explained calmly.
Ai eventually relaxed a bit and nodded. "Sorry, been a bit on edge at times when people mention Markus." Ai apologized as Nino nodded at that. "As for how Markus is doing, he's currently away from the city." She revealed as Nino blinked on that as Ai leaned in closer. "Markus thinks he's found a lead relating to the matter in the mall." She whispered as Nino gasped in surprise as her eyes went wide.
"Markus found a lead on those Infiltrators?" Nino whispered back as Ai nodded. "Well if that's the case, I hope he succeeds, because God knows I haven't had a good night's rest since I found out, and the potential depths of that rabbit's hole." Nino said looked a bit rattled.
"I know and that is why Markus is trying to figure it out, so he can put a stop to it."Ai said before she pursed her lips. "Though I would rather if Markus didn't do this by himself, but realistically out of everyone that knows about this, who can actually help him?" Ai said helplessly as Nino could only nod in empathy.
All of them may be well connected, smart, rich, skilled, or something. But that doesn't change the fact that only Markus is the one with any actual fighting experience...save for that maid that Kaguya had, but she highly doubted that she was simply going to leave her lady. As such the only who can realistically handle this, was Markus himself.
Nino placed her hands on Ai's hands for comfort. "Have faith and trust that Markus will come back safe and sound and with what Intel he needs." Nino said comfortingly to Ai as she smiled at her and took her hand into her own. "Oh yeah that reminds me, since we've been busy, how's that song you've been working on?" Nino suddenly asked.
Ai's eyes perked up. "It's mostly done now, but it's ready to be sung and performed." Ai said in excitement and in appreciation of Nino trying to change the subject to help her.
"Then let's go tell the others." Nino said as she and Ai rushed off, and Nino was right, she should just have faith in Markus. He's always serious and never in any strange circumstances if he can avoid it if possible.
"Tatsuo." Markus said in a calm voice as he was standing inside a batting cage center with Tatsuo right besides him as Tatsuo looked sheepish and Markus was glaring at him. "I hope you remember that we have important things to do right now, right?" He asked Tatsuo.
"Yeah I know." Tatsuo said not looking back at him as Markus, was actually feeling kind of annoyed right now with him.
"So tell then Tatsuo, why did you drag me out with you are your shady job as a journalist and used me as an obstacle course just to get away from an adulterous celebrity after you called me, saying it was an emergency just so you can get to your agency to get some money?!" Markus questioned in annoyance.
Tatsuo winced at that and bowed quickly in apology. "I'm sorry! I needed the money so I can afford myself some food to eat!" He pleaded with Markus.
"So you use me as a proxy so you can get some food money?" Markus growled in annoyance as Tatsuo flinched at his annoyance as Markus let out a sigh. "Whatever, let's just focus on what we trying to do." He said taking a deep breath letting Tatsuo calm down a bit.
And then Markus dope slapped him, causing him to make some noises. "But don't ever do that to me again, or I swear to God, I will beat you up." Markus warned as Tatsuo quickly nodded at that. "Good then."
"Right then, I think I might know someone who might be able to help us." Tatsuo said as Markus raised an eyebrow.
"Is he reliable?" Markus questioned.
Tatsuo nodded. "If there's anybody that can tell us about the Nagoya Family and fact check why they were able to stay in power, it would be the guy that I'm thinking about, Ushijima, he owns a restaurant of sorts, and he's been a long time native back then." He confirmed.
"Is that so? Then when do we meet this guy?" Markus asked as Tatsuo looked conflicted and turned to Markus as Markus raised an eyebrow at the expression on his face. "Tatsuo?" He called out.
"About that...Markus I don't think it would be wise for you to come with me." Tatsuo said, as Markus looked confused and wanted to say something but he decided to let him finish. "Don't get me wrong, I am willing to work with you and all, but I think it would be suspicious if I were to come in with you to meet one of my regulars." Tatsuo started off. "Especially if it's mainly about a Yakuza Family that no one actually talks openly about."
Markus nodded at that, he can see his point. "And I imagine a foreigner like myself will stand out and it would most likely be harder to talk about." Markus noted as Tatsuo nodded. "But Tatsuo, you're still in danger, the Nagoya Family or their affiliates tried to kill you multiple times already, at the very least I would feel okay with you heading off to meet your friend if you were going there with someone else." He said.
"Don't worry, I'm going in with Takasugi, he will be my partner in this." Tatsuo assured Markus. "So please for the time being, just stay on reserve, if it truly gets that bad, we will call you." Tatsuo assured.
Markus was silent for a moment but then he nodded. "Fine then, I'll stay out of it for now." Markus said as Tatsuo nodded in thanks. "But the moment I hear any trouble, I'm running to save your ass." Markus assured.
"Thanks Markus, see you later then." Tatsuo said as he left the center first and then Markus walked out.
Markus cracked his neck a bit and then walked on the streets for a bit back to his motel as he calmly and slowly made his way into an ally and then paused. "You can stop hiding now." Markus said calmly as he turned to face a number of suited men glaring at him.
"Well then, you people can't be run of the mill thugs, else you wouldn't be wearing suits of all things." Markus noted as he stared at them closer. "If I had to guess, you guys are more professional criminals of sorts, meaning that you guys are probably...Nagoya Family members?" Markus deduced and seeing the way their veins bulged a bit told him he was right.
"And you know too much already." The first suited man growled as he took out some chains from his coat as other men started taking out switchblades or iron pipes as weapons, while one of them even spouted out some brass knuckles. "And we can't let blabbermouths like yourself get out with knowing." He said angrily.
"I do hope you know what you're doing the moment you aim those weapons at me." Markus retorted coldly. "The moment you attack me, I will show you know mercy in response to what I will do to protect myself."
The lead man scoffed and shouted. "Get him!" He ordered as they roared and charged at Markus, intent on silencing him by any means necessary.
Markus quickly examined his situation and noted the ones with the iron pipes were in front and charging at him first. Then he noticed the way that there was litter on the ground, more specifically beer bottles from the way drunken fools tossed them aside.
Acting fast, Markus rushed in and kicked one beer bottle and watched as the first guy collapsed as it shattered and knocked him out. This caused the guys to focus on the knocked out guy in surprise for a moment, which was all the opportunity Markus needed as he acted.
He rushed in and slammed his fist into other guy's face and punched out a tooth from his jawline before appropriating the iron pipe from his hands and swung around and dislocated his jawline with a savage snap. He then raised his iron pipe in a defensive posture as several men slammed their pipes with the intent to crack open Markus's head and he bent down to make them overextend themselves and casually let go of the pipe, making them slip up.
Then he raised his arm as a chain went slicking at his face and blocked it but entangled him as the men with switchblades tried to gut him with only one arm available to him now. Narrowing his eyes at the men, with an exertion of his strength he forcibly pulled the man with chain down to the ground. Getting enough length with the chain, he raised it to block the first switchblades and then punched and broke the nose of the man, causing him to stumble as he dropped his switchblade which Markus quickly caught.
Then he pulled the chain again and wrapped it around the neck of the other guy with the switchblade, causing said guy to panic as he tried to get it off. Only for Markus to pull tightly and found the man choking. Allowing Markus to get the chain off his hand and jabbing him in the solar plexus, causing him to gasp for air and then Markus brutally kneed him in the balls causing him to collapse.
Twirling his switchblade around in his fingers he threw it straight into the arms of one other man, causing him to scream as he got a blade stabbed into his arms. As the nearby guys tried to help him to keep it from escalating. Allowing Markus to focus on the man with the brass knuckles attempting to punch him down with Markus calmly and methodically examining his combat style.
Dodging his punches and jabs, Markus could tell that this guy was clearly better and he knew his basic footwork and limits and kept to trying to jab him like one of those old fashion boxers. He also wasn't given Markus time to pick up any weapons or try to use the environment around him. Then as the man readied another jab at him, causing Markus to raise his guard.
He feinted and launched a kick at Markus's head but slammed his leg into Markus's arms, causing him to grunt and the man roared at him as he used his momentum to launch himself at Markus with the other leg as he forced Markus to take a blow to the side, causing him to grunt out again as he slammed one fist into his shoulder.
Growling at what was happening, he firmly grabbed the man's legs and lifted and slammed him on the floor. Before launching a series of blows on his face as he took his brass knuckles for his own usage as the last three guys came at him all three were holding iron pipes in their hands as his weapons and Markus simply crackled his neck at them.
As the first guy swung his pipe at Markus, he quickly raised up his Knuckle to block the attack as the second guy tried to hit him from the other side, but got blocked by the other Knuckle. Then he slammed his leg at the third guy approaching him to get some distance before slid under the iron pipe of the first man while holding up his knuckle and punching the shit out of him as he slammed him into the wall.
Then turning his attention to the second to last guy standing. He rushed forth and punched his hand, holding the pipe, causing him to drop it. And uppercut him and shattering some teeth and making him bite his tongue as he screamed and fell to the ground. Then he turned to the last guy still standing with a nasty glare as the man now flinched as he was by himself as Markus spat out some spit building up in mouth. "I can keep on going." He declared.
That was enough to make the last guy run for it. Allowing Markus to take off his stolen knuckles and chuck them with enough force to hit the guy straight in the back of the head and knocking him out. Markus sighed as he looked around the sheer number of bodies he beat up. Then he decided to go pick up the lead guy with the chains and tied the chains around his neck and dragged him off so he can interrogate him.
"Girls." Ichigo nodded to them all, as the girls of B-Komachi all walked into the dance studio of their building. "I have some announcements to make." He said, causing most of them to raise their eyebrows, some in confusion, others in curiosity, while others had knowing look about what they're going to hear. "Recently we had come across a talented dance instructor and after some interviews and demonstration, we decided to hire him on as our new Team Dance Coordinator." He explained as the girls all chattered excitedly among themselves.
"With that said." Miyako jumped in as she smiled calmly at the girls. "Please welcome Kan Ogita to Ichigo Productions." She said as the man in questioned danced his way into the studio and did a number that left all the girls clapping for his arrival and dance sequence.
"Greetings." Kan nodded to them as he smiled. "Honored to be here as part of Ichigo Productions, now you know that I am a Dance Instructor, so I would like to see how well each of you girls dance so I can ascertain your abilities and where you can improve yourself, and then I would like to see your group coordination work to see how well you're doing, think you Idols can do that?" Kan asked B-Komachi.
All of the girls nodded their affirmation as they started taking turns one by one, with Ai herself going first, and after she finished dancing, she went to side and smiled as Kan Ogita showed his professionalism and understanding of what dancers need to do. It's been several days since his interview and he was finally able to get a new lease on his life and is in control now.
And she watched as Kan quickly took notes on each Idol he observed dancing after they were done and wrote it all down in a little notebook of some kind to make sure he didn't forget any details. After he finished observing all of their individual dancing skills, Ogita then started having them doing their group dance work to see how well coordinated they were. As well as taking notes on how could they improve themselves.
Once they were all done, Kan nodded and clapped at them. "You all did quite well, however you all have ways you can improve yourself, but at the same time, you also cannot overextend yourself as well." Kan said seriously to them as the girls all paid attention. "It's important to balance your practice and your health as an Idol. If you keep on practicing continuously with no breaks in between, you will suffer a breakdown in your body, both in and out, and that will adversely affect your performance capabilities." He lectured them.
"Roger that!" All of the girls said and as Kan was about to continue, someone walked into the room, he had a tall face with sunken cheekbones, thick eyebrows with slicked black hair. Wearing an outfit that was composed of a khaki colored trench coat over a white dress shirt, gray slacks, a black leather belt with a silver buckle, and black leather oxfords. The man simply frowned at the sight of Kan Ogita.
"Kan Ogita?" The man asked as Kan frowned at the sight of the man before him.
"I am Kan, might I ask what this is about?" Kan confirmed before asking, as the man stared at Kan for a good moment before nodding and whistling to someone outside and then to the shock of everyone, several Police Officers came in with him."Oi, what's going on here?" He said nervously.
The guy simply sighed. "Sorry about this, but I am simply a Police Detective." He said showcasing his badge to everyone. "I am Detective Makoto Date." He named himself and turned to Ogita. "Right now, we're here to question you." He said with a frown at the man.
"What for?" Kan said in surprise. "I haven't done anything wrong!" He protested.
Makoto simply shrugged. "Sorry about this if you're innocent, but right now, you're currently a prime suspect in a homicide case of ours." He said as everyone raised their eyebrows in surprise. "The murder of Mirei Park of Dyna Chair." He revealed to the shock of everyone, but Kan was clearly stunned at what he heard.
"Mirei Park is...dead?" Kan said in surprise as Makoto nodded at him.
"Witness Reports mention you having a nasty argument with the President, and her firing you over a loophole in a contract that she altered without permission or knowledge of others, combined with her abusive behavior towards you and the others, have made you a prime suspect in our case." Makoto explained calmly to Kan, who was shocked beyond belief still.
Kan was still shocked but he quickly realized how that could have made him a prime suspect. "I know we had our differences but that's not good enough for me to turn to murder!" He protested. "I literally just got a job interview after I lost my job, why would I go jeopardizing it right away for some foolhardy notion of revenge?!" Kan retorted.
"Crimes of passion are a thing." Makoto said calmly, as his eyes soften a bit as he took a look at the clearly freaked out Kan. "Listen here, Mister Ogita, I believe that you believe you're innocent, but it would be easier to prove your innocence if you simply come down to the station with us." He said to him.
Kan looked down now. "I just managed to get my life back on track now, is there really no other way?" He protested weakly, as the man looked as though his world was about to crumble before him.
"I'm sorry." Makoto said, sounding regretful. "But the best way to prove your innocence is to simply come with us, come with us and we will make sure nobody sees your face and take you down as a witness." Makoto offered to Kan, who internally debated his options before Kan reluctantly nodded. "That's a good man, come with us." Makoto said as Kan went with the police offers and Makoto turned back to Ichigo Productions with a shamed look on his face.
"Sorry about that." He apologized.
And as the Idols and staff began murmuring to themselves in shock and surprise. Ai could only watch with distress and sorrow for what happened to Kan. But more importantly, she was shocked at what she heard.
Mirei Park was dead now? And that caused her worry to increase for Haruka and what would her future as an Idol be. If their president died right here right now at this stage.
But there was something telling her that there was more to the president's demise than simple passion of murder. It was the same feeling she got when she met up with Hikaru again, there was more to her death than what the police were sharing.
Markus grunted as he returned to his motel room, after he interrogated the guy, he got some rather interesting information about the Nagoya Family.
(Flashback)
"Wake up now." Markus said slapping the man several times as he blinked his eyes and suddenly found himself tied up with the chains he was using plus some rope to further restrain his movement on a chair in a empty warehouse of some kind. "So here's the deal, you answer my question and I won't get rough with you, you don't answer my question and I have to get rough with you, are we understood?" Markus questioned the glaring man in front of him.
His response to Markus was to spit in his face and sneered at him. "Go fuck yourself." He cursed him out.
Markus wiped the spit off his face and sighed. "Hard Way it is." Markus said as he calmly knelt down before the man and started going for his left hand as the man looked confused at his actions suddenly.
"Wait, what are you-" He tried asking before he started screaming in pain and agony as Markus grabbed his thumb and dislocated it completely and twist it hard to make him scream in agony before stepping back.
"Fun fact, I'm just starting with one finger on your hand, and we got nine more to go, and I know a few other tricks as well. Might not kill you, but you sure as Hell, might start wishing you got killed instead with the way I'm going." Markus said to him calmly.
"You sick fucker!" The man screamed out. "When I get out of here, you're going to pay for this!" He shouted.
Markus shook his head. "Nah, you won't get out of there, tied you up pretty well, and we're isolated by the way, so you can't scream for help either." Markus pointed out to him. "So want to play the good prisoner now?" Markus asked again.
"The Nagoya Family will hunt you down and turn your corpse into fertilizer!" The screaming man spat out at Markus, causing him to reach for two fingers this time and brutally dislocated him, causing him to scream again in agony as his left hand started becoming increasingly purple.
"You do realize that I'm not fucking around right now right? I know you Nagoya Thugs killed people before." Markus said with little to no amusement in his voice. "And considering that you tried to kill an innocent man, I'm going to hazard a guess and say that your group probably killed numerous innocent people. Might have heard something that they weren't supposed to do, might have come across one of your little clean ups, I don't care at this point." Markus said as he stared eerily into the man making him gulp.
"And what's the point you're making?" He said with a shaky tone at Markus's Intimidating Presence.
"My point is, your group probably have a nasty kill count in the double digits, and here's a fun fact about myself." Markus said before he smiled scarily at him. "I won't have any trouble sleeping tonight if I make you sleep forever." He said as he waited for the man to parse that out.
Then his eyes went wide and he paled as Markus simply smiled at him. "Y-y-you wouldn't do that!" He stammered out.
"And why's that?" Markus asked calmly with his smile still on his face.
"Be-be-because you're a civilian! A normal guy!" He shouted hysterically at Markus causing him to laugh a bit at his words.
And then Markus stopped. "And how do you know anything about me?" He said deadly seriously to the man who can only pale even further.
And the silence let Markus continued. "Before I came to Japan, I worked as something of a troubleshooter, and in the deserts, everything goes. Be it from exterminating bandits, raiders, slavers, bounty hunting, and more." Markus explained about his backstory a bit. "And here's the thing, I have a kill count in the triple digits." He said as the man tried to find any hints of lies within Markus's expression.
He couldn't find any.
"So really, ask yourself this, do you want to take your chances with a guy that actually killed people that could fight back or do you want to start singing now?" Markus said, offering one last chance before he gets brutal.
The nerves on the man finally collapsed. "I'll talk just don't hurt me anymore!" He cried out as Markus smiled.
"Excellent, now tell me about the Nagoya Family." Markus ordered.
"They're not actually a Yakuza Family!" He quickly spilled as Markus raised an eyebrow. "They're just a mask for a group of ordinary citizens! We pretended to be a Criminal Organization to push out the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance out of the city!" He said as Markus's eyebrows rose at that.
"You guys are a bunch of civilians pretending to be a group of criminals?" Markus questioned in befuddlement as the man quickly nodded. Not sensing any lies, Markus moved on to his next question. "If that's the case then you must have had dealings with other people."He said as he pulled out of the picture of the kidnapper/partner to Hikaru and showed it to him. "Who is he?" He questioned.
The man took a closer look. "I don't know much about the guy." He said quickly. "All I know is that his name is Nira, and unlike the majority of us, he actually has criminal connections. We use those connections to help build up the legitimacy of the Nagoya Family being a Yakuza Family of sorts. He's been helping expand our operations for the last ten years or so!" He quickly answered as Markus's heart nearly stopped at that.
Ten years, he finally got a lead and now he's learned that they've been working for ten years. And the man continued onward.
"He's part of a different group, all I know is that they're called the Institute, and the higher ups of the Institute is called Management, I overheard that much, but I swear that's all I know!" He pleaded with Markus.
"Is that truly all?" Markus questioned as the man nodded quickly at that and as Markus stared at him, causing him to sweat, Markus nodded back. "I believe you." He said as the man sighed in relief.
"Good talk, and I no longer have any more use for you." He said as the man blinked and then with a single swipe from a switchblade. The man's throat was cut and he started bleeding heavily and gurgled.
"You...Promised!" The man bubbled out as he started to choke.
"I said I wouldn't hurt you." Markus reminded him. "I never said anything about not killing you." Markus said as his gaze turned cold. "Besides with the number of bodies your group dropped, I can't, in good conscious, let you go." Markus said as he brought out some gasoline and poured it over him and he tossed a light and burned the corpse.
As a least measure he took off the gloves he used and threw it into the fire before he walked away.
(Flashback end)
Markus can only sigh to himself as he entered his motel's bathroom and checked himself for anything that might have stayed on that he didn't notice, thankfully he didn't. But he still needed to wash his face a bit and as he was washing his face, his phone rang and then he dug into his pockets to answer.
"Hello?" Markus muttered.
And for some reason all he heard was muffling sounds and Markus frowned as he quickly dried his face and placed the phone on speaker while seeing it was from Tatsuo.
"Got him?" A female voice spoke up.
"Yeah he's down." Another voice spoke as Markus's eyes went wide.
"...We're going to have to put him down." An elderly female voice said.
"Yeah.. but we shouldn't kill him while he's down, let him know and then kill him." The male voice said and at that Markus started exiting the room and went into his bag and started digging through his luggage until he found his gun.
Once he secured it on his person, he listened for noises and someone mentioned docks to someone else and then Markus found himself moving as fast as he can to the docks.
Because right now, Tatsuo was in danger and barely managed to contact him and he was going to save his ass.