Beyond a Thief's Power Version 2 (Mature, for Ages 18+)

Episode 2

Partners Once Again

Riki's curiosity got the better of him, but he put up a staid front. "Hiro. About what you said earlier. What exactly do you mean by someone else joining us on our mission? Mitsuki's away, so there can't be someone else in our team. We're not going to wait for anyone else to show up if you're playing around. Besides, we have to start the mission before it's too late to do anything about it."

While the leader of the renowned band of thieves in Japan had spoken his part, someone's footsteps drew near towards Le Renard Noir. Whoever was walking was unseen, except for their lower legs which both wore faded black quarter hose-length socks and a pair of black ankle boots that sparkled throughout the night, illuminated by... Well. There wasn't much light outside, but there it was like the radiance of light shining all over [and from an unknown source, too]. Perhaps, it was a silvery blue colored light. Yet, the brown and gold rhinestones on them made the earth's roads gorgeous and captivating at such a dangerous time.

Despite the fact Riki didn't believe his words, Hiro kept smiling in a casual manner. "Riki, I'm not playing with you all. I'm serious about what I told you. If you still don't believe me, just wait and see. Even if you ask me more about our friend, I can't tell you because it's a secret. For now, at least."

Riki was dumbfounded by Hiro's reply. It took a moment before he could react; however, when he tried to respond, the owner of the mysterious footsteps entered the bar. Riki, Kenshi, and Takuto held their heads up and looked near the entrance. Hiro and Atsumu smiled, knowing what was about to happen next.

A facial expression full of astonishment overcame the three when they saw who it was. They could not believe their eyes, but it was indeed true they had seen...

"RINA?!" they shouted in complete harmony.

The young woman with long blonde hair [which extended down to her upper thighs] closed her large honey-colored eyes, tilting her head slightly to her right. Simultaneously, she had put her right hand up and smiled faintly.

"Did you guys miss me?" she asked them, dressed in a set of black and white clothes of her own.1 She was ready to begin the mission as they were.

Riki's eyes widened. "Is that really you?" He smiled at his old friend, tears forming in his eyes. "I can hardly believe it. Here you are standing right in front of us, and you haven't changed all this time. It's... good to see you again, Rina."

"It's nice to see that you're still the same old sap, Riki," Rina replied. "Of course, none of us have changed since then, have we? We're still comrades after all these years. I mean, I never left the Black Foxes—unless you counted me out after I had to go back to Neon."

"Now why would we do that?" Kenshi inquired. "You've always been a part of the team, Rina." He smiled, relieved to see the blonde they all knew from the past. "You never even left our hearts and minds since the last time we saw you."

Rina's eyes narrowed. "Reeeeaaally. What was that you were saying about not having another member besides Mitsuki-san? Hmm? Don't you dare think that I didn't hear what you said earlier. My hearing's not like the average person, Kenshi." She glanced at Riki with an angry frown. "You of all people should know better than to say that there isn't any other member in our team, Riki. It sounded as though I never existed in your lives. Did you ever care to consider how I would feel about being cut from the Black Foxes?"

At that moment, Riki paused, realizing the fault of his actions and words. "..." He stared blankly, but decided to speak up about the matter. "I'm sorry, Rina. I didn't know you would show up here in front of everyone. You've been an important companion to us for some time now, and yet I blurted out such insensitive words. I'm sure I must have shattered your feelings for not figuring out what Hiro meant until now. However," the leader of the Black Foxes cut himself off, switching his apologetic expression to a tender smile, "you're still our first female member, and that hasn't changed since the day you came into our lives. You're Rina Tokuhara, and no one can ever take your place even if they tried to."