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Warning: This gaiden takes place after volume 8 and mentions a major spoiler from the ending of volume 7.

 In the bar Babylon, tucked away in a corner of Nakasu, the owner Jiro was making preparations to open shop. There were no other employees besides himself. Jiro paced around the back of the counter, busily wiping down the liquor bottles and checking the refrigerator’s contents.
Misaki loved to walk over to this bar after school and quietly do her homework as Jiro worked. It was a comfortable atmosphere in the bar, allowing her to focus. She especially took a liking to the seats at the counter. Once she finished her homework, she would head home as to not interfere with Jiro’s work. That was a rule Misaki set for herself to follow.
But today was different. She had already finished her math drills, and her homework was back in her knapsack. Misaki had her elbow on the counter, resting her chin in her hand as she drank her orange juice and observed Jiro nonchalantly. What would he want? She pondered to herself.
On October 27th at the end of this month, it would be Jiro’s 31st birthday.

Misaki was extremely appreciative towards him. When she had first met him, she had yet to become an elementary schooler. He had saved her from her abusive father and took her in as family.
She now had a comfortable life. He would try to fulfill her every desire. He would attend parent’s day in a good looking suit, and whenever she had a school trip he would make her a colorful lunch box with character shaped food. She was thankful for his presence in her life, in which he served both roles as father and mother. Misaki was regularly grateful that Jiro took her under his wing.
And so she wanted to do something that would make him happy once in a while. Jiro was kind, so he would be happy with whatever she gave him. But then there was no meaning to do so. She wanted to really make him happy over something.
Deciding on a gift is hard, she thought once more. Even though she lived with him and was always by his side, she had no idea what he would want. Jiro liked to dress up fashionably and enjoyed shopping, but she was not confident enough in her sense of style to be able to choose something to match Jiro’s.
She continued to watch him as she sipped her juice.
“Oh dear.”
Jiro exclaimed suddenly.
“What’s wrong?”
“I have a hole in my sarong.” Jiro muttered as though speaking to himself.
By sarong, he was referring to his sarong apron. Employees at cafes and bars would wear them around their waist. The one Jiro wore was a black cloth which reached his ankles and tied in the back.
Jiro placed a hand to his cheek and sighed.
“Since it’s so worn out, I suppose I should buy a replacement soon.”
Jiro smiled while gazing at the black material with deep emotion.
“...But I guess it’s natural this has gotten so worn out, since I bought this when I started up this bar.”
Jiro used to be a beauty artist, but he had quit that job after a certain incident occurred and switched to avenger work instead. And around that time he decided to open up this bar. So from Misaki’s understanding, Jiro had worked using that apron for at least four years.
A question formed in Misaki’s mind. “Hey, Jiro-chan.”
“What is it?”
“Why do you do this job?”
Thinking about it, she found it was strange. Why would Jiro work the bar as well as the avenger business?
Jiro answered proudly. “Isn’t that obvious? I need the money.”
“Are we poor?”
“No, we’re not.” Jiro smiled wryly. “But it’s not like I have money left over. And I have to prepare for your future too.”
Misaki tilted her head. “...for me?”
“Why yes,” Jiro nodded.
“I want you to choose a life you’d like. Go to the school you want to go to, live where you like, and get a job you want to do… I don’t want you to give up on something because we don’t have enough money for it.”
A job she wanted to do. She wanted to always be his helper. From now on and always. But it did not seem like Jiro believed her.
“So I have to save up on money now while I can.” He winked.
So he works at a bar to make money?
But that only brought up more questions. Misaki further asked. “But wouldn’t you be able to save up easier by taking just underground work?”
If he just focused on his avenger business, he would be able to collect enough savings.
Jiro stopped polishing the glasses.
“You see, Misaki.”
He stood in front of Misaki and leaned over slightly, looking her in the eye.
“It’s not good for people to learn how to make money the easy way.”
Jiro told her with a straight face.
In other words, he was doing this job so he would not forget how hard it was to earn money? But even avenger work was not that easy. It was hard work.
“But being an avenger is tough too.”
“It’s important to earn money the right way.” Jiro smiled. “Especially for people like ourselves.”
He then added.
“Besides, I want to use clean money for my precious daughter.”

Jiro was not the only special person Misaki had met in life. Ever since she made her very first friend, she had come to spend more time with him in her free time.
The very next day after Misaki had finished her homework she visited her friend’s home. Except his home was more precisely a van. He lived and slept in his RV.
Her friend’s name was Méqué, and for certain reasons he was a traveling performer. His van always moved around Fukuoka city. Today his RV was at a coin parking lot in Nakasu.
“Misaki, welcome.”
Méqué poked his head out from his bright red RV and invited Misaki inside.
Today he was not in his usual clown outfit. He did not even have makeup on. If you ignored his outlandish hair color, he appeared to be a normal young man around twenty years of age.
When she stepped inside, Méqué was busying himself with setting out the tea and snacks as per usual. The tea for today was lemon tea. They had small talk as they slowly sipped at it. Conversations with Méqué could be grating at times with his mental problems, but otherwise Misaki enjoyed spending time here with him.
“That reminds me,” she asked out of curiosity. “Méqué, when is your birthday?”
Méqué tilted his head, confused. “Birth-day?”
“It’s the day you were born. When was it?”
“I don’t know.”
“How can you not know…?” This time Misaki was the one to cock her head. “No one has ever celebrated yours?”
Méqué hummed, lost in thought.  He pressed a finger to his lips and turned his gaze upwards, seemingly digging through memories.
After a few moments-
“Nope!”
He answered cheerfully with a smile.
Misaki was stunned no one had ever celebrated his birthday. It was sad, but it was not impossible. Méqué had an abusive upbringing ever since he was little. There may not have been a single time his parents said anything nice to him.
“You celebrate birthdays?”
“Normally you would.”
If he had a normal family, he would have had his celebrated every year. Misaki was not from a normal family either, but she heard from other elementary schoolers about it and even Jiro celebrated her own every year.
“A birthday is a day that can only happen once a year. You blow out candles on cakes and get presents.”
“Really?”
Méqué listened to her, intrigued.
Misaki felt bad for him. She had Jiro, but there were no kind parents for him in his life. He did not even know his birthday. She wanted to celebrate that he was born into this world someday.
But she decided Méqué’s birthday would be for another time. Misaki had an issue to solve first.
“Anyway, Jiro-chan’s birthday is coming up soon.”
Méqué looked surprised and waited for her to continue.
“And I was thinking of getting him a cake or present…” Misaki sighed. “In order to do that, I need money.”
“You need money?”
“Yeah.”
“How about borrowing some?”
Méqué told her and took out something. It was a pocket tissue. He must have gotten it on the streets. On the backside of the item, there was an advertisement attached: ‘For anyone needing money right away! No screening or guarantor required. Genkai Financing has your back!’
“I won’t.” Misaki answered without pause. “Besides, I don’t need so much that I need to take out an illegal loan.”
“How much?”
“Hmm...About four or five thousand yen.”
She would need about that much money to cover the cake and an apron safely, which she estimated to cost her about two or three thousand yen.
“Four or five thousand…?”
Méqué stood up. He went over to where his performance equipment was further in the room and brought over his black silk hat.
“Here you go.”
He then took out five one thousand bills from inside it and handed it over to Misaki with a broad smile, prompting her to use his money.
“No, that’s not what I mean.”
She apparently had caused some confusion. That was not her point.
“Even I have some money.”
She had money saved from her part-time work as an avenger. She was paid roughly five thousand yen. However, the issue was not how much she had.
“Misaki, you have money?”
“I do.” Misaki nodded. “But I get that money by helping with Jiro-chan’s job, and he gives it to me. So in the end, it’s just Jiro-chan’s money anyway. Don’t you think it’s wrong to buy his birthday present with his money?”
Méqué hummed in thought.
“I don’t get it.”
It could still be difficult for him to comprehend the idea.
“Anyway!” Misaki balled her fists. “I want to make Jiro-chan happy with the money I earn by myself!”
“You want to save up money?”
“Yes. That’s what I was getting at.”
But there was just one issue.
“I don’t have any means to do it.”
Misaki was still an elementary schooler. She could not get a part-time job.
“There is.”
Méqué suddenly stated.
“Here.”
What he showed her was his street performance tools: three clubs shaped similar to bowling pins.
“...You don’t mean through street performance, right?”
Méqué nodded triumphantly. “You can earn money if you do it with Méqué.”
His suggestion was to make money by putting on a performance in the streets together with him. Misaki decided to accept his help.
“So what do I have to do?”

After Méqué drove the vehicle for a couple minutes, they arrived at a small park somewhere in Fukuoka city. He intended to train her here.
“Misaki, stand over there.”
Méqué ordered as he got out of the RV.
He held a red apple in his hand.
Why an apple? What did he intend to use an apple for?
Misaki pondered to herself.
“Don’t move.” Méqué placed the apple on top of Misaki’s head. It would fall if she made the slightest movement.
“Stay there, just like that.”
Méqué gradually backed away from Misaki.
Once he was about five meters away from Misaki, Méqué turned around and faced her. This time he held a few small knives in his hands.
“Wait, hold on!”
Misaki felt increasingly uneasy. She shouted.
“Why do you have knives out? What do you plan on doing?”
“Méqué is going to throw them.”
“At me?”
“At the apple.”
...Isn’t that the same thing?
“No!”
Misaki was shaken. She shouted in defiance. “Absolutely not!”
“It’s alright. You’ll be okay.”
“This is not alright!”
“Méqué is good. Méqué won’t miss.”
“That’s not the problem!”
Misaki yelled back, removing the apple off her head.
It did not matter how skilled Méqué was as a street performer. There was always the one in a million chance. What would happen if he missed?
“Méqué will throw,” Méqué pointed to himself and then at the apple. “And the knife will hit that. The audience will cheer, and we will get money.”
The audience could throw them some coin if they accomplished a great stunt like that. However, Misaki did not want to do anything that could give her a heart attack.
“Let’s do something else. Something more safe.”
“Misaki, you’re so selfish~.”
“It can be anything else.”
Misaki tossed the apple back to Méqué.
“Alright. Then here.”
Méqué took out small balls reluctantly - three of them. He splendidly maneuvered the balls, displaying his prowess in juggling.
“Misaki, do this.”
He handed the balls over to Misaki.
“Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously.”
“Can I even do this…?”
Misaki gazed at the three balls, uncertain. Méqué grinned. “Then will you go with the knife stunt instead?”
“I’ll try my best.”
She did not want knives being thrown at her. She could not say no a second time.

And ever since that day, Misaki’s training began.
Méqué had told her she could start with one ball for juggling. Misaki would move the ball from her right hand to her left, and then from her left to her right to create an arc of motion. This was so she could gradually learn the timing to toss the ball by instinct.
Once she began to get accustomed to it, she then added another ball to work with. She would hold one in each hand and rotate them from left to right in turn. She first would toss with her right hand and then immediately after toss the other with her left and catch the ball she throw with her right in her left hand, and likewise catch the left ball in her right hand. This was considered to be one set. And then she would do the opposite. She would toss the ball starting with her left. It was the same sequence as before but reversed. The main point to keep in mind was to toss the balls by making an arc with both left and right hands.
That said, this was still fairly difficult.
Misaki secretly practiced in her room everyday so Jiro would not find out. She would even bring the balls to school and put in some practice during breaks. Her fellow classmates would approach her, and she became the topic of discussion. And because of Misaki’s juggling, she would cause bean bag tossing to become especially popular in her class.
At any rate, she kept juggling twenty-four-seven.

And after the end of two weeks of intense training, Misaki was finally able to juggle using three balls, which the technique was apparently called three-ball cascade. Her skill was clumsy compared to Méqué’s performance, and so she was uneasy to perform in front of people, but Jiro’s birthday was drawing near. There was not much time left.
That day was on a weekend, and so people were abound in the city. Large crowds of people passed over the Deai Bridge. The location was the most suitable place for a street performer.
Misaki wore a red one-piece dress for her first performance. She had a heart and star drawn on opposing cheeks, a red nose, and patterned shoes similar to Méqué’s. It was time for Misaki the Clown’s debut.
Her heart beat in her chest frantically as she stood in front of the spectators. She bowed with Méqué. She first acted Méqué’s assistant. Misaki tossed Méqué more clubs as he juggled in timing with the upbeat music.
More passerby stopped to watch the performance, a fairly large crowd growing around Méqué and Misaki.
After Méqué finished his performance, he pointed towards Misaki with an open hand, introducing her to the audience. It was her turn. Misaki took the three balls in hand and began to toss them. Right, left, right, left. She focused heavily on the motion, trying to avoid dropping them.
Méqué was clapping his hands cheerfully as he watched her. The audience joined him, beating in synchronized time. There were shouts of encouragement for Misaki to keep going.
Once the song ended and she caught the three balls in hand, there was a huge applause from the audience. Misaki mimicked Méqué and bowed. The spectators tossed in coins into the silk hat in front of them.
Thank goodness. It went really well.
Misaki exchanged glances with Méqué and smiled ear to ear.

Their second show following this one went well too. They had a third performance later in the day, and after that one they took a break. They sat down on the benches on the bridge and counted the amount of coins they received as they ate the sandwiches Méqué made.
They had earned 8,900 yen in total. The audience were impressed how much effort the young girl put into her performance. A group of Asian foreigners were moved by her and gave them a tip, so they earned more than what they were aiming for.
The two celebrated on the benches for their accomplishments.
“Should you head back?” Méqué suggested when they finished their late lunch.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
She nodded. She would have enough money even if she split half of it with Méqué.
“Alright then, let’s clean up.”
Misaki proposed as she stood up. They carried the juggling items and sound speakers and put them inside the van.
It happened then. There was a figure that creeped into her field of vision.
There was a man. Misaki could not see his face. He wore a hat that covered his face and a mask.
The man reached for the silk hat nearby.
“Ah!”
By the time Misaki shouted, it was already too late.
The man picked up the silk hat and dashed off.
“Wait-”
Misaki tried to stop him but was pushed back, and she fell on top of the bridge.
“Misaki!” Méqué noticed the commotion and rushed over to her. “Are you alright, Misaki?”
“More than me, the money-”
“The money?”
Misaki pointed. “That man just took the money we made!”
The silk hat was for people to toss coins in. In short, their precious money had been stolen.
Even if they tried to chase after him, they would not catch up in time. The man had gotten on a motorcycle and sped off.
After Méqué stood still for a moment, dumbfounded, he burst into tears. “Uwaaagh!” He wailed in a loud voice, unconcerned about the public’s gaze.
“Don’t cry, Méqué.”
“But! The money! Uwaa!”
An adult crying like a kid was being soothed by an elementary school girl. The passerby’s attention was focused on the strange sight.
However, it was only natural for Méqué to cry. Méqué had grown up a little bit, but his mental age was still an elementary schooler’s. And besides, the money was crucial to his living expenses.
“I absolutely...will not forgive that man!”
Misaki suppressed her anger and balled up her hands into fists.

After Misaki convinced Méqué they would get the money back so he could stop crying, she immediately headed to the Gates Building in Nakasu. She had called the man here to meet with her in the cafe on the first floor. He was already waiting for Misaki in a seat when she had arrived.
“And what business do you have with me, miss little avenger?”
Enokida cheerfully asked as Misaki sat down across from him.
“I want information.”
“Is this to help Jiro?”
“It’s a personal request.” Misaki did not have the time for idle chat. She got to the point. “Find this man.”
Enokida chuckled. “You sure got up on the wrong side of the bed. What happened?”
“My money got stolen. Just now. The culprit fled from Deai Bridge towards Tenjin on a motorcycle.”
When Misaki asked if he could find the man, Enokida replied with an ‘of course.’
“Guess I’ll check the security footage around the area then.”
Enokida opened up his laptop on the table and began to type with incredible speed.
“Ah, is this him?”
After a couple minutes of searching, he turned the screen towards her.
On the screen showed the man in question running off with the silk hat. Enokida had hacked into the security camera footage from a restaurant off his escape route.
“Yeah, that’s him. Can you tell who it is?”
“He has his face covered by the mask and hat, so it’d be hard to identify him. But if I enlarge the number plate on the motorcycle…”
There was the sound of keys clicking again. A few seconds later, he stopped moving his fingers.
“Here it is. The owner of this motorcycle is a company employee in his forties named Torida. I’ll send the information to your smartphone.”
“Thank you.” Misaki stood up. “How much do I owe you?”
“I’ll bring it down to 10,000 yen for you. As part of an elementary schooler discount.”
“Okay,” Misaki took out the bill from her wallet and gave it to Enokida.
As she was leaving, Enokida stopped her. “Hey, Misaki-chan. What do you plan to do with this man?”
“Catch him and interrogate him.”
Upon seeing Misaki’s bloodcurdling expression, Enokida smiled wryly, “elementary schoolers these days are quite frightening.”

If an avenger’s helper and a former serial killer clown teamed up, it should be easy work to kidnap one man. The two took the information Enokida provided and went over to the apartment building where the man lived the following day. They pressed the intercom, and when the man answered the door Méqué knocked him out with his clubs. Once they tied him up, they brought him over to the RV, careful to not be seen by passerby. Then they headed over to the usual warehouse. Jiro and Martinez used this place to torture people. No matter how much the man yelled, no one would take notice. It was the most suitable place to deliver the man’s punishment.
They carried the unconscious Torida into the warehouse and tied him to the chair. It was a couple minutes later when he came to.
“You’re finally awake.”
Misaki muttered, tired of waiting, when Torida opened his eyes. “Wh-who are you?”
‘Who are you’ was common to say.
“You don’t remember?” Misaki was sullen. “Thank you so much for yesterday.”
“...Yesterday?” Torida cocked his head. “What are you talking about?”
“So shameless.”
She grew more irritated when the man only gave her a blank look. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. You stole our money yesterday.”
“Ha? Money?” The man kept feigning ignorance no matter how much Misaki pressured him. “Hold on, I really don’t know-”
“You must be looking down on me since I’m a kid.”
Misaki glared at the man. She had a plan if he was going to keep up that act.
“I did expect you’d play dumb though.”
“H-hey.” Toria was nervous. “What do you plan on doing?”
Misaki ignored the man and walked away. She stood in front of the parked RV in the warehouse and snapped her fingers. “It’s showtime.”
In the next moment, the lights in the warehouse went off. Immediately after the area turned pitch black, the headlights of the RV turned on, illuminating Misaki.
“Ladies and gentlemen.”
Misaki began the script just as they devised in the center of the spotlight. She turned her back to Torida and spread her arms wide.
“Thank you for coming here today. Do enjoy tonight’s splendid street performance show.”
She then stated plainly.
“Now then, let’s introduce our main performer - Hakata’s one and only entertainer, Méqué the Clown!”
 Méqué walked into the spotlight. The bright red clown illuminated by the light turned towards the man and bowed deeply.
“H-hey!” Torida shouted. “Who the hell is he?”
The man looked frightened when he saw Méqué with his creepy makeup.
Misaki walked over to Torida and place a red apple on his head.
“Alright, we have an apple placed here. Méqué will throw a knife at this tiny apple.”
Torida is startled to hear that. “Y-you don’t mean-”
“Méqué, how are you feeling today?”
Méqué purposefully looked upset. “Hmmm...Not too well.”
“Oh no, that’s concerning. Will you be alright?”
“Méqué will do his best.”
Méqué began to stretch.
“Alright, then let’s see what you can do?” Misaki raised her voice. “First round!”
She turned on the switch for the music speakers, and the drum roll began to play. Once the music stopped, Méqué threw the knife towards the man.
“Hee!”
There was the whistling sound of something flying through the air and Torida’s scream.
The knife veered off greatly and hit the back wall. Méqué missed on purpose.
“Oh no. You missed.”
“Not good, not good.” Méqué made the motion to wipe sweat off his forehead.
“Pull yourself together now. Round two.”
The drum roll began to play again. This time it looked like Méqué threw the knife directly on target, but it swerved off slightly and the knife grazed the man’s left arm. Méqué had also done this on purpose.
“Hee!”
Blood was seeping out of the cut.
“Oh dear, the knife hit him. That was too close. If it had been just another few centimeters, it could have hit his heart.”
Torida’s complexion turned even paler.
“Now then, shall we move onto the third round?”
The drum roll started once more.
The knife Méqué threw struck the red object in the dead center.
“It was a success. Méqué has splendidly hit the apple.”
Misaki applauded lightly.
“As expected of the greatest performer in Fukuoka. You have amazing skill.”
“Easy as pie.”
“Oh? This is too easy for you? Then how about we take it up a notch?”
Misaki took out a black cloth.
“We’ll have Méqué throw the knife blindfolded as a challen-”
“Wait, please hold on!” Torida shouted. “Please stop!”
Misaki glared at the man. “Then talk to us honestly.”
“Like I was saying, I didn’t do anything!”
“You didn’t do anything? You stole our money on Deai Bridge yesterday and sped off on a motorcycle, remember?”
“...A motorcycle?” Torida muttered and then seemed to recognize something. “Oh, I get it!”
“What is it?”
“I didn’t steal your money. I mean it. Please believe me.”
Torida exclaimed.
Misaki snorted in response. Is he still going to play dumb? She was fed up with his act. Apparently he had not received enough torment.
However, Torida explained with a serious expression.
“I lent my motorcycle to someone I know yesterday. He might have been the one to do it. I was working at the company the whole day yesterday. If you don’t believe me, verify it yourself. My colleagues can vouch for me.”
“And what’s his name?”
“Isao Arise.”
If Torida was correct, then this Isao Arise was likely the true culprit.
“Then we’ll have to look up this Arise person.”
It was reasonable to assume Torida was innocent. Misaki shrugged. The case was not as straightforward as she thought.
Beside her Méqué crossed his arms and imitated her stern expression.

After releasing the owner of the motorcycle, Misaki headed over towards Hakata Station. Her destination was a ten-minute walk from the Chikushi Exit.
She opened the door to the Banba Detective Office.
“Oh. We’ve got a rare guest.”
Xianming Lin commented when he noticed Misaki.
“Hey Misaki-chan. Whatcha here for?”
Zenji Banba was present as well. The two were in the middle of having lunch.
“I have a job for you.”
Banba and Lin’s eyes widened, and they exchanged glances. Misaki sat down in the guest chair and explained the details of what happened; on how her money got stolen and how the culprit was likely to be a man named Isao Arise.
“I get it, but what does that have to do with us?”
Lin inquired.
“I want you to look into this Arise.”
Misaki told the two private investigators her plan. “If the man is really the culprit, then I’m going to steal the money back.”
Misaki had been too hasty with Torida. First, she had to confirm if he was a criminal, or if he was the one who stole their money. And there was one other thing she needed.
She wanted to get their money back, and she wanted to get revenge. But she did not know much about the man. What life did he have? Where does he earn his money? When could she extract her revenge? She needed to know her opponent first to devise a plan.
However, she still did not have the abilities to collect information or have connections. And so she decided to task her acquaintances in this office to investigate the man.
“Alrighty then.” Banba spoke with a smile after hearing her side. “Leave it to me. I’ll look into him.”
“Hold it.” Lin stopped Banba from standing up.
“As if you can take this after just getting out of the hospital.” He stated with a sigh. “You need to rest still.”
Banba was in the middle of recovery. He had been gravely injured and was brought to the hospital unconscious. Although he had been discharged, his wounds have yet to fully heal. He could not overdo it.
Lin stood up from the sofa and shrugged.
“Anyway, you just need someone to watch this Arise, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then I’ll look into him instead. Give me a week.”
“Do ya need help gettin’ your revenge too?” Banba chimed in. “Lin-chan can do it.”
“Me?”
Lin scowled for a moment.
“Well, I guess so,” but he relented. “It’d be much faster if I tie him up and make him give it all back, right?”
They already knew the man’s identity. They could just capture and threaten the man to admit he did the crime and have him return Misaki’s money; they would not need to do the investigation.
However-
“It’s alright.”
Misaki shook her head.
“I have a plan for that in mind.”
I’m going to do it my way.

A week later, Misaki was outside a pachinko parlor in Nakasu. Jiro’s birthday was in another three days.
Since Misaki was still a child, she was naturally unable to enter the pachinko parlor as a customer. As such, she called for a helper.
“So what did you need from me?”
Yamato asked beside her.
“In this parlor,” after Misaki pointed towards the pachinko, she handed Yamato a photo. “This man is in there.”
“Who is this?”
“A thief.”
Lin thoroughly noted Arise’s activities. He had tailed him, watched him, and listened in on his conversations. And with the listening device Enokida made, he eavesdropped on his calls too. According to the information Lin collected, the thief was indeed Arise. Lin had overheard Arise tell his fellow thief friends at a restaurant he frequented that he took money from street performers on Deai Bridge.
Arise did not have a steady job, and the part-time job he had during the day did not make him enough to live off of, but now he worked as a thief. He started stealing purses around here recently, and then moved onto other forms of theft including taking other’s luggage, burglaries, and stealing from money offerings.
Arise was a severe pachinko addict, and he used most of his earnings and even living expenses for it. He was unsatisfied with even spending that much into the game and began to use black money. He was borrowing money from the corrupt financing company, Genkai Financing, in Fukuoka City for pachinko. Every time the day he had to pay them back came by, Arise hastily committed more crimes. The day he stole the coins from Misaki and Méqué was before his due date.
Arise used the money had saved up from stealing for his loan and was using the rest at the pachinko parlor. And his favorite parlor was the one in Nakasu where they were at. Arise would come to play pachinko around this time nearly everyday. Lin’s information was accurate. He was here today as well.
“So what should I do?” Yamato asked.
“Snatch the wallet from the man inside,” Misaki pointed to the photo and stated. “I’ll pay you for it.”
“I don’t really get it, but I’ll do it.”
Yamato stepped inside the parlor while suppressing a yawn. He was a skilled pickpocket. It should be easy for him to take wallets from men completely lost in pachinko.
Yamato returned a couple minutes later.
“Here you go. I took it.”
He handed Misaki a black leathered wallet.
Misaki looked through its contents. There was an ID in it. It had Isao Arise’s name and photo in it. There was no mistake it was him.
She took out the bills and counted.
“What are you doing?”
“This man stole money from me earlier. So I have to take the same amount from his wallet that he stole from me.”
How distracted was this man to not notice his wallet had been stolen? Misaki snorted, imagining the man she resented getting what he deserved. Serves you right.
There was one 10,000 yen bill and thirteen one-hundred yen coins in his wallet. After breaking the bill into 8,900 yen exact, Misaki handed the wallet back to Yamato. “Here. Put this back.”
“Wh?” Yamato frowned. “That’s a pain. Couldn’t you just take it all?”
“No.”
On principle, she could not steal more than what was stolen. That was the avenger’s code.
Yamato sighed and reluctantly nodded. “Alright, alright. I’ll do it.”
“Thank you,” Misaki pulled out a 10,000 yen bill from her wallet and gave it to Yamato. “Here’s your payment.”
“Thanks.” After taking it, Yamato’s eyes widened. “...Hold on, didn’t you just sell yourself short?”
The money taken was 8,900 yen. And Misaki gave Yamato 10,000 yen. She spent a fair amount of money after including what she had paid Enokida and Lin.
“You did learn how to do math, right?”
“I did.” Misaki pouted.
“It’s fine.” Misaki gripped the money she had gotten back in her hand. “This money is special.”

Jiro worked at the bar until dawn. After cleaning up, Jiro would head home in the morning as per usual. Misaki woke up a little bit earlier than normal that day and waited for Jiro to come home in the living room.
“I’m home.”
Immediately after Jiro unlocked the door to step inside, Misaki heard a timid voice from the entrance. “Welcome back,” Misaki replied.
The preparations are complete.
Jiro’s footsteps were drawing closer. The moment the living room door opened, Misaki pulled the string of the cracker.
There was a dry plosive pop. Jiro froze, frightfully thinking, “oh no! A gunshot!?” However-
“Jiro-chan, congratulations on your 31st birthday.”
His eyes widened when he saw the cake left out on the table. “Oh my, look at this!”
In the center of the strawberry cake, there was a plate which read, ‘Happy Birthday Jiro-chan.’
“You remembered? Thank you!”
Jiro’s entire expression lost all its fatigue from work, replace by a broad smile.
“Come on, hurry up and blow out the candles.”
“Oh my gosh, you’ve got thirty-one candles on it and everything…” Jiro smiled wryly. “If I don’t blow them out now, I guess there could be a fire hazard.”
After Misaki sang him happy birthday, Jiro blew out all the candles in one breath. He had great lung capacity.
“Happy birthday, Jiro-chan.”
“Thank you.”
Jiro grinned as they applauded together. As he was about to begin to cut the cake, Misaki handed him a bag, “here. A present.”
Jiro raised his voice in surprise. “Can I open it?”
“Yeah.”
Misaki had done the wrapping herself. Except she simply wrapped the item she bought with wrapping paper and tied it with a ribbon.
“Oh my!” Jiro exclaimed in delight.
“It’s a beautiful sarong!”
His present was a bartender type sarong apron. However, Misaki was unsatisfied getting just a standard sarong off the market and embroidered the characters “Jiro” in the corner of the black fabric.
“There’s embroidery on this! Did you do this too?”
It was Misaki’s pride and joy. She answered proudly. “Yes, I did.”
“Thank you, Misaki.” Jiro drew her into a hug. He had some tears in his eyes. “You’re really such a great kid. I love you.”
“Haha.”
Misaki smiled too.
“I’ll take good care of this.”
Jiro was happy. His joy could be seen on his face. It was worth the trouble.
“Jiro-chan, thank you for everything. Work hard at the bar too.”
Misaki felt like she slightly understood now what he had meant back then.
Translation Notes: Méqué's second appearance was in volume 8, and there has been some significant changes since his debut. In volume 5, all his lines were solely in kana. Starting in volume 8, kanji is now being used on occasion in Méqué's lines. While the usage of only kana depicted how emotionally and socially stunted Méqué was in the beginning, now that kanji is being introduced it's showing how much Méqué has emotionally, socially, and/or mentally grown since meeting Misaki a month prior. This sadly doesn't translate over well, but when the text mentions how Méqué has grown since Misaki first met him, it is referring to Méqué's mental state and social skills. Since my editor questioned how Misaki was able to break the bill into exact change, I'll say while the text doesn't specify how she did it there are places to exchange money nearby, there's Yamato who could have broken it for her, and then there's the option of using currency exchange machines that are often seen in pachinko parlors and gaming centers which take bills and break it into coins.  ----
Translation: Kaede726
Reposts are prohibited and should be exclusive to Kaede726 on blogger.
Editor: Voissane

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