#ace douglas

[okinawa-division]

Round 5 — Fashion Show

Theme: "Prom Night!"

Contestants: Ace Douglas & Evelyn Rose

Division: Okinawa

"Eee! You look, like, so handsome, Acey!"

"Yeah well, I still don't like how you had Kyler, of all people, to be the one to have done my hair."

"Oh hush! I made him promise to do, like, an extra-special job on it."

"Yeah well, his assurances do little to appease me." *Checking his hair in a mirror*

"Oh stop! Like I said, you look, like, handsome!" *Kisses him*

*Sighs* "Fine, if you say so."

"...Hehehe..."

"What?"

"Doesn't this, like, bring back memories of our actual prom night?"

*Cocks an eyebrow* "What do you mean?"

"Oh, come on! You remember! Your sisters were the one who did your hair, and you were fussing about it while both our moms took, like, multiple pictures of us together?"

"...Oh yeah. This is kinda like that time, isn't it?"

"Remember how we had, like, our own limousine so we didn't have to share? And then we got to prom and we, like, danced the night away?"

"And then we were both surprisingly named 'King' and 'Queen' of Prom?"

"That was, like, my favorite part! ...And what did we do at the end?"

"Ha, finished off the night with a kiss under the full moon?"

"Hehe. Hopefully we can do that, like, again."

"Hey, stranger things have happened. Now then..." *Holds out his hand* "...shall we, my queen?"

"Of course, my king." *Takes his hand*

[taito-division]

Round 2 Poll Results!

Ren Nakashima of Kobe & Kureha Koizumi of Saitama - 10 Points

Tomi Chōten of Aoyama & Miho Kobayashi of Shinagawa - 9 Points

Karada Kessaku of Aoyama & Lola Takahashi of Saitama - 9 Points

Kito Sakura of Shizuoka & Yano Ietsuna of Toyama - 9 Points

Luis Kōkyū of Aoyama & Aoba Yamamura of Kumamoto - 8 Points

Ace Douglas & Evelyn Rose of Okinawa - 7 Points

Eldrid Iwasaki of Taitō & Kirumi Mayeda of Takatsuki - 6 Points

Touya Kisaragi of Katsushika & Kaiji Sano of Kobe - 6 Points

Criss Hiromi of Akihabara & Kanade Alarie of Kyoto - 5 Point

Lyall Shiba of Niigata & Kaoru Shinozaki of Edogawa - 5 Points

Current Ranking:

Ren Nakashima & Kureha Koizumi (The Dark Canvas) - 14 Points (1st Place)

Karada Kessaku & Lola Takahashi (The Deities) - 11 Points (2nd Place - Tied)

Touya Kisaragi & Kaiji Sano (Angelic Facade) - 11 Points (2nd Place - Tied)

Tomi Chōten & Miho Kobayashi (The "Power Couple") - 10 Points (3rd Place - Tied)

Eldrid Iwasaki & Kirumi Mayeda (Valkyrie's Resonance) - 10 Points (3rd Place - Tied)

Lyall Shiba & Kaoru Shinozaki (Blue Blaze) - 10 Points (3rd Place - Tied)

Ace Douglas & Evelyn Rose (America's Sweethearts) - 9 Points (4th Place - Tied)

Kito Sakura & Yano Ietsuna (Master & Servant) - 9 Points (4th Place - Tied)

Luis Kōkyū & Aoba Yamamura (Inferno Pair) - 9 Points (4th Place - Tied)

Criss Hiromi & Kanade Alarie (Phantom Powwow) - 6 Points (5th Place)

[saitama-division]

It was exactly 11:00 A.M. in Saitama when the famous model, Lola Takahashi, left her apartment complex to head down to the modeling agency. Same as everyday, with no change, save unless it was some special occasion. No big deal.

...Of course, the model in an effort to have dozens of flashing cameras on her, failed to take note of her surroundings. For the past several days, someone had been watching her, taking note of her routine. They had done this for the past several days until it was the day of Christmas. As the model departed once more to the modeling agency, the strange observer finally made their move.

Walking up to the front desk of the apartment, the stranger slipped the man behind the desk counter an envelope. Raising an eyebrow, the man opened the envelope. His eyes grew wide as inside the white folded paper were over 100 neatly stacked dollar bills. Looking at the stranger once more, the man looked as they slid a note to them. Picking it up, the man read it and their eyes grew wide as it contained only five words, but the message was clear:

'The key to the penthouse'

The desk assistant and stranger stared at each other for up to 15 seconds before the man wordlessly dropped both a hard key and a keycard into the stranger's hand. With a nod, the stranger walked towards the elevator and swiped the card, sending them to the very top floor. Upon reaching the only apartment available, the stranger unlocked the front entrance and took in the apart of the supermodel, Lola Takahashi.

The whole place made the stranger sick. They could smell sex, alcohol, used toiletries, and above all, desperation. Ugh, they needed to hurry and do what they came to do so they could hurry up and leave this place. Shaking their head, the stranger placed the large black duffel bag they had brought with them down on the ground and opened it up, pulling out various tools. It was time to get to work.

Two hours later...

At long last, the stranger was done. To the untrained eye, it looked like nothing at all was done. The apartment was pretty much in the same way it was when the stranger walked in. Of course, that was only if you weren't a master saboteur, which the stranger was. That was why they were hired, after all. Smirking behind their mask, the stranger gathered up their tools and locked the door behind the apartment. They then returned down to the first floor, and walked up to the desk. Dropping the key and card down on the desk, the stranger wordlessly exited the apartment complex.

Making their way out, the stranger pulled out their cell phone, opened up their text messages and typed a message to an unknown number. The message was short and sweet:

'Job is done. Expect results soon.'

With that, the stranger disappeared out of Saitama, their work complete.

Several more hours later...

The figure of Lola Takahashi was busy running home from the nightclub she was previously in, in a panic. Why is that, you ask? Well...

It may or may not have had something to do with the fact that her hair was currently itching like crazy due to the fact that she had somehow or other come down with a bad case of head lice.

It could have been due to the fact that her face was suddenly breaking out like crazy, coming down zits and pimples galore.

Or, it could have been the fact that dozens of people were laughing at her and she had to get home before her reputation worsened. It could have been all of those things and more. Whose to say, really?

As the model finally made it home, she thought her problems were finally over. However...

As she opened the door to her apartment...

A huge explosion went off that sent the model tumbling back. When she had finally regained her bearings, she found her entire living room and most of her kitchen filled with glitter, as well as a noxious foul odor. The model looked around in shock as her entire apartment was absolutely ruined!

Who the hell could have been responsible for this? This was supposed to be Christmas day! A day where she was supposed to have fun and celebrating! Instead, her entire evening had been absolutely ruined!

The itching in her hair reminded her of the pain she was currently in and she quickly ran to her bathroom, ignoring the mess in her apartment for now. As she turned on the light, she looked at the large mirror in her bathroom and stopped in shock as there was a message on it, which finally brought to her attention who was responsible for all this...

In Okinawa...

In her bedroom of Eagle's Nest, Evelyn was busy sipping a martini through a fancy straw, a smile on her face. She didn't know why, but she felt pretty good about today as a dark smile made it way to her face.

"Alexa, play 'Gives You Hell' by All-American Rejects."

"Sure. Playing 'Gives You Hell' by All-American Rejects on Apple Music."

Obeying the command, the A.I. began playing the song on her device as Evelyn continued smiling, humming the lyrics to the song.

Back in Saitama...

The model was busy staring at the message on her bathroom window. What was the message, you ask? It was simple, containing only six words, yet the message, itself, was clear:

'DON'T FUCK WITH A CALIFORNIA BITCH'

Several days ago...

"So... you want my help to get Lola back for pranking you on your birthday?"

"I wouldn't, like, ask if I didn't need your help."

"And what, exactly, is keeping me from telling her or Sumire about your little plan?"

"I'll pay you for your help."

"...How much we talking?"

"I don't care how much. Price isn't, like, an option for me."

"...Let's say I say 'yes'. What exactly do you want me to do?"

"I don't, like, give a damn! Just make that bitch regret fucking with me, so she, like, gets the point not to do it again."

"..."

"Well? Are you, like, in or what?"

"...Meh, what the hell? I had nothing else to do. And I don't particularly care for her anyway. Plus, since Sumire helped her, that pretty much makes her fair game, anyway."

"Great! How much?"

"We'll discuss price after I'm done."

"Awesome! Like, thanks Aranai!"

"Meh, what can I say? I'm always up for a game of 'Prank War'."

“God Tsumugi, you look horrible.” Lola Takahashi wrinkled her nose in disgust as she stared at her pitiful assistant who was too busy scratching her scalp off her head, the blonde wig thrown and discarded. The two walked back towards the ruined living room, the blonde model clicked her tongue in annoyance, she was definitely going to have to call someone to clean all this up but she could worry about that later, besides, she had three other penthouses in other Divisions she could stay at and there was Sayaka’s place too.

Lola took a sip of her hot chocolate before speaking. “Though I can’t say that I didn’t see this coming, like c’mon who the fuck does that dumb bitch think I am? It was only a matter of time before she would clap back but honestly, who the fuck pranks someone on Christmas? Talk about a fucking grinch, am I right?”

“L-Lola-san! Please!” Tsumugi cried out, tears streaming down her pimple infested face as she tugged and pulled at her hair. “Please help me, I did what you asked me to do!”

“I know, darling, I know.” Lola cooed, pouting. She genuinely did feel bad about throwing her loyal assistant into the line of fire but there was no fucking way that she was going to lay down and take whatever ameuter scheme Evelyn fucking Rose had planned for her. “You were so good for me, you did everything I told you too and more, to think I was worried that this wouldn’t work, don’t worry, you’ll be compensated very generously and I want you to take a few days off to recover, you’ll be paid of course and I just want to say thank you so much, you really saved my ass.” The model beamed.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, how is Lola still standing in one piece and looking as beautiful as ever if not more? Wasn’t someone stalking her? How could she have slipped under their radar? Well…

— Several Days Ago —

Lola raised a brow at Sumire’s caller ID before answering, placing the phone up to her ear. “Hey Sumi, what’s up?”

“Hey Lola, do you remember that prank you pulled on Evelyn for her birthday?”

A wide smirk graced the Russian model’s face, oh how glorious it was, she was so grateful for Sumire for helping her and sending her the camera footage of Evelyn having a mental breakdown in the bathroom. “Of course, dear, it quite literally happened yesterday. Why do you ask?”

“Well I’m sure you already know but Evelyn is determined to get it back in blood, I overheard a conversation between her and Aranai, I think it’s best if you lay low for a few days.”

Lola rolled her eyes, sighing. “Oh god, the hell is that bitch planning?”

“Dunno but since she’s turning to Aranai for help, it’s definitely something to be on your guard for, I should know. Look, don’t tell anyone this but I’m willing to help you out again, I can hide you somewhere until it all blows over.”

Lola raised a brow, surprised and a bit touch that the anarchist would do this for her. “Aw, thank you Sumi but I gotta ask, why? Look, you know I’m willing to pay whatever price you have.”

“Don’t worry about it, you’re one of the few people in this country that I genuinely like, besides I’ll be damned if I let Aranai one up me. So? You in or out?”

“Hold on gorgeous, I can’t just suddenly disappear out of nowhere, especially after I gave Barbie Bitch her gift, not only would that be suspicious as hell but that’ll also make me look cowardly and I’ll be damned if I’ll let anyone think I’m scared of that skank. Plus, it’ll be cruel to deprive my adoring fans of their daily dose of Aphrodite.” Lola pouted and she could practically see Sumire rolling her eyes.

“Yeah, I get it but what are you going to do? It’s not like you can find someone to fill in for you while you’re gone.”

That made Lola pause for a moment before her eyes lit up as she had an idea, “Actually…I do.”

“Wait what-“

“I gotta go Sumi, send me the details later!”

“Lo-“

Lola hung up and immediately began dialing a new number, tapping her fingers impatiently as she waited for whoever was on the other line to pick up.

“Lola-san? Is something wro-“

“Tsumugi! Do you want a raise?!”

— Now —

“Dolly’s on her way now, Tsu-Tsu, she’ll take you to a doctor to get yourself treated, now you just focus on resting up and getting better, okay? I’ll need my perfect assistant at her best!” Lola beamed at the still scratching girl as she left her penthouse and took the elevator down to the lobby, her eyes landed on the reception desk where a man was usually supposed to be but he was unfortunately let go…into the back of a black van, the model had a feeling that the beaches of Okinawa will receive a rather unpleasant surprise.

Huffing, the blonde took out her phone again and dialed a number, putting the device next to her ear as the other line picked up. Immediately, Lola was greeted to the sound of people cheering and screaming along with other unidentifiable noises before a clear voice spoke.

“Yo.”

“Hey Sumi~” Lola greeted, smiling brightly. “You sound busy, I’m not interrupting anything am I?”

“Ehhhhh, not really, I’m just enjoying a show, what’s up, how was the trip back?”

“Oh it was great! Hey, listen, thank you so much for all your help, I really owe you big time.”

“No problem, so, what are you gonna do now? I mean, your place isn’t exactly ‘habitable’ now, also do you plan on getting Evelyn back?”

Lola sighed and rubbed at her forehead, feeling a headache coming. “I’m not worried about that, I can always have it fixed and I’m not short on places to find shelter. I’m just gonna kick back and relax today, I mean it is Christmas after all, plus there’s a certain birthday girl I need to visit.”

“Ahhh, that’s right, tell Kureha I said happy birthday, but what about Evelyn?”

“Will do, and what about her? I’ll let her think she’s won, it is the holiday after all and mainly because I don’t want to have to deal with her irritating ass more than I absolutely have to. Until I beat her ass to the point where she’s unrecognizable in the DRB, I want nothing to do with her.”

“Gotcha gotcha, merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas~”

Did you really think I was going to make it easy on you, Taito dear? 🖕

[kanazawa-division]

Contestants! (1/3)

Of course, we couldn’t forget about the main event! We’ve searched high and low throughout Japan to find the very best. The crème de la crème of each and every Division had to offer and we certainly weren’t disappointed with the line up we have and something tells us you aren’t going to be either once we reveal who our handsome gentlemen are. The contestants for the 2023 Mr. Hypmic Pageant are…

1. Ace Douglas and Rashaad Young of Okinawa

Outfits designed by Kaiji Sano

2. Kyler Aaron and Joey Kurusu of Kanazawa

Outfits designed by Ramuda Amemura and Shuu Edogawa

3. Ren Nakashima of Kobe and Lyall Shiba of Niigata

Outfits designed by Kaiji Sano and Ramuda Amemura

4. Seiji Tsukimoto of Niigata and Rintaro Himura of Katsushika

Outfits designed by Shuu Edogawa and Touya Kisaragi

Let’s wish these lovely gentlemen good luck!

@okinawa-division @kobedivision @niigata-division @katsushika-division

[hamamatsu-divison]

Kaede's thoughts on okinawa division

Ace Douglas

"i feel curiosity for this youngman but at same time is a bit obvious why is herw...why the president send his son to a mission in a country he hates,and why he joins to the DRB?...i think is quite obvious"

Evelyn Rose

"she's so cute i recognize that and apparently she's model,how Eden mentioned although.."-Kaede giggled a bit-"eden is worried because she noticed for who he sang that love song in the eagle's nest but Eden always deny for who is the song...if he only stop to blame himself for his boyfriend's death "

Raashad Young

"i respect' raashad san, sometimes i to his bar and he know how make a good drink,is a nice men and is possibily one of the persons who noticed at first glance i'm not blind so he's definitely okay in my books"

Liberty Guild

"i like this team,all of them are quite popular in okinawa and others divisions, although Eden is worry about their unevitable fight againts wild shinu for which will to represent okinawa or better say he's worried by Sakuma-san i think they could be intereseting on this tournament"

[arakawa-division]

Alexis's Thoughts on Okinawa Division

Ace Douglas

"Ace Douglas. The son of the current president, himself. I'll admit, when President Byron sent his own son to Japan to act as a diplomat, I had to wonder what exactly he was thinking. While I've never spoken to the boy, I knew about his intense disliking for anything related to Japan. So imagine my surprise when the President chose him, out of all of the other people he could have chosen to act as an envoy for America, to be the one to go to Japan, the very question that he despised so much. Was he deliberately trying to start another war with Japan, after we had just gotten through fighting with them already."

"I relayed my worries to the head of the department, but there was little that could be done about it. Thankfully, his father, at least, had the foresight to send Kyler to keep an eye on him. I don't want to imagine what his son would have done if he hadn't."

"Thankfully, the young man seems to take his mission seriously. I know meeting with people you despise can be a hard thing, but he seems to be earnest in trying to form an alliance with Japan. ...I only hope he can wait to finalize it until I get my hands on that man..."

Evelyn Rose

"Evelyn Rose. The girlfriend of the president's son. I'll admit, I was always curious how a person like Ace could attract the attention of such a nice, kind-hearted girl like her. But I suppose there must be something about him that made her fall for him. And they have been together for a number of years now, so perhaps they really do love and care for each other. I'll admit, a part of me is a little envious of the two of them. But I am really happy for them both."

"Honestly, I was little worried when I heard she was accompanying Ace on his mission. But I was informed she was sent as something of 'morale support' for the young diplomat. And from what I can see, it has helped. As stated, she seems to be a nice girl. I'll admit, she reminds me a lot of my younger sister. She may come across as a little slow, but other than that, she seems like a nice person."

Rashaad Young

"When I was informed that the president had sent Ace and his girlfriend to a foreign country with no residence for them to stay in, I was... for lack of a better word, incensed. I've always known President Douglas to be a man who makes cold-hearted decisions, but I never thought he'd be so cold as to not find temporary housing for the diplomat of his country, especially if that diplomat was his own son. But I guess that shows that you never know a person until you get to know them."

"Anyway, I was surprised to hear that Ace was paying for room and board at a bar of all places. Still, the reputations of the man known as Rashaad Young and his bar, Eagle's Nest, are quite good. From what I've heard from the people of Arakawa, his bar is basically 'neutral territory', meaning that even rivals and sworn enemies can meet there for a drink without any issues. I'm a bit curious of how he manages that, but it must come from years of experience."

"Aside from that, Ivelisse seems strangely interested in the bar owner. ...I never noticed before, but looking at them closely, the two of them do look a bit alike. Is it possible the two of them are family members? I'd like to do more research into the man, but I feel this is something that the two of them should settle between themselves."

Liberty Guild

"I never thought the president's son would actually enter this Japanese rap tournament. ...Was this all planned by his father, I wonder? If so, then why? I can't claim to understand what's going through President Byron's mind, but something about this doesn't add up. First, he enlists his own son to be the diplomat for Japan, and now he doesn't seem to care that his son may get hurt or worse by participating in this tournament. There's obviously something here that I'm not seeing..."

"Still, maybe I shouldn't worry so much. It seems that his son, at least, knows how to take care of himself. Though he and his team have only had one battle so far, they surprisingly managed to emerge victorious. I don't know if we'll have to face each other or not. But if we do, I can only hope there are no repercussions for hurting the president's son."

[minato-division03]

Queen Card’s Thoughts on Okinawa Division

Ace Douglas

She set the photograph on the table in front of her and used her nail to slide the photo away from her. “Ace Douglas… age: mid-twenties, nationality: American… or more specifically, formerly resided in California. Son to the current American president, presents clear disdain for this country’s cultures and its people, but most importantly… a skeptic when it comes to magic. No matter.” She chuckled. “Your story isn’t remotely interesting… but it is rather informative… Vexing, you are, but that status that you possess allows you to pass through Chuhoku’s barriers despite being a man.” Queen Card leaned against her seat and folded her arms. Now what on earth is the United States doing… trying to ally with Japan…? Power? If that’s all that it is… is it possible that… Hmm… it certainly is plausible…”

Queen Card cackled. And that cackled slowly built up to a loud, hearty laughter.

Chances are low that it might be the case… but there’s still that sliver of a chance…! “How amusing!”

Evelyn Rose

“Evelyn Rose, age: mid-twenties, occupation: model and actress, nationality: American…” Queen Card tilted her head to the side and stared into Evelyn’s eyes. “West coast, as well, and by the looks of it, significant other to Ambassador Ace Douglas. Hmm… This one happens to appear at my performances every time I appear at Eagle’s Nest. She’s quite enthusiastic each and every time.” Queen Card threw the photo onto the table.

“How unbelievably dull. Not interesting in the slightest. Although…” the corner of her glossy mulberry lips curled into a devious smirk. “That purity of yours and that connection you have to that ambassador may prove to be a little fun… when the time comes… Very well, then!”

Rashaad Young

"Ah, this man… Rashaad Young, age: thirty, nationality: Puerto Rican, a former gang member now a bartender residing in Okinawa… This man may have turned his back on the criminal world, however, there are some things you just cannot hide. Not from the Queen. Now, I’m not exactly fond of performing in bars or clubs. I much prefer theaters or resorts. Regardless, Eagle’s Nest is rather extraordinary and makes an exception. And besides, he sells information to my dear assistant, who then returns to me. He offers the information I need, I return with a spectacle. It all works out, no?”

Liberty Guild

“You don’t suppose any one of them could have knowledge of…” She fanned out the photos to get a good look at all three members at once. She clicked her tongue. “From the looks of it, no, most likely not… A pity, it is.” With a chuckle, ripped the photographs up. “And that is why it is so splendid, for now…”

She watched as the shredded photos slowly floated back onto the table.

“You may not be of much help to me for the time being, but worry not… Perhaps once I obtain that glory I very much deserve, the three of you will have your uses for me. When the time is right, I shall then reveal all to them. Look forward to it, my subjects! There is no greater honor than to serve your Queen…”

[kumamoto-division]

Natsume's thoughts on okinawa division

Ace Douglas

"i can't say much of him only that he is a ambassador and son of the president,but Evelyn told me that is her boyfriend and he don't like japan...if his country want a aliance with japan with this guy and his hate to japan only will provoke another war"

Evelyn Rose

"Aoba introduced her with me and Kunio,she is a good person but confused me with a woman i know it because us she accidentally called me "ms" until Aoba told her i'm a guy

But appart it is a nice person was nice talking to her we even agreed go to shopping,and one day in the video of "bermuda triangle" i see a comentary from her about his surprise for the song"

Raashad young

"i meet him,some of my dates with Kunio are on his bar or i accompanny Kunio when he give a magic show,is nice talking to him and sometimes when Kunio puts something on the jukebox and i dance with him Raashad look happy see us,i don't know why but i guess is something good"

Liberty guild

"how Aoba mentioned this is a team of foreigner, Douglas and Evelyn are american but i don't know about raashad,this is a intereseting team in the DRB"

[ota-division]

Chinami's Thoughts on Okinawa Division

Ace Douglas

The seeress of Ōta sighed as she had finished performing another divination. She didn't mind it, though because her previous customer was a foreigner, it made communication somewhat... difficult. Thankfully, interaction came and went and the customer left satisfied. And on the bright side, her conversation with them helped Chinami figure out which division team she would look into today: Okinawa Division.

"Douglas Ace."

Speaking the foreign leader's name into her crystal ball, she looked as it, at first, did nothing. A second later, however, it began glowing a mystical white and began playing out scenes from the individual's life as it always did. The first scene shows a young blue-eyed, blonde-haired boy of nine or ten sitting on the floor in a room as a much older gentleman in his mid-to-late 60s with only one leg, sits in front of him in a wheelchair. The old man is speaking, telling the young boy stories of his time as a member of the army. He was only a teen when he was drafted to help America fight the war against Japan in WWII. It was in that same war that he, unfortunately, lost his right leg, which he points to, making the boy gasp.

This isn't the first time the boy has listened to these stories, but he enjoys them, all the same. One reason because they fill the boy with a sense of pride for his grandfather, whom he deeply respects for everything he has done for his country. And the second reason is because it makes him realize just how horrible and evil this country called Japan, which he has never seen before, truly is. He doesn't know how the Japanese act, but he doesn't care. He doesn't like them.

The next scene plays out showing the boy a few years older, now a teenager. He is currently outside, running around a high school football field with many other young men around his age. He is currently panting as his face is bright red and sweat is pouring down his forehead into his eyes, partially blinding him. It had already been a couple of weeks since he first joined his high school team's football team. Since he was only a freshman, he was still on the developmental squad, meaning he and others like him, still had to learn the basics first before they could actually participate in games.

He disliked it, a lot. He wanted to be with the other guys, out there on the field, throwing the ball, running with it, getting field goals, touchdowns, and first downs. He wanted to be on the field, playing, not sitting down on the bench watching others play. Still, he knew that his day would come. It was this only thought that kept the boy from quitting. He knew the day would come when he'd be out there. He'd be an awesome player; the reason why his team would go to the playoffs. Yes, he would definitely be out there. Someday. The scene ends as he continues running, panting as he does.

The scene starts up, showing a dark, cloudy sky with gray clouds. It looks dark enough that it may start raining soon, but it hasn't yet. It helps to set the overall mood of the day: depressing. And it's a correct mood it is, as the world has just lost one of the finest people to step foot on it: a former American soldier who had fought his last battle with Death, and lost. A plethora of people are seen in a cemetery, surrounding a casket with an old man, dressed in a tuxedo, lying inside of it. The old man's family are gathered around him, some of the shedding tears at his death, and others looking melancholic.

Everyone soon turns their attention to a familiar-looking teenager, who is standing on a podium, reading an excerpt by Marcus Aurelius. He was one of the older man's favorite philosophers. And in particular, there was one quote from the philosopher the man held dear to his heart: 'Do not despise death, but be well content with it…' The boy reads the excerpt clearly and precisely making everyone nod their heads in appreciation. The teenager finishes his poem and walks off the podium, and goes back to standing beside a young teenage girl of the same age. The girl slips her hand into his, which he takes. He closes his eyes, and it is at that moment that rain begins to fall from the sky. How coincidental that the sky chooses to cry at the very same moment the boy's eyes start to be filled with mist...

The next scene shows the young teen much older, in his early 20s. He is dressed in formal attire as he stands beside the women of his household: his mother and two older sisters. All of them are in their nation's capital, Washington D.C., smiling as the patriarch of the young man's house, his father, is sworn into office, becoming the next President of the United States. Though he is all smiles, the young man, truthfully, is just glad that this entire charade is over. Over with his father's victory, he can obtain some peace and quiet. If only he knew...

The last scene plays out, showing the young man a bit older, but still relatively the same. His legs are crossed and his head is resting atop his fist as he sits in his seat aboard a private jet to the country he never wished to visit: Japan. Per his father's orders, he was now the ambassador for the country. He sighs as he looks out the window of the plane, seeing nothing but white clouds and the bright blue sky. As he stares at the scene before him, he briefly wonders if his grandfather, is watching over him, and what his thoughts on this are...

The young American patriot. His love for his country is undying and he will go to great lengths to showcase its superiority to the entire known world. But will his love for his country blind him to the culture of the world around him? And now that he is here in Japan, the home country responsible for crippling his grandfather, will he ever be free of the hate-filled pool that he is currently drowning in?

Evelyn Rose

"Rose Evelyn."

The image on the crystal ball plays out showing a high school football field on a sunny afternoon. A bunch of yells and commands can be heard as a group of cheerleaders are performing drills and cheers on the field. At the top of one cheer the squad is doing, a familiar blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl can be seen as she is thrown up in the air and then caught by the other team. The captain of the squad offers some advice as they prepare to keep practicing. At the moment, the football team comes out of their locker rooms, prepared for another hard day of work.

As they pass by, the young teenage girl looks at one member of the team, in particular. His helmet is off, showcasing his features, which included blond hair like hers, piercing blue eyes, and a rugged handsomeness that made him seem irresistible. She knew who he was as she had seen him many times before, but never talked to him. She wondered if he even knew that she existed. She looked as there was a serious expression on his face as he continued walking alongside his teammates toward the field to practice. She promised herself, she would talk to him before too long. She promised.

The scene on the ball changes showing the football field again, only it is dark and there are a lot more cheers and yells heard. A game is going on as multiple people, separated only by the color of their football jerseys, are busy blocking, tackling, and hitting each other as they try to gain control of a brown-colored ball. It was the last quarter of the game, and the teams were tied. Needless to say, everyone's attention was on the scoreboard, hoping it would change before the time ran out.

...That is everyone, but the young teenage girl from before, who was now a few years older. Her attention was on a certain quarterback on the field who was crouched down, ready to receive the ball. She looked as after the hike, instead of throwing, he began running down the field, the ball tucked in his chest. She looked as he dodged and evaded all opposing players on the field until he at least made it to the end zone, scoring a touchdown for his team. The crowd erupted in cheers as the game ended with their team victorious.

All the players and cheerleaders on the team rushed to the field, including her, who looked around for the familiar boy. She looked as he was crowded by other players on his team, congratulating him. The two locked eyes for a brief moment, before their vision was obscured by the crowd once more. He eventually made his way to her and she immediately hugged him, with him reciprocating after a second or two. It was a good day for all.

The scene changes again to show a sunny day with dozens of people in attendance in an outside stadium. Over 100 teenagers are seated in front of a podium, all wearing matching graduation caps and gowns. A familiar-looking girl is seated next to her friends, a smile on her face as she never thought she'd reach this point. But... she did, and it still feels like a dream. As everyone is listening to an old gentleman speak, he finishes and all of the boys and girls throw their caps up in the sky, happily. This is truly an awe-inspiring moment.

The last scene changes once more to show the young woman now standing in front of a camera, posing. She enjoys having everyone's eyes on her. She loves what she does because it helps to establish her worth. ...But... that's what worries her. What exactly is her worth? She joined this adventure with her boyfriend to prove she could be helpful, not only to him but also to herself. But can she truly do that? She wishes desperately she had the feeling she had when she models to stay with her all the time. At least then, she wouldn't have to worry about disappointing everyone...

Rashaad Young

"Young Rashaad."

At first, the crystal ball doesn't activate to the man's name, making the diviner crease her eyebrows. Placing her hands around her orb, she envisions the man's face, which seems to work, as images begin to play out on the sphere, depicting a family moving into an apartment. A team of four workers are busy moving things from a moving truck into the building. In one of the rooms, a young teenage boy with a crew cut is busy arranging his bedroom, putting his things somewhat similar to how it was back in his old house back in his home country. Thinking about his old life made the boy feel saudade.

Looking out his bedroom window, he saw people driving to and fro on the streets. Across the street, he looked as there was a playground, with a group of kids playing on various equipment and a group of young men playing on a basketball court adjacent to it. Such sights reminded him of Puerto Rico. It's funny how some things changed, yet a lot of things stayed the same. Could he grow to love this new place? Who could say? He was knocked out of his thoughts as his mother called him downstairs. The scene ends as he leaves his room.

The scene changes to show a high school gymnasium with bleachers filled with dozens of people cheering and shouting as they are watching a basketball game between two rival schools. One family, seated high up on the bleachers, was watching one player in particular: a young teenage boy with a crew cut wearing a basketball jersey and shorts. He has a look of determination on his face as he catches the ball from one of his teammates. He immediately jumps, shooting it for the basket, and going for a three-pointer. It effortlessly goes in, making the entire crowd cheer as the scoreboard changes, showing the home team up by several points. The scene ends as the boy smiles, rushing back down the court as the game continues.

The scene opens showing a white room; a hospital room, to be exact. A familiar-looking young man is seen on a hospital bed, a ventilator over his mouth as it is pumping oxygen into his lungs. He is lying on a bed, bandages wrapped around his head and a cast on his right leg. Beside him was a slightly older young woman, looking at him with sadness in his eyes as she held onto his left hand. If not for the fact that his vital signs were showing that there was still life in his body, she'd think that he was dead. She grasps his hand tightly as tears fall from her eyes, begging him to wake up. It's the same scene that plays out every day. Will it ever change? Who can say...

The next scene shows the young man much older as he is sitting in an alleyway, his hands on his head as he wonders just where his life has led him too. He thinks back to the mangled body of his best friend, lying dead on the ground after being caught in the crossfire. He wasn't even supposed to be there! But... he was... And now... he was gone... He was dead. A guy with so much potential was now dead. Why did this have to happen? Why?! The young man places his hands on his head as he lets out sobs as the scene ends.

The scene changes to show the inside of a clothing store. An older gentleman is seated outside a dressing room, his head resting on his hand as he impatiently taps his foot. He yells at whoever is inside the dressing room to hurry up, before tapping his foot again. After a minute or so, the dressing room door opens, and out comes a familiar-looking Puerto Rican man wearing a white long-sleeve dress shirt with a black vest and matching-colored dress pants and shoes. He looks down at himself and then at the old man who looks at him for a minute or two before nodding. He stands up and waves his hand toward him as he walks toward the register. The young man nods and grabs his old clothes before running after him as the scene ends.

The final scene plays out showing the young Puerto Rican behind a bar, mixing drinks flawlessly and precisely. He slides a tequila sunrise to a patron while simultaneously passing a Hurricane down to someone else. The bartender certainly didn't expect his life to lead him to this point, but he enjoys it well enough. Still though, he can't help but think back to his past. When he is alone with nothing but his thoughts, he can't help but remember the family and friends he left behind, and the sacrifices he had to make to get to this point. Can he truly move on from his past? Or will it eventually catch up to him?

Liberty Guild

Karasu looks down from atop his master's shoulder as her left index finger scans the 78 cards of her tarot deck, as she tries to pick out three that best suit the foreign team of the D.R.B. Stopping at one, she flips it over, revealing it to be an injured man holding onto a stick with eight more looming behind him (The Nine of Wands). The next card she flips over resembles a man in armor holding onto a chalice (The Knight of Cups). The last card features an angel pouring liquid from a bottle into a chalice (The Temperance).

Observing the three people of Okinawa, Chinami finds it strange that three people not native to this land have made such an impact. Images flow from her crystal ball showing Ace arguing with Kyler, Evelyn in a standoff against her rival, Lola of Saitama, and Rashaad serving drinks with a smile on his face. It is unknown what impact these three individuals will have on this land rife with turmoil and anarchy. Will they find a way to stay true to themselves while here in this hostile land? Or will they succumb to their own inner demons? Only time will tell...

[ginza-division]

Masa's Thoughts on Okinawa Division

Ace Douglas

Masa looks at the photo of the American ambassador, his interest piqued. "I've heard about this young man. I try to keep my ear to the ground on all sorts of interesting people that make their way here to Japan. And an ambassador from the United States certainly fits that category. After all, he is one of the few men who can openly enter and leave Chuohku whenever he pleases. I'm not sure if he just realizes how much power he has from that fact alone. Apparently, he is here in order to broker an alliance between the U.S. and Japan. Currently, I'm not at all sure how this will affect the Church. ...But perhaps I should invite him here to Ginza to make his acquaintance. He is the son of the current U.S. president, after all. Just imagine what one can do with having someone like him in my pocket..."

Evelyn Rose

"Ah, I've heard much of her from some of my followers, though I knew who she was just from seeing her on magazine covers. To think that a foreigner would attract so much attention so far away from her home country. It may have to do with her simple personality or the fact that she is, as I stated, a foreigner. ...Still, much like the harlot from Saitama, I worry that this woman may wind up turning my followers' attention onto more... baseless pursuits. I shall have to find some way to keep her influence from spreading here in Ginza."

Rashaad Young

"Ah, the good bartender. I admit, as much as I try to keep my people from sinful drinking establishments, there is something about this bar in Okinawa that piques my interest. Perhaps it is the atmosphere or just the drinks, in general. A shame that I can only go there a certain number of times a year. I always try to make sure I adhere to the rules since I know this young man has his own rules for his establishment. Far be it for me to disrupt that. I can tell that he does not care for me, but for the time being, he and I have a... neutral relationship."

Liberty Guild

"An All-American team... quite surprising, to say the least. Never did I think I'd see such a team competing in a Japanese tournament. It begs the question, however, why? What do they hope to gain from this? Is this truly to build an alliance between countries, or is there more to this team than meets the eye? ...Yes, I believe I should most definitely make contact with this ambassador. If America is planning something, then I need to find out what it is and, if necessary, do what I can to stop it."

[shizuokadivision]

Kanon's Thoughts on Okinawa Division

Ace Douglas

"Ace Douglas, also known by the MC name MC Patriot. Subject is the current US ambassador to Japan. I do have to question the US government's choice due to the fact that the subject has an intense dislike of Japan and Japanese culture. I would not be surprised if the US sent him to figure out the secrets behind the Hypnosis Mics. Though I do have to laugh at the fact that he's one of the few males who can enter Chuohku. How they must feel seeing him enter is truly an entertaining thought. Data concludes that precaution should be taken but to ultimately avoid him if possible." 

Evelyn Rose

"Evelyn Rose, also known by the MC name SPIRIT. Subject is a popular model and actress. She is also the long-time girlfriend of Subject Ace Douglas. Subject is extremely flighty and is known for not having a complete grasp on the Japanese language." Kanon looks at the picture of Evelyn, a strained look appearing on her face. "She reminds me of my older sister. Whenever she wasn't investigating a case Karen acted very similarly to the subject. Subject is safe from me for now. Data concludes that she is not much of a threat but to avoid her if possible." 

Rashaad Young

"Rashaad Young, also known by the MC name Straight Up. Subject is the bartender and owner of a popular bar in Okinawa known as the Eagle's Nest. He has declared his bar neutral territory for all divisions. Nothing is currently known about Subject's past as he appeared 5 years ago. I will admit I have grown to like the drinks the subject makes. So I'll respect the rules he has put in place. Data concludes that precautions should be taken but to avoid him if possible." 

Liberty Guild

"Okinawa Division's Liberty Guild is one that I'll admit holds my interest mainly because I wish to figure out why they are competing. I hold no doubt that the ambassador was sent to get his hands on Hypnosis Mics to bring back to the US. I almost want to tell him they're not worth it. Data concludes that this division should be avoided mainly due to the fact I do not need the US barging into my lab." 

[okinawa-division]

Round 4 — Duet Singing!

Contestants: Ace Douglas & Evelyn Rose

Divisions: Okinawa

"Eeee! Can you believe it, Acey? We're in, like, first place! I told you dressing up as Jack and Elsa in the last round would, like, be a smart move!"

"Don't remind me. I'm still in shock."

"Of what? Us, like, winning the round, or us, like, being in first place?"

"Both."

"Hehe! So, what do you say we keep this, like, going in this round with our song?"

"Yeah, about that... are you sure this is the song you want us to sing? I doubt anyone has even heard of these guys before."

"Which is why it'll, like, be good for us! In these kind of competitions, everyone, like, expects you to pick a band or song that you, like, hear on the radio all the time. If you choose a song or band that only a few people have heard of though, it'll, like, be good with the judges, especially if you sing it really well."

"...Really?"

"Yup! Trust me. I've been in, like, hundreds of pageants and I see it, like, all the time."

"...Alright. I'll take your word for it."

"Hehe! So, are you, like, ready?"

"After you, babe."

'I'll Be Good'

Performed By:

Ace "MC Patriot" Douglas

Evelyn "SPIRIT" Rose

[taito-division]

Contestants/Couples (1/2)

Of course, we couldn’t forget about the main event! We’ve searched high and low throughout Japan to find the very best, the crème de la crème of each and every Division had to offer and we certainly weren’t disappointed with the line up we have and something tells us you aren’t going to be either once we reveal who our couples for this competition are. The couples and contestants for the 2024 Mr. and Mrs. HypMic Couples' Pageant are...

1. "Introducing first, both hailing from the sunny beaches of Los Angeles, California, they are widely-known as America's Sweethearts, who have been together longer they any couple in this competition. Perhaps their long time dating one another will give them a heads-up against the rest of the competition. Give it up for the American Pretty Boy, himself, Ace "MC Patriot" Douglas, and his popular and highly-stunning model of a girlfriend, Evelyn "SPIRIT" Rose, from Okinawa!"

America's Sweethearts

2. "Introducing next, they are two of the most artistic individuals Japan has ever seen. While one is making herself known online and in art galleries as an established painter, the other is mesmerizing both men and women of the world with his enchanting voice. Please welcome highly-talented artist, Kureha "Eclipse" Koizumi of Saitama, and her partner, the first-ever winner of the Mr. HypMic Pageant, the most-talented and sexiest man in 2023 and highly-acclaimed rock star, Ren "Vox" Nakashima of Kobe!"

The Dark Canvas

3. "This next couple is, without a doubt, perhaps the most promiscuous pairing in this competition. Needless to say, they've got a number of winnings under their belts, so to speak. Will their experience and success rate be enough to have them win? We'll see! Please welcome Japan's Self-Proclaimed "Strongman", Karada "Nike" Kessaku of Aoyama, and the Goddess of Beauty, herself, Lola "Aphrodite" Takahashi of Saitama!"

The Deities

4. "This next partnership is perhaps the scariest pairing we have in this competition. Despite their young ages, these two young men aren't afraid to get their hands dirty and paint the environment red if they have to, or if the need should strike them. If I were you, I'd best proceed with caution around them! But who knows? Perhaps their infamy will somehow resonate with the fans. We'll see! In any case, put your hands together for the popular Lolita model, Kaiji "Jinx" Sano of Kobe, and his partner, Japan's Most Notorious Serial Killer, Touya "MC Darling" Kisaragi of Katsushika!"

...Seriously, who thought it was a good idea to let these two in this?

Angelic Facade

5. "These next contestants are perhaps living proof that 'money is equivalent to success!' Standing at the top of Japan's hierarchy because of their wealth and status, this power couple, who is due to be wed in just a few short months, might I add, will stop at nothing to trample over their competition, no matter who or what they may be! So give them the respect they deserve and welcome, none other than, the heir to his prestigious family, Tomi "High Class" Chōten of Aoyama, and the CEO of one of the most powerful conglomerates in Japan today, Miho "Iron Maiden" Kobayashi of Shinagawa!"

The "Power Couple"

Let's wish these lovely contestants the best of luck!

@kobedivision @saitama-division @aoyama-division @katsushika-division @shinagawa-division

[saitama-division]

It's unknown how many times today the doorbell to Sayaka's house in Saitama was pushed today, but it seemed like it would go on at least once more. Alerting the residence, the matriarch of the family stood and answered the door, finding a delivery man there holding a large box covered with colorful wrapping paper.

"Sayaka Miyuki?" The gentlemen asked, to which the woman of the household nodded, prompting the deliveryman to hand her a clipboard with a piece of paper on it. Knowing the whole routine, Sayaka put her signature at the bottom of the paper, before handing it back to the man who handed the box to her, before bidding her farewell.

"Another present, love?" Lola asked as Sayaka hauled the box inside, placing it down. Truthfully, the box wasn't as heavy as expected.

"Yes," Sayaka answered, sighing. She didn't mind all the gifts that she had been receiving. Really, she loved them all; it was just embarrassing to know how many people were going out of their way to make her feel appreciated. Sighing again, she grabbed a pair of scissors and tore the tape off the top of the box, before pulling the covers of the box up. She peered inside and looked at what was inside.

In one of the corners of the box was a much smaller box; a jewelry box, to be exact. Pulling it out, Sayaka opened it up and her eyes grew wide as she looked at what was inside of it:

Inside were a pair of gold rings, one small and one large. Adoring each ring was a butterfly, the symbol of the Saitama Division team. Slipping the ring on her finger, Sayaka was shocked to see that it was a perfect fit for her finger. The smaller one couldn't fit, but she thought to Yoshiko. Could it fit her? ...It was something to think about, at any rate.

"Ohhh," Lola said, looking at the ring. "Got a secret admirer I don't know about, love?"

"D-don't be silly!" Sayaka said, blushing at her friend's teasing. Ignoring the model, the single mom looked at the rest of the gifts inside the box and pulled out a slightly larger box that was inside of it. Pulling it out, she pulled the lid off and looked inside.

Inside were a trio of different-colored kimono robes. They were long enough to cover one's legs and feet, but still daring enough that it got the message across to a partner.

"Ohhh," Lola said, looking at one of the robes. "These look nice! Think I could borrow one, love?"

"Uhh... maybe," Sayaka said, as she looked at one of them. They were certainly pretty, but she didn't know if she'd ever wear one. It wasn't risqué or anything, but it might send the wrong message if anyone other than her friends saw her wearing this. ...But then again, who would see her wearing this save her friends and daughter?

Shaking her head at such thoughts, the birthday woman pulled out the last gift inside of the large box. Picking it up, she could tell it was a bottle of some sort. Pulling the wrapping paper off, she looked at what was inside of it.

It was a clear bottle of colorful purple liquid. On the front cover, it read, 'Original Butterfly: Botanical Liqueur'. It certainly looked interesting, and Sayaka can't recall ever seeing a colorful liqueur like this before.

"Please tell me you are opening that tonight," Lola asked, eager to try some.

"We'll see," Sayaka smiled as she placed the bottle off to the side. Sighing, she was pleased that that was the last gift in the box. She had wondered though, who had sent her all of these gifts. Checking one last time inside, she noticed a note at the bottom. Reaching down, she pulled it out and read it:

'From Okinawa Division, Happy Birthday!'

'P.S. Those robes I bought were strictly for you. So do not, under any circumstances let that wanna-be model wear them! She'll lower their value! Thanks!'

In Okinawa Division...

"The little message really wasn't necessary, Miss Rose."

"No, but it did get the message across. Haha!"

"...Women..."

“On second thought, nevermind, I’d rather not catch anything if that bimbo was the one who bought them. Who knows what she could have done.” Lola scrunched up her nose in disgust, extenuating her point by moving away from the kimono robes.

Sayaka laughed nervously in response and set the letter aside, “Oh come on, Lola. Be nice, it’s a lovely gift, the Okinawa team are very sweet for doing this for someone like me.”

Lola merely rolled her eyes, “Uh, duh. You’re literally the best person ever, anyone you says otherwise or dont see it are dumb, blind, and deaf. Anyways, what I’m really interested is this.” She grabbed the bottle of liquor and made her way to the kitchen. “Can’t celebrate your birthday with getting the tiniest bit of shitface, I’ll be waiting.”

This time, Sayaka laughed wholeheartedly as she followed her friend into the kitchen.

Thank you for the gift!

[kanazawa-division]

It was early afternoon when a certain former cheerleader picked up Kyler from his job at the police station. Beside her was her boyfriend, who had a small, yet still viewable smirk on his face. The reason: because of a white cloth that he used to disable the CIA operative's vision. Normally, he would have refused, but after Evelyn insisted, he begrudgingly cooperated.

"I hope you know I'm only doing this because of Evelyn. Under ordinary circumstances, I'd never let anyone blindfold me like this. ...Especially you of all people, Ace."

"Oh, I know. That's why I'm choosing to enjoy this as long as I can."

Kyler grunted as he could practically feel and see the shit-eating grin on his friendly rival's face. Being led from behind by Evelyn, he stopped as she placed his hands on his shoulders and was told to 'watch his head'. Bending down, he could feel himself getting inside a vehicle. He could only surmise that Ace was the one driving since he couldn't recall Evelyn ever driving anywhere. Did she even have a license for that matter?

But those thoughts ended as he could feel the car start and drive on. He sighed as he heard some cheesy pop song and heard Evelyn singing to it. As he sat there in the back seat, he could feel his eyelids getting itchy, no doubt due to the cloth covering his eyes.

"Hey, can I take this blindfold off now?"

"No."

"No!"

Kyler sighed once more, though he didn't know what other answer he was expecting.

"Well, can you at least tell me where we're going?"

"If we did that Kylie, it'd, like, ruin the surprise!"

"Yeah, but still..."

"Cool your jets, birthday boy. You'll see when we get there. Just sit back and enjoy the ride."

"Tch, if it's you driving, I'd be better off taking my chances walking."

"You want to? Cause I can stop the car. It's no trouble, whatsoever."

"Yes, please do."

"Hey!"

At this, both men felt one of their ears being pulled tightly, as if they had reverted back to their childhood.

"Ah!"

"No fighting! Not, like, today! It's Kyler's birthday, Acey. So, be nice!"

"Ugh, yeah, yeah."

Rubbing both of their ears, the two men chose to just keep quiet, while their female compatriot continued singing along with the radio. It was approximately a 45-minute long drive until the car finally slowed to a stop.

"We're here!"

Hearing the back door open, Kyler carefully stepped out of the car, being guided by Evelyn.

"Yes, but... where is here?"

Kyler could smell and hear the ocean, so he could only surmise that he was near the beach. And if he was a betting man, he could only educate that he and his friends were now in Okinawa.

"Stay here, okay? I gotta go make sure everything is, like, set up!"

Before he could say anything, he heard a pamper of feet getting further off in the distance, meaning he was alone with just his "oh-so-good friend" Ace, still blindfolded.

"So you are going to let me in on what this big surprise is exactly?"

"There's a reason it's called a 'surprise'., birthday boy."

"Well, can I, at least, take this stupid blindfold off now? I already know that we're in Okinawa."

"Hey, feel free to take it off. But if Evelyn gets upset at you, don't look to me for help."

Grumbling, the CIA official stood there his arms crossed. He could feel Ace standing somewhere around him, but the diplomat was silently playing with his phone, not paying his childhood rival much attention. They stood like that for up to three minutes until Kyler heard a slight vibrating sound close to him. He then felt Ace's car shake as the American ambassador hopped off of it.

"Alright, Evee says she's ready. Follow me."

...

"...Well?"

"How do you expect me to follow you when I can't see, genius?"

"Aren't you a CIA operative? Just put those handy skills of yours to use and follow my voice."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...Ugh, fine. Give me your hand."

Though he really didn't want to, Kyler obeyed, holding his left hand out for Ace to take. With that, the diplomat led the operative to their 'secret' destination. After a brief walk, Ace told Kyler to 'stop' as he stepped away. The investigator heard the sound of a door opening and was once again led. He felt a rush of cool air hit him, which told him that he was inside a building. Feeling his hand being let go, Kyler then felt the bandana on his face come unloose. He was prepared to see light again, but to his surprise, it was dark even inside the building.

...That is, until Ace gave the 'thumbs-up' to someone, which prompted the lights to turn back on. As it did, the next thing Kyler heard was:

SURPRISE!!!

Kyler jumped back as he looked at a group of his friends and acquaintances all jumped out of their hiding places in Eagle's Nest. Namely: Evelyn, Rashaad, Joey, Wataru, and a few others from Kanazawa that he had worked with. Still surprised, Kyler looked as the bar was decorated with balloons, party planners, a banner with his name on it, and the piece de resistance, a birthday cake, which made the CIA operative shake his head with a grin.

He smiled as Joey continued singing 'Happy Birthday' until Wataru promptly told him to 'shut it'. He then looked as all the members of the Liberty Guild gifted him something for his birthday:

From Rashaad, it was a gold and black cigarette holder that made Kyler blink, surprised. Looking at it from all sides, he promptly thanked the bartender, promising to reciprocate.

From Evelyn, it was a watch with a thin blue line on it. Slipping it on, Kyler smiled as it was a perfect fit for his wrist. He promptly thanked his childhood friend, who gave him a small kiss on the cheek as thanks.

Lastly, the last gift was from Ace, which put Kyler on his guard, as he suspected something mean-spirited from the diplomat. Rolling his eyes, the American ambassador simply handed him his gift. Looking at it, Kyler, at first, thought it was a book of some sort. Upon opening it, he looked as it was a photo holder. But what made it even more special was that inside it was a picture of him and the most important person in his world, his finance, Roxanne. Though he came close to crying, he managed to hold it in, refusing to cry, especially in front of his rival. Giving him a 'thanks', he turned around, still staring at the picture of the love of his life.

...God, he missed her...

Kyler looked around as he took a bite from the piece of his birthday cake that had been nicely cut by Rashaad, his cheeks were staring to hurt from how long he had been smiling but honestly who wouldn’t? Granted he knew Evelyn was gonna pull something like this sooner or later but it still warmed his heart to know and see that his childhood friend still cares a great deal about him even after all the years that had passed.

He was also grateful for his new friends too and Ace but not as much, he shook his head fondly as he watched Joey wearing two party hats as horns on his head and trying to put a party hat on Wataru’s head, who looked like he was getting more annoyed by the second with Rashaad trying to keep the peace.

Truth be told, Kyler never thought he could end up like this. Surrounded by friends and people that cared about him, things were bad when he woke up from his coma and had gotten progressively worse afterwards, the blonde agent didn’t want to admit it but there had been times where he wanted to give up, that he couldn’t go on anymore…

But then he thought of parents, of Evelyn and his friends, of-

A buzzing sensation brought him out of his thoughts, fishing out his phone from his pocket, Kyler looked to see who exactly would be calling him before his eyes widen upon seeing the caller ID “Roxie ❤️”. Excusing himself and telling everyone he’ll be right back, Kyler headed towards the bathroom before answering the call.

“Happy Birthday, Kyler, baby! I love you!”

“I love you too Roxie, so much. Thank you.”

Thank you for the gift!

[hamamatsu-divison]

Eden's thoughts on okinawa division

Ace Douglas

"the president's son?...i don't know so much about him but neesa told me about why he's in japan...that country is ambicious"

Evelyn Rose

"i already meet Evelyn,how i go often to the beach to perform or swim so i saw her before,i also see her when i'm perfoming at eagle's nest,i know she's a model and apparently she met my brother in a gig although...once when i perfomed in the eagle's nest perfoming i sang one of my new song exactly this song and..."-Eden appart the look for a moment-"how i was with kyo san that moment and during some part of the song i looked at him ...when i finished noticed her looking at me... luckily Evelyn not said nothing about it"

Raashad Young

"i met raashad san when neesa bringed me to his bar, apparently he needed someone to play music and i was overjoyed o do it...since that moment i perform at his bar when i'm not in the beach, his bar is a good place where i go to songwritting and is nice talk with him"

Liberty Guild

"this team is curious,they are foreigners but quite populars beetwen others divisions i wonder if we go againts them but if is that not mind me, i'm on this tournament to protect my brother so while i can do not mind me which teams we could fight but.."-Eden blinked looking worried

"this team is a team of okinawa and the DRB have a team of naha, it's obvious that both teams will to fight to see which team will represent okinawa..."-Eden sighed with a little blush

"i hope when that's happen Kyo be alright"