Chapter 57 - Sewer Strategy and Catastrophic Plans

The stench in the sewer was unbearable. Ryuuji gagged dramatically every five steps, holding his nose like a child forced to clean a public toilet.

"This is no place for a man of my charm and beauty," he whined.

"Charm my foot," Mira muttered. "If you complain one more time, I'm leaving you here for the rats."

"Joke's on you, rats love me," Ryuuji shot back, stepping over a suspicious-looking puddle with exaggerated disgust.

Tora's flashlight flickered weakly, barely cutting through the murky darkness. "This sewer network connects to several old safehouses, right Sai? You and Shiro used to hide out here when you were kids."

Sai nodded, his expression grim. "Yeah, but that was years ago. Some tunnels collapsed. Others got flooded. And some... well, let's just say there's a reason we called parts of this place the 'Meat Grinder.'"

Ryuuji stopped dead. "The what now?"

"Relax, pretty boy," Hotaru said. "We're not going through those parts. Right, Sai?"

"…Right," Sai said. But the hesitation in his voice was impossible to miss.

They walked in tense silence for a while, the sound of dripping water echoing around them. Kuro padded ahead, his tail twitching, ears on high alert.

"Does anyone else feel like we're being followed?" Mira asked quietly.

"No," Ryuuji said. "But thanks for putting that thought in my head."

"Stay sharp," Hotaru said. "Shiro's not the type to just let us walk away."

Suddenly, Kuro stopped, hissing into the shadows.

"Great. The cat senses death." Tora groaned. "That's never a good sign."

Out of nowhere, a clang rang out — a manhole cover behind them slammed shut. Then another one ahead dropped into place. Trapped.

"Perfect," Hotaru muttered. "Trap number two."

A robotic drone descended from the ceiling, small blades whirring on its sides, a glowing red eye locked onto them.

"HELLO, LOVELY FUGITIVES," it announced in a cheerful voice. "WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE SLICED OR DICED?"

"I vote neither!" Ryuuji yelled, grabbing a rusty pipe from the ground and hurling it at the drone.

It bounced off harmlessly.

"Fantastic," Mira sighed. "The idiot gave it a back scratch."

"Stand back," Hotaru said. She darted forward, sword flashing in the dim light, slicing clean through the drone's body. Sparks erupted, and the pieces crashed into the sludge below.

"Okay, that was hot," Ryuuji said. "Like, in a terrifying murder-doll way."

"No time to flirt, lover boy," Mira grabbed him by the collar and yanked him forward. "We need a real plan."

They found a small alcove carved into the side of the tunnel — a maintenance bay long abandoned. Sai knelt, drawing a crude map in the grime.

"Okay, options," Sai said. "Route A takes us to the surface faster, but Shiro will expect that. Route B is longer, but more hidden."

"And Route C?" Mira asked.

Sai frowned. "That's... Meat Grinder territory."

Ryuuji raised a hand. "I vote not dying gruesomely."

"Route B then," Hotaru decided. "We need to stay under the radar."

As they started moving, Tora tapped at his wrist computer, fingers flying. "I'm gonna set up a fake signal — make it look like we took Route A. If Shiro's tracking us, it'll buy time."

"Good thinking," Hotaru said. "I take back half the insults I've ever thrown at you."

"Only half?" Tora grinned.

They advanced down the tunnel, nerves on edge. But for once, things seemed quiet — too quiet.

"Why isn't Shiro sending more drones?" Mira asked softly.

"Because he's not stupid," Sai answered. "He knows we're moving smarter now. He's saving the 'big surprise' for later."

"Speaking of surprises…" Ryuuji tripped over something hard. He picked it up — a small, bloodstained dagger.

"That's… not good," Tora muttered.

"Old evidence from some sewer murder?" Ryuuji suggested.

"No," Sai's voice was hollow. "That's Shiro's knife. He always marked his territory when he knew we were coming."

"So he's not just watching," Hotaru said. "He's here."

The realization hung heavy in the air.

"New plan," Hotaru said, eyes burning with resolve. "We get out of here, regroup, and then we stop running."

"Stop running?" Tora asked. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Hotaru said, gripping her sword tighter, "we go after him."

Mira's eyes widened slightly, but then a smile tugged at her lips. "Finally."

Ryuuji gave a dramatic sigh. "I knew I should've stayed in bed."

Kuro meowed loudly, as if approving the plan.

"Guess we're all crazy together," Sai said, leading the way down the darkened path.

Unseen to them, a small camera blinked red — broadcasting every step to Shiro's private screen.

"Come find me," Shiro whispered to himself. "Let's see if you can handle the final game."

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End of Chapter 57

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