Persephone/Band Story 1/Chapter 3

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**Sudden Trials** is the third chapter of Persephone's Band Story.

## Synopsis

The strange man happens upon Izayoi, who sits next to him. Izayoi greets this stranger with a smile.

## Transcript

[Okonomiyaki Shop]

**Strange Man** : ...

**Izayoi** : Oh, good evening!

**Strange Man** : Yo. Up for some okonomiyaki too, little lady?

**Izayoi** : Yup! This place has the best okonomiyaki around, right Boss?

**Okonomiyaki Stall Vendor** : Hahahaha, come on! You're flattering me here!

**Strange Man** : Damn straight. This old man's got some skills.

**Izayoi** : Oh? Are you a regular too, mister?

**Strange Man** : Not sure, actually. But I've came here three days in a row.

**Izayoi** : Hm, technically it already counts.

**Strange Man** : Hm, that so? Cool.

**Izayoi** : Hehehe.

(Izayoi smiles)

**Strange Man** : ...

**Strange Man** : Well, what do you know?

**Izayoi** : Hm?

**Strange Man** : Seeing you reminds me of a friend of mine, little lady.

(The man drinks his beer)

**Izayoi** : You have a friend that resembles me?

**Strange Man** : ...

(The man turns to Izayoi, and the man puts both his fingers on the edges of his lips)

**Strange Man** : Your smile reminds me of her.

**Izayoi** : Oh...Where did she go?

**Strange Man** : ...She's not in Japan right now. She's probably out there, exploring the world.

**Izayoi** : Oooooh...

**Izayoi** : Are you two good friends?

**Strange Man** : Pretty much? Can't say, honestly.

**Izayoi** : ...

(Izayoi raises her bottle of soda to the man)

**Strange Man** : ...?

**Izayoi** : If my smile reminds you of her, then I guess I can accompany you for a bit!

**Izayoi** : Here, let's toast!

**Strange Man** : ...

**Okonomiyaki Stall Vendor** : Hahaha. Classic Izayoi-chan, always trying to befriend anyone you meet.

**Izayoi** : Ahaha...

**Strange Man** : ...Heh.

(The man clinks his bottle with the soda can)

**Strange Man** : You're a kind one, little lady.

**Izayoi** : Oh yeah, I never asked for your name.

**Strange Man** : Oh. Right.

(Izayoi offers her hand)

**Izayoi** : My name is Izayoi Okumura. Nice to meet you, mister!

**Strange Man** : ...

(The man smiles and extends his hand...)

(But then, Plaguespreader walks into the store)

**Okonomiyaki Stall Vendor** : Welco-

(Then, a ninja blows a sleeping dart into the vendor, knocking him unconscious)

**Izayoi** : Ah, Boss!

(Izayoi runs over to the vendor, and another ninja tries to blow a sleeping dart at Izayoi)

(The vendor falls to the ground, his hand hits one of the pans and the pan was sent flying, blocking the sleeping dart from hitting Izayoi)

**Izayoi** : Kyaa!

**Ninja** : What!?

**Plaguespreader** : Tch.

**Izayoi** : ...

(Plaguespreader walks towards Izayoi)

**Plaguespreader** : You are unlucky, girl.

**Plaguespreader** : Now that you've seen us...

(Plaguespreader draws his sword at Izayoi)

**Plaguespreader** : Die.

**Izayoi** : ...Don't come near me!

(Izayoi accidentally pulls one of the machine's cables, causing one of the cupboards to fall on Plaguespreader)

**Izayoi** : ...!

**Plaguespreader** : Ngh...!

**Ninja** : Captain!

**Ninja#2** : You damn brat...!

(The ninja attacks Izayoi, but the man breaks the ninja's sword with his dagger)

**Strange Man** : ...!

**Izayoi** : Mister...!

**Strange Man** : Can you stand, little lady?

**Izayoi** : Y-Yeah...!

**Strange Man** : Good. I'll carry the Boss, you run away as fast as you can.

**Izayoi** : I'm going with you!

**Strange Man** : ...

(The man and Izayoi runs together)

**Plaguespreader** : Pursue them! They cannot be allowed to live!

**Ninjas** : At once!

(Plaguespreader tries to move the cupboard away from him, and succeeds)

(Just then, Fumino and the others arrived)

**Fumino** : Sensei.

**Plaguespreader** : A girl found out about us. I want you to assist my ninjas in killing her for good.

**Fumino** : You would involve a civilian in this?

**Plaguespreader** : If our identities are exposed, then our clan's effort would have been for nothing!

**Fumino** : ...Tch.

**Fumino** : Let's go.

**"Aogiri"** : Shirogiri?

**"Shirogiri"** : ...I have a bad feeling about this.

**"Kurogiri"** : ...

(The five kunoichis leave)

[Alleyway, Yahata City]

(After placing the unconscious vendor at a nearby park bench, Izayoi and the man continues running from the ninjas)

**Izayoi** : What is happening?! They look and act like ninjas!

**Strange Man** : Yeah, my bad about that. Looks like I somehow got a civilian involved.

**Izayoi** : Wait, so they are real life, as in, actual ninjas?

**Strange Man** : Yeah. Now that you've seen them, they WILL kill you.

**Izayoi** : But why? I always thought they're cool...

**Strange Man** : Something to do with their clan's secret or something. Anyway, I'm going to hide you somewhere safe.

**Izayoi** : Then what about you, mister?

**Strange Man** : Haha, it's okay. Ninjas or whatever...they won't stand a chance against me.

**Izayoi** : ...

**Strange Man** : (Okay, that was totally lame just now...)

**Izayoi** : Awesome! I'll be wishing you luck from a safe place, mister!

**Strange Man** : (...Guess not.)

(They eventually runs towards an abandoned warehouse)

**Strange Man** : ...A warehouse. Convenient. Let's go.

**Izayoi** : Okay.

[Abandoned Warehouse]

(The man tells Izayoi to hide inside one of the lockers)

**Strange Man** : Are you afraid of tight spaces?

**Izayoi** : N-Not really...

**Strange Man** : Then go in. I'll tell you it's clear when it's safe.

**Izayoi** : Okay. Be safe, mister.

**Strange Man** : Worry more about yourself, would you?

(Izayoi hides inside one of the lockers)

**Strange Man** : Now then...

(The man confronts the ninjas)

**Ninja** : This is the end! You're sorrounded with nowhere to go!

**Strange Man** : Hehe...

**Ninja** : ...?

**Ninja** : What's so funny?

**Strange Man** : This place will do.

**Strange Man** : Come.

**Ninja** : ...!

**Ninja** : Brothers, charge!

(All the ninjas attacks the man)

(As they fight, the lights went off one by one)

(Until it's completely dark)

**Plaguespreader** : ...

(Plaguespreader stands outside the warehouse with Fumino and the others)

**Plaguespreader** : Go in.

**Fumino** : Alright.

(Just then, a ninja was sent flying from the darkened warehouse)

**Ninja** : AUGH!!!

(The ninja lands in front of Fumino)

(The man emerges from the shadows)

**Strange Man** : ...Alright, I believe it's time where we finish this once and for all.

**Fumino** : Yeah, we should.

**"Aogiri"** : Ready?

**"Kurogiri"/"Akagiri"/"Shirogiri"** : Always.

(All five of them charges at the man)

**Plaguespreader** : ...

(Plaguespreader enters the warehouse while the man is distracted)

**Strange Man** : (Where's the guy from before?)

**Strange Man** : (Don't tell me...Izayoi!)

**Fumino** : You're mine!

(Fumino slashes the man's face)

**Strange Man** : ...!

**Strange Man** : ...

[Inside the warehouse]

**Plaguespreader** : ...

**Plaguespreader** : You're in the second drawer from the left...

**Plaguespreader** : AREN'T YOU?!

(Plaguespreader stabs through the locker)

**Plaguespreader** : ...The deed is done.

**Plaguespreader** : ...now to confirm the death.

(Plaguespreader opens the locker, only to be zapped by a stun-gun)

**Plaguespreader** : GUAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!

(Plaguespreader faints)

**Izayoi** : \*pant pant\*

(Inside, Izayoi is holding a stun-gun)

**Izayoi** : ...

[Several seconds before...]

**Izayoi** : (I wonder how long will it take...)

(Then, the moonlight shines on the locker area)

**Izayoi** : ...!

(Izayoi sees a huge spider inside the locker)

**Izayoi** : (Oh-Oh no!)

(Just then, she heard footsteps)

**Izayoi** : (I-Is that the mister?)

**Plaguespreader** : You're in the second drawer from the left...

**Izayoi** : ...!

**Plaguespreader** : AREN'T YOU!

(The spider is approaching Izayoi)

(The spider jumps, but the sword stabs the spider instead of Izayoi)

**Izayoi** : ...!

**Izayoi** : (T-That was REALLY close!)

**Plaguespreader** : ...The deed is done.

**Plaguespreader** : ...now to confirm the death.

(Plaguespreader's hands prepares to reach the door)

**Izayoi** : What to do...what to do...

**Izayoi** : Oh!

(Izayoi pulls out a stun-gun)

[Flashback...]

**Ayumu** : Here! I'll give you my old stun-gun!

**Izayoi** : Wah! Why do I need that?

**Ayumu** : Because you're just too trusting and adorable, Izayoi-chan! Who knows, someone might take advantage of your kindness and might try to hurt or kidnap you!

**Ayumu** : Besides, Kōtō isn't exactly the safest city...So, might as well hold on to it.

**Izayoi** : Thank you, Senpai! I'll cherish it my whole life!

**Ayumu** : With its modified bolt, it can zap an elephant till it faints! Go zap a gangster or two with that if they want to hurt you!

**Izayoi** : I'll keep that in mind!

[Flashback ends]

(The door opens)

**Izayoi** : (Now!)

\*shocks and bolts appear as Plaguespreader is shocked by the stun-gun\*

**Plaguespreader** : GUAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!

(Plaguespreader faints to the ground, knocked out)

**Izayoi** : ...

**Izayoi** : Yay, Hiramichi-Senpai! I did it!

**Izayoi** : Now, time to find mister! Can't just abandon him...

(Izayoi runs to the entrance)

[Warehouse Entrance]

(The man easily defeats all five of the Shirokage kunoichis)

**Fumino** : Kkh...My head...

(Fumino is conscious, while Aogiri, Akagiri, and Kurogiri are unconscious)

(Shirogiri still continues to fight the man)

**Strange Man** : You're surprisingly powerful, despite the weapons you use.

**"Shirogiri"** : Oh, shut it. I've been told like that a lot of times.

**Strange Man** : Hm.

**"Shirogiri"** : You know, you're actually pretty decent. We could have been friends.

**Strange Man** : Yeah, too bad fate sucks in general.

(Izayoi emerges from the warehouse)

**Izayoi** : Mister!

**Fumino** : ...?!

(Fumino's head is ringing, but she hears the voice of the girl)

**Fumino** : ...The target is here!

(Fumino stands up and charges at the girl)

**"Shirogiri"** : T-The target is Izayoi-chan?!

**Strange Man** : Little lady!

**"Shirogiri"** : Fummi! Wait! She's-

**Izayoi** : Huh?

(Fumino subconsciously raises her blade against Izayoi)

**Fumino** : ...!

(The man takes the stab for Izayoi, and it hits his shoulder)

**Fumino** : H-Haha! G-Got you!

(Fumino's sight clears, and she sees the injured man and Izayoi)

**Izayoi** : F-Fummi?

**Fumino** : I...Izayoi? What are you-

**"Shirogiri"** : ...Fummi.

**"Shirogiri"** : Our target all along...is Izayoi.

(Realizing this, Fumino falls to a shock)

**Fumino** : ...I almost killed Izayoi?

**Izayoi** : ...Fummi.

**Plaguespreader** : What are you doing?!

**Plaguespreader** : Kill her, now!

**"Shirogiri"** : ...Sorry, Sensei.

**"Shirogiri"** : But I'm not killing a friend.

**Plaguespreader** : ...What did you say? Traitor!

(Kanata looks at Fumino)

**Fumino** : ...Shiro?

**"Shirogiri"** : ...Take care of the others for me.

(Shirogiri uses a smoke bomb, and escapes with Izayoi and the man)

**Fumino** : No, wait...

(Fumino is dumbfounded while Plaguespreader approaches her)

**Fumino** : Sensei...

**Plaguespreader** : ...Restrain them all.

(Plaguespreader leaves, while the recovering ninjas retrieves the others)

**Fumino** : ...

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