Saigochi comes to a stop, “Come out I already know that you are there.”

 The two henchmen stepped out, “How dare you disrespect the boss like you did” said the henchman on the right.

Saigoichi realizes that they are a part of the Austenites based on the symbols on their jackets.

The second henchman shouted, “Get him.” And the two henchmen rush after Saigoichi who is unable to defend himself.

A blinding flash of light erupted just before the two gang members could reach Saigoichi.

As it faded, Ayana now stood between them and Saigoichi, weapon in hand—a circular blade, like a chakram but larger than usual. The blade glowed neon green, and she glared them down before asking slowly:

“Just wha... what do you think you’re doing?”

Saigoichi stumbled back, completely baffled by what he was witnessing.

“A-Ayana, is that an...”

Before he could finish, the two gang members grinned—and flashed with light of their own.
One now wielded a curved dagger, the other a war hammer.

Najime looked concerned for a moment but then shrugged it off.

“Sorry, but I’ll leave them to you, Ayana...”

She smirked.

“Yeah, it doesn't matter. I can take on two goons by myself.”

The two boys frowned, clearly annoyed by her confidence.
The one with the dagger dashed toward her, while the other leaped high, war hammer raised—cutting off her escape.

But Ayana didn’t back down.

She smiled, then twirled past the dagger stabs with a graceful, almost dancing motion.
In one swift move, she ran the glowing green blade across his torso.
The arc of light glowed where she struck.

The thug collapsed instantly.

The war hammer-wielding boy crashed down where Ayana used to be—too late.
She had already moved.

Saigoichi watched in awe.

Ayana spun to face the last member—he was closer than she expected.
He growled and swung wide, horizontally.

Ayana threw her chakram into the air, jumped above him—vanishing from his view.

“Where did she go?” he thought in a panic.

Then Ayana’s voice:

“Up here, you weakling.”

She caught the blade mid-air and landed behind him, slicing him across the back before he could even turn around.
A streak of green light blazed through the air, followed by a spray of blood.

The gang member fell.

With both boys’ unconscious, Ayana dispersed her weapon—it broke into green particles that swirled down and re-formed as a bracelet on her wrist.

She casually walked back to her friends.

Saigoichi was still frozen in awe.
Najime exhaled a sigh of relief.

“Isn’t that... an Arsil...?” Saigoichi finally managed to ask.

Ayana, fixing her brown hair that had slipped loose during the fight, responded coolly:

“We haven’t spoken for a while, so I figured this would be your reaction.”

She finished tying up her ponytail and turned toward him, eyes narrowing.

“You remember what we told you about why we couldn’t find jobs in the Lower Junction?”

Saigoichi paused, thinking.

“Because you had some ‘complications’ that most owners would reject you for?”

Najime nodded, stepping in.

“That’s the complications. Most businesses in Lower Junction absolutely hate people with Arsils. It’s because of those weapons that this place came to be the way it is after all.”

Saigoichi stared in shock.

“Wait... You have one too?!”

Najime nodded again.

“Comes in handy, but I’m not as much of a fighter as Ayana.”

They both turned back to Ayana, who now stood with arms folded, obviously bored of the conversation.

“And we’re working with you now, so you don’t have to worry about those goons stalking you, little errand boy,” she teased, turning back down the path.

Saigoichi paused.

“Wait, you didn’t kill them right... Ayana?”

She stopped. For a moment, her expression turned dark and menacing.

Then she chuckled.

“No, you dummy. I just used enough energy to knock them out.
They’re gonna feel a bit sore when they wake up though.”

The three continued walking down the path.

“Are y’all in a gang?” Saigoichi asked.

Najime shook his head firmly.

“Hell no.”

Saigoichi thought to himself:

So, both Ayana and Najime somehow awakened Arsils in their absence? I’m glad we get to work and hang together again... but I hope we didn’t piss off the Austenites. Being targeted by a gang with no way to defend myself... that spells death.

Breathing heavily, Ayana turned to Saigoichi and Najime.

“Let’s get out of here before more show up.”

Meanwhile, back with the Austenites...

A shadowy figure wearing a red headband on his head, a twisted grin forming on his face as he leans into the diamond table with his hands together. 

“So... they’ve made their move," he whispered, a twisted grin spreading across his face.
“Let’s see how long they last.”