"C-competition?"
The black-haired girl's face went deathly pale as she looked at Shizuku's outstretched hand.
"I don't know what you're talking about, I..."
"You only get one chance."
Shizuku smiled as she stared at her, then cut her off.
"Either agree to my request, or I'll have no choice but to take you to the Metropolitan Police Department... The recent rumors about Vampires appearing in Akihabara should have something to do with you, right?"
"..."
Hearing that, the black-haired girl immediately fell silent. She instinctively glanced to the side, but Kagari no Kiri-e had already blocked her path.
"Don't think you can run away from us. Of course, if you don't believe me, you can give it a try."
Kagari no Kiri-e looked excited, glaring at the black-haired girl with the fervor of someone itching to stir up trouble. Shizuku had given her plenty of grief already. If this girl proved just as clueless, Shizuku might deal with her the same way she had dealt with Kagari no Kiri-e. Then Kagari no Kiri-e's burden would be lightened, and Shizuku's attention would shift to someone else.
So, from Kagari no Kiri-e's perspective, she rather hoped this girl would foolishly choose to resist.
Unfortunately, that wish was destined to go unfulfilled.
"...What do you want me to do?"
The black-haired girl fell silent for a moment before decisively surrendering. That immediately bored Kagari no Kiri-e. Even Shizuku raised an eyebrow in surprise, but she quickly understood what the girl meant. Clearly, she knew she was no match for Shizuku, and escape was impossible, so she might as well surrender and skip all the pointless back-and-forth.
"I told you. Join my team and participate in the competition."
"A competition?"
"That's right. KOF... King of Fighters. Have you heard of it?"
"...I saw advertisements