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[color=tomato]"Why do you keep saying ‘FIN’ like that? Nothing's fin…Finn? WHERE ARE YOU HIDING HIM!?!?!?"[/color]

[color=888888] -Mika Fang[/color]
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[s]MP: 10/10[/s]
[s]Swan Gauge: 0%[/s]

[color=ff6347]"This would be a fake net guru."[/color] Not the words Mika would have normally used, but when dealing with others, using their own words often avoided confusion. In Mika’s opinion, all influencers were fake. If they were real, then it would be possible to better one’s life through their choices. But change was hard and no one can truly alter the trajectory of their life. Mika was no further above this than anyone else. She was here to find Bookman, and no lifestyle changes would affect her self appointed mission. 

Predictably, the goofy blond guy didn’t [i]claim[/i] to know anything. Then he changed the subject to her knives and asked if they were real. Mika didn’t answer right away, but it was clear he wasn’t going to give up unless she said something. After ten seconds of him just standing there, pointing awkwardly, ignoring the shame a man like him [i]should[/i] feel, Mika shrugged. [color=ff6347]"Yes."[/color] She confirmed with the enthusiasm a child might when asked if they finished their vegetables. She immediately noted his change in disposition. While she hadn’t watched nearly enough superhero movies to notice the reference, she could tell he was mocking her. The crowd, being on his side, laughed at her on his behalf. She steeled her eyes, and her hands moved to her knives. It was too early to draw them, but something was amiss. 

Though she expected to be attacked, she wasn’t sure exactly where it was going to come from. Maybe the crowd would turn into monsters and charge her, or perhaps she’d be sniped by someone. In an arena like this there was far too much to keep track of, and it was easy to hide in so many distractions. And with so many places to hide, that made it a bit surprising that the attack came out in the open, right from the silly blond man himself. 

[color=ff6347]"Gah!"[/color]

Fortunately, there was enough distance between them that Mika was able to hop out of the way. She watched in horror as the tremor raced past her and fizzled out or slammed into some far off obstacle. But she didn’t watch long. Her eyes returned to the silly blond man, who appeared to be a silly blond [i]esper[/i]. 

It made sense in retrospect. Have an esper pose as a street fighter and do battle with a bunch of locals. Bookman must have been aware that there was a leak and planted spies like this to trip her up. There had to be more of them around the city, but that didn’t matter. This man was here to put an end to her investigation, and that wasn’t something she was about to stand for. 

He continued to mock her after the attack, suggesting that she probably didn’t see it coming. He kept up the jovial attitude as the crowd cheered him on, but Mika would not be fooled by this man a second time. He knew things, and was very likely tied directly to Bookman. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. 

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[sub][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdSl81kQtKI]Deus Machina Demonbane – Crazy Dance of the Devil
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[color=ff6347]"Seems you’re going to attack me regardless if I want to fight or not. Very well, if you demand satisfaction, you shall have it."[/color] Mika drew her daggers from their sheathes. A burst of ethereal flame  ignited the air before settling as a red glow. Contrary to the man’s description, the knives were not tiny. They were far more comparable to a bowie knife than some punk’s pocket knife. [color=ff6347]"I take fighting seriously, and I hope you do too. We will fight as if this is real combat, since your fans seem to enjoy the spectacle."[/color] She bent her knees and settled into a fighting stance. [color=ff6347]"One round, no time limit, we fight until one of us stops moving."[/color] 

As aggressive as Mika’s pitch was, she wanted the silly blond man alive. If he was put here to protect Bookman, then she would just need to apprehend him and get what she needed out of him. All monsters deserved to die, but you could rehabilitate humans. Some of them, at least.

Her mother had died because was unable to notice a threat, and so rushing in fast for a swift attack was out of the question. Espers had all kinds of powers, and she had to make sure this one didn’t have any other tricks up his short sleeves. The distance between them shrunk as she power walked her way up to him. If he made the mistake of letting her get too close, she’d stab him right in the shoulder. Since she wanted him alive, she couldn’t attack his more vital areas until she had confirmed how strong he was.