#bsts ran

-ran runs outside-

-behind starless, night-

ran: If ya wanna fight I’ll take ya on!

-punches thug-

thug: Guh! Who the fuck are you!?

ran: I was gonna ask ya the same thing. What business do ya have here?

zakuro: …R- Ran!

ran: Huh? What are ya doin’ out here, Zakuro?

zakuro: I shall explain later, just please do something about those thugs first!

ran: Woah, they roughed ya up pretty bad. Damn~ That's no good, ya bastards. Did no one teach ya not to go for the face? Don't worry, I’ll teach ya by usin’ your body as an example!

-ran beats up the thugs-

ran: That's it that's it, keep it comin’.

thug: T-this guy's strong…!

thug: Guh… Shit! Retreat!

-thugs run away-

ran: What? It's over already? The fun was just startin’ though.

-ran walks over to zakuro-

ran: Heeey, Zakuro? You ok~?

zakuro: (coughs) Indeed, indeed, somewhat. A great calamity befell me as I was cleaning up.

ran: Hmm, from the looks of it they must've surrounded ya real quick.

zakuro: I tried my very best to escape but I was outnumbered in every way. My powerless self was at a loss for what I should do.

ran: Well there were a lot of ‘em so it's no surprise ya got hurt.

zakuro: I’m shocked you were able to fight back against so many adversaries. Your fighting style which forces them to scatter is most impressive.

ran: That many of ‘em is a piece of cake. You owe me one now.

zakuro: Oh my, well well, what is it that you’d like to request of me? I suppose there are cases where verbal gratitude is not enough. I will do one favour to repay the debt.

ran: Ya can pay it back right now then. I’m free to use it up whenever, right?

-

Chapter 2

-behind starless, night-

zakuro: I will do one favour to repay the debt.

ran: Ya can pay it back right now then. I’m free to use it up whenever, right? Ok, so all ya gotta do is answer my question honestly. It's an easy question so don't worry! So tell me, what was the objective of those thugs?

zakuro: My, there's no way a feeble lamb like me would understand what a bunch of thugs is thinking. 

ran: Ahaha, that's odd! Callin’ yourself a feeble lamb is hilarious.

zakuro: Perhaps they mistook me for somebody else. Or perhaps anyone from Starless would do.

ran: Hmm, I see, is that so? So you're sayin’ you really have no idea what they were after? I told ya that it was an easy question though, didn't I, Zakuro?

-ran punches zakuro-

zakuro: (coughing)

ran: Let me ask you again. Do you have any idea what their objective was? They weren't here for nothing, they said they were going to take you back.

zakuro: That's…

ran: Did you think I hadn't realised that? I overheard everything. So don't try to avoid the question, spit out everything that you know.

zakuro: I am most regretful for having to repeat myself, however my answer is still the same as before.

ran: Hmm.

-ran lets him go-

ran: Oh well. Ya don't look like you're lying.

zakuro: What cruel treatment I’ve had to endure, my day just keeps getting worse. Such violence, my heart has been shattered into tiny pieces. It's merely one calamity after the other. I’ve suffered injuries, my stage outfit has been dirtied and I was even interrogated by someone on my own side. 

ran: Can't Aogiri fix your costume up for ya?

zakuro: ……..

ran: What's with that reaction? Aogiri is in charge of costumes, ain't he?  And he's a singer for C along with you.

zakuro: Well well, my oh my. It is true that Aogiri is on the same team as I, and a singer at that. In any case, I am most thankful for your assistance regarding this tussle.

ran: Tch, I think you're avoidin’ the question again~ Well, whatever. I would recommend puttin’ some ice on ya injuries as soon as possible.

zakuro: Indeed indeed, I shall. You should be careful too.

-zakuro leaves-

ran: Somethin’ is definitely up with him… I wonder what he's hidin’.

Haseyama: You're all fired. I'll fire you all in a month.

Mizuki: Don't be silly, you old man!

Kei: Kongou, hold him back.

Kongou: Hey, stop it Mizuki. Don't get angry.

Mizuki: Let me go, let go of me! Let me at this piece of sh*t, Kongou!

Lico: Hold him tight, Kongou. I don't want to get hurt.

Lico: If I get hurt, I won't be able to face the girls.

Ran: Uncle, aren't you a bit domineering?

Ran: We're all fired. It's a little too much. Be careful.

Heath: .....Impossible....

Haseyama: No~ hahaha that's too bad. But I can't help it. Sales~.

Haseyama: Running a store is not a volunteer job. You know?

Haseyama: Maintenance costs for facilities and equipment, and above all, labour costs for you thugs.

Haseyama: Expenses are tight, you know? I have to earn money too.

Haseyama: I was told that if I didn't change my business format, I wouldn't be able to do it. [T/N - Earn a profit].

Lico: Even if you say we are changing our business format, we are just turning into a host club.

Haseyama: Hah? Did you say something?

Lico: .....Nope, nothing special.

Haseyama: It's nice to satisfy the customers, but you have to get them to drop what you are dropping. [T/N - The customers need to spend a lot to make up for the costs of running Starless].

Haseyama: Your sale efforts weren't enough. There is no way you can do business like that, kid.

Haseyama: Ah, Kei. I told you it was a trial period.

Haseyama: I waited for 3 months and the result was not satisfactory.

Haseyama: Therefore, we will change the business format of this store. I hope I can earn more money.

Haseyama: Thugs like you guys are in the way. I gave you a month's notice, aren't you thankful?

Kei: .........

Kei: Your management efforts were not enough. You must have some courage to put the blame on me.

Haseyama: Heeh! It's not the same Princely Kei as usual. How expected.

Haseyama: Ah, you see, I have some great backing behind me, so there is nothing scary about you.

Haseyama: But, don't think you will be protected forever. It's not just moonlight nights.

Kei: Hmph. You breath out flames. It's an interesting and not bad move, Haseyama.

Kei: Efforts to shift the balance of power are a good move. Does that mean I won't always be the same as you?

Kei: I'm also getting tired of this situation. Let's have some more exciting fun.

Kei: I'll be with you. Thank you, Haseyama.

Haseyama: What are you talking about Kei? Are you saying that my backing doesn't work?

Kei: You are mistaken.

Kei: It's not like they are behind me. It's the opposite. There are many other options.

Ran: Hey, that's right. Prove it to me, Kei.

Kei: .......Hpfh.

Kei: You're okay. Once in a while, you give an easy-to-understand performance that's not bad either.

Kei: Let me make a phone call.

Lico: Hey Mizuki, what do you think? I wonder if Kei is higher than the owner.

Mizuki: How should I know. Instead, it's time to let me go.

Heath: No, don't let go yet Kongou. Mizuki is full of anger.

Kongou: Understood. Please calm down a bit, Mizuki.

Mizuki: Tsk. Stupid. Sh*t.

Heath: Lico too, calm down.

Lico: ....You;re so noisy.

Lico: You better be careful, Heath. Honestly, girls don't like that kind of thing.

Heath: Preaching. Me? Hmm, does it sound like that to Lico?

**Haseyama's ringtone**

Kei: Haseyama, please answer the call that came to you.

Haseyama: What, you're so bossy.

Haseyama: Hey, who are you?

Haseyama: .....Ha!? .........That was rude. Ha......yes, but....

Ran: Haha, Haseyama is panicking. Kei you were telling the truth.

Kei: I never lie.

Heath: But you don't even tell the truth either.

Lico: That. That is so true.

Haseyama: Haaaaa........

Kei: Were you convinced?

Haseyama: Yes, yes. I understand. I understand. I know you can't do it all.

Haseyama: So then, what are you going to do? I won't let this store go.

Kei: That's probably right. If you let it go, the matter would have been settled.

Kei: Since the reopening, Starless has also seen some movement.

Kei: I allowed Team B to be born. Haseyama, I also went along with your instigation.

Mizuki: Hey! Come at me!

Haseyama: That's right, with such a thug. I'm sorry.

Kei: But that's not enough. It's time to develop a new taste.

Kei: Rejoice Haseyama. I'll entertain you. I'll join your fun.

Kei: If you want to cut your head off, cut it off. There is one condition to do that.

Kei: Let me make it clear, whether it's worth keeping these guys or not.

Kei: Set a border line and see if you can cross it.

Haseyama: Border line? Do you mean the leg cutting line?

Haseyama: ..........In short, are you trying to sift through the cast members.

Haseyama: Don't you want to leave the cast at this store?

Kei: Those who cannot cross the border line are not worthy of remaining at Starless.

Kei: If we want to survive, we must all rise. The fun begins now.

To be continued...