Red: ''Huh!?''

Red and Green throw an exaggerated glare at the voice coming from behind them.

ｩｨｧ? : ''If you get involved with him, he'll break both of your jaws.''

Red: ''Haa? What? Who're you?''

Green: ''...Aah.''

As soon as the green haired one sees the owner of the voice, his facial expression stiffens.

Green: ''Hey, this is bad...''

Red: ''What's bad?''

Green: ''That's... the leader of Dry Juice, Mizuki''

Red: ''What!? Dry Juice...!?''

ｩｨｧ(Mizuki?): ''Do you know that guy's killer technique? Fox's hell drop. Eat it once and it'll break you jaw.''

Red: ''Tch...! If you're from Dry Juice, you should've said so from the start!''

Green: ''L-Let's scram!''

After saying worthless last words, the two of them ran off like puppies with their tail between their legs.

Witnessing that, the guy behind me laughs.

ｩｨｧ(Mizuki?): ''That was pretty lame. If you're gonna run, don't start a fight at all.''

Already knowing his identity, I turn around.

Me: ''Yo.''

Mizuki: ''Long time no see, Aoba.''

This radiantly smiling guy is Mizuki, leader of the largest Rib team, Dry Juice.

Look a bit lower than his dark hair and below one of his green eye you'll find a tear tattoo, his team's symbol, proudly displayed on his dark skin.

Me: ''What the heck was that fox's hell drop thing?''

Mizuki: ''I was talking about your foot tricks. I came up with the name just now, but whatever. I wasn't wrong to say you've broken some jaws before though, right?''

Me: ''That was years ago.''

Mizuki: ''I remember it clearly even now. But anyway, it's unusual for you be here around this time.''

Me: ''Yeah, true.''

Mizuki: ''Did you finally feel like joining me in Dry Juice?''

He smiled widely as spoke, but I just shrugged my shoulders lightly.

Me: ''Nooo waaay. I keep saying I don't want to, remember?''

Mizuki: ''Try joining a team, all sorts of good things come with it.''

Mizuki and I hung around a lot time ago, we were friends that dis a lot of stupid things.

He has a friendly personality, but in tight situations he's capable of exact and tight reasoning.

Since all the guys participating in Rib like to act real tough, I think it's pretty awesome that he was able to put so many of them together to make the largest Rib team.

But I still have no plans to join Dry Juice or become Ribster.

Me: ''Anyway, I hate anything that would cause me trouble.''

Mizuki: ''I know. But lately, the state of our team has become somewhat fragile.''

Me: ''Fragile? Really? Isn't you team the best as always?''

Mizuki: ''It's because of that. Because of Rhyme.''

Me: ''Rhyme...''

Mizuki's facial expression clouds.

Mizuki: ''Our members are also sneaking to their side. It's fine to hear that Rhyme is a game where you battle with brains, but in the end it's just a delusional game, right?''

Mizuki: ''Honestly, I can't figure out what's so good about it. Are you delusionally protecting your turf or what?''

Me: ''Well, yeah, it's weird...''

It's not like I couldn't understand Mizuki harbored against Rhyme.

The same could be said about Rib; that it's a children's foolish war game.

But, despite that, Mizuki is thinking about his team seriously.

He may not forgive the guy who easily jump at the trend.

Mizuki: ''And then there are those mysterious disappearances.''

Me: ''Mysterious disappearances?''

Mizuki: ''You've heard about them, right? Stories about entire Rib teams going missing.''

Me: ''Yeah, I have, but isn't that like and urban legend? Besides it's a rumor from ten years ago.''

Mizuki: ''I don't know the reason, but recently there've been teams that I haven't been seeing for a while now.''

Me: ''Are you sure they just didn't make a mistake and get trouble with the yakuza?''