Black Fox (Blackfox)

Firebombs

Firebombs

Grandpa?!

Please, that was nothing...

Ow, ow, ow...

I'm so sorry! I thought it was a smoke bomb!

Looks like I win.

I hate you, Grandpa!

But I love you!

Since you caught me, now I get to be it!

Rikka.

Why'd you use the dull edge of your blade?

Because I don't want to hurt anybody.

And I've told you countless times,

our clan must kill if that is what our mission entails.

That stuff is from a long time ago!

I like playing with you, Grandpa, but I want to be like Dad!

This again?

You're going to follow in my footsteps, and take the Isurugi clan forward—

Don't decide for me! I hate when you're being scary, Grandpa.

That's all for today.

I'm going to go see Dad, then!

Wait, we need to clean up—

...clean up the...

Oh, and I love you when you're being nice, Grandpa!

Good grief. I don't know what I would say to our ancestors...

Thank you!

Dad!

Really, Rikka? Running away after putting a hole in the roof?

How did you know that?!

I know everything about you, sweetie.

I thought you were playing with your grandpa.

Yeah, and now it's your turn!

Today I'm finally gonna beat you!

I'm pretty sure you said that yesterday. And the day before...

I think every day since I taught you how to play chess, in fact.

If you're gonna be mean, we'll play hide and seek instead!

You know I couldn't stand a chance against you at that.

What a big bird! Is he our new pet?

Not exactly our pet, no.

Do you want to see the others?

There are others?

A doggy!

That's right.

He's so cute!

And there's one more.

A mouse?

Think you'll get along with them?

Wow! Did you make them, Dad?

They're animal drones.

I made them so they could be friends with humans.

Friends...?

Sharing good times together, and helping each other out in bad ones.

That's what friends do.

Master. Hey, Master!

Are you even listening? It's nice to meet you, Master.

You can talk?!

Basically.

Although the timeline for my learning program is only 15% along.

Also, Master...

I wanna apologize for AMD03's behavior. That's just how she is.

A...M...?

The little rat from before.

That's AMD03.

The bird over there is 01, and I'm 02.

Your names are numbers?

They're our identification codes.

We don't really need names.

Can I name them, then?!

Sure.

Yay!

I get to name you all!

Kid, are you even listening?

So I don't want you to call me "Master." Call me "Rikka"!

Okay?

You got it, Rikka.

He's kinda rude, though.

I let them pick their own reference material for their language programming.

Maybe we should see what he's learning from?

Prof, you promised you wouldn't.

I suppose I did.

What is it?

Nothing.

I was just thinking about how amazing you are!

Oh, you finally noticed?

I wanna be just like you!

I wanna go to the school you did, and make inventions as good as yours!

That's sweet.

But the thing is, you don't have to be the same as me.

You just need to find your own path, Rikka.

I think even Grandpa, as strict as he likes to act,

really wants you to find your own way of life.

My own way of life?

Maybe that's a little complicated for now.

I make my share of mistakes too, after all.

Are these friends of yours?

From a long time ago.

I wonder if Dad and Grandpa will be happy.

Heading home, right on schedule.

The test results will be a surprise!

That's so mean, Dad. It's like you have no faith in me!

A present?! I wonder what it is?

My answer is the same as it was five years ago, when I left the lab.

You never change.

I, on the other hand, have.

So has Lauren. Well, more like he snapped.

Still obsessed with you.

I am not going to send the animal drones off to war.

They're not weapons.

War? Such a shame.

You have no idea of the value of what you've created.

The kind of genius that drove Lauren mad... and you're letting it go to waste.

Just go.

Allen, is that any way to talk to your best friend?

You're not even interested in what's changed about me?

I don't want to know.

You'll see, whether you want to or not.

Thanks!

I'm home!

Dad?

I'm home!

Dad! Grandpa—

Dad?

Dad!

What happened to you?!

I'll call an ambulance right away!

They're jamming the signal.

Why?

We're in. Target confirmed, and his daughter is with him.

Are you the ones that hurt my Dad?

Yeah, that'd be us.

But what happens next is because of you, little lady.

Remind me to thank you. You literally opened the door for us.

If I hadn't unlocked it...

It's not your fault.

They would've gotten in sooner or later.

But I...

What do we do? We weren't expecting the kid to be here.

Our mission remains the same.

We're here for the data and the contents of the capsule.

As for the rest, our orders are...

Run, Rikka.

...to kill them.

Grandpa!

Damn it!

Still alive after after all that blood he lost? What a monster!

Professor Lauren!

It's been so long, Isurugi.

I've wanted to show the fruits of my research to you for a while now.

Lauren... She's your daughter and you're still doing this?

Can you handle it?

Grandpa!

Hurry and shoot!

Rikka... this is like hide and seek.

Run as far as you can, as fast as you can... and hide...

Remember what I taught you!

No! I'm not leaving you two!

Allen... you know what to do.

I do, Dad.

Stop him!

Dad?

Don't let anyone escape. Shut down the security system!

I am the 26th head of the Isurugi clan, Isurugi Hyoe.

Have at you!

Dad... Dad!

Rikka...

How were... your exams?

I got in! Into your old school!

I'm gonna be a scientist, just like you!

So please...

I knew you would.

I've always been proud of you.

I know!

I'm sorry.

You'll have to be responsible for the future of the animal drones by yourself.

I love you, Rikka.

Hold it!

No! Let me go!

Let go!

It was him. From the photo.

Rikka... Professor Allen told me to show you this.

He was storing stuff in here, in case of an emergency.

Grandpa said it was going to be like hide and seek.

But I'm not the one hiding.

I'm going to find them.

I'll find them... hunt them down...

and avenge my family like an Isurugi should!

Rikka...

I'm not Rikka anymore.

They know she's still out there.

I'm throwing away my past, my family, and my name.

I'll sacrifice my future, and go wherever I can dig up any info about them.

Starting now, my name is...

Hello?

You find her yet?!

Excuse me?

Did you find little Sugar yet or not?!

Oh, I'm still looking.

Well, don't take all damn day! I'm over here and...

Look, there's half a year's rent for the office riding on this, understand?!