Chapter 39: This is Canon Event

In the underworld, they say if you come across a guy with jet-black hair, eyes the color of crimson blood that send shivers down your spine, and a face-shaped mask, run for your life. Make sure he doesn't see your face because he's got a photographic memory that will hunt you down to death.

"Hang tight," he muttered.

Minoru could feel Ai's arms circling around his waist as he signaled the horse to charge at the cows, running as if their lives depended on it. His lasso swung precisely, immobilizing the cows by their legs or neck.

"Mooooooo!"

Perched on the horse's back, Ai witnessed a cow halt, but Minoru didn't stop; he raced through the vast meadow.

"M-Minoru! Please calm down," Ai pleaded under her disguise, unable to hide her worries. She tightened her hug even more, feeling his anger through the palpitations beneath her hand.

"I'm calm." he lied.

When Minoru focused himself, committed to a goal, his sheer will propelled him forward, unstoppable even if an entire battalion stood in his way. He wouldn't rest until he achieved what he set out to do.

For onlookers—students, staff, and guests—the sight of a silver-clad man in a black suit rounding up cows on a black horse was both weird and spectacular.

"Yanagi-sensei riding that horse?"

"He's not just riding; he's doing it with someone on his back."

Whispers circulated, leaving the red-haired Alexandra de Magritte in awe.

"How... Teresa's dogs have such teamwork with him." Alexandra glanced at Teresa, who was lost in thought.

Teresa recognized it. It was the same as when she and 001 tried to break out and escape the Winter Palace. The way Minoru swung his lasso mirrored aiming a rifle or throwing knives.

'The way Gamma caught the lasso was the same as gathering gun ammo back then.'

As the cows were herded by seven trained dogs, the sounds of hysteria mixed with the chase. The cows fell one by one as Minoru, with blood-red eyes, snared them with his lasso until their numbers dwindled, reminiscent of the sounds of men pleading for their lives.

Teresa needed no further confirmation; she was certain of Minoru's true identity now.

---

As they cruised in the taxi, Aqua and Director Gotanda couldn't believe their eyes. Minoru, Aqua's dad, and his pack of velociraptor-dogs were on a cow-hunting spree.

"Holy shit, grown-up baby! I had no clue your dad was a badass. Now I get why you're darn smart," Gotanda exclaimed, eyeing Aqua and Minoru in amazement.

Aqua, unimpressed, responded, "You could say that... ah, they banned the livestream for um, 'acts... of violence against animals.' hm..." Aqua locked his phone screen with a sigh. "Anyway, I'm just relieved they're all safe." Still, Aqua couldn't help but wonder about his old man and his mysterious background.

"When I watched it, it felt like an action movie. The way he rescued her and the kids, and the cow-roping skills were like something out of a hunter's playbook," Gotanda said, studying Aqua. "Your mom mentioned his job before, but now I'm not so sure. Aqua, who the heck is your dad?"

Aqua closed his eyes, sighed, and replied, "I dunno. He never gives a serious answer. He just claims he's Batman."

"Batman? What's that supposed to mean?" Gotanda raised an eyebrow.

Aqua chuckled, "Yeah, I'm confused too. Oh, and he also said something about; he's a genius, billionaire, playboy, and philanthropist. Mom smacked him when he admitted to being a playboy."

"I have to admit, that sounds like a cute couple's moment. Sigh, here I am in my thirties, unable to find a date, and my mom keeps nagging me about it."

"This is a tough topic for a toddler like me. And when are you planning to move out of Aunt's place?"

"Grown-up baby, so you get me. Anyway, your dad has the potential to be a stunt actor and more. I guess it's like father, like son, huh?" Gotanda mused as the taxi rolled on.

---

In the middle of the meadow, cows lay trembling with their legs bound, leaving Minoru on Yuuya's back. Ai sat behind him with their 'daughters,' and the dogs were on guard, just in case the cows acted up again.

"Minoru-kun, are you done?" Ai asked softly.

"Yeah, I'm done with them," Minoru said, locking his gaze on the cows.

Meanwhile…

The room was cramped as Ruby squeezed her face between her dad and mom. Despite the tight space, she could hear it—the familiar thump of Yanagin's heartbeat. Normally, he'd hug her out of nowhere, burying her face in his chest, a gesture that always comforted her. Ruby never refused it when something was soothing about feeling his heartbeat.

'Was he that worried about me?'

However, at this moment, the intensity of his heartbeat raised an unexpected concern. Ruby looked up at his broad shoulders, wondering. She had never imagined that her dad's usually calming heartbeat could feel so different.

"Did you both get hurt somewhere?"

"Ah…" Ruby glanced back at Ai, "I'm okay…"

"Anya is okay."

Minoru and Ai felt a bit relieved, though they weren't entirely sure if Ruby and Anya were being completely honest. With the cows settled, Minoru felt many eyes on him and turned to see students, teachers, staff, guests, and even the higher-ups like CEO Sumiragi Rikka watching him without blinking.

"Do you still have your disguise?" Minoru asked Ai.

Ai touched her head, "I still have it."

"Good... sigh."

This situation was entirely unexpected for him.

Meanwhile…

"He did it…"

Kaguya looked at the sideline while holding Hitori who was still gasping for air.

"Kaguya-san! I think she's hurt somewhere…" Chika said worried.

"Yeah, I think so. Anyway, how did you get that cowboy hat?"

"Ahh~! When I saw Sensei, I ran to the Drama club to get this hat for me~"

Kaguya looked at Chika as if she were used to this.

"She's having a tough time," Shizuka bent her knees, eyeballing Hitori. "Ah, this right here is the issue." Shizuka then unzipped her jacket and a gust of air hit.

"Huhhh! I can breathe!"

Hitori, feeling relief, goes, "Hieeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!" but then passes out after sensing some ominous vibes from Kaguya's red eyes.

"Ugh....." Kaguya was somehow irritated with Hitori's big chest.

The four of them then noticed a fast movement that instantly halted.

"Briar?"

"Ah! Senpai."

"What's wrong?"

"Err… I rushed here because I was worried about something but…" Yor looked at the chaotic scene and Minoru, "I think I'm here for nothing…"

"Ah… it's alright, Briar."

Shizuka looked at Yor's sad face. Yor felt useless once again, even though she was part of School Affairs. She didn't do much, especially now when Minoru had taken care of everything. However, a screeching sound interrupted their thoughts as they all turned to a newcomer.

"Huft… Huft… Wait what…? What's happening here?"

Yor fixed her gaze on the handsome man in the dark blue suit, his blonde hair disheveled as if he'd sprinted a marathon.

It was Loid Forger, hauling himself over from his post upon spotting Anya amidst Teresa's dogs. He couldn't bring himself to shoot the cows with her nearby. But upon a second look, Minoru was present, and the cows lay immobilized with their legs bound. How...?

"Holy..." Shizuka was confused at the sudden arrival of this man.

"Excuse me, is there something I can help with?" Yor inquired.

Loid glanced at her, calming himself. "I'm looking for my daughter, but I think she's alright." He shifted his gaze back to where Anya stood with Minoru.

"I see—" Yor's senses snapped back to full alert as she noticed a cow slowly rising.

Loid narrowed his eyes. 'It's the herd leader.' He remembered this cow leading the herd to their current location.

Shizuka shouted at Kaguya and others, "Students, g-go!"

As she said that, the cow charged at them full speed.

"Shit!"

Loid looked at Teresa in the distance.

'If I shoot this cow, it will raise questions about my cover-up. But...' He glanced at the two women and the frozen students. "Can't be helped." As he was about to draw his gun…

"Dear guest, please calm down. As a teacher here, I'll take care of this naughty cow."

"Wait! Briar, it's too dangerous—"

Shizuka was right; it was too dangerous for women like them. Meanwhile, Loid was taken aback as she walked confidently toward the cow.

"Is alright, senpai."

Feeling useless watching everyone work hard, Yor disregarded her manager's warning to stay low profile. She wouldn't stand still again while the people who always helped her worked alone.

Yor quickened her steps, confronting the large cow.

"Mooooo!"

The cow prepared to charge with its horns, but then the human seemed to vanish, reappearing as it felt something poking at its body. With her two fingers, Yor stabbed the cow's pressure points, bringing it to an abrupt stop. She then soared into the sky, executing a backflip and landing with a murder expression.

Bang!

The cow made a loud noise as it fell once again.

Screech!

Yor gasped as she saw a black horse stop in front of her. But it was Minoru and the kids, seemingly saying, "Whoa." She felt the same surprise mirrored by Shizuka, the unknown man, and the others when she glanced back.

"E-Eh! It's not like that! I used to take yoga classes, and they taught me that pressure points can paralyze, s-so I thought maybe that might work on the cow, too!" Waving her hands around Yor made a silly excuse.

Minoru dismounted from the horse, staring at Yor calmly, while Anya observed him closely.

[That's how some assassin stops muscle movement. Maybe, I was right about her...]

'This person is an assassin?!!' Anya gasped as she looked at Yor!

Then, she caught another thought.

[This woman is Minoru-kun's colleague... hm, let's see.]

'That means she's the boss-man's killer friend! Ah, C-Chichi is approaching!'

Anya looked at Loid as he approached the group.

---

A/N:

Looks like I'm fashionably late with this chapter upload, huh...

Anyway, This volume's wrapping up, starting now, I'm gonna dive into his family since I'm all done with the world-building.