2024-01-14: Operation Akaigawa
- Log: Operation Akaigawa
- Cast: Naoko Suzuki, Rena Lancaster, Anita Rosetta
- Where: Akaigawa, Hokkaido, Free Japan
- OOC - IC Date: February 0098
- Summary: Determined to solve the mysteries surrounding her hometown and her missing friend, Naoko finally returns to Akaigawa, supported by Rena and Anita as well as a Ra Mari II strike team.
<Pose Tracker> Naoko Suzuki has posed.
Located in western Hokkaido, about 60 km (37 miles) from the province's capital of Sapporo, lies the town of Akaigawa. While Naoko always described her hometown as a sleepy village without much of anything, it does in fact have a number of notable attributes. For one thing, she had failed to mention that it's located entirely within the caldera of a long-extinct volcano. Its territory is quite large despite its low inhabitant count, spread out over 280 square kilometers (108 square miles), of which roughly 80% consists of vast forests and mountains.
Given the volcanic soil, the circumstances are ideal for farming, the remaining area featuring large tracts of land dedicated primarily to growing rice, potatoes, pumpkins and sweet corn, as well as dairy farms. Tourism is also an important source of income: thermal spas, ranches and sports complexes forming the main draws. By far the most popular of these is the Kiroro Snow World resort on the east side, filled to the brim at this time of year with winter sports enthusiasts drawn to one of Japan's prime locations for skiing and snowboarding.
Securing a condo in the resort town wasn't easy at this time of year, but in the end, Rena, Anita and Naoko managed to enact the plan of entering Akaigawa under the guise of tourists, blending in nicely due to previous experience with their respective winter wonderlands. ...That is, Naoko stayed well off the slopes since she prefers to do as little sports as possible, but it was deemed to be better for her to keep her head down anyway. It would be up to Rena and Anita to do the subtle questioning, while Naoko is there for fact-checking and spotting anything that looks off about the inhabitants or the environment.
As boring as it was made out to be, it does make for a pretty great vacation spot, and Naoko wouldn't begrudge her friends from enjoying themselves while they're here. But her mind had fully remained on the mission the entire time. Of course it would be. Nobody in town claimed to remember her family, and the 'Suzuki Mansion', as her house was commonly called, had disappeared entirely. One way or another, she is determined to find out what's happening here. This had been true before, but in recent times, the urgency had increased manyfold.
The reason for this, she'd shared earlier in January. She had been in contact with a childhood friend by the name of Touwa Chiba, who she had confided in, prompting him to look into Akaigawa when he went back there for winter vacation. She never heard back from him during the school vacation, and when she learned that he hadn't returned to Jindai afterwards, ostensibly due to illness, she raised the alarm. She had hoped to learn what she needed to quietly, without needing to turn it into a whole operation just for her sake... but with this development, that was no longer an option.
And so, even though it's just the three of them here, they are not here unmonitored. Enba Rezza is a thorough planner: should any trouble arise, reinforcements are guaranteed to arrive in short order. But only as a last resort, as a show of force would likely ruin any further opportunity for information-gathering.
As for how that's been going... unfortunately, results have been poor, thus far. Discreet periodic inquiries in regards to 'a mansion on a hill' that the 'tourists' claimed to have been informed of have been met nothing but denials that such a place ever existed. Notably, dropping the name Suzuki consistently got the reaction of that being a common name, which is true, but it's odd that everybody would say the exact same thing in their statements.
Which brings us to today, on the verge of a particularly risky venture: directly confronting Touwa's mother, Miyuki Chiba, teacher at the local middle school. Living within viewing distance of the hill where Naoko's house should have been, it is perhaps not so strange to walk right up to the Chibas' front door to inquire about this. But it will require the utmost care, especially if, as Naoko suspects, Touwa has gotten into some kind of trouble over this.
"Please be very careful," Naoko emphasizes not for the first time. "Chiba-sensei is very smart, she'll be quick to suspect something. You'll have to do the talking... I'll watch from the back." Same as always. She's been keeping herself covered with the hood of her thick red winter coat whenever she's in public view, which isn't so strange considering the uncomfortably cold winds and frequent snowfall, even if both happen to be absent today.
The Chiba residence is fairly far from the resort, located in the more central part of Akaigawa. One of the few free-standing houses in close proximity to Naoko's old middle school, it's reasonably large and modern compared to the house closer to the farmlands, and has been kept well-cleared of snow, as have the roads leading there. As luck would have it, Miyuki Chiba herself is right outside her home, busying herself cleaning what little snow yet remains off the windowsills with a small brush.
Noticing the approaching group, she smiles and raises a hand in greeting, displaying the friendliness common to the local populace... though with a visible sadness in her eyes. She can't entirely keep from sounding tired in her greeting. "Ah, are you sightseeing? Welcome, welcome. There isn't too much out this way I'm afraid... if you need directions, I may be able to help you."
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
The volcano was a bit of a surprise to Rena Lancaster. Mostly because she heard sleepy village, filled in the blanks, and she ended up needing to adjust a few of her ideas about it. Fortunately, it was easy enough to secure a place to stay for what ended up a little vacation-adjacent.
Rena couldn't resist an attempt at skiing. Winter Wonderland had slopes, but those slopes were painfully artificial; the real thing was too tempting.
But otherwise, it came down to asking questions -- meeting people, getting a sense for the town, and trying to find out what happened to this 'Suzuki Mansion.'
And with little benefit.
"I'll be careful," Rena replies, not for the first time. She has her coat on, hat over her head, and gloves over her hands. As she usually does, she wears a few different shades of blue, grey, black, and white. Her jacket has some lights on it, from the Frontier Fleet fashion designers.
She smiles, as she lifts a hand. "Thanks," she says. "First time in Japan, aye?" Rena always had a light Scottish accent; the kan Zeituns were from there and fled in the UC 0050's. It had stuck even after immigrating. So, she thickens it...
And today, she's a Scottish tourist.
"I don't rightly know m' left from m' right out here! Ah, I am looking for a few friends of a cousin though," she says. "Could you help a friend out? Supposed to be someone who lives in this here town, but I'm right turned around and don't know where to start. I've not taking a shining to the local language either!"
She laughs, sheepishly, at that. That's a lie; Rena reads Japanese very well. Then, she looks at Anita, and grins a little.
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
Even Anita found herself taken by surprise when it came to the volcano. It took some adjustment... but if Anita's good at anything, it's taking things in stride. And so, today has largely been scouting out the place, asking questions...
...And skiing, of course. It's an important part of maintaining their cover. What kind of tourist would come here and not take a spin on the slopes?
...And now, to take a step forward into sensitive territory. Asking the mother of Naoko's friend... this could be dangerous. Not just for them, but for her, too.
"...Yeah. Don't worry." Anita replies with a nod toward Naoko. It'll take some tricky navigation.
Anita herself is also covered head to toe in thick, cozy winter gear - in her usual palette of dark blues and greens, with white as an accent color... and, a Haro-themed winter hat.
She lets Rena take point on talking to Miss Chiba, offering her a polite nod of greeting as they approach. She stands casually near Rena, hands in the pocket of her coat. Acting casual is also something Anita's good at.
"Sorry for the trouble." Anita adds. She meets Rena's look, then, offering her an encouraging smile.
...It's definitely something, to hear Rena leaning into her accent like this. She'll definitely have to make a mental note of this.
<Pose Tracker> Naoko Suzuki has posed.
As it happens, an accent is tremendously effective at gaining approval from the locals, understanding and appreciative to a fault when someone is doing their level best to speak a language they clearly aren't familiar with. Tourists are an element of especially the winter season that the inhabitants of Akaigawa are well used to, and patient with. Even though Miyuki struggles a bit puzzling out the sentences in her head, you'd never know it from looking at her.
"I see, I see! You speak Japanese remarkably well," she replies without the slightest hint of insincerity, it isn't the worst she's ever heard. She's more used to Anita's brand of tourist: sticking to well-known short phrases for the most part, and trying one's best to be understood that way.
The middle-aged woman pockets her brush for the time being, rubbing her chin with a gloved hand. "I certainly understand the difficulty, there's a lot of ground to cover here and people are fairly scattered. Assuming you've managed to make your way to the generally correct area... perhaps if you could tell me a few more details in regards to your friends, we can narrow it down. Everyone knows everyone here, at least a little bit. As a local middle school teacher, I'm personally acquainted with many families who have children in particular. Could you tell me their family name, to start?"
She looks to Naoko at that, who manages to exude a child-like aura despite being just about entirely obscured by that thick coat. It's clear to see that Miyuki Chiba loves children, managing a more genuine smile in spite of her personal circumstances giving her much cause for worry. "Hello there. No need to be shy. We're all friendly here. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Naoko hesitates, before nodding her head quietly. It sucks that she can't exactly say anything out loud here. Aside from her own situation, she wants to ask after Touwa so badly... but she can't. No matter what she says, she'd be giving herself away immediately just by the sound of her voice, she's certain.
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
"I took a course on it! One of those internet ones. Me and the little lady--" She jacks a thumb towards Anita. "--we'd been studying up since we're traveling the world together, aye? Always been my dream, and thought, 'I should start now!'"
She laughs sheepishly at that, before she nods her head to Miss Chiba. Her expression is thoughtful, then. And, as it happens, Rena has a pretty good poker face.
"Chiba," she says. "Ah, what did the lass say... someone she talked with online, aye? I thought I should try to put faces to the people my family had met." Rena's brows furrow.
"Touwa, I think his name was?" She looks at Annie. "Was that right, love?"
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
Anita listens intently to the conversation, looking from Miss Chiba to Rena as they talk. She really is polite... friendly, too. Honestly, it's refreshing to meet people like this. It's just a shame the circumstances are the way they are.
She offers a smile as Rena indicates her, then looks back to Naoko briefly when Miss Chiba addresses her before returning her attention to the front. Rena asks her a questions, and Anita frowns thoughtfully.
"Touwa..." Anita sounds out consideringly, and then, after a moment, nods. "Yes, I think that's right."
<Pose Tracker> Naoko Suzuki has posed.
Friendly to a fault, indeed. And yet, it's so easy for everything to change, in a matter of moments.
It begins with Miyuki's eyes widening at hearing her own name. What on earth could tourists possibly want with her family? She doesn't know anybody from, by the sounds of it, some European country or another, even distantly. She's already starting to figure out who this must relate to, when she hears the name 'Touwa' spoken, twice even.
This appears to have had an effect not unlike unsheathing a knife would've had on the woman. She takes a step back, looking absolutely terrified. "Who are you? Why are you here? M-my son, he's..." 'Missing', is the unspoken word. Considering this, her fear is quickly overtaken by desperation. "Have you spoken with him? What did he say? Tell me everything, please!"
This is going to go badly. Naoko can tell, with Touwa's mother in this state, this is about to go south in the worst way. But what can she do here? In an impulse, she reaches out and pulls on Rena and Anita's coats, shaking her head 'no'. And in the process, ends up making it worse herself. Because this movement causes one of her braids to spill out the side of her hood. It only takes a glimpse for her old teacher to recognize who she is.
"Y-you! What have you done?! It's all your fault! Touwa... bring back my Touwa!"
At least this confirms without a doubt that someone in the village still remembers Naoko. But there isn't any time to follow up on this. There is a brief moment in which it looks the woman could go either way on breaking down crying or rushing to grab Naoko. Yet neither ends up happening, when she suddenly screams and rushes into her house, locking the door behind her.
The roar of an engine coming from behind the group of 'tourists' is what immediately gives away the reason for this. A white, unmarked van screeches to a halt, sliding sideways in the process, effectively blocking the road. The first to exit does so on the passenger side, a large man in white winter overalls that might be worn by employees of a gardening or cleaning company or the like. Though the outfit lacks a company name just as much as the van does. Soon after, he is joined by three others: the driver, and two more exiting from the back of the van, all wearing hoods that conceal much of their features. Their builds suggest a job that requires regular heavy lifting... or perhaps more than that, as would be reasonable to expect from their confrontational approach. As well as the fact that all other sounds of human activity in the area appears to have died down rather suddenly.
Naoko's smart enough to obey the very bad feeling she has about this, quickly hiding behind Rena and Anita. If this turns into trouble, then... well, she's not going to be any good in a fight. Much as she hates having to put this all on the shoulders of her friends, she can't but conclude that she'd only be in the way.
Stopping at a reasonable distance, the non-hooded man leading the group flashes a cocky grin. His complexion doesn't match those of the locals at all, and that scar going from his upper left cheek all the way down to his chin probably wasn't made by any common workman's tool. His overalls differ from the others' only in that it features a nametag, with the name 'Nakayama' on it. Though nobody who's heard this man's eastern European-sounding accent would think him native Japanese.
"Ladies," he greets with a lazy wave, before putting the hand on his hip. "I don't have a lot of time here, so let's make this quick. We have business with that girl cowering behind you. Whatever she's told you, she's not what she appears. She's a runaway, and her parents are very worried. We're here to take her back home."
Liar, Naoko mentally broadcasts her thought without realizing. He's making her out to be the liar here?? Should anyone look back to Naoko, the message will be clear enough in the frown below her hood, followed by a headshake - do not believe anything this man says.
'Nakayama', true to his word, aims to make this quick, folding his arms over his chest. "Sorry to say, but this is non-negotiable. I'm going to have to ask you to step aside, and I'll only ask nicely once. So. Leave the girl here with us, pretend you never saw anything, and no one has to get hurt. Understand?"
Judging from how this man appears to believe he has the clear advantage, even though neither he nor his fellows appear to be armed in any way, he may not be aware of who Rena and Anita actually are. This could be leveraged to one's advantage. In light of this development, backup will probably move soon, if they aren't moving already... but that will take time. This situation will need to be handled, one way or another.
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
"Ah--"
Rena's eyes widen. She didn't expect that. The idea that Touwa might be missing never quite occurred to her. She feels like it should have. She raises her hands, eyes wide -- and then she looks back at Naoko, as it occurs to her.
Miss Chiba recognized her.
She gives Anita an alarmed look, before she looks to Miss Chiba. "Wait--" But she's already rushing into her home, and the van is pulling up. Rena turns, hurriedly, to look at them as they approach.
She considers whether going for her sidearm, hidden in a holster in her jacket, is wise. Not yet, she decides.
"I'm afraid," Rena says, "That won't be happening. She is a friend of ours." She looks at the van, then to them.
"Who are you with?" she asks, her accent now back to the lighter one that she usually speaks with. She steps a little closer -- and considers Nakayama, for a moment. Larger than her; that might well give her advantage if he underestimates her.
She glances at Anita, from the corner of her eye. But for now, her look stays on both of them.
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
...It's hard. Anita was afraid that something like this might happen - the sudden shift as Touwa's name is mentioned. That fear and desperation in her tone... it hurts to hear. Anita flinches. She looks back toward Naoko as she feels a tug - and then back to Miss Chiba, as she realises who's behind them.
Touwa... what happened to him...?
...And then, the situation shifts. The woman races into her home - and then there's a roar of an engine. Anita sends Rena a quick glance. She doesn't voice her thoughts aloud, but it's easy to tell what she's thinking to those familiar with her.
'That was fast.'
She turns, then, giving the men that approach a quick look over. Four of them - big, and lacking any identifying features except the man at the lead, and that only a nametag.
Definitely untrustworthy - and a glance back toward Naoko confirms Anita's thoughts.
Anita raises her hands to show she isn't armed... but shifts her position just slightly, to put herself fully in between Naoko and the men.
Rena says it won't be happening, asks who they're with. Anita nods, meeting Rena's brief glance before looking back toward Nakayama.
"Sorry for the trouble, but we don't know you. We just feel uncomfortable handing her over to a bunch of strange men, and all..." Anita explains. "You know where her parents are, though? They must be worried... maybe you can just tell us, and we can bring her to them ourselves?"
Naturally, she doesn't trust a word he says. But even a lie can tell a lot, and if he tries to just cut out the middle-man and go for Naoko...
Well. Anita doesn't need a weapon to be a problem, and she's outfitted herself for being a problem, today.
<Pose Tracker> Naoko Suzuki has posed.
'Something's going on in Akaigawa.' That's the most that Naoko knew for sure. Whatever that something is, if nothing else, they appear to have flushed it out in the open now. She did originally think that returning here following her parents' disappearance would be a bad idea, because the People that her mother gave a vague warning about might have set some kind of trap for her to fall into. But all that happened a year ago. Had someone really kept watch for her return for an entire year? Is that's what's going on here? It feels more reasonable to assume that it would be something else, but in that case, she has no idea what on earth it could possibly be.
Worst part is, there isn't anything she can do about it. If she were here alone, this would certainly have ended poorly for her. It feels so bad that all she can do is stay back and let Rena and Anita handle it. She can't assess the threat the way they can, she can only silently pray, 'please don't let them get hurt for my sake'.
The response made clear, 'Nakayama' lets out a tired-sounding sigh. It's more than a little theatrical. "There comes a time where it no longer matters who your friends are. You should've recognized it when you saw it." He just lets out a scoff at Rena's question regarding who he's with, seeing no reason to answer that.
There's a deep frown from the man when Anita overtly gets more in the way. "Nobody ever chooses the easy way, do they? Guess you have to learn the hard way what happens when you ask too many questions."
The handgesture to his presumed subordinates seems dismissive, and tells them all they need to know. The three other overalled individuals approach Anita and Rena with clearly hostile intent. Even now, no weapons are being brought out. Two are intending to take the women out by quick and immediate violence, aiming punches directly for the throat. The third doesn't even pay attention to them, intending to scoop up Naoko after it's all said and done. The lot of them seem to be under the impression that this will be the easiest thing they've ever done. However...
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
A punch comes flying in for Rena's throat. She senses his intent a moment before he throws his punch, which is why it sails over Rena's head. She ducks down low, then she springs up. It's faster than someone quite should. Hardly superhuman.
But with the speed, grace, and strength of a Coordinator -- which belies her otherwise fairly slight frame. She comes up into the air, rotates her waist, and delivers a kick aimed right for his cheek.
Then, the back of her upper arm comes down, straight for the top of his head, and she adjusts to land on her feet.
She takes a quick glance at Naoko -- and gets ready to spring towards her assailant, next, if need.
"Yeah, you did pick the hard way."
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
There comes a time where it no longer matters who your friends are, huh... Anita's polite but apologetic expression doesn't waver - and neither does it change when the man says they have to learn 'the hard way'.
The three men approach - two with quick and immediate violence. Anita intercepts hers - left hand raising to catch the punch aimed for her throat. Padded by her winter gloves, it might be difficult to tell right away what's happening. She turns with the strike, using his momentum against him - right arm raising to catch his for leverage, and then turning her left to use her cybernetic strength to hurl him bodily at the man going for Naoko to take care of both of them at once. She eyes them both, watching to see if they get up - then looks Rena's way quickly to make sure she's alright, then toward Naoko.
"Are you alright?" She asks, before sparing a glancing toward Nakayama.
"...Maybe you just need better friends." Anita suggests - that polite-but-apologetic expression still on her face. "...Are you ready to answer our questions now?"
<Pose Tracker> Naoko Suzuki has posed.
To his credit, the very instant that Nakayama sees Rena and Anita's stances shift, he notices things aren't the way they seemed, and accurately predicts how things will proceed from there. "Shit," is all he says, before sprinting towards the back of the vehicle.
The goons indeed fare poorly, having been unprepared for fighters in general, let alone backed by the superior abilities of a Coordinator and Cyborg. The one facing Rena is brought down in single combat without too much of answer either way, while the other one only gets off a "What the--" before being sent forcefully into his buddy by Anita's throw, their heads colliding to ensure they both remain out like a light for a considerable length of time.
It takes very little time indeed before it's all over, but it's all the time that Nakayama needed to retrieve something from the back of the van... or rather, someone.
"Alright, nobody move!"
Held in front of Nakayama is the unconscious form of a young man, still a teenager by the looks of him, in a very poor state. Though bruised, malnourished, and long black hair a mess from not having been washed for an extended period of time, one might guess who this is before Naoko shouts in alarm, her hood coming off in the process.
"TOUWA!"
"Ah ah ah!"
Naoko was about to rush forward without thinking, stopped by Nakayama wrapping his arm around the boy's neck.
"Steady now. Come on over, nice an' easy. You two," the man adds glancing between Anita and Rena. "You stay right where you are. Whatever you're thinking of doing, I'll break his neck before you can. You get me?"
Naoko remains frozen a moment longer, then turns to face her friends. From behind, Nakayama can only see her nod. Rena and Anita however see her expression. It's not one of resignation. It's one of determination. One which communicates that she has a plan, silently for Anita, though Rena can actually hear her mentally projected voice, consciously this time, saying only two words.
Be ready.
With that, she turns, raises her hands, and slowly proceeds to walk over to Nakayama, while giving him a hateful stare. The only response she gets is a chuckle, Nakayama keeping his main focus on the two actual threats.
"You see?" he directs to Anita, "You want something done right, you can't rely on friends for it."
It would sure be ironic if choosing to rely on Naoko for this one would prove to be his undoing, wouldn't it.
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
'Be ready,' Naoko tells her.
Rena pays just one glance to the man at her feet -- relying on her senses to know if the two that Anita took out get up and move for her. But, right now, her eyes are on this man and Touwa.
She scowls at him. "Dirty trick," she tells him. But, at this point, she decides it's best to go along with Naoko's plan. She seems to have one -- and Rena doesn't, beyond go for her gun and hope she's faster.
She isn't sure that she is.
She raises her hands. But, mentally, she readies herself.
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
When she looks back... Nakayama is already running back toward the van. Anita takes a step forward - and then he shouts for nobody to move, dragging an unconscious body out of the van, held by the throat.
Anita grimaces. Naoko puts a name to the face - but she'd already guessed, herself.
...In a situation like this... there's not much she could do. She should've guessed that he had leverage prepared. She straightens up, letting her arms fall to her side. She tries to think of a way out of this... but then, she meets Naoko's eyes.
That look of determination... She has a plan.
Anita folds her arms with a frown - and doesn't move as Naoko begins to walk toward him.
"...Hm." Is the only response Anita manages for Nakayama, looking away.
...Right now, though... she has every bit of trust in Naoko that she knows what she's doing.
<Pose Tracker> Naoko Suzuki has posed.
Naoko's death stare is barely even noticed by Nakayama as she approaches him. It vexes her to no end, when people take her so lightly. No, there isn't much she could do on a physical level. Yes, he is in a far more advantageous position right now. But if he believes that she wouldn't do absolutely everything in her power to save a friend, and find a way to do it without sacrificing anyone including herself, then he has another thing coming.
Of course, this could never work if she didn't have friends at her back. Friends who will choose to believe in her, and who she can trust to come through for her when her need is greatest. All this, today, could not have happened if it wasn't for them. With their help, she WILL finally get some answers - this final obstacle will NOT stop her.
With the slow pace she is forced to assume, it takes an agonizingly long time for anything to happen. Having to endure Nakayama's smug grin that whole time could be considered torturous. But finally, when Naoko is only but a step or two removed from Nakayama... it happens, with Rena getting the earlier warning as she can hear the Whispered's simple mental command.
GO!!
Before he has any idea what's happening, Nakayama suddenly has a pair of metal butterflies in his face, surprising him enough for his grip to loosen. "WHAT THE F--"
In the same instant, Naoko dives forward, grabbing Touwa by the waist and pushing him out of the way, giving Rena and Anita the chance to... do what they please, in the brief window of distraction they have to act.
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
Rena hears Naoko's mental command. Before, she didn't want to bring out a gun; it might escalate things. That went out the window when Nakayama threatened to break a boy's neck.
Her sidearm is out in a flash, then pointed at him. She doesn't shoot, but she makes sure it's aimed at him -- and she shouts.
"Three Ships Alliance!" she yells. "Hands up in the air -- you're under arrest for kidnapping. We've got an extraction team that will be here shortly, if you want to try your luck with them."
There's a glance at Naoko, then at Anita. She has no doubt Anita is moving in, herself.
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
Time feels like it crawls on forever as Naoko approaches Nakayama. Anita doesn't know what's going to happen - feeling the faint worry in the back of her mind that he might have something else up his sleeve they haven't anticipated.
But Naoko approaches... and then, her friends fly into his face, surprising him. Naoko pulls Touwa safely out of the way - and that's her cue to move.
Rena's already drawn her sidearm, having gotten the earlier signal. Anita moves to support, rushing in to approach Nakayama from behind and cut off his avenue of escape - and to be ready to restrain him, if he moves to try anything or draw a weapon of his own. She meets Rena's eyes as she does. With Rena already acting to control the situation, she doesn't say anything just yet.
<Pose Tracker> Naoko Suzuki has posed.
Uriel and Ariel don't overstay their welcome, immediately returning to rejoin Naoko following the brief distraction, narrowly avoiding Nakayama's swatting hand. That impulse is all it took to lose his hostage, and creates a window of opportunity large enough for Rena to pull a gun on him, quickly followed by Anita making certain he can't go anywhere easily. It's left unclear whether he might have attempted this all the same, because Rena is not wrong: as if on cue, the backup squad from the Ra Mari II arrives in short order, ready to lock down the scene and take in the assailants.
In the face of this, Nakayama quietly complies, raising his hands... yet still smiling, even now. "Tch... I see how it is." What exactly he means by that, he doesn't say. Perhaps a later interrogation might yield more information, but for the time being, he refuses to speak another word, otherwise cooperating with the arrest.
Naoko, meanwhile, busies herself with Touwa, getting no response when she calls his name. Noticing his dry lips, she yells for water, soon joined by a medical team to take care of the boy. Miyuki Chiba, too, emerges from her house upon learning that her son is out there, accompanying him as he's placed on a stretcher.
Naoko herself needs a longer moment, just remaining sitting in the snow afterwards, processing everything that just happened. Though saving Touwa was unequivocally a good thing, she still has a lot of questions regarding what this was all about. After all this, will she finally be able to get some of them answered?
For now, after it's all said and done... she has the brightest smile to offer Rena and Anita. "Thank you... thank you so much, for... for everything. For helping me, and believing in me, when I needed it most. I promise, I'll do the same for you, any time you need me to."
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
"Hands up." Rena repeats it, gun aimed at Nakayama. She glances at the subdued men, too -- at least until the detail from the Ra Mari II arrives. She has every faith in Enba's team, all told. She looks at Naoko, then.
She smiles, even if she flinches a bit to see Touwa getting rolled away. Hopefully he'll be all right.
"It's okay," she says. "I'm glad we could help. And we got your friend out of there."
She looks at Nakayama. Maybe, later, they can get her some answers.
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
'I see how it is'... Anita thinks about that, but she doesn't dwell on it for now. For now she just remains where she is, ready - at least until the Ra Mari II backup squad arrive to take things over.
Thankfully, they handle things in short order - taking in Nakayama and his team, with a medical crew arriving to take care of Touwa. Anita offers Miyuki Chiba an apologetic smile and then, with things now out of her hands... moves to take a seat next to Naoko in the snow.
She doesn't say anything yet, at least not until Naoko does - letting Naoko take all the time she needs to process everything... and when she does, Anita offers her a smile back.
"What she said." Anita says, with a nod toward Rena... and then, a small chuckle. "I know you will. You wouldn't've done something crazy like that if you didn't already, right?"
She pauses for a moment, massaging the back of her neck.
"...I hope your friend and his mom're gonna be alright." She says.
It does still leave the question, of course... of who those men were, and who they're working for.