DMC: Being a demon hunter in Japan is not easy

"If you were going to drive that slow, I should've just done it myself."

Desmon got off the motorcycle and stretched his arms, looking a bit bored since Shizuka drove like a grandma.

"There's something called a speed limit, you know?"

She also got off the motorcycle once they parked.

"If no one sees us, there's no proof we broke the speed limit."

"Don't use such simple excuses."

"It's true. The cops have chased me a few times, but they never catch me."

"Don't confess with a smile that you're a wanted criminal…" She sighed.

"For just going over the speed limit? I don't think the police are going to put in much effort to catch me." He said proudly, with a smirk.

Just as Desmon said, he's been chased down highways and through city streets more than once, but they've never caught him.

A female traffic cop even tried to catch him once, but she didn't succeed either.

"Don't blame me when the police ask for my testimony about your crimes."

She wouldn't hesitate to cooperate with law enforcement.

"I doubt a cell could hold me." He cracked his knuckles as if to prove his point.

"And that's the scariest part…"

It would be pointless for the police to catch Desmon. How could they possibly contain him?

Superhuman strength, inhuman reflexes, and terrifying regeneration abilities. Even if they managed to get him to prison, it would only be a matter of time before Desmon got bored and decided to stroll right out.

After all, it's not like there's an organization in Japan specifically for dealing with demons, right?

"Setting aside the fact that I'm a wanted criminal… where to next?"

Currently, downtown Kyoto stands out from other Japanese cities. Here, modernity and tradition coexist in perfect harmony. Its various streets are constantly alive, with fashion shops, boutiques, and shopping centers filled with all kinds of products, inviting people to explore and discover.

Amid the modern options, there are also numerous recreational spots, like arcades, batting cages, and golf centers; popular hangouts for high school and college students. These lively places reflect Kyoto's youthful energy.

Yet tradition is still present in the heart of the city. Just steps away from modern businesses, temples and shrines attract both foreign tourists and locals, reminding them of the city's rich spiritual heritage. There are still tea shops, traditional bookstores, and small corners that invite people to immerse themselves in the local culture, many of which have been managed by generations of families, preserving the essence of Kyoto through the decades.

In this way, Kyoto remains a city deeply connected to its history, yet dynamic; a unique blend of old and new.

But all this information, which Shizuka took care to explain to Desmon, was completely ignored by the young demon hunter.

"I'm starting to think my explanation was pointless…" She lamented silently. "Since it's still only 11 a.m., let's go hit some balls!"

In high school and middle school, Shizuka had visited this kind of place more than once, so she had plenty of experience.

"That sounds interesting."

Seeing that Desmon seemed on board with the idea, Shizuka led the way, and after just five minutes of walking, they arrived.

Once inside the facility, she paid for both of them, and they entered the batting cages, where they noticed the sound of the pitching machines and bats striking the balls. They weren't the only ones there.

Crowds weren't a problem, thanks to the nets that separated each space, preventing any accidents between players. Plus, these nets ensured that the balls didn't go flying off in other directions.

"I thought the place would be empty..." Desmon looked at the bats and the machine that pitches the balls with curiosity.

"It's pretty common for places like these to be busy; actually, we're lucky it's not completely packed."

The batting cage isn't very big, but it's well-lit, and the floor is covered with a rubber-like surface to prevent slipping, like all the other safety measures to reassure users there won't be any issues; well, for normal people, at least.

With such durable materials, even top baseball professionals could use this place to practice.

"How does this machine work?"

"You just set the speed and the number of balls; it's not that hard." Having more experience, Shizuka took charge of setting up the machine.

Desmon watched the other young people having fun with their friends, a kind of experience he'd never had.

"Do you want to start?"

"You go first. I've never done anything like this." He sat back to watch, relaxed.

If Desmon messed up, Shizuka would tease him, so he preferred to get a better sense of how to do it. His pride had already taken a hit yesterday and was still recovering.

"I don't mean to brag, but I'm pretty good at this, so I won't miss a single pitch." She said confidently.

Without further ado, Shizuka grabbed a wooden bat and positioned herself to begin.

-Desmon might be good at a lot of things, but I doubt he can beat my years of experience. She nodded to herself.

Once the time Shizuka set was up, the machine sent a fast pitch her way, but with ease, she hit the ball, sending it flying to the farthest edge of the net.

"I'm just getting started!"

With enthusiasm and skill, Shizuka played perfectly over the next few minutes, not missing a single ball.

"Whew, that was relaxing."

Shizuka walked over to Desmon, resting the bat on her shoulder as if to show off her skill.

"Was it that fun?"

At first, Desmon watched her, but after a while, he couldn't see the appeal.

"Of course it was! You're honestly strange."

"If you say so..." Desmon's expression showed some doubt about the whole idea of hitting a ball with a wooden stick.

Desmon got up and took the bat Shizuka extended toward him.

"Don't worry if you miss; just give it your best."

Words of encouragement from a teacher to her student; though in seconds, she would regret saying them.

Desmon positioned himself correctly, holding the bat with both hands, imitating what he'd seen, ready to swing.

A totally normal situation, but the result was anything but.

-Wait a minute... did I just tell him to give it his all...?!

As the ball zoomed toward Desmon, Shizuka's mind spun, realizing what she had just set in motion.

It was already too late to stop him. What would happen if someone with his strength hit a simple baseball?

Desmon's senses picked up on the speed of the ball, and in his mind, there was no way to miss. With all his strength, he gripped the bat with determination, and, with a powerful swing, the ball collided with the bat.

It was as if time stood still. The impact was so strong that the ball seemed to momentarily warp before shooting toward the horizon. The sound of the hit echoed with such intensity that the ground seemed to shake. Not even a professional player could have pulled off a feat like that.

The action caught everyone's attention, but before they could process what had happened or understand the source of the booming sound, another noise tore through the air, capturing their focus.

Everyone's gaze fixed on the origin of the sound: the safety net, straining to its limit to keep the ball from escaping, began to give way under the projectile's overwhelming force.

And as if the situation wasn't intense enough, a thin stream of smoke started to rise due to the friction between the ball and the net.

After a few seconds that felt like an eternity, the noise faded away. The net had warped, and the ball had heated up so much that it had fused to the net.

"See, Shizuka, you were right. This is fun! Now, for the next one…!"

Desmon readied himself, now intent on making the ball pierce through the net and fly as far as possible.

Meanwhile, Shizuka's was the only face showing panic, while the others looked on with curiosity and surprise.

"We're leaving!"

She grabbed Desmon's hand and quickly dragged him out of the place.

"Why the rush? I haven't even gotten through the net yet."

"You're not supposed to break through the net with the ball!"

Once they were far enough from the place, she felt calmer.

"What's the goal, then?"

"I want to believe you're joking, but it doesn't seem like it…" She shrugged and sighed.

"You're weird."

"I don't want to hear that coming from you!"

-How does he use all his strength just to hit a ball? And his common sense?

"You told me to give it my all, so I did." Desmon looked at her like she was the clueless one.

"I didn't…but…still…"

In the end, she didn't know how to respond; after all, she did tell him those words.

-I guess I'm the only fool here…

"So, shall we go somewhere else? I don't think they'll let us back in." Desmon started walking, showing little interest in the incident.

"It's obvious they won't let us back in!"

-Calm down, Shizuka; you knew from the start that dealing with this guy would be trouble…

After calming herself, she began leading the way to other places she had in mind.

"This time, remember to hold back. I don't want you causing more problems.''

"You're no fun."

"Just act like a normal person."

"Fine, fine." He nodded reluctantly.

With Desmon's agreement, they both entered a large arcade filled with both retro and modern games.

"This place is huge…"

The lights and video game machines captured Desmon's attention.

"And you haven't seen anything yet! We can also play bowling, billiards, darts, and more." She said excitedly, like a teenager.

Shizuka had already planned on coming to this place, where she'd be like a kid in a candy store, though at her age, it'd be a little odd to see her having fun here alone.

So, with Desmon as company, it was the perfect setup to avoid standing out too much; though that plan had already failed back at the batting cages.

"Let's start with some arcade games; you'll be amazed by the huge variety and types they have here."

"I'm starting to think you're enjoying this more than I am."

"Haha, as if…" Shizuka avoided his gaze and quickly walked over to the arcade area.

A large hall housed an impressive array of video game machines, from retro classics to more modern simulators. Japanese technology should never be underestimated.

"Shizuka, care to compete against me in a race?" He asked arrogantly.

True to form, Desmon quickly found some racing simulators, hopping onto one that looked like a motorcycle.

"Don't cry once I leave you in the dust." She, on the other hand, climbed into a car racing simulator.

With both machines linked together, they could race in a single game.

"Here, don't think it's free!"

Shizuka tossed him a 100-yen coin, which he caught without even looking.

After quickly selecting their vehicles and track, the race between them began.

It turned into an intense competition, with both players giving it their all, ending in what seemed like a photo finish…

Or so it would have been, if reality hadn't played out with Shizuka scoring a crushing victory over Desmon, who repeatedly found himself plummeting off cliffs, crashing into walls on curves, and bumping into other vehicles.

"Haha, you really suck at this game!" She puffed out her chest in victory.

"I guess Kurox is an exception…" He lamented to himself.

With his devil arm linked to him, his driving with it was flawless, allowing him to pull off maneuvers even pros wouldn't dare attempt. But if he tried the same with a conventional motorcycle… well, the game's results spoke for themselves.

"I'm just glad I was the one driving us here…"

"Don't say it like I'm terrible at driving!"

"But you are." She patted Desmon's head, as if consoling a little kid.

"I want a rematch!"

"You won't win, you know; I'm an expert!" She said proudly.

-If she wants me to take things seriously, then I'll give her just that. He thought with a sinister smile.