The next day.
5:30 a.m.
Hayashi's phone buzzed on the nightstand. Groggy, he fumbled for it and answered.
"Hello, who's this?"
"Who's this, my ass! Where are you? You're not in the dorm—today's the competition, you know that, right? You're still not back—are you trying to die?!"
The voice jolted Hayashi awake, sleep vanishing.
He checked the time: 5:30 a.m.
Japan would be 6:30 a.m.—a one-hour time difference.
"Kugisaki, quit yelling, will you? Act like a lady. Pretty girl like you, always acting like a lunatic," Hayashi mumbled, smacking his lips. Suddenly, his mouth felt heavy—and it hurt.
"I'll take the compliment, but you're toast when you get back!" Nobara Kugisaki huffed and hung up.
Hayashi shrugged it off. She was all bark, no bite—good heart, though.
He sat up, head feeling off, and gave Todo Aoi a nudge.
No response. Todo seemed deep in a dream, muttering gibberish.
"Wake up, Todo. Time to catch the flight," Hayashi said, patting his shoulder again.
Still nothing.
This time, Hayashi yanked Todo's shoulder, flipping him over to face him.
Hayashi's brain buzzed, jaw dropping, staring in disbelief at Todo.
Todo's upper face was fine, but the lower half? Swollen like a pig's head.
His lips were three or four times their normal size, purple-tinged, with red puffiness around the mouth—like he'd been pummeled all night.
"What the—" Sweat beaded on Hayashi's forehead. He bolted to the bathroom, caught his reflection, and blurted out—
"Shit!"
The shout echoed through the room.
He looked exactly like Todo—lips swollen beyond pig-level absurdity.
"Todo, wake the hell up! We've got a problem!" Hayashi charged back, slapping Todo's face.
"Ow!" Todo snapped awake, eyes landing on Hayashi.
"What are you?!" Thinking it was a monster, he reared to strike.
"Don't! It's me, Hayashi!" Hayashi yelled.
"Hayashi?" Todo paused. The voice checked out. "You—how'd you end up like this?"
Hayashi gave a wry laugh. "Not just me. You too."
Something clicked. Todo threw off the covers—wearing Takada-patterned boxers—and dashed to the bathroom.
"Ahh!"
A gut-wrenching scream followed.
Half an hour later, outside Beijing Capital Airport.
Two figures, lower faces wrapped tight in scarves, shuffled in, awaiting security checks.
"Sir, please remove your scarf. We need facial verification," a polite female security officer said.
It was Todo standing before her. Her words made him tremble.
She was about 1.8 meters tall, curvy—Todo's dream type.
Not that he'd stray—he just liked the look. But now? He didn't know how to handle this.
"Scarf in this heat? Sure, Beijing's not scorching, but this guy's a weirdo."
"No kidding. Look behind him—another scarf guy, all bundled up. What if they're trouble?"
"Could be. Like in the movies—ID check, they flip out, pull guns, and rat-tat-tat."
"Stop imagining crap. This is Beijing—no chaos here. Weapons wouldn't even get past the gate."
The crowd buzzed. Todo stood frozen, itching to deck Hayashi. Why'd they eat that damn crayfish?
Freaking poisoned—allergic reaction.
The security officer frowned at the chatter. These two… problem cases?
"Sir, please cooperate with the check?" she asked again, deciding she'd call backup if he stalled more.
Todo wavered. He'd never been this humiliated—now abroad, no less.
"Todo, quit stalling. Let her check, or we'll miss the exchange," Hayashi elbowed his back.
"Don't touch me. I'm pissed. Let me chill," Todo growled, steadying himself.
"Chill, my ass. You don't cooperate, I'll help her out." Hayashi yanked Todo's scarf off.
Instantly, Todo's face was bare—exposed to everyone.
A brief silence, then uproarious laughter.
"Hahaha, I'm dying!"
"Hilarious! No wonder he wouldn't budge—lips like a sow kissed him! Oh man, I can't—"
"Must've smooched something he shouldn't."
"Like, a toxic pen?"
"Haha, stop, I'm gonna split a rib!"
"Gotta admit, impressive."
The officer gaped, then stifled a laugh. She was trained not to crack—unless it was this bad.
Todo shot Hayashi a death glare, face darkening.
"Can I go now?" His deep voice rumbled, purple lips quivering with each word.
"Just a sec—let me verify," she said, barely holding it together as she checked his ID.
Though Todo was "unrecognizable," she confirmed it was him. He passed.
Next up: Hayashi. Embarrassed but pressed for time, he ditched the scarf.
Another wave of laughter hit.
The officer verified his photo and let him through.
In the waiting area, Todo sat like a statue, unmoving.
"Don't be mad, Todo. It's not just you—I'm the same," Hayashi said, spreading his hands. "Who knew the crayfish would do this? We overdid it, though—fifteen pounds each on average. Without that extra ten freebies, maybe we'd be fine."
"Could be an allergy. No biggie—it'll fade in a few days."
He patted Todo's shoulder. Todo scooted away. "Let me sit alone."
"Fine. Plenty of time for that."
Hayashi left him be, pulled out his phone, and slapped a bad review on the crayfish shop, attaching a sneaky pic he'd snapped of Todo sleeping.
Proof in the pudding—shop's done for.