While we wait for our main characters to get to the Romantic Killer Special Gauntlet, let's take a bit of downtime for:

Intermission Omakes!

Secret Fangirl

Several months ago, at a local movie theater…

"Tiger Man’s gonna stop that villain...With tiger spirit!!!” Kyoko, Nagase, and Miyu said with high spirits and enjoyment as they laugh, walking out of watching Tiger Man saves the Galaxy Once More!

"Man, I shouldn't have come in thinking this would be weird!" Nagase said. "That was awesome!"

"Glad we managed to convince you!" Kyoko replies, sporting a Tiger Man t-shirt. "Miyu and I been fans ever since our grandpa took us to a movie when we were kids!"

Miyu nods, herself wearing a tiger theme cap on her head. "If you like, we'll ask him to bring all his copies of the Tiger Man movies next time he stops by."

Nagase beams right up from that request. "Heck yes! You bet your little butt I'm gonna binge watch the crap out of those!" She shouts, ignoring Miyu fuming at Nagase for daring to mention her short stature. Fourteen years old yet still a bit of a late bloomer! "It's funny you never really told me you're that much of a fan, Kyoko!"

Kyoko shook her head. "Come on, it's a tad embarrassing, right?" She said with a nervous chuckle. "But trust me, I'll be honest about that eventually-"

"Baku, I told you we should stop watching these stupid horror movies!" Maxtaro says in annoyance as the two just exited The Haunted Lunchbox Part 13: Mochi Devourer of Souls! "They started sucking since Part 8, so why are we still going?!"

Baku shrugs. "Watched it with my parents five times and no doubt about it...It ended on a cliffhanger so we probably have to watch the next one anyway..."

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"They all do!" Maxtaro laments until noticing Kyoko and her group, Kyoko herself frozen in horror. "Oh, hey! Didn't think you were out watching the movies tonight-"

"I-I had to watch Tiger Man!" Kyoko shouts out in embarrassment in a flustering expression, surprising everyone. She clutches at her shirt to hide the cheesy image on her chest. "M-Miyu and Nagase a-asked me to join!" The other two girls gawk at this sudden push under a bus. Kyoko herself quickly place a hand over mouth, horrified that maybe...She is a tad too embarrassed to admit her love of Tiger Man.

...Enough to betray her loved ones apparently.

"...Geez, the mood here just freaking died." Baku mutters grimly, all while Maxtaro remain so ever confused at this scene as the girls turn ghastly pale.

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The next day.

"Aw, putting an extra pudding in your sister's bag?" Keiko said as Kyoko, looking very shameful, sneaks a pudding cup into Miyu's school bag. "What's the occasion?"

"Just an apology, Mom." Kyoko said with tones of regret as she heads off to school, carrying a box. "...I hope Nagase will like the whole cake I bought."

"Eh?" Keiko said, eyebrow raised in confusion as the front door closes. "...Am I missing something here?"

By the way, Maxtaro never really got the hint. How sad.

An Actual Romantic Moment?

A few weeks back, at the local batting cages.

"Agh!" Nagase cries out in frustration as she misses another swing. "Man...This is harder than I thought!" She notice Baku chuckling from not too far, earning her slight ire. "Something funny, Baku?"

"Well, obviously." Baku said as he enters the cage. "Be honest, who taught you to swing a bat?"

Nagase gives a sheepish look before opening her mouth, nervously chuckling all the while. "Well...My parents happen to own a bunch of old pro wrestling tapes-"

Baku simply frown as he cuts her off. "That's not learning. Come on, I'll teach ya. You got power, but everything else sucks."

"...You're not teaching me to crack skulls, right?" Nagase said bluntly. "My Mom's a cop, you know-"

"Yeah, I know...You keep telling me that." Baku bluntly retorts as he walks behind Nagase, placing hands on her shoulders. "Now listen to me. Bend your knees a tad."

"Uhhh, do I have to-" She suddenly tenses up in pain as Baku, becoming annoyed, suddenly tightens his grip. "Owowowow-O-Okay, I'm doing it!"

"Good, now keep your body in a straight line. Loosen your muscles...Hover that bat over your shoulders…Yeah, that's it." The two exchange a small warming look, relaxing a bit…

"...Man you guys, get a room." Maxtaro said with a very blunt expression, having just returned with snacks. Kyoko slurping a drink with a straw not too far behind as the two look at Baku and Nagase. "No no, keep up the moment...We'll just be background as always." He added

Nagase couldn't help but crack a sly grin. "What, you guys being too jelly at us?"

"Hah, that's a good one, Nagase!" Baku said, slowly pulling an evil grin on his face, clearly getting his jollies at this scene. "They probably are-"

"Like hell we are!!" Maxtaro and Kyoko said as they finally explode, feeling flustered and...Being very transparent on their actual feelings. Double dates, never works out well for our main couple!

End Omakes! See you next time!