Enjin contacts a friend to report he’s found a potential new Cleaners recruit in No Man’s Land — someone with serious natural talent. The guy on the other end can’t believe it. While this goes down, Rudo’s stuck in a shady doctor’s office getting patched up and immediately protests — he never agreed to join anything. Before he can get a word in, the doctor loses it, yelling at him to show some gratitude. Rudo fires back, calling the doctor a crazy old man… only to get screamed at again: she’s an old woman.
After paying up and leaving, Rudo actually thanks Enjin — quietly. Maybe the doc’s rant sunk in. Still, he makes it clear: all he wants is to return to the Sphere. Enjin reminds him how rough it is on the Ground for people like him.
Who are the cleaners
Enjin takes Rudo to a massive domed city, though the roof’s long since caved in. Over food, he gives him a crash course in how things work down here. Emotional energy from the Sphere — called Anima — falls to the Ground along with the trash. That energy gives life to trash beasts, and normal weapons don’t do a thing to them. The only way to fight back is with vital instruments — items infused with Anima, like Enjin’s umbrella or Rudo’s gloves. Only special people called Givers can wield them properly. The Cleaners? They’re a crew of Givers whose job is to take out the trash… literally.
Rudo remembers something his dad, Regto, once told him: that even objects can have souls. Meanwhile, Enjin admits he doesn’t know how to get Rudo back to the Sphere, but suggests the Cleaners’ boss might. He tells Rudo to stay put while he goes to find his trainer.
Meet, Zanka Nijiku
Before leaving, Enjin tosses Rudo a pouch — money he made from selling Rudo’s old Sphere clothes. Rudo’s not happy, but before he can react, a stray cat snatches the pouch and bolts. Rudo gives chase, following it into a dark alley. He grabs a stick off the ground to pin the cat down — but that’s when a furious man appears, claiming the stick is his staff.
The man shoves Rudo aside and activates the Anima in his weapon, the Lovely Assistaff. He’s wearing a Cleaners emblem and somehow knows Rudo’s name. Turns out, he’s Zanka Nijiku — a Cleaner and Enjin’s friend — and he’s about to give Rudo a lesson he won’t forget.
Rudo remembers Regto’s old advice—if you want someone to listen, try thinking about how they feel. He pulls back his anger, admits he didn’t know the stick belonged to someone else, and even apologizes. Zanka accepts it—surprisingly—smiles, and lets it go. That is, until Rudo tries to smile back. It’s awkward. It looks like mockery. Zanka’s ready to throw hands for real.
Not the plunger
He snaps, accusing Rudo of joining the Cleaners for a weak reason. Zanka’s fighting to avenge his father, and now he’s furious. He grabs trash nearby, channels Anima—and suddenly their trainer realizes: Rudo has a rare gift. He can turn anything into a weapon. Still, Zanka thinks he’s got the upper hand… until he sees what Rudo picked up. A used toilet plunger. And he’s swinging it like a pro.
Zanka panics as Rudo—totally unaware what a plunger is—goes on the attack. It’s gross, it’s chaotic, and it ends with Zanka getting smacked full-force by a weapon that’s more poop than power.
Later, Enjin is cracking up behind the wheel while both Givers sit in silence—Zanka, humiliated, and Rudo, mortified he just fought with literal toilet sludge. Then, out of nowhere, a girl pops up in the backseat. It’s Riyo. She compliments Rudo’s hair and starts playing with it. He freezes. She’s close, she’s cute, and Rudo—who’s never even talked to a girl like this—just stares, stunned, while Enjin keeps laughing up front.
