Chapter 1 – The plotter

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It has been a long time since that flea didn't show up.

It is a good sign actually.

Ikebukuro would be in peace without him around.

Indeed it was also because of me, sometimes I would also cause tremor with him there, but it was his entire fault, yeah, his fault.

Indict me of the crime that I didn't even do, he was the trickiest and cunning person I've ever met on earth, since the day from our high school.

If he was there, everything would be upside down, that bastard.

In other words, I hate him very much. HATE.

But, for some reason it was strange, for him to disappear from Ikebukuro for a long time was very weird indeed, weird enough for someone like me that hate to think much...

...

I don't want to remember...

But who cares, in this fleeting moment, I should enjoy my daily life to the fullest without him around. Yes, without him around, it was so relaxing that made me feel kinda awkward.

I've got another call from HQ. It's from Tom san. He needs my help again to collect the debt from this one company. What kind of help? Well, it's, kinda embarrassing to explain, oh well, yeah, use a forceful method to make them pay. I hate it. To use violence to make people listen just no good, but some people ought to be teach a little or else they won't heed our warning. Still, to be used by other people just because of my strength is irritating. But I've got no choice. Right now, this is the only way for me to get earnings for living. So frustrating. That's why I don't want to think about it anymore.

I kick up the dump that got in my way to the cupboard, and open them. Bartender clothing, got a lot of them. My younger brother, Heiwajima Kasuka bought me a bundle of it so I could stay at one kind of job at a time, but seems like I can't fulfil that one promise to him. He must be mad. I want to apologize but he was always very busy with his job as an actor that I can't apologized properly. I haven't met him for a long time though. So all I can do is wear this outfit he gave me gracefully. Sorry, Kasuka. After finish wearing the clothes, I make my way to the job place.

"Yo, took you long enough, wat's up?"

Tom san already waiting for me in front of the HQ.

"Sorry, there's this bunch of rubbish that pick a fight with me on the way, that's why..."

"Oh no, you didn't beat em' to pulp ah?"

I remain silent at that question. He shakes his head and sighed at my reaction. He must have gotten used to my personality already, since he was my upperclassmen, a senior in my high school days. And that's why he also acknowledges my strength since then.

On the way to the company, I realized that someone had been following us, but I tried to remain cool, have a puff and ask Tom san silently...

"Shh, I know that, someone stalking us. Please ignore it for some second."

Tom san already knows. With that we kept on walking until we reach the destination. At that time, the one that stalking us already disappear... Funny indeed, that person emits an annoying yet familiar smell, but where...

We tried to open the door of the company, but it was shut closed. From there comes my part. I tore open the heavily locked door with my bare hands easily. Huh, piece of cake. This makes some kind of scene to the people nearby but Tom san make them go away hurriedly by saying something to them.

"What did you say to them?"

"I said that 'you' was here."

"Whatever, let's get inside."

"Wait, let's try to ambush him."

"Why?"

"Coz' I smell trap."

It was Tom san that we mention here. His intuition was always right when it comes to our job. Our boss also said that we are the most fitting couple for this job. He does the talking and I do the physical job. Well, if you know so hurry up and give me more payment, sheesh.

Yeah, that's right, as soon as we get inside, we were welcomed by a flying bullet that went pass by my ear. This means that the enemy knows full well who we are. But how did he know? We're ambushing him here. That means he already know we're coming. I took a quick reaction and pick the nearby desk as a shield, and run towards the one that attacking us to ram him. And there he remains stuck between the desk and the wall. Jack pot, it was the person that borrow money from our company. Tom san then began his interrogation.

"Well, mister, we only want to collect our money back, so you don't need to welcome us like this you know."

"I, I don't have the money to repay you back, all of them!"

"Seriously? You spend those 1,000,000 yen for what, or you actually eat them?"

The man keep on silence that made me loses my temper. I began to squash him slowly, he cried in pain, but then Tom san stopped me.

"Wait Shizuo, ok, you see that? Tell me or you'll be squashed like a cockroach."

"I, I can't speak if I was like this, please, let me go!"

How dare he? He asked for this in the first place, and now he acts like nothing? I'd be happy to kill this stinking knave, but I've got to follow Tom san's order after all. I'm waiting for his answer. He nod and gave me the signal to let him go, and so I do so. Soon after that, he gasped for breath, but unfortunately, we fall for his trick there. He pulls out his weapon, which we forget that he got gun earlier and point it towards Tom san, then he pull the trigger. As quickly as I can, I push Tom san on the ground and we managed to avoid the bullet. But he got away, he ran to the upper level. With that, I get up and went after him, followed by Tom san behind me. Gosh, he is SO gonna pay for this!

At last, we managed to corner him, inside his own office. There, he's panting and holding a suitcase in his hands. Looks like it contains something rather valuable, for him to hold it close to his chest like that.

"I believe that is ours?"

"No, this is mine! I got this from my long research, so it's mine!"

"I'll kill him."

"Mind if you tell us what's in there?"

"Hahah, you wanna know? Alright, maybe you'll change your mind after you see it, the fruition of my labour, it's gonna wreck the industry..."

I heard a ticking noise came from the luggage, but he kept rambling nonsense there, too enveloped by his own world to realize it. This is odd, I felt restless. I can only know one thing from the situation now. With a yell, I run towards Tom san, grab him by the waist and jump out from the window to the outside of the building, three storeys it is. As soon after that, there's a big explosion just right behind us.

KABOOM!

I can feel the blaze catch up my back, but it was nothing to me. I landed on the ground with a loud crash, the impact caused a big crater on the place I settled on. Tom san stunned by what happened just now, he's been quiet.

"Tom san, are you okay?"

"...Ah? Aa, yes, Shizuo, I'm okay, I'm just shocked that's all. Huh. How about you?"

"I scratched my back a little, but don't worry."

"Fine then."

The clothes on my back were torn apart. There goes another suit. I mess Kasuka's gift again, oh well, never mind that now. We looked up at the office up there. It's burned. The people around become havoc, it's such a chaos. Soon after that there's come the siren, which means that we had to get away from the scene as soon as possible.

"The fruition of your labour that cost your life is not reasonable. I'm wondering who did this..."

"Tom san."

"Yes?"

"I think it's related to the person that stalking us before."

"... I'll report this to the higher ups. Shizuo, you go get some rest."

"Tom san?"

"A job well done Shizuo, and also I thank you for saving my ass out there."

He gave me a warm smile and pat on my shoulder. Until now, he acts as a caring senior to me, even though we already become a grown man. I watch his back until he disappeared from my sight. From there on we went apart to avoid suspicion among the people there.

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