Chapter 25: His Prediction Holds Truth
Shohan-Shinjuku line1, 11:55
"Okay, I'm seriously exhausted." Masaomi Kida slumped onto a bench, staring blankly at the ceiling as he fanned himself. "I think this is all the info we're getting today, Saki."
His girlfriend frowned, looking over a notepad. "But all of this info is… vague," she stated, raising an eyebrow. "Sure you're just not being lazy?
Masaomi shrugged, waving a hand in dismissal. "'All I need is general information.' That's what Izaya told us. As far as I'm concerned, we made the mother load of general information." He tapped his shoe on the ground, yawning.
Saki gave a stubborn stare at Masaomi, crossing her arms. "You're just being lazy to spite him, aren't you?"
Masaomi raised an eyebrow, returning the gaze. "Basically~" He smiled. What else would it be for, really?
Saki became silent, looking around her.
Did I say something dumber than normal?
"Um… Masaomi, let's go." She muttered.
Masaomi blinked, standing up and looking around.
His whole world stopped.
In Masaomi's current sight, it were as if someone were to paint an entire wasps' nest blue. Blue in every corner of the train station.
There's no way… Why are they even…?
Slowly, he walked over to Saki's side, his eyes locked on to the mass of blue sweaters and hats. Majority of which had some sort of shark design on the hood.
Saki tugged at Masaomi's arm. "Let's go. I mean it," she stated.
We're near their old hangout, aren't we?
"Masaomi."
They were everywhere. Blue Squares was infesting the area. One in particular stood out. He was standing on his own, speaking on a cell phone. He seemed young, a smile on his face.
In the back of Masaomi's mind, alarms were going off.
"Masaomi."
The boy just stared on, narrowing his eyes absently.
"Masaomi!"
He blinked, gasping for a second. He stared over at Saki, who had a nervous expression on her face. It wasn't like her at all. Despite this, he couldn't help but stay in his current location.
"Saki, look. I don't think… leaving isn't the best idea right now."
"And why's that?" Saki asked. She glared at him, not amused in the slightest.
Masaomi bit his lower lip, "It's just a feeling."
He looked over to the boy, who in turn closed his cell phone, still smiling as he turned over to Masaomi and Saki. "And a good feeling indeed!" He called.
If he did not know any better, Masaomi would have mistook the voice for Izaya's. The only thing keeping him from that mistake was watching the boy dead in the eyes as he approached casually towards them.
He turned over to Saki, tilting his head. "Saki Mikajima, right? I believe this is the first time we've met." He said politely.
Saki kept silent, staring at the outstretched hand.
The boy retracted his hand with a nod, "I see." He looked over to Masaomi, raising his eyebrow. "You must be Masaomi Kida, thenm" he said cheerfully. "It's nice to meet you."
Who is this kid? Shouldn't he be in school or something?
This stranger's smile widened. "Already knowing that leaving would be a bad idea. Your intuition is quite remarkable," he praised.
The comment unnaturally smooth, almost rehearsed.
"Right then…"
Masaomi spaced out, glaring at the kid suspiciously.
He's that kid from a few days ago. With Izaya's sisters…
"The other day we saw each other, remember?" The boy explained. "I would have said hi then, but you were with Mikado-kun and Anri-san. Plus I was with some friends of my own."
He knows Mikado and Anri?
"Say, speaking of which." The boy's smile was giving in to a malicious smirk. "Anri-san seemed to be distressed the last time I saw her."
Wait a second…
It hit Masaomi.
"You're that brat that hurt Anri!" He snapped. "You tried to manipulate her and use her in your own damned plans, right? But she declined and you let your followers take care of things."
The boy had a blank expression. Throwing his hands up defensively, he shrugged. "Hey, I offered to be of some help. I gave no orders to Blue Squares to do anything to her. That was their doing."
"Control them better."
Saki bit her lower lip, taking a step back.
The boy kept his smile. "We're not really getting anywhere. You there… Saki?" He raised an eyebrow. "Surely the name Izumi Ran rings a few bells? Or at least some scars?"
Saki began tugging at Masaomi's arm, a stern look on her face. "I don't like this. Let's go," she demanded. "Now."
"Saki…"
"To be frank, he's the one who-"
"I know what he did," Masaomi interrupted. "I know full well what that jerk did to Saki, I don't need to be reminded."
The boy nodded. "Of course, I understand," he said calmly. "I'm sorry to say that whole incident was during my absence; however I do hold myself responsible for her - your current condition. As well as my elder brother's actions."
"So you-"
"Aoba Kuronuma. The leader of Blue Squares," he stated, giving Saki a slip of paper. "I understand that as a former Yellow Scarves leader, there's some bad blood between us. However, I think that could change." He smirked. "Besides, we have a similar problem. A common enemy."
Masaomi narrowed his eyes, keeping his hands in his pockets.
"Being used," Aoba replied simply. He sighed, shaking his head. "I'll get to the point. Izaya Orihara, you can't possibly like working for him." He laughed cynically. "Of course not. However, everyone needs someone to guide them in some direction. If the world was without its leaders, we'd be in anarchy. Complete chaos. However, in your leader, anarchy is already evident. Yet you need him to lead you away from that chaos, which he only drops you back into. It's a vicious cycle." He sighed dramatically. "Look what it's done to you. The girl here is brainwashed, and you're still fighting against a past over which get."
Saki stepped forward, "Are you saying you're a better person?" she snapped. "We weren't forced into this. It was our choice."
"I never said I was any better. The similarities between me and him are painfully obvious." Aoba gave a bitter smile. "However, unlike him, I have some humanity in me. I actually fear being alone, losing those close to me. I don't need to use ancient philosophies, myths, and creative logic to rationalise my actions. In a way he's rather pathetic."
"You're a Pomeranian." Masaomi stated.
"Pardon?"
"There's nothing to you. I'm not impressed. If someone's leading me, they might as well be the one pulling the strings and winning the battles." Masaomi said blankly, as the solid truth. "I don't like working for him, but there's no way I'm screwing up our situation anymore. You obviously don't understand what would happen in the aftermath."
Aoba's smile dropped. "You're actually defending him?"
Masaomi laughed. "No," he replied. "I just don't feel like dying. I admit I was a bit shocked to hear what you were saying, but you're a joke. Blue Squares isn't my problem anymore. There's no reason for me and Saki to be wasting time with you guys."
Aoba nodded solemnly. "I see. Saki, I suppose I'll have to trust you in keeping that info," he said, his smile returning slowly. "I'll be on my way, nice meeting you, Masaomi."
He walked past the blonde, laughing slightly as he did, until he soon merged with the rest of Blue Squares.
Saki glared at Aoba as he left, pulling her cell phone out. "I'm calling Izaya. He should-"
"Don't."
"But-"
Masaomi craned his head behind him blankly, keeping somewhat of a poker face. "Those members are still everywhere. It's suicide to say anything about Izaya right now. Don't waste your breath.
Saki nodded, scowling slightly as she looked around.
So problems start to build up again, huh? If I ever have to do a speech like that again I will gag.
"Are you alright, Masaomi?
Masaomi blinked, rubbing the back of his neck, and a nostalgic feeling overcame him. This was the same neck around which a yellow scarf was once wrapped, a yellow noose. That noose had almost been the end of him.
His expression only darkened. Izumi Ran? I don't like hearing that name more than I have to. Just what does his brother Aoba want?
"Masaomi?"
Screw it. Asking Izaya wouldn't help at all.
"Masaomi!"
A harsh nudge in the arm brought the boy back to his senses. He looked at Saki, who had an annoyed expression on her face. Soon, however, the girl reverted to her cheerful self.
She laughed, shaking her head. "Masaomi that was really cool," she commented. "You really showed that Aoba. I don't think I've ever heard you say something that good about Izaya." She sighed. "I'm getting ahead of myself, though. Look, there's no way that's enough info."
I was not defending him. "Wha?"
Saki shrugged. "What's important is this. Not Blue Squares. So we should concentrate on research," she explained, her smile softening.
Masaomi's phone started to ring, but he simply followed Saki.
"Hey, Saki."
"Hmm?" Saki blinked, "You have that smile again…"
Giving a nod, the former gang leader patted her head. "You know me so well~," he commented. "When all this crap is settled, we are going to get some cotton candy, without a doubt!" He cheered loudly, giving a salute.
Saki laughed. "What's this have to do-?"
"Because it matters to me," Masaomi pointed out, swinging an arm around Saki's shoulder. "Know what else? Mikado and Anri are coming along. A double date~"
"I've never even met them."
"Vice versa! A double date and a meeting. I'm such a genius." He laughed, nodding in self-agreement.
Saki raised an eyebrow. "Are you okay?" she asked.
"Better than ever, Saki."
1 Shohan-Shinjuku line: A train station near Shinjuku, a city known for having large rail stations.