"But Yuzu, where the hell is the regular guy?"
"I already told you, Arata. He can't make it this morning because of the wind."
"Goddamn wind!? What the fuck is he? Gr-, whatever! Where did you dig up this old Vietnamese crone anyway? And does he even speak Japanese?"
The sound of a large key resounded in the door lock.
"He doesn't speak any Japanese, but he does have a good grip on English. And besides, he's on special recommendation from the usual physician; I was assured he's very good at what he does."
The old door latch slipped from its alcove.
"Whatever, as long as he'll be able to stop her bleeding out prematurely."
The door's great lateral bolt shunted halfway to the left with a scuff.
"Yuzu?"
"Yes?"
"You sort out that wing mirror problem yet?
"No, unfortunately, I can't intervene at this late stage. They're on direct order - I'm afraid you're just going to have to pay for them."
The metal bolt screamed as it was wrenched all the way free.
"For fuck's sake! If I ever catch that bastard who did this!"
Even beyond her shivering pain, Mei felt Harumi laugh against her at that last remark. And just like in the alley of Kobe, the door to their twin fates finally beginning to open, Mei suddenly found herself caught in the grip of that same, sudden and uncontrollable urge to laugh in the face of despair's miserable efforts to bring them down.
After all, it worked out back then.
/
