Ch. 3
We Have Our Dolls So Let's Play Pretend
Yokohama sure was an interesting city.
Unassuming like most cities.
But if you stuck around long enough, you were sure to be entertained. Sure enough, as she stood, staring at the empty space where a building had certainly been before, she couldn't help but marvel at the ability of skill users.
Though they were mostly kept under wraps by governments and paranoid controlling bureaucracies, it didn't mean there wasn't one or two flashy ones.
Most people didn't really think about special ability users, she had learned. Most of them didn't even know what that was. It was odd. You would think with all the chaos the ADA and the Mafia could stir up with their rivalry that some eyebrows would have been raised.
Maybe they had been and then were dealt with quietly in a back alley mafia style somewhere. Eh, most likely.
As she stood, looking at the empty spot where a tall building once stood, she overheard the newscaster. Not wanting to be caught on camera, she made sure she wasn't in the vicinity of the reporters. But she still could hear everything with the other bystanders.
"Sources say this building was an office used by the Mafia. Civic police are working with military officials to see if this attack was carried out by a rival group…"
'What do you think? Should we investigate?'
Ah, are pigs flying? I think you're the one who's curious! Alu teased her buddy.
'Tch. I'm just saying. You're already implicated in matters concerning the ADA with that stunt you pulled. It would seem that there are forces at play here that aim to be disruptive…'
There's always something disrupting something else… but you're right. I can hardly sit on the sidelines… Alu walked off towards the direction of the ADA building. It wasn't too far from where this stunt actually took place.
It was clearly a message meant for the ADA, that much Alu was certain. Whoever had placed a bounty through the Port Mafia on Atsushi's head was still targeting him. These people may actually be even more destructive than the Port Mafia shenanigans that a certain immature Port Mafia Boss pulled on the ADA apparently weekly.
"Hey Juubi…" Alu said, a small mischievous smirk crossing her face. "I think I'm finally gonna be able to have some fun!"
—
Atsushi and Tanizaki couldn't believe their eyes.
After receiving orders to try to find clues to what The Guild could be plotting next, somehow, Tanizaki's little sister, Naomi, had been nabbed from right under their noses! This was terrible!
Tanizaki frantically shouted her name, in a frenzy.
He didn't even care that he shoved an old geezer with greasy dark locks, stubble, dressed in a white suit, whimpering —about something or the other—to the ground, in his desperation to find Naomi.
Atsushi paused, to check on the man, flustered. "Are you alright?" He was just as worried but he at least held some regard for random strangers.
"Ow," the stranger groaned.
Tanizaki spotted a familiar woman in the crowd. She was from The Guild. He recognized her from when she'd arrived with the others the other day. He just had a feeling. "You!" He shouted, reaching out his hand to grab her by the shoulder.
Suddenly she turned around, flashing her braces, a manic smile on her face. "Play with me~"
Suddenly, that block of street was encased in some weird child's room.
Atsushi's eyes widened along with Tanizaki's.
"Welcome to Anne's room! Oh my, so many people! Strangers, just looking right at me! I should let you know that I'm terrible at social gatherings!" The girl giggled, twirling a little in her dress. "Oh but you poor things! All a fluster! I suppose I should explain since I've brought you into this strange land of my own creation! And with no warning too! I almost feel sorry—"
"Where is Naomi!" Tanizaki's sharp glare sliced through any small talk introductions.
"Oh, I suppose I should start there," the girl sneered. "Your detective friends are over there, in that room," she gestured to a door that just stood at the other end of the room. There were actually two doors.
But this one was not facing the street.
"Kenji-kun! And Naomi too!" Tanizaki shouted in horror.
He immediately dashed over, to force the door open.
"Oh, that won't work. That door needs a key…but not this one," the girl continued, gesturing to the door near Atsushi and the others.
Atsushi's heart nearly stopped like the movement of everything outside of the window when he looked closer. "Everything out there…is frozen in time," Atsushi said, horrified. This went beyond a mere simple ability. This was insane. Just what sort of abilities did The Guild even possess? Atsushi was feeling very anxious now.
"My name is Montgomery," the girl continued. "I created this place using my special ability, but please don't worry! All of you are welcome to leave if you want through that door…assuming you don't want to save your friends!" She concluded brightly. Her dark grin showed off her braces. That's right folks, even villains are menacing in braces.
"What do you even want!" Tanizaki shouted.
"That's simple," Montgomery said cheerfully. "I just want you all to play with Anne in this room!" She said gleefully. As she spoke a giant doll that looked like her but with button eyes, and an off putting design, loomed. "Come over here and play, Anne!" She called to her doll.
Tanizaki and Atsushi looked horrified.
"Anne does love to play! She's spoiled but that just makes her cuter, don't you agree?" She giggled. Many people—sane people— left for the door leading outside screaming, almost immediately. Surprising they hadn't started to run before now but that was just perhaps the shock of being stuck in a square room with a crazy girl and her giant doll.
"Ah but, if you leave you'll just forget all about my room? Are you all right with that?" She called after everyone running away.
No one answered.
"Hm," Montgomery tilted her head, gazing at who was left. It was just Atsushi, Tanizaki, and some old geezer. Oh well, this was fine. Casualties can't be helped in times of war. And at least she had the intended target—the man-tiger— so she wouldn't fail her mission!
"It's just you three?" She thoughtfully spoke.
Atsushi and Tanizaki remained standing.
The old geezer was leaning against a piano. Toys littered the room.
"Hey, you should run away," Atsushi said, worriedly to the older man.
The older man looked at Atsushi like his heart would tear in two. "I'm looking for a girl. She's small and cute as a button. Have you seen her?" He showed Atsushi a picture.
Atsushi had not seen the little blonde girl with blue eyes and red dress. "No, I'm sorry," he said.
"Oh well, it can't be helped." The old geezer sniffled. "But if I left now, without knowing if she is on the other side of that door, I would never be able to live with myself! So, I've decided to stay for her sake!"
"Okay then," Atsushi honestly didn't know what to think about this old man. Most people would take their chances out there. But then again, if it was his daughter, he couldn't blame this guy for sticking around. Actually, that was kind of a brave thing.
He was much braver than Atsushi. Atsushi felt like his legs were jelly.
"The game is simple!" Montgomery continued, caressing the chin of her doll, creepily. She grinned at them, leering. "You just have to play a game of tag! If Anne touches you, you lose, obviously~" Montgomery giggled, gleefully twisted. "However, if you manage to win by using this key to open that door, then I will release all of the hostages!" As she spoke, a key glowed between Atsushi and Tanizaki just then.
"So, are you in or what?" She leered at them.
"Can we both play at the same time?" Tanizaki asked.
"Oh of course! It's a game~ silly! It's more fun with everyone joining in," Montgomery clapped her hands together, looking excitable.
Atsushi and Tanizaki glanced at each other. Atsushi liked their odds. With Tanizaki's 'light snow' ability, they could create illusions. They knew it'd be a gamble but they had a shot at pulling the wool over this girl's eyes if they played it right.
"Oh yes, one more thing!" Montgomery pointed to her room. She gestured, "It's not nice to mess up someone else's room so leave everything as you see it, okay? I would appreciate it!"
"Are you ready?"
The boys moved quickly.
But, to their horror and dismay, speed was not on their side.
'Anne of Abyssal Red', Montgomery's ability, snagged Tanizaki effortlessly causing both boys to panic, palling.
"!?"
Atsushi watched in abject frozen disbelief, as Tanizaki was dragged into the room by those creepy mannequin doll hands.
"Oh? Caught one~" Montgomery darkly laughed, smiling hugely.
Tanizaki screamed a blood-curdling cry as he was shoved into the room. The door shut. It drowned out any further sound. The silence left behind left a deafening roar of panic like a thunderclap in Atsushi's ears. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't sweating.
"Joyous day! We have another friend, Anne!" Montgomery jovially exclaimed. The doll leaned down near Montgomery's ear. "Oh? What's that? You want another friend? Okay, there's one right over…there!"
Anne leapt for Atsushi but Atsushi felt his tiger instincts kick in. Thanks to president Fukuzawa's ability, 'All Men Are Created Equal,' he could go through transformation sequences now without needing the moon and he had the added benefit of being in control—for the most part. His emotions could still control his transformation as proven with the fight he had with Akutagawa back when Dazai intervened.
"Wow!" Montgomery said, genuinely impressed, clasping her hands together. "You're so graceful like an acrobat! I can't wait to see more!"
All Atsushi could think was that this person was similar to Akutagawa in terms of power alone. This was bad. If he even just blinked he could be a goner.
"Your skill is so unique! I'll bet you were really popular at the orphanage you grew up!" She said, praisingly. "You used to be an orphan too, so I've heard, right?"
Atsushi had no idea how The Guild got their hands on that information. This was shaping up to be more and more vexing. Was this praise even real or just something else? He could tell, there was something in her emotional state that just wasn't natural. It wasn't even the dolls or her creepy ability.
Atsushi felt something was off with her. It wasn't a hatred for his existence like with Akutagawa.
It was something else.
But what?
Atsushi didn't have much experience with emotions that weren't solely negative. But her praise still felt empty. It didn't feel like she was talking to him but rather at him.
"I was also raised in an orphanage," she continued. "I would use cold rags and wipe things. Man, my fingers were cold for days. Of course, it was pretty cold there. The other kids wouldn't play with me either 'cuz my ability is creepy!" She beamed, petting her ability which made a disturbing sound that was supposed to be an imitation of a doll 'purring', was all Atsushi could think .
Krrkrkrkrkrkk.
Ugh, definitely gonna have nightmares from that one.
"When you were kidnapped, the agency went through all the trouble to save you! Isn't that the sweetest thing?" She continued. Her voice was getting colder and sweeter somehow at the same time. It was grating to Atsushi's ears. "I'm sure it's because of your skill!"
"I…" Atsushi still remembered the recent conversation he'd had with Akutagawa. Akutagawa had accused him of only having false strength because of the agency. This girl was insinuating that if Atsushi didn't have this special ability that the agency wouldn't even look his way. It almost stung worse. No, it did.
It did sting worse.
This ability she was praising him for was the reason for all of his childhood trauma. It was the reason he'd been alone for so long. It was his ball and chain. Sure, it was under control now and it honestly was the only thing keeping him alive. But that was the ability after all.
Atsushi himself had no strength to call his own.
Atsushi was still struggling to determine his own worth. Right now, he relied on Dazai-San to determine it for him. He knew was weak. He knew that and yet.
"The Guild saw my worth too, you know?" She said, though her voice was somewhere distant now. It was melancholy, hollow and light at the same time. It was haunting. "But…The Guild doesn't allow mistakes. If I mess this up, I will be thrown away. I'm no more than a dirty napkin."
Montgomery continued to grip her dress, trembling now. "I mean, why you? Why only you? Why couldn't it have been me?" She tilted her head, her eyes vacant and dark. She was smiling but it was taut.
Both the old geezer and Atsushi just stared at this girl as she had her little speech and breakdown. She was definitely not mentally stable, they both concluded.
Atsushi didn't know what to say to her question.
He knew it was pure dumb 'luck' that he was found by Dazai-San that day. Or rather, that he'd saved Dazai-San from drowning in a canal—much to his mentor's former chagrin. But, Dazai-San had helped him face the tiger. He had given Atsushi a sense of purpose. When Atsushi had wanted to give up on living, it was Dazai-San who had extended his hand.
Dazai-San was the center of Atsushi's ability to hang in there. He was someone who brought Atsushi to the Armed Detective Agency because he wanted Atsushi to have someplace to belong.
Atsushi's heart twisted.
"It's not fair," she said, stepping closer now. She raised her hand and smiled once more, gleefully detached from guilt or reason. "So you just stay in this room with me forever, instead!"
Atsushi dodged the next few attempts to grab him. He was determined to get the damn key into the door! He had to! Dazai-San believed in him! He had to believe in himself! Gritting his teeth, he used his tiger strength to throw some presents at the Anne doll looming. He'd have to be a little discourteous right now but he'd apologize —and maybe help clean up— later!
Once everyone was safe!
He had the door in his sights! He raised the key.
"Look out, boy!" The older man suddenly yelled.
Atsushi paused. "Huh?" The key itself tried to attack him, slicing at his neck. Atsushi's tiger instincts kicked in and he threw the key away with alarm.
It clattered at Montgomery's feet.
She bent down, picking it up. "Oh! Handle with care! You don't want to be reprimanded by the orphanage superiors, do you?" She chided Atsushi, grinning darkly. The key in her hand began to cackle.
"I thought I could win if I used the key!" Atsushi yelled in confusion.
"Oh, you could win, but even I'm not sure how this key actually works," she cackled.
Atsushi realized with horror he had no chance of winning this from the start.
"What's wrong? Don't get cold feet now! The fun's just getting started! Let's play some more!" Montgomery unleashed Anne once more on Atsushi.
Atsushi used his tiger speed to the best of his ability. Everything clattered as Anne relentlessly pursued him. And then, as Anne clattered some toys and boxes out of the way, Atsushi stared at a pair of wide eyes that mirrored his own.
"Wha—?!" Montgomery's eyes widened with shock.
The old geezer himself looked shocked.
Sitting, crouched, was another person in the room with them.
"Ah, pretend I'm not here," the tan skinned young woman said, with a dismissive hand wave.
Atsushi stumbled back, completely taken aback.
"You—How long have you been—?" It was Montgomery who asked this, though Atsushi was hilariously honestly thinking it at the same time. Their expressions were too comical for words. Even Anne just paused.
It's little doll mouth hung open emulating Montgomery's own facial expression.
"Oh uh, well, since the beginning, I think," the young woman said brightly. "But, you know, I didn't want to interrupt. You kids looked like you were having so much fun together! Us old-timers should enjoy watching kids play, right, old man?" She said, beaming at the old geezer.
The old geezer was honestly speechless.
Who the heck is this person? All of them were thinking comically at the same time. Who stuck around this long and didn't announce themselves?
Well, Atsushi could think of someone who would pull this. Oh man. Could this person rival his mentor? Wait—Atsushi gasped. "It's you!" He said, with a yelp. "You're the one Kyouka-Chan mentioned!"
"Yes? Me?" The woman tilted her head cutely, blinking. "Why so jumpy? I don't bite, unless you want me to~" she grinned.
"N-Not necessary!" Atsushi stammered. He felt immediately flustered. "B-But if you were here this whole time—why didn't you step in or at least run away to safety?"
"The truth is," The woman reached into her jacket and Atsushi tensed instinctively.
That's right, she could be with The Guild too! Although Montgomery looked absolutely floored. Atsushi got the feeling Montgomery didn't know who this person was either. But still, he was already wired as it were.
She pulled out a small notebook. "I'm here for research for a new novel I'm writing!" She declared brightly.
"H-huh?" Atsushi felt confused even more so now.
"Oh? A writer?" Montgomery recovered after a moment, and she smiled, clapping her hands together. "Have I inspired you? Wow~ that's kinda cool!"
"In a way you have," the young woman said with a grin to Montgomery. "Watching you use your ability was really awesome!" She gave her a thumbs up. "You're truly an inspiration!"
Atsushi wanted to lie down. Maybe cry. Probably both.
The old geezer remained a quiet observer.
Montgomery felt her chest twist. This person was praising her honestly? For her ability? A liar was predictable in some cases but it was honesty that made Montgomery less trusting. Montgomery's smile remained on her face but she actually didn't know if this person was sweet-talking her or genuinely giving her a compliment. Used to the former, she just giggled. "Aw, geez! If you want to play too, you should! Anne always likes more friends to play with!"
"Do you mean that?" The woman asked, eyes sparkling as she looked at Montgomery.
"Ye—es?" Montgomery uttered and the woman moved closer. Montgomery instinctively tensed.
But the woman didn't come any closer. She paused. She pocketed her book back in her coat. "I'll hold you to it!" The woman beamed. "Ah, but that aside. I couldn't help but notice you have innocent people trapped here…doesn't that bother your conscience?"
Montgomery flinched.
The woman's underlying tone, no mistake, was friendly and sharp as a katana. It sliced to the heart of the matter like a knife in the heart of a piece of fruit.
"I am only following orders!" Montgomery hotly stated.
The woman tilted her head at Montgomery. "I feel for your predicament, girl, I really do," she stated, putting her hand on her hip. "But there is a better way to handle this."
There was? Atsushi and Montgomery's expressions comically indicated they both wanted to hear this.
However, the old geezer appeared lost in thought, watching this unfold. His expression was hard to discern.
"Huh? What are you talking about! I have to capture this boy or I'll be thrown away! Don't act like it's not a big deal! You have no idea how I feel!" The girl quivered angry, glaring at the woman, and pointing at her.
"Boo-hoo," the woman said deadpan. "Your life is tough, so what? Everyone has their own problems to deal with everyday."
Atsushi and the old geezer honestly couldn't tell what this person was doing whether it was helping or antagonizing. Felt more like a hilariously terrible hash between the two. But the way she dead-pan said that made Atsushi inwardly breath hitch. He couldn't explain it. But was this person irritated?
"You talk about how you were only picked up for your ability. That's depressing, honestly I feel for you in that aspect. But, you are not a child anymore," she bluntly said, pointing at Montgomery. "You are old enough to determine your own path! Stop making excuses and letting others make those decisions for you! It's one thing to bring yourself down but you're dragging down innocent people in the process and that's wrong." Her expression was hard and unflinching.
Montgomery flinched, like she was being lectured and it actually stung.
Atsushi and the Old Geezer hung back, honestly just, letting things unfold. Neither really had any idea what the heck was going to happen with this new belated addition. But one thing was for certain. This person had very little sense of fear.
Actually from where he stood, her shoulders squared, her confident posture, everything about her. He felt like he was looking at his mentor from behind. Atsushi didn't feel as afraid. What an impression for this stranger to have on him. He could see now, why Kyouka-Chan trusted her.
Her words held weight.
They were a weapon far more impactful than any physical tool.
Atsushi felt himself tear up. "Thank goodness…" he murmured.
The old geezer looked at Atsushi, confused. "What for? We aren't out of the woods yet…"
"It's nothing…she just…reminds me of someone, someone that would know what to do in this situation, that's all," Atsushi's voice wavered. "I'm not…a strong person…but I can tell, just by paying attention, that person is."
Well, the kid definitely had sharp intuition, the old geezer could give him that. He also felt like this girl was not a 'typical' person. No average person would be stupid enough to 'hang' out, novelist or otherwise. The old geezer was quiet. Her demeanor did remind him of someone as well. How intriguing. He just gazed at the young woman with the braided hair, facing off the other one. This really was shaping up to be one heck of an afternoon stroll.
Atsushi caught the old geezer making a small smile. He wondered if the old geezer was also relieved that they had one more player against Montgomery.
"So, I take it then, that you are with this boy?" Montgomery asked, pointing in Atsushi's direction.
The young woman blinked. "He's a bit young for me, so no, we're not together," she cheekily said with a grin.
Atsushi blushed. "W-what? That's not what she was asking!"
Oh ya. This person definitely exuded his mentor's similar persona. Scary.
"You know what I meant," Montgomery huffed. "Regardless, I merely need to capture this boy for my own reasons. So either play the game or don't get in my way!"
She pointed at the woman haughtily. But she glared. Due to the rules of her game she wanted only willing participants to be tagged by Anne. Otherwise it would look like she was cheating. Damn this woman for dancing on the sidelines and taunting her! Insulting her plight! Montgomery wanted to hit her.
The young woman looked around. "Hm, okay!" She said brightly. She went over to some toys and began to fiddle with them.
"And don't touch things carelessly! Hey! Are you even listening!" Montgomery yelped, as the young woman just began to play with the toys like there wasn't a big fight currently going down.
Atsushi's confidence that the tide could be turned was fast dwindling. This person…did they simply not care? But they had asked a serious question? This was like when he was on the boat with Akutagawa. She hadn't helped them then either.
"Um…I don't mean to be rude but…can you please help us?" Atsushi found himself tentatively asking.
"It's not my fight," the young woman said brightly. "I'm just here for the material for my next novel!"
"Not…your…there are peoples' lives on the line in there!" Atsushi exclaimed, appalled. "Are you telling me that your writing is more important than the life of a person?"
Montgomery quieted. This was an unexpected twist but she was curious about this person's reasons for involving themselves as well.
The older man tilted his head, expression mostly unreadable.
The young woman paused playing with a teddy bear. Then she lifted it to look at Atsushi. She flapped its arms, talking cutely. "At~su~shi~-kun~," she said. "Let me ask you something…"
"What?" Atsushi asked, frustrated. Her mannerism reminded him of Dazai-San….
"Do you think someone who takes the lives of others deserves to write stories about the lives of others?" The young woman tilted her head, a smile on her face of unreadable emotion, at Atsushi.
"Um, that's kinda a loaded question…" Atsushi found himself stammering.
"You asked me if my writing is more important than the lives of people…but for me, they are one and the same…." The woman straightened up, still holding the teddy bear in her hand. She tossed it up in the air and caught it again. She made it dance with its little legs in midair, dangling.
The old geezer's eyes widened slightly. "That's an interesting perspective you have there," he commented.
The young woman blinked and smiled at him with a mischievous grin. "I know! I'm so profound, right?"
She was certainly something, the older man could agree, inwardly.
"Ah, but! I'm so sorry for interrupting the game!" She raised her hand, grinning at Anne. "I'll play~ I'm super old though and my hips are terrible!"
She didn't look that old but no one bothered to comment.
Montgomery was pleased to get back on track from that little tangent. This young woman was incredibly weird. Montgomery didn't trust her. Though, what she'd said…no, Montgomery couldn't afford to be weak! She had to win! She had to procure that were-tiger no matter what!
"So I just have to do—-?" The young woman blinked, still smiling, as her eyes widened. "—dodge?" She still gripped the teddy bear even as she was grabbed by Montgomery's lightning like speed and ability.
Atsushi whirled, watching in horror, as in slow motion, Anne the Abyssal Red snagged the woman in its grasp, almost in the same amount of time it takes for someone to take a breath.
"!?"
Both Atsushi and the old geezer jolted with shock, avoiding the smaller hands on the checkered floor of the playroom.
"Oh would you look at that, I've been snagged," the young woman said humorously, before she was yanked back into the room and the door was shut.
Montgomery clasped her hands together, beaming at the others. "Well~ That was an interesting little tangent but let's get back on track shall we?"
Atsushi's heart thudded in his chest with horror. He had thought that person would help. Or something. What the hell. What the hell was going on? Nothing had changed after all? The addition of another person had been almost a joke.
"That was a let-down," the old geezer whined.
Atsushi had to agree. That person…what the heck was their aim getting involved but doing nothing? She had said it wasn't her fight but what did that even mean? She was just picking and choosing where to get involved? Atsushi felt frustrated.
If it was Dazai-San, at least he could rely on him to help no matter the reason.
Atsushi realized with terror in his chest, tightening, that there was nothing he could do about this situation. He wasn't strong enough. He wasn't talented enough. He wasn't anything. He was just some kid with nothing.
He whirled, to charge for the door. The ribbon that had attached itself to him, just flailing on his shoulder. He was done trying to 'play' this game. This was a dangerous person. He was not prepared or equipped to deal with this.
No matter how bad it got, Dazai-San would have thought of something. But I can't do it! I just can't! I've got no right at all…to be in this harsh place acting like I can make a difference in the outcome!
He was some kid with nothing.
So why the hell was he trying so hard to be something?
"You're abandoning them? Seriously? Wow, what a twist," Montgomery stammered, incredulous herself. Her eyes were wide.
He wasn't Dazai-San. He couldn't do this without Dazai-San. He depended on them. He wasn't confident they could depend on him the way he was now. No, he had to run. He had to run away. Get help. Come back for Tanizaki and the others.
He just had—
"Oh no you don't, boy! Your enemy is over there!" The old geezer said, yanking comically on the ribbon that had latched to Atsushi like a donned bandage wrap.
Atsushi comically had his eyes widened, expression completely bewildered as time seemed to stop for a moment.
