Chapter 3 – Play
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I've still got some time to spend around. Otherwise, it wouldn't be called a break if I didn't do so, right? So, I kept roaming around Ikebukuro in my casual clothes. This is good. There are no people staring at me in this. There's also no people that would talk behind me and kept themselves away from me, with me without the bartender outfit. Coz' I know for them, it was a trademark of violence that coming by.
I sat on the nearby bench, and let the sun shine on me.
Trademark of violence? I won't deny that, coz' even I know how much of an aggressive man I am. It's good for all the people to stay away from me, coz' I can't control myself when I've gone berserk. It's not that I don't want to control it, I just fail to do so. I don't know why. It started since when from I'm still in 3rd grader. I have a very strong emotion of anger. When it came rush into my head, I can't oppress it anymore. All that remain then was the remnant of my damage. After that, it was too late for me to realize, I've done something irrevocable, and gains people's fear towards me. They're scared of me? No, I am the one that scared of myself.
Scared of breaking the one I love.
Scared of being alone.
Scared of being hated.
Scared of being used...
"It was unusual of you to wear something other than your so called bartender outfit."
A shadow befalls on me. I look above. There, I can see him, together with his other comrades. It's a face that I haven't seen for so long. He then offered me a tin of can juice.
"Here, have some Shizuo, I bet you'd be thirsty basking in the sun like this."
"Kadota... and others."
"Ah mou Shizuo san, you forgot our name? It's Karisawa and Yumacchi, remember that right!" said them in a weird manner and voice.
"That clothes, tried to be out of cliché hmm? Just like a hero of a manga would be, that's also moe."
" You forgot about me huh Karisawa? I'm not a side character you know..."
"Of course Togusacchi, you're the driver after all, haha!"
"So that's how you guys thought of me all this time..."
"You guys, stop it. So Shizuo, what are you doing around? Not to mention in a rather different appearances."
"I'm having a day off. Not every day I've got chances to go around like this you know."
"Yeah, good for you. But dude, hey long time no see. Are you well?"
He smiled as a greeting. Kadota. A friend of mine when I'm still in high school. This guy had a good personality. He never ever has made me angry, coz' he is a matured guy. Never once his judgement or action had bad aftertaste for me. That's how I could get along with him until now. He and his friend, even though I admit his friends are quite... unique. Those two. If I'm not mistaken, Karisawa Erika and Yumasaki Walker. Their way of talking and behaving are weird for me, since I can't even comprehend and understand what they're talking about, I didn't lose my temper towards them. There's another one, but he didn't quite appeal so never mind.
I ended up walking together with them. Kadota insist to follow him since it's been a long time that we hang out together, and he's right about that. Just when I thought where we're going, those two suggest heading to the bookstore first. Books? Nah, not really my thing, only if it were...
When we reach there, I go to the magazine department and have a browse at the artist page. Yes, I see Kasuka in it. He looks as glamour as he is. Day by day he become more dazzling, I'm proud of him as a brother should be. Yet, when will be back?
"When will he be back?"
I startled at the question. Kadota already at my side, also have a peek at what inside.
"Emm, when he's finish shooting, I guess."
"Go support for him sometimes ok?"
"Yea. But I think he's busy so maybe..."
"You scared that you would make he loses his face if you were there right?"
No. Now I'm scared how accurate you could go through what I'm thinking.
"Heh, so you know."
"Of course. Just how long I know you huh?"
"Having a disgraceful brother like me won't help him in his profession."
"I think only you thought of yourself like that. Coz' I didn't."
This is what I like it about him. When he talks, it contains concern and clever words with them. If I would have an elder brother, I want someone like him to be them. Just when I think about what to answer him back, that girl, Erika, interrupt us.
"Ho? What did I see here? Are you guys being rabu rabu there? Hehe."
"Aww, shuddup Erika. You and your silly fantasy."
"Hey Kadota, I'm taking this magazine."
"Alright, we're also done here, let's go somewhere else then."
"What did you guys buy?"
"Togusacchi got himself a Hijiribe Ruuri magazine features."
Hijiribe Ruuri. Oh yeah, that new, rising female artist. How do I know her? Easy. Coz' there's many rumour of her and Kasuka that I heard of. About them going out and that they're lovey dovey couple. I read a lot of article about Kasuka so I knew. Yet, I don't like how media makes this news. It's good that there's no bad rumour about him yet, coz' if there's one I'd smash the face of the people that wrote it. Then, is it also because of her that Kasuka didn't come home nowadays?
"And we both got ourselves some of G Fantasy:) new releases! Guraito!"
"You mean 'great'."
"Do you guys have anywhere else to go?"
"Right. Any idea Yumacchi?"
"Hmmm. Let's go play then!"
• • •
"What is this place?"
It's huge, and had many weird machines around. And I can see a lot of kids playing with it. Pushing the button here and there. But it's a lil' noisy, so I don't quite like it. But those two kept playing with it makes me wonder what's so fun about it.
"This is arcade. Place where this kind of game being held. You have to exchange for tokens to play with them though."
Kadota explain, seeing me wondering all around. He then goes to the counter and exchange some coins for tokens. He put it in a hole specified for it and starts. I watch him from behind.
"I used to play this a lot when I'm younger. This is my favourite, a punching game. Here it goes!"
He punches on a spot with all his might, and then a light flashing his score. 200. I wonder how much it's ranked in the record.
"Heh. Still didn't change huh? Bet I've getting older, hehe. Hey, do you still remember Shizuo? We used to go all out like this when we're still hot blooded young'un."
"The fact that you're reminiscing about old days proves that you're an old man now."
"Maybe, I miss a bit of that time. When we've getting older we forgot all kind of fun stuff that we did before. Or maybe I'm complaining now becoz' the older we've become, the more hardship we endure, dun' you think so?"
"...Maybe, you're right. Yea, I do remember how you make those guys teeth shattering."
"You're talking about me? You are much better, make a human chain by hanging them on the building, that's a sight you know."
"You're making me remembering a shameful thing."
"Oh yeah? I still think it's a good lesson for them after all."
I smile at his words. It was at the time, the other guy spoke.
"The highest is 300 right? Hey Kadota, let me try next."
"Go for it Togusa."
Right, Togusa. I forgot his name again. Oh well. He put the gloves on and does his punches. Seems like he didn't want to lose to Kadota. But then, he only scored 150 there.
"Damn it."
"Go practice your body a lil' bit Togusa."
"Heh, I'll outnumber you one day."
"Hey, me next!"
"What? You've done with your game there Yumasaki?"
"Karisawa beats me again, I dun' feels quite good. Now I'm gonna take it on this. Oryaa!"
Yumasaki use his body as a momentum and attack by using his elbow. Woh. So you can also play it like that huh? He scored a perfect 205.
"Oi, that's cheating!"
"Bwahaha! Now I'm refreshed!"
I sigh at those three. Then I saw Karisawa, she just stood there watching. She looks like she wants to join, but can't. Well, I know why though. So I go towards her and ask.
"Want me to play it in your stead?"
She looks at me. Seems like she's delighted, and nodded at my idea.
"Ok, here, takes my token Shizuo! Go for it!"
Those three guys are busy arguing about their score, so I take my chances to have a go at it. Just when I'm about to swing my punches for it, a character that I suppose to hit appears. That character, he looks just like Izaya...
Izaya...
.
..
...
"Ganbatte Shizuo!"
Karisawa cheered for me. It was then that Kadota realizes what happen.
"Eh? Ganbatte Shizuo? ... Hey, don't tell me that..."
It's too late. I took my rage on it. And of course, I shattered the machine to pieces. It makes a loud noise and people around wondering what's happening. No score, no rank showed, of course, since it's only a piece of scrap metal now. They remain silent looking at the junk.
"Uh, oh, this is bad..."
"Guys, let's scram now."
While I'm making, "Eh, why?" face, Kadota grabs my arm and scram from there.
• • •
We're now inside Togusa's van, you could say that Togusa are taking us for a tour around the town, before dropping me by my house. It's already 7.00 pm, and the city is totally a sight at night, so I think that's a good idea. But I'm quite sure it was to question me what happens there. I sit at the back with Karisawa and Yumasaki next to me.
"Ne, did you see that Yumacchi? I score even higher than you even in the punching games, no, I'm strong enough that the machine goes down right? I win again, haha!"
"Nuooo! I lost to Karisawa againnn!"
"Er, I dun' think that was the case you guys..."
"So, pray tell Shizuo, what makes you do the punching even though you know what you'd do to it?"
"Sorry, I lost my sane there... It just, looks so much fun that I have the urge to join in too..."
That was a lie.
I lose my temper coz', Izaya suddenly popped up in my mind, and that really gets on my fucking nerves. Why? I thought that it's good enough that he's not here, and I do a lot of things like today just to forget about it...
Wait, did I just say I have fun today just to forget about him?
... That's crazy, and I dun wanna think about it anymore, so I change the topic before I get more screw up. What should I say... Yea, that's right...
"Yes, you guys have been around here for quite a while right? Do you know of anything new?"
"Hmm, there is, and a heated one right now."
"Everyone has been talking about it on the forum."
"That the underground have been busy with something lately."
"Ikebukuro is such a city of rumour ne? Even something like this spread fast."
"I know that. Do you know anything more about it?"
"Wait. How did you get this on your ears Shizuo? I thought this kind of stuff won't interest you."
No choice. I tell them what's happening, all of it. About what happen with the one at the building, and what those kids tell me before earlier.
"That's weird."
"Yea, why would the yakuzas want to borrow money? They're yakuzas after all, so money is not a problem right?"
"What's disturbing is, there's people died becoz' of this matter. Trying to cover their secret?"
"Then it's not a situation for us to take lightly anymore. We should do something about it."
"Like how?"
"I know! How about if we discuss about what we should do with this incident with the leader?"
"Hey, that's a nice idea! Maybe we can find out about other thing of it as well!"
"Shizuo, you've been silence for quite a while now... You're also a Dollars member too, right?"
I can feel those four staring at me, through the front mirror. They have the serious looks on them.
"Yea, I am, but I'm not an active member so I..."
"Come and join the forum sometimes, we can talk about many things there."
"I'm not into online chatting."
"But you want to know about it too right? You've been involves with it too much to ignore it right now you know."
"We'll be there tonight, so come. I have something to tell you too Shizuo, privately."
"Iyahnn, Kadota tried to confess to Shizuo through online, so romantic!"
"It's not!"
Maybe it's like what they said, it's time for me to join the forum, the legendary Dollars, of course.
"I understand."
As soon after that, Togusa drop me by my house. I bow to them, and say thanks for today. It's actually such a fun to hang out with them, interesting bunch.
"Me too Shizuo kun, arigatou gozaimasu for earlier! Let's play again sometimes ne!" said her.
"Until later then!"
6
