I slept with my parents last night. I'm a little ashamed of it, but something happened to me before that. I'm not going to say what, because you'll probably not believe it anyways. But I'm also pretty ashamed I'm such a scaredy-cat. I mean, I'm fifteen now. I'm not a kid anymore, so I should have been able to recover from what happened to me last night, but I'm still pretty shook up about it.
My parents are both gone, but both sides of the bed are still warm. They've gone to the hospital. They have to be there by six in the morning so by this time they're already in the office.
The floor outside the bedroom creaks and for a second I tense up and my heart starts racing. I almost start to think that person from last night is back. I still- There's no way. That had to have been just a nightmare I had. Whoever it was grabbed me out of bed and tried to choke me, then jumped out the window…I didn't get a good look at them, but they were really small…it felt like they were a kid, but when I was grabbed I could barely move…surely I dreamed that, right?
Told you that you wouldn't believe it.
Instead of that shadow from last night, who peeks around the corner is a white cat, who looks at me with his yellow eyes and sits down.
"What, Shi-chan?" I ask him. He gives me that chirping meow back and then starts to wash his paws. I don't get cats.
I ease myself out of bed and start to head toward the shower. I'm pretty absentmindedly scrubbing myself, thinking about other things. Pretty much trying to keep my mind off last night, and my guitar practice, and how the first day of school is going to go. I wonder how many kids from Kanda Junior High will be there. I didn't ask any of them where they were going to go…honestly most of them couldn't afford it anyways. I could have gone to Hibiya but its music program is nonexistent. My parents weren't too happy when I told them I'd rather go to Otonokizaka over the top high school in the nation. I was able to convince them, though. I like making music for fun and I wanted to see what it's like in a big program, although Otono's still a prestigious enough school for them to let me go there, and it feeds several great premed schools like my parents want me to do. I'm not too sure about being a doctor when I grow up. I mean, my parents are ones and I really don't know about anything else, but I'm still not sure if it's really what I should be doing. It feels like something is missing.
I'm really pale, I notice as I'm scrubbing myself with the soap. You can see my veins through my arm. It's kind of disgusting…I need a tan but I can never get one. I hope we go to the beach this summer so I can get rid of this pasty complexion. I mean, I know not being brown and crispy is supposed to be cute, but being too pale is ugly to me…Ugh, I've got so much to deal with, school is starting today…I've packed everything, haven't I? I did it last night, I hope I got everything. That and the person from last ni- G-A minor-G-D…no, that isn't right, it's G-A minor-G-C-D, that's it, yeah. Wonder if they have a guitar at school, or at least some sort of musical instrument? They'll probably have a piano, but I've been playing it for so long that it's gotten boring. I've been doing nothing but making music on my DJ kit my parents bought me for Christmas, and practicing guitar. I don't like to brag, but one of the good things about being the only child of a rich family is you always get what you want. I was sort of embarrassed they even bought me so much. All I wanted was just a plain old, entry level software set and guitar and they bought me a Les Paul and a full electronic music mixer package, and two Vocaloids too. I didn't even know how to use them when I started, but I learned enough that I've made some songs and posted them to NND although they've barely gotten any views. Well, I only made them for fun anyways.
I turn off the shower and towel off. Nobody's in the house except for me and Shiro (that's my cat, but I bet you'd guessed that), so I don't bother covering myself up. I don't mind being naked…it feels pretty nice, actually.
Oh wait. My school uniform's in my closet. I have to go back to my room. I hesitantly creep over and open the door, half expecting it to look exactly the same as it was last night. But when I open it, there's a hole in the window and the picture of lavender flowers that hung on my wall has fallen off, my bed is crooked, there's glass all over the floor…so it looks like I wasn't dreaming after all. My blood goes cold. What if that…who…comes back? Gingerly, I tiptoe around the glass to my dresser and slip on my underwear before buttoning up the shirt, pulling up the blue tartan skirt…it's paper thin…and tying the bow on it, then I slip the navy blazer on, then run downstairs, trying to put that out of my mind.
I still have time for breakfast before I go. My parents wanted me to take the chauffeured car to school every day, but I told them I wanted to ride the subway like a normal student. They finally agreed to let me, and they're not home today so I'm walking to the stop by myself. I've actually never done it before, so I'm a little nervous. I put my subway card in my backpack last night. You're supposed to swipe it at the turnstile, right? It feels a little bit like what Gulliver felt like when he was in Lilliput. Well, I think I can manage.
Breakfast's in the fridge. I want to scarf it down, but restrain myself and make sure to eat it at a normal pace. The fish and rice are cold but I don't know how to warm them back up so I just deal with it. In a few minutes, I'm out the door, making sure to lock it behind me. For April, the weather is actually decent, not freezing like it was last year.
On the subway, which is packed with high schoolers from every other school but Otonokizaka, I absentmindedly browse the web on my phone. I don't exactly care about having the newest iphone or whatever, but it is good for me to read books on in my spare time. Some days, though, like today, you just need a break from Shakespeare and Soseki.
I'm randomly tabbing through news articles about last night's baseball games and a bill that got passed in the American senate and a place in Chiba that grows square shaped cantaloupes to sell them at obscene prices at fancy department stores when I overhear a couple girls a few seats down talking. It goes something like this:
Girl 1 (airhead with too much makeup on, most likely pads her chest): "OMG, did you hear someone saw the headless horseman last night?"
Girl 2 (her fake tan makes her look like a Cheeto): "For real? That's such a fake story."
Girl 1: "No, I'm serious! My boyfriend saw it last night and he took a video and everything! It's riding a motorcycle and it's got no head!"
Girl 2 (she actually is smarter than she looks): "That's just a rumor, I can't believe you think it's true."
Girl 1: "It is, though! I'm telling you, he saw it!"
Girl 2: "Really? All these people who say they've seen it and all they've got to show is a terrible cell phone video? Don't be so gullible."
And so on, and so on, ad nauseam. I admit, I don't keep up with the latest internet trends very much, but a headless horseman? Uh, I think that's the Celtic Dullahan. Or is it the one from the story of Ichabod Crane? Wait, those are the same thing, right? I think so.
Still, that seems way too ridiculous of a story to be true, so I search it up. Sure enough, all these hits pop up about the "headless horseman of Ikebukuro". Apparently it wears all black, rides a racing motorcycle, and it looks like a normal motorist until it passes you, and it always does that when you're alone on the sidewalk. Then when it turns its helmet towards you and turns up the visor you notice that there is no head where the head should be, only black smoke. That's usually when the tellers of these tales ran away screaming. Predictably, the only stories about it are posts on messageboards by a guy who swears it stopped and looked at his uncle's cousin-in-law's gardener, and a bunch of tabloids trying to report it with all caps titles. That and "photos" that are so grainy they look like they were taken with a 1945 Polaroid, shredded, and glued back together. It's just a stupid rumor. A little bit of me thinks it's cool, but my rational self tells me I have better things to worry about.
The school is packed when I get there. I have to push and shove my way through the crowd to get to the class assignments. It's way too early for this…1-1. I still don't see anyone I recognize from my middle school here, so that's nice, I guess.
That is, until I notice the crowd isn't actually gathered around the assignments. They're all trying to get a look at the large poster hung next to it.
Due to unsustainable attendance turnover, Otonokizaka Girls' Private Academy will be closing its doors after the end of this year. Well, isn't that great. I'm already going to have to transfer after barely a year. I huff under my breath and head down to the auditorium, my optimistic mood pretty much already soured.
It goes by quickly, what with the headmaster and the pretty half girl who I guess must be student council president telling us that even though it's the last year of the school, to make it count. I don't really get it. How can I make it count if I'm already out the door by the time I learn how to get around? Whatever. Just another hassle for me.
I'm in class 1-1. Just a little bit farther down that hallway and I get to meet the people I'll be dealing with for the next three years. Honestly, I'm not looking forward to it too much. I never met anyone in elementary or middle school I liked. People are a pain. If I could just do everything without having to deal with them, it would be great, but every year I'm forced to interact with vapid airheads galore, and gotten the message that "hey kids, being antisocial is BAD!" shoved down my throat. It's just stupid. Just because I have high standards of respect does not mean it's wrong for me to avoid others. No, they're not too high, for the last time! I can't believe how many times I've heard that. "Well, Maki, you're a great student, but not everything is as easy as that for you…you could have friends if you just put forth some effort." The teachers and my parents say stuff like that as if I'm Messalina reclining on a couch eating peeled grapes waiting for friends to just grace me with their presence. I do try, no matter what anyone else says. And I find out that people just aren't worth my time.
I pull on the door to the room and open it, where people are milling around and talking. Everyone's so energetic and hyper. I don't understand. It's just a new school…you've already had two of those in your life already. Why ordinary girls make big deals out of every single thing I'll never understand.
I quickly make my way to the window seat and put my bag down there, then sit and look out the window. I'd much rather be doing this than talking, but really I'd rather be at home playing around with my Vocaloids or practicing instruments. But honestly, the view into the city is really nice so this is fine. I'm doing my best to look as disinterested as possible so no one talks to me. I mean, if someone does, I will reply to them, but I won't be very happy about it. Meaningless chat is a waste of my time and energy.
You can definitely see the Kanda-myojin from here, and Akihabara immediately behind it. All those flashing lights and tall buildings are impossible to miss. I've heard all about it and passed through there before, but I don't really like it. Too noisy and weird for my tastes. Plus it's a tourist trap to the extreme and half the businesses sell stuff at ripoff prices. I wish I could see the Imperial Gardens from here though, but that's in the other direction and you can only see it out the windows of the class across the-
"No way! Maki-nyan! Kayochin! Kayochin! Look who it is!"
This is why I avoid people.
Right in front of me is a short-haired ginger who's flat as a board, and about as smart as one too. She's one of the people I was trying to avoid by going here. How did she get in? Are her parents rich too or something and I didn't know? There's no way. If I couldn't hide it in school, even though I tried my best, no way she could.
Being in the same class as Rin Hoshizora for eight straight years is worthy of at least the sixth circle of hell.
Uh, what's she like? She's hyper, and dumb. Like, really stupid. I'm not even joking. There are probably amoebas with higher IQs. As you can tell, I have a very low tolerance for people who don't understand what I'm saying the first time.
I try my best to stare at her and project my best "go away" aura, but she's immune to that debuff. The worst part about her is that you can't get rid of her. Even when you go to a school with a tuition and test-in requirements that there's no way she should be able to meet, she does.
"Oh, hi Maki," another, softer voice says. By the idiot is a small, mousy, shy girl. That's Hanayo Koizumi. She's Rin's best friend, and also went to school with me since elementary. I have no idea how she puts up with her, unless she's lacking about thirty-three vertebrae. Unlike the human lobotomy next to her, I don't much mind her, but just like I think of everyone else, I'm kind of indifferent. "I had no idea you had chosen here, too."
"It's the one my parents wanted me to go to," I reply. Quick, easy, conversation ender. Gets them out of my hair.
"Well, I failed the UTX lottery, so I applied here and got in," she says bashfully.
"Cool," I say as dismissfully as possible.
"Wherever Kayochin goes, I go!" Rin exclaims, making some kind of twitch or is that a pose or is that I don't know, I don't even want to explain it. Oh, another thing. She ends every sentence in –nyan like she's a cat or something. If I was a cat I wouldn't want someone like her making humans think our entire species was stupid. That and it's just plain annoying.
Ugh. What are some good ways I can use to end this? Whip out a book? We don't have anything assigned yet. Homework? We don't have any of that either, and even if we did she would probably ask me if she could copy it. Crap. I still need to think.
"I can't believe we're all together again!" Rin proclaims. "That's awesome!"
Eight years and she still has no idea I don't like her very much. Eight. Years.
Thankfully the bell goes off and they set off toward their chairs. Ahhh. Sweet relief. Fortunately it's just a half day today so I don't have to deal with the inevitable problem of them trying to force me to eat lunch with them just yet.
Introductions up next. I hope I don't have to go first. That shouldn't happen, but I wouldn't be surprised.
"Kitazuka?" Someone goes I don't remember. "Chitose?" Someone else I don't care about. "Nishikino?" Oh, that's me.
Trying not to look too excited or too exasperated, I walk to the front of the class and write my name on the board. As I turn around, I notice most of the class is gawking. Please, don't let this room be filled with mouth breathers. One is plenty for me.
The duchess of Dumbidia smiles and chirps about how she was on the track team in middle school and wants to join it this year. Hanayo is so nervous she spaces out when the teacher calls her the first time and nearly trips over her own feet getting up to the front, then says her name quietly and sits back down just as quickly as she got up there.
The day passes quickly, as I zone out the teachers' lectures about class expectations and responsibility, and I get out before I can get caught by the idiot brigade. I'm on the train home by noon.
I turn the door handle and it immediately clicks open. I pause. I remember locking it when I left…I pushed it twice to make sure. Did someone get in? I don't remember my dad telling me anything about sending the repairmen over to fix my window today. I hesitantly push the door open and freeze up. There's the faint sound of talking floating through the house. I know I should probably stay well away and call the police. My parents aren't supposed to be home in the middle of the day. As I tiptoe up the stairs, the talking grows louder. It's coming from the study. I creep toward the door, putting my ear to it…that's my dad's voice, and that of an old man that I think I recognize, but I'm not sure.
"Sir, I mean no disrespect," my dad's voice is unusually shaky, "but my family was threatened. I think it's best that we move operations elsewhere."
"Then let this be a lesson to you," the old man replies. "Increase your security. Mr. Jinnai won't be pleased if you pull out, you know. You had an agreement."
Who are they talking about?
"Is it worth it, though?" my dad replies. "I agreed to help Mr. Jinnai and you with your research, not to get involved with the yakuza."
Yakuza?! Could he mean…no. There's no way.
"The Awakusu are hardly a threat," the other man grumbles, phlegmy. "That strange person that's been disrupting our clients is the bigger problem. Just last week six of our men got put out of commission, a vehicle damaged, and we lost all cargo. We're hemorrhaging money, Soichiro. It isn't long before Nebula takes us over, and then I'm laid off, Namie is laid off, and your hospital doesn't get a medicinal partnership anymore. Medicinal fees double for you at the least. Your patient fees get raised, business dries up, you lose your livelihood just like us. It isn't just about us…it's about you, too."
Namie? I have a cousin by that name, but I have no idea what she has to do with all this. She's a research pharmacologist and incredibly smart, but I haven't seen her in years. This all makes no sense. They're talking about the hospital, but they're speaking like gangsters and they talked about the Yakuza…
A young, female voice speaks up. "Uncle, everything is under control on my end." I recognize it as my cousin.
"You say that, and you're the one who let your shipments get destroyed," the old man says. "I gift wrapped it for you, too. Illegals in Kabukicho…no one will notice if they go missing. But somehow you managed to lose eight of them."
"Blame the hires," Namie replies. "I knew they were just brainless thugs. We should have hired professionals. But no, you wanted to save costs."
"Namie, you work for me! Don't act like it's my fault you failed!"
"Please, Seitaro," my dad speaks up shakily, "keep it together. We are all on the same side. We're working toward a great discovery for humanity."
"Yes, yes," the old man, who now I know is named Seitaro, grunts. "Unfortunately some people don't think that way. Someone's getting involved in our industry, that has nothing to do with them."
"You're telling me of all those people that work for us, none of them have been able to catch or even identify who's doing this?"
"No," Namie says. "It's unbelievable. Every single one of them we find completely ranting, scared half to death, saying it was only one and it was the headless horseman. Idiots, the lot of them. It's another one of those rumors that come out of tabloids and people still swear it's real."
"It can't have been one person," my dad says. "Do you think it could be the Dollars?"
"Of course not," Namie scoffs. "It's another urban legend. If they're so powerful and scary, how come I've never met a single one of them? They don't exist."
"So this person is out for himself, then?"
"Yes. I say enough is enough and we get rid of the petty thugs-"
Suddenly, the door flies open. I definitely have no time to react. I fall into the study onto the carpet, looking up at my father, his gray hair plastered over his forehead with sweat, looking harried, my cousin Namie, a very cold but distinguished looking, raven haired twenty-six year old, and a very fat man in a three piece suit with a monocle. His appearance would be comical in any other situation, but now's not really the time to laugh.
"And who is this, Soichiro?" the fat man barks.
I try to look as confused and innocent as possible.
"That's just my daughter," my father says nervously.
"Yes, and, you're the only one who's saying that, aren't you?"
"Uncle!" Namie speaks up. "Don't be so paranoid. I recognize her."
"So she is, then," the fat man grumbles. "What the hell is she doing here? You said there would be no disturbances."
"Seitaro, please! She's just a child!"
No, I'm not. Well, now's not the time to be belligerent. I'll just keep my mouth shut as I pick myself off and dust off, trying my hardest to appear nonchalant.
"It was her first day of high school today," my father says, shakily.
"And, she came home to eavesdrop for you?"
"Seitaro, you know…I would never do something like that…"
Something is setting my danger sensors off. I get the distinct impression something very bad might be happening to me or my family if I don't speak up.
"I-I'm sorry, sir, I had no idea you were here…it's just…I thought it was interesting and I couldn't help myself…" I can barely get the words out.
I hope that kowtowing as low as possible will reassure that angry man, although I'm not so sure.
"Maki," my father says, "I'm working. This is important. I know you find it interesting, but please let me talk to the adults for a little while."
"I'm sorry, Papa."
He's treating me like a kid again. I'm too old for this, but no matter what I do, he'll never see me as anything else but a little girl.
"I know you know who Namie is," he continues. "but I'm not sure if you've met her uncle Seitaro. This is my only daughter, Maki."
"Pleased to meet you," I say as I make my most refined curtsy toward the fat man.
"I see," he muses. "She's quite beautiful for her age. Not too much longer before she's ready to get married."
"With all due respect to you and Mr. Jinnai, that won't be for a while."
"Fair enough."
Namie does nothing but nod at me. She's a lot like me, doesn't like speaking except if there is absolutely something that has to be said.
"I'll be finished in no more than two hours," my father tells me. "Mom will be home around normal time. Namie said she'd like to stay for dinner. You can do whatever you want, just don't be too loud."
"Thank you, Papa," I reply. "I apologize for disturbing you."
"No big deal," he says back, and he closes the door behind me as I leave.
I still can't shake the strange, icy feeling crawling all over me.
Several hours later
If you thought all rich people had personal chefs, you'd be very, very wrong. The dinner we hosted for my cousin consisted of nothing but takeout gyudon my mom picked up on the way home, put in our dishes to try to hide the fact that we didn't make a single bit of it. It's often like this since my parents work late. Three-quarters of my meals are from Asahina…not that I mind, it's a good place, and cheap too. And my mom's a good cook, but she just has no time to make anything. Doctors are pretty much at work from the time they wake up to the time they go to sleep.
Fortunately, Namie doesn't seem to mind. Or maybe she does. We wouldn't know either way…she's not the type to whine…about anything. She is honestly just like me.
It's kind of awkward though, since none of us are really big conversationalists, so it's just me, my mom, my dad, and my cousin sitting at the dining room table eating our rice bowls in complete silence. It's awkward for sure, but at least that Seitaro guy didn't decide to stay over too…I wouldn't be comfortable with that. At all.
"How was work?" my dad asks, drinking his tea.
My mom sighs. "We had someone come in who had shot fireworks into his hand. Honestly, I have no idea what they were doing, but his hand looked like it had been spit roasted. That and one of the nurses-first day, poor girl-got so nervous she lost a catheter inside a patient in the ICU. If Mr. Tanaka wasn't in a coma he probably would have punched her out. Fat guy had a seizure in the waiting room, too…long day."
I just keep eating. I have nothing interesting to say, anyways…why bother wasting time?
"How about you, Namie-chan? You and Seiji are doing well, I hope," my mom says, addressing my cousin.
She runs her hand through her hair. "We're fine. Seiji's doing good in school as usual."
"Still too busy with his studies to get a girlfriend, huh?" my mom snickers.
"Actually," my cousin says, and it seems to me through clenched teeth, "he has one."
My mom laughs. "I guess I have to lay off him the next time I see him. You ought to take some lessons from him. You're 26 and still single, but you're so smart and pretty and talented…geez, if I was half as smart as you at your age, I'd have had three kids by then…"
Namie blushes and looks away, twirling her hair on her finger. "Stop it, Aunt Yoshi…"
Forgot to mention. Seiji is Namie's little brother. We used to play together as kids all the time. He's nice, but kind of bland. Pretty much like what would be if rice was a person. Sure, it's not bad, but it's boring. That doesn't mean I don't still like him, though. He is my family after all.
Recently I haven't seen much of him, though. I heard he's going to Raira Academy in Ikebukuro. That's the strange one with the school year that starts in February and ends in November. They've already been in session for a couple months already. I've heard all kinds of stuff about that school. Apparently no one wears their uniforms and delinquents with bleached hair get into fights in the hallways and kids smoke dope in the bathrooms. I don't think I'd function very well there.
Most of dinner goes on without much else in the way of conversation. I'm more focused on thinking up lyrics for the next song I release on the internet. I would really like to do a piano ballad, but Vocaloids aren't really good for that and I don't have enough confidence to post my own voice on the web. I'm a composer, not a singer. Still, I'll try to make it work. This song would probably not do well with Miku's voice so I think I'm going to try it with Luka first.
The melody has already been floating around my head for a while, but lyrics are my weak point. I'm still trying to think of one that won't be too corny or cringy. I want it to be a love song, but I'm not sure what else to put in.
Aishiteru…aishiteru…do people even say that anymore? Whatever, daisuki doesn't fit the rhythm…aishiteru…yo ne? No. Aishiteru…kimi e? Nope, not that either. Aishiteru…banzai? Huh, that actually sounds decent, nothing like I was expecting when I first thought of it. I can still come up with something better, though.
Dinner's finished before I know it, and Namie is getting her purse and getting ready to leave. I just say goodbye to her halfheartedly, when she says to me, I need to come over here away from my parents and listen to something. Well, that was sudden. I hope it's not about me overhearing that conversation earlier today.
"Maki," she says softly, bending down so she's not overheard, "I don't want to upset you, but last night, Uncle Sou said, you were about to be kidnapped."
This is your big secret? Thanks. I never could have figured that one out because of you.
"It's my fault," she continues. "I got Uncle Sou and Aunt Yoshi wrapped up in all this and now you're paying for something you didn't have a choice about. I can't tell you what I've done…I don't want you to hate me. Just know I'm looking out for you, or I wouldn't have told you. Uncle Seitaro ordered your parents and me not to say anything about it to you. But I don't think it's smart."
"What do you mean?" I ask. This is pretty unnerving, to be honest. That old man is involved in a conspiracy or something, and I'm part of it? Sounds farfetched.
"We have an issue with the Awakusu yakuza. Last night, they sent someone to kidnap you and hold you until we paid the ransom. I just want to warn you to be careful all the time. I'm trying so hard to keep you safe, but Seitaro…Mr. Jinnai…they don't care about you at all. I'm the only one that can help you out. So just be alert at all times. And if you can, try to find some friends. I know it's tough, but you can do it."
The irony of that statement coming from someone who prefers to lock herself in a lab all day instead of talk to people is not lost on me.
"I'm just scared something is going to happen to you, or Seiji. I promise, as long as you two are in my sight I won't let anything happen. But I can't be there all the time."
She draws me tightly toward her and hugs me. She's creeping me out. This is not like her at all. Did someone switch her empathy module on or something?
"Don't worry, I'll be looking out."
Then, with a wave and a hug to each of my parents, she's out the door, and even though she said she was the only one who had told me anything, I realize that I still know nothing at all.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Just like the original series, I'm planning to do this through the perspectives of a lot of different characters, so look out for a rotating narration! Honestly, my biggest concern is how to fit most of the LL characters into the narrative. Nico is easy enough to figure out because she's the main character, and Maki is a big part of the story, but the others…I wonder if you're going to like what roles I have for them :3
Maki as a character is not as proactive as Nico, and no matter how much she tries to act like it, she's not an adult yet and her immaturity gets her in over her head, not to mention she's quite rude and prickly. Still, just like the others, she has her good points, and I don't plan for her to be Nico's damsel either. Each character having a role that you don't expect is one of the best things about Narita's writing, I think. The problem with a huge cast is it's just so hard to give each of them a spotlight without overlooking or gypping certain ones out of deserved screentime, and not playing favorites…I'll do my best!
How are the Nishikinos related to the Yagiris? I'm going to say Maki's father's sister married Namie and Seiji's mother. Seitaro never really liked his brother in law just like he doesn't approve of Namie and Seiji, so honestly, Yodogiri Jinnai's decision to involve the Baptist Hospital and the Nishikino family probably has some ulterior motives. I wouldn't put it past Seitaro Yagiri to try to deliberately sabotage the plans and ruin the Nishikinos because he doesn't like them. He isn't the brightest, though, so maybe it will backfire. Who knows. Also, intelligence and introversion seems to run in the family.
Part of the reason why I'm involving the Yagiris so much in the early parts of this story was that I found them weak for early antagonists. More layers make the story a lot more nuanced and interesting. And I also wanted to introduce doubt about the Dollars' heroism early on, which Narita did but I don't think the anime did very well, making them out as straight heroes almost until the second season, which was never the original writer's intention. How will they get involved in this timeline? Who knows!
Come back for more…fanfiction writers are always on that grind! (ik bad meme kill me fam)
-mrcmc888