"Man, that really hurt!"
Izaya was bandaging Shizuo's bruised shoulder. His gestures were soft.
"Do stay still, Shizuo-sama."
Shizuo winced at the pain.
"Hey, your finger…is it okay?"
"It is fine."
Shizuo did not seem to be convinced and took it to himself to study Izaya's hand closely.
"Wow, no cut. I guess it really is a magical sword. Is that why the girl wanted it so much?"
"Who can tell such things, Shizuo-sama."
"And she was gone just like that. Weird."
"All done. Would you like me to run you a bath?"
"Thanks."
"Just make sure not to wet your bandaged shoulder."
Shizuo soaked into the hot water, making sure to follow Izaya's advice. He took the opportunity for unwinding and relaxing. In all the craziness that spun around him Izaya was something of a reference amidst the chaos.
Erika gloated merrily.
"And a new challenger appears! The busty megane type."
"No talk about the duels, I mean it."
"I understand, Shizuo. Reading you loud and clear. More importantly, what will we do for the upcoming school festival?"
Shizuo took an eggroll.
"School festival?"
"Don't tell me you didn't know! It's a tradition. The Spring Rose festival. There's a ball, prizes and each class has to do something for the event. I am rooting for Host Club this year!"
Izaya smiled quietly.
"Erika-san, what exactly is a host club?"
"I thought you guys weren't going to ask. A host club is the coolest thing ever. Cute boys entertain girls in a refined environment. And we may not have Tamaki or Haruhi but we don't even need it to pull it off marvelously!"
Shizuo shifted on his seat.
"I don't like the sound of that."
"What did your school do for festivals, Shizuo-sama?"
"There weren't any…delinquent schools don't have that kind of thing."
"They totally have their charm, though! Like, Beelzebub and Aoi Haru."
"Not in real life they don't."
"Have a shrimp, Shizuo-sama."
"Thanks. So, what will our class be doing?"
"We don't know yet. But I hope it's fab!"
"'Fab'…?"
"She means 'fabulous'."
"With some luck I'll be writing the play! It needs to be approved by the Student Council but of course, there is already one vote cashed in. My own."
Izaya clapped and looked impressed, his eyes widening behind his glasses.
"How intelligent of you, Erika-san."
"Why, thank you."
Shizuo frowned.
"Isn't there something kinda wrong with that?"
"Something as a 'conflict of interest', Shizuo-sama?"
"Dunno…I guess? What is that exactly?"
Erika was happy to explain.
"It is when the deciding faction is also involved in the dispute in question and has something to profit by it. Think of a trial, suppose that the judge is also the accused. Without a doubt the judge would acquit himself. Same thing here."
"Technically speaking it is a breach in the identity of the judge; by his not being a third independent party but biased by default."
Shizuo blinked rapidly.
"I'm totally out of my league here. But I get it that it's dishonest."
Erika rubbed her hands and smiled.
"Maybe but that's the way the world works. The world's not fair."
Shizuo's frowned deepened.
"Yeah but that's kind of an excuse. Saying stuff like 'the world isn't fair' is a way of saying that you're not willing to actually try to make it change…that's how I see it."
"Ah. Well, that can be your revolution, then. Justice."
"That sounds too much. To put it like that. But don't you think justice is a good thing?"
Izaya adjusted his glasses. Sunlight bounced from the lenses with a sharp glow. He wondered how long it would be until things shattered for Shizuo. Izaya thought about it calmly as he refilled Shizuo's glass with tea from a thermos that Izaya himself had prepared. The poison of words was made deadly by innocence.
Shinra had been away from Orihara Academy for reasons that he did not share with any of his colleagues. And he was now back. He paid the dutiful visit to the Student Council and was not surprised to find Aoba without the Rose Bride and apparently just idling about.
"So you're back?"
"I expected a warmer welcome."
Shinra's smile completely denied it.
"Things have changed a bit while you were gone."
"So, who stole Orihara from you? Mikado?"
"No."
"Namie, then."
"Wrong again."
"Erika…?"
"Heiwajima Shizuo."