April 28, 2013
In a private room at Russia Sushi
"...I see... So that's why you think Orihara-san currently has possession of your head. Or has had it for quite some time at some point in the past."
At the words Naoto had spoken, the Headless Rider nodded. Then, she hastily brought up her PDA again, and started typing. [Um... But that's something I need to confirm with Izaya himself. So...until then, could you all please keep it a secret from Shinra for me? I don't want him to get the wrong ideas...]
"Don't worry, Celty-san, your secret's safe with us," Yosuke assured, giving the Dullahan a wink.
[That's good to hear.] Celty replied, visibly relaxing as though she had just heaved a sigh of relief.
"But if you don't mind me saying this, Celty-san..." Souji started saying. "I think Shinra-sensei is aware that you're keeping something from him. And especially since this may concern your relationship with him, I think it might be better if you tell him as soon as you can."
[Yes, I plan to do so after I go hound Izaya for answers.] Celty typed. [I just...need to be sure before I tell Shinra anything.]
"I understand," Souji said reassuringly.
"Still, though... To think that Orihara-san was trying to start a war to wake your head... He must really be scared of dying, huh. To want to be assured of the existence of an afterlife," Rise spoke, a light frown forming on her features. "No wonder his Shadow kept talking about things like Valhalla or Heaven..."
Naoto gave a quiet sigh. "That made me wonder...if that was the true driving force behind Orihara-san's actions. Why he did the things he did..."
"About the whole suicidal group thing while using a fake name, right?" Kanji asked, to which the young detective nodded.
"Indeed. I am now of the belief that Orihara-san wasn't doing it simply for his own entertainment, as much as he wants other people to believe that it is."
"I get it... Being that scared of death, he must've wanted to know why and how those people could bring themselves to take their own lives. Why and how those people could stop fearing death," Yukiko said, casting her gaze downward.
[Huh? So it wasn't just some sick hobby? There was actually a point to the things he did?]
Almost immediately after Celty typed and showed that message, she shook her "head" and hurriedly erased it.
[No no no, whatever the reason it doesn't excuse what he did. It's still an unnecessarily cruel thing to do to other people.]
"Of course," Souji agreed, speaking for the rest of the Investigation Team as well. "But at least we're able to understand him a little better now. Maybe it can help us think of a way we can help him."
[Wait, you... You all still intend to do that? For him? After all that's happened?]
Chie laughed somewhat awkwardly, somewhat nervously. "Ahh haha... Weird, huh? Even though we said we'd accept whatever decision he's made for himself?"
"But it's precisely 'cuz we know so much now, especially after today, that we know we can't just leave things be," Kanji added with a grin.
"That's right," Yosuke pitched in. "Orihara-san doesn't have to live like that. Sure, it's his life, and we respect his decision, but... But there's gotta be some other way. I'm sure of it."
[No, that's not what I mean...] Celty typed out, still a little shocked by the adolescents' earnest hearts and feelings. [I mean, why would you do that for someone like Izaya? I hope you don't mind my bluntness, but I honestly think he's not worth the effort... As much as Shinra and I want to believe otherwise, that guy won't change. Besides, you've all already done more than enough for him.]
"That may appear to be true," Naoto responded, pausing as her lips curled to form a soft yet firm and steady smile. "However, I believe everyone is capable of change. As long as we continue to live, to cross the paths of other people... The opportunities for change have always been imminent. Surely a time will come when we realise, understand, and stop fearing that."
Celty looked at the detective for a moment, before her shoulders shook slightly in a silent chuckle. [Out of curiosity, was that what you said to Izaya yesterday? When the two of you began speaking in a different language.]
"Oh! Well, whaddya know? Celty-san saw right through you!" Yosuke barked a laugh as Naoto brushed her bangs aside again, a light shade of red dusting her cheeks.
Rise let out a knowing giggle. "Naoto-kun's pretty much the most optimistic one out of all of us when it comes to Orihara-san, after all. Even when he tricked her like that in a past case, she still believes that he can be given a second chance."
[...Wait. Wait wait wait. U-uhhh I had a feeling you two had some sort of history together, but... Naoto-chan, you can't possibly...]
"I-it's nothing like that," Naoto was quick to protest, trying to do so while maintaining her usual composure. The way the pitch of her voice rose, however, clearly betrayed her. "It's just... Orihara-san, he... My grandfather..."
[He's even met your family already?!]
"Th-that's not what I meant," Naoto replied, exasperated.
"Y-yeah, what she said!" Kanji hastily agreed. Ignoring the winks and knowing glances he was getting from the rest of his friends – save from Naoto herself – the Yasogami Third Year continued, "That Orihara-san guy was just...someone who dropped by her house real often. Y'know, to fish for the latest intel and...stuff... 'Cuz that's what he does as an info broker, right?"
[...He. Did. WHAT.]
"Uh... Huh?"
"Smooth, Kanji. Real smooth," Yosuke commented, shaking his head. Across him, Yukiko started snorting into her hand. "That totally did not sound wrong on so many levels. Totally."
"Sh-shuddup! I ain't good at explaining myself either, okay?!" Kanji retorted, face turning as beet red as Naoto's was, who was doing all she could to restrain herself from burying her face with her hands.
"I-it's alright, Tatsumi-kun. Thank you very much for lending your assistance," she said. Kanji deflated into his seat without a word or sound of acknowledgement, simply remaining very silent and very red as Naoto attempted to clarify the situation before Celty's misunderstanding ran deeper than it already had.
The young detective took a deep breath, and waited until she was sufficiently calm enough before she started, "A few years ago, I met a man who frequently visited the Shirogane mansion to conduct interviews with my grandfather, for the purposes of his university project...or so he had claimed. That man is Orihara-san, who introduced himself as Sakazaki-san to my grandfather as well as myself." A brief pause. "Sakazaki-san, I mean, Orihara-san was somebody who would gladly share his knowledge and insight with me. It helped me in some of the cases I had worked on back then. He...was a person I had admired."
After those words left her lips, Naoto lowered her head slightly, seemingly embarrassed as she stared at her hands, and then looked up again before anyone could think of saying anything in response to her admittance.
"But approximately three years later, I was assigned to investigate the unusual rise in suicides, the increase being particularly prominent in Ikebukuro. As a result, I came here to look into the situation further. Subsequently, I learned about the circulation of web links directing to online suicide groups that were all mysteriously set up by the same person, called Nakura-san, and so, using an alias, I joined one myself to have a clearer understanding of its possible link to the case. And eventually... I managed to track Nakura-san down."
As she explained what had happened, though it was slight and barely noticeable each time Naoto progressively looked more and more troubled, until it came to a point when Celty could tell how difficult it was for Naoto to talk about such a matter – an incident where her trust in somebody she openly admitted she had once admired was so horribly misplaced and betrayed, when she of all people should've been able to see through his lies – and hurriedly intervened.
[It's fine, Naoto-chan. You don't need to say anymore. Izaya did a terrible thing because he's a terrible person by nature. It's no fault of yours.]
To Celty's surprise, however, she was met with a small smile on the young detective's face, a smile that was mirrored by her closest camaraderie.
"I appreciate your sentiment, Sturluson-san. Truly, I do. However, as uncanny as this might sound... I'm actually...glad. That I went through such an experience," Naoto revealed.
Celty very nearly dropped her PDA. [You do?! But that's... Well...]
"Yes, I do believe I should've been more discerning. It was my lack of judgement that led me to such an encounter. For that to have occurred was evidence of my inexperience." Naoto paused momentarily, before continuing, "And yet... I cannot say that it was entirely bad. On hindsight, I should probably even be grateful to Orihara-san, for what he had said to me on that day when I nearly apprehended him. And for reminding me, on two separate occasions – one directly, another somewhat indirectly – those very same words he had said back then."
[...I can't believe I'm actually asking this, especially when it's better to not trust anything that comes out of that man's mouth, but... what did he say to you?]
A faint shade of red spread across Naoto's features, but it faded as soon as it appeared. "That it's ironic and yet terribly human, how one who is supposed to be pursuing the truth behind unsolved mysteries, is in fact hiding one of the greatest secrets from the world. That he knew that I am...merely a girl. A young girl, at that, pretending to be someone I'm not – someone who appears to be far more capable than I actually am – when in fact all I have been doing is hiding in the shadow of my grandfather and of the Shirogane name, riding on the coattails of my family and of somebody who doesn't really exist in order to cover up for my own incompetence."
The Dullahan's fingers scrambled across the keyboard in a fury. [Why that no good Izaya...! Saying such horrible things...!]
"Wasn't the worst of it though," Kanji mumbled, earning an elbow to the side from Yosuke.
It, however, did not go by Celty unnoticed. [What? What else did that guy say?]
"Nothing, nothing important," Yosuke replied, and everyone else quickly agreed, which Celty would obviously have none of as she pointed at the words on the screen. In the end, the brunet conceded. And with a sigh and Naoto's silent approval, he revealed to Celty the words that had supposedly become a taboo for any of them to mention.
[WHAT?!] The Investigation Team nearly cringed at the outburst that did not need a voice to be heard. Loudly and clearly. It was probably no figment of their imagination that there was some sort of muffled hissing sound coming from the Headless Rider as she very nearly slammed her fingers against the virtual keyboard.
The screen flashed over to Naoto's eyes. [He dared to tell you that there's no point in your life if that's the way you decided to live it?! I can't believe him! I knew there isn't a shred of goodness in him but I didn't think...!]
"W-well," Naoto started replying, after clearing her throat, "I do not deny that what Orihara-san said had sounded cold and cruel, but it was impossible to refute his words. Simply because he had just delivered what had always been the hard truth I myself believed in, at that time. No matter how many times I tried to challenge his claims, he could always turn them around against me."
Celty's shoulders slumped in a noiseless, disappointed sigh. [I'm sorry you had to meet someone like him.]
Naoto let out a quiet chuckle. "A stifling experience indeed. It was around that time that the Inaba serial murder case was brought to my attention. And I accepted it without a moment's hesitation, threw myself into it and started developing an...obsession, if you will, with it. I wouldn't go as far to claim that it was entirely because of what Orihara-san said. But...perhaps it was because of that incident that I started viewing Orihara-san as no different from any other colleague, and thus I...charged into attempting to prove all of them wrong." She lowered her gaze to the floor and swept her bangs away once again. "It is...such a folly of mine, is it not?"
Then the detective looked up again, meeting everybody's eyes as she continued speaking before anyone could think of a proper reply to her, "But because of that – because of my attitude towards my work back then – I was able to face my Shadow and gain such trustworthy companions in the people sitting right in this very room. People who accept me for who I am, regardless of how I've been in the past, how I am today, and how I will be in the future. We are all the same, in this regard. That's why... I believe, someday, Orihara-san will be able to find someone who can do the same for him."
[And...all of you would be that someone? Simply out of the belief that even someone like him can change if he knows there are people who accept him no matter what?]
"Of course it's not as easy as we're making it sound like," Yukiko said, a tender and graceful smile forming upon her lips. "But knowing that there are people who can truly accept us, flaws and all... Just that thought alone is enough to keep us going and believing."
[...I see.] The Dullahan paused to give a silent chuckle. [As I thought, you all are such strong kids. That's what I find so admirable about you.]
"We're not really..." Yosuke trailed off with a sheepish laugh, scratching the back of his head. The others, save for Teddie who looked like was about to hop up and down in his seat, didn't seem as bashful at having been praised so straightforwardly, or rather they hid it well behind their smiles of acknowledgement and gratitude.
[Especially you, Naoto-chan.] Celty later added, to Naoto's mild surprise. [It's not easy forgiving someone who treated you like that. And you even wish him well, at that. That's not something just anybody can do.]
"That's why we're so proud of our Nao-chan!" Teddie exclaimed.
The detective in question, however, begged to differ. "Ah, no... It is not complete forgiveness, to be precise. I would argue that it is more similar to offering a second chance to former convicts or violators of the law. The fact that they once committed crimes would continue to remain in their records. But, at the same time, they are given more opportunities to prove that they are more than simply their own wrongdoings."
[That's quite the analogy.] Celty replied, just as impressed as she had been earlier.
"I know right?" Rise sang chirpily. "The whole deal with Orihara-san must've helped her in understanding things better. No wonder Naoto-kun's Persona changed at that time."
"And the fact that Naoto-kun's Persona can continue to change again...means that ours can, too," Yosuke said with a grin. "Maybe our Personas can keep growing along with us. Just that we haven't to that point just yet when we're ready for...something, I guess."
"Mm-hm. It may not be right now, or any time soon... And it may not be in this place, either. But I believe it can happen. To all of us," Yukiko agreed, her tone warmly passionate and hopeful. "After all, we don't stop growing just because we feel like we've come a long way."
Chie gave a firm nod. "Yeah. Wherever we go, whenever it is, there's bound to be problems. It's all about how we tackle them, and what we learn from them. Like..." She paused to grimace, her features crossed with tints of shame and dread. "...Like what's probably waiting for me back in police school."
The air around the room dampened even further as more heads were lowered and bowed.
Celty tilted her "head" to the side, slightly puzzled at the shift in the team's mood. [Why? What's wrong with police school?] A shiver ran through her entire body as she typed the other half of the message. [Is it...the training? Are they training people who can be potential traffic police in the future who'll be tasked with chasing down poor innocent horses across the whole of Ikebukuro?]
"Huh? Oh, no, they're not doing stuff like that. ...I think," Chie added the last bit as an afterthought, albeit in a very quiet manner. "It's just... I promised the Inspector that I'd make up for all the training I missed, which really sounded like a great idea at first. But when I think about it... It's a whole lot of training. Ahaha... Hah..."
"Don't you like it though?" Kanji questioned. "I thought you're into kungfu and all that stuff."
"Well, yeah, but having to make up for two weeks' worth is a little too much," Chie shot back. "And besides, it's not just the training I have to worry about. There's a bunch of theory lessons I've missed, too."
"Ooh," Kanji grunted, wincing on Chie's behalf. "Sounds worse than me. I mean, least I've got Naoki helpin' me out with catching up. And Senpai's been tutorin' me a little too, when we've got the time."
"Geez, you're so lucky," Chie groaned, before perking up and shrugging the whole thing off. "Ah well. This is what I want, so...guess I gotta grin and bear it when I officially report back on Tuesday."
"I...don't think that's what people normally say about things they like," Yosuke pointed out.
Celty held up her PDA in evident surprise. [...Wait. Tuesday? As in, you're leaving that soon?]
Yukiko covered her gaping jaw slightly. "Ah, that's right, we didn't tell anybody else, did we?"
"That's right, it totally slipped our minds! We decided that we'll be heading back to Inaba tomorrow," Chie informed, before she corrected herself. "Well, Yukiko, Kanji-kun and Teddie are the ones going back. I'm heading to the police school, but I got to report in by tomorrow night."
[B-but, why so sudden...? I mean, I understand you have your own lives to return to, it's just...]
"We're sorry, Cel-chan," Teddie replied, looking a bit ashamed. "But Golden Week is coming up, which means it's gonna be bear-y busy back at Yuki-chan's inn and Junes, so Yuki-chan and I need to go back to help get things ready. And Kanji's test thingys are coming up soon, too, so there's lots for him to prepare. We only decided on it this morning, and then right after so many things happened, so we forgot to mention it."
[I see... That's a pity. Shinra and I...and Shizuo and Izaya – we haven't properly thanked you yet for all you've done. Izaya, especially, should be more appreciative of your efforts.]
"Oh no, it's okay, Celty-san," Yukiko said reassuringly. "We didn't do all those things expecting to be thanked for them. We're happy enough that Orihara-san is alright... But, it would've been better if we could've solved the case to its fullest before we left..."
"Well, at least the others'll still be here," Kanji said.
"I'm not so sure about that... For myself, I mean," Rise spoke, wearing a frown. "After what happened today, I have a feeling Inoue-san isn't going to approve of my coming here anymore. Not for the next few days, at least. It took me a while to convince him to let me join you guys here in this place, and I don't think he's gonna be that easily persuaded again."
"Aww," Teddie moaned. "Not even with Rise-chan's crocodile tears?"
"Inoue-san can see through that right away, he is the manager of a couple of teen idols, after all," Rise replied, flashing a weak smile in spite of herself. "But don't worry too much about it! If something big really does happen, I'll think of a way to give the support you need, I promise!"
"So for now it's down to the three of us, then? Me, Partner, and Naoto," Yosuke said, exchanging a quick look with the two people he just mentioned as he said their names.
Eventually, after a moment of silence in the room, Souji gave his friend a nod, as if answering some telepathic communication that the others were not privy to, and said, "I think it should be alright. Even though now we've got a potential war we ought to be watching out for, I don't think the enemies would focus all their attention on Ikebukuro alone. Inaba and even Tatsumi Port Island may be implicated in this, if it's an all-out war that's about to happen. That makes your return to Inaba all the more important. And besides..." The silver-haired adolescent paused to give a soft smile. "It's not just the three of us who will be here."
Some of his teammates, as well as Celty, casted him rather puzzled looks then. Yosuke, however, was grinning and snickering, while Naoto, who caught onto what Souji had implied as well, chuckled quietly. "I see. Indeed, we do make a full team, provided Kujikawa-san is able to lend her support."
"Hold on, what are you guys talking about? I mean, a full team is four of us who're up front and fightin' plus either Rise or Teds as support, but..."
"Ohhh," Yukiko breathed, eyes brightening with understanding. "I do see a full team here."
"Ohh," Rise mirrored with a smile. "I get it now. Heehee~ Senpai, did you already decide to do that but never got the chance to make an official announcement till now?"
"You can say that," Souji admitted, a little meekly.
"Huh? Sorry, I'm kinda lost? Even taking Rise-chan into account, there's only four of us right here in Ikebukuro, right? I mean, yeah, there's still Heiwajima-san, but we haven't really...asked him...if he..." Chie paused. "...Oh."
[You're...planning on inviting Shizuo officially into your team?] Celty hurriedly typed out.
"That's right," Souji confirmed, and his suggestion was met with a resounding consensus amongst his teammates. "It's just... I'm not sure if Heiwajima-san would mind."
[Oh no… On the contrary, I think he would be very happy to hear that.] Celty affirmed.
"That would be a relief," Souji replied. "Ah, but I haven't thought of a good way to approach this topic with him just yet, so until then can I trouble you to keep it a secret for me? I'd like to inform him personally and ask him for his opinion."
Celty nodded gladly and excitedly. [Sure, not an issue. Thank you for extending an invitation to him. It might not seem like he works well with other people at first, and his temper might get out of hand at times, but... He has a good heart and kind intentions. If it's to fight for something he personally believes in, he'll pull no stops to help. So, um... If he gets a bit impatient or violent with the Shadows, or something that doesn't sit well with you, please don't stay mad at him for too long and, um, be patient with him. He takes some time to warm up to others...]
"I understand," Souji assured with a laugh. "Don't worry, Celty-san. I have no concerns about working together with Heiwajima-san, and neither do my friends. We wouldn't have made the offer otherwise. Even if he turns it down, I have no doubt that he will make a great ally."
At this, the leader of the Investigation Team then paused for a while, his steady and quietly confident smile turning into a thin frown, the sight of which probably warranted a bit of concern on Celty's part about the topic of Shizuo's recruitment. Souji, noticing that, tried to set her at ease.
"Ah, no... It's nothing. I was just thinking...if it might be possible for us to go to Inaba together for Golden Week."
[To...Inaba?]
"Yes," Souji confirmed. "But if we do need to be on the lookout for a war, then it might not be a good idea for us to go."
"Oh, that's...true," Yukiko agreed, a little crestfallen. "Nanako-chan is going to be disappointed. Just this morning, you called back to say you'll be heading there to spend your Golden Week holiday, didn't you?"
"I did," Souji sighed. "I know it can't be helped now. I'll try to break it to Nanako later."
"Don't worry, partner. Nanako-chan's a big girl now. I'm sure she understands," Yosuke said with a wink.
"I have faith in her too," Souji replied, smiling.
"...But seriously," Kanji piped up. "Why's the bad guy always so bent on making Golden Week messed up for us? Happened last time, and it might be happening again this time. What, it's got a thing for Golden Week or something...?"
"No way, that's just a coincidence. I mean nothing big was going on in Golden Week two years back, if I'm remembering right," Yosuke was quick to reply.
[Golden Week...? Now that you mention it, I think something happened during Golden Week last year.]
"Wait, really? Last year, too?"
[Yes, it was quite a mess... But, I don't think it has anything to do with the Malevolent Entity. Maybe it's just a coincidence, as you've said.]
"...Just to be sure," Souji spoke, "is it alright with you if we ask what happened, exactly?"
At the same time, inside a private ward at Ikebukuro Hospital
"...If anybody has a reasonable explanation for this, I'd like to hear it immediately."
"That's, um... "
The group of men who were clad in business suits and dull-coloured ties mumbled amongst themselves, breaking out in cold sweat despite being in a hospital ward where the room conditions were kept rather strictly at a low temperature.
The sole woman in the room stood before them, arms folded across her chest parallel to the ground. She regarded each and every man present a glare that sent a chill that could be said to be even colder than the ward itself down their spines, eyes narrowed and features hardened with a clearly displeased expression fixated on her face.
"Anybody at all?" Yagiri Namie asked, once again, and was met with nervous silence.
Then, one of her former staff shakily, yet composedly, tried to speak up, "Well, ma'am, if I may..."
"Get on with it," Namie shot back without a moment's hesitation.
The man gulped, but carried on speaking, knowing that there was no turning back the moment he opened his mouth. "I suspect... Yakugawa-san is the one behind this."
His colleagues spared him nervous glances, but voiced neither agreement nor disagreement with his claim. Namie, with as an unreadable expression as ever, simply gestured for him to continue explaining.
"I can't be completely certain," he first clarified. "However, it is too much of a coincidence, all things considered. Yakugawa-san, who was supposed to be on watch duty over Harima Mika for today, is nowhere to be seen, and has disappeared along with her. In the first place, ma'am, wasn't Yakugawa-san the one who was tasked to bring Harima Mika to this facility? Secondly, the specimen which was under Kumamoto-san's supervision had vanished without a trace as well, and the others who had been guarding it along with him were all found to be knocked unconscious. However, was not Yakugawa-san supposed to be taking over Kumamoto's shift last night as well? In my honest opinion, considering Yakugawa-san's schedule, and the fact that all of this happened at once, cannot be a mere coincidence, ma'am."
"Good," Namie readily gave a word of praise, a rare occasion in and by itself, before turning it around in a split second without mercy, "You pretty much said everything I don't already know. Don't you think I've already figured out by now that Yakugawa is suspicious?"
"Urk... I-I'm sorry, ma'am..."
"What I want to know," she swiftly added, causing her staff to lower their heads even further, "is where that girl and the disgusting head are now, who Yakugawa is working for, and what in the world my search team is doing because they have not gotten back to me on anything concerning what I just mentioned."
The men could only stay silent.
Namie raised a brow curtly. "Well?"
"Perhaps I may be of assistance."
As a gruffy, muffled voice spoke from behind her, Namie almost turned around on instinct but stopped when a cool barrel of a gun was pressed against her back, stiffening.
In front of her, her men scrambled to action, losing their wooden postures completely as they faced the unknown newcomer. They were clearly still jittery from her direct confrontation, but there was no denying their kneejerk reaction to protect their employer.
"Y-you... Let Miss Yagiri go!"
"To bring a gun out so brazenly and point it at Miss Yagiri... Who are you?!"
The person who was holding the former head of Yagiri Pharmaceuticals chortled gleefully.
"Who am I, you ask? Who am I, I wonder? There can be one answer, or there can be many. For I am one, yet I do not exist alone."
"...Th-this guy... What is he blabbering about?"
"Might he be someone from another department in the hospital...?"
"But he is not dressed in the patient garments..."
The men in suits started murmuring, unsure of how to proceed from here.
In stark contrast, Yagiri Namie let out a sigh, turning her head slightly to give the man who was presumably holding her hostage a sideways glance.
"For you to be in this hospital at this moment and so conveniently having that silly toy of yours at the same time... I knew I should have reported you to the police the previous time you pulled the exact same stunt on me."
At that Kishitani Shingen snickered into his gas mask, sounding almost like a dirty old man as he lifted the gun away and twirled it in his gloved hand, to the bewilderment of Namie's henchmen and the displeasure of the woman herself.
"You wouldn't have been able to convince them of anything I'm guilty of, though, niece of Seitarou. Like I said previously, the possession of firearms is strictly prohibited in Japan, and unlike that employer of yours I do actually value my own safety and try to stay out of trouble as much as I can. I wouldn't be able to carry on with my research otherwise. So! I always make sure I stay as clean as possible!"
"He's no longer my employer," Namie bit through gritted teeth.
"Oh is that so? Well, it's a good thing I got here in time, then! I can't imagine what would've happened to poor Orihara-kun if they got to you first. That's an outcome I hope to prevent."
"...When you put it in that way, then all the more I wish I had reported you years ago."
"You detest him that much, eh?" Shingen chuckled, rubbing the part of his mask covering his chin. "But I can tell that it's not just hatred you feel towards him, Namie-kun. It's far from love, but you do care about him in your own way."
"That's a disgusting theory," Namie responded coldly. "One that is in no way true. The only reason he hasn't died by my hands yet is because I still have use of him. Nothing more than that. Even if he were to drop dead at this instant, I wouldn't mind in the least."
"Oh-ho, I see. Is that the same reason why you let Harima-kun live till now instead of ending her when you sent your subordinate after her?"
The brows on Namie's face furrowed together so tightly wrinkles started forming around them, her nose crinkling. From behind her, her subordinates bristled, their tempers flaring as they stepped forward collectively.
"Ma'am, you don't have to put up with this man. Please, just give us the order and we'll throw him out for you."
Her reply, however, was far from what they expected. "...That won't be necessary."
"H-huh?"
"Leave us be."
"W-what?"
Namie turned, sending them a glare. "Didn't you hear what I just said?"
"Y-yes, we did, but..."
"But we can't just leave you alone with this...suspicious character."
"You can and you will," Namie replied, pointedly ignoring Shingen puffing his chest out out of some form of pride in being called something most would consider an insult. "Now all of you, out."
"But, ma'am..."
"I will not repeat myself again. Out."
The men exchanged worried glances with one another, before resignedly shuffling out in turn. Namie waited until the last of them had left and the door closed shut before sharply turning to face Shingen once more.
"What exactly are you here for?" she demanded.
"Hm?"
"You talked as if you know someone will be coming to meet me. And that it will have something to do with the most insufferable human being on earth. Then you deliberately tried to get me to admit to something about that girl. I know you can't simply be here without any good reason." A pause, as Namie's eyes narrowed to slits. "Especially not when you said you could be 'of assistance'."
"Oopsie, you remembered what I said, after all," Shingen said, shrugging nonchalantly, the gun still out in the open in his hand. "Not that I expected any less from the young lady who took charge of a pharmaceutical company at that age. Seitarou did entrust it to you for good reason."
"Please, don't try to change the subject," Namie requested dryly. "If there's something you know that can help me find those vixens, then by all means, please do. If not, then I ask that you stop fooling around and wasting my time."
"How rude! Do I come off as the kind of man who would deliberately try to waste your precious time?"
Namie raised a silent brow.
Shingen deflated exaggeratedly, before regaining his composure and looking Namie directly in the eye. "Tell me, Yagiri Namie-kun. How long have you been working for Orihara-kun?"
"Had worked," Namie corrected, before answering the sudden question with a vague sense of suspicion, "I didn't keep track of the exact dates, but I am fairly certain it had been two years."
"In those two years, did you ever try killing him?"
Namie snorted. "Thought about it everyday, but never acted on it."
"Well, why didn't you?"
"Is there a point to this?"
"Of course there is. Responsible adults don't do pointless things."
"You're nearly on the same level as that insufferable man..." Namie mumbled with a worn out sigh. "Anyway. As I already explained, the only reason he hasn't died by my hands yet is because I have use of him. He used to keep track of Seiji's whereabouts and details of his life when I wasn't around to keep watch. And the amount he paid as my salary was ridiculous. I wouldn't be able to earn that much in other professions."
"Basically, it was for the sake of your brother and money," Shingen summarised.
Namie shrugged. "You can call it that."
"Then what about Harima-kun? You have every reason to terminate her life, just like you do for Orihara-kun, yet you let her live too."
"Because she deserves a life worse than death," Namie answered simply, icily, without any hesitation. "Besides, if she died as well, then she would be joining Seiji in death. Someone like her doesn't deserve to have that kind of privilege."
Shingen snapped his fingers. "And that's where you erred, Namie-kun."
"...Hah?"
"By letting Harima-kun live for a reason like that, instead of looking at her the same way you view Orihara-kun, you've walked right into the enemy's trap. That's why they managed to get their hands on her as well as Celty-kun's head. You have no one to blame but yourself for what you've lost."
"Are you actually trying to lecture me?" Namie questioned, slightly flabbergasted, mixing in a somewhat bitter chuckle. "That's quite unlike you, to be perfectly blunt."
"I'm only reacting this way because the head has fallen into the enemy's hands. You have to understand, Namie-kun, that head has been my private investment for decades. I left it in the Yagiris' hands only because I had no choice at that time, but it was different with Orihara-kun as I believe his theory has a certain potential, an explorative angle even I haven't considered before, and I wanted to see where he would take it. Instead of seeing it get stolen away by people who want it for a dull and boring purpose. As a scientist and a researcher, that's something I can't stand, even though I'm a man of this kind of character."
"Huh," Namie murmured. "So... What, I should've looked at that girl and thought about what use I would have of her even though she has already outlived her usefulness? Killed her instead of letting her live?"
"Kids these days don't know remorse well enough," Shingen huffed, placing both hands on his waist and shaking his head. "Be glad I'm actually laying it out so systematically for you, at least. Listen well, Namie-kun. You might think Harima-kun is no longer of any use to you, but you've failed to consider it from another angle. You failed to take into account her usefulness in the eyes of people other than yourself. And in that regard, Harima-kun should've been more useful to you and worth even more focused efforts on guarding – because you would've had the upper hand in this game. Triumphing over even the main participants themselves."
"Aren't you exaggerating a little?"
"It's no exaggeration when I'm talking about a high schooler who has an information network that rivals – and perhaps even exceeds – that of a professional information broker. And now that I've brought this up, let me ask you something else... Did the thought of asking Harima-kun, instead od Orihara-kun, to look into your brother's death ever cross your mind at all?"
Namie's eyes gradually widened. "That's…just..." she mumbled, mostly to herself. "That's just…so…"
Shingen let out a sigh. "...Well, what's done is done. You lost the head, and I've already reprimanded you for that. So I'll be the kind, understanding adult I am and say that I forgive you so that we can move past this topic."
Namie glowered at him, but relaxed as soon as it surfaced, realising and understanding that she was currently in no position to retort him so bluntly like she had earlier.
Shingen met her eyes directly once more, but this time he was taking on an even more serious demeanour, one that could be seen and detected even through the gas mask he was wearing.
"What I really want to discuss with you – is about a particular pet project of mine that I've been working on."
As Shingen spoke those words, he took a few steps closer, shortening the gap between him and Namie. He raised one arm out, the one that was holding onto the gun, and brought the weapon closer to her as if he was requesting for her to perform a thorough visual observation of the object.
"But first, I think it would be best if I explained to you...the true purpose of this gun model."
At around the same time, along the streets of Ikebukuro
'Why...? Why?' Anri asked herself, over and over again, as she dashed along the pavements by the road. 'Why is it...because of Saika again?'
It was a question that she couldn't find the answer to, even when she repeatedly directed it to the demonic entity – once thought to be two separate entities fused as one – that had was currently living in her body, in the blood flowing through her veins.
Back then, when she had made the resolve to absorb the fog afflicting the town and to see it through the end even when the supposedly new demon tried to rattle her up, not once did the wielder of Saika sense that the presence was actually part of Saika itself, and not simply a supernatural force or being that behaved in a similar manner. However, upon reflecting, Anri did acknowledge that there were similarities – common points that the two shared that were so similar to the point of almost being eerily identical, and that made the newfound discovery of the two fogs being one and the same a little bit easier to swallow.
Aside from the love they – it – shared for the whole of humanity, and their – its – desires for humanity to entrust their fears to them – it – as well as the characteristic flood of voices that were near impossible to drown out if not for Anri's way of life, there was also something else that made the two – one – similar.
And that was the fact that they both – it – could suppress specific memories of the individuals Saika collectively resided in.
It would make complete sense for how people could so easily forget about Orihara Izaya, because it was just like what happened to the children Anri usually commanded to "forget about meeting her". And how those people could live as if Izaya truly never existed, similar to how Anri usually told Saika's children to "go back to their normal lives as if nothing happened", except twisted and taken to the extreme.
But more importantly, it would also explain why, once Anri called upon the fragments of Saika living in its children's souls, those same children were able to recall all of their "lost" memories.
When she thought about it that way, then it all came together and made sense. The problems, then, would be who exactly the child that split off without her realizing it was, and why they did the things they did.
'...In the end, it's my fault,' Anri believed, lowering her gaze to the ground as she continued running. 'If I had been more careful... Saika wouldn't have...'
"Someone..." she started calling out as she ran deeper and deeper into the city, further and further away from Celty and Shinra's apartment, hazelnut brown eyes flashing blood red. "Is anyone...there? Please...answer me. I need to ask someone...about something very important..."
Silence replied her. And Anri, who was not quite prepared for the time when a child of Saika would never respond to a call like this, only grew more anxious and even more certain that something had gone horribly awry – long before any of this happened, long before Anri went to that blue room with Celty and took the fog into herself.
And she, who was supposed to have been keeping Saika under control, had failed to realise it all this while.
"A-anyone...?"
"Good afternoon, Sonohara Anri. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
With a gasp, Anri pulled back, stopping by wherever she was at the moment. She knew she was probably gaining some unwanted attention from the people around her, but paid little heed to their presence and stares as they walked past her and started taking a step forward as though she were walking normally, keeping her head low while she focused on the unfamiliar voice.
"Who are...you?"
"You may not know much about me, but I certainly know a great deal about you," the voice, which was distinctly female, replied in a curt, business-like manner. The tone and language that she used was polite and formal, but the way she addressed Anri was undeniably cold and bordering disrespectful.
Anri grabbed a fistful of the corner of her black long-sleeved hoodie and clutched onto it tightly. "That's not really...answering my question."
"Indeed, it is not," the person whom Anri assumed was an older woman spoke. "But it does not mean that whatever I said is false. Neither am I being or meaning to sound pretentious when I said I know a great deal about you. For instance... Your precious friend, Ryuugamine Mikado—"
"...?!"
"—and your other close friend, Kida Masaomi... They're the two people who are most important to you, aren't they? It's because of them that you're trying so hard to make sure things are in order. Am I right?"
Anri tightened her grip, but remained silent, not knowing what to say.
If she had agreed readily, then she would be confirming this stranger's assessment of her and possibly putting Mikado and Masaomi in even more danger. However, if she were to disagree, then this person would be able to turn it around and say that Anri was trying to lie in order to protect her friends. Either case was risky, and so Anri kept silent, even though she knew and understood that her silence was akin to a confirmation.
Eventually, she decided on an appropriate response.
"...What did you do to them?" Anri asked cautiously.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't think...you would contact me and then bring up their names so readily if you haven't done anything to them."
"...You're quite the accuser, Sonohara Anri. Quite clever and astute, I must admit."
Anri drew in a long and steady breath.
"It is you...right?"
"Hm?"
"The one who helped...the Malevolent Entity release the fog. The fog that tried to suppress everyone's memories. And...the one who commanded a Saika child...to attack and take Kujikawa-san hostage, in the name of the Dollars... Right?"
"...I see. So you already know."
"Why...?! Why are you doing this...?" Anri instinctively and impulsively lashed out, before recoiling and trying to keep her composure.
The woman whom she had correctly deduced was the Saika child that had gone wayward did not reply immediately, instead letting a moment of silence to settle and linger before a soft sigh – almost sounding like a dignified scoff – could be heard.
"Since you have decided to be upfront with me, then I shall cut to the chase, myself."
Right at that moment, Anri could hear scattered footsteps coming from behind her. She hurried her pace a little, and allowed just the tip of her Saika to protrude out of her palm.
"Sonohara Anri. I don't take kindly to active interferences with my plan."
The stranger's voice turned even more emotionless than before.
"And you – are one of the biggest obstacles preventing me from achieving my goal."
The footsteps from behind Anri sounded closer than ever, the chilling killer instinct bleeding out from whoever their owner was and seeping into Anri's skin like a direct infusion of iced water into her veins.
Anri sharply turned on her heel and swung her right arm across in front of her.
Sparks flew as metal struck against metal, blade against blade. Shocked gasps and yelps sprung from the ordinary Ikebukuro citizens around them, some fleeing the scene with cries of "The Slasher! The Slasher is here!", some scrambling to get their phones out for various purposes – calling the police, snapping photos – and others, remaining at a safe distance as they watched on with widened eyes and hands over their gaping jaws.
The features on her face softened as Anri took in a shuddering breath, the cold sensation spreading throughout her entire body when she realised who it was that had just attacked her so mercilessly. Her blade shivered like chattering teeth in the winter, and she almost found herself loosening her grip, almost letting the other person's scalpel tear into her skin.
"...Harima...san...?"
The name of the person who saved her from the bullies in middle school rolled off Anri's tongue in utter disbelief.
The attacker who bore that very name and the very same appearance, and who was currently adorned with a hospital gown and standing before her barefoot simply stared at Anri blankly, an empty, dazed look occupying her now bright, crimson eyes.
'That's not...possible... I didn't...sense... When I was at the...hospital, I...'
"Of course you didn't realise it," the woman whom Anri had nearly forgotten in the moment of her shock began to explain, without any care for the bespectacled girl's emotional state. "After all, do you remember ever sensing the Saika within the people that fell victim to Niekawa Haruna's blade?"
Anri didn't question how the wayward Saika child knew what she had been thinking about, neither did she choose to ask when exactly Mika had been infected with Saika's curse. Instead, she asked, shakily, "Why... Why did you... To Harima-san...?!"
"The answer should be obvious," the stranger said icily. "Her stellar information network."
"Eh...?"
"Harima Mika has a stellar information network," the woman repeated, either misinterpreting Anri's confusion, or deliberately emphasising the point. "One that rivals even Orihara Izaya's own. That makes her a valuable asset to me. It is for that reason that I allowed her to live."
"What...are you saying...? I don't understand..."
"...That is all I can tell you for now. At any rate, you are no longer a participant in this game. So if you would kindly—"
"A game...?" Blood red sclera flashed an even brighter shade of crimson. "In your eyes...is this all...nothing but a game...?"
There was a brief telepathic sigh before Anri felt herself being shoved back by the force of Mika's scalpel.
The brunette then swiftly placed a foot on the surface of Anri's blade as she propelled herself into the air, flipped backwards, and landed gracefully on her two bare feet at a distance away from Anri. Throughout it all, Mika's eyes remained wide and unblinking, her face completely devoid of any emotion or will.
"As I was saying, Sonohara Anri..."
Mika raised the hand holding onto the scalpel to her neck in a robotic fashion before Anri could react fast enough to stop her.
"I would prefer if you stop interfering."
"Harima-sa—"
"If I hear of any more antics from you, I won't hesitate to ask this girl to slit her own throat right in front of your eyes. As well as that of Ryuugamine Mikado and Kida Masaomi. You should know by now that I am more than capable of getting to them when I need to." The woman continued to speak, blatantly ignoring the anxiety that flashed across Anri's features at the mention of that, "That goes for extending your help to those children from Inaba in your capacity as a wielder of Saika. No...especially that. I will not tolerate...seeing anyone associated with Saika offering their help to Saika's enemies. It would do you well to remember that."
Unable to say anything in response, Anri could only lower her head, directing her scarlet gaze to the tiles of the pavement as she clutched onto the hilt of her sword.
It was only after Mika's departure from the scene at the unknown woman's command that Anri fell to her knees, red eyes fading back to glassy brown as the katana melted back into her skin and returned to her blood, coursing throughout her body and whispering sweet-sounding promises of love all over again.
Around her the crowd had dispersed, resuming their daily activities, albeit with slightly more haste and worry, but on the whole the masses had seemingly put whatever they had just witnessed behind them, wanting no hand or personal participation in it, and simply waiting for the police to come and settle such incidents and for the news to later update them on what had been done.
It was as if the city had swallowed up even such an incident, digesting and stomaching it as simply part of everyday urban life; as if nothing of significance had just happened.
A/N: Wrote and edited this chapter in a rush... If there are lots of errors and/or terrible sentence structures and/or grammar, I'm really sorry about that.
Um... Ah right, most of the IT will be leaving. But not to worry, they'll still be keeping in touch via that group chat, so it's not like they'll be completely gone from this story :) And there's quite a lot of developments going on here, huh? The gun thing is probably pretty obvious XD and Shingen is playing a role! Actually his role in this story is relatively significant. I was kind of hinting it when I mentioned that he's familiar with Apathy Syndrome and that he went to Tatsumi Port Island to check it out haha. And I think those of you who have read the novels and/or watched the more recent anime episodes might have an idea who that "wayward Saika child" is, but it is probably not going to go the way you all expect it to in the end; there's a bit of a surprise I've hidden in that thread, but I'm not about to unravel it until the climax of this arc ;) Poor Mika, though. When will I stop making her suffer, I wonder...?
Thank you all for your support! I really appreciate it :)