Track 8
High-Rise Building
*Phone rings and Ten answers*
[I had no idea you had already infiltrated that store! Mikawa is hiding out somewhere, but I’m sure he’ll come out if we do something about that place.]
It seems the Lurong family is hiding him. It’s surprising though. That theater is pretty far away from Mikawa’s property.
(Lucky. I was planning on getting some more detailed info about Mikawa tonight, but this saves me the trouble.)
[Seems like that place is special to him. Make sure you flush him out! We don’t have any time left.]
Yeah, got it. By the way, can you leave it to me for tonight? It’s kinda hard to move around when you come by and start causing a commotion.
Why’d you even make a scene at the theater anyway?
[Well, I figured if violence broke out there, the target would come out…”
I see, I see.
(How shortsighted. Ninokuruwa would’ve never picked up this guy’s request if he wasn’t backed by a big shot.)
(If he makes any unnecessary moves, my position will be at risk.)
For the time being, I’ll be the one to look for Mikawa tonight.
[Alright. But if you can’t find him, I have a backup plan. That theater’s holding a big anniversary event tomorrow night. If push comes to shove, I’ll start something there.]
[That place is important to Mikawa. So if a scandal happens during their big event, he’s bound to come rushing over.]
(Look at that. For a small-fry he’s got a pretty good eye for this sorta thing.)
[It was actually Kuzu-san’s suggestion… He’s currently preparing something for it.]
Ah, I see.
(So the guy pulling the strings is behind it. Got it.)
[B-By the way, about that video you took today…]
Oh. That—
Flashback
Chief!
Chief! Are you alright!?
I’m fine, you two. Thankfully no one was hurt, and Nyanpie-chan is safe too.
Really? Let me see your body. Turn around in a circle once.
I’m telling you I’m fine…
No, do as Kafka asks and show us your body.
It must have been scary. Are you alright too, Ten?
I’m peachy~. Actually, I’m surprised at how fast you guys came after I called you.
Yeah, Yachiyo was rampaging—I mean, he drove here fast. To the point where I started feeling sick…
Ten-kun, I’m sorry for calling you a traitor! If I’d known you were going to die I’d have never said that…
I’m still alive though.
I’m so glad you’re safe, Nyanpie…!
[I’m, okay, just a little, shocked.]
……
(Liguang Lu showed his face for a moment, looked at the chief’s face, and left. I see, guess that means you have your hands full hiding Mikawa.)
Ten. I heard from the chief that you recorded the crime, right? Can you send me the video?
I’ll make sure none of them can walk under the sun again.
Oh… Well, to be honest, it was a bluff. I didn’t record a video.
…I see..
U-Um, I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but if you’re going to file a report to the police, could I trouble you to do it after the anniversary event…?
…Would it cause trouble for the theater if we did it now?
……
The truth is, I can’t get in contact with the owner, Mikawa… He may be in some sort of trouble. We’ve never seen people like that here before today.
Kafka, can we put off filing the incident report for now? Those people seemed to be looking for the owner, but the anniversary event is tomorrow.
…Okay. If those people come back to the theater, I’ll think about how to deal with them then.
High-Rise Building
Don’t worry, I took care of the recording.
[I-I see! Then I’ll start the preparations for the anniversary event…!]
*Beep*
……
Flashback
Ten-kun, thanks for your help. If it wasn’t for your quick thinking, things might have turned out a lot worse.
Nah, it was nothing. All I did was tell a lie.
I lost my cool when I saw Nyanpie-chan get kicked.
Ten-kun, it’s amazing how you were able to stay so calm.
How were you able to respond without getting mad?
High-Rise Building
……
(That’s because…)
…I’d obviously die if I don’t live like that.
......
You saved me the trouble of going out to look for you.
*Door opens*
……
Let me restrain you.
A zip tie… Are you trying to keep me from moving?
You’ll be spending the night with me tonight, Murakumo.
Is that so?
(He’s pretty cautious, coming out to see me in person.)
(That said, my life pretty much depends on this job.)
*Sounds of thunder*
You don’t really think I’m forcing myself to do this kind of work, do you?
……
That sorta thing happens in fiction, doesn’t it?
People that work in the underworld who secretly want to be “ordinary,” or “walk in the light.” Everyone assumes that’s the case, right?
That kinda stuff seriously makes me gag.
Even more so because that's all you think when you see me.
Is that so.
…I’ll begin.
*Sojun charges at Ten*
…Too slow.
(! He disappeared—)
Behind you—!
(Damn it, he kicked me in the back and I lost my balance—)
(He’s fast, as expected…!)
You should come out too, “Boss.”
!
(A roundhouse kick from behind—!)
(! He guarded—)
(There.)
(A counter hook…!)
Tch.
……
(He grazed my cheek.)
(I didn’t think he’d be able to react so calmly there. Surprisingly, he’s pretty used to fighting.)
Murakumo.
The more you talk, the more it sounds like you’re throwing a tantrum over yourself.
…What?
Aren’t you the one that sickens yourself the most?
……
Flashback
Ten’s a really good guy, he’s super kind and considerate!
Ten-kun, it’s amazing how you were able to stay so calm.
High-Rise Building
(...It pisses me off. Whenever I hear those kinds of words, a dark sludge comes spilling out from inside my head.)
(My brain is fucked.)
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
…I thought it’d be fine if I just got away.
But I’ll settle this here. Until I get you to tell me where Mikawa is.
(I don’t care what happens anymore. It’s game over if I keep screwing up like this anyway.)
Time to get serious.
Hurry up already, you damn brat. I’m a busy man.
I won’t let you—!
You’re in my way.
(He’s even faster…)
……
(Wounded beasts instinctively defend their injury.)
(Therefore, it’s easy to predict the direction they will attack from—)
(! He read me.)
(But whether he can handle my speed is a different question—)
(He’s within Boss’s reach…)
(It’s over—!)
…Hmph!
*Liguang strikes Ten’s side*
……!? G, Guh…!
…N, Ngh. H-Haa…
It’s impressive that you’re already up so quickly. However.
…, Ugh!
…Aiming for, someone’s injury, is dirty…
I suppose you can say I did it in accordance with the Ninokuruwa way.
Or what? Did you think I was just some sort of idealist that was all talk and no action?
Ha, you greenhorn.
(Is my left rib, completely broken…? Shit, I can’t see straight…)
Sojun, tie him up. We’re moving.
……
My first “mission”1 was when I was ten years old.
One of my classmates' grandmother was a bureaucrat.
I got close to them in order to steal important, top-secret data.
It was easy.
I took the chance to steal the data when I was invited to their house.
Soon after, their family fell apart.
My classmate cried as they told me they were moving.
I smiled, and said we’d still be friends even if we were apart.
I threw away the letters I got without reading them.
There were rumors that someone from that family had committed suicide.
But I didn’t care.
I had to not care.
If you’re weak, your life will be taken.
That goes for me too.
That goes for everyone.
All lives are the same as trash.
If I get unlucky.
If I face someone stronger than me.
I’ll die right away.
So why do I need to face them?
Why do I need to think about living an honest life?
Things like ways of life, things like beliefs…
Things like backbones… Why do I need them?
Me, and everyone else too.
We’re all equally trash when we’re dead…