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Shinanai Otoko ni Koishita Shoujo - Volume 1 - Chapter 2

Published at 13th of March 2016 05:52:57 PM


Chapter 2

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Chapter 02: Immortal Boy and the cutting Girl

………..
For a normal human this would have been the end. The end titles of my life with the ultimate bad ending. If I were a spectator, I would throw popcorn at the director, who came up to the stage to make a greeting.
But unfortunately I’m not a normal human. I played dead, waited for the killing Devil to leave and then went home. I was lucky that my sister was already asleep. Who knows what she would have said when seeing me like this. I changed my clothes and secretly disposed of my perforated clothes. I don’t really care for fashion, so I have a couple of sets of the same clothes. I’m sure my sister won’t notice it.
Then I slept soundly and welcomed the morning as nothing had happened. As a proper working student, I’m attending the Public Meitou Academy, which I solely chose on the fact that’s it a fifteen minutes walk from my house. The morning sun was enlightening the world with it’s glowing light and I was walking to school with a lot of other students. If I may say so myself, I’m quite tough. After all I’m going to school normally after I got killed just yesterday (I was killed for certain).
While oppressing a yawn, I dwelled on my surprise. To think the killing Devil was girl close to my age. Guess as a law-abiding citizen and brother of a policewoman, I obviously ought to report her. Reminds me, yesterday I abandon the guy she killed by prioritizing my own escape, but I wondered what happened to him. I felt a bit guilty. Well, even if I don’t do anything, someone will report the found of the corpse to the police at some point. I brushed it away irresponsible. That damn organization didn’t really do anything in the case of my father even though my sister urged them to. That’s why I didn’t really like the police and didn’t want to have to do with them. It seems my sister made some enemies when she tried to bring change from within, so that no one would have to suffer like me. I respect her for such a honest approach.
But knowing the culprit, I ought to tell at least my sister about it. While leaving out the part about me getting killed. It would just bring trouble. I shook my head in annoyance.
“A donation please!”
I could suddenly hear a colourful voice attacking my ear-drums, when I was already in a bad mood early in the morning. A few students were standing in front of the school gate with a box made of paper and calling out to the passing through people. Those who put money into the box got a blue wing pinned to their chest. It was a blue wing donation. [Blue Wing: Raising funds for the coast guard] They’re so diligent so early in the morning.
Normally the student council is responsible for such activities, but at our school it’s a complete volunteer work, done by interested people. But coming to school early on a already sleepy morning and having to call out to others, only to be awarded with the invisible medal called good deed, sounds all tempting, so obviously I also participate…. As if. But interesting enough, year after year, a whim brings people to step up for the task, so I guess humanity isn’t beyond help yet. Thinking that I at least have to help out a bit too, I took out my wallet from my pocket and hesitantly picked a 50 yen coin from my already small allowance (which was reduced even further due to the happenings last night), when I suddenly heard a cheerful voice.
“Ah, it’s Kugi-chan!”
I put the 50 yen coin back into my wallet and quickly started to leave. I was careless. I totally forgot about the person, who would 100% b present at such an event.
“Hey wait, Kugi-chan. Aren’t you going to donate?”
Trying to escape the criticism-glares of the other students, I wanted to enter through the school gate, but my path was blocked by a girl. With her height shorter than mine by 1-2 head length and carrying a box with her small stature, she looked more like a grade schooler that got a present from Santa instead of someone asking for donations.
The name of the girl, whose hair design that combined three braids at her back was her trademark, was Kuon Rin. She was your average high school girl with normal grades and clumsy at sports, which you can find at every school, but she had two strange parts about her.
First, she was extremely passionate about volunteer work. She passionately participates in all kinds of volunteering, which people usually find annoying, from city cleaning to talking with the old folks at the nursing home, not just collecting donations. What’s more, she’s not doing with a hidden goal of gaining credits or the favour of the teachers, no, she simply does it out of goodwill and that’s what makes her strange. In short, she’s a credulous girl from birth on.
And the second part is that she’s became attached to me for some reason.
There are a lot of delinquents like the ones from yesterday, who are after me. That’s because somehow all high schools in the prefecture fell under my control, since I won all the fights due to my power. Everyone here at school thus fears me. I believe that to be only natural, but Kuon Rin was treating me strangely friendly after we became classmates in our second year. At first I was annoyed by it (and I still am), but to a certain degree I had resigned myself to my fate and at least replied to her.
“A donation is giving by the person’s goodwill, isn’t it. It’s not something to be claimed.”
“Yeah, but it’s not going well, so I’m troubled. Just one or ten yen are fine, just donate.”
“My ten yen will hardly make any difference at this point.”
“Because everyone thinks like that the box won’t fill!”
Makes sense. I sighed, pulled out my wallet and took out the 50 yen coin from earlier. Then I stopped for a moment, groaned and put the coin back.
“Aw, what’s with you. Don’t pull back now”
“I’m not that cockish.”
I fished out a 100 yen coin and dropped it into Kuon Rin’s present box, I mean, donation box.
“There”
“OH! Hehe, thanks. Like I thought, you’re a good guy, Kugu-chan!”
Seeing her bright smile, I gave a bit of a bitter smile. I hate being called by my own name. That’s because every time someone calls it, I always get reminded how the name came into being by my father’s malice without having a say in it myself. I mean, just listen to it: Kugito. That’s not a name a loving parent would give you. Only my sister and Rin are an exception. It goes without saying that whatever my sister calls me I don’t feel uncomfortable. I believe that to be a very important talent.
“Reminds me, did you hear about it, Kugi-chan?”
There was still plenty of time until classes start. So I stopped and took her up on her question.
“Heard what?”
Rin drew closer to me. Then she stretched her back and put a finger on her mouth, so I bended down and lent her my ear. Like when sharing a secret, Rin whispered,
“….They say close by a murder happened.”
I automatically let out a strange “Bfft” sound from my mouth.
“Gya! Stupid Kugi-chan! You spat on me! So filthy!”
“A- Aw, sorry. Well, rest assured, it doesn’t look all that different.”
“So mean!?”
I pulled out a tissue, handed it to Rin and she wiped her face with puffed cheeks.
“Sure, it’s surprising, but not so much for such an exaggerated reaction…”
“….Hahaha”
I can’t really tell her that I witnessed that murder. Rin continued.
“I heard that it was a man, who was killed…. Seems to be that. Ehm, what was it again? The killing records of Juumonji Tarou?”
“What kind of funny tale is that?”
“No wait, was it Juumonji’s killing method?”
Just stop with the Juumonji.
“Ah, it’s Juumon Montarou’s travel records!”
She only kept the Juumon.
“….You mean the cross-slashing Devil.”
“Yeah, that! That whatever-Devil was at work, they say. How eerie.”
“Right. You too be careful not to get attacked.”
“Yeah, some to you, Kugi-chan. Be careful not to run into him by chance on your way back from the convenience story late at night.”
“Ugh. I can’t laugh at that joke.”
“Joke?”
“No, nothing. I got it. Okay, I’m off then.”
“Yeah. See you later. Oh, right!”
“There’s more?”
She nodded, her serious expression (for her at least) from earlier changed into a bright smile and she said,
“Today our class is supposed to get a transfer student. The teacher said so. I’m so excited!”
“Transfer student? What a lame time to transfer in. I mean, the year is almost over.”
“It seems to be due to family circumstances. Kugi-chan, be nice to the transfer student.”
“You do that. I’ll pass.”
I gave Rin a light chop on the head, shrugged and headed to the classroom.

A transfer student is always welcomed with great expectations. Will it be a beautiful girl? An honour student? Will she have big breasts? Or great legs? Will it be a handsome guy? Or an model? Such rumours were already going around in the classroom before homeroom.
I can’t really say that I didn’t care at all, but I wasn’t wishing or hoping for anything like the other guys. I was just thinking that the transfer student will be just your every-day student. Exaggerated hopes will just give you a big shock when unmet. Wait, wasn’t I told the same by someone yesterday?
“Who will it be~ Who will it be~”
Besides me, Rin’s unstoppable excitement was transferred over to her desk, making it shake. What a simpleton. Well, finding fun things in your everyday life might be the secret to spend a fulfilling life until the end.
“Let’s see. Average communication skills, average socializing, average grades, average athletic and after a few weeks he/she will have blended into the class like any other. That’s the kind of transfer student we will get.”
“You’re no fun.”
“Call it being realistic”
Actually, the world doesn’t work so conveniently. The transfer student being either a genius, a big-breasted girl, an ability-user, an alien, a time traveller, a magician, a soldier, or a beautiful girl warrior is something only happening in a manga.
A shocking encounter once or twice in your life is more than enough. And there are also plenty of women and men, who don’t even have that and just get past the age for marriage in simple admiration for a fated partner after seeing a horoscope in a magazine or a love movie.
The door opened. The ruckus in the classroom died down.
First our homeroom teacher, who barely left any impression on us since the beginning of the 2nd year, stood at the front.
“Ehem, most of you might already know about it, but our class got a transfer student”
Everyone was closely listening to this set phrase. Our homeroom teacher fixed his glasses, maybe in an attempt to create a short silence. Then he faced the door and said,
“Come in.”
I put my elbow on my desk and was the only uninterested one within all my fired up classmates. Reminds me, I wonder of that killing Devil attends a school normally. She unexpectedly might be some honour student. On TV news you often hear people commenting about the culprit with “He didn’t look like a person to do such a thing at all”, but if that’s true, then the “Madman who realizes his own lunacy” which I spoke of yesterday, might actually exist. Such a person would always consider how to kill the neighbour, who greets friendly with a ‘Good morning’, or a friend, who suggests to go home together. All while wearing a smile that doesn’t give any doubt. That’s quite scary.
“Kugi-chan, look.”
Rin’s voice dragged back my consciousness. While I was deep in thought, the transfer student had entered the classroom. Since I was staring into the void, I focused my gaze toward the front.
“I’m Kirisaki Kyouko.”
…And right that instant, I froze up.
“Due to my father’s job we moved here. Please treat me kindly.”
Technically, I’m a realist. I don’t believe in fate and such. But only now it was different.
Cursing the great flow of the world, I hoped it to be a dream or illusion.
“Kugi-chan, she’s cute! So nice. She seems so elegant. Maybe she’s rich….. Kugi-chan? What’s wrong?”
Rin was saying something, but I couldn’t hear it well. That’s how disturbed I was.
<She> was just surveying the class.
And then she made eye-contact with me.
“….”
<She> also froze up.
“….”
“….”
<She> and me stared at each other for roughly ten seconds.
“…What’s up, Kirisaki? Something the matter?”
Upon the teacher’s question, <she> averted her gaze.
“….No, it’s nothing.”
When she said that with a calm voice, the teacher nodded and pointed her to a seat in the corner of the classroom.
“Okay, this will be your seat.”
<She> nodded and started walking. Everyone was in awe by her elegant moves. Her movements were the personified neatness and by no way ironic but purely natural.

That’s why I was in doubt.
Is it really you?
<She> passed by my desk on her way to her own.
At that time <she> whispered in a voice only audible to me.
“…Come to the back of the gym during lunch break. Don’t run away.”
I felt all my muscles tense up. Her words cut into my body like a sword. I gulped nervously.
I watched the well raised “elegant transfer student”, who got chatted up as soon as she sat down.
There was no doubt.
“What are you doing here….?”
Without anyone there to answer my question, it fades into the air.
The only girl to know the answer—-
The <Midnight killing Devil> just smiled peacefully.

Lunch break.
Usually I spend it eating my lunch and then sleeping the rest of the time, but today I had no choice but to abandon my planned out harmony.
The stale atmosphere behind the dim gym was void of people.
Kirisaki Kyouko wasn’t here yet. Usually I would get angry for that after being called out, but today I was relieved. Seems I avoided a sudden confrontation.
I leaned against the wall, crossed my arms and thought about her intention.
If you think about it normally, the most likely possibility would be a threat. Like, ‘If you tell someone about me, I won’t let you off so easily’. But to her I’m already supposed to be dead. Yet here I am alive and kicking, what’s more at the school she transferred to. It must have been quite the shock for her. But maybe she just thinks I’m a look-alike and called me out to confirm it.
But… I shifted my attention to another possibility. Kirisaki Kyouko said that she transferred due to her father’s work. Is that really true? I thought of the <Midnight killing Devil’s> area of operation. Because she killed all over Japan, the police had a hard time making a profile of her. What kind of person is it? What actions were taken and how? But what if… If the killing Devil is a student, transfers all over the place due to “father’s work” and continues the murders at each place? Basically, she didn’t keep on moving from place to place to avoid being caught, but because it’s her original lifestyle. Then these strange patterns would make sense.
“I made you wait.”
I heard that voice after I reached that conclusion. I look around…. There she was.
There stood Kirisaki Kyouko with her arms crossed and an overly keen smile, completely different from in the classroom.
“…I hate women, who made me wait. See ya.”
I started to leave commanding. But, when I passed by her, Kirisaki grabbed my arm firmly.
“Don’t run”
SILENCE. Kirisaki Kyouko stared at me with slightly opened eyes. Then she said.
“…Are you really the boy I killed back then?”
“You got the wrong person, I mean, what are you talking about, hahahahaha. Well, that’s how it is. I gotta go, dragon ball is airing.”
“I told you not to run away.”
Oww Oww! My arm made a cracking sound! Cracking!
“I’ll ask once more, are you the boy from back then?”
“….I’ll say it once more: You.got.the.wrong.person.”
I emphasized every word. Kirisaki Kyouko then gives a surprisingly meek answer with “I see”. She might have really thought I’m just a look-alike. Man, don’t scare me so much. Just when I thought I’m saved, Kirisaki Kyouko said a single phrase as it were the obvious development.
“Then let’s try it out”.
Come again? I didn’t even had the time to ask that.
Without any hesitation, Kirisaki Kyouko flipped her skirt in a beautiful movement. The cloth fluttered lightly in the air. Beneath, in a lovely V-form, was a pure-white shorts with a bear print.
Wait, bear-panties!?
Time merciless went on as I was stunned. On her white and reasonable plump tight was a holster, which held a oversized sheath with a knife. The moment Kirisaki Kyouko pulled it out,
I was stabbed.
“Guh”
Obviously caught off-guard, I let out a silly loud. Even if I’m immortal and even if I feel less pain than the average human, I would obviously let out a voice when I’m suddenly stabbed in the side by a knife that could easily kill a crocodile.
“….Hey, what the fuck are you doing!”
I protested while Kirisaki Kyouko pulled out the knife without a word. I could see blood coming out from the hole in my uniform. After a single “Mmh”, Kirisaki Kyouko grumbled,
“Interesting.”
Then hell broke loose.
While taking a stance with her knife, she slightly pushed me. Staggering, I retreated 2,3 steps. Then she jumped in. With just one step she was already in front of me. The same as yesterday, just what are her legs made of!?
SLASH.
Kirisaki Kyouko cut my sides, pulled back and then stabbed into my stomach without any hesitation. Stabbed. And stabbed. And stabbed again. This isn’t a mental problem anymore. She’s completely nuts. The speed she swung the knife at wasn’t normal. Just when I realized I was stabbed, she was already striking for the next one. If you were to compare it with a scene of a movie, where two swordsmen swiftly attack each others with rapiers, then it would certainly fit this situation. The stabbing continued. Stab after stab. It was totally one-sided. I had no chance to resist. I was gradually pushed backwards while blood gushed out with every single stab. Her expression stayed unchanged. Totally emotionless. Yesterday it was her liking. That’s why she smiled. Then what was it now? What was she trying out? That goes without saying. To see if I really was <immortal>. Her conclusion itself isn’t wrong. But the process to it is just the worst. Suddenly she stopped her hand. While still holding her knife, she was closely watching my head as if she was trying to confirm something. I was leaning my back against the gym wall and while calming my breath, I said,
“….What?”
“Around 35 times”.
She replied shortly. Of what?
“….35 times, I stabbed your damn body.”
Hey, hey, damn body? Come on.
“Actually, you talk quite different from when you introduced yourself.”
“That just a facade. Everyone’s creating a fake self so that their school life goes smoothly.”
Oh really. I haven’t done it though.
“…Nothing?”
“Nothing what!?”
Kirisaki Kyouko blinked. And after a small silence, she swung her knife, cleaning it from the blood. She flipped her skirt. Hello again, bear panties. Just stop it.
“Your answer already defies common sense. A normal human dies when stabbed 14 times.”
What’s with that precise number.
“I analyzed it. When you avoid any vital points, a sickly person dies after 9 stabs. A healthy child after 4 and a middle aged person after 11 stabs.”
Thanks for that trivial information that I didn’t even want to know and won’t be any useful.
She sheathed her knife in her holster, mumbled “I see…” without any context and looked down. What the. Actually, what about my uniform! It’s a total mess! There are still classes in the afternoon.
Considering to complain to her, I looked at her, but seeing her shoulders slightly trembling, I was shocked. Wh- What? ….Is she crying?
I don’t get it. I’m the one who wants to cry. How am I going to explain this to my sister?
“Hey, you done now? You obviously noticed it already, but yes, for some reason I won’t die. So, now that you know that, there are two problems.”
I showed two fingers, then bended one of it, my index finger.
“First, what are you going to do about my uniform that got riddled by your totally crazy knife handling. You’ll obviously compensate me, won’t you. I want to inquire about that responsibility.”
Next, I bended my middle finger.
“And the second one, well, that’s the most important one—- Is about you, the <Midnight killing Devil>”
Kirisaki Kyouko’s shoulder twitched. But that was all. I went on.
“It’s you, isn’t it? That cross wound inflicting serial killer. Maybe I should call it bad luck, but my sister works for the police. You’re the offender and I’m the victim. I don’t think I need to tell you what I will do, right?”
I drew closer to her. Taking into mind that she might run away now that she realized I’m not a look-alike, I carefully prepared to meet with whatever action she might take.
“What will you do? Will you turn in yourself? Whatever reason you might have had, what you did is unforgivable. Any sin has a designated place for it to be judged…..Well, I’m just quoting my sister here. Anyway, if you will turn in yourself, I’ll refrain from reporting you.”
Saying that, I reached out with my hand to Kirisaki Kyouko’s shoulder—-but stopped. She suddenly rose her head and stuttered “Wh- What” in surprise.
Kirisaki Kyouko was crying. Tears were spilling from her big eyes and falling onto the ground.
“….Crying won’t do you anything. Sadly for you, I’m not so kind-hearted as to sympathize with a criminal—-”
“…ful.”
“Huh?”
What was that?
“…der…ful”
Kirisaki Kyouko said that, nearly whispering. I couldn’t hear it well. I perked my ears. At that moment,
“—-Wonderful!”
She raised her voice. Unlike from before, her expression was now a bright smile, like that of a kid, who just got his long desired robot toy…….Huh?
“You’re wonderful! I was searching for someone with a power like yours! You’re indeed my ideal man!”
She spread her arms and firmly grabbed my shoulders. Wh- What’s with this development!? I was bewildered by her unexpected action.
“What’s your name!”
“N-Node Kugito”
“I see! Node Kugito! ….No, Kugito!”
Don’t call me by my given name!
Ignoring my outburst, she stared at me with a red face.
“Please, Kugito!”
“Please what. I’m afraid I can’t really let you—-”
“Go out with me!”
—–Huh?
Without doubt I made a puzzled expression that could easily be considered top class in my relative long life of 17 years.
In that situation, she furthermore claimed fully excited,
“—-Become my lover, Kugito!”
The red sun was slowly going down behind the ridge and forcing my eyes to shut. From the grounds you could hear the soccer and baseball club’s training and the brass instrument class was playing some unknown classic piece. The broken speakers around the school were playing “The sun goes down behind the distant mountain” in a crackling voice.
It was after school.
On a square halfway to the school gate, I was watching the restless moving silhouette of a person. It stooped down all over the place and put whatever she got into something like a bag.
“What are you doing, Kuon.”
I called out to her and like she only noticed me now, Kuon Rin answered in a surprised voice,
“Ah, Kugi-chan! …Huh, why are you wearing a jersey?”
“Don’t ask. The reason is deeper than the sea.”
“Oh, you leaked a shit.”
“That would still be better”. Actually, a girl shouldn’t say ‘shit’ so casually. “…So, what are you doing?”

“Mh? Oh, I’m picking up garbage.”
Rin raised the garbage bag in her hand. Mh, certainly the half-transparent bag showed empty cans, juice packs, even a weekly manga magazine and a double-leaved 18+ book, which I would hesitate to buy.
Besides the fountain in the middle, the square also had benches, so during lunch break it was a resting place for the students. That in itself sounds good, but you can find imprudent guys anywhere, so even though there are plenty of garbage bins, there’s always laying around trash that got thrown away by guys without manners. Various teachers, who witnessed that, appealed to all students to clean the square, but a certain parent reasoned that “the school, without any right to, forcing work on the student is a problem for the development of their independence” and that absurd belief turned it into a volunteer activity. Obviously, there wasn’t anyone willing to do it, or so was my belief.
“You’re doing it every day? Well done. You’re so hard-working.”
When I praised her, Rin scratched her head in embarrassment with a smile.
“Well, someone has to do it or it’ll turn into a big dumpster. And then nobody would be able to eat here anymore. One hour after school isn’t much work.”
“I see. You’re amazing.”
I was impressed. I wouldn’t help in such an ungrateful activity, but that were my honest feelings.
Rin’s volunteer spirit is known nearly all over school and there are people who make fun of her behind her back for that. Rin doesn’t badmouth anyone, gives up her seat in the train to elders without asking, guides people around, who have lost their way and throws away cigarettes that were dumped on the ground by someone. To any witness it might appear to be faked, because her kindness just goes overboard. A kindness obvious to everyone. A good-will obvious to everyone. Such a person is thought to be contrarious by others.
But Rin is just too innocent. That’s why she doesn’t hesitates. She helps others and does good deeds like it’s a given.
If a kindness based on other’s outlook is hypocrisy, then she clearly doesn’t fall under that description. She doesn’t consider anything of that. She’s just doing it because she herself feels it’s the right thing to do.
I was secretly admiring that innocence of hers. I don’t mean to be arrogant, but the only people I have acknowledged are my sister and her. And they probably won’t be any others. Though it’s annoying when they become frolic with me.
“You’re really amazing. Even though I think it’s something anyone can do.”
How many people are out there that won’t use the excuse of “anyone can do it”? Just as less as there are people who convince themselves that “it has to be done by someone”.
“…Need help?”
I asked that because I felt that it would leave a bad aftertaste otherwise. I believe such an action to be worth being called a good deed.
“Nah, it’s fine. I’m already done…. By the way, Kugi-chan.”
“What?”
Rin pointed at my right side in with a perplexed look.
“….When did you get a girlfriend?”
There it was. The topic I wished to be left untouched the most. Well, it’s understandable.
“What’s more, she—-” Tilting her head, Rin was ascertain the situation. “is the transfer student, Kirisaki Kyouko-san… isn’t she?”
“….Mm, well”.
When I gave a vague answer, besides me—- yes, even though I don’t want to admit it, but besides me Kirisaki Kyouko, who had silently followed the conversation so far, smiled.
“Yes, that’s right. Kuon Rin, was it?”
“Ah, yes. You already remembered my name. That’s impressive.”
“No, I haven’t memorized all the names yet. It’s just that I heard about you from Node-san.”
“Ah, I see….. So?”
Rin looked at Kirisaki Kyouko, then at me and gave off a bold smile. It really pissed me off.
“So, could it be, you two are currently going out?”
“Well…”
Kirisaki Kyouko was looking down while putting her hands shyly on her cheeks, which suddenly got a red dyeing. It was even creepier than Jason in Saturday the 14th.
“E- Ehm, I’m aware that I just transferred here and it might be a bit impudent, but…. Node-san was just…. uhm…. just t- too wonderful….”
Gyaaaaaaa! I didn’t even have anything to say back anymore! Just kill me here and now! Ah, wait, I can’t die!
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Time isn’t important for falling in love. I see, Kugi-chan finally got a girlfriend! Great!”
“No, it seems you’re under a great misunderstanding here. There isn’t a single sane person would take this girl as a girlfrOUCH!”
“Oh my, what’s the matter, Node-san?”
Kirisaki Kyouko asked me while she had her knife stabbed into me where Rin couldn’t see it. Stop it! Don’t twist it!
“What’s up, Kugi-chan?”
“N- No, you see, actually she (twist, twist) Gaaaah… It… It’s nothing….”
I gave up. Giving in to a threat is sure pathetic as the younger brother of a policewoman.
“Isn’t it time for us to go, Node-san?”
“…Y- Yeah, Kirisaki-san”. So take out the knife already. “…. See you, Kuon.” I gave my best to give off a small smile, as not to complicate things.
“Okay. See you.”
Rin was looking a bit perplexed, but she answered and waved her hand. I waved back and turned around. At the same time Kirisaki Kyouko, who had hidden behind my back with a carefree expression, pulled out the knife. Then we started walking. Sticking close to me by linking arms, she concealed my wound. She’s a professional. Though I don’t know at what.
“….Hey.”
After we got away a good distance from Rin, I broke the silence.
“What?”
She answered in voice completely different from before. Her switch of character was on par with a veteran actress.
“….Normally, in such a situation, one would step me on the foot, no? Why a stab? Why would you stab me?”
“But… But… I just love stabbing.”
No buts! Don’t try to act cute!
“Well, don’t take it to hear. Also, from now on I’ll stab you without mercy when you try to expose my identity. I’ll gauge ya.”
“….Sure. Actually, say.”
“Mh?”
“Are you serious about what you said at lunch break?”
After blinked a few times, she answered,
“I am”
“…Why would I have to go out with you? Besides, you still haven’t answered my two questions from back then, though it couldn’t be helped there since the chime rang.”
“An, that.”
Looking up the dawning sky, she mumbled,
“To be honest, I don’t want to be arrested.”
“So naive. If you don’t change that attitude, I’ll report you instantly, regardless of any threats from you.”
“Chill out. Let me finish.”
Then let’s hear it.
“…There’s one way for me to avoid arrest and for you to be satisfied.”
“As if such a convenient way exists.”
“It does.”
After saying that, she tilted her head.
“Where’s your house?”
“Stay away.”
“We can hardly proceed our conversation when I didn’t even know where my boyfriend lives.”
“I keep telling you, I haven’t agreed to that.”
“Then come to terms with it. I want to talk somewhere alone.”
“Won’t an alley close by do?”
“You’re going to rape me? There’s an order to things.”
“Is your brain a sponge, or what?”
“Are you praising me for having a brain where the information seeps in easily?”
Just how positive can she be.
“It means you’re an idiot, whose brain is full of holes.  Anyways, I won’t let you into my house.”
Kirisaki Kyouko sighed.
“….Can’t be helped. Let’s go to my house.”
“That I refuse to do, too”.
“Don’t be selfish. I’ll stab you, Actually, let me stab you.”
“….You just want to stab me by all means, don’t you?”
“Hahahahaha. Let’s go.”
Huh? She ignored my question?
“I won’t eat you. On the contrary, I’m quite sweet in bed.”
“My head hurts….”
Kirisaki Kyouko looked at me puzzled, when I  pressed on my temples.

The apartment was a not so long walkable distance away from our Public Meitou Academy. Build some decades ago, the building was brittle, the wall had cracks and the whole building was covered in an unbelievable amount of ivy. It looked like monster would appear here or rather it would be strange for them to not appear.
“……You live here?”
“Yep”
We climbed up the stairs that seemed to break down at every step. That was a bit surprising. She’s rather poor, I guess?
“Where are you parents?”
“My mom’s dead and I’m not living with my dad.”
“So you’re living alone, huh.”
Then I noticed something strange. Didn’t she mention her “father’s work” as the reason for her transfer?
“I’ll explain about that too. Come in.”
Answering me like that, she stopped in front of the nearest room on the second floor. She turned the knob and opened the door.
I hesitated for a moment, then sighed after seeing her urging me in.
Then I set foot into the room of the killing Devil.

It was a room with surprisingly few furniture. The kitchen and refrigerator aside, there was a Kotatsu in the middle, a small television at the wall and a closet. That’s all. Only the notebook on the Kotatsu was standing out in this oddly plain room.
“You live quite simple.”
“I prefer it simple…is what I would like to say, but I just don’t have the money.”
“Your family?”
“No, I myself. My father pays for my school tuition, but I pay for all the rest myself. I can’t waste money.”
“You’re supporting yourself?”
“I work part-time.”
But part-time jobs for students are marginal. Sure, this apartment is old, but still nothing a job that goes on for a few hours after school could pay for.
“….You’re a nice guy.”
She suddenly said, then laid out a cushion and pointed me sit down.
“My first time being called that.”
“Then maybe ignorant fits better?”
She went into the kitchen, poured water in a kettle, put it on the gas stove and turned it on. After a few clicks the gas finally ignited, revealing that it was quite old.
“….What do you mean?”
I put my legs under the Kotatsu. It was only turned on just now, so it was still cold.
“There’s no need to play by the rules when you’re in need for money. Specially for women.”
An unpleasant image flashed in my head.
“….So it’s like that”
“You condemn me now?”
“Well, my sister would have given you a lecture now. But I believe in ‘demand determines supply’. As long as you don’t have any regrets, it’s not something for me to butt in.”
“I see. That’s a good mindset.”
“But why do you have to go that far? Just let your father pay for it.”
Kirisaki Kyouko sat down in front of me. My feet started to get warmer.
“It’s my way of drawing the line.”
“Drawing the line?”
“I believe that one has to shoulder an equivalent risk when straying from the path. When committing a crime, it’s obvious to be prepared for getting arrested, but if regardless of that one still wants to repeat the crime, another kind of shackle is needed for oneself.”
“So that’s why you live alone, apart from your father, and earn you money with compensated dating.”
“Who said that I’m doing compensated dating?”
“Huh? But you just said it yourself, that there’s no need to play after the rules when in need for money.”
“I said that, but that wasn’t really limited to compensated dating. Well, I’m doing something familiar, but I never said anything close to what you were imagining.”
“I- Is that so”
Then just say so from the beginning! I’m incredible embarrassed at myself for jumping to conclusions and turning pink!
“Puberty, huh, Kugito.”
Stop with that “I get it, you’re at that age. It can’t be helped” face that says you like you understand everything! That’s what hurts me the most!
“Ufufu”
Don’t lauuuugh!
“Enough of that. While I’m at it, let me tell you that I don’t plan to go to university. After graduating high school I will cut all ties with my father and just live out my life reasonable with a part-time job like I’m doing now.”
“….You wouldn’t last with that.”
“What comes that comes. I’ll just die in the fields then.”
“That’s your idea of drawing the line?”
“Well, yeah.”
Stupid. I shock my head.
“That’s just self-satisfaction. What you should be doing first is to hand in yourself.”
“I would guess so. I have nothing to object. I’m doing it while fully aware of it. So.
“So?”
“I want you to become my boyfriend.”
“How does it turn out like this?” How does she reach that conclusion.
“I’ll explain that now.”
Kirisaki Kyouko put her hand onto her chin and her gaze faded off in deep thought. Then,
“…Let’s see. First I’ should start explaining about myself.”
She said with a nod after a certain silence.

“First off, like you said, I’m the recently discussed serial killing Devil. Seems people on the internet got really excited about it and gave me the name <Midnight killing Devil>.”
I knew of that before already, but hearing it directly from herself feels just so unreal for some reason. The girl in front of me sure had her screwed up parts, but she didn’t look like a bizarre serial killer that killed numerous of people. Then how would such a person look like? For example: Always carrying a chainsaw. Or having cloudy eyes. Or always talking in puzzles. Someone like that would be fitting, but it’s questionable if such a person would really exist. No, even if he does exist, it would be wrong to label him a criminal immediately. I’m afraid most criminals world-wide are living their lives normally like the girl in front of me does. That’s somewhat scary.
“Right now, I’m known throughout the world as a criminal with a fancy for bizarre murders—-The so called ‘Psycho Killer’. But I myself believe that I’m not like that.”
“What do you mean?”
“Have you cut meat before?”
….What the?
“Well, yeah. But what about it?”
“Your impression?”
“Huh?”
“How did it feel to cut meat?”
“How you ask… Nothing special. I just cut the meat. That’s all.” Actually, is there any person who holds a special feelings towards cutting meat?
“There is. Me.”
Kirisaki Kyouko put her hands under the Kotatsu, pulled out the knife from her holster with a clicking sound and put it on the table.
“A change of topic, did you ever have sex?”
“That’s quite the jump.”
“It’s a roundabout way, but it’s important. Answer.”
“….I haven’t.”
These days it isn’t unusual to lose your virginity with seventeen, but unlikely the guys in my class, I’m not permanently aroused all year. So far I hadn’t had any interest in girls, nor did I feel any urge for said intercourse. Though let me add that I’m by no means homosexual. As proof,
“Then have you masturbated before?”
“….Well, yeah.”
There you have it. I’m a normal healthy high school boy.
“So, how’s that related to our previous conversation? I surely hope you didn’t just want to embarrass me.”
“There’s that too, but don’t worry, there’s a meaning to it.”
“I’m plenty worried, seeing that it was part of it. Is that your fetish?”
“Verbal taunting is proper method, you know?”
Of what!?
“…Now then, normally sex, or alternatively masturbating is done to experience sexual pleasure. The peak of that is called orgasm or climax and because it feels good, most people either play with themselves or use their partner’s openings. You following?”
“Yeah, but…” I’m following, but “hearing a girl my age talk about masturbating, sex, orgasm and openings with a straight face is quite depressing.”
“What, you like them all shyly? Say so earlier. So, to what extent? The virgin type that doesn’t even want to show her breasts? Or when her pus—”
“Forget it and just go on.”
“….Okay. Well, I’ll hear it from you in detail later. So, ultimately all people do the same stuff, but reaching that state depends on the individual and is divided into various cases. When there are people who can only get it on with women with huge breasts, then the opposite is also true. When there are people who only accept men or women in their prime years, then there are also people who only get excited over children that haven’t grown any hair down there.”
“The so called lolicon, huh”
I said with a slightly disgusted voice. Maybe influence by my sister, who works in the department responsible for juvenile crime, but I have a hidden hate towards that kind of person.
“You seem to be at a misunderstanding, so let me tell you: The lolita complex is nothing but a simple disposition. Without doubt, loving an innocent boy or girl easily tends to make one look like a fiend, but most people stop at simple admiration and are satisfied with either 2D or 3D adult videos, or failing this keep themselves in check. The mindset that lolicon/shotacon equals criminal is rude towards these people, who are making an effort every single day. It’s the same as that a sadistic man or woman doesn’t go around assaulting random people.”
“…I see. I follow most of it.”
“Good that you’re so understanding. Let’s continue. The disposition, or complex, of these people is called a <fetish>.”
I made an expression that said “So what?”, so Kirisaki Kyouko said,
“Mine is most likely killing.”
“What?”
“Most people just think ‘Oh, I cut the meat’ when they cut meat and that’s it. But for me, the sensation of the knife cutting through meat and the following blood splashing gives me a sexual pleasure I can’t resist. To be frank, I’m confident that I could cum by just cutting meat.”
That’s too frank.
“…As a kid, I could calm down my urges by cutting simple cooking meat. But with time passing by, my craving escalated. One day I found a mouse at home by chance. When I caught her, I thought “How would it feel to cut her?”. The dead meat so far already felt so good, so a living one should bring me a greater, different kind of excitement. So I chopped up the mouse out of curiosity. It was the best. A stimulation I never felt before ran through my body. It’s difficult to describe. I was smitten from tip to toe….There was “something” that I can’t describe with words within me.”
First she started killing animals. At first were mice, then the hamster she kept, followed by sparrows, crows and pigeons in the neighbours. Then she slowly switch to lagers one like cats and dogs.
“I buried all the corpses. I was worried what might happen if I was found out, but my strong desire drove me forward.”
Cutting the stomach, gauging the flesh, taking out the innards, lining them up all disassembled and indulging herself in the lovely view.
“….”
Suddenly a sound from the boiling kettle broke the atmosphere. Kirisaki Kyouko stood up swiftly and went into the kitchen. After a moment, she put down cups with tea in front of me and her. Though not entirely, I didn’t feel like drinking it. Just like she guessed my feelings, she took her cup and drank first.
“And then”
She put down her cup. THUD.
“—I got the desire to kill humans.”
She didn’t remember the turning point. She thinks it might have been from seeing an anatomic model on some experiment show on the education channel or from a disassembling illustration in a cooking book.
“The only thing for certain is that I couldn’t stop myself. I chopped up countless animals. All that was left was a living being like myself. Of course I understood that there would be no turning back once I did that. That’s why I hesitated. At the age where my classmates were excited about love and friendship, every day I was just thinking about stabbing a person.”
Wondering how much pleasure it would give her to plunge a blade into a big body, pierce the flesh and letting the blood gush out. With time she couldn’t suppress the urge, that started to grow in her, anymore.
“….The first time I killed a human was three years ago— When I was in 8th grade.”
Anyone was fine her target. Introduced by a bad friend, it seems she was doing a compensated dating imitation since then. Seeing a middle-aged salary man walking with her, who was younger by more than ten years, all happily made her think “He might be a good target”.
“Cutting a person—-felt great.”
Better than anything she cut before. An irresistible pleasure that was hard to oppose, passed through her body. She didn’t care about the man’s terrified expression at all. Her aim was to cut. To stab. To gauge. To pierce. That was all.
“I think that action let me enjoy myself several times better than simple sex. I climaxed immediately…. Numerous times, while knowing that I’m the worst.”
After that.
After that she couldn’t forget that experience.
“That’s…. how you became a serial killer, huh”
I let out a gloomy sigh. The story made you depressing just from hearing it.
“… I had no choice.”
“But to kill?”
“No. …Humans are weak. They die when you stab them. It’s not like I wanted to kill them. But… they just died.”
Kirisaki Kyouko drooped and stared at her hands on the Kotatsu blanket.
“You have no right to claim that as having no choice.”
On my words, she rose up her head. Then she fiercely glared at me, but quickly lowered her head again.
“….I know.”
I know, she mumbled.
“No excuses, no shackles on me will change the fact that I’m atrocious criminal. I’m aware of that…But, I can’t stop. I just can’t stop.”
Before she appeared brave, but now she had shrunk. Her arms were wrapped around herself, her gaze was averted and she was biting her lips.
“I asked my father to transfer me over to a new school with some random excuse after a fixed period. My father prioritized work and was the kind of guy who says “I’m raising you since I’m responsible for bringing you into this world, but there’s no love for you in me. So my weird wishes or question—-everything that had to do with me, must have been a pain for him—-were left unanswered.”
“Really…So by transferring all over the county, you confused the police, huh.”
With a small nod, she said,
“Kugito, what you say is right. I should hand in myself to the police. But…to be honest, I was scared. Not of being caught. Even if I were caught and were to be temporarily released after getting a revision for juvenile delinquency…..I would still repeat the pattern. I can’t suppress my desire. Just like you can’t forbid people from having sex, there’s no way to stop me from stabbing…..That’s what I’m scared of.”
“…Even so, I can’t let you go.”
“Of course not….That’s why I planned to obediently offer my life when I get caught. But.”
“But?”
She slowly looked up to me.
“….I met you.”
“Me?”
“When I saw you, who I supposedly killed, in the class I transferred to, I was surprised, but at the same time had a fine hope. ‘Maybe…’ and then ‘Don’t tell me’, I thought. It couldn’t be, but…It actually could?”
“Could what?”
“You—”
She gulped and with a nervousness totally untypical for her, she asked me,
“are <immortal>, aren’t you?”
“….”
I somewhat knew where this was going, so I didn’t want to answer. But I couldn’t endure her gaze filled with expectation. So I soon moved my chin.
“Mm…that’s right”
“So it’s true….”
She closed her eyes to think about something. Then she mumbled “Good”, opened her eyes and stood up in one action. She bowed down deeply.
“I once again ask you….Please go out with me.”
“….I see, that’s how it is.”
I saw that coming and lost all words.
“Even if you don’t love me, let me at least stay at your side. When you get a girlfriend, I won’t bother you when you’re with her. But promise me that you will be there for me when I need you. When you allow me to stay by your side, I’ll vow never to kill another person. Please. I—”
Bending down, she grabbed my hand and begged me with a desperate expression.
“I need you.”
“….Even if you say that…”
I put my free hand on my forehead and lamented over this unbelievable development.
Lovers with a killer? And only to get stabbed? Where’s the gain for me in that?
“….It’s a no?”
But….From what I just heard, she obviously needs me. Not the unreal <need> between lovers that you see in dramas or movies, but in it’s literal meaning. Without me, she would certainly break soon.
One part of me said to just leave her be. She killed numerous people. Even if she’s caught, she will start killing again once she’s released. So what? In time she’ll get the death sentence and it’ll be over. It doesn’t concern me at all.
That’s certainly true. From the routes I should take, it’s the safest one for me.
But on the other hand, there’s a part of me that can’t abandon her. It wasn’t really sympathy, more something close to a parental feeling.
She also thinks of herself as an unwanted human. That’s why she separated herself from her father and is spending a third-class lifestyle. She’s the same as me.
My sister’s dream as a kid was it to become a novelist. For that purpose she read a lot of books, studied plenty and gathered knowledge.
But that dream was scattered with my birth. To protect her little brother that was receiving abuse from the father, my sister chose to become a policewoman instead of a novelist. If I didn’t exists, my sister might have become a world-wide renowned writer. Even if not, she would have been at least something that she truly wanted to be herself.
My existences warped someone else’s life.
I knew since long ago that I’m unwanted.
Without me being born, my father might have lived happily together with my mother and sister.
Yeah, from the beginning I was a human that no one wished to be alive.
That’s the reason I have this weird power.
I lost hope in that.
But she— Kirisaki Kyouko still couldn’t give up herself.
That’s why she’s begging me.
I knew that not out of arrogance.
“….”
I sighed.
….Saving people isn’t my style. But—Now that I have met her, I might get away with claiming to had no other choice.
I said,
“Okay.”
If someone like me can be of use, then use me.
“….I’ll go out with you.”
On my words, she showed a bright smile for the first time since we met.
I drank my tea, that became completely cold.
It tasted horribly bitter.

“The world sure is peaceful…”
A single man in the darkness. There wasn’t much furniture, just spread out newspapers in the needlessly big room.
The paper was reporting about recent incidents. A mother killed her five year old daughter with an axe. A grandfather repeatedly sexual abused his grandchild. An assault by a stranger for the stupid reason of “You bought what I was just going to buy”, which ended in murder. A man, who lived together with his dead lover for more than three years, believing she would come back to life.
And repeatedly, a serial killing by the <Midnight killing Devil>.
“Really, so peaceful. Killing and getting killed out of stupid or nonsensical reasons just shows it’s serene. A world where the majority of crimes are committed out of “inevitable situations” like fighting over food or being ordered by a superior, is way more dangerous.”
Mumbling so by himself, the man laughed quietly. Crossing his legs, he reached out for the coffee on the table. After one sip he made a grumpy face.
“….It’s cold.”
A discreet small knock echoed.
“Come in.”
The light from the floor enlightened the room slightly. A silhouette entered without any sound and closed the door behind it.
“Was there some movement?”
“Yes. An interesting one at that.”
Opposite from the contents, the voice was really monotone and echoed through the broad room.
“Hoo, what is it?”
“<Jack>, who’s under surveillance, made contact with a boy.”
“So what about it? Everyone is bound to make contact with someone if they spent a normal lifestyle.”
“But it wasn’t a normal encounter.”
The man rose one eyebrow and closed the newspaper. Throwing it on the table, he opened his hand.
“Let’s hear it.”
“The <Entrails of the Deathspirit>”
The man let slip a “Hoo” from his mouth.
“You’re saying those two met, huh. Now that’s quite unfortunate.”
“That’s not all. It seems the two of them became lovers.”
The man’s eyes widened for a bit.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, it’s confirmed.”
“Wow….”
The man looked down and put a hand on his forehead. Then he let out a voice. At first it was quiet, but it grew over time. A happy snicker.
“The world sure is interesting.”
“One more matter.”
“Mh?”
“Another <Jack> made his move.”
“Hoo.”
Dropping his body deep into the chair, the man waved his wand. “Go on”.
“It seems he has restarted his activities that he put on a hold before. For now there’s one victim, but it probably won’t end at that. What should we do about it?”
“Mmm….”
The man moved his hand to his chin and deep in thought, he remained silent. After he while, he opened his mouth.
“I thought it would be difficult to scout the first <Jack>, but the situation has changed. I can see hope now.”
“You mean?”
“<Jack> found light. If you present salvation to those who were drowning in darkness, they’ll become attached. The time has come for an invitation.”
“Then I’ll arrange everything.”
“Ah, wait.”
The man looked up to the ceiling with a snarl. Then he raised a finger.
“I got a nice idea.”
“Yes.”
“Who do you think would win between a lion and an animal-type machine that copies a lion?
“I don’t understand the meaning of your question.”
“Don’t take it too complicated.”
It followed a small pause. Then a dry voice could be heard.
“The real lion, I take.”
“Your reason?”
“A wild animals has <instinct>, something a computer cannot match up to. Out of a hundred runs, the AI can only operate the same action, while the animal in exchange for imprecise movements, can counter from unexpected situations.”
“And that will lead to victory?”
“It is a possibility.”
“I see. But you know, in the past there was a match between a chess computer, who learned a million moves, and a famous chess genius. Who do you think won?”
“…The genius?”
“It was the computer.”
The man laughed. It echoed loud within the room.
“Basically, it means we won’t know what happens until we try it. Who do you think is stronger? The genius or someone who copied the genius?”
“….”
“Don’t you find it interesting?”
Then the man said what was to be done. The silhouette nodded on the brief instructions.
“But… What if the first <Jack> fails?”
“We’ll deal with it then. According to the circumstances, you know.”
“I understand. Then initiate it as such.”
“Please do. Ah, also, my coffee is cold. Can you bring me a new one?”
“I’m not your secretary, so please do it yourself.”
“…It wouldn’t hurt you to.”
“Excuse me.”
The silhouette bowed and left.
“So not cute…. No, that’s another kind of cuteness? Whatever. It’s gotten… quite interesting.”
The man smirked and grabbed the remote control on the table. He pressed the switch.
At that moment the wall flashed and became a display.
There a single girl was shown.
A gaze that pierced you. White skin. A small body that hid a wonderful physical strength. The display was showing the girl talking with a boy.
“Now then—-Will you be able to win?”
The man mumbled with a little smile.
“Genius killer—-Kirisaki Kyouko”.

Blood dropped from the knife in his hand and made a red puddle on the asphalt. A swing send fresh blood flying and the blade made a dull sound upon hitting the wall. The same action was repeated over and over. Over and over with no end. Every time the knife clinked and blood flew around. It was just like the blade was weeping.
“Oh Lord…”
A man on the ground before him. He was laying on his back feeble and limp. He was no longer breathing and his body had countless wounds. All of them were caused by his knife and ended his life.
A pleasure was running through his whole body. The sweet sensation spread from his tip to toe. His body was filled with delight.
“….Aw, my Lord”.
Speaking with a croaky voice, he cowered down. Grabbing the knife with both hands, he took aim.
He waited until his hands stopped shaking and then took a big swing.
A dull sound. A new wound was engraved onto the corpse of the man.
He cut the body vertically, is if he were to stab pull it. There was resistance in the flesh, but thinking of it as part of the ceremony made it no effort.
Next he pulled out the knife and determined the middle of the vertical cut he made. He stabbed into the right side of it. Then he pulled the knife he held with both hand to the side with the least possible sound while the blood gushed out.
A cross was engraved into the man’s body. A cross like Christ was carrying for his crucifixion at Golgotha. The absolute existence that forgave all sins. The crest connecting to god.
“Oh Lord—-”
He mumbled.
“Did you….die?”
He stood up and looked down on the man. He did a cross with his hands when he looked at the pitiable victim that was nothing more than a pile of flesh now.
“No regret— I have no regret…”
He looked up to the sky with closed eyes for a while.
“But—Now that you’re dead, someone has to take your place… Yes, the person closest to you has to—”
He mumbled once again.
“Oh Lord—When you are the parent and we are your children, then someday the children have to surpass their parent. And now is the time for it.”
He slowly started walking with firm steps.
“Surpassed by a human, you’re no longer—- a god. The human who surpassed god—will become a new god.”
Become a god. Become a god. Become a god. Become a god. Become a god.
He repeatedly muttered to himself and put his knife away.
“But— I don’t know how. I don’t know. I don’t know…”
At that time.
A mechanical bell rang from his pocket.
He put his hand into the pocket and pulled it out. The display of the cell phone was shining. It had been months, no, years since he was contacted by the outside world.
A single mail. An unknown sender. He was wary, but what was there to worry about? He cracked a small smile and opened the mail.
It contained one short sentence.
“God is dead.”
Then a new mail. He moved his fingers and opened it.
As expected it was a plain single sentence.

“Then who killed him?”
With no time to write an answer, yet another mail came.
The man’s mouth formed a smile. It was a deformed and creepy smile.
Following was written in the mail.

“—You’ll kill him.”
Below more information was written. The man read those and closed the cell phone. He broke out in an uncontrollable laughter. It went on and on.
“God will die—- I’ll kill him—-Revenge against you—- for falling down miserably to the earth—-And then—”
The street was covered in silence.
<He> started heading for his destination.





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