Chapter 06: Immortal Boy and imitated Madness
<He>loitered around the street.
Because of the previous incident (the girl had survived like expected) that <he> caused, there were more policemen on the move.
But <he> didn’t pay it any mind. For <his> goal of getting close to God, <he> didn’t dread any methods. For a long period of time, <he> had learned various skills and read so many books that they buried <his> room. The result was that <his> battle skills raised rapidly. Disposing of one or two policemen was an easy task.
But attracting attention was out of the question. Unnecessary actions that disturb the original goal weren’t allowed.
Goal….Yes, today <he> had a goal.
<He> wasn’t so aimless until before. <He> had a fixed target— Yeah, it was a mission.
There was a challenge from God.
No, to be precise from the former God.
<He> didn’t waver at all for <his> destination.
No, actually it said <he> should aim higher if <he> were to surpass God.
When you can do it, that is—-
<He> laughed interested. That was how it should be. It would be troublesome if God were to give up his seat so easily.
<He> opened his cell phone. It was packed with information from <God’s child>—-data about the <Midnight killing Devil>. Her real name, her gender, her height, her weight, the name of her school, her environment and the names of people related to her.
But…. <He> pondered. Who was that <God’s child>, who approved of <him> and helped out so much. The information from <God’s child> included data that went beyond personal information. Even if these were obtained by hacking into various places, the effort invested couldn’t be measured. What’s more, that all was just to support <him>. <He> thought that there must be some profound reason that <he> didn’t understand.
Anyway. That wasn’t important right now.
<He> looked for the target. The silhouette of the next victim that God had chosen.
As usual, there were a lot of people. There wasn’t anything more annoying. It would be hard to find the target like that. Was it even possible to find a single person in this crowd?
No, it’ll be okay. <He> reassured <himself>. <He> was the one to overcome God. If so, then everything should come along as <he> wants. If <he> convinced <himself> that <he> would be successful, then <he> should be in reality too.
That was what <he> believed. Yeah, it would definitely happen. Just by walking around like this, <his> feet would naturally lead him to the target—-
Then.
“…..!”
<He> widened his eyes. It came so sudden that <his> reaction was a bit delayed. In a hurry <he> opened his cell phone…..No doubt.
<His> mouth grimaced.
“….Bingo.”
Yeah, <he> knew it. <He> was a chosen human. The one and only existence close to God. Such a coincidence was just impossible.
<He> fastened his pace and approached from behind.
Right now wasn’t good. There were too many people.
Hurry up and become alone. Become alone. Become alone. Become alone. Become alone.
<He> anxiously prayed so, when the target changed his movement. The destination was a small alley between two buildings.
…Oh my god.
That it went so well, scared <him>. Everything was going let <he> wanted it to.
The target left the main street in front of the station and entered the back alley. Where was it going? It was proceeding into a small place void of people.
This was fate. That was what <he> thought. Just now <he> received a divine message from God.
Namely, to kill without hesitation.
<He> put <his> hand into the pocket. With an accustomed movement, <he> pulled out the knife from the sheath. The tip shaved a bit against the wall and made a dull sound.
Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. KillKillKillKillKillKillKillKillKillKillKillKillKillKillKillKillKill
KillKill.
Ony one thought filled <his> head. At that moment, <he> sprinted.
(Kill)
Kill.
(Gauge)
Kill.
(Pierce)
<He> held his breath.
“Kill—-”
<He> raised a queer voice. The target turned around. No hesitation. There was no reason to. At the same time as <he> jumped in, <he> grabbed the target’s shoulders and push it down. The target screamed in pain. Truly pleasant. <He> raised the knife. The silver lightened in the dimly. <He> laughed. Loudly, so it echoed. A lucky roar that was fun, adorable and happy at the same time.
Then—
<He> stabbed.
First an attack into the shoulder. A scream. When the knife was drawn out, blood gushed out. Next the flank. Then the back. After that the neck. Shoulder, Flank, Back, Neck. ShoulderFlankBackNeckShoulder
FlankBackNeckShoulderFlankBackNeckShoulderFlankBackNeck
ShoulderFlankBackNeck—-
“H, Hihi—-Hyaa—-Hahahahaha!”
Red blood. Gouged flesh. Scattered around. Danced around. Fulfil the mission. The entrusted, important role. To become God. To become supreme.
Die. Die. DieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDie
DieDieDieDieDieDieDieDie!
“Dieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”
<He> shouted with all his might. Then the raised tip of the knife went down straight into the target’s body without hesitation.
A dull sound of cutting deep into flesh.
The target mumbled something quietly and reached out it’s hand into the air, but it fell down soon enough without grabbing on anything.
No matter how often <he> saw a person’s death, it was always so pleasant. The darkness of despair that they spouted when their life was taken away helplessly was just too exciting.
“It’s done…”
The corners of <his> mouth raised up in satisfaction. <He> stood up slowly. The target was dead. Now God had to accept <him>. And God would say that <he> was the true <Mignight killing Devil>.
“Dead as a mutton—”
<He> couldn’t suppress his laughter while bending backwards and raising his voice.
“Just now, I killed him—-!”
And then—
“…Sorry.”
—The target turned around.
“—-!?”
<He> was confused and entangled <his> legs by stepping backwards. Inadvertently <he> fell onto the backside. Before <him> calmly stood the target covered in blood.
“Wh—Why—-!?”
“If you don’t know, I’ll tell you.”
The target—- The one the <Midnight killing Devil> nominated on the forum with “Kill him if you can”.
Node Kugito turned his raised thump upside down.
“I, won’t die.”
<March Hare> made a perplexed expression. Different from the mad actions from earlier, he looked extremely human now.
“It seems like you don’t get it, so I’ll explain it.”
I put my hand on my waist and pointed at <March Hare>.
“You were fooled.”
The one, who told Kirisaki to write a provoking post on the forum, was me.
My plan (though it couldn’t really be called one) was simple.
<March Hare> had announced that he would go after those related to Kirisaki, so basically, we could narrow down his possible targets. And along with that thought, if we were to point to one, he would shamelessly come to kill it and we would be able to catch him red-handed. Obviously, we couldn’t use just anyone for it. In the past and even now, sacrificing someone for the sake of something was nonsense. But we had a breach of rules on our side.
The one of me being <immortal>.
Once that was thought up, the rest was easy. We uploaded the post “Don’t think that this will cow me. Try it if you can” on the forum and added my real name. The so called bait. The killer would unlikely think I’m immortal and fall for it, so we initiated it.
The result was as you could see. When you thought about it a bit, it seemed suspicious, but for the part that he acted arrogant he lacked a part of his brain.
“No way… Can’t be…”
<March Hare> mumbled with a face of disbelief. Like that, he looked like a perfectly normal guy. His age was a bit above mine. His unoiled hair was cut dishevelled and on his chin grew stubbles.
“Face reality, you fake.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Was it fun to play the <Midnight killing Devil>? You sure had your way there.”
I bended my knees and brought my face closer. I opened my mouth.
“….C’mon, say something, murderer.”
“….Sh- Shut up!”
I reached my hand into my pocket. I stepped half a step backwards with a “Whoops”. In the space, where I stood until just now, a silver line mowed.
“How dangerous.”
<March Hare> had stood up agitated and held up his knife. I scratched my head.
“Geez…. So incompetent.”
“Incompetent… you say?”
“I mean you. You’re a half-assed bastard, who can only imitate others.”
“I… I’m not incompetent….”
Swinging his knife, <March Hare> shouted.
“I’m a chosen existence! A superior human that will surpass God and become a new God!”
“For some reason, a believer always says such stuff. Do you lack self-confidence?”
“Shut up, low-life! What’s wrong with killing people! I’m doing these useless scum a favour by sublimating them with the high art of murder! Appreciate me more! Praise me more! Respect me! Worship me! You guys are just trash! I’m an artist that turns useless trash into a piece of art!”
“What cheap words. You got some from some book?”
“Shut up! As if you could understand it! No, not just you! Everyone is just going on about stupid crap like university, job or grades. No one tries to understand me! The only one to take me side is God!”
“You mean the <Midnight killing Devil>?”
“Yeah! Haha— Right now, she has fallen, but she’s the only one, who understands me! When I saw her killing for the first time, I shuddered! It’s her. There’s no one else I could learn from!”
“Oh really.”
While scratching my neck, I faced behind the guy and said.
“—So he says. What do you think, God?”
<March Hare> turned around with cramps of surprise.
“Mh, let’s see.”
A shadow hid the light that shone in from the back entrance of the alley. The appeared girl, Kirisaki Kyouko said.
“To say it in terms of a divine message—-He’s a damn bastard that runs his mouth.”
“!You—!”
“This is the first time we meet face-to-face, <March Hare>.”
Kirisaki smiled.
“I’m the <Midnight killing Devil>. Though <former> now.”
<March Hare> looked alternately at Kirisaki and me. Then he said moaning.
“God, why… with a guy like him. Even though—I’m the only one who understands you.”
“My name is Kirisaki Kyouko. Don’t call me by the embarrassing name God.”
Kirisaki started walking.
To the alarmed <March Hare>, Kirisaki said.
“Well, what now. We could just hand you over to the police now.”
“Just try it! I’ll kill anyone!”
While pointing the tip of his knife, <March Hare> shouted.
“God! You truly have fallen! You’re no longer the existence I admired! I’m disappointed, <Midnight killing Devil>!”
“I don’t care what you admired. You selfishly forced your ideals onto me, then selfishly looked down onto me. That’s just crazy.”
“Say whatever you want…. You reign is indeed over. From now on I’ll be the <Midnight killing Devil>. And as long as I live, I’ll continue to kill until the world accepts my art!”
“Art, huh. Art, my ass. Killing people is art?”
“Yeah! Don’t deny it now!”
“I killed people for the sake of art. That’s what you’re saying?”
“What’s the point of confirming it now!”
“I see.”
Kirisaki stopped in a set distance to <March Hare>.
“Wanna change places, <March Hare>?”
“What…?”
“I changed my mind a bit. I have to resolve this myself.”
“What are you going to do, Kirisaki?”
Without answering my question, Kirisaki said.
“<March Hare>, you’re saying that you’re superior to me, right?”
“…Yeah.”
“Then proof it.”
“What?”
“You and me will fight. Should you be able to win, I’ll let you go.”
“…And when you win?”
“There’s something I want to teach you.”
Kirisaki’s hand moved. She flipped her skirt. The flattering cloth. Her fingers took out the knife out the holster, then rotated it on her palm, grabbed the hilt and took a back-handed stance.
“—So? Up for it?”
Her corner of the mouth bent in a challenge.
In an abandoned factory without people echoed the sound of clashing metal intermittent. Kirisaki and <March Hare> were slashing at each other without mercy with drawn knives. There was nothing to do for me. I was overflowing with the desire to smack down <March Hare>, but Kirisaki had said that she would resolve it herself, so it was her fight. It was not for me to interfere. Actually, if I were to step in clumsily, my whole body would end up cut up in no time.
But leaving Kirisaki aside, <March Hare>‘s movements weren’t normal either. He already slightly passed the level of an average person like me. He showed no fear towards the knife that would hurt without mercy and even responded to hurt his opponent in return on an opening. That was something totally out of my range. <March Hare> avoided Kirisaki’s cut with the slightest movement, then stepped in and at the same time aimed at her chest. The tip of the upraising knife went close by Kirisaki’s chin, as she had slightly bent backwards. Kirisaki’s back sweep scraped off <March Hare>‘s jacket. Steel against steel and screams raised. They had exchanged so many blows, yet none of them were bleeding. Simply amazing. It was a skill totally useless in society, or at least here in Japan.
But surprisingly it was Kirisaki, who was slightly liable in the count. One-by-one her movements were slightly slower than <March Hare>’s, even visible to my amateur eyes. Occasionally she had openings of the span of half a moment. As proof of that, Kirisaki had clearly more holes made from a knife in her clothes than him. Will she be okay? Hey.
Counting was a pain. After some endless clashes of knives, nearly at the same time, they both stepped backwards like they repelled each other.
Kirisaki fiddled with the knife in her hand.
<March Hare> shook his own weapon. Then he looked down on his hand as he felt something amiss. Soon afterwards he tilted his head slightly.
“….Strange. Are you really my admired <Midnight killing Devil>?”
“….”
“I can’t see any refinement in all your movements. It’s no different from a bizarre murderer, which this world has so rottenly much. The reasons I had my eyes on you were because of your superior art that robs you off your consciousness and your polished skills worth of admiration. To put it simply,”
<March Hare> throw the knife up, which made a turn in midair, then he caught it between his fingers.
“Right now you’re lacking in madness.”
Kirisaki didn’t answer. She silently took a stance with the knife in front of her eyes and took a breath.
<March Hare> gave me a side-glance.
“…Is it because of him?”
Kirisaki also shifted her gaze. Wh- What the. Don’t look at me together.
“If so, I’m extremely disappointed. Without doubt you’re a genius murderer, who appears only once in a hundred years. And to think your skills would degenerate just because you fell for a guy—”
“You sure have a loose mouth.”
Kirisaki suddenly opened her mouth. <March Hare> showed a displeased expression about being interrupted, whereupon Kirisaki raised one corner of her mouth in scorn.
“That’s why you’re just a fake.”
“…What?”
“Refinement? Art? Skill? You sure run your mouth. Just what do you know about me?”
Kirisaki slanted her eyes and said like spitting out.
“What you seek isn’t me. But just your ideal embodiment of your desires. You just wanted to believe that there are others in the world that think and act like you and that it isn’t strange.”
“What…?”
“You wanted to be recognized by someone. That the stuff you do isn’t wrong.”
Kirisaki’s knife reflected the dim sunlight.
“You wanted to be forgiven. You wanted to be embraced by someone and get your head patted, didn’t you?”
“Shut up.”
“If you seek that of me, I have to disappoint you. I’m not so generous. I have my hands full with myself.”
Holding her knife horizontally, Kirisaki raised the corners of her mouth.
“—If you want a pat on the head, go ask your mama, boy.”
“SHUT UUUUUUUUP!”
With a violent outburst, <March Hare> dashed forward.
“What do you know! What do you know! What do you knooooooooow!”
The simply thrown knife aimed at Kirisaki’s throat. But Kirisaki said without trying to protect herself.
“….You’re more foolish than I thought. Any further talk is useless.”
She combed up her hair with her free hand and smiled.
“Let’s end this. —-About time I get serious.”
She moved —-At least to me it looked like Kirisaki only took a simple step forward. But in the next moment, <March Hare>‘s knife flew through the air along with a loud metallic sound.
“…Huh?”
No, that wasn’t all. Along with a massive splash of blood, numerous “something” scattered around.
That were—- <March Hare>‘s fingers.
“Aw—Ugh—-GYAAAAAAAAAH!”
While holding his hand and screaming, he fell onto his knees. On his body too was a red line engraved. In that one moment, she had sliced twice? What a fearsome girl. <March Hare> screamed in pain while he collapsed. His superior behaviour from earlier was gone and all that was left was a human being choked in pain.
“My fing, My fingeeeeeeeers! Owwwww!”
“Did you really think you could take me on equally? I lack madness? Don’t make me laugh.”
While fiddling with the knife in her hand, Kirisaki approached <March Hare>.
“You didn’t even realize I was playing with you, yet you dared to imitate “me”?”
He retreated scared. Kirisaki looked down on <March Hare>.
“….What’s up, Mr. Artist? Wasn’t I already someone worthless to you?”
“Sh- Shut up…”
“You only lost a few fingers and look the state you’re in. And the wound on your body shouldn’t be fatal either. So stand up already. When your right hand is useless, just hold the knife with your left hand. Try to cut me.”
<March Hare> showed no movement. Kirisaki said in total spite.
“Can’t do it? Don’t make me laugh. When you pick up a knife, be at least prepared to get cut yourself. You only talk big, but do everything only half-assed. In the end, you’re just one of these stupid brats.”
<March Hare> looked down and mumbled. “I can’t hear you. What did you say?” Kirisaki asked. Then <March Hare> mumbled clearly louder.
“I’m… a superior human.”
Soon he continued like a damn on his mouth had been lifted.
“I’masuperiorhumanIhaveawonderfulabilityAchosentalentEveryonedenies
andlooksdownonmebutsoonI’lllaughatthemI’mageniusI’mstrongerthananyone.”
His blood-shot eyes faced Kirisaki and he shouted while spilling drool.
“I’m! Stronger, than anyone! I have to be!”
“Those who are really strong, don’t claim so themselves.”
“Don’t spout such unrefined wooooords!”
<March Hare> grabbed the fallen knife with his left hand and thrust it towards Kirisaki’s chest. The repelled knife drew a couple of lines in the air, then clashed with Kirisaki’s, afterwards they separated. That looked similar, yet contradicting.
“DieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieeeeeee!”
“…How stupid. I have enough of talking with you.”
Kirisaki sighed. Just like a bored kid in a grand fight.
“It’s over for you— Get that already.”
<March Hare> received a sever kick from Kirisaki into the side. He moaned and lost his balance. Upon that opening, Kirisaki pierced <March Hare>‘s fist with her knife. Blood gushed out when she pulled it out. Screaming in pain, <March Hare> inadvertent let go off his knife. He shouted.
“Sh—”
At that moment, Kirisaki thrust her knife against <March Hare>‘s neck, while he widened his eyes.
Kirisaki smiled faintly.
“….Get it now?”
“Guh….”
….Seemed like the fight was over. I shook my head in relief.
<March Hare> looked up in the sky. He quietly closed his eyes and took a small breath.
“….It’s my loss.”
“Certainly.”
“Kill me.”
“What?”
“Just kill me.”
<March Hare> said grumbling.
“…Just like others notice that they can play the flute well or that they can make others laugh, some day I noticed that I can kill better than anyone. But that was all. I had nothing else. I was athletic, but not enough to go professional. I was dumb. Still, I worked hard. But it was in vain. Nobody valued my talent. Not just that, when one day my parents found me dissecting a rabbit, they told me: ‘What are you doing! That’s disgusting.’ I explained it to them. How great my skill was. How valuable it was. But it was no good. They just became more disgusted.”
His lips crooked lightly.
“…How happy do you think I was when I met you? How hard do you think I worked to get closer to you? I practiced and practiced. I continued to polish my skills. I thought I finally found it. A comrade for me. No, something even more. But it was different. Yeah, different. I admired you. I respected you. But I know you were different from me.”
<Mach Hare> looked at me. Then he grumbled disappointed.
“How did you end up like that. You should always stand above me. As long as you’re there, I can go on living in whatever world….Ah, but forget it. Whatever I say, it’s too late now.”
He leaked his last words.
“Okay—Kill me.”
Kirisaki didn’t answer immediately. For a while she looked at <March Hare>. How much time passed like that? Then Kirisaki said.
“…No, I won’t kill you.”
“What?”
“I told you that I have something to teach you.”
Kirisaki put down her knife.
“You won’t… kill me?”
“You’re misunderstanding. I’m at fault for that too, but—-”
“You say— you won’t kill me?”
<March Hare> widened his eyes. His cloudy, white eyeballs looked up into the sky. Right there, like that he got on his knees. And then….
At first I thought it was a roar of some animal. Because it was a strange sound like from a spam, that I never heard before. But in time, I understood what it was.
…He was laughing.
<March Hare> was leaking an unpleasant laughter like he forced it out from the bottom of his throat.
“You won’t kill me— ….Aw, what a shame, <Midnight killing Devil>. To think you would make such a choice. A real shame.”
“Hey—”
Then.
“—-It’s just no good.”
When Kirisaki raised her voice as she noticed something, he made his move.
“I can’t be killed by you when you’re like that.”
Without a moment to be cautious, a dull sound echoed. I knew that I unconsciously leaked a “Geh” from my mouth. I first noticed it when I pressed on my throat. My throat was—
My throat was pierced.
“Guh, Gah….!”
“Kugito!”
No voice was coming it. The bleeding didn’t stop. The shocked Kirisaki rushed over to me. I wanted to shout: Wait. If you do that, you’re just playing into his hands!
But I didn’t even have time to face Kirisaki and point behind her. <March Hare> pulled out another knife from his pocket and stroke out at Kirisaki’s defenceless back.
“—-!”
She turned around. Kirisaki immediately opposed the incoming knife. Actually it looked like she would barely make it. But then the worst circumstances took place.
The moment Kirisaki’s knife engaged with <March Hare>‘s, it broke at the hilt. I remembered how Kirisaki told me that her knife was in bad shape. And with the repeated sever attacks it finally reached it’s limit. At the worst timing ever. Kirisaki made a hounded expression. <March Hare> laughed with a face that said he had won. The tip of his knife was moving straight towards Kirisaki’s chest.
“……!”
I shouted Kirisaki’s name, but my sliced throat had lost it’s normal functions. Kirisaki looked my way and smiled. Just like she had given up on something. Stop it, I shouted in my heart. In my head floated a familiar scene. The collapsed Rin. My powerlessness a that time. Agitation pierced my insides. I couldn’t do anything. Damn it….!
—-Don’t
Rin said.
—Don’t leave Kirisaki alone, okay.
“……..!”
At that moment, something burst open inside me and I started running. I knew that I couldn’t possibly make it. Still, I couldn’t stop. I was certain. Kirisaki could start anew. Even if she was a terrible serial killer, she could start over as long as I was there. My ability that I thought to be fucking useless, was the greatest salvation for her. That’s why I wouldn’t abandon her. I must not abandon her.
I would never leave her alone!
“….Ah….g….!”
Spitting out incomprehensible words with my muddy voice, I faced Kirisaki and reached out my hand. But I didn’t grab anything. <March Hare>‘s dagger drew near Kirisaki. Then—–
Kirisaki flipped her skirt.
The light cloths flattered.
Under it appeared the bear patterned panties.
And then, Kirisaki—–pulled her “other knife” from the holster on her tight.
“Wha!?”
<March Hare> widened his eyes in surprise. Kirisaki’s hand sent the knife coming at her flying. No, that wasn’t quite it. The flying knife from <March Hare> was stilled “being grabbed”. In other words, Kirisaki had— sent his knife flying together with his hand. And while she stepped in, she took her raised up knife and—-
stabbed straight into <March Hare>‘s chest.
“Bah—”
When she pulled out the knife, fresh red blood spurted out.
<March Hare> leaked a shaking voice. For a while he staggered, then he—
“Impos…sible…”
suddenly collapsed backwards.
“….Mh.”
While looking at her own weapon, Kirisaki turned my way. Then she smiled faintly.
“I knew it, the sharpness of a Randall is on a different level, Kugito.”
I lost all my strength and sunk to the floor. Wh- What a misleading smile…. So her smile meant that she still had a trump card?
“What’s up, Kugito?”
I shook my head silently. I didn’t want to say anything anymore.
“But that was a close call. If it weren’t for the Randall knife that you bought me, I would have died. It#s all thanks to you, Kugito.”
…..Well, glad to hear.
“Now then….”
Kirisaki passed by me and stood before the collapsed <March Hare>.
“I avoided your vitals. You should be still alive.”
<March Hare> had his eyes closed, when he slowly opened his eyelids.
“….Why.”
He said mumbling.
“Why won’t you kill me….”
“Don’t get the wrong idea. It just means I’m not that naïve to release you from everything by killing you.”
After she flipped her skirt and put her knife away, Kirisaki continued.
“Live and atone. —That’s the burden you and me have to carry.”
“…..”
“….And I’ll teach you something.”
Kirisaki picked up the broken knife and let it rotate in her hand. She grabbed the hilt, then threw it to her feet.
She raised her foot and trampled on her old weapon with all her might.
“What…?”
“You seem to misunderstand. I’m only killing to satisfy my own desire. For nothing more or less. What I want, what I worked for to get is something else.”
“….What?”
Kirisaki said. Quite clearly.
“A bond, <March Hare>.”
Crouching down, Kirisaki made eye-contact with <March Hare>.
“…No matter how much I stabbed, my heart was never satisfied. I knew it that. But no matter how many people I came into contact with, no one loved me and I wasn’t supposed to love. But I still desired it. Anyone would be fine, just someone who would look at me for who I am.”
Then Kirisaki said slowly and quietly as she was carefully choosing her words.
“Do you get it? I’m no God. —I’m just a simple human.”
I sighed, rolled around on the spot and looked up the sky. ….How stupid. Even without me doing anything, she can pull it off just fine by herself. I did something embarrassing.
My whole body hurt all over. It was all because of Kirisaki. Anyone but me would have already died of this.
….Well,
“Since it’s me, I’ll forgive you….”
The blue sky stupidly extended above me. Suddenly Kirisaki’s face entered my field of vision.
“Are you alive, Kugito?”
“I won’t die.”
“Yeah, right.”
Kirisaki smiled. “I forgot.” Liar.
“Can you stand?”
“Somehow. What about you?”
“Not anything worth mentioning.”
“How tough.”
I raised up my upper body with guts. I touched my throat. It had already started to heal. Proof for that was that my voice somehow came out, even though still muddy for a while. Such a disgusting body as ever. I put my hand on my knee, stood up and said.
“What about him? Is he dead?”
“No, I avoided his heart. It was a promise with you. Let’s leave the rest to the police.”
“How faithful of you.”
I shrugged my shoulders, when Kirisaki smiled a “I keep my promises. Like you.”.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Really? To me it looked like you were trying to save me with all your might earlier?”
I shook my hand. I didn’t want to say anything about that.
“…Then let’s go home.”
“Yeah, let’s….Whoops.”
As Kirisaki was about to walk away, her legs staggered. I immediately reached out and supported her body.
“Be careful.”
“It tired me after all. After all I’m just a frail and beautiful high school girl.”
I had not clue what to say back to that.
“Can’t be helped.”
For a moment I let her go, then grabbed her arm and put it around my shoulders.
“A special service.”
“I would prefer you would carry me like a princess.”
Don’t ask for the impossible.
“Okay, let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
And then we walked away side by side.
From the dim darkness, towards the light.
—-As if. If I only could act that cool.
I heard a strange noise. It was just so out of place that I didn’t know what it was at first. But in time my dull brain could finally analyze it.
It was applause.
A dry sound of hand against hand echoed numerous times.
“What….?”
Kirisaki said alarmed. At that moment.
One after another, a couple of men appeared from wherever they might have been hiding. Well, actually there were women too, but that didn’t matter. Everyone wore a black suit and even sunglasses. Moreover everyone was giving an applause. Even suspicious had it’s limit.
“Some wonderful skills. Nothing less from the <Midnight killing Devil>.”
The group of black suits formed a circle around us. The last one to appear was a woman. From our perspective, she stood at the top of the circle. Her age was around the same as ours. She was rather short. Like everyone else, she also wore a suit and in one hand she held a laptop. Her expression was dreadful “void”. It was blank like she was wearing a mask and completely featureless with no shred of emotion. Her tone earlier also was monotone like from reading a script.
“Who are you…?”
“Names are unnecessary here. I am nothing but a messenger.”
The woman stopped her applause and the others followed her suit. I would guess she was the leader and that would make the others her subordinates. A brat on top of adults? What was going on?
“I have a message from a certain person, Kirisaki Kyouko-sama. Will you listen to it?”
“How do you know my name?”
“It is not just your name. We have all personal data on you. From basic things like your address, cell phone number or the school you attend, to even things like your interests, likes, your favourite TV show, your favourite book genre, how often you go to the toilet or how often you masturbate a day. Obviously, we also know about your particular tendency.”
That was a practical threat of “We can’t guarantee what will happen if you don’t listen obediently”. Even though she kindly asked if she would listen to it, it was inexorable. What was up with these guys?
“There’s no proof you’re telling the truth.”
“When you are doubtful, I do not mind speaking all the details here.”
The woman returned smoothly. By her expression it didn’t seem like she was lying. Kirisaki clicked her tongue.
“…Let’s hear it.”
“Thank you. But there is something we must do beforehand, so please wait a moment.”
“What?”
The woman gave a wink, the group of black suits nodded nearly in unison. Then they started walking all at once. Still lending my shoulder to Kirisaki, I turned around. The black suits surrounded the still collapsed <March Hare>, who was probably unconscious.
“Hey, what are—”
Before I could finish my sentence, one of them pulled out an automatic pistol from his pocket—-wait, an automatic pistol!?
“Stop—-!”
My shouting wouldn’t change anything. At that moment, a gun-shot echoed. <March Hare>’s body jumped up a bit and his halfway raised hand fell powerless onto the ground. I inadvertently looked away. And I glared at the woman.
“Why did you kill him….!”
“Rest assured. It was an anaesthetic.”
“What?”
“Please carry him.”
On the woman’s words, the men picked up <March Hare>. From my point I couldn’t tell if he was alive or not, but she had no reason to lie. I took a breath and asked the woman a belated question.
“…Just who are you?”
“I cannot answer that question. Since we are <nobody> by principle.”
“…What do you mean?”
“I will tell you the message first.”
The woman opened the laptop and started the media player.
After a while a synthetic, strange high pitch sound started playing.
“…I guess first off it’s a nice to meet you, <Midnight killing Devil> Kirisaki Kyouko and Node Kugito. You did a good job on the current incident. We got some really valuable data, I thank you for that. Now onto the main topic.”
After a selfish prologue, the one-sided conversation continued.
“I’m sure you must be tired, but I’m afraid I have something I must tell you. I want you to come over as quickly as possible. Of course we’ll prepare the method of transport. Just follow the woman, who gave you this message. She’ll guide you to me. See you then.”
For a moment there was silence, then the woman closed the laptop.
“That concludes the message.”
“….I have no clue what’s going on. Explain it from scratch.”
“I will do so at the other location. Will you follow me?”
“What if I said no?”
The woman nodded on Kirisaki’s words.
“While we would not force you to, it would not really be a smart choice. Like I told you earlier, we have data on any trivial thing about you, Kirisaki Kyouko-sama. In case you should deny our request, it would be leaked to a certain place. Likewise you, Node Kugito-sama, would surely be arrested for assisting a murderer. I believe that would sadden your sister.”
….That bitch.
The black suits passed by the woman, carrying the limp <March hare>.
“…What’ll happen to him?”
The woman answered.
“That is of no concern for you.”
An indifferent way of talking that didn’t reveal anything and rejected further questioning.
“Now then—”
The woman pinched the laptop and turned her back to us.
“—I take it that you will come with me?”
Chapter 06: Immortal Boy and imitated Madness
<He>loitered around the street.
Because of the previous incident (the girl had survived like expected) that <he> caused, there were more policemen on the move.
But <he> didn’t pay it any mind. For <his> goal of getting close to God, <he> didn’t dread any methods. For a long period of time, <he> had learned various skills and read so many books that they buried <his> room. The result was that <his> battle skills raised rapidly. Disposing of one or two policemen was an easy task.
But attracting attention was out of the question. Unnecessary actions that disturb the original goal weren’t allowed.
Goal….Yes, today <he> had a goal.
<He> wasn’t so aimless until before. <He> had a fixed target— Yeah, it was a mission.
There was a challenge from God.
No, to be precise from the former God.
<He> didn’t waver at all for <his> destination.
No, actually it said <he> should aim higher if <he> were to surpass God.
When you can do it, that is—-
<He> laughed interested. That was how it should be. It would be troublesome if God were to give up his seat so easily.
<He> opened his cell phone. It was packed with information from <God’s child>—-data about the <Midnight killing Devil>. Her real name, her gender, her height, her weight, the name of her school, her environment and the names of people related to her.
But…. <He> pondered. Who was that <God’s child>, who approved of <him> and helped out so much. The information from <God’s child> included data that went beyond personal information. Even if these were obtained by hacking into various places, the effort invested couldn’t be measured. What’s more, that all was just to support <him>. <He> thought that there must be some profound reason that <he> didn’t understand.
Anyway. That wasn’t important right now.
<He> looked for the target. The silhouette of the next victim that God had chosen.
As usual, there were a lot of people. There wasn’t anything more annoying. It would be hard to find the target like that. Was it even possible to find a single person in this crowd?
No, it’ll be okay. <He> reassured <himself>. <He> was the one to overcome God. If so, then everything should come along as <he> wants. If <he> convinced <himself> that <he> would be successful, then <he> should be in reality too.
That was what <he> believed. Yeah, it would definitely happen. Just by walking around like this, <his> feet would naturally lead him to the target—-
Then.
“…..!”
<He> widened his eyes. It came so sudden that <his> reaction was a bit delayed. In a hurry <he> opened his cell phone…..No doubt.
<His> mouth grimaced.
“….Bingo.”
Yeah, <he> knew it. <He> was a chosen human. The one and only existence close to God. Such a coincidence was just impossible.
<He> fastened his pace and approached from behind.
Right now wasn’t good. There were too many people.
Hurry up and become alone. Become alone. Become alone. Become alone. Become alone.
<He> anxiously prayed so, when the target changed his movement. The destination was a small alley between two buildings.
…Oh my god.
That it went so well, scared <him>. Everything was going let <he> wanted it to.
The target left the main street in front of the station and entered the back alley. Where was it going? It was proceeding into a small place void of people.
This was fate. That was what <he> thought. Just now <he> received a divine message from God.
Namely, to kill without hesitation.
<He> put <his> hand into the pocket. With an accustomed movement, <he> pulled out the knife from the sheath. The tip shaved a bit against the wall and made a dull sound.
Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. KillKillKillKillKillKillKillKillKillKillKillKillKillKillKillKillKill
KillKill.
Ony one thought filled <his> head. At that moment, <he> sprinted.
(Kill)
Kill.
(Gauge)
Kill.
(Pierce)
<He> held his breath.
“Kill—-”
<He> raised a queer voice. The target turned around. No hesitation. There was no reason to. At the same time as <he> jumped in, <he> grabbed the target’s shoulders and push it down. The target screamed in pain. Truly pleasant. <He> raised the knife. The silver lightened in the dimly. <He> laughed. Loudly, so it echoed. A lucky roar that was fun, adorable and happy at the same time.
Then—
<He> stabbed.
First an attack into the shoulder. A scream. When the knife was drawn out, blood gushed out. Next the flank. Then the back. After that the neck. Shoulder, Flank, Back, Neck. ShoulderFlankBackNeckShoulder
FlankBackNeckShoulderFlankBackNeckShoulderFlankBackNeck
ShoulderFlankBackNeck—-
“H, Hihi—-Hyaa—-Hahahahaha!”
Red blood. Gouged flesh. Scattered around. Danced around. Fulfil the mission. The entrusted, important role. To become God. To become supreme.
Die. Die. DieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieDie
DieDieDieDieDieDieDieDie!
“Dieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”
<He> shouted with all his might. Then the raised tip of the knife went down straight into the target’s body without hesitation.
A dull sound of cutting deep into flesh.
The target mumbled something quietly and reached out it’s hand into the air, but it fell down soon enough without grabbing on anything.
No matter how often <he> saw a person’s death, it was always so pleasant. The darkness of despair that they spouted when their life was taken away helplessly was just too exciting.
“It’s done…”
The corners of <his> mouth raised up in satisfaction. <He> stood up slowly. The target was dead. Now God had to accept <him>. And God would say that <he> was the true <Mignight killing Devil>.
“Dead as a mutton—”
<He> couldn’t suppress his laughter while bending backwards and raising his voice.
“Just now, I killed him—-!”
And then—
“…Sorry.”
—The target turned around.
“—-!?”
<He> was confused and entangled <his> legs by stepping backwards. Inadvertently <he> fell onto the backside. Before <him> calmly stood the target covered in blood.
“Wh—Why—-!?”
“If you don’t know, I’ll tell you.”
The target—- The one the <Midnight killing Devil> nominated on the forum with “Kill him if you can”.
Node Kugito turned his raised thump upside down.
“I, won’t die.”
<March Hare> made a perplexed expression. Different from the mad actions from earlier, he looked extremely human now.
“It seems like you don’t get it, so I’ll explain it.”
I put my hand on my waist and pointed at <March Hare>.
“You were fooled.”
The one, who told Kirisaki to write a provoking post on the forum, was me.
My plan (though it couldn’t really be called one) was simple.
<March Hare> had announced that he would go after those related to Kirisaki, so basically, we could narrow down his possible targets. And along with that thought, if we were to point to one, he would shamelessly come to kill it and we would be able to catch him red-handed. Obviously, we couldn’t use just anyone for it. In the past and even now, sacrificing someone for the sake of something was nonsense. But we had a breach of rules on our side.
The one of me being <immortal>.
Once that was thought up, the rest was easy. We uploaded the post “Don’t think that this will cow me. Try it if you can” on the forum and added my real name. The so called bait. The killer would unlikely think I’m immortal and fall for it, so we initiated it.
The result was as you could see. When you thought about it a bit, it seemed suspicious, but for the part that he acted arrogant he lacked a part of his brain.
“No way… Can’t be…”
<March Hare> mumbled with a face of disbelief. Like that, he looked like a perfectly normal guy. His age was a bit above mine. His unoiled hair was cut dishevelled and on his chin grew stubbles.
“Face reality, you fake.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Was it fun to play the <Midnight killing Devil>? You sure had your way there.”
I bended my knees and brought my face closer. I opened my mouth.
“….C’mon, say something, murderer.”
“….Sh- Shut up!”
I reached my hand into my pocket. I stepped half a step backwards with a “Whoops”. In the space, where I stood until just now, a silver line mowed.
“How dangerous.”
<March Hare> had stood up agitated and held up his knife. I scratched my head.
“Geez…. So incompetent.”
“Incompetent… you say?”
“I mean you. You’re a half-assed bastard, who can only imitate others.”
“I… I’m not incompetent….”
Swinging his knife, <March Hare> shouted.
“I’m a chosen existence! A superior human that will surpass God and become a new God!”
“For some reason, a believer always says such stuff. Do you lack self-confidence?”
“Shut up, low-life! What’s wrong with killing people! I’m doing these useless scum a favour by sublimating them with the high art of murder! Appreciate me more! Praise me more! Respect me! Worship me! You guys are just trash! I’m an artist that turns useless trash into a piece of art!”
“What cheap words. You got some from some book?”
“Shut up! As if you could understand it! No, not just you! Everyone is just going on about stupid crap like university, job or grades. No one tries to understand me! The only one to take me side is God!”
“You mean the <Midnight killing Devil>?”
“Yeah! Haha— Right now, she has fallen, but she’s the only one, who understands me! When I saw her killing for the first time, I shuddered! It’s her. There’s no one else I could learn from!”
“Oh really.”
While scratching my neck, I faced behind the guy and said.
“—So he says. What do you think, God?”
<March Hare> turned around with cramps of surprise.
“Mh, let’s see.”
A shadow hid the light that shone in from the back entrance of the alley. The appeared girl, Kirisaki Kyouko said.
“To say it in terms of a divine message—-He’s a damn bastard that runs his mouth.”
“!You—!”
“This is the first time we meet face-to-face, <March Hare>.”
Kirisaki smiled.
“I’m the <Midnight killing Devil>. Though <former> now.”
<March Hare> looked alternately at Kirisaki and me. Then he said moaning.
“God, why… with a guy like him. Even though—I’m the only one who understands you.”
“My name is Kirisaki Kyouko. Don’t call me by the embarrassing name God.”
Kirisaki started walking.
To the alarmed <March Hare>, Kirisaki said.
“Well, what now. We could just hand you over to the police now.”
“Just try it! I’ll kill anyone!”
While pointing the tip of his knife, <March Hare> shouted.
“God! You truly have fallen! You’re no longer the existence I admired! I’m disappointed, <Midnight killing Devil>!”
“I don’t care what you admired. You selfishly forced your ideals onto me, then selfishly looked down onto me. That’s just crazy.”
“Say whatever you want…. You reign is indeed over. From now on I’ll be the <Midnight killing Devil>. And as long as I live, I’ll continue to kill until the world accepts my art!”
“Art, huh. Art, my ass. Killing people is art?”
“Yeah! Don’t deny it now!”
“I killed people for the sake of art. That’s what you’re saying?”
“What’s the point of confirming it now!”
“I see.”
Kirisaki stopped in a set distance to <March Hare>.
“Wanna change places, <March Hare>?”
“What…?”
“I changed my mind a bit. I have to resolve this myself.”
“What are you going to do, Kirisaki?”
Without answering my question, Kirisaki said.
“<March Hare>, you’re saying that you’re superior to me, right?”
“…Yeah.”
“Then proof it.”
“What?”
“You and me will fight. Should you be able to win, I’ll let you go.”
“…And when you win?”
“There’s something I want to teach you.”
Kirisaki’s hand moved. She flipped her skirt. The flattering cloth. Her fingers took out the knife out the holster, then rotated it on her palm, grabbed the hilt and took a back-handed stance.
“—So? Up for it?”
Her corner of the mouth bent in a challenge.
In an abandoned factory without people echoed the sound of clashing metal intermittent. Kirisaki and <March Hare> were slashing at each other without mercy with drawn knives. There was nothing to do for me. I was overflowing with the desire to smack down <March Hare>, but Kirisaki had said that she would resolve it herself, so it was her fight. It was not for me to interfere. Actually, if I were to step in clumsily, my whole body would end up cut up in no time.
But leaving Kirisaki aside, <March Hare>‘s movements weren’t normal either. He already slightly passed the level of an average person like me. He showed no fear towards the knife that would hurt without mercy and even responded to hurt his opponent in return on an opening. That was something totally out of my range. <March Hare> avoided Kirisaki’s cut with the slightest movement, then stepped in and at the same time aimed at her chest. The tip of the upraising knife went close by Kirisaki’s chin, as she had slightly bent backwards. Kirisaki’s back sweep scraped off <March Hare>‘s jacket. Steel against steel and screams raised. They had exchanged so many blows, yet none of them were bleeding. Simply amazing. It was a skill totally useless in society, or at least here in Japan.
But surprisingly it was Kirisaki, who was slightly liable in the count. One-by-one her movements were slightly slower than <March Hare>’s, even visible to my amateur eyes. Occasionally she had openings of the span of half a moment. As proof of that, Kirisaki had clearly more holes made from a knife in her clothes than him. Will she be okay? Hey.
Counting was a pain. After some endless clashes of knives, nearly at the same time, they both stepped backwards like they repelled each other.
Kirisaki fiddled with the knife in her hand.
<March Hare> shook his own weapon. Then he looked down on his hand as he felt something amiss. Soon afterwards he tilted his head slightly.
“….Strange. Are you really my admired <Midnight killing Devil>?”
“….”
“I can’t see any refinement in all your movements. It’s no different from a bizarre murderer, which this world has so rottenly much. The reasons I had my eyes on you were because of your superior art that robs you off your consciousness and your polished skills worth of admiration. To put it simply,”
<March Hare> throw the knife up, which made a turn in midair, then he caught it between his fingers.
“Right now you’re lacking in madness.”
Kirisaki didn’t answer. She silently took a stance with the knife in front of her eyes and took a breath.
<March Hare> gave me a side-glance.
“…Is it because of him?”
Kirisaki also shifted her gaze. Wh- What the. Don’t look at me together.
“If so, I’m extremely disappointed. Without doubt you’re a genius murderer, who appears only once in a hundred years. And to think your skills would degenerate just because you fell for a guy—”
“You sure have a loose mouth.”
Kirisaki suddenly opened her mouth. <March Hare> showed a displeased expression about being interrupted, whereupon Kirisaki raised one corner of her mouth in scorn.
“That’s why you’re just a fake.”
“…What?”
“Refinement? Art? Skill? You sure run your mouth. Just what do you know about me?”
Kirisaki slanted her eyes and said like spitting out.
“What you seek isn’t me. But just your ideal embodiment of your desires. You just wanted to believe that there are others in the world that think and act like you and that it isn’t strange.”
“What…?”
“You wanted to be recognized by someone. That the stuff you do isn’t wrong.”
Kirisaki’s knife reflected the dim sunlight.
“You wanted to be forgiven. You wanted to be embraced by someone and get your head patted, didn’t you?”
“Shut up.”
“If you seek that of me, I have to disappoint you. I’m not so generous. I have my hands full with myself.”
Holding her knife horizontally, Kirisaki raised the corners of her mouth.
“—If you want a pat on the head, go ask your mama, boy.”
“SHUT UUUUUUUUP!”
With a violent outburst, <March Hare> dashed forward.
“What do you know! What do you know! What do you knooooooooow!”
The simply thrown knife aimed at Kirisaki’s throat. But Kirisaki said without trying to protect herself.
“….You’re more foolish than I thought. Any further talk is useless.”
She combed up her hair with her free hand and smiled.
“Let’s end this. —-About time I get serious.”
She moved —-At least to me it looked like Kirisaki only took a simple step forward. But in the next moment, <March Hare>‘s knife flew through the air along with a loud metallic sound.
“…Huh?”
No, that wasn’t all. Along with a massive splash of blood, numerous “something” scattered around.
That were—- <March Hare>‘s fingers.
“Aw—Ugh—-GYAAAAAAAAAH!”
While holding his hand and screaming, he fell onto his knees. On his body too was a red line engraved. In that one moment, she had sliced twice? What a fearsome girl. <March Hare> screamed in pain while he collapsed. His superior behaviour from earlier was gone and all that was left was a human being choked in pain.
“My fing, My fingeeeeeeeers! Owwwww!”
“Did you really think you could take me on equally? I lack madness? Don’t make me laugh.”
While fiddling with the knife in her hand, Kirisaki approached <March Hare>.
“You didn’t even realize I was playing with you, yet you dared to imitate “me”?”
He retreated scared. Kirisaki looked down on <March Hare>.
“….What’s up, Mr. Artist? Wasn’t I already someone worthless to you?”
“Sh- Shut up…”
“You only lost a few fingers and look the state you’re in. And the wound on your body shouldn’t be fatal either. So stand up already. When your right hand is useless, just hold the knife with your left hand. Try to cut me.”
<March Hare> showed no movement. Kirisaki said in total spite.
“Can’t do it? Don’t make me laugh. When you pick up a knife, be at least prepared to get cut yourself. You only talk big, but do everything only half-assed. In the end, you’re just one of these stupid brats.”
<March Hare> looked down and mumbled. “I can’t hear you. What did you say?” Kirisaki asked. Then <March Hare> mumbled clearly louder.
“I’m… a superior human.”
Soon he continued like a damn on his mouth had been lifted.
“I’masuperiorhumanIhaveawonderfulabilityAchosentalentEveryonedenies
andlooksdownonmebutsoonI’lllaughatthemI’mageniusI’mstrongerthananyone.”
His blood-shot eyes faced Kirisaki and he shouted while spilling drool.
“I’m! Stronger, than anyone! I have to be!”
“Those who are really strong, don’t claim so themselves.”
“Don’t spout such unrefined wooooords!”
<March Hare> grabbed the fallen knife with his left hand and thrust it towards Kirisaki’s chest. The repelled knife drew a couple of lines in the air, then clashed with Kirisaki’s, afterwards they separated. That looked similar, yet contradicting.
“DieDieDieDieDieDieDieDieeeeeee!”
“…How stupid. I have enough of talking with you.”
Kirisaki sighed. Just like a bored kid in a grand fight.
“It’s over for you— Get that already.”
<March Hare> received a sever kick from Kirisaki into the side. He moaned and lost his balance. Upon that opening, Kirisaki pierced <March Hare>‘s fist with her knife. Blood gushed out when she pulled it out. Screaming in pain, <March Hare> inadvertent let go off his knife. He shouted.
“Sh—”
At that moment, Kirisaki thrust her knife against <March Hare>‘s neck, while he widened his eyes.
Kirisaki smiled faintly.
“….Get it now?”
“Guh….”
….Seemed like the fight was over. I shook my head in relief.
<March Hare> looked up in the sky. He quietly closed his eyes and took a small breath.
“….It’s my loss.”
“Certainly.”
“Kill me.”
“What?”
“Just kill me.”
<March Hare> said grumbling.
“…Just like others notice that they can play the flute well or that they can make others laugh, some day I noticed that I can kill better than anyone. But that was all. I had nothing else. I was athletic, but not enough to go professional. I was dumb. Still, I worked hard. But it was in vain. Nobody valued my talent. Not just that, when one day my parents found me dissecting a rabbit, they told me: ‘What are you doing! That’s disgusting.’ I explained it to them. How great my skill was. How valuable it was. But it was no good. They just became more disgusted.”
His lips crooked lightly.
“…How happy do you think I was when I met you? How hard do you think I worked to get closer to you? I practiced and practiced. I continued to polish my skills. I thought I finally found it. A comrade for me. No, something even more. But it was different. Yeah, different. I admired you. I respected you. But I know you were different from me.”
<Mach Hare> looked at me. Then he grumbled disappointed.
“How did you end up like that. You should always stand above me. As long as you’re there, I can go on living in whatever world….Ah, but forget it. Whatever I say, it’s too late now.”
He leaked his last words.
“Okay—Kill me.”
Kirisaki didn’t answer immediately. For a while she looked at <March Hare>. How much time passed like that? Then Kirisaki said.
“…No, I won’t kill you.”
“What?”
“I told you that I have something to teach you.”
Kirisaki put down her knife.
“You won’t… kill me?”
“You’re misunderstanding. I’m at fault for that too, but—-”
“You say— you won’t kill me?”
<March Hare> widened his eyes. His cloudy, white eyeballs looked up into the sky. Right there, like that he got on his knees. And then….
At first I thought it was a roar of some animal. Because it was a strange sound like from a spam, that I never heard before. But in time, I understood what it was.
…He was laughing.
<March Hare> was leaking an unpleasant laughter like he forced it out from the bottom of his throat.
“You won’t kill me— ….Aw, what a shame, <Midnight killing Devil>. To think you would make such a choice. A real shame.”
“Hey—”
Then.
“—-It’s just no good.”
When Kirisaki raised her voice as she noticed something, he made his move.
“I can’t be killed by you when you’re like that.”
Without a moment to be cautious, a dull sound echoed. I knew that I unconsciously leaked a “Geh” from my mouth. I first noticed it when I pressed on my throat. My throat was—
My throat was pierced.
“Guh, Gah….!”
“Kugito!”
No voice was coming it. The bleeding didn’t stop. The shocked Kirisaki rushed over to me. I wanted to shout: Wait. If you do that, you’re just playing into his hands!
But I didn’t even have time to face Kirisaki and point behind her. <March Hare> pulled out another knife from his pocket and stroke out at Kirisaki’s defenceless back.
“—-!”
She turned around. Kirisaki immediately opposed the incoming knife. Actually it looked like she would barely make it. But then the worst circumstances took place.
The moment Kirisaki’s knife engaged with <March Hare>‘s, it broke at the hilt. I remembered how Kirisaki told me that her knife was in bad shape. And with the repeated sever attacks it finally reached it’s limit. At the worst timing ever. Kirisaki made a hounded expression. <March Hare> laughed with a face that said he had won. The tip of his knife was moving straight towards Kirisaki’s chest.
“……!”
I shouted Kirisaki’s name, but my sliced throat had lost it’s normal functions. Kirisaki looked my way and smiled. Just like she had given up on something. Stop it, I shouted in my heart. In my head floated a familiar scene. The collapsed Rin. My powerlessness a that time. Agitation pierced my insides. I couldn’t do anything. Damn it….!
—-Don’t
Rin said.
—Don’t leave Kirisaki alone, okay.
“……..!”
At that moment, something burst open inside me and I started running. I knew that I couldn’t possibly make it. Still, I couldn’t stop. I was certain. Kirisaki could start anew. Even if she was a terrible serial killer, she could start over as long as I was there. My ability that I thought to be fucking useless, was the greatest salvation for her. That’s why I wouldn’t abandon her. I must not abandon her.
I would never leave her alone!
“….Ah….g….!”
Spitting out incomprehensible words with my muddy voice, I faced Kirisaki and reached out my hand. But I didn’t grab anything. <March Hare>‘s dagger drew near Kirisaki. Then—–
Kirisaki flipped her skirt.
The light cloths flattered.
Under it appeared the bear patterned panties.
And then, Kirisaki—–pulled her “other knife” from the holster on her tight.
“Wha!?”
<March Hare> widened his eyes in surprise. Kirisaki’s hand sent the knife coming at her flying. No, that wasn’t quite it. The flying knife from <March Hare> was stilled “being grabbed”. In other words, Kirisaki had— sent his knife flying together with his hand. And while she stepped in, she took her raised up knife and—-
stabbed straight into <March Hare>‘s chest.
“Bah—”
When she pulled out the knife, fresh red blood spurted out.
<March Hare> leaked a shaking voice. For a while he staggered, then he—
“Impos…sible…”
suddenly collapsed backwards.
“….Mh.”
While looking at her own weapon, Kirisaki turned my way. Then she smiled faintly.
“I knew it, the sharpness of a Randall is on a different level, Kugito.”
I lost all my strength and sunk to the floor. Wh- What a misleading smile…. So her smile meant that she still had a trump card?
“What’s up, Kugito?”
I shook my head silently. I didn’t want to say anything anymore.
“But that was a close call. If it weren’t for the Randall knife that you bought me, I would have died. It#s all thanks to you, Kugito.”
…..Well, glad to hear.
“Now then….”
Kirisaki passed by me and stood before the collapsed <March Hare>.
“I avoided your vitals. You should be still alive.”
<March Hare> had his eyes closed, when he slowly opened his eyelids.
“….Why.”
He said mumbling.
“Why won’t you kill me….”
“Don’t get the wrong idea. It just means I’m not that naïve to release you from everything by killing you.”
After she flipped her skirt and put her knife away, Kirisaki continued.
“Live and atone. —That’s the burden you and me have to carry.”
“…..”
“….And I’ll teach you something.”
Kirisaki picked up the broken knife and let it rotate in her hand. She grabbed the hilt, then threw it to her feet.
She raised her foot and trampled on her old weapon with all her might.
“What…?”
“You seem to misunderstand. I’m only killing to satisfy my own desire. For nothing more or less. What I want, what I worked for to get is something else.”
“….What?”
Kirisaki said. Quite clearly.
“A bond, <March Hare>.”
Crouching down, Kirisaki made eye-contact with <March Hare>.
“…No matter how much I stabbed, my heart was never satisfied. I knew it that. But no matter how many people I came into contact with, no one loved me and I wasn’t supposed to love. But I still desired it. Anyone would be fine, just someone who would look at me for who I am.”
Then Kirisaki said slowly and quietly as she was carefully choosing her words.
“Do you get it? I’m no God. —I’m just a simple human.”
I sighed, rolled around on the spot and looked up the sky. ….How stupid. Even without me doing anything, she can pull it off just fine by herself. I did something embarrassing.
My whole body hurt all over. It was all because of Kirisaki. Anyone but me would have already died of this.
….Well,
“Since it’s me, I’ll forgive you….”
The blue sky stupidly extended above me. Suddenly Kirisaki’s face entered my field of vision.
“Are you alive, Kugito?”
“I won’t die.”
“Yeah, right.”
Kirisaki smiled. “I forgot.” Liar.
“Can you stand?”
“Somehow. What about you?”
“Not anything worth mentioning.”
“How tough.”
I raised up my upper body with guts. I touched my throat. It had already started to heal. Proof for that was that my voice somehow came out, even though still muddy for a while. Such a disgusting body as ever. I put my hand on my knee, stood up and said.
“What about him? Is he dead?”
“No, I avoided his heart. It was a promise with you. Let’s leave the rest to the police.”
“How faithful of you.”
I shrugged my shoulders, when Kirisaki smiled a “I keep my promises. Like you.”.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Really? To me it looked like you were trying to save me with all your might earlier?”
I shook my hand. I didn’t want to say anything about that.
“…Then let’s go home.”
“Yeah, let’s….Whoops.”
As Kirisaki was about to walk away, her legs staggered. I immediately reached out and supported her body.
“Be careful.”
“It tired me after all. After all I’m just a frail and beautiful high school girl.”
I had not clue what to say back to that.
“Can’t be helped.”
For a moment I let her go, then grabbed her arm and put it around my shoulders.
“A special service.”
“I would prefer you would carry me like a princess.”
Don’t ask for the impossible.
“Okay, let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
And then we walked away side by side.
From the dim darkness, towards the light.
—-As if. If I only could act that cool.
I heard a strange noise. It was just so out of place that I didn’t know what it was at first. But in time my dull brain could finally analyze it.
It was applause.
A dry sound of hand against hand echoed numerous times.
“What….?”
Kirisaki said alarmed. At that moment.
One after another, a couple of men appeared from wherever they might have been hiding. Well, actually there were women too, but that didn’t matter. Everyone wore a black suit and even sunglasses. Moreover everyone was giving an applause. Even suspicious had it’s limit.
“Some wonderful skills. Nothing less from the <Midnight killing Devil>.”
The group of black suits formed a circle around us. The last one to appear was a woman. From our perspective, she stood at the top of the circle. Her age was around the same as ours. She was rather short. Like everyone else, she also wore a suit and in one hand she held a laptop. Her expression was dreadful “void”. It was blank like she was wearing a mask and completely featureless with no shred of emotion. Her tone earlier also was monotone like from reading a script.
“Who are you…?”
“Names are unnecessary here. I am nothing but a messenger.”
The woman stopped her applause and the others followed her suit. I would guess she was the leader and that would make the others her subordinates. A brat on top of adults? What was going on?
“I have a message from a certain person, Kirisaki Kyouko-sama. Will you listen to it?”
“How do you know my name?”
“It is not just your name. We have all personal data on you. From basic things like your address, cell phone number or the school you attend, to even things like your interests, likes, your favourite TV show, your favourite book genre, how often you go to the toilet or how often you masturbate a day. Obviously, we also know about your particular tendency.”
That was a practical threat of “We can’t guarantee what will happen if you don’t listen obediently”. Even though she kindly asked if she would listen to it, it was inexorable. What was up with these guys?
“There’s no proof you’re telling the truth.”
“When you are doubtful, I do not mind speaking all the details here.”
The woman returned smoothly. By her expression it didn’t seem like she was lying. Kirisaki clicked her tongue.
“…Let’s hear it.”
“Thank you. But there is something we must do beforehand, so please wait a moment.”
“What?”
The woman gave a wink, the group of black suits nodded nearly in unison. Then they started walking all at once. Still lending my shoulder to Kirisaki, I turned around. The black suits surrounded the still collapsed <March Hare>, who was probably unconscious.
“Hey, what are—”
Before I could finish my sentence, one of them pulled out an automatic pistol from his pocket—-wait, an automatic pistol!?
“Stop—-!”
My shouting wouldn’t change anything. At that moment, a gun-shot echoed. <March Hare>’s body jumped up a bit and his halfway raised hand fell powerless onto the ground. I inadvertently looked away. And I glared at the woman.
“Why did you kill him….!”
“Rest assured. It was an anaesthetic.”
“What?”
“Please carry him.”
On the woman’s words, the men picked up <March Hare>. From my point I couldn’t tell if he was alive or not, but she had no reason to lie. I took a breath and asked the woman a belated question.
“…Just who are you?”
“I cannot answer that question. Since we are <nobody> by principle.”
“…What do you mean?”
“I will tell you the message first.”
The woman opened the laptop and started the media player.
After a while a synthetic, strange high pitch sound started playing.
“…I guess first off it’s a nice to meet you, <Midnight killing Devil> Kirisaki Kyouko and Node Kugito. You did a good job on the current incident. We got some really valuable data, I thank you for that. Now onto the main topic.”
After a selfish prologue, the one-sided conversation continued.
“I’m sure you must be tired, but I’m afraid I have something I must tell you. I want you to come over as quickly as possible. Of course we’ll prepare the method of transport. Just follow the woman, who gave you this message. She’ll guide you to me. See you then.”
For a moment there was silence, then the woman closed the laptop.
“That concludes the message.”
“….I have no clue what’s going on. Explain it from scratch.”
“I will do so at the other location. Will you follow me?”
“What if I said no?”
The woman nodded on Kirisaki’s words.
“While we would not force you to, it would not really be a smart choice. Like I told you earlier, we have data on any trivial thing about you, Kirisaki Kyouko-sama. In case you should deny our request, it would be leaked to a certain place. Likewise you, Node Kugito-sama, would surely be arrested for assisting a murderer. I believe that would sadden your sister.”
….That bitch.
The black suits passed by the woman, carrying the limp <March hare>.
“…What’ll happen to him?”
The woman answered.
“That is of no concern for you.”
An indifferent way of talking that didn’t reveal anything and rejected further questioning.
“Now then—”
The woman pinched the laptop and turned her back to us.
“—I take it that you will come with me?”
