Chapter 39

INTERMISSION Online Rumors On the Ikebukuro information site IkeNew! Version I.KEBU.KUR.O New Post: [Warfare Breaks Out!] Former gang member hit by street attacker [Return of the Yellow Scarves?] “Where did the Headless Rider go?” (Rehosted from Tokyo Warrior online site) In the early hours of the morning, an anonymous call placed from a public phone claimed that a man had been beaten on the street. Police arrived at the scene and discovered a man with a wounded head. The person who called in the tip had left the scene, perhaps fearing retaliation. The man was transported to a hospital, where his injuries were labeled not life-threatening. According to the tip, the attacker wore black clothes in the style of a onesie costume and struck the victim with what looked like a white stick. Police are investigating whether the attack is related to the string of recent incidents. The man was identified as a prominent member of a former color-based street gang from Ikebukuro, apparently leading some to suggest that it was actually the work of another gang of some kind, mocked up to look like the street attacker. Various groups are on heightened alert for the possibility of a new wave of gang violence. —(The rest of this article can be read at the original link) For reference: a comment from Shinichi Tsukumoya on another news site Whether or not it has anything to do with the street attacks, it’s true that the leader of Dragon Zombies returning to town has shifted the power balance with other groups like the younger gurentai. There’s a new name being thrown about, Snake Hands—though I don’t know if that’s a person’s nickname or a group moniker. I’m curious to see if he, she, or they become the next eye of the storm in Ikebukuro. The victim in this case was a fellow who attracted much attention in the heyday of the Dollars, so that could light the embers from that past era or is a sign they’re already lit. We ought to be wary. Comment from IkeNew! Administrator According to the online rumors, they say it was Mr. H, who just got out of pwison. Some say he was the leader of the Yellow Scarves, if onwy fow a moment. A scawwy man out of jaiw… A free man no longer being punished by the law, perhaps struck down by his victims out of revenge—or maybe he only looks tough due to his reputation and was easily taken down by the cuwpwit? If it’s a stweet waw, who’s the attackew? Dragon Zombies? Jan-Jaka-Jan? Dollars? Yellow Scarves? Blue Squares? Toramaru from Saitama? Or is there some new power in Ikebukuro we’ve never heard of? It’s scawwy! It’s fweaky! The stweet attackew’s scawwy, but so are the thugs forming up new gangs. God save us aww. Admin: Rira Tailtooth Zaiya A selection of representative twits from the social network Twittia Have you noticed how Tsukumoya changes his writing style by the site or book? When he’s being serious, he writes normally, but his style gets pretty wild when he’s being blunt. I wonder which is his true voice? It’s like there are several of him. Maybe there are. So it was Horada who got knocked out? Sounds like it. lmao. Suck it. That’s kinda mean. He deserves every awful thing that happens to him. Yeah. He was just Izumii’s dingleberry, but he acts like he’s such hot shit. I heard he used to have a gun, though. That’s crazy. Hope they execute him soon. So is this really the street attacker? Or is it just another person with beef? Has to be the attacker. There are witnesses. Would gangs with beef do cosplay? The tip was anonymous, right? Could’ve been a gang enemy calling it in. For example, say you knock him out and report the attack. You gotta give visual details, right? Then the police will believe it was the street attacker, right? And they won’t suspect your dopey little gang, right? Wow, like, this is a big brain moment, right? Uh, you realize that pretty much anyone could have come up with that? Why don’t you shut up, right? Wow, you’re sooo smart /s You think that’s funny? I’m seconds away from blocking you. I think that’s possible. In fact, all the attacks could be by a motorcycle gang. It seems likely. Maybe not all the older attacks, though. What makes them any different? Why would a motorcycle gang do cosplay to attack couples and grandpas on the street? It was the Headless Rider. You can’t just blame everything on the Rider! Well, that whole faked group kidnapping was indirectly their fault. It’s not right to blame every little thing on the Headless Rider. The Headless Rider is a very sweet person. Those people who faked the kidnapping did that on their own. They’re more like antis than true believers. In fact, some people say it was the Rider who solved that kidnapping. You’re so desperate. I looked at his profile and it says he’s a “black market doctor” loooool B L A C K M A R K E T D O C T O R i’m dead I wonder what happened with Snake Hands. Haven’t heard of anything since. That was the Headless Rider’s girlfriend, right? Not boyfriend? Is the Headless Rider a girl? I’ve heard as much. She totally is. I’ve seen her get off her bike, and her figure is definitely feminine. You just have to look from the side, and you’ll see she’s got a chest. So that would mean, assuming she’s not gay, Snake Hands must be her boyfriend. Wrong. Snake Hands is NOT her boyfriend. Now that’s a relationship that’s truly as irrelevant as hands on a snake. Shut up, “black market doctor.” She’s not gonna give you a medical license lol * (DMs between two accounts) Hey, Shinra. I’m out on a job, so I’ll tell you this from here: Knock it off. You sound like a troll. You’re usually so calm and collected. Why do you freak out about Yahiro like this? Sorry, Celty. I’m ashamed of myself. This Yahiro gets to fight at your side, but I can’t do that. I’m so jealous that you get to watch each other’s backs! Uh…you realize that’s not what’s going on between us, right? I swear. You never got this jealous when I would talk with Shizuo or Izaya. Yeah… I know I’m being weird. Ever since two years ago, I’ve had something on my mind. Remember when you were so worried for me when I got kidnapped by another woman? I think, now that another man is coming on to you, a part of me feels like I should be acting jealous… I appreciate the sentiment, but you’re going about it all wrong. Yahiro is not “coming on to me,” for one thing. Anyway, I get it. We can talk about this more when I get home. Also, Shinra? You should delete that “black market doctor” thing in your profile. It’s fine—nobody believes it. I won’t get turned in to the authorities. Er, that’s not what I mean… It’s just really embarrassing to see everyone make fun of you for it…