Chapter 50

“…” A nasty shiver ran down Yahiro’s back. Blessed with natural cowardice, his finely honed instincts told him that Saburo was most certainly not joking about that. “Anyway, thanks again. I really appreciate you helping me out on your day off.” It was several minutes later, and Togusa was getting into the wax, grinning happily from ear to ear. “It’s fine. I didn’t have anything else to do.” “Oh yeah? Well, Raira’s a private school, so they’re not tied to the two-day weekend, right? I know I shouldn’t be saying this, given that I asked you for the favor and all, but you oughtta find a more valuable use for your days off, ya know? I’d love to take you to a Ruri concert or something, but I could only get one ticket in the special section for myself… But maybe…maybe if I ask Kaztano, he could hook me up… Then again…” “Please don’t mind me. I think seeing Ruri Hijiribe on the screen is wonderful enough,” said Yahiro before Togusa went any further murmuring to himself; it wasn’t just lip service, either, but his actual honest opinion. Togusa swung his waxing arm rhythmically, pleased by the answer. “Exactly—exactly. Even through the screen, her beauty has a holy quality to it! But it’s a whole ’nother thing when you see her in person! She’s beyond an angel, man—she’s like the god who created my entire world. She’s not the gasoline that fuels my heart—she’s the whole damn oil field.” Now I see why he’s friends with Karisawa and Yumasaki, Yahiro thought, sensing a common thread in the passion of Togusa’s words. He felt jealous that someone could dedicate themselves so enthusiastically to an interest like this. “…I think what I like about her is that she feels both otherworldly and familiar at the same time.” Togusa stopped waxing the car and turned to Yahiro, his face shining. “You get it, man—you get it! That’s right! Some guys see Ruri’s mystical aura and say, Oh, she’s creepy and unapproachable. I feel sorry for anyone whose only possible reaction to her mystery is to reject her for it!” “Unapproachable…” Yahiro had described her as “familiar” because there was something about her that reminded him of himself, but his coward’s instincts had stopped him cold before he could tell Togusa, I think she’s like me. So some people do think she’s distant and unapproachable. The comment wasn’t directed at him, but realizing that even super-popular idols could turn some people off, Yahiro couldn’t help but wonder dejectedly, If it’s even like that for Ruri Hijiribe, what hope is there for someone like me? He was indulging in a bit of self-pity when the sound of bright and cheerful music distracted him. It was the main theme of the Vampire Ninja Carmilla Saizou series, which starred Ruri Hijiribe. When he realized it was coming from his pocket, he apologized to Togusa and took his phone out to see he had a message. It’s from Kuon. What could it be? At first, he assumed it was a new job from Snake Hands, but this wasn’t from that address. The notification was from Kuon’s private e-mail. Yahiro opened the message without giving it much thought—and gasped when he saw what it was. “…Huh?” “What’s up?” asked Togusa, busy with his waxing. Yahiro repeated the information contained in the message, his eyes wavering just a bit. “There’s a secondhand shop I go to with my friends, called Sonohara-dou…and it just got hit by a burglar…” “Huh?” Togusa blurted out, the exact same noise Yahiro had made. His brow furrowed. “Sonohara-dou? You mean Anri’s place?” “Wait…you know Miss Sonohara?” Yahiro asked, his eyes wide. Togusa exhaled and shook his head. “Man… Ikebukuro really is a lot smaller than you’d think…” Then he grinned and added something else. “Or maybe it’s just that you somehow know everybody in it.” Meanwhile—apartment bar, Tokyo “How strange, the way these things work out. I didn’t even call for you, courier, but you came right to me instead.” At the far end of a bar built into a renovated apartment, a man with tinted glasses and facial scars—the Awakusu-kai lieutenant, Akabayashi—smirked at his guest. Across from him was Celty, who could not eat or drink, of course, so she sat feeling guilty about not ordering anything. “I’m sorry to take up your time like this. The truth is, I wanted to pay you a visit because I had a feeling that something I’m following at the moment might have a connection to your group…,” she typed into her smartphone and turned the screen to him. “Well, that doesn’t sound good.” Akabayashi grimaced. Ice cubes clinked in his glass. “Are you sticking your head into trouble when we’re not even payin’ you? It wasn’t a request from the Asuki-gumi, I trust.” “I am not that reckless. And if I wanted advice on yakuza issues, I’d talk to Mr. Shiki, not you.” “Oh? Well, there’s not much that I know about that Shiki doesn’t,” Akabayashi said, which was a serious statement, not tongue-in-cheek. Celty typed up the information she wanted to know. “I’ve heard that any issues involving motorcycle gangs and other street-level groups like Jan-Jaka-Jan and Dragon Zombie go through you, not Mr. Shiki.” “Ah…now I see what you mean.” Akabayashi smirked, exhaling through his nose. He took a sip from his glass. “I thought the kids were awful well-behaved lately, after the Dollars and Yellow Scarves went away. Instead, we’ve had crazed believers in urban legends going wild. Did they mess with you or something?” “Well, I can’t be certain,” Celty prefaced, hesitating and keeping her senses keen toward the room around them. “I’m looking for someone, you see, and I’ve heard that they’re affiliated with a motorcycle gang or some other group like that.” “Uh-huh… It’s strange to hear about a courier doing a manhunt, but it shouldn’t be, I suppose; we’ve asked you to do something like that a few times, after all. So this person you’re looking for… Based on what you’re saying, I’m guessing it’s someone young, perhaps still a minor.” “I’m afraid I can’t tell you that. Trust is crucial to a courier’s work.” After showing him the message, Celty had a sudden start and hastened to add, “Of course, I’m not naive enough to expect to keep all my information and have you tell me what I want for free. I’ll prepare as much payment as I can for what you’ll tell me.” “Oh no, no—that’s fine. Shiki and Aozaki might try to pry the details outta you, but me…? Here’s an idea. Whenever you’ve got some free time, you can tell me some information I’m looking for in return.” “You’re looking for information?” “There are some folks I’m curious about.” Akabayashi tilted his glass back, and when he was done, he wore his usual smile again. “You know about Heaven’s Slave?” “Uh…I think I might have heard the name somewhere…” Heaven’s Slave?! Oh, she’d more than heard of it. That was the group that came to Celty back when Izaya Orihara was using her. She recalled hearing the name pop up during the recent cult obsession over her, too. Why would he be mentioning them? But…given Izaya’s involvement, I should probably play dumb for now. “Every now and then, I do. But I’ve never sought out more than that…” “They were a group distributing some very naughty drugs in Ikebukuro, back when the Dollars were around.” “…That was a very foolish thing to do, then.” Celty knew very well that Akabayashi abhorred drugs, and the Awakusu-kai didn’t deal in them on the boss’s orders. She was aware of what would happen to people who decided to start up such a business right under the Awakusu-kai’s nose. “Well, they supposedly fell apart, but the remnants have started messing around again. Is that what you’ve ‘heard the name’ in reference to, Miss Worshipful Founder of Headless Riderism?” “Please don’t. That’s a shameful part of my personal history. I didn’t even have anything to do with it…” “Sorry, sorry. I’m more curious about this Snake Hands fella that was rumored to be your boyfriend after all that…but as long as he’s not gettin’ into trouble around town, I don’t have anything to say to him.” “…Thank you.” I certainly can’t go putting in a good word for Yahiro with the Awakusu-kai… Grateful that Akabayashi was willing to let the topic of the monstrous Snake Hands go, Celty decided she was willing to accept his terms. “All right, sounds good. I’d rather not have weird and dangerous drugs going around Ikebukuro, either.” “Well, if you don’t like things getting violent around town, maybe you shouldn’t be working with violent men like me, eh? With your power, you could easily crush the Awakusu-kai.” “You’re exaggerating. Besides, while I might be fine, I don’t want anything to happen to the other people I care about.” “All the more reason to cut off all ties with yakuza.” He smirked. Celty couldn’t tell whether he was being sincere. “Well, let’s start with what you wanted to discuss… Oops, hold on. Phone call,” he said, squinting at the name on his phone as it went off. He stood up. “Sorry, courier. It’s from family. Can you give me a minute?” “I’ll be fine right here,” Celty said. She was suddenly aware that her own cell phone, which she kept close to her chest, was also vibrating. I wonder what it is. A message? The name “Snake Hands” on the screen told her it was from Kuon Kotonami. He had two e-mail addresses; she’d registered his work address as “Snake Hands” and his personal address as “Snake Eyes.” He’d said, “If Yahiro is the mysterious Snake Hands, then I can be Snake Eyes. Himeka will be Snakeskin, and Celty can be Snake Tail!” Most would’ve taken it as a joke, but Celty was the only one who had diligently changed his contact name in her phone. He said that I was Snake Tail because it was a pun on “folktale”…but it kind of sounded to me like he just made it up off the top of his head… Speaking of snakes…I wonder how Meline’s doing these days, the snake woman I met ages ago in the forests of France… It was with these old memories in her mind that Celty absently checked the e-mail. The message’s contents, in contrast to its brief nature, were shocking. “There was a burglar at Sonohara-dou. From what Aoba and the twins say, you know Miss Sonohara, right? Just thought I’d let you know!” …What? Huh? Someone broke into Anri’s shop?! What does this mean? Is she all right?! The girl owned Saika, of course, so she could presumably fight off anyone foolish enough to break in, but Celty couldn’t help but worry. I should write to her… There are probably still police around there, but I can travel over to the vicinity at least. Before she even replied to Kuon’s message, she sent Anri a quick message to confirm the girl was safe. She had just pressed the SEND button when Akabayashi returned. “Sorry about that, courier. Let’s wrap this up quick. I’ve got something to do.” “What a coincidence. I was just worrying about something, too…” They exchanged a minimum of information, and both Akabayashi and Celty agreed to prepare the requested intelligence on their next meeting before they parted ways. Celty quickly made to leave the bar and found that Akabayashi was doing the same. When he started to call for a car, she found herself asking, “If we’re going the same way, would you like a ride partway there?” “…You sure? It’s just a little bit past Zoshigaya from Ikebukuro Station.” “Perfect. I have something to see to around there, too.” “Ha-ha. The truth is, I’ve always wanted the chance to ride on that bike of yours.” He laughed as they left the bar behind. Celty had not yet put two and two together; Akabayashi’s destination was suspiciously close to her own.