He turned toward the young woman. And if they won’t let us walk away, we’ll at least have to make sure she gets a…way…? Huh?
Vorona had been standing right behind Shizuo just a moment ago, but now she was gone.
“Huh? Whaddaya want, ba…buh?!”
He suddenly screamed.
Huh? Tom spun around to face forward again, and in the process, he noticed that Shizuo’s eyes were bulging. When his spin finished, Tom’s eyes bulged, too.
“Wha—?!” “Hey…you…ah!” “Hrg?!” “Whoa?!”
He saw the men groaning and collapsing, as Vorona spun and moved between all of them. It was like an action scene in a movie.
Vorona’s moves were just as flashy and brilliant as her appearance. She flowed from target to target, striking the men in the chins and throats with her elbows and toes, knocking them unconscious one after the other.
Once they were down and immobile, she started going through their pockets. Soon she was handing Tom a small pile of wallets. Sadly, the Japanese language of her statement was a far cry from the smooth, practiced action moves.
“Please teach the precise amount of money to be deducted. If it is lacking, shall we conduct a home search?”
Even then, at the very moment that Tom and Shizuo shared a glance…
…the rumors raced through the town.
“Hey, you see that?”
“Shizuo.”“That was Shizuo Heiwajima.”“With a woman.”
“Was that injury story made up?”“No idea.”
“There was definitely a woman.”“Maybe she’s with the dreads guy?”
“Nah, I saw them in town.”“She was hot.”
“And the whole time they were walking…she was staring at Shizuo.”
Several hours later, Ikebukuro, Kishimojin Temple
“I can’t believe I wasn’t expecting something like that, knowing that she was connected to Simon and that sushi chef,” Tom lamented.
They had visited a number of other targets after that, and every one of them had either tried to hit on Vorona or threatened the group—with the result that Vorona knocked them out so quickly and handily that Shizuo didn’t even have time to get angry once.
“Try to spare a thought for the guys who have to mop all this up…”
“Mop up? Do you mean to dispose of the dead bodies? I have heard the standard method of Japan is sinking into Tokyo Bay.”
“No, there’s no standard of the sort. Can you try to explain this to her, Shizuo?”
“…I’m not really in a position to say, actually,” he replied.
They came to a temple for revering Kishimojin, a Buddhist goddess of protection. It was on the route from a Toden trolley stop toward Ikebukuro Station. Their next job was close by, but they decided to stop here at the Kishimojin Temple and take a breather.
It was a quiet location in the middle of a residential area, with countless trees in the expansive temple grounds, their leaves catching and splitting the reddening light of the sun—an oasis of tranquillity in the midst of the vast, bustling metropolis.
The trio, however, was in a very strange mood when it decided to stop for a break. For his part, Tom was silent as he tried to think of how he should broach the topic at hand—but to his surprise, it was Shizuo who broke the ice with Vorona.
“You seem like you’re pretty tough. You practice some kind of fighting?”
“…”
She stared at him, clearly conflicted. Whatever emotional knot was behind the look on her face was completely beyond Tom’s understanding.
After a long silence, Vorona sighed heavily and said, “I have learned only the first of first steps in many things. In youth period, through texts. In puberty, through battle. Denis and Semyon…the one you call Simon, taught me self-defense.”
“Ahh, those guys… So if you started in childhood, does that mean your dad was a fighter, too?”
“My father was expert in a fighting style called Systema. Systema was the only style I did not learn. It is…similar to rebellion against Father. I would appreciate if you do not pry.”
“I won’t ask, then. In any case, you’re pretty incredible.”
“…It sounds like farcical jest coming from you,” Vorona insisted.
Tom jumped in. “Huh…? Wait, do you know about Shizuo?”
“In Ikebukuro, it is impossible not to hear rumors,” she lied. She had only learned of Shizuo’s prowess once she saw him in action the day before. But because she’d been wearing a helmet and they hardly spoke, Shizuo did not realize it was her yet.
Perhaps Vorona had heard a rumor or two about a man wearing a bartender’s outfit. But she would have laughed off stories about throwing vending machines one-handed as a joke.
After yesterday, she had experienced his strength firsthand.
Perhaps this man, she contemplated, recalling that moment and the sight of him kicking a car like a ball and overturning everything she thought she knew. Perhaps this man could prove it to me, I hoped. Perhaps he could give me the answer to the question of humanity’s frailty.
But the excitement of that moment had totally fizzled into nothing overnight.
It was me who was unfit all along. I am…weak. What is the point of striking a block of clay to determine how strong steel is? All this means is that the people I destroyed to get here…were weaker than clay.
This was total nonsense, of course, but Vorona had settled into another glare at Shizuo. She didn’t hate him. The fierceness in her eyes was actually directed at herself.
For his part, Shizuo didn’t realize he was being stared at. He gazed up at the sky over the temple and murmured, “I dunno what rumors you heard about me, but I think you’re more incredible than I am.”
“…It is unclear what you are saying.”
“I just happen to have physical strength. That has nothing to do with whether a person is really strong or weak. If anything, the folks like you, who worked and worked to train themselves, are way stronger people than I am. That’s worthy of respect.”
“…”
I am more incredible than him? What is he saying? Maybe I just misheard him, Vorona thought.
Tom spoke up to fill the silence. “That reminds me—you said there was some fighter you respected. What was the name again…?”
“Traugott Geissendorfer. He’s unbelievable.”
“See, that’s crazy to me. From my perspective, you’re the most ridiculous of all, Shizuo. If you wanted to, you could easily bulk up and win gold medals. And once you get a bunch of them… Wait, are the medals pure gold?” Tom wondered.
“Gold medals used in Olympics are not all pure gold. Consideration for host countries with poor economy. Over ninety-two-point-five percent pure silver with six-gram coating of gold. Only pure gold medals are Nobel Prize until 1980. Even modern Nobel medal is seventy-five percent gold with pure gold coat,” Vorona answered.
She’d meant it to distract from the previous topic, and it succeeded in surprising Tom. “Wow…I feel like I just saw another incredible side of you.”
“How come they stopped using all gold for the Nobel Prize? They didn’t have the money?” Shizuo asked. His curiosity reminded Vorona of Slon and briefly rattled her heart, but her instincts took over and produced the answer from memory.
“Nobel award has cash prize. But medal of pure gold is too soft. A simple bite leaves a mark. Even little accidents cause string of marks, distortions. Alloys prevent disfiguration.”
“Oooh, I didn’t know that…”
“Tough, smart, and beautiful. You’ve got everything,” Tom remarked, but it did not please Vorona.
“…Denied. I am not beautiful, smart, and certainly not—” she started to say, words intended to convince herself, but she paused partway. There was a girl near the entrance of the temple grounds, shouting with innocent excitement.
“Ohhh! Shiii-zuuu-ooo! How are youuu?”
The trio turned and saw a girl with braided hair and glasses,
a rolled-up dojo gi slung over her back. Behind her was another girl who looked identical to her except for a gloomy expression, and then a little girl who was clearly several years younger than them.
Shizuo recognized them all. “Is that Mairu and Kururi…and Akane?!”
The little elementary-age girl hiding behind the twins saw Shizuo and trotted forward at a run.
“Big Brother Shizuo!”
“Hey, it’s me. Listen up.”
“The rumor was true!”“I was just watching Shizuo from afar!”
“This little girl ran over to Shizuo and just straight up hugged him!”
“Really?”“Shizuo’s kid?”
“So not only was the woman part true, so was the kid!”
The rumor raced through a specific class of people like a thunderbolt.
Cell phones and the Internet acted as a medium, giving shape to the rumor in real time—and provided these rumormongers with almost pathological excitement.
“How many people can we get here right away…?”
The rumor that was more wishful thinking than logic turned out to be true.
Of course, in reality it wasn’t true at all, but they were now convinced of its accuracy, anyway.
And that was because they needed it to be true, which meant that considering any other possibility was pointless.
Excitement overtook the gossiping gaggle’s bodies, gifting them with a dynamic agency they could never exhibit otherwise—no matter what their goals were.
“I dunno what’s gonna happen, but I want at least a dozen guys in some cars.”
“Once the girls leave Shizuo’s side, we’re gonna kidnap ’em.”
Why is Akane Awakusu here?
Vorona quietly scanned the area, surprised. She suspected that some of the Awakusu-kai were nearby.
I’m wasting my time, she realized. They could certainly be watching her now, but they would not do so from out in the open where she would see. And without any gear on her person, she would be helpless if anyone on the level of that Akabayashi man showed up.
No, wait… We already settled the matter. As long as I do not touch that Akane girl, the Awakusu-kai will not harass me. On the other hand, I don’t know how sincere they are about that deal, so there’s nothing wrong with being cautious.
In any case…I will not rest easy within the security Father bought for me.
Meanwhile, the three girls chattered and squealed, though the majority of the noise was coming from the one with glasses.
“Hey! Hey! Who’s that pretty lady?! Can I hug her?!”
“Don’t do it,” said Shizuo, grabbing the girl by the back of her collar and holding her aloft like a cat.
The other one, wearing a gloomy face, bowed to Tom. “…Earlier…bag…thanks…” [Thank you for the bag to hide the money the other day.]
“Oh, sure. Don’t mention it,” he replied.
“And since we got another three hundred thousand this morning, we were able to carry it around in that bag, Kuru!”
“Three hun—!” Tom gasped. He decided to tap the girls on the shoulders and advised, “Listen…this isn’t really my place to say, but…don’t do anything that would disappoint your parents. You’re such sweet kids—you shouldn’t sell yourselves short like this. I mean, three hundred thousand yen is a lot of cash, but it’s an asset you shouldn’t put a price on…”
“?” “?”
The twins looked confused. Tom’s lecture was based on an entirely mistaken assumption.
Akane, meanwhile, clung to Shizuo’s pants as she looked up at him with a beaming smile. “Thanks for yesterday, Big Brother Shizuo!”
“Hmm? Oh, sure, don’t mention it. Kids like you oughta be more free-spirited; don’t go dragging your obligations around with you,” he said with a grimace and stroked her head. Akane squealed and pressed his hand down with her own.
Seeing this, Vorona thought, She is so carefree. Especially for having been abducted by us just yesterday. Or…perhaps it’s actually a sign of strength that she’s already overcome her hardship. I suppose I really am weaker than anyone…
Next, Shizuo addressed the twins: “So what are you two doing with Akane, anyway?”
“We’re more surprised that you know Akane, Shizuo! Turns out that she just joined my dojo today! My training for the day is over, so once Kuru came by, I decided to give Akane a tour of the area!”
“Oh, your dojo? So it’s for self-defense? Not a bad idea, actually,” Shizuo replied.
“D-do you think so? Then I’ll give it a shot,” Akane said, smiling.
Shizuo’s grin faded a bit as he considered something. He turned back to the twins. “Speaking of which…what’s up with your fleabrain brother?”
“…Surprise…?” [Huh…?]
“Don’t you watch the news on TV, Shizuo?”
“What? Well, I left early to do the collection rounds. Why? Was there something interesting on the news? Did they finally arrest him?”
“It’s a secret. You should check the papers or the Internet when you get back home. You’ll be amazed!”
“…Brother…safe…” [Izaya escaped with his life.]
“?”
Shizuo wasn’t sure what she meant by that and was going to ask for more information when Tom cut him off: “Hey, Shizuo, we gotta go hit up that place already.”
“Right,” he grunted, switching back to work mode.
“This place will be a little delicate, as there’s a family involved, Vorona. Do you mind waiting this one out?” Tom continued.
“…I am on standby?”
“Well, we don’t want you putting on a big display like the last few. Why don’t you just stay here with these girls and chat over some tea? Uh, tea not included.”
Tom Tanaka’s best quality was his ability to adjust to any person’s needs. Once he got used to them, he could adapt and learn to get along with anyone, even people like Shizuo and Vorona, who normal folks would instantly be too afraid to approach.
One of Tom’s on-the-fly adjustments was recognizing that Vorona, who was more suited to action and not negotiation, was best left behind on this one. Of course, he was still going to bring along Shizuo as a valuable means of ensuring his own safety.
“Well,” he decided, “it’s a good thing we’ve got so many girls here to keep you company. Shizuo and I should be back in, oh, about ten minutes. You can wait alone if you really want, but I’d hate for you to feel lonely on your first day at the job. Can I ask you girls to hang out here?”
“Sure.”
“…Pleasure…” [I’d be happy to.]
“I’ll wait here until you come back, Big Brother Shizuo!”
With those approvals in place, the four women decided to remain on the temple grounds.
None of them realized that they were being watched.
“Hey, Shizuo just split off from the girls! You ready yet?!”
“Don’t worry. It’ll be less than a minute.”
“Also, I doubt they mean anything, but…there are also two teenage girls there who seem to know him.”
“So we’ll grab them, too.”
“Really? All of them? You sure, man?”
“Well, the rumor I heard is…”
“Yesterday, the Dollars abducted a group of, like, five girls, including some motorcycle gang boss’s lady.”
Several minutes later
“Ohhh, you know Simon? So does that mean you know Egor, too?!”
“…It is a surprise. It is outside of expectations that you would recognize Egor.”
“…Surprise…strange…” [This is quite a coincidence.]
Vorona and the girls found it no trouble at all to keep up a conversation after Tom and Shizuo left. She had assumed there would be a long silence with nothing to talk about, but the girl with the braids and her gloomy identical companion weren’t intimidated by her in the least.
To everyone’s surprise, they found they had some strange things in common. Vorona decided
to obey her new boss’s orders and stay there so she could continue the conversation.
But what should I do after this…? I’m much closer now to the man in the bartender clothes, which is good. I know his name. But what now? Do I wait for my chance and attack him from behind? But…why?
Even the nature of the hope she clung to was beginning to evade Vorona. Suddenly, Akane tugged at her sleeve.
“…Are you a friend of Big Brother Shizuo?”
“Huh?”
It was the very girl she kidnapped the day before. Apparently, the girl did not recognize her. For her part, Vorona considered the girl to be merely an element of a past event and not worthy of any personal sentiment.
“…Friend…? Rejected. Shizuo and I are nothing but work companions.”
“Oh, I see,” Akane said, looking relieved for a reason that evaded Vorona.
But it didn’t matter, because in the next moment, the Russian woman detected an anomaly in the area.
A number of cars stopped on the adjacent street and opened their doors, almost entirely at once.
—!
Alarms went off in Vorona’s head. She crouched immediately and glanced around the temple grounds.
Emerging from several nearby vans was a group of men wearing ski masks, like bank robbers did. They didn’t have any visible weapons, but they did seem to be carrying ropes and sacks.
“Huh? What? What’s this? That doesn’t look good!”
“…Bad…?” [Kidnappers?]
Sure enough, the men were on a beeline right toward them. They were racing at full speed, their sacks rustling with a violence that would be menacing to an ordinary person.
But that was the key part: to an ordinary person.
They would spread out in a circle around the girls and put the sacks over their heads. Once the girls were blinded and panicking, they’d load them into the cars and drive off.
Very simple job.
But not an easy one.
Durarara!!, Vol. 7 Page 15
