Denpa Teki na Kanojo - Volume 2 - Chapter 5

  The Gouger's Perspective

That evening, Jyuu prepared dinner while thinking of how to respond to Ame. He was shocked when he saw the news on TV. 

The Gouger had claimed a new victim. The 35th. This time, it was a five-year-old boy.

The news anchor bemoaned the police’s incompetence. The critic kept pointing out the decadence of society.

Sitting in a chair at the dining table, Jyuu stared blankly at the TV screen.

It’s still going on. This case isn’t over. The Gouger won’t stop.

Despite relentless police investigations and vigilant parents, The Gouger still kidnapped children and stole their eyes.

Why hadn’t he been caught? Did The Gouger have psychic powers or something? 

He had no idea what was going on. Besides, there was no way someone like him could accomplish what the police couldn't.

So, what was the point of investigating together with Yukihime? He hadn’t found a single clue that could lead him to The Gouger.

It’s useless. No matter how hard I try, there’s nothing I can do.

The words that came to his mind were ones that’d make everything easier.

Enough. Enough already. Let’s take the easy way out. I’ll just tire myself out.

Let’s stop searching for The Gouger and do something more fun.

Won’t it be easier to forget about the embarrassing things? Let’s live casually. Don’t think too deeply about anything.

Even Benika told him to be quiet.

That was right. Besides, no one would blame Jyuuzawa Jyuu for not doing anything.

I haven’t done anything wrong. It’s none of my responsibilities.

“Alright, I’ve had enough. I’m tired. Let’s stop with this pointless stuff...”

Is it okay?

Is it really okay?

Someone argued in his mind.

Fine, then let’s discuss it thoroughly.

Jyuu returned to his room and lay down on his bed, freeing his thoughts.

With the lights off, he continued to ponder in the darkness and silence.

And then, just as he’d lost track of time, he saw something.

Two small figures walked silently into the room.

Both seemed familiar. Kagami Sakura and Kusaka Eri. Where their eyes had been, there was nothing—just two dark holes that reflected nothing. Those holes stared at Jyuu. When he came to, he noticed that there were other children with the same fate standing all over the room. Victims of The Gouger. They all silently turned their hollow eye sockets toward Jyuu.

As if they were angry. As if they were sad. As if they were pleading for some kind of strength. 

Jyuu wasn’t the slightest bit scared of them. Besides, this was just an illusion caused by lack of sleep, born from Jyuu’s guilt. As such, there was no way he could be scared of them. 

Instead, he felt sad, frustrated, and pathetic for his own powerlessness.

There would be more children like these. The number of hollow eye sockets would increase.

“...There’s no way I can just leave them like that.”

The sun sunk in through the window at dawn. He opened the curtains and stared straight into the dazzling sun.

Kagami Sakura would never see this again. She had once said she was afraid of the dark, and now she would never see the sunrise again. Kusaka Eri would never see it either. There were many other children like them.

It was The Gouger’s fault, and unless he was stopped, there would be more children like these.

Benika said, “Don’t get any strange ideas.”

Ame said, “You shouldn’t get involved in this matter.”

And they were right. As an amateur, it’d be best for him to keep quiet.

What was his initial motivation?

At first, Jyuu wanted to atone for what happened to Kagami Sakura.

But now, that wasn’t all. He truly hated The Gouger. He promised Kusaka Eri that he’d stop The Gouger.

Jyuu made up his mind and went to Ame’s house the next day, Sunday.

Ame seemed desperate to put the matter on hold, but Jyuu was determined to uncover everything she knew. However, when he arrived in front of Ame’s house, he felt intimidated.

The self-loathing he felt on the day Hikaru chased him away returned. He should’ve called Ame beforehand, but he didn’t know Ame’s home or cell phone number. Only then did it occur that he’d never tried to contact her before.

He pondered for a few minutes in front of the gate, and hesitantly pressed the intercom.

“Who is this?”

A cool and elegant voice rang from the other side.

Realizing it was her mother, Jyuu nervously answered, “I’m Jyuuzawa Jyuu. Ame-san’s... friend.”

He hesitated a bit because he wasn’t used to it, but Ame’s mother seemed to understand right away.

“Oh, you’re the wild boy who came the other day.”

That’s how she sees me?

Jyuu tried to answer as politely as possible, “Yes. Uhm, is Ame-san at home.”

Ame’s mother said, “Please wait a moment,” and then added, “Please come in and wait.”

Jyuu opened the gate and walked up the stepping stones to the front door. From there, he could see the beautiful garden trees, which seemed to be regularly tended by a gardener. 

Is this hair okay?

If Ame’s mother saw that his hair was now blond instead of black, she might think it was strange. Would she forbid him from meeting Ame? 

As Jyuu was thinking about this, the front door opened wide. Jyuu was about to greet the person but suddenly froze.

It was Hikaru.

"Are you deaf? Or do you have a brain defect? I’ve told you so many times, yet you still come here! You're so dense! Just go away! Haven’t you learned your lesson?"

She was as harsh as ever, but Jyuu couldn’t back down.

“I have something to talk about with your sister.”

“But my sister has no business with you.”

“I do. I have something important to talk about.”

“Are you guys breaking up yet?”

Jyuu smiled bitterly to Hikaru, who seemed to be looking forward to that. 

“Like I said, I have something important to talk about.”

“Tell me the details. Depending on that, I might let you through.”

“Why do I need your permission?”

“Because I’m Ochibana Hikaru.”

“I’m Jyuuzawa Jyuu.”

“So what?”

“That should be my line!”

“This is why, guys like you are...!”

“Hikaru-chan.”

Hikaru stood upright upon hearing her sister’s voice from behind her.

She meekly turned around and put on a fake smile, trying to gauge Ame’s mood.

“Y-you see! It’s been a while since I last met Jyuuzawa-senpai, so I got a bit carried away...”

“I won’t forgive you if you’re rude to Jyuu-sama. I told you that before, didn’t I?”

“But the other day, he was acting like such a creep...”

“Hikaru-chan.”

“I’m sorry.”

Hikaru was easily defeated. She looked at Jyuu with resentment, but quietly retreated. She stuck out her tongue as she did so, causing Jyuu to smile wryly.

‘She’s a lovable girl,’ Jyuu thought.

“I apologize for my sister.”

“I don’t mind. This time, I’m the one in the wrong.”

Ame had a strange look on her face, but didn’t ask any more.

“Please come in.”

“The entrance is fine.”

“Is this about The Gouger?”

“That’s right. I thought about it all night yesterday, but nothing changed. You said you couldn’t solve it, but you also said you could put an end to it. Tell me how.”

“Understood.”

Ame agreed, perhaps because of seeing Jyuu’s steely resolve. 

“Then let’s switch the location. Where we’ll be is up to the other person.”

“The other person?”

“Kusaka-san.”

“...Kusaka?”

“I’ll also call Yukihime and Madoka.”

“Why?”

“Just in case, it’s insurance. I’ll explain later.”

Why did they need insurance?

It was a bit of a concern, but neither of them would get in the way, so Jyuu didn’t press any further.

Ame’s actions were always much more rational than his own, so there must be a reason for them.

Ame then used her cell phone to call them. Not wanting to run into her mother, he decided to wait outside the front door.

As he did so, the front door opened, and Hikaru popped in.

“...Where are you taking my Onee-chan?”

“Don’t worry. We aren’t alone. Yukihime is with us.”

“You... you called her by her first name! When did you get close to Yukihime-senpai?!”

“Your sister introduced me to her.”

“So, you’re cheating on my Onee-chan with Yukihime-senpai...!”

“No, it’s not like that.”

“Toying with two girls, taking turns with them, how disgusting!”

“Your imagination is more disgusting!”

Jyuu’s protests didn’t seem to reach her ears. Hikaru glared at him, muttering, “Maybe that’s why Onee-chan has been feeling down lately...”

“She’s feeling down?”

Come to think of it, Ame did seem like that a bit.

He wondered if she was concerned about something.

Hikaru looked at Jyuu’s reaction with contempt.

“You’re the worst. You’re with her, yet you don’t notice a thing. What a dense fool.”

“Don’t notice what?”

“A woman’s heart.”

Jyuu had no clue.

“Why would Yukihime-senpai be with this moron...? There’re plenty of better men out there!”

“What about Kusaka?”

The surprise attack was a success. Her annoyance toward Jyuu vanished, and she quickly regained her composure. Her ability to shift moods resembled her sister’s.

“...Well, he’s the same as you.”

That was unexpected. From the way Hikaru had spoken before, he thought she liked Kusaka a little, but it seemed she had only said that to get rid of Jyuu.

“Really? He’s as bad as me?”

“Well, you’re annoying both in appearance and personality, but that guy looks normal, yet is insufferable on the inside.”

Hikaru's face twisted so much that she must have truly loathed Kusaka.

“Why do you hate him?”

Hikaru contemplated for a moment, but after a while, sighed as if she’d given up.

“...I wonder why. I don’t really know. I just think he’s bad news. He has a completely different personality from you. If I had to compare you two to something I hate, you'd be a dentist, and Kusaka would be a cockroach."

What an incomprehensible analogy.

Ame’s phone call seemed to end while they were talking.

Hikaru hurriedly left, but on the way, she turned around and stuck out her tongue again. 

Jyuu waved back with a smile.

Ame told Jyuu to wait a moment, then went back to her room for some reason, before reappearing again.

“What’s the matter?”

“I’ve got my luggage.”

“Luggage?”

“Some weapons.”

Jyuu walked out with Ame, laughing wryly at how cautious she was.

“So, have you arranged to meet with Kusaka?”

“Yes. We’ve even decided on a place to meet.”

“It’s fine to meet, but does that mean he knows something about The Gouger?”

“Probably.”

“I see...”

Kusaka Eri was the first victim. It was possible that Kusaka did his own investigation when his niece was attacked. Was Ame trying to find out through Kusaka?

Also, was it just his imagination, or was Ame in a good mood?

Perhaps, she was happy to be of help to Jyuu after such a long time.

In any case, Jyuu decided to leave it to Ame.

***

The meeting place with Kusaka was a coffee shop in Downtown Shinjuku.

Jyuu took the train and stopped when he got off at the platform. Ame followed suit and looked up at Jyuu’s face.

“What’s wrong?”

“Before this, didn’t you invite him to come over?”

“Yes.”

“He’s also called and written to you several times, hasn’t he?”

“Yes.”

“What were they about?”

“Date invitation.”

It took immense courage for Jyuu to ask, but Ame’s answer was simple. 

“...Then, do you feel anything for him?”

“I don’t,” Ame said casually, followed by an unwavering declaration of intent, “Serving Jyuu-sama is my one and only way of life.”

There was a frightening degree of conviction in that statement.

“I don’t know why, but it seems that Kusaka-san has some kind of obsession with me. No matter how many times I refuse, he won’t give up. Recently, he even came to my house.”

Not only did Kusaka show up out of nowhere, he also tried to persuade her to let him in. No matter how much time passed, Kusaka refused to give up. In the end, Ame had no choice but to let Kusaka into her room. 

“He’s obsessed with me based on a one-sided assumption, which is annoying.”

You’re one to talk.

Still, a sense of relief spread through Jyuu’s chest. Now, he could guess the reason for Kusaka’s rudeness toward him. Kusaka might be jealous of Jyuu.

Jyuu went down the stairs and headed for the ticket gate. He slowed his pace to match Ame, a natural kindness and peace of mind welling up inside him.

The coffee shop Kusaka had chosen was located on the main street. It was still early for their appointed time, and Yukihime and Madoka had yet to arrive, so the two decided to wait inside.

A bell rang as they opened the door, and a waitress welcomed them. They declined the invitation to a seat, and soon found Kusaka. Kusaka noticed them and narrowed his eyes, holding a cigarette in his mouth. His expression was a mixture of surprise and annoyance.  

As Jyuu and Ame approached his seats, Kusaka exhaled cigarette smoke, saying, “What’s going on here, Ochibana-san? What is he doing here?”

Apparently, Ame had made an arrangement to meet Kusaka, but hadn’t told him the details.

Kusaka was probably trying to say they were supposed to meet alone, but now this troublesome intruder had shown up.

“Jyuu-sama wants to stop The Gouger.”

Hearing Ame’s straightforward words stunned Kusaka briefly. However, he quickly regained his composure and took a sip of coffee.

“Some guy you are, Jyuuzawa-kun. Last time, it was Kirishima-san, and today, it’s Ochibana-san. Do you need women to solve everything for you?”

“I’m just his chaperone—”

“—You know something about The Gouger, don’t you? I want to ask you about it,” said Jyuu, preventing Ame from arguing.

For once, he agreed with Hikaru—Kusaka was insufferable.

Kusaka placed the coffee he was drinking on the table, picked up his bag, and stood up.

“Let’s go somewhere else.”

After paying at the register, Kusaka left the store. Jyuu and Ame had no choice but to follow him.

Kusaka threw his cigarette on the street, stamped it out with his shoe, and put a new one in his mouth.

“There’s a place nearby that’s good for long conversations. I’ll take you there.”

“Where’s that?”

“Are you scared? Pfft!” Jyuu was wary, earning him a sneer from Kusaka. “It’s a good place to have adult conversations.”

And with that, Kusaka strode quickly, with Jyuu and Ame trailing behind.

“Don’t call them.”

“But...”

“It’s fine.”

Since they had changed the location, they wouldn’t be able to meet up with Yukihime and Endo. Nevertheless, if Kusaka saw the two girls join in, he’d only make fun of Jyuu even more. It was a matter of pride. Of course, Jyuu knew how silly it was.

Ame seemed like she still had something to say, so Jyuu spoke in a light-hearted tone. “It’s okay, it’s not like we’re going to fight or anything.”

“But just to be sure...”

“You’re here, aren’t you?”

Jyuu had said this casually, but Ame seemed to take it differently.

Ame gazed at Jyuu’s profile and smiled meaningfully.

“Leave it to me. No matter what happens, I’ll definitely protect you, Jyuu-sama—even if my life is forfeit,” she declared.

It seemed that he’d ignited her fighting spirit. Looking at her like that, Jyuu felt as if the unpleasant feelings and tension from earlier had mysteriously faded. He could also feel excess tension leaving him.

An illusion of happiness.

Regardless, Ame, who brought said feeling to him, was definitely right next to him.

***

The store Kusaka was heading for seemed to be quite far back in the entertainment district. The two of them continued on their way, keeping a little distance from Kusaka.

Drunkards would drink since the middle of the day in this area. Moreover, besides homeless people, gangster-like people and mean-looking foreigners filled the road. Ordinary people would hesitate to set foot there if it wasn’t daytime. It was well-known that the police box in this area was always out on patrol, and there were no police officers around.

There were countless cases of people being shot or stabbed, yet the police turned a blind eye because it wasn’t murder. The police were obviously using patrols as an excuse to avoid getting involved in any trouble.

As they walked through the somewhat frivolous atmosphere, Jyuu stole a glance at Ame, who walked beside him. She was just the same as always.

She completely ignored the foreigners who tauntingly leered at her.

Crows swarmed around the garbage dump, and the scattered food waste spread a foul stench in the area.

Jyuu was disgusted by the crows flying around at an extremely low altitude.

A woman who seemed like a hostess got out of a nearby taxi and vomited on the spot. It startled a stray dog, which ran off in surprise.

Jyuu didn’t really like this kind of chaotic atmosphere. He believed that chaos should stay inside the mind.

“Chaos is one of the universe’s attributes, so it’s only natural that the order can’t be maintained.”

Jyuu agreed with Ame’s words. Even if they boasted that they were primates, perhaps humans couldn’t overcome primitive instincts, after all.

“I sometimes wonder, where exactly are we headed?”

Ame looked up at him curiously, and Jyuu carefully chose his words as he continued, “You know, don’t they always say that if you stumble in a place like this in life, you can’t move forward? Where are we headed?”

“That’s probably...”

Suddenly, Kusaka stopped and turned around, so the two stopped talking.

“This store.”

Kusaka pointed to the building of a finance company next to the pachinko parlor. Behind it, there was a small sign with its light cut off—“Zarathustra.”

“Zarathustra?”

“It’s a book by Friedrich Nietzsche.”

Ame answered Jyuu’s question.

Following Kusaka into the entrance, they suddenly found themselves on a steep staircase. They went down the stairs relying on the light of the dying fluorescent light.

Jyuu remembered the underground store in Akihabara.

“Why do people with a dark past like to live underground?”

“Either they unconsciously avoid the heavens, or they desire something that lies beneath the earth, I think.”

A long staircase. When they reached a depth of about four stories underground, a thick wooden door appeared ahead.

Kusaka grabbed the doorknob and pushed the door open.

The inside of the restaurant was surprisingly spacious, with thirteen tables. Together with the counter seats, it could seat about sixty people. Countless electric lights were on from the ceiling, as if to counteract the darkness of the basement. However, some of the bulbs were out, and the resulting patchy darkness highlighted the black stains on the wall.

It was still daytime, so the restaurant was open. Nevertheless, there were only two staff there, both black. One was smoking at the counter, while the other was mopping the floor. The only customers were a young Japanese couple and an older man who looked like a salaryman, who had fallen asleep on the sofa after drinking.

“This is my favorite place. The atmosphere is nice, right?”

Kusaka sat down on a nearby sofa, and Jyuu and Ame sat down opposite him. The place was sticky with cigarette tar and pretty unclean.

“You two, order whatever you like. I’ll pay for it. Unfortunately, we don’t have a children’s menu, but we do have juice. They also understand Japanese, so don’t worry.”

When Kusaka raised his hand, a black man approached with heavy steps. He had the build of a professional wrestler and looked intimidating just standing still. Kusaka ordered a brandy of some kind.

Considering what they were going to talk about, Jyuu decided to play it safe and ordered a soda.

Next to her, Ame said calmly, “I’ll have vodka.”

“Vodhka, ish it?”

Ame nodded to the waiter who asked in slightly poorly pronounced Japanese.

“A bottle, please.”

The waiter’s eyes widened, as if he hadn’t expected such a thing from a small girl. Nevertheless, he bowed respectfully before leaving.

“Can you hold your liquor?”

“Level 17.”

Jyuu thought she was just talking about her age, but Kusaka burst out laughing.

“Ochibana-san never ceases to amaze me!”

Ame said nothing and drank the water the waiter had left out.

The inside of the store was very quiet, with overseas hit charts playing softly on the radio cable. Since it was deep underground, the outside noise couldn’t be heard.

There wasn’t much ventilation, so the air was bad, but not unbearable.

Kusaka put a cigarette in his mouth, lit the fire, and spoke forcefully.

“So, what do you want to ask me?”

After giving Jyuu a wink, Ame said, “Jyuu-sama wishes to stop The Gouger.”

“I heard before that Jyuuzawa-kun and Kirishima-san were investigating the case. Still, I’m not impressed you lent a hand to him so carelessly! That sort of thing should just be left to the police—”

“I heard that your niece Eri was wearing glasses before the incident.”

Kusaka’s hand, holding the cigarette, trembled violently.

“Who told you?”

“I have a friend who has connections with the police.”

“That’s so...” Kusaka took a deep puff of the cigarette and exhaled the smoke. Before it dissolved into the air, he said, “...So, what does that have to do with what we’re talking about today?”

“Could be.”

“You’re being vague. I’ll ask this out of personal curiosity. What do you think of The Gouger incident, Ochibana-san?”

“I don’t think it’s a crime.”

“Then what is it?”

“It’s business.”

Unlike Jyuu, whose eyes were wide with shock, Kusaka seemed as if he was trying to hold back his laughter.

The waiter placed the ordered items in front of the three. Just as Ame had ordered, it was a whole large bottle of vodka.

Ame paid no heed and went on with the explanation, saying, “When I read about the first incident in the newspaper, I thought it was the work of an eccentric criminal. However, as the incidents continued, I realized something was wrong. These kinds of incidents can’t happen.”

“You said they can’t happen, but they’re actually happening, aren’t they?”

“Jyuu-sama, as I said earlier, this isn’t a crime.”

What is she on about?

As Jyuu became more and more confused, Ame explained, saying, “Even though The Gouger’s case has been reported many times, don’t you think it’s too easy for a child to be kidnapped?”

“That’s true, but kidnapping isn’t that difficult, and it could also be parental negligence...”

"That certainly explains it to an extent. But there have been 34 cases so far—35 if you count the one that happened yesterday. There’s no way so many people could fall victim without witnesses or any clues to the perpetrator. It’s just too strange. Of course it is—because this isn’t a crime."

“So what is it then?”

“This is business.”

Kusaka’s laughter echoed throughout the restaurant.

The couple at a nearby table looked at him with annoyed expressions, but Kusaka went on laughing without caring.

“You’re really good at surprising people, Ochibana-san. What an interesting theory.”

“It’s just a reasonable interpretation.”

“I’d like to hear more about that reasonable interpretation.”

Kusaka seemed to enjoy Ame’s story.

Jyuu also urged her to continue with a gaze, and Ame followed suit.

“I immediately knew this wasn’t a crime, but I couldn’t figure out who was behind it. To be honest, I wasn’t that interested, but Jyuu-sama wanted to stop The Gouger. So, I asked my friend to gather the documents and decided to think about it thoroughly.”

Ame had expected that Jyuu’s resolve would be unwavering, so she’d been thinking about the case since yesterday.

The young couple stood up and left the bar.

With the drunken man, there were only four customers left in the bar.

“Kusaka-san, I heard that your niece Eri only wore glasses at home. Some children are embarrassed by glasses, so it's not that unusual. But then, Eri was caught by The Gouger. All the children who were caught by The Gouger, except for Eri, didn’t wear glasses at home or outside. In other words, as some media outlets have reported, the theory that children who wore glasses are safe is somewhat true. So why was Eri the only one who was attacked, even though she was wearing glasses? Was it because The Gouger made an exception? Or was it just a coincidence? Or was he simply unaware of Eri’s habit of only wearing glasses at home? I’ve thought about it a lot, but I’ve come to the conclusion that Eri was the only victim of The Gouger.”

Strictly speaking, the only victim in The Gouger’s incident was Kusaka Eri? In an attempt to comprehend what Ame was saying, Jyuu only got more confused.

“Children who wear glasses aren’t attacked because The Gouger doesn’t want poor eyesight. The fact that Eri’s eyes were stolen despite her poor eyesight is likely because, as it was the first time, it was more of an experimental purpose.”

“...Ochibana-san, how much do you know?”

The composure that had been there from before was starting to fade from Kusaka’s expression. The eyes behind the glasses watched Ame vigilantly.

“I don’t know. It’s all just conjecture. They only steal eyes with good vision. The kidnapping is easy—they’ve done it 35 times without getting caught. Under what circumstances would that be possible? The answer is business. And if we assume that the sudden incident was a business, I thought it was highly likely it was one of Eri’s relatives who was running it.”

“Why relatives?”

“They were close by so it would’ve been easy to experiment.”

“Are you suspecting me?”

“Yes,” Ame calmly confirmed.

"When you saw me arrive with Jyuu-sama today, you already knew you were being suspected—and you must have been quite anxious."

“Well, I didn’t expect you to bring someone else...”

"If you were innocent, you wouldn’t go out of your way to change locations. The fact that you moved to such a bogus store seems like a sign you're hiding something."

“...”

“If necessary, I could ask a friend to look into your accounts. You probably have one set up for business purposes, and the balance would be quite substantial.”

“You’re clever, Ochibana-san. Just as I expected.” Kusaka shrugged in surrender.

While Jyuu couldn’t keep up with the situation, the two continued their conversation.

“The Gouger has been appearing near the store where I first met you at the end of last year. It was two weeks after I met you. Were you scouting the crime scene that day?”

“Well, kinda.”

“How much is it?”

“At least 60 million.”

“As a set?”

“Of course as a set!”

“—What are you guys talking about?!” Jyuu slammed the table roughly, interrupting them. “Ame, explain it so I can understand!”

“Yes, Jyuu-sama. This isn’t a crime, but a business transaction.”

“A business transaction? What are they even selling?”

“That’s...”

“I’ll explain it to you.”

Kusaka took out a thin and small laptop from his pocket. He opened it, which seemed to be the latest model, and lightly typed away. Then, he pointed the screen at Jyuu.

“It’ll be quicker if you look at this. Surely, even someone like you can understand it.”

Jyuu was about to look at the screen, but Ame stopped him. “No, Jyuu-sama, you mustn’t look at that.”

“Have you seen them?”

“No, but I can guess what it is.”

Kusaka let out a low chuckle. “Ochibana-san is really clever. What are you going to do, Jyuuzawa-kun? I won’t force you. We can stop right now.”

What on earth is happening?

What does it have to do with The Gouger’s incident?

Jyuu could barely understand what Ame had been saying up until now. And the only way to understand was to look at this screen.

Jyuu was a little hesitant after hearing Ame’s warning, but decided to look in the end.

Some kind of list was displayed on the screen. There were many small figures, and he could tell that they were monetary amounts.

What were those single-digit numbers?

What was the name next to it?

What was that date about?

He scrolled the screen and clicked.

Same date?

After staring at it for a while, Jyuu’s brain gradually began to understand what the chart meant.

As he did so, cold sweat began to form on his forehead. He felt dizzy—his body shook.

“Jyuu-sama!”

Jyuu was about to fall off the chair, but Ame supported him and gently rubbed his back.

Normally, he would’ve gotten angry and shrugged her off, but now he could only maintain his composure because of that gesture of hers.

“How weak. You appear brave on the outside, but this is who you really are.”

There was nothing he could say in response to Kusaka’s ridicule.

Jyuu took a deep breath and looked at the screen again.

This is ridiculous. There’s no way something like this could happen. If it’s true, then everyone must’ve gone crazy.

Jyuu looked at Ame as if asking for help.

“You’ve got to be kidding me... He’s lying, right?”

“I think he’s telling the truth.”

“C’mon now, Jyuuzawa-kun. I even showed you the internal documents.” Kusaka pressed his cigarette into the ashtray and put a new one in his mouth. “They’re the real deal—documents on eyeball transactions.”

“So, then...” Jyuu’s voice was trembling. “You’re The Gouger?”

“I’m the one who came up with this business. I don’t do all the work, but I guess that’s fair. I am The Gouger,” Kusaka admitted without any remorse.

Kusaka Seiji was the criminal they had been looking for all along. The brutal killer who’d stolen the eyes of 35 children. And the reason why the children’s eyes had been stolen—the reason why the crimes had continued to be successful—was this document.

Jyuu was in utter disbelief.

“You... sold the children’s eyes?”

“That’s right.”

“And they’re all sold with the parents’ consent...?”

“Of course.” Kusaka nodded calmly, exhaling smoke. “If you want, I can show you the receipt.”

Jyuu grabbed the laptop with trembling hands and stared at the screen. Written on it were the children’s names and ages, along with the price of their eyeballs. In other words, the amount paid to the parents. The parents’ confirmation of the sale.

Jyuu finally understood what The Gouger incident was.

As Ame had pointed out, this wasn’t a crime. It was a sale—just a business.

No wonder the children were taken away so easily, without any witnesses. After all, the parents fully cooperated with the kidnapping. Besides, they could easily give their children sleeping pills or whatever.

Most of the testimony given to the police was probably fabricated.

Everyone was an accomplice.

It wasn’t a coincidence that Kagami Sakura got lost that day. Her parents had deliberately arranged for her to get lost in order to make it easier to kidnap her. Everything was set up.

If a child suddenly lost their eyes, others would suspect the parents. However, if they could present themselves as victims of the crime, they’d instead garner sympathy. It was a kind of camouflage.

“What kind of parent would sell their child’s eyes?!”

“It must be for financial reasons,” said Ame while staring at Jyuu with concern. “I had Endo look into it yesterday, and it seems that Kagami Sakura-chan’s family had a massive debt after her father’s company went bankrupt recently. The families of the other victims were also in financial difficulty.”

“That’s crazy. No matter how poor you are, how could you sell your child’s eyes?!”

“You seem to have grown up in a very privileged family.”

Kusaka’s unpleasant laughter rang in Jyuu’s eardrums unpleasantly.

“There are parents in this world who’re willing to sell their children to get money to escape poverty. It’s not selfish or cold-hearted. They don’t want money to spend on things—they want to survive. Some parents have no choice in order for their families to survive. That’s the reality."

“So, Kagami Sakura’s parents also sold their child’s eyes.”

“Yes. They sold their daughter’s eyes. Apparently, her parents were in debt and ended up in the hospital. They were in a lot of trouble. I felt so sorry for her, so I gave her a bit of cash,” said Kusaka Seiji matter-of-factly.

Many things were wavering inside Jyuu. Ethics, morality, law, common sense... He could no longer tell what was right and what was wrong.

Why did he even investigate the case with Yukihime in the first place?

Who would’ve thought that such a revolting truth could exist?

Kusaka called the waiter to bring another glass of brandy. He shook the glass to make the ice clink, and savored the sound and aroma as he blended them together.

Jyuu was confused and in pain. Ame was beside him, supporting him.

Seeing this, Kusaka said with a grin, “Looking back, I think it all started with my niece, Eri. She wasn’t very bright, but she had beautiful eyes. They were, how should I put it, very sparkly. They say that children’s eyes have a pure sparkle, don’t they? I agree. One day, I looked into Eri’s eyes and noticed it—I was fascinated by that sparkle.”

It was trivial at first. However, it later became a factor that greatly altered Kusaka’s fate.

Kusaka worked for a major pharmaceutical manufacturer and was an excellent employee, so he was trusted by his superiors. It was through his superiors that Kusaka came to meet various people. They wished for Kusaka to be inspired by them and achieve greater heights. At first, Kusaka heeded their intentions. But then one day, one of the men let slip a crucial secret to Kusaka.

The man worked for a company that dealt with implants, and was knowledgeable about kidney and heart transplants. He seemed to be fond of Kusaka due to his smartness and promising future.

While keeping his voice low to avoid disturbing others, that man told Kusaka the following over a drink:

“Did you know, Kusaka-kun? Eye transplant surgery has been around for a long time.”

That was the first Kusaka heard of it. A technology that was still considered impossible by the general public had already become a reality.

When Kusaka asked why it hadn’t been reported, the man replied, “Well, it’s expensive. Not just the surgery, but the eyeballs. After all, you need young, fresh, and healthy eyeballs, and those aren’t easy to come by. That’s why the surgery is only available to a few rich people. I don’t want to say it out loud, but there are more people who make money in this industry in the underworld. I think it’s because people get injured more often. Those kinds of people don’t lend money to others.”

Usually, if one were to hear such a story, they’d just be confused. They’d probably try to forget about it as a random topic at a drinking party, but the man named Kusaka Seiji was different.

He came up with a money-making scheme. He’d approach poor families with a business deal.

“Would you like to sell your child’s eyes?”

Although it was illegal for people to sell their own organs when they needed money, it wasn’t that uncommon around the world. There were many people who sold them. Eyeballs were part of the same trend. Moreover, unlike internal organs, losing an eyeball wasn’t life-threatening.

Facing such a business deal, common sense and ethics could get in the way, and it wouldn’t be accepted so easily.

However, were all parents like that? Would every parent reject it? Surely, there were some who’d accept?

Kusaka immediately took action. He was a brilliant man. In a short time, he made contact with a merchant in the underworld and enticed him with his money-making scheme.

Nevertheless, it was still an outlandish idea. Without the goods, the deal wouldn’t go any further. Kusaka had to actually show that it’d be successful. It was difficult to find such a parent right away, and with the deadline approaching, Kusaka decided to find a shortcut for the time being.

Thankfully, he had something close by. His niece Eri was a brave girl who’d take any sweets or juice he gave her without question. She didn’t even consider the possibility that there could be sleeping pills in it. She was stupid, yet her eyes were beautiful. Above all, she was young.

So, Kusaka went ahead and did it. He succeeded. Having obtained what he was after, Kusaka showed it to an underworld merchant, who made a deal with him. It was a great business that was limited to Asia at first, but could eventually spread worldwide.

“Looking back, I was really nervous at the time. I gathered the staff needed to remove the eyeballs, but it was our first time. It took time, and the removal method was quite rough. Well, I reflected on that and gradually improved it. That was how I found out that the optimal age for transplants was around that age.”

Kusaka’s tone was like that of an ordinary guy talking about hardships, without any remorse whatsoever.

Jyuu finally understood why Kusaka confessed so readily.

This guy doesn’t think he’s doing anything wrong at all.

So, even though Kusaka was surprised and frustrated that Ame had guessed it, he took it as a good opportunity to start boasting. It wasn’t a confession of guilt, just a flex. He was gloating about how well he’d done.

“By the way, Eri’s eyes weren’t good enough for sale. If you have poor eyesight, they aren’t worth much. It’d be a waste to throw them away, so I’m keeping them as a lucky charm.”

Kusaka took out a keychain from his pocket. A pair of eyeballs that’d normally be considered imitations. Eri’s eyes were specially processed and attached with a keychain, making it a one-of-a-kind souvenir.

When Kusaka poked it with his finger, Eri’s eyeballs spun. The rotation stopped, and the two eyes stared at Jyuu. Having lost their souls, they were just organic matter.

Jyuu remembered Eri’s figure. She was desperately walking with a cane. Her uncle, who stood next to her with a nonchalant look on his face, was the one who’d robbed her of her vision. She didn’t even know that he was treating her eyes like a plaything.

She didn’t know anything.

Then, Eri’s words returned to him. She wanted him to tell her if he’d found the Gouger. She said, tears streaming from her closed eyes, “Please stop The Gouger.”

Jyuu desperately tried to control his rough breathing and glared at Kusaka. It felt like something inside of him was going to burst. It might’ve been the first time in his life that he’d ever despised someone’s guts so much.

“Don’t you feel anything? You took that girl’s eyes away...”

“Nope.”

“You...”

“What’s wrong? You look like you’re about to cry.”

“She was your damn niece! How could you do that to her?!”

“I don’t think it matters whether or not we’re related.”

“You heard what she said, didn’t you?! He told me to stop The Gouger! She wasn’t just worried and sad about herself, but also about other children, and yet you...!”

“So what? Don’t take a child’s nonsense so seriously, you idiot."

“...You’re the worst.”

“Hey, don’t misunderstand.” Kusaka gave a bitter smile, seemingly a bit troubled. “You think I do this because I enjoy it? It’s simply business. I don’t do it to satisfy my desires. Still, that doesn’t mean I don’t feel anything. I’m the type of person who thinks positively about everything, and I try to enjoy whatever work is thrown my way. If you ask me whether it’s fun or difficult, I’d say it’s quite fun. Gouging out children’s eyes is addicting, you know? They’re powerless and protected by society. Destroying such things fills me with something inside. Of course, I can’t deny if you say that’s just my own opinion. It’s only natural that a third party would think it was an incomprehensible act of barbarism.”

Kusaka took out a new cigarette. He lit it and took a sip of his liquor.

“I’ll be honest with you—I hate children. Though, I like their eyes—their sparkle, to be precise. Children, though? Those selfish, thoughtless, reckless little creatures that move around so quickly—I hate them all. It sickens me to think that I was like that in the past. We just don’t mesh well. It's their fault for being born later.”

Saying this, he took another sip of brandy. He was drinking quickly, probably because he was excited in his own way.

“Are you guys not going to drink?” He stared alternately between Jyuu and Ame, but they didn’t react. Without paying any attention to them, he sipped his brandy again.

“Did you do it just for the money?”

Smiling bitterly at Jyuu’s glare, Kusaka replied, “I intend to do something big someday. I’m talented, so I’m sure I’ll succeed. But I need money to do that. The underworld is much more generous than the common society. It’s the perfect place to make money.”

It’s all for the money. Not for crazy ideas or entertainment, just for the money.

“Well, that’s about it from my perspective. I’m The Gouger, for sure, but do I really deserve all the hate? I was just helping people in need...”

The glass of soda broke into pieces. Jyuu had smashed it with his fist.

The shards of glass pierced his fist, and the wound bled, yet he didn’t feel any pain. His heart ached the most.

Ame quickly took out a handkerchief and wrapped it around Jyuu’s fist, stopping the bleeding for the time being.

Kusaka laughed with glee.

“Why are you so mad? I didn’t kill or hurt your family, lover, or friends. You have absolutely nothing to do with it. So why are you angry?”

“Because you took away the children’s eyes.”

“Are you a justice warrior?”

“There’s no such thing. That’s why I’m angry!”

Jyuu clenched his fist. The red stain spread across the handkerchief, and the wound widened, but that didn’t matter.

He couldn’t help but say it.

“Even if the parents agreed to sell their eyes, what about the children?! Did they agree to have their eyes sold?”

“The parents agreed. That’s all that matters.”

“Children don’t belong to their parents!”

“Children are the property of their parents. They’re weak creatures that will die if left alone. Heck, you could pick them up and throw them in the river if you want. They’re small creatures that parents have no choice but to raise. It’s just out of pity, because they’re blood-related. Children can’t live without their parents. Parents give them life. Parents have the power to decide their life and death. Isn’t that what you call property?”

As if trying to teach common sense to an ignorant youth, Kusaka said, “I’m sure that some of the parents who sold their children’s eyes are suffering. Their children will suffer too. But that’s none of my business.”

“Shut up.”

“So you think the whole family should hang? Don’t you think it would’ve been much better for one child to be slightly injured than for the whole family to die?”

“Shut up, you fucking...!”

“Hey, hey...”

“Shut up, I’ll kill you!”

Kusaka was speechless, either shocked or astonished by the man’s vehemence. The ash from his cigarette fell onto the table.

“You still don’t get it?! You and the children’s parents are all wrong. Everyone is wrong. The circumstances don’t matter. There’s something you absolutely mustn’t do, no matter what—”

“All I did was a legitimate transaction.”

“I said shut the fuck up! It’s wrong to make money by hurting and tormenting children! No matter what reason you have, it’s wrong! It’s just wrong, you idiot!”

Sighing, Kusaka shook his head and asked Ame. “This is the man you chose?”

“This is the man I chose,” Ame answered proudly.

With an expression that said he couldn’t understand, Kusaka downed his brandy.

He put the empty glass on the table and said quietly, “So, what are you going to do? Turn me in to the police? I’m sure you know, but if I get caught by the police, everything will come to light. The fact that a parent sold their child’s eyes to make money. I’m sure the child will be hurt. They’ll hate their parents for the rest of their lives. The family will fall apart. Are you okay with that?”

“I’m going to put an end to this!”

“What about you, Ochibana-san? Don’t you agree with me?”

“As Jyuu-sama commands!”

Kusaka sighed and slid his laptop back into his bag. Jyuu thought he’d run away, but the man didn’t seem to be planning to do so.

Jyuu tried to call the police on his phone, but he soon found out that there was no signal.

“Unfortunately, phones don’t work inside this store,” Kusaka said calmly, throwing his cigarette into the ashtray. “Do you guys know how many people go missing in Japan every year? About 100,000. That many people suddenly disappear one day.”

Jyuu didn’t understand why Kusaka suddenly said something like that.

“Neither of you are going anywhere.”

This guy... is he trying to get rid of us?

Jyuu was worried, but thinking about it carefully, he and Ame were confident in their skills. Besides, they were inside the store. He didn’t think Kusaka could do anything alone.

Just then, he noticed how strangely quiet the store was. Before he knew it, the music had stopped.

The burly waiter went to the entrance door and closed it with a click. Another waiter also came out from behind the counter. He was slender, yet he was holding an ice pick in his hand. The burly waiter had a blank look on his face, while the slender one was chewing gum, watching Jyuu and Ame.

“This store also has a side business of hitmen. They’re pretty well known around here. If you pay them, they’ll kill anyone who gets in the way and properly dispose of the body.”

Kusaka had lured them to this store to dispose of them. Did the man plan it from the beginning? Was that why he readily confessed everything? Or was this all a bluff?

Just as Jyuu was contemplating the possibility, he heard a languid voice.

An elderly man who'd passed out drunk had woken up. Judging from his sluggish movements, he still seemed drunk. He looked around the store, dumbfounded by the strange atmosphere.

“Huh? What are you guys doing?”

Those were his last words.

The slender waiter closed in on an instant and stabbed the old man in the chest. The ice pick cleanly pierced his heart, and the man watched in silence as it was pulled out of his chest.

The old man was still at a loss. As the red stain spread across his chest, the man toppled over and helplessly collapsed to the floor. His mouth was agape, his hands clutching his chest. He trembled and convulsed. It was obviously a fatal blow. In just a dozen seconds, the man stopped moving.

The slender waiter casually wiped the blood off the ice pick with a napkin. He did it with practiced ease while chewing gum—proof that he did it all the time.

“It can’t be helped. You saw my face,” said Kusaka with a light chuckle.

What is this...?

Cold sweat ran down Jyuu’s neck. Did it really happen? For all he knew, he could be watching a movie right now. A man had been killed, yet Kusaka was laughing?

The reality he believed only extended as far as his knowledge allowed.

Then, those black stains on the wall... were they the blood of those who were disposed of here? The store itself was deep underground, so no matter how much they screamed, no one would hear it.

Since it was a den of hitmen, there must be a route to transport the bodies. They’d either throw them in the ocean or bury them somewhere.

These days, disappearances of high school students—boy or girl—were commonplace. In fact, they didn’t even make it into the newspapers. If Jyuu were to die here, what would Benika think?

Would she feel sorry for her son, who lost his life because he ignored all the warnings?

If he knew this would happen, he’d have listened to Ame’s words and called Yukihime and Madoka. How naive and immature he was! Why did he always rebel against Benika and never listen to Ame’s words?

Nearly overcome with panic, that was all Jyuu could think about. The two waiters closed in on them, not hesitating to kill. Kusaka was acting nonchalant. Could he escape from them and reach that long staircase to escape from the store?

No matter how he thought about it, escaping unscathed was unlikely.

“Ochibana-san, would you reconsider my proposal?”

“I refuse.”

“Don’t be so stubborn. You don’t want Jyuuzawa-kun to be hurt, right? If you come to me, I’ll let him go.”

Surely, she wouldn’t be deceived by Kusaka?

Worried, Jyuu shot a quick glance at Ame. Their gazes collided for a moment. In just that moment, Jyuu read Ame’s intentions perfectly. Even if it was all in their heads, their illusions converged—just for a moment.

The moment Kusaka opened his mouth to speak, Jyuu kicked the table in front of him with all his might. The table slammed against Kusaka, sending him flying backward along with the sofa. Jyuu held back the two stunned waiters behind him, and Ame seized the opportunity to close in on Kusaka.

As Kusaka managed to move the table, Ame bashed his head with a vodka bottle. The bottle shattered, soaking Kusaka’s entire body. As Kusaka held his head in anger, Ame pointed the blazing 100-yen lighter at his wet nose.

“Freeze!”

Ame’s warning was directed at both Kusaka and the waiters.

“Ochibana-san, are you trying to burn me to death?”

“It depends on you.”

Ame had ordered the vodka to use it in this way from the beginning. What was scary was that she deliberately chose something with a high alcohol content. Jyuu also realized this just before.

“I’m aware of it—you’re an excellent person who can live without being bound by common sense. Just like me. Come, live with me.”

“That’s a huge misunderstanding. I’m a person of common sense, whose life purpose is to serve my master.”

Ame didn’t care about Kusaka’s invitation.

“Surrender, Kusaka Seiji.”

“...Unfortunately, the full fee of this store has been paid in advance. Do you understand what that means?”

The two waiters would carry out their work no matter what happened to their employer, Kusaka.

“Don’t move, Ochibana-san, or I might escape?” Kusaka watched Ame’s reaction with amusement.

As he listened to the exchange from behind, Jyuu had a realization. Removing his watch, he wrapped it in the handkerchief from Ame and gripped it firmly. With a deep breath, he remembered Benika’s advice—a strategy for fighting someone more powerful.

He had no intention of dying here. There were still things he wanted to do. There were still things he didn’t understand. There were mountains of things he hadn’t discovered.

The burly waiter clenched his fists and braced himself. An amateur’s blows would be ineffective against his thick physique. Beside him, the slender waiter shook the hand holding the ice pick from side to side. Judging from his earlier technique, he was quite nimble and precise. These two were professionals.

The chances of winning were slim, but Jyuu was going to try anyway.

He’d blow these guys away, and then Kusaka as well.

“C’mon, come at me!” Jyuu said, beckoning to them.

The burly waiter responded. He charged forward. However, Ame stepped in front of Jyuu, who should’ve received the blow.

Rather than apprehending the culprit, her priority had always been Jyuu’s safety.

With both hands ready, Ame attacked the two waiters.

“Jyuu-sama, please get away!”

“Idiot! What the hell are you doing?!”

As if he could do that.

“Get out of the way!” Jyuu pushed Ame aside and stepped forward.

The two professional hitmen must’ve found this ridiculous. They were going to kill both of them anyway—the only difference was who would die first and who would die last.

The two store clerks were calm. Without a word, intimidation, or panic, they simply moved forward quietly.

As he shielded Ame behind his back, Jyuu trembled. Was it anger, fear, or excitement? None of it mattered.

I’d stop The Gouger. I’d end it here.

“Hey, you can kill them both, but don’t hurt the woman’s eyes.” Kusaka, who’d been watching with amusement, gave instructions.

Eyes, he says?

Jyuu looked at him skeptically, and Kusaka explained. “The first reason I was attracted to her was her eyes. I knew it the moment I saw her. They were... amazing. Exquisite eyes with a deep shine, without any age-related cloudiness. I’ve seen many eyes, so I know my stuff. To be stared at by those eyes... how great it’d be! That’s why I approached her.”

“You... you only wanted her eyes...”

The reason Kusaka kept staring at Ame when they first met was because he was appraising her eyes. Then, Ame’s “value,” which Kusaka mentioned before, had to be her eyes, right?

“No, no, of course I was serious about dating her. Her thoughts were interesting, and I thought she’d be tolerant of my methods. I had thought she’d be a decent partner. Well, sadly... there’s a change of plans. If I’m going to kill her anyway, I might as well take her eyes.”

Kusaka shook the keychain made of Eri’s eyeballs.

“If I can get them, I won’t be needing this anymore.”

He dropped the keychain on the floor and stepped on it. Eri’s eyes were crushed under his shoes.

Jyuu felt as if he heard Eri’s scream.

“Ochibana-san’s eyes will surely make a good luck charm. I’ll be sure to treasure them.”

“Unfortunately, every single hair and drop of blood I have belongs to Jyuu-sama.”

Even in this situation, Ame’s calm voice mysteriously gave Jyuu courage.

The two waiters took two steps forward, while Jyuu took one.

Just as the tension that dominated the room was about to explode, the door to the store shook violently.

The eyes of the five people were focused on the store’s entrance. The burly waiter approached the door, shouting something in rough English. The door shook again. A sound like two hard objects hitting each other echoed from the other side.

Was someone trying to break in?

A particularly loud sound rang out and the lock seemed to have snapped completely.

The door slowly opened in front of the wary burly waiter. When the giant tried to see who it was, someone’s shoes dug into his face. A long leg suddenly burst in from the gap in the open door.

The burly waiter leaned back from the impact and groaned in pain, clutching his crushed nose.

Ame didn’t miss the chance and jumped out from behind Jyuu, slamming her elbow into the giant’s jaw. It was a splendid blow, utilizing her entire body.

Even though the burly waiter screamed, Ame had no mercy. She finished him off with a stun gun taken out of her pocket. The giant fell to the floor, pulling the surrounding tables with him. The stun gun, improved from its previous lesson, rendered him unconscious.

“I saw a creepy face so I instinctively kicked him, but it looks like it turned out okay.”

The one who kicked the burly waiter was Madoka Madoka. Then, someone pushed open the door.

Kirishima Yukihime appeared. “Are you two still alive?”

She threw away the knife she’d used to break the lock. Fishing out a cutter, she pushed out the blade with a click.

Perhaps it was because she didn’t see the ice pick—or perhaps because she did—that Yukihime strode toward the slender waiter without hesitation. With devilish quickness, she thrusted the cutter toward the stunned waiter. The blade disappeared into his nostril like a magic trick. The slender waiter’s face was covered in greasy sweat, more from fear than pain.

Tilting her head, Yukihime asked emotionlessly, “Do you want to die?”

The ice pick could’ve stabbed Yukihime’s chest even if she moved a little. Despite being aware of this, Yukihime was unfazed.

Mutual killing. The mental fortitude to make such a decision in an instant.

The slender waiter must’ve realized that the opponent was out of his league. He muttered something, as if pleading.

Yukihime smiled. “Sorry, but I don’t understand English.”

As she tried to thrust the blade further in, the slender waiter let out a low shriek.

“He’s surrendering.”

“Oh, really?”

With Ame translating, Yukihime boredly pulled out the cutter knife. There wasn’t a single drop of blood on it. She’d used just the right amount of force.

The slender waiter held his nose and abandoned his partner and Kusaka, fleeing to the back of the store.

Yukihime twirled a cutter knife between her fingers as she sent him off.

“As expected of a professional. They know their limits.”

“Yukihime, how did you know this place?” asked Jyuu.

“Eh, where’s my thanks?” Yukihime replied, looking somewhat dissatisfied.

“We beat up a few thugs and found out. You and Ame are more conspicuous than you think.”

Madoka and Yukihime couldn’t find the two in the designated coffee shop. Their calls didn’t go through either. In a bind, the two girls had no choice but to ask around—by force.

Jyuu could see Yukihime threatening people with a knife.

Still, what a shocking brawl.

The one who felt this most was Kusaka, who was supposed to be in charge of the situation.

“...What a huge miscalculation. Ochibana-san, did you call them?”

“Just in case.”

Jyuu wiped the cold sweat from his brow and moved next to Ame. Yukihime and Madoka moved behind him to prevent Kusaka from escaping.

Having given up, Kusaka looked down. “Are you going to take me to the police?”

“That’s what Jyuu-sama wants.”

There was no escape.

When Kusaka looked up, he still had a cold sneer on his face.

“Ochibana-san, what you pointed out earlier is correct. Strictly speaking, Eri is the only victim of The Gouger. I haven’t paid her parents—my sister and her husband.”

“So what?”

Kusaka turned his gaze to Jyuu, who was about to attack him.

“As for the other children, I and their parents will be considered accomplices. I didn’t take their lives, so it won’t be considered a serious crime.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Jyuuzawa-kun, when are you going to get married?”

“What?”

“Is it going to be Ochibana-san? Or maybe Kirishima-san? Well, it doesn’t matter, but you’ll get married and have children someday, right? I’ll gouge their eyes out.”

Kusaka spoke like a devil to Jyuu.

“No matter how long my sentence is, it’ll be no more than a dozen years. I’m rich, so I’ll hire several excellent lawyers. They’ll reduce my sentences and I’ll be free in no time. Then, I’ll start again. Your turn will come, Jyuuzawa-kun. I’ll gouge out the eyes of your precious children and sell them. Of course, I’ll pay you. I’ll transfer the money to the bank account of your choice.”

Jyuu went pale as he watched Kusaka smirk.

He knew Kusaka would do it—he’d definitely do it once he finished his sentence.

At the moment, Jyuu hadn’t even thought about getting married. Still, would he be able to protect his child from The Gouger? Would he be able to escape Kusaka Seiji’s malice?

Even if he caught him now, The Gouger would eventually return.

Kusaka was trying to sow the seeds of malice in Jyuu’s future.

“What’s wrong? You look pale, Jyuuzawa-kun. Are you worried about your unborn child? It’s useless. No matter how cautious you are, there are plenty of ways to kidnap a child. I’ll definitely, definitely gouge them out. I’ll gouge out your child’s eyes. You’ll get what you deserve—”

“—Shut your fucking mouth!”

Jyuu grabbed Kusaka by the collar. Kusaka grinned, pulling a small handgun tucked deep in his belt.

“Die, you buffoon.”

As the muzzle pressed against Jyuu’s stomach, something happened.

It was pure coincidence.

The tip of Kusaka’s shoe, wet with vodka, touched something on the floor. One of his cigarette butts was still smoldering. That tiny little flame ignited the vodka.

The fire instantly ran up Kusaka’s legs, ravaging his entire body.

“Ah, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!” Kusaka screamed, his mouth wide open like an idiot.

“Jyuu-sama!”

Ame jumped on to the shocked Jyuu, throwing him away from the burning Kusaka.

In front of the four of them, Kusaka writhed on the floor.

“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

No matter how much he rolled on the floor, the fire wouldn’t go out, as though the children he’d wronged had finally come for retribution.

A burning sensation assaulted Kusaka, accompanied by intense pain.

The flames burned his skin, his hair, his eyes, and even the inside of his mouth. He screamed and screamed. His skin discolored, and the strange smell of burning flesh filled the store.

“Someone, put out the fire! Help me! Help me!”

Kusaka screamed. Yelled. Cried. Rolling on the floor, he called for help.

Jyuu was about to put out the fire, but Ame clung to his waist.

“L-let go!”

Ame never let go of him.

Soon, perhaps because his throat was burning, Kusaka went quiet. The fire finally died out after most of his clothes had been burned. As a nauseating, pungent stench filled the store, Jyuu looked down at Kusaka in shock.

Part of his burnt clothes were stuck to his charred skin, and small smoke rose from his whole body. His sideburns were burned off, and the outline of his face had changed. Kusaka Seiji had become unrecognizable.

“Ame... why, why did you stop me?!”

“He was still holding a gun. He could’ve put you in danger.”

Kusaka’s hands were burning and turning brown, yet he still gripped the gun tightly.

“But, still...”

“You have no right to get angry, Jyuuzawa. I agree with Ame. She was right in prioritizing your safety.”

“Was it right to leave him to die?”

“What, you wanted him to live?”

Yukihime tilted her head, saying, “Now, that’s unexpected.”

“After serving his sentence, he’d resume his crime. He’s a villain who walks the talk.”

“You hated The Gouger, right? You couldn’t forgive him, right? If so, isn’t this good enough? What are you unhappy about?”

He should just die, that was what Jyuu thought. Still.

“That’s...”

“You’re jumping to conclusions.”

Before they realized it, Madoka had approached Kusaka and touched his smoking body, as if to check his pulse.

“He’s still breathing. I think he can still be saved. Probably.”

Madoka took out her phone to call for an ambulance, but she sighed because there was no signal.

“It’s a pain, but I guess we have to go outside for now.”

Looking around the devastation inside the store, Ame said, “Madoka, I’ll repay you someday.”

“Next time, lend me the whole set of Otome Suikoden. Unlike Yukihime, I don’t like manga cafes. I want to read at home.”

“I’ll send it to you by courier.”

“Then that makes it even.”

With that, Madoka went up the stairs to make a phone call.

Jyuu weakly clenched his fists, muttering, “Yukihime, were you aware of everything from the start?”

“To an extent,” Yukihime admitted. “I thought everyone did it with consent. I wasn’t sure until Ame called me to tell me the details. I explained it to Madoka on the way here, and she was pretty annoyed.”

“Why did you go along with me?”

“Because I was bored. And it seemed fun.”

“Sorry, I made you go along with my pointless actions.”

“It wasn’t pointless. You saved that girl. If it weren’t for you, she’d have been in trouble. Well done.”

Jyuu closed his eyes and clutched his forehead, saying, “Hey, what should we do from now on? We can’t tell those children that their parents were involved. But is that really okay? Is there a better way?”

Yukihime listened with a cold expression. Sighing lightly, she placed her hand on Jyuu’s shoulder as if to show her concern.

“Jyuuzawa. There are some things in this world that are pointless to think about, so don’t. Don’t think about them at all. It’s a waste of time and mental energy. After all, nothing will change.”

“Are you telling me to give up?”

“That’s right. If you get hung up on things like that every single time, you won’t be able to live.”

Perhaps, no, Yukihime was right.

That was a wise way to live. Jyuu thought so as well. Yet, he didn’t want to accept that. He wanted to fight back. He didn’t care if it was pointless.

“Let’s think about it.”

Ame’s hand gently wrapped around Jyuu’s fist. Her hand was soft and small.

“I think that’s fine, Jyuu-sama. Please think about it.”

“...It might be a waste of time.”

“I’ll help you.”

Jyuu wanted to thank her, but in the end, he couldn’t say anything. He hated himself for caring about pride even at a time like this. But it felt like Ame was completely understanding of Jyuu’s feelings.

Or perhaps, that was just an illusion.