Chapter 13 Arc 1 — “Job Interrogation”

“Well, let's begin; however, before we do, I'd like to make a few things clear. If I ever have a hunch that you're lying, or if our conversation doesn't get anywhere near a conclusion… I'll be forced to use my Kigai. Do you understand these terms? ”

A drop of cold sweat ran down Sasaki's cheek, gulping his spit as he was trembling under the sheer presence of the man.

If he stayed in this room any longer with him, he would faint, or even worse… stop breathing.

“Uh… I-I agree. ”

Yozo smiled as the atmosphere in the room returned to a normal breathable state.

“Great! Let's start with simple questions, and increase the difficulty with each question.”

Sasaki forcibly nodded in agreement, in an attempt to get on the man's good side.

“Well, first question. Do you have a Kigai? If so, when did you attain it? Well, this question should be obvious, but answer truthfully.”

“I do. I recently awakened it last night at the warehouse. Though I don't exactly know how to use it.”

“I see, must've been a weird experience, am I right? Well then, second, what's your relationship with Jose Galang? ”

Sasaki turned to the ceiling, confused, since that was the first time he'd ever heard that name.

“Who's that? ”

“Well, I'll call him by his other name then. The Uncle.”

“Oh, that old bastard. Mortal enemies.”

Yozo's smile faded as he leaned his chair closer to Sasaki.

“Strike one, I don't buy it. Now, answer me again, if you get Strike three, I'll be resorting to my Kigai.”

“Huh, but I'm telling the truth–”

“Strike two.”

“Hey, just listen to me, I'm telling the truth–”

“Final Warning.”

“I'm telling the truth you fucking moron! ”

The room was silent for a while, as Yozo stood up with the same corpse-like physique, as he walked over to Sasaki, staring into his soul.

As Yozo was doing this, Sasaki felt a quivering sensation in his ears, as if blood was pouring out of every orifice in his body. His ears, eyes, nose, and mouth—everywhere.

He looked down and noticed Yozo's hand steadily closing in on his face, as if time was slowing down.

He anxiously tried to move his head back, but it felt like something was holding him back; it was as if he was strapped to a wall and couldn't get away.

Then, for a little period, he felt a hand touch his mouth, then his jaw, then the back of his head, and so on, until he felt as if he was being held everywhere.

Then, abruptly, the straitjacket he was wearing was removed. He was free to move now, although not in the same room as before.

He was in a dark location, and all he could feel was the shallow water beneath his feet.

He gazed about and saw sights incomprehensible to the human eye. The sun and moon were close, yet there was no eclipse.

It was raining and snowing, and at the same time, the snow was melting, but it was spring. It was confusing, and it didn't take long for it to be noisy.

He could hear the cries of the newborn children, the growls of the dogs, the purrs of the cats, and the hacking and slashing of a knife. Everything all at once.

Then, as Sasaki tried to walk around, he realized something. Looking down, he noticed he was dangling off something, his upper body was gone, and only his head was left.

And even so, he could feel his hand touch his head even though it wasn't there.

“Are you sure it's your hand touching you? ”

A gentle yet malicious voice boomed over the dark pit, as eyes of various colors peered directly into Sasaki.

Those eyes expressed several emotions, including judgment, rage, delight, and grief.

Then suddenly it came, Yozo was tenderly cradling Sasaki's head with the palm of his hand, but something was odd about him.

“Where are your eyes? ”

Sasaki asked Yozo in a shaky tone, but he just smiled as if he'd already told Sasaki the answer.

—His eyes, it's inside my head…

“Correct.”

Then immediately, Sasaki heard the gentle static humming from the radio, as he was left blankly staring into the depths of nowhere.

His eyes turned pitch black as he vacantly stared at Yozo, who hadn't seemed to have moved from his chair, and it also looked like his eyes were still intact.

—What the hell is happening…

“Well, that's some edgy backstory you have there. Anyways, I've got my answers, but there's still something I have to ask you about.”

Sasaki was unresponsive, drooling with his mouth open. His brain was so overloaded with information that he couldn't comprehend anything, even when he closed his eyes.

“Well, I suppose I overdid it.”

Yozo snapped his fingers, and Sasaki jolted up, but was confined by the collars around his neck. He leaned back, gasping for air as if he'd been submerged for centuries.

“Just what the hell was that? ”

“I just reset your brain, that's all. But I still kept your memories intact.”

“Re–what?”

“Well, it doesn’t matter. What matters is this.”

Yozo took out a clipboard from under a drawer in the table and slid the clipped page to Sasaki.

“What’s this? ”

“A job contract! We’re forcing you to enlist!”

Sasaki was astounded to learn that they had locked him up in a room, stripped him of his human rights after treating him the same way by his previous boss, and were now attempting to hire him for a far more dangerous job than debt collecting.

He wasn't sure if these people were off their brains for hiring a criminal like him, and come to think of it, the CAU is mostly made up of mercenaries rather than actual soldiers. It was clear from the start that soldiers would not beat a prisoner or tie them up in a straitjacket.

“You’re bullshitting me.”

“I’m not. In fact, if you sign this specific contract made by me, I’ll give you special treatment, unlike those mercenaries.”

“Does the special treatment involve doing that to me again? ”

“Well, the special treatment consists of meals funded by the CAU, a high-quality apartment, free education for your sister Miyuki, covering the costs of rebuilding Momo’s shop, paying the full amount for the surgery of Kouji’s mother, and more.”

Sasaki was dumbfounded by the special treatment consisting of the contract, though he was doubtful after what had happened to him. Since he wasn’t so sure if he could trust Yozo yet, moreover, the government as a whole, what if they betray him? He couldn’t do anything, and he’ll be hunted for the rest of his life.

“Hm…”

“You’ll get to meet my cousin.”

After hearing those words, Sasaki's eyes glowed with excitement and happiness, as he attempted to retrieve the contract from the table while forgetting he was wearing a straitjacket.

“Why didn’t you say that earlier, bro! ”

“Your enthusiasm is such a delightful sight, I’m glad you’re eager to join in our ranks, mister? ”

“Jiketsu. Sasaki Jiketsu, pleaased to be working with ya sir! ”

Yozo felt something was off hearing his name, though he may just be tired after a long day of work. Well, he might as well head home and rest for the day.

—Paperwork…

He sneezed, hearing Ryuji’s voice in his mind. Was he using the same ability as his now? Well, again, he assumed it might be because of fatigue.

“Uh, Yozo-nisan, can you untie–”

“Don’t get so full of yourself.”

Meanwhile, Momo and Miyuki were sitting on a bench outside the CAU headquarters. Momo had never imagined that she'd be anywhere near the CAU; after all, she despises the organization with every fiber of her being.

She was only present because Sasaki was kept in a holding cell. That kid has always been a source of trouble for her since they were kids. She started to grow increasingly irritated by his mischief, and if they let him out alive, she would most likely beat him.

“Ms. Furuta? ”

A man called out, approaching the two women by the bench. They turned to the voice, seeing a man with long hair and an eyepatch, moreover, he was charming. Momo was frozen in place, seeing the handsome young man smiling at her.

Though she didn’t know why he knew her name, she assumed it may be a divine intervention. Her prayers were finally answered, and there it was in front of her. Even though he was a CAU worker, it didn’t matter. Love has no boundaries.

“A-ah-ah…”

“My name is Ryuji Takehiko, I’m from the CAU’s Division Thirteen, please to meet you madam.”

Ryuji reached out for a handshake, which made Momo even more flustered. Miyuki stared at her, unbeknownst to what was happening, thinking that she was probably in her state of hating the CAU. She sighed, deciding to handle things by herself.

“Sir, I’m sorry, but Momo-chan is lesbian.”

“...”

“Pardon? ”

Momo turned to Miyuki with a grim smile on her face after she ruined her chances of asking out the man. Still, the call signs weren’t clear to Miyuki, assuming that Momo was so terrified of the CAU worker she wanted him to scram. Letting out a virtuous sigh, she turns to Ryuji.

“Momo-chan is uncomfortable around you, please scram.”

—Miyuki! How could you?!

“Oh, I see. Well then, I’ll just give you my–”

“No thank yo–”

Momo covered Miyuki's lips, having had enough of her gibberish, and smiled back at Ryuji, who appeared to be more perplexed by the whole situation.

“I’m sorry about that, she has tourettes. Anyways, can I have your number? ”

“Oh, Yozo-san already told you? ”

“Yozo? Who’s that? ”

—Just when I thought that old man was finally doing his job…

“Never mind, here’s my number and address, if you have any questions about Sasaki’s condition just call me.”

“Wait, wait, just where is he right now? ”

Ryuji smiled.

“At my place! ”

“Huh?! ”

- - Hello reader, this is Yozo Nakahara! I'm here to announce that you've reached the end of the story. Please turn over to the next chapter, and as always... "TO BE CONTINUED!" - -