Bad Hair Day For A Bad Boy

“Make yourself at home, please take your shoes off.”

I didn’t know if Vice-captain Kirigaya was just good with money, or came from money but I could get used to this. Her house was large and the gardens had high walls on either side, and the gate we came through was automated. I made pretty good money as a gold rank hunter; my apartment was in a great neighborhood, but nothing compared to this. That reminds me I need to water my plants. I hadn’t been home in a couple days.

We had moved my dad in his box to Asaka’s house for safe keeping, the vice-captain was also shocked to see our father’s new stony makeover. The boys loaded it into the back of Ms. Hiyori’s truck, he was now safely in the spacious basement. Ms. Hiyori had returned to the convenience store afterwards, promising to keep an eye out to send Hyottoko our way when he appeared.

Odd-Ball was being ridden by Okame to get some snacks from the kitchen, Marco Frederic perched on her head. The dodo squawking and following Okame’s words. He hadn’t tried to run away anymore, maybe because he wasn’t cooped up in the house anymore, or because Kei had bonded with him. Okame had something to do with it too, monsters could understand each other to some extent. The three of them playing was just what this serious house needed.

Keisuke and Daichi were sitting on the patio, catching up and strategizing. They each had a glass of lemonade, lounging in the sun. Looking at the two bachelors smile and chat, hard to tell both hadn’t been outside in years. We were all trying not to make a big deal out of it, trying to avoid laying down guilt or shame. Mostly me, I guess. Keisuke didn’t have to share the weight of his father’s condition alone. Daichi chose to lock up the flower in the Vice-captain’s safe upstairs. Both finally free of their burdens.

I went down to the basement to look at my father. Could I become an arch-mage and bring him back, was a power like that buried somewhere in my essence. Captain Kawakami had gone back to the MaMA to report, and throw them off our trail. Also to get any word on the anti-monster groups next move. 

There had been two attacks on the MaMA and an elite monster duel in the middle of a residential area, in the last three days. They had enough evidence to feed the media right now a story that monsters were destructive, and unpredictable. Little did they know that all of those were organized by humans, Me to be exact. My brother organized Hyottoko’s first break in, but I was still an accomplice.

Monsters were just another tool to be used by people for their own agendas, I hadn’t really cared what happened as long as I could get my brother to talk to me, and some answers on my father. So maybe they had point.

They didn’t really have much of a leg to stand on if news that the head of their group was partnering with his own Arch-monster. Kei said they had some powerful hunters, but none rivaled the Presidents power and fame. I wondered what was going to happen to the Copy-monster I had chained up: the fake Doctor Kawaguchi.

 I guess the real question is what had happened to Sukimoto. Would Hyottoko trap him in there forever, was that possible. Would he go so far as to do away with the president. There were only a few injuries in the reports on Hyottoko, he said himself he didn’t want to injure people. He was a being created from jokes, fun and games were his life blood. As far away from death and violence as you could get.

I stared at my father some more. He loved essence more than anyone, he was a huge advocator for it being used in society. He pushed for not just use in hunting and military might, but in art and cooking. In entertainment and leisure, essence could be used to make life easier and vibrant. 

I wish he were here to help. Keisuke said he was one of the founders of the MaMA, helping start the young hunter’s program and trained Daichi, Chihiro and Keisuke. He was figuring out essence as he went, Kei said he treated them as adults. Essence was new to everyone back then.

I wish Captain Kawakami would come back soon, I wanted to ask him about his fifth epiphany. He had the idea and what it would be, but the chant hadn’t come to him yet. It was just out of reach. Still more than most, I wanted to know how he made it happen. Knowing him he would probably just shrug and say it just came to him. The eggheads upstairs weren’t going to be much help. Theory could only get you so far.

I wish Meika was here.

She had told Sukimoto we were looking into Dr. Kawaguchi, who turned out to be an Arch-monster. Did she know he was so anti-monster? Was she anti-monster. She loved using her essence, she was a huge animal lover. We had captured and cuddled low rank monsters as bronze rank hunters. She held by the three tenants of monster hunting: First Protect civilians, then protect yourself, and see if the monster’s friendly last.

There was the bubble monster in town that worked with the fire department. There was a balloon monster that floated over the school, shading the children during sunny days and playing with them during recess. Monsters made life better, surely she could see that. She had been to my mother’s café and had the delicious treats her and the two monsters that work there create using essence. Could she really be on the side of such a horrible man like Sukimoto. Did she really know what her family was up too. I certainly didn’t until a couple days ago.

I stared at her number on my phone.

It could wait, I didn’t really want to talk to anyone right now. The basement was delightfully cool, the scampering of the monsters above was all the sound I needed.

I nodded off to sleep, thinking was exhausting.

Captain Kawakami, peeped his head down the stairs.

“Rei! Come on’ sleepy. You need to come upstairs right now. Sukimoto’s on the television.”

Hyottoko hadn’t killed him at least. He was better than that.

Everyone was gathered in the living room.

“Is there any news from Ms. Hiyori?”

Kei shook his head. Odd-ball now on his lap, beginning to fall asleep. Okame sat in Vice-captain Kirigaya’s lap, Marco Frederic with Captain Kawakami. Daichi and I stood around and stared at the television.

“My fellow countryman, I’m sorry it has taken us a while to produce an official statement given the absolute chaos that has wrecked our association in the past few days.”

President Sukimoto was behind a podium on the roof of the MaMA. They had set up a small stage for the press conference. Behind him stood a bunch of men in suits. I can only guess they were advisors and board members on the side of expelling monsters from the city limits. 

President Sukimoto looked rough and tired. His usual coiffed black hair was now red and curly, they had tried to slick it back but it still coiled up in the back. He had a bandage and an eye patch over one eye, the eyebrow peeking out looked thick and cartoonish. Hyottoko had got him good with some of his magic.

“He looks more stupid than usual.”

“Really, I think it suits him.”

“Boys shut up.”

Kirigaya Asaka made the rules. It was her house. The president went on.

“We wanted to wait until we could provide some evidence, and real proof of the work we have been doing to keep our city safe.”

A few faces flashed up onto the screen.

“We have identified the leaders of a monster-friendly group, that seeks to tear our association apart.”

Daichi and I looked at each other. Our faces, more specifically our Hunter Id photos, now plastered on the news for all to see.

“Kawashima Rei, and Kawaguchi Daichi, have infiltrated and released monsters into our society, and even collaborated with an arch monster to free him from MaMA custody.”

The president looked smug as he said this, almost as if he knew we would be watching.

“We are not above making peace with these traitors that want to loosen monster registration, and hunter regulations. Though we cannot spare the arch monster they have been working with. Monsters are no more than natural disasters, and an arch-monster of an S rank essence cannot be allowed to run free. It is already wanted in five different cities, Tokyo will be its final resting place.”

President Sukimoto motioned for the camera to turn. I could feel a lump form in my throat.

“It was difficult but fighting for the fate of our city, I singlehandedly took on the arch monster. It was dangerous, I risked my very life subduing it. We will be dispersing it tomorrow on camera. We hope we can make peace with these rebels before then. Daichi, Rei if you’re watching, I hope it doesn’t come to this.”

The camera panned and on the roof of the MaMA, secured in an iron frame was a large plasticine ball, I could tell it was a relic on par with the ball and chain that imprisoned Daichi, suppressing essence to the max. Lady Doctor Kawaguchi in a lab coat looking quite healthy and smug came into frame. She pulled a lever shining spotlights on the ball, revealing the prisoner inside.

There was a figure strung up by chains, manacles at the wrists and heels. It looked tired and weak. It wore robes, and had strings of trinkets hanging off of beaded ropes around it’s body. A small bag capable of storing numerous jokes hung at it’s hip.

Keisuke started to cry, Daichi welled up with rage. The Presidents voice gave a final goodbye.

“We hope to hear from you soon.”

Inside the cage was Daichi’s Sister, the real Doctor Kawaguchi.

She wore a relic from an arch-monster, an odd smiling Hyottoko Mask.