Sequence #3

SEQUENCE #3

The pair returned to the shabby apartment, attracting the curious glances of several of Kon's neighbors in the process, who weren't used to seeing him at all, much less with a massive tiger plushie on his back.

Neighbor #1

Oh, so that's who lives upstairs.

Neighbor #2

Kinda young, ain't they?

Neighbor #1

I've learned it's best not to pry in this part of town, that's how you wake up to broken windows.

Neighbor #2

Hehe, yeah… Hey, wait a minute, my window got smashed just last week!

Neighbor #1

*innocent whistling*

Kon struggled the push the frankly ridiculous plushie inside his apartment.

Kon

I-It's not gonna fit through the door! I keep tellin' ya!

Kira

Hm…

As Kon continued to struggle trying to push the tiger through the doorframe, Kira headed back down the hall and began charging at full speed.

Kon

H-Hey! Wait a minute!

But there was no waiting, Kira spun around and delivered a solid kick to the tiger's back, forcing it through the door and onto the floor of the apartment.

Kon

You're lucky I don't own shit! Otherwise you would've made a real fuckin' mess!

Kira

Mhm… Fluffy…

Kira laid on top of the tiger, rubbing its fur.

Kon

I guess you kinda have to be a weirdo to be a serial killer in the first place…

Kira

You can keep your bed, Taigara is more comfy anyway.

Kon

Oh, how generous of you.

Kira propped the massive plushie against the corner of the room, where it was large enough to act as a soft throne as it sagged slightly like a bean bag chair.

Kon

Not that I don't mind working with you… Actually what the fuck am I saying, I mind it terribly in fact, but don't you have anywhere else to stay? A blood-soaked den in the sewers, perhaps?

Kira

Home's no good right now.

Kon

You gonna elaborate or are we saving that for later?

Kira

You never stop complaining… No wonder you live alone.

Kon

I have a lot to complain about! And are you telling me that you don't live alone?

Kira

Erhm…

Kon

Ah, of course. It's so obvious! You were raised by a pack of feral wolves, weren't you? That would explain everything.

Kira

Whatever you wanna think…

Kon

If we're done for today, I'd like to forget about this whole crazy situation for a few hours and just relax, if you don't mind.

Kira

It's so empty in here…

There wasn't much in the small apartment.

Kon's computer was set up towards the back, his bed beside it. On the other end was a dirty countertop with a sink and induction stove slate, next to a half-size fridge. There was a wide cupboard overhead.

Next to the kitchen unit was a door leading to the bathroom, which was cramped with a tight shower and toilet. It didn't even have its own sink.

Various bags and boxes were scattered about, mostly trash but also some various electronic components. Otherwise, the main room was mostly empty floorspace adorned with a ratty old rug.

Kon

Well Princess, if it ain't to your liking, feel free to book a hotel.

Kira

Shouldn't you atleast get a couch?

Kon

Oh there's tons of free couches on Kraigslist, but fuck if I could ever lift one in here.

Kira

No TV either…

Kon

I have a phone! TVs are just monitors with a mark-up! Total scams!

Kira

Why is your cupboard just filled with ramen and canned sardines?

Kon

Because it's cheap! Has it not sunk in yet? I live off scraps!

A muffled argument could be heard through the walls.

Neighbor #3

I keep tellin' ya! Do the damn dishes!

Neighbor #4

And I keep tellin' you! Youse want it done? Feckin' do it yourself!

Neighbor #3

You're a damn pig!

Neighbor #4

Says the bitch gaining weight like it's in style!

Neighbor #3

DON'T BRING UP MY EATING DISORDER, YOU KNOW THAT ONLY MAKES IT WORSE!

Neighbor #4

Oh, here we go again…

The argument continued on and on.

Kira

…Is it always like this?

Kon

Nah, sometimes they fight over the laundry. Ain't marriage grand?

Kira

Whose dog is barking?

Kon

I've lived here for weeks and I'm still trying to figure that out myself. Pretty sure they don't even allow pets here.

Kira

…This place is a dump.

Kon

Yes, but it's my dump. Casa de Katsuhira.

Kira

Isn't crypto supposed to be big money or whatever?

Kon

Only for the bigwig scammers pulling pump & dump schemes, the rest of us are grinding nickels just waiting to either get duped or do the duping.

Kira

So it's all just scams?

Kon

Yep. Scams all the way down. Isn't capitalism a beautiful thing?

Kira was oddly quiet for awhile after that.

Kira

I'm bored.

Kon

So? Go hunt rats or whatever it is serial killers do for fun.

Kira

I'm your guest… you should entertain me.

Kon

'Guest' is a strong word for what you are. I'm thinking more 'Home Invader'.

Kira threw one of her knives such that it just barely missed Kon's face as it stuck itself into the wall.

Kon

Gah! Alright!

Kon cleared his throat and took a deep breath.

Kon

What did the middle-school music teacher say to the student who confessed to him?

Kira

W-Wha?

Kon

Sorry! But you're stuck in B Flat! Ahaha!

Kira

…I have a better one. What did the guy telling crappy jokes get shoved in his face?

Kon

Uhh…

Kira materialized a blade and stuck it close to his chin.

Kira

A Sharp Object…

Kon

Ng…

Kira

…Do you get it?

Kon

Y-Yes…? Ha! Ahaha!

His laughter was awkwardly forced given the implied threat.

Kira

But seriously, just telling jokes is boring.

The knife morphed back into a harmless stud.

Kon

W-Was she playing along?

Kira

You're new in this city, right?

Kon

Uh, yeah?

Kira

Where'd you come from?

Kon

Looking for blackmail material? I'm warning ya, you'll be disappointed.

Kira

Just tell me!

Kon

S-Saroko Junction, the east side.

Kira

Isn't that the middle of nowhere?

Kon

No, but it's the first place you start seeing signs for 'nowhere'.

Kira

That's a long way from here.

Kon

Only four hours by the L-13 line! Bless our great Nyondzunian public transport system!

Kira

Mhm… I took out Ms. Teruzai in a train car.

Kon

Y-Yeah, I'm familiar…

Kira

It was late, she was alone… It was easy.

Kon

Ugh… How did I accidentally get her on this topic? Reading about this stuff was so exciting but hearing it straight from the horse's mouth hits different… in a bad way.

Kira

Hey, I'm curious.

Kon

I d-don't remember my blood type off-hand!

Kira

Not that. You know all my targets, right?

Kon

I t-think so? Why?

Kira

Which was your favorite?

Kon

F-Favorite? On what criteria do you rank murders!?

Kira

I dunno! That's why I asked you!

Kon

Ngh… I really hope this isn't one of those mandatory 'I'll stab you if you refuse' type questions… My least favorite by a considerable margin…

Kira's eyes had a bizarre openness, a weirdly excited quality not unlike someone discussing a TV show they really like.

Kon

Well… If I have to give an answer…

Kon

Gotta admit, I am curious how you managed to off that Pao Jeong guy. So notorious for his abundance of caution that his business partners called him Paranoid Pao. You managed to get into his high-security bunker somehow.

Kira

Ooh. That was tricky. I dropped an ear stud in his exhaust system from above ground.

Kon

Ah, the human animal's natural weakness. Our need to filter out the CO2 we create. We're basically poison factories if you think about it.

Kira

…I did make too much noise kicking open the vent panel though. He ended up noticing me… but then I got to see the shocked look on his face before slitting his throat!

Kon

I really don't like how excited she sounds about that…

Kon

Wasn't he found in his bathrobes and everything?

Kira

Yeah, he was smoking a cigar in a lounge chair.

Kon

Smoking inside a sealed bunker!? Do these paranoid types not realize they are the greatest dangers to themselves!?

Kira

Huh… I guess that is pretty stupid.

Kon

There were two people in that bunker, you know. Pao Jeong and his best friend, Mr. Impending Lung Cancer.

Kira

T-This sounds personal for you.

Kon

Smokers are the worst! Bringing everyone around them into their slow suicide!

Kira

I s-see… Well they do smell pretty bad, I guess.

Kon

And don't get me started on those fruity-ass vapers either! Constantly making me think there's candy around the corner, only to find a CLOUD OF LIES!

Kira

Didn't we pass some of them downstairs…

Kon

YES! IT'S AN EPIDEMIC! NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO IN THIS CITY, YOU'RE NEVER MORE THAN A STONE'S THROW FROM A DAMN VAPER!

The back wall suddenly emitted a banging sound.

Neighbor #5

HEY, QUIET DOWN IN THERE! WE'RE TRYING TO VAPE!

Kon

Ugh… You see what I mean?

Kira stood to her feet and walked towards the door.

Kon

H-Hey! Where are you going!?

Kon followed her out into the hallway, where he found her standing in front of the neighbor's door, knocking sharply.

Kon

W-What the hell are you doing!?

The neighbors answer the door. A group of three college-aged men in baggy clothing, looking bemused at the barely teenage girl standing in their doorway.

Neighbor #5

Pfft, ain't it a school night? Whaddaya doin' here, shrimplet?

Neighbor #6

Haha, nice one bro!

Kira

You really shouldn't be doing that.

Neighbor #5

Ha! What's it to you, bitch?

Neighbor #7

Yeah! Get your narc-ass outta here!

One of the men blows of a puff of vaper directly into Kira's face, causing her to wince from the sheer intensity of lemon-scent… and also the water particles.

Kon

W-What is this crazy girl doing!? D-Don't go around picking fights with my neighbors! I'm the one whose gonna hafta live with the consequences!

Kira

You should really stop… before I make you.

Neighbor #6

Haha! Make us? I bench more than you weigh, girlie!

Neighbor #7

Whose this chick think she is?

Kira

So you won't listen?

Neighbor #5

Nah! Piss off, bitch!

The man reaches for her head to push her away, but Kira catches his hand in transit and clamps down on his ring finger. A subtle snapping sound reverberates through the air.

Kon

H-Hey!

Neighbor #5

Gah! What the shit!?

Neighbor #6

What is it, bro!?

Neighbor #5

Little bitch broke my finger! Gah! Fuck!

Neighbor #7

Oh, that's it! Brace your teeth, kid!

The other neighbor rushed forward and took a swing at Kira, who side-stepped out of the way and allowed the man to run fist-first into the wall behind her.

Neighbor #7

Eugh! Shit!

Kira pivoted in a circle, sweeping her leg around to knock the man off his feet before launching herself forward into the room, elbowing another man in the stomach.

Neighbor #5

Ygh! Guah!

The remaining unharmed man clasped his hands together and swung down, trying to smash the girl's head in. Kira flipped around and delivered a solid kick to the man's jaw, sending him into the nearby wall.

Neighbor #6

Hch! Ow…

Kira

You're going to quit this bad habit from now on, right?

Neighbor #5

Y-Yeah! Y-Yeah! N-N-No problem! O-Ow…

Kon stood there, looking at the girl standing betwixt the defeated men.

Kon

W-Woah… That was pretty cool…

The men pick themselves off the floor and head out, moaning and grumbling.

Kira

They shouldn't bother us anymore.

Kon

Congrats, you've saved the hallway from smelling like a fruit salad.

Kira

…They were bothering you, right? Stop complaining.

Kon

You can't just kick the shit outta whoever's bothering you! The only reason those guys aren't calling the cops on us is prolly cuz they've got shit in there they don't want them to know about! Which is convenient, but not something you should just assume!

Kira

…You're really bad at just taking a favor, huh.

Kon

I didn't ask you to do anything!

Kira

…Whatever. I'm gonna rummage through your video games.

Kon

H-Hey! Wash your hands before you touch my stuff! Who knows what blood pathogens are coating your vicious little fingers!?

Kon reached over to close the neighbor's door as a courtesy before hastily following the girl back to his own apartment.

Kira spent several hours messing around with his things and asking him various personal questions before eventually falling asleep on top of Taigara, her body draped over the stuffed animal casually.

It was nearly morning, but the blackout curtains on his windows kept out the sunlight.

Kon looked over his unwelcome guest, the eyes behind his goggles growing weary.

Kon

I-Is she really just going to crash here until Jack comes back? T-That's all of today and most of tomorrow that I have to keep her occupied… This is exhausting.

Kon eyed his apartment door with a grim expression, his body moving on its own towards it.

Kon

I did manage to sneak in a little lie there… I'm not from Saroko Junction at all. I'm actually from West Shuganta, but she doesn't need to know that.

His hand was hovering over the doorknob as he took an audible gulp.

Kon

She's fast asleep… I could take off right now for the morning train and she'd never find me! I-I'd have to abandon all my stuff here but I started from scratch once, right? I can totally do it again… Ahaha…

The reality of that proposition was starting seep in for him.

Kon

Who am I kidding? I don't have the money for that kind of stunt… I'd have to go crawling back to… them.

His parents.

Kon

No! Absolutely not! There's no way! My pride will never let that happen! I don't need them! I don't need anyone!

He firmly formed that hand into a fist and turned away from the door.

Kon

I'd rather let a serial killer drag me around with a ball and chain than crawl back to those people! I can make it on my own! And I'll prove it by taking care of this situation myself!

The boy let out a long yawn.

Kon

…But first things first, I need to keep my mind sharp. And that means it's snooze city for me.

The boy rolled into his bed, letting out a deep sigh.

Kon

She… probably won't stab me in my sleep… Right?

With those worries in mind, he eventually managed to slip away into dreamland.

And so the pair slept the bulk of the daylight hours away.

SEQUENCE #3: END