K SIDE:RED Chapter 3.1

-A Rainbow Dream-

Tokyo Legislative Bureau Forth Ward

Looking at that signboard, Kusanagi couldn’t help but let out a scornful laugh. No many how many times he saw it, he thought it was a weird name. The true ident.i.ty of this building, which wore the skin of a proper government office, was the blue clan’s- Scepter 4’s headquarters.

Apparently, the name comes from how they claim up front to be dealing with ‘special foreigners’. But that’s just something like a metaphor. In actuality, they don’t deal in people who are from different countries, but rather those with different abilities- in other words, people with supernatural powers.

Even amongst that, the type they dealt with the most were people who naturally gained abilities without joining a clan or receiving power from a king, Strains. Because there were cases where Strains, who had neither an organization they were affiliated with or a king to listen to, used their powers to commit crimes. 

When Scepter 4 discovered an unregistered Strain, they were to take them into custody, and send them to centers for education and research under the golden king’s jurisdiction. Because of that, from before the golden clan and the blue clan already had an intimate relationship. But…

“With one of 'em without a king, there’s no way they’d be able to keep up an equal relationship.”

He didn’t know what things had been like before. But, now at least, one couldn’t see the blue clan as anything but a bunch of hired security guards being used by the golden clan.

“…it sure is tragic, ain’t it. A subject who’s lost their king.”

Saying that to himself, Kusanagi went through the forth ward’s gate.

Kusanagi was led into a meeting room further in by a person from Scepter 4 in blue clothes, even as they gave him painfully suspicious looks. One way or another, Scepter 4 was supposed to be an organization that considered protecting the law amongst those with superhuman powers to be their principle. He figured it would probably be alright, but if there was someone here who thought they might as well take the opportunity to squash a red clan executive, would he be able to return in one piece, Kusanagi thought to himself half whimsically. He supposed he’d be completely outnumbered, so it might be difficult. Sitting on the meeting room’s old sofa, the amount of time he had to wait was about as long as it took to smoke one cigarette. 

A heavy knocked filled the air, and then door opened. Putting his shortened cigarette in the ash tray, Kusanagi stood up. 

The person who appeared was a man who looked just over forty. One could figure that he was that old from his face, but from his blank expression that went beyond tiredness, and the way he moved as though even taking a single step was tiresome, one would think he were someone older, like an old man. His formal uniform also seemed to be neglected and worn-out. 

“…So you’re that guy? The red clan’s adviser, Kusanagi Izumo.” Said the main in a heavy, weary-sounding tone. Kusanagi smiled.

“Well, I’m not somethin’ as big and important as an adviser… you’re Scepter 4’s deputy commander, Shiotsu Gen-san, correct?”

In response to Kusanagi’s words, for some reason Shiotsu spat out a 'ha!’ and smiled scornfully. 

“Deputy commander, huh.”

“…am I wrong?”

“No, you’re not. Unfortunately, right now, there’s no one here who’s any better than this mediocre guy.” Saying that sullenly, the deputy commander sat down on the sofa across the low table. The old thing let out a stupid sounding 'swoosh’ as air escaped from it. 

“Want some tea?”

“No.”

“Figured. You shouldn’t put anything from enemy territory into your mouth carelessly.”

“Oh, is this enemy territory for me?”

“Isn’t it?”

Sinking into the sofa while leaning sloppily on the back, Shiotsu glared up at Kusanagi. Kusanagi didn’t confirm or deny it.

“…today, I’ve come to apologize. Yesterday, our kids apparently caused you some trouble.”

Shiotsu didn’t try to respond immediately. He looked up at Kusanagi while his mouth stayed closed.

“It’s against the rules to trespa.s.s on another clan’s territory. It’s Scepter 4’s duty to punish those who deserve it.” Shiotsu said quietly, and as though he were chewing on sand. Kusanagi nodded.

“I understand.”

“…but, there was a problem with my subordinates who attacked first without properly a.s.sessing the situation, apparently. And anyway, chief Mizuchi doesn’t seem to want to make a fuss out of this case. There’s no need for you to apologize to me. If that’s all you wanted, leave.”

Kusanagi looked at Shiotsu’s expression silently for a moment, then got his cigarette box out from his pocket.

“Mind if I smoke?”

“…I told you to leave.” But, even as he said that grudgingly, he gave permission by gesturing with his chin. 

Kusanagi took a cigarette out from the box and put it in his mouth, then lit it with his lighter. A small flame lit up its end. Smoke rose.

“Yesterday, the ones who got into trouble with our kids were the twins from your place. It sounds like they’re pretty young. Even younger than me, maybe?”

“So what?”

“Well. It’s just… it’s been ten years since the previous blue king pa.s.sed away, hasn’t it? So I was just a bit interested, since if there were such young clansmen, then they must’ve been only children when they joined.”

Shiotsu clocked his tongue a little, and also got some cigarettes out from his pocket. When Kusanagi offered his lighter, Shiotsu paused for just a moment, before tiredly getting up from the back of the sofa and leaned out to use the fire.

“They were a special case.” Said Shiotsu as he held the cigarette between his thumb and forefinger and smoked it with a displeased face.

“Their parents were members of Scepter 4, you see. Then they died on duty during a certain incident. Those two were twelve at the time. Since they didn’t have anyone else to go to, Scepter 4 decided to take care of them as a group, but… those guys, they went to the previous king and asked to be made members of Scepter 4 themselves. Since they wanted to take over their parents’ dying will.” Only at the moment that he was speaking about the previous blue king did light appear in the tired-out deputy’s eyes. When the previous king was alive, he must have also been a member full of hope, one could feel from those eyes.

“And then…”

“He gave in. He made those two, who were still children, into clansmen. Of course, he hadn’t intended to let them work as actual members for a while. He probably just wanted to respect their wishes and raise them slowly.”

'Probably just wanted to’, meaning that didn’t come to pa.s.s. 

Kusanagi knew what happened after that. He knew, and he still asked.

“Then what?”

“…It was two weeks after those two became blue clansmen… that the Kagutsu incident happened.”

The Kagutsu incident. The incident that happened ten years ago when j.a.pan’s geography changed. People who knew what had happened called the place that had been dug out in a circle the 'Kagutsu Crater’ after the man who had been at the center of the explosion.

Kusanagi breathed slightly.

“If I recall correctly, the previous blue king pa.s.sed away during the Kagutsu incident.”

At Kusanagi’s words, Shiotsu’s slack body which had been sinking into the sofa tensed slightly. Wrinkling his brow, he answered shortly.

“Yeah.”

“It must have been such a shock for the brothers, who were children and had just become blue clansmen. Since right as they decided to take over their parents’ wills and decided on which back they should follow, it vanished.”

Shiotsu glared up at Kusanagi.

“…You’re not being sympathetic.”

“No, I’m not.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Kusanagi smiled like he would at a customer in his bar, and said,

“What occurred ten years ago was really a tragedy, but I was wonderin’ what happened to the sense of justice you guys were surely holdin’ on to at first even then.”

Shiotsu didn’t change his sloppy posture. But, his eyes alone began to shine dangerously.

“…are you trying to provoke me?”

“I’m aware that I’m bein’ rude. However, from what I’ve heard, the brothers who got into trouble with our kids didn’t seem to care a whole lot about justice or anythin’.”

“Are you trying to gloss over what your comrades did?”

“What I’m tryin’ to say is,” Kusanagi raised his voice. He narrowed his eyes as he looked at Shiotsu.

“Can you guys vow to your own king that your actions are nothin’ to be ashamed of?”

The atmosphere in the room tensed. Kusanagi could clearly sense killing intent rise from the man who was sitting loosely in front of him.

Kusanagi focused on the cigarette still in his fingers. So that should the other guy get into 'that mood’, he’d be able to respond right away. The shortened cigarette flame wavered slightly in response to Kusanagi’s thoughts.

“…you won’t respond right away?”

“We have no king anymore.”

Kusanagi breathed out slightly.

“That’s your answer, huh.”

Shiotsu smiled thinly, but his eyes still shone with the killing intent reflected within.

“Right now, no one here can vow to their king that they have nothing to be ashamed of… we’re just a group of cowards who couldn’t even be at their king’s side when Kagutsu happened.”

Kusanagi frowned slightly at the words that were spat out.

“It’s not cool to talk down on yourself like that.”

“Shut it.”

“You’re not cool, but you’re not really a bad guy, I guess.”

As he said that, Kusanagi shoved his shortened cigarette into the ashtray. The fire crackled and vanished. Standing up straight, he turned to look right into Shiotsu’s petulant eyes.

“I’ll take that as a warning to 'not believe me’. You should know what we’re feeling. Even then, you don’t say one word of excuse… you don’t intend to defend what you’re protecting, and you don’t think the work you’re doing right now is what’s right.”

Shiotsu didn’t reply, and only looked sullenly at Kusanagi. Kusanagi was smiling.

“You’re tryin’ to be shameless, but do you not wanna regain your honor? We’ve lost any intention of trusting chief Mizuchi, and if it comes to a fight over that girl, we plan to face it… would you still become our enemy if that happened?”

“That’s our work.” It was a deep voice with all expression deadened. Even the sulky atmosphere from earlier had vanished, and a wall that seemed to shut everything out had been born.

Kusanagi decided it was time to go.

“…excuse me. Even though I just came to apologize, I ended up startin’ a long conversation.”

Kusanagi bowed one and stood up. As he was walking to the door, Shiotsu’s voice came.

“Not to mention us, I can’t recommend making an enemy out of the golden clan.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

“You.” Shiotsu’s voice rose for a moment. Kusanagi turned to look at him without thinking. His greying head could be seen from behind, still seated on the couch.

“…what do you think about the Kagutsu story?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you trying to act like it’s unrelated to you?”

Right then, Kusanagi shuddered slightly.

He inwardly clicked his tongue at the fact that he had.

“That your king, that Suou Mikoto is different from the previous red king, Kagutsu Genji… can you vow it?”

…He asked something unpleasant. Kusanagi made a complicated face somewhere between annoyance and a bitter smile. But, they had both asked something unpleasant. However, Kusanagi still didn’t feel the urge to talk self-deprecatingly like Shiotsu had.

“He’s different, our king.”

Shiotsu went 'hmph’.

“I hate red kings. Their nature as king is too dangerous… Suou Mikoto might also become a Kagutsu at any little provocation.”

“…by provocation, you mean?”

“Anything. A waver in his mentality, indulging in his power, strong interactions with another king… especially, killing another king.”

At the end of that sentence, Kusanagi suddenly remembered something he had heard before.

“The previous blue king pa.s.sed away while trying to stop Kagutsu’s rampage, correct?”

“…yeah. In truth, he should’ve killed Kagutsu before he became like that. But, even if he had been able to, then the Crater’s name would’ve just changed from the Kagutsu Crater to… the Habari Crater. Our previous king was pulled along by Kagutsu before that, and his own Weismann value got messed up. If he had killed Kagutsu, his own Sword of Damocles would’ve fallen.”

The smell of tobacco filled the room. Kusanagi thought that it was a weirdly quiet place. Suddenly, he felt homesick for the noisiness of his bar. 

“Regardless, should something happen to a king, another king is required in order to stop it. Now, there’s no longer a blue king… do you think there’s something you can do when your king crumbles?”

Kusanagi didn’t reply. He excused himself in a flat voice and left the room.

“On this day, I would like to visit an amus.e.m.e.nt park.”

In response to Totsuka’s announcement, Suou frowned.

Behind Totsuka, Anna was staring in his direction half hidden. Even though she was staring shamelessly right at him, the fact that she was doing it from behind Totsuka made it kind of annoying.

“On this day, I would like to visit an amus.e.m.e.nt park.”

Perhaps because Suou didn’t reply, Totsuka repeated himself.

“That so.” When Suou, unable to reply any other way, said this in a way that implied he didn’t care, Totsuka smiled.

“Good for you, Anna-chan! King didn’t say no!”

“Ah?”

“Then, let’s go! King, can you leave right away?”

Suou grabbed Totsuka’s face. Even though his cheeks were being squished and his face was getting twisted in a stupid way, Totsuka didn’t mind and kept smiling.

“Who. Said. He’d. Go with you?”

“Oh, come on, King, do you intend to betray an innocent young girl’s expectations?” Said Totsuka in a m.u.f.fled voice.

Anna fixedly, fiiiixedly continued to stare at Suou’s face. In response to those expectant eyes, Suou let go of Totsuka and looked away uncomfortably. 

“You see, Anna-chan’s never gone to an amus.e.m.e.nt park.”

“Is that so.”

“So, she’d like to try going.”

“Then go.”

Even when he said that in a fed-up way, the power of Anna’s silent gaze was strong. Those large eyes like gla.s.s spheres were single-mindedly directed at him. It appeared as though the smiling Totsuka believed Suou would lose to Anna’s eyes, and that was annoying too.

“Before,”

Anna opened her mouth softly.

“Dad and mom said they’d take me to the amus.e.m.e.nt park… but, we didn’t get to go.”

Anna’s parents had died in a traffic accident. Though, he didn’t know whether the reason they hadn’t been able to go was their deaths or not. Anna had merely said the truth, and hadn’t been trying to make Suou sympathetic or anything. But, if he refused now, Totsuka appeared to be prepared to go 'you fiend!’ and call him names. And Anna, despite being expressionless, was still sending a gaze that was weirdly pa.s.sionate in his direction. 

This isn’t a good day, Suou thought as he inwardly clicked his tongue.

The group walked through a park filled with happy voices and pleasant music.

“Mikoto-san, Mikoto-san! Do you want to get on the jet coaster!?” Said an excited Yata as he turned around.

“Aah?” With a voice that was annoyed to the extreme, Suou glared bullets at Yata. Yata went 'I’m sorry!!’ and bowed. 

“King, that’s not the face of someone visiting an amus.e.m.e.nt park!”

“You’re the one who made me come.”

Totsuka let Suou’s voice and glare pa.s.s through one ear and out the other with a smile. Beside Yata, Fushimi walked as he muttered 'why me, too’. It appeared that Kamamoto had completely opened up with Anna, and the two of them were eating crepes together. Anna’s was strawberry, but Kamamoto’s was a mix of chocolate and banana, and Kamamoto told her 'I’ll eat the rest if you can’t finish it’ in a way that it was hard to tell whether he was being nice or just being a glutton.

“I haven’t been to an amus.e.m.e.nt park since I was a kid!” To Yata, who was excitedly looking like he was having fun, Totsuka responded with a smile.

“It’s my first time, I guess?”

“Really? You haven’t gone a single time?”

“I didn’t really get a chance…" 

In the end, nominally for the sake of taking Anna, five grown men were walking around an amus.e.m.e.nt park.

It was a surreal scene.

Suou, who had been walking furthest back, sat down heavily just when they were pa.s.sing a smoking area bench.

"Hey, King-.”

“Shut it, go play as much as you want." 

Totsuka smiled wryly at Suou, who said that in an annoyed way while lighting a cigarette.

"Don’t go home before us, okay?” Totsuka said, pointing a finger at Suou. Then he took Anna and went towards the attractions. Yata kept looking back at Suou, but followed Totsuka and company. 

Suou rested his arms on the back of the bench and looked up at the sky. It was a blue sky with hardly any clouds. The smoke from the cigarette in Suou’s mouth wavered slightly as it rose. Come to think of it, he felt like it had been a really long time since he had looked up at the sky like this. Recently, he hadn’t cared about the weather. Since he had spent a lot of time cut off from the outside world.

…since that brat came, he had kept being dragged out. 

A doll-like girl with scarce expression. She accidentally stepped into what was inside him and pa.s.sed out, and despite pa.s.sing out she said 'Mikoto’s dreams are fine.’ with a face that really looked like she were fine. 

“This is stupid.” He said self-deprecatingly when he realized he was starting to care.

On a fine, clear day at the amus.e.m.e.nt park, pa.s.sing families kept starting and glancing at the good-for-nothing looking man reclined on the bench. 

This was just plain stupid.