DURARARA!! Vol.9 Chapter 2, Part II
Make sure that you've checked out the updated Part I before proceeding to this part!
♂♀
Somewhere on Kawagoe Highway, Shinra's apartment
"…So that's how Izaya's two younger sisters are like. They're probably too much even for Izaya, I think."
[What should I say…those twins sound fictional.]
As if only half convinced by Shinra's story of Izaya's sisters, Celty typed these words.
"Kururi-chan and Mairu-chan became what they're like now when I was attending Raijin High School. They were still first or second graders at the elementary school back then."
[Really?]
"I think Izaya is actually aware that his influence made his sisters turn out the way they did."
Shinra talked about the past in a nostalgic tone. Next to his head Celty was kneeling, her knees and thighs visible through the 100% fitting rider suit made of shadow which accentuated her sensual silhouette. Feeling restless at the sight of her legs, Shinra continued:
"You know what Izaya said to his twin sisters when they were still in elementary school? 'Kururi and Mairu, you're exactly the same in every way. What is the point of living when in everything you do you're just the same?' That's right. He said something to that effect, slowly and clearly, in words that even a five-year-old could understand."
[Honestly, if all the twins in this country voted to hang him, I wouldn't blame them…]
"Nah nah, I don't think it's because he's prejudiced against twins or anything. He probably just wanted to see his sisters feel discouraged or maybe even fight with each other. He did not mean ill - he just 'wanted to see'."
[So he intended to follow up on them? But that simply sounds even nastier to me…]
The words she typed onto her networked PDA appeared instantly on the laptop screen Shinra was looking at while lying face up.
It was their way to save Celty the trouble of having to show Shinra her PDA every time they talked. The conversation proceeded at a nice pace.
"But Izaya got one thing wrong in his calculations - namely, the fact that his sisters were far more abnormal than he thought."
[Abnormal?]
"They threw a dice to split 'traits' between them with the intention to become a human being with only strengths and no weaknesses. They believed that they could make up for each other's weaknesses as a human being with their respective strengths. In fact, they've been doing that for almost 10 years now. You have to give them some credit for that."
[I guess it's kind of admirable...but admirable doesn't feel like the right word.]
Celty put her hands together, thinking.
Shinra turned his eyes toward the ceiling for a moment and told her his speculation.
"I'm thinking…maybe at first they just did it because they wanted Izaya to like them."
[Eh?]
"It's more of a shock when your family members are disappointed in you than when they're angry at you. That's what my father kept saying to me. It's still hard on him no matter how many times he's been through it before when he lets one of us down - me, or my mother, his divorced wife."
As she remembered Shinra's father - the weirdo under the white gas mask - Celty typed on her PDA with mixed feelings.
[…Well, not that I wouldn't expect him to let you down, being the man he is…]
"Anyway, when elementary school girls are told by their much older brother that their lives had no meaning, they will of course do anything to make their brother like them, right?"
After nodding slightly to show his agreement at Celty's words, Shinra smiled bitterly.
"But I guess at some point the end and the means switched positions. They spend so much time on trying to make themselves the perfect human being that their hearts are no longer on Izaya. Perhaps the best proof is that both fell for Hanejima Yuuhei, nicknamed the 'Perfect Superman'. I'm glad that's how it turned out, though, because it would be such a waste if those two were still puppets on Izaya's palm."
[Yeah. I don't know much about those twins, but if you think so, Shinra, you're probably right. Speaking of which, I don't think anyone should ever be on Izaya's palm.]
"Who knows? Maybe we're already on it."
[Then I'll drive my scythe into his nails as hard as I can.]
That must be painful. Shinra smiled as he saw Celty type and said:
"Celty, you're too extreme."
Celty's reply, however, caught Shinra by surprise.
[Even if I can only save you, Shinra, I'll make sure to get you out of his hands. There's no need to worry.]
Shinra's mouth hung open for a second as he digested the meaning of the sentence -
After he had finally understood what it meant, he tried and failed to speak for a few times before breaking down completely.
"Celty - ! Don't say things like that! Don't tell me to live on alone - cough - "
- Shinra!?
Shinra had yelped in pain before he could bolt up in his bed. Celty had no time to type; she hastened to hold him in her arms.
"That hurts…ah…a world without you, ah…'Hakuga breaks his koto'*…that's about the only phrase to describe it…cough…despair…"
* Hakuga breaks his koto: Hakuga (Bo Ya), a Chinese master of koto/qin (a seven-stringed instrument) in the Spring & Autumn Period. According to Liezi, "Bo Ya was good at playing the qin. Zhong Ziqi was good at to listening to the qin. When Bo Ya's will was towards high mountains in his playing, Zhong Ziqi would say, 'How towering like Mount Tai!' When Bo Ya's will was towards flowing water in his playing, Zhong Ziqi would say, 'How vast are the rivers and oceans!' Whatever Bo Ya thought of Ziqi would never fail to understand. Bo Ya said, 'Amazing! Your heart and mine are the same!' When Ziqi died, Bo Ya broke the strings [of his qin] and vowed never to play [the qin] again."
[Just stay still! I'm sorry! I get what you are trying to say now! I was kidding! We'll escape from his hand together! I said together! So don't worry!]
Celty typed hastily onto her PDA and shoved it in Shinra's face as she wrapped Shinra up tenderly with her shadow.
"My bad, Celty! I've calmed down, really, I have…"
Shinra's antics would have looked amusing, but Celty did not comment since she could hardly forget that just a moment ago he was still yelping in pain.
[Anyway, I'll make sure to take care of things at home. I've told Awakusu-kai about your injuries, so I don't think they're going to send emergency patients to you for now.]
"Celty, you don't have to force yourself to work for them either if you don't want to."
[I'll be fine. If the job is going to keep me away from home for too long, I'll just turn it down.]
As they continued to talk Celty's PDA beeped. It was a new messenger alert.
The messenger was installed quite recently and her only contacts were the ones she was in touch with in real life.
An overwhelmingly distasteful premonition seized Celty.
Speak of the devil and he doth appear. The idiom flashed through her mind. Honestly, the way I think is becoming more and more like Shinra's - she thought as she looked at the screen, and bingo - both her premonition and the idiom proved to be appropriate.
Looking at the name "Orihara Izaya" on the screen, Celty typed dispassionately her reply to the messenger alert.
Celty@MonHun•LongSwordMain* 【What is it? 】
Orihara Izaya 【…Are you gaming or something?】
* MonHun: short for Monster Hunter, a popular online game series by Capcom.
Realizing that her screenname was still the one she set half a month ago while chatting with fellow online gamers, Celty hastened to change it.
Celty@ 【It's not like that! Shinra is the Combo Gunner and I just kind of use the Long Sword to clean things up.】
Orihara Izaya 【I have no idea what you're talking about, honestly.】
As she saw these words she realized that she hadn't really been thinking when she replied. Trying to look calm, she waited for about as long as it took humans to take a deep breath before starting to type again.
Celty@Working 【Sorry about that. What's up?】
Orihara Izaya 【You're kind of getting good at making use of your screenname. Anyway, I have a job for you.】
Celty@Working 【No.】
Orihara Izaya 【Oh, don't be so cold.】
Celty@Day Off 【I have no time for your fishy jobs. Sorry.】
Orihara Izaya 【Goodness.】
Orihara Izaya 【Are you too busy taking care of Shinra's injuries?】
Celty froze for a moment after she saw this reply.
- …
- How did Izaya know that Shinra was injured?
- Well, he is an information broker…or did Shinra tell him?
As she paused to think, Izaya sent more replies.
Orihara Izaya 【Judging by how slow you are in replying,】
Orihara Izaya 【I guess you're wondering 'How did he know about Shinra's injuries?'】
Celty@Day Off 【I am. Don't tell me you had a hand in that?】
Celty@Day Off 【If t】
Celty@Day Off 【If that's the case, I'm going to sew your mouth and eyes shut with my shadow and put you in front of Shizuo.】
Orihara Izaya 【Don't get all waspish. Calm down and at least type more steadily. By the way, it was not me. I'm not stupid enough to try to injure or kill my friend. I have few enough of them as it is.】
Orihara Izaya 【But I'm an information broker after all. By now I more or less know why you two were attacked. I'm ready to trade any time you're ready.】
Celty@Day Off 【Really?】
Orihara Izaya 【Though of course I'm going to ask you to do the job in return.】
Celty@Day Off 【Are you really trying to pay me with the information of the people who injured your friend!?】
Orihara Izaya 【I'm going through a dangerous time personally myself. I can't risk to be too nice at the moment.】
Orihara Izaya 【So, what are you going to do? Are you at least willing to listen to me talk about it?】
Celty@Day Off 【Where and when?】
"What happened, Celty?"
Shinra asked nervously as he saw Celty freeze, PDA in her hand.
"It's Izaya, isn't it? Did he just ask you to do some risky job again?"
[No - I mean, it is from Izaya, but the job sounds OK. I'll be going out for a moment.]
"Celty…?"
Shinra said in a questioning voice as Celty prepared herself for going out.
"Hey, did Izaya say something to you?"
[No…it's just about the job.]
"Can I see your PDA?"
[Aren't you looking at it right now?]
Celty shrugged as if Shinra had just said something nonsensical. Shinra, on the other hand, said in a serious tone:
"No, I was asking you to show me your chat transcript. Can you do that?"
[I have my privacy, too. What, are you afraid that I'm cheating on you with Izaya?]
"…Celty, if nothing else, I can at least tell when you're lying, you know."
Shinra's voice was even and calm - but the determination and the sadness in his words could hardly be missed.
[…I…alright.]
Celty could have just left the home through the secret exit, but Shinra's voice pulled her back and made it impossible for her to leave.
Having made up her mind, she conjured up the chat transcript on the screen and showed it to Shinra.
"…Just like I thought. That's exactly what I thought it was about."
[I'm sorry. I thought you'd stop me if you knew…]
"I would…but even if I tried, you'd just say 'Sorry' and leave, wouldn't you, Celty?"
[…I'm sorry.]
As she realized that Shinra saw right through her everything, Celty shrank in her frame.
Shinra, however, smiled as he looked at Celty with warm eyes.
"Well, I've gotten more than used to being involved in his conspiracies, really. For me it's been that way since middle school."
[Eh?]
"I want to know the reason I was attacked as much as you do, Celty…but I don't want you to stress yourself out because of me. That's why I tried to stop you. But since it doesn't work, I'm going to change my idea."
Shinra's expression changed as well as he raised his bandaged body slowly from his bed. While trying to fight back the pain, he stroked the nape of Celty's neck.
"We're going to find out about the man who broke into our home, and we're going to do this together. I can't leave my bed, but at least my brain still works."
[But if it was really Izaya's doing…]
"Didn't we talk about this already? When we escape from Izaya's hand it will be us two together, Celty."
[Shinra…]
Lovey-dovey air filled the space between the two - although Shinra had always surrounded himself with it wherever he went. To settle things once and for all, Shinra named one condition.
"Promise me this, Celty. If you find out anything about the culprit, don't keep it to yourself. Come back home and talk to me first even if Izaya brings someone with him and tells you ‘Here, this is the culprit.'"
[…What if I break the promise? Are you going to hate me for it?]
Celty was not planning to break her promise, but she simply had to know.
Shinra shook his head slowly and replied in a refreshing voice:
"There's no way I can ever hate you, Celty."
[Then what are you going to do?]
"If you break the promise…"
[If I break the promise…?]
After pausing for a moment, Shinra announced his penalty for Celty.
"Cry…I think."
[Huh?]
"I'm going to cry…and scream…"
[You meant you!?]
This sounded so wrong that Celty had to point it out before she even realized it. Shinra, however, continued with a serious face:
"Yeah, I'm going to cry and scream if you ever betray me, Celty! I don't care that I'm a 25-year-old male! I'm going to cry so hard that even Sagamihara-san living downstairs is going to get worried and come check on me! Do you want to see me like that?"
[No, I mean, you're right, I don't think I'll want to…]
Celty leaned forward not knowing exactly what to say to Shinra. His next words, however, sent a chill down her spine.
"Also I'm going to whine in front of your MonHun buddies in the brigade and ruin it for all of them. How's that sound?"
[I get it! I'll definitely keep the promise, so don't you worry!]
Celty replied instantly. After hastily getting herself ready, she left the home.
As she thought back on how terrifying the last "penalty" Shinra named was, she couldn't help but feel a little happy about how well he knew what she liked and disliked.
CHATROOM
Kyo
We've been waiting for a while, but it seems like Kanra-san still can't be bothered to come.
Mai
Not coming.
Kyo
Seriously, that person gives us such a headache. Showing up whenever we don't even want to talk and making a mess of the whole place, and then disappearing off the face of the earth when we actually want to talk about something. The good thing about the Internet is that it connects you with people physically far away. But it seems like Kanra-san is not only far away from us physically. Our hearts may have gone separate ways as well. How lamentable.
Mai
Sad.
Kyo
Since that's the case, there's nothing I can do except for writing down all my accumulated complaints about this world and find some comfort that way. Ahh, at the convenience store they sell cashew nuts and almonds, but they seldom sell walnuts on their own…why, when in mixed nuts they do have cashew, almonds and walnuts? Why?
Mai
I don't really care.
Mai
Uwah!
Mai
Kyo-san, you pervert!
Kyo
Alas, I got called a pervert when all I touched was your calf? You're such a nasty girl. I wonder what you'll call me if I touch anything else? That's something I have to experiment to find out.
Mai
Stop - Stop -
Shoro-san has joined the chat.
Shoro
Oi, stop, you little perverts.
Shoro
Don't bring your sexual harassment ritual online.
Mai
Good evening.
Kyo
Alas, just when I thought that someone's finally online, it turned out to be the one we weren't hoping to see.
Shoro
I apologize to you with all my heart that I failed your precious expectations.
Shoro
Pthu! Pthu!
Kyo
You're spitting in a chatroom. Should I say that you have no manners or that you're such a pro at conveying your emotions in the chatroom…? Either way, it is an indisputable fact that personally I am feeling displeased now.
Mai
Spitting is dirty.
[Private mode] Shoro
By the way, Mairu, Kururi
[Private mode] Kyo
Alas, has something happened, Sharaku Eijirou-san?
[Private mode] Mai
Master, what's up?
[Private mode] Shoro
You really do switch personalities in the chatroom…
[Private mode] Shoro
Anyway, did your big brother just go missing afterwards?
[Private mode] Mai
Yes.
[Private mode] Kyo
Go missing? This was the first time we saw him in a long while.
[Private mode] Shoro
I see. Well, I thought that bastard's disappeared into Shinjuku…
[Private mode] Shoro
How come he was in Ikebukuro today?
[Private mode] Kyo
Who knows? Even if he is our family, it's not like we keep our watch on him or anything.
[Private mode] Mai
Looks like he was up to something with Awakusu-kai.
[Private mode] Shoro
I see…
[Private mode] Shoro
If you find out what he's up to in Ikebukuro, let me know
[Private mode] Kyo
We can do that. As his sisters we feel guilty as well.
[Private mode] Kyo
When we think about how we just let our wild brother into this city like that…
[Private mode] Kyo
Speaking of which, about Mikage-san and our brother…
[Private mode] Shoro
I'm not going to talk about it. It's not the kind of stuff you talk about in a place like this.
[Private mode] Shoro
Also I shouldn't be the one to tell you about it anyway…if you want to know, ask Mikage herself at practice tomorrow.
[Private mode] Shoro
By the way, Kururi-chan, you should get some exercise once in a while, too.
[Private mode] Shoro
You have a better body than Mairu, so I'll have something nice to look at
[Private mode] Kyo
Alas, online sexual harassment to a high school girl?
[Private mode] Mai
I'm so disappointed in you.
[Private mode] Mai
I'm so disappointed in my Master.
[Private mode] Shoro
Hey, am I not allowed to be open even on the Internet?
Kyo
What is this? Shoro-san sexually harassed me in private mode. My brains are on the verge of exploding inside my skull because of this impossible insult. Ah, Shoro-dono's cursed words…they became talons and ripped my clothes open as I was enjoying my sleep in peace in the virtual society called the Internet!
Mai
How barbaric!
Mai
We're going to protest.
Mai
In front of his sister.
Shoro
STOOOP! I get it! It was my bad! I'm sorry! I was just kidding and you got all tough on me! Am I not allowed to sexually harass anyone unless they know it's a joke? I hate this world.
Shoro
You two are such a great pair. Honestly.
Mai
We're not a pair.
Kyo
We're one person. You're insulting the real pairs in this world by saying we're a pair. Though none of them are here to hear you, you should still apologize to them.
Shoro
What is that supposed to mean!? Well, since no one's here I guess I can apologize to your heart's content.
Saika-san has joined the chat.
Saika
Good evening.
Shoro
What!? Saika-san's here!?
Saika
Eh
Saika
I'm sorry did I interrupt something
Kyo
No, no. It's nothing you should get wound up about. You'll see when you've checked the chat log that it was just Shoro-san embarrassing himself.
Kyo
Speaking of which, Saika-san, I have something to ask you.
Saika
What is it
Kyo
Setton-san's been missing from this chatroom for about 10 days. Would you happen to know anything about it?
Saika
No
Saika
I don't really know anything about it
Saika
Maybe just busy, I think
Kyo
I see. Well, we're just thinking that most older members have been missing from this chatroom recently.
Saika
That reminds me Is Tanaka Taro-san OK
Mai
We haven't seen him.
Kyo
That's true, we haven't seen him at all recently. Guess I forgot about him because he uses such an ordinary name! But still, it looks as if the chatroom has been passed on to a new generation of participants. So much for bringing in new people so that we can have more fun*.
* In Vol.8, the chat members agreed that the chat needed more participants. "Shoro", "Gaki", "Saki" and "Pure Water 100%" joined because of this move to bring in new members.
Kyo
Now it looks like we were just trying to leave the chatroom to the new members whether they wanted it or not.
Mai
Let's have fun together.
Mai
Though I just want to sleep.
Kyo
Alas, look at the time! I guess it can't be helped.
Kyo
Let us reconvene tomorrow. Sleep deprivation and drugs are the enemies of your skin.
Kyo
By the way, I hear that there are people trying to spread drugs around in the city…
Saika
You mean the drug stores?
Shoro
That's not the kind of drug she meant lol
Kyo
…Anyway, we'll explain that to you later. If any of you knows Setton-san or Tanaka Taro-san in real life, please try to convince them to come to the chat more!
Kyo
Chatrooms are more fun when we have more people!
.
.
.
(END OF CHAPTER 2)
♂♀
Somewhere on Kawagoe Highway, Shinra's apartment
"…So that's how Izaya's two younger sisters are like. They're probably too much even for Izaya, I think."
[What should I say…those twins sound fictional.]
As if only half convinced by Shinra's story of Izaya's sisters, Celty typed these words.
"Kururi-chan and Mairu-chan became what they're like now when I was attending Raijin High School. They were still first or second graders at the elementary school back then."
[Really?]
"I think Izaya is actually aware that his influence made his sisters turn out the way they did."
Shinra talked about the past in a nostalgic tone. Next to his head Celty was kneeling, her knees and thighs visible through the 100% fitting rider suit made of shadow which accentuated her sensual silhouette. Feeling restless at the sight of her legs, Shinra continued:
"You know what Izaya said to his twin sisters when they were still in elementary school? 'Kururi and Mairu, you're exactly the same in every way. What is the point of living when in everything you do you're just the same?' That's right. He said something to that effect, slowly and clearly, in words that even a five-year-old could understand."
[Honestly, if all the twins in this country voted to hang him, I wouldn't blame them…]
"Nah nah, I don't think it's because he's prejudiced against twins or anything. He probably just wanted to see his sisters feel discouraged or maybe even fight with each other. He did not mean ill - he just 'wanted to see'."
[So he intended to follow up on them? But that simply sounds even nastier to me…]
The words she typed onto her networked PDA appeared instantly on the laptop screen Shinra was looking at while lying face up.
It was their way to save Celty the trouble of having to show Shinra her PDA every time they talked. The conversation proceeded at a nice pace.
"But Izaya got one thing wrong in his calculations - namely, the fact that his sisters were far more abnormal than he thought."
[Abnormal?]
"They threw a dice to split 'traits' between them with the intention to become a human being with only strengths and no weaknesses. They believed that they could make up for each other's weaknesses as a human being with their respective strengths. In fact, they've been doing that for almost 10 years now. You have to give them some credit for that."
[I guess it's kind of admirable...but admirable doesn't feel like the right word.]
Celty put her hands together, thinking.
Shinra turned his eyes toward the ceiling for a moment and told her his speculation.
"I'm thinking…maybe at first they just did it because they wanted Izaya to like them."
[Eh?]
"It's more of a shock when your family members are disappointed in you than when they're angry at you. That's what my father kept saying to me. It's still hard on him no matter how many times he's been through it before when he lets one of us down - me, or my mother, his divorced wife."
As she remembered Shinra's father - the weirdo under the white gas mask - Celty typed on her PDA with mixed feelings.
[…Well, not that I wouldn't expect him to let you down, being the man he is…]
"Anyway, when elementary school girls are told by their much older brother that their lives had no meaning, they will of course do anything to make their brother like them, right?"
After nodding slightly to show his agreement at Celty's words, Shinra smiled bitterly.
"But I guess at some point the end and the means switched positions. They spend so much time on trying to make themselves the perfect human being that their hearts are no longer on Izaya. Perhaps the best proof is that both fell for Hanejima Yuuhei, nicknamed the 'Perfect Superman'. I'm glad that's how it turned out, though, because it would be such a waste if those two were still puppets on Izaya's palm."
[Yeah. I don't know much about those twins, but if you think so, Shinra, you're probably right. Speaking of which, I don't think anyone should ever be on Izaya's palm.]
"Who knows? Maybe we're already on it."
[Then I'll drive my scythe into his nails as hard as I can.]
That must be painful. Shinra smiled as he saw Celty type and said:
"Celty, you're too extreme."
Celty's reply, however, caught Shinra by surprise.
[Even if I can only save you, Shinra, I'll make sure to get you out of his hands. There's no need to worry.]
Shinra's mouth hung open for a second as he digested the meaning of the sentence -
After he had finally understood what it meant, he tried and failed to speak for a few times before breaking down completely.
"Celty - ! Don't say things like that! Don't tell me to live on alone - cough - "
- Shinra!?
Shinra had yelped in pain before he could bolt up in his bed. Celty had no time to type; she hastened to hold him in her arms.
"That hurts…ah…a world without you, ah…'Hakuga breaks his koto'*…that's about the only phrase to describe it…cough…despair…"
* Hakuga breaks his koto: Hakuga (Bo Ya), a Chinese master of koto/qin (a seven-stringed instrument) in the Spring & Autumn Period. According to Liezi, "Bo Ya was good at playing the qin. Zhong Ziqi was good at to listening to the qin. When Bo Ya's will was towards high mountains in his playing, Zhong Ziqi would say, 'How towering like Mount Tai!' When Bo Ya's will was towards flowing water in his playing, Zhong Ziqi would say, 'How vast are the rivers and oceans!' Whatever Bo Ya thought of Ziqi would never fail to understand. Bo Ya said, 'Amazing! Your heart and mine are the same!' When Ziqi died, Bo Ya broke the strings [of his qin] and vowed never to play [the qin] again."
[Just stay still! I'm sorry! I get what you are trying to say now! I was kidding! We'll escape from his hand together! I said together! So don't worry!]
Celty typed hastily onto her PDA and shoved it in Shinra's face as she wrapped Shinra up tenderly with her shadow.
"My bad, Celty! I've calmed down, really, I have…"
Shinra's antics would have looked amusing, but Celty did not comment since she could hardly forget that just a moment ago he was still yelping in pain.
[Anyway, I'll make sure to take care of things at home. I've told Awakusu-kai about your injuries, so I don't think they're going to send emergency patients to you for now.]
"Celty, you don't have to force yourself to work for them either if you don't want to."
[I'll be fine. If the job is going to keep me away from home for too long, I'll just turn it down.]
As they continued to talk Celty's PDA beeped. It was a new messenger alert.
The messenger was installed quite recently and her only contacts were the ones she was in touch with in real life.
An overwhelmingly distasteful premonition seized Celty.
Speak of the devil and he doth appear. The idiom flashed through her mind. Honestly, the way I think is becoming more and more like Shinra's - she thought as she looked at the screen, and bingo - both her premonition and the idiom proved to be appropriate.
Looking at the name "Orihara Izaya" on the screen, Celty typed dispassionately her reply to the messenger alert.
Celty@MonHun•LongSwordMain* 【What is it? 】
Orihara Izaya 【…Are you gaming or something?】
* MonHun: short for Monster Hunter, a popular online game series by Capcom.
Realizing that her screenname was still the one she set half a month ago while chatting with fellow online gamers, Celty hastened to change it.
Celty@ 【It's not like that! Shinra is the Combo Gunner and I just kind of use the Long Sword to clean things up.】
Orihara Izaya 【I have no idea what you're talking about, honestly.】
As she saw these words she realized that she hadn't really been thinking when she replied. Trying to look calm, she waited for about as long as it took humans to take a deep breath before starting to type again.
Celty@Working 【Sorry about that. What's up?】
Orihara Izaya 【You're kind of getting good at making use of your screenname. Anyway, I have a job for you.】
Celty@Working 【No.】
Orihara Izaya 【Oh, don't be so cold.】
Celty@Day Off 【I have no time for your fishy jobs. Sorry.】
Orihara Izaya 【Goodness.】
Orihara Izaya 【Are you too busy taking care of Shinra's injuries?】
Celty froze for a moment after she saw this reply.
- …
- How did Izaya know that Shinra was injured?
- Well, he is an information broker…or did Shinra tell him?
As she paused to think, Izaya sent more replies.
Orihara Izaya 【Judging by how slow you are in replying,】
Orihara Izaya 【I guess you're wondering 'How did he know about Shinra's injuries?'】
Celty@Day Off 【I am. Don't tell me you had a hand in that?】
Celty@Day Off 【If t】
Celty@Day Off 【If that's the case, I'm going to sew your mouth and eyes shut with my shadow and put you in front of Shizuo.】
Orihara Izaya 【Don't get all waspish. Calm down and at least type more steadily. By the way, it was not me. I'm not stupid enough to try to injure or kill my friend. I have few enough of them as it is.】
Orihara Izaya 【But I'm an information broker after all. By now I more or less know why you two were attacked. I'm ready to trade any time you're ready.】
Celty@Day Off 【Really?】
Orihara Izaya 【Though of course I'm going to ask you to do the job in return.】
Celty@Day Off 【Are you really trying to pay me with the information of the people who injured your friend!?】
Orihara Izaya 【I'm going through a dangerous time personally myself. I can't risk to be too nice at the moment.】
Orihara Izaya 【So, what are you going to do? Are you at least willing to listen to me talk about it?】
Celty@Day Off 【Where and when?】
"What happened, Celty?"
Shinra asked nervously as he saw Celty freeze, PDA in her hand.
"It's Izaya, isn't it? Did he just ask you to do some risky job again?"
[No - I mean, it is from Izaya, but the job sounds OK. I'll be going out for a moment.]
"Celty…?"
Shinra said in a questioning voice as Celty prepared herself for going out.
"Hey, did Izaya say something to you?"
[No…it's just about the job.]
"Can I see your PDA?"
[Aren't you looking at it right now?]
Celty shrugged as if Shinra had just said something nonsensical. Shinra, on the other hand, said in a serious tone:
"No, I was asking you to show me your chat transcript. Can you do that?"
[I have my privacy, too. What, are you afraid that I'm cheating on you with Izaya?]
"…Celty, if nothing else, I can at least tell when you're lying, you know."
Shinra's voice was even and calm - but the determination and the sadness in his words could hardly be missed.
[…I…alright.]
Celty could have just left the home through the secret exit, but Shinra's voice pulled her back and made it impossible for her to leave.
Having made up her mind, she conjured up the chat transcript on the screen and showed it to Shinra.
"…Just like I thought. That's exactly what I thought it was about."
[I'm sorry. I thought you'd stop me if you knew…]
"I would…but even if I tried, you'd just say 'Sorry' and leave, wouldn't you, Celty?"
[…I'm sorry.]
As she realized that Shinra saw right through her everything, Celty shrank in her frame.
Shinra, however, smiled as he looked at Celty with warm eyes.
"Well, I've gotten more than used to being involved in his conspiracies, really. For me it's been that way since middle school."
[Eh?]
"I want to know the reason I was attacked as much as you do, Celty…but I don't want you to stress yourself out because of me. That's why I tried to stop you. But since it doesn't work, I'm going to change my idea."
Shinra's expression changed as well as he raised his bandaged body slowly from his bed. While trying to fight back the pain, he stroked the nape of Celty's neck.
"We're going to find out about the man who broke into our home, and we're going to do this together. I can't leave my bed, but at least my brain still works."
[But if it was really Izaya's doing…]
"Didn't we talk about this already? When we escape from Izaya's hand it will be us two together, Celty."
[Shinra…]
Lovey-dovey air filled the space between the two - although Shinra had always surrounded himself with it wherever he went. To settle things once and for all, Shinra named one condition.
"Promise me this, Celty. If you find out anything about the culprit, don't keep it to yourself. Come back home and talk to me first even if Izaya brings someone with him and tells you ‘Here, this is the culprit.'"
[…What if I break the promise? Are you going to hate me for it?]
Celty was not planning to break her promise, but she simply had to know.
Shinra shook his head slowly and replied in a refreshing voice:
"There's no way I can ever hate you, Celty."
[Then what are you going to do?]
"If you break the promise…"
[If I break the promise…?]
After pausing for a moment, Shinra announced his penalty for Celty.
"Cry…I think."
[Huh?]
"I'm going to cry…and scream…"
[You meant you!?]
This sounded so wrong that Celty had to point it out before she even realized it. Shinra, however, continued with a serious face:
"Yeah, I'm going to cry and scream if you ever betray me, Celty! I don't care that I'm a 25-year-old male! I'm going to cry so hard that even Sagamihara-san living downstairs is going to get worried and come check on me! Do you want to see me like that?"
[No, I mean, you're right, I don't think I'll want to…]
Celty leaned forward not knowing exactly what to say to Shinra. His next words, however, sent a chill down her spine.
"Also I'm going to whine in front of your MonHun buddies in the brigade and ruin it for all of them. How's that sound?"
[I get it! I'll definitely keep the promise, so don't you worry!]
Celty replied instantly. After hastily getting herself ready, she left the home.
As she thought back on how terrifying the last "penalty" Shinra named was, she couldn't help but feel a little happy about how well he knew what she liked and disliked.
CHATROOM
Kyo
We've been waiting for a while, but it seems like Kanra-san still can't be bothered to come.
Mai
Not coming.
Kyo
Seriously, that person gives us such a headache. Showing up whenever we don't even want to talk and making a mess of the whole place, and then disappearing off the face of the earth when we actually want to talk about something. The good thing about the Internet is that it connects you with people physically far away. But it seems like Kanra-san is not only far away from us physically. Our hearts may have gone separate ways as well. How lamentable.
Mai
Sad.
Kyo
Since that's the case, there's nothing I can do except for writing down all my accumulated complaints about this world and find some comfort that way. Ahh, at the convenience store they sell cashew nuts and almonds, but they seldom sell walnuts on their own…why, when in mixed nuts they do have cashew, almonds and walnuts? Why?
Mai
I don't really care.
Mai
Uwah!
Mai
Kyo-san, you pervert!
Kyo
Alas, I got called a pervert when all I touched was your calf? You're such a nasty girl. I wonder what you'll call me if I touch anything else? That's something I have to experiment to find out.
Mai
Stop - Stop -
Shoro-san has joined the chat.
Shoro
Oi, stop, you little perverts.
Shoro
Don't bring your sexual harassment ritual online.
Mai
Good evening.
Kyo
Alas, just when I thought that someone's finally online, it turned out to be the one we weren't hoping to see.
Shoro
I apologize to you with all my heart that I failed your precious expectations.
Shoro
Pthu! Pthu!
Kyo
You're spitting in a chatroom. Should I say that you have no manners or that you're such a pro at conveying your emotions in the chatroom…? Either way, it is an indisputable fact that personally I am feeling displeased now.
Mai
Spitting is dirty.
[Private mode] Shoro
By the way, Mairu, Kururi
[Private mode] Kyo
Alas, has something happened, Sharaku Eijirou-san?
[Private mode] Mai
Master, what's up?
[Private mode] Shoro
You really do switch personalities in the chatroom…
[Private mode] Shoro
Anyway, did your big brother just go missing afterwards?
[Private mode] Mai
Yes.
[Private mode] Kyo
Go missing? This was the first time we saw him in a long while.
[Private mode] Shoro
I see. Well, I thought that bastard's disappeared into Shinjuku…
[Private mode] Shoro
How come he was in Ikebukuro today?
[Private mode] Kyo
Who knows? Even if he is our family, it's not like we keep our watch on him or anything.
[Private mode] Mai
Looks like he was up to something with Awakusu-kai.
[Private mode] Shoro
I see…
[Private mode] Shoro
If you find out what he's up to in Ikebukuro, let me know
[Private mode] Kyo
We can do that. As his sisters we feel guilty as well.
[Private mode] Kyo
When we think about how we just let our wild brother into this city like that…
[Private mode] Kyo
Speaking of which, about Mikage-san and our brother…
[Private mode] Shoro
I'm not going to talk about it. It's not the kind of stuff you talk about in a place like this.
[Private mode] Shoro
Also I shouldn't be the one to tell you about it anyway…if you want to know, ask Mikage herself at practice tomorrow.
[Private mode] Shoro
By the way, Kururi-chan, you should get some exercise once in a while, too.
[Private mode] Shoro
You have a better body than Mairu, so I'll have something nice to look at
[Private mode] Kyo
Alas, online sexual harassment to a high school girl?
[Private mode] Mai
I'm so disappointed in you.
[Private mode] Mai
I'm so disappointed in my Master.
[Private mode] Shoro
Hey, am I not allowed to be open even on the Internet?
Kyo
What is this? Shoro-san sexually harassed me in private mode. My brains are on the verge of exploding inside my skull because of this impossible insult. Ah, Shoro-dono's cursed words…they became talons and ripped my clothes open as I was enjoying my sleep in peace in the virtual society called the Internet!
Mai
How barbaric!
Mai
We're going to protest.
Mai
In front of his sister.
Shoro
STOOOP! I get it! It was my bad! I'm sorry! I was just kidding and you got all tough on me! Am I not allowed to sexually harass anyone unless they know it's a joke? I hate this world.
Shoro
You two are such a great pair. Honestly.
Mai
We're not a pair.
Kyo
We're one person. You're insulting the real pairs in this world by saying we're a pair. Though none of them are here to hear you, you should still apologize to them.
Shoro
What is that supposed to mean!? Well, since no one's here I guess I can apologize to your heart's content.
Saika-san has joined the chat.
Saika
Good evening.
Shoro
What!? Saika-san's here!?
Saika
Eh
Saika
I'm sorry did I interrupt something
Kyo
No, no. It's nothing you should get wound up about. You'll see when you've checked the chat log that it was just Shoro-san embarrassing himself.
Kyo
Speaking of which, Saika-san, I have something to ask you.
Saika
What is it
Kyo
Setton-san's been missing from this chatroom for about 10 days. Would you happen to know anything about it?
Saika
No
Saika
I don't really know anything about it
Saika
Maybe just busy, I think
Kyo
I see. Well, we're just thinking that most older members have been missing from this chatroom recently.
Saika
That reminds me Is Tanaka Taro-san OK
Mai
We haven't seen him.
Kyo
That's true, we haven't seen him at all recently. Guess I forgot about him because he uses such an ordinary name! But still, it looks as if the chatroom has been passed on to a new generation of participants. So much for bringing in new people so that we can have more fun*.
* In Vol.8, the chat members agreed that the chat needed more participants. "Shoro", "Gaki", "Saki" and "Pure Water 100%" joined because of this move to bring in new members.
Kyo
Now it looks like we were just trying to leave the chatroom to the new members whether they wanted it or not.
Mai
Let's have fun together.
Mai
Though I just want to sleep.
Kyo
Alas, look at the time! I guess it can't be helped.
Kyo
Let us reconvene tomorrow. Sleep deprivation and drugs are the enemies of your skin.
Kyo
By the way, I hear that there are people trying to spread drugs around in the city…
Saika
You mean the drug stores?
Shoro
That's not the kind of drug she meant lol
Kyo
…Anyway, we'll explain that to you later. If any of you knows Setton-san or Tanaka Taro-san in real life, please try to convince them to come to the chat more!
Kyo
Chatrooms are more fun when we have more people!
.
.
.
(END OF CHAPTER 2)