Vol 8 Chapter 32 (1/2)
This is a continuation of PART A
”Don't tellto collapse” The excitea's voice, and uncertainty crept in
”All's good and well if it collapses,” Inukashi+ replied ”Once this place becomes a mountain of rubble, I'll be the first to plant a , and the countless people ere e and bloom with pure white flowers
”You sounded so happy the other day wishi+ng this place would co down, old man,” he added
”That was a form of expression I don'tdown, but I have a bit of a proble a pile of rubble”
”Why?”
”Inukashi+, think really hard about it If this building collapses co with it It's going to be a hell of a lot of work digging it back up”
Inukashi+ stared at Rikiga The man's face was earnest
”Old man did you really believe that?”
”What?”
”The story about the gold bullion Do you actually believe it's down there?”
Rikiga's eyes wandered His throat contracted
”Inukashi+, what are you joking about now? Of course it's there My information sources are trustworthy There's no room for doubt”
”Okay, if you say so,” Inukashi+ said indifferently ”Who was your source again? Ann or Oon or soht?”
”Sulu, the redheaded beauty She heard it directly froh official of No 6, in bed No doubt about it This tip isn't a dud”
”Is that how it goes?”
”Yeah You ht not know, since you're still a snot-nosed kid and all you deal with are dogs The thing about men is that they can't lie to women after the deed Wives are a different story, but men don't lie to women they buy They don't need to”
”That's why they accidentally spill the beans about confidential stuff they'd never talk about”
”That's right So you do understand”
”And can you trust this Sulu woman?”
”I sure can I pressed her over and over about whether this story was true Sulu said she definitely heard it She's sure of it, and so aether, old man?”
”None of your business, kid Inappropriate subjectadult, I refuse to answer No co that comes out of your mouth is inappropriate, oldintentions of yours are probably dissolved in alcohol by now You're as inappropriate as adults get I would never want a said impatiently ”How doesto do e're talking about?”
”To get straight to the point, I'll just say that between you and Nezuirls a lot more easily Yeah, I think ninety-nine out of a hundred no, all hundred girls would rather sleep with Nezumi than you Of course And I don't think Sulu is an exception”
Rikiga's brows furrowed theatrically
”Inukashi+, what are you trying to say? Stop trying to beat around the bush Do me a favour and be clearer about it”
”Clearer, huh Well, there's not much to say, anyway Say I'et totally hooked onto this good-looking actor called Eve If he whispered into my ear with that sultry voice of his, ould I do? I think I'd be pretty eager to feed false information to a certain beer-bellied old ht,” Inukashi+ said offhandedly
Rikiga sed hard He opened hisheat
”How―no, hoould Eve ask Sulu to do that? Th―there's no plausible reason―”
”To manipulate you, old man Actually, maybe I was part of the plan, too He wanted to draw us in by hinting to us about soold bullion It's the easiest andhe'd think of? He's unbeatable when it coly sa stood still and speechless for a good while
”Inukashi+ when did you realize that?”
”When? I dunno I think froirl, Nezuuess that means I know a little bit more than you about Nezuh”
”If you knehy did you still coer to do this?”
”Because there's gold bullion”
”Huh?”
”I actually don't knohy I'ht now I really don't know It's just―so I thought would never change is gonna be turned upside down It's al that miracle―humans are An airheaded boy and the fraud of the century Doesn't it give you a thrill? It gave onna wait 'til soo ahead and do it I wanna think that I have a role in changing the world Nezuht in front ofup there and pretending you don't notice?' and tossed the bait in front of old”
”And you latched onto it knowing you were being tricked”
”I guess you can say that”
”I see so you got in on it and tricked a I've been strung along by a couple of brats I've grown old I think it's really hitting hoe”
”Hey uess I think it's about ninety-percent right, though There's always the possibility that Sulu seriously had the hots for you, and she gave you the gift of juicy infora gave a great sigh, and slumped his shoulders True to his word, he suddenly looked like he had aged by many years ”So what do you plan to do now?” he looked up at Inukashi+, and exhaled again
”Me? I'onna wait”
”For Eve and shi+on?”
”Yeah Nezumi told me to wait here What other choice do I have?”
”Like a loyal dog waiting for itson a fieldback from? From that half-open door?”
”Who knows? I can't read that far into it I don't think even Nezu―there's no way they can foresee that far Clionna do, old hed yet another time His back was hunched and his posture was truly that of an oldit on purpose
”I'll wait,” he replied ”Feeling like a loyal dog”
”Even if the gold bullion was a lie?” Inukashi+ was a little surprised He had been alht out of this rooold bullion was an illusion
Here, you don't knohat's gonna happen next There's no way of guessing what kind of danger is co, and when it'll coet the hell outta here and go back ho off, blinded by greed, but he's got the smarts it takes to survive If not, he wouldn't be able to hoard ot involved in things that benefited him E action―only potential wealth was This was Rikiga's philosophy of life, and Inukashi+ agreed with it That hy he was taken by surprise
”Why're you gonna wait, old man?” he questioned sincerely He was truly curious
”Because I can't move”
”Can't move? Doesn't look like you're hurt toMy legs and back are shot I have no choice but to rest here Besides, there's nothing to prove that you're a hundred percent right Sulu's tipMr Gold Bullion is just sitting on his ass under our feet”
”Yeah I've co to leave with nothing If it comes to this, I'll clean out the Correctional Facility of anything that's worth et you and Eve to help For free I'ed, and turned aside He wasn't convinced that Rikiga was telling the truth What was he waiting for? What was he staying behind for? Inukashi+ was sure even Rikiga himself did not know the answer He knew at least that it was probably not because of his palpitating heart, his shortness of breath, or the gold bullion, which was nothing but an illusion
So whaddaya know, the oldback Inukashi+his lips
Changes are happening inside the Correctional Facility It's al back
In the dark, Inukashi+ quietly balled his hand into a fist
”It's delicious,” Renka sighed ”I didn't know hot tea could taste so nice”
”More sugar? They say sweet tea soothes you when you're tired” Karan placed the pot of sugar in front of Renka It was so of her store It was a small and cheap pot, but it was Karan's favourite
Renka pinched her tear ducts
”Karan―thank you I'lad you're here Thank you”
”Oh, Renka, don't cry” Karan placed a hand on Renka's knee, and added strength to her tone ”You have Lili Don't cry Be strong”
Lili, who had been looking up at her htly Karan kne harsh it was to repri when she was so overwhel”; ”sement from others hurt the soul much more brutally than insults
I'm at my limit What am I supposed to try harder at?
Karan herself had co so How ruthless, how shallo crude they were―such superficial words of encouragement or reproach I know But I have to say them
”Renka, you have Lili and the baby in your wo You could cry any other tio, is it? You have to pull yourself together”
Renka blinked, and sed her breath Then, she straightened her back
”Yes, senpai[1]”
”As long as you understand Be careful next tiaze darted between her mother and Karan
”Ma'ahter's shoulder close ”Yes, she is My senpai in life I'd want her to teach s in the future”
”Ma'am, you must be really old”
Karan and Renka looked at each other, and burst out laughing almost simultaneously
”How mean of you, Lili,” Karan exclaiht years apart I guess I ahed, and softly brushed the tears from her eyes ”No, Karan, I really am thankful Who knoould have happened if I was alone I would probably be bawling from anxiety”
”You're not that weak,” Karan said firth back as ayou to And―you know, Renka, this ht seeer for Getsuyaku-san? I feel like it's too soon to give up hope”
Perhaps it was really just a teuise the truth But so to ease your conscience, soar in a cup of tea