Published at 26th of March 2019 12:07 am

Volume 5, Part 7

◇◇◇ Kazuki Hoshino - 09/11 FRI 20:26 ◇◇◇

I received a call from Iroha-san.

"I really don't want to say this because it's embarrassing to sound like your stereotypical villain, but heck, it'll be easier to understand it this way. Err... I kidnapped Maria Otonashi, so do what I tell you to if you want her back."

"...Why?" I mutter to myself as I head toward the elevated railway that she specified, all alone per her demands.

Why would Iroha-san kidnap Maria...?

I immediately called Maria, just in case she was bluffing.

—But Maria didn't answer.

Yeah, I know: that's not proof positive that she was kidnapped. Perhaps Maria simply missed an incoming call.

But since I'm unable to get in touch with Maria, I have to assume the worst and go alone to the railway underpass as instructed - even if it's a trap.

"Why?" ...because I will always choose to try to save Maria.

And of course, Iroha-san made her demands with that in mind.

"......Tch!"

Such a pain!

I already know that she's a [servant] because of the 'Shadow of Sin and Punishment', but it's just so hard to imagine Iroha-san obeying Daiya.

Besides, how is she even able to kidnap Maria?

I mean, Yuuri-san said that actions that go against people's moral values have to be specifically [ordered].

With his limited knowledge of the situation outside of the cinema, Daiya is unlikely to give a detailed [order] like "kidnap Maria and lure Kazu under an elevated railway by threatening him." Even if he did give such an [order], Iroha-san would be a really bad choice to execute it because she's strong-willed and brilliant. One of his fanatics would have been a much better choice - a fanatic would execute Daiya's [order] mechanically and without scruples. In Iroha-san's case, he'd run the risk of her finding a flaw in his [order] and doing something unexpected to thwart his plans.

Thus, my conclusion is that Iroha-san has decided on her own to kidnap Maria.

While running, I throw back my sleeve and look at the time. 20:27. The third movie, "Repeat, Reset, Reset," is about to begin. There are three hours and thirty-three minutes until the day is over.

The day I previously described as so short, has started to feel endless.

✵

I reach the place I was directed to.

It's a tunnel under an overhead railway that runs along a river, distant from the city center. The graffiti on the walls demonstrate that this is a thug hang-out. The nearest street lamps are too far away to provide any real illumination. The only thing casting a faint light on the right half of Iroha-san's face is a weak lantern that she prepared herself.

I approach her, stomping through the overgrown grass. I can't see anyone else in the murky darkness, but I sense the presence of several other people. They probably aren't really trying to hide from me. If anything, they want their ill-hidden presence to make me nervous.

Iroha-san is sitting next to some graffiti on the wall.

"Woof, woof! Uuuh...!"

On a naked man who's on all fours.

"I know, I know, little boy. Kazuki-kun arrived, right?"

The plump man-chair is barking like a dog.

"...Ugh."

I feel ineffable disgust. The fact that his body is sagging everywhere irritates me even further.

Even though I don't want to look at him, I don't want to avert my gaze either. The mere thought of him making me move my gaze is hard to bear. You disappear from my sight! I don't want to have anything to do with such a sick pervert!

—Something suddenly clicks in my head and I calm down.

"This phenomenon..."

Right, I've seen it before.

I didn't think it was that bad in reality, but I've heard about it on TV.

"The 'Dog Humans,'" I murmur—and come to a realization. "So the 'Dog Humans' also appeared because of Daiya..."

"Right! Oh, but I created this one, not Oomine-kun."

"What do you mean? ...Anyway, how are you able to do that, Iroha-san?"

"Aah, do I have to start explaining from scratch? Well, listen, Kazuki-kun: I can now use the same powers as Oomine-kun!"

"Eh? How would you—"

...Hold on, Yuuri-san told me that the 'Shadow of Sin and Punishment' is shared. Does that mean that Daiya isn't the only person who can use those powers?

So all the others can as well...?

"For your information, I'm the only one with the same powers as Oomine-kun right now, so don't worry about that."

I feel slightly relieved after she says that.

I feel slightly relieved after she says that.

...No, I'm not supposed to feel relieved right now. I have to confirm if Maria's safe.

I look around while trying to keep my eyes off the naked man.

"Where's Maria...?"

"Not here," she answers bluntly.

"Did you really kidnap..."

"I did. Thanks to the previous [order], I was able to find out where she lives, after all."

"What do you plan on doing to her? What do you want me to do?"

Iroha-san stares closely at me. Without answering, she gets off the "Dog Human."

And kicks his head.

While making half-assed howls, the naked "Dog Human" looks up at Iroha-san with puppy-dog eyes.

I frown at the repulsive spectacle that's unfolding before me.

...No, that's wrong. I forgot for a moment because of my disgust, but that's not the reaction that I'm supposed to display.

"W-What are you doing?! That man has merely been [ordered] to act like a dog! He's as human as you and I!"

"A human? Not quite. Appearances aren’t deceiving in his case - he's an inferior being. Disgusting, isn't he?"

"Well, certainly... but only because you made him act like that!"

"You think so? But this guy likes to rape little girls!"

"What?"

What did she just say?

"He's a pedophile beyond help and was human trash even before becoming a dog! The power of the 'box' is primarily control of others, but it also lets you get a glimpse of others' sins, you know? Because of that, it's possible to search out such scum."

"...Did you search specifically for such a criminal?"

"I wanted to try making a 'Dog Human,' you see. I wanted a human who deserved such punishment. Well, that's when I came across this guy! It didn't have to be him, but I think he was a good choice. After all, I prevented him from producing even more victims. He's done it repeatedly, you know - raping little girls. And he's absolutely beyond help."

"......But... is that, true?"

"Yeah. He's a sick sh*t who only gets off if he pushes his miserable penis into the pussy of a crying little girl."

Iroha-san kicks at his head again.

The "Dog Human" raises a hideous cry.

I watch them silently.

"Look, you stopped saying anything."

"Eh?"

"You stopped telling me not to kick him."

Iroha-san commands the still bawling "Dog Human," "Down!" He gets down on all fours, thrusting his buttocks toward me.

"You admitted that he's inferior."

"I-I didn't..."

"Yes, you did."

She looks down at the "Dog Human," spits on him and then leans against the wall with a deadpan expression.

"Deep down, you wish that people like this would just die, don't you?"

"No!"

"Can you still say that after seeing his victims: girls who have become full-fledged cutters and refuse to leave their rooms, their parents who have divorced because they couldn't deal with their children's suffering anymore? After he's destroyed so many lives, how can you still say that this piece of sh*t deserves to live?"

"...I-I can..."

I want him to atone for his sins, and I don't think he can be forgiven, but the death penalty isn't right... I suppose. My conviction must be shaky because he's so hideous as a "Dog Human."

"Mmm? Well, I used to share your opinion, I guess. But surprisingly, that opinion might be in the minority! Humans like to think in terms of black and white, absolute good and absolute evil. Take any Hollywood blockbuster: don't you feel happy when the bad guy gets beaten up by the hero? Emotionally, we also tend to want people who have committed unforgivable crimes to get the death penalty. In other words: it's normal to want those fiends to disappear for good."

"...I don't think that way."

"But it's true! Although- I do see where you're coming from. I also used to think that it was wrong. I thought that the guys who simply go about shouting 'kill them,' 'they should die,' and so forth were just idiots. Even if someone commits a crime, that's just one side of that person, and he might also have his good sides or be a proper human otherwise, so I was convinced that you wouldn't press the 'execution' button if you really knew him. Besides, aren't plenty of the people who want to kill the sinners just hypocrites? How pure are they? There are plenty of guys who think drinking and driving is totally cool. Do they not give a sh*t about running people over? Yeah right they'd support their own executions! Well, that's how I used to think until I obtained these powers," she says and smiles faintly.

"...And now?"

"Yeah, now I think so! Those sinners should go to hell."

There is not the slightest hesitation in her voice.

"It's true that many people who think the death penalty is an easy answer are idiots. But even if you have an informed opinion after evaluating the sinners, the correct answer is still the death penalty. I know I'm being presumptuous here, having killed people in the 'Game of Idleness' myself, but I can still say with conviction that those guys are truly different from those of us who possess common sense. There really are assholes who can't be pitied and make you want to vomit! You'd be surprised by their ignorance, theircomplete lack of empathy, and the crap that comes out of their mouths! It's people like that who commit crimes. They are simply unable to adapt to society. Just take this guy here: guess what he said when I asked him if he pitied the girls he raped? 'But I can't hold back,' 'they were unlucky, running into me when I'm feeling like this,' 'I know I'm doing something wrong, but what can I do about it?' Do you get what I'm saying? Don't you feel the repulsiveness of those statements? These guys never learn. They don't understand how much their victims suffer. They don't realize what they have done. They have no scruples about privileging their own desires above the rights of everyone else. I now realize that they are born as scum - they can't escape their destiny."

The "Dog Human" barks.

"So I gave him an appearance that suits him."

Iroha-san frowns at the naked "Dog Human," who is now rolling on his back. She's unable to tolerate his repulsive behavior even though she created him herself.

"How can you forgive someone like that?" she says and claps her hands for some reason.

At that moment.

"WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!"

A clamor echoes through the tunnel.

"Wha—"

What?

I look around and instantly realize what's happening.

A teeming crowd of people with brown paper bags pulled over their heads has been creeping up on us.

The presence I felt when coming here was no doubt theirs. Now I know that they're Iroha-san's [servants].

I can't see much because it's so dark, but they seem to have nothing in common besides the paper bags. Their clothes are varied - some of them are wearing the uniform of my school, while others wear dresses - their sex and ages are mixed as well.

Those people have assembled and started to surround us.

It's bizarre. It's terribly weird to see such a mismatched crowd of people, somehow act in perfect unison.

What's about to happen? How should I respond?

I have no clue what Iroha-san will do next, so I don't know how to react properly. I'm at a total loss.

Ignoring me, Iroha-san raises her voice.

"Let us punish him!"

"Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!" "Punishment!"

I'm overwhelmed by their sudden screams.

Almost twenty men and women are yelling while pumping their fists in the air.

...W-What is this?

I know they're just following Iroha-san's [orders], but I can't stay calm when they're right in front of me. I get the same feeling as when I saw the video of people prostrating themselves in front of Daiya. When twenty-odd people do the same abnormal thing in perfect synchrony, it's instinctively disturbing on some deep level.

The members of the paper-bag crowd continue to scream as they pull the "Dog Human" to his feet. They grasp him tightly from behind and turn the naked man toward Iroha-san.

Meanwhile, she's pulled out a knife.

"I-Iroha-san, what are you...?"

But she doesn't even look at me.

"Here's an [order] for you, rapist. Stop acting like a dog."

The "Dog Human" immediately undergoes a sudden change. His face instantly transforms into that of a frightened man. He seems to have been fully aware while he was a "Dog Human," as he's completely unsurprised - but plenty scared.

"A-Aah! Please stop! I-I'm guilty! I won't ever assault another girl!"

"Hah? Aren't you a bit late? You can't undo what you've done, can you? Their hymens can't grow back, can they? Ah, right. Come on, cut your cock off with this knife then."

"I-I—"

"How else are you going to make your amends, then?"

"I-I will never lay hands on a girl again! I promise!"

"Ha! When will you finally stop with your bullsh*t? What you're suggesting is the ethical lowest common denominator, and not something you do to atone, okay? That's like going to a restaurant and saying 'from now on I won't leave without paying my bill anymore.' Okay? Okey-dokey? Paying from now on as an apology? Who are you fucking with? If you really regret what you have done, then propose something that will aid those girls at least a little bit, you sack of sh*t!"

"A-Aid? W-What do you want me to do?"

"Try using your head. If you empathize with them at all, you should figure something out yourself. For example, you could pay them a hundred million yen?[1]"

"O-One hundred million? T-That's impossible! I don't even have a job—"

Upon hearing that excuse, Iroha-san thrusts her fist into his face without batting an eye. One time, two times, three times. She punches him expressionlessly.

—Ah.

No matter what that man says, he's not going to be forgiven.

"Ah, ugh, gha! Ugh!"

Blood spills from his nose.

The paper-bag crowd holds him tight without saying a word. No one cares for his wounds. Iroha-san continues as if nothing had happened.

"You're only begging for your life right now because you're scared, not because you're at all repentant. I can predict that you'll continue your vile acts if I let you go. So, I'll end it now!"

Iroha-san claps her hands again.

"Here's an [order]. Tell me, what do you honestly think is an appropriate punishment for him?"

The paper-bag crowd replies.

"Die."

"Die."

"Die."

"Die," "Die you hideous mutt," "Die you criminal," "Die a painful death," "Die you limp dick," "Die you stinker," "Die you pervert," "Die, you deserve it," "Die already," "Die right now."

"Die."

"Die."

"Die."

They're responding because of an [order].

But I can hear the honesty in their voices.

Around twenty people are sincerely wishing for his death.

"Hah...," she lets out an exaggerated sigh. "It's been decided unanimously that you should die."

She brings the knife closer to him.

"Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! I haven't done anything to you guys, have I?! This is none of your business! Who are you to—GAAAAAAAAH!"

Iroha-san tears off a handful of his hair without flinching. A ripping sound echoes off the walls.

One of the paper-bag people whispers, "die," and claps his hands together encouragingly. Someone else follows suit and also claps while whispering, "die." Bit by bit, it spreads and results in a chorus of "dies." They start clapping in a hateful rhythm for his death. "Die," clap. "Die," clap. "Die," clap. "Die," clap. "Die," clap. Die-die-die-die-die-die-die-die-die-clap-clap-clap-clap-clap-clap-clap-clap-clap.

A cheerful rhythm of "dies" resounds back and forth.

Watching them, I can't help but think:

—Ah, right. He deserves to die.

Unable to whine anymore, the man is now trembling in fear and pissing himself.

"Cry some more, you swine. Regret getting born, you swine. Suffer, you swine."

Iroha-san brings her knife right up to his eyeballs.

"Your death will be the ultimate form of catharsis for your victims."

Seeing her on the verge of making a grave mistake, I finally come to my senses.

"Iroha-san, sto—"

However, three men hold me back and keep me from acting. My field of vision gets cut off by someone's arm. I can't see anything.

"Iroha-san! You mustn't do that!"

If you do that, you won't be able to return.

You will be trapped by the 'boxes' and unable to return to your everyday life.

But—

"Here's an [order]. When my knife touches you, return to being a dog."

"UGYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHN!!!"

I couldn't stop her.

What echoes through the tunnel is not a man's scream, but a dog's howl.

The men release me and move away.

The first thing I see is a naked man covered in blood. Even though it's a horrible spectacle, I also feel a sick sense of satisfaction deep down. His scream is terribly pathetic, and the mere thought that it touched my eardrums disgusts me. I can't help but feel some degree of twisted pleasure as I watch his saggy body twitch.

I'm different from those "Dog Humans." I'm not that ugly or foolish. They get their just deserts[2] because they're "Dog Humans."

Some kind of relief. Some sense of superiority.

But I understand all too well why Daiya created the "Dog Human" phenomenon.

It'll be terrible if that contempt for "Dog Humans" becomes commonplace. They will no longer be considered human, and will just be scoffed at and viewed as deserving of punishment. People will take their deaths for granted. Once that perception infiltrates the entire globe, our world will be covered by his 'box' and become "distorted."

I can't permit that.

Thus, to avoid giving in, I try to approach and help the still-twitching man.

"Don't move!"

But Iroha-san stops me.

"I won't let you help him. If you move, I can't guarantee Maria Otonashi's safety."

"What?!"

You dare use Maria as a bargaining chip?!

"W-Why would you do that? Why do you want to kill him so badly? Is there really a point in doing so?!"

"Certainly, there is no real point in killing this particular guy."

"Then why?!"

"But we'll be doing it repeatedly from now on. We will build a new world this way."

Right.

That's their aim, after all. That's the world Daiya and Iroha-san wish for. What I have just seen—people demanding the death of a criminal fool and then actually killing him— is, in miniature, what the 'Shadow of Sin and Punishment' will bring about.

"That's why I mustn't let you interfere now. If you did, you would continue to stand in our way. You would become an obstacle. Believe it or not, I know that you can become a surprisingly large obstacle. Therefore, I can't let you oppose us here!"

The paper-bag crowd is still silently surrounding and watching us.

From their midst, Iroha-san walks toward me with firm steps.

"Right. I guess it's time to come to the point and tell you what I want from you in return for Otonashi-san."

As Iroha-san approaches me, the lantern begins to illuminate her face in a demonic fashion.

She grabs my chin and pulls it toward her.

"Cease all resistance right now."

Her dimly lit face is painted in red.

A red line is dripping down her cheeks as if she were shedding bloody tears. The pupils of her eyes that have dilated because of the darkness are fixed upon me and holding me captive.

"To prove it, grit your teeth and watch how he dies. Do it like a little crying child whose mommy won't buy him any candy," she says and lets go of my chin. She tries to wipe away the red liquid on her lips with her arm, but she only ends up spreading it everywhere.

Ah... I understand now.

—Iroha-san can't return anymore.

She can't return to her "everyday life"—to a life without 'boxes'. Her eyes are as sharp as a raptor's, and cut into me like knives. Her face has become dull with madness.

Iroha-san's mind is somewhere else now. If I help that man, she might really hurt Maria. That's how far away she is from reality.

What is she planning on doing to me? Given her current state, she has no reason to let me go. If she's really sided with Daiya, she might use the [servants] around here to seize me and make me abandon the 'Wish-Crushing Cinema'.

—I won't let her do that.

But how should I deal with Maria's abduction?

I have no answer, and there is no simple answer. I'm left with no choice but to wait for her next move.

Iroha-san sees that I've come to a standstill, and takes out her cell phone in a manner so calm as to seem affected. Before doing anything, she explains, "You know, there's no need to put an [order] into words. So essentially, saying this aloud now is just a performance that I'm putting on for you."

She makes a call - I can barely hear a man's voice coming from the speaker of her phone, but I can't understand what he's saying.

Iroha-san answers him:

"Yeah, rape Maria Otonashi."

"Wha——?!" I exclaim.

What? What is she talking about?

With a triumphant smile, Iroha-san says:

"Didn't I tell you to prove that you won't oppose us? How could abandoning a worthless and inferior 'Dog Human' be sufficient proof? Well, that's why I'm doing this. If you still offer no resistance even after I deprive you of what you treasure most, I'll believe that you've thrown in the towel."

"Do you......"

I burn with anger.

"Do you think for a second that I'd stand for this?!"

"You won't? As you like, as you like. It just means that I'll corner you. I'll put you out of action by smashing your will to resist. And that's exactly why Otonashi-san will get raped."

"Iroha-san, do you even realize what you're saying? You are essentially doing the same thing as the pedophile rapist that you detest!"

"Not quite. I'm not doing it to satisfy my base desires. I have a clear goal. No war, regardless of its justness, can be won without killing the enemy's soldiers. It's unavoidable that villagers get involved and die. Some soldiers may even crack under the pressure and start massacring civilians. But on the whole, justice is justice. While there might be some minor failings, correct things are correct."

"Cut the crap! What you're doing can't be correct! Minor issues my ass! Stop spouting bullsh*t!"

"You seem to comprehend what I'm saying, no?" Iroha-san says with a wry smile.

It's useless... I can't persuade her with logic. Taking a single look into her muddy eyes, utterly void of sanity, is enough to make me understand that.

Nevertheless, I have to stop her abuse of Maria no matter what.

Basically, Iroha-san just needs to believe that I have completely submitted to her.

...In that case, there's an obvious option.

"If you want to break my will to resist, there's no need to go that far!"

"Yes?" With an estimating look, Iroha-san urges me to continue.

It's a risky plan. I might really lose the power to oppose them, but at least I'll be able to keep Maria from being violated.

I propose my idea:

"Just make me your [servant]."

Right. Once that happens, hurting Maria will be meaningless. There is no better way to demonstrate my submission.

But Iroha-san's answer is unexpected:

"Impossible. I already tried."

"...Eh?"

"What do you think this lantern is for? 'Course, to make a shadow! ...Ah, perhaps you don't even know how the 'Shadow of Sin and Punishment' works? I guess that doesn't mean much to you, then. Well, listen up: if you step on my shadow, or I step on yours, I can [control] you. So I tried that already. But have you become a [servant], Kazuki-kun? Nothing has changed, right?"

"...you can't make me into a [servant]?"

"I can't say for sure, but at the very least, I couldn't a few moments before."

"Why not...?"

"Because you're an 'owner'! The 'boxes' impede each other. Like when Oomine-kun could still move freely despite getting sucked into the 'Game of Idleness'. I made sure that I stepped on your shadow the moment you came here, but I couldn't take control of you. By the way, the same holds true for Otonashi-san."

"You also tried to make Maria into a [servant]?"

"Well, yeah. That'd be the easiest way to go, right?" she bluntly explains.

"So it's impossible to make 'owners' into [servants]..."

"Mmm.... that's not totally accurate. According to Otonashi-san, it's possible if you give in. If you're game, can I give it another shot?"

In an utterly casual fashion, Iroha-san takes a step forward and—

—steps on my shadow.

Her movement was so smooth that I can barely believe that she's using her 'box'.

Because she acted so nonchalantly, she managed to step on my shadow before I even thought to evade her. Whatever Iroha-san says, there's no proof that I won't become a [servant] when she steps on my shadow. Perhaps her first attempt failed due to some unlikely confluence of events? Thus, I shouldn't freely let her step on my shadow.

"......"

I sense nothing unusual as I wait.

"......Can you make anyone into a [servant] except for an 'owner'?"

"Yeah. I'd really like to meet a guy who I can't subdue."

I still feel nothing.

Even though she has stepped on my shadow, I remain unaffected.

"If someone like that exists, he must be a freak."

Iroha-san is lying.

No... that's not quite right. She isn't lying - she's just wrong.

Iroha-san said that she can make anyone into a [servant] as long as he isn't an 'owner'. She's already made a mistake.

Because I am not an 'owner'.

Kazuki Hoshino is not the 'owner' of the 'Wish-Crushing Cinema'.

"Got it? That's why I have to reject your proposal of letting Otonashi-san go in return for becoming my [servant]."

"So that means...?"

"Yup. It's time to get back on schedule and break your heart."

As things stand right now, I can't stop her with my words anymore.

I've become painfully aware of that fact.

Suddenly, I notice something.

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