Bungo Stray Dogs - Volume 5 Chapter 3 Part 3

3—3

Clang, clang, clang, clang!
The sound of metal echoed as Atsushi and Kyouka followed Akutagawa. Kyouka had managed to coerce Atsushi into cooperating with his sworn enemy.
At the end of the underground passage was a large, open space. All the ducts they had seen along the passageway led to a room filled with various containers and machinery. It appeared to be some sort of underground factory.
“Kyouka,” groaned Atsushi while walking. “Why are we following him?”
“Because he has information…and we can use the Port Mafia’s secret passage,” replied Kyouka in a matter-of-fact tone. “And most importantly, he’ll be a powerful asset in battle once he gets his skill back. Our goal is the same: Eliminate Shibusawa.”
She made a sound argument. It was evident from her logical tone and unchanging expression that she had rationally evaluated the situation. That didn’t mean Atsushi was happy about it.
“But…” He instinctively began to dispute it, but he didn’t have any convincing counterarguments that could change Kyouka’s mind. Atsushi simply lowered his gaze, unable to find the right words.
“Kyouka.” Akutagawa, who was walking ahead of the others alone, spoke up. “I see you still cherish that cell phone to remember your mother.”
He had his eye on an old cell phone dangling from her neck like a piece of jewelry. However, there was something about his comment that particularly stood out to Atsushi.
“Your mother…?” That was the first he’d ever heard of it. Surprised, Atsushi came to a halt.
That cell phone Kyouka always carries around with her is a memento?
But why does Akutagawa know that?
Atsushi’s mind was full of questions. He couldn’t even look at Kyouka.
Akutagawa stopped. “You didn’t even know that?” he mockingly asked. “…No,” Atsushi quietly replied. As if to change the subject, Kyouka
suddenly asked Akutagawa, “What’s the quickest route?”
“Zero, five, zero, five,” he answered immediately. It must have been some sort of secret code that only the Port Mafia knew, and naturally, Atsushi had no idea what it was. While Kyouka probably didn’t mean anything by it…Atsushi felt left out of the conversation—left out in general.
“…”
Atsushi silently pressed forward, feeling almost as though he didn’t belong.

After stepping into the sewer from the narrow passageway, the three of them kept their mouths shut tight while trudging through the vile sewage and water until eventually reaching a manhole leading to the surface. A few rats scattered as Akutagawa removed the manhole cover. When he stepped outside, he could just make out a colossal building covered in countless thick pipes and metal with various chimneys blowing out white smoke. It appeared to be some sort of iron mill. Kyouka and Akutagawa cautiously surveyed the area while Atsushi came crawling out of the manhole as well.
All of a sudden, Akutagawa stared fixedly at the factory as if he had noticed something.
“It appears to be waiting for me. I suppose it’s only natural that it can sense my presence,” Akutagawa muttered to himself. Wondering what he meant, Atsushi followed his gaze, when he noticed it as well.
Rashomon.
Akutagawa’s skill looked down at them, its black fabric wriggling. Or more accurately, it was looking down at Akutagawa.
So this is what he was talking about, thought Atsushi. Seems like skills can sense where their owners are. There’s no other explanation for why it’s already here.
While Atsushi was pondering this, Kyouka told Akutagawa, “We’ll help.”
Even though the circumstances were dire, it was still surprising to hear Kyouka offer him help. Nevertheless, Akutagawa barked back, “I don’t need your help!”
“I see.” Kyouka seemed to be more indifferent to the situation than Atsushi thought. Akutagawa then began to walk toward Rashomon without them. Atsushi could hear him mutter to himself, “…I’ve wandered countless nights and slaughtered countless foes to prove my might. But I was blind—the foe worthiest of defeating was right beside me the entire time…”
Akutagawa slowly vanished within the fog.
He still wants to prove his strength even at a time like this?
Atsushi sighed.
Plus, it’s really thoughtless of him to go off on his own.
Kyouka, on the other hand, nodded in agreement with Akutagawa’s decision.
“He has a point.” She turned her gaze in the opposite direction that Akutagawa left in. “We each have something that needs doing.”
“Huh?”
Atsushi noticed Demon Snow descending before Kyouka.
How long has she been there?!
Atsushi reached for his gun and braced himself. Kyouka drew her dagger, then threw the sheath onto the ground with a dry, hollow clatter. Without even waiting for Demon Snow to strike, Kyouka crouched low, charged forward, and attacked. The skill blocked her blade and parried. However, Kyouka predicted that would happen and used the momentum to swing her sword at a different angle next.
“Kyouka!”
Atsushi tried to rush over to help, but Kyouka bluntly objected. “Do what you need to be doing.”
“…!”
What’s that supposed to mean? No—don’t tell me…!
Atsushi began trembling. Rashomon was waiting for Akutagawa, and Demon Snow had come after Kyouka as well. Which meant…
The low snarl of a beast caught his attention. He swiftly turned around— it was just as he imagined. The snowy-white tiger, Beast Beneath the Moonlight, had arrived.
…The tiger’s here for me, too.
If Akutagawa was right, and skills could sense where their users were, then there was no point in running. No matter where he went, it would eventually catch up to him. Atsushi clenched his jaw.

Interlude 2—3

“Humans are nothing more than sacks of flesh stuffed with familiar machinery,” Shibusawa suddenly said from within the collection room decorated with its many red crystals. “They are all self-evident, monotonous creatures.”
Dazai and Fyodor quietly listened to his speech.
“But there’s one person even I fail to understand.” Shibusawa suddenly stopped strolling around the room as if he were scrutinizing his collection. “Myself,” he claimed with a straight face.
“Even I cannot decipher my own thoughts—some parts of my mind are blank, like the spaces between lines of text in a novel.”
“Do you have any friends?” asked Dazai, the exasperation on his face evident.
“Friends are unnecessary to life.” Shibusawa closed his eyes and smiled languidly. “Because I already know what everyone is thinking deep down.” He turned and faced Dazai and Fyodor, who were standing side by side. “I will surely be able to go between my lines, beyond the light of empty spaces where another world awaits.” His words were dripping with confidence.
“…You wouldn’t be saying that if you had friends,” Dazai mumbled, unamused.
Shibusawa paid no heed to Dazai’s utterance and instead continued: “That time will soon come, for all the skills in Yokohama will become mine.”
Everything was going to go according to plan. There was no other possible outcome. The reasoning was simple.
Shibusawa walked to the center of Draconia with an air of authority and peered at Dazai. Smirking contemptuously, he whispered:
“Do you truly think there is even a single person who can conquer their own skill?”