Bungo Stray Dogs - Volume 6 Chapter 3 Part 5

Chapter 3 Part 5

A dry wind blew through Yokohama. Akutagawa’s overcoat gently fluttered in the morning breeze.
“There you are, Akutagawa. Aren’t you cold?” asked Oda after climbing up onto the agency’s dormitory rooftop. “A new job came our way this morning. Our client wants us to rein in a group of armed bank robbers.”
Standing at the edge of the rooftop, Akutagawa replied without turning around. “How many are we up against?”
“A hundred and eighty men.”
“ ‘A hundred and eighty’?” Akutagawa naturally turned around then. “That’s not an armed robbery. That’s an armed occupation. What are they planning on doing? Creating a sovereign state around the bank?”
“I was thinking the same thing,” replied Oda with his usual unbothered expression. “It’s a government financial institution with a mint. The perps are after the banknotes’ original plates and printer, and we were personally requested to stop them.”
“I see.”
There wasn’t a single soul in the neighborhood who didn’t know these two by now. Master and pupil—the agency’s elite detectives Oda and Akutagawa boasted extraordinary power, accuracy, and speed. They were the perfect combat unit, in part thanks to Oda keeping Akutagawa in check whenever he let himself get out of control and put himself in danger. Both the city and military police had a lot of faith in their abilities.
They would most likely be able to finish this case before lunch. “Let’s go.”
As Oda began climbing off the roof, he noticed that Akutagawa was still gazing at the city.
“What’s wrong?”
Akutagawa’s eyes were focused on the never-ending wave of buildings that continued into the horizon. A city built by people—people who would live their truths, multiply, and eventually die.
Akutagawa looked over the cityscape, narrowed his eyes, and said: “Even if this world is but a fleeting shadow…”
“What?”
“Nothing.” Akutagawa shook his head and averted his gaze from the cityscape. “It’s nothing.”
Even if this world is but a fleeting shadow, the lives here are real.
Gin, the detective agency, me, the peculiar feelings of heartache and bewilderment I feel whenever I think about this world—everything here exists for certain. They are not shadows.
Gin was spared from execution. There was never even any plan to execute her in the first place. However, she disappeared right after the dust settled because she cannot return to my side. I have to find her.
But I’m in no rush. After all, she would simply reject me once more if I went desperately searching for her in a frenzy again. Gin believes she cannot be by my side, but I will prove her wrong next time—I’m sure of it.
That is why I am a detective. I solve cases, produce results, and save the weak. I will prove that I am not evil. I don’t know if I can do it. In all honesty, I’m not confident I can prove anything. But nobody knows what the future holds. The future—in the not-so-distant future, this world may cease to exist.
But not just yet.
We both harbor a beast. We have regrets. We try desperately to run from the inescapable. But nonetheless, we will fight and resist our inevitable extinction in order to understand who we really are.
Perhaps we will discover a sinister beast that takes pleasure in slaughtering its enemies and soaking its jaws in their blood. Or perhaps we will find a guardian within, standing quietly and protecting the world.
Who knows which one we will find, but it’s worth giving it a try. If, like the detectives said, I am able to find the version of me that is good, maybe that will be the day my sister finally returns to me. Or maybe that will be the day I attain peace…
Until he takes his sister back—takes his life back—and becomes human, this howling dog whose emotions lie beyond his control will keep on running.

(end)