Freesia 73

Freesia, Chapter 73 (Monthly Ikki, January 2009)


<1>
=Her body's going to be picked up by a person from the orphanage.
=Her adoptive father.

Chapter 73: Warning

=Orphanage?
=What orphanage.


<2>
=You didn't know about that? Thought you lived with her for a long time.

=Her father abandoned her when she was an infant, and her mother's dead.
=She was in an orphanage until she met you.

=Oh.
=Wasn't aware of that.

=If you two'd been registered, we'd have you pick her up...
=But, since that isn't the case...

=That's why you kept her in the room this whole time, right?

=By the way, what are you gonna do about Suzuki?


<3>
=What about him?

=He's an ex-con, so he'll be in at least 20 years. No parole.
=But if you show up in front of the judge, they'll shorten up the sentence.

=Show up? For what.

=A vengeance enforcement.


<4>
=You're a proxy, right?
=If you do it yourself, it'll be revenge for no cost. Two birds with one stone, right?

=But hey, Mr. Kano isn't a family member.
=He can't apply for a vengeance enforcement.

=Oh, that's right—
=What about an adoptive father? Does there have to be a marriage?
=Absolutely.

=Then we need to find the biological father. No wait.//Relatives can apply too, can't they...?
=She doesn't have any, remember?
=Hah-hah, good point. So what're we gonna do?


<5>
=A vengeance enforcement, huh?

=So this one isn't part of the job?
=Then why am I doing it?
=For Keiko?//For myself?

=How did it get like this?

=Who's the target for this job?


<6>
CLACK

=Over here.


<7>
=We've been busy.
=These past few days...

=What.
=You think this is funny?

=You're on a layoff for now. I actually wanted to fire you, but—
=You were planning on retiring in a week, anyways.


<8>
=I wouldn't mind being fired.

=Look, I told you—We're busy. We need all the help we can get.

=I'm not helping. I'm on a layoff.
=Do you even realize how much trouble you're in with the agency about this whole thing?

=Go out nicely, and you get a retirement check and unemployment benefits,
=No blemishes on your record, either.

=You were difficult to control, but the Phantom killing did improve the agency's standing,
=So we had our own plans for this sort of thing...

=I have a millimeter of respect for you too,
=You know—


<9>
=Are you guys,
=Trying to kill me?

=Well—Either way, I got nowhere else to run.
=No point in seeing things worse than they already are.


<10>
=Higuchi told you about the situation, right?

=I'm quitting in a week//I'm getting a retirement check and unemployment benefits.

=A week? Retirement check?
=What are you talking about, that's not the issue.

=You're keeping this job,
=Until you kill Keita Tanaka.

=Tanaka?
=Oh, that guy...

=Totally...
=Not interested—
=Doesn't matter.


<11>
=You think you can just step down after all this?//Hell no. Think about the price we've paid.
=It's way past time for that. Only thing left is to wait and see how things play out.

=Price?
=So Keiko was part of that price you paid?

=I told you, everyone around you is involved.
=Work, murder, war, love, enforcement, they're all the same.

=Especially the work you're doing.
=You're no pizza delivery boy.


<12>
=Think about it.
=Your life's totally changed ever since you became an enforcement proxy.

=And it's still in the process of evolving.

=And you're gonna leave it at that?
=That won't do any good.
=Listen,

=You're going to kill Keita Tanaka.


<13>
GACHUK


<14>
AHAHAHA

=Ah—
=Welcome ho—me.


<15>
=? What's wrong?

=...Nothing.

=Hey—Where were you this whole time—
=Hup.
=Why'd you make me wait so long—

=The police. They asked me some questions.
=Not that there were any problems.

=What are you talking about?
=Hey, I'm hungry.


<16>
=Hey, you listening?
[bubble]GATHUCK..

=Here's the deal.

=Unfortunately, this plan of mine,
=Was a failure.

=I hadn't realized it at all,
=But you're not Keiko. You're just Friend pretending to be her.


<17>
=As always, I wake up thinking the dream is over,
=Only to find out it's all just another part of the dream.

=I haven't changed at all.
=You're proof of that.

=In fact, I've regressed, now that I've lost Keiko.

=So? What are you gonna do.

=Nothing.
=Not me, at least.

=You,
=Are the one who's going to leave.


<18>
=Why's that?

=Because,//I don't need you anymore.

=You never said stuff like that before...

=True...

=In that sense,
=I actually may have changed a little bit...

=But... You're okay with being alone?
=From now on.


<19>
=In order for me to live alone,
=I can't have you exist any longer.

=Your existence is inconsistent with Keiko's death,//And there's no point if you take her place and interact with me.
=If this goes on, I feel like the real Keiko is going to lose her importance.
=Understand?

=Basically, I can't become dependent on you.
=I have to face reality and not take comfort in you.


<20>
=Okay—

=There's no point if Hiroshi doesn't need me.

=You weren't here on your own accord. You were here because I wanted you.

=I should've realized all this,
=Much earlier.

=Hey Hiroshi,
=You want an orange?


<21>
=Yeah... I'll take that small one right there.

=Here.
=Thanks.

GATHUCK

=Okay,
=I'm going.


<22>
=Bye,
=Hiroshi.


<23>
[x3]TAP

[bubble]GACHUK
CREEAK

BATHUMP


<24>
TICK


<25>
[x10]TICK


<26>
=Now then.

=Mother.
=Want anything to eat?