Freesia 76

Freesia, Chapter 76 (Monthly Ikki, April 2009)


<1>
Chapter 76: Special Provisions (2)


<2>
=What were you doing.
=All this time...

=Are those flowers?
TRRRR

=Yes.
=The girl from the flower store gave them to me.//She's a very good girl.

=Her name is Miho, and she...
=The enforcement will take place on the 1st floor of the department store in Ward 2.
TRRR


<3>
=6 enforcers, including you. Here's the list.
=You already know Yamada-kun and Kaneko-kun.

=The pistol and magazines are on the desk.
=You're getting 6 magazines this time.

=It's the first time I'm hearing about any of this.
=That's because nobody's told you anything.

=Tanaka's got 8 bodyguards with submachine guns,//So we got special provisions.
[x3]CLAT

=The number of bullets doesn't matter,//It's still a disadvantage with only 6 people and pistols.

=It's special, but it's still a vengeance enforcement, so this is the best we can do. The morals of the enforcement code won't permit it.
[x3]CLAT


<4>
=Morals...
=Such worthless things.
[x2]TRRR

=They may be worthless,
=But they're necessary decorations for a public enterprise.

=Higuchi-senpai, call from the scouting unit.
=On line #4.

=Hurry, the others are already at the scene. 15 minutes by taxi.
GACHUK

=It's Higuchi.//...Yes.//Oh? Really?
=Right... Okay.
TRRR

GACHUK


<5>
SHUFF

=TING

[x3]TRRRR


<6>
=Ms. Higuchi.
=I remember you saying you could predict all my actions to a reasonable level of accuracy.

=GREAK

=If you really foresaw my current situation,
=You would have known that my life would become inconsistent with reality, and that Keiko would disappear.

=You knew all this, and you still made me take this job.
=Which means,
=This future, was prearranged by you.

<7>
=To me, it makes more sense,
=To execute Ms. Higuchi, not Keita Tanaka.

TRRR

=I scouted you based on data and intuition,
=Which lead me to believe you were a good candidate for this job. No other reasons.
[x3]CLICK

=Everything else is a result of your own actions.
=I have no reason, responsibility, or obligation to stop you.
[screen]Surveillance unit says target's vehicle left the hospital 1 hour ahead of schedule.


<8>
[screen]Sending Email

=So I was aware of your future,
=But I didn't interfere with it.

=The same way you saw me being raped,
=But did nothing to help.


<9>
=What are you babbling about.
=This is about Keiko.

=Ms. Keiko?
=Why should she matter me?

=She matters to me.
=That's why I'm not asking you to do anything. I'm just telling you my intention to execute you, Ms. Higuchi.
TRRRR


<10>
=I see...
[bubble]PLICK

THUCK

=Fine then, go for it.
=I'm right here.

=You've got your chance, right?

=Not yet.
=After I'm done with this job.


<11>
=I promised the director I would dispose of Keita Tanaka and see how everything plays out.
=I don't like it, but I'm still going to try it out.

[bubble]*grin*

=Knew you'd say that!
=I can read you like a book, as always.
[x2]TRRR


<12>
=The confidence in her words...
=Higuchi is still very much aware of my actions and their consequences.

=Higuchi knows I'm not going to execute her.
=Meaning, she's convinced that I'm not going to survive Tanaka's enforcement.

=All part of her master plan...
=But now that I think of it, I do have some qualms with executing Tanaka.


<13>
[bus]Keita Tanaka will save the world!//Asia League Freedom Union

=Huh? We're going to the store first?
=We're earlier than usual.

[bubble]GACHUK

=We'll be an easier target if we run on a schedule.

=Besides,
=I've got a hunch today.

='Bout what?
=CHUK


<14>
=I can't really explain it.
=But I've got pretty good intuition.

=So that's why,
=You got machine guns?

=These aren't really gonna matter, I think...
=But this feeling,//It's the same as being on the battlefield.


<16>
=Isn't it about time we got rid of the customers...?
=Sure, we can't get hasty, but cutting it this close is making me anxious.


<17>
=Mommy—

=Buy me a popsicle—
=After we finish shopping, dear.

=Mr. Yamada, we just got a message from Ms. Higuchi.

=Huh?
=Tanaka left the hospital an hour early and got on Route 16.

=What about the customers, Kaneko? We need to evacuate them.
=We're out of time. He's coming—


<18>
=No way...
[bubble]TICK

=Vice-director, let's get the customers out now!
=I know. Start immediately.
=Hey—Hurry up, okay?

=Excuse me! We're currently examining a malfunction in the building's electric system!
=There's the possibility of a fire occurring, so we can't have anyone entering the building!

=So they bribed the security company...
=We're also asking all customers to evacuate immediately. We apologize for the inconvenience.

=Please make your way to the exits, calmly and safely.
=Wasn't done yet...
=Dang it—
GRR—


<19>
=The customers coming down are going to crowd up the floor even more...
=There isn't much time before Tanaka arrives.

=What're we gonna do...!?

=Huh?


<20>
=Mr. Kano!

=What're you doing here!?
=Didn't they send you home!?

=Oh—I'm going to execute Keita Tanaka,
=Then Ms. Higuchi, too.

=Huh?
=Why Ms. Higuchi?

=Keita Tanaka, please step forward—
=Wait... Kano-san!


<21>
=Tanaka won't be here for another hour,
=So you can just relax in the cafe upstairs.

=I'll come and get you once we get contact from the scouting team...
=Okay?

=C'mon, let's go!
=I'm not really in the mood for relaxing, though.

=Hey,
=What's going on...?

[x3]THUD


<22>
=An electric leakage. It might start a fire,
=So they're temporarily evacuating the customers.

=Security says they'll make an exception for Tanaka-kun, though.
=What should we do?

=Something's up.

=Tanaka-kun.
=Let's just head on home for today.

=What're you talking about, it'd be rude not to take up their offer.
=And if I show up in front of the other customers, they start crowding around anyways. This is perfect.


<23>
=Alright... Everyone off the van and into the store.
=Let's take the submachine guns and body armor with us.

=Hey.
=It's K-kun.
=Oh yeah!

=AHH—You're so awesome, K-kun!
=K-kun, marry me—
=Please clear the way.


<24>
=The store itself is temporarily closed...
=So we're not in business at this time, either...

THUD

=Just bring us some coffee.
=One coffee pleez!

=Alright, please wait here until you receive contact, Mr. Kano.
GATHUCK

=You can keep track of things,
=From this window...


<25>
=Kaneko... Where's Tanaka?
[bubble]CLANK

=Where are you, Mr. Yamada!?
=He's already at the front entrance.
=It's K-kun—

=Please take your position immediately!