Freesia 61

Freesia, Volume 10, Chapter 61 (pp. 29~56)


<29>
=Is that guy dead?//Dude, didn't you see what happened?
=Wow... But why'd they kill him?
=Did he do something?
=Yeah... I dunno...

Chapter 61: Media Scrum


<30&31>
Chapter 61: Media Scrum


<32>
=The city's burning,
=In these dreams I've been having recently.

=So I didn't wake up feeling too great.
=Maybe I was tired from walking around yesterday.

=Really—?


<33>
=Let's turn on the TV.

=Why?
=You like watching the horoscope on "Ten-Asa," right?

=Oh yeah—

=This is the Ten-Asa morning news! A good post-shooting morning to everyone!

=First, here's our follow-up on last night's shooting in Sector B.
=7 casualties have been reported thus far—


<34>
=Uh—The culprit was shot down,//After engaging in a shoot-out with police forces.

=He's been identified as...
=Proxy "M," who works for a prominent vengeance enforcement agency in the city.

=Has there been any evidence suggesting that "M" was also the mystery street killer?

=That's still under investigation.
=We're also investigating how "M" acquired the weapon, and...

=Our hit segment, "Ten-Asa Horoscope Extra" is up next...!
=We'll bring you more coverage on the shooting incident later today...


<35>
=Only those with the strongest willpower, displaying absolute commitment to the written law, are permitted to carry out enforcements.
=So how could such an incident ever occur at the hands of a veteran proxy?

=We have an exclusive interview with the proxy's next door neighbor.
=Breakfast set, please.

=I heard his wife screaming all the time... Like domestic violence, I guess?//It was hard to believe he was really an enforcement proxy...
[caption]*Our interviewee wishes to remain anonymous

=As indicated by this chart, the number of incidents involving enforcement proxies has risen dramatically over the years.
=Incidentally, the number of proxies has also increased to meet demand, suggesting that quality has markedly deteriorated in recent years.


<36>
=Maybe if they stopped making little amendments to the Proxy Act,
=Things might not have escalated so far, huh—?
=Shut the fuck up.

=Among the victims was Officer Mona Yamaguchi,
=Who had joined the 2nd Mobile Patrol Unit just last month. She was only 21 years old.
[caption]Officer Mona Yamaguchi (aged 21)

=Mona was always an honorable girl. When she was little, there was a stray cat that...
=AHH!
=AH!
=You're making me late for work—!

=Proxy "M" lived in this apartment with his wife,//But it appears as though no one is home—

=Mi~ta's cat-pot set!! Order now and you'll also get 8 Mi~tas for only 119,800 yen!!
DO—N
=That's fucking expensive—!

=Our reporter, Ms. Matsushita, is waiting in front of the culprit's agency.
=Let's give her a call.

=Ms. Matsushita—


<37>
=WHOAAA!
=Tell us your thoughts!
=You must work at this agency!
=Isn't "M" your co-worker!?
TH-TH-TH-THUD

=Yes—This is Matsushita—!
AHH—
CRACK
THUD
=Media personnel have packed in front of the agency, resulting in mass confusion!

=OW OW OW OWW—
=You don't need to be so violent—!
=What? But I didn't...


<38>
=Ah...
=Are proxies always this violent!?

=M-
=Mr. Kano...!
[x2]RUB

=All the buttons got torn off... And my sister gave me this for my birthday...

=This will affect work, won't it...
=Is this ruckus ever going to die down?

=Of course not—
[x3]CLAT


<39>
=Where's Mr. Kano?
=I saw him come in just now.

=With the director.
=He's being questioned about Mizoguchi-kun.

=Huh?
=Why?

=Because you kept telling the director about those two.
=He wants to know if Kano-kun had anything to do with this incident.

=Oh... Right.
=But does Mr. Kano really know anything?

=Who else would know?
=They were "buddies," right?


<40>
=...I knew I should've tailed Mr. Mizoguchi that day.

=That way,
=None of this would've ever happened...

=What are you talking about?

=Huh? But...

=Either way,
=You'd just be adding to the body count.

=She makes it sound like I should just stay out of this...


<42>
=Guess my luck's finally run out, huh—?
=I did have a pretty good run though—

=Director...//Are you saying you've been lucking out this whole time?

=Hell yeah—Surprised?

=I don't have faith in my job like you,
=So I always check my horoscope on "Ten-Asa Morning News."

=Ohh—
=Really.


<43>
=Long time ago, when I was in the army. I commanded a unit on the front lines.
=Couldn't bear to watch all my men get shot down...

=Some of the guys who died were good, and some of 'em weren't so good.

=One of 'em died just from getting shot in the arm.//Another guy lived through a bomb exploding in his face.
=It really made me think about that fine line between life and death...

=I didn't want to just take it for granted that my men were going to die...
=But I never got my answer anyways.


<44>
=But hey, I haven't given up. I'm still doing my homework on this.
=That's why I'll try anything and everything.

=Maybe the picture frames were crooked.

=Or maybe I missed one of the trainer planes that always circle around this building.//I've got tons of other ones.

=Hey, it could've been that dream I had last night.

=And now it's "Ten-Asa Horoscopes?"
=You got it.


<45>
=I've kept records of my mental state every day for the past 5 years,
[bubble]PLICK
=And now I'm collating it with the data from "Ten-Asa Horoscopes."

=He's got way to much time on his hands—

=By the way, your horoscope from yesterday was...
="Now's the time to confess your love. But don't try anything fancy. No skirts. Pants will increase your chances."

=Well? Does that ring a bell?
TA-HAH—
[bubble]CRACK

=I wouldn't know.
=I've never worn a skirt before.

="Stay indoors, or you'll regret it. Especially during the night. There's a good chance you'll corner yourself into disaster..."


<46>
=I would never make a mistake like that.

=Don't get me wrong.
=This is Mizoguchi's horoscope from yesterday.

=Well?
=Sound right to you?

=I don't know...

=Why are you asking me?
=I-had-nothing-to-do-with-this—

<47>
=Nothing to do with this?

=Our agency might get shut down. They're even talking about reversing the Proxy Act.//Some idiots said they're gonna bring over a note of protest this afternoon.
=The vultures are gathering around the carcass.
=Worst comes to worst, forget about being jobless. They might even make us criminals.

=The only one that's really got nothing to do with all this—
=Is Mizuoguchi. 'Cause he's dead.

=Am I right?


<48>
[x3]*techno beat*

[x4]THUMP
=That's Keita Tanaka's campaign car, right? Looks like they renamed themselves again.
=But man, that's loud.
=They're like the Asia League Freedom Alliance or something. I saw it on TV.


<49>
=Tanaka-kun.
=We're almost at the agency.

=Tanaka-kun!

=I hear you.
=You don't need to yell.

=Sorry...
=I thought you were asleep.

=I would be asleep if it weren't for that loud-ass music.
=You don't need to play it when we're driving. Turn it off. You're annoying everybody.


<50>
[bubble]PLIT
=Hey, it stopped...

=Where are we?
=I told you, we're almost at the agency.

=Alright, stop the car. I'm getting off.

=Huh? Why?
=I wanna get something to eat.
=What are you talking about!? We're supposed to hand them the note by 1 o'clock...!
=Shut up—I'm hungry 'cause I haven't had anything to eat since yesterday, alright...!?


<51>
=That cafe over there.
=Calling car one... We're gonna stop and get some food...

=Tanaka-kun never changes his mind once he gets started...
SCREECH

=Hey—You don't need to bring those things.
=I told you we're just gonna get something to eat.

=You've got to be careful, Tanaka-kun...

=Alright, I'm going...
=You've got to wait for your bodyguards, Tanaka-kun!


<52>
=Looks like there won't be anymore enforcements for a while...

=Guess it's about time I quit this job...//I'm not going to get dragged into all this.


<53>
=It just goes to show that it's impossible to reverse a strong current.
=You simply can't maintain your balance when the ground is so loose.

=But I can't believe the director is relying on something so fickle.
VRRR
=Was he serious about that whole "Ten-Asa Horoscopes" thing...?

=Well,
=I suppose it's comforting to have something to rely on...

=Gimme a latte.
=One moment please.
=And the lunch set. With coffee.

=Hmm—Let me see,
=What was my horoscope today...?


<54>
=I'll find a seat. You guys bring over the food,
=Got it—?

=Damn.
=It's getting crowded...

=I should leave before someone tries to sit here.

GASHUCK

=Heh-heh-heh-heh.
=This spot's open, right?


<55>
=He—y! Over here!
=I got us a seat!

=Yes, now I remember...


<56>
=There's a fateful encounter ahead of you. Today's keyword is "Once in a Lifetime." 3 Mi~ta marks.
[chart from top]Money//Love//Career//Health//Overall
=Looks like you'll be meeting that special someone who's going to change your life forever—

=What's wrong?

=Nothing—