Freesia 64

Freesia, Volume 10, Chapter 64 (pp. 109~136)


<109>
=What were you thinking, Higuchi!?
=Don't pull shit like that on your own—!//What the hell was that just know!?
Chapter 64: Crisis Management

=Hey, you heard what I said!?

=Loud and clear.
=I heard you—

=You little...!
=That's enough, Takahata.


<110>
=But...
=Either way, it's not like they were just gonna let us off the hook.

=Remember what they said, we're at war right now.
=The professors are willing to use any means necessary.

=But enforcing a person who was never even charged with anything... It's totally insane!
=Those geezers must've gone crazy from having their backs against the wall!

=Hey, I think they bugged the car.
=Huh!?
=Just kidding—

=Pops—!
=Cool it, we just gotta think this through carefully.

=The professors are on our side.
=They just don't wanna get dragged down with us.


<111>
="The No. 1 reason for failure is getting choked up by your own cards."
="So you don't rely on them, you use them. 'Cause this stuff is real dangerous."

=Huh?

="Otherwise, it's gonna be too late before you know it."
="Understood?"

=—Isn't that right,
=Director?


<112>
=...You remember
=All the stupid stuff, don't you.

=And? What's your take on this?
=You gonna eat the poison and the dish they used to serve it?

=Don't get me wrong—//I'm not wily enough to look at the big picture like that.

=Then what is it?

=I just thought...
=I would be able to come up with a better report that that.


<113>
=Is something wrong?

=Wait a sec,
=Are you seriously planning on doing Tanaka's enforcement?

=Yes.
=That's exactly right.
VRR—


<114>
=It's the 5th one this month.

=He's saying,
=You have to apologize on TV before the end of the week, or else he's gonna kill you—

=Death threats are just the price you pay for being famous.//There's no point in worrying about them.

=Last time they sent in a pinky and a blood seal, but...
=What was it this time?


<115>
=What's that?
=Is it real?

=I'm handing it to the police tomorrow.
=We'll be strengthening our security a bit more from now on.

=You gotta be kidding me.//What about my privacy?

=There's no such thing as privacy for you anymore, Tanaka-kun.

=What's this?
=Huh?

=What's this all about?
[headline]Keita Tanaka//Meets in secret with over the hill singer.


<116>
=Oh... Well... That was... You know...

=Don't you understand how crucial a time this is, Tanaka-kun?
=You've gottta be a little bit more careful...!

=I'm the one that always ends up being yelled out by your brothers!

=Hah, that again? Just shut up about my brothers already.

=No matter how hard I try, all they do is complain. They never accept me for who I am!
=They're only interested in using me!

=They don't like it? I can quit this clown job anytime!
=They're the ones that are gonna be in trouble!


<117>
=I'm sick of taking orders!
=I'm just gonna do what I wanna do!

=Is that all you've got to say?

=Huh?

=Then we'll be heading over to SSTV in 30 minutes.
=Yes sir.
=I'll head downstairs and get things ready.
=Hey... Wait...

=...Fuck.


<119>
=Why hasn't YO-KO called me yet?
=She's supposed to bring me the stuff before the end of the week...

=I'm almost about to run out...

=Are you ready, Tanaka-kun—!?
=We're gonna be late—!

=Tanaka-kun!
=Damn it.


<120>
=Tanaka-ku...!
=Shut up—! I'll be right there!

=Just take my stuff and wait outside!
=A-Alright.

[x2]WHAP

=If I can't run, I'll just have to fight it out till the end.
=Then I'll make my escape when they least expect it!

=I can still do this...!
=I can still pull this off—!


<121>
=This week's special guest is,
=Mr. Keita Tanaka—!


<122>
=YEAH—

=K-ta ku—n!
=Wow—It's the real one!
=C'mon—!
=Get outta here, rich kid!


<123>
=I'm not arguing against everything that's going on in the government right now.
[bubble]What's in Store for the Younger Generation?//Part 2
=Look, this isn't as simple as saying war is bad.

=It's Keita again.
=That guy's been pretty high on himself recently.

[top text: keep typos]No you goto hellwwwww
[bottom text]This guy pisses me off but I get where he's coming from.

=I'm not in a position to talk about my candidacy yet,
=But I do intend to live up to the expectations of my supporters.

=Let's change the channel.

=Give it to me, K-ta kun...
BBBT
=I'm gonna cum—


<124>
[x3]THUD

=Wow—Great job again!
=You totally took charge in that studio.
=Is the car ready—?

=You've been on a roll these days.
=Did something happen—?

=Nothing's happened.
=I'm just doing what I can do right now.
=Heh-heh.


<125>
=The press is at the entrance again.
=Apparently, there's more of them than usual.

=Man those guys are annoying—They've been following me around,
=Ever since they got that photo of me and YO-KO.

=Hey!
=K-ta's coming out!

=One word from you please, Mr. Tanaka!
=Just a moment, Mr. Keita!
=Please, no pushing—

=Geez you people are annoying—You all need to get a life.
=I told you I've been too busy to meet with YO-KO-chan.

=No... It's not about that.
=Huh?


<126>
=Didn't you know that Ms. YO-KO was arrested for illegal drug possession last week!?
=She was released on bail just now! The media didn't know till this morning either—!

=Huh...?

=Were you aware that she was in possession of drugs, Mr. Keita?

=Were you by any chance,
=Taking the drugs together...?

=Why aren't you saying anything—? Please answer the question, Mr. Tanaka!
=What're you doing Bobby, get Tanaka-kun to the car!
=Oh... Yes sir.


<127>
VR—

=Look, Tanaka-kun.
=Just answer me honestly.

=...What.

=You've been to her room on several occasions.
=Weren't there times when you did drugs together?

=N-No way...


<128>
=We just got a call from the police saying they want to talk to you. As a witness.

=Which means... YO-KO-chan,//Hasn't told the police anything about you.
[x3]KACHIK

=Hah-hah-hah!
=T-This thing isn't lighting up.

=But if you did do it, there's no telling when she might fess up.
=You can never trust women.

=The media's making a huge deal out of this, okay?
=You can tell me what really happened.

=If you did, I'll talk to your brothers about this.//They'll be able to arrange something...
=TICK
=Besides... Things will get even messier if they find out afterwards.


<129>
=...What do you mean I'll talk to them...

=Huh?
=What was that?

=I haven't done anything to piss off my brothers.
=And I don't know anything about the drugs.

=There's a shitload of stuff I still have to do!
=I don't have time for that crap.


<130>
=Former Pussykitten Girl and current over the hill singer YO-KO, aka Nobuko Imaichi, age 22—
=Returned to her apartment building after being released on bail earlier today.

=Nobody cares about an over the hill singer. Everyone's just interested in Keita Tanaka, who she's rumored to be in a relationship with.//I see...
=If it turns out he was involved in this case, the Tanaka faction's expectations for the upcoming election will be hindered considerably.

=YO-KO's agency will be holding an emergency press conference tomorrow at the request of the media.
=YO-KO is expected to given an explanation of the incident herself.


<131>
[bubble]BVVVVT

VVVVVV

=THUD
=THUD//THUD

=H-Hello?
=YO-KO-chan?


<132>
=I'm sorry, Kei-kun...
=I... Got caught.

=...Hah-hah, don't worry 'bout it.//You were always a klutz. It's just like you.
=...Ohh—Really...? Heh-heh-heh...

=By the way, is it okay for you to be on the phone right now?
=...Yeah, I'm fine. I'm alone...
=Oh—Alright then.

=Sorry about calling you so suddenly, Kei-kun...

=I just wanted to hear your voice...

=I'll hang up soon... I'm really sorry.
=No, it's okay... Anyways, listen—


<133>
=You're gonna do a press conference tomorrow... Right?
=They're gonna ask lots of questions,//So I was wondering if things are gonna be alright.

=YO-KO-chan?

=Alright...?
=About what...?

=Well, you know...//I'll get in trouble if you put my name up there.//See, it'll give my brothers another reason to rip on me...//My brothers are pissy about this stuff. Really.//And if my name gets out there, a lot of other people are gonna get in trouble too—


<134>
=So tomorrow...
=Kei-kun...
=Huh?
=Say you love me.
=What?
=I'm scared...
=No, look...
=I'm scared, Kei-kun!//Say you love me...!
=A-Alright...

=Hey... Kei-kun... I'm begging you...
=Hello?
=...Kei-kun?

=Hey... Just get off my back.//You're doing this on purpose, aren't you.
=You're just trying to make me nervous.

=Alright YO-KO, listen up.


<135>
=Don't you dare say anything about me tomorrow!
=You better not let those guys trick you into talking, you dumb broad!//You say anything—
=And I'll fucking kill you! You got that!?


<136>
=There's a shitload of stuff I still have to do!
=And I'll fucking kill anyone that gets in my way!

=You listening to me—!?