act44side

In my waning years, to see old friends once more would be a grand blessing.

Sincerely,

Tessai'

What a solemn, I mean, traditional letter.

This is the man who arranged for your refuge in Lungmen—the so-called 'father' of Hannya?

That's right. I called him Uncle Tessai. It's been so many years, he must be in his seventies or eighties by now.

I lived in Kajimachi before I left Mitsukue.

And so, is it not only proper to return to Kajimachi one last time, before it is no more?

To be honest, when I first came to Lungmen, I considered settling here for good. I thought about moving elsewhere if things didn't work out, even leaving Yan altogether, the same way I left Higashi—but the one thing I never considered was going back home.

It's been twenty years. I don't even know what Mitsukue is like these days. Instead of going back home, I might as well come here for a ride and to grab a plate of street food—stir-fried noodles—to put my mind at ease.

Don't you have a good reason to go home? The funeral, no?

You've volunteered to serve as a mighty guardian of Lungmen, throwing yourself into the fight without hesitation. Yenwu, myself, Lin, and all your friends—we've seen it with our own eyes.

But you shouldn't limit yourself. You're more than that.

Little Ch'en is gone, and Yühsia has more or less taken over for her father. One L.G.D. Commissioner alone won't keep this operation afloat.

I have neglected my responsibilities.

Nonsense.

Before Little Ch'en left Lungmen, you had words with her. They eventually reached my ears as well, whether I wanted to hear them or not.

Even if the problems you've bottled up inside can never be resolved, simply going back to have a chat with him while he still walks among the living is worth your while, yes?

You're right.

By the way, don't forget to bring back a few packs of proper Higashinese senbei for me?

Senbei?

A 'jianbing' shop opened up near the L.G.D. I thought it was Higashinese senbei, with the name translated, so I went and placed an order.

It wasn't until the piping-hot pancake came out—stuffed with fowlbeast egg, crispy meat, and scallions—that I realized it wasn't a senbei at all, but a Jiangqi <i>jianbing.</i> These are completely different dishes.

I think we've resolved any and all misunderstandings between us, right Detective Koretou?

The oyabun of the Kinsekikai yakuza clan sent you a letter, inviting you to the funeral in Kajimachi, his turf. And after some persuading from a particular individual of similar origin, you've decided to go back there—am I right?

That's right.

This particular individual...

Her identity is not important.

Is it not? If it was not for her, would you dare walk the streets of Mitsukue?

Of course I would!

Alright. If it really isn't important, then you can stay here a good twenty-four hours.

The station's quiet these days anyway. Hardly any of the calls we get are real emergencies.

Then what are they about?

They're reporting signs of a kaidan they want me to investigate.

A kaidan...? Like an urban legend? Ghost story?

Ha. You really haven't been back to Mitsukue for a while, huh?

This place doesn't even feel like a real police station any more—the townies have been treating us like cops from the Spiritual Affairs Station for a while now...

Who is it?

There's someone outside for you... it's... Mifune-san.

The weary-looking detective glances at Hoshiguma, then out the door; hatred is seared across his face.

If you're in the middle of something here, do you want me to stall him for a bit?

You? Stall him? You won't even get three words in before he calls someone else—and then that call will be routed straight to us.

Send him in——

Before the detective can finish speaking, a tall Phidia strides into the room. Ignoring the officers around him, he makes a beeline for Hoshiguma.

Kinbee?!

Never fear, Hoshiguma. As long as I'm here, the police can't touch you.

(Laughs dryly) Ha, ha. Kouhei Mifune-san—been a while since someone called you by your old name, from before you made it big, huh?

Well, why don't you try it then?

Good. Knowing when to yield is a virtue.

Mifune——

Hoshiguma, you will always address me as Kinbee.

Come. Let's go home.

Detective Koretou still hasn't——

Still hasn't what? Hasn't explained the basis for this arbitrary detention? Don't tell me this is about that case from twenty years ago?

What a pity—the statute of limitations already expired, many years ago actually. The Northern Court may have revised its penal code, but that doesn't give you southerners the right to bend the law.

Spare me the mudslinging. Even if the statute of limitations is up——

Yes, the statute of limitations is up, so on what grounds are the police still detaining people? I want a justification—one that can withstand a Diet inquiry, a televised hearing, and the court of public opinion.

This is intimidation!

This is me exercising my rights under the law!

Detective Koretou!

...Let them go.

Kinbee, Uncle Tessai sent you to get me?

The entire Kinsekikai is awaiting your return. Let's go. Stop arguing with the cops.

They exit the police station, turn right, and cross the street.

Nita Street unfolds before Hoshiguma, in broad daylight.

The harsh white sun shines down on the street, draining the buildings of their neon shimmer and baring the raw concrete beneath.

The morning commute is in full swing. Expressionless office workers hurry past shops that are either still closed or trying half-heartedly to drum up business—none of them look nearly as glamorous as they did under the moonlight.

Who was it that threw up on the street last night? Which man was persuaded to empty his wallet at the club? Under the light of day, they all look the same.

How many years has it been?! How're things in Lungmen? Still good? We hadn't heard a peep from you all this time. I was afraid something had happened to you. I was worried sick!

I figured, after all this time, nobody thought of me as one of the Kinsekikai anymore.

How? No matter how fate plays its tricks or how long you've been incommunicado—as long as you come back, then you're still family.

Over the past two decades, has the Kinsekikai ever issued you an 'expulsion' or 'no-contact' notice? Never.

Say what you will, but even now, at every official meeting, the seat to the Old Man's left is still left empty. You've always been the Kinsekikai's <i>wakagashira</i>—the heir apparent.

And you...?

Why, I'm just the wakagashira-hosa, the wakagashira's second.

Don't for a minute think the Old Man's gone senile. Everyone agrees with his decision.

If you hadn't offed that Diet candidate twenty years ago, before I could get to him too, the Kinsekikai would've been driven out of Kajimachi—crushed under the weight of his public pressure campaign.

Then, you made sure the rest of us were in the clear, taking all the heat for the killing. You fled to Lungmen alone, which allowed the Kinsekikai to survive.

You've sacrificed so much for us. If we just turned our backs on you, what kind of family would that make us?

Don't say such things.

It's all facts, clear as day, so why can't I state the facts?

Kinbee, we can talk ancient history later.

Uncle Tessai mentioned in his letter that he was holding a funeral for Kajimachi. Do you know about this?

A what?!

A funeral...? No... What are we talking about with a funeral?

Madame Oni, we really don't have time to wander the streets right now. We need to get back to Kajimachi and find him as quick as we can to straighten all this out.

The tall Phidia hastens his steps and hurries off towards Kajimachi.

He walks so fast, and with such long strides, that Hoshiguma has to break into a jog just to keep up.

(Yawns)

Ooo! New senbei flavors! 'Premium muskmelon with Siracusan red sauce' and 'condensed cystymilk with honjouzou soy sauce'...

They look delicious.

No. I'm counting my calories! I have to watch what I eat!

Huh? Mio-san?

I'll be at the agency in just a few minutes. Did you need something?

What?

Almost there. I'm running over now!

'Treating fans like fools, nose in the air'...

'I'm no fan of hers anymore, that's for sure. She ruined the concert!'...

'Trying so hard to go viral, pretending to be scared—aren't you embarrassed?'...

What... what is all this?