act45side

At first, I treated it as no more than an ordinary job.

A small, unremarkable famiglia needed my strength to find their footing in turbulent Siracusa.

But with every day that passed, they came to trust me more, even letting me in on important family meetings.

I knew it was never part of the contract, but I very much enjoyed the feeling of belonging with these people.

Yo, Umiri, my girl! Been a few days since I saw you. How you doing?

Here, some tangerine cream pudding. If I remember right, that's your flavor of choice, yeah?

No need, I have my own.

Hey, screw you, be a little grateful!

I heard you chased off those goons harassing us, all by yourself! Just wanted to show my appreciation!

Keep your distance from me. I'm just a hired thug doing what I'm paid to. I'll be leaving once I'm done.

If your boss sees the two of us getting friendly, it won't end well for you.

It'll be fine. He was telling me earlier, for a while now he's been thinking of inviting you in with us...

...I recommend you ask around Siracusa about my reputation.

Who needs to ask? You're the strongest person we've ever met!

If you ask me, better say yes right now. We'll get together for tonight's family dinner—

You say it's a family dinner, but it's usually more of a band concert...

Hey, we might not be the strongest famiglia, but you can't beat our sense of camaraderie!

Besides, you joined in the jam session plenty of times. Everyone really gets along with you, y'know.

...We can talk about this when I'm free.

That's what you said last time—

I'm going now.

I turned down his kind invitation.

But as I walked home, my heart was filled with some nameless emotion.

One I have never felt before.

That night, I lay on my bed, tossing and turning. I got no sleep at all.

Before the sun rose, I had packed all my things—

...Who would come looking here?

Umiri. There's been a situation with the boss, and he wants you to take some of the heat.

But I already decided to...

We've made arrangements with the prison. They're waiting for you downstairs.

Here's your payment. If you don't think it's enough, we can always add more.

Umiri, what's gotten into you today? I say something?

This is how it's always been, yeah? This is the deal—we pay up, you do the job.

C'mon, get going. We'll find a way to get your sentence down to six months. That's no time at all. You'll be out before you know it.

As a hired hand, it's not uncommon at all to have to be the fall guy. I know my way around life in prison.

But just this one time, this one single time, I suffered like nothing else.

For six months, there wasn't a single moment that I wasn't thinking of getting out, of returning to the famiglia, to their band's parties.

I'd found for myself where I belonged.

But I never thought it would end like this—

The don's dead, everyone's dead! We had hundreds of people, and now it's just our dozen left!

We busted our asses moving from Columbia to this stupid place, but you had to go and get everyone killed!

What happened in these six months?

I don't know. The only thing I do know is that—

Once again, I've lost my 'home'.

Umiri. You've done a lot for me, at great personal risk to yourself. You've earned a position from me.

I permit you to join my famiglia.

...You know I've always been a lone agent. I won't be joining any famiglie.

Because you don't want to, or because you can't?

I'm not like those ruffians who go about calling themselves 'Don', Umiri.

Over half my life I've been here, wrangling with the big famiglie. They're tricky, they're sly. Never once left this poker table.

You want me to get you to a table with bigger stakes?

Clever girl.

This is separate from making a deal. I need to do a lot more thinking when it comes to joining a famiglia.

The only thing I need to consider in a deal is the money on offer. If I'm going to be part of a famiglia, I need to consider the character of its leader.

Kheheh, I know I don't have the best reputation. But that's precisely what we have in common, isn't it?

Umiri. Is anyone willing to take you in, aside from me?

Siracusa's a dangerous place. All you'll find under the banner of Famiglia e Ordine are conspiracies and schemes.

How long since you had a peaceful night's sleep?

Lying on your cardboard boxes, dagger in hand in case anyone tries to sneak up on you...

'The lone wolf finally finds a home'.

A return to the pack, a restoration of rank and reputation... or a mutt's death in the wilds, your corpse quartered by hungry beasts.

It's your choice.

I...

Boss, she's led some suspect folks here.

Sakiko's hands are shackled behind her. She cannot move them an inch.

There was another. He managed to run. We're sending boys after him.

Do you know this signorina, Umiri?

I don't.

Don't you recall that we have old debts to settle?

Seems she holds something against you.

I'll give you time, I'll give you space, Umiri. You handle this yourself.

I already said I don't know her...

This is your final test before you join my famiglia.

This time... better not try to fake the scene with blood bags.

Sakiko and Umiri are left alone in the alleyway.

But both know there are people invested in how their duel ends.

Umiri knows the boss is watching.

Sakiko knows Morpheus is watching too.

I don't have anything against you. Why are you trying to get killed?

I am here to bring you back.

Bring me back?

Not back to the billiards room, but back to the place you're meant to be.

I don't understand what you're talking about.

Even so, I have to pull you out of this. I cannot allow you to throw your life away in this manner.

Your boss sent his underlings to stab Francis's people in the back.

I hardly believe that the man who stabbed you in the back would grant you the home you wish for.

But... but...

Exploited like a piece, sacrificed like a pawn, again and again... Is this really the life you want? Is this the trust you so desire?

In all the time you've spent here, not once have you wanted to hurt a single soul.

Just a moment ago, I saw your case inside. Your bass is in there, isn't it?

You never needed to suffer like this, Umiri.

Umiri... Let's get out of here. Together.