Zerozaki 05

/001

Zerozaki Soushiki's
Human Exam

The story so far

	One day, high school girl Mutoh Iori ends up unconsciously stabbing her classmate to death. The one who appears in front of a puzzled Iori refers to himself as the eldest son of the cutthroat murdering "Zerozaki family", Zerozaki Soushiki. Soushiki points out Iori's disposition as a cutthroat murderer, and invites her to become his "younger sister" of her own will.
	Furthermore, Naguma Sawarabi slaughters all of Iori's family, putting Iori in quite the predicament. The who saved her from this was of course, Soushiki.
	As an older brother protecting both his new "younger sister" and the family, he begin to conduct his "test" on Sawarabi. That was without question, a violent "fight to the death"-----------.
	The outcome seemed to have been decided by Soushiki's single brilliant attack, but Naguma narrowly escapes. To get rid of those accomplices of the Sawarabi who target his family, and to search for his younger brother, Soushiki begins to move--------.

Character Introductions

Mutoh Iori

A high school girl, troubled over her life path and family. At first she was wary of Soushiki who approached her and claimed to be a "Zerozaki", but in the end found the resolve to face him.

Zerozaki Soushiki

Eldest son of the cutthroat murdering "Zerozaki family". He wields the large scissors "Suicidal Tendencies" with his wireframe-like body. Searching for his younger brother. A pervert?

Mutoh Kengo (Deceased)

Iori's older brother. He was strict with Iori because she refused to face herself, but actually worried about her more than anyone else. Killed by Naguma.

Sawarabi Naguma

Second son of the three Sawarabi siblings. Halberd user. Part of a branch family of the "Niounomiya" hitmen. To seek revenge on the "Zerozaki" who killed his younger sister, he approaches Iori.

A brief period of rest greets the siblings who have just met. Chapter 5 starts on the next page!


/002
>Left side
Zerozaki Soushiki's Human Exam

The "family" that surrounded his "little sister". That warmth was taken away, so easily.

>ZS
Now, just how

should I assess all of you?

/003
>Far right
Zerozaki Soushiki's Human Exam

>ZS Right
There is a family related by blood.

>ZS Left
There is a faimly related by bloodshed.

>Top left
Original work: Nishio Ishin (from the Kodansha novels "Zerozaki Soushiki's Human Exam)

Manga: Shiomiya Iruka

Original Characters: Take

/004
>Left
Human Exam Question 5 Start

>IM
Aah...

/005
>IM
I decided to face things without running away, but

what should I do now...

>ZS
How are you feeling,
Iori-chan

Have you calmed down?

>IM
Yeah,
um......

Thanks to you...

/006
>IM
Uh...
Um,

Soushiki.......
san.....

>ZS
If you were to call me "big brother", I wouldn't mind one-
>IM
I'm good, thanks.

Um...
well...

Why did you help me, and invite me into your family....?

Was it because I...

had a *diposition* for killing people...?

/007
>IM
Why did

cutthroat murderers make a family?

>ZS
Loneliness.

>IM
Huh?

>ZS
The existence of a "cutthroat murderer"

is essentially a lonely one, you see.

/008
>ZS
Cutthroat murderers can't make
friends, close or otherwise-

and lovers are out of the question.


Worthy opponents,
mentors,

not even people that understand them exist.


No matter where they go, they're always alone.

If it's the same whether they're there or not,

it's no longer loneliness but a
rejection of their existence.


It's because of this reason
that we-----

/009
>ZS
sought something to protect in this world of our own.

That is what "family" means to us cutthroat murderers.
That-----

is origin of the cutthroat murderer group, the Zerozaki family.

/010
>ZS
People who are conscious of their genuine loneliness can't go on living.

Even for solitary cutthroat murderers, a "family" is necessary.

You understand, right?


Our family might be full of eccentric people,
but everyone is full of affection for each other.

Well,
my younger brother might be
a bit of an exception though.

/11
>IM
Younger brother...

Could he be the one mentioned who has a *tattoo on his face*
....?

>ZS
Yes yes,
a bit of a wandering spirit you see-
even I have trouble dealing with him.

To be honest,
I came here originally searching for him but...

Oh yes,
Iori-chan.
Have you seen or met my little brother?

>IM
Huh?

A tattoo on his face....?
SFX: H~~~m

Does he have any other characteristics?

>ZS
Other...?

Let me see-

/12
>Top to bottom
>ZS
About 150 cm tall
Died hair, tied up in the back

In place of an earring on his pierced ear, a cell phone strap

Might be wearing sunglasses

Also might be trying to look sharp,

but he's actually got knives all over his body.

/13
>IM
If I met someone like that,
I'd run away as quickly as I could...

>ZS
Heh heh

That's fine,

*becasue if you had ended up meeting him now,
those murderous urges inside you would have undoubtedly accelerated.*

>IM
?
Did you say something?

>ZS
No no,
just talking to myself.

>IM
I see...

Soushiki-san,
does that mean----

/14
>IM
you had some sort of business with that younger brother?

>ZS
What?

>IM
Huh?

>ZS
You ask some odd things don't you, Iori-chan.

>IM
Wha?
Did I say something weird?

>ZS
Do I need any reason to see my family?

/15
>IM
Is that...how it is...
I don't know...

Our family didn't really get along so...

Especially when I didn't have any reason,
I didn't go out of my way to
talk to my brother.

At the time, he told me *not to run away*,

but I hated that, and we ended up fighting a lot.

/16
>IM
I'm just a girl who was always on the run from my family...
especially from my brother-

I couldn't even be a good younger sister.

That's why even when they were manipulated into attacking me...

>ZS
Hm?

Is something the matter?

>IM
N...No,
it's just...

My thoughts were all hazy at the time,

so I might be mistaken but--

while he was strangling me....

/17
>IM
he was...crying.

/18
>IM
Ah! no I mean-
I'm sure I was just my misunderstanding-

>ZS
Iori-chan.

>IM
Um!
Yes?!

>ZS
There's one thing I've confirmed from this talk with you.

>IM
Wha....what could that be?...

>ZS
It's just as I thought, wearing spats under a skirt is a travesty.

/19
>IM
What have you been listening to up until now!?

>ZS
Oh-
that's right.
I have a little something I need to do,

so when you're done getting ready go on ahead and wait outside for me.

>IM
That guy really is...

just a pervert....

/20
/21

/22
>ZS
Iori-chan's
father, mother,
sister, and brother,

I am in awe of all of you.

It's because she lived here surrounded by a family like you,

that she was able to live soundly for 17 years
without her killing intent manifesting itself.

/23
>ZS
Without a doubt, you

/24
>ZS
"pass" with a perfect score.

Thank you for protecting her until now.

From now on--

/25
>ZS
I will be the one

to protect *my little sister*.

/26
>IM
Wow...

It's so bright...

But...
It's like a renewed blessing for Iori-chan to leave her home.

>Zombie
You're a Zerozaki aren't you

/27
Yeah...
It's me.

There's some information that I want.

Delivery will be done via the usual method.
....yeah,

I'm counting on you.

/28
>IM
Ha-

Haaa-

Whoa-

hold it-

What is this,
this feeling of deja-vu....!

I don't know whether you're leftovers from yesterday or whatever,

but I'm not yesterday's Iori-chan anymore you know...!

/29
>IM
With my hidden cutthroat murdering power(?)-

That's what I thought,
I can't!!

Wha-!? (lit. una-!?)

/30
>IM
Owwww

Oh...

Oh no....

/31
/32

/33
>Schoolboy
That was a close one.

>IM
Whew-

You...
you saved me,
soushiki-sa---
Hm?

/34
>Schoolboy
Are you alright?

/35
>Schoolboy
Goodness,
First dolls, now *ordinary people*.....?

That's not smart at all.

>IM
SFX: Dumbstruck (lit. poka--n)

>Schoolboy
Hm?

/36 Either onee-chan or big sis, I'm pretty indifferent
>Kojika
Hmmm?

Well now,
well now....

>IM
Wha...
What is it?....

>Kojika
Heheh

I like you, onee-chan.

I'm Hanamaki Kojika

Onee-chan----------

/37
>Kojika
Be a part of my family!

>IM
Another weird one.....

>Right
------Warning, glasses.

Human Exam, Question 5 Completed
To be continued in April's issue