Kakine 3

Chapter 3

77

Title: Chapter 3

78

Kuroyoru: What's this? Remember something unpleasant?

Kuroyoru: Like a friend...
Kuroyoru: perhaps?

Kakine: What's going on?

Kuroyoru: Ringo-chan's friend died here a while back.

Ringo: No.

79

Kuroyoru: No? What do you mean no?
Kuroyoru: Then tell me what did happen.

Kuroyoru: Back then...

Kuroyoru: What did...
Kuroyoru: you do...
Ringo: I...
Kuroyoru: to that girl?
Ringo: I...
Ringo: I...

Ringo: Ahhhh
Ringo: Ahhhh
SFX: Burst

Kuroyoru: Oh, how scary. What was her name again?
Kuroyoru: I never bothered learning it.
Kakine: Hey.

Kuroyoru: Hold your horses.
Kuroyoru: Her stress is building.
Kuroyoru: Let me dig into that wound a little more and you might just see the fruits of the Dark May Project.

Kakine: Weren't you, Ringo,
Kakine: and that dead girl...
Kakine: all specimens in that experiment?

Kuroyoru: What, you were hoping for some camaraderie?
Kuroyoru: Get real, mister.

80

Kuroyoru: You're the #2 and you're neck deep in the dark side, so I know you know...
Kuroyoru: how silly an idea that is in this city.

Kuroyoru: Ringo-chan was traumatized by what happened with her friend...

Kuroyoru: but Academy City uses kids up and throws them out...

Kuroyoru: all the time, right?
Kuroyoru: That was just one of countless tragedies.

Kakine: Those are the normal rules of this city, huh?

Kuroyoru: What?

81

SFX: Boom

SFX: Crash bam

SFX: Thoom

SFX: Crumble crumble

Kuroyoru: Whoa, whoa, whoa!! What's got your panties in a bunch!?
SFX: Click click

82

SFX: Thoom thoom thoom

SFX: Rumble

Kuroyoru: Like I said.
Kuroyoru: This place was built to resist espers.
Kuroyoru: It won't be that easy to-

SFX: Boom

Yobou: Geh.

SFX: Clatter clatter

SFX: Whoosh

83

Kuroyoru(thought): What?
Kuroyoru: But we're underground.

Kuroyoru(thought): The moon?

SFX: Crash
SFX: Crack snap

SFX: Thunk

SFX: Cough cough

SFX: Alight

Kakine: Did you really think you could stop me with this junk?

Kakine: I don't care how you view this city's systems...
Kakine: or how you choose to live within those systems.

Kuroyoru: But don't underestimate a Level 5.
SFX: Thud

Kuroyoru: This...
Kuroyoru: can't be.

84

Kakine: The normal rules don't apply to me.
SFX: Press

SFX: Squeeze

Kakine: Did you get the data?
SFX: Fade
Yobou: I did.

Ringo: Kakine.
Ringo: You're...

Ringo: so...
Ringo: cool.

85

Ringo: And your wings...
Ringo: are...pretty...

Kuroyoru: So that's a real Level 5.

SFX: Clench
Kuroyoru: Normal powers just can't compare.

Kuroyoru: Which means...

86

Kakine: How is she?

Kaibi: The head wound was minor.
Kaibi: But I can't measure her DISTANCE until she wakes up, so I can't speak to any psychological wounds.

Kakine: So we have to wait. It is getting late.

Ringo: Kakine.

Kakine: You woke up?
Kakine: You must be tired. Get some sleep.
Ringo: No.

Ringo: I want to tell you now...
Ringo: while "I" still have a clear head.

Kakine: Fine.

87

Ringo: The Dark May specimens had a portion of Accelerator's mind implanted in their brain.
Ringo: Like his pride or his suspicion.

Ringo: I had his "attachment" implanted in me.

Kaibi: The #1's attachment?
Kaibi: He doesn't seem the type to get attached.

Ringo: Maybe that's why...
Ringo: but my power would never stabilize.

Ringo: But few of our powers improved, so they continued my experiments.

Ringo: They found I produced some results when under pressure...
Ringo: so maybe that made me worth observing.

Ringo: There was so much pain and suffering.

88

SFX: Cough cough

SFX: Drip drip
SFX: Cough cough

Researchers: Her values aren't growing. Is this her peak?
SFX: Pant pant

Researchers: We can't expect any more drugs to help.
Researchers: Her body started adapting to the drugs this month.
SFX: Cough cough
Researchers: And she's one of the few showing any improvement, so we can't let her die.

Researchers: Then should we stimulate the implanted "attachment"?
Researchers: How? Has she grown attached to anything?

Researchers: She showed no interest in the books or music we gave her.
SFX: Pant pant

89

SFX: Cough cough cough
Researchers: Okay, that concludes today's experiment. You may leave.

SFX: Rumble
SFX: Wobble

SFX: Step step
Tomoka: Ringo-chan.

Tomoka: Are you okay?
Ringo: ...Yeah.

Tomoka: Today must have been rough.
Tomoka: Did you set a new record?

90

Ringo: I don't really remember.
Tomoko: Oh, yeah. You barely remember anything from when your power is active, do you?
SFX: Munch munch munch

Tomoka: Wait, so you don't remember what they did to you!? Are you okay?
Ringo: I'm alive, so I'm okay.
Tomoka: Let's aim for a higher standard of "okay" than that!

Tomoka: You have food on you again.

Box: Tomoka was always smiling.

Box: The experiments scared me...
Box: but I was okay when I was with her.

Box: She was always smiling...
Box: and looked so happy.
Box: But.

SFX: Cough

91

SFX: Cough cough
Ringo: Tomoka.

Tomoka: I'm fine, I'm fine. Don't worry.
SFX: Cough
Box: She had a weak heart.

Ringo: You should tell the researchers.

Tomoka: Maybe so. But I "show no promise"...
Tomoka: and my power hasn't ever shown itself...
Tomoka: so they aren't even measuring my vitals lately.

Tomoka: They've given up on me, so telling them won't help.

Tomoka: I'm more worried about you, Ringo-chan.
Tomoka: They aren't doing experiments on me, but you always look so beat up after yours.

SFX: Tug

Tomoka: Oh? It's usually the other way around.
Tomoka(outside): This is new.
Ringo: I am worried about you, Tomoka.

92

Tomoka: Thanks.
Tomoka: I'm so glad to have someone here who's worried about me.
SFX: Smooch

Tomoka: The kids here just disappear so often.
Tomoka: And I hate how I've gotten used to it.

Tomoka: I've accepted that I might disappear...
Tomoka: but it scares me to think no one would remember me.

SFX: Squeeze

Tomoka(edge): Oh.
Tomoka: Isn't it time for your experiment?
Tomoka: I'm feeling better, so I'm fine.
SFX: Let go
Ringo: But...

Tomoka: They wanted to see me for something too.

Ringo: Okay.
Tomoka: Be careful and don't overexert yourself!
Tomoka(outside): See you later.

93

Ringo: Huh?

Tomoka: Ringo-chan?

Ringo: Why?

Researcher: A Level 0 with no sign of improvement?
Researcher: An insignificant loss. Begin the experiment.
SFX: Click
Tomoka: An experiment?
Tomoka: What am I supposed to-

SFX: Zap

94

Tomoka: Ah.
Tomoka: Kah.

Ringo: Eh?
Ringo: What?
Ringo: What are they-

SFX: Zap
Tomoka: Agh!

Ringo: No!!
SFX: Dash

SFX: Jangle

SFX: Tug
Ringo: Ah.

SFX: Tense

95

SFX: Glare

SFX: Clatter clatter

Researcher: Look, the values are rising!
SFX: Burst

Researcher: This is a new record.
SFX: Grind grind

Researcher: Then she is indeed the specimen's "target of attachment". Continue the experiment.
Researcher: These values are incredible! Try turning up the power!
SFX: Click click

SFX: Zap zap
Tomoka: Ahhhhhhhh!

Ringo: S-stop!!

96

Researcher: What's wrong, specimen? Use your power on the target.

Ringo: Stop...
Ringo: Stop!!

SFX: Jangle
SFX: Tense tense

Researcher: Come on, resume the experiment.

Ringo: She's in pain.
Ringo: Stop that.
Ringo: I can do it...
Ringo: on my own.

Researcher: Your values rose when we stimulated your target of attachment.
Researcher: You just proved that yourself.

Tomoka: Gasp

Ringo: It's my fault?

97

Ringo: Because I'm like this.
Ringo: Because she was with me.
Ringo: Me.
Ringo: Me me
Ringo: Because of me me me me me.
Ringo: Tomoka will die.
Ringo(spoken): Tomo-
Ringo(spoken): Ah

Ringo: Noooo!
Ringo: Noo!
Ringo: Ahhhh!

Researcher: Let's try adding in some physical stress too.
SFX: Click click

SFX: Grab
Tomoka: Cough
Tomoka: Gasp
Tomoka: Gasp

Tomoka: Don't you dare...
SFX: Gasp gasp
Tomoka: torture Ringo-chan...
Tomoka: any more.

Researcher: Torture? We're just running an experiment. Mind your own business.

SFX: Pull away

SFX: Zap

98

SFX: Thud

Researchers: Hold on. Don't kill the attachment target.
Researchers: She's not moving.

Researchers: I did raise the power, but not enough to kill her.
SFX: Jangle
Ringo: Ah.
Researchers: Was she sick or something?
Researchers: We hadn't been running her physical exams since she showed no promise.

Ringo(thought): Why?
Ringo: Ah...
Ringo: Ahh.
Ringo(thought): Why, why?

Tomoka: Ah...
Tomoka: Ringo-chan.

Ringo: Tomo-

Tomoka: Will you...
Tomoka: remember me?

99

Researchers: The specimen's mind is-
Researchers: But the attachment target is too-
Researchers: Then find another attachment target to-

Ringo: Why?
Ringo: Why?

Ringo: Why?

Ringo: Go to hell.

SFX: Snap

Researchers: Whoa, these values!
SFX: Grind grind

100

Researchers: Incredible!!
Researchers: I've never seen growth like this.

Ringo: All of you.

SFX: Roar

Researchers: Oh, her power keeps rising.
Researchers: I don't even need the data to tell!
Researchers: This much power is unbelievable!
Ringo: Ahhhhhhhhhh!

SFX: Crack crack

Researchers: Gweh!
SFX: Wham
Researchers: Wait!
Researchers: This is too much!

101

SFX: Pshew

SFX: Zap zap zap
Ringo: Gwah!

Researchers: Phew.

Researchers: Could she not control her power?
Researchers: Not with how rapidly those values rose.

Ringo: Ugh.

Researchers: Hey, are you okay?
Researchers: Ow.
Researchers: You lost a lot of blood.

Researchers: Eh? That's not my blood.

SFX: Rumble

Amata: Ahh, ahh. I come all the way out here...
Amata: and this is all you have to show me?
Researchers: Kihara-san.
Souji: Oh? This place looks neat.

102

Souji: Did she do it? She might be fun to work with. Right, Amata-san?
Amata: Do you ever stop with this?

SFX: Thunk

SFX: Drag

Ringo: Tomo-

SFX: Click

103

Ringo: I don't know what happened after that.

Ringo: But the Dark May Project continued.
Ringo: And my memories started cutting out more often.

Kakine: But the project came to a sudden end?
Ringo: When that Kuroyoru girl went on a rampage.

Yobou: The data I collected had nothing on a Kuroyoru...
Yobou: but it did record Yuzuriha's accident, albeit incompletely.

Ringo: It wasn't an accident!!

Ringo: I killed her.
Ringo: So...
SFX: Squeeze

Kakine: I understand your tragedy now.

Kakine: But a terrible experience in the past does not mean you have to live the same way in the future.

104

Kakine: Besides, we only need the data on Accelerator's calculation patterns.
Kakine: And we got some decent data from your battle with Kuroyoru.
Ringo: I want to visit that lab again.

Kakine: What?

Ringo: My memories don't just cut out completely. There are bits and pieces missing.
Ringo: Eventually, I might not be able to control my power at all.

Yobou: That experiment sure left its mark.

Ringo: I want to give you everything before that happens.

Kakine: Why would you want to help us?
Kakine: This is a bit much for some food and a bed.
Ringo: It has to be you.

Kakine: So what is it you want that only a Level 5 can get you?
Ringo: Money? Food?

105

Kakine: Or a way out of Academy City?

Ringo: Save...
Ringo: me.

Kakine: Save you,
Kakine: huh?

Kakine: Then go find yourself a hero.

SFX: Rinnng

Kaibi: Hello?
SFX: Beep

Souji(outside): Um.
Souji: Is this School? Are you all together?
Yobou: They know School? Are they with the dark side?

106

Kakine: Who the hell are you?

Souji: Oh, pardon me. I forgot to introduce myself.

Souji: I am a researcher gathering data on that specimen - Yuzuriha Ringo, was it?

Souji: The name's Kihara Souji.

Kakine: Kihara!?

Souji: I wanted more raw data here...
Souji: so I sent some people to pick her up.

Souji: Wrap her up for me if you don't mind?

SFX: Crash

107

SFX: Step step step
DA: Justice!
DA: Absolute justice!!

Kakine: You again?
SFX: Zwoosh

Kakine: Shut up and get a clue, you annoying pricks!
SFX: Wham

SFX: Stand up

Kaibi: Wait!
Kaibi: Their minds are unnaturally identical.

Souji: Yeah, that was me.

Souji: I gave them a substitute for their obsession with justice or whatever the hell.
Kakine: A substitute?

108

SFX: Gulp gulp
Souji: Ooh, this stuff's good! Yet it has almost no real fruit juice.
Yobou: What's with this guy?
Souji: Such a fruity flavor with just artificial flavors and sweeteners!

Souji: I'm talking about substitutes.
Carton: I Can't Believe It's Not Orange

Souji: Everything can be replaced. Nothing in this world has no substitute.
SFX: Creak
Souji: An arm, a leg, your deepest held beliefs? There's a substitute for them all.

Souji: So they're convinced my orders ARE their deepest held belief.

Souji: Nothing is truly unique, don't you think?
Souji: Teitoku-san.

Kakine: You don't know me. Did you think I would agree with that?

Souji: Huh? I really, really did think you'd understand.
Souji: I mean, you're...

109

Souji: The Spare Plan.
Souji: You're Accelerator's substitute.

SFX: Boom

Yobou: Blehhh

Kakine: You little bitch.
SFX: Crack crack

SFX: Grin

SFX: Turn on

SFX: Ksshhh

SFX: Kiiiiii

110

SFX: Ksssshhhhh
Kakine: Is that a distraction?

Ringo: Ahhhhhhhhh!

SFX: Crack

Kakine: What's happening?
Souji: Neat, worked like a charm.

Souji: I combined a buncha sounds to make a substitute for the one that stresses Yuzuriha Ringo-san's brain.
Ringo: Ah
Ringo: Ahh
Ringo: Ah

SFX: Rumble rumble

111

Kaibi: Kyah!
Souji: It really is just her brain reacting to external stimuli, after all.
Souji: The exact stimulus doesn't matter.

Souji: Below you...
Souji: Floors 2-6 are full of ordinary guests.

Souji: If Ringo-san goes berserk and the building collapses...
Souji: who knows how many of them will die.
SFX: Rumble
Woman: An earthquake?

Kakine: And that's supposed to stop me?
Souji: Isn't it, though? You aren't moving.

Souji: Maybe you don't care if they die, but you don't want Ringo-san to kill them, do you?
Souji: You old softy!

112

Kakine: You can shut up now.

Kakine: You've already convinced me to kill you.

Souji: Have I? Then if you'll excuse me...

SFX: Click

SFX: Boom

Kakine: It's nothing but tricks with you people.
SFX: Mad

SFX: Zwoosh
Kakine: It's annoying as hell.

113

Kakine: Damn.

Souji: There, Ringo-san is mine now.
Souji: Thanks for the diversion, DA Arouse!

Souji: You may slaughter the innocents now.
Souji: Do it.

114

SFX: Rush in

Man: Eh? Anti-Skill?
Man: U-um!
SFX: Step step step

Yobou: DA Arouse is on the 1st floor too!
Kakine(edge): Damn
Kakine: They're like roaches.

Souji: Substitute, substitute.
SFX: Step
Souji: Gonna make me a substitute.

Souji: A substitute for Accelerator!
Souji: Yeah!