The Awakusu-kai of Medei Group was one of those types of organisation, one that had an extensive territory in Ikebukuro.
(T/N: Back in Durarara!! the Awakusu-kai was middle-class.)
An executive of this organisation, Shiki, had been called to the headquarters of the Awakusu-kai early this morning.
Having nothing come to mind at the summons, Shiki went to the headquarters half-warily â Only, waiting for him was a stray bullet from a completely unexpected direction.
âDisappearances, is it.â
âYeah, disappearances. Especially with young people, itâs been happening a lot in our territory.â
He was countering the malicious talk behind his back, that he was riding on his fatherâs favour, with his own capability, and was currently at heads with one of the executives, Aozaki.
He said this sourly; and Shiki, after a number of seconds considering how to reply, said,
âIâm not aware of the initial number, but just from what I know thereâve been 15 cases this month.â
At this information, Shiki sunk into thought briefly.
âIf thatâs the case, itâs safe to assume the information is accurate.
Even so, Shiki reconsidered.
If one were to heed the fact that for many years the number exceeded 100,000, 15 was not a large number at all.
Of course, not all missing persons disappeared as though spirited away; in a large proportion of cases they were found after a search was requested.
There Shiki bowed his head. Mikiya had a daughter by the name of Awakusu Akane, who had, while still in elementary school, run away from home for a few days 2 years ago.
âWhat is it? It couldnât be something connected to the organisation?â
âAnd why so?â
But so far as Shiki was aware, they had never been inclined to whimsically vanishing perfectly innocent people from the streets.
If the Awakusu-kai distributed drugs it was possible that that child couldâve been a trafficker, but in the first place the Awakusu-kai should have no hand drug dealing.
Furthermore, insofar as drugs were the most effective means of income, the Awakusu-kaiâs policy was to act in a manner that would give them the home advantage, so it was necessary to avoid repelling the residents of the city more than necessary.
Shiki, gradually understanding Mikiyaâs frown, regarded him again with a different perspective.
âDo you know about the Headless Rider?â
âYou know, right? Theyâre a courier you and Akabayashi hire now and then.â
Shiki answered without making to conceal anything, to which Mikiya continued, calmly: âApparently they took care of Akane somehow. She talks about them occasionally.â
âThis might sound too direct, but what are they?â
âIt canât be that there really isnât anything above their neck, can it?â
ââŚWhat?â
At Shiki, who spoke calmly, Mikiya slammed the table.
Even in the face of a shout that wouldâve caused any other person to recoil, Shiki, with a cool expression, replied courteously. âYoung Head. I think you would know best whether I am a person to make shitty useless jokes at a time like this.â
At that Mikiya went silent.
That was exactly why he could not easily accept it.
âYes, which is to say, the Headless Rider is the Headless Rider. It is natural to doubt; I will introduce you directly next time. Head Dogen is aware, though.â
Mentioning the name of Dogen, who was the leader as well as his father, was not something he could interpret as a joke and beat Shiki up for. In the first place, not only Shiki â no one in the organisation would be so extreme as to use Dogenâs name for a lie or a joke.
ââŚWell, we can come back to this some other time. Whether the Headless Riderâs the real thing or a magician doesnât matter. The problem is that the Headless Rider might have a hand in the disappearances.â
âYeah; the missing people⌠All of them were big fans of the Headless Rider.â
At the sudden use of the term, a frown formed on Shikiâs face.
âThose people have always been around, havenât they. Why suddenlyâŚâ âIâd like to know that too. Now and then thereâve been freelance writers going after the Headless Rider, but that oneâs the first to disappear. But it looks like itâs been spreading badly on the internet or something.â
As Shiki nodded, his tone agreeing, Mikiya sighed deeply.
ââŚI heard that seniors at Akaneâs middle school have disappeared, too.â
âIn her own way Akane feels a debt for the help when she ran away. So when she heard the rumours that the Headless Rider was responsible she said they wouldnât do something like that; apparently sheâs looking for the Headless Rider on her own now.â
If the âHeadless Riderâ Shiki knew of had indeed been behind the disappearances, it would naturally be dangerous for Akane. Other than the fact that they knew Akaneâs face and position, the fact was that causing mass disappearances could not have been done with a sound mind.
ââŚOf course, I stopped her. But you should know how Akane is.â
âSeriously, who does she take afterâŚâ
âMikiya gave off that feel when he was younger, too.
He was not so skilful as to be so sarcastic to a superior.
âWell whatever. Itâd be much simpler if you could contact the Headless Rider. Get them here as fast as possible⌠No, itâd be bad for them to come to our headquarters or offices right now. Have them meet you someplace suitable, and ask them if they know anything.â
â? Why?â
âThat courierâs currently on leave⌠Theyâre on vacation, with that underground doctor they cohabit with.â
At Mikiyaâs frown, Shiki, voice still even, spoke only the truth.
âNot just for the past month; the Headless Rider hasnât been in the city for a good half year.â