[Short Story] SHINONOME <5> (6)

“Well, well, Shinonome-san. You've arrived quite early.”

Sakaki spread his arms wide. With his hands still shoved in his hoodie pockets, Shinonome turned his gaze toward him.

“Are you Shinya Sakaki?”
“Yes. Thank you for your time on the phone earlier.” He bowed like a stage actor. “I apologize for calling you out when you had other business to attend to.”
“Oh, that? It's fine, really. This was my destination anyway.”
“Pardon?”

Shinonome swept his gaze around the room.

“This is AG Corporation, right? I know I was invited here, but I had my own business—I wanted to meet the people who were tailing me in Ginza today. I was looking for their location.”

“My, my.” Sakaki clapped his hands together with exaggerated flair.

“So you were planning on coming here yourself, Shinonome-san? In that case, I'm afraid I've put you through unnecessary trouble.”
“It can't be helped. I never imagined things would turn out like this.”

Shinonome looked at me with his usual large, dark eyes. Even though I must have looked like I was about to have my arm broken, he remained calm and unperturbed.

“Yo, Sarasa.”
“Hello.”
“Does it hurt?”
“A little.”
“I bet.” He narrowed his wide, round eyes slightly. “I don't know what you were baited by, but you brought this on yourself.”
“...Yes.”

It was harsh, but he was right. That was exactly why I had stubbornly insisted that he didn't need to come. To think he was planning to come here anyway.

“So, what brings you here?”

Sakaki asked, as if speaking for me.

“It's simple. I came to ask you to stop tailing me.”
“I see. However, we have our own circumstances.”
“Ah, I heard, I heard. You want to confirm if I can still use my ‘Order’, right?”
“Yes.” His voice held a wry laugh. “I had hoped to ask more elegantly, but as you heard, Takimoto-san saw right through everything. How embarrassing.”
“That's not it.”
“...Not it?”
“I heard it from your client.”
“What?”
“I stormed in and yelled at them, asking what kind of operation they thought they were running by hiring someone like you.”

He puffed out his cheeks under his mask. Sakaki, on the other hand, stood frozen, perhaps in shock.

“The client... Sawarabi-san, you mean?”
“Was that his name?” Shinonome glanced at me briefly. “Don't go blurting out proper nouns in front of civilians. That's bad manners.”
“You met with him in this short amount of time? Really?”
“Would you like me to show you the business card I got today? I can call the number written on it right now if you'd like.”

As he said this, he pulled a slip of paper from his pocket. No, Sakaki said, stopping him with a wave of his hand. He hesitated, which was rare for him. Even from behind, I could see his indecision.

“Sawara... what did he say?”
“He tried to play dumb at first, but once I pressed him a little, he told me everything.”
“What exactly did he say?”

Shinonome tucked the paper, presumably the business card, back into his pocket.

“He said, ‘I requested the investigation, but the methods were left to them,’ ‘This time, it's my responsibility as the employer,’ and ‘I will penalize the contractor.’ To summarize, that's about it.”
“Penalize...”
“So I offered a counter-proposal.”
“...What?”

I will use my ‘Order’ to penalize them. So, stop bothering me.

If things keep going like this, it seems like the same thing will just keep happening over and over again with different methods. So, I figured I'd just give them the information and shut them up. Since they can achieve their original goal that way, it's a win-win for them, right?

I took both hands out of my pockets and made a double peace sign next to my chest. I bent the four fingers I had extended, saying, "Win-win."

Well, with that settled...
I'm going to break Sarasa Takimoto's arm.

Sakaki declared rapidly and looked at the man behind me. The man looked flustered and tightened his grip on my left arm. "Ow!" I couldn't help but cry out as I felt the sudden pressure. A slight sense of composure appeared on Sakaki's face.

Shinonome-san, if you're going to use 'Hypnotic Voice,' please use it on her.
Why?
Because Takimoto-san desires it. She came all this way with the sole intention of regaining the memories you once stole from her.
...Huh, you really did your research on those circumstances, didn't you?
Shinonome said, looking slightly surprised. "I see, so that was the bait you used to lure Sarasa in."
Please, do it to her.I refuse.

Shinonome approached without hesitation. Sakaki stepped back, standing next to me at a distance of about two meters.

Why are you so afraid? Didn't you base your actions on the premise that I didn't have the power of 'Order' in the first place?
That was my assumption, yes. But even I have to be cautious. After all...

Sakaki's Adam's apple bobbed.

The man who went to meet you earlier. He still hasn't come back up, has he?

A beat of silence.
I could tell even through his mask that Shinonome was smiling faintly.

Break it. Right now.

Almost at the same time Sakaki spoke, an unprecedented amount of pressure was applied to my arm.
However,

Seven hundred and twenty-four days.

At Shinonome's clear voice, the man's body jerked.

That's how many days it's been since I last had to use my ability consecutively. He said, taking a step, then another. He approached with the light sound of sneakers on the floor. "It's a shame. I was only a little while away from a full two years."

Eventually, he stopped a few steps in front of us,

Truly--

He placed his fingers on his mask and quietly slid it aside.

--a shame."

[Don't move]

An instant.
After a sensation like having my brain licked, time stops.

I cannot move.

My head, my hands, my legs, my tongue.
Even a single blink is beyond my control, as if my body is rejecting it.

“Ugh, fu, ah...”

Something like a sob leaks from the man gripping my arm. At the same time, something hits the floor. Saliva? He is likely having trouble breathing. I cannot turn around, so I cannot see the full picture.

“Doesn't look like that guy needs anything,” Shinonome glances at me, then looks forward again. “Now, Shinya Sakaki. Your real name is, uh...” She takes a slip of paper from her pocket again to confirm. “Shinya Saito.”

Shinonome stands directly in front of Sakaki and continues speaking to his motionless body.

“Place both your palms, your knees, and your forehead on the floor.”

Sakaki’s body begins to move. With the sluggishness of a marionette suspended by rubber strings, he reaches the commanded posture.

“Apologize one hundred times, saying you're sorry.”

“I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorr... hgh...”
“Start over. Another hundred times.”
“I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sor... gah, gahh, gehh.”
“Already broken? Your throat is so weak.”

Sakaki crouches, writhing while choking.
The man behind me is still sobbing.

What is this?
What am I being shown right now?

My brain cannot process a scene where all the fixed ideas and morals I have cultivated are ignored. It feels as if I have returned to being an infant and am perceiving the world from scratch.

This is an 'Order'.
This is an ability.
I...
Did I, in the past, consume something like this myself?

Aren't you afraid of Shinonome-san?

The question Sakaki asked me tens of minutes ago crosses my mind.
Oh no, I thought, but it was already too late.
My hands, which should have been unable to move due to Shinonome’s command, are vibrating. My body has started to tremble at the terror I am witnessing.

No. Endure it.
Before Shinonome turns this way.
Stop the trembling.

I am this person's assistant, aren't I?

“Uh, there should be a camera somewhere,” Shinonome looks around, then walks to the corner of the room saying, “Found it.” I don't know how it is camouflaged, but it seems to be installed near the ceiling. She looks up at it and waves her hand.

Is this live? Well, whatever. The punishment is over. As promised, stop getting involved with me. Also,

His voice dropped a tone.

From now on, if you target Sarasa Takimoto, I will consider it a declaration of war against me. Keep that in mind, both you and the mastermind behind you.

He took a piece of paper from his pocket, tore it to shreds, and threw it on the floor.

At those words, at that sight, tears overflowed from my immobile body. The trembling still wouldn't stop. That only fueled the tears more.

He saved me. He protected me.
But I am still terrified.

How immoral. How ungrateful.
Stop, stop.

I forced my chattering teeth together, and perhaps I cut my lip. Blood dripped onto the floor.
Stop. I told myself that, desperately.
My head was gradually becoming hazy.

Ahaha.

Suddenly, I heard laughter.
Ah, ahaha, ahahahaha.
It echoed, sounding insane, from Sakaki's body as he crouched beside me.

That's amazing, 'Hypnotic Voice.' It's beyond my expectations. With this, you can do anything, can't you?

Huh.
Shinonome turned only his face toward him.
You can already talk normally? You have a strong ego.

Why have you been holding back on this for two years? If you felt like it, you could easily overturn the current balance of power.
So what?
Why don't you use your power?
He threatened in a raspy voice. If you have the ability, use it to your heart's content. Fulfill the destiny of having been granted such a rare power.Huh?

Shinonome walked toward Sakaki.

What is that? Noblesse oblige? Like, with great power comes great responsibility?

He crouched down and peered into Sakaki's face.

There's no such thing.

Even at this distance, I could tell by his intimidating black eyes.

As for me, if I can order McDonald's, read new books, and hunt for anime on Netflix, that's enough for a life. No matter what you're born with, you have the right to choose, grasp, and enjoy that happiness.

Listen well. This is not an 'order,' it is a command.

"Do not disturb my peace."

Shinonome stands up and turns toward me.

It's no use. I'm still shaking.
Stop.

Just as I willed it with extra intensity, my consciousness snapped and cut off.