Chapter 13 – Halfway
Day 180 - 412 students remaining.
Around day 80, the wall separating Mikuni’s side of the city from the other side was complete. Mikuni had guards stationed at the gate between them. After the wall was completed, Kenro took over the eastern less-desirable side of the city. Since Kenro took over, every single daily execution has involved somebody from the eastern side of the city. The people living in Mikuni’s part of the city felt safe and secure. The days went by and before everyone knew it, day 180 had approached. Half of the time in this city was over. Shuji was still being held in high standing for taking down the boogieman. However, not everything was perfect. Mikuni introduced a rule stating that those who don’t work hard enough will be sent to the eastern side of the city.
Just after the morning announcement, the food parcel drops. Shuji sits in his office and waits for the first task of the day.
Before any job could come to the office, Kanna rushes into the office.
“Shuji!”
Shuji rubs the scar above his eye as he looks up at Kanna.
“Oh, Kanna. What’s wrong?”
Kanna seems to be in a state of distress.
“Shuji, you have to come with me. There’s a situation at the border gate.”
Shuji is now alert and rushes with Kanna towards the border gate. A large number of Mikuni’s crew wait at the opened gate also. Shuji looks through the other gate and sees an unfamiliar site. Prior to today, the citizens of the eastern side of the city would be waiting in a line to receive their food so that the food would be evenly distributed between them. However, today, no normal citizens stand at the gate. Instead, Members of Kenro’s crew wait nearby. Shuji begins to question one of Mikuni’s crew.
“What’s going on here?”
The member of Mikuni’s crew looks on in anger.
“One of our crew has gone to get Mikuni’s thoughts on the issue. Kenro’s crew have a demand for us. They want to be responsible for food distribution on the eastern side of the city.”
One of Kenro’s crew speaks up.
“That’s right. From now on, we decide who eats and who gets what.”
The member of Kenro’s crew looks at Shuji.
“I recognise you. You’re the bitch who attacked me.”
Shuji looks at the member of Kenro’s crew and recognises him. It’s Ryota. Shuji recalls how Ryota stole a food parcel during the first month.
“Ryota, right?”
Ryota glares at Shuji.
“You’re lucky that you’re not on our side of the city. I want nothing more that payback for the humiliation that you caused.”
Shuji brushes off Ryota’s remarks. Shuji begins to think to himself.
‘There’s no way that Mikuni would agree to their request. Those animals would keep all of the food for themselves.’
The member of Mikuni’s crew returns as the rest of Mikuni’s crew and Kenro’s crew turn to face him. There is a tense aura as silence graces the air.
“Mikuni has agreed to your request.”
Ryota and the rest of Kenro’s crew bear evil smiles as Shuji begins to get angry.
“What? There’s no way that Mikuni would agree to this!”
Ryota shrugs his shoulders.
“Thanks for the compliance.”
Shuji marches off in anger and begins to head towards Mikuni’s office.
‘What the hell is he thinking. He’ll be giving Kenro even more power than he already has. The eastern side of the city will become even more of a living hell than it already is.’
Shuji heads over to Mikuni’s office building. He then attempts to enter the building.
“I’m here to see Mikuni.”
The two guards watching over the entrance stop Shuji from entering.
“Not so fast. Do you have an appointment?”
Shuji is frustrated but also in shock.
“What? You know me. I have to see Mikuni.”
The guards Push Shuji away as he tries to enter again.
“The rules have changed. Nobody can get an audience with Mikuni unless they have an appointment.”
Shuji tries to calm himself down as he speaks to the guards.
“Then when can I see Mikuni?”
The guards look at each other.
“The earliest appointment would be in about 2 months’ time.”
Shuji looks incredibly annoyed at this.
“What? That’s ridiculous!”
Shuji begins to walk away as the guards stand in silence. Shuji continues to think to himself.
‘This is ridiculous. What has happened to this city?’
Shuji returns to the detective office to be greeted by Kanna and Maro Taro.
“Shuji! What happened?”
Shuji then explains the situation to Kanna and Maro Taro. They are both in shock. Kanna is the first to speak.
“Mikuni let this happen? Kenro is by far the worst person in the city. Why would he do something like this?”
Shuji is still trying to piece things together but tries to ignore the situation entirely.
“Let’s get back to work. We might have a few jobs today.”
Kanna and Maro Taro are both confused. Maro Taro clenches his fist as he takes issue with this.
“What are you talking about? Kenro is going have control over people’s food. People are going to starve to death! We have to do something!”
Shuji looks down at the ground.
“Get back to work.”
Maro Taro storms out of the office as Kanna looks at Shuji.
“Shuji…”
Shuji responds.
“We don’t have a choice. If we don’t work, we’ll get sent to the eastern side of the city. Now that Kenro controls the food there, we would be dead within a day. I have to protect us.”
The day passes by and they finish all their jobs for the day. As night comes, a lot still weighs on Shuji’s mind. In an attempt to clear his head, Shuji goes for a walk. Shuji walks along the perimeter of the wall. As Shuji walks, he hears a nearby voice call out to him.
“Well, if it isn’t Shuji.”
Shuji notices the figure is none other than Tamotsu Tano.
“You again. What do you want Tamotsu?”
Tamotsu smirks.
“This city is changing. I just want to know your thoughts on the issue.”
Shuji looks disgruntled as he talks to Tamotsu.
“Just to be clear, I don’t trust you, Tamotsu. Besides, running the city is Mikuni’s job.”
Tamotsu points his fingers at Shuji in the shape of a gun and lifts it up.
“Bingo.”
Tamotsu continues to speak.
“I warned you about him, didn’t I?”
Shuji responds to Tamotsu’s point.
“What’s the alternative? Living under Kenro? I’ll pass on that one.”
Tamotsu shakes his head as he smiles.
“The ‘lesser of two evils’ argument. What’s wrong with wanting there to be a ‘good’ option?”
Shuji looks disgruntled.
“Hmph, ‘good’ can’t survive in a place like this. As long as justice remains then that’s enough for me.”
Shuji then begins to walk away.
“Now if you excuse me, I came out here to get a clear head, not talk city politics with you.”
Shuji continues to walk along the walls. As he passes the now closed gate, he hears a commotion on the other side of the wall. A woman is shouting at one of Mikuni’s crew who is standing on the platform above the border wall.
“Please! Somebody needs to do something! She’s gone missing.”
Shuji continues to walk until the woman speaks again.
“You need to help Ichika!”
Shuji freezes and then rushes up the stairs to the top of the wall and speaks to the member of Mikuni’s crew.
“Open the gate. I just need a second.”
The guard is hesitant for a moment but looks at his colleague who nods his head. They unlock the gate and open it.
The woman runs towards Shuji.
“Shuji! You need to do something!”
Shuji is confused.
“Explain the situation.”
The woman begins to elaborate.
“Around a month ago, Ichika was sent to the eastern side of the city. But someone’s taken her, she’s gone missing.”
Shuji freezes at the thought of this. Shuji begins to remember Ichika’s high spirits when she led the escape team.
‘Ichika was sent to the eastern side of the city. Someone as nice as her… living under Kenro.’
Shuji nods towards the woman.
“Meet me here tomorrow at 2pm.”
The woman nods as Shuji begins to walk back to his office and the gates to the eastern side of the city close once more.
