Murderer in the Flower of Death (20 page)

“…”

The silence was delicate.

After a little while, Renko tilted her head in thought. “Triple digits? I’m sorry, Kyousuke. I don’t know…I just don’t know.” Putting her finger to the chin of the gas mask, she lowered her voice. “The number of people I’ve killed up to now,
I just didn’t count them one by one
, you see. Even if you ask me like that, ‘Are your kills in the triple digits?’ I can’t give you a good answer. The only thing I can say is…”

She paused for a moment and removed her hood, allowing her silver hair to spill out and flutter in the wind. “I’ve killed more people than anyone at this school… I’m a better murderer than anyone here. Do you know why? Because
that’s what I was made for
. In other words, I’m—”

She threw off her blazer and hoodie, until her tank top was the only layer left. Covering every inch of her exposed arms were closely packed, jet-black tribal tattoos. The complicated designs, made of hundreds of lines interweaving in all directions, looked like chains wrapped around her.

“—I’m the Murder Maid. I exist for the sole purpose of killing people,
designed from the genetic level
to do just that. Like scissors are made to cut paper, like a hammer is made to hit nails, like a gun is made to shoot bullets… I was made for this purpose, and
I can do nothing but kill
. I kill because I hate. I kill because I’m sad. I kill
because I’m happy. I kill because I’m lonely. I kill because I’m empty. I kill because it hurts. I don’t really understand it all, but I kill. I kill as the mood strikes me. I kill just because. I kill and I kill and I kill and I kill and I kill and I kill and I kill and I kill… Every single emotion I have
is associated with killing
. If it weren’t for this mask, well…get it?”

As she spoke, she removed her headphones, tossing the rough black equipment aside to reveal delicate white ears. Then, she put both hands on her mask. Moving her arms around to the back of her head, detaching the bands that held it in place, Renko exhaled, a long “
kkkssshhh…
”

“This mask is a limiter that my creator put on me. It’s a device to suppress the main factors that tie all of my actions to indiscriminate killing—my overwhelming murderous impulse and urge to slaughter. That is to say, only as long as I’m wearing this mask, I’m a normal girl. …But Kyousuke, if you say that you want to see the real me, I think it would be okay to show you. Ordinarily, of course, I can’t take it off by myself, but…this time is special, so I got her to undo the lock!”

“R-Renko…” Kyousuke drew away, pressing his back against the iron fence.

Renko looked at Kyousuke, shaking with instinctive fear, and laughed. Or she felt like laughing. “Up to now, I’ve had all kinds of emotions, and when I have them, I kill, but…this is the first time I’ve ever had
this
feeling. I’m experiencing…interest in you. I can’t help but be fascinated by you, and I can’t pull my consciousness away from you. My head is full of you. I want to know you more fully, and I want you to know about me. I like you, Kyousuke… I love you! That’s why—”
Kachink.
The sound of the restraints coming loose.

“—I want to savor the moment when this emotion becomes connected to
killing
.”

The black mask, its bindings finally undone, fell away. Exposed, Renko’s bare face was—so beautiful it was frightening.

“…”

He was captivated, his eyes drawn to her. Her silky smooth silver hair fluttered against the backdrop of a sky the color of fresh blood. In the approaching twilight, her dazzlingly white skin shone like glazed porcelain.

Her slim, beautiful eyebrows; her calmly closed eyelids; her eyelashes, so long that they cast a shadow; her high, shapely nose bridge; her charming peach-colored lips… Everything about her was weirdly, achingly beautiful.

If mankind were to use all of its skills and techniques to pursue the absolute essence of
beauty
, through the arts or some other means, this is likely the kind of face that would be created—so he thought.

“…Ren…ko…”

As if in answer to the name that had slipped from Kyousuke’s mouth, Renko’s eyelashes fluttered and she slowly opened her eyes. Exceedingly clear, almost transparent, her glacially blue eyes swam across the sky and seized on Kyousuke.

“……Heh-heh-heh.” A breath of life spilled out. Her peach-colored lips traced a joyful curve as she opened her mouth to speak.

“How is it, Kyousuke? My bare face. I certainly hope that you like it!” Without the mask, her voice was beautifully clear, so lovely it made him shiver. “Heh…heh-heh! You know, I can’t stop smiling.
The music won’t stop
… I’m so happy I might go insane! Oh, I’m happy, Kyousuke. I had no idea that showing you my bare face would make me this happy… How nice, an introduction like this. It’s welling up from my gut. What a thrill! This must be my murderous melody for you! Hee-hee-hee…!”

Her shoulders shook with laughter. Renko closed her eyes again and let her body sway back and forth, moving as though carried along by some unheard melody.

Despite the fact that she had removed her headphones. Despite the fact that there was no music to be heard. Witnessing Renko’s incomprehensible words and actions, Kyousuke began to sweat.

“…Huh? H-hey…what are you saying? I don’t understand what you mean, Renko…”

Renko opened her eyes and smiled at the trembling boy. It was not a scornful smile; rather, she smiled like she was having all the fun in the world and simply couldn’t help herself.

“Heh-heh…hmm? Ah, it’s nothing major. To me,
my murderous impulses are music
. It’s just that the music started to play. It’s not audible to you, is it, Kyousuke…? Or maybe, this is your first time hearing this type of music? Death metal. Anyway, I’m playing it for you, so you don’t have to worry about anything. I’ll do everything for you, the
death voice, shout, growl…to go along with the tune my bloodlust is playing, my hands and feet will play and dance for you! Ahem. And so, well—”

Linking her fingers together overhead, Renko leaned back in a tight stretch, emphasizing her abundant breasts and straining her tank top to the limit. When she had bent back as far as she could, she let her hands go and slouched forward.

Loosely dangling her two tattoo-covered arms, she opened her ice-blue eyes wide. At the center of two irises that reminded Kyousuke of the still surface of deep, deep water—her dark pupils contracted into tiny dots, like cats’ eyes. From the upturned corners of her lips peeked strangely sharp canine teeth.

“We don’t need an MC, so let’s hurry up and start the show, Kyousukeeeeeee!!”

Her cry was ferocious and wild, like an untamed animal. Renko tossed her silver-white hair, kicked at the ground, and began to dance.

It was sheer dumb luck that Kyousuke avoided her first attack.

Kicking the ground, Renko’s body ricocheted off and sliced through the air, flying at him as she spun, a tornado of silver-white hair. These were not the movements of a human being, but the vicious motions of a savage beast.

Closing the fifteen-foot distance separating them to zero in an instant, she traced a wide arc with her right arm, swinging it down on him at point-blank range. Her power and speed were incredible.

“…Huh?!” Rolling to the side, Kyousuke avoided the blow by a hair’s breadth. A horrid, grinding
smash
erupted from the place he’d been standing less than a second before. The faint scent of shampoo mingled with the thick stench of iron rust, fragrant on the evening breeze.

“…Huh? How strange. You dodged it…don’t do that, Kyousuke. Heh-heh-heh…”

Wearing a broad smile, Renko sluggishly pulled her arms away from
the iron fence, which had been
crushed and mangled and twisted
by her assault. She flicked fresh, wet blood from her wrists.

It wasn’t Kyousuke’s, but Renko’s own blood. Her right palm looked to be bleeding.

“And yet, ooohh…this is too exciting, and I miscalculated my strength, didn’t I?! I struck at you in this ecstatic trance and broke everything at once, including my hand. I’m designed to be a perfect killer. My bones are abnormally strong, and let me tell you, they don’t break easily. Hee-hee…oh, well.” Her body swaying with the murderous melody, Renko giggled. She didn’t seem to feel even the slightest bit of pain.

Fallen on his backside on the ground a little ways away from her, Kyousuke looked up at Renko, dumbfounded. “Wh-what the…what the hell are you?! Y-you’re not human!” On the edge of his vision, the iron fence stood twisted and broken. If he had taken the brunt of a blow like that, it would have been instant death—at best, a lethal wound.

Looking down at Kyousuke trembling with fear, Renko snaked her tongue across her blood-soaked arm; she shivered as she traced a sensual path over her intricate tattoos. “Why, how mean! …I am human. But I am not a product of nature. You’re very perceptive to notice such a thing, Kyousuke. I’m getting more and more excited…eh-heh-heh. My murderous impulse is coming to a climax, so next up let me hear some good vocals, okay? I’ll give it to you gently this time!”

The blood cleaned from her arm, Renko again raised her right hand, heedless of her injury. With an ecstatic expression, she gave her body over to the inaudible murderous melody.

Her silvery-white hair fluttered against a blazing sky, and her glacial eyes reflecting the fiery light were made of pure insanity, but she was so beautiful it was almost overwhelming.

That’s why, perhaps—even facing imminent death—Kyousuke’s mind was incredibly tranquil. He didn’t tremble in fear, nor was he stricken with despair, but watched her with an absolute fascination. He was utterly consumed.

With slightly flushed cheeks, Renko smiled, baring her canine teeth. “Well, then, Kyousuke, will you be killed now? I won’t miss this time…I definitely won’t miss.”

“…”

Kyousuke couldn’t move.

Even though he knew he was going to die, his body wouldn’t move.

Rolling her wrist around and folding in her fingers one by one, Renko slowly made a fist. He could almost hear the chain-like tattoos that entwined around her arms clang together as she prepared to strike.

“Kyousuke!”

“Oh no, Kyousuke!”

Two strained voices cut through the twilight, echoing in the small space. In front of the open metal door stood Eiri and Maina.

“Oohh, come on! What’s this?! This jarring noise interrupting my performance—” Lowering her fist in annoyance, Renko turned to look. As soon as she recognized the two figures, delight quickly spread across her face, her narrowed eyes opening wide as she smiled again. “…Ah, what’s this? If it isn’t Eiri and Maina. Hi there, you two! You came at just the right time. Everyone knows a show is nothing without an audience, yep!”

“Um…could it be, Renko? …Are you Renko?” Looking back and forth between the gas mask on the ground and the beautiful girl with silver hair, Eiri’s voice was heavy with amazement.

Maina stared fixedly at Renko’s bare face, mouth ajar.

Perhaps because she was pleased by their reactions, Renko let out a good-humored laugh. “Heh-heh, that’s right, I’m Renko Hikawa! At last you understand what I meant when I said I was a beautiful girl, don’t you? I’m happy…so very happy! Only right now, I’m kind of in the middle of something. I’ll kill you very thoroughly after I’m done here, so for now won’t you please watch from there?” Dismissively, she turned back to Kyousuke.

“Huh?!” Eiri raised her voice. “In the middle of something, what do you…? What are you doing to Kyousuke?” She took a step forward, irritation apparent in her rust-colored eyes. Her piercing gaze was locked on Renko’s right arm, dripping blood. “You’re going to kill us…is that what you said? What the hell do you mean by that? Are you joking?” Stepping over the discarded gas mask, she edged closer to Renko. Though she looked angry, it didn’t seem that Eiri had realized that anything was amiss about Renko’s state.

“Wait…stupid! Stay back! Run, quickl—”

“—Shut up.”

Renko cut off Kyousuke’s warning with a growl. It was a deep, heavy sound like a bass drum thundering up from the pit of her stomach, a sound born of intense rage and hate.

Turning her attention from Kyousuke, she faced Eiri. In the last view that he had of Renko’s face, he could see that it was completely expressionless, the smile that she had worn until just a moment ago having completely splintered.

“…Ah, my goodness, what are you doing, Eiri? Well, if my first murderous impulse hasn’t been painted over by this new murderous impulse…the tune that was playing has been superseded by a new tune! I was really enjoying that one, though. The discord…the disharmony of stopping one song in the middle and forcing a new one is really—just the worst! Could it be, I’m irritated by playing this explosive sound? These violent riffs and blast beats…hmm. This murderous melody…I’m already tired of hearing it! If I can’t stop it soon…soon…!”

Bobbing her head up and down, and rocking her body back and forth, Renko took a few steps toward Eiri. From her fingertips, blood fell in languid droplets, pattering on the ground and leaving a thin crimson trail behind her.