Chapter 62: First Meeting (Part 1)
Come to think of it, how did Yoshikage Kira and Ibara Shiozaki meet? That story begins a long time ago.
At that time, Kira was just entering junior high, about three years ago. Due to his special circumstances—both his parents had passed away, leaving him to live alone—a teacher at his school had arranged for him to work part-time at an acquaintance's shop, which was the movie theater he still worked at.
It was around then that Kira had just discovered a website called "Shadow," which sold... bedroom accessories. Like a young girl with a new doll, he was intensely curious and had decisively ordered an alluring hand model.
Although the money he earned from his part-time job was a lot in the eyes of his peers, it was nothing compared to the remuneration he received from his freelance translation work online. This detail hadn't been mentioned in a while, but Kira was a reincarnated person. In his past life as an office worker, he had learned a few languages. To avoid appearing too strange, he had been careful to hide himself.
The part-time job was, on one hand, a cover, allowing him to make frequent trips to the bank without arousing suspicion. On the other hand, it was a way to understand the unique characteristics of this society—the relationship between Pro Heroes and villains.
Simply put, Pro Heroes existed because of the public. In addition to their own duties, they could also accept commissions from the public, taking on some of the work of the police. Because of the convenience of Pro Heroes and the competition between them, they were more popular than the police.
When an unusual incident occurred, the first people who came to mind were always Pro Heroes. The police, in their minds, were just a hindrance, an organization that only came in to clean up the mess. Perhaps, as Aizawa had said, the state of this world was twisted.
However, all of that had little to do with today's story. The analysis above was just to prove that Kira had done his research on this society and had come to the conclusion that he had to become a hero.
"Finding a cheap and secluded rental house in this city is really a bit difficult..." Kira held a small map he had gotten from a real estate agency. Most of the houses marked on it had already been crossed out. The only one that remained was a house not far from here.
He was currently looking for a rental house, a valid address to receive packages. To maintain his seemingly ordinary life, his real home had to be kept a secret.
"Finally... wait, did I take a wrong turn?" As Kira turned a corner and looked up, he doubted what he was seeing. Countless flowers and plants were planted around the house. Various plants swayed gently in the sun, facing him. For some reason, Kira felt a sense of hostility from them, as if he were a zombie coming to eat the owner's brain.
It was a completely surreal scene in a city of steel and concrete. After confirming that he hadn't taken a wrong turn, Kira cautiously made his way through the small garden, mindful of his steps.
"Excuse me, is anyone home?"
Kira knocked on the door while observing the terrain. Besides the garden full of flowers, this place basically met his expectations.
There were no other houses around, and basically no one would come here. The path leading in from the alley was lined with walls, and at the end of the corner was this single-family house.
Wait... this description is getting more and more like that alley between the pharmacy and the convenience store that wasn't marked on the map! Come to think of it, I vaguely remember seeing a mailbox at the last intersection...
I can't turn back now, right? So I can only back out...
Kira faced the house and took a step back, then another. He might step on the flowers, but he had no choice now!
Just as Kira closed his eyes and took another step back, he suddenly felt his back hit something, like a wall, blocking his escape route.
Kira fumbled with his hands and could feel that it was made of uneven, cylindrical objects, put together in a raft-like structure.
Just as Kira was about to release Hamon to destroy this wall, a female voice came from in front of him. "What do you think you're doing? You're about to step on my beloved flowers."
Kira opened his eyes and saw a girl in a white dress. Her hair, like vines, was rooted in the ground and had grown up behind him, forming a wall of vines that blocked his path.
"Hello, I'm here to see the owner of the house," Kira said with a smile, relieved that it wasn't Reimi Sugimoto. "I'd like to rent a room."
"I'm the landlord," the girl's expression softened slightly. She retracted her hair to a waist-length level and turned around. "Come in. Don't step on the flowers."
Kira followed her into the house. Everything inside had the damp smell of earth. The fresh air that faintly emanated from the girl made him unconsciously take a few more deep breaths.
After she had given him a brief tour of the room he was to rent, Kira said he was ready to sign the contract.
The girl took out a pre-prepared contract. "As you've seen, there are many flowers and plants here. If you live here, you'll feel the fresh air every day. It can improve your health by a few percentage points..."
Perhaps she had learned these lines from someone else; she spoke with a slight stutter, but she managed to list all the good points.
Kira looked at the contract she had given him and started to haggle. "In my opinion, the price you're asking is too high. It doesn't meet my expectations at all."
"Is this price high?" the girl asked with some confusion. "Isn't sixty thousand yen the average price?"
You're charging the highest price in the industry!
Kira took a deep breath and explained, "Although the average monthly rent in this area is sixty thousand yen, you have to look at the surrounding environment. In a bustling area, the price is over seventy thousand yen. Near a school, it's around sixty thousand. But in a remote castle town like this... forty thousand yen is the highest price."
The girl said with some reluctance, "That price is too low. I have to cover your cleaning and utility bills. And it's not very safe in this city at night, is it? I can guarantee your safety twenty-four hours a day. If you don't give me that price, I can't guarantee that I'll see you in one piece the next morning..."
Are you threatening me now?! You must be!
"I want to rent a room to store some goods. I usually won't be back. I'll only come when I receive something or need to store something..." Kira said with a casual smile. "So your idea of protecting me is completely invalid."
Seeing her suddenly become dejected, Kira continued, "And about the fresh air you mentioned. You've planted so many plants around the house. What if they release too much carbon dioxide at night and I suffocate to death? If I die, you'll definitely be taken away on a murder charge and eat prison food!"
"Didn't you say you wouldn't be staying here at night..."
"Don't interrupt! I'm worried about your future tenants!" Kira continued with a sense of urgency. "If you don't change the environment of your house, any prospective tenants who want to rent from you will be threatened with this kind of death!"
"...Then what should I do?" the girl asked, looking at Kira for help.
Just as planned! Kira, with a wicked smile, slowly explained his renovation plan to her...