Season: Winter

 

Writer: Akira

 

Characters: Sakura nee-han, Kohaku, Madara, Maguro

 

 

Nee-han: But that bein’ said, some people are willin’ ta take that risk. Like the mafia overseas we were arguin’ with. 

 

Since their home is overseas, they don’t care how much they’re hated or criticized inside of this small country. It doesn’t bother them a bit.

 

Madara: I thought the foreign mafia - that is, Gatekeeper - withdrew from Japan?

 

Nee-han: Do ya think that man was the one pullin’ all the strings outside o’ Japan?

 

Both forces that were at odds with him as well as forces that were operatin’ under his control are still movin’ around in this country’s underbelly.

 

Madara: So those leftovers after Gatekeeper are targeting J?

 

Nee-han: At the same time, unrest is spreadin’ all across the country. And you two, Double Face, are set ta receive that inheritance said ta be large enough ta turn the entire country on its head.

 

Kohaku: Huh? We don’t want anythin’ ta do with J’s inheritance, though? We’re just protectin’ him from evil people who might come after ‘im fer his inheritance, fer the sake of justice.

 

Nee-han: Society doesn’t see it that way. Those evil people livin’ on the dark side of society are convinced that we, the Oukawas, as well as Madara-kun’s folks are tryin’ ta monopolize that inheritance.

 

Especially since the name Mikejima is seen as a symbol of justice ta these folks.

 

Actually, it’s a well-known fact that the reason why yer mother still holds so much influence is because she has the backing of the Mikejima name.

 

Our family and yours. By cooperatin’, we planned ta steal the inheritance for ourselves, and seize control of this country’s underworld. 

 

Those kinda rumors are spreadin’ like wildfire in the underworld right now.

 

Madara: Where would such baseless rumors even have started…?

 

Nee-han: This sounds like a bad joke, but they started because people have been watchin’ yer show.

 

Madara: What now? Why would such a silly program lead to something like this…?

 

Nee-han: Think about it. The premise of that show is that ya and our Kohaku act as “parents” who try ta protect ‘n raise the cute lil J-kun. And truthfully, the three of ya appear to get along surprisingly well.

 

Ta those shallow-minded folks, it looks like our family and yer family have formed an “alliance”. They see it as us declarin’ that we have forged a bond, and that our families will work together from now on.

 

Those guys saw yer program as “proof” that their worst fears were valid.

 

Kohaku: But-- I see, that’s how it appears to them.

 

Madara: Hahaha. Just because we’re acting as a close-knit unit, the entire neighborhood starts thinking that we’re married.

 

Kohaku: That’s probably not exactly what they’re worried ‘bout. But the fact is that they’re gettin’ suspicious of us.

 

That’s actually kinda unexpected. 

 

Nee-han: Yup. I thought ya might not be expectin’ this, so that’s why I came here ta warn ya both.

 

Be careful. Well, I’m probably preachin’ to the choir by explainin’ this to ya who were born into yakuza families who made their fortunes by takin’ advantage of the public’s anxieties.

 

“Anxiety” is the biggest cause fer conflict between people. 

 

The human brain perceives our reality somethin’ like 0.3 seconds after it actually occurs. It’s like the Achilles paradox, our consciousness is always runnin’ behind, and can never catch up with, our reality.

 

We can’t even understand the present, much less the future. And while our brain’s desperately tryin’ ta analyze our present situation, our body starts movin’ on its own, driven by anxiety.

 

Since the guy in front of ya could punch ya 0.3 seconds from now, ya get so worried that in order ta protect yerself from that potential threat, ya end up punchin’ and killin’ that guy first.

 

If ya kill your enemy, the threat is gone, and so is yer anxiety.

 

In order to get rid of all our anxiety, we end up wantin’ ta destroy anythin’ that can turn into a threat.

 

That’s the kinda creatures humans are.

 

Kohaku: …

 

Nee-han: And the two of ya are settin’ off such “anxiety” in these real dangerous types.

 

Ya have stepped on a land mine. So, I came over here ta tell ya to watch yer back.

 

I bet it’s the same fer Maguro-chan. Siblings might just be strangers who happen ta own genes similar to one another-

 

But we work similarly ta how cursed straw dolls do. If someone similar to us gets hurt or destroyed, we start hurtin’ like crazy.

 

Of course, this is merely our “anxiety”. The two of ya have no obligation ta get rid of that “anxiety” fer us. 

 

This might just sound like yer sister is bein’ annoyin’ and scoldin’ ya for no reason. But I would be happy if ya could keep this warnin’ in the back of yer head rather than ignorin’ me completely.

 

The two of ya are tryin’ ta walk across a much more dangerous tightrope than ya realize.

 

If ya lose yer balance, everythin’ will be over.

 

No. The balance of the entire underworld surrounding J-kun has already collapsed long ago.

 

It’s up ta ya two performers ta see whether or not ya can get back on yer feet and finish walkin’ across the tightrope.