Durarara!!, Vol. 1 (novel) Read Online Free PDF Page A

sadder than having to explain a failed joke? What does that make me?”
    “Probably an idiot.”
    “…You’ve got a really sharp tongue, man,” Masaomi grunted, grimacing as though he’d just chewed on a caterpillar. He sighed in resignation and muttered, “Whatever. Out of respect for myself, I will overlook that one. So, anything you wanna see in particular?”
    “Well, like I mentioned in chat, I’d like to see Sunshine…”
    “Right now? I mean…I’m fine with that, but you’ll have a better time with a girlfriend.”
    Sunshine 60 was famous for once being the tallest building in Japan. Even after that record was broken by Tokyo City Hall and Landmark Tower, it was a bustling leisure destination, packed with students and families on the weekends thanks to its aquarium and the Namja Town amusement park.
    He knew it was a lame answer, but Mikado couldn’t think of any other place to go. Well, there was one place, something he recognized from a famous television show.
    “Hey, what about Ikebukuro West Gate Park…?”
    “Oh, I watched that show, too. Got the novels, the manga, everything.”
    “I’m not talking about the show, I mean the actual West Gate Park.”
    Masaomi looked stunned for a moment, then laughed in understanding.
    “Oh, just call it Nishiguchi Koen in Japanese like normal.”
    “Huh? But…I thought all the Ikebukuroites called it by the English name.”
    “What’s an Ikebukuroite? So what’s up, you wanna go there?” Masaomi asked, stopping in his tracks. Mikado shook his head.
    “N-no, let’s not! It’s almost nighttime! The color gangs will kill us!”
    “Easy, buddy, don’t act like it’s some life-and-death matter. It’s only six o’clock, for crying out loud! I see you’re still a total coward.”
    Masaomi smiled exasperatedly and escorted Mikado through thecrowd. It wasn’t as dense here as it was outside of the ticket barrier, but it was still difficult for Mikado to maneuver without hitting anyone.
    “There aren’t as many color gangs anymore. There used to be a lot more of them you’d see around last year, but there was a big war with Saitama, and a few dozen of ’em got locked up. After that, anytime you got a few people wearing the same color together, the cops would rush ’em real quick. Plus, even at night, there’s nothing crazy going on until at least after all the office workers and salarymen head home. The only exception is the big groups, like the
bosozoku
motorcycle gangs. Sometimes you see articles or news pieces on how they got into a big battle with the cops. Not here, but over in Kabukicho.”
    “
Bosozoku
!”
    “But they’re not gonna be hanging around the station at this hour is what I’m saying.”
    Mikado heaved a sigh of relief. “So is Ikebukuro safe these days?”
    “I really only know half of what goes on, so this is partly guesswork. There are lots of color gangs and bikers around still, and there’s plenty of dangerous stuff aside from them. Plus, even when it comes to ordinary people, there are some you can
never mess with
. Then again, you’re not the type to go mad dogging people and picking fights. Just watch out for the pimps and shady businessmen and stay away from the thugs and
bosozoku
, and you’ll be fine.”
    “I see.”
    Mikado couldn’t help but wonder about the people “you can never mess with,” but he didn’t question Masaomi any further.
    They headed down a narrower tunnel and onto the escalator leading up to the surface. Mikado glanced around and noticed enormous posters covering the entire wall. They featured various things—jewelers, upcoming movies, even a manga-style illustration of a girl.
    When they reached the top of the escalator and exited onto the street, the air was still packed tight with people, and only the backdrop had changed.
    Amid the unchanging sea of humanity, people in Windbreakers handed out tissue packets with business advertisements on the outside. Some handed them only to