Durarara!!, Vol. 3 (Novel) Read Online Free PDF Page A

like that, at least save it for Harajuku or Akihabara…
    Celty recognized the man from afar. It was clear that based on the manga, novels, and dubious tabloids she read, Celty thought of Harajuku and Akihabara as mystical places where anything goes.
    And sure enough, he’s gotten himself into trouble…
    There was no doubting it now.
    Celty was sure it was him.
    If anything, she simply wanted to believe that there were not multiple people who would dress like that.
    So if her hopes were true, that meant the man in white was Shingen Kishitani—Shinra’s father.
    The boys crowded around the bizarre, almost exhibitionistic man like he was some kind of creature in a zoo, totally unaware of Celty’s steady approach.
    “Listen, pal, we’re in a bad mood ’cause we’ve been on the lookout for a slasher who’s in hiding. I mean, we’re crazy pissed. And you’re crazy suspicious.”
    “So is it all right if we do a little inspection?”
    “Yeah, you wouldn’t—
blorp
—mind if we examine your wallet.
Blorp, blup.
”
    One of the men approached him, spilling carbonated soda from his mouth. Shingen took a step away from him and spoke at last.
    “The air in Tokyo is so dirty. Don’t you agree?”
    “Huhh?” one of the boys growled.
    Meanwhile, Shingen only shook his head in lamentation and mumbled through the gas mask. “Of course, those filthy faces of yours seem uniquely adapted to the wretched air. A form of camouflage, if you will. And not just that—the stain extends to your eyes. You do not even see the extent to which the filth penetrates you.”
    “I dunno, I think this dude might be leakin’ something, if you catch my drift.”
    The boys reacted to the man’s obvious insult not with anger, but suspicion and confusion.
    “Yeah…no worries, though,” one of them said and poured the remains of his beverage onto Shingen’s head. Large stains grew on the pristine lab coat, and a sweet smell wafted through the air.
    Shingen remained silent for a moment, then shook his head again and lamented, “Ahem. Well, it seems the time has come for you to understand what a grown man can do… You may think that being minors under the protection of juvenile law renders you immune from harm if you choose to kill another person—well, think harder! When you attempt to kill a man, you have to be fully aware of the possibility that
he
might kill you first!”
    The instant he finished this imperious speech, the member of the group most difficult to label a “boy” grabbed Shingen roughly by the collar.
    “Ah! Ow!”
    “Yeah, I think this dude really is leaking brains.”
    He stood on Shingen’s shoe and began jabbing his thumb into the man’s ribs.
    “Listen up, I’m over twenty!”
    “Agh! Ah! W-wait a minute. Ouch, that really hurts! I can’t get away because you’re stepping—ow!—on my shoe! Your thumb is—ow!—stabbing me really hard! Ow, ow, ow!”
    “Huh?! I can’t hear you. Huh?!”
    With every “Huh?!” the young man drove his extended thumb between the ribs. While unthreatening, the powerful and speedy attack caused Shingen to yelp in surprise.
    “What are you doing just standing there, Celty? Hurry up and come to my aid!” he shouted over the boys’ heads, which caused them all to turn around.
    They saw a black shadow.
    Do I have to…?
    Celty seriously considered responding to the cry for help by pretending she had seen nothing and going back home. All the while, Shingen continued yelping.
    “Didn’t you put it together that the reason I spoke down to themlike this was because I saw you standing behind them and knew I was safe?! I know you’re not the kind of person who would betray my trust!”
    I
really
don’t want to do this…
    Celty was truly about to turn on her heel when she was stopped by a sudden shout from one of the boys.
    “Hey! That’s the Black Rider!”
    “That’s the one, Mr. Horada! It was the dude dressed like a bartender with the Black Rider who did us