Who are you?

Are you still curious about the incident in Vladivostok?
There are so many intriguing elements:
a dead MI6 agent, involvement of both the CIA and a dubious Japanese intelligence agency...
Well, you know the group. Probably much better than I do.

If you know this much, then I'm guessing you know why BK201's star disappeared.

Perhaps.
It might have something to do with a new anti-Contractor weapon being used against him.

What kind of weapon?

Well the name says it all.
It was designed with the purpose of killing Contractors.
You must remember the prototype. It's only been two years since you've seen it.

But why?

Are you familiar with the Mitaka Documents?
The answers to what you're looking for can be found in this particular document -- which is in the custody of a certain agency.
The keyword is Izanami.

Now hold on a minute! What makes you so sure you even know what I'm looking for?
And what are these documents?

Try wishing upon a star.
The tiny red one there is guaranteed to do the trick.
And I would recommend making a wish to see BK201.

A red star...?


OPENING


Shot deviation two centimeters.

Two centimeters? That's practically a bull's-eye from this distance.

Only three shells left.

Does that mean you've got only three more times you can fire that gun before it's gone for good?

No.
Next time I use it, there will be a round in the chamber, and five will appear in my pocket.
But it doesn't repair the wear and tear from the last time I fired it, so I have to keep it maintained.

You seem like you're actually enjoying doing it.

Yeah, I do.

Huh?

Go get some lunch.

Gonna keep starving yourself to save money?

I've learned my lesson about that. I need to eat healthy.
That's the only way I can get strong enough to run away -- the only way to get strong enough to overcome what I hate.


Something nutritious and tasty, huh?
Hmm, come to think of it, I'm not really sure what Contractors eat.
Maybe some raw meat?

Did your son tell you?

Tell me what?

That I'm a Contractor.

Nobody had to tell me, sweetie.
You see, my ex-wife turned up to be one.

Your ex-wife?
I see.

Believe or not, there was a time when I would've fit in just fine to board Noah's Ark.
I figured I would give it a shot.
Mostly because I was terrified of disappointing my parents.
So I married Michiru.
But she did love to bake, so that was nice.
Norio was about three when it happened.
She became a Contractor. By the time I realized she had taken off in the middle of the night.
I do still wonder about her from time to time.
All right, bon appetit.
It's good?

Mm-hm.

Make sure you eat all of it.
Liver helps to replenish the blood, which you could definitely use right now.
You know what. I've got just the thing for you.

Hm?

My star is falling from the sky!
My payment is undying passion burning inside me without my stars falling from the Heavens!
Falling in love with you!
Hey! Wait!
Come on! There's no reason to run away.
So did my dad tell you? My mom is a Contractor.
Can you believe it?
We must be destined to be together. No wonder I love you.

Why do you think you love me? Tell me.
You don't know a single thing about me.

Then tell me about yourself.

But why?

Uh, well...
Because I think you're more beautiful than any star in the artificial sky.
Come visit Noah's Ark any time!


You have a mission for her?
No, the money is not an issue.
I don't want her getting in my way.
I will admit she's better with a rifle than I am, but that's it.
I'm telling you, I can handle this mission just fine on my--


What the hell are you doing?

I borrowed a pot and a stove from Mr. Lebanon.

Your point?

She's a bit shaken up. Just give her a minute.
She opened the pot, and a cockroach came scurrying out.
And boom.

Explain.

Because I hate roaches.
Are you gonna hit me now?
Just hurry up and get it over with, all right?
But hit me on my left side this time.

What?

The right side of my face is still sore from the last night, so you should probably balance it out.
It's messing with my equilibrium.
Hurry, all right?

You've got me confused.

You're going to freeze to death.

A cockroach, huh...

Yeah. It's not surprising. Remember her friend?
She's getting used to being a Contractor, but I doubt she's going to shake that trauma anytime soon.
Going by what she told me the other day, I think she might've been in love with that kid.
Well, I doubt she likes a single person now.

And yet, I still hate you.

So I'm not any different than a cockroach.

Hmm?
Looks like they found the warmest place in here to sleep.

She doesn't make any sense.
She's a Contractor, but she's still bristling with emotions.
She's even held on to her trivial interests.

It's not like she was already fully developed.
She's still growing, both physically and mentally.
And now she has to figure out how to be a Contractor.

While she's still figuring out how to be a human.

My point exactly.
She probably hasn't even developed the faculties for pure logical thinking yet.

She's just a child.

Good night, Hei.


The Mitaka Documents... Izanami...
I don't know why, but I believe her.
It's not like I have any other leads.

Ah, there you are. Chief Kobayashi wants to speak with us.

You have new orders.
We need you to oversee the transportation of an important object from Sapporo.
Its code name is "Izanami."

Sir, you brought me into this organization to help pursue BK201.
So I'm guessing this order is connected to him somehow.

Romantically connected.
There's no room for carelessness on this one.

We've been contacted by an agent in Sapporo.
It seems as though BK201 is hiding out in that area with a couple of children.

And we have confirmation on this?
He's in Sapporo?


Ever heard of "knocking"?

There's someone here.

How many are down there?
Any Contractors?

There's three total. Only one is a Contractor.

I'll distract them.
You three stick together and head down to the lobby.
Escape out the front door.
We'll meet at the usual spot.


What happened in here?


So BK201 was living in this tacky dump?

Yes, along with a young girl.

A girl?
You sure it wasn't a boy?

Not unless he was cross-dressing.

Well if that's the case...
Our records do indicate that Shion has a twin sister.
But for some reason her dossier is completely blank.

There's a good possibility she would have been silenced by the FSB.

Maybe. But if the FSB has taken care of her, then who is this girl he's with?

You sound jealous.
Let's go. They're waiting for you at the research lab.


Mmm, these smell great!
Okay. Dad said their hotel should be right around here somewhere...
That looked like...
Hey!

Somebody is chasing us.

Should I take care of him?

No.
He's only a kid. There's no reason to waste any of our time on him.

Mom, it's Norio!


They're too damn careless.


It's time for more target practice.

Is that really the first thing you're going to say to us?

Same target as before.
But time... no excuses.

There's no reason to kill them. That's why I can't shoot.
You want me to practice with a moving target, but I don't get why it has to be alive.
There simply isn't a reason for them to--

There is a reason.
A good one -- to finally get you behaving like a Contractor.

Why are you crying?

I don't know...
I really don't.


I'm telling you I saw her!
It really was her!
I promise you it was--

So did your girlfriend like her gift? The bathroom flowers you stole?

Have you heard a single thing I've said?!

My apologies. We're closed for a family meeting right now.

I need to use your oven.


We're still not sure who BK201's client is, but there's no doubt they've got him in the city waiting for us to move the goods.
In a normal scenario we would transport by air.
But given BK201's talent for blending into crowds, any airport plays to his advantage.
We'll ship by sea instead.

Talk about a hassle.
Can't we just severely beat his ass?

That's some big talk for a guy who got pushed around by a twelve-year-old.

Ow, kind of a low blow there.

That covers logistics. We'll check on Izanami now.

These are regular security measures?

This way.

Let's wish upon the stars.

Found it.

Found it.

It's finally time.
Our wish, as well as Agent Kirihara's, will soon be realized.

So that's... Izanami?


Don't tell me that's dinner. You know those are weeds, right?

Yeah, but they're edible. My dad told me about them.
Here.

I shot that giant hole in the wall. It's my fault they found us. So, uh...

Look at the poor kid. She's trying to say sorry.

Well?

Taste doesn't really matter. It's full of nutrients.

Well that sure is a winning endorsement.
Let me teach myself not to care about taste real fast.

Seconds.

You've been assigned to a mission.

Well there you go. That doesn't sound too shabby for a first mission.

Well, I...
I'm gonna get paid, right?

It's a job, isn't it?

Oh... isn't that a bit much for lunch money?

That's your advance payment.

So Contractors are assigned missions and then compensated for their labor?
That seems easy enough to understand. It makes sense.
I accept the job.

What a horrible night.


They'll have a cargo ship arriving in the harbor.
If I can destroy the goods before they get there, then you'll get paid for doing nothing.
But on the slim chance that I'm unable to, wait for them to reveal the goods, and take the first available shot you can.

Truck status.

Izanami is en route.


ENDING


A whale surfaced next to my boat, but I chose not to take a picture.
It didn't seem necessary at the time.
But I don't know why I thought that.
I think it would've been nice to have a picture of it.


Oh! Look how huge it is!
Hey! Do you think it's a whale?

What, no way!
Whales are even more huge than that.
And they shoot salt water out of their backs!

Really? It's made out of salt?

Aww! Geez, Suo, you don't know anything at all, do you?

I do too know stuff!
I was joking about the salt!

Stop fighting, you two. This is a happy place.
Just look around.

They're smiling. Everyone is.

You're right. They look happy.

That's right. Nobody ever gets mad when they're at the aquarium.
When they see how peaceful and happy the fish look swimming around, it makes them feel happy too.
Now who wants to get some ice cream when we leave?

I do! And I want three scoops!

I want one that's bigger than a whale!


A whale?


PREVIEW

The whipped and beaten meringue glistens a lifeless pearl gray in the mixing bowl.
But the oppressive heat of the oven brings the form to a gold-hued life.
The sweet fragrance seems foreign; no memories can claim its scent.
There's no choice but to leave, and dream of never having met.
Some memories are too difficult to carry.
But still, the journey continues.