Wild Adapter3 dice 17 & 18 and sidestory

(There's a lot of talk here about breaking out of one's chrysalis or shell. Given the recurring image of the semi, the Japanese cicada which is a lot bigger than the western one, presumably we're supposed to be thinking of the cicada's lifestyle and not, say, the chicken's. Yes well- for those like myself not up on entomology, let me quote a few webpages:

1."Female adult cicadas lay eggs on the branches of their host trees. The newly hatched nymphs (J note: the stage before the adult cicada form) fall to the ground and burrow under the soil. They feed on the sap in roots, sometimes for several years, before emerging in early summer for the final moult. You may have seen the final moult skin still attached to a tree trunk or branch."

2. "Many of the moulting nymphs fall victim to predators, such as birds, as they moult from their nymphal skin. The final moulting process (to adult form) takes from 20-150 minutes giving ample opportunity for predators to strike."

The cicada nymph's skin breaks along the back and the cicada- if it survives- flies out, leaving the dried-out nymphal skin still stuck to the tree. Cicadas proverbially live only a few weeks or months before dying and falling to the ground. The characteristic call of the semi- a penetrating miin miin miiin- can be heard for several weeks through Tokyo Augusts. It's followed by sidewalks littered with large dry cicada bodies. Symbol of liberation or memento mori? You tell me.)

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Araki: You guessed right, Kasai-san. Takizawa's mother's body *did* show signs of drug use!!
Kasai: Knew it!
Araki: But the sect's statement said she'd come to them because she was suffering from drug addiction
Kasai: Nope... other way round, probably
I don't care if you bug the guys up top for this. See if there've been any similar cases with sects like this one
Araki: Y-yessir!
Kasai: (thinks) Makoto... Toki-boy
Kasai: Don't mess things up for us!

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Dice 17

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Kasai Keiichirou

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Tokitoh: (choking)
Kubota: May I have permission to speak, 'Reverend'?
Mitsuhashi: Go ahead

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Kubota: Wild Adapter
'making ourselves conform to wild nature'- is that idea original to your religion?
Mitsuhashi: Yes, of course. There may be other organizations that preach a similar truth, of course
Kubota: So what's the final stage of this 'wild adapter' that *you* preach- I mean, in physical terms, what does this spiritual awakening involve?
Mitsuhashi: I've told you over and over again. It means breaking out of this crude and ugly human shell, liberating the spirit from the innumerable snares and impediments it encounters out in society...
Kubota: Reverend
Let's forget the by-the-book sermons, shall we? I want to hear some concrete examples
What form does this concept take in its final stage?
Mitsuhashi: It's a spiritual problem. Isn't requiring things to have a physical form itself the sign of a tendency to be vulgar and low-minded ?

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Kubota: A spiritual problem. Then you're saying that the final enlightenment comes when believers reach a state where they realize they've been liberated from the impediments that society imposes on them?
(J note: at this point Tokitoh looks totally kerblonxed. I'm with you, Toki-boy.)
Mitsuhashi: That isn't necessarily the /final/ one. Our task as individual human beings must be to reconstruct the lines society runs on so as to lead it towards the truth
Kubota: Well, most people have problems with society and don't trust it
Mitsuhashi: That's why we've been preaching our truth far and wide
Kubota: But for some reason what I'm hearing is that this is a small-minded way for people who can't fit into society to get themselves out of it
Mitsuhashi: That's the opinion of someone steeped in the small-souled vulgarity of human society, whose darkened heart can't penetrate to the true essence of things
Kubota: If you're not going to be bound by the rules of human society then isn't breaking the law a 'truth' as well?
Mitsuhashi: That's an extreme example. God's will is not to deviate from the rules set for animals.
Kubota: That's just a rationalization that lets you deviate from the rules set for society. And you're using the protected position religious bodies have to do it.
Mitsuhashi: What are you saying?

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Kubota: What difference is there between you and the yakuza? Except that the yakuza are better because they admit what they're doing
Mitsuhashi: That's just a juvenile accusation. You operate on too low a level.
Kubota: And Mr. Furuta- did *he* manage that 'liberation' you people talk about?
Mitsuhashi: !!??
Kubota: I'm sure you know who I mean. Furuta Hiroshi whose body was found in suspicious circumstances last week inside the sect building in Yokohama.
The state he was found in- doesn't that express your sect's special 'truth' in a pretty concrete way?
Mitsuhashi: (thinks) ...the police can't have made the details about Furuta public...
Mitsuhashi: Just who are you anyway?

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Kubota: Isn't an interest in other people's origins the sign of a tendency to be vulgar and low-minded, Reverend?
Mitsuhashi: Answer my question!
Staff member: Reverend Mitsuhashi, one moment--
Mitsuhashi: ...I see. So that's what it's about
Tokitoh: You old bag- what's so funny?
F/X sect members give him a menacing look

(page)
F/X throw him down
Tokitoh: What the-- Cut it out!
Let me g--
Kubota: Tokitoh!
F/X Tokitoh's glove drops to the ground
Mitsuhashi: I thought so

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Mitsuhashi: You people are involved with the real 'adapter.'
I never thought we'd really catch one... the way he said we would
Kubota: (thinks) He?
Tokitoh: Just- just a minute here. The 'real' one?
You mean you guys *don't* have something to do with WA?
Mitsuhashi: That's right. Since you won't be leaving here anyway I don't mind telling you
This religious group- no, this organization- naturally deals in drugs, but
we have no connection at all to WA

(page)
Tokitoh: Whaa--?
Kubota: So the purpose of this sect is merely to make money for the yakuza, and that's all?
Mitsuhashi: I resent that 'merely.' But it's the truth
Tokitoh: So why do you do it in such a complicated way?
Mitsuhashi: WA is a phantom drug shrouded in mystery- how it's made, how it gets into the country. No-one from any underworld outfit has managed to discover where it comes from- us included, naturally.
So we set this up to suggest that the 'truth' we preach has a connection to WA. Doing that, we hoped we'd attract some lead to WA

(page)
Tokitoh: What the hey---
Kubo-chan, she says they've got nothing to do with it!
Kubota: Mhh. Looks that way. Ah well... Sorry to take your time. We'll be leaving now.
Mitsuhashi: W-what do you think you're saying? Now it's my turn to get information from *you*.
Kubota: Not at all. We don't know anything ourselves.
Mitsuhashi: That's a lie. What about his hand!
Tokitoh: *I'm* the one wants to know about that. I'm not interested in some punk money-grubbing religious cult.

(page)
Mitsuhashi: You think we'll believe an evasion like that?
Tokitoh: It's true whether you believe it or not.
Us and you have just been wasting our time, old bag.
Mitsuhashi: I think I told you that I've no intention of letting you go.
There's a million ways of finding out if this has been a waste of time or not
Mitsuhashi: This is just another kind of drug but it works like a truth serum.
Don't worry. It makes you feel just fine.

(page)
Voice: Minoru
Come here, Minoru

(page)
Tokitoh: (screams)
Kubota: Tokitoh!!?
Staff member: Hey you--
Tokitoh: No-- NO!!
Staff member: Calm down!!
Tokitoh: ...NOOOO!!!

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F/X the chain of his handcuffs snaps
F/X Tokitoh breaking free
Staff member: NGH--
Tokitoh: (grunts)
F/X dizziness
Takizawa: Wha- what the hell's happening?
Kubota: Tokitoh!!
Mitsuhashi: What are you guys waiting for!! Get him!!

(page)
Staff member: C'mon, shove him against the wall!!
Tokitoh: screams
Tokitoh: No---
Staff member: Hold down his right hand
F/X Kubota's foot moving
F/X knocks the man back
Man: (grunt as blood flies)
Kubota: Tokitoh- hold on--

(page)
F/X Tokitoh slashes at Kubota
Kubota: grunts in pain
F/X Kubota's glasses fall off
Tokitoh: No-- I don't want it--
Don't do it, Akira-san--!!!
Tokitoh: No....

(page)
F/X Kubota bites Tokitoh's ear
Tokitoh: Ai- OWWW!!
Kubota: ...g'morning.
Tokitoh: What-- Huh? Whazzat-?
Kubota: Never mind. Just take it off?
F/X trigger cocking
Staff member: You fucking kids--

(page)
F/X Kubota's handcuffs break open
F/X he grabs a gun
F/X shots fired
Staff member: grunts

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F/X Kubota's gun aimed at Mitsuhashi
Takizawa: Don-- Don't! Please!

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Tokitoh: Kubo-chan
Kubota: S'OK. I won't shoot.
Mitsuhashi: ...hmph
(snickers and starts laughing)
HAHAHAHA--- Are you crazy!?
Why don't you shoot? Why not kill me!!

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Kubota: Why?
Well, because I'm a human being?
F/X breaks the window with his elbow

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Dice 18

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Good-bye, God

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"Well, because I'm a human being?"
Kubota: Is why.
Let's go home, Tokitoh
Tokitoh: Huh? Just a-- ACK!
F/X Kubota grabs him

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Staff member: Damn you--
F/X fires
Kubota: Nh-
Tokitoh: Kubo-chan...
F/X landing hard

(page)
Staff member: They're gone..!!??
Staff member 2: Must've run into the next door yard
Staff member: Shit! Find them!!
Mitsuhashi: Wait. It's too late to go after them
Get a fire started. At least we can get rid of the evidence
Staff member: Set fire...? To all the drugs?
Mitsuhashi: No

(page)
Mitsuhashi: To this whole building
Kubota: Owww...
Lucky there were trees to land on
Tokitoh: Kubo-chan!!! Your shoulder!! It's bleeding!!
Kubota: Oh, no problem. Just a scrape
Tokitoh: Wadda ya mean, no problem!!
Kubota: Hello- Kasai-san? It's me.
Kasai: Kubota!! Where the hell *are* you, asshole!
Kubota: ...yikes

(page)
Kubota: We just got away from them. Didn't quite manage to get what we wanted
Can I get you to come here with the drug squad?
Kubota: Yeah, I've got the evidence. (oh- but I forgot my glasses...)
Tokitoh: --hey, up there!
Smoke!
Mitsuhashi: Shut off the basement! I don't care if there's still people down there
Staff member: Mitsuhashi-sama, here it is. Out the back way--

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Mitsuhashi: I suppose you're happy, Ryouji. After all, you came to destroy this organization

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Mitsuhashi: Or won't you be happy until you've killed me?
Takizawa: ...to start with
Takizawa: To start with, all I was thinking was this-
I wanted to know the truth- just as a reporter
Why did you start something like this? What drove you to it?
Could it have been us?
Mitsuhashi: (laughs)
What's that supposed to be... sympathy?

(page)
Mitsuhashi: After our parents divorced my life went to pieces. I did anything I had to to get money, to go on living
But the fact is it was a relief
because I hated my family so much--
my alley-cat of a father; mother always who wanted someone to save her
my brainless sister who was only good for making people feel sorry for her- and you, who treated her like she was some kind of angel!
Everyone's the same- the believers here are all weak idiots
What's wrong with taking money from fools like that?

(page)
Takizawa: ...it's true
I've thought I was a fool
Thinking I had to protect my sister- protect Misa
Thinking she was some innocent maiden, spotless and serene. I thought it was my mission to live for her sake
But in fact--
Misa: O-nii-chan- I wonder
if I'll be able to die while I still don't hate anybody
Takizawa: --she didn't want to be some kind of god or saint. I see that now
She wanted- Misa wanted-
F/X police sirens
Takizawa: to be just an ordinary human being

(page)
Staff member 1: The police..!?
Staff member 2: How'd they get here so fast!?
F/X sirens
Mitsuhashi: Yeah. I suppose we're both fools
Reporters: Ah! They're coming out now!
F/X crowd noises

(page)
Reporter: It's the delegated head Mitsuhashi! Mitsuhashi Kayo is assistant head of the religious group 'Fortune's Fang' which has so far been shrouded in a veil of mystery
She's just been arrested as a suspect on charges of illegal possession of drugs and of setting the current fire
Besides these, there are suspicions she was involved in forcible confinement and murder.
It's expected that later she'll be questioned about other criminal activities as well
Other members of the group's executive are now being led away by police. The believers who were confined within the building are under protection and the police are questioning them about their situation
Reporters: Delegate Mitsuhashi!
There's stories your group was close to the yakuza. What about it?
Is it true you not only brain-washed the believers with drugs but also drove your own mother to suicide?!
(J note- reporters really do carry on like this in Japan, crowding round and yelling questions. I assume it's to make things more dramatic for the spectators. They can't honestly expect anyone to give them a proper answer when they're all yelping together like a pack of jackals. Mind you, the press here is pretty jackal-like when it has a TV camera behind it.)

(page)
F/X Mitsuhashi's hand on camera
Cameraman: AKH!!
Screen caption: Fortune's Fang Arrested!!
Tokitoh: I dunno. Somehow I'm not convinced
Kubota: Of what?
Tokitoh: So that old bag knew it was a fraud but still went on being the head of that religion. I get that part. But could she really fool her own family?

(page)
Kubota: Mh well. Families are all different, you know
Tokitoh: So basically she hated her family enough to kill them?
Kubota: Mh, I think not quite.
Tokitoh: Ahhh- I just don't get it!!
Kubota: Doesn't matter if you don't. If I had to say which *I* was, I get the feeling, probably I was like that
Tokitoh: That?
Kubota: Well, I mean- the way that religion thought- and the way that woman talked- the person I was a year ago wouldn't have trouble understanding it- you see?

(page)
Kubota: Like- I used to like animals better than people...
Tokitoh: Really?
Kubota: Really.
I guess- I kind of hated my own kind
Even *I've* become a little more human now
Tokitoh: Hmph
Well, that's good
TV announcer1: ...such unbelievable conditions have now become apparent.
Announcer 2: That's very true. And doubtless there are some believers who will have a hard time returning to society. Really you can only think of this as the work of the devil

(page)
Announcer: These kinds of religious cults always gain popularity when we get near a millennium
Kubota: True...
Announcer: We can only hope they're prosecuted to the full extent so that this sort of thing doesn't happen again
Kubota: (thinks) People--
Tokitoh: But in the end--
we didn't get any leads to WA
Kubota: (thinks) people create a god for themselves because they're weak
Maybe if they were strong--
Kubota: No.
It's too bad.

(page)
Kubota: (thinks) They could lie to God himself without thinking twice
Announcer: And now we have a sweet little story
On the rooftop garden of the Isetan department store in Shinjuku, once again, a mallard duck and her babies...

(page)
Side story
Voice over: It's still sticky even with the windows open
Kubota: Tokitoh
What're you doing?
Tokitoh: Mh. Thought I just heard an explosion
Kubota: Ahh
There's a fireworks exhibit today at the American army base
Tokitoh: Fireworks? Yer kidding? Where? I don't see any
Kubota: You can't from where we are

(page)
Tokitoh: I can remember setting off fireworks- the ordinary kind. Long ago- it's not clear
Kubota: Really?
Tokitoh: Wonder who that was- back then--
they were standing beside me
Tokitoh (thinks): The smell of fireworks- it's like
the smell of Kubo-chan's fingertips
Kubota: Ahh- now you mention it, I bought these last year
Look

(page)
Kubota: DoraXmon fireworks (J note: Doraemon, obviously. We leave out a syllable so as not to use a trade name)
Glad the damp didn't get to them
Tokitoh: Where can we set them off?
Kubota: The balcony?
Tokitoh: Why not. --ah, it's lit!
It's hot-- OWW
F/X noise of sparkler
Kubota: Sit down like I told you. It's dangerous

(page)
Tokitoh: Fireworks--
Kubota: Yeah.
Tokitoh: I like it when you put them in the bucket of water and they hiss
Kubota: Ah- it's charred the cement
Tokitoh: Hey- those snake fireworks- what're they like?
Ak- the smoke's coming this way!
Kubota: You know this kind?
Tokitoh: Hold on- wait- I wanna set off the one shaped like a gun!

(page)
Tokitoh: Rats. What's incense sticks doing in here?
Kubota: ...we've got a lot of different kinds
Tokitoh: Let's put them all together and light them at the same time
Kubota: Impatient, aren't you.

(page)
Kubota: There- that's the last of them
Tokitoh: There's lots of black spots. The landlord'll be pissed
Kubota: We're fellow criminals
Tokitoh: (voice over) The wind that blew away the smell of the explosives
was a little cooler, when I got around to noticing,
and made me think of the burnt-out summer that was passing away

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Rough sketch gallery
Comic cover- drawn for this edition.
Comic frontispiece- "
Comic frontispiece- "

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Comic frontispice- drawn for this edition
Chara August 03 introductory colour illustration

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Chara October 03 centerfold colour illustration
Chara August 02 centerfold colour illustration
Chara August 03 introductory colour illustration p>(page)
Chara April 03- front cover
Chara June 03- centerfold colour illustration