Bungo Stray Dogs : Stormbringer

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【"Sure, I was against the party, but it wasn't because I hate you or hold a grudge against you. It's because I make you unnecessarily angry." Iceman's voice didn't show the slightest hint of emotion. "It's not like anyone here really thought you'd break after a year."

"What?" 】

"We were afraid of an uprising." Iceman's voice was sharp, like the sound of a crack in a block of ice. "The leader of the Port Mafia's hostile enemy, 'The Sheep'. We thought you were planning on betraying the boss, taking his head, and waging a war against the mafia. To prevent that from happening, Pianoman invited you to join this Young People's Association."

Chuuya briefly glanced at Pianoman. He was intently listening to the conversation with no expression on his face. He neither confirmed nor denied the revelation.

Meaning, he confirmed it.

"....Ahhh. So that's how it is." Chuuya glared at all of them. "So everyone here was kindly watching over me like some newborn brat. I'm impressed. You gave me a pacifier to suck on and rattling toys to stop me from blowing a fuse. Thanks to that, I'm now a year old. That's why you needed a big event."

As he said that, he gripped the champagne glass and crushed it. The liquid splattered everywhere.

Iceman didn't even raise his eyebrows.

"There was evidence for us to be on our guard." Iceman continued. "June 18th. 3:18 pm. The jewel wholesaler who you lost your temper with was injured for three months. The reason was because he asked you, 'a question'. It was a silly question, but when you heard it, you blew him up through three floors of the building."

"Did I? I've forgotten all about it." Despite what he said, Chuuya's gaze was sharp. "Why don't you try asking that question again, just to see. That is, if you're brave enough."

Iceman was silent. After about 5 seconds of keeping that expressionless face that absorbed every other emotion, he spoke.

"'Where were you born'?"

Chuuya acted swiftly. He grabbed Iceman's collar and violently pulled him forward.

The sewing around his collar tore with a sharp sound.

"What's with the hand?" Iceman asked emotionlessly, looking down at Chuuya's hand.

"That depends on you." Chuuya didn't loosen his grip.

From beside them, Albatross raised his voice with a worried look on his face. "Hey, now, let's all calm down!" He grabbed Chuuya's arm. "There's no reason to get mad at a question like that, Chuuya. Don't you think?"

"You don't get to decide how I feel. I'll fucking kill you."

Chuuya roughly broke his arm free from Albatross's grip. Albatross, who was about to be blown away, stumbled a few steps back.

Chuuya was about to take another step forward when he suddenly stopped.

A billiards cue was pressed up against his temple. It was held horizontally and ready to be thrust forward, much like the blade of a sword.

"Hey... What's with the stick?" Chuuya remained completely still, his face holding no emotion.

"That depends on you," said Iceman, who held the cue.

Chuuya pulled his upper body away from the cue then headbutted it.

The cue splintered to pieces.

Countless chips of wood flew throughout the room, though most of it rained down on Iceman. The sharp pieces of wood cut into his right temple, and blood dripped down into the edge of his eye. But Iceman didn't even blink.