Tokyo Crazy Paradise
Hana to Yume
1999 vol. 22, episode no. 68
Translation by Yuki-chan
Images by Sakura

The episode title page features Tsukasa and a dark-haired guy about the same height as her. She's holding up a large arrow pointing upwards. In Japan, this is the equivalence of writing the names of 2 people in love. One name is written on the right side of the arrow, the other on the left side. I don't know if it matters which side the guy's name is... Ryuji does not look happy...

The syringe falls into a container. The compact thingie makes a high pitched noise.

Kawamata: "---..." He stares intently at the goddess figure. "...Shiro... ...Shiro..."

Tsukasa walks away unsteadily, panting. {...I... I just saw something unbelievable------... ...That drug... Why is Kawamata using that drug---------!!!}

Outside classroom 3-C, Tsubaki spots Tsukasa.

Tsubaki: "...Kozuki! What's wrong? Your face is green!" {Did Shirogami hit you bad and...?}

Tsukasa, with a green face: {...No...} "I've just met up with something I never wanted to see again..."

Tsubaki, confused: "...He...?"

Tsukasa is going nuts [again]. {...H... How can this be...!? That the hand of the devil has reached into my living space.........!! ...Now that I think about it...... Scorpion and his gang were distributing that drug in the city...... ---...and that means what...? ...Maybe, I don't want to think about it... I really don't want to thing about it but... It's possible that 1 or 2 in this class---...}

Voice: "Well isn't it Kozuki."

Tsukasa: "...A?"

Tsubaki: "...A." He seems to recognize the person.

A boy approaches them.

Boy: "Hey, it's been awhile."

Tsukasa has dots for eyes.

Tsubaki doesn't look pleased.

[Yeah, yeah, for the visually impaired. The guy has dark hair with his hair split on the right side. He also has bangs... Doesn't look like anyone I know.]

Tsukasa points at the boy: "... ...Who...?" [Apparently, Tsukasa doesn't think so either.]

Boy: "......E......? ...Who you say. How cruel... Just because I change my hairstyle a bit you don't recognize me. I guess that shows how much my existence means to you. I find that such a shock."

The boy uses his fingers to comb his hair back to a recognizable style and adds his glasses.

Boy: "It's me."

Tsukasa freaks out, her hair doing the sea urchin thing: "!? Th... Those thick glasses!!" {C...! Could it be!?}

Tsubaki: "......"

The guy looks very familiar all of the sudden.

In the school infirmary.

Asago is sitting on the chair Tsukasa had vacated. Ryuji is sitting on the bed.

Asago: "------... ------...Thank you......"

Ryuji: "...N...?"

Asago: "...Ryuji... You said something to father didn't you...?"

Ryuji: "...'Something'......?"

Asago: "...Father hasn't made any sarcastic remarks lately... about the cancelled engagement, or about my irresponsible actions that caused that in the first place." She's looking down.

Ryuji: "...I didn't really..."

He thinks back to his earlier conversation with Sumon.

Ryuji, earlier: "I can't leave the job of clan head to a man who keeps worrying about the little things that happened in the past." He sighed.

Sumon started at that remark.

Ryuji: {...That was all I said...}

Asago taps her boots on the floor. "...It was me that ran away from Kuryugumi and you... ...I can take father's sarcastic comments........." She breaks out into a smile.

Ryuji: "...I thought the same when you left the hospital and showed up in front of me but... ...Asago... ...you seem very relieved/refreshed..."

Asago: "...... ...That's true ....I may be relieved/refreshed. ...Since I've stopped trying to stretch... [in the mental sense] ...I... was always striving... thinking that I had to become a the perfect person for you... Once I was your formal fiancee [actually, she uses the word 'bride' here] it wasn't hard to try and become a woman that wouldn't embarrass you in any way... ...But... some time ago, the feeling that I had to keep your attention on me grew bigger, and I found trying to stretch for my own desires made me dirty and ugly and it hurt------..."

She recalls back to the time when she was chasing Tsukasa around with a gun (after the shooting match with Kyuragi Hitomi) and the time she used Tsukasa's brothers as shooting targets.

Ryuji: "...... ...I wanted to make you happy..."

Asago starts.

Ryuji: {Tied to the kumi since birth, you couldn't chose the path you wanted to live.} "...You ...were like me...... I want you to be happy when I'm happy. That's why I wanted to grant all your wishes, because I thought that would lead to your happiness...... ---...But... ...I've learned that in all sincerity, I can't give you all that you wish for... ...Even worse... I've hurt you..."

Asago: "...... ...... ...That may be impossible for those living in this world (of the gokudo)... ...No matter how far we go, we're always bound by the rules of the kumi..." She thinks back to just moments before when Ryuji had sprouted bunny ears and Tsukasa was yanking on them. {Ryuji would never associate with me in that manner.} She thinks some more. {------...Even me------...}

She starts all of the sudden as images of her ordeal with Munakata flash through her mind.

Asago: {HEY!! Why the hell would that guy come out (in my thoughts) at a time like this!! Iya---! How annoying---!!} She tries to bat the images away. "Get away you---!"

Ryuji: "...What's up all of the sudden...... Was there a fly...?"

Asago looks down for a moment. "---...I'm envious but I'll never win..."

Ryuji: "...N...?"

Asago: "...I can't give you the joy of 'living' by simply by being by your side like baka-zuki ------..." She smiles again.

Ryuji smiles as well.

Back in the classroom 3-C.

Kudo: "...I had always admired you, you who was like the total opposite of me. Did you know how happy I was last year when the classes changed, and this year when we were in the same group for the orientation and graduation trips...?"

Tsukasa, supporting her head with her hand: "...Were you really looking happy...?" {...Could it be...}

She thinks back into the past when she introduced herself to her orientation group.

Tsukasa: "Kudo-kun, Tajima-kun [wasn't this guy's name Shimada!?], Asaba-kun! We're in the same group."

The 3 guys are standing there silently, refusing to take her outstretched hand in a greeting. Kudo is cowering in fear.

Text pointing to Kudo: This.

Tsukasa: {Could it be...}

Text with arrow, pointing to the former and present versions of Kudo: The same person.

Kudo sweeps his hair back to the new hairstyle.

Text: Kudo Tsukasa (15). Often told that his presence is weak, he's also a boy that most people forget about. [Great, another person named Tsukasa! But Kudo writes his name in hiragaga, i.e. without kanji. I'll call him Kudo just to keep things simple.]

Text below Kudo: ...That was... until a few days ago......

Kudo: "...Back then I was just a timid nerd who's only talent was studying."

Tsukasa: {Could it be that this guy's sudden change---...} She blanches. "..."

Kudo: "...But now, I can say this with confidence. KOZUKI!" He grabs Tsukasa's hands.

Tsukasa: "E!? What!?"

Kudo, seriously: "I love you. Go out with me!!"

Text: Daikokuhaku [dai = big, kokuhaku = confession]

Tsukasa blanches.

Tsubaki is in shock with large eyes.

Tsukasa: "...Um... ...I'm... a boy..." {Well... to the world.}

Kudo, who's still holding her hands: "...I hate girls... They just wanted to be told they're pretty though they're really ugly and they boldly say things that hurt people and they whisper things behind your back and..."

Tsukasa: {...Maybe I'll tell him that I'm really a girl...}

Tsubaki breaks in. "Kudo-kun, Kudo-kun."

Kudo: "What Asaba-kun?"

Tsubaki: "Kudo You shouldn't bother with Kozuki."

Kudo: "Why?"

Tsubaki: "Because he's already paired up with Shirogami!"

Kudo: "!!!"

Tsukasa, in denial: "No we aren't------!!"

Tsubaki, turning to Tsukasa in shock: "WHAT!? Not yet!!?"

Kudo sways as if he's about to faint. "......!"

Tsubaki: "It's not like a child will be produced between guys! Why the hell is Shirogami taking so much time about it!!?"

Tsukasa: "Well."

A shadow passes over Kudo's face. He looks a bit evil. "...So... ...It is true......"

Tsukasa and Tsubaki both start.

Kudo: "...Shirogami... He's always hanging around you... I was wondering that a little while back......"

Tsukasa, with loose strands of hair all over the place: "Don't think of stuff like that."

Tsubaki, matter-of-factly: "I'm saying that you guys are suspicious."

Kudo is muttering to himself: "Though he's hogged Kozuki all up until now... ...And from now on......"

Ryuji pops up all of the sudden: "...I've been listening to this for awhile but what the hell are you saying?" {I've never seen you before but who are you?}

Tsukasa turns around to look at Ryuji, as does Tsubaki. [Damn, Ryuji's so tall!]

Tsukasa: "A. Ryuji."

Tsubaki: "Shirogami."

Kudo twitches all of the sudden at the mention of Ryuji's surname. "...Shiro...gami...!!"

Kudo hears a high pitched sound. He twitches again. An image of flowers, then the image of the goddess flashes through his mind. [Gee... this goddess doesn't seem to be wearing anything... Her long thick hair seems to envelop her whole body... And the crown thingie on her head looks really heavy...]

Kudo: "...A......"

Tsukasa, concerned: "......? ...Kudo-kun.........?"

Kudo sways a little as if about to attack. "...Shiro...gami......"

Tsukasa looks with wide eyes as she recognizes...

Kudo suddenly charges at them, his eyes full of hatred.

Tsubaki freaks: "WA!"

Tsukasa, with fangs: "...Ku! Kudo-ku--------nn!" She meets Kudo in mid-air, catching his hands. "Let's go on a date © "

Kudo, back to normal: "E ...Date?"

Ryuji, looking very annoyed: "...Hey......" He closes in on Tsukasa.

Tsukasa, looking cute: "That's right! That's what lovers normally do."

Kudo, looking very pleased: "Lovers...!?"

Ryuji is directly behind Tsukasa, growling in her ear. "Who are lovers here..."

Tsukasa: "Don't worry about that! Ryuji!"

Kudo is busy thinking about the word lovers.

Tsukasa whispers to Ryuji: "Kudo-kun is using that drug."

Ryuji: "...What...? "

Tsukasa: "And Kawamata too." {I saw it. I saw it. I really did...}

Ryuji: "...... What an easy to understand scenario... Using the drug to change oneself."

Tsukasa: "My Ryuji-kun, you learn quickly..." {That drug is sold with the catch phrase 'You can meet your ideal self'.}

Ryuji: "...So why is he picking a fight with me? " {He attacked saying my name.}

Tsukasa: "...Well, so... Maybe he's always wanted to do so..."

Kudo: "Nuooooooo Shirogami~~~ Getting all close to him like that, I'll kill you~~~"

Ryuji: "...A...?"

Tsukasa is calmly trying to keep Kudo from advancing towards Ryuji. "Okay, now let's get away."

Ryuji: "Why the hell does has this guy wanted to pick a fight with me?"

Tsukasa: "Don't ask me! You! Weren't you listening to our conversation!?"

Ryuji, ticked off is trying to follow Tsukasa as she leads Kudo towards the door. She has her arm around his shoulder. Kudo has his hand at Tsukasa's waist. Kamo-san and Bun-san are just steps behind Ryuji.

Bun-san: "Sandaime, please wait."

Ryuji: "I've only heard from 'He's always hanging around you'--"

Tsukasa: "Then don't worry about it! Moreover, don't follow me! I'm trying to separate you two!"

Ryuji: "Separate? Where the hell are you going without me?" {Getting all close like that. Are you looking for a fight?}

Tsukasa: "We aren't going to do anything!! What the hell are you thinking------!!?" The door to the classroom opens. She turns back to yell at Ryuji.

Kamo-san and Tsubaki start.

Kamo-san: "...Oh...?"

Tsubaki and Kamo-san start panicking, with large eyes.

Kamo-san: "S...!" He points at the door.

Tsubaki: "A!"

Tsukasa and Ryuji look at the two of them.

Tsukasa: "N?"

Tsukasa and Ryuji turn to face the door as Kamo-san and Tsubaki both do the scream.

In front was Kawamata, wielding his shinai. Behind him were at least 4 boys (students) wielding a number of weapons. All were posed to attack.

Two shots are fired and 2 guys go down.

A briefcase full of money scatters to the ground as the guys fall.

Akira lets out a sigh. He cocks his gun.

Akira: "...They're fi~~~nally down. Two shots of a counter drug for one person is getting us nowhere."

Munakata, bending down to examine the two guys: "That can't be helped. If they take in a large quantity of drugs then the effect of the counter drug is weak. " [Since when was one made!?]

Akira: "...But... We (the police) only have a limited supply of the counter drug. And even then, there are people like this who are gaining strange power while using the drug to commit crimes. Since there's no way to oppose a person who's on the drugs the only thing we can do is to counter the effect of the drug...... We can't waste any of it."

Two other cops approach them.

"O! They're finished. They're finished! Well done!"

"Wow, the Control Police's golden combo."

Munakata: "...Well... if we run out of the counter drug then,"

Akira, breaking in: "You can't shoot and kill them!!"

Munakata: "..."

One of the guys: "...ga... ...mi..."

Akira: "!"

One of the guys is trying to drag himself forward.

Akira: "...What, this one's still lively..."

Guy: "...Shiro... ...gami."

Akira starts at the name.

Guy: "Ryuji. ......Kill him......"

Akira, in shock: {...What?}

The guys crawls forward to reach for the compact thingie.

Akira: "!" {---...What is---...}

In another part of the city.

Tsukasa, breathlessly: "...... ...Ryuji-kun."

Ryuji, also out of breath: "...... ...What......?"

Tsukasa: "...It seems that you're hated by a number of people in the general public. What kind of evil wrong doings have you done when I wasn't looking? Come on, tell me."

Ryuji: "How would I know!? I haven't done anything!!"

Looks like Tsukasa, Ryuji, Kamo-san and Bun-san are hiding in a department store, specifically the ladies' floor. They're hiding behind a counter at the moment. A concerned store clerk looks on.

Store clerk: "Um... Customers......"

Text pointing to Tsukasa and Ryuji: They left the school and fled into the city.

Kamo-san: {Why did we have to come all the way here?}

Tsukasa, in disbelief: "Liar! Then why the hell do you suddenly have to be attacked by Kawamata and Rokuo students!?" She shows her fangs.

Ryuji, calmly: "...Well...... isn't it the drug...?"

Tsukasa: "......!"

Ryuji: "That drug changes people at their will. When Garyukai started to distribute the drugs among the public, they may have used some kind of mind control to get them to dispose of me."

Tsukasa: "...But... how?"

Ryuji: "How would I know!? Ask Garyukai!"

Tsukasa: "..."

Four heads look over the edge of the counter. [Very cute.] In order from left to right are Kamo-san, Ryuji, Tsukasa and Bun-san.

Kamo-san: "But Sandaime, if that's the truth then that means a larger number of people of the general public will be after you. Even if they are under the influence of a drug, it's not like we can fight the katagi with guns. ...But while we say that, from experience we're no match in terms of agility or stamina."

Tsukasa: "...!"

Kamo-san: "What shall we do?"

Ryuji: "...... ...I won't allow you to lay a finger on a katagi......"

Tsukasa: {...Ryuji......!}

Ryuji: "...Except, KILL HIM." He points at Kudo who's now hanging around outside of the window of the store.

Tsukasa and Bun-san: "A!"

Bun-san: "No! They've started to congregate!"

Kudo is scanning the area.

Tsukasa tackles Ryuji, who lands on Kamo-san. The store clerk looks down at them suspiciously.

Bun-san, slowly edging away: "It seems that remaining here is dangerous too. I'll sneak outside and get the car so wait a minute."

Tsukasa catches sight of something in the background. "! Bun-san, wait!!"

Bun-san: "A?" Behind him is a display of a couple of mannequins and outfits for women.

Moments later.

Male students from Rokuo are wandering around, searching for Ryuji.

The door to the store opens.

Students: "!"

Outside steps two girls, one tall with fair hair, the other shorter with dark hair. The tall one has long, wavy light coloured hair and is wearing a long dress, a shawl and sandals. The shorter one has long dark coloured locks and is wearing a above-the-knee-length dress and boots with a bit of a heel. Guess who?

The students look on with mouths agape.

Tsukasa: "...Fu fu. See? Even if they're drugged they're still nice to women. My plan worked!" She turns to the students. "...Have a pleasant day..."

They both turn to walk away. Tsukasa lets out an evil laugh.

Tsukasa: "Not fighting doesn't hurt the spirit!!" [Okay, to be quite, honest, I have no idea what this phrase really means. It sounds like an idiom or something but I translated it more or less literally... If I ever find out, I'll rewrite this.]

Ryuji., with a large popped vein: "......"

Bun-san and Kamo-san are watching cautiously from the doorway of the store.

Kamo-san: "..."

Bun-san: {But... His name as a kumicho is ruined...}

Around Tsukasa and Ryuji, men stare at them in awe.