Chapter 1: Day 1: Vocal Chords
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With Xiao Qiao's blessing, Tachibana calls in a favour from Little Asia's clinic. This substance, injected into the vocal chords, causes irreparable paralysis. Oda lies motionless when the doctor does it, the same doctor who's kept Tachibana alive.
Eternal silence. A fair punishment for a man who misused his voice so badly. With honeyed words, Oda lured innocent women into slavery. He withheld the truth from Tachibana.
"I will allow you to live," says Tachibana, cold fury beneath his calm expression. "But you will never lie to me again."
"Yes, sir," mouths Oda, out of habit. In silence, in gratitude.
Chapter 2: Day 2: Holding Back Tears
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2B curses every data cache that 9S finds. Truth is shattered, broken into a million pieces and strewn across the Earth. Every piece that 9S finds is one more he can fit together, to form the truth he cannot be allowed to know.
And when he finds it, as he always does, 2B will swing her executioner's sword. 9S will be wiped clean and made anew. He'll look at 2B for the first time again.
9S is engrossed in his latest find, a record of the old world. 2B turns away and shuts her eyes to seal away the tears.
Chapter 3: Day 3: Pinned Down
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This man's been stealing from their operation. Tachibana decided he must die. Oda has the easy job: pin him down, hold his wrists. Keep him still as Tachibana puts a bullet in his head. Close his ears to the man's pleading: he has a family, he'll never do it again, he'll repay what he's stolen. Don't flinch at the gunshot or the way the body goes limp in his arms. And dispose of it, when Tachibana's done.
Oda never used to run the gang this way. They'd rough guys up but never kill them. Tachibana's different: he does not forgive.
Chapter 4: Day 16: Eaten Alive
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There are wolves in Osaka, and Li Hua is a rabbit trailing at their heels. He does their bidding; he has no other choice. He relays their messages in halting Japanese. He delivers their illicit goods. Anything they say.
He does not kill for them. No one is intimidated by timid, stuttering Li Hua. None of them believe he has the heart to pull the trigger. The higher-ups only command Li Hua to dump the bodies when they're done.
One day, when the wolves are starved for other prey or simply bored with him, they will eat Li Hua alive.
Chapter 5: Day 8: Bleeding Out
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Oda will never forget that sight: Tachibana, barely conscious, his ruined arm spurting blood, mumbling incoherently as Oda rushed him to the underground hospital. Oda will make that desperate run again and again in his nightmares.
In his dreams, the alleys are too long and twisting. Most nights he'll race through a labyrinth that goes on and on forever, in a hopeless race where Time's the only victor. Some nights, he'll make it to the hospital. The outcome is the same: Oda falls to his knees, an empty shell cradled in his arms. Tachibana is too far gone to save.
Chapter 6: Day 22: “Grab the little one”
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The girl can't be out of elementary school. Her elder sisters are tied up in the van. Oda's willing to let her be. They're going to earn enough tonight. His partner disagrees.
"Oda-san?" says the other. "Grab the kid."
If she gets away, she'll tell the cops. She's worth her weight in gold; he knows someone who will pay a premium for her. Part of Oda is still human enough to be disgusted at the thought, and at knowing profit is what moves him.
Oda grabs the girl, covers her tiny mouth, drags her off. One more for the cages.
Chapter 7: Day 24: Forced to Beg
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They have Tachibana, and they'll let him go if Oda grovels. One of them laughs and presses his gun tighter to the side of Tachibana's head.
Oda looks, and Tachibana nods. Oda lowers his dignity to no other man, but his loyalty calls louder.
Proud Oda drops to hands and knees, his forehead to the ground. He pleads for Tachibana's freedom, growling every word.
The other gang throws Tachibana to the ground and walks away, cackling. Oda tenses to run after them; Tachibana holds his arm.
"They think they've won," says Tachibana, watching them go. "Let them believe that lie."
Chapter 8: ALT 2: Blowtorch
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"Oda-san?" asks Tachibana, conversationally. "I do hope you're paying attention."
Their captive mumbles something frantic through his gag.
Tachibana has made it clear that he is not a sadist. Torture is not an end in and of itself. It is not an effective way to compel the truth.
It can be an effective way to send a message. When this man's allies find him and his charred, blistered skin, they will all know what it means to cross Tachibana.
"The blowtorch, Oda-san," says Tachibana. He waits.
Oda hands it over; the flame's reflection shines bright in their captive's widened eyes.
Chapter 9: Day 4: Hivemind
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Pascal has only ever known two things: the network, and the war. One mind, with one clear goal: defeat the enemy.
But there is an absence. The void and sudden silence as his friends die. The continued silence from their leaders. There is no fervour in Pascal now; he is a machine performing his function, but he longs to be so much more than that.
Pascal severs his connection to the network and a new silence descends, deeper and more total than he'd thought possible. For the first time, he is without guidance. For the first time, he is alone.
Chapter 10: Day 20: “I did good, right?”
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9S puts up a fight this time. He doesn't always see it in 2B's eyes: the grim resolve when the Commander's order reaches her. Most times she strikes without resistance. This time, 9S retaliated. 2B severs three of his limbs before 9S gives in.
9S lies sparking on the ground. Weakly: "Was I...a good Scanner?"
The best. The pride of YoRHa. That's the problem.
"Don't talk," says 2B. She ends 9S without another word.
She stopped saying goodbye to him long ago. It's an inefficient use of time. She cannot bear to say the word; he won't remember, anyway.