Mission: Yozakura Family — Chapter 2

BZZ BZZ

WHY AM I AT HOME?

HUH?

BLINK

Come, let's play on the swing next...

OH, THAT'S RIGHT. I JUST REMEM- BERED

Oh no. He's paler than a ghost!

...AFTER ALL THE MAYHEM ...

Hee hee. Mutsumi's so cute...

Just leave him. I'll pound the truth into him later.

It's late, so we'll call it a day. Mutsumi, see him out.

Okay.

Bye. Bye...

...IT WAS ALL A DREAM.

IT'S AS IF...

...Taiyo.

Thank you...

AGHH- HHHH- HHH!

GOOD MORNING, TAIYO ASANO.

SHOOP!

HMPH! GOOD REFLEXES.

W-WHY?!

MORNING, TAIYO.

AS A SPY, YOU'VE GOT TO SLEEP WITH ONE EYE OPEN. THIS IS THE INFAMOUS YOZAKURA WAKE-UP CALL.

WHY IS HE HERE?!

NOW, WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME. LET'S HURRY AND ESCAPE.

AND MUTSUMI'S HERE TOO!

WHAT?

I'VE PREPARED THEM ALL, BIG BROTHER.

HIS LUNCH, BAG, AND SCHOOL UNIFORM.

GOOD.

WHAT?! GO? BUT THIS IS THE SECOND FLOOR—

LET'S GO.

WHAAAAT ?!

HUH? ESCAPE ?!

FIRST, I HAVE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE YOZAKURA FAMILY'S MISSION IN LIFE.

I'M PUTTING MY HATE FOR YOU ASIDE FOR A MOMENT.

THE MOST IMPORTANT MISSION...

...IS TO PROTECT MUTSUMI YOZAKURA.

ITS TARGET WAS MUTSUMI FOR SURE.

LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS A BOMB PLANTED IN THE KITCHEN.

I JUST GOT SHINZO'S REPORT.

OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE THEY KNEW OF YOUR AND MUTSUMI'S RELATION- SHIP.

MUTSUMI?! BUT THEN WHY WAS IT IN MY HOUSE?!

INFOR- MATION SPREADS QUICKLY IN THIS INDUSTRY.

Kyoichiro (MutsumiLOV...) @mutsumutsu My little sister getting married sucks. King Bomber “Tamaya” @bomberbadson May they blow up happily ever after. Cover-up Headquarters @momikeshi You got what you deserve, sister-loving freak. Be gone from this earth. Escape Man (incarcerated) @demodori If I ever escape, I'll send a wedding gift.

MY FEED HAS BEEN LIGHTING UP WITH CONGRATU- LATIONS SINCE YESTERDAY.

BUT WHY WOULD THEY BE AFTER MUTSUMI?

THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE.

WHY WOULD A SPY USE SOCIAL MEDIA?!

...HEAD OF THE HOUSE- HOLD?!

THE TENTH

THE YOZAKURA CLAN TRACES ITS ROOTS TO THE NINJA OF THE EDO PERIOD. WE'VE PRODUCED GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE WITH SUPERHUMAN ABILITIES.

BUT IN EVERY GENERATION, THERE IS ONE PERSON WHO IS BORN ORDINARY. THAT PERSON IS THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD.

MUTSUMI IS THE TENTH HEAD...

...OF THE YOZAKURA HOUSEHOLD.

THIS LEADER DOESN'T HAVE ANY SUPERHUMAN TALENTS LIKE THE OTHER MEMBERS...

THEREFORE, ONLY THIS PERSON CAN PASS ON THE GENES WITH THE YOZAKURA TALENT.

...BUT THEIR OFFSPRING WILL UNDOUBTEDLY INHERIT INCREDIBLE ABILITIES.

SO, AS THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD, MUTSUMI IS THE UNDISPUTED LEADER OF THE YOZAKURA FAMILY.

BASICALLY, THE TALENT SKIPS A GENERATION.

THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD PASSES ON THE TALENT, AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY USE THEIR TALENTS TO PROTECT THE HEAD. THAT IS THE WAY THE YOZAKURA FAMILY HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL SO FAR.

SHE IS THE LIFELINE OF THE YOZAKURA FAMILY.

I CAN'T DO THAT. WE'VE BEEN OVER THIS SO MANY TIMES.

WE WANT MUTSUMI TO LIVE HER LIFE AS SHE CHOOSES—

EVEN SO ...

...ALL OF US SIBLINGS DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THE FAMILY'S SOCIAL STANDING.

...FOR THE FAMILY BUSINESS, THEN I NEED TO DO MY PART TOO. IF THE WHOLE FAMILY IS PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE...

SHE'S SUCH A SWEET GIRL...

...IS SHE WITH THIS GUY? ... SO WHY ...

SO NOW YOU KNOW ...

...ABOUT MUTSUMI'S SPECIAL CIRCUM- STANCES.

S-SUCH AN ADMIRABLE GIRL.

MUTSUMI WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD THE YOZAKURA FAMILY IN THE UNDERWORLD.

BUT THERE ARE THOSE WHO HATE US. THOSE WHO ENVY OR WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF US.

THAT'S WHY SHE MUST LIVE A NORMAL LIFE NOW AND ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD.

MUTSUMI IS EXPOSED TO ALL KINDS OF HATRED.

MUTSUMI IS ALWAYS DANCING WITH DEATH. THERE- FORE...

...IT IS OUR FAMILY'S DUTY TO PROTECT HER.

TODAY IS THE BEGIN- NING. THAT IS WHY I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU THE ROPES OF SPY- CRAFT.

THIS IS YOUR FIRST MISSION.

WHAT ?!

PROTECT MUTSUMI FROM ASSASSINS TODAY.

SHOULD YOU KILL SOMEONE, WE CAN COVER IT UP, SO DON'T BE AFRAID TO USE IT.

IT'S USUALLY A BOMB OR POISON, SO A GUN IS REALLY USELESS.

A GUN ?!

STOP TEASING TAIYO, BIG BROTHER.

ARE YOU ALWAYS UNDER ATTACK?!

NO WAY!!

I'D LIKE TO ACCOMPANY YOU, BUT I'VE GOT A JOB THIS MORNING WHERE I HAVE TO RESCUE A BUNCH OF HOSTAGES.

WHAT KIND OF HOSTAGE SITUATION IS THAT?!

I'LL JUST TELL YOU ABOUT THE ASSASSIN.

THIS IS THE ACCOUNT OF THE ASSASSIN "TAMAYA," WHO'S AFTER MUTSUMI RIGHT NOW.

ALL THESE UNDERWORLD PEOPLE SURE ARE OPEN ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE UP TO!

Following King Bomber "Tamaya" @bomberbadson Bombing/Assassinations/Cleanup/Beer/Cigarettes/Fireworks For job requests ↓ [email protected] Place with a nice view Birthday: May 22

LATELY, A LOT OF INDUSTRY PEOPLE USE SOCIAL MEDIA FOR JOB REQUESTS.

TAMAYA IS A RELATIVELY WELL-KNOWN BOMBER.

HIS FLAIR FOR BOMB MAKING IS TOP-NOTCH.

THEN WHY ...? WHAT? HE'S HELPED YOU?! I'VE ENLISTED HIS HELP A NUMBER OF TIMES WHEN TAKING OUT TERROR- ISTS.

IN THIS WORLD, ALLIES AND ENEMIES SWITCH ALLEGIANCE BASED ON MONEY AND CIRCUM- STANCES.

THE ONLY ONE YOU CAN TRUST IS YOURSELF. EVEN THEN, SOMETIMES YOU-

AH, NEVER MIND THAT NOW.

IT'S NOT THAT UNCOMMON.

King Bomber “Tamaya” @bomberbadson I’ve placed the bombs for Mutsumi that are going off tomorrow. All three are done.

HIS ONE WEAKNESS ... ...IS HIS ADDICTION TO SOCIAL MEDIA.

HIS POEMS ARE MEAN- INGLESS, BUT...

ISN'T THIS A FATAL FLAW?

King Bomber “Tamaya” @bomberbadson My bombs and their target are destined to meet.

DON'T UNDER- ESTIMATE HIM. HE'S GOT A BAD PERSONALITY.

King Bomber “Tamaya” @bomberbadson The weather’s getting warmer so I switched to more seasonal shirts.

...BEFORE FINISHING THE DEED WITH HIS PRIZED SPECIAL BOMB. THAT'S HIS M.O.

HE'LL TEASE YOU WITH A FEW LIGHT BOMBS...

SPEAK OF THE DEVIL, HERE'S ANOTHER POST.

HE'S SUDDENLY DOMESTIC ?

YOU PROTECT MUTSUMI UNTIL I GET BACK FROM THE JOB.

UNLESS YOU WANT TO REGRET EVER BEING BORN!

AND THAT'S HOW ...

TAKE THE UTMOST CARE TO ENSURE SHE'S NOT HARMED.

...MY FIRST MISSION (?) AS A YOZAKURA STARTED.

UHH, WHAT'S WITH ASANO?

I DUNNO

HEY, GO ASK HIM!

NO WAY! I CAN'T!

Other than bombs and poison, what is in his arsenal?

Disguises and attacks from the shadows.

ISN'T YOZAKURA SCARED AT ALL WITH HIM RIGHT BEHIND HER?

DAMMIT! NOW THAT I KNOW THAT MUTSUMI'S BEEN TARGETED ALL THIS TIME...

IF I TALK TO HIM HE MIGHT BITE MY HEAD OFF.

TRUE.

...LOOKS SUSPICIOUS!!

...EVERYONE I SEE...

*SEEN FROM TAIYO'S PERSPECTIVE

SHE NEVER EATS SOME- THING SHE RECEIVES RIGHT AWAY.

THESE PRECAUTIONS HAVE PROBABLY BEEN INGRAINED IN HER FOR HER WHOLE LIFE.

WATCHING MUTSUMI LIKE THIS MAKES ME REALIZE SOMETHING.

SHE TRIES NOT TO WALK ALONE ANYWHERE.

I'll eat it at home.

SHE WAS STILL THERE FOR ME EVEN UNDER THESE CIRCUM- STANCES.

SHE'S BEEN BATTLING HER OWN DESTINY THIS WHOLE TIME.

ALL I COULD THINK OF WAS MYSELF.

ALL BY HERSELF.

NOT ONLY DID I NOT NOTICE, I COULDN'T BE THERE FOR HER...

HUH? THANKS.

WANT SOME CHOCO- LATE? ASANO!

IT'S JUST THAT IT WAS UNUSUAL.

HUH?! NO...

WHAT IS IT?

WELL, YOU USED TO BREAK OUT IN A COLD SWEAT IF I TALKED TO YOU.

OR YOU'D PASS OUT... I was surprised.

A S A N O O O ?!

DO YOU WANT TO GO TO THE NURSE?

NO, WAIT. THE NURSE IS OUT TODAY!

I-I'M OKAY.

...I CAN'T PASS OUT NOW!!

ASANO'S LOST IT!!

FOR MY WIFE'S SAKE...

*THE NURSE'S ROOM WAS CLOSED, SO I CAME TO REST IN KYOICHIRO'S ROOM (THE VICE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE).

YOU WERE AMAZING, TAIYO. I'M SURPRISED YOU DIDN'T PASS OUT.

I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA DIE...

AHHH

DID YOU NOTICE?

YOU'VE BEEN A LOT MORE TALKATIVE SINCE YESTERDAY, TAIYO.

USUALLY YOU CAN'T EVEN HANDLE TALKING TO ANYONE ONE-ON- ONE.

BUT YOU WERE FINE WITH MY SIBLINGS.

WELL...

BUT YOU WERE ABLE TO STAND IT JUST NOW. YOU WERE GREAT!

...IN THAT SITUATION THAT WAS THE LAST THING ON MY MIND...

THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE THE LAST FEW YEARS!

...AND I REVERTED BACK TO MY USUAL SELF JUST NOW.

IT'S BABY STEPS, BUT I THINK YOU'RE GETTING BETTER.

ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE FINE WITH ME?

HEY, MUTSUMI.

EVEN THOUGH I'VE KNOWN YOU SINCE CHILDHOOD, I HAD NO IDEA OF YOUR BURDEN UNTIL NOW.

I CAN'T EVEN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF PROPERLY.

AND THIS MARRIAGE HAPPENED ONLY BECAUSE I SELFISHLY WANTED TO PROTECT YOU.

I DIDN'T GIVE ANY THOUGHT TO HOW YOU FEEL...

YOU'RE SO NEGATIVE!

OWWW!

YOU'VE GOT IT ALL WRONG. YOU WEREN'T THE ONE WHO CHOSE ME.

I WANTED IT TO BE YOU.

...AND WITH A BRIDE WHO MIGHT DIE AT ANY MOMENT... DESPITE MARRYING INTO THIS CHAOTIC FAMILY OF SPIES...

...YOU STILL THOUGHT ABOUT MY FEELINGS FIRST.

I KNEW YOU WERE LIKE THAT FOR A LONG TIME.

I HAD ALWAYS THOUGHT...

THANKS FOR MARRYING ME.

TAIYO

...THAT IT'D BE NICE IF IT WERE YOU.

MU- TSUMI...

ARE YOU OKAY, MUTSUMI?

YES...

I'M FINE.

He'll tease you with a few light bombs...

WHAT ABOUT YOU, TAIYO? ARE YOU HURT ...?!

THAT JERK!

BUT HOW DID HE KNOW WE WERE HERE?! IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!!

WE ONLY CAME TO THIS ROOM BY CHANCE!

LIKE WHAT HAPPENED THIS MORNING... ARE THEY PREDICTING MY MOVEMENTS TO TARGET MUTSUMI?!

IF THEY KNEW ABOUT MY FEAR OF PEOPLE, THEN IT'D BE EASY TO PREDICT THAT I'D COME TO THIS ROOM...

King Bomber @bomber... I've placed the bomb... Mutsumi that are going... tomorrow. All three are done.

They knew of your and Mutsumi's relationship.

@bomberbadson The weather's getting warmer so I switched to more seasonal shirts. My bombs and their target are destined to meet.

EVERY- THING WAS PLANNED ...

...FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

IT IS!

Even then, sometimes you—

The only one you can trust is yourself.

0:05

I'M THE BOMB THAT WILL KILL MUTSUMI!

IT'S ME!!

FIVE SEC- ONDS ... ... REMAIN- ING...

GLINT

THREE SEC- ONDS.

FOUR SEC- ONDS.

IF THE EXIT IS BLOCKED

TWO SEC- ONDS.

THIS IS THE ONLY WAY!!

ONE SEC- OND.

TAIYO ?!

I'M GLAD MY JOB FINISHED EARLY.

AH...

IT TAKES SEVERAL HOURS TO WORK SINCE IT USES THE TARGET'S BODY TEMPERATURE TO CHARGE UP.

TAMAYA'S TINY BOMB "THE SPARKLER" IS LIGHTWEIGHT BUT POWERFUL.

WHILE ITS EFFICIENCY IS GOOD, IT HAS TWO FLAWS.

AND ITS DESIGN IS SO SIMPLE THAT IT CAN BE PAUSED BY A STRING.

GOOD JOB NOTIC- ING.

YOU DID WELL.

AS A REWARD FOR A JOB WELL DONE, I'LL TELL YOU THIS.

BUT THERE'S ONE THING YOU CAN TRUST...

IN THIS WORLD YOU MAY EVEN DOUBT YOURSELF.

SO YOU CAN PUT YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE AND TRY YOUR BEST...

...FOR THE SAKE OF OUR DEAREST MUTSUMI.

THAT IS FAMILY.

...BUT I'LL NEVER LET YOU DIE, EVEN IF IT KILLS ME.

I MAY WANT TO KILL YOU...

THIS GUY...

WHY ARE YOU COVERING YOUR BASES BY TELLING ME AHEAD OF TIME?! BUT IF I ACCIDENTALLY LET YOU FALL AND DIE, IT WASN'T ON PURPOSE, OKAY?

I'M GOING TO PULL YOU UP.

KYO- ICHIRO!

... SEEMS CRAZY.

BUT HE MAY HAVE A GOOD HEAD ON HIS SHOUL- DERS.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THAT BOMB?

IT'S ONLY NATURAL...

NOW THEN ...

...TO RETURN IT TO ITS OWNER!

HUH?

HA HA! STILL TWEETING, HUH? ADDIC- TIONS ARE SCARY!

WHAAAT ?!

I TAKE THAT BACK. HE IS CRAZY.

KING BOMBER "TAMAYA" SERIAL BOMBER. CAN DO ANYTHING FROM ASSASSINATIONS TO MAKING FIREWORKS. HE'S BUSY WITH FIREWORK SHOWS DURING THE SUMMER. IT IS SAID THAT COUPLES WHO SEE TAMAYA'S FIREWORKS WILL BLOW UP HAPPILY EVER AFTERWARD.

COVER-UP HEADQUARTERS HE WILL STUB OUT ANYTHING FROM CIGARETTE BUTTS TO STATE SECRET DOCUMENTS. WHEN HE WAS A STUDENT, HE LOANED A BRAND-NEW ERASER TO MR. A, WHO ENDED UP USING EVERY SINGLE CORNER. HIS RAGE WAS SO GREAT THAT HE WANTED TO ERASE MR. A FROM SOCIETY, THEREBY STUMBLING ONTO HIS CALLING IN LIFE.

ESCAPE MAN (INCARCERATED) BACK WHEN HE USED TO BE A RESPECTABLE MEMBER OF SOCIETY, HE WAS AN ESCAPE ARTIST. THE SUFFIX OF HIS INTERNET HANDLE CHANGES ACCORDING TO HIS CURRENT STATUS-(ESCAPED), (GOING TO TURN HIMSELF IN), (ON A DIET), ETC.

KYOICHIRO (MUTSUMILOVE) A GROSS ACCOUNT THAT CONSTANTLY GOES ON ABOUT ITS OWNER'S LOVE FOR HIS LITTLE SISTER. IT'S SO NAUSEATING THAT IT REPEATEDLY STIRS UP A FLAME WAR, CAUSING THE OWNER TO GO ON A REVENGE SPREE AGAINST THOSE WHO SEND HIM HATEFUL REPLIES. HIS TOLERANCE FOR PROVOCATION IS LOW.