Episode 16

**The Fake** (虚偽 *Kyogi* lit. "Falsehood") is the sixteenth episode of the *Dead Mount Death Play* anime.

## Official Blurb

Misaki and Xiaoyu team up to take on Momoya. But are even the two of them together a match for this gangly member of the Agakura clan? Meanwhile, Iwanome gets a phone call from his past.

## Synopsis

Phantom Solitaire compares people to playing cards, a few of which he holds up for Jirotarou Takanosu's visual benefit. Everyone has a private and public face; some people's designs change when you flip their cards over, and others' fronts and backs are both jokers. Solitaire spreads five Jokers on Takanosu's desk and adds, "Cards like that have a strange tendency to gather in one place."

**Opening Credits.**

Xiaoyu Lei settles Takumi Kuruya on a loft and breaks the zip tie binding Takumi's ankles. Takumi asks him if he is really affiliated with the Heilei; Xiaoyu puts aside his own questions for Takumi in favor of fighting Momoya Agakura. The two exchange blows; Momoya remarks Xiaoyu does not fight like a Heilei, but—when Xiaoyu temporarily blinds him with a bright flash of light—amends that Xiaoyu still uses misdirection and malice in the Heilei way.

Momoya grabs Xiaoyu's ankle before Xiaoyu can charge toward Kuon Higuro and tosses him into the air with designs to make him shish kabob. Higuro shouts a warning mere seconds before Misaki Sakimiya jams her heel into Momoya's throat. She catches Xiaoyu and gives him a fanged grin. "So you *are* one of us, Xiaoyu-kun! I kind of figured!"

Higuro remains stock still as he processes the fact that the girl he saw Momoya cleave in twain is alive and whole once more. He recalls his instructions to report anything that seemed distinct "from this world's laws" in a separate vein from his current orders; even with his instructions, he had never expected to actually witness something so alien as this. He moves forward a step only to freeze when Misaki's attention shifts toward him; he wonders if he can escape this situation alive.

Momoya rouses himself from the scrap pile into which he was flung. With the girl he killed earlier apparently well and alive before him, he is still resolute in his conviction that the world is going to hell. He cuts the straps that bind his skirt tight around him so that it flutters free, thereby allowing his legs more mobility.

Xiaoyu watches passively while Misaki and Momoya have at each other, only to fluster when Misaki eventually suggests the two of them team up against him. Momoya meanwhile ponders the fact that he *did'* cleave Misaki in twain—which defies the reality before him—and Xiaoyu ponders the fact that he has been unable to detect Misaki's heartbeat for some time.

Back in the Abandoned Building, Sayo Shinoyama, mid-read of *Dracula: The True Legend Revealed*, prompts Corpse God to explain more about Misaki being a Vampire Larva. Corpse God explains that he used necromancy to make her more physically like a vampire by altering "the link between her body and soul." Consequently, Misaki can now enjoy heightened regeneration and turning into a bat.

Momoya and Misaki mutually deal with the fact that his slash to her torso produces a flurry of bats. Xiaoyu intercedes, but struggles with how Momoya's clothing artificially elongates Momoya's already long limbs; it throws one's perception off. Misaki throws her crowbar at Momoya with *both hands* attached, propelled by bats, to Momoya's surprised, Xiaoyus' stunned and Takumi's exasperated reactions. After the crowbar meets its mark, Momoya asks if Misaki is Solitaire's apprentice.

Sayo thinks it is time that Corpse God explain to Xiaoyu what is going on. Corpse God agrees to do so once Xiaoyu is back. Hosorogi taps Corpse God's knee to get Corpse God's attention, then, once he has it, requests a small favor.

Meanwhile, Sorimura remarks to Takunoso that it is high time the players with multiple jokers in their hands studied each other, not their decks.

When Tsubaki Iwanome receives a call from a withheld number, Kōzaburō Arase remains a silent observer. Iwanome's interlocuter, Hosorogi, chides Iwanome for being so 'easily exploited,' insinuating that Iwanome has not regularly changed his phone and phone numbers like Hosorogi had once advised him to do. Vulnerable and raw, Iwanome cannot help but reply, "It can't be. Hosorogi...san?"

Kochou Eightport, safely ensconced at the *Weekly Dry* headquarters, wonders just how the Shinoyama Group is tied the Building owned by Lisa Kuraki, granddaughter of industrialist Luis Kuraki. That is, the granddaughter who was next in line to inherit her grandfather's assets after her parents disappeared, only to be caught up in a kidnapping case while she was in high school. Eightport frowns at her monitor the moment she digests the fact that the cop who solved the kidnapping was the same Inspector Miyabi Hosorogi who vanished in the Building.

Iwanome asks more than once if it is really "Hosorogi-san" with whom he is speaking. Hosorogi chastises him for being an idiot shouting out his name where anyone could here. How foolish it is to blurt out a contact's name so easily. He tells Iwanome that he lost the ability to speak, or rather, that it was taken from him, which upsets Iwanome further. Iwanome wishes that the two of them could meet, but Hosorogi advises against it.

Of course Hosorogi does: he, the spirit-possessing-Misaki's-mechanical-pencil, is stabbed straight through to an already dead pigeon's vocal cords. He via the dead pigeon speaks into an iPod, which Corpse God's magic eyeball is connecting to a flip-cellphone. He acquiesces that he does not expect Iwanome to understand his situation, and Iwanome certainly does not, because he cannot fathom the old Hosorogi getting high schoolers involved in such underworld high stakes. Hosorogi supposes Iwanome means Polka Shinoyama; he says that he is not the Miyabi Horosogi whom Iwanome once knew, for the old him died.

Sayo Shinoyama, listening on the wayside, thinks, *The awful part is that none of that is a lie.*

Hosorogi tells Iwanome that he left "numerous clues" in the message he wrote for him before, and that he will tell Iwanome the "bare minimum" beyond that since Clarissa seams "about to be dragged in again."

Iwanome reasonably points out that Lisa is a crook herself, but this ruffles Hosorogi's feathers: Hosorogi replies that he "won't ask" Iwanome to agree, but that they can discuss this some other time. Invigorated, Iwanome asks what he needs to know now. Hosorogi tells the name of whom he suspects is the "mastermind at the heart of the infection in the police force." Iwanome's left arm goes slack with shock.

Takanosu asks if he is one of the players, or "masterminds," being discussed. Solitaire indicates that he certainly is, what with being the head of police. Takanosu retorts with an impassioned recital of the police hierarchy that reports back to the prime minister (PM), and an impassioned reminder that the PM answers to their citizens within the realm of popular sovereignty. Solitaire recalcitrantly tries to, but fails to object to Takanosu's slam dunk that "each and every citizen is one of [Solitaire's] players!" Even Prime Minister Kubikigawara, he says, was used as a pawn by Solitaire to show off.

Solitaire blusters at this, for, frankly, Solitaire is now entirely "winging it." Frankly, Soliatire has been "winging it" ever since his attempted assassination on top of the dirigibles. In the immediate aftermath, Solitaire assumed the "mastermind was a big shot," hence his rattling of symbol sabers, but *for the most part*, he has been flying on the seat of his pants.

After a minute of Xiaoyu and Misaki both assessing Momoya, who is still acclimatizing to his injuries, and the attacks already inflicted on him, Misaki whispers a possible strategy in Xiaoyu's ear. Xiaoyu balks, at first, but ultimately agrees, though he comments that Misaki ought not blame him when she dies. Misaki coos about Xiaoyu caring before she resumes fighting Momoya.

Momoya grabs Misaki's neck with his left hand while his right hand slashes a blade through her stomach—except, no, her abdomen flutters apart to allow Xiaoyu the opening to pierce Momoya with the extended digits of his hands.

Momoya has a moment to process this: his left hand around Misaki's neck, Misaki's torso fluttering into bats heedless to his abdominal slash, Xiaoyu piercing his body more than once with extended fingers, *and then electrifying those fingers* such that Momoya collapses from the surge.

In the immediate aftermath, Xiaoyu has precious little time to consider that, in the pitch dark, Sakimiya "looked and sounded like fluttering bats" before Misaki celebrates their victory. A second later, Takumi warns them to be vigilant, since Higuro is "packing heat," but Misaki perkily points out that Higuro has already absconded. Takumi loses his mind.

Elsehwere, in the tunnels of Tokyo's subway, Higuro expresses his gratitude for the absent Momoya's attracting attention to abet, even if incidentally, his escape. He would be happy to work with Momoya again if Momoya beats Misaki and Xiaoyu; if Momoya does not, well, Higuro expresses his condolences. He raises his cell phone to his ear to report "something beyond this world's laws."

Within the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department HQ, Ranmaru Yatsu receives a call from a withheld number. Danjō Tozawa asks him if he shall not answer it, and Yatsu replies that he ought not reply to personal calls while on duty before he secrets his cell phone into an inner breast pockets.

Iwanome abrasively chafes at Hosorogi's implication of "old friends." Iwanome reminds him that *everyone* on the force is one of one's own, when one belongs to the police force. No matter whether they are longtime partners or rural personnel who might as well be strangers, Iwanome cannot afford to make distinctions or hold bias. Iwanome says that Hosorogi has proved he is the same old Hosorogi as ever, and therefore, considering Hosorogi dead is a dead-on-arrival option. The smile that graces Iwanome's face is the most genuine, pure smile Iwanome has ever expressed as he says, "I won't let you bite the dust easy."

Before the two hang up, Iwanome asks whether "Senpai" Hosorogi has considered whetere he is a spy for the "mastermind." Hosorogi replies, "Have you forgotten what I'm like? IF you are, I'll just shoot you between the eyes."

With the call ended, Arase suggests that they "trump up a warrant" to have the source disclosed. Iwanome immediately shoots down the idea lest a mole catch on, much to Arase's relief. "You're still yourself, Inspector."

Iwanome is prepared to agree with him before another Witheld Number calls his phone. He answers.

Solitaire plays Sphinx: "Question: I've just finished a job. Who am I?"

He gives Iwanome his name as a full hint, which might as well be an answer. As a reward, Solitaire promises to tell Iwanome "something interesting" about the mastermind Iwanome just discussed with Hosorogi.

In the common area, Hosorogi, speaking through the pencil-vocal-cords-jammed-pigeon, apologizes for involving Sayo and Corpse God the way he had. Sayo comments that it was awfully cruel of Hosorogi to refuel Iwanome's hopes and beliefs in his survival. Hosorogi agrees andd adds that he hopes Iwanome will play his cards as well as Hosorogi thinks he will.

Iwanome departs the empty conference room as soon as the call ends, with Arase at his heels. Arase was willing to accept the so-called Hosorogi, but the prospect of Iwanome trusting Solitaire is a little harder to swallow. Iwanome assures Arase that he believes not a jot of what Solitaire said, but, nevertheless, true or false—

"Words people blurt out always mean something?" Arase supplies, eyeing Iwanome.

Iwanome replies that these (his words) are simply echoses of Hosorogi's words.

Higuro continues an unknown person as he makes his way thorugh the metro underground, frustration furrowing his brows.

Yatsu's cell phone buzzes within Yatsu's breast pocket. Tozawa asks if Yatsu should not answer it; with a frustrated hiss of breath, Yatsu retrieves his cell phone and exits into the corridor to answer the call.

Finally, Higuro's call goes through. Higuro smiles.

"Don't call me at work," Yatsu says, not for the first time.

Higuro declares he has a top-priority report about the schoolgirl from the Building: she was killed, yet returned to life. Therefore, she is "something beyond this world's laws," as his employer put it. Higuro adds that he shall lie low for a bit having "annoyed the Shinoyamas on this [last] job. Can I ask you to keep me safe from them?"

Iwanome and Arase come to a stop outside of a conference room door. Iwanome knocks lightly, then shushes Arase with a finger to his lips so that they can better hear the words through the door: "Your position is secure under Sabaramond's aegis. You've done well, Higuro."

Angered, Iwanome opens the door.

Higuro halts as he hears his employer protesting.

Yatsu admonishes his little sister Eightport calling him while he is still on the clock inside HQ. Eightport brashly replies that "one person" rose suspiciously through the ranks after Hosorogi died.

Iwanome glares at Hideaki Habaki, filled with shock and fury that the man who saved him from getting the boot—the man whom he had thought of as family—is and has been stabbing him in the back. He echoes Hosorogi's words as he says that "saying you contact's name was beyond careless, Senior Commissioner Habaki!"

While Misaki and Xiaoyu consider the immobile form of Momoya in the warehouse, Takumi allows himself to hope that "it's over."

Yatsu is meanwhile rather upset at his sister's revelation of Habaki being the traitor. He begins to warn her about "breath[ing] a word of this to Iwa-san," but halts as a policeman trudges by, singing under his breath the words, "that stream, where carp I caught..."

Higuro pauses as a ginger girl walks past, singing softly, "Even now, I dream of naught..."

"...but my old country home," choruses the Bugs clustered outside the warehouse.

In a parking lot where the husks of recently wrecked cars and humans fester, Majiri Agakura fails yet again to reach Momoya's cell phone. She decides to give her hooligan brother a scolding for ignoring his big sister's call.

## Adapted From

* Chapter 45
* Chapter 46
* Chapter 47
* Chapter 48
* Chapter 49

## Trivia

* The Bugs are singing Furusato, a classic children's song that encapsulates nostalgia for one's childhood home.
* The credits have been sacrified in lieu of plot scenes with the Agakuras.