Chapter 6

## Chapter Chronology

**"Young Girl's Yearning"** (少 (しょう) 女 (じょ) の憧 (しょう) 憬 (けい) , *Shoujo Doukei*) serves as the sixth chapter in the *Gokurakugai* manga series, a work written and illustrated by Yuto Sano. It is also featured as the third chapter within the second volume of the series.

## Summary

One day, Tao and Alma purchased information from the informant Tatsuomi about a new series of incidents. All the victims were male, and they had been gruesomely mutilated, with their arms and necks torn apart, resulting in fatal bleeding. A common factor among the victims was that their palms had been deliberately bitten off, and some of them had previous convictions for crimes against women. Although they wanted to start investigating, the infrequency of the incidents left Tao and Alma in a situation where they had to wait for more information.

Alma spotted a seemingly unwell girl named Kanata and approached her, but Kanata refused, saying, "I'm fine." However, Alma saw through the lie and forcefully took her out for a meal. For some reason, Kanata seemed to be eating reluctantly, but she agreed to meet Alma again when asked if she wanted to eat with her once more. As Alma gradually became friends with Kanata, she learned that Kanata used to be alone at home and school, which made her feel even lonelier at night, prompting her to go outside to fill the void.

After parting ways with Alma, Kanata's condition worsened, and she started vomiting in the restroom. Suddenly, an unknown man approached her and attempted to assault her. She desperately resisted, but her mouth was covered, and she was almost attacked. At that moment, driven by impulse, Kanata bit into the man's palm, causing him to release her, and she managed to escape!

## Plot Details

A week ago, an incident involving cannibalism came to the attention of Alma and Tao as an investigative case. They examined the location where a deceased person had been bitten, as well as several other sites, marking the fourth occurrence of such incidents. The narrative then shifts to a mysterious individual dressed in a dark hoodie and a pleated skirt, appearing to be a woman. This person was seen walking away from view into an alleyway.

Tao and Alma are presently in Tatsuomi's office. Tatsuomi is sharing information related to the cannibalism case, offering Tao a reduced fee of 3,000 yen for his services. Alma questions the fairness of this fee reduction, suggesting that everyone should be charged the same amount. Tatsuomi explains that his policy involves accepting payment in cash from those who can provide it. The discussion then moves on to the details of the case.

Photographs depict three deceased men, each found in various alleyways along Gokurakugai 10th Avenue. The cause of death is consistent across all cases. The first individual in the photographs passed away two weeks ago, the second one last week, and the most recent victim just yesterday. In all instances, the victims sustained bite wounds that led to significant blood loss, causing shock before their demise. The injuries were widespread, including the neck and arms, yet peculiarly, the palms were consistently chewed through. This fact prompts Alma to jokingly attempt to mimic the action, underscoring the unusual nature of the injuries.

Tatsuomi reveals that the victims shared a commonality, but obtaining this information comes at a cost, which leads Tao to humorously suggest that he should have been captivated by her appearance instead. Tatsuomi plays along and apologizes for his light-hearted comment, subsequently sharing that all the victims had criminal records, ranging from sexual assault to assault and extortion. They had all committed grave offenses against women. The deliberate manner in which the perpetrator attacked the victims, stopping after just a few bites, raises suspicions that these men were intentionally targeted. The possibility arises that the same individual from the incident at Myodo Shrine is involved, or at the very least, a similar character. The rate of one killing per week suggests a sustained pattern. Following their conversation with Tatsuomi, Alma and Tao decide to return home after completing their their investigation by exploring the area a bit.

Amidst a crowd, a woman who seemed somewhat uneasy in her surroundings was lightly tapping her head. At that moment, Alma approached her, inquiring if she had a headache. Startled, she pushed him away, but rather than retreating, Alma drew her closer to regain her attention. This unexpected move prompted her to strike him, momentarily surprising Alma. She then apologized and assured him that she was fine, to which Alma responded by noting that women often say they're fine when they're not, a piece of insight he had picked up from Yaya. With that, he led her away, sharing that he was taking her to a nice place.

They arrived at a restaurant on 10th Avenue and took a seat. Alma mentioned that she appeared quite hungry, which was his reason for bringing her here. The woman found it somewhat challenging to eat for reasons unexplained, yet she still appreciated Alma's gesture and consumed the food. As they ate, they introduced themselves. The woman's name was Kanata, and Alma playfully remarked that she was an unusual individual, encouraging her not to force herself.

After the meal, Alma intended to depart, but Kanata halted him, expressing her desire to have dinner with him again. Alma readily agreed. Over the following three nights, they continued to meet at the same spot. On the third evening, Alma offered to walk her home, citing advice he'd received from Yaya regarding girls being walked home. Kanata agreed, and as they strolled, she inquired about Alma's occupation. He revealed that he worked as a troubleshooter in Gokurakugai, and he had provided his contact details in the tissue pack he had given her.

Kanata was intrigued by his work behind the scenes, focusing on taking down wrongdoers. In turn, Alma queried Kanata about her school attendance, playfully transitioning to asking why she was frequently out at night. She admitted to disliking being at home due to loneliness. She found solace in being outside, where she could escape her isolation. This revelation led Alma to suggest they have dinner again and even encouraged her to visit their office or join him at an arcade, despite his lack of skill at crane games.

Their conversation flowed into a shared interest in a show, "Shijimi-san," and particularly, a character named Michelangelo. Their enthusiastic discussion cemented their newfound connection, and Alma complimented Kanata's smile as her best feature, echoing Yaya's advice. Kanata then parted ways with Alma, who left her at a sidewalk leading to her home, encouraging her to contact him whenever she needed, given his role as a troubleshooter.

The scene shifts to Kanata vomiting in a restroom's lavatory, where she's confronted by a man who enters and approaches her in a disturbing manner, making inappropriate advances despite the age difference. Fending off his advances, Kanata bites the man's hand, causing blood to flow. His reaction prompts Kanata to flee, leaving him behind. The man labels Kanata a "monster," accusing her of inhuman behavior due to her defensive action.

## Quick References

### Chapter Notes

* Alma and Tao investigate a series of cannibalism incidents involving deceased men with criminal records. The victims all suffered bite wounds leading to significant blood loss.
	+ Tatsuomi provides them with information about the victims and the pattern of the killings. The possibility of a connection to the incident at Myodo Shrine is raised, and the rate of one killing per week suggests a sustained pattern.
* Alma encounters a woman named Kanata who appears uneasy and approaches her to ask about her well-being. Despite her initial reluctance, they start spending time together over several nights, sharing meals and getting to know each other.
	+ Kanata reveals her loneliness and discomfort at home, leading Alma to offer her companionship and support.
	+ They bond over shared interests, particularly a TV show and a character named Michelangelo. Alma compliments Kanata's smile, echoing advice from Yaya.
* Kanata vomits in a restroom and is confronted by a man who makes inappropriate advances toward her. She defends herself by biting the man's hand, causing him to label her a "monster."

### Characters in Order of Appearance

**Tao**
**Alma**
**Tatsuomi**
**Male 1**Debut
**Male 2**Debut
**Male 3**Debut
**Male 4**Debut
**Kanata**Debut
**Assaulter**Debut