A Wall Broken Story

←**Previous Chapter** **•**  **Next Chapter**→

## Story Summary

### First Half

Takami talks with Kei about his concerns of the store being understaffed. Haseyama is also still in a coma in the hospital, showing no signs of waking any time soon. He quietly tries to suggest that he knows a person with previous owner experience and knows about the store's circumstances that happens to be unemployed right now, but Kei quickly rejects the idea.

Hearing that the temporary management team are having trouble, Sinju offers that he can help them out. Since P don't have a show right now Rindou allows it. Sinju says that since Takami has been teaching him how to use the computer, he should be able to assist them with things.

Takami is seen talking with someone on the phone, he mentions that he won't be letting this chance slip away. And will find what treasure is hiding in the demon's den whilst they're away. Once he gets off the phone, he receives a message from someone inviting him to meet somewhere.

Kokuyou runs into Taiga whilst he's vaping. Taiga takes the chance to ask Kokuyou if he knows what Nekome was up to whilst he was missing. And also questions whether or not Kokuyou knows anything about the other man who got crushed by the whale skeleton incident. Kokuyou says that he doesn't know anything and tells Taiga to stop trying to dig up Starless' secrets. Taiga refuses, saying that Starless' shady side definitely has something to do with his brother and Taiga is sick of not knowing anything about why he disappeared.

Taiga meets up with Takami in a cafe and asks to make a deal with him. In exchange for information on his brother, Taiga says that he'll analyse the information that they failed to download of the old Starless PC. Since they have to go back and download it again Taiga stole the old Starless key from Unei. Takami says that he doesn't have much info and that divulging it may put Taiga in danger. Taiga says he knows this already and Takami ultimately agrees to the deal.

Iwami visits Starless to deliver some donuts, which Mokuren and Mizuki waste no time accepting. Mokuren then swiftly kicks Iwami out since they need to close up the store. Once Iwami's gone, Mokuren warns Mizuki not to trust him too much, even though telling Mizuki that is probably pointless. Mizuki wonders why Mokuren would say that, since in his eyes Iwami is a good guy. Heath who had just met Iwami for the first time mumbles to himself "...it was a kind yet sad colour, as if strong emotions have been held at the bottom for his heart for a long, long time"

Takami runs into Iwami on the street and starts up a conversation. Takami quietly begins trying to convince iwami to take ownership of the store back but iwami doesn't seem interested. Takami asked why hes been hanging around the store then and what he was doing while he was away, Iwami doesn't answer and says he's only checking on the store cause he cares about it like a parent. Iwami then cuts off Takami's question asking who he even is, to which Takami puts on his poker face, saying he's simply a Starless cast member. Iwami is amused by this and says that in that case, he's just an unemployed old man.

Taiga and Takami are seen working on breaking into the old Starless building. They manage to do so but Takami seems to sense a presence as they do so.

### Second Half

Taiga and Takami are ready to see what's in the Starless data. Taiga brags about how he managed to decrypt the the file saying hes a genius and may have even surpassed b-lock-w's skill (a really skilled hacker that Taiga's never met). The file begins extracting and all seems to be going well until all the files begin to mysteriously delete themselves. Takami asks if that's meant to be happening to which Taiga says of course not! Unable to stop it, the files continue to delete and Taiga's laptop is forced into a factory reset. Takami remarks that their opponent must've been the more skilled one in the end and Taiga, disheartened, says that he's going home.
After Taiga's gone, Takami comments to himself "looks like we wont be able to do this the straightforward way".

Taiga asks Kasumi if he used to be in charge of IT back at old Starless, Kasumi says here and there he helped out with maintenance but other than that old Starless was pretty analog. Only Iwami and Akito were ever seen using a computer. Taiga asks what they did whenever they were having computer trouble then and Sinju says Iwami probably left it to a professional that he knew.

A 'fan' approaches Takami and starts talking about his performance but then subtly adds "Oh by the way, about that cat you were concerned about, it seems its gone to meet a friend, im not entirely sure but it could be friends with the black cat, I've written down the place and times you're likely to find the cat on this memo". She hands this note to Takami and then Sotetsu appears, coming up to Takami and asking who she was, Takami says she's a fan and simply wanted to give him a fan letter but when Sotetsu asks to see it Takami refuses.

Due to all the stresses outside the performance, Taiga messes up part of the show on stage, which makes Kokuyou furious. He punches him in the wings after the show scolding him and telling him not to take the show lightly or he'll be kicked off the team. Takami steps in to defend Taiga, managing to marginally calm Kokuyou down. Sin also comments that the audience can hear them if they continue to make a commotion here. Kokuyou warns that is Taiga makes another mistake, next time he won't hesitate to punch him right off the stage and out the door.

Sin approaches Sotetsu outside a shrine, bluntly asking him why he was at the scene of the recent explosion. Sotetsu tries to weasel his way out, asking what Sin is even talking about, but Sin shuts him down, saying that he saw him there. Sotetsu goes on to say that he wasn't there for any real reason, just a simple curiosity after he heard there'd been an explosion nearby. Sotetsu then asks why *Sin*  was there, to which Sin begins speaking cryptically. Sin gives a warning and but also agrees to help Sotetsu out but 'a helping hand rarely comes free in this world' so Sin will contact Sotetsu again with his conditions.

Taiga did more research and tests on the file, looking back on logs and such and discovered that the file erasing itself wasn't a last ditch trap, but instead the file itself was a program that deletes everything and resets the computer. Taiga explains this to Takami, saying that technically he did hold up his end of the deal and analyse the file. So Taiga asks for the information on Nekome. Takami sighs but agrees, telling Taiga that he'll spill as long as Taiga follows his terms. Don't ask for the sources of his info and also don't tell anyone else about it. Taiga agrees and Takami goes on to explain that that old Starless was hiding a secret that some organisations caught wind of and that Nekome is deeply involved in that secret. Takami theorises that Nekome disappeared because this secret was about to be exposed.

Takami goes on to say that Nekome likely disappeared with a fragment of the evidence so that only the clueless cast members were left behind that Starless. The reason Nekome was able to return again so carefree is because he must no longer have that fragment. And that despite appearing fine on the surface, Nekome is still deep in this secret. Takami then mentions that he got some info that Nekome is supposedly meeting with someone later, Takami is busy however so he suggets Taiga go in his place. Taiga comments that Takami's just using him as his gofer but Takami smiles saying Taiga's going to go either way though, isn't he?

Taiga begins tailing Nekome, wondering who he's going to meet up with. Nekome unexpectedly ducks into an alleyway and Taiga loses sight of him. Nekome then reappears behind Taiga, holding a knife to his throat saying "Move and I'll stab you. I'm assuming you don't want a hole in your throat right?". However after saying this Nekome realises who he's threatening, commenting that he had thought it was just someone who resembled Taiga, not his *actual* brother. Despite this though, Nekome doesn't let up, keeping the knife to Taiga's throat asking who was the one that leaked info on him to Taiga. "You're being used as a decoy. Answer me, just who the hell is it that's using my cute little brother as bait?"

Taiga doesn't rat Takami out and instead declares that he wiretapped Nekome himself, asking what it was that he took from the old Starless building. Nekome appears impressed by this outburst, wondering if they teach you how to have guts at Starless. He finally releases Taiga, who starts heaving, cursing Nekome for holding a knife on his own brother. Nekome then reveals that it wasn't actually a knife but a motorbike key, as long as it has a sharp point the victim doesn't know any better. Nekome says he'll speak a bit about himself out of respect for how courageous Taiga was but says they should change location so that no one overhears them.

The two move to a park and Nekome buys Taiga a canned coffee as an apology, which Taiga begrudgingly accepts. Nekome comments that the park is so peaceful, and Taiga retorts saying that it's quite the contrast to what just happened between them. Nekome goes on to say that the line between the two is only thin, before you know it you could step into something dangerous, he says he's talking about Taiga here and asking if he's been properly watching his step. "I've told you this before, but if you get yourself involved any further than this prepare to be killed in some explosion. Actually, you'd already be dead right now wouldn't you? To a swift stab wound in the throat."

Taiga tries to deny this but shuts up, realising what Nekome's implying. Nekome tells Taiga he should just focus on his show for now or Kokuyou really will throw him out. Taiga angrily agrees, saying that he just has to concentrate on the show, right?

### Closing Chapters

W's closing show goes well and Taiga runs off afterwards to ask Nekome to talk. The two visit the park again and Nekome buys Taiga another coffee. Taiga then asks how Nekome even knew that it was his favourite brand of coffee, since Taiga has no idea what Nekome's favourite drink is. Nekome just says that he knows because he's Taiga's older brother. Taiga goes on to say that he doesn't know anything about why Nekome disappeared or what he was doing and that whether Nekome likes it or not, they're blood relatives. So to that end, Taiga will never stop worrying or care what he gets involved in. Nekome conceeds, saying he can do as he wishes then. After Taiga leaves, Nekome comments that Taiga's just the same as he used to be in the past.

Kei encounters Iwami outside Starless and asks him why he keeps visiting. Iwami reiterates that he's simply checking on Starless like a parent since it's current state is shaky with Haseyama still gone. Iwami says to simply think of him as a fan. Kei is not impressed.

 ←**Previous Chapter** **•**  ****Next Chapter**→**

## Scenes of Note

* Takami is trying to get Iwami to take back the ownership role of Starless.
* Taiga learns new information about Nekome.
* Taiga and Takami learn that the file on the old Starless PC is a file that deletes itself and factory resets the device upon opening it.
* Sotetsu and Sin were both at the site of the recent explosion and are supposedly going to collaborate.
* Takami reveals that Nekome is deeply involved in a secret that was being kept at old Starless and that he likely disappeared because it was about to be exposed.
* Nekome threatens Taiga at knifepoint (which he later reveals to be a motorbike key).
* Despite all the warnings, Taiga is still determined to find out more about his one and only brother.

## Trivia

* Ran mentions Heath being at the hospital, so it is likely he now goes for regular check-ups.
* Mizuki says he wouldn't mind Iwami taking back over Starless, since then everything would return to how it was.
* The super hacker 'b-lock-w' that Taiga looks up to is speculated to be Nekome.