"Roland?"
On another uneventful morning, a familiar voice interrupted Roland's thoughts as he walked back to his apartment. He turned to see Kirei Kotomine, who had just run down the slope.
After their chance encounter that day, the two had become little more than running buddies. All they knew about each other were the names and identities they used in public.
Despite the influence of his past prejudices, Roland had to admit that spending time with Kirei Kotomine was pleasant. Though Kirei was intensely curious about what Roland had said that day, his brooding, reticent personality kept him from doing anything unnecessary.
As he was now, he neither imposed his desires on others nor did anything off-putting, such as probing into their identities or interrogating them about every detail of their lives. He maintained an exquisite sense of distance.
For someone as lacking in a sense of security as Roland, this way of getting along couldn't have been better.
"Ah, sorry, Kotomine. I've had a lot of shifts these past two days. Apparently, the manager's being transferred."
"That would mean you're getting promoted, wouldn't it, Roland? Surely that's a good thing."
Kirei Kotomine couldn't understand why a promotion should bring joy. He was the sort of oddity who regarded everything beyond his objective as something barely worth keeping: he would do it, but feel no regret if he abandoned it.
Still, he did his best to understand those words through the lens of common sense.
"Rather than a promotion, I'd prefer the manager to hurry up and hire another part-timer. I've got another shift coming up, so I'll be going, Kotomine."
Roland pursed his lips and offered no further comment on the matter.
All he needed was a suitable identity. Unlike Yoshikage Kira, who at least cared deeply about his appearance and splurged on designer clothing and other goods, Roland had very few material desires.
"I understand."
Kirei Kotomine nodded and left in silence. That was the extent of their current relationship. Though his heart was full of questions, Kirei Kotomine had always been a serious man, all the more so when confronting the answer he was pursuing.
Lost as he was, he needed guidance to find an answer. To obtain that guidance and truth, he could disregard the wishes of his father and his teacher and abandon every worldly possession he had.
Thus, he was also extremely cautious about whether the other man could provide an answer. Over the past few days, Roland hadn't been the only one observing him. He had been observing Roland as well.
He had no records on Roland, but with the man himself available as a reference, such things were useless anyway.
He trusted his own judgment. His father and his teacher both lived within proper rules, fully integrated into the mundane world. But after observing him over these past few days, Kirei Kotomine was certain that the young man named Roland was different.
He was highly disciplined and managed his time methodically. Even in brief conversations, he offered startling insights into politics, economics, and the roots of social phenomena. His actions were no different. On the first day, he had still run like a beginner, but over the following days, he had gradually adjusted his form until it was perfect. His breathing rhythm never faltered either. He could have served as a textbook example without any issue.
Such excellence in both speech and action could not be concealed. Without a doubt, Roland possessed extraordinary abilities, yet he had a sense of detachment from this world that verged on total isolation. He cared nothing for the recognition and wealth that delighted most people, nor did his exceptional abilities bring any accompanying ambition.
In short, judging only by their lifestyles, Roland was remarkably similar to him.
Yet he was fundamentally different: that passion, that joy, that vitality, as though he had found his purpose.
Halfway down the road, Kirei Kotomine suddenly turned around, looking in Roland's direction, though Roland had long since left the street and was nowhere to be seen.
He could be certain now. Roland had found the [answer].
For the first time in his life, Kirei Kotomine felt a stirring in his heart. He had never felt this way when receiving his father's approval, at his wedding, or when his child was born. Yet Kirei Kotomine's heart told him plainly.
I want to escape this loneliness. I want to end this anguish. I want a companion who can understand me...
-He wanted to become friends with the man named Roland.
"That's strange."
Always mindful of the time, Roland arrived at the store a little early. As he was entering the break room, he suddenly stopped.
He frowned, his face taking on a guarded look as his sharp eyes scanned his surroundings.
Only after a considerable while, once he had confirmed that there was nothing around except the manager yawning behind the counter, did Roland look puzzled.
Whether it was the increase in his vitality and mental strength after becoming a Stand User or intuition brought on by great fortune, Roland occasionally experienced a kind of premonition.
And just now, he had picked up precisely that sort of signal.
It wasn't the sense of danger that came from being targeted by a hunter, but a strange intuition that trouble was coming.
"Have I caught the attention of someone troublesome?"
Roland put the matter out of his mind and entered the break room to prepare for work.
Soon, before opening time, the manager made good on his promise and brought in a new hire to lighten Roland's workload.
"Roland, this is Ryunosuke Uryu. He'll be working with you starting today. Uryu has some part-time experience too, but you're still his senior here, so please look after him as he settles into the job."
"Hello, Roland. I'm Ryunosuke Uryu. I look forward to working with you."
"Likewise."
Though he hadn't intended to dismiss their previous encounter as a coincidence that would never repeat itself, Roland still wore a rather complicated expression when faced with this situation.
Ryunosuke Uryu. Roland had heard that this man apparently regarded his crimes as artistic creations and himself as an artist. Thus, apart from creating his works, he diligently earned his everyday spending money through part-time jobs. He clung firmly to his twisted identity as a serial killer, with a sense of superiority that kept him from associating with the likes of robbers.
But witnessing this in person still felt absurd. With talents on par with a professional assassin's, instead of making a name for himself in the underworld, he was content to work honestly at a convenience store?
Was this something a deranged serial killer should be doing?
After a brief conversation, Ryunosuke Uryu tactfully set to work, leaving Roland and the manager some space.
"Well? Pretty good, isn't he? I was a little surprised during the interview too. Despite his somewhat flashy appearance, Uryu is actually very friendly and easy to get along with."
"I don't doubt that. A few days ago, he lent me a hundred yen when I was in a bind."
"Right? Just like I said!"
The manager happily patted his chest. "Uryu's personality really suits Fuyuki City, doesn't it? Fuyuki used to be famous for its simple, honest people. Ah, I was so lucky to find you two just when I needed staff."
Ignoring the manager's continued musings, Roland lowered his eyes and flexed his fingers with some impatience. The nails he had neatly trimmed just yesterday were now growing slowly but steadily, like fresh buds sprouting, and had gained another centimeter.