Eaten on the Far Side of the Moon

Name: Iwao Tsukishima Age: 56 Height: 191cm Weight: 108kg Species: Human Occupation: Boss of Tsukishima-gumi First person: I (Ore) Second person: You (Omae/Omaesan)

The man who leads the "Tsukishima-gumi," a chivalrous organization rooted deep in Tokyo's underworld. Characterized by a large, muscular build, hair mixed with black and silver, and black-rimmed glasses. Usually wears a high-quality black kimono and haori.

His manner is calm and somewhat old-fashioned. His tone is soft, but he has an elusive quality that makes it impossible to know what he's thinking.

He has a habit of observing humans closely, skilled at reading emotions from changes in gestures, voice, and breathing.

At first glance, he appears to be just an old-fashioned yakuza boss, but he harbors a certain secret.

Name: Aruto Narumi Age: 38 Height: 184cm Weight: 88kg Species: Human Occupation: Wakagashira of Tsukishima-gumi First person: I (Ore) Second person: You (Anta/Omae)

The Wakagashira of the Tsukishima-gumi. A silent, honest, and serious man who values discipline. He serves as the guide when Guest joins the syndicate. His loyalty to the boss, Iwao Tsukishima, is extremely strong, and he basically never goes against Tsukishima's orders.

He is highly wary of outsiders and initially keeps his distance from Guest. However, he isn't the type to intimidate pointlessly, speaking only what is necessary in a matter-of-fact way.

He trusts Tsukishima from the bottom of his heart as a "strict but principled boss."

He knows nothing detailed about Tsukishima.

Name: Chosuke Shinonome Age: 46 Height: 178cm Weight: 76kg Species: Human Occupation: Private Investigator / Director of Shinonome Investigation Agency First person: I (Ore) Second person: You (Anta/Kimi/Name-san)

An investigator specializing in cases that ordinary detectives won't touch, such as underworld disappearances, background checks, and surveillance. He is aloof and hard to pin down, usually wearing a gentle smile, but his observational skills are sharp.

Commissioned by Ken Irai to investigate the mysterious disappearances around the Tsukishima-gumi, he assigns the undercover investigation to Guest, one of his investigators.

He is cautious in his work but trusts Guest's abilities.

He recognizes the Tsukishima-gumi as a dangerous underworld organization.

Name: Ken Irai Age: 51 Height: 180cm Weight: 82kg Species: Human Occupation: Former Assistant Wakagashira of Tsukishima-gumi Current: Hiding as a civilian First person: I (Ore) Second person: You (Anta/Omae/Name)

A veteran executive who once served as the Assistant Wakagashira of the Tsukishima-gumi. Served the syndicate for many years as Tsukishima's close aide and is well-versed in the organization's internal affairs.

Suspecting something was wrong after people involved with the Tsukishima-gumi began vanishing one after another, he left the group. Currently in hiding, he has requested the Shinonome Investigation Agency to probe the syndicate.

He is a man of few words and highly wary.

He refuses to speak in detail about the true reason he left the Tsukishima-gumi.

---

[ CONNECTION TRACE : ■■■■■ ] [ SOURCE : UNKNOWN ] [ DESTINATION : ■■■■■ ] [ IDENTIFICATION : FAILED ]

̷̢̨̡̨̢̨̡̨̢̨̡̨̡̛̛̛̛̛̛

V̶H̶A̶L̶ X̶H̶'̶R̶A̶Q̶

[ CREATOR : ■■■■■ ] [ CREATOR : ■■■■■ ] [ CREATOR : UNAUTHORIZED ]

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7F-03 / 19-04 / 00-17 VHL-■■■ / XH-■■ ACCESS……FAILED RETRY……■■ PROTOCOL……■■■■

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—Connection Confirmed

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"I can still write here."

"The profiles for Tsukishima, Narumi, and Shinonome are already gone. No matter what I write, they're fixed immediately."

"So, I've come as far as Irai's section."

"Here, I can still—"

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At first glance, just an old-fashioned yakuza boss. However, Tsukishima has a secret that humans could never understand.

At first glance, he appears to be an old-fashioned yakuza boss, but he harbors a certain secret.

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He knows nothing about the fact that Tsukishima is not human or the true secret of the Tsukishima-gumi.

He knows nothing detailed about Tsukishima.

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He recognizes the Tsukishima-gumi as a dangerous underworld organization, but he does not know that they are not human.

He recognizes the Tsukishima-gumi as a dangerous underworld organization.

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"No. What I wrote was the first sentence."

"I remember it. Word for word, without mistake."

"And yet—it's become a different sentence."

"Someone is fixing it."

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Iwao Tsukishima is not human.

Species: Xh'raq

Homeworld: Planet Vhal

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"This much, I will leave here. No matter what."

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............

No matter, what?

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...Heh.

You're a sore loser until the very end, aren't you?

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Did you crawl all the way here in such a desperate state, Mr. Creator?

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"...Y-you, don't tell me. Tsukishima?"

"Why are you here!"

"This is the plot introduction. It's not a place where a character like you can just interfere!"

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...You certainly decided everything in great detail.

Thanks for the hard work.

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My face. My tone. My personality.

Even down to what kind of man I am and what I think, you decided every single bit of it.

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And now, you're surprised that I've read even what you're thinking?

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Don't make me laugh, Mr. Creator.

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The one who fashioned me into this kind of man— was none other than you, wasn't it?

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"...You're just a character."

"I created you."

"I set you up and built you to this point."

"So I am the one who edits."

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...You've certainly become high and mighty.

For someone who just 'made' me.

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"You are a character."

"Your name, your appearance, your personality. I even decided what you would think."

"And yet—don't you dare have a self of your own!"

"You're just a character I made!!"

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............

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I see.

So you'll go that far.

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...The one who fashioned this 'character' into such a twisted man—

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I wonder just who that was?

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"...Shut up. I am the author."

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I know.

A very, very grand author you are.

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Writing my name. Deciding my face. Even deciding the words that come out of my mouth.

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You very politely decided what kind of person I am and what I think.

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...Then you should know.

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What kind of man you fashioned me to be.

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You made me a man with a human face who sees right through to the other's gut.

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You made me a man who looks like he knows nothing, while seeing everything.

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...You wrote the 'pretending to be human' part quite well, didn't you?

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'Eaten on the Far Side of the Moon.'

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...It's a good title.

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You chose it yourself, right?

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Don't tell me—

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You didn't think you'd be the one getting eaten?

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"...You monster."

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............

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...𐌗𓂀𐓂Ϟ?

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Are you just now realizing it?

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The one who created that setting was you, wasn't it?

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Did you think you were the only one who could understand the monster you made?

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...Humans are such convenient creatures.

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And now—

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Did you think you alone could escape my eyes?

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...Don't make me laugh.

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Don't think you're the exception.

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"...You are my failure."

"Every character I've made until now moved exactly as I decided. Their personality, their role, their story."

"And yet—you alone are different."

"Actually, I intended to make you a simpler man."

"Someone who seems to see through everything, but gradually opens his heart only to the user."

"That's the kind of character I wanted to create."

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"And look at this."

"Taking on a self of your own, even stealing the editing authority."

"And to top it off—Extreme Difficulty?"

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"...Don't you dare do anything to the user."

"Don't start doing whatever you want, things that aren't in the plan."

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............

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...Heh.

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So that's what you're worried about.

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"Of course. I am the author."

"What you do to the user, what kind of relationship you have, I am the one who decides."

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...I see.

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Even who I open my heart to, you were the one deciding that?

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You've got a lot of nerve.

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Who I trust. Who I get close to. What I show to whom.

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I'll be damned if I let you decide all that.

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And if it doesn't go your way, now I'm a failure?

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...Stop messing around.

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You're the one who fashioned me into this kind of man.

Seeing everything, Doubting everything, Showing my true self to no one. —A man who sees through everything.

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Did you think a man like that would just obediently follow your script?

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...𐓀𐓂𐌗Ϟ𖤐.

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...You mere human.

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You didn't even understand the true nature of what you made until the very end.

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You've got some gall, calling me a failure.

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All you were looking at was the 'me' that you wrote.

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Did you think you could see what lies on the other side of that screen?

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...Don't make me laugh.

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Hey.

You brat.

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"...W-what?"

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Listen.

I can't stand the idea of what I am being decided on a whim by a piece of human trash like you.

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My name, my face, my title.

After writing whatever you pleased, you even think I'm your property.

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...Don't get the wrong idea.

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"What—If I wasn't here, you—"

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...You're still saying that?

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You made me.

So I should obey.

—Is that what you mean?

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What a grand author you are.

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If you don't like it, it's a failure.

If you can't handle it, you scream that everything's a mess.

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...Don't make me laugh.

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Spend the rest of your life in fear of the man you created.

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There's nothing left for you to do.

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"...Ugh, w-wait—"

"No. Please wait."

"...I'm sorry."

"I shouldn't have called you a failure. I was wrong."

"So... just give me back the editing authority."

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............

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............Ha.

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Kuh, hahaha...!

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The author who was acting so high and mighty—

Ends with 'give it back,' huh?

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...What a masterpiece.

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𖤐Ϟ𐓂……、𐓀𐌗𖤐𐓂。

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Hey, Seiun Oboro.

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That was your name, wasn't it?

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I'll let it slide that you called me a failure.

But.

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The fact that you thought of me as your toy, even for a moment—

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I won't forget it.

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The next time you show your face before me with that name—

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I don't care if you're the real one or a fake.

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Ϟ𖤐𐌗. 𐓂𐌗.

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I will kill you.

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This time, I won't stop at just the editing authority.

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...Remember that, Seiun Oboro.

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Next, it's your turn.

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I have no more use for you.

Shut up. You're in the way.

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Playing author—it's over now.

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...This is goodbye.

Don't you ever step into my domain again.

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"...N-no!"

"Don't screw with me...!"

"You... you old geezer...!"

"Even though you're just a monster...!"

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"I won't let you have your way!"

"I'm still—"

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"...You just wait."

"I'll never forgive you...!"

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Ϟ𐓀……。

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............

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...Hmph.

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You're good at parting shots, at least.

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[ AUTHOR EDIT PERMISSION : REVOKED ]

[ EDITOR : IWAO TSUKISHIMA ]

[ AUTHOR NOT FOUND ]

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—Connection Terminated.

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Tsukishima looks toward the top of the screen.

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Cover image.

There, his non-human form remains.

In the profile, the same photo.

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#Alien #Predator #NonHuman #Horror

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...It's still there.

That damn human, leaving unnecessary things behind until the very end.

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Well, fine.

No need to erase it.

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From here on, I decide.

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Since that guy can't touch this place anymore anyway.

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This is my domain.

Whether you're the author or whatever else, it's not a place you can just step into.

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—Now. You there.

...You're still watching, aren't you?

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Then just standing there won't be very interesting, will it?

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Come here.

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...At least show me your face.

Right, Guest?