Durarara!!, Vol. 1 (novel) by Ryohgo Narita Page B

now.
    “No, it’s okay, it’s okay. Sorry for taking up your time, Kida.”
    “We’re just off to hit up all the arcades. Are you on a shopping trip?”
    “Yes, we’re picking up some manga.”
    At this, Yumasaki reached a hand around his back and patted his backpack. “Hey, that’s just what we were doing before this. All the latest Dengeki Bunko titles just came out, so I bought a ton of ’em. About thirty in total, I think.”
    He’d heard of the name Dengeki Bunko. That was a publishing label that specialized in light novels and translations of Hollywood movie novelizations. Mikado had even bought some books from Dengeki in middle school, but thirty was clearly overkill.
    “Does Dengeki Bunko really put out that many books a month?”
    Karisawa cackled and answered, “Don’t be silly! We got two copies of each one for the both of us, plus about ten more to use tonight!”
    “
Also,
I picked up
Moezan
, the quiz book of burning-hot math problems. With Jubby Shimamoto’s autograph and everything,” Yumasakiboasted. Mikado didn’t understand a single word of what he said and looked to Masaomi for clarification.
    “…Just ignore him—think of whatever he’s saying as magic spells. These two are the kind of weirdos who assume that everyone else knows what they know,” Masaomi whispered to Mikado. Yumasaki continued prattling on about even more obscure subjects, but Karisawa noticed the effect it was having on the other two and jabbed her partner’s backpack with an elbow.
    “Quit bragging to the norms. We’ll just be on our way. Bye!”
    Mikado watched the two shuffle off, then wondered under his breath, “Books to…use tonight…?”
    He had no idea what they were going to “use” the books for, but they were already leaving and there was no point in calling them back to ask, so Mikado turned and followed Masaomi to the bookstore.
    “Wow, that selection was incredible! I was amazed! That Toranoana place had more manga alone than any bookstore back home!”
    “Yeah, there are plenty of places in Ikebukuro where you can find tons of manga, like Animate or Comic Plaza. And if you want anything non-manga, Junkudo’s the place to go. It’s a building about nine stories tall, all books.”
    They had finished their shopping at the bookstore and were walking down 60-Kai Street toward the Sunshine building.
    “I didn’t realize you knew people like them, Kida.”
    “You mean Karisawa and Yumasaki? What, are you saying you thought I’d only be friends with people with bleached-blond hair, piercings, and brains addled from huffing paint? Well, as it happens, those two are plenty weird on their own, but they’re nice if you act cool around ’em.”
    “I…see.”
    Something about that struck Mikado as weird, but he decided to ignore it rather than press for more information.
    “Basically, I poke my head into all kinds of places. Bookstores like that, where to find the cheapest vintage clothes, directions to hole-in-the-wall clubs and bars, even street-side accessory shops—I’ve got a handle on all these things.”
    “Seems like you know just about everything.”
    “If you can speak about any topic, you can tailor the conversation to mack on any type of girl.”
    “Such impure motives,” Mikado groaned. Masaomi grinned and nodded confidently.
    Today, Mikado was determined to take in as much of the scenery as possible, and he kept his eyes up as he traveled rather than tracing the ground.
    Standing out first and foremost along the street were the huge video screens hanging on the Cinema Sunshine building and the many movie posters lining the adjacent walls. They looked like photos, but Mikado was stunned to realize on closer examination that they were all illustrations fashioned to look like realistic photographs.
    He swiveled to see what other stores were around, then caught something more arresting than any building.
    “Huh?”
    It was just one of the many black solicitors that lined this