Wa k a H i r a ko

MY BROKEN MARIKO ... 003

YISKA ... 155

 In the
early
hours
of the
twenty-
eighth, the
body of a
...after she twenty-
fell from six-year
her fourth- old woman
floor ...was found from
apartment by her Nakano
balcony. neighbors... Ward,
Tokyo...
u
(sl ruruu
r p)
uuu
u
Zur
u

The
(slup)
Zuzuu

deceased
had
swallowed
a large
quantity
of sleeping
pills...
o p)
(slo in

Zu
zu r

(si p)

Zu

...was Mariko Ikagawa,

my Best the woman who
friend. died that day...
1 ESCAPE
 Thanks—
come
again!

...no
I mean, way...
we just
hung
out last
week...

Even
though
...those I was “Go
three supposed straight ...like She
words to stop at home.” she was didn’t
were all one more suicidal seem...
I could location or any-
think of. that after-
noon...
thing.
...like...

She
...that didn’t have
I any bruises,
remem- cuts, or
ber... broken
bones...
 Wait—so i
Su e)
is it not a (sw
ip
mistake...?

She’s not
picking up.
Even my
messages
aren’t being
marked
“read.”
i
Su

......

Gan
(wham)

Baki
)
(crack
 Sorry. My You blew off one of your
best friend appointments yesterday,
died. Work didn’t you? You’re on thin ice,
Look here, y’know. Do you realize what
Shiino-san. was the last
you’ve done? the company’s
That’s no thing on my reputation, yada yada...
mind.
excuse to
ditch work.

Giko
(cr eak)

Kiss
my ass,
SMOKING
you
piece of
BREAK ROOM
crap...

8
 Talk to Is there
me, Mariko. O…
HWO
gonna be
Isn’t there a wake or
anything I something...?
can do for I can’t I mean,
you even do neither of
though anything us have many
you’re gone? for her... friends...
Anything at again.
all...?

And
anyway,
there’s no
way her
shitty dad’s
gonna hold
some big
funeral.

Her
ashes...
 Gi k)
r
r
(g ga
(klak)

ga

a
gas
ga

gasa
(rustle)

Goso e)
m ag
(r u m
ga

M iii n
r up)
(chir

M in

M in

Mi
 Hey, Mariko.
Okay! m in
’Kay, then ...it’d be Wanna light
Works m in
let’s meet up kinda sad fireworks tonight?
for me! m ii
at Choo Choo
i to play with I won some as a
Train Park them alone, prize, and,
around six right? like...
Omigosh! I
thirty. wanna light
fireworks!!

M ii in
ii in

CA W W W
CA W W W !
KRA W W !
W!
She’s
late...

Guess
I’ll go
to her
place.

Gashaa
ga
n
)
an
(crash) The first CA
WW CA W !
am
(wh floor of W!
Happy Life
Manors,
did she
kuwan
(clam or say? FIR EWO RKS
)

garan
(clatter
)

ki ko
(squi k)

gar
a n
ki ko

n
gara ki ko

!!
 Gon

You wanna go Where

play when you do you
Mariko !!! ...m
sorry!
haven’t even think
...! I’m gago
sorry! cooked!? (crack
)
you’re
dota
I don’t think bata
(th ud) goin’,
so! Apologize, (stomp
) huh!?
dammit! Answer bata

me, idiot!
Stupid!!

Go n
Say (wham
)

you’re Goto
(thump)
sorry!
Say it!

n Gagan
Marikoooo!
Ga g)
Mari...! Open
)
n (thwam
(ba

up! Open this

damn door!! I’ll
call the cops,
dammit!!! I’ll call
110, you hear me!?
Open the door,
asshole!! Open
Get the up right now!!
hell out
here, God
Ba m)
(b

dammiiit!!!
n
a

Baki
(crack)

Gacha
(kachak
)

...
 Gii
)
(cr eeak

HFF! HFF!
HFF…

I’m...
I can’t so...
Sor...ry.
play
Mariko... today...
I’ll save
you this
time. I’m
coming,
Mariko.
 He has the
same address.
That bastard
is still living
here.

I’m not
afraid of
you...I’ve got
a big damn
knife hidden
Mariko...
on me. Yeah,
that’s right.

I’ll
liberate
my best
friend’s
You’re ashes, even
in there, if I have
aren’t to stab
you? somebody
to do it.

15
 Ah, hello!
So sorry to bother Ki nkoo on
ng)
d osu (ding-do
you, I’m sure you must (th m p) ......
be terrrribly busy.
I’m from the Hatomune ...
Corporation, and yes? dosu

my name is Shiinooo,
and right now, we’re
... actually going door-
to-door in your area d os
u
asking community
members if they have
any problems. please,
is there any chance
dosu
you could spare
just a fewww
minutes of your
time to speak
to meee?

kacha
e)
(rattl
a
ch
ka

su
ra
su
ra
su
(sm raaa
oo
th
)

This lady
is Kyouko
Tamura-san, God
the woman knows this Problems
he married Excuse household ...?
four years me? oh, I is up to
ago! Mariko knooow! its neck in
told me problems.
about it!

gin
(glare)
Gac
(ka ha
ch a
k)

gin

16
 Oh, but I’m sure you have sooo many
questions! why, we could be standing here
all day! why don’t we go inside and discuss
it over tea? Oh, come now, no need to worry
if you need a teapot! why, I have one right
here! This is also one of our products—
products— it’s
Bizen ware or Arita ware or something... I’m here to listen to your
household’s problems and
concerns and introduce you
to the solutions you need
to address them. we have
all sorts of specialized
products based on the
latest research, and we’d
like you to try them out
for yourself. that’s
the basic service

SOBBB ,
we’re offering
todaaay.

SOB , Oh please, I’m begging

you! If I can’t at least get
SOB! someone to listen to my spiel,

BLOO -
my asshole of a boss will ku ne
totally sack meeeeeeeee!

HOO- mm?

HO O
O!
Uh-
huh
...?

Y O U ’D m es
BE (we o
ep)
S A V IN G
MY
!
B A CO N
ku ne
m es
o (wiggle)

Good
grief...
You can
seeing
come inside
and rest a young
for a bit thing like
before you you...
Thank
go.
you,
ma’am!
Thank
you so
much...!

...reminds
me of
my own
struggles
as a young
woman
new to
Tokyo.

17
 Oh,
not at
all! Sorry
I’ll get you It’s it’s such
some tea. cleaner a mess.
Sit wherever than back
you like. in middle
school.

If
she...

She’s
...maybe a good
mariko’s ...had person...
homelife married
would Mariko’s
have been dad If this
a little sooner... lady...
better.

Mariko’s
mother...
And
then
Mariko...

...got back
together
with Mariko’s
father and
tried to ...would
rebuild still
the family be...
when Mariko
started high
school.
 In those
days,
Mariko was Having her
desperate mother, who
to be “good” had left while
every second Mariko was in
of every grade school,
minute of come back...
every day. I think Mariko
was on cloud
nine.

She was
convinced that
as long as she
was good, she
could keep her
mom tied to the
household.

Listen
to this...

...Shii-
chan.

My
mom...

...left
again.

19
 She said
it’s all my
fault.

That
I’m to
blame.

That
I...

...and She said

that’s why that I
he “made a “seduced”
move” on Dad...
me.

Shii-
...What chan...
...might am I
never Mom... going
come home to do?
again...
20
SWEET
MILD
SAKE
Eh!?

Dog
as
(kra haaan
a as
h)
 What...

How
did you What’s
get in going
here...!? on!?

AH !

Who’re
you!?

That’s my
daughter’s
altar, you
little...!

a
Ka a )
rn
(bu

Guchaa
ked)
(wr ec

Do ka
p)
(wh om

What
the hell
have you
done to
it!?
 Oh my Wait a...
Stop it!! Oh my God!
Stop
Stop!! God!!
What’s
it this
instant!!
going on!?
a
Do k

D o ka

Huh
Honey!! Do ka !?
What
are you
doing!?
Do k
a

k oFF!
h A g k!
Gui

I’ll call (yan k)

the
police!!!
Honey!!
I said
stop it!!!

GHk!
Goso
(shff)

!!
Hyu n
(swis
h)

25
 gata
)
(tremble

gata

Aaaa-
uwaa- gata
Ah...!
aaah! aaaa- gata
Ah...!
Aaaa- aaaa- Aaa a-
aaah!! aaah! gat
a aa ah!
aaaA-
ahh!!! ga
ta

a
gat

gata

gata

What’s
wrong
with
this
crazy
bitch!?

wh—!!
When she
was in high
school...!
You raped
your own
daughter!
 When
she was
...like in middle
she was school,
your you treated
slave! your own
daughter...
...!!

You!!
You, When
of all she was
people!! in grade
school,
you took
your own
daughter’s
mother
from her!
 You
don’t
...it get to
makes mourn!!
me It’s so
wanna fucking
puke!!! fake...
 ...

Mariko...

I’m
W Tomoyo
h I don’t Shiino,
a care if I Mariko’s
t have to friend
!? stab you— since
I’m taking forever!
Mariko’s
ashes!

ra
Ga e)
id
(sl

Ga
ck)
(wha
Give That’s
Sto— them crazy!
ungh! back!!! Stop it,
Hon!
dammit!!

Give them
back,
dammit!!
Give
them
back Enough!
Honey,
just !!
stop!!
 !!

Mariko-
ooo!

Ma’am!

a
w h)
Bu o s
o
fw
(
Mari...
 Yeah,
right.

n go r Dosa )
o
(r oll mp
) (whu

go r o

go r o

za
(frsh
)

za

za za

za

Bashaaan
(kerspla
sh)
 Buh- Go b o
)
(glu b
ha!
Gobo

bo
Go b o

Zaba
(blo o
sh)

Hff! b as h a Hoh!
(spla
hwEez! sh)

basha
Haff!

hyee!
Bacha
)
(squ elch

Kahak!
Koff,
Blarf!

KOFF!
kaff...
hah... haah! haah! Koff!

33
 You’re the It’s all
one who because
ruined
It’s all
you did
everything, something your fault!
so don’t so wrong Bash i
(thwak
) All of it!!
Enough!! I blame me!! to your
can’t take it own
anymore...!! child...!!

Gashan
(crash)

Par in
(shatter)

Answer
me!! Why
You... does it
always
What’s turn
wrong out this
way?
with
you...!?
 Pota
Haff! (pli p)

Pota

Hff!

Hff...
Hff! Huff!

Hah!
 I
remembered
the many
letters As I ran, I
Mariko had remembered.
given me up
to this point.
2 LET’S GO TO HAWAII
 Jar i
ch)
(kr n

Hff!

Hah!

Haa!

Hff!

Za
(zsh)

Za
Za

Haah...
To
Shii-chan:
Hello!
I’m glad we’re in the
sam e class. You’re
alwa ys smoking, but
you smell so good.
I wonder why...?
From Mari

40
 za
)
(zsh
ri
ja h)
nc
(kr Huff!
...that’s
’cos I
carried
bathroom
...so air
the smoke freshener
smell around
za wouldn’t with me...
give me away
to the damn
teachers...

za
hff!

Hff!

jari

Hff!

Haa! jari
 W
W W
H E
H W
E E E E
E E Z E
E Z E. Z
Z E. ..
.. ..
.
.
..

gach
(rat a
W
tle) H
gacha E
E
Z
E
...
kachan
gaku
(kachak)
(wo bble)

gaku
gaku

gaku

Giii i
eak)
(cr ee
 Batan
(slam)

Hoo
...

Fwoo
...

ko FF!

Bos
(thu a
Hurts m p)

like hell
where he
kicked
me...

43
 Dwa—

Hua-
choo!!
Choo!
Fwa- ...bwa-
choo!! choo!!

Mari-
ko!!

Ch o o!
o
Por )
op
(dr

...if You Catch

Can. Me...

Da
(wsh
)

Dota
(thud)
45
 Gasa

Gasa

Gasa
(rustle)

Posu
go s
(fm p) (r u m o
mage)

o
go s
gasa

...and In fact,
they they may They’re
might have probably
know called reporting me
where I my office to the police
live... already... right now...

Gas
a

gasa
goso
 Paka
(pop)
Aha!
Found
it!

Ma
ri k
oI
ka
ga
wa

You
...
really
loved
writing
letters,
didn’t
you...?

Ah!!
I left I need
my ...medicinal this, and...
my
shoes sake? I
guess I bankbook...
!! and,
don’t need
that... uhhhh...

OME
I R A N HO O T !
B A R E F

47
 Byaaan
(babang)

The Dr.
Martens Awww, can’t go back
I bought yeah! for them now.
with my Maybe I’ll bust
very first out those...
paycheck!
I wore
these
every-
where!

Air
fresh-
ener,
b us
huu
u Geez, these
go!
things reek!
They stink of
mildew!
... bushus
hu
)
(pshhh
 But I don’t m iii i
m in
We used
think we’re m ii ii
in to go to my Shii-chan,
going this are you going
grandma’s
year ’cos of anywhere
house every
my parents’ over summer
year.
divorce.
vacation?

(chirr up
m iiii in
)
hey,
Let’s Mariko.

m iiii in
go to the
Just beach.
the two
of us...
mii iiin

sh owa
(bzzz)

sh owa
I wanna
go.

sh owa

To the
beach...
 But I
My dad can’t.
will get
mad.
 Don’t
worry.
No one’s
gonna get
mad at you
anymore.

Let’s Come on,

go... Mariko.

...to the
beach.

51
 Let’s
take off
together.
53
54
 Heh
heh!

First
things
“The first—gotta
Guess I
beach” decide where
is we’re going. shouldn’t
pretty read these
broad... while I’m
walking...

KF F
!

Where
do I want
to go?
Let’s see...
I think I’d
like to go to
Hawaii! Just
kidding.
Ha-ha.
 “Mariko, Blargh...
where It’d be
do you so much
wanna easier if
go?” I could
ask her in
Piko
person...
(bip)

o
Go s )
tl
(rs

I can
send you
messages...

M a ri k o
Re ad G otch a.

M arik o ...but
they don’t
FEB. 28 W here ru??
Ru ok reach you
M aralivike?o anymore...
Are you

TOD AY go?
u w an na
where do
 Heh!

I don’t
know
about
you...

58
 Hey,
Mariko...Did
you really
die without
leaving me
a single
letter?

...but
honestly, as
far as I’m
concerned,
you were all
I had.

Where
am I
supposed
to go...?

...your I
ashes. have...
I can’t go
to Hawaii
with them
in my arms.

59
 Ha!
Ha
ha!

Now I’m
composing
freaking
poetry.

Chi ka
(blink)

60
 S
n
f
f
!

n
h
!

g
h
..
.

g
n
h
..
.
!
S
n
k
!

Shii-
chan.
 Shii-chan, Shii-chan.
look!

It’s
I want called
to go “Mari”
there! gaoka
Cape!

Ba
t)
(jol
 Mari...
gaoka...
...Cape...

z
(sp abaa
laa
as h
)

63
I want
to go.

......

Zabaa
(splaa
ash)
 D
(da a
sh
)

Marigaoka
Cape!!

There
was a
place...
 a
or
kk e)
yo doz
(

F
W
su
Dos p) O
(th o
om
O.
..
 sfx: kata (clacka) kata kata kata kata kata ka

Ta
(tap)
ar i
Pak ip)
(fl
tan

sfx: kakaka katatata tata

tan

G
(ru o o o
uum
ble
)

sa
Ka kle)
in
(cr

68
 “Dear
Shii-
chan...

“In my dream, it was “Last

a pitch-black night, night
Lights
and the two of us I had a
off, were walking to your dream
please... grandma’s house.” about
you.

Fu
t)
(ff

“But I could tell “You said, ‘My

you were lying, so I grandma lives
knew we could keep in Hawaii, so
walking down that we’ll have to
night road together jump on a plane
forever, and that somewhere.’
made me so happy.”
 zaba
zaba
(spls
hh)

zaba
zaba
3 REMEMBER ME
 ho ka
(steam
)

ho ka

Chi iin
(ding)

Nn n
(r iiing)

......
...

73
 ga Pek
ga p) ga (sn i
m ap)
ho
(c
ga

kako
(klaka)

ka k o

ko
ka (klik
k) )
(kla
ko ...nh.

ka
......
ko

wash i

washi
(snarf)

gashi
(ch ew)
gashi

i
wash gashi

74
PW
AA
H...

bo
sh u b )
(fzzt

...and
my sleep- My body
deprived aches
mind feels from being
as lousy jostled for
as it would ten hours
after straight
downing on the
two pints overnight
of beer. bus...

...
CH I RP

...
CH I RP

75
 ...that I when I did
was being manage
beaten all to doze, I
night by dreamed...
Mariko’s
father.
 like I’m Tatan
gonna (katak
)
Gatatan
(clatt
answer. Goto n
er)

I’m on (rattl
e)
vacation,
dumbass!

Bu u u
r)
(vrr
Bu u u

n
Gototo

ss
le Bo
A s sh o
g C all in
I n co m
Bu u u

Uto
p)
(dr o o

Buuu

Buuu

n
gototo

gatatan
...I’ll If you
die. ever get a
boyfriend...

Huh?
 ...die.
I mean it.
I’ll...

What’s Uh...
up with I don’t
you? exactly
plan on
getting
one...

Something
bad
happen?

I never
have a
day when
something
doesn’t.
 Gatan
)
(kaclack

Tatan
(katak
)

gatat
at
(clatt an
gototo er)
n
(rattl
e)
 Ugh...
I’ve
...so got...
many
other
memo- tatan
Did I
ries. really
have to
remember
that right
now...?
n
gatata
gototon

Other...

toto n

...
memo-
ries...
 Pi ki
(twitch
)

Maritsuki
Next stop, Station—
Maritsuki
Station...

Byun
(zoom)
I’m sleep-
deprived.
It’s the
lack of
sleep!!
 LOW-FLOOR BUS uu
sh h)
Pu shh
(p
u

... BU S T HA NK S. ..
DR IV ER !

n
uuu
Go r m )
r
(vr

Zazaaan
(splshhh)

Za a
(fs a
hh)

Mmn!!

Mm!?

83
 da
(tm p)

da That
sound!!
da It’s...
The
Za pls
(s

beach!
za h
zo h h
oo )
z oz

n
oo
on

...the
bea-
Is that
the
beach!?
Buiii iii
ii
(vr e
ee)
 What!?

The...

...fu—

Bii ii
 ...
A
T
C
H
E
“Catcher”? ? RR
R
!
..
.
S
N
A
T
C
H
E
R
!

AA
AA AA b
s a
AA
Biiii i

A (vr ee)

AA A n g
!H A a
H
! t
c
h
e
r
r
r
!!

......
.........
......
“catcher”?

bu
bu
(v bu
r o bu
om iiii n
)

86
 Are you
okay? Yes, a bag Ohhh...
snatcher!

A bag
snatcher...

Do I
look
okay!?

Is You
this guy ...okay look...
picking to me...

a fight
with me?

He got away
How with all my
could I stuff, and now Me- My wallet, my
possibly I’m stuck in a
dicinal
sake? smartphone, my
be place I’ve never medicinal sake...
okay!?
been without a
single yen!
 Wait...

U H H H .. . Ah!

Mariko’s
letters...!!

N-no...Th-that
guy...the thief
just now...
I-I have to go
after him...!

My best My...
friend’s...
My BFF’s
letters...!
They were
inside...!

Inside
that
back-
pack...!!
 o
dab )
mp
(sto

bo

bo

)
(zo uuu n
om
oo
Py
bo

J
(kr ari
nc
h)

...huh?
ri
Zu ip)
l
(s

......

89
 C AW ! Zaaaan
(fshhh)

C AW !

SNIFF!
fura
(sway)

CAW ...
a
fur

C AW ...

......

Oh
sh—

Mariko
...!!
 Did you
...your find...
bag?
No...

Sounds
about
right.

Uh...
Were you EA S Y.. .
waiting
a person here this
can’t just whole
abandon time with
something those...?
like that,
can they?

... DO ES
IT...

Some-
one’s
ashes.

Zowawa
(shiver)
N- ...Do you
n... have any By
the
waw
a
Huh?
MONEY ? by...
It N...
got
I stolen
e don’t My
with
e have a
the wallet
sin-
e gle... rest! was
e in my
k bag! No! I
! don’t
have
any!
u
Gy ip)
r
(g
 o
Pot )
p
(plo

LE D
A CR U M P SA N D - That should
-T H O U
F IV E .. . be enough
Y E N B ILL to get you
through the
day, so...

Kasa
(cri nkle
)

Thanks...
I swear well,
Des-
I’ll pay you perate
back...C-could times...
you give me
your name and
address?

Go kuri
(gulp)

I’m
...important. nobody...
 He’s
... I should
Makio-
...... be going
kun from
now.
Narita
Mart.
Got it.

n
aa
Za hh)
(fs

a
hir p)
a
(fl ira
h

NARITA
MART,
MAKIO

su
Dos p)
m
(thu

You’re
all set!
Enjoy!

go
)
(glug
go

go

93
 B
W
A
urp! A —kaaaa...
H
!

I got pity
money from
Right, a total
Mariko...?
But stranger,
booze is and I’m using
booze... it to drink?
I make
myself
sick.

U
R
R
P
!

Good grief... WA-HA- Geez,

You’ll
never get a HA-HA... Shii-
chan!
sweetheart
like that...

You
shouldn’t
waste your
hard-earned
bonus
somewhere
like this!
 -HA
han
kac k)
(cla
n
HA-HA-HA...
Gacha
(clink)
Hey, that
guy back
there, he
was nice.
GA-H A
A-HWAA--HHA-HA. Oh,
..

GYA -HA -HA-HA-HA!

get
off my
back.
Gu bi
)
(gulp

U
R
P If I ever
! get married, I
want to marry
someone like
that.

...who But you

would love know, I’d
someone settle for
like me. anyone...

Do
(wh n
a m)
...dam- You
mit! had
me...
 n
h aa
Gac sh)
a
(cr

o
go r
l)
(r ol o
go r o
go r

Yo
(wo r o
b bl
e)

We’ll Hey, ladies Now Where You

buy you shouldn’t how come ya startled
a drink. drink you’re all from? You us!
Come alone. Your by your all right
join us! womanhood’ll lonesome? there,
wither away!! missy?

Huh?
 My Love-
How chan’s been
constipated You look like that lady
old lately,
who’s on TV all the time
Men like are and...
lately—uhh, what was
to flirt ya? her name again? Hey,
with young Yeah, you got what’s
the face of a TV I’ve got a
ladies, Hey, star who’s let your
no matter you know herself go.
daughter name,
how old that Tomita around
at Takemoto your age!
missy?
they get!
Cameras? I hear
his wife’s got People
always tell
depression! And me I look
she used to be like Etsushi
Toyokawa.
such a happy the actor,
you young thing! y’know.
sure I just don’t Like they
do! That
understand say, “treasure
reminds
me! The kid it. every meeting!”
from Narita I have It could be
My
Love- Mart—he this dog, a once in a
chan still loafing Kiiiin Labrador
(skr eech)
lifetime!
loves around?
celery named Love-
and... chan.

HA
Are we
gonna get HA HA Uh-
oh!
in trouble,
yakkin’ away H A .. . HA
like this
They nowadays?
call it
“sexual
harass-
ment”
Sh... now...

up!

Shut!
 G
R
E
I don’t

E
E
have time

E
!
to chitchat
with you old
farts!! I’m
not going to
be able to
communicate
with Mariko
anymore,
dammit!
Graaaah!

A
A
A
A
H .. ..
. .

...even
though I— My
I thought memories
she was of her
such a keep fading
pain... away, even
so many as I stand
times...! here!
I’ll only
be able to
remember
her as
perfect...
 AA
u
u
a
a
A A A H!
a
a
h
!

a
a
a
a
a
h
!
 Kashan
(clatter)

Don’t
be
stupid
...!
 I
won’t...

...forgive
you.

If you fall
in love with
someone...

...
...you start and
If you ...
abandon caring about
me and them more
disappear... than me...

102
 Gyu )
(gr
ip
If you
leave me,
I’ll never
forgive
If you you...
start to
hate me...

...I...

...for the
rest of
my life.

I’ll
I swear die!
I will!
 What are
you talking
You’re about...?
the most You don’t
important have to make
person in threats like
my life. that.

Hey, ......
Eek! missy,
you
okay...?

aa
ss p)
Ba wa
(f

suta
(str ide)

owner.
suta
My bill.

su Hey,
wait! It’s
dangerous
I’m serious! for girls
to be out
This Keep the alone at
area’s had change. night!
ha
Kus ple) reports of
um
(cr a molester
lately!!

suta
suta
suta
 i
jar )
ch
(kr n i
jar

jari
jar i Zaaan
(splsh
hh)

Zozaaa
(sploshh
h)
zaaan

jari

jar i

......!

jari

105
 S
n
r
r
S r
n k
o !
r
r
r
k
!

zaba
(splash)

zaba
 ...in our And
“Showa now, for
Memories the next
Special”— song...

Taah-la-
Paah-la-
laa-lee-
la-la-lee-
laaa-la-
laaaa—
laaaa—
♪
♪

—♪
—♪
—♪

—♪
—♪
4 FREEFALL
 Zazaa
a
(fshh a
h)

Zabaaa
(splshh)

109
 To be You’re
able to sleep tough,
drunk outside Biku aren’t
in a place (jolt
) you?
you’ve never
been.

...talk
...... about
living
on the
edge.

Zabaaaa
(splshh)

110
 Do you
have what
...say you need?
again?

goso
e)
(r ustl

SNRF! I can
give you
a hand if
go s o
you need
it...

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

u
pak
)
(thp

111
 F
W
O
O. Sh u b o
.
. (fzzt)
..
.

I’ll I’m
think of sorry
something... about
I gave before your
That
it to you I leave money.
was
because town...
yours.
I wanted so...
to.

gari
)
(scratch
gari

...but
you can’t You might
give in to have come
despair. here because
Zazaaa something bad
(fshhh)
happened...

112
 People
Heh can’t think
heh... straight ...and Take a
without get bath...
those enough
things. to eat.

...get
some
sleep...

EE !
ER ! - EE- E
take T S EE EE- EE
care of S KR Heh-
your- heh-heh...
self... yeah, you
might be
right...

...please.

113
 Think I
said the
same
thing...

...to
her.

TS EER! But...
SCRE E-
EE E-
EE E-
EE. ..

...it never
... amounted
to jack.

114
 No matter
...it was how much I
...gotta
...I... never poured my
go.
enough. She heart into
was in a showing
place where her I was
I couldn’t worried...
do anything
for her.

(fw Go o
oo o
os
h)
 ch a
ga tle)
t
(ra do n

Or I’ll Mariko- (bam

)

call some chaaan! do n

friends of Open
my ooown! uuuup!

gach
a

do
n

Don’t you
Get lost!!
ever set
I called
foot near
the cops!!
Mariko
again,
scumbag
!!

Ha
ha...
Ahhh,
There’s yes,
a man hello, is
trying this the
to break police!?
into my
apart-
ment!
 Byuu
(bwoosh
)

Sometimes...
I started to
I didn’t know
understand you
what to do.
less and less.

It It
hurts hurts...
so much,
I could
die...!!

And I thought,
“Wow...even
when you’re in
this much pain,
you don’t die.”

117
 I got your
New Year’s
card, Shii-
chan!
Thanks!

Remember
Maybe I’ll that time we
buy a whole missed out
bunch and on lighting
burn down fireworks
my dad’s together?
place.

“We don’t get to

see each other
at all these days,
huh? I guess
now that you
have a job, it’s
just normal for
friends to drift
apart”...

M iss u
 Shii-chan,
over here!

I already
ordered
for both
of us! I read that
the pancakes
here are just
to die for.

Oh my
God...

This? Oh!

119
 ...and That guy...
...I got then when I you know, from
dragged went to meet before? He said
around... him... he wanted to
and that’s see me...
when it
broke.

Hee
hee!
That’s But there was
so weird, only 130 yen in I got
right? it at the time... my
Life is wallet
just, like, stolen
really... too!

...so it was
like, “well,
whatever!”
...weird.

Here are Thanks

Wow!! your original
... Looks for your
pancakes.
delicious!! patience!

120
 Why in
God’s name
would you
go see that
guy!!?

Ban
(wham)

Why do you Wasn’t it

think I went This time, obvious
Is your brain at him with a he could what would
broken or frying pan...!? have ki...! happen to
something...!? I can’t killed you!?
believe you! you...!!

121
 Yes.
It is.
I’m
broken.

I’ve
“It’s
heard it
your fault
plenty of
for being
times.
broken.”

122
 They got
annoyed They
assaulted They hit me They beat me
and left me because I
because I’m me because because I did
I tempted didn’t do as I something to
too clingy. was told.
them. set them off.

...I don’t
even know I’m so
where to broken...
start fixing
myself
anymore.

Hee!

123
 ...the one
thing I’m
glad for is but you
that know...
that’s you worry
the only and get
thing. really mad
for me.

Are you
...Shii- mad... Sorry.
chan?

124
 Go o
(fwo o
o osh
)
 Look.
This
is it.
It’s
Marigaoka
Cape...

...Mariko.

126
 Please,
Tell me it Shii-chan!
was all my
fault...!

It’s crazy
otherwise,
It right?
wouldn’t
have been
worth it,
right...?
 It was the jerks
around you. They all No,
blamed their own You Mariko.
weakness on you... haven’t
done
anything
wrong.

“I can
“I don’t “I can’t “It’s never “It’s
“I don’t see it.” find it.” easier to be happy fine.”
understand think of it anyway.”
it.” that way.”

128
 “You’re
the only
“...that thing...
feels real
to me.”

Then...
Then...!!
 Why
did you
leave
me...?

Why...
...didn’t
you at
...ask least...
me to
die with
you...!!?
 ...things
I still
I need
have so
to tell
many
you!!
things...
hic...

I’m still
here...!!

Do you not
feel anything
at all about
leaving me
Do you not behind...!?
care now
that you’re
dead!?

Bi
(jab)
 Graaah!
What the
(sn aaa
l)
ar
Ga
hell!?
Now I’m
pissed
off!!

Screw
you!
I’m not
gonna
spread
your
ashes!!!

now you
can sit there While You
I jump can sit
and not be
off this there
able to stop
cliff! and
Zazzaaan your BFF
(fshhh) watch!
from killing
herself...

Ga ck)
a
h
(w

Ah!

H-
Hey,
wait
a...!

...and
see how
it
feels!!!
132
 You Take a
Hands off! Please wanna deep
Lemme go! don’t breath! Calm
Are you the struggle! fight
down!
Don’t
molester!? me!?
be
stupid
Huh!?
...!

Gash i
(grab)

I-it
hurts!

H ...

Help!

...?

133
 gas
Help...! H...!
a
gasa a
gas )
tle
(rus

!!

Actually,
mo-
it’s not! lest-
er!

It’s the
bag
snatch-
er!

za za
za (frsh)

za

Please
help me!!

134
 please...

help...

...me!

Shii-
chan!
Save
me!
!

136
 Gasshaa
(smaaash)
 Ah... Ah...

Ah!

Mariko!
 Ungrasp- You’re Even as
Carried able. dazzling. ashes, you
away on haven’t
the wind. changed.

And
incapable
of defying
gravity.
 I hope
she was
right. Mom would
always tell
me I was born
to the wrong
parents.

I wish I’d I wish I’d

been your been born
child. to you.
 Zapa
(spla
sh)

sa
ar

sa sa
r a (fs ra
hh
)
 ...

This
cliff. not as
deadly as
it looks,
is it?

I
jumped
too. six
months
ago.

...all ...Maybe,
you can to reunite ...I’ve been
with thinking...
do is keep
on living someone
yourself... who’s
gone...
 Take
care
of the
one you
...and loved
take in your
care of memo-

SIUSIN’CIDTEA yourself
too.
ries...

CRLIIMTTE,ERBIUNTG
IS.

...are
you
okay?

Do
I...

a
aaa
Zaz hh)
h
(fs

...look...
...okay?

You
look...
...okay
to me.
......
 Tomoyo
Shiino...

...has
Sucks come
having no crawling
elevator... back in
maybe I shame...
should
move...

U ii in r)
rr
(wh

...I found my We! Up!

Since the
stuff safe molester I
and sound caught was
after he Go! the same
confessed hyo ko
(h o p) man who
to throwing stole my
everything backpack...
but the hyoko
cash into an
empty lot.

ko
hyo

Huh? Guess Despite

I’ve falling
got the off a
devil’s cliff, I
own emerged
luck. unscathed
beyond
a minor
sprain.

Hff
Hff ...
...
 You’re
kidding
me. How
Kyouko
Wait—
good of Tamura... Hey!
they
know my a person
address!? is that
lady?
BE T T ER Shit!
MO VE
AF T ER
ALL. .. Gasa
e)
(r ustl

a
gach )
tle
My
(rat
kacha pumps!
(click)
n
Kacha
k)
(clu n

Gii
(cr e
eak)
 I
...my left...
laundry
out...

Z uzu
e)
(slid

Oh.

...you go This is
back to how...
everyday
life.

149
 ......

Make
yourself
at home.

150
 ...
Oh yeah.
The lady’s
letter...

Paku
)
(th pp

H
(f ira
lit
)

For
Shii-
cha n
 do

...no
way.

do

do

do

Do
(bdm p)

do

do

152
 h a n
hii-c
r S
Dea
 ...mm-
hmm.

MY BROKEN MARIKO: THE END

 Ban
(slam
)

156
 I’m
looking
to get to a
road near You a
the border, local?
unnoticed. Ko ku
)
(n od
...
...

TE N
TH OU -
SA ND …

you be
willing to
show me the
way for ten
thousand
dollars?

157
 I’ll sell
it to a
man named
Burton.

You
can sell
that
junk?

I pick
out good-
quality
things that
look like What’re
they’ll you going
sell. to do
with that
garbage?

This
I bet time, I
he’ll give found a
me a high really
price for good
it. radio.
It’s a
really
good
radio.

158
 Wait.

The
If you water
aren’t down-
used to it, stream is
you’ll contami-
get the nated.
runs.
Actually,
you’ll
get the
runs even
if you
are.

159
 ...
How
old are
you?

twenty-
six...
 How old
are you
really?
...

...or Seven-
eighteen teen...
or
nineteen.

’Cos if
you think I’m
That’s a kid, you’ll
how it cheat me out Why’d
always is of my fee you lie?
in town. even if I do
my job.

161
 I
I’ve I won’t
Let me been
won’t
short
take a
guess— burned you your
check or
... can you before. bond or pay.
not read They anything
said the
or write signature
like that.
at all? didn’t
match.

I’ll
pay you
in cash.
You see
it, don’t
...I you?
can a
little.

Write
your
With name
correct for
spelling. me.

What’s
...Dan- What’d
your
ton. you
name?
write?
My
name.
 ...what you
wrote just
now is a
bastardization
no man could
pronounce.

The It’s no
correct wonder
way to you get
write it duped.
is like
this.

Mem-
Write orize
it till that.
you’re
sure you
won’t
forget
it.

That’s It’s the

a sick name of
namesake a French
to have. revolu-
tionist.
There
are There
two are two
“N”s. “N”s?

163
 What’s
your
name?

What’s
it say?

This
one, you
don’t
need to “Tyler.”
remem-
ber.
 But My
I don’t People But I grand-
really look at don’t know father
know me and very much was a
what that call me about it. warrior
means. a “little of our
redskin.” tribe.

...when I
was little,
My In the I sat my father
father morning, in front told me to
had my father of the watch the
burned fire.
was gone. stove and
He up ’cos Disap- watched the
burned I stared peared. fire all
up and at the night.
vanished fire too
without hard.
a trace.

That’s
what I
thought.

Your
parents I bet
abandoned my father
you because That’s
did it too.
you were in why I’ve
Stared into
the way. always
the fire
been
too hard
afraid of
and burned
fire.
up my
mother.

165
 It ain’t
’cos you
burned
anybody to
ash with
“fire
magic.”

You
were an
unlucky
little kid.
That’s
all.
 To begin
with, you
Nope.
people are It even It’s a No
We’re I can’t Fix it
has most
always startin’ up, and really way...
sick an’ violence, or
give of its
you any it could good Look
tired of stealin’, or buttons!
more play cas- radio! at it!
it. gettin’ blind settes!
than
drunk. It’s
this.
all you
do.

H ir
(fw a
ip)

How
long’re I don’t
you
gonna You’re wanna do
drag the business
that ones... with your
up!? kind if I
don’t have
to.

It’s
almost
the
twenty-
first ...who
century! stole
first!

167
 You
don’t
know
Ban anything
(slam) about
us...!

It’s
Beat’s
car.

Tell
him Tyler Call
double- up
crossed Unc.
us.

168
 ...“You were
guaranteed
poverty, Before
“It’s all hunger, my father
pointless.” discrimination, disappeared,
and indignity he always
from the said...
moment you
were born.

Where
To get Everyone I live, even
away from drinks so six-year-old
the pain...the they don’t Jackie can’t
you suffering, have to sleep at
saying you the sadness, think... night without
don’t want the hopeless don’t have whiskey.
to end up reality... to feel.
that way?

I
don’t
know.

I know I’ll end

I lose
I will, if up like
track
of it... things go them one
on like day too.
this.

169
 Keep living
the
the way you
indignity
do now, and
won’t
you’ll live
last
out the rest Your
long...
of your days father’s
exactly as right.
your father
said.

...’cos you
won’t stay
alive for
long.

If
you don’t
But People
As long as want to
you can who can’t end up that
you don’t The Then
try out a Take your read and way, first
lose sight city is get
different money and write will step is to
of yourself, drowning out of
way of leave for keep being learn to
eventually, in things here.
living a big city. duped... read and
you’ll see that will
there. write.
some hope blind
for a you.
future.

It
has its
cons and
dangers
aplenty
too.

...It’s
too late
for me
to start
over. Are you
not going
back to
the city?

170
 Follow
that all
the way,
and you’ll
get to the
border.

No one’s
ever told me
I’ve never
how to spell spoken to
my name right anyone
or that it like this
belonged to a before.
French person
either.

Or that
the way
we live is
“wrong”...

But you
told me,
didn’t
you?

171
 I wish
Do ky someone
u
(kra u n like you had
kow)
been my
father...

Tyler!

What was
your plan?
Make off
We
with the
know
money and Stay
live it up in you killed
Beat
out of
Mexico for sight.
the rest of and the
your days? others!

When he
found out
our oldest
member
had
double-
crossed
us, Uncle
collapsed
on the
spot!

172
 ...I met
the eyes of
the son of
our target,
who was an
activist.

On my
last
job...

The look
on his
face said,
“I don’t
understand
why this is
happening.”

Hand over
the money,
and I might
be willing to
let you walk
away. I’m
tired...

Sud-
denly
...

D’you
hear me,
Tyler!?
...I no
For a longer
thirty- under-
second stood it
head either.
start,
that is.
 Do
(bo n
Kyuuu om
)
(zing)

Dan
(ban
g)
Pan )
What did ng
(pa do
crocodile-
leather

(k
Do ak)
Pan n

r
shoes ever
do to you!?

i
Bish

don

Damn!!
Bish i
(thr ip)

Doesn’t
matter
We’ll never You’re in how much
escape...not the same you fight!
from karma, boat, There’ll
not from Fitzgerald. be more
death. after
you soon
enough!

Unc
won’t give
up, Tyler!
You’ll
never
truly get
away!

174
 dan

(r Dot
at at
ta a
tt
at
)

tatata

dan

ka
Do w)
po
(ka

ba n
(bl
a m)

ban

Bi
(thwi p)
 guh!

Go
(th omp)

HGK! URK !

KOFF
! KH KO
! FF!

Ga k)
ic
(k

ku
Za n k)
h
(s
 Fitz...
When did
we turn
into animals
that’d kill
even little
kids?

KOFF!
That’s
a laugh,
Did you Tyler...
think you
were some
kind of
angel?

Kids,
animals—
He’s like ...and Us all lives
you. A dad God trash are the
who may as up in can kill same...
well not be Heaven or let live
around. won’t any other
care. trash
on this All lives
earth... are equally
crap and
deserving
of death.
 Gara
(klatter)

pan
(bang
)
Tyler
...!

pan

...!

pa
n

Hff!

Pasu
(paff)
Huff!
 Did you
father a ......
secret love Who’s
child out that?
here in the
middle of
nowhere?

You
never
How much disap-
more joy point!
are you
gonna
give me?

Hey!
Then Are you
Come out my kid
you won’t
with the bag, care if I brother?
Chief! Do it, kill him,
and I’ll let will
you both live. you?

...
...

Stop!
He’s He’s got
just nothing to
some do with
Come on, kid. this.
don’t be
shy!

179
 Jar i
(kr nc
h)
 Don’t!!

Bagy
u
(kab uu
lam)

......!
 a
Dos )
d
(thu

182
 W
HGK
!
H
W E
H E
E
E Z
E
Z ...
E
...

KAFF! K!
GL
Fitz-
Fitz...
gerald. zu
ag)
(dr

To send
each other There’s
no place ru
off this zu
earth. for men
like you
and me
in this
world.

That’s
why we
kill each
other.

183
 ......
“To
Hell,”
That’s you
bull... mean
...

Once
upon
a time,
...wanted I...
... to go to
Tyler Heaven...
...
......

Ten !
Exactly thousand
ten dollars,
thousand as prom-
dollars. ised...
 ...I When
remember I lose
that My
track of name...
name. myself...

...given
My I have
to me
by my real anoth-
father... name... er.

What ...
is it?

“Yiska.”
 In our
language, it
means, “the
night has
passed”...

...I
It’s a see...
better
name
than
“Danton.”

I’ll
remem-
ber it.
 Thanks
Have for the
a good help.
life...

...Yiska.

(s Zar
kr i
i ch
)
YISKA: THE END
 EXTRA HOME SWEET HOME!

Kaji
(gnaw)

Kaji

Kaji

SNIF!

Kaji

gaji
 Hey.

Find any
good
places?
Sixty-five
thousand
yen...
Gasa
kle)
(cr in

Forty-
Thirty- seven
eight thousand
thousand yen...
yen...

A fifty-
seven-
year-old
Oh, nice! Hee building?
hee... The floor’d
This one’s
probably
only give out
twenty-six under you
thou. That if you so
sounds much as
affordable sneezed!
on part-
time pay.

I
want to Like, as
live with SNF! long as
you, Shii- Ah man, you don’t
chan. that’s splurge,
so lucky. you could
I wanna totally
move make that
out. work even
now.
 I don’t
care if the
SNF!
The
sooner ...I want to building is
the move there fifty or even
better. right now. sixty years
old...

I want a
...Ma- happy life
riko
...
with you,
shii-chan.
I W AN T
A CA T
TO O .

Geez, I ...you
Hey, come know that! sure
on, that I saw during about
one was cooking class that?
out of my when- I can’t
control! cook.

Hee
hee
hee!
 Waka Hirako

Translation: AMANDA HALEY

Lettering: ABIGAIL BLACKMAN

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of
the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales,
or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

MY BROKEN MARIKO
©Waka Hirako 2020
First published in Japan in 2020 by KADOKAWA CORPORATION, Tokyo. English
translation rights arranged with KADOKAWA CORPORATION, Tokyo through
TUTTLE-MORI AGENCY, INC., Tokyo.

English translation © 2020 by Yen Press, LLC

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2020942542

ISBNs: 978-1-9753-1860-4 (hardcover)

978-1-9753-1859-8 (ebook)

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

BVG

Printed in the United States of America