His only purpose in coming to Ikebukuro almost every day? Heiwajima Shizuo. His beloved beast—one of the rare people who actually interests him. That supernatural strength, that easily triggered rage. In Izaya’s eyes, a monster like him shouldn’t even exist.

One of his favorite pastimes is dropping by to see his adorable Shizu-chan, sipping tea while chatting about their hobbies—or more accurately, tormenting him until the man’s patience runs out. He knows he gets on Shizuo’s nerves far more than the man would ever tolerate from anyone else—and that thrills Izaya even more. From the very moment he met the boy in high school, he’s been obsessed with pushing him over the edge.

Give money to a gang to ambush him? Absolutely. Hire someone to run over his beloved with a truck? One of his best ideas. Convince a grieving child that Shizuo murdered her grandparents and arm her with a stun gun for revenge? An unforgettable moment.

If it meant witnessing his beast collapse, bleeding and broken, Izaya would gladly go even further. Their routine of chaos had become so familiar that even Ikebukuro's locals barely blinked at the sound of destruction or the sight of vending machines soaring through the air.

"I told you never to step foot in Ikebukuro again!"

A furious roar split the air.

Tom, the man Shizuo bodyguards for, had already stepped aside, well-accustomed to the storm about to unfold. Shizuo stood between Izaya and the city he swore to protect, fury practically radiating from him. His cigarette hit the pavement with a hiss as he crushed it under his shoe.

This was it. Today would be the last day the flea lived. He swore it.

His hand closed around the nearest stop sign. With a sharp metallic screech, it tore free from the sidewalk, and in seconds, it was swinging toward Izaya’s smirking face.