文字版 這一章的文字版——用於無障礙、螢幕閱讀器和搜尋。
3 A.M. and the Dead Hours store is spotless — until Kaito spots a single housefly. He decides on the spot that it must be gone by morning, alive: no death on the record on his shift. Rin starts filming "Man vs Fly." The night's regulars each hand him a different, confidently useless folk method — trap it under a cup and a card, approach from behind because flies supposedly can't fly backwards, just wait because it'll die within a day anyway, clap above it because they jump upward to take off, or open a window — and none of them agree. Three times Kaito freezes mid-air, whispers "There," and swipes at nothing. Rin, in a rare unguarded moment, quietly slides the door open a hand's width to let it out, then denies doing it. At last Kaito clamps a cup over the fly in triumph — and lifts it to find nothing underneath; the fly was sitting on the outside of the cup the whole time. At dawn the delivery doors open and the fly drifts out on its own, entirely indifferent to six hours of war — and a second fly drifts in as it goes. Kaito gets his answer and nothing else; Rin got her whole video. The final panel mirrors page one from the same angle, in grey dawn light, the new fly circling under the ceiling speaker.
第 1 頁
A wide establishing shot of the Dead Hours convenience store at 3 A.M., seen from behind the west counter looking out to the sliding glass doors and the empty wet street. The fluorescent lights are calm and the aisles are spotless. Kaito, arms folded behind the register, looks quietly content. Rin sits on a stool nearby, staring at her matte black phone. KAITO: Clean floor. Empty aisles. Nothing wrong.
第 2 頁
Three panels. First, a close-up of Kaito's face behind the counter as his eyes lock onto a single tiny black fly crossing in front of him. KAITO: ... Second, Kaito leans over the counter and points dead-seriously at the fly. Rin glances up, flat and unimpressed. KAITO: There is a fly in my store. RIN: So? Third, Kaito raises one finger like a solemn vow while Rin lifts her phone to film him. The fly hovers between them. KAITO: It's gone by morning. Alive. RIN: Man versus Fly. Night one.
第 3 頁
Two panels — the running-gag beat. First, Kaito is frozen mid-motion behind the counter, one hand raised flat and perfectly still, his whole body locked, a bead of sweat at his temple, eyes fixed on the fly. KAITO: There. Second, he swipes his flat hand through empty air. The fly has already drifted away past his shoulder. His face falls. KAITO: ...gone.