“Hmm. Can I punch you?” Izaya asked, eyes narrowed.
Shinra ignored him and said, “Unfortunately, that friend is at a different school. So I really don't have any here.”
“And I doubt you'll make any, either. Rest in peace. Or should that be 'you get what you deserve'?”
Izaya was a bit surprised that the responses were coming from him so freely. His stance on maintaining a neutral distance from others could be broken very easily, as it turned out.
Do you know something I have always loved about the way Izaya is written in his adolescent years compared to his adult years? His thoughts and feelings are much easier to read. I think Narita's way of narration is so incredibly interesting and provides so much insight into Izaya as a person.
I think the fact that it was Shinra who was the one to break his stance is a telling thing. I am of the opinion that Izaya has always had an unrequited love/longing for Shinra, and this might be part of what started that. The fact that Shinra could pull him out of his act so easily and pull him into humanity, despite having no interest in humans himself.
Page 97-103
My goodness! This very may well be one of the best chapters in the entire volume!!!
I looove Raijin biology club and their interactions so rereading this brought me so much joy. I was particularly intrigued with how the narrator describes Izaya's thoughts and feelings, along with a little extra background info behind them.