Chapter 19: Big and Round
Under Uesugi Kiyoshi's control, most of the searchlights turned towards the sky, illuminating strange black dots scattered across the sky, so numerous that they even obscured the crescent moon in the night sky.
The black dots grew larger and clearer, and soon the figures were fully revealed.
A huge head, a fierce face, and steel cables swaying underneath, it was indeed the Head Balloon, returning after a month!
Uesugi Kiyoshi touched Nakasone Kazuko's cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin and finally letting go of his held breath.
He naturally knew that the Head Balloon would return, and the first sign was when people's facial skin suddenly turned into a material similar to nylon, which served as a warning.
Fortunately, this was just an alert, and as the balloons returned, everything returned to normal. If it had continued, wouldn't it be like developing mouth ulcers, getting a fishbone stuck, and even having your head explode?
"Have you closed all the doors and windows?"
"Closed!"
"Don't worry, boss!"
The old school building wasn't very big, with just over a dozen classrooms. With 300 members of the gang working together, they quickly closed all the doors and windows.
As for the returning Head Balloons, no one paid him any mind, knowing that they couldn't get in anyway.
Matsuda Shomei even started praising Uesugi Kiyoshi, "Congratulations, now your Protective Walking Machine can continue to sell!"
"Well, um...that's not quite right!" Uesugi Kiyoshi adjusted his expression, letting his sadness show, "Life is more important than money! Money is just a number to me. If I had a choice, I'd rather Head Balloon had never existed!"
As he looked at the indifferent mafia boss, he was about to continue sharing his values when he noticed Watanabe Goro's lover, the female body sculpture, opening the doors of the old school building.
"Quick, stop it!"
Without Uesugi Kiyoshi having to order them, the gangsters without protective gear became even more anxious. But the plaster statue suddenly started to move frantically, all heading towards the door, blocking the corridor tightly. At that moment, they couldn't get close.
Is this preparing to kill with the balloons?
Could it be that they have a secret connection with the Head Balloons?
Uesugi Kiyoshi was thinking when he noticed statues outside the door raising their hands towards the sky, seemingly aiming at the Head Balloons.
The cries they made resonated and echoed through the hallway.
"So big, so round!"
What in the world is going on?
Uesugi Kiyoshi grabbed the hand of passing Watanabe Goro and asked. Hey, what are you guys doing?
"Haven't you seen it?" Watanabe Goro broke free from Uesugi Kiyoshi's hold and also squeezed outside, "There are so many big heads outside, even bigger than yours, no, much bigger! This must be blessings, a blessing bestowed upon us headless people by the heavens!"
Facing the wide-open door and countless pale hands reaching out below, even the intimidating Head Balloon froze for a moment, only one tentatively flying towards the door after a while.
"Why is it always mine?!" Matsuda Shomei clutched his head and let out a cry of despair, then turned and ran back into the classroom.
Just as the Head Balloon was about to enter the old school building, suddenly, a hand appeared in the air and firmly gripped the dangling steel cable.
"Gotcha!"
It was Watanabe Goro's lover who, at some unknown time, had climbed onto another sculpture and with her remaining hand, forcefully pulled on the steel cable.
"What a perfect head! Now you're mine!"
The Head Balloon showed no interest in the plaster statue, but unable to break free, it found itself trapped by the steel loop encircling its waist, lifting it up into the sky.
Under the spotlight, the balloon's expression changed constantly, switching between happiness, anger, and at times, a feminine expression.
"Look, my love, I have a head now, such a big head!"
Amidst the ecstatic screams, the steel loop tightened more and more until the plaster sculpture couldn't bear it anymore, snapping in half at the waist and falling to the ground, shattering into pieces.
The balloon seemed to relax, returning to its lifeless look and floating upward instead of moving towards the shed.
Uesugi Kiyoshi walked out of the old school building and patted Watanabe Goro on the shoulder.
"I'm sorry to hear about your wife... Please accept my condolences!"
"Condolences? I feel no sorrow!" Watanabe Goro looked up to the sky, his voice full of joy and eagerness, "To obtain such a perfect head, even if only for a moment, isn't that enough? Though selfish, how I wish it was me hanging there!"
"You are absolutely right!"
"What a happiness it is!"
His words resonated with the other sculptures, their sorrowful sighs merging into a sad melody.
With no one daring to approach the Head Balloons now, how would they fulfill their wishes?
Seeing all this, Uesugi Kiyoshi asked again, "Do you still need heads?"
"Would you give up beef and choose pig food?"
That was really hurtful!
But Uesugi Kiyoshi decided not to argue with a brainless plaster cast.
He reached out his hand to Watanabe Goro.
"How about this, I'll help you achieve the same happiness, and in return, you help me too!"
"You? How will you help?"
"You'll find out soon."
Uesugi Kiyoshi took out his phone and dialed Hiroshi Noda's number.
Soon, the roar of a car engine sounded, and a off-road vehicle stopped in front of them. Hiroshi Noda, who was dressed up, jumped off the car excitedly.
"President, it's really just like you said, they..."
Seeing the Headless Sculptures all turning towards him, Hiroshi Noda was suddenly scared and jumped like a quail.
"This, President, they are..."
"Don't worry about this, where are the things I asked you to bring?"
"Uh, they are in the car."
He unloaded a black-clothed long cylindrical cart from the off-road vehicle, then took out a remote control and steered the cart into the old school building.
Uesugi Kiyoshi randomly chose a sculpture, and the chosen sculpture trembled with excitement. It obediently stood in the barrel of the cart, allowing Hiroshi Noda to tie it up, spray it with a smelly liquid, and cover it with a black cloth.
When the wobbly little cart arrived back outside in the open space, Hiroshi Noda in the sky let out a desperate cry.
"Why is it happening again?! No, please!"
Even though he said no with his mouth, his body obediently pounced forward, wrapped the sculpture in black cloth around its waist, and then broke it amidst the other side's excited outburst.
In the swirling plaster dust, Uesugi Kiyoshi smiled and asked Watanabe Goro.
"Can we discuss the details now?"
