Chapter 3 | |
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Information | |
Chapter Title | Black Out |
Volume | 1 |
Pages | 42 |
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Black Out is the third chapter of the Birdmen manga series. In this chapter, Karasuma, Kamoda, and Sagisawa meet with Takayama to discuss being Birdmen, and the group encounters their first blackout at Umino's location.
Summary[]
Before their meeting with Takayama after school, Karasuma, Kamoda, and Sagisawa gather to discuss what they know about Takayama. Aside from the fact that Takayama is a loner, who seems to have no friends and actively shuns friendly advances from other students, they know very little about him. Karasuma and Kamoda have also prepared weapons for the negotiations, an indication of Karasuma's desire to remain in control of the situation if Takayama demands something unreasonable from them, even if they've already been changed irreversibly.
Takayama leads Karasuma, Kamoda, and Sagisawa to an abandoned warehouse upon meeting up. Karasuma begins the negotiations by asking Takayama whether he's the Birdman and Takayama instantly concedes. Though this direct response throws the three off guard, Karasuma pushes on, asking why Takayama turned them into Birdmen. Takayama reminds them of their words at the accident ("I want to live"), and confesses that this was the only method he knew of to keep them alive. Karasuma, still dissatisfied with the answers, demands to know why Takayama didn't save the bus driver; crushed, Takayama tells them that it was already too late for him. Whispering amongst themselves, Karasuma, Kamoda, and Sagisawa debate Takayama's intentions, and though Karasuma remains mistrustful of Takayama, he tells Sagisawa and Kamoda that he simply wants to know if they can live a normal life, and whether they can return to being human. Though Takayama is well out of earshot, he responds to Karasuma's inquiry, first telling them that it's possible to live a normal life if they were cautious, and the he doesn't know how to become human again. Takayama confesses that he originally had no intentions of involving himself with the four; however, knowing how troublesome being a Birdman can be, he felt obligated to provide some support. Karasuma decides that they can trust Takayama after all, based on the fact that if Takayama had ill intentions, he would lie about not being able to become human again and use that as bait.
The four boys take off their shirts, revealing their identical back markings. Takayama tells them that they need to perfect their transformations and learn how to fly, but Karasuma reacts with suspicion, asking why these things were necessary when suppressing the wings seemed like the only requirement for living an ordinary life. Takayama tells them that he hears the voices of people in danger, which the wings respond strongly to, and briefly mentions the blackouts, which they need to be prepared for. Before he can elaborate, a sharp pain from their markings knock Karasuma, Kamoda, and Sagisawa to the floor, and Takayama realizes that a blackout has appeared at Umino's location. He quickly transforms and bursts through the roof to aid Umino. Though Karasuma, Kamoda, and Sagisawa are uncertain about what's happening, they chase after Takayama on foot nonetheless.
Umino, who had been running to meet with the four, is suddenly overcome with a lightheaded feeling, and senses her vision going dark. Behind her, a gaping, black hole opens up, and a misshapen monster falls out. It begins lashing out violently at her, but before she comes to any bodily harm Takayama swoops in and puts her out of harm's way while he confronts the blackout. Karasuma, Kamoda, and Sagisawa arrives just in time to catch a glimpse of the blackout before Takayama destroys it.