Strange Love

is the third chapter of K: Memory of Red.

While playing a game of baseball with the others in HOMRA, Yō Chitose is approached by a mysterious woman interested in him. The dangerous group discovers that she possesses abilities just as dangerous as theirs: she is an assassin! And now, she's onto Chitose.

Summary
While watching a baseball game amongst HOMRA members, Yō Chitose is asked by Tatara Totsuka if he's tired, at which point he blocks the camera being pointed at him. When asked why, he responds that they should take a photo later because he's popular and busy.

In the game, the next batter is Mikoto Suoh, surprising Yata, the pitcher. Despite his attempts to throw quickly, the king hits the ball far away without much effort. While Anna tells Yō about a sad person and asks him not to die, he finds out it's his turn to bat. As he takes the stance and swings, everyone finds that the ball is heading for a woman. As they tell her to get out of the way, she instead catches and crushes the ball with her bare hands and tells Yō Chitose she's found him, shattering the fence behind as Yō remembers her.

Recalling his actions a few hours ago when he found himself in her bed without remembering her name. As she left and presented him with tomato juice, You began to drink the bottle, only to have her shatter it after he mentioned not remembering anything and she asks if he really didn't remember. Meanwhile, Yō wonders how she found him as he runs away from her. While running, he is grabbed by Tatara Totsuka and Masaomi Dewa and put on the phone with Mikoto. Mikoto asks Yō if he wants him to save him, but the latter resolves to get himself out of the mess alone. Kusanagi Izumo takes the phone and tells Yō that the woman chasing him is Maria Yubikiri, an assassin and a "strain". When asked why she'd come after him since she won't kill a good citizen, Yō realizes it's because of their sexual encounter. As he talks on the phone, Masaomi explains that due to previous troubles with women, Yō hasn't had much luck with them.

Back at the baseball park, Izumo explains to Shōhei Akagi what a "strain" is. Unlike the members of HOMRA who got power from the King, a "strain" obtained power on their own. When Shōhei asks how he knows about Maria personally, Izumo dodges the question. Meanwhile, Masaomi asks Yō what he's going to do just as Maria approaches them. When she attacks, Masaomi pulls the other two out of the way while Yō asks her to calm down. When momentarily relieved that Yō remembered her name, Yō states he didn't, angering her once again.

Characters In Order of Appearance

 * 1) Shōhei Akagi
 * 2) Yō Chitose
 * 3) Tatara Totsuka
 * 4) Anna Kushina
 * 5) Mikoto Suoh
 * 6) Kousuke Fujishima
 * 7) Izumo Kusanagi
 * 8) Misaki Yata
 * 9) Masaomi Dewa
 * 10) Maria Yubikiri
 * 11) Saburōta Bandō
 * 12) Rikio Kamamoto

Battles & Events

 * Broken Promise