Would You Love Me?
Yo. It's been a long while, na? My DSL connection is up and kicking nowadays and hell, I've got a full-fledged work at home. Business is booming in the morning and I've got work at night. I can't even sleep well these days…
Anyway, this covers the summer vacation of the Investigation Team. Fortunately, there are no murders in this chapter; I miss writing those dark scenes but hey, I'll try to regain my sweet side (For a moment, I'm contemplating if I really have one…) when I wrote my first fanfic.
Welcome to the Scent of summer. Ahohohoho~
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything aside from Kageyama Haru and his Second- and Third-Tier Persona. Whatever allusions you see here, they are from their respective owners.
Cross-posted on AO3 under RyuichiroSakuraba
Scent 7: If You Doubt The One You Love
The Empress' New Bra (Channel 3)
'Time' has no meaning after all.
Waiting in the plush velvet couch of this limousine for an indefinite amount of what humans call 'time' can be quite boring. I think I finished several flute glasses of bubbly champagne that I almost ordered a crate of it from Tanaka's Amazing Commodities showing blatantly on this sleek ride's mini-TV. For some reason too, whenever I take a nap, I see some sort of program despite the poor thing not being turned on.
Ah, the horror of it when I happened to set my eyes upon ah… What was it…swimsuit? How I wish I could step out of this ride and smell the scent of the sea wearing that instead of this meticulously-tailored outfit… Oh, wait. We are only traversing a seemingly never-ending street with only fog as our ages-old companion. Perhaps I should press the concierge button of this mobile phone and ask the ever-friendly customer service guy to have the GPS of this limo fixed? We might be able to visit the beach after that. My younger sister told me that she had requested for help when the elevator she occupied just creaked and whined; it turned out that the cogs of the said contraption wasn't well, ugh, what's the word… Lubricated?
Alas, my Master went out in an official business and left me all alone here. Not that I am complaining, but this is getting old – really fast. I cannot stay still and browse our beloved guest's Compendium; I believe I memorized it by heart. I particularly enjoyed watching the scenes of our guest with the Magician, Death, and Lovers, but I digress.
I tried to play fortune-telling too, but my cards aren't enough to get a proper reading. The long-nosed geezer took a deep blue deck from our stash so I am stuck with this incomplete yellow deck; he received that from his former guest who I have no record of, no matter how hard I try to check the database. Ah, pardon me; I must have forgotten. My little sister took the information with her in search for something. Ugh. She has been out of coverage area for quite a while too.
Oh…what was it now? Why wasn't I informed of this?
The Devil. The Temperance. The Hermit. The Tower.
Death thrums in the Compendium too.
They were flashing. I seriously believe I am getting a headache with this situation unravelling in front of me. It can be a drag. Add the fact that I need clean up this table of cluttered cards before I become the target of Igor-sama's lecture; he checks the CCTV recordings religiously. With that said, my commission might be jeopardized if I slack off. However, he does not scold me that much for he has this lazy bone in his anatomy as well. I'm just calling it quits.
Anyway, I am so getting a computer tablet and subscribe to a high-end connection plan when our guest happens to shell out a huge amount of yen to re-summon his earlier Personas for fusion. There might be an app for predicting Commu Link updates at the online store specifically made for my choice of unit.
Let us see… Oh, there it is. And there's an update for the Devil Summoning app and a Nicaea player for the HiPad II… That made me do some calculations on how much I might spend. Or… Perhaps I should fetch a Handroyd-based tab with the latest Gummy Bear operating system instead? That reminds me… The latest devices can virtually digitize the whole Compendium with a sync app. Well, that is way better than lugging this huge book around. I might get sued by the higher ups when they see this; this mystical tome is kind of obsolete that they consider it a weapon of mass destruction. Ugh.
I suppose the universe is evolving. Remote Access to the Compendium is a great feature, but I think I will choose to have this enormous grimoire in dire cases. Never trust the network coverage and wish for a stable connection at all scenarios. They are still in the process of upgrading the links. Who knows?
Speaking of the devil…
"Welcome to the Velvet Room," I said with my perpetual smile.
"Margaret-san. You look bored… Are you even getting enough sleep? I think you wanted to yawn as I materialized here. You didn't even answer the intercom," Narukami Yu verbosely pondered, concern seeping from his lopsidedly grinning expression.
I sighed and sunk in the couch. "I do not require sleep like humans do, Narukami-sama. To be honest, nothing exciting happened here for a while. Now that you are here, perhaps things might get…"
I put my phone on the table and let my hands sit on my lap.
"…a little interesting?"
Our guest shifted uneasily in his seat, scratching his locks. "You think so, Margaret-san? Um… How do I explain this…"
"You do not have to be reluctant. Tell me what distresses you and I might be able to see what I can do. That alone is our purpose here after all; be it recovering old Personas and-slash-or fusing them to gain an upper hand in your battles."
Narukami sighed and hung his head low. I wonder what happened. I came across his several masks when he is tired or simply fuming at how seemingly weak he was(given that I was telling him over and over that he has great potential; he is so stubborn like that), but never ever undecided and jumpy.
"The case was solved some time ago, and if by any chance…"
So that was it. I am deeply saddened that he might not be using our services anymore but due to Master's orders, I still exist. Hmmm. In any case, Narukami-sama's here for a reason, and my job description involved hearing him out.
He fiddled with some imaginary lint on his trousers before casting that mind-shattering Megidolaon.
"…do you know what yukata would make me look, ugh, presentable?"
I believe that our beloved guest had grown two extra heads. What in the Hell's Edifice is a yukata? Oh, right. How about I test run this app and post a user review later? That would help others decide if this is worth their hard-earned Macca.
"Anou, Margaret-san?" our guest inquired, staring at how my nimble fingers abuse the touchscreen of my delinquent unit. I should really get a new one or this might fall off the seams.
Keroberos version 3.2, could you please lend me a hand?
Four heads are better than one – theoretically speaking.
Magical Detective… Loveline! (Channel 8)
Another day! Time to watch TV more! Oh, it's going to be a little cloudy today yet it will be warm… Should I ask Onii-chan for cold soba later?
Footsteps came and there is Onii-chan, wearing his newly-pressed shirt and holding a number of books. He's still reviewing when it's certainly a nice day? Not that I am the one to talk, but Onii-chan told me to relax and enjoy the vacation; he promised me that he would certainly help me do my homework a week before the next term comes in so I should take it easy. He ought to stay back and enjoy the summer break too; but that is not the case, I believe.
Mou… Onii-chan always gets home late… He surely spends too much time outside and he seldom sleeps in. Sure, he did help me with the laundry yesterday but that's about it…
"I'm going out now," big brother said rather tiredly, slinking out of the front door, not even turning around to see me.
"Mm. Take care Onii-chan," I responded a little glumly.
I have been worried about him for quite some time now..? Of course, as a little sister, I ought to be.
Onii-chan… I shouldn't be thinking about bad things. He ran to me when I went home all wet because I lent my Loveline umbrella to a poor fox near Tatsuhime Shrine the other day so I suppose he's still the kind and, um, 'motherly' Onii-chan I knew for months.
…right?
"Tch. Nanako, why did you end up drenched in the rain?" Onii-chan sighed, fluffing my hair with a towel.
I sneezed a few times before I set my tofu purchase on the kitchen table. Mou… I might get a cold…
"Um… I kinda lost my umbrella on the way home…"
Onii-chan canted his head sideways and nodded. "Seems like it, huh? I'm running the warm water. You should go take a bath or you might catch a cold. Take it easy for today."
He soon went away, muttering to himself how he would explain this to Otou-san. Sorry… I messed up big time…
The TV rambled about the news and soon...
"If you doubt the one you love, solve the case promptly with the power of magic! Leave the investigating to me! I'm the Magical Detective… Loveline!"
Just about right. I need to find out what makes Onii-chan weird this time around.
"Eh? Nana-chan?" Kuma-san tapped my back and tried to call out Onii-chan's retreating form. Oh no! My cover will be blown! I shouldn't panic! After all…
"Shhh…" I hushed, pulling the sleeve of his shirt gently to hide him from my big bro if he happened to turn around and look our way. "I'm the Magical Detective Loveline…"
Kuma-san raised an eyebrow. "But you're Nana-chan… right? My nose told me so."
I fought the urge to be sad because the next time I peeked from our hiding wall, Onii-chan was nowhere to be seen. Not even his shadow… Perhaps he made a left around that corner…
"Mou… I think I lost track of him."
His blue eyes sparkled with glee, clasping his hands together over his chest. He's so shiny; I'm seeing flowers and stars everywhere.
Maybe it's just my imagination?
"So that's how it is! We're playing Stalking Sensei, right? Just leave it to me Nana-chan!"
…forty-five minutes later, this operation became a Wild Onii-chan Chase. Kuma-san 'smelled' the steak croquettes at Souzai Daigaku and drooled at first sight of it. We were so close too! But then again, I got a little hungry too so with a few change in my pocket, I thought Kuma-san deserved one as a token of appreciation. He did help me after all. Taking a break is part of being a hero too.
"Oi Nagase, the magical detective can't see the display. Move it, will you?" a young man said, his face scrunched up with annoyance, crossing his arms to further get his point across.
Hey… You arrived here before us. First come, first served.
The other male scratched the back of his head and flashed a weak smile. "Ah, sorry Loveline-chan… Come on, take a pick. We'll get ours after you," he even bowed and earned a grin from his companion. The brown-haired guy reminded me of Yosuke-nii; he seemed strong and looks dependable.
However… I didn't understand their logic.
At least something good happened today.
My cover was flawless.
Days passed and still, there was no improvement. My costume got filthy after a few chases that I needed to chuck them to the laundry for once. Onii-chan seems to know ninja moves; he always got out of my sight after a few seconds.
Out of nothing to do (I lost track of Onii-chan again a few moments ago), I figured that it was too hot to continue investigating so I entered Junes to hang out for a bit despite knowing the fact that I might be alone for a while.
"Well, if it isn't Nanako-chan! What are you doing this boring summer day?" an excited yet tired voice called out from behind. It was definitely Yosuke-nii. He took off his work apron and slumped at an empty chair beside me.
My vision got blurry due to the heat but all of a sudden, a cooling sensation hit my forehead. Oh, royal milk tea.
"I kinda bought one without thinking. Force of habit, I guess," Yosuke-nii started, chuckling animatedly. "Forgot that Yu seemed busy these days. Here, enjoy," he explained, setting the plastic bottle in front of me and twisted the cap of his sour lemon soda. They surely love that tangy drink now that I had observed closely.
I expected that the cap might be tight; however, Yosuke-nii did the tough work before I might've asked. Taking a sip, I sighed and queried my slightly-sweaty 'brother'.
"Nee Yosuke-nii, do you have any idea where Onii-chan might be going to? We never talked much these days aside from him bidding me goodbye and announcing that he arrived from somewhere," I blabbered, doing scribbles on the sweaty side of the bottle. "He forgets to eat dinner sometimes too, and he's having those raccoon eyes lately."
Oops. Wrong move.
Yosuke-nii's eyes narrowed and immediately transformed from tired to attentive. I could say that he might be a little angry? That looked melted in an instant, like Otou-san usually does when he's having trouble at work.
"Care to fill me in, Nanako-chan?" he asked, his tone light, but his other hand fishing for his phone from his pants pocket and tapping the screen furiously told me the otherwise.
Before I could finish the details of the lengthy story I happened to encounter recently, Onii-chan's friends arrived pretty soon – all of them. We ended up snacking at their HQ (as they fondly called it) and settled down before discussing the plan for today.
"So, what's the fuss about, Bakamura?" Chie-neesan spoke in between huge bites of steak. Yukiko-nee picked on her veggies and handed her best friend a napkin which she snatched hurriedly.
"Hana-senpai," Kanji-san groaned, munching on a few animal crackers. "Isn't this a little overkill? It's Naru-senpai that we're talking about here. He won't do anything to worry Nanako as far as I know."
Haru-san was also ready to flee the group. "Perhaps he's just busy with his summer job. We all need spending money and this is the best time to earn some," he explained, fanning himself by pulling the chest area of his black wifebeater tank repeatedly.
Kuma-san returned, bringing a few Topsicles in tow.
"Maybe he's scoring with some hot stud!" he exclaimed, licking the frozen treat very slowly.
I wonder why the two girls and Haru-san had the look that most villains in those TV programs have when they spotted the hero. Rise-san had this gleam in her eyes that I had no idea what was running in her mind.
Soon, Kuma-san's phone rang and he escaped quickly. And he didn't return.
"Well, seems like we're the only ones to do the operation. Who's in?" Yosuke-nii started, leaning his elbows on the edge of the table.
"I'm in! It's Yu-senpai stalking after all!"
"Nee, Yukiko? Should we?"
"I am quite intrigued about Narukami-kun's activities…"
"You have a lot of time in your hands, Hanamura."
"Geez, at least it would kill boredom, Hana-senpai."
Yosuke-nii got them all in less than an hour. I think Onii-chan's charm was rubbing off on him. Good or bad, time will tell. The heat was overwhelming, but it won't let our spirits down.
Let's reach out to the truth!
Magical Detective Loveline gained an alliance!
Mission Start!
A Shadow's Love Song (Channel 13)
Since Junes was out of the question, splitting up was a very good tactic to employ. We don't have Kuma's nose to do the job (for he ended up sniffing steak croquettes instead as Nanako-chan stated) and this wasn't the TV world where Rise could exploit her Persona for reconnaissance. The three girls went off on their own, leaving me with Tatsumi, Hanamura and Nana-, erm, I mean Magical Detective Loveline.
Roaming the shopping district earlier led to zero results, and checking out the locations near Yasogami High would yield nothing since there were no classes this time. Who would hang out near an empty school?
It's turning mid-afternoon and I wonder how this search would turn up.
"Okay, here's the deal; Yu never stays home during daytime and always arrives late," Hanamura pondered, kicking a random rock along the barren path on the floodplain. "Any thoughts about it?"
"Maa. Thinking doesn't suit me," Tatsumi scoffed, chewing on some gum while resting his hands behind his head. "If it's manual labor, then I might consider it."
"Yeah, I figured. Sorry I asked," Hanamura waved his hand while sighing for no reason.
"Say what now, Hana-senpai?!"
"Relax," I interrupted, seeing that it might come to a point where this search would be futile if we didn't focus. "Magical Detective Loveline said he usually carries books, sometimes an apron, and in most cases, nothing. Did I get that right?" I turned my head to our little companion who nodded in the affirmative.
"So that means he's having some part-time work. I mean, who goes out on a date wearing an apron or carrying a ton of books?"
Hanamura raised an eyebrow and sent me a quizzical look.
"What now, Hanamura?"
Despite the confused expression, Narukami's leech emanated an aura of something that I couldn't put a finger on.
"For a second, you sounded as if you're quite angry."
Was I? Tch. Maybe.
Yu-chan hanging out with Hanamura was something that I could stomach for it's a regular thing now; going out with someone I don't even know irritates me.
I'm acting like a pissed boyfriend. Kami-sama forgive me.
"Nah, I'm just curious." I replied, trying my best to erase the dark aura from my tone.
"Okay..?"
Hanamura looked as if he wanted to ask more, but he dropped it soon after. I'm saved.
Traversing this long floodplain during a hot day like this made me think of skinny dipping at the riverside. Mm. If only Yu-chan will approve…
"…shhh." Tatsumi shushed, his hand beckoning us to his side silently.
With him working as Loveline's bodyguard, they went off sneaking into some random bush near the gazebo by the end of the floodplain's path, leaving me and Hanamura trailing behind. Hm. Target spotted?
"Kage-senpai, you won't believe this."
The thicket was bristly and a little itchy but I paid no heed. I just literally choked at the view.
Situated at a bench was Yu-chan, wearing a damn apron, and speaking to an obviously middle-aged woman, complete with a bouquet of cut flowers sitting neatly on his lap.
Fuck. It's one of those rare times when I failed in my assumptions.
"So that's what keeps Onii-chan busy," Loveline commented, nodding her head sagely while gently gripping her talking magical stick. "I get it."
"Whoa, and that woman has a kid!" Hanamura whispered, his hushed tone never hiding his incredulous discovery – that Yu-chan is hanging out not only with a gal, but with his little boy as well. Rubbing it on my face much? Yeah, even those Mayonaka TV glasses couldn't make this scene any clearer.
I lost. Big time. I'm certainly no match to a nice lady who had a kid to boot. Damn, he was able to make her smile too. Rise will hyperventilate if she got the wind of it.
"Hm. I think we should close this investigation," I said calmly. "What do you say, Hanamura?"
The headphones boy nodded silently before stepping back, retrieving his phone from his pocket and tapping it slowly. "Sure. C'mon, no more reason to stay here."
"Of course, Hana-senpai. Besides, my old lady will go ballistic if I didn't come home before dinner," Tatsumi shrugged, perhaps thinking that our work is done. "Should we tell the girls?"
"For now, no," Hanamura responded too quickly. "We'll tell them soon, but not today."
Loveline smiled. "I believe this is what kept him busy. I'm just worried, but as his little sister, I'll support him from the sidelines. Thank you for accompanying me."
"Gotcha. Oh, I'll take Nanako-chan to the shopping district. I've got some plushies for her as well," the brawler said, judging that she might need some alone time later so joining her would be the best option until the time they needed to split and go to their respective homes.
"That'll be fine. Thanks for the effort, Tatsumi." Hanamura seconded, us joining the two before they went on their way to Moel.
That left us walking through the tunnel to the other side of town. Silence reeked between us and we didn't have the qualms to shatter it.
"Nee, senpai," this kouhai started, putting his hands inside his pockets. "You surely don't read your messages that much, do you?"
That made me check my phone and oh, there's one mail.
Are you okay?
"Of course. What's this all about?"
Yeah, I lied. I totally understand what you're talking about. I'm the king of feigning innocence – and ignorance for that matter.
"If you say so. I just thought you looked down for a while," he explained, chuckling weakly at his assumption, whatever that was. "Nonetheless, today's operation was a success. I don't know how you would take it though."
You had no idea.
"We both know that Risette will be quite a handful, how about we celebrate today's results like the team usually does?" Hanamura queried, getting his wallet and counting his funds. "We had an eat-out after the last Mayonaka encounter so let's have like, another eat-all-you-can?"
I have a feeling that he's trying to console me. Is he psychic or something? Hell, I'm his senpai; it's my job to do the comforting, not the other way around. Besides, I need to release this tension or else I might break. This is just too much.
"That breaks the senpai-kouhai code. My treat if you're in for a sake night then."
Hanamura got surprised. "You sure, senpai? We're underage. There's no point going to Okina as well since the bars there won't admit people below twenty."
"You did it with Narukami the other day. Anyway, I'm quite sure my aunt wouldn't mind a friend visiting."
"Sanae-san… Stop suffocating the poor thing."
Crap. I forgot to warn Hanamura that my aunt's a Junes fan too.
"But Haru-kun! The Prince of Junes is here! How exciting~" she squealed but soon halted her hug-attack and wiggled her index finger at us.
"Just don't puke anywhere, okay? It's hard to clean that mess when it seeps through those tiny gaps between the flooring. Be responsible enough boys," she continued, opting to use her deadly tone if something went out of hand. Yeah, yeah, I know the drill. With that, she set a small tray of finger food on the floor and headed to the main house to watch her drama reruns.
We settled outside my room, at the hallway facing a small garden. It was a hot day, so staying inside my confined space would not be conducive for, well, underage drinking.
Before I could even pry the cap off from the good stuff, Hanamura's mobile wailed.
"Senpai! Yu-senpai is going out with an old lady! And they're at a bar near the shopping district even! And she's flailing like an octopus with a beer mug in hand! Can you believe that?"
I was glad that Rise didn't call me first. I could hear her yapping even if the poor kouhai's phone wasn't on speakerphone mode. Being abused with Yu-chan's actions twice in a row could yield pretty nasty results. What those outcomes are, I am not inclined to know.
"Alright, alright. We knew. We found out earlier."
"I think I'll let Yuki- and Chie-senpai in the loop! Bye!"
…I could hear the rumor mill spinning once more.
"That was fast," I tried to laugh it off, but Hanamura angrily chucked his phone inside his pocket.
"Geez, what's with girls? It's not that they will die if they knew that Yu is going out with somebody else instead of them," he remarked in exasperation, scratching his head in annoyance. After a few moments, his eyes widened and suddenly looked embarrassed.
"Uh, sorry about that senpai," he grinned sheepishly, chuckling rather uneasily. Well, I was somewhat hit by that remark, but hell, that's how it is. No use crying over spilled milk – or sake. Also, I cannot shake the idea that Hanamura might know about my former relationship with Yu-chan. However, unless they're really close, he won't speak a thing. Charge it from experience. Argh. I must be treading on thin ice. Acting pathetic over trivial matters and your kouhai noticing it will spoil my image.
But…was Yu-chan's confession trivial to begin with?
Ah, it's been a while since I drank. I wished I was with Yu-chan, just like the old days, but nah, that won't happen anytime soon. Offering a full sake cup to my guest, I lit a cigarette and let my tensed shoulders relax.
"What's there to apologize about?" I raised an eyebrow as Hanamura reciprocated my act. For an underage guy, he knew how to start a drinking session.
"Uhm, nothing."
Sure. It doesn't mean that I'll believe it though.
A good half-hour passed and we were having a good time talking about random stuff when another annoying call went through Hanamura's phone. How many people knew his number? I'm smelling a Casanova Grande here.
Wait, I think Kuma's influencing me.
Anyway, this time it was Amagi.
They talked for a while and the headphones boy chuckled awkwardly and set his phone on the wooden floor.
"I can't believe that Yu's a riot! He's going out with three women at once!" he exclaimed, picking up his shot and drank it without hesitation.
Karma can hit you hard. I couldn't help but feel guilty about it. No matter how I phrase it or find better words to say it, nothing would change a certain fact.
…I broke his heart first.
Hanamura calmed down a bit and took another swig of sake. "Amagi happened to stumble upon the floodplain to catch Yu hanging out with a really old woman by the riverbank. Add the fact that our idol's rumor beacon will surely warn the female community about Yu's antics."
"Was that even possible?"
"You know the girls. Everyone's smitten with him. He draws people to him without difficulty," he replied, cracking a few joints of his neck and stretching his legs lazily on the wooden floor.
That managed to crack me up a bit.
"Haha. Seems like it. He was a little like that before. I never knew he found his ways to attract women," I remarked. It scares me how easy it is for me to say it. As if it wasn't a problem to start with.
The darkness cloaked the surroundings and the sake bottle would be done in four rounds tops. Cicadas cricked, reminding us that we surely took the liberty of talking about random stuff.
Hanamura's not bad at all. Despite his clumsiness and apparent idiocy, he has his moments too. Satonaka might be amazed if this Bakamura person would somehow express his thoughts in detail. And he has it tough in the 'scoring with girls' department. Hm. I might go easy on him next time. Perhaps this is the alcohol talking, but hell, I really had a good time.
"It's getting late," Hanamura said giddily, flashing a slightly inebriated smile as he bowed. "I'd love to talk more, but Kuma's a handful if he'd be left unattended at home. I'll see you at school, Kageyama-senpai."
With that, I saw him off and headed to the main house, complete with the clutter that we had earlier. The night is still young, but for some reason, I'm lazy to do anything in particular. Damn, it's my turn to do the dishes tonight.
Something just clicked.
As my thoughts wandered once more when I did the dishes, I couldn't help how Hanamura just fit to be the one closest to Yu-chan like a boxing glove.
Shuffle Time! (Channel 0)
Juggling several part-time jobs burned me out. Doting over Nanako is always fun, despite the total energy-sapping it does. It's worse than having the Enervation status while raiding Mayonaka TV, but Nanako's smile – absolutely worth it.
Oji-san will throw a fit if he got the wind of my little sister losing her Loveline umbrella. That thing being expensive was not the issue; she went home all wet and she had a slight fever that day. Judging uncle's future reaction, he might snap and rant about Nanako being careless. Of course he would be worried, but the poor girl might take it differently. She had been through difficult times these past few months; that could fracture this unconventional family setup which we were trying to stabilize as much as we could.
Speaking of expensive stuff, the price of a Phoenix Ranger Featherman R figure was way off the charts. It's annoying how a simple toy would cost a small fortune. Day care kids are fun to be with, but they could be silly little devils if they put their heart to it.
Ah, the summer festival happens tonight. I can taste the takoyaki from my mind. Funny, but I look forward to it despite the tiredness that I'm feeling now. Tutoring finished early this afternoon. My student needs to have time for fun. Poor kid only thought that studying the only life that he had. Getting jealous over other young boys playing was understandable. No man is an island.
Friends. Everybody needs one.
…what's with this dramatic silent monologue anyway?
Okay. Now that I bought the Loveline umbrella due to a certain fox's request, I went to the shrine to leave it there. Fox-san yipped happily and shooed me away (at least that's what I understood – I'm not fluent in fox-speak), a black permanent marker in its mouth. Huh?
It's weird, but if you happen to be in a group who can stick their hands into a TV, nothing will faze you that much anymore.
The air's humid nowadays. The scent of summer permeates the atmosphere, making me a little uncomfortable. It can make you sweat a lot, and that's somewhat nasty. Taking a shower twice or thrice a day consumes too much water. I wish we had an inflatable pool in the backyard…
Oops. I forgot that the team will go out to watch the fireworks later. But I still have a number of things to do…
"Oi, Yu!"
Shit. It's still early out yet Tatsumi, Kuma, and Yosuke are hanging out at Shiroku's shaved ice stand. Kakigori sounds delectable. I want a matcha one.
No! Sweet things won't destroy my determination! Narukami Yu, fight!
"Nee, aibou, you don't look too hot. What happened?" Yosuke asked, hand on his hip and head canted slightly, seemingly curious at my annoyingly haggard visage.
Target spotted!
"Huh? Where are you going, Naru-senpai?"
…wait. Why is Haru-senpai with Kuroda-san?
Anyway, might as well get this done and over with. I excused myself and ran towards senpai's direction.
Kuroda-san smiled gently and he gaze lifted when I approached them.
"Ara, Yu-chan. I had a feeling that we will meet again. I didn't realize it would be this soon," she said, her raspy voice tinkling like bells. For that reason, I believe I really did sound like her husband in his younger days.
"You know each other, obaa-san?" Haru-senpai asked curiously, his calculating eyes scanning me like Kujikawa's Persona. Awkward…
She giggled a little and placed her hand on senpai's arm. "We've seen each other for quite a while now. He's a real gentleman too," she paused a bit and tilted her head to look at me. "What brings you here, Yu-chan?"
"This."
A comb, its simple look made itself shine despite its apparent age. Pretty well made too; it was submerged for a few days under the Samegawa river but the lacquer kept it in tip-top shape. Quite an artisan's work, methinks.
Kuroda-san's eyes widened, shocked at the item I held in front of her eyes. "…how?"
Of course I wouldn't mention that sleepless night I tried to reel the river guardian to have it back. She's down lately and I wouldn't like to let her feel bad about what she did.
I know Haru-senpai's raising an eyebrow at me but he didn't say anything.
"Important things deserve to be held close to you. You taught me that. Perhaps you didn't really want to let this thing slip from your grasp," I explained, smiling a bit. Hell, I must look awful for she doesn't respond. I lowered it so she can reach for it easily.
"Please take it. You looked a little sad when you threw it away so I did my best to get it back."
Tears. Whether of joy or resignation, I don't know. But the way she held it and her litany of relief made everything clear.
She still loved her husband more than I could ever imagine.
Sometimes, words just get in the way. Actions speak louder than those. With a wave, Kuroda-san smiled and ushered Haru-senpai to accompany her, the two walking to some stall and senpai getting flustered about something out of earshot.
Oh well.
One down! One more to go!
…now what?
Shu is running? With a brown melon? He's surely appeared athletic. Why didn't he tell me? We could've played two-man tag during our breaks. Oh, it's his birthday today. Sensei bought a gift for him. Sure, he gets lonely for being such the class bookworm, but he should take the initiative, right? Communication is a two-way process. If you want something, just blurt it out.
I chased him. I want a gummy bear…but this is more important.
"Shu!"
Good thing he chose a secluded area. A nice place for confessing undying love, but meh, that's just me being romantic. This isn't a shotacon story, so I'll cut the crap.
It turns out that he stole some fireworks because nobody wanted to hang out with him tonight. I could understand that; who wants to be alone in their birthday?
"Here. Happy Birthday, Shu." I handed him a go set.
He was stunned. "What's this sensei?"
"A game. You can't play it alone."
"But I…"
I flashed my sensei-smile. Too bad Kuma isn't here. "Then you have to ask them next time, ne?"
Ah, tears again. Why do I make people cry so much today? It isn't even funny.
We're supposed to return the said fireworks when I saw Yuu-kun with his mother at the kiosks scattered near the shrine. Ah, what a happy sight.
…or maybe not.
Crap! The world must hate me a lot. Kami-sama, please let me have rest for a while.
An emergency is not what I expected. Minami-san fell, unconscious, with a gash on her head bleeding profusely. I could imagine how unsettling this scenario could be to Yuu-kun. I couldn't stay put.
I've gotta do something.
Amidst YuU-kun's wailing, it's best to cushion Minami-san's head or it would get worse. It should also be at a higher elevation compared to the heart so it wouldn't bleed much. Uehara-san taught me well.
Right! She would be the best one to ask how to deal with this.
"Naru-chan! How rare it is for you to call me. Is –"
"Uehara-san! Someone's bleeding in the head! Please tell me what to do!"
"Wait a sec. What's going –"
"Please!"
A sigh.
"Understood," she said with urgency. I'm so glad I saved her number when she gave it to me without me even asking. "First, bandage the wound with a long material. Don't put too much pressure. Tourniquets aren't suitable for head injuries. Press on the wound gently but firmly."
"I'm on it!"
Long material, long material, long… There!
Ebihara is such a lifesaver!
"Yu, what're you doing there?"
I rushed at her, aiming for her scarf. Sorry but I desperately need that. I'll accompany you to shop next time. But for now, please!
"Ebi, let me borrow this for a while!"
She caved in immediately, noticing my distress. "You don't look too good, Yu. But here, take this."
Alright! First step done!
"Now, keep it cool. A makeshift ice pack will do."
Minimizing circulation, huh? Got it. Yosuke and the rest were having kakigori at Shiroku's stall. Great! It's nearby, just two rows away. However, the only thing is they ran out of ice. Tch. Where can I get some?!
"Hey, Narukami!" Nagase exclaimed, holding a phone on his hand. "Care to join us?"
It's a given that Ichijo is with him too. Being the more sensitive one, he noticed my distress. "Yo, Narukami. What's happening?"
"I need ice. Badly. Shiroku ran out of the stuff when I need it the most."
Nagase nodded. "I see. I didn't know you craved for kakigori to even be alarmed about it."
Talk about dense. He's called an idiot for a reason. Sorry for the term, Nagase.
"But fear not! I took the liberty to request for a delivery! It should be here in a few! Thank Satonaka for telling me that Aiya delivers anywhere!" he continued, laughing at his apparent brilliance.
Man, I can see you in a new light now.
Soon enough, Aika-chan arrived with the much-sought item – a huge block of ice inside her noodle transport container.
I briefly explained the situation to the two in haste and Ichijo offered be his neatly-folded handkerchief. I'm praying that it's washed properly or I'll sic Ebi on him. Club managers are strict when it comes to hygiene.
Step two done! It's all up to Minami-san now. Good thing the bleeding stopped; the wound's blood clotted nicely and her breathing is stable now.
Yuu-kun's relieved cries eased the tension that was building up earlier. Minami-san woke up and behold. Yuu-kun addressed her as his mother. All that's well ends well. This is the first time I've been into a festival with such…festivities.
"It seems that she'll be fine now. Let me patch her up," Uehara-san said, taking over my handiwork. "Good work today, Naru-chan."
"Thank you, Uehara-san. Your training menu served its purpose well."
She winked at me playfully.
"I know right. Should I give you a reward?"
…oh shit. Where did I put that melon?
Saaaaaaafe! Melon recovery and transport, success!
"Thank you very much, sensei!"
"Thank you for letting me recover my memories."
"Sensei, thank you very much."
"You helped me remember things I lost sight of long ago. Thank you."
I'm feeling really tired now after that adrenaline rush. Running to and fro, dealing with people and talking a lot just to have things done…but it's worth the effort, right?
I promised Nanako to see the fireworks later with the team. However, they didn't seem to be around. Good thing I ran into my little sister in the process.
"It's good that you're able to make then smile, onii-chan!" Nanako said cutely while watching the sky illuminate with different colors. I could stay like this forever.
"Loveline has been stalking you for a while now, and she found out that you hang out with older women too!"
I somehow feel nervous about the way she put it.
"Don't worry! I'll keep it a secret! I mean, a hero never gives out their identity unless the story needs it, right?"
Good thing I am way taller than her or she could see how uneasy I am. I'm a bad onii-chan! I'm sorry!
Bzzt.
Ah, my phone. I wonder who's calling now?
Hm. It's Amagi.
"Hey Nanako, Yukiko-oneechan wants to speak with you."
Summer breeze never felt any better – especially if it goes across your skin so easily. I've never imagined that I would publicly wear a garment which I'm only accustomed to when taking a bath. Damn Yosuke for giving Nanako crazy ideas.
"I can't wait seeing you in a yukata, Nanako-chan!"
Apparently, seeing as Nanako wanted Yosuke to be her husband someday, she said yes without second thoughts. And on top of that, siblings should be coordinated. That explains why I'm wearing such a thing.
It's tradition, I know. That doesn't make it any less awkward though.
"Wai! Nanako-chan is so adorable!" Satonaka cried, restraining herself from pinching Nanako's cheeks.
True. She's absolutely adorable. Her pink palette suited her, making her cuteness factor increase by 300%. It's so cute on her that it's almost illegal.
Dressing up was a mix of heaven and hell though. The girls adamantly invited themselves in the Dojima household to help fix Nanako's clothes and hair – and to bug me about my escapades during my ordeals. Nanako zipped her mouth shut and killed off any speculations with a cute smile and 'It's a secret between siblings!' The poking stopped instantaneously.
Never underestimate the power of cuteness.
…it was alarming how my little sister knew how to use a concealer stick (I'm suspecting it's Kujikawa's lessons) because she said my raccoon eyes makes me less pretty.
Oh my. Nanako's growing up fast.
…wait. Me? Pretty?
What are they teaching to my precious sister? And she even suggested to Amagi to have my hair done for my eyes were blocking my vision. Ah. I haven't got my hair trimmed ever since I arrived here.
Point taken.
However, since when did I become these three's dress-up doll? I was about to give them a piece of my mind, but alas, it was already time to head out and meet the rest of the gang.
I complimented Nanako's for pulling out the summer festival look with flying colors. "You look great."
I so want to take her home! Oh, we're staying under the same roof. Don't get your mind on the gutters.
"Yu-senpai looks dashing too!" Kujikawa squealed, flailing her arms elegantly, if that was even possible. "Nanako-chan is great at fixing his dark eye circles too!"
"Not without all of your help!" Nanako giggled and held on my hand tighter. It's nice having this. It feels like the murders didn't happen in the first place. I wish this will last.
I swear I'm hallucinating when we reached our meeting place.
"You're still eating? You finished off a ton of Topsicles earlier!" Hanamura scoffed, restraining himself from hitting Kuma's head.
"Is it a problem?" the team mascot responded as if concerned, albeit holding two frankfurter skewers that will be devoured pretty soon.
Tatsumi huffed and placed his hands on his hips. "Don't blame me if you get sick again. Hmph."
"I agree," Haru-senpai seconded, his mouth equipped with a cigarette-looking chocolate candy.
No, it's not the exchange that astounded me.
Here was Yosuke, in a dark gray yukata with a design akin to water ripples, chest area peeking nicely. On top of that, he pinned the left side of his hair too, showing his angular face more.
Shit. I'm not supposed to stare.
"Sorry we took so long!" Satonaka announced, rousing the four's attention.
Hey! You didn't even count from one to three before you did that! No fair!
"It took a while getting everyone dressed," Amagi added, putting more fuel into the fire. Go figure.
"Looking good huh!" Yosuke crooned, his eyes scanning all of us. As if I was expecting he would look at me just a little bit longer than anyone else.
…no. Not today. No weird thoughts today, please.
"Everyone's pretty!" Kuma, as per usual, screamed with remorse. I know you wanted to score so badly. Please spare your sensei. I hope you're your 'everyone' didn't include me.
"Alright. How about we check out the shops here?" Haru-senpai suggested. Despite his cool exterior, his voice told me the otherwise.
Of course I would notice. He's excited too. Festivals never get this elaborate in the city.
Shopping and eating festival food with friends was a lot better than I had imagined. Dodging people to minimize food spills, fighting over who's going to try goldfish scooping first, teasing each other for the prizes won at a lottery booth took my mind off the stress of the cases and the never-ending part-time jobs.
Then I noticed when I was holding Nanako's left hand, and Yosuke gently grasping the other, that hey, he's breathtaking.
Yosuke grew a few centimeters over the past few months; we're almost, if not the same, height. With that geta he wore for tonight, he loomed about three centimeters higher. I need to look up a bit when I talked to him. Wearing a dark-colored article made him look mature for his age – and he was a little in character as well. He talked a little softer, refrained from shouting a lot despite Satonaka's teasing and Amagi's laughter barrage, and rivalled me on doting Nanako.
I admit that I'm attracted to Yosuke. Oh well.
"Hey, thanks for taking care of her for me," oji-san spoke out of nowhere. Amazing. I didn't even notice where he came from. That means I'm distracted. Really distracted.
"Ah, oji-san. I thought you had work?" I queried. He didn't call the house phone earlier.
…now I see. Surprising Nanako eh?
"Yeah. But Adachi exists for a reason. I wouldn't pass up on the festival," he answered, squatting down to be at eye-level with Nanako. "My precious one shouldn't have all the fun," he continued with a grin.
Yosuke and I cannot surpass his charm on Nanako though.
"They bought me cotton candy! Want some?" his daughter squealed, brandishing the pack with glee.
Oji-san raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Did they? Oh sure. How about we go to the shooting booth?"
"That's great! Let's win a platypus, otou-san!"
Nanako let go of our hands and clung to her father. Brothers understand. It's seldom enough to have him at home so it would be best to let them have some bonding time.
Ah, my hand feels a little empty, but the warmth of family still lingers there.
"Now, you guys have fun."
"I'll see you later onii-chan, Yosuke-nii!"
And off they go. Yay.
"It's night-time at the festival, a couple leans up to each other. Unaccustomed to wearing a yukata, it spills open. Oh summer…"
One bear's mouth can really break the ice. Like Mabufula.
Yosuke, however, is unabashed. "What's with suddenly throwing poetic lines?" he almost snapped, moving his arm a bit.
…his fingers brushed against mine for a heartbeat. Crap. Okay, since no Nanako as a barrier, it's bound to happen.
What am I getting flustered about? It's just Yosuke.
"That means it's only natural for us to pair up and enjoy the mood! Ooh la la!" the mascot exclaimed, moaning the last part like tacky syrup.
Things would go downhill; it's the idol's positive response that fuelled the bear's suggestion into fruition. In the end, he 'scored' with all the girls, taking them around the festival area alone.
I'll take note of that.
"It can't be helped, na?" Yosuke sighed but recovered instantly.
Huh?
I'm looking forward to have time with the guys, like eating a lot (since I barely ate when I got home these days) or pigging out on kakigori.
"Tatsumi, does your shop have a stall in the festival tonight?" Haru-senpai asked casually?
"Yes, Kage-senpai," our brawler replied, quizzical look appearing on his face. "Why did you ask? You want something from there?"
"I'm thinking of getting a scarf for it will get chilly next month."
"Hm. I think we do."
With that, senpai nodded and got a new chocolate cigarette from his pack. "I'm borrowing him for a bit. Let's meet sometime later."
Conversations about plushies and textile-related stuff littered their walk away from us. What is everyone thinking these days? I was out of the loop for a several days and this thing sort of happens?
Crap.
Alone. With Yosuke.
I don't know if I will be happy about it or not.
"Nee, aibou. It's been quite a while since I've got you alone, na?" my partner-proclaimed right-hand man asked rhetorically.
Indeed, it has.
No part-time work. No hassles to take care of.
Margaret-san's opinion worked wonders for a reason I can't put my finger on.
It made the heat awkwardly comfortable. It made the summer breeze almost taste of candy apples for the first time.
O-nyaa-ke~ *heart!* (Channel 14344)
Nyaa~latoteph! has been updated successfully (v2.435).
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JUNES01 . np4
"Bakamura! What's taking you so long?!"
"Chie… Shouting won't change anything…"
"But my steak platter…"
"I apologize for the wait. Here you go."
"Narukami! Oh, thanks. Ugh, where's Hanamura?"
"Yosuke almost fainted earlier. He's covering for a lot of people these days. Oh, that reminds me, I need to check if he ate lunch. See ya."
"Narukami-kun. Please tell Nanako that we will drop by later."
"I will. Enjoy your meal. Email me if you need me for anything."
"…aren't you a bit hard on Hanamura-kun?"
"Mou… I didn't mean to. I thought he was goofing around. Turns out I'm in the wrong, ne?"
"Hm. Then apologize, Chie."
"Yukiko! I can't…I just can't! Remember how he always urges Kuma to 'score', and how he ogles everyone, even ?"
"…right. No mercy for the damned."
"B-but Yukiko, I think we should go easy on him next time. I mean, he works real hard now. Should we cut him some slack?"
"I guess we should."
"But I'm not apologizing to Hanamura. He's an idiot for telling me he's not feeling well in the first place."
SignsOfLove03 . np4
"Oh, welcome back onii-chan. Yep! He went home earlier than usual!"
"Who're you speaking with, Nanako?"
"It's Yosuke-nii! Ah, did you want to speak with onii-chan? Alright! I'll tell him! Bye Yosuke-nii!"
"So he called to chat with you?"
"Yup! And he can't wait to see me in a yukata too!"
"Should we prepare for that then?"
"I already have one! Do you have one too, onii-chan?"
"That's…"
"I bet it would look nice on you too!"
"I hope I have cash to spare for that…"
"Did you say anything, onii-chan?"
"I-I said yes! No problem! Hahaha…"
"Great! Summer festivals are fun! Let's buy cotton candy too!"
"Yes…"
"And I'll ask Rise-neechan for makeup tips!"
TatsumiTextiles00 . np4
"A customer… Oh, one of Kanji's friends, I see. Can I help you?"
"I'd like to purchase a yukata, please? Anything that would fit?"
"Hm… Do have any preference in color or style?"
"Any would do. I'm not really good when it comes to traditional clothes…"
"My, my. No need to get flustered about it. Would you like to try this one?"
"…not bad! Not bad at all!"
"It seems that this one's a perfect fit. Good choice, young man."
"W-was it? Geez, I didn't even choose. Thank you for your suggestion…"
"I'll take that as a compliment. And since you're Kanji's friend, I'll give you a discount."
"Really! Sweet!"
"Now off you go, young man."
"Thank you very much! Oh crap, I've got a shift! Gotta go!"
SignsOfLove04 . np4
"It's a concealer stick. You use it to hide nasty things like dark rings around the eyes or pimple scars. Pretty nice to cover up things when you do not have time to get facial treatments."
"Ara…Rise-chan is amazing! I want to try too!"
"But your skin is already perfect, Yukiko."
"So true. I envy you senpai… How come you have good skin despite all the misadventures that we had there?"
"E-eh? What are you talking about?"
"Yukiko-oneechan has good skin! Chie-neechan and Rise-neechan too!"
"Nanako-chan… Even if I eat a lot of meat, I think it helps my skin too?"
"Of course! Hagakure in Port Island serves beef bowls that said it could help preserve your youthful appearance. It's the collagen or something. They said no therapeutic claims though."
"I knew it! That's the secret for being a beautiful lady!"
"Snrk. Ahahaha! But if you fill up your mouth with gyudon, you would end up looking like this!"
"Way to go, Yukiko-senpai! A perfect rendition of Chie-senpai!"
"Stop teasing me…"
"But I wonder why onii-chan's skin is smooth."
"Was it? Give me details, Nanako-chan! Perhaps Yu-senpai has a strategy!"
"I don't know, but he takes a long time to finish his bath so he always comes in last. He also goes back to his room in the middle of it to get something before he continues. I sometimes need to clean up his wet footprints…"
"Afufufufufu~ Narukami has a secret. I could smell it like steak skewers from a kilometre away!"
"Also, his hand is always soft. Unlike Yosuke-nii who has slightly calloused hands."
"Hanamura-kun works a lot. Besides, it's usual for males to have rough hands, right?"
"Uh-huh. What gives? Yu-senpai isn't even trying hard! We always have a difficult time keeping our beauty regimen and he goes off easy? That's a little unfair."
"There should be something in Narukami-kun's room that would explain it."
"A-chaaa! Then let's check out his room!"
"N-no way I'm getting inside a-another boy's room. It's u-unlady-like!"
"Is that right, Rise-chan?"
"Mou… Maiden's honor is on the line here. It's an absolute no-no. We won't enter Yu-senpai's room, got it?"
"What about rooms?"
"Oh, onii-chan! We were just talking about a-uh-I can't say it well… Yeah! Aromatherapy rooms earlier and how can it make one's skin beautiful!"
"Eh? I've heard of those. Anyway, Yosuke and I just finished making snacks. You should dig in before the gluttons devour everything. You know Kuma and Kageyama-senpai's stomachs."
"Yup! We'll be going down in a bit, onii-chan!"
"…we're saved!"
"Nice going there Nanako-chan? You saved us from embarrassment! I'll treat you with steak at Junes!"
"But you always kick Hanamura-kun's shin just to have steak."
"He deserved it."
"For now, maiden's meeting is adjourned. I can't wait to taste Yu-senpai's cooking again! Let's continue this some other time, shall we?"
TatsumiTextiles01 . np4
"If it isn't Kanji's friend. What can I help you with today?"
"Oh…I was wondering if you have an orange yukata?"
"You're in luck, young man. We do have one. Want to try it on?"
"Yes, please."
"It's a perfect fit. Looks good with your hair and eyes too."
"Thank you Tatsumi-san. Is it okay to ring it up? I'll take it."
"Of course. I'll give you a discount too."
"REALLY?! Erm, I mean, if it isn't too much…"
"You're one of my son's friends. It's fine to give out discounts once in a while. You've been taking good care of him. I suppose this won't hurt."
"This is too much… Is it really okay?"
"Trust me. I just like the way it fit you. That is enough for me."
"If you say so, Tatsumi-san. Thank you very much…crap! I have a shift! As much as I wanted to chat more, I'm running late for work. I appreciate this, Tatsumi-san. I've got to go. Please excuse me."
"My, my. Just like the other day…"
Tatsuhime04 . np4
"Obaa-san, how did you meet Yu-I mean Narukami?"
"Are we having Ten Questions now, Haru-chan?"
"N-no! O-of course not! I'm just asking, that is."
"At Samegawa. He seemed like a really nice boy. Who would have the time to listen an old lady rant about how life wasn't as colourful as it was?"
"…"
"So, Haru-chan, is he the one that you're thinking about?"
"Obaa-san..!"
"Ahohoho. How did I know? We have the same bloodline. This perhaps is what you youngsters call as your 'type', ne? If I were younger, I would say that Yu-chan's my 'type' too. Also, you're about to call him 'Yu-chan' earlier, am I right?"
"I don't like lying, obaa-san…"
"And that's that. But let me warn you. He's somewhat happy, and it isn't you who's making him so."
"Must you be so blunt, obaa-san? It hurts already."
"It's bound to hurt. Are you alright with that, Haru-chan?"
"…"
"If things go wrong, just visit me I'll comfort you."
Tatsuhime05 . np4
"Why are you still here?! What about sleeping early?!"
"Relax, Kanji. Our helpers require a break too. Besides, I'm enjoying the festivities while tending our stall as well."
"…if you say so."
"Tatsumi-san, I'm looking for a scarf. Do you have any suggestions?"
"Would you like a warm, fluffy one, or a light, silken one?"
"A warm one would be nice."
"Oh, I see. How about you scan through these? I hope you can pick something you like. I'll give you a discount too since you're with Kanji."
"Giving out discounts for the third time? What gives?"
"It's alright. It's not like we're anywhere near bankruptcy. And it looked good on them so it's justifiable. I've seen my work worn beautifully and that's enough. That yukata pair was as if it was made for them specifically. At least someone took purchase of a cancelled order. It must be fate."
"Artisan's instincts huh?"
"You have it as well Kanji."
"…I agree."
"I agree what, Kage-senpai?"
"They're beautiful together."
"The yukata? Of course. It's my old lady's craft that we're talking about here."
"Have you seen those, Tatsumi?"
"No."
"It slipped under your nose."
Tatsuhime10 . np4
"You know what, aibou? You should take it easy. You're paler than usual."
"Says the one who collapsed a few weeks ago."
"Crap. I fainted. It's different from collapsing."
"If you say so."
"Oh well. I'll go straight to the point. Why do you make everyone worry so much? Even Nanako was totally clueless of your whereabouts."
"I didn't mean to."
"You owe everyone an apology. But having Nanako-chan smile at last, I guess it was some sort of a misunderstanding."
"That would be the case."
"As long as it's fine with everyone. Also, the girls did a great job hiding your raccoon eyes; but underneath that, you're an overworked stud. Get some rest, ne aibou? Even though we don't have mysteries to solve anymore, it doesn't mean that you can just catch a cold or anything similar. I'm sick of worrying, I might have Jiraiya 'worry'-warts soon."
"You're really bad at puns, Yosuke."
"Hah. Now you tell me."
"…I'm sorry."
"H-hey, no biggie! I-I was just saying! Don't sweat it. You make me feel like I'm the bad guy here."
"I'm sorry."
"Stop apologizing! It doesn't suit you. By the way, whoever told you to wear orange was a genius."
No more videos. Close application? YES NO
"To be praised by our guest's Magician is a great honor. Purchasing Keroberos is certainly one of the best yen sinks. Don't you agree, Igor-sama?"
"…"
And that's that. Oops. Got to cook something at the store. No lengthy after-chapter notes for now.
Sakuraba Ryuichiro, rushing to the store with an almost-finished cigarette.
Update: Changed Yu-kun to Yuu-kun for consistency