#prologue_sidea

Kafka: ……

Kaede: Kafka? Hey, what’s wro—-

(Loud popping noise)

Kaeda: Uwawgh!?

Kafka: Congrats Kaede-chan!

Kaede: Huh, what…!?

Kafka: My company has decided to hire you~!

Kaede: Hweh, eh?

Sakujiro: Congratulations. I believe this has taken you around 5 hours. As expected from Kaede-san.

Kaede: Sakujiro-san!? Eh, where did you… why…?

Kaede: Also, you said “my company”... as in Kafka’s company?

Kafka: Fufufu… Surprised, aren’t you. Here, look at this.

Kaede: What…? Documents?

Kafka: Yeah. Registration documents for the company I created.

Kaede: Registration… I can’t keep up with what’s happening, but… did you really—a company…?

Kaede: What’s this mission statement thingie right here?

Kafka: Management philosophy, or maybe… the guidelines for what ideas you want to realize, perhaps I should say.

Kaede: In other words, what you want to achieve by making the company?

Kafka: Exactly that!

Kafka: Do you remember the first time you went on a trip? What you were wishing for, with who, and where you went? 

Kafka: A heart-pounding experience, a chance encounter… There might've been some unforeseen trouble, too.

Kafka: However, none of these things can be experienced unless you take that first step forward to embark on a trip.

Kafka: Where should you go? What should you do? What should you take with you? Together with who—? 

Kafka: All the people that yearn to see the world, and those who haven’t had a taste of traveling yet, HAMA receives with open arms.

Kafka: Hoping one day your heart will grow warm when memories resurface, as if it’s reaching out to give you courage.

Kafka: A trip to the HAMA that’s kept close, and loved. To take your hand and lead you there—

Kafka: That is…

Kaede & Kafka: Hama Tours

Kaede: Kafka, this is…

Kafka: Say, Kaede-chan.

Kafka: Today, you felt it when going around HAMA, didn’t you? In the past, how it differs from the first trip that you gifted me… That the HAMA we know now—it's in a tough spot.

Kafka: I’m no longer that ill person waiting for Kaede-chan’s tales of traveling.

Kafka: I’ll wager all that’s left of my life, and bring HAMA back on its feet. And in order to achieve that, I need you. That’s why…

Kafka: So, Kaede-chan, bet your whole life on me too.

Kaede: Kafka…

Kaede: (The whole time, no matter where I was, I could always feel a tiny bit of regret. Wondering if this is really the kind of job I wanted to do. Even though travel work is what I yearned for, these feelings that I had—)

Kaede: (Were ones of wanting to make someone smile, from a trip to HAMA. That’s what was left of them. —A trip like the one I gave to Kafka that day.)

Kaede: –I’ll place a bet. 

Kaede: On Kafka, on the work to bring HAMA back, I’ll bet my whole life!

Kafka: …Really? You mean it?

Kaede: Without a doubt.

Kafka: And it… isn’t it because you pity me? Wanting to “help” someone as miserable as me…That’s not how you feel, right?”

Kaede: No! Not a chance I’d ever think that.

Kaede: I, honestly, have been frustrated the entire time. Seeing HAMA drained of color compared to how it was… How it’s helpless, lifeless. 

Kaede: But all I could do was absentmindedly stare. That’s why… you’re truly amazing.

Kaede: Thanks to you, I’ll be able to do something for the sake of HAMA, too. I’ve never been this happy before. 

Kafka: Right… yeah. Right!

Kafka: Seems like I won after going all out, one way or another. 

Kaede: Hm? What are you talking about?

Kafka: Nothing at all.

Sakujiro: ……

Kaede: Um, so then… what now? Actually, what should I do first?

Kafka: Oh? You’re sure fired up~ Kaede-chan. How admirable!

Kaede: Obviously I am! Because…

Kaede: (I feel like I finally found the kind of job I wanted to do. And, most importantly, it’s the same one as Kafka’s.)

Kaede: (Reading HAMA Tours’ mission statement makes it all clear. How it's the same as me… How the trip we took together that day made Kafka who he is today!)

Kaede: Either way! I’ll do anything! And when do we start… Ah, that’s right. I’ll work myself to the bone if it’s from next week on.

Kaede: That unemployment really came at the right time…

Kafka: Yeah, I knew.

Kaede: Eh…  Did I… talk about how the company went out of business?

Kafka: Fufu, makes you wonder. The planets really aligned for this one, didn’t they.

Sakujiro: Young Master, it’s getting time…

Sakujiro: Your body will get cold.

Kafka: …

Kafka: I love the rain. No matter who it is, the raindrops will fall the same onto everyone. Besides—

Kafka: The coldness that has never stopped raining onto me will, at last, clear up tomorrow.

Kaede: Tomorrow? Is there something tomorrow?

Kafka: Yeah. My surgery.

Kaede: Wha….? Surgery… Surgery!? But Kafka, on PeChat, you said it was over…

Kafka: That was a lie.

Kafka: YOU LIED!? But, Sakujiro-san was also…

Sakujiro: My deepest condolences. This very Sakujiro’s 879th special skill is Co-Conspirator in No Time.

Kaede: Unbelievable….

Kaede: Wait, not that part!

Kaede: Even though your surgery is tomorrow, you went out, and now you're sitting in the pouring rain like this…! 

Kaede: Put on this jacket! And then a towel, towel… Ah, I have a handkerchief. Here use this to dry yourself off immediately—

Kafka: Ahaha! You’re panicking all over the place, Kaede-chan.

Kaede: Of course I’m panicking! This is no laughing matter, you know!?

Kafka: It is something to laugh about, c’mon.

Kafka: I won a bet I placed with my whole life, so I’m invincible now. No matter what the success rate for my surgery is, there’s no way I’d lose…

Kafka: I absolutely won’t die.

Kaede: I do believe that but… Kafka, why are you that confident about it?

Kafka: Because of the courage you gave to me.

Kaede: I did…?

Kafka: I’m done with just gazing through the window at the world you live in.

Kafka: I won’t let you leave me behind anymore, and I won’t wait for you either.

Kafka: From now on we’ll be equals, standing side-by-side, walking forward while being on the same page.

Kafka: It’s likely that… not everything will be alright. Just like that one trip we took back then, we can end up getting lost, not be able to make it to the observation deck because we didn’t have the money, things like these might happen, too.

Kaede: Yeah, you’re right. But…

Kaede: When that happens, we’ll look for somewhere else.

Kaede: Even if we didn’t get to the observation deck that day, the view of the evening colors from this building was breathtakingly out of this world, wasn’t it?

Kafka: Yeah… it’s exactly as you say.

Kafka: That’s why, Kaede-chan—

Kafka: Let’s go on a trip, together!

<<previous chapter / next chapter>>

Announcer <(We request that you please fill in your arrival card as preparation for landing. –As there’s still some time until disembarkment, please enjoy the remainder of your pleasant flight.)

A trip’s memories are like one roll of a cassette tape.

The A-side is full of wonder, while the B-side… it may record all the unavoidable, painful things, but that isn’t to say only one side exists.

…The beauty of travel is not without its downsides.

Announcer <(We will shortly start our descent to Tokyo Metropolis Airport.)

Kaede: …Been a while since we could see each other, right, Kafka.

Man seated in the other chair: That’s a tape recorder, no… Isn’t that something from over half a century ago? 

Kaede: Ah, yes, it’s a cassette tape.

Kaede: From the latter half of the 20th century… They used them up until around the 90’s.

Man seated in the other chair: They’re back in fashion lately, aren’t they. Ret, if I’m not mistaken… That's a buzzword in itself, too. You’re a fan of these?

Kaede: Not so much other ret stuff… I just like cassettes. 

???  <(Hey… don’t you dare…me out of all people…!)

???  <(I’m… in the mood for… tedious… oh-so grand exit.)

??? <(Whaa-!? I should… saying that!)

Kaede: (What’s with the commotion… a fight?)

Man seated in the other chair: My, my… lively, isn’t it.

Man seated in the other chair: I have to say, somehow I was able to have a pleasant flight sitting next to you. My thanks, fieu. Have an ounce of gratitude.

Kaede: Oh, no need to… the same goes for me!

Kuguri: So, Returning to JPN?

Kaede: Yes, I’m going back to my hometown. To HAMA-18.

next chapter>>

Man selling flowers: And we’re here… Is this okay?

Kaede: It’s more than enough! You genuinely were a big help. Thank yo—

Kaede: Ah, right. Sorry, I still haven’t asked for your name.

Man selling flowers: Aaah, uh… Then, here.

Kaede: And this is?

Man selling flowers: My shop. Drop by once everything’s settled.

Man selling flowers: When you want flowers, or want to have your laundry done.

Kaede: Laundry? And, flowers…? What kind of business …?

Man selling flowers: ‘Kay, I’m off.

Kaede: T-thanks again!

Kaede: ….HAMA nice trip!

Man selling flowers: ….HAMA nice trip, too.

Kaede: (...What an interesting guy.)

Kaede: Okay… gotta search for Kafka!

Kaede: Hmmm… He isn’t here either, huh.

Kaede: (Where did you run off to, Kafka….)

Kaede: That day, where did we go next based on that sightseeing guide I made…

Headband boy: Hey hey, you over there!

Kaede: Eh… me?

Headband boy: Yeah! Y’see, I got this once in a lifetime favor here~....

Headband boy: Use this camera and film the whole shebang of what I’m ‘bout to do!

Kaede: Eh, eh… eeeh!?

Headband boy: Okay, I’m blastin’ off…

Headband boy: “NO, WAIT!!”

Kaede: Eh, what is he doing…!?

Headband boy: “These stairs still aren’t safe! You caaaaaaaan’t!!”

Security guard A: You over there! Stop where you are!

Headband boy: “Damn it…The Space Dimension Over Journeyer isn’t fully charged yet…!”

Security guard B: What are you mumbling about…Either way, remove yourself from the premise! Entry is forbidden to those who do not follow the dress code!

Headband boy: “I know! But this machine isn’t able to endure an incomplete Over Journey…!”

Headband boy: Get it all on camera! Properly!

Kaede: Eh… is he saying that to me…?

Headband boy: “Let me through! Why are you letting him go on his own!”

Security guard A: Dangit…! You sure can put up a fight…!

Security guard B: Enough of this tomfoolery!

Headband boy: Uh-oh…!?

Kaede: (Ah… looks like they let him go…?)

Headband boy: Phew… so a cut here, huh.

Headband boy: Hey! Didja catch that!? Did you!?

Kaede: Ah… sorry. I was taken so aback I didn’t do anything…

Headband boy: No freakin’ way! Then one more take… 

Kaede: Wait, wait! The guards will just stop you again if you do that!

Headband boy: Dummy, that’s what I need! In scene 87, I shake off the organization restraining me and go travel across the multiverse to save my buddy!

Kaede: I… I don’t know what kind of filming is going on here, but I think you better stop causing problems… All the guards are on high alert too. 

Headband boy: Booo! Even though I was sure you filmed that explosion of emotions earlier!

Kaede: …Huh?

Kaede: Hey, what’s that in your hand?

Headband boy: This? Just some papers I rolled up, but… no shoot is complete without it! It being a megaphone!

Kaede: Ah, no. That’s not what I meant… That paper on the outside. May I have a look at it?

Headband boy: Yea, sure! It’s just one I snagged up after it came down fluttering through the air from above earlier. 

(Guide page)

Landmark Tower is a symbol of HAMA! You can see all of HAMA from the observation deck Sky Garden.

When I went to do extra activities for school, I searched for the hospital where Kafka was staying. As you’d expect, I wasn’t able to tell where his room was located.

Kaede: I knew it… another page from the guide I made…

Headband boy: Huuuh.. extracurricular activities for school, eh. Hard to imagine that nowadays.

Kaede: Eh, why?

Headband boy: ‘Cuz y’know… that. Look over there.

Renga: “—On the second floor of the landmark plaza, you can partake in Burger Emperor’s speciality, diamond french fries for 34,000 yen!”

Renga: “Potatoes of the finest quality from Île de Noirmoutier, worth 40,000 yen for one kilogram, rinsed with water stemming from an aquifer roughly 450 meters deep beneath the Andes Mountains for exactly 38.8 seconds and then fried crisply by an out of this world cuisinier!”   

Kaede: (That’s the Ward Mayor Nishizono Renga I ran into at the airport yesterday…! Actually, like 30,000 yen for fries…!? Is this some ad for a five star hamburger joint!?)

Renga: “—This is the place to be for high class service at any given time. Urben and lugsurious, gorgeous facilities perfectly reserved for someone of your steetus, I bid you a warm welcome to Landmark.”

Headband boy: See? Ain’t no way a buncha elementary schoolers would waltz into such a hoity-toity place. 

Kaede: That can’t be…!

Kaede: (Is because of that Ward Mayor’s policies that the Landmark changed like this…!?)

<<previous chapter / next chapter>>

(Kafka’s voice)

07/01, 1st of July—  I snuck out of the hospital. 

The first trip in my life… 

As promised, Kaede-chan took me with him.

My heart was beating as fast as it could… Whether Kaede-chan felt this excitement through our intertwined hands—it was all I could think about at first.

I’m sure that I'll never, ever forget about the trip I took today. 

The sights I saw, the food I ate, the people I met… the smells, sounds and colors— the warmth of holding Kaede-chan’s hand.

This is what a trip is—an unforgettable experience that etches itself within your heart.

That’s why I thought of something. One day, I… as the 0th Ward Mayor of HAMA… I want to be the one giving hospitality to all the tourists that come here—

Kaede: I knew it…it’s a voice memo from when I secretly took him with me out of the hospital, and we went sightseeing around HAMA together.

Kaede: (Kafka, you really… held that trip close to your heart.)

Sakujiro: One day as a Tourism Ward Mayor, he says. As you would expect from the son meant to inherit the 0th ward  governing over HAMA-18…. harboring such noble ambitions since his boyhood.   

Sakujiro: Anyhow, currently we must locate the Young Master posthaste. For the sake of conducting the search as efficiently as possible, I suggest we operate individually.

Kaede: Yeah, I agree. Then I’ll be—

Kaede: (I don’t believe Kafka left that cassette lying around without any thought.)

Kaede: (I thought to trace back my steps following the route planner I made for Kafka that day, but…)

Kaede: I made that plan while super excited, so the scope of it was huge. I want to find him as soon as possible, though… 

(Kaede bumps into something)

Delinquent of amazingly short height A: Huhn~? Didya just like, bump into my shoulder?

Kaede: Ah, sorry.

Delinquent with dangerously low pants B: Haaah!? Ya bumped into him and that’s it!? You hit his shoulder, yanno!? Are all fellas from HAMA just a buncha rude asses or what!

Kaede: No, uh…

Kaede: (I messed up… Because of this area becoming desolate, a bunch of weirdo delinquents started gathering around here, or something along those lines.)

Delinquent with dangerously low pants B: Y’know, we really went outta our way and took two whole ass hours to come here! All the way down to HAMA! 

Delinquent of amazingly short height A: To beat the ever living shit out of other dudes!

Both delinquents A & B: Gyahahaha!

Kaede: Picking fights… why would you…?

Delinquent of amazingly short height A: Get with the times, old man. Nowadays every goddamn place is on full lockdown by security robots, ain’t no room for the baddies to stand out.

Delinquent with dangerously low pants B: Going off that, HAMA’s management is in freaking shambles, which is why big cat right here can claim the whole sidewalk for himself with his big ass shoulders.

Kaede: (They’re saying some awful things…)

Delinquent of amazingly short height A: Which leads us back to this, so c’mon, hand it over. The thing you pull out when you've pulverized someone else’s shoulder.

Delinquent with dangerously low pants B: Reparations, to be clear.

Delinquent of amazingly short height A: Hand it over, scoundrel.

Delinquent with dangerously low pants B: Reminder that cops don’t bother with civil affairs, scalawag.

Kaede: Um… I’m a little bit tight on cash…

Delinquent of amazingly short height A: Don’tcha get all stingy on me! Look, look, electronic payments are where it’s at. Which one’s your main?

Kaede: No, I’m not…!

Man selling flowers: Excuse me~ ….Don’t you want to buy a flower?

Delinquent of amazingly short height A: Haaah?

Delinquent with dangerously low pants B: Where’s this fella suddenly popping up from.

Man selling flowers: Money is accepted through most electronic payment services.

Delinquent of amazingly short height A: Wha… what’cha yapping about there!

Man selling flowers: Do you have a favorite flower? Even if only by color… Ah, actually I can provide assistance by reverse searching flower language based on your favorite word and pick one out like that too.

Delinquent with dangerously low pants B: Flower language? I ain’t bilingual!

Man selling flowers: Let’s see… my recommendation for you two would be…

Man selling flowers: This, here—would you like an amaryllis.

Delinquent of amazingly short height A: Hell no, don’t want it!

Man selling flowers: Is that so… then…

Man selling flowers: Muscari?

Delinquent with dangerously low pants B: Just straight up no! It ain’t like we want any other kinda flower! We don’t want flowers in general!

Man selling flowers: My last resort then. Coming down to my precious savings…

Kaede: (H-he pulled out a horsetail out of his pocket…!?)

Delinquent of amazingly short height A: Haaah? What’s with that grass thingie…

Man selling flowers: I was keeping this to use it for dinner later. The price tag is at 0, so no need to thank me either.

Delinquent with dangerously low pants B: I lost the plot… 

Delinquent of amazingly short height A: L-let’s bounce.

Delinquent with dangerously low pants B: Right, let’s get outta here.

Man selling flowers: HAMA nice trip.

Kaede: (A-amazing. He chased off delinquents with a horsetail. More importantly…)

Kaede: Um, that right now…

Man selling flowers: Hm? What?

Kaede: HAMA nice trip… is what you said, right?

Man selling flowers: Yea. I did. It’s a greeting for when tourists come to HAMA. I came up with it. 

Man selling flowers: But, it never ended up sticking. Use it too if you’d like. 

Kaede: Y-yes. It’s a nice saying… 

Kaede: Ah, that’s right! Thank you so much for saving me!

Man selling flowers: It’s not like I did that much. If anything, it seems like it’s going to rain later.

Kaede: Rain? What do you–

Kaede: …Huh? Is that…

Kaede: I knew it… A page from the sightseeing guide I made for Kafka in the past. It’s a copy but… what’s it doing here?

(Guide page)

Let’s improve the economy with inbound tourism (※foreigners traveling to Japan)!

With this, it has been decided that Yokohama’s “Chinatown” will be the most important tourist attraction, based on the concept the country came up with. 

They hit the jackpot with this idea, so Chinatown’s attracting huge crowds! Our recommendation is to enjoy some high quality siu mai! 

Kaede: (---Aah, that’s right. Back then, HAMA was in its heyday, full of life and people wherever you went…) 

Person from Chinatown A: Oh my oh my, such little customers! Did you come here together?

Person from Chinatown B: Oi, you lil’ rascals over there! Have a bite of this! Don’t need no money, it’s just a sample!

Person from Chinatown C: Are you perhaps lost? Where would you like to go… Aah, in that case, it’s opposite direction of the station. Right over there, follow me!

Kaede: (All kinds of people treated us with such kindness… And that wasn’t just because we were two little kids out and about.)

Kaede: (At least, back then, it wasn’t as deteriorated as it is now…)

Kaede: ….All of it has changed.

Man selling flowers: Uuum, you okay?

Kaede: Ah, sorry. I was lost in thought there…

Man selling flowers: Anywhere you wanna go? I got a bike, so I can bring you if it isn’t far.

<<previous chapter / next chapter>>

Kaede: Phew… somehow got it solved.

Liguang: Making me of all people clean up your mess… How unpleasant.

Renga: It’s not like I asked or anything!

Kaede: (One way or another, Liguang-san lent us a hand after I asked him to… even if it’s just by coincidence, it was a huge help to have both Ward Mayors here.)

Kaede: Um, thank you very much for your help!

Liguang: Hmph… a waste of my time.

Renga: And my wasted time is more valuable than yours!

Renga: Crap, wait Liguang! Don’t you walk in front of m—

Kaede: Please wait!

Renga: Geez! Still bothering me or what!?

Kaede: I keep trying to say, that suitcase is…!

Renga: What’s wrong with my suitcase… Ah? Why do you have the same…?

Kaede: I believe that one is actually mine.

Renga: Ah…! You’re right, my precious Woof Woof Paradise charm isn’t on it…! 

Renga: D-damn you! Spit it out sooner if that was the case! Don’t you dare think commoners are worthy of owning the same stuff as me!

Kaede: (Again with the commoner thing…)

Kaede: Haaah… and he’s gone. Well, I got my luggage back so it’s fine.

Kaede: (Apart from what’s inside, this suitcase is a purchase in itself, so no way I’d want to lose it.)

Announcer <(It’s almost time for the last bus towards HAMA to depart. Please make your way to the bus terminal, platform number 11 as soon as possible.)

Kaede: Oh no… gotta hurry!

Kaede: Haaah~ ….Made it just in time.

Announcer <(The bus will be departing. Please fasten your seatbelt attached next to your seat.)

Kaede: (That being said…)

Kaede: (The bus is pretty empty. I guess it’s because it’s the last one, but… In the past it used to be chock full of people.)

???: Oh? If it ain’t Hamasaki.

Kaede: Eh… Daniel-san!?

Daniel: Yo, hope all went well for you.

Kaede: Same goes to you. Looks like we caught the same bus, huh.

Daniel: ‘Cuz there’s only one to HAMA every four hours. Been waiting for such a long time, got me more tired than that flight.

Kaede: Yeah… missing it does end up being quite the hassle. And yet the Tokyo one is on par with the Yamanote Line…

Daniel: Well, ain’t like much can be done about it. HAMA’s recession becomes clear as day once you catch a glimpse of our current situation.

Daniel: Want one too? A can of beer. Let’s have a toast to being jobless comrades in arms.

Kaede: Already claiming to be jobless… that’s for next week, technically speaking.

Kaede: (—Daniel-san and I are tour conductors working at the same travel agency… or rather, were—it’s a shame, but the business declared bankruptcy.)

Daniel: Just as a last celebration for wrapping up the work day, y’know.

Kaede: (That’s right… Today Daniel-san and I wrapped up the last of our work for tour guiding and headed right back home.)

Kaede: Daniel-san… What are you planning to do next, now that the company isn’t around anymore?

Daniel: Stuff just got done and over with and you’re already bringing that up…

Kaede: I already said it’s not over just yet.

Daniel: Hahaha! Naw, I’ll be taking it nice and easy here.

Daniel: Does that mean you already got something in mind, Hamasaki?

Kaede: I…

Kaede: (Being a tour conductor was a pretty fun job. Of course I love traveling too, besides….)

Kaede: (Earlier, it felt a bit different compared to the hospitality usually given to tourists at work… I was also happy to think I might’ve done something to help HAMA.)

Kaede: (....I want to continue doing travel work no matter what. But, even when I was working overseas, I could always feel a tiny bit of regret somewhere within my heart.)

Kaede: (....What kind of travel work I genuinely want to do—it's something I can’t help but wonder about.)

Daniel: Oi, what’s wrong? You’re looking lost in thought there.

Kaede: Oh, no... just thinking nice and easy.

Daniel: Haha! Nice nice, taking it nice an easy is the way to go.

Kaede: Nah, compared to you I’m actually giving it some proper thought.

Daniel: Right, right. Well… the end of one trip is the start of another, as they say.

Kaede: True… that’s how it is. Would be nice if it turns out like that.

Daniel: Also~ If you keep working seriously until the bankruptcy goes in next week, I can take it easy all the way. 

Kaede: …I’ll have you know I’m on paid leave tomorrow.

Daniel: Eeeeh~? C’mon, let’s work together now~

Kaede: Please do your best out there.

Kaede: (Since tomorrow is when I’ll be going to see Kafka.)

Kaede: (And after that, I’ll look for a new job…. I’m sure there’ll be some new meetings along the way too. This time, I’m going to find the kind of travel work I want to do from the bottom of my heart. Just thinking about it like this has me excited.)

Kaede: (Can’t wait to see what kind of people I’ll run into on my next trip!)

<<previous chapter / next chapter>>

Kaede: (The first day of work is finally here! The other new employees will be here too, right… I’m nervous.)

Kaede: (That reminds me… I ran into Renga-kun here last week—I wonder if he turned out to be okay. He wasn’t looking too good there.)

Kaede: (Not that I can do much just sitting around and worrying! Alright, time for work!)

Daniel: Nah, what’cha making all these faces for. Someone’s a busy fella as always.

Kaede: !? Eh, Da-Daniel-san!? What are you doing here!?

Daniel: Ah? ‘Cuz this is my workplace, duh.

Daniel: Lemme take it from the top again, I’m director of HAMA Tours, Iwabuchi Daniel Hiroshi. Nice to meet’cha~

Kaede: …! …! …!

Kaede: (Y-you have got to be kidding me… Does that mean he’s my boss again…!? This guy who doesn’t lift a finger…!? Kafka, why did you hire him of all people…)

Daniel: While it’s our new workplace, you better be working till ya drop~ Chief-san♪ ‘Kay, I’mma head off first.

Kaede: D-Daniel-san, you are one of the founding employees, remember!? So please actually put effort into working this time around, okay!?

Daniel: Wahaha, I’unno ‘bout that.

Sakujiro: A good morning to you two, Chief, Director.

Sakujiro: Chief, we received the flowers you ordered. Thank you kindly for your consideration.

Kaede: Sakujiro-san, good morning to you too! So the flowers arrived safely then.

Sakujiro: Indeed. Young Master… Pardon, the President is most delighted with these.

Kaede: (...Oh, I see now. Sakujiro-san’s also one of the founding employees. Working together with someone who has been looking out for me since I was a kid—it does feel a little bit strange…)

Sakujiro: I am no more than a mere newbie of an ordinary employee, so please do give me orders regarding anything, even miscellaneous affairs at work.

Kaede: Eh… that’s really a bit too…

Daniel: Gotcha, Sakujiro. I’ll let ya take charge of all the annoying things.  

Kaede: Daniel-san… Don’t you have any common sense…!?

Daniel: Gotta use whatever’s at your disposal~

Kafka: Good morning. Everyone’s in high spirits already. Chief-chan, thanks for the flowers ♪ Could it be that you got these arranged in my image?

Kaede: Ah, Kafka, goo-

Daniel: Top of the mornin’ to ya, Bossman. 'Nother day of you looking all spiffy there.

Kaede: (Daniel-san, your tune sure changes with Kafka…) 

Kafka: Good morning. The other two who will also be founding employees are already here. Allow me to introduce them.

???: Good morning, Chief-san and Director-san if I’m right. 

Kaede: (Wah… A calm, proper looking fine young man!)

Kafka: He’s Kitakata Nayuki. He’s an old friend I connected with back in the investor community. This time I brought him on board as the manager for accounting.

Nayuki: If there are any problems related to accounting, please don’t hesitate to ask me about anything. I will properly follow through with you.

Kaede: (Woah, a genuine guy who has it all together…! Thank god…)

Kaede: (Hm? I kinda… feel like I’ve seen him before… Where was it again, like a magazine interview or something…)

Kafka: By the way, Nayuki also has experience establishing JPN’s biggest metaverse service mahorova under the role of COO under his belt. He’s your go-to guy to rely on. 

Kaede: Ah…! You’re the boy genius who created mahorova at the tender age of 12…!?

Nayuki: That is something from 11 years ago. Currently I’m a mere section manager for accounting so please treat me as such without reservation.

Kaede: (Such an amazing track record, yet so friendly and humble… Kafka, you actually hired a respectable guy…!)

Kaede: (...Honestly, why come to our company with a background like that? is what I’m thinking, but… maybe it’s because he’s friends with Kafka?)

Kaede: (...That also reminds me, something’s telling me I heard “Kitakata” somewhere else… What was it again?)

Kafka: Well, Nayuki will be taking on another job besides accounting sometime soon. Leaving that aside for now…

Kafka: There’s one more person, a guy that I employed as an intern but…

(Sounds of glass breaking and rattling)

???: Wah, uwaaaaah, I fell over and the flower vase is………..Guh! Hweeehsorrysorrysorrysorrysorry—--!!!

Sakujiro: Oh good heavens. The flowers we received from Chief are a mess.

???: P-picking them right now!!! Ouch!!! There’s blood from touching the vase shards… bloooooood~!!  

Kafka: Sigh… Sakujiro, lend him a hand, and put the flowers back together.

Sakujiro: I shall wrap this up within three seconds. 

Sakujiro: SWISH, SHWIWIWIWIWISH!!

Kaede: (T-they’re the perfect picture of a clumsy boy and overpowered butler…!?)

???: Ah, awawawah, I blinked and there’s band-aids… G-God, was that you~!?

Kafka: Yachiyo. Come here. Those flowers are VERY! important to me so you better not be coming near them ever any time soon, okay?

Yachiyo: S-s-sorry… I won’t ever be in the same room as them ever again… 

Sakujiro: Fuefuki-kun, if I may. Once you open the door first look to your right, and then to your left. Then proceed to keep a one meter distance from anything that seems breakable on impact. 

Yachiyo: Ye-yeshhhh!!! I’ll write it down!! I’ll make a memo of exactly every single spoken word!!!

Daniel: Oooh, whatta hard worker, takin’ proper notes and all. Intern-kun fella.

Kaede: (It’s kind of like… another unique person joined the bunch…)

Kafka: This is Fuefuki Yachiyo. The details of his application form were unusual and funny so I hired him ♪ Do get along with him.

Kaede: (Hired because it was funny… Kafka, your bad habits are coming out again!)

Kafka: And~ last~ but~ not least~ Ta-daaah, our poster dog Shumai.

Shumai: Borf!

Kaede: Eh, where did Shumai pop up from!? Wait, why did you bring him here!?

Nayuki: What a cute little doggy. Are you acquainted with him, Chief?

Kaede: Uuh, more than knowing him, we found him injured in the courtyard of the hospital Kafka was staying at back in the day…

Kafka: Chief-chan and I rescued him and looked after him at the hospital. I took him in my care when I got discharged from the hospital. Since he came running after me, and all.

Kaede: Really? It’s been so long, I’m glad to see you again, Shumai.

Shumai: Pant pant, boworf!

Kafka: Ah~ so unfair. Only wrapping your arms around Shumai. You should embrace me like you used to in the past, Chief-chan.

Kaede: W-what are you saying, geez…

Nayuki: Fufu, the president and Chief sure are good friends.

Kaede: Eh, no no it’s because we’re childhood friends…! Sorry for messing around at work…!

Kafka: It's not like we're messing around for the hell of it, this is how good friends act ♪ Manager Nayuki, don't go making eyes at Chief-chan, okay.

Kaede: (No, but seriously, what are you going on about, Kafka…)

Yachiyo: Do not make eyes at Chief… I-I jotted that down!!

Kaede: Yachiyo-kun, you don’t gotta take notes of that!

Kafka: Now then, given how all founding members have come together… Suppose it’s time to hold our first strategy meeting.

<<previous chapter / next chapter>>

Kaede: You’ll catch a cold if you stay here.

Boy in hospital gown: ……

Kaede: Say, Kafka… how about we go back inside?

Kafka: …No.

Kaede: But… it won’t be good if you get sick!

Kafka: …Only this far. I… can only… go to the rooftop or courtyard of the hospital here.

Kafka: This is as far as I can get from my room… To me, it’s a trip I have to put all my energy into.

Kaede: Kafka…

Kaede: But, but! Once you get that amazing surgery, you’ll be able to go wherever, right!? 

Kaede: You’ll get better, and can go anywhere… We'll be able to make fun trips and play lots together, right?

Kafka: The success of my surgery isn’t 100%.

Kaede: Does that mean it might end up failing?

Kafka: …Whatever it is, it’s still a long way off until the surgery.

Kaede: Kafka—

Kafka: You know, I’m jealous of you, Kaede-chan. Because you can go anywhere, as far as your feet can get you—

Kaede: …Then, Kafka. Once the rain stops, let’s go on a trip. Both of us.

Kafka: Kaede-chan… and me?

Kaede: Yes. Together.

Kafka: …Kaede-chan.

Kaede: Hm?

Kafka: My hand. Don’t let go of it. Keep holding onto it tightly, forever…

Kaede: Yes. I won’t let go.

Kafka: Forever, okay? Even… even when that surgery will happen one day…?

Kaede: I won’t let go. Ever.

Kafka: Promise?

Kaede: Yes, I promise!

Kaede: —-I did make that kind of promise, didn’t I.

Text message from Kafka 

<[Surgery’s over.]

Text message from Kaede

[Eh!?]>

[Surgery!? Over!? What do you mean!?]>

Text message from Kafka 

<[Sorry. The decision came out of nowhere so I couldn’t let you know.]

Text message from Kaede

[How was it?]>

[Kafka?]>

[Did something happen?]>

[Heeeey!!]>

Kaede: –And no reply…

Kaede: But if Kafka himself texted me about it being done, then the surgery must’ve been a success, right.

Kaede: (I said that, but I can’t calm down until I see his face, after all!)

Kaede: Kaf—-

Slender glasses man: DON’T MOOOVEEEEEE!! Please stop where you stand!!

Kaede: Uwoh!?

Slender glasses man: You may not set one foot in this room! There are many such times where unsolved cases have instances of things left unnoticed during the initial investigation. Or not.

Kaede: (Huh, getting a good look at him, it’s Kafka’s butler—)

Kaede: Sakujiro-san? Not letting me in means… this has to be Kafka’s room, right?

Kaede: Did something happen to Kafka….!?

Sakujiro: That—that is what I am investigating at the moment. It’s with utmost regret that I say this, however, but I kindly request for Kaede-san to wait right over there for the moment.

Kaede: Uh… sure?

(Sound of something being unzipped can be heard)

Sakujiro: I am left with no other choice. Fly too close to the sun and your wings will burn, sacrifice your autonomy to artificial intelligence and humanity shall fall…. If possible I wouldn’t have chosen to go this far, but alas… 

Sakujiro: Tututurun!♪

Kaede: Is this another installment of Sakujiro-san’s mystery gadgets?

Sakujiro: Exactamundo, these are the seven hundred seventy seven tools for butlers inherited from generation to generation within the Oguro Family.

Sakujiro: …I believe this one is suitable for our current predicament. A scent detector for the Young Master, the sniffer-licker-woofer!

Sakujiro: This dog-like robot that records Young Master’s scent every single day has the capability to detect what Young Master is doing, what he’s eating, what he’s hiding, and what mutations are happening within the Young Master’s veins.

Kaede: Can it… lick you, too?

Sakujiro: It cannot deliver any licks. Sakujiro will fill in the blanks within his mind palace.

Sakujiro: Now search, it shall. Click click.

Sakujiro: Muh, a response! 36 minutes and 31 seconds ago the Young Master got up from his bed slowly and changed out of his pajamas.

Kaede: He must have— there’s pajamas thrown off to the side here!

Sakujiro: Then he turned around in this spot, and put one single piece of dental gum in his mouth. I can say for certain that the bottle feels one gum lighter than when I checked it earlier this morning.

Kaede: To notice a decrease in weight like that, I’m speechless…! 

Kaede: (Sakujiro-san, as always, has full knowledge of just about everything when it comes to Kafka…)

Sakujiro: Followed by Young Master putting his hand on the door, peering into the hallway, left, right, left and confirming the coast was clear.

Sakujiro: Good heavens, he performed a proper safety check exactly as I, Sakujiro, had taught the Young Master during his boyhood. 

Kaede: In other words, Kafka was being cautious to not be seen when he lefthis room…?

Sakujiro: According to the sniffer-licker-woofer, during that time Young Masters' emotions were excitement and nervousness divided perfectly half and half!

Sakujiro: Thus, at last, starting with his right foot he departed from this room…!

Kaede: …(Gulp)...

Sakujiro: …..

Kaede: So then, where did he….?

Sakujiro: I do not know. Unfortunately, the sniffer-licker-woofer isn’t equipped with functions that are able to deduct that far.

Kaede: You’re kidding me…! Even though it has way too many crazy features!

Sakujiro: Nevertheless, there is one thing I can confirm, which is that we must go search and bring him back posthaste.  

Kaede: Kafka, where did you go… All of this—and right when your surgery was just finished, too…

Sakujiro: .Hm?

Kaede: I heard from him that his surgery was over.

Sakujiro: …I see. 

Sakujiro: Kaede-san, may I request your cooperation? For some reason…

Sakujiro: This is a letter addressed to you... Or rather, something akin to a tape would be more befitting.

Kaede: A cassette tape? And it’s Kafka’s?

Sakujiro: It was lying on the floor under the bed. 

Kaede: Ah, the date on this…

Kaede: (It’s 10 years ago, but it has to be…)

Kaede: Once the rain stops, let’s go on a trip. Both of us.

Kafka: Kaede-chan, and me?

Kaede: Yes. Together.

Kaede: It’s from back then—

Kaede: It’s from back then—

<<previous chapter / next chapter>>

TV Announcer <(The suspect, entrepreneur Raito Kitakata, has been arrested on charges of bodily harm. Kitakata is known to have established the metaverse service <mahorova>....)

Kaede: Phew… finally made it.

Kaede: (I love traveling, but nothing beats that feeling of relief coming back home.)

Kaede: (Well, not that I’m in a situation where I can kick back and relax. I’ll be jobless in one week after all…)

Kaede: Ah…

Man with long hair: Excuse me.

Kaede: Sorry. I was looking away…

Man with long hair: The blame lies on me too. Are you hurt somewhere?

Kaede: I’m all good. And you, sir…?

Man with long hair: Ah, I’m fine. My bad, once again.

Kaede: (That person, where do I feel like I’ve seen him before…)

Kaede: Uwogh…!

Man with red hair: Hold it there! Don’t you dare go ahead of me!

Man with long hair: ………

Man with red hair: Hey!! You can hear me, can’t you!? Don’t ignore me!!

Man with long hair: ……It’s too stupid to bother with. Don’t you get it without me spelling it out word for word? 

Man with red hair: What was that!?

Man with red hair: Ah, my luggage arrived. Outta my way!

Kaede: (I have to get mine too soon. Wonder how long it’ll take for it to show up. The bus will be leaving soon…)

Man with long hair: Oi…. don’t shove yourself right in front of me. You’re in the way.

Man with red hair: Shuddup you bozo! Your place is behind me! My luggage is the one that will come out ahead of yours.

Man with long hair: Bèndàn… Your unrealistic confidence is astonishing.

Man with red hair: Just sit and watch! What will absolutely come out first is none other than—

Man with long hair: My bag.

Man with red hair: Ah!?

Man with long hair: Hmph…. 

Man with red hair: Damn you… Wait, Li—

(A loud alarm noise can be heard.)

Man with long hair: ….Hm?

Security robot: Please do not move. Please do not move. 

Man with long hair: What?

Security robot: Please remove yourself from your luggage at once. An examination will be conducted. 

Man with long hair: ………..

Security robot: Examination underway.

(A loud alarm noise can be heard.)

Security robot: Detection of suspicious pills. Color is green. Enclosed within transparent packaging. One bag.

Man with long hair: That’s just….!

Security robot: Kindly requesting you accompany me for confirmation of the specifications. 

Man with long hair: These are… ugh….

Man with long hair: …Pellets for rabbits.

Kaede: (Rabbits….? Does he own one?)

Man with red hair: Haha! Take all the time in the world investigating him! In the end I’m the one who made it out first!

Man with long hair: Tch……

Kaede: (Come to think of it, these two were going at each other on the plane too. Although what they were arguing about was a bit…childish.)

Kaede: Ah, my suitcase showed up.

Kaede: One, two… hup.

Kaede: (Oh, right. Should put away the stuff I carried on board.)

Kaede: (Pin code, pin code…. Hm….?)

Kaede: …Huh?

Kaede: There’s a charm of a doggy attached to it! It’s not mine… whose luggage is this!?

Man with red hair: Sigh, finally made it back… Can’t say it’s easy going back home either.

Man with red hair: Oh, close call… almost forgot about this.

Man with red hair: Hehe….

Man with red hair: (Only true fans will be the ones recognizing me when I'm wearing these bad boys.)

Man with red hair: …Alright, clothes, hair… and elegance, all clear on that front.

Man with red hair: (No matter how you look at it, it’s a worthy appearance for a man of the Nishizono Family.)

Man with red hair: Now then, guess I’ll be–

Kaede <(Excuse meeeee!)

Man with red hair: Hweh….!?

Kaede: Sorry! Guy in the sunglasses over there…! Wait!

Man with red hair: Wha.. a fuh-, fan? Making a fuss over here would be… no, with elegance it’ll be OK. It’ll be okay, surely be okay…!  

Kaede: Sorry, that suitcase is–!

Man with red hair: Ahem… Sorry but right now I’m in private mode.

Kaede: Eh? Please wait a second. It’s just, that suitcase is…

Man with red hair: (Won’t give up, huh… dealing with such radical fans calls for this then.)

Man with red hair: (---Secret Technique: The Fully Refined Speedwalk Reserved For Use Reporters!)

Kaede: Wait! Wait please!

Man with red hair: Ah, hey….!

Man with red hair: Let go! You sure are tenacious, commoner!

Kaede: Co-commoner….!?

Man with red hair: Do you think that a turbo commoner like you can get away with carelessly feeling up a mega celeb like me!?

Kaede: That’s not it, what I’m trying to…

Kaede: (Huh? Isn’t this guy…)

Woman A: Eh, could that be Renga…?

Woman B: No way, what’s Renga doing here!?

Kaede: (I knew it… This person is that famous celebrity model, HAMA’s Ward Mayor Nishizono Renga. And his ward was… the 3rd one, right?)

Kaede: (Ah, that means…)

Kaede: (That other man must’ve also been a Ward Mayor. Wonder if that was Lu Liguang…)

Kaede: (They must be acquaintances given how they're both Ward Mayors. Doesn’t seem like they get along, though…) 

Woman A: Do we call out to him!? We're gonna do it, right!?

Woman: Actually, who’s like, that person with him?

Renga: Damnit, this got out of hand…

Renga: Hey! This is your fault! So do something about it!?

Kaede: Eh, even if you say that, my suitcase is… 

Renga: S-shuddup! I’m taking my leave!

<(Kyaah! I want Renga to scold me too!)

<(Sooo jealous~!)

<(Reeengaaaa~!)

Kaede: Wha!? Wait…!

<(What, what? What’s all this commotion?)

<(Did she say Renga? Like that model Nishizono Renga?)

Renga: Hey, stop! Can’t you guys see these sunglasses or what! It should be clear as day I’m in private mode!

<(Folks sure are gatherin’ ‘round… Is this where the line for paying them souvenirs starts?)

<(People as far as the eye can see…Tokyo’s made outta different stuff for sure.)

Kaede: (W-what do I do… It’s gotten really out of hand.)

Renga: I! KEEP! TELLING YOU! Scatter! Disperse immediately!

Woman A: Kyaah! Renga scolded me~!

Curious onlooker B: Woah~ That Nishizono Renga dude really got some bad vibes.

Old man: This line ain’t moving an inch. Cashiers these days, just what are they doin’.

Kaede: (This is bad, and it’ll get even worse if it keeps going like this.)

Young lady?:  Hah… What a disgrace. Wears the sash of a Ward Mayor yet he can’t even provide some decent hospitality…

Young lady?: Not a surprise HAMA is falling apart.

Young lady?: How boring, let’s go.

Kaede: (Even going as far as insulting HAMA…! No way I’ll let the rep of my home fall before my eyes…!)

Renga: AAAAH, DAMNIT! WHAT DO I DO!!

Kaede: Wait a second please!

Renga: You, what do you…!

Kaede: I’ll help!

Renga: Hah!? You, help….

Liguang: …What’s the meaning of all this.

Kaede: Ah, great timing! Would you mind helping us out too!

Liguang: Haaah? What in the world do you want me to…

Kaede: Obviously… hospitality!

<<previous chapter / next chapter>>