EP

Brotherrr!

Boss, I’ve brought Linxing-sama with me.

I’m sorry you had to do this while recovering, Sojun. I didn’t expect her to insist on coming here right after returning to Japan.

But I’ve been missing JPN like crazy this whole time I’ve been abroad! And I heard this tour’s supposed to be great for dates! I’m meeting up with my boyfriend after way too long.

…… Sojun, don’t take your eyes off of her.

Understood. I’ll keep a close watch.

Oh yeah, is Renga-san around? I know it's late, but I gotta thank him for the hot spring spray bottle.

I’ll pass the message. If you’re meeting someone then go already.

Okaaay! I'll come watch the stage performance later!

……

Oh? Was that your little sister just now?

Was she noisy? She’s excited after having just returned from overseas.

Hehe, I see.

(Liguang-san looks so calm… I’m not sure what happened that night on the first day of the tour, though.)

(Liguang-san and Renga-kun came back soaked, and Ten-kun came back later on looking like a drowned mouse… They said the problem was solved, though.)

…We ended up stopping the search for Kiba-san. Was that okay?

Yes. Like I explained, the cause of this “incident” wasn’t Kiba. So it’s alright now.

(I explained it that way to my family as well, and told them to consider the matter settled, however…)

And that is the situation. I thought it was an incident due to a long-standing personal grudge, but I was mistaken. The problem has already been resolved.

……

If you don’t believe me, you can confirm it with Sojun.

Hah, you want me to ask your lapdog? Fine. I'll let it slide for now.

(Xingbing didn’t seem entirely convinced, but she backed down for now, so that’s good enough.)

…… I said to please let me protect you, but I ended up being no help at all.

Ah…

……

Kaede.

It is I who should apologize for not letting you protect me.

What…

The weekly report.

Ah, thank you!

Liguang! We need to check the stage, come with me for a sec!

Listen to that.

Ah, yeah…! Good luck out there!

(Liguang-san’s weekly report… I have some time right now, so maybe I’ll have a listen.)

«I suppose this may be breaking the standard format for a weekly report, but first allow me to apologize. —I am sorry.»

(Huh!? What’s he apologizing for!?)

«At the end of the first day of the tour, I thought I could resolve the problem on my own, so I acted alone and neglected to report my actions. I was disrespectful of everyone’s goodwill.»

(…Just what I’d expect of Liguang-san. So upright.)

«...Through this training and tour, I’ve come to re-evaluate my perception of human connections.»

«What I thought may have been a fleeting connection could turn out to be an important one. …And that holds true for everyone I’m currently involved with at the company.»

«And naturally, that includes my connection with you, Kaede.»

(—Me!?)

«...Since I was twelve years old, I’ve always believed there was only one way for me to live my life. But…perhaps I should re-evaluate that belief.»

(Huh…)

«So that’s how it is. From now on, I think I’ll be relying on you more than before, but even if your workload increases, I trust you’ll meet my expectations. …That is all.»

(Ooh…I feel like I’ve just been acknowledged by a competent boss.)

……

(But it sounds like Liguang-san might be struggling with something. He did say he needed to re-evaluate his way of life.)

Chief, good work. I just called Yukikaze and the others. The OmoLive is about to start.

Kafka! Thanks.

Is that Liguang’s weekly report?

Yeah. I feel like I got a compliment from a competent boss. It felt nice.

Hold on. Isn’t that considered cheating? I’m your compentent boss, aren’t I?

Cheating? You’re exaggerating again… But my impression of Liguang-san might have changed a bit.

Oh yeah?

(He’s always seemed like an imposing, flawless person. Like the tree we saw in Izumo… But maybe he goes through life worrying about things just like anyone else.)

…… Well, I guess Liguang owes me one for this. The Kiba search left me feeling pretty unfulfilled after all.

Kafka, don't blame Liguang. Apparently Kiba wasn't involved in the incident after all.

Huh? Are you guys still talking about Kiba? Can’t we drop it already? It’s not like he’s actually here after all.

Yuki-nii, Ten-kun. Thanks for your help in guiding the tour!

By the way Ten, where did you go that day? You said you were going to a bar, but you ended up coming home late alone, didn’t you?

I got a call from my part-time job, so I had to ditch Renga-san partway. I already told you, didn’t I?

I see. …Take me with you next time, okay?

To the bar? If you’re paying then I’ll for sure invite you.

Mrglbrgl... made it back at last…

Yachiyo-kun, you look exhausted. What happened?

The connecting fate installation art was so mobbed! I got shoved around, tumbled over, crashed into people, and spent the whole day apologizing~......

Sounds like you had a hard time.

BUT! I tied a ton of strings! For connections with money, with lottery wins, with striking it rich...!!

Wow, I bet the color of the art installation got all murky just around Yachiyo-san’s strings.

That reminds me, I was so tense on the first day that I haven’t tied a string yet… I’ll have to go do it after the show.

Then let’s go tie one together, Chief! They say if a couple ties a single string together, their bond will last a lifetime ♪

Got it. I've got time after the performance as well. We'll tie one together.

……I don’t even have the energy to comment anymore.

Haha. I hope you all have good fortune in your relationships.

By the way, Ten-kun, did you hear anything about Kiba from Renga-san? Did he come to an understanding with Liguang-san in the end?

Uhh, yeah…

(The dog said my wine-drinking mode was like how Kiba acts with Liguang-san, and he said stuff about making them reconcile…)

……I think we can say their fight’s actually made them get along better, no? They’re both probably all good now.

I see. If Liguang-san and Renga-kun have managed to make up, then that’s all that matters.

(The fact the dog still trusts his owner makes me want to laugh though… Oh well, it’s probably only a matter of time.)

Ten. You seem to be in good spirits.

You think? I’m just really looking forward to Renga-san’s big announcement.

(...Speaking of which, what did Renga-kun decide to announce in the end?)

«The performance by Liguang Lu and Renga Nishizono will begin shortly on stage...»

*huff, huff* The day has finally come. What's Renga's big announcement gonna be...

Renga's a little—no, pretty dumb, so what if he goes off the rails and says something crazy...

His ditzy side is what makes him precious and cute, but you can't help but worry, like what if some weirdo tricked him into marriage or something...

Those are some crazy comments. Renga-san’s fans really know him, huh?

It feels like the fans respect the character he plays, so they wouldn’t say this kind of thing to him directly.

Plus, I get the impression they love how he tries to act cool.

(That’s true. Renga-kun is charming when he’s trying to put on a front, but he’s also really cool when he’s serious.)

Here they come!

Liguang-sama is as dreamy as alwayyys!!

«Everyone! Thanks so much for coming today!»

«...Have you tied the strings of fate? The fact that we are meeting here and now, every small encounter, is predestined… In other words, there’s a possibility of a deep connection between us.»

Eek, even though I stan Renga, today only I'm Liguang-sama's! Being told about deep connections is too much!

Not just Renga, but Liguang's really popular too. I'm proud of my little brothers.

AAAHHH, BOSS MAN! You're glowing...! I'm completely captivated by you... You'll have to take responsibility for making me fall for you like this...!

«Now then… You have a big announcement for today, correct?»

«Oh, r-right...! Umm, so this is something I've been hiding all this time…»

Here it comes...!

Ready? According to our plan, whatever he announces we WILL hype it up with a “WOOO~!” That's the least we we can do as his fans!

AnythingbutretirementAnythingbutretirement AnythingbutretirementAnythingbutretirement...

«Th-The truth is, this Great Renga is—»

*Gulp.*

«Kind of dumb! But just, a little bit!! Only a little bit!!»

……

(I mean, we know that already, but...)

(But Renga thinks we don't know, so we gotta play along! Here we go, on three!)

NO WAAAAY. (Reallyyyy?? We had no ideaaa)~~!!

Woah… They’re letting this kinda announcement slide?

(Well, it’s Renga after all ♪)

Ten! Sorry to keep you waiting!

Alll good. I was just having a smoke after borrowing the car.

Thanks for coming with me.

Nah, it’s fine, but why did you suddenly wanna go to the beach again?

I’ve been having this dream about the ocean. I was on the beach barefoot, and the sand felt amazing. I couldn't do that at Inasa Beach, so...

Hmm, really.