Track 1

You stupid mutt…!

S-Stupid mutt!? Why're you calling me that?!

What’s wrong with calling a stupid mutt a stupid mutt… I was a fool to leave the project proposal to you.

I-It's not THAT bad, is it!? It covers all the spots in our wards!

Have you forgotten our client’s feedback? They said they wanted this tour to reach senior citizens as well.

Your plan would exhaust even the most energetic teenager. There’s too much crammed in.

Oh yeah, they did mention that... They kinda mumbled it at the end so I just totally forgot...!

Those are precisely the things that matter. Pay closer attention.

Furthermore, not only does it deviate from their preferred timing, but this facility will be closed on your proposed day. The section here will also be impassable due to maintenance during this period.

You actually remember all that stuff!? ...Man, that's impressive.

You’re an idiot for not remembering. At least drill your own ward’s annual plan into your head.

….Ngh.

W-Well now, Liguang-san! Renga-kun stayed up late doing his best to think about it… I think we should just revise the plan and keep the parts we can still use!

Awww, look at how much he shrank. Getting yelled at by that scary guy, poor thing.

Liguang sure is one smart little brother.

And don't beat yourself up, Renga. I didn't know my ward's annual plan either. We'll learn it together.

Yu-Yukikaze…!

Alright, that’s enough. The issue here isn’t the ward’s annual plan, but the creation of a joint travel plan for Liguang and Renga, right? Make sure we stay on track.

(...Liguang-san and Renga-kun are in charge of creating their wards’ new tour plan, as commissioned by HAMA’s event company…)

(Liguang’s memory is really incredible. I was there for the meeting, but he perfectly remembered the things even I had completely forgotten about.)

Nngh... Okay... I'll work hard on the revision...

Renga-san, don't sweat it! It makes me feel better knowing there's someone even more useless than me around!

Ahaha. You’re really going off today, huh?

…*Sigh*. Hey idiot, give it here.

Wha?

……

Would you look at that—Renga's proposal is covered in red ink. And in record time, no less.

And it’s so precise, even addressing the tiniest details. That’s Liguang for you ♪

He’s so nitpicky, I’d probably lose it. Good luck, Renga-san.

Th-That's amazing...!

Listen up, the decision makers are busy and short on time. Keep it concise, and make sure the first page allows them to grasp the main points within 30 seconds.

Don’t just include the sales value, but also the social benefits. It will increase the value of your proposal.

S-Social vinyl fitness. R-Right, got it!

He definitely didn’t get it.

Renga-kun, it’s social benefits. It means giving back to society through tourism.

Oh, so basically putting money in donation boxes and stuff!? That's putting money into society, yeah!? That's it, right Liguang!?

……

Ahaha. I bet Liguang probably remembers the locations of every single donation box in the 4th ward.

Good point! Liguang, tell me! Where are the donation boxes in Ward 4?

You…

Liguang-san, anger management, anger management. Let’s take a six-second deep breath~.

The burden of being the 3rd ward mayor is too heavy for an imbecile like you! Resign immediately for the sake of its residents!

Huh!?

I’ve got work to do. I have no more time to waste on you.

What the heck! All I did was ask about the donation boxes!? I bet you don't even remember either!

……

Thanks for your hard work, Boss.

……Seeing your face puts me at ease.

……?

(It’s a relief to know there’s someone I can have an actual conversation with.)

Liguang-saaan! Please wait!

Kaede. What is it.

Sorry for stopping you!

I know you’re probably busy with the joint project with Renga-kun, but I wanted to confirm whether it was okay to continue as planned with you as the host for our next Feature Event.

I had Sojun check my schedule, there are no issues.

That’s great…! Then about the training location…

I thought you might want some options for the training locations, so I’ve picked out a few. If there are any additional requests, I can take them into consideration and narrow down the choices further.

Huh…!? You’ve already done that much!?

Yes. I thought it would be best to do it in advance if the boss was going to be the host.

You’re really efficient, just like Liguang-san…

……I’m glad you’re here, Sojun.

…Boss, did something happen?

(Ahaha… It’s because of what happened with Renga-kun… Liguang-san only gets this mad when he’s dealing with him.)

See you later!

(Phew. Liguang-san seems really busy. He has his work as ward mayor, his own company, and his family responsibilities… But he doesn’t cut any corners and still manages to do a great job at HAMA Tours too.)

(He’s the kind of person who can do anything perfectly, but I’m sure it’s still really hard for him. I’ve gotta do my best to at least lighten his load on the tourism side!)

...Liguang, that jerk! He's totally ghosting me on those donation boxes...!

(Oh? Renga-kun’s still here by himself. Looks like he’s sending a PeChat to Liguang-san?)

Maybe I should send another text? Or wait till he's back and corner him about it...?

(When Ten-kun was the host, Renga-kun came to me for advice because he didn't want to burden him with his “heavy” feelings… But with Liguang-san it doesn’t seem like he holds back, huh?)

(But now that I think about it, those two are childhood friends, aren’t they. I argue with Kafka sometimes too… Maybe they actually have a good relationship?)

…Tch.

(This here, and this, and here too need to be corrected. Did that stupid mutt even hear a single word I said?)

(It would be faster to just redo it myself… But then that idiot will be useless forever.)

You're still working on correcting Renga's draft this late? Burning the midnight oil, aren’t you, Liguang.

Kamina. Sorry, did I wake you up?

Don't worry about it. I was already up. I'll make something for us to drink. Give me a minute.

Here's some chamomile. It's not quite up to Sakujiro-san's standards, but mine's pretty decent, if I say so myself.

…My thanks.

So this is take two of Renga's proposal. Quite a bit of feedback here...

I thought I explained it plainly, but it seems that the idiot didn’t understand a word. I suppose I expected too much.

With how responsibly you take things, it must get to you when Renga's not making progress the way you want.

But I can see that giving him proper feedback instead of rewriting it yourself is your way of caring for him.

…It would be a problem if I couldn’t do this much.

I see. You really are a dependable little brother.

……

...Come to think of it, when I was helping Renga with his revisions today, he let something slip.

He said the real Renga Nishinozo would've created something you'd be satisfied with right off the bat...

......

Are you maybe holding him to that same standard?

……

(I’m holding him to the standard…of the real “Renga Nishizono”?)

……

(Now that he mentions it, I can’t say it’s entirely untrue.)

…You’re right.

In seeking perfection from the 3rd Ward Mayor, I can’t say that aspect wasn’t present.

I see. Renga mentioned the guy was brilliant too.

But our Renga has his own strengths too, you know. The way he always tries his best is very endearing, don’t you think?

......

Well, I should probably head back to bed. Good night, Liguang. Make sure you get some proper sleep too.

Yeah. I’ll be going to sleep shortly as well. Don’t worry.

……

(It’s true that he would never create such a half-witted project proposal. Xiaoya is flawless, and yet he always manages to surprise me—)

(No, Kiba wouldn’t be casually making travel proposals. Right now he must be…)

(Coming up with ways to kill me and my family.)

This peaceful life is all balanced on thin ice… I have no idea when it might shatter.

(If either Kiba or I send the “signal” to begin the killing…)

(Nothing will remain the same.)