Track 10

(Room 3125… Is this where Kiba is?)

(Should I have said something before leaving…? No, I can’t involve anyone else.)

…There’s a card wedged in the door. He’s keeping the lock from engaging.

(This pretentious little trick is just like him…)

In the end, we didn’t find that Kiba guy today. The first day is over. Let’s wrap things up for now.

Never mind that, it started pouring all of a sudden. Didn’t we have permission to use the weather control device?

It looks like it’s about to start thundering…

(That’s true, it was supposed to be sunny all day today, but now there’s thunderclouds…Huh?)

Renga-kun, where’s Liguang-san? Weren’t you two together after the show?

…Huh?

Ahh, my bad, it’s from my part-time job. I’m gonna go make a call real quick.

«Tell me what you found.»

Wow, aren’t you pushy from the get go? And here I was, giving your scaaary boss some intel under the table.

«……»

I just got word, we’ve tracked down that license plate number. And the base of operations they’re using.

«Is that where Kiba is?»

Ahh, could you not say that out loud?

Personally, I wanna keep this a simple, easy job where all I do is wash the plate number you gave me, just as you suggested, Sojun-san..

«Report the results to the boss immediately.»

(He could just tell his boss himself. But I guess he’s letting me make the big guy owe me one. As expected of Liguang’s right hand man, very dutiful.)

Sorry about that, last minute shift swap at my part-time. Where’s Liguang-san, by the way?

Ten, Liguang's nowhere to be found. He's not picking up his phone either...

Ehh~?

……

(It’s dark. But—)

…Kiba.

Nasty weather again, huh, You?

It’s always like this whenever we meet.

It used to be different, didn’t it? Long ago, back when you were still You…

Don’t call me that.

Haha, the way you hate it hasn’t changed at all. Even though it’s a nickname I gave you myself. Remember? Because you were like Youyan—

What a coincidence. Your vexing nature hasn’t faded one bit either.

…No matter how many times the scenery changes, only we remain the same. At this point, I even feel a sense of nostalgia for you.

……

Time and time again…I’ve killed you too many times to count, but I still have the urge to kill you with the same intensity. Isn’t it amazing in a way?

…That’s my, line—

(...What’s happening? My words aren’t coming out the way I want them.)

Well if that’s the case, to think you’d come alone, exactly as the letter instructed… Have you already given up on winning in this life?

…Ki, ba—

Especially in our recent lives, you’ve been accepting death without putting up a fight as soon as you’ve given up hope. That’s the worst.

(My vision…is blurring…)

When you do that, I can’t even fully enjoy myself when I manage to kill you. Don’t do such an awful thing next time.

……

You seem to think I won’t kill your comrades if you die first, but I’m not as charitable as you.

…You did something to me, didn’t you…?

(There must have been, a slow acting poison…on the letter…)

Tell me, one thing… Why did you leave…that idiot, with me…

I win this life, don’t I? Haha.

So what was that again? Ah, about Ren?

So you still haven’t remembered. You’ve always been like this, even back then.

But isn’t that why I went out of my way to send you a “signal”? To tell you that enough’s enough.

I wonder if Liguang-san got a sudden call. I hope he’s back at the dorm…

……

(I can’t get a hold of him on his work number either. Looks like something’s really happened.)

Ahh, Chief. I’ve got some business to take care of. Can you drop me off in front of the station there?

Sure, but are you sure you’ll be okay in this rain? I have a portable umbrella in the car, you can take it with you.

Gotcha. I’ll be borrowing Renga-san too.

...Huh, me?

Yup. Can you lend me a hand? My good friend Renga-san.

W-Well, if a friend's asking, I'm all in!

…… Hmm.

Ten. Should I come along too? I’ll help you out as your roommate.

No, I’m good, we’re just stopping by a bar I frequent. The owner asked me to bring Renga-san with me. But it’s raining so bad, we’ll probably just show our faces real quick before heading back.

Besides, if the Boss ended up catching a cold in this downpour I’d die of guilt. Right, Chief?

That’s true, this rain is bad for your health, Kafka. Let’s go back to the dorm. Ten-kun, Renga-kun, take care of yourselves too.

True, I'd be concerned if Kafka got drenched, too. Ten, Renga, make sure you be careful yourselves.

Boss, you've got such weird interests. Ten-kun's regular bar is definitely not worth going to on a rainy day like this~!

…… I see, so that’s how you’re going to spin it.

Now then, Renga-san and I are gonna head out real quick.

Y-Yeah! Kafka, let's go together when the weather clears up!

Woah, what a downpour...!

Ten, when you said the owner wanted to meet me, you meant that bar over there, right?

Ah, I just got a message from the bar saying they’re gonna close because of the rain after all, and to come another time.

Oh, for real?

So we’re changing our destination to that hotel over there.

Wait, you mean that hotel? The fanciest hotel in all of HAMA!?

But... why though?

……

The truth is, apparently Liguang-san is meeting Kiba…the real Renga-san there.

…What.

That’s what I heard from Sojun-san just now.

...B-But Kafka said to tell him if Kiba made contact.

If Liguang's meeting him in secret, does that mean he's planning to do something to Kiba...!?

……

We should... tell Kafka, right?

But you don’t wanna tell him about Kiba right now, do you?

Well, I...

(I wasn't really into the idea of ambushing him like this, but...)

You were relieved when we couldn’t find him at the venue, weren’t you? Even though everyone was looking so hard.

N-No, that's not what I...!

Well, it is what it is. He’s your first friend, after all~.

……

Anyway, it’s fine. The reason I only told you, Renga-san, is because I wanted you to choose.

...Choose? Choose what…?

The choice to see it for yourself. Whether “Renga Nishizono” is the sun, or if he’s cunning and cruel.

Whether you decide to see it or not, I want you to have the right to make that choice.

(Whatever happens from here on out is the stupid mutt’s responsibility. He might even end up interfering with his beloved owner’s plan.)

(Still, will he regret making this choice himself? Or…)

Isn’t it already obvious? Of course I’m going!

If those two are fighting, I gotta stop them! Plus…

(I wanna see Kiba. I wanna see… Renga.)

Okay.

(So he’s going to see that guy’s true nature with his own eyes.)

(I can’t let a big client like the Big Deer get away, and it’s about time this guy understands what he should really be focusing on.)

That hotel, right! Let’s go, Ten!

Yup, yup. Now then, it’s been a while, but it’s time to put our weapons¹ to good use.