Track 8

Liguang-san! Let go of Renga-kun!

……

What exactly…is all this commotion about?

...! Liguang was bad-mouthing Kiba—the real Renga!

I’m telling you that blindly devoting yourself to him like that isn’t normal!

(......!? What’s he talking about? They’re disagreeing over the real Renga-kun?)

(And…there are rabbit carriers in the car. Is Liguang-san planning on leaving the dorm? ……, This is no time to be thinking…!)

Liguang-san! Please calm down!

……Gh.

…I know you have allies, and more than enough help.

Hey, let go…

I know I’m not strong enough, and that I might not be of much use. But!

Being able to meet you has to be some kind of fate, right…!? Please let me protect you too…!

…Kaede.

Something terrible has happened, hasn’t it? Please let me help! If you don’t… I’ll just be so frustrated…

(I don’t know what happened. But… I feel like I’ll regret it if I see him off now. Like he might never come back again…)

……

Hmm, that’s probably a good idea. You’re kind of a blockhead, y’know? If you change your approach, it might be easier to find what you’re looking for.

Murakumo.

Plus, it’ll affect the tour. There isn’t much time before the big day.

Oh, and you still have to thank Yukikaze-san for taking care of your rabbits.

……

Anyway! Let’s discuss it properly!

(I didn’t expect this to become such a big deal, but…)

All the Morning Team members have been gathered as requested!

So this all started because of a fight between Liguang and Renga?

It's been a while, Liguang. You haven't been back to the dorm much, so I was getting worried.

…Kamina. My thanks for taking care of the rabbits while I was away.

While you were gone, Haku seemed especially lonely. I'm sure they're all happy to see you today.

So what were we going to talk about again?

……

(Even if I leave this place, I should at least have the courtesy to explain the situation, shouldn’t I…)

…First, I apologize for involving you all in my personal matters. This issue involves Kiba…the real Renga.

Kiba? Is that the real Renga’s nickname?

...When we were practicing for the switch, Renga came up with it. He said it'd get too confusing otherwise, so we should call him Kiba...

I see. After the switch, having two Rengas would naturally cause confusion.

So there seems to be a disagreement between Liguang-san and Renga-kun regarding Kiba…san?

……

……

…Originally, Kiba and I were friends. Our families were connected and we got along well.

But gradually, we drifted apart, and…one day, he betrayed me. And I only discovered it after the idiot and Kiba had already switched places.

Betrayed? How?

I can’t speak about the details. I will just say it was an unforgivable lie.

And it’s something different from swapping places with Renga? Secretly switching is a lie too, correct?

……!

No… It was an even bigger lie. Sorry, but I can’t discuss it any further.

Sounds like it was a pretty serious lie.

…I haven’t seen him since, but recently, Kiba has been causing trouble in the Lurong Family’s territory…and there have been “casualties”.

Casualties?

Bluntly speaking, people have been injured.

......, That can't be...

W-What proof do you have that Kiba did it?

……Even with no proof, it was his doing. Kiba is cunning, and won’t hesitate to use cruel methods.

If you don't have proof, then I'm not buying it!

Kiba's... he's always been kind to me. He's my—my sun...

(There’s no way Liguang-san is lying… but Renga-kun seems to be telling the truth too.)

So they’re seeing different versions of Kiba. And Liguang is dealing with casualties.

Hwuhhh... I'm completely lost hereee...

I see, they're both Kiba. I understand now.

Yukikaze-san, getting it all sooo quick like that, you're like some overpowered isekai MC with hacked as heck abilities right now. All of this is gibberish to me. Guess I'd be an NPC even in another world...

(I’ve fulfilled my obligation. …That idiot doesn’t seem to have anything else to add either. I can’t cause any more issues here.)

(I’ll tell them I’m handing over my position as ward mayor to my successor after the feature tour—)

I see. Then it’s simple, isn’t it? We just have to catch Kiba and uncover the truth.

……!

We’ll know which Kiba is real when we meet him in person.

Well, if we could do that we wouldn’t be in such a pinch right now, would we?

Is that so? Renga.

...I haven't actually seen him either, but... I think he's watching over me from somewhere nearby.

…What do you mean?

We don't really talk. But sometimes he leaves me letters. I'll just find them sitting on a table or something...

What? Why did you keep quiet about this!?

...I-I didn't know you were looking for him! If you'd told me, I would've...!

Liguang, don't get so angry. Renga probably didn't realize you and Kiba were fighting, right?

……

(Now that I think about it, when I was with Kafka the other day, the letter Renga-kun showed us must have been from this Kiba person.)

What did the letter say again?

..."I’m always watching." So I think he's nearby, looking out for me......

Really tho? I mean, Renga-san's a celebrity, so keeping tabs on him is easier than on normal people, riiight? Anyone can see what he's up to online.

Yachiyo, that’s it. What you said is exactly it.

Huh? Did I do something? Wait, could it be... I'm actually the isekai MC with hacked as heck powers!?

Nice job, Yachiyo. That was apparently quite helpful.

If this Kiba guy is watching Renga, then we’ll use that. First, we’ll advertise on social media that Renga will make a major announcement at the venue on the last day of Liguang’s feature tour.

You mean on my dazzle account?

If Kiba is as cunning as Liguang says, then it means he’s still using Renga. And if that’s the case, he might start to panic once he thinks his identity is going to be exposed.

…So you’ll use the idiot to trigger a reaction?

It’s possible, no? Renga, can you promise me this? If Kiba contacts you, make sure you tell us immediately.

If Kiba really is a kind person, then he has nothing to hide, right?

...Alright. I promise.

'Cause there's no way Kiba's done anything wrong!

(I see. His pure nature… If we use it right, it becomes a giant fishing lure.)

I have a few words for him myself, so I hope we can meet him.

Liguang-san…are you okay with this plan?

(...I don’t think Kiba would fall for such an obvious scheme, but…)

(Using the idiot as bait is worth trying. Though it’s also possible he may simply abandon him…)

Understood. That will be fine.

...Then I'll go talk to my manager about it!

Now then, meeting adjourned!

Renga-kun, can you wait a sec? Here.

Oh... my magatama. Right, I came back to get this and ran into Liguang...

It turns out you actually brought it to the office. I found it on the table after you left. I was on the way back to the dorm to give it to you, but…

...You walked right into our argument. Sorry for dragging you into that mess.

Not at all! …Um, are you okay?

……Huh.

When Liguang-san was speaking badly about Kiba-san, you…

(You looked like you were in so much pain.)

...Thanks for worrying about me, Chief.

(I can’t say that Kiba-san is for sure the person Renga-kun says he is to cheer him up right now, can I?)

Hey! Maybe this magatama really works. If you hadn’t gone back to the dorm when you did, Liguang-san might have left the dorm…

Wait... yeah, that could be it...? Plus you showed up too...

You made a prayer on this magatama, right? So I’m sure everything will go well!

...The prayer I made on this thing…

Right, you're totally right! Thanks, Chief!

(To be honest, I’m not sure what I can do about Liguang-san and Kiba-san’s problems, but…)

(I hope both the tour and Liguang-san’s situation work out for the best…)