Funeral Lilies Conjured With a Sleight of Hand - Track 7

……

Kuguri, the WanWon video filming is scheduled today. Where are you going?

I can’t be bothered to go. Do it without me.

However, you were the one in charge of the production. You had been working on the project with notable enthusiasm before, what changed?

Who knows. I don’t remember ever signing up to be in charge. Bye.

……

What now, plüss? You’re in my way.

If you do not put in the effort, Chihiro will cry.

Don’t fool yourself. Nyuszi won’t cry just because I skipped out on practice. If I wanted to make him cry, I could do it anytime.

……

Understood. If that is the case, I’d like to ask you something.

Is… your reason for leaving… the pearl within you?¹

And what makes you think that?

When I had my own secret, you once told me that the key to emotional development was to have a pearl.

Since then, I have often wondered… how many pearls are within you, Kuguri.

……

What do you think, plüss?

…It’s likely that you have many. Perhaps even more than the amount of pearls you wear.

Ufufu… How cute, plüss. You always seem desperate to see what’s really inside me.

But don’t expect me to just hand it over for you to see.

Do you understand? You cute and clueless little puppet?

…I have stopped being a puppet.

Puppet or not, I don’t care either way. If you really want to know what’s inside me, go ahead and force it out.

Push your finger into the crack of the shell, pull apart the soft flesh… and touch what’s deep inside.

Go ahead and try, but I’m not making any promises on what’ll happen after.

Force… it out?

Domeki-san isn’t here. At this rate, we’ll have to cancel the performance.

I just witnessed him leaving the dorms. I was unsuccessful in trying to stop him.

It’s in Kuguri’s nature to be fickle, but… He seemed rather motivated this time.

I’m not sure he’ll listen to what I have to say, but I should try to talk to him…

……

Um… I’m sorry. It might be my fault that Kuguri-san is skipping.

……!

What do you mean?

Kuguri-san left halfway through the day we were confirming the makeup, right? I got curious after that and asked him some pretty invasive questions about his past.

So, he might have lost his motivation because of that…

…I see.

But still, that’s not your fault alone. I don’t think you should blame yourself more than necessary.

Ah, no. I’m not blaming myself or anything. …I’m reflecting on it though, obviously.

It’s just, since I’m partly responsible, I was thinking maybe I should talk to Kuguri-san…

Do you want to learn more about Kuguri, Tao?

…I guess so. I think I do.

How do I put this… I feel like I haven’t properly looked at Kuguri-san up till now.

And it was my fault for bringing up his past so awkwardly…

(Plus, what we saw at the library… I couldn’t just think of it as someone else’s problem.)

……

Tao.

Kuguri told me something before he left. He said, “If you really want to know what’s inside me, go ahead and force it out.”

“Force it out”…? Sounds dangerous.

But that’s just what he’d say, I guess.

…You want to know Kuguri, huh?

Got it. If you’re thinking about it so seriously, you should try talking to him. You have my support.

Don’t hesitate to ask for help if anything comes up, though I can’t confidently offer any advice since I struggle to communicate with Kuguri as well. I’m sorry.

I understand.

‘K! Let’s wrap up practice here, then! We can’t start without Kugurin being here anyways!

Sigh… I suppose that’s that. Let’s reschedule today’s lesson.

Kinouchi-kun, if you believe you can persuade Domeki-san, I will leave this up to you. I don’t mind what you do so long as it doesn’t interfere with filming.

O-Okay!

Excuse me, Raito-san. I know I’m jumping the gun here, but can I ask for some advice?

Yeah, of course. Is this about Kuguri?

Uhhh, it’s something I wanted to ask you before talking to Kuguri-san directly…

It’s about Kuguri-san’s past. I’m sorry for asking if you don’t want to talk about it, but I’ll take the responsibility for asking if anything happens…

You don’t have to be so nervous. I’m the leader of our team, so I’ll tell you anything I know.

…You knew Kuguri-san was a piano player, didn’t you, Raito-san?

Have you ever seen him perform?

…I did. Only twice, though.

The first time was when my parents heard that a young piano genius would be having a recital and took me to watch it.

……

Kuguri’s playing was beautiful. It was as if the music was sparkling, going from one of his slender fingertips to the next…

I might’ve been a child, but even my heart was touched.

It was after watching Kuguri play that I came to love the piano.

…I’m ashamed that I had forgotten about that until recently.

(…So Kuguri-san and Raito-san had that kinda connection.)

You can only answer this if you remember, but… Do you think Kuguri-san had fun playing the piano?

…No. I only remember it vaguely, but I don’t think Kuguri was enjoying himself that much during his recital.

His technique transcended what you’d expect from a child, and the recital itself felt like a place where no mistakes were allowed… I think it felt like the entire venue was tense.

(But the second time I heard Kuguri play… When we played that duet together at my home… I think I felt he enjoyed himself there more.)

(Compared to back then, Kuguri is…)

(No, I might be wrong about that. I should keep it to myself)

Is that so? …That’s what I thought.

…? Did that help you somehow?

Yes. Kinda. I think my hunch was right. Thank you very much.

Welcome back, Domeki-sama.

Hey there. I’ll take the usua⁠—

Nyuszi’s calling me… ever the noisy one.

I suppose I’ll have a Bloodhound tonight.

Coming right up.

……

……

There are no other customers around at the moment, so please feel free to answer your phone.

Oh?

……

Can’t be helped. That bunny’s a bit of a crybaby.

Hey there, nyuszi. I was hoping to have a quiet night, but…

≪Uwaaaah, Kugurin! Sorry to bug you while you’re out chillin’, but Taotao’s looking for ya!≫

Is he now? How rare. That meek bear that’s always skittering off is actually looking for me? And you’re being brave and helping him?

≪Mhm… Tao said that he wanted to talk. Are you out right now?≫

I already told you I was hoping to have a quiet night.

≪Oh, really? Okay…≫

Is that all? I’m hanging up.

≪So you’re really not gonna tell me where you are, huh?≫

≪Buuuut, at times like this, Taotao’s divination is cracked… he might just find you, Kugurin.≫

Oh no. The horror. Are you speaking from past experience, little bunny? The bear must be really desperate for those red berries.

Well, if I end up under those big, needy claws… then so be it.

≪If that happens… just talk to him, okay? Please.≫

……

≪Chii was thinkin’ a little and… you and Tao probably have something that you can understand in each other. In a way that’s different than me and Tao.≫

Is that so…?

Did you stir up some trouble? How naughty of you.

≪Uhhh… Who knooows! But hey! Tao and I really care about you a bunch, Kugurin! I gotta go! Bye byyyyye!≫

……

(Something we can understand in each other, huh? It’s probably the delusion of that crybaby bunny, but… if the despair of that bear really is the same as mine…)

Whatever. That’s just a bunch of sappy nonsense.