Beau Soir

The reimen noodles¹ here were delicious. As someone who loves noodles, I’m very satisfied.

(It had a light, yet rich broth, with firm noodles made with starch and buckwheat flour… and the kimchi and char siu were balanced…)

It’s definitely 5-stars! It’s just as good as HAMA’s iekei ramen.

Hey, I found ‘im! Over here!

Box ‘im in!

…! You all are…

Raito-san! Thank you for everything!

Yeah!

R-Raito-san…(sniff)… It was ‘cuz of me…! I’m real sorry!

Oh, ahaha. It’s alright. Don’t cry.

I can’t help it…! Fact o’ the matter is… I was the one behind that assault case! You covered my ass, Raito-san… n’ went to jail…!

We promised not to discuss that anymore, didn’t we? Besides, you had a baby recently, right? Is everything going well?

Yeah, thanks to you…! I’m really sorry…(sobs)…

Raito-san, you were the one that put together HAMA’s fight team, and the assault charges ended up being pinned on you… We’re so sorry.

It’s not a big deal, that’s all in the past now.

No! We were nothing but lowlives in the streets, but then we joined “EDG3”, climbed to the top, landed proper jobs, and even started doing night patrols. We owe it all to you, Raito-san.

You lead our fight team as the Golden Yasha to victory, Raito-san…!

But we got caught up in an old problem n’ got framed… We were so mad you took the blame n’ turned yourself in that we lost sleep…!

We’re still huntin’ down the fucker that framed us n’ got you sent to the slammer. We ain’t lettin’ em’ get away with it!

…I see. Honestly, though, just your concern is enough.

I’m not bothered by it. I actually had quite a nice time in prison.

More importantly, did you really come all the way to Beppu just to see me?

Yessir! Once we heard you were out on parole and here in Oita, we thought we oughta come ‘n show ourselves…!

I’m sorry for the trouble. The distance is quite far, and I’m sure you all have other work matters to attend to.

‘S no biggie! Anyway… Raito-san, now that you’re out of prison, are you gonna come back to “EDG3”…?

We had the most fun when you were around, Raito-san…

…I’m glad, but I’m currently working as an idol.

So the rumors about you being an idol were real…

Raito-san… an idol…

I’m more comfortable giving new things a try. I’ll leave team matters in your hands.

Really… That sucks.

Sorry.

…Do you really think being an idol is the right place for you, Raito-san?

The right place…?

Dumbass! Don’t ask stupid questions!

If it’s somethin’ you’ve decided on, Raito-san, then we ain’t gonna stop ya! We’ll back ya up with your idol job too! We’ll be gettin’ out of your hair now!

Oh, are you leaving already?

Hangin’ around people with muddy reps like ours will be bad for your idol rep! We’re headin’ out now!

Byyyyye!

Come see me again~!

The right place, huh…

Those poor things. They actually like you.

Kuguri… You saw?

“EDG3”, HAMA’s fight team… You united two teams that were at odds with each other, and brought peace to the streets… right?

A pity, they really think you’re some benevolent king.

In reality, you don’t feel any love or affection… You’ve never truly been attached to anyone, have you?

They’re just something in the past. Something completely irrelevant now, and the ones that were tossed aside are none the wiser.

You talk like you know everything. I don’t think myself to be that heartless.

You don’t, Raito? You’re a king brimming with deceit. From what I can tell… you haven’t opened your heart to anyone.

…Deceit? Weren’t you the one who provoked people and got them incriminated? I know about how you were arrested for incitement.

Originally it was supposed to be treason, but you got your followers to erase the evidence and had the charges reduced… or so I’ve heard.

And unfortunately for you, even evidence of my incitement is gone now ♪ There’s not a person on this planet that can bring me to justice.

Besides, you’ve got one little thing wrong, Raito.

I deceive with the intention of deceiving. You don’t. You lie without knowing it, and deceive without meaning to.

My job is to rip off that innocent facade of yours and destroy it.

…I don’t understand. Is that why you’re doing idol activities?

What would be the point in destroying me?

The point would be… that a lot more people than just your friends from earlier would plunge into despair.

People a little closer to you, like nyuszi and maci.

“Nyuszi” and “maci”…? Oh, you mean Chihiro and Tao.

Those two sure seem to trust you a lot. I wonder what would happen if those cuties found out the person they trust so much was this hollow.

……

Don’t you worry, Raito.

I’ll destroy you at the most beautiful moment, in the most beautiful way.

I see how it is. In that case, I’ll just make sure I won’t be broken. Then, I’ll prove those beliefs of yours wrong.

…Is that so. Go ahead and try.

Mooooommy! Can I play this pianooo?

Oh! When Mommy was little, this piano used to be in a nearby department store. It brings back memories.

Hey, let’s do a duet~! Let’s do that song we learned in class!

……

A public piano, huh… What piece are they playing?

……

Debussy’s Beau Soir.

……

Come to think of it… I played a duet with a piano genius that came to my house a long time ago.

…Oh, I’d forgotten. Kuguri. That was you, wasn’t it?

The piano fell silent… a long time ago.

Kuguri…?

(I think… It was a day we could clearly see the sunset, and we had laughed together.)

(I remember now… Back then, I was still…)

…! That’s… Nayuki!

…! Ugh…

What a coincidence. Are you… looking up tourist attractions? You’re just as hardworking as ever.

Tsk, why are you talking to me?

Oh, that’s the beach you were telling the Chief about. I think you mentioned it having a beautiful sunset…

Now that I think about it, you used to really like watching sunsets.

Don’t act like an older brother now. You never cared about me. When did I ever like sunsets?

Ever since our last walk in the sunset, I…

(Heavy sigh)… So annoying. Don’t follow me.

Nayuki?

(Does Nayuki really think that I don’t care about him? What was that walk we had in the sunset…?)

I don’t feel any love or affection… and I’ve never been truly attached to anyone… huh…

(Maybe, if I had those feelings… then I’d understand what the right place for me would be…)