Rapszódia of Divine Ruin - Track 1
My hands are cold…
It was the preliminary round of an international competition I was competing in for the first time. As the person before me was finishing their performance, I gradually got more and more nervous.
Could I… really do this…?
I flexed my fingers within the wool gloves Mom gave me. That one measure that I practiced more times than I’d messed up on and that chord I had to play after a leap still made me anxious.
The movement of my fingers became one with the previous performer’s music, and my mind started to feel completely jumbled.
“Kuguri.”
Mom crouched down in front of me. Normally, she would care if her pretty skirt got dirty from the floor… but not this time.
She took off my gloves and softly rubbed my fingers, so gently that it felt unreal.
“We’re going to show the world that you are the one chosen by God. That you’re a true genius.” Mom said, like she truly believed it.
“It’s alright. God will guide you so that you can become perfect, Kuguri.”
I suddenly remembered a boy I’d met before… someone who seemed like a God.
–I suppose those were the fingers God gifted to you at birth.
Warmth returned to my fingertips. I looked down at my hands. At my long, white fingers. Fingers gifted to me at birth… and warmed by my Mom. My own hands seemed to glow, like they’d been enchanted.
My hands and arms are connected to my body, so I’m okay. I must be… someone special. Someone chosen by God.
At least, that’s what I thought.
(Phew… I’m finally done with all the clients… Now all that’s left is paperwork and… huh? What’s that?)
Tsk…
Nayuuki… Wasn’t the second option, like, way better?
Nah. Even if we picked the second option, he still would’ve left anyway…
Based on current data, there is no statistically significant difference between the responses of Option 1 and Option 2.
Nayuki-kun? You’re here with Kinari-kun, Chihiro-kun, and Tao-kun?
Welcome home, Chief. Good work with the client visits.
Welcome back.
I can calculate that you walked approximately eighteen thousand steps while working with clients. Mild fatigue detected. I will now retrieve a fatigue recovery patch.
You really don’t have to go out of your way for me… Anyway, what were you all doing on Nayuki-kun’s computer?
Hehe. Wanna give it a try, Chiefy? Nayuuki made this game where you gotta speedrun getting Kugurin to leave!
Natsuyaki-kun. Precisely speaking, this AI’s purpose is not to get him to leave, but to get him to work.
I mean, we did end up turning it into a “get him to leave” speedrun…
Huh? What do you mean?
Master, this is a vitamin-infused “totally lit” lemonade designed to reduce fatigue. Additionally, this is an AI of Kuguri generated by the manager using samples of Kuguri’s everyday speech and behavior.
Thanks, Kinari-kun… Wait, an AI of Kuguri-san?!
FYI, I did get permission from him to make this… Would you like to give it a try, Chief? The goal is to get Domeki-san to do his office work.
(Umm… Even if he already approved of it, I do still feel a little guilty. Still, I am kinda curious to see what it would take to get Kuguri-san to actually work…)
Okiiie! Resetting! Go ahead n’ pick!
“Hey there. What do you need from me?”
Could you come to the office?
“Mm, no. I’m busy, so I’m leaving.”
So we have to pick the wine to make him stay, huh…
Well, let’s just tell him about it.
I happen to know about some good wine…
“Oh…? What brand is it?
“Please give the name of any brand using voice input.”
Wha–!? You mean a wine brand…!? Uhhh, ummm… Unicorn…
You’re mixing it up with Unikko, chief.
Oh, no…! I was rewatching the grading battle Renga-kun appeared in the other day, and I picked up some of his speech…!
“Sigh… Trying to get my attention with a boring lie like that was almost cute… but you’ve lost my interest. I’m leaving.”
Yiiikes… Chiefy, you only made it through 1%. So far, nobody’s gotten Kugurin to do aaany work.
But you *did manage to *get him to the office, Chihiro. That 50% you got was the furthest anyone’s ever gotten.
He ended up leaving after painting his nails, though.
I also executed a data-driven approach; however, he left before reaching the office.
Ugh… I developed the game, and even I can’t get Domeki-san to work…
… That reminds me, Kuguri-san is supposed to be the host for the next Feature. We have to solve this problem as soon as possible.
Yes… That’s exactly why I made this thing, but nothing seems to be working…
Wait, didn’t Kuguri-san get a job offer addressed to him personally the other day? I didn’t see the details, though…
… I turned it down.
That job could have potentially harmed him.
Huh? What do you mean?
Regardless, we cannot overlook that he was originally given the ward mayor position in exchange for parole. He doesn’t have permission to neglect his duties simply because he’s been released. We have to get him to do his work, no matter what.
Even now, we still can’t manage to get the real Kuguri-san to come to the office, huh…
Manager. While interacting with the Kuguri AI via free-form voice, I was able to determine several possible locations of the real Kuguri.
…! Great work, Azekawa-kun! I will go check all possible locations now!
Ah… Nayuki-kun, I’ll come with you!
Huh~? So she just went straight home? Poor little lamb…
You think so? Shouldn’t spending even a moment with me be enough for her? I went as far as accepting that boring little prized possession of hers too.
It’s gotta be something expensive right? If you’re not keeping it, slide it my way~
Ufufu… You’re quite good at begging, Yuda. How cute…
DO. ME. KI-SAN…
G-Good evening, Kuguri-san and Yunyun-san…~
Oh, welcome in~
Well, I think I’ll be leaving now.
(Oh no you don’t…!)
You’ve stocked a high-end wine that you’ve yet to sell to customers, right? Please bring it out. I’ll pay for it in full.
Huh? You know about that? Didja hear it from the Boss?
You could say that. Now then, Domeki-san. Let’s have a drink.
(Nayuki-kun’s smile isn’t reaching his eyes…)
Sigh…
Oh well. I suppose I’ll make an exception, seeing how picim is acting so desperate… and to at least sample the wine.
Let’s drink the night away! We have… a lot to talk about.
Dammit all… Why does everyone have a screw loose… I already have my damn hands full dealing with that stupid brother of mine…
It’s rare to see Nayuki this drunk. Is it because he tried to match Kuguri’s pace?
You’re burning through those expensive bottles like crazy. That’s actually good for business, though~
Ufufu… If you’re going to be talking either way, pipsqueak, then I’ll listen to you complain about that so-called brother of yours.
(When Nayuki-kun started talking smack about Raito-san, Kuguri-san got so lively all of a sudden… I’m so glad I stuck to non-alcoholic drinks~ Nayuki-kun never gets this drunk.)
Things have… gotten somewhat better lately… But he still…
HE STILL ACTS SOOOOOO DAMN HIGH AND MIGHTY! Raito Kitakata, do you think you’re some kind of god!?
Pffft, ahaha! That’s great. I hate that side of him too.
I know, right!? He’s been doing whatever he wants his entire life! And the worst part is it keeps working out for him!
That does seem to be one of his many talents…
NO! Just the other day, he bought a company’s stocks without any kind of research, you know!? I’ve been agonizing over buying it for half a year…
I’d done all the preparations so the company would rapidly grow! And when I complained he had the gall to suggest selling it to me! That was NOT the point, damn you!!
Yeesh, y’all have some freaky money habits~
He’s so arrogant, taking something I worked hard to obtain right out of my hands and then being willing to throw it away like it’s nothing…
Ahhhh… Just remembering it is pissing me off!!!
Hehe. That’s right. That man is the personification of arrogance. Raito is arrogance, and arrogance is Raito.
I-I don’t think Raito-san is that bad… He’s a really kind person, after all.
The fact that he’s such a goody two shoes makes this even worse. It’d have been easier to swallow if he had some evil in his heart.
Agreed. Nothing is more repulsive than causing harm in the name of good intentions. I suppose you could call people like that “malignantly good”…
Yes, yes, exactly!!
(Uhhh… I’m starting to feel kind of bad for Raito-san… But Nayuki-kun and Kuguri-san seem to be hitting it off…)
Don’t look so worried, Chief. They say the opposite of affection is indifference. I, for one, don’t believe that repugnance equals hatred.
Well, I get how it feels when you’re goin’ through a bunch of hardships and the guy who’s responsible for ‘em has his head in the clouds…
Th-That reminds me! Kuguri-san! Is there any place you’d like to go as the next host?
What is it, cica? I was just starting to feel good.
There has to be at least one thing you want to do with HAMA Tours, right?!
……
The thing I’d want to do is…
The thing you’d want to do isss…?!
Break Raito.
(W-What…)
Ahaha! That’s intense~
I don’t have anything else I’d want to do.
Uh. Could you maybe think of something other than tha–
…Go ahead, do it.
!? N-Nayuki-kun!?
Do it… Let’s do it! I was just thinking we have to humble Raito a little.
Oh? Weren’t you the one that said that breaking your brother would serve no purpose, pipsqueak?
Yeah, there is no point. He’ll get back on his feet immediately anyway. However, there’s no telling when he will go back to doing whatever he wants if we don’t grill him every once in a while.
Think of it like taming a wild animal. If you don’t whip it on occasion, it will break out and run away.
Ufufu. Oh really? We think alike, don’t we? I’ve been thinking it’s about time to tear him apart.
(Until he’s never able to get back up again.)
Domeki-san. Let’s shake on it.
Fine then. I’ll play along. But in return… you can’t interfere this time. No matter what happens to your brother.
(H-Huuuh… They shook hands… Nayuki-kun, is this even valid when you’re both drunk?!)
(But… If it means he’d get to break Raito-san, would Kuguri-san really cooperate…?)
Good morning! Sorry for arranging this so early in the morning. I’m glad you have all answered my call.
Chief, thank you for helping me out with getting everyone here.
Ah… Ahaha, no problem…
(Looking at Raito-san now makes me feel all kinds of guilty since I couldn’t stop what happened last night at Yumejuuya…)
Ugh… I’m still hungover…
What’s up, Nayuuki? You look rouuugh.
Alcohol detected in Manager’s biometrics.
Please, Kuguri-san. Walk on your own already!
Haah~ Last night was just too deep and intense… I can’t walk yet, maci.
Wh– Stop breathing in my ear…! We’re here, so I’m gonna put you down!
Being so rough with me… you’re so mean, maci. Could it be that you’re into this?
Nice, everyone’s here. I’ve gathered you all here today to tell you that I have some good news regarding the Feature Event Kuguri will be hosting.
…Hah?
Also, I would simply love to be the co-host, but— We’ve received a collaboration offer from a world-renowned piano manufacturer in Hamamatsu.
Kuguri. Would you take part in it with me?
…Ugh… I think I’m about to fall over…
N-Nayuki-kun!
(Don’t tell me… This is the job Nayuki-kun was talking about that could be harmful to Kuguri-san…?)
……
(Woah, you can pretty much feel Kuguri-san’s urge to kill rising… Wait, piano?)
(Tao… aren’t the vibes totally bad right now?)
I’ve detected two bulging veins on Kuguri’s temple.