š¬ Kanno Yuragi
SSR [Dreamlike Space]
SSR [A Special Seat by the Window]
SSR [A Brief Rest]
SSR [#6495ED]
SR [The Warmth on my Lap]
SR [Today, I'm your Big Brother]
R [The Ultimate Moody Person]
R [Napping Undead]
š»Fushimi Shizuka
SSR [Handling Requests]
SSR [Light Shining Through Stained Glass]
SSR [Complete Operation]
SR [Healed by the Greenery]
SR [Silent Archer]
R [Leader of the Watchdogs]
R [Green Manager]
š¦Suoh Roka
SSR [It's Not Junk]
SSR [#FFC02D]
SR [Where People Gather]
R [Beloved Incompetent Owner]
Ito: Uh, isnāt this a bit too much for just souvenirsā¦.?
Seeing the mountain of sweets piled in the basket, I couldnāt help but comment.
Roka: If anything, I think itās not enough yet.
When Iām picking out souvenirs and wondering which one to get, the faces of the people I want to give them to just sort of pop into my mind.
And then itās like, āOh, Iāll get this oneā¦ and that one tooā¦ā and before I know it, I end up with all this.
Ito: Their faces?
Roka: Yeah. Like, this candy is for Yuran. Itās blue and sparkly and pretty. I think heāll like it.
Ito: (Yuranā¦ā¦ So, Yuragi-kun.)
Roka: These gummies are for Maochi. Itās got a sour jelly inside, not just sweet, and that part especially reminds me of him.
Ito: ā¦...I see. I think I kind of get what you mean.
Roka: You get it? As expected of our Yappie! You should totally take the āUnderstanding Othersā Test. Youād pass with flying colors. Grade 1 for sure!
Ito: If that were a real thing, Iād consider it.
Roka: You definitely should!
ā Ah, this oneās for Yuzu-kun! And this oneā¦ this presence is unmistakable. Itās gotta be AiAi!
Ito: (I wonder if he always chooses souvenirs like this...)
Thinking about the smiles of the people heāll give them to. Just like now, as he shares such sparkling, unrestrained smile.
āRoka-san looked like he was having so much fun, I couldnāt help but feel moved.
Ito: Iāll help carry the sweets.
Roka: Thank you. Now weāre officially souvenir buddies, Yappie! ā
But I canāt have you carrying anything heavy, so I guess itās time to wrap things up!
And with that, I started picking out souvenirs too, together with Roka-san.
After arriving at the restaurant and enjoying our meal with a bit of alcoholā
Roka: ā Taiyaki!!
Roka-san, who had been sipping on a cocktail, suddenly shouts.
Ito: Taiyakiā¦ā¦? Are you talking about dessert?
Ai: No. Knowing him, he probably just said it because he suddenly wants some now.
Ito: I see. Unfortunately, taiyaki isnāt on the menu..
Ai: They do have sea bream carpaccio, though.
Roka: Not that, I meant that place we passed earlier! An image of a taiyaki shop suddenly flashed through my mind!
I canāt believe I forgot about that cute little treatā¦ā¦ crispy on the outside, fluffy on the insideā¦ā¦
Ai: Come to think of it, thatās right
Ito: The building didnāt look run-down, so maybe the business just changed hands due to other reasons.
Roka: If thatās the case, itās kind of sad. Maybe if Iād gone there more oftenā¦
Ai: True. If you had, it might have stayed open longer.
Ito: Because Roka-san would have bought a bunch?
Ai: That too. But for some reason, people just tend to gather wherever he is.
Ito: Ah, I see!
Roka: Fufun. So what youāre saying is, I have a charisma that draws people in!
ā¦ā¦ But now that weāve been talking about taiyaki, Iām seriously craving some.
Alright then! On our way back, letās all grab some taiyaki together!
Ito: Sounds good. Now I want some too.
Ai: Iām good.
Roka: You too, AiAi! Sweet things help you think better, you know. You shall enjoy them to your heartās content~ā
Ai: ā¦ā¦
Ito: (And just like that, two people are already gathering around Roka-san again.)
Come to think of it, the reason the three of us came to eat together tonight was because of Roka-san.
Ito: (I even got the chance to work at Aporia thanks to him.)
I guess itās because he naturally pulls people along with him. That must be why things are always so lively around himā It was an oddly satisfying night.
Shizuka Fushimi SSR [Handling Requests] - Chapter 3
Despite feeling uneasy about the instructions to regroup, I trusted Fushimi-san and returned to the car.
Ito: Fushimi-san, Aizawa-kunā
Shizuka: Seatbelt.
After issuing the curt command, Fushimi-san glanced to the side to confirm, just then the car started moving.
Unlike me, who was feeling anxious, Fushimi-san showed no sign of impatience at all. After driving a short distance, he suddenly stopped the car and casually pointed outside with his finger.
Drawn by his gesture, I turned to look in that direction, andā¦
Shinobu: Thanks for picking me up!
Ito: (Thank go-goodnessā¦)
Aizawa-kun, holding a red cap in one hand, joined us with a calm expression.
Ito: There was a loud noise earlier. Are you okay? Were you hurt?
Shinobu: Thanks! But I didnāt even get a scratch. V~
Aizawa-kun gave a cheerful smile and flashed a V-sign. Seeing that, I finally felt some of the tension leave my shoulders. It seemed Iād been more on edge than I realized.
Shizuka: We will debrief on the way back. Start from when you made contact with the target.
Shinobu: At first, they were super angry. Like, seriously bad. But once I brought up the clientās story, they calmed down pretty quickly.
What worked best was explaining that the client didnāt want to involve the police or go public on social media because they didnāt want to cause trouble for their favorite artist.
They admitted they acted on impulse and said they wanted to apologize properly. They seemed genuinely sorry. So, I think itās all good now.
Ito: Why did you suddenly lose contact? I heard a sound like someone getting hit.
Shinobu: Ah, that. I just accidentally bumped my arm.
Then, while I was trying to calm them down, my wireless earphone just popped out.
Shizuka: It doesnāt just pop out. If it happens again, Iāll sew it to your ear.
Shinobu: Saying things like that, but you still came to pick me up, so you were at least a little worried, werenāt you?
Shizuka: Should I sew your mouth shut too?
Shinobu: Nyahaha, now that would be a problem.
Shizuka: It means you should reflect on your actions.
Ito: (The content of their conversation is concerning, but both of them are so calmā¦)
(Fushimi-san trusts Aizawa-kunā¦ No, he trusts the entire Watchdog Department.)
(More than I had thought.)
Shinobu: No matter how careful you are, sometimes things just fall. Donāt you agree, Yashiro-san?
Ito: Eh? Uh, yes
Shizuka: Donāt drag Yashiro into this. And Yashiro, donāt answer on impulse.
Even elementary school kids can manage not to lose their stuff.
Shinobu: Iām pretty sure I was one of those kids who couldnāt.
Ito: Ahaha
(Theyāre such a good team.)
To trust someone. Itās the hardest thing to do, yet itās the most essential quality for a leader.
As I watched the bond between members of the Watchdog Department, I felt like Iād come to understand Fushimi-san just a little more.
Shizuka Fushimi SSR [Handling Requests] - Chapter 2
Ito: Fushimi-san, the target has appeared. From my position, itās diagonally to the rightā¦ Theyāre now in front of the street advertisement.
Shizuka: āThat was faster than expected. Got it.ā
āAizawa, heard that?ā
Shinobu: āLoud and clear!ā
The one to make contact with the target is Aizawa-kun.
The reason for this is that theyāre less likely to be on guard if he approaches rather than me. And, in the unlikely event of something happening, he can handle it.
Shizuka: Yashiro, keep your distance while sharing the targetās current location with Aizawa.
Ito: āGot it.ā
Shizuka: Aizawa, proceed to make contact as planned based on Yashiroās updates.
I will follow along and provide position updates if needed. Report immediately if anything happens.
Shizuka Fushimi SSR [Handling Requests] - Chapter 1
āShibuya. A city where all sorts of thoughts and goals intersect.
In this city, I'm once again doing my job as "deputy" today.
Shizuka: Before taking our positions, let's go over the plan once more. This time, the request is to retrieve a stolen signed cap.
The signature belongs to an artist performing live today. The target wrote on social media that they would be attending. And, helpfully, they even described what they will be wearing.
Our car is currently parked on the road leading from the station to the concert venue.
Fushimi-san, who is explaining the request, will remain in the car as the control tower as usual, while Aizawa-kun and I will be the ones in the field.
Ito: (A perfect position with a clear view of the areaā¦ā¦ As expected from the Watchdog department.)
Shizuka: The client mentioned being approached by the target on the way home from the last concert. They struck up a conversation and got along.
They ended up drinking together, but when the client woke up, the signed cap was gone.
Instead of going to the police, the client came to us. Their reasoning was that if word got out about a problematic fan, it might cause trouble for the artist. Keep that in mind as you search for the target.
Quietly acknowledging the instructions, I step out of the car. Determined not to mess things up, I mentally prepare myselfā
Shinobu: Relax a little, okay? Let's do our best!
Ito: !
Shinobu: Alright, I'll head this way. If anything happens, use this to contact me.
Tapping his earpiece microphone lightly, Aizawa-kun gives me a friendly smile.
Feeling reassured by the presence of a dependable colleague, I mentally review the target's description again.
Ito: (A red autographed cap, a yellow T-shirt, and a body bag covered in artist merchā¦ā¦ A lot of it.)
(Based on their social media posts, they should stand out quite a bit. Even in this crowd, I'm sureā¦ā¦)
Ito: Ah
Just as the saying goes, "Speak of the devil", I spot a man who matches the description perfectly.
Ito: (The cap matches the description. Time to contact Fushimi-sanā¦!)
Directory - Fushimi Shizuka SR [Healed by the Greenery]
ā§ Characters: Shizuka, Takeru
ā§ Chapters:
1 | 2
ā§ Voice lines:
"The sound of the wind, and the rustling of leavesā¦ā¦ Just like I thought, it's really nice here."
"That tree is a sal tree. Even if you're not familiar with flowering trees, you have probably heard of that one. 'The color of the blossoms of the sal tree'."
Note:
[1] This is a reference to "The Tale of the Heike", specifically one of its opening lines: "The color of the blossoms of the sal tree declares that all who flourish must eventually fall" (ę²ē¾ åęعć®č±ć®č²ćēč åæ č”°ć®ēććććÆć).
Fushimi Shizuka SR [Healed by the Greenery] - Chapter 2
Ito: Thanks for the meal.
I put my hands together, scoop up a spoonful of curry, and bring it to my mouth. The moment I tasted itāI coughed violently.
Ito: Ack, s-soā¦ā¦ spicy!?
Takeru: Eh? Oh no, did I mix them up!?
Shizuka: This one isnāt spicy at all.
Takeru: Iām so sorry!
Mika-san quickly hands me a glass of water. I down it in one go, but the burning sensation in my mouth doesnāt go away at all.
Shizuka: Water wonāt help as much. Something as dairy, like yogurt, would be better.
Takeru: Oh! Iāve got some I use for cocktails! Hang on, Iāll bring it right away!
Ito: T-th'nk yewā¦ā¦!
(Even the slightest movement in my mouth hurtsā¦ā¦!)
Takeru: Sorry to keep you waiting! Here, yogurt!
Ito: Ah, thank you so much.
Just like Fushimi-san suggested, the yogurt worked. By the time I finally sighed in relief, he had already swapped out my plate and was calmly eating the ultra-spicy curry like it was nothing.
Shizuka: ā¦ā¦
Ito: (Heās eating that level of spiciness without even flinching!?)
Wait, so that was your plate, Fushimi-san? Do you always eat food that spicy?
Shizuka: Hm.
Ito: (Heās not even sweating. Heās the real dealā¦ā¦ Wait, what even is the real deal?)
Shizuka: This level is not a problem. I even tried those really spicy noodles people talked about on social media before, but they werenāt that spicy.
Takeru: That, you mean āCaro Noodlesā? I heard itās packed with the worldās spiciest chili pepper kneaded right into the noodlesā¦ā¦
Shizuka: They were stimulating, sure. But they didnāt meet my expectations.
Ito: If you like spicy food that much, itās less of a preference and more like a special skill at this point.
Shizuka: What would I even do with that kind of skill?
Takeru: Maybe start a channel where you eat super spicy food all the time.
Ito: A channel where Fushimi-san calmly eats extremely spicy dishes without even flinchingā¦ā¦
Takeru: But I guess we wouldnāt get much of a reaction, huh?
Ito: Food ASMR videos are trending these days, though. You could use your quiet personality to help people fall asleepā¦...
Ah, but that has nothing to do with spicy food.
Shizuka: We donāt need to seriously discuss this.
Takeru: Oh, come on, I was already imagining the whole thing.
Anyway, itād be a waste if the food gets cold while we chat. Eat up, eat up!
Ito: Alright thenā¦ā¦ Thanks for the food.
This time I tried a curry that wasnāt too spicy. Thankfully, it was absolutely delicious.
Ito: ! This is delicious. The spiciness is just right too.
Takeru: Thank you. Shizuka, you could say thank you too, you know?
Shizuka: Yeah, yeah, itās good.
Ito: ā¦ā¦ So Fushimi-san can make faces like that too.
Shizuka: Hm?
Takeru: Fufu, I got a nice expression out of you. Isnāt that what they call a gap?
Shizuka: If weāre talking about gaps, then that suits Yashiro more.
Earlier, when you were coughing from the spice. I never realized you had such a range of expressions until now.
Ito: I donāt feel like Iām being complimented here.
Shizuka: Well, I wasnāt trying to compliment you.
Takeru: Oh, then how about Ito takes care of the reactions, and the two of you start a channel together?
Fushimi Shizuka SR [Healed by the Greenery] - Chapter 1
Shizuka: ā¦ā¦ Hah.
Takeru: Thanks for working so late, both of you. I was thinking of preparing some late-night snacks. Would you want some?
Ito: Thank you. If itās not too much trouble, Iād love to.
Takeru: Okay, then itās settled.
Shizuka: I havenāt even answered yet.
Takeru: I already know youāll eat without me needing to ask. Alright, just wait a moment.
Shizuka: ā¦ā¦
Ito: (Now that Mika-san left, it suddenly got so quiet. Should I say something? Or just leave it beā¦?)
Shizuka: ā¦ā¦
Ito: (What do I do? I canāt think of a single topic. Not even a sliver of a conversation starter.)
(Even though thereās no need to force it, these long silences make me feel anxious.)
Ito: (Though, he doesnāt seem like the type to be bothered by it.)
Shizuka: How about a game of word chain? [1]
Ito: ā¦ā¦ Eh?
Shizuka: Word chain. Itās not like you donāt know it.
If weāre talking about the same thing, itās that simple word game even kids play. Stillā¦ it really doesnāt match the image I have of Fushimi-san at all.
Shizuka: You looked like you were deep in thought, so I just suggested it. If youāve got something else in mind, thatās fine too.
Ito: (ā¦ā¦ I made him go out of his way to think about me.)
Shizuka: I figured itād be a better mental exercise than meaningless small talk.
Ito: No, word chain is fine. I can do that.
Shizuka: Apple
Ito: (He really just started itā¦)
As we stare at each other, a peculiar word rally begins.
Ito: Alright. Eā¦ Elephant
Shizuka: Tiger
Ito: Rats
Shizuka: Stair
Ito: Eyesā¦?
Shizuka: Not āStareā. āStairā.
Ito: Ah, sorry. River
Shizuka: Ruler
Ito: (This isnāt a coincidence. Heās definitely playing to winā¦ā¦?)
Fushimi-san, are you by any chance a bit competitive?
Shizuka: No. But if there are rules that set up a winner and a loser, aiming for that outcome is only natural.
Ito: I seeā¦ Rā¦ Riā
Takeru: Sorry to keep you waiting. Whatās this adorable thing youāre doing?
Shizuka: Just killing time.
Takeru: Oh dear, sorry for making you wait. But I bet the food will taste even better after all that brain exercise!
Ito: This smellā¦ā¦ Is it curry?
Takeru: Yup. My own special recipe. I hope it suits your taste ā”
As Mika-san sets a plate of curry in front of me. I wasnāt the only one draw by the appetizing aroma that wafted through the air.
Shizuka: Thanks for the meal.
Takeru: Please, dig in!
All | Next ā
Notes:
[1] Shiritori is a Japanese word game where each player says a word that begins with the final kana (syllable) of the previous word. A similar game exists in English called word chain. Iāve adapted the dialogue slightly so the exchange between Shizuka and Ito makes sense in English. In the original, Shizuka insists on using words ending in āriā to limit Ito's options, which is why she asks whether heās someone competitive.
"'Yes' isn't the only answer. There are times when 'no' is the right answer, right?"
Chapter 1
Mao: Hey, not yet?
Akehoshi: Just hold on a sec. I'ma find it in a minute.
Mao: Thatās the third time you have said that.
In the corner of the room, a pile of magazines and papers miraculously stood in perfect balance as Akehoshi leisurely looked through it.
He was searching for the DVD I lent him last week.
Akehoshi: How weird~ I swear I left it right here after I finished watchin' it.
Mao: You do this way too often. Also, what even is that mountain? It is a total chaos.
Akehoshi: It ain't chaos. This place has its own kinda order, y'know?
Mao: Do you even know what order means?
Akehoshi: I wonder.
I sighed and looked at Akehoshi exasperated. Just then, he suddenly stopped searching and lifted his gaze, staring right at me.
Akehoshi: ā¦ā¦
Mao: Akehoshi?
Akehoshi: Hmmā¦ I kinda got a little mesmerized.
Mao: By what?
Akehoshi: You, Maochi.
Mao: Hey, don't tell me you lost the DVD.
Akehoshi: Now hold on~ I ain't tryna to distract you or anythin'.
I mean, not you, more like your eyelashes. If ya look real closely, they're so evenly spaced. Kinda made me wonder if that counts as some sorta order too.
Mao: You're being weird againā¦ā¦
As we kept going back and forth like this, somehow, Akehoshi managed to find the DVD.
Mao: You actually found it. I'm impressed.
Akehoshi: Told ya, didn't I? There's a kind of order here.
Mao: Seems like it.
Akehoshi: Thanks for bein' patient. If ya find somethin' interestin', lend it to me again.
Mao: Thatās fine, but by "interesting," you mean something funny?
Akehoshi: That too, butā¦ there's more to what makes a movie interestin", right?
Like a brainy mystery or some deep drama.
Mao: So, you want something like that?
Akehoshi: Yeah, pretty much.
Mao: I feel like Kou would know more about those kinds of films than me. Alright, I'll look for something.
Akehoshi: Kou-kun's picks have that Kou-kun kind of charm, but Maochi's picks are so Maochi~ I like both.
Mao: What does that even mean? Fine, whatever.
Akehoshi: So, I'll be lookin' forward to it~
Mao: Yes, yes. Expectations noted.
Most likely, whatever I lend him next will end up in that apparently ordered pile of his.
And yet, every time, it always makes its way back to me. Which, borrowing Akehoshiās own words, is "so Akehoshi".
