Characters: Nagi, Yodaka, Kafka, Renga, Liguang, Kinari, Chihiro, Raito, Yachiyo, Sakujiro, Daniel & Nayuki
Location: Hama
Summary: Kafka and the others make a toast to selecting all 18 ward mayors. Nagi is nowhere to be found in the gathering…
Proofreader: Shay
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Kafka: Alright, I’ll start the toast, then. I’m Kafka Oguro, the director of HAMA Tours.
I raise my glass to the revival of HAMA and these past few months of running around to find the right people who will share my dream…
We’ve finally been able to achieve our first goal of choosing all 18 ward mayors.
Firstly, I want to thank all of my fellow staff who believed in me and worked hard together with me. We sure went through a lot to reach this point.
Momiji / Kaede: ……
Yachiyo: Ugh, thank you so much!! I’m gonna cry…!
Kafka: Things didn’t go smoothly for us day-in and day-out. It’s completely thanks to every single one of the ward mayors and their individual potential as “people” that we were able to reach our goal.
The Night Group has only just been formed, but thanks to the Manager and Daniel-san, I believe we have the best people who can help HAMA with its revival.
Toi from “Angel Eye”, Yodaka from “Ten Nights’ Dream bar”, Netaro from “Cafe369”... and Nagi from “Flower Laundry” – Once again, it’s a pleasure to be working with you.
Nagi: ……
Yodaka: I look forward to it.
Toi: …Sigh. I hope we’ll find my brother…
Kiroku: ……!
(That’s Toi-kun…? But where’s Ryui-kun…?)
Chihiro: Oh~? Weren’t you at Chii’s handshake event the other day?
Raito: ……
Chihiro: Hm? Raiteen, what’s up?
Raito: No… it’s nothing.
Kafka: I’m sure we’ll be able to overcome the obstacle of having an audience of 20 million at the Night Group’s first concert.
…I sincerely welcome all 18 ward mayors who are here tonight. And…
I raise my glass for a bright future for HAMA and all the ward mayors… cheers.
Momiji / Kaede: Cheers!
*Sounds of clapping*
Sakujiro: Manager, well done.
Daniel: Yo, how have ya been?
Momiji / Kaede: Everyone, thank you so much for everything you’ve done… cheers!
Yachiyo: Cheers~!! We’re like a bunch of rich people from an American drama~!
Nayuki: Oh, you’re having juice, Manager?
Daniel: What the? You’re not a non-drinker so you should’ve gone with alcohol.
Momiji / Kaede: That’s true but I still have work after this.
Yachiyo: Eek! I’ve got work too but I’m still drinking…!
Momiji / Kaede: Oh, you’re not a lightweight, so you should be fine, Yachiyo-kun.
Yachiyo: Yep! I’ll work hard even when I’m drunk!
Nayuki: You can be quite troublesome when you’re drunk, so I recommend working in your own room, Manager.
Sakujiro: I’m happy to see you two working so hard. In any case, we’re finally standing at the start line.
Yachiyo: The Night Group has 4 members so they’re one member short compared to the other groups.
Momiji / Kaede: That’s what happens when you're trying to divide 19 members into 5 groups.
Daniel: Well, this is where the hard part starts. Don’t let your guard down, Manager.
Momiji / Kaede: I won’t! I’ll brace myself and work hard for the company and HAMA–
Daniel: Woah, stop, stop. Your seriousness is gonna ruin the taste of my alcohol.
Momiji / Kaede: W-Wha…?
Sakujiro: Indeed, I don’t think the god of travel will be angered if you relax today.
Daniel: Alrighty, my next drink’s callin’ me so see ya later.
Yachiyo: Oh, I’m gonna get another serving of that expensive-looking roast beef…
Nayuki: Fuefuki-san, I can get a plate for you if you’d like. I’m scared you might crash into the chocolate fondue right next to you.
Momiji / Kaede: Ahaha…
Sakujiro: And I shall greet the other guests. Please enjoy the banquet – bye for now.
Momiji / Kaede: Sure, see you later.
……
(We’ve finally found all 18 ward mayors. It feels like a dream…)
Kafka: Are you enjoying yourself?
Momiji / Kaede: Oh, Kafka. Good job on the toast earlier. I’m just getting teary-eyed realising how far we’ve come since that day on the rooftop.
*Nagi appears in the background*
Kafka: Yeah? Hearing you say that makes me really happy. Thanks.
By the way, where’s Nagi? I wanted to ask him how he’s settling in at HAMA House.
I thought he’d be with you.
Momiji / Kaede: Yeah… I don’t think he feels comfortable there yet. I figured I could stay with him today but I don’t see him anywhere. I wonder if he’s taking a break somewhere.
Nagi: ……
(Actually, I’ve been diagonally behind them the entire time, but neither of them have noticed me.)
Sonia: Um, Nagi-san, what’re you doing her–
Nagi: Shh. It’s fine.
Sonia: But…
Nagi: Look, even if they notice me, I’ll just be making them feel guilty for what happened for the past 2 months. Besides…
Both of them might end up getting squashed under the catering table all of a sudden if I started talking to them.
Sonia: Will that really happen? Looks to me like the table is firmly secured to the floor, though.
Nagi: No, no one knows what will happen. This is my first time being invited to a party. I don’t know what normally “happens” at one.
Only God knows what will happen… It wouldn’t be strange if a large number of aliens were to raid this happy environment. I’m worried. I can barely sit still. My heart can’t deal with this.
Okay. I should head home as quickly as I can.
Sonia: What!?
Renga: Here you are, Nagi!
Nagi: …Oh, Renga. And Raito-san.
Raito: Hey. We haven’t seen each other since the leader meet-up at the company office, right? Welcome to HAMA House, Nagi. You, too, Sonia.
Sonia: It’s a pleasure to meet you.
Renga: I can’t believe someone as nice as you is in the Night Group and you’re also the leader. That’s reassuring for me too–
Nagi: It’s far too much for my heart to handle.
Renga: Huh?
Nagi: Oh, uhh, thanks for the invite, I guess.
Raito: Haha, what’re you saying? This is going to be your home starting today.
Nagi: Oh, right. Sorry, just a habit. I’m a bit flustered since it’s an environment I’m not quite used to yet.
Renga: Oh, I thought so. You’re, uh… not really good at handling these sorts of things, huh. Are you okay?
Raito: You’re so kind and considerate towards the newcomer, Renga.
Renga: I–I’m not trying to be considerate or something… Oh, the toilet’s over there, if you’re wondering.
Nagi: Oh, yeah. I know.
Sonia: Nagi-san couldn’t get used to the environment and holed himself up in there 5 times already.
Nagi: Shhh.
Raito: Renga, bringing the toilet up while we’re eating might not be the most appropriate.
Renga: I–I didn’t mean it that way…! He looked pretty gloomy despite it being a celebration today, so I wondered if he upset his stomach or something…
Nagi: This is something I’ve had since I was born, so it’s okay. Anyway, how is the rose doing?
Renga: Oh, right, the rose! Thanks to you, my grandmother’s roses were finally able to bloom!
It’s all starting to take shape with the pruning techniques you showed me.
Nagi: I see you’re well-liked by the plants. You’re a quick-learner too – maybe you’re a gardening genius.
Raito: Renga, you wanted to talk about Nagi, right?
Renga: O–Oh, right. How have you been? Good?
Nagi: Yep. I even delivered flowers for your lounge.
Renga: Oh, yeah. I got Nagi to pick out some flowers for my lounge and the guests love it…
Nagi: I wouldn’t have been able to put it together had it not been for your ideas. So that was all you, Renga.
Renga: Nah… I don’t have the knack for that…! Oh, but I did take time to think about what would suit the Nishizono family’s image… Ugh, so who’s the one that did a good job here…?
Raito: Haha. It’s fine to say it was thanks to both of your efforts.
*In another part of the room*
Yodaka: “Wild Seven - Executive Omega”, the famous sake brand. To think I would see it here.
……
(A crisp taste and a fruity aftertaste… Ahh, I’d love to have this in a glass rimmed with sugar or salt.)
(There should be some in the catering corner…)
*Bump*
Liguang: ……
Yodaka: Oh… I’m sorry. It seems I bumped into your shoulder.
Yodaka: (A part of the skin on his ring finger is hardened. This means…)
Liguang: (This guy is also a mahjong enthusiast.)
Yodaka: ……
Liguang: ……
Yodaka: What’s your mahjong history?
Liguang: I held a mahjong tile when I was in my mother’s womb.
Yodaka: I see… I’d love to see your excellent play in person one day.
How about a game sometime?
Liguang: Sure but I’d prefer at least another player…
Oi.
Kinari: ?
Liguang: Can you play mahjong?
Kinari: I have never played, but I can install the rules in less than a minute.
Yodaka: Great. How about tonight, then? I wouldn’t mind playing as a group of three, but I’ll look for a fourth player just in case.
Liguang: I don’t mind but I won’t be giving you any counting sticks.
Yodaka: Hehe. You’re the type of person to steal and hide the woman you’d want, hm? The counting sticks will choose the side they prefer. …That will be me, of course.
Kinari: ……
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