âThe night is still young!â a tipsy Yano shouts out at the top of his lungs. Laughter surrounds him as his friends from Glassara Glass Studio cackle at the energetic young star of their group.
âNo way Yano! We got places to be man, you go have fun, âkay?â one laughs.
At once, the glass artist begins to tear up. âY-Youâre leaving me out?â
âNo man, we gotta get home. I got to see my family in the morning and Okuroâs already had enough.â the man says, adjusting a very drunk friend on his shoulder. âEveryone else has other things to do you know?â
âAh, sorry, sorry.â Yano sniffles, rubbing the tears away with the back of his hand. âIâll see you guys another time then. Thanks for celebrating with me.â
For a moment, it seems the groups are about to part with Yano standing alone in the street and the groups heading in opposite, yet different directions. But it doesnât take very long before more tears suddenly well up in Yanoâs teal eyes and he cries out, grabbing the entire group of men in a big bear hug. All the men clamor in both discomfort and amusement as Yano sobs out his drunken goodbyes. Soon, Yano finally lets go to allow his coworkers and friends to wander away, leaving Yano to stand alone.
âMâm gonna find ânother placeâŠâ Yano mumbles as he trods down the street in the direction of the heart of Toyama city. Snow begins to fall, whilst the cool January air washes over Yanoâs face, clearing his bleary mind a bit. In the moment of clarity, thoughts start to race in his head. Creating a team with Asato and Kensaku, using the mics for actual competitions, and meeting so many people from around Japan and even other countries. But most importantly, one thing kept repeating in his head.
âIâm going to have to go back there-â
Crying out in surprise, Yano falls back having not paid attention to the fact he was walking straight into a busy road. Sitting on the sidewalk now, with snow piling up around him it finally clicks in his head how cold itâs getting.
âShit, shit, I gotta find someplace soonerâŠâ in the corner of his eye, a flash of pink catches his attention. Immediately, Yano tenses.
Standing up on his feet and brushing the snow off his olive jeans, Yano bundles himself in his orange hoodie and starts walking. His goal to find a warm place is replaced with another thought.
âWhy the fuck is the pink bastard following meâŠ?!â
Snow has piled up a good couple of inches and Yano canât help the fact heâs trembling from the biting freeze thatâs whirling all around the city. Not to mention the piercing blue eyes that were watching his every move, chilling Yano further. No matter where he went, from street to street, building to building, watchful eyes kept observing his every move. At this point though, the game of hide and seek was exhausting him and he wanted nothing more than to get rid of the prying eyes.
Marching towards the parking lot of a department store long closed down, Yano knew that his stalker was aware they were caught. So, without looking back, he let them follow on his heels. Walking up the stairs, a childish voice crooned behind him.
âSo, where are we going?â
âHmm⊠This looks like some dump to me!â
The echoes that followed Yano stop at that statement, almost as if the person were hoping to get Yano to stop and turn around. But that didnât deter Yanoâs judgement, still marching up the stairs with an echo thudding with each step.
âHey, hey, how long do you plan to run around? Iâm only here to chat for a little bit.â Again, the voice chirps, their footsteps rushing to catch up with Yano in thundering booms.
Yano gives no response, only letting out a noise of approval. Finding that the next floor was appropriate, Yano lead himself and the figure onto the musty, space of emptiness.
âSo, are you gonna look at me now?â
Yano canât help but clench his teeth in frustration. And with his frustration, his signature teary eyes went with it. As he turned, he couldnât help but feel even more upset seeing the person behind him⊠Or much rather, the thing that stood there with that sickening grin plastered on its face.
âThere you go!â Ramuda cheers, giggling. âWas it really that hard?â
âYeah, it is fucking hard.â Yano spits out holding back the urge to scream out at the thing.
âAww, are you crying? Itâs not like Iâm here to do anything to you.â
âI donât give a shit.â the pinkette looks a bit surprised at how Yano snapped back. âI already know that some stupid clone like you doesnât matter to those assholes. No man matters to them in the end of it all.â
âI donât know what the scientists tell you whenever they bother to send one of you guys to me, but let me tell you one thing.â
Brandishing his microphone, Yano glares at the clone through his tears and growls out.
âI donât give a shit how upset they get, breaking their toys for 'petty reasons' or whatever bullshit reason they want to get pissed at me for. But Iâm going to send you back to them in pieces. Just. Like. The others.â
Before Yano has the chance to press the button, an hand snatches the mic from the manâs hand. Whipping around, Yano finds himself face to face with:
âEnd, scene.â the woman smirks up at Yano. âAlways such a dramatic, arenât you little brother?â
âRight? He was soooo serious about killing me, wasnât he?â the Ramuda clone sadistically laughs. Yano turns to glare at the clone through his angry tears, hating how hollow the thing acted.
âHe was! But we canât let him do something like that, can we?â Still keeping Yanoâs microphone grasped in her teal-painted fingers, Riyeko Ietsuna saunters over to Ramuda and drapes her arms over the small pink man. âBecause if Yano were to go berzerk like that Halloween incident, Iâd get into more trouble.â
Yano seems to shrink at that statement. âT-That wasâŠâ
âSeven subjects, Yano.â Riyeko interrupts. âSeven, oh-so-valuable experiments they werenât planning on losing, all destroyed in one night.â
âSo scary!â Ramuda squeals as Riyeko rests her head on the shorter oneâs shoulder.
âIt was. Had I not found my poor, little brother passed out surrounded by identical bodies of a very familiar fashion designer and celebrityâŠâ
âThe failure, especiallyâŠâ
âWe would have dug ourselves into a deeper pit of trouble, wouldnât we, Yano?â the woman grins. That gentle grin is soon turned into a cackle as Yano stands in the middle of the parking building, fists balled up tight. âWhat, why are you upset?â
âI-I⊠YouâŠâ As Yano stumbles through his words like an upset child, Riyeko uncurls from around the clone and walks slowly back to her brother, smiling, watching, and waiting for her brother to spit it out. âJ-Just tell me why you two are here. Please, I didnât want to see you⊠Especially that damn thing there-â
âMy bosses only wanted to wish you a happy birthday, Yano.â she places his mic back into his hands, squeezing it tightly. âEven if your little team of country bumpkins has yet to really battle, theyâre proud of how popular you have gotten. Not to mention all your reports you called in on both of your teammates.â
âItâs not like I have a choice.â
âYou put yourself into this. The both of us are here, because of your mistakes.â
Yano clenches, gripping the microphone tightly. âIt was just one time-â
âAnd one time is enough for someone like Kadenokoji to kill you, Yano, I already told you.â Riyeko sighs, âWe only got lucky because of Otome and him.â
At that, Yano starts to sob. Releasing his hands, Riyeko pulls back, frowning at Yano in disapproval. âCrying will only get you so far Yano. Just⊠Keep up the work.â
âAre we done?â Ramuda clone questions âI wanna go home!â
âWeâre done.â Riyeko turns and walks past the clone who bounces after her.
âHappy birthday Yano. Donât cause any more trouble.â
