Nearly Space Monkeys¹

…

*sigh*

Yo, KiroKU?

What’s up with YOU? Why do you keep lookin’ at that blank lantern with a sad-ass look on your FACE?

You haven’t done anything for an HOUR. You don’t got any time to WASTE. Hurry up and PAINT.

…Dewawa.

Hey, you! Shut up, yo!

Kiroku is building up his power to create beautiful art, yo!

Don’t say those things, yo! You’re confusing him, yo!

It would be simple. For us to watch over him. Silently. Earnestly. But I cannot overlook. The wrinkles. On his forehead.

Kiroku. Are you. Still troubled?

……

WHUHH? You’re gonna ignore US? You’re the one who asked us for help in the first PLACE.

No, yo! Forcing him is a big “no thank you” from me, yo! Kiroku will go at his own pace, yo!

If you wish to stay quiet. We do not mind.

Nevertheless. I suspect. That you. Are not content. With letting time. Pass by idly.

*sigh…* You’re right, KB.

……

…Come in.

Excuse me. How is your work coming along? I brought you lunch…

But I see you still haven’t made any progress.

…Yes.

And you look quite troubled.

……

As a fellow artist, I understand the throes of creation very well.

Even if I try to go into my work with the determination to create revolutionary and innovative eyelashes that move the hearts of all who sees them…

The more I think about it, the less I work. There are many days where no ideas come to mind, and I feel lost.

……

But you mustn’t distance yourself from those worries! Beautiful art cannot be created without suffering!

…Do your best. I’ll take my leave for now.

…Thank you…very…

Woaaaaah! Look at this bentoooo! It looks so goooood! There’s so much tsukudani in iiiiit! Let’s dig in alreadyyyy!

……

I concur. It is an excellent bento. A treasure box. Of local delicacies. However. We cannot eat. Just yet.

Maaaan, I don’t wanna waaaait…

Are you still hung up over STUFF? Just draw what you want to, like you always DO.

It’s not that easy, yo!

Yesterday, Mister Akuta said he had high hopes for Kiroku, yo!

Gyaha! He’s really layin’ on the pressure super-ultra-mega thiiiick.

Indeed. After all. These lanterns will. Be considered. The final product.

And you’re painting right on theeeeem. No undo button if you mess uuuup.

You can’t do that with personal relationships eiTHER.

…Yeah.

…You can’t undo mistakes…when you mess up…with a person…

Kiroku, I’m sure you want to show Mister Akuta something wonderful, since he loved that picture of yours so much, yo!

…But…I have…weird hobbies.

…I don’t like…normal things.

He looks up to you now. But when he becomes aware of your tastes…

Hah, are you scared that Akuta’s gonna hate YOU?

……

Holy SHIT! That’s so LAME! You’re such a baBY!

I understand your feelings very well, yo!

In truth. Everybody wishes. To be loved by others… That I know.

Ugh, I’m hungryyyy. Can we eat alreadyyyy? C’moooon.

……

*sigh…*

Hm? The lights are off. I suppose Kinugawa-kun went back to the inn…

……

N’OHHHHHHHH! Y-You scared me…! What are you doing sitting in the dark?!

……

Have you been sitting there this entire time? I see you ate your lunch…

…Yes.

I wish I could tell you that you shouldn’t push yourself so hard, but…we don’t have very much time until the summer festival starts.

…Can…

…Can I…stay here?

But of course. Can you prepare your own dinner?

…Yes.

That’s good. Do your best. I’m looking forward to seeing your work.

……

Senpai… He’s looking forwards to it… Zzz…

……

That’s…nice to hear…but it’s so lates… Can we…go to sleep for…tonights?

It’ll be okay…as long as you do it…tomorrows… Just do whatever…and it’ll be dones in just…a few hours…

…No.

…Why nots…? There’s no point…in working hards…

Likes, you worked so hard to draw…that thing on the old school building chalkboard…but it blew ups…into little pieces.

……

Yeah, for REAL. You even went through all that effort to find a place to draw it where nobody could SEE.

It’d be over for you if someone saw, so you went all the way to the old school building to draw it, didn’tCHA?

If everyone found out what you were into, history would just repeat itself, wouldn’t IT?

Gyahahaha! Yeah, they’d start sayin’ mean stuff like that one tiiiime!

……

Are you perhaps talking about. When he hurt the feelings. Of his one and only best friend?

That memory. Still remains in Kiroku’s heart. It has taken root in it. And remains unresolved.

Everyone! Stop digging up Kiroku’s past trauma, yo!

Maybe it’s true that your best friend called your nice picture a “creepy drawing,” yo!

But! It was just a quick little comeback, yo! I’m sure it was only said on impulse, yo!

But y’knooow, it was ‘cuz you said somethin’ mean when your friend was sad about transferring schooools. So maybe you’re the bad guy here, Kirokuuuu.

……

Buts… Calling your drawing “creepy” as a comeback…is going too fars… Zzz…

You drew it…for your friend…in the first place. Well…whatever…I guess…

You hurt that person first. You brought it upon yourself. But I am sure. You understand that.

…Mm.

…I just should just…stop saying things…to people…

…Saying things…is scary.

I think you’re just a WIMP.

……

*sigh…*

Kiroku-kun, are you okay?

*gasp*

How will you. Cover this up? Kiroku.

An onlooker, HUH?

Your finger puppets…

Th-They’re…non-slip…gloves.

I see. They’re really cute… Are you hungry, by the way?

Gannosuke-san contacted me, and I was worried that you didn’t eat dinner last night…

……

So I made you some onigiri and miso soup.

……

After you eat, do you want to go somewhere together?

…Where?

To the Yokai Art Museum!

I wouldn’t expect an art museum to be at the end of a maze of alleyways. That’s so interesting.

…There are…four buildings…?

Yep! The whole museum is split into four parts.

Back when pirates were still around, the residents here intentionally made the roads confusing to protect the town. A while after that, they still had old buildings left over from that era, so they turned some of them into this museum.

……

(He looks so excited… I’m glad I brought him here. I hope he can get his mind off of things and get some inspiration.)

I’m sure you want to look around on your own, so let’s decide on where to meet, and then we can split up.

…’Kay.

……

(…Everything looks so interesting. There’s so much. I wanna see more…)

…?

…The yokai…living within……my heart.

(Maybe…this could help me figure things out.)

Hello there! Would you like a portrait?

*gasp* *running*

(That…scared me…)

(I should’ve at least…said something back.)

(Hm…? Something’s moving around on my back. Is it…my backpack?)

(Is it…the egg?)

Ah…

…Huh…?