Bad Will Hunting¹

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What do you want? Why are you glaring at me?

We need to talk. Follow me. Everyone’s waiting.

(Ugh, that doesn’t sound good. This is gonna suck.)

Yeah, I’d like to, but my stomach hurts. Didn’t you hear from Chief that I’m gonna be taking a break for toda⁠—

Just follow me.

Ah⁠— Hey…! Don’t fucking touch me!!

…Alright already. I’ll go.

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Welcome back, Uu-chan!

Don’t call me that. Why’s everyone surrounding me?

…I see you still have the bag.

So you didn’t throw it away! A’ight, it’s my turn next. Gimme.

…Yeah, looks good. The walking egg’s still in there!

Did you guys think I threw the egg away?

You…weren’t in your room…so…we just thought…

……

I told you that I wouldn’t. We all decided to keep it, right?

I’ll apologize for suspecting you. Sorry.

I don’t really care.

Now that one issue is out of the way…

Hmmm…

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Jesus Christ, what is it already? Just spit it out.

It’s concerning our summer festival preparations.

People are worried that you haven’t made any progress, Uu-chan.

(Oh, so someone’s complaining about me. I knew this was gonna be a pain in the ass…)

By “people,” you mean one person, right?

Why are you looking at me?

No particular reason. You just seem like the type to complain about that sorta thing.

Kinugawa-kun’s run into some trouble, but he’s still doing his best. I don’t think I’m wrong in saying that you should pull your weight.

Huh…? M-Me…?

I know you’re working really hard. We’re roommates, after all.

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So, Kurama-kun⁠—

Sorry to say, but the festival’s gonna be canceled anyway.

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WHAAAAAT?! Wh-Why?!

Why do you say that?

There’s an 80% chance of rain that evening. It’s gonna be pouring.

Good for you guys that you wanna run around acting like a buncha little hard-working besties, but you should at least check the weather report.

Could the JMA² handle it?

No, the JMA manages the weather to make it sunny for events in urban areas like HAMA, but…

I don’t think they do the same for rural areas.

N-N-No waaaaay!!

I’ve been a city boy my whole life, so I had no clue…

Maybe we could ask them to help anyway.

…I don’t…think…they’d listen…to us…

(Heh…)

Should we do a sun ritual? We can gather around a bonfire like they do in rainmaking rituals!

…Isotake…you have…that power?

Nah!

(Life always throws crazy shit at you like this. No matter how hard you try to lead a good life…)

(An unexpected and inescapable absurdity will come to ruin it all.)

(I’ve known that for as long as I can remember, but I guess it’s a shock to them since they grew up blessed and protected.)

(Serves them right.)

Hey.

What?

Sorry your broken heart never healed or whatever.

…Is sarcasm the only language you speak? This is why everyone calls you Goody-Two-Shoes.

…!

What does that mean?

His classmates call him that behind his back. Guess the only way to fight sarcasm is with more sarcasm.

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I see… That’s very well said.

…!

Ah, please don’t misunderstand me. I was just impressed that they were able to come up with such a mean-spirited nickname.

(What does that mean? Why am I on the chopping block here when Muu-chan just gets to sit there?)

(That’s not fair…!)

Muneuji.

I’m surprised you’re so calm about the rain. You know more than anyone else how hard everyone’s been working.

……

You don’t care about anything if it doesn’t concern your dad, do you?

Guess you’re not taking that much damage from this since your life’s already off course.

…What are you trying to say?

I’m sayiiiing that maybe if that didn’t happen to your dad, you wouldn’t be here in the first place.

(Because unlike me…)

It must be real nice that you got a new little sister to buy souvenirs for.

Kh…!

Oh, Muneuji’s pupils keep getting bigger…

…Kinugawa, take my phone and wristwatch for me.

Huh? O…kay…

What’s all this about? Did I make you mad?

Ushio, I also advise you to remove anything fragile from your body. If you won’t take back what you just said…we’ll have to fight.

Hah, how am I supposed to take back the truth? Try facing the music for a change.

That’s enough. Be quiet. Prepare yourself.

Hmph. You’re not gonna throw me as easily as you used to.

He did it the other day just fine…

TH-THEY’RE GONNA FIIIIIGHT! Woohoo! Fight! Fight! I don’t wanna see either of you lose!

The Isotake Betting Company encourages conflicts in the name of friendship. Who would you like to bet on, good sir?

1,000 yen on Kaguya-kun, duh… No, dude, cut it out! We gotta stop them!

Kaguya-kun! Calm down!

You can’t stop me! Uu-chan has purposefully incurred my wrath.

He must want to be thrown… And I’d like to throw him.

You don’t know that! God, fine…!

Akuta! Help me stop th⁠—

Nice, nice! I’m on the edge of my seat! Don’t hold back, guys! Put on a good show!

Dude, put the camera down! Kinugawa-kun⁠— He ran off somewhere!

Come on…! Why is this happening?!

Let’s see… I hope I made the shumai according to Yuki-nii’s recipe right.

Ah! Sakujiro-san, look! Pretty good, if I do say so myself!

Ohh, my, oh my… The moistened wrappers resemble glistening platinum…!

And the plump steamed green peas are like spring buds coloring the side of a grand snowy mountain…

They are absolutely wonderful. I am moved beyond belief.

The congee you made looks delicious too! The presentation is so beautiful, it’d go really viral on dazzle!

Thank you ever so much. The soup and side dishes are almost complete, so we must set the tab⁠—

Hm? What’s going on upstairs?

They have so much energy at that age… Maybe they’re wrestling, ahaha.

Chief.

Yeah?

It seems a fawn has found himself in our castle⁠—our kitchen.

Huh? Kiroku-kun?

……

What’s wrong? You’re shaking…

…Chief…Mr. Karigane… They’re…fighting.

What?!