GO NOW1
Can you at least knock fir—
…Muu-chan?
……
*sigh…* Why are you making that face?
You shouldn’t have gone looking for Idiotake. I told you not to.
You have no idea where he even went, so I bet you just ran around in circles.
I’ll get you something cold to drink. Sit here and wait.
Isotake…!
Hm?
Isotake’s been found.
…Oh.
Hah… I thought he was set on running away after seeing him act all high-and-mighty at Shodoshima.
And now he’s back all of a sudden? Could he be more lame?
Ugh, I can’t even think about it. That’s the worst. He made you go through all that effort for nothing.
Nanamegi went home.
……
What a loser.
……
……
You’re right. Since that day…
Huh?
I think I have developed a tendency to treat events unrelated to my father as if they occurred in a different world.
…You mentioned that to me at Shodoshima.
I instinctively flew into a rage at the time, but…you weren’t wrong.
…Why are you bringing that up?
The world where I failed to save my father isn’t my reality…
I’ve always had that nebulous thought floating in my head while I searched for my father to return him to this world…
But I don’t want this world to come to an end here.
If there’s still time for me to start over, I want to put my best foot forward in everything I do. I want to see today continue into the scenery of tomorrow.
……
…Yeah.
Kinda reminds me of that Uesugi guy you always talk about.
Yes, you’re right.
“If you put your mind to it, you can do it; if you do not, you cannot. When something cannot be done, you are the one to blame.” A strong will leads the way to success.
As spoken by Lord Uesugi Yozan.2
*door opens*
Ah…!
Yoooo! I’m back!
Iso…take…!
I gotta focus on somethin’ for a bit! Aw, dang! I gotta move fast before my inspiration disappears on me!
…I… I was…worried about…you…!
Thanks, dude! I know that you’re a really nice guy, Kiroku!
*rustling*
Hmm, where are they…? Found ‘em! I gotta pack all my ideas into these sticky notes!
Stick ‘em…! Move them around…!
…Iso…take…?
……
…Frick! That doesn’t look right!
Oh, maybe if I do this… This might be it…
No, that’s not it either! Aaaaggghh… *pant, pant…*
…Isotake…
D’AAAAAAAHHHHH!
I’m a genius…! I’m a genius! I’m gonna turn the tables and blow the socks offa everyone! Ah…
Dang it, my nose…! Kiroku, grab me some tissues!
Huh…? Ah… O…kay…
Sorry! I ran outta sticky notes too!
Wait… I’ll…get mine…
Thanks!
……
AAAAAAAAAGGGHHHHHH! Dude, I can’t do this! I won’t make it in time! Everyone’s gonna think it sucks!!!
…!
But I can’t give up! I’m the most genius guy in the world! I got talent for days! I’m a 100 million carat super-diamond that shines like crazy once you polish it!
There’s no way I’m leaving this desk! I’m gonna come up with an idea or die trying!!
Gimme another sticky noooote!
O… O…kay…
TISSUUUUUUUUE!!! My desk is covered in blooooood!!
Ah… I… Iso…take…
*knocking*
*gasp*
Excuse me.
…Kagu…ya…
How is Isotake?
I…don’t know…why, but…he’s been…glued to…his desk…ever since he…got back…
……
Kinugawa, can you come with me? I’d like to talk about something.
Phew… This house is so roomy without Idiotake and Panda around.
Nice and relaxing. I feel reborn. I wish it were like this all the time.
I don’t…think it…became that…room…y…
None of that, Uu-chan. We need to assess the situation.
Yeah, yeah.
There’s one week until the open campus.
According to Kinugawa, Isotake has made a complete mental recovery. Could you explain?
I saw…the…sticky notes…Isotake was…throwing around…
He’s still…having a hard time…with…the…con…cept…
That’s where we’re at.
So? Panda went home, right? He’s obviously thinking of quitting.
Everyone’s all over the place. Both in action and in mindset. Not like I care, though.
Uu-chan, I know you’re worried, but you won’t succeed if you speak so negatively.
Hmph.
……
You shouldn’t worry either, Kinugawa. We can still do something.
I’ll come up with ways I can support Isotake so he can have an easier time thinking of ideas.
…Can you…really…do…that…?
I’m not sure, but I’ll definitely think of something.
Kinugawa, you can continue to take care of the small jobs. Wiping his nose or bringing him food will help.
…Mm.
And Uu-chan, I want you to go to Nanamegi—
I’m not doing anything.
It’s not like I have to, and he’s probably just gonna get annoyed if I poke around.
But—
*door opens*
I heard what’s going on!
Wha— Where’d you come from?!
I was thinking of visiting Nanaki-kun tomorrow.
So leave him to me. I’ll make sure to convince him to come back.
Huh? Are you fucking serious?!
I am…
I do believe it would be better for you to go than any of us.
…Mm…
Wh… What…? Do you guys all have tunnel vision or something?
As I recall, Nanamegi is quite fond of you, Chief. Please—
Ugh, Muu-chan! Stop! Don’t ask him to go! Jesus Christ…!
*sigh* Alright already…
Am I really that unreliable…?
You’re reliable sometimes and unreliable other times. You’re not perfect.
And that’s not what I meant. I’m saying that you’ll have the opposite effect if you go.
R-Really…? Why?
Just listen to me already. Whatever. I guess…
I’ll just go with you. You better be grateful.
Footnotes
-
A reference to “Go Now” by Adam Levine, a song featured in Sing Street (2016). ↩
-
Uesugi Yozan, also known as Uesugi Harunori, was a daimyo during the Edo period of Japan. The quote that Muneuji mentions is quite well-known in Japanese culture. ↩