Beau Soir

That Beppu reimen was delicious. I’m fully satisfied as a ramen fan.

(A light yet rich broth, paired with firm noodles that were made with a mix of starch and buckwheat flour… The harmony between the kimchi and the char siu…)

Five stars! It’s just as delicious as HAMA’s iekei ramen.

There he is! Over here!

Surround ‘im!!

…!! You guys are…

Raito-san!! Thank you so much for everything!!

Thank you!!

R-Raito-san… I… I can’t believe you would do that for me…! I’m so sorry for the trouble!

Hey, it’s okay. There’s no need to cry.

I can’t help it…! I… I caused the assault, but you…! You took the blame for me…and got locked up for it…!

We promised to leave that behind us, didn’t we? I heard your wife had a baby recently. Are both of them doing well?

Yes! All thanks to you…! I’m so… I’m so, so sorry… *sobs*

Raito-san, y’got the assault pinned on you even though you worked so hard to bring us together as a HAMA gang… We’re so sorry about everything.

Don’t worry about it. That’s all in the past now.

But! It’s all thanks to you that some losers off the street like us could climb to the top as EDG3 and land proper night patrol jobs.

Raito-san… Back then, people called you the Golden Yasha,¹ and you fought with our gang to help us win…

But then our old rival juked us and screwed us over…and you took all the blame and turned yourself in… The guilt kept us up at night…

We’ve been lookin’ for the guy who caused alla this and sent you to prison! We’ll never forgive ‘im!

…I see. I appreciate the thought, but you don’t have to.

I don’t hold any grudges, and being in prison was fun in its own way.

Did you come all the way to Beppu just to see me?

Yes! As soon as we heard that you were released on parole, we found out that you were goin’ to Oita, so we all wanted to see you…

You didn’t have to. It’s a very long trip. What about your jobs?

Please, don’t worry about it! But Raito-san…now that you’re out, will ya ever come back to EDG3…?

We all had a lot more fun when you were around…

…Thank you. But I’m working as an idol now.

So the idol rumor was true…

Raito-san, you’re…an idol…?

I’m always searching for new things to try. I’ll leave the gang in your care.

I see… That’s a shame.

I’m sorry.

Raito-san…do you think the idol world is where you really belong?

Where I belong…

*punch* Dumbass! Don’t ask him shit like that!

Raito-san, we’ll respect your decision! We’ll support your idol endeavors! Please, excuse us!

Oh, you have to go?

You’re gonna get a bad rap as an idol if people see you talkin’ to a buncha punks like us! So we’ll take our leave!

THANK YOOOOU!!

Hope to see you again.

“Where I really belong,” huh?

Aw, they love you so much. Poor things.

Kuguri… Were you watching?

EDG3, the HAMA gang… The result of you unifying two rival gangs to bring peace to the streets…if I recall.

They see you as their almighty and benevolent king. How pitiful.

In reality, you feel no love or compassion… You’ve never formed a close bond to anyone.

They’re in the past to you now. You don’t care about them anymore, and they don’t even realize that you’ve abandoned them.

You’re making a lot of assumptions about me. I never intended to come off as heartless.

Are you sure about that, Raito? You’re a king filled with nothing but deceit. And as far as I know…you don’t trust anyone.

…Deceit? You’re one to talk, seeing as how you’ve instigated a number of people to commit crimes. I know you were arrested for that.

What’s more, you were originally meant to be arrested for treason, but your followers destroyed the evidence and lightened your crime…or so I’ve heard.

Oh, I’m so sorry, but I’m afraid even the evidence of my instigation is gone now. ♪ I won’t allow a single person on this earth to declare me guilty.

And you’ve overlooked one small detail, Raito.

I deceive people because I want to. You never intend to lie, but you always end up doing it anyway. We’re not the same.

And it’s my job to rip that good-natured mask off your face and break you.

…I don’t understand you. Is that why you decided to become an idol? What point is there in breaking me?

Because if I do, I’ll bring despair… Not just to your dear friends from earlier, but to many other people as well.

Including our very own nyuszi and maci.

Nyuszi and maci… Ah, you must be talking about Chihiro and Tao.

They trust you for now. But when those sweet little things realize that you’re nothing but an empty husk…I wonder how they’ll react.

……

You don’t have to worry, Raito.

I’ll choose the most beautiful moment to break you in the most beautiful way possible.

I see. Then I’ll try my best to avoid getting broken, so I can overturn your beliefs.

Is that so? I’m looking forward to it.

Mom! Can I play this piano?

Oh! You know, there was a piano just like this next to a department store near Mommy’s house when she was little. I still remember it.

Can we play together? I wanna play the song I learned at school!

……

A street piano, huh? What’s the name of this piece again?

……

Debussy, “Beau soir.”

……

Now that I think about it…there was a prodigy pianist who came to my house when I was younger, and we played the piano together.

I forgot all about that… Kuguri, wasn’t that you?

…The piano broke quite a long time ago.

Kuguri…?

(I remember… We were smiling together on an evening with a clear view of the sunset.)

(Back then… I wasn’t…)

! That’s… Nayuki!

Ah! Ugh…

I didn’t expect to run into you. Were you researching the area on your phone? You’re always so diligent.

Tch. Why are you talking to me?

Is that the beach you told the chief about? The one with the beautiful sunset…

You’ve always liked watching sunsets.

Stop putting on the older brother act when I know you couldn’t care less about me. When have I ever told you that I liked watching sunsets?

I walked into the sunset with you for the last time all those years ago. Ever since then…

*sigh* This is pissing me off. Don’t follow me.

Nayuki?

(Does he really think that I don’t care about him? What does he mean by us walking into the sunset together?)

I feel no love or compassion…and I’ve never formed a close bond to anyone… Hm.

(If that’s the case, then…will I ever find where I really belong?)