Pandora’s Box

…It’s a l’il too late for me to say this, but you’re one irredeemable son of a bitch. Always doin’ whatever the hell you want.

How hypocritical of you. I’ll have you know, Toi called upon me himself.

Shut up. Give Toi his fuckin’ body back!

Toi entrusted it to me out of his own will. Why do you fail to understand that? He wishes to tell this human the truth, and…

He wishes to run away from confronting his traitor of a brother as well.

Wha…?!

Traitor?

On top of the shelf at Arataka. You were far too sloppy when you hid it.

’Tis your fault Toi must be subjected to this wicked life, yet you thought to escape this family on your own?

That’s not what I…!

Heed my words, humans. This brute was attempting to leave Toi behind and live a happier life all on his lonesome!

No!!

You exhaust me. Your will and that omamori you wear around your neck are both meaningless. How many more times must I tell you that destiny determines everything?

No human can escape it forever. Neither you, nor Toi…

Sorry, can I say something?

*gasp*

(N-Nagi-kun…!)

Toi, I’m not sure why you’re mad, but Ryui would never leave you behind like that. Right, Chief?

Y-Yeah! He was really worried about you on the way here!

Ryui, did you tell Toi the reason why you went to Hakodate? You never told me either, but when I was clinging to your legs, you said that it was for Toi’s sake.

Toi never asked, so I…

You have to tell him stuff like that, or he’ll start to worry. And Toi, even if you’re worried, you shouldn’t say that it’s all Ryui’s fault.

When you get hurt, that pain will find a way to come back to you, and it’ll burden you for life. But you care about each other more than most people would, and you’ve been together since you were born, so it’ll be okay. I’m sure it’ll be okay.

Hmph.

You simply refuse to be broken, do you…?

(Huh?! Another headache… Just like the earthquake in Hakodate…)

Huh? Are you doing something right now?

Stop…!

Hup-up!

Mrggh?!

Netaro-kun?!

Wha⁠— What are you… *thud*

Toi…!

I often see this technique used to put people to sleep in thrillers. In reality, it is impossible to make humans faint with that method, so I made my own version, the Pseudo-Chloroform Handkerchief!

Demon or not, Oshisha-sama is still in the body of a mere human.

W-Wow…! I mean, it’s a little concerning on multiple levels, but at least it saved us…!

Gii is my precious human, after all.

…Th-Thank you.

(I’m glad that we’re safe now, but…)

Nagi-kun, um, are you okay…?

What do you mean?

Y’got your reading, right?

Oh, yeah. She’s already dead.

Huh…?

…!

Okay, let’s go home.

Let’s go, let’s goooo.

Um… I’m gonna apologize to the men in the robes before we go…

……

Alright, done with the salad… I just need to fry some bacon for everyone…

Yo, lemme try some.

Ahh, no stealing! If you’re not gonna help, then sit in the living room and wait!

Okay, damn, cheapskate…

Good morning. It smells wonderful in here.

Good morning, Yodaka-san! Sorry to call you here right after you closed up the bar.

It’s alright, I should have something to eat before I go to sleep anyway. I’ll give you a hand. Along with Danny.

Alright, alright, I’ll help.

So why d’you want the whole team to eat breakfast together?

Did something happen while I was out yesterday?

Yes… Some things happened at Angel’s Eye… Now I’m a little worried if we can even go ahead with your first tour in a couple of weeks.

Angel’s Eye? Did Nagi go there to ask where his mom went?

You’re more intuitive than you look, Manager Daniel.

That didn’t sound like a compliment.

Was the result less than ideal?

……

I…see. When I came back, I saw Nagi waking up and getting dressed as he usually does, but…

Well, guess it’s better than nothin’, right? Doesn’t matter if he got told the real truth or not, it’s better than bein’ kept in the dark.

But I’m sure he’s still in shock about it. Until things look like they’re in the clear, I want you guys to keep an eye on him and let me know whether or not we should postpone the tour.

(And it’s not just Nagi-kun either. I’m worried about Ryui-kun and Toi-kun too.)

Nagi has an extraordinary amount of courage. But… If learning the truth is the equivalent to opening Pandora’s Box, it might be better to keep it closed and have it remain vague.

(Especially if you don’t have the energy to face the calamity that comes along with opening it…)

Pandora’s Box…

Good morning.

Ah?! N-Nagi-kun… Good morning…

Yeah. Good morning to you too, Yodaka-san and Buchi-san.

Good morning, Nagi.

Mornin’.

Are you making breakfast for us, Chief?

Y-Yeah. I made enough for everyone.

(Oh no, I have to act natural…! If Nagi-kun wants things to go back to normal, then I shouldn’t fuss over him too much.)

Since Yodaka-san and Daniel-san are giving me a hand, it should be ready soon! Let’s go wake the others up!

Okay, time for breakfast!

Thanks for making it.

…Yeah.

Ryui-kun, is Toi-kun okay?

He’s been asleep the whole time. I’m just gonna wait for him to wake up.

Yeah, sounds good.

*munch, munch* Delicious! Breakfast is indeed the most important meal of the day!

(I guess the silver lining here is that Netaro hasn’t really changed.)

So your first tour is in two weeks.

Right.

I’ll talk to you individually about it later, but if there’s anything on your mind or anything you’re worried about, just let me know.

Okay.

What are you doing today, Nagi-kun? You’re not gonna have another packed schedule, right?

Oh, like that crazy thing where he starts every morning with a walk and then goes de-weedin’ and stuff in between work?

No, I’m not doing much. The store’s closed for today too.

Huh…?

Y-Yeah, that makes sense! It’s important to have some days off…!

Is it ‘cuz of your reading?

Huh?

I’m sayin’, is it ‘cuz of the reading you got from Toi yesterday? How do ya think Toi’s gonna feel when he wakes up and sees your sad-ass face?

R-Ryui-kun…

No, it’s not because of Toi or the reading he gave me.

I already gave up on meeting my mom a while ago.

Huh?! Then why the fuck didja ask Toi in the first place?!

You ignored my warning and made Toi do alla that awful shit! That ain’t sound like you gave up to me!

Ah… Yeah, you’re right. Sorry.

Don’t fuckin’ apologize to me! You think you did something wrong? ‘Cuz you didn’t! You just wanted to find your mom, yeah?!

There’s nothing you gotta apologize for, so don’t give me any of that bullshit!

But I hurt you because I ignored your warning. And I made Toi do all of that awful stuff.

And you decided to keep goin’ ‘cuz you thought your own goal was worth that sacrifice. If you’re gonna ignore someone’s warnings to do somethin’, then see it through. If you don’t, then…

It makes me look like the bad guy for not acceptin’ your apology!

!

When I look at you, all I see is my worthless-ass dad that I hated so goddamn much. It makes me fuckin’ sick…

(Giving up and not doin’ anything, but apologizing to me right before he died…!)

It pisses me the hell off when people like you live in a fairytale and spout off shit like “family is important” all the goddamn time!

…I’m sor⁠—

I told you to stop fuckin’ apologizing already! I’ll fucking kill you!

Stop! You can’t⁠—

Alright, that’s enough, big guy.

Kh…!

…!

(Wow… He grabbed Ryui-kun by the back of his collar and pulled him away so easily…)

Fuck you! Let go a‘ me!

Listen, I get why you’re angry. You got a lotta stuff goin’ on, after all. But your breakfast is gonna get cold.

Hahaha! He’s like a scruffed kitty-cat.

Ryui, it’s not mature to lose your temper.

Gh…

…I’m taking my breakfast to my room.

Ryui-kun. I made some sandwiches too. You can share them with Toi-kun.

…Sorry.

It’s okay.

……