All of the World’s Flowers

I understand that it doesn’t mean much, but I am so, very sorry.

It’s okay, you don’t need to bow! We’re not mad at you!

It was actually quite fun! Now I know what the top of your head looks like as well. ♪

Yeah! You’re not mad, right, Brother Dearest?

I sure as hell am…! I almost died up there! I’m gonna go fuckin’ insane every time I remember what happened today…!

But you were so cool up there! You could sweep comedy awards by a landslide!

Huh? Really…?

(Sometimes it feels like Toi-kun says certain things on purpose just to keep Ryui-kun under control…)

Actually, I was thinking about something.

Hm?

Yodaka-san, were you thinking of leaving the team?

*gasp*

What?

Huh?

Hohhh.

What made you think so?

It felt like you put some distance between us. So you could leave whenever you wanted to.

I kinda did the same thing, so I just had a feeling.

(Nagi-kun has good intuition…)

If you’re asking whether I wanted to leave, then…

Yes, I did.

Y-Yodaka-san…?!

But if you’re asking whether I want to leave, then…

No, I don’t.

Huh…?

Yes, joining HAMA Tours did make me afraid of myself and of my life changing. It left me in a state of confusion.

I’ve discussed this with the chief, but it seems that I have a peculiar sleep disorder. Whenever I think about my future, I get attacked by a strong sense of drowsiness.

You cannot think about the past either.

That was the reason why I didn’t arrive at the venue on time. I’ve ignored this problem for so long, and all of you had to pay the price for it.

Pay the price? Well, you had to do that too. ‘Cuz, y’know I… I’ve blown up at you guys and caused some trouble before…

We’re all part of a team, so we gotta support each other sometimes to keep the balance… Right, Hachinoya?

Yeah. I’ve caused a lot of trouble for the team too, so I’m glad that we’re here for each other.

(Nagi-kun used to say that he felt like he was imposing on people if he asked them to be there for him… He’s really changed.)

…Thank you so much for forgiving me, as shameful as I am. I promise that I’ll face the future and myself moving forward, so I don’t put out the light that L4mps spreads.

That’s such a relief!

All is well that ends well!

Ah, you don’t have to promise that.

Huh?

All of us have our own lives, like we’re all on our own solo trips. We just happened to miraculously cross paths.

If you make any promises, you might end up caring more about protecting the promise than yourself one day. I don’t want that.

Just like when you’re on a solo trip, you should do what you want, whenever you want. Besides, I’m already used to feeling sad about goodbyes.

(Because I was able to let go of feeling sad about Mom.)

I know from experience that some things only start once you say goodbye.

…Alright. You’re always so kind, Nagi.

Really? I don’t get why he’s actin’ like you’re gonna leave no matter what.

I ain’t like you. Once I let somethin’ into my heart, I ain’t ever gonna let it go.

Ba-bump!

Brother Dearest… It sounds like you’re proposing…! I love the way you can just say things like that! I just have to stan!

Ahh! Penlights! I want to wave around some yellow and blue penlights! I have toooo!

Wha⁠— That ain’t what I meant!

……

Wipe that damn smile off your face!!

The national divorce rate is about 33.3%, so excluding me, you should all be fine.

Y-You fucker…! This is how you’re gonna repay me after everything I did?!

…What did you do?

You really piss me the fuck off!

(Everyone’s in high spirits. Yodaka-san’s gonna stay with us, and Nagi-kun and Ryui-kun seem like they’ve gotten closer somehow. I’m really glad that everything ended well.)

Hey, you hearin’ me? Christ, help me with the damn clean-up already. I wanna get to drinkin’.

Okaaaay!

Maaaan, I haven’t run around like that in a while. My back’s killing me.

It always feels good to hang in there until the end.

Yeah, you said it. The booze tonight’s gonna taste even better than usual.

Ah, before that, I need to thank all of the teams for helping! What should I get for them?

It’s the thought that counts. They didn’t help out expecting any gifts in return anyway.

…Yeah.

(HAMA Tours is filled with such wonderful people. I’m so incredibly glad that I’m able to work at this company.)

Gii.

Hm?

To a certain extent, I believe I now understand the concepts of loneliness and unhappiness you taught me about.

Ah, about that, it’s a little diff⁠—

This planet has many different equations for happiness. I have come to understand that, but I also mulled over the things you taught me.

So I proposed my own theory. To prove if that theory was correct, I attempted to do some deductive reasoning.

Theory? Deductive reasoning?

In other words, I have found a “dream”!

A dream!

Similar to what an ancient philosopher dubbed a “better half”¹ and what an Italian poet dubbed his “Beatrice”…²

I, too, will find my own Beatrice.

Beatrice…?

My other half, my eternal partner who exists somewhere in this universe. My love, who might even exist on this very planet. I have decided to search for them!

…I see.

After I taught you that loneliness leads to unhappiness, a lot happened to me, and…I’ve changed my mind on a few things.

It’s good that you have your own set of values to define happiness. Yeah, this planet does have a lot of different equations for happiness.

There’s no right way to be happy.

So I think you have a really wonderful dream.

Yep!

(I didn’t even know what happiness was, but I was able to teach an alien what love is… That makes me…)

(Kind of happy.)

Brother Dearest.

Hm? What’s up?

I’ll be cheering for you… For your bar exam.

Huh…?

(Up until now, both of us have been looking at the same views and thinking the same thoughts our entire lives. But we’re two different people.)

(We don’t have to share the same idea of happiness.)

(And I love him so much precisely because we’re different people… I’ve finally realized all of that.)

Don’t worry about it. I just felt like cheering you on all of a sudden!

…Really? Thanks.

Chief.

Ah, Nagi-kun. Thanks for everything today. It was really encouraging.

I wanted to tell you about this. Look.

Hm…? Ah! This is the four leaf clover I gave you, right?

Yeah. I pressed it. Because… Even if I can’t have anything else, I want to hold onto this forever.

…I had to tell you that, so you don’t find it by mistake and think that I’m creepy for making it.

Ahaha, I’d never think that! I’m really happy that it’s so important to you.

Chief, we’re going to start moving the equipment out!

Okay! Let’s go, Nagi-kun.

……

(I’m here. Everyone’s here. We’re all smiling. The night breeze blows gently, and I have a place to call home.)

(Ahh… Even if I collected all of the world’s flowers…)

(It’d never be enough to balance out this happiness.)