Track 3

…Wait.

?

I wanna ask you something.

Um well… yeah, so like, hypothetically speaking, um…

If I said I was gonna stop baking, or like, quit HAMA Tours or something, what would you do?

Huh…!?

(Why is… Kurama saying something like that…!?)

You look like you’re misunderstanding something. I told you, hypothetically speaking. Hypothetically.

(Kurama said it was just hypothetical… but why would he suddenly bring this up…?)

So?

Ah, um…

…

You must have… your own reasons, for it so… I’ll respect, that.

I don’t think… I can stop you, though…

…!

(He thought the exact same thing as Ouji…)

Ah, but, actually…

It’s okay, I got it.

Kura, ma?

I’ll let you borrow this, so be sure to read it.

???

A man, ga…?

…Is this circle¹ name really okay?

Or like, am I really, like, genuinely up for this?

But the fact that today’s the last day for registration is really making me think this is the right answer…

No, hold on, wait, let’s be rational about this… Like, I’m probably just being a little silly right now with this decision. But—

Zzz… Zzz…

Y-Yeah… I feel bad, but let’s wake Muu-chan up for a bit and ask what he thi—

!? 10 more seconds before the registration closes…!?

Oh, erm—

…Well.

…Looks like I’m registered. For ComiPara…

We should get going. We will be late for 1st period otherwise.

Guah! Wait, hold on, the bottom of my shoe is peeling off!

Don’t tell me, they couldn’t withstand the sick moves I was busting out in the hella lit Prance Prance Evolution² battle I had with Boss in the arcade last week that I had to beg Toi-san for?

Do you wanna borrow my spare shoes? Not sure if they’ll fit you, though.

…

(The conversation I had with Kurama yesterday…)

If I said I was gonna stop baking, or like, quit HAMA Tours or something, what would you do?

(Kurama said he was just hypothetically speaking… but maybe, there’s actually something that’s troubling him…)

(Should I ask the Noon Team, or Chief for some advice? But it feels wrong to bring it up behind Kurama’s back…)

Uugh…

Hey.

Ah… Kurama…

If you’re ready, I plan on going ahead, so come with me.

…!

(Could it be… Does he want to talk about his troubles from yesterday…?)

O, kay…

Then… We’ll go on, ahead, guys…

Do they have something to discuss in secret?

Huh, that’s an odd pair… Don’t tell me Ushio’s bullying Kiroku around?

Nah, it’s probably a-okay~ Oh, Nanaki, lemme borrow those!

…This is probably far enough.

…

So? Did you read it?

Huh?

The manga. From yesterday.

(Ah, the one he lent me on the balcony yesterday.)

I haven’t… So, rry…

Oh…

(Did I come off too strong? Actually now that I think of it, I never apologized for blowing up yesterday…)

I’m not mad or anything, don’t worry. Besides, it’s only been a day since I gave it to you. And um, I was just venting yesterday, so um…… Can you stop treading on eggshells around me?

Uhm, okay…

So… I actually wanna ask you for something.

…?

I…

…

Are you… actually going to, leave…?

Huh? Leave what?

HAMA Tours…

Huuh…? No. That was just…

I… plan on releasing a book… or like, a doujinshi.

…A what…?

(Uh… I couldn’t hear it properly… but did Kurama just say book?)

And like… you know how like… you drew those Okiagari dolls³ for Ward 6’s tour last time?

Um, yeah…

I think your art is… d-decent and all… or actually, I think it’s insanely good…

Sorry, Kurama… but… I couldn’t really hear… what you said…

Wh-What I’m saying…! Is that I recognize your artistic talents!!

Huh…!? Th-Thank… you?

(Why is he praising me all of a sudden…?)

Which is why I think your drawings would be able to properly portray the image I want…

(And like, I’ve already registered for the event, so it’s not like I can back out anymore…!)

Ahhhhhhh… why did you panic and randomly click the submit button, you dumb, fucking, arghh…!

(I really don’t get what’s happening right now…)

*siiiiiiiiiiiigh*…

So what I mean to say is, um.

Y-Yes…?

…

…Are you accepting commissions?

…Com, missions…?

(For what…?)