Track 7

Um… if we, don’t get ready… soon, the, elevator… will get crowded, we’ll… be late…

Oh, you’re right. Gotta get packing.

WAIT, I gotta brush my teeth!

Mm…

(Did I remember to put them in my bag?)

(I can’t start remaking the HosLive song until I learn more about Kiroku.)

(So for that… I’ll have to ask him about those puppets of his. I have a feeling… they’re a big part of who Kiroku is as a person.)

…Hm …Do you, need, something?

Ah, um, no…

?

(That being said, he’d probably run away if I just went ahead and asked, “Hey, so about your finger puppets...”)

(It’ll be anything but understanding if that happens…)

Did you, finish, packing?

Ah! Sorry, yeah, let’s go.

Y-Yeah. Isota—

No, wait.

?

(Akuta takes a while to brush his teeth. If we consider our itinerary for today and the fact that we’ll be moving as a group from here on out, I should just ask him now while it’s just the two of us… But it’s kinda early to be talking about something so serious like this.)

U-Um…

(Shit. Now that it’s come down to it, I’m kinda getting nervous…)

…

(Nanamegi has a really, serious expression… Did I do something, to make him mad…?)

Um, well—

! Y-Yes?

It is almost time to gather, so please prepare to leave.

G-Got it!

Sorry. Let’s go. Akuta~, it’s time to leave~.

(From the bathroom) Okaaaay!

(Oh well. I’ve gotta make a moment for us to be alone somehow…)

…?

You can’t have Kenroku-en¹ without that stone lantern!

There’s a… panoramic viewpoint? Written on the map. Apparently, you can get a wide view of the city from there. It’s filming time!

(Great, we’ll be splitting up now, so it shouldn’t be too weird to ask him…)

Kiroku, do you want to go around toget—

Everyone, your attention, please. I would like to take a picture for our company website, so please gather over there and turn this way.

Sorry, I’ll tell you later.

S-Sure…?

…?

Hey, Kiro—

This pond, the Kasumiga-ike, is pretty interesting because the scenery changes based on where you stand. There’s also a turtle-shaped island in the middle of it…

Turtle island…? I, want to see…

Ah…

…

(I-It’s not working…)

(I can’t find a chance for us to be completely alone!)

Look at you, capitalizing on having two hands.

…What do you mean?

I’m talking about you switching targets to Golem now. You’ve been fidgeting around since earlier. You look like a middle schooler that wants to confess their love on a field trip.

What? You’re completely off the mark, though?

And… for the record, I can’t switch targets if I’ve never had one…

Wow, really? I mean, I don’t really care, but okay.

Then why are you even—

How are you two faring?

Muneuji…

(Oh yeah. Muneuji could probably help me…)

Actually, I wanted to discuss something about the tour with Kiroku, so I’ve been trying to talk alone with him, but… it hasn’t been working out…

I see. Then, allow me to lend a hand.

Okay guys, we’re gonna move over there now—

Chief. I wanted to take a look at Kanazawa Castle, which the famed Maeda Toshiie² designed himself.

The plan is to visit it after going around Kenroku-en, so please wait a little longer.

I’ve been really looking forward to seeing the castle. I was hoping to prepare my heart a bit by having a small glance before gazing upon the real thing.

I suppose the castle exterior is technically visible from here…? Okay, let’s go take a look.

‘Kay ‘kay, then in the meantime, us fellas will–...

Hold it, Isotake. My heart is beating too fast due to the excitement. I am worried I will faint after gazing upon the castle’s magnificence, could you be there to support me through it?

Aye, aye, captain!

You too please, Mr. Karigane.

My my, what a rather forceful invitation, however, I will oblige.

You’re that excited for it…?

*grabs*!

Mm, I feel as secure as an alien in captivity.

Please guide us, Chief. Onwards!

Have fun~. I’m gonna go take a break at the tea house.

*wanders around in confusion* Um… then, I‘ll…

(Muneuji… brute forced his way through it, but I guess we’re alone now…!)

Kiroku, wanna sit over there?

Ah, sure…

…

…

……

Um… it’s pretty nice out today.

……

The air is so fresh. I feel like I’m breathing better than usual.

…………

(Just like I thought… he’s definitely mad with me…)

(Ahhh… What am I beating around the bush for…! Ugh, now I really look like a middle schooler trying to confess…!)

Ahem. …Sorry about this. Actually, um…

I wanted to talk with you alone, so I asked Muneuji to lend me a hand.

Huh…

It’s about the stuff you drew on my okiagari.

(I knew it, he hates it…!!)

After seeing it, I thought I couldn’t leave things as they were.

…? Leave, what…?

The song for the HosLive. If it's written superficially, the audience will only feel a small tingle on their skin.

But that's not enough. I want to make something that resonates with the listener, something that will make their entire body tremble…

Something that won’t lose to your artworks…!

Nana, megi…

That’s why I thought I should try understanding you more deeply.

For example, um… like how you carry those special puppets with you… or like, yeah.

…!

It’d be great if you could tell me about them. But only if you’re comfortable…

…

(Looks like I rushed things… too much…)

Sorry, it’s fine if you don’t want to talk about them—

You… might, think—I’m weird.

Huh?

I mean, I get, it… though…

……

I mean, if we’re talking about weird…

You know the goat plushie in my bed? I can’t sleep well without it. Even at this age.

…!

That’s why, I kinda get where you’re coming from… Akuta, too.

…No, I think that plushie… is cute. I get... not being able, to go without it.

Ah… haha…

My friends, are… cute, in my opinion…

Friends…

But they’re imaginary… that’s what, the book at the library, said.

I met them, in the tunnel… on the way home, from art school… when I was, a grade schooler…

Since then… the five of them… have always, been beside me. They’d talk to me, when I’m troubled.

…

When I, can’t speak properly… and it gets, hard to breathe… they become, my ribcage… and help me, take, deep breaths.

Ribcage?

Mm… just like, everyone, on the Noon Team. You are, my, lungs…

…I see.

Let me, introduce you, to them.

!

Rouzel, is on the thumb… He’s like an angel… always encouraging me…

Wow…

Dewawa, is the index finger… He… is a bit, foul… mouthed.

Haha, just like Ushio.

…I see it.

(Ah, he smiled.)

KB, the middle finger… is always, level-headed… The ring finger, is Pinfu… who lives, true to themself. And Ripris, is on my pinky… they get, sleepy, when they talk.

That’s… all, of them…

It’s weird, isn’t it…?

Nope, not at all. Thanks for introducing them to me.

… N-No… Thank you… for listening, to me.

Can I have a handshake with them?

…Sure.

And these are all handmade? They’re really detailed…

Yeah. At first, they were all… just heads, so, I added, some stuff.

(So this is Kiroku’s world—)

Wha’cha doin’?

!!