Track 3

… Uu… Y-you're so amazing… Arthur…. Even though you've gone through so much, you still care so much about others…. *sniffle* You're doing great, sweetie!!!

(The dog is obsessed with dog videos…. He's been non-stop watching them since dinner.)

*sigh*... Police dogs really are amazing…. Ah! How about you watch these with me, Kafka?

This video features a police dog who quickly rescued someone who was lost in the mountains for over ten hours! Isn't that crazy!

And and, this one… The road collapsed in this city. There's a video of a small dog like Mile taking the lead, preventing any fatal casualties. Isn't that amazing?!!

…Yeah, it is.

(Hm? Prez is actin' weird. He's always so quick to join in on that dog talk.)

(I need to remove Renga from the event. How do I let him down easily… What would be the best way to handle this?)

(Am I doing too much…? But…  I really don't want to put him in danger.)

(I know that I'm getting a bit emotional over this. Even so–)

Kafka….?

Wooffff…….

Eh, Shumai? What's wrong?

Maybe he's jealous that you're watching videos of other dogs right in front of him? Ahh, poor thing. Not getting any attention, huh.

WOOFWOOF!! 💢

Ahaha. If Prez went ahead and praised other dogs too, it'd be a big problem right?

Wha…! I-I'm sorry, Shumai! I didn't mean to…!

Woof. 💢

Shumaaiii~~!!

Ahaha.. he was like this when we came back from meeting Mile and the other police dogs too. He must have smelled them. I suppose we should talk about this before we have the homestay.

Kafka. Liguang's back.

…I see. Thank you.

It seems like he wasn't too busy at work today. As his older brother, I'm happy to see him come home earlier than usual.

Liguang isn't actually your younger brother, you know.

I was going to brew some tea to help with his fatigue, would you like a cup? Let me know if you'd want some honey in it.

No, I don't need any…

Kafka, did you need something from Liguang?

There's something I need to discuss with him. So I asked Yukikaze to let me know when he got back home.

I-is that so. Should I come with? That guy's, uhm, n-n-nice, but sometimes goes too far…

Ahaha, he's only like that with you, Renga. Alright, I'll be off for a bit.

…..

….I see. You also got a tip about that group.

Yes. From the moment they set foot in HAMA. It seems like they were stirring up trouble in other areas for the past few years, but they were based in HAMA about 10 years ago.

Humans are free to commit sins as they please, but using innocent animals in service of that is unforgivable…

I was thinking that they need to be taught a lesson so as to not ever attempt such nonsense again.

Right. I feel the same way.

However, the Lurong family cannot openly take action in this case.

May I ask why? Tell me as much as you can.

To put it simply, it's bad timing.

These felons have one of our rival organizations backing them. At the moment, we're diverting our personnel to deal with a separate issue within our subordinate organization, which is based in the west.

The group itself is full of small fry, however if the family itself takes action – the people backing them might use the opportunity and go after us as well.

I see. I suppose it's hard to take action when you've got a whole organization.

Indeed. On the other hand, it is possible for me to resolve the issue as a ward mayor.

Personally, it would be convenient if they were to commit a crime on the day of the event. That way I could directly take action to stop it myself.

They're pulling some clever tricks, but I don't think the organization itself is much of a threat. With the help of the police, we should be able to wipe them out.

…….

…By the way, why exactly did you go through the trouble of talking to me about this?

…I'm thinking of removing Renga from this job.

…Why is that?

It looks like he was involved in a crime committed by that organization, got injured, and nearly died.

I don't want Renga to be hurt by them again.

……..

(I personally don't think that anyone who isn't a part of the "underworld" should get involved with this either….)

So you're fine with you, Kamina, and Murakumo getting dragged into this instead?

I'm pretty clever myself, and Yukikaze is an athlete with incredible strength. So there's no need to worry about us. As for Ten…you also know what he's capable of, right?

Indeed. However, that's also contradictory. That idiot surely has decent physical abilities too.

The problem is that Renga is too kind-hearted. I don't want him to get hurt again, especially after seeing another crime involving dogs.

What about you, Liguang? Do you want to see Renga get hurt?

…….

He isn't as weak as you think.

I know that. But!

Oguro. When did you get so overprotective? Your reaction to this seems excessive.

……..

…Well, fine.

Don't worry so much about those felons. Just continue your work as usual. Like I said earlier, they shouldn't be much of a threat.

…Fine. You mean to say you won't get involved with this Renga matter, huh. I just wanted to know what the Lurong family was up to anyway, I'll figure this out on my own.

Oi.

…We'll both act independently on this matter. There's no conflict of interest, so this should be fine right?

…Do as you please. As long as I can crush them, I'm satisfied.

Welcome back, Kafka!

Woofoofoo~

…I'm back, Renga. Did you make up with Shumai?

Yeah! After I explained everything and said sorry, he cheered up.

(.....Renga and Shumai both look so happy. Seeing these two like this warms my heart.)

(...I really don't want Renga to get hurt. I don't want… Renga to start hating dogs.)

I guess Shumai actually does understand what we say!

Of course. Shumai's a genius after all.

I first noticed when I was a kid.

When you were a kid…?

Yup. Back when I first started taking care of Shumai at the hospital…

….Kaede-chan went home.

Woof…

I wish I could go outside too.

Honestly, I'm so sick of being in the hospital. I want to go to school too. I want to walk wherever I want to, with my own two feet.

Woof….

Hey, Shumai. You see, Kaede-chan is the most important person to me.

That won't ever change. As long as Kaede-chan is with me, I'll be happy.

But… that's different. Do you think that I can make more friends someday?

Woof! Woofwoof, woof!!

Shumai… must have understood what I was saying. Because he was with me the whole time, like he was trying to encourage me.

Plus, when I had examinations that would last the entire day, he wouldn't leave my side after they were done.

Shumai has always been there for me.

I didn't know that…

…That stray dog was also there for me when I was little. I was so lonely when he left…

If I hadn't met Kiba after that, I'm sure I would have…

…..

…Renga.

B-but now, Kafka, you're not alone anymore! The other ward mayors, the conductors, and many other people are your comrades now!

Yeah. I even have walking-buddies now, like you Renga.

….! R-right! Me too, I… uhm… I'm happy… to be your walking-buddy….!

Fufu. You're so cute, Renga.

You're saying that again…! You know, you're really smart, and your face is really cute too, and well, you're amazing!!

……

…But, you must have been through a lot when you were younger.

…Yeah, you're right. There was a time when I really thought I was going to die.

…Ever since then, I've been afraid of dying. That's exactly why– I have the resolve to live.

(I want to live, to live and to fulfill my promise. I want to leave something behind… and I want to travel.)

… When I got bitten by that dog, I thought that it wouldn't matter if I died. But you, you wanted to live.

It might be because I had someone precious to me.

(Because I met Kaede-chan —)

…I see.

I didn't have anyone like that, so maybe that's why I was okay with dying.

We may have had a similar past. Me in that alleyway, and you in the hospital…. But we were in different places, thinking different things.

You found someone precious to you way before I did. Kafka, you're so lucky! That's why, I-I, uhm, I respect you, or something!

…Haha, thank you, Renga.

(We grew up in completely different circumstances. I could have hurt Renga at any time. That's why….)

(There's something that only the current me can do.)