Track 9

*panting*

Damn it… he's so fast...! At this rate, we're gonna lose him…!

(And—)

Are you alright, Kafka?!

*huff… huff…* I-I'm fine! Don't worry about me, I'm right behind you. Just focus on cornering that dog!

Got it!

…If we go this way… there's a shortcut. Follow me!

Grr…rrrr…rr!

Too bad for you, this is a dead end! Now we've gotta contact the police…!

Wait! Renga… under that wall!

T-there's a hole… damn it, he crawled in!

If it's this size, then I'm sure we can slip through… We're going after him, Mile!

H-hold up, Kafka!

Now what? Let go of my arm, Renga!

If you go there, you'll be all alone! Even if Mile is with you, that's too dangerous!

Is this really the time for that?! Ugh! He got away…

See! You're no use here, Renga! That's why I didn't want you to come along!

…..

Ah…

(I shouldn't have said that…)

(My mind's all over the place. I can't control my emotions…)

—

(...I'm the one hurting Renga now.)

"Oi, Oguro. The idiot over there as well. Can you hear me?"

…L-Liguang?

"Apparently one of the aggressive dogs from Chinatown is heading your way. Proceed with caution."

Huh?

…Thanks for letting us know. But—

Grrrrrr…!

You're a little too late…!

*barking*

This dog… sees us as enemies…

Kh….!

Grr… *bark!!*

S-stop, don't come any closer…!

Please… don't bite me…!

…Renga?

(His face… has gone pale. I need to protect him…!)

—Grrrrr!!!!

RENGA, LOOK OUT! GET OVER–

(No. He's running towards… me?!)

…KAFKA!!

BARK !!!!

Wha...

Leo and Mile jumped onto him… and he ran away. Looks like we're safe for now.

Leo, Mile. Thank you for protecting us!

Woof.

Woof.

Kafka, are you alright?

Ye…ah.

Wah…! S-sorry for holding onto you all of a sudden…! I thought he was going to bite you!!

…Wh…y.

Huh?

Why did you protect me?

Huh… what do you mean 'why', he was going after you. I had to do something, and my body just moved on its own.

It's all thanks to Leo and Mile but, I'm glad you weren't hurt!

…….

…I'm sorry, Renga.

Eh… w-why are you apologizing! Of course I—

No… That's not it. I'm sorry. I… was being an idiot.

…Kafka?

What are you talking about, there's no way you'd be….

…I was treating you like a kid without realizing it.

Eh…?

After hearing that you were attacked by a dog and almost died… I was afraid that might happen again.

It was never about HAMA's image or anything like that. I just… didn't want you to get hurt, so I interfered.

(I didn't want Renga to almost die again. So I convinced myself, and really believed that this was all for Renga's sake…!)

I'm sorry, Renga. I'm sorry. I was wrong. You're not a little kid anymore.

Everything… was because I was being selfish. I was… I was the one who kept hurting you…!

Everything I did to protect you… ended up hurting you instead…!

Kafka…

…I knew it. You were just worried about me.

…I'm so glad, you don't hate me!

I was actually… kind of worried that you did.

…! I'm sorry…!

It's fine… I know that everything you did was out of kindness.

…Uhm, you see. I always want to protect you too.

I know that you're an amazing guy, but you're still a precious friend to me. So I can't help but worry about you.

That's why… I'm really happy that you didn't want to hurt me. But I don't want you to get hurt either…

Renga…

You're always helping me out. So I want to be able to help you too.

I thought we were like night and day… but it turns out, the way we want to protect each other, is the same!

…..

…The same. I see...

(When Renga first told me that story… it wasn't that I thought we were different.)

(...I thought we were the same.)

(Imagining Renga hovering between life and death, it reminded me of my younger self so I wanted to help him. That's why… I was being so stubborn.)

(This fear of death within me. My anxieties. Those are my problems… but I ended up taking them out on Renga.)

I was being pretty stupid, huh…

That's not true! Kafka's a super smart and awesome guy! Don't talk about yourself like that!!

…I even used your job to impose my worries onto you… I've done such awful things, I'd get it if you hate me now.

…I don't hate you.

After all, even when I was attacked by a dog, I didn't get scared of them! As for you… you'll always be my precious friend!

…Y'know, it was a dog that bit me, but it was also a dog that saved me. So…

I know that caring about someone can hurt them, but I also know that it can comfort them instead.

This time, we… kind of had a misunderstanding, huh?

…..

(...Renga's being so understanding of my feelings. He's even trying to cheer me up.)

(Renga isn't just "someone to protect". He's a "reliable friend".)

…Uhm. Thank you for trying to protect me. Those feelings of yours... make me really happy.

Hehe. We had a bit of a fight but we made up again, right? This is a precious memory, too.

…Hehe, you really are cute.

I-it's embarrassing so stop saying that…

…Can you stand, Kafka?

Of course I can.

Renga.

Mm?

…There, there.

…GH, WAH! W-why are you petting me?!

Hehe. A good, strong dog that protects its master should get a reward, right?

Eh… I-I guess?

(...That gloom of mine, it's cleared up.)

Alright. …Let's start over. Renga, you're my reliable partner.

…! Of course!

Let's make sure to capture those dogs!