Spy THE Mission - Chapter 6

[haranami]

Location: RythLink Office

Keito: Phew, the meeting went off without a hitch. I have one less thing to worry about, at least.

However, I didn’t expect that you’d be attending as well, Anzu. 

I was worried that some sort of disagreement would break out between you and the RythLink higher ups.

Cease that at once. Doe eyes will not work on me. Good grief, you were in a veritable maelstrom of strife.

As the central figure of the P Association, you’re in a unique position. And that makes you the antithesis of RhythLink’s “hammer down the nails that stick up” policy. 

It appears that you were even involved with the recently-executed Fist of the Shangri-La Idol project — I wouldn’t have been surprised if a war had broken out during the meeting.

…No, there’s no need for you to apologize to me. It isn’t as if you did anything wrong. Just as the principles of Christianity and Buddhism differ, so do those of individuals’.

But I must caution you against thoughtlessly placing faith in others. I need to warn you so you don’t do anything foolish, like walk headfirst into the traps of those who seek to sully your good name.

…Hm? Why was I unusually focused on my phone during the meeting, you ask?

It was nothing, merely a trifling matter — it was just about my doujinshi.

You’re looking forward to my new publication?! No, that isn’t what this is about!

Don’t look at me with those sparkling eyes of yours! I do not plan on releasing a new volume!

…Good grief. That’s right, you’re a fan of my works, aren’t you? I was being too brash.

It might be alright for me to disclose the details to you. However, we’re here in this empty office alone; this is quite the unfavorable situation. When the timing is right, I’ll tell you the whole story.

Come now, it isn’t anything grave. I simply noticed that Eichi has been borrowing and reading my doujinshi night after night…

So I wanted to teach him a lesson somehow.

Eichi: You’ve revealed your true colors, hm, Keito?

Or should I call you… Mister K?

Keito: …Eichi. Why are you here?

Kuro: I came with him, Hasumi no Danna.

Keito: There’s nothing I can do if you overheard me. I was being too hasty.

Yes, you’re right; I’m Mister K.

Eichi: I wasn’t completely sure, but it appears that my suspicions were quite founded.

I won’t take your D— your doujinshi anymore if you don’t want me to, but I do wonder why you chose to execute such a large-scaled operation.

Keito: Hmph. If I hadn’t done all this, I doubt you would’ve ever reflected on your actions. Ill weeds grow apace.

Eichi: What a cruel way to put it. I can’t deny your statement, though…♪ 

Keito: You’ve learnt your lesson the hard way now, right? I even went through all the trouble of asking Mikejima to be your opponent. To put it frankly, this was all a waste of time.

Eichi: Do you really think so? It’s fun to do these sorts of things every once in a while, so I have no complaints at all.

Keito: Eichi.

Eichi: Ahaha. Sorry, sorry~ Nothing good will come out of angering you further, hm?

You have every right to be mad. I’ll find a different way to relieve my stress next time, I promise.

Kuro: Haha, he hasn’t reflected at all ♪ 

Keito: Eichi’s always like this. Good grief, he’s absolutely incorrigible.

Kuro: The case is finally closed now, huh? Good job.

Eichi: You too, Kiryuu-kun.

Oh, that’s right. We’ve finished our work, so why don’t we all have lunch together? I’ll take you to a lovely restaurant ♪ 

Keito: Hey, wait a second! I’ve only just eaten lunch, you know!?

Eichi: Come now, there’s no need to hold back. It’s Eichi Day today, after all… ♪   

Keito: That’s your tradition, isn’t it…!?

Kuro: C’mon, don’t give him the cold shoulder. He’ll probably be considerate and take us somewhere we can have a light meal or somethin’.

Keito: If it were anyone but Eichi, I’m sure they would. Knowing him, though, he’ll likely take us to a lavish buffet. [1]

Eichi: Ahaha. Even I wouldn’t go that far, you know ♪ 

I’ll make sure to bring you to a place that serves light meals, so consider this an apology for taking your D as well… ‘kay?

Keito: No going back on your word, is that clear?

Eichi: But of course. I only mess with you out of love, you know.

You’re my one and only childhood friend. I’d never do anything bad to you… ♪ 

(...Now that I’ve gotten to the bottom of this, it was a rather normal incident.)

(This was all just a battle Keito instigated because he wanted to rile me up… He came up with a plan to reprimand me for my ungentlemanly actions, starting a strange war by proxy.)

(But something still isn’t quite right. I feel uneasy, almost as if I’ve eaten something strange — is this hunch of mine unfounded, I wonder?)

(Would Keito really plot such an elaborate plan? Despite how straightforward, how independent he is?)

Please wait just a moment. There’s one last thing I’d like to confirm.

Keito: Hm?

Eichi: The K in Mister K might not stand for Keito after all.

Keito: What are you on about, Eichi? I told you that Mister K is my pseudonym.

Eichi: …You did, but now that I think of it, something was off from the very start. I didn’t know what was going on, so I simply followed the directions given to me as though I were a mere doll— 

It felt like I was in a spy movie; I couldn’t see the full picture at all.

But suppose this war by proxy was incited for a different purpose…

That there was meaning to this odd combination of Kiryuu-kun and I.

I can barely believe this myself, but… Kiryuu-kun, aren’t you the true Mister K?

Kuro: …… 

Looks like you saw right through me.

You’re real sharp. Yeah, I’m the one behind all this.

Eichi: So I was right. But why on earth did you come up with such a roundabout plan? Won’t you explain yourself to me? 

Kuro: How do I put this? Hmm… No, this is no use. I ain’t good at explainin' things.

Listen. The thing is, I killed someone.

Eichi: What…? 

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Translation notes: 

1. Keito’s talking about a specific type of Chinese buffet here known as a “Three Day Feast” — you can take a look at what a crazy amount of food there is here: https://www.afpbb.com/articles/-/3233081