Romantic Troubles of Duanmu-kun

“So tired…”

A dual exhaustion of mind and body. Like carrying a boulder while walking, or being swept away by a tide that had drained all strength from his body.

Even if time allowed, he still wouldn’t have been able to rest or sleep properly.

Because a thunderous roar like a flood continuously assaulted his eardrums. The Novelist felt his world spinning for a moment. His head was swimming, normal thought nearly at a standstill.

…Even though he’d expected the helicopter’s internal machine noise, wasn’t this too loud? The long-haired girl in a black kimono sitting beside him handed him a pair of headphones and a microphone for communication.

“Ah… thank you, Yayoi.”

After putting them on, the external noise was greatly reduced. He finally breathed a sigh of relief, having space to observe the helicopter’s interior and the view outside the cabin door.

High above the city, cold fierce winds howled as they rushed into the cabin.

The Novelist narrowed his eyes.

The helicopter rotor’s shadow fell on the rooftop surface, drawing long shadows in the sunset. Like birds flapping their wings at dusk before taking flight.

The mall building’s upper-floor windows reflected the intense light of the setting sun, gleaming with a golden radiance.

“Looks like what’s left are minor issues.”

He came to this conclusion after observing for a while.

Niwa’s security team protecting Fujishima-san had gradually taken control of the situation under Hayashi-san’s leadership after entering the building.

“Once everything is over…”

Yayoi, who held the key pieces of Fujishima Kaori and Fujishima Misao, would be able to obtain what she wanted without others noticing.

He recalled that morning when Yayoi had pinned him down before waking him.

Back then, the Novelist could never have imagined the situation would develop to this point. Though it had happened just yesterday, it felt like a long time had passed. Just like when he was fleeing with Yayoi.

Long, as if a lifetime had passed.

“Fujishima-san and Kaori-san really had it rough. They should have been able to escape Tokyo more easily… What do you plan to do after getting what you want, Yayoi?”

“…Silence them permanently?”

The girl’s cool voice came through the headphones. Like before, it was impossible to tell if she was joking or serious from her tone and manner.

“No good. That wouldn’t benefit you either. Besides… Fujishima-san and her mother are the type who won’t die.”

The Novelist answered while gently settling Kaori-san’s body against the seat beside him.

One hand helped press against her abdominal wound. With his other hand, he tidied her messy golden hair to keep it from being caught under her body. Kaori-san’s face was deathly pale as she leaned against his thigh, her starlike eyes half-open, brows slightly furrowed, no longer hearing the outside world.

An ordinary person would have already perished from injuries this severe. But though Kaori-san was unconscious, her breathing was steady. They had only roughly sutured and treated the wound after the helicopter landed on the rooftop.

“They’ve helped you tremendously. If it weren’t for this internal conflict… Anyway, as someone who benefited from these events, you should be grateful.”

“…”

The black-haired girl in the kimono finally turned to face him.

“But all of this was your plan. Wasn’t it?”

As she spoke, Yayoi’s jet-black pupils quietly observed him.

“Don’t act like it had nothing to do with you… After all, both myself and Miyagi were simply acting according to what Liang told us.”

“Hey now… don’t make me sound like some mastermind pulling strings from the shadows.”

The Novelist pressed his remaining hand against his forehead in frustration, massaging it hard to try to relieve his headache.

“I only started thinking of countermeasures after seeing that persistent assassin’s car. And it just happened that you wanted my help then too, right?”

“Indeed. Being able to eliminate that person while gaining an opportunity to take control of ‘VMO’—even I didn’t expect it to go so smoothly. As expected of Liang, using Class Rep’s trust to approach the target, then using deception to set bait, forcing them to leave…”

Ugh… it wasn’t that malicious!

“So, what do you plan to do?”

He had to interrupt Yayoi.

“Since you’re unwilling, we’ll have to settle for second best. Hoping Fujishima Kaori will…”

As if thinking of something, Yayoi stared at him like he was scum while quietly increasing the distance between them.

“No, Liang has probably completely gained both their trust by carrying out his scheme while appearing to rescue them at the critical moment, right? Now you can freely manipulate and toy with this mother-daughter pair. While being the mastermind behind their persecution, you can make them feel grateful to you without knowing the truth… What a despicable and frightening man.”

“What kind of person do you think I am?!”

The Novelist couldn’t help but protest loudly.

“…By the way, I’ve already told them everything. No point in trying to manipulate that aspect.”

This was true.

Both Fujishima Misao who had left earlier and the unconscious Fujishima Kaori had learned the full picture of events from him.

Silence filled the cabin for a while.

“…Are you angry, Liang? Because of my arbitrary actions, it ended up like this…”

Yayoi’s voice was gentle.

“This is my problem.”

The Novelist shook his head.

“Also, I don’t mind being used by you. I promised you that back then. If anyone needs apologies, it should be to Fujishima-san and Kaori-san.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yeah.”

“But I won’t apologize to them.”

“…I know.”

“Liang is thinking of me. That makes me a little happy.”

Saying this, the girl tilted her head, as if contemplating some major decision.

“As a reward… you can have a kiss.”

…For real?

The Novelist was so surprised he almost hit his head on the cabin ceiling.

The kimono-clad girl’s white skin was painted with a vivid hue in the flame-like floating evening glow.

“On the condition that you can embrace my shoulders with both hands, I’ll let you kiss me.”

Because Yayoi’s expression and tone were so calm, it was impossible to discern her true thoughts.

However…

“…I’m helping press on the wound here.”

He answered with a bitter smile.

Kaori-san was mumbling softly. At some point, she had come to rest against his knee. The Novelist didn’t dare move carelessly now, to avoid waking her and causing the wound to worsen or become infected.

“Why not just let her die?”

Yayoi answered without hesitation.

“Uh… well…”

…

Though flying in a helicopter while holding a beauty seemed like something from a movie or game ending, the fact that no intimate moment occurred was probably due to the cabin temperature being too low.

Accompanied by the machine’s vibrations and the rotor-swept fierce winds, the hospital building stood in the shadow and light where day met night, appearing in their field of vision.

At this moment, Yayoi spoke.

“Liang has always said… you want to live like a normal person, right?”

“Yeah.”

“What about now?”

“…Still the same.”

The busy streets and buildings sparkled with scattered neon colors. The gray-white concrete forest had been carefully painted with brilliant golden hues.

“Though, I think this isn’t bad either… Come to think of it, this is my first time seeing Tokyo from above like this.”

“…Such a forced change of subject?”

“Not at all.”

The iron bird carrying the boy and girl flew toward the sunset, gradually decreasing altitude.

…

Dusk fell.

The dim curtain of night slowly drew closed from the edges, swallowing the city like the tide.

The day that felt as long as a lifetime finally lowered its curtain.