Track 1
It was a Monday morning, and my skin was still feeling the cold.
As I start my florist duties for the day, I prepare to work on preserving the cut flowers―
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays were days for stocking up.
I must give the flowers I brought from the market plenty of water. Just as there are many kinds of flowers, there are also many ways to water them.
First, fill a big bucket with lots of water. As you wait for it to fill, cut off any excess thorns and leaves with scissors.
The leaves fall into the water, so the water gets dirty easily. That’s why it’s important to check if you’ve overlooked something.
Once the water is at the right amount, put the stems in—
And cut. Making sure the stem is still submerged in water, snip off a few centimetres from the tip.
The trick is to use clean scissors and cut it in one go. If done right, there wouldn’t be any air bubbles in the stem, so it can absorb the water steadily.
“...Okay, that should be alright for draining.”
Next is dividing the root. Azaleas, peaches, and plants with hard branches or stems must have a cross cut into the root, so they can absorb the water well.
You shouldn’t be too slow, or else the flowers will end up dehydrated. You must do it quickly, but carefully, so as not to damage it.
…It’s about time the hot water used for blanching the roots finishes boiling.
I was looking forward to stocking the Japanese Andromeda. Since it has very sturdy roots, it’s easy to use for flower arranging.
In flower language, it means: “A pure heart”.
And also…
“Let’s travel together, just the two of us.”...
flower LAUNDRY — Monday
Phew…
Nagi’s stomach grumbles.
(It’s already noon… Hm?)
“‘I am the Happy Prinshe.’”
“‘Why are you crying?’ asked the swallow.”
“‘Because I have a human heart.’”
(Looks like they are reading a picture book today.)
Nagi-shan! Are you done with work?
…Oh.
Yup, I just finished.
G-Good afternoon, Nagi-kun…!
Good afternoon, Himari. Feel free to wait here until your brother comes to pick you up.
Ehehe….
I’ll make shum food. Ish there anything you would like to eat?
Then, I’ll have natto on rice. I’d like it steaming hot.
Yesshir! I’ll read to you after thish, Himari-shan.
Mhm, got it.
Sonia leaves.
What book did you bring today?
Um… It’s “The Happy Prince”.
The Happy… Oh, if I’m not wrong, it’s a story about a statue of a prince who gave his jewels and things like that to those in need… right?
Yup, the statue can’t move, so there’s a swallow that helps him out.
(Right… Then the prince gave away everything he had, becoming a sorry sight… and so the prince and the dead swallow were forgotten by all.)
(Wait, since it’s a picture book for children, they probably haven’t written that down.)
…That’s a lot of kanji there. Isn’t it a bit hard for a 3rd grader to read all of that?
It’s okay, I had Sonia teach me the ones I can’t read.
Shorry to keep you waiting! Here, Nagi-shan, the hot natto on rice you wanted!
Oh, there’s also high-quality kimchi on the side…! Thank you, I’ll eat it before it gets cold.
By the way Sonia, were you reading the kanji for Himari?
Yesh… But, even if I read it, I can’t get the pronunciation right. That’sh the problem.
Sha, shi, shu, she, sho! Mghmm~ It’d be great if I could pronounce it properly…
Hehe. I really love Sonia’s way of speaking.
Right, for your upcoming maintenance, there seems to be a speaking remedy course. Should I ask about taking on the course?
!
(Actually, I know that courshe is well-known at that company but…)
It’sh a private bushinessh, sho shurely it’d be expenshive…
Don’t worry, I got it.
I appreciate the shentiment… however, pleashe take a look at thish.
The Queen of the Night’s buds haven’t bloomed yet… It’s recklessh to pay for shuch an expenshive course after buying that.
Even though there’s no likelihood of it selling well, you agreed to pay in 24 inshtallments when that old man from the marketplace begged you to buy it, no?
No, it was 48 installments.
Sherioushly! Don’t say that sho proudly!
Geez… ’m worried that you’ll get scammed when I’m away for maintenance.
Don’t increase your debt sho willy-nilly! Taking out loansh? You’ll go into debt! Shpending credits? Also going into debt! Got it?!
Taking out loans results in debt. Spending credits also results in debt. Alright. Please do well on your maintenance, Sonia.
I’ll do my best to take care of this flower in your absence.
I’m not worried about that. After all, it’sh you taking care of it, Nagi-shan.
(But even so, being able to get my hands on this Queen of Night in this season…)
(It was probably kept indoors throughout winter, which is how it survived until early spring without wilting. In that sense, this flower is very resilient.)
(It definitely cannot be sold as it is right now… Even if no one buys it, I’ll raise it like my own child.)
…Nagi-shan?
(Plus, I’ve always wanted to try and nurture a flower like this one... Though the roots don’t look too good, this is the price of my good fortune.)
(Oh, I must give flowers to Shunin today.)
…You sheem to be deep in thought, Nagi-shan.
If I were to take a peek into your head right now, I bet it's full of thoughts on how you can help shomeone else.
Just like the Prince and Swallow...
I wish you would at least take care of yourself, Nagi-shan...
At this rate, a softie like you will end up dead.
HAMA House — 3rd Floor Hallway
(This blanket is fresh out of the laundry, it’s so fluffy and warm… I’ll be able to sleep tight with no problems.)
Hm?
Hey, Netaro! Where are you off to with my bottle!?
Ahahaha! The offering has been secured~!
Oi, Nagi! Perfect timing! Grab Netaro for me, will ya!
Huh?
Gii will never catch me!
And he’s gone like the wind…
! He’s gone into his room! After him!
HAMA House — Boar Room
Here!
Hold it right there—
You’re late!
Huh?
You’ve squandered all this time just to procure one measly bottle of alcohol. Your stupidity is beyond salvation.
Huuuh~. You said to hurry, I swiped it out of Daa’s room and dashed over~
Oi, the one beyond salvation is you. Take a quick sip of that alcohol and get out of Toi’s body.
You’re here too, Nagi and Danny.
Oh, Yodaka-san’s here.
What’s up with him?
Hmm… As you can see, it seems like he’s in his rebellious phase.
Huh?
Flashback Start
WHISPERS FROM ARKAM IS ENDING ITS SERVICE...!?
Whazzat?
(That’s the online game that guy was into…)
You foolish mortals cannot comprehend the allure of the darkness and the abyss this game weaves. Oh, it’s truly unbearable—
Alcohol! I must drink, or else.
Oh?
You, bring me some alcohol this instant! A treat to go with it as well. Show me something entertaining!
Or else, I’ll destroy this dormitory, just like what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah1!
Flashback End
They throw a tantrum whenever something doesn’t go their way.
So you took it from my stash? What a pain...
(But I get it, even a goody-two-shoes might snap when they’re too stressed.)
Seems like you understand the grief of parting ways with something you love.
I hope he consoles himself with Buchi-san’s alcohol.
The hell are you guys on about?
He takes lives and brings misfortune to people, he’s unforgivable…!
Well, Other Toi~ Do you want some crunchy candy as a treat? If you cooperate with my experiments, I’ll do anything you want!
…Hmph!
GYAAAAH! My candy’s in smithereens~!
THAT’S IT, I’M FILING A LAWSUIT FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE! I EXPECT TO BE FAIRLY COMPENSATED~! WAAAH!!
Shut up! You’re causin’ a ruckus!
E-Even Netaro’s out of control… At this rate, the Night Team might be done for…
We have to appease one of them, at the very least.
Umm… ahem, the devil that resides in Toi-san.
Here, have this fresh fluffy blanket. If you wrap yourself in it, lo and behold, all your frustrations will disappear. Probably.
Would you like some chocolate to snack on?
It seems you fools are very serious about angering me. You think I’d be satisfied with such crude items?
Ah, I’m very sorry. I’ll give these to Netaro instead.
Hmmm… A fluffy blanket… Chocolate and alcohol…
(Netaro’s eating the chocolate while wrapped in the blanket. Looks like he has calmed down a bit.)
You’re complainin’ like hell for somethin’ like this… Will this satisfy you?
“Daienma"3, a renowned sake from a brewery with a long history. A shot of this should send you flying.
………
Astaroth throws the drink to the floor.
Ah, oi! You’re wastin’ some good stuff there!
You’re getting the floor wet~!
…So drinking it will make me fly? You thought you could exorcise me with this holy water, Ryui?
Hah, would’ve been the perfect drink for your final moments.
…Such foolish acts beneath even child’s play must be met with a proportionate price.
I shall end HAMA House’s services here.
W-What’s going on!? An earthquake!?
It’s shaking very hard… Everyone, be careful.
At this rate, HAMA House will be crushed flat~!
(This is bad, I have to do something. What can I do for everyone here—)
I, Hachinoya Nagi, shall entertain you. A short skit from Heaven to –
(Oh, right, the floor’s wet—)
! Hachinoya! Look down!
Huh.
Wowowow! Ryooey’s skateboard fell from the shelf and slid beneath Gii’s feet just as he lost his balance~?
Nagi does a flip.
He stepped on the skateboard and did a spectacular quadruple axel~!
(Oh… I can’t get into a landing position like I always do. It’s over for me—)
CLAAANG.
Flashback
Nagishan…
At this rate, a softie like you will end up dead… end up dead… dead…
In Abrahamic religions, Sodom and Gomorrah were two cities destroyed by God for their wickedness.
A 'finger' of whiskey is an amount of whiskey equal to the width of a finger.
Enma (閻魔) is the Japanese name for Yama, the god of death in Hindu, Buddhist and Chinese mythology. It is also the name of a famous alcohol in Japan from Oita (大分) Prefecture. Putting 'Oi' from Oita and 'Enma' together gives 'Daienma' (大閻魔).