Track 5

These flowers are February orchids. They’re also known as Chinese violet cress. They’re hardy little ones that thrive in sun and good ventilation.

These are freesias. They have a good fragrance and are popular even as cut flowers. This little one with the round bulbs is called a grape hyacinth…

Wow~ I can’t believe you’re explainin’ it so smoothly.

Ever since I started having Nagi explain the flowers that get delivered, I’ve grown even more attached to them.

I‘m grateful because it sometimes leads to conversations with customers who love flowers too.

But I can’t say if that customer actually likes flowers, or just likes talking to you…

Ooh, I sense a grown-up conversation.

By the way, Nagi. You’ve been getting Toi to help out at your shop recently, yes?

That’s right. He’s been a tremendous help. We can no longer do without Toi, he’s the saviour of the shop—

Oi, barkeep. Another of the same.

Your saviour's gettin’ drunk on the clock.

That whiskey is quite strong, are you sure you can handle it? Should I get you a chaser?

I don’t need it. Watering down such fine liquor is something only tasteless, ignorant fools do.

Um… Was this kid always like this?

Ah, you see. It’s just a belated case of teenage edginess¹. Please don’t mind him.

Huh, teenage edginess…

As expected, the alcohol here is truly exceptional.

Fufu, thank you. Nagi, you were saying Toi is your saviour?

Mm, yesterday in particular. We had a customer with a lot of demands, and while Toi was walking them to the station, it seems he also read their fortune.

Wooow, that customer sure got lucky.

That reading turned out to be spot-on. A review they posted went viral on social media and caused a stir. Customers started flooding in from that evening onwards. FloLaun’s now almost a sub-branch of Angel Eye…

Wow~. You say business was booming, but it must have been tough.

Though it was a bit hectic, all the customers looked happy. Toi sure is amazing… So, here, have some of this, everyone.

What’s this? It’s a little pouch…

Recently, we’ve been giving away free samples of our mini potpourri. I made a lot, so I’m sharing it with everyone.

It smells wonderful. Thank you for the lovely gift.

Oh? For me too? How nice~

Well, I’ll take what I can get, but you can’t just be givin’ away stuff for free willy-nilly.

That kind of generosity is bound to fail eventually, you know.

If you come across as a soft touch, there are plenty of people who’d take advantage of you.

(A soft touch…)

At this rate, a softie like you will end up dead.

(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.)

Still, being soft-hearted isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Caring for others is essential to living a fulfilling life.

Jeez. And that’s exactly why you’ve been attracting all the delulus—.

I see… I’ll be careful to not end up like the prince.

The prince?

Oh, is that the time? We should head back soon. Let’s go, Astaroth.

…You. Can’t you see there’s still some amber fluid left in my cup?

They said they don’t want to go home yet.

Okay, okay. Lend me your ear for a bit.

What is it.

What I’m about to show you is—here—yes, my pride and joy. …Uhh. ‘Flower of Agony’, was it?

…Ohh.

Alright. I’ll let you off this time, in recognition of your dedication.

Ooh, that’s the night shift leader for you. You sure know how to deal with a pain in the neck.

Be careful on your way home, you two.

Don’t get in an accident.

Mhm. I just did maintenance on my bike, so I’m A-okay.

Hmm…

No way… We’ve come all this way, and the bike won’t start at all.

(Even though the atmospheric pressure has been stable these past few days, all sorts of misfortune keeps happening, so maybe I had better stop riding my bike…)

Heh, your suffering continues, I see.

Yeah, for real… Wait, where did that apple you’re eating come from?

I already knew this would happen. I took it from your fridge.

So that’s my apple.

(Even then… where did the divine protection he’s under come from?)

(There’s no way an ordinary person could have received it… So is it a matter of it being passed down through a bloodline? Could it be that he isn’t just some common stray?)

?

(If humans are to use that technique to begin with, they will have to infuse it with that "life energy"...)

! I see!!

Ah, that gave me a shock. Did you find a tsuchinoko² or something?

(If I were able to taste a flower imbued with that… just how exquisite it would be…!)

(Ahh, merely imagining it already makes my heart race…! It has been a long while since I had this feeling…) 

Heeeeey, Astaroth…

(I need to deceive this one into thinking there is no price to be paid, and cleverly tempt him…)

Heh… fufufu… HAHAHAHA…!

Maybe the apple was a laughing apple…?

(Oh, my stomach’s rumbling again… I’ve been trying to save money lately, so I’ve only been eating edible flowers drizzled in yakiniku sauce.)

Oi, Hachinoya Nagi.

Huh? Um, yes?

Look.

Nooo~ my only source of vitamins has been crushed to bits…

If you truly desire to be awakened, then completely devote yourself from the very core of your being, as if crushing an apple and squeezing its juices out.

That is how one would create a Supreme Flower that surpasses the "Flower of Agony".

N-no… my apple…

(What a dull fellow…)

(Probing into his desires would make it easier to deceive him.)

What do you desire? Glory? Wealth? Carnal pleasure? Oh, and don’t say love. It's far too trite.

There must be something you crave, even at the cost of your soul. Tell me what you desire.

…! Okay.

Please fix my bike—

I don’t know about that.

Then my apple—

Don’t know about that.

Ah, the futon is enveloping me so gently…

(I didn’t want to waste money calling a tow truck, so I rolled my bike home. All the muscles in my body are completely destroyed.)

(Will misfortune just keep piling up like this? Well, at least that would eliminate the worry of unhappiness following happiness, but instead…)

Instead…

Nagi-kun, are you awake?

…!? Y-yes. I’m awake.

I’m sorry to bother you so suddenly. I was just worried about how you’ve been lately. Also, we haven't really spoken since you were in the hospital…

?

Um, the thing is, I wanted to talk to you because… well, there are no flowers…

…Ah. Because I haven’t been able to give you any.

That’s right. Because I haven’t received any…

……

(Wait a minute… I’m currently monopolising the time of the popular, and recently very busy Shunin, without even offering him any flowers…)

This is too much of an honour…

Huh?

Hold on.

O-okay…?

(I’m sure it’s here—)

There we go.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

Ah, is that today’s flower?

Yeah. Now, for the spell—

That is how one would create a Supreme Flower that surpasses the "Flower of Agony".

……

(From the very core of my being—)

…………

(Huh? This seems somewhat different from the usual spell…?)

…hm?

(Did the flowers just perk up a little…? No, right now I just need to give them to Shunin.)

I’m so sorry to have kept you waiting. And I’m sorry for giving it as-is, instead of in a proper arrangement…

No, it’s alright. Thank you.

…Wow. They smell amazing.

(What is this…? It’s such a comforting scent… It makes me want to keep taking deep breaths…)

*inhale* *exhale*

(It’s like the moment you get into a warm bath… you start to relax…)

……Haa…

…? Are you okay?

Yeah, well… this…

?

…Nagi-kun, do you mind hearing me out for a while?

Not at all.

Lately, HAMA Tours has been expanding, so my job scope has been widening fast.

Though I’m happy about it… recently I’ve been feeling like I can’t do it, that I’ve still got a long way to go.

Your job scope?

Yeah… We’re currently working on a new tour…

I’m trying a structure I’ve never done before. I’m doing my best to research and study it, but I also have to keep up with my regular work, so…

I’m kind of overwhelmed. I can’t even stick to the schedule I set for myself…

Ahh, that happens.

Really? But last week, I messed up even my usual work and kept the client waiting for an hour…

(Oh… This is bad. I feel like I’m about to blurt out something pathetic…)

I see. You must have really been stressed to make a mistake like that.

……

I realise how reckless it was for someone like me, who can’t even manage basic self discipline, to try a new type of work.

(Oh, that’s what it is…)

I’m losing confidence…

(And so, I’ve been suffering a lot lately…)

……

Ah!

I-it’s okay, you can forget about it. Sorry for complaining all of a sudden. It’s really not that big of a deal. Starting tomorrow, I’m going to keep going without giving up!

…Sorry. I’m actually kind of relieved.

Huh?

To me, you’re an ultra-perfect saint who’s always smiling, gets the job done efficiently, and supports everyone on top of that.

But, since you’re human, you’ll definitely have rocky days. Ah, probably not as bad as mine, though.

I thought that meant that even when you’re feeling down, you have the strength to recover on your own and not let it show.

I think I’m glad that I could be here tonight, during that gap.

G-glad?

Because even if it’s just the two of us working together, I’m sure we can make the Shunin of tomorrow happier.

You said you’ve lost confidence, but it’s okay. You’re just tired and feeling down right now. If you get a good night’s rest, I’m sure you’ll think of a way to move forward.

I’ll help out too. Oh, and bring in more reliable people.

But for tonight, since we have some time, you can vent to me about anything. I mean it.

……

Calling me an “ultra-perfect saint” is an exaggeration. I’ll get flustered…

Ah, during the first tour.

Ahaha, yes, yes. You helped me calm down that time too, Nagi-kun…

(...Come to think of it, maybe I’ve been having my heart soothed every day by Nagi-kun’s flower-giving habit more than I’d realised… and maybe the reason I came to him was because I wanted this kind of encouragement.)

Thank you, Nagi-kun.

Yeah. No problem.

You sure do learn fast!

Huh? Toi-kun?

Shunin, hand me that flower.

Eh? Um, okay.

(Oh…)

…It has that scent. Hm, it’s weak, but passable…

Well done. I will be taking this.

Huh? Out of nowhere—

He left…

…Ah… I couldn’t stop him. I’m sorry, Shunin.

No… I’m the one who should apologise for giving away something that you kindly gave me.

It can’t be helped… But let’s put that aside. Tell me the rest.

(The rest…)

Thanks to you hearing me out earlier, I feel much better now, so I think I’m okay.

Really?

Yeah. Next time, I’d like to hear from you, Nagi-kun.

…Alright, let me tell you about the artistic bird poop that landed on my shoulder today.

Pfft, what?