Double update for today!
I've been playing in the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship Qualifiers over the past few days, which is why updates have been a bit slower. I'm currently about halfway to qualifying for Regionals, so here's hoping I can make it in. It sounds like it'd be a lot of fun to compete there.
Anyway, thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy today's chapters!
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July 7th arrived, and Yokohama's entertainment districts were packed with people.
Beneath the Ferris wheel, long lines stretched into the distance. Everyone had heard about today's special event for couples—a couple who had met and fallen in love in Yokohama had chosen to celebrate their relationship by offering free admission tickets for every year a couple had been together.
One free day for one year.
Two free days for two years.
And so on.
Some participants were shy, others openly delighted, but all of them proved their relationship with a kiss in exchange for their Tanabata tickets. Without the slightest hesitation, they began shamelessly showering everyone around them with displays of affection.
The singles standing outside the Ferris wheel suffered critical emotional damage.
They quickly realized that approaching the Ferris wheel today was practically an act of self-harm.
The holiday atmosphere was simply too overwhelming.
The Ferris wheel no longer seemed to have room for anyone except couples and married pairs. Even children dragged along by their parents somehow looked like third wheels.
"How wonderful..."
One single woman after another sighed wistfully as they secretly glanced toward the front of the line.
Meeting the right person during the most beautiful years of one's youth, holding hands and sharing a kiss together—it was probably every young person's dream.
Having received advance notice of the event, Takekawa Izumi and his wife had come to enjoy themselves as well. They passed the "couple verification" stage without difficulty.
Smiling, Takekawa Izumi said to his wife, whose face had reddened slightly despite their many years of marriage,
"See? I wasn't lying to you. Married couples can participate too. It doesn't have to be young lovers."
Mrs. Takekawa wore a traditional kimono and partially hid her face behind a folding fan.
"Looking at all these young people is rather embarrassing."
Takekawa Izumi replied with a knowing grin,
"I've got a feeling this whole event was arranged by that junior of mine."
Mrs. Takekawa looked surprised.
"You mean that Asou-kun who's been climbing the ranks so rapidly?"
Takekawa Izumi nodded.
The two of them boarded the Ferris wheel together, admiring Yokohama from a different perspective as the cabin slowly rose into the sky.
"The event hasn't even been publicly announced yet, but he already knew about it in advance. There's no way he isn't connected to the organizers somehow."
He chuckled.
"The most likely explanation is that he's spending money to celebrate his love."
"That kid is seriously rich."
"I've heard even some of the Executives at headquarters have started investing alongside him."
Mrs. Takekawa smiled.
"I've heard you mention Asou-kun so often that I've practically become familiar with his reputation despite never meeting him."
"Heh."
Takekawa Izumi laughed mischievously.
"For all his talent at making money and showing off his devotion, I suspect he still hasn't completely won over that French beauty."
"It's been so many years already. If he'd truly sealed the deal, there would've been a wedding long ago."
Mrs. Takekawa immediately saw through him.
"You're just jealous of someone else's romance."
"I am not! It's just that he never brings his girlfriend out with him. It makes people wonder whether he's actually capable of it."
"A French woman... should be pretty impressive in that department, right?"
"That's what they say."
Couples who had been married for many years often drifted into slightly risqué topics during their conversations.
July was not only home to Tanabata. There was also Marine Day on July 20th, a holiday celebrating the prosperous future of a nation surrounded by the sea on all sides.
And nestled between those two festivals was the Nachi Fire Festival on July 14th.
Kumano-Nachi Grand Shrine, Wakayama Prefecture.
In the middle of the night, Asou Akiya and Randou quietly slipped away, abandoning Ranpo behind as they drove off to watch the fireworks.
What they did not know was that the moment they stepped out the door, Edogawa Ranpo immediately called Fukuzawa Yukichi.
With Fukuzawa's assistance, Ranpo then proceeded to dig Nakahara Chuuya out of his bed at the house in the Suribachi City district.
The two children enthusiastically tailed the couple all the way there and ended up watching the fireworks as well.
Fukuzawa Yukichi coughed awkwardly.
"Ahem..."
The moment Akiya and Randou saw him arriving with the two children in tow, they were rendered speechless.
"Fukuzawa-san," Akiya said weakly, "you spoil Ranpo far too much. It's the middle of the night, and you've actually brought them here to follow us."
"My deepest apologies."
Fukuzawa Yukichi had once again fallen victim to one of Ranpo's schemes and could only explain himself.
"Ranpo told me it was something extremely important. I had no idea it was simply to follow the two of you..."
Akiya pressed a hand against his forehead.
"There won't be a next time."
Dressed in a dark navy yukata, Akiya held Randou's hand as they stood beneath the night sky.
Randou, unusually enough, was wearing a yukata in a matching color scheme.
Because his Western features were far too striking and deep-set, he had not attempted an overly traditional appearance. Instead, various decorative accessories had been incorporated into his outfit, giving it an elegant and luxurious flair.
A snowy-white sable scarf was wrapped around his neck.
Two fluffy pom-pom ornaments dangled from the front of his collar.
Under the glow of the summer fireworks, the combination created a surprisingly refined and adorable charm.
Even passersby could not help but marvel at the sight.
He truly was a uniquely beautiful French beauty, who had actually come all the way to Japan to find a boyfriend.
"Go have fun on your own. Just remember to come home after it's over."
Under Randou's subtle tugging, Asou Akiya decisively abandoned Fukuzawa Yukichi and the two children, slipping away with his lover into another part of the crowd.
Randou walked along in his wooden geta, each step producing a light clack-clack sound.
Filled with a sense of novelty, he lifted his head to look at Akiya, the man who had brought him here to enjoy the festival.
Akiya's features were gentle without being overly soft.
His eyes were long and refined, carrying a touch of classical elegance without appearing sharp or severe.
Dressed in a yukata, his entire bearing seemed perfectly composed, his temperament elevated to an entirely different level.
"Akiya, I want to keep you all to myself."
Randou suddenly voiced his honest thoughts.
"I want to lock you away somewhere and spend the rest of my life looking at no one but you."
"That won't do," Akiya replied patiently, steering him away from the more possessive side of his nature. "If you spend your whole life looking at the same face, you'll eventually get tired of it."
"Look, I'm only twenty-three right now. Later I'll be twenty-four, twenty-five, and eventually thirty."
"As I experience different things, I'll continue to grow and change."
He smiled.
"You'll always get to see a different version of me every day."
Randou studied his face with genuine interest.
"Akiya at thirty..."
"What will he be like?"
Akiya answered without the slightest hesitation.
"He'll definitely be a mature, handsome man."
Randou immediately replied,
"Shameless."
Akiya scratched lightly across his palm, causing Randou to laugh and dodge away.
"Randou, should we stop by a bar later?"
"We can have a drink and discuss exactly how handsome your husband is going to become in the future."
Randou reached out and tapped Akiya on the nose with a finger.
"You're always taking advantage of me."
Yet he never denied the title.
Even French people could enjoy a little role-playing between lovers.
For example, husband and wife.
After three years of being pampered and spoiled by Akiya, Randou had already done every reasonable thing lovers could do—and quite a few unreasonable ones as well.
They had explored all sorts of intimate positions, private games, and little romantic amusements together.
At this point, trying to deny it was far too late.
Against the backdrop of fireworks soaring into the sky and blooming in brilliant bursts of color, Randou leaned against Asou Akiya's side as they stood together by the river, gazing up at the night sky.
"Akiya, I'll give you a chance to have a wish granted. What wish do you have? I'll make it come true."
Akiya laughed. "Is it just my imagination, or has Randou gotten awfully confident lately?"
"I mean it. If I say I'll do it, I'll do it."
"Alright then. Buy all of Japan for me! Then we can have sex on top of Tokyo Tower!"
"..."
Randou's face instantly turned red.
That was genuinely impossible.
And even if it somehow became possible... if anyone found out, it would be unbearably embarrassing!
Randou shook Akiya's left hand insistently, clearly demanding a serious answer.
Akiya replied with easy sincerity, "With you here, I don't have any wishes left."
Randou moved closer. His breath brushed against his boyfriend's ear, dampening the earlobe beneath his short black hair.
"Akiya... how about becoming the boss of the Port Mafia?"
Akiya's ear twitched.
"And then spend every day worrying about the entire organization?"
Randou froze.
"..."
That was true.
Wasn't it basically just moving from one office to another?
Except the workload would become several times larger.
"Randou, we already have to squeeze our dates into our schedule," Akiya said pitifully. "If I become the boss, we'll be tied to Yokohama all the time. We won't be able to sneak out in the middle of the night for fun anymore."
He sighed dramatically.
"Please don't condemn us to a future where we have no time to rest at all."
Randou said gloomily, "I don't want you to be bullied."
Akiya replied, "That's just how the workplace is. If it's a normal superior-subordinate relationship, I wouldn't think there's anything wrong with it. And if someone really does bully me, I'll fight back. Besides, don't I have you?"
Randou's gaze fell into those dark eyes overflowing with tenderness.
"Randou, you're my greatest source of confidence."
"Mm..."
And I'm happy too—to be the strength you can rely on, so that you no longer have to suffer alone out there.
"Akiya, Watanabe Yukisada can't conveniently appear in public, and Kimura Seimei is wanted by the Port Mafia. The two humanoid abilities I have on hand aren't suitable for protecting you."
"Do you have something in mind, Randou?"
"I need a third tool to protect you. Someone with stronger abilities, and positioned closer to you."
Randou's fingers brushed lightly across Akiya's lips.
The topic this couple was discussing was enough to make anyone's scalp tingle.
"Already found a candidate?" Akiya asked with a smile.
"I have. I caught him yesterday." Randou's eyes curved faintly. "Today, I'll give you a surprise."
He activated his ability.
A flash of golden light flickered in a corner.
A man around twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, wrapped in a black overcoat, suddenly appeared. He stood frozen in place, his face filled with shock. Looking at the two of them, his pupils dilated as realization dawned upon him. He desperately tried to speak, yet not a single sound could leave his throat.
This was the third humanoid ability user brought under control.
"I've already picked him out for you."
Randou leaned against Akiya's chest, breathing in the familiar scent of his lover. Thoughtful and attentive, he resembled a devoted spouse at home.
Sensitive to the cold, Randou nestled comfortably within his lover's embrace.
"He can enter and leave your office whenever he likes," he said softly. "You can use him however you want."
"Randou is so good to me."
Akiya gently ran his fingers through Randou's carefully maintained long curls, his heart overflowing with warmth. He adored this thoughtfulness of Randou's. Every time, the spiritual summoning power of Illuminations was used for his sake.
After finishing his conversation with Randou, Akiya turned toward the man standing in the corner and smiled.
"Good evening, Executive Nishida."
"Death is merely an adventure of life. Wouldn't you agree?"
Of everyone present, "Kimura Seimei," who currently worked as the family's housekeeper, would have resonated with those words the most. Unfortunately, Randou's Illuminations could only control one humanoid ability at a time, so for the moment he had been forced offline and was lying dormant.
Realizing that he was already dead, Nishida Shibashi's face turned deathly pale as he stared at his own hands in disbelief.
It felt as though he had fallen straight into hell.
His entire body trembled uncontrollably.
The memories came flooding back.
He had encountered a Port Mafia member. The man had merely glanced at him before a golden subspace enveloped him. Then, while fully conscious, he had been crushed to death.
Impossible!
How could such a monstrous ability exist?
Manipulating death. Reviving the dead.
The Port Mafia had been hiding a power like this all along?!
That was even less believable than Japan suddenly becoming the strongest nation in the world.
When Nishida Shibashi looked at Akiya and Randou again, his eyes were filled with fear.
Too many unknown horrors lurked beneath the surface of this world.
He had lost completely.
Nestled in Akiya's arms, Randou quietly chuckled to himself and made no effort to clear up the misunderstanding.
Akiya can be so wicked sometimes, he thought.
He's deliberately not telling him that he's merely a fabricated humanoid ability. He's letting him believe that he's somehow still alive.
Which was more terrifying?
Discovering that you were a fake existence?
Or discovering that you had died and were now being controlled by someone else?
No one who had not experienced it firsthand could know the answer.
Akiya needed no schemes, no manipulation, no provocation. With effortless simplicity, he had caused the man's death. The terror of a French Transcendent was something ordinary Japanese ability users could never truly comprehend.
He no longer bothered looking at his former superior.
The man was nothing more than a living corpse.
Turning away, Akiya returned to his usual calm state of mind and cheerfully said to Randou, "The fireworks aren't over yet."
Randou tested the waters. "Mm. If the Port Mafia Boss ever dares lay a hand on you, Akiya, I'll kill him."
Akiya replied evenly, "Alright."
Randou was satisfied.
Akiya wasn't one of those stubborn Japanese men who rigidly adhered to principles no matter what. He was remarkably adaptable.
As expected, Akiya was the kind of person who treasured the happiness and kindness found in everyday life. He would never take the initiative to hurt others, but once someone crossed his bottom line, he would repay them many times over with ruthless vengeance.
A kind man who was both gentle and cold-hearted.
The French beauty fell into contemplation again. Fireworks illuminated his eyes, making their golden-green color appear breathtakingly beautiful and cruel at the same time.
"If the Boss dies, and you don't want to become the Boss, Akiya... are we going to be unemployed?"
Akiya coaxed him softly, "Don't worry. Someone will be willing to become the Boss."
After all, wasn't Mori Ougai the perfect example?
Mori Ougai was willing to become a slave to the organization and devote his entire life to the Port Mafia.
If the Port Mafia was already within his and Randou's grasp—something they could claim whenever they wished—and if they had no desire to see it destroyed, then all they had to do was make Mori Ougai their slave instead.
He was quite fond of the ever-pragmatic Mori-sensei and Elise.
Buy one, get one free.
…