midn

(Plays the guitar)

How... How's that? Sounds awesome, right?

Ugh...

My... your music truly leaves an impression.

(Now that's a master BSer at work.)

Please, continue.

(You sure? I need to put a little more distance between me and that.)

Hah... Haha! Need an encore? Try this on for size! I-I wrote this piece just two days ago!

(Plays the guitar)

Okay, what the fricking shit is this? Boss, this crap's terrible!

Yeah, if you're gonna keep torturing our ears, we're outta here!

Hey...! What are you saying?!

My music's brilliant... What do you know? How dare you talk smack about my art!

You're the one ruining our drinks with all that noise, and you're complaining? Buzz off, kid. Go back to your room and do your homework!

Is my music bad?

Hm... would you like to hear the truth?

Please...

My musician friend, I'm afraid you don't have much talent for music.

No... That's not true!

Please calm down. Even without talent, a man has the right to chase his dreams.

And as long as you persist down this path...

Enough!

If I don't have talent, then this is all meaningless... Music... guitar... Screw it all!

This is a beauty of a guitar. You should be more gentle with her.

(Strums a few chords)

How'd you...

Hey, that's a good one! Now that's more like it!

Oh, new guy playing, huh? Boss, you hear this? If you're doing live music, this is the guy you should hire!

You flatter me, but I am not a musician. I merely tried my hand at guitar for a few months to entertain my customers and help them relax.

What... Come on, man, you're just here to ruin my day, aren't you?

Now that's not quite right, my young musician friend.

You're the one who tried to ruin your beloved instrument, not me.

I could hand you your guitar back, but have you really put thought to how you will hold it?

There is a price to pay for fulfilling your dreams. And it costs not only sweat, but money as well... Are you sure you've made the proper preparations?

Money... Right... I don't have money!

But I'll have money real soon! I hooked up with that gang already, and I'll be raking in lots of dough if I spend the next couple days away from home—

What was that for... *cough*... How dare you throw wine in my face!

Apologies, my hand slipped.

Your hand slipped...?

Perhaps that cleared your head a little?

I...

There are many ways one can use a fine wine, and this is the most wasteful way there is.

However, if you keep telling me you plan to work with the gangs, I don't mind wasting a few more glasses with you, until you have a perfectly clear head.

S-Stop it already!

It's just making my old man cough up some money! You're the one who told me to prepare some money. Why are you against this?

My musician friend, you never needed my support. Not anyone else's either, for that matter.

Perhaps you'll find yourself a few coins richer by doing this, but that is not what I mean by 'preparation.'

Otherwise, tell me this: have you ever wondered how your parents feel about this turn of events?

How they feel...? I bet they're overjoyed now that they finally got rid of me!

Or perhaps... they are crying their eyes out, worried for your safety?

No way... No way in hell.

You don't believe me, or perhaps you can't bring yourself to believe me?

If you haven't thought it through, how are you so sure you can bear the consequences for you and your parents?

I...

What consequences... I have no idea?

Just who are you anyway?

Apologies for not introducing myself sooner. I am an operator from Rhodes Island, and this sullen-looking Reproba gentleman is my partner.

Rhodes Island?! That's the company that sends my mother medicine...

Are you... Are you here to look for me? Did my mother...

If my eyes do not deceive me, it seems you are worried about your mother?

No... definitely not!

It's not so bad to look back every now and then, before you set out on a journey chasing your dreams.

If you want to go home and check on your family, my partner and I will be waiting for you at the door.

Okay...

Oh?

Mission complete—Judging from your expression, you find yourself once again stunned by my beautiful performance.

I'm just wondering... what do we do if the prick doesn't show? I don't wanna waste my strength knocking him out.

He will be here.

Back already? I was expecting you to take longer.

Our speed is thanks to my brilliant performing. Now if I fail to get five hours of sleep, my handsomeness will take a hit tomorrow.

I read the brief you filed on your way back. So the boy actually ran away from home?

Orchid, my love, please do not hesitate to compliment the accuracy of my predictions.

Sounds like you got all the compliments taken care of yourself...

That boy... He has the gall to work with the gangs to swindle his parents' money. Money they need for his mother's life! And they almost handed it right to them.

Maybe we should've let the cops arrest him. That'd show him what a big mistake he made.

Worry not, Orchid. Before real tragedy could unfold, the boy who wandered astray managed to find his way back to the right path.

You sure he won't act out again?

My team leader, could you give me a little more credit?

It's not often I agree with this guy.

The kid was crying his eyes out in his arms. Even got my fur dirty.

Is this another one of the Devil of the Eastern Night's 'special powers?'

He stood outside their front door and told the kid everything he went through, and that's how the kid turned out. Decided he was some kind of mentor. Almost didn't let him go.

What he went through?

Midnight, you still haven't told us about you and your parents.

My love, I never expected you to show such a keen interest in me...

I really wish I could say I'm not showing any interest in you whatsoever, but...

Just this once, I'll listen to whatever you have to say. No, not just me. Spot too—

You dragging me into this?

Normally, you would have already snuck out of the room.

Alright, fine. Lay it on us, Midnight.

I am moved, and I suppose it's only proper if I give you two a hug? Orchid, it's a shame you aren't here in person. I have only Spot to bring into my embrace—

Just tell the story already and keep your hands to yourself. We're never doing this again.

Well... You already heard much of the story just now.

You mean that thing about your old man beating you to a pulp out in the snow with a family heirloom sword? Where you still made the decision to leave home and chase your dreams, and you made it to the top of your industry after lots of hardships and obstacles?

Only the getting beaten part was new. The rest I've heard so many times, my ear fur almost froze over.

What happened after that isn't nearly as spectacular... On the contrary, it's incredibly boring.

After I found my footing, I started sending some money back home every month. My mother wrote me every so often, but my father...

Knowing him, he would never forgive me. I didn't want to stoke his ire any more, so we haven't had any contact at all.

Did you ever tell them you left Higashi, and about your disease?

Orchid, my love. You've worked away from your family all these years, but you haven't told your parents about all your worries at work, have you?