Howl! Nightless City That Burns The Soul: Prologue

[holistar]

Location: Shopping District

〈Early June, the shopping district near Yumenosaki〉

Kaoru: (Ugh, this sucks.)

(Lately every day is wasted on entertaining higher-ups.)

(I understand that this is what we have to do right now, ’cause they’re all big names around the office and stuff, but we’re really doting on them. It’s like caring for the elderly.)

(If it was a cute girl instead… well, even if I was the one treating her it would still be a good time, but...)

(Agh, but I’m not even good at that lately either… Every time I see Anzu-chan I get super awkward.)

(I feel like I was off my game around the time of Repayment Fes. Like, am just some kind of boring guy who sits around and sighs all the time?)

(Maybe I deserve it, but I’m just not content with my life at a~ll.)

(Maybe I should get a pet and end up like all the other lonely members of society.)

(I’m pretty sure Starmony Dorm doesn’t have a rule against pets or anything; sometimes I see Leon-chan and all the other animals runnin’ around the huge courtyard outside the dorms.)

Koga: ………...

Kaoru: (Hm? Well, speak of the devil, I found a doggie. I wonder what he’s up to? He isn’t in his uniform and it’s pretty late at nightーno way he’s on his way back from school.)

(There are a lot of live houses and stores selling instruments around here. Maybe he came to get some maintenance done on his guitar.)

(Ahh, the live house… Right, that was another thing that was bugging me. No matter which way I look, I just see things to get stressed out by~ Man, it sucks to be a working adult.)

 

Koga: … Tch…!

Kaoru: (Hm? Kinda looks like he’s arguing with someone?)

(I thought about teasing him a little to distract him from his worries, like Senacchi does to underclassmen, but it really doesn’t seem like the right time for that.)

(Anyway, well, after seeing him like this I can’t just ignore him.)

He~y Koga-kun♪ What’cha doing in a place like this? Taking Leon-chan out for a walk?

Koga: Huh…? Look who we have here, if it ain’t Hakaze-senpai. You’re already graduated, the hell are you doin’ wandering around here?

Anyway, don’t be callin’ Leon “-chan” so damn easily. If you wanna be tight with him then ya gotta get my permission first!

Kaoru: Ahaha, you’re like an overprotective father♪

Koga: Hah? Ain’t it natural to wanna protect my pack?

Whatever, you’re actin’ way too familiar with Leon! You should be treatin’ him more like some kinda treasure that only gets shown to the public every thousand years!

Kaoru: Geez, he’s got such a look in his eyes...

Anyway, my family lives around here. Lately I’ve been having issues with the underground live house that I manage.

It’s easier to just talk to my dad about it directly, and while I’m here I’m just going to take a trip home for a few days.

Koga: Huh? Ain’t ya exaggerating a bit? Sayin’ it like it’s some big thing to go home when your family lives so close to the dorms?

Well, whatever. You guys listen the hell up and greet my senpai properly! He’s pretty flaky, but he’s got a lot of clout around here, so he ain’t a bad guy to have around~

...Hey!

Tch. They just took what I gave them and left.

Damn kids these days have no manners, right Hakaze-senpai?

Kaoru: Uh, you’re gonna say that, Koga-kun?

I don’t know if I should be asking... but there’s a chance it’s something dangerous so I’m just going to ask. Koga-kun, what are you doing here?

Koga: Huh? What’s it to ya, graduated senpai?

Kaoru: Yeah, I know it has nothing to do with me. I’ve graduated from Yumenosaki, but still, that doesn’t mean UNDEAD was disbanded.

I’m worried because it seemed like something criminal was going on. It looked like you were handing some envelopes to some sketchy-looking kids, but...

What was that that you gave them? Money or something? Are you getting bullied at school, and they’re extorting money from you? 

Koga: Hah? Don’t be stupid, you really think I look like some weakling?

Kaoru: Anyone can get bullied, weak or strong.

No matter how strong you are, standing out makes you a target if you’re on your own. You know all about what happened to Rei-kun, one of the Five Eccentrics, don’t you?

Koga: Why are you callin’ that guy “Rei-kun” so casually?

Kaoru: Eh~? Do I have to treat him like some kind of treasure that only gets shown to the public every thousand years?

I mean, I’m sure he wouldn’t like something like that, right?

Fufu. The fact you’re worried about names and little details like that is proof you’re exhausted. Koga-kun, you’re stressed out, aren’t you?

C’mon, wanna go eat somethin’ yummy with your onii-san?

Koga: The hell? You were just on your way home! Don’t wander around, hurry up and get home to your family!

Anyhow, quit acting like some know-it-all senpai and get your damn nose out of other people’s business. This is my problem.

Kaoru: ………...