TL Notes:
Ahem… I've changed the name Shikawa Ryuuji to Shibukawa Ryuuji. I just checked the raws and realized that "Shikawa Ryuuji" was a mistranslation… sigh.
Shibukawa Ryuuji is the MC of Tears of the Muse who's supposed to represent Tatsuhiko.
Also, sorry for the late update. Forgot to hit post. Oops (^～^;)ゞ
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From May to June, Asou Akiya took the risk of giving himself an extended vacation.
The decision proved to be entirely worthwhile.
Travel gave people more opportunities to spend time together. It allowed Randou and Shibusawa Tatsuhiko, two people who otherwise had little connection to one another, to discover common interests and find a surprising degree of agreement when it came to fashion and aesthetics. In the original story, they had never even met. By the time Shibusawa Tatsuhiko became involved in the Dragon's Head Conflict, Randou was already dead, and Tatsuhiko had missed his chance to encounter a Transcendant in Japan.
Before long, Asou Akiya would often catch sight of Randou flipping through a fashion magazine while discussing its contents with Tatsuhiko.
"Tatsuhiko, what do you think of this outfit?"
"It suits you very well, Randou-san."
"And this one. I'd like to see Akiya wear it."
"I know where to buy it."
"The luxury handbag from Tears of the Muse. I want a men's wallet version."
In response, Tatsuhiko kept every trace of his dangerous nature carefully hidden and answered with admirable tact.
"Of course, Randou-san. I'm also very interested in the luxury goods Akiya-sensei writes about. Once the finished products are made, I'll send some to both of you. Is the delivery address still the same as before?"
Randou nodded.
Tatsuhiko then asked, "May I help register the ideas from Akiya-sensei's novels?"
Randou smiled. "Of course. That way, you could even open your own studio dedicated to producing merchandise based on the novels. You might even establish a fashion brand of your own."
Tatsuhiko had never considered creating a brand before. His eyes grew thoughtful. "That sounds quite interesting."
Randou continued encouraging the young tailor who suited his tastes so perfectly. "Akiya is a teacher who excels at nurturing people's interests. The fact that he noticed your talent for craftsmanship means this is a path you're well suited for. From what I've seen in magazines, there aren't many Japanese designers who achieve international fame."
Tatsuhiko asked, "Is that what Akiya-sensei wants?"
Without a moment's hesitation, Randou nodded. "Yes."
Asou Akiya, who happened to be passing by while setting up a tent for their upcoming camping trip: "..."
Wait a second.
Had they already gone from discussing fashion shows to founding a fashion brand?
Seeing an opportunity, Asou Akiya promptly dragged away Tsushima Shuuji, who had been preparing to bother Tatsuhiko. Chances like this were rare—how often did Tatsuhiko get the chance to earn points with Randou?
"Shuuji, come here. I'll teach you how to pitch a tent and how to choose a good campsite for wilderness survival."
"...No thanks. I'll just watch."
Asou Akiya added another incentive. "If you help me save time setting up the tent, I'll teach you how to pick locks."
"Pick locks?"
"You know, the kind where you fiddle around for a bit near the lock, click-click, and then it suddenly pops open~."
"I want to learn—!" Tsushima Shuuji immediately went over to help.
By the time they finished setting up the tent, sweat covered his small face and he was panting from exhaustion. Throughout this journey, he had been constantly absorbing practical life skills from Asou Akiya. He was no longer the sheltered young master who never stepped beyond his family's gates.
He had memorized prices and learned how to bargain.
He understood the value of a single yen coin.
More and more knowledge poured relentlessly into his mind.
And he never stopped learning.
Greedily grasping everything he had missed, everything he had never had the chance to touch, everything that would one day allow him to stand independently in this world—these would become the richest and most rewarding years of his life.
Asou Akiya preserved fate, yet also broke it. He brought together people who were never meant to gather under the same roof.
Have you ever seen, Randou—the French Transcendent of the Bungo Stray Dogs world—Japan's "White Kirin," Shibusawa Tatsuhiko, and a Tsushima Shuuji who had yet to change his name, climbing a mountain at one in the morning to watch the sunrise together?
Have you ever seen Tatsuhiko burst out of his tent in his pajamas, clutching a harmless snake that had slithered into his bedding, and chase Tsushima Shuuji across the campsite in a murderous rage, at three in the morning?
Or have you ever seen Tatsuhiko, beneath a sky overflowing with stars in a world not yet heavily scarred by industrial pollution, use the white mist of Draconia to create the perfect atmosphere for photographs?
The paths of art, design, and new forms of beauty had opened beforea Shibusaqwaa Tatsuhiko.
Little by little, Asou Akiya was changing Tatsuhiko.
At the same time, he was also bringing "Dazai Osamu" into existence.
He hoped the former would find friends.
He looked forward to the day the latter would be completely transformed.
Inside a tent in Kumamoto Prefecture, Asou Akiya lay with his hands folded behind his head, gazing at the transparent panel built into the roof. Through it, he could see the dark night sky and a pale bluish-white moon hanging above.
"Still awake?"
Sensing that the person beside him had not fallen asleep, Randou propped himself up on one arm. His long black curls spilled between them. The silk pajama shirt he wore revealed glimpses of pale skin beneath the thin fabric. Several buttons at the collar had been left undone, and the loosened shirt had slipped halfway down one shoulder, concealing and revealing just enough. This beautiful Frenchman, languid and irresistible, was radiating his charm without the slightest restraint.
Asou Akiya sighed softly. "The stars aren't very visible tonight. I've been looking at the moon instead. It's a pale bluish-white."
Beneath the brilliant moon, the stars faded into obscurity.
Randou only half understood Japanese customs and traditions.
"Does it have some special meaning?"
Warmth filled those mysterious black eyes that always seemed capable of seeing straight into a person's soul.
"I saw our future."
One day— The bright moonlight would also turn into that pale bluish-white glow.
"We're... very happy."
The black-haired young man twined a lock of his lover's long hair around his finger and whispered in Randou's ear as Natsume Souseki's disciple:
"Randou, did you know? Natsume-sensei criticized me over the phone for expressing love too superficially. He said all I know how to do is say sweet words out loud, and that love should have another way of being expressed."
The moment the conversation turned to such a topic, Randou was no longer sleepy. A smile danced in his eyes as he looked at him.
"The moon is beautiful tonight."
Asou Akiya gazed tenderly at his own "moon."
There had once been a time when Randou was completely beyond his reach, when loving him had felt like a toad dreaming of eating swan meat. He had gained Randou's trust only after the other's amnesia.
Yet now, with those few words, Randou suddenly understood a kind of romance that many French people would never understand.
It was the delicate sentiment unique to this nation in the Far East.
"Strange, I actually feel a little shy," Randou said with a soft laugh. "Even though we've already done everything there is to do."
The words, and the way Akiya looked at him, filled him with both joy and bashfulness.
He wrapped his arms around Asou Akiya and, with a heart as pure and unblemished as ever, savored the love they shared.
Asou Akiya brushed his fingertips across Randou's cheek.
"Randou is the best."
In the original timeline, Randou suffered from severe psychological trauma. He was intensely sensitive to the cold and unable to truly open his heart to anyone. He had no friends, no family, and no lover. Like a solitary silhouette sitting before a fireplace and watching the flames burn, he had lost the faith that once sustained him.
Soft whispers and quiet laughter continued into the night.
The two people camping nearby found themselves unable to sleep.
In the second tent, Tsushima Shuuji rolled over and silently swore to himself: "Once I've learned all of your pickup lines, I'll be able to use them to trick other people."
In the third tent, Shibusawa Tatsuhiko lay awake, expressionless as he pondered a philosophical question.
What was love?
What kind of influence did it have on human beings? Why would someone as rational as Akiya-sensei fall into it so deeply, becoming utterly devoted and allowing his emotions to guide his actions?
Wasn't Randou-san supposed to be Akiya-sensei's "weakness"?
His conclusion was—
If you were ever going to fall in love, then your partner shouldn't be someone who would hold you back.
The next morning, Asou Akiya and Randou looked refreshed and full of energy. Trailing behind them were Shibusawa Tatsuhiko and Tsushima Shuuji, both of whom had clearly not slept well.
As they continued their trip through the famous tourist areas of Kumamoto Prefecture, they also witnessed the unexpected poverty of the surrounding mountain communities.
Asou Akiya posed a question to Shibusawa Tatsuhiko.
"Can you think of the simplest way to give these people hope?"
Shibusawa Tatsuhiko put his mind to work and quickly identified what he believed to be the core issue.
"You want them to escape poverty and become prosperous? That would require cooperation with the local government. The simplest solution would be to provide sufficient support to the area and encourage the government to direct more resources and attention toward Kumamoto Prefecture."
Asou Akiya then turned to Tsushima Shuuji. "And what do you think?"
Tsushima Shuuji glanced toward the mountainous region, where transporting supplies was difficult, and his mind went blank for a rare second.
Give Kumamoto Prefecture on Kyushu Island hope?
How?
June was the rainy season. Heavy rains were forecast to fall over Kumamoto for the next several days. They would be leaving soon as well, heading to neighboring Kagoshima Prefecture to try Kagoshima ramen and Sakurajima daikon radishes.
"What about Randou?" Asou Akiya didn't let Randou off the hook, either.
"Don't ask me..." Randou replied with a polite smile, refusing to participate.
"Hope is a spark that can start a prairie fire," Asou Akiya said. "I want you to understand what hope means. It isn't necessarily something troublesome that people should avoid."
He instructed Tsushima Shuuji to purchase the materials he needed. Then he drew a design sketch and had Shibusawa Tatsuhiko help bring it to life. To get everyone involved, he even asked Randou to gather some local children to watch the process.
In the end, with the curiosity and enthusiastic assistance of the local residents, a mascot costume was completed.
It resembled an upright black bear.
The bear wore a warm, friendly smile. Its cheeks were rosy red, while the insides of its ears and the area around its mouth were covered in white fur.
Shibusawa Tatsuhiko had made the costume according to Tsushima Shuuji's height, so it was child-sized and not intimidating at all.
With Asou Akiya's help, Tsushima Shuuji climbed into the costume and fastened it properly. Curious, he patted the costume's thick bear paws. The fabric was excellent, but before long he was drenched in sweat.
Wearing a bear mascot suit in June was simply too hot!
The legendary SSR card: Kumamon Shuuji!
Very quickly, local children began gathering around Tsushima Shuuji.
The children stared at him with innocent, curious eyes. Excitedly, they gathered around him and shouted:
"Mom! There's a really cute animal over here!"
The first thing they fell in love with was the mascot's plump, cuddly appearance.
Shibusawa Tatsuhiko looked at the costume he had helped create and felt a trace of confusion.
"What is the point of this?"
Could a mascot really bring hope?
Asou Akiya replied, "Its name is Kumamon. It was born as a mascot."
Then he turned to the officials from Kumamoto Prefecture, who had traveled all the way there and were now wiping sweat from their brows, and smiled.
"It will become Kumamoto's Minister of Happiness."
"Tatsuhiko is the one who created it. Shuuji is the first person to wear it."
"And we are its witnesses."
Asou Akiya took Randou's hand.
"Kumamon is a public-interest mascot. Its image and every bit of economic value it generates will belong entirely to Kumamoto Prefecture. It may only be used to develop local industries. It represents hope, encouragement, and innocence. It is also the finest welcome that can be offered to visitors from afar."
Although Natsume Souseki had no idea what Asou Akiya intended to do, his disciple had said that he wanted to improve the poverty-stricken conditions of Kumamoto Prefecture. That alone was enough for him to gladly grant the request.
The officials, unaware of Asou Akiya's identity, trembled with nervousness, assuming he was someone sent from higher up.
Asou Akiya gestured toward Tsushima Shuuji.
"Shuuji-kun, try covering your mouth!"
In front of officials and other outsiders, Asou Akiya no longer called him simply "Shuuji." Instead, he used the more affectionate "Shuuji-kun."
Hearing the instruction, Tsushima Shuuji instinctively copied what he meant.
The Kumamon mascot, standing less than one and a half meters tall, leaned forward slightly, crouched down, and covered its mouth.
The surrounding children suddenly erupted into cheers, accompanied by shrieks from several girls.
"So cute!"
"I want a picture!"
"This is the cutest bear I've ever seen!"
Without anyone teaching him, Tsushima Shuuji naturally began striking all sorts of poses. Hidden inside the costume, he felt no embarrassment whatsoever and acted with complete confidence.
The screams only grew louder and louder.
Adorable.
Ridiculous.
Adorably ridiculous.
Shibusawa Tatsuhiko: "..."
The officials were utterly bewildered, yet even they could not help laughing when they saw Kumamon. It truly was something unique. Even their own children would undoubtedly love it.
After listening to Asou Akiya's explanation of the mascot concept, they finally understood.
"Thank you for designing a mascot for Kumamoto Prefecture!"
Asou Akiya shook his head. "I didn't design it. The volcanic landscape of this region gave it its appearance. It was born from innocence and hope. It belongs to Kumamoto Prefecture. It is your Director of Sales and your Minister of Happiness."
The moment they heard that this was a public-interest project, their favorable impression of him immediately soared.
"Director of Sales and Minister of Happiness? That certainly sounds special. No problem—we'll promote it!"
If an ordinary person suddenly parachuted into a ministerial position, there would definitely be objections.
But a bear?
A bear was perfectly fine.
Be as high-ranking as you like.
And thus, the first-ever "Minister of Happiness" of Kumamoto Prefecture was born.
Thanks to Asou Akiya's mischievous sense of humor, a bewildered Tsushima Shuuji was dragged off for a photo shoot. In the form of the mascot Kumamon, his image would remain in Kumamoto forever, becoming one of the prefecture's iconic symbols.
The designer, the creator, and the person inside the costume all remained anonymous volunteers.
The next day, they left Kumamoto Prefecture.
Yet Kumamoto would forever retain traces of their presence, preserving them as an inseparable part of its history.
At night, during phone calls with his family, Asou Akiya chatted in turn with Ranpo and Chuuya. He assigned them homework while catching up on their recent lives and asking how they were doing.
Meanwhile, Tsushima Shuuji had been assigned a short essay on the theme of "Kumamoto Prefecture."
Holding his pen, he stared blankly at the empty sheet of paper before him.
After a long while—
His thoughts drifted elsewhere. His hand seemed to move of its own accord, casually sketching a simple Kumamon.
The bear was smiling.
Just as he himself was smiling beneath a thick shell.
"...Damn it."
Tsushima Shuuji threw down his pen and collapsed onto the table in the inn. "How am I supposed to hate him now?"
He was cheating, too terrifying!
How could an adult like that possibly exist?!
I only stayed behind to learn useful skills so I could become independent sooner and take advantage of his willingness to teach me. I definitely didn't stay because I wanted to be taken home and raised like some stray cat or dog!
Tsushima Shuuji had occasionally overheard conversations between Asou Akiya and Randou over the phone. Through various bits and pieces, he had learned that they were raising two children who were not related to them by blood. The older one was fifteen and already working, while the younger was twelve and had been firmly packed off to school by his two guardians.
The reason Asou Akiya and Randou had set out on this trip was actually a bit more complicated.
The Boss of the Port Mafia in Yokohama had been in poor health and had sent the two of them to find a doctor. Instead, they had neglected their duties and gone traveling.
And during that journey, they had managed to fish Tsushima Shuuji out of the Tsushima family.
Tsushima Shuuji felt that things could not continue like this.
This was bad.
Really bad.
At this rate, he would fall right into their trap!
One day, he would be managed and guided in every aspect of his life, changed without even realizing it. It was more frightening than brainwashing.
If he had to describe it, it would be like that idiot Shibukawa Ryuuji.
What was that? His name was actually Shibusawa Tatsuhiko?
Whatever, who cares.
Anyone who wore a lily braid had no right to complain about having their name changed!
No matter how much he tossed and turned, Tsushima Shuuji could not think of a good solution. In the end, he angrily began writing his essay.
[You want me to be "hope", but I'd rather be "misfortune".]
[Definitely not good fortune!]
[They're never getting rich!]
[Kumamoto is doomed! Doomed, I say! And it's all Asou Akiya's fault!]
Completely unaware of how childish his writing was, Tsushima Shuuji felt quite pleased with himself and handed it in.
Asou Akiya's evaluation of the essay consisted of a single sentence: "Thank you for the curse."
Asou Akiya thought to himself with amusement:
[Even if you end up poor, everyone else certainly won't become poor because of you.]
...
June 19th—a special day.
The wounds on Tsushima Shuuji's hands had healed. The bandages, however, remained. He had simply replaced them with fresh ones to conceal the scars left behind by his suicide attempts.
For the first time, he spent his twelfth birthday out in the wider world.
And tomorrow, they would be returning to Yokohama, the economic center of Kanagawa Prefecture...
Randou gave Tsushima Shuuji a pair of leather shoes.
Asou Akiya gave him a mobile phone.
Shibusawa Tatsuhiko, having thoroughly documented someone's bean-sprout-like physique, threw himself into tailoring and made a complete outfit to match the shoes. Dressed in it, Tsushima Shuuji looked every bit the young gentleman.
Everything he wore had been given to him by those three.
Standing before the mirror, his lone visible hazel eye stared back at his reflection.
This time, he no longer looked sickly and frail.
Although his right eye was still covered by a bandage, a faint flush colored his cheeks, and traces of baby fat remained on his face. He looked like a young master who had run away from home, not a lonely orphan with nowhere to belong.
He remained silent.
His attempt to maintain his image had failed.
The fundamental reason was that those three always managed to drive away his gloom and loneliness.
"I don't want to be a bird trapped in a cage anymore... Even if it's a sanctuary you've given me, I've grown tired of staying in one place."
Speaking softly to himself, Tsushima Shuuji continued: "You taught me that. You taught me to endure the pain of living and keep searching for the wonderful things this world has to offer."
Using the lock-picking skills he had learned, Tsushima Shuuji quietly opened the door to Shibusawa Tatsuhiko's room.
The room was empty.
Its owner had gone off to play third wheel with Asou Akiya and Randou.
He took everything of value from the room, leaving behind only a crumpled wad of draft paper.
Then he said goodbye to this place.
The cat slipped away as slickly as a fish, yet, like a bird, it flew off in pursuit of freedom.
Ten minutes later.
Shibusawa Tatsuhiko returned. He calmly surveyed the mess his room had become without the slightest trace of distress. Money was nothing more than an external possession. The only things he truly valued were the novel tucked into his pocket and the blue ribbon tied around his head.
The white-haired boy bent down unhurriedly and picked up the crumpled paper. As he unfolded it, surprise flickered across his face.
Written on it was a short story of roughly a hundred words.
"Akiya-sensei, look."
"...Mm."
Asou Akiya heard the commotion from the next room but made no move to come over. He wanted to leave the choice entirely to him. Whether Tsushima Shuuji chose to leave or stay, Akiya had complete faith in the child he had carefully guided for so long.
If he chose to leave, it would be because he carried hope in his heart.
If he chose to stay, it would be because he had finally let go of his past.
The child was so brilliant that he could see through most of the world's truths. He possessed an instinctive sensitivity to the human heart, and the only thing he had lacked is the experience in how to live. But that, for the time being, had been made up for.
After reading the story and the signature beneath it, Akiya felt no sadness. Instead, excitement lit up his face as he showed it to Rimbaud.
"That's wonderful!"
"Randou, this child has finally figured it out!"
The sorrowful Tsushima Shuuji no longer existed.
The one who survived was the clear-eyed Dazai Osamu.
They still owed him the protection of Santa Claus and the gods, along with the countless mysteries of the world waiting for him to unravel.
The next second, Asou Akiya said wistfully, "It's a shame I never got to raise him..."
The corner of Randou's mouth twitched.
The ability No Longer Human is truly incredible—it could even nullify Akiya's overwhelming charm!
The French kitty admits defeat.jpg
...
Kumamon's Short Story
There once was an unhappy bear that was kept in captivity by wicked people.
Later, kind people who cherished and protected animals set it free. It went to Kumamoto Prefecture, where it became the "Minister of Happiness."
It had a round head and a round belly, and its cheeks were as red as two apples. Rumor had it they were cut from a piece of red cloth and stuck onto its face, where they stayed forever.
It became the region's mascot, known as Kumamon. It never attacked anyone and remained there with its clumsy, lovable demeanor, smiling every single day...
—Dazai Osamu.