nikkitranslates | [BMC] Personal Story: Tomose Onda

PERSONAL STORY: Tomose Onda

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"...This is really tasty! I wanna eat it again tomorrow!"

"Haha. There we go again as always, our usual glutton."

"Fufu. No matter how many times I hear it, it's fine as long as you're happy. I'm glad it's delicious."

"Then, make it again, okay--"

"If I forget everything, everything will end..."

"This gun's trigger is much lighter."

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Tomose Onda: As planned, I have accompanied the client to the airport to meet up with the one who arrived to pick them up.

Tomose: After the handover, I made sure they boarded the flight on schedule. That is all.

[Yuzuru Kise: Noted on this. Thanks.]

Tomose: (...Alright.)

I nonchalantly glance at my watch. It is exactly 1:00. After hurriedly finishing my report, I take a sip of the water I bought for the first time in half a day. There is a slight sound as I lit the cigarette in my mouth. Perhaps noticing that I am not in a hurry, Yuzuru continued to talk a bit.

[Yuzuru: I'm really glad this ended safely for everyone. I thought it was a bit dangerous this time.]

Tomose: There wasn't any problem. The only reason Kamiya and Manami were left out was because of the solo-escort system as well as language issues.

[Yuzuru: I see...Then that is even better.]

Tomose: (...How good-natured as usual.)

Sincere relief can be heard from the voice through the speaker. I let out a long breath along the smoke I exhaled.

[Yuzuru: It's fine to submit the report after the holiday, so take it easy during the three-day weekend starting tomorrow.]

[Yuzuru: I'll just contact you as soon as we set the time for the meeting on Tuesday.]

Tomose: Understood.

[Yuzuru: Alright then. Good job.]

Tomose: ...Three days, huh.

No matter how much I think about it, what's left are small chores that can be counted in one hand. It feels like it's beyond my control even before I started.

Tomose: (Anyway for now, I'll buy several books on my way home...)

Just then, I see an airplane taking off through the car's windshield. I casually check my watch again. Judging by the time, that plane might have been the one the client is on.

Tomose: .....

I didn't ask about any of the client's background. He did say he couldn't rely on any other bodyguards, so even if he is doing something...

...He probably isn't a bad person.

Tomose: (Whether that is better or worse for him, I don't know.)

"Neither of us seem to be living a life that allows us to pray to god, so let's not get into pointless chatter about divine protection or anything like that."

"Just...I hope my devil's luck is inexhaustible."

I remember the words he told me before we parted, with a rough way of speaking that is a little unbecoming in that elegant role play.

Tomose: ...The luck does run out, sir. Unfortunately, that's always the case.

There's no such thing as inexhaustible luck. All the more devil's luck. If it doesn't run out, then that becomes a matter of some type of divine protection or something.

Tomose: (...That's why.)

I turn toward the direction of the plane, which is getting smaller and smaller. Over there, that town is located, in a place too far away to be called close, but also too close to be called far away.

Tomose: (At least, don't let it run out from that side.)

I smoke the cigarette again before lightly rubbing it and then dropping it on the ashtray. I watch the thin smoke rising from the ashtray until it finally breaks off and disappears. As always I do a small prayer, with no basis except for my peace of mind.

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Tomose: (...Ah.)

As I opened the door to the living room, I caught a familiar scent. The room is filled with gentle warmth, and when I peer into the kitchen, Yu is standing there as expected.

Tomose: I'm home.

Yu: Welcome back. How about the client?

Tomose: Sent him off safely.

Yu: I see. Good work. Are you eating right away? I can whip up something.

Tomose: Ah...how about you?

Yu: I'm about to eat, too.

Tomose: Then I will.

Yu: It's not like I was waiting for you, it just a coincidence. So don't worry about it.

"I am not," I think as I sit down on the sofa. The moment I sit down, I am suddenly overcome by sleepiness.

Tomose: (...The weather is nice.)

Yu: Tomose, while you're still awake, your jacket...

Tomose: I wasn't sleeping.

Yu: Your eyes are not open.

Tomose: I just closed them for a bit.

Yu: Don't sleep while eating, ok.

Tomose: Maybe.

Yu: Maybe?

He asks it again in astonishment, not really minding that I do not reply. Soon after, without asking anything else, Yu skillfully set two plates on the table.

Tomose: (Ah, it's this after all.)

It is a soup-like stew, with no particular name, made with chicken and vegetables simmered in spices. Perhaps, this is the dish Yu has often made after work in the past.

Tomose: Thank you for the meal.

Tomose: (...Hm?)

The ingredients, even the color of the soup, are the same. It's the usual dish. But when I eat a spoonful, I immediately think, "this is different."

Tomose: Yu. This taste...

Yu: What about it?

Tomose: Did you change it? I can tell more than usual.

Yu: Is that so?

Tomose: It's just it seems a little more concentrated than usual.

Yu: I didn't change the flavor. I just adjusted the type and amount of spices I used to make the aroma stand out more.

Yu: It's not bad.

Tomose: .....

Yu has always been sensitive to smells. But one day he suddenly started using spices he didn't even like. He said the reason was he "became interested in cooking."

The lie was excessively obvious and it was easy to understand that it was for my sake, that I couldn't point it out. Instead, I decided that no matter what, I will eat whatever he serves me.

Tomose: ....

I scoop up another mouthful and chew more carefully than before. I try to perceive what has changed as much as I can, then slowly swallow it.

Tomose: It's delicious.

Yu: I see. Then, I'll make it again.

Tomose: (--Ah.)

As if his satisfied face and words pulled a trigger, the moment passed by without warning.

Tomose: (...Come to think of it, it's been quite a while since I last went there.)

Yu: By the way, you bought quite a lot (of books). Are you gonna spend the entire holiday just reading?

Tomose: I'll probably really do that. I don't have any big plans, let alone small ones.

Tomose: Well, I haven't been to my dad's house for a while. Maybe I'll go somewhere.

Yu: .....

After a short pause, Yu just responded with another, "I see."

At the dining table where the conversation got cut off as if it lost sight of its destination, only the aroma lingers in the air.

Feeling as if an unforgettable yet irrecoverable rusty smell invades the depths of my nose, I take a long deep breath.

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