| I stopped by the candy shop after work as always. |
| My nerves that were high-strung from work, as well as the heart I’d firmly locked away –
they’re gently enveloped by the bustling laughter of the shop owner and the children. |
| “See ya, Misha!” |
| “Yup. Take care on your way home.” |
| Calling August by his other name, the children head home.
August gathered information while working undercover as Misha, the owner of this candy shop. |
| Members of the organization would never disclose information regarding their family, if they had any.
They’d keep it a secret their entire life. |
| The only ones who’d disclose everything are –
my “family”, as well as my fellow members of the organization – August and April. |
| When the other customers have left the shop, August turned towards me. |
| “Welcome home.” |
| “I’m back.” |
| I felt my shoulders relax.
Greeting your family after they’ve arrived home——this is one of the things August taught me. |
| “Want some too?” |
| August said, holding out some cookies. |
| “They’re cookies from another country; write a wish on the wrapping paper and it’ll come true.
We’ve recently started selling imported sweets too.” |
| “...Your wish will come true?” |
| “Well, I was the one who added that bit about writing on the wrapping paper.” |
| “...Fake.” |
| “Apparently it really does grant wishes though.” |
| “Hmm...” |
| “What do you think?” |
| “...Marshmallows are better.” |
| “You’re the same as ever. You’re not writing a wish?” |
| “...My wish?” |
| “Yeah. Of course it would be your wish, December.” |
| “...I can’t think of one.” |
| “The children wrote lots of different stuff earlier – like something about their crush, or wanting to be rich. Oh, one wrote that he wanted to be good at drawing.” |
| “Hmm...” |
| “Look, he drew this portrait. He said he wanted to be a painter.” |
| “...What about you, August?” |
| “Let’s see——” |
| |
| Hisoka | That’s right... These were the cookies from back then... |
| August’s wish... What was it? |
| ...I can’t remember. |
| |
| “I was the one who invited you to the organization, so I didn’t want either of you to die, no matter what...
Forget about me and the organization, and live a new life...” |
| “August...” |
| “Live...” |
| |
| Hisoka | (I may not be able to grant the wish August wrote on the cookies, but I can grant what he wished for in his final moments.) |
| (To forget everything, throw “December” away, and to live as “Mikage Hisoka”——) |
| (That was August’s wish, and now my own wish.) |
| (If I throw my past and the organization away, then I’m sure I’ll be able to disclose everything to the Winter Troupe without hesitation.) |
| (To them – who, without even asking anything about it – told me they’d carry my crime together with me...) |
| (If I throw away everything about the organization, everything about “August”, then...) |
| ... |
| |
| Izumi | ... |
| (Hisoka-san always seemed like he had the same level of motivation in every performance, but I feel like he’s more enthusiastic this time.) |
| (He doesn’t look like the type to change just because he’s the lead actor, so this is kind of unexpected...) |
| All right, let’s stop here for today... |
| Hisoka | Zzz... |
| Azuma | Oh, looks like his battery has run out. |
| Tasuku | Geez, just when I thought he was giving it his all since he’s the lead. In the end he’s just like usual. |
| Tsumugi | But somehow, I feel a little relieved. |
| Izumi | True... |
| Tasuku | I’m taking him to his room. |
| Guy | Do you need help? |
| Tasuku | No, I’ll be fine on my own. |
| Homare | ...Hmm. |
| Izumi | Homare-san, is something wrong? |
| Homare | ...No, it’s nothing. |
| Izumi | ? |
| |
| Izumi | Hah, I’m hungry. |
| Sakuya | I wonder what tonight’s menu is. |
| Tsumugi | ...Hm? Where’s Hisoka-kun? |
| Homare | Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen him since practice ended. |
| Tasuku | I bet he’s sleeping again somewhere. |
| Chikage | He’ll wake up eventually when he gets hungry. |
| Guy | It didn’t look like he ate lunch today either though. |
| Izumi | Huh? |
| Sakuya | I wonder if he got full from marshmallows again. |
| Homare | ...No, to tell you the truth, he has not been eating as many marshmallows lately. |
| Tsumugi | Huh? |
| Homare | He usually consumes five bags a day. However, recently he has finished no more than two bags. |
| Tasuku | Even that is plenty enough though. |
| Guy | Maybe he’s getting fit for his lead role? |
| Chikage | There’s no way he’d do that. |
| Tsumugi | I wonder if something happened? For him to suddenly not eat as much... |
| Izumi | We should probably be a little careful and check on how he’s doing. |
| Homare | Indeed. |
