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“What’s your favorite season?”
An innocuous question from Kenji, who’s standing beside Ryuunosuke’s office desk.
Ryuunosuke takes a moment to consider it. Not because he doesn’t have an answer ready, but because he respects his coworker and wants to give his question the proper respect in turn. “I would say either Autumn or Spring, as the mild weather is more conducive to homelessness than extreme temperatures.”
Out of the corner of his eyes, Tanizaki winces. The boy is rather sensitive, as he recalls the first day they met when he was immediately uncomfortable upon learning the origin of Ryuunosuke's dislike for dogs.
Kenji taps a finger to his chin. “That does make sense. But,” and the bright smile returns to his face. “Since you're here with us, I hope that you can enjoy summer and winter now too.”
This gives Ryuunosuke pause. He’s never thought about that benefit before. The concept of being able to “slow down” and enjoy things is foreign to him.
But now that he’s employed with the Agency, he can have these new experiences and make new memories.
This is the first time Ryuunosuke has ever attended Tanabata. Beautifully lit lanterns glitter like stars pulled from the night sky, and stalks of bamboo are filled with papers the color of rainbows. Then there's the endless food and game stands. It’s all so overwhelming and yet so mundane.
A glimpse into a life that Ryuunosuke had never known before.
He’s pulled in every direction by the other Agency members. Kenji makes him sample nearly every food offered (the matcha kakigori and yakisoba being his personal favorites). Tanizaki and Naomi challenge him to goldfish and super-ball scooping and proceed to trounce him every round (then gave him an octopus plush doll anyway).
Kunikida-san and Oda-senpai compete in gun shooting, as the latter’s orphans cheer him on. Yosano-sensei sneaks behind him and slips on an Oni mask, then laughs with Ranpo-san as they walk away.
Ryuunosuke commits to more training with Oda-senpai to prevent future sneak attacks, but he wears the mask for the night’s duration as he clutches the plush.
New Year’s Eve in Yokohama Chinatown is a bustling mess, with massive crowds pushing around as they race to the temples in time for the countdown and lion dances.
The lanterns and multi-colored streamers, combined with the extravagant reds and golds of the Chinese architecture and guardian statues, are quite unlike anything he’s ever seen. Kenji and Tanizaki are, to his embarrassment, forced to guide him as he struggles to take in all the sights before him.
The Agency members take care to stay together in the crowd, eventually arrive at Mazu Temple. Naturally, it’s filled to the brim with people waiting to bring in the new year just as they are.
“Akutagawa-san! Remember what we taught you to say after you hear the final bell.” Naomi smiles, clutching Tanizaki’s arm.
Ryuunosuke nods, expression set in stone. “Understood, I’ll carry out my role without fail.”
“You don’t need to take it that seriously…” Tanizaki lightly elbows him, smiling as well.
Kunikida-san finishes writing in his Ideals, then adjusts his glasses. “Take care to properly time it. We must bring in the New Year in an orderly fashion—” Then one of Oda-senpai’s orphans jumps up and grabs his Ideals and Kunikida-san immediately gives chase.
Near them, Ranpo-san snacks on some mitarashi dango as he points and laughs. Yosano-sensei laughs along, her face flush from the sake she’s already partaking in. The President is also drinking, but much more modestly.
Oda-senpai stands next to Ryuunosuke and squeezes his shoulder, his placid expression holding a bit of warmth. “I hope the new year is an even better one for you.”
He's surrounded by the Agency members, people who took him in when he had nothing, and continue to help him even now. People who are his comrades, and whom he’s slowly coming to see as his family.
Someday, he’ll be able to share all that is precious to him with Gin too.