Have Mercy, ■■■■, on Me 14

Present day, soon after discovering the mysterious tin

Hokuto: —So, what happened after you guys ran into that suspicious person?

Subaru: Yeah, seriously. Quit beating around the bush and tell us already!

Hiyori: There’s nothing really left to say! Everything after that is pretty simple.

I confronted the suspicious person, I beautifully defeated the enemy standing in our way, and it ended with a grand finale! And we all lived happily ever after.

Subaru: Huh? Don’t you think that ending’s kinda messy?

If this was a manga, you’d want some breath-taking battle to start at this point.

Hiyori: What do you want me to say? This is something that happened in reality, you know.

That’s your problem if you expect it to be the same sort of gritty, action-packed manga that Jun-kun likes to read.

Subaru: I guess you’re right, but still. Then what did the suspicious person want, anyway?

Hokuto: Right. We know they were after the mysterious safe, but we have no idea why.

So what was even inside the safe? And how was it related to the photo of Ran-senpai as a child?

Hiyori: Oh, come on, Hokuto-kun. You’re worrying way too much about the small details.

Hokuto: These aren’t small details. If nothing else, I can’t accept you trying to wrap things up in a “happily ever after.”

Pulling happiness out of nowhere doesn’t feel right.

Hiyori: Mmm. I mean, even if I told you the truth, I think you’d feel the same way, though.

Well, as for the photo, I suppose it was something the suspicious person had on hand from the start.

That person probably assumed Nagisa-kun was in possession of the safe and was carrying it around to help recognize him, don’t you think?

It’s not like Nagisa-kun had the photo with him, and it wouldn’t make any sense at all for it to be so conveniently lying on the side of the road.

And so, the person likely dropped it by accident when trying to run away after I found him.

But we never found out his exact motives, and we still don’t know what was inside the safe.

Subaru: Huh?! What do you mean you don’t know?!

Nagisa: ...Hiyori-kun gave it to the suspicious person.

Hokuto: What? So you mean to say that the safe Ran-senpai valued so much was stolen by the enemy?

Hiyori: It wasn’t stolen. We traded the safe for our safety. It’s the deal we made with the suspicious person.

Hokuto: I can’t accept that. Why would you just bow down to the enemy’s demands?

Hiyori: I get you’re unsatisfied, but I was just a middle schooler back then. There was only so much I could do.

It would have been insane of me to try and fight back against any adult, let alone a creepy stranger like that.

Hokuto: That’s true, but...

Hiyori: In any case, it’s not like it matters what was in the safe if we couldn’t even open it, right?

Compared to Nagisa-kun’s life, what he inherited from Godfather isn’t that important.

Really, I think of it more as a cursed object that tries to keep Nagisa-kun stuck in the same terrible place.

So I personally thought it was better to just give it to the suspicious person and get it off our hands.

Nagisa: ......I did not want to give it up, though.

Hokuto: I would assume not. From what you’ve told us, that safe was extremely important to you.

Subaru: Yeah, actually, do you know what was in it, Nagisa-san?

Maybe you couldn’t tell anyone back then ‘cause you couldn’t talk too well, but now you can say it!

Nagisa: ...Unfortunately, I don’t know, either.

...However, I remember that Father treasured that safe.

...When I had just lost Him, the safe was one of the few things I had which reminded me of him.

...That is why, even though I did not fully understand at the time, I reacted strongly to the mere existence of it.

...Even now, there are times when I contemplate how to get the safe back.

Hiyori: Sorry. I knew you cared a lot about it.

But at the same time, I was far more concerned with your safety, Nagisa-kun.

Nagisa: ...Your decision was not incorrect.

...I also would not want to put you in danger to get the safe back.

Hokuto: It still doesn’t feel right, though. There are too many loose ends for this to have a happy ending.

Subaru: Nah, we should just take them at their word, right?

After all, they both ended up becoming idols together ♪

Wait, huh? What’s up, Daikichi? You hungry?

Now that you mention it, we spent so long listening to this story that it’s getting pretty late.

Hiyori: Looks like we got too deep into conversation, hm? I suppose we should head back to Starmony Hall.

Hiyori: I’m baaack~

Saying that’s a total waste; there’s hardly anyone here at Starmony Hall anymore. It’s a bit lonely having no one to greet us, isn’t it?

Nagisa: ...Had Subaru-kun and Hokuto-kun returned with us, it may have been more lively.

Hiyori: Indeed. I can’t believe they went back to the Megasphere today.

Nagisa: ...Is there anyone else in your room, Hiyori-kun?

...If they are out, would you mind if I slept in your room tonight? I would like to sleep together with Bloody Mary.

Hiyori: I’m pretty certain they’re out. But why are you asking this all of a sudden?

Nagisa: ...Maybe it is because of our time reminiscing with them today. It has been a while since I’ve wanted to sleep with you.

Hiyori: Ahaha, I see. In that case, you are most welcome!

Kaoru: Oh, I thought I heard someone. So you two are staying at Starmony Hall tonight, then?

Nagisa: ...Kaoru-kun, you are also at Starmony Hall today?

Kaoru: I’ve got some work early in the morning tomorrow. I figured I should leave the Megasphere beforehand.

Oh, right. I just remembered there was a letter for you, Ran-kun.

Nagisa: ...For me?

Kaoru: Yeah, here you go. I don’t know who sent it, though. There’s no postmark—kinda suspicious.

Hiyori: An unknown sender? No postmark means that they dropped it right into the mailbox at Starmony Hall, doesn’t it?

Kaoru: No idea. I couldn’t tell you.

Do you want it? If not I can throw it out.

Nagisa: ...I will take it. It might be something important.

Kaoru: Sure, then here you go.

Hiyori: Hmm. Well, it certainly has “To Ran Nagisa-sama” written on it.

Nagisa: ...Inside there is a smaller envelope and a letter?

...“I forgot to give you that thing I was supposed to when you turned twenty.”^[1]

...“I was under strict orders to not look inside, so I didn’t. So don’t even think about askin’ me for an explanation, got it? Good.” Hm?

Hiyori: ...It has such a specific vibe to it. There’s only one person who could have sent this.

Nagisa: ...Gatekeeper. But what could he possibly what with me now?

Hiyori: Who knows...? So what’s inside the little envelope?

Nagisa: ...This looks like a key.

Hiyori: A key...? Do you even own anything that would use such a tiny key?

Nagisa: ...Perhaps. It might be a key to that safe.

Hiyori: Huh? A safe... wait, you mean that safe?

Nagisa: ...This is frustrating. If I had had that safe with me now, I could have looked inside of it.

...I might have even been able to learn something about Father which I did not know.

Hiyori: Ahaha. I never thought this day would actually come...

Nagisa: ...Hiyori-kun?