Nameless Doll 4

Shu: Hmph. You all look like you’re having a riotous time after having bothered someone with an irritating prank call.

Mika: Ngah?! O–O–Oshi-san! I didn’t think you’d get here so fast!

I’m so happy, you musta been real worried I was kidnapped... ♪

Shu: Don’t misunderstand me, you defect.

That boy is simply well-versed in all of the shortcuts and back roads in this area. Having him guide me allowed us to cut down on travel time.

Mika: A boy...?

Natsume: Good evening ♪

I know that I’m not involved in this little get-together, but I decided to invite myself because it sounded fun.

Mika: Oh, Nakkun... Why’s Oshi-san carryin’ you in his arms? That’s not fair at all!

Natsume: It’s not a question of fairness. In exchange for showing him the way, I had him carry me here. It’s equivalent exchange, the fundamental principle of the world.

In any case, I’ve been informed that Shu-nii-san left Mademoiselle in another’s care so as to avoid damaging her.

But as an expert in psychology, I must say that this was a stupid decision.

When Shu-nii-san has Mademoiselle in his arms, he is able to divide his mind and entrust part of it to her, which helps maintain mental stability.

It’s the same way that dissociative identity disorder, or more colloquially multiple personality disorder, works.

But because they were separated, he became a ship without a rudder, close to capsizing as he wandered about the seas of his mind.

I couldn’t let that happen, so I’m currently acting as a stand-in for Mademoiselle.

I assumed that letting him hold me this way... well, it might make Shu-nii-san feel more at ease.

Shu: My arms are exhausted. You’ve grown a lot taller right under my nose, haven’t you?

Natsume: My height has hardly changed in the past few years... I believe it’s rather that my nii-sans think me a little too young and immature.

Iͧ a̝̓͌m̟͟ nͪoͬw̥ t̫̚͢he s̸͎a͡m̃ë̤͌ a͝ģ͙ȇ̩ tͣ͘h͈̞͌ā͍t yo̘u̿͌ w̩͝͠ere wḣe͎n͜ wȩ̷̛ f̟͓̀iͫrͤ̒s͒̆t͙͢ ḿ̪ê̱t...͉̲̜

I͔̠’m͎̃ al͈l͉ grow̷ṅͨ͘ up̞̂ ♪^[1]

Mika: Oshi-san! Here, take Maddie back! Hurry!

Then you’ll get all stable again, right? Sorry, Nakkun, but can’t you get down?

Natsume: Hmm? And what will you offer me in return?

Shu: Boy. Don’t toy around with Kagehira too much; he’s fragile and easily broken...

You’re just like Wataru: you both like humans far too much. You have the bad habit of playing around with them unnecessarily.

Natsume: So sorry. I suppose I can’t use affection as an excuse, so I’ll listen to you and back off.

I don’t have much to do with this affair, so there’s nothing to gain by needlessly provoking a fight; it would just be exhausting.

Down I go... I can’t say I’m thirsty, seeing as I didn’t walk here, but I’ll get us drinks as a matter of courtesy.

What would you like, Kaminari-san?

Arashi: Oh, it’s Narukami, not Kaminari. Means the same thing, though.^[2]

Natsume: HuHu~ ♪ Ah, my laugh sounded like Sora’s just now.

I thought it was a strange thing for the little kitten to do; can I assume you are the one who planted the idea in her head?

That poor little Mika-chan was kidnapped... of course wording it like that would send Shu-nii-san flying over.

Mika: Ahaha, but would ya mind not usin’ such a cutesy nickname for me? I know you’re a nice guy an’ all, Nakkun, but sometimes you get a real nasty streak.^[3]

Natsume: There is a conversational art wherein one intentionally provokes and angers their partner so as to manipulate their thoughts.

It’s Rei-nii-san’s specialty... However, it can be a bit pitiful if one fails to choose the correct target.

Arashi: Ufufu. You know you’ll never have any friends if you’re always so thorny, right Natsume-chan?

Natsume: ...Ah, I see. It’s rather... disagreeable to be called that.

It reminds me of the childhood I’d sooner forget. I suppose an apology is in order for my remarks earlier; I was quite rude.

Shu: Cease your driveling, you brats.

Now tell me: what on earth compelled you to summon me all the way here under such a guise? Abduction is a cruel joke, I’ll have you know.

I recognized it immediately as the nonsense that it is, but had you contacted Kagehira’s parents, they might have called the police.

Mika: Ngah? Do you mean my birth parents or my adopted ones?

Shu: ...It doesn’t matter. I am simply advising you not to do anything that may disturb or alarm other people. And depending on the situation here, I may despise all of you.

Natsume: Ahaha. By the way, I would like to add something, since right now Shu-nii-san seems rather cold-hearted...

It was only thanks to my desperate attempts at explanation on the way here that he was finally convinced of this abduction being a farce.

He called it a game of High and Low, I believe.^[4]

Shu: Hmph... I enjoy Kurosawa Akira. There’s a high level of aesthetics in everything he produces.

Arashi: Ufufu. Sorry, but we didn’t have a choice, “Oshi-san.” You wouldn’t have come otherwise.

Shu: What gives you the right to call me Oshi-san? ...You’re Narukami, aren’t you? You’re the one always taking care of this worthless thing of mine.

Arashi: Don’t mention it. A certain someone isn’t up to the task, so as his friend, I simply took up the mantle... you know?

Shu: One could say I’m taking care of him just fine by providing a roof over his head to keep out the wind and rain.

Mika: Uh. Now, now... Turn those frowns upside down~ We’re all friends here, right? ♪

Arashi: And whose fault do you think it is that my beautiful face is frowning, Mika-chan?

Shu: If you were an actual human being without your numerous deficiencies, we wouldn’t have to worry so much, would we?

Mika: Ngah, why’re y’all turnin’ this on me...?!

Natsume: Ahaha. Well, everyone seems in high spirits; I suppose that this was nothing too serious.

I came with just in case, but it ended up being a waste of time. Of course, I did get to witness some hilarious banter.

Shu: Ah, right. I still need to confirm that. We’ve digressed quite a bit...

But what possessed you all to call me out here?

Mika: Oh, it’s just there’s somethin’ we wanted you to see, Oshi-san.

Here, it’s on this flier... there’s an exhibition in town called “Nameless Dolls.”

An’ I thought you’d be into that sorta thing~ ♪