--Pasta's house.

　The day after the party, Futa had visited Pasta's house to discuss the future of Spectacula, the sword fight, and to report on some other matters.

　Although he was no longer staying at the house, he was still a frequent visitor. He was greeted at the door by a guest named Leafy, who was also his bodyguard.

......
What's up, man?
Oh, I'm fine. I'm good.

　I'm fine." Scratching her head in some distress, she laughed.
　Futa's head twisted at the feeble smile, which could be described as pathetic.

If Pasta's bullying you, tell me.
You're a kid!　That's not what I meant!　I'm sure you're not the only one.
What?
What? - Hey, hey!

　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure I'll be able to do it.
　It's not as if he's going all out, but he takes two quick leaps. His long legs took him up the stairs, and in a flash he was in front of her room.

I'll open it.
"...... What, Futa?

　A faint voice. It's not like her to be irreverent.
　Without a second thought, Futa pushed open the door and immediately looked around the room.
　The room seemed to be as tidy as ever, with no clothes strewn about, scrolls scattered about, or any of the other messes that lethargy can cause.

　The desk where he is always slumped over. No one.
　A couch that's usually filled with cupcakes. Not there.
　The bed where the stuffed animal usually sits. . not there. Or the stuffed animal.

　Where did he go, I wondered. But the voice was definitely there.
　You look around...

"Oh!
"...... what?

　There it was.

　The door was open and I had a blind spot. In the corner of the room, a girl crouched on her knees with a stuffed animal.

It's not "What? What are you doing?
Leave me alone.
I'm not gonna leave you alone. What's wrong with you? I mean, what the f*ck is wrong with you?

　I've never seen a man so depressed.

　She sniffed, buried her face in her teddy bear, and muttered.

"...... yesterday.
Oh.

　He exhaled and closed the door to his room and crouched down next to her.

　He listened to her words as he stared blankly up at the ceiling.

Wind's here.
"Oh, Mr. Wind. Oh, Mr. Wind, I hear you're back as a bouncer for the Orba Trading Company.
...... Yeah. And Luli was there.
Of course she was. She wouldn't leave Ruri alone.
"...... Ruri.
Ruri?

　The name popped out in a way he hadn't imagined, and Futa tilted his head.
　It's not that I don't like it.

　He thought that Wind and Ruri's father and son would get along with Pasta now, but would not fight with him, much less abuse him unilaterally.

"Pasta is very popular with her friends.
"...... Ah.

　I see, I've heard that it's popular among her age group.
　She went to the swordfighting event as a part of her parents' entertainment, and a girl around her age was making it exciting.

　So it was only natural that she would be popular and that everyone would like Pasta-chan.

　It's just...
　It's a story connected by futa. It's not impossible for her to imagine.
　But why is she so depressed about it?

It doesn't matter. You could do them a service or two.
Ruri wasn't like that.
What?

　No.
　What the hell are you talking about?
　Futa tilted his head and looked at her with a fragile pasta smile.

He gave me an annoyed, disappointed look and said. "He turned to me with an annoyed, disappointed look on his face and said, 'Beato, why did you do that?


"Gghh. ......

　This is a tough one.

　It was such a shock that even Futa, who was not actually told about it, pressed his chest.

"......Am I wrong after all?

　He holds the stuffed animal tightly in his arms and looks up at the ceiling, his smile too thin.

　If Richter had looked like this, Futa would have covered his face and said, "Oh, ......, ......," but he did not.

　Futa slowly stood up and came back holding the hand of one of the stuffed animals that were around.

　He sat down next to it, holding it in his lap as well.

...... I don't get it.

　Part of the blame lies with me.
　You'll be able to't get rid of such thoughts, Futa muttered vaguely.

　I'm sure I won't be able to recover for a while.
　I'm sure I wouldn't be able to recover for a while.

　In fact, there's a woman next to me who can't get over it.

"I guess I didn't treat him right. ...... Maybe I should have just been a nine-year-old pasta girl from the start. ......
Yeah, ...... if you were a pasta girl from the first time you met her. ......

　This is an impossible story.
　But Fouta didn't have the energy to argue with that.

　The two of them stared up at the ceiling in a daze, holding their stuffed animals.

　The taste of defeat is bitter.


I'm not sure what you're talking about, but I'm not sure what you're doing.



　This went on until Leafy, who was getting impatient, came into the room.













　--"The taverna, Lute.

　A narrow alleyway in a section of King's Landing.
　This narrow alleyway, with its many narrow stores, is a resting place for those who have finished their day's work when the sun goes down.

　Most of the stores boast of their cheapness and quantity.

　It was here, in this quiet alley, that Futa and Pasta found themselves.

It's a noisy place.
It's a good thing.

　Futa smiles at her as she walks next to him, sniffing.
　She gave him a quick glance and said casually.

I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but... --I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but this place used to be pretty unsafe. I'm just saying that it's a good thing that it's a little more noisy now that we have a little more income.
...... If that's the case, you should have said something more.
It's so loud.
That's already a swear word.

　She laughs mockingly, gently brushes her hair behind her ear and looks around.
　The sign I was looking for had to be somewhere around here.

But why are you using this place as your home base?
Like I said, it's Izuna who's holed up here.
If you're here all the time, you're here too.
"......, if you say so.
That's a hell of a way to live in a castle.
I'm just a houseguest. ......

　It's not that the castle belongs to you, or that you're paying rent.
　It's a sad pimp's nature.

I'm not sure what to do with the money I have left.
"If only I could find a place where I could bring Master Lilac.
"What kind of place?

　Just as a drunken man approached her, a smiling Pasta-chan waved him off.

No, yeah, well... I'm not taking anyone but you to this place.

　The place was crowded, unsafe, and the hygiene was questionable.
　It's better if it's Pasta, who's always complaining.
　I can't even bring Corona here.
　Not to mention Lilac.

Well, yeah. You don't have to get used to the mess.
That's what I'm saying.
I mean... How presumptuous would it be for you to suggest a restaurant to Lilac?
Gosh, ......, is that what you think?
If you don't have the utmost confidence in your tongue, don't do it. I can just see his social graces.
".................. d*mn.

　I can see his social graces.
　I'm sure you're not the only one.

If you want to satisfy your manly desires, I'll go out with you as much as I can.
"You're going to help me choose a restaurant?
You'll help me choose a place?
It's over before it even starts!

　The store we wanted was right in front of us.
　Red letters on a round wooden board hanging above the door.

　Behind the battered swinging door, a crowd of people are milling about, even though it's still early in the evening.

　I rang the dirty bell to enter, and as usual, the girl who works there showed her face.

"Hey, Futa-san!　Hey, hey, hey, hey!

　I've already told Pasta that this place is a tavern full of sword fighters.
　There's no reason to keep it a secret. If we make a surprise and make even the slightest mistake in mimicry, we won't be able to stop laughing.



　That's why I thought I'd become "Pasta-chan" right away, but...

　The girl who works at the restaurant stares intently at me.
　And the regulars look up at the sound of her voice.

"Huh. ......

　Pasta grabbed Futa's sleeve and hid behind him.

　Whoa, thought Futa. Oh my god, he thought.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you!　Hey, you're Pasta, right?　From the arena!

　It was only when he said this that Pasta made an expression of surprise and nodded with a soft smile.

　That's an interesting woman. Futa thought frankly.

I'm sure you'll like it.　Pasta. ...... I'm glad you know that!

　Instantly, a cheer went up.

　I'm so glad you know!

It's Pasta-chan!
Seriously, Futa brought his sister!
She's your sister!　Well done!
Well done!　Pasta is so cute up close!

　Wala wala.
　The shopkeepers flock to Pasta-chan, the idol of the arena.
　I'm not sure what to make of this.

I'm sure they know a lot about pasta. Thank you!

　He smiled shyly, and that was enough to make his customers happy.

　I'm sure you'll be able to understand why I'm so excited about this.

　Futa looked up and looked around.

"Hey, is Izuna here yet?

　He asked, and the old man who owned the restaurant nodded as he came out of the kitchen.

"Yeah. If it were true, he should have been here by now.
"Hmm. Well, while you're waiting, I'll give you a recommendation.
I'm already cooking!　Unlike you, I have to welcome pasta!
"...... Oh yeah.

　I wonder what the difference is.
　I'm not sure what the difference is.

I'm not sure what to do.
Oh!

　I turn around at my sister's distress signal to see Pasta almost buried under the customers.

"Hey. Don't get too close.

　I tried to be calm.
　When I told him that, he got angry and the customers started to back off.

"Hey, you're a big brother who loves his sister!
You're a cool guy after all!

　A pat on the shoulder and a small sigh from Futa as they walked back to the dining table.

　"Cool and irreverent".
　I've been trying to keep my character as such, but lately I'm becoming more of a "cool but siscon" kind of character, and I'm having a hard time figuring out how that happened.

...... Well, this is good, isn't it?

　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I think it's a good idea.

I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you. Take care of your sister, big brother.
"Hey, hey.

　Futa's shoulders slumped, and he and Pasta went to the back seat.

　The main topic of today's conversation was with Izuna, but more specifically about music.

　I've already told Pasta that Lilac has assured me that she will not use court musicians.

　This was both good news and a difficult problem for Pasta.

　With Orba's contacts, he could guarantee the orchestra.
　The only problem was that there was no one who could write music.
　The goal of their music was to perform a grandiose version of a song that everyone knew, and there was no need for originality.

　Futa already knew the importance of having a song that everyone knew.

　It was because he was the commentary brother that everyone knew the song that he was able to get the cheers at the sword fight.

"If only there were people who could write music.
"I heard about Corona, but... well, we can't just use it. So the question is...

　--Composition, lyrics. That is, the creator of the music.

　This was when Futa looked up at the lute hanging on the wall.

　The sound of a swinging door opening with great force.

"Hey, Dad!　Give me the bed!

　Izuna Sienzan jumped into the room.

　I could clearly see Futa standing up to see what was going on.

　He's holding a limp girl in his arms.

　And...



"Anise. Can you get me some water, please?
"Uh, yeah, okay.

　You'll be able to find a lot more information on the web.


　As Pasta's eyes go black and white, Futa crosses his arms.

　This seems to be...

"He's done something again, hasn't he?