Holmes of Kyoto, Volume 11 by Mai Mochizuki

Author:Mai Mochizuki [MOCHIZUKI, MAI]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J-Novel Heart
Published: 2022-10-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 4: Ensho’s Soliloquy

1

It was the end of April when I met someone I hadn’t seen in a very long time.

“I’m glad you seem to be doing well, Shinya.”

I’d been called “Ensho” for so long that it felt weirdly ticklish to be called by my real name. I shrugged, not knowing what kind of face to make.

The attractive young man smiling in front of me was my childhood friend, Yuki. The word “delicate” described him to a T. He’d always been pale and frail, giving off an androgynous impression, and now he also had the mature aura of a grown adult.

Y’know, the first time I saw Holmes, he kind of reminded me of Yuki. I thought about what had happened later at Nanzen-ji Temple, when Holmes had swung his folding fan down at my head. They’re completely different, though. I chuckled lightly.

“But even though you said you’d visit more often, you haven’t come to see me at all,” Yuki complained, eating the dim sum with mild resentment in his eyes.

I had visited him after washing my hands of the counterfeit business, getting Yanagihara to take me under his wing, turning myself in, and sorting out some other things. Thinking about it, I hadn’t seen him again since then. This was only my second time meeting him after becoming an honest citizen.

“I’m in training, so I haven’t been able to. More importantly, how’s work going?” I asked, changing the subject.

Yuki’s face clouded over. “It’s all right.”

“What’s that mean?”

“It’s tough. The design company is a bit on the exploitative side.” He heaved a sigh and rested his chin on his hand.

“You graduated from university and got a good job, so keep at it.”

“I know.”

“So, still no girlfriend?”

“No...” He grimaced, looking like he was about to cry.

I knew he saw me as more than a childhood friend or older brother figure. And, well, maybe it wasn’t his fault. In a way, I’d brainwashed him when I’d decided, “Even if I never walk in the light again, I want to be someone’s hero—just one person’s is fine.” I’d forced my ego on him and made him dependent on me, but now, here I was, trying to wake him up. Damned selfish, that’s what I am, I thought with a strained smile.

“Hurry up and get hitched to someone nice; I wanna see your kid’s face,” I said, pretending not to notice his feelings.

For a second, he looked extremely hurt. “Oh, Shinya. You sound like my dad,” he replied, his smile quickly returning.

Yuki had been raised by a neglectful mother. Because of the harsh environment, he’d developed a habit of unconsciously smiling even when he was in pain. It was hard for me to see him like that. It was like he was smiling to convince himself that he wasn’t hurt. How many times had I told him in the past, “You don’t gotta force yourself to smile in front of me”? But now, I was forcing him to put on that fake smile.

“Well, I pretty much am your dad,” I replied.

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