Chapter Text
Chapter 1
A dark hallway, almost as if there was nothing there at all. Then, a small light, a crack coming through a door. A noise is heard, no, wailing.
“No one…ever…no one…” It cried. Behind the crack stood a tall, lanky figure.
“No one…ever…who would-” Suddenly the cries stop. Two yellow lights glowed within the darkness, lunging forward.
“WHO WOULD!”
Onoda woke with a jolt and in cold sweat. He breathed heavily, realizing it was a dream. He sighed, looking down at the book he was reading.
“Brother was right, I shouldn’t read before falling asleep.” Onoda said, placing his book on the nightstand and getting up.
“Morning Naruko!” He turned to greet his roommate but the other bed was empty.
“Tadokoro must have woken him up early for a chore. Ah! I just remembered I’m late!” Quickly Onoda grabbed a clean shirt and slammed the door behind him. A second later he ran back in, now with a clean shirt on and a wet face, grabbing his book. He left his room and ran downstairs to the front desk.
“Thank goodness I made it on time-” Before reaching the front he can to stop, running right into his roadblock. Onoda fearfully looked up to see the manager, Kinjou.
“Onoda…your job starts at 7am sharp…it is now 7am and you are just getting here.” Kinjou said sternly, staring straight at Onoda who did his best to not avert eye contact.
“Y-Yes! I’m really sorry Kinjou! I…I stayed up late reading again…b-but I promise I won’t anymore! I’ll even come earlier tomorrow!” Onoda said as sweat soaked through his clean shirt. Kinjou lifted his hand, giving Onoda a pat on his head.
“You don’t have to stop reading, it’s fine. Just don’t forget about your responsibilities, you promised Makishima you’d do his job while he was traveling.” Kinjou said, now smiling. Onoda shook his head in response.
“Yes! I know I’m not as good as my brother, but I’ll do my best!” Onoda said confidently. Kinjou rubbed his head again, moving on to let Onoda get to work.
“Remember Onoda, you’re great the way you are.”
“Hm?” Onoda had missed what Kinjou said, who already left the room. He shrugged it off and sat at his spot. Usually the job included signing guests into a room, directing them to places to visit and eat nearby, generally to make it a pleasant stay. The problem? No one had come here in months.
“I wonder if it’s because I’m at the front…” Onoda sighed.
“Yeah, you’re probably right!” Naruko said, appearing suddenly next to Onoda.
“N-Naruko! I thought you were helping with breakfast.”
“Just takin’ a break, the old man had me wake up so early today, I think he does it just to piss me off! We don’t even have to cook for a bunch of guests so why get up that early??” Naruko complained, leaning on the front desk.
“He probably just wants you to not get rusty for when we do have guests!”
“Yeah, but who knows when-”
“Oy Naruko! I said a short break to take a shit, not a leisurely stroll to talk to Onoda! And stop calling me ‘old man’!” Naruko flinched while Onoda tried to laugh it off.
“Back to making sure the old man doesn’t mess up. Oh, and Onoda!”
“Yes?”
“If guests don’t come here because they don’t like ya, screw ‘em!” Naruko then dashed back to work. Onoda smiled and laughed when he heard a pan hitting Naruko on the head. A while passed by and Onoda had pulled out his book, getting absorbed into his story.
“…and the Prince swung his sword, hitting the dragon and causing it to drop the Princess! He ran to her, trying to catch her before she hit the ground, but then-”
“You’re doing it again.”
Onoda jumped, snapping back into reality and remembering he was on the clock.
“I-I’m very sorry about that! W-Welcome to the Sohoku Inn! Shall I get you a room??” No answer. Onoda, upon closer inspection, saw it wasn’t a guest.
“Oh! Imaizumi! You…saw all that…sorry.” Onoda said while his face turned beet red.
“It’s not like I haven’t seen you do it before, but remember your job. What if I had been a potential guest?”
“You’re right…sorry again…” Onoda sighed, closing his book. Imaizumi sighed, trying to hide back a laugh.
“So you’re still in front? When’s Makishima suppose to come back?”
“Kakaka, miss hangin’ out with Onoda hotshot??” Naruko appeared next to a now irritated Imaizumi.
“Stop butting into people’s conversations!”
“It’s not butting in if I live here, I just came to tell my roommate that breakfast is ready.” Naruko wrapped his arm around Onoda and lead him to the kitchen, pissing off Imaizumi even more.
“Oh, have you eaten yet Imaizumi? Want to join us?” Onoda looked back to his friend as he walked down the hall. Imaizumi smiled, following the two to join them. Reaching the kitchen, their meal awaited them.
“Wow, it looks so good!” complimented Onoda as Naruko beamed in pride, Imaizumi ignoring the latter.
“Why thank ya! It was because of my skillful hands that everything looks so good!”
“That’s a load of shit junior!” yelled Tadokoro, walking in behind him who shook from the yell.
“W-Well cus I got up early I was able to go get the best bread!”
“Yeah? Well who got your ass outta bed to do so!” Both chefs were butting heads, so Onoda went to sit next to Imaizumi.
“What’s all this about.” Kinjou boomed, his presence in the room now noticed by everyone; both chefs immediately stopped arguing and ran to their seats, Kinjou being the last to sit.
“Dig in everyone!” Tadokoro yelled.
After breakfast, Onoda began to clear the plates with Naruko and Imaizumi helping.
“Oy Onoda, any idea when your bro’s suppose to be back? It’s been what, a month??” Naruko asked, passing dirty dishes to him.
“Well, his last letter said he’d be home in a week…but that was two weeks ago…” Onoda said, his smile fading. Naruko felt terrible now, he knew Onoda was very attached to his brother and was worried about his trip.
“Uuuuhhh forget I asked! He probably just found a really nice town for you two to live in and is scoutin’ for a good house! That’s probably it!” Naruko said to cheer him up, though now Imaizumi wore a frown. After the dishes were clean, Onoda was given the afternoon off since it was slow.
“I’m headed off to the bookshop! I’ll be back at sundown!”
“Mind if I join you?” Imaizumi asked as Onoda grabbed the books he needed to return and put them in his bag.
“Sure! It might get kind of boring, I spend a long time on there…”
“It’s fine, I like spending time with you Onoda.” Imaizumi said, though Onoda had already walked out the door. He ran to catch up to him as Naruko mocked him on his way out.
After catching up, he noticed Onoda began reading. He tapped his shoulder, surprising Onoda but getting his attention nevertheless.
“Onoda…do…you really want to leave Sohoku?” Imaizumi asked. Onoda looked shocked, looking down at his feet as he walked.
“Well…I want my brother to be happy…and he told me…”
“There’s not a whole lot for us here anymore, it’s probably best we move somewhere else.” Makishima said as he drank his tea, Onoda dropping his in shock.
“But…but what about the Inn! And everyone we know is here! Kinjou, Tadokoro, Naruko, Imaizumi…” Makishima noticed his younger brother tearing up.
“It’s been you and me for years Onoda. Neither of us have any family, and everyone here will understand why we need to leave…” Makishima got up to hug the younger, who clung to him. Makishima thought of a way to make him feel better, and then a thought struck him.
“Think of it as an adventure, like in your books! You didn’t really wanna stay here forever, did you?” Onoda looked up, confused by his brother’s words.
“When we were kids in the orphanage, we tried to ‘run away’, remember? The farthest we got was the next town over. But you know what you told me?” Onoda shook his head.
“You told me that you want to go on a big adventure someday! To live your own story. Well, here’s your chance!” Makishima looked down at his brother, who stopped crying.
“You…you’re right! This…will be good for us!”
“Good to hear. In two days I’ll be leaving to go look for a new town with jobs, when I’ve secured both I’ll come back for you.” Onoda nodded as Makishima patted his head. Onoda smiled, but deep down…he still didn’t know how to feel about all of this.
“It really will be a lot better, the Inn doesn’t get a lot of business and with us gone, Kinjou won’t have to worry about so many employees! And Naruko will have his own room. It’ll be better for everyone…” Onoda picked up his book again to hide his face.
“…That’s not true…I won’t be hap-”
“Oh! We’re here!” Onoda ran into the bookshop, leaving Imaizumi alone outside. He sighed and walked in. Onoda already had new books stuffed in his bag and was carrying even more in his arms.
“Uh…Onoda…I have to do a favor for my dad for a little while, I’ll come by the Inn later tonight…” Onoda paid no attention, absorbed into his own world. Imaizumi just smiled, walking out.
“Oh wow! This one finally was returned! I’ve been wanting to reread it for a while!” Onoda held the book up high. It was torn, if he wasn’t careful the pages would fall out. He could never find a copy of his own to buy so he always checked out this one.
“Haven’t you read that one enough?” the bookseller asked.
“Well, I’ll be moving soon, so I want to read it one last time! I don’t know where else I can find it…” Onoda said, stroking the book cover. The bookseller smiled.
“Well, since you’ll be moving and I won’t get to see my best customer anymore, keep it!”
“R-Really?? Oh no, I can’t possibly do that!”
“I insist! Think of it as a going-away present.” The bookseller winked, making Onoda smile. Clutching the book to his chest, Onoda picked up his bag and began to leave.
“Thank you so much! I’ll never stop reading it!” Onoda said before bumping into another customer and apologizing over and over again. The bookseller waved, holding in his laugh.
Sitting by the fountain, Onoda buried his nose into his favorite book. He was able to escape again, forgetting about where he was and live in his story.
“‘Oh, who are you?’ the maiden asked in surprise. The disguised prince approached the maiden, holding out a handkerchief. ‘My lady, you dropped this and I wish to return it to you.’” Onoda made all the voices of the characters, his face lighting up.
“Oh, I love the parts before she knows he’s a Prince! You really see them falling in love on their journey…”
“Oy! Keep it down freak! And move along, you’re bothering my heard!” Onoda snapped back into reality, which was a lot fluffier than before. A sheep took a bite of his book, though it was just a small corner.
“Ah! I’m sorry! I’ll move away right now!” Onoda tried picking up his bag, but as he pulled it up all his books fell out, falling in the mud. He bent down to pick them up, the herder letting his sheep trample some of them.
“These…aren’t even my books…” Onoda whispered to himself, wiping the mud off them with his shirt. He picked up his own book left on the fountain and left, hiding his face in it to avoid everyone.
After coming home, Onoda went back to watch the front, though he ended up reading since it was still so slow. Imaizumi came back after sundown, joining them for dinner. After dinner, and another showdown between the two chefs, Onoda walked Imaizumi to the door.
“Onoda, can I ask you something?” Imaizumi asked as Onoda closed the door behind them.
“Sure!”
“You…don’t have to leave with your brother…I know he’s the closest you have to a family but…if you don’t want to leave town…you can always come live with me…” Imaizumi was glad the darkness hid his face, which was blushing like mad.
Onoda was speechless; Imaizumi was from the richest family in town. He could live in his own room, no have to do any dishes, he could stay and live with his friend! But…something just didn’t click with him.
“Imaizumi…I feel so grateful…but-”
“Think about it! Please! You can let me know in a few days! I just…don’t want you leaving…” Imaizumi looked down at his friend. Onoda, still at a loss for words, looked away. He looked towards the road, noticing a figure riding back.
“Wow, it’s really late for someone to be coming here. Maybe…it’s a traveler! They’ll need a room!” Onoda excitedly opened the door, yelling that a guest was on their way. He turned around and got a better look at the rider, his expression turned to shock.
“N-No…it’s not a guest…”
“What’s wrong Onoda?” Imaizumi saw worry in his friends eyes and looked to the traveler. He then realized who it was as well, and also saw the person fall off their horse. Onoda ran as fast as he could to the fallen traveler, Imaizumi ran inside to get help.
“Brother!! Brother!!” Onoda screamed, running as fast as he could to Makishima. Reaching him, Onoda knelt down and turned him over. The look on his face brought confusion and fear to Onoda’s eyes. Makishima’s eyes were tired, but there was more to it. They looked as if he had seen something no man had ever seen before, and should never see again.
“Brother…what’s wrong?” Onoda asked in confusion. Makishima was only whispering, so Onoda moved his face closer to hear him. Hearing what he said, his face showed confusion. Kinjou and Tadokoro ran up behind Onoda, who sat back up and let them through.
“Oh shit, Makishima what the hell happened?!” Tadokoro asked, helping Kinjou pick up their friend. They helped him back to the Inn, Onoda following behind closely. He still couldn’t figure out what his brother had meant when he bent down to hear him.
“No…not you…it can’t be…anyone but you!”