Work Text:
Peter Pan’s Neverland
The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up
______________
All children grow up eventually, except for one.
All children soon learn that one day, they will be adults. Wendy knew this. One day when she was two years old, she had been playing in the garden, and she picked a flower and ran toward her mother.
She thought she was being adorable and charming.
Because Mrs. Darling put a hand on her chest and exclaimed: Oh how wonderful it’ll be if you stayed this lovely when you get bigger!
However, after that, Wendy understood that she would eventually grow up. People always know this when they turn two years old or older.
There’s always an age where you hit the end and the beginning.
______________
Roji knew this as well.
That day he had woken up as usual and went to wash his face. But when he had wiped his face with the water, he had been suddenly surprised to find that his chin felt a little prickly, like touching the thorns of a cactus.
After staring in the mirror for a long time, he realized that he had the beginnings of a small beard growing on his face. He had almost screamed “Ehhh!?” but slapped his hands over his mouth.
Before Muhyo woke up, he quickly went to a convenience store and bought shaving cream and a razor.
When he was checking out at the checkout counter, he wanted to cover his face. After he finished his shopping, he stuffed his purchases into his coat and ran away.
Roji himself felt strange. When a boy grows a beard, it’s usually the first proof of growth. Shouldn't it be something to be proud of?
One has to get to this age eventually, and down the road, these signs will become more and more frequent. He wasn’t technically a child anymore, was he? By legal terms, he still was, but the next few years would go by quickly, and he’d be a full adult.
Becoming an adult meant reading Jabin in public would earn him weird stares, he could buy adult tickets when taking the subway or the train, and he could buy alcoholic drinks with an ID, among other things.
Once a person passes a certain age, everything becomes different.
Jiro Kusano seems to forget this easily.
But, unbeknownst to him, there is one exception.
All children grow up eventually, except one.
______________
“...Why didn't you wake me up earlier…?”
After being asleep for so long, Muhyo was naturally awakened by the sun's rays. He rubbed his eyes briefly before lifting his starry blanket and walking down the ladder on the side of his bed.
His assistant hummed a tune and came out of the kitchen, as if he had calculated the exact time Muhyo would get up perfectly. He put down the freshly heated breakfast and coffee on the coffee table. Roji did not forget to grab Muhyo’s Executor coat and quickly set to put it over his shoulders.
His warm palms lingered on Muhyo’s shoulders for a moment, chasing away the winter chill he had gotten from being so near the window.
“There’s no clients today anyway, so I thought I’d just let you sleep a bit longer.”
“Hah?”
Roji ignored his “are you stupid” look and made Muhyo sit on the sofa, then squatted down next to him. This way, they were both at eye level.
Muhyo still glared at him. “Didn't we say we were going to the Association early?"
“You did three sentences yesterday though…I changed the appointment time with Dr. Magi and said you need to rest for a while."
“Hmph. Pointless worrying.”
“By the way, today’s brunch is Honey Beef Burger. Forgive me?”
“...Tch.”
His damn assistant was getting better and better at knowing how to deal with him. After all these years.
“Is that a yes? You forgive me, Muhyo?”
He’d have to taste the burger first. Then he’d think about it. Of course, as long as Roji made the food, he could never be so picky.
Anyway, that’s not what was bothering him right now.
“....you’re forgetting something. Idiot.”
While chewing the minced beef and bread, Muhyo lightly prodded his assistant on the forehead with his fork.
“Ow…! What's wrong? Does it taste bad? Ah…Did I burn it?"
Roji rubbed his forehead and stared innocently at his frowning boss for a while, then suddenly realized what Muhyo meant and subconsciously put his finger to his lips in a shushing motion.
"...Sorry, I forgot again. When it’s just the two of us..."
“Blockhead.”
“Don’t say that, Toru…”
Roji changed his words, and couldn’t help the small smile that was curling on his lips.
Toru. T-o-r-u. To-ru. What nice-sounding syllables.
When Muhyo had let Roji call him by his first name for the first time, Roji was in a state of ecstasy for a whole month.
In Yoichi's words, it was being under a tree full of flowers scattering petals, or being a floating spirit that was about to ascend to heaven. He was probably in the same state now.
Without teasing him any further, his superior seemed to smile a little as well, looking down and continuing to enjoy the brunch that his assistant had so lovingly prepared.
______________
It started after the battle with Vector.
Every year, one weekend after New Year's, Muhyo would take him along on a trip to the Association’s Magic Law Hospital.
Apparently, Muhyo had already been going for fifteen years now, and even before he met Roji. This time though, he had a new doctor, and they were now both required to go together.
It was just a routine physical exam for Magic Lawyers.
The Executor always tried his best to perfunctorily deal with his worried assistant, who always asked hundreds of questions all the way there.
In the end, he doesn’t forget to say, “You also need to get a physical exam done too, especially your brain. For such a tall idiot, you’re also such a big crybaby, geez…”
The person who would be examining them was the director of the Magic Law Hospital, Dr. Magi, whom Roji had met during the battle in the North Branch.
At first, Roji thought since Muhyo would naturally have the highest-level doctor as an Executor, then as his assistant, he would also be appointed the same doctor.
The smell of the disinfectant in the Magic Law Hospital was very light, so light that it seemed like it would be washed away easily by the sound of the peaceful Tempering Bells.
The inspections were all basic stuff, which reminded Roji of the Magic Test from five years ago.
Except for the last part, which was Dr. Magi’s Q&A. It was just simple questions: What do you usually eat, how do you sleep? When you sleep where is Muhyo? Have you been unable to wake up recently?
______________
During his first physical examination, Roji found out he had grown five centimeters taller, gained some weight, and his nearsightedness had gotten a little worse. These values would continue to change for him until the age of twenty.
As for his boss, he knew very well without referring to the medical report, that from the time they met, or even earlier, his body had never grown.
_____________
A few years went by like this. Muhyo’s physical checkup always took much longer than Roji’s, and he always waited at the hospital until the sun went down.
Then this year, while waiting for Muhyo’s physical examination to be completed in the hospital, Yoichi came over to wait with him.
He couldn't guess why the director of the Magic Law Investigation Headquarters came to the hospital at this time. It couldn't be that he took a break from his busy schedule to come and chat with him, right?
“What’s wrong? Is Muhyo taking too long? Maybe the Doc is just double-checking his height, haha!”
“Well, that's the thing…” Roji looked down at his knees, confusion and worry etched on his face.
“It seems different for Muhyo. I mean, usually, even if your height doesn’t change, you can still see the signs of aging, like Biko…but Tor- I mean Muhyo…I can never tell if he’s aging at all… it's like he’s stuck in time or something…”
Yoichi grinned and shook Roji on the shoulder, trying to lighten him up.
“Aw come on, don’t say stuff like that! Muhyo and I are the same age you know? I’m sure he has a really hard time dealing with those kinds of assumptions. I don’t think he’d forgive you if you started saying that type of stuff too, Roji!”
“N-no that’s not what I-”
“Let's not talk about this for now, help me convince Muhyo to serve as the director of the Magic Law Association!~”
A small smile broke on Roji’s lips. “Haha, well I don’t know….”
Yoichi patted Roji’s back playfully. "You can do it, Judge Kusano! Pluuss I hear there’s extra pay and perks to being a directorr~”
Roji laughed. “Alright, alright, I’ll do my best!”
_______
Speaking of which, Yoichi had changed a lot.
After a certain age, people start to change their appearance, not just by growing taller, deepening their voice, or growing a velvety beard.
After all, it was Yoichi who took over as the head of the Investigation Department at such a young age. The training in his official career washed away most of the carelessness from his youth, bringing out the composure and reliability he had in the past in a more refined way. Like a well-forged knife.
It was said that Yoichi had been creating opportunities to shorten Enchu's sentence since he took office, and even went so far as to reorganize the Association despite the heavy pressure.
Truly, Yoichi had changed so much.
But so had he. He had also changed. He has been promoted to a Judge and is also a certified assistant.
But he also knows that some things will never change, just like Yoichi’s feelings for Enchu.
Like Yoichi and their other friends, Roji still firmly believes that he and Muhyo will always be together.
And he would do anything for Muhyo.
______________
It's a good thing to grow up, no matter what.
For Jiro Kusano, at least he could better protect Muhyo than before.
His promotion to Judge came just three years after becoming a First-Class Clerk.
Being well-versed and knowledgeable about various advanced Magic Law techniques was only one part of it. The instinct to fight and the pride and will of being Muhyo Toru’s assistant penetrated his skin, mind, and body. As if with every movement he was being pulled by countless invisible threads.
The rumors spread about him in MLA had long since changed from ‘The Incompetent Assistant of the Genius Executor’ to ‘The Indestructible Shield around Muhyo Toru’.
And there were other good things besides that.
For example, with Muhyo that night, no one noticed until that moment.
There have been fleeting impulses of their feelings for each other before, like the cool fireflies that disappear and reappear in the dark.
But this time, with a thorough response, it had burst into a bright flame.
It was a rainy night, and it seemed like they were just fooling around on the sofa as usual, fighting for the TV remote control. When Roji pressed his body forward to reach for the remote in Muhyo’s hand above his head, he found that the small hand failed to push him away.
Their faces suddenly came very close, and it was as if Muhyo suddenly discovered something surprising. There seemed to be warmth flickering in those blue eyes, and they melted like a thawing frozen lake.
Muhyo let go of the remote and brought his hand down to his assistant’s face on top of him. The hand pressing on Roji’s face no longer exerted any force, and his thin lips trembled.
“You really have grown…huh…”
Muhyo meant those words in a figurative sense, and a bit in a literal sense. His assistant had grown so much these past few years. He couldn’t be prouder.
He caressed Roji’s cheek. As if Muhyo had decided to give up something, he smiled up at him with relief.
“Hehe. Since we’re together all the time, I didn’t notice it until now…"
At that moment, Roji felt as if the thunder outside the window was deep in his ears. Along with the loud rumble, something was collapsing. The ruins of his heart were drowned in the water and deprived of breath, just because of Muhyo under him, and the words he was suddenly saying.
Always together….
In the past, Roji would always be so happy when he heard Muhyo say those words. They have always been together, from the past, the present, to the future.
But at this moment, Roji realized that the only person he wanted to be his “always” and “forever” was Muhyo.
The small hand that caressed his face, his face, his bones, everything about him, had not changed since the day they had met.
Only those blue eyes and the soul trapped inside had grown to the point where Roji wouldn’t ever be able to catch up.
Roji’s own eyes welled with tears, as he stared down at Muhyo.
“Hehe. How long are you going to stay on top of me, idiot? You’re not the same lanky string bean sprout you once were. So heavy.”
“Please….Muhyo…”
“Hm? I couldn’t hear you.”
“....We’ll be together…forever…”
“What are you saying all of a sudden? Idio-”
That last insult didn’t come out. The sound was snatched away by hesitant, pressing lips.
Roji wondered why he hadn't been rejected again. Had Muhyo accepted him? Had he returned his feelings? Was it alright to want to show Muhyo this side of him?
What could Roji give this man? Could he feel his heart, its heat, and the pleasure he wanted to give him?
Roji was so frightened that he could hardly proceed, but Muhyo wiped away all the fog of doubt in his mind with his proactive response, kissing back and pushing Roji to his back on the couch, tearing off the blue brooch tie he always wore.
_____________
Shortly after that, Roji spent his 20th birthday in the Muhyo Office.
He could never understand why Muhyo seemed to forget his own birthday, but could remember his so easily.
He supposed everyone’s feelings about time was different.
That birthday, Muhyo had prepared him a gift, a new tie.
“Just in time to replace that piece of shit tie that was broken in the last battle.” Muhyo had waited until their friends had dispersed and gone home before taking out the gift and didn't look into his assistant's eyes when handing it to him.
"Why? It can still be used if you sew it up..."
"Are you stupid? Wearing a patched tie is an embarrassment to the office."
"Thank you...Toru." Roji said nothing more and took the gift as if it were a treasure. A beat of silence, and then he spoke up again.
“But I’m not going to wear it.”
Muhyo blinked in surprise, his eyebrows furrowing. “Ah? What’s wrong with it, idiot?”
“Heh…No that’s not it…” Roji shook his head and stroked his old tie. Not just because it held so many memories.
“‘ ’The Swallow That Defies the Wind ’, even if it is repaired, its function will become weaker. Is it because you knew mine was broken, and you wanted to give me a new Magic Tool, Toru? But…it’s ok, this makes me happy anyway.”
The Executor stared at him quietly, as if waiting for him to finish speaking.
Roji smiled, still looking down at his gift and his old tie. “I’m also a Judge you know. So I can tell now that this is a Magic Tool. The only thing I couldn’t figure out is why you or Executor Paige didn't say anything, and why I have been kept in the dark so long. But recently I have more or less figured it out.”
“Hmph. Did those two chatty twins tell you about it?”
The small boss crossed his arms and went to sit at the desk with his feet up on the surface as if solidifying his defense.
“No, they didn’t tell me anything.”
“Don’t tell me you just figured it out all by yourself.”
“I have my ways.” His assistant's smile didn't hide anything, so Muhyo didn’t press him further.
Roji spoke up again. “But if I wear this new tie…I don’t know…wouldn’t it be dangerous? I only know as long as I don’t wear the ‘Swallow that Defies the Wind ’, something will happen to you. You’d probably fall asleep for a long time…
“Last time…the moment you took off my tie, I could feel something being slowly taken away from my body. So, that’s why I wanted to hear it from you.”
The assistant's eyes met his. When did he become so determined? Those eyes that were usually like maple syrup, about to melt at any time.
Muhyo’s eyes narrowed for a while, like a cat staring at its prey, thinking.
After thinking for a long time, Muhyo slowly spoke.
“Indeed, a little knowledge can be dangerous.”
The Executor rested his chin on his palm, tilting his head. When he spoke, his tone sounded more unserious than intended.
But he knew one thing. As long as he was the one talking, Roji would never win.
“I can only tell you. If you don't wear the ‘Swallow that Defies the Wind’ , you will put me in danger. It is much more dangerous than not being able to wake me up. So, do you still feel like not wearing the new one?”
Roji’s reaction was not what he expected. He was completely shaken. This reaction made Muhyo very satisfied, so he decided to reward his assistant.
“You don’t have to wear it when you sleep, no problem. So today I allow you to take it off in advance. Let's see what happens.
“If you leave it off for longer, the Ren flowing out of you will attract evil spirits. When that happens, if my body takes your Ren and I use Magic Law to execute, you will become unsteady and drowsy after a while. And no matter how much Ren you have, it won’t be enough. It’ll be like losing a lot of blood. Eventually, you will collapse and wither away like a mummy. So, that’s why.”
As Muhyo spoke, he jumped down from the swivel chair and pulled off Roji’s old tie from around his neck when he motioned for him to bend down.
Listening to Muhyo’s words, Roji felt sleepy suddenly coming over him as he followed Muhyo back to his room with heavy steps, hypnotized.
When he fell on the bed, he could barely support his consciousness. He vaguely felt Muhyo sitting on him, a little below the sternum.
Muhyo unbuttoned Roji’s shirt and placed a hand on his chest.
Found it. It's right at the heart.
Roji’s voice was weak, as he drifted to unconsciousness.
“It’s a curse on both of us, huh…”
“No. It’s a curse I put on you. Goodnight, Roji.”
__________
After that, Roji never asked about “ The Swallow That Defies the Wind” again.
Five years passed.
Muhyo Toru’s office took over all kinds of jobs and clients, big and small, and the economic situation was much better than five years ago. With the rapid development of modern society, there were a lot more spiritual troubles to go around, which was a bit incredible, if not a bit worrying.
Other than that, there weren't any other big life changes. Roji shopped and cooked every day, and took care of the housework and finances as per usual. Muhyo went out for walks or browsed pastry shops and bookstores by himself when he woke up from his naps.
Some new series had started and finished on Jabin . Some of their favorite TV shows and anime were still on air.
Yoichi also sent two letters a year to try and entice Muhyo to become a Director of the Magic Law Association. Roji also tried his best, but Muhyo said he wouldn't agree, so he would give up.
In addition, Nana officially became an investigator at the Magic Law Investigation Headquarters and was admitted as a Judge's assistant. She was now partnered with Judge Ginji.
Kenji successfully entered college. Biko also comes to visit from time to time to sell newly developed Magic Tools. Goryo would occasionally send them cooperation invitations through Ebisu.
In the autumn of this year, old friends gathered at the office as usual to celebrate Roji’s birthday.
Judge Imai did not forget to send him a gift even if she was on duty at the Demon Prison. Except for her and the ever-so-busy head of the headquarters, Yoichi, everyone else who was able to come was there.
Although all their faces were reassuringly familiar, everyone had changed more or less, like new growth rings on a big tree, quietly growing from small to large.
At the birthday party, Ginji brought a letter from Professor Paige.
It was a letter to Roji, inviting him to teach as a substitute at the Magic Law School in addition to his work as an assistant.
_____________
Roji didn’t dare take the job at first.
The school that he had repeatedly failed every important exam at when he was young had invited him to give lectures?
But his boss raised his eyebrow and said, what's wrong? Just stop by to earn some extra cash and come back. He wanted to eat some Matsusaka beef once in a while. He also threatened to fire him again.
Roji had no choice but to agree to go there two days a week, but the requirement was that Muhyo also went with him to the Association, just to supervise him and help him from getting stage fright in class.
His boss had scolded him a few times, but eventually, he broke and they went along together.
Roji’s lecture was on the Practical Application of Magic Law Training; after all, being the genius's assistant for ten years, there weren't many people in the Association who were more experienced than him, let alone people starting from scratch.
Plus, Roji would have loved that type of lecture back then. When he thought he’d never amount to anything when he was younger and didn’t know where to start when it came to learning Magic Law.
It was precisely because of this that Roji’s classes were easy to understand and interesting. There are various interesting things he taught as well, like according to the kind of spirit, what different and specific methods could be used to assist the Executor?
Muhyo was wearing a school uniform disguise and was listening silently in the last row of the classroom, occasionally dozing off.
Class always took longer than expected. The students always liked to ask questions around Roji after class, although most of the questions had nothing to do with the content of the lecture, but the gossip about him in Muhyo’s office.
But even if it was gossip like "What does Muhyo eat every day?", Roji smiled and answered them seriously one by one.
Occasionally, he wondered if he would have been the same way if he had been one of these students back then. Would he have ever met Muhyo?
The answer to these what-ifs often concluded to no answer. If his boss knew, he would snort and scold him for being an idiot.
_____________
The period of substitute teaching is one semester.
One month before the end of it, it was a crisp autumn day in November. The woods around MLA became colorful, and occasionally a few red leaves drifted into the classroom when the windows were open.
One day after class, a student handed him a flyer, which was news about the annual school festival of the Magic Law School.
“We should go together Toru- ah, no…Muhyo.”
Roji almost forgot in public and especially on campus, he should still address Muhyo by the normal address. He was given a hard look by the Executor.
“Nah, it's boring. It was the most annoying activity in school.”
“Haha, I had a feeling you would say that.”
“Every time I have to be dragged to prepare for it by those two damned idiots. Yoichi and Enchu..."
“I wish I could’ve been there to see that! I’ll have to thank them for dragging you in every time later.”
Who gave his assistant the confidence to say that!? Muhyo gave Roji, who had been giggling non-stop, an almost murderous look.
“Anyways, I’m looking forward to it. I’ll get to experience a little bit of your life from when you were in school here. Did you do any programs during the festival? What kind of booths are there? Tell me~~”
Muhyo sighed and lowered his head, pressing the brim of his hat down. Whatever. They could go, as long as it made Roji happy.
Muhyo walked a bit faster, too lazy to answer Roji’s billions of questions as his assistant followed him, giggling all the while.
___________
The school festival of the Magic Law School was very similar to what he had seen in the elementary and middle schools in the city, but it seemed more lively, and the entirety of MLA was caught up in the thick of the merriment.
Parents and students from all over the world gathered here, like the April Carnival in Europe that he had read about in books.
The stalls in the Academy were full of dazzling things, and within a few steps, Roji’s arms were quickly filled with delicious food, including roasted sweet potatoes, takoyaki, and sticky candy apples.
His boss, who was too busy eating and drinking, had no time to talk to him.
After walking around for a long time, they disagreed on where to go next.
Roji insisted on going to see the play. The main show was “Peter Pan” . This kind of fairy tale would definitely be better than Broadway if it was performed by the children from MLS.
Muhyo said that he got so bored watching that show every year, and insisted they go on and visit the haunted houses and used bookstalls.
The two couldn't argue anymore, so they tentatively decided to split up. It was agreed that they would meet up at the used bookstore stalls when Roji finished watching the play.
It was only when he bought his admission ticket that Roji suddenly recalled what his boss had said.
They play the same play every year…why? He muttered to himself.
“You will understand after watching it. It is not exactly the same as the original fairy tale."
An unexpected answer. Roji turned his head sharply towards the direction of the voice.
"Professor Paige?"
"Long time no see, Roji."
Paige’s hair and beard have turned gray, and he gave up dying them black six months ago. In addition, he seemed to be in good spirits and the growth of wrinkles on his face was not very noticeable.
The two found the least conspicuous spots in the last row.
As everyone gathered to sit in their seats, Roji just couldn’t sit still, holding the program paper in his hands with excitement.
Paige stared at Roji silently, his smile wavering just a bit. He decided to speak up. “Did you know…every year, this play is rehearsed by students who have just moved up to the middle school division."
Roji faced him, curious.
“Why…?” He asked subconsciously and suddenly thought of the fairy tale, and something Ginji had told him once.
“Oh! Is it because the lost boys in the fairy tale also stop growing when they enter Neverland with Peter Pan? I also heard that some Magic Lawyers stop growing before the age of fifteen due to some Ren imbalances. Is it like symbolism for that?”
Paige set his beloved cane against the side of his seat. “Not entirely. The real reason is only known to a very small number of students and faculty involved in the play...This is a secret that all Magic Law Institutions have kept for thousands of years."
Professor Paige’s was very soft as he spoke, like the flapping of a butterfly's wings. If you don't pay attention, you will miss it.
For a moment, Roji even wondered if he had used a magic technique that allowed his voice to be transmitted directly to his mind.
“In middle school, it's about the time when students' talents blossom and awaken. The ways of awakening talents are different for each student, of course. But there are some very, very rare children, we call them 'Peter Pan' , such as Muhyo. Such people can eventually become the pillar of the Magic Law Association and the main accessor of the three realms of our world, heaven, and hell. He is the hope of the entire Association.”
Paige looked up to the stage ahead of them, the velvet red curtain swaying with the movement of the settling crowd, and the students behind it preparing the show.
He continued. “This play is like a ritual, praying for the emergence of Peter Pan's appearance among every generation of children.
“The reason why it is Peter Pan is because the fate of such children is destined to carry too heavy a burden and too much hope, they must stay in this world longer than most. So they cannot grow up. But, unlike ordinary bodies that stop growing, it is a different more magical mutation... Peter Pans will gradually become different from humans. They are more similar to half-spirits, or even trees..."
There it was again, that feeling.
Kusano Jiro felt as if he had been thrown into the water by Paige’s words. There was a sea of emotions there, a myriad of feelings stuffing his eardrums and nostrils, filling his lungs, all kinds, of shock, blankness, anger, sadness, confusion.
He stared like a drowning man, wide-eyed from breathlessness, his mouth open and throat failing to make any sound.
The tie given to him by Muhyo strangled his neck.
“...Why are you telling me now?”
"Because to maintain the existence of Peter Pan , a sacrifice is needed. In addition to the special child, another child will emerge to be the sacrifice.”
The lights were dimmed, leaving only one bright light on the stage. The conversation in the audience seemed to be sucked in by the spotlight, and there was a sudden silence. After that, Professor Paige didn't say anything else.
He only looked at the stage with the curtain slowly rising, his eyes pious.
All children grow up eventually, except for one.
All children soon learn that one day, they will be adults. Wendy knew this. One day when she was two years old, she had been playing in the garden, and she picked a flower and ran toward her mother.
There is one exception.
Only he watches everyone in the depths of time.
He is in Neverland, he can soar in the air, and he has gained the most powerful power, the power that everyone dreams of.
But he also sleeps in a deep dark well, always. It is a deep well that Enchu had described to Roji, a deep well that neither light nor sound can reach.
At the end of the story, Wendy left Neverland.
She grew up and returned to ordinary life, but even so, she still looked forward to returning to Neverland, staring at the night sky in front of the window, waiting for Peter to pick her up one day.
She waited for a long time, until after she got married and had children, Peter finally showed up, but not to pick her up, because she had grown up and she could no longer fly.
Peter picked up Wendy's daughter, Jane. The child is the new sacrifice, traveling with Peter to Neverland.
"The fairy tale continues, generation to generation, so the rest of the children can continue to be happy, innocent, and carefree."
Thunderous applause pulled Roji out of his own Neverland. It's over. Curtain call.
Peter, Wendy, Jane, and the other children from the play politely greeted and bowed to the audience from their stage. They then slowly retreated behind the slowly falling curtain.
The spotlight above his head suddenly turned on, and the light stabbed down like a knife, making him burst into tears. It was as if the torrent of emotions caused by Paige’s words and the children's innocent drama had to pour out of his body. Out of his heart.
Paige wasn't sure if the now crying Roji could still hear him, but there were still unfinished words that he had to tell him.
________________
While waiting at the old bookstall for Roji to find him, Muhyo saw him coming. He waved, with a lazy smile, but saw his assistant's knees weakened and he almost collapsed on top of Muhyo. The Executor did not push him away.
He knew what was happening and seemed to have foreseen this day from a long time ago.
That night, for the first time, Muhyo did not refuse Roji's request to sleep with him in his arms. This man of twenty-five years old, who looked like a big, useless dog that had only grown in size, cried so hard that he couldn't hold back his tears, and buried his head in Muhyo's arms as he sobbed.
"I want to be with you forever."
"What the hell are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"We've always been together, right…We'll always be together, right..."
“Ok, what’s gotten into you? Who was it? Did that smelly old man Paige say something to you?”
"Right, Toru…?"
"You're not making sense. You idiot."
Muhyo gently stroked the soft tuft of hair rubbing against his chin from under him and sighed.
His cold answers, as usual, made Roji inexplicably reassured.
Feeling relieved, Roji smiled through his tears.
Yes, he knew this was impossible.
He would continue to grow up and age, and eventually die on this earth. Maybe he’d turn into an evil spirit since he’d be so attached to this world still.
If that happened, Muhyo would have to sentence him, and he didn't want that to happen.
But he will have to leave Muhyo one day, even if it was not in the form of growing up.
No matter how much he cried that day, he would be the normal Jiro Kusano when he woke up the next day.
He would not allow even a little bit of those sad thoughts to come back, precisely because this most precious time would end suddenly without knowing when, like winter.
At the end of the night, the lake quietly thawed in the spring breeze.
He had a similar experience ten years ago when he failed the promotion exam and couldn't stay as Muhyo’s assistant. But now that he has grown up, he already knows how to control his emotions and how to deal with this uncertainty.
__________
After enjoying the burger carefully prepared by his assistant, and washing and changing clothes, Muhyo Toru took out some documents from the locked drawer in their desk.
He was preparing to go to the MLA Hospital for his thirtieth physical examination, and fifteenth physical examination with Roji at his side.
Jiro Kusano put away the dishes and made sure that the documents he should bring, and the ones Muhyo handed him, were put in the suitcase. He swiftly put on his long beige coat.
Roji’s mind replayed his responsibilities constantly. Suitcase packed. Food for the road. Money. Don't forget to check what your boss is wearing before you leave.
“It's very windy today, so put on a scarf.”
He knelt in front of Muhyo and put the new plaid scarf he had knitted by himself around his neck.
“Are we going to use a Magic Transportation Circle to get there?”
“Nah, we’re not in a rush. Let’s take the train.”
“Oh! Yeah! That's great! I thought you were in a hurry.” Roji clapped his hands in surprise.
“Hehe. We rarely get to eat lunch on the train anyway.” His boss said with a smile.
__________
It wasn't that he couldn't completely understand why this assistant preferred to take the train, as it was time-consuming and expensive.
After all, after spending so much time in the shadowy profession of Magic Law, one would want to return to more nostalgic things like riding trains to get places. Which was why he suggested they go by train this time. To make his assistant happy.
Speaking of nostalgia, it really had been a long time of knowing Roji. Seventeen years. It would soon be seventeen whole years he had spent with this person.
____________
The world is still immersed in the afterglow of the holidays.
The train station was crowded with people. To prevent them from getting lost and separated, Roji took the initiative to pick Muhyo up and let him sit on his shoulders.
How could his titular Executor pride allow him to ride on Roji’s shoulders!? He grabbed his assistant's messy mass of hair along the way and pinched his face hard, but he couldn't resist Roji’s persistence.
It wasn't until Roji let him down before they both got on the train that he finally breathed a sigh of relief. God knows how stupid they both just looked, like a pair of dumbasses who looked like father and son.
_________
"...Hey, wait, can you explain first why you want me to sit on your lap?"
"Because the train tickets are too expensive, so instead of two adult tickets I um…bought a child ticket for you.”
The ticket collector who had sold the tickets to the passengers earlier passed them, and smiled knowingly at Roji and Muhyo.
Roji solemnly smiled at Muhyo and winked. “Now we have to play the part….sorry…”
"You're dead, idiot assistant. Don't you dare ever think I’ll ride the train with you again! Stand up! I'll sit down.”
"Don't be like that...this train is very fast. Just hold on, and we’ll be in Nagano very soon.”
Muhyo once again regretted that he would never let down his guard around this stupid idiot.
Not to mention his appearance, this bastard assistant's personality was reminding him of some stupid middle-aged man, and he actually hugged him and stayed in his seat.
Housewives or grandparents passing by would cast loving glances at them from time to time. They probably thought: The young father and his son looked so cute.
"You idiot, don't you feel embarrassed being looked at as a father and son?"
“I’ve gotten used to it. When I first became your assistant, wasn't it that I was treated like an older brother and you a younger brother all day long?"
“That wasn’t any better!!!”
"It's okay." Roji continued to hug him, smiling like the warm sun in winter. “It would be nice if only they knew.”
The soul in Muhyo’s body was a treasure that he was determined to protect for the rest of his life.
________
“Hey.”
The boss, who gave up the struggle, caught his assistant off guard with his sudden word.
“I haven't told you yet, but this should be the last time. I probably won't need to go to the hospital again if nothing happens today.”
“Yeah. I understand.”
Muhyo shifted in Roji’s lap, positioning himself to be able to lean his arm against the bottom of the window, watching the scenery roll by.
“I think the Association is holding some kind of firework event tonight too. You want to go see it?”
“Yeah!”
“Heh…thought so. Luckily, I did sneak a transportation portal into the suitcase. Guess we won’t be back until midnight.”
"Haha. Do you remember last summer, we went to the river with Nana and Kenji to watch the fireworks?”
“Yup. Crowded as hell. I’ll never go there again.”
“Don’t say that.”
"Hmph. You really haven't grown much as a person-"
Muhyo paused halfway through his count.
Raising his eyes slightly, he saw that his assistant's eyes were red again.
He couldn’t stand it.
“Right…even if get older and older, you still think I…”
“Geez. All you’re doing is proving my point. You haven’t changed much at all. Idiot.”
“Yeah.”
The train was so quiet that there was no sound when it moved.
Muhyo reached out and caressed his assistant's face. Every time his soft fingers touched his face, the change, roughness, and wrinkles left by the passage of time seemed to peel off like dry soil.
Underneath those things is still his Roji, no matter how hard he hides it, he can’t.
Roji, who had been with him since their boyhood, his assistant, his partner, his friend, his companion, his forever Roji, was crying in his hands, with tears like a little girl.
See? Don’t you cry so easily? Just like back then?
Fifteen more years together is fine. Fifty more years together is fine.
Even a hundred years from now.
As long as it’s with you.
______________
Five years ago, in front of the Magic Law Hospital at the Association.
“This is the last chance. Before you both reach the age of twenty-five.” Dr. Magi flipped through the report without raising his head. "Are you going to cut the Red String of Fate from Jiro Kusano and free him from now on, Muhyo Toru?”
“Then what? You gonna find me a new sap to squeeze the life out of? You quacks have no humanity left.”
“It can’t be helped. The way that you are, the rare awakened special person, people like you grow Spirit Roots at the cost of your own life force. To keep up with the immense Ren your body needs to be powerful, your body draws Ren from others.
“Your Spirit Roots could activate at any time. But they only awakened when they found Jiro Kusano, who had such a huge Ren capacity, when he was small and came to take the exam to enter MLS.
”However, it turns out, that Magic Tool was given to him by Paige was keeping so much Ren from flowing into you properly. So, without that extra Ren keeping you afloat, you have those sleeping spells. It is indeed very special, completely different from the cases recorded in the past. Therefore, no one knows what will happen next with you two.”
“Isn’t that a good thing? We’re doing fine.” Muhyo raised his eyebrows.
“What’s good about that? If you don’t get enough Ren, you could die of premature aging. Ability is also very troublesome. Just like those powerful smartphones that are popular outside, they will turn into bricks if they are not charged for a day.”
“Hmph. What a stupid metaphor.”
“Let me remind you once again that after you both turn twenty-five, your Spirit Roots cannot be removed. You can only be bound to Kusano for life. After a person reaches a certain age, the speed of recovery will slow down and the storage will also decrease. Even Kusano may not be able to sustain your consumption.”
“Then that fool won't be able to take off the ‘Swallow That Defies the Wind’ .”
“What about you? Aren’t you worried about yourself? Isn't the problem back to the original point? In short, what I mean is that if you continue like this, you will just fall from the sky without being able to fly. Peter Pan, who will not grow up, must keep burning and refining. You need lots more Ren, and Kusano won’t be able to give you enough as time goes on. I suggest you let him go and find a new source of Ren, everyone will be happy.”
“Hmph, don't talk about people like vampire prey. You've got it figured out, don't you, quack? Otherwise, you wouldn't have said this to my idiot assistant. This is some sort of test, right?”
The Executor smirked. Dr. Magi was speechless.
"What? How could you eavesdrop on the doctor talking to the patient!"
“I didn't eavesdrop, but I could tell by the look on his face. Hehe.”
Peter Pan, taking the person to Neverland, was actually more afraid than anyone else. No matter how precious they were, the pain of not being able to keep them close and safe forever was impossible to explain to them with words.
After the MLS Festival, Roji savored the meaning of Paige’s last words over and over again. Why had he been the only one who had to be kept in the dark all along? Why had both Muhyo and Paige been so adamant that he should continue to use the ‘Swallow That Defies the Wind’ ? And why had he failed to notice it?
“Think about it, Jiro Kusano, are you willing to dedicate your life to Muhyo Toru? Or sever ties?”
Roji was silent for a long time, shook his head, and smiled. His smile was as soft as usual, like grass in the sun, but there were tears in his eyes, like grass blades dripping with water droplets.
“I can't do it, Doctor.”
“Why?”
“I mean, after dedicating my life to him, isn’t Muhyo just left with me? Of course, he can definitely find other assistants, but I don't know... If possible, I still want him to never be alone. No matter life or death, I will always be by his side.”
Dr. Magi listened silently, tapped his pen, and wrote something in the report.
“That's good. You're qualified then, 'Wendy' .”
“That's what he said, Muhyo. What about your decision?”
"Hehe, I guess it goes without saying, huh?"
The small Executor raised his head, his blue eyes shining like ice in the sun.
“Just go with the idiot's wishes.”
FIN.