Work Text:
HAMA TOURS - SIBLING RECONNECTION PROJECT
SPECIAL INTERVIEW - NAYUKI EDITION
[Cassette whirs, followed by a soft click.]
Nayuki: —Good day, Chief. I apologize for getting back to you so late. It took me a while to find the time to record this.
Nayuki: From what was discussed before, this project is a new internal initiative to understand how our tours might foster reconnection between siblings, correct? …Was it the President’s idea to get me roped into this?
[Nayuki sighs.]
Nayuki: I’d honestly much rather remain uninvolved in this matter…but I also understand why it was decided that my input was necessary.
Nayuki: As such, out of respect for the process…and for those who believe this might lead to something meaningful, I’ll do my best to answer the questions.
Nayuki: I’ll begin now.
[The sound of shuffling paper can be heard.]
[Nayuki coughs before he reads the first question.]
Nayuki: “What's the first trip you remember taking with your brother? Was there a ‘tour guide’ between you two?”
[Nayuki pauses before answering.]
Nayuki: …The first trip we took together…was probably that visit to the fortune-telling hall—one my family has a long-standing tradition of going to. Originally, it was only meant for him, but I insisted on coming along, and…
Nayuki: Back then, I suppose he was the “tour guide” between the two of us. He led the way, and I followed him obediently.
Nayuki: From the first step we took towards that place…right up until the moment we made our way home down that winding road, I followed him.
Nayuki: All I ever did…was follow him back then.
[Nayuki pauses for a brief moment.]
[Then, he inhales deeply.]
[The sound of shifting pages can once again be heard.]
Nayuki: Second question. “Was there ever a time when you both got lost together? Did you two work together to get back home?”
Nayuki: Tsk… What sort of questions are these?
[Nayuki grumbles to himself for a few seconds.]
[He continues answering after a short pause.]
Nayuki: Ahem. To answer that, I’d like to say that we never really traveled together again after that first trip I just mentioned, not unless you count our excursions for Mahorova or our current work.
Nayuki: So, that moment is all I can use as reference. And during that time… I guess you could say that we got lost, in a sense. We—
[He inhales sharply.]
Nayuki: …When we walked home that day, the sun was setting…casting everything in its warm afterglow. Its rays were at his back, and the shadows it created…hid his face from my view.
Nayuki: I couldn’t see what expression he was making, and even though I held his hand, he felt cold. It was almost like he was already…
[Nayuki's voice quivers ever so slightly.]
[A strange motion can be heard; did he clutch the cassette tape tightly after saying that?]
Nayuki: …At any rate, that day, it felt like he had lost all will to find his way back.
Nayuki: And I, the fool, followed him without question still. I should have known better. And then again, I was merely a child, so...
Nayuki: —Anyway, next question.
[The sound of papers shuffling is heard.]
Nayuki: “Was there ever a time you two were together that you thought to yourself that you shouldn’t be there?”
[Nayuki huffs with indignance and disbelief, almost as though he can’t believe someone asked him such a question.]
Nayuki: …Just out of curiosity, may I ask if the President has something against me? What the hell is this?
[The sound of a page being turned can be heard again; but this time, it’s followed by Nayuki’s fond chuckle.]
Nayuki: “Sorry, you don't have to answer that question if you don't want to… Kafka went too far.” Pfft, haha.
[Nayuki is still stifling his laughter as he continues.]
[You can hear the semblance of a smile in his voice.]
Nayuki: Ah, well, I suppose I’ll answer for Chief’s sake. Thank you for your kind consideration.
[A soft lull follows his words.]
Nayuki: There were many times when I thought it would be better if I wasn’t there… But it’s not because of the reasons you have in mind. Unlike him, I actually value my own life.
Nayuki: I only felt that way because it seemed like…my existence didn’t make much of a difference. Whether I was there or not, he just did as he pleased, regardless of how I felt.
Nayuki: He had grown so used to me always being there, ready to respond to his every need…that my presence no longer held any significance to him.
Nayuki: …At least, that's how it felt like.
[The sound of shuffling paper can be heard.]
Nayuki: Ahem. Next question—“When did you start traveling alone?” …I assume I’m not meant to answer this literally? The President’s really wringing me out…
[There is a hint of resignation in Nayuki’s voice.]
Nayuki: This is the second-to-last question, right? I simply have to push through. Alright.
[Nayuki pauses before continuing.]
Nayuki: To answer that query… I felt as though I was traveling alone the moment he first cast aside all my efforts for him. When he sold off Mahorova—
[He pauses.]
Nayuki: —wait, don’t disclose that information to the public, okay? That isn’t the official reason. But, yes, when he sold off Mahorova. It made me realize just how much he’d changed—how different he was now from the brother I used to know.
Nayuki: He did it so easily, like he didn’t even consider the effort I put in to make his dreams a reality. I was still fighting for him, trying to make him happy, but in the end... I was the only one left trying. He had already given up.
Nayuki: That was how it was back then. Nowadays, he says he’s changed for the better. I want to believe him, but…
[Nayuki clicks his tongue.]
Nayuki: ...He’s still on thin ice.
[The sound of the page turning can be heard again.]
Nayuki: And now, the last question. …Finally.
Nayuki: Please assign the following roles to each of you: ‘tour guide’ and ‘tourist’. Who is who? Why?
[Nayuki pauses.]
Nayuki: Well, obviously… I'm the tour guide, aren’t I? You can’t trust that guy to be anything other than a tourist to the lives of others. He asked our father a question about the origin of his name once, and he took it seriously by living out the rest of his life embodying the definition of being destined to arrive, yet never staying.
Nayuki: “Do you think he’d agree with your assignment?” Hah!
[Nayuki laughs, a hint of derision in his voice.]
Nayuki: He would. Of course, he would. He knows more than anyone that he’s never taken root anywhere. A tourist, through and through.
[Nayuki’s tone then shifts, more contemplative this time.]
Nayuki: A tour guide, though… Well, they’re different. A tour guide isn’t just someone who leads you through a path—they shape the experience, offer insights, and point out things you might miss. I believe the Chief is the greatest example for that, don’t you think?
Nayuki: They're responsible for making sure you understand the journey, even if they’ve never walked it themselves. They have to stay focused, keeping the tourist moving forward, showing them what’s important, even if the guide themselves has no intention of staying at any one stop for long...
Nayuki: I suppose that between the two of us, that’s always been me. I’ve had to be the one to hold everything together, even when it felt like I was losing my own way...
[He then says softly...]
Nayuki: Always hoping that, someday, after I’ve done all that I could… Maybe he’ll finally...
[He pauses, leaving his words unfinished.]
Nayuki: …Can I end the interview here? I feel like I’ve said too much already. I will complain about this directly to Kafka, so worry not, Chief.
Nayuki: Goodbye then.
[Click.]
HAMA TOURS - SIBLING RECONNECTION PROJECT
SPECIAL INTERVIEW - RAITO EDITION | STATUS: UNTRANSCRIBED