Employee Squadron Jewel V Part 3 / Episode 16: Hatred Transformed. Into Purity.

Previously

Sunday, December 12th. At the annex of Jewel Shrine, a farewell and birthday party was held for Riyomo. In this episode, Kiyoshi Osobake, also known as Gejo, continues to make shocking statements.

"Don't be so angry, Yellow Warrior. Isn't a change of heart normal? Didn't you fall for me nine years ago, too?"

The group was stirred by Gejo's casual remark.

"What do you mean? Kazuto, you met Gejo nine years ago too?"

Moneko reacted in particular. In her ears, earrings with five small aquamarines shaped like flowers were shining. Kazuto compared her ears to Gejo's ears visible behind her. Ears wearing earrings with five small tanzanites shaped like flowers.

"So it really was you..."

While Kazuto was surprised, Gejo resumed his story.

After the National Defense Academy open campus, Gejo returned to the internet cafe and was troubled.

(In the end, I haven't been able to do anything. Even though Madam entrusted her hope to me...)

He tried to act to change the future. He made contact with the three people from nine years ago—Hikari, Ine, and Shigure—but couldn't really do anything. He could only sigh.

Madam's words, reviving in his mind, weighed heavily on Gejo. However, there is always a hint somewhere. Perhaps he sent his voice from nine years in the future to teach him that.

Zaiga's words echoed. These were the words Zaiga, who had been defeated by Jewel Red Gorgeous, said to Gejo when he drew close to him.

"I have been saved by many people. So, next, I should save someone? Can I do it?"

Gejo recalled the figures of Madam, Zaiga, and Scaly in order. Gejo added Ine, Shigure, and also Hikari to this group. All six of them were benefactors who had extended a helping hand to Gejo to a greater or lesser extent. However, Gejo thought there was a large gap between them and himself.

"I have no power. Saving others is something I..."

Thinking about it didn't provide any answers, and it only made him feel more pessimistic. Feeling miserable, Gejo decided to go to sleep.

The next day, to take his mind off things, Gejo went to a famous amusement park in Urayasu City called "Nezmy World." Upon entering the park, Gejo realized his mistake.

(Who comes to an amusement park during summer vacation in their uniform!?)

He had chosen to wear his summer sailor uniform. Surrounded by guests in casual clothes, Gejo clearly stood out. Just as he began to think about where he could find a restroom to change his disguise, he spotted a familiar face among the crowd.

"Is that... the Yellow Warrior, Kazuto Ise!?"

It was a young man who looked to be about high school age, carrying a large bag and a sketchbook. He was tall and wore glasses. His thin face was unmistakably Kazuto's, but Gejo felt a strange sense of unease. Back then, Kazuto was slender and had a physique far from being described as "sturdy." Gejo dug into his memories and thought.

(Come to think of it, when Rinko Zouo went out, the Yellow Warrior didn't seem to have such a good build. He must have worked hard to train himself.)

Gejo deeply appreciated the effort that the high school boy in front of him would put in nine years later.

(He's the fourth one. Might as well strike up a conversation while I'm at it.)

With a light heart, Gejo approached Kazuto.

"Did you come here to draw? What kind of pictures did you draw?"

Gejo spoke to Kazuto suddenly from behind. Caught off guard, Kazuto turned around in surprise, blinked rapidly, then looked down and turned his face away. Gejo tilted his head at Kazuto's suspicious behavior, but immediately understood.

(He likes my face so much he can't look at me directly. He must have looked down, caught sight of my thighs, felt like he was getting excited, and hurriedly looked away.)

Kazuto was so naive back then that it was unimaginable now, and Gejo was able to analyze it easily. Kazuto's reddened ears proved that Gejo's analysis was correct. Suppressing the urge to roll on the floor laughing, Gejo tried to act as normally as possible.

"Eh? No, it's not very good, but..."

There was quite a time lag before Kazuto answered Gejo's question. Blushing, Kazuto handed the sketchbook to Gejo. The sketchbook contained a drawing of a roller coaster plunging into a pond.

(He's worthy of becoming a designer that General Zaiga would value. His drawing skills are high.)

That was Gejo's first impression of Kazuto's drawing. With that momentum, Gejo spoke like a critic.

"It's good enough. But what is this? It's mechanical. You probably have a high ability to draw exactly what you see, but you haven't put any emotion into it."

Hearing Gejo's words, Kazuto gritted his teeth in frustration.

"I wasn't satisfied with the sense of speed and the expression of the water splashes, so it took me a while... I only managed to draw this one piece all morning..."

Gejo found a commonality between that expression and those words with the Wato of the present.

(He was strict with himself even back then. This spirit is what made his short-term physical transformation a success.)

Gejo realized that the slender boy in front of him was indeed Kazuto Ise, who would later become Houseki Yellow.

Gejo and Wato walked around the amusement park together. Although Wato was nervous and awkward, he told Gejo that he had come to sketch for his art club activities. He also complained about how the other members lacked motivation.

(He's a person who, if one thing had gone wrong, could have ended up with a fate similar to O-Yo-Taene.)

After hearing his story, that was the impression Gejo had of Wato.
After walking for a while, the two sat on a bench in front of the merry-go-round. Wato, sitting next to Gejo, was trembling unnaturally, perhaps from nervousness.

(Is he this nervous even though I'm using perception inhibition? Or is the perception inhibition making him see me as his ideal woman?)

Gejo found it amusing as she pondered various things. It was enough to make her forget that until just the other day, she had been an enemy of his nine-year-older self.
Wato was drawing the merry-go-round. Gejo looked alternately at the picture Wato was drawing and the merry-go-round itself. A young couple with their child were smiling broadly and having a good time. Perhaps out of envy, Gejo's emotions welled up. She desperately held back the tears that were about to overflow and gripped the hem of her skirt tightly.

"Do you want to draw people? That's difficult for me. That happy feeling... it's too dazzling to look at directly. I'm envious..."

Gejo muttered that without thinking. Wato didn't say anything in return.
After muttering that, Gejo looked behind the bench. There was a flower bed planted with petunias. They were blooming in various colors: red, pink, and white. However, Gejo's eyes were drawn to a small, deep purple flower hidden in the shadow of the petunias.

(This is... a plant that gets called a weed and pulled out?)

She didn't know the name of the flower. Even so, although it was far smaller than the petunias, the plant, which grew as if crawling along the ground, was blooming with small, deep purple flowers and trying to ensure its survival. Looking at that flower, Gejo thought.

(It's the same as me when I was at Glacia. An existence not permitted to live.)

Ever since she began investigating Earth, Gejo had always identified with and sympathized with beings called pests or weeds. And she had been infatuated with Madame, who upheld the ideal of protecting those whose lives were unjustly disregarded. That feeling had not changed even now.
However, there was one thing that had changed. Anger and hatred no longer welled up at all toward the Earthlings who would pull out this weed. Instead, for some reason, she heard Hikari's voice.

When that voice echoed in her mind, a strange feeling arose within Gejo.

(I will draw a picture of this plant. And I will convey the ideals that Madame held to it. I don't know how many years it will take. Even so... if it's this one. If it's a companion of Hikari Shinmei and Riyomo, it should definitely understand!)

Gejo decided to entrust his hope to Wato, who was a high school student.

Can I draw a picture too?

Wato was surprised that Gejo had suddenly said that, but he did not refuse. Gejo got off the bench and turned his body toward the flower bed... toward the small deep purple flowers. He generated a sketchbook using the power of Imagerel, following the same principle as his quick-change outfit. Then, he borrowed watercolor pencils from Wato and began to draw the deep purple flowers with intense focus.

What did you draw?

Gejo had been concentrating on sketching until Wato spoke to him. By that time, the picture was finished. At this moment, Gejo realized something for the first time.

(Am I good at drawing?)

The quality of the picture of the deep purple flowers was so good that even he thought so himself. Gejo handed the sketchbook to Wato. Looking at the picture of the deep purple flowers, Wato was stunned.

It's an amazing picture. But, I don't think there are any blue flowers in the flower bed...

Gejo answered Wato's question immediately.

It's this weed. It managed to grow this far by slipping past our eyes, but it will probably be pulled out anyway. That's why I thought I would draw it and leave it behind.

Gejo pointed to the deep purple flower that was growing as if crawling along the ground, hidden in the shadow of the petunias. Wato leaned forward to check the flower, comparing it to the picture in the sketchbook over and over again.

(I should have conveyed it to some extent. I can entrust it to this guy!)

Seeing Wato's reaction, Gejo was convinced of that. And then, Gejo told him.

It makes me want to cry when I look at it. You keep this picture.

Leaving those words behind, Gejo turned on his heel and ran away. Wato, who had been handed the sketchbook by Gejo, could not chase after him as he did not understand the situation at all.

About eight years later, Wato designed tanzanite earrings modeled after the flower picture Gejo had drawn. The earrings, which became Wato's representative work, were what Gejo had entrusted to Wato—the ideals of Madame. Upon learning this fact, everyone gathered at the Jūtoku Shrine was speechless for a while.

Was it Madame Monster's philosophy that drove me...?

It was Wato who broke the silence. Gejo was concerned about Wato's feelings and had an anxious look in his eyes. However, Wato did not seem to feel any discomfort at all.

I understand now. What you were saying.

Wato was remembering what Gejo had said on Tuesday, November 23rd.

Perhaps the others, besides Wato, were thinking the same thing. Their eyes were slightly moist, and they were lost in deep emotion.

A portion of the sales from Ise's earrings is also being donated to support victims of Nikushimu.

Told this by Aisaku in a formal tone, Gejo smiled shyly.

Gejo, you really did live up to the hope that was entrusted to you, didn't you?

Following this praise from Hikari, Gejo smiled slightly.

I never imagined that the inspiration for the product I bought was my own drawing. I was surprised myself when I found out later.

Gejo smiled gently.

As various mysteries were being solved, Toru was also beginning to grasp something certain about his own past.

Hey. Gejo, you've met me before, haven't you? It was you who saved me, right?

Without beating around the bush, Toru asked directly. Gejo nodded quietly.

That is correct. It was meeting you that made me decide to live as Osobake Jo.

Gejo was about to speak of the most important thing right now.

The next episode is the finale!

Click here for Part 1!

Click here for Part 2!