[#CreativeAward2024] Honekawa Sujiemon "Chapter 9: The Mosquito-less Ambition (Part 2)" (2325 characters)
Chapter 9: "The Mosquito-lessAmbition (Part 2)"
"Hello there!"
With the nostalgic sound of a bell ringing, Eto-san and Koshimae-san entered the charming cafe "Casablanca" in high spirits. They are DJs for the popular radio program "Egao Desu ka♪" (Are You Smiling?) in Note-cho.
The two had come to "Casablanca" to hold a meeting for their next project. The staff at their radio station, "FM-H&T," are also regulars at "Casablanca." Since "Egao Desu ka♪" is a listener-participation program, they often hold public broadcasts here as well.
"The level of last year's Carat Grand Prix was really high, wasn't it?"
"We definitely want to make the content even better next time."
As they were discussing this, Sanuma-san brought over a set of new ginger cookies and drinks.
"I'm really looking forward to it too."
"Thank you!"
"Please look forward to our project."
"Yes."
Master Kouta-san smiled while brewing coffee at the counter. As such a peaceful time flowed by, a customer who had been sitting at a table a little further away approached Eto-san and Koshimae-san's table.
"Were we being too loud?"
Eto-san apologized immediately. However, the customer just stood silently by the table.
"Um...?"
Just as Sanuma-san called out to them,
"Please change 'Casablanca' to 'Mosquitoblanca'!"
they shouted and lunged at Sanuma-san.
"Eek!"
Everyone was too shaken by the sudden event to move. However, thanks to a silly clanging sound echoing through the shop, they came to their senses. The sound came from the silver tray Sanuma-san was holding. Because it hit the attacker at just the right moment, the person was now clutching their head and crouching down, groaning, "Mosqui-to..." The easygoing Sanuma-san had a talent for avoiding crises with occasional brilliant movements.
"There it is! Sanuma-san's selfless attack..."
Eto-san shouted with wide eyes and pulled Sanuma-san toward them. This was because Sanuma-san, who had performed the attack, was now frozen in fear.
"Isn't this that thing where people are changing 'ka' to 'mosquito' lately?"
Koshimae-san stood in front of the culprit to protect Eto-san and Sanuma-san, but suddenly, the people around them all stood up at once.
"Please change 'iced cafe au lait' to 'iced mosquito au lait'!"
"Please change 'Egao Desu ka♪' to 'Egao Desu Mosquito♪'!"
"Please change 'Carat Grand Prix' to 'Mosquitot Grand Prix'!"
The other customers in "Casablanca" had undergone a transformation. With unfocused eyes, they began to close in on the four of them.
"Everyone, what's the matter?"
"What's the matter 'mosquito', you mean!"
People with unfocused eyes were shouting "Mosquito!" "Mosquito!"
"What could have happened to them?"
"Th-this is scary!"
"Everyone! Over here, over here!"
When I looked toward the voice of Kouta-san shouting, he was opening the back door and calling the three of us. We hurriedly escaped into the counter area and managed to slip outside before being caught by the people shouting "Mosquito." Even after closing the door, it was being pounded with tremendous force along with screams of "Mosquitoooo!" and it was shaking violently.
At this rate, those people are going to get outside!
"S-someone, h... call the police!"
"Y-yeah, you're right."
Just as I was about to operate my smartphone,
"It's alright!"
A voice was heard from inside the shop,
FLUTTER, SWISH, PLOP, THUD
A sound was made.
"Th-that sound, is it the one from the rumors?"
"It might be..."
Eto-san quietly opened the door.
"I told you it's dangerous."
Koshimae-san said this while peeking in as well. It seemed the journalistic spirit of the two had been ignited. Kouta-san and Sunanuma-san watched over them with pounding hearts. The sight that the two who peeked in fearfully saw was the customers collapsed with their eyes rolled back, and a plump body.
"I-it's Honekawa Sujiemon-san! Kyaa!"
Voices of joy involuntarily escaped from Eto-san and Sunanuma-san.
"So cool..."
Kouta-san and Koshimae-san gazed at Sujiemon with admiration.
"Are you all alright?"
Honekawa Sujiemon, who had settled the situation with a light secret technique, showed concern for the four of them while carrying a suspect on his shoulder.
"What on earth could have happened to them?"
To Eto-san, who asked suspiciously,
"It is the work of the Mosquito-nival."
Sujiemon answered solemnly. "The Mosquito-nival, you say! Sujiemon-san! Please tell us more!"
He smiled at Koshimae-san, who was leaning in eagerly,
"Sanuma-san will receive a letter of appreciation from the police later, so please cover that on 'Smile Desuka♪'"
he said, and walked out the door of "Casablanca".
"Sujiemon used the door to leave like a normal person."
"Is something wrong?"
"Because Sujiemon's trademark is 'vanishing into thin air,' right?"
Confused by such an ordinary event, Eto-san and Koshimae-san were a step too slow to move and lost sight of Sujiemon.
"We were so close to getting to the secret of Honekawa Sujiemon."
"I wanted to get to the truth about the Mosquito-nival."
Kota-san comforted Eto-san and Koshimae-san, who were frustrated, telling them to calm down. Just then,
"Honekawa Sujiemon... how wonderful..."
they heard Sanuma-san's laid-back voice, and the three of them finally returned to reality. When the four of them returned to the shop laughing, the customers who had been hit by the light secret technique said,
"Huh? Why am I lying on the floor?"
"The shop is a mess!"
they said in panicked voices. They didn't seem to remember screaming "Mosquitoooo!" It seems that having their brains controlled by "mosquitoes" was only temporary.
"Is everyone alright? I'll serve you some Casablanca Blend on the house now."
Kota-san called out cheerfully.
"Eh? Why?"
"Lucky♪"
To the customers who were happy about the free blend,
"Everyone, could you help me put the tables and chairs back?"
Sanuma-san asked as if nothing had happened. Thus, "Casablanca" managed to avoid becoming "Mosquito-blanca." By the time "Casablanca" resumed business as a calm coffee shop, Sujiemon and I were in the interrogation room.
"Mosquitoooo..."
I felt a chill at the suspect's bizarre appearance.