Socially Hitman Side Story 18: The Moon Blurred in a Blue Dream

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I am Dan Neraiuchi. I'm a hitman.

Though I say hitman, I don't do things like killing people.

What I kill is... well, let's call it "social status."

I received a job request from the secret organization within World Blue Co., Ltd. called the "Open It Already Committee." For that request, I had to go to the Republic of Sutton. I headed to the airport in a car driven by Akane Aokunai, who is acting as my guide and bodyguard, and we have just arrived.

In the airport parking lot, inside the metallic blue car. Looking at the dashboard, "Blue Moon" is engraved in small letters outside the frame of the car navigation system.

Yes, the one who made this was Itsuki Ao,Icchan.

"...Why do you know about Itsuki Ao?"

After a moment of silence, Aokunai slowly opened her mouth. It's no wonder. I don't think there was any acquaintance between Icchan and Aokunai, and even if there was, I doubt I would have come up in conversation.
Besides, this is the first time I've ever talked to anyone about Icchan myself.

"Let's talk about the past."

◇

When I was a kid in elementary school, there was a park I went to often. I didn't have any friends, so I always played alone. I would make mud dumplings in the sandbox or play spy games on the jungle gym.

One day, when I went straight to the park from school as usual, there was a child I didn't recognize. He was younger than me, but he had a somewhat intelligent impression.

The boy was sitting on a bench, tinkering with some kind of machine. To me, it looked like a mechanical tin can telephone. Out of simple curiosity, I spoke to him.

"What's that?"

The boy answered like this.

A machine that lets you talk to animals

I was moved that a boy younger than me was building a high-tech machine.

Wow! Does that mean you'll be able to talk to dogs and cats too!?

Yeah. But it's not finished yet.

? Is something missing?

I haven't tested it on a real animal to see if I can really talk to them.

The boy spoke with a lisp and in a faltering manner, but there was a sense of pride as a scientist in every word he spoke.

I see. It would be great if there were a cat around here somewhere... Oh.

As I looked around, a black cat was just trotting toward us. The black cat climbed onto the boy's lap and curled up as if it were its usual spot.

Is that your cat?

The boy shook his head.

It's awfully friendly for a stray...

The black cat purred, looking completely relaxed.

That's it! Why don't you try it with this cat? It seems to be fond of you!

The boy nodded, and pointed one end of the mechanical tin-can telephone he was holding toward the black cat's face on his lap. Then, he whispered "Hello" into the other end in a small voice.

The black cat twitched its ears for a moment, then let out a "Meow." At that moment, I clearly heard "Hello" from the boy's side of the telephone.

Whoa! That's amazing! You were able to talk to a cat!

I was excited. It was the invention of the century.

Hey, hey! Let me try too!

I snatched the telephone from the boy and said, "What is your name?" Then, along with the cat's "Meow," I heard, "I have no name yet."

Wow! It's a Natsume Soseki!

Thinking back on it now, that wasn't the part to be impressed by, but regardless, I was super hyped. The boy scratched the back of his neck with a happy, bashful look on his face.

You're really amazing! Come to think of it, what's your name?

Icchan.

Icchan is a nickname, right? Your real name!

...Itsuki. Ao, Itsuki.

Aoitsuki? ...'Blue Moon'! That's cool!

Cool?

Yeah! Really cool! I mean, if you put it in English, it's 'Blue Moon', right?

Blue Moon?

See, the moon is usually yellow, right? But since it's blue, it feels cool, doesn't it? Like, it sounds smart, and it feels like it's watching over everything calmly!

I ended up rattling on in a rush, but Icchan listened in silence.

It's cool. You're really cool, Icchan.

...Thank you.

Icchan gently stroked the black cat on his lap. The black cat was relaxing on its back, belly up.

Why don't you keep that black cat, Icchan? If it looks like your parents might object, I'll ask them with you!

Yeah. I'll ask my mom and dad. I'm always all alone, so I think they'll probably let me.

I see... Oh, let's decide on a name for this guy! What should we name it?

Ignoring the one (or should I say, the cat) who was snoring away, Icchan and I thought of a name for the nameless black cat.

It's gotta be a cool name...

While I was thinking of candidates like "Black Thunder" or "Dark Inferno," Icchan suddenly asked a question.

"What is your name, big brother?"

"Me? I'm a man who lives in the underworld, so I can't tell you my real name."

"Underworld?"

"Well... I'm hiding my true identity for a certain mission."

"You don't have a name?"

"No, I do. I am the righteous sniper who defeats evildoers, Dan! How about that? Isn't it cool? It's a name I came up with!"

"Dan?"

"That's right. By the way, my last name is 'Neraiuchi'. I came up with this one too, but it sounds like a sniper, doesn't it?"

"Then, I'll name this guy 'Dan' too!"

"Huh?"

"Because he's kind, just like you, big brother."

"O-oh... well, I suppose..."

"From now on, you are 'Dan'. Nice to meet you, Dan."

Dan meowed, "Nya-nyu-ha-n." Through the string telephone, it sounded like, "I am Dan." Icchan and I both laughed.

◇

The sun had completely set, and the veil of night had fallen over the airport parking lot. Aokuchi, in the driver's seat, had remained silent with his head down the entire time during the trip down memory lane.

"Well, that's how it happened. That's why 'Blue Moon' rang a bell."

The black cat I saw near 'Cafe Hana' before was definitely Dan. I thought if I followed Dan, I could reunite with Icchan, but before I knew it, I had visited my usual shop.

'This is just my speculation, but'

Through my involvement with World Blue so far, I had formed a hypothesis. But it was now turning into almost certain proof.

'Since Icchan loves nature and animals, isn't he trying to stop the Love-Kill Sentence that would turn Earth into a dead planet? He granted the black cat Dan the ability to jump through time to save his family and important people by sending them back. He entrusted Dan to his own son, Maiton, to dispose of rebels and prevent the activation of the Love-Kill Sentence. If you think of it that way, everything adds up.'

I turned to face Aokuchi.

'You, old man Aogeba, and the guys at 'Citrus' all fell for Icchan's kindness, didn't you? If so, I'd be happy to cooperate without needing to go through such roundabout ways! Because Icchan is my friend!'

Aokuchi remained silent, but nodded once, slightly.

It seems I've come to a point of no return.
Well, that's fine. One of the hitman's creeds is 'A friend of yesterday is a friend today.'

The flight to the Republic of Sutton leaves soon. That's when the real battle begins.

🌙

This is a small room on the second basement floor of World Blue Co., Ltd. The room's lights are off.

In the pitch-black room, there are many monitors, emitting an eerie light.

Looking at the monitors, you can see that cameras are installed everywhere in the company.

In front of the monitors, a boy is sitting.
On his head are beautiful blue headphones.

From the headphones, a conversation inside a certain car is playing. The boy was listening intently to that conversation.

'Because Icchan is my friend!'

The moment the car engine cut out, the audio stopped.

The boy quietly took off his headphones and looked up at the ceiling of the room.
So that tears would not spill from his eyes.

(To be continued?)

[Reference Articles]

↓|Aoki (Icchan)

↓Dan and Dan

[World Blue Story]

['Socially Hitman' Series]

#WorldBlueStory
#EnjoyGreetings
#SociallyHitman