Hello there.

  Name’s Omitsu.

  I live in the same rundown tenement as Tasuke—the lazy ronin who drinks too much and listens too little.

  We had another fight recently.

  Lately, I can’t really tell what’s going on in that head of his.

  He still grins like nothing’s changed, still swigs sake like it’s water,

  but somehow, since that talking sword showed up—since Kanikichi arrived—

  he feels a little farther away.

  The other day, I tried to hint at it.

  Y’know, carefully.

  And what does he say?

  “Huh? You’re imagining things, Omitsu.

  Eat something weird lately?”

  If only I had.

  Honestly…

  Why does he have to turn everything important into a joke?

  But—when a guy acts like that, a girl gets curious, doesn’t she?

  So I decided.

  Today, I’m going to ask around.

  “What kind of person is Tasuke?”

  And the first person on my list?

  Kōgyū-san.

  He’s smart.

  An interpreter, a scholar, practically a doctor.

  The kind of man you imagine reading foreign books by candlelight with a cup of tea.

  Which makes it all the more baffling—

  Why is he friends with someone like Tasuke?

  ———

  Kōgyū’s Answer

  “Tasuke? That guy’s a disaster.

  I hand him money so he can fix up his torn paper doors…

  but before sunset, it’s all gone.

  Sake. Dried squid. Whatever he feels like that day.

  He mouths off to people like Dr. Siebold like it’s nothing.

  Thanks to him, I can’t even show my face at Kagetsurō anymore.

  Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  Do you have any idea how much it cost to replace that broken pillar?!”

  …He was getting angrier the more he spoke.

  Maybe I poked a sleeping beast.

  But then—his gaze softened.

  “Still…

  Sometimes it’s the hopeless ones that keep the rest of us grounded.

  There’s no one like him in my world.

  And maybe that’s the point.”

  I didn’t really get it.

  Smart people speak in riddles.

  ———

  Next: Kana-san.

  She works at Kōgyū’s place.

  Helps clean and handle chores and such.

  I thought she might know something too.

  “Tasuke?! Ugh, the worst!

  He once stuck a sake bottle in a lady’s mouth.

  Do you know how utterly deranged that is?!”

  She was swinging her broom like she wanted to use it as a spear.

  …Maybe this was a mistake.

  But then—

  “Still…

  I can’t bring myself to hate him.

  Not really.

  We haven’t known each other long, but…

  I dunno. He’s hard to stay mad at.”

  And honestly?

  I understood what she meant.

  ———

  Next: My mom.

  She sees Tasuke almost every day.

  “Tasuke-chan?

  Hmph… I just wonder when he’ll finally propose to you, that’s all.”

  …That is not what I asked.

  “But you know…

  There’s something about him.

  Like he’s carrying something heavy, deep inside.

  Something you can’t see unless you’re really looking.

  You’ll understand one day.”

  Then she went back to cooking.

  Just her, our kitchen knife Chōji, and too many secrets.

  She answered my question…

  and then some.

  ———

  I was wondering who to ask next—

  When I heard them.

  Tasuke and Kanikichi.

  Loud as ever.

  Same as always.

  “Oh, hey. Out for a walk, Omitsu?”

  “Ah, Omitsu. Off somewhere again?”

  “…No. I’m done.

  I found what I was looking for.”

  “Good. I was about to come find you anyway.”

  “Indeed. Saves me the trip.”

  Tasuke dug around in his sleeve and pulled something out.

  “…Here.

  Take it.”

  His face was red.

  And not from drinking.

  “…What’s this?”

  A beautifully carved boxwood comb.

  Wrapped in delicate paper.

  “Is this… for me?”

  “J-just take it, already!

  It’s embarrassing enough without the questions…”

  I held it for a moment.

  It was warm.

  “…Thanks, Tasuke.”

  “He was sulking after your last fight, y’know,” Kanikichi muttered.

  “Blew his sake money on that comb. Can’t say I approved, but…”

  Tasuke turned away, scratching at his nose.

  “Quit running your mouth, dammit!

  I just… y’know…

  figured I owed her. That’s all.”

  And just like that,

  he was back to being Tasuke.

  Stupid. Stubborn. Sweet in the worst way.

  I was worried for nothing.

  ———

  Later that night.

  He’d passed out after drinking the sake I brought.

  So I turned to Kanikichi.

  “…What do you think of him?”

  “You already know, don’t you?”

  “…Yeah. I do.”

  “Oi!

  I can hear you, you glorified letter opener!”

  Oh no.

  He was awake.

  “Badmouthing me in my own damn room, huh?!

  Wanna take a little nap at the bottom of Nagasaki Bay?!”

  “Ha! Do your worst!

  I’ll find a better owner in my next life, you lazy drunk!”

  “That’s it! I’m tossing you in the harbor right now!”

  And that, dear reader…

  is Tasuke.

  He hasn’t changed.

  Not one bit.

  The End.