Track 11

"Certificate of Commendation for Shumai.”

Woof!

Let’s see… "In recognition of your outstanding efforts and courage contributing to the resolution of this event and the prevention of crime, we hereby commend you—" …Wow!

This is amazing… It’s an actual commendation from the police station, Shumai!

Awoof ♪

How did the award ceremony go? Renga-kun was there too, right?

Yeah. He said, "I’m definitely going!" and rushed over as soon as he finished work.

Shumai was incredible that day.

It wasn’t just the police there, you know. The press showed up, too—reporters from HAMA’s local magazines, online news outlets, even animal magazines—

He stood so proud, even with so many people around ♪. He even posed for photoshoots and sat through interviews.

I-Interviews?

Yep. Renga and I handled the interpreting, but Shumai's passionate feelings... They came through loud and clear.

Awoof!

I'm so glad I was there to witness such an important moment. It made me feel proud, too.

… You know, you’ve always been there to support me. I'm so glad I met you, Shumai.

Awoof ♪

Renga took a lot of photos at the ceremony, so ask him to show them to you later. His eyes were filled with tears, but he just kept snapping.

Yay! I can’t wait to see it…!

… A lot went down, but I’m really glad you and Renga-kun finally made up.

After all, seeing you two laughing together always warms my heart.

… Chief-chan.

So, um… the day Renga and I had a falling out, I said some awful things to you as well, didn’t I?

I'm sorry for saying I wanted to keep you tied down… and for raising my voice, too.

No, it’s okay! I was just a little surprised, that’s all.

You weren’t your usual self then. I had a feeling something else was weighing on you.

If anything, I’m the one who should be apologizing for not understanding how you felt.

......

(If I told you the truth… That Renga… No…  That I was scared of dying… If I said that out loud…—)

(You’d look at me with such a heartbreaking expression, and that smile would fall from your face. Those words alone would be enough to keep you tied down to me…)

Besides… I don’t want you to be in dangerous situations either, so I get what you feel.

I see… Thank you.

(But still, that’s how I truly felt. I still feel that way even now. I know that… my feelings for you are far heavier than yours are for me.)

(So if I said that, I wonder how you’d react.)

(Would you be startled? Or… would you accept me feeling this way?)

Hm? What's wrong, Kafka?

(―As if.)

(It’s not like I want you to change just because I forced you to…)

Nothing! Come on, Shumai! Let’s go show everyone else your certificate.

Woof !

Woof ♪

Whoa, don't get too full of yourself. You only got that award ‘cause you were riding on my shoulder, y’know?

Haha. Shumai just wants everyone to give him some praise, right?

Shumai was really cool, and Ten looked awesome with Shumai on his shoulder. You were both amazing!

Sooo~ How about a bonus, Prez~?

I don't think you did quite enough for that.

I think I worked pretty hard, y’know? Ah, whatever. I’ll go take a smoke break~

Shumai was so impressive when he was receiving the award! We gotta throw a real celebration for him soon!

Awoof!!

You have a shoot coming up, right? You know, the one I double-booked.

Yeah! I turned it down at first, but they rescheduled for me, so I got to take up the job after all!

That’s great. Now we'll get to see your commercials every day ♪

… Um, It wasn't just managir who did the negotiation, right? I heard you also stepped in… to apologize to the client and everything.

Of course. The whole thing was my fault to begin with.

Besides, the client felt that you were a perfect fit for the role from the start, so they were more than happy to offer you the job again.

Well, um… Despite everything that happened, you’re the one who gave me this opportunity. So… Thanks, Kafka!

… Not at all, I’m just glad to see you happy, Renga.

Woof...

Shumai did a great job too, of course, but… Renga, you were so cool and dependable when you caught the dog running off with the jewel.

Right, Shumai? You think so too, don’t you?

Woof!

H-Huh!? Th-Thanks… I-I’m really glad… to hear you say I was cool.

I feel the same… I really do respect you, too!

Thanks to you, those dogs were spared from the worst ‘cause you negotiated with the police…

(I heard that dogs who hurt people can sometimes end up being punished pretty severely. That's why… I’m so relieved.)

Kosaka-san told me the rehabilitation program you came up with has really been helping them turn things around. Seriously… thanks a lot, Kafka!

… I'm just doing what I should've done for you from the start.

Huh?

(To truly protect someone… is to believe in their strength.)

(... I should've just trusted Renga from the very beginning. It’s as simple as that.)

(Just like how Shumai, Sakujiro, and Chief-chan believe in me, I should believe in Renga, too.)

From now on, I want to keep protecting you, Renga. Wíll you protect me, too?

Yeah! Leave it to me!

Hehe, I’ll do just that.

......

When we were still kids… I was fighting for my life in a hospital bed, while you were fighting to survive in that back alley, right? Both of us were just trying to stay alive.

And back then, we both had dogs by our side.

‎… You told me before that we were nothing alike, but don't you think we were actually the same?

—

… Yeah. Maybe… maybe we really were the same.

But even if we’d met back then, I'm sure we still would have ended up the same way we are now.

R-Really? Then, I’m glad.

If… If we’d really met back then… just like you said, then maybe I…

……

… Maybe I wouldn't have become Nishizono Renga.

… Then maybe you would've been "Oguro Ren".

Haha! I guess that means I would’ve been your big brother?

Huh? I don’t get to be the big brother?

I-I’m older than you, so obviously I’d be the big brother!

Hahaha, I suppose you're right ♪

(… I wonder which would’ve made me happier… switching places with Kiba, or… Wait, no…)

(I shouldn’t be thinking about such a thing. I love Kiba so much. Everything I have now… is supposed to be for his sake.)

(Even the memories I made here… were only meant to be a keepsake—a little lucky charm to help me survive after I leave.)

…...

Renga?

Nothing. I'm just glad I met you now, Kafka.

……

(He was definitely thinking about the real "Nishizono Renga" just now, I bet.)

(Even after you’ve grown up, the hand that reached out to you as a child will stay with you forever…)

(Who would've thought we’d be similar in this way, too?)

But still, I'm really glad I got to make more memories with you, Kafka.

Mm?

Working together with you and everyone to run HAMA… has become a precious memory for me.

Haha… I know making more memories will only make it harder for me to leave… but I still can’t help wanting them.

Being here… makes me wish for more.

… Isn't that a good thing? Let’s make even more memories, then.

Let's make so many memories together, too many for you to grasp… enough that you’ll never forget them for a lifetime.

And besides, I have no intention of ever letting you go.

Mhm…

(If Kiba would be okay with it, I’d want him to be with us, too. But… is that even what he wants?)

… No, I'm an idiot, so I shouldn’t think about it too much.

(... Renga. Ren. I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you when you were little, but…)

(From now on, I'll be by your side… just like you did for me.)

(Whatever pain continues to torment you… I’ll never forgive it—)

… I'm sure if we’d met as kids, we still would have become great friends, but…

There must be meaning in us meeting as "Nishizono Renga" and "Oguro Kafka”.

… Hm? Did you say something, Kafka?

I heard there’s another dog goodies market coming soon. Want to go together?

...! I wanna go!

If we’re going, then I'd better work hard so we can enjoy the perfect day off!

Huh~ Looks like you two were having fun? Wait, aren’t you guys a lot closer than before?

Hehe~ Pretty nice, isn’t it? Jealous, Ten?

Wah! K-Kafka…!

Renga gave me a hug last time, so this is payback~

… Alright! Then we should hug Ten, too! It’s time to show off Tiger Room’s uhh… uni… unifi… cation?

Uh… With who?

I got more than enough of that sorta thing already, thanks. I’ll paaass~

I-Is that so? If you ever feel like joining us, you’re more than welkam!

Whatever, you say. It’s “come”, alright? Come.

We’ll keep getting along and going on walks together, right? Renga!

…! Isn’t that obvious? Of course! We’re walking buddies, after all!

Awoof!!