I’m Not Someone Suspicious, But…

[nebulancer]

 I’m Not Someone Suspicious, But…

[phone dings]

Ichiru: Oh. It’s from Eichi. Hmm~ [He taps on the phone.] Hn— Pics of dinner!?

Issei: hm? Aah, you’re right… It looks tasty.

Ichiru: The heck. It looks so special today. Doesn’t Shu know how lucky he is? *weakly* Y’know, I… I’m suddenly feeling really hungry. *pouty* D’you think they have any left for us?

Issei: Hehe. Let’s reply to them that “We’re hungry.”

Ichiru: Mm. [He taps out a reply.]

[phone dings]

Issei: Oh! He already replied?

Ichiru: Lessee~ “Of course I have a portion for both of you here.” All right~

[phone dings]

Issei: “If it looks like you’ll be dropping by the convenience store, buy some milk.”

Ichiru: The heck? Didn’t you forget that you two went out and bought stuff already? Oh, jeez, fine~

Staff member: Issei-san, Ichiru-san, there’s a taxi for you two.

Issei: Thank you very much! [He turns around to address the staff workers.] Then, the two of us will be excusing ourselves here.

Ichiru: Thank you for your help!

Staff member: Good work doing so well into the night. …Ah, that’s right. Could I ask you something?

Issei: Nn? What is it?

Staff member: Do you have an idea for what next month’s schedule will be like? We requested adjustments to the agenda from the previous manager, but…

Ichiru: Ahhhhhhh— I think… we were told… that we’d have something… in the later half of the month, but…

Issei: I’m sorry. We haven’t heard the specifics.

Staff member: Yes, of course… The plans are settled after the talents are contacted, after all… I’m sorry for keeping you held up.

Issei: No, it’s fine. We should be the ones apologizing for causing trouble for you. We’ll contact the agency right away so that we can get confirmation.

Staff member: That’d be a great help. Thank you in advance. Then, here…

Ichiru: Ah! The taxi is outside, isn’t it? In that case, we’ll be fine heading off on our own here. Right?

Issei: Mmhmm. It’s right there, so the two of us will be okay on our own.

Staff member: Is that so? Then I’ll take your word for it and we can finish here.

Issei: Yes. Thank you very much for today.

Staff member: We look forward to your work next month as well!

Ichiru: So do we!

[They walk out.]

Ichiru: ‘Kay then! Let’s hurry up and get home!

Issei: Yep.

Ichiru: But… who are we supposed to talk to about the schedule thing? Last time, it was… a manager that we don’t usually see around the agency who came, right…? I heard the name but I don’t remember it…

Issei: When the manager came to see how we were doing, I was in the middle of filming. I didn’t even get the chance to do my greetings. Hmm… Wouldn’t it be best to tell Eichi?

Ichiru: Yeah, I guess so.

Issei: Eichi’s been busy with his personal work recently, though. I feel a little bad bothering him for our own jobs.

Ichiru: But, y’know, I think the issue this time will be settled if we contact the agency about it, so you don’t have to worry about it that much. Right? …Plus… doesn’t Eichi get sorta happy when we ask him for stuff?

Issei: Heh. You’re right. I guess so.

Ichiru: Pfft. Isn’t he weird?

Issei: But I get a little happy when Shu or Eichi ask me things. Of course, you too.

Ichiru: Ohh… Well, yeah, now that you mention it…

Issei: Hehe. Let’s go ask Eichi when we’re back home.

Ichiru: Yep, let’s.

[The door opens.]

Issei: Um… The taxi’s… Huh? There’s a bunch parked here.

Ichiru: Hn? You’re right.

Issei: I wonder if there were other people who called a taxi over.

Ichiru: Probably, yeah. The studio here was pretty big, so it’s possible that there were other people doing photoshoots too.

[They walk over to a taxi.]

Issei: Um, excuse us… We’re from Tsukino Talent Productions, we’re…

Driver: Oh, good evening. I’ve been waiting for you.

Ichiru: Ah, nice call! 

Issei: *relieved* Thank goodness. [They get in.] Excuse us. Please get us to Shibuya, then.

Driver: Are you okay with getting to the subway station?

Issei: Yes. That’s perfect.

Ichiru: Please and thank you~

[The car drives off.]

—

[The car reaches their location, and the twins get off.]

Issei: Thank you for the ride.

Ichiru: Thank you very much!

[The car door shuts, and the taxi drives off.]

Ichiru: *stretching* Hnn~gh! All righty, then! Let’s buy the milk and head home.

Issei: Do you think we should’ve asked to get dropped off a little closer to the dorms?

Ichiru: Eh, it’s fine. I sorta like walking from the stations.

Issei: So do I. Plus, the scenery changes the more I take my eyes off it. I want to take my time looking at it in depth.

[They walk on.]

Ichiru: By the way, Issei, where’s your camera today?

Issei: We had two locations to work at today, so I left it back home. But also, I’m fine with just using my phone camera. [He takes a picture.] Mmhmm. This is good.

Ichiru: Ah, I wanna see! Lemme see! …Ahh~… Pretty cool!

Issei: Haha. Thanks.

Ichiru: Send it to my phone, would ya?

Issei: Sure! Um… [Taps on phone.] There we go. I sent it.

Ichiru: …Hold on? [Unzips backpack and digs around inside it.] Uhh… mm…

Issei: Hm? Ichiru, what’s wrong?

Ichiru: …Not here.

Issei: …Wha? What’s not here?

Ichiru: I DON’T HAVE MY PHONE!

Issei: WHAT?! Uhh—mm, did you leave it at the studio?!

Ichiru: I guess… so… *sucks in breath* Ehhh, I dunno—!

Issei: When did you last see it?

Ichiru: Ehh, um… Back when… we got sent that pic of dinner!

Issei: Umm… Immediately after that, we were told that the taxi had come, and then we went outside, right?

Ichiru: Hnnngh… That time, I~… think I was holding it in my hand, but~… Huhhh~?!

Issei: Maybe it’d be better if we went back… ah, and then, just to be safe, we can contact the taxi company.

Ichiru: Sorry, Issei…

Issei: No, it’s fine. It’s a relief that we noticed it early on. If we go back right now, I’m sure it’ll be somewh—

?: Sorry, excuse me—!

[The unknown person pants as he runs up to the twins and stops directly next to them.]

?: Hah, hah… Um, uhh— I’m sorry! Excuse me!

Ichiru: DWUH-JDUGH!? Y-you scared me!

?: A-aah, I’m sorry! Please forgive me!

Issei: U-uh, it’s fine—…

?: Ah-h-ahh… Well, umm… I, erm, I’m not someone suspicious, but…

Issei: Y-yes?

Ichiru: You… You got business with us?

?: Eh? Ah, yes! Um… It’s… something very important, so…

Ichiru: If you try doin’ something weird to Issei, I’m reportin’ you to the police!

?: E-ehh!? No, I— Um…

Issei: Ichiru. We haven’t even heard what he has to say. Don’t be like that.

Ichiru: But…! No matter how I look at this dude, he’s suspicious as heck!

?: S-s-sorry. I’m sorry!

Issei: Umm… More importantly, what’s the business you have with us?

?: Ahh! Yes! Umm… this was… [He holds something out.]

Ichiru: AHHHHHHH!!! MY PHONE!!!!

?: *relieved* As I thought! That’s a relief…

Issei: Ah! Did you pick it up for us?

Ichiru: Hyaaahhh~! I’m SAVED~!! C’mon, man, if that’s what it was about, then you should’ve said it right off the bat~!

[Ichiru pats the man on the back good-naturedly.]

?: I-I’m sorry… Well, about that… I meant to call out to you right away, but… it seems my voice was a bit too quiet to hear…

Issei: ...! Ichiru, you have to say your thanks.

Ichiru: AAH, you’re right! Thank you so much. I’m really, so sorry that I called you suspicious and stuff.

?: N-n-no, it’s fine! It’s not something that you need to concern yourself when it comes to me, so…

Ichiru: Hm? But, y’know, you really helped us out, so I thought it was a given that I thanked you.

Issei: Thank you very much, from me too. You’re a life-saver.

?: …Ah…

Issei: Mm? Um… Is something… wrong?

?: ……Hm……

Ichiru: Heyo~ [Waves his hand around.] You listening~?

?: Eh? A-ah-aah. I’m sorry. Well… are you two twins?

Ichiru: Hweh? Ahh, mm, yeah.

?: Just as I thought! Your faces were just so similar that it surprised me.

Ichiru: Well, yeah, can’t you know just by looking?

?: I’m sorry. I was so desperate when chasing after you two, and outside it was so dark that I hadn’t even noticed.

Issei: Eh? But it’s bright inside the station, isn’t it?

?: Ah, well… It was dark way before I’d gotten to the station, so…

Ichiru: Way… before?

?: On the street before, in front of the studio. There weren’t very many streetlamps there, so…

Ichiru: Ah, you’re right. Now that you mention it… Wait… Wheh? H-h-h-hold on a moment! Where the heck did you pick up my phone, man!?

?: I just said it, um… In front of the studio…

Issei: But we came here to the station by taxi! Th-then that means…

?: I’d just happened to call over a taxi and chased after you.

Ichiru: Ehhhh~…?

?: I’m very glad that I managed to catch up to you without losing sight of you.

Issei: Aah, I’m so sorry! You were trying to get our attention for so long… Ah, that’s right! Please let us pay for your taxi fare!

?: No, no, no, it’s really all right. It’s too much that you’re offering…

Ichiru: YOU’RE the one who’s done too much! Who’d normally chase after people in a place like that!? Don’t get me wrong, you seriously helped us out, but didn’t you waste money and time?!

?: Well, I blurted out “Please follow after the car in front, hurry!” like you would in a TV drama. You could say that the momentum carried me. It was something I did of my own volition, so please don’t let it worry you.

Ichiru: IT DOES WORRY ME!!

?: It really is all right! …Aah, this is bad! I have to return to my company! Then, have a nice day. [He runs off.]

Ichiru: Eh— You, hold on!

Issei: Aah… He left.

Ichiru: Ah— We didn’t get the chance to say thanks. …Weird guy.