Chapter – 53
Adachi’s Recovery Celebration
After finishing work and returning to the Underworld,
lively voices came from the break room.
“Did something happen?”
Makino peeked into the room, and
there stood Adachi in front of a “Get Well Soon” banner.
Sei was snapping photos enthusiastically.
“Looking sharp!”
Adachi had been made to wear a party hat, like at a birthday party,
and Se laughed softly at him in front of the monitor.
“……………”
Adachi pouted,
and Hayaki said, “Come on, everyone’s here now, so greet them,”
gesturing for Mukai and the others to come in.
“Once that’s done, you can eat cake and all the treats.
Here, don’t worry us too much~”
Hayaki encouraged him.
“…S-sorry.”
“Well said.
Now, let’s cut the cake.”
Mukino and Sakuma laughed a little, feeling some sympathy,
as Adachi lowered his head, blushing bright red.
Adachi removed his hat.
“Since it’s a special occasion, just keep it on.
You’re the star today, right?”
“Shut up!”
Before Adachi could get more angry, a buzzer rang.
Old Man Genji said,
“Burning’s probably done by now.
There were a lot today.
It’d be tough for just Makiko-chan alone.”
He stood up with a grunt and ruffled Bon’s head.
“You’re a lucky one, huh?”
“Save some for me too.
Even an old man gets hungry.”
He chuckled as he left the room.
“This cake was made by Yuka-chan for Adachi-kun.
Caramel and chocolate, your favorites.
The hors d’oeuvres were brought by Kurata-san and Kishimoto-kun.
They even came to check on you, so you should show some gratitude.”
Hayaki said this while serving plates.
“I’ll help too,”
Sakuma said as he walked over to Hayaki.
Adachi fixed his hair and walked over to Mukai.
After all that happened, being near Mukai seemed to give Adachi the most comfort.
“Everyone’s happy that you’re feeling better,”
Mukai said, looking at his face.
“From now on, when things get tough, try shouting for help~”
“Shouting?”
“Yeah~
You could learn a bit from Makino.
Do what you like, dislike what you don’t, and move freely, right?”
He glanced at Makino enjoying his food, getting scolded by Hayaki.
“It’s okay for you to be a little selfish too.
No one’s going to get mad.
From my perspective, you’re still a child.”
“I’m not a child…”
“Pouting like that? That’s very childlike.”
Mukai hugged Adachi’s neck with one arm and rubbed his head with the other.
“Stop it.”
“Nope.”
As Mukai teased him,
Yayoi stopped at the entrance, astonished.
“What are you two doing at the door?”
“Just messing around with a brat,”
Mukai said, making Yayoi chuckle.
“Really? Even you say things like that?”
“Oh? I’ve always been this kind of old man.”
“You’re not an old man,”
Yayoi said earnestly, making Mukai laugh in surprise.
“Huh? I am an old man.”
“Geez,”
Yayoi said, entering the room.
“Not sure if Mukai’s being slow or just good at dodging,”
Hayaki muttered.
“Adachi-kun is surprisingly sharp,”
Sakuma added.
“Oh, looks like the star might disappear into Makino’s stomach before eating.”
“Eh?”
Adachi slipped out of Mukai’s arms and hurried toward the table.
Mukai watched him and felt a nagging sense of something he couldn’t recall.
Something always crossed his mind, but he couldn’t figure out what it was.
Lately, it seemed to happen more often…
He didn’t know whether he couldn’t remember or didn’t want to remember.
“Hey Mukai, take some cake!”
Hayaki held out a plate to him.
As Mukai took the plate, cheerful voices floated in.
“This stew hamburger is delicious.”
“I like the salmon marinated dish.”
“The potato salad is yummy too.”
Mukai smiled, watching Makino and Yayoi laughing around Adachi.
“You look like a dad,”
Hayaki teased.
“That’s cruel~ I’d rather be called ‘big brother’,”
Mukai said, embarrassed.
“Haha, maybe ‘dad’ is too much.
But Adachi-kun’s changed a bit, hasn’t he?
Before, he seemed so guarded, but now… a bit cuter?”
Mukai was surprised at the change.
Sei said Adachi had spent his recovery time with the Underworld King,
which might have helped.
When he asked the King what they did, he dodged the question, saying it was a secret.
Sei explained,
“They were playing together nicely.
Not just with miniatures—he also learned to bake cakes from Yuka-chan, and they went bouldering too.”
It seemed to have been refreshing for him.
Adachi also seemed to enjoy it, judging by his calm expression.
While Mukai and Hayaki watched them,
Sei came over.
“Oh, Mukai-san, you’re back.”
“Just a little while ago. Need something?”
“The Youki was looking for you about the stage.
The King said it’s your responsibility.”
“When did it become my responsibility?” Mukai asked, surprised.
“Eh? Isn’t it? The King said you agreed too.”
“I did praise the idea, but… oh well.
By the way, Sei-kun, you’re participating in the recital too, right?”
“Hehe. I’ll join with Tin.”
He smiled brightly.
“What’s a recital?”
Hayaki cut into their conversation.
“Oh? You didn’t know, Hayaki-chan? The King suggested a recital.
Everyone who has a performance can participate.”
“Really? Then maybe I’ll do unicycle tricks too~”
Mukai and Sei looked at Hayaki in surprise.
“You can ride a unicycle? That’s amazing!”
Sei gazed at her in admiration.
“Don’t stare at me like that, I’ll get embarrassed.
I used to compete solo in unicycle competitions as a kid.
Well, it’s been a while, so I might not be able to do it now,”
Hayaki laughed.
“You absolutely have to show off that skill.
Sakuma-san will also perform his paper-cutting art.”
“Sakuma-san’s participating too? What about you, Mukai?”
Hayaki and Sei looked at him expectantly.
“Me? I don’t have any special skills, so I’ll probably just help run things.”
“Eh~ boring.”
“Please, no thanks,”
Mukai laughed and bowed his head.
“Well then, I’ll leave you to watch Adachi-kun.
Hayaki-chan, can you keep an eye on him?”
“Leave it to me.”
Mukai glanced at Adachi once more before heading to the workshop.
