The second R:B short story, and I thank and her friend for providing the original text of it.
K ~ Seven Stories: 24 Pieces
Piece 2: Munakata Reishi (Ember: B)
by Azano Kouhei
The gentle night breeze streamed into the office, and Munakata, standing by the window, welcomed it.
It’d been one sweltering night after another lately, but tonight the heat seemed to have abated a little. That said, it did nothing to stop cicadas’ chirping from resounding in the air throughout the premises of Scepter 4 HQ like the roar of the sea, as if they could not forget the heat of the daytime.
And they were not the only ones. Within Munakata, too, the fever of today remained, still crackling and burning deep inside his chest. The fever that he couldn’t quite find an effective way to cool down. To Munakata, who boasted great control over his mental state, such an experience was pretty much a first in and of itself. Every time he recalled what exactly was the cause of it, he found his brows knitting and his face taking on bitterness.
“…What an endlessly troublesome man.”
There was a knock on the door.
“Excuse me,” his Lieutenant, Awashima, appeared in the office once he granted permission to enter. “Captain,” she addressed him after locating his form. “I apologize for disturbing you in the evening. Um… I realize I may be speaking out of line, but the time is such that I would like to recommend you retire for the night…”
“That is not a problem. Even if, for argument’s sake, I went without sleep, no issue would arise.”
“But we have a meeting with His Excellency tomorrow… What’s more, today must have tired you out, sir?” Awashima reasoned, though not without a measure of discomfort at having to.
In all likelihood, it was her honest opinion in the wake of the duel between fellow kings that had happened today - and perceived damage incurred in said duel. Making her worry was not something the Blue King cared to do. On the other hand, her concern - and the assumption it was based on about such damage surely existing - made Munakata feel faint irritation. The irritation, in turn, caused him to experience an intense surprise at feeling it in the first place. This was truly and wholly unlike himself.
“Indeed. It is a rather nice night, but… I suppose it is time we retired.”
Hearing his answer, Awashima, visibly relieved, gave the king a nod and exited his office.
Having watched her go, Munakata shifted his gaze back to outside the window.
“…”
After peering into the darkness for a while, he closed his eyes and shut the window.
It was only at the end of this long night and after the break of dawn that Munakata finally dozed off.