Hot Limit - Monologue 3

[bakemonoremy]

Location: Shiina Residence

Rinne: You—

Eh? What? Who’re you again? What is this place?

Niki: Nahaha, this is where I live~♪

Rinne: And I’m asking who exactly you are, now answer me.

Niki: Ah, my name’s Shiina Niki. I’m a middle schooler.

Rinne: Middle… schooler…?

Niki: Oh, do I not look my age? I’ve really been growing like crazy lately~. The only downside is that my calorie expenditure grows along with my body ♪

You look pretty jacked too, Onii-san! With that kinda body, I bet your calorie expenditure’s real impressive, too! Life’s such a struggle, isn’t it?

Rinne: Ahh... Yeah, life sure is a struggle, generally speakin’.

Niki: I know, right! That’s why we’ve got to help each other out! My mom used to tell me the same thing, that we have to help each other out when someone’s troubled! To sum it up, it’s the food chain!

Rinne: Huh? Uh, sure…?

Niki: Ah, do you want some nikujaga?

Rinne: Nikujaga?

Oh, isn’t that this dish that used to be beef stew…? And then the armed forces prepared it Japanese style and it became nikujaga?

Niki: Nah, apparently that’s just folklore. Onii-san, you don’t seem to know a lot about food~. Are you the type who doesn’t do his own cooking or something?

Rinne: Aah, yeah… At home, our servants are the ones who generally prepare our meals.

Niki: Servants? Eh, Onii-san, are you some kind of rich boy from a good family?

Yesss, that means I can expect a great reward! Which means I’ll make it through the summer…!

Fu fu fu. Here, go ahead, have some of this nikujaga ♪

I’m sorry it’s just yesterday’s leftovers, but I promise it’s tasty! I’ve been trained by my father from a young age, see!



Niki: Here, open wi~de…

I just finished reheating it, so be careful that you don’t burn your tongue. The tongue’s crucial after all.

Rinne: Munch. ...Wow, this is tasty. So that’s what nikujaga tastes like. Good to know.

Niki: Nahaha. The nikujaga I made is à la maison, though~. The foundation of that is making the cheapest possible ingredients taste good.

I’m almost out of seasoning, so the flavor might be a little on the bland side, though.

Rinne: No really, it’s tasty. Thanks. You’re gonna make a great bride one day.

Niki: Yeah, no. I’m not gonna be any kind of bride, good or bad. I’m a guy, y’know?

Rinne: Hmm. So that’s how it works in the city, huh.

More importantly… Why are you doing this? Is this an attempt at charity?

Niki: Huh? Umm~, I don’t really know how to respond to that when you ask me for the reason so deliberately…

Well, there’s no real reason, I guess?

Rinne: What the hell do you mean, no real reason?

Niki: Nahaha. Sorry, I just live for no real reason, so.

To be honest, I can’t really afford to do unnecessary stuff, either.

But if I abandoned someone who’s clearly on the verge of death, I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the taste of my meals afterwards, right?

Rinne: That’s all there is to it, huh.

Niki: That’s all there is to it! Enjoying my meals is suuuper important. To me in particular.

Rinne: Hmm. So that’s what citizens are like. I guess securing food for our subjects is an important duty of ours as well.

Niki: ………

Rinne: Hm? Oi, kid — What’s wrong? Aren’t you looking a bit unsteady on your feet?

Niki: Well~... I knew I was about to run out of energy but still forced myself to move around and talk, and now it looks I’m about to hit my limit.

I’m really so stupid, huh? My priorities are always out of order…

Ah~... I might die.

Rinne: A-are you okay? What am I supposed to do? Is there something I can do for you?

Niki: ………

Rinne: Hey! Can you hear me, uhh — Shiina Niki!?

Niki: Ah… Yeah, Niki-kun’s alright.

Rinne: I’m in such a panic because you don’t seem alright at all!

Niki: Ah~... I’m sorry, and here I meant to live my life in a way that won’t cause too much trouble for other people. Because my dad failed big time at that.

He can’t even eat food normally anymore… But I guess I really am my father’s son. It’s my fate to mess up the same way he did.

Rinne: What’s fate? Are you talking about the path that God or whoever decided for you?

Niki: Yep, that’s the one. Or in other words, the limit of living beings’ abilities.

Nahaha. I’m an unlucky kid who lost the lottery of life, so, y’know, there’s nothing I can do about it. I always had a feeling this day would come sooner or later.

And that day is today, probably. But I feel like I did a good deed at the end of my life, so to me, this was the best end I could hope for.

— Thank you for enjoying my nikujaga.

Rinne: O-oi? Don’t close your eyes! What’s wrong with you, don’t just give up as if you’re okay with this!

Niki: ………

Rinne: (— Guh! What the hell’s going on! I don’t get it, but I can’t let this guy die like this!)

(What kind of village chief would I be if I just let my subject kick the bucket after receiving a favor from him!)

(If this “fate” thing really exists, then as chief, I have to be able to save my subject — Please, God!)