“Well, there’s more to it, but it’s a long story. Essentially, though, he’s harmless. Due to that, and also because there doesn’t seem to be a single Narrator around who can actually read his book, he’s slipped through the net.”
“Harmless?”
“Well, he has been so far.”
Long story or not, shouldn’t he just tell her? But despite registering Akari’s concern, Munakata had simply reaffirmed the Kotogami’s harmlessness. Sensing that they were getting nowhere in this discussion of Tomohito’s origins, Akari decided to drop it.
“So what do you mean, no one can read his book? It’s right there—can’t you just open it?”
Akari furrowed her brow in confusion. Munakata held out his hand to Tomohito.
“Tomohito, give me your Kotogatari.”
“Certainly. Here it is.”
Tomohito solemnly withdrew his book from his bag and handed it to Munakata. Just as he’d done with the other one moments before, Munakata went to open it. But even as he tugged on its cover until his knuckles grew pale, it wouldn’t open. It was as if it had been glued shut.
Akari blinked several times. Munakata didn’t seem surprised, however. He handed the book to Akari.
She noticed again how thin it was. Despite the splendid binding, the book itself was only about the same thickness as Akari’s finger. She ran her eyes over the amber-colored cover, the gilt letters that read Kotogami: Tomohito Yagyou…and then she tried to open it.
It opened easily in her hands, exactly as it had earlier outside her burning lodgings. She could see the soft white pages within. This time, though, no golden letters floated out. It just looked like a regular book.
The moment Akari was about to flip through the pages, an elegant but bony hand reached out and stopped her. She looked up to see Tomohito blushing at her.
“D-Don’t look at it so closely…”
He was embarrassed, as if she were snooping at some private, secret part of him. Akari narrowed her eyes, and Munakata cleared his throat with annoyance.
“So, to conclude, this Kotogami has chosen you as his Narrator. I’m handing him over for you to take charge of, and—”
“I decline.”
Akari shook her head firmly, interrupting Munakata midsentence.
She didn’t care if she was being rude or in danger of being carted off to jail for insubordination. She closed the Kotogatari book with a clap and slid it across the table toward the men, her back straight. Munakata and Tomohito looked at her, bemused.
“I abhor stories. Taking charge of a Kotogatari…that means becoming a Narrator, right? I want no part of this.”
Akari had chosen her current company, Sumimata Corporation, mostly because it only dealt in practical things, like clocks.
This was unthinkable, being pressured into involvement with the very embodiment of everything she hated. Stories. Fiction.
Fine, then. Some people needed stories in their lives. Akari only asked that they keep her out of it and wouldn’t try to rope her in or involve her in any way.
Akari rubbed at her still-present goose bumps through her kimono, scowling at both men. Munakata sighed deeply and rolled his eyes to the ceiling.
“This is so annoying. Tomohito, this concerns you, not me. You convince her. You have permission, so go ahead, got it?”
“Certainly.”
Akari blinked in shock. Seriously? Then Munakata lay down on the sofa and seemed to fall asleep. Seriously?!
Why was he so lazy?! As Akari sat there dumbfounded, the handsome Tomohito eagerly leaned in.
“I, Tomohito, shall take over the job of convincing you now.”
“I refuse to be swayed…”
“First, strictly speaking, there is no need for you to become a Narrator. But if you agree to take me on, Mistress Akari, you’ll be able to live in the special Narrator book repository office branch that I’m in charge of. We call it the Bookhouse.”
Slightly stunned at being directly addressed as “Mistress,” Akari nonetheless felt her stubborn resolve slipping.
A book…house? A real house, for living in?
Seeing Akari waver, Tomohito pressed on excitedly like a salesman closing in on a weakening customer.
“In recent years, yokai have become so numerous as to be almost commonplace, but as a result, the number of Kotogatari have increased too. And there are too many to be properly cataloged. There’s been a shortage of Narrators since way back. So the Narrators’ Association has decided to take on regular people as an experimental measure. We need custodians who can take charge of Kotogatari as Assistant Narrators and keep them in order. Of course, there’s a salary included!”
“…Salary?”
You could hardly blame Akari for being intrigued by this.
After all, she’d lost her lodgings and all her worldly possessions that very same day. A free place to live, AND pay? She couldn’t believe her luck.
“Yes, and for the role, you’ll need to take care of the Bookhouse, catalog and care for the various Kotogatari… Oh, but actually, I can do all that. So you can continue your current job.”
This was sounding better and better. She could use her company wages to replace the things she’d lost, without needing to worry about paying rent. How convenient.
But still, the work of a Narrator sounded like a lot to take on.
“Why don’t you pick someone who’s had some education as a Narrator? I mean, what about Munakata?”
“A: I’m busy. And B: he’s annoying,” Munakata said from the sofa. So he hadn’t been asleep after all. And actually, Akari was somewhat inclined to agree with him…
From what she’d seen of Tomohito so far…he did seem like a handful.
Still, the question remained—why Akari? She’d never been one to be swayed by fancy promises. There was no such thing as a free lunch. If they just needed a gullible idiot for the job, they’d chosen the wrong woman.
While she was still mulling it over, Tomohito took the bag off his shoulder and held it out to her.
“I want you to take possession of my Kotogatari. Will you accept it?”
Er, nope! Akari wanted to say, but Tomohito’s earnestness had her on the ropes.
Then Munakata interjected, “The holder of a Kotogatari cannot be disobeyed by the Kotogami sealed within. Better to say yes. Then you’ll have some control.”
“Indeed, I shall never disobey your command. But if you accept, we’ll enter into a kind of contract, and my Kotogatari will henceforth open to you alone.”
“I don’t want that kind of…burden.”
“I… I see…”
Tomohito’s face fell as Akari set her jaw firmly in defiance. Despite his clear disappointment, however, he backed down.
It would be better not to enter into any unnecessary contracts.
She was doing the right thing by turning him down, Akari told herself.
It sounded like a sweet deal, yes. But there was no way Akari wanted to live with a Kotogami—a story personified. Not even if accepting would make her life a whole heck of a lot easier.
But Akari was conflicted. Really, really conflicted. After all, she had to make a living somehow, didn’t she?
Eyes still closed, Munakata cleared his throat as Akari continued to prevaricate.
“If you agree to take Tomohito off my hands, I’ll pay you a hardship compensation upfront.”
A hardship compensation, money in hand…she wouldn’t be penniless anymore.
Akari’s scowl unfurled as she immediately asked the most important question of all…
“I don’t have to deal with any scary yokai like that Raiju, do I?”
“No, that’s not part of your job description. I’m not saying you’ll never encounter any dangerous yokai, but if you do, your Kotogami will shield you as you escape.”
“I shall protect you, Mistress, I swear.”
Akari rubbed her chin, still uncertain. But she said nothing.
She felt as though Munakata was manipulating her into this. But he needed to be rid of Tomohito, and she needed money and a place to stay. It was purely transactional, wasn’t it? When she thought about it that way, she knew saying no was no longer an option.
“I want a proper written contract, not just a verbal one. And I’ll do it ONLY until my company lodgings are rebuilt.”
“Thank you very much, Mistress Akari!”
Tomohito’s face lit up as he held his arms out to hug Akari, who dodged him.
His sharp suit and noble aura were becoming rapidly less impressive the more time she spent in his presence, but she had to admit, the Kotogami was handsome.
Munakata sighed with disgust and reluctantly opened his eyes. Yet he remained slumped on the sofa, radiating laziness.
“Make sure you do a decent job. I’ll have a contract drawn up listing your pay and duties. For today… Ah, yes. You can go straight to the Bookhouse. Tomohito knows the way.”
“Let us go together at once!”
Tomohito leaped to his feet and made as if to take Akari’s arm. Sidestepping him, she scooped up the book and the book bag.
She had to shorten the strap a little, but it felt quite comfortable over her arm.
Akari felt a little funny about carrying around one of her hated books, but she told herself it was all in the name of self-preservation.
“Good luck, then. I’ll deliver the necessary documents and so on tomorrow.”
Not even bothering to look at her, Munakata slung his leg over the sofa’s armrest in a slovenly manner and proceeded to fall asleep for real.
Feeling another stab of annoyance and dislike, Akari shrugged. She’d already made up her mind.
“Oh, I’ll carry those for you.”
Tomohito took Akari’s own purse, which made her scowl again. Nonetheless, she followed him out.
So, now the thing was decided, and it was too late to turn back.