SSR Bradley (In This World Adrift, With You) “A Secret Tête-à-Tête” (4th Anniversary)

[odorekijin]

★ chapter one
★ chapter two
★ chapter three
★ episode
★ home line

chapter one

[Wizards’ Manor—Kitchen]

One late afternoon, although a little early for dinner, my hunger led me to the kitchen.

Akira: (Reading over the Sage’s Guide non-stop worked up my appetite. I’ll prepare something quick.)

…Bradley? What are you doing here? Is everything alright?

Bradley: ‘Sup, Sage. Just ‘ere to grab somethin’ to eat, can’t ignore a growlin’ stomach after all.

There’s nothin’ ready to snack on though, ’n I didn’t see the Eastern Chef around. Just my luck…

Akira: I could make something for you if you want. I was about to cook for myself anyway; I don’t mind making double.

Bradley: Well, dun’ mind if I take you up on that offer. I’m countin’ on ya to make a snack that’ll fill us up ‘til dinner.

Akira: Sure! Do you want to eat something in particular while I’m at it? I’m open to suggestions.

Bradley: Maybe some meat… Nope, never mind, looks like we’re fresh outta that.

Akira: Shucks, that’s too bad… Anything else you’re craving?

Bradley: Lemme think…

…Was it “mojiya”...

Akira: Hm? Come again?

Bradley: No, not mo-jiya—o-jiya, that’s what y’all call it.

Akira: Yes, ojiya! That much I can make.

I have to admit, that’s probably the last thing I would have expected you to ask for. Do you like that dish?

Bradley: Let’s just say you made me remember it. That was the first meal you had when ya first landed in this world, yeah?

Akira: Ahahah, yes, that brings me back. Heath pretty much cooked it for me all by himself; I barely got to help.

But I’m the chef this time around, and I’m way more familiar with the ingredients of this world now, so you can leave it to me!

Bradley: I’m likin’ the confidence, but I’ll squeeze ya into ice cubes if it tastes like shit.

As I excitedly rummaged through the shelves for the ingredients, Bradley stepped aside, taking a seat on one of the kitchen’s stools.

Then, he quietly summoned his gun and began tending to it.

Akira: (Let’s see… First, add water to a pot over the stove… Once it starts boiling, I’ll add the “basically kombu!”)

(Screech!)

Bradley: Whadda hell was that?

Akira: Nothing, I just added this “almost kombu” to the broth.

Bradley: Oh, y’mean the Shipwreck Seaweed? Didn’t know ojiya had that kinda stuff in it.

Akira: I’ll remove it from the broth later, but you’ll see, it makes a difference in the taste.

Bradley: Huh, I see…

Bradley seemed intrigued, attentively watching as I proceeded with the recipe.

Akira: (It's almost strange to have Bradley paying attention to what I cook, not that I dislike it…)

Bradley: Looks to me like you’ve been doin’ that ojiya thing fo’ years. Wouldja make it often back in your world?

Akira: Not as often as you think; I would generally prepare it when I had some hot pot leftovers…

My family would also cook it whenever I caught a cold as a child. It sort of brings me back to those good ol’ days.

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chapter two

[Wizards’ Manor—Kitchen]

Bradley: So it has a nostalgic kick to it fo’ ya.

Akira: Ahaha, yep, pretty much.

Do you also have food like that? I mean– A dish that tastes like childhood to you.

Bradley: Childhood, huh… It’s not as emotional ‘n deep as yours, but yeah, I’d say I do.

It was syrup, made from boiled-down sap we’d extract from a forest near where I used ta live as a kid.

I loved that stuff, ‘specially on some bread or biscuits. I remember they’d sometimes add honey to the mix—that was pretty good, too.

Akira: So you liked syrup… I didn’t see that one coming! Just thinking about it could make me drool, it sounds delicious…

I wonder what it actually tastes like…

Bradley: Hahah, curious, ain’tcha? You remind me of a kid, kinda like when I was a brat starin’ at the pot while the syrup was cookin’.

Akira: Re-really, you did…!? I wasn't just being polite though, I’m seriously interested in that syrup. I hope I can try it someday.

Bradley: I’d have made quick work of that wish fo’ ya, but those trees are native to the North, so yeah, you ain’t gettin’ your hands on that any time soon.

Akira: I had a hunch that would be the case… Oh well, I’ll save my excitement for if we ever come across that forest, then.

Bradley: Yeah, good call.

The light wave that followed his reply, as if unconsciously brushing off my letdown, brought to mind a page of the previous Sage’s Guide I happened to be reading earlier:

“Bradley: approach with caution. Former head of a criminal organisation. A prisoner currently serving his term. Do not get on his bad side, he’s super scary. Somehow easy to him win over with food.”

Akira: (…Of all the people I met when I first arrived here, I never thought I’d be sharing childhood memories so casually with Bradley.)

Bradley: Hey, that thing is boilin’ again. Do you leave it like that?

Akira: Shoot! I didn’t realise the “almost rice” was bubbling. Good, now let’s add the beaten eggs…

Could you grab the salt up there for me, please? My hands are full.

Bradley: Since y’ asked. …Here–

As he retrieved the salt from the shelf, Bradley’s sleeve caught on a bag of flour sitting next to it.

The sack tumbled, a cloud of white powder instantly flying into his face.

Akira: Oh no–

Bradley: A-Ah–... ACHOO!

Akira: Bradley!

Shouting his name was for nought; Bradley had already vanished.

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chapter three

[North Country—Frozen Lake]

Bradley: Dammit… Had to sneeze myself fuck knows where again.

That ojiya looked pippin’ hot ‘n ready to eat too, ugh… Welp, at least I landed in the North.

Hm? Those trees, ain’t that…?

(Heh, lucky bastard.)

(I’m gonna have ‘em lookin’ like a kiddo again, but this time they’ll have somethin’ in their hands worth marvelling at. I’ll say it’s for the ojiya they whipped up fo’ me.)

Magical Creature: Grrr…

Bradley: …Woah, hey there big guy. Lookin’ for a fight? You got guts comin’ after a guy like me, ‘n yer not gonna like it.

(The creature gnarls.)

Bradley: Works fer me. I’ll cheese ya ‘n use yer stones to run the elevator.

Gotta cut our li’l fight short though, I dun’ wanna skip on our Sage’s cooking.

《 Adnopotensum 》

[Wizards’ Manor—Dining Room]

Akira: (I wonder what’s taking him so long… I hope he’s okay…)

Bradley: Hey, so that’s where you were hidin’.

Akira: Bradley! I’m glad you’re back safe and sound…

Bradley: Yeah, ended up further away from the North Tower. It took me longer than I thought to get back here.

Anyway, I gotcha a li’l somethin’.

Akira: For me? …I can see that it's a jar, but what’s this liquid inside?

Bradley: That’s the sap I toldja about earlier. I somehow sneezed myself not far from those trees, so I thought I might as well make the most of that trip.

Y’said you wanted to try it, yeah?

Akira: Yes, I mean, I…

The pure, almost transparent amber filling the jar felt ice-cold through the glass, as if the remote northern gale had seeped into the liquid.

Akira: (I can’t wrap my head around this… I never thought I’d get my hands on it so soon, and from Bradley nonetheless… )

Bradley: You dun’ look pleased, I thought you’d go wild ‘bout it. So what’s up? Didja expect me to do all that boilin’ prep’ shit on my way here?

Akira: No, of course not, and I’ll gladly boil it down into a syrup myself! It’s just that, I don’t know, I think the surprise got to me…

I’m really touched by your gesture, Bradley. Thank you so, so much.

Bradley: No prob.

Akira: Right, you must be starving! I’ll get the ojiya, although it must be cold by now… Would you like some anyway?

Bradley: You bet I do, as long as I can get it pronto.

Akira: Sure, I’ll be quick!

I hurried to the kitchen, served two bowls of ojiya, and immediately returned to the dining room.

Bradley: Damn, I could eat a hor– ...Huh? Why the second servin’?

Akira: Oh, uh, yeah about that…

I barely mumbled a reply, soon covered by the long, strained grumble of my stomach.

Akira: Ah, aha, weeell… I, um, I actually haven’t eaten yet.

I was too worried about you, and I thought that we would, you know, eat together once you got back. I mean, a meal always tastes better when enjoyed with someone else!

Bradley: … …

Bradley: …Ya corny bastard.

Bradley smiled at me, casually stroking my head.

Akira: (...Did he… Did he just pat me?)

Dumbfounded, I couldn’t peel my eyes away from the mischievous glint in his eyes.

His candid smile reminded me of… a young boy letting you in on his most well-kept secrets.

Bradley: Hey, you with me?

Now’s not the time to space out. Go ahead ‘n finish yer bowl; the others could come in at any moment to snag it away.

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episode story

“Bradley and the Door of Yore”

[Wizard’s Manor—Bradley’s Room]

Akira: A door apparently materialised on the shores of Borda Island. I've heard that it shows the past of anyone that peers into it.

Speaking of the past, I remember when I first arrived in this world: I was often overtaken by my anxieties, so I tried to recall fond memories to calm myself down.

Bradley: What kinda memories?

Akira: I’d generally remember my childhood, usually being read a book by someone I trusted.

Bradley: Mhm, ‘n what about the story? Bet it was about the great adventures of an undefeated bandit like the great Bradley sittin’ right here.

Akira: Ahaha, sorry to disappoint, but it was more of a fairy tale than an action-packed epic.

Bradley: Welp, too bad, you musta been bored to hell ‘n back. I mean, I get it, you can’t get the kiddos too excited for bedtime either.

Akira: Bradley, have you felt that kind of loneliness before? One where you could only rely on yourself for comfort.

Bradley: Me? Come to think of it… I’d say my time in prison was the loneliest I ever was, ‘n ever felt.

Akira: That makes sense… And how would you keep your mind off that feeling?

Bradley: I’d plan my revenge.

Akira: Your revenge!?

Bradley: Yeah… Like how I’d go about turning the bastards who locked me up to stone, how I’d look ‘em in the eye ‘til their last breath…

I kept thinking about it, comin’ up with new ways to drill holes in ‘em, over, ‘n over, ‘n over again.

Akira: I didn’t expect any less, but still…

(Bradley is usually pretty positive around me, so for him to carry such deep hatred, even thinking of taking his revenge… That’s…)

(Captivity must feel like unbearable torture for someone who treasures freedom…)

Bradley: —and so, when I’d get tired of plottin’, I would–

Akira: Hang on, you’d get bored!?

Bradley: Well yeah, sort of? Havin’ nothing but revenge ‘n all sortsa dark stuff on the brain would get me down in the dumps.

So, as I was just sayin’, I’d jump straight to the conclusion of this whole revenge plan…

Akira: Which is…?

Bradley: I’d imagine the feast I’d throw to celebrate my successful vendetta.

The things we’d do, the food ‘n drinks that’d be served, paintin’ the town red ‘til our legs give out…

I’d have the whole thing in motion up in my head, or at least the gist of it.

Akira: (Despite the hardships, he kept his head high as a leader and chose to free himself from the prison of his own hatred… That’s so cool…)

Bradley: With all that thinkin’, I even came up with a song of sorts.

Akira: You? You made a song!?

Bradley: Yup.

Akira: I didn’t know you could compose! Rustica would be delighted to hear that!

Bradley: Yeah, I guess that’d be up his alley. I wouldn’t say I’m good at it, though, I’d just hum whatever melody that naturally came to me at the time.

Akira: …But if you only hummed it, that means there’s little to no chance you’d remember it exactly, right…?

Bradley: Hey, if I came up with it once, I can do it again.

Akira: I mean, I guess… What did the lyrics talk about, if you don’t mind me asking? I’d love to hear you sing, even if you only remember a tiny bit.

Bradley: Man, singin’ it again, it’s…Not gonna lie, it’s kinda embarrassing…

Akira: Please, go ahead, I’m all ears!

Bradley: Alright, listen carefully, ‘cause I ain’t singin’ it twice.

“His beatin’ go boom, boom, bow~♪ ‘cause Bradley–”

Akira: Ooh yeah~! Make some noise!

Bradley: Uh, I didn’t needja clappin’ along.

Akira: My bad.

home line

“Gotta be reliable ‘n infallible this, always do ‘n say what’s right that. To hell with those biassed expectations, you don’t need ‘em.

Remember: I'm here ‘n I've got your back. Ain't so afraid of screwin' up with the great Bradley backin' you up, hm?”

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