myprecious02

Do you like it Uptown?

It's quiet uptown

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SxF Light Novel: Family Portrait Translation Mission 3: Franky's New Love!? (Part 2)

<<PART 1. . . PART 3>>. DO NOT REPOST

“Oh, is he really that big of a dog?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s big enough for the kid in the house to ride on it. Let’s see, I think it’s about the size of a small bear? And he’s got a lot of fur too.”

Franky said exaggeratedly while sitting side by side with Alessa on a bench in the backyard of the hospital.

Over the past month, Franky has been coming into the backyard as often as he could to listen to her sing and to chat. Alessa enjoys the little sweets and flowers Franky brings as if they were expensive gifts, and she would laugh like a tinkling bell at the most trivial of topics. More than anything else, Franky could tell that she was looking forward to meeting him, and whenever he saw Alessa’s smile, Franky was filled with a feeling of trepidation, but also a sense of happiness that he had never felt before.

“We wanted to play frisbee at the park nearby, he’s a naive dog so he got all excited over it, but he just ended up sitting and staring after we got there.”

When Fanky talked about Loid’s dog, Alessa let out a sigh. She mumbled enviously,

“Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always wanted to have a big dog, but my father didn’t allow me to have one because he said that animal hair is bad for my throat…”

“Oh…”

At that, Fanky lowered his shoulders.

While he felt sorry for Alessa’s despondent profile, he also thought at the same time,

Well, of course it’s like that.

After all, Alessa is the daughter of that Balzer family.

Loid is likely to call him a “stalker” again, but Franky, in his informant’s saga, has done all the research on Alessa’s origin and career, and even though she looks young, Alessa is already nineteen years old.

The Balzer family is famous for producing prominent musicians, and Alessa’s father is a world-renowned pianist. Her mother is also a world-renowned opera actress. Her brother, who is three years older than her, is an up-and-coming pianist who is said to be traveling around the world. Her uncle is a conductor of a prestigious orchestra, and her aunt is a genius composer. It is said that many of the patrons of the family are important people from Ostania.

Alessa, who will turn 20 this year, was also scheduled to make a spectacular debut as an opera actress like her mother two years ago, but she suddenly lost her eyesight due to a nervous system disease. Still, she practices singing alone in an empty backyard of the hospital so as to not weaken her talent. Franky even had a sense of respect for Alessa. If it were him, he would probably be sick and tired of everything and be totally bitter about it. He would probably be desperate and sulk about the world. However, during the past month, not a single word of lamentation about her situation has ever come out from the girl’s mouth. That’s why he wanted to do something for her.

“If that’s the case then, I’ll bring him here next week. He’s a naive dog, but he’s basically a well-behaved one, so he’s not scary. Why don’t you try giving him some treats?”

When Franky suggested that, Alessa’s white cheeks flushed red, she stood up from the bench and asks,

“Is it really okay?”

However, her face soon clouded over, and she sat back down on the bench.

“What? Are you worried about the hair? Well, he has long hair after all.”

When Franky said, “If that’s the case, I’ll just borrow a short-haired dog somewhere.” Alessa stammed, then after a pause, she mumbled a “No….” in a small voice.

“I actually have an eye surgery next week.”

“Seriously!?”

A startled Franky looked at Alessa.

“You should’ve told me that sooner! Something that important, why--”

“I’m sorry.”

“.......No, I should be the one saying sorry.”

She apologized in a voice that sounded as if she’s about to cry, and Franky, who had calmed down, potentially apologized too. Then, for a change, he let out a cheerful tone.

“It’s a simple type of surgery, right? Something that would take just about an hour?”

“..........”

“So it’s a complicated surgery then?”

Alessa silently turned away. Franky’s heart made a sickening thump as the girl gently lowered her lightless eyes. Neither of them spoke for a while.

The overcast sky looked as if it would rain at any moment. After a while, Alessa muttered,

“The truth is, I’m scared. The doctor said that it will be all over while I’m asleep under anesthesia, so it’ll be fine, but I’m scared thinking what if I don’t wake up…then, I wouldn’t be able to sing my favorite songs anymore, and I wouldn’t be able to talk to you like this, Mr. Franky.”

Alessa’s voice was hoarse. Her beautiful hair, which drew a gentle curve from her shoulders to her chest, was slightly trembling.

“You’re the first man I’ve ever had the pleasure of talking to, Mr. Franky.”

So the girl continued with a trembling voice.

“If I can keep it up and still sing a song, then Mr. Franky can still hear it.”

“Alessa…..”

“That’s more than enough for me, I’m happy with that….”

Alessa murmured in a voice almost like a sigh. Franky’s heart was crushingly happy and aching at the same time. He was happy that she cared so much about singing and that she thought so much of a man like him. But more than that, he was scared. No matter how advanced medical technology has become, there is no guarantee that the surgery will be safe when performed under general anesthesia.

Franky felt the same fear that Alessa felt. However, when Franky said in a deliberately cheerful voice,

“I know right? Surgery is scary after all, I know the feeling.”

He tried his best to restrain himself so that his voice would not tremble.

“I have a friend, his name is Loid, he’s a very cool and handsome asshole, but when he had his wisdom teeth removed, he was so terrified that he blacked out, you know.”

“He blacked out?”

“Also, he’s afraid of injections even now, avoiding it like a kid on the verge of crying.”

“Oh my….”

Franky is laying out a bunch of bullshit. On top of that, he deliberately sneaks in Alessa’s ears,

“I mean, what I said is all actually about me.”

“Oh my….”

“It’s a secret, okay.”

Alessa finally burst out laughing.

She laughed for a bit and whispered, “Thank you”. Making sure that smiles once again appeared on her face, Franky said in a soft voice, “No big deal”. It was a voice completely different from earlier.

“I’m sure your surgery will go well, Alessa. There’s no way such a sweet, good girl like you would be in misfortune. I can assure you that.”

“Franky…”

Alessa burst into tears and muttered in a faint voice,

“That’s not true. I’m not as nice or kind as you think I am, Franky. I’ve always been an intolerable jerk. I see myself as someone special. I’ve looked down on other people and thought that everything beautiful and glorious in the world belonged to me, and that’s why I don’t have friends who would come to visit me even now.”

Her beautiful doll-like profile looked lonely, but there was not the slightest hint of self pity. Franky looks at the girl’s profile and is touched by the gracefulness of someone who was ashamed of her own foolishness but looking firmly forward.

“However, I became blind and I’ve lost a lot of things, but now I can truly see what’s really important, what is truly beautiful.”

A faintly damp breeze played with Alessa’s hair. She turned to Franky and smiled softly.

“I was so happy that you’re always there to cheer me up and were there to tell me fun stories. You never told me to do my best or asked me if I was okay, instead, you always told me that it’ll be fine.”

“.......”

“I’m glad that I met you, Franky.”

Her deep barred eyes reflected Franky, yet she couldn’t see him. However, Franky sensed an even more deeper distance between himself and Alessa.

Alessa said that Franky is a beautiful thing, she believes so. She said that she realized what’s important after she lost her eyesight and lost so much more.

However, Franky hasn’t told Alessa who he really is.

“I’m going to have surgery. So, will you continue to stay by my side forever?”

“.....Saying something like that, I might be a very short, ugly guy, you know?”

As Alessa said it shyly blushing red in her pure white cheeks, Franky deliberately mingled with her as usual.

At that, Alessa said angrily,

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t care what kind of face you have. I don’t care if you’re short or if you’re ugly. I want you, Franky!

Then, as she was beet red up to her ears, she said,

“Oh….I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to call you short, or ugly,...... o-or anything like that….it’s just that, I just wanted to tell you that I don’t care about any of those things at all…..It’s not like I’m saying you’re short or you’re ugly, Franky….”

“You’re so silly…..Alessa, really.”

For once, Franky was glad that Alessa was blind.

As he doesn’t want anyone to see his face right now.

“Um? Franky?”

Alessa, perhaps worried that Franky had gone silent, reached out her thin fingers towards him. She unreliably scratched it in the air, and Franky instinctively catched it with both hands.

“Thank goodness.”

With that, the girl who can’t see smiled.

“I thought that you’ve gone somewhere else, Franky.”

“..........”

The girl’s fingers were thin, fragile like glass work, and looked like they might break at any moment. Franky wanted to hold on to it, but he gently let it go.

“Look, it looks like it’s going to rain, so go back to your room. You're gonna be in trouble if you catch a cold before your surgery, you know.”

“.....okay.”

When he said that in his usual tone of voice, Alessa nodded quietly.

“Please come and see me when the bandages come off, okay?”

“Sure.”

In front of the hospital ward, Franky parted from the girl who kept on waving at him, and with a certain determination in his heart, he called Loid.

-------------

I had a feeling it was going to be troublesome, but I didn’t think it would really be troublesome…..

Even though his hunch was correct, he was not the least bit happy about it. Loid folded his arms and was silent for a while before looking at the man in front of him.

“In other words, on the day the girl’s bandages come off, you want me to make you look like a different person, is that what you’re saying?”

“Yes. Please.”

“No way.”

Franky, who suddenly called him by phone and met in a certain back alley, told him what he had expected to hear, but in a way, it was also unexpected.

He has asked him before to teach him the secret to winning a date, or to give him advice on love, or to teach him the secrets of being popular with women, but it’s the first time he has heard him ask to change his face. That must have been how serious he was. However, using a special mask to become a different person to date a woman is out of the question.

First of all, there’s no way such deception would last forever. As long as Franky is an amateur informant and not a spy, there will always be a way for his true self to show up at some point.

“Love is more than just doing your best with your real face.”

When he said that and was about to leave, Franky was on his heels as he said,

“Wait! Didn’t I disguised myself as an SSS officer before to question Yor? I want it just like what you did back then! No, I want you to also change my hairstyle this time! I want to dress differently than I usually do! I want everything to look good!”

He clung to Loid’s waist.

“Anyway, just make sure it’s the furthest away from my face. The previous good-looking face was, after all, close to my real one.”

“No, how was it even close to your real face?”

(Note: Franky was talking about this disguised, from chapter 14 of the manga, episode 9 in the anime)

SxF Light Novel: Family Portrait Translation Mission 3: Franky's New Love!? (Part 2)

Loid told Franky that he was shameless and ripped his hands from his waist. However, Franky was not giving up.

“I don’t want a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, good-looking guy who, oh who looks like you by the way. How about a baby-faced, handsome guy with long, silky black hair? Or an intelligent guy with slanted eyes, thin eyebrows, and thin face?”

“I’m not going to say anything bad about you, so play it nice.”

Loid sighed.

“Didn’t I tell you before? It’s not a good idea to trick a woman into a relationship.”

“I also told you I didn’t want to hear that coming from you!”

“I see. See you then.”

“Ah, wait! Wait, please!! Master Twilight!!”

Loid turned on his heel with a smile, Franky came around quickly and said,

“I’m begging you. You’re the only one I can ask for. From the same status!!”

Saying that, he crawled on the ground and rubbed his forehead on the spot. It’s a custom called “Dogeza (kneeling down on the ground)” known in the far eastern island country.

Loid asked Franky, who seemed somewhat out of character for being more persistent than usual, in a serious voice.

“Are you really that in love with her?”

“.........”

Franky didn’t respond. Normally, he would have been more eager and said something like, “That’s right! So help me out! Have mercy on your ol’ pal scruffy!” Loid was sure of it.

Is he serious….

If so, he was even less inclined to lend him a hand.

“Listen, Franky. If it’s just something like teaching you how to win a date, then I’ll help you. However, even if changing you to a different person works, what are you planning to do after that? Are you going to keep asking me to change your face every time?”

That is just impossible. Throwing away one’s face is not such an easy thing to do. Even Franky must not be so stupid as not to understand that.

“Go see her just as you are. If you really care about her, that’s the best option you have.”

Saying that, when he was about to walk away this time, Franky muttered, “......zer’s” with his forehead pressed against the ground. Loid’s feet stopped on the hard stone pavement of the back alley.

“What?”

“She’s a daughter of the Balzer’s family.”

Franky looked up as he said this. His eyes behind the lenses did not reveal any color of emotion.

Loid raised an eyebrow.

“Balzer…..that famous musical family?”

“Yea.”

They are one of the most noble families producing world-renowned musicians. Among the backers, there are many bigwigs from Ostania whose information WISE would love to get their hands on. For Loid, it is honestly a pipe he wants down his throat.

“Alessa herself had a promising future as an opera actress. If she can see again, and if she becomes active on the world stage, she can get all kinds of information you’ll need.”

Franky told him matter-of-factly.

“If that’s the case, then it’s a no-brainer for you too, right?”

Franky’s voice reached Loid’s ears terribly cold.

“......are you really okay with that?”

His own voice was surprisingly dry.

The expression on Franky’s face as he responded was something he had never seen before.

“......Yeah. I’m okay with it.”

“I see.”

Loid responded briefly.

So that’s your answer huh

He has no intention of pretending to be a good citizen anymore. What Franky has proposed is undoubtedly of a great benefit to Loid. As a spy, he should be happy to accept it. And yet, there was a part of him that felt disappointed with the man in front of him.

Until now, he has deceived and used many women, and easily discarded them when they lost their worth to him. He has no intention of defending them, nor thinks his actions should be forgiven. Loid had something to protect, a mission, even if it meant getting his own hands dirty. There is not even a shred of ego in it. However, Franky’s desire to not lose someone he loves so much that he deceives that person and even makes him an unwitting informant, Loid was disappointed with that.

Even though Franky is not a spy like Loid….. He wondered why, and then, unexpectedly, he understood.

I see….so that’s how it is.

Loid was disappointed. To himself. And to this man in front of him.

He believed that this man was an idiot, but not that kind of trash. He’s someone who gets carried away easily, but he’s not a hateful moron, and he’s somewhat good-natured. In the end, he did not dislike this aloof and easy-going informant. To the extent that he harbors even the slightest bit of feelings of “friendship”, that he thought he had abandoned a long time ago, for this man.

This is ridiculous.

Loid felt a faint of irritation with his emotions.

Trust no one and don’t get attached to anyone. Wasn’t that the ironclad rule? Otherwise, people like themselves would not be able to survive.

As a spy, I can continue to get the information I need for my mission from this man.

That’s all to it. Nothing more, nothing less.

There was no need for him to buy that man a drink to console him after he was rejected by his unrequited crush, or to invite him over for dinner, or teaching him stupid things like the secret of being popular with the ladies. Their relationship wasn’t originally supposed to be like that…..

“I understand.”

When Loid responded in a low voice, Franky, with a relief in his voice, said,

“I’m in your debt.”

His face was completely his usual self.

“Thank you.”

“..........”

With one cold look, Loid turned his heels this time.

---------------