Gauche...
Gauche is no longer a Bee...
What do you mean by that?
I mean his name's been erased from the register of Bees, what else?
You know him or something?
This is all ancient history, though.
Why?
How'd I know?
Zazie!
They say that Gauche was the star at the Bee-Hive, and a candidate for Head Bee.
That he wouldn't allow himself even the tiniest mistake while working in the capital.
He probably couldn't keep it up and had a breakdown or something.
But man, what a fool.
He finally got to live as an elite after all that hard work, then drops everything and runs away from it all.
Stop it.
You're lying.
There's no way that can be.
It's a lie.
There's just no way.
Gauche would never quit being a Bee!
Get your hands off me, Lag Seeing.
Hands off!
It's a lie!
Gauche would never walk away from his job as a Bee.
Gauche, run away? Never!
Gauche was aiming to become Head Bee in Akatsuki, you know?
Seeing Sylvette Suede
We're here, Lag.
Sylvette's house is down this lane.
The second one on your left.
I'll be waiting here.
Lag, I'm sorry for not telling you.
Give Sylvette my best.
He didn't even respond to you.
What's the matter with him?
I knew this would happen.
Gauche-san was Lag's vision of the perfect Bee.
He's the goal that Lag has always been striving for.
He'd say, "Gauche is working hard in the capital for Sylvette's sake, so I can't give up either!"
Lag did his best, always working intently on catching up to Gauche-san as soon as he could...
I couldn't tell him.
Lag believed in Gauche-san from the bottom of his heart.
I... was never able to tell him.
Ow!
Zazie?
Have the rest of my lunch.
Make sure to throw away the wrapper.
Let's go, Wasiolka.
Go? Go where?
The Bee-Hive, obviously, Connor Culh.
But why?
Shouldn't we go back together-
I'm heading back first.
Apologize to him, will you?
Tell him... I'm sorry about... that.
Tell him yourself!
Hello.
Hello!
Is she out?
It's open...
Sure is dark.
Um, hello!
Maybe no one is here.
Wings?
It flew?
Gotcha!
Hey! Don't climb up!
Trapped?
You guys are really annoying.
If you don't cut it out I'll blast you full of holes!
Full of...
When I get the money from the dolls and clothes I'm making now, I'll pay you back the rin from last month!
Now just keep quiet and wait until the end of the month, you numbskull!
Um, wait... I'm not...
Niche, no! You mustn't!
Y-You're Sylvette?
That's... Gauche's shindanjuu?
He's here?
So then, Gauche came back to this house, right?
Ah, I see.
That's what it was.
It's because he felt he had to come back to you.
Yeah, that's got to be it...
Gauche...
Thank goodness...
Lag... Seeing?
That's you, right?
You're Lag Seeing!
Yes.
Um, Connor said to give you his best.
I see.
Here. It's tea made with milk.
Thank you.
I'm sorry. Niche doesn't drink milk.
Oh, no wonder she's so small.
Then don't blame me if you never grow.
Niche, are you okay?
I thought a Maka's tongue wasn't able to handle hot drinks...
A Maka's tongue?
Um, well... Sylvette...
I remember what my brother told me about you.
He said he delivered a letter, an Albisian boy like us who was a huge crybaby.
You really haven't changed, Lag.
You're just like the child I imagined.
I'm surprised.
I'm also surprised!
I always thought that you'd be a bit more ca-
A bit more what?
Actually, I've met you before, Sylvette.
During our journey, Gauche shot me with a shindan.
I saw Gauche's memories... Gauche's heart.
You seemed really lonely, and were crying...
Enough.
I suppose I was a crybaby in the past, too.
But, I don't really remember.
Sylvette?
It seems like my brother thought you would show up here in Yuusari one day.
He said you had what it took to become a Bee.
He did?!
Sylvette, so, where's Gauche?
Where is Gauche?
This is his gun, so he came back here, right?
I want to see him soon, Sylvette!
He's not here.
The notice is on top of the hearth.
A letter?
From Gauche?
T-This is...
This is...
It's a notice of employment termination.
"Gauche Suede has been continually absent without notice from his duties at the Capital Bee-Hive in Akatsuki,"
"and he did not appear at the disciplinary committee hearing."
"Thereafter, his crossing permit was revoked, and his whereabouts unknown."
"It is possible he has temporary insanity, or is lacking in mental capacity."
T-That can't be!
Gauche is...
"As such, the level 2 crossing pass to the Amberground capital Akatsuki
along with the spirit amber and weapon are forfeit, and address reassigned to Yuusari."
"This has been a notice of termination for the National Postal Delivery Serviceman Bee."
Come in.
Pardon me.
You called for me, Master?
Take this to Sylvette Suede.
I'm sorry, but Gauche has been terminated.
But that's...
It must be hard on you.
Would you please deliver this to his sister?
Understood.
I will deliver this to Sylvette.
Coming.
Who might it be?
It's me, Aria.
Aria-san, what's the matter?
Hurry, come on in.
I'll bring a towel.
Wait, Sylvette.
I came today to deliver this.
What is it?
Brother has been fired from the Bees?
No way! This has to be a lie, right?
Tell me this is a lie, Aria-san!
Soon after he crossed into Akatsuki, my brother lost his heart and disappeared.
The delivery is over now.
Lag, you did very well...
You truly got through it...
You and I relied on each other, and we made it through that perilous journey.
You are no longer a letter... You're a man now, Lag Seeing.
Farewell, Gauche...
But, Sylvette, what about the gun?
That's Gauche's...
Before he headed to the capital, he had a new weapon made.
It no longer has a spirit amber set in it.
I now use it as a bluff for self-defense.
I can't believe this...
So then, where's Gauche now?
It's been four and a half years since my brother, who was more dedicated to his job than anyone, discarded the Bees.
I haven't gotten a single letter or report.
So I gave up hope.
My brother is dead.
I cherish the memories I have of him, but that's what I've concluded.
But... But!
Sylvette, he was doing it for you!
He reaped what he sowed!
I didn't want for anything but to have my brother with me.
And yet, he...
He wanted to work in the capital so badly, he'd always push himself to ruin...
He'd even volunteer for the most difficult deliveries.
I don't need a dad or a mom or money or anything, so...
I don't care if I can never walk... Just...
Please don't go!
Stay here... by my side...
Brother...
I have work to do. Please leave.
This must have been tough for you to hear.
I apologize.
I'm glad that we met, Lag Seeing.
But, please, never come back here again.
Farewell... Sylvette.
He hasn't said a thing since he came back.
My brother lost his heart and disappeared.
Lag, where does it hurt?
Do you want me to lick where it hurts?
Thanks, but I'm not hurt.
Oh?
Hey, Niche...
Should I lick it?
No, not that...
Say... Just suppose I lost my heart and forgot about you, Niche.
What would you do?
I'd lick you, and bite you, and drop you, and jump on you, and scratch you, and drop you!
You'd drop me twice?
I'm your dingo, Lag.
Just leave it to me.
But...
Don't worry.
Even if you forget me, Lag...
I'll never forget you, see?
So we'll always be together!
Thank you.
Thank you, Niche.
Connor, stop!
I'm going to see Sylvette again!
Niche, wait.
We should wait here.
You can do it, Lag.
You're all squishy.
You drink milk tea, too?
Do you need nice breasts to be beautiful too, I wonder?
Um, Niche...
L-Little help?
Because I won't forget.
Sylvette gave up hope because it was too sad to bear.
Gauche is alive out there somewhere.
Then l should just search for him, and become Sylvette's hope myself!
Sylvette!
Next: The Crybaby Boy's Vow