A Baccano Love Story

An Unexpected Complication

A little later, the three Gandor brothers were playing poker in the basement while Luck brought Keith and Berga up to speed on the Joe situation.

"Childhood friend?" Berga was taken aback. "And he just showed up out of nowhere? After two years?"

"Charlie thinks it was because he was busy helping his family business recover. And he said he didn't know where to find her."

"But he just happens to stumble upon her in a city of this size?"

"... That is quite a coincidence. You're sharp today."

"......"

Keith silently agreed.

"Don't treat me like an idiot. So what are you gonna to do about it?"

"Charlie trusts him, so I'll just have to keep an eye on him. I got the feeling he was here for more than just concern for her wellbeing."

"You sure you're not just jealous?"

"Maybe. But I'm not going to let anything happen to her."

"Well, you know you can count on us to help you out."

"......"

Keith nodded.

It was agreed. They would make sure Joe didn't try anything funny with Charlie.

—∞—

"Your childhood friend has come to visit?" Seina said when Charlie broke the news to her when she went to Alveare.

"Yes, he doesn't know the whole truth about my life here, but he is a discreet person."

Except when it came to recounting childhood misadventures.

"Well, okay. If you're sure..."

"If you're sure... what?" Ronny asked.

He seemed to have appeared out of thin air, but that didn't surprise Charlie now that she knew what he really was.

"My childhood friend is coming tonight. I didn't tell him anything about the organization."

"That's good, but he'll probably figure it out for himself."

"I don't want to get him involved, but I didn't know how to turn him down. I'm hoping he'll see that I'm okay, be satisfied, and go home."

—∞—

Joe went to the honey shop just as Charlie had told him to. He'd had to get directions to find it, but he got there eventually. It looked like just a normal honey store that sold honey when he walked in. There wasn't any sign of Charlie.

"Welcome," Seina said. Her attitude was frigid and unfeeling.

"Uh... I'm looking for Charlie Azzura?"

Seina turned away from the honey she was stirring on the stove to look at him. "You Charlie's friend? Joe?"

"Yes, that's me."

"All right. Come."

Seina led him down the corridor behind the register to the sturdy door that lead to the speakeasy. She knocked quite a few times on the firmly shut door. Light flashed in the peephole for a moment.

After a while, a clank came from behind the door as the padlock was opened. The door opened, and a blinding glow poured from inside.

Charlie was playing the piano as usual when Joe walked in. He was marveling at his surroundings, but when he heard her sing, he looked straight at her.