The Runrun Conundrum

…Welp, I gotta go hit the new machine they put out ♪

Wait, Amagi. We aren’t finished talking yet.

I’ll hear you out when I’m back. Look man, I can’t pass up the chance to strike gold on a day like this, got it?

So uh, yeah—Smell ya later, Himerunrun!

—Good grief. It’s almost certain he’ll be kicking up a fuss about food before getting to anything else when he returns.

Actually, what was that? He used “Himerunrun” instead of “Merumeru” this time…

It would be nice if he would stop doing whatever he wanted—which includes calling us anything that strikes his fancy—

Staaaare…

(Hm? It feels like someone is looking this way. They’re being discreet about it.)

(But HiMERU sees you looking at him from around the corner. The one from Ra*bits…)

—Tenma Mitsuru. I know you’re there.

Wah?! You scared me! How’d you know I was there?!

The upper part of your body was poking out. If you wish to spy on someone in secret, you’ll need to hide yourself better.

—Now a question for you: Do you need something from HiMERU?

Sure do! It’s like um, I really thought you being called “Himerunrun” was super cute!

So I was wondering, can I call you Himerunrun-senpai too?

…First, explain your reasoning. Why do you want to do that?

‘Cause it’s cute? Also ‘cause there’s no one else here with an English-y name, so I had no idea what to call you~

Is that so. You can just call HiMERU exactly that: HiMERU.

No way! I can’t not use honorifics with someone older than me. That’s how it goes in sports, and I’m that kinda guy!

Umm… So how about “Hime-chan-senpai” then? That okay?

Hime-chan… It leaves a weird taste in HiMERU’s mouth, but fine, sure. The “runrun” thing is just too lively.

I know, right? “Runrun” feels like you’re skipping or something! So it gives me this nice happy feeling!

I wanna be Mitsuruntun too, actually. Hime-chan-senpai is Himerunrun, so is it okay if I’m Mitsurunrun too.

—It’s not up to HiMERU to decide. Amagi probably gave the nickname to him without thinking because his name ends with a “ru” sound.

If the same rule is applied to you, then it’s not incorrect to go by Mitsurunrun.

Oh boy! ☆ It’s official! I’m gonna spend the whoooole day as Mitsurunrun then~ ♪

Instead of dashing home, I’ll get to skip and stuff! Thanks, Hime-chan-senpai!

(…His steps were quite light as he left. But really, what does it even mean for him to spend the day as Mitsurunrun…?)

Oh? I spy with my little eye…

And with a pounce right onto your back—! Hello, hello! I am your Hibiki Wataru—now going by Watarunrun ☆

—?!

Fufufu, did I scare you? You can jump quite far when you put enough force into a running long jump, did you know?

…Hibiki-senpai, hello. Did you need HiMERU for something?

No no no, today I am not Hibiki-senpai: I am Watarunrun ♪

Pardon?

It was yesterday, you see. I happened upon Tenma-kun skipping down the hallway. However, the person I saw yesterday was not, in fact, Tenma-kun—

He was Mitsurunrun…?

Precisely ☆ Right on the money, Himerunrun-san ♪

I, too, am someone whose name ends with a “ru” sound. And so I took up the banner and became Watarunrun in his stead.

(It’s impossible to follow that logic.)

And as a result of my rebirth as Watarunrun, Subaru-kun became Subarunrun, as well. We had quite the fun time in our room last night ♪

I tried calling upon Butler-san to join our merry band as Yuzurunrun, but he shot me down, smiling all the while.

(Of course he would; why would he want to get involved in that?)

So how about you, Himerunrun-san? Does your heart pound whenever someone calls you that?

No, um. No, it doesn’t, because HiMERU’s name is actually HiMERU.

So please use his name. HiMERU is no one other than HiMERU, and it bothers him when people use other names for him.

Hmm, really now? Speaking as an actor, I do think it’s fun to enjoy the relationships built with nicknames ♪

(—There’s nothing “fun” about it, but HiMERU will leave that aside.)

(If HiMERU stays in Starmony Hall, he’s sure to come across other people. He should go somewhere he can wind down…)

……

(…Even though it has to be a coincidence, it feels like too much of a prank to keep meeting this group of people. It’s as if they’re watching and waiting to see how HiMERU will react.)

Ahaha, sorry for being so on guard.

You’ve got to be going through it too, Himerunrun-kun, so I wasn’t really sure how to greet you.

…So you know about that too-cheery nickname as well, Hakaze-senpai.

People kept calling me “Kaorunrun” last night, too~ I’d be the guy who can’t read the room if I didn’t play along, y’know?

This is not HiMERU’s doing. However, he is sorry that you’ve been troubled because of it.

HiMMERU has to go reprimand the source of this evil. Deeply so.

Huh?

……

Oh! Merumeru ♪ You here for lunch? Kinda late for that, don’tcha think?

Well, I’m also getting lunch, so whatever. Whatcha eating, hayashi rice?

If it’s good, I’ll order some for myself. So gimme a bite, ‘kay? ♪

Please do not take a bite as if it’s a given.

…So you’re using Merumeru again today. HiMERU was sure you would have caught onto that by now—

Hm? I’m pretty sure I’ve always called you Merumeru.

Wait, but if you’re pointing it out… that means you’re good with me calling you that, doesn’t it Merumeru? ♪

I’m picking up what you’re putting down~ You haven’t even complained about it recently. You like it ♪

It’s just a decision made with limited options to choose from. Don’t get too excited about it.

HiMERU is HiMERU. Please don’t create any other strange nicknames in the future.

…So you say. But what you’re actually saying is that you’re sick and tired of my boooring nicknames and now you want a new one, right?

No!

At any rate, HiMERU does not want to invite any unnecessary issues, so Merumeru is fine. Just Merumeru.

…Honestly. Why do you want to make light of HiMERU so badly? He wishes you’d just stop making fun of him all the time—