Cerberus Ichie Otonashi/Bond Story

*Cerberus is lulled to sleep by the sound of Orpheus's gentle harp. His expression is calm, but... From "Orpheus's Melody."*

* Chapter 1
* Chapter 2
* Bond Level 15 Talk
* Bond Level 30 Talk

Ichie's Dog Training

 **Ichie:**Whoa, look at all the dogs running around!

 **Yuyuko:**Yeah, this is pretty spectacular.

 **Ichie:**Oh, Yuyuko! Morning! Is this Momoko? Aw, you're adorable! So fluffy and soft!

 **Yuyuko:**Yes, this is my family's beloved Momoko.

**Momoko:**Woof!

 **Ichie:**Such a good girl! Thanks for bringing Momoko with you today.

 **Yuyuko:**Not at all. So what made you want to go to the dog park all of a sudden?

 **Ichie:**I actually got two free admissions to this dog park from a classmate. I figured you were the best person to go with since you have a dog.

 **Yuyuko:**Oh, I see. Recently, a lot of parks don't allow dogs. Thank you for inviting us so Momoko can run around freely.

 **Ichie:**Hey, can I try walking Momoko? I've always wanted to walk a dog.

 **Yuyuko:**Of course. She can be a little shy with strangers though, so she might not listen.

 **Ichie:**Really? Well, we won't know until we try. Maybe it'll go well?

 **Yuyuko:**Heh heh, you're right. You might win her over with your friendliness. Let's give it a try.

 **Ichie:**Got the leash firmly in my hand☆ Okay, Momoko! Let's go for a walk!

**Momoko:**Woof woof!

 **Ichie:**Whoa, not that way! We're supposed to go this way!

 **Ichie:**Hm, she won't listen to me at all.

 **Ichie:**I guess it's not so easy, huh. Do you have any tricks?

 **Yuyuko:**Let's try with the secret weapon.

 **Ichie:**Secret weapon!? You have something like that? What is it?

 **Yuyuko:**Open this and hold it in your hand.

 **Ichie:**These are...dog treats?

**Momoko:**...! Woof woof woof!

 **Ichie:**Wow! Look at her tail wag!

**Momoko:**Woof woof!

 **Ichie:**W-Wait a minute. Calm down! I'll give you some.

 **Ichie:**Eek! That tickles! That's my finger! Not a treat!

 **Yuyuko:**Momoko, wait! Calm down.

**Momoko:**\*pants\*

 **Ichie:**...Someone's certainly eager. You can't underestimate the power of treats.

 **Ichie:**We'll become friends in no time with this. Okay, let's try again!

 **Ichie:**Momoko, this way!

 **Ichie:**Good girl. Here's a treat for a good girl like you.

**Momoko:**Woof woof♪

 **Yuyuko:**You're getting along so well. Momoko looks happy.

 **Ichie:**...A dog who goes nuts for treats, huh. Hm? Where have a heard a similar story before?

 **Yuyuko:**Ichie-san?

 **Ichie:**Do you think I could use this for my performance as Cerberus?

 **Yuyuko:**What? Cerberus...? Are you talking about the "Orpheus's Melody" play you're in?

 **Ichie:**Yeah! You know how Cerberus is the dog that guards the Underworld, right?

 **Yuyuko:**...And they are similar?

 **Ichie:**It's not treats, but wasn't there a similar story in Cerberus' myth? Using that...

 **Ichie:**...Doesn't that make it more interesting? What do you think?

 **Yuyuko:**That does sound interesting. Let's see what everyone says tomorrow.

 **Ichie:**Heh heh, I can't wait! It's gonna turn into a great Cerberus!

Cerberus' Third Head

 **Orpheus:**"So this is Hades' palace. I need to stay alert. Never know what kind of monsters live here..."

 **Cerberus:**"...Wait, human."

 **Orpheus:**"W-Who's there!?"

 **Cerberus:**"It is I, Cerberus, the faithful servant of Lord Hades."

 **Cerberus:**"Lord Hades has ordered me to devour any human foolish enough to invade the temple of the Underworld—including your soul."

 **Orpheus:**"I can't afford to be stuck here. I have a mission that must be fulfilled."

 **Orpheus:**"..."

 **Cerberus:**"W-What...is this...gentle melody? It's calming my raging soul... \*yawn\*... I feel...drowsy..."

 **Cerberus:**"Zzz..."

 **Orpheus:**"Phew, that was a close one. Take this chance to slip past—"

 **Cerberus:****(Youngest Brother)**
"Not so fast."

 **Orpheus:**"What!? You were sleeping...?"

 **Cerberus:****(Youngest Brother)**
"Hate to break it to you, but we have three heads and one will always be awake."

 **Cerberus:****(Youngest Brother)**
"My brothers may be asleep, but as long as I am here, you're not getting through the gates of the Underworld!"

 **Orpheus:**"Ngh..."

 **Cerberus:****(Youngest Brother)**
"Human, accept your fate and be devoured by... Hm? Something smells good."

 **Orpheus:**"Huh...?"

 **Cerberus:****(Youngest Brother)**
"What do you have with you there..."

 **Orpheus:**"This? A pomegranate cookie my wife, Eurydice, made."

 **Cerberus:****(Youngest Brother)**
"So it IS a cookie! And made with my favorite sugar syrup and wheat!"

 **Orpheus:**"Do you want it?"

 **Cerberus:****(Youngest Brother)**
"What? You'll give it to me? Yay!"

 **Cerberus:****(Youngest Brother)**
"Nom nom... So good! I've never had such a delicious cookie!"

 **Cerberus:****(Youngest Brother)**
"The human who made this cookie must be an amazing person."

 **Orpheus:**"Cerberus, I beg you. Please allow me to pass... It is to save the person who made that cookie."

 **Cerberus:****(Youngest Brother)**
"...Hm. Is that person so important?"

 **Orpheus:**"I am willing to give my life in return for hers."

 **Cerberus:****(Youngest Brother)**
"..."

 **Cerberus:****(Youngest Brother)**
"Wow, that cookie sure was delicious!"

 **Orpheus:**"Huh...?"

 **Cerberus:****(Youngest Brother)**
"Having a cookie this good is bound to make me slip up and accidentally let somebody pass."

 **Orpheus:**"...!"

 **Orpheus:**"...Thank you."

 **Cerberus:****(Youngest Brother)**
"..."

 **Ichie:**All right! Cerberus' response was pretty good!

 **Yuyuko:**Who would've thought what happened with Momoko would be used in the performance... So clever, Ichie-san.

 **Yuyuko:**It's also in the original story that Cerberus likes sweets.

 **Ichie:**Yeah! After seeing how crazy Momoko was over her treats, it gave me an idea to use it for Cerberus.

 **Ichie:**And then it just developed from there until I came up with the youngest brother with an empathetic personality.

 **Yuyuko:**By showing a human side of him, you're able to show more depth to Cerberus.

 **Fumi:**The look in Cerberus' eyes when he let Orpheus pass...even I got sucked into it.

 **Ichie:**Fumi! Heh heh, thanks! I feel blessed as Cerberus.

 **Fumi:**Is that you speaking or are you acting...? Cerberus eating the cookie left an impression on me. He looked like he was enjoying it so much.

 **Ichie:**Oh, that might be thanks to the snack I had right before the performance.

 **Fumi:**What snack?

 **Ichie:**I don't know who it's from, but there were some pomegranate cookies on the table in the waiting room that somebody brought for us.

 **Ichie:**I was like, 'hey, this is the same as what appears in the play!', so I knew I had to eat it like Cerberus would.

 **Fumi:**......

 **Ichie:**What's the matter, Fumi? You look scary.

 **Fumi:**...That wasn't to share with everyone. I bought that for myself.

 **Ichie:**What?!

 **Fumi:**It was the same pomegranate cookies as the stage prop, so I bought it thinking it was perfect for the stage... Yet, you!

 **Ichie:**B-But it was just sitting on the waiting room table... Wouldn't you think it's for everyone too? It's not my fault.

 **Fumi:**You still could've asked first! I can't believe you'd just eat it without saying anything!

 **Ichie:**Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't do it on purpose!

 **Fumi:**Hey! Stop right there!

 **Yuyuko:**Orpheus is chasing after Cerberus. Heh heh, the opposite of the myth.

 **Ichie:**I incorporated an idea I got from a past experience of mine into my Cerberus. A spark of inspiration—even if I do say so myself.

 **Ichie:**Momoko goes absolutely nuts for treats. Dogs sure love their treats.

 **Ichie:**But I never thought their obsession with treats would come in handy for my acting.

 **Ichie:**You can honestly never tell what you'll be inspired by.