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shivalriesSeason: Spring, one year ago
---
Location: Checkmate Stage
Izumi: Hey, you two over there. Cut the chit-chat and get onstage.
I'm guessing you're the helpers Leo-kun found? You're wearing the same outfits as us, anyway. If you're with us, then can you get yourselves over here and join rehearsal already?
Eichi: Ah, my apologies. I'm not accustomed to performing quite yet, you see... I don't know how it all works, so I appreciate the reminder.
Izumi: You sure you're gonna be alright? You only just got out of the hospital the other day...
Don't push it while you're still recovering, okay? It'd be a pain if you keeled over in the middle of the performance.
If all you're gonna be is a liability, you should just stay out of this.
Eichi: ...There's no need for concern.
Hm? Who is that over there...?
Ritsu: ...Huh? Who're you?
Eichi: Might you perhaps be Sakuma-senpai's little brother? Right, I believe I saw your name on the performance plan. Brothers really do look alike ♪
Ritsu: We look nothing alike. I have absolutely no relation to that weird thing you're talking about.
Arashi: Wait a sec... By Sakuma-senpai, you mean... that Sakuma-senpai? You're his brother, Ritsu-chan?
Eichi: What, you didn't know?
Why did you bring him in, then, if not to forge a connection with Sakuma-senpai?
Ritsu: ......
Eichi: ...Ouch?!
Izumi: Hey—Kuma-kun! I get that you're pissed off, but don't go resorting to violence.
Eichi: How brutal... Not even my parents have ever hit me. You could at least have avoided my face when we've got a performance coming up. I'm on your side today, you know.
I can't say injuring your own allies before a battle is the wisest move.
Heh. Ritsu Sakuma-kun, was it?
It seems any mention of your brother offends you, but without the title of "Rei Sakuma's brother"... what else do you have left?
If you wish to be seen for who you are, instead of as an extension of someone else...
Then you must work to win your own worth and prove that your existence has meaning within itself.
If not, then how would you differ from a spoiled child, throwing a tantrum because his parents aren't paying attention to him? How very embarrassing for you.
Seeing as how you struck me, it's only fair I strike back—and let me say, you do not deserve to be loved as you are now.
If you have anything you hold precious...
Then keep it close to your chest and find the strength to protect it, before your dear brother can steal it away.
I might be able to help you with that, you know. Do let me know if you're interested; I get the feeling that you and I could get along.
I know the taste of that bitterness and frustration, that desperate struggle in the face of the blinding light that threatens to wash us out...
We have something in common, see? I think we could be friends.
Ritsu: I don't need friends. Get lost already. You're annoying me...
Eichi: Oh, I've been turned down. What a shame.
Well, no matter. By all means, you are welcome to spend your life as a coward, holding your knees in the deepest darkness.
There, you can keep crying and screaming until your sweet Mama and Papa come to find you.
Like a helpless little infant, no? You can keep playing inside your safe little playpen, oblivious to the world and protected from anything that could possibly hurt you.
But I do wonder: how would that make you any different from a corpse in a coffin?
Ritsu: ......
Tsumugi: Erm... Eichi-kun, you should probably avoid suddenly making things awkward.
We're just the hired help, after all... Let's be good and try not to meddle or cause any trouble, okay?
Eichi: I understand that. You don't have to interfere with every single thing I do, Tsumugi.
Though, it does beg the question... We are here on Tsukinaga-kun's request, and yet the genius himself is nowhere to be seen. Do you have an explanation for this, Sena-kun?
Izumi: Hell if I know. I'm worried about it myself... He hasn't bought a new phone since he lost his last one, so I have no way of reaching him.
I rang up his home just in case he forgot about the performance and ditched, but it doesn't seem like that's the case.
Just what is that idiot up to?
Well, worst case scenario, we can handle Checkmate without him. Don't slack off, Tenshouin. You got that?
Eichi: Humph... And here I only agreed to participate in the hopes of standing on the same stage as Tsukinaga-kun and watching him from up close. Disappointing, though not irreparably so.
I've come across a rather lucky opportunity, and so long as I stand onstage, I'll aim for victory. I rather detest losing, after all.
Izumi: I'm with you on that, at least. I'm not about to lose to those slouches from Chess who've been scraping by with the bare minimum...
I know hard work won't always be rewarded, but...
If you don't believe it can at least increase your chances of it, there's no way you can keep going.
---
< A Solitary Throne Chapter 3 || Masterlist || A Solitary Throne Chapter 5 >
---
Location: Checkmate Stage
Izumi: Hey, you two over there. Cut the chit-chat and get onstage.
I'm guessing you're the helpers Leo-kun found? You're wearing the same outfits as us, anyway. If you're with us, then can you get yourselves over here and join rehearsal already?
Eichi: Ah, my apologies. I'm not accustomed to performing quite yet, you see... I don't know how it all works, so I appreciate the reminder.
Izumi: You sure you're gonna be alright? You only just got out of the hospital the other day...
Don't push it while you're still recovering, okay? It'd be a pain if you keeled over in the middle of the performance.
If all you're gonna be is a liability, you should just stay out of this.
Eichi: ...There's no need for concern.
Hm? Who is that over there...?
Ritsu: ...Huh? Who're you?
Eichi: Might you perhaps be Sakuma-senpai's little brother? Right, I believe I saw your name on the performance plan. Brothers really do look alike ♪
Ritsu: We look nothing alike. I have absolutely no relation to that weird thing you're talking about.
Arashi: Wait a sec... By Sakuma-senpai, you mean... that Sakuma-senpai? You're his brother, Ritsu-chan?
Eichi: What, you didn't know?
Why did you bring him in, then, if not to forge a connection with Sakuma-senpai?
Ritsu: ......
Eichi: ...Ouch?!
Izumi: Hey—Kuma-kun! I get that you're pissed off, but don't go resorting to violence.
Eichi: How brutal... Not even my parents have ever hit me. You could at least have avoided my face when we've got a performance coming up. I'm on your side today, you know.
I can't say injuring your own allies before a battle is the wisest move.
Heh. Ritsu Sakuma-kun, was it?
It seems any mention of your brother offends you, but without the title of "Rei Sakuma's brother"... what else do you have left?
If you wish to be seen for who you are, instead of as an extension of someone else...
Then you must work to win your own worth and prove that your existence has meaning within itself.
If not, then how would you differ from a spoiled child, throwing a tantrum because his parents aren't paying attention to him? How very embarrassing for you.
Seeing as how you struck me, it's only fair I strike back—and let me say, you do not deserve to be loved as you are now.
If you have anything you hold precious...
Then keep it close to your chest and find the strength to protect it, before your dear brother can steal it away.
I might be able to help you with that, you know. Do let me know if you're interested; I get the feeling that you and I could get along.
I know the taste of that bitterness and frustration, that desperate struggle in the face of the blinding light that threatens to wash us out...
We have something in common, see? I think we could be friends.
Ritsu: I don't need friends. Get lost already. You're annoying me...
Eichi: Oh, I've been turned down. What a shame.
Well, no matter. By all means, you are welcome to spend your life as a coward, holding your knees in the deepest darkness.
There, you can keep crying and screaming until your sweet Mama and Papa come to find you.
Like a helpless little infant, no? You can keep playing inside your safe little playpen, oblivious to the world and protected from anything that could possibly hurt you.
But I do wonder: how would that make you any different from a corpse in a coffin?
Ritsu: ......
Tsumugi: Erm... Eichi-kun, you should probably avoid suddenly making things awkward.
We're just the hired help, after all... Let's be good and try not to meddle or cause any trouble, okay?
Eichi: I understand that. You don't have to interfere with every single thing I do, Tsumugi.
Though, it does beg the question... We are here on Tsukinaga-kun's request, and yet the genius himself is nowhere to be seen. Do you have an explanation for this, Sena-kun?
Izumi: Hell if I know. I'm worried about it myself... He hasn't bought a new phone since he lost his last one, so I have no way of reaching him.
I rang up his home just in case he forgot about the performance and ditched, but it doesn't seem like that's the case.
Just what is that idiot up to?
Well, worst case scenario, we can handle Checkmate without him. Don't slack off, Tenshouin. You got that?
Eichi: Humph... And here I only agreed to participate in the hopes of standing on the same stage as Tsukinaga-kun and watching him from up close. Disappointing, though not irreparably so.
I've come across a rather lucky opportunity, and so long as I stand onstage, I'll aim for victory. I rather detest losing, after all.
Izumi: I'm with you on that, at least. I'm not about to lose to those slouches from Chess who've been scraping by with the bare minimum...
I know hard work won't always be rewarded, but...
If you don't believe it can at least increase your chances of it, there's no way you can keep going.
---
< A Solitary Throne Chapter 3 || Masterlist || A Solitary Throne Chapter 5 >
