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shivalriesSeason: Spring, one year ago
CW: animal abuse mention, description of blood/injury
---
Location: Checkmate Stage
Madara: But that day was different. Those delinquents found a poor cat that had wandered into the archery range and started doing awful things to it.
It was sickening. They tried to scorch it with lighters and even aimed arrows at it...
Leo-san cut in and tried to stop them. He told those scoundrels to cut it out, to spare a thought for how the cat felt—and with the cat held safe in his arms, he tried to make a run for it.
Leo-san had always let them do whatever they wanted, so they'd never expected him to actually stand up to them like this.
As a result, they got pissed and started to harass him.
They chased him around, pushed and shoved him...
Then, while he was trying to get away from them, Leo-san lost his footing and slipped. With the cat still wrapped in his arms, he couldn't find a good way to break his fall.
His arm hit the ground at a bad angle and snapped.
Those assholes who had been messing with him froze and stared in horror at his motionless form, as if in a daze...
Then, they scattered, leaving Leo-san alone on the ground.
Only the cat he'd saved stayed behind, meowing on and on for someone to come help.
Hearing the sound, I rushed over to find Leo-san lying there, and carried him all the way to the hospital.
Leo-san begged me to keep it under wraps, so I cleaned things up behind the scenes and prevented word from getting out.
Izumi: What the hell... That's awful. Why didn't he say anything about it to me?
I went off on him without knowing a damn thing. Kept calling him stupid, and all that.
He only did what was right. Why couldn't he just say so?
Madara: He was probably too embarrassed to say it, no? He may not seem like the type, but Leo-san does like to act tough.
It'd be a heroic tale to tell if he fought off a bunch of bad guys by himself, but how could he admit he'd just taken a fall while getting bullied by some lowlifes?
No—maybe he didn't want to make anybody into a villain to begin with.
After all, he's the kind of person who'll tell anybody he loves them, no matter who they are or what they do to him.
...When I arrived at the scene, what do you think Leo-san was doing?
I found him lying face down; it looked like he couldn't move at all. He'd come back to consciousness, but the searing pain prevented him from yelling for help...
He was mumbling something, drawing a musical staff using the blood dripping from his broken arm.
He was suffering an injury so bad it'd make you wince just seeing it, but even then...
He kept mumbling. "I'm so happy. This is my first time feeling pain like this. I really lucked out. Ah, it's come, it's come... inspiration..."
And he drew notes in crimson blood, as tears ran down his face all the while.
It gave me chills. I thought Leo-san had lost his mind from the pain and agony... But I was wrong.
He was trying desperately to convince himself...
All this was nobody's fault, none of this was a tragedy, breaking a bone was a blessing... A beautiful masterpiece could be written from this experience...
That this was actually a good thing... He was trying to make himself believe it all.
I was furious, of course. There's nothing good about breaking a bone.
Seeing this boy who refused to resent or despise anyone despite what had befallen him, who still insisted on expressing his love... I swore to myself then and there.
...I swore I'd find the cowards who caused him such pain, and I'd make them pay.
I've been running riot lately doing just that. Under the guise of "Robin Hood"...
Me and Keito-san have been purging Yumenosaki of evil.
Leo-san's not blind to this, either; he's been watching us and helping out when he can in his own way, while keeping us from going too far.
Izumi: I'd been thinking Leo-kun's been a bit more distant than usual lately... He's had his hands full with all that, huh? That checks out.
Still, why are you revealing all this inside information to me?
Madara: I want you to keep an eye on Leo-san.
That guy's in a bad state. Me and Keito-san have our own roles and our own problems to think about.
We can't afford to watch him all the time, but as for you—the two of you breathe as one.
I'm sure Leo-san would take anything you say into consideration.
So, if things start looking really bad, I want you to put a stop to it. He got away with only a broken bone this time around, but who knows if he'll be so lucky next time.
I think of myself as Leo-san's friend, but I'm not the most sensitive...
I could break him in the process of trying to protect him, but you're better with delicate matters... That's why I need your help.
Please... He's such a good kid. We can't let misfortune find him.
Izumi: Look, I get it, but... You know I'm not his family or friend or anything, right?
I've got enough on my hands with my own problems. I don't have time to look after that guy, too.
Madara: I thought as much. All I can do is pray, placing my wishes on a shooting star.
I'm powerless, despite this big, sturdy body God and my parents gifted to me... I don't mean to use that as an excuse to be irresponsible, though.
I just want to help however I'm able.
Izumi: ...Just like a superhero, huh? That's Ryuseitai for you.
Leo: ♪~♪~♪
Sena! C'mon, stop chatting and come sing! We've got people coming in already!
It's our job to entertain them and make 'em happy! Am I right?
Izumi: You don't have to tell me that... I'm a professional. I'll see any job through with perfection.
---
T/N: Worth noting that while Madara says he and Keito were acting under the "Robin Hood" name with Leo helping, the Robin Hood scout story epilogues have Leo stating that it was himself and Keito acting under that name. Whether you want to see this as a retcon or a case of unreliable narrators is up to you.
---
< A Solitary Throne Chapter 6 || Masterlist || A Solitary Throne Chapter 8 >
CW: animal abuse mention, description of blood/injury
---
Location: Checkmate Stage
Madara: But that day was different. Those delinquents found a poor cat that had wandered into the archery range and started doing awful things to it.
It was sickening. They tried to scorch it with lighters and even aimed arrows at it...
Leo-san cut in and tried to stop them. He told those scoundrels to cut it out, to spare a thought for how the cat felt—and with the cat held safe in his arms, he tried to make a run for it.
Leo-san had always let them do whatever they wanted, so they'd never expected him to actually stand up to them like this.
As a result, they got pissed and started to harass him.
They chased him around, pushed and shoved him...
Then, while he was trying to get away from them, Leo-san lost his footing and slipped. With the cat still wrapped in his arms, he couldn't find a good way to break his fall.
His arm hit the ground at a bad angle and snapped.
Those assholes who had been messing with him froze and stared in horror at his motionless form, as if in a daze...
Then, they scattered, leaving Leo-san alone on the ground.
Only the cat he'd saved stayed behind, meowing on and on for someone to come help.
Hearing the sound, I rushed over to find Leo-san lying there, and carried him all the way to the hospital.
Leo-san begged me to keep it under wraps, so I cleaned things up behind the scenes and prevented word from getting out.
Izumi: What the hell... That's awful. Why didn't he say anything about it to me?
I went off on him without knowing a damn thing. Kept calling him stupid, and all that.
He only did what was right. Why couldn't he just say so?
Madara: He was probably too embarrassed to say it, no? He may not seem like the type, but Leo-san does like to act tough.
It'd be a heroic tale to tell if he fought off a bunch of bad guys by himself, but how could he admit he'd just taken a fall while getting bullied by some lowlifes?
No—maybe he didn't want to make anybody into a villain to begin with.
After all, he's the kind of person who'll tell anybody he loves them, no matter who they are or what they do to him.
...When I arrived at the scene, what do you think Leo-san was doing?
I found him lying face down; it looked like he couldn't move at all. He'd come back to consciousness, but the searing pain prevented him from yelling for help...
He was mumbling something, drawing a musical staff using the blood dripping from his broken arm.
He was suffering an injury so bad it'd make you wince just seeing it, but even then...
He kept mumbling. "I'm so happy. This is my first time feeling pain like this. I really lucked out. Ah, it's come, it's come... inspiration..."
And he drew notes in crimson blood, as tears ran down his face all the while.
It gave me chills. I thought Leo-san had lost his mind from the pain and agony... But I was wrong.
He was trying desperately to convince himself...
All this was nobody's fault, none of this was a tragedy, breaking a bone was a blessing... A beautiful masterpiece could be written from this experience...
That this was actually a good thing... He was trying to make himself believe it all.
I was furious, of course. There's nothing good about breaking a bone.
Seeing this boy who refused to resent or despise anyone despite what had befallen him, who still insisted on expressing his love... I swore to myself then and there.
...I swore I'd find the cowards who caused him such pain, and I'd make them pay.
I've been running riot lately doing just that. Under the guise of "Robin Hood"...
Me and Keito-san have been purging Yumenosaki of evil.
Leo-san's not blind to this, either; he's been watching us and helping out when he can in his own way, while keeping us from going too far.
Izumi: I'd been thinking Leo-kun's been a bit more distant than usual lately... He's had his hands full with all that, huh? That checks out.
Still, why are you revealing all this inside information to me?
Madara: I want you to keep an eye on Leo-san.
That guy's in a bad state. Me and Keito-san have our own roles and our own problems to think about.
We can't afford to watch him all the time, but as for you—the two of you breathe as one.
I'm sure Leo-san would take anything you say into consideration.
So, if things start looking really bad, I want you to put a stop to it. He got away with only a broken bone this time around, but who knows if he'll be so lucky next time.
I think of myself as Leo-san's friend, but I'm not the most sensitive...
I could break him in the process of trying to protect him, but you're better with delicate matters... That's why I need your help.
Please... He's such a good kid. We can't let misfortune find him.
Izumi: Look, I get it, but... You know I'm not his family or friend or anything, right?
I've got enough on my hands with my own problems. I don't have time to look after that guy, too.
Madara: I thought as much. All I can do is pray, placing my wishes on a shooting star.
I'm powerless, despite this big, sturdy body God and my parents gifted to me... I don't mean to use that as an excuse to be irresponsible, though.
I just want to help however I'm able.
Izumi: ...Just like a superhero, huh? That's Ryuseitai for you.
Leo: ♪~♪~♪
Sena! C'mon, stop chatting and come sing! We've got people coming in already!
It's our job to entertain them and make 'em happy! Am I right?
Izumi: You don't have to tell me that... I'm a professional. I'll see any job through with perfection.
---
T/N: Worth noting that while Madara says he and Keito were acting under the "Robin Hood" name with Leo helping, the Robin Hood scout story epilogues have Leo stating that it was himself and Keito acting under that name. Whether you want to see this as a retcon or a case of unreliable narrators is up to you.
---
< A Solitary Throne Chapter 6 || Masterlist || A Solitary Throne Chapter 8 >
