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shivalriesSeason: Spring, one year ago
---
Location: Hospital (Private Room)
Leo: Wahahaha! I've come to visit you, Tenshi!
Eichi: Oh, if it isn't Tsukinaga-kun... Fufu, it's quite crowded today.
Tsumugi: Hello~ Tsukinaga-kun♪
Leo: Ah, it's Obachan! Hello! Gimme something!
Tsumugi: Um, could you please stop calling me Obachan...?
Eichi: Actually, I'm more curious about the “gimme something” part.
Leo: Wahaha! It's because this guy gives me something every time we meet! Like amulets and stuff!
Eichi: Ahh, Tsumugi's bad habit, huh. This is the first time I've seen someone earnestly accept something like an amulet.
Leo: Really? I'm always happy to get presents, though~!
Lately I've been getting loads of presents from fans and stuff, so I'm loaded now!
Look at this! Just now, I even got flowers from a fan staying in the hospital! D'you have a vase?
They'll wilt if we don't give ‘em water. I can't just let a gift go dry like that!
Eichi: Fufu. You seem quite busy these days, Tsukinaga-kun.
Leo: Yeah, surprisingly! It's just as you say, Tenshi~ I'm so busy it's actually gross!
The last leader from when we were Backgammon got expelled after causing a scandal...
For some reason, once I was chosen to be his successor, the tides turned.
I'm happy I got to change the unit name back to Chess, but I'm still wondering why it was me, though!
Especially when there's a bunch of amazing guys like Sena around~?
Eichi: Ahh, Sena-kun would have been preferable, huh.
Something like him has the potential to grow even more when raised right. That's why it was a waste for him to be obscured in some group like Backgammon.
Leo: What do you mean "some group"?! Everyone did their best, you know~!
Eichi: Is that so? You see people a bit too positively, though that's not necessarily a bad thing...
And that's exactly why those talentless, mediocre, good-for-nothings, indulged in that genius of yours.
After all, they were provided with a steady supply of the masterpieces you created, just by being in the same unit as you.
They turned you into their convenient prey, and sucked up the sweet nectar you produced.
Well, it wasn't my problem. But I couldn't stand watching it, so I might've meddled a bit.
The Tenshouin Group is the biggest investor in Yumenosaki Academy, so we can have our way to a certain extent.
Leo: Mm, I don't understand this complicated stuff! But you're not involved so back off, I can take care of things myself!! The way I want to!
Eichi: And with that approach, you didn't fully use your talent and wound up being a nest for idiots, right?
Leo: Ghh, don't talk bad about the others! I came all this way just to see you, but if you're gonna say stuff like that, then we're done! I'm leaving!
Eichi: Ah, wait... The chess game we started as a diversion while you were here - we still haven't reached a conclusion for it.
It's been on my mind. Won't you play against me?
Leo: Just play with Obachan instead~ I'm busy! For some reason, now even Chess has been slowly splitting up and infighting lately! Every day is a battle!
I'm worn out from dealing with that every day, so I came here to catch a break! I wanted you to sing my songs in your pretty voice!
Eichi: Wow, have you made yet another new song? You're going at an amazing pace. A true genius ♪
Leo: I know I am! But if I could, I'd rather use my talent for something happier~!
That's why I became an idol, for God's sake!
I'm so angry! Lately it's been just so suffocating!
Eichi: Ah... Wait, Tsukinaga-kun, what are you doing? You're not trying to jump out the window, are you?
Leo: Wahaha, it's faster this way! And—juuump☆
Touchdown! A perfect 10! See ya, Tenshi~ I'm going home! [1]
I'll definitely come back to finish the chess game if I remember to, so make sure to get better first, alright!
Bye-byeee! Hasta la vista, baby!
~ ...♪
Eichi: ...And there he goes. As always, he is unprecedented, faster than a speeding bullet. [2]
Tsumugi: What a strange person he is, this Tsukinaga-kun... He really is like a child genius.
He really did seem bursting with energy, just now. Everyone's been clamoring about the revival of Yumenosaki's esteemed veteran unit, Chess.
Eichi: Yeah. They're steadily advancing at a quicker pace than expected, though Tsukinaga-kun himself seems less than satisfied.
Even though he continues to gain both honor and victory... I really wonder what's bothering him.
Tsumugi: Who knows... That aside, Tsukinaga-kun too is extremely talented. Why wasn't he chosen to be one of the Five Oddballs?
You want to cheer him on, right? After all, you seem to be his friend, Eichi-kun.
Eichi: Tsukinaga-kun, in the Five Oddballs? I never even thought of it, but he certainly does have a command of genius rivaling theirs...
Though, I don't really want to fight him.
It feels wrong, like punching an innocent child who's grown attached to you.
And besides. According to my predictions, Tsukinaga-kun will continue his activities with great vigor, but...
As each conflict unfolds, he'll be peppered with wounds, and become deeply resented by the people around him.
Being loved, admired by everyone is an emotional support - flipping that on its head is precisely what makes a revolution.
My method won't apply to someone who was bathed in hatred from the very beginning.
And also, somehow, I just want to remain normal friends with him... The songs he makes just for me are so lovely.
~~~
[1] Originally Leo said "Ultra-C", which is a term used in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Tokyo describing Japan's intention to perform beyond even the highest level "C" of gymnastics. Today, it's a commonly known idiomatic phrase in Japanese.↑
[2] Eichi's word usage is a bit strange here, but the original word he used was 鉄砲玉, literally "bullet", but can also be yakuza/mafia slang for a "hitman", which eventually became a phrase meaning "something that goes but never comes back". Essentially, Eichi is saying Leo just comes and goes and there's never been anyone like him before.↑
~~~
< Rusting Heart Chapter 1 || Masterlist || Rusting Heart Chapter 3 >
---
Location: Hospital (Private Room)
Leo: Wahahaha! I've come to visit you, Tenshi!
Eichi: Oh, if it isn't Tsukinaga-kun... Fufu, it's quite crowded today.
Tsumugi: Hello~ Tsukinaga-kun♪
Leo: Ah, it's Obachan! Hello! Gimme something!
Tsumugi: Um, could you please stop calling me Obachan...?
Eichi: Actually, I'm more curious about the “gimme something” part.
Leo: Wahaha! It's because this guy gives me something every time we meet! Like amulets and stuff!
Eichi: Ahh, Tsumugi's bad habit, huh. This is the first time I've seen someone earnestly accept something like an amulet.
Leo: Really? I'm always happy to get presents, though~!
Lately I've been getting loads of presents from fans and stuff, so I'm loaded now!
Look at this! Just now, I even got flowers from a fan staying in the hospital! D'you have a vase?
They'll wilt if we don't give ‘em water. I can't just let a gift go dry like that!
Eichi: Fufu. You seem quite busy these days, Tsukinaga-kun.
Leo: Yeah, surprisingly! It's just as you say, Tenshi~ I'm so busy it's actually gross!
The last leader from when we were Backgammon got expelled after causing a scandal...
For some reason, once I was chosen to be his successor, the tides turned.
I'm happy I got to change the unit name back to Chess, but I'm still wondering why it was me, though!
Especially when there's a bunch of amazing guys like Sena around~?
Eichi: Ahh, Sena-kun would have been preferable, huh.
Something like him has the potential to grow even more when raised right. That's why it was a waste for him to be obscured in some group like Backgammon.
Leo: What do you mean "some group"?! Everyone did their best, you know~!
Eichi: Is that so? You see people a bit too positively, though that's not necessarily a bad thing...
And that's exactly why those talentless, mediocre, good-for-nothings, indulged in that genius of yours.
After all, they were provided with a steady supply of the masterpieces you created, just by being in the same unit as you.
They turned you into their convenient prey, and sucked up the sweet nectar you produced.
Well, it wasn't my problem. But I couldn't stand watching it, so I might've meddled a bit.
The Tenshouin Group is the biggest investor in Yumenosaki Academy, so we can have our way to a certain extent.
Leo: Mm, I don't understand this complicated stuff! But you're not involved so back off, I can take care of things myself!! The way I want to!
Eichi: And with that approach, you didn't fully use your talent and wound up being a nest for idiots, right?
Leo: Ghh, don't talk bad about the others! I came all this way just to see you, but if you're gonna say stuff like that, then we're done! I'm leaving!
Eichi: Ah, wait... The chess game we started as a diversion while you were here - we still haven't reached a conclusion for it.
It's been on my mind. Won't you play against me?
Leo: Just play with Obachan instead~ I'm busy! For some reason, now even Chess has been slowly splitting up and infighting lately! Every day is a battle!
I'm worn out from dealing with that every day, so I came here to catch a break! I wanted you to sing my songs in your pretty voice!
Eichi: Wow, have you made yet another new song? You're going at an amazing pace. A true genius ♪
Leo: I know I am! But if I could, I'd rather use my talent for something happier~!
That's why I became an idol, for God's sake!
I'm so angry! Lately it's been just so suffocating!
Eichi: Ah... Wait, Tsukinaga-kun, what are you doing? You're not trying to jump out the window, are you?
Leo: Wahaha, it's faster this way! And—juuump☆
Touchdown! A perfect 10! See ya, Tenshi~ I'm going home! [1]
I'll definitely come back to finish the chess game if I remember to, so make sure to get better first, alright!
Bye-byeee! Hasta la vista, baby!
~ ...♪
Eichi: ...And there he goes. As always, he is unprecedented, faster than a speeding bullet. [2]
Tsumugi: What a strange person he is, this Tsukinaga-kun... He really is like a child genius.
He really did seem bursting with energy, just now. Everyone's been clamoring about the revival of Yumenosaki's esteemed veteran unit, Chess.
Eichi: Yeah. They're steadily advancing at a quicker pace than expected, though Tsukinaga-kun himself seems less than satisfied.
Even though he continues to gain both honor and victory... I really wonder what's bothering him.
Tsumugi: Who knows... That aside, Tsukinaga-kun too is extremely talented. Why wasn't he chosen to be one of the Five Oddballs?
You want to cheer him on, right? After all, you seem to be his friend, Eichi-kun.
Eichi: Tsukinaga-kun, in the Five Oddballs? I never even thought of it, but he certainly does have a command of genius rivaling theirs...
Though, I don't really want to fight him.
It feels wrong, like punching an innocent child who's grown attached to you.
And besides. According to my predictions, Tsukinaga-kun will continue his activities with great vigor, but...
As each conflict unfolds, he'll be peppered with wounds, and become deeply resented by the people around him.
Being loved, admired by everyone is an emotional support - flipping that on its head is precisely what makes a revolution.
My method won't apply to someone who was bathed in hatred from the very beginning.
And also, somehow, I just want to remain normal friends with him... The songs he makes just for me are so lovely.
~~~
[1] Originally Leo said "Ultra-C", which is a term used in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Tokyo describing Japan's intention to perform beyond even the highest level "C" of gymnastics. Today, it's a commonly known idiomatic phrase in Japanese.↑
[2] Eichi's word usage is a bit strange here, but the original word he used was 鉄砲玉, literally "bullet", but can also be yakuza/mafia slang for a "hitman", which eventually became a phrase meaning "something that goes but never comes back". Essentially, Eichi is saying Leo just comes and goes and there's never been anyone like him before.↑
~~~
< Rusting Heart Chapter 1 || Masterlist || Rusting Heart Chapter 3 >
