Monochrome Checkmate - Epilogue 1
Mar. 8th, 2024 10:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shivalriesSeason: Spring
CW: Self-harm mention
---
Location: Garden Terrace
Eichi: Now then, Sena-kun... have you gathered your thoughts?
I do hope you'll make your next move soon.
I'm afraid I can't wait much longer. I'm a busy man, and you aren't worth the time I'd waste here.
Know that your role is replaceable—if our negotiations were to fail, I simply need to ask someone else.
I suggest you choose your horse wisely, though. You're a far cry from the fairy-tale knights of yore, who were said to have the skill to tame even the wildest of steeds.
Izumi: ...Full of lies as usual, huh?
We're nowhere near the end of this match right now. "Checkmate", my ass...
All I have to do is move this piece like this and I'll be out of the danger zone, see? Any kind of conclusion is still a long way off.
Your illusory empire was built on bluffs and ruses, lies and schemes to convince others you've already won...
You've manipulated your opponents into forfeiting, submerging everyone into delusions of your creation. I know your tricks.
Eichi: I won't deny that. Without such tactics I would not have won, and I wanted to avoid defeat at any cost.
I did not have the luxury to choose my methods. I won't have them condemned... nor will I regret using them.
I will not apologize, either. Whether it's a collective delusion I forced upon the masses or something else, a win is a win. The one left standing victorious at the end was me.
Izumi: Wow, you don't say. Congrats.
You sure did win. Good for you.
Eichi: ......
Tsukasa: Sena-senpai~!
I've been searching everywhere for you, and to think I'd find you idling away over here!
As instructed, I am now able to perform the song you assigned me perfectly!
I trust you'll now acknowledge me as an official member of Knights, yes?
That was the agreement, after all! And, naturally, I shall take part in that DDD affair as well!
I shall brook no complaint! Now let us be off to practice for DDD together...!
Eichi: Heh, you're very energetic, Tsukasa-kun, but it's rather uncouth to raise your voice so loudly, don't you think?
Tsukasa: Eep?! Ah... eh? ...Whah?
S-Sena-senpai? Are you acquainted with this gentleman? Pray tell, what is your relationship?!
Izumi: He's just a classmate. ...Anyway, I get it—I'll pop into the practice room after this, so just lay off for now. We're having an important discussion, Kasa-kun.
Eichi: Indeed. Sorry, I'll need to borrow Sena-kun for a while longer.
Tsukasa: I-I see... If you insist, Tenshouin Onii-sama, then I will defer to you.
Sena-senpai, I shall hold you to your word. Be sure to show up at the practice room later... understood?
I will go on ahead and have the room tidied and ready! I'll find the other members of Knights and alert them as well!
Now then, excuse me. Please, enjoy yourself at your leisure...♪
Eichi: Buh-byeee ♪
Ahaha, you call him "Kasa-kun", do you? Nicknames are such nice things...
I imagine Tsukasa-kun appreciates it, too. Many would keep their distance from the son of an extremely wealthy aristocratic family.
As another such scion, I know that joy... I was able to make a friend to play together with, one whom I'd just met by a chance of fate, rather than by my own request.
I was truly fortunate to have crossed paths with Tsukinaga-kun.
Unfortunately, my actions blew everything into smithereens—our friendship included.
Izumi: Hey, Tenshouin. I bet you're sick of hearing this, but seriously—you think too much of yourself. Not every last little thing is your fault, you know.
He... Leo-kun... He didn't break because of you.
Of course, he's probably also worn out from all the fighting and games you put him through. But at the root of it... it's my fault.
"It's come, it's come—inspiration!" That's what he'd say, each and every time he saw me.
He'd tell me that just looking at me would give him the drive to make countless masterpieces.
I might sound full of myself here, but the one who gave him inspiration was me, so...
My feelings and behavior must've affected him, and ended up tainting him with ill will.
I was just a naive little shit, who was never satisfied and always chased after validation...
What I wanted was to round up everybody I couldn't stand and destroy them all—and that warped his path as well.
He was as pure as an infant, and I corrupted his soul.
He tossed aside his kind, loving heart... for my sake.
Every dark wish, every ambition I held deep in my soul sent him running wild on a mission to eradicate all that I hated.
The resentment and hatred he'd drawn to himself eventually affected our DreamFes results...
And in the end, it didn't matter how incredible his masterpieces were. No one would care to listen.
It tore him up inside. He'd always been so stupidly nice at heart, you know...
He just couldn't handle a life of constantly wounding others and fighting bitterly to the death.
His words grew rougher, along with his actions; he turned violent and savage...
And that started scaring the fans who once liked him for being gentle and sweet. They gradually backed away, and even started to hate him.
His former allies even spread nasty rumors about him. Those who didn't know what was really happening believed them...
I mean, part of that was on him. He didn't exactly behave appropriately.
But all of that piled up on his shoulders, and eventually shattered him. You went to go see him while he was holed up too, right?
Did he bury you in apologies?
Because he did to me. Apologizing for this and that, everything he could... All his despair and self-hatred probably sent him right into depression.
Composing is supposed to be his everything, you know? But right now, he's hit rock bottom. He's in a slump and can't write a single piece.
He told me all the melodies in his head are getting drowned out by curses and jeers.
It was like watching somebody struggling to breathe. He was so miserable that I could hardly bear to watch...
But even in his suffering, he bit down on his motionless hand and forced his marker down on the music sheets.
"Wait just a sec! I'll whip up a masterpiece in no time!" he'd plead...
He's convinced that he's worthless if he can't write music. He thinks me and everyone else in his life will abandon him.
So he'd bite his own hands until they were dripping red with blood, and carry on writing.
---
< A Solitary Throne Chapter 9 || Masterlist || Epilogue 2 >
CW: Self-harm mention
---
Location: Garden Terrace
Eichi: Now then, Sena-kun... have you gathered your thoughts?
I do hope you'll make your next move soon.
I'm afraid I can't wait much longer. I'm a busy man, and you aren't worth the time I'd waste here.
Know that your role is replaceable—if our negotiations were to fail, I simply need to ask someone else.
I suggest you choose your horse wisely, though. You're a far cry from the fairy-tale knights of yore, who were said to have the skill to tame even the wildest of steeds.
Izumi: ...Full of lies as usual, huh?
We're nowhere near the end of this match right now. "Checkmate", my ass...
All I have to do is move this piece like this and I'll be out of the danger zone, see? Any kind of conclusion is still a long way off.
Your illusory empire was built on bluffs and ruses, lies and schemes to convince others you've already won...
You've manipulated your opponents into forfeiting, submerging everyone into delusions of your creation. I know your tricks.
Eichi: I won't deny that. Without such tactics I would not have won, and I wanted to avoid defeat at any cost.
I did not have the luxury to choose my methods. I won't have them condemned... nor will I regret using them.
I will not apologize, either. Whether it's a collective delusion I forced upon the masses or something else, a win is a win. The one left standing victorious at the end was me.
Izumi: Wow, you don't say. Congrats.
You sure did win. Good for you.
Eichi: ......
Tsukasa: Sena-senpai~!
I've been searching everywhere for you, and to think I'd find you idling away over here!
As instructed, I am now able to perform the song you assigned me perfectly!
I trust you'll now acknowledge me as an official member of Knights, yes?
That was the agreement, after all! And, naturally, I shall take part in that DDD affair as well!
I shall brook no complaint! Now let us be off to practice for DDD together...!
Eichi: Heh, you're very energetic, Tsukasa-kun, but it's rather uncouth to raise your voice so loudly, don't you think?
Tsukasa: Eep?! Ah... eh? ...Whah?
S-Sena-senpai? Are you acquainted with this gentleman? Pray tell, what is your relationship?!
Izumi: He's just a classmate. ...Anyway, I get it—I'll pop into the practice room after this, so just lay off for now. We're having an important discussion, Kasa-kun.
Eichi: Indeed. Sorry, I'll need to borrow Sena-kun for a while longer.
Tsukasa: I-I see... If you insist, Tenshouin Onii-sama, then I will defer to you.
Sena-senpai, I shall hold you to your word. Be sure to show up at the practice room later... understood?
I will go on ahead and have the room tidied and ready! I'll find the other members of Knights and alert them as well!
Now then, excuse me. Please, enjoy yourself at your leisure...♪
Eichi: Buh-byeee ♪
Ahaha, you call him "Kasa-kun", do you? Nicknames are such nice things...
I imagine Tsukasa-kun appreciates it, too. Many would keep their distance from the son of an extremely wealthy aristocratic family.
As another such scion, I know that joy... I was able to make a friend to play together with, one whom I'd just met by a chance of fate, rather than by my own request.
I was truly fortunate to have crossed paths with Tsukinaga-kun.
Unfortunately, my actions blew everything into smithereens—our friendship included.
Izumi: Hey, Tenshouin. I bet you're sick of hearing this, but seriously—you think too much of yourself. Not every last little thing is your fault, you know.
He... Leo-kun... He didn't break because of you.
Of course, he's probably also worn out from all the fighting and games you put him through. But at the root of it... it's my fault.
"It's come, it's come—inspiration!" That's what he'd say, each and every time he saw me.
He'd tell me that just looking at me would give him the drive to make countless masterpieces.
I might sound full of myself here, but the one who gave him inspiration was me, so...
My feelings and behavior must've affected him, and ended up tainting him with ill will.
I was just a naive little shit, who was never satisfied and always chased after validation...
What I wanted was to round up everybody I couldn't stand and destroy them all—and that warped his path as well.
He was as pure as an infant, and I corrupted his soul.
He tossed aside his kind, loving heart... for my sake.
Every dark wish, every ambition I held deep in my soul sent him running wild on a mission to eradicate all that I hated.
The resentment and hatred he'd drawn to himself eventually affected our DreamFes results...
And in the end, it didn't matter how incredible his masterpieces were. No one would care to listen.
It tore him up inside. He'd always been so stupidly nice at heart, you know...
He just couldn't handle a life of constantly wounding others and fighting bitterly to the death.
His words grew rougher, along with his actions; he turned violent and savage...
And that started scaring the fans who once liked him for being gentle and sweet. They gradually backed away, and even started to hate him.
His former allies even spread nasty rumors about him. Those who didn't know what was really happening believed them...
I mean, part of that was on him. He didn't exactly behave appropriately.
But all of that piled up on his shoulders, and eventually shattered him. You went to go see him while he was holed up too, right?
Did he bury you in apologies?
Because he did to me. Apologizing for this and that, everything he could... All his despair and self-hatred probably sent him right into depression.
Composing is supposed to be his everything, you know? But right now, he's hit rock bottom. He's in a slump and can't write a single piece.
He told me all the melodies in his head are getting drowned out by curses and jeers.
It was like watching somebody struggling to breathe. He was so miserable that I could hardly bear to watch...
But even in his suffering, he bit down on his motionless hand and forced his marker down on the music sheets.
"Wait just a sec! I'll whip up a masterpiece in no time!" he'd plead...
He's convinced that he's worthless if he can't write music. He thinks me and everyone else in his life will abandon him.
So he'd bite his own hands until they were dripping red with blood, and carry on writing.
---
< A Solitary Throne Chapter 9 || Masterlist || Epilogue 2 >
