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shivalries) wrote2025-06-21 10:51 pm
shivalries) wrote2025-06-21 10:51 pm
Entry tags:
Mesmerizing Modulation - Dazed, Dazzled, Dreaming Chapter 4
Season: Summer
---
Location: Music Studio
(Ten minutes later)
Leo: ...Okay, good, it's been tuned.
Good thing the studio was open, huh? I could've played something from my phone, but nothing feels or sounds quite like playing on real keys ♪
So, you said you haven't been sleeping well. Have any idea why, Oba-chan?
Tsumugi: Yes, somewhat. I used to keep working right up until I was about to drop, so I'd end up sleeping like a log.
Then that suddenly stopped. I think my body forgot what it feels like to sleep normally.
I've been paying attention to my sleeping hours and environment, but I usually can't get more than a light snooze.
When I actually do sleep more deeply, I always end up dreaming about work. There's this constant exhaustion that I just can't shake off.
Leo: Hm... Up until now, you've been sleeping right after finishing work, so maybe your brain's tied work and sleep together.
Or maybe you've been subconsciously thinking about work...
Well, I'm no expert! Not my job to dig into it!
What I'm here to do is play you a song to help you fall sound asleep!
I'll play you something soothing ♪ Here, lie down.
Let's see... Oh, what about a nice Chopin?
♪~♪~♪
Tsumugi: Zzz... Zzz...
Leo: (Oba-chan's breathing got more steady—more in tempo with the music.)
(...If I remember right, musicians of the past would also play for people at night as part of their job.)
(Chopin's nocturnes were written for times like those. They were perfect for quiet moments, and were often played in the parlors of noble families.)
(Serenades were a popular choice, too. People used to stand in front of the houses of those they fancied and sing out their feelings of love with a passionate serenade.)
(If you tried that today, you'd look like a total creep. Wahaha ☆)
(Either way, music's had this sort of magic since long ago to put people to sleep.)
(Kinda funny to think I'm casting that spell on Oba-chan of Switch right now... ♪)
(...Okay, looks like he's fast asleep. Now...)
Tsumugi: ...
Leo: Whoa! Your eyes are open?! And you're totally wide awake!
Tsumugi: ...I'm sorry. This is actually making me more alert.
Leo: No, no, hold on, there's no way! This is a Chopin nocturne! A legendary piece that has put people to sleep across the globe!
Tsumugi: Ahaha. I think it's probably because I used to listen to it a lot while working.
My brain suddenly thought about work and switched into "concentration mode" without any input from me.
Leo: Mrm... Okay! Change of strategy!
I'll challenge you with my own original composition! I'm gonna improv a piece just for you, Oba-chan!
...Oh. I feel it coming up—inspiration!
The title is... "Song to Put Oba-chan to Sleep"! Hm-hm-hmm ♪
---
Location: Overseas Street
(Inside Tsumugi's dream)
Tsumugi: ...?
(Isn't this... somewhere overseas?)
(I'm pretty sure this isn't Japan, at least. None of the signs here are in Japanese.)
(How strange. I'm so sure I was in a different place just a moment ago...)
(Huh...? But where was that, exactly? I can't seem to remember anything clearly.)
(...It's vague, but I feel like I was told not to work... and then I... went out somewhere?)
(Then... I guess I took leave and went traveling?)
(But what was I planning to do here? I don't have my passport on me—or my wallet, for that matter.)
(This isn't good. Hmm...)
Leo: —Oh, there you are!
So you were here, Oba-chan! I finally found you!
Tsumugi: Tsukinaga-kun... So that means... this is Florence?
Leo: Florence? What're you talking about? Did you eat something weird? Or are you still half-asleep?
This isn't Florence, silly! This is the Kingdom of Rest! ☆
Tsumugi: Kingdom... of Rest?
Leo: Yup! By the way, the king of the Kingdom of Rest is yours truly—Leo Tsukinaga! We say "ucchu~☆" here instead of hello!
Come on now, say it with me! Ucchu~☆
Tsumugi: U-Ucchu~...☆
Leo: A little shy, I'd say—80 points! Still a pass, though! From today, Oba-chan, you are now an honorary citizen of this glorious nation!
In the Kingdom of Rest, all citizens follow the Three Obligations. Now that you're a citizen, be sure to uphold these rules!
Tsumugi: Three Obligations... Education, labor, and... was it taxes?
Leo: Bzzzzt! Wrong on all counts!
The Three Obligations of the Kingdom of Rest are thus: Napping! Art! And freedom!
Tsumugi: ...Um. Can you really call those duties?
Napping, the arts, and freedom are all things you can enjoy all on your own, I think...
Leo: Who said they can't be duties? I'm the one who decides, and the King's orders are absolute!
Working is banned here! Here, we kick back and sing our odes to the fun and flavor of life—that is the greatest responsibility of our people! ☆
Tsumugi: I... see. Well, every nation has a right to decide its own laws.
(It's a big world out there—I guess it's not strange that some nations outlaw work entirely. Though you need to work to live, it's basically the definition of "something you don't want to do".)
(Still... Work has consumed most of my life so far.)
(Some of that's gone away after stepping down as vice president, but even then... some things are just too hard to let go of.)
(Can I really find happiness in a nation like this?)
???: —You needn't force yourself to accept it.
Work isn't just a duty to you, is it? It's been your primary support.
There's no need to let it all go.
This place, the Kingdom of Rest, is no place for you.
Tsumugi: Huh? This voice...
---
T/N: Just a fun fact, but the "Three Obligations" are actually an often-referenced part of Japan's constitution. They refer to Articles 26, 27, and 30, which detail the obligations of citizens to have children educated, to work, and to pay taxes (just as Tsumugi guessed!)
---
< Dazed, Dazzled, Dreaming Chapter 3 || Masterlist || Dazed, Dazzled, Dreaming Chapter 5 >
---
Location: Music Studio
(Ten minutes later)
Leo: ...Okay, good, it's been tuned.
Good thing the studio was open, huh? I could've played something from my phone, but nothing feels or sounds quite like playing on real keys ♪
So, you said you haven't been sleeping well. Have any idea why, Oba-chan?
Tsumugi: Yes, somewhat. I used to keep working right up until I was about to drop, so I'd end up sleeping like a log.
Then that suddenly stopped. I think my body forgot what it feels like to sleep normally.
I've been paying attention to my sleeping hours and environment, but I usually can't get more than a light snooze.
When I actually do sleep more deeply, I always end up dreaming about work. There's this constant exhaustion that I just can't shake off.
Leo: Hm... Up until now, you've been sleeping right after finishing work, so maybe your brain's tied work and sleep together.
Or maybe you've been subconsciously thinking about work...
Well, I'm no expert! Not my job to dig into it!
What I'm here to do is play you a song to help you fall sound asleep!
I'll play you something soothing ♪ Here, lie down.
Let's see... Oh, what about a nice Chopin?
♪~♪~♪
Tsumugi: Zzz... Zzz...
Leo: (Oba-chan's breathing got more steady—more in tempo with the music.)
(...If I remember right, musicians of the past would also play for people at night as part of their job.)
(Chopin's nocturnes were written for times like those. They were perfect for quiet moments, and were often played in the parlors of noble families.)
(Serenades were a popular choice, too. People used to stand in front of the houses of those they fancied and sing out their feelings of love with a passionate serenade.)
(If you tried that today, you'd look like a total creep. Wahaha ☆)
(Either way, music's had this sort of magic since long ago to put people to sleep.)
(Kinda funny to think I'm casting that spell on Oba-chan of Switch right now... ♪)
(...Okay, looks like he's fast asleep. Now...)
Tsumugi: ...
Leo: Whoa! Your eyes are open?! And you're totally wide awake!
Tsumugi: ...I'm sorry. This is actually making me more alert.
Leo: No, no, hold on, there's no way! This is a Chopin nocturne! A legendary piece that has put people to sleep across the globe!
Tsumugi: Ahaha. I think it's probably because I used to listen to it a lot while working.
My brain suddenly thought about work and switched into "concentration mode" without any input from me.
Leo: Mrm... Okay! Change of strategy!
I'll challenge you with my own original composition! I'm gonna improv a piece just for you, Oba-chan!
...Oh. I feel it coming up—inspiration!
The title is... "Song to Put Oba-chan to Sleep"! Hm-hm-hmm ♪
---
Location: Overseas Street
(Inside Tsumugi's dream)
Tsumugi: ...?
(Isn't this... somewhere overseas?)
(I'm pretty sure this isn't Japan, at least. None of the signs here are in Japanese.)
(How strange. I'm so sure I was in a different place just a moment ago...)
(Huh...? But where was that, exactly? I can't seem to remember anything clearly.)
(...It's vague, but I feel like I was told not to work... and then I... went out somewhere?)
(Then... I guess I took leave and went traveling?)
(But what was I planning to do here? I don't have my passport on me—or my wallet, for that matter.)
(This isn't good. Hmm...)
Leo: —Oh, there you are!
So you were here, Oba-chan! I finally found you!
Tsumugi: Tsukinaga-kun... So that means... this is Florence?
Leo: Florence? What're you talking about? Did you eat something weird? Or are you still half-asleep?
This isn't Florence, silly! This is the Kingdom of Rest! ☆
Tsumugi: Kingdom... of Rest?
Leo: Yup! By the way, the king of the Kingdom of Rest is yours truly—Leo Tsukinaga! We say "ucchu~☆" here instead of hello!
Come on now, say it with me! Ucchu~☆
Tsumugi: U-Ucchu~...☆
Leo: A little shy, I'd say—80 points! Still a pass, though! From today, Oba-chan, you are now an honorary citizen of this glorious nation!
In the Kingdom of Rest, all citizens follow the Three Obligations. Now that you're a citizen, be sure to uphold these rules!
Tsumugi: Three Obligations... Education, labor, and... was it taxes?
Leo: Bzzzzt! Wrong on all counts!
The Three Obligations of the Kingdom of Rest are thus: Napping! Art! And freedom!
Tsumugi: ...Um. Can you really call those duties?
Napping, the arts, and freedom are all things you can enjoy all on your own, I think...
Leo: Who said they can't be duties? I'm the one who decides, and the King's orders are absolute!
Working is banned here! Here, we kick back and sing our odes to the fun and flavor of life—that is the greatest responsibility of our people! ☆
Tsumugi: I... see. Well, every nation has a right to decide its own laws.
(It's a big world out there—I guess it's not strange that some nations outlaw work entirely. Though you need to work to live, it's basically the definition of "something you don't want to do".)
(Still... Work has consumed most of my life so far.)
(Some of that's gone away after stepping down as vice president, but even then... some things are just too hard to let go of.)
(Can I really find happiness in a nation like this?)
???: —You needn't force yourself to accept it.
Work isn't just a duty to you, is it? It's been your primary support.
There's no need to let it all go.
This place, the Kingdom of Rest, is no place for you.
Tsumugi: Huh? This voice...
---
T/N: Just a fun fact, but the "Three Obligations" are actually an often-referenced part of Japan's constitution. They refer to Articles 26, 27, and 30, which detail the obligations of citizens to have children educated, to work, and to pay taxes (just as Tsumugi guessed!)
---
< Dazed, Dazzled, Dreaming Chapter 3 || Masterlist || Dazed, Dazzled, Dreaming Chapter 5 >