Requiem - Dies irae Chapter 7
Jul. 1st, 2019 08:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shivalriesSeason: Winter
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[Student Council Room]
Eichi: Well, that’s not so important… We’ve been so sidetracked enjoying ourselves with idle talk, but we haven’t gotten to the topic at hand.
I suppose I’ll just give you a simple answer, then. You were right to ask me, Tsukinaga-kun. I do have an idea of what Tsukasa-kun is going through.
As far as I’m aware, it’s not quite what you’d call “family drama”.
That family is full of very serious, straight-laced people, so they would never get involved in something as vulgar as a scandal.
Leo: Mm~? Nah, I don’t mean a scandal, it’s more like…maybe his family started having money problems and he couldn’t continue being an idol anymore…or something like that?
I always hear that pink-haired kid from your unit saying it. The one that picks fights with Suo~…
I hear him saying Suo~’s family’s on the decline, they’re poor – stuff like that.
Eichi: Ahh, you mean Tori? I think those things have always been said in jest. It’s just like how you and I have these exchanges sometimes…
In that sense, I feel the ties of fate, just a little.
Anyhow, from the perspective of the Himemiya family or the Tenshouin Group, the Suou family is certainly lacking in financial influence.
However, I would suppose that in the eyes of society, they still look like members of the greater elite.
Anguirus isn’t as strong as Godzilla, but any human could see they wouldn’t stand a chance against either of them, right? It’s a bit like that.
Leo: Why monsters… Well, I guess from a regular person’s point of view, rich people really do seem like that.
Eichi: Mmhmm, I believe they do. The rich are fearful creatures that, when on a rampage, destroy villages and devour human flesh.
Well, I’ve never been poor, so I don’t know what it really feels like, but others do look at me like that on occasion.
That aside, as far as I can tell, I think Tsukasa-kun’s problems aren’t related to money.
My business conglomerate is giving financial assistance to the Suou family, after all, and it seems that their recent business ventures have also been going smoothly…
Rather, I believe they’re growing even more affluent than before.
Leo: Hmm… You really think so? Ah, but I guess with the new theater and all, they do seem to be more powerful lately, huh?
Eichi: That’s right. They’ve always seemed to be going down a slight decline, but I suppose they’ve amended that recently. And if I were to guess…that’s exactly why Tsukasa-kun is having so much trouble.
Leo: Mm? What’s that mean? Agh, come on, just get to the point already!
Eichi: Alright. This is only my guess, but…at this very moment, Tsukasa-kun is probably trying to tear himself right in half.
Leo: Uh, you don’t mean physically…right? I imagined something really gory, you know! I don’t like that kinda thing!
Eichi: Of course I don’t. It’s only a figure of speech. On one hand, he is the only son and heir to the prestigious Suou family…
…and on the other, he is a member of Knights, a champion idol unit of Yumenosaki Academy. I think that boy must be wavering in the space between those two selves.
He’s trying to split his heart into two over a conundrum that has troubled humanity since ancient times. The private self or the public self, family or career – which do we choose?
Or not – rather, perhaps he has come to a crossroads between a treasure he has possessed since birth, and a treasure he has since then acquired…
And, unable to choose, has been forced to a standstill.
It suits a diligent boy like him. I myself never gave that issue a moment’s glance.
But in some cases, possessing many treasures can lead to misfortune.
Leo: …?
Eichi: Fufu. Perhaps I should stop speaking in riddles and be more specific. I was so happy that you understood my vague musings that I ended up being too roundabout.
But there isn’t much time left for us anymore, after all.
Let me say it directly. …The other day, the current head of the Suou family—in other words, Tsukasa-kun’s father—collapsed from illness.
I hear that he contracted an incurable disease during his rebellious youth.
And, after a prolonged period of stress and recent changes in environment, it seems to have flared up again. Apparently it’s a rare disease, the cause of which is almost completely unknown, with quite a high number of terminal cases…
So I believe Tsukasa-kun’s father had already been prepared to die.
Then, he probably called Tsukasa-kun over and said: “Should I die, I’ll be entrusting everything to you.”
Leo: ……
Eichi: I’m very sure Tsukasa-kun’s father never told him to quit being an idol.
Our families have been in contact for a while, so I’ve come to understand what sort of character he has…
While he may be quite the straight-laced person, he is not some dull-witted relic from the past.
If he were a hard-headed person from a bygone age, he wouldn’t have allowed his one and only son to attend an idol training school in the first place, after all.
Even Tori and I had a lot of trouble convincing our parents to allow us to attend, but apparently Tsukasa-kun’s father valued his son’s independence—
And he sent Tsukasa-kun off to school with a smile.
However, it’s precisely because he is such a respectable father that his words weigh that much more heavily. It’d be no surprise if Tsukasa-kun felt he wanted to respect his father’s wishes.
On top of that...this is also just my guess, but Tsukasa-kun, who takes things so seriously, is perhaps now at a loss for what to do.
There are outliers like Hiyori-kun, but in general, idol work has no benefit for one’s family business. It’s just a roundabout path, like pointless playtime.
I mean, if one were to take on the headship of a long-standing noble family, wouldn’t it be better not to play around at all?
Shouldn’t one devote their body and mind, put in every effort for the sake of their family?
Of course, I don’t believe Tsukasa-kun’s parents said anything like that.
But it’s only natural that someone as earnest and serious as Tsukasa-kun would think it... No, perhaps such conflicted feelings have always been inside his heart.
At the moment, the scenery before him is shining so brightly, and it’s all been so fun and happy…
Perhaps it was just never on his mind. But now, his deepest worries have suddenly erupted within him.
I’m not Tsukasa-kun, though, so I can only imagine how he feels.
And now, which one will he choose? What kind of person does he want to become?
There is no correct answer. I’ve also struggled with similar issues for a long time.
Even the legendary King Arthur must have had times when he wondered how things would’ve gone if he’d never pulled the sword from the stone.
Perhaps staying an ordinary, blissfully ignorant citizen…would’ve been a much happier choice.
Leo: ……
---
< Dies irae Chapter 6 || Masterlist || Dies irae Chapter 8 >
---
[Student Council Room]
Eichi: Well, that’s not so important… We’ve been so sidetracked enjoying ourselves with idle talk, but we haven’t gotten to the topic at hand.
I suppose I’ll just give you a simple answer, then. You were right to ask me, Tsukinaga-kun. I do have an idea of what Tsukasa-kun is going through.
As far as I’m aware, it’s not quite what you’d call “family drama”.
That family is full of very serious, straight-laced people, so they would never get involved in something as vulgar as a scandal.
Leo: Mm~? Nah, I don’t mean a scandal, it’s more like…maybe his family started having money problems and he couldn’t continue being an idol anymore…or something like that?
I always hear that pink-haired kid from your unit saying it. The one that picks fights with Suo~…
I hear him saying Suo~’s family’s on the decline, they’re poor – stuff like that.
Eichi: Ahh, you mean Tori? I think those things have always been said in jest. It’s just like how you and I have these exchanges sometimes…
In that sense, I feel the ties of fate, just a little.
Anyhow, from the perspective of the Himemiya family or the Tenshouin Group, the Suou family is certainly lacking in financial influence.
However, I would suppose that in the eyes of society, they still look like members of the greater elite.
Anguirus isn’t as strong as Godzilla, but any human could see they wouldn’t stand a chance against either of them, right? It’s a bit like that.
Leo: Why monsters… Well, I guess from a regular person’s point of view, rich people really do seem like that.
Eichi: Mmhmm, I believe they do. The rich are fearful creatures that, when on a rampage, destroy villages and devour human flesh.
Well, I’ve never been poor, so I don’t know what it really feels like, but others do look at me like that on occasion.
That aside, as far as I can tell, I think Tsukasa-kun’s problems aren’t related to money.
My business conglomerate is giving financial assistance to the Suou family, after all, and it seems that their recent business ventures have also been going smoothly…
Rather, I believe they’re growing even more affluent than before.
Leo: Hmm… You really think so? Ah, but I guess with the new theater and all, they do seem to be more powerful lately, huh?
Eichi: That’s right. They’ve always seemed to be going down a slight decline, but I suppose they’ve amended that recently. And if I were to guess…that’s exactly why Tsukasa-kun is having so much trouble.
Leo: Mm? What’s that mean? Agh, come on, just get to the point already!
Eichi: Alright. This is only my guess, but…at this very moment, Tsukasa-kun is probably trying to tear himself right in half.
Leo: Uh, you don’t mean physically…right? I imagined something really gory, you know! I don’t like that kinda thing!
Eichi: Of course I don’t. It’s only a figure of speech. On one hand, he is the only son and heir to the prestigious Suou family…
…and on the other, he is a member of Knights, a champion idol unit of Yumenosaki Academy. I think that boy must be wavering in the space between those two selves.
He’s trying to split his heart into two over a conundrum that has troubled humanity since ancient times. The private self or the public self, family or career – which do we choose?
Or not – rather, perhaps he has come to a crossroads between a treasure he has possessed since birth, and a treasure he has since then acquired…
And, unable to choose, has been forced to a standstill.
It suits a diligent boy like him. I myself never gave that issue a moment’s glance.
But in some cases, possessing many treasures can lead to misfortune.
Leo: …?
Eichi: Fufu. Perhaps I should stop speaking in riddles and be more specific. I was so happy that you understood my vague musings that I ended up being too roundabout.
But there isn’t much time left for us anymore, after all.
Let me say it directly. …The other day, the current head of the Suou family—in other words, Tsukasa-kun’s father—collapsed from illness.
I hear that he contracted an incurable disease during his rebellious youth.
And, after a prolonged period of stress and recent changes in environment, it seems to have flared up again. Apparently it’s a rare disease, the cause of which is almost completely unknown, with quite a high number of terminal cases…
So I believe Tsukasa-kun’s father had already been prepared to die.
Then, he probably called Tsukasa-kun over and said: “Should I die, I’ll be entrusting everything to you.”
Leo: ……
Eichi: I’m very sure Tsukasa-kun’s father never told him to quit being an idol.
Our families have been in contact for a while, so I’ve come to understand what sort of character he has…
While he may be quite the straight-laced person, he is not some dull-witted relic from the past.
If he were a hard-headed person from a bygone age, he wouldn’t have allowed his one and only son to attend an idol training school in the first place, after all.
Even Tori and I had a lot of trouble convincing our parents to allow us to attend, but apparently Tsukasa-kun’s father valued his son’s independence—
And he sent Tsukasa-kun off to school with a smile.
However, it’s precisely because he is such a respectable father that his words weigh that much more heavily. It’d be no surprise if Tsukasa-kun felt he wanted to respect his father’s wishes.
On top of that...this is also just my guess, but Tsukasa-kun, who takes things so seriously, is perhaps now at a loss for what to do.
There are outliers like Hiyori-kun, but in general, idol work has no benefit for one’s family business. It’s just a roundabout path, like pointless playtime.
I mean, if one were to take on the headship of a long-standing noble family, wouldn’t it be better not to play around at all?
Shouldn’t one devote their body and mind, put in every effort for the sake of their family?
Of course, I don’t believe Tsukasa-kun’s parents said anything like that.
But it’s only natural that someone as earnest and serious as Tsukasa-kun would think it... No, perhaps such conflicted feelings have always been inside his heart.
At the moment, the scenery before him is shining so brightly, and it’s all been so fun and happy…
Perhaps it was just never on his mind. But now, his deepest worries have suddenly erupted within him.
I’m not Tsukasa-kun, though, so I can only imagine how he feels.
And now, which one will he choose? What kind of person does he want to become?
There is no correct answer. I’ve also struggled with similar issues for a long time.
Even the legendary King Arthur must have had times when he wondered how things would’ve gone if he’d never pulled the sword from the stone.
Perhaps staying an ordinary, blissfully ignorant citizen…would’ve been a much happier choice.
Leo: ……
---
< Dies irae Chapter 6 || Masterlist || Dies irae Chapter 8 >
