Requiem - Lux aeterna Chapter 20

[shivalries]

Season: Winter

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[Repayment Festival Stage]

Arashi: "No kidding… How long has it been since we first met?"

Izumi: "Hasn't it been more than, like, ten years by now? It's not like we were always joined at the hip or anything, but every time I looked, you'd be there in my field of vision."

"If I'm gonna be honest? You were an eyesore— really threw me off. I know for certain that I'm the most beautiful person in the world, but every time I looked at you, that certainty would waver."

"You have such an enormous presence. Shockingly beautiful, and on top of that a model and an idol, too…"

"I knew that you'd definitely show up and intrude into my domain over and over in the future."

"A gorgeous, bewitching little devil— that's what Arashi-san is to me."

Arashi: "C-Can you drop the '-san' already? It's kinda embarrassing— I mean, really embarrassing!"

"I always thought of you as just one of the girls, Izumi-chan, but it's almost like that won't be the case anymore…?"

Izumi: "Haha. If you stop your annoying '-chan' thing, I'll think about it. It really ticks me off how cheeky you are. You're still younger than me, you know?"

Arashi: "…Well gee, sorry for that. But you're not the only one who was always ticked off. You were only born a single year earlier than me, right?"

"Yet you always so arrogantly went on about manners and how we're supposed to act in the industry and stuff, always lecturing me and telling me what to do, you see."

"Of course I'd wanna rebel. It's not like I didn't listen to you because I hated you or anything, okay?"

Izumi: "I know that. Unlike me, you're honest when you love someone."

"But with everything going on, your love was rarely ever accepted…"

"You were always getting hurt and left all alone, yet you only smiled serenely, never letting it show."

"You're so strong and so incredible. I've admired you all this time."

Arashi: ……

Izumi: "And from now on, don't ever lose that smile. I won't let you cry, ‘cause it'd be such a waste… That smile should always stay on your face, in all its aggravating beauty."

"Arashi Narukami-san, my lifelong rival: I may be the most beautiful person in the world, but you're the only one I'll allow in second place."

Arashi: "…O-Oh, yeah? Well, I think I'm number one, okay?"

Izumi: "Sure. I've never wanted to lose to you, not in the past, not now, and not ever in the future… So I'll keep giving it my all."

Arashi: "S-Sorry, hold on a sec! If I start crying, it'll all go to waste— I mean, it's just uncool, but my naughty little tear ducts are acting up right now!"

"I have to turn around for a moment, okay? Sorry!"

"Don't worry! When I turn around again, I'll be the Arashi Narukami-san you all know and love~! ♪"

Izumi: "Mhmm. Ahaha, when other people cry, it actually helps me stay calm, so… I think I'll be able to say the rest."

"Ritsu Sakuma-kun."

Ritsu: "'Sup~"

Izumi: "Take this seriously. …Of course you'd be the one who can stay all relaxed right up to the end, huh."

Ritsu: "That's just how I am. And besides, it's not like you're really gonna make this the end, right?"

Izumi: "So you do get it. We really are alike; it's like you're my shadow or something…"

"And you're unnecessarily smart, so I always end up thinking that you'll pick up on everything without me having to say a word."

"There's a lot I want to tell you, so much that I'd never be able to squeeze it all into this little window of time between songs."

"I can't even count the number of things I want to say— have to say before we part."

"It all piled up because we've never really had any deep conversations before."

"No matter when, we always somehow got along with each other, chatting so easily about the most mundane things..."

"Like the weather that day, how we were feeling, or what we had for lunch… We talked only about the little things, but that was always enough for me."

"You're the only friend who I can be that way around."

Ritsu: "A friend, huh… I've come to realize that I have a lot of friends around me, but you're living a pretty lonely life, aren't you, Secchan?"

Izumi: "I've got a lot of friends and people I love around me, too, you know. But none of them are quite like you."

"I mean, I'm a handful, right? When I get too far inside my own head, I get tunnel vision and start to sink deep into my own depths. But you alone never changed your relationship with me."

"You never tried to dig too deeply, and whenever I tried to get close to you, you'd keep me at arm's length by spouting weird, stupid nonsense. Like you were warning me not to get any closer."

"However... That kind of safe, innocent relationship where no one gets hurt may feel nice, but... lately, I just can't stand it anymore, you know?"

"Throughout our friendship, I've come to like you more and more. I wanna know more about you and get even closer to you. ...Is that okay?"

Ritsu: "Well, it's not not okay~ Surprisingly, just like you, I've kinda always wanted that too."

"Like... human stuff. Friendship stuff, young people stuff... Let's do lots and lots of it."

"And if you think it's too late for that, then I'll give you my blood and make you an immortal vampire like me."

"That's just how important you are to me, Secchan."

Izumi: "...You're really not shy about saying that kinda thing, are you? I wanna learn how to do that. Is there some kind of trick to it?"

Ritsu: "Well then, how about we start from there... my beloved friend? ♪"

Izumi: "Took the words right out of my mouth. We'll always be friends, Ritsu Sakuma-kun. Let's enjoy lots and lots of talks together, whether it's about stuff that matters or not. ♪"

"On a different note, I may have said I'd keep it short but I wound up dragging it out for a while. We still have other things to do here besides just performing..."

"So, with that, I'll finish it here."

"Sorry for taking up your time, my princesses!"

"And my apologies for putting a damper on everyone's moods, but there'll only be fun stuff from here on out, okay? Forgive me...♪"

Leo: "Heeey~... Aren't you forgetting someone, Izumi Sena-kun?"

"What about me? You're not gonna say anything to me? Are you bullying me?! I'm gonna cry!"

Izumi: "Then cry. I have no words for some rando who hasn't even decided on his future yet, got it?"

Leo: "Wahaha. You're still worried about what I said before~? Guess you don't let grudges go so easily, eh?"

"I shoulda expected that, I guess. But I wanna be moved to tears by your happy and embarrassing words too, Sena..."

"So let's move this game board along. I'm tired of sitting still already!"

"Hey everyone, attention please~! I've got a very important announcement!"

"You might be sick of it after all this talking, but just bear with us a little longer, okay!"

"Anyway, to tell you the truth, we Knights have been doing a little competition behind the scenes of Repayment Fes! That competition is known as... Requiem!"

Arashi: "A-Are they supposed to know that... Ousama?"

Leo: "Yup! That was the plan from the start! Besides, if we tell everyone now, then it's more likely they'll understand and accept it!"

"I'll give you all a little summary of it later, so first, let me say this!"

"The winner of Requiem will become the new King of Knights... the new leader!"

"And to the final victor of Requiem, the King of the new era… I, the former King, shall pass on the crown!"

"Which means we'll be holding a coronation! Right here! Right now!"

"Now turn your attention to the birth of a new king! Come together and rejoice with us…! ☆"

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