Requiem - Lux aeterna Chapter 30
Aug. 8th, 2020 09:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shivalriesSeason: Winter
---
[Repayment Festival Stage]
Leo: I'm sorry... I'm really sorry, I just don't know any other way.
It's 'cause I'm a genius, see... I didn't have a regular childhood. I never learned how to build a normal human relationship.
But... that's no excuse, is it. I'm sorry for hurting you all.
I said all those terrible things to you! But they were all lies! There's no way I'd hate you!
I love all of you so, so much! I love Knights, who gathered together my shattered pieces and breathed life back into me!
You're my saviors, my family, my friends, my most precious comrades... Aaaah!
The words won't come out! Senaaa, how am I supposed to express what you guys mean to me?
I can think of melodies, but I can't find any words! Tell me! What do I do?!
Izumi: ...!
D-Don't ask me about every single thing... Not me, at least.
I don't have a clue, either. After all, you're the first real friend I ever had.
I just don't know! I don't know what you're supposed to do! Why don't you tell me what I was supposed to do?!
I loved your smile! But the world took it away from you!
How was I supposed to bring it back? I had no idea! I couldn't do anything at all, you know?!
I was close to breaking from the sheer feeling of helplessness, but even then you protected me until the end! I finally realized that just now, but... it's too late, isn't it?
I've called you "idiot" and "moron" countless times, but the real idiot's me, huh? I didn't know what I could've done back then, and I still don't!
I don't even know what to do right now! How can I get you to smile for me? I'll do anything, so tell me! If you have something to say then say it... Leo-kun...?
Leo: ......
Tsukasa: Ahh, ahem, ahem. (clearing his throat) If I may ask, Sena-senpai, why is he the only person you're throwing questions at?
Izumi: ...?
Tsukasa: Look around you. We Knights are here, of course, but more importantly, our dear guests are still sitting here in confusion at this sudden melodrama.
Everyone here is on your side. They're all your fans and your family! So why do you turn a blind eye to them and try to close yourselves off into your own little world?
If you insist on saying you're all sad and alone, then well, I won't stop you.
However, not only is it a pitiful attitude to be taking as the eldest of our unit, but it is also a disservice to us, who have stood by your side all this time.
So if you intend to apologize, Sena-senpai, we're listening.
Izumi: ...? Er, I'm... sorry? Wait, what's going on?!
Ritsu: Fufu~ The time has come for the hands of the clock to move, Secchan. [1]
Good job, Su~chan. You didn't hesitate to step in.
That already places you above me. I'll fully acknowledge you as the rightful heir to the throne.
Arashi: Count me in. Hey Izumi-chan, did you really ask him what you're supposed to do to make him smile? Are you stupid? How have you been an idol all this time without even knowing that?
If you want someone else to smile, then first of all, you'll have to start smiling yourself.
"Ask, and it shall be given" only applies to gods. For us regular humans, if you want someone to love you, you have to love them first. That's what I've always done.
Even now, y'know! Hey everyone~ I love you...☆
Tsukasa-chan, Izumi-chan, Ritsu-chan, Leo-kun! I love you all so, so much!
Leo-kun, who says "I love you" like a catchphrase, and Izumi-chan, who's been showered with love from his parents—
Both of you should've already known this since long ago!
If you've both forgotten, then we'll just have to remind you! Right, Ritsu-chan, Tsukasa-chan? ♪
Ritsu: Yeah. If that's what we're doing, then even a lazy guy like me will put his all into it.
Come on, Leo-kun, Secchan! Smile! It's really easy, y'know? Just like this... (flashes a grin) ♪
Even a baby can do it. Anyone can, if they're human!
So for as long as humans exist, the idols who bring smiles to their faces will never disappear!
They'll always be valued and wanted. In that sense, we already have eternity right here... ♪
I wanna be that kind of idol too! It's not that I'm just copying my brother—that's the kind of person I wanna be!
I can't hold it back anymore! I wanna sing and dance and laugh and live together with you all!
♪~♪~♪
Tsukasa: Fufu. Ritsu-senpai would never get up unless we chided him and dragged him out of bed, but now he's taking the initiative in the song... Truly, what is this world coming to? ♪
However! This world shall not perish, for we will protect it!
We are Knights! We are the guardians of peace, of life's joys and happiness!
~...♪
Arashi: So, what'll you two do? If you don't feel like joining in, then we'll just take everything for ourselves! ♪
If you want it, then try stealing it away with your own hands! But if you don't have the guts, then stay out of it, mkay?
Juuust kidding~ ...Goodness, how barbaric of me~♪
♪~♪~...♪
Leo: ...So what now, Sena? They're getting ahead of us.
Izumi: Mm... Well, I seriously can't believe they're still raring to sing even though we dragged this on for so long.
But let's just let them do what they want. The stars of Repayment Fes are the juniors, after all.
Honestly, we shouldn't have been butting in at all in the first place.
Leo: Yeah. But hey, backing out's even worse.
Let's sing with 'em, Sena.
I get the feeling that if we stick with them, then maybe we can gain back what should've been lost forever.
No, rather... It probably found a place in our hearts before we even noticed—
...the noble bond they gifted us, which we nurtured all together.
As long as I have that, I can keep living on.
The despair's all gone, not a trace of it left. I wouldn't find it even if I looked—it's just shining, sparkling light everywhere. It's brightening the whole universe... and lighting up my entire world.
Sena, tell me one last thing. ...Am I smiling?
Izumi: Yeah, you are. And if you're smiling, then I am too... ♪
♪~♪~♪
---
[1] Ritsu uses very similar phrasing to the first line of Checkmate Knights (進み始める時計の針が; "the hands of the clock begin to move").
---
< Lux aeterna Chapter 29 || Masterlist || Epilogue >
---
[Repayment Festival Stage]
Leo: I'm sorry... I'm really sorry, I just don't know any other way.
It's 'cause I'm a genius, see... I didn't have a regular childhood. I never learned how to build a normal human relationship.
But... that's no excuse, is it. I'm sorry for hurting you all.
I said all those terrible things to you! But they were all lies! There's no way I'd hate you!
I love all of you so, so much! I love Knights, who gathered together my shattered pieces and breathed life back into me!
You're my saviors, my family, my friends, my most precious comrades... Aaaah!
The words won't come out! Senaaa, how am I supposed to express what you guys mean to me?
I can think of melodies, but I can't find any words! Tell me! What do I do?!
Izumi: ...!
D-Don't ask me about every single thing... Not me, at least.
I don't have a clue, either. After all, you're the first real friend I ever had.
I just don't know! I don't know what you're supposed to do! Why don't you tell me what I was supposed to do?!
I loved your smile! But the world took it away from you!
How was I supposed to bring it back? I had no idea! I couldn't do anything at all, you know?!
I was close to breaking from the sheer feeling of helplessness, but even then you protected me until the end! I finally realized that just now, but... it's too late, isn't it?
I've called you "idiot" and "moron" countless times, but the real idiot's me, huh? I didn't know what I could've done back then, and I still don't!
I don't even know what to do right now! How can I get you to smile for me? I'll do anything, so tell me! If you have something to say then say it... Leo-kun...?
Leo: ......
Tsukasa: Ahh, ahem, ahem. (clearing his throat) If I may ask, Sena-senpai, why is he the only person you're throwing questions at?
Izumi: ...?
Tsukasa: Look around you. We Knights are here, of course, but more importantly, our dear guests are still sitting here in confusion at this sudden melodrama.
Everyone here is on your side. They're all your fans and your family! So why do you turn a blind eye to them and try to close yourselves off into your own little world?
If you insist on saying you're all sad and alone, then well, I won't stop you.
However, not only is it a pitiful attitude to be taking as the eldest of our unit, but it is also a disservice to us, who have stood by your side all this time.
So if you intend to apologize, Sena-senpai, we're listening.
Izumi: ...? Er, I'm... sorry? Wait, what's going on?!
Ritsu: Fufu~ The time has come for the hands of the clock to move, Secchan. [1]
Good job, Su~chan. You didn't hesitate to step in.
That already places you above me. I'll fully acknowledge you as the rightful heir to the throne.
Arashi: Count me in. Hey Izumi-chan, did you really ask him what you're supposed to do to make him smile? Are you stupid? How have you been an idol all this time without even knowing that?
If you want someone else to smile, then first of all, you'll have to start smiling yourself.
"Ask, and it shall be given" only applies to gods. For us regular humans, if you want someone to love you, you have to love them first. That's what I've always done.
Even now, y'know! Hey everyone~ I love you...☆
Tsukasa-chan, Izumi-chan, Ritsu-chan, Leo-kun! I love you all so, so much!
Leo-kun, who says "I love you" like a catchphrase, and Izumi-chan, who's been showered with love from his parents—
Both of you should've already known this since long ago!
If you've both forgotten, then we'll just have to remind you! Right, Ritsu-chan, Tsukasa-chan? ♪
Ritsu: Yeah. If that's what we're doing, then even a lazy guy like me will put his all into it.
Come on, Leo-kun, Secchan! Smile! It's really easy, y'know? Just like this... (flashes a grin) ♪
Even a baby can do it. Anyone can, if they're human!
So for as long as humans exist, the idols who bring smiles to their faces will never disappear!
They'll always be valued and wanted. In that sense, we already have eternity right here... ♪
I wanna be that kind of idol too! It's not that I'm just copying my brother—that's the kind of person I wanna be!
I can't hold it back anymore! I wanna sing and dance and laugh and live together with you all!
♪~♪~♪
Tsukasa: Fufu. Ritsu-senpai would never get up unless we chided him and dragged him out of bed, but now he's taking the initiative in the song... Truly, what is this world coming to? ♪
However! This world shall not perish, for we will protect it!
We are Knights! We are the guardians of peace, of life's joys and happiness!
~...♪
Arashi: So, what'll you two do? If you don't feel like joining in, then we'll just take everything for ourselves! ♪
If you want it, then try stealing it away with your own hands! But if you don't have the guts, then stay out of it, mkay?
Juuust kidding~ ...Goodness, how barbaric of me~♪
♪~♪~...♪
Leo: ...So what now, Sena? They're getting ahead of us.
Izumi: Mm... Well, I seriously can't believe they're still raring to sing even though we dragged this on for so long.
But let's just let them do what they want. The stars of Repayment Fes are the juniors, after all.
Honestly, we shouldn't have been butting in at all in the first place.
Leo: Yeah. But hey, backing out's even worse.
Let's sing with 'em, Sena.
I get the feeling that if we stick with them, then maybe we can gain back what should've been lost forever.
No, rather... It probably found a place in our hearts before we even noticed—
...the noble bond they gifted us, which we nurtured all together.
As long as I have that, I can keep living on.
The despair's all gone, not a trace of it left. I wouldn't find it even if I looked—it's just shining, sparkling light everywhere. It's brightening the whole universe... and lighting up my entire world.
Sena, tell me one last thing. ...Am I smiling?
Izumi: Yeah, you are. And if you're smiling, then I am too... ♪
♪~♪~♪
---
[1] Ritsu uses very similar phrasing to the first line of Checkmate Knights (進み始める時計の針が; "the hands of the clock begin to move").
---
< Lux aeterna Chapter 29 || Masterlist || Epilogue >
