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shivalriesSeason: Autumn
---
[Studio]
Izumi: I'm not even completely opposed to what you're doing either, Kasa-kun.
I'm telling you to take a good look at the state of your kingdom. I know you wanna go on carrying everything on your shoulders at once—
You said something like that during Repayment Fes, after all... But you need to look at reality instead of going on about your fantasies.
Actually, look at the people around you.
Most of what you think you're carrying with your own strength, Kuma-kun and Naru-kun are struggling to hold up with gritted teeth.
If someone's out there guffawing like a moron, completely unaware of the screams around him, then of course he's gonna get a nasty comment or two back.
Even if the ones screaming say they're okay with it.
Tsukasa: I-I—
Ritsu: —Okay, stop right there.
Izumi: Augh?!
Wh-What's going on?! What's up with you, Kuma-kun? That's—uh, that's not a real gun, is it?!
Ritsu: Nah. It's a stage prop I found lying over there. ...I guess with this crowd, it'd look more theatrical if I used a sword to break up the fight.
I couldn't find one, though. Besides, the gun is mightier than the sword... ♪
Tsukasa: I-I've never heard of such a saying!
Ritsu: Yeah, I just made it up. But y'know, we need a few jokes to lighten this place up a little.
I dunno what's got you in such a bad mood, Secchan, but you're way too worked up right now—
Izumi: ......
Ritsu: And Su~chan, it's probably because you're such a proper, serious kid, but you're taking everything Secchan says at face value.
You have to laugh off most of what he says, because otherwise you'll end up taking a lot of damage.
If you let your mind go blank under all his oppressive nagging, then you won't be able to make the right decisions.
So let's draw all this to a close for now. Everybody take this topic home, cool your heads, and chew on it before bed or something.
Let's take some time to think—think with all our effort about what we should do from now on.
You're all young and eager to jump to conclusions, but Knights isn't in a tight spot just yet.
Together, we're strong. No matter how lost we get or how much we fail, we can handle it for a while.
But if we impale each other on our blades, then then we might not ever get up again.
To be honest, I don't really care that much about what happens to Knights' "brand" and all the newbies we've shoved under it.
I just hate the idea of fighting, having some fatal fallout, and not being able to be with the people I love.
Leo: ......
Ritsu: And I don't mean physically. It already feels normal for Secchan and Tsukipi~ to be an ocean away, anyway.
Pretty rude of them, if you ask me, though? Vampires can't cross running water, so I can't see them even if I wanted to.
Arashi: But Ritsu-chan, you got to Florence just fine.
Ritsu: Yeah, well, in my case it's a psychological weakness.
It's just like how vampires hate crosses because they fear the might of God, see? I just don't wanna get too close to my family's homeland.
But with friends giving me strength, I can bear with it for a while. It's hard, but I can endure, just like how I can stay awake in the daytime now.
I can carry any kind of burden on my shoulders without letting out a scream.
But what I can't endure is this situation. It's breaking me down.
Here I was, having finally overcome my aversion to sunlight, and now I feel like I've been stabbed in one of the few weak points I have left.
I might just collapse into a heap of ash... That's why I butted in, even though it's not in my nature.
I'm tired of every single thing coming to an end while I just stay quiet and watch.
Tsukasa: I-I doubt it's quite so serious. Sena-senpai spouts unpleasant things all the time, after all. I can handle it.
Ritsu: Yeah, you're very strong, Su~chan. But if you're left alone, you might reach the limits of your patience and snap.
As long as there's the tiniest possibility of that happening, I simply can't let it go unchecked. I'd risk my life for it, just like this—
Izumi: Wah?! Hey, quit turning the gun on me, okay?!
You might not realize it because we live in this safe little country, but guns are a pretty realistic threat, you know?!
Ritsu: Yep. If it touches on trauma or real fear, then even a toy gun can look scary.
I'm sure that's the reason you're so unstable right now, Secchan.
Izumi: ......
Ritsu: Well, that aside...
I said we weren't in a tight spot right now, but we don't have the time to keep dragging out useless arguments over and over, either.
Actually... it was never our style to sit around and peacefully discuss everything together, was it?
Playing the obedient kid, going with the current trends, and trying to do things a way we aren't used to is why we're ending up in failure and getting so stressed out.
I mean in the end, isn't that what this is all about?
Arashi: Mnn? What what's all about?
Leo: I don't get it! Say it so even the dumb kids can understand!
Ritsu: Okay, then I'll keep it simple.
For a long time, whenever we've had a difference in opinion in our unit, we've decided who's "correct" by winning in a duel, right?
Tsukasa: Ahh, I see. In other words—
Ritsu: My turn to say it this time! In order to decide how Knights will proceed from here, I declare a trial by combat—we shall hold a euthanasia!
Leo: Uh, a what? Sorry Rittsu, I didn't catch that!
Tsukasa: euthanasia... Um, I believe that means something like "a mercy killing", correct?
Ritsu: Eh, there's no real deep meaning to the name.
But it'll probably have some special rules that separate it from a Duel or Judgment, like Requiem did—
So I just picked a name I liked.
I want it to be a nice duel, where even the loser feels satisfied with defeat... euthanasia can also mean "a peaceful death", after all.
I'll draw up all the nitty gritty details, so the rest of you, calm down and get all your thoughts together.
Let's take those ideas and throw 'em at each other like always.
You wouldn't expect anyone to end up happy in a battle, but together, we can channel it all into song and dance and make a grand spectacle for our audience.
That's the sort of noble deed we've always done, right?
All we do is fight, and yet we transform it into a beautiful, delightful performance—that's what captivates people, and that's why they love us.
---
< Another Sleepless Night Chapter 6 || Masterlist || Until the Morning Light Chapter 1 >
---
[Studio]
Izumi: I'm not even completely opposed to what you're doing either, Kasa-kun.
I'm telling you to take a good look at the state of your kingdom. I know you wanna go on carrying everything on your shoulders at once—
You said something like that during Repayment Fes, after all... But you need to look at reality instead of going on about your fantasies.
Actually, look at the people around you.
Most of what you think you're carrying with your own strength, Kuma-kun and Naru-kun are struggling to hold up with gritted teeth.
If someone's out there guffawing like a moron, completely unaware of the screams around him, then of course he's gonna get a nasty comment or two back.
Even if the ones screaming say they're okay with it.
Tsukasa: I-I—
Ritsu: —Okay, stop right there.
Izumi: Augh?!
Wh-What's going on?! What's up with you, Kuma-kun? That's—uh, that's not a real gun, is it?!
Ritsu: Nah. It's a stage prop I found lying over there. ...I guess with this crowd, it'd look more theatrical if I used a sword to break up the fight.
I couldn't find one, though. Besides, the gun is mightier than the sword... ♪
Tsukasa: I-I've never heard of such a saying!
Ritsu: Yeah, I just made it up. But y'know, we need a few jokes to lighten this place up a little.
I dunno what's got you in such a bad mood, Secchan, but you're way too worked up right now—
Izumi: ......
Ritsu: And Su~chan, it's probably because you're such a proper, serious kid, but you're taking everything Secchan says at face value.
You have to laugh off most of what he says, because otherwise you'll end up taking a lot of damage.
If you let your mind go blank under all his oppressive nagging, then you won't be able to make the right decisions.
So let's draw all this to a close for now. Everybody take this topic home, cool your heads, and chew on it before bed or something.
Let's take some time to think—think with all our effort about what we should do from now on.
You're all young and eager to jump to conclusions, but Knights isn't in a tight spot just yet.
Together, we're strong. No matter how lost we get or how much we fail, we can handle it for a while.
But if we impale each other on our blades, then then we might not ever get up again.
To be honest, I don't really care that much about what happens to Knights' "brand" and all the newbies we've shoved under it.
I just hate the idea of fighting, having some fatal fallout, and not being able to be with the people I love.
Leo: ......
Ritsu: And I don't mean physically. It already feels normal for Secchan and Tsukipi~ to be an ocean away, anyway.
Pretty rude of them, if you ask me, though? Vampires can't cross running water, so I can't see them even if I wanted to.
Arashi: But Ritsu-chan, you got to Florence just fine.
Ritsu: Yeah, well, in my case it's a psychological weakness.
It's just like how vampires hate crosses because they fear the might of God, see? I just don't wanna get too close to my family's homeland.
But with friends giving me strength, I can bear with it for a while. It's hard, but I can endure, just like how I can stay awake in the daytime now.
I can carry any kind of burden on my shoulders without letting out a scream.
But what I can't endure is this situation. It's breaking me down.
Here I was, having finally overcome my aversion to sunlight, and now I feel like I've been stabbed in one of the few weak points I have left.
I might just collapse into a heap of ash... That's why I butted in, even though it's not in my nature.
I'm tired of every single thing coming to an end while I just stay quiet and watch.
Tsukasa: I-I doubt it's quite so serious. Sena-senpai spouts unpleasant things all the time, after all. I can handle it.
Ritsu: Yeah, you're very strong, Su~chan. But if you're left alone, you might reach the limits of your patience and snap.
As long as there's the tiniest possibility of that happening, I simply can't let it go unchecked. I'd risk my life for it, just like this—
Izumi: Wah?! Hey, quit turning the gun on me, okay?!
You might not realize it because we live in this safe little country, but guns are a pretty realistic threat, you know?!
Ritsu: Yep. If it touches on trauma or real fear, then even a toy gun can look scary.
I'm sure that's the reason you're so unstable right now, Secchan.
Izumi: ......
Ritsu: Well, that aside...
I said we weren't in a tight spot right now, but we don't have the time to keep dragging out useless arguments over and over, either.
Actually... it was never our style to sit around and peacefully discuss everything together, was it?
Playing the obedient kid, going with the current trends, and trying to do things a way we aren't used to is why we're ending up in failure and getting so stressed out.
I mean in the end, isn't that what this is all about?
Arashi: Mnn? What what's all about?
Leo: I don't get it! Say it so even the dumb kids can understand!
Ritsu: Okay, then I'll keep it simple.
For a long time, whenever we've had a difference in opinion in our unit, we've decided who's "correct" by winning in a duel, right?
Tsukasa: Ahh, I see. In other words—
Ritsu: My turn to say it this time! In order to decide how Knights will proceed from here, I declare a trial by combat—we shall hold a euthanasia!
Leo: Uh, a what? Sorry Rittsu, I didn't catch that!
Tsukasa: euthanasia... Um, I believe that means something like "a mercy killing", correct?
Ritsu: Eh, there's no real deep meaning to the name.
But it'll probably have some special rules that separate it from a Duel or Judgment, like Requiem did—
So I just picked a name I liked.
I want it to be a nice duel, where even the loser feels satisfied with defeat... euthanasia can also mean "a peaceful death", after all.
I'll draw up all the nitty gritty details, so the rest of you, calm down and get all your thoughts together.
Let's take those ideas and throw 'em at each other like always.
You wouldn't expect anyone to end up happy in a battle, but together, we can channel it all into song and dance and make a grand spectacle for our audience.
That's the sort of noble deed we've always done, right?
All we do is fight, and yet we transform it into a beautiful, delightful performance—that's what captivates people, and that's why they love us.
---
< Another Sleepless Night Chapter 6 || Masterlist || Until the Morning Light Chapter 1 >
