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shivalriesSeason: Autumn
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[euthanasia Stage]
Ritsu: (Anyway, looks like neither Su~chan's team nor Secchan's team are willing to back down. Our discussion never reached an agreement, after all...)
(So we turned to our old favorite—a duel to decide who's right.)
(That's what euthanasia is. I'm probably the only one who knows the real reason I named it that way, though.)
(As we square off against each other, we've split evenly into two versus two. Tsukipi~ took Su~chan's side, while Nacchan is backing Secchan—)
(Each of those teams have the freedom to choose whatever they want to do for their performance.)
(As we can see, Nacchan and Secchan are doing a performance that appeals more to our core fans.)
(They're showing off all the charm and brilliance we had back when there were only five of us—when we shone brightly because there were five of us.)
(It isn't just any old nostalgia trip, either. This performance really emphasizes beauty, as is fitting for the two who came from modeling.)
(If we go along with their direction, we might be able to see an even more beautiful version of ourselves that more and more people would fall head over heels for.)
Arashi: ♪~♪~♪
Ritsu: (I have no idea what Su~chan and Tsukipi~ are gonna come out with after this, but...)
(Maybe they'll take a fresh spin on things, like Su~chan did in Requiem.)
(And at the same time, unlike Requiem, they'll still show off all the things that make the traditional Knights great.)
(Su~chan knows what's good about us, more than anyone else—he looks up to us, after all.)
(So with all that in mind, both teams will probably use our experiences from Requiem to present an amazing show.)
(With both teams duking it out with ability and charm, I wouldn't be surprised if either of them won.)
(So that's why I'm helping both sides. War is basically a game of numbers, after all.)
(If they drag me in, they'll have a very basic 3-against-2 advantage.)
(And that's what Nacchan and Secchan actually tried to do. They asked me for help, and I accepted.)
(Feels like how we were back when Su~chan hadn't joined and Tsukipi~ was still holed up in his room—)
(Here we are again, the good ol' three stooges who survived. Yet somehow we're the three who spent the longest time together, the bestest of pals.)
(But I'm sure Su~chan and Tsukipi~ know what's up and are planning on the same strategy.)
(They don't stand a chance if they don't at least level the playing field, so they'll ask for my help.)
(Of course, I'll accept. In the end, we keep the balance of power... It might end up in a draw, with neither side dealing a decisive blow.)
(That's what I'm aiming for right now, though that's not all I have up my sleeve, heh heh heh ♪)
Arashi: ...Ritsu-chan's laughter sounds kinda creepy, don't you think? Maybe he's cooking up some dastardly scheme again.
Izumi: Kuma-kun's just plain creepy all the time, though.
I don't mind it now that I know he means no harm, but I was pretty suspicious of him when we first met.
I wonder when I started perceiving him differently.
Arashi: Fufu. You don't have to go through a special romance manga-type development to like someone, you know. People just naturally grow to like each other.
Izumi: I never said I liked him.
Arashi: Yeah, but even saying you "don't hate" someone is rare for you, right? You should be thanking God for the good fortune of meeting us. ♪
...I'll do that, too.
Izumi: ......
Arashi: Izumi-chan. You could probably tell when we were children, but you see—I desperately want to be loved.
It's proven difficult, since I am the way I am. That's why I comforted myself by claiming that at least I love me.
I gained huge popularity as a model, and my Knights career is crazy successful... I've gained so many fans and have been showered with so, so much love—
More love than I ever wished for.
As if I'm in a trance, all I want is more and more... I've gotten terribly greedy, haven't I? Perhaps I've eaten too much of a good thing and now I'm addicted.
Knights' future is important, it's true. I think Tsukasa-chan's amazing for trying to change the world to suit his ideals, and I wanna cheer him on.
But see, what I really want is love that's more practical. Instead of squinting at documents and taking care of the little newbies—
I want to see me blossom proudly at the center of the world. I want to be loved, to be praised and told that I'm beautiful.
...I'm not a good kid at all, Izumi-chan.
Izumi: That's what I've been saying, no?
What's wrong with that? If that's what you wanna do, Naru-kun, then why not?
I don't have the right to scold you about being selfish, anyway.
What you just described is basically how I live my whole life, and I don't even try to hide it. I'm much worse of a kid than you are, y'know?
You didn't want to fight anyone around you or hurt them in any way, so you've pushed away your own feelings and acted like a sweet little kid—I think you've done well. I mean, I also think you're an idiot.
But I have a good idea of how hard it is to live that way. If someone told me to do that, I don't even think it'd be possible for me.
I can really sympathize with wanting to be loved, you know. Just like you, I wasn't able to receive the love that I wanted.
I'm a lot more blessed in life than you are—I've been loved and praised as a boy who's pretty and cute.
But it's like plates full of food were put in front of me, and I kept selfishly turning them away, claiming that I deserved more.
Like a child breaking things to test his parents' love.
Arashi: ......
Izumi: So then people got sick of it. They started thinking, "Oh, so you're fine without eating," and stopped giving me anything at all.
So, left with no other choice, I'm now making my own food.
It's stupid, right. Just like you said, Naru-kun, we already have so much love—
Yet I keep rummaging around looking for it, thinking it's still hidden away somewhere.
I probably won't ever be satisfied as long as I live. We've had these bad habits for so long, we're already stuck this way.
But still, our goals are probably the same. If we work together, we might be able to find what we want more quickly—
So I'll look for it together with you. Just like I am right now.
Arashi: Oh, yeah? ...Well, thank you, Izumi-chan.
Izumi: What's that? Not gonna make fun of me this time?
Arashi: You'd know right away if I'm being insincere anyway, though?
~...♪
---
< Until the Morning Light Chapter 9 || Masterlist || Until the Morning Light Chapter 11 >
---
[euthanasia Stage]
Ritsu: (Anyway, looks like neither Su~chan's team nor Secchan's team are willing to back down. Our discussion never reached an agreement, after all...)
(So we turned to our old favorite—a duel to decide who's right.)
(That's what euthanasia is. I'm probably the only one who knows the real reason I named it that way, though.)
(As we square off against each other, we've split evenly into two versus two. Tsukipi~ took Su~chan's side, while Nacchan is backing Secchan—)
(Each of those teams have the freedom to choose whatever they want to do for their performance.)
(As we can see, Nacchan and Secchan are doing a performance that appeals more to our core fans.)
(They're showing off all the charm and brilliance we had back when there were only five of us—when we shone brightly because there were five of us.)
(It isn't just any old nostalgia trip, either. This performance really emphasizes beauty, as is fitting for the two who came from modeling.)
(If we go along with their direction, we might be able to see an even more beautiful version of ourselves that more and more people would fall head over heels for.)
Arashi: ♪~♪~♪
Ritsu: (I have no idea what Su~chan and Tsukipi~ are gonna come out with after this, but...)
(Maybe they'll take a fresh spin on things, like Su~chan did in Requiem.)
(And at the same time, unlike Requiem, they'll still show off all the things that make the traditional Knights great.)
(Su~chan knows what's good about us, more than anyone else—he looks up to us, after all.)
(So with all that in mind, both teams will probably use our experiences from Requiem to present an amazing show.)
(With both teams duking it out with ability and charm, I wouldn't be surprised if either of them won.)
(So that's why I'm helping both sides. War is basically a game of numbers, after all.)
(If they drag me in, they'll have a very basic 3-against-2 advantage.)
(And that's what Nacchan and Secchan actually tried to do. They asked me for help, and I accepted.)
(Feels like how we were back when Su~chan hadn't joined and Tsukipi~ was still holed up in his room—)
(Here we are again, the good ol' three stooges who survived. Yet somehow we're the three who spent the longest time together, the bestest of pals.)
(But I'm sure Su~chan and Tsukipi~ know what's up and are planning on the same strategy.)
(They don't stand a chance if they don't at least level the playing field, so they'll ask for my help.)
(Of course, I'll accept. In the end, we keep the balance of power... It might end up in a draw, with neither side dealing a decisive blow.)
(That's what I'm aiming for right now, though that's not all I have up my sleeve, heh heh heh ♪)
Arashi: ...Ritsu-chan's laughter sounds kinda creepy, don't you think? Maybe he's cooking up some dastardly scheme again.
Izumi: Kuma-kun's just plain creepy all the time, though.
I don't mind it now that I know he means no harm, but I was pretty suspicious of him when we first met.
I wonder when I started perceiving him differently.
Arashi: Fufu. You don't have to go through a special romance manga-type development to like someone, you know. People just naturally grow to like each other.
Izumi: I never said I liked him.
Arashi: Yeah, but even saying you "don't hate" someone is rare for you, right? You should be thanking God for the good fortune of meeting us. ♪
...I'll do that, too.
Izumi: ......
Arashi: Izumi-chan. You could probably tell when we were children, but you see—I desperately want to be loved.
It's proven difficult, since I am the way I am. That's why I comforted myself by claiming that at least I love me.
I gained huge popularity as a model, and my Knights career is crazy successful... I've gained so many fans and have been showered with so, so much love—
More love than I ever wished for.
As if I'm in a trance, all I want is more and more... I've gotten terribly greedy, haven't I? Perhaps I've eaten too much of a good thing and now I'm addicted.
Knights' future is important, it's true. I think Tsukasa-chan's amazing for trying to change the world to suit his ideals, and I wanna cheer him on.
But see, what I really want is love that's more practical. Instead of squinting at documents and taking care of the little newbies—
I want to see me blossom proudly at the center of the world. I want to be loved, to be praised and told that I'm beautiful.
...I'm not a good kid at all, Izumi-chan.
Izumi: That's what I've been saying, no?
What's wrong with that? If that's what you wanna do, Naru-kun, then why not?
I don't have the right to scold you about being selfish, anyway.
What you just described is basically how I live my whole life, and I don't even try to hide it. I'm much worse of a kid than you are, y'know?
You didn't want to fight anyone around you or hurt them in any way, so you've pushed away your own feelings and acted like a sweet little kid—I think you've done well. I mean, I also think you're an idiot.
But I have a good idea of how hard it is to live that way. If someone told me to do that, I don't even think it'd be possible for me.
I can really sympathize with wanting to be loved, you know. Just like you, I wasn't able to receive the love that I wanted.
I'm a lot more blessed in life than you are—I've been loved and praised as a boy who's pretty and cute.
But it's like plates full of food were put in front of me, and I kept selfishly turning them away, claiming that I deserved more.
Like a child breaking things to test his parents' love.
Arashi: ......
Izumi: So then people got sick of it. They started thinking, "Oh, so you're fine without eating," and stopped giving me anything at all.
So, left with no other choice, I'm now making my own food.
It's stupid, right. Just like you said, Naru-kun, we already have so much love—
Yet I keep rummaging around looking for it, thinking it's still hidden away somewhere.
I probably won't ever be satisfied as long as I live. We've had these bad habits for so long, we're already stuck this way.
But still, our goals are probably the same. If we work together, we might be able to find what we want more quickly—
So I'll look for it together with you. Just like I am right now.
Arashi: Oh, yeah? ...Well, thank you, Izumi-chan.
Izumi: What's that? Not gonna make fun of me this time?
Arashi: You'd know right away if I'm being insincere anyway, though?
~...♪
---
< Until the Morning Light Chapter 9 || Masterlist || Until the Morning Light Chapter 11 >
