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shivalriesSeason: Autumn
---
[euthanasia Stage]
Tsukasa: Is that so. Alright then, do your best. We are doing the same—putting in every effort to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
You all might try to avoid giving details of the past to maintain your facades...
However, humans do possess the power of imagination, and you are not the only ones who know each other.
There's Tenshouin Onii-sama, of course; Hasumi-senpai, with whom we've shared a space in the archery club; Sakasaki-senpai of Switch, who has fought alongside us many times of late...
I've heard stories from countless others, and through diligent deduction, I've filled in the gaps in this incomplete tale of the past.
Therefore, I believe I understand what it is that makes you all so nervous.
Chess once held a majority at Yumenosaki. You do not want the current Knights to break down in the same way, correct?
Naturally, I would not want to invite the sort of catastrophic end you are all so afraid of, either.
I have always been prudent in my management of the new recruits.
Even so... Ah, yes, it is as you say—no one can predict the future. Compared to my seniors, I am still quite lacking in both skill and experience.
Hence, I could not give you a guarantee that everything would be alright, and that there was nothing to be concerned about.
We are in a time of great turmoil. No one knows what lies ahead of us.
Perhaps my admirable seniors are correct, and I am in fact making a grave and foolish mistake—this is a constant fear of mine. I have no confidence. I never do.
Yet I am the king who must lead the way for us. I have been entrusted with this position along with everyone's hopes...
I must never complain, but always stand at the forefront, waving our banner—
With pride in my heart, wearing a crown that does not yet fit me.
Leo: ...I see. Yeah, being a king's tough stuff.
I know all about that. Even when you can barely get a hold on your own fears, the guys in back keep asking if you're going the right way.
Just makes you wanna go, "Hell if I know! Just trust me!", huh?
But you can't. Especially not when the crowd with you are your seniors, who you're supposed to hold in high regard.
"Respect your elders," right? I'm sure you learned that at home or something.
Tsukasa: Indeed. It's enough to make me envy Tori-kun at times, seeing him getting spoiled rotten growing up. Makes me think it would've been so much easier if I could just bite back at everyone as I pleased—
That I could've put myself first and run rampant without a care in the world.
However, Tori-kun and I are different people, and I would sooner perish than to live as shamelessly as he does.
"We're not the same. I'm much more serious than he is" ...
This is how I've kept my self-respect intact. I've been comparing myself to him and choosing to believe that I am, in fact, superior and more elegant.
It's far too late to start throwing tantrums just because it seems easier that way.
Well, I'm certain it's actually quite pointless to try comparing Tori-kun and I...
However, I've decided to live in this manner, and have poured my efforts toward it ever since. I cannot simply discard half a life's worth of work.
No—I take pride in how I've grown. I can say with full conviction that the path I have walked would be shameful to no one.
But just because I am the way I am, I do not expect God or the people around me to treat me specially for it.
It would seem that, unfortunately, this world does not always reward children for being good.
If you've lived a decade or two and have picked up a bit of knowledge on the way, you would know that already.
However, by living honestly, you increase your chances of gaining rewards for your efforts.
There must be some modicum of justice running the world we live in.
I believe that there are some wonderful, brilliant things that no depraved villain or idle sluggard would be able to take for themselves...
Things that I, Tsukasa Suou, have the right to acquire.
You—all of you—have taught me this. I worked so hard to claim victory, and on that day I was given the crown, I was rewarded at last.
I realized that I had been correct all this time.
Of course, being correct once does not mean that one will always be. From here on, I will surely make many, many mistakes.
I am neither perfect nor invincible; I am but a novice still in the midst of his growth. So, should I stumble or choose the wrong path—
Please at least call out to me, and tell me to stop and think. Just like what Ritsu-senpai did this time.
I would never close my ears to your voices, and I will not tell you to agree with me or only say things that I want to hear.
Even if you have harsh words, I will listen to all of them, think on them very seriously, and come out with the correct answer—of this I am sure.
---
< Until the Morning Light Chapter 11 || Masterlist || Epilogue 1 >
---
[euthanasia Stage]
Tsukasa: Is that so. Alright then, do your best. We are doing the same—putting in every effort to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
You all might try to avoid giving details of the past to maintain your facades...
However, humans do possess the power of imagination, and you are not the only ones who know each other.
There's Tenshouin Onii-sama, of course; Hasumi-senpai, with whom we've shared a space in the archery club; Sakasaki-senpai of Switch, who has fought alongside us many times of late...
I've heard stories from countless others, and through diligent deduction, I've filled in the gaps in this incomplete tale of the past.
Therefore, I believe I understand what it is that makes you all so nervous.
Chess once held a majority at Yumenosaki. You do not want the current Knights to break down in the same way, correct?
Naturally, I would not want to invite the sort of catastrophic end you are all so afraid of, either.
I have always been prudent in my management of the new recruits.
Even so... Ah, yes, it is as you say—no one can predict the future. Compared to my seniors, I am still quite lacking in both skill and experience.
Hence, I could not give you a guarantee that everything would be alright, and that there was nothing to be concerned about.
We are in a time of great turmoil. No one knows what lies ahead of us.
Perhaps my admirable seniors are correct, and I am in fact making a grave and foolish mistake—this is a constant fear of mine. I have no confidence. I never do.
Yet I am the king who must lead the way for us. I have been entrusted with this position along with everyone's hopes...
I must never complain, but always stand at the forefront, waving our banner—
With pride in my heart, wearing a crown that does not yet fit me.
Leo: ...I see. Yeah, being a king's tough stuff.
I know all about that. Even when you can barely get a hold on your own fears, the guys in back keep asking if you're going the right way.
Just makes you wanna go, "Hell if I know! Just trust me!", huh?
But you can't. Especially not when the crowd with you are your seniors, who you're supposed to hold in high regard.
"Respect your elders," right? I'm sure you learned that at home or something.
Tsukasa: Indeed. It's enough to make me envy Tori-kun at times, seeing him getting spoiled rotten growing up. Makes me think it would've been so much easier if I could just bite back at everyone as I pleased—
That I could've put myself first and run rampant without a care in the world.
However, Tori-kun and I are different people, and I would sooner perish than to live as shamelessly as he does.
"We're not the same. I'm much more serious than he is" ...
This is how I've kept my self-respect intact. I've been comparing myself to him and choosing to believe that I am, in fact, superior and more elegant.
It's far too late to start throwing tantrums just because it seems easier that way.
Well, I'm certain it's actually quite pointless to try comparing Tori-kun and I...
However, I've decided to live in this manner, and have poured my efforts toward it ever since. I cannot simply discard half a life's worth of work.
No—I take pride in how I've grown. I can say with full conviction that the path I have walked would be shameful to no one.
But just because I am the way I am, I do not expect God or the people around me to treat me specially for it.
It would seem that, unfortunately, this world does not always reward children for being good.
If you've lived a decade or two and have picked up a bit of knowledge on the way, you would know that already.
However, by living honestly, you increase your chances of gaining rewards for your efforts.
There must be some modicum of justice running the world we live in.
I believe that there are some wonderful, brilliant things that no depraved villain or idle sluggard would be able to take for themselves...
Things that I, Tsukasa Suou, have the right to acquire.
You—all of you—have taught me this. I worked so hard to claim victory, and on that day I was given the crown, I was rewarded at last.
I realized that I had been correct all this time.
Of course, being correct once does not mean that one will always be. From here on, I will surely make many, many mistakes.
I am neither perfect nor invincible; I am but a novice still in the midst of his growth. So, should I stumble or choose the wrong path—
Please at least call out to me, and tell me to stop and think. Just like what Ritsu-senpai did this time.
I would never close my ears to your voices, and I will not tell you to agree with me or only say things that I want to hear.
Even if you have harsh words, I will listen to all of them, think on them very seriously, and come out with the correct answer—of this I am sure.
---
< Until the Morning Light Chapter 11 || Masterlist || Epilogue 1 >
