Sudden Death - Romanticism Chapter 11
Aug. 13th, 2022 04:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shivalriesSeason: Winter
---
Location: Downtown Osaka - Evening
Kohaku: An' I'm sayin', what're ya talkin' about? What the hell's goin' on here?!
Rinne: —Okay, here's the short version...
We're makin' a gamble, like we always do. And get this: this time, we're about to win it.
Ritsu: Oh... I see...
I did have my doubts in the back of my mind. So our alliance really was a sham? All part of a plot to get us out of your way?
Rinne: Right you are. You're a smart one, big guy ♪
Ritsu: ......
Rinne: Sure was a headache at first thinkin' up a way to approach Knights and get on your good side, so we can get ya to move where we wanted you to, y'know?
Saved us a lot of trouble when ya came up on your own asking for an alliance.
Tsukasa: ...So you are saying you took advantage of our good will and used us for your own gains?
Rinne: 'Scuse you? Nobody went up to ya like, "Oh, we are so weak and in trouble, please save us!" You were the ones who decided you wanted to pity us and hold out a hand like you're some kinda saint!
It's a knight's duty to protect the weak, was it? Hey now, don't go assuming other people are some poor little creatures that need your help.
Thought that kinda treatment was what pissed you off and frustrated you the most... Tsukasa Suou-kun.
Tsukasa: ......
Rinne: Or whatever. I mean, thanks to your very thorough protection, it made it easier for us in the long run. Thanks for takin' us under your wing, you were suuuuch a big help ♪
Tsukasa: ......
Rinne: Well, pretty sure you were actually tryin' to observe us under the guise of protection.
But yanno, once a kid's got a mind of their own, they'll start sneakin' behind their big bad parents' backs.
So we got your guard down by goin' on a bit of sightseeing around Kansai.
Made it look like we weren't up to anything bad, got you guys thinkin' maybe you didn't need to doubt us after all.
And fortunate for us, we had a helper this time... With their help, we were able to carry out our little scheme behind the scenes.
Kohaku: Helper...? Who?! I ain't heard nothin' about this!
Rinne: That's how the contract went. Sorry, Kohaku-chan—kinda left you outta the picture.
But you got yourself all wrapped up in the Double Face stuff, stuff that didn't benefit us at all.
You did your own thing, so what's the issue with us doin' our own thing?
Or what, you think your shit's so important we gotta put you first every single time?
We gotta get your OK with everything we do? You and I both know you're not that much of a brat to say that kinda thing with your whole chest.
Kohaku: I...
Rinne: ...Woops, sorry, guess that was kinda mean. To be honest, they've got us hushed up, plus we decided not tellin' ya would make things go smoother.
Tsukasa Suou-kun's the head of your main family and the master you serve. Dunno how close you guys are, but it looked like ya do have some kinda personal connection—
There was no tellin' if your loyalty and friendship might make you default to Knights' side. And even if ya didn't, you coulda still tried to steer Tsukasa Suou-kun in a different direction.
That'd be Game Over for us... We wouldn't be able to complete our goals, and we wouldn't get our wager back.
We're walkin' a thin line, y'know. We wanted to get rid of any uncertainties that coulda made it all for nothing.
Kohaku: Yeah, but what all for nothin'...? What'd ya get up to behind my back?
HiMERU: —We were aiming to win the qualifiers, of course. It's only natural to do so while the SS qualifiers are happening.
Niki: Huh? Really felt like we were just bumming around, though...
HiMERU: Do you mean to say we should have accrued money over time with steady and honest work, like Knights have? That's not how we work, though, is it, Shiina?
Rinne: Got that right! You know how we do it! Flip it all on its head at the last minute with the gamble of a lifetime!
HiMERU: Indeed. HiMERU feels he has finally grown accustomed to Crazy:B's methods. Perhaps he is even... enjoying it.
Niki: Ah, so that's why you've been so weirdly in a good mood, HiMERU-kun?
You shouldn't buy into Rinne-kun's values, y'know... You'll be headed for jail, or worse, the grave.
HiMERU: Fear not. HiMERU will not "buy into" anything but HiMERU's own ideals.
It is simply that HiMERU has come to the conclusion lately that he should perform regular updates.
By encountering different values and absorbing them, HiMERU shall become ever closer to perfection.
Niki: There are some things that aren't meant to be put in your mouth, though, HiMERU-kun...
HiMERU: *chuckle* In any case, our greatest obstacle to earning first place in the preliminaries was none other than Knights.
They are a powerful unit, hailed as one of the Big 3 of ES.
To top it off, ES itself seems to want Knights to win.
They've even set up the qualifiers so that Knights can conveniently proceed to the finals, after all.
Niki: What? Really?
Rinne: Yeah, really. Use your brain, Niki... Even before the Kansai region turned into a total warzone, they kept pushing for live battles.
Plus, the rules let you make a killing if you win, right?
They even attracted the kinda crowd that loves the thrills and spills of competition. They're pretty much sayin' "Okay, go kill each other now!"
And just who do ya think gets the most out of this system, huh? Obviously it's our masters of the Duel or whatever they call it—the militant peoples of Knights.
Tsukasa: Militant peoples? Preposterous.
We do pick and choose our battles and opponents, you know.
Rinne: Doesn't change the fact that fighting's exactly what got you guys where you are today, no? ES is veeery aware of that—
I dunno how you were in the past, but now ES sees you as their moneymaker star students.
Tsukasa: ...I presume they would, as I have put blood, sweat, and tears toward appearing that way. This is the plan of action that I have decreed for this generation of Knights, as its king.
Rinne: Thought so. Ya did a good job of it, too, turnin' it out even as a member of a small-time agency like NewDi. You've held on tight to your position as one of the Big 3—
...As one of the top idol units of ES.
---
< Romanticism Chapter 10 || Masterlist || Romanticism Chapter 12 >
---
Location: Downtown Osaka - Evening
Kohaku: An' I'm sayin', what're ya talkin' about? What the hell's goin' on here?!
Rinne: —Okay, here's the short version...
We're makin' a gamble, like we always do. And get this: this time, we're about to win it.
Ritsu: Oh... I see...
I did have my doubts in the back of my mind. So our alliance really was a sham? All part of a plot to get us out of your way?
Rinne: Right you are. You're a smart one, big guy ♪
Ritsu: ......
Rinne: Sure was a headache at first thinkin' up a way to approach Knights and get on your good side, so we can get ya to move where we wanted you to, y'know?
Saved us a lot of trouble when ya came up on your own asking for an alliance.
Tsukasa: ...So you are saying you took advantage of our good will and used us for your own gains?
Rinne: 'Scuse you? Nobody went up to ya like, "Oh, we are so weak and in trouble, please save us!" You were the ones who decided you wanted to pity us and hold out a hand like you're some kinda saint!
It's a knight's duty to protect the weak, was it? Hey now, don't go assuming other people are some poor little creatures that need your help.
Thought that kinda treatment was what pissed you off and frustrated you the most... Tsukasa Suou-kun.
Tsukasa: ......
Rinne: Or whatever. I mean, thanks to your very thorough protection, it made it easier for us in the long run. Thanks for takin' us under your wing, you were suuuuch a big help ♪
Tsukasa: ......
Rinne: Well, pretty sure you were actually tryin' to observe us under the guise of protection.
But yanno, once a kid's got a mind of their own, they'll start sneakin' behind their big bad parents' backs.
So we got your guard down by goin' on a bit of sightseeing around Kansai.
Made it look like we weren't up to anything bad, got you guys thinkin' maybe you didn't need to doubt us after all.
And fortunate for us, we had a helper this time... With their help, we were able to carry out our little scheme behind the scenes.
Kohaku: Helper...? Who?! I ain't heard nothin' about this!
Rinne: That's how the contract went. Sorry, Kohaku-chan—kinda left you outta the picture.
But you got yourself all wrapped up in the Double Face stuff, stuff that didn't benefit us at all.
You did your own thing, so what's the issue with us doin' our own thing?
Or what, you think your shit's so important we gotta put you first every single time?
We gotta get your OK with everything we do? You and I both know you're not that much of a brat to say that kinda thing with your whole chest.
Kohaku: I...
Rinne: ...Woops, sorry, guess that was kinda mean. To be honest, they've got us hushed up, plus we decided not tellin' ya would make things go smoother.
Tsukasa Suou-kun's the head of your main family and the master you serve. Dunno how close you guys are, but it looked like ya do have some kinda personal connection—
There was no tellin' if your loyalty and friendship might make you default to Knights' side. And even if ya didn't, you coulda still tried to steer Tsukasa Suou-kun in a different direction.
That'd be Game Over for us... We wouldn't be able to complete our goals, and we wouldn't get our wager back.
We're walkin' a thin line, y'know. We wanted to get rid of any uncertainties that coulda made it all for nothing.
Kohaku: Yeah, but what all for nothin'...? What'd ya get up to behind my back?
HiMERU: —We were aiming to win the qualifiers, of course. It's only natural to do so while the SS qualifiers are happening.
Niki: Huh? Really felt like we were just bumming around, though...
HiMERU: Do you mean to say we should have accrued money over time with steady and honest work, like Knights have? That's not how we work, though, is it, Shiina?
Rinne: Got that right! You know how we do it! Flip it all on its head at the last minute with the gamble of a lifetime!
HiMERU: Indeed. HiMERU feels he has finally grown accustomed to Crazy:B's methods. Perhaps he is even... enjoying it.
Niki: Ah, so that's why you've been so weirdly in a good mood, HiMERU-kun?
You shouldn't buy into Rinne-kun's values, y'know... You'll be headed for jail, or worse, the grave.
HiMERU: Fear not. HiMERU will not "buy into" anything but HiMERU's own ideals.
It is simply that HiMERU has come to the conclusion lately that he should perform regular updates.
By encountering different values and absorbing them, HiMERU shall become ever closer to perfection.
Niki: There are some things that aren't meant to be put in your mouth, though, HiMERU-kun...
HiMERU: *chuckle* In any case, our greatest obstacle to earning first place in the preliminaries was none other than Knights.
They are a powerful unit, hailed as one of the Big 3 of ES.
To top it off, ES itself seems to want Knights to win.
They've even set up the qualifiers so that Knights can conveniently proceed to the finals, after all.
Niki: What? Really?
Rinne: Yeah, really. Use your brain, Niki... Even before the Kansai region turned into a total warzone, they kept pushing for live battles.
Plus, the rules let you make a killing if you win, right?
They even attracted the kinda crowd that loves the thrills and spills of competition. They're pretty much sayin' "Okay, go kill each other now!"
And just who do ya think gets the most out of this system, huh? Obviously it's our masters of the Duel or whatever they call it—the militant peoples of Knights.
Tsukasa: Militant peoples? Preposterous.
We do pick and choose our battles and opponents, you know.
Rinne: Doesn't change the fact that fighting's exactly what got you guys where you are today, no? ES is veeery aware of that—
I dunno how you were in the past, but now ES sees you as their moneymaker star students.
Tsukasa: ...I presume they would, as I have put blood, sweat, and tears toward appearing that way. This is the plan of action that I have decreed for this generation of Knights, as its king.
Rinne: Thought so. Ya did a good job of it, too, turnin' it out even as a member of a small-time agency like NewDi. You've held on tight to your position as one of the Big 3—
...As one of the top idol units of ES.
---
< Romanticism Chapter 10 || Masterlist || Romanticism Chapter 12 >
