Tempest - Chapter 2

[haranami]

Location: Reception Room

 

<That night>

 

Eichi: ……

 

 

Wataru: Eichi… are you working overtime today, as well?

 

Eichi: Hello there, Wataru. I thought you might come.

 

Unfortunately, I couldn’t think up an interesting way to react, so… My apologies, but I’m afraid that I can only give you this plain reaction.

 

Wataru: There’s no need to apologize. You perfectly predict, anticipate and understand my every action — that alone completely satisfies me.

 

Honestly, I surprise myself with how satisfied I am.

 

Fufufu. “The wind has been growing even stronger, so he couldn’t possibly jump in from the window"...

Is what I thought you'd assume, but it seems as though I was too naïve.

 

Eichi: Well, there was plenty of foreshadowing this time. You were far too overt when you declared yourself a being that can conquer even the strongest of winds. Unfortunately, I saw right through your trick.

 

Wataru: You certainly did. I shall reflect on this and make the most of your advice for next time.

 

Eichi: I’m already looking forward to it. I’ll also make sure to have little enough composure so that I'm properly surprised.

In any case, would you be so kind as to advise me on something?

 

Wataru: Of course; ask me absolutely anything. On my end, I've tried to prepare the words I believe you may need.

 

Eichi. Your heart is still troubled by what Butler-san spoke to us about earlier today, isn’t it?

 

Eichi: I’m not troubled, per se.

 

No, I was just thinking about how I overcame a similar conflict in the past… I thought I had come to an understanding within myself, but…

 

I’m currently reflecting on what I should do.

 

Basically, I've come up with a number of methods, so I’m not that worried; I don't feel like I’m confused, lost in the dark, but…

 

I can’t decide which method is right. Or rather, I feel like no matter what I choose, I’ll be missing something crucial.

 

Even though any one of them would be fine, none of them are perfect. Ah, I’m sorry for phrasing this in such a vague way.

 

Wataru: No, not at all. Please be at ease, for I understand what you’re trying to convey.

 

Eichi: Yeah. Because you can understand everything, can’t you, Wataru?

 

You’re like an angel — the personification of truth itself. I almost want to just leave all my decisions to you... I wonder if it'd be alright for me to depend on other people like that.

 

Wataru: I wouldn't mind at all. Or rather, I’ve come here to propose exactly that.

 

Won’t you entrust this matter to me?

Eichi: To you?

 

Wataru: Yes. I’ve been getting persistently nagged about how I’m spending too much time with my theater troupe lately… mainly by you, Eichi.

 

Therefore, I want to demonstrate the depth of my devotion and love to you.

And — this may be rude of me to say, but — you have no choice but to rely on other people right now, correct?

 

Although you love living as an idol more than anything else, you're currently being forced to put that aside so you can administrate ES.

 

This is surely a critical time, so you’re being fully occupied with various tasks; you have far too many irons in the fire.

 

Normally, anyone who found themselves in such a situation would choose to rely on others...

 

So please rely on me now. You can trust me, can't you?

Eichi: Of course. I trust you more than anyone in this world — more than I trust myself. I wouldn’t even mind being betrayed, so long as it were by you.

 

Even if you did the cruelest things to me, I wouldn't mind at all. I wonder if this is what society calls "love"?

 

Wataru: Fufufu. You truly sound like a child sometimes.

 

In any case, although it would be a pleasure to exchange sweet nothings with you endlessly…

 

It would be a terrible crime indeed to steal away more of your time — I shall voice my thoughts with brevity so we may sort out this situation posthaste.

 

Eichi: Oh? That’s a shame. I'd be more than happy to devote my time to you.

 

Wataru: Why, thank you, Eichi. That is the highest form of praise an entertainer could ever hope to receive.

 

Now, then. Let us settle the issue that Butler-san has brought to our attention earlier today. It seems that, when he was young, he was put in quite a unique institution—

 

Eichi: Yes. He’s very evasive about it because he doesn’t want Tori to know, but…

 

When Yuzuru was a child, he was put in the custody of an institution that was more or less a private military company’s base.

 

Wataru: Ah, yes. Taking into account the words we’ve exchanged so far, I suspected something along those lines.

Eichi: Alright. I won’t go into it too deeply, then, and conceal all the details.

 

That company is under the direct control of the Himemiya family, so I don’t have access to any classified information, such as its exact address, anyways.

 

Wataru: Fufufu. It’s no wonder...

 

It certainly isn’t normal to have such agility, or such a lack of openings, at Butler-san’s age. I suspected that he received some special type of training.

 

He has the attributes of a soldier, after all.

 

War is a sorrowful deed that steals away smiles and love from people, but so long as humans continue to be imperfect, it's surely unavoidable.

 

I’m an actor, so I don’t involve myself in tragedies that occur off stage… I can’t say I understand completely, but I'm able to at least imagine his experiences.

 

At that institution, Butler-san was treated as an instructor and made to direct the new recruits — something like that, correct?

 

However, he's skillful at replying evasively, so it’s quite laborious to try and guess the meaning buried within his words.

 

Eichi: Yes, his mask is also incredibly thick. But you both probably consider such masks to be your own self, your pride, and your very soul.

 

Wataru: Yes. The mask itself is me.

 

If Butler-san is wearing the mask of “Butler-san” right now… 

 

That is exactly what he considers to be the definition of himself — what he wishes to show to other people.

 

The soldier part of himself hides behind that mask, and that must be why it is difficult for him to speak of it.

 

Even he, himself, is unable to see the face from his past that lies underneath when he looks in a mirror.

 

That is why, unable to arrive at an answer, he tilts his neck and continues to be at a loss.

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