Tempest - Chapter 5

[haranami]

Location: Garden

 

Wataru: Fufufu, “Eichi Day!” Eichi~ Day~! Naturally, we aren’t referring to the abbreviation of Hard Disk! Amazing✰ [1] 

 

Eichi: I don’t have it in me to laugh at such a feeble attempt of a pun right now. Hmm, could you briefly explain what exactly this is all about?

 

Wataru: Of course. You see, we live in such a stressful society, and lately you’ve been overworking yourself, racing headlong towards your demise. So for your sake — no, for our own sakes, as well…

 

We’ve created a holiday just for us: Eichi Day!

 

Eichi: We don’t have the authority to just create holidays as we like, though…

 

Oh? I just noticed that Anzu-chan’s here as well?

 

She’s sleeping soundly under a tree for some reason. Is she mimicking Ritsu-kun?

 

Wataru: Fufufu. Just like you, Anzu-san also won’t rest unless she’s forced to.

 

Despite the fact that weekly holidays for Producers have been properly established, it seems that she’s been working herself to the bone even on days she should be off.

 

So we took this opportunity to abduct her… Or, well, Butler-san did.

 

Yuzuru: Yes, I’m the culprit. However, I did so out of love, so please consider this an extenuating circumstance ♪

 

Eichi: ...You’re in an oddly good mood, too, Yuzuru. Even though you’ve been gloomy up until just a few days ago.

 

Yuzuru: Indeed. That is due to Hibiki-sama kindly counselling me on my predicament, and also because I’ve managed to sort out my feelings.

 

Eichi: ...Is that so? Well, that’s good, I think I should say.

 

Yuzuru: Yes. Actually, Hibiki-sama encouraged me to do something…

 

After receiving permission from the Master and Mistress, I proposed to my acquaintance that they could be hired as the gardener of the estate if they wished.

 

At the very least, I wanted to atone for the fact that they lost their shop at ES’ hands.

 

However, they only said, “Shut up! I want to be a florist, not a gardener! I don’t need your pity!” and cursed at me in response.

 

And so, our conversation developed into a brawl.

 

Eichi: A brawl...

 

Yuzuru: Indeed. I haven't felt that thrilled in quite a while.

 

The truth is, it is an affront for the winner to pity the loser and try to give them things…

 

I realized that after I was beaten black and blue, and they scornfully extended a hand to me, asking, “Can you stand?”

 

My acquaintance will surely face many hardships from now on.

 

However, they said that they would prefer that to forcing themselves to do something they don’t actually want to — they may have just been putting on a front, but they smiled.

 

I then received a bit of a lecture: “That’s why there’s no need for you to feel guilty. Who the hell do you think you are? I don’t need your meddling…” 

 

And they didn’t stop there; they even encouraged me, saying, “You needa work hard too, alright?”

 

Fufu. Those who have risen to high-ranking positions are liable to forget this, but humans truly are strong creatures.

From the very beginning, it looks like there was no need for me to worry or fret.

 

However, no matter how strong we may be, we'll only destroy ourselves if we ceaselessly overwork.

 

We're not machines, after all. No, even machines — anything that has form — is surely the same.

 

Eichi: That’s why we should rest and take a breather every now and then? Is that the reason why you did all of this?

 

Wataru: Essentially, that is correct. Did I not tell you to leave everything to me…? This is the solution I have come up with.

 

Eichi: Hmm. This is quite cliché by your standards, Wataru.

 

Wataru: Oh my, how scathing!

 

However, the truth is always as simple as a mathematical equation — if you believe that to be insipid, then we can simply give it a poetic sugar coating!

 

Eichi. Even if only for one day in the week, please give your time to me.

 

Eichi: Is that a proposal?

 

Wataru: Fufu. If it were, I would request the entirety of your life.

 

It appears that I have used a faulty expression, so allow me to rephrase: please entrust a portion of your life to us.

Eichi: ……

 

Tori: Um. I feel like we’ve just been saying the same thing over and over, but I’ll say it as many times as it takes…

 

You have a frail constitution, Eichi-sama, so I understand how precious each and every second and minute must be to you.

 

If you could weigh the value a single day is worth to you, it'd probably be heavier than the Earth.

 

Yuzuru: However, that is precisely why we are requesting this from you.

 

Please bestow upon us even a portion of the kingdom known as your life, the kingdom you rule and oversee.

 

Eichi: …Fufu. You sounded like Wataru just then, Yuzuru.

 

Yuzuru: Even I have been somewhat influenced by him.

 

This may be quite obvious, but we've spent so many eventful days together — so much time together. We've walked forward, side by side...

 

As the unit fine. As comrades, as friends, and as family.

You all were so kind as to treat me in such a way, and now I wish to reciprocate. I'd very much like to return the favor.

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Notes:

1. In Japanese, the letter H is pronounced as “eichi” so Eichi Day would kinda sound like HD. As Eichi notes in the next line, though, this is a stretch.