in peace 2

A short while later

Rei: ... ♪

Ritsu: Anija. The person next to me just got off the train. You wanna sit?

It’s weirding me out that you keep staring at me from so high up—it’s kinda irritating...

Rei: I’m sure. However, if you think back on it, I have been looking down at your adorable face for quite a long time now...

I am moved once again by how you have grown into a fine young man.

For me, it is as if I am appreciating a masterwork of art.

Ow? Hang on, Ritsu—don’t kick me in the leg?!

We are in public. You cannot know who is watching you, so you ought to mind your behavior.

The walls have ears, windows have eyes, and you have your brother right by your side~ ♪^[1]

Ritsu: ...... (considerably annoyed)

Rei: ...That said, I’ll accept your sweet offer and sit by you ♪

Ritsu: Go for it... Anija, you’re clinging again. Can you scooch over a little?

Rei: Hmm, that will be quite difficult, physically speaking. We could make it work if you’d just climb up onto my lap, but I suppose you wouldn’t like that.

Ritsu: Don’t baby me. You always have to look down on me, don’t you?^[2]

Rei: I’m doing no such thing. As your older brother, you will always be my adorable baby brother...

However, you can rest assured that I am not blind to who you are at present.

Ritsu: ......

Rei: That said, this is quite a cramped space. Everything in this country is built very snugly for people of our size.

Well, it is the holiday season; we can only expect that space will be limited with everyone rushing home.

Ritsu: It’s a weird tradition, huh...

But I guess I can’t really say anything, since we’re headed to a Devil’s Sacrament with a bunch of shady people claiming to be vampires.

Rei: You know this isn’t a Sacrament, correct? There will be no feasting upon a fetus cut from a mother’s womb; the kagami mochi will suffice.^[3]

Ritsu: Do they even have kagami mochi in Romania?

Rei: You could say that “New Year’s traditions are fine, but curry is too” is their motto ♪^[4]

Ritsu: ......

Rei: Ah, I was trying to make a pun off of “curry roux” and “Romania,” since they sound similar...^[5]

Ritsu: Ice cold. Thanks to you, global temperatures are going to plummet and even more people are going to freeze to death this year.

Anija, are you sure you’re okay? Every year your IQ drops like ten more points.

Rei: You don’t have to say that with such a straight face. I’d rather you take this in a more favorable light, as a sign that I’ve become more human.

There is nothing interesting about a man who incessantly throws out tedious pretensions no one can understand to an empty void.

Our voice, or rather our words, are a means of connecting with our kind. As such, I’d prefer that each breath I take be devoted to that purpose.

Ritsu: Then I guess I should let you know I’m not enjoying this connection one bit right now.

Rei: How disappointing: my own chest is fluttering with elation. I’ve not spent the New Year with you in such a long time—ahh, be still, my heart... ♪

We are always running from stage to stage during the holidays, as this is an opportune period for idols to turn a profit...

But in the end, there’s no place like home.

Ritsu: True enough. But at the same time, it’s pretty depressing to stay cooped up inside all the time...

I kinda wanna do what you did and take a trip around the world.

Not like this, though, where I’m being forced to go see family... I wanna be the one to decide where I go and who I see.

The only world I know is small, like I’m still a child.

Our King asked all of us to go on a graduation trip overseas, for a live tour or something—

Rei: ... ♪

Ritsu: ...Anija? Hang on, are you asleep?

Helloooo? Aren’t I the one who’s always passing out wherever?

Don’t steal my thing, Anija, that’s rude... Also, I left you to figure all of this out, so I have no idea where we’re supposed to get off.

(Um... it’s probably fine if we just get off at some airporty-looking station. And if worse comes to worst, I can just wake him up.)

(But I always hate when people wake me up, so it’d be sucky of me to do that to him, right?)

Rei: ...Mm. Hm? Did I fall asleep?

Ritsu: Yep. For just a minute. What’s up, Anija? That’s not like you... You’re always trying to show off, so you never let yourself be vulnerable like that in public.

Rei: Yes, that surprised me as well. I must have subconsciously believed that if someone were to assail me in my sleep, that you would take charge and protect me!

I love you dearly, Ritsu~ ♪

Ritsu: Yeah, no. If that happened I’d definitely abandon you.

Rei: You’re such a bully... yaaaawn ♪

Ritsu: Whoa, big yawn. That’s also not like you. Are you worn out or something? You didn’t even work today, though.

Rei: Mm, perhaps my mind has simply reached beyond its limits.

I may put up a front for you, but I too am not thrilled about this reunion.

Especially so since this is the year of my graduation, thus marking, as they have called it, the end to my “unnecessary detour.”

I am sure to receive a warm welcome from them all, but that rather only serves to make me feel melancholic.

Ritsu: ......

Rei: ...Oh, my apologies. It’s dull to listen to someone complain. Let’s talk about curry roux instead; that will be more fun ♪

Ritsu: I’m not talking about curry roux.

...Hey, Anija. If you hate all of this so much, why don’t you just run away?

We can both pretend we overslept and just go somewhere else, far away.

Family ties are just made up, anyway. There’s no string holding us together.

And legally speaking, there’s no reason why you have to take over as the head of the family, either. The only thing binding us is principle and morals.

So we could always just choose not to do that. You’re an honest, upstanding young man or whatever, but you’re always getting yourself nailed down to things.

You put up with all sorts of crap just to help everyone else out, but you could just say no... We could live happily ever after without all of those annoyances.

Don’t forget about that. Family is supposed to be your greatest ally, not your greatest foe. At least, that’s what I think.

So, uh... well, never mind, this is getting annoying. Let’s talk about something else.

Rei: You’re ruining the mood!

You may be embarrassed by it, but I would be appreciative to hear everything you have to say~ ♪

Ritsu: Shut up.

...Oh, we’re at the airport station. Are we getting off here?

Rei: No, we still have two stops yet. We’ll let the train take us straight to our terminal.

So Ritsu, will you allow me just a little more rest?

Make sure to wake me when we arrive... Promise me that.

I can never escape my fate, and I have no intention of doing so, either.

Our destination is the end of the line, and there is no turning back... We cannot sleep our way through this.

So at least let us take our sweet time getting there.

I will ask for nothing more than that.

Ritsu: ...Fine, sure. Have some good dreams, then.

Ritsu: Good night, Onii-chan.^[6]

Rei: I will. For but a brief moment, a farewell to reality and to you, my little brother... Good night.