Fall of a Great Star 3

Tori: Urghhh... whatever. Is it just you, Yuzuru? Where’s the Prez?

You guys have been doing stuff together lately, haven’t you? Ugh, I hate you for that! He’s my Prez!

Yuzuru: Fufu. The President had some business to attend to, so he has headed downtown.

I offered to accompany him, but it seems he intends to travel in secret.

A Tenshouin retainer came to escort him, so I sensed the mood and took my leave.

I don’t wish to intrude too much on the territory of other servants.

Wataru: Butler-san, Butler-san, there’s something I’ve been wondering about...

What is that you’re carrying on your back? It looks like a bamboo tree for Tanabata.^[1]

Yuzuru: It is, indeed.

It took a while to decide that the Tanabata Festival would use Tanabata as its theme, so preparations for the Dream Fest are running behind schedule.

Therefore, under orders from the President...

I am to assist the student council with their duties. Currently, I am putting up these bamboo decorations across the school.

It doesn’t take the place of proper compensation, but I was given a leftover tree.

I thought I would bring it here to decorate the room. It adds a nice touch, don’t you think?

Dream Fests are competitions for us, but it is important that we don’t forget to also enjoy this annual event.

Here, sir, let’s write our wishes on this paper ♪

Wataru: Fufufu. It seems you’ve come to know true delight.

Yes, simply processing orders indifferently makes one no different from a machine! What we need is more love... ☆

Yuzuru: I don’t quite understand what you mean. I have always enjoyed decorating.

Rather, the thought of cleaning up afterwards makes my heart race ♪

Tori: You always look so happy cleaning up all the rose petals and dove feathers Rapunzel throws around...

Why do you even like cleaning so much? Are you sick?

Wataru: Ah, my theory is that Butler-san feels a sense of control and domination over a space through cleaning it.

Is it a reaction to having been so restrained all the time? Or no, perhaps he is just more arrogant than he looks ♪

Yuzuru: Hibiki-sama... one generally incurs wrath if they psychoanalyze others too often.

Well, there we go... I’ve placed the three here so that it won’t get in the way of our practice, so we can decorate it as we see fit.

Both of you, please hang up your strips of paper with your wishes on them ♪

Tori: Mm. This doesn’t really fit the image of fine, y’know? Like we’re too high-class for it.

But it’s fine I guess, since it’s a festival. But umm, it’s kinda hard to come up with a wish on the spot, though.

Wataru: You can obtain nearly anything you desire, after all.

That which cannot be bought with money is probably what you wish for. Like love, or perhaps Amazing... ♪

Tori: I do not need Amazing. I think I got enough of that to last my whole life during our special training.

...I’m just curious, but what are you wishing for, Rapunzel?

Wataru: Hm. It’s certainly difficult to think of something on demand.

I would love to meet Shakespeare, so perhaps I’d like to travel back in time.

Tori: I thought there were a bunch of people using Shakespeare’s name or something like that. Wouldn’t it be hard to meet them all...?^[2]

But time travel sounds pretty fun. I’d love to meet my beautiful self when I’m all grown up ♪

Wataru: You’ll see it for yourself if you just wait patiently.

I’ll also pray for Eichi’s health~ Though his humanity was likely cultivated because he always walked the line between life and death.

Tori: Oh! I’ll pray for the Prez’s health, too. Pleeease, Orihime-sama and Hikoboshi-sama!^[3]

Yuzuru: ......

Wataru: Hm? Butler-san, you just snuck a strip of paper onto the tree, didn’t you? What did you wish for? I’m so interested ♪

Yuzuru: Absolutely not! It’s in poor taste to peek at other people’s wishes, Hibiki-sama.

Tori: It’s fine, just show us. I wanna know, too. You barely ever talk about things you want.

You’re just always letting me be selfish.

Hm? Umm. “I want to touch my master more.” Uh...? What is this? It’s kinda freaky?

Yuzuru: Oh, I’m so embarrassed... It’s just, um, please don’t misunderstand.

Recently, I’ve been working more with the President, and you’ve been working more with Hibiki-sama. We’ve been separated.

I feel as though we haven’t had enough physical contact...

It’s been said that physical distance is proportional to emotional distance, so I’m worried that our bond has faded... That’s all I mean.

Tori: Mm... well if you want it that badly, you don’t have to write it on some piece of paper. I’ll make it come true right now.

A master’s got to reward his slave every once in a while, too.

Sit right there, Yuzuru. I’ll massage your shoulders. But just this once, okay? It’s special.

Yuzuru: Huh? I’m sorry? What’s wrong, sir? Do you have a fever?

Tori: I just felt like it. You said you’ve been helping the student council out with their work, right?

So that means you’ve probably been doing my work for me.

Tori: You’ve been worried about me focusing on my special training...

And that was super none of your business, but I’m a little bit grateful for it anyway. So let me thank you ♪

Yuzuru: Sir... I am truly fortunate, aren’t I? I can’t express how happy I am ♪

Tori: Jeez, why are you crying? You’re seriously gross sometimes, you know that...?

Wataru: (Fufufu, it’s sort of peaceful. Well, that’s fine once in a while.)

(Though peace is just a brief moment of respite between wars...)

(So this can only be the calm before the storm.)

(It’s a bit of a shame, I think. Oh, but it’s rather unlike me to feel that way, isn’t it?)