War and Peace 7

Eichi: Fufu, how charming. Look, Sakuma-kun... our children can get along just fine without our help.

Rei: Indeed. A child will grow up even without his parents... and for those youngsters, that’s good. It is fruitless to engage with others based solely on calculated self-interested.

Even if only for appearances while we are abroad... why don’t we try to get along? It is said that children learn by observing their parents, after all. Cheers ♪

Eichi: ...Ahaha. Are you inebriated from tomato juice, Sakuma-kun?

Rei: The heat is making me delirious. Truly, I have been exposed to much more sunlight than is typical, and this burning sensation simply won’t abate.

I feel as though I am being scorched from the inside; how vexing.

I had thought it was all a ploy to weaken me, but I’ve recalled now that sunlight is akin to a poison for you as well, frail as you are. Is your goal to debilitate us both, then? Hm?

Perhaps you believe that so long as you can remove me from the picture, fine will triumph due to the difference in strength between the members remaining. But don’t you think you are underestimating my comrades a bit too much?

Eichi: Oh, no. I would never underestimate UNDEAD. It’s thanks to you four that the revolution in the spring was able to succeed.^[1]

I’d thought you were mere corpses buried in their graves long ago, but now I see you still have plenty of life left.

Once we determine the gap that lies between you and us, there will be nothing left to obstruct our path.

With Trickstar, the protagonists of that revolution, are focused on preparing themselves for SS, we now have that opportunity.

While they look outward, we will strengthen our foothold within Yumenosaki Academy. By the time they realize it, they’ll be too late: everything will once again be back in our grasp.

Does it satisfy you for me to scheme and conspire like that? I suppose it would, since you adore the human.

The moment you recognize that I am not a loathed enemy but a human all the same... you won’t be able to fight with your full strength.

And I will not waver or hesitate in a challenge even if you do.

Rei: Indeed. It is easier to understand you when you assume the role of villain.

That is when you are more recognizable as Tenshouin Eichi of fine, our familiar nemesis.

But were you to transform into a different sort of creature—

I think that would be more interesting; I would welcome the change. It would be a pity for you to meet your end as merely a dull, hackneyed villain who would collapse from the slightest of prodding.

I have expectations for you, as our bitter enemy who once brought about our destruction. Even stained with blood and judged guilty of your sins, you are yet a hero.^[2]

We still cannot even converse as equals with a lesser man than you.

It is quite lonely, so I hope that you’ll be my playmate for a good while yet... May you live a long life, Tenshouin-kun.

Eichi: I intend to. Though I seem most likely to be summoned to heaven first, I will outlive everyone. And when I stand before your grave, I will look down my nose and say, “How pathetic.”

Well, that’s one of my fantasies.

Fufu. But lately, my fantasies keep coming true one after another; it almost scares me. How about you?

Rei: It is the same for me. We need not search for a far-off utopia or promised land... The very ground we stand on is the precious, wondrous paradise we have sought.^[3]

Eichi: Fufu. Should we call that paradise our youth?

Wataru: Eichi~! Rei~! What are you chattering away about all by your lonesomes? Let us join in, too~ ☆

Kaoru: Help me out, Sakuma-san... Hibiki-kun won’t leave me alone for some reason.

Eichi: Oh, my. Are you cheating on me, Wataru?

Wataru: Fufufu. We’re all here together, so I thought I would try to mingle with someone I don’t talk to often!

But now that I think of it, Hakase-kun here is quite intimate with Rei and Kanata, isn’t he?

As the third leg of the Three Oddballs, I’d love if we could get along, as well! Or rather, it would feel incomplete if we didn’t!

Kaoru: If you’re so hellbent on being friends, you could at least try to remember my name.

It’s Hakaze, not Hakase... And I don’t even really like my last name anyway, so use my first if you don’t mind, ‘kay?

Wataru: Oh, my deepest apologies! Then you shall be Kaoru-kun. You as well are more than welcome to call me “Watarunrun ♪” if you please ☆

Kaoru: Aren’t you taking things a little too fast here?!

Like, I don’t mind, but kids these days are all shy. If you come on too strong, they’ll just be turned off.

Wataru: Amazing! That is of no matter to me. Even staunch rejection is still a reaction, and any reaction is filled with more love than no reaction at all ☆

Kaoru: Wow, you’re unflappable. I could ever be that far in denial.

Wataru: Do you think so? I believe in you, Kaoru-kun; after all, you and I smell the same!

You have what it takes to make you a true believer in love: a talent for antics and whimsy... ☆

Kaoru: Um, is that a compliment? Am I supposed to be happy?

Eichi: Fufu. It seems Wataru likes you quite a bit, Hakaze-kun.

Kaoru: Yeah, no clue why, though... We were just having some casual conversation over lunch.

Rei: Fufu. That is exactly what Hibiki-kun seeks, and you give it to him as if it were the most natural thing in the world. That is why we adore you so.

Yuzuru: Excuse me! I’d like to serve dessert soon; do you have any requests?

It’s getting hotter, so perhaps something chilled would entice you?

Eichi: Yes, let’s have some ice cream—the kind you buy at a convenience store for one hundred yen. All together, just as normal high schoolers do... ♪

Yuzuru: Fufu. I would argue that something of that sort is much harder to come by in this environment. I suppose that would in turn make it the ultimate luxury, wouldn’t it?

As you wish. Please wait only a moment, everyone.

We will soon begin harsh, rigorous practice; while it isn’t exactly our Last Supper...

I would still be happy if you could all savor your last moments, right down to the last lick ♪