Fairy Tale - Happily Ever After 5
Nov. 25th, 2024 09:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
iridesenescenceSeason: Spring
Tori: You wanna know something, Eichi-sama?! I thought the little mermaid was silly for choosing to give up her utopia and come onto land too!
When I heard how the story ends, I thought, "Ah~. See, what's what you get." I looked down on her too, just like you. We're the same!
But... But you know what? I realised something. The little mermaid came onto land for the person she loved.
Tori: That alone was enough to make me like her.
Even if it meant losing her tail so she couldn't swim anymore. Even if it meant losing her voice so she couldn't express her feelings.
She chose to be with the person she loved.
Eichi: ......
Tori: The little mermaid had resolve and determination.
And so do I.
It might just look like blind imitation to you, but I'm staying by your side because I want to, Eichi-sama.
Please don't pretend that my resolve and determination is a lie. Don't act like they don't exist. Don't create a boundary and push me away just because you've decided I'm 'pure'.
Eichi: Tori......
Tori: You said you like messy, tainted things, right?
That's nice, isn't it? If you're both tainted, you won't mind being dirtied even further, so you can breathe easy. And you don't have to worry about being hated or scorned even if your true self is exposed.
That's not fair, Eichi-sama.
If you say I'm an angel, I have no choice but to remain as one, don't I? After all, you're the one who wants me to stay angelic.
But you know, I don't mind being tainted. Don't shy away from touching me just because you think your hands are covered in filthy, messy blood.
Tori: I can get dirty. I'll clean it up myself. I'll clean the dirt off of you, too.
I don't mind suffering together with you. I know I won't regret it.
Because that's proof that you're paying proper attention to me, isn't it?
Eichi: ......
Eichi: Ah. Calling you an angel... Wishing for you to remain angelic... It's all me, huh...
(The thought that I, too, could have turned out like that if, back then, I had continued walking forward without being tainted.)
(I must have seen myself in him.)
Tori, you're a clean, pure version of me. An ideal version of myself who grew up without becoming warped in any way. An ideal that I wish to become.
Tori: T-that's giving me too much credit. I'm not that impressive of a person...
Eichi: Really? You're honest, sincere and optimistic. Even if you trip and fall, you pick yourself back up and keep going without being disheartened. When faced with detours, you treat them as a learning experience without complaining.
Having an ideal appear before your very eyes... That's just like the fairy tale of "Mercury and the Woodman".
Tori: "Mercury and the Woodman"?
Eichi: This title is probably more familiar — "The Honest Woodcutter". You've heard of it, right?
Tori: Ah, yeah. The woodcutter drops his axe, and the goddess asks him which axe is his.
Eichi: Right. You're my golden axe, Tori.
But I can't claim that to be my own axe, because mine is old and worn-down. If I tell that lie, I'll lose everything.
Tori: ......
Eichi: So instead, I hoped with all my heart. Because that was all I could do. Since that axe couldn't be mine, I hoped that it would shine brighter than anything else.
Eichi: (Or perhaps I wanted to think that even someone as tainted as myself could produce an angel.)
And just like that, without realising it, I ended up tying you down with my egotistical words.
They do say that young boys can grow and mature in just three days... I suppose this is what Wataru was referring to. Yes, I see now. I do want to cling to the notion a little longer.
Tori: Huh? Uh? What're you talking about, Eichi-sama?
Eichi: Fufu, it's nothing.
(I suppose the time has come. Tori has grown much stronger than I thought, and I have to recognise that.)
Tori: ......?
Eichi: ... I understand, Tori.
Let's proceed with this proposal for Atlantis. Of course, there are still some minor details that need to be adjusted.
But we'll do as you wish.
Of course, I'll accept your request to have fine act as the ambassadors too.
Tori: Eichi-sama! I-is that really okay...?!
Eichi: Yes, it would be a shame to leave such a wonderful proposal unrealised.
Tori: Thank you, Eichi-sama! I promise you won't regret this — I'll definitely make this into a happy ending!
Happily Ever After 4 || Happily Ever After 6
Tori: You wanna know something, Eichi-sama?! I thought the little mermaid was silly for choosing to give up her utopia and come onto land too!
When I heard how the story ends, I thought, "Ah~. See, what's what you get." I looked down on her too, just like you. We're the same!
But... But you know what? I realised something. The little mermaid came onto land for the person she loved.
Tori: That alone was enough to make me like her.
Even if it meant losing her tail so she couldn't swim anymore. Even if it meant losing her voice so she couldn't express her feelings.
She chose to be with the person she loved.
Eichi: ......
Tori: The little mermaid had resolve and determination.
And so do I.
It might just look like blind imitation to you, but I'm staying by your side because I want to, Eichi-sama.
Please don't pretend that my resolve and determination is a lie. Don't act like they don't exist. Don't create a boundary and push me away just because you've decided I'm 'pure'.
Eichi: Tori......
Tori: You said you like messy, tainted things, right?
That's nice, isn't it? If you're both tainted, you won't mind being dirtied even further, so you can breathe easy. And you don't have to worry about being hated or scorned even if your true self is exposed.
That's not fair, Eichi-sama.
If you say I'm an angel, I have no choice but to remain as one, don't I? After all, you're the one who wants me to stay angelic.
But you know, I don't mind being tainted. Don't shy away from touching me just because you think your hands are covered in filthy, messy blood.
Tori: I can get dirty. I'll clean it up myself. I'll clean the dirt off of you, too.
I don't mind suffering together with you. I know I won't regret it.
Because that's proof that you're paying proper attention to me, isn't it?
Eichi: ......
Eichi: Ah. Calling you an angel... Wishing for you to remain angelic... It's all me, huh...
(The thought that I, too, could have turned out like that if, back then, I had continued walking forward without being tainted.)
(I must have seen myself in him.)
Tori, you're a clean, pure version of me. An ideal version of myself who grew up without becoming warped in any way. An ideal that I wish to become.
Tori: T-that's giving me too much credit. I'm not that impressive of a person...
Eichi: Really? You're honest, sincere and optimistic. Even if you trip and fall, you pick yourself back up and keep going without being disheartened. When faced with detours, you treat them as a learning experience without complaining.
Having an ideal appear before your very eyes... That's just like the fairy tale of "Mercury and the Woodman".
Tori: "Mercury and the Woodman"?
Eichi: This title is probably more familiar — "The Honest Woodcutter". You've heard of it, right?
Tori: Ah, yeah. The woodcutter drops his axe, and the goddess asks him which axe is his.
Eichi: Right. You're my golden axe, Tori.
But I can't claim that to be my own axe, because mine is old and worn-down. If I tell that lie, I'll lose everything.
Tori: ......
Eichi: So instead, I hoped with all my heart. Because that was all I could do. Since that axe couldn't be mine, I hoped that it would shine brighter than anything else.
Eichi: (Or perhaps I wanted to think that even someone as tainted as myself could produce an angel.)
And just like that, without realising it, I ended up tying you down with my egotistical words.
They do say that young boys can grow and mature in just three days... I suppose this is what Wataru was referring to. Yes, I see now. I do want to cling to the notion a little longer.
Tori: Huh? Uh? What're you talking about, Eichi-sama?
Eichi: Fufu, it's nothing.
(I suppose the time has come. Tori has grown much stronger than I thought, and I have to recognise that.)
Tori: ......?
Eichi: ... I understand, Tori.
Let's proceed with this proposal for Atlantis. Of course, there are still some minor details that need to be adjusted.
But we'll do as you wish.
Of course, I'll accept your request to have fine act as the ambassadors too.
Tori: Eichi-sama! I-is that really okay...?!
Eichi: Yes, it would be a shame to leave such a wonderful proposal unrealised.
Tori: Thank you, Eichi-sama! I promise you won't regret this — I'll definitely make this into a happy ending!
Happily Ever After 4 || Happily Ever After 6
