IDOLiSH7 PART 4 CHAPTER 8

[shionstear]

IDOLiSH7 PART 4

Chapter 8 – Gate of the heart

8.1. Fame

On a marketplace in Noth Meir.

Banri:

The latter group should arrive soon. They contacted me earlier, saying that the plane had landed…

Riku:

Mitsuki said we’ll get to see something amazing. Maybe he baked a cake and brought it?

Tamaki:

Mikki’s cake!

Sougo:

Wouldn’t carry a cake in a plane be somewhat difficult? Hm? There’s a crowd over there…

Tamaki:

You’re right. They’re taking pictures… Maybe someone famous came? …wait…

Yama-san!?

Sougo & Riku:

Yamato-san!?

Yamato:

Ah… Thank you, thank you. Thanks…

Mitsuki:

Ah! Riku and the others! Heeey!

Riku:

Mitsuki! Iori! Manager! Welcome to Noth Meir!!

Iori:

Nanase-san. Was everything okay with your attacks?

Riku:

No problem! But more importantly, Yamato-san, what’s with that outfit!?

Tamaki:

Yama-san is super cool!!

Sougo:

He’s not wearing glasses…

Mitsuki:

We’ve been stopped by everyone! He’s even more popular than in Japan! Right, Yamato-san?

Yamato:

Seriously. Japanese clothing sure is popular… All eyes are on me…

Banri:

You’re wearing contacts! How gallant, Yamato-kun! Is it for meeting with Kenneth-san?

Yamato:

Yes… My dad gave me his signature, but he somehow ended up lending me his garment too…

Sougo:

This is the original garment!?

Yamato:

Yup. Well though the shoes had to be replaced with boots, obviously. Lucky us, “Mikazuki Ookami” plays in winter…

Noth Meirian:

{Excuse me. Could I take a picture with you please?}

[TL note: This text box is written completely in English in-game as well. If more English text appears, I’ll write it in these {} brackets.]

Yamato:

Uh… OK. I don’t mind.

Tsumugi:

I shall take it! Uhm… {Shall I take a picture?}

Tamaki:

He’s super popular! Everyone is staring at him!

Riku:

It feels like he’s a celebrity!

Mitsuki:

He is a celebrity! Ahaha! But isn’t this the best!? Yamato-san’s manly look!

Sougo:

It’s the best. He looks really handsome…

Iori:

I did think already that Japanese clothing would suit him, but he and Chiba-san really do look alike, don’t they?

Yamato:

Sorry, sorry. I’ve let you wait. Hah… But to think that Nagi’s rescue operation would start with cosplay…

Tamaki:

Isn’t it good? Feels like Nagicchi!

Yamato:

Ahaha. Well you’re right there.

‘Kay, let’s get going already. …we came this far, I’m not letting him turn me down.

I’ll persuade Kenneth-san with all my might!!

Everyone:

Yeah!!

Banri:

Alright! Then I’ll go ask once more! Please wait in a warm place, everyone!

Yamato:

Should I go too?

Banri:

Yamato-kun, you’re our trump card. Could I just take the signed card with me? I’ll see how he reacts to that first.

Yamato:

Understood. I’m counting on you.

Banri:

Well then, I’m off.

Tamaki:

Yama-san, can I take a pic?

Riku:

Can I take one too?

Yamato:

What, stop it. These children, seriously…

Mitsuki:

What’s the big deal, you’re handsome! Don’t be so embarrassed all the time. I want to show this to Nagi soon too…

I’m sure he’ll go WOW!! and be overjoyed when he---

Noth Meirian Baker:

{Woah!}

Mitsuki:

……!?

Noth Meirian Baker:

OH! Mikazuki Ookami! Chiba Shizuo! Wonderful! May I take a picture?

Yamato:

Uhm, yes, sure.

Noth Meirian Baker:

Bravo! Thank you very much! You resemble Chiba Shizuo, don’t you?

Yamato:

Ahaha. Thank you very much.

Noth Meirian Baker:

I’m running a bakery. This is my shop. Irasshaimase. Take some bread and eat it please.

Mitsuki:

Your Japanese is very well. Do you like Japan?

Noth Meirian Baker:

YES! I love it! Samurai! Kirisute gomen!

[TL note: Kirisute gomen, literally translated means “permission to cut and leave”. This expression dates back to Edo period Japan in which samurai were allowed to strike down at anyone below their own rank that sullied their samurai honour.]

Tsumugi:

Then I shall take the picture! Let’s go.

Sound of picture being taken.

Noth Meirian Baker:

OH! Thank you very much!

Banri:

Guys! I got an appointment! They said they’d contact Kenneth-san!

They said he retired and that he opened a bakery, his shop should be around here…

Riku:

A bakery…?

Iori:

Are you possibly Kenneth-san!?

Bernard Kenneth:

OH! Shirazaa itte kikaseyashou! I am Bernard Kenneth.

[TL note: “Shirazaa itte kikaseyashou” (can be translated as “If you don’t know I shall tell you”) is the beginning of the long line of Benten Kozou Kikunosuke as he's sitting in front of a store in Hamamatsu, in the third act of the kabuki play Aoto Zoushi Hana no Nishiki-e, also known as Shiranami Gonin Otoko, also known as just Benten Kozou, which is btw. the protagonist of the play. It seems that line became pretty famous on its own.]

8.2. Hope

Inside the bakery.

Kenneth:

Come in, come in. Please sit down. Please accept these humble chairs…

Tamaki:

That’s not really something you say with chairs. Say it when you give us sweets and stuff.

Kenneth:

OH! Sweets! Sweets! How about doughnuts? Please accept these humble doughnuts.

Tamaki:

Nice! I’ll eat them!

Tsumugi:

Please excuse us, Kenneth-san. And thank you very much.

Kenneth:

OK, OK! No need to apologize! The friends of my Prince are my friends too.

Mitsuki:

“My Prince” … you mean Nagi, right?

Kenneth:

YES! Prince Nagi is an important friend.

Sougo:

Prince Nagi… Hearing it again sure is awe-inspiring…

Riku:

But it sounds a bit lonely too… Can’t we just call him Nagi?

Iori:

Nanase-san. We can’t do anything about it, can we? It’s about the prince of his own country…

Kenneth:

OH… Well then, let’s call him tono, Japanese style.

Mitsuki:

Th-that’s not really for kings?

Kenneth:

Nagi-dono.

Yamato:

Pff… Crap. I may burst out laughing…

Kenneth:

I have been friends with Nagi-dono since he was of young age…

Sougo:

Oh no… The Nagi-kun inside my head started wearing a long hakama…

Tamaki:

In my head he started tying up his hair in a chonmage too…

[TL note: The chonmage hair style is a traditional topknot hair style for men, I’m sure you’ve seen it around in various samurai works.]

Riku:

I-I’m sorry! Let’s make it Prince Nagi after all!

Kenneth:

OH! OK! Are you all Prince Nagi’s friends from Japan?

Mitsuki:

Exactly. We’re working as idols in Japan, and Nagi was one of our members. We sang and danced together.

Kenneth:

Idol? Prince Nagi did?

Mitsuki:

Yes. Here, this is our MV.

Kenneth:

Oh my god…

…beautiful… My prince… OH… But, how weird…

Iori:

Weird?

Kenneth:

Why is my respected Prince Nagi not the center of the 7 I wonder…?

Riku:

Uhm… that’s… I’m the center of IDOLiSH7.

Kenneth:

OH… To leave my Prince out of it… You lot…

Riku:

P-prince Nagi agreed to it too!

Iori:

S-stop the video. I get a feeling we really shouldn’t show him the scene in which Rokuya-san is kneeling down.

Mitsuki:

A-ahaha! And this is how our MVs look!

Kenneth:

OK… I wanted to watch more. It was a wonderful music video.

But I have to say, the runway of an airport is extremely dangerous. If you take my Prince along, please make sure everything is safe.

Tsumugi:

Ah, yes. We shall deal with it appropriately.

Kenneth:

And… On Noth Meir’s national holiday, make my Prince the center of your formation. It’ll please the people of Noth Meir a lot.

Riku:

U-understood. The people here love Nagi, huh?

Kenneth:

Of course! Prince Nagi is Noth Meir’s pride, Noth Meir’s angel!

Riku:

My big brother is Japan’s angel too!

Iori:

Don’t compete with each other please.

Kenneth:

OH! I need to show you all something amazing! Photographs of when Prince Nagi was a child.

Yamato:

This… The guy standing next to him, isn’t that the president of some country!?

Mitsuki:

Ahh, now that you mention it, he said they were friends! But I always thought he was joking!!

Kenneth:

I recommend this picture too.

Sougo:

He’s riding a white horse…!

Tamaki:

A prince riding a white horse!! The real thing!!

Kenneth:

The name of his favourite horse is Rodyule. And this is Prince Nagi’s favourite car.

Banri:

That’s a super fancy Italian high-class car…!

Tsumugi:

Now I feel somewhat sorry for driving him around in a minivan…

Kenneth:

This is a picture of Prince Nagi that he took together with his favourite anime goods.

Riku:

Ah, the usual thing.

Iori:

It really is. That calms me down a bit. I feel the healing power of the magic wand.

Riku:

Right? It’s relaxing.

Kenneth:

Also, there’s this…

Yamato:

I-I think that’s enough! Kenneth-san, we want to meet with Nagi. Isn’t there any way to see him?

Kenneth:

OH! Prince Nagi has returned to Noth Meir!?

Yamato:

Yes… He didn’t tell us anything and suddenly…

Kenneth:

OH…

Mitsuki:

We got a letter, but it felt unnatural. We thought that maybe he was taken back by force…

Tamaki:

So we came from Japan to visit Nagicchi. Do you know anything that happened to Nagicchi? Isn’t there a way to meet him?

Kenneth:

…

Nagi…cchi?

Tamaki:

Wh-what. Are you angry?

Sougo:

Ta-Tamaki-kun. Nagi-kun is Noth Meir’s prince. You probably shouldn’t call him Nagicchi.

Yamato:

Go with Prince Nagi!

Tamaki:

We… We want to see Prince Nagi and take him back with us. Please.

Kenneth:

Hm… Prince Seth was wishing for Prince Nagi to return home.

Because Prince Seth needs Prince Nagi’s help.

It might be difficult for Prince Nagi to return to Japan…

Riku:

Why!? Seth-san is Nagi’s big brother, right? Why is he doing such horrible things to Nagi?

Kenneth:

Horrible things…?

Sougo:

There’s been an incident where Nagi-ku… Prince Nagi has been threatened with his friend Sakura Haruki having been taken hostage.

Kenneth:

Oh my god… Haruki Sakura…

Mitsuki:

Do you know anything about Sakura-san!?

Kenneth:

…I have met him a few times. He was a person that Prince Nagi trusted.

You have come to rescue Prince Nagi. So I will trust you as well…

I’ll promise. I shall find a way for you to meet Prince Nagi.

Mitsuki:

Yes! Thank you very much!!

Riku:

We can, finally meet Nagi…! Thank you very much, Kenneth-san!!

Kenneth:

You’re welcome!

Yamato:

Hey, Kenneth-san. That Seth guy… I mean, Prince Seth… …nah, that bastard Seth, what kinda guy is he?

Why is he putting Nagi through all this? If he wants Nagi’s help, there should be a better way to do things, right?

Kenneth:

… Prince Seth is a kind-hearted philanthropist…

Artists, students, volunteers. To fulfil their dreams, he supports those with no power of their own. He is our respected Prince.

It was the same with Prince Nagi. His standing was complicated due to him having Japanese blood. Prince Seth supported him.

Every one of them, even Prince Nagi, were grateful for the support they received. But…

Mitsuki:

…yes?

Kenneth:

Prince Seth only helped them for his own good… So he’d be thanked and could feel proud.

To turn other people’s dreams into his own amusement.

Mitsuki:

…to make those dreams his own amusement?

Kenneth:

Yes… He tries to interfere and control other people’s lives from a safe place where he can’t get hurt…

Prince Seth is like a frozen storm, a terrifying person.

8.3. Frozen storm

Several years earlier.

Seth:

<Nagi, there are a lot of people that don’t talk well about you either. But I am your ally. If there’s something you want to do, let me know.>

Nagi:

<Thank you very much, Dear Brother! If that is the case, I would like to learn Japanese. Because it’s the language of my mother’s country.>

<Though with only Japanese, it might cause unexpected misunderstanding. I’d like to study the languages of different countries.>

Seth:

<Alright, Nagi. I shall ready different teachers for you. I’m always wishing for the happiness of my cute Nagi.>

<I love you, Nagi.>

Nagi:

<As do I, Dear Brother!>

Short fade out and in again.

Seth:

<Haha… Nagi is a quick learner. It was an excellent decision to let him take special education.>

Seth’s subordinate:

<As expected of Your Highness’ little brother! He has almost completely acquired English, Japanese and Danish and now he’s being taught in Chinese!>

Seth:

<…hee. I didn’t hear about that.>

Seth’s subordinate:

<Your Highness Seth…?>

Seth:

<This should be enough learning about foreign languages. Make it so Nagi’s teacher’s stop teaching him.>

Cut to Nagi’s room.

Nagi:

<Dear Brother did? Even though he was happy that I wanted to study. I thought he’d be glad that I could learn so quickly…>

Maid:

<Might he not just worry about Your Highness Nagi’s well-being? It’d be better to take it more slowly.>

Nagi:

<You’re right… Understood. I will. My Dear Brother is so kind and worried about me.>

Cut to Seth’s room.

Overseas visitor:

<Your Highness Seth. I heard you are a magnificent benefactor. That you’ve let the talent of Your little brother bloom with your own hands, without getting jealous of his skills.>

Seth:

<...>

<Yes. That is true. I shall let you meet him next time. I shall show you how Nagi talks to you in your country’s language.>

Cut to Nagi’s room.

Nagi:

<Until next month? Me as an interpreter? I am happy that I got the permission, but this is rather sudden… I wonder if I can do it properly.>

<But as expected, Dear Brother is kind! I have to work harder in order to properly respond to my Dear Brother’s support.>

Butler:

<Your Highness Nagi is Noth Meir’s pride after all! There is no one that doesn’t wish for Your happiness.>

Nagi:

<Ahaha! Thank you! I love everyone too!>

Cut to a hall of the palace.

Nagi:

<…why are you angry? The guests did praise me as well. I too worked my hardest to properly answer your expecta--->

Seth:

<Because you forgot your gratitude towards me and soared too high in front of the guests. I’m very sad, Nagi.>

Nagi:

<I would never…>

Seth:

<So you too forget your gratitude once your wishes are fulfilled, huh? People are all the same, they become heartless once they got what they wanted…>

Nagi:

<Dear Brother, please don’t make such a sad expression… It was my fault. I am sorry for having hurt you, Dear Brother.>

Seth:

<Thanks to whom are you who you are today?>

Nagi:

<Thanks to you, my Dear Brother. I love you from the bottom of my heart.>

Seth:

<Good child, Nagi.>

Cut to Seth’s room.

Seth:

<Cut the support to that athlete. He didn’t come to greet me and didn’t even mention me in his speech on the award ceremony.>

Butler:

<Understood. Also, the female picture book author has sent You a letter of gratitude.>

Seth:

<Ah, I’m glad. Her dream came true after all. I’m happy that I can support powerless people. I save the weak ones and guide them towards their dreams; like the voice of god.>

<She is extolling me to be akin to a saint. What a wonderful letter. My tears have started flowing…>

Butler:

<I did not expect anything else from Your Highness Seth. You Yourself are someone blessed with a wonderful talent. Wouldn’t You like to try and challenge something Yourself as well?>

Seth:

<And what if I failed?>

Butler:

<…>

Seth:

<I am Noth Meir’s Crown Prince. If I challenged something and failed, wouldn’t that bring shame upon my noble name?>

<If I only support, then no matter if they shouldn’t fulfil my expectations and cause scandals, I can just say that I’ve been fooled.>

<That is why the ones I support must succeed as purely and brilliantly as they can. Because I, the prince, am contributing to them.>

<By following my orders, they must achieve glory befitting of my name in my stead.>

Butler:

<Your Highness Seth, there is a problem…>

Seth:

<What?>

Butler:

<There has been a rumour about the true identity of the foreign voluntary group that You’ve been supporting and lent an estate to; they’re supposedly the mastermind behind an international terrorist group…>

Seth:

<…>

Butler:

<We must do something. Noth Meir is being called the supporters of terrorists. Shouldn’t we seek Your Father for consultation?>

Seth:

<No, I don’t want to burden my Dear Father with unnecessary worries. Let us leave it to Nagi.>

Butler:

<To His Highness Nagi!? What are you talking about!? He is but a child!?>

Seth:

<Choose your words wisely. Don’t look down on my little brother.>

<Nagi excels at languages, is smart and has pledged loyalty to me. Even if we’d let him into royal affairs, they wouldn’t think strangely of it. Furthermore, if their opponent is a child they’d be sure to lower their guard, wouldn’t they?>

Cut to hall in palace.

Seth:

<The beautiful and smart little brother that I’ve raised… Please don’t forget about me even after I die.>

Nagi:

<Please don’t talk about dying… Dear Father is horrible too, not wanting to help You...>

Seth:

<This is secret, Nagi. I may be killed by them soon. But if you were able to save me…>

Nagi:

<I will save you! In place of my Dear Father and everyone else, I will protect my Dear Brother!>

<Because I am only here today because You have loved me, Dear Brother.>

Seth:

<Haha… Thank you, Nagi. I love you.>

Cut to Seth’s room.

Seth’s subordinate:

<Your Highness Seth, about the visit of His Highness Nagi in the hospital…>

Seth:

<As if I’d go. Dear Father would suspect that I am involved in it as well. Letting the morgue go up in flames… what a stupid child.>

Seth’s subordinate:

<Even His Highness Nagi is doing his best to keep it a secret from His Majesty. But now that it’s come to this it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out.>

Seth:

<Did Nagi inform my Dear Father?>

Seth’s subordinate:

<He did not, because he respects You dearly.>

Seth:

<I see. Remove the guards from Nagi’s side. And after that, how about properly entombing their remnants in darkness.>

Seth’s subordinate:

<…Your Highness Seth…>

Seth:

<Nagi has far too much talent. It’s unfortunate, but I can no longer support him anymore. But more importantly, have you heard about that Japanese pianist?>

<He seems to be young, has achieved a lot already and is quite famous. If he intends to recover in Noth Meir, he would need my help, wouldn’t he?>

<Ah, I’m so busy. So many people with hidden lights that need my help are waiting for me all around the country.>

<…hm? This letter? From Minister Bernard Kenneth?>

<To His Beloved Highness Seth… I shall offer you advice filled with love. Your Highness are certainly well-known and famous for being a philanthropist, but Your behaviour is not that of a charity.>

<From a safe place where you cannot get hurt Yourself, You intervene with the lives of other people that are chasing a dream, control and manipulate them.>

<What You are pouring into them is but distorted narcissism. You must not use lives that are lived frantically by people for Your own amusement.>

<…hmph.>

<Throw this away.>

Cut back to present, in the bakery.

Kenneth:

Some years later I left the royal palace…

Mitsuki:

…how horrible… I don’t get it… What does that guy want to accomplish!?

Riku:

Even though Nagi did his best for his brother… Did the king not say anything about it?

Kenneth:

Everyone trusted Prince Seth. He helped the weak, he was a kind-hearted person…

But as Prince Nagi learned the truth about Prince Seth, he closed off his heart…

And that was when he met Haruki Sakura. Prince Nagi would get closer to him day and day…

8.4. Wind calming barstool

In the past again, in a bar lounge.

Nagi:

<That was fun. I’ll go home for today. …for you.>

Haruki:

<Money? This is too much for my café au lait or my performance.>

Nagi:

<You don’t look like you’re very affluent. Wouldn’t you be happy to receive money for your living expenses?>

Haruki:

<Nagi, you can’t do that. You mustn’t decide for others what could make them happy or glad.>

Nagi:

<…you should accept this money and be grateful to me.>

Haruki:

<I can’t. If I had to say why, it’d be because right now I’m hurt.>

Nagi:

<Why?>

Haruki:

<Try to think about it.>

Nagi:

<…as if one could understand other people’s feelings!>

Haruki:

<Exactly. We cannot. And yet you just decided on them. Saying that I should be happy and grateful to you.>

Nagi:

<…>

Haruki:

<No matter how much someone’s saved or how many good deeds they receive, the hearts of people should be free.>

<No one can restrict it.>

Nagi:

<…I had to be grateful to my Dear Brother. Because he loved me.>

Haruki:

<Your big brother? If you want to do it then that’s fine. But if you don’t, then it’s okay not to do it too.>

Nagi:

<You think so? Is it because my brother is actually a bad person?>

Haruki:

<You don’t have to make him a villain, if you want to hate then hate. You don’t need to make him a hero, if you want to like then like.>

Nagi:

<… My Dear Brother is surely jealous of me.>

<He acted as if he was kind, but in truth he loathed me. Dear Brother is a terrible person, right? Say that he’s terrible.>

Haruki:

<I can’t. I haven’t even met him.>

Nagi:

<Didn’t you say you were my friend!? Then be my ally!>

Haruki:

<I am your friend, and I am also your ally. But you mustn’t decide for yourself what I feel, and you mustn’t control me either.>

<One has to acknowledge the freedom of a person’s heart and try to understand it. That’s what it means to respect others. And if we don’t respect each other, people couldn’t stay together.>

Nagi:

<You only say sad things… In truth you probably hate me too. Madame said so. That men are jealous of me.>

Haruki:

<Jealous? Hmm, maybe if, in ten years, you’d try to win over a pretty woman that I like. Maybe I’d get a bit jealous then?>

<Though I don’t know if I’ll be alive in ten years.>

Nagi:

<Eh…?>

Haruki:

<Nagi, we’re all alone, we can’t understand the hearts of others. The hearts of people have no norm, no duty and no responsibility.>

<And yet, because there are wonders in which one gets close to each other, people and meetings alike are wonderful.>

<So don’t be scared. Talk to me about what you want to talk.>

<So even if I don’t agree to what you say, even if it’s something I can’t forgive, it’s okay if I acknowledge the things you felt.>

<No matter what it is, if you alone treasure your own emotions, then that’s fine. The only one that feels that way is the boy called Nagi after all.>

Nagi:

<… Say that my brother is a terrible person.>

Haruki:

<Tell me your story.>

Nagi:

<… I will… not do anything that brings shame upon my Noth Meir name.>

Haruki:

<What do you mean shame?>

<No matter the sadness or setback, it’s not going to put shame on you or hurt you. It’ll just make you strong, beautiful and rich.>

<It’s okay to cry and yell. If it’s something that shakes up your heart that much, it just means that you’ve encountered it and stood up to it.>

<You know. You’re doing something very great. Talking about one’s heart requires the utmost courage. But you want us to understand each other, right?>

<Then I’ll swear to truthfully face your courage with all I’ve got.>

Nagi:

<…>

<…uh… …ad…>

<…I was sad…>

Haruki:

<…>

Nagi:

<… Dear Brother… did something horrible to me…>

<…even though I loved him… he hated me… …I’m sad… Really sad…>

<……I’m sad…!>

Haruki:

<…you’ve been through a lot huh, Nagi. It’s okay to raise your voice and cry.>

<I’ll wipe away your tears.>

Nagi crying loudly.

Cut to Nagi’s room.

Nagi:

<Haruki, Haruki. Talk to me about Japan!>

Haruki:

<Okay. But talking about it every day, I’m going out of ideas. I’ve been thinking of returning to Japan soon.>

Nagi:

<You have to stay here! If you returned, you couldn’t meet the friend you’re looking for, and you could be attacked by a ninja survivor too.>

Haruki:

<Talk to me with your own words. Don’t use theories to try and make me nod in agreement.>

Nagi:

<…I don’t want you to go.>

Haruki:

<Well done. It’s not good to try and make others forcibly agree with you. In the end they just go away from you.>

<If you do, then the other people will feel constrained when being with you. You don’t like being alone, right?>

Nagi:

<…I’ll do my best. If I do, will you stay here?>

Haruki:

<I will go back.>

Nagi:

<……>

Haruki:

<…don’t throw a cushion at me.>

Nagi:

<You’re a dishonest man…! I’m trying my best to match you, yet you don’t even try to match me!>

Haruki:

<Even if you deny my individuality, it’s not going to change me. It’ll just make me be fed up with you. Look for another method.>

Nagi:

<…saying fed up is mean… …uhm…>

Haruki:

<Don’t be discouraged, do your best.>

Nagi:

<…if I do my best, will you stay? Is there really a correct answer? If there’s not, then this is unfair, isn’t it…?>

Haruki:

<Hm, I’m not sure either. Maybe if something resounds in my heart I’ll stay.>

Nagi:

<… In your heart… Ah…!>

<If you return to Japan you’ll die.>

Haruki:

<Ah, that’s the number one thing you shouldn’t say.>

Nagi:

<I can’t huh… Then, I’ll ready countless of your favourite things for you.>

Haruki:

<What kind of things?>

Nagi:

<Uh… uhm… The piano! You like the piano, right?>

Haruki

<I do, don’t I?>

Nagi:

<Got it! Ehehe… And you like Noth Meir. And you like me. Say that you like me.>

Haruki:

<I love you Nagi.>

Nagi:

<Waaai! See! Well then, teach me the piano in Noth Meir! I bet it’ll be fun, right, Haruki!>

Haruki:

<It does sound fun. I may get convinced.>

Nagi:

<Yay I did it!>

Haruki:

<Are you happy, Nagi?>

Nagi:

<I am! When I’m with you I’m happy! That’s why I wanted to stay with you… And for you not to return to Japan.>

Haruki:

<How cute. You should’ve said that from the beginning. I would’ve said OK from the start.>

Nagi:

<Really? Then I’ll tell you like that next time.>

Haruki:

<That’d be nice. Being honest is the number one thing.>

<Nagi. Ascertain from time to time what it is that makes you happy. Ask yourself from time to time, if you’re happy right now.>

<People get lost easily on their paths. Even though they’re supposed to live for their happiness, before they know it, they walked into the wrong direction.>

<That’s why look up at the sky and try asking Polaris, like a sailor on a shipwrecked boat. Ask it, if you’re happy at the moment.>

Nagi:

<I’ll try. Ehehe… Ahh, if you could just stay here forever and play with me, how happy I’d be.>

<If you’d just think about me all the time, daydream about me, do whatever I say, don’t be mean to me, if playing with me would make you the happiest; that’d be nice!>

Haruki:

<What a child full of desires. You have the qualities of a playboy. Can’t wait for the future.>

8.5. Songs and a letter

Still in the past, Nagi’s room.

Nagi:

<…Haruki, what is that?>

Haruki:

<Ah. The thing on TV? A Japanese anime.>

Nagi:

<A cute girl is fighting with magic…>

Haruki:

<Yup. Is it fun?>

Nagi:

<Somehow… I feel something in my chest…>

Haruki:

<Ah. That’s that.>

<Moe.>

Nagi:

<…moe…>

Haruki:

<Yup, that’s moe. My Japanese friend said so.>

Nagi:

<…this is moe…>

Haruki:

<Ahaha. You’re completely absorbed in it. I’ll buy you some transformation goods next time.>

Nagi:

<…>

Haruki:

<Which one is your favourite? I like the one on the righ--->

Nagi:

<Shh, don’t talk… I can’t hear it.>

Haruki:

<S-sorry.>

Cut to a marketplace.

Nagi:

<…it doesn’t look like the snow will stop today huh…>

Haruki:

<You’re right. Looks like the town will be completely white.>

Nagi:

<…Haruki. I’ll be helping Dear Brother with his work when spring comes. Because he was troubled…>

Haruki:

<Is that so.>

Nagi:

<You won’t ask why?>

Haruki:

<I kind of get it. Your brother apologized to you, right? Said that he liked you.>

Nagi:

<…do you think it was a lie?>

Haruki:

<Hm, who knows?>

Nagi:

<I think it’s a lie… Yet I still accepted it. I wonder, is it because I want to be loved by him?>

<Maybe he wants to love me like he used to? He said, that I was still a young child and that he worries about me…>

<One half inside of my heart ridiculed him, but the other half was trembling with naïve emotions.>

<When I was younger, Dear Brother was kind to me. He supported me and was happy about my growth. Was that because I wanted to believe it was love?>

Haruki:

<Could be.>

Nagi:

<…I’ll probably anger him again. Because I’m not the ignorant, unreliable and powerless child that he thinks I am.>

<Being loved is difficult. Is it that my method of being loved isn’t good, or is it that his method of loving isn’t good…?>

Haruki:

<It is difficult. My friend was suffering too. On the borderline of love, expectations, control and support.>

<Dealing with affection is very difficult, no matter if you’re trying to love or be loved properly. Even though the world is brimming with love, right?>

<It’s probably the same with idols and fans?>

Nagi:

<Are you talking about Zero?>

Haruki:

<Exactly. If you get to love someone you will think about them. If you think about them then expectations, attachment and ideals are born. But that is never supposed to be a tragedy.>

<Wishing for someone to make your heart beat fast is something very lovely, human and obvious. And way better than not having expectations for anyone.>

<It’s a wonderful thing that people meet each other and are able to bring forth memories. Even if that may be as ephemeral as a bubble on water.>

Nagi:

<But I can’t fulfil my brother’s wish. And you can’t fulfil my wish. The more we think of someone, the more we pass by one another and hurt ourselves.>

Haruki:

<Even then, I still love you. Even then, someone will be together with someone else that matches them. This kind of world… I like it.>

Nagi:

<…I want you to fulfil my wish. If you’d just accept the treatment here in Noth Meir.>

Haruki:

<Sorry that I can’t stay by your side forever.>

Nagi:

<…>

<If… I'd be able to make a friend, I’ll stay by their side forever. I’d stay by their side, and fill them with all my love…>

<I may have missed my chance to become friends with Thorvald and my brother… …but if I, someday, made a friend…>

Haruki:

<I’m here too.>

Nagi:

<… I don’t need a friend that will go away somewhere…>

Haruki:

<Eventually you’ll understand too, Nagi. No matter how far apart we are, I’ll be thinking of you. I’ll be watching over you, by your side.>

Cut to hall in palace. Several years passed.

Nagi:

<Haruki…!>

Haruki:

<How tall you’ve become, Nagi… Soon you’ll be taller than me huh.>

Nagi:

<…you look really pale… Go get examined by our doctors right now.>

Haruki:

<It’s no big deal. Today I’ve come to say farewell. Since, before long, I don’t know when I’ll die…>

<…I wanted to leave a proper impression at the end and show you my Japanese manners. Since it’s your country too…>

Nagi:

<I don’t want to hear any farewells… Please, undergo medical treatment at the palace. Like I’ve already asked you to last year and the year before that!>

Haruki:

<I won’t cause you any troubles…>

Nagi:

<It’s for my happiness. My Polaris is pointing into this direction and shows happiness there. Haruki, I beg of you, accept the treatment.>

<…you’re my only friend, Haruki… Please, you’re irreplaceable… Don’t go and leave me behind…>

Haruki:

<……>

<Understood… Until winter is over.>

Cut back to the present, back in the bakery.

Kenneth:

…and then spring came, and even when it became summer, Prince Nagi would stop Haruki Sakura from leaving, but before the next winter came, he vanished.

And only left behind his songs and a letter.

To be continued…