Tsukiuta. Boys’ 4th Season CD 2 – Shigetsuya Drama (2)

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2. Drama – "The Drive of a King, Beyond Eras and Generations"

 

[flashback.]

 

Hajime: That’s why I’m telling you... Don’t just give in so easily!

 

Haru: Listen, I’m not exactly giving in... I’m fine with your opinion. I’m only saying that we should go with what you say.

What’s gotten into you all of a sudden, Hajime?

 

Hajime: You’re irritating me because you always say that you’re fine with what I do, like what’s going on right now.

 

Haru: But... your opinion’s the one getting passed, while I’m the one you take your irritation out on...? You’re putting me in a tough spot, you know...?

 

Hajime: Then fight for it...!

 

Haru: I don’t want to! It’s meaningless!

I think it’s fine to go with your opinion, so there’s no reason for me to fight, is there?

 

Hajime: It’s... meaningless...? ...Meaningless, is it...?

 

Haru: Hajime...?

 

Hajime: Do you really think so, Haru!?

 

Haru: What...?

 

Hajime: Do you really think that’s the case? Isn’t it that you find it a pain to argue your position against mine? Or is it just you running away?

I absolutely despise your apathy being masked as consideration.

 

Haru: I think calling it apathy’s a bit too harsh, don’t you?

I don’t know the reason behind you getting angry when your own opinion was the one that got passed. So, what? What am I supposed to do?

Am I supposed to argue a suitable objection to a moderate degree, just to satisfy you?

Will that be sufficient for you?

Sheesh! What a tyrannical king you are.

 

Hajime: ...! Haru...

 

Haru: ...Let’s stop here, Hajime.

Right now, the blood’s rushed to your head, and I’m not thinking calmly, either. We should stop wasting time on something this stupid—

 

Hajime: ...It’s not stupid, dammit.

 

Haru: Hajime...?

 

Hajime: It’s not stupid. To me, it isn’t. Because this has to deal with our basic positions. I saw that just now.

I’m done. I’ve had enough.

You’re the only one... Everyone else can think of me that way. I just didn’t want you to.

 

Haru: Hajime?

 

Hajime: Haru... I’m no king.

 

Haru: Hajime...!

 

[Hajime is brought back to the present.]

 

Staff member: Hajime-kun. ...Hajime-kun?

 

Hajime: ...! Ah. I’m sorry. I was spacing out for a moment there.

 

Staff member: That’s rare. Are you tired? I suppose you’ve been too busy recently.

Even though your stance is that you’ll accept any job offers that come your way, you’ve got an abundance of them.

 

Hajime: I should be grateful that people can’t have enough of me.

 

Staff member: Well, how could they? Quite the opposite: you’re all the rage that we’re desperate to get processing the offers!

Your range has grown, Hajime-kun.

 

Hajime: My... range?

 

Staff member: Yes! “King,” “Impactful,” “So cool!” There’s that, as well as, “Handsome,” “Kind,” “Gentle.” There really is a wide range of how people see you.

You had the former descriptors already, but the latter descriptors are your unique characteristics. They’re your selling points.

Thanks to that, no matter what job comes your way, or what theme comes your way, you’re capable of being up to the task. You’re quite amazing.

This, too, might be the fruit of your own efforts in saying you’ll accept anything.

 

Hajime: ... ...This is all thanks to your assistance in giving me work that allowed me to obtain enough experience to expand my range this far. I’m glad to hear that I’ve improved.

 

-

 

[Hajime buys a drink from a vending machine and drinks it.]

 

Hajime: ...Phew...

 

Haru: Ah! Hajime, so that’s where you were.

 

Hajime: ...Oh, Haru.

 

Haru: Nice. I got a hold of you. You haven’t been looking at your phone, have you?

 

Hajime: My... phone? Ah... Did you contact me on it? Sorry. I didn’t see it.

 

Haru: It’s fine, since I found you. My meeting’s ended, and all I have to do now is go home. Same with you, right?

 

Hajime: Yeah, but... ...You seem to have a good grasp of people’s schedules, don’t you?

 

Haru: Aren’t you the same? You’ve registered all of Gravi’s schedules in your head, haven’t you?

 

Hajime: Well, yeah.

 

Haru: It’s a little too early to be going home around now. Since we’re here already, let’s wander around aimlessly together.

I’ve had fewer chances to interact with you during work, so I don’t have enough Hajime in my system.

 

Hajime: *chuckles* What’s up with that?

 

Haru: Don’t you think there’s a sense of comfort that comes from working with someone whose disposition you know?

And you can chat with them during your free time, too.

Useless conversations like that serve as a good chance of pace. But I haven’t had enough of that recently, so~

 

Hajime: It’s because you’re a chatterbox who starts talking with the drop of a hat.

I don’t mind that in itself, but I do want you to fix that roundabout and indirect way you talk.

 

Haru: In that case, I don’t mind if you’re the one talking. I’ll listen. Like a good boy.

 

Hajime: What’s with calling yourself a good boy...?

Is that your way of faking innocent cuteness? I feel absolutely no cuteness from you whatsoever. Zero points. Actually, negative points.

 

Haru: You’re one harsh grader.

 

Hajime: ...Well, you’re right that I have time on my hands.

 

Haru: Ooh?

 

Hajime: Let’s go, Haru.

 

Haru: I’d have it no other way!

 

-

 

Haru: Ha~jime, Hajime! Ta-dah~ How do these glasses look on me? 👓

 

Hajime: You look suspicious.

 

Haru: Sus—!? Then... these. 👓

 

Hajime: Increasingly suspicious.

 

Haru: Urk—Then, these? 👓

 

Hajime: Relatively suspicious.

 

Haru: ...No matter which ones I choose, you’re planning to say I look suspicious in all of them, aren’t you.

 

Hajime: What else can I say when the essence behind them is always suspicious?

 

Haru: Hey, hey~!

 

-

 

Haru: Ah, this shop. It came down the TL before, and it caught my eye.

 

Hajime: A... crepe shop? ...Lots of people are in line for it.

 

Haru: Despite how things look now, this is actually on the emptier side, I think. I read that there’s usually an hour-long wait.

Apparently, the crepes are very distinct, since they have a faint flavor to them.

You can choose from various types, and there are infinite combinations to choose from, or whatever it says.

 

Hajime: Huh...

 

Haru: Hajime, you’re conventionally attracted to sweets, aren’t you? I like them, too.

 

Hajime: Not really.

 

Haru: Though you say that~ You can’t take your eyes off it~ Jeez.

You wanna eat it, don’t you?

 

Hajime: ...Yeah. I do. We’re lining up, Haru.

 

Haru: When you get defiant and take the offensive, you suddenly become fearless.

If the two of us are in line, I guess we’d really stand out too much. We don’t have Shun’s “Goodness, how strange! Our fans can’t see us,” spell, either...

 

Hajime: *sighs* Quit talking nonsense. You’re the one who brought the topic up in the first place. You dug your own grave, so now lie in it.

 

Haru: Sure~!

 

-

 

Hajime: ...How is this?

 

Haru: Ooh, it’s great! It looks great on you! Hajime, black caps suit you so well!

How nice~... I’m bad with hats...

 

Hajime: Ah, because your head can’t fit in them.

 

Haru: Absolutely not the case! I’ve been told that my head is on the smaller side, as a matter of fact.

It’s because of my hair. Hats squash it, and I won’t be able to style my hair.

 

Hajime: Because your hair’s all fluffy.

 

Haru: I’ve been dealing with this loose~ unruly hair for over 20 years now. Yet I still have times I struggle with it.

 

Hajime: You’ll be parting with it in due time. I recommend that you become best buddies with it while you still can.

 

Haru: What does that mean, hmm~?

...Ah, are you buying that?

 

Hajime: I will. To remind me of today.

 

Haru: Eh~? If you say that, I get the feeling that I should buy something too... What should I get?

 

Hajime: It doesn’t particularly have to be a hat, does it?

 

Haru: Ah! Then can we check out the houseplants? I’m in the midst of freshening up my room with extra greenery for Hokekyo-kun.

 

Hajime: Sure.

 

-

 

Haru: Phew~ We walked a ton!

When you wander around without a goal in mind, it turns out that you’ve ended up walking a good deal, huh?

 

Hajime: You can say that again. But in your case, you’re constantly talking as you walk, so I expect that you’re exhausting yourself more than necessary.

 

Haru: Hmm~. It’s because it’s been a while since I’ve gotten to talk with someone who isn’t picky with the topics I choose, so I might’ve been a little giddy.

Was I noisy?

 

Hajime: No, I’d gotten used to it. It’s like I’m letting a radio stream by as it plays.

 

Haru: Don’t just let my conversations pass you by...

 

Hajime: ...It was a while since I got to listen to said radio, so it wasn’t all that bad.

And, to be honest, it was a relief for frayed nerves due to this and that.

 

Haru: A sudden... sweet side!

 

Hajime: *chuckles* Was it really that big of a deal?

 

[A commercial plays.]

 

Hajime: ...

 

Haru: Ah. It’s Hajime’s commercial.

 

(commercial) Hajime: “The drive of a king, beyond eras and generations.”

 

Hajime: A king......

 

Haru: ...Hey, Hajime?

 

Hajime: Hm?

 

Haru: I really do think that you’re a king, Hajime.

 

Hajime: ...What are you saying? That came out of nowhere.

 

Haru: The courage to step forward into even an unknown frontier. The strong will to keep aiming for greater heights. Unwavering beliefs. Kindness that doesn’t discriminate. Someone that encourages people. Et cetera, et cetera.

You have those various traits, more than others do. We don’t really know the word to quite accurately describe a person like that.

If we were to convey that description to a layman... I think it’d turn out to be “King.”

It’s a nickname filled with everyone’s admiration and ideals.

 

Hajime: ...

 

Haru: Hajime, I know that you don’t really like being called a king, but I actually like it when you’re called the King.

“Our King is just so amazing, isn’t he?” I’m proud to think that.

It’s because I know you’re not a figurehead king. You’re a real king.

 

Hajime: A... real king?

 

Haru: Yeah. Hajime... the king knows what it means to be alone.

 

Hajime: ...!

 

Haru: In truth, you’re always worrying as you move forward. And that you can’t just exist as something special while doing nothing. You know about it all.

You know, yet you don’t run away from that position. Because you have the strength to continue being the king, Hajime... You really are a king.

 

Hajime: Haru...

 

Haru: I’m only capable of imagining it, but the king... Whoever’s number one is always lonely somewhere, somehow. Because there’s only one of them.

But you know? There’s definitely a number two. Basically, I’ll be there for you, no matter what.

If possible, I’d like to be right by your side. If that’s too difficult, then I’ll be right behind you. I’ll be supporting you from behind.

So, Hajime, if you ever get exhausted... it’s okay for you to rest, if only a little.

 

Hajime: ...Does it look like I’m exhausted to you?

 

Haru: A little.

From how I see it, you’ve been a bit lacking in energy these days. I guess I could put it that way?

 

Hajime: I’m not exhausted. I’m telling the truth.

It’s just... *sighs* ...Well.

There’s something that’s been weighing on my mind.

 

Haru: What is it?

 

Hajime: It’s you.

 

Haru: Me?

 

Hajime: People have been saying that your recent visuals hint that you’d betray the group, right?

 

Haru: Ah, hah~! Yeah, they do. Do I really look that villainous?

 

Hajime: They’re referring to the setting and your role. But...

...Haru.

The idea of your betrayal... pains me.

 

Haru: ......What?

 

Hajime: I have my own pride, Haru. Everyone calls me “King.”

In the past, I thought myself undeserving of the title, but even so... Still, I want to be a man fitting enough to be a king. I don’t want to be someone who gets carried away after getting an undeserved crown placed atop my head.

I’ll be someone who deserves to be called “King.” That’s the type of person I want to be.

 

Haru: Hajime...

 

Hajime: But recently... there’s been that general opinion of you, the person who’s closest to me.

 

Haru: What general opinion?

 

Hajime: You look like you’d “betray” me, right?

 

Haru: ...Come again?

 

Hajime: From an outsider’s perspective, do I lack something? Does it look like I’m oppressing you? Or perhaps, is there something about me that you harbor dissatisfaction towards?

 

Haru: W-wait! Hold on! My pictures have me in-character, right?

It’s just me building my expression to go with my character setting.

It’s different from my face off work.

 

Hajime: ...Yeah, true. I know.

*sighs* You must think it strange. Even still, it bothered me. *chuckles* Oddly enough.

I think I’ve started being called “King” more often due to the influence from that commercial. And you said this already, but we’ve been having more of that work recently, so we haven’t gotten to chat.

...I suppose... I must have been a bit tired, and perhaps...

I might have felt a little lonely.

 

Haru: ...

...Hey, you know, in the past... When we fought, you said “I’m no king.” Was that also because you felt lonely?

 

Hajime: Ah... ...I’m surprised you remembered that.

 

Haru: Didn’t I tell you? That’s just how much I realized, “Ah, I screwed up.”

I wasn’t concerned that I’d angered you... Instead, I hurt you.

Personally, that was a traumatic moment, so I remember that part completely, every single word and phrase.

 

Hajime: ...It peeves me to admit it, but if we were to roughly sum it all up, I guess it’d be like that.

And, having gotten hurt, I searched for a place aside from school where I could escape. That’s why I started working at a bar.

 

Haru: Hweh? You started your secret part-time job because of that fight?

 

Hajime: Huh? ...I never told you?

 

Haru: Not once!

 

Hajime: ...I see. Then I guess you solved that mystery just now.

 

Haru: I do wonder how long this mystery’s been up in the air, only for it to be solved now...?

I got it now. Now I get it.

 

Hajime: Hey, Haru.

If I’m going to be the King, you’d better keep your own two eyes fixated on the path I walk. If something’s on your mind, you need to say it properly. And even if there isn’t, you need to tell me.

Because I won’t turn back for every little thing.

 

Haru: ...What a tyrant.

 

Hajime: Call me whatever you want. Because, even if I don’t turn back, you’ll still be there. Isn’t that right?

 

Haru: Of course!

And if I think something’s strange, I don’t care if you’re the person I’m speaking to. I’ll grab you by the scruff of your neck, stop you, and give you a talking-to, without an ounce of hesitation.

 

Hajime: Like the way you barge in on someone else’s private space without an ounce of hesitation.

 

Haru: Well, that was... er, you know! Sorry. Again.

 

Hajime: *chuckles* I’m just kidding.

Barging in that rudely is the perfect extent for me.

You’re not the only one who can do that. Arata, Aoi, Kakeru, and Koi... and all of Procella can, too.

I don’t mind being called “King.”

But I don’t need people to draw a line between me and themselves.

 

Haru: Mmhmm! I know!

Everyone, including me, knows that. Those are the feelings we have as we stay by your side.

 

Hajime: ...The drive of a king, beyond eras and generations.

 

Haru: You’re with everyone. We’re all going together!

 

Hajime: Yeah!