KEISUKE'S (good) END
as always, I'm translating from Chinese, which was translated from Japanese. Also my game is in simplified Chinese and I HATE IT. This is very rough and probably has mistakes and typos in it. It's also not always very flowy. There is a tiny bit of smalltext, which is me trying to explain something. Uh. Enjoy??
Factory Manager
Oi, Akira! Carry this over there next, willya?
Akira
Yes!
Slowly pushing a wheelbarrow filled so high with materials it was like a mountain. It was narrow inside the factory, and with the office taking up so much space, it took some effort to move around. Plus his inability to carry heavy things, it became impossible to move forward once he hit the side.
Akira
.....keep going...forward...
Moving around corners like playing a pinball machine, Akira was simultaneously angry at his own abilities and fighting a battle against the small spaces around the factory office. He wiped the sweat off his forehead with a sleeve of the work-suit covered in motor oil.
After they'd been released, the country also stabilized. Akira settled and started working in this factory in Nikkouren. It was a very small factory, with only four or five workers. He'd been offered a chance to return to the area once held by the CFC, but he refused. In these times when the country's united, the "goverment area" is only in name, and due to certain reasons, he already has no desire to go back.
To the Akira with no real skills, every day of the first month he worked in the factory was a test. No matter how badly he was scolded, Akira was able to endure it; it wasn't long before he was able to grasp what he needed to do. Today, half a year later, he's already become able to oversee the newcomers. Except, there was still the clumsiness he couldn't do anything about. A simple task like this, to Akira was an indescribably difficult one.
At the time when he was so close to his destination, a stumble caused the mountain of materials to fall to the ground with a loud sound.
Akira
..............(sighs)
He messed up again.
Manager
Akira! What are you doing?
Akira
....I'm sorry!
He bent down to pick up the materials. The scattered materials were all over the place, it took quite a while to gather them back up again. Beside Akira, who was frantically picking things up, a figure stooped down.
Keisuke
Again? Akira is really bad at this sort of thing.
Keisuke laughed, amused, as he looked at Akira's face.
Akira
......Shut up.
He turned his face, annoyed. Keisuke had also stayed in Nikkouren, working in the same factory as him. He had also worked in a factory back in CFC, so got used to it quickly. The abilities that were the result of Line didn't disappear, which were a very precious thing to this factory that currently had very little reliable help.
Keisuke
But it's the intention to work that's the important thing. The manager had complimented you recently, you know.
Keisuke said it as happily as if it was about himself. The factory manager was a stern but compassionate man, who took care of Akira and Keisuke.
Where they were before, what they'll do after.
Without caring about any of that, he hired them both. And then, because of the civil war, Toshima was no longer a place where humans could live.
Line will one day vanish from people's memories, and no one knows what happened to the executioners and Vischio. To the current Akira, it wasn't anything important anymore
But, it definitely can't be forgotten.
Even now, he'll remember.
As if it happened yesterday, to prove-
In Toshima, what happened in just a few days.
Sometimes, Keisuke will wake suddenly from nightmares. Covered in cold sweat, whole body shaking.
Even when this happens, there was no need to mutually speak comforting words. Nor do they speak of that time in every day life.
It isn't because they want to forget
If there had to be a why, it's because that "had to be us".
To live on as scars on their hearts, to inscribe it on their hearts in order to continuously overcome obstacles and keep going on.
What Akira's blood can do doesn't impede their everyday life. Keisuke's strength only heightens his value as a worker. It didn't matter how long the road is, or if they thought their journey was over, as long as they kept on living and didn't give up, their turn will come. Nobody knows what's waiting for you at the end. That's all we did, overcame a large stone in the long road of life. That's all. And it's because of that, that we have a "now". Thank goodness we got through it--we can think that now.
Keisuke
.......Akira?
His thoughts interrupted by the call and brought back to reality, he raised his head. And happened to meet Keisuke's eyes directly.
Keisuke
Are you okay?
Akira
Aa.
He nodded, and was just about to pick up everything and stand up when...
Akira
......!?
Keiseuke suddenly leaned forward, and Akira found his lips plundered by something soft. Keisuke then picked up the materials and stood, watching Akira with the grin of someone whose prank had gone off perfectly.
Keisuke
Don't reveal too many cracks.
Akira
......You........!
As if he couldn't feel his cheeks burning, Akira glared and stood up. Holding onto the front of his shirt, his foot got hooked in some of the fallen materials.
Akira
.....Ah!
Keisuke
Watch out!
His hand shot out and instantly pulled Akira into an embrace. He could feel an relieved sigh float out above his head.
Keisuke
That startled me...
He could see Keisuke's face as soon as he lifted his head. Looking at him like this, he finally felt as though Keisuke's face had changed. It was a slightly tanned face, full of vigor.
Keisuke
What is it?
Noticing Akira's gaze, Keisuke turned his head in that direction.
Akira
......Nothing. Let go of me.
Although he wanted to leave, he was tightly locked in by Keisuke's arms.
Akira
.....Oi.
Keisuke
....Hehe >D
The atmosphere had slightly changed, and Keisuke touched his forehead to Akira's with a grin.
Akira
You idiot! What are you doing!?
Wanting to flee, but his waist was held tightly, unable to move.
Akira
Will get dirty, let go...!
Keisuke
Already dirty, so it's okay! (both here and in what Akira says, I'm not sure if they mean their clothes or themselves since there isn't a subject...)
There was a streak of grease across his face. Keisuke's face was covered in oil. ...Definitely, got stained.
Keisuke
....Akira.
He looked at Keisuke, with his calm smile.
Akira
..............What?
Keisuke
You know--..........UWAUGH!
Wanting to bring his face closer to Akira, whose waist he was holding onto, Keisuke's body fell over backwards. At the same time, a huge noise was heard.
Apparently, he'd stepped on something that had fallen to the ground.
Keisuke
.....Ow.......
......Apparently, this sort of scene is still the same as ever.
Manager
What are you guys doing over there? Aah? Don't try to slack off! Hurry up and come over here!!
A loud rumbling filled the factory. Rubbing his hip, Keisuke pitifully rolled his shoulder. The other workers in the area hid their smiles.
Keisuke
Sorry about that~ I'm heading over now!
Keisuke called back the reply as he frantically cleaned up the area. Akira also picked up the remaining mess, dumping it back into the wheelbarrow.
Akira
....Just now.
Keisuke
Hm?
Akira
Was there...something you didn't say?
Keisuke
Ah, that's...
Manager
KEISUKE!!
Keisuke
....Yes, yes~
With a long-suffering smile, Keisuke ran over there. Even though he couldn't finish what he wanted to say just then, it couldn't be helped.
The wheelbarrow was raised up again.
Keisuke, returning from where the factory manager was, spoke softly into his ear as though he wanted to hold him with both arms.
Keisuke
What I wanted to tell you earlier.........
Akira
.....Ah? (surprised/startled sound)
There was a loud sound, and the materials that had been painstakingly re-stacked once again fell all over the floor.
Factory Manager
Oi, Akira! Carry this over there next, willya?
Akira
Yes!
Slowly pushing a wheelbarrow filled so high with materials it was like a mountain. It was narrow inside the factory, and with the office taking up so much space, it took some effort to move around. Plus his inability to carry heavy things, it became impossible to move forward once he hit the side.
Akira
.....keep going...forward...
Moving around corners like playing a pinball machine, Akira was simultaneously angry at his own abilities and fighting a battle against the small spaces around the factory office. He wiped the sweat off his forehead with a sleeve of the work-suit covered in motor oil.
After they'd been released, the country also stabilized. Akira settled and started working in this factory in Nikkouren. It was a very small factory, with only four or five workers. He'd been offered a chance to return to the area once held by the CFC, but he refused. In these times when the country's united, the "goverment area" is only in name, and due to certain reasons, he already has no desire to go back.
To the Akira with no real skills, every day of the first month he worked in the factory was a test. No matter how badly he was scolded, Akira was able to endure it; it wasn't long before he was able to grasp what he needed to do. Today, half a year later, he's already become able to oversee the newcomers. Except, there was still the clumsiness he couldn't do anything about. A simple task like this, to Akira was an indescribably difficult one.
At the time when he was so close to his destination, a stumble caused the mountain of materials to fall to the ground with a loud sound.
Akira
..............(sighs)
He messed up again.
Manager
Akira! What are you doing?
Akira
....I'm sorry!
He bent down to pick up the materials. The scattered materials were all over the place, it took quite a while to gather them back up again. Beside Akira, who was frantically picking things up, a figure stooped down.
Keisuke
Again? Akira is really bad at this sort of thing.
Keisuke laughed, amused, as he looked at Akira's face.
Akira
......Shut up.
He turned his face, annoyed. Keisuke had also stayed in Nikkouren, working in the same factory as him. He had also worked in a factory back in CFC, so got used to it quickly. The abilities that were the result of Line didn't disappear, which were a very precious thing to this factory that currently had very little reliable help.
Keisuke
But it's the intention to work that's the important thing. The manager had complimented you recently, you know.
Keisuke said it as happily as if it was about himself. The factory manager was a stern but compassionate man, who took care of Akira and Keisuke.
Where they were before, what they'll do after.
Without caring about any of that, he hired them both. And then, because of the civil war, Toshima was no longer a place where humans could live.
Line will one day vanish from people's memories, and no one knows what happened to the executioners and Vischio. To the current Akira, it wasn't anything important anymore
But, it definitely can't be forgotten.
Even now, he'll remember.
As if it happened yesterday, to prove-
In Toshima, what happened in just a few days.
Sometimes, Keisuke will wake suddenly from nightmares. Covered in cold sweat, whole body shaking.
Even when this happens, there was no need to mutually speak comforting words. Nor do they speak of that time in every day life.
It isn't because they want to forget
If there had to be a why, it's because that "had to be us".
To live on as scars on their hearts, to inscribe it on their hearts in order to continuously overcome obstacles and keep going on.
What Akira's blood can do doesn't impede their everyday life. Keisuke's strength only heightens his value as a worker. It didn't matter how long the road is, or if they thought their journey was over, as long as they kept on living and didn't give up, their turn will come. Nobody knows what's waiting for you at the end. That's all we did, overcame a large stone in the long road of life. That's all. And it's because of that, that we have a "now". Thank goodness we got through it--we can think that now.
Keisuke
.......Akira?
His thoughts interrupted by the call and brought back to reality, he raised his head. And happened to meet Keisuke's eyes directly.
Keisuke
Are you okay?
Akira
Aa.
He nodded, and was just about to pick up everything and stand up when...
Akira
......!?
Keiseuke suddenly leaned forward, and Akira found his lips plundered by something soft. Keisuke then picked up the materials and stood, watching Akira with the grin of someone whose prank had gone off perfectly.
Keisuke
Don't reveal too many cracks.
Akira
......You........!
As if he couldn't feel his cheeks burning, Akira glared and stood up. Holding onto the front of his shirt, his foot got hooked in some of the fallen materials.
Akira
.....Ah!
Keisuke
Watch out!
His hand shot out and instantly pulled Akira into an embrace. He could feel an relieved sigh float out above his head.
Keisuke
That startled me...
He could see Keisuke's face as soon as he lifted his head. Looking at him like this, he finally felt as though Keisuke's face had changed. It was a slightly tanned face, full of vigor.
Keisuke
What is it?
Noticing Akira's gaze, Keisuke turned his head in that direction.
Akira
......Nothing. Let go of me.
Although he wanted to leave, he was tightly locked in by Keisuke's arms.
Akira
.....Oi.
Keisuke
....Hehe >D
The atmosphere had slightly changed, and Keisuke touched his forehead to Akira's with a grin.
Akira
You idiot! What are you doing!?
Wanting to flee, but his waist was held tightly, unable to move.
Akira
Will get dirty, let go...!
Keisuke
Already dirty, so it's okay! (both here and in what Akira says, I'm not sure if they mean their clothes or themselves since there isn't a subject...)
There was a streak of grease across his face. Keisuke's face was covered in oil. ...Definitely, got stained.
Keisuke
....Akira.
He looked at Keisuke, with his calm smile.
Akira
..............What?
Keisuke
You know--..........UWAUGH!
Wanting to bring his face closer to Akira, whose waist he was holding onto, Keisuke's body fell over backwards. At the same time, a huge noise was heard.
Apparently, he'd stepped on something that had fallen to the ground.
Keisuke
.....Ow.......
......Apparently, this sort of scene is still the same as ever.
Manager
What are you guys doing over there? Aah? Don't try to slack off! Hurry up and come over here!!
A loud rumbling filled the factory. Rubbing his hip, Keisuke pitifully rolled his shoulder. The other workers in the area hid their smiles.
Keisuke
Sorry about that~ I'm heading over now!
Keisuke called back the reply as he frantically cleaned up the area. Akira also picked up the remaining mess, dumping it back into the wheelbarrow.
Akira
....Just now.
Keisuke
Hm?
Akira
Was there...something you didn't say?
Keisuke
Ah, that's...
Manager
KEISUKE!!
Keisuke
....Yes, yes~
With a long-suffering smile, Keisuke ran over there. Even though he couldn't finish what he wanted to say just then, it couldn't be helped.
The wheelbarrow was raised up again.
Keisuke, returning from where the factory manager was, spoke softly into his ear as though he wanted to hold him with both arms.
Keisuke
What I wanted to tell you earlier.........
Akira
.....Ah? (surprised/startled sound)
There was a loud sound, and the materials that had been painstakingly re-stacked once again fell all over the floor.