Everyone have a fun april fools? As for me, Pil/Slash was probably the winner by making the most awesome song for what was the most disgusting character.
[...My apologies. I was out of line]
Teruaki, looking at Mitsunobu who fell silent, letting out a tiny sigh, slightly softened his voice.
[At the time when nii-san's ilness had been cured, and the topic turned to you being the heir after all came up, I said nothing. Though it's also because I was just a child at that time but, more than anything, it was because the you at that time seemed to me like the person fitting to become the heir. ...That at some point, had changed to a different person and it was over]
--Changed to a different person, huh.
Mitsunobu smiles bitterly. To Teruaki's eyes, did it seem like that?
Thinking about it, I have hardly any memory of us siblings having played together like other ordinary siblings.
Though it's also because their ages would be nothing but 5 years apart but, more than anything, it was the surroundings thought that they shouldn't let them near Mitsunobu who was prone to ilness.
After recovering from the disease, this time it was Mitsunobu who had his hands full. ''So that he wouldn't be despised'', it consisted only of that. There wasn't room to look after his siblings, and soon after he entered the boarding school.
Though she's the opposite sex, is it the familiarity of sorts, even so Hikaruko grew attached to me pretty well but...
I see. To begin with, there was a gap between me and Teruaki.
[Just, please don't misunderstand. It's not that I don't accept you. Actually, even now nii-san is splendidly performing the work entrusted to him by father. For this reason--]
As Mitsunobu would reveal a small wry smile, it interrupts Teruaki's speech.
[Teruaki. It seems like, I'm not fit to be the heir]
[...Nii-san?]
Teruaki's voice seems in doubt. It's not unreasonable. If Teruaki's speech is his real intentions then, probably, it's something that's hard to understand for him.
--The house of Kaneko. If something like that, is being desired by Teruaki, I don't mind giving it to him.
It's not that I don't think of my family as precious, it's that I do not wish to treasure the ''house''. Before one knew, a thought like that came up inside Mitsunobu.
What's important is, more than anything--
At the time I clenched my palm, the door opened. Terunobu who wore a tired grimace, and my mother Kinue, entered. holding Terunobu's overcoat.
Just as, Teruaki erased the slight traces of emotion he showed earlier from his face.
[Welcome home]
[You've returned, father? How was the state of the parlament?]
As Terunobu would sit down in the chair facing him, to Mitsunobu's question, he spits out annoyed.
[Proceeding south, refusal of the decision to withdraw. Those guys don't know any other words but that]
[...I see]
So then, it's growing worse. Towards the situation where a cornered rat would bite the cat, is it growing closer to that?
Terunobu would massage his temple and glance at Mitsunobu.
[By the way, Mitsunobu, your friend in the navy--Tsuchida-kun, was it?]
Mitsunobu, after enquiring Teruaki with a sidelong glance, answers.
[Is something the matter with Tsuchida?]
[It seems he opposed a superior office or something]
[...Ha?]
Mitsunobu would widen his eyes.
['Opposed' you said, just what did he...?]
[I don't know as far as the full details. Although he had their eyes on him, he had done something stupid. From now on, reconsider your association with him]
In place of not answering, I hung my head.
Several years now, after joining the miliary. I did think he was going to get into trouble at some point, and I did also think he had endured well but--Just what, did that man do?
[That, and how long do you intend to keep your fiancee waiting?]
I raise my head from the hand that supported it. Without realizing, my eyes take on a serious glint.
[If it's about that..]
[Although right now it's these curcumstances, so it was discussed to be a bit later but, when is that 'later'?
Visibly, his father too is wearing a serious look that wouldn't lose to Mitsunobu.
[You though it won't reach my ears? Haven't you permitted Miss Hinako to go out to work]
[What about it?]
[It's not, 'What about it?'!]
The rarely intense Terunobu, hit the desk with his palm.
[How about thinking a bit of how the world will see it as!? What do you think they will say?]
[Dear. Is it not all right?]
Mother, who was watching the course of events silently, cut in.
[A woman who has had empoyment, can understand her husbands work very well]
[It's not an issue like that!]
Terunobu nails on his speech.
[What will the surroundings think? They probably won't think anything else but that Miss Hinako head out to work because Mitsunobu is a coward/worthless. The one that was supposed to become the bride of Viscount Kaneko, to begin with]
As if interrupting Terunobu's speech, there was the sound of a knock. Hikaruko makes her appearance.
[Father, sorry for interrupting in the middle of a discussion. It seems there's a phonecall for Mitsunobu onii-sama]
Even father, who'd only thoroughly spoil Hikaruko, just this time answered displeased.
[We're in the middle of an important discussion. Leave it for later]
[Is it ok? It seems to be from Hinako nee-sama though]
His father's face would turn even more sour, but even so he waved his hand towards Mitsunobu.
[...Go]
Heading out to the corridor, once closing the door with hands behind the back, for whatever reason is it, Hikaruko looked up at me while grinning.
[Mitsunobu onii-sama]
[What's the matter, Hikaruko?]
[You owe me one]
She'd tilt her head with a mischievious smile--so, I understood that Hikaruko came to act as an agent.
Geez, this is why I can't win against this younger sister of mine.
[Thanks Hikaruko, I owe you]
Kissing her cheek in place of expressing gratitude, I hurry towards the telephone booth. Though it seemed like the Hikaruko who had blushed did say something, it was not the time for that.
When I last met him, was the day we saw off Kaname together.
Putting an arrangment with Hinako as pretext, dodging Fathers pursuit, the time I returned to the room was after Norizane already had dissapeared. Henceworth, the exchange of letters sometimes being the utmost (contact), it's been a long time since I've heard his voice.
Entering the phone booth, while picking up the receiver I ask.
[What did you do? Surely not something you'd get court-marshalled for, I hope]
[Here I think, what is it all of a sudden]
On the other side of the phone, a voice that's smiling wryly. Since it seemed unchanged from always, at the same time my mood cleared up.
[It's not 'what is'. Hearing about it just now, I was surprised. Doesn't it seem like you've opposed a superior officer?]
[I guess]
[What's the matter? What happened?]
[Right now, in the south, do you know about the soldiers being isolated there?]
[...It has reached my ears]
The counter-attack of the Australia-American army, is increasing in acuteness. The result of the naval battle that couldn't sink one ship, there was also reports of it being a great victory but, theres also stuff even Mitsunobu and co doesn't know accurate results of. However, that the frontline is in a dreadful state had flown into his ears.
[The soldiers that are cast aside on the island as base, seemed to not even gain an honorable death. I disagreed on that]
[So you objected to it?]
[You can say that]
If one only thinks of victory, they'll be abandoned. It may be one of the decisions of a commander.
However, fighting without support is difficult. Probably more so by the frontline soldiers. The morale of the troops would also decline, and more than anything there is no passion.
It's something like that, is what Norizane lightly replies but in reality, just what is it that he had done.
--Starvation and the characteristical infectious diseases of the tropics. From what I hear now and then, even from the circumstances, the situation of the soldiers is apalling carried to the extreme.
Norizane, who originally practices silence had raised his voice--No, couldn't not raise it. The situation had developed to that extent, it's that kind of situation.
Nearby there's a decorative plant. Now that you mention it, this too, likely comes from the countries in the south?
Placed inside the peaceful household, the bright and wealthy green leaves.
[...Oh dear]
As he'd sit down on the chair, Mitsunobu laughed in irony.
[Both of us have dull claws, don't we]
[Maybe]
[What are you doing right now?]
[...I'll be at home, till the next naval operations]
In that case, maybe we could meet in person? If I think like that, even if it's a situation like this my heart grows excited, it's pitiful even if I say so muself. My fingertips, subconciously play with the leaves nearby.
[By the way, it seems an engagement has been settled for Hikaruko-san?]
[You're keen on hearing]
[The person herself had said so]
[...I see]
It seems like, they had talked a little before she called for Mitsunobu.
[It's the second son of the earl's household. Being told that he wished to produce a child before departing. Me and Teruaki had objected but...it seems like, the wedding celebration will be done much sooner than my own]
[...Is that so]
[More important than that, what's the matter today?]
['What', as in?]
[It's not really like you, for you to call me without a reason]
The moment he said that, on the other end of the receiver, a voice that surpressed laughter. Mitsunobu, offended, asks again.
[Why are you laughing?]
[Is it not ok to call, just to hear your voice?]
[Ha?]
I was tacken aback to the core. From the spur of the moment, words wouldn't come out. Becoming aware of it, the vincity of my neck felt hot..
TBC - The promise & the things left unsaid
Other- if till now the mood was fitting the
original version of the song, it's around this/next part that
the remix switches to be the more fitting the atmosphere.