Chapter 3

…Even after that, your grandfather kept persecutin’ us relentlessly. Day after day, year after year.

And then one day, one of us Oukawas finally had enough—They set that dyin’ old man adrift in the Sanzu River.¹

I can’t say whether they strangled him, poisoned him, or just gave him a fright an’ stopped his heart…

But among us, it was a known fact that one of us did it.

‘Cause honestly, of course we would. Maybe by some chance Grandfather died from an accident, or maybe it was disease.

But we found our relief in our determination to perform that repulsive old man’s last rites with our own hands.

Grandfather…

Yep. It’s a grave sin to kill one’s lord.

The times were already headin’ in a more serious direction, and then your folks inherited his position thinkin’ to follow in his footsteps—

So even after Grandfather’s death, they continued to lay on the pressure.

I doubt there was any real reason for it, more that it’s just what their predecessor wanted.

……

But there were still some idiots who figured everything was tied up all neat once that terrible old man bit it.

Like the Oukawas’ second daughter, who was still too young to know better way back when. But she was still his older sister.

The old geezer’s dead. We can breathe easy now. We don’t gotta live in fear anymore; no one’s comin’ after us.

And so my poor, pitiful li’l brother, who’s been hidden away this whole time, everyone actin’ like he never existed—

Kohaku can finally live a normal life. He can step out into the glitterin’ world illuminated by the sun.

Well, so she thought.

What a moron. The Oukawas’ second daughter so naively believed in an impossible dream that everything could be solved if you just take out the bad guy.

Which is why after your grandfather kicked the bucket, I went to his funeral to make sure he really was dead—²

An’ after confirming it, I struck up a conversation with the boy I found there in the garden at the main house. Even though I knew that boy was the son an’ heir of the Suou clan.

Even though y’all still had the mind to persecute the Oukawas after the head changed out.

This kid’s gotta be okay, I thought. He’s a different person from his grandfather, even if he is a Suou.

So maybe he doesn’t hate us, maybe we can get along as relatives—as family.

So I came up to you an’ called out.

An’ you near jumped outta your skin when I spoke. It still makes me laugh when I think about it, even now. Makes me feel all warm an’ fuzzy inside.

…?

Um… Then, could it be that, perhaps—

Yep. The one who went to the funeral at the main house, the one who talked to you in the courtyard—it was his older sister.

Back then, we were still worried about Kohaku an’ wouldn’t let him go out. He was part of a clan that wasn’t even allowed in the room during the funeral an’ was isolated off in the recesses, after all.

At that time, we were still pushin’ the idea that Kohaku had never been born. Even if there were people who looked like him, it was just another Oukawa in disguise.

So you prolly didn’t notice. Even back then, my sister had already gone through training to be able to impersonate her li’l brother.

On the off chance that something happened, she wanted to act as his body double—

So she could protect the brother she loved so dearly, even if she had to use herself as a shield.

……

She doted on him so much. He was so cute—She couldn’t help herself.

So she ended up takin’ pity on her li’l brother. He was so lonely, after all, unable to even leave his room.

Sometimes she’d go an’ give him things he said he wanted, too. Right under our folks’ noses.

But the greatest gift our sister ever gave Kohaku was just her friendship.

Well she talked to Little Lord Suou a few times here an’ there, and she came to like him normally, without worryin’ about a thing—

It’s ‘cause she thought you were a good, cute kid, Bou. In place of the kid who couldn’t go out and make friends whenever he wanted—

She wanted to make a friend for her poor little brother who was made to cower in the depths of darkness.

An’ his big sister thought that boy, Little Lord Suou, would be a good fit for him.

We had no choice but to hate the Suous, no choice but to kill each other—

But at least, we could keep Kohaku outta it. We were certain of it, so we taught him the ropes an’ got him outta his cage.

And then, so no one, not even our parents, would notice, she carefully disguised herself as our li’l brother an’ locked herself up in his room.

After y’all’s great and important grandfather passed, both the main family and its branches were in a state of disarray. So that switch wasn’t picked up by anyone for a good while.

……

Since… when? At what point did you all…?

Fufu. Our sister only took the first couple bites outta you. The Oukawa Kohaku you talked to and got all friendly with—That was the real, bona fide Kohaku.

The miracle-like friendship, the bond that was forged between Suou Tsukasa and Oukawa Kohaku won’t disappear just ‘cause of a little white lie. It isn’t some sham or illusion.

If you believe in anything, please let it be that.

Even if you hate us, despise us… At the very least, please don’t pretend you never had any feelings for that boy.

That’s all I came here to tell you today.

Are you…? Could you by chance be—?

—Suo~! We’ve got a problem!

Ngyah?! L–Leo-san? You’ve returned from overseas?

Yep! Just a little while ago!

Still kinda annoyed I couldn’t get back here in time for the end of the Qualifiers, but we managed to get pretty darn good results at the European event so—

Th–that’s what is most important. I presume Narukami-senpai has already reached out to you, but here in Japan, we’re in a pitiful state… Because of me, Knights suffered a wretched defeat.

Wait, you’re all alone in here? Weren’t you talking to someone just now?

Hm? Wh–what? But Oukawa was here just a moment ago…?

Ohh~ Kohaku? He’s so funny and cute, right? Just what I’d expect from someone in your family! You’re practically carbon copies!

Wait, that’s not important! Quit lounging around here, get up and get changed! We’ve gotta go!

Huh? Um? Go? But where…?

The final destination for any idol is the stage, duh! Don’t you know anything, Suo~?

…? …?

Anyway, if we don’t get a move on, we’re seriously gonna run out of time!

C’mon, hurry up! I used to be just like you are now, holed up all by myself—

But it was completely useless! Don’t waste your time, okay? You’ve only got one, short life, so live without regrets!

Actually, who am I to say that?! Wahahahaha ☆

I–it’s fine, but please don’t pull on me! You’re going to tear my arm off! You’re always, always so overbearing and vexatious…!

……

…Take care, Tsukasa-kun.

You’re my precious, beloved friend, the first one I ever had.³