Sudden Death – Epilogue

Chapter 6

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Kohaku

…Ya really are a moron, huh Bou. That kinda penalty ain’t even that bad.

Ain’t like anyone’s gonna die.

Even if we did have to call ourselves strangers from here on out, it’d just be a matter of changing the family registry and goin’ right back to normal.

There are some things in life that can’t be severed no matter how much ya try to break the connection.

I dunno why ya can’t just use your brain when it comes to things like this. You’re way too earnest a guy, Bou.

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Tsukasa

However, we Suous have always loathed the Oukawas. Grandfather, and even my parents treated you as if you were filth—

We’ve treated you so cruelly, so contemptuously, as if you shouldn’t be allowed to live.

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Kohaku

……

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Tsukasa

That’s why I… If it fell upon my shoulders—

I mean to say. When we were children, though I only played with you for a very short while, you were the same as me: a human being.

Despite being younger, you were still both smarter and cuter than I was. And you were my precious friend.

My friend, and my family. I don’t want to be the one to cut you, any of you, down.

Is it so strange of me to not want to squish you as if you were insects?

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Kohaku

…Nah. I’m happy you feel that way, an’ I think it oughta be respected.

Thanks, Bou.

For seein’ me as a human being, an’ for lovin’ me.

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Tsukasa

……

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Kohaku

And anyway, your decision may be based on your childish emotions an’ attachments, but oddly enough, it turned out to be the right answer.

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Tsukasa

…?

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Kohaku

When you took over as head of the Suous, the whole family’s attitude toward the Oukawas changed.

An’ you went behind my back an’ used me formin’ Double Face as a reason to give us aid.1

Thanks to that, the Oukawas, who’d been persecuted for so long that they were on the verge of death, were able to come back to life.

An’ we’ve still got y’all backin’ us with y’all’s important name and heavy influence. With that kinda power, the Oukawas can actually become a shield to protect against that invasion from the foreign mafia.

An’ that’s all ‘cause of you and Rinne-han protectin’ us. We won’t get wiped out, we’ll have access to y’all’s power, and we’ll be able to survive.

So we can fight. We’ll be able to drive out those barbarians who’re comin’ at us with malintent.

All this time we’ve just been doin’ the dirty job of protectin’ the Suous’ name, but now we might even get the chance to be a hero an’ save the country. Pretty good promotion, don’tcha think Bou?

…My sisters an’ I are all goin’ into that battle, all in order to repay the kindness you gave to us.

That’s the kinda tie between us, between the Suous and the Oukawas—now and in the past. The times may change, and we may change too, but some things will always, always stay the same.

We have our pride, which we’ll never lose. We have souls.

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Tsukasa

Oukawa… We are not people who deserve your recompense.

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Kohaku

Now’s not the time to be sayin’ that, Bou. That’s just insultin’ to those of us who’ve been doin’ dirty jobs in the underbelly of society—but who still struggle desperately to survive.

At the very least, I want you to make us believe that we died for a lord who’s worth that repayment, worth our love.

Otherwise, we won’t be able to rest in peace.

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Tsukasa

Oukawa… I know you’ll get angry with me for saying this—

But you don’t have to fight such a dangerous battle. You are still a child, and you are an idol.

You have a wide swath of fans who adore you… I don’t think you need to live your life covered in blood and filth.

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Kohaku

Yep, that’s what everyone in my family said, my sisters included. In case something happens, they taught me some special techniques from the Oukawa clan—

They’ve kept me locked away in a pure, clean room, and ‘cause I haven’t dirtied myself yet, they want me to stay that way.

They said as much, and then they all disappeared, leavin’ me behind.

They left me alone and headed off to the battlefield.

I can’t believe them. They threw me away, even though I ain’t any more pure or clean than my sisters. Even though we’re s’posed to be family.

That’s just cruel… They told me to live an honest life, but I don’t even know the first thing about that.

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Tsukasa

—In that case, though I may be unfitting to do so, please allow me to teach you.

Because of all you covering yourself in filth, I remain pure and clean.

I am the one who your precious family risked their lives to protect, who you risked your life to protect.

And so as your cousin, as your family I will protect you.

This I vow. And I will never rescind that vow.

You say your family abandoned you? That isn’t the case in the slightest. Rather, while your family was busy “working,” you were left in the care of your relative—your onii-chan.

They placed their faith in me, and entrusted you to me.

That is how you should think of this. I, too, will believe that is the truth.

I understand the loneliness you feel, but don’t worry. I am here. And so, from today onward, please think of me as your brother once more—Kohakun.

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Kohaku

…So in the end, you’re just tryin’ to come up with a way to turn someone into a simple convenience for you, ain’tcha Suou-nii-han?

You just wanted to call me “Kohakun” again.

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Tsukasa

N–not at all! By taking initiative to treat you as family, I aim to set an example for everyone else in the family, as they are still highly prejudiced against the Oukawas—

  1. Referring to A Dark Night’s Passing/Epilogue, during which Kohaku discovers Tsukasa withdrew money from the Suou’s account, converted it into L$, and set it aside for DF to use. because the Oukawas are always aware of the movement of the Suous’ finances, this was used as a subtle display of support for the family, to show that Tsukasa was on their side \o/

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