romantic comedy - ( dilemma of love, chapter 10 )

[mandytl]

Location: Light Music Club Classroom

 

Rei: Besides. For we, whom God has long abandoned, Christmas isn't too delightful of an event.

 

Rei: The town is filled with things I'd rather not deal with, like those hymns and the holly.

 

Adonis: Holly? Ah. Those branches that become charms. I didn't understand what they were for until I asked Kanzaki while we were walking together.

 

Rei: That's right. Vampires have many weaknesses, you see. Even those hanging stockings with nameplates all stuffed with presents make me jump a bit. 

 

Koga: Hohoh. That's one hell of a tip. Next time I'll stuff a stocking fulla garlic and hit you with it like a jackhammer. ♪

 

Adonis: Sounds smelly. You wouldn't even have to be a vampire to dislike that. ... I do seem to remember vampires being a bit uneasy about their immediate clothing being snatched away.

 

Rei: Indeed. And being exposed is awful.

 

Rei: I especially hate when one pair of a sock goes missing. Losing an article of clothing during the winter season is a matter of life and death.

 

Koga: You're gettin' way off track. ... though you have been lookin' real frail lately.

 

Koga: Quit tryin' to play everything off like it's some stupid vampire crap. Things are just gettin' worse, ain't they?

 

Koga: Now I get this even less.

 

Koga: Just havin' you weak as hell is enough to seriously injure UNDEAD, so why'd ya go and act like you wanna hurt that playboy?

 

Koga: I might have to consider you an enemy of UNDEAD and snap at ya dependin' on what ya say.

 

Rei: Kukuku. Being able engage in a friendly quarrel with you is just another one of life's simple joys.

 

Rei: This may be the best way to handle the situation with Kaoru-kun. Put up with it this time... at least for another day.

 

Rei: Furthermore, I'm not trying to be mean to him just for fun.

 

Rei: For us, this is a vital rite of passage. But for Kaoru-kun, it's an issue he would eventually have to confront either way.

 

Rei: To choose between being an idol or a young man in love... 

 

Rei: If he were to discard both, he would require the necessary experience and train of thought needed to to master various personas. 

 

Rei: Kaoru-kun excels at running away from his problems. But for those of us whose graduation is fast approaching, our remaining moratorium is far too short...

 

Rei:  While still a redeemable child in the midst of puberty, he ought to start reflecting more on life. 

 

Rei: I felt like now was the time, and so I went ahead with my strategy. 

 

Rei: Since Kaoru-kun's been bickering with his family lately, I didn't want to trouble him further.

 

Rei: One could say it was the perfect opportunity to overcome all our challenges at one time. 

 

Rei: If he can overcome this trial, Kaoru-kun... will become even stronger. UNDEAD, as well. 

 

Adonis: Hakaze-senpai and his family are fighting? You really do know everything, Sakuma-senpai.

 

Rei: I'm not all-knowing. Kaoru-kun's absences and tardies have merely been increasing lately is all. 

 

Rei: It's likely a result of him being in a state of disarray now that he's embracing the family problems he's been holding onto for so long.

 

Rei: Well, those are the sort of hints that he's dropping. It's hard to throw me off the trail, you see. When I'm on the scent of the issue, the answer reveals itself naturally. 

 

Rei: You have a keen sense of smell, Puppy. You should be able to handle things in a similar matter with a bit of practice.

 

Rei: Remain diligent, for you will be the ones to take our place as the two lead performers of UNDEAD, after all.

 

Koga:  .... I hear ya. And we're growin' damn well, all right? Just you wait and see, asshole. 

 

Rei: I believe in you, naturally. Grow strong and brave even after we graduate.

 

Adonis: ... it may be a bit inevitable since it's around that time, but I'd rather we didn't talk about having to say farewell. 

Adonis: The two of you are like the sun, enlightening my world. I don't want to think our time together is fleeting for even a moment. Don't you feel the same way, Oogami? 

 

Koga: Hmph. I'm no weakling. Go wherever the hell you want. I'm gonna play a big role in makin' UNDEAD the best out there. 

 

Adonis: Heh. Beasts like to hide their wounds so others won't perceive their pain.... ♪

 

Koga: Aahn?

 

Adonis: It's nothing. We don't really need to be brooding about this right now. "Speak of next year and the devil will laugh", some say.

 

Rei: Is that another saying Kanzaki-kun taught you... ?

 

Rei: A flawless, amicable relationship with someone who more than compensates for what the other lacks... I, too... wanted to have such a relationship with Kaoru-kun.

 

Rei: It's complicated. The Five Eccentrics were the first who could stand as my equal. Now each of us has chosen our own path to walk. 

 

Rei: It's not clear to me how I'm supposed to connect to someone like him.

 

Rei: To me, Kaoru-kun is someone I can't reach no matter how hard I try... like a feather in the wind, much as his name suggests. A fragrance.

 

Rei: But I'm the one who asked him to join UNDEAD. I pulled him in. 

 

Rei: Associating with me has only brought him misfortune. If he never glances back at me again after this event, I won't grieve.

 

Rei: In that moment I would truly be nothing more than a monster with no worth roaming for a lifetime, after all.

 

Rei: Demons we may be, I still wish to be an entity that can set trials before the hero and grant treasure and blessings to those who overcome crisis.

 

Rei: One can only hope this incident will become "as such" for him.

 

Rei: Though he may spare me the trouble by just coming to resent me, my expectations remain high as I wait like a child waits for presents.

 

Rei: .... now. What sort of answer will you give?