Part 63: Episode 57: Confrontation (Ending No. 2)

I’m starting to think I should build a wall, or maybe dig myself a new bedroom.
With this kind of weather, some birds are even collapsing in the street…
Hey, wait…
Isn’t that one Sakuya!?
I rushed out of my house and onto the street, quickly grabbing onto Sakuya’s cold body.

S-Sakuya? What’s wrong!?
D-Don’t ask for the details… Just carry me to your miserable abode, I beg of you!

Wandering around and collapsing in the street at this time of night doesn’t seem like customary practice for an aristocrat.
What’s happened, Sakuya? Don’t tell me your family has fallen from high society…?


I carried him back home and started a fire. It was many hours before Sakuya woke up.
We sat in silence for a few minutes while he warmed up. Finally, I decided to ask him a question.
What happened?

Eeeeh? What were you doing wandering around in the wilderness, then?
I was not wandering. I was on my way here! Be honored.

Oh, so this isn’t a coincidence, after all.

Did you want something from me, then?
No. Don’t flatter yourself.
Eeeeeeeeeeeeh?
Umm… Should we call your family, or something?
No!
!?

He looks really angry!

Listen… Don’t… you dare… Don’t you dare call my house.
Sakuya, did you… run away from home…?

Umm…

Isn’t that the same thing…?
………

Yup.

What happened, Sakuya?

…Lourde. Do you remember when we talked in the music room, at school? Last fall.
Yes. What about it?
Do you remember what I asked you then?

I remember it well, because I also remember being confused about what he was trying to get at. Now, however, I think I understand what the point of the question was.
You asked me what I loved.
That’s right. And you… gave a simple, honest answer right away. And that…
That…?

That made me jealous.

Did I mishear? That’s the last thing I’d have expected from him, of all people.

I don’t understand, Sakuya. Why?
I…

But…
You don’t want to take your father’s place…?
H-how did you know that!?
It’s obvious… It’s written all over your face.
I… love music. But my father does not approve.
When I was young, I owned a number of instruments. But he had them all thrown away.
Art is not our realm. The joy of creation is the domain of peasants.

That’s not true! I think anyone who can play music should be encouraged, no matter who their parents are.
That is because you think with a peasant’s values. My world is different from yours!
I’m not talking about what peasants think, I’m talking about what I think! What about you, Sakuya? What do you think?
What do… I think? You speak in riddles. I carry the name of Le Bel. To play at applying my own standards and ideas to the world would be a disgrace.
But didn’t you just say you left the mansion of your own accord? Isn’t that applying your own idea to the world?
Hrrm…
You’ve contradicted yourself.
What do you want to do in life, Sakuya?

No, geez! That’s not what I meant!
What if you could forget about the Le Bel family and do anything in the world? What would you do, then?
Forget about the Le Bel family? What mockery is this!?
We’re speaking hypothetically, dummy!
If I could do anything in the world…?

He sounds uncharacteristically modest.
I was half-expecting him to give some rambling speech about how he would unite the world and become king, or something…

You love music, don’t you?
If I could hear you play the piano again, I would be very happy, Sakuya. I think you’ve answered your own question.
Answered my own question? Don’t be ridiculous. This is a mere fantasy. It has no connection to reality.
Have you told your father that you want to continue studying music?

So, you haven’t even asked him about it…
You wouldn’t be lowering yourself, Sakuya. Are you ashamed to love music?
Hrrm…
You should ask him. It’s worth a try, right?
……
…Perhaps you are right. I suppose I never would have thought of that, if I hadn’t talked to you…
You were confused about what you wanted, Sakuya. I just gave you a little push.
Lourde.
Yes?
I’m going to speak with him when I return. If he refuses, would…

Are you planning to run away for real, next time?
…If it comes to that.
I will follow you anywhere you need to go, Sakuya. You will always have a safe place here, okay?
I shall return to you. Thank you… Lourde.