Chapter 7: Promise

Iroha: ...

Iroha: It's all right. If I do this then everything will be alright.

Iroha: (I will surely lose my place in the Senju family. And no one will be focused on me.)

Iroha: (I don't want to let anyoen around me down. And if my existence is getting in the way of Onee-chan then...)

Iroha: (This is the only option. )

Iroha: Excuse me.

Iroha: ...Mum, Dad. Theres something i want to talk about.

Senju's Mother: ...!

Senju's Father: Iroha? Whats this all of a sudden?

Iroha: Sorry for the suddenness, but I've made up my mind.

Senju's Mother: What are you talking about... Isn't it too sudden to come to such a decision?

Senju's Father: You can be in the children's division up until you're 15. You can even take the exam for the adult division this year too?

Iroha: No, I've been doing this without any Sense, so I think it's time to stop.

Senju's Mother: Time to stop...

Senju's Father: ...

Senju's Father: Ok. If you're suffering because you don't have a Sense, then I think this choice makes a lot of sense.

Senju's Mother: Darling...

Senju's Father: You were thinking that too, weren't you. About how troubling this is for Iroha?

Senju's Mother: But...

Iroha: ...It's all right, Mum. I made up my mind by myself.

Iroha: I'm sorry I couldn't reach your expectations.

Senju's Mother: ...

Senju's Mother: ...Alright. If thats what you think that, then I accept it.

Iroha: Thank you very much.

Senju's Mother: ...Alright, then I'll tell grandmother about it...

Iroha: Grandmother was not opposed to me quitting, Actually, I think that it was better for her too.

Iroha: And so "I" declared that I would stop acting.

Iroha: I'm glad that ended with everyone smiling. ...This is the end.

Iroha: I don't want anyone to be sad anymore. ...Not having a Sense isn't any of my business anymore.

Iroha: Ahh, thank g---

Koyomi: Iroha-san!

Iroha: Onee-chan!? Whats wrong? Why are you suddenly running down the ahllway?

Koyomi: Um, I head that you were going to quit theater.

Koyomi: If this was decided by Grandmother, then I'll go and try to convince her otherwise!

Koyomi: I can't believe that this is the end of your theatrical talent. So...!

Iroha: Ehh...?

Koyomi: No matter what Grandmother says, I'll be on your side. Even if it doesn't happen soon, one day your Sense will..!

Iroha: ...

Koyomi: Iroha? What's wrong? Did she say something rude to you? It'll be alright--

Iroha: ...That's not it.

Koyomi: Eh?

Iroha: I was the one who said I would quit.

Koyomi: ...What do you mean?

Iroha: I told everyone that I was going to quit. Mum, Dad and Grandmother.

Koyomi: Why? But didn't you say yourself?

Koyomi: We would someday be on stage together in Gingaza, showered with applause?

Koyomi: Why all of a sudden...

Iroha: ...I don't think you would ever understand.

Koyomi: ...Surely I will if we talk it out? I want to be by your side.

Iroha: But you and I are different. Everyone is expecting you to be the one in the family to lead Gingaza...

Koyomi: But you're also a respected member of the family too. You've got a wonderful talent and surely others believe in you too.

Koyomi: Even though Grandmother's teachings are strict, it's thanks to those teaching that we are able to continue for generations.

Koyomi: So it's not that they are treating you badly.

Koyomi: IF you just continue acting, then one day, your Sense--

Iroha: Onee-chan, please shut up for a moment!

Koyomi: !?

Iroha: Have you ever thought about what the others think about me?

Iroha: If I continue acting, then no one will be happy. Mum and Dad are sad thanks to me being on stage.

Koyomi: That's not...

Iroha: You're alwasy reaching their expectations, aren't you? And Grandmother is always going on about you.

Iroha: And I'm always being told to be better, its depressing...

Iroha: I haven;t' been praised once the same way you have. Because of me, everyones always yelling at me, and suffering, it's all negative.

Koyomi: Iroha...

Iroha: So what reason is there for me to continue acting?

Iroha: Is it really that weird for me to say I want to quit?

Iroha: I don't have a Sense like you do. You will never understand how I feel.

Koyomi: ...

Iroha: I also wish to have a Sense just like you.

Iroha: Stop putting on that farce when you don't know what I'm going through.

Koyomi: ...I see.

Koyomi: ...

Koyomi: IU'm sorry, Iroha-san. ...Seems I've been causing you some grief.

Koyomi: I thought I could be by your side since I'm older than you. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you.

Koyomi: I wonder why I wasn't able to see that.

Iroha: O-onee-chan...?

Koyomi: I didn't mean to say it like that...

Koyomi: No. What you said was correct.

Koyomi: So, lets make a promise.

Iroha: Promise...?

Koyomi: Yes. I will make it so yo're never pushed around in the Senju family ever again.

Koyomi: I will protect you. Leave it to Onee-chan.

Koyomi: Come on, give me your hand.

Koyomi: "Pinky swear, whoever lies will be made to swallow a thousand needles."*

TL Note: Japanese pinky promise rhyme.

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Pub: 18 Nov 2024 02:35 UTC
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