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.