Unification by Force - Seamless Composure - 4

[verdantgrove]

 Location: ES Staff Canteen

<About an hour later. In the ES Staff Canteen>

Souma: Well now, Kiryuu-dono, please do relish in your meal.

Seeing as you requested that I prepare you fish, I have made great use of only the most fresh seafood products from local fisheries.

In fact, it fills me with joy when I am able to beautifully prepare a fish ♪ 

Kuro: Ooh, thanks. Ya really did do a good job at arranging this sashimi. It’s such a gem that it makes me feel like it’d just be a waste if I ate it.

Souma: Haha. However, if you do not eat this particular gem, it shall promptly decay ♪ 

Kuro: Yeah, you’re right. Gotta show how sorry we are for takin’ this fish’s life by puttin’ our hands together in thanks, yeah? Oh Amida Buddha, thank you for this food1 ♪ 

Souma: Hm? Giving thanks to Buddha as such is a part of Hasumi-dono’s religious denomination, is it not?

Kuro: Huh? You tryin’ to say that whatever I do is just me copyin’ Hasumi? Well, guess they do say that ya start takin’ after someone when you spend a lot of time with them, but— 

Lately all my fans have been praisin’ me about how I’ve miraculously straightened out, and I really owe that to you two.

Souma: Fufu. In comparison to your former self, you have indeed straightened up— it seems as though you have found your core.

Kuro: Well, without a good core, you’re not gonna be able to put any power into anything. Gotta use your whole body whenever ya throw a punch.

...But that’s somethin’ else entirely.

You’re not my waiter, so take a seat, Kanzaki. You had somethin’ ya wanted to talk to me about, yeah?

And yet ya still put whatever it is you’re goin’ through on the back burner to cook, or whatever the hell else— 

Souma: Fufu. Please do pardon my correcting you. I prepared food for you because I wanted to do as such— moreover, in this particular situation, it is much more economical for me to cook for you than it would be to purchase food from the staff canteen.

Kuro: Well, it’s free to eat here as long as we’re dorming. Akatsuki’s not so poor that we gotta scrimp on food costs.

We may be in a pretty bad situation at the moment, but it’s nothin’ that serious.

Souma: ......

...Mm. I heard a similar remark from Tsukinaga-dono, and thus was overcome with concern.

I also grew anxious upon realizing that it was only I, in my endless folly, that was unaware of the time of tribulation we are currently facing as Akatsuki.

As Akatsuki is and always has been my source of stability.

Kuro: Well, that’s all me and Hasumi’s fault for puttin’ up a front to look like we had it all together whenever you were around. It’s a bad habit of ours, so no wonder you’re tryin’ to push back.

Souma: If you are implying that I am in any way dissatisfied with the actions of you and Hasumi-dono, such a thing could not be further from the truth.

Kuro: Ya can’t just keep these things in your thoughts— ya gotta be sure to show ‘em through your actions too. That’s not somethin’ I’m too good at. 

It’s pretty sad that even a happy-go-lucky guy like Tsukinaga is worried about us.

I want him— and Nito, and Tetsu— to think of me as a strong guy at the very least, ya know?

Not to mention Itsuki, and of course Hasumi— and you, too.

Souma: Fufu. You are indeed quite prone to attempt to appear faultless in front of others, Kiryuu-dono.

Kuro: That’s just how life is as a delinquent. Anyone looks down on us, and it’s all over.

Well, even though I’m pretty much actin’ like an honor student these days, old habits do die hard.

Souma: I understand your sentiments well, Kiryuu-dono. I fear that one day I shall have to part with this sword that I have carried with me since childhood.

Kuro: Hasumi’s like that with his obsession with glasses too, but that feels more like some kinda weird habit than anything else...

Well, I might have a pretty similar problem. Takes one to know one, yeah?

Icchan still can’t let go of that old doll of his, so I can’t just laugh at him over it.

Souma: ……?

Kuro: What’s that look for? I know I’m bad with words, but c’mon… Well, to sum it up, that’s essentially my whole point.

Souma: ? What exactly do you mean by “your whole point”? I must apologize for my poor comprehension skills, Kiryuu-dono.

Kuro: Nah, it’s my fault too. I know Hasumi’s always rattlin’ on and on as much as he wants, so the two of us can never catch a break.

But right now it’s just the two of us.

Souma: Mhm. You have always offered me your guidance, and thus you are a reliable presence in my eyes.

I admire you. And it matters not if you are to show your shortcomings to this world— that admiration shall never falter.

If this trust and admiration I hold for you could be so easily broken, I would have left Akatsuki long ago, when the Sea God Battle occurred2. And thus I would like for you to be earnest and clear in sharing this with me.

I would truly like for you to inform me of the problems Akatsuki faces, whatever those problems may be.

Kuro: Gotcha. Well, let’s get into it— I’ll take ya through it in order, bit by bit.

Souma: Very well. However, I ask that you do as so while we are eating— if the sashimi were to lose its moisture, its flavor would leave with it.

Kuro: Yeah, I know. I’ll dig in. ...Ya know, when we’re eatin together like this, it kinda feels like we’re just like any old family.

Souma: Why is it that you sound so forlorn? We have always been so.

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TL Notes:

1: Kuro is reciting a Buddhist chant, Namu Amida Butsu. Contrary to the standard itadakimasu that is usually said in Japan before eating as a way of giving thanks for one’s food, the chant Kuro uses is a distinctly religious way to thank and pay homage to Amitabha Buddha.

2: Reference to Meteor Impact. 

Proofread by allegiantheart and Amagiiz.