Ch6
January 5th, 7am. Jiro woke up and almost thought that was all a dream. He can still remember the feel of Subaru’s lips on is right now, and he’s not even nosebleeding. It still feels unreal to be cured.
Last night Ichigo took them back to the apartment, and they went back to their separate rooms. When they parted it was slightly awkward between them, but Jiro chalked it down to them not being familiar being in a relationship. He got up, and resolved to give his reply to Usami and Kanade.
As he got up he’s surprised how quiet everything is. Normally other people would come wake him up, like Kureha with giving him wrestling moves.
Jiro went outside his room, and as he made his way to the dining room he came face-to-face with Usami. He tried to give his response to her but froze up. As he was beating himself up metaphorically for being unable to say anything, Usami dropped the bombshell that declared the end of their peaceful days: Subaru and Kanade disappeared.
Usami and him went next door through the hole in the wall. As they slept everything belonging to Subaru and Kanade there was taken away. Usami tried to call them but they didn’t reply. Jiro has a discomforting feeling about this, like he forgot something. Usami suggested going out to look for them, but Jiro said they’ll go meet up with them at school. Subaru did agree with him when he said he’ll see them tomorrow at school.
They had breakfast, their last meal together, but it felt lonely without Subaru and Kanade with them.
08:50am, Jiro saw Subaru and Kanade’s bags at the classroom but couldn’t find them. They’re now going to the gymnasium for the opening ceremony. Jiro’s phone rang, and it was Kanade calling them. She asked them to come to the passage leading to the gym’s 2nd floor. Other students will be gathering at the 1st floor so they can talk in peace there.
Jiro and Usami made it there, everyone else is getting seated for the ceremony. Jiro asked her to explain what’s going on, and Kanade replied it’ll be faster if he looked for himself.
Instead of the usual speech by their principal or a teacher, he found Subaru let her hair down and is dressed in the girl’s uniform of their school. Jiro had a premonition what’s going to happen next, but before he could do anything about it Subaru revealed she’s actually a girl to the whole school.
While Jiro is still in shock at this development Kanade explained calmly Subaru is no longer her butler. When Subaru got back last night she told Kanade she wanted to resign being her butler. Kanade asked him what had happened that led to this. Jiro realised Subaru felt guilty taking away the person her master/mistress loved, and can’t accept that as a butler even though Subaru accepted his confession as a girl. She thought she no longer deserved to be a butler, her pride as a butler doesn’t allow her to continue after doing that. Even if her dream was to eventually be a butler for Kanade. Subaru knew Jiro would try and stop her so she didn’t meet up with them this morning, and that she’s worried if she saw Jiro her resolve will crumble.
Jiro asked if Kanade had saw this coming. Back on January 1st she had said things can’t be settled normally. Kanade said yes, she had thought this might be possible. Kanade held back this information so Jiro would be honest with his feelings while he made his choice, or he might not have chosen Subaru if he knew. He couldn’t have brought himself to shatter the dream Subaru, the person he loves, had ever since she was small.
Kanade said this can’t be helped. There is no happy end where everyone is satisfied like in a shoujo manga. Subaru had thought this through as well before taking these steps.
Jiro realised he never thought what kind of feelings Subaru had when she accepted his confession. He got his feelings sorted out, and so did she – she sacrificed her dream in order to accept him. He asked Kanade how can be so accepting and calm at all this – isn’t she hurt at all by Subaru no longer being her butler?
Half way through his accusation he stopped. He saw the tears shed by Kanade. With a hoarse voice Kanade said she’s not calm. That Subaru might be her butler but before that Subaru is her friend. She felt she at least should watch Subaru put a end to all this herself. The girl that wore a perfect mask in school broke down speaking her feelings honestly, and cried.
Jiro cursed himself for his stupidity. Of course Kanade would be hurt. For Fuyutsuki Kanade, the only person that could be her butler was Konoe Subaru. She lost her only support she for a long time, there’s no way she won’t be hurt or be calm. Yet Kanade still accepted her butler’s choice. Denying her own feelings, only wishing for the best for her own butler.
This is reality, she had said. Nobody knew who would end up with happiness. There’s no reason to who gets what. All they can do is keep moving forward, and make their own choices. Jiro made his choices last night, and Subaru chose between her dream and her feelings. They knew the end would not be a happy one for everyone, but…
Usami interrupted Jiro’s thoughts, asking him if he can really leave it like this. Jiro replied “no, that’s impossible”, deciding that while reality might be cruel and not everyone can have a happy end…
… but that doesn’t mean he can just take a back seat and let things run its course.
No matter how cruel, how unfortunate reality is – he’ll fight. For everyone’ happiness he’ll fight to change everything that stops them from having a happy end.
He jumped.
Jiro landed onto the 1st floor of the gymnasium.
He charged up to the stage, and took the microphone off of Subaru.
Everyone in the school is looking at them. Jiro decided now that he’s here, there’s no point holding back his words. So what if reality states not everyone will be happy? That’s too heavy a thought, all they should do is bet on their lives and move forward.
Jiro asked if he can take on Subaru’s dream for her. Neither Subaru or Kanade expected this. Jiro asked to become Fuyutsuki Family’s butler in her stead. If there are precedents for other people to become their butlers, it’s not impossible for him. Jiro loves Subaru, so he can’t just watch her dream be destroyed. After a long moment of silence, Subaru finally nodded.
*begin extract*
Today is January 5th.
Opening ceremony.
The day where students start a new term and finish their holidays.
If so -
I take a step towards a new beginning as well.
In front of me is Konoe Subaru.
The girl that I love.
The girl that says she loves me.
A butler – that was her dream.
I don’t want to see this dream being destroyed.
I don’t want to see her drown in sorrow.
Even if it’s a tiny bit, I want her to be happy.
All I want… is to inherit the dream of the girl I love.
Even if I have to make sacrifices, I want to continue to pursue her dream.
So as long as she – Konoe Subaru, is happy, then it’s enough. It doesn’t matter what happens to my life. Because, to me this is happiness as well.
Living like this is enough.
To be able to live like this, that is my dream.
So -
“- Subaru.”
Let it reach her clearly.
With everything I have, pass on my resolve with a single sentence -
“- Please, marry me.”
*end extract*
*End Mayo Chiki Volume 11*