/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>46172613
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W-What…?

I gawk at the night sparrow that had until now stood in silence, the firmness of her voice contradicting her shy demeanor throughout the day. It's not only me: the persisting crowd; those watching from the windows; the mighty and tall samurai with their firearms; and the one bearing the most intense of glares, Mr. Hieda, hands together and a sharp stare of choler. Mystia seems discouraged for a moment, and I was about to intervene—a soft hand I've come to know too well catches mine. Keine maintains a sly smile, but the tremors I can feel holding her hand so tightly on mine speak volumes of the sheer terror that echoes inside of her, “When your enemy is destroying themselves, do everything to increase that fire…” I frown at her whispered words…

But then I look back at Mystia, who'd just taken a deep breath, her eyes ironclad again… Then it clicks, and it is difficult to contain my smile as I clasp Keine's shaking hand harder—fuck off, you~gambling scares you now? Suzu to the side looks so confused, it’s endearing. “Disgusting…? That's rich coming from a youkai who'd constantly harass and murder humans in the past—”

“—Humans also would murder night sparrows for meat in the past! Why do you think we've developed such a humane appearance these last centuries?” Wings fluttering menacingly, Mystia huffs. “But none of that matters anymore! What matters is a future that'll prevent the past, that'll stop our most terrible habits—that's my goal in this rebellion!” The clicks of weapons cause the crowd to flinch and retreat as she moves forward, forming an empty corridor leading to the front door. Yet the perhaps most powerful regular human and the weakest youkai kept unmoved. “My entire life was lived in weakness, Mr. Hieda. I never disputed the clear injustices and wrongdoings happening in front of me, never stopped dad or mother when they threw another one out of the nest to their deaths, and even adhered to principles that I hated because, otherwise, in my weakness, my family and I wouldn't survive! Because of my weakness, my kids would have continued this never-ending cycle of cruelty… But not anymore! I’m here today in front of you because I have promised that never again abhorrent sacrifices will be needed to ensure the nest's survival!” Mystia's words enthralled the crowd, tears filling the sparrow's eyes as Mr. Hieda's gaze twisted with confusion, disgust, and something else—empathy? “… I understand fear. I understand that directly fighting Yukari-san would be dangerous… But in letting such fear—weakness—control you, never changing your ways or transforming the village, how do you expect to stop the next one that tries another HSE? Will you really just stand by and let them abuse your people as they please? That is a horrible cycle of suffering, Mr. Hieda, and people like Keine-san—who was homeless and had to forage for food, who was stoned for a lie!—will continue to suffer! A cycle of throwing babies out of balconies! In your weakness, your people will suffer!”

Eyes shifted from Mystia to Mr. Hieda and his samurai at one point in the speech, the throng encircling them like a tidal wave, their eyes now knives, rage, and that little spark that truly starts rebellions—faith in words.

Completely dumbfounded by Mystia's words—huffing wide-eyed, face red from tears and shaking—I turn to Keine… Her smile vanished. In its place, awe.

I laughed mockingly, a devilish note to it. She was probably expecting Mystia to say some mean words to Mr. Hieda, but the lengths the sparrow went to defend the movement? Devotion to a cause is a beautiful thing~still, Keine's shock didn't last much as she got up and proudly marched to Mystia's side, Aki nestled on the curve of her neck, “Mystia.” Gently placing her hand on the sparrow's shoulder, she smiles serenely as their gazes lock, Mystia's wild and tense. “… Thank you. I'll handle it from here.” Shaken by her own words, Mystia just nodded. “While at it, please… take care of my daughter~” Without waiting for the sparrow's input, Keine tenderly placed Aki on her arms, her already big eyes widening even more as she attempted to get away from it. It was in vain.

… Still…

Mystia trembled as she held Aki, the infant staring deep into her eyes. A moment of silence, then: “… I'm swo sworry…” She whispered.

Aki blinked…

… Then giggled.

With tears in her eyes once more, Mystia turned around and walked over to the couch. Few truly understood what had just happened—yet, one could see pieces joining behind people’s eyes like a jigsaw puzzle—but, man… The sparrow's sincere overjoy made me feel fuzzy inside, ugh. I cleaned up a stray tear before it could ruin my tough reputation.

Suzu didn't need to worry about that; her big, gleaming eyes were on Mystia's as she sat down, an angelic smile there, though Mystia was too focused on the baby to notice.

“‘Born monsters’… Mr. Hieda, I kindly ask you to stop bullshitting me.” Keine said it with zero hesitation.