Blue Archive story · Volume 5, Chapter 1, Episode 13
Vol. 5 Ch. 1 Ep. 13: Kiryuu Kikyou and the Succession Contest 2
1 scenes, 126 lines
1. Part 1
126 lines
*pant pant*...
"Can you stand? Yukari!"
I'm... I'm fine!
No. I'm not. This is what a Hyakkaryouran succession contest is.
Face the gravity of your reality, Kadenokouji.
The issue isn't acquiring a witness for your succession contest. Nagusa is an insurmountable wall you cannot pass.
Reality will not bend to mere feelings. Your dreams are an impossibility.
... ...
That's... I just...
All I wished was for us to return to normal... To be the Hyakkaryouran once again...
Go back? Go back to what?
Your frivolity is insulting.
Defeat Nagusa? Lead the Hyakkaryouran?
How? You can't even defeat me.
This childish behavior will cease immediately.
Because is that truly your desire? To "go back"?
We all know that to not be true.
What you should do is go home, Lady Kadenokouji. Playtime is over.
"Kikyou, you don't mean that."
"Yukari's really serious. Just yesterday..."
If you believe that, answer me this, Schale's Sensei.
Did our lady tell you everything before requesting your aid?
The duties that come with being of the Kadenokouji family are heavy and inescapable.
Yet she continues to flout her responsibility to instead play house with the Hyakkaryouran.
Has she told you anything of the life you are helping her to neglect?
...I expected nothing different.
Do you understand now, Sensei? You were another character in her grand charade.
Kadenokouji Yukari. Unlike you, the Hyakkaryouran is all we have.
We will lose the Hyakkaryouran and be left with nothing. You will return to your great halls and lavish life.
So for you to speak of succession contests, of being the messiah to our every problem...
It's distasteful.
You have your role to play in society. And, allow me to speak plainly, it is not with the Hyakkaryouran.
...
Is this... This is how you view me, Kikyou?
Do you know me to say things I don't mean? You are no less aggravating than when we were younger.
You were the only one harboring delusions.
I...deep down I was aware of everything you said!
I'm not so blind to think I could so easily best Nagusa.
I understood that the chances of me winning my succession contest were nigh impossible.
I harbored no delusions!
...
"Yukari..."
Despite all that... Yes. I did want to go back. I truly did!
I want the president of the Yin-Yang Club to witness my Hyakkaryouran Succession Contest!
I had no other option! I just thought that...with a succession contest...
If I could simply defeat Nagusa...! I would become the president, and then... And then...
Then we could go back...
If I could simply do all of that, then everyone would smile again!
That's what I thought...
But first Renge, and now Kikyou... It seems everyone expects me to lay down my hopes.
How am I to simply abandon the memories of our laughter filling the room when we were together?
... *sigh*
My immaturity has turned me into a nuisance, it seems...
I'm...sorry, everyone. Sensei.
"No, Yukari! Come back!"
Why do you insist on meddling in matters of which you know nothing?
Yukari is chasing a shadow of a dream. Our path was carved into stone the moment Nagusa surrendered her position.
Rumors circulated amongst the members like wildfire almost instantaneously.
The whispers grew louder and louder: "The Hyakkaryouran is finished."
We did what we had to do in response. That's what you don't understand, outsider.
That child admired the very air that Nagusa breathed.
And it was our responsibility to send her home before she was injured by the fallout.
This...This is how we protect her.
She doesn't understand. A shattered mirror cannot be pieced back together.
Those of us left behind will carry on the burden she'll soon forget.
"You're wrong. About everything."
...Excuse me?
"You're the one who's out of line, Kikyou."
"You really love your club, Yukari."
"Yukari has the right to decide how she wants to live her own life."
How dare you...
I know this isn't my place, but I can't help but agree with Sensei.
...What does the president of the Festival Operations Department have to say on this matter?
Someone's place in this world...
Well, isn't the point of life to figure out what that is for yourself?
You say it's for her own good, that she'll be happier that way, but I'm sorry...
It's just not right.
"Yukari said it herself. She knew she would lose the succession contest."
"Wasn't she just scrambling for some kind of excuse to get to see everyone?"
"Did you really? You really think Yukari is frivolous? That she's playing house?"
"Lying to protect someone is still lying..."
"All you did was say things to hurt her."
...!!
Ahem! Wh-Why don't we focus on what we can control for right now?
Let's look for Kadeno, for Yukari first.
"Let's go, Shizuko."
What do they want from me?
...
What they truly want...is you.
Everyone's gaze is fixated upon your vacant spot, Nagusa...
...
...Renge? It's me.
The Hyakkaryouran been pushin' us around all day!
We're halfway beat, and the festival ain't even started!
Maybe we gotta give up, Leader...
Yeah! Why don't we just forget 'bout all of this and have fun at the big festival, Leader?
It's gonna start soon, so we gotta get goin' now!
Hm... I guess that sounds like a kinda good idea? I think?
After all, someone great once said only idiots stare up a tree they can't climb!
(I-Is that so? Who...?)
That ain't the point!
We're the Mouryo, y'all! The evil organization that can make even a crying kid bust out laughin'!
(That doesn't sound evil at all...)
We're the biggest and baddest around! We can't just turn tail and hide!
I ain't givin' up! This is when the leader's gotta really step up and set an example!
That might be a li'l hard for our leader...
What?!
Nothin'! I said nothin'!
Ugh! We ain't givin' up! I'll never sleep again if I don't get my revenge!
Oh my. Aren't you just a pitiable lot.
Festivals are meant for fun and joy. I can't possibly turn a blind eye to such morose faces during a happy time.
I can't. I won't!
Wh-Who's there?
Come. I'll offer you a helping paw.
Heehee... Not that I am a cat, of course.
Regardless, wouldn't you like a little help?