[ They scurry off back to the Hotel, taking the elevator up to Baritones. Tenn, in that moment, has half a mind to suggest that they just always go back to LiliS because the elevator ride is shorter and going all the way up to the top floor every time is excruciating, but that thought gets lost once Eichi opens the door and they hurry off to his room -- !! ]
With the way that your unit ran numbers, I was wondering if you were ... cheating, or something. Ah -- Not you, Eichi-- but, the others.
I tried hard, but couldn't even make a dent as to what they were doing, so --
... Mmh, but - that doesn't matter, whatever happened to make your numbers so high. What matters is that you were able to say things about yourself in front of them, too, right? You were able to trust them.
Miss Lily seems to have had like twenty something siblings and she regretted not meeting all of them. [Shrugs. It wasn't cheating but it was. Too much, he thinks.]
But I did contribute, so yes. I think it just solidified to me that there was much I wanted to talk with you about yet. Even though I have been more open with you than with anyone in regards to my feelings, I do not think I have been as open as I could be.
And... I never want to push you away. I am afraid of what you might do to get close again.
I dunno how to say, but I have been keeping things to myself, haven't I? Ah, not that you would know. I didn't tell you why people like Shu hate me so much. And... I haven't gotten all of my feelings in order, so maybe I've been keeping you held close, but not too close.
[He sits on the bed next to Tenn, bumping him with a shoulder.]
Me neither, if I'm honest.
Uhm, but. I think it is important that you know. It's in the past but I can't look to the future if I pretend it never happened. So uh. I caused a lot of idols to die, before I came here. They call me 'Emperor', because I had power over everything because of my family, and I used it to change things.
I manipulated the idol industry, hoping to remove those who I didn't think worthy, but the way I did it crushed peoples' hopes and dreams until they were left with nothing but despair, and they took their own lives.
I subjected everyone to this wicked treatment- Itsuki-kun, Leo, and even Wataru. And... this game kind of helped me to admit that I regret it.
[ he isnt quite sure what he's hearing. it's very hard to process. ...not because it's unbelievable, but because it is. he's seen the dark aide of eichi, has since accepted it -- has since watched him grow into a much kinder and softer and lighter person. ]
...It's hard to come up with words that justifies that.
[ he wants to, though. he really wants to justify it somehow. ]
Passion, desire, dreams ... Those are something that I could come up with, but to put them against that sounds as if they're cheapening the experience.
...
I don't like hearing it. What you did, who you were. But - ... It doesn't change my feelings. It doesn't change that you've changed.
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