Tempest – Prologue
Location: ES (Exterior)
April, on the way to ES…
The wind is quite strong today, Wataru.
It seems like a spring storm is coming. I pray that the flowers by the name of idols, those which have bloomed in the soil that we call ES, won't be blown away and scattered.
Put that thought aside and look this way, Eichi~! Watch how even this wind can't even slightly dishevel my long hair!
Fufufu. Incredible, isn't it? There is a secret to this, just like how every single problem in this world dominated by the laws of physics has an answer—
…
Come on, please look! Sensing the strength and direction of the wind, I can turn my head at an imperceptible speed!
This is a countermeasure technique that I learned from Hokuto-kun's mother. Fans are occasionally used to produce wind on stage, you see~
It's quite obvious once you see it after having it explained, aren't I right!?
…Oh, I see. Even though you showed it to me right in front of my eyes, I still can't quite understand it, but I'm happy to have gotten closer to you—
I want, just a bit, for you to make me feel those emotions some more.
Of course! Leave it to yours truly! Your wish is my command, my beloved!
Fufufu. But theatre is becoming more and more fun as of late, and as such I find myself constantly thinking of the new techniques I've learned.
Ah, Amazing! This world is overflowing with love and surprise!
What are you saying? Just by being with you, I'm constantly being bestowed with those.
…Oh?
…
Tori. What are you doing here, so suddenly…? Quite unlike your stylish nature, your hair is as messy as a stray cat's.
Let me fix it for you. There we go♪
Eichi-sama—
Be at ease, Princess! I shall put the strength and technique that I achieved through said countermeasure training to use, and become a human windbreaker!
Please look on, as my majestic figure withstands even the spring storm! I'll protect it, our Princess' lovely hairstyle… ☆
(Ignores him) …Eichi-sama, I actually have something I wanted to ask you about.
Oh, what is it? I will always be here to listen when you need me.
However, if it's going to be a long talk, I'd rather have it indoors if possible. I'm not weak enough to topple over, but the wind is hitting my back.
Unlike a certain someone, I don't have the strength to blow it away.
…That idiot keeps getting weirder and weirder, but you're happy about it?
Well, it's spring, after all… But to answer seriously, Wataru has been having an awful lot of fun with his activities at the theatre company as of late.
I now trust that he won't stop being an idol…
…but I'm still jealous, after all. I would like to teach him more about the joy of idols.
Fufu. But I think that with just you being here, there's nowhere as enjoyable as this place for that idiot— um, Long Hair.
Anyways, I kind of didn't want to say this with Yuzuru around, so is it alright if I tell you here? It doesn't really matter, though—
Oh my, so you and Butler-san have been quarrelling?
Not really… It's more like, Yuzuru has been acting a little strange recently.
He's been pretty absent-minded, and he dropped and broke a plate in the mansion which is really out of the ordinary.
I'm always concerned with only Yuzuru, so I thought my jealous little sister might've set a trap…
But it seems Yuzuru's hand just slipped naturally.
Yuzuru is always perfect, and he doesn't usually make mistakes like that— I'm worried about him.
Even when I ask him if anything's bothering him, he just gives me a half-hearted answer.
Hmm…that does seem strange.
Yeah… We've all been doing our own work as of late, so it's rare for all of fine to meet—
Since the two of you have been working together with Yuzuru, I thought you might know why he's acting so weird.
Thinking like that, I lied to Yuzuru about going to Tennis Club practice today and ran over here.
Since it's Yuzuru, he'll probably realize that I lied to him and come scold me any second now, so if you get any ideas, please tell me immediately.
Hmmmm… In order to prevent the recently established ES from stumbling on its first steps, I have been focusing on the paperwork.
I haven't talked much to Yuzuru, so I can't think of a reason for his strange behavior.
It would be easier to just ask Yuzuru himself, but he must've gone through some sort of training to withstand torture… I wonder if he would confess?
Hoho, I understand! It must be the the disease of love!
…Huh?
Yuzuru? In love? Huh, no way— I mean, I don't think that's possible?
Butler-san tends to behave much like a killing machine, yet he's a human being at the end of the day.
He might as well have fallen in love. This world is full of demons waiting to seduce humans into romance with their curses.
Hmm… Listening without prejudice, it does sound like it could be lovesickness.
Love tends to make people go crazy and even completely changes them.
Though, I've never once been in love since I was born, so I can't come up with a way to resolve this situation.
Huh? Are you being serious? Eichi?
Young Master! Why did you lie to Yuzuru!? Is it that you are once again using your time on questionable things such as manga and videogames!?
As I have said many times in the past, you must leave such matters for once you are done with your work and studies—
— Oh? It seems everyone has gathered. What is the matter? Is it secret to me, perhaps a conspiracy?
(Hmmm? Yuzuru, in love? That doesn't really seem like the case, but…?)