syckophant | IC Inbox

Nothing I can think of.

[Because really... Eichi just kind of wants a Friendship Contract! But this time with no contract, and thus no end date.]

Not so bad, is it?

Ah- I can manage that.

[ its a little pathetic, but- ]

[Interacting with Eichi is always at least a little pathetic.]

I never doubted you for a second~

Maybe we can seal the deal at the temple, mh? Or at the amusement park. Do you like ferris wheels?

... I do. I like heights.

Wonderful! That's settled then.

[He smiles, then going silent for a moment, thinking.]

Hey, Artemis... What is your brother like?

...Mm.

He's kind, warm and pure, but ... he's stubborn. With his illness, he shouldn't have become an idol. But ... he did. Against all odds, against how much I tried to keep him safe and in a box ... he fought hard, and he shined brightly on stage. Sometimes - even brighter than I did. They've beaten us, before, at a competition. After seeing them, I didn't question why.

I've thought a lot about this name that I've been given. Being twins aside, if I'm "Artemis", then he's definitely "Apollo". If I'm "The Moon", he's definitely "The Sun". His love, his attention, his light ... those are the reasons that I ever shined in the first place. Seeing his smile is the reason why I ever became an Idol.

... Our names matched before, too, you know? His name is "Riku". I'm "Heaven", and he's "Earth". While that makes me sound more fantastical than him, I'm not.

Hmm! I imagine having a sibling really helped! You seem to love him a lot~ I became an idol because I fell in love with one I saw on TV in the hospital. It sounds stupid, I know, but I got to meet him, fight him, and then he joined my unit, so I suppose I lived out as much of a dream as someone like me could have!

Do you regret dying and leaving him alone?

...

I died for him. I would do it again.

I wonder how he feels about that. There are few slower and more painful deaths than loneliness.

[Eichi is just going to go ahead and admit that.]

I wonder if he'd be the sort to be okay with just his unit.

He is. I abandoned him once before. He flourished with them, even after I hurt him. Without me ... he's definitely fine. Maybe he's even better off.

...

Eeeh ... Eichi-san, you're souring our date. Talk about something lighter than this, this is terrible.

[He laughs at that, just as cheerful as if they'd been disagreeing over pizza toppings.]

Eh? I'm just curious! He seems like me in some ways, but so very unlike me in others, and I'd wondered if it was because he had someone like you all his life! It's hard not to think about things like that. Aren't you curious about it? What makes people the way they are?

...

He didn't have me for all his life. When we were thirteen, I abandoned him to live with another. His name is "Nanase Riku", you know. We, legally, aren't brothers anymore. It's a secret, actually, to the media, that we ever were in the first place. We're fraternal, so-- while we look alike, we don't share the same face.

What kind of date is this ... you're pulling out rotten bits from the center that shouldn't be tugged on ...

Hm! Well I suppose I've never been on a date before. But maybe it's better like this, getting all of the rot out first, shake it out and wash it so it can begin anew.

Because this is like a second life for us, isn't it? The other idols get scrubbed all clean but they leave us dirty. Ahhh... So something nicer. Tell me something you like to do other than perform, then.

Ah, well-

There aren't any here, but I like to find and take pictures of stray cats. I had a very successful social media account, where I took a lot of pictures of cats and drinks and donuts. It was performing, too, in a way, but I enjoyed it.

Aha! Shishiou-kun also likes stray cats~ I think he has some cats here... Maybe you could sneak pictures of other idols' pets. Or I don't know. Ask them? Might be easier since they'd be in their dorms.

No, that'd be too embarrassing--

[ And-! It looks like they've finally arrived at the amusement park! ]

Fufufu~

What kind of idol is embarrassed of that? [Eichi smirks, bumping into Artemis a little.] Besides, you could argue it is one of your Lives. And people love to show off their pets, it's like parents with their prized children~

Mou--- Asking others is the issue-,

[ Trying to move the conversation, he grabs for Eichi's hand, beginning to drag him towards the ferris wheel. ]

Come on--

[Rude!!! Eichi likes to chat!!! Usually about untoward topics!]

Haha! Of course~

[He's actually pretty amused by being pulled along, like Artemisis an excited child.]

It's a little odd with no people here, isn't it?

Mm, it is... but, isn't it more private this way?

[His fingers tighten on Artemis' as he tugs on his arm a little.]

Is privacy a concern for you, Artemis?

... Somewhat.

The illusion of privacy is as good as privacy, in any case. No matter how we hide, someone will see...

But that's exciting too, isn't it?

I- it's embarrassing, really - but ...

... They're our fans, I suppose.

They are. And aren't we ruled by our fans? Hahahah~

[He'll take Artemis along toward the Ferris Wheel, an imposing figure even in a large amusement part.]

But no one here has to know. Our fellow idols... It'll be almost a secret.

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