A Better Tomorrow - 5

[bladeofresolve]

Location: AV Room

Tetora: ……

 

Midori: ……

Mao: What’s up with you two? You haven’t spoken since the movie ended.

 

Midori: Uu…how depressing…I want to die…

 

Tetora: Ha…ditto…I’m depressed too…

It ended just like that? There’s no sequel? It’s completely finished?

But that can’t be! This isn’t a good ending at all!

Midori: The bad guys were too cocky…

 

Tetora: And the good guys didn’t have a happy ending! Why do purely well-meaning people always get plotted against?!

How come people who changed for the better just can’t go back on the right path?

Mao: Ooh, your reactions sure are intense. Don’t move around too much though, the tables here aren’t too steady.

What about you, Kiryu-senpai? You haven’t spoken since the movie started.

Kuro: Sorry, I was thinking of something just now.

The movie was pretty good, even though it ended differently than I thought it would.

Little miss sure is full of surprises ♪

 

Mao: Mm, I agree with you, Kiryu-senpai~ Thanks for inviting me, Takamine ♪

Midori: But…didn’t you say before…that you wanted to see something lighthearted and refreshing, Isara-senpai…

That movie didn’t fit at all…

 

Mao: Right~ I think I did say something like that…

But this genre’s pretty good too. It was a unique experience and it left a really strong impression on me. Feels like my heart’s overflowing.

I’ll probably remember it for a long time to come.

 

Tetora: Even though that’s what the seniors are saying, I still mind it a lot!

I know Anego recommended it, so that means Anego feels like we can use it as reference.

But how can we call ourselves “men” if we’re doing something we don’t want to do, and not doing what’s right?!

 

Kuro: Tetsu, calm down.

Do you think being a man is something easy and bright?

Something that you can do painlessly, just by having a musclehead physique like a bear’s?

 

Tetora: ……

 

Kuro: The dreams you’re always talking about probably aren’t these flimsy pretty words, are they?

 

Tetora: But…!

Even if it’s like this, there should be a bit of hope, right? …It shouldn’t be this unbearable!

You can’t all just be satisfied like that after watching it, right?

Midori: I’m with Tetora-kun…I feel like my heart’s been clogged up…

 

Mao: Mm...I’m still good. Though I’m definitely a little dissatisfied, after all the protagonist was only a little bit away from escaping their suffering.

Though I’m not as passionate about it as Nagumo.

Is my soul too old?

 

Kuro: Because you’ve experienced more, you’ve already developed an immunity to this kind of thing.

You probably understand very well that it’s normal to have things not go your way.

Mao: Yep~ reality and shounen manga are different.

Justice will definitely prevail, dreams will definitely come true, good people will definitely have happy endings, bad guys will definitely be punished…

It’s right to think that way. But if you only ever face reality with wishful thinking, you’ll definitely fall to a sad end.

Because reality isn’t that beautiful.

Reality doesn’t treat kind people gently, and sometimes it’ll play cruel, pointless jokes on them.

You’re only deceiving yourself if you don’t prepare yourself, you know?

 

Kuro: As expected of someone from the student council, you speak clearly. That’s pretty much what I meant.

Guys that can’t understand reality and shout out catchphrases loudly will only ever be children playing make-believe.

Far away from even the basis of “becoming an adult.”

Real men are the ones who can clearly see the truth of reality but still hold their heads up high.

That would be the best way to understand it. Tetsu, don’t get carried away by your emotions.

 

———
 

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