[The Destination of Sins and Forgiveness] The Other Side of Darkness - Miyaji
※Note: This translation was done by AI, and I'm not fluent in English, so it may not be 100% accurate and could contain errors.
Episode 1
Note before reading this Butler Story:
This story contains spoilers for the Event Story "The Destination of Sins and Forgiveness." It is recommended that you read up to Episode 12 of the Event Story before proceeding. If you wish to avoid spoilers, please return using the button in the upper left.
……………
[Espoir Theater]
A week has passed since the opening night performance...
Tonight is one of several scheduled performances, but... something is different from usual.
Tonight, Flure is coming to watch the play for the first time.
Flure: Master, Miyaji-sensei!
Good luck to you both.
I’ll be cheering for you from the audience!
Miyaji: Thank you.
I hope it’s a play you can enjoy, Flure-kun...
Flure:Of course I’ll enjoy it!
After all, these are the costumes I worked so hard on...
And besides... I don’t actually know the details of the story yet.
You: Is that so?
Flure: Yes!
Since I have the chance, I thought I’d enjoy it from a spectator’s perspective this time.
Well then, I’ll head back to my seat.
I’ll come see you again after the show!
Miyaji: ………
"Looking forward to it," huh...
I am concerned about how Flure-kun will react, but...
Once this play is over...
I must speak to him properly.
About the past involving me, Lucas... and Yormu-kun.
You: How much does he know?
Miyaji: ...Let's see...
He likely knows almost nothing.
It’s not that the topic never came up before, but...
...I myself have avoided touching upon it for a long time.
Before I knew it, Flure-kun...
In his consideration for me, began to avoid the topic of my scars as well.
Making him worry like that...
I have to put an end to it.
- XX Years Ago -
Flure: Miyaji-sensei!
Didn’t you say recently that your scars get dry?
I actually found a really good moisturizing cream.
Please try it if you’d like.
Miyaji: Thank you.
That helps a lot, Flure-kun.
Flure: No problem at all!
Skincare is important, after all.
...By the way...
May I ask you something...?
Miyaji: Hm?
What is it?
Flure: Those scars of yours, Miyaji-sensei...
...You were injured long ago and had a butler’s skin transplanted, right?
...The butler who gave their skin to you...
What kind of person were they?
I heard...
They were an underground butler, just like us...
Lato: Oh.........
I’ve heard about that too.
If I recall...
Wasn't the butler's name "Yormu"?
I’ve overheard Miyaji-sensei and Zepal-san talking about it.
Zepal: Lato-kun...
Eavesdropping isn’t very admirable.
Lato: It can’t be helped.
I just happen to hear things.
So?
What kind of person was this "Yormu"?
Miyaji:……That is......
Flure: No!
You don’t have to force yourself to talk about it!
I’m sure it’s a painful memory for you, Miyaji-sensei...
It just popped into my head...
I don’t really mind at all!
Lato: Is that so?
I’m a bit curious, though.
Flure: Don't be!
Come on, Lato, help me with the laundry over there.
Lato: Hmm........ I suppose I have no choice.
If it’s for my cute younger brother.
(Footsteps retreating...)
Miyaji:…………
Zepal: As I thought...
It seems difficult for you to talk about Yormu-kun.
Miyaji: Yes.
...I feel sorry for those two, but...
If I were to tell them everything...
Out of kindness to me, they would surely say:
"I’m just glad you’re alive, Miyaji-sensei."
While those are words that would make me happy...
They are also words I do not desire.
Words that would forgive me and lighten my sense of guilt...
I am not worthy of them.
...It’s selfish of me, but...
I intend to keep the truth about Yormu-kun from them for now.
Zepal:......I understand.
If that’s what you say, Miyaji-san.
Miyaji: Thank you.
I’ve done nothing but cause you trouble since long ago.
Zepal: It’s fine.
Besides, you’ve taken care of me much more than that.
Miyaji:………
Zepal-kun.
If you don't mind, could I ask... one more favor?
Zepal: A favor?
What is it?
Miyaji: If, by some chance...
Just like with Yormu-kun before...
The time comes again to weigh my life against someone else’s...
When that happens, without hesitation...
I want you to promise to sacrifice me.
...I never...
Want to feel that way ever again...
Zepal:...Miyaji-san...
I can imagine how painful it is for you.
However...
Unfortunately, I cannot promise that.
To make such a heavy decision...
Even as a hypothetical, is too difficult.
And not just me...
I’m sure Lato-kun and Flure-kun would say the same thing.
To sacrifice someone precious...
Is painful for anyone.
Miyaji:
…Zepal-kun...
Zepal: There are many people who cherish you, Miyaji-san.
Please, at least don't forget that.
Miyaji:......Yes.
I understand.
Thank you, Zepal-kun.
I’m sorry for saying something strange.
Zepal: No, no, it's quite alright.
But I hope someday......
A day will come when we can all look back on Yormu-kun together.
...Along with Lucas-san, too.
Miyaji: ……That is......
Zepal: Hehe... It’s okay.
I’m sure you’ll be able to make up someday.
Episode 2
……………………
Miyaji: Now that I think about it...
My whole life has been spent making those around me worry.
...But I have to put an end to that.
Master.
Today, I want to show Flure-kun a truly great performance.
So please...
I’d like your support.
You: Of course. Let’s do our best together.
Miyaji: Yes.
...Thank you, Master.
[Espoir Theater]
Miyaji's performance that day...
Felt as though it carried more emotion than ever before.
Perhaps it was just my imagination based on our conversation before the show.
...That thought crossed my mind, but...
I realized in the middle of the second act that I wasn't mistaken.
The tears that had been welling in his eyes...
Overflowed for just a single moment.
You: (...! Miyaji...)
Miyaji: "How it feels to lose someone precious...
I’m sure I don’t need to explain that to any of you.
...I was simply overwhelmed by sorrow.
A deep sadness that words cannot describe...
I was disappointed from the bottom of my heart, both in myself for being unable to protect them...
And in the humans who took them away...
But...
For the sake of my grieving self...
My students wept right there by my side."
Matching his gesture of brushing back his hair...
Miyaji casually wiped the tear from his cheek.
It happened so quickly that even the audience in the front row might not have noticed.
However, watching from the same stage...
I clearly saw the moment his emotions overflowed.
- After the Performance -
Flure: Master! Miyaji-sensei!
Today’s play was so, sooooo wonderful!
Miyaji: Thank you.
I’m glad you enjoyed it.
You: Miyaji's acting was incredible, wasn't it?
Flure: Yes!
It’s hard to put into words, but I was just completely drawn in...
I almost burst into tears myself!
It was truly amazing!
Ah...
I’m sorry for barging in right after the show when you must be tired.
I’ll tell you more of my thoughts another time.
Please get some good rest tonight!
……………
Miyaji:...Heh...
It seems he was pleased.
There might be some bias because we’re family...
But if Flure-kun enjoyed it, that’s all that matters.
I suppose I let my feelings get a bit too involved in today's play...
You:
...Those tears surprised me.
Miyaji:……So you noticed......
You’re right.
I was indeed crying at that moment.
Looking out at the audience from the stage...
Many thoughts came to mind.
...Somewhere in those dark seats...
Flure-kun is watching me.
I can't see him, but I know he’s there.
As I continued to act with that sensation...
Before I knew it, I started to feel as if...
Yormu-kun was in the audience as well.
You: Yormu-san was in the audience...?
Miyaji:...Of course, I know that's impossible.
It’s merely my imagination.
However...
On stage, I was performing within a world of imagination.
Even if my head knows it isn't reality...
The emotions rising in my heart are real.
...Eventually, it wasn't just sadness; all sorts of emotions came flooding out...
And then...
I could no longer hold back my tears.
A student who passed away long ago is somewhere in the audience...
When his heart felt that presence...
What was reflected in Miyaji’s gaze?
...The boy Miyaji once saved...
What kind of expression did he have?
You:...Maybe he came to see you, Miyaji.
Miyaji:......I don't know.....
But feeling his presence nearby...
I thought once again:
"He might have been the one standing here instead of me."
Talking to you like this now, Master...
It could have been Yormu-kun.
The happiness I felt meeting you...
The fun times we've spent since...
Inherently, the place where I am standing...
Might just be the place where Yormu-kun was supposed to stand.
...When I think about that...
I can't help but feel apologetic.
The happiness of standing by your side...
I wanted him to know it too...
You: Miyaji...
While feeling a renewed sense of respect for his endlessly kind nature...
I tried to imagine the boy named "Yormu" in my mind.
If he was the person Miyaji believed him to be...
If he had come to harbor kindness for others in his heart...
...I feel like he would have said the exact same thing as the current Miyaji.
Just as Miyaji carries guilt...
Yormu-san surely would have suffered from a sense of sin as well.
What Miyaji is feeling in his stead isn't just "happiness."
He is also carrying the "pain" and "suffering."
I shared those thoughts...
Honestly with Miyaji.
Miyaji:...If Yormu-kun were alive...
...He would be feeling the same suffering...
...as I am now?
...If his former student...
Was suffering from the guilt of becoming happy...
I wonder, if it were Miyaji...
How would he reach out to him?
You:...If it were you, Miyaji, what would you say?
Miyaji:……………
……………………
...Thank you, Master.
It's not that my sense of guilt has vanished...
Nor do I want it to disappear...
But the fear of forgiving myself...
I feel it has softened, just a little.
...You truly are a kind person, Master.
If Yormu-kun were alive...
He would surely have opened his heart to a Master as kind as you.
And he would wish to make you even happier.
...Just as I do now.
You: Thank you, Miyaji.
Miyaji: Heh...
I’m the one who should be thanking you.
Master, you have eased my pain...
And given me so much happiness.
Devoting myself to someone precious...
I have no hesitation or guilt in that.
The person whose happiness I wish for more than anyone else...
The joy of being by their side and helping them find happiness...
Thank you for this blissful time.
And from now on, I will continue to wish for your happiness.
You: I wish for your happiness too, Miyaji.
Miyaji:...Thank you, Master.
When I’m by your side...
I can imagine a future even happier than the present.
Miyaji being by my side forever...
I try to imagine that future as well.
As a feeling of happiness overflows deep in my chest...
Another feeling arises.
...A happy future will never end as just an imagination.
Chúng ta chắc chắn sẽ cùng nhau kéo nó về phía mình.
Exchanging glances with a smiling Miyaji...
I solidified that resolve within my heart.
