#xblazeweek

Concept Art/Model Sheet for Kiri

Translations for the notes on the sheet under the cut. As I mentioned in my Meifang post, it's important to remember that I do not read or speak Japanese. These translations are the product of the combined efforts of machine translation and the use of online kanji dictionaries.

If you catch me making any mistakes, or you know the language better and can correct my errors, I would greatly appreciate it!

AD 2065, 6/9, Shin Yokozaki City

Siebzehn takes a deep breath and opens his verdelite eyes to stare at his reflection. His long blonde hair is as neat as ever, the brown highlights framing well. His pale skin is as clear as he can get it, and his makeup isn’t running. He’s got this.

With a resolute nod, the young man throws his dark coat about his shoulders and marches out of his room and down the stairs, where his aunt Kuon and her wife Elise are chatting with their mentor, Ringo.

He overhears some of their conversation as he makes his way down.

Kuon sighs, “But what if he does? Touya is going to—”

Ringo scoffs, “Relax, Kuon. Part-Timer is going to be just fine. It’s just a little—”

Both women stop as they catch sight of a confused Siebzehn.

Elise chirps, “Good morning, sleeping beauty! Took your time, didn’t you?”

Siebzehn keeps up a stoic mask, refusing to let his nerves show. “I was just hoping to start the day right, Auntie.”

Elise giggles, “Oh, for sure!”

Siebzehn arches a brow, feeling as if there’s more to her statement. But that can’t be. He’s been so careful about this…

Kuon looks nervous, like she wants to say something.

Siebzehn promptly seats himself and begins to pick at his breakfast, unwilling to bear the thought that he’s caught out before he can even begin.

Ringo clears her throat, “Well, I’m going to see Part-Timer when we finish up. Siebzehn, why don’t you help me carry the supplies? I doubt he’s had curry in a while. It makes me so sad for him.”

Siebzehn, despite his upbringing, has never been able to understand Grannie Ringo‘s curry-based philosophy. He meekly nods, happy to have an excuse to accomplish his objective for the day.

When they finish breakfast, Siebzehn helps clear the table, like always, and does his best to avoid Kuon’s searching gaze. The pair have always known when to back off of one another, but sometimes it’s better not to risk these things.

He rushes to gather the supplies from the pantry as he shuffles about.

Kuon sighs sadly and says, “I’m going to visit Mei in case anyone needs me.”

Elise narrows her eyes. “Without me? Oh, Kuon, how cold of you!”

Kuon rolls her eyes. “I keep telling you that if you want her to warm up to you, you have to play nice!”

Elise pouts. “But she’s so mean!”

Kuon huffs, but Siebzehn doesn’t stick around to hear her response, too caught up in the excitement of finally witnessing his own truth.

Ringo is waiting patiently outside, the soft wrinkles under her eyes creasing with glee. “I hope you’re ready to learn today, Siebzehn! For I will teach you the truest path to expression!”

Siebzehn nods. “Of course, Grannie Ringo.”

Ringo’s eyes narrow as she pinches his cheek. “Hey, hey! What have I said about all that “Grannie” stuff?”

Siebzehn chuckles, “But Grannie, I thought you said that experience was the seasoning of life?”

Ringo scoffs, “That’s true, but a true man doesn’t remind a woman of her age so cruelly!”

Siebzehn cheekily smirks. “But shouldn’t I show deference to my wise elder?”

Ringo smacks him upside the head with a grunt. “Stop being such a brat.”

Siebzehn giggles merrily.

---------

As the meal winds down, Siebzehn is desperate to get Touya alone. He can feel the excited beat of his heart almost fit to burst from his chest.

Hinata coos, “That was great, thank you so much!”

Akira hums, “Yeah, that hit all the right spots, eh, Touya?”

Touya nods. “Yeah.” He murmurs to himself, “Curry should be enjoyed sparingly, though.”

Ringo’s eyes flash as she asks, “What was that, Part-Timer?”

Touya jolts and stammers, “N-Nothing, Ringo-san!”

Ringo huffs, “I see that you still have much to learn.” She turns to Siebzehn. “Oi, Siebzehn. Why don’t you help Part-Timer clean up here?”

Akira rises, “Nah, I can—”

Ringo’s eyes flash again, and Akira hastily sits back down. “S-sit right here and wait!”

Siebzehn shoots her what he hopes is a subtly grateful glace as he rises and starts gathering plates. He wordlessly follows a nervous Touya into the kitchen.

His ears flush such a delightful shade when he’s nervous. He really is beautiful.

Siebzehn wistfully sighs as he begins to scrub, basking in the nearby warmth of Touya as he works to rinse after Siebzehn finishes each plate.

As they near the end of their endeavor, Siebzehn steels himself. Now‘s the time. “Touya-san.”

Touya quietly hums, looking more nervous than ever. “Y-Yes Siebzehn-kun?”

Siebzehn faces him fully, eyes full of a stony determination. “There’s something I must confess.”

Touya faces him with a flushing face, eyes cagy.

Siebzehn continues, “Since our arrival, you’ve been nothing but kind. You’ve allowed us into your home, treated me with so much care, despite how my… parentage might weigh on you…”

Siebzehn stands on his toes and cups Touya’s burning cheeks. “I think I love you, Kagari Touya.”

Touya’s eyes widen as he blinks and gently but firmly reaches up to push Siebzehn’s hands away. He sighs, “I was afraid of this…” He sadly stares at Siebzehn. “Siebzehn-kun. I’m twice your age and this… it’s not right, and I already have someone. Several someones.”

Siebzehn expected this, so he manages to subdue his flinch and coolly press on. “And there isn’t room in your relationship for one more? We can wait a bit while I finish growing, I don’t mind.”

Touya looks pained as he sighs, “That’s not the point, and it would be wrong of me to make promises I can’t keep.” He looks sternly into Siebzehn’s eyes. “Siebzehn, I know it’s cliché to say, but this will pass. It’s just—”

Siebzehn feels something ugly well up in his chest as he hisses, “It’s not a crush. It’s so much deeper than that.” He leans in close. “Don’t you feel it too?”

Siebzehn searches Touya’s eyes desperately for signs of weakness, anything to avoid what’s coming.

He finds only sadness and a firm resolution.

Touya despondently huffs, “You’re like a nephew to me.”

Siebzehn feels like he’s just been struck. He stumbles back, eyes wide and full of pain as he looks at Touya, who continues to stare at him sadly.

Touya continues, “I do care for you, Siebzehn, but it can’t be in the way you want. I’m really sorry. But this doesn’t—!"

Siebzehn can’t bear to hear the rest as he rushes out of the room, tears streaming freely from his eyes as he bursts out of the house and down the street, ignoring the various calls from behind.

---------

Sobbing into his knees, Siebzehn does his best to ignore the evening chill, pulling his coat closer around himself as his body shakes and crumples.

He’d been so sure that Touya felt the growing warmth between them, the intimacy that he felt so clearly in his heart. But he’d been wrong. Just another lovesick boy dreaming of the impossible. How many times has he scoffed at such pathetic characters on his aunt’s tv screen?

Footsteps.

Siebzehn whips his head around to see a purple haired woman glaring at him.

Siebzehn immediately flinches as he recognizes the woman as the fierce Mei Amanohokosaka.

Mei huffs, but doesn’t say anything, merely stepping forward to sit beside Siebzehn.

He stares at her in confused apprehension for a while, and she regards him coolly out of the corner of her eye.

She huffs, “Relax. I’m not gonna bug you about why you ran off like a bat out of hell.”

Siebzehn recoils, biting back, “Then what are you here to do? Keep tabs on me?”

Mei shrugs. “Pretty much.”

Siebzehn feels his hackles rise. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

Mei glares at him. “You ran away like a coward because you didn’t get what you wanted. Sounds pretty immature to me.”

Siebzehn feels the anger crescendo, then plummet as guilt settles in. He’d worried everyone because he couldn’t face the truth. All because he couldn’t get what he desired. He really was a coward.

Siebzehn slumps, fresh tears stinging his now reddened eyes.

Mei is silent for a moment, then loosely wraps an arm around his shoulders. “I had a crush on your aunt.”

Siebzehn whips his head around to stare at Mei incredulously.

She huffs, “It was a long time ago. We were both just dumb kids with more on our shoulders than what anyone should have.”

He slowly nods. He’d heard the stories, about his mother, about his father, about…

She narrows her eyes. “But that doesn’t excuse the shitty way I took it out on her.” She looks down at Siebzehn. “Look, I get that you feel hurt, crushed even, but you didn’t have to leave Kagari hanging like that.”

Siebzehn flinches and looks away, but Mei shakes his shoulder lightly.

She scowls. “Hey, don’t they teach you mages manners?”

He reluctantly meets her eyes again, expecting anger, but finding nothing but stern concern.

She continues, “What I’m getting at is that I get you’re hurt, and you’re valid, by the way, but that doesn’t mean you get to run away from it all like a crybaby. Kagari really cares about you, and you scared him.”

He chokes out, “B-But I—”

She shakes her head. “Nope. Don’t even try that with me, kid.” She stares into his eyes. “Like I was saying, I had a crush. Bad. But I took it out on her because I knew that I couldn’t do anything about it.” She looks sad for a moment. “And by the time that wasn’t the case, she’d—” She ruefully laughs, “Oh man, I sound bad.” She looks back up. “What I mean to say is, sometimes it just doesn’t work out.”

He must look disagreeable.

She continues, “Hey, hey. You shot your shot at a man twice your age, kid. Ya got your answer, and now ya gotta deal with it.” She squeezes his shoulder. “But that’s alright. You’re not alone. You got Kuon, Ringo…” She playfully grimaces. “Elise…”

As if summoned by the sheer audacity, Elise’s voice rings out. “See?! She’s totally mean!”

Siebzehn whips his head around to see everyone staring at him with varying degrees of concern and sadness, most devasted looking of all is…

Touya steps forward. “Thanks, Mei.”

Mei hums, then whispers, “And ya got me too.” She pats Siebzehn’s shoulder, then stands, dusting herself off. Loudly, she sighs, “Yeah, well, he’s just a kid, Kagari. Ya should’ve expected something like that.”

Siebzehn glares at her, and she smirks back at him.

Touya huffs, “Mei…”

Mei continues, “I mean, ‘you’re like blank to me,’ really? That line is older than my clan.”

Touya groans, “Mei…”

Mei claps, huffing, “Alright everyone, let’s give the two idiots some space.”

Touya whines miserably as he says, “Mei!”

Mei just scoffs as she ushers everyone off the roof and into the building below.

Siebzehn snaps his head back to the sea, not ready to… to…

Touya sits down beside him.

The two stare at the skyline for sometime before Touya sighs, “I’m sorry.”

Siebzehn looks at him shyly. “For what? I was the one who—”

Touya shakes his head. “I went too fast. I should’ve been more careful.” He looks into Siebzehn’s eyes. “I meant what I said, we can’t do what you want. But!”

Touya pulls Siebzehn in for a hug.

Touya murmurs into his hair. “That doesn’t mean I care about you any less. You’re like family, Siebzehn. I mean that.” He pulls away. “So please, don’t run away. It’ll take some time, but I promise that it won’t hurt forever.”

Siebzehn sourly sighs, “Easy to say, for the man who got his wish.”

Touya laughs. “Oh, I didn’t actually. Not at first, anyways.”

Siebzehn looks incredulously at him. “B-But Hinata, Akira, Es, and even Kiri—”

Touya looks away with a blush. “Promise me that you won’t tell anyone but…”

Siebzehn nods slowly. He can’t resist a secret, not from Touya.

Touya sighs, “I still get a little jealous when I see her hold someone close.” He smiles warmly at Siebzehn. “But I know it doesn’t work that way, so I let it go.”

Siebzehn’s eyes widen as he glances back at the door. “You mean—?!"

Touya laughs, “Yeah. I was young once too.” He shrugs. “It gets easier, is what I’m saying.”

Siebzehn doesn’t quite believe him, but the intimacy of this moment… It still feels good. To be cared for even this much. He sighs, “I shouldn’t’ve run away.”

Touya hums, “It really was scary, seeing you snap like that. But…” He squeezes Siebzehn in close and sighs, “You’re still here, and that’s what counts.”

Siebzehn flushes, and snuggles into the embrace, guiltily allowing himself a moment to pretend.

Touya eventually pulls away and smiles warmly. “So, let’s get back to the others. I’m sure Kuon has a word or two for you herself.”