( @youkaitasticâ // continued from here )
âYou need to eat,â Hiiro replies flatly, without missing a beat. In a fluid motion, he scoops more rice porridge out of the bowl, then gently inserts it into his mouth, then watching him eat more slowly. He knew if he didnât force feed him, then Waki wouldnât eat at all. Heâd starve himself to death and the the last thing he wanted is to lose his dear friend.
An insidious emotion coiled itself around dearest friend, trying to steal his life energy from his beating heart. It was all due to Hibikiâs selfishness. But he wouldnât allow the after effects drown him, because then theyâd both win. Even thinking about the damned flimsy poet puts a bad taste in his mouth.
âIâm doing this because I care about you,â He scoops another, inserting it, âand Iâm going to continue feeding you until you eat it. Alright?â
How could Takeshi Inoue allow such a thing to happen? he's heard in those rare instances he's out, accompanying Wakako in the market or staying close to Hiiro in the smithy. They are friends, others would say. Hiiro Inoue is a kind soul despite his appearances, so of course he would be deceived into harboring such a wretched boy into their home. Itâs a trait he had inherited from his father, who could also be so easily swayed out of the goodness of his own heart. The mother and sister are gentle women, so they will not object either. Perhaps they think to reform him and bring about his filial piety at last, they would say then. Though it will be an arduous task reforming Waki Amachiâoh, but we mustnât call him Amachi anymore, since his family had cut their ties with him when he had left.
Waki also wonders: How could Takeshi Inoue allow such a thing to happen? How could he have allowed Hiiro to travel to Yoshiwara, to let him bring home a thing so debauched that should have been left behind in a burning city, to continue sustaining its life when Waki only wants to throw it away? Itâs a waste, Waki thinks. Itâs all a waste: of time, of resources, of effort.
But he knows Hiiro will not waver from his decision. Waki takes in another spoon of porridge and lets the food past his throat, where smoke and ash should have been. Hiiro offers a cup of water, which he shakily takes into his thinning fingers and sips from.
âYour father will be displeased,â he says. It's a pathetic last attempt: itâs pitting a paper screen against a steel blade. Waki still tries. âYou have your responsibilities as the Inoue familyâs only son. Donât be a fool like me and tarnish your good name.â










