#shigehira main story

[sakura-samsara]

Shigehira Main Story: Chapter 13

← Chapter 12

✦ part one

Yasuchika: So it seems Yoshino-san has safely returned to Kamakura!

Yasuchika was holding an audience with one of his subordinates in an elegantly furnished room.

Yasuchika: Those two were lovely test subjects. I’ll have to thank them for giving me such a great research opportunity.

Yasuchika’s Subordinate: If I’m not mistaken, you had the woman exterminate a hallucinatory ayakashi… correct? 

Yauchika’s Subordinate: Such ayakashi are rarely seen near human settlements, but they are hardly a serious threat. I am certain that its appearance would not incur suspicion towards you, Yasuchika-sama.

Yasuchika: Oh, I’m not worried about being seen at all! I just wanted to conduct some research for a new technique.

Yasuchika’s Subordinate: O-Of course…

Yasuchika: I’m so happy I got to see Shige-chan get injured, too.

Yasuchika’s Subordinate: …Hm?

Yasuchika: Shige-chan seems like such a disciplined warrior,

Yasuchika: But as soon as the ayakashi turned into a little girl, he immediately hesitated to attack it. How wonderful. 

Yasuchika squinted as he stretched with the languor of a cat lounging in the sun. 

His gaze, however, was not heavy with sleepiness—it gleamed with a sharp, cold brilliance.

The subordinate stiffened at the chill in the air from Yasuchika’s change in demeanor.

Yasuchika: I suppose the next time I’ll see the two of them will be on the battlefield. I’m really looking forward to it. 

Yasuchika’s Subordinate: Yasuchika-sama, isn’t it…

Yasuchika: Hm?

Yasuchika’s Subordinate: Isn’t all of this business with the shogunate and the rebel army rather frightening to you?

Yasuchika: Well, in my opinion, someone who views his work in terms of whether it’s frightening or not wouldn’t be fit to be an onmyōji at all.

Yasuchika: Especially when you work at the palace. You get asked to do all sorts of crazy things, but you can’t exactly turn down the requests, so you just have to get used to it! 

Yasuchika’s Subordinate: I understand… Well said, Yasuchika-sama. It is only natural, given your superior skill in onmyōdō. 

The subordinate’s polite words hardly concealed his eagerness to curry favor with Yasuchika.

Yasuchika’s Subordinate: I sincerely hope that you will demonstrate the new technique you are developing to us when it is ready… 

Yasuchika: You know, I think I will.

Yasuchika nodded, the gesture somehow childlike and elegant at once.

Yasuchika: I’d really like it if lots of people got to see it. 

(So this is Kagetoki-san’s mansion…? Somehow I’m starting to feel on edge just by being here.) 

Shigehira: This way, Yoshino-san.

Yoshino: Okay!

Shigehira confidently led me towards Kagetoki’s estate, seeming as though he'd taken this route many times before.

Yoshino: Do you visit Kagetoki-san’s place a lot, Shigehira-kun? 

Shigehira: I guess I do.

Shigehira: Kagetoki-san mentors me in my studies, so I often borrow books from him.

Shigehira: At some point, he started letting me come and go whenever I wanted.

Yoshino: Really…?

The image of Kagetoki—staring cold, sharp daggers from behind his spectacles—popped into my mind. 

Yoshino: It’s a little hard to think of Kagetoki-san being any sort of teacher… 

Shigehira: You’d be surprised. He’s a pretty good mentor, since he’s so knowledgeable and logical.

✦ part two

Shigehira: You’d be surprised. He’s a pretty good mentor, since he’s so knowledgeable and logical.

Shigehira: But I doubt he would spare his time to teach just anybody, unless they give him a good reason to.

Yoshino: Then what’s his reason for mentoring you? 

Shigehira: I give him koto lessons in return. We're really just exchanging services.

Yoshino: Really?!

Yoshino: I didn’t know you could play the koto too!

Shigehira: I just know the basics, that’s all. 

(But he’s such a skilled biwa player… I’m sure he knows more than just the basics of the koto, too.)

I felt a surge of admiration for Shigehira as I looked at him.

I admire you (Romantic +4, Dramatic +2) You’re a prodigy (Romantic +2, Dramatic +4) You must love it (Romantic +4, Dramatic +4)

Yoshino: You must really love playing music.

Shigehira: I’ve always enjoyed it. I try to make time to practice every day, no matter how busy my schedule gets.

Yoshino: That's amazing! I bet Kagetoki-san must be a wonderful koto player if you’re his teacher.

Shigehira: Well… I don’t know about that. 

I turned my head towards Shigehira to see an uncharacteristically dodgy expression pop up on his face.

Shigehira: Teaching him never fails to remind me that, uh, everyone has unique talents.

Yoshino: What do you mean?

Shigehira: Um… Anyways, Kagetoki-san should be in here. 

Shigehira stopped in front of the door to the main room to call out to Kagetoki.

Shigehira: Kagetoki-san, are you home?

He didn’t wait for a response before opening the sliding door, when…

Woman: …Oh! E-Excuse me!!

Shigehira: …?!

(Huh?)

A woman stumbled out of the room in a panic. I glimpsed a flustered expression on her face as she shot past us.

Then I caught a whiff of a heady, sensual fragrance—there must have been incense burning inside the room.

Kagetoki: You’re too impatient, Shigehira. Did you never learn not to invite yourself into a room?

(O-Oh…)

When I finally looked past the mountainous stacks of books blocking most of the view into the room,

I saw Kagetoki straightening the lapels of his robe, looking uncharacteristically relaxed as he raised his gaze to us. 

Shigehira: W-Well, you’re usually too wrapped up in your reading to respond when I knock, so I just assumed—

Kagetoki: I suppose you’re not wrong.

Kagetoki: I did tell my retainers to ask any guests to wait to be received. There must have been a miscommunication for this to have occurred. 

Despite our sudden intrusion, Kagetoki hardly seemed bothered.

(Well, now I definitely know what was going on in here before we arrived…)

Yoshino: …I’m so sorry for the intrusion. We wouldn’t have bothered you if we’d known that your lover was visiting you. 

(If anything, I’m just a little surprised.)

(Kagetoki-san is quite good-looking, and I’m sure that he wouldn’t have any trouble finding a partner if he wanted one,)

(But he doesn’t seem like he lets people get close to him very easily. I can’t imagine him being interested in romance at all.)

Kagetoki: Lover? She and I have no such relationship. 

Yoshino: R-Really? 

Kagetoki: She made an offer to me, and I accepted it. It wasn’t as if I had any reason to refuse her.

Kagetoki: Unfortunately, thanks to you two, our rendezvous ended before it could begin.

(...This is so awkward.)

Shigehira: …Disgusting.

I could only stand there speechless, but Shigehira didn’t hesitate to mutter his displeased response under his breath.

Kagetoki: Are you still too young to understand such things, Shigehira? 

Shigehira: It doesn’t matter how old I am or how old I get! I will never engage in this debauchery for a single day in the rest of my life!

Kagetoki: What an uncouth thing to say. It’s hardly debauchery. 

Kagetoki: If you’re not in the mood for it, you can simply refuse. 

Kagetoki: You don’t eat when your stomach is full, do you? In that sense, it’s no different than satiating hunger. 

(That sure is an interesting way to think of it.)

Yoshino: Personally, I’m inclined to disagree…

Kagetoki: That’s a rather foolish opinion.

Shigehira: No, I agree with her. 

 ✦ part three

Shigehira: No, I agree with her. 

Kagetoki: Is that so?

Kagetoki: I would expect nothing less from a man who receives countless love letters and rejects every single one. 

(Love letters, huh…?)

Yoshino: Well, I’m sure it wouldn’t be feasible for him to accept every letter…

Yoshino: Haven’t you considered at least one of the people who’s written to you, though, Shigehira-kun? 

Shigehira: No. I don’t have the time to bother with my love life right now. 

Yoshino: …Oh. That makes sense.

(He’s trying to reestablish the Heike, after all, and the shadow of the past is still hanging over him.)

(When he’s on a mission that’s so important to him, he probably thinks that pursuing love would just be a distraction.)

I was sure that my guess was correct, and if so, it would be a perfectly rational reason not to be interested in a relationship. But, for some reason, I felt a sharp prick deep within my chest as I thought it over.

Shigehira: It’s a pain to be barraged with letters from people I barely even know… 

Shigehira: But it’s not like I can stop them, so I still reply to all the letters.

Kagetoki: If you’re truly not looking to begin a relationship with anyone, then why do you bother with responding to any of the letters you receive? 

Shigehira: It’d be rude if I didn’t. Not receiving a response would imply a rejection, so it’s better that I tell them the truth outright.

Kagetoki: I’d think that receiving an implied rejection would be less emotionally damaging than an explicit one.

Shigehira: Do you think so…?

Shigehira: I don’t know. I feel like it would be more stressful to someone if I kept them waiting for a response that they were never going to get.

(He thinks of others so much…)

Kagetoki: That's very earnest of you.

Shigehira: …You’re being surprisingly prudent now, Kagetoki-san. But you’d better be careful not to slip up and say the wrong thing, or else you’ll definitely regret it.

Kagetoki: I would never make such a grave mistake. 

Kagetoki nonchalantly pushed a pile of books to the side, gesturing for us to sit in the space he'd cleared off.

(Even beyond the initial surprise, I'm genuinely shocked by how cluttered Kagetoki-san's room is. Everywhere I look, I see books.)

Shigehira: Be careful, Yoshino-san. 

Shigehira: If you knock over one of these bookstacks, you’ll set off an avalanche. You might never make it out alive from underneath all the books.

Yoshino: …Got it.

(I think I finally get why Shigehira-kun said that Kagetoki-san’s place was dangerous to visit.) 

Yoshino: Um... I don't mean this to be rude, but I don't suppose you're particularly keen on organizing your books?

Kagetoki: My arrangement is organized by my own standards. Your opinion that I am untidy is of no importance to me. 

(Huh.)

Shigehira: Alright, fine. Sure. There’s no need to quibble over this. 

Shigehira: Your room is even messier than usual today, though... 

Kagetoki: War is on the horizon, after all. In times like these, it’s not unreasonable to give a bit less care to the trivialities of daily life.

Shigehira: Just a bit less, huh…?

Kagetoki turned towards me, almost as if he was physically deflecting Shigehira's doubtful look.

Kagetoki: Now, I assume you’ve come to discuss our medicine reserves and the proposed combat medic system?

Yoshino: That’s right. 

Kagetoki: Then why are you here, Shigehira? Is Yoshino babysitting you?

Kagetoki: I didn’t know that you were such a pampered child. She’s spoiling you rotten.

A teasing smirk tugged at Kagetoki's lips as he removed some documents from a drawer.

Shigehira: I just wanted to borrow a book from you! That’s the only reason why I came with her!!

Kagetoki: Oh, really? 

Shigehira: Can you quit being facetious and actually listen to what I’m saying for once?

Kagetoki: I’ll see what I can do. 

✦ part four

Kagetoki: I’ll see what I can do. 

His tone did not indicate in the slightest that he intended to stop. Once he had made his way back to us, he handed me the stack documents he'd retrieved.

Yoshino: What’s this?

Kagetoki: They detail our estimated rations, the route for our troops' march, and other such matters.

Kagetoki: The information in them will be used to calculate an estimate of the amount of medicine we will need to stockpile, and the format in which they are written will be used to document it.

Shigehira: ...These must be the documents that Yoritomo-sama asked you to compile last night.

Shigehira: Have you already finished them?

(Does that mean that Kagetoki-san finished all of this paperwork in less than a day?!)

Kagetoki: Of course. I wouldn't accept a woman's invitation just to make her wait until I finished my paperwork.

Shigehira: ...I can't believe this.

Shigehira: You can write all of these documents in one night, but you can't even clean up your own room?

Kagetoki: These documents and the state of my room have nothing to do with each other.

Kagetoki responded curtly before presenting us with another document.

Kagetoki: This here is a summary of the structure of our field medicine system.

Kagetoki: We'll use this as a basis upon which we can develop the details. Shall we begin?

Yoshino: Y-Yes. If I may ask, when did you happen to write this document...?

Kagetoki: I had some spare time while preparing the documents I gave you previously, so I used it to write this one.

Shigehira: Seriously... If you were capable of cleaning up your room, and you stopped treating women the way that you do,

Shigehira: And you stopped teasing me so much, I'd defer to you without a single complaint.

Kagetoki: How cute, Shigehira.

(Shigehira-kun said that he and Kagetoki-san were just exchanging services with each other, but these two must be fairly close if they're speaking to each other like this.)

From then onwards, we began to discuss our medicine reserves and our field nursing system, using Kagetoki's documents as our reference.

Once our work was winding down to an end...

Kagetoki: Our discussion has gone on for quite some time now. I think I’d like to have something to drink. 

Shigehira: I’ll call one of the maids to make some tea. 

Shigehira quickly rose to his feet.

Kagetoki: Much obliged.

Yoshino: Thanks, Shigehira-kun.

Now, I was alone with Kagetoki...

Kagetoki: It seems like Shigehira has been getting along with you quite well. 

Kagetoki: You’re far more persuasive than I expected you to be, Yoshino. 

(What?)

Flustered, I felt my gaze dart around the room, landing everywhere but on Kagetoki himself.

Yoshino: That’s not true. I didn’t persuade him into doing anything for me.

Yoshino: It’s really just that Shigehira-kun is a kind person. That’s the only reason that he’s being so nice to me—in his own way, of course.

Kagetoki: Is that what you think?

Kagetoki: You should know that Shigehira only takes such interest in people whom he approves of. Especially when it comes to members of the shogunate. 

(I guess I can see what he means… I know Shigehira-kun comes across as quite uptight to a lot of people.)

Yoshino: …Did you know Shigehira-kun before he joined the shogunate, Kagetoki-san? 

Kagetoki: In a way, I did. After Shigehira had been taken as a prisoner of war, I was the one who escorted him to Kamakura.

✦ part five

Yoshino: …Did you know Shigehira-kun before he joined the shogunate, Kagetoki-san? 

Kagetoki: In a way, I did. After Shigehira had been taken as a prisoner of war, I was the one who escorted him to Kamakura.

(Really?!)

Yoshino: I wonder what Shigehira-kun was like back then.

I couldn't help but let my curiosity win over me.

Kagetoki: He was the same at heart as he is now. He was stubborn, straightlaced, and terribly oblique—yet everything he did was for others' sake. 

Yoshino: That certainly sounds like the Shigehira-kun I know. 

The sentiment brought a slight smile to my face.

Yoshino: But I bet he must have been especially full of resolve when he was on his way to Kamakura. 

Yoshino: …His intention in coming here was to negotiate with Yoritomo-sama, after all.

Kagetoki: Oh? Shigehira has told you about that?

Kagetoki's gaze, usually so cool and unconcerned, seemed to sharpen with interest.

Kagetoki: In any case, you would be correct. Back then, Shigehira was…

—flashback

Yoritomo: Unfortunately, our negotiations are now off. 

Shigehira: …I take it the Imperial Court has intervened.

Yoritomo: Do you have any last words, Taira no Shigehira?

Shigehira: None in particular. 

Shigehira: I no longer have anything to say for myself now that I am captive.

Shigehira: For one who has lived their life on the battlefield, there is no shame in dying as a prisoner of war. Just behead me quickly.

Yoritomo: ……

—flashback ends

I was silent as Kagetoki quietly recounted the past to me.

Kagetoki: His honor and resolve astonished everyone in the room, myself included.

Kagetoki: Even Yoritomo-sama was moved by it enough to spare Shigehira’s life and offer him a place in the shogunate. 

Yoshino: I see…

(Shigehira-kun told me that Yoritomo-sama formed an alliance with him on a mere whim.)

(It seems that Yoritomo-sama’s true reason for proposing the alliance was because of Shigehira-kun himself.)

Kagetoki: Yoshino. 

Yoshino: …What is it?

I was caught off guard by Kagetoki’s hushed voice, and my response came out nervous and hesitant.

Kagetoki: I’m sure you’ve realized that Shigehira is a pitifully honest man.

Kagetoki: It would be far too easy for someone to take advantage of his most glaring weakness and hurt him.

Yoshino: …Right. 

The memory of Shigehira interacting with the nobles of the Imperial Court, their honeyed words masking poisoned sentiments, came to my mind.

Kagetoki: But Yoritomo-sama approves of him nonetheless…

Kagetoki: …Because Shigehira possesses a special quality.

Yoshino: Special? What do you mean?

Kagetoki: I won’t tell you that.

(Huh?)

Kagetoki: If Shigehira truly cares for you, then you will eventually learn what I mean for yourself. 

(Well, that doesn’t answer any of my questions…)

I must have looked exceptionally confused; Kagetoki studied my face for a moment before he smiled.

Kagetoki: Do my words truly puzzle you so much?

Yoshino: W-Well, I just…

Kagetoki: Then allow me to put it this way, Yoshino.

(Uhh...)

Long, deft fingers trailed down my jaw before tilting up my chin.

(What is Kagetoki-san doing??)

His eyes narrowed, and his intense gaze from behind his spectacles focused on me as though he was sizing up prey he’d caught in his clutches.

Kagetoki: I’ll make myself clear to you, if you’re willing to take the place of the woman who was visiting me earlier.

Yoshino: Huh…?

My eyes widened in shock at the sultry timbre in his voice, but at the very next moment—

Shigehira: Wh—What are you doing?! 

Chapter 14 →

Notes:

The koto is the national instrument of Japan—a long, many-stringed zither that’s played by striking the strings with one’s fingers or with plectrums.

Shigehira’s “last words” in the flashback are a paraphrase of a quote by the real Taira no Shigehira that was recorded in the Azuma Kagami, which was a historical chronicle written in 1266 that recounted events of the Genpei War and the Kamakura Shogunate. The full quotation was supposedly* spoken by Taira no Shigehira when he was living as a POW, painting him as a warrior of dignified and humble character—even in the face of his impending execution. 

IRL Taira no Shigehira was killed shortly after being taken as a POW by the Genji. During the Genpei War, Shigehira served as a Heike commander in the 1180 Siege of Nara, which was part of a revenge campaign against warrior monks from various monasteries who had aided the Genji in a prior battle. Despite being vastly outnumbered by the warrior monks, the Heike won victory by burning down almost every single monastery and temple in the city of Nara, including the powerful Kōfuku-ji and Tōdai-ji temple complexes. However, their methods earned them revile from many (including the Imperial Court) due to the sacrilegious act of destroying temples and the shocking scale of death and destruction that they inflicted on the city—around 3,500 people died during the siege. A great deal of hatred was directed towards Shigehira personally… even though there doesn't seem to be consensus about if he himself ordered the burning of Nara, or if the Heike even intended to cause the level of destruction they did at all. (Setting fires on the battlefield to increase visibility during night time was a common battle tactic of the era, and the weather conditions during the time of the battle may have spread any fires set by the Heike further than they might have intended.) Regardless of the extent of Shigehira’s role in the Siege of Nara, he would eventually pay the ultimate price for it. After he was captured by the Genji at the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani in 1184, he was handed over to the surviving monks of the Tōdai-ji, who executed him in 1185 as revenge for the burning of their monastery.

*Though the Azuma Kagami is considered the most important historical document about the Kamakura shogunate, it’s important to note that it’s not a completely reliable account. It was compiled in the 13th century by the Hōjō clan (which the real Minamoto no Yoritomo married into; after his death, the Hōjō clan took control of the Kamakura shogunate), who were very obviously biased towards their own clan and against the Minamoto clan in their retelling of historical events. Throughout history, the Azuma Kagami has also passed through the hands of many others (most notably including everyone’s favorite shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu) who may have altered it to fit their own agendas. Thus, it’s not certain whether everything that was recorded in the chronicle was completely true to real life, including its account of Taira no Shigehira’s last days.

#ikemen genjiden #ikemen genjiden translations #ikemen genjiden shigehira #shigehira main story #hey friends! once again long time no tl T_T i took 2 8-week college courses this summer… never again #my classes are starting again soon so i still can't promise consistent updates but! i will try! #this chapter was so fun to work on (and read!) and there’s a LOT in the notes!

[ga-yuu]

Okay so.... I'm back from my hiatus. My exam finished today and I have time until the next class starts....so...i was thinking that would translate one route..

What do you guys think? Do you want me to translate---

1. Yori x Yoshi sequel?

2. Any of the already released main stories? (only 1)

3. Sueharu or Ibuki ?(assuming they'll announce one of them this month)

I'm sure an announcement would be made soon on the upcoming route because it's already over 4months since the last trailer...

#ikemen series #ikemen genjiden #cybird otome #cybird ikemen #otome #cybird #ikegen #main story translations #ikemen genjiden yoritomo #ikemen genjiden yoshitsune #ikemen mc #ikemen genjiden benkei #ikemen genjiden kurama #ikemen genjiden tamamo #ikemen genjiden sueharu #ikemen genjiden ibuki #ikemen genjiden morinaga #ikemen genjiden shigehira #ikemen genjiden kagetoki #ikemen genjiden yoichi #ikemen genjiden yasuchika #ikemen genjiden akihito

[archiveikemen]

oh well it's not as though i can do anything to stop them... i'll try my best to translate as many main story chapters as possible :)

of course, i will aim to complete yoshitsune's first. then you guys choose which main story you want next (choose one that hasn't already been uploaded on tumblr)

ALL AVAILABLE IKEMEN GENJIDEN MAIN STORY ROUTES AS OF FEBRUARY 2024:

Act I

• Minamoto no Yoritomo

• Kajiwara Kagetoki

• Adachi Morinaga — ga-yuu

• Taira no Shigehira

• Minamoto no Yoshitsune — niki (wip)

• Musashibo Benkei

• Nasu no Yoichi

• Tamamo

• Kurama — ga-yuu

• Abe no Yasuchika — niki

• Kitsuji Sueharu — ga-yuu

• Ibuki — ga-yuu (summary)

• Sutoku - Akihito — ga-yuu

Act II

• Minamoto no Yoritomo & Minamoto no Yoshitsune — ga-yuu

• Nasu no Yoichi & Taira no Shigehira

• Kurama & Ibuki

[dear-mrs-otome]

Tamamo - Main Story - Chp 01

Standard Disclaimer: I do this for fun. I don’t, and never would, claim to be proficient at JP. There will be mistakes herein. There will be dialogue I choose to smooth out or change, because it feels choppy just straight translating. There will be the occasional snarky aside and irreverence and just plain summarizing. If you’re looking for 100% pure accuracy, without commentary or localizing, this is not for you. If you don’t mind that…then proceed, and I hope you enjoy! And please, support your local localizer (they make this stuff look easy) and Cybird by playing the games and routes if/when they come to English.

If you are unfamiliar with the story of Ikemen Genjiden, I will direct you to read the excellent prologue summaries posted by @/sakura-samsura here - these are the updated ones that include the introductions of the newer characters as well. You may notice discrepancies between my character's onscreen name, Aya, and what I use in the translations, but given that Yoshino is the 'canon' name and I prefer writing that over 'MC' I will use it in these stories.

Done with all that? Then carry on, and meet our mischievous fox.

Outside the gates of the shogunate’s castle, Yoshino is reminding herself of her goals now: absorb enough magical mojo to fulfill her pact with Tamamo, and open her own apothecary business. With an enthusiastic cheer, she thanks the gathered men and says she looks forward to working with them and offers Yoritomo a respectful bow. 

Tamamo, looking on proudly, strokes her head and praises her energetic good cheer. “That’s just like my girl,” he declares, as she awkwardly thanks him.

He brushes it off, thanking her instead for her honest nature with a smile, and she can’t help blushing slightly under his compliments and his hand on her hair. 

Shigehira though voices his obvious mistrust of Tamamo, and the two bicker slightly as Tamamo mocks him back, clearly enjoying pushing the prickly man’s buttons.

Yoshino looks on, fretting, and tries to break up the squabble insisting they shouldn’t get off on the wrong foot if they’re all gonna be comrades.

Kagetoki cuts her off though. “Comrade’s a bit far. We’re just agreeing to use each other for our own ends, aren’t we?”

She’s appalled at his mercenary categorization, but Kagetoki insists it’s important to be clear about these sorts of things, leaving her stunned. 

At a word from Yoritomo, Morinaga threatens both Shigehira and Kagetoki and they both step back from him, clearly chastized...and she’s left wondering if this bizarre dynamic is what passes for the norm around the shogunate. Morinaga insists they’ll get to know each other better soon enough, no need to sweat the small stuff now, which only sours Shigehira’s mood even further. 

“Troublesome man…” Tamamo says at Shigehira’s continued suspicions. “Do you want to know who I am?” His eyes gleam gold, preternatural in the dim night light as he surveys each of them. “I am Tamamo, the Nine-Tailed Fox. Nothing more, nothing less. And I am most pleased to make your acquaintance, humans.”

They all look at him, stunned into silence, as Yoshino thinks that he really didn’t answer ANY question at all.

Shigehira grumbles as much aloud, and Kagetoki agrees. “The only thing we know for sure at this point is he’s a troublemaker.”

Yoritomo muses how the more tails a fox has, the higher its power - and he’s heard that the nine-tailed fox, a kyuubi, is a once-in-an-era being.

“Tamamo’s that big of a deal?!” Yoshino asks, stunned to realize exactly what sort of ayakashi she’s gotten herself tied to - and realizing it’s no wonder he’s got such a dignified air about him if he’s such an illustrious being. 

“Feel free to worship me,” Tamamo agrees with a genial smile, to her sputtering protest. “No matter then...give it time, and my greatness will come to you.” 

She wonders again at the circumstances that have led to him choosing HER of all people to ally himself with...as Kagetoki points out dryly in the background that currently Tamamo has nowhere near enough power left to assume that anyone would revere him.

The two bicker a little now too, Tamamo bristling slightly at Kagetoki’s implications while Kagetoki tells him the equivalent of ‘put up or shut up’ - that it’s not about what you’d done in the past but what you can still do that matters. “My power will eventually recover,” Tamamo reminds him.

“I certainly hope so, or else that’s a real problem,” Yoritomo interjects, looking around at the people gathered there, exuding the dignified confident air she’d expect of the shogun. “All of you, human or not, I have just one thing to say to you - do your job well.”

Tamamo assures him there’s no cause to worry there, and his self-assured smile only serves to highlight his beauty in the luminous moonlight...as Yoshino looks on, wondering if things will really be as simple as all that.

The next morning finds her and Tamamo invited to a meeting with Yoritomo. She’s trying to hustle Tamamo through the corridors, as he keeps getting distracted and gawking at different decorations and other things, strolling leisurely along as she frets.

He whines as they go about humans misguided priorities, and how looking at the art on the walls in infinitely preferable to going and staring at a bunch of dude’s faces. 

She scolds him again, saying they can’t keep Yoritomo waiting - the very idea terrifying her because he seems so stern. Tamamo assures her though they’re too valuable to Yoritomo for him to do anything to them.

“Even so, he could still say something terrible!” she insists, reminding Tamamo that Yoritomo IS the shogun and therefore basically the leader of everything they know. It illustrates the difference between ayakashi and human outlooks, she thinks.

Tamamo finally relents though and admits that it’s obvious Yoritomo has power and influence, if only because it’s illustrated by his rough, samurai-filled war-oriented castle still holding many valuable items of art and craft from all corners of the world. 

“It seems the samurai came to great power while I was sleeping in that stone,” he observes. “It’s fascinating to see the changes of the human world, isn’t it Yoshino?”

Finally, they make it to the gathering hall and find all of the shogun’s head retainers gathered there with Yoritomo - Kagetoki, Morinaga, and Shigehira, along with more than a dozen other samurai as well. 

“Bold of you to be late to the very first meeting,” Kagetoki snipes, and she wilts under the weight of the stares of all those gathered as she wonders if she dares try for an excuse. 

“Yoshino,” Tamamo says in a quiet voice only she can hear. “Just play along, and do as I do.”

Baffled, she watches as Tamamo steps forward and gracefully kneels, bowing his head. She hastens to copy him, as he begins to speak. “Unfamiliar with the place as I was, I found myself lost. I humbly beg your pardon, Lord Yoritomo.”

Yoshino blinks at the abrupt change in Tamamo, and looks around to see all of the samurai appear enraptured by Tamamo’s dazzling smile. 

“Of course, of course - please, take a seat,” Yoritomo replies, fake-charming smile plastered firmly on his own face as Tamamo thanks him.

He and Yoshino head towards the last open seats as the samurai speak up, asking Yoritomo who the newcomers are. Yoritomo introduces Tamamo as a man who’s traveled from China and has paused in his journeys to share his knowledge with the shogunate. 

Yoshino is startled by the smooth lie Yoritomo offers them, but the samurai all seem reassured that Tamamo’s strange air can be explained away by his foreignness. 

“Please forgive me in advance for any rudeness, given that I am not yet familiar with the culture here,” Tamamo demurs, to a chorus of reassurances from the gathered men, and Yoshino notices that - perhaps due to the words of Yoritomo - the vassals all seem to have defaulted to using the most respectful language with Tamamo. 

The men exchange more pleasantries and Yoshino is mostly just impressed with the slick improv of both Yoritomo and Tamamo on the spot - the two men bringing to mind to her a fox and a tanuki conversing, two shifty characters acting their parts so well. 

“What about the woman, then?” one of the samurai finally asks. “ She doesn’t look like a foreigner at all.”

She’s nervous all over again as the attention shifts her way once more, introducing herself and saying she is usually a healer and now she’s acting as Tamamo’s assistant. They all clearly are still suspicious of her obvious commoner status though, especially in comparison to Tamamo’s elegance, and she’s sweating bullets now…

Only for a sweet scent to tickle her nose as an arm comes around her shoulders and pulls her closer. She realizes it’s the smell of incense that always clings to Tamamo, just as her cheek comes to rest against his firm broad chest. “I fell in love the moment I laid eyes on this woman in Kamakura,” Tamamo proclaims. “So forgive my impertinence in asking for your consideration of her during our brief stay.”

Yoshino’s sputtering to herself, stunned at his wild story - love? At first sight?? - when Tamamo interrupts her thoughts. “Isn’t that right, Yoshino?”

“What? Y-yes,” she stammers in confused agreement. 

Tamamo goes on to say he needs some time to get used to living in their country, so please excuse Yoshino’s presence - he would consider it a great personal favor if they treated her kindly as well. The samurai are all so charmed and under Tamamo’s sway they agree immediately...and at Tamamo’s urging she manages to thank them all. 

He finally releases her and she marvels all over again to herself at how easily he pulls one over on people, and how quickly he has them eating out of his hand - so well, in fact, it’s almost scary.

With that, Yoritomo gets the meeting underway and she sits back to listen to the reports and discussion, before Tamamo quietly asks her what’s up. She thanks him for his quick intervention when she had faltered. He says no biggie, and fudging things a bit like that won’t hurt anyone since they’re not staying there forever. 

Shigehira calls them out for not paying attention and talking, but Tamamo just smiles nonplussed. “Forgive me. I was asking after a word I didn’t understand,” he smoothly lies, and Shigehira clams up sheepishly. 

Then, regular business finished, Morinaga segues them to the next  far more somber piece of business. “Minamoto no Yoshitsune is alive,” he tells the gathered men grimly. “From this moment on, the shogunate prepares for war.”

The stunning news ripples through the assembled men like wildfire, setting them abuzz with anxiety and apprehension until Kagetoki harshly tells them to be quiet and listen to what Yoritomo has to say. They immediately fall silent, and Yoritomo begins to explain the particulars - how Yoshitsune and his rebels have formed a base at the town of Hiraizumi, how they have been recruiting amongst the disenfranchised to swell their ranks, and that they plan to attack Kamakura. 

The mood goes immediately somber.

“It is imperative that I crush this movement, destroy it entirely. To protect what we have created,” Yoritomo tells them all gravely. “Which of you will take up their sword and fight at my side? Are there any among you that will brave the very gates of hell with me?”

“Yes! We will give our all for the shogunate!” the assembled men cry. “For Lord Yoritomo!”

As she watches, the men erupt in a fervor, battlelust written plain on their faces...and she realizes what a unimaginable place she’s found herself in, via circumstances utterly beyond her control. She glances over at Tamamo beside her, the source of all of this -

“I’m getting bored,” he proclaims, stifling a yawn, and she wonders if he’s truly that uninterested in human warfare. 

After the meeting she returns to her quarters, exhausted by the morning’s events, and ponders how out of place she feels here in the midst of all these samurai. All of her prior anxieties rise up to nip at her heels again, and just as she’s about to slide into another funk she hears Tamamo’s voice from outside, asking if she is in and if this is a good time.

Confused, she tells him it is and he sweeps in - with a veritable entourage of men and women burdened with trunks.

“Tamamo, who are all these people…?” she asks, baffled. 

He smiles and reassures her, as the boxes are opened and their contents removed and lined up - the room overflowing with a bounty of colorful kimonos and accessories in a matter of moments. Seeing her stunned expression, Tamamo grins like a mischievous boy who is quite proud of himself. “Surprised? I called in a clothing merchant.”

“Merchant?” she echoes, as an assembly of men bow before her. “Whatever for?”

The merchants fall all over themselves, obsequious towards Tamamo, as he thanks them for bringing their wares to him - then he turns to take Yoshino’s hand, pulling her smoothly to her feet. She’s caught in his magnetic golden gaze as he draws her nearer…

“Would you like me to undress you, Yoshino?”

Chapter 02 >>

#ikemen genjiden #ikegen #ikegen tamamo #spoiler #spoilers #ikemen genjiden spoilers #ikegen spoilers #ikegen tamamo main story #mrs o's translations of dubious quality

[shatcey]

Yoichi on Shigehira's route

Yoichi completely outshined Shigehira.

I should be happy. But I'm not.

I really love Yoichi for many reasons (not just for his design), but this is NOT his route. I got it, the devs wanted to stir up interest in the character whose route will be released next. But it still seems unfair.

Shigehira has such a strong character, with a very difficult past… he deserved to be beloved. But Yoichi's constant presence and how often he shows his strengths makes it almost impossible. I feel bad for Shigehira.

Perhaps if I had played in the right order, I would have had a completely different impression…

Even MC notices how great he is.

He even said the same words as Shigehira a few years ago. The devs did this to switch attention to the main character, but it didn't work on me. It just makes me remember what they were very close friends a long time ago.

Earlier, I wrote I have an impression that MC almost fell for him. And at the end of the story, this impression became even stronger.

She understands him so well… Almost as well as she understands him on his route. This is not easy to achieve. He's really good at hiding his true intentions.

Maybe I'm just biased. Maybe, in my eyes, he really is much better. But still, it seems to me that Shigehira, because of his pride, doesn't show his best qualities. And we cannot easily see how wonderful he truly is.

I finished his route only on romantic ending and see Shigehara as a shy, sweet boy with a very difficult past, nothing more. Perhaps the dramatic ending makes a different impression on me. But not now. Some time later.

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#cybird ikemen #cybird #ikemen series #ikemen games #ikemen genjiden #ikegen #taira no shigehira #ikegen shigehira #Nasu No Yoichi #ikemen genjiden yoichi #ikegen yoichi #ikemen genjiden mc #ikegen mc

[atopearth]

Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei Part 6 - If endings & Final Review

Tadanobu Sato

It's so cute and funny to imagine Tadanobu giving flowers to girls and being flustered over how to communicate with them haha. HAHAHA, Tadanobu has to be the worst person to find out that Shanao is actually a woman, he's so obvious it's hilarious, I feel bad for Benkei and Shungen constantly trying to cover up his mistakes. It's so funny that it took a whole month of training every day for Tadanobu to go back to how he was with Shanao before haha! I guess it's better than before because he's more comfortable with her now and so honest about what he thinks lol. I guess Tadanobu has a soft spot for women because the live-in maids would always comfort him when he cried as a little kid haha, so sweet and cute.

Tadanobu placing a bellflower on her hair was cute!! Too bad the ending is so short! It actually makes me sad lol! It's like he's a potential LI but you'll never get a proper story with him and that makes it even sadder than if he was just a side character lol. Oh well, it was still cute I guess haha.

Tsugunobu Sato

How typical for Tsugunobu to discover Shanao is a woman because he went into her room thinking she was injured. It's random but honestly, I feel the same as Tsugunobu. When I used to have problems that I didn't know what to do about, I would sit outside my primary school and just look at the moon for a bit on my walk home. I never stayed for too long, but gazing at the moon always helped calm me a little bit before going home and having to act normal in front of my family. Tsugunobu blushing is so cute! It was so sweet how he noticed the little things Shanao does when she's happy hahaha, just imagining it makes me think they're so cute. Tsugunobu was so bold to kiss her fingers like that! I love the CG.

Overall, I didn't mind this ending. I think it was quite cute and Tsugunobu is quite gentlemanly and sweet. I think it's nice to imagine Shanao and Tsugunobu bonding by gazing at the moon together and sharing their thoughts together. But I'll admit that the main reason Tsugunobu is nice is because he has a pretty face hahaha!

Takatsuna Sasaki

It's kinda funny that all these guys names start with T lol. Considering how playful, innocent and cute Takatsuna looks, he's much more reliable than expected! I kinda thought he was more of a reliable messenger guy that does alot of fieldwork going around to different places for Yoritomo, but he seems to know everything, like a capable assistant/secretary for Yoritomo haha! It's kinda cute how Shanao just kinda told Takatsuna that she's actually a woman, I feel like she could have continued to deceive him but yeah, the route is short so might as well get that part out of the way lol. It's sweet to see Takatsuna thank Shanao for protecting Yoritomo with her powers. I like how Takatsuna took her out to play and got her to explore makeup, so cute!

Overall, I honestly didn't expect much from Takatsuna but I think he's much cuter and vibrant than I thought. Like, I thought he would be quite boring tbh, but I think he's quite adorable in that he's unafraid to voice his thoughts, he's a reliable leader to others but at the same time he's also very playful and knows how to get Shanao to relax and just be herself for a moment. It was refreshing to see them not have to think about war or anything and just be a bunch of youths playing around.

Shigehira Taira

Shigehira is such an ass to everyone and I love it. I think the idea of it being him going to Hiraizumi to observe Shanao and them to see if they want to rebel against the Heike is such a fun touch because he obviously doesn't care and just wants to go around annoying people for his amusement. I love how he bothered to get a servant to get Shanao for him only to tell her to get water for him lmao. And I think it's quite cute that Shigehira's interest in Shanao stems from the fact that Tomomori is interested in Shanao and he wants to understand why when his brother is never interested in anything. I like how Shigehira is the one following Shanao around but because he thinks that her plans for the day are boring, he forces her to change them lolll. It was hilarious when she asked him what games are good (for children) to play and he starts talking about drinking and killing people🤣

It's so cute and innocent how the children have no idea who the Heike are and how that is relevant. Hiraizumi really is a nice place. I find it really sweet to see Shigehira get to play these children's games with other children though. He always wanted to play more with Tomomori and Tokuko when they were young but due to Tomomori basically getting traumatised from being forced to fight in war and Tokuko being taken over by Rengetsu, he never got to continue having that "fun childhood" he had playing with his siblings in their dreams, so I guess he's always chasing after this "fun" to this day to make up for that hole. He's such a kid that it's adorable tbh. It was so sad to see that all the adults Shigehira played with as a child let him win and called him smart when they never seriously played with him. It's also so sad but cute how Shigehira doesn't really know what a 'friend' is because he's never had one before since everyone around him is ranked. Shigehira blushing at Shanao laughing at him for being scared of Tomomori's ghost stories was so cute hahaha!! Especially since he didn't want to be alone in his room at night lol. How does this adorable little boy survive when he runs around everywhere haha!

I guess what makes me can't help but love Shigehira is how much he loves his family and how much he wants to spend time with them. He follows Tomomori around because he wants to be with his brother. All his happy memories are of his childhood when his father took him out or when he used to play with Tomomori and Tokuko. Shanao taking care of the sick Shigehira was very sweet. I love the CG where he hugs Shanao and says he doesn't want to give her to Tomomori. Considering how Tomomori is basically his priority in life, the fact that he likes Shanao so much that he's not willing to give her up to him is very heartwarming to me. I think the sweetest thing was that in this short little story, Shigehira learnt that someone choosing to be with you rather than being ordered to be with you is so much more precious and desirable. I loved it when he told her that he didn't want to force her to be with him and that instead he wants her to choose to be with him of her own free will.

Overall, I definitely think Shigehira's If Ending is the best! It felt very natural, realistic and didn't have them stay together for random reasons and instead acknowledged that they liked and understood each other better but still had their respective positions to think about. I think his character development was the best and I honestly think it actually made me feel like I learnt so much more about Shigehira as a character through this ending and he was just so cute because of how childish but sweet and innocent he was compared to his usual crazy murderous self. Definitely looking forward to his route in the FD! Surprisingly, I would say I liked Takatsuna second best, then Tadanobu and Tsugunobu. I feel like the latter two never explored further into their personalities enough to make me think that was something I never knew about them or expected, so hopefully the FD will help with that haha. I very much hope to play the FD one day because I'll legit buy it just for Shigehira, my one true love hahahah.

Final review

Overall, I think people hyped up Birushana for me too much so I don't feel like I enjoyed it as much as I thought it would. People said it was like a 'better Hakuoki' but I personally love Hakuoki so much more. Although I don't like the supernatural elements in Hakuoki either, I liked the way they used it in the story more than in Birushana because I think it better explored the pain of having that power but also the need for it since the characters are based on real people and they would have died at that point in time if not for it. Hakuoki also never delved too much into it and instead focused on the characters struggles with it, whereas Birushana tried to tie it up with Rengetsu etc but I feel like it would have been better left as a mystery because I didn't like the Rengetsu thing at all lol. I do appreciate that all of the routes in Birushana are different enough though and I think most of them were interesting enough. My personal list from most favourite route to least favourite route would be Yoritomo, Benkei, Noritsune, Tomomori and then Shungen. I just love the pain and anguish demonstrated by Yoritomo in his route, it was my favourite moment haha. And Benkei is such a softie, he made me cry at how gentle and kind he was. He was the best guy to come back from work to and listen to because he was always so encouraging, so full of belief in Shanao and so caring. Noritsune gave me strength to stand on my own two feet and be unafraid of stepping out of my comfort zone if it means I'm living according to my beliefs and dreams. And I didn't feel much for Tomomori and Shungen's routes haha, sorry.

But yeah, I've realised that my mood can really affect how much I like a route too. I would rate the game a 7/10 probably because I don't think the overarching story was interesting enough for me, but I loved the characters struggles, especially Shanao's. I think her struggles in each route were different enough to not be boring, but understandable enough that it wasn't annoying. I liked her struggles with her identity, her responsibilities and how each LI helped her get through it and how she helped each LI better themselves. I can see why people really like Shanao, because I do too! However, the story just didn’t click enough for me sadly.

#birushana #Birushana Rising Flower of Genpei

[reccyls]

reasons i am crying at 6 in the morning: chapter 7 of yoritomo and yoshitsune's act 2 route, as well as yoritomo's avatar challenge story:

this is just after yoritomo and yoshitsune have started taking baby steps to mend their relationship. they just had one of their first silly arguments complete with childish name-calling, the exact kind of arguments that everyone has with their siblings as a kid that they never had the chance to. yoshitsune has started calling yoritomo "ani-ue" again. they went on patrol together, bickering lightly all the while and stunning yoichi and shigehira with how close they suddenly appear to be (they get into talking about hobbies, briefly, and yoshitsune says how training is his hobby. yoritomo calls him obsessed. yoshitsune then recommends that yoritomo ought to take it up too, since he's weaker than yoshitsune is. this is the impertinent little brother you signed up for, yoritomo, no take-backsies)

however, this development comes to a screeching halt, as an assassination attempt against yoritomo is narrowly avoided. someone attempted to poison the shogun, and in the eyes of yoritomo's vassals, the culprit could be none other than yoshitsune. of course it would be yoshitsune! everyone knows how much he hates yoritomo.

MC and a furious yoichi attempt to argue back (and well, one of their main arguments is that if yoshitsune really did want to kill yoritomo, he wouldn't have poisoned him; yoshitsune would only see yoritomo dead by his own hands on the battlefield). but, the vassals won't listen. they say that they understand the urge that yoritomo would have to defend his brother, but they can't take any chances on yoritomo's safety. yoritomo, having to play the role of the perfect and impartial shogun, is stuck. he doesn't believe yoshitsune did it, but his vassals are acting out of concern. nobody is quite used to having the people who used to be your most hated enemies working together, and their uneasiness is understandable. what to do?

which is when yoshitsune does what he does best, and cuts through the situation with a very simple solution: he agrees to be locked up to preserve the peace.

but yoshitsune will not be moved, and so he departs for the dungeons with some of yoritomo's vassals.

after some encouragement ("encouragement") from kagetoki, MC goes to see yoritomo after. and he looks terrible. she prods him for a bit, before he admits to having had trouble sleeping because he was bothered by a dream. he first tries to deflect by claiming the dream was about tamamo turning into a giant fox and shedding everywhere in the hallways of the palace. but MC keeps pressing, and when she suggests that perhaps it was a dream related to yoshitsune due to recent events, that finally does get yoritomo to relent.

he describes the dream as such: it was a dream where he an yoshitsune got to grow up as siblings. loved by their mothers and the people around them, training together with their father... a life without any tragedy. yoritomo was going to be the next head of the clan, yoshitsune was going to support him as his right hand, and they could smile about it together. the happy childhood that yoritomo and yoshitsune never got to have.

but the past is past. in yoritomo's point of view, it's not even a happy dream, because it's just showing him something that's unattainable. and he says that he's mostly just sick of having it. it's the same dream that he had after he "killed" yoshitsune. he'd rather have dreams where yoshitsune curses his name and tries to kill him rather than relive the possibility of what could have been.

#ikemen genjiden

[aoi-aoi-chan]

Ikemen Genjiden Main Story PV - Taira no Shigehira

PV link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f04OdhfzHcU&t=0s

Shigehira: What exactly can you do with your thin arms? You are only getting in the way being here.

Getting the power of the fox spirit, you start living in the palace. The person you met there is...... The lord of peony, who has a cold beautiful face, the young man of Taira family.

Shigehira: To revive the family of Taira...... That is my purpose, and the reason why I am with Yoritomo.

He ended up being assigned the task to take care of you......!?

Shigehira: So, what’s your business today? I will listen to you, so speak up. Also, stop smirking.

Every time you touch his non-straightforward kindness, the feeling towards him blossoms a bit more......

However, relation from the past attacks you......

Yoichi: Don’t you want to set all kinds of things right once and for all, Taira no Shigehira?

Shigehira: Ek...... Next time, I will make it happen

This world, to the kind him, is not kind. However, gritting his teeth, he stretches out his hands for strength.

You want to become someone befitting him...... With that decision inside, you both stand facing the enemy.

What is the fate waiting before you, after you have found the thing you want to protect......?

Shigehira: At the same time as you keep loving me, I will..... continue loving you with all of me

When the rain stops, the bud of peony will beautifully blossoms, for the one and only love.

#ikemen genjiden #ikegen shigehira #ikegen #ikemen series #main story PV

[makishinichi]

heike monogatari spoilers under the cut (tbh i should not care about this because the story is thousands of years old but anyway)

first off i'll have to thank my lockdown self for gaining a mild interest in all things yoshitsune because i actually read the books before watching the story.... the tale is incredibly famous and therefore im sure locals would understand the episodes better than i did... but reading the books definitely helped me understand the story!

yamada naoko is just so brilliant damn.... i tend not to tune into war stories because of how futile they are, and also i was really worried because of how violent the books got at times, but her direction just left me in awe.

i was especially compelled to watch due to the trailers - the constant repetition of motions emphasises on the fact that this story has been told again and again and again, there is nothing new to this story. but that entices the viewer to watch - they’re not interested in how the story ends, but they’re interested in how the story will be told, because they’ve heard it so many times before. i’m sure that’s the reasoning why famous tales get adapted again and again and again, and this one is no exception.

i found it a good touch that biwa was the main character instead of lets say shigemori, or koremori, or tokuko/kenreimon. if those characters were the main characters, that would pull it into a series alike game of thrones. but yamada and yoshida seemed to emphasise mostly on the fact that this anime is a retelling of events that has been told for over 800 years. biwa is in a similar position as the viewer / reader of the tale, because she knows what will happen in the future but continues to follow the characters anyway. she can see the past, just like the viewer who has been reading this story for years and years. in the beginning she resents the heike, just like how the viewers / readers do as they read about the horrors that the heike have committed, but along the way she feels sympathetic for them, the way the readers do.

there are around 12 books in total, and there are so many stories to tell, but yoshida reiko skewed the vision down to the most famous parts of the books, and the story was mostly told from the heike's point in view, so a lot of it was left out (ie yoritomo's mistrust of yoshitsune, the death of shunkan, etc etc) but the story Is supposed to be about the heike, so the series focuses almost entirely on the heike, with the bare minimum of attention on their opponents. the story flows on for quite a long period of time and it was difficult to condense it all into 11 episodes, but for the most important scenes, every moment was drawn out carefully, so that the rush of plot wouldnt leave you devoid of emotion.

of course there were loose ends that she didnt tie up, like what happened to munemori and shigehira in the end, but it was a good choice to end all mention of the remaining misery after dannoura... the ending was brilliant and it was so... yamada. i really cant say anything more than that.

as someone who really loves yoshitsune's character, i really enjoyed his inclusion in yamada's story. two things i hoped for: he would actually be a short man with buck teeth instead of a beautiful man, and his fall from grace (especially since the latter was captured in the books pretty well).. but anyway. this story is about the heike, not yoshitsune. but if director yamada ever wants to direct a story like hashi benkei or ataka/kanjincho though, i would definitely be the first person to tune in!

what can i say about the cast and the voice acting... they were brilliant. irino miyu and hayamin once again playing important characters in a yamada naoko production. almost all, if not all the important characters were played by heavyweight veterans, so of course they were able to do the famous characters justice. i found it absolutely amazing that they could cast akio ohtsuka in a role with such few lines, but him being cast as benkei was literally like someone picked my dream fancast and laid it at the casting director's feet. 

ushio kensuke and yamada naoko share an incredible vision and the soundtrack is fantastic, on par with girls,dance,staircase as one of my favourite anime osts of all time. i was really happy hitsujibungaku was chosen to do the opening, because they’re one of my favourite bands, and i never thought they would ever do an anime opening, but here we are! this anime really is everything i’ve ever wanted, from the story to the director to the cast to the music and even to the band doing the opening track lol.

ive always admired yamada's ability to find the beauty in impermanence... the pathos of things / mono no aware, for lack of better expression. she executes that theme so incredibly well, whether tamako love story or the shape of voice or liz and the bluebird. the main theme of heike monogatari is the impermanence of all things, which is why it was the perfect story for her to try and make her own. and god she did it so well. maybe history buffs could disagree with me, but for me, i was left satisfied. if she ever wants to do a retelling of yoshitsune’s story, count me in!

[sakura-samsara]

Shigehira Main Story: Chapter 12

← Chapter 11

✦ part one

Morinaga: I can tell that you’re doing your best to work with us, so cooperating with you would be no trouble at all.

Yoshino: Umm, well, if you’re really sure…

Shigehira: Wait a second.

(Wah!)

Before I could continue, Shigehira grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards him.

He fixed his gaze on me, looking thoroughly displeased.

Shigehira: …What do you think you’re doing, trying to make a decision like this without asking me?

Yoshino: Huh…?

Tamamo: Ooh, things are starting to get interesting.

Tamamo: You knew what you were doing, didn’t you, Morinaga? Excellent work.

Morinaga: I don’t know what you’re talking about. 

I caught a glimpse of Tamamo and Morinaga whispering to each other out of the corner of my eye, but I didn’t have the time to ask them what they were talking about. 

Yoshino: I was just worried that the rumors annoyed you, Shigehira-kun.

Shigehira: When did I say that they annoyed me?

(Huh? Was I wrong?)

Yoshino: I mean, you went through all this trouble to disprove them, so that’s what I assumed…

Shigehira: Well, that’s…

He hesitated for a moment, looking rather sulky, before he looked intently at me.

Shigehira: That's because the rumors are disrespectful to you.

Yoshino: To me?

Shigehira: …?

(What does he mean by that?)

Shigehira and I exchanged a puzzled look.

However, it wasn't long before I noticed the tinge of pink that had appeared on Shigehira's cheeks.

Shigehira: …

What happened? (Romantic +2, Dramatic +4) I don’t really understand what you mean (Romantic +4, Dramatic +2) Are you embarrassed? (Romantic +4, Dramatic +4)

Yoshino: Shigehira-kun… Could it be that you’re… embarrassed?

Shigehira: What?! Of course not!!

Yoshino: O-Of course. Sorry.

(I get the feeling that I shouldn't push him any further about this.)

Then a laugh from Yoritomo cleaved apart the awkward silence, seeming as though he'd been holding it in for quite a while already.

Yoritomo: You two are really exceeding my expectations. 

Shigehira: What are you talking about?

Tamamo: Oh, no, no, carry on, you two. Don’t mind the rest of us. 

I had a feeling that there was something the rest of them were thinking that neither I nor Shigehira were aware of.

Yoshino: Why are you all looking at us like that…

(I have no idea what's going on, besides that they're definitely teasing us!!)

Just when I was starting to feel more than a little frustrated...

Yoritomo: With all of that said.

Yoritomo: If neither of you are affected by those rumors, there’s no need to get up in arms to disprove them. 

Yoritomo, still smiling his half-smile, spun the kemari ball in his hand.

Shigehira: I-I guess, but…

Yoritomo: Otherwise, you need to accept that if you are unable to get the rumors under control on your own now, you won’t be able to do so in the future.

Tamamo: I see… These are the wise words of a man who has his very own fanclub. He is imparting his learned experience of contending with the “Lord Yoritomo Worship Association.”

Yoshino: …Worship association?

Morinaga: It’s somewhat of a… volunteer organization that’s formed among the maids.

Morinaga: The members collect information about Yoritomo-sama, and supposedly also prevent each other from making any moves on him by themselves…

Morinaga: It’s a tight-knit group with a large number of members, so we don’t know just how much information they’ve been able to gather. What we do know is that they’re not to be underestimated.

✦ part two

Morinaga: The members collect information about Yoritomo-sama, and supposedly also prevent each other from making any moves on him by themselves…

Morinaga: It’s a tight-knit group with a large number of members, so we don’t know just how much information they’ve been able to gather. What we do know is that they’re not to be underestimated.

Yoshino: Wow! I can’t believe it…

(That's honestly really impressive.)

Shigehira: How are you not tired of smiling that vapid, empty smile and putting up with all of this nonsense? 

Yoritomo: You get used to it with time, Shigehira. It’s a small price to pay to keep all our affairs running smoothly, wouldn’t you agree?

Shigehira: I guess. 

Shigehira's thorny response was in stark contrast to Yoritomo's blindingly bright smile.

Nonetheless, Yoritomo continued.

Yoritomo: On another subject. You seem to have built up a good reputation for your work as an apothecary, Yoshino. 

Yoshino: Have I?

Morinaga: Our military training has gotten more intense in preparation for the war, and we’re all very grateful to you for caring for the wounded. 

Morinaga: The soldiers’ morale is high, knowing that they’ll have a doctor accompanying them into battle.

Yoshino: Really? I’m so glad!!

(I've only really made a small contribution, but it makes me so happy that they appreciate it!)

Tamamo: That’s my Yoshino for you. You’ve excelled even when taking up work as an apothecary in an unfamiliar place must have been quite the ordeal. 

Yoshino: It would have only been an ordeal if I’d been alone. I couldn’t have done it all without Shigehira-kun’s help. 

Shigehira: Don't be daft. I didn’t do anything to help you. I was just keeping an eye on you so you wouldn’t screw things up.

(It's just like him to say that.)

Yoshino: Of course. But, still… Thank you.

Shigehira: …Mm.

His response, so curt in an attempt to hide his embarrassment, made my heart squeeze.

(I've decided to stand beside the frontlines for Shigehira-kun's sake.)

(So it's really encouraging that my efforts are being recognized in this way.)

The fire that had been lit within my chest on the day I made my decision still continued to burn—and in this moment, I felt it warming me from within.

Shigehira: So this is what it all came to in the end. Kicking a ball around and getting bullied. 

Yoshino: Well... at least it seemed like you had some fun playing kemari!

After parting with the others, Shigehira and I walked side-by-side through the halls of the palace.

Yoshino: I wish I was as athletic as you are, Shigehira-kun.

Shigehira: Clearly you’re athletic enough to perform all of the stunts you’ve been pulling recently. I bet you’ve been having fun doing them, too.

Yoshino: Hehe, is that a compliment?

Shigehira: Your ears work almost as badly as your brain does if that sounds like a compliment to you. 

✦ part three

Yoshino: Hehe, is that a compliment?

Shigehira: Your ears work almost as badly as your brain does if that sounds like a compliment to you. 

Despite the severity of his words, I wasn't fazed at all by his retort...

Because there was now a noticeable warmth in his eyes and in his tone of voice that had not been there before.

(Does this mean that we've become closer as friends now?)

Yoshino: It seems like everyone we just talked to really likes you. 

Shigehira: Do your eyes not work either?? Obviously they were just heckling me for their own entertainment. 

Yoshino: But I’m sure they were teasing you because they like you.

Shigehira: Then that’s a terrible way of showing it.

(No matter how strict or severe Shigehira-kun might seem, I know that he's honest and gentle at heart.)

(I'm sure that everyone has learned that about him for themselves, and the reason that they love him so much is because of it.)

Shigehira: By the way, what are you planning on doing after this?

Yoshino: I was thinking of visiting Kagetoki-san’s estate.

Shigehira immediately stopped in his tracks.

Shigehira: …You’re going to Kagetoki-san’s house?!

(Huh? Why would he react like that so suddenly...)

Yoshino: Yeah. I wanted to discuss some things with him about the medicine stockpiles and the combat nursing unit that we’re working on setting up. 

Yoshino: But I haven’t been to his estate before, so I’ll have to ask someone for directions first.

He put his hand on my shoulder and fixed me with a serious look.

Shigehira: Yoshino-san, that man’s residence is dangerous to visit if you’re unprepared.

Yoshino: Dangerous?! What in the world could possibly be in Kagetoki-san’s house?

Shigehira: ……

Shigehira: Ugh, I guess it can’t be helped. Shall I accompany you?

Yoshino: Huh? But I don’t want to trouble you.

Shigehira: It’s no big deal. There was a book I wanted to borrow from Kagetoki-san anyways. 

Shigehira: Or are you still worried about the rumors about us?

Yoshino: No, I just...

To my chagrin, I felt a bit of heat rise in my face.

I had to my eyes to the side in embarrassment before I could respond.

Yoshino: I don’t mind the rumors as long as you don’t either.

Shigehira: Then I won’t pay them any mind at all.

Shigehira suddenly turned his gaze away and started walking again.

(This conversation was so short and inconsequential, but something about it feels bittersweet...)

(I wonder if... No, surely there's no way.)

The answer to my own question had risen up to tip of my tongue, but then it slowly began to sink back down into the depths of my chest.

(I'm sure it's just my imagination.)

No matter how much I'd been enjoying spending time with him,

I knew that we had little time to brace for the war ahead of us, and I couldn't afford to get carried away by my own feelings.

Meanwhile, at the rebels' estate...

Yoshitsune: Now, you say you met Shigehira and the fox-possessed woman in the capital?

✦ part four

Yoshitsune: Now, you say you met Shigehira and the fox-possessed woman in the capital?

Yoichi: Yes. It was at the perfect timing.

Having returned to Hiraizumi, Yoichi was reporting to Yoshitsune about the events of his trip.

Yoichi: I happened to have some fellas from the Heike with me at the time, so I got them to approach him to try and see if it’d shake him up. From the looks of it, it worked perfectly. 

Kurama: What a paltry little scheme.

Kurama: That… “Shigehira,” or what have you—is he really so much of an obstacle for us to bother taking such measures against him?

Benkei: Hey. Don’t say that, Kurama.

Benkei: He was a tough opponent back when we fought in the Genpei War. 

Benkei: Especially when you consider how young he was back then, he had some crazy talent as a general. It’s no wonder that bastard Yoritomo snatched him up for himself.

Kurama: Hmph.

Kurama's crimson eyes gleamed, his interest now slightly piqued.

Yoshitsune: If the Heike—with the exception of Shigehira—had not been so drunk on their power, the Genji would have had much more difficulty winning the war.  

Yoshitsune: That is precisely why Shigehira’s presence in the shogunate poses an even greater issue for us now. 

Yoichi: Well… you’ve got nothing to worry about anymore. Talking to him has convinced me of that. 

Yoichi: Shigehira’s as soft as jelly. Much unlike Lord Yoritomo, no?

Yoichi: There’s a good chance we’ll be able to take advantage of that.

Benkei: Hmm. I dunno, Yoichi, but it's not like you to be so… motivated. 

Kurama: How unusual for a man who is always nothing but a pain in the neck.

Yoichi: Oh, come on. You guys don’t understand your pal here at all.

Yoichi: Even a guy like me is capable of doing things when they have to be done.

Yoshitsune: ……

Yoichi grinned, seeming as relaxed as ever, but Yoshitsune was unsmiling as he stared back at him.

Yoshitsune: Yoichi, wait.

Yoichi: …!

Once the meeting had concluded, Yoshitsune followed after Yoichi as he left the hall.

Yoichi: Oh, hey, Yoshitsune-sama. What’s up?

Yoshitsune: It’s nothing. I was just wondering if you were feeling alright. 

Yoichi: …What do you mean?

Yoshitsune: I’ve known you, Benkei, and Kurama for a long time.

Yoshitsune: Though I may not be familiar with all the nuances of others' emotions, I at least am able to tell what my closest companions are thinking. 

Yoshitsune's unblinkingly honest stare captured Yoichi's own gaze.

Yoichi: …Well, I guess you just don't get me. C’mon, can’t you see I’m as sprightly as can be?

Yoshitsune: Yoichi.

Yoshitsune: I know you force yourself to smile the most when you are hurt. Is that not true? 

Yoichi: …Please forgive me for that.

Yoichi's smile remained, but there was a faint, yet desperate plea in his voice.

Yoshitsune: If you truly do not wish to tell me about your feelings, I won't push you any further.

✦ part five

Yoshitsune: If you truly do not wish to tell me about your feelings, I won't push you any further.

Yoichi let out a deep sigh at Yoshitsune's words.

Yoichi: Aw, man. You’ve really got me now. 

Yoichi: I’ve always had a weakness for you saying things like that. 

Yoichi: Say, how come you always try to be there for other people when you can’t even express your own emotions? 

Yoshitsune: …I don’t know. But if I can help you feel better, then that's all that matters to me. 

Yoichi: Ahh. That’s my commander, alright.

Yoichi: No matter how much I try to avoid it, I have no choice but surrender to you in the end.

Yoshitsune: ……

Yoshitsune's only response was to wait for Yoichi to continue.

After a moment of shared silence, Yoichi cut through his hesitation to speak.

Yoichi: Honestly, using those survivors from the Heike to get to Shigehira really rubs me the wrong way.

Yoichi: It just doesn’t sit right with me to take advantage of their desire for revenge.

Yoshitsune: I understand.

Yoichi: But at the same time, I know that we can’t afford to be picky about the tactics we’re able to employ.

Yoichi: That’s why I don’t mind getting my hands dirty, after all—for victory against the shogunate, and for victory against the Heike.

Yoichi: It’s all for the sake of serving you as your vassal… and serving as the chief of the Nasu clan. All of it.

Yoshitsune bit his lip, as though he was feeling Yoichi's pain like it was his own.

Yoshitsune: …Yoichi, I am grateful for your commitment and resolve. 

Yoshitsune: But I don’t wish to trouble you.

Yoichi: Nah, you’re good. It’s no trouble at all. I’m just an old man who likes brooding over sentiments from long ago.  

Then Yoichi made another attempt at jokingly adding onto his words:

Yoichi: You know what? Let me tell you a secret. When I first met Shigehira, I thought he was a girl. 

Yoshitsune: …He does have rather androgynous features.

Yoichi: I’m telling you, he looked even more like it when we were little kids. He had these sparkling eyes… Made him look just like a beautiful girl.

Yoichi: …To tell you the truth, he was my first love.

Yoshitsune: …

Yoshitsune: I’m sorry. I can’t find the words to comfort you.

Yoichi: Nah, it’s alright.

Yoichi eked out a bitter laugh at Yoshitsune's serious response.

Yoshitsune: But I understand your feelings.

Yoshitsune: Shigehira must have been someone very special to you. 

Yoichi: Once upon a time, he was. But now…

Yoichi: I’ve had enough of clinging onto old memories, and I’m not gonna let nostalgia get in our way. 

At the same time, in the capital…

Yasuchika: It seems like Yoshino-san has safely returned to Kamakura!

Chapter 13 →

#ikemen genjiden #ikemen genjiden translations #ikemen genjiden shigehira #shigehira main story #long time no shigehira!! #i've been looking forward to doing the arc of shigehira's story that starts with this chapter for a while :3

[ga-yuu]

I hope you don't mind me asking you this but have you ever thought of playing otome games from switch? games like Amnesia, Piofiore, Olympia Soiree, Café Enchante, Cupid Parasite, Birushana, etc. ?? they have beautiful and thoughtful MCs!

Thought? I WANT to play these games but too bad I don't own switch. But yeah, I can play it on a PC using an emulator. I downloaded Piofiore and played like 1 chapter of the prologue and didn't continue because I didn't have time(not that it was boring, it was very interesting). I've played the mobile version of Amnesia (only the prologue because you have to pay for playing the routes) and I've seen the anime (was quite boring!).

Cafe Enchante and Birushana are on my MUST PLAY LIST, but I haven't officially played them myself because...again, I have no time. But let me tell you, I sometimes watch playthroughs of these games on youtube. There is a youtube called dirili , who narrates the stories. I may not sit through the whole route but I listen to certain chapters of each game in the background when I'm doing something else. If you can count that as playing a game, then I've played:

Code realize - Lupin's route.

Collar x Malice - Little bit of Enamoto and Sasazuka

Period cube - Zain

Birushana - Tomomori (this asshole!), Noritsune (only that one scene where Tomomori and Shigehira dress Shana as a girl! I played that on loop!)

Reine des fleurs (one of the most visually pretty otome games I've ever seen! and there is also a blonde hair blue eyes guy!)

Now the ones I've actually played include:

Diabolik lovers (first two games)

Ozmafia

Sweet fuse

Love spell written in the stars.

Cinderella Phenomenon

Locked heart

Hakuouki 1st game(only a little bit of the prologue)

Most of the Ikemen series

Court of darkness (Mostly prince's path)

Then some very mediocre other games on mobile (these are those when I first started getting into otome games)

And yeah, I do think the MCs in these games are extremely beautiful. Even if some of them have long brown hair, at least they have a unique-looking hairstyle (for example Ichika from Collar x Malice) they wear beautiful-looking dresses (for example Cardia from Code realize and Shana from Birushana). They all still look very beautiful and actually looks like a main character of a game.

#otome #asks #bishana #piofiore #amnesia #cafe enchante #olympia soiree #diabolik lovers #collar x malice #code realize #ozmafia

[archiveikemen]

Yasuchika • Akihito Act II Main Story Release D-12 Login Message

From: Shigehira

「 Yasuchika and His Majesty are too disturbing of a duo! ... Oh well, that can't be helped, so I'll try to be helpful as much as possible. 」

#ikemen genjiden #ikemen series #cybird ikemen #otome #cybird otome #ikegen shigehira #aikm translation

[sakura-samsara]

Shigehira Main Story: Chapter 11

← Chapter 10 Premium Story

✦ part one 

We returned safely to Kamakura a few days after our meeting in the capital.

(Is this the archery training grounds? I’ve never been here before.)

Today, Yoritomo had asked me to deliver a work-related message to Shigehira.

I heard from one of the retainers that Shigehira was practicing archery in the training grounds on the estate, so I’d gone there to look for him.

(Oh! There he is.)

Yoshino: Shigehira-kun?

Shigehira: …Yoshino-san! What are you doing here?

Shigehira, holding a bow in his hand, turned around to look at me.

My heart skipped a beat when our eyes met.

(I feel like there’s been a bit of distance between us since we returned from the capital.)

(It makes me happy whenever I get to see him and talk to him, but I also feel a little agitated.)

I approached Shigehira, trying to subdue the jitters I was feeling.

Yoshino: Yoritomo-sama asked me to find you and give you a message from him. It’s just that there have been some changes to the agenda for today’s meeting…

Shigehira: I see… Sorry for the trouble.

Shigehira stood at ease as I relayed Yoritomo’s message to him, and then…

Naoie: Oh, hey! It’s been a while!

(Naoie-san!)

Naoie, who’d become a friendly and familiar face to me by now, came up to us with an arrow in his hand.

(He must have gone to retrieve the arrow he’d just shot.)

Yoshino: Are you practicing archery too, Naoie-san?

Naoie: Yeah! I heard Shigehira-sama was training here, so I came right over.

Yoshino: Hm? Do the two of you train together often?

Shigehira: Not really. It’s just that lately he’s taken to following me around and pestering me whenever I’m training.

Naoie: It’s not fair for Shigehira-sama to be in a league of his own. I’ve gotta catch up to him somehow…

With a grin on his face, Naoie took his stance on the archery range. 

He faced the target on the other side of the range, nocked his arrow, and drew the string of his bow.

Shigehira: Naoie, fix your form. The wrist of your bow hand is turned inwards. You won’t be able to channel the force from your body into your shot along a straight line.

Naoie: Gh!

Shigehira: Now you’ve just gotten distracted.

Naoie released his bowstring in the middle of attempting to fix his posture, and his arrow veered just shy of the target and pierced the ground.

(Naoie-san has come to really idolize Shigehira-kun.)

(And even though Shigehira-kun acts indifferent, it seems like he takes good care of Naoie-san.)

(Somehow, it’s so charming to see them interact.)

Naoie: How many times are you gonna practice shooting the same arrow over and over again? My arms feel like they’re about to fall off any second now. 

Shigehira: If you shoot one arrow thousands upon thousands of times over again, the motions of doing so will become ingrained in your muscle memory.

Shigehira: Whether or not you’ll be able to hit your target on the battlefield depends on how familiar your body is with those motions—and the only way to become familiar with them is through daily repetition.

Shigehira: So if you want to be successful in your military career, there’s no such thing as too much practice.

Shigehira nocked his arrow and drew his bowstring in one deft movement of his right hand.

His arrow whistled keenly as it flew from his bow, and it hit the bullseye of the furthest target with a resounding crack. 

Yoshino: That was amazing!! Right in the middle…

(Now that I look closer, it looks like there are already a few arrows stuck in the center of his target.)

Yoshino: I didn’t know you were so good at archery too!

But Shigehira shook his head with a cloudy look on his face.

Shigehira: Yoichi-san’s aim is far more precise.

✦ part two

Shigehira: Yoichi-san’s aim is far more precise.

Naoie: You mean Nasu no Yoichi from the rebel army?! He’s super famous, isn’t he!

Naoie: I heard that he even shot down a tiny fan from off of the mast of an enemy ship back in the—! Uh, the… Genpei War...

(N-Naoie-san… The enemy you're talking about was the Heike.)

Shigehira: …

Naoie: …But who cares about that, anyways? I bet I could take Yoichi down with one hand behind my back.

Shigehira: Don’t start getting cocky.

(Ah, thank goodness… Shigehira-kun didn’t take it personally.)

Naoie’s personality—cheerful and a bit rough around the edges—complemented Shigehira’s personality surprisingly well.

As I was pondering this…

Naoie: Aw, shoot! I’ve gotta go make my patrol rounds.

Naoie: I’d better get going soon.

Shigehira: Alright. Keep up the good work. 

Naoie: Sure will! And by the way, Shigehira-sama…

Naoie smiled cheekily as he looked towards me.

Naoie: Please treat Yoshino-san right.

Shigehira: Huh?!

Yoshino: Hm?

Seeing us react simultaneously in surprise, Naoie burst into laughter like a child who had just pulled off a prank.

Naoie: You don’t know? It’s the hottest gossip right now. All the soldiers are talking about it.

Naoie: The “Peony Blossom Lord” has never flirted with anyone before, but now there’s a lady who’s made his frozen buds finally bloom…

Naoie: And she’s not even some princess or anything—she’s just an apothecary that suddenly appeared in the estate with him one day… 

Yoshino: I-I’m sure that isn’t true…

All Naoie did was grin at me.

(Is he serious?!)

Shigehira: Wait... How did these rumors come about in the first place?

Shigehira closed in on Naoie, looking like he was about to grab him by his collar and shake him.

Naoie: Hmm? Well, now that I think about it, there were some soldiers who were grilling Morinaga-sama about you guys the other day.

Naoie: Asking stuff like “Are Shigehira-sama and Yoshino-san close with each other?”

(How did I not know about this?!)

(It’s true that we’ve spent quite a bit of time together, but that’s just because Shigehira-kun is my caretaker…)

Yoshino: How did Morinaga-san respond?

Naoie: He just grinned like he always does, and he said something like “Well… You should look forward to seeing their relationship develop.”

Yoshino: Th-That’s so misleading…

(But it’s so like him to say that! I can almost hear his voice saying it in my head!!)

Shigehira: So he purposefully didn’t deny it!

Naoie: What’s the big deal about that?

Naoie: I’m sure you don’t feel too bad about it, yourself.

Shigehira: Naoie!!

Naoie shrugged under Shigehira’s withering glare before he suddenly turned around.

Naoie: Looks like I’m running late now! ‘Scuse me.

Thus he quickly made his escape. 

Shigehira: I’ve had it with that guy…

Yoshino: Shigehira-ku—

Shigehira: Yoshino-san.

(Wah!)

Shigehira set down his bow and grabbed my wrist.

Shigehira: Let’s go.

Yoshino: Go where?!

Shigehira: To wherever Morinaga-san is, so that I can correct him.

Yoshino: Huh?

Aren’t you being hasty? (Romantic+2/Dramatic+4) You should calm down… (Romantic+4/Dramatic+4) Wait a moment (Romantic+2/Dramatic+4) 

Yoshino: Maybe you should calm down a little bit first…

Shigehira: I am perfectly calm. I might accidentally punch Morinaga-san in the shoulder, but I am cool and collected right now.

(That doesn’t exactly sound “cool and collected” to me…)

I hurried after Shigehira as he stormed out of the training grounds. 

 

A while later…

(How and why did this end up happening!?)

Morinaga: Let’s go, Shigehira!

✦ part three

(How and why did this end up happening!?)

Morinaga: Let’s go, Shigehira!

Shigehira: Kh-!

The ball which Morinaga had just kicked arced high into the air.

Shigehira deftly caught it with his knee as it fell to him.

Shigehira: Take this!

Morinaga: Will do. Then, in return—

Morinaga: I’ll show you the Adachi clan’s secret technique—Golden Right Foot!

Shigehira: What’s with that stupid-looking kick?! The Adachi clan should have a better secret technique than that!

Shigehira: It’s… curving all weirdly, and now it’s…!

Morinaga: I knew you’d catch up, Shigehira. Here!

Shigehira: Fine! If this is what it’s come to, I’m going to win this game!

Yoshino: …Am I really watching a game of kemari?

(This is so intense, and for what?!)

I watched, dumbfounded, as the kemari ball flew back and forth in front of me.

(I’ve heard that kemari is a sport played among the nobility. Shouldn’t it be more elegant than this…?) 

Tamamo: Oh? It’s rare to see Shigehira playing kemari.

Yoshino: Tamamo!

Tamamo tilted his head in greeting and leisurely walked towards me.

I thought back on everything that had happened up until now before attempting to explain it to him.

Yoshino: You see…

—flashback

Shigehira had confronted Morinaga right after the afternoon’s meeting had ended.

Morinaga: I didn’t think you’d care so much about those little rumors. You’re so cute.

Shigehira: They’re not little rumors. Please stop patting my head. 

Shigehira: You know you have a lot of influence among the soldiers, Morinaga-san. I’d like you to take responsibility for propagating the rumors and clarify that they are not true. 

Morinaga: It wasn’t like I actively tried to spread any lies, you know. Oh, but I have a good idea!

Shigehira: What is it?

Morinaga: How about we settle this with a game of kemari?

—flashback ends

Yoshino: …And that’s how this ended up happening.

Tamamo: I see.

Tamamo: It seems to me that Morinaga was just looking for someone to play with.

Tamamo: Poor Shigehira’s earnestness was taken advantage of.

Yoshino: I had a feeling about that…

(Morinaga-san is a really friendly person, but he’s also surprisingly good at getting people to do what he wants. Is he craftier than he lets on?)

Yoshino: By the way, is this really how kemari is played? It doesn't look how I thought it would...

Tamamo: It usually isn't played like this, but you know Morinaga. With that affable nature and that physical prowess combined, he can turn a simple game into a rough-and-tumble. 

Tamamo: Now, then, shall I join?

Tamamo quickly stepped in between Morinaga and Shigehira.

Shigehira: …Now there’s another obstacle in the way. Great.

Morinaga: Don’t underestimate him, Shigehira.

Morinaga: I've learned that from playing with him, you know! 

Morinaga: This beast of an ayakashi has had 800 years to hone his skills. Let me tell you—Tamamo is the real deal. 

Shigehira: Seriously… Since when did you two get so close? 

✦ part four

Shigehira: Seriously… Since when did you two get so close? 

(Tamamo has become familiar with everyone rather quickly.)

(He’s as playful as you’d expect of a fox…)

The ball ricocheted between the three of them as they conversed with ease.

(They're all so athletic!)

???: Kyaaa! Morinaga-sama is playing kemari!

???: Wow, Tamamo-sama and Shigehira-sama are here too!

(Wha…)

I suddenly heard high-pitched squealing from the corridor not too far away from me.

Maid 1: Morinaga-sama~! Shall I bring you a towel?

Maid 2: No fair! Then I’ll bring some water…

Morinaga: It’s alright, I already have my own. But I appreciate your thoughtfulness!

Morinaga waved jauntily to the maids as he dribbled the kemari ball.

(Morinaga-san seems to be really popular with women.)

(It’s no surprise… He’s good-looking and an impressive fighter, while still having a gentle and open-minded personality.)

(Moreover…)

Maid 3: Tamamo-sama~! Look over here!

Tamamo: My attention is a costly thing. Once I'm not busy, why don’t you repay me for the glance I graced you with?

Shigehira: …That’s suspicious.

Shigehira: How can you make that kind of proposition to someone you don’t even know?

(Tamamo is popular too!)

Tamamo: You know, Shigehira, you’d easily have one or two hundred women lined up in front of you if you just stopped being so prickly. 

Maids: Shigehira-sama~!

Shigehira: ……

(He ignored them!?)

Shigehira kicked the ball with an icy look on his face, not even bothering to look at the maids.

Morinaga: Shigehira isn’t very sociable, so I think he’s too afraid to let women flock to him like that. 

Morinaga: You must know what I’m talking about, right, Yoshino?

Yoshino: Huh? Well, I guess that sounds about right…

Shigehira: I’m just sick and tired of people coming to me for no reason other than to look at my face.

Shigehira: Besides, I don’t believe it’s proper for samurai to get distracted by frivolous liasions with the opposite sex.

(Classic Shigehira-kun…)

(Though that reminds me—Naoie-san said Shigehira-kun has never courted anyone up until now.)

(Now I feel even more guilty that there are rumors going around about us.)

Tamamo and Morinaga’s smiles and waves seemed to be enough to satisfy the maids. 

They gossiped cheerfully among each other as they left.

Tamamo: You’re still inexperienced, Shigehira. You ought to have paid more attention to those women than the ball.

Shigehira: Mind your own business and focus on the game. 

Shigehira: Isn’t your footwork supposed to have been honed over the course of 800 years? It doesn’t seem like it to me.

Shigehira: I bet you’ve gotten used to being cooped up inside the killing stone with nothing to do. You’re no match for a warrior who trains every day.

Shigehira punted the ball to Tamamo, seemingly trying to provoke him.

Tamamo: I suppose there’s nothing else I can do to prove it to you. Watch as I show you a daring stunt that can only be achieved once in 800 years!

Shigehira: …Stunt?

(What’s a stunt like by ayakashi standards? Is he going to use magic or something?!)

Tamamo smiled triumphantly as he caught the ball with the top of his foot.

Tamamo: Observe carefully.

Tamamo: My secret technique—Gorgeous Sexy Legs!

(What??)

Shigehira: There’s no need to expose your legs!! What do any of us gain from seeing them?!

Tamamo: Then behold the ball as it ascends into the sky!

Yoshino: Woah, it’s going so high…

Shigehira: Just how high up is it going?!

The ball soared so far above the roof that it appeared to overlap with the sun before it began to fall back down. 

Morinaga: Don’t give up, Shigehira! Now’s the time for your true power to awaken!

Tamamo: That’s right! Show us the dance of a peony blooming out of season!

✦ part five

Morinaga: Don’t give up, Shigehira! Now’s the time for your true power to awaken!

Tamamo: That’s right! Show us the dance of a peony blooming out of season!

Yoshino: Huh…?

Shigehira: Don’t be fooled, Yoshino-san—I don’t have any stupid skill like that!

Shigehira sprinted to catch up with the ball and desperately kicked it with all his might.

Shigehira: You two need to quit conspiring and cut it out already!

The ball shot through the air at an almost unbelievable speed, until—

Shigehira: …Oh.

???: …That was dangerous.

Yoritomo: I came over here because I heard a terrible racket… What are you all doing, horsing around like a bunch of kids?

Yoshino: Yoritomo-sama!

Yoritomo, having caught the ball in his hand, approached us with an exasperated look on his face.

Morinaga: Oh, dear. It looks like Shigehira loses 300 points for hitting Yoritomo-sama.

Shigehira: Since when was that a rule?

Tamamo: Kagetoki came up with it the other day

Tamamo: If you hit a shōji screen with the ball, you lose 500 points. If you hit Yoritomo-sama, you lose 300 points…

Yoritomo: Why is there less of a penalty for hitting me than for hitting a screen? It doesn’t make sense.

Morinaga: “Because a shōji screen will break, but Yoritomo-sama is strong” is what Kagetoki said.

Yoritomo: That bastard.

Despite his words, Yoritomo didn’t seem too offended by it.

(At first, I thought he had a domineering personality, but it seems that he’s actually pretty accepting.)

Shigehira: Wait. Does losing 300 points mean that I lost the game?! 

Tamamo: That’s too bad. 

Yoritomo: What do you look so disappointed for, Shigehira?

Yoshino: Well, actually…

Shigehira seemed to be rather worked up, so I explained the situation on his behalf.

Yoritomo: So this was just over those rumors?

(...He really does know about everything that goes on in the estate.)

Yoshino: Yes… In the time I’ve spent working at the estate,

Yoshino: Shigehira-kun has done nothing but support me—he’s introduced me to so many people and given me so much advice.

Yoshino: But since it’s attracted so much unwanted attention, it might be better if we avoided contact with each other from now on… 

Shigehira: …Huh?

(Besides, Shigehira-kun wasn’t keen on being assigned as my caretaker in the first place…)

(It’d be disheartening to not have him by my side, but the foundation for what I want to do has been laid thanks to his help, so from now on I should be able to continue on my own!)

Yoritomo: Oh?

Yoritomo looked at me and Shigehira with amusement.

Yoritomo: If that’s what you want, I can put someone else in charge of Shigehira’s role as your caretaker.

Shigehira: …!

Morinaga: Ah, then shall I take it up?

Shigehira: …

Yoshino: Morinaga-san? It’s kind of you to offer, but I know you’re busy, and I’d hate to trouble you. 

Morinaga: I can tell that you’re doing your best to work with us. Cooperating with you would be no trouble at all.

Yoshino: Umm, well, if you’re really sure…

Shigehira: Wait a second.

(Wah!)

Before I could continue, Shigehira grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards him.

He fixed his gaze on me, looking thoroughly ill-tempered.

Shigehira: …What do you think you’re doing, trying to decide this without asking me?

Chapter 11 Letter  ·  Chapter 12 →

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[sakura-samsara]

Shigehira Main Story: Chapter 10 Normal Story

← Chapter 10

We quickly left the court building and boarded the bullock cart that had been waiting for us outside. 

Yoshino: Um… Shigehira-kun, thank you for—

Shigehira: Why were you crying?

(Oh-!)

He suddenly moved closer to me, and I couldn’t help but catch my breath.

Yoshino: I was… just… moved by your performance!

Shigehira: Be honest.

(...I mean, that wasn’t a lie.)

Shigehira: Did someone say something bad to you when I wasn't there to hear it?

Yoshino: N-No, that’s not it.

I felt my face heat up because of how close his eyes were to mine.

(Why do I feel so weird…?)

(I can’t take my eyes off of Shigehira-kun, now more than ever.)

Yoshino: It’s really not a big deal or anything, so you don’t have to—

Shigehira: I hate it.

Yoshino: Hate what…?

The delicate fingers that had played the biwa earlier now grazed my face near my eyes.

Shigehira: I don’t know why.

Shigehira: …But I hate seeing you cry.

(...)

My heartbeat sped up until it was as fast as the ringing of an alarm bell.

I was overwhelmingly aware of Shigehira’s presence and proximity to me within the rattling bullock cart. 

Yoshino: What do you mean by that…?

Shigehira: …I don’t know that either.

Looking almost perplexed, Shigehira’s eyebrows drew together in a frown.

His expression had a faint allure as he looked at me, and it made my chest feel tight with a feeling I couldn’t identify. 

Shigehira: Just tell me the truth already, okay?

Shigehira: Otherwise I’m not going to be able to regain my presence of mind.

(Shigehira-kun feels unsettled too…?)

Knowing that he felt the same way I did inexplicably made me feel giddy.

Yoshino: I was crying because…

Yoshino: Because you’re beautiful, Shigehira-kun.

Shigehira: …I’m used to being complimented on my looks. I thought I told you that already.

Yoshino: You did. I know.

(But I can only express how I feel in fumbling, inadequate words.)

I smiled at him, still wanting to make the best effort I could.

Yoshino: I meant that your way of life is beautiful.

Shigehira: …Way of life?

Yoshino: Back at the estate, I thought of you as a strong and captivating person.

Yoshino: But when we came to the capital…

Yoshino: Standing by you when you faced Yoichi-san and the Heike’s former vassals, and seeing you in the Imperial Court made me finally understand.

Yoshino: I've realized that you’re more than just strong.

Shigehira: What is that supposed to mean? I don’t get what you’re saying…

He was quick with a curt response, but his eyes shifted in what seemed to be genuine confusion.

Yoshino: I can’t even begin to imagine the difficulties you’ve been through. 

Yoshino: But you must have endured your hardships and persevered in spite of them for your whole life.

Shigehira: What makes you think that?

Yoshino: When I heard you play the biwa earlier, something about your tone gave me the feeling that you were angry.

Shigehira: ……

Yoshino: But even though you were angry, the music sounded so beautiful.

Yoshino: Even the people who had been insulting you were captivated by your performance.

Shigehira: …Is that how it sounded to you?

Shigehira seemed to be struck speechless for a moment before he murmured in disbelief.

Yoshino: …Yeah. That’s what I heard.

Shigehira: No one’s ever told me that they could tell what I was feeling from my tone.

Yoshino: …Really?

A smile bloomed on his face as he looked straight into my eyes. 

(Oh...)

Shigehira: Thank you.

Yoshino: I-It’s nothing to thank me for.

(I don’t know why I’m so happy.)

The inside of the bullock cart was only illuminated by the faint glow of moonlight filtering in through the bamboo slats over the window.

Shigehira’s eyes sparkled in the silver light.

Shigehira: Be that as it may… I’ve put you through nothing but the weirdest situations all day today. I’m sorry you had to deal with that.

Yoshino: That’s not true!

(It was definitely a rough day, but… I’m glad that I got to know Shigehira-kun better because of it.)

Shigehira: You didn’t have to deny it so vehemently.

Shigehira smiled in amusement, making my heart ache sweetly again.

Yoshino: I was just being honest! It really wasn’t that bad.

Yoshino: But being in the Imperial Court is awfully more difficult than I thought it would be.

Shigehira: It certainly is. It's almost nostalgic.

(Huh?)

Shigehira: The glitz and glamor, the whirlwind of intrigue, the heady fragrance of power…

Shigehira: It was once part of my everyday life. I took it for granted, until all of a sudden, it was gone.

Yoshino: Shigehira-kun…

Shigehira: Now, I don’t want it to be a part of my life ever again.

Shigehira: I’ve learned that all of that superficiality doesn’t help you protect what you want to protect.

(...Shigehira-kun really is strong.)

Shigehira is a noble and gallant man who fights to protect what’s important to him, even when it wounds him.

Shigehira: Yoshino-san.

I was startled when he suddenly whispered my name.

Shigehira: Even now, there are still times when I think you would be better off if you left the shogunate.

Shigehira: Like today, for instance.

Yoshino: But why…?

Shigehira: If you hadn’t gotten caught up in our fight with Yoshitsune-san on that first night, you wouldn’t have had to come here and deal with any of the things you went through today.

(Shigehira-kun is always worrying for me like this.)

(But I…)

I didn’t realize when or how these feelings had begun to take seed in my mind.

But at some point, they had grown and blossomed, and an inextinguishable fire had been lit in my heart.

Yoshino: You know, Shigehira-kun… Up until now, I haven’t had a concrete reason to go to the battlefield.

Yoshino: Of course, I agreed to it for the sake of Tamamo and myself, but…

Yoshino: I didn’t actively make the choice to join the fight in the same way that you did.

Shigehira: Of course you didn’t. It's not surprising, is it? You’re a civilian apothecary who’s never seen battle before. That’s why I…

I gently shook my head.

Yoshino: It’s okay. Because that’s not the case anymore.

Shigehira: Huh…

Yoshino: Now I know that I want to go to the battlefield for your sake.

Yoshino: I respect you more than anyone else, so I want to stand by your side and help you in any way I can.

(I won’t do what I did today anymore—I don’t want to stay off to the sidelines and watch Shigehira-kun get hurt while fighting on his own.)

Shigehira: Yoshino-san…

A moment of silence lingered between us in the darkness.

Shigehira: You’re such a strange person.

Shigehira: You appear to be weak, but from time to time, you become so strong.

Yoshino: Huh…?

Shigehira: Somehow, I always… feel swayed by you.

(...It feels like it's me who's always swayed by him. His every word, his every expression affects me.)

We looked at each other with uncertainty,

But my heart pounded in my chest like a premonition of what was to come.

Chapter 11 →

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[sakura-samsara]

Shigehira Main Story: Chapter 8

← Chapter 7

✧ part one

(What happened between Shigehira-kun and Yoichi-san?)

Yoichi: Let me tell you something nice, eh, Yoshino?

Yoichi: Me and the young lord already know each other. We go way back, actually! Back since he was just thiiis tall.

Shigehira: Yoichi-san, that’s enough…

(They’ve known each other since they were young?)

(If that’s true, I’m even more confused as to why they’re enemies with each other.)

Yoichi: Don’t be so formal with me. You used to be so cute back when you were a kid.

Yoichi laughed in a low voice.

Yoichi: We had so much fun together at the mansion in Rokuhara. 

Yoshino: Mansion in Rokuhara?

Yoichi: It was a gorgeous and opulent estate built by the former head of the Taira clan.

Yoichi: Shigehira was born there. When I say he's a “young lord,” I mean the real thing. 

Yoichi: The Heike's wealth and power in its heyday was just out of this world.

(...That’s right. Naoie-san also said that, before.)

—flashback

Naoie: Back in the day, the Taira clan had complete control over the court’s politics, right? And they lived in obscene luxury with all that money.

Yoshino: Yes, I’ve heard about that.

Naoie: The guy was born into an unimaginable amount of wealth and power… and with such a beautiful face, too. It’s not like he’s lacking in prospects with women, either.

—flashback ends

(Everyone seems to acknowledge that the Heike was extremely powerful.)

(But Shigehira-kun is…)

I was suddenly struck by the conversation we’d had yesterday.

—flashback

Yoshino: You seem familiar with the capital, Shigehira-kun. Is it because you travel here often for work?

Shigehira: …Well, it’s because I used to live here.

Yoshino: It’s no wonder… Then you must have lots of memories here, right?

Yoshino: If there are any places that you want to visit, it’s alright with me if we go and stop by them.

Shigehira: No. I’m fine. 

Shigehira: I only come to the capital anymore if I have work. I wouldn’t come here at all if I could help it.

Shigehira: I have no nostalgia for this place, so there’s no need to worry about me.

—flashback ends

(It doesn’t seem like he has fond memories of living in luxury back then.) 

Yoshino: …So how come Yoichi-san has known Shigehira-kun for so long? 

Shigehira: Because the Nasu clan is a samurai family that originally served the Taira clan.

✧ part two

Yoshino: …So how come Yoichi-san has known Shigehira-kun for so long? 

Shigehira: Because the Nasu clan is a samurai family that originally served the Taira clan.

My question was half-spoken to myself, but Shigehira answered it as soon as it slipped out.

(Eh…?)

Yoichi: That is right.

Yoichi: Which is why, back when I was young, I’d tag along with my old man on his trips to and from the Heike’s manor. 

Yoichi: While Dad was doing his business, I’d be playing with Shigehira.

Yoichi: He really was adorable back in the day. He’d obediently follow me everywhere and copy anything he saw me do.

Shigehira: Yearning this much for the past must be a sign that you’re getting old.

(Uhh…)

I tried to put my thoughts in order as I looked at the two of them.

Yoshino: So Yoichi-san used to serve the Heike, but now he’s with the Genji as Yoshitsune-sama’s retainer?

Yoichi: Yep. I chose to fight for the Genji in the Genpei War, despite being a member of the Nasu clan.

Yoshino: Why…? Wouldn’t that make you enemies with your own family and friends?

Yoichi: Well, I had my reasons.

(“I had my reasons”?)

(There must be more to it...)

(But I guess that means that he isn’t going to tell us more about it.)

Shigehira: I’m no longer interested in his reasons for doing so. However, I was shocked when I first heard that he had chosen to fight for the Genji.

Shigehira: Though I hadn’t seen him since I had come of age, I’d believed it was almost certain that he would remain on the Heike’s side.

Shigehira’s face had stiffened, and his voice had become stilted.

Yoshino: (It must have been an awful surprise to hear that someone who he knew since he was a child had taken his enemy’s side.)

Yoichi: My bad.

Yoichi: But hey! Thanks to that, I’m now the head of the Nasu clan. 

Yoichi: Otherwise, an eleventh son like myself wouldn’t have had a chance at succession of the family leadership.

Shigehira: Hmm.

Shigehira: You’ve always acted as though you lacked enthusiasm for your responsibilities, Yoichi-san. I didn’t think you had any ambitions of being the Nasu clan’s successor.

Yoichi: You know what they say. Appearances can be deceiving.

Yoichi: But that's not always true, is it?

Yoichi’s eyes suddenly narrowed.

Yoichi: You let my dad and all his vassals get killed during the Genpei War... You’re just as cold for that as you look. 

✧ part three

Yoichi: You let my dad and all his vassals get killed during the Genpei War... You’re just as cold-hearted for that as you look. 

(Let them get killed…)

Shigehira: ……

Yoshino: Please hold on!

Confused, I timidly expressed my question to Yoichi.

Yoshino: You said that you chose to fight for the Genji, despite being a member of the Nasu clan.

Yoshino: But wouldn’t that mean that your father was still on the Heike’s side…?

(Why would he have been killed by the Heike, if he was on their side?)

Yoichi: He was.

Yoichi: But Dad and his vassals were set up. They were executed by the Heike for a crime that they didn't commit.

Yoshino: …Set up?

(And executed because of it… Why in the world would they do that?!)

My eyes widened as I processed the shocking statement…

Shigehira: There was a suspicion, at the time, that someone within the Heike’s army was leaking information to the enemy. 

Shigehira: Yoichi-san’s father… was the suspect.

(What…?)

Shigehira’s voice was solemn.

Yoichi: That is right.

Seemingly recalling memories of the past, Yoichi cast down his eyes.

Yoichi: Back then, I…

—flashback

Yoichi’s Retainer 1: Yoichi-sama! Yoichi-sama, something terrible has happened!

Yoichi: ...! Why are you all here?

The retainers knelt to Yoichi in the pouring rain, paying no mind to the muddy earth dirtying their clothes.

This was just when the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani was beginning to turn towards the Genji’s victory.

Yoichi’s Retainer 2: We received the news only a moment ago!

Yoichi’s Retainer 2: …Your father was beheaded on accusation of being a Genji insider. 

Yoichi: What?!

Yoichi’s Retainer 2: Not just your father! His closest vassals too…

Yoichi’s Retainer 3: It seems that there were rumors that our entire clan was colluding with the Genji...

Yoichi: That's impossible! I haven’t even had contact with my old man since I joined up with the Genji.

Yoichi’s fists were clenched so tightly that his fingertips had become white.

His voice sounded like a groan as it escaped his lips.

Yoichi: The Heike bastards just went ahead and did it, didn’t they?

Yoichi’s Retainer 1: …We did not stand for it. Nor can we pardon them, now that it is done.

Yoichi’s Retainer 2: Indeed! Though our paths are different, we are all retainers of the Nasu clan. We cannot tolerate such a disgrace towards those who we serve…

The other retainers nodded in agreement.

Yoichi’s Retainer 3: The few of us here have decided to serve you directly as your attendants, Yoichi-sama.

Yoichi’s Retainer 3: I was long prepared to risk my life fighting alongside our former compatriots. However… 

Yoichi’s Retainer 3: If they defamed our clan with accusations of dishonor, and killed your father in cold blood over mere rumors, how could we possibly remain on their side?!

Yoichi: You guys…

Yoichi’s Retainer 1: Without a doubt… I will sever the heads of every Taira with my own hands…

Yoichi’s Retainer 2: Yoichi-sama!

Yoichi: Mm.

Yoichi gently closed his eyes, as if to shield his heart from his own distress and the imploring gazes of his retainers. 

Yoichi: I feel your anger keenly. That’s why—

—flashback ends

Yoichi: ...That’s why I will not forgive the Heike for what they’d done.

Yoichi: Of course, Shigehira of the Heike is no exception.

Shigehira: …

Shigehira’s eyes were clouded with suppressed anguish, as though he was stifling his pain.

Shigehira: I can’t offer you any excuses. If you wish to resent me, then you may resent me as much as you desire.

Yoichi: I don’t particularly resent you.

Yoichi: But now that I’ve assumed the position of clan head, I have to take on the responsibility of bearing the clan’s grudge.

Yoichi: Likewise, you’ve got your own reasons for wanting to cut me down. Don’t you, lordling?

The tension in the air was so thick that it could almost be cut with a blade. I held my breath without even realizing it.

Shigehira: After I had been taken prisoner… Many of our vassals lost their lives at the subsequent Battle of Yashima.

Shigehira: I’ve heard about how your troops mercilessly killed even the members of the Heike who had surrendered and were begging for their lives to be spared. 

✧ part four

Shigehira: I’ve heard about how your troops mercilessly killed even the members of the Heike who had surrendered and were begging for their lives to be spared. 

Yoichi: Grudges made on the battlefield like these can only fester.

Shigehira: That is precisely why grudges made on the battlefield must be settled on the battlefield as well. Wouldn’t you agree?

Yoichi: I sure would. Though I think it's all just a pain…

(So this is the connection between these two people…)

(They were close companions as children, but now they’re duty-bound to kill each other.)

(Because it’s their responsibility as generals who are accountable for the lives—and deaths—of a great number of people.)

My chest ached with sympathy.

Yoichi: Shigehira. There are a hell of a lot more people out there who resent you or hold a grudge against you besides me. 

Yoichi: Some of the survivors of the Heike may have gone along with you in siding with the Shogunate, but…

Yoichi: The rest of them lost everything and fled to all sorts of different places around the country.

Shigehira: …Indeed, they did.

I recalled seeing Shigehira’s former retainers earlier, and how their eyes burned with hatred as they looked at Shigehira.

—flashback

Shigehira: You still bear that much of a grudge against me?

Man 2: Of course we do!

Man 3: How could you have been taken as a prisoner of war during the Heike’s most critical moment, only to take up with Yoritomo and form an alliance with him...?!

—flashback ends

(I don’t think Shigehira-kun seems like the type of person to abandon his own comrades without remorse…)

Yoichi: The rebel army plans to gather up all the survivors of the Heike.

Yoichi: You’ll be bound to see some familiar faces on the battlefield soon.

Shigehira: Wh…

Yoichi: Lordling… Shigehira. It’s ironic, don’t you think? You once fought for the Heike’s sake, but you have to fight and kill the members of the Heike now. 

That’s not fair (Romantic+4/Dramatic+2) That’s too cruel (Romantic+2/Dramatic+4) Is there no other way? (Romantic+4/Dramatic+4)

Yoshino: Th-That’s… Is there no other way? No other path that you can take besides battle?

Yoichi: Maybe there is, but following the path of bloodshed and carnage is a samurai’s destiny. Shigehira should know that too.

Shigehira: …Indeed.

Shigehira: Thank you, Yoshino. But I’m fine with this.

(But…)

Yoichi stared hard at Shigehira.

Yoichi: Ah, but if you’ve taken after Lord Yoritomo at all…

Yoichi: You wouldn’t have any problem fighting your own former retainers, would you?

Yoichi: After all, Lord Yoritomo chose the survival of his shogunate over the life of his own blood brother.

Yoichi: Since you've allied yourself with such a ruthless man, you must have become an equally ruthless general, no? 

Shigehira: I…

Yoichi turned his gaze towards me.

Yoichi: Listen, Yoshino. The war that’s to come is a mess of all sorts of different conflicts.

✧ part five

Yoichi: Listen, Yoshino. The war that’s to come is a mess of all sorts of different conflicts.

Yoichi: The shogunate’s probably tried to entice you to participate in battle like it’s no big deal, but… 

Yoichi: If you’ve ever thought about backing out, now’s the time to do it.

Yoshino: That’s…

Yoichi playfully reached out his hand as if he was going to run his fingers through my hair.

But within an instant—

Shigehira: Don’t touch her.

(Oh…)

Shigehira slapped Yoichi’s hand away at the very last moment before he could touch me.

Yoichi: Ooh, so scary~

Yoichi lowered his eyelids like a cat as he gave us a satisfied smile.

Yoichi: Well, I’ve said what I wanted to say, so I guess I’d better get going now.

Yoichi: We’ll continue this… On the battlefield.

With a casual wave of his hand in the air, Yoichi turned his back to us.

He went on his way without seeming to have even the slightest concern that he’d get attacked from behind.

(He’s gone…)

Shigehira: ……

Shigehira’s fists were tightly clenched.

(I don’t even know what to say to him.)

Yoshino: Um… Are you alright, Shigehira-kun?

Shigehira: Mm.

(Shigehira-kun probably feels really hurt.)

(But I… I can’t say anything in response.) 

Feeling frustrated, I bit my lip.

(I wish there was something I could do to help him, even just a little bit.)

I thought hard and debated with myself about what to do before I decided to take a bold step.

Yoshino: If it’d be alright with you… Could you tell me more?

Shigehira: About what?

Yoshino: About your thoughts back then. And how you’re feeling right now.

Shigehira: …

Shigehira: What would you gain from doing that?

(Well…)

Yoshino: Nothing. But I want to do what I can to help you, as your friend.

Shigehira: Friend?

I nodded gently and looked into Shigehira’s eyes, seeing them reflect the darkening sky.

Yoshino: I know that you’ve put in a tremendous amount of effort to earn the trust of the shogunate.

(Whether it’s his swordsmanship, studies, or work, Shigehira-kun spares no effort towards doing it.)

After the short time I’d spent by Shigehira’s side so far, this was one of only a few things I’d come to know about him.

Yoshino: You must have had to work extra hard to prove yourself to them because you’re from the Heike. Isn’t that right?

(No matter how painful and difficult it must have been for him, he probably couldn’t have revealed his true feelings to anyone for fear of it undermining his efforts.)

Shigehira: …So what if it was?

Yoshino: I’m nothing more than an apothecary, and I’ve never had anything to do with the Genji or the Heike from the beginning, so…

Yoshino: If you would find any relief in talking about your feelings and letting it all out, I think I would be a good listener.

Shigehira: You’re…

Shigehira grumbled quietly.

Shigehira: So meddlesome.

Yoshino: …I suppose I am.

(But I couldn’t have just stayed silent.)

Shigehira: ...Very well, then.

Shigehira: But you should be prepared to hear what I’m going to tell you. It’s not a happy story.

Chapter 9 →

Notes: 

The Battle of Ichi-no-Tani (and the flashback to it in this chapter) occurred 8 years prior to the current setting of the story.

Rokuhara (六波羅) is an area of Kyōto. Taira clan head (and Shigehira's grandfather) Tadamori built an extravagant mansion there to serve as both a residence and a military base, and it became the center of the Heike's power under the leadership of Shigehira's infamous father Kiyomori. The mansion was burned down in 1183 after the Taira clan was exiled from the capital city.

The exact age at which children in Japan were considered to have transitioned to adulthood has varied throughout history. During the Heian era, boys born into the aristocracy underwent a coming-of-age ceremony between the ages of 7 and 15. Going off of this, I assume Shigehira would have been younger than 15 when he last saw Yoichi before they became enemies. But even if that assumption is correct, I have no idea exactly how old Shigehira (or Yoichi for that matter) would have been at the time, or exactly how many years ago it would have happened.

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[sakura-samsara]

Shigehira Main Story: Chapter 10

← Chapter 9

✦ part one

We continued on our way, despite various people still calling for Shigehira to stop, until…

???: Ahh, hello again, you two!

(Oh, that voice—)

I looked in the direction of the blithe-sounding voice.

Yasuchika: Thank you for exterminating the ayakashi last night.

Yasuchika: I knew you could do it, Shige-chan, Yoshino-san! 

The nobles made way for Yasuchika upon recognizing him, seemingly taken aback by his presence. 

(Yasuchika-san must be a really important person.)

Yoshino: Good evening, Yasuchika-san.

Yasuchika: Good evening, fox-possessed princess. I’m so glad that I could see you two nights in a row.

(I feel like Yasuchika-san acts just as much like himself wherever he goes.)

Yasuchika’s demeanor was jarringly out of place within the formal and heavy atmosphere of the Imperial Court.

Shigehira: Have you come to guide us?

Yasuchika: Mhmm. Well, this certainly isn’t the first time that Shige-chan has been here, so it was just a precaution…

Yasuchika: And I thought that I’d be able to kill two birds with one stone if I could give you a tour and hear your report at the same time. 

Shigehira: When you put it that way…

Yasuchika led the way as we resumed walking, and Shigehira and I verbally recounted the events of last night to him.

Shigehira: I’ll send you a written report later. 

Yasuchika: Much appreciated!

Yasuchika: At any rate, I’m a bit surprised that you got hurt, Shige-chan. 

Shigehira: It’s not a serious injury. I just got distracted for a moment.

(When it happened…)

(The ayakashi had shapeshifted into the form of a little girl, and Shigehira-kun had instinctively hesitated to kill her.)

Yasuchika: You got distracted, hmm?

Shigehira: Do you have something you want to say to me?

Yasuchika: Never mind~ You know, you seem to be in even more of a bad mood than usual. 

Shigehira: If that’s how it seems to you, then it’s because I’m standing in front of you.

Shigehira responded without making eye contact with Yasuchika, not even trying to conceal the rudeness in his tone.

Yasuchika: You’re so mean.

Yasuchika: And here I thought all the members of the Heike flourished in the Imperial Court. 

Shigehira: Yasuchika-san…

(It’s such a terrible coincidence that he’d say something like that to Shigehira-kun now…)

But I knew I couldn’t talk about the altercation we’d had with the former members of the Heike before arriving at the court, so I kept my mouth shut.

Shigehira: It’s tasteless to speak of the social standing of another person’s family.

Yasuchika: Is that so~?

Yasuchika: Because we used to hear about your family’s prestige all the time. “Not among the Heike, not among the people” or something like that, no?

Yasuchika: If those of us who aren’t in the Heike aren’t people, I wonder what it does make us. I would love it if we were all ayakashi…

Yasuchika: But I suppose it's the Taira clan who have become ayakashi now. Perhaps the malevolent, power-hungry spirits that haunt the mountains and rivers are what’s become of your family.

Shigehira: …

✦ part two

Yasuchika: But I suppose it's the Taira clan who have become ayakashi now. Perhaps the malevolent, power-hungry spirits that haunt the mountains and rivers are what’s become of your family.

Shigehira: …

(I get it now. It’s not a coincidence. Yasuchika-san… is saying these things on purpose.)

The previous nobles’ contempt paled in comparison to the malice concealed behind Yasuchika’s carefree smile.

(I don’t know why he would do such a thing, but regardless of his reason…)

Feeling brave, I looked at Yasuchika and opened my mouth.

Yoshino: …I think that’s a horrible way to talk about someone’s family.

Shigehira: Yoshino-san...

Shigehira’s eyes slightly widened in surprise.

Yasuchika: Ohhh. I suppose it is, isn’t it? Sorry, sorry.

Yasuchika: Shige-chan is so genuine, unlike Yoritomo-sama and the rest of his friends. It makes me really want to poke fun at him and enjoy his reactions.

Shigehira: Are you mocking me?

Yasuchika: Of course not~. Honesty is a very good quality!

Shigehira gave Yasuchika a cutting look, to which Yasuchika only responded with a chuckle.

Yasuchika: But they say that tact is an important thing to have when you’re a court official. Your honesty would do you no favors here.

Yasuchika: I suppose that means Shige-chan ought to be glad that the Heike has collapsed! 

(What did he just…?!)

Yoshino: Yasuchika-san!! Now you’ve taken this too far…!

Shigehira: It’s alright, Yoshino-san.

I was about to protest, but Shigehira stopped me.

Yoshino: But—!

Shigehira: Yasuchika-san is good at figuring out what makes others tick. He says things like this to people and gauges how badly they react.

Shigehira: We’re just playing right into his hands if we take him seriously.

If you say so (Romantic+4/Dramatic+4) Even so, it’s inexcusable (Romantic+2/Dramatic+4) I’m not convinced… (Romantic+4/Dramatic+2) 

Yoshino: …If you say so, Shigehira-kun.

Shigehira: Thank you. …I appreciate the sentiment, though. 

(Shigehira-kun…)

Yasuchika: I’m so jealous of you, Shige-chan. Yoshino-san must really like you.

Shigehira: …I’m sure she likes me better than you.

Shigehira pursed his lips as he responded.

I knew there was no deeper meaning to his retort, but for some reason, I felt my heart skip a beat. 

Shigehira: Yasuchika-san, I don’t believe that being cunning and underhanded is part of the true spirit of a warrior. 

Yasuchika: How admirable!

Yasuchika: What kind of commander will you become in the future? …I’ll look forward to seeing it.

I couldn’t be sure of how much Yasuchika truly meant by what he said, but he stopped walking instead of saying anything more.

Yasuchika: Well, here we are! This is the room your meeting in.

 

We entered the room together. Shigehira made a short statement, and then the meeting quickly began.

(...There are a lot more people than I thought there would be.)

Court Official 1: Is this the rumored kitsunetsuki?

Shigehira: Indeed. Yoshino-san, please introduce yourself.

✦ part three

Court Official 1: Is this the rumored kitsunetsuki?

Shigehira: Indeed. Yoshino-san, please introduce yourself.

Yoshino: …Nice to meet you. My name is Yoshino. I am in your care.

I bowed deeply to them, feeling their stares bore into me.

Court Official 2: It appears that she is just an ordinary young woman. She is not barking or wailing, as would be typical of someone possessed by a fox.

Court Official 3: No, no, we cannot be sure of it. Perhaps she hides her wickedness with her innocent face to seduce men who are none the wiser.

Snickers spread throughout the room.

(...I feel like they’re appraising me at an auction. I’m so uncomfortable.)

Shigehira: …

Court Official 4: How do you spend your time at the Shōgun’s estate, my child?

Yoshino: I work as an apothecary, and I lend a hand with miscellaneous tasks here and there. 

Then the court nobles began gleefully whispering among themselves.

Court Official 5: My goodness! How dare they force someone who possesses a supernormal power to do such menial work? 

Court Official 6: They are samurai, after all. It is expected that they are such brutes… Would it not have been better to keep her in the capital?

(Was there something wrong with my answer…?)

I hurriedly began to speak again.

Yoshino: No, that’s not the case. The people of the shogunate have been kind to me.

Yoshino: I asked them if I could work, and they let me…

Court Official 7: Why would you want to do such work? You would be better off spending your days in the parlor and amusing yourself with makeup and board games. 

Court Official 8: Or perhaps… now that you have the chance, you could “lend a hand” to someone in particular in the shogunate.

(I don’t think he means “lend a hand” in the same way I did…)

The nobles exchanged a laugh in a way so obviously condescending that I couldn’t help but feel upset.

(No, no, no… I can’t let them humiliate the people of the shogunate.)

Shigehira: May I have everyone’s attention?

Shigehira, who was standing beside me, spoke up in a dignified voice out of the blue.

(Shigehira-kun…)

Shigehira: She is weary and stressed after our long journey. Kindly give her grace and refrain from bombarding her with questions.

Shigehira: If you would not mind hearing about them, I’d like to share with you some recent happenings in Kamakura. 

Shigehira: I am aware that you all may find the samurai’s affairs dull, but there are a few “rumors” from the estate that may be of interest to you. 

✦ part four

Shigehira: If you would not mind hearing about them, I’d like to share with you some recent happenings in Kamakura. 

Shigehira: I’m aware that you all may find the samurai’s affairs dull, but there are a few “rumors” from the estate that may be of interest to you. 

Court Official 1: Oh…? I assume these happenings must be worth hearing. It is not often that Shigehira-dono discusses such things. 

Court Official 2: We certainly cannot miss this. Let us sit and discuss this over sake.

The officials, now smiling broadly, ordered their attendants to prepare drinks for us all. 

(I bet Shigehira-kun was covering for me.)

Thanks to his kindness, I breathed a sigh of relief.

The anger I’d felt earlier had subsided, and warmth welled up within me.

Even after the drinks had been served, Shigehira effortlessly indulged the nobles in conversations about various topics.

And then…

Court Official 1: My, you are certainly an entertaining conversationalist!

Shigehira: It’s kind of you to say that. I am truly honored.

(Shigehira-kun is so amazing…)

His ability to stay courteous and composed to the very end gave me a newfound respect for him.

Court Official 2: Indeed. I’m sure we all know that Shigehira-dono is also a master of musical instruments.

Court Official 2: What do you say, gentlemen? Shall we conclude this evening with a performance from Shigehira-dono?

(What? Shigehira-kun can play musical instruments too?)

Court Official 3: That would be lovely! Let us have a biwa brought in at once. 

Shigehira: No. I am ashamed to say that my arm has been injured, and it is too weak to play.

Shigehira: Though I greatly wish to share a performance with you all, I do not believe I would be capable of doing so at this time.

Court Official 3: You are too modest.

One of the nobles opened his fan, smiling insidiously. 

Court Official 3: …It seems to me that you are much more skilled in the art of music than the art of war, Shigehira-dono.

(Wh…)

(What an awful thing to say!)

The air of the room became thick with curiosity and malice.

Shigehira: …Very well.

A biwa was quickly brought into the room, and Shigehira took the instrument into his hands.

(Will Shigehira-kun be alright…?)

(If I was him, I wouldn’t be able to keep it together at all.)

I clenched my fists tightly with worry.

Shigehira: I shall begin.

His slender fingers held the plectrum in a practiced manner against the strings of the biwa.

Long lashes fanned over his cheeks as he lowered his eyes and inclined his head, giving his appearance a cool and elegant allure. 

I heard someone exhale, and at that moment…

(...!)

A striking tone sliced through the stagnant atmosphere of the room.

The graceful movements of his fingers produced a powerful, gorgeous melody.

(Oh… It’s so beautiful.)

I couldn’t take my eyes off of Shigehira, who looked more mature than usual as he played.

(But there’s something about the tone of his sound…)

(...Is Shigehira-kun angry?)

✦ part five

I couldn’t take my eyes off of Shigehira, who looked more mature than usual as he played.

(But there’s something about the tone of his sound…)

(...Is Shigehira-kun angry?)

Every quiver of the biwa’s strings and every vibration of the sound through the air resonated in my heart.

And as a result, memories began to resurface in my mind…

—flashback

Naoie: “Not among the Heike, not among the people.” That’s what your family used to say back in the day, isn’t that right?

Naoie: Well, that doesn’t mean shit anymore.

Shigehira: Only a vulgar and base person envies what another person was born with.

Shigehira: Didn't you all learn that too?

—flashback

Shigehira: Don’t do this. You’re forfeiting your lives by affiliating yourselves with the rebel army. 

Man 4: We are already ghosts!

Man 4: We escaped the hunt for the survivors of the clan and were forced to live miserably in hiding. Yoichi-sama saved us from that wretched existence! 

Shigehira: Yoichi-san, you…

Yoichi: Don’t look at me like that, little lordling.

—flashback

Yasuchika: But they say that tact and cunning are important things to have when you’re a court official. Your honesty would do you no favors here.

Yasuchika: I suppose that means Shige-chan ought to be glad that the Heike has collapsed! 

Yoshino: Yasuchika-san!! Now you’ve taken this too far…!

Shigehira: It’s alright, Yoshino-san.

—flashbacks end

(That time, and that other time, and that time too… Shigehira-kun had been angry all along.)

Those incidents were sure to have angered his honorable spirit.

(But he endured each and every blow, and he kept moving forward with dignity.)

Court Official 4: How magnificent…

One of the nobles murmured to himself, as though his contempt had been overpowered by Shigehira’s skillful performance. 

(...How can Shigehira-kun’s anger be so beautiful?)

I’d lost myself in listening to his performance, but then I suddenly noticed the cloth bandage I’d wrapped around his arm last night.

(...Shigehira-kun is so strong that he can effortlessly take on multiple samurai in a fight,)

(Yet the only time I saw him get hurt was when he fought that ayakashi, because he was unable to bring himself to kill it when it was in the form of a little girl.)

(I think what happened to him then might be the same as what’s happening to him now.)

Shigehira is so kind, but the world is not kind to him.

It hurts him without reason, sometimes to the point of making him bleed. 

(Is this how he’s lived his whole life?)

I felt hot tears slip down my cheeks—only then did I realize that I’d been crying.

Just as Shigehira had finished playing, our eyes met…

Shigehira: !...

(I shouldn’t let him see me cry. It would just make him worry.)

I quickly looked down and rubbed my eyes, trying desperately to stop my tears.

The final sound from the biwa faded into complete and utter silence. 

Shigehira: I am humbled that you all would listen to my shoddy performance.

Shigehira: To those of you who are capable in combat… I hope there will never be an occasion during which you will witness a display of my martial ability for yourselves.

Court Official 1: A-Ah, yes… But of course…

Shigehira slowly cast a look around the room, and all of the nobles nodded as his gaze fell on them, like they’d swallowed their own venomous words. 

Shigehira: Now, if you will excuse us.

Prompted by a look from Shigehira, we bowed and exited the room together.

 

We quickly left the court building and got in the bullock cart that had been waiting for us outside. 

Yoshino: Um… Shigehira-kun, thank you for—

Shigehira: Why were you crying?

Chapter 10 Premium Story →

Notes: 

For notes on the Heike’s influence in the Imperial Court, as well as the phrase “not among the Heike, not among the people,” see the translation notes for Chapter 2 of Shigehira’s route! 

Shigehira usually uses the first pronoun 俺 (ore) to refer to himself, which has an informal and masculine vibe. It would be considered rude and arrogant for him to use 俺 in a formal setting like the Imperial Court, so when he addresses the court officials, he uses the more polite, gender-neutral pronoun 私 (watashi) for himself.

The biwa (琵琶) is a string instrument often used in Japanese classical music. It’s a wooden lute with a short fretted neck, usually struck with a plectrum rather than plucked by the fingers. Traditionally, it’s played as accompaniment for reciting scriptures or oral storytelling, (most famously) including the Tale of the Heike, which was first performed orally by blind biwa-playing bards in the 13th century before it was compiled and written down. (This is more of my personal speculation/headcanon, but because of the fact that the biwa is used to recite the Tale of Heike, I think it’s beautifully symbolic and fitting that the biwa is Shigehira’s instrument of choice.)

If you’re interested in what a biwa performance sounds like, here’s a video of biwa musician Kumada Kahori performing a piece that tells the story of the Battle of Dan-no-Ura, the final battle of the Genpei War in which the Heike fell to the Genji. Notice how she strikes the biwa while she’s singing to recreate the sounds and tension of the battle as she narrates it!

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