What I am about to write, Madam, may shock you no end. However, I am determined to lay bare before you a confession - my own - and to describe in detail the terrible crime I have committed.
Edogawa Ranpo, “The Human Chair” from Japanese Tales of Mystery and Imagination
I don’t have the strength to keep writing this. To go on living with these feelings is painful beyond description. Isn’t there someone kind enough to strangle me in my sleep?
Akutagawa Ryūnosuke, “Spinning Gears” from Rasōmon and Seventeen Other Stories
The maliciousness of the quote, “It’s for your own good”
Salaries exploited by the line, “Your dreams will come true”
Ah, highly addictive things always hide a trap
My soul’s been reaped, how nasty, nasty
I’m not sure is it’s possible for (Not) A Devil to be covered since it’s really recent and also a collaboration with Pinocchio-P. I’m not sure if collabs are allowed. But I’d really like it to be covered by Mikoto. The lyrics would fit him pretty well I think.
Upside-down and alternate expression versions under the cut