Brothers Conflict: Season 1 LN - Ch16, Sec6 & Sec7
This is the penultimate major scene in the Iori/Kaname conflict, taking place at the festival hosted by Club Buddha.
Brothers Conflict Translations Index
???: “Hey, are you by yourself?”
I was sitting on a bench outside the main temple, waiting for Yuusuke-kun and Wataru-chan to come back, when a voice suddenly called out from beside me.
(...... Eh?!)
When I looked over, an extremely flashy man was standing there.
He was in a yukata with a dragon design, and gaudily designed rings, watch, and necklace.
Although he was quite young and beautiful, he also had a bit of a dangerous feel to him.
(Whoa…… Amazing.)
???: “Why haven’t you nominated anyone? Is there not a man you’re interested in?”
(...... N-nominate?)
The person very casually sat down next to me.
???: “Or are you waiting for a good man to come by? …...Heh. If that’s the case, how about me?”
(......?)
At first, I thought he was a pickup artist or something, but his appearance wasn’t quite right for that.
At that moment, I saw the fan that the man had in his hand.
(Ah!)
“Club Buddha” was written on it.
???: “Won’t you try listening to my prayers? If you wish, you can listen all night long. I’ll fill it with love. … But I’m quite expensive, so be prepared.”
Ema: “Uh, um…”
I said.
Ema: “Excuse me, are you Kaname-san’s colleague, by any chance?”
???: “Kaname?”
Kaname: “Chi-chan.”
I heard a voice call out from behind me. When I turned around, Kaname-san was standing there.
(... Why did Kaname-san call me “Chi”?)
The only ones who called me “Chi” were Juli and Rui-san. Outside of them, no one else called me that.
Not to mention, Kaname-san has not once called me that way.
(Then why…?)
But right after that, Kaname-san said something unexpected.
Kaname: “Oh, Imouto-chan, you’ve come.”
(Eh?)
Meaning that, the one Kaname-san called “Chi”... wasn’t me?!
(B-but, the one here now is…)
???: “Kana-san.”
The flashy man next to us said.
???: “What, you know her? Don’t tell me, is she one of your clients?”
Kaname: “Nah, Chi-chan.”
Kaname-san smiled wryly.
(“Chi-chan” is… this person?!)
Kaname: “Sister. She’s my younger sister.”
???: “Younger sister?”
Ema: “Um, Kaname–san, this person is…”
Kaname: “Ahh, this is Senshuu. Written as ‘chi’ (thousand) and ‘aki’ (autumn). His real name is read as Chiaki, but here it’s Senshuu.”
Ema: “Chiaki… san?”
Chiaki: “What’s this, she’s not a client?...”
Having quickly lost his interest, Chiaki-san got up from the bench.
Chiaki: “I’ve wasted time… Hah…”
Chiaki-san turned to leave.
Kaname: “Ah, hold on, Chi-chan. You should go to the reception hall soon.”
Chiaki: “Eh?”
Kaname: “Looks like you’re up to bat. The parishioners are arguing.”
Chiaki: “Huh?!”
Kaname: “Chi-chan, could it be that this was on purpose?”
Chiaki: “No way. I came here on my own.”
Kaname: “In the meantime, you have to do something. It’s bothering the other parishioners.”
Chiaki: “... Got it. Thanks, Kana-san.”
Chiaki-san walked off towards the reception hall to the main temple. After watching him leave, Kaname-san turned to me.
Kaname: “Imouto-chan, I’m glad you came.”
Ema: “Ah, no, I’m just here by mere chance…”
Kaname: “If it’s by chance, then I’m even more happy. Because something beyond human ken is blessing us.”
Ema: “...... That’s such a convenient interpretation.”
Kaname: “Sorry that you came all this way, though.”
Kaname-san blithely continued as if I hadn’t said anything.
Kaname: “I’ve still got a nomination after this. But I’m free after that. Do you mind waiting a little bit?”
Ema: “Ah, no, please take your time…”
Kaname: “Oh, oh no. I’ve got to go. Stay here. I’ll be back soon.”
As if chasing after Chiaki-san, Kaname-san headed toward the reception hall.
There were a lot of female guests in the area, and as Kaname-san went by, calls of “Younin-san~!” rose up from all around.
(Hmm, that was Kaname-san’s professional, no, priest name. Speaking of which, the flyer was… not here!)
When I dug around for it, once again, a voice called out behind me.
???: “... Oh? Are you alone?”
I couldn’t help sighing.
This temple really had some pushy monks.
Ema: “Um, no thank you!”
I said immediately upon turning around.
(Huh?!)
However, it was not one of the temple’s monks like I’d thought.
Iori: “Um? No thank you for what?”
The person standing there was Iori-san.
—
Ema: “Ah… Iori-san.”
Iori: “Good evening.”
Iori-san looked slightly surprised.
Iori: “That was pretty aggressive just now. What happened?”
Ema: “Ah, pardon me! You see, Kaname-san had…”
Iori: “Kaname-niisan?”
I explained to Iori-san about the monk from Club Buddha.
Iori: “Ahh, so that’s what happened. As expected of the temple that Kaname-niisan serves.”
Iori-san smiled wryly.
Iori: “Anyway, did you come by yourself?”
Ema: “Ah, Yuusuke-kun was here until just earlier…”
Then, I told him about Yuusuke-kun and Wataru-chan.
Iori: “That is such a pitiful story for Yuusuke.”
Iori-san’s wry smile grew larger.
(......Oh?)
Iori-san’s mood changed from what it was previously.
Since his hospitalization on the day of the entrance exam, I had been worrying, and although the atmosphere had been that I could not say anything careless, that feeling was different today.
Ema: “Iori-san is by himself?”
Iori: “Yes. I came here on a walk. …Hey, is it alright if I sit?”
Ema: “Ah, yes, please.”
He lowered himself down onto the bench.
Iori-san sat right beside me.
Iori: “The truth is, I was sleeping until just earlier. Last night, I was writing a report and didn’t get much sleep. And when I woke, the house was empty. Ukyo-niisan let me know that everyone had gone to the festival, so I came too.
Ema: “Ahh.”
(Ukyo-san didn’t come after all. He really didn’t like the atmosphere that much, I guess.)
Iori: “Even so, I didn’t think I’d see you here.”
Ema: “...?”
Iori: “You see, since a little while ago, I’ve been thinking about talking to you. But, things happened, and there wasn’t much of a chance.”
Ema: “What did you want to speak with me about?”
Iori: “Right. How should I say this… Mm, an apology, I think.”
Iori-san said regretfully.
Iori: “Earlier, I said something strange about the entrance exam, and it’s been bothering me since.”
Ema: “The entrance exam?”
Iori: “Yes, see, I once told you I wanted you to come to Jouchi, remember?”
I remember that, about the time I became a 3rd year in high school, Iori-san strongly encouraged me to go to Jouchi University.
Iori: “At that time, I was speaking completely unilaterally. I’ve been extremely concerned about it.”
Iori-san lowered his head.
Iori: “I’m sorry.”
Ema: “Iori-san?”
I was a bit surprised at the sudden apology.
Iori: “I think I spoke too rudely towards you. Could you forgive me?”
Ema: “W-what, please stop.”
I said frantically.
Ema: “It’s not such a problem that you need to apologize…”
Iori: “I just wanted to convey that clearly.”
Iori-san said.
Iori: “I was super excited for if you could come to Jouchi. That’s undeniable.”
Ema: “...”
Iori: “But, no matter which college you go to, I won’t raise objections.”
Iori-san nodded once then, as if in confirmation of his own words.
Iori: “I will respect your decision. I will absolutely not distort that.”
(Iori-san…)
Iori: “That’s all that I wanted you to understand.”
At that moment, a loud voice came over the PA system from the main temple.
PA System: “Thank you for waiting, now it’s time for the main event!”
A great cheer rose up from the female customers around us at the announcement.
Iori: “... Hey, shall we move someplace else?”
Iori-san’s face contorted slightly.
Iori: “It’s a bit noisy here. Let’s go somewhere quieter.”
Ema: “Ah, alright.”
Behind the main temple, at one corner lined with trees, a path had been built that you could walk on.
We walked in that direction.
Iori: “Mm… It’s quieter now, isn’t it?”
Iori-san said with a relieved sigh.
The area was at the outskirts of the temple grounds, without any stalls, so it was quiet.
Iori: “By the way, about the entrance exam topic earlier.”
Iori-san said while walking.
Iori: “Have you decided where you’re going?”
Ema: “I’m not entirely sure yet… but there are some things I’m thinking I want to take.”
Iori: “I see.”
A little while passed.
Iori: “Hey, you’re definitely not coming to Jouchi?”
Ema: “Eh?”
Iori: “Ah, don’t misunderstand me. I’m not trying to force you. No, it’s just that…”
There, Iori-san paused, trying to pick out his words.
Iori: “I want you to listen for a moment.”
Ema: “Uh-huh…”
Iori: “The truth is, after I heard of that matter recently, I’ve been thinking that I could be by your side.”
Ema: “That matter?”
Iori-san’s expression became gloomy.
Iori: “The matter of your birth.”
Ema: “... Ah.”
Iori-san stopped walking.
Iori: “I was surprised, you know.”
Ema: “...”
Iori: “It must have been quite a shock. To have something that you had trusted without a doubt, suddenly taken away from you.”
Iori-san looked up at the dark sky.
Iori: “At that time, I thought this.”
Then, Iori-san’s gaze returned to me.
Iori: “That you were the same as me.”
Ema: “Eh?”
Iori: “Although it wasn’t about blood relation, I had a similar experience… on that winter day.”
Ema: “Iori-san…”
Iori: “So I thought.”
Iori-san closed his eyes.
Iori: “I can understand the pain in your heart. So I thought I could do something to help ease that pain.”
Ema: “...”
Iori: “To do that, it would be necessary to spend a lot of time with you. That’s why I wanted you to come to the same university as me.”
Iori-san looked at me.
Looking into his eyes, I could tell that his concern was truly from the heart.
Iori: “The pain you feel, no one else can understand. But I… I can share and ease it.”
Then, Iori-san said.
Iori: “Right now, I think you’re struggling alone in the dark. I know that pain well.”
(... Eh?)
At that moment, I felt uneasy at Iori-san’s words.
It is true that I was shocked when I learned that Papa wasn’t my real father. But thanks to my conversations with Papa, Natsume-san, and Rui-san, that shock has mostly abated.
Which is to say, I was not struggling in the dark.
(Could it be… that Iori-san thinks that I’m still in shock…?)
Iori: “What is it?”
Iori-san’s face became doubtful.
Iori: “Have I spoken too bluntly? I suppose my manner of speaking was a bit strong. I apologize if I’ve offended you.”
(Indeed, that’s the case. Iori-san thinks I’m hurting…)
– He’s wrong.
I may have been at the time, but I’m okay now.
(I have to let Iori-san know this.)
For a moment, I didn’t know what I should say. Since Iori-san was speaking out of concern, I didn’t want to dismiss his kindness.
But, right after I thought that, Natsume-san and Ukyo-san’s words arose in my mind.
(The things you need to say… you must say.)
I made up my mind to speak.
Ema: “Iori-san, you’re wrong.”
Iori-san’s face clouded.
Ema: “I am not hurting to that extent. Of course, I was shocked when I first heard it. But I’m alright now.”
Iori-san looked at me without saying anything.
Iori: “You’re… okay?”
A while passed before he asked this.
Ema: “Yes.”
I said this as clearly as possible.
Then, Iori-san’s face appeared to change.
Iori: “... Is that so.”
Iori-san’s gaze fell to the ground.
Iori: “I was… deceiving myself.”
Ema: “Iori-san?”
Iori-san raised his head slowly.
Iori: “Sorry, I am a coward.”
It was in a flat voice.
Iori: “I deceived myself, and tried to win you over. I know that now. What on earth was I thinking...”
No words came out after that.
Iori-san stayed silent, and after a little while, spoke again.
Iori: “As I thought, I have not yet recovered.”
(Eh?)
Iori: “Just, I stopped remembering, and pretended I didn’t see anything… and assumed I had recovered.”
Iori-san’s eyes turned towards me a second time.
Iori: “The one needing help isn’t you… It’s me.”
Iori-san’s expression tightened.
Iori: “Hey, listen…”
Iori-san stepped forward. The space between us narrowed.
Iori: “I’m not rejecting my past feelings. And I will not forget them, either.”
Iori-san placed his hands on my shoulders.
Iori: “Regardless, I must move forward. I cannot stay frozen in time forever.”
His hands left my shoulders, and then circled around my back.
Iori: “I am still living in the past. I want to stop that and live in the future. But right now, I don’t have that strength.”
I felt a strong pull on my back. I could hear the sound of my yukata brushing against Iori-san’s clothes.
Iori: “I want you to give me that strength.”
Iori-san held my face with both hands.
Iori: “I can’t do this alone… But, if there’s 2 of us…”
His hands tightened on my cheeks.
Iori: “I can endure.”
Iori-san’s lips pressed onto my lips.
Iori: “... Hm?”
His eyes moved to something behind me.
Iori: “Kaname-niisan…”
When I turned around, a grim-faced Kaname-san was standing there.
(... Ah.)
Kaname-san had his fist pressed up against a nearby tree.
And his face grew grimmer and grimmer.
-----
Comments:
I had noticed this before, but I need to mention this again-- Iori is really really pushy. I understand now a bit of why Kaname explains about Iori in ch17 (link to translation) the way he does. Iori wasn't paying attention/listening to Ema at all! (As in, he was super selfish.) He just steamrolled straight over her and pulled her into a hug and a kiss.
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