Elysian's Monogatari

Chapter 62: Sons of Sazanami and Hanagaki

A while later Tatsumi is seen drinking a cup of tea. "Ah...this tea tastes great. And it wakes me right up. Brewing it a bit stronger was the right choice." Tatsumi said with satisfaction. Shiro, Ren and Jun were all staring at him as the tea he's drinking is a tea he made himself.

"....An honored student is making his own tea..." Jun said. "...Oya? Honored students are also humans. What's so surprising about me drinking some tea?" Tatsumi asked. "...No that's not it. I believe what Jun-kun meant is that don't you honored students always make us prepare drinks and take care of other chores? Some even asked us to change clothes for them." Ren said with a sigh.

"...Yeah. Just like nobles and slaves. How absurd." Jun said as he sighed as well. "Indeed. It is quite absurd. Especially when only you brew your own tea just the way you prefer, like the temperature or taste." Tatsumi said as he agreed. "....Well they take delight in controlling others like us. We're just peasants in their eyes after all." Shiro said.

"Hmm...well it is true that it might feel nice to have others handle everything for you. But if you rely too much on others you might become useless as a person." Tatsumi said. "...Isn't that the reality here? This place isn't an idol training school. It's just a factory making dysfunctional humans." Shiro said with a 'hmph'.

"Haha. That sure is a fitting characterization." Tatsumi said. "Ah by the way these tea leaves are grown in my family's tea farm and I brought them here with me." He added. "Actually you don't have to clarify that. It's not like we thought you stole someone's tea leaves." Jun said.

"Haha. Feel free to have some if you'd like. I have some extra hot water so it'd be great if you could use it before it cools down." Tatsumi said. "...Umm I'll take up your offer then." Jun said. "You two please have some too." Tatsumi said as he gave 2 cups to the brothers.

"Thank you very much, Tastumi-senpai." Ren said. ".....I'll pass." Shiro said. "Nii-san not this again....just once is fine right? It's not like it's poisonous you know?" Ren said with a sigh. "...Please drink up Shiro-san. You must be tired from working since 3am." Tatsumi said.

"....." Shiro doesn't say anything but he seems to be considering. "....Haaa fine just this time. I suppose I am tired after all." He then said as all four of them drank their tea. Silence then filled the room for a while when Jun spoke. "...Umm..." "Let's talk after we're done with our tea. Speaking with your mouth full, might be rude after all." Tatsumi said.

"...Well sorry for that. I haven't had the chance to learn etiquette." Jun said. "No need to apologize. I wouldn't be particularly bothered even if you spit tea in my face. I could just wash it off anyways." Tatsumi said. "...You're such a weird person." Jun said with a sweatdrop.

"J-Jun-kun?! That's rude to say to a Senpai!" Ren said. "No it's fine. I've heard that comment a lot. By the way I haven't learned your names yet haven't I? It makes me a bit unsettled that you know my name but I don't know yours. If it's alright do you guys mind telling me?" Tatsumi said.

"....Well I don't mind I guess. Mine's Sazanami Jun." "I'm Hanagaki Ren! Nice to meet you Tatsumi-senpai! And the person next to me is my Nii-san..." "....Hanagaki Shiro." "Nice to meet you too. But Sazanami and Hanagaki huh? Those two last names sound familiar." Tatsumi said.

"Hm? I don't think we're that well-known though?" Jun said. "No no it is indeed rare for a new student to get suspended from school so early but unfortunately the honored students don't pay much attention to you guys. They just gossip a bit about you not even to the point of giving comments like 'impudent newcomers' let alone treating you like enemies." Tatsumi said.

Jun said nothing as he glared at him. Just then Tatsumi seemed to have remembered something. "Ah that's right. I remember now. There was an idol named Sazanami a few years back as well. We have a class for the history of idols here at Reimei so I think I've seen that name there."

"As for Hanagaki, there's a pro musician called Hanagaki Riko-san. She's famous worldwide and specializes in the violin despite being able to play any kind of instrument." He added.

"Hmph that's a class for you honored students. Whereas we are stuck doing chores for you all day long and can't afford class properly. Even for the very small number of classes we get to attend there, they're just like ordinary classes from ordinary schools. And you call this an idol training school?" Jun said.

"They probably don't expect us, the non-honored students, to become idols so they're just reaching things that they think would be useful for other careers." Ren said with a sigh. "That is also a problem. However it is hard to criticize them for their excuse of 'to make you have it easier in the future'." Tatsumi said with a sigh.

"Anyways do you three, by any chance, happen to be the sons of Sazanami-san, the famous idol in the past, and Riko-san, the current famous musician?" He asked. "....Why do you ask?" Shiro asked back.

"Your appearance resembles that of Sazanami-san in the photo in the textbook. As for you two, your last names are the same as hers plus I remember I once saw you on tv where you played the piano on stage with your mother long ago." Tatsumi replied.

"Huh? Shiro-senpai you know how to play the piano?" Jun asked. "...Yeah. I quit a few years back though. But so what if we are?" Shiro said with a suspicious glare at Tatsumi. "You don't need to be alarmed. I just think it makes sense if that's the case." Tatsumi said.

"Ah?! Fine I am the son of that loser who disappeared from the idol industry after he got crushed by the super idol Sagami Jin. You have a problem with that?!" Jun said. "It shouldn't matter, at least to me. But it might matter to the faculty." Tatsumi said.

"Har? What do you mean by that?" Jun asked. "Reimei's, or rather, CosPro's higher ups are terrified of scandals. They'd do anything to avoid tarnishing their reputations. In that sense, your father, who was dismissed by people as a "stepping stone of the super idol", would make their impression of you rather negative." Tatsumi said.

"They'd think it's alright to insult you since you are the son of someone who's been insulated." He added. "...Haaa I'm not my parents." Jun said. "Unfortunately not everyone sees it that way. In this world 'the apple doesn't fall far from the tree' makes sense to most people." He added.

"Just like 'the sins of the father', although your father didn't create a huge scandal like 'that Akehoshi'-" He then said which made the brothers flinch. "-your name reminds people of a loser, a stepping stone. It might appear to be an obvious 'stain' in the eyes of the management." Tatsumi then continued.

"....Why? That doesn't make any sense." Jun said with a sigh. "Let's see...the only thing I can say is being idols like us, our worthiness as human beings are completely exposed to other people's judgements." Tatsumi said.

"Fans, or the entire world, evaluate us thoroughly to determine whether we are good or bad. Therefore we need to be aware of our strengths and weaknesses-" "Haha..." "Hm? Jun-kun?" Ren asked as the three looked at Jun who laughed while Tatsumi was still talking.

"? What's wrong? Did I say something funny?" Tatsumi asked not knowing why Jun laughed. "No sorry. But you used the word 'us' when you were talking about idols. This is the first time I got recognized as an idol ever since I entered Reimei so I can't help it." Jun explained as Shiro continued to listen silently.

(Note: I end the chapters the way it ended in the game btw)