Paradox Live LIVE - Part 2
[sfx: wind blowing, distant vehicle noise]Shiki: [deep breath] ... Nayuta-kun... I don't know if you're still here or not... but... I figure, if you're going to be anywhere, you'll be here... ... I'm still not sure I believe it myself, but... the Nayuta was taking part in the Paradox Live... was just an illusion... that Kanata-kun made... so... when we met again on this rooftop... you couldn't remember me at all. Nayuta-kun... you kept me a secret from Kanata-kun... it wasn't that you couldn't remember me... you didn't know me at all. ... but... that doesn't change what I did... I don't deserve to call myself your friend. I was so scared it might make you hate me if I said anything, so I didn't try to stop you even when I heard about the dangerous job you'd been taking... in the end, I was only thinking about myself... it was the same that night...
[flashback begins]
Nayuta: I'm... glad I met you, Shiki. [voice breaking] It was fun. Thank you.
Shiki: Nayuta-kun! Hey! It's dangerous-- hurry! Come down from there!
Nayuta: I'm sorry. I really am weak... I couldn't do it alone... but... I've decided that this is where it's going to end. ... Shiki, you're the only person who knows about this place.
Shiki: Nayuta-kun-- no, no, you can't...!
Nayuta: [deep breath] ... the sky... is so pretty.
Shiki: Nayuta-kun!!!
[flashback ends]
Shiki: ... [crying] I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry, Nayuta-kun... I... I really am a coward... I was so scared... when I saw the erosion on your arm... I thought it was terrifying... but if I'd had the courage, back then, to reach out and take your hand... would you... have taken it...? Could I... have saved you...?
Kanata: ... what... do you mean by that?
Shiki: ...! Kanata-kun...?
[sfx: Kanata's footsteps]
Kanata: ... you knew Nayuta? You were here that night?
Shiki: ...!
Kanata: Tell me! About what happened! Tell me everything!
*
Kanata: ... so... Nayuta killed himself...
Shiki: ... yes... because he couldn't stop the erosion from spreading... he didn't want to let you see him like that... so... he committed... [shuddering] I... I don't know if I have the right to say this, but... Nayuta-kun... he always loved you, Kanata-kun. To the point that it was heartbreaking. He loved you with his whole heart. ... I could't... stop Nayuta-kun... from jumping... maybe... Nayuta-kun was longing for the sky... but I just... ran away... from my one and only friend... maybe he was still breathing...! But I couldn't even bring myself to check! I just...! And... since that day... I just kept running away. From Nayuta's corpse... I murdered my friend and left him all alone... but... I realized... running from reality... isn't that just as bad as killing Nayuta-kun all over again?
Kanata: ...!
Shiki: So I... I had to overcome my weakness... I became a phantom rapper. This rosary is my phantometal. It's a charm to help me... learn how to confront my sins. I still can't do it, but... I hope, maybe, oneday, I can be friends with Nayuta-kun again...
Kanata: ... thank you.
Shiki: Eh?
Kanata: For being friends with Nayuta. ... for not letting him be alone.
Shiki: That's... no, Nayuta-kun was... I--
Kanata: You're not the one who killed him. That was the people who did phantometal experiments on him.
Shiki: ...!
Kanata: And anyway... I'm running away, too. We're the same.
Shiki: Eh?
Kanata: ... heh... I just couldn't accept that he was dead. In order to protect myself, I just selfishly created another Nayuta. That's running away, too.
Nayuta: Kanata-kun...
Kanata: ... ahhhh. Saying that, I feel a lot better now. ... I feel like I could just end it all now.
Nayuta: Eh--? End... it all...?
Kanata: I'm already quitting hip hop. I may as well skip town, too.
Nayuta: You ca--
Kanata: I'm sure you already heard that I backed out of the final battle. I told BAE they can face Buraikan. They'll probably turn it down, but... Heh. That's not really my problem.
Nayuta: But...
Kanata: I can't do it anymore.
Nayuta: Huh...?
Kanata: The phantom Nayuta. I can't make him appear anymore. Ever since I found out that he was dead... no matter how hard I try, he won't appear.
Nayuta: Kanata-kun...
Kanata: So cozmez is disbanding. The end! I've got nothing left in me!
Nayuta: The end? But s'gonna be a real pain in the ass for me if you're gonna up and disband us.
Shiki: --!
Kanata: ...! Nayu...ta...?
Nayuta: Is something wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost.
Kanata: ... but... you're... you're dead...
Nayuta: Am I?
Kanata: Are you a phantom!?
Nayuta: ... I don't think so. I mean, look. I've got got proper legs.[1] I'm not a ghost or a phantom.
Shiki: N-Nayuta-kun...? Are you... really... the real Nayuta-kun?
Nayuta: Sure am. The one and only Yatonokami Nayuta.
Kanata: ... but... there's no way--
Nayuta: If you don't believe me, then go ahead and feel. Here.
[sfx: Nayuta putting Kanata's hand on his chest]
Kanata: ...!
Nayuta: My heart's beating, right?
Kanata: Y...yeah...
Nayuta: That's right. It's still beating.
Kanata: ...
Nayuta: ... mm. I'm not an illusion.
Kanata: ... Nayuta... you really... are Nayuta, aren't you...?
Nayuta: How many times am I gonna have to s--
Kanata: Nayuta!
[sfx: Kanata hurling himself at Nayuta]
Nayuta: --! ... Kanata...
Kanata: [sobbing] What the fuck...! This entire time... you asshole...!
Nayuta: ... I heard everything, Kanata. About the time when I was gone. ... I heard it all. About the Paradox Live. And the stage battles. And how you fought all alone. [voice breaking] Kanata... [crying] ... you've been trying really hard, Kanata.
Kanata: ...
Nayuta: But... you're not alone anymore. From now on, I'm gonna always be with you. This time. I won't let go. I promise. ... I'm so sorry... for disappearing on you...
Kanata: [ugly crying]
Nayuta: I'm so sorry... it must have been so hard on you... I'm sorry... for leaving you all alone...
Kanata: [crying] ... you idiot...
Nayuta: [crying] ... yeah. I'm an idiot, huh?
Kanata: Don't fuck with me...! Goddammit!
Nayuta: But... I came home. ... I'm home, Kanata.
Kanata: ... 'lcome home, Nayuta...
*
Nayuta: Mmm... I've told you everything I can up to the present, but there's a lot I can't remember. That night... after I jumped off the roof... they took me to a hospital. ... or, rather than a hospital, it was more like an Alter Trigger research facility.
Kanata: You mean about the Alter Trigger company?
Shiki: ... they're the ones behind the Paradox Live, aren't they...? But I thought they'd been dissolved after people started blaming them for some kind of accident...
Nayuta: Seemed to me like they were still doing research on phantometal at the facility I was at. They were the ones who offered to pay me in exchange for letting them run experiments on me.
Shiki: Then... Nayuta-kun, you were...
Kanata: Goddammit... those motherfuckers were using you like some kind of fucking lab rat!
Nayuta: Mm... maybe, but I'm pretty sure that's why I'm still alive. They clearly thought I was some kind of really important specimen. I fell into a coma, and it seems like while I was out they made a whole lot of money. So, as a result... look.
[sfx: Nayuta pulling up his sleeve]
Nayuta: My arm's all better.
Shiki: ... you're right...! There's not even any sign of the discoloration from the erosion...!
Nayuta: Right? I don't really get it, but I'm not gonna complain.
Shiki: ... I'm so glad... I really am so glad...
Nayuta: Heh. Anyway, I felt better when I woke up. Way better than I ever did before. ... so you can stop making that face now, Kanata.
Kanata: ... yeah...
Nayuta: It wasn't those guys who woke me up, anyway. It was you, Kanata.
Kanata: Eh?
Nayuta: That day... I heard your song. I heard your soul.
Kanata: ...
Nayuta: I heard you calling out to me. If you hadn't been there... I'd probably have just kept sleeping forever in that bed. Even the doctor said it was a miracle that I woke up.
Kanata: ...
Nayuta: After that scandal[2], the facility I was being kept in was discovered, so they had to dissolve, but... I still had to stick around so they could monitor me and make sure I was recovering, so I couldn't leave right away. ... but, I mean, I'm just making excuses... ... I know it's coming a bit late, but. Sorry. I've been wanting to apologize, Shiki. My selfishness hurt you a lot. ... I really am... really sorry.
Shiki: Nayuta-kun...
Nayuta: ... back then. Because we were friends, I... depended on you. But that wasn't fair of me. If I'd really been your friend, I--
Shiki: It's fine! It's fine, Nayuta-kun. Back then... I lost you without knowing anything at all. I couldn't carry any of that weight for you. It wasn't you who was being unfair... it was me... I just stood by and watched you die... I... so, I... just knowing you're alive... I'm so happy... I couldn't possibly ask for any more than that...
Nayuta: ... Shiki...
Shiki: So... I want to say it, too... welcome home, Nayuta-kun.
Nayuta: ... I'm back, Shiki. ... [laughs] ... ah... Kanata... I know it's more than a bit overdue, but let me introduce you guys. This is Shiki. He's my friend.
Kanata: Ah... oh...
Shiki: ... it's... nice to meet you.
Kanata: ... yeah... ... s'nice.
Shiki: Y...yeah. It is. [small laugh]
Nayuta: [chuckle] Hey, Kanata.
Kanata: Huh?
Nayuta: Let's fight back. One more time. Together.
Kanata: Fight who?
Nayuta: The final battle with Buraikan.
Kanata: ...
Nayuta: I'm not gonna let all your effort go to waste. You won, Kanata! Who cares how you did it? A win is a win. If anyone wants to argue that, I'll sew their mouth shut.
Kanata: Nayuta...
Nayuta: So, let's do it, Kanata. As a new, reborn cozmez! Let's take on that final battle.
Kanata: A reborn cozmez...
Nayuta: Mm? What? Are you scared?
Kanata: No way.
Nayuta: I already knew that. Your music is the best. I know it'll reach people. Just like it reached me. [laugh] I don't care if they're kings or legends. Let's kick their asses, and become the new kings!
Kanata: Yeah. Let's take the top and get out of this shitty world. Together.
Nayuta: Kanata.
Kanata: Nayuta.
Kanata and Nayuta: If we're together, we're unbeatable!
[1] As in, he doesn't have a cartoon ghost tail instead of legs.
[2] It's a little unclear what exactly happened, but it's implied both by the tracks and by some Twitter stuff that there was a bit of a scandal between Vibes and Live, presumably because of Hajun's collapsing on stage? I'll edit this with more information until later, but this is the assumption I'm using whenever this is brought up in the next couple tracks.