Chapter 23: Clouding is Difficult to Handle

[Clouding]

The definition of "Clouding" may vary slightly from person to person, but roughly speaking, it can be said to be about making a character suffer or feel sad.

Often, the characters who are subjected to this "Clouding" are those who are expressive, cheerful, and kind.

Of course, there are works in which characters who are not like that are also subjected to this "Clouding" but I think that the contrast with their usual demeanor, combined with the fact that these characters tend to be popular when they suffer, is a popular trend.

Precisely because they are usually cheerful, there is definitely a segment of people who want to see such characters suffer, feel sad, and writhe in agony.

Seeing how popular the "Clouding" genre has become in the creative world these days, I realize that people, regardless of time or place, want to see other people suffer.

Well, I'm one of them.

Now, while it's within a limited scope, the "Clouding" genre has become a staple. However, it's quite difficult to handle.

First of all, Clouding and Bad Endings are different.

A Bad Ending is, as the name suggests, the conclusion, the end, whereas Clouding is merely a process. 

In other words, after the Clouding, there must be a resolution; that is, the character must be rewarded. Otherwise, it cannot be called Clouding.

If that doesn't happen, it's just a Bad Ending.

It would be counterproductive to push a character to the point where you can't provide a resolution afterward, in an attempt to create the Clouding.

Furthermore, how to create Clouding is also important.

For example, suppose a character is suddenly punched by a passerby. That character will naturally be sad and suffer a pain.

But can this be called Clouding?

No, it can't.

If it's too unfair and the character bears no responsibility whatsoever, it's not Clouding, but a different genre called a Bad Taste.

While it's not entirely the character's own fault, they undoubtedly bear some responsibility for the outcome, and it's precisely because they suffer from that suffering that the "Clouding" aspect of a character's character becomes compelling.

Of course, this will vary from person to person. But for me, it's this:

Unreasonable and easy "Clouding" is unacceptable!

Absolutely unacceptable!

In this way, "Clouding" is a useful method of expression for making a character more appealing by revealing their emotions, but getting the balance and depiction just right is quite difficult.

The frequent comments that easy "Clouding" is a turn-off seem to support this point.

In my previous life, I lived a perfectly normal life as a fan of typical sickly heroines, but I still had many opportunities to encounter the "Clouding" genre.

The combination of a sickly heroine and Clouding might seem like a good match at first glance, but that's not actually the case.

As I mentioned earlier, Clouding presupposes relief, so if you're going to cloud over the sickly heroine or those around her, you need to provide some kind of salvation.

However, this is difficult with sickly heroines.

If the illness is too serious, it will seem contrived unless the story is handled very skillfully.

If the illness is easily cured, everything, including the reactions of those around her, becomes trite.

Clouding.

It's a word and genre that has suddenly come into the spotlight in recent years, but it's difficult to handle, and writing a high-quality Clouding story is extremely difficult.

There's a saying that a third-rate tragedy is better than a first-rate tragedy, and I think this proves that a tragedy that causes stress to read is difficult to even get people to read unless it's first-rate. 

Well, I've gone on at length, but what I think is this:

'Why are mangled human faces so beautiful? Of course, it's assuming there's a smile afterwards!'

★★★

Hahaha!  I'm bleeding so much it's hilarious.

Seriously, I think this Lunar constitution of mine is just awful. I just raised my energy a little and used some magic and this is what happens.

It's hard to breathe, and what's even worse is that I can't even feel the pain. I guess my senses are all dulled because of the Yin energy, but on top of that, I attract Anomaly like this, so isn't my life just too hard mode?

Well, as a sickly heroine, this is actually perfect, so I'm grateful to God!

Anyway, I'm glad you came to help at such a perfect time, Chiharu-kun.

Um... is Sakura-chan okay? She's making a really strange face.

"Chiharu... why..."

"I can recognize Chitose no matter how far away we are! It was the same the first time we met, wasn't it?"

"...That's not what I meant! I was asking why you came to such a dangerous place."

"To help! Sakura said the same thing!"

"That's true, but don't yell it in her ear, you idiot!"

"Um, Sakura, are you really okay?"

"When I asked her if she were alright before I chased after you, Sakura said there was no problem, right? She told me to run without worrying."

"Of course. It would be a disgrace for an attendant to delay arriving at Chitose-sama's side out of self-preservation. Chitose-sama, please don't worry; as you can see, there's no problem with me."

"...You don't look like fine at all though?"

"I'm fine. I'm a attendant, after all."

"There you go again using 'attendant' as if it's such a convenient word... cough...!"

"..... Chitose-sama, any more of this will harm your health. Please rest for now. I'm a daughter of the Hojo family, so I have some knowledge of medical treatment. My skills are clumsy though, but it's better than doing nothing."

"Thank you, Sakura. But that's only after everything's over. The fact that Chiharu has caught up to me, running straight to me, means it's probably only a matter of time before Otou-sama arrives. I can hold out until then; I'm the only one who can handle that Anomaly until then."

"With all due respect, Chitose-sama, you have reached your limit. If you push yourself any further, I, as your attendant, will stop you. By any means necessary."

"Sakura... Even so, I..."

"Hii-san, let's get out of here."

"I'm telling you, I'm not Hii-san! But are you sure?"

"It's fine.... Chiharu, I'm leaving the rest to you."

"Yes! Leave it to me!"

"No! Chiharu... no...!"

Oh no, I might have raised their likeability ratings too much. 

Chiharu-kun's acting like he doesn't care about his own safety if it means protecting Chitose-chan.

Well, that in itself is very nice, and it's great that Chitose-chan's the heroine, but... In his current state, even though that Anomaly has been weakened somewhat by Chitose-chan's Yin energy, the odds are stacked against him.

Well, given Chiharu-kun's constitution as a Solar, the chances of him dying are low, but if he tries too hard, things could take an undesirable turn.

Otou-sama!

Come quickly, Otou-sama!

I think you could easily destroy that Anomaly in its current state!

★★★

Because it used the sky as its foothold, the fiery chariot left no sound, carrying the two girls into the distance.

The dense forest, which should have been lush, had been cleared by the Anomaly's attack, leaving the area around them like a clearing in the mountains.

Standing there was a boy, born as the Solar and now known as Chiharu.

On the other hand, an Anomaly, who lived as a hero and now known as Kikoku.

Both had their lives twisted by the Yang Energy. They were beings of a kind, one that could be called kindred spirits.

These two clashed.

Sensing the receding presence of the Lunar, the Anomaly tried to pursue her, but the boy stood in its way.

In his hand was a sword given to him by his Master, the older brother of the girl he cherished.

The nameless boy who once wielded his power only to survive alone in pain and suffering was gone. Now, for the sake of what he wants to protect, supported by the kindness of many people, Chiharu wields his power.

"Gaaah!"

"I won't let you!"

The massive influx of opposing Yin energy has shaken the very foundation of this Anomaly. Its physical strength and regenerative abilities are likely reduced to about half of their normal levels. Even with the physical activation from Yang energy, this is evident from the fact that it stumbled after a single blow from a boy significantly shorter than it.

The white-haired girl's desperate sacrifice was not in vain. Her resolve was drawing the Anomaly back from an invincible monster defying reason to a monster within the same logic as the human, a monster that could be defeated.

If the girl's father, Kiyotsugu, her brother, Moritsugu, and the other Onmyōji arrived, this Anomaly would surely be vanquished.

The girl's devotion had weakened the being to that extent.

However, this did not mean that the boy, Chiharu, could defeat this Anomaly, the Kikoku.

The Yang energy that torments even his very being strengthens his body beyond human limits, and in terms of sheer physical ability alone, he is incomparable to anyone his age, and even an Onmyōji of average skill would likely be surpassed by him.

The boy is strong, more than strong enough for his age.

But so what?

An Anomaly is the ultimate fate of someone who has lost both reason and intelligence, reduced to a state where they merely seek their counterpart.

However, even in their madness, not everything is lost. Something remains, ingrained in their very being, even after everything else is gone. In the case of the anomaly once hailed as a hero, Kikoku, that something was martial arts.

"Gaaah!"

Weakened by the Yin energy, there is no longer a decisive difference in physical ability; the difference lies not in body, but in technique.

With fluid and agile movements, so beautiful it's hard to believe this monster lacks reason, the Anomaly overwhelms the boy.

If their bodies are equal, then naturally, the one with superior technique has the advantage.

The boy is strong, and he has the potential to become even stronger. If he can acquire the technique to match his gifted body, he has the potential to even defeat Kikoku.

But that's not now.

──Not yet.　

"Not enough..."

No matter how fast the boy moved, no matter how powerfully he swung his arms, the Anomaly surpassed him with its technique.

It was an empty technique, one whose purpose even the Anomaly itself no longer understood, yet its power remained undiminished. Only the image of a warrior once called a hero remained.

"Not enough...!!"

The boy already understood the difference between them. He knew he couldn't reach it in his current state.

However, this wasn't a situation where he could simply give up.

The boy chose to throw himself into battle.

"Gyaaaaaa...!"

His body, excessively strengthened like when he lived alone, was enveloped in intense pain.

But even so, the boy didn't stop.

Even the blowing wind turned into pain, and he pushed his body further and further forward.

In an instant, the wounds were healed by the supernatural being; the ground he stepped on exploded, and the being that had been struck by his blow was blown away.

"Gaaaahhh!!! Gaaaaaaaahh!!!"

The boy sought the Yang.

He sought the strength to win now.

He sought the strength to protect the girl.

For that, he no longer feared the pain or suffering that had once terrified him.

Rather, he was even happy that he could protect her like this.

"─────!"

The boy sought strength, drawing out the Yang energy within himself. Just like when he was alone, just like that day when he almost became a monster.

Yes, just like that fateful day.

A sharp pain pierced his body, and the boy's consciousness wavered for a moment. What brought him back was the scent of the kyuriko flower, the one the girl he loved had said she loved.

His thoughts, fragmented by the pain, were troubled.

It was spring, and kyuriko is an autumn flower.

There was no way he could smell it at this time of year.

The sight of the familiar white girl's cherished scented sachet, caught in the corner of his eye, dissolved that question.

However, before he could fully process it, a torrent of questions flooded his mind.

Why was it here now? 

Why was it torn open and its contents spilling out?

Why was the white girl stained with blood, and why was he standing before her?

The scent of kyuriko on the blood-stained white—before him, his thoughts grew cold.

Just like that day, the boy was saved by the girl.

Just like that day, the girl's presence prevented him from becoming a monster. 

The boy was saved by the girl once again.

The boy's scream echoed.

Atop the continuously moving chariot, the boy screamed so loudly it seemed blood would gush from his throat.

The Anomaly simply watched.

There was nothing left for the Anomaly; seeing the boy in that state, there was nothing to feel. There should have been no pity, no sympathy, no mockery. 

But yet, in that moment, the Anomaly just watched in silence.

(You've got to be kidding me! That's just a cheap way to make a Clouding!

Sure, I know! This kind of plot where the heroine gets killed as a result of protagonist reckless behavior is a classic trope. I like it too.

But if I'm going to do it, I want to do it more beautifully!

Besides, Chiharu-kun is still just a child, I was planning to wait until he was a bit more mature, both physically and mentally, before doing something this hard!

...Well, to be honest, I was excited. I'm currently excited by Chiharu-kun's crying face!

...Anyway, since it's come to this, there's no helping it.

I'll clear things up from here! I won't let it end with a Bad Ending, don't underestimate the sickly heroine Chitose-chan!!!)