Captain Klaus Akira Yukishiro/Bond Story

*Leader of the 47th Special Ranger Division, he established this unit with Lieutenant Arthur. Even after the incident, he didn't show any spirit of rebellion, and was rumored to be a coward... From "Loyal Retainer."*

* Chapter 1
* Chapter 2
* Bond Level 15 Talk
* Bond Level 30 Talk

Your Favorite Dish

 **Shiori:**Yukishiro-senpai, I'm sorry to bother you...

 **Akira:**What is it?

 **Shiori:**I wanted to use the kitchen...so it might get a little noisy. Is that okay?

 **Akira:**I don't mind.

 **Shiori:**It's a little early for dinner, but...I wanted to try making chive porridge to help deepen my understanding for "Loyal Retainer".

 **Akira:**Chive porridge...Oishi Kuranosuke's favorite dish—the person Klaus Ward is based off of.

 **Shiori:**Yes and it became bear leek risotto in "Loyal Retainer".

 **Shiori:**Oishi Kuranosuke's achievements are often mentioned in various media... The fact that his favorite food is still talked about must mean there's a deeper meaning behind it.

 **Akira:**I see, you must've read Yasube Horibe's "Records of Taketsune Horibe".

 **Shiori:**...!! Yes, that's right... My role as Holly is modeled after Yasube Horibe.

 **Shiori:**I learned from that book he and Oishi Kuranousuke are close enough to debate with one another. That's why I thought he might have eaten this dish before.

 **Akira:**...It may seem easy, but that's actually a very interesting perspective to have.

 **Akira:**Don't mind me and do whatever you need.

 **Shiori:**Okay!

 **Shiori:**That reminds me... When it's done, would you like to have some with me?

 **Akira:**......

 **Shiori:**Oh...if you're busy it's—

 **Akira:**No, I just thought it should be the other way around...I'll gladly have some.

 **Shiori:**Thank you. I'll start making it right away!

 **Shiori:**Yukishiro-senpai, it's finished.

 **Akira:**This is the chive porridge...?

 **Shiori:**Yes! I used bonito flakes from Kyoto for the soup stock, so that it would taste as close as possible to what Oishi Kuranousuke had... Be careful, it's hot.

 **Akira:**Let's have a bite. \*nom\*

 **Akira:**Mhm, the delicate flavor and the aroma from the chives goes well together... This is delicious.

 **Shiori:**Oh, I'm so glad...!

 **Shiori:**I'll have some too then. \*nom\*

 **Shiori:**Hmm... It does taste quite simple.

 **Akira:**Yes, you can tell the kind of person Oishi Kuranousuke is through his taste in food.

 **Akira:**He entertains visitors with miso and alcohol... But even when he was taken in by the Hosokawa family, he only wished for barley rice and sardines.

 **Shiori:**Wow...! He's a humble and serious person who doesn't waste food.

 **Akira:**That's right. You can tell from this dish in front of us.

 **Akira:**His steadfastness is what brought everyone together and led to the successful raid.

 **Shiori:**I see. I feel like I can kind of understand Yasube Horibe's feelings, who's the opposite of him...

 **Shiori:**That reminds me... Did you want to add your usual spices?

 **Shiori:**It's quite bland—

 **Akira:**No...this dish was made especially for me.

 **Akira:**I will have it as is.

 **Shiori:**......

 **Akira:**What is it?

 **Shiori:**It's nothing... I just felt like I was able to connect with the Horibe Yasube in front of this dish.

Who to Entrust Your Heart To

"Loyal Retainer" Rehearsal

 **Akira:****(Klaus)**
"St. Grants Empire needs you. You need to think about the future and not the past."

 **Shiori:****(Holly)**
"...You ungrateful person...!"

 **Akira:**...Stop here.

 **Shiori:**Y-Yes! I'm sorry, what was the problem with—

 **Akira:**Who are you right now?

 **Shiori:**Huh...?!

 **Akira:**Right now, you're just Shiori Yumeoji trying to be Holly Taker. And you intend to stand next to me with that kind of half-hearted acting?

 **Shiori:**W-Well, that's...

 **Akira:**...If you can't understand, I'll ask you with Klaus.

 **Akira:****(Klaus)**
"Hey, Holly. Sorry for calling you out all of a sudden... Come, let's have a drink."

 **Shiori:**(This expression and atmosphere... It's before the raid... The scene in act 2 scene 3 where Holly tests out the waters?)

 **Shiori:**(But that line doesn't exist in the script...)

 **Shiori:****(Holly)**
"...No need. I'd rather ask about your true intentions."

 **Akira:****(Klaus)**
"My intentions?"

 **Shiori:****(Holly)**
"You're hiding something... You're not someone who would lose their self-control over getting punched by Fu."

 **Shiori:****(Holly)**
"Neither are you someone who would give up everything because of the death of a friend."

 **Akira:****(Klaus)**
"...You think too highly of me, Holly. Do you know what they call me?"

 **Akira:****(Klaus)**
"A daytime lantern—lit during the day and completely useless..."

 **Shiori:****(Holly)**
"—They're wrong."

 **Akira:****(Klaus)**
"Holly?"

 **Shiori:****(Holly)**
"That's not who you are to me...!"

 **Shiori:****(Holly)**
"A lantern that stands out during the day will still burn brightly even when the sun is high up in the sky. A light of hope that guides everyone!"

 **Shiori:****(Holly)**
"That's what I think, that's why—!!"

 **Akira:**Stop. Who were you just now?

 **Shiori:**I was...the me who looks up to Yukishiro-senpai...?

 **Akira:**Exactly.

 **Akira:**Holly who puts absolute trust in Klaus... If you stick with that in this scene, it'll make Holly appear contradictory later on.

 **Shiori:****(Holly)**
"Sir, avenging your superior is more grave than avenging your parents. If my superior orders it, I would even take the life of my parents."

 **Shiori:****(Holly)**
"But any superior who gives such an order would be going against the code of chivalry."

 **Akira:**Yes...that line. It feels off to admonish someone whom you trust.

 **Shiori:**Yes...! Why didn't I notice earlier...

 **Shiori:**Holly's despair over being left behind from the raid which then leads to him walking to his death, despite learning of the truth, didn't come from his feelings for Klaus...

 **Akira:**Then what is his motivation?

 **Shiori:**His motivation... Despair over the collapse of chivalry and anger over not being able to fight together...!!

 **Akira:**Yes...because of his young age, Holly believes in the good in people and lives by chivalrous ideals.

 **Akira:**That's why he trusts Klaus.

 **Shiori:**The thing that moves Holly isn't his respect for others...

 **Shiori:**I think I was stuck on this story being written for the "Edels".

 **Shiori:**I can't believe I painted over Holly's character that's based off of the Yasube Horibe from history with myself...

 **Akira:**If you understand that much, then don't get the balance wrong—Holly Taker.

 **Shiori:**Yes!

 **Shiori:**\*sigh\* I was surprised my feelings backfired on me like this.

 **Shiori:**...I actually went to Michiru-senpai for advice for Holly's acting.

 **Akira:**Michiru?

 **Shiori:**Yes... She said your presence and influence is so unique there's nothing that could be done about me getting affected by it.

 **Shiori:**She said she understands how I feel and that it can't be corrected... I didn't understand the true intention behind her advice at the time, but I do now.

 **Akira:**......

 **Shiori:**Yukishiro-senpai?

 **Akira:**—15 minute break. We'll start from the top when we come back.

 **Akira:**Don't forget to stretch.

 **Shiori:**Y-Yes! Thank you!!

 **Shiori:**Yukishiro-senpai's face looked kind of red... Am I imagining it?

 **Akira:**Loyal Retainer...a play made especially for us "Edels". Heh, how exciting.

 **Akira:**Loyal Retainer is the culmination of "Edels"... No, it requires something of even higher quality.

 **Akira:**We'll accept those expectations as a challenge. Each of us will improve and our determination will become one—

 **Akira:**Hm, it's starting to sound like my usual speeches. In any case, let's promise to put on a wonderful show.