Wataru Hibiki/Eichi Tenshouin

“I’ve never thought of you as a toy, Wataru. You’re my idol, now and forever.”- Eichi

### Other names

EiWata
WataEi

### Link to Archive of Our Own

Here

**Wataru Hibiki/Eichi Tenshouin** is a relationship between two members of fine, Wataru Hibiki and Eichi Tenshouin.

## Relationship and notable canon moments

Eichi has admired Wataru ever since he saw him doing magic tricks in the TV in his hospital room. He thought nothing was impossible for him and even dreamed about Wataru saving him like an angel. At the same time, he was jealous because he believed Wataru was a genius loved by God, while Eichi couldn't reach him.

During his second year at Yumenosaki, Eichi tried to reform the school system and used the Five Eccentrics (including Wataru) as scapegoats. In ***Element**,* while Eichi was in the infirmary and scared of dying, Wataru visited him to talk about his role as the villain at the end of The War, asking if he should kiss the protagonist or have his heart stabbed to death. When Eichi was about to confess he didn't want to see him lose The War, Wataru told him to hide those feelings as an idol and disappeared, making Eichi wonder if it had been a dream. Later, Wataru thanked him because he could become friends with the other Eccentrics due to Eichi's plan, even though he parted ways with them after purposely losing The War and fulfilling his villain role.

Wataru eventually joined *fine* and became close to Eichi, taking Tsumugi's previous role as "the Emperor's jester." He thought he could just leave at the end like Tsumugi did; however, his love for Eichi became genuine as time passed. Wataru often performed tricks to entertain Eichi and cared deeply about his health, giving him a blanket at the end of the Tanabata festival or offering to take him home when he isn't feeling well. In turn, Eichi was always more playful when he was with Wataru, and opened up more about his thoughts and ideals. He would praise everything Wataru did, even if other people (usually Keito or Tori) found his actions annoying.

However, Eichi's self-loathing, regrets, and inability to trust anyone led him to believe that Wataru was just playing with him for revenge purposes. Since he once "killed" Wataru as one of the Eccentrics, he was afraid that he would leave him "like the bluebird of happiness" (what he called Tsumugi once) when Eichi loved him the most. These anxieties grew when he found out Wataru joined Hokuto's mother's theatre company at the end of the year, since it would impossible to be both an idol and an actor full-time.

These tensions came to a head in ***EP:Link**,* when Eichi finally voiced these fears aloud. Wataru said that he wanted to be the real bluebird of happiness, and gave Eichi his mask, proclaiming that it was "his very self." Eichi couldn't understand what these actions meant at first, but in the end, he accepted Wataru's love and started trying to see him not as some magical, out-of-reach ideal, but as a human.

In ***Tempest**,* Eichi said he has never fallen in love, to which Wataru made a surprised face asking "*Eichi? Are you serious?*". Later, while saying Wataru was the one he trusted the most, Eichi asked if that was what society called love. They waltzed before the Tempest performance. Eichi was wasting his stamina, but as he wished the moment would last forever, and he was unable to let go of Wataru's hand.

Eichi has also shown a pattern of possessive behavior towards Wataru. The attachment may have begun during their school years, when Natsume asked Eichi if he really believed that Wataru was his.

This behavior got worse during the SS tournament the next year. In ***Sanctuary,*** Eichi was particularly anxious and felt guilty, since he let Gatekeeper do whatever he wanted for the sake of his goal. The result was much stress and suffering throughout all of the SS event stories, and Eichi felt that he was hurting people again with the idea of changing the world as an excuse. At the same time, Wataru hypnotized himself to forget all of his memories except for those of his childhood. He did so because he wanted to play with Tomoya, since he thought he would be a good friend for the lonely child Wataru used to be.

However, Eichi thought Wataru wanted to forget everything because he got tired of him and his schemes. In a fit of jealousy, he accused Tomoya of stealing Wataru, took Wataru "back from him," and left with him in a helicopter, leaving Tomoya alone. Wataru left Eichi the spell to wake him up from the hypnosis, and upon awakening, he was disappointed that Eichi had failed to understand his actions again. He assured Eichi that he was the main character in his story, and instead of hating him for his methods, he was actually interested of him because of his insanity.

### Blackbird

Blackbird is the novella added to *Ensemble Stars JP website* along with the 6th episode of the ***Element*** animated series.

Eichi was waiting to die in his hospital room, refusing health care because of how guilty he felt after all he had done. Wataru appeared, and at first, Eichi thought he had come to mock him since he was the one who lost everything in the end. However, Wataru asked Eichi to give him a new role; playing his role in the War was the first time he felt so alive, and he didn't want to continue alone now that everyone avoided him.

Using Natsume's script where the Five Eccentrics would win The War as an example, Wataru wanted Eichi to write a script with the premise of his "death," since the story should continue even after the protagonist disappears. Eichi accepted the request and started writing a new story with Wataru, in which he became a tyrant who would be defeated by a new revolution. This scenario would later become the basis for Trickstar's revolution against the student council.

In this story, Wataru called one of his doves "Gilles de Rais", the name of a serial killer who fought alongside Jeanne D'Arc. When Wataru saw the feathers of the dove tainted black, he said it seemed to be the most suitable companion for him. At the end, both Wataru and Eichi are described as birds tainted in black. Since Jeanne is meant to represent Wataru, it's possible that Gilles is meant to represent Eichi

## Trivia

### ! Era

* They maintained an exchange diary during their third year.
* Wataru is Eichi's left hand, matching Keito's role as his right hand. He has said several times that he is Keito's rival.
* In ***Flower Festival**,* Wataru said he wasn't interested in *fine*, he was only interested in Eichi.
* In ***Circus**,* Eichi fell from the wire and scared Wataru, who saved him from falling to death. Eichi said he knew Wataru would grab his hand. At the end, Wataru carried him like a princess and jumped to the floor, landing safely despite the height.
* In ***Magnolia***, when Wataru makes life-sized doll versions of himself appear around the student council room, Eichi puts the doll on his chair and sits elsewhere, saying he didn't want to get it dirty. Wataru later gifts this doll to Eichi.
* In ***Opera*,** Wataru says he can't be away from Eichi, and asks him if he is good at taming beasts since he can keep Wataru in a single place.
* Natsume theorized that Eichi gave Tsukasa the job of managing the theater in *Fortune Banquet* instead of Wataru because he feared that Wataru might distance himself from him if he got too involved with theater.
* In ***Aquarium***, Rei told Wataru he could use Eichi if they needed help or goods. Wataru asked if he was saying he was connected to Eichi's wallet, and admitted Eichi would probably buy him a small country if he asked for it.
* Eichi wanted to buy a pyramid because Wataru said he wanted to live in one.
* Eichi's Christmas wish was to fly with Wataru.
* In ***Jingle Bells***, Wataru asks Eichi if he is playing with a toy who isn't him because Eichi was praising Hajime's fluttering frills. Later in the minitalks, he tells Anzu he wants to use frills in front of Eichi too.

### !! Era

* Eichi said he envies Subaru since Subaru shares room with Wataru in ES.
* In their shared screen lines Wataru complains because Eichi went on "a date" with Tori, and says he wants to have a date with him too.
* Wataru doesn't eat in front of people, but he went to a restaurant with Eichi and showed Tori a photo of them in his **Feature Scout 1** story.
* In the ***Ensemble Stars!! main story***, Keito said Eichi had a "Hibiki addiction", to which Eichi replied that love is more like a sickness.
* According to ***Tempest***, Eichi used to complain about Wataru spending too much time in the theater troupe.
* Wataru said if he were to propose, he would demand everything in Eichi's life.

* In ***Tempest***, Wataru is called the embodiment of a spring storm and he makes tricks related to wind. The Tempest is a Shakespeare play where the protagonist, Prospero, summons a storm with the help of the airy spirit Ariel, who serves him and gets his freedom at the end. When Eichi finally let go of Wataru's hand during their dance in this event, he said he was setting Wataru free, to which Wataru asked if he was supposed to be the one who was captured.

* Both ***Tempest*** and ***Primavera*** are references to Zephyrus (the god of the west wind) and Flora (the goddess of flowers and spring), with *Primavera* being a direct reference to the painting by Botticelli. This painting shows Zephyrus kidnapping the nymph Chloris, who turned into Flora after their marriage. Wataru and Eichi's *Tempest* event cards are named "A Lively Spring Storm" and "A Peaceful Spring Day," with the center skills "Wind that dances with flowers" (花と踊る風)— and "Night kidnapped by the wind" (風に攫われる夜,) respectively. Moreover, in the last chapter of *Tempest* Eichi compares Wataru with a spring storm during their dance and says he enjoys being swayed by him once in a while.

* In the ***Ensemble Stars!* main story**, Eichi called Wataru "Mephistopheles." Later, in ***Sanctuary**,* the spell Eichi had to say to break Wataru's hypnosis was *“*Still delay—thou art so fair!” This line is from Goethe's *Faust*. A component of Faust's deal with Mephistopheles was he would say that phrase if someday he was satisfied with his life; in that moment, he would die and give his soul to Mephistopheles for eternity. Interesting enough, Akiomi said during ***PORTRAIT*** that people were born to be loved, so "*time wouldn't stop until receiving it and be satisfied*", which fits both Faust's phrase said in *Sanctuary* and Eichi's monologue during *Tempest*.

* In ***Sanctuary**,* Wataru said that he would follow Eichi even in hell.
* During the **SS finals**, Wataru confirms that he enjoyed Eichi's reaction during *Sanctuary.* Later, he adds that Eichi takes his actions and words too seriously because he loves him..

### Light Novel

* In ***Daydream*** (Volume 2), Eichi has a nightmare about his performance against Wataru, where he is left alone by the old fine members and he collapses in Wataru's arms while thinking about how much he wants to be embraced by someone even if it is "his enemy".
* During the DDD in Volume 4, Eichi grabs Wataru's hair too tight and brings his face so close that Anzu thinks they're about to kiss. Later, Rei complains that they're talking like lovers murmuring sweet stuff without caring about the DDD votes.
* After *fine* was defeated by Trickstar in the DDD, Wataru kissed the palm of Eichi's hand. .

### Anime

* Episode 10 adapted a scene from Trickstar reminiscence event ***Rocket Start***, where Hokuto tries to join the Drama Club, and added Eichi seeing a bit of their talk. Wataru asked if he needed something from them, but Eichi quickly left. Later, Eichi is leaning against a window with his heart pounding, while promising that he is going to carve his existence into Wataru's heart.

* Both the episode 10 of the original anime and the episode 2 of the ***Element* animated series** show Wataru reciting the lines of Death, a character from Akutagawa Ryuunosuke's poem "Youth and Death" (青年と死), before noticing Eichi is staring at him. This poems tells the story of two men, A and B, and their meeting with Death. B, who had been avoiding death and tried to reach desperately the deception of joy, died because he had forgotten him. However, A welcomed Death and asked to see his face, which he called beautiful. When A asked Death to take his life and stop his suffering, Death told him to understand his mistake and live, then he invited A to see the world with him and they disappeared in the light of dawn.

### Dream Live

* In the ***DREAM LIVE -6th Tour "Synchronic Spheres",*** the choreography for "The Tempest Night" was changed after the second chorus. Instead of simply dancing while facing each other like in the MV, Wataru accepted Eichi's hand to dance a waltz with him, mimicking the poses from their *Tempest* event cards.

## Quotes

“He possesses an infinite arsenal of skills and techniques. And he has such a colorful personality too; I never get bored of watching him. I have no reason to get rid of Wataru Hibiki of the Three Oddballs…♪ “ – Eichi (Elegant 1)
“I knew I could count on you to grab my hand, Wataru. Fufu. And you even looked so alarmed. I'd say this turned out rather fruitful just because I got to see you make that face ♪” – Eichi (Ensemble 2)
“Yep. I'll try hard so that I don't bore you all, or betray your expectations, so please continue to walk together with me from now on, too.” – Eichi (Ensemble 2)
"

**Restaurant:**
* ”You’re saying that as if you’re talking about a tyrant. I have the intention of treating people to me close kindly.” -Eichi
* ”Indeed, indeed. You, Eichi, are one of the few who would hold out their hand to a clown such as myself.” -Wataru

”However, if that is how Eichi wants to offer his love, I’ll gladly receive it.” -Wataru
**Quarrel Festival:**
"That thing won't listen to anyone but you. Keep a leash on him, and fulfill your duty as his owner. What can I say? You're truly hopeless.” - Keito (A Fleeting Prosperous Dream 3)

**Starry Night Festival:**
"Come, accept these roses…☆ For Eichi, a "white rose"! For Kanata, a "yellow rose"! And for Little Rabbit here, a "pink rose"…☆" – Wataru
"A white rose… huh. If I remember correctly, it means "great respect" in flower language." – Eichi (Note: They can also signify a positive new beginning or everlasting love.) (Chapter 1)
"Umm. You’re gradually saying more and more theatre-like things... Were Tenshouin and Wataru-chin close? Is that why you say such grandiose things in detail, maybe~?” – Nazuna (Epilogue)

**Phantom Thieves VS Detectives:**
“It was an extremely lonely world without any human warmth. There I was, withdrawing from everything, when Eichi pulled at my hair from behind. Desperately, he tethered me to this world.” – Wataru
**Opera:**
"Really , I never get tired of talking to you, do I, Wataru? It feels as though I'm enjoying one attraction after another at an amusement park.♪" - Eichi (Prologue)
"Oh? What is it, I wonder? If it is the wish of Your Majesty the "Emperor," I would even go to the other side of the world, you know. ☆" -Wataru (Chapter 1)

**Triumph of the Emperor:**
“It’s plain to see that you joined “Fine” because the president is in it.” – Tori (chapter 9)

**Milky Way:**
“Please wake up, Eichi. With your own feet, let us walk home together. Did you not say that you would walk alongside me? Only you? Come, open your eyes. Look, look, you can view the Milky Way in its entirety, see? A reality far more beautiful than any dream... Even now, it is spreading out into this world. The one who taught me that was none other than you, yes?” – Wataru (Epilogue 2)

**Element:**
* (He's so beautiful... engulfed in a mysterious light — it's entrancing.)
* (Wow, he noticed me? And he's waving at me too? Even though there's quite the distance between us... even though I'm so far away from him right now.)
* (But one day... I'll definitely close in this gap between us.)
* (I'll come to see you, no matter what methods I'll have to use.) – Eichi (Even in Hell 8)

“Oh, I am a princess here! It seems like I am being proposed to! Why didn't you say so? I shall give you a kiss overflowing with love and surprises~☆” – Wataru
“This might have been my doing, but just having a glimpse of the hero I admire being pelted with such abusive language makes my chest hurt.” – Eichi

**Toyland:**
“Since Eichi has kept me in this world, it would be a waste to depart before having thoroughly enjoyed myself.” – Wataru (Chapter 2)

**Dream Travel:**
* ”It seems Hime-kun is having fun making tea with Anzu-san, let us be closer too in the future.” -Wataru
* ”We are already close, though. Did you mean that it was hard for me to keep you in this world?” -Eichi
* ”That is not it, Eichi. Instead, I appreciate that someone like you would appear in front of me. I am now standing with both feet in this place, and I do not think I’ll get bored anytime soon. -Wataru (/Chapter 8)

**Jingle Bells:**
“But of course, I’ll just wake you up with a magic kiss every time~!” – Wataru in Eichi’s dream (Prologue)
“I’ve never thought of you as a toy, Wataru. You’re my idol, now and forever.”- Eichi
“Now, now… that’s just how Wataru shows he’s happy. You’ll start finding it more and more adorable the more you watch him.”- Eichi
“Me too. I was just admiring a certain someone who would perform tricks that seemed to ignore physics… tricks that seemed like magic. He looked so free, so bright, like nothing was impossible for him. Being shown such light makes us think that surely, there was a reason for us to be born.” – Eichi

**Summer Vacation:**
"I have no complaints. Because you are Eichi, and just by being Eichi, you already have 100 points from me." -Wataru (Chapter 1)
"Who knows? Why not ask the man himself? Speak of the angel and let there be light. Our Majesty approaches, the “Emperor” himself~. ♪" -Wataru (Chapter 7)
* "Save me, Sakuma-san… Hibiki-kun keeps trying to talk to me all the time." - Kaoru
* "Why, are you cheating on me, Wataru?" -Eichi (/Chapter 16)

**Diner Live:**
“I wanted to stand on the same stage as you, Tenshouin Eichi, not as a member of fine or one of the Five Oddballs, but as Hibiki Wataru.” – Wataru (Epilogue)
“Fufufu, what a foolish question! I’ll snuggle up to you….♪ You were the one who taught me that this reality is more beautiful than anything else, you know?” - Wataru  (Epilogue)

**EP:Link:**
"However, I do understand your feelings. In the past, when Eichi gathered his resolve and began calling me Wataru, I also experienced inexplicable emotions." - Wataru (Chapter 4)
“You estimated when I would love both you and fine deeply, when I most certainly would not wish to part with you… And then you'll fade away, as if you were nothing more than a mirage, abandoning that which could have survived if given only a single drop of water. The moment that I yearn for you and pine for you — the moment that I realize I've fallen in love with you — you’ll disappear from my hands. Just like the bluebird of happiness…” – Eichi (Chapter 17)
* "Eichi. I want to become “the real thing” — the bluebird that you were unable to obtain in the past. Being more realistic than the real thing is precisely what a supreme actor is, after all. That being said, even if I prepare a hundred million words now, they will surely mean nothing to you, so allow me to express my feelings with actions instead. This time, for certain, I will ensure that you do not misunderstand anything; in a way that is simple and easy to understand, allow me to express everything that I am. Eichi. Here, please accept this." -Wataru
* "…A mask? Isn’t this a precious item of yours, part of your collection?" -Eichi
* "Indeed. This is me, and I offer this to you." -Wataru (Chapter 17)

“You have to be there, shining in every part of Eichi-sama’s world, Hibiki-senpai… Stay with him—don’t go anywhere. Stay and be an idol with us forever, Senpai.” – Tori (Chapter 26)
* "Oh my, is it finally my turn? I was slightly worried that you might continue to ignore me like this until the very end!" -Wataru
* "I haven’t been able to ignore you from the very moment I first knew of you. Not for even a second." -Eichi (EP:Link/Chapter 30)

"You could be Momotarou, born from a peach, or Princess Kaguya, born from bamboo. You could be a nameless extra of unknown origin — Anything would be fine; it wouldn’t matter at all to me. Because the one standing in front of my very eyes right now is the Hibiki Wataru I love and admire." -Eichi (Chapter 31)
“That is precisely what the answer is — love is precisely what the answer is. I love you, and that is why I’ll continue to be with you from now on.” – Wataru

**Tempest:**
"Of course. I trust you more than anyone in this world — more than I trust myself. I wouldn’t even mind being betrayed, so long as it were by you. Even if you did the cruelest things to me, I wouldn't mind at all. I wonder if this is what society calls "love"? " -Eichi
(But even so, I can't let go of his hand. It's as if it's been magically glued to mine.) (This is something I needed, something lovely. I wish this moment would last forever... this peaceful, dream-like, happy moment.) – Eichi

**Fist of the Shangri-la Idol:**
* "You’re missing the point, Butler-san! That filth is precisely Eichi’s — no, I daresay all of humanity’s — charm point!" -Wataru
* "Thanks. I love you too, Wataru." -Eichi
* "Is that response intended to be connected to the previous statement…?" -Yuzuru (movie actor 2)
* "Hmm. If you’re that partial to them, why don’t I buy you a “rental shop” of your own?" -Eichi
* "I assure you, there is absolutely no need for that." -Wataru
* "I want to give you things unstintingly, Wataru." -Eichi
* "You’ve already given me more than enough, Eichi." -Wataru (/movie actor 3)

**Magicians Assemble**
"Wow, he noticed me? And he's waving at me too? Even though there's quite the distance between us... even though I'm so far away from him right now." Eichi, in Magicians Assemble
"But you know, Hibiki-kun...? To me, you losing is just— " —Eichi, in Magicians Assemble
***Looking for the source (please add it if you can):***
"If you hold any doubt about my skills you can exile me from fine anytime! Let me prove it not with words but with actions—the thing called the power of love, that is...☆" - Wataru
“There's no way I would forget about you, Wataru. There's no need to worry.” – Eichi
“Fufu, Wataru is always so free, huh. I wonder if I should ask him to put me on a swing like he did for Tori during FlowerFes and accompany him ♪” -Eichi

## Gallery

Fireworks Stream 2022Fireworks Stream 2022Fireworks Stream 2022Ghostic treat housefrom 7th anniversary 2nd StreamWataru asking Eichi to share an umbrellaWataru asking Eichi to let him follow him while looking for his desire, so he can lead Wataru to the best stage