touhoujihen

ultimate

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thjhultimate

Vocals: IZNA
Lyrics: IZNA
Arranged by: NSY
Album: Hopeless Concerto (絶望的協奏曲) 【Official Site】
Circle: touhoujihen (東方事変)
Event: C93
Original Theme: Diao ye zong (Withered Leaf) [ティアオイエツォン(withered leaf)]

Requested by: ninreaper

Like a lot of other tracks by this circle, this one seems to be about a hopeless relationship. They go through the motions, but it doesn’t look like anything positive will come from it. Still, IZNA’s voice is great like always, and I like the way NSY approached this theme.

I went with ‘Hopeless Discord’ for 絶望的不協和音, so I went with ‘Hopeless Concerto’ for 絶望的協奏曲.

Radio, please!
I want to listen to music.
お願い、please!
Just give me something new one.

Radio, please!
I want to listen to music.
onegai, please!
Just give me something new one.

Radio, please!
I want to listen to music.
I beg you, please!
Just give me something: a new one.

僕は望んでいた　あの日見てた世界を
何も変わらないままで
僕は探していた　顔や体（てい）の良い素材
never ending　演じて、そう

boku wa nozonde ita ano hi miteta sekai o
nani mo kawaranai mama de
boku wa sagashite ita kao ya tei no ii sozai
never ending enjite, sou

I hoped that the world I looked upon back then
would never change.
I was searching for good materials for my face and form.
It’s like a never-ending performance.

聴いて初めての音

kiite hajimete no oto

I heard that sound for the first time.

眠らない夜の海を　この身一つで泳いでいく
不安とか主体も
受け止めてあげていいんじゃない？

nemuranai yoru no umi o kono mi hitotsu de oyoide iku
fuan toka shutai mo
uketomete agete ii njanai?

I’ll swim through the sea of a sleepless night using my body alone.
Isn’t it okay
if I accept doubt and the core of things?

愛情よりも切なくて、この胸を焦がす
得体の知れない想いをふつふつと湧かせど
最高潮の悦楽で、己を誤魔化す以外の
悪いね　方法が見つからないの

aijou yori mo setsunakute, kono mune o kogasu
etai no shirenai omoi o futsu futsu to wakasedo
saikouchou no etsuraku de, onore o gomakasu igai no
warui ne, houhou ga mitsukaranai no

This feeling is more painful than love. It burns my heart
and makes something unknown bubble and well up inside me.
Still, I deceive you through the pleasure of climax.
Sorry – I can’t find any other way.

君が残していく　色や人の香りは
綺麗でそりゃ鮮やかで
僕は見つめてる　瞳　逸らすことなく
every one-night　終わらない章

kimi ga nokoshite iku iro ya hito no kaori wa
kirei de sorya azayaka de
boku wa mitsumeteru hitomi sorasu koto naku
every one-night owaranai shou

You leave behind colours and a human scent.
They’re so beautiful, so vivid.
I’m staring now, without turning my eyes away.
Every one night is an endless chapter. (1)

二人鏡の中の

futari kagami no naka no

We’re inside the mirror.

何も無い窓の外を　並んでただ眺めていたの
時報（アラーム）が鳴っても
誰の声すらも届かない

nani mo nai mado no soto o narande tada nagamete ita no
araamu ga nattemo
dare no koe sura mo todokanai

I stood by the window and gazed out at the emptiness.
The alarm rings
but nobody’s voice will reach me now.

最上階の端っこから　この背中を押す
世界のIKENAI秘密をひっそりと知るけど
もう後悔の連続で　always残らず痛いよ
歩いて　誰かに試されているみたい

saijoukai no hashikko kara kono senaka o osu
sekai no IKENAI himitsu o hissori to shiru kedo
mou koukai no renzoku de always nokorazu itai yo
aruite dareka ni tamasarete iru mitai

You push me from the edge of the top floor
though I quietly know this world’s forbidden secrets.
I keep feeling remorse, and it’s always painful.
I walk. It’s like I’m being tested by someone.

Radio, please!
I want to listen to music.
お願い、please!
Just give me something new one.

Radio, please!
I want to listen to music.
onegai, please!
Just give me something new one.

Radio, please!
I want to listen to music.
I beg you, please!
Just give me something: a new one.

静寂を切り裂く正確なhigh-tone
鋭角なATARIに驚きのあまり
透明なscreenが映し出していた
そう、まるで君はDiva　僕には届かない

seijaku o kirisaku seikaku na high-tone
eikaku na ATARI ni odoroki no amari
toumei na screen ga utsushi dashite ita
sou, marude kimi wa Diva boku ni wa todokanai

Your accurate high tones tore through the silence.
I reached the corner, and to my surprise
you were there on the clear screen.
Yes, you’re like a diva. I won’t reach you.

最上階の端っこから　この背中を押す
世界のIKENAI秘密をひっそりと知るけど
言い逃れして今日も街がalways夕日に染まるの
ultimate　誰かに導かれてるみたい

saijoukai no hashikko kara kono senaka o osu
sekai no IKENAI himitsu o hissori to shiru kedo
iinogare shite kyou mo machi ga always yuuhi ni somaru no
ultimate dareka ni michibikareteru mitai

You push me from the edge of the top floor
though I quietly know this world’s forbidden secrets.
I talk myself out of it, but the streets are always stained with dusk’s colours.
Ultimate. It’s like I’m being led by someone.

Radio, please!
I want to listen to music.
お願い、please!
Just give me something new one.

Radio, please!
I want to listen to music.
onegai, please!
Just give me something new one.

Radio, please!
I want to listen to music.
I beg you, please!
Just give me something: a new one.

(1) 終わらない章 (owaranai shou) is sung the same as ‘One night show’.

luciole

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jihen-artsluciole

Vocals: IZNA
Lyrics: IZNA
Arranged by: NSY
Album: Redemption (贖) 【Official Site】
Circle: touhoujihen (東方事変)
Event: Autumn Reitaisai 3 [ARTS3]
Original Theme: Illusionary Night ~ Ghostly Eyes [幻視の夜 ～ Ghostly Eyes]

Requested by: yen

It looks like luciole is the French word for firefly!

あたしを壊す物　上げだしてみたら随分キリが無い
孤独を分け合えば　流れる涙も半分なんて、
認めたくない　そんな筈ない　そんな筈ない　そんな筈ない

atashi wo kowasu mono agedashite mitara zuibun kiri ga nai
kodoku wo wakeaeba nagareru namida mo hanbun nante,
mitometakunai sonna hazu nai sonna hazu nai sonna hazu nai

Things that destroy me… I tried listing them and realised they’re endless.
They say your tears are halved when you share your isolation. Hah!
I don’t want to admit it. There’s no way. No way. No way…

プラスティックの天井を片方だけ外して取り出したら
月の明かりをぼんやりと頼りに繋いで羽ばたこうよ

purasutikku no tenjou wo katahou dake hazushite toridashitara
tsuki no akari wo bonyari to tayori ni tsunaide habatakou yo

After taking off just half of that plastic ceiling,
Let’s link hands and fly, rely on the moonlight absentmindedly.

恥ずかしいけど　ホラ
早く聴いてね
矛盾するけど至って普通
たぶんこれが最後の恋　なんてね

hazukashii kedo hora
hayaku kiite ne
mujun suru kedo itatte futsuu
tabun kore ga saigo no koi nante ne

It’s embarrassing, but come on!
Hurry and listen!
It’s contradictory, but it’s very ordinary.
This is probably my last love… just kidding!

あなたを想う程　あたしの些細な嘘が許せない
僅かな事だって　疑ってしまう自分が悔しい
迷い込んでく　次から次へ　甘い泉へ　手の鳴る方へ

anata wo omou hodo atashi no sasai na uso ga yurusenai
wazuka na koto datte utagatte shimau jibun ga kuyashii
mayoikondeku tsugi kara tsugi he amai izumi he te no naru hou he

The more I feel for you, the less I can tolerate my small lies.
It’s just a small thing, but I’m annoyed at myself for doubting you.
I go astray. One after the other, I head to sweet springs, toward their clapping…

夢を追うのは忙しいんだね　二人は擦れ違って
あなたのペースに時に合わせてはみるけど疲れちゃうよ

yume wo ou no wa izogashii nda ne futari wa surechigatte
anata no peesu ni toki ni awasete wa miru kedo tsukarechau yo

Yeah, chasing dreams is busy work. The two of us disagree.
I try to go at your pace, matching with you, but I get so tired!

恥ずかしいけど　ホラ
ちゃんと見ててね
矛盾するけど至って普通
呼吸だけで精一杯
甘い泉　誘われ墜ちる
あなたに揶揄われて
苦い味を呑込んだ時
多分あれが恋の終わり　なんでしょう

hazukashii kedo hora
chanto mitete ne
mujun suru kedo itatte futsuu
kokyuu dakedo seiippai
amai izumi sasoware ochiru
anata ni karakawarete
nigai aji wo nomikonda toki
tabun are ga koi no owari nan deshou

It’s embarrassing, but come on!
Make sure you look!
It’s contradictory, but it’s very ordinary.
Just sighing is all I can do.
I’m lured to a sweet spring and I fall in.
I’m ridiculed by you.
When I gulped down that bitterness
that was probably the end of our love. I wonder why…

フタリのともしびは　ゆらり月明かり溶けてしまいそう
全てが思う程、絵に描いたように上手くはいかない

futari no tomoshibi wa yurari tsuki akari tokete shimaisou
subete ga omou hodo, e ni kaita you ni umaku wa ikanai

Our light sways and it looks like it’ll dissolve into the moonlight.
The more I think, the worse things go. It’s not like how I sketched it out…

だけど

dakedo

But…

誰かが誰かを想う時　新しい自分に成れる
微かなヒカリだって　真っ暗なあなたの道を照らしたい
ちゃんとみててね　多分これはね　愛のハジマリ　そんな筈ない

dareka ga dareka wo omou toki atarashii jibun ni nareru
kasuka na hikari datte makkura na anata no michi wo terashitai
chanto mitete ne tabun kore wa ne ai no hajimari sonna hazu nai

Whenever someone has feelings for someone else, they can become a new person.
Even if it’s just a faint light, I want to illuminate your pitch-black path.
Make sure you look! This is probably the beginning of love. No way!

良くも悪くも。|| For Better or Worse.

Releska2 Comments

Touhou Jihen良くも悪くも。
yoku mo waruku mo.
For Better or Worse.

Vocals: IZNA
Lyrics: IZNA
Arranged by: NSY
Album: Peerless Patrolwoman (絶倫パトロール) 【Official Site】
Circle: touhoujihen (東方事変)
Event: C89
Original Theme: The Reversed Wheel of Fortune [逆転するホイールオブフォーチュン]

Requested by: Slurpy

In some sections, the English equivalent is sung instead of the Japanese word. The romanisation is written out as if the words were written in katakana. For a change, I decided to note this in bold.

出逢いは些々たる物語
ふいに視線が合致

deai wa sasa taru sutoorii
fui ni shisen ga gacchi

Our first meeting is such a trivial story.
Our eyes suddenly met.

出逢ってものの数秒で
容易い罠を察知

deatte mono no suubyou de
tayasui wana wo sacchi

Several seconds after,
I sensed a simple trap.

たった一秒でこの夜を変えてみせるから目を閉じて

tatta ichibyou de kono yoru wo kaete miseru kara me wo tojite

I’ll show you that I can change this night in just a few seconds, so close your eyes…

今

nau

Now—

Mid-night　運んで移ろうこの身を何処へでも
目が眩むような甘い言葉を吐散らして
Good-night　今宵は純情拗られせ御免
ほら、繋がっている
君の鼓動を奥の方で感じさせてほしい

Mid-night hakonde utsurou kono mi wo doko e demo
me ga kuramu you na amai waado wo hakichirashite
Good-night koyoi wa junjou kojirarese go-men
hora, tsunagatte iru
kimi no biito wo oku no hou de kanji sasete hoshii

Midnight. Carry this body of mine away, I don’t care where.
Spit out words so naive they make me lost in lust.
Goodnight. Sorry for distorting your purity tonight…
Look, we’re connected.
I want you to make me feel your heartbeat inside me.

悲劇のカタストロフィー
其れも今では察知

higeki no katasutorofii
sore mo ima de wa sacchi

A tragic catastrophe.
I can sense that now, too.

だって
i got the new world
But I lost something

datte
i got the new world
But I lost something

After all…
I got the new world
But I lost something.

たった一言でこの愛が終わると言うならばそうして

tatta hitokoto de kono ai ga owaru to iu naraba sou shite

If you say our love will end in a few words, then do it!

否

no

No.

Good-day　なんて絶望知り尽くす迄が
皆、備わっている多彩諸種の証明よ
Good-night　熱く高鳴る君に触れもみて
仕舞いたくはないの
其れは机上の空論に操られているだけよ

Good-day nante zetsubou shiri tsukusu made ga
minna, sonawatte iru tasai shoshu no shoumei yo
Good-night atsuku takanaru kimi ni fure mo mite
shimaitaku wa nai no
sore wa kijou no kuuron ni ayatsurarete iru dake yo

“Good-day.” Hah. Until they know despair to exhaustion,
Everyone’s gifted with all kinds of proofs.
Goodnight. You’re hot, and your heart’s throbbing. I wanna touch you.
I don’t want to finish up…
That’s just being manipulated by empty theories.

さぁ、我に平伏せ

saa, ware ni hirefuse

Now, prostrate yourself before me!

もう、ほんのたった一言で呼び起こしてあげる。

mou, hon no tatta hitokoto de yobiokoshite ageru.

Alright… I’ll wake you with just a few words.

絶望的不協和音 || Hopeless Discord

Releska2 Comments

絶望的不協和音
zetsubou-teki disukoodo
Hopeless Discord

Vocals: IZNA
Lyrics: IZNA
Arranged by: NSY
Album: MAKKACHIN Jihen (マッカチン事変) 【Official Site】
Circle: touhoujihen x MAKKACHIN KIKAKU (東方事変 x マッカチン企画)
Event: C92
Original Theme: Shanghai Teahouse ~ Chinese Tea [上海紅茶館 ～ Chinese Tea]

This song seems to be about someone who’s in a relationship that isn’t very good for them. The speaker wants to break free, but they just can’t…

If this track is released in an upcoming album, I’ll change the details to reflect that, and I’ll update the translation if the lyrics change.

嘘じゃない証拠に
何も話しやしない
変わりたい本当は
だけど関りは絶えない　理解？

uso ja nai shouko ni
nani mo hanashi ya shinai
kawaritai hontou wa
dakedo kakawari wa taenai rikai?

When faced with indisputable proof,
There’s no need to say anything.
Truthfully, I want to change
But our relationship won’t stop. Understood?

中に残した　意識に反してなんて無関係

naka ni nokoshita ishiki ni hanshite nante mukankei

It doesn’t matter if I go against my senses, left inside me.

サーチライト　照らしておくれ無様な僕を
嗚呼　隠れてた理由が浮かび上がる程、鮮やかに
何十回　同じ事を言い聞かせただろう
絶望的思考も受け取って二人の不協和音

saachiraito terashite okure buzama na boku wo
aa kakureteta riyuu ga ukabi agaru hodo, azayaka ni
nanjuukai onaji koto wo ii kikaseta darou
zetsubou-teki shikou mo uketotte futari no disukoodo

I beg for a searchlight to illuminate my clumsy self.
Ah… shine so brightly that my hidden motives will float to the surface!
I must have told myself the same things so many times.
I take hopeless thoughts on board. Our discord echoes…

愛してる証拠に
傷み分けしましょう、
やめてよ二度と。

aishiteru shouko ni
itamiwake shimashou,
yamete yo nido to.

As proof of our love
Let’s share our pain.
No, stop! Never again.

誰がそうした　明日の予定だって未確定

dare ga sou shita ashita no yotei datte mikakutei

Who did that? Even tomorrow’s schedule is pending.

サーキュレイト　同じ解答がぐるぐる廻る
忘られぬ風景も打ち消される程、苦しくて
賢明じゃん、会わない方が　A分かっている
説明から絶命　繰り返す二人の不協和音

saakyureito onaji kotae ga guru guru mawaru
wasurarenu fuukei mo uchi kesareru hodo, kurushikute
kenmei jan, awanai hou ga A wakatte iru
setsumei kara zetsumei kurikaesu futari no disukoodo

The same answers keep circulating around.
They’re so painful they drown out that unforgettable scene.
I know the answer: we shouldn’t meet. Isn’t that smart?
Annihilation comes from explanations. We repeat our discord.

雨後曇りでまた雨模様
興味無い雄など十把取って一絡げに

ame nochi kumori de mata ame moyou
kyoumi nai osu nado jippa totte hitokarage ni

It’s cloudy after the rain, and it looks like it’ll rain again.
I’ll take ten boring men and bundle them together!

サーチライト　照らしておくれ舞様な僕を
嗚呼　隠れてた理由が浮かび上がる程、鮮やかに
もう恋なんてしない方が、一層楽だろう
渇望から絶望　鳴り止まぬ二人の不協和音

saachiraito terashite okure buzama na boku wo
aa kakureteta riyuu ga ukabi agaru hodo, azayaka ni
mou koi nante shinai hou ga, issou raku darou
katsubou kara zetsubou nari yamanu futari no disukoodo

I beg for a searchlight to illuminate my clumsy self.
Ah… shine so brightly that my hidden motives will float to the surface!
Perhaps it’s better for me to never fall in love again.
Despair comes from my thirst. Our discord won’t stop echoing.

馬と骨 || Horse and Bone

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index03馬と骨
uma to hone
Horse and Bone

Vocals: IZNA
Lyrics: IZNA
Arranged by: NSY
Album: Pleasure Virgin (悦楽バージン) 【Official Site】
Circle: touhoujihen (東方事変)
Event: Autumn Reitaisai 1 [ARTS1]
Original Theme: Tomboyish Girl in Love [おてんば恋娘]

Requested by: yen

The title of this song is based on a proverb: 馬の骨 (uma no hone). It’s a derogatory term used to talk about someone whose origins are a bit shady. The idea behind the proverb is “the bones of a horse are useless and too large to dispose of. In the same way, this person is useless.”

The title of this song, however, replaces の with と. I think this changes the meaning just a little – the speaker might be the ‘horse’, and the person they’re talking about might be the ‘bone.’ The ‘bone’ is useless to them, but it’s hard to throw them away because they’re such a large part of their life.

そぼ降る雪の如し
落ちては　只溶けゆく
やっと築いた高台を
あぁ無様に崩される

sobofuru yuki no gotoshi
ochite wa tada tokete yuku
yatto kizuita takadai wo
aa buzama ni kuzusareru

It falls then melts away
Like snow, drizzling down.
The high ground I created at last…
Ah, you tear it down in an unsightly manner.

結局　其れをしては
昨日と同じだね、と
使い廻した言い訳は
未だ破られることなく

kekkyoku sore wo shite wa
kinou to onaji dane, to
tsukai mawashita iiwake wa
mada yaburareru koto naku

In the end, you did that
Just like you did yesterday.
Those well-worn excuses
Haven’t been breached yet.

何度も直刃を充てがうだけで
トドメは生憎　持ち合わせていないの？

nando mo suguha wo ategau dake de
todome wa ainiku mochiawasete inai no?

You just keep furnishing your blades with suguha (1)
And you shy from the killing blow. Don’t you have one?

すれ違い会話に溜息
もう何も思い出したくないの
今の私　言葉を捨てて

surechigai kaiwa ni tameiki
mou nani mo omoidashitakunai no
ima no watashi kotoba wo sutete

I sigh at our disagreements.
I don’t want to remember anything anymore.
Now, I’ve cast away words.

憖　深みは幾重に（あぁ）増してゆくだけで
答えは生憎　持ち合わせていないの？

namaji fukami wa ikue ni (aa) mashite yuku dake de
kotae wa ainiku mochiawasete inai no?

Your thoughtlessness is many-layered. (Ah…) It just keeps growing.
You shy from giving answers. Don’t you have any?

喩えれば　So早熟
行交う人の中で
やっと気付いたこの所望
未だ果たされることなく

tatoereba So soujuku
yukikau hito no naka de
yatto kidzuita kono shomou
imada mitasareru koto naku

Speaking figuratively, yes—it ripened too early.
Among the people, going to and fro,
I realised what I wished for at last.
It hasn’t been fulfilled yet.

(1) A suguha is a type of visual effect (刃文 – hamon) created on a Japanese blade. It is a common, straight hamon. For more information, visit this site. It is possible that this stanza is a metaphor, describing the arguments the speaker has with their lover.

贖 || Redemption

Releska2 Comments

jihen-arts贖
aganai
Redemption

Vocals: IZNA
Lyrics: IZNA
Arranged by: NSY
Album: Redemption (贖) 【Official Site】
Circle: Touhou Jihen (東方事変)
Event: Autumn Reitaisai 3 [ARTS3]
Original Theme: Nostalgic Blood of the East ~ Old World [懐かしき東方の血 ~ Old World]

This is another great track from Touhou Jihen! I feel like the song is about Keine losing control, wanting to protect someone but instead going too far…

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

もう十に戻れない午前二時の闇
夢に迄に見た一縷の希望
拾い集めたならば見紛うなよ

mou too ni modorenai gozen niji no yami
yume ni made ni mita ichiru no kibou
hiroi atsumeta naraba mimagou na yo

It’s 2 a.m. and it’s dark. The clock’s hands won’t turn back to 10…
I saw threads of hope, even in my dreams.
If you gather them up, don’t mistake them for something else!

現実は是程に物を言うのだろう
元に戻れない懐かしい血よ哭かないで　嗚呼

genjitsu wa kore hodo ni mono wo iu no darou
moto ni modorenai natsukashii chi yo nakanaide aa

Is reality really so powerful?
This nostalgic blood of mine cannot return to normal. Don’t cry! Aah…

絵画調に塗り変えられて　誰が誰というのだろうか、こんな顔
不確かな文字だけが言わずもがな蔓延った

kaigachou ni nuri kaerarete dare ga dare to iu no darou ka, konna kao
futashika na tekisuto dake ga iwazumogana habikotta

My face was artistically coated over. Who is who?
Of course, only unreliable text ran rampant.

不安に押し潰されないように実ったこの胸を

fuan ni oshi tsubusarenai you ni minotta kono mune wo

My heart ripened so it wouldn’t be crushed by unease.

果てなく果てしなく　当然に仕掛かり
簡単に拭えない過ちに気付いたならば二度と誤魔化すなよ

hatenakute hateshinaku touzen ni shikakari
kantan ni nuguenai ayamachi ni kidzuita naraba nido to gomakasu na yo

Endlessly, endlessly… It all began naturally.
If you become aware of a mistake that can’t be easily erased, don’t tamper with it again!

現実は是程に物を言うのだろう
元に戻れない懐かしい血よ

genjitsu wa kore hodo ni mono wo iu no darou
moto ni modorenai natsukashii chi yo

Is reality really so powerful?
This nostalgic blood of mine cannot return to normal.

琥珀色と金色があたしの体温を奪っていく
こげんか事では泣きもせん
最初から愛したかったのに哀しいわ

kohakuiro to konjiki ga atashi no taion wo ubatte iku
kogenka koto de wa naki mo sen
hana kara aishitakatta noni kanashii wa

Amber and gold begin to steal away the heat in my body.
Such things won’t make me cry…
I wanted to love you from the start, but now I’m so sad.

是式の加減を人間は”平等”だと賞讃をした　その裏で
是式の手加減を人間は”臆病”だと罵った。

kore shiki no kagen wo hito wa “byoudou” da to shousan wo shita sono ura de
kore shiki no tekagen wo hito wa “okubyou” da to nonoshitta.

Humans called their insignificant condition “equality,” praising it. But beneath the surface…
Humans hurled abuse, calling such trite allowances “cowardice.”

何度でも巡るいとしき豊潤な解答を

nando demo meguru itoshiki houjun na kotae wo

A dear, luxurious answer returns, time and time again.

果てなく果てしなく　当然に仕掛かり
汚れて嫌われて　それでも尚、一度掴んだならば手放すなよ

hate naku hate shinaku touzen shikakari
kegarete kirawarete sore demo nao, ichido tsukanda naraba tebanasu na yo

Endlessly, endlessly… It all began naturally.
I’m corrupted and hated. Even so, if you grab hold of me, don’t let go!

もう十に戻れない午前二時の闇
元に戻れない懐かしい血よ哭かないで
君を守りたかった

mou too ni modorenai gozen niji no yami
moto ni modorenai natsukashii chi yo nakanaide
kimi wo mamoritakatta

It’s 2 a.m. and it’s dark. The clock’s hands won’t turn back to 10…
This nostalgic blood of mine cannot return to normal. Don’t cry!
I wanted to protect you.

もう、邪魔しないで

mou jamashinai de

Don’t get in my way!