父と白鳥(Father and the Swan) P46

源三

「征士郎…んぐっ…少し、力を…緩めてくれ。頼む…話を、聞いてくれ…」（痛みに耐えながら息を整え、目をぎゅっと閉じる）

征士郎

「緩めません。このまま全部話してください。オラ、待ってますよ。」（手を緩める気配はなく、声に苛立ちが混じる）

源三

「ん…ぐっ…分かった、話す…話すから…。…俺はな、この家で…三ツ輪家の後ろ盾になってくれる方々の…性接待の役目を担ってるんだ。」（痛みに声を震わせつつ、必死に言葉を続ける）

征士郎

「……そう、ですか。」（一瞬言葉を止めて源三を見つめ、眉を寄せる）「でも、ボンさんがさっき言ってたみたいに…父上、今の姿…まるで喜んでるみたいに見えますよ。何なんですか、その顔は？」（声に疑念と嫌悪感が滲む）

源三

「それは…俺が、もう何年も…自分でセンズリすることを作也先生に禁じられてるからだ。俺たちの家系はな、精力が人の何倍…いや、何十倍もある。お前も最近、感じ始めてるだろ？その体の異変を。元々はその体質を見込まれて、先生の下で働くようになったんだよ。」（少し落ち着きを取り戻し、説明に熱が入る）

征士郎

「…確かに、オラも何かおかしいとは思ってました。風呂場で父上が頼んでくるのも…そういうことだったんですか。」（少し考え込むように目を伏せるが、すぐに顔を上げる）「でも、なんで自分で処理するのを禁じられてるんですか？その理由は？」（声に鋭さが戻り、問い詰める）

源三

「それは…ぐっ…」（言葉を詰まらせ、目をそらす。しばらく沈黙した後、意を決したように口を開く）「昔、俺が…作也先生と親密な仲だった時、俺が先生を裏切ったからだ…。」（声を小さくし、悔しそうに唇を噛む）

征士郎

「…。」（黙って源三を見つめ、表情に複雑な感情が浮かぶ。怒りと困惑が交錯している）

源三

「征士郎…。」（息子の反応をうかがい、痛みと罪悪感が入り混じった声で呼びかける）

征士郎

「その…お役目は、父上だけでやってるんですか？」（少し間を置いて、冷静さを装いつつ質問する）

源三

「……いや、好六くんもだ。」（目を伏せ、小さく答える）

征士郎

「好六兄さんも…。」（驚きと納得が入り混じった声で呟き、しばらく考え込む）「分かりました。」（決意を固めたように顔を上げ、源三をじっと見据える）「じゃあ、今ここで全部、その精を空になるまで出し切って…今日は終わりにしましょう。」（声に力がこもり、感情の高ぶりが感じられる）

源三

「……征士郎？何を…」（驚きと困惑が入り混じった表情で息子を見つめる）

Genzo

“Seishiro… ngh… ease up a little, please. Just… let me talk. I need you to listen…”
(He winces, squeezing his eyes shut, fighting to breathe through the discomfort.)

Seishiro

“I’m not easing up. You’re gonna tell me everything right here, right now. I’m waiting.”
(His grip stays firm, his voice edged with irritation and impatience.)

Genzo

“Alright… ngh… I get it, I’ll talk… just bear with me.
…In this house, I… I serve as a companion for the patrons who back the Mitsuwa family. It’s my job to… entertain them.”
(His voice quivers with pain, but he pushes the words out, desperate to explain.)

Seishiro

“…I see.”
(He pauses, staring at Genzo with a furrowed brow.)
“But earlier, Bon-san said something… and honestly, Father, the way you look right now… it’s almost like you’re enjoying this. What’s with that face?”
(Suspicion and disgust creep into his tone.)

Genzo

“That’s because… for years, I’ve been forbidden by Master Sakuya to… relieve myself. Our bloodline has this insane vitality—ten, maybe dozens of times more than normal people. You’ve started feeling it too, haven’t you? Those changes in your body.
That’s why I was first taken in by the master—to work under him, because of this trait.”
(He steadies himself a bit, his explanation growing more earnest.)

Seishiro

“…Yeah, I’ve noticed something’s off with me lately. And when you ask me to help you in the bath… that’s what it was about?”
(He lowers his eyes thoughtfully for a moment, then snaps them back up.)
“But why are you banned from handling it yourself? What’s the reason?”
(His voice sharpens again, pressing for more.)

Genzo

“It’s because… ngh…”
(He falters, looking away. After a long pause, he braces himself and continues.)
“A long time ago, when I was close to Master Sakuya… I betrayed him.”
(His voice drops, and he bites his lip in regret.)

Seishiro

“…”
(He stares at Genzo in silence, his face a storm of anger and confusion.)

Genzo

“Seishiro…”
(He calls out softly, his voice laced with pain and guilt as he watches his son’s reaction.)

Seishiro

“This… role… is it something only you have to do?”
(After a brief pause, he asks, trying to keep his tone steady.)

Genzo

“…No. Kouroku does it too.”
(He lowers his gaze, answering quietly.)

Seishiro

“Kouroku-nii too…”
(He mutters, a mix of surprise and realization in his voice. He pauses to think.)
“Alright then.”
(He lifts his head, locking eyes with Genzo, his stare resolute.)
“In that case, let’s get it all out right here, right now. Drain every last drop… and call it a day.”
(His voice is firm, heavy with emotion.)

Genzo

“…Seishiro? What are you…”
(He stares at his son, shock and confusion written across his face.)