Artist's commentary
Nazu's affair from the other side.
He and Nazu have gotten a lot closer lately. It used to be Nazu would make fun of him, and he would come back with words just as vicious. It was much the same now as it was then, but every once in a while the two of them would share fevered glances, or sometimes they would both disappear. It was like there was a secret shared only by the two of them.
He was a young man who came to the temple to study. He paid attention to the sermons, was respectful to all (except Nazu), and trained hard to endure the asceticism. I respect that kind of dedication, so I respected him even though he was a human. That respect grew into a comfortable feeling whenever he was around, without me even realizing it. By the time I did realize it, I was thinking only of him. Nazu noticed my new feelings for him.
"If you're going to go after him, you need to consider carefully whether those feelings are honest or not. You shouldn't assume that that cozy feeling will last forever," is the advice she gave me.
But it was such foolishness. He is a human, and I am an acting Bishamonten. The answer is clear. I'm satisfied with the current relationship. For whatever reason, he is near me. Just that was enough. The way things are now is nothing. This separation can go on forever. That was my belief.
That night Nazu crept away to go to his room. I thought this was strange, so I peeked into the room after her. She was sitting in his lap, and he was holding her close. I sobbed. It was impossible for that freeloader Nazu to be doing what I saw, much less doing it with him. He and the freeloading Nazu, behaving like carefree lovers... no. No! I don't want to see that. I felt like throwing up. It unfolded in front of me like a nightmare...
"Why don't you take my clothes off today?" Nazu said. He agreed and began to help her strip.
I pulled back and left, unable to watch anymore. I hated it. I hated it, and despised it, and.. w-why did he... why with Nazu? Stop it! This isn't possible... I hate it. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it! Hate it, hate it, hate it, hate, hate, hate, I hate!