apparently 2016 was the year of the monkey.

[trouser_chimp]

I'M SO SORRYYYY!

I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT MY YEAR WOULD BRING NOTHING BUT PAIN AND MISFORTUNE!

Here I was, living with intolerable ignorance, oblivious that any year associated with me would bring grief and confusion. I should have worked hard to ensure my year would be filled with any kind of joy, but instead, my empty head never realized the weight of my actions and lack thereof. In the decades to come, my presence will mark that year as the worst of the 2010s... perhaps the worst the world has ever seen!

I APOLOGIZE TO EVERYONE WHO SUFFERED IN 2016! I APOLOGIZE TO EVERYONE WHO WILL SUFFER IN 2028! I APOLOGIZE TO YOU, WILL APOLOGIZE TO THE WORRRRLLLLLD!

Comments

[prettyrat]

Ritsu, calm down. No one is blaming you for anything that happened last year, believe me.

[trouser_chimp]

Eh? Are you sure...?

[prettyrat]

Absolutely positive. There's nothing you could have done to prevent bad things from happening. I know that I couldn't change anything during Year of the Rat, so it's best not to dwell on it.

[umbrelly]

What an idiot.

[trouser_chimp]

Yes, it's true... I'm so sorry.

[protectingfreedom]

Ritsu, you are not to blame.

[trouser_chimp]

Akito-sama! T-To hear such words from you...

[protectingfreedom]

I mean them. [She smiles faintly and reaches out to dry his tears.]

[trouser_chimp]

[And such a kind act makes him want to cry MORE, but he manages not to.]

Thank you...

[protectingfreedom]

[He is far too hard on himself - something she perpetuated in the past. She doesn't want to put him down ever again.]

For what? You've always been this way. How can I help you?

[trouser_chimp]

Oh, I could never ask you for anything! This is my own burden to carry!

[protectingfreedom]

You're wrong. I am the head of the family and you should be able to rely on me.

[notafruit]

[Oh dear. Lifting her hands up, she tries to placate him, voice calm.]

Ri-chan-san, it's all right. You didn't do anything wrong. It might have been a rough year, but there were good things this year too! And I like the year of the monkey! Please don't be so hard on yourself. No one blames you.

[trouser_chimp]

Honda-san...

[Sniffle sniffle.]

You really think so?

[notafruit]

Absolutely! Everyone cares about you a great deal. And no one thinks you're responsible for events that are out of our control. [There's no reason for him to be so hard on himself.]

You're always so considerate and worry about upsetting people. Everyone knows what a big heart you have. So smile! I think that you should celebrate the end of the Year of the Monkey with a smile.