Happy Sugar Life by Tomiyaki Kagisora

Why didn't the Firefly King shed tears at the end of the anime? I'm pretty sure Satou-chan's twisted romantic love for Shio-chan was worth it all, and the end was unbelievably satisfying. Perhaps, he saw a glimpse of what could've happened if the two "lover" were able to fulfill their objective.

They could've been to the airport in time, they could've bought a house on their own in a different place, live a life, the same way as they do or even better. Even go to church and get an eerily weird wedding. But it didn't happened. It all ended with the two of them committing suicide but at the last second, Satou-chan, the sinner saved Shio-chan, her angel. She couldn't commit to the promise. But at the end of her live, she committed it to her love for Shio-chan.

... So why didn't the Firefly King shed tears?

To be honest, it was this inability that made the Firefly King cry. He doesn't understand. He wanted to cry but he just couldn't. He wanted to empathize with Satou-chan but he couldn't. Perhaps her sin were too much for the Firefly King to make any connection with her?

---

"Firefly Dimension," whispered the disappointed yet regretting Firefly King. It was his ability to stop time and let a single moment as indefinitely eternal. It's also in this moment when he could talk with anyone. The person or people or things he could talk to is able to converse with him as well but only the Firefly King can move

"Satou Matsuzaka," he gravely spoke to which Satou-chan immediately became conscious. This is a dream, right? she said in her mind. "Shio Kobe."

"Satou-chan?" Shio asked the woman she was wrapped around. "What's happening?"

"Don't worry, Shio-chan, we are dreaming. This is all part of-"

The Firefly King as strange as he was flew close to the two falling lovers.

"I am the Firefly King, Satou, Shio," the Firefly King gently said. "You two are dying and it isn't my right to meddle with your love. But please, enlighten me. Why I don't understand your love?"

Satou wanted to move but realized she couldn't. She wanted to tighten her hands on Shio but she couldn't. They are stuck and this creature is about to take away Shio from her.

"Please, do not be alarm. I will not be taking her from you. I just want to talk," the Firefly King said as he removed his mask, revealing a teary eyed child but seemed to have no tears to shed. "Satou, Shio, please tell me. Why I couldn't cry?"

"Satou-chan," Shio  said wondering what was happening before them.

"Don't worry, Shio-chan, I'm here beside you. He cannot take you away from me, that's a promise."

"No, no, please," the teary eyed Firefly King once more spoke gently. "Please don't be afraid, I won't take her away from you. I promise you that. So please, just speak with me."

"We are in some kind of magical spell or something, right?" Satou asked.

"Yes, this is my magic," the Firefly King said. "I'm also the one who left the ring beside Shoko. I thought you could've talked more if she isn't alive. Perhaps it might have been to open your eyes."

"You're sick!" Satou cried.

"Sick? Weren't you the one who killed her?"

"But... but I did it because she's threatening to take away Shio from me."

"Right, right," the Firefly King sighed. "It is the unbreakable love between the two of you, right?"

"Yes," Shio answered. "And no one in the world will make me leave Satou-chan."

"Upon finding the truth about me, she left me," Satou said.

"Was it the truth you wanted she found out?" the Firefly King said. "Or was that girl the truth you wanted her never to find out? She would've helped you, you know that? You're best friends, right?"

"No!" Satou cried. "She's a liar. And she threatened to take away the little world I have. My happiness. My love."

"She wanted to accept you," the Firefly King said as his eyes changed hue: from argent ocean to argent sky. "But she was just... deeply shocked of what you are living in. And that's just the reality that you showed, not the real you. She was concerned for you, Satou. It's just that... it's just that way for her. It's her nature. But it seemed you haven't realized that yet. Even being with you for a long time. She is easily surprised but her love for you, her concern for you, all of it were true."

"She's a liar," Satou whispered.

"She's fragile, little Satou. Just like you. Just like that little one, you're holding."

The Firefly King took once more his mask and smiled just before he put it back.

"I know your love is pure, and the world you live in is nothing but filth, sadness, sorrow... bitterness. But... you didn't have to go that far," the Firefly King said with regret. "Your fragile little jar, is bruise, dented and cracked all over, and still you refused love of other. I can't deny though that sweetness you are filling it.

"I'm sorry, my little Satou. Though tragic and sorrowful your life is, I couldn't shed a single tear for your life. I can see bitterness surrounding it. Your jar maybe filled with sweet but I know for certain it is made of bitterness. I'm sorry," the Firefly King as he readied to undo his spell.

"You're wrong," the child Shio spoke. "Satou-chan might have done all of that but I couldn't careless. She did it because she loves me. And that is enough for me. She might have done all wrong things but it was because she loves me. When my mother abandoned me, she was there. Even though I'm always in the castle all alone until night, she always comes home and tells me tales and... she's always tell me that she loves me. She... she was doing all that she could all for me. I'm selfish. I'm a bad girl. But I love Satou-chan.

"She even gave me this ring as a symbol of our love for each other." Shio said as she tries hard to feel it in her hands.

"I admire your love for her, little Shio. But my tears still won't shed. I'm very sorry, little one," the apathetic Firefly King said. "I will undo my spell, Satou, Shio... But I will take you away from her."

These words raised concern for the two lovers.

"What? I thought, you will not take her away from me?" Satou retorted. "Please! Don't! I beg of you."

"No! No! I want to stay with Satou-chan," Shio said.

"Don't worry, I will save her," the Firefly King said. "I'm sorry but your love for each other is too pure for me to understand."

"Please, don't. I don't want to be separated with her," Satou begged. "Please! Not like this!"

"Satou-chan," Shio whispered as tears started to form in her eyes.

"Shio-chan, I'm sorry. But it seems the castle I promised you... will...-"

The Firefly King sighed.

"Satou, Shio... let's make a deal, shall we?" the Firefly King once more removed his mask. "One of you will die but your love will transcend the vow you made. 'Till death do us part.' That fragile glass jar you have Satou will break but I will let little Shio be your new glass jar. May nothing but sweets fill it for the rest of your life. Beside, I want to understand this Happy Sugar Life you always speak of.. Please, smile for me, both of you.

"Promised Alter, White Wash, Firefly Dimension," chanted the Firefly King. With these the two lovers have transcended death and the time moved again. And his presence and memory with them, in the two lovers are but feint fleeting memories that none of them will remember but the Firefly King.