Friday, April 23, 2021

Is the United States really capable of convincing the rest of the world to cut carbon dioxide emissions?


The Biden administration's target of cutting U.S. carbon dioxide emissions to 50-52% that of its 2005 level by 2030 sounds ambitious. But will it really convince other countries to reduce their emissions?

Carbon dioxide is a by-product of human activity, and the United States likes to draw attention to total emissions as a country. This is because the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by each country is the sum of the carbon footprint of every person in its population. In general, countries with large populations end up emitting more carbon dioxide than those with smaller populations, if they are engaged in the same level of human activity.

 
Using total emissions at the country level thus allows the United States to call on countries like China to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions. China as a country emits about twice as much carbon dioxide as the United States. If the United States halves its emissions, it will be emitting a quarter of which China is emitting.

The caveat, though, is that China has more than four times the population of the United States.

Population by country (Source: World Bank)
 
So when you look at the carbon footprint (per capita carbon dioxide emissions) of each person in the United States versus a person in China, you see that the carbon footprint of a person in China is actually less than half that of someone in the United States. If the United States reduces its emissions by 50%, it won't even be on par, at the per capita level, with China.
 
So while it sounds like the United States is setting an example in environmental consciousness, it still falls short of where China is right now. For the United States to really be convincing in taking the lead on climate change, it will need to do better. It will need to reduce its per capita carbon dioxide emissions to below those of other major developing and developed countries. Otherwise, it is just conveniently choosing the statistics that suits its purpose while ignoring those that don't.

Thursday, April 15, 2021

Flutter, Python, and which to use for what

Recently, I have started learning how to program user interfaces in Flutter (which is based on the Dart language). It is different from other programming languages and GUI frameworks which I have used in the past. In this post, I am going to talk a bit about my thoughts on Flutter/Dart and Python (with frameworks like PySimpleGUI and Kivy).

A bit of background. I am new to Flutter and Dart. I have been using Python for several years (since 2016) with some experience in the GUI frameworks wxPython, Kivy and PySimpleGUI. I have also done programming in Java before (back in the early 2000s, as well as in recent years). I have tried to learn wxWidgets in C++. In the 1990s, I have used C to program text-based applications and for micromouse. I learnt Turbo Pascal in school, and before that, I picked up C on my own, and even before that, I have programmed in GW-BASIC and Quick BASIC. When I was working in data science, I picked up R too.
 
I like Python for its ease of use. It is a high level programming language with a lot of libraries that can make life very easy for the programmer. You can probably find a library that does what you want to do without having to do everything from scratch. And it is easy to use these libraries too, since they are usually available via a central repository. Flutter/Dart also has a good central repository of packages too, and the selection covers a broad scope. But still, compared to Python, Flutter/Dart does not have that extensive a selection.
 
This makes Python very attractive when I need a quick solution. Find the libraries I need, piece them together to achieve the solution I want, and voila! While Kivy is not an easy GUI framework to use, PySimpleGUI allows me to easily clobber together a GUI for the underlying application. And if I am doing something related to data science, Python is really convenient because many of the needed data manipulations are available in easy-to-use libraries.

The issue is deployment. I have written about two methods: using PyInstaller, and using Cython. (These are for deployment to Windows, which is still what the majority of consumers use.) While both methods are not exactly rocket science, it still requires some effort on the programmer to write configuration files (for PyInstaller) or figure out which are the DLLs you need if using Cython.
 
Flutter makes deployment much easier. There is still the need to edit the build configurations, but I find it to be much less complicated (okay, this is subjective). You can easily package for Linux using snapcraft. Packaging on Windows is easy if you use Inno Setup. And packaging for Android is easy too, just use flutter build android. And Flutter's UI consistency across different platforms makes it truly attractive when building cross-platform applications. Kivy tries to achieve the same for Python, but I found it hard to change the default Kivy theme.

In summary, I prefer Python when I need something to be done without having to worry about deployment. So I use Python when I am working on applications that I intend for my own personal use. For applications that will likely be useful to more people, I intend to use Flutter/Dart going forward due to its consistency cross-platform look and well-documented steps for platform deployment.

----------------
Side note: I continue to use C/C++ for microcontroller programming since that is usually the language that most microcontrollers' frameworks support. MicroPython is up and coming too. Given that Python and Flutter/Dart both can run on different platforms, I no longer find Java, which I once preferred for its cross-platform features, attractive. I still have fond memories of BASIC but that is more for nostalgia than practical use. I was never fond of Pascal and only used it because school assignments required me to do so. I haven't touched R ever since I left my full-time data science job.

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

A trip to Tsuchiura, hometown of Miura Haruma

A few days ago, the family being fans of Miura Haruma (三浦春馬), some more, some less, we took a trip to Tsuchiura, the town where he was born and raised. Given the current pandemic, we decided not to take the train and risk having to go through the crowds of Tokyo. Instead, we drove ourselves to Tsuchiura, which took slightly more than 2 hours each way.

The main purpose of the trip was to catch a movie at Tsuchiura Central Cinemas (土浦セントラルシネマズ; official Twitter account here).
 
As the local cinema of his birthplace, the cinema has been showing Mori no Gakkou (森の学校) and Tengaramon (天外者), the first and last movies where he played the leading roles.


The cinema is practically a shrine to Miura Haruma, where fans can leave messages.
 
After filling up one wall, messages are being left on another wall.

There is also a small exhibition area where the cinema's owner puts up items related to Miura Haruma, like behind-the-scenes photos. The exhibits on display are rotated from time to time.

We were a bit early for the next show, so we decided to grab a quick lunch nearby. We walked through MALL505 (モール505) and only realized that this was where Miura Haruma's mother used to run a shop. After a ramen lunch, we headed back to the cinema.

This time, we watched Tengaramon. It was my second time catching this movie. At the end of the movie, the cinema's owner went to the front and talked to the audience about his impression of Miura Haruma, who participated in movie launch events at this cinema. The first was for Mori no Gakkou, when he was still a boy. Several years later, he was back for another movie launch event. The owner said he was very impressed by this well-mannered young man. I think we all mourn his early departure.

After the movie, we went to take a look at Manabe Elementary School and Tsuchiura Second Junior High School. These were the schools that Miura Haruma attended. They are still being used today, so while we took some photos from outside the schools, I won't be posting them here.

By then, it was getting a bit late. We dropped by a nearby Starbucks for some coffee before embarking on the two-hour drive home.

It was a long day and I was a bit tired from the drive, but I think it was a fruitful trip. Miura Haruma was really a good actor, and his portrayal of characters with a melancholic side was especially impressive. He had an extremely wide repertoire of expressions which brought to life the characters he portrayed. Every time he appears on screen, I feel that he steals the attention of viewers with his presence. Which makes it all the more sad to know that we will never be able to see any more new portrayals by him, since he passed away on Jul 18, 2020. I think our visit this time happened to be 100 days before the first anniversary of his death.

Anyway, the cinema's owner said he will be showing Miura Haruma's films for the time being. So fans who wish to see him can always drop by Tsuchiura Central Cinemas. I think we will be back again.

Side note: Tsuchiura Central Cinemas was also the venue for events which featured the directors of Mori no Gakkou and Tengaramon who made their way down there for Miura Haruma's birthday on April 5. The string of events took place from April 4 to 6, 2021.

Sunday, April 11, 2021

Two-way poem by Li Yu from the Song Dynasty 李禺《兩相思》 (《思妻詩》《​思夫詩》)

李禺《兩相思》
 
正讀《思妻詩》:
枯眼望遙山隔水,往來曾見幾心知?
壺空怕酌一杯酒,筆下難成和韻詩。
途路陽人離別久,訊音無雁寄回遲。
孤燈夜守長寥寂,夫憶妻兮父憶兒。
 
倒讀為《思夫詩》:
兒憶父兮妻憶夫,寂寥長守夜燈孤。
遲回寄雁無音訊,久別離人陽路途。
詩韻和成難下筆,酒杯一酌怕空壺。
知心幾見曾往來,水隔山遙望眼枯




Thursday, April 08, 2021

Anime-original or stay true to the source?

Many anime works are based on manga, light novels, or some other form of source material. For example, Sword Art Online, Violet Evergarden, and Mushoku Tensei are based on a light novel. The Quintessential Quintuplets, The Promised Neverland, Horimiya, and Demon Slayer are based on manga. Being published before the anime adaptation, these source materials usually have their own fan base. Any deviation from the source materials will be noticed by those who have read the source materials before.

Producers of anime adaptations are thus faced with the options of staying true to the source material, or developing anime-original content. In this post, I shall explore four examples. A disclaimer: I have only read the source materials for three of them (Violet Evergarden, The Quintessential Quintuplets, and Horimiya) so my comments on The Promised Neverland are more based on online reviews by those how have read the source material and watched the anime.
 
Let me start with Horimiya. Horimiya is a manga that is based on a web comic called Hori-san and Miyamura-kun. As of now, the manga series just ended, with 15 volumes already published and the 16th (and final) volume should be out sometime soon. The anime adaptation runs a single season with 13 episodes, which is really short for a 16-volume manga. Usually, a single season can adapt about four volumes, so you can imagine the amount of stuff that was cut to squeeze everything within 13 episodes.
 
But Horimiya is a slice-of-life manga with a strong romance theme. It is really a collection of small episodes, which actually makes it easy for the anime producers to choose which episodes they want to make into anime. The manga actually covers stories about more characters, but by focusing on a handful of core characters and their stories, the anime was able to string together a series of stories that flowed chronologically without having to do much, if any, anime-original changes.
 
In contrast, Violet Evergarden is a light novel, and when it was being adapted into anime, there were only two volumes and the source material just did not have enough content for a 13-episode season. The light novel also started with the characters already established, and readers slowly discover the background as they read the book. This can make it difficult for anime viewers to understand. This was one of the reasons for making anime-original content for this series. The anime brought one of the background stories to the start, threw in a couple of anime-original characters to help build the background, but otherwise stayed true to those stories which it adapted (except for the ending).
 
The ending was probably rewritten because they wanted to make a sequel movie for the reunion between Violet and Gilbert. So we ended up with an anime-original twist to the "train hijack" story which was the reunion (and final story of the original two-volume light novel), turning it into an "open" ending allowing for a sequel. The final reunion in the sequel movie actually reused a lot of the light novel's dialogue, just in a different setting. Fans of the light novel (including the anime director himself) would say that the light novel was great as it is. But I think that the anime-original content and changes help to make the anime as strong a story as the light novel. Each is great in its own way, and the anime ultimately remained true to the core themes, concepts, and style of the source material.

The Quintessential Quintuplets started out as a faithful adaptation of the manga series during its first season, but the second season was a lot more ambitious. The first season covered four volumes; the second season covered six. Many scenes were actually cut in the second season in order to bring the season's conclusion at the end of the school trip. And we know that the sequel (either a third season or a movie) will adapt the final four volumes to conclude the entire series.
 
Like Horimiya, this series has no lack of source material. But what it has is time. With two seasons plus a final season/movie, it can adapt a lot more material. But unlike Horimiya, the stories in The Quintessential Quintuplets are not standalone episodes but more intertwined with each other. Yes, there are occasionally some short side-episodes with no real impact on the story's final outcome. But most of the manga is about the core story. So the second season became quite a hectic rush as it tried to adapt too much of the story in a short period of time, removing every side-episode not fully related to the core story, and even some of those episodes that are. But the anime series has not ended yet, so those related episodes that were cut may still end up being adapted in the final season/movie as a flashback.

As for The Promised Neverland, the reaction of people who have read the manga says it all. The manga has quite a few story arcs, and with the first arc taken an entire season to adapt, this manga series can be a long-running anime adaptation. Except that the people in higher management probably thought otherwise, and the anime was made to end with the second season. Entire arcs were skipped, or compressed in what can best be described as a series of PowerPoint slides. I don't think we can even use the concept of anime-original here.
 
Back to the topic of this post, which is about anime-original versus staying true to the source. I think the real question is, does it make the anime story as good or better than the source? If so, I don't really see any issue with make changes to the source as part of the anime adaptation process. 

In fact, anime, like light novels and manga, is a medium. What works for one medium may not work for another. Anime and manga are close enough that it is easy to have a faithful anime adaptation of a manga. But even then, manga allows the same episode to be told from the perspectives of several characters. For example, the final exam episode of The Quintessential Quintuplets could be told from each quintuplet's view. But this can be confusing and even onerous in anime, which is why a chronological telling of that same episode combining all five quintuplets' perspectives worked better for anime.

Light novels are less straightforward for anime adaptations, since they have less visual source materials to start with. Not having a visual element can limit the expressiveness of a story, but it can also free up that limitations since the author can play on the readers' imagination. A lot more work needs to be done for anime adaptation since anime is a visual media, while novels are word-based. Part of this work may entail making anime-original changes or additions to better adapt the source into a visual form. Like those for Violet Evergarden.

So when I see anime-original changes/additions in an anime adaptation of a light novel, I tend to be more forgiving and accepting as long as it makes the anime a better story. As for anime adaptations of manga, I think the question I still ask is, does it make the anime a better story? If so, I think we can always view it as an alternative route.

Bottom line: if it makes the anime adaptation a better story (compared to not making the changes/additions, and not compared to the source material), I think we should accept those changes/additions since anime is a different medium.

AI development and what it means for our future: Prologue

Originally, I had wanted to write about the implications that AI development has on the future of humankind, specifically in the areas of self-driving cars and language learning. For example, the development in machine translation has led to something like this.


But after giving it some thought, a single article is unlikely to capture the entire scope of implications. I myself don't think, as a single person, I can cover that entire scope, but the ideas I have already seem to overflow beyond a single article. So I am going to take more time to consolidate my thoughts, and spend more time on each idea by having each post cover only one idea.

Personally, I have no idea how long this series will last, but I am going to tag all posts in the series with "AI and the future" and we shall see how it goes.

Update 18 July 2022: An article on AI development and its implications


Wednesday, April 07, 2021

Violet Evergarden the Movie: Blu-ray/DVD announced

Just a quick post because I am so excited! KyoAni just announced that the Blu-ray and DVD for Violet Evergarden the Movie will be released on August 4, 2021. The Blu-ray will come in two versions: a normal one, and a UHD one which has the Dolby Vision® & Dolby Atmos® version that was shown in Dolby Cinemas.

Here is the official page.
It will come with its special case, all-colour booklet, two letters from Violet Evergarden (in Tellsis and Japanese), a set of storyboard drafts by Director Ishidate, the illustrations used on the four booklets handed out, and a card printed with the movie's poster.

Also, depending on the retailer you choose, there will be some other promotional items.

Here is the Twitter post.

I can't wait!
 
Update: The release of the DVD and Blu-ray has been delayed till October 13, 2021, due to overwhelming orders plus the issues with production under the state of emergency (because of COVID-19).

Sunday, April 04, 2021

Saturday, April 03, 2021

Tellsis language ("Nunkish") translator with Flutter UI


Update February 20, 2023:
Great news! The Tellsis translator app is now available through Flathub (link to Github packaging repo; this is not the actual app). More details in the main post below.
Update February 19, 2023:
I finally managed to package this app as a Flatpak bundle. It has been uploaded to the release page and instructions for installation have also been added. I am also applying for the app to be hosted on flathub.org and once that is approved, it will be much easier to install the app.
Update October 1, 2022:
Released version 0.2.1 today. The main change is to use SelectableText for the output so that it can be copied and pasted elsewhere. I also did a refresh install of Ubuntu MATE 22.04 and it works on that, so I guess there was something wrong with my previous install.
Update September 3, 2022:
Released version 0.2.0 today. Changed to version 0.2.0 since the use of dropdown_search, which required some code changes. Main fix was to rectify the poor handling of backslashes used to denote names. Sometimes, the names would not be properly replaced during the translation process, ending in "XXX1" "XXX2" being shown. Now it works.

 
Update (2) September 1, 2022:
Wow! Two updates in a day. Anyway, version 0.1.6 has been released. The major change is to replace flutter_form_builder with dropdown_search.
 
Update (1) September 1, 2022:
Version 0.1.5 released. Click here for Windows 10 installer and here for Android APK. For Linux users, it is available through snap. I was able to run it on Linux Mint 21 but not Ubuntu MATE 22.04. Main changes are to update the libraries used to the latest versions and add null checks and such due to null safety in Flutter.
 
Update July 9, 2021:
I have also created an account on Snapcraft, and Linux users should eventually be able to install it by
sudo snap install telsis-translator-flutter
on the command line. It seems to work on the snap that I previously built locally for amd64 architecture, but I have yet to figure out how to configure autobuild to work (it keeps failing).
Next is to add OCR capabilities, probably with the tesseract_ocr package, if I can figure out how to train it to recognise a custom font...
 
Update April 4, 2021: Binaries for Linux, Windows, and Android are available here.

I previously made a Python 3 script that translates to and from the Tellsis language (aka Nunkish), the language used in the Violet Evergarden world. I wanted to learn to create Android apps (I have done it previously in Java and Kivy, but I wanted to try something else), so I decided to learn how to program using the Flutter framework, which means I have to learn the Dart programming language. As part of learning Dart and Flutter programming, I decided to port my Tellsis language translator from Python 3 to Dart, then create a Flutter UI.

Using my spare time, I have finally managed to come up with a working version.

The advantage of using Flutter is that it is cross-platform. I can write the same code, and it will run on Linux, Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS. Of course, I don't own an iPhone or iMac, so I can't test if the application works on those platforms, but so far, I have gotten the app to work on Linux and Android (my Samsung Galaxy S7).

Here is how it looks in Linux Mint 20.1. (Update 28 August 2023: I just found official sources that state "Tellsis" and have made changes to the text used in this blog from "Tellsis" to "Tellsis" but the software will not be updated as it may impact others who have already downloaded the software.)


And here is version 0.2.0 on Linux Mint 21.

 
And here is an example of it running in an Android phone (Samsung Galaxy S7) and Android emulator.
 

I have built them into binaries (as a snap package for Linux, and APK for Android) which can be downloaded here. The source code can be found in the Github repository given below. This app is just for demonstration and learning. It is not for commercial use.


The repo has instructions on building the source code as well as how to install the binary releases.

By the way, my review of the 2020 Violet Evergarden movie (VIOLET EVERGARDEN the Movie) can be found here.
 
Github repo: telsis_translator
 
All posts related to Violet Evergarden.

Okay, for more information about the programming part. I am quite new to Dart, so the code may not be written in the most "Dart-like" manner, such as expressions and coding conventions. For the main input form, I used the package "flutter_form_builder" which provides many readymade input widgets. The problem is that, being readymade, it is harder to customize without reading the source code. For example, I use a searchable dropdown menu for selecting the source and target languages. Right now, after tapping on the button, the user needs to tap again in the text field to type in the language. I really hope to be able to switch the input context to the text field when those buttons are tapped/clicked.
 
"flutter_launcher_icons" was used to create the icons for Android, using the previous icon from the Python 3 version. It was relatively easy; just following the instructions for the package.
 
I also had quite a hard time packaging the app for Android. If you leave everything as the default, it should be easy. But I tried to use my own Android package name, and the app would refuse to build (because I forgot to make sure that the package name was the same in the AndroidManifest.xml file for both debug and main folders) or launch (because the package name was not correctly reflected in the MainActivity.kt file). But I finally managed to iron all that stuff out.

Packaging for Linux (creating a snap package) was a bit problematic too. In the end, I settled on a workflow of snapcraft clean telsis-translator-flutter and snapcraft build. (Note: Will try to package as flatpak and publish on Flathub, see "To do" at end of post.)


Update April 4, 2021: Packaged for Windows using Inno Setup, which creates a self-extracting installer that will copy the required files into the "Program Files" directory and add a menu entry.
At first, I tried using the msix package as mentioned here, but it requires a signed certificate to create the installer, and the end user will also need to install that certificate on his or her computer in order to install the app. This was really a lot more hassle than what I expect most people want to go through. Still, I spent a couple of hours learning how to go about signing my own certificate and packaging a MSIX installer.
 
In the end, I just went with the "Building your own zip file for Windows" option to gather all the required files (after building for Windows using flutter build windows) and then Inno Setup to create an installer. There is no need to deal with certificates. The installer just works.

As of now, Flutter does not have a good way to set the title of the window on desktop systems (like Linux and Windows). There is a plugin that allows this, and a Stackoverflow issue and this article that gives a simple example on how to use the plugin. I thought about using this plugin but it seems that this functionality will eventually be added to the Flutter framework itself. So I guess, in the meantime, for hobby projects, I would just live without a fancy window title.

Get it from the Snap Store 

Note: Autobuild for arm64 architecture seems to be available, and you can try installing it by:
sudo snap install telsis-translator-flutter --channel=latest/edge
For amd64 platforms,
sudo snap install telsis-translator-flutter
should get you the latest stable release.
 
To do:
- Package as flatpak for Flathub using the following as example (DONE!):
 
Get the Tellsis translator app from Flathub here!
Or install it from the command line using the following command.
flatpak install flathub com.maplerain.telsis_translator_flutter

The app should also show up on Linux software manager apps that are integrated with Snap Store or Flathub, such as the one found in Linux Mint.

Related links
My overall thoughts on Violet Evergarden The Movie

Events:
 
Translations of short stories:
Gilbert Bougainvillea and the Fleeting Dream (unofficial translation of "ギルベルト・ブーゲンビリアと儚い夢")
The Starry Night and the Lonely Two (unofficial translation of 星降りの夜とさみしいふたり)
Diethard Bougainvillea's If (unofficial translation of ディートフリート・ブーゲンビリアIf) 
The Tailor and the Auto-Memories Doll (unofficial translation of 仕立て屋と自動手記人形)
Laura and the Auto-Memories Doll (unofficial translation of ローラと自動手記人形)
Flowers and the Auto-Memories Doll (unofficial translation of 花と自動手記人形)
 
Tellsis (Nunkish) translation:
Last line of Violet's final letter to Gilbert
 
Insights on the movie:
 
Audio commentary notes:
 
 
All posts related to Violet Evergarden.

Friday, April 02, 2021

Lotte and Aeon collaborate to give out Violet Evergarden the Movie A4 clear files

Seems like there are more Violet Evergarden gifts in the collaboration between Lotte and Aeon.

A few weeks ago, it was A5 notebooks.

Then, about 2 weeks back, it was A4 clear files. First, these two designs.


Then, this design came out a week ago.



The promotion is the same. Buy any 3 Lotte products from Aeon supermarket, and you get one promotion item free.

I need to visit Aeon more often...

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Gilbert Bougainvillea and the Fleeting Dream (unofficial translation of "ギルベルト・ブーゲンビリアと儚い夢")

This is an unofficial translation of the booklet Gilbert Bougainvillea and the Fleeting Dream (ギルベルト・ブーゲンビリアと儚い夢) that was handed out as a souvenir for those who watched Violet Evergarden the Movie (2020). To me, it tells the final episode in the Violet Evergarden series, and I thought I would share my translation so that fans who do not understand Japanese can read it.
 
Note: The rights to the original work belong to the author Akatsuki Kana and Kyoto Animation. While this unofficial translation is being shared under fair use, I will remove it if it comes to my knowledge that this translation is being misused or if there is any infringement of the copyright owners' rights.

(You can find all my posts related to Violet Evergarden here, including my review of Violet Evergarden the Movie that debut in 2020 after watching it 12 times, my translation of the letter of appreciation from author Akatsuki Kana, my Tellsis language translator in Flutter and Python, my thoughts about the portrayal of guilt in Violet Evergarden, summary of production crew events, list of other Violet Evergarden short stories, etc.)


--------------------------------------------
Gilbert Bougainvillea and the Fleeting Dream
by Akatsuki Kana
『ギルベルト・ブーゲンビリアと儚い夢』
暁 佳奈
--------------------------------------------

And thus, the time spent is loved forever.


--------------------------------------------
Gilbert Bougainvillea and the Fleeting Dream
--------------------------------------------


The youth woke up alone in the room to the sound of rain.

Outside, the rain was falling gently. The youth, with raven black hair and emerald eyes, looked out of the window with joy.
It is raining today, he thought. Which means no outdoor training—fencing or runs. It will probably be lessons indoors. The youth had been thinking about the rest of the children’s book which he could not read due to training.
Yes.
He was not allowed to read books before bed, and they get confiscated if he did not do well in school. Brought up in a strict family, there were whip marks on the youth’s hands. His hands had been aching from the beating yesterday. He was beaten because he did not look for his elder brother who ran away from training. When his brother heard this, he fought back at their father, but ended up getting punched. Right now, his brother was probably feeling happy too as he wakes up to the morning in another room.
“Gilbert.”
There was a knock on the door, and the youth came out of the room in his pajamas.
“I guess we have a break.”
His brother was smiling with a swollen cheek and bruised eye.
“Are you okay?” asked the youth, and his brother replied, “It’s nothing.” He held Gilbert’s hands and rubbed them as if to warm them up.
“I am sorry for running away.”
No problem, Gilbert answered by shaking his head.
“But I think I will do it again.”
“Why?” Gilbert asked his brother.
“Because I hate it. Not just Father but everything.”
Gilbert shrugged. He could somehow understand what his brother said. His brother hated everything—fate and duty—that was placed on them.
“Don’t be a slave too. Can I sleep in your room? My blanket was taken away as punishment. I can’t stand the cold. Also, that novel you are reading, can I read it first?”
Yes, no problem, answered Gilbert.

One day, when I grow up, I want to do the things I like, thought Gilbert.


------------------

The man woke up alone in the room to the sound of rain.

Everything felt hazy. It was probably quite humid. He felt like his body was weighed down by a heavy rock as he tried to get out of bed.
“Ah...”
There was a beautiful girl in his arms.
With blonde hair, blonde eyelashes, and a skin like porcelain, the girl was asleep. Her smooth limbs were long and beautiful. She looked just like a mermaid. Gilbert was taken aback that he was sleeping with someone. And then...
“Violet...”
He was even more surprised, that it was the person he loves.
“......”
He looked hard at her. She was sleeping so quietly, he wondered if she was breathing. Getting closer, he could hear her breathing, setting his mind at ease. The sleeping Violet looked like a doll.
Such flawless skin.
Compared to him, who had started to grow some white hairs, she was so young. They were years apart, but still, she looked so young. She had always looked older than her age when she was a child. Such people look younger as they grow old. Maybe it is better to say that age caught up with her looks, then overtook them.
Gilbert did not want to wake her, but wanted to show his love. So he took a handful of her hair and gave it a light kiss. This brought a blush to his face as well as a smile.
“Ah... Major...”
Violet called out, with her eyes still closed.
This was no longer a fitting name for him, but it was the first word she ever said, and his rank from the past.
And so, Gilbert let her continue calling him by that name.
“Did I wake you?”
“No, I was already faintly awake.”
She rubbed her eyes like a cat, then opened them and looked at him.
Every little action drew his attention.
“Ah... you... are here...”
Maybe she was saying strange things because she just woke up.
“Of course I am here.”
“It surprised me.”
“I understand. I am surprised too... we have only been living together for a day. No wonder we are both surprised.”
Gilbert laughed softly as he held the girl in his arms. Their noses met, rubbing like animals fawning.
“Sometimes... I feel like... I will stop... functioning... because... you are... so passionate...”
“Why are you talking like that, Violet?”
“Maybe... because I am blushing...”
“That’s rare. Let me take a look.”
“No, I can’t show you.”
“Please.”
“No... I can’t...”
Violet twisted her body and tried to bring up her hand to hide her face. Gilbert laughed as he gave her body a squeeze. Growing red in her cheeks, Violet pulled up a pillow and placed it between their faces in protest.
“What’s this.”
“It’s a bulwark.”
“I can’t give you a morning kiss like this.”
“... it’s a wall...”
“Do you hate me now?”
“No such thing!”
“Then why do you need this wall?”
“Because my face looks weird now.”
Violet slowly peeked out from behind the pillow.
“It will be a problem if I show you my face and you think it is weird and hate me.”
Gilbert did not bother to argue. He grabbed the pillow, tossed it aside, and stole a kiss.
The lovers, on this rainy day, took some time to get out of bed. By the time they were done battling each other, it was close to noon.
Gilbert cooked lunch, and they ate together.
The rain did not stop. After resting for a while in each other’s arms, they sat on a bench, each reading a book.

Spending time doing the things they like.




------------------

From inside the horse carriage, the youth looked out at the view outside the window.

There was never a day when he could act on his own free will.
As someone with the blood of a Bougainvillea, an established family that had produced many excellent army officers, everything had been decided for Gilbert. From the type of shoes to wear, the material of his jacket, even what time to wake up in the morning, the martial arts to learn, who he got to listen to and who could become his friends—everything had been decided for him. Even attending the military academy this spring had been decided for him since the time of his birth.
He got them to bring out the horse carriage so that he could see his room at the dormitory. However, none of his parents were with him. Only his butler accompanied him. His father was at work, and his mother was busy with his newborn sister. His brother had already left the house without telling anyone where he went. Only Gilbert received a letter from his brother informing that he had joined the naval academy. Since then, there had been no further news. His brother said he would be back to celebrate Gilbert’s entry to the academy, but no one knew if that would happen.
“......”
The view outside the window kept changing.
Gilbert saw several youths around his age seeming to enjoy themselves as they walked along. They were the common people, none of whom would go to the military academy. Some would take over the family business, and some would go on to work in the private sector. They were just walking, but they seemed to be enjoying themselves.
“......”
Sitting inside the horse carriage, nothing seemed enjoyable to Gilbert. He was asked if there was anywhere else he wanted to go, but nothing came to mind. Even though he was good in geography and knew well the names of places, there was no name that he could say.
He knew that there was no place where he could escape to.
For example, if he were to bring up his inner turmoil and pain here, he would simply be deemed weak and passed over. The duty of running the family would be forced onto the husbands of his still young sisters. This would mean that even if his sisters eventually had someone they like, they would not be able to profess their feelings. They would not be able to marry the persons they love.
It was best for Gilbert to put up with it. That was the best way for things to turn out. That was because Gilbert never really thought much about himself. If anyone is to die, it would best be me, thought Gilbert.

As he saw an old couple walking among the trees, envy brought tears to his eyes.




------------------

From inside the horse carriage, the man looked out at the view outside the window.

Today was just another day with nothing much going on.
The greenery outside was beautiful. Looking to his side, there was an even more beautiful person beside him. His lover.
As the carriage came to a halt just outside the forest, the two of them came out holding a picnic basket. They could not make it the other day due to rain, but today seemed to be a much better day anyway. They heard from a neighbor that they might see hot air balloons today.
“I have flown in a fighter plane before, but not a hot air balloon. How about you, Major?”
Together, Violet and Gilbert spread a large piece of cloth on the grass patch and laid back to watch the sky. The handmade sandwiches and tea which were in the picnic basket have already been finished up. They were both small eaters, but it seemed they both ate more than they usually do. Maybe it was because they were relaxing outside.
“No. I like the speed of fighter planes, but they aren’t great for enjoying the scenery. That looks more fun. Shall we take a ride together some day?”
A small red balloon could be seen in the distant sky.
“I am worried about the light defenses.”
“Yes, it doesn’t seem to be bulletproof.”
A weird conversation started between the lovers with a military past. It is hard to believe anyone can ride such a thing, it is the end if it gets shot. As Gilbert conveyed these thoughts, Violet replied with a gentle look, “I have the exact same thoughts.”
“It is hard to enjoy if one thinks about getting shot. Maybe we should just ride horses.”
“Yes, it is easier to escape on horses. They can even be eaten. That is a good decision.”
“......”
“You looked sad when we ate the horses back then. I am sorry for my slip of tongue.”
“No worries. Such were the times. It couldn’t be helped.”
“Yes, such were the times.”
Such were the times when many things could be forgiven. For example, the relationship between the two.
“Violet...”
Gilbert wanted to ask for forgiveness, but decided against it.
“Are you cold?”

They were in a time when he has already been forgiven.




------------------

The youth stared at the drops of water dripping from the roses in the vase.

Unknowingly, several minutes passed. The vase on the round table said nothing. The person his parents chose for him looked bored. She was his brother’s fiancée, passed to him just like the headship of his family. It was clear that neither of them was here because they wanted to see the other. It would be many times more fun to spend this precious day off from the academy with his newfound friend in their room than meeting her at this café.
I wonder what Hodgins is doing, thought Gilbert.
While he did not like the board games or entertainment that Hodgins taught him, he liked spending time with him and eating together. He had already been admonished several times by his instructors for their relationship, but he never thought about ending it.
Well, he has friends other than me, so he is probably fine without me, thought Gilbert.
Something interesting had finally appeared in Gilbert’s life. That was Claudia Hodgins. There was no way that Gilbert, who was only thinking about his friend, could have an interesting conversation with a young woman.
“I am going back.”
His fiancée finally spoke, and that brought him back to reality.
“Sorry, I was thinking about something. Even though I am with you.”
“It is fine. I am glad just to see you. The tea here is delicious too.”
“Yes, so is the food.”
He escorted her outside. Her servant was waiting a distance away.
“Gilbert, do you think you can convince them?”
“Give me a bit more time. I am still a cadet and have no right to speak.”
“I see. It is the same for me.”
“It was decided by our parents. It will take time, but let’s do our best to convince them to call it off.”
“Yes... I am so glad my fiancé was changed to you, Gilbert.”
Gilbert gave a faint smile, but he was not feeling glad. Because he knew she saw him as a pawn working for her.

“I think my brother would have been better at things.”

His fiancée tilted her head away as she smiled embarrassingly.




------------------

The man stared at the drops of water dripping from the roses in the vase.

The bouquet he just bought was giving off a vibrant fragrance. At the square near their house, he was slightly embarrassed at himself as he waited with a bouquet in hand. He kept him gaze down.
This was the first time in his life that he has ever bought red roses. He could not stand how shy he felt when buying the bouquet. He had given flowers to his mother and sisters before, but he had never chosen red roses.
Somehow, he felt it was a flower to be given when he finally meets someone special. He was worried about how she would feel with this sudden gift.
Would purple flowers be better?
His lover would not reject the gift, but she was likely to give a blank look. She was such a person. But he wanted to give her the bouquet. So there was no other way. A small part of him wanted to make her happy by giving her flowers, but mostly, he wanted to give this special flower to the person he loves. The stronger his desire to give her flowers, the more worried he was now about putting her on the spot.
But he had already bought the flowers. He told the store owner he wanted a bouquet of roses, and even specified the color of the ribbon. There was no turning back.
“Major.”
Violet arrived at the square where they arranged to meet. They wanted to buy different things, so even though they left the house together, they split along the way.
“A bouquet... are you going to pay your respects to someone later? Let me hold your stuff.”
His lover seemed to think the bouquet was for someone deceased. Gilbert gave a bewildered look, then smiled.
“No, that’s not it. These are...”
Gilbert took the things from Violet’s hands as he passed her the bouquet.

“... flowers I bought for the person I love.”

Behind the bouquet of roses, Violet’s cheeks turned red as her eyes sparkled.




------------------

“I see your eyes,” said the girl soldier as he looked at her.

The girl soldier pointed her finger. Her straight white finger was pointing at an emerald brooch. It looked like the gem that Gilbert Bougainvillea, Leidenschaftlich Army, has possessed since the day of his birth.
The girl soldier looked straight into his melancholic eyes.
“What is this called?”
She was an orphan who had just started to learn words, and there were often times like this when she could not find the appropriate word.
He was going to say “emerald” and tell her that it was a type of gemstone, but he was wrong.
“When I saw it, I... didn’t know how to describe it...”
Gilbert held back his words.
“Beautiful...”
It was Gilbert who taught her words. Many words. So that she could follow orders. This girl soldier looked beautiful, but she was actually a beast.
I didn’t teach her.
Why did this beast understand only “kill”?
I didn’t teach her.
And that is why their conversation was limited. Kill. Roger. Kill. Roger. Kill. Roger. Kill. Roger.
I didn’t teach her.
Of course, he taught her all the things she needs in order to survive after he dies. It can be said that Gilbert did his best. But now, his mistake stood out clearly.
I didn’t teach her.

He gave her orders to kill people, but never taught her the word “beautiful.”

I didn’t teach her.
Even though she was a girl so befitting this word.
I didn’t tell her.
Even though he had felt so many times.
She was never told.
Even though she would have been told this word countless times if she did not live her life with him in the battlefield.
Even though she never knew this word.
And now, she knew, for the first time.
Even though she never knew, she called the gem resembling Gilbert Bougainvillea’s eyes “beautiful.”
I am the one who brought you around the battlefield.
Why did she say this? She is not one who flatters. She does not praise. That is not her character. She only tells the truth. She does not lie. She lives like a machine. And that made it all the more painful that she was saying this from her heart.
Painful.
A word that she should be told. Yet she learnt it by looking at the eyes of her master, the one who orders her to kill.

He bought the brooch and passed it to her. The night slowly passed.
He wanted to go somewhere quiet. He could not stand his own shame. It was difficult to teach a child during wartime. And she was no ordinary child.
She was given the name of a flower. She is Violet, the maiden of war.
Anyone else would say Gilbert did a great job bringing her up, but the episode that just took place pierced his heart.
“Major, what should I do after receiving this?”
She looked at the brooch she held in her hand.
“Wear it anywhere you want.”
“I will lose it.”
“If you are fighting. Wear it only when you are not fighting. With your blue eyes, maybe something blue would have been better.”
Violet the girl soldier shook her head.
“No, this was the most beautiful.”
She said it so honestly, he stopped breathing.
“Beautiful... I had thought so... but I didn’t know the word, so I haven’t said it.”
It was so painful, he stopped breathing.

“Your eyes are beautiful from the first time we met.”

It was so endearing, he stopped breathing. He felt like it would kill him.




------------------

“I see your eyes,” said his lover as he looked at her.

They had come to the jewelry store to buy rings. To buy rings befitting this happy couple. Yes, that was so. But somehow, it did not feel real. The jewelry store was filled with other couples, and the storekeeper waited for his reply with a gentle smile.
“... Ah, yes...”
He could not finish his words.
She was here. She was here, with a happy smile, but a voice in his mind kept saying, “This is wrong.” He tried to force a smile, but his heart felt wrong.
Something was not right.
Yes, something was not right.
He did not know what was not right, but he needed to pay careful attention.
What was wrong?
Blonde hair, blue eyes, pink lips.
White skin, slender limbs.
Wrong.
Slender limbs.
Wrong.
She had hands.
She should not have hands.
The lover in front of his eyes boasted a perfect beauty. A perfection that shines in beauty.
Ah, I see.
After looking carefully, it was clear what felt wrong.

“Violet, what happened to your hands?”

Hands that should have been lost during the war.
Hearing his words, the smile immediately disappeared from Violet’s face. Her face turned blank, as if without emotions.
“Why do you have to say this?”
“... Erm, it somehow feels weird.”
“It isn’t weird. Isn’t it what you want?”
Gilbert felt confused. He broke into a sweat, and his throat turned parch dry. A drop of sweat went into his eye.
“......”
He took a deep breath, rubbed his eye, and when he opened it, the jewelry store was gone.

“Violet?”

Gone
“Violet.”
Gone. Everything turned white.
“Violet, Violet...”
She was gone too.
“Where are you, Violet?”
The person he loves was gone.
“Violet!”
The person most important to him was gone.
“... Violet!”
The person most important to him, the person whom he would do anything to protect. The woman he loves most. Gone.
Everything was gone.
Why? How?
In the first place, what was real? What was not?
Gilbert wondered if the happy days spent with her were real. In that white space with nothing, Gilbert wondered. What was real?
There were no such happy days.
She was unfortunate since the day they met. He probably never gave her any happy experiences at all. There was only one time when he brought her to town that left her with memories befitting a girl of her age.
Only that time when he bought the brooch.
What then, were those days?
What then, were those days which he remembers as if they actually happened. Those days of kindness made as if in direct contrast to his past.
“......”
The answer was simple. Those days were a wish, a dream. A fleeting fake that soon disappears. They were not real.
“......”
There was no way that Gilbert Bougainvillea gets to live such days. No way he could be allowed to do so.
He disappeared after the war. Because he decided it was best that he was not around her. They relied too much on each other. Such a relationship was not good for her.
That’s right.
Their ages were years apart, and while they looked like father and daughter, it was Violet who had a hold over his life, yet Gilbert was the one giving the orders. Everything was inconsistent. They were not siblings. There is no brother who orders his sister to kill.
Superior and subordinate. That seems right, yet there was something that crossed the line.
The relationship between them.
The relationship between them.
The relationship between them.
It was as if two lonely persons from the corners of the world were brought together by fate. Loneliness sympathizing with loneliness. Gilbert came to adore the beautiful beast that always followed behind him. She was the only one who saw him. No one had cared for his life. She was the first. Gilbert looked at her as if begging her attention.
Violet always allowed his existence. She respected the master who guided her with kindness. It was almost like she worshipped him. She would not mind dying anytime as long as he lives. Receiving orders from him was proof of the reason for her existence. But more so...
It was because he hugged her when they first met, and that made her happy.
She was happy that someone approved of her existence.
She was happy to be used by someone who treated her so kindly.
She wanted to be his beast. There was no reason to live if she were not by his side.
Gilbert and Violet.

------------------

They loved each other.




------------------
In the blank white world, tears flowed.
Gilbert did not know why he was crying.
Was it shame?
Was it sadness?
Was it regret?
Was it torment?
Was it pain?
Was it because he wants to die?
Was it because he wants to live?
Was it because he wants to be forgiven?
Was it because he wants to forgive?
Was it because he wants to say?
Was it because he wants to apologize?
No.
I want to be forgiven.
As he got closer to the truth, the world started to blur. He knew this world was coming to an end.
The hazy view from overflowing tears.
The consciousness slipping away.
Soon, it will be dawn. The real Gilbert Bougainvillea will be waking up. Such a dream is unlikely to be remembered after waking up.
This shameless dream.
A wish that he hoped would be real.
The lack of shame for what he has done.
To hide everything and live.
Without being loved by someone.
Without loving someone.

And to eventually die, lonely.



------------------

The man woke up alone in the room to the sound of rain.

Everything felt hazy. It was probably quite humid. He felt pain in his body as he tried to get out of bed. He did not know why. Maybe there is no victory over age.
“Ah...”
The room was deserted with no one else. He was alone on the large bed.
“Ah...”
He was in a dazed, but still, he started preparing for the morning. Somehow, tears kept flowing from his single eye, but he did not give it much thought. He was not really interested in his own feelings.
He changed out of his pajamas into a shirt and pants, and left the room for the kitchen. He boiled water and made tea. There were fruits on the table but no bread. He remembered he had run out of bread. He would need to go buy some.
Humans are such troublesome living things, thought Gilbert. Money is needed to live, and money is needed for one’s grave. The body desires food even if one does not. If he wants something, he needs to go to the store, bringing cash along. If he falls ill, he will need to go to the hospital. A torn shirt will need to be sewn. But even then, a day will come when such daily things will no longer be possible.
Such as the morning after waking up from a horrible dream.
He did not forget. It was a dream, but it was a vivid dream. It felt like it was real. Even now, he honestly did not know which was real and which was a dream.
Was he still half asleep?
Eventually, he would be fully awake. He would accept reality and, as usual, he would live an honest life as expected by others. That was how he had been brought up. He should be able to do it. Because that had been how he had lived. He had put a collar around his neck and followed fate so that he would not fail, so that he could become what others wanted him to be.
Even if he could not, he had to. Until someday, when he eventually dies.
Then, he heard a voice.
Gilbert almost dropped the cup of tea he was holding.

“Major, are you awake?”

It was a familiar voice. A voice that echoed in his ears like the song of a bird was calling him by a rank that was no longer fits him.
Gilbert walked unsteadily toward the direction of the voice. The doorknob of the front door rattled. Someone was trying to open the door, but it seemed to be stuck. Gilbert yanked the door open.
“Ah...”
She was there.
“Major, I am so glad. You don’t look that bad.”
In front of him.
“I went to buy breakfast. Mr. Hodgins and Benedict are still at the market.”
Gilbert’s most beloved was there.
“They came to visit on their rare break and we had to run out of food. But everything is fine now.”
Blonde hair, blue eyes, pink lips.
“I have hidden the liquor because Mr. Hodgins made you drink so much yesterday. Benedict also said he woke up with a hangover, so please drink wine instead tonight. I am worried for your health...”
Her silver-colored prosthetic hands hidden under her dress clanked every time she put something on the floor.
“Major?”
Gilbert opened his mouth and took a deep breath. Then, he called out loudly the name of the person he loves so that he would wake up from the bad dream.



“Violet.”



The world turned a softer color just by calling this name.




“Yes?”
She tilted her small head. Gilbert hugged her at the door. He did not ask for permission.
Until now, he had always asked for permission, to kiss her, to hold her. But not this time. He wanted to be permitted. Violet was surprised but did not struggle.
“Major... what happened?”
“... I am having a hangover...”
“Yes, Benedict too.”
“I woke up with dreams and reality being mixed... reality mixed with lies, together with the truth... muddled up... like an abomination...”
“That is a frightening dream.”
The calm reply from his lover, who always seems to be aloof, made him feel like he could laugh what happened away.
“Yes... that is why holding you in my arms made me feel better.”
Hearing this, Violet timidly wrapped her arms around Gilbert’s back and hugged him back.
“... Thank you...”
“Don’t worry, I understand because I sometimes have dreams too.”
“You too?”
“Yes. I usually don’t dream, but sometimes, I have a specific dream. A dream where I keep searching for you.”
“Was it a younger you?”
“Maybe. Maybe both. Whether it is a younger me or not, I cannot find you. It makes me think, if that is the case, it would have been better if I had died together with you back then.”
“......”
“But when I wake up, you are here. You are sleeping beside me. Yes, we are living together now. There is no need to search anymore. What a relief.”
Gilbert looked at the face of Violet who was speaking in a whisper.
“And then, I go back to sleep beside you. Everything is fine now.”
“Ah...”
At the end, the two of us are so alike, thought Gilbert.
“Day or night. Asleep or awake. I can check. That you are here.”
“Ah... yes, that is true, Violet. We are fine now.”
What they lack becomes whole when they are together. It gives them the strength to live in this mediocre and cruel world. Because they still have their lives ahead to live.
“What shall I make for breakfast?”
Violet smiled as Gilbert asked with a gentle smile.
“They took the trouble to visit us, so I hope to show our hospitality.”
“I really hope this is the one and only time they turn up unannounced.”
“It was a pleasant surprise for me.”
“I will have less time with you. We have our own schedules.”
“Mr. Hodgins likes you, Major.”
“Well, we are close friends.”
“Benedict is also worried about us.”
“He is only worried about you. He kept warning me at the wedding.”
“Mr. Hodgins said he wants to do something interesting today.”
“Just being alone with you is interesting for me.”
“Major, maybe it is time you let go of me. How about getting started on making breakfast?”
“A bit more. Let me hold you a bit more.”
“... Okay...”
There is nothing else to fear, thought Gilbert. Whether it was living or dying.




There is nothing else to fear, because I have you, my most beloved.




--- End ---

After note: This post does not really do justice to the booklet, which was printed on pages of different color (black text on white pages, or white text on black pages) which reflect the mood of the setting. Set after Gilbert's and Violet's wedding, it is the final story in the Violet Evergarden series and I really hope you enjoyed the series and this story as much as I did.

The next short story (stories) by author Akatsuki Kana on a day in the life of Violet and Gilbert can be found here:
The Starry Night and the Lonely Two (unofficial translation of 星降りの夜とさみしいふたり)
 
My overall thoughts on Violet Evergarden The Movie

Events:
 
Translations of short stories:
Gilbert Bougainvillea and the Fleeting Dream (unofficial translation of "ギルベルト・ブーゲンビリアと儚い夢")
The Starry Night and the Lonely Two (unofficial translation of 星降りの夜とさみしいふたり)
Diethard Bougainvillea's If (unofficial translation of ディートフリート・ブーゲンビリアIf) 
The Tailor and the Auto-Memories Doll (unofficial translation of 仕立て屋と自動手記人形)
Laura and the Auto-Memories Doll (unofficial translation of ローラと自動手記人形)
Flowers and the Auto-Memories Doll (unofficial translation of 花と自動手記人形)
 
Tellsis (Nunkish) translation:
Last line of Violet's final letter to Gilbert
 
Insights on the movie:
 
Audio commentary notes:
 
 
All posts related to Violet Evergarden.
 

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