Work Text:
[真馬魯]另一個他
[Tsurugi x Maru] The Other Him
Foreword
Dissociative identity states usually develop during severe childhood trauma. A secondary personality emerges to absorb pain, preserving the integrity of the primary identity.
In this private interpretation, at the moment of the father’s death, a “third eye” appears—malu, a cold, ruthless warrior persona. He is both observer and protector of the primary self, and forcibly takes control when Maru loses consciousness or falls into mental collapse.
In truth, malu is also Maru.
Calm, decisive, and singularly focused on combat, he has little to no emotional attachment toward Tsurugi or anyone else.
The Other Him
If one enters Maru’s dream, they would see a small boy standing silently, expressionless, holding a stone close to his body.
The stone keeps growing—becoming heavier and larger with time. The boy feels no pain. No joy, anger, or sorrow like ordinary people.
He exists as a vessel to carry Maru’s suffering. A warrior soul: malu.
The first time Tsurugi encountered malu, he nearly lost his life.
Malu exists solely to protect Maru. All other lives are irrelevant to him.
Most of the time, he simply watches in silence, waiting for Maru to speak—to issue commands, or even requests.
Maru does not know of malu’s existence. He believes this third eye is merely a divine technique, a rare innate gift.
But malu knows everything.
Because he is the other half of Maru’s soul.
A soul split in two, yet he willingly gives decision-making power back to Maru, retreating into the shadows.
The second time they met, he told Maru:
“Get up. Fight. Prove your resolve to Tsurugi.”
Malu never speaks to anyone other than Maru.
Even when Maru sleeps, he remains quietly on standby.
One night, Maru slept soundly. Malu opened his third eye, silently shifting his gaze across the world.
Tsurugi was watching him.
Completely unaware of his existence.
But malu saw Tsurugi—and stared directly at him, his gaze cold and absolute.
This was the first time Tsurugi and Maru’s world had ever directly intersected with malu face-to-face.
“What is this?”
Tsurugi suddenly realized that the third eye on Maru had its own consciousness—and froze in shock, unsure how to respond.
Maru’s lips were closed. His usual gentle, bright green eyes were peacefully shut.
But that cold third eye radiated an overwhelming presence.
Tsurugi felt himself trembling under that gaze, crushed by an oppressive pressure.
A bone-deep chill unlike anything he had ever felt with Cross.
Cross was cold on the outside but burning on the inside—like a glacier containing fire.
And after they reached understanding, that ice melted into something like a warm spring breeze. Even Cross’s eyes had once reflected emotions Tsurugi had never been aware of before.
But this was different.
Completely different.
Tsurugi felt dizzy.
And then—
He saw it.
A small boy standing in darkness, tightly holding a stone.
Something seemed to be dripping from it.
Blood.
Almost immediately, he realized this was Maru’s technique—and recognized the uniform style of Rumerl.
The child silently stared at him.
And instinctively, Tsurugi knew—
That was Maru.
Before he could even fully process it, Tsurugi had already stepped forward and embraced the child.
He opened his arms and pulled him tightly against his chest.
Tsurugi felt something damp against his chest.
A metallic smell.
The boy said softly:
“You smell like iron.”
He breathed steadily, raising a small hand to touch Tsurugi’s head as he leaned into the embrace.
“Do you want to die with me?” the boy asked lightly, almost smiling.
“Just kidding. Maru won’t allow it.”
“I would die with you and Maru if that’s what you needed,” Tsurugi replied.
“And you are also Maru…”
“How do you know that?” the boy asked.
“I don’t know,” Tsurugi sighed.
He knelt down, still holding the boy in his arms—like an act of devotion.
“I am your knight. You are not alone anymore.”
“There is no knight that weak,” malu said faintly, amused.
Tsurugi lifted the small hand and kissed it gently.
And at that moment—
Tsurugi returned to reality.
In front of him was the sleeping Maru.
The third eye was closed, as if nothing had happened.
Tsurugi reached out and gently stroked his hair.
Soft strands fell across Maru’s sleeping face.
“I love you,” Tsurugi whispered.
And he kissed the place where the third eye had been.