Ensemble Stars! - Memories Selection: Checkmate Episode 1 - 折れた枝先 (The Broken Branch Tip) English Translation
Provided by Happy Elements, あんスタチャンネル on Youtube
Ensemble Stars Memories Selection: Checkmate 『チェックメイト』
Adapted from Ensemble Stars! Story: Checkmate
Written by: 日日日 (Akira)
English Translation: Freiya
*All copyrights of the stories, scene pictures and writings, all belong to Happy Elements. I only translated the scenes into English to help overseas fans understand the dialogues. I do not own any copyrights other than the English Translation*
—In Yumenosaki Academy’s garden terrace, Izumi and Eichi are playing chess together, during Eichi and Izumi’s third year—
Izumi: …Haa? What is this joke? This is just the beginning–so what are you playing on winning already?
Eichi: Chess is my specialty. I have fairly good talent on it. (pours tea for himself)
Ever since my childhood, I have never lost to any adults, not to anyone. (picks up the cup)
Eichi: A draw–or to be exact, a match that couldn’t be concluded, it has only been achieved with Tsukinaga-kun.
Izumi: If such an average guy could result in a draw with you, then I should be able to win against you easily, right? That brat–he could not do anything else other than composing songs.
Eichi: …Is that so? Isn’t that only what you want to think of him? (drinks his tea, then put the cup)
Let’s end the playing time now, and delve into the business.
It’s a negotiation. I want you, Knights, to be a united party with us, the Student Council– In next week’s DDD that will be held, to crush Trickstar.
Izumi: …Didn’t I tell you that I’m still considering it? Don’t rush me, can you..! I don’t give a care about DDD, though.
Izumi: The current Knights is an empty shell–no seats nor domination. Can you believe this?
The Knights now, even already including the newbie, only barely made up 4 members.
Eichi: (arranges the chess anew) Ah.. The Suou household’s family heir, Tsukasa-kun, has just newly joined, huh?
…But, if my memory is correct… Knights consists of 5 members, right?
(puts his fingers on his chin) Tsukinaga-kun too… he still hasn't quitted school yet, correct?
Izumi: …That guy…(looks away) he can’t fight anymore.
Eichi: Hmm. So even now, it’s still like that, huh...
Previously, I also visited him once. (puts his hands on his chin)
Really, unexpectedly geniuses are so frail. That was not the Tsukinaga-kun that I liked…
Eichi: Hey, Sena-kun… I really can not comprehend it. Everyone says that it’s all my fault, and I do believe that is one side of the truth... But I honestly did not have such intentions.
I liked Tsukinaga-kun. It was fun when I played with him, and I was happy. That’s all there is to it…
Hey, Sena-kun. What is the reason that Tsukinaga-kun breaks? (looks at the Sakura tree on his left)
…Just who was it that killed the Cock Robin? [1]
Izumi: (in the middle of calling Leo’s phone)…Geez, what is he doing!? …I can’t even get in contact with him.
Leo: (pushes the door open) Sorry…! I made you wait, Sena…!
Izumi: (raises his voice) You’re late! What are you…–
Huh!? Leo-kun, what the hell is with your condition!? (helps Leo that nearly collapses)
Leo: (collapses) Ow, it hurts…
–Izumi takes Leo to hospital–
Izumi: You… are you an idiot? The body is an idol’s foundation. Have a bit of awareness, okay!?
Leo: Aahh.. you’re so noisy! This is just a bit of a scratch because I fell over. Once I lick it with spit, it will recover immediately!
Tsumugi: (about to exit the hospital) …Huh? Just as I thought I heard some noises, it turns out to be Sena-kun? (walks outside) Hello. We meet here in such an unusual place!
Leo: (raised his eyebrows) Who are you?
Izumi: Oh, Leo-kun doesn’t know, huh? This is my classmate, Aoba.
What about you? What are you doing in a hospital?
Tsumugi: I am visiting a person– Eichi-kun.
Izumi: Eichi…? Oh, the rumoured conglomerate heir. I heard he collapsed in the nearby underground live house, and now he’s being treated in a hospital?
Tsumugi: Yes. I was asked by others to give him some prints. What about Sena-kun?
Izumi: Uh… I am just an aide. He doesn’t speak about the details at all… but he got injured and his arm’s bone was broken.
Izumi: So, that is how I brought him to the hospital like this.
Leo: (pouts) I don’t like hospitals…! It smells strongly of medicine, boring, and I’m bad with it! There are people bringing needles with them to forcely pour strange substances in!
Eichi: (reading a book) Hmm? What is it, it seems noisy outside?
Eichi: (walks and looks down the window)
Tsumugi: Um… who is this? I don’t really remember…
Leo: Ahaha, right, right? I’m the genius who doesn’t really go to school often…–
Eichi (OS): Tsumugi and… Sena-kun from the same class? There’s another person there…
–Inside the hospital’s lift–
Leo: Evil being! Demon!! Why am I being admitted to hospital!?
Izumi: You know what… it looks like you also hit your head too, so you need to be examined properly, for safety!
Tsumugi: You should also call your home and contact them with this.
(searching his belongings) …Huh? Hey, Sena… do you know where my smartphone is?
Izumi: Ergh… you must have dropped it again somewhere, right!? You should contact the smartphone company office…
Leo: Hmm..? (confused) I don’t really get it! (chuckles) Sena, can you do it for me? (puts his hand on Sena’s shoulder)
Tsumugi: Uhh.. (chuckles)
Izumi: (sighs burdenedly) I am… not your servant, you know…!?
Leo: Isn’t it okay? You like taking care of people, right? You can do things 100 times better than me. I can have a peaceful mind if I leave it to you! (raises his thumb)
Izumi: Honestly, it’s such~ a burden!
Leo: Don’t say it like that! I’m counting on you! (Shakes his head) No, I am owed to you!
If Sena is not there, I would have welled up quickly and quit being an idol.
Tsumugi: Hey, you two… (the lift opens)
Oh, we have arrived… look, Tsukinaga-kun.
Leo: Hmph… (pouts, walks out the lift)
Tsumugi: (walks out the lift, following Leo)
Izumi: Hey, Aoba… I’m sorry, but can I leave it to you? I have another matter to take care of…
Izumi: (closes the lift and waves his hand)
Leo: …!? (puts a surprised look)
(throw his belongings away, Tsumugi catches it. Leo walks to the closed lift) Senaaa~!! You heartless being!!! (bangs on the lift)
–Leo opens the hospital’s room. Eichi observes him–
Eichi (OS): It’s the boy… from earlier, right?
(Leo immediately enters the room and looks out the window)
Leo: Sena~!! Don’t abandon me! Even though you can hear it… You bully!!!
Tsumugi: I-I’m sorry, Eichi-kun!
Tsumugi: Um… where should I begin to explain?
Leo: (screaming) Idiot, Sena you idiot~!! (picks up another fruit)
Stuuupid, stuupid! Just die!! (picks another fruit)
Eichi: Hey, you… (walks to Leo)
EIchi: You can’t just play with food. Don’t you feel bad for the farmers?
What a hideous thing I’ve done! (bows)
I’m sorry, farmers! (puts back the fruit)
But… but… what should I do with this sadness that Sena has carved in me? (points at his broken arm) My arm is broken… And there is no instrument, so I can’t do a performance too!
(looks at the bed and climbs up) I don’t have any other choice but to sing!
Leo: Listen to my song! This is the song of “I hope that the mean Sena will die, suffering from mould on his front legs!”
Leo: Composer and lyricist, Tsukinaga Leo! (begins to sing) I hope that the mean Sena will die, suffering from mold on his front legs~!
Eichi (OS): (smiles) Tsukinaga Leo…hmm. So that is his name. What is it with him? He’s so unique.
Madara: (attempting to catch a cat stuck on a tree branch) Look, there is nothing to be afraid of~ Come, come~
Izumi: (walks on another side of the road) Aah~ It makes me so mad!
Izumi (OS): But, why is it–That I can’t leave his side?
Izumi (OS): If it’s the usual, I would have long lost my patience and part away…
–Izumi sees another person peeking at the school gate–
Izumi: Hey, you damned glasses over there!
Arashi: (Startled) Hey, what is with that “damned glasses”? I am hurt, you know~?
Izumi: I told you to stop with that way of talking!
Why should you enter the same school, anyway~? And without even me knowing it, you had a change of character in a disgusting way!
Arashi: (smiles) Hmm… (shakes his head) Do not worry~! I do not have any interest in you at all, Izumi-chan~
Izumi: Not Izumi-chan, but Sena-senpai, right! I have told you since our first meeting to use formal language with your elder, correct?
(sighs) Haa~... Well, the timing is perfect. I am now going to practise our new song, if you’re free, then tag along… as a fellow member of the unit, okay~.
Arashi: No, no, no~ (raises his hand) I’m not particularly free, okay? And honestly I’m only filling a seat, and I don’t really have any interest in the unit activities, okay?
I don’t even clearly remember the unit’s name, you know~? Othello, is it?
Izumi: …Until last year, yeah. Since we changed leaders this year, it’s changed to the name Backgammon.
Arashi: It keeps changing indefinitely from time to time, huh? If I remember correctly, the first name was, Chess… is that right?
Izumi: Right, right. In this rotten Yumenosaki Academy, we have become the second-oldest unit now.
Izumi: Leo-kun in particular, has some kind of attachment to the Chess name, you see?. When the name was going to be changed, only he had a big objection to it.
[1]: “Who killed the Cock Robin?” Is a dark English Nursery rhyme, about the bird Cock Robin which was killed. In this Checkmate story, the poor bird who was killed refers to Leo.
!Warning!
Please refrain from reposting the translation to other platforms; abide to link back to this post for reference. Thank you.
Memories Selection: Checkmate Directory Chapters
Episode 1 - The Broken Branch Tip (You are here now)
Episode 4 - Rusting Heart
Episode 5 - The Lonely Throne
Episode 6 - The Shine of the Crown
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