Kagerou Project Translations

Translating and sharing official Kagepro content that's never been officially or fan translated. I post translations as well as scans of original materials.

[kageprountranslated]

Kagerou Daze Anthology Novel Ch. 3 - Goodbye Dreamforest (Part 1)

"Seto, it's been a while"

"Marry......?"

Author: Kazemachi Chitose (風街ちとせ) | Illustrators: Ocha (お茶), Shichi (シチ)

A boy opens his eyes, awakening as a pleasant breeze grazes his face. He looked up absent-mindedly toward the pale blue sky above, where cotton candy clouds floated. The cosmos flowers blanketing the earth grew reaching for the sky, tickling his cheeks. The wooden object his back leaned upon felt a bit strange, but he didn’t really mind.

As he was enveloped and began to close his eyes once again, he suddenly noticed something odd.

The cotton candy clouds he was used to were so far away. Not only that, but the cosmos flowers enveloping him seemed so much taller than usual.

His sense of unease swelled up like a cosmos flower trying to unfold its petals.

As the boy tried to stand up, he realized that his legs were shorter than usual. The clothing that caught his eye by chance, he noticed, was a purple polo shirt he used to wear. Not able to believe it, he reached out his arm. As he had thought, his hands were much smaller than usual.

He’s gone back to his childhood. Around the time when he had met that girl.

The boy was a little surprised by how calm and unafraid he felt. He raised his arm and stretched it out as if to grab a cloud. He was so distracted by the sky he was gazing up at, that he failed to realize he was about to fall backwards.

There was a heavy thud as the back of his head struck something behind him. The boy clutched his head in sudden pain, glanced behind him, and opened his eyes wide.

It was a cross. It was dyed the color of night, covered in cosmos flowers that were arranged in equal intervals. The boy turned to face the cross and stared at it. It seemed out of place here, surrounded by red, white, and pink cosmos flowers. But the boy could only think that maybe these cosmos flowers were blooming here because of the cross.

Suddenly the boy noticed something carved into the center of the cross and focused his eyes there. He stared at the fine, shallow carving and when he finally managed to read the name he couldn’t believe his eyes.

“My… grave……”

He can’t believe it, as he accidentally reverts to his old tone of voice.

Not having time to worry about such things, the boy staggered to his feet with the gait of a newborn deer. He stumbled back one step, then two, then fell on his bottom.

The impact and pain caused the boy to try to convince himself that he was still alive.

“I’m alive. Alive. It seriously hurts.”

But, no matter how many times he told himself that, the words engraved into the cross in front of him remained the same. Frightened, sorrowful, the wind that had comforted him just a moment ago now felt cold.

Alive, alive. He can’t leave that child behind.

The boy’s cheeks streamed with tears. It seemed not only his body, but his heart had become young as well.

Frantically wiping his tears, the boy failed to notice a presence pushing its way through the field of cosmos flowers toward him. When a shadow fell upon him, he finally noticed the presence and looked up in awe.

“Seto. It’s been a while.”

As the shadow was cast, the boy’s eyes widened.

Coral colored eyes, fluffy hair like cotton candy clouds, and an innocently smiling face. A girl slightly older than his proper self was staring at him.

“Marry……?”

As he saw the unfamiliar sight of a person he should know, the boy’s tears stopped.

It was a rare sunny evening in the middle of the rainy season.

As the sound of the Kaien Panzermast reverberated, children playing at the park in front of the station began to head home. A young man stretched his arms and shook himself awake. Pressing his ear to the wall in the darkness, he confirmed that no one was around and that he was at the destination.

The young man fumbled around, feeling the boxes surrounding him. He selected the sturdiest ones, slowly removed them, stood up from the pile, then returned them to their original position. Next, he located the door and cracked it open just enough to confirm there were no surveillance cameras. Finally, he opened the door as quietly as possible and made his escape from the freight train. After closing the door, he flung himself over the chainlink fence with one hand and fled the scene. The young man’s figure disappeared into the twilight.

“Escape complete.”

The young man who’d said this jokingly, Seto, had no idea that it was a misdemeanor.

Which coral is genuine?

It all started with an offhand comment from that girl. Her cumulonimbus hair sways in time with the tilt of her head. Marry holds in her hands a magazine feature on coral reefs and a flyer for a jewelry store. Looking closely, she notices a coral pedant on the corner of the flyer.

“They’re both real. If someone tampers with this one, it turns into this pendant.”

“This rugged one, could sparkle…?”

Watching the girl carefully compare the magazine and flyer, Seto smiled. He had probably made the same expression when he was told that coal and diamonds are made of the same thing.

Come to think of it, he’d never been to a sea with coral reefs.

Suddenly, he took his eyes off the girl and looked up at the ceiling. He’d been to the sea a few times. But, an ocean with coral reefs is a different story. For starters, it’s too far away. Not within walking or cycling distance. But, what if he could get there by taking the freight train? Perhaps it’s not impossible to get there. Although, he’d never been on a freight train before. Well, he’d seen one.

“Maybe I’ll go soon.”

The sooner the better. That evening, Seto set out with only the necessities on a secret roaming journey.

How many weeks have passed since then?

His cell phone died a long time ago. Although, he wasn’t sure there was even much battery when he left. Regardless, he could expect a big scolding from Kido.

He walks, avoiding yesterday’s puddles, until he’s face to face with the hideout door. It felt like the last time he had walked that path was at the end of spring, when new leaves were just beginning to spout. He wondered what point in the rainy season it was now.

Just thinking about it made him feel like he had been doused in winter rain. Just as he hesitated to open the door, the lock was opened from the inside. Suddenly all the blood drained from his face as the image of the jade girl’s dreadful face appeared in his mind.

“Ah, Seto!”

But contrary to his expectations, on the other side of the door stood his childhood friend, a cat-eyed young man with a cheerful smile. However, there was an air of impatience not typically present in his voice.

"You’re finally back, come in quickly!”

“Huh, wait Kano, what happened?”

“Just come here! Things are getting really crazy around here with no Seto around!”

His childhood friend vigorously dragged him along, and before Seto had time to close the exterior door, he was taken to a room. Standing in front of the room was his other childhood friend, a girl with jade-colored hair. There was no look of fear on her face, rather a look of urgency that came over her the moment she saw him.

Ahh, now that he thought about it the room behind her was…

“Kano, get the porridge, fever relief sheets, and medicine! Seto, hurry up and get into Marry’s room!”

Almost simultaneously with Kido’s shouting, Kano rushed into the kitchen. Realizing why the two were panicking, Seto was half-pushed by Kido and ran into Marry’s room.

The sunset bathing the walls filled with books made the room seem more stale than usual.

On the bed in the center of the room, littered with a white lace and embroidered duvet and surrounded by heavily illustrated books from some other county, a white-haired girl sat up with her eyes downcast. Her eyes, peeking out from between strands of her white hair, were redder than the setting sun.

Seto approached the girl slowly, so as not to scare her. He bent down and placed his hand on her fluffy, cumulonimbus hair.

"I'm home, Marry."

He gave her an out-of-place light smile, and Marry raised her head slightly. There was no smile on her face, but somehow, the air around her felt slightly softer than before.

“Welcome back”

Her small voice reverberates like a cumulonimbus cloud passing through, as her eyes gradually return to their normal coral color. As if confirming this, a sigh of relief can be heard from behind.

“These past two days have been really tough. I couldn't nurse her back to health and you wouldn’t come back.”

“Sorry."

Seto replied as he apologetically lay Marry down beside him.

If she wasn’t feeling well, she wouldn’t be able to control her abilities.

This wasn’t just the case for Marry, but for Seto himself and Kido too. It wasn’t so much that she lost control, it was more like she was acting recklessly, and it caused Kano and the others a lot of trouble. In comparison, luckily Seto was able to stop Marry. But abilities are abilities. Imagine how much they suffered for those three days without the guy who could stop it.

“Well, the seasons are changing, so it’s easy to get sick. You too, shouldn’t go to the sea or the mountains too much until the rainy season is over. It’d be a pain if something like this were to happen again.”

“Yep.”

“Yeahh, it was really tough.”

Kano enters the room with no sense of urgency in his voice. In his hands he’s holding a tray with porridge, a china spoon, medicine, water, and the cooling sheet on it. The porridge bowl and water cup are made of plastic, presumably so they won’t break if Marry drops them.

Kano places the tray next to Seto and sits, back against the leg of the bed.

“At any rate, we won’t be able to take care of her properly if we’re turned to stone, right? So her fever is just getting higher and higher, and she can’t eat properly.”

“From now on, with the seasons changing, I’ll try not to go too far away.”

As he stuck a cooling sheet on Marry’s forehead, Seto spoke. Marry’s forehead was hotter than the coming season.

It was clear that her condition had only deteriorated while he was away.

“I’d love that. Ah, and also make sure your phone is properly charged. There are a lot of missed calls from Kido on it. Afterall, she couldn’t go to the doctor and couldn’t eat and we couldn’t take care of her and she was on the verge of crying. Ahh, it brings back memoriiess. I’m going to disappeeaarr, I’m feeling so nostalgic. But sorry, sorry, it never happened.”

“No use in arguing.”

As Kano blurts out something uncalled-for, Kido grabs his arm and twists it the wrong way. Honestly, there’s nothing nostalgic about this. It’s almost sad.

“Marry, can you eat some porridge?”

“Yeah, I can.”

Leaving the extraordinary scene of Kido, who holds Kano down with a blank look on her face, while Kano never stops smiling despite it, Seto helps Marry sit up.

He plunges the china spoon into the porridge with a plop, and slowly ladles a generous scoop of the rice and brings it to her mouth. Watching her unsteady hands and eyes that look as if they might close at any moment, Seto remembers something and reaches into his bag.

Ahh, it wasn’t in such a cluttered spot. He had it wrapped so it wouldn’t break and placed it in a small pocket.

Ah, there it is.

“Marry, this is a souvenir.”

After waiting for Marry to finish eating, he handed her a small package in exchange for her bowl.

Marry tilted her head and gently peeled off the wrapping paper. There was a long, thin, wooden box. He cautiously opened the lid of the box to reveal something.

“Coral……?”

Seto nodded at her curious voice as her eyes sparkled.

Inside the box was a pale-colored necklace made out of round, polished pink corals and pure white shells. It had a handmade feel to it.

“This, I can have it?”

“Of course. A local lady gave it to me after I helped her out with some work. It was handmade by her.”

“Wait a minute, coral? Where the hell did you go?”

Kido stopped what she was doing and turned to him with that rough voice, although she was still tightly grabbing Kano with both hands.

“Ah, even though it’s coral, I picked the closest place. And, well, the train I took was the freight train so……”

“We’re nowhere near the reefs so it doesn’t matter that it was the closest place. And the freight train?! That’s a crime!”

“Ahaha, well it doesn’t matter. This organization itself is already criminal after all. And, a coral necklace is the perfect choice.”

Kano’s face and voice didn’t match his stance, so Kido shot him a puzzled look. As Seto helped Marry to sleep, he asked Kano,

“What do you mean perfect?”

“Coral has the ability to bring vitality. That’s perfect right now.”

What a surprise. The hand that had been stroking the cumulonimbus hair halts.

Without noticing Seto’s reaction, Kano opens his mouth,

“Well, I want some vitality too. The other day I snuck a cream puff out of the fridge, and I thought, what’ll happen if I get caught…… Ah.”

“Oh, so it was you after all.”

Kido’s face took on the expression of rage that Seto had been dreading upon his return home.

“K-Kido. Look, Marry’s falling asleep,so we need to be quiet.”

“That’s right, so let’s move to another spot.”

“Nonono, that’s not what I meant - ouchouchouch!”

Kano raised a cry of resistance as Kido dragged him along. She kept her voice low, likely out of concern for Marry. Of course, regardless of her tone of voice, Kido wouldn’t go easy on him.

As she put her hand on the door to leave, Kido turned to look back at him.

“That’s right, Seto, your punishment for disappearing and not contacting us is cleaning the bathroom for two weeks.”

With that, she closes the door, not waiting for a reply. If he listened carefully, he could hear Kano screaming, but he decided to tune it out.

He joined his hands together in prayer for Kano.

Inhale, exhale. He could hear the soft sound of her breathing.

When he looked over, he could see Marry asleep with a much calmer expression than before.

In her hands she clutched the box containing the necklace as though it were precious. Seto’s eyes slightly clouded.

“Vitality, huh?” If that was the case, maybe I didn’t need to give her this necklace.

Kano and Kido, those two never change. Maybe they’d changed just a little bit since the old days, or at least that’s how it seemed to Seto. Surely, it was because he’d spent so long with them.

You’ve grown taller, you’ve been outgrown. You've become cuter, you’re not as cute as you used to be. You’ve gotten smaller, you’ve gotten bigger.

They’d spent their time saying that sort of thing.

He vaguely thought that somehow, it would continue to be that way from then on.

But, what about the girl right in front of his eyes?

You’ve grown up, you’ve become so cool. Those were the kinds of things she told him. She hasn’t changed since the time they first met, and he’s forced to face the difference in the amount of time they’ve been given.

Maybe, just maybe, they could stand shoulder-to-shoulder, look at the same view, and laugh together. What if something like that happened?

When was it that he had hopelessly daydreamed of growing up?

“Seto…….”

The sudden voice made him jump.

Looking at the source of the voice, he saw that she was sleeping soundly. There was a soft smile on her lips.

It seemed she was sleep-talking.

“Am I intruding on your dream?”

He’s glad she seems happy.

He smiles and changes thoughts.

Especially because their time together is limited. He couldn’t let her see his face all gloomy like that.

With his usual cheerful smile, Seto stroked Marry’s head.

“Get better soon, Marry.”

The girl’s fluffy hair gave the same feeling as if he was walking in a dream.

Part 2 to come......

[kageprountranslated]

Mekakucity M’s Promo Calendar Scans

These are scans from a 2015-16 calendar included as a promo item with some copies of Mekakucity M’s Complete Box bought from the Japanese store Animate.

[kageprountranslated]

Mekakucity V’s Promo Calendar Scans

These are scans from a 2014 calendar included as a promo item with some copies of Mekakucity V’s (I suspect it was a bonus that came with copies bought from the Japanese store Animate but don’t have concrete proof of this.)

[kageprountranslated]

ZIGI Lyrics Translation

ZIGI

Children who deceive children are called “adults”.

Music: Jin (Shizen-no-Teki-P)

Music video

✦

A mere child’s play fairytale late around midnight

Deep in her ears she hears an electrical voice calling

Abrabra kadabra from the blacked out mind

The rabbit head bursts into laughter as she gently takes off her pajamas

✦

You’ll finally reach the Dutch iris patterned Wonderland

Eyes overflowing with drowsiness wait to open

Drool dripping behind the staggering procession

The dirty dog is weeping, pretending not to see everyone

✦

It’s weird to laugh and not laugh

Rather, bare your teeth and meet secretly

✦

Like tumbling into procession at the shitty mayfly parade

Become a monkey and clap your hands

✦

Clap!! Clap!! Clap!!

✦

Ah, Flap-flap...your skirt flapping, It's badly, you're such a dime!

Pray for the color of the dancing lightning

Blah-blah…your smile is scary. The laughter is scarier than it.

Please have a dream that you never wake up from

✦

A see-through girl with dazzling make-up decided

She complains that the glass slippers won’t fit

Mirage pink cider color that attacks the nose

As it melts into the marrow of her Wonderland bones’ adult deception

✦

Stop and don’t leave me

Everyone is saving a seat and meeting to compete

✦

She makes a joke that she’s a squid in blue on a stupid stage

She eats up more and more

✦

Ah, Flap-flap...your skirt flapping, It's badly, you're such a dime!

Pray for a feverish little world

Blah-blah…your smile is scary. The laughter is scarier than it.

Please take the special seat

✦

The clock bell is ringing late around midnight

I’m weeping because the train returning home will never come

The voice echoes in the chopped up rhythm of the heartbeat

Forever by the side of the electrical voice that calls out

✦

Jump on the roller coaster and enter the tunnel

Forever by the side of the electrical voice that calls out

An electrical voice screams from inside her mouth

Don’t sing, I’m normal

✦

Darling darling!

✦

Flap-flap...your skirt flapping, It's badly, you're such a dime!

No one knows the true identity of the dream

Blah-blah…your smile is scary. The laughter is scarier than it.

I’ll become an adult

✦

Warning! Warning!

✦

Flap-flap...your skirt flapping, It's badly, you're such a dime!

Let’s bathe in the dancing lightning and burst into flames

Blah-blah…your smile is scary. The laughter is scarier than it.

Let’s have a dream that you never wake up from

✦

Your smile is scary.

[kageprountranslated]

Kagerou Daze Anthology Novel Ch. 2 - Locked Up With a Classmate

Locked Up With a Classmate

Author: Kōta (こーた) | Illustrator: Hanasaki Manio (花咲まにお)

The incident occurred only a few weeks after I became a high school student, in the season where the smell of spring still remains.

When I asked myself why it happened, I was so upset that I couldn’t even answer. The view outside the window is dim, and before long it will be pitch black. And on top of that, it seems that the electricity is broken since I’ve been pressing the switch for a while with no sign of it working.

……Why did this happen?

I held my head. Ahh, I think it’s pretty rare for me to be holding my head like this, but that’s how different the nature of this “current situation” is.

But it’s okay because there’s a solution. With my heart murmuring, I look at her, wearing her red scarf, as she handles her cell phone.

“Um, Shintaro……”

“Oh, are you going to contact someone?”

“Well…… about that”

Why is she avoiding eye contact? She’s staring with unpleasant premonition in her eyes. And that brief comment is all she said.

“My cell phone, I forgot to charge it…… the battery is dead.”

While pointing at her phone’s pitch black screen that she turned toward me, Ayano makes an awkward smile. And our only remaining hope breaks, making a shattering noise.

……Now, if you asked me what the heck happened, since I’ve calmed down a little bit I may be able to answer.

To put it simply, I am locked up in a room with my classmate Ayano Tateyama next to me. We are currently, in the present tense, trapped alone together.

Going back in time a little earlier today, after school.

Ayano had stepped up to carry some teaching materials to a certain room. Apparently it’s the job of Ayano’s father, who’s a teacher at this school, but since he seems to be busy lately, he begged her to help him and carry it. That’s why, today, Ayano told me she wanted to walk home together but couldn’t.

I had wanted to go home early, but I followed Ayano, wondering if she wanted me to keep her company. By no means was I plotting to go home together.

And now I was trapped. What does it mean?

“Ayano, you said your cell phone died…… But were you able to contact anyone first?”

“I tried to send an email to my dad because I couldn’t call him, but I lost power immediately after I sent it, so I wonder if it was able to send properly……”

“I see…”

A small room. Alone with Ayano. Unfortunately when I tried to ask someone for help, I forgot that I left my phone at home today. Ayano has her phone so tried to contact someone, but as she said, it seems the charge has run out.

“The teaching materials, I was asked to bring them and Shintaro came too.”

“Well that’s, I’m feeling this mood.”

“Fufu, Shintaro you’re so kind.”

“......I don’t think I’m kind.”

When I said that, Ayano slowly turned her face down. And while listening to my situation she lets out a voice saying, “Shintaro…… you’re angry at me, right?”

“Huh? We didn’t get into this situation because of any ill will, and I have no reason to get angry with you.”

“Oh so, Shintaro is kind after all!”

“No, it’s not that…… that, why are you about to cry like that!”

“It’s because of me…… uhh, my dad warned me about the door.”

Apparently the doors of the “Second Science Preparation Room” aren’t built very well, and once closed often can’t be opened from the inside. Ayano forgot to tell me this, and I, who didn’t know, closed the door.

It seems that this time they’ve finally decided to repair it properly but…… repair it sooner.

“We can’t do anything. Let’s stay still, ‘kay?”

“...... yeah.”

I couldn’t just sit on the dusty floor and next to the pile of cardboard dust that neighbored me.

I opened the window, lightly flinging it ajar, and sat down on the floor side-by-side with Ayano. We’re at a distance where our shoulders bump. ……It’s close.

“Ehehe, but it’s good that the person I got locked up with is you, Shintaro.”

“......Oh.”

I’ll reply curtly.

At this time I agree, It’s nice to be locked up with Ayano. But it’s embarrassing to think about, so I’ll never say it out loud.

And then I notice, outside the window it’s totally dark. It seems a lot of time has passed since I started trying to find a way out.

“Well, it’s getting darker.”

“Yeah, I wonder if my dad got the email…… I hope he comes to get us out.”

“Isn’t it a little too dark in here?”

“There’s no way to turn the electricity on. If we could get it on, someone even from a distance might notice that we’re in this room”

“Say, Ayano.”

“There aren’t many people around here, I tried yelling out a while ago but as expected it was no use……”

“Ayano, tell me, are you scared of the dark?”

“Hm? I’m not particularly scared of it.”

“You’re putting on a brave front! Look, let’s talk about something bright and fun!”

“......Shintaro, is it possible,”

I felt Ayano’s gaze with the words, “Are you scared?” My shoulders jump.

“I-I-I, I’m not scared! I’m just scared that you’re scared!”

“Then, let’s take advantage of this dim atmosphere and talk about horror!”

“Huhh!?”

When I turned to Ayano, her face was at point-blank range. She’s staring at me with a fearless smile.

H-horror!? Scary stories!?

“Well. One night……”

“Uwaaaaaaaaaa!?”

As soon as Ayano started talking, I raised my voice and covered my ears. I can’t deal with horror in this situation!!

“I-I-I I’m not scared, ‘kay, don’t misunderstand!?”

“What’s that!? Shintaro! There’s a figure outside the window!”

“Gyaaaaaaaaaa!?”

“Eh, wait Shintaro!?”

I think I was in a panic at this time. No, I wasn’t thinking about it. I’m in a big panic.

“It’s a joke Shintaro! Calm down!”

“Window!? Where!? Where’s the figure!?”

“That’s why it’s a joke! Uwawa!”

I was so surprised and horrified that I hid behind Ayano’s back. A boy hiding behind a girl’s back, there’s no doubt that if my little sister saw me right now she’d say, “my brother is pathetic,” but I guess that’s not the case for now.

“Shintaro! There’s no figure! It was a joke!”

“J-, joke……?”

“Yes, a joke! So calm down! It was just a fail at making fun of you!”

So I discover it’s a joke and finally calm down.

What a joke……!

“Ah, ahaha, I knew from the beginning that it was like a joke and I wasn’t surprised or scared……”

“Then why are you hiding behind my back?”

“Th-, that’s…… no just, don’t make weird jokes anymore!?”

Ayano looks at me replying “yes yes” from over her shoulder. Just one word.

“Shintaro, behind……!

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaa!?”

What!? Is there something behind me!?

“Well, I’m kidding…… but……. Shintaro you’re funny, too funny, bufufu.”

Perhaps she’s holding back laughter, her shoulders shaking while she holds her stomach. But, in the end she couldn’t stand it and bursts into full laughter.

“Y-, you, I told you to stop making weird jokes didn’t I!? Don’t laugh!”

“I’m sorry! I won’t laugh anymore…… fufuhaa.”

“You’re laughing!!”

This is flat out scary without a joke. There’s nothing to laugh about.

“Ahh, I laughed. ……So, why is Shintaro still hiding behind me?”

“Eh!? No, th-,that stuff you said! Is it okay for me to leave now!? It’s okay to go, but…… there really wasn’t anything behind me!?”

“There really wasn’t anything!”

“Is that true? It was really just a joke!?”

“It’s okay! It was really a joke!”

“...... alright.”

Slowly slowly, take myself away from behind Ayano. Alright, it’s really a joke.

—Basasaa!

“Heee!? Ayano! Ayano! Something was outside! Something was outsiiiiide!”

There was a noise, and something big crossed the window. I buried myself into ayano’s back, hugging her instead of hiding, not so subtle this time.

“...... I think it was just a bird this time…… Shintaro? Are you okay?”

“I’m not okay! This isn’t fun anymore! I’m scared! It’s terrible!!”

“No way Shintaro was so scared……”

Ayano took my hand that hugged her and asked, “are you okay?” as she gently stroked it. But I immediately shake my hand and let go of Ayano. As usual I shook her off.

Ahh, I’m sure I have a real pathetic facial expression now. I don’t want Ayano to see me like this.

“It’s okay. Because I’m by Shintaro’s side, forever.”

“So rest assured, I’m not scared,” she said with a smile.

“...... Ayano…… aren’t you scared?”

“I guess if I’m feeling anything, it’s scared. But somehow it’s okay since I’m with you, Shintaro. Ah, is my feeling of wanting to protect scaredy-Shintaro overpowering it now?”

What she says is alleviating my fear.

“Wait a minute, I’m only scared because you’ve been saying weird things…… No, I’m not scared, I’m absolutely not scared.”

*“I’m sorry about that, I’m scared that Shintaro is cute.”

“That’s why I’m not scared and don’t tell a man he’s cute!”

“Now, that’s not right! I wasn’t saying that! I said ‘scared’!”

(*Translator’s note: Shintaro believed Ayano said she was scared he was cute but she is saying that she said she was scared he was scared. In Japanese the words “cute” and “scary” sound similar, being “kawaii” and “kowai”)

“Ah, that’s…… Just my imagination, it was in my imagination! W-, well it can’t be helped, so it’s okay to be protected only for today! But I’m not particularly scared!”

“Good grief, Shintaro, you're really not straightforward.”

As she says that, she looks up at my face from below.

“Sh-, shut up! Only today, only today I’ll protect you, that is, you, Ayano.”

“Eh? Shintaro, what?”

“A-, Ayano, what if you were also having a hard time? If I can do it…… I’ll help you.”

Why did I say that?

When I heard that Ayano wanted to protect me, I wondered if I could do something for her too. My words were very small, but Ayano seemed to hear them. She very happily said, “it’s rare for Shintaro to be defeated.” ……I’m not defeated.

“That’s right.”

After thinking for a moment she muttered, “I don’t want to involve someone who’s important to me if it’s dangerous,” with a serious look on her face.

Ahh, she’s that kind of person. Worrying more about others than herself. “Because it’s my happiness,” I remember her saying once while laughing, so you really……

“But thank you Shintaro, I’m happy with those words alone.”

“Th-, that’s right.”

“Then, I have your permission, Shintaro. Only today I’ll be a hero for Shintaro!”

“Have it your way.”

“Hey, Shintaro.”

“What is it?”

“When you’re scared or lonely, you can hold my hand.”

“Huh? What’s that—......”

As if to block my words, the window shakes greatly. Apparently the wind is getting stronger. Of course, my body reacts to such a noise.

“Uh……. uh, Ayanoo.”

Now, please commend me for not screaming this time.

“Shintaro, your hand.”

“......”

“Shintaro, hand.”

“......”

“Shintaro, hand!”

“What about your hand!? Should I just hold it!?”

I grabbed Ayano’s hand tightly. It was warm.

“Whenever you feel alone and lonely, hold my hand anytime.”

Those words, what kind of meaning do they have?

With a little thought, I shook my head. I shook my head to deny Ayano’s words. When Ayano looked at me she looked lonely.

“I…… can’t you rely on me?”

“That’s not it. …… just.”

“Just?”

Ayano tilts her head. I turned away from her.

“...... It’s because I’m a coward.”

Isolated words, I muttered in a very quiet voice.

—......It must have been a long time since we got trapped.

Still, there was no sign of help coming at all. What should I do? I was hungry and I wanted to take a bath.

“Achuu”

It was me who had such a small sneeze. As the window rattles, the wind seems to be strong outside. It’s chilly and I brace my body, as a scarf is wrapped around my neck gently.

“Ayano?”

“Fufu, isn’t it cold with this?”

Certainly not cold, but rather warm. But, this is……

“You’re cold right? Take it back.”

“That’s not good, you’re catching a cold Shintaro.”

“If you say that, what if you catch a cold instead!?”

“Fufu, thanks for worrying about me.”

“A-, also…… I-, I’m returning it anyway!”

I push the red scarf back to Ayano, but she totally refuses to take it. And suddenly, Ayano says, “ah, let’s wear it together!” which makes me jump.

Wear it…… together?

“Huh? What are you……!?”

When I realized the scarf was around my neck again, it was also around Ayano’s neck.

Wa-, wait one minute, two people wearing it together is the kind of thing that—!?

Two people and one scarf. Ayano’s body and face are clinging very closely to mine. It’s definitely warmer than before, but this is……!

“I need to move away from you!”

“Why? Isn’t it warm?”

“That’s not the problem!”

“So what’s the problem?”

“J-, just think for yourself!”

“Hmm—? Shintaro, you’re acting strange, aren’t you?”

“Shh-, sh, shut upp.”

I move my arm to untie the scarf, but when I do I hear the sound of my clothes and Ayano’s clothes rubbing together. I can’t move my body because I’m in such close contact with Ayano.

“Shintaro.”

“What?”

“If I’m asking you to wear it because you’re cold, I’m not wrong am I?”

I’m cold too. If anything, I want to wear the scarf exactly how it is.

“......I-, it can’t be helped. If you say it like that.”

“Fufu, thank you.”

It was in this way, we agreed to share one scarf. But, although we’re no longer cold, our current situation of being trapped remains the same.

“Ayano, are you okay? If you’re getting sleepy, do you want to sleep?”

“Yeah, maybe I’m a little sleepy…. Ah, maybe I should borrow Shintaro’s shoulders.”

“O-, oh. I understand.”

“Ehehee.”

Ayano rests her head on my shoulder.

“...... hey, Shintaro.”

With her face down and eyes closed, Ayano gently says my name. It was a small voice, but we’re so close together that I could clearly see she was saying my name.

“Hmm?”

“...... you called yourself a coward, what do you mean by that?”

I’m surprised. After saying “It’s because I’m a coward” Ayano had shut up. I thought she couldn’t hear me because I muttered it in such a quiet voice, but it seems to have reached her ears after all.

It’s regretfully too late to pretend I didn't say it. She already heard.

“That is…… that’s nothing, so forget about it. I’m a little upset.”

“I will never forget. I will absolutely never forget.”

Her crying voice spilled from her mouth. Why is she making a voice like that?

And this time from Ayano…… and almost every time words from Ayano, she clenched my hand tightly.

“Ayano, hand.”

“I don’t like it, I don’t want to let go.”

“Ayano?”

“I want you to tell me more about your true feelings, Shintaro.”

“...... what if I say I don’t like it?”

She raised her face. She looked like she was about to cry.

Ahh, this face isn’t going to be forgotten…… I think.

“That is, very sad.”

Still, I can’t say it, won’t say it. I’m too much of a coward to say my true feelings.

But the truth is, I want to tell Ayano everything. I don’t like being alone, and when I end up feeling lonely like I always used to, Ayano will accept me with a smile. But if that happens, I’ll become dependent on Ayano, and if I’m too dependent, I’m so scared that someday it will be time to say goodbye to each other.

Oh I’m really a terrible coward.

“I’m begging you, don’t worry about me.”

Don’t say any more kind words.

Once I depend on you, I can’t live without you.

“Shintaro, I want you to remember what I’m about to say.”

“I don’t want to hear it.”

I shake my head from side to side, like a little kid.

“Shintaro, listen?”

Ayano moves up a little and looks into my face from below.

“I don’t like it.”

I bury my face in the scarf. It smells like Ayano.

“Even if Shintaro lets go of this hand.”

“I don’t want to hear it!”

“I’m going to grab Shintaro’s hand as many times as I want!”

“Even if, this makes me look stubborn,” Ayano said such warm words with a smile.

“Aya-, nno……”

Ayano’s words alone makes me feel like I am overflowing. My whole body gets hot. My eyes get hot.

You see, I shouldn’t have listened. I didn’t want to listen because I thought she would say something happy to me, and of course she did. Why does she say such words to me? She’ll be taken advantage of for her kindness.

“Don’t say that kind of thing so casually.”

Everyone will eventually leave me. Seeing me, who can immediately derive the answer to any question; seeing me, who understands it all; even kind people will also leave me. And everyone looks at me with weird eyes.

Even Ayano, I’m sure just like everyone else……

“It’s not casual! Because Shintaro, I want to be with you forever!”

“Th-, that’s why…!”

“Shintaro, that’s why.”

I notice there. Ayano’s aura seems to be different than usual.

“Ayano, what are you saying……?”

“Shintaro, you’re insensitive to people’s feelings while saying that you understand everything. I’ll be with you, really.”

While holding her head, she mutters out something like a soliloquy.

Insensitive? Am I?

“I mean, I want to be with you forever.”

Ayano mumbled, a little embarrassed.

“It’s because Shintaro, I want to be with you forever.”

Ayano seems to be trying to say something about the meaning of the words she said. I’m sure since it’s Ayano, she’s giving me these words as a friend……

“That’s it, Shintaro.”

“What’s it?”

“Um…… the words I just said, I didn’t mean it in a friendship way.”

My idea that those were the words of a friend, were denied by her herself.

“Shintaro, Shintaro for me, is more than a friend.”

She stares at me. Ayano’s face is close. I find my heart is making a loud noise. I’m distracted by our close distance, I didn’t hear Ayano’s words well.

“For me, about Shintaro—......!”

It was at that time.

Tattattattatto, the sound of someone running echoes through the school.

Ayano’s word’s stopped halfway through the sound that I heard clearly.

“...... Shintaro, can you hear someone running?”

“I-, I-, I don’t care.”

A person of unknown character is running. I was so scared that my remaining determination was gnawed away. I forget about being embarrassed for now.

“I don’t think it’s my imagination.”

“What if it isn’t our imaginations!? Who’s running at this hour!? I-, isn’t it coming this way!? Uwaaaaaaaaa!”

“Shintaro!? Calm down a little, Shintaro! Awawawa!”

Who is running through the school at such an hour? Why would they need to run?

No way, no way could this be something paranormal……!?

“Ayano, I’m so scared that even you can’t help me! Hey, why are you so calm!?”

“I’m not really, but if I’m with people who are more scared than I am, I will keep calm……”

“Ayano, I’m certain the footsteps are coming this way!”

Suddenly, the footsteps stopped right in front of the door where we were trapped.

It’s over. They’ve come to take us from this world.

“Ayanooo!”

At this time, I couldn’t hear Ayano’s voice saying, “I wonder if someone came to help us?” I couldn’t think of such an idea at all. Losing my composure, I squeezed Ayano’s hand, which had been linked with mine for so long, with so much fear.

And, the door was opened.

“Hey, are you okay, Ayano!? I’m sorry I didn’t notice the email! It seems that the power was cut off this morning, so I just noticed……”

It was a man’s voice that I heard.

“Ah, Dad.”

As soon as I heard Ayano’s words, I felt frozen in place.

Think about it. This is a closed room, and we’re alone together, right now I’m wearing the scarf (two people sharing one scarf) with Ayano and holding hands together…… yeah, it’s no wonder that a misunderstanding would arise.

“What are you doing with Ayano, Shintaro Kisaragi?”

Did he ask that as a teacher, or as Ayano’s father? I immediately tried to get away from Ayano, but realized I couldn’t because I was wearing the scarf.

I move my arm to untie the scarf.

“You will not move without my permission, Shintaro Kisaragi.”

Yes, I understand not to move, not to move, so don’t make such a scary face, dad.

“Dad, it’s late! I was glad Shintaro was with me, and we can go home now!”

Ayano’s reassuring voice brought relief.

Ayano, look at your father's face because it’s not okay at all. I think I’ll be taken out of the world after all. “What were you doing in a closed room with Ayano? Answer quickly, Shintaro Kisaragi,” he says while glaring at me. Why are you calling me by my full name when we’ve known each other for a while!?

“Ah, it was a little cold so the two of us just warmed up together! Don’t get it twisted, Dad!”

I feel my face get hot as soon as I hear the words “the two of us warmed up”.

Certainly not wrong, not wrong, but……!

“Ayano, what are you saying……g! I’ve gotta ask you to be quiet for a minute! Stop saying weird things!!”

No matter what I say, Ayano doesn’t seem to understand the pinch we’re in as she replies, “I’m not saying anything strange,” with a question mark floating above her head.

…… and, why is her dad smiling so big?

“It was courageous to try to abandon my daughter in front of me without my permission, Shintaro Kisaragi. Now untie the scarf, stand in place, and raise both of your arms, Shintaro Kisaragi.”

Those words, I’ll just say I’ve never heard such a ridiculously dark voice.

In the end, I didn’t realize at that time that it would take a week to get rid of the misunderstanding of the situation.

And I was able to escape from the locked room safely (......it’s a miracle that I was able to survive that father though.) My mother, who was worried about me being home too late, and my sister, who was also worried said:

“My big brother is an idiot! I called your cell phone so many times!”

I’m at your mercy. I’m sorry little sis, that cell phone is in your big brother’s room.

In this way, the day Ayano and I had finally came to an end.

Well, I have an excellent memory, and the words Ayano tried to say are frozen in my mind.

“For me, about Shintaro—......”

At that time, I didn’t know what the end of that sentence would have been. The words between me and Ayano are hazy, and it doesn’t help that while we were locked up together she also said, “I wanted to take a picture of scaredy-Shintaro”......

“Why do you always go home with me?”

As usual, Ayano is back with me. Or rather, clinging to me as we walk home together.

“You want to go home together…… don’t you?”

“No, I’m not saying no.”

“Fufu, it’s not bad, is it?”

Ayano grabs my hand. Illuminated by the setting sun, our shadows emerged on the slope.

“I won’t let go of this hand, so don’t be afraid, Shintaro.”

“....... well, if that's the case, have it your way.”

That hand that I usually shake off, I just couldn’t do it this time for some reason.

What did you try to say the other day, should I ask again?...... I was wondering at that time.

“Ah, Dad.”

Lost in the words, I said, “eh,” and turned forward. Remembering that I was holding hands with Ayano, I built up a slow, unpleasant sweat.

…… that, I wonder what it was before this feeling.

“Good evening, now, are you going home?” the words that spilled from me were so clumsy.

“Hey, I’m trying to reach out to Ayano and Ayano…… that wasn’t Shintaro Kisaragi holding hands with her, right? That’s right, I’m on my way home now, it’s just a coincidence that I ran into you two. …… if you’d like, let’s walk home together, three people.”

It will take a long time to get over this misunderstanding with such an overprotective father……

That’s another story.

XXX

“For me, about Shintaro—......”

At that time, I thought I could finally confide my feelings. Then suddenly, I heard someone’s footsteps coming toward us.

I could have finished that sentence without worrying about it.

But when I heard the footsteps, a little silence drifted between me and him. Just a little. You could call it an instant. In that instant I thought about it.

‘What if I get rejected?’

“Haa, I’m sorry to say, I’m a hero of justice.”

I lie on my back in bed, thinking about the classmate who’s so special to me.

That classmate, I’m sure he thinks of me as only a friend.

“...... I don’t even think I’m a friend, though.”

I was terribly saddened by the words I muttered.

But lately he’s allowed me to be closer to him. We eat lunch together, go home together, and we push our desks together for him to teach me how to study. And that relationship, I don’t want to break it.

If I say my feelings, the relationship may break. Isn’t it better not to say it if it will break it? At that time, when such a thing came to mind, I swallowed those feelings, and turned toward the footsteps of someone running.

He calls himself a coward, but the coward is me.

While asking him to tell me his true feelings, it’s me who can’t say my own true feelings.

I’m afraid of being separated from him, I’m afraid of this relationship breaking, and I’m a pitiful coward.

“...... let’s go to sleep.”

No matter how I think of it, there’s no answer besides that I’m a pitiful coward. It’s hard to get an answer when you’re studying it, it’s bad because the answer is immediately clear in such a case.

I’m okay. He and I aren’t going to be separated right now.

I still have time.

That’s why I’m okay. Let’s convey our feelings little by little.

I still have time.

I still have a lot of time.

So, let’s talk to him tomorrow. Let’s make lots of memories.

Tomorrow with him———......

Book Info | Ch. 1 | Ch. 2

[kageprountranslated]

MERMAID Lyrics Translation (Jin 1st Mini Album: Allegories)

MERMAID

Music: Jin (Shizen no Teki-P)

Music video

The moon floating on the water’s surface

I was only looking up while shaking

Floating memories

Anxiously danced like bubbles

That day is like a movie

The burning seat squeaking

“I don’t need anything”

In the two connected hands is only one of two rings

Softly floating

My body seems to freeze

Just keep your eyes closed

I can’t say goodbye

One bleeding love

That becomes a bubble and disappears

The bottom of the sea sank like it fell

Like a photograph projected in your heart

The memory touched with a finger

Only transmits warmth

It starts to go around

The hill of two people I was watching on that day

The sound of an antique clock, the taste of chamomile

The exchanged ring which entrusted oneself to a promise

The voice calling out my name

I can’t remember

Softly floating

Tears overflow

“This is a dream, a bad dream”

The outstretched arm collapses down

I only wished

To be with you

The love that was bound to that day

If it could last forever

As you think

You become water

The one love that emerged in me

Was the word I wanted to say

“Satisfaction”

[kageprountranslated]

Mekakucity Actors Act 02 Kisaragi Attention Blu-ray Booklet and Translation

This is the booklet included with the Blu-ray release of Mekekaucity Actors act 02, Kisaragi Attention.

act 02: Kisaragi Attention

STORY: Active high school idol Momo Kisaragi was heading to school to take supplementary summer lessons. Along the way many people call out to her and she isn’t able to go as expected, since she always “draws people’s attention”. However, the difference this time is that she encounters strange people.

Name: Momo (CV: Nanami Kashiyama)

MEMO: Mekakushi dan member NO. 5.

She is a very popular idol on the streets. She is a first year high school student. Ever since she suffered an accident in the ocean with her father, interestingly, people ignore their interests and tastes and she attracts their attention as she has acquired the “drawing eyes” ability. She has a unique taste in things like fashion, which often clashes with other’s opinions.

The left page contains the lyrics for Kisaragi Attention, which can be read here. The right page includes credits and copyright information for the episode.

[kageprountranslated]

Mekakucity Actors Act 01 Jinzou Enemy Blu-ray Booklet and Translation

This is the booklet included with the Blu-ray release of Mekekaucity Actors act 01, Jinzou Enemy.

act 01: Jinzou Enemy (Artificial Enemy)

STORY: Shut-in Shintaro, along with the electronic girl Ene who lived inside his PC, were spending time in his gloomy room. When they went to the department store to buy a replacement for a broken keyboard, they became caught up in a terrorist attack hostage situation. There Shintaro encounters mysterious characters.

Name: Ene (CV: Kana Asumi)

MEMO: Mekakushi dan member NO.6.

An innocent electronic girl. She lives in Shintaro’s computer. She can hack into almost any electronic device. She does everything in her power to do things Shintaro dislikes. Once a human being, she lost her body in an experiment, gaining immortality through the Opening Eyes ability.

The left page contains the lyrics for Children Record, which can be read here. The right page includes credits and copyright information for the episode.

[kageprountranslated]

Mekakucity Actors Story Board Key Animation Book Scans (Keyframes)

Storyboards | Key Frames

[kageprountranslated]

Mekakucity Actors Story Board Key Animation Book Scans (Storyboards)

Storyboards | Key Frames

[kageprountranslated]

Got my hands on something interesting... interest in scans/translations?

[kageprountranslated]

Are There Two Versions of Kagerou Daze Kaitai Shinsho/Disintegration Book/Break Down Book?!

Hey everyone. I bought this book for my personal collection knowing it had already been fan translated but I am ABSOLUTELY bamboozled after receiving it. This is DEFINITELY not the same book that’s already been translated.

Here is the fan translation by diagonal-6010 that’s been shared on the wiki. Let me compare it to the book I’ve got and maybe someone can tell me what’s going on because there is not a SINGLE identical page and my copy is a LOT longer. (Sorry for bad pic quality, I was just trying to get pics quickly to compare.)

Cover on my book:

Cover on other:

Table of contents in my book:

Table of contents in other:

Shintaro has 4 pages in my book before it moves onto Ene:

In the other book Shintaro and Ene share 2 pages:

Every character page is different like this, and most characters have 3-4 whole pages. Some of the info is the same and some of the text is the same, like Jin’s comments. But obviously the book with 4 pages per character has a lot more writing. Song and light novel pages are totally different too.

Then after all that I have a whole section of sheet music that isn’t in the other book:

And a fan section that isn’t there either:

And uhhh. The other book has 16 pages. Mine has 95. I don’t know when the original was published but the translation post is from 9 years ago, and copyright date on mine is 8 years ago, 2013.

Does anyone know the history here? I can’t find much info about this book online, and I definitely didn’t think there were two very different versions. The wiki calls is pamphlet which it definitely is not. Was is originally a pamphlet that got reworked into a book?

Like I bought this fully thinking it was the already fan-translated thing. I can’t find a single listing for sale online (even on JPN sites) that has the cover of the previously translated work, only the one I bought. What. Is. Going. On. And am I gonna have to translate this too?! Lol.

[kageprountranslated]

Kagepro Translations Update - I Want Your Opinions

Hey y’all. I’m taking a short break from translating to work on finals. Hopefully I’ll be able to pop out another chapter of the Kagerou Daze Novel Anthology over winter break!

I’m curious if anyone has any opinions or critique on the way I’ve been posting my Kagepro translations. If you would be willing to share any opinions let me know! 

Is there anything I should change or add to my posts? Are they easy to read? Should I be tagging anything else, like maybe ships? Do you like the use of picture headings and “keep reading” breaks? Should I split chapters into multiple posts? (I like keeping it condensed into less posts but the full Sounds of Summer chapter post didn’t get as much interaction as the shorter post with info about the book)

I also have several books that I don’t believe have ever been fan translated (pls lmk if they have been). If any book sticks out to you as one you’re super curious about let me know. After the first Novel Anthology I’ve currently got:

Kagerou Daze Novel Anthology II

Mekakushidan: Watchers Replay ~MISSION SEARCHING for a LOST GIRL Re;PLAY~ (the 3rd Watchers book, don’t have first 2, but I think this one could be understood without the others?)

Kageroudaze Official Visual Fanbook (I found some old fan translations but it looks like only 1 section of the book)

Kagerou Project Anniversary Fanbook (is currently in the mail on the way to me... not sure if there’s anything worth translating or if it’s only pictures? If it’s only pictures I won’t post it)

I’m currently just “scanning” pages with my phone camera. For books that are super picture heavy I’m currently looking for a better way to photograph the pages so they’ll be worth posting. If anyone has any suggestions that won’t destroy the books let me know! (Or if anyone already happens to have scans that I can have permission to use...)

Thanks everyone! And good luck on finals, happy holidays, and, uhhh maternity spiral?

[kageprountranslated]

Kagerou Daze Anthology Novel Ch. 1 - Sounds of Summer

Sounds of Summer

Author: Akitoshi (翠寿) | Illustrator: Hanasaki Manio (花咲まにお)

“We have a mission. You guys are going to the sea.”

It was the end of August. The words of the leader, Kido, who unexpectedly said such a thing, caused the voices of all the young people in the hideout to rise in joy.

And thus, the members of the Mekakushi Dan and one other girl gathered for the mission to visit the sea. The eleven children, including the original leader, were in high spirits while they prepared. Three days after the declaration, they boarded the train.

I had nearly forgotten that the Mekakushi Dan is a secret organization, and it seems that we actually get a lot of commissions. This time we received a request from the greengrocer auntie who Kido’s fond of.

Apparently her relatives run a beachside clubhouse, but it seems they’re short-staffed because several employees caught a summer cold. And so our Mekakushi Dan must step up and help. It seems Kido agreed to the request immediately, saying she couldn’t reject the auntie who she is always indebted to. At this point I didn’t reject it, let’s just leave it at that.

There’s no reason us kids wouldn’t be excited for the big event of visiting the sea, and the job at the beach house was simple front-of-house work. To tell the truth I was just going to use the mission as an excuse to have some fun. Which is fine, but if we don’t complete the job well it will affect the trust clients have with us in the future. Kido, who received the request, will undoubtedly take care of all that, so I’m not too worried.

Glancing at the other members who seemed to talk happily, I looked out the window and warned my friends not to be too noisy. We passed through the tunnel and I squinted my eyes as we were hit with blue light. In the car I heard a sudden joyful cheer from someone else.

It’s the sea. I softly exhaled as I saw that oversized puddle for the first time in years.

“We’re supposed to start our shift at 1:00. Until then you can kill your time however you’d like. Then we’ll meet at the Blue Beach House. You understand?”

Yes!!

Everyone sent a well-mannered reply to the leader then changed into their respective swimsuits and spread out.

The current time was just past 10:00, so we were given about three hours of free time.

Even though summer was almost over, many people visited the beach to enjoy the coolness of the sea, since the weather was like a steam bath during the day. I looked around the sandy beach that was full of people and wondered what was going on. It wasn’t a bad idea to just spend the time until the shift relaxing, but since we came to the beach I wanted to have a little bit of fun. As I turned my foot from the beach to touch the water, suddenly there was a weight on my shoulders that pushed my upper body forward. I turned my face to find out that this criminal of gravity was the cat-eyed boy.

“It’s too hot, get off of me Kano.”

“My, my, don’t be so cold-hearted. Let’s get along, get along, mmkay?”

He really dares utter that? I think I’ll stuff sand in the mouth of the guy who shamelessly feigns friendship.

“What’s the point…. If you’re trying to pick a quarrel, go bug the other guys.”

“You’re sooo cold Shintaro-kun. Don’t say something like that, this is something I can only talk to you about.”

Kano lowered his voice as he glanced around the area. Leaning over one of my shoulders, he put his hand on my ear and whispered.

“....What do you think about women’s swimwear?”

“Huh?”

If you think about it, it’s a conversation that’s really foolish to have. Such a crazy topic involuntarily weakened me. It’s really ridiculous, but it’s an age-appropriate topic.

I glared at Kano to make sure he wasn’t making fun of me, but he looked super serious. It was a really important topic to him as an adolescent boy, so I pretended to be reluctant as I turned my eyes to the girls.

“Nothing special…. They’re all pretty normal.”

“Nooo, you’re thinking about something, aren’tcha? Tell the truth, who do you like best?”

“Who’re you….?”

It’s a common topic. But for me, who’s been shut in for the last few years, the kinds of topics I could talk about with guy friends were fresh. Of course, there was no way I could talk about it with Takane, also known as Ene, and Momo was out of the question. A long time ago I might have asked Haruka-senpai which girl he liked while looking through magazines, but he really wasn’t the kind of guy who talked about that stuff.

I think about it for a while as the beautiful swimsuits of the female Mekakushi Dan members, who seem to be enjoying the sea, are caught in my eye. The swimsuits are all different types, so it’s easy to pick the unique kind that you like. That said, this guy wouldn’t accept the clean answer that each has its own respective merits.

“....Kido’s doesn’t show much”

“Ah, yeah. I think she could wear a bikini since she’s thin, but she’s too shy for that. I want to say a thing or two to the person who came up with a hoodie you can swim in.”

Kido, who was setting up beach chairs, a cooler, and towels, looked like a mom. Her long hair was pulled up into a ponytail, and under her short-sleeved hoodie were short pants that imitated denim. It was more like rough casual clothes than a swimsuit. It’s a little difficult to say what I’m really thinking as a man. The clothes were a lot more revealing than the usual Kido, but for a trip to the sea you could say this outfit was quite defensive.

Next to her, desperately blowing air into a swim float, Marry wore a cute white swimsuit like fluffy cotton candy. The soft, overlapping cloth accentuated her childlike nature.

“What about Marry? Shintaro-kun doesn’t seem to like the kind of impression she makes.”

“I think it’s cute but…. It’s childish, isn’t it?”

“I see. Speaking of children, there’s also Hiyori-chan.”

Looking in the direction Kano was pointing, I saw Hibiya and Hiyori, the youngest pair in the Mekakushi Dan. Hibiya has guts for never giving up no matter how coldly Hiyori treats him. He deserves more respect. The pink one-piece swimsuit Hiyori wore was studded with flower petal designs, a good match for a sweet young girl.

“I’m not a lolicon!”

“Okayyyy don’t get mad. Ahh, look look, what about your little sister?”

“I don’t have a sister complex either!”

Momo’s swimsuit had by far the least amount of cloth among the members. I’m sure she’s used to being so exposed for her idol work, but as her older brother it made me a little worried for her. At least it seemed like she was trying to hide her face a little bit, wearing a thin hoodie that made it a little better. Still, my anxiety for her was endless.

However, when I’m looking at her like this, she has really big…. Nope, let’s stop.

“Haruka-senpai and Takane are the same as ever.”

“Why aren’t those two dating?”

Our two senpais glanced around as they happily talked to each other. It seemed that they both regained their original appearances after the summer and they had become closer than ever before, but strangely they weren’t dating.

Even Takane, who’s a crude person, chose a lovely swimsuit. I can’t help it, but I’d been thinking this since the Ene era, what about her flat chest? I wouldn’t dare say it because she’d hurry to attack me.

“Well, it’s not Takane-senpai.”

“You’re a really rude guy.”

“Shintaro-kun, your pick is my older sister. I know that. Yeah, you can’t help it because my sister’s cute.”

“You don’t get to decide for me!”

Kano nodded with an enlightened look on his face, and I hit him on the head. Kano said “ouch” but I don’t think it actually hurt.

At the edge of my field of vision I saw a girl wearing a pale red swimsuit. She talked to Kido and the others, laughing lightly. I’d been in love with her appearance for the last few years. A scarlet ribbon swayed around her chest. I absentmindedly thought that she’s the type who looks surprisingly slender in the right clothes. Unavoidably, my eyes were naturally drawn to her healthy legs, stretched out from under the cloth around her waist.

“....You’re looking too much, Shintaro-kun, it’s disgusting.”

“But….!!”

“Listen here, I won’t give you my sister.”

The sudden coldness in his voice was like an alarm and made my heart jump. Kano was glaring at me with hostility in his eyes.

“....You have a sister complex, don’t you?”

“I have a sister complex. Something wrong with that?”

“I’m not going to fight back on this with you.”

“Well!! I’m going to leave this gross pervert who’s watching the girls with his filthy eyes and go into the water.”

“You’re the one who-!!”

I raised my fist, thinking I could probably hit him easily, as Kano cheerfully skipped toward the sea. What a shameless guy. It was so irritating, he’s the one who brought it up in the first place.

I decided that someday I’ll definitely get payback. But before I knew it I saw the members, who had finished all their preparations, begin to enter the sea one-after-the-other, and I felt my tense face loosen up. As I stood on the sandy beach my friends waved cheerfully toward me and I raised my hand in response.

As I put my legs into the waves, cold water shocked my bare feet. How many years had it been since I’d been in the sea? As the memory arose a shocking pain pierced my chest and I shook my head.

Right now I just needed to enjoy my time with my friends. When I threw the beachball that was flying toward me back, the spray of droplets reflected the sunlight and sparkled like a jewel.

As an ex-shut-in I was completely exhausted after ten minutes of play, so I got out of the water and headed toward a beach chair. I also wanted to cool off after facing the wrath of Momo’s competitive spirit. The beachball is a fearsome weapon, I learned.

I finally arrived at the chair as I struggled to move my head and body that were exhausted from having too much fun. I tilted my head to the other visitor who was there.

“Seto? Are you taking a break?”

It’s no exaggeration to say that the man sitting under the umbrella that we took from the hideout’s storage room and staring leisurely at the sea is the man who looks the best at the beach among all the members. I realized that he hadn’t played dodgeball or beachball throwing with us at all.

Seto, who was a refreshingly handsome man, had a bittersweet smile on his face. What kind of score would this guy’s face get in a modeling contest?

“Ahh, I’m keeping an eye on everyone’s stuff so nothing gets stolen.”

“Ohh, is that what it is? I can take your place so you can go enjoy yourself.”

I didn’t want to move for a while, so I stayed in my seat and reached for the cooler. Seto guessed what I was reaching for and handed me a bottle of dark soda, so I thanked him. Twisting the red cap released a pleasant “pshhh” sound.

“Uhhm, I’m fine here. It’s fun enough just to look at it like this.”

“Why don’t you want to go in the water?”

“Well, it’s just. I’m not really in the mood.”

The carbonated acid pouring down my throat fizzed up. I gulped down the clinging sweetness from the opening of the bottle and pulled my face away from it.

Seto’s face, which was covered by the shadow of the umbrella, didn’t look cheerful. I suddenly realized why as I wiped the water drops off the surface of the soda bottle with my hand.

I remembered a conversation I heard between Kido and the other members one day. Those painful memories of being swallowed up by the Kagerou Daze. The cause of Seto’s was surely jumping into the flooded river in an attempt to rescue his dog. It wouldn’t be strange to see that trauma from the past superimposed with the vast stream of water spread out in front of us.

“....My bad.”

“Eh? Oh no, don’t apologize. Please go back to enjoying yourself without worrying about me.”

Seto waved his hand and smiled flusteredly as I muttered my apology for my poor judgement. Unlike cat-eyes, Seto is a really good guy. He’s a refreshing young man who’s loved by everyone. It must be painful, to not make a bitter face but to smile with what he stores inside.

I finished drinking the soda and put it back in the cooler as I borrowed a towel that had been stuffed in our bag and hung it over my shoulders. I mopped up the droplets that were dripping down my face with the edge of it and turned to watch my friends who were having fun in the shallows. I still had enough energy for the job we had to do after this. But I hoped I didn’t use up too much energy to play. If I got sick I wouldn’t be able to work.

I had been looking at the sea for a while when I noticed a figure walking toward us with a shaky, uncertain gait. The hood of the jacket I lent her covered her eyes and as soon as she reached the seat she collapsed between me and Seto. I put a fresh towel on my sister’s head and brushed the sand off of her with shock.

“Are you okay, Momo?”

“Uhh…. I just feel a little icky.”

“Is Kisaragi-san sick?”

“Ehhh…. Yeah, that’s how it feels.”

“She’s like you, Seto. That’s why I told her to stop, but this idiot….”

Seto was grasping what I was saying as I suddenly cut myself off. Momo laid on her back with the towel covering her face as she repeatedly took deep breaths, as if to expel the disgust in her chest.

Momo is the same as Seto. Although it wasn’t in this sea, Momo had an accident in the ocean at an early age and had completely avoided the sea ever since. She told me she always refused to go to places like the sea for her idol work, but she insisted that she would definitely go on this mission. Today when I was anxious about her she greeted me with an “It’s okay!” Not being able to stand her fear of the sea, Momo came ashore. She was careful not to wade too deep, but it seems it was still a scary thing to do. She put on a brave front for Marry and the others, but in truth it must have been scary enough that even looking at the waves made her tremble.

“Ahh, I thought I was getting just a little bit used to it.”

What kind of expression did Momo, who muttered so regretfully, hide under that towel? Seeing this unexpected darkness from two incredibly bright people, I silently took a drink out of the cooler. When I held the bottle to the back of Momo’s neck, I heard a strange scream that I couldn’t imagine a highschool girl could even make. As I pushed the drink against my sister she jumped up, glaring at me.

“Okay, I’m going to build a castle.”

“Yeah?”

Those two look up at me with agreeable voices as I pick up a bucket and gardening shovel that I’m not even sure who packed. Slipping on my beach sandals, I took position not far from our seats and plunged the shovel into the sand.

“I’m building a castle here. A great one with a moat. Adding a garden would also be nice. I’ll plan the design and you guys can help me out.”

“Huh…. Play with sand?”

“What happened to your brother all the sudden? Is he also feeling sick?”

“This isn’t play and I’m not sick. C’mon you guys, this is construction work. We can’t do this half-baked. We have a mission to build the most beautiful castle in the world here, the only number one.”

“What are you talking about?”

As I suddenly started talking, my sister’s cold gaze pierced me. Stop it Momo, your brother’s life has already hit rock bottom. Any more damage will give me a negative score.

Even Seto looked lukewarm about the idea. I couldn’t stand it anymore and threw an empty bucket at him.

“You guys are being fussy! At any rate, Seto should procure water! Momo, it will help if you add the water and dig here! Do you understand!?”

“Ehhh, so tyrannical….!”

“This is unreasonable, brother….”

I knew it without being told. It was unreasonable. It was too incoherent to understand.

However, this was the only way to have fun at the beach with two people who can’t enter the sea, so it couldn’t be helped. I so rarely get to have fun visiting the sea with my friends.

As I mindlessly dug up the sand, Momo sat down next to me with a children’s shovel in one hand. Seto drew some water from the water supply above and also joined us, the three of us meeting together.

“I want to make something like a foreign castle!”

“That’s good. Since that’s a good idea, let’s make a really amazing one! Let’s surprise everyone who comes back!”

“Yes!”

“....Don’t ruin it like you used to do.”

“I’m not a little kid anymore, so I won’t! It’s because you built a nice castle in the first place….!”

“I will never forget the tragedy that took place in that sandbox.”

“That’s why I won’t do it again! Stop holding onto the past!”

As we argued the three of us opened up a hole and piled up the removed sand in a mountain shape.

While keeping an eye on everyone’s belongings we steadily made progress with our project in the sand. The sand play we did this year was surprisingly interesting, and as we worked our passion naturally grew. At first it was kind of a joke, but before I knew it all three of us were seriously working on the castle.

Soon, the other members rose out of the sea one by one and joined us playing in the sand. Before I knew it, a masterpiece of an old castle floating on the surface of a lake was completed.

The actual mission from the afternoon was terrible, to be clear.

The uncle who owns Beach House Blue was a very tough looking and strict person, who doesn’t talk much and is hard to get along with. I ended up asking the owner’s relative’s older sister to teach us about the type of work that was done annually at this time of year. The Mekakushi Dan was clumsy, working without rehearsal as we went to work.

Basically, there were three jobs: trying to attract patrons, serving customers in the hall, and cooking inside. Kano, Hibiya, and Hiyori advertised on the beach. Seto, Momo, Takane, and Haruka-senpai serve customers. The rest of us were in the hectic kitchen. According to Momo, to keep their faces concealed, customer service staff surreally wore masks that looked like sea creatures while they worked. Where the heck did they get those masks in the first place? The crab and octopus were only slightly less surreal than the sea cucumber. I think the ultimate cause of defeat was that the style of painting used on them was realism.

The work was so busy due to the large number of customers that I couldn’t afford to worry about the passage of time. I noticed it growing dark around us and knew that working hours had come to an end. It was only natural that the members collapsed on the spot when we heard the sister I spoke to earlier thank us for our work.

I couldn’t walk one step further. We all left our bodies collapsed in the guest seating after finishing clean-up.

Now that the mission was completed all we had to do was return home, but I didn’t feel like moving since my body felt so heavy. I couldn’t be the only one who wanted to just fall asleep like this.

While glancing sideways at Seto, who was accustomed to working like this, I thought about the request we received from the sister and I sighed considering the effort needed to return home after this. I wanted to go home, but I didn’t want to go home. It’s like a complicated maiden’s feelings. One who claims she’s misplaced her maiden spirit.

As we sat there tired, the owner approached us with a big plastic bag. As usual, his expression was unfriendly. Anticipating that he might get angry at us slacking off, the members all sat up straight.

After glancing at our faces one by one, the owner nodded a little and pushed the bag against Haruka-senpai, who was sitting closest to him. Then he left as if nothing had happened. In the middle of all of us, who sighed in relief while wondering what the hell had just happened, a sound of amazement spilled out of Haruka-senpai’s mouth as he checked the contents of the bag.

“Hey everyone! Look at this!”

Our gazes naturally gathered where his joyful voice rang out as we all cheered at the unexpected item that came out of the bag with a rattling noise.

The owner gave us two extra large firework packs. Was it a symbol of appreciation? His awkward kindness made the members happy and we forgot all about our tiredness. We’re such cheap people that one or two fireworks made us cheerful.

“We have no choice but to get flashy….!”

Everyone switched to play mode as we grinned and laughed. It seemed the mission at sea was plunging into overtime.

“The rabbit!! Secret technique: wielding five one-handed!!”

“You’re still naive Seto. You’re no match for my skyocket dual wielding.”

“Ahaha…. The skyrocket technique is sloppy….!”

“Look, Seto, Kano, I have the mysterious Niagara technique.”

“Ehhhhh how do you hold it, Kido the Wicked? Kyaaa wait don’t turn it this direction, it’s dangerous!!”

“What’s going on with Kido’s!? Please teach me too!”

Are they all stupid?

As I watched that trio of childhood friends play with fireworks in both hands, I smiled with astonishment. The reason why firework consumption is abnormally fast is probably because there are people who play with them like that. A good kid wouldn’t imitate them.

There was nothing I could do because Kido, who usually stops the members from making fools of ourselves, was the one initiating it. There was no one left to stop them.

The light of the firework I held in my hand went out, and I aimed to put it in a bucket of water that was at my sore feet. Tomorrow morning will be dreadful. I soaked the used firework in the water and sat up to see what I could do next.

Momo and Marry were preparing a little fireworks display while Hibiya and Hiyori watched their fireworks, actually both looking friendly. Kido was still doing her thing, and I didn’t want to be involved in that.

“Shintaro, want to do sparklers together?”

Looking around, I turned my legs to the voice calling me.

Ayano smiled while she passed me a thin, unreliable looking sparkler she held. I saw that our two seniors were already using them. Haruka-senpai was laughing about how small his was while Takane was shaking. Seeing her nostalgic face made me naturally relax a little bit.

“Only a little.”

“Yay! Let’s play and see who’s can last the longest!”

“Oh, Ayano, that’s a bad idea.”

“Shintaro, are your hands shaking because you’re nervous?”

“I think I’m better than you, but we’re against Dancing Flash.”

“Hey….!?”

Takane always screams when you say that inflammatory, tit-for-tat name. She’s a really noisy person, as she has been since the Ene days. Even though they’re two really different characters, the noise she can make is still the same, so it surprised me.

To prevent the wind from putting out the flame, the four of us stood shoulder to shoulder and brought the tips of our sparklers up to a candle. We all breathed together and moved our sparklers as close together as possible to make sure they would ignite at the same time.

“Start.”

Our voices aligned, the sparklers ignited. After the fire lit, we each put our sparklers into the position that felt easiest and the endurance race began. It would have seemed ridiculous to just concentrate and stare at the end of my sparkler.

Holding it as still as possible so that the end didn’t seem to blur, I watched clumps of sparks fall down. Only the lively voices of my friends and the waves could be heard on the quiet beach.

It was a calm, happy, and irreplaceable time.

“....Ah”

Fireballs fell to the sand.

I stopped talking as if I was at the end of my life, as I felt emptiness from the firework I had. I raised my head suddenly and saw the illuminated faces of three people, who’s vigor gradually rose. This existence had once been lost. I had given up hope that these days would ever come back.

“I never thought the day would come when everyone could play with fireworks like this.”

It was Haruka-senpai who said this with a whispering voice. That’s what everyone in this place was thinking, it’s the story of a future we didn’t expect. This dream I wished could come true one day, I had more than half given up hope on. This is what made me realize it.

Takane’s gentle expression, which emerged in the faint light of the fire, had a slight remnant of her electronic existence.

“Yeah. And I wonder how many years it’s been since I’ve visited the sea. I still can’t believe it.”

Her body, which couldn’t even get out of a screen for so long, could finally frolic and have fun again.

The salty breeze, which carried the smell of the sea, rocked our fireworks mischievously. In the wind Ayano tucked her dark hair behind her ear with her slender fingers as she gently opened her mouth.

“We can do this now because Shintaro arrived to welcome us at that time. I was really happy. It was cool, right? Like a hero of justice.”

There was no more red scarf around the neck of the girl who retired from being a hero after that day. It feels a little desolate, not seeing her in her out-of-season winter clothes, but more importantly than that joy prevailed. She would no longer suffer from the terribly hefty title of hero.

“I’ve said many times that being a hero isn’t my nature….”

“That’s right. A mob around that guy is enough to make him happy.”

As Takane verbally abused me, the fireball of her sparkler got blown out by the wind and fell to the sand. She laughed and sat down in the sand. The moonlight was reflected upon the sea’s surface and made a yellow path that continued all the way to the emerging horizon. Coupled with the glittering stars, it was a really magical sight.

“It’s no good for us two. We’re good at video games but not sparklers.”

“I’m sorry, Haruka-senpai”

“I’m not really good or bad with sparklers in the first place.”

“Fufu. Then it’s a match between me and Haruka-senpai. I won’t lose!”

Big fireballs shone brightly at the end of two sparklers. Is there a trick, or is it just luck? Randomly, one of the long-lasting sparklers would go out with an abrupt end.

Suddenly, a flash of light above deprived me of my vision. It was the fireworks that Momo and Marry had been struggling to set up making small flowers bloom in the night sky. The successive firing of light into the sky fascinated everyone even though it was small-scale.

“Wow, it’s beautiful.”

“Isn’t it?”

“Look at you two….”

“Ah.”

Because we stopped paying attention for a moment, it seemed that the unstable fireballs fell to the ground. Did they fall at the same time or not? I didn’t even know, so I didn’t know what to do. Somehow it became exhausted, but it seemed fine to us.

I absentmindedly glanced to the side toward the sea as my seniors got excited about another race. Ayano, who was sitting next to me before I knew it, was fidgeting with her hands and looking at the sea.

“Isn’t it kind of strange for all us kids to just get on the train and go play in the ocean? It feels like a special time.”

I don’t know what a special time is like. When I was a kid, I wasn’t allowed to go out at night. This felt like having a sleepover with a friend did.

There was a slight sense of loneliness in my chest. I wish I felt happy like this all the time.

The breeze that blew through the refreshing cool air made it feel like the end of summer.

“....We can’t stay being children anymore.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Summer isn’t around anymore. Time that can’t be recovered has passed. Now that things have returned to normal, is it proof that we’ve moved forward past these dear repeated summers?

Eventually it will be time to take different paths. The time will come when each of us looks ahead and takes a step forward.

“I wish I could play like this again.”

I softly looked down at the gentle young girl. The sound of roaring waves rumbling against our eardrums obscured the passage of time.

“Yeah. And also be somewhere like here.”

One day, it would be nice if there was a time where we could all get back together like this and get excited like fools again. As I get older little by little, I laugh about what happened back then.

It wasn’t dawn yet. As long as time allows us, let’s enjoy that secret time that children can have.

The unlit sparkler in my hand felt slightly warm.

Book Info | Ch. 1 | Ch. 2

[kageprountranslated]

Kagerou Daze Novel Anthology Cover Info and Contents

Kagerou Daze Anthology Novel COVER info:

The Kagerou Daze Novel Anthology that fans have been eagerly waiting for is finally here!! In “Sounds of Summer” the members of the Mekakushi Dan all go to a beach house to complete a job, “Locked Up With a Classmate” depicts Shintaro and Ayano’s high school days, “Goodbye dreamforest” tells a tale of Marry and Seto where dreams and reality intersect, in “Special Sale War and Men’s Friendship” Shintaro and the boys of the Mekakushi Dan battle it out in a challenge, and “Memory” depicts the relationship between Haruka and Konoha in the summer beyond the Kagerou Daze. These 5 works were chosen as some of the best from over 1000 entries to the “Kagerou Project Novel Contest” hosted on pixiv. Check out how the story ends with your “eyes”!!

Credits:

Original Work and Supervision: Jin (Shizen no Teki-P) [じん（自然の敵P）]

Written by: Akitoshi (翠寿) et al.

Illustrations by: Ryuuka (-龍華-) et al.

Cover Illustration: Ryuuka (-龍華-)

Cover Design: Kagayahiroshi (かがやひろし)

Note from Jin:

I’m Jin, the original author. Since this is the first anthology novel for Kagerou Project, are you reading it? In each work the characters are so lively, it’s very interesting! It feels dangerous! The second or third author might be a better Jin than me…. To keep my editor from telling me this, I’ll keep doing my best in the original work!

Kagerou Daze Anthology Novel CONTENTS:

003 Sounds of Summer - Akitoshi (翠寿)

037 Locked Up With a Classmate - Kōta (こーた)

083 Goodbye dreamforest -  Kazemachi Chitose (風街ちとせ)

159 Special Sale War and Men’s Friendship - miSato (mi里)

173 Memory - Kokonomichi (ココノミチ)

199 Afterword

Frontispiece Illustrations - Ocha (お茶), Fujio (藤織)

Text Illustrations - Shichi (シチ), 7:24 (7:24), Hanasaki Manio (花咲まにお)

This book is a compilation of excellent works from the “Kagerou Project Novel Contest” held on pixiv in August of 2014.

This story’s content is an official derivative work based on the characters who appear in “Kagerou Project.” Some parts are different from the story and setting of the main “Kagerou Project” story.

Book Info | Ch. 1 | Ch. 2

[kageprountranslated]

Next translation goal: Kagerou Daze Novel Anthology!

The translation for the short story inside the Kagepro English vocab book is finished. You can find links to all the parts here!!

Now it’s time to move onto my next translation project, which will be the Kagerou Daze Novel Anthology. Please be patient with me on this one as it’s a lot longer and my semester is beginning to fill up with final projects.

Also, if anyone has access to high quality scans (OR screenshots from an ebook version) of the illustrations in this book they’d be willing to share, please contact me!! I would love to include the images, but I don’t have a way to scan them without destroying my book :(

[kageprountranslated]

Memorizing English Vocabulary with MEKAKUSHIDAN (High School Version) short story: Epilogue

Epilogue: In a Certain Summer’s Evening

4, 5, 1, 0, 4, 7, 1.

Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, TAP! There’s a light sound as I pound those numbers in a mere second and stab the enter key to stop. The annoying box sitting on the desktop that said “Please input the password” disappears.

My fingers moved without me even thinking, as naturally as breathing, because that number was so incredibly familiar to me.

“I won’t say anything anymore…. I have nothing to say, except that it’s hard to imagine there are any demons in this world as terrible as you….”

“What changed with you all of the sudden, Master? This is a good thing, isn’t it? Now you can safely get back to being all romantic with your PC!”

With no shame at all, Ene feigns a face that says “I’m puzzled.” The nerve she has is really…. Ugh, no. This transcends the realm of mere irritation, there’s nothing refreshing in my life anymore.

“So anyways, Master, you’ve done your best until now!”

After taking my PC (and the internet) that are as valuable to me as my life hostage, all of my precious hours had to be used up in exchange for that password. And after memorizing those English words, she only gave me hints using grandiose methods like Caesar ciphers. And after all of that the password that she set was “4510471 (I don’t work*),” which is the password I always use. When most people are bad, I don’t fuss. But she has an unmistakable talent for harassment.

(*4510471 can be pronounced as “shigoto shinai” in Japanese, which means “I don’t work”. Shintaro uses this same password in the Mekakucity Actors route)

“Well Master, so you’re breathless then? I used my brain, which I don’t usually use, at full power, so I had this crazy fever of psycho-developmental growth and…. Ahh! I don’t care if something happens to my precious Master…. But for myself, I’m starting to get a little worried!”

“Hey, hey. Why don’t you wrap your worry up in some tissue paper and stop casually dissing me?”

“It’s ridiculous to think I’m dissing you! Are you just stupid!?”

“It’s worse than just dissing me!”

Argh, oh no…. Talking to her I feel sweat gushing from every pore on my body….!

“Oh, that’s it! You perfectly memorized that much in just a few hours, but I’m a little taken aback. What’s really going on? Are you feeling a little jealous?”

She’s been tormenting me for several days in a row…. No, she just played with me for her own entertainment…. But I see Ene muttering terrible things like, “ahh, finally time to unleash….!” right as the feeling of relief begins to emerge in me meekly. “Ahh, that’s so dangerous…. Next time I think I’ll try something even more outrageous when I play with him….” The thought of this made me raise my head, and a reflex made a shiver go down my spine.

“No way, not that!”

Ene forced out a fake cough as she paused.

“If we don’t hurry up, the fireworks are going to start without us!”

“....Fireworks? Ahh, now that you mention it, I did say that we’d go.”

I feel like I haven’t seen something like fireworks in ages. Last year I earnestly thought, “I finally have friends in real life, let’s watch the explosions!” But as a result of an unexpectedly strong storm, we got news that the large-scale fireworks display had been cancelled. The bitter memory of Momo witnessing my distressed expression arises in me.

“Let’s go join everyone in the Mekakushi Dan quickly! I contacted them all while Master was busy moaning and groaning over English words!”

“Ahh, I get it, I get it. Wait just a little, I’ll get ready to go….”

Well, If I’m forced to admit it, I feel nothing but a strange sense of accomplishment.

There are plenty of excuses I could use like the crowd is too sickening for me to stand again, or that we could go see the fireworks some other day. But I guess it’s somewhat healthier than continuing to endure her usual harassment. With a constructive sense of accomplishment I abandon my duty as a shut-in and head for the fireworks show, as an immorally uplifting feeling wells up inside of me. Ene simply doesn’t notice as my cheeks are unconsciously raising into a smile…. Thinking about it, I put on my usual red jacket.

Prologue | Side Story 1 | Side Story 2 | Side Story 3 | Epilogue