Time: Several days later, the same day the commercial shoot ended successfully
Location: Karaoke Box
WATARU: ā The kabe-don that Keito-kun did at the time looked so handsome, my heart just couldnāt help but beat faster~ Itās such a shame you all couldnāt see it for yourselves āŖ
KEITO: Stop adding embellishments to the story, Hibiki. To me, it isnāt an experience Iād like to relive over and over again.
TOMOYA: Ahaha, donāt worry, Hasumi-senpai. I mean, Iāve made myself look like an idiot a bunch of times, so itās not like Iām any betterā¦
Thatās why Iām telling you, Hibiki-senpai! You have to be a little more aware of the amount of problems youāre causing other people!
Eh? Whyāre you apologizing for him, Anzu-senpai? Youāre saying that because you also participated in the conception of the āCloseness UP Campaignā, youāre an accomplice?
No no no, we arenāt actually mad. Actually, we want to thank Anzu-senpai⦠and Hibiki-senpai, I guess.
WATARU: Tomoya-kun, you neednāt put special emphasis on the āguessā, you knowā¦
KEITO: Hmph. Youāve been too reckless after all. You bastard.
Though I donāt know how you two thought up the idea of using shoujo manga tropes to raise the closeness between our members; to my surprise, you achieved your goal in the end.
Afterwards, we gradually developed a rapport, our subsequent rehearsals went smoother, and in the end, we were able to finish the commercial shoot without incident.
In any case, I still hope next time youāll tell us before you two do something like this. That way, at the very least, we can be mentally prepared.
WATARU: Non~non! That wouldnāt be Amazing at all, wouldn't it? You should know, itās unexpected situations that really stimulate the potential in someone!
To ensure that our strategy could properly move forward, I had to first inform Tomoya-kun of a portion of our plans for him to carry them out. That was the biggest concession I could make!
TOMOYA: You say that, but I was absolutely clueless for the most partā¦
SHU: ⦠Right, enough chitter-chatter. Donāt forget todayās main objective.
Since youāve also invited the little girl to the celebration party, I must take the opportunity to express my gratitude to her in person no matter what. Otherwise, I would never have willingly come to such a crowded and clamorous place.
Just listening to the constant background music playing in the room is making me feel a little overwhelmed.
WATARU: Oya? My sincerest apologies. I was too busy happily chatting with everyone. Itās my fault for being inconsiderate.
Then, allow us to change up the atmosphere! With a snap of my fingers ā
TOMOYA: (⦠Wow, the dynamic electronic music instantly became a soothing and elegant piano tune.)
(Not only that, all the bright lights in the room went dim, and only the ceiling and the four surrounding walls are cast in glowing starbursts of silver. Itās almost likeā)
WATARU: How about it, Anzu-san? Is this miniature starry sky to your liking?
However, now is far from the time to be astonished! For we shall offer to you even more Amazing things, one after the other ā
Come, come, my dearest Royal Highness! The grand ball is about to start, so please put on this mask decorated with feathers of pure white⦠ā
TOMOYA: Ah, just a sec, Anzu-senpai, donāt raise your head yet⦠Great, the handmade crown is the right size, too āŖ
SHU: This is a handsewn cape made with fabric selected by yours truly. Try it on while youāre at it, little girl.
Hm, as I thought, that wine red color suits you.
TOMOYA: Haha, Anzu-senpai looks exactly like a shimmering, sparkling princess right now āŖ
KEITO: Oi, you all forgot to explain yourselves before dressing Anzu up like this out of nowhere. She completely froze up.
⦠Tonight, Anzu, you are the protagonist of our celebration.
Not just for this timeās commercial shooting. All this time, youāve done your utmost as a producer to advise and plan for us idols, rushing around.
The four of us had a private discussion, and each of us decided to prepare a gift for you today, so just accept it without any complaints.
Also, this is for you. It isnāt anything precious, so you should put it away quicklyā
WATARU: Oya? Anzu-san is so happy, she hopped right out of her seat. I wonder what sort of goody that was ā
TOMOYA: āMizuhanome-senseiās signatureāā¦? Are you a fan of that artistās work, Anzu-senpai?
Um, I canāt help but think this name sounds familiar. I might have heard of them before at the academyā
KEITO: ⦠Cough, cough, then why have I never heard of them before? You must have confused them with someone else.
That being said, weāve rented the karaoke box for a limited time. Shouldnāt we get started?
WATARU: Hahaha, your way of changing the subject is a little stiff Keito-kun, but Iāll listen to you this time around.
Actually, the reason we decided to hold the celebration party here, is because the four of us wish to express our heartfelt gratitude towards Anzu-san the way an idol knows bestā That is, with our voices.
Then, please listen to our Amazing Ensemble⦠āŖ
WATARU & TOMOYA: āŖ āŖ āŖ~
KEITO & SHU: āŖ~āŖ~āŖ
TOMOYA: Haha, Anzu-senpai seems to be having a good time listening. Sheās shaking the maracas along with the music from time to time āŖ
WATARU: However, that isnāt the end of it! The next session is the real surprise of today! Let us begin the āES Idol Karaoke Imitation Showā ā
SHU: ⦠What? I was never given word of such an arrangement!
WATARU: Certainly āŖ Thatās because the idea just popped into my brain, so I did not anticipate it myself either!
TOMOYA: Ugh, by now, Iām so used to Hibiki-senpaiās impulsive style of acting, I canāt even be bothered to complainā¦
WATARU: Then, allow me to start everyone off! I am able to imitate anyone, so just designate someone at random, Anzu-san ā
Oho, youād like to see our fineās Hime-kun, is it? Not a problem at all![1]
āEhehe, the worldās cutest Himemiya Tori-sama is right here āŖā
āLeaping like a kitten, then spinning around~āŖā
āHow was that? I tried my best to perform fineās representative song, so Anzu-san has to praise me as much as she wants~āŖā
TOMOYA: Anzu-senpai! The person in front of you isnāt Himemiya, but Hibiki-senpai! Donāt unconsciously reach your hand out to pat his head!
WATARU: Fufufu, this just goes to show how close my imitation of Hime-kun is to the real thing ā
And now, Keito-kun is next up! Anzu-san helped you get the signature of that mangaka you like, so in return, you should at least put on a good show, right?
See, Anzu-san is even looking at you expectantly āŖ
KEITO: Why does Hibiki know about that? ⦠Fine, Anzu. Whoever youād like to see me imitate, Iāll give it an earnest attempt.
Fair warning though, donāt expect too much from my imitation skills.
⦠Um, Nito, is it? I should be able to remember a few of his catchphrases, more or less. Cough, cough⦠(clearing his throat)
āI⦠Iām everybodyās Nii~chan! If youāve got any difficulties, just come and find your reliable Nii~chan!ā
āUunyah! Iām gonna get angwy!ā
SHU: ā¦
TOMOYA: Pfft⦠(holding back his laughter)
KEITO: Now, Iāll perform a Ra*bits song⦠If I remember correctly, when singing the part that goes āpyon pyon āŖā, you have to raise your hands above your head and pose them like twitching rabbit earsā¦?[2]
⦠Fine, since Iāve already gone all out, you lot can laugh it up.
WATARU: Fuhahahahaha ā I can scarcely believe Keito-kunās imitation was so entertaining! My stomach hurts from laughing! I have to give you full marks, 100 points!
TOMOYA: Ha⦠Haha, I donāt even know what to say. This is so different from the Hasumi-senpai I know, I feel like Iām dreaming.
But you know, I canāt say it isnāt an unique type of ācuteā, so Iām going to give Hasumi-senpai 80 points āŖ
SHU: Your judgment criteria is far too loose. Iāll give him 10 points at most! You are entirely unable to imitate even a thousandth of the essence of Nitoās cuteness!
Though, since the little girl is laughing so happily⦠I shall add another 10 points.
After all, one of the reasons idols exist is to bring smiles to the people of the world. Among those people are the producer who has always been at our side, of course.
WATARU: Oya, oya, itās rare for Shu to say such sentimental words. Weāre all happy to be able to see Anzu-san display such a bright smile āŖ
Right, since youāre not entirely satisfied with Keito-kunās imitation, why donāt you, who has the deepest understanding of Little Rabbit-san by far, try your hand at imitating him, Shu?
SHU: Non! I refuse! I should not have come here today!
The following voice lines are played in Tori's voice.
It is unclear whether the song he is referring to is Meltyā”Kitchen or Made in TokimekiāŖ, as both songs have 'pyon pyon' in the lyrics.
KEITO: (⦠Alright, Iāve memorized all of my lines properly. Next, Iāll focus on honing my acting skills.)
(One of the scenes portrayed in the commercial plays out like this: in order to return a notebook that her senior had left in the library, the female protagonist sprints through the corridors of the school building in a hurry. Inevitably, she ends up accidentally falling over and scrapes her knee.)
(This ruckus just so happens to catch the attention of the very same senior, who, being a member of the prefect committee, scolds her harshly without much consideration.)
(Itās only when he notices the notebook held tightly in the female protagonistās arms, that the senior realizes heād been mistaken about her, and ends up taking her to the infirmary in a bridal carry.)
(From that point onwards, what had once been an icy relationship between the female protagonist and the senior finally progressesā)
āYou ended up being injured because of me⦠My apologies, itās all my fault. Does your leg still hurt?ā
āThereās no need to force a smile, itās alright. You can rest easy now, Iāll be right by your side the entire time.ā
ā¦
(I feel like my performance was missing something. However, Iām not exactly sure which part felt wrong.)
(Could it be what Hibiki had told me that day was true? That I simply havenāt explored the inner world of the character sufficiently?)
Oh, it seems like someone is knocking on the door⦠You can come in.
Mm? Maybe they didnāt hear me? Right, give me a second, Iāll open the door at once.
⦠Strange, thereās nobody outside? Could I possibly have misheard?
Nevermind that, Iāll continue my practice. Now, where was Iā¦
⦠Hold on, I remember very clearly, there was nothing on this piano in the room before. Now, thereās a pink envelope lying here.
Hmph, it seems someone is pulling a prank on me. Very well, since youāve dared to go through all this effort to challenge me, Iāll open it and see what exactly is written within.
āTo Hasumi-senpai: Please come and meet me at the Hanging Garden within ten minutes of opening this letter. I have something extremely important to tell you.ā
Besides this card, the envelope is filled to the brim with red rose petals⦠Wait a second, this couldnāt be one of those ālove lettersā, could it?
⦠Ha, that isnāt likely. After all, I canāt think of anyone else that would play such childish tricks besides that bastard. Anonymity doesnāt work for him at all.
Even though I donāt want to go, this letter feels like it was written quite seriously. On the off chance he really does something important to tell meā¦
No matter, Iāll counter all of his tricks as best I can. Letās have a look at whatever the hell heās up to.
Time: A few minutes later
Location: Hanging Garden
WATARU: ā¦
KEITO: Oi, Hibiki. What exactly is it that you want from me, that you went through the elaborate trouble of arranging to meet here?
WATARU: ā¦
KEITO: �!?
(Is the person before me really Hibiki Wataru? I had no idea his face was capable of showing such a melancholic expression�)
Oi, oi, are you alright? Say something!
WATARU: ā⦠Have you really no clue of my feelings, even up until now?ā
KEITO: ⦠Eh?
WATARU: āItās nearly time for the graduation ceremony. Whenever I think about the fact that I wonāt be able to see you after you graduate from school, I feel so terribly lonely.ā
āSo, even if itās just an empty memento⦠Would you let me have the second button[1] of your school uniform?ā
KEITO: ⦠Did you time travel to the past? What the hell are you going on about? We both graduated from Yumenosaki Private Academy a long time ago, didnāt we?
Besides, my school uniform is at home. How am I supposed to give the button to you?
WATARU: Oya, oya⦠Then, thereās nothing that can be done about that. Which is why, Iāll use this as a substitute ā
KEITO: (ā¦? Just now, something swept over my eyes⦠Was that Hibikiās hair?)
No, wait a second, where are my glasses?!
ā Hibiki, stop this right now! Give me my glasses back!!
WATARU: Ahahahaha ā Since Keito-kun wonāt give me the button closest to his heart[2], I will simply have to snatch away your glasses, closest to the āwindows of your soulā!
KEITO: No, you have no idea what my glasses mean to me! From a young age Iāve considered my glasses to be my lifelong partner!
WATARU: Does that not make it even better~? Come on, come on, if you would like to have your ālifelong partnerā back, catch me if you can ā
KEITO: How incorrigibleā¦! You bastard, just you wait!
WATARU: Very well, I await your arrival āŖ
KEITO: (⦠Damn it, that bastard disappeared without a trace in the blink of an eye.)
(If that wasnāt enough grief, everything in front of me is a blur, and I have to be careful about where I step. I canāt possibly run quickly in this condition.)
(Hibiki, what the hell are you doing? Did you just want to screw with me?!)
(⦠No, I need to calm down firstly, and not let myself become blinded by my rage. Come to think of it, Iām certain Iāve heard that same nonsensical string of words he had said at the very beginning somewhere elseā¦)
(Ah, so thatās what it is. That was the scene in the manga that takes place the day before the senior graduates, when the female protagonist, in her determination to make one final confession, invites him to the rooftop through an anonymous letter.)
(Could it possibly be that Hibiki actually wanted to practice with me? Admittedly, his acting skills are so polished itās frightening, to the point where his entire aura had changed completely.)
(That aside, what is of vital importance is to recover my glasses. Where exactly did he run off to�)
Time: A few minutes later
Location: Vocal Room
KEITO: Hibiki, youāre here, arenāt you! Come out right now!
WATARU: Bingo~āŖ Congratulations on getting it right! Clap clap clap⦠ā
However, Iām quite curious. How did you think to come here so quickly, Keito-kun? I had thought you would have taken half a day using the long way round.
KEITO: It was simple, actually. Since you had said āI await your arrivalā, I figured that meant you wanted me to come find you, so it was unlikely that youād hide in some remote corner.
Besides, without my glasses, you wouldnāt be incorrect if you said that itās hard for me to move around, even an inch. If the distance between us had been too great, the game would lose its meaning to you, wouldnāt it.
WATARU: So, through the process of elimination, you deduced I would be hiding where it all began, correct?
Amazing! I hadnāt expected Keito-kun to know me so well, Iām honestly quite touchedā
KEITO: Enough, return my glasses to me right now. Otherwise, Iām seriously going to lose it.
WATARU: ⦠Oh? Could this be⦠a kabe-don?
Ahh~~! Gosh, that was so handsome of you! My heart is beating a mile a minute!
KEITO: Hmph, and yet my affinity for you has hit rock bottom.
WATARU: Alright, alright, I concede. I shall give your glasses back.
KEITO: ā¦! Good, now I can finally see clearly.
Aah, glasses of mine, I really canāt be without you for even just a momentā¦! I vow to you that I won't allow you to be put in danger ever again.
(⦠Huh, how strange? These glasses feel as though theyāre brand new. There isnāt the slightest hint of dust on them as far as I can see.)
( I havenāt had the chance to personally maintain them during this period of time. Whatās going on?)
WATARU: Hahaha, has my Amazing glasses maintenance technique stunned even the glasses expert Keito-kun?
KEITO: What? Could you have possibly conducted a thorough maintenance on my glasses within the few minutes you spent waiting for me?
WATARU: That is correct. You mustāve been hard at work practicing in private in order to perform well in the commercial, isnāt that right, Keito-kun? Especially since, being a fan of the manga, youāve been even more demanding of yourself.
So, as a reward, Master Wataru is specially offering a free on-site service today! If you are satisfied, do give us five stars and a stellar review~ā
KEITO: ⦠Did you have to use such a misleading tactic to help out? Whatever, thanks.
(Wait, these feelings of exasperation, joy, helplessness and regret rushing up my chest⦠I think I suddenly understand the emotions the senior experienced when he escorted the female protagonist to the infirmary.)
(Could this have been Hibikiās true intent? Did he anticipate the roadblock I would encounter while I practiced?)
WATARU: Whatās wrong, Keito-kun? Is there something on my face?
KEITO: ⦠No, itās nothing.
(I must be overthinking. This is all just a coincidence⦠Surely?)
The theory goes that the buttons on the gakuran carry different meanings. The first button represents yourself, the second someone dearest to you, the third your best friends. To give someone the second button on your school uniform means you regard them important to you, usually romantically.
Another prevailing theory about the second button is that it is the one closest to the heart, and therefore, should be gifted to the one who has won your heart.
TOMOYA: (According to what Anzu-senpai learnt about his schedule, Itsuki-senpai should end work and return to Starmony Dorm at this time today.)
(So Iāve squatted in advance at the corner that Itsuki-senpai has to walk past in order to enter the dorm, so I donāt accidentally miss him.)
(Thankfully, there isnāt anyone else in the corridor right now. If someone saw me hiding here all suspicious-like, theyād probably think Iām some sort of perverted stalkerā¦)
SHU: ā¦
TOMOYA: (Ah, Itsuki-senpaiās appeared! I dunno why, but Iām becoming nervous all of a suddenā¦!)
(Calm down, and reconfirm the mission Anzu-senpai sent on HoldHands one last time! Honestly, I still donāt entirely understand why I need to do this in the first place, but as long as I listen to Anzu-senpai, everything will be fine!)
(⦠Alright, Itsuki-senpai is right about to walk over! Nowās my chance!)
(Grab a croissant from the bag, clamp it tightly in my mouth, then rush out in one goā)
āIām gonna be late! Iām gonna be laaaaate!ā
SHU: āMmgh?! Wh-whatās the matter?!
TOMOYA: Uu, that hurtsā¦! Iām sorry for crashing into you head on, Itsuki-senpai! Are you okay?!
SHU: Oh, itās Mashiro⦠Fortunately, I managed to stand firm by holding onto the wall beside me.
Rather, are you injured? Come, take my hand and stand up.
TOMOYA: Th-thanks, Itsuki-senpaiā¦
SHU: Honestly. I believe you should know you arenāt permitted to run in the hallways? Even if you are in a hurry, you must watch the path ahead of you.
And, as long as you plan your schedule reasonably and leave ahead of time, you neednāt be in such a hurry in the future. Do your best to remember that.
TOMOYA: (Uu, Itsuki-senpai looks furious, but itās hard to blame himā¦)
(Forget getting closer to him, Itsuki-senpai wouldnāt happen to hate me now, would he?!)
SHU: ⦠Wait, is that a croissant that fell out of your hand? The packaging for it, could this croissant be from that place on Time Street�
Hm, I didnāt think you had an eye for these things.
TOMOYA: Eh? Do you know about this bakery too, Itsuki-senpai?
SHU: I most certainly do. That old-school bakery is a must-go for those who have refined tastes. The croissants only available on Thursdays are simply divine. They also sell out quite quickly.
Whenever I return to Japan and happen to be free on a Thursday, I head to that bakery for a look at their goods. Itās a shame it was already late today by the time I finished all of my work.
⦠Wait, how did the conversation shift to croissants when I wasnāt paying attention? Do you not have something urgent to attend to? You should hurry.
TOMOYA: (Huh, is this not⦠an opportunity I have to seize?!)
Wait a second, Itsuki-senpai! Actually, I think I remembered the date wrong, my next job should be tomorrow!
SHU: ā¦
TOMOYA: (Uwah, Itsuki-senpaiās expression is clearly saying āHowās it possible to remember that incorrectly?ā, he probably thinks Iām totally incompetentā¦)
B-because we were discussing those croissants you can only buy on Thursdays, I just remembered today was a Thursday, ahahaā¦
These croissants are actually Mitsuruās spoils that he shared with me, but I donāt think Iād be able to eat them all on my own. If you donāt mind, would you like to share them?
Consider it an apology for accidentally bumping into you just now⦠If thatās okay?
SHU: Oh, I hadnāt realized you had such good manners. Then, follow me to my dorm room.
I shall also prepare some drinks that pair well with croissants. Let us savor this great delicacy together.
TOMOYA: Yes, Iād be happy toā¦!
Location: Shu, Izumi, Kuro, Mao's Room
TOMOYA: Um, excuse me~?
SHU: No worries, we should be the only ones occupying the room at the moment. I shall go and brew the tea; you may sit down wherever you like.
TOMOYA: Got it, Itsuki-senpai⦠Huh, why are there student uniforms lying on this side of the bed?
Itās not just gakuran worn by male students, thereās also sailor uniforms that female students wear⦠Could these be the clothes weāre wearing for the commercial shoot?
SHU: You guessed correctly. As a matter of fact, these clothes were provided by the client; however, Wataru came to me hoping I could adjust the sizes to fit a little better.
Whenever I am free these days, I work on these outfits at the dorms. Eventually, that meddlesome Kiryu discovered me sewing, and forcibly took on a portion of my workload.
TOMOYA: Haha, both of you sure do get along~
SHU: Hmph, donāt get the wrong idea. It is solely because I also need to participate in the filming this time around, which makes me unable to dedicate all my time just to outfits, resulting in me reluctantly having to seek assistance.
Right, while youāre here, Mashiro. Would you like to try on this sailor uniform I just finished altering?
TOMOYA: T-that, um⦠Thanks, Itsuki-senpai, but I think itās better if I just put it against my body.
(Uwah, the skirt for this sailor uniform sure is short. The hemline is right at my kneecaps⦠do I seriously have to wear this�)
WATARU: Amazing! This outfit suits Tomoya-kun more than I previously imagined āŖ
TOMOYA: ā Yah?! M-m-masked Pervert?!
Howād you suddenly appear in Itsuki-senpaiās dorm room? I was so scared I nearly had a heart attack!
WATARU: Fufu, there is no place in the world that Hibiki Wataru cannot reach⦠ā
SHU: Honestly, youāre such an unpredictable person. No wonder I felt the presence of a third person in the room ever since I entered, though I had written it off as a misconception.
WATARU: Allow me to explain, I slipped inside during the brief moment the door had been opened. Originally, I only wished to continue observing from the shadows in silence.
However, Tomoya-kun. Weāve come all this way, so what are you still hesitant for? Donāt tell me you havenāt mentally prepared for crossdressing?
TOMOYA: No, Iā
WATARU: Unfortunately for you, even if you wish to withdraw now, it is far too late! Come on now, be a good boy and put on this sailor uniform for me to see⦠āŖ
TOMOYA: Eek! You bastard, you really are some kind of pervert, arenāt you?! D-donāt come near me!!
Itsuki-senpai, Iām begging you, save meā¦!
SHU: ā¦
Wataru, you ought to know when enough is enough. No matter how you put it, Mashiro is still your junior, so do not bully him too much.
WATARU: Oya, oya? The way you two are putting up a front, you both appear similar to a little trembling chick cowering behind the wings of a mother hen!
Uu, I cannot believe Iām being treated as a villain and excluded. You see, I was simply worried about Tomoya-kunās ability to successfully complete the mission?
TOMOYA: Hmph, I knew it, this stupid āCloseness UP Campaignā couldāve only been schemed up by someone like you, Hibiki-senpai!
Also, I canāt believe youāve been playing me like a fiddle under Anzu-senpaiās name! Isnāt that overkill?!
WATARU: Sigh, it would seem Tomoya-kun here has utterly failed to understand my noble intent. I had contacted you through HoldHands disguised as the producer, because I didn't want you to start acting rebellious and doing the opposite of what I said due to your strong feelings about me.
In order to bring you and Shu closer in a natural and ingenious fashion, Anzu-san and I racked our brains for a long time to think of how to create such an opportunity.
And, donāt you see? If we were to speak in terms of results, it worked, did it not?
TOMOYA: Eh. Now that I think of it, thatās kind of what ended up happeningā¦?
(Otherwise, I probably wouldnāt ever have a chance to enjoy a friendly cup of tea together in the dorms with Itsuki-senpai, forget having Itsuki-senpaiās protection like what happened just now.)
⦠Though honestly, from my perspective, all of that set-up isnāt even close to being ānatural and ingeniousā.
SHU: Seriously, What have you two been yammering about for the past few minutes, and why do I not understand a single word of it?
WATARU: Hahahaha, that is not for you to understand~āŖ In order to guarantee an astonishing performance for our commercial, I ask that you wait patiently for the finale, where the answer to this riddle shall be revealed!
After all, this wonderful show is far from over⦠ā
WATARU: Right, right~ Letās end our debriefing of the original setting here, and move onto todayās main attraction! After all, it is for this very reason Anzu-san took time out of her day to attend this meeting.
TOMOYA: When you put it that way, I am pretty curious. Why did Anzu-senpai tell us to change into our practice clothes and come to this vocal room, instead of the conference room we usually use for our meetings?
WATARU: That sort of cramped space doesnāt allow us to stretch our limbs to our heartās contentā just like this ā
TOMOYA: Uwah?! Donāt stretch your arms out so long all of a sudden, itās disgustingā¦!
SHU: Oh, this is merely a technique similar to joint dislocation. Kagehiraās body is quite flexible, and he is able to do it as well.
Anyway, since Wataru is the main actor, he should shoulder the responsibility of troupe leader this time, correct?
WATARU: Thatās correct, thatās correct. Thus, the overall planning of this commercial shooting will be arranged by yours truly; I look forward to subsequently being in everyoneās care⦠āŖ
KEITO: ⦠I donāt know why, but I just canāt help myself from worrying. I hope everything goes smoothly.
TOMOYA: Ahaha. Although Hibiki-senpaiās always unreliable, at least he treats theater performances relatively seriously, so leaving it to him shouldnāt be a problem⦠Right?
WATARU: Hahaha, Anzu-san is also nodding her head vigorously. Then, I canāt let you down. I must lead everyone to produce the greatest results possible āŖ
The commercial will be mainly divided into the āProtagonist Ć Seniorā and the āBest Friend Ć Childhood Friendā teams, filming a few classic, heartwarming scenes from the manga.
Right now, there is still a sufficient amount of time until the day of filming; we shall first try to rehearse the script in order to get a feel for it, and familiarize ourselves with the characters as much as possible ā
Come, come, Tomoya-kun! Allow me to witness exactly how much youāve grown during this period of time, whether you are able to bring out a new kind of Amazing or not!
TOMOYA: E-eh? Anzu-senpaiās also asking if it would be okay for me to go first?
Well, since Iām frequently involved in theater productions, I already read the script several times beforehand, and I basically memorized all my lines out of habitā¦
Right, then leave it to me! Could I trouble you to cooperate with me for this scene, Itsuki-senpai?
SHU: Let me see⦠Gifting a handmade bento to the childhood friend, correct? Then, let us begin.
TOMOYA: āUm⦠G-good afternoon! Are you free right now?ā
SHU: āOh, itās you. What can I do for you?ā
TOMOYA: āA-actually⦠I, uh, I accidentally made an extra bento this morning, soā¦ā
SHU:āSo?ā
TOMOYA: āC-could you please accept ādis, h-handmaid bento?!ā[1]
WATARU: Stop, stop, stop! Tomoya-kun, youāre stuttering just like Little Rabbit-san, you see?
Although you could say that in this scene, the best friend is very nervous in front of the person she likes, hence the slight stammer in her speech.
However, if I were to describe Tomoya-kunās expression just now; rather than calling it shyness, Iād consider it to be fearā
TOMOYA: Uu, you donāt have to say it for me to know! Iām not trying to find excuses, but Itsuki-senpai had this really intense aura, and it made me kind of afraid to approach himā¦
If the person opposite me was Hokuto-senpai, Iād totally be able to do it! Iād even be willing to make a bento for Hokuto-senpai with my own handsā¦!
SHU: ⦠My apologies, did I seem too serious just now? Rather, I believe I behaved similarly to how I usually act, so I did not notice at all.
KEITO: I think Itsukiās interpretation wasnāt entirely incorrect. After all, according to the storyline, the childhood friendās attitude towards the protagonistās best friend is still relatively cold at this stage.
In fact, the gentle and understanding side of the childhood friend is only shown to the protagonist. That is, the character possesses a certain so-called āgap moeā.
WATARU: Itās a pity the running time for the advertisement is quite limited, for thereās hardly any scenes between the protagonist and the best friend. Just when I was looking forward to trading blows with Shuā¦āŖ
Then, Keito-kun, are you ready? Itās our turn to show Tomoya-kun an excellent demonstration!
āMy dearest senior, do keep your eyes wide open, and watch carefully! One, Two, Amazing āŖā
KEITO: Hold on, that line doesnāt exist in the original script, donāt just start improvising out of nowhereā
(Mm? The rich fragrance of flowers is wafting in the air, all of a suddenā¦)
⦠Wh, what?!
(In an instant, countless rose petals flew out from the left of Hibikiās chest?!)
WATARU: āAah, please forgive me for the overflowing feelings of longing in my heart for you, my senior! Theyāve gone so far as to transform into flowers of love that flutter through the sky!ā
KEITO: Stop that, quit continuously scattering petals in my direction! My clothes are covered in them now!
WATARU: āOhoho~ In fact, you[2] have some in your hair. The vibrant colors of the flowers make you appear even more endearing⦠āŖā
āPlease stand still and donāt move about, I shall remove them for you right this instant āā
KEITO: ⦠Oi, donāt use that as an opportunity to get your hands on my glasses! Get away from me!
WATARU: Sob, sob, sob. Donāt be so cruel towards little old me,[3] my senior~
KEITO: Pretending to be cute wonāt work! Also, remember to sweep all of the flower petals off of the ground, so you donāt end up inconveniencing the other people who use this practice room after you! How incorrigible!
WATARU: Oops⦠It seems I accidentally went overboard with my acting, and switched Keito-kun into ādorm headā mode.
TOMOYA: Hahaha! So even the seemingly omnipotent Hibiki-senpai has times where he messes up!
⦠Ah, Iām so sorry, Anzu-senpai! Itās honestly embarrassing for you to watch us fooling around like thisā¦
āTodayās just the beginning; thereās no need to rush, so take it slowlyā⦠You say?
SHU: The little girl speaks the truth. A perfect masterpiece cannot be completed in a single day, I shall make room for more practice sessions in my own private time.
KEITO: Ahem⦠The same goes for me. After all, I was almost thoroughly driven by my own emotions just now, and showed no semblance of my role as a āseniorā.
WATARU: Amazing! For all of you to have the motivation to improve is truly commendable! Please do explore the inner world of your characters in great depth, and enjoy the pleasure of acting ā
Oya? The sun is already about to set. Letās end todayās meeting here; good work, everyone⦠āŖ
Location: Sky
WATARU: Welcome aboard the hot air balloon Jeanne dāArc, I am your Hibiki Wataru⦠ā
The weather today is beautiful, and the soft breeze that brushes against your ears is also comforting⦠How is it? Is your mood as light and airy as the clouds in the sky? āŖ
Hahaha, why are you thanking me? I should be the one to thank Anzu-san for being willing to accept my invitation.
After the meeting ended, you stayed with me to clean up the flower petals scattered all over the floor on purpose. Besides, I simply couldnāt ignore your preoccupied expression.
Indeed, our performance today was discordant and messy. We certainly canāt go on stage like that.
However, it is thanks to this carefree, formless first attempt, that our dissonance has been properly exposed; namely, the issue of our insufficient āintimacyāā That is what you think as well, correct?
Now that weāve identified the problem, weāve succeeded halfway already, so our next step is to figure out how to solve it! You neednāt worry at all āŖ
Mm, as expected, a smile is more befitting of Anzu-san ā With this rare opportunity, do grasp my hand tightly, and enjoy the pleasure of walking amongst the clouds together with me āŖ
Tomoya mispronounces the words 'this' and 'handmade'.
While in character, Wataru uses the polite form of 'you'.
Wataru uses a feminine personal pronoun here, even though he is already out of character.
Ugh, Iām nearly out of breath from all that running⦠I couldnāt make it in time, and the bakery ended up being entirely sold out of croissants.
Damn it~ Whyās this type of bread only available on Thursdays, and whyād my after-school duties have to come up on this particular Thursday?
(⦠In the end, even though tons of bakeries should sell croissants, whyād Anzu-senpai feel the need to use HoldHands to instruct me to buy some from this store specifically?)
MITSURU: Hm, hm~ hm~āŖ Dash-dash-dashing with lots of bread~ā
TOMOYA: (⦠Mm? Why do I feel like I hear Mitsuruās voice?)
MITSURU: Oi~ Tomo-chan~! Why are you here? Did you come to buy bread too?
TOMOYA: Y-yeah. Uwah, predictably, youāve got two whole armfuls of breadā¦
MITSURU: Ehe, of course! After all, todayās the day the bakery sells its super tasty croissants, so the second the school bell rang, I dash-dash-dashed all the way from school to here!
After I bought it, I wandered around a little, and was just getting ready to go back to Seisou Hall when I bumped into you, Tomo-chan.
TOMOYA: I see⦠If my croissant-buying opponent is Mitsuru, Iāve got zero chances of winning.
MITSURU: Mm? Whatās with those empty hands and that lifeless face, Tomo-chan? Did you not get to buy any? If thatās why, I can share some of my croissants with you~
TOMOYA: Eh, youād do that?! Thanks, youāre a huge help!
MITSURU: Ehehe, thereās no need to be that polite with me~ Besides, Iām real happy that my croissant-liking buddies have grown āŖ
TOMOYA: Ahaha, I havenāt actually spontaneously gained an interest in croissants. Or, I guess, theyāre just a performance prop I need to complete my mission.
MITSURU: A performance prop�
Time: A few days ago
Location: Vocal Room
SHU: ⦠Oh, it seems as though I am the last to arrive. Even though there are still ten minutes until our appointed meeting time.
TOMOYA: Hello, Itsuki-senpai! Actually, I just rushed all the way from my last job as wellā
Uwah?! Whereād the sound of party poppers come from all of a sudden? That scared the crap out of me!
WATARU: Welcome, welcome, warm welcomes all around ā Sending greetings to you all from the fluttering pieces of colored paper! Itās your Hibiki Wataru⦠āŖ
KEITO: ⦠Hibiki, quiet down, you. We arenāt some tour group sightseeing at ES for the first time.
Since weāve all arrived, letās cut to the chase and start todayās meeting. Anzu should already have sent the relevant details on HoldHands to each of you ahead of time.
TOMOYA: Mm⦠I canāt believe this timeās job request is filming a promotional commercial for the newest volume of a currently popular shoujo manga.
According to Anzu-senpai, that manga artist is a loyal fan of Dramatica, and personally comes to the theater for each showing. Thanks to that, they really want someone from the troupe to perform this time.
KEITO: Thatās right. The four of us assembled here today are Anzuās final choices for the most suitable members to appear in the commercial.
Due to personal interest, I have read this manga in the past, so allow me to briefly introduce its general contents to assist your understanding and familiarity with the original work.
To summarize, the direction of the work is largely that of a classic shoujo manga setting. The female protagonist has an unrequited crush on a senior one year above her, but is completely unaware of the fact that the childhood friend that she grew up with has always liked her.
To support her endeavors in love, the protagonistās best friend enthusiastically provides ideas on how to pursue the senior. However, deep down, she actually has a crush on the protagonistās childhood friend.
TOMOYA: Help, just hearing this is giving me a stomachacheā¦
Mm? Youāre asking me if I need to take some medication for my stomach pain, Anzu-senpai? Huh, you carry that kind of stuff around on your personā¦?
I donāt actually have a stomachache, I just wanted to describe how these kinds of complicated four-way relationships make me feel, so donāt worry about it.
For instance, one second the atmosphere might still be abnormally tense and serious, but the next moment is likely to introduce an unexpected interlude that causes one to double over with laughter.
WATARU: Amazing⦠⪠To boys and girls in the prime of youth, toil and trouble over love! Savor the unripe flavor of first love, and spend your days tinted in rose!
However, Keito-kun seems to hold a certain fondness for this manga. When you received the invitation to take part in the filming, did you not accept it quite readily?
KEITO: Oi, donāt say anything unnecessary⦠Fine, since itāll be exposed sooner or later, Iāll admit I am in fact a fan of that manga artist.
Moreover, Iām usually in charge of the creation of our scripts. Taking this opportunity to accumulate some experience as an actor isnāt a bad idea, either.
SHU: Is that so? I have no interest in the common peopleās entertainment. It ought to be said, the one originally scheduled to appear in the commercial had been that boy.[1]
It just so happened that that boy suddenly came to COSPRO searching for me a few days ago. He said that due to a sudden change in his work arrangement, a scheduling conflict had arisen. Thus, he recommended me to the client, hoping I could take his place.
Honestly. The next time these sorts of troublesome things crop up, I shall reject it without a second thought.
WATARU: Hahaha, Shu is the type of person to be stubborn but soft-hearted, after all~ No matter how you look at it, acting in a commercial is a wonderful experience, so I do hope you too can enjoy yourself.
Moreover, as long as Natsume-kun looks at you with a beseeching gaze and says āPretty please, Shu-niiSANā, Iām sure you wonāt be able to refuse him, correct?
SHU: ⦠Hmph. You say that about me, but youāre the same, as well.
TOMOYA: U-um⦠It might be a bit late to start complaining now, but I still have a small questionā
Why do I have to crossdress with the Masked Per⦠Hibiki-senpai again?! And since itās a shoujo manga, is it really okay for the female protagonist and the female supporting character to be played by guys?!
WATARU: Fufufu, for this sort of arrangement is undoubtedly, Amazing ā
In actuality, the most important part of any commercial is to have enough of an eye-catching gimmick, so that more people are interested in the work itselfā that is, a principle similar to āfood for thoughtā.[2]
Not to mention, the original style of the manga is fairly relaxed and lively, so itās not a problem if the commercialās production effects are a little exaggerated.
And really, the most important point is, the client approves greatly of Tomoya-kun and my own crossdressing abilities, and considers us capable of making the fake look real ā
TOMOYA: How exactly did the client see my appearance while crossdressing? It couldnāt have been you secretly mailing that kind of photo alongside my personal profile, right?!
WATARU: Oya, oya, would I be that sort of vile person~? Perhaps they saw a play that Tomoya-kun and I performed in womenās clothing, and it left a very profound impression on them?
However, what I did not anticipate was that the client would ultimately designate me to play the protagonist; rather than Tomoya-kun, whose temperament usually fits these types better.
TOMOYA: Hmph, just go ahead and call me āordinaryā.
KEITO: My guess is, itās because the protagonist of this manga is an energetic, passionate woman, while her best friend is more of the quiet, introverted type.
The senior Iām playing possesses a sugar-and-spice, taciturn personality. Furthermore, Itsuki has to play a sunny and cheerful childhood friend with a high degree of approachability.
SHU: Thatās why this role was initially suited for that boy, and not me.
In this chapter, Shu calls Natsume å°é¬¼, which more directly translates to 'brat'. 'Boy' is used to maintain consistency between stories.
The idiom used here is ęē å¼ē (lit. throwing a brick to attract jade). It is a metaphor for attracting refined opinions with one's rough ideas. A similar English idiom is used in translation.
(Alright. The movements for our performance have been precisely shaped.)
(The motion of the fan should have successfully presented an atmosphere of elegance as well. This is the part my traditional Japanese dance teacher praised me on, so I must focus on strengthening this merit of mine.)
(... However, there is still perplexion in my movements. It seems the events of yesterday are still bothering me.)
(What exactly was the reason FrankenMagistrate couldnāt be handed down the generations as a classicā¦?)
(After that meeting, I watched some past videos from RhythLinkās archive. The production standard of FrankenMagistrate is in no way worse than Vampire Shogunās.)
(You could even go as far to say some parts of the production are better than that of Vampire Shogun. Even then, for some reason, it still became buried by the sands of time.)
(Was the reason really just because it was too incongruous as a work?)
(āDecisivenessāā because it lacked that determination, it was then abandoned by later generations.)
(From the perspective of an outsider, are we too a group of incongruous, disparate idols?)
(Just like Dr. Frankensteinās creations, constantly toeing the line between humans and monsters, unable to be accepted by anyoneā)
(This sort of tragedy must be avoided.)
(The deadline to respond to RhythLink is fast approaching.)
(I must make my decision calmly.)
HIIRO: Hmm, how interesting.
KEITO: Mm. Itās Amagiā you, have you been watching me all this time?
Donāt just stand behind me in silence. Youāll frighten people if you appear all of a sudden like this.
HIIRO: Sorry, Hasumi-senpai. I didnāt realize I was staring so intently.
The dance you were just performing was a traditional Japanese dance, right? Although I donāt know much about it, I have seen AKATSUKI perform it before.
KEITO: Thatās right. I was just performing a traditional Japanese dance.
It is said to be an offering to the gods from people of the past, a traditional artistry that combines mai[1], which represents religious significance; and odori[2], with movements to the rhythm of the music.
HIIRO: Haha, thatās what I thought. There are similar rituals of devotion in my hometownā Iāve heard that traditional Japanese dances are the same way, so it interested me.
KEITO: Thatās true. It may be a sensibility universally rooted in the minds of people since ancient times.
Iāve read some old books on artistry and technique, which can be used as reference for shaping oneās own artistic ideas. If you have time, Amagi, you should give it a read.
HIIRO: Umuā Iāll read them.
As one would expect from Hasumi-senpai! Youāve also taught me much while holding the Keito Lecture circle. To have such a wealth of knowledge is very respectable!
KEITO: No, not really. I am still far from the extent of being able to teach others. Persistently studying every day remains an indispensable skill.
Since youāre so studious, I feel as though I have to strive to become better.
To possess knowledge is to possess choice. Guiding the members of Keito Lecture, headed by Amagi, allows me to feel the value of a challenge.
Speaking of, I had something to ask you, Amagi. Why did you come to ESā dojo today?
School isnāt over yet, and itās still early before the martial arts circle⦠SHIN typically practices here.
HIIRO: It isnāt an issue with SHIN, in fact. Rather, itās a problem with the karate club.
Because of the preparations for the Halloween Party, we are unable to use the dojo at Yumenosaki Academy.
I couldnāt find a training venue, so I came here to take a look. Did I interrupt Hasumi-senpai in some way?
KEITO: Not at all. Not that it would be a botherā¦
I recall now. The Halloween Party planned by Anzu is an S1, correct? In order for the whole school to prepare together, your club activities were forcibly suspended.
However, to think that the scale of the Halloween Party is so large that you need to pause other activities is difficult for me to understand.
To my knowledge, the only activities with this level of authority are the usual events approved by the schoolās administration.
HIIRO: Hm~ I donāt know much about last yearās situation, but Buchou seems to have accepted this decision.
KEITO: Nagumo accepted itā¦? If even he expressed no objection to the situation, does that mean this yearās suspension of club activities is already established protocolā¦?
HIIRO: Thatās right. Buchou hates complying to unreasonable demands, so for someone with Buchouās personality to accept it, I believe the school must have issued an official order.
KEITO: Mm. Itās unexpectedly hard to believe that the Halloween Party is being recognised to this extent⦠I wonder if there have been any changes compared to last yearās activities.
Thank you for sharing these recent happenings with me, Amagi. Iāve just completed my practice, so you may use this area as you wish.
HIIRO: Thank you, Hasumi-senpai.
However, there is one thing that concerns me. If this Halloween Party is different from last yearās, perhaps the discomfort I feel also originates from this point.
KEITO: A sense of discomfort⦠Has something happened?
HIIRO: About that, I feel as though Yumenosaki Academy is shrouded in a strange atmosphere.
Hopefully, itās just a misperception on my part. Now that all the rooms in the school are occupied by people, the air seems to be permeated with an explosive, murderous ambience.
KEITO: What are you saying�
Mai (č) dances usually consist of circling movements to the melody of the music. The religious aspect may be referring to kagura, a Shinto ritual ceremonial dance said to be one of the oldest forms of traditional dance.
Odori (čø) dances usually consist of leaping movements to the rhythm of the music. During the late Meiji era, the two kanjis combined into the word buyo (ččø), an all-encompassing word for all traditional Japanese dances.
What the heck is this FrankenMagistrate? I havenāt seen all that many shows, so lookinā each one of āem up on my phone is a real pain.
KEITO: Is this the one youāre asking about? After Vampire Shogun became a hit, this show tried to imitate its style to profit off the same genre.
Though it never became a renowned work, this legal drama depicts the famously wise and integrous FrankenMagistrate who exposed criminal masterminds behind the scenes with court trials.
This work has not been rerun since, and I have only ever heard of it. Unlike Vampire Shogun, it doesnāt even have a sequel.
SOUMA: Mm, so that is how it is⦠Since this work has a magistrate as its main character, it can be considered the relatively common period drama trope of detective stories[1]; that is, the criminal investigation type.
After all, in ancient times, the magistrate was the local official in charge of a territory. Kiryu-dono, could you please check the āIntanettoā for a detailed description on what type of program this is?
KURO: Gimme a sec, Iām lookinā it up.
I canāt look stuff up as smoothly as Hasumi, so ya gotta wait patiently fer a bit.
KEITO: My apologies, Kiryu. I troubled you with the task of investigating by yourself.
KURO: No sweat. Youāre usually the one doinā this kinda stuff, Hasumi, includinā the list of information this time.
Although Iām familiar with machinery, I aināt all that bright when it comes to all this high-tech business.
Nowadays, new media like streaminā platforms are gradually replacinā TV-based traditional media. I gotta keep adaptinā to these new things.
KEITO: Haha. Kiryuās smart; heāll get used to it in no time.
However, itās possible that older works like this one donāt have much information available online in the first place, so it doesnāt mean Kiryu isnāt skilled at research. Even I would have to put in some effort to find relevant information.
KURO: ⦠Oh, Iāve got it.
There seems to be a fansite for FrankenMagistrate. The design of this personal blog looks a little outdated, but it seems to have a detailed record of each episodeās information and the site ownerās own thoughts.
SOUMA: Mm, let me see⦠āFrankenMagistrate is different from Vampire Shogun; it is an incomplete, incongruous hodgepodge of period dramas and monsters.ā
āAnd that is the reason it never became passed down the generations as a classic.ā That is what is written here. It seems FrankenMagistrate is not truly a classical traditional period drama created with the core ideal of punishing evil and praising good.
The story incorporates elements such as āthe troubles of existing as a created beingā, especially in the episode that describes the inner conflict of FrankenMagistrate, and received mixed reviews as a result.
KURO: Mm, looks like famous works have their reasons for becominā famous, and other works have their reasons fer not becominā famous.
The summary theyāve given is⦠āIntegrating science fiction and period drama sets an almost unheard of precedentā. If ya just read these descriptors, it does sound quite interestinā.
SOUMA: Perhaps that is the reason why some ardent viewers were motivated to leave a record of this work.
KEITO: ā¦ā¦
KURO: Whatās the matter, Hasumi? Why arenāt ya talkinā all of a sudden?
Haha, is it that FrankenMagistrateās piqued yer curiosity? āŖ
KEITO: Aah, no⦠Alright, if I said I wasnāt interested in the slightest, that would be a lie.
However, when choosing a cover song, popularity is an important factor to consider. Even if we are able to deliver this cover to some of the workās avid fans, whether theyād like the arrangement or not is unknown.
KURO: Thatās true. Then, letās put FrankenMagistrate into the reject category.
KEITO: ⦠Mm. Letās do that.
SOUMA: Mm? Hasumi-dono, your response seems to be quite uncertain. Is there something wrong?
KEITO: Itās nothing. Just seeing the impression FrankenMagistrate has left on the public makes me the slightest emotional.
Wanting to create avant-garde content, but being seen as discordantā I can feel the creatorās determination to persist in creating what their heart desires, though as a creative performer, I canāt help but ponder.
SOUMA: Mm⦠that is correct. Perhaps what the world is looking for are those so-called mainstream, classic works.
We as AKATSUKI are also āaidoruā based on traditional culture. So, to avoid repeating the same mistakes, we must take care to maintain the ābaransuā between new and old. Is this what you mean, Hasumi-dono?
KURO: Kanzaki really is serious. Ya donāt hafta take everythinā to heart, ya know?
FrankenMagistrateās failure could be because it was too avant-garde. If it were today, the public would easily accept the originally unfamiliar Western culture, right?
SOUMA: Indeed so. āHarouinā is also one of those examples.
The part of Western culture the previous generation had a hard time accepting, is now widely accepted by the younger people.
The āHarouinā of today is perhaps, for those gathered in the city, the substitute for their homeland festivities.
This extremely valuable commemoration experience is rarely available in modern times. And the action of holding our āraibuā, could also be seen as festivities passed down ceaselessly from ancient times.
KEITO: Right. Letās end our discussion of FrankenMagistrate here. Itās time to look at the next work.
There are many works here that have been buried by the times. At this rate, our discussion will stretch long into the night.
KURO: Yer right as always. Then, the next work weāll be investigatinā is the show Chivalrous Hero and Child.[2]
SOUMA: Understood. Haha, I find this work suits Kiryu-dono very wellā
KEITO: (ā¦ā¦)
(FrankenMagistrate was too incongruous, so it didnāt gain favor with the audience. That is what the reviews say.)
(Really. It reminds me of the conversation with that senior a few days ago; both things sounded grating.)
(Using a brand-new entry point to express old thingsā this is AKATSUKIās policy, the path I chose.)
(However, if I picked the wrong path to walk down, I wonāt be able to face Kiryu and Kanzaki.)
KEITO: Fuu⦠todayās practice also concluded smoothly.
KURO: Right. After the Imperial Match, the state of AKATSUKI has been gettinā better and better.
⦠Speakinā of, ya alright, Hasumi? Ya look a little tired.
KEITO: Me? No, I didnāt actually mean for my fatigue to be so apparentā¦
However, Iāve recently been occupied with the Imperial Match and Unification by Force lives, so I may be experiencing some burnout now.
KURO: Burnout�
Ah, I remember now. Thatās the same thing ya mentioned while you were feelinā unwell, right?
At the time, I remember ya sayinā weāve received very little jobs ever since cominā to RhythLink, so as soon as weād come by work, youād want to do yer very best, resultinā in exhaustion when it endsā Is that whatās happeninā this time too?
KEITO: Mm. I can think of no other possibility; Iām afraid this is the exact reason.
During the Imperial Match, we were chasing after the long-held wish in Sakuma and Iās heart. During Unification by Force, we were struggling not to be buried by the strength and power of the veteran idols of RhythLink.
Perhaps itās precisely because weāve been waiting on the sidelines for such a long time that after going through all this, a sense of exhaustion similar to running at full strength is produced.
KURO: Haha. Now ya mention it, we did take part in lots of large-scale events one after the other.
Especially you, Hasumi. As our unit leader, ya work harder than any of us.
You can make proposals and stuff like that with ease, but you're not that great at adjusting to a fair bit of the intense choreography of our performancesā of course youād accumulate fatigue like this.
SOUMA: Please do not push yourself too hard, Hasumi-dono. On the off chance you collapse, what would AKATSUKI do in the future?
KEITO: You both worry too much. I consider myself far more capable at managing my health than the vast majority. After all, I have a childhood playmate who often damages his body.
Letās forget it for now. Seeing as todayās practice is finished, we should find somewhere to hold a meeting.
As I said before practice. Kiryu and Kanzaki, Iād like to first consult you two about AKATSUKIās participation in this yearās Halloween event.
KURO: Sounds good, I wanted to ask about that as well.
I heard someone say earlier that AKATSUKI wonāt be participatinā in ESā Halloween event this time. Is that true?
When I met Nito at the agency by chance, thatās what he said. He told me that if AKATSUKI needed to take part in the agencyās joint live, the Halloween event at ES could reliably be left to him.
KEITO: Mmā¦? When I previously discussed this with our agencyās senior, it should have still been in the internal consideration stage.
In short, this is a problem. There are many idols entering and exiting the agency, so there is a possibility someone witnessed me talking to the senior in a kowtow manner, and mistakenly believed I accepted the offer.
KURO: But, a joint live by RhythLink, huh. As a newbie to the agency, I donāt really know much about it. Is this live really more important than a Halloween event?
My little sis looks forward to Halloween every year. In my opinion, Halloween as a public holiday is more acceptable to the younger generation.
KEITO: Of course. If you consider the majorityās opinion on Halloween, Kiryuās deduction is, in fact, correct.
However, I believe taking absence from this yearās Halloween event just this once will reap greater benefits than we could possibly imagine.
At the end of the day, our country does not possess an extensive history of celebrating Halloween. Therefore, RhythLinkās senior idolsā that is to say, the middle-aged generationā are certainly not familiar with it.
On the flip side, this could be our chance to cut in.
Indeed, I was also tormented miserably by the actions of the higher-ups. However, if we want to take the opportunity to seize resources from them, itās best to first become a part of them to gain their trust.
⦠The reason Iād think of this type of strategy is due to the fact I was involved year-round in the political activities of the student council, I suppose. However, Kiryu, if you want to participate in the Halloween event, I will immediately withdraw my response to the senior.
KURO: No need. After all, youāve helped me out a ton of times before, Hasumi. If you decide to do it, Iāll listen to you.
SOUMA: I share Kiryu-donoās sentimentsā Hasumi-dono is the head of AKATSUKI, so the path we take in the future is to be decided by you.
KEITO: I understand. Then, let me say what I think.
RhythLink possesses numerous still-slumbering resources within the agency. In other words, you could liken them to treasures that are largely overlooked, but still contain value.
Vampire Shogun is essentially in the same situation. Put simply, RhythLink does own the copyright to a number of popular works from yesteryear.
If we are able to flexibly use the popularity of these works, and create a batch of covers, or reproductions of these works, Iām sure it would benefit AKATSUKI greatly.
Thus, I have already organized the properties that RhythLink has the copyright to into documents.
SOUMA: Oh! I have been wondering what exactly was stored in that portfolioā this is a truly immense amount of information.
KURO: Good work, Hasumi. Iām startinā to think choosinā between RhythLink and the Halloween event has some worth to it, after all. āŖ
This also aināt the place for talkinā in detail. Better to chat while havinā lunch.
KEITO: That sounds good. So far at RhythLink, weāve always been treated as the newcomers; at least now, weāre being seen as āhot-blooded teenagersā. Therefore, this is the ideal time to accumulate even more eye-catching achievements.
Tradition and innovation is AKATSUKIās strategy. We must seize the opportunity this job has given us, and expand our influence within the agency to its fullest extent.
To put it simply, what youāre trying to express to me is that it is precisely because we live in a society where information is in abundance, that the cornerstones of tradition have even more importance, is that correct, senpai?
Indeed, we should value the fundamentals of our culture, the basics and itās etiquette; These sensibilities that are not limited by eraā We, who live in the present, should never throw such things away
āDecisiveness- The ability to decide on exactly what to sever ties with, in order to truly move forward.ā I understand what you are trying to say, senpai. I will surely keep that inscribed in mind for the rest of my life.
Thank you for imparting your valuable experience. Then, since youāre not leaving the building, I wonāt send you off. See you aroundā
(Fuu. They finally left.)
(Really, the senior idols of RhythLink are tough to deal with. Although I am thankful that the others are willing to place their expectations on us, their so-called āphilosophies of lifeā are entirely out of date.)
(Contrary to myself, Sakuma and Hakaze are able to behave politely and courteously to those middle-aged idols that flaunt their seniority. It looks like Iām still far from being skilled at that.)
(I donāt see the need to ābrownnoseā, but I also donāt want my words and actions to cause AKATSUKI to suffer any kind of loss.)
Speaking of, ādecisivenessā, huhā¦
SOUMA: Hasumi-dono!
Thank you for your hard work meeting with the various senpais of āRizurinā. Allow me to make you a cup of tea āŖ
KEITO: Oh, so youāre here, Kanzaki.
SOUMA: That is correct; I arrived a little while earlier. As I saw Hasumi-dono conversing with one of our seniors, I decided to wait quietly by the side.
KEITO: Thereās no purpose in watching me getting lectured by a senior. If you encounter a similar situation in the future, you can just come out without minding.
SOUMA: I am not as skilled at socialization in comparison to Hasumi-dono, especially towards those whom I owe no allegiance to. I am unable to show cordiality in that situation.
If I insert myself into Hasumi-donoās conversation, I will surely be unable to resist talking too much, and thus cause inconvenience for Hasumi-dono.
It is not my wish to interfere, so I shall instead watch silently from the sidelines.
KEITO: Is that so? Suppose our conversation made you wait over ten minutes; Iād feel apologetic if you had to wait that long.
That being said, although that senior was born in a different era and possesses different common sensibilities compared to us, they are still a person. Thus, I believe even if Kanzaki approaches us at the agency, that person will not immediately become displeased.
Besides, I just had the fortune of being granted some precious but trivial lectures.
SOUMA: Haha. Hasumi-dono being lectured by somebody elseā
KEITO: What is it? Do you think itās rare for me to accept a lecture?
SOUMA: Aye. During your time at Yumenosaki Academy, Hasumi-dono was always the one doing the lecturing, so to see Hasumi-dono in the position of the ājuniorā is interesting to me.
That said⦠What was the context of that lecture, exactly?
KEITO: It wasnāt anything too important. Only, that senior asked me if AKATSUKI wanted to take part in the Halloween event.
SOUMA: 'Harouin'...?
KEITO: Thatās right. Halloweenās just around the corner, isnāt it.
It seems ES will also carry out Halloween-themed events. I would have liked to participate, butā¦
The seniors of RhythLink seem to be against AKATSUKI taking part in Halloween events.
SOUMA: That is to say, AKATSUKI is not permitted to take part in events that the other āyunittoā are encouraged to participate in?
This makes no sense at all. There is nothing unreasonable about us taking part in 'Harouin'.
KEITO: Thatās right. No matter the opinion of the higher-ups, we will only do what we decide to do. There is absolutely nothing strange about AKATSUKI choosing to participate in Western holiday events.
However, there are parts that require careful consideration.
According to that senior, thereās another reason the higher-ups donāt want AKATSUKI participating in the Halloween event.
Soon after, RhythLink will host a live show that gathers all their big-name artistsā āRhythm Festivalā. The higher-ups are considering AKATSUKI for the newcomer representatives responsible for the opening act.
So that senior wanted to inquire of our willingness to participate, and also asked if we were looking to take part in the ES Halloween event being held on the same day.
SOUMA: I see. However, why seek out only AKATSUKI�
Disregarding the other newcomers under their banner and only extending an invitation to us; I believe this approach is extremely rare.
KEITO: This is all thanks to the Imperial Match we had participated in prior. It seems as though because we re-enacted Vampire Shogun, we drew the attention of RhythLinkās higher-ups.
āYouāre so young, but youāre surprisingly willing to act in such an old productionāā thatās the evaluation the higher-ups gave. Although, this type of evaluation originates from a place of personal nostalgiaā
To me, it was also a profound piece of media, so to receive such an evaluation made me very happy. In terms of the future strategic development of AKATSUKI, being fancied by a veteran agencyās higher-ups isnāt a bad thing.
Furthermore, early before Halloween events took root in our country, this series of lives began to be held. Thus, the clientele is of an older demographic.
Through this show, our performance will be seen by more than just the fans that know of us already.
In addition to that, I am confident that AKATSUKI will be a unit beloved by older generations. So for us, taking part in this event carries a lot of benefits.
SOUMA: Mm⦠in other words, while other āyunittoā are participating in the 'Harouin' event, we are to take part in an event of a traditional nature, thus using the strengths of AKATSUKI to their full extent, correct?
KEITO: Exactly. Although I havenāt decided whether to take the job yet, this shouldnāt be a bad thing for us.
However, we cannot decide while Kiryu is still in the dark. Weāll discuss it once more once all three of us are here.
SOUMA: Understood. Then, before reaching a conclusion, I shall go prepare for Yumenosakiās Academyās 'Harouin Paati' in the meanwhile.
At around this time last year, Hasumi-dono would command the preparation work with ease; but this year already seems to be busier than ever.
KEITO: Does that mean youāve taken over my work? Iāve given you a lot of trouble, Kanzaki.
SOUMA: Nay, the one who took over Hasumi-donoās job is the student councilā I am merely a āhelperā.
However, support from behind the scenes is an equally important job. I shall become like the Hasumi-dono of last year, and support the regular events hosted by Yumenosaki Academy with all my might.
Behind any colorful and lively event, there must be a person who acts as the silent supporter. I have already understood this reasoning by observing Hasumi-dono from behind along the way⦠āŖ
Iām still feelinā a bit chilly⦠whyās this damn flu pesterinā me so muchā¦
And how come there are still so many people at the damn hospital? Whenāll it be my turn to get an IV? What a pain in the ass!
(Koga finally receives his IV fluidsā¦)
SUBARU: Gami-san, weāre here to visit you~
How are you doing? Feeling any better?
KOGA: Donāt just hug me outta nowhere!
Iām already doinā fine , so donātcha look down on me, cough, coughā¦
ADONIS: However, youāre still coughing. Should we ask the doctor for some medicine?
MAKOTO: Iāve already asked them. The doctor said Oogami-kun can return home after the IV drip; with some quality rest, the cough will eventually heal on its own.
KOGA: But how did ya know I was here?
When Akehoshi called, I just told him I wasnāt at home.
SUBARU: Haha, because I have a friend who happened to see you while getting his medicine at the hospital~
He contacted me saying he saw a familiar-looking person, and asked if he was my friend or not~
To confirm his suspicions, he even sent a photo my way. But the photo itself is pretty interesting~
Ahaha! This photo of Gami-san wrapped up in a blanket burrito is a real treasure! Iām going to preserve it forever and ever ā
KOGA: You bastard, delete that photo or else!
SUBARU: Ah, hey, donāt grab my phone!
MAKOTO: You two, stop horsing around. Itās not good to make a loud racket at a hospital.
Speaking of, Oogami-kun, we brought you a gift. Hope you like it.
ADONIS: The gift is with me. Here you go, Oogami.
KOGA: I just caught a small flu. Dāya really hafta to do all this for me?
But, whatever. Lemme open it up and take a look.
What kinda animal is this? Iāve never seen it before!
MAKOTO: This is a qilin[1]. Itās a mythical beast that brings luck to those it encounters. Plus, it has an elevated status compared to other beasts, and in some interpretations, is a symbol of power~
KOGA: Oh~ I never expected ya lot to be good at pickinā out shit. Count me impressed.
SUBARU: This is our blessing to you, so you gotta cherish it~
ADONIS: Mm. The idea of blessings exists in almost every culture there is; thus, this longing for well-wishes could be called the natural and instinctive nature of humanity.
I think, rather than considering blessings an empty, useless gesture, it is more appropriate to call it the good intentions of the well-wisher.
We wish for our peers to be safe, sound and healthy; for this reason, we give blessings to all those we encounter. So please, allow us to possess this natural longing.
So, Oogami,
SUBARU: Anzu and friends, too ā
MAKOTO: We all hopeā¦
SUBARU: For you to be peaceful and safe!
KOGA: Wow. Ya bastards, ya really had ta go ān make it all so extraā¦
Ya guysā¦
MAKOTO: Are you crying, Oogami-kun? Donāt cry, donāt cry⦠When we rehearsed our lines, we only really practiced saying āOogami, get well soon!ā
ADONIS: Ah, my apologies. I went ahead of myself and said a lot of things. At the time, I didnāt think of a proper starter, so my head was full of all sorts of thoughts.
SUBARU: Haha, I also thought just mentioning Gami-san seemed a bit insubstantial, so I added tons of people~
But thankfully, Ukki reacted in time, so we can count this blessing strategy a huge success ā
ADONIS: Ah, thatās right. For Oogami to recover quicker, I bought barbecue meat. Eating meat can lift peopleās spirits.
SUBARU: I also used my phone to record a greeting from Daikichi to you~ Isnāt that a super surprise?
KOGA: Ya, ya⦠Iāll take care of it one thing at a time, alrightā¦
Iām all done with the IV, and itās pretty crummy to take up a hospital bed. Letās head home together.
(Feels like Iāll get a whole lot better tomorrow~)
Kogaās card is based off the qilin. You can read more about them here.
Where can we find those mascot animals you told us about, Ukki?
Hm?
Iāve never seen this area here before? Is it new?
MAKOTO: Mhm, this is the newly-opened Chinese vendor area I read about online. There are lots of products from there for sale~
ADONIS: I am quite interested in learning about these products.
I heard somewhere that Chinaās meat products are very diverse, so I have a little understanding of it.
MAKOTO: Haha, then Otogari-kun could check out the butcherās store, or a Chinese restaurant.
ADONIS: Mhm. Letās first find a gift for Oogami.
Itās getting late, after all.
MAKOTO: Yup, letās go directly to the store mentioned online. When we have time, we can browse the rest of the feature area.
SUBARU: Sure! By then, we can call up Gami-san, Hokke and the others for a grand adventure~
MAKOTO: It should be in this area. Letās go to this store first~
SUBARU: Whoa! Itās so red! It feels like the color red is everywhere~
And above us, there are tons of these weird hangings with lots of knots tied into them.
MAKOTO: Let me check. These seem to be called good luck knots, or Chinese knots. Their meanings range from āgood luck and good fortuneā to āpeace and prosperityā.
SUBARU: This material is super comfy to the touch. I think Iāll buy a bunch to hang on my body later~
Hey, Occhan, do you want to buy one as well?
Huh? Where did Occhan go? Ukki, have you seen Occhan?
MAKOTO: Ahh, nope⦠I was too fixated looking at all this stuff and in a moment of carelessness⦠erā¦
Ah, wait, Otogari-kunās over there!
SUBARU: Occhan, donāt go running around by yourself!
ADONIS: Ah, Iām sorry. I saw something quite interesting, so I walked away.
These are some strange-looking animals. Which country are they from?
SUBARU: These should be the mythical beasts Ukki told us about, right?
Look, they even have a little good luck knot tied on their tail~
MAKOTO: Yup, Iāve seen some of these beasts in games of mine, so I recognize a few.
SUBARU: This one, this one! This one should be the divine dragon ā The one from Dr*gon B*ll that can grant wishes~
MAKOTO: Youāre right, but I think this one matches Akehoshi-kun well~
This is called a pixiu[1]. In local culture, it is an auspicious beast that attracts wealth and treasure. It can bless Akehoshi-kun with tons of sparkly money āŖ
SUBARU: Wow! This oneās good, I want to buy this one ā
Iāll take really good care of you, so Iām asking you to bless me with a steady supply of super sparkly and shiny money āŖ
ADONIS: Um, Yuuki, do you know what this one is? The one that looks like a turtle carrying something on its back.
MAKOTO: This should be a bixi[2]. What itās carrying on its back is a stone tablet.
SUBARU: What a poor thing, having to carry su~ch a heavy object.
MAKOTO: Haha, itās not what Akehoshi-kun thinks. In fact, this guy likes the weight; despite it, he always holds his head high, and never stops moving forward.
ADONIS: I want to buy this one. Although Iām unsure what it symbolizes, I greatly admire its tenacity.
MAKOTO: Mhm, I also feel like this creature is suitable for Otogari-kun~
But letās see what to buy for Oogami-kun first. We all went off and bought our own things, and ended up forgetting the main quest.
SUBARU: Hm? Does that mean Ukki bought something too?
MAKOTO: Yup, this is what I bought. Hopefully it can protect me while I escape from my recent misfortunes~
SUBARU: This is a phoenix[3], isnāt it?
MAKOTO: Mhm, thatās right~ By the way, I just picked this out for Oogami-kun. What do you all think?
SUBARU: Wow, this one looks super majestic! Gami-san is sure to like it!
ADONIS: Mm, thatās what I think, too.
MAKOTO: If weāre all in agreement, then letās choose this as our present~
Letās go and visit Oogami-kun now. But where is he, exactly?
SUBARU: Give me a moment, Iāll contact Gami-san~
Subaruās card is based off the pixiu. You can read more about them here.
Adonisā card is based off the bixi. You can read more about them here.
Makotoās card is based off the Chinese phoenix, quite different to the Western one. You can read more about them here.
MAKOTO: You really didnāt need to hurry. You can get hurt easily when you hurry around like that.
Otogari-kun still hasnāt come, so letās wait for him a while.
Look at you, huffing and puffing. Iāll buy you a drink, so you rest here.
Yup, Iāve bought it, here you go~
SUBARU: Thanks, Ukkiā Eh?
I didnāt look at you all that carefully just now, but why do you look like such a wreck? Did you get into some kind of accident?
If someone wants to harm Ukki, youāve got to tell us! We wonāt sit back and watch our peers get hurt!
MAKOTO: Akehoshi-kun, please donāt shake me around, Iām going to get dizzy~
No one is trying to hurt me. Itās just that Iāve been inexplicably unlucky recently.
There was an earlier occasion where I was walking down the street when I noticed a puddle of dirty water in front me. I had just stopped in front of it, as a stray cat suddenly sprang out from beside me. Taken by surprise, I took a few steps backwards.
I thought, āthank goodness I didnāt step in the water!ā But then⦠Bam! I ran into some type of muscle head.
I was pushed forward by the strong inertia, and seconds later, I found myself lying face-down in the dirty puddle.
Thinking back on it, I canāt believe that actually happened. I mean at least compared to the last few days, my luckās way better right now.
SUBARU: Well, if thatās the case~ Behold, I cast upon you a spell that will make you blessed with good fortune ā
Eh? Natsume would totally do something like this, wouldnāt he~?
Let me think~ How does he usually go about it?
MAKOTO: Hey, wait, Akehoshi-kun⦠No, no, please no! What if you recite the wrong incantation, youāll make things even worse than they were before!
But still, thanks for trying, Akehoshi-kun.
SUBARU: Alright, I wonāt do it, since Ukki said so. But, what kinda presents are we going to buy for Gami-san?
MAKOTO: Um, actually, I havenāt thought of anything either. Just trying to get here, I completely exerted all my energy in trying to not end up in some crazy situationā¦
Since Akehoshi-kun is here, I probably wonāt encounter any more bad luckā¦
Let me take the opportunity to do some online research.
SUBARU: Rest assured, Iāll become the best bodyguard for Ukki there is! Nothing dangerous will come near you with me here~
MAKOTO: The mall seems to have a newly imported batch of mascot animals. How about we gift these to Oogami-kun?
SUBARU: But I donāt think Gami-san would like those kinda cutesy things.
Although, giving a sick person a mascot character is a logical response.
MAKOTO: This isnāt the cutie patootie kind of mascot characters Akehoshi-kun is thinking of~ Come over and take a look.
SUBARU: Hm, it really doesnāt resemble the mascot character I was expecting. Theyāre so strange-looking.
But here, some of these are pretty⦠Badass. It feels like Gami-san would like them.
MAKOTO: Actually, rather than calling these āmascot charactersā, they should be ācharacters symbolizing good luckā.[1]
These all seem to be mythical beasts from China. Each of them have their own meanings, but overall, they signify good fortune and happiness.
I was talking with Anzu-chan about my bout of bad luck, and she suggested I buy some mascot characters to bring around.
So I also want to buy some to try it out.
ADONIS: Sorry, Iām late.
I had to request a leave of absence from my senpais at UNDEAD, so I took a bit of time.
MAKOTO: No worries, no worries at all. Weāre still discussing what kind of gift to buy Oogami-kun.
We were just looking at these mascot characters. What does Otogari-kun think?
If you have any thoughts, you can tell us.
ADONIS: I think you made a very good choice.
Moreover, no matter what it is, as long as it is a gift that represents our heartfelt thoughts, Oogami should be happy when he receives it.
SUBARU: Then, letās first head to the mall~
Here we go~ Bad luck go scram, bad luck go scram ā[2]
ADONIS: What is Akehoshi doing?
MAKOTO: Maybe he wants to help disperse the bad luck on the journey there.
ADONIS: Hmm?
The word for āluckyā and āmascotā are the same in Chinese. A literal translation would be ālucky charactersā.
An idiom spoken when one wishes for bad luck to disappear. This is just a fun translation of its actual meaning!
MAKOTO: Akehoshi-kun, stop messing around and give me my glasses back.
SUBARU: Iāll return them if you can catch me! Hahahaha~
MAKOTO: Huff, huff, give them back quickly, Akehoshi-kun. I canāt see at allā¦
Besides, running around like this in the classroom is really dangerous.
Uwah!
Sorry, I bumped into your desk. Is that you, Otogari-kun?
Excuse me, I donāt have my glasses, so I canāt see you all that clearly.
ADONIS: Mhm, itās me. Are you alright?
MAKOTO: Itās nothing, haha. Let me help you fix your desk.
SUBARU: Are you alright, Ukki? Iām super sorry I made you hit the desk.
Ukki, hereās your glasses. Occhan, too, Iām sorry for causing you trouble.
MAKOTO: Thatās why you shouldnāt chase each other around the classroom. Youāll cause others trouble this way, Akehoshi.
Weāve been occupied enough recently, so be a good boy and behave.
SUBARU: Oho? Are you pretending to be Hokke?
MAKOTO: As expected of Akehoshi-kun, you could tell with just a look~
ADONIS: You two have such a good relationship.
SUBARU: But, Occhan, youāre acting weird. Why do you have an unhappy look on your face? Being sad isnāt good for your health, you know.
Come, come, show me a smile! Just like this ā
MAKOTO: From the looks of it, Otogari-kun is experiencing some trouble, right? If you can, could you tell us a little about it?
If thereās anything I can do to help, Iād like to lend a hand. Weāre classmates, after all.
On top of that, I did bump into your table, and I also want to make amends for that.
SUBARU: Yup, yup, Occhan! If you have any troubles, feel free to talk to us!
ADONIS: Actually, I havenāt encountered any troubles. Itās just that Oogami didnāt come to school today. That worries me a little.
SUBARU: Oh, right! I was just saying it was weird I didnāt bump into Gami-san today.
ADONIS: Mm. In truth, Oogami has the flu. Thatās what the doctor told me yesterday after we went to the hospital, and so he was immediately given an IV.
Is Oogamiās absence because his condition hasnāt improved?
I should have visited Oogamiās home before I headed to school. It is an oversight on my part.
SUBARU: So, Gami-san has the flu. No wonder after I took Daikichi for a walk last night, Daikichi was holding something Gami-san gave him in his mouth with a restless look.
At first I thought Daikichi must be missing Gami-san, and I thought about bringing Daikichi to Gami-san for a playdate.
However, how did Daikichi find out Gami-san was sick? Is it possible he has precognitive abilities~?
MAKOTO: Could it be that Akehoshi-kun and Daikichi-kun encountered Oogami-kun and company while on your walk?
Or that Daikichi-kun caught Oogami-kunās scent; something like that?
SUBARU: Let me think~
At the time, I was just taking a walk with Daikichi, when all of a sudden, he broke free from the leash in my hands, and then I rushed after himā¦
When I caught up to him, Daikichi was tugging at me like crazy, trying to bring me somewhere. But it was getting sorta late, so I had to bring Daikichi home.
After we got home, he was all worried and restless.
MAKOTO: Hm, if I had to guess, Daikichi mustāve caught Oogami-kunās scent, which is why he went after it.
Afterwards, he could have seen Oogami-kun, or felt that Oogami-kun and company were nearby, and wanted to bring you to them.
Moreover, thereās an argument that dogs can smell the changes in the body when someoneās sick, although thatās just a saying with no concrete scientific evidence.
Who knows, Daikichi-kun might have sensed something amiss.
SUBARU: I see! As expected of Ukki, youāre super smart ā
ADONIS: I remember now. While I was carrying Oogami to the hospital,
I did hear the sound of a dog barking behind me.
But due to the emergency at the time, I ignored it. So that was the Akehoshi family dog.
MAKOTO: But since Oogami-kun isnāt here today, letās visit him together after school.
The task of contacting him will be left to Akehoshi-kun.
SUBARU: Leave it to me~ā
MAKOTO: And Otogari-kun, would you like to come with us?
ADONIS: Thank you. I am willing to go with you.
SUBARU: Great! Letās meet after school, then. I have to go back home first, but Iāll be back in a jiffy.
I want to prepare a surprise for Gami-san.
MAKOTO: Thatās right, weād better buy a present before visiting Oogami-kun.
ADONIS: Mm, todayās practice was very fruitful. It feels as though all the muscles in my body have been pushed to the limit, revitalising my strength.
KOGA: ā¦ā¦
ADONIS: Whatās wrong, Oogami? Why do you look unhappy?
KOGA: Why dāya ask when ya already know the answer? Adonis, ya tossed me aside while ya went and had fun traininā all by yerāselves! Am I sāposed to be happy like this?
ADONIS: Oogami, you seem upset because of this; however, I feel like it is something to be happy about.
The reason we had to leave you out of our activities is because your companions care for you. Being cared for by others should create a sense of happiness, right?
KOGA: Well, I thought ya guys were worryinā too much. I already said I was fine, but ya had to force me onto a chair.
That damn vampire even said somethinā like āWankoās condition seems rather poor today; if you feel ill you can return home to restā, stuff like that!
And that flirty bastard even said I should go to the infirmary if I needed to.
Itās like yer all lookinā down on me, eh?
Iām a proud lone wolf! There aināt nothinā thatāll defeat me that easy!
Although I didnāt choose to go home or to the infirmary, ya guys still forced me ta sit and watch from the sidelines, that shit pisses me off.
Iāve been feelinā a bit exhausted recently, but as long as I get ta sing and dance, the flame in meāll be rekindled.
ADONIS: If you feel tired, you must eat more meat. Meat can provide energy.
I know of a new barbecue store that opened recently. How about we eat there together?
After you have some meat, you will certainly feel yourself again, Oogami.
KOGA: Cough, cough⦠forget it for today. Itās gettinā late, and Leonās waitinā for dinner at home. We can go there later.
ADONIS: Oogami, are you really alright? Iāve noticed youāve been coughing every so often.
KOGA: Iām fine, so ya shouldn't worry ābout it, Adonis.
But the weatherās been gettinā colder ān colder recently, huhā¦
Adonis, ya gotta remember ta wear more clothes too, cough, coughā¦
ADONIS: Hm? The recent temperatures have clearly risen, and itās not getting colder at all.
Oogami, have you fallen ill? Is that why your body feels cold?
KOGA: I told ya, Iām fineā¦
Then, weāll part here, Adonis. See ya tomorrow, Iām feelinā dead tiredā¦
ADONIS: ⦠Mm, see you tomorrow.
KOGA: Cough, coughā¦
ADONIS: (Is Oogami really going to be alright like this?)
(Even though he said he was fine, Iām still worried about him.)
(And just watching him walk away like this; I donāt know why, but he looks so fragile.)
(Hm? Is he shivering?)
(Surely, I cannot abandon him in this condition.)
Oogami!
KOGA: Hm? What is it, Adonis? Why are ya⦠chasinā after me again?
ADONIS: I cannot let go of my worries. Your mouth is quivering, so itās best to quickly head to the hospital for a check-up.
Even if you donāt go, please let me confirm your condition.
KOGA: Whatāre ya doinā, donāt ya go and just touch⦠my forehead!
ADONIS: Youāre burning up!
Oogami, you have a fever. You must hurry to the hospital.
KOGA: Cough, cough, itās no big deal. Goinā home and takinā a napāll sort it out.
ADONIS: I cannot allow that, for we are friends. In this situation, even if you reject my help, I must forcibly bring you there.
So, I ask for you, Oogami, to forgive me for this just this once.
KOGA: Oi, even if ya hafta bring me there, you donāt need to carry me on your back, cough, coughā¦
(I aināt even got the strength to break free, so this is all I can do for now.)
ADONIS: Hmph, there we go. Oogami, please bear with it for a while. I will bring you to the hospital right away.
In the future, if you feel any discomfort, do not hold yourself back, tell everyone how you feel.
We are all comrades, and we will take care of you. However, if you say nothing, everyone will become worried.