hinata: —Ah, I see you there, Miss! Look, look! This is my shiny new ‘Daken’ costume. My tail and dog ear hat are super cute, isn’t the face paint awesome too?
saki: Fufu, the costume really suits you. It has an energetic vibe that’s perfect for you.
hinata: Right? It must really suit me if it has your approval ♪. If you were to picture me as a dog or a cat I’d definitely lean towards dog, right? That’s why I’m obsessed with the theme of these outfits. Ah, that reminds me, I’m actually on the lookout for an owner right now. Could you become a candidate, Miss?
saki: Huh? You want me to… be your owner?
hinata: Yeah, give it some thought. I’d love to be taken home by you ♪. Wait, shoot! Rehearsal has already started, I gotta go. I’ll see you later. Woof, woof, woof, punch ♪.
-time pass, street, night-
saki: Hm? Is that you, Hinata-san?
hinata: Oh, Miss.
saki: Are you done with practice? Good work today.
-he walks over-
hinata: Yeah… I was just wandering around the streets. It’s been a while so I felt like going for a walk. Just when I was starting to feel down cause I don’t have anywhere to go I ran into you, how lucky is that? With you here I’ll easily be able to find my way home once we get to the train station.
saki: Um, what do you mean by that?
hinata: Right now I’m nothing but a stray dog. Without you here I might just end up getting lost again.
saki: That wouldn’t be good. Let’s walk together then.
hinata: For reals? Thank you! By the way, do you remember what I said at noon? About how I’m looking for an owner right now. Did you think about the offer some more? Do you want to try being my owner?
saki: Um, but, what would being your owner entail exactly…?
hinata: Oh, I see, just springing that decision on you is troubling, right? I’m sorry. In that case, how about you try being my owner for a little bit first to see what it’s like? It’ll be a free trial.
saki: What? A free trial!?
hinata: I’m already suuper attached to you, so there’s no doubt I’d be an obedient and faithful dog. So how about it? Sounds good, right?
-
Chapter 2 -break room-
hinata: —Ah, I found you, Miss! So this is where you were hanging out.
saki: Did you need something, Hinata-san?
hinata: Yeah, I’ve been looking all over for you. I belong to you so of course I’m gonna be right by my owner’s side.
saki: Huh? Oh, um… Is this part of that free trial you were talking about?
hinata: Yeah that’s right. Do you have any orders for me, Miss? I’ll listen to anything you tell me, cause you’re my master.
saki: Anything? R-really?
hinata: I can do straightforward commands as well. Like ‘paw’ or ‘other paw’, c’mon just give it a try.
choice:
Ok, I’ll try one then…
I can’t bring myself to order you around…
>Ok, I’ll try one then…
saki: Ok, I’ll try saying one then, um… Paw.
hinata: Got it, here’s my right paw!
saki: Alright, o-other paw.
-hinata steps really close-
hinata: Got it, here’s my left paw too! Eheheh, see aren’t I so well behaved? Feel free to praise me lots and lots.
saki: Uwah, u-um… Well done? You’re standing a bit close though, Hinata-san…
-he steps back-
hinata: Ahaha, you’re blushing, how cute. Say, if I were to extend the trial period then I could stay your pet forever and ever. I don’t really understand complicated stuff, but I won’t lose to anyone when it comes to entertaining you. There’d never be a boring day with me.
Also since I’m a doggy I have a good nose ♪. If there’s ever any dangerous people near you I’d sniff them out immediately. I’ll make sure to protect you. Also also, whenever you’re out of energy, just leave it to me! I’ll put on a little hiphop show and dance to make you feel better.
However, keep in mind that I do have one condition. You’re not allowed to dote on anyone but me, I don’t want anyone else taking you away.
-cg
hinata: If I catch you paying too much attention to someone else I’ll growl real loud and eat you up, ok? I’m being serious here y’know? If you can promise me that one thing then I’ll be the bestest doggy in the world for you. This is the kind of selfish doggy I am. I’ll always be right by your side so make sure you give me lots of love in return.
-cg gone
hinata: Eheheh, I wuv you, Miss ♪.
—end
other choice:
>I can’t bring myself to order you around…
saki: Umm, I can’t bring myself to order you around, that’s a bit much…
-hinata steps close-
hinata: What~? No way, could it be that you’re too embarrassed to order me around? That means I’ve troubled my owner… I’m such a bad dog. If you properly scold me then I’ll quickly learn how to be a good boy, I’m obedient after all.
saki: S-scold you!? Um, more importantly, you’re standing way too close Hinata-san!
hinata: The boat ride was so much fun! I already want to ride it again.
saki: Fufu, you talked a lot, Hinata-san.
hinata: So did you, you were super cute, it was the best! Hey, so what should we do next? There's so much here that I want to do with you. Even just taking it easy and walking along the beach like this is fun, since I’m with you.
Oh look at this, I found a seashell. Check it out.
saki: Wow, what a pretty shell. Look there's more over there.
hinata: You're right, they’re so tiny and cute~ Here, put the shell you found next to mine and I’ll take a picture. Hm, maybe it's better to take it while crouching down? Oh, it’d be cute to make them into the shape of a star!
saki: That’s a good idea. I’ll help you make the star shape.
-hinata takes a picture-
hinata: Alright, I got it. There's a good variety of shells in there, like the small ones and the glossy spiral shells. We hit a good balance. ♪ Oh, watch out, you got some sand on your knees, Miss.
saki: Oh, you're right. I was too focused on lining up the shells to notice.
hinata: Ahaha, cute! Let's wash it off in the ocean. Gimme a sec, I’ll put my phone in a waterproof case.
saki: You sure came prepared, Hinata-san.
hinata: I bought it for this trip. I had to be prepared since it's a holiday with you, Miss. Alright, I’m good to go now. Let's head into the water.
-they walk to the water-
hinata: It's cold…! But it feels good~ Hey let's take a picture with the ocean behind us. ♪
saki: Sounds good, let's do it.
hinata: Scooch in closer so you're in frame, Miss. Ok I’m gonna take it, say, vacation’s the best~♪
-they take a photo together-
hinata: Woah, look look! The picture turned out so good! Let's make sure to take heaps of photos while we're here.
saki: Of course! Let's make a ton of memories. Woah, the waves are…
-hinata steadies her-
hinata: Don't worry, I got you. Take my hand.
saki: T-thank you… I almost lost my footing.
hinata: The waves are surprisingly strong aren't they? They're louder than before as well. How strange, even though the ocean is so vast, uhh, how to put it…
saki: Even though it's so vast there's something comforting about it?
hinata: Yeah, that's what I wanted to say– Huh? Look, some sort of shell washed up on the beach just now. It looks like a big one too, let's go back and check it out.
-beach-
hinata: Woah, it really is one huge shell!
saki: It's even bigger than my palm.
hinata: Come to think of it, people say you can hear the ocean in seashells. I wonder if it's true?
-hinata puts the shell to his ear-
hinata: Woah, awesome! It really is the same sound the waves make! You try it too, Miss. Put the shell to your ear.
-
Chapter 2
-beach, day-
hinata: You try it too, Miss. Put the shell to your ear.
-saki closes her eyes and listens-
saki: Ah, it's the sound of the waves. Pretty cool that you can hear them like this.
hinata: You can hear a whooshing sound right? How cool.
saki: (I-I didn't realise he was so close…!)
hinata: This is so nice… Gazing at the same scenery, listening to the same sounds, exclaiming that something is cool together. Like this, one thing after another, we're discussing what we like. When we get to do stuff like this, you're super cute– Yeah, you're super cute, cause you're really beautiful.
saki: I-if you say it like that you're going to make me blush…
hinata: No need to be embarrassed, cause it's true. When we were collecting shells and when we were in the water too, I couldn't take my eyes off you.
It's not like I had any reason to look away from you though. Since I’m here together with the person I want to be with. I’m looking at the person who I always want to see. And I’m listening to the voice of the person who I always want to hear. Right now, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been, so– I want you to have the best time too.
saki: I’m having a ton of fun. We're staying at a lovely hotel in front of such a beautiful ocean… I feel like I’m living in luxury.
hinata: Right? This place is soo fancy. I may never get to come to a place like this again in my life. But, I wonder why. Despite being so happy and indulging in such luxury… I still find myself wanting more of you. I want to be the only one to hear your voice, and the only one to hear the sound of your racing heart.
saki: Hinata-san…
hinata: Wait a sec. Um, my phone… I’ll turn it off for now.
saki: Are you sure it's ok to turn it off? You were taking so many photos.
hinata: Yeah, it's fine. I don't want to look at anything but you. I want to hear your voice.
hinata: When you lie down on the sand like this, the ocean’s so close by. You can hear the waves so clearly… As long as I’m with you, I wouldn't mind staying like this forever. Thanks for tying my hair up by the way, it would've gotten in the way while I’m laying like this. What do you think? Does this hairstyle suit me?
saki: I think it looks nice. It gives you a slightly more mature vibe.
hinata: How strange, when you praise me I can feel my chest gradually getting warmer. I feel even happier and my mind fills with thoughts of nothing but you… I hope you feel the same way. I want your thoughts to be filled with me too. Listen to my voice, and feel my heartbeat. I want you to pay close attention to me, Saki-san.
hinata: (cough) Oh, Miss, you were there. I’m fine, I haven’t got a cold or anything. I was just trying out smoking.
saki: Huh? Oh, cigarettes?
hinata: Yep! I just turned 20 so I figured I’d try it. Cause smoking is something that adults do, right? Mizuki smokes too, so I was curious.
saki: I see, well now that you’ve tried it, what did you think?
hinata: …The smoke stinks, plus it kinda hurt my lungs and didn’t taste good at all. How come when people smoke they make it look like the cigarette tastes real good? I don’t get it at all. I’ve heard that you can easily get addicted to cigarettes, so is that the only reason people do it? If I had the urge to put something in my mouth I’d rather something sweet that actually tastes good like candy.
saki: Fufu, it sounds like smoking isn’t for you, Hinata-san.
hinata: It really isn’t. Smoking has such a cool and mature vibe though, and I’m finally old enough to do it… Oh well, I guess I’ll try something else.
saki: You mean something else that you can try now that you’re 20?
hinata: Yep! Being 20 means that you can legally smoke and drink alcohol, right? Is there anything else?
saki: Hmm… Ah, you could also bet on horse racing and keirin.
hinata: Mm, I think I’ll pass on that, losing my money would suck! It’s strange, I thought that once I got older something major would change about me. Nowadays you’re officially considered an adult at 18, but it used to be different right?
saki: Yeah, it used to be 20.
hinata: So there’s a slight difference between adult age and smoking age huh… Man, it doesn’t feel very special anymore. Sigh, maybe it’s because despite having turned 20 I haven’t actually changed that much…
saki: Hm, I’m sure it’ll feel special again if you’re able to try something else that’s new to you. It’s a big milestone in your life, so is there anything else that you’d like to try?
hinata: Milestone… You're right! Thanks. There is actually one more thing that I wanted to try. Something that’s a staple for when you turn 20. Do you want to join me for it, Miss?
-
Chapter 2 -starless break room-
hinata: Miss, look at this, look at this!
-cg
hinata: Tadaa~ It’s Japanese sake.
saki: Woah, so this is what you wanted to try then?
hinata: Yep. I bought it specially for today and even got it gift wrapped. See? It says ‘Happy 20th Birthday Hinata’ on it.
saki: Fufu, what a special gift indeed.
hinata: Yeah, I’m super stoked about it! I bought us both these as well, what are they called again, sake cups? Once I drink some of this I feel like I’ll be even cooler. Alright, I’ll pour some out… Woah, crap! I spilled it. Ok, let me try a small sip.
-he sips the sake-
hinata: …….. (disgusted face)
saki: What do you think…?
hinata: It tastes like alcohol. I guess you’re not supposed to sip it though. This time I’ll drink it properly. Here goes nothing!
-he drinks the sake-
hinata: …….. (disgusted face)
saki: W-what do you think…?
hinata: I don’t know.
saki: It looks like it didn’t suit your tastes.
hinata: Yeah but, what am I supposed to do now? There’s no way I can drink the rest of the bottle like this. Maybe it’ll taste better if I mix it with some juice? No, but then that would be childish… Man, what am I supposed to do to seem more mature?
saki: What’s your image of a mature person?
hinata: Um well, someone who’s always dressed smartly, is tolerant of other people and always calm and composed. Something like that. That’s what it said on the internet at least. Except it doesn’t seem like I can be like that at all. Smoking and drinking alcohol aren’t as fun as I thought they’d be. I’m 20 and yet I can’t act like an adult at all…
saki: There’s no need to rush things. You already have plenty of your own strengths already.
hinata: My own strengths huh… Thanks, hearing that makes me feel a little better. I suppose it’s ok to just stay the way I am for now. But I still want to become more mature some day, cause I want to make you fall even harder for me, Saki-san. So feel free to love me even more once I have that mature appeal about me.
(note: Throughout this card story Hinata’s name changes colour to show who is talking, him or Azel (his brother). Yellow is used to represent Hinata while purple is used to represent Azel. His speech also changes during these switches, with Azel speaking more formally compared to Hinata’s casual tone.)
-
Chapter 1
-card background-
??? (hinata): Nice to meetcha from 6 feet under. Come now, the clock has just hit midnight, which means it’s time for the curtain to rise on this festival of fun.
Oh? I don’t think I’ve seen your face here before. Are you dead? Or perhaps you’re still alive? If you’re still of the living then I suppose I should greet you with a “Boo!”.
Fufu, I don’t mind either way, you’re most welcome to attend. Welcome to this grand party of the dead that will only last this one night.
-starless hallway-
saki: Hm? Something fell onto the ground here…?
-saki picks up a patchwork plushie-
hinata: Miss! Where did you find that little guy!?
saki: He was just laying on the floor here.
hinata: I see. I misplaced it and was looking for him ever since. Thank you for finding him. I’m sure that little guy is beyond happy to be hugged close by you, Miss. Oh I know, you should come with us too, please!
-starless lobby, full of halloween decorations-
hinata: Feel free to display that little guy wherever you’d like. On top of one of the coffins or below one of the graves. You could even put him with some of the other plushies, wherever is fine.
saki: Uwah, where should I put him? There are a lot of other dolls here that look just like this one.
hinata: Yeah, he has lots of friends. The ‘freaky but cute’ look is cool isn’t it? It’s cause our show is about all of us turning into skeletons and throwing a crazy fun party. So of course the entrance to the store has to look just as exciting!
saki: You’re all skeletons?
hinata: Yep, once the clock strikes midnight, our skeleton leader, Mizuki, will call out to us all to wake up! And then we’ll all emerge from our graves and have a blast! It’ll be a night of nothing but fun and good vibes.
The source for the show is uhh, what was it called again… Dance of Death? Or something like that, that’s what Heath told me.
saki: Dance of Death… That sounds kind of scary, I’m excited to see what it’s like.
hinata: Don’t worry, it’ll be thrilling but heaps of fun! Don’t be scared, don’t be scared ♪.
Oh, I know! I have a good idea. You should become one of our friends, that way it won’t be scary at all. Y’see, us skeletons scare off living humans by shouting “Boo!” at them. But we use a different greeting for our friends, make sure you remember it, ok?
Repeat after me, “Nice to meetcha from 6 feet under”!
saki: Um… Nice to meetcha from 6 feet under!
hinata: You got it, high five!
saki: Uwah, high five…!
hinata: Perfect! With this you’re now a friend of the skeletons, we’re bonesties~♪
saki: Fufu, that’s a cute way of putting it. Thank you.
hinata: Ehehe, I want to enjoy the party with everyone else. Tonight we all feel the same way, we all just want to have a blast! Humans don’t always share the same opinions. What’s fun to one person may not be for everyone else.
hinata: That’s why I’m quite fond of this night, since I know that I won’t be all alone.
saki: Huh? Hinata-san? Just now you—
hinata: Hm? What is it, what is it? Something on my face?
saki: Oh… No, it’s nothing. I’m looking forward to the skeleton party too.
hinata: As you should, this thrilling and fun night belongs to all of us after all. Come rattle and make a racket with the skeletons! Let’s enjoy this crazy festival that lasts for one night together ♪.
-
Chapter 2
-starless stage-
-unbloomed cg
hinata: “Boo! Welcome to the spooky scary skeleton dance party ♪.
Come now, everyone, make your bones rattle and dance! It’s not like there’s anything left in your grave to return to. No sweet candies, cute dolls, or happy memories, nothing.
So that’s why we’ve gotta enjoy the time we have now as skeletons to the fullest! Right up until this night comes to an end.”
-time pass, break room-
saki: Ah, there you are, Hinata-san. The skeleton party was so much fun!
hinata: ……... (frowning)
saki: …Hinata-san?
hinata: What should I do? This skeleton is broken.
saki: What?
-patchwork plushie is shown-
hinata: Even though we’d just been dancing together, it’s so sad.
saki: Oh, by skeleton you mean that doll. It doesn’t look broken to me though?
hinata: His left leg, it just keeps getting looser when I pull on it, like it’s about to rip off. He can’t dance anymore in this state.
saki: Hold on a moment, it’s ok. If we sew the leg that’s come loose back together he’ll be fixed.
hinata: You can fix it?
saki: Yes, once his leg is fixed he’ll be able to dance again.
hinata: Is that so? I thought that he was happy up until now… We danced together, we played together and had so so much fun. I thought that it didn’t matter if our head were to get ripped off, or if a leg were to fall off…
When in reality, I was probably just pretending to have not noticed what was going on. We’ve always been this way, we’re no different from the skeletons.
saki: No different from the skeletons…? It’s true that you’re playing the role of a skeleton right now, but you’re you, Hinata-san. Not a skeleton.
hinata: Thank you. You’re so kind, Miss Saki. However, when the day comes that we break, that’ll be the end for us. And after that, there’s nothing but darkness. That’s why I was satisfied with just knowing that we’d had fun. However, things are different now…
hinata: Miss, your hand is warm, unlike ours.
saki: Ah, um, are you ok, Hinata-san? Your hands are cold, do you want me to get you something to warm up—
-hinata quickly steps closer-
hinata: I don’t need anything so please don’t go anywhere. Don’t break away from me… The night isn’t over yet, right…? Stay with me just a little longer. Until the night comes to an end… please.
-unbloomed cg
hinata: Nice to meetcha from 6 feet under ♪. Is everyone having fun? You haven’t danced enough yet have you? Let’s keep enjoying this non-stop fun!
It doesn’t matter if the moon is starting to yawn. We’ll just party even harder! Make merry, bump into each other, rib bones multiplying or decreasing and getting all mixed up, it doesn’t matter. Just laugh, dance and have a total blast!
hinata: You too, Miss Saki. Enjoy yourself until your heart and mind have gone completely blank.
hinata: Let’s dance, Miss! Will you enjoy this night together with me?
hinata: The painful things, the unpleasant things, the sad things, forget them all and laugh. You’re our friend, one of us. It’s ok… I’ll never leave you all alone.
-
Chapter 3
-starless restaurant area-
hinata: The hall sure is quiet. Even though I knew that you were still here.
saki: It’s because the show is over.
hinata: Yeah. The skeleton’s crazy party was a total blast, it was so much fun. The audience were all a part of it as well, nobody was left behind and we all became skeleton buddies. I was able to high five you and hold your hand too, Miss. I had fun, I was so happy.
saki: I was happy to have a fun party with you too, Hinata-san.
hinata: I’m glad. Because once this fun party is over the sun will come up. The rest of the skeletons have already gone back under the ground. We’re the only one’s left.
saki: Hinata-san…?
hinata: When the time comes I know that I’ll have to go. I understand that, I really do. But, what am I supposed to do? I don’t want to let go of your hand. Once I let go… There’ll be nothing left of us. I don’t want to say goodbye, I don’t want to leave yet.
-graveyard background-
The pitch black sky slowly began to change colour. And before they knew it, the skeletons who had been partying so enthusiastically stopped still in silence. It all happened in the blink of an eye.
See, our friends are disappearing one by one. They’ve returned to their graves, since this party could only last for one single night. As my bones rattle, I turn towards the person I’d laughed and partied with.
Now then, let us say our farewells.
I don’t want to say goodbye.
I must return to my grave.
I don’t want to go yet.
I never ever want to have to say goodbye, but if I have no other choice but to go, then—
You should come over to this side as well.
-starless restaurant area-
hinata: Y’know, Miss. We didn’t have a single thing to call our own from the start. That’s why we yearned for it. We wanted what everyone else had.
We were told we’d die sooner or later, we were told we’d always have a place where we could be together. So that’s why I thought that I needed to enjoy the present as much as I could! And all that time, I never understood what it meant to have to let go of something.
Except, now… I do.
-he starts crying-
hinata: I’m terrified of having to return to that grave on my own. Having to be all alone in that cold and lonely place, I can’t imagine it…
saki: It’s ok, Hinata-san. You’re not alone.
hinata: Really…?
saki: See, I’m holding your hand right now, aren’t I?
hinata: Will you keep holding it like this forever?
saki: Yes, I’ll be right by your side.
hinata: I’m sorry, Miss Saki.
hinata: Even though your hand is so warm…
hinata: Even though I don’t want to let go, you’re different, you're not a doll like us, Miss Saki.
hinata: But even so, I still find myself wishing that we could stay together… I’m sorry,
hinata: I want to truly make you one of our friends. I want to take you with us by force.
hinata: (bursts into tears)
hinata: I’m sorry… I’m so sorry. I know I should but I just can’t let go, I don’t want to let go of your hand.
saki: Hinata-san…
hinata: Morning will be here soon. What should I do? I need to make a decision quick.
saki: Make a decision about what exactly?
hinata: Whether I want to say goodbye forever or be together forever in that cold, lonely place. You told us, remember? That you’ll be right by our side.
hinata: If you were just lying then say so. There’s still time if you admit it right now.
saki: I wouldn’t lie to you, Hinata-san.
hinata: Then please, come with me. Don’t let this night come to an end. Please tell me that you’ll never let go of my hand ever again. I want to hear you say that…
-
Chapter 4
-graveyard background-
corpse F (hinata): …What now? The moon is fading and I can barely see it anymore. Hey, is anybody there? Is anybody still awake? Somebody, anybody, answer me!
-he looks around-
corpse F: Nice to meetcha from 6 feet under! … Nice to meetcha from 6 feet under! Nice to meetcha from 6 feet under!
-he looks around-
corpse F: Everyone’s gone back to their graves… It’s almost as if all of that fun didn’t even happen.
-flashback-
corpse A (mizuki): Boo! You crazy skeletons, let’s go wild! We’re gonna have the best night of our undead lives!
corpse B (lico): We own this place, whoever destroys the most stuff and has the most fun wins, right?
corpse C (heath): Ah, as a skeleton when I kick my leg it feels like it might come apart. It might fall off.
corpse D (ran): Ahaha, what’re you doing, that’s crazy! How about I pull my arm off as well then ★.
corpse E (kongou): Make a racket with those fallen bones! If you have legs then stomp and rattle around! Laugh, dance!
corpse F (hinata): Ahahahaha!
-hinata comes close to the screen-
corpse F: Hey, c’mon, let’s high five! Take my hand and let’s dance—
-graveyard background-
corpse F: …That’s right, there was somebody who held my hand. They were kind and their hand was so warm. We danced to our hearts content and commented on how fun it was while we laughed together…
Just who was that person? Why aren’t they by my side anymore? I can’t remember anything about them. Not their voice nor their face… nothing.
Aargh! I hate it, I hate this! This is too lonely, someone please answer me. Once you go back to your grave it’s over. There’s nothing waiting for you there! Beneath the earth you won’t become a fossil or a gemstone, you’ll just slowly lose both your colour and your form and turn to dust.
If that’s the fate that awaits me, then I’d rather just stay out here. Even if I become a thin, hollow and transparent human, I don’t care. I’ll stay here even if my very bones crumble away once the sun comes up. Even if that happens, I still don’t want to leave….
-black screen-
I don’t need the dawn. I wish that morning would never come.
Returning to my grave beneath the earth all alone would be too cold for me to bear.
Please come back, please stay by my side. And spend this never ending night together with us… please.
….Please.
-drops fall onto the screen-
-graveyard background-
corpse F: I feel something cold. Are these… Tears? Fufu, no, it’s just the morning fog. What am I, stupid? Skeletons obviously can’t cry.
Ah, I wonder if morning will be here soon. If I don’t head back to my grave, then the night will never end. I’ll wait for you here forever and ever.
-bloomed cg, hinata with smudged makeup frowning as he clutches his gravestone-
corpse F: If that person were to come back, would they find me and hold me close? If that were to happen, I’m sure I’d never forget them ever again.
I don’t want to disappear… If I disappear then I’ll never be able to see them again. I hate this… It’s so lonely being on my own…
I’m right here, please find me… Ah, I’m fading along with the moon—
-screen becomes white as morning comes and then turns pitch black-
