"Dancing this Short Summer Night Away with You" Cain SSR Card Story - Visiting the Orchestrion ~ Respite for Cain
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Here's something that happened on a day where the birds outside were singing especially cheerily.
Akira: (It's almost Cain's birthday. I wonder if he'd like to go to the Orchestrion of Respite with me to celebrate.)
I held the magic item that Rustica had given me--the Orchestrion of Respite--and drew my hand across the lid.
It looked like a music box from back home, but if you held it while making a wish for a certain someone to be truly at peace, it would transport both oneself and the wizard in question to a little pocket dimension designed to do exactly that.
Akira: (But if I'm going to do that, I need to make sure I have a solid image of who he is. It's hard to sum him up in just a word, though…mm…)
Owen: Well hello there, Master Sage. Looks like you've got something good there.
Akira: Oh, Owe--waugh! You're all dirty and beat up! Did you get in a fight again…?
Owen: That has nothing to do with you.
Akira: Wah?!
Owen snatched the Orchestrion from my hands and promptly lifted himself up into the air, just out of reach no matter how desperately I tried.
Akira: Um, Owen…!
Owen: If you want me to give this back to you, then I need you to do something for me.
Akira: …Like what?
Owen: This can trap someone inside it, right? So I'm going to put Cerberus and wolves and poisonous insects in it, and you are going to go get Mithra for me.
Isn't the idea of Mithra getting stung by bugs over and over in a place he can't escape from just delectable?
Akira: Are you mad at him right now…? Wait, no, that's not the point. This is supposed to be for letting everyone rest and recover…
Owen: Oh, is that right. Hey, out of nails and eyes and eardrums, which do you like best?
*Akira: Eek…!!
Cain: --Hey, Owen! What are you doing to the Sage?
Akira: Cain!
Cain ran out of the main building and stepped directly between me and Owen.
Owen narrowed his eyes, clearly irritated, and put his fingers on the clasp that kept his trunk locked shut.
Owen: Don't interrupt. Do you want me to ki--
Cain: Yeah, yeah, I don't want to die, et cetera. Instead of worrying about that, check this out: I got crepes.
Akira: (Hello?!?! Owen's on the verge of releasing Cerberus and that's what Cain has to say about it?!)
Owen: …
Crepes?
Cain: Yep, Nero just finished making them. I came out here to ask the Sage if they wanted any, but I guess you can come too, Owen.
Owen: …Are they filled with sweet viscera?
Cain: Viscera… Well, there's no custard cream, but there is whipped cream, fresh fruit, chocolate cream, and that stuff made by boiling apples.
Owen: It's called compote. …Hmph, well, I guess I don't need this after all.
Akira: Huh… Eep! Hey, don't throw it, what if I couldn't catch it and it fell…
Owen: Bye-bye.
Cain: Woah! He vanished… Good grief, he really just does whatever he wants, huh.
Cain shrugged. He looked a little frustrated, but he was still acting casual about it all.
The two of them had a lot of history together, but the fact that things hadn't turned fatal was all thanks to Cain's natural personality.
Akira: (It's sort of like he's saying that he wants them to start over fresh. Even though surely there's parts of that history that stick with him, he's just accepted it and kept moving forward…)
Cain: Let's go eat, too. If we don't hurry, he's going to eat all the sweet stuff before we can have any.
Akira: Ah, okay! Yes!
I followed after him, admiration for his way of life warm in my heart.
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A few days later…
Akira: (I'm getting hungry. I wonder if there's any snacks in the kitchen…hmm? I can smell something tasty from outside…)
Cain: Oh, Master Sage. I haven't seen you since this morning.
Akira: Oh, Cain! Good afternoon.
Cain walked into the hall with a paper bag in his arms, which was perfuming the air with the smell of butter and sugar.
Akira: Did you go shopping?
Cain: Yeah, I had some stuff to do near the marketplace, so I got some financiers to bring back. Want one?
Akira: Yay, thank you!
Cain: Let's go find Riquet and eat with him. He's usually…in the common room with Mitile around this time of day. Hold on, I'll go get them.
…Wait, that's right. I still need to do something about the new one…
Akira: New one what?
Cain: Right, so, I actually ended up buying so much that the shopkeep gave me one of a brand-new flavor as a little bonus.
But there's exactly one of them, so I'm kinda worried about people arguing about who gets to eat it. Arguing over snacks would suck.
Akira: Yeah, I get it. Well, since you were the one who bought them, I think you should--
But right as I started to say that, my stomach decided to make its irritation with its emptiness known and cut me off with a very embarrassing growl.
Akira: (I… I'm so embarrassed!! That was as loud as Oz's thunderstorms…!)
Cain: Ahaha! Sounds like you're feeling lively.
Akira: I--I'm so sorry!
Cain: What are you apologizing for? Here, say ahh.
Akira: Huh? Ahh…mmph!
I just opened my mouth without really thinking about it, and Cain pulled a financier out of the bag and popped it into my mouth.
I snapped my mouth shut in surprise, biting into the sweet treat, and taste of butter filled my mouth.
Akira: Munch munch… That was so good!
Cain: Right? That was the new one. It was made with seasonal fruits. Pretty decadent, huh?
Akira: Huh?! I can't believe you gave me something so valuable just because my belly rumbled…
Cain: You don't need to get all worked up about it. If anything, it's good that I got to give it to you before anyone else got one. Now no one's gonna argue over who gets to have it.
Everyone else will have the chance to go out and get one of their own, anyways. …Oh, Akira, hold on a second.
Cain brought his hand up to my cheek, an airy, careless gesture.
The look of care in his eyes as he drew near, the feeling of the pad of his thumb brushing over my lips… It was hard to describe how they made me feel.
Cain: Haha. You had some crumbs on your mouth.
Akira: I…I'm sorry. Thank you.
Cain: What's your face getting all red for? Embarrassed?
Cain smiled his ever-charming smile. I felt the warmth of the summer sun blooming in my chest.
Akira: (Cain's kind, carefree nature is something I've been relying on since the very first day I arrived here.)
(Ah… Yes, that's it.)
Um, Cain, your birthday's coming up soon, right?
Cain: Oh, yeah. Something up?
Akira: The thing is, I…wanted to take you to the Orchestrion of Respite as a thank-you for everything you do. Would that be okay?
Cain: Of course, I'd be happy to go! Arthur told me about it a while back and I've been kinda interested ever since.
I'll be looking forward to it, Master Sage.
Akira: …! Of course!
And I meant it with all my heart. I smiled and walked with an extra spring in my step--that day couldn't come soon enough.
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And finally, it was Cain's birthday.
Akira: Are you ready?
Cain: Yep.
Cain nodded, clad in the outfit that Chloe had made especially for today. It made him look a little more classy…a little more formal than usual.
Akira: (Alright…)
(I wish for Cain, so compassionate as to let bygones be bygones, so kind as to shine light into the hearts of others, to feel the same peace he grants to others.)
I squeezed my eyes shut and directed all the emotions in my heart into the music box in my hands. And then, the lid silently opened…
On the stage within, a little doll that looked just like Cain began to dance, pirouetting in place.
It took only moments before I could hear the sound of music, at first gentle, like a far off wave lapping against the metaphorical shore we stood upon--
And then, a dazzling light embraced us.
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Cain: So this is the Orchestrion of Respite… All the greenery smells great. This is a nice place.
The light dimmed, and we found ourselves in a wondrous location. Transparent instruments, as though they were soap bubbles or made of glass, floated jubilantly through the air as sunlight filtered through the leaves above, gently illuminating the area.
Cain: What song is this? Obviously I can't see them, but is there an orchestra here, too?
Akira: Nope! It's all part of the magic, or so I was told. It's set up so that the person invited inside has a perfectly fitting song playing for them!
Cain: I see. Well, just standing here listening to it is making me want to gallivanting around in armor, so I'd say I like it. It's a good song.
Akira: I'm so happy to hear that. Alright, now come this way.
His smile had put a spring in my step, so I got there before he did. It didn't take long for him to join me at the edge of a small plaza that had low tables around the edges.
Cain: Freshly fried bacon, alcohol, juice… Were you the one who came up with all this?
Akira: Yes. I figured that knowing you, you'd want this to be a place where you could dance, so…here's a wide-open space to dance in, and snacks and stuff for when you want to rest.
Cain: Haha. You know me so well.
Well then, let me take you up on that. Shall we dance, Akira?
Akira: Yes!
I nodded eagerly, and with one hand Cain took one of mine, and the other he placed on the small of my back.
His mismatched eyes sparkled with hidden mischief.
Akira: Wahh…!
Cain: My fair Akira. Have you had the chance to dance a waltz before?
Akira: U--umm, I wouldn't say I'm good at it, but I know the basic steps, at least…
Cain: I couldn't ask for more. We're all alone here--let's dance however we want together.
Now, let us take to the floor.
Keeping his hand on my back, Cain led me out into the clearing--a knight escorting his partner.
At first it felt like we were just walking together, but soon enough I realized that I'd completely fallen in step with Cain. We were dancing together.
I let myself get lost in his lead, laughing happily as we danced and twirled. All of my anxiety about if I could dance well had evaporated.
Akira: Happy birthday, Cain.
And also, thank you for everything. You've been looking after me ever since the day I first arrived in this world.
Cain: Hey now, I should be the one thanking you. Thank you for keeping all of us together.
I feel like if the new Sage was anyone but you, the twenty-two of us wouldn't all be living together in the manor the way we are now.
Even if we did still end up living together, if it was because we were ordered to, or because someone was forcing us…we definitely wouldn't have the life together that we have now.
Akira: Th-that's giving me too much credit…
Or so I said, but Cain looked directly into my eyes.
Cain: It's because you're you, Akira. It's because of your kindness, your sincerity, and your fair and impartial judgment that all of us are together the way we are now.
Certainly, unpleasant things have happened, and there have been times when I've just had to grin and bear it. But we've been able to talk things out, argue constructively, and the next day we all still want to stay here, together.
You're an amazing person.
Akira: …I…
I didn't even know what to say. I just bashfully looked down at the stones under our feet. The weight of these words, coming from the person who had always been at my side…was so gentle that I wanted to cry.
Today was his birthday, but I was the one who was being celebrated.
Cain: Getting to have you all to myself today has made this the best birthday I've ever had. Thank you for giving me such a luxury.
Akira: …I need to thank you too, for letting me spend today with you when everyone else loves you, too.
My chest burned with the heat of how grateful I was to have this irreplaceable moment with him--so I said the magic words one more time.
Akira: Happy birthday, Cain.
Training Episode: Until the Day I Pull the Cork
Akira: Good morning, Cain!
Cain: Oh, Master Sage. Good morning.
Thanks for yesterday. Our party in the Orchestrion was tons of fun.
Akira: Oh no, thank you! It was your birthday, but I ended up feeling like I was being celebrated right alongside you.
Right, speaking of, after the party everyone else from Central Country gave you a present, right?
Cain: Yeah, a bottle of liquor I really like. Apparently Oz remembered me saying how much I liked it every time I had the chance to drink it in Shylock's bar.
Arthur was the one who actually acquired it, and Riquet made some prayers over it.
Akira: It's a present that has all their feelings wrapped up in it! The flavor must be extra special now.
Cain: Well actually, I haven't drank it yet. I know I'd just down the whole thing in one go, so I'm exercising my self-control instead.
Akira: Ahaha, I get you. I think keeping good care of it until you feel like the time is right is good, too.
Cain: Oh, I know. Maybe I'll put it up on display in my room with my memories of yesterday…
Maybe I'll wait to open it 'til Riquet's had his first taste of alcohol.
Akira: Oh…! That sounds like a lovely idea!
Cain: Right? We could turn it into a whole thing and have an uncorking party with everyone under a big banner or something!
Akira: In that case, I'll have to make some extra special snacks for the occasion. If you don't mind me joining in, of course!
Cain: Of course you can! Ahaha, even though it's gonna be a long wait from now 'til then!
"The Young Wolf's Eyes Stay Fixed on the Dawn" Cain SSR Card Story - The Greatest Blessing
OF NOTE: There is a little popup before this card story saying it contains spoilers for the associated event, so watch out! (I haven't read the event either yet, so there's a non-zero chance this translation is getting updated once I have!)
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Cain: So this is where the Wandering Lamentation's…where Renard's remains were found?
Arthur: Yes, where those flowers are. It's an offering.
Now that the Wandering Lamentation's curse had subsided, Cain, Arthur, and I ventured into the forest outside the crumbling city walls.
Akira: (We came out here thinking we could find a memento of Rhody's brother for him, but…)
Cain: The grass is so thick it's hard to see anything. Let me try using magic to look for it.
Arthur: Yes, please do.
Cain: <Gladius Procella>
…I think I can feel something from over there. Let's move, guys.
Akira: Okay!
Arthur: Yes, let's!
✦✧☾✧✦
Cain: I felt something right around here. I'm pretty sure it wasn't underground, but on the surface…
Arthur: …Oh! Cain, Master Sage, look over there. There's something stuck in the trunk of that tree.
Akira: Oh, there is! It's…what is that? It looks like a rusty metal pole or something…?
Cain: It's a dagger. It looks like it's a matching set with the sword Renard's ghost was weilding.
Akira: A dagger? I wonder why it's stuck in a tree…ah…
Arthur: …I imagine he also drew that dagger while under attack. It must have been thrown from his hand during the battle.
Cain: Yeah… I think I can pull it out with my magic, so lemme give it a shot.
Cain extended his hand in the direction of the dagger.
As if that gesture were one of invitation, the dagger plucked itself from the tree trunk and floated through the air before carefully lowering itself into his palm.
Cain: …And done.
Akira: Thank you!
Arthur: My… Now that I've gotten a better look at it, this rust is a touch extreme, isn't it.
Akira: It really is… Maybe we could clean it up a little bit before taking it back to Rhody? It's not like I know much about blade maintenance, but maybe we could wash it or something…?
Cain: Not washing it, but giving it some proper attention. I do know my way around how to take care of a blade for everyday use.
Mind letting me try my hand at it once we get back to town?
Akira: Of course! Please do, Cain.
✦✧☾✧✦
Arthur: Here's some water, Cain.
Akira: I brought a bunch of thin rags, too. Is this enough?
Cain: Perfect. Thanks, both of you.
After we explained the situation, the tavern master gladly lent us a table to use to use.
There was a couple small bottles and a whetstone sitting lined up on top of a table sized for four people to sit around.
Cain: Alright. Time to take a crack at this.
Cain began his work with a careful and conscientious hand.
He used a powder, stone, and oil, none of which I knew the proper names of, spreading the powder and oil on the blade and then scraping it off, sharpening the edge, over and over.
At first it didn't seem like he was having any effect on the rust that pitted the blade, but soon enough, I started to see it begin to flake away.
Akira: Oh…! Right here you've totally taken off the rust! I can see the color of the metal again!
Arthur: It's true! Thank goodness…! Wonderful work as always, Cain.
Cain: Thanks. I had the ins and outs of the proper technique drilled into me all the way back when I was still a page in the Knights.
Alright, let's do one last round of sharpening and polish it with oil, aaaand…
Here, what do you think? I cleaned it up pretty well, yeah?
Arthur: Oh my…! Amazing, it looks brand-new!
Akira: It's sparkling! …And…
(…The blade is a lot smaller than I thought it would be…)
Perhaps it was simply the natural result of removing the rust, but it was a lot easier to see how small it was now that I took another close look at it.
It was about the size that a little kid could comfortably grasp it--definitely not something that looked like it could stand up to the cruelty of the people who had attacked Renard in the first place.
Arthur: …He was a very brave boy. So brave as to warrant one of his opponents knocking this blade so far out of his hand it got stuck up a tree.
Akira: But he still turned into a monster, lingering for more than a decade…
My chest ached as I stared at the stone floor underfoot.
But as my gaze lowered, Cain raised his head, holding the dagger up. I saw him squint his eyes a bit, as if he were looking at something dazzlingly bright.
Cain: …This might sound kinda weird, but…
I admire Renard, up to and including the fact that he turned into a monster.
Akira: You…do?
Cain: Yep. He unflinchingly faced up to opponents much stronger than him, putting his life on the line for the person most important to him.
And when he died and became a monster, he still wanted nothing more than for that person--his little brother--to be safe.
Neither of those are the kind of thing the average guy off the street could do.
Cain smiled at the dagger in his hand. His expression was equal parts admiring and mournful.
Cain: Renard was a wonderful knight, even if he didn't have the title of one.
Arthur: …Yes. You're absolutely right.
As wonderful a knight as you are today, Cain--the greatest in all the country.
Cain: …!
✦✧☾✧✦
Cain: …Thank you for the kind words, Prince Arthur.
Arthur: Please don't try to brush it off like that. I'm only speaking the truth.
Cain: But I mean, your words deserve that kind of humility. Because to me…no, to every single knight in the country, they're the greatest blessing you could bestow.
I am so grateful that even though I'm no longer part of the order, even though my title has been stripped away, I can still be your knight.
Cain fell to one knee in a proud and reverent bow.
I thought that Arthur would tell him to rise, the way he always did, but not this time.
Instead, he put a kind hand on Cain's shoulder.
This sight, within a tavern that still held the lingering scent of violence and fear and suffering, was that of a sun-dappled painting on a museum wall.
Cain: …
Cain said nothing, but offered the dagger up to Arthur.
And Arthur, already knowing what he had to do, accepted it.
Arthur: …O, brave knight. Your efforts have protected the life of a single one of my countrymen.
I thank you. Please, rest peacefully.
The dagger's blade caught the light streaming through a window. It was radiant.
Cain spread a clean piece of cloth and carefully took the blade back from Arthur.
Cain: …And now we're done. I'll hold onto this until everything finishes settling down and we can take this to Rhody.
Arthur: Of course. I'm sure Renard would be most pleased with you of all people carrying it.
Akira: I agree. Cain's like a brother-in-arms for him, after all.
Cain: Yeah.
Cain nodded, preparing to wrap the dagger in the fabric, abruptly snapped his head back up.
He looked at Arthur…and then, at me.
And then he looked down at the blade again, carefully wrapping it up.
I heard the murmuring of a prayer being folded into the package in his hands.
Cain: Even if your body has turned to ash. Even if you're nothing more than the soul that's left behind.
May you always stay at the side of the one you wish to protect…
I could've sworn I saw a flicker of light on the dagger's blade as he spoke.
It was, perhaps, a nod of agreement from someone just as strong of heart, as proud and unyielding.
Training Episode - The Journey to Joining
Akira: Are there a lot of people who travel to one of the Knights' forts to become one?
Cain: Yep. There were a couple of my seniors who'd done exactly that, actually.
When I was still a brat, I'd go around begging them to tell me what their journeys were like. I sure heard a bunch of wild stories from that.
Akira: Woah! Like what?
Cain: Like how they took down a bear bigger than a house, or how they got attacked while making camp, that kind of thing. The ones about turning the tables on someone who tried to rob them in the night got me every time.
Akira: Huh?! That makes it sound like you'd need more lives than a cat just to become a knight in the first place!
Cain: I mean, I'm pretty sure most of them were bullshit. They were usually drunk when telling them, and when they sobered up, they acted like they didn't know what I was talking about when I asked.
Akira: (Wow, that's all it takes to make my belief crumble…)
Cain: But no matter what kind of journey they took, they were still so dead-set on becoming a knight that they made that journey in the first place.
They were all strong enough to make me think, hey, maybe they really did go through all the crazy stuff they told me about. I hated losing to them, though.
Akira: Woah, and that's coming from the Town of Glory's number one shining star. It's unbelievable to think that you ever lost…
Cain: Ahaha! Of course I did. Losing just made me even stronger. Strong enough to beat 'em all the next time I challenged them.
If I can beat guys who took down bears the sizes of houses or monsters of bandits in the night, then…doesn't that also sound like a path to strength?
Cain: (He sounds exactly like the protagonist of a sports manga! So cool…!)
I’m looking for shares for「SOARA The Movie 2 - “I will - Kimi ga Mirai wo Aruku toki”」Blu-ray. People who buy the share will be sent a link to download video rips of the movie on Google Drive, along with booklet scans in 600dpi.
Please DM me a message to sign up on Twitter (as I rarely online on Tumblr these days).
The total amount related to the Bluray (product & shipping) is divided equally to participants.
Hello~! I’m so excited to finally share the subtitles for SQS6~!
Machine Elements has been one of my more favorite TsukiPro AGF themes, so it was definitely an easy decision to work on this one!
It’s been a real passion project for me for sure, but I loved every step of the way~!
The play was really good, the plot and the added information to the original lore was also very amazing! I hope that you all enjoy it, too~!
I’ve got more subtitles, mostly passion projects like MoriMyu 2, and a few other things, on queue as well, so please do look forward to them, too~! ＼(≧▽≦)／
For those who want a refresher on the Machine Elements lore, @ryuukia and I have worked on the pamphlet. Please feel free to check them all out HERE ^^
BD is still available to order here (Movic - proxy required) and here (CDJapan) for those who want their own physical copy! ^^
Some notes, usual rules, guidelines under the cut, enjoy~! °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°
KAI: Hello~! There were so many rainy days this week! Every day I fight the urge to play in the puddle. Now then, let's start the 'Kai-chan Radio' today~! The theme is "About driving a car"!
KAI: I think this theme was chosen because "a talent that can drive" is unusual even in Tsukipro. I do sometimes talk about picking up and dropping off everyone.
Some people might not know, but even if talents have a license, they're basically not allowed to drive a car!
KAI: Because of the type of work we do, where we're the face for many companies and products, getting into an accident would be terrible. A lot of us are paper drivers because of that. Well, it can't be helped (laughs). If we're given permission, then everyone will do their best to regain our skills.
Paper Drivers = someone with a driver's license that doesn't own a car and does not drive.
KAI: In my case, before I was an idol, I was a jack-of-all-trades. Do you know what's the most common job for a jack-of-all-trades? Changing store locations, preparations for a new store opening and handling heavy baggage. In order words, driving feels like an essentiality! So, I drove like crazy and ended up enjoying driving~
KAI: But then, my debuting was decided and I couldn't drive according to the rules... how many years was it? One day, I appealed to my manager, Kurotsuki-san.
"I want to drive a car!! I'll be able to pick and drop people off too!!"
With both Gravi and Procella, there are 12 of us and so, sometimes the picking up and dropping off location isn't just one place.
KAI: Though it's no longer the case now, but back then, Kurotsuki-san was a novice too (laughs). So, he took my side and trained me well.
...Oh right! Kurotsuki-san is a former SP. SP, a.k.a Security Police, a.k.a, bodyguard of an important person who received special driving training!!
KAI: He taught me how to turn the steering wheel when it is dangerous, and what to do in case of emergency. Pure driving skills. So, I was trained by Kurotsuki-san, got his approval, persuaded the office, and finally I was allowed to drive. But, even when I'm off work, I still don't end up sitting in the passenger seat. There, I said it.
KAI: When I'm off work.. I'd still end up driving (laughs). Ah, but, I'll let you all know that even when I'm relaxed, I don't forget that the lives of your favorite idols are in my hands. I drive extremely safely!
Recently, I went on a drive with Kensuke of Growth & Futaba of VAZZY~♪
If you'd like to read the translation of these three on a drive, then you can find it here~!
KAI: I like driving. I feel like I can go anywhere with it! I want to drive overseas in the future, so I'd like to get an international license!
That's all for the story about driving a car by Fuduki Kai! Enjoy the rain and have a nice weekend!
#Kai-chan Radio
✧If you like my work, then please consider supporting me here. Thank you~!
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