Prologue: From The Summer of 2006

Kyouya Hashiba, 28 Years Old and Single.

It was the fall of 2016 when the eroge game company he

worked for went bankrupt following the disappearance of his
boss.

Feeling lost with his dreams as a creator broken he

decided to go packing back to his parent's home. Happily
passing his unemployed days as an official NEET without
doing anything special... At least that's how my character
profile was supposed to go.

However due to the great whims of fate, I time slipped 10

years back to the past.

Before making heads or tails of my situation I had to

make a decision.

—Choosing the college my 18 year old self would

attend.

A run-of-the-mill university I technically already am a

graduate of or an arts university that I yearned for but didn't
choose. It's not even a question on which one I would choose
given the chance.

And also at this very university — 『 Geidai 』 , a fateful

encounter will commence.

A meeting with the same 『 Platinum Era 』 creators I

admired from the world ten years into the future. sparklingly
bright, unique, fun and explosive life with them...
 Its opening act has now begun—

***

Wakayama Prefecture, Shirahama Town.

We came to this town which is one of the best beaches in

the Kansai region.

Normally it should have been a fun university-like event,

swimming with your friends and whatnot.

"Mmhh... I can't eat no more... But I want to eat with

everyone..."

A blue towel is laid on top of the white sand next to me,

and going further top of that, is a girl lying like a ball of
sweat.

Her name is Aki Shino aka Shinoaki pronounced as Shi-

no A-ki.

The one-piece swimsuit looks great on her small figure

although it deliberately puts a big emphasis on her breasts at
the chest area.

"I want to touch it..."

Every time she moves it bounces like a rubber ball, It was

tense rather than being soft as suitable for her age.

It's tensely elastic all over, I want to personally experience

pressing it and seeing it go all the way back to its original
shape again and again. So damn much.

I am a 100% sure that stroking it with the palm of

someone's hand would send one knocking on the gates of
heaven. I'm sure that caressing it with both hands would feel
like the numbness you get when shocked by a battery by
touching it with wet hands.....

——Ah. what the heck are you thinking about, me?

I shake my head to drive away my earthly desires.

*tap tap* I proceed to tap on the delicate skin like

handling a child.

"Oii Shinoaki, sleeping is a no go. You'll get a sunstroke

you know."

Shinoaki's mouth continuously opened and closed

muttering incomprehensibly along with it. Eventually she
slowly opens her eyes.

"Mrhmrm....? If it ain't Kyouya-kun. Is mealtime already

over?"

What's with that half-sleeping face, It's sooo adorable.

"Right now we're just standing-by for the shooting. All of

us had a meal together just a while ago, everyone ate squid
and taiyaki."

"Is that so?"

"That's right. That's why you should properly eat too. So

get up quickly Shinoaki."

A good opportunity comes so I pinch her cheeks with both

hands.

There was a fresh and fluffy feeling that you wouldn't

think came from someone that was born only 18 years ago.
 "Ah, Oh yeah that's right. Are they already done over
there?"

Shinoaki looks up over at me while rubbing her eyes.

"Nope, they are still at it."

"It's incredible huh~ Both of them have such a high will-

power~"

*fuwaa* She did a yawn and got up and did a good

stretch.

"Uwah..."

Shinoaki's swimsuit has large notches on the side and

there's not enough cloth to cover the chest so that's why
when she stretches it looks like her chests are about to spill
out in reaction..... *fuwa* It shakes again.

I've always been a true believer that the combination of

this childlike innocence and these chests is a huge foul play.
Blood would be shed over this if this was ever revealed to the
world.

"S-Shinoaki look at the camera look at it look at it."

Don't expose that ticking time bomb of a body anymore

than this.

"Ah~ that's right the camera is important~"

Shinoaki pulls a large camera that was set aside and looks
into the viewfinder.

"Then I'll start preparing. Kyouya-kun I'll count on you

over on that side ok~"
 She firmly grasps the camera with both hands and pans it
from left to right.

No matter how you look at it, her body is too small

compared to the camera she's lugging around.

—This kid is going to be Japan's leading illustrator in 10

year's time.

Akishima Shino, a creator that I absolutely admire.

Her Hakata dialect is spoken in a cute and gentle, but her

body is literal poison even if she is just a small girl.

In the previous semester we were tasked to film a 3

minute short. We managed to finish filming it after various
mishaps but what was waiting for us was forming up another
team and a new task involving filming a 5 min short story.

The length was extended by 2 min and the period is 2

months shorter than the previous term.

Under these harsh condition we tackled it under a new

team but...

"—It doesn't make any sense!"

"—What do you mean it doesn't make any sense!?"

There was a man and woman arguing reflected on

Shinoaki's camera lens.

They say that quarrelling with each other is a common

event between fellow students. The majority of it is tinted
with the color of a love affair.
 But the fight happening here are for all intents and
purposes not that kind of cute thing.

"Don't you get it!? There absolutely needs to be a

dialogue here! All the feelings that were bottled up needs to
be said properly! That's what makes the silence up to this
point shine through!"

"You're the one that doesn't get it! There absolutely

doesn't need to be dialogue here! Not speaking is exactly
why all the emotions that were steadily being bottled up at
that point culminating with a momentary hesitation and
then a smile with 『Yeah.』 would have more impact don't
you see!"

"Hey, both of you leave that quarrelling aside for now."

I broke in between the two people who were far against

each other on the opposite sides of the spectrum that you'd
think they were generating their own magnetic field

"Listen to this Kyouya!"

The guy was the first one to appeal to me.

He had sanpaku eyes and a tall and slender build with a

rock-solid resolve is the who was in charge of the script,
Tsurayuki Rokuounji.

I wonder if this is a result of manual labor due to his part

time? The muscular body covered in his swimming trunks
was dyed in a light brown tan.

"This girl has been spouting off that she wants to cut off
the best lines on the intricately crafted scenes, replacing it by
ending it all off with a close-up on the face. How can you
convey anything with that sort of thing, how can anyone be
persuaded with that?"

"Do you even know what you're saying? I'll never forgive
that kind of garrulous climax!"

This time it was the woman who turned to face me.

The one with the soft and long tied up hair and possessing
an iron-clad will, was the Director Eiko Kawasegawa.

Perhaps because she perfectly takes care of her skin, but

even while having a deep conversation for a long period of
time under the scorching heat of the sun has no effect on her
white skin. Her long, slender legs with gloss like porcelain
peeks out from the pareo wrapped around her waist.

Even if you were to risk getting kicked to death, It was

worth it to get close and check the fine details. Overall she
gives off an adult-like aura looking more like an office
worker rather than a student.

"Hashiba, he has no understanding of the video at all. Can

you put this wanna-be writer in his place. Loosely adding
dialogue at the drop of the hat. It has no sense of emotional
depth to it at all!"

But once she opens her mouth, the sense of adult-like

coolness is nowhere to be found. Truly a shame.

"I've already explained the reason for the silence so far! So

at the very least the lines should be allowed until the
conclusion!"

"Although we still have savings up to this point, but we

can't just blow all of it on the end. This is not a child's pocket
money you know, this is a movie production!"
 "...Well I understand both of your points but do a little
compromise, understanding one another, is what I'm getting
at."

"Not a chance!"

"No way!"

My do-or-die mediation for them to make up has been

rejected. Why can't this just go on smoothly!?

Tsurayuki has an intense attachment and confidence in

his writings.

Kawasagawa has a strong passion and confidence in her

knowledge and theory on movies.

This new team organized by Sensei was like mixing oil

and water. I don't know what she was thinking when she did
this, but I knew this was going to happen.

Hopefully we can make something amazing but with

everything in this condition, this production is filled to the
brim with holes.

"Ok, I understand. I'll give you 5 more minutes, so

somehow decide on something then."

For the time being I present them with an overtime then I

left the two's side.

Well truth be told I want for them to discuss as much as

they want, but we're limited by time after all. And it's my
important job to inform them.

The team this time, 『Team Kitayama Reformed』 has 6

members
 Director: Eiko Kawasegawa

Production Manager: Kyouya Hashiba

Scriptwriter: Tsurayuki Rokuonji

Cameraman: Shino Aki

And also—

"Sorry for the wait. Shooting will resume soon."

A girl is sitting leisurely under the shadow of a beach

parasol. By the side of said girl is a huge guy is fanning her
with a large fan.

Compared to the tension filled production and

screenwriting this place was a little more laid-back.

She is the starring role of this work, Nanako Kogure, or

just Nanako for short, and the assistant director Genkiro
Hikawa.

"Well how'd it go? Have those guys made up yet?"

The gigantic boy, Genkiro Hikawa went near me and

asked.

He is higher and more built than Tsurayuki. What's more

he's wearing bikini pants in a style that seems to be
gathering attention, and for some reason he's not getting
sunburnt at all.

But contrary to his physique he had a worried look.

"The both of them making up... Seems to be a lost cause."

 "Uwehh seriously? It's war then! The just have to beat
each other up till one is left standing."

Hikawa is the type that specializes in talking with his fists,

the image of fighting equally in hand to hand combat can't
be separated from him.

"But I believe that they can make a compromise

somewhere, I'm sure the two of them are thinking about
that."

"I see! As expected of Hashiba, you understand them very

well."

Hikawa nods in admiration.

It's a case of 『Whatever they are thinking of they want.』

Each of their egos is just too big....

I then walk up towards the girl being cooled down by a

fan.

"Nanako you've memorized the lines already right?

Unfortunately we still don't know whether to cut out the
lines or not though."

Nanako is the sole owner of the actor position in this set.

Being worried, I asked her. She then breaks into a grin.

"Leave – it – to – me! Even though I look like this I've

been properly reading the script since yesterday."

She gestures with a V sign signifying that there's nothing

to worry about.
 "Thank goodness. As expected of you Nanako."

"As you absolutely should. An actress puts everything she

has into the it."

She deliberately raised up her nose and removed her

sunglasses

The bikini style colorful swimwear fits perfectly with her

clear-cut features and chapatsu hair. A good sense of style
coupled with the looks of the person herself makes her look
like a bona fide actress.

——But well Nanako's body is...

The volume of her breasts far surpasses Shinoaki and it's

constricted tightly.

The line from her waist downward is also firm and excites
ones urges.

She was swimming until just a while ago so droplets of

water and particles of sand were dotted all over her adds
another layer of eroticness.

While Shinoaki's body gave of a strong 『I want to touch

it. 』 kind of feeling, Nanako's on the other hand emitted a
feeling of 『 I want to massage it. 』 all over her with the
palm of my hands. I want to enjoy that softness with both of
my hands.

——It's really dangerous... Why is there nothing else but

dangerous goods here...

On the outside I may look like I'm 18 years old but on the
inside I'm really 28 years old.
 It's about the time where you won't have any contacts
with young girls. Moreover this body is of an 18 year old. For
me, this paradise is too poisonous. With both the sense of
sight and smell coupled with the tactile feedback to, I want
to go on full blast it is because I am in word that far exceeds
VR.

"What is it Kyouya? Do you need anything else?"

Nanako looked at me with questioning eyes, so I hurriedly

looked away.

"N-no! T-T-T-There's no problem at all, I'll go observe

Tsurayuki and the others for a moment!"

I shake my head again to reset my heated up thoughts, I

then headed for Tsurayuki and the others.

"So have you come to a conclusion?"

When asked Kawasegawa nodded with a big "YES." while

Tsurayuki answered with a "Yeah." with a dissatisfied look.

"The lines will be left as is, however there are a lot

possibilities for it to be cut out when editing, is what she
said."

"Obviously? But just cutting parts of the screenplay

already puts me in doubt on my ability as a director."

"Look here! We've already reached an agreement once, so

don't say anything extra! If you just kept it silent we
wouldn't even need to argue here!"

"Even if I keep silent now we would just argue later.

Anyways let's just get ready to start then."
 Kawasegawa turned around and was about to start
filming.

"Oi, we're not finished talking here—"

Tsurayuki reached out to stop her and tried to grab her

shoulder for her to turn around... but what he grabbed was—

"—Ah."

"Uweeh."

"Eh?"

Not believing in what they saw. Three voices from three

people came out.

"K-KyaaaAA!!?"

An unexpectedly cute cry echoed out onto the beach.

Tsurayuki's hands landed on Kawasegawa's neck and at

that place there was a swimsuit knot. Perhaps due to it was
easy to untie due to it being dry after long exposure under
the sun or maybe because Kawasegawa was unexpectedly
clumsy and didn't properly tie it. For whatever reason the
fact of the matter remains.

"Y-You're... disgusting!!"
 *Slap* The sound of Tsurayuki's cheek resounds.

Kawasegawa's face is a bright red. Her modest chest was

exposed.

"Y-Y-Y-You do you usually do this kind of thing!? Taking

off clothes just because you lost in a discussion, your
cowardice has no limits!"

Kawasegawa appealed with teary eyes while desperately

guarding herself with both hands. To be honest it was
extremely erotic.

"I swear it wasn't intentional! I was just trying to get your

attention you see!"

"Shut up! Just stop it right there, get out of my sight!"

Kawasegawa had a child-like tone and kicked Tsurayuki

into the sand to drive him away. After that she looked over
in my direction.

"What's with your 'I saw something rare' kind of face!"

"And as I keep saying why do you always seem to know

my exact feelings!?"

"It's cause your face can be easily read! Fine then Hashiba
go over there too!"

—With a grunt I met face to face with the sand.

***

"W-Well we should just prepare for the time being ok!"

 Kawasegawa then came back with the swimsuit string tied
tightly and were finally able to discuss about the start of
filming.

"W-Well then should we resume filming?

"...Eh, got it."

I check over the plan with the girl who has scornful eyes.

"Would you like to do this in order?"

Chronological recording is a method of filming in the

order in which they are cut.

(Note: Could not find the correct English counter part the
kanji for It is read as sequence recording but the closest
term I can find is chronological recording but that is a term
used for the film as a whole if it was filmed in order.)

"Yeah, we wouldn't want to stop the flow of emotions

here."

"Should we interject with rehearsals or should we do a

sudden take?

"Let's roll the shot once for now, I want to incorporate the
freshness of the first take."

With a nod I loudly inform the others.

"Ok then. The shooting will immediately start once

everyone is ready."

I call out to the other staff to start the preparations.

"Okay!"
 Nanako got up quickly and wears a costume on top of her
swimsuit

"The camera is ready to go~"

"The Exposure is A-OK!"

Hikawa shouts out, holding a small light meter in his large

hands

"The sound is okay! We can start immediately!"

Tsurayuki,who is also in charge of sound, raised his voice

with a boom mic in his hand.

I nodded and then,

"Okay, scene 10, cut 8, production is a go!"

The numbers were written on the clapperboard and set up

in front of the camera.

I make eye contact to tell that the preparations are OK, I

confirm Kawasegawa's nod.

"—Annnd Action!"

The dry sound of the clapperboard reverberates and the

red lamp on the camera turns on. A comfortable air of
tension ran through.

There are college students, the sea, swimsuits, filled with

resort themed items but we were plainly,with little
movement, shooting a film.

However this scene is a daily life of the students from the

Film Department of Geidai.
 ***

What does It mean to create something?

Re-entering university, I came to a place called Geidai and

bumped into that question many times.

Even in a field where I'm involved in creating things I find

myself asking that same question to myself all the time but
in the end I don't get any answers.

But asking yourself and answering, the trial and error is

really interesting.

With there being no correct answers for the problems

while being challenged again and again.

There is a chance but I have got no proof just yet but I

have started to wonder if this is what being a "Creator" is
like.

Kyouya Hashiba, 18 years old, 1st year student at

DaiGeidai

As the summer sun shines, even though the sweat is

flowing from my forehead it is still extremely hot. If you
aren't careful your mind will go crazy even if is paradise, in
these fun and lively days.

The summer of 2006 was at the peak of its excitement.

 Chapter 01: The Strongest Team, On Paper

The filming continued on until evening.

The scene that was Tsurayuki and Kawasegawa's point of

argument earlier became a never ending back and forth
between them. So even after the filming was over we still
had to a lot of trial and error.

"Rather than putting the refreshing sandy beach and the

blue sky as the background I do think it's better for to agree
with the backlit scene illuminated by the setting sun."

Dir. Kawasegawa was satisfied with Tsurayuki's proposal.

Corresponding in places like on the spot policies just like

this is also one of my roles as a producer.

Obtaining an extension of approval from the actor-san

who requested an extra, Asking permission from the person
managing the beach that filming time would be extended,
checking the timetable for the support staff who are coming
here on a daytrip from afar, giving, and after all the
confirmation in the end phase, starting giving instructions
about the extension.

***

By the time we got on the train home after filming it was

already completely dark.

Although the beach was only three stations away from the
resort that was accommodating us but I think everyone was
already burned out as almost everyone drift onto dream land
as soon as they sat down.
 "Fuwaa~~ As expected, completely letting loose makes
one sleepy~~"

And speaking of the survivors Nanako was already in a

state of being half-dreaming.

"We're almost there so try to hang on."

"Mhmhm, I know... but I'm just so sleepy..."

She shakes her head as if she was fighting the drowsiness.

Voicing out complaints couldn't be helped as she

continued to act with everything she's got all the way
through.

"Well, but you see Isn't everyone irreplaceable besides

me? If that's the case it wouldn't be good for if I didn't do my
best."

Thinking bout it though, this work was planned based on

Nanako being the actress.

"When I perform like earlier I get a great sense of

accomplishment, I guess I like doing this kind of stuff, is
what I think."

Nanako didn't particularly have any particular goals in

mind when she enrolled into Geidai, so I'm actually very
happy with her thinking about acting as she does now.

"I'm glad you found something that you really want to

do."

"Yup, Though that just means that I'll just have to work
harder from now on." She says as if she was persuading
herself. "It would be nice though if I could become
accustomed to other people watching me though, even if just
a little. "

"...Yeah, I do think you think to try hard with that too."

However, Nanako is extremely shy.

If someone really wanted to be an actor, I do think that it's

better to be more open with the idea of being seen by others.

"Uwah, It's already this dark."

Together with Nanako we admired the view outside the

slightly open window as the salty tang of the sea wafts in.

The darkened sea layed there endlessly. It's hard to

believe that it was the same place that was filled with white,
blue, and smiles just a while ago.

"The air around here is completely different from the

neighborhood of the university. Lake Biwa really does feel
different compared to the sea."

Nanako smirked as she said so.

She was originally from the Shiga prefecture, It seems she

thought that Lake Biwa that spread before her eyes was the
see.

"This place is still in the Kansai Region, but it's pretty far
away."

"I agree, It feels like I went on an excursion, the moment I

heard about this place I thought that a daytrip wouldn't be
possible."

"Yeah, It's really tough unless you stay overnight."

 It takes more than 2 hours by car ride from the university
to Shirahama.

"——Although there were a lot of cuts, I still think going

here was the right call."

Kawasegawa woke up before I noticed and interjected in

the conversation from the side.

"The schedule was set up with a margin for error, I think

we made good progress."

"Thanks. I feel grateful for your words, Kawasegawa."

Even though it feels like she only approves those with

experience in production.

"However there are some things that don't add up."

*hmmm* She puts her hands over her hands over her
mouth and thinks about something.

"What's the matter? Didn't things end smoothly?" Nanako

asked.

Kawasegawa then looked over at me with suspicion in her

eyes.

"It's the equipment. We can't borrow the filming

equipment across days as first years."

The Film Department rents out equipment for filming.

The borrowing period starts Monday to Saturday at 10am in
the morning and to be returned at 5pm in the evening. For
freshmen there is a rule were they required to return the
equipment on the same day as the. The first years were still
immature in the comprehension and handling of the
equipment so its been judged that it is not necessary for
them to film for long periods of time.

"However, this time a location for 3 days and 2 nights was

arranged for us with the equipment. It's strange no matter
how you think about it."

"Now that you say it... It really is huh."

Nanako expressed her curiosity too.

As expected of Kawasegawa, she really did notice that.

"That's right. I have a teensy bit of a request for

Kawasegawa about that."

"...As I thought, you are planning something."

With her expectations right on the money, Kawasegawa

sighed.

***

It was a few days later at Osaka after finishing the location

shoot in Shirahama.

I was by the riverbed hard at work late at night.

"Uhm, Pardon for the trouble, we are filming at the

moment, p-please wait here for a while."

I clumsily called out to the people who were passing by.

"Ah, uhmm is it alright for one person to go through?"

I radioed in a call people just a little farther away.

 『 It's only rehearsals right now. Just crossing by is
alright!』

"Yes! ...Sorry about this, going across is OK, thank you for
your kind consideration."

I used a glowstick to guide the passerby to steer clear in

advance.

I've been doing the same thing for about three hours now.

"...So this was the catch."

Off to my side also holding a glowstick was Kawasegawa

who grasped the situation.

"Since they can rent for multiple days I asked a favor from
a 3rd years. The condition for their help is adjusting our own
schedules and having us help them out with filming after
using the equipment ourselves.

The filming department is divided into specialized courses

starting at the 3rd year. Starting at that point onward, the
works will be on a full-scale production so the rental period
of equipment is extended to 1 week.

"It really is a crude method, but this was the only one I
could think of."

It was pivotal to sublease the equipment. Naturally the

senior students wouldn't just suddenly lend it to 1st year
nobodies.

"And that's why I've been coming to help them film for a
while now in hopes that I could gain their trust."

"It's nice that it all worked out in the end but..."

 Kawasegawa aimed her angry face and glowstick at me.

"Why is it that I have to help out here in the middle of the

night!? Wouldn't Hikawa and Tsurayuki be a better fit for
this!?"

"I didn't really have a choice you know, I was asked to get
someone who was familiar with filming and those two didn't
really fit the bill."

"I would have been fine with it if I was an assistant for

filming and light and such, but this isn't any different from a
part time as a traffic enforcer!"

Kawasegawa was seething with anger.

Exactly at that timing a new pedestrian passed by.

"Ah, I'm very sorry but filming is ongoing at the

moment... please wait for a moment."

Kawasegawa automatically radioed in practiced motions.

"1 person is going across."

『There's no problem passing through~』

"Understood... Sorry for the wait, please go on ahead."

Acting promptly allowed for the people to go through

without stalling.

"Yep, calling you was definitely the right call."

"If I'm gonna help anyway I'm putting on my best foot

forward! It doesn't mean that I'm liking it though!"

*hrmph* She snorted out with a reply.

 Even with all that she's truly a good kid inside.

"Well in any case thanks to that we were able to shoot the

scenes the way we wanted to. You have my thanks."

"It is my job after all."

Preparing a filming environment the director is satisfied

with is par for the course with production work.

"But this is still a violation of the rules though, I've only

told this to you and the other seniors that are involved."

"It is a grey are after all, I understand, then I'll take great
care in not leaking this matter out."

It was the moment when I was sharing this secret when—

"——Ah~ I get it now, so that's how it all went down~"

"Uwahh!?"

"Kyaah!?

We turned over behind us in surprise.

"Oh my, Didn't mean ta scare ya~"

Looking behind us there was a lone woman standing with

a smile

"My~ I was thinking why the 1st years were working ya

know~ No I mean it did seem strange that you were working
diligently without anything in return."

The woman speaking in a lively Kansai Dialect no I mean

more than being a woman its more of a girl, she was a petite
and childishly adorable.
 To put it more simply it's a little girl who could pass off as
a grade schooler. Her hair is a splendidly bleached, dyed in a
dazzling pink color that I wouldn't be surprised if it came
from another world. In contrast to her appearance is that
her speech sounds like the neighborhood aunt moreover
even though her words were calm the topic on the other
hand the topic of it has obvious thorns in it.

"Uh uhmm..."

"Why~ why~ what's wrong deary? You seem to be

sweating a lot, I wonder if its because you were working too
hard huh~"

There's no doubt about it, her words are clearly implying

something.

"I'm truly sorry, I don't know where the other seniors are
currently so please..."

"We truly regret our actions but we needed to use the

equipment so..."

Along with Kawasegawa matching my words we bowed

and started pleading.

fuhihihihihi. She started to laugh and leaked out a smile.

"It's all good I'm really fine with it you know, I'm your
senpai, I certainly was worried about the equipment when I
was a 1st year, I don't mind keeping a secret."
 She kindly answered.

"T-Thank you very much! We're really grateful for your

kind words..."

"That is on one condition."

"Eh?"

"Return me a favor and this never happened."

However she suddenly shows a coldness not unlike the

Manda Financier of Minami.

"The name's Keiko Tomioka but everyone else calls me

Keiko-chan It would do you well to remember that."

"Y-Yes..."

"Ciao."

*petapeta* In the end Keiko-san left with another smile

and her sandals echoing across the night road.

"W-What should we do about this...?"

As expected, Kawasegawa looked on at me anxiously.

"It depends on what she asks from us, I just hope its not
something that we can't possibly follow up on..."

It was the only words I can return at this point in time.

***

It was the day after filming was over

 Since class started in the evening I was killing time in the
art research club room

"Sugimoto~ Are you ready to go?"

Kakihara-san from the Performing Arts department was

dancing while throwing up at the new comers club
celebration. He shouted out loud directed to the lower floor.

"I'll go ahead later, you can go ahead first Kakihara-san,

Good luck!"

Sugimoto responds back in an equally loud voice. He is a

senior from the music department who was singing
"Donogurai Kokoro" in a transcendently beautiful voice.

"Just hurry it up, If everyone isn't there they'll say all

kinds of annoying stuff."

*rustle* He scrapes up the paperwork with his hands.

"Well then captain, I'll be out for a while."

He left running out.

"Everyone seems to be really busy."

Kiryu then replies to me with a gloomy tone.

"It's the preparations for the school festival, there's only 3

months left."

He answers while a fan set to the highest setting cools him

off. It is pretty hot right now.

"Ahh, the school festival huh? So Geidai has one too."

 The fan and him turns to me in unison after my lackluster
response

"Where's your excitement!? Don't you know about

Geidai's school festival!?"

He suddenly started talking about the history of the

school festival that I thought he was howling.

"Our school festival is such a big event that students plan

for it for the whole year!"

Its history spans back ever since the opening of the

university so it has been done for almost 40 years now. With
nearly 8,000 students almost everyone participates
voluntarily, from theatrical style dramas and independent
films to acrobatic stunts and exhibitions, it is famous for its
high level that many visitors from even the large art
universities in the Kanto region come from it. From left to
right, the wide open concrete buildings of the different
departments in Geidai would be surrounded in colorful
decorations with the spectacle being strangely reminiscent
of Kowloon's Walled City.

It is especially famous for its food and beverage stalls.

Through collaboration with the local vendors, its level is
enough where it can proud of to be listed in gourmet
magazines. If you put out anything half-assed, your own
club's reputation could fall and it could impact the
applicants for it the following year so students treat this
festival like as some kind of a "battle". There is no end to the
number of students who devote themselves to research on
food and drink management, after all there are many alumni
who become professional restauranteers and are involved in
the festival even after graduation.
 Until only a few years ago, alcohol was openly allowed to
be sold but it seems to have been banned because of
recurring "incidents" every year. However due to that, the
underground bar was rejuvenated and now as a tradition,
the smell of liquor suddenly wafts in out of nowhere on the
evening of the last day.

"There are 30,000 visitors in the span of 3 days. It is said

that the economic effect of that cannot be ignored in a
district like Minamikawachi where the population is low. So
it can't be helped to join this festival you know?"

"...That's really amazing, It really makes me feel excited."

I wasn't particularly interested in the school festival but

that got my attention. It looks like another reason to look
forward to come November.

"It's such a big event that everyone is going all out with
the preparations, people have been running around like
crazy."

Depending on the size of the planned project some would

even start preparations as early as the first term.

"What will Biken be doing?"

"Well the thing is... we haven't thought of anything for

this year."

"Eh? But weren't Sugimoto and Kakihara preparing for

something?"

"Ah, it's because those guys are part of the school's live
performance executive committee."

"Live performance?"
 "You seriously don't know? On the final day of the festival
there'll be a huge live event at a special stage at the central
square."

"So that's what I saw in the school's newspaper..."

On the final day of the school festival, a large live

performance will serve as the climax.

The number of visitors and excitement will be at its

peak.Starting it all off with the light music department,
many off-campus bands will perform.

"That's why people other than the clubs will be coming

and going."

"So that's how it is."

While talking it out with Kiryu-san, I was still thinking

about the events from yesterday.

She said that the secret would be safe but I'm still uneasy
about it. After all there was no guarantee that she'll be
keeping that promise.

"Umm, Kiryu."

"Yea?"

I talked to Kiryu, who was still in front of the fan, about

the mysterious female senior I encountered yesterday.

"Wahaha it seems that you're in quite a mess because of

that weird upperclassman."

When Kiryu was detailed in on the whole story he started

laughing cheerfully on his knees.
 "Well there's only weird upperclassmen here. My
condolences."

He was able to say that even though he himself was an

upperclassman.

"This isn't a laughing matter though, I wonder what kind

of punishment Sensei will serve once she finds out about
this."

*fumu* Kiryu nodded.

"Well won't that depent on the favor you owe her."

"Yeah... you got me there."

But in the end, I don't know how to pay back what I

"owe".

"Well, it can't be helped you don't even know her

background."

When I asked the other seniors nobody no one knew her

in detail.

The only lead was from a representative of the filming

crew but the only information that they "Met at a bar". That
person is still shrouded in mystery.

"Could she perhaps be your acquaintance Kiryu? She

stands out quite a lot."

Pink hair, petite, fluffy looking clothes etc. I try to

describe her as much as possible.

"Pink hair huh, and is also all sorts of trouble. Is there

anything else that stands out?"
 "Well that's about it."

"Is she similar to an anime character perhaps? It could

help me paint a picture."

"Yeah she's like Mado..."

I was about to blurt out the name of a certain magical girl

who made a contract. Her appearance in this world was still
5 years off.

(Note: Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica?)

Talking about references like this makes knowledge from

the future quite inconvenient.

"What were you about to say?"

"Ah uhm I mean, Speaking of the pink hair she has a fairly
short haircut."

Although my description is a little far off it should still

convey what I'm getting at.

"A miss Keiko Tomioka with pink and short hair... hmm. I
wonder if there is such a person from the 3rd and 4th years
from the filming department."

Lining all the facts up again, her known features are

causing quite a bit of a roadblock.

"There's a lot of Nee-chans who dye their hair pink here at

Geidai."

"Yeah... It's hard to narrow it down now that you mention

it."
 It may be her most prominent feature but it is Geidai
we're talking about here. There are many boys and girls who
dye their hair like that, even the teachers do it. It's really not
that rare of a hair color to have.

The two of us moved our heads in empuzzlement.

"——It doesn't haf'ta be a 3rd or 4th year. I'm an alumnus

ya know, I'm already a graduate~"

The door of the club room suddenly opened with the

person in question, Keiko Tomioka herself, appearing.

"T-Tomioka... senpai?"

I reflexively stood up from my seat and faced the person

who appeared.

"That's right~ I'll be bothering ya for a wee bit."

"Hasshi what kind of lies were you spouting about earlier!

I thought that she was some kind of subcultured girl based
on your story but isn't she an insanely cute girl!?"

"B-Believe me! I admit that she looks like a cute little girl
but underneath that she's really terrifying."

Keiko san then said, "Let's have some G-O-O-D f******

s**" in a voice more akin to an old man rather than the aunt-
like voice she has as she sat down on the chair.

And as we behold that magnificent sight.

"Hasshi."

"Yes?"
 "It seems you were right about everything."

"Isn't that what I keep telling you!?"

Kiryu has finally started to believe that I wasn't joking.

"Ah umm... Why are you here?"

First things first, finding out Keiko's reason for being

here.

"I asked around for ya name and student number. I was

hoping I could get to bang someone here?"

....Well I was sure anyway that information would reach

her ears sooner or later.

But I didn't exactly expect her to come directly to the

clubroom.

"So y'all from the Art Research Club eh. Is Hiroe-chan still
here?"

"You're looking for Hiroe-senpai? He already graduated 2

years ago though..."

"For real? That little Hiroe-chan is already that old?

That's crazy!"

She's treating someone who graduated 2 years ago as a

junior.

——Even if I estimate her age my youngest guess would

be at least 25 years old.

However at a glance the girl in front of me looks far

younger than the both of us.
 Leaving aside the way she acts, her height and facial
features makes her youngness stand out.

"Uh, Tomioka-senpai..."

"Hey hey, call me Keiko-chan. Well I guess using '-chan'

isn't really a good idea to use on someone older, I'll just have
to yield with being called as Keiko-san then, how about it?"

"Then Keiko-san.You see I'm just a penniless student,

right now I'm only working part-time 4 times a week."

"Ah I see, don't you work at the Dawson's Tokiwamachi

store? Together with the girl with the extremely large boobs.

She even knows up to that extent!?

"That's right, and with that said I really don't have any
money. I really can't pay no matter how much you threaten
me."

I relentlessly appealed to her that I had no money.

"Why d'ya keep saying that? You don't need ta worry bout
giving your money away."

As if in amazement however, Keiko-san denied my appeal

with money.

"Ahh, I get it now~ you were talking about the thing you
"owe" me from yesterday. I see, I see."

She patted her knees in laughter.

"If you were talking about that don't worry too much, ya
won't be needing money for that."
 "Eh, what do you mean?"

"Even though she said that I didn't need any money, there
are other things in a healthy human body or even my
possessions that can be turned over for money.

Back when I was at the eroge game company there was a

person who did such a dangerous thing like getting money in
exchange exchanging money for things like their corneas,
organs, and even the title of their home.

"What I actually want are your arms."

"My... arms?"

Being told that, she stared at my arms, which aren't

particularly appealing as it was neither fatty nor muscular.
Was there perhaps a way for her to transplant my arms and
traffic it at the black market?

"Are you perhaps mistaking it for something hard to

return again? Far from it, What I want 'cha to do is for you
to pay me back with your skills in "production".

(Note: The kanji for arms and skills (e.g ability to do

something) are the same.)

"Did you say production?"

"Right-o, What I actually meant by it was to use your

expertise for me."

That was unexpected.

I thought she was gonna say something a young person

could do like manual labor, or working on a tuna fishing
boat to pay off the debt, or working as her driver to film
sites.

But what she wants is from me is my brain in other words

— my knowledge.

What the heck did she mean by that? Before I could think
things through, she started talking again.

"I'm actually a game developer."

...........................

...........................What?

"Have you never played a game perhaps? No way right....

you know, things like Z*lda or Mar*o there's no way that's
the case right?"

No, that's not the reason I hesitated to reply.

Once I was really into games, perhaps even too involved

with it so I took it upon myself to distance myself from it.

Moreover, ever since entering Geidai, I deliberately

avoided having anything to do with games. There are
mountains of other things that I want to study but more
than that though, my past traumas games haven't healed
with time just yet.

"It's not that I don't know about it but... I'm not really in
to it is what I'm trying to say."

That's why I will resolve myself in keeping distance with it

here as well.
 "No probs don't worry about it It's ok even if you just have
passing knowledge about it. What I'm creating a Doujin
Game, It's a PC based game burned into a CD-ROM and sold
at exhibition events and shops."

I should know. I've both bought and helped create them.

"Our circle is called Hallucigenia Soft. It's a fairly big

circle."

Hallucigenia Soft... Where have I heard that before...

"Eh!?"

Kiryu, who was watching from behind us, stood up.

"Hallucigenia Soft!? That company has become a shutter

circle several times now."

(Note: The popular circles are divided into two types.

The kabe-circles are popular enough that they are put near
the walls (kabe) as to not disturb the traffic. The shutter
circles on the other hand are the most popular and are
placed near the entrances of the halls as the lines get
insanely long.)

"Oh~? If you kids know about it then its easier to explain.

You're right about that one~"

Kiryu's words made me remember clearly.

Hallucigenia Soft or more commonly known as

Hallugenia. As their specialty they are mainly known for
their Action Games based on other works. They take works
from other genre's such as adventure games, and creating
them into popular fighting games or shooter games and has
won them a wildly enthusiastic following of fans.
 They were already inactive by the time I entered the game
industry though. The identity of their staff was also
shrouded in mystery. The creators' names who were part of
that famous manufacturer were said to be hidden.

It's unbelievable, Keiko-san is a person from that place.

One of them is right here.

"B-But why would someone from such an amazing circle

would want to have anything to do with me...?"

"I saw the way you moved on-site and your astuteness in
securing your equipment. I was thinking that I could use
something like that. That's why I asked your friends for
information on you and I came scouting for you to take hold
of your weakness."

She felt proud having revealed the truth about the

coercion.

"We don't really have a fixed director. It's done as to

properly get fresh blood into the team."

Keiko looks at me with a serious expression.

"So? You want to give it a shot?"

She invites me again.

I have been a game director all the way up until I came

here.

Of course I would know how to do it. In fact I'm confident

of it.

Although.
 "I apologize... Helping you with that is a little bit too much
right now."

"Can you tell me why? I'll properly pay you your talent fee
and it's only to the extent where it won't affect your classes.
Wouldn't that be fine for you?"

Her expression was a little tense.

I would immediately give a 'yes' and help her if it wasn't

about a game.

Whether it was video production on-site or even setting

the stage for a theatre company. I can't deal with games
right now, It wasn't something that I like to suddenly get
back into.

"I sort of have my own circumstances. You have to excuse

me, I can make up for it with anything else. Games are a
little..."

There was a tense silence inside the club room.

After a while, Keiko-senpai loosens her expression.

"......I see, If you're that adamant about it. Well, if you ever
feel like it just contact me anytime. I'll just have you pay me
back when that time comes."

She says in a mysteriously soft tone.

"Here. It's my business card. I'll give it to you to keep in

touch."

She then places a neat business card with the circle's logo
on it, says "Ciao..." and leaves.
 After the storm has passed, Kiryu and I looked at each
other then sat down in our chairs at the same time.

"Somehow, I'm a bit tired after that... She looks and

sounds cute though."

"I agree... She looks and sounds cute though."

Contrary to her appearance, she was someone who emits

an insane amount of power.

Although, even if it was the world of games I backed out of

once before.

It was a strange feeling that I was able to make a

connection again.

***

The four of us from the same team that was formed at the
film department that consists of Tsurayuki Rokuonji, Aki
Shino, Nanako Kogure and finally me, Kyouya Hashiba live
together in a shared house known as Kitayama. We were
satisfied with the basic living necessities provided here as it
consists a 4LDK layout, a separate bath and toilet, and
despite all of that, cheap rent.

But unfortunately, the same thing couldn't be said for its

heat countermeasures once midsummer rolls around.

Sharehouse Kitayama doesn't have an AC. Well the world

was cooler 10 years ago so it was probably just the result of
cost-cutting.

Minamikawachi being at the southern part of Osaka has

unusually harsh summer heat that could be caused because
of its basin-like topography which traps the hot air and in
turn torments the students. As a result people tend to gather
where air-conditioners are located.

An example of this is a café restaurant in northern Sakai

called "US". It's menu has a wide variety, is cheap and is
open until morning. It's well known amongst Geidai
students. The AC works well here so we've been here quite a
lot recently.

"AAAAHH That Kawasegawaaa! What's the deal with

her!?"

It was late at night and even then it was still hot.

Tsurayuki is crying out in complaint.

He cuts into the gigantic omurice with the spoon and

carries it to his mouth one after another.

"I was only convinced to scrap the lines of the final scene,
but what's with her just wantonly cutting the dialogue of
other scenes, hrmph!"

He swallows his irritation with his omurice all at once and

consequently exhales his unyielding pride in one breath.

And speaking of the other, we were only just looking at

him with a wry smile.

"Now now~ It's not like she did it out of spite."

"Of course it wasn't! If that was the case we'd be butting

heads face to face!"

It was the latter half of the finishing touches after the

filming, the post-production is already underway.
 Today was the preview for the film Kawasegawa edited so
everyone watched it together but....well, a lot of the dialogue
was cut into pieces so Tsurayuki was dreadfully upset.

"But, Tsurayuki-kun, didn't you also watch the preview till

the end?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Then what did you think of it?"

Tch. Tsurayuki-kun lightly clicked his tounge and turned

his face away towards the window.

"......If it was boring, I wouldn't be so frustrated."

He mutters in a low voice.

Seeing that, the three of us looked at each other and

laughed.

"Hey, what's with the laugh!? The script I wrote was cut
and hurt!"

Nanako feeling appaled at Tsurayuki who was trying to

complain to everyone as she says...

"That's why Kyouya cared enough to invite your tattered

self to eat out late at night like this right? You should be
thanking everyone in keeping you company."

"Nanako, don't you think of anything about having a

considerable chunk of your screentime being cut off!?"

"Not reeeally~ If it ends up making the film better for it,

then isn't it fine?"
 "Hrmmm........"

Tsurayuki vented out his frustrations after a brief pause.

"Shit! Shit! Someday that bitch director will come up to

me and begs, "Please oh please let take me a picture of you
with my phone." and I'll say "I'll let you do It after you bow
down to me."

While he bursts away his grudges, he once again began

engorging himself with his meal.

"Uwah... Tsurayuki really becomes terribly worked up

when it comes to his script."

Nanako breathes out a sigh.

"...I won't lose to anyone."

He murmurs while for a moment he stops his hands

holding a spoon.

"After the film screening it's already time for the school
festival. It goes by faster than I thought."

I changed topic while I looked over at the store's calendar.

"Hey, hey~ Kyouya are you thinking of doing anything for

the festival?"

Nanako listens with eyes shining brightly.

"Eh, not really, our circle isn't really planning anything so

I've been thinking of watching over the art exhibit."

"Well, if you aren't doing anything. Do you want to take a

crack at frying okonomiyaki or baking crepes? Come on let's
do it!"

Let's do it she says.

I've been part of opening a store in my previous university

life. We've had to go to a health agency to get inspected. It
brought a lot of troublesome memories.

In the first place, can students even plan on setting up

autonomously. We have to start there.

"Then do I take it that that's what you want to do

Nanako?"

"Me? No, don't wanna."

She shakes her hand as she declines.

"Eh? Didn't you say you want to do it just now?"

"No, that's not what I meant. I just love watching the sight
of people that I know cooking. It would turn out great if you
cooked just cause you're so skilled at it but on the other
hand, would it really be fun if an inexperienced brat would
start fumbling around with apron and crepes."

It might be as she says.

"That sounds fun~ I want to make hotcakes too."

"The apron would look good on Shinoaki! I'm sure that a

crowd of customers that like that sort of thing will come
rushing in."

"Cleaning up afterwards would be a pain though..."

 I'll have to admit, Just imagining things for the school
festival is exciting, I'm sure that actually doing it would be
more fun.

"What about you Tsurayuki?"

I call out to Tsurayuki who was duking it out with the

large amount of omurice.

"Ah, maybe if it was a part time job. I don't really have

things that I want to see that much."

He didn't seem to be interested as he replied.

"Such a lonely life Tsurayuki, Add some more excitement

and fun into it."

"Buzz off. I already have my fare share of fulfillment in life

just by writing.

"I want to see Nanako at the school festival in a very lewd

waitress costume, I won't have excitement in my life if you
don't do that~"

"What are you talking about s-stupid, There's no way I

would do that."

While angry Nanako's face grows bright red in

embarrassment.

If that were to happen I'm sure there would be a lot of

troublesome customers that would act the same way like
Shinoaki.

***
 I got a drivers' license at the beginning of summer
vacation.

University students can broaden their range of actions if

one person in the group has one. Team Kitayama has
become one of those groups, we can come and go to
neighboring prefectures without worry as much as we like.

Of course, it all still depends on splitting the costs to get

gasoline though.

Speaking of which, we returned safely to Sharehouse

Kitayama with me as the driver.

"Do you want me to bring brewed tea here in the living

room?" I asked Tsurayuki.

Even on the ride home, he was still going on about the

film's story.

"Oh? That's great. Don't mind if I..."

Just a he was about to talk, Tsurayuki's cellphone rang.

"Hello... Oh it's just you, Mom. Why call?"

Tsurayuki's words became blunt. It felt cold and

indifferent.

Speaking of which, this is the first time he answered a

phone call from his family member in front of us.

"Call again. I'm cutting the line."

*beep* He turned of his cellphone.

 "Sorry I'll be going out a while our talk will have to wait
for another time."

"Ah, sure..."

Maybe he didn't want us to overhear the conversation?

Tsurayuki went out with his phone in tow.

"Time for me to get some shut-eye anyhow. I'll have to do

my best first thing in the morning so I'll take a rest for
today."

Only me and Shinoaki were left in the living room.

"Ah uhmmm..."

For a time there was this unusual tension in the air for no
apparent reason.

The sound of the refrigerator's motor was strangely loud.

"Kyouya-kun, do you have some time right now?"

Shinoaki suddenly asked.

"Yeah, I have no tasks left so..."

There weren't any particular preparations needed for

class, while Kawasegawa was in charge of editing as well so
there is no need for me to interfere, there's also no chores
needed to be done around the house. It's odd that my
schedule was completely free.

"Then can you come into my room for a moment?"

"Eh...!?"

That's a first.
 Up to till this point I've been only coming over to her
room to bring something over or calling her over for food
and only for those reasons alone.

She has never called me over to her room so far.

I mean, I have never even been invited by a girl not even

once in my life...!

"So y-yeah speaking of going into your room, what will we

be doing again?"

My words ran around my mouth as if I was getting

overwhelmed by the suddenness of it all.

——What the heck am I saying!? What am I doing, Isn't

that too forward of me?

My conscience is saying regretful things.

"I want you to see my new illustrations."

"...Eh?"

"I spent a lot of time and effort on it but... it just doesn't

feel right. I don't know what's wrong so I'd like you to have a
look at it."

Shinoaki looks up at me shyly.

"Ya told me that you liked my paintings Kyouya-kun, So I

was maybe thinking that you should take a look. Don't you
want to?"

I shook my head sideways with all my might.

 "I-It's not like that, Not at all! I want to see it, I really
want to see your drawings Shinoaki!"

I expressed all the denial and hope that I could muster

inclusive of my guild ridden delusions.

"That's a relief, come on then let's go!"

Shinoaki giddily jumped up like a rabbit as she climbed

the stairs.

When she disappeared from my sights I reflexively held

my hands to my chest.

Well I'm relieved that I didn't say anything extra...

***

I entered Shinoaki's room once again, and... well how do I

say this, In a word it looks..."

"Sorry bout the complete mess, I can't but help to have so

many things."

Well it was as exactly as she says.

"Nah, It's really fine no need to worry about it."

Although I said that, I feel a bit nervous being surrounded

by delicately balanced buildings of books and art supplies
from the front, back, left, and right.

There are a variety of things here.

From scenery to character photobooks, architectural and

fashion books, to even a collection of drawings from various
illustrators and painters. Her greed in trying to learn a wide
range of things without being bound to one topic. I am
deeply moved by what makes Shino Akishima become who
she is.

"Is this what you wanted to show?"

A file was opened and vivid illustrations spread over the

entire screen.

"Wow...."

It's winter. On one side is a silver world. The rural is

colored a pure white spread in an orderly manner. Perhaps
the ice's season is about to come as a bright blue sky lies in
the back of the composition.

"A girl wearing muffler and a coat was throwing a

snowball, with her checkered skirt swaying, was about to
throw a snowball and stick her tongue out to the front.
Fukuoka is in Kyushu, but snows sometimes. I remembered
that and tried to draw it but..."

I was so absorbed in the picture that it seemed like I could

hear Shinoaki's voice somewhere far away.

Shinoaki's words.

The charm of Shino Akishima's paintings was that it

seemed like you can hear a "story" when you see it.

The relationships and philosophy's that you can imagine

from a single picture are firmly present in its overwhelming
compositional power.

Moreover, it's not forced on you. It comes naturally as a

gentle message to those who see it.
 The world of 10 years later, or to be exact, 8 years later I
used to go to Shino Akishima's solo exhibition art events.

I once again stood in front of the picture I've went to see

oh so may times in the past.

Its strong message just pulls you in without ever letting

you go. Right now the origin of those paintings is right in
front of me. It has the same impact as if you were stepping in
a different world.

"Kyouya-kun...?"

Shinoaki looks at my face a little anxiously.

"What's wrong? You look really serious, is there

something that's worrying about it?"

"Ah... sorry it was nothing."

I snapped out of myself.

Shinoaki says that there were some parts in the painting

that look off. But I really had no clue.

"Hmmmm...?"

I grimaced in front of the monitor as I was figuring it out.

I opened my eyes wide and closed it, I looked from

different angles. Is it perhaps the composition, is it the color,
or maybe it's even...

Shinoaki is looking at my facial expressions.

"Ah..."

She grasped the pen as if she has noticed something

 "Did you figure it out...?"

Without answering my question, Shinoaki let's her pen

glide quietly.

While I was regretting my interjection, I looked onto the

screen.

It was my first time seeing her drawing at such a close

distance. Her pen moved non-stop. The lines that I thought
were good enough were repeatedly being erased and
overwritten in a cycle, with the newly born lines being being
drawn better than the last..

——Is this what a God looks like....?

After a while, I'm strangely convinced that a Muse

appeared before me. I mean, what do you even call an
existence that creates things from a state of nothing except a
God?

(Note: The literal translation would have been God Artist

and since Muses are a somewhat famous concept of
goddesses of the arts why not.)

"...I did it."

*fuu* She took a break and the pen was placed on the
desk.

The sound of the pen rolled in the quiet room. The thing
Shinoaki was fixing is the look of the girl. The girl's face who
was previously smiling with her tongue out was turned into
someone with closed eyes who was laughing happily with
her mouth wide.

"Incredible..."
 The picture from before which I thought of as perfection
was now already a thing of the past. Seeing it this way, the
facial expression in the previous one looks a little unnatural
with the pose.

"That's really amazing! I feel like the change in expression

made it a whole lot better."

"You mean it? That makes me happy~"

Shinoaki lightly clapped hands in her joy

"When I saw Kyouya-kun's troubled face changing, I

thought of the facial expression as the only one that stands
out."

—She somehow reached that conclusion from just that...

"I still haven't reached the level that I want to draw with
though."

She stood up from the chair and headed for the mountain
of books near the entrance, sitting down in front of it.

"Look at this Kyouya-kun."

She held out a photo book.

I moved to Shinoaki's side as I was told that. It was a

photos based on the theme of combining people with
scenery. Each one was just a casual scene from everyday life.

However, I felt that a story was infinitely welling up from

there.

"I see where your coming from Shinoaki. There are so

many things overflowing from these photos."
 Shinoaki nods.

"Someday I want to be able to do these with illustrations

too, but I haven't caught up with it at all."

"Well that would require a lot of life experience won't it?"

"Just stepping closer to it would require an incredible

amount of time..."

Being told that by a 18 year old, as someone who was

actually a 28 year old I can't say anything back. However I
can tell her one thing.

"You'll be able to draw like that someday. You only need

to keep at it."

"I wonder..."

"Yes, I'm sure of it."

....That's why never stop drawing. That's the one thing

that I desire.

It may only be a fan's selfish wish but as long as she can

draw with hope.

"Then if that's what Kyouya-kun says, I'll do just that."

Shinoaki laughs happily.

"As I thought, not seeing this book after a long time would
really make me want to see it."

She says in earnest as she holds the photobook.

"I'm moving here.'

 "Ah, wait a minute, Shinoaki?"

Shinoaki moved in front of me and leaned back on my

body.

"Hrm. I'll be using Kyouya-kun as a chair ok~"

She talks in a relaxed tone while opening the photobook

happily in that position.

"This is..."

I can't do anything. I feel the heat of Shinoaki's back along

the chest and abdomen area, the scent of shampoo wafts
slowly and tickles my nose. If I wanted to do it, I could
actually wrap my hands around Shinoaki's body. She is that
defenseless right now.

"I'm looking forward to the school festival~ Kyouya-kun

let's take a look around when we have a chance."

"Uh Yeah! That's right, of course..."

 I answered while looking high above, but of course my
heart right now wasn't into the school festival at all. For the
time being I kept concentrating so the thing between my legs
won't cause a problem.

"Uhh......"

What was this called again? Torture? Seduction? Am I

being seduced right now?

Impossible, since I'm talking about Shinoaki she only

thinks of it as like siblings playing with each other. This
defenselessness is painful for me.

"S-Shino..."

I moved both my trembling hands towards Shinoaki's

body as I call her name out in a faint voice.

——Let's start with gently putting her body aside for

now.

I'll challenge this step by step. I steel my resolve and at

that time the silence was suddenly broken

*knock knock knock*

"Ah."

"Eh?"

And with the sudden knocking of the door.

"Shinoaki your mail was mistakenly sent to me so I have it

right now..."

It was Nanako's bright voice.

 "......Huh?"

The door was opened without waiting for a reply. Nanako

just stood there as she saw us in close contact. I set my eyes
wide open while Shinoaki was nonchalantly sitting.

Nanako however...

"Ah-Ahahaha... I would have been glad if you had only

told me earlier..."

"This isn't what it looks like Nanako."

Nanako nodded many times with her arms crossed

without paying attention to my excuses.

"I see, so Kyouya was like that huh, yup yup, It is what it
is." And just when she expressed an obstinate grin. "Sorry
for intruding!"

She turned around and ran down the flight of stairs.

"I-it's a misunderstanding Nanako we didn't even go

there!"

"Thanks for bringing it to me Nanako~"

"Shinoaki why are you so calm!?"

***

I think the later assigned work was made interesting as a

result of the meaningful repeated conflicts. As an individual
I have friends who I respect, A caring girl who was by my
side, and days that were ever more fulfilling.
 While enjoying this event as a small mishap, I lead on a
peaceful student life.

—Or at least I was supposed to.

 Chapter 02: What I (Atashi) Want To Do

The film screening was held after the start of the second
class.

The time allotted for it wasn't much but the challenges of

the task weren't set all that high. Moreover, this is the
second work we'll be doing after getting a taste of the joys of
making a real movie. It's been said a lot of times that teams
that were created here that made good works were highly
valued by the time graduation rolls around, so most of the
students here take it seriously.

The students are gathered at the screening venue with

almost no absentees.

"Ok then, looks like everyone is present."

Kanou-sensei's look's around the classroom.

"The method of evalution plus the screening order are the

same as last time. I'm sure you have a lot of things to say like
『The time period is too short~』 or 『Suddenly doing a 5
minute work is unreasonable~』, saying things like that can
be left after the film's run. Would that be alright with you?"

The people in the venue breaks out into a laugh.

"The works wills be ranked this time too. The top three
will be named and evaluated. I am looking forward to the
works your team have worked hard on."

Contrary to the amount of fuss we were making, the

atmosphere in our team is actually quite good.
 "Let's go team, don't you think our work would be able to
get 1st this time?"

It seemed like the results with his previous team didn't

pan out last time, so he was fairly excited for this.

"The ones who got 1st and 3rd last time are working
together you know, so isn't it a given that we will get it?"

Tsurayuki is now in a completely good mood and is

waiting in anticipation for the screening.

"I'm looking forward on the results of our evaluation~"

"Ah~ my heart won't stop pounding! I really want to do

something about my embarrassment~"

Shinoaki and Nanako are excited for it in their own ways.

They were calm as if the tension from the film showing

before was like a lie.

"How do you think it'll hold up Kawasegawa...?"

I looked over at Kawasegawa who was sitting beside me.

From her usual 1st place standing, I've been wondering

about it... how overwhelmingly in favor it actually was for us.

However—

"......"

That Kawasegawa was staring at the screen silently with a

tense look.

"What's the matter, Kawasegawa?"

 "Eh? Ah, it's nothing really..."

Kawasegawa answered, clearly hiding something.

"Is there something on your mind? Is there anything

about the work that's left unfinished?"

"There's nothing like that. I do have some regrets, but it is

beyond my reach."

How unusual. Kawasegawa gave a somewhat vague

remark.

"...I've been a little interested with another work that will

be screened this time."

"Interested?"

"Yeah, In any case it's not something you should really

worry about."

When I tried to ask what work it was.

"Ah..."

The buzzer sounded and the lighting was turned off.

***

The 2nd to the last screening is Team Kitayama

Reformed 's very own work.

Nanako is portrayed as a girl who was born in a town by

the sea, and thought that was the only place there was. But
throughout the story her world gradually expands after
meeting with a city girl. Finally, in search for new horizons
they leave the town behind... was how the story went.
 The lines Tsurayuki crafted were truly memorable.
Shinoaki's composition conveyed the script loud and clear.
But above all, Kawasegawa's directing and editing were truly
something else. Just like her work from the first semester it
is just flawless.

There were no lines nor scenes that could be called

useless, the editing was just exquisite. Even if one were to
actively search for flaws in it there would be no complaints
whatsoever.

"It was... greatly done."

I thought that evaluation was more appropriate than

anything else.

And then the film ended, despite the work being shown
near the end of the screening applause still roared for it over
the venue.

"Woah, aren't we getting rave reviews?"

"Didn't we just get to first place with that?"

Hikawa burst out into delight, and Tsurayuki quickly

followed up with his thoughts soon after.

"Nanako, you gave out an amazing look on camera huh~"

"Praising me that much, I'm pretty embarrassed about it,

but I'm happy for the praise."

Shinoaki is all smiles and Nanako is acting shyly.

Yup, those should be the proper reactions.

"............"
 But what's with this small nagging feeling that I had.

The degree of quality is certainly high.

It's been praised. It's even been evaluated. But this sense
of achievement is different from what I was expecting.

"Kawasagewa, what did you think about it...?"

Looking by my side I stopped breathing for a moment

"............tch."

Kawasegawa's face looked grim. It wasn't that much but

nevertheless I find it hard to believe that it was an
expression a director who screened a work that received that
much applause would make.

"Kawasegawa what's wrong...?"

And with my words she uttered a single word.

"It's artificial..."

I tilt my head.

"Eh, what did you say?"

Before she could answer my question.

"——Now for the final work..."

As the Assistant Lady so, the lights went out again.

When Kawasegawa said 『 There's a work that interest

me.』 hat was it all about in the end? At the very least, with
all the works shown here, I don't think there was anything
eye-catching so far.
 ——Then perhaps that was the only remaining work.

The showcase of the final work has begun. I concentrate

on what's show on the screen.

"......No way."

Who was the first to speak up? It was quite a feeble voice,
but I can hear the voice clearly. I couldn't tell if it was
Nanako or Kawasegawa's voice. Even though it was a trivial
matter, the shock was all the same.

It was a quiet work. The stage was coincidentally the same

as our team, the sea.

However unlike ours which was a bustling beach, theirs

was a place with no one nearby. The story is straightfoward.
The male protagonist, due to family circumstances escapes
by car with a girl along for the ride. In the end it was neatly
tied up with him standing up to the situation... Is how the
story went.

The camerawork also deserves praise. The performance

was solid. Although the scenario was more or less
unreasonable, I think it was at an acceptable range.

But comparing it side by side with our team's work, it's

fine to say that ours' is better overall. Even with minute
errors, in the long run made it interesting.

—The decisive difference belies with the actors' abilities.

I take a deep breath.

Looking back at it, after a brief reprieve, the lines are

delivered.
 Each of his moves were as if the character was brought to
life. It wasn't simply done for realism's sake. Even with the
irregular parts. Looking at the actor up close a reassuring
confident expression appeared. In terms of the difference of
just how much the acting sold itself to the crowd, it's a
complete wash enrapturing the audience. For instance, the
time when the little girl shouted en route to her destination a
scared "oh my" almost leaked out from the audience stands.

"This is..."

This was probably what Kawasegewa was referring to as

the "Interesting work".

The 'name' of the actress was imprinted on the pamphlets

that were given beforehand. Maybe Kawasegawa could have
been familiar with the name.

Our work was certainly organized, quite good even.

But only in regards to the criteria set by the school. Going

in that vein though, there are limits to it. Right now what's
flowing before my eyes, though roughly hewn, but one could
definitely classify it as a "Work"

Tsurayuki, Hikawa, Shinoaki, and Kawasegawa all had

their eyes nailed to the screen.

"Nanako...?"

When the actors clearly stand out, the one's being

compared to will feel the brunt of the pain.

"............"

Nanako silently looked at the screen.

 Her mouth is slightly open, and it looked like she was
subduedly saying something.

I wonder what the underlying cause for the difference

was.

I don't think it was the details in acting or the movement.

"—This is crazily good, Isn't it the most interesting one?"

"—By comparison wasn't the other just a total sham.

Somehow it felt she was just wildly raising her voice,
mindlessly dishing out her lines~"

"—The intonation was so forced. After seeing this

performance, makes the other one look like complete child's
play."

My body shook in surprise with the thoughtless words

being thrown from behind.

Regretfully though, our team couldn't deny it. It's clear as

day on what part was the difference between the two works.

"—That actress was holding everybody back, that hack

from before."

In addition to everything else, something that blunt was

said. I wonder if Nanako heard it.

No, whether she heard it or not doesn't really matter.

Nanako herself probably painfully understands the
difference between ability.

***

The film showing has ended.

 The work of Team Kitayama Reformed was ranked "1st
Place" by the panel of teachers. When the rankings were
announced the applauses were sparse and the people
weren't really into it.

No matter how you look at it, the film that had a stronger
impact was the 2nd place work.

"—Eh? Shouldn't the 1st and 2nd place teams be the other
way around?"

"—If we base it on the actress isn't the difference night

and day?"

Candid opinions are leaking out from the students.

Everyone was basically on the same page of it.

"—I heard they brought over a kid from the performing

arts department."

"—I see, no wonder the acting was superb."

Such information came from the back.

Being revealed at this point in time doesn't matter now I

suppose.

"——And with this the film showing's now concluded."

The judging is now over, with Kanou-sensei's closing

remarks the students stood up one after the other. All at
once the area was covered in a disorderly atmosphere. It was
a sight akin to a festival's conclusion. "

"Sensei!"
 Nanako quickly rises up from her and set and stand in
front of Kanou-sensei who was just about to leave.

"What's up Kogure, you're making a scary looking face."

"Sensei... There's a thing I want to hear from you."

As Nanako steeled herself, she inhaled.

"Shouldn't the 1st and 2nd place rankings be the other

way around?"

"That again, what about it?"

Sensei looked over at Nanako in a languid fashion.

"No matter what angle you look...... Wasn't the other

actor's performance just that amazing...?"

"Kogure, a film's worth isn't decided by any single part.

Every element is——"

Then the response to Sensei as she tried to explain.

"——It was just a total blow out wasn't it!!?"

Nanako's shout drowned out everything on the way. The

noise in the area turned quiet in an instant.

"........Sorry."

Nanako's vocalized her apology in a voice that trailed off.

Sensei heaved out a small sigh.

"Even if I did see the acting in it, I can't technically grade

the acting itself. That oss why whether which one had the
better actors between them, I didn't even consider it in the
first place. We are the Film Department after all.

Sensei took a step closer to Nanako and then...

"And on top of that, why did that work even leave a strong
impression on everyone? It wasn't the technique, or the
acting was it? It's quite simple really."
 Nanako was frightened in a moment by the firm look in
Sensei's eyes. But even so, Sensei took a step further towards
Nanako, and cut off her escape.

"The other party took it seriously."

At the back Kawasegawa's sigh could be heard, it seemed

pained.

"If that is all." Sensei turned back to what she was doing
and left without looking back.

As if the students switches were turned on, the student's

started talking noisily again and eventually left one by one.

However, Nanako and the rest of Team Kitayama

Reformed couldn't move a single step and was frozen in
place for a while.

***

Around the time the second half of the classes switched

into full gear, Geidai's campus abruptly started getting
rowdy.

On this day the members of the school festival committee

are gathered together at the central square in full force.

"We will begin the schoolwide cleaning of the campus!

Please work diligently so that no nook and cranny is left
behind."

In response to the chairman who is using the megaphone

the students answered "Yes!" all at once.
 As Shinoaki and I were slowly walking in the square we
glanced at the people scurrying off to work.

"It's about time for the school festival to begin huh~"

"Yeah, after the schoolwide cleaning it looks like the

signboards and the decorations will be put up."

"I'm looking forward to it. Makes you wonder how much

the air will change around here."

*fuu* Shinoaki takes a breath.

"Does Nanako feel a little bit better now?"

I answered back at Shinoaki's question

"Well... for the time being she's already recovered from

the shock from the screening... I think."

Shinoaki smiles with a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness. I wasn't able to talk with her at-all

when we got back, I was really worried."

"Yeah... me too..."

It was good timing that I was scheduled for my part-time

job the very next day.

Although I found it hard to talk to her, perhaps because

she wanted to say her piled up thoughts, Nanako herself was
the one who talked to me first.

"——I wasn't taking it seriously..."

She sighs in front of the cash register as she ekes out a wry
smile.
 "That's how Sensei saw it as after all. So that's where the
difference lies, I wonder if that's how the audience thought
about it as to."

Unexpectedly, Nanako looked at her performance in an

objective light. She arrived at that conclusion herself, I feel
she's managed to take it quite well.

"Do you want to stop acting?"

"I was wondering if I should, But when Sensei talked

about my 'Seriousness'. I didn't really understand it so I
want to give it a try just a little longer."

If that is what she's decided on then I won't deny her that.

"I see, if that's how you feel about it then I'll back you
up."

"...Thanks."

She laughed bashfully.

It looks like Nanako's former smile has returned.

"——Is how she felt."

"Hmmm, Ah I got it, How about we throw a cast party,

wouldn't it be a nice change of pace!?"

"Launch party?"

"A party for the film's completion, for Nanako."

"I could get by that. Let's do it. We'll have to get Tsurayuki
and the others on board with it too."

"It'll be loads of fun~"

 We're all in this together as a team. That's why no man
should be left behind I say.

I had no doubts about it.

***

"I'm really grateful for all of your hard work! Thanks to

everyone on the staff, we were able to properly complete the
work."

A few days later at Shinoaki's suggestion, I planned the

launch party.

On top of the table at my favorite karaoke place are a

variety of side dishes and drinks that I bought from the
supermarket were piled up.

"It's good thing that you're allowed to bring it in at this

store~"

"Not really though, Kyouya had to negotiate it over."

"Seriously? What a frightening guy..."

......Well I only dared to ask for it because I'm a regular,

negotiating over it isn't something to be amazed about.

(TN: You guys may not know Karaoke places don't allow
you to bring drinks nor food and I'm not gonna lie the
booth itself is cheap enough considering the size of it and
the technological marvel of the karaoke itself (at least the
few places I've been to Joysound the best) but they force
you to buy drinks and/or food per person and let me tell
you it is not cheap whatsoever (compared to food outside at
least). But that is how they make money I suppose and it is
a very fun experience overall. P.S. don't try going to a
group booth alone when the singles booth isn't available
shouldering the costs of the booth alone plus the drinks
won't be good for the heart uwu.)

"Time to get this show on the road! Cheers!"

"Cheeers!"

I thought that toasting with a cup of juice would lack the

oomph factor, but as time passed proved my concerns to be
unfounded.

"I can't believe that we're number one! I absolutely never

thought that a team I'm part of would be able to make it that
far!"

Hikawa nodded seriously with passion.

"Is it really that unlikely?"

"Definitely! In my previous team one guy wanted to do an

action film while the other who wanted drama film duked it
out with each other. We had to divvy the film up into two
parts with both genres!"

Well unlikely isn't impossible...

"We are talking about the power of my script after all, 1st
place is nothing!"

"Says the guy whose dialogue was mercilessly cut down~"

"Zip it!"

Tsurayuki returns a smile at Nanako's tsukkomi. He

usually says something back."
 ——Sorry about this Tsurayuki, and thank you.

Before this meeting I had a little talk with the other

members.

The gist of it was to not bring up anything that would

make her feel depressed.

It might be something that we could all look back on and

laugh after a little more time passes, but there was a decision
to avoid it for now.

Meanwhile Kawasegawa was the only one with a

disinterested face.

It can't be helped I guess, the results weren't satisfying.

"Say, Kawasegawa about Nanako."

"You don't need to tell me. I'll make no mention of the

matter."

As she says that she gets a cola and drinks it down.

"But is that girl really alright with it? She looks fine on the
surface but..."

"Yeah, but she's behaving like that so we should match it."

"That doesn't solve the root of the problem. Not like I care
though."

*crunch crunch* Kawasegawa chewed ice as she voiced

her unchanging dissatisfaction

"Just enjoy things for now..."

At least until things calm down.

 The party proceeded on in excitement, and being the
place that is was singing at the Karaoke began.

"I'm pumped up! Nanako, would you like to sing?"

Hikawa hankers on Nanako with the mic.

"Eh? I-I'm good, really."

"Come on and do it! Sing and have fun."

"Would anyone come to karaoke and not sing? That's

unlike you."

Following Hikawa, Tsurayuki jeers her on.

"What should I do... Kyouya?"

"Even if you tell me that......"

Among the members of Team Kitayama I'm the only one

she's ever sang in front of.

Needless to say, she's concerned about her tone deafness

and didn't want to expose it to others if possible. In order to
be able to sing in front of everyone else, she needs to sing
here in front of the others though...

——Honestly though, I have a premonition this won't go

well.

"Isn't it fine to just sing? We'll probably go to karaoke

with the others again sooner or later."

Nanako is still somewhat embarrassed.

"O-Ok... then. I'll warn you though I'm really tone deaf so
forgive me ok!"
 She picked up the microphone, with practiced hands she
picks out her usual song—

".........Wew."

—And after Nanako finishes her usual song.

"Ah, I'm really sorry! Pardon my tone deafness!"

"You have a pretty wide range Nanako~"

Shinoaki is really impressed.

"I think so too, wasn't that a folk song?"

Tsurayuki also looking interested voiced out his thoughts.

"What a powerful voice Nanako! I'm no match for it."

Hikawa and the others were acquiescently moved. The

quality was decided based on the pitch of the voice.

"Ahaha, I don't know how to feel about that..."

Nanako is being bashful as usual.

Her face looking softer than before. It was the right call to
let her sing..

"Alright who wants to go next..."

As Nanako was passing around the microphone a hand

reached out to it.

"Eh!?"

An unexpected person grabbed the mic.

 "K-Kawasegawa you're going to sing?"

—It was Kawasegawa who got the microphone.

With all eyes on her she wordlessly carried the

microphone to her mouth. And after that she stood before
Nanako.

"I see it now, I thought it was strange."

She said so in a stern tone.

"......What do you mean strange?"

"You don't take acting seriously right?."

Nanako's eyes widen.

Everyone was dumbfounded as they watched on at the

both of them.

"Why... do you say that?"

Nanako squeezed out a voice shaded in a color of anger

and fear.

Kawasegawa on the other hand continued speaking with a

clear voice.

"It was weird no matter how I looked at it. Certainly that

skit you acted out was good. But whatever you wanted to do
I could not see any drive at all. No matter where you are it's
all just for appearances sake. I completely get it now, no
wonder there's this sense of artificialness I can't get rid of."

Kawasegawa also leaked out 『 Artificial 』 on the day of

the film showing.
 So that was intended for Nanako.

".................."

Nanako averted her eyes, her eyes half closed.

"You didn't take acting seriously. You only say you do, but
you really are just a wolf in sheep's clothing."

*hrmph.* Kawasegawa snorted.

"Just being able to do it in a confident voice to that extent

means that you've been doing it since you were younger am I
wrong? Despite it being such an important thing, why'd you
even think of being an actor?"

"Shut... up..."

"You're frightened of taking it seriously right? If you put

in your all and it ends up not panning out you would feel like
you've been denied it all. When your sauntered acting was
pulled out in front of the 2nd team, you were scared of
knowing the results. In front of amateurs you would even
have been seen as good."

Nanako closed her eyes and looked down. However

Kawasegawa showed no signs of letting up.

"But when your acting was brought up against the real

thing it was tattered to shreds. Deep inside you, you think
that it can't be helped that you were completely defeated,
just accepting to make it go away. Bringing up the song from
now, you couldn't even say "How was it~". That's why just by
saying I want to continue being an actor, didn't you do it to
rely on Hashiba to get it by all means necessary."

"You're so noisy! Shut up already!"

 —Nanako who was patient until now finally exploded.

"What do you even know about me!? I've been

surrounded by songs since I was young, I like songs. Even if
I'm still tone deaf...! I'll manage one way or another, I've
decided on it long ago!!"

"Then, why didn't you do it?"

"Eh..."

With the words being lightly returned Nanako was once

again flustered.

"Then why did you join the Film Department? You

hesitated to join the Music Department didn't you? Even if
you couldn't fix your voice back at your hometown, if you
went to a decent school couldn't you have improved? I'll ask
you this then, why did you run away from it when it
mattered the most?"

"That's... because..."

"N-Nanako's been practicing with me many times

actually!"

I couldn't help but interject.

"So did you conduct proper lessons? Do you even have the
proper knowledge for it?"

"N-No..."

"Then don't call it practice. It's just a sham you're only

incessantly and uselessly doing things over and over."

I was ruthlessly cut down.

 "Don't run away, stand up to it. If you have something
that you want to do seriously, what would you do if you can't
even fight using your weapon? Even if you like doing it just
by getting a little praise don't think that anybody will get
moved by such half assed acting!!"

"!!"

Nanako approached infront of Kawasegawa and raised

her right hand.

"Nanako!"

I cut in between the two to stop it.

"Hit me then. It can't be helped, right?

Kawasegawa unflinchingly faced Nanako.

And then. Nanako's hands stopped while raised up.

"Uuuu......"

Eventually her hands were dropped down in resignment,

overlapping with it she turned her face downwards with an
audible groan. She desperately tried to hold herself crying,
enduring it till the last second. And then

"......I'm going back."

Nanako opened the door and ran.

"Nanako!"

"Don't follow me!"

I tried to chase her but she refused. My feet stopped, and

Nanako's figure vanished deep into the hallway. The door
was half opened as silence ruled over the booth.

"I didn't keep my promise."

Kawasegawa spoke in a quiet indifferent voice.

"I'll be going back. If that girl wants to I'll leave the team
too. I'm sorry for the trouble."

She takes out money from her wallet and dutifully placed
it on the table and left the room without saying anything.

"..............."

No one dared to say anything.

***

"This curry tastes real good."

Keiko-san is all smiles when asked for her opnion.

"Ah, quite so."

In front of me the curry was served with beautifully done

spade-shaped rice surrounded by the it's roux. I was hungry
and continued eating it but unfortunately I didn't feel much
of the taste.

"You don't find it good?"

I've been immediately found out.

"Sorry, usually I'd find it delicious and just dig in but..."

"You've been holding your concerns right? If you feel like

it we can eat another time."
 "Thank you very much."

I was called out by Keiko-san this day in continuation of

her invitation the other day.

".....And with that said, although its peak has gone by.
Doujin games are still going strong".

Though I sometimes get confused, it's still the year 2006

right now. It's Keiko-san says, a lot of star doujin games
were born around this time. Around the early 2000's with a
slew of commercially successful doujins such as
『Tsukinohime』 and 『Higurashi when they sound out.』
being released, the doujin game market temporarily became
the forefront of the otaku industry.

"『Matsuribayashi-hen』 came out recently right?"

If I remember correctly it came out this summer... so I

took a guess.

"You got that right. It had an insane people lining up for it

at Summer Comiket. I haven't been able to play it yet, I'm
interested in what happened after the massacre."

(TN: 『 Tsukihime 』 and 『 Higurashi 』 references.

『 Matsuribayashi-hen 』 is the final arc in the series. And
talk about spoilers.)

Thank goodness, I didn't seem to be wrong.

"Even if we can't go up against that monstrous game, we

managed to get out about 5000 copies. There's a hefty profit
to be made with games.

I thought about how many copies we sold when I was in

the business of manufacturing games back in 2016... It only
made me sad remembering so I stopped.

10 years ago was about the time when even physical copy
sales were going well. Comparing it out of the question.

"So going back to topic, helping you is a little......"

I give back my usual answer of it being impossible right

now, I end up with just an apology even though it was a
situation where I got a free meal out of it.

"It's really fine y'know. A junior should mooch off meals

from their seniors after all."

It feels odd being called that by someone who I can only

see as someone younger than me.

"I almost forgot, I brought you a souvenir today."

"Souvenir?"

"The games we made. I haven't handed it to you yet

right?"

As she says so, Keiko-san took out a number of dvd cases

and placed it on top of the table. It's in what is known as a
Tall Case. It was often use for the pricier doujin games.

(TN: basically the standard 14mm dvd case.)

"That's impressive. It's been properly published."

"That's a matter of course, We're very thorough on quality

control."

The doujin games from these times are mainly CD-Rom

games. It was a time when CD-R's were out on the market.
Most of the time it was personally burned and distributed,
circles that produce a lot of copies however place orders at
publishing companies.

"It even has a proper theme song, it was recorded in a

studio and everything."

"You're very particular about it."

"I'm taking this seriously after all. I don't want to create a

dispassionate work that I'll regret."

"That's right you're taking it seriously..."

"Of course I am. Taking creative work seriously is what

makes it amusing."

Keiko-san says as she puffs up her paltry chest.

"Whether it's doujins or any business. It's exactly because

of that seriousness when people band together to create
things, the customers that sincerely seeks for it will respond
in kind by consuming the product and relishing it all the
way. That's the most fascinating thing and the reason I can't
stop making things."

Back when I was creating games I crossed paths with a lot

of regretful things.

Copromises, giving up, corner cuttings. The more it piled

up, the more the quality would simply fall.

If your seriousness is only words deep, the users would

respond in kind. If you don't put your heart into the product,
no matter how much you mask it in in bells and whistles it
will eventually reveal itself.
 As is the case with Nanako, it's an opportunity to think
whether there's anything that could be done with being
"Serious"

"Then till next time then. Call me whenever you feel like
it. We'll do it over curry."

Keiko-san stands up and as customary says "Ciao." then

goes off.

***

When I returned to Sharehouse Kitayama Shinoaki and

Tsurayuki were standing in front of the house.

"How did it go?"

Upon hearing it both of them shook their heads

"She's definitely set on not coming out of her room. I

called to her several times but..."

Shinoaki says in a sad tone.

"We have no choice but to leave her alone for a while. She
needs to take care of it herself."

Tsurayuki with furrowed eyebrows sighs.

"...I see, Leaving her alone would be for the best."

Ever since that day, Nanako has completely shut herself in

her room.

She still came out when it was time for part time job and
lessons but she did so without talking to anyone and
immediately comes back to her room.
 "What a mess, That stuck-up Kawasegawa just had to go
and do unnecessary things."

Tsurayuki scratches his head and frowns.

"She just had to suddenly knock it out of the ball park

with being frank, when we could have eased her in a little
more slowly."

"Maybe so..."

Kawasegawa really went too far. Even if it went against

her own principles, I thought she wanted to consider it.

"But... me too." Shinoaki interjects. "I also thought that

Nanako wants to sing."

"Shinoaki...?"

"I mean Nanako serious about it. That's the reason why
Kawasegawa's words even hurt her."

Tsurayuki nods at Shinoaki's words.

"I'm of the same opinion. What Kawasegawa did might

have been too extreme but I honestly thought that Nanako
became more serious when it came to songs."

"Tsurayuki too..."

"Shouldn't she need to eventually face it? Rather than

regretting it down the line, it would be better to become
serious about it sooner."

Tsurayuki puts on his bike helmet and turned on the

engine.
 "She should try deciding on it, and if she happens to give
up on it, she could quickly move on to the next one."

He says so with a laissez-faire tone and goes out to his

part-time work.

The sound of the exhaust and the dust that lingers fades
out.

Then in a small feeble but clear voice.

"Yeah, I agree"

Shinoaki also nodded with an earnest expression.

***

"Both of those guys really are true blue creators..."

While laying down in my room I looked back upon the

earlier exchange.

Back then, I couldn't act heartless towards Nanako until

the very end.

Thinking that somehow it would continue, somehow it

would turn out well.

But for creators it never ends up well. Tsurayki and

Shinoaki knows that and even Kawasegawa knew it too.
That's why she tried to force out Nanako's 'seriousness'.

"That's true... This is Geidai after all..."

Taking things seriously with peers, striving for things in

earnest. This was a place were people gather for a variety of
reasons.
 For better or for worse, the sharehouse we live in is a
hodgepodge of unique personalities.

Immediately after entering this school, I was

overwhelmed by their passion. In contrast I was 28 year old
god for nothing who worked for a game company, my days
continued on unchanging.

But then I became conscious to the fact that I can't do

anything so I talked to various people and I was able to find
my own place and self-worth. No, I think it's more apt to say
that I got the chance to find it.

With just a little courage, and if you can take just a step
forward you would be able to find the meaning of working
with all your heart.

—But Nanako didn't have that courage. So she hid her

passions and buried it.

"What can I do... how do I get Nanako to give it her all?"

At present her singing is still incomplete.

When she sang in front of others she was only laughed at

as being off pitch. When it came to her volume and range it
was praiseworthy, her lung capacity was astounding.

However, she obstinately refuses to get professional

lessons.

"If she gains a bit of confidence would she be able to

change."

I open the ROM I got from Keiko-san

 "Ah, they were able to get CONOCONO on board...
Amazing..."

CONOCONO was a singer that provided many

professionals a great number of theme songs.

I remembered him to be already extremely popular by this

point in time.

"I tried to get him on staff with our company's game but it
didn't sit well with our budget."

With no other choice, I offered the job to an acquaintance

of the original artist as an in-between, but even that had its
own set of obstacles.

"I was surprised, I didn't think the songs uploaded at

NicoNico had all their pitches altered..."

When I tried out recording, the pitch was all over the
place, the range was narrow, and the volume came out low, I
remember having a huge amount of difficulty with it.

As a result of that I came back home with a sound

synthesizer, it was a software to master the audio.

"I learned a lot about pitch adjustment and things about

sound quality. In that sense I thank Mr. singer in that
regard."

*ding* In my head, I put 2 and 2 together.

"—Ah."

I quickly got up. I think calmly and organize my thoughts.

 Nanako certainly is tone deaf, but her volume and range
are great.

I have some experience with post-processing, so I'm

confident in adjusting the sound quality.

"T-This could be a chance...!"

I scavenge my bag.

In it was an IC Recorder that's used to record Nanako's

singing for practice.

And then with PC in hand...

The sound production software from this era didn't have

that much of a technical difference.

"Who knew I'd actually be thankful for this."

***

"Nanakooo!"

*Don don don* I pound on the door strongly.

"This is urgent, open up Nanako!"

After several knocks, the door slightly opened.

"...I don't want to talk anyone right now, sorry."

With just that she tries to close the door.

"Don't! Just a little, I only ask for a little of your time so

please...!"
 "No! Even you should have understood it right!? ......I
have nothing. It's all clean and there is nothing left... I don't
want to talk with anyone."

I pleaded but only a strong feeling of resignation could be

heard from the voice that leaked through the gap.

"I understand how you feel. But that's why I want to with
you, about what you yourself have."

"You don't understand! You have the ability to do lots of

things. You can take care of everyday necessities and even
look after everyone, you can even prepare one step ahead... I
absolutely don't know what a person like you can see in a
hollow person like me."

"It maybe so that I can do a lot of things. So It may not

even my place to say this but..."

I harken back to Shinoaki's words.

If you have something, cling onto it. But if there was

nothing, you just had to find something. Right now Nanako
might be searching for that something but ended up not
finding anything so she locked herself up.

"...I've found it."

"W-What?"

"I've found what you've been looking for, so I'll pass it on

to you."

I've brought the laptop from my room and laid it on the

floor and aimed the speaker towards the thinly opened door.

"—I won't give up."

 I launched the media player via clicking on the file called
'auto-tuned.mp3'

"Say Nanako... do you like your own singing?"

"...Haa? You of all people, what are you talking about?"

Nanako raised her voice in a blatantly grouchy tone.

"Sorry. I know listening to me might be hard but..."

I held my breath. I ruminate on the shock she experienced

just a while back.

"I've been listening to it so I want Nanako to listen to it

too. I wish for you to love your own singing and that's why..."

—I silently clicked the play button.

"...I really want for you to sing again."

The sound recorded by the IC recorder isn't good as far as

sound quality is concerned.

To be honest, normally listening to it would just produce a

bunch of noise.

However with the adjustments I made to the 'mere

karaoke recording'.

"......What is this?"

Nanako's tone changed instantly.

Even though I was the one who adjusted it earlier I

unconsciously sit up straight as I listened in ecstasy at the
altered sound.
 I don't know how many times I quivered during the
process of studying and correcting her bad habits.

Masked in her tone deafness was a gem of a singing voice.

Nanako would surely regain her confidence if she listened to
this.

I truly believed in that so one way or another I adjusted

the original sound and I visited her room.

"This is... my own voice?"

 Chapter 03: Fancy, The Best Offerring

Osaka is a place that retains a lot of heat from the

summer, the temperature is in full swing even in September.
I've also thought this back when I was in college before but
Minami Kawachi especially, where Geidai is located, leans
on the hotter side of things.

When the season passes however it gets cold in the blink

of an eye.

The wind from Mt. Kongo cools down the surrounding

neighborhood, freezing the students one by one in the
process.

"And henceforth I will establish the nation of kotatsu......"

With only her head and neck sprouting from the kotatsu,
Nanako casually heralded what could potentially be the
destruction of humanity.

"But mankind wouldn't be able to withstand that and

besides thy need to endeavor oneself into practicing
singing."

While breathing out a magnificent sigh I attempt to

somehow take Nanako, master of the kotatsu, to the outside
world.

"Come now, your singing teacher is waiting for you at

school."

"Don't wanna......"

And then now even her head is inside the kotatsu.

 "Hey Nanako you need to get to practice."

"N-O. means 'No'!"

Her tantrums could be heard coming from inside the

kotatsu.

"—That's a splendid spoiled kid act."

"—I had no idea that Nanako could act like a kid~"

The two outfielders had this feeling of amazement as they

looked on.

"Hey both of you don't just look, help me. Fine then I'm
forcing you out, heave ho!"

"Kyaa!?"

I forcibly dragged off the kotatsu futon that was above,

pulling out Nanako who was hiding inside.

"Get off! What a brute! I'm done already, I won't go to

practice~!"

Nanako puffs up her cheeks like a child all the while

struggling rampantly.

"Hey listen to this Kyouya! These days it take so loooong,

and it's even the same sets of practices. It feels like a chore,
It is not fun at all. I don't even feel like I'm getting better at
it!"

"You are doing lessons it isn't supposed to be all fun and

games"
 "How long do these boring lessons have to continue~! I've
been doing nothing but his for about a week now!"

"Ok, ok calm down calm down, I get it so let's just go

outside..."

It feels like I'm a parent comforting a child.

I stand against the kotatsu table completely obliterating

Nanako's defense wall.

"Uwaah! No way! You would just hate me if I sing like this

even now."

Oh boy the crocodile tears are here.

"No way! I really love your singing, Nanako! Don't you

know that I've been waiting for it all this time? Even with all
the preparations."

Nanako has finally calmed down

"Really?"

"Trust me. I wouldn't lie to you just like that."

I grab Nanako by the hand and pull her up.

"You know I was deeply moved by your singing."

"Uuuu... but..."

"I've been thinking that someday I'd be able to hear your

song without any tuning. It's something that only you can do
Nanako."

I pat on her shoulders

 "I'm looking forward to it. That's why..."

*Uuuuuu* Even when the person herself is still pouting"

"I-I give up! I'll go ok! Don't look at me in expectation

with those sparkling eyes! It's that, the pressure you know?
Really now!"

***

*batabata* Escaping from the embarrassment she fixed

herself right up putting on her shoes in an instant.

"I'll be going off!!"

And just like that she went out of the house in a sprint.

I saw her off until she was gone, then sighed in relief.

"Hmm, at that rate would she be able to hang on I

wonder?"

Feeling like a parent watching over my child, I prayed to

her good luck.

"Regardless of the tuning was the singing really that

great?"

"Nanako was motivated that much, it must be so~"

Tsurayuki and Nanako have yet to actually listen to the

Nanako's auto tuned song.

"Well just look forward to it. She'll be able to sing for you
someday."

I want those two to be able to have a taste of her greatness

with a live song one day.
 "I'll also be going out now."

"You've still doing those part time job huh"

"I've found a good one it will give me steady income for a

while. I'll also be staying out overnight."

"So you won't be coming back today. roger that~"

"And with that—woah woah woah!?"

Tsurayuki quickly raised himself up with one hand, he fell

on his backside as he was leaving.

"Ow, That was pathetic of me, I'm getting on in years."

"You aren't even 20 yet that's a strange thing to say..."

With his wry smile he pull up my hands and for an

instant, Tsurayuki's face caught my eye, I noticed something
off.

"Huh?"

His complexion is visibly bad. The skin is somewhat burnt

with summer tan though that doesn't really raise any alarms
but there were bags under his eyes plus his breathing is also
rough.

Did he catch a cold? I try to call him out but...

"Thanks for that. Then now, It's time for me to actually

go,"

Standing up, Tsurayuki says his thanks, turns his bike key
and leaves the house.
 "...Ah, I've never really heard the reason on why he works
so much."

Is there something he wants?

Or maybe because he is a diligent student and uses it as

fuel for his scripts. I wonder what he's vying for going so far
as to go work even when his condition is somewhat bad.

"Kyouya-kun will you be doing anything?"

Shinoaki aske me looking a bit giddy. Judging from the

flow of this, she may want to show me her new illustrations
again.

"I don't have anything planned so—"

As I was saying that I was free today, my phone rang.

"—Oh, It's an incoming call. I wonder who its from? Give

me a minute."

"Yup, go ahead~"

A call from someone outside of Team Kitayama, that's

unexpected

"Hello, Hashiba speaking... It's been a while....."

It was a senior from the club.

"......Eh?"

After hearing the contents, Naturally I ask about it again.

***

"Kyouya-kun I'm glad you could make it."

 "Haaa..."

Rushing to the club room I find Hiyama-san and

Kakihara-san staring at a creature with cold eyes.

"I've summoned you post-haste for a matter of grave

importance. A decision has been made that could potentially
impact you and your surroundings."

Being encircled by everyone the "creature" in question

that's in front of me was none other than the 5th year
Takafumi Kiryu. A placard with the words 『 Talking is
Forbidden, I Can Only Reflect』 is held by both his hands.

"And so, What the heck did Kiryu-san actually do?"

"Listen to me Hasshi~! I did it with the best of

intentions."

"Shut your mouth sicko!"

Hiyama-san pierced Kiryu-san's ass quite splendidly with

a pole.

"Eeeeeeeeeek!?"

"You're forbidden to speak! Zip it and reflect!"

...The people's treatment of him here isn't really good at

the best of times but this might just be the first time I've ever
seen his human rights stripped off him.

What did he do to actually deserve this?

"Kiryu-san here took the liberty of writing an application

form and selfishly decided what we would put out at the
school festival."
 Kakihara sighed and answered.

"Every year at Biken we go and borrow a classroom from

the art department to do an exhibit. Usually we have some
people to draw us the display pieces but...."

"Since this old geezer decided it was a good idea as the

president to suddenly change the exhibit without any
permission."

"Ah, afuuun~!"

Yama-san's pole booms out a sound.

Putting aside the abuse isn't Kiryu-san just enjoying this?

"That does sound terrible, but it's only something like

selling crepes or okonomiyaki at a stall right? I can lend a
helping hand."

At my words the two seniors' heaved a very deep sigh, The

words "That would have been nice..." could be seen through
their actions.

".....Eh? Is it that bad?"

And as if on cue,

"——Heeyoo! Soz for the wait!"

Without warning, what I can only describe as a pink laden

voice resonates out from the entrance of the clubroom. A
little girl donning a frilly costume while sporting an
improper version of the Kansai dialect appears.

"Eh, K-Keiko-san?"
 "Right-o Keiko 'ere! I maybe old but I'm as cute as cute
can be ♥."

Without a doubt the one who appeared was Keiko-san.

Keiko runs around the club room with a smile as if the

Kingdom of Heaven descended on this moral realm. The two
seniors could only hold their heads at the reality of the
situation.

"......It can't be, are we doing a maid café?"

"......You hit it right on it's head Kyouya-kun."

Kakihara-san's voice trailed off as he explained the whole

situation.

***

To cut things short, Kiryu-kun still did get permission to

use the usual exhibition place but as a place to drink and
dine. And as per 100% his taste alone he chose to do a maid
café. Naturally he was tight lipped about it to the other
members and the two here with their seething rage only ever
found out about it due to the brochures that were released
only this day. 『We're holding a tribunal for you right here
right now!』 was basically how it all went down.

"Even though me and Sugimoto are already hustling and

bustling in preparation for the live event, now we even have
this on our plate."

Even with his lady killer face Kakihara-san couldn't hide

his agitation.

"At any rate I thought that we don't have anyone who

could be a maid, so I was thinking we could have this old
man dress up and we could set up a tranny maid café but
choose to let go of the idea......"

Hiyama-san glanced at Keiko-san.

"Oh? 'ya fall in love with me? Did'ja get charmed by this
Onee-san?"

"Kirari~n ☆." Keiko posed appealingly.

It was a hellish sight.

"We don't even have the man power... I mean wouldn't

old man Kiryu have planned this project out with little
missy-senpai right here..."

"Well that's how it should be."

I nodded deeply.

Reminiscing back on how I was even dragged into this

club, Kiryu-san's absurdity and wildness we're only
amplified by his dynamism.

"But doesn't this mean that Keiko-san would be the only

maid? Don't tell me Hiyama-san too?"

"O-Of course I won't do it!"

Hiyama-san wholeheartedly denies her involvement.

"Don't dwell on it too much Hiyama-chan, I for one

wouldn't mind at all if—Gahak!?"

Getting too riled up, Hiyama-san shoved paper clay into

Kiryu-san's mouth.
 "It's wheat based so it's not poisonous. And with that said
though..."

Hiyama-san looked apologetic.

"The first victim of this fiasco is actually someone close to

you."

"Eh... don't tell me it's!?"

At the same time I stood up.

"——Weew~ It takes a long time dressing up in this here

clothes~"

From the entrance another little girl came in wearing a

fluffy skirt... scratch that it was a slightly older girl that came
inside the club room.

"Shinoaki, that outfit..."

"Ah it's Kyouya-kun. This 'ere was given by Kiryu-san but

told me to keep it a secret from you. I wonder why~"

We just parted ways in front of the share house but before

I knew it she came here prepared like this. I have no clue
what kind of time magic she managed to use, but I get to see
Shinoaki maid version again."

Her blackish hair color coupled with the chic maid clothes
fit surprisingly well. It even looks like that naivete maid I
read in a manga a long time ago. It is insanely cute.

The nerd in Kiryu-san probably coordinated Shinoaki's

outfit based on that image.
 "......From this point on I will become your humble
disciple, Kiryu-san."

"It's nice in its own way I guess."

Doing such an outrageous thing I was a little bit

disappointed with the reaction.

"And Kyouya-kun."

"What is it Hiyama-san? Don't tell me. Is there something

else?"

A "Yes." is reflected on Hiyama-san's anxious expression.

"At the school festival's program application form there's

a section that logs down all the people involved."

In other words the document has already been submitted.

"Moreover no changes could be made since this total

dumbass graciously sent it to the committee ahead of time!
So we can't even do anything about it!"

"—Ga!? Gabuhcksdksfkdshfs!?" With her seething rage

she guzzled down paper clay down to the back of Kiryu-san's
throat.

"So we've come up short, we don't have enough

members."

I have a bad premonition about this. Actually it's not even

a premonition I'm sure that it's here already.

"So that means..."

Hiyama-san nodded
 "That's right, we need to secure more members."

***

"I'm baack........."

Nanako came back home looking all doom and gloom 5

times over.

"Sigh... The machine doesn't do playback..... The mp3

player has a broken stop button... And speaker is stuck on
full blast...."

She then laughs like an old man who has made their
peace.

"Good work Nanako."

"I'm only doing vocalization, Honestly... It only makes me

remember all the good places here in Geidai where you
could sing to your hearts content..."

Since the university also has music students there are

soundproofed rooms here where you can sing and play
instruments as loud as you can get. Of course the number is
limited though so freshmen and those that are outside of the
department looking to train will have to look for places
outside of the school. It seems Nanako has become a regular
in such places.

"As a reward for your hard work I've prepared your

favorite, Soy Milk Nabe."

"It's really incredible~ Since Kyouya-kun hunted down

the meats that were half-off it has twice the meat compared
to the usual one~"
 *buruburubruru* The opal white broth is bubbling in the
pot.

"Eh, There's soy milk nabe for real!?"

Nanako's eyes regained all its shimmer at once.

"No way~ Thanks~! It looks seriously good did you make

this yourself Kyouya-kun?"

"That's right, Shinoaki also helped with cutting the

vegetables."

"Lately even I've been able to do a little bit thanks to what

Kyouya-kun taught me."

And as Nanako nodded gleefully.

"Ah, I was expecting that I would just die outright today

but I'm definitely glad that I was able to come home!
Kyouya-kun and Shinoaki's home cooked meal~ I'll go
immediately wash my hands then so I can dig ri——"

"——Nanako."

I grasped her hands tightly.

"Truthfully I have a little... favor to ask of you."

"Favor?"

"Yeah, can you come here with me for a second?"

I looked at Shinoaki to signal her as a question mark

floated on top of Nanako's head once I took her up to the
2nd floor.

***
 And about 5 minutes later.

"Uwaaa... I'm completely done, I really hate you

Kyouya..."

*dgdgdg* Nanako rushed down the stairs opened the

bathroom door went in and fortified herself in it.

"Nanako! I'm sorry, really I am! But it wasn't really that

bad, the clothes aren't that embarrassing. It's only a little
revealing so don't worry about it!"

I pounded on the bathroom door, I minced my words in

an effort to change her mind.

However the contents of the request really is that high of a

hurdle from the outset.

"I don't want to! I already tire myself to the bone by

practicing daily if you add this embarrassing thing to the mix
I would seriously die!!"

Nanako wasn't joking at all. Ah well, It's not like I don't

understand the sentiment though.

"I think it really suits you Nanako. Yer' going to be

popular if you show off~"

Would Shinoaki's warmth get through? But as that lead

was pursued though,

"No way! A huge amount of people would see it right?

There's no conceivable way I could do that!"

"D-Don't shoot yourself down, for now just come out the
nabe is ready, let's just eat for now ok?"
 "I don't want to! I want to eat Nabe but you would
definitely just start talking e into it!"

The sound of Nanako stomping the floor could be heard."

"No matter what..." The sound of breathing resonated out.

"...I will never become a maid!"

***

"Oh my, don't you look really lovely......!"

Hiyama-san squeals in joy.

As she bashfully held her skirt down by the hem, The

moment Nanako entered the club room sporting a bright red
face cheers could be heard from the members all around.

The clothes that were made for a slightly tall girl fit
perfectly on her as if it was tailor made. Because of the leg
length of the person in question, the skirt looks even shorter
adding to its charm point.

"Ahh, uhmm, please don't stare at me too much..."

Her lines were like those carefully manufactured dialogue.

It's seriously absolutely perfect.

"Uuu... I was persuaded in the end after all..."

Nanako crestfallenly leaked out those words, feeling really

bad I couldn't look at her straight in the eyes.

While I was wrapped up in my own guilt beside me is

Kiryu-san with eyes wide open.
 "Breathtaking... Could this be a miracle, Hasshi. Where
have you been hiding this remarkable talent all this time!?
You sly boy!"

"Don't make me shove more paper clay in your mouth."

It really is all thanks to the person who dealt with the

negotiations.

"It's so great, this girl is the big boobed kid who shares a
part time job with you right Hasshi?"

Keiko-san gladly looked all over Nanako from various

angles."

"Well~ I already thought that Shinoaki-chan was already

good enough but Nanako-chan looks like she could get loads
of nasty money with her body."

"Eeeek......"

"Please stop that Keiko-san you're scaring her."

Shinoaki happily nods.

"Nanako is definitely gorgeous after all~ We really need

ta' safeguard the shop don'tcha think so Kyouya-kun~"

"You're right about that..."

It's not that I mind running the store, it's that I have to
once again clean up somebody else's mess.

***

It was Saturday 2 weeks before the festival.

I received 2 calls on the phone so I went to university.

 Maybe because Geidai is so far off the beaten path from
the city but the student population sharply decreases once
Saturday rolls around. Since attendance is also greatly
affected less compulsory classes usually aren't taken on this
day. That's why there's usually barely any people here on
this day. Even with the preparations for the school festival
going around they're all centered inside the club buildings so
the hallways in the school area are sparsely populated.

"Sorry I had to call you out here like this."

Of the several café's in Geidai regardless of its name the

"Mirage" has the most vogue interior out of all of it.

Sitting at the far side of the seat Eiko Kawasegawa is

already there waiting. With paperback in hand, It seems like
she has ordered hot coffee and started drinking in advance.

"Am I late perhaps...?"

I checked the time and confirmed it was 5 minutes before

the appointed meeting.

"Pay it no mind. I just have a weird habit of coming too

early."

"How long have you been waiting?"

"30 minutes ago. It's about the same time I arrive with
any meeting."

That's quite a difference in time.

"It's hard dealing with people habitually having no sense

of time. In that regard however seeing as you came slightly
earlier you get a pass."
 "I see......"

"Here take this."

Kawasegawa was about to take something out of her bag,

so in order to stop her then and there.

"Don't tell me, you want to leave the team right?"

"Eh..."

Kawasegawa stopped moving and faced in my direction.

Based on her expression a silent rage could be heard, but

unfortunately Kawasegawa wasn't that sort of character.

"......How did you know ahead of time?"

For now she took out documents and put it on top of the
table. 『 Changing of Production Team Application Form 』
is written at the top.

Well it was as expected though.

"It really is my bad on how I dealt the situation with

Nanako. I was very much an annoyance to you and the team
you're leading, that's why I believe that we can't be in the
same team any longer."

The document was already signed and stamped she really

went all the way with the intention of passing it out.

"I wasn't really bothered by it and even Nanako herself

feels sorry about the whole thing. This won't be necessary."

I carefully ripped the paper and put it in my pocket for

now.
 "I want this to never have happened. Ok?"

I smiled. Kawasegawa looked a little embarrassed.

"......Then I'll do just that." She breathes a sigh. "You know

to tell you the truth I expected you to do something like this
in the back of my mind."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. I even went as far as to set up such a farce. I really

am such an unpleasant girl."

She drinks coffee and frowns. "Lukewarm."

"Do you want me to order a fresh brew?"

"It's fine. I don't even like coffee."

Then why did you order one? What a weird girl...

"Deep down I was really jealous."

"With who—well you could only be talking about her."

Kawasegawa nods.

"She has such a sparkling amount of talent she even

worked on it ever since she was little. I pretended to not see
that side of her so I got angry instead."

"I see......"

"She's able to put out such a relaxing voice plus the person
herself is even glamorous and cute. It was only a misplaced
complex. Ahhh, why are stars like this."

After blowing off steam she took a deep breath.

 "Your team is chock full of talent. I was just jealous right
from the beginning, all this time."

I always wondered why, rather I guessed the opposite. She

has more knowledge about films more than anyone else, no
one even comes close to how hard she worked on studying.

"Even so, I think of it differently. You have your own

talent as a director, Kawasegawa..."

"How so?"

Kawasegawa let out the biggest sigh she had all day.

"I'm just conceited, I can only brag about the number of

films I've seen. The only things I can make from that are 2nd
rate copycat movies that won't even make it as part of a
double bill. I can keep up with my knowledge alone for now
but in time I will definitely be surpassed in a moment's
notice."

She showed a gesture as if trying to avoid the thing from

before.

"Making artificial things, I'm exactly just that."

I recall the 2nd place work from the film showing. Was
she talking about that unpolished but powerful work?
Certainly it was a work that I felt had limitless potential but
even then Kawasegawa took the top spot with all her might.

"That's an overstatement. We really just gave it our all, it's

not like we could just simply pull out something like that at a
drop of the hat."

"You're all huh... I wonder if that really is the case."

 She smiles and picks up the cup again

"I really can't help being a shitty bastard. Looks like

there's no helping it."

"At the very least I don't think you're a bastard at all."

"Then I'll just be a shitty woman then. For now just call
me shit."

Kawasegawa surprisingly used vulgar words that didn't

suit her. Was she influenced by someone?"

"But thanks to that shitty woman's words, Nanako is now

trying to break out of her shell."

"Who are you calling a shitty woman?"

"Didn't you say it yourself!?"

"I did It in jest. What about it then?"

......Really now, what a troublesome kid.

"She's training now, she doesn't have any results yet but
she's giving it her all."

"......I see."

"It's as I told you. She finally understood the meaning of

your words. If you didn't lay out the truth then nothing
would have gotten through to her."

"That girl would have realized it one day without me

pointing out."

"There's value in it exactly because you pointed it out

now"
 *staaare* Kawasegawa glared at me with stern eyes.

"Fine then. If that's the result alright then."

She got up from her seat.

"I'll be going back. It looks like the talented team's

supplementary leader can't quit just yet."

She really doesn't want to be upfront about it huh.

I also wryly smiled deep in my heart. In the same way I

stood up and headed for the exit.

"Ah that's right."

Kawasegawa looked back as I told her.

"You said something by mistake earlier."

"A mistake...?"

She tilts her head

"It's not "your" team its "our" team."

I throw the application form from earlier into the trash

bin.

"Don't you think so?"

".........What's with you."

Kawasegawa spilled out a light smile.

"You should take care not to come off as snobby and

such."
 "Eh, i-is that so..."

***

After parting with Kawasegawa at the store front I went to

the film research lab in building 7. Apart from Kawasegawa I
was also called over by Kanou-sensei.

"This has quite an ominous feeling to it..."

Only one thing comes to mind. The matter with the

equipment rental.

Even though Keiko-san swears that she'll keep her mouth

our partnership is still quite young. I wouldn't be surprised
even if the information would ride the wind into the ears of
the wrong person. Although the 3rd years were accomplices,
there's still a risk of information leakage.

"I'm threading on thin ice here..."

Arriving at the appointed time, I'm tinged with regret and

prepare for the worst as I opened the door to the film lab.

"Pardon the intrusion."

"Ah, There you are. Come in."

With both her elbows resting on the desk, Sensei

beckoned me to come nearer.

"Sorry for having to call you over. So, do you have any
Idea why you were called here?

"Ah... uh-uhmmm..."

Of course I do. But of course I couldn't answer that.

 The professor who is in charge of our class and the one in
charge of managing the equipment are one and the same.
Getting caught means I wouldn't be getting out of here scot-
free with a sorry.

"No, not really..."

Believing in the possibility that I could get off the hook I

decided to play coy.

"There's only one thing I could be talking about. It's about

your place's very own Rokuonji..."

Thank god it wasn't about the equipment.

...However Tsurayuki's name being brought up is

worrisome.

"Tsurayuki? Is there anything wrong?"

"That's right, He's been missing a lot of his classes

recently. I thought something might've happened."

"Tsurayuki's attendance......"

It was definitely unusual for him to skip class. Tsurayuki

often slept in class but he rarely took a break from it. We've
been sitting next to each other in class less and less since the
second half of the semester due to other commitments, were
his absences really that much?

"Does anything come to mind? Is anything worrying him

or maybe even troubling him?"

"Not especially... He hasn't really talked to me anything

about it either."
 I tried recalling stuff from the past few days, but nothing
really stood out.

"Well, it isn't something that would immediately impact

his advancement to the next semester, he had perfect
attendance in the first half after all. That said though you
shouldn't take it for granted. If the absences pile up it would
affect one's evaluation."

"Yes, I understand. It really is quite tough not having

enough attendance..."

I should pay close attention next time he wasn't in the

best of conditions the other day.

At least my premonition didn't come true this time, I'm

usually spot on about these things.

"It is infinitely better than Mr. Equipment

Subcontractor."

If possible I wanted to see my reaction from a different

camera angle at that time.

It felt like being beaten so hard that the shock left me

speechless. With my mouth agape I stood there
dumbfoundedly in blank amazement from head to toe.

"——Ya got that right~ Infinitely better for sure~"

"K-K-K-K-Keiko-san!?"

A woman who knew the secret came out of the blue

hidden from plain site, it was none other than Keiko-san.

"Ah, It really isn't something that could be touted about as

laudable, but I heard all about the hard work you put into
making the film so I cut you a great deal of slack."

"......I sincerely apologize."

It ended with only a verbal warning. We really would have

been in hot water if we lost the equipment while subleasing
it. I'll have to find a different way in the future.

"It's all fine and dandy, ya' don't need ta worry bout it~"

"You should worry about it in more ways than one Keiko-

san!"

In the first place, why did she even talk about it when it's
supposed to be a secret.

"Besides it's not something to be concerned with. I knew

that Kano-chan 'ere wouldn't be mad at it. And with this you
wouldn't need to mull about doing such a bad thing in
secret~"

"Well that's......"

It is easier to let it out than always tiptoeing around it.

"That's why we're now even with the loan thing. Just give
me a holler if ya ever become interested with that thing
earlier. A fifty-fifty if ya will."

So that means we don't owe each other anything anymore.

Maybe its just Keiko's way of giving us a peace of mind.

——No way....that can't be all there is to it.

Judging from the way she replied earlier, it gave of a

feeling that she was interested in seeing what would happen
if she were to expose it out in the open, yeah that must be it.
 Across the table, I take turns looking at the women sitting
lackadaisically.

"Do you both know each other?"

"That's right."

"Yep, we're from the same cohort."

*siiiiiiiiiiigh.* I large sigh exhaled from my mouth.

From the moment I met Keiko-san I've always wondered

whether her liveliness and high-handedness would be
someone's downfall. But now I'm convinced.

Moreover, both of them don't feel like their age. If one of

them said to me they were university students I'd believe
them no questions asked.

"We wanted to spook you a little so we called you out

here."

"And as expected, you were scared up straight."

"He really did, kukuku."

Sensei took a cup and spun it round and round with her
hands.

For the time being though, I'm relieved that the

equipment didn't turn into that big of a deal.

"Were the two of you on the same film team?"

"Not at all. I'm from the film course and this kid was in
the advertisement course."

"It was worlds apart."

 That was unexpected.

"The common point we had were games."

"Ah so it was that sort of thing."

"I had Kanou-chan write a scenario for me. People

thought that the writer was man it never crossed their mind
that it was a girl all along."

I can somehow predict where this is going.

"Speaking of that what are you going to do moving

forward Keiko? You can't make a game without members
you know."

It looks like that Kanou-sensei doesn't have an inkling

that Keiko-san has been trying to invite me over. Keiko-san
could've used Sensei to goad me into in but even she knows
better than to do it.

"Yeah, right now I'm the only one on the team."

"The only one?"

When asked Sensei was the one who responded for her.

"Keiko's circle only has the kid herself as a programmer.

Other than that every seat is basically open."

"Can I ask why...?"

You see it all around copy-pasted everywhere by aspiring

startups, "I'm looking for a producer, vocalist, guitar, bass
and a drummer."
 "I'm oft'a belief that as long as I can program then it's
good enough."

And so until now she didn't have any fixed staff members
other than herself.

"Back then Kanou-chan helped me'self quite a bit."

"That was when N-Suku was pretty new. Working with the
production group back then was a lot of fun~"

The two relished in their memories from their old days of

game development together. Listening in on them I could
tell that they were able to properly make a game.

——I'm kind of jealous.

Not having a person I could call a comrade myself I'm

green with envy at their relationship.

Keiko-san and Kanou-sensei where working together at

that kind of place. A place where zeal and fervor clashed
ardently, and its result bearing forth a true work of art.

(TN: Nscripter reference a freeware visual novel engine

released back in 1999 it runs on lua and was used on
popular titles such as Tsukihime (It's been 10 000 years
Nasu remake where WHEEEREE!!! For the record I blame
F/GO), Narcissu, Umineko and Higurashi.)

(Ren: Narcissu 1 and 2 are kinetic novels. I recommend it

for LN Readers who likes sad short stories.)

***

Time passed a bit more as we talked about games until I

decided to leave.
 "If you'll please excuse me. Keiko-san let's meet again at
the school festival."

"I'll be counting on ya then. If weirdos come round ya'd

fend them off for me, ok?"

I think that the weirdos would be the one running if

Keiko-san started talking though. I'm sure of it.

"Ah, I almost forgot I had a question to ask you Hashiba."

Sensei called out to me just as I was about to close the

door

"It's about Kogure. That girl... did she ever recover after
that?"

She was worried about her after all.

"......Yes. She's finally started getting serious."

Then after a little while.

"I see, Then I'll be anticipating it, That girl's seriousness."

She smiled a grin.

***

The school festival is now less than a week away

"The festival's almost here, the preparations should be

done by now I think."

"I can't wait ta see it~ Makes ya wonder what the shop
would look like."
 That morning Shinoaki and me are out on a leisurely
stroll towards Biken. We weren't really all that involved in
the preparations for the maid café that the club is putting
out.

"This one is on me. I'll bear full responsibility."

The main culprit, Kiryu-san, said so that's why I left him

to his own devices.

"And all of it was managed by Kiryu-san——"

I stop my words dead in its tracks.

"What's wrong Kyouya-kun?"

"...N-Nothing, I just have a really bad feeling cross my

mind just now."

This flow. This situation.

When you play the role of production manager, by nature,

your instincts sharpen against bad premonitions. As a rule of
thumb one can surmise the accident that could be derived
from the current situation.

—There's one person presiding everything.

And more so, that one person presiding the whole thing is
someone you can't rely on at all

"Let's hurry on over Shinoaki."

From the casual mood earlier I turn around and headed to

the club room in a sprint.

"W-Why? What happened?"

 "It's more of what will happen! That's why I need to hurry
over there and devise countermeasures!"

I then arrived at the front of the clubroom.

"Good morn- uwah!"

Just near the entrance Kiryu-san is sitting on his knees.

And what's more, he's been made to hold a large heavy-
looking stone statue on top of his lap. On top of that, he
looked over me with all life gone from his face in my
direction not uttering a single word

"...How did this happen Kiryu-san?"

"Oh, it's Shinoaki-chan... um you see, I did a bit of an

oopsie again..."

A floppy ruler like object was then placed on Kiryu-san's

head as he talked.

"Who told you to speak?"

"Yes ma'am......."

Kiryu-san made like a clam and fell silent once again.

".........That's how it is Kyouya-kun."

Hiyama-san donned the air of a queen or rather was

thrust upon her as she stood their with her imposing aura.
The stone statue must have been picked up somewhere from
the crafts department and was forced upon Kiryu-san.

"Ah did he do something again...?"

 I've already guessed everything judging from the situation
in front of me. Just then the ill omen that I get proved to be
right once again.

To my horror, Kiryu-san, who was supposed to be the

event planner for everything, hadn't put together a single
thing. When Hiyama-san asked him about the preparations
he responded with "It's tucked away deep inside my heart."
and that's when everything hit the fan and lead to this whole
debacle.

What's more Hiyama-san couldn't act as a stopgap for it

because she was too busy with her own tasks while
Kakihara-san and Sugimoto-san were unable to take charge
because they were hardly in the club room due to the
preparations for the festival's live show. The other people
rarely come to the club room so we can't just ask them out of
the blue.

—And then.

"......That's how it is, I'm sorry but you will have to act as
coordinator."

Even though I'm a 1st year student I was put in charge of

the operation once the school festival comes around.

***

"Have you gotten all the ingredients yet, Hasshi?"

"Not yet! Kakihara-san is buying more as we speak!"

"Kyouya-kun, I think we're missing a table cloth~"

"Go and ask Hiyama-san! Ah—Nanako, you're doing it

wrong put it on the shelves instead of the table!"
 "Eh, but I was just told it was the other way around."

"Seriously!? Isn't there miscommunication here? Kiryu-

san!"

"Yessir!"

"This goes on the shelf right?"

"My bad! It's a mistake on my part. The Tab——"

"——It's fine to put it on the table! Ah, Keiko-san good

morning!"

"Morning~ Do you want me to change clothes for now?"

"Please do, we'll be doing a practice run after—Wait a

minute Keiko-san! Don't start changing your clothes here!
There's a changing room over there!"

"Haha, Nobody'd want to look at auntie's body 'ere

anyway. I'm just kidding, ok~"

"It's not a laughing matter! Kiryu-san stopped working

and is staring over here! And speaking of him, Kiryu-san
please bring that over faster! Ah Shinoaki, that pitcher is for
kitchen use there's a separate one for the guests, pass that
message to Nanako for me. Oh Kakihara-san welcome ba....
you brought the wrong ingredients! That's not honey that's
vanilla extract! Aah, Hiyama-san, Shinoaki put tablecloth on
the shelf earlier, I mean a jug, I mean-Uwaaaaaaah!?"

***

The turbulent week passed by and we somehow managed

to finish all the preparations just in time.
 "Good job everyone~! Thanks to all of you it shaped up to
be a pretty good looking shop~!"

With the preparations nearing completion, Kiryu-san

voiced out his joy at the completely exhausted crew.

"—Kiryu-san."

Hiyama-san's cold voice flies through the air.

"Shut up, ok?"

"Y-Yes ma'am...."

Kiryu's body shriveled up.

"Kyouya-kun, Shinoaki-chan, and Nanako-chan good

work~ How bout going out to eat with auntie 'ere~"

Keiko-san talked to us in a show of concern.

"Ah, then I'll take you up on the offer. I want to talk with
you Keiko-san."

Shinoaki seemed raring to go.

"I will have to pass on that. I'm a bit tired so I think I will
be taking a break..."

Nanako looked like she's nearing her limits.

"Then I'm going to take Nanako home now, Keiko-san

sorry but please take care of Shinoaki for me."

"'Course I will."

"Take care of Nanako-chan Kyouya-kun~"

 Parting ways at the classroom, the two of us headed home.
This time, the preparations for the club are completed. The
only thing left now is the actual performance at the school
festival.

***

November is cold as expected.

The students around me hunched forward as they walk to

fight the freezing temperature. Since it's in the middle of the
changing of seasons, others were wearing light clothes and
some were wearing thick ones. Fortunately for her, Nanako
was wearing heavy clothing, meanwhile I wore fairly thin
ones and I'm feeling chilly.

"Time flies fast doesn't it? The temperature's starting to

feel wintery already~"

Nanako is walking on ahead of me. It looks like she's

feeling cold with her shoulders hugging inwards. Maybe
she's sensitive to the cold but even with such a warm looking
jacket she's still shivering.

"Yeah. It went by in a flash."

My body slightly quivered at the temperature as I replied

to Nanako.

Without experiencing much of fall, winter came straight

away. When I get home I'll take the cold weather seriously
into account.

"Preparing a shop from zero is pretty tiring. Working at a

convenience store is better because everything's already
there from the start."
 She's might have been overworked too hard her neck
makes a cracking sound as she turns her head side to side.

"I'm sorry about this. Even when you're working hard

practicing I still asked you to do this kind of thing."

"And you should be sorry! Why the heck am I a maid!? —

is what I wonder from time to time."

—Nanako answered back with a wry smile.

"But to be honest it's a nice refreshing change of pace. The

costume is cute too."

I'm going to show her the abundance pictures I took with

the digicam we used back in the project for the first half.

Nanako, I'm sure that in ten years' time you'll be a

mainstay in Instagram.

"Just as with that incident from the other day."

She looks up at the pitch-black sky.

"I keep saying irresponsible things like pouring my whole

life into acting. Just because I was praised a bit I got carried
away."

*Haaa* She takes a deep breath.

"Then I was pushed down from my high horse, even my

singing was bombarded relentlessly. And yet somehow I was
encouraged to start taking lessons..."

Hahah. She laughs softly

 "Then after that I was turned into a maid. I'm honestly
not sure where I'm headed next."

"I'm really sorry."

"It's fine. I don't have a problem with it but..."

Nanako cut off her words.

"...Rather at this point in time it's actually harder for me

to run away from singing... if you get what I mean."

"........."

Genuine fear is hidden behind her words.

Right now she was striving for something that she can't
shrug off with excuses.

"Kyouya hear me out..."

Her uneasiness is apparent on her face.

"If I keep practicing like this... will I really be able to sing

properly?"

"What are you getting at?"

"Ah, what I mean to say is... My instructor teaches me

extremely well, although I may whine a lot I still think I have
to try my best."

So she's not worried about the practice itself.

"But you know, even if I do try my best what comes after

then? If you ask me whether I have goals or not I just don't
know."
 "Goals?"

"I have no such thing. I won't be entering contests nor do

I have any plans to sing in front of others."

Nanako stopped walking and looked back at me.

"...Is it really ok for me to continue on like this?"

Nanako is struggling against a destination yet unseen. In

the past she would resign herself to the fact that she's tone-
deaf and be done with it. She's given up on that and she's
now shaken off those thoughts. However, she doesn't have a
guarantee whether it would or even know what comes next
after achieving it. It is exactly as she said, it isn't easy to
blindly reach out to a goal you don't even have.

In her case her tentative goal is "To be able to sing as

much as I want." but even then a hard numerical value or a
correct answer doesn't exist for that. Standing up to such a
vague and undefined thing drains a lot of energy.

But I myself, I want Nanako to sing.

"......Of course you can."

"Kyouya?"

"Now that you've committed yourself to it facing it head

on, I'm positive you can. Besides that, I was touched by only
a fraction of your sincerity yet I was still deeply moved by it.
I'm sure that if it's the sincerity that comes from Nanako
herself, you will one day be able to reach out and move the
hearts of crowds upon crowds of people."

I have no proof of it. The only thing I can believe in is my

own impression when I listened to her voice. But first things
first, if Nanako doesn't rise up to the task then her story
ends here half-way unfinished.

"Kyouya can I ask...? Why do you keep urging me on

forward...?"

She curiously inquires.

"That's because I've listened to Nanako's singing. Getting

to experience something that amazing, it's bound to
happen."

Shinoaki, Tsurayuki, and Kawasegawa are all cut from the

same cloth.

I'm surrounded by loads of amazing people. Everyone is

in anguish, each one of them is struggling to create amazing
things.

In order to make their dreams a reality, I'll do everything

in my power to help. It's the reason I'm 10 years in the past,
I'm sure of it.

"Then can I also become one of Kyouya's great

achievements... yeah right..."

Nanako looks downwards in embarrassment.

"You already are Nanako."

"Kyouya...?"

She faces upwards

"That's why if you ever lose your way then let us search for
your goal together, I will help you with all that I can. Until
you're convinced... I will absolutely find a way."
 I don't know what in what way yet, though.

If Nanako says that she wants to sing, then I will set up

the grandest stage and when that time comes, I will spare no
expense at helping her.

"And for that end I will...... Ah."

I was about to say it but I couldn't get the words out.

Time stopped.

I held my breath, my head's gears started to run as I try to

orient my bearings at what was happening in front of my
eyes because—

"......Thank you Kyouya."

—A girl hugged me head on.

"Nanako...?"

It happened all at once, my arms were just dangling

around so for the time being I decided to calm down her
down by gently settling my arms on her back.

"Though there's nothing meaning I can do to repay you... I

am grateful for all that you've done."

Nanako's whispered voice reaches my ears.

It should have been drowned out due to the construction

work in the school building right next to us with the sound
of nails being driven into a signboard. On the contrary
though it seemed to come from so far away.
 "Thank you. I've never had a friend who would go so far
for me."
 I could smell the sweet scent of perfume from her body.
At close quarters, rather than just tickling my nose it had a
hypnotizing effect rendering my brain functions useless. Her
originally high-quality voice is amplified with the whisper
causing my ears to overheat and malfunction.

And then there's—

——What's this soft feeling......

There were 2 big mounds in front of Nanako.

It's exactly that, the same thing I saw when I entered the
bathroom at the share house before.

It's cold today so the down jacket she was wearing

reduced its effects. Despite that though, her jacket was
zipped down, so the only thing separating me from her bare
skin is a knit sweater and her innerwear(which is most likely
her bra). I think commendations for me are in order for not
losing my mind.

The winter cold had long since blown away.

——If we were home... this would have been case closed...

We are outside right now, and it's kept my sanity barely in

check. I can say nothing more.

If this was inside the share house... and there was no else
around.

Then the 28-year old geezer in my head would have

reached the breaking point.
 "Uwaa!?" The sweet and tender moment ended abruptly
as Nanako let go.

"S-Sorry for that Kyouya, I just wanted to express my

thanks... I don't know what came over me."

Somewhat flustered, she waved her hands and was

reflecting on her actions.

"Ah uhh so it was that! You know, that! It's purely a sign
of your thanks."

...Is not what I thought.

"I mean, it's just because of the school festival and it's
because we're tired and overwhelmed so these kinds of
things happen. S-So... for now!"

Nanako turns a 180 from me.

"L-Let's go home! Yup!"

Her tiredness from before is nowhere to be seen and is

moving her limbs with vigor.

"You're right, let's go back home."

I took the chance and didn't touch on it further. It may

really just be the excitement that's associated with school
festivals but I felt like I received a tremendous blessing.

At any rate, I'm just glad she's cheered up so the results

were favourable.

——I'm glad I took part in the school festival.

And its curtains are about to be drawn.

 Chapter 04: The Festival, Begins

It's the Friday of the 2nd week of November.

The morning is blessed with clear weather, the clear blue

sky stretched on as far as the eyes can see with no cloud in
sight. Balloons of varying colors, large and small, populated
the area and the fanfare of the Geidai Band resonated all
around.

The chairman of the school festival executive chair took

the stage that was set up in the central plaza with a
microphone.

"I am pleased to announce that the Oonaka Arts

University Festival is now underway!"

The school festival is a storied event in the Kansai area, so

people come in droves especially on the first and final days
where there are a lot of planned projects and showcases.
And due to that the chaos starts as far back as the nearest
station.

"When you board the bus please fill the seats at the back
first!"

The buses are parked in front of the station and required

temporary staff for sending it out today.

"Uwaa... we're not getting on the bus anytime soon."

"The crowds slipped my mind, Gahaha! We're in deep

trouble!"
 Me and Hikawa were at a loss while carrying shopping
bags with both hands. We were in front of the station, a
place where I can navigate through with my eyes closed.
Today however, the scenery here is a completely different
beast. The heavy congestion made the people look like
packed sardines.

"Let's go! If there's no use waiting then we'll walk!"

The well built Hikawa took only five seconds to come to a

conclusion. But executing his plan would prove a bit
difficult.

"There's 3 kilometers of road between us and the

university! If we walk with this much luggage then the bout
will be over before we even arrive..."

We are just burning time by waiting around here and so...

"There's no other way. Why don't we go to that place that

we rarely use?"

We transferred over to the somewhat empty taxi stands at

the opposite side of the bus station.

Even then though, we still had to wait for a bit. As I sat

down on the bench and lowered my bags, I felt my sweat
starting to trickle down.

"It's aready November but why is it so hot today!"

Hikawa takes out a fan from his bag and starts to flap
away. Even in this type of season, he still had his spiffy
looking tank top with him.

"Are you attending the afternoon concert?"

 "Yeah! It's rare for a freshman to have a named role in it."

The Ninjutsu Research club that Hikawa was a part off

pulls off a flashy performance every time at the school
festival. This time, it seems they are experimenting with a
gradually changing storyline over the course of five
performances. The pamphlets distributed by the school
heavily highlighted it.

"You got to go see it, Hashiba!"

"Of course I will. What's your role in it?"

"As Large tree!"

"Tree?"

It is a ninja period drama so it might actually be a pretty

big role, like a magic tree or something.

"That's right a tree! I don't know the name of the tree but
it's a mysterious role no one can predict because — I don't
have any lines! Gahaha!"

".........I see."

Ah maybe he's an old sage type character tree that grants

advice to travelers that suddenly appears out of nowhere
type of mysterious...

"I'm rooting for you."

"Thanks! I'm going to go out there with a bang!"

A tree standing out is not a common occurrence but even

so they will still get the job done.
 (TN: Whole banter between the two translation notes is
heavily localized Kyouya thought that his role is named
Ooki Moku which is literally a large tree and even when
Hikawa explained that he was just exactly that, a large
tree, Kyouya is so mind blown that Hikawa thought it was
a mysterious and important part exactly because he doesn't
talk, that he chose to ignore reality and still treated it as a
name is the gist of the original joke here hope I didn't
localize anything here that would come back and haunt me
like a throwback reference joke down the line or worse... a
running gag. Yeah like that could ever happen (Please
don't).)

We waited over 20 minutes for a taxi to arrive and once

we got on the ride, it only took 5 minutes to arrive at the
main gate of the university.

"Woah!? This is amazing. The place has a totally different

air than usual!!"

Hikawa let out a surprised voice immediately after getting

of the car.

"Indeed... it really is amazing..."

I give a similar opinion.

There is a slope aptly named as "Geizaka" in front of the

main gate. What was usually a dreary climb is now
abnormally decorated. A large arched signboard has the
words 『 Welcome to Oonaka Geidai School Festival! 』
woven together with electric lights. The railings are chock
full of fliers announcing the events. The majority of it are
plays, followed by exhibitions, and then independent films.
As one would expect from an Arts University, each and every
flier design is eye-catching
 "Wow, there's so many clubs I didn't even know existed!"

While walking up the hill, Hikawa is filled with

amazement.

There are a large number of unofficial clubs and troupes

here. Even if one didn't have a club room, a classroom could
be lent with permission, or even a get together at someone's
home. There are many such clubs that are not officially
registered. It's at this very school festival that the numerous
inconspicuous clubs can get a chance to bask in the
limelight.

"There's an awful lot of them though..."

The numbers border on that a hundred would be a low

estimate. The chaos and heat in this area may be a factor for
the production of many eccentric people here.

We then entered the area reserved for stalls. As soon as

we enter, we were swarmed by a maelstrom of activity greets
us.

『—Come one, come all! Try out the Advertising Research

Club's famous choco bananas~!』

『 —The Broadcasting Research Group's indie film

Kibensha, will beging screening at the projection room in
Building 8 today at 12!!』

『—This way! Bring it over here! I'm totally out of gas so

I'll use the portable electric stove!』

"Hey! Hikawa!"

『—Osu! How about trying out the Shorinji Kenpo club's

Red Hot Guts Jumbo Franks! The Red represents Guts while
the white represents Ingenouity. if you purchase a set of two
then you can get a free "Life" sticker made by a student of
the Design Department!』

『 —We have 5 kinds of uniquely delicious drinks! The

women's volleyball team 『 Café Libero 』 is on the second
floor of building 9! For those who pay the exact amount
you'll get a gorgeous freebie for your nice receive!』

『—We're the Science Fiction Society! This year, we'll be

reproducing menu items that appeared in games and
animation! Today's highlight is the curry set that Yell-senpai
loved!』

"Hikawaaa!"

『—The girl's softball team here! How about trying a fresh

soft serve ice cream made with caramel from the popular
Hanabatake Farm.』

『 —It's an anticipated big match! On the opposing side

it's the wrestler Piercing Big Bang! who has kept his
unyielding love for pro-wrestling even after becoming a 6th
year student and on the other side is an up and coming
wrestler making his debut who has received
recommendations, give it up for the freshman Rodriguez!』

『 —This is the figure skating club! Pose and get a prize!

Take a picture of yourself doing Ina Bauer's signature pose
and the person who gets the most votes will win a copy of
Zintendo GS' "Most Brainy.』

『—You too can bust out a pie and leave behind the stress
of everyday life Eiken clubs' darts are a 100 yen each! If you
win you can hit the staff with a pie with all your might!』
 『 —Lost Child Announcement: Rinne-kubota-chan I
repeat, Rinne Kubota-chan from Sayama City, Osaka, Japan
is looking for her father.』

"Hikawa where the heck are you!?"

『—The student newspaper club is selling a special issue

for this year's festival! The headline is the current hot topic
of social disparity as we look into the various inequalities on
campus.』

『 —Get ready for next year's entrance exam! The

Entrance Exam Success Seminar for enrolling in Oonaka
Geidai is now open on the 1st floor of building 5!』

『—Dear guests, would you like try our Takoyaki?』

『—Yes, that's two for 750 yen.』

『 —The pancakes here are sold by a current highschool

girl get your JK pancakes here.』

『—We need change over here!』

『 『 『 THANK YOU FOR YOUR

PATRONAGE.』』』

......We somehow got past the area.

On the way, I called out Hikawa's name so many times on

the way but with all the commotion and people buzzing
around I couldn't get through to him at all. Honestly
speaking, I don't remember much of what went on but
hearing some of the words made me realize it's 2006 after
all.
 "T-That was incredible... it was so crowded that I couldn't
buy anything."

As expected of Hikawa, he seemed to be a bit enraptured

by it.

"I've only heard the food stalls themselves being on a

whole other level... but even the customer pandering was all
out."

I've witnessed first hand why it was the best in Osaka.

"Let's drop off the luggage soon. Do you want to leave

your stuff in the clubroom, Hikawa?"

"Roger that."

With our hands tied up with the luggage we won't be able

to do anything. We avoided the crowds and headed for the
clubroom.

"Ah, there you are. Thanks for all your hard work since
morning."

I headed over to the back door to hand over the

supermarket bag to Hiyama-san.

"It's just shopping anyhow, anyone can do it."

At my words, Hiyama-san sighed and directed to look

outside of the room with her chin. Kiryu-san was there the
same man who I took away his job from.

"Some people here get lost and forget their original

purpose by buying their own extra personal items along the
way. Just doing what the task entails is meritorious in and of
itself."
 How low will Kiryu-san let his stock drop till he's
satisfied......

"Are the others ready to go? Shinoaki and Nanako left

very early in the morning."

Hiyama-san grinned as a response to my question.

"Humor me for a bit Kyouya-kun."

"S-Sure thing."

"When it comes to home cooking don't you sometimes get

the feeling that 'I've made something amazingly good! Isn't
this a level where I can put it out on a store?'."

"I do sometimes."

"Then it gives off exactly that feeling. Our circumstances

were terrible but now it's already a work of art..."

Hiyama-san ecstatically closes her eyes. Just what is it

that they accomplished?

"This is the fruit of all that labour, come inside..."

We step into the store separated by a curtain.

"It's Kyouya, welcome in~"

"Mornin' Hashiba-kun."

"Look at this Kyouya-kun the decorations are all done~"

It was a different world.

Light from the outside brightly lit the interior. The

decorations weren't overdone, it was just enough that the
bleakness of the originally empty classroom was now gone.
The cups, saucers and pots looked nice for something that
was prepared in a jiffy. But at the peak of all of that, it' the
maids that are the crowning jewels.

"What's the matter? You're just silently staring."

Nanako (Maid ver.) let her usually scrunched up hair

down. Her light wavy hair perfectly balances well along with
her American-style maid uniform.

"I'm sure he's staring at us."

*hihihi* Keiko (Maid ver.) does a crude laugh.

Aside from her mannerisms and tone of voice, she looked

great in her fantasy-type maid outfit. Her fashion sense was
a bit eccentric, but as a result, her pink hair melded very well
with it.

"Maybe he's just tired of shopping, would ya like a cup of

tea?"

And someone who can boast to be at the pinnacle of

perfection was Shinoaki (Maid ver.)

Her short, black hair fit with her traditional English maid
outfit. The pot in her hand doubled as an accessory, further
enhancing her perfection. In the soft morning sunshine the
girls were dazzling.

"How do they look Kyouya-kun?"

How do I go about praising them... Unfortunately my

limited vocabulary couldn't hope to express my true
thoughts so I go the opposite way and do it as simply as
possible.
 "Hiyama-san."

"Yes?"

"This is what they call perfection... right?"

"I agree."

This could attract droves of customers...

I might just not be able to check out much of the school

festival because of it. In my heart I prepare for the worst.

***

The opening day of the school festival went well on its

way.

I don't know where people heard about this place but a

line was beginning to form outside.

"Sorry for the wait, we'll be handing out tickets so please

enter the store when your number is called."

The operations would collapse for sure if we recklessly

keep allowing people to enter so I quickly whipped up
numbered tickets on the clubroom's PC for the waiting
customers. It's already 11 A.M, one hour behind our planned
opening schedule.

"We're ready to serve, please occupy the seats at the front

in order."

4 sets of tables meant for 4 people were quickly filled up.

The three maids followed up on the orders one by one.

"We'll be happy to accept your order!"

 "A cutie tapioca milkshake, Mt. Kongo Omurice, Bitter
love coffee float, and a fleeting love zucchini. Will that be
all?"

"Order for table No.3 coming in Hiyama-san! 4 orders of

hot coffee and 4 orders of Melty Dream Hotcakes!"

If I'm being honest, the place was a demonic hodgepodge

of modern, ancient, eastern, and western styles of maid
cafes. But even with our chaotic menu, our high level maids
were able to keep up with it in style. I fondly look back on
the time when Kiryu-san showed off his menu and everyone
of us effectively face palmed at it.

".....I'll execute him myself when all this blows over."

Hiyama-san, who has become an important pillar in our

shop, voiced out her dangerous thoughts, and continued—

"—I'm shoving a potter's wheel down his ass and knead

clay infused with mustard, filling every orifice in his body!"

While it does sound like gruesome torture, the person in

question is M so he'd probably enjoy it more than anything
else.

"Speaking of which, where is he now?"

"Since he was being a nuisance by taking pictures with

Nanako's digicam, I kicked him out to go and shop."

"So he took pictures, huh."

But it was Nanako's request though...

"She said she'll just get the data and print it out after, but
it's definitely better to check the pictures out beforehand."
 "I agree."

One can't be too careful when armed with only a half-

baked knowledge of photography.

"Hmm, Can you check that out Hashiba-kun?"

Surveying the store, Hiyama-san approached and called

out to me.

I look in the direction she pointed out.

"S-Sir, this 'ere shop ain't that kind of place"

Shinoaki looked bewildered as she dealt with the

customer.

"Your dialect's cute, are you from Kyushu?"

"Uhmm... that's..."

"My father's from there too. Say, Do you know about XXX
University? I'm a student there. Let's go out for a drink next
time."

The situation was strange. The person she was talking to

was apparently a student from a different university. The
guy had two other friends sitting with him at the table, with
their suntanned body laden with accessories they looked
impressively gaudy. It was a far-cry from a normal
conversation as he was definitely trying to pick her up and
Shinoaki looks adverse to the idea.

"Excuse me for a while."

"Ok... Ah, Hashiba-kun look!"

 ".....!"

The man reaches out for Shinoaki's arm and grasps it.
Shinoaki shakes her head, expressing her aversion stronger
than before. There's no way I'll allow this to go on.

"I'm going to stop it. Kiryu-san isn't back yet right?"

Hiyama-san shook her head.

"He should hurry and get his ass back from shopping, for
goodness' sake!"

I would have liked to have another male hand, albeit a

skinny, unreliable one, but I have no choice.

"Hiyama-san, call Kiryu-san, tell him to come back

quickly. Preferably bringing other people with him."

"Okay."

Hiyama-san nodded and walked out of the kitchen.

I went straight for the show floor.

"Esteemed guests, Can I ask you to please refrain from

doing that?"

Pulling off his grip on Shinoaki's arms, I stepped between

the two of them.

"......The hell you want?"

The man was quick to show his displeasure.

"Our staff doesn't appreciate what your doing. Sorry but

please refrain from bothering them."
 All three of them laughed with a mockingly uncomfortable
voice.

"Do I need to repeat myself?"

I hold myself back and ask again. All three of them stood
up from their seats and turned towards me as they tried to
intimidate me.

The tallest one, who seems to be their leader spoke up.

"You her boyfriend or something?"

"Not at all, but I am the person in charge of this place."

It's a far cry from the truth but I deemed it necessary to

say it now.

"Tell me, isn't this a maid café?"

"Yes."

"She's dressed like a maid and we're in a maid café, so

isn't this sort of thing normal? And if she didn't want to be
flirted on, then she shouldn't be here in the first place,
capiche?"

"You're only saying that out of your own convenience, but

unfortunately we are not that kind of store."

The tanned man approaches me with a completely

ridiculous look on his face. He had a blue streak on his
forehead.

"You've been acting cocky since a while ago, looks like you
won't get it if you don't get hit once."
 I was actually a panicking a little bit. It's not like I'm
intimidated though, but I'm not a big guy and I've hardly
ever been in a fight, so "talking with my fists" per say is not a
strong suit of mine.

But I can't stand down here. I have to protect Shinoaki

and the shop from these dumbasses.

——Why the heck are you so slow Kiryu-san!?

And then at the last minute, as I was having a staredown—

"Hmm~ Even if you do go to a good school, it seems that

you're no better than a bunch of random street punks."

Nanako unknowingly snuck up from behind the backs of

the men and took the ID from the wallet that was left on the
table and nodded as she looked at it.

"You bitch, who gave you permission to look at it!? Give it

back!!"

The tanned man hurriedly swiped back his student ID

back from Nanako.

But Nanako just giggled.

"Your university just made the news the other day because
someone forced an underclassman to drink alcohol. I don't
think you'll be left off the hook that easily if the police get
involved. Don't you think so? Mr. 3rd year Economy Student
Matsushima-san."

*tch* He clicked his tongue.

"Where's the proof? You can't have a case if you don't

have... Eh?"
 Next to him, Keiko-san points at the screen of Nanako's
digicam and plays the video.

"Uwaa, how terrible even though Shinoaki-chan

obviously doesn't like it... Your faces can clearly be seen, you
can't worm your way out of this one."

While expressing her thoughts she grinned as she stirred

things up.

His earlier threats to me when I grabbed Shinoaki's hand

was recorded. He couldn't get away even if he wanted to.

"So you've been doing this earlier...!"

The tanned man was visibly upset, he didn't think he was

being caught on film.

"Get going. If you leave now we'll pretend this never

happened. If you're going to make this hard then... that can
be arranged for."

Nanako glared at them. It was powerful enough that for a

split second all of three of them flinched.

"Hasshi! are you okay!? I heard trouble was brewing!"

Kiryu-san came back with his usual vigor.

"I've got together amazing guys from the wrestling, sumo,

and karate clubs! Where re those annoying thugs!?"

There were three huge men towering for about 190 cm tall
and were on stand-by watching from the entrance. The
tanned man and his cronies faces turned blue at the sight.
 "F-Fuck it. This is a pain in the ass, come on guys let's get
out of here."

And with a few parting words, they stood up quickly and

went on their way.

After seeing them go, I breath a sigh of relief. The tension

of the customers and the other people involved dissipated
along with it.

"Thanks Nanako. That was a super fine play!"

I called her attention for her excellent assist. Along with

Keiko-san, they managed to defuse the situation and didn't
cause a huge commotion. At the next moment though, she
staggered and put her hands on the wall.

"H-Hey Nanako, are you ok?"

"I'm fine, an incompetent like me shouldn't be pushing

too hard, it would've been bad if I got cornered..."

Hehehe. she said with an embarrassed laugh.

"Because I look like this, I give off the impression that I'm
actually courageous, but I really don't like doing it one bit.
But you know, I felt like I just had to act earlier."

"...I see, thank you for that. Your actions save me and
Shinoaki."

I then looked at Shinoaki. Poor girl had tears rolling due

to the shock.

"Kyouya-kun."

Shinoaki came up running to my side.

 I managed to keep my composure and utter a few lines,
then gently let go of Shinoaki's body.

"Everyone was also here to help."

"Shinoaki you're not hurt or any—"

—She then hugged me head on.

"Those guys 'ere where scary... Thanks for the help."

Her hug became tighter. Shinoaki's face is right up to my

chest, her nose and mouse hitting it so it tickled a bit. Below
that though, there was something very soft but...

——This is the same thing with Nanako the other day..!

If one could just keep basking in this feeling of happiness

even after this... I can't help but think that it's just a man's
nature to think so.

"Ahh, uhm... I'm just glad you got off safe and sound, yup.
But Shinoaki..."

There are other people you know. Right here.

The customers and the staff's eyes were all on us.

"Oh, I'm sorry..."

When brought to her attention she quickly let go of my

body.

".....You don't have to be. Ahaha."

The staff's grins were especially uncomfortable.

***
 It's now 5PM.

Even with the need for a few emergency purchases, we

managed to get through the first day of the school festival.
We were able to recoup our expenses on the first day with
grat success so we were now in the black.

"Well, what can I say? Thanks to my genius, it looks like

we managed to rack up a budget that'll last us till the next
term."

"Kiryu-san, please don't ever say that in front of Hiyama-

san. Blood will definitely be shed."

I remember the look on her face when she said "Execute."

earlier with bloodshot eyes.

"I'm not that brave, I know I can only say that stuff in
front of you Hasshi, my pervert-in-arms."

"Please don't classify other people in weird categories of

your own volition!"

I hold Kiryu-san in high regard as a senior from the

photography department, but his faults are another matter
entirely.

"Don't be like that. Can you really deny it with what

happened with Shinoaki and all that."

Kiryu-san looked at me with leering eyes.

"Hrmm..."

That topic with Shinoaki is a bit of a sore spot. I've been

pestered with questions of whether we were dating or the
like.
 "But you were a life saver Hasshi~ Thanks to you my neck
was saved. I am truly sorry for what happened earlier."

He held both my shoulders with his two hands and

thanked me for my efforts.

"I'm just glad that it went well enough."

After the turmoil, Kiryu-san apologized to everyone for

not being there, as he scurried around gathering his strong
trio of friends as fast as he could. Speaking of which, we
treated the three buff seniors to a drink for their troubles
and they left in quite a good mood due to being attended to
by the maids.

"The maids were really high level... I got a taste of

heaven."

"Were you talking about their work ethic or purely on a

visual standpoint?"

"Both. I admire both the aspects."

It was a fact that they performed above and beyond. At

first their movements were awkward because of nerves and
embarrassment. Half-way in though, they got used to the
mannerisms needed and I was able to watch on with peace
of mind.

"Even Nanako managed to do pretty well and came out of

her shell."

Brushing away her nerves to turn away thugs was as good

as customer service gets.

"Kogure-san... right? She did it with quite of an energy

too."
 "Yeah, she somehow got used at serving customers. If I
remember correctly she was the most popular one."

The customers lined up to take pictures with her one after

the other.

"I'm glad to hear that. She even looked a little distracted

too."

"Eh?"

"She looked depressed... I just hope she gets a chance to

cheer up a little with all this horsing around...."

Kiryu-san narrowed his eyes as he puff out smoke from a

cigarette.

"Because the only thing I'm really good for is for causing
these foolish things to happen."

"Kiryu-san......"

I look at his visage.

"...You only came up with this recently right?"

"Oh? How'd you guess?"

I mean it should have been obvious. Even Kiryu-san

noticed it and they've only known each other for a month...

***

The first day of the school festival is now officially over

and after a brief cleanup, the members of Biken were
dismissed.

"Wew... as expected, standing all day is pretty tiring..."

 "Talking too~ My throat feels raspy."

By the time we returned to the share house, it was already

after dark. Both Nanako and Shinoaki were completely
knackered out.

"——Yo, welcome back."

Tsurayuki, who's come back from his part time job calls
out to us.

"By the looks of it, the Copping a Feel Maid Café was a
huge huge hit!"

"Who said anything about being that kind of maid café!?

Well as for the idiot who did that. Kyouya gave him a good
talking to and sent him packing."

She gallantly took Tsurayuki's jest head on.

"Eh, You actually had such a weirdo guest? Were you guys
hurt?"

Hearing it from Nanako, Tsurayuki's expression turned

grim.

"We're fine~ M' hands were only grabbed a little bit."

"A little doesn't really make it sound better you know."

"It really was ok."

Tsurayuki looked seriously worried. It felt like he won't

budge on it.

"It was really amazing ya know. Nanako was able to fend

them off."
 "Is that really amazing? It's like a normal day for her."

"Hey wait a minute! Shouldn't you worry for me even a

little bit!"

"What's this ex-yankee Kogure saying?"

They both butted heads again.

"Don't mess with my name! And who are you calling ex

yankee!?"

....Nanako, punching someone doesn't really help your

case.

After the thugs went on their way, Nanako took care of the
other customers who reeked of trouble. It was a great help.

『 Eh? You want to cop a feel? I'm telling you now it's
pretty expensive~ What to do~ do you want to talk about
the hidden fees?』

It made people lose a lot of motivation, but that's besides

the point.

"Tsurayuki, why don't you swing by for a day. It's on a

larger scale and more interesting than one would expect."

"Right. you don't have to work all the time, so why not
take a break?"

Me and Nanako tried to invite Tsurayuki to join us.

"I'm fine, It's not like I don't want to but..."

Tsurayuki then spread out a pamphlet he got from

somewhere.
 "I heard that that Eiken, the film club, will screen 『The
Demon's Banquet』. If I miss it, I won't have a chance to see
it for a while...

Nanako exaggeratedly sighed.

"You should just say so if you want to go, no need to make

excuses."

"Shaddup! You're completely and utterly mistaken!"

The two then had a friendly quarrel about this and that.
*My my* I watched the scene with a smile on my face
when...

"Huh...?"

My eyes met with Shinoaki.

"........"

We stared at each other for a couple of seconds.

"........"

I don't know what that was supposed to mean. When we

smiled at each other, we evaded eye contact.
 ***

The 2nd day of the school festival.

It was naïve of me thinking that because there were fewer

events today that managing the shop would be a little easier.

"Ticket numbers 26 through 28 may now enter!"

At my behest, the group of customers rushed into the

store.

"Hello! Sir please sit over 'ere first, I'll be with you
shortly~"

Shinoaki guides the the customers to their tables with a

cute smile. The customers were all male. And being one,
they were all enthralled as they were lead to their seats one
by one.

"What would you like to order sir? We have a wide variety

of food and beverages."

Nanako takes the orders without a hitch with a smile. The

customers at the table looked at them in awe.

"Ye' like some food with that drink sir? Ya bet it tastes as
good at it looks!"

Even the old woman in the body of a young girl

surprisingly had her own fair share of fans. There were also
non-customers peering at the maids through the windows.
But the elegant appearance of the room belies the scene of
death the staff in the backstage were once again
experiencing.
 "Hashiba-kun! We've already run out of flour!"

Hiyama-san screams out the report.

"For real!? We've already swept through the bags we had

from just this morning!?"

"I hate to say this since we've received orders for it but~
Should I just deny flour-based food requests?"

"Ah t-tell them to wait for a bit Nanako! ...Hashiba-kun,

Go to the place written on this note you'll find a guy named
Tajima, he should have what we need."

"Yes... wait, isn't this the arts and crafts lab?"

"Yeah, there should be a stockpile of flour meant for

research purposes and students. We'll just plow through this
with a wad of cash."

This is staring to get out of hand.

"Ok then, I'll be going off. Though I have to say, even that
would not be enough."

"You have a point... What more could we do though?"

"Hmmm... Oh, That's right, there's a milller by the

industrial area in Minami Kawachi right?"

"Yeah down by the river's edge. Why?"

"I'll call and ask them if whether I can buy flour there."

"Can you really even get one there? And even if you did,
there's the problem of getting it here..."
 "I've got it covered. I can do it. I've asked a friend to bring
a car."

"......Kyouya-kun, your skills are wasted at this university."

Hiyama-san is dead serious.

Well, I was already a functioning member of society and

really a 30 year old man on the inside though...

"Kyouya-kuun, we've spent the last of the coffee powder

too~"

"Eh Shinoaki, seriously now! Hold off the customers for a

while! I'll scout out for vendors in the mean time... Ah crap,
It's hard to search for them on the phone!"

"But you know, it's a great time we live in, you don't need
to ask for directory assistance anymore. It's convenient."

Senpai... ten years from now, it will be much much

better.

I called in a reservation, and as soon as I finished I voiced

out—

"I'm going off shopping!"

I came back from my shopping trip and sorted through

the ingredients. Unfortunately, we didn't have that much
flour at hand. We've only gotten just enough on the other
inventory too.

"We won't last the whole day at this rate..."

"Then let's just take a crack at it till noon. Let's worry

about it then ok?"
 I nodded at Hiyama-san's suggestion.

"Hashiba-kun, it looks like the customer at table number

4 is having some kind of trouble."

A dapper looking elderly gentleman seems to be looking

about for someone to attend him. The other maid's have
their own business to take care of so I fill the role in their
stead.

"I'll talk to him."

I hurry down the hall.

"How can I serve you master?"

Though It looks like Nanako managed to talk to him first.

"Yes, if it's that event we're talking about you need to pass
through building no. 8—"

—The school pamphlet's map was spread out gently and

courteously.

It was already a given that she looked great in her

American-style maid outfit, but looking at her now, it's clear
to me that isn't the only reason why she's popular. She's
good at handling customers, and has a refreshing smile.
There's also no sense of snobbishness from her minute body
languages as she looks like she's genuinely enjoying talking
to the customers.

"I totally get it......"

While I was mumbling to myself, Nanako turned towards

me.
 "H-Hey What's with the gaze Kyouya? It's embarrassing
you know...?"

"S-Sorry"

I got caught looking.

"You're just so good at handling customers that I couldn't

help but just stare."

"N-No I'm really not as good as you think. I just got a bit
used to it because of my part-time job. It's not that
special......"

Maybe due to the embarrassment of being praised? Her

cheeks slightly blushed red and she restlessly squirms her
body around with a bashful smile. Even those actions reeked
of perfection. Because of that, I wanted to do a little prank.

"C-Can you humor me a little bit...? Like saying, 'Welcome

home, Master.'"

I couldn't stop myself from asking.

"H-Huuuh!? There's no way I'm doing it, it's

embarrassing!"

As expected Nanako refused, waving her hands in refusal.

"I'm not a customer so I can't see that charming side of

yours, Nanako. I honestly think it's a shame... so please."

"Saying it like that......"

Nanako is still confused.

"F-Fine then, I'll do it just 1 time... ok?"

 Making up her mind, she first turned around to the side,
took a deep breath, and turned around to face me.

"Welcome home, Master."

With a gorgeous smile she gave a lovely, flawless greeting.

This was invigorating. If my 28 year old self knew that a

shop with a girl like this existed, I would have asked for a
stamp coupon, an annual pass, and a membership card all
on the same day no questions asked.

"Wow... That was wonderful..."

I blurted it out reflexively. Nanako is once again filled

with embarrassment, and blushed even more so than before.

"H-Hey now... Let's just get back to work now! Get a move
on!"

She forcefully drived me away to go back to my station

....But, that was a sight to be hold. I'm blessed.

"Ah."

"Kya!"

I almost bumped into Shinoaki who is came back from

getting the food.

"Sorry Shinoaki, Are you hurt?"

"I'm A-Ok, I know that if anything 'ere happens, Kyouya-

kun'll be right on down to help me. No worries."

Shinoaki looks at me with a deep sense of trust. It's the

same thing yesterday back at the house. I could feel this
tender look more than ever before. The air has this
somewhat happy and uneasy feeling at the same time.

"Hahaha."

"Hahaha."

Then, as we looked at each other, we laughed.

"——Hey ya two why are you flirting with each other!? Can
ya handle the next customer now?"

Keiko-san's grabbing my attention snapped me back.

"Ah, Sorry for that! Let's go back to the usual pace,

Shinoaki!"

"O~k, Welcome home Master~!"

With Shinoaki's energetic voice at my back I departed to

the back of the store.

***

After a long and tumultuous day, we get a brief moment of

reprieve.

"Who the heck said that there were going to be less people
today!?"

I vented out my frustrations to no one in particular.

Numerous amounts of customers entered the maid café
today, a lot more compared to yesterday. Even now
customers were lining up outside the shop waiting for it to
reopen.
 "Aah, what do we do!? We don't have enough food to cook
plus we can't do it fast enough!"

The head of the kitchen finally cracked.

"No matter how much we make it's never enough! The

heck is wrong with this shop!? It's like I was hired for a new
part time or something!"

We were so busy that the lines muddled between this

being a gig for a school festival and actual work.

"Now that it's come to this we have to narrow down the

menu."

"Narrow it down?"

"I'm not a fan of it, but we have no choice. Something to

cook and something that takes a lot of work to make, let's get
our priorities straight and remove items off the menu"

"I have to agree, now that we've reached this point there's
no other way..."

"Yeah..."

And then the door was rattled wide open.

"I've listened in on long enough! The menu I made is a

gem that I polished numerous times with all my might! You
can't just mess with i—Gahack!?"

In the middle of his speech, Hiyama-san closed the door

with all her might with Kiryu's nose getting caught in it.

"Now then, I'll quickly go over the menu and strike things
off. Hashiba-kun, go explain the situation to the waiting
customers and post a memo while you're at it. You got that?"

"Yes ma'am."

***

After the break, we reopened the café. Hiyama-san's menu

modifications went by without a hitch so I check it over and
start explaining to the waiting crowd.

"I apologize for the changes in the menu but we had to do

it due to the lack of ingredients."

There was a bit of disappointment but everyone seemed to

agree. If it was any other store some customers might've
come out with complaints about this or that but, since them
being here for the maids and this being a school festival
helped a ton.

"Time to put up a notice... Huh?"

When I turned around to go back to the store.

"This seems to be a bad time..."

—Strangely enough I met a flustered Kawasegawa.

"I see you came to the festival."

"Why, you think it's so unlike me right?"

She speaks out her signature template lines.

"It's not like that. It's just that I didn't think you would
come here if you didn't have to, Kawasegawa."

"...So that really is the image you have of me. Well It's true
that I won't though."
 Saying her complaints, she opens up a pamphlet.

"They're having a screening of 『The Demons Banquet』

It's not every day you get an opportunity like it, so I didn't
want to miss it, that's why."

"Ah, so you plan to watch that too?"

"Someone else was interested in it? Well it is a pretty good

choice."

I'll just keep quiet about the person being Tsurayuki.

They're both serious when it comes to these kinds of things,
they really should be talking about it with each other.

"And... I've also come here to give my word of apology."

"To Nanako?"

Kawasegawa nodded.

"After all, I haven't said anything to her since then, and a

certain someone persuaded me to continue being with the
team so I didn't want there to be any lingering hard
feelings."

"You're overthinking things. And besides, I don't think

there's any need for you to apologize."

"How so?"

"Because of that, Nanako started to take her singing

seriously. It was your words that jumpstarted it."

Even though it was a little too direct, in hindsight, the

shock therapy worked. Nanako understood that, which is
why she agreed to Kawasegawa's words.
 "Then coming here was just a waste of effort on my part
then."

"I wouldn't go that far."

"That's good for me. I won't have to force myself to eat

overflowing cutie cute pancakes then."

She could at least stay for a drink... Of course not...

She's sometimes weird, clumsy with certain things, and an

amusing kind of girl. She really is.

"Someday, you'll get to hear Nanako sing."

"If she really has reached that point, that is."

Kawasegawa gives a nod and folds the pamphlet into the

bag.

"Well then It's close to screening time so I'll be going."

"Would you be coming tomorrow?"

"I'm not sure. If I have to, I will."

She said it with lines that is quite typical of her.

"Then, till next time."

With her usual candor and a flip of a skirt, she left.

***

"I guess that's that for day 2 too."

After reopening, the menu alterations have been effective

in reducing the burden on everyone. Closing time is fast
approaching and we are no longer accepting new customers.
I breath with a sigh of relief and sat down on a chair.

"Great job Hashiba-kun."

Hiyama-san has also regained her composure as reflected

by her relaxed expression.

"It's the perfect timing so why don't you take a break."

"Eh, but are you sure you don't need my help anymore?"

Hiyama-san then signaled me to look in the direction

where the ingredients where stored.

"As you can see we don't have much stock left.

Considering how much time we have left, I think we should
just clear out the remaining ones."

"Then I'll take you up on the offer. You should take a

break somewhere too, Hiyama-san."

"Thanks. We have been working hard, we'll just have to let

Kiryu-san pay us back."

It's one way to use him.

——Kiryu-san you owe us a big favor...

***

It's now late in the evening, the rush hour of the festival
had come and gone so the venue is filled with a relaxed
atmosphere. It might just be the right time to go the
exhibitions that were hard to get to due to the crowds.
 "These are the best hours to get at it if you're planning to
go through the whole thing. Guys who are used to the
festival stay here this late."

Kiryu-san says so with a knowing look as he lead the way.

"Kiryu-san, are you sure it's alright for you to leave?"

As soon as I left the shop, Kiryu-san followed suit. But...

isn't it his job to be cleaning up the shop right about now?

"Hmmm... Well, isn't it fine!? It's about time for us to go

anyways!"

He replied back with words that really didn't answer

anything. I have no idea what will happen later....

"Besides, if I had to explain to them why I was leaving

early I'd surely be looked upon like filth. Not that there's
anything wrong with it per say, but I'm not in the mood right
now."

"That's true, if they knew you were going out to look over
the Aniken's Doujinshi and Doujin Games then who knows
what they'd think of you."

"Hasshi! Don't just lay it to me straight!"

How else could I describe it? Kiryu-san wanted to see

Geidai's Anime Research Club and their original doujin
compilation and game... even if he had to sneak out the shop
for it.

Geidai has produced many illustrators. Case in point is

Akishima Shino herself and so as many other famous artists.
In line with this, the Anime Research Club's magazine has a
great number of alumni contributing to it so it's said that the
its quality is top of the line. The small scale sale's event held
at the festival was considered a famous spot for those in the
know.

"You can't get their products from winter and summer

comiket and getting it through mail-order isn't really an
option so this is the only place where the privilege of being a
Geidai student can be utilized!"

I think there are other perks too though.

...And there it goes, my goal of going around the school

festival with the girls was all too easily washed away as I was
forced to go with Senpai's whims.

"Sorry bout this Hashiba, I just had to tag along!"

"Don't worry about it. It's hard to go alone there

anyways."

And through meeting by chance, the ero ninja Genkirou

Hikawa accompanied us. Incidentally, he had originally
planned to go their on the 3rd day. As expected of a front-
liner of eroge games, he knew about this sort of thing.

"Did you hear that Hikawa-kun!? Hasshi thinks it's hard

to go alone!"

"Yeah! I could definitely go their alone."

I stared at them with cold eyes. They managed to hit it off

strangely well.

——I'm just glad that I get to see the works of artists

from this era...
 The people active in the time span from before the leap
and now has changed other though have been in the running
even 10 years from now. It might be interesting to compare
the changes they've had over the years.

***

The Aniken's showcase will be held in a club room instead

of the classroom.

"Why didn't they use a classroom?"

In response to my question, Kiryuu-san points to a sign

on the door

"Eh? No one under the age of 18 is allowed here... You

mean there's porn here!?"

"That's right, isn't that why we came here on the down-

low?"

No wonder Kiryu-san was burning with passion. Once

inside, familiar long desks greet me on both sides of the long
and slender club room.

"Woooah this is an Ajisoft original right!? And this one is

October's new work... This is insane!"

Hikawa spoke up instantaneously.

(TN: Alicesoft ref.)

"You know your stuff well... Ah, are you Kiryu's

acquaintance?"

From the backroom, a long haired, slim, bearded, and tall

person who looks to be an upperclassman called out to us.
Kiryu-san didn't respond as he looked around at the books
on the desk.

"Yamashina, this is a sample right? Do we have any in

stock...?"

The staff person named Yamashina shook his head in

denial.

"It's sold out. All of it."

"Seriously!? That's a bummer! I even promised to sell it to

a guy I go to the same class with for 200 yen more, no way!"

Kiryu-san looked seriously depressed and held his head

with both his hands. He was even thinking of scalping it.
That's not good at all.

"I'll talk with the author later. There maybe leftover

stock."

Yamashina-san said consolingly.

"So, how are you two faring?"

He faced the 2 of us.

"Ah, I'm Hashiba a first year student of the film

department."

"Likewise, my name's Hikawa."

"Call me Yamashina. I act as the head of Aniken. You guys

came here because you like games right?"

"Eehhh ahh... well I like games well enough I guess..."

Yamashina stood up and handed us a CD-Rom.

 "This is the sort of thing I do. It may not be you guys' cup
of tea but I'd be glad if you take it."

On the back of the case, there was a print out stuck to it.

"This is... amazing."

It contains pictures of various BGs. From spring and

summer to fall and winter and also urban, rural, and sky
scenes. There is a many illustrations in a variety of themes, it
was breathtaking.

"Yamashina is an art student. He admires Studio Jibri's

works and Isanagi's artworks and aims to make that sort of
thing. He's been saying it's an important thing to him for the
longest time."

Hiyama-san chuckles.

"It's a bit of a touchy subject though. In fact, when I show

my portfolio I'm always asked "Don't you have any
illustrations of girls?" that sort of thing. I'm the president of
the Aniken but I'm not as popular as the other members."

He taps his fingers on the ROM

"I'm think there'll be a demand at some point... but the

genre isn't that popular so it makes me kind of anxious."

"......!"

I reach out for a certain memory.

A social network game was a huge hit in 2016. There was

an art director who single-handedly crafted a beautiful
fantasy world. It's vague, but the name "Yamashina" comes
to mind. Even if they weren't one and the same, ten years
later, there is no shortage of people who need a man of his
talent. Yamashina-san is bound to have more work in the
future.

"Uh... uhmmm."

"Yes? What is it?"

Of course I couldn't say it out loud, rather they'd just take

me for a nutcase. So, just like with Shinoaki....

"I can't put it into words but... I like your illustration

Yamashina-san."

Yamashina-san seemed surprised to hear it out of the

blue, but...

"Thanks, It's encouraging hearing that."

He replied with a genuine cheerful smile.

***

We talked for a while more with Kiryu-senpai and

eventually went our ways without buying anything.

"I was careless... next year I'll have to wait in line from
day one."

He sounds like one of those buying experts. And in the

first place, is he planning to attend college again next year
even when he's already a 5th year...?

"This is Geidai alright! There aren't many other schools

harboring so many different artists working in different
fields."
 Hikawa pumped out in excitement.

"That's right... everyone's doing their best in their own

way."

Looking the ROM in my hand, I remember what happens

in the future. It's not just limited to BG art, our sense of
what we hold value in can greatly change in 10 years' time.
Even those who are obstinate and are active in the field right
now are molding themselves to fit those said values. No
matter how much one may claim to know about the future,
In the end it's all about the power of your will and
conviction.

"I just have to do my best then..."

I squeezed the ROM to my chest, cherishing it, I carefully

put it inside my bag.

I was brought there without really understanding

anything but I was able to see something good.

"Hikawa-kun! What kind of eroge do you think will come

out next!?"

At my front, a somewhat restrictive topic has unfolded.

"I wonder too, I definitely think it's a game with a school

setting."

"I think so too~ If you don't have it in that kind of place

it's almost impossible to make it work."

Kiryu-san energetically nodded in agreement.

"You know... There's this genre that I like. But it doesn't

really sell well."
 "Oh? What is it?"

"Sci-fi. Like girls in battle suits."

"Gah! It really is a hard sell! I hope someday that a sports

oriented one comes out, I'm the kind of guy who takes the
scenarios seriously!"

"A sports one you say!? I don't know about that one too~
It's impossible even after 10 years!"

"Dahaha, you got that right!!"

The two of them were roused up and let out a hearty

laugh.

Eight years later, a gal game with girls wearing battle suits
and flying should would become a smash hit and even has an
anime in tow...

(TN: Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm, possible.)

"That's just how people think these days... yup."

The future holds really amazing things.

***

The 3rd day of the school festival.

The previous day I came here at Biken before everyone

else to tidy up and prepare the club room.

"Good morning...... eh?"

I figured no one else was here yet so I said it to no one in

particular... but those expectations were soon betrayed.
 "Hrrrrnrnrnnn......"

"Haaaaaaaaaa......"

Whether one held their head or crossed their arms, the

two upperclassman from Biken growled in their respective
poses.

"Kakihara-san, Sugimoto-san... are you ok?"

"Oh? Is that you Kyouya-kun?"

Kakihara-san turned around to greet me with a smile. But

there were dark bags under his eyes that speak of his
sleeplessness.

"Nah, it's nothing really just a hiccup with the live show."

Sugimoto smiled as well, but the fatigue was also clearly

evident on his face.

"By the way, is the girl doing ok?"

"She's making steady progress."

"That's good to hear! Getting in touch with other people

leads to growth."

Sugimoto-san nodded, smiling in satisfaction.

"Oh yeah, I'm taking the juicer and bowl back with me,
the ones at the store aren't enough."

"Yeah, go ahead and take it."

"Sorry we can't be there. Good luck on your side of the

things."
 The two upperclassmen answering with such low spirits
made me worried.

"Well then, I'll be going now......"

I bowed and went out with the supplies I needed in hand.

Advertently I put my ears by the door of the clubroom and
listened in.

"Can...... take...? If we do it now...... right?"

"It'll be ok...... But if we don't then......."

I couldn't make out what it really was but it sounded like

they weren't in a good situation.

".......I shouldn't get involved."

I feel terrible doing this but I'm already swamped with

work as it is.

***

『Hiyaah—! Prepare yourself, Sasuke!!』

『So you want to be killed that badly, Eisai!!』

Daytime of the 3rd day. On the main stage at the central

square the Ninjutsu Research club Is holding a stage play. I
told Hikawa I would swing by but I haven't had a chance yet
—

"Ain't it incredible~ They slashed each other with all their

might."

—So I went to visit with Shinoaki during a break.

"It's surprisingly more authentic than I expected."

 One wouldn't think it was something made by a student
troupe willy-nilly. The sound effects coming from the PA
System added a nice touch and the set was also fully
realized. I now understand why Hikawa says that they were
a bona-fide sports club. The play has reached its climax
when Sasuke, a ninja who has completed his mission tries to
be erased by Eisai, a swordsman of remarkable ability, but
he desperately stands his ground.

『 Sasuke! I have nothing against you, but this shalt be

your final resting place!』

However, Eisai's sword pierces his throat.

『 Ackh... Eisai you basard, retribution will come for...

you...』

Alas, Sasuke returns to dust as a large tree watches over

him...

"What a sad story~"

"Yeah, It was worth seeing it."

For a story that's been done so many times it was quite

refined, the sword battles and performance were impressive.
A sad melody played as the play was coming to an end...

—And just then, the large tree standing at the back

suddenly started to move.

"Kyouya-kun, Ain't that Hikawa-kun?"

When I looked, I saw Hikawa trying to scurry over to the

dying Sasuke.

"H... huh?』
 I tried figuring out what he was doing.

『 ——Sasuke! Where's your fighting spirit!? Get back

up!』

Puzzlingly he started shouting at the fallen Sasuke?

『Hikawa, you idiot! Are you insane!?』

『Me!? What do you think you're doing Eisai!?』

Somehow he forgot about his role and got too invested in

the play and started cheering for the actor.

『Get your ass over here, Hikawa!』

『This is why we can't give you a role with lines!』

From the stage wings two stagehands carried Hikawa off-

stage.

『Hey! What are you doing!? Unhand me!』

The surrounding got noisy wondering what happened.

"Hikawa...... I hope you get a role one day."

There's merits in being constantly fired up but if this

keeps up the name of his role may change from tree to just
air.

***

Coming back to the store, we found Nanako keeping

watch.

"Welcome back, did you have fun with that ninja thing?
 "It was amazing~ It was so authentic and interesting~"

Shinoaki cheerfully discussed with her about what she

thought of the performance.

"Hmm? You didn't have to wear it yet right?"

Nanako then looks at the maid outfit she herself was

wearing.

"Yeah, since I went to all that trouble wearing this so I

though of keeping it on till the last minute"

Nanako was embarrassed back then but once she got used
to it she seemed to like wearing it. All the clamor from the
last two days was non-existent, making it all look like a lie.

"Since it's the last day of the festival, let's close up early
and have fun."

—It was a suggestion that came from Kiryu-san when we

opened up earlier.

"It's the first good thing you've said since this whole
debacle."

—Hiyama-san chimed in, and everyone nodded in

agreement.

So we cut things short early this afternoon and hung a

『Closed』 sign up front.

However the three of us didn't get around the school that

much so we eventually just ended up talking. I was tired so
the air here is a comfortable change.

"Oh what's this? So this is where you guys were."

 —Then Tsurayuki showed up out of nowhere.

"A Maid! There's a maid here! What the heck are you
doing Nanako? How bold of you!"

"Can it! This is a maid café so of course I'm like this!"

Nanako was both getting bashful and seething with anger.

Tsurayuki laughs saying, "What a scary maid~", as he
walked further into the store.

"You managed to watch the movie yet?"

"Yeah,It was a spectacular film. That was way beyond

what anyone would expect from a standard college movie!"

The film 『 The Demon's Banquet 』 was originally a

graduation project for Geidai. It's a legendary film that
received a tremendous amount of praise and even won an
award at the Osaka Film Festival.

"I see, I'd lke for us to make a film that great someday."

At my words Nanako laughed out and says, "Me too......

It's one heck of a dream."

And with that said.

"If you don't mind I'll be killing time with you here."

Tsurayuki got a chair and found a place to sit with us.

"Hah!? Why? I'm the one in charge of this place right now
so go away."

"Shaddup! You're not the boss of me."

 He had no intention of going anywhere as Tsurayuki took
out a small book and was calmly settled down.

"Nanako fetch me coffee."

"What did you say!?"

"You're a maid right? It doesn't have to be good or

anything."

"What kind of dumb shit are you spouting? There's no

way I'll do it."

And as always they initiated their conversations by

fighting

"Ya' guys want to look around some more?"

I nodded at Shinoaki's suggestion

"Sure, let's go."

So we got up left the shop, and made our way back to the
square.

***

We looked at the Photography Department's exhibit, ate

choco bananas at the basketball.

club's stall, and visited the Environmental Design

Department's huge scale model of Osaka.

By the time we finished playing pie toss at the Film

Research Group's stall the sun was beginning to set and
transitioning to dusk. After talking about where to go to
next, we decided to just take a break in the empty club room.
I sat on a tatami with Shinoaki side-by-side at the back of
the club room.

"We had a pretty swell time."

Shinoaki was in a good mood after thoroughly enjoying

the school festival.

"Everyone thought up of a lot of interesting different

ideas."

Looking back on it, Shinoaki seemed to be more

interested in the exhibitions themselves rather than the food
stalls.

"Where you able to learn a lot about painting?"

"In fact, I feel like I want to go right on back home and

draw sum' more."

"Itching to draw? That's admirable."

Shinoaki's drive is too insatiable to the point of greed but

it is an important aspect of humans to express themselves
so.

"I think of m'self as a very selfish person, if I want ta' get

something I can't just stop."

She replies with a smile but with conviction behind her

words.

"Kyouya-kun, I want ta surprise you again~"

"Sure, I'm looking forward to it."

"I wonder what I should paint next?"

 Shinoaki stared through the window at the setting sun.
Her glistening face was dyed by the sun's red amplifying her
usual cuteness.

——W-Why the heck am I staring!?

I rushed to look away.

As the san set, the temperature dramatically dropped. The

room which had turned red at the Dusk was getting colder
and colder. It was about this time where someone would
turn on the heater or use the kotatsu to warm themselves up.
And when I was about to get up to turn something on—

"Huh....?"

—Suddenly my vision blurred, losing focus shakily. Then,

my field of vision grew narrower as my consciousness
became fuzzy.

"Kyouya-kun... Kyouya-kun?"

I heard Shinoaki's voice from far far away. I felt like I had
to say something. And then my awareness lapsed.

"Ha......."

Perhaps it was a momentary fall as my vision returned to

normal.

"—Are ya okay Kyouya-kun?"

Shinoaki worriedly stared right above me. I fell that bad

huh.

"Y've been working hard all this time so your body must
be tired."
 "I think so too. It's the last day anyway so it should be
fine."

I was about to muster a laugh but I noticed the situation

was a bit odd.

——Why is Shinoaki's face so close to me?

In front of me was Shinoaki's gentle smiling face. My head

felt a tender touch along with a pleasant smell. The back of
my head to my neck looks to be in direct contact with

Shinoaki's thighs.

So in other words..............

——Eh... Eh...? Ehhh?

It's a miracle I didn't yell out in surprise.

It's a lap pillow. Between the time I fell down and the time
I got up, Shinoaki had given me her lap to rest my head on.

"Shinoaki, uhmm..."

"Stay still."

I was scolded as I raised my head.

"Your eyes are tired. So just rest, ok?"

"O-ok...."

I nodded and did as I was told. Shinoaki gently placed her

hand by my forehead and stroked it gently again and again.
The warmth of her hand felt like it spread from my brain to
the whole body.
 "Thanks for the other day. Kyouya-kun defending me
made me happy."

I tried to speak up but this time she stopped me with her

finger.

"Don't talk and listen. It's a bit embarrassing for me."

Shinoaki chuckles.

"You've always acted like an adult, Kyouya-kun, like a

dependable older brother even when you protected me back
then too."

She's said that before.

"I can't repay ye' back in any way but I will always
remember everything y've done for me."

After speaking her piece, she wrapped her hands around

my head.

"That's why whenever you're tired, I'd like to at least do

this much... ok?"

My vision darkened, the sounds became distant. I was on

the verge of crying for no reason.

The warmth of Shinoaki's body wrapped around me was

about to dissolve and expose the feelings of frustration and
dreariness of my original self so I did my best to keep it all at
bay.

It was about 5 minutes or maybe even 30 minutes passed.

All the while Shinoaki stroked his head.

"See~ I knew you were tired. Sweet dreams, Kyouya-kun."

 ***

"......Eh? Did I doze off?"

Shinoaki nodded.

"Yup, I'm glad that ye' looked mighty comfortable too."

I looked at Shinoaki's eyes.

Gentle and warm. My existence filled with longing.

"Shinoaki..."

I naturally wrapped my arms around Shinoaki's back. I

raised my body and drew closer to her face.

"........."

Shinoaki didn't try to avoid it.

"........."

I swallow back my spit. Millimeter by millimeter I

approach her at a frustratingly slow pace. Even then she
doesn't budge at all. I got even closer. It's a distance where I
can feel even the faintest of breaths.

That's when I noticed. She slowly closed her eyes. I lifted

the hand that I tried to hold her with. I'm clearly trembling. I
calm myself down by taking a breath, so I stopped shaking.

*piriririri* *pririiririri*

My cellphone is ringing.

"...........Sorry."
 Shinoaki chuckled.

"It's ok, Go ahead."

I answer the phone.

"Hello...... Ah, What's up Nanako?"

From then onwards I stood up on my own two feet and

spoke on the line for a full minute.

"Eh, He did what?"

—Nanako's tone fully conveyed she was upset. It was

enough to clue me on that something happened.
 Chapter 05: What Can I Do

Arriving at the store, I find Nanako and Tsurayuki along

with the members of Biken all gathered together. Everyone’s
faces bely a pensive look. Even Kiryu-san gazed at what’s in
front of him with a somber expression.

"What's the whole story here?"

I find a lone man encircled by the group as I walked in. It

was the second year student, Sugimoto-san. Looking closer,
he was trembling in fear with both his hands on the floor
which needless to say, was quite unusual.

"It's not your fault Sugimoto."

Beside him, Kakihara-san was comforting him as her

hands were set on his shoulders.

But Sugimoto just shook his head and says,

"H-How can it not be!? I couldn't call in to confirm......"

Then he started crying. He's wildly different from the fun

loving guy I met at the newcomers party. It's jarring.

"Can I ask... what happened?"

I felt compelled to ask. After a moment, Kakihara-san

replied.

"You've heard about the festival concert right? The one

me and Sugimoto were planning for."

"Yeah. You've been preparing for it for quite some time."

 "And that's exactly where the problem lies."

Kakihara-san says as if spitting it out.

"...It even happened at a critical time."

Kiryu-san must have already been clued in about the

situation based on his sullen look.

"We are mainly in charge of booking the performers,

negotiating with various bands and singers. It's a pretty
tough job considering we have to deal with their fees and
all."

I did hear about it being one of the largest events in the

Kansai area. It must be a high pressure job.

"And so... we talked about calling in a big shot singer as

the grand finale."

"Big shot? Who?"

"In the first place it was a difficult person to deal with. Do

you know a singer named Shogo Mori?

"Eh? Shogo Mori was supposed to come?"

By this time period, he was a singer who had a big

breakthrough by performing movie and drama theme songs.
I didn't hear about him coming to the festival. If he came it
would have caused quite a ruckus.

"Just before his big break last year, Sugimoto asked for
him to come. He's a massive fan of the guy so when he got a
'yes' he was jumping for joy."

He sighed and ruffled his hair.

 "However... afterwards his popularity suddenly jumped
up so contact with him became scarce. His already arrogant
attitude had become insufferable by then, so just in case he
was made into a secret guest and not even advertised in the
pamphlet. And then..."

"Today...*sniffle* I got in touch and was told that since his

name wasn't advertised anywhere on the pamphlet he
doesn't have to attend."

"Eh!?"

That was terrible. As long as Shogo Mori hasn't

confirmed, they could not affirm his participation. They had
to take this course of action for the sake of the audience. But
using that as a reason for canceling... He's one hell of an ass.

"That's awful..."

"What the heck? Isn't that a completely false accusation?"

Tsurayuki and Nanako shuddered in anger.

"It totally is. Sugimoto's definitely the victim here.

Though from the committee's point of view, it's his
responsibility if there's no one up on that stage."

"No way..."

Sugimoto's phone then rang. With the blood drained from

his face, he answered.

"Yes. Yes... sorry, It's a bit hard to continue with it. Yes... I
understand. I'll head on over now."

*beep* And with that he hung up the phone.

 "The start of the concert is near so..."

"Sugimoto, don't get so bummed about it. It was an

accident."

Kakihara-san tried to comfort him but Sugimoto-san gave

a melancholic smile and said,

"Then... I'm going out. I'm sorry guys, I didn't mean to

worry you."

With that he left the shop and headed for the venue.

After seeing him go out—

"Damn it!"

—Kakihara-san shouted unthinkably loud.

"Leaving it like this when Sugimoto and everyone else did

their best... Like hell I can accept it!"

Voices of lament echoed throughout the store. No one

could speak up. Everyone was crushed by a matter they can't
control.

"Poor guy... but there's nothing we can do for him."

Kiryu-san could only look towards the heavens with a

pained look.

"Can't he just be satisfied with the money? It's 100% his

fault anyhow."

—Tsurayuki lashes out with an angrily rough voice

"Even if we compensate the bastard, we're just students.

He'll just think it's more trouble than its worth."
 —Hiyama-san chimed in with a pensive look and crossed
arms.

"That's 'ow showbiz is round these parts, cunning through

and through. What can ya' do."

—Keiko-san calmly put out her thoughts, and continues,

"That whatchamacallit singer won't come 'ere anymore so

I'd reckon they quickly decide on a stand-in and prop 'em up
on stage."

"I see, but who could they get for it though...?"

"Who 'ndeed..."

"Trust me, it's not that we didn't prepare a replacement.

We couldn't even find a replacement before exaggeratedly
writing 'Secret'."

Of course there would be other bands playing at the live

concert. Normally one wouldn't be remiss in getting a
substitute from there. But now that they've made a big deal
out of it by boldly declared "Secret Guest" on the
pamphlet, you would nary find a band or singer that would
dive right in and get the short end of the stick.

"The back-up band has a proven track record so they can

adapt the song to the singer* to an extent. Now if we could
just find the last piece of the puzzle to get things going..."

Kakihara-san sighs.

(TN: The word "utaite" is used here or a cover singer.)

The club members and everyone from the share house

sunk their faces into silence, pondering on what they can do.
 And in the midst of this, I conjured something up.

This was my chance to make it happen. It wasn't the end-

goal but it would be a good stepping stone in the right
direction.

"Uhm."

I approached Kakihara-san and said—

"How about we let Nanako sing?"

"Eh...?"

Briefly there was only silence. Nanako herself was the

only one who could utter a word.

And then—

"Eehhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?"

—Everyone shouted in unison.

"Did you say... that she's going to sing?"

Kakihara-san points at Nanako. Her eyes and mouth wide

open in surprise. She hadn't changed back yet, so she stood
there in her maid uniform.

"Yes, that's right."

"What do you mean 'yes'? I mean she isn't really a singer

is she? Hashiba-kun, this isn't a karaoke contest you know."

"Suddenly putting Nanako on stage? Won't it be a bit hard

to execute?"

"Are you serious Kyouya-kun?"

 Tsurayuki and the other's anxiousness are still
unwavered. To top it all off, Nanako's face has turned to pale
white. Oh well, that's the expected reaction anyhow.

"Based on the story, hiring a professional is all but a lost

cause. And on the other hand, getting the other bands to
perform would be difficult due to the circumstances involved
right?"

"Yeah, but..."

"Then if that's the case, then having both an unknown

singer and accompanying band would ring true to it being a
'Secret'"

I'm well aware that it's only sophism and semantics. But
this right here, at the very least, is the chance for Nanako to
think that there might just be a place for her in singing.

"But if she doesn't have the power to make people listen

then won't it all be just completely useless? And the finale of
the show is very important. If she fails, the damage to her
reputation would be no joke. Are you sure?"

Kakihara-san kept to himself pondering quietly and then

—

—His cellphone rang.

"Hello... ah, yes. I'll head out. Can you put a hold on the
matter with the replacement singer? I might just be able to
get a hold on someone."

After saying that much, he hung up the phone.

"Kakihara-san!"
 "If the girl is really going to sing, then come to me fully
determined. It might sound pompous for me to say, but the
concert would be absolutely ruined if you do it half-
heartedly..."

Kakihara-san's voice was stern. He's in charge of

overseeing the entire show, so it was only natural.

"Then I'll be going now. The time for the final act to come
out is... in 15 minutes."

And with that, Kakihara-san has also rushed to the venue.

Yet again, silence reigned anew.

"Somehow this turned into one hell of a mess."

Tsurayuki scratched his head.

"Nanako."

I took a step towards her.

"Don't worry, you can do it."

But Nanako tries to step back away from me the closer I

get.

"I can see them saying that I'm not good at it. I can see
their laughs and asking why'd this girl even show up. It's
terrifying..."

She's staring at the ground in order to no make eye

contact with anyone.

"Until now... no one has ever..."

Nanako managed to squeeze out that much until—

 "Nanakooo!!"

—she ran out out of the the store.

"Hasshi! Nanako-chan ran! What should we do!?

Kiryu-san went out to the hallway pale-faced thoroughly

not knowing what to do.

"I'll bring her back... don't worry about a thing!"

I was about to go after her when Tsurayuki grabbed my

shoulders.

"What about the performance!? Weren't we just told that

it's about to start!?"

"I'll be leaving it in your hands, Good luck!"

Then I chase after Nanako full speed ahead.

"Eehhh.... leaving it to me...?"

Tsurayuki looks at Shinoaki.

"What do we do...?"

I run past the hallway and down the stairs. I frantically

look left to right and see that Nanako has already
disappeared.

"Nanako, wait! please... let's just talk it out!"

This could surely be a special opportunity for Nanako. If

she freezes in fear now, then she will never be able to move
forward.

"—There's no way I'll let it end like this!"

 Getting a chance has always been like an impossibly hard
video game. More often than not, you wouldn't be able to
tackle it head on with full health and MP. That's why I want
Nanako to grab hold of this opportunity that has come
knocking at all cost. I glance at the time on my phone.

"There's only 10 minutes left...!"

I can only hope that Tsurayuki and the others would be

able to hold it together. I have an idea to where she might
go. In desperation, I scramble around the campus.

***

The central square's main stage Here-in lies the main

event on the last day. The school festival's concert is
reaching fever pitch.

"Thank you everybody!!"

The penultimate performance featuring a trio of

musicians has just finished. One of them shouted to the
crowd, pumping the air up some more.

"And that was the performance of Prince of Persia Cats!

We'll be now having a 10 minute break~!"

The PA system played a jingle. Narumi Ohashi, a third

year student from the Broadcasting Department's Casting
Course, announced an intermission as the event's MC. She
immediately went backstage and convened with Sugimoto
and the others who were already waiting for her.

"You can't just do this! If we rely on some amateur then

you're just asking for trouble. Mistakes upon mistakes would
just quickly pile up!"
 Ohashi held her stern look, brushing off the idea of the
replacement.

"I know, But fact of the matter is, getting someone else
will be hard."

Kakihara also had a grim look.

"Truth is, I've already gotten in touch with the other

bands. It was far from a good reaction, I was flat out
refused."

"I know making it a secret backfired on you... but I don't

blame you."

Ohashi audibly sighs. Sugimoto stood still in distress

looking apologetic at his seniors who were at their wits' end.

"To begin with that girl... Nanako-chan was it? She

disappeared right, Kakihara-kun?""

"Yeah."

"Even if we acquiesce on it and take a chance on her. Can

she even sing in that condition?"

Everyone fell silent at Ohashi's question.

And then someone replied.

"Don't worry. Nanako will definitely come to sing."

"....And you are?

"I'm a freshman from the film department, Tsurayuki

Rokuonji. I just know... that Nanako is not the kind of
person who loses it under pressure and runs away from
singing. I can promise you that."

"So you're her friend. If I could, I would wait for her to

come but..."

Ohashi glances at the stage. The intermission was about

to end.

"The show must continue on. If no one is there then—"

Ohashi stops mid-sentence as when Tsurayuki pulled

back the hem of his jacket, 5 colored balls appeared out of
thin air. The balls then rolled all on over his back, slid onto
his head, and finally back to his sleeves. It was like seeing
magic.

"—I'm a freshman from the film department, Tsurayuki

Rokuonji. I'm actually a clown who's happened to pass by."

The balls quickly disappeared into the jacket.

"And with that said, if you're ok with me, can you use me
to continue the show?"

While everyone was in the middle of gaping in

amazement. "If someone is willing to proceed with it, then I
think we could make some time." came a response brimming
with confidence.

"You know trying out various things in life is pretty useful

I got to say."

Shinoaki looked surprised.

"Did Kyouya know 'bout that?"

 "Not that I know of. But—"

Tsurayuki brings out the ball once again and made it

dance on the palm of his hand.

"—Since he's the one who always handles us, then won't
he know how the others would manage?"

Then he laughed with a wry smile.

***

"——Found you."

I'm at the stockyard at the back of the club building.

It was a garbage dump so to speak. Scraps of signboards

and old building materials were haphazardly piled up. At the
back of said dump, Nanako has her back turned to me.

"So you figured out that I was here."

With her back still turned, Nanako answered back with a

calm reply.

"It's one of the few places where you can scream out as
much as you want."

I replied as I move closer towards her.

"There's also the rooftop of building 3, where the music

department is located, and the back of building 23. But those
2 places are off limits because of the events going on around
the campus, so this was the only place I could think of."

"So you knew about this place, this is where I practiced

my singing."
 "Of course I know."

I moved just up till I was near Nanako's back. I stopped,

as Nanako looks like she was about to continue talking.

"Even when I wanted to escape, I couldn't bring myself to

go outside the school. Somewhere in my mind, I wanted to
stay somewhere where you could find me."

She then looked behind her. Traces of tears still remained.

"I know in my mind that it's a chance for me. I've been
deceiving myself for the longest time, so it's a straight shot
to set things right"

"But you know..." Nanakoo cut off her words there and
took a deep breath, her chest rising up and down along with
it.

"...Settling it would mean facing the possibility of losing.

When I lose this time, when I'm seriously defeated... if that
comes to pass. I'll never be able to recover."

"It will turn out okay, you won't lose."

"—How can you know!? Where do you get the confidence

to say that!?

She cried out, a lonely shout, asking how anybody else

could possibly understand.

I spoke out to Nanako in a calm voice.

"You really practiced a lot didn't you? Although it's only

been short time, you kept at it."

"I did. I owe it to my teacher..."

 Nanako gently closed her eyes, remembering what her
teacher taught her.

"It's for the sake of that teacher too, Nanako."

"Yeah... and I'm grateful for it. I'd like to return the favor
if I could. But—"

Nanako shook her head

"—Practice and performing are two different things. I've

never sung in front of anyone since then, I can't sing in front
of hundreds of people.... Having all those people scrutinize
me for my worth is scary. I can't handle it..."

If you have no desire or interest in anything, then it's hard

to reach for a destination. Shinoaki's passion for drawing
and Tsurayuki's penchant for writing is stronger than
anyone of my peers and at this point of their lives is a feat all
on its own. For Nanako fear and embarrassment reared its
head on her path. The feeling to protect herself is infinitely
stronger than her avidity.

"Kyouya you've had to have noticed it too right? I'm...

scared of improving, scared of being forthright all this
time..."

"......Yeah"

Nanako let out a strained smile.

"It was easier for me being told that even though I'm bad
at singing yet I'm still being praised. It's the same with
acting. It was easier for me being told I was good even if it
was only because it's from the perspective of being in the
film department. That's why—"
 Her voice sounded like something was forcibly spewed out
from her throat.

"—I'm petrified right now. It would be all out criticisms

with no excuse to fall back on... It's terrifying, I feel like I'm
going to crumble apart. Singing in this state won't work,
instead of returning a favor to my seniors, it would become a
disaster for them for sure...!"

"It's impossible." Nanako repeated again.

"Sure, you maybe scared, from top to toe at anything and

everything.

I took a step closer.

"But didn't I already tell you? I will handle all of it. In

order for you to get better at singing."

"And I keep asking you why do you keep saying it...!?

"It's because of this."

As I said so, I show what I brought with me in front of

Nanako

"Ah, This is......"

Nanako's expression greatly wavered.

***

"Get pumped up for this everyone! Watch as this man will

now stack balls and boxes of varying shapes on top of each
other!"
 Dressed in a ninja outfit while holding a microphone,
Hikawa Genkiro, gestured to the man beside him, Tsurayuki,
who had a solemn expression. In the blink of an eye, a
miraculously balanced tower formed on Tsurayuki's left
hand.

"And how was that! Did you like it everyone!?"

With Hikawa's shout, everyone erupted into applause.

"—Amazing! What is with that freshman!?"

"—I was surprised when he came out of nowhere, but his

act was incredible!"

Seeing the positive reception, Hikawa was also envigored

with energy.

"Dear guests please give him a round of applause!"

The audience's claps lavished over the venue.

"I'm sorry for suddenly getting you involved Hikawa."

"Don't worry 'bout it! A tenet of mine is to help friends in

trouble."

Hikawa gave a thumbs up and replied with a smile.

"Yeah.... that's for sure." Tsurayuki nodded. "Kyouya,

Hurry up~~~~!"

He waited for their arrival as he supported the exquisitely

balanced tower.

***

Kyouya-kun! ...And Nanako-san!?"

 Kakihara was waiting for us at the entrance.

"Hurry inside!"

Rushing along we found Sugimoto-san waiting stage-side.

"Thanks... You came back!"

Kakihara-san smiled happily

"Yeah... I'm sorry I'm late."

"It's all good. You had to prepare yourself, no tiptoeing

about it."

Then Sugimoto-san brought out some music scores.

"Which one do you want?"

"Eh?"

"The song you'll be singing. It's songs you've practiced, it

includes songs that you like Kogure-san. These are the
choices. Pick one."

"These are the ones I sang over karaoke..."

"—Thank you for the support!"

Tsurayuki did his last big trick and received a hearty

applause.

"But the next performance is sure to be better! Look

forward to it!"

After that he withdrew to the backstage

 "What a surprise performance from the 1st year student
team~"

The band members then appeared on the main stage and

began to prepare for the show.

"Shinoaki, Hikawa-kun, Tsurayuki, thank you."

Before her appearance on-stage, Nanako thanked

everyone for keeping the show rolling.

"It was Tsurayuki who worked the hardest!"

"It was a great trick... it went poiyaa!"

Tsurayuki looked at Nanako's face and silently motioned

for a fist bump.

"All that's left is for you to do the rest. Don't run away
now."

Nanako laughs and bumps her fists

"Who's running away? I'll get 100 times more applause

than you."

Nice one, that should help relieve some of the tension.

"Now then, Nanako."

I signal her with my eyes.

"Kyouya, if possible, watch me from the audience stands

instead of backstage."

"Can I ask why?"

 "I want you to see if I could properly sing from the
perspective of the audience."

Nanako's words contained a hint of resolve

"......Okay. As soon as it starts I'll head over there."

"Please do."

Nanako laughed and made her way up the stairs onto the
stage.

『Okay then! It's for real this time! This is the final act!』

After confirming all the band members are accounted for,

the MC signals offstage.

A girl nervously walked slowly from the side.

"What? A maid....?"

"Is that the theme of the band?"

Nanako Kogure appeared on stage dressed unusually for

the occasion.

***

"It's about time I go......"

After seeing Nanako off, I made my way to the stands. It

was completely filled front right down through the center
row. I could barely get a spot from a slight opening in the
back.

I go to a seat, and to the vacant spot next to it—

"Shinoaki, over here."

 "Thanks."

—The girl who came with me sat there. I handed her a

bottle of ginger ale.

"Thanks Shinoaki, for buying time earlier."

"Nah, I didn't do anything. Tsurayuki-kun and Hikawa-

kun were the ones going at it."

Everyone's such swell guys.

"Nanako... good luck..."

I can still see the nervousness in her movements.

"Nanako is strong. I'm sure she can do it."

Her hands were clenched tightly together. I nodded and

turned toward the stage.

***

Although I prepared myself for this, the stage seen from

below and the scenery from above are different. I could
distinguish everyone's faces more so than I imagined.
Moreover, their faces looked curiousness and doubt at the
unexpected sight.

——From now on I'm going to sing here.

I took a deep breath and looked out over the hall again.

The scene I saw from 10 years ago came flooding back to

me.

It's the convention center at Civic hall. It's the place where
grandma took me to.
 I didn't want to go. I didn't know how good or badly I sang
the folk song, but I knew that when I sang, people would
look at me dubiously. One of them even said, "That's
Kogure's grandchild you know...", some people's animosity
were clear. But grandma just laughed off the gossip all by
her self.

"Ye' can do as ye' please. There ain't such thing as being

good at it or bad, only whether you like to do it or not."

I didn't understand what she meant at the time.

I sang because I've been doing it since I was little.

I sang because it made grandma happy.

Nothing more, nothing less.

—After grandma died, I quit singing folk songs and this

scene faded into the dark.

But right now, the memory from that time and the scene
here overlapped.

Grandma's words came rushing back to me.

"I can do as I please. No good, no bad. It all depends on

whether I like to do it or not."

I whispered it out in a small voice.

It gave me courage. Inheriting my grandmother's words,

My emotions were lit on fire.

This place is a sea.

It wasn't a lake like how I'd always thought it was.

 It's a place that stretches on to the horizon. It's a place
filled with everything.

From hopes—

To dreams—

And even fears.

It's different from the place I was withdrawn and locked

up in.

——Time to go.

With this anxiety and tension I could collapse but.

"...I—"

I should let it out by talking first so I can properly sing.

"—I wasn't supposed to stand here today but this and that
happened so now I'm here to sing."

The place started to buzz with noise.

The 'Secret Guest' was an unknown girl, plus she was

dressed in a maid outfit.

They wondered what was going on... and then a remark.

"I feel like an idiot for hiding away from singing even
though I got this opportunity..."

Nanako beams a smile at the audience.

"So let's just enjoy the finale of the school concert to its
fullest!!"
 A clear voice rang out, piercing the starry sky.

The lead guitarist sounds out a growl so the backup-band

starts the prelude.

***

"I think she overdid it a little too much... oh well, it looks

like she's having the time of her life so that's good."

The song was from an anime that had been airing until
just a few days ago so many of the audience members
resonated with the intro.

School festivals, surprise bands, costumes that have

nothing to do with the performance.

By coincidence, since It happens that the situation was

extremely close to that anime's concert sequence, so she
went out on a limb for the first song and went out with the
same song by Aya Kurano.

Expectations were rising with the cheers growing louder

and louder.

And then—

—Nanako's singing voice rang out far and wide from the
stage.

Strictly speaking there are many areas where it could be

improved upon. But even so, this wasn't about whether she
was out of tune or not, this was on a whole other level. She
was just enjoyment personified with the voice she sings in as
she happily bounces around the stage.
 There were hundreds of strangers present seeing her here
for the first time. Without a doubt, they were mesmerized.

"—Thank youuuuuu!"

After singing one song, Nanako waved her hand as she

showed her gratitude to the audience.

Cheers like they were heaven-sent greeted her back. The

people who had been skeptical of her at first had all become
her fans in a few short minutes.

"That's what I'm talking about! Yup, you properly

followed the stuff I taught you."

—Sugimoto fell in love with Nanako's singing as he

listened with joy from the bottom of his heart.

"Aren't you pretty amazing...!?"

Tsurayuki listened to it with bliss with a smile from ear to

ear.

***

2 months ago.

The day after I made Nanako listen to her song that I

tuned, I got right to it and took her to one of my seniors.

"Oh, Is she the girl I've heard about? Kogure-san nice to

meet you! The name's Sugimoto!"

The man who belonged to the Art Research Group and

sang "Donguri Korokoro" who rolled down a slope during
the welcoming party
 "Ah, I-I'm Nanako... you have such a large build."

"Haha, It's cause I'm aiming for a job where I get paid to
speak loudly! Well, there's also the fact that I simply eat too
much! Wahahaha!"

"Nanako, Tsugimoto-san here is also a teacher who goes

to elementary and junior high schools to teach singing."

"S-So he's a real teacher...? Is it really ok for me to take

lessons from him?"

"Leave it to me! Hashiba-kun gave me free reign on how

to train you, so I want you to give me your best from now
on!"

"...Yes sir?"

"Well then Sugimoto-san I'll leave Nanako in your care."

"Got ya! Let's get started then Kogure-san!"

"W-Wait a minute Kyouya-kun! You're leaving!? Don't

go!!"

"From now on, You're going to work on acquiring relative

pitch!"

"Y-Yes....."

"I'll be playing a note on the piano, and you're going to say

'Ahhh-' at the same pitch."

"Ok!"

"Right then, this is the note!"

"Ahhh-"
 "Yup, I get it now!"

"Eh, what did you get from that!?"

"There's power in your voice, it's quite beautiful. But—I

think it requires plenty of practice with guidance! Once
again I'll have you try your best till your lungs fall out!"

"S-Seriously!? I'm soooryyyyy...."

***

*pant* " ha... ha... I can't run anymore..."

"Come on come, there's only 3 more laps around the

grounds to go!"

"That's *pant*... Would running hot-bloodedly... ha..

really... make me a better singer...?"

"I'm confident it does! If you don't build up your stamina

then your voice won't come out!"

"I... I at least have some confidence with that regard."

"Laa---La La~~~~La La La La~~~~~~~~~~~!!"

"E-eeek!?"

"You should say that you're confident when you're able to

output at least that much! Hahahaha!"

"Uwaah. Help me Kyouya~! This guy is definitely a

monster~!!"

***
 "Wahahah, Good! Good! Keep up with that tone, Kogure-
san!"

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaa---!! Aaaa------*cough* *cough* uwuuuu~

I-Is doing just this really ok...?

"Whether it's ok or not would depend on your efforts,

Kogure-san! Now then, again!"

"Aaaaaaa---!! Aaaaaa------ack! M-my voice won't come

out anymore..."

"Alright! From the top try singing "Aaa—" again"

"I-I just told you it's too hard to say it out loud. Are you a
demonnn?"

At first Nanako was a bit of a complainer. However

practicing the basics, which consisted of just producing her
voice and vocalizing sounds from the piano, helped to
steadily correct her singing.

***

"Nanako, it looks like you got permission to sing.

Congratulations."

After confirming her progress from Sugimoto, Nanako

will be taught a new method of practice.

"I don't feel like I can sing with actual lyrics anymore...
My body is now fine tuned to only sing in 'Aa---'..."

Being trained to the bone, The Nanako who cheerfully

said [Karaoke!] had disappeared to somewhere else.
 "Don't worry, thing's will get better because of my Secret
Training Plan."

"Secret plan...?"

A small light twinkled in Nanako's eyes. It held just a little

bit of expectation for something special.

But with a single stroke, I made it lose its glimmer.

"Let's put up a video of you singing!"

"............"

Nanako's face froze. She then gently turned around to try

and make a run for it.

I grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and made her

immediately sit down.

"Why are you running away!? Didn't you promise to

properly hear me out!?"

"B-But you see! I didn't think that you...! I didn't think

that you would say something so outrageoooous!!"

Nanako flailed her feet to see if she could escape.

"No way, No way no way! If it's shown to the whole world

I'll die~! It would be humiliating! Do you want to kill me,
Kyouya!?"

"Yep, I'm going to kill Nanako."

"E-eeeeek! Officer! This man has finally revealed his true

colors! Save me! I'm going to get killed and eaten! I don't
taste any good! So forgive meeeeee!"
 "I'm going to kill the 'old Nanako'."

—I made Nanako sit again and looked at her straight in

the eyes.

"I'm going to kill her. The cowardly, insincere, Nanako

who has hidden away a long-awaited treasure all this time.
And from her corpse I'll pull out a brand-new earnest
Nanako."

I patted her on the shoulders then gave her a reassuring

smile.

"And to do that, we need to take a different path."

Nanako was still on the fence. But I could tell from her
reactions that it was definitely effective.

"Will uploading a video... really make me better?"

"Yeah, you have my word."

"S-Say... if someone makes a terrible comment... will you

comfort me then...?"

"Yeah, I'll praise you equal to 50,000 times as much as

that comment."

Nanako chuckles at that, then nods.

"Ok, I'll give it a shot."

—Nanako then started uploading videos of her singing. Of

course, this was before the "Sang It!" section came out yet.
And of course negative comments came with the package.
However, there were also a lot of positive comments, far
outweighing them.
 (TN: Utattemita is the category in Nico nico douga
where cover singers or "Utaite" upload their songs.)

Without stopping we keep making 2... 3... and even more

videos.

"Nanako, can you reinforce this part by pouring a little

more emotion?"

I handpicked constructive comments from the feedback

and we reflected on it.

"I can. I'll give it a try."

"And also here, a lot of people are hung up on the

vibrato."

"Then let's give it a quick run-over. Let's try changing the

dynamics."

"Can you keep at it?"

"Yeah!"

And with the comments as a mirror for the uploads. A

new reaction is formed.

"Wow, following this comment by putting a breather here,

I can sing the chorus much easier..."

In time, the technical references in the comments have

also increased. Being seen by more people, comes with such
benefits.

"Then why don't we incorporate it immediately and

upload it? I think that person would be pleased with it too;"
 "Let's do it! I want them for them to hear it the most!"

It's the relationship between those who upload and those

who watch it. It's a system that mutually promotes growth.

It was a time when the term "UGC" (User generated

content) was not yet effectively common.

In that sense, Nanako is ahead of the times, using it as a

way to break out of her shell. That was the secret strategy
that I brought with me from 10 year future self.

***

—And this was what happened today.

I was in front of her with my laptop unfolded, showing her

the site "Youtube".

"I think that now is the time for you to see this."

Not knowing how Nanako would react to it, I didn't give

her the URL to the site and, until now, I just copied and
pasted the comments to show her.

"The new video, has gotten over 10,000 views. What's

more, I only uploaded it yesterday."

The amount of negative comments were too low to even

be counted.

『That was wonderful.』 『I was completely drawn in.』

『When's the next one coming up?』

Undoubtedly, those were people that became her fans.

 "It's stranger to me that the Nanako who has sang for tens
of thousands of people would, now of all times, be scared of
singing in front of a hundred."

Reading the comments, Nanako's expression became

calmer. She read the comments, both positive and negative
with keen interest.

"It really is strange. My singing has garnered reactions

from all over..."

"Let's go. I'm sure that everyone there would become your
fans."

I called out to her, holding out my hands.

"...!"

Nanako's hands were no longer trembling as she gripped

back.

***

—Without anyone prompting for it, voices asking for an

encore naturally sprung up.

"Now for the last one... it's a somewhat less popular song,
but it's a pretty good one. So please listen to it!"

I was plenty surprised by the piece she chose.

Between the name and the educational background, it's

not like it didn't cross my mind. But even so, a mental
blockade had formed in me over the unlikely possibility of
there being yet another coincidental meeting in the same
vein as Shinoaki in my immediate vicinity.
 But it happened again just as I thought...... a miracle.

Clouds of dust rose to the sky, glistening in the light, star

bright.

Within it, Nanako jumped up and down singing happily

akin to idols.

With my flood of thoughts encased within, I murmured it

towards the stage—

"—Nice to meet you, N@Na."

It was the moment of birth, for the singer I never stopped

admiring 10 years later.
 ***

".....I knew it had to be that."

Kawasegawa Eiko was further back in the stands wayside

in the thick of the trees.

She wasn't interested in look at it at first, and came about

to just check the atmosphere and take a photo with her
cellphone for reference materials and head right on home.
Then and there, a familiar voice took a plunge to her ears.

Surprised, she unintentionally looked back and was left

enchanted by it till the end.

"Well, it was only a matter of course, the potential was

there, she only needed to hit the right notes."

She showed the same smile she gave to Kyouya-kun

during the screening from last term.

"......Not half-bad, Nanako Kogure."

She turns on her heels and began walking slowly down the
hill.

"It's very good, it was serious."

***

"Thank you for your hard work!!"

On stage, Nanako gave high fives to the band members

one after the other."

Watching it distantly from the stands.

 "Good job, Nanako."

At the promised place, I ascertained every part of her

performance.

"Nanako... is very cool."

Shinoaki was enthralled, she fell in love with Nanako's

singing

"Bringing delight to this many people, she can finally rest

easy."

Until now, she hasn't had the confidence to do so.

She was able to find that "Seriousness".

"Come on let's go say our thanks to everyone for their..."

The moment she stood up, Shinoaki was a bit dazed.

"...Are you alright Shinoaki?"

"......I'm just a bit intoxicated with all the sounds and

people."

"Ok then. Let's go take a break for a while. Hm...."

I decided to find a place to rest before meeting up with

Nanako.

***

"Kyouya! I did it... I got to sing properly!"

Nanako bursts backstage.

"Eh, ah, right, he's watching from the stands..."

 She only just remembered her own words. That was how
pre-occupied she was.

"Kogure-san! That's some good work out there!"

Sugimoto greeted Nanako with a smile that he has never

even shown during practice."

"I'm going to officially offer you a role at next year's

school festival."

"Thank you very much, I...!"

Nanako was happy to hear that.

Everyone congratulated her, they thanked her for the hard

work.

But she still hasn't gotten around to communicate with

the person she wanted to talk to first.

"Hey, Nanako, where are you going?"

Without even stopping at Tsurayuki's question—

"I'm going to thank Kyouya! I'll be right back!!"

—Nanako was already running.

***

At the back of the stands, there was a bench under the

shade of a tree.

"Let's take a rest there. Can you walk?"

She nodded deeply as I led her by the hand then slowly

backed off.
 I let her sit for the time being and sit beside her after.

"Here, drink this for now."

Shinoaki's cup is empty, so I handed her mine.

"Thanks..."

From the cup she received, She slowly poured its contents
down her throat.

The carbonation of the ginger ale bubbles up, then fizzes

out.

"Phew......"

Taking a breath, Shinoaki's facial expression brightened

up.

"You seemed to have calmed down now."

"Ya' bet, I'm A-Ok now."

She gives back the cup. I gulped down the small amount
of ginger ale that was left in it.

People slowly began to disperse from the venue.

"It's about time for cleanup."

I'm reminded of the classrooms converted into shops and

the venue for the school's festival concert.

"......yeah."

Shinoaki stood from the bench. She looked around her by

circling about.
 She then stopped after looking at my direction face to
face.

"The school festival too, it's really over now."

Shinoaki says calmly.

I couldn't surmise the true meaning of those words.

"What's the matter, Shinoaki?"

"It's nothing, I was just thinking about something."

Shinoaki laughs then,

"When you sit down like that, we're about the same
height."

I also laughed.

There were red and white lights flickering in front of us,

the clamor of happy voices can be heard from a short
distance away. The space I'm at, to me, seems like a different
world.

"......Eh?"

Then suddenly, my frontal vision darkened.

Then I heard a voice.

Soft hair brushed against me.

Next, I felt my forehead faintly touch with another.

—And finally, Shinoaki's lips gently touched mine.

"....Eh?"
 "Uhmm, Oops?"

"....'Oops' is one way to put it..."

We looked at each other with astonished faces.

No, considering the exchange that happened in the club

room earlier, this isn't surprising at all.

This was supposed to be a very much like a scene from a

drama, but how do I put it? It happened quite abruptly.

"My head blanked out."

"Is that so?"

"The festive mood got' me"

"Ah... is that how it was?"

Shinoaki then giggled as she smiled.

Feeling that I was growing crazy myself, I laughed with

her.

Just like children, out foreheads then accidentally

bumped with each other.

I think the closing party at the concert venue started

based on the relatively louder clamor and with it (I wonder
who did it without permission) the sound of firework rockets
going off resounded out.

In between the sounds booming out in the sky blended

together with the boisterous voices of people. No one could
longer be aware of what had taken place in front of the
bench.
—Except for one person.
 ".....Seriously."

She had food held in both her hands.

Two crepes, bought from a popular stall. One was her

favorite flavor, chocolate and banana. The other one was
peach and whipped cream that he has said likes.

She was going to hand it along with the words "Thank

You." She even prepared the words she was going to say
next.

—But she quietly turned back. Not passing on the crepe,

nor those words.

"My, It really turned out to be that way, yup, I've seen that
kind of thing happen between them many times now."

Haha. She laughed and looked skyward.

"I'm an idiot. The mood was reaaallyy good on the way

home back the other day. Why'd I even pass it off as a joke."

——I finally got something that I can make with my own

hands... No, it would be more apt to say that I was urged
on to seize it.

The one who wanted to say thanks ran 10 meters ahead.

The distance between Him and Her had become a bit

distant.

"I wonder what I'm going to do with this. I guess I'll just
have to let that idiot who did those magic tricks to eat it."

With the crepes in hand, the girl went back to the stage.
 If she stayed there, the 2 would eventually come back
there.

If she did so, it would go back to the way it was. With

"Everyone".
 Chapter 06: The Festival, End

The school festival had come to pass, and December had

come. The winter season’s weather has settled in. Even
inside campus grounds, Hardly anyone could be seen
wearing light clothes with everyone hunched over thick
clothes over the cold winds.

"HAHA, If you have the willpower for it then it doesn’t

matter what clothes you wear!"

There's probably only 1 person I know whose clothes

aren't seasonal...

The practical lessons have been put on hold in the film

department for the preparation for a new type of practicum
that will be used by 2nd years on a class that will teach about
using film.

A full scale "Cinematography" class using 16 mm film.

The use of an expensive camera while training that

borders on up to 10 million yen each is said to be the
crowning highlight for the Film Department.

This was a unique class native to Geidai's Film

Department as the contents of it are quite specialized for it.

In the midst of students continuously raising their voices

with topics on setting up films, how to shoot a camera, and
other finer, difficult to understand inner workings there was
a certain girl in contrast—

"It's common knowledge that the university uses film in

their classes so it's only natural to study it in advance."
 —Was said with a haughty *hrmph*.

However not anyone and everyone here came to this

college with such lofty resolve. With most of us being in
front of a film camera that we are seeing for the first time,
one was even scolded for sensitizing expensive film to light,
another was scolded for trying to do a location shoot without
a filter. The days for being chastised for a number of some
such things had begun.

So one day, as everyone was struggling to keep up in class.

***

"Hashiba is now a good time?"

At the end of class, I was suddenly called out by Kanou-

sensei.

"May I ask what it's about...? ...I didn't rent out anymore
equipment, by the way."

"If that was it, I'd call you out in more fun and
entertaining way. It's actually about Rokuonji, he's isn't here
lately... Did he ever tell you why?"

I shook my head.

"Not really. I'll ask him directly for it when we meet."

"Thanks. Tell me if there's anything going on. He can

come to me for advice."

Sensei left while cracking her neck.

"Was that about Tsurayuki?"

 Nanako, who was taking the same class approached me.

"Yeah. It's on why he's absent."

"I've wonder about that too... I don't know a thing either."

As she said so, she stretched her neck the same way as
Sensei.

"I'll ask him about it again when I get home? Will you be
out late?"

"Hmmm, It depends on how long the lesson will take. I'll

text you later."

Since the school festival, Nanako's gotten more engrossed

with singing. She's also been going on lessons 4 days a week,
and she's even made a number of friends from the Music
Department.

"Got it. See you later then."

***

Tsurayuji Rokuonji was an honor student.

His grades were at the top of the rung in the Film

Department and he completes assigned tasks to a tee.
Unfortunately his class behavior was not as good so
Kawasegawa held the top seat but when it comes to the
amount he has studied and the quality of his assignments it
was said that he's second to none.

The reputation of Tsurayuki was beginning to fade just

after the school festival. The level of assignments he handed
in had dropped and his inability to answer questions in class
had begun to show. By the time everyone started wondering
about it, even his attendance had started to drop. Thinking
about it again, I realized that we didn't know anything about
Tsurayuki's personal situation.

Maybe something was eating at him or maybe it was

something difficult to discuss about.

That's why I have to properly hear it out. That thought

had formed—

—However.

Two days later the 4 of us had a Nabe party.

"Ahh, part-time work turned a bit busy so I've been

skipping class for it."

—That simple reason escaped straight from Tsurayuki's

mouth.

"That was the reason!? We were all worried about you!"

"Sorry that it wasn't something tragic. Shinoaki, mind if

you pass the ponzu?"

"Did want it with kelp?"

"*nom* Yea. *nom* Thanks."

While Tsurayuki was adding ponzu sauce, I tried to check

for signs for anything strange but nothing stood out.

"Since you're working part time~ Are you saving up for

something?"

And to Shinoaki's question. "Uh-huhm that's right. It's

pretty expensive." Tsurayuki replies as he bit into the bok
choy.

He didn't say what it was, but it seems to be as he said.

"What'cha buying? Is it a car? A motorcycle?"

Nanako poked around for an answer.

"Won't say."

He perfectly kept his guard up.

"Tightwad! At least tell that much."

Tsurayuki didn't pay any mind at Nanako's complaints.

"Well that's how it is. Sorry for making you worry but rest
easy, I'll attend class."

Thinking the story ended on such a simple note, I drew

the curtains back up.

"Can I ask something Tsurayuki?"

"Hm? Are you still worried about it Kyouya?"

Tsurayuki turns to me with a wry smile.

"Yeah...... there's something bothering me."

Tsurayuki had been devoting his time for part time jobs
right from the get-go. Since then he's had a shift 4 to 5 times
a week on top of doing it for a pretty long time. Needless to
say going on at the same pace till now means that he must
have cost quite a pretty sum. Would a college student really
buy something that expensive? Moreover, he doesn't seem to
have no other particular hobbies besides scenario writing
and doing stories.
 "You're just overthinking. Here, just eat some Nabe, ok?

"Y-Yeah."

And that was how the conversation for that day went.

Even after that conversation, his attendance hadn't

improved. In fact, it was only going farther down. Our words
of concern just slipped right past.

—Then, it was one week later that the decisive incident

occurred.

***

Weather had been bad since morning along with forecasts

of snow.

"Ugh... It's cold."

Right after getting up I opened the window and was

surprised at the icy air.

"I don't want to leave my room today..."

And then about the same time I murmured—

"——Just leave me be!"

"——I won't leave ya' alone! Tell me what's wrong

Tsurayuki!"

I felt a strange sense of urgency at Tsurayuki and

Shinoaki's voice.

"Huh!?"

So I made haste down to the 1st floor.

 It looks like they were in front of the House arguing about
something. It wasn't the usual vibe as Tsurayuki was clearly
annoyed.

"What's gotten into you two!?

I rushed over, interrupting them.

"Tell that to Shinoaki. I've been telling her I'm fine but she
keeps pestering me to take a break and rest."

"How are you okay with this!? Ye' looked like you were in
a lot of pain just sitting earlier and even vomiting at the
toilet... ya' need ta' rest. Yer' health's messed up!"

"Don't worry over it. I'll be fine."

"It absolutely wont be! Even now yer' staggering..."

Shinoaki is worried.

"If that's how it'll be then you will get into an accident
before reaching your part-time job. If you really have to go
then do you want me to drive you there?"

Yet Tsurayuki refused even that.

"Leave it. I can't bother you guys with my personal

affairs."

"It's not a bother..."

Tsurayuki brushed us aside and approached his

motorbike.

He knocked down the stand, inserted the key and

prepared to turn on the engine.
 "Bye, I'm leaving n—"

—He lost his footing, and then.

"Tsurayuki!"

Like the moped beside him, he fell down. I quickly go to

him to check on him.

"You have a high fever...!"

It was evident that he has a fever, his consciousness faint.

"Shinoaki, call the ambulance!"

"Y-Yeah!"

While Shinoaki was in the middle of dialing in the

emergency hotline, I carried Tsurayuki back inside.
Tsurayuki's breathing is ragged. His complexion neared to
as worst as it could possibly get.

"Why did he let it reach this far......"

***

Tsurayuki recovered relatively quickly at the hospital he

was brought in. The reason for the high fever was apparently
fatigue. His fever dropped dramatically after the IV was
administered.

"Didn't I tell you? I'm going to be totally fine."

Me and Tsurayuki are walking along the bank of Ishikawa

River.

"You had seen that happen though." He laughs as he said

so.
 "When I get home, I better phone in my apology, I also
need to ask for them to put me on a later..."

"Tsurayuki."

I talk to him in the silence.

"The doctor told you already right? Rest for a week. Your
fever is down right now, but it's only temporary. If you
overdo things it would rise again soon after."

Tsurayuki continued on walking without a reply.

"............"

The cloudy sky was starting to precipitate snow. You could

see the fine shadows illuminated by the lights of passing
cars.

"I can't take a break. If I do... I'll lose money..."

There was a sense of grief in his voice.

"That's just how my current work is, I need to

continuously do it to secure a high wage by the hour. Even
today's break is a considerable hit."

Tsurayuki didn't say what exactly that "work" entails.

However, imposing such conditions, it doesn't seem to be
like an upstanding workplace to be in.

"Tell me Tsurayuki."

I don't know the first thing about him.

He loves scenarios, novels, and stories. He has unrivaled

zeal and passion for his studies. He has a foul and dirty
mouth but deep down, he is compassionate friend. But other
than that, he doesn't share anything personal. It's been that
way then and it's been that way now.

I didn't just ask to sate my own curiosity. He has a wealth

of talent, and if he's fallen into a situation where he is unable
to use it to its fullest extent. Then I want to help him. That'
all there is to it.

".....No."

"Don't give me that! Tell me!"

Tsurayuki turned around.

"Didn't I already refuse from the start!? I don't want to

talk about it. I don't want anyone else to get involved. It is
my problem and my problem alone so I don't think there's
anything to discuss about."

He stubbornly refused to speak. I could see Tsurayuki's

determination to close himself off.

We both stopped on our tracks. Moments of silence

passed.

I took a piece of paper out of my pocket.

"......Earlier, the doctor at the hospital handed me his

calling card."

"Eh...?"

Agitation has washed over Tsurayuki's face.

"He said that if anything happens to Tsurayuki-kun, call

him right away. He said that your father greatly helped him.
I didn't pry further though."

Tsurayuki made a face as if he'd taken a bite out a bitter

bug. It might have been related to his deep silence.

"Tell me. I will use all that I can to help you."

He was about to say it, but he stopped. Tsurayuki's

emotions have become perceptively stern.

"—There's no way you can!!"

It was such a strong cry that I thought air around him

trembled. Maybe because he used every ounce of power
within him to tell me, Tsurayuki let out a pained breath
after.

"......Sorry. For yelling and such."

"No, it's fine."

The snow grew heavy.

The powdery snow had dyed the air all around with white,
the color of the ground too gradually met with the same fate.
Tsurayuki's mouth kept opening and closing in a cycle.

Would he say it? Would he stop?

After hesitating for a number of times, it felt like he

couldn't hold back anymore.

With a heavy mouth he talked as if his voice was trying to

squeeze through.

"......My household is a huge pain in the ass."

 His hair is piling up snow. Tsurayuki didn't seem to care
as he began to speak.

***

The medical corporation "Rokuonji".

It's the family business of Tsurayuki's household. They are

a family of doctors who held authority in almost all the
general hospitals throughout the Saitama Prefecture.
Tsurayuki was born as the direct descendant of the head
family as the third son.

"My father and gramps are both doctors. Needless to say

my 2 elder brothers are also doctors. My mother comes from
a family line of Diet members, it's chock full of politicians."

He was born in a gated household, he was raised in an

environment where he even had a maid. He received regular
check-ups at home and was trained as an important
"successor" to the family.

"When you're born into a family like that, it's as if you're

career path was already set in stone."

He was sent to an escalator school in from elementary to

middle school all till high school. He was even the only one
who wasn't even given a career questionnaire to hand in,
probably because the teachers took it into consideration.
Anyone would have thought that him being a doctor was a
matter of course, and even Tsurayuki himself had almost
resigned himself to it.

"It happened when I was in freshman year of high school."

—He met an upperclassman who was a bit deplorable but

supremely good natured person.
 The household of that upperclassman was also a so-called
distinguished family but had strayed from the path and was
an existence that was ignored by his family. The
upperclassman may have felt sympathetic at Tsurayuki's
situation so he taught him about a variety of interesting
things.

"And so I got hooked into novels and movies."

For Tsurayuki who has only ever known the "Exterior"

spectrum of novels from textbooks, he had found the
"Interior" to be rather stimulating.

He rolled around laughing when told about the various

episodes of literary masters. Soon enough, he started going
to the library devouring books. He also learned about
movies. He was fascinated by the sight of outlaws from the
Showa-era dancing on the silver screen. He learned
Hollywood style dramaturgy and tried to come up with his
own stories. He wanted to see movies. He wanted to talk
about it with his upperclassman.

For the first time in his life, it seemed a time where he had
"Fun" was born. But that didn't last long.

"That upperclassman transferred to another school. I

heard he got ratted out for hanging out with me."

"Ratted... out?"

"Amazing right? That's the kind of thing that my family

can get away with."

Treated as a malefactor who had exuded negative

influence to a son from that family, he was physically
removed.
 Tsurayuki started part-time work from then on. As a final
parting gift, his senior had found him a place to work. It's
through means that the Rokuonji family will never be able to
find out.

"From there on out I worked myself to the brink of death.

I faked my age at a bar. A street performer I got along with
taught me how to juggle. I got money by showing it off at the
bar. It's tough, but it was fun."

So that's how he got both the act and the guts to perform
on stage. Going back on topic, in his 3rd year of high school
he faced his entrance examinations. His application for the
medical school of a prestigious private university in Tokyo
had already been submitted.

"I only took what I was given. Then I passed the test.
However... I didn't go."

"Were you already... admitted there?"

"I don't know. I had already cut off with my parents by

then."

Apart from that private university, Tsurayuki had also

secretly applied to another university and took the
examination. He had also received an acceptance letter. And
that place was the Film Department of Geidai.

Of course, his parents were furious. His father told him to

never come back home. He was disowned, in short. From
then on without exception, any kind of aid would not be
given. He was notified to go wherever he wanted. Tsurayuki
accepted the notice without a fight, managed to pay the
entrance fee with the money he had saved up and came to
Osaka alone.
 "Then a thought appeared, I won. I could live without my
father's patronage. Serve me right though."

He then came to Share House Kitayama and got to meet

with everyone. They didn't pry into things about his home,
and above all it was a place where they didn't know a thing
about his household. He could talk about his favorite movies
and stories and things all the time. It was a dreamlike world
for him.

"But I wasn't very good at it huh... I was earning my living

expenses and tuition fees all on my own yeah, but It's gotten
to a point where I couldn't attend the crucial part, the classes
themselves anymore."

The more he pushed himself to work, the more his health

deteriorated. He kept it a secret from everyone, but he had
almost collapsed from fatigue several times before.

"I avoided the bigger hospitals as my parents catch wind

of it. As much as I could, I went to a smaller hospital but of
all things to happen I got caught because of an ambulance
call."

"......Sorry."

"It isn't your fault Kyouya. It's my fault for being so

stubborn till the end and collapsing as a result. I even
worried Shinoaki too."

Tsurayuki looked up at the sky with his gentle, insightful

eyes.

"Remember when my mother call me a while back? I

guess my body and mind had weakened by then. My heart
had turned into fragments."
 Things had happened since that late night call......

His money was stretched thin, and he considered a lot of

things. He tried contacting for a review for student loans,
scholarships and such. But because his family is affluent he
didn't get approved for a scholarship. Meanwhile the risks of
a student loan where too high considering things from a
future perspective.

"I sent in works for various literary prizes to see if I could

make a living of off novels. Getting to the final screening
once was the best I could muster, the rest fell off by the third
round or what not. As long as I could get that prize money
even that would have been a huge turnaround, but as you
know, it just isn't that easy."

He did everything that he could that there wasn't even

anytime to think. But till the end, things never got any
better.

"I'm just a green young man from a well-to-do family who

is routed in a pretentious war of independence. A man who
had good things from the beginning and not ride the tracks
set out by his father and soon after dried up his funds and be
forced to retire...... his deplorability has no limits."

Tsurayuki mocked himself and audibly sighed.

"To be honest, I just want to disappear somewhere no one

knows about. Well now that it's come to this that could be a
possibility."

"Tsurayuki, that's......"

"I mean what other options do I have? Oh, I'm sorry to get
ahead and say it but I won't go around collecting pity drive
or anything of the sort. I've been a bother to everyone up till
now, can't have them still putting up this here green rich-
kid's obstinacy now can we?"

Although he said it in a light hearted mocking tone I could

feel a strong will. It's true that Tsurayuki's aesthetics
wouldn't allow him to do so. It's his way of life, a belief of not
relying on others.

"There's nothing I can do about it right?"

To Tsurayuki who has turned his back. Say it, The

questions I've always been asking.

——Is it fine to leave it like that?

To you who has always loved scenarios and stories.

——Are you going to just quit now?

To you who has been blessed with the ability to write

interesting stories. If this goes on Tsurayuki will definitely
leave.

——Are you sure of it?

I kept thinking. I wholeheartedly put my thoughts into it.

Without donations or financial aid, A way for him to earn

money with his own power.

Is there really no better way for him to continue his

university education?

Without doing a part time job, A way to turn the power

that he has into money.

"Ah..."
 I stopped.

There is one thing right?

It's something that can make use of that power with my

own involvement. Most of all, it would be able to make the
most out of the benefits I've gotten from 10 years later. Until
now, it was a path I've actively been trying to avoid. It's a
goal set further down the line. It's for a dream I would
someday fullfill. But if choosing to do it here in order for a
friend's dream to not be cast to ruin. Then that someday
should be now.

"Tsurayuki, I've got it."

"What...?"

I say it confidently to my friend who was in the abyss of

despair.

"There is a way. A way for you to earn money with your

own power."

For a moment, it seemed that Tsurayuki had no idea

about what I was talking about.

After a while, he gave a hearty laugh.

"Kyouya, you really are amazing. You can turn over what
we think of as a bad and quickly turn it in outside its head
and successfully make it work. The same thing happened
with last terms' film, you even cheered up Nanako. I
seriously think that part of you is astounding."

Tsuratyuki's face then dropped any form of facial

expression.
 "But I'll tell you what—"

And then in a flash it turned into anger.

"—This isn't the time to be funny! This is a whole different

ballgame than what you've done so far. You've stepped in a
place you definitely don't want to be in. Do you even
understand what you said!?"

"I do understand."

"No you don't! This isn't a talk that would end with a
joke!!"

Tsurayuki grabbed me by the chest, his eyes trembling

with resentment. The corners of his mouth were raised to
the edges.

——I understand. I do understand, Tsuraki.

It's inexcusable to joke about money, and it's not

something that can be managed at this age. Moreover in this
case it is a situation that lone student would normally be
able to handle.

"Let me down."

I quietly said to Tsurayuki. His face reflected him turning

back to his senses. He loosened his grip. He lowered his eyes
in embarassment.

"......Sorry. I lost my cool."

"It's ok. That just shows how deep you were worrying over
it."

But that's why—

 "—I need you to listen."

I grasped Tsurayuki's shoulders to make him face me,

eyes firmly locked. It's on the same intensity with a gaze that
could kill you if you look away.

"Kyouya, you......"

Tsurayuki's expression changed. He caught his breath as

he looked at me. To respond with earnest emotions, you
need to go along in kind.

"I'm not saying this without any basis. I have a plan."

Money is the driving force behind everything, and with

that, it's also the source of its ruin. I have seen it all to well in
the world 10 years from now.

That's why this a battle of revenge for me.

For a dream to not be crushed under the weight of money.

"I will make full use of your power, in addition to earning

your tuition fees."

Tsurayuki was evidently confused. His inflexibility has

disappeared and is now showing a willingness to ask.

"Is there really a way to do that...?"

And to his groaned voice.

I answer with confidence.

"Yeah, there is."

—Before I knew it the snow had stopped.

 Sunlight was shining through the clouds, and color was
returning to the monochrome world. The melted snow had
turned to water, cars run over it splashing it off.

Light reflected off the water that flew off, shimmering

brightly.

"I'll take care of it — Absolutely, definitely will!"

I raised my voice so loudest as I ever had, Tsurayuki's eyes

widened in surprise. It was the Hero's sword against the
Demon called "Gold" who takes away dreams and dissolves
hope.

It was also a challenge from me, To the future 10 years

before.
 Credits

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