Prologue: From The Fall of 2016

Iruma City, northern Saitama Prefecture. I was in the

second floor of an apartment, about five minutes away from
the nearest station.

With a phone in hand, I’ve been talking non-stop to the

person on the other end of the line for a good thirty minutes
now.

"Well umm, as I said... there's no point in asking me. I don't

know any more than you do. It's not like I would know where
he went—Eh? ...The store? Usually, he'd be at the hostess club
on Propeller Street, but right now he doesn't have the cash for
that... His... family home? I think that was in... Toyama? No.
Wait... Ishikawa, maybe? I remember it was somewhere
around there..."

A glance at the clock told me it was almost 2 PM.

"...Yes, yes. I will inform you if I get any new info on his
whereabouts. It's not like I'm indebted to him or anything. I
haven't even received my salary from him for half a year now.
I had to live at the office for three months because I got
kicked out of my apartment for unpaid rent... Sure, sure.
Understood. Well then..."

With that, I set down the receiver in a clatter.

"Fuuu..."

Sighing, I called out to the person beside me.

•
 "President, I ended the call."

A few moments later, a voice called back; the living being

under the table huddled inside a futon started to squirm out.

"——Wow, such a splendid performance from Hashiba-

kun~! Thank you very much! Really, thank you~!"

The plump old man who jumped out from underneath held
his hand high and let a smile float across his entire face.

"Those men, there's a rumor about them; used to be a gang

of yankees. They've got menacing faces, and their eyes got this
sharp, unwelcoming look to them. I honestly don't do well
with those sorts. Just recently, one of them told me they'd
scoop out one of my eyeballs if I didn't return the money."

"President..."

Once again, I sighed, then rotated my stool halfway to face

the president. Having to deal with a call from your client
interrogating you about the schedule delays... it's no easy
chore. And the go-to guy for it is me. Makes me want to sigh
some more.

"Why don't you just talk it out with them like adults? Even
if you flee from place to place, there's no chance you'll——"

"——I get it! I get it, Hashiba-kun! As it stands, the only

boring end I'll be reaching is getting tossed into Tokyo Bay,
tied down to a large rock and my 50 million debt!"

"If that's the case——"

"——But please believe me! If this in-progress manga turns

•
out well, there'll be 30 million waiting on the other side for
me! But before that, we can't let them discover it, or my plans
will be reduced to nothing!"

"Haa..."

I work at a game company, and the president over here is

the president of said game company. So... why exactly is he
talking about a manga? In any case, he was influenced in
doing it, without a doubt...

"This project is amazing! The first of its kind; launching

both on paper and on digital devices! The same work can be
read freely from either your smartphone or your PC! And
adding on to all that, the author is a veteran in his craft,
having writing experience from the popular Shonen Zamp!"

He pulled out a tablet and started to display the website for

me to see, despite me not asking. It wasn't a website I was
used to seeing. No matter what angle or setting you try to
view it, its design was clearly antiquated. This is a layout
you'd only see from 10—no, 20 years ago.

"President, is this website monetized?"

"Monetized? What's that?"

He looked to be greatly perplexed.

"...The affiliated publisher, who is it?"

"None. It doesn't have one."

"Are you going to sell it by volume? How are you going to

earn any revenue?"
•
 "Using that membership fee system. Oh, we don't need to
charge them immediately!"

We're going to be met with a lot of backlash if we left the

subscribers in the dark about the fee. Once they find out, we'd
either have a flood of complaints or mass unsubscription...
Does this guy seriously not see it happening?

"It's reckless. If you don't make it comply with current

earning models——"

"——That sort of thing doesn't matter! As long as the works

themselves are worth a read, we'll manage one way or
another!"

"You won't!" I slammed my fist against the desk!

The President shrieked. "Can you please stop that!?

Violence doesn't solve anything, you know..."

"So due to your reckless, gullible personality and inability

to plan ahead, the decent employees of this company have all
long quit, haven't they? Correct me if I'm wrong."

"Y-You didn't really have to be so blunt..."

"But I have to say it! The key animator? The scenario

writer? The lead programmer? Even those guys in accounting,
who desperately tried salvaging the finances of this failing
company, have all packed up! You had an entire team, but all
of them jumped ship, right!?"

"That is...! You're right. I lost everyone. Everyone... except

for Hashiba-kun."

•
 "I was too late in resigning. In fact, I——"

"——But thanks to you, 『Pretty Ass! ~The Story of the

Pretty Girl's Ass~』 was released! You really saved me by a
hair's breadth, and mind you that wasn't the only case you've
saved me! So please, could you please lend me that power in
this new business?"

"...Before that, there's still a lot of things I need to do..."

Rotating the stool back around, I turned to face the LCD

monitor.

There's still a large amount of unread company emails that

needed sifting through. All of them were about the creator's
unpaid expenses or about the client not being able to get in
contact with him.

"Anyways, stop chasing dreams already. It's good to have

ideas, but being a president means you have to be realistic
about things. Do you understand?"

Haa, I breathed out another sigh.

"Well, since it's come to this, as reluctant as I am, I will

continue to follow you, president. So at the very least please
take care of your debts and let's focus on the next work..."

In the middle of my spiel, poof! As soon as I raised my line

of vision, the president disappeared from sight.

"...Wait, Eh...? P-President!?"

Even after looking over the not-so-spacious floor, I couldn't

find him.
•
 "Where did he run off to...?"

I looked around for him for about two, three more times.
On the third time,

"——Kyaaaaa!? P-please forgive meeee!"

A surprised, pathetic sounding screaming echoed from

outside the building.

Confused, I got up and looked out the window.

"You bastard! So this is where you fled, eh!? Tch, I thought

there was no way in hell you'd be here, but here you are!"

There were two guys in black jerseys flanking the president

on both sides, lifting him up from under his arms.

"No! That's wrong! I wasn't hiding! I was just pitying my

employee! He came crying to me, so——"

"——Yea, yea. I hear ya, I hear ya. Now get in the car, all
nice-like."

"Nooo! Stooopp! I hate caaars~~~~!!"

They shoved him along to the rear seat of the white station
wagon with a metal bat. The door was quickly closed. Bang!

The car headed west, the gloomy sound of the engine

growing distant, the president with them.

Soon, the shadow of the car disappeared. The smell of the

exhaust vanished. The whole of the surroundings vanished,
and yet I continued to gaze motionlessly at the place the car
vanished to.
•
 The sun started to fall down the horizon little by little.

"......Well, guess I'm really unemployed now."

***

Kyouya Hashiba, 28 years old.

Born and raised in a provincial city at the western Nara

Prefecture, I graduated from a local private college. I tried to
get my dream job of being a game developer, but I couldn't
get a break. I ended up being a car supplies salesman. I wasn't
satisfied, so I kept job hopping, never forgetting my dream.

It was when I was working at a game shop in Akihabara

that I got to know a certain game master's president. I
managed to get in his good books and was invited by him to
help make his vision a reality. At the age of 26, I ended up in
the company as a director... of an eroge game company.

However, the company... fell short of the president's

dream.

At the time, the president said he was absolutely getting a

famous key animator on board, but after 5 minutes of the
email sent to them, they rejected it. In the end the female key
animator I knew during my shop clerk days came on after
much pleading from me. She left after the president due to
the president having done some rapid sexual advances to her.
The famous writer that the president boasted he knew? On
top of not responding to us, he uploaded 『Shitty Rude
Request Email Came wwww』 onto his SNS. In the end we
couldn't get a writer. The plot? Written by the president. All
of it was on the president for his delusional idea of the all-star
"staff" coming together.
•
 The game development was met with a lot of heavy trouble
because the president didn't get the necessary resources for
production. And because we started the production without
any rehearsals, we missed the release date by half a year,
postponing it for a whole year even at the end of it all.

That is often the case. It paints a very cruel picture of the

eroge industry, but it's true.

"Really... What's up with that guy? That president..."

As people left, I had to pick up the slack. Without a key

animator, I somehow managed to get some drawing done,
learning from imitation. When the computer artist vanished, I
managed to get the color in while wrestling with the
animation software, somehow pulling off a PV. Voice
recording, script writing, programming... whatever it was, I
did it.

Even with my sacrifice, the game ended up unfinished.

That contracted program that the president touted about was
full of holes. By the time of the fifth patch, the game was
somewhat stable. However, no one took notice it anymore.

My impossibly hard work ended up with me having just

5,000 yen in my wallet. And that's it; there's nothing else.

Defeated, I bought a ticket to the last bus out to Nara and

boarded.

The destination? My parents home.

In the end, the president never returned. In the end, my

wages were never given to me. In the end, I was kicked out
because I never could pay my rent. In the end, I was even
•
evicted from the building the office was. Nothing else to do
but throw in the towel and go back to my folks.

There was some hope; several people in the industry who

contacted me to apologize for the fiasco, and invited me to go
to them. If I wanted to, I could stay in that line of work.

However, I was already completely fed up with it.

Even if I would've enjoyed a job in the Eroge industry, the

side of me sick of it all for working under that kind of guy
even with my discerning eyes made me want to puke at the
thought.

I just might be tired of it all, but I couldn't think of

anything else.

"...Hmm? A notification...?

My smartphone in my pocket vibrated.

It was an incoming mail.

It was from Nico Douga.

"Ah, the company live broadcast is going to start at 9."

I was registered in a few Eroge maker communities, some

of them were for my former work. Because of it, I'd be
notified whenever a new program is released. This time's live
broadcast was for a major company in the industry: Saku
Seed Soft.

Since it was nearly 9, I plugged in my earphones and tuned

in.

•
 "...A new Project Announcement? Now where is that... oh,
here."

Saku Seed Soft is a veteran in the industry, making large

profits. They're a super excellent maker that produces
alternate software on 3 stable lines.

However, in exchange for stability, the creators and staff

were almost the same people every time. So, they were
criticized for products that have always been "Missing Fresh
Flavor" even with their consistent sales.

However, this announcement was completely different.

"They're making a completely new line? It can't be..."

It seemed like the viewers who might be fans were

shocked, so both excitement and wariness can be read from
the comments.

『Thank you for waiting! Well then, it's the announcement

of the new project!』

Saku Seed Soft's bearded producer, a famous face in the

industry, informed everyone with a smile. Then, the screen
switch to a PV.

It was obvious that they sunk a lot of money into the PV.
The one I created in a hurry couldn't even be compared to a
fraction of this.

"Eh!?"

In the scene where the noteworthy creator creditors

flowed, I stood up without thinking.
•
 In the late night bus, people looked at me, puzzled by what
I just did. Despite that, I couldn't take my eyes away from the
smartphone in my hands.

On the screen, the credits were displayed on a grand scale.

『Character Design: Shino Akishima』

『Scenario: Kyouichi Kawagoe』

『Theme Song: N@NA』

There were a lot of comments as if they were devoted to

conceal that name.

"This has to be a lie... As expected of Saku Seed Soft."

I feebly mumbled that as I slunk down on my seat with a

thud.

Shino Akishama. Illustrator. That girl was the same key

animator who refused to join us back then. Additionally, she's
one of the best in the business with experience in TV anime
character designs. Just the other day, I heard of her first solo
exhibition. Admittingly, her art book was my my most prized
possession.

Kyouichi Kawagoe. Light novel author. From his work

"Bloody Sword of Sorrow" a mook he intended for light novel
fans was at first place for 2 consecutive years, and garnered
him this anime season's second highest rating. Recently he's
been working on a literature novel for the general public,
garnering high praise.

N@NA. A singer-songwriter. Her popularity quickly soared

•
after being discovered from her anime and Vocaloid songs on
Nico Douga. Right now, she's with a major label, releasing hit
after hit. Tickets to her live have become sacred commodities;
you'd easily spend 100,000 yen on auction sites for them.

I'm actually a fan of all three of them. Naturally, I got the

complete collection of game goods where Shino Akishima was
in charge of the key animation, read through every nook and
corner of Kyouichi Kawagoe's setting document collection,
bought "Ai-bra" (the abbreviation of the light novel title) since
the first volume. I've even (painfully) got a ticket to N@NA's
live, waving a glow stick until my arm cried for me to stop.

The crux of it is, these guys are the elites of creators.

The bearded producer appeared again, delightfully stating

that there's going to be an anime adaptation, serialization,
AND novelization. All of this was going to be happening one
after the other immediately after the game comes out.

Those three looked like they were going to line up and give
everyone their greetings, but I decided to turn off the
broadcast there.

"Haa..."

I sighed, the surprise overwhelming me.

In addition to them being the elites, those three creators

actually shared one more thing.

Those three... they graduated from the same arts college at

the same year.

Even back then in school, they stood out. They weren't the
•
only ones; back then there were many talented people that
semester. The industry called it the "Platinum Era".

"A game where the top runners of the Platinum Era are all
present to make it... It seems like a fantasy, really..."

Compared to what happened at my "former" company with

the key animator ditching cause of sexual harassment... The
difference of it all just makes me want to laugh.

In the old days, I used to like games.

Back in elementary up to middle school I would immerse

myself chatting with my friends about games. All of my
pocket money back then went into games. One time I was
deeply moved by a masterpiece of a game that I started
writing down titles and game settings of my own personal
ideas in my notebook. I decided then that I would definitely
enter a game company in the future.

Dreams quickly faded in front of reality. I graduated from a

regular college. I remember the time I failed the application
test into a game company. Then again, I noticed that it wasn't
a job I really wanted to do.

That's why when I was the director for an Eroge company,

I was really happy.

Although it released just a few small titles, I was helping

create the 'game' that I longed for.

That Eroge... That eroge that I borrowed from a friend,

keeping me up at night and moving me to tears. That eroge
where I was so moved I bought the exquisite tapestry of the
heroine with the money I made from part-time. That eroge
•
that I bought which made us all suffer through freezing rain
because it was raining on the release event. That eroge... it
was my turn to create it.

That eroge... turned into a bad ending where I desperately

tried to support an unreasonable president.

"But, I had... I had no choice."

It was a horrible way to end it all. However make no

mistake, that president was a dreamer with a dream for
games. For that reason alone, I had sympathy and desperately
cooperated with him. Because I had that feeling, even when it
came to the point that I was the only one left, I released that
game out no matter what the odds were against me.

However, that dream ended too soon.

"To our valued passengers, the bus will be arriving at

Shizuoka soon. The bus will stop for 10 minutes at the service
area. I repeat..."

The announcement permeated through the bus. Fixing my

clothes up, I prepared to head off to go to the toilet.

By now at the live, a showy interview was probably

ongoing.

With those three creators speaking, various people all

around would take notice, dreaming of the completion of that
game. Most important of all, having high expectations for it.

And then there is me. There isn't any sane person in the
world who would stop and take notice of me taking care of
business here at the service station.
•
 These three people from the "Platinum Era" . They had 2
more common features.

All 3 of them were born in 1988.

—All three of them were at the same age as me.

***

As soon as I returned to my parents' home, I was told to

clean up my room.

It seemed my little sister Miyoko is staying here as well.

She married back in Tokyo, but had a divorce, ending up a
single mother. Ha... the older brother is unemployed, the
younger sister is divorced and a single mom. Between the two
of us, it was only full of ups and downs.

There wasn't any way for me to refute being unemployed. I

just reluctantly tidied up the room.

"Hmm? Was this always...? This is..."

A cardboard box was crammed into the shelf. Looking

inside, I took a glimpse back to my past.

A notebook was full of settings for my delusional game

title. A sketchbook that was filled to the brim after 5 days
when there was a time I believed some online thread saying
'your drawing skills will be better when you draw everyday'.
There were light novels and manga that I got addicted to too.
All my treasures of my past.

However, of all the treasures of my past inside, one of the

most important things that should be here, wasn't.
•
 "Hmm? Huh... Where'd that thing go?"

I turned the box inside out. Nothing. Now, I was turning up

the room inside out. Neither in the desk, gaps in the
bookcase... it wasn't there.

While I was full of unease, I felt the impromptu flashlight

in my hand vibrating.

"Oh? A call? Hello?"

『Ah, Onii-chan? Sorry for having ya clean the room~ are ya

good right now?』

It was from my little sister Miyoko. She never did

completely let go of her Kansai dialect, unlike me.

"I'm good. What's up?"

『After ya were sorting out yer stuff, I noticed a thing of

Onii-chan's got mixed into mine ya see. I called thinkin' that
ya might be looking for that thing or somethin'.』

"Something of mine? What is it?"

『Ah yeah, it was an acceptance notice. Didn't ya treasure

that thing?』

"...Yeah. I was actually looking for it. You're a lifesaver if

you could come give it back to me."

『It's no biggie Onii-chan. Well then, later~』

I ended the call. Relieved, I flopped onto bed, without even

changing my clothes.

•
 I stared up at the ceiling. That ceiling... it never changed
since those high school days.

"That time... why did I even take that exam? I wonder..."

I at the time was just your average student with average

grades. I applied for several colleges in the Kansai area, all
completely average.

...I'm not sure why anymore, but at the time I applied for
one more school. It was a completely different one in another
region.

Oonaka Arts College, Film Department. Here in the college,

talented people were as common as sheep. It's the alma
matter of that anime director everyone in the country knows,
where that elite manga artist that drew Akai Honoo spent the
first half of his life, and the mecca of aspiring game
developers. It was here, I sent that one different application.

It was known as Oogei, full of eccentrics. An eccentric

college where it's normal for one-fifth of the students to drop
out. This eccentric college... is where those three people I
admired called their alma mater.

There were exams with storyboard and scenarios. I was

greatly perplexed back then by the questionnaire. I took it
half heartedly without thinking if I passed or failed.
However..."For some reason... I was accepted."

Yes, that's right. For some reason, I had made it.

At the time, I was really happy with myself. However even

when I was accepted at the college I wanted the most, I never
went in.
•
 If I did enter... if I did become classmates with those 3...

"Ha ha, I have become nobody special."

While it was reality that Oogei accepted me, it wasn't

decided that I would become an elite. The talks of then of
"maybe if" or "perhaps", those appeal to the me of today
whose life has been worse than shit.

"...That's right. If that were the case..."

Trying to imagine myself leading a life in Oogei along with

them, those three that I have never met a single time.

Trying to imagine me discussing with them about making

things, arguing, raging, crying, laughing.

Getting that drive off the things we've created as a team,

going on as far as making something myself.

And then... and then...

—At that point, I stopped my whimsical thoughts.

"So what of it!?"

The corners of my eyes got hot, and my vision started to

blur. The air quickly rushed through my nose, with each
heavy breath.

"It's already...... too late......"

Everything ended 10 years ago on that day.

The result of whimsically chasing a dream half-heartedly,

is my current self. The result of being picked up by a pathetic
•
president of a pathetic company, is my current self.

I planned on bearing it all until the bitter end. However, I

was powerless. To the key animator at the end who said they
would persist even with the shitty conditions. To the artist
who worked despite the shitty schedule. I was powerless. I
couldn't give them an answer at all. I...

"Exactly what was my life..."

Putting on a self-tormenting smile, I gently closed my eyes.

If somehow, I returned, back to that time.

I remembered the time when I was taking exams. At that

time, my little sister wasn't even in middle school yet. I was at
the time excited to be taking college exams.

Every time, when a notification from a college was

delivered, my little sister would gingerly snatch it from the
mailbox to bring it to me. She was like my barometer;
drooping her shoulders and be all mopey if it was a fail, and
would be jumping up and down in joy with my fingers
interlaced with hers if I passed.

—I heard the sound of someone going up the stairs.

"......Hm? Did she come back?"

Because of that sound, I opened my eyes.

In order to check the time, at the moment I extended my

arms to my smartphone——

"——Onii-chan!"

•
 She opened the room's door with a loud Bang!

"What is it Miyoko? You surprised me... Wait, what's up

with those clothes?"

My 24 year old sister, single parent with a child, was for

some reason standing in front of me in a sailor uniform.

"Eh? Well, it's my uniform of course..."

My little sister answered with a 'So what?' kind of

impression.

"No, not that.. cosplaying?"

Did your previous husband have that sort of hobby? I

haven't heard of that story.

"What kind of idiotic nonsense are ya sprouting!? Putting

that aside, here!"

Without caring much about my words at all, she thrust a

thick envelope in front of me.

"Onii-chan, congratulations! Ya passed!"

.........Eh?

No, you certainly said that you were going to bring the
passing notification that got mixed up though.

You're passing it over so extravagantly? Even with cosplay?

"But what you said over the phone——"

While I said that, the hand that was looking for my

•
smartphone stopped.

—I had no smartphone.

Taking its place was cell phone from several generations

ago.

The chaos in my head begin.

"Eh? Wait a moment!!"

I looked around the room once again.

Across from the bed is a CRT TV. Next to it was a PS2

gaming console.

There were only 7 volumes of Zero-Ma on the shelf when I

know I got the complete set. Asterisk... Haganai as well...
Their figures nor shapes could be seen on the bookshelf.

With my mind in panic mode, I rushed over to the calendar

hanging on the wall.

"Onii-chan? Something wrong? Ya were yapping about

before that ya'd be accepted at an arts college. Now... when ya
actually passed... yer all acting iffy... Which reminds me,
why're ya suddenly talking all in standard Japanese?"

Her voice... I couldn't register it in my mind.

All of those perplexing things that jumped at me in rapid

succession... All of it led to the answer right in front of me.
Here, on the calendar...

"...It's the year 2006."

•
 Chapter 01: To The Fall of 2006

One month after the shocking acceptance notice. At the

end of the south of Osaka Prefecture, I was standing on the
ground at the far end of the Minamikawachi District.

In front of my eyes, there was a huge concrete building.

"Oonaka Arts College."

I read out loud the characters written near the top of the
building. Then, I compared it with the student ID inside my
pocket.

"Department of Film; Kyouya Hashiba."

I have no doubt.

As a student of Oogei, I stood at this place on April of

2006. I can't believe it. I mean, time slips isn't supposed to
happen. Even if it can happen, why me?

So even if the 2006 calendar was on display, or my

smartphone was replaced by a Galapagos cell phone with a
camera, or even with my sister not only dressing up as a
middle schooler but even acting like one, I was really
skeptical.

However...

After seeing myself in the mirror in the washroom, all my

doubts vanished.

•
 "For myself to be young again..."

And, well. Somehow, I came back to the world of ten years

ago.

After I calmed down from the shock, I thought about the

acceptance notice in my right hand that just arrived.

After that, several college results also arrived, but I told my

parents, "I want to enroll in an arts college."

While I don't understand the reason, it seems I got a

chance to remake my life nonetheless. If that's so, I want to
choose a different route than before. I want to change
something.

My parents had a suspicious face which said 'how did you

pass your first choice college?', but eventually, they said, "Do
what you like." and permitted it.

Today was the 11th of April.

I, who just finished the entrance ceremony in the

auditorium, stood in front of this school building as a first-
year student of the Oonaka Arts College Film Department.

"Umm, Ichizuka, at Ichizuka, turn right at this signal......"

After wandering around the college to my heart's content,

even though I'm not that old, I walked and searched for the
two-storied wooden house that wasn't particularly new.

"'Share House Kitayama'...... is it here?"

The route that I'd have to commute from my parents' home

•
in Ikoma to Oogei at the Minamikawachi District was a bit
bad, so after talking it over with my parents, we decided that
I'd live near the college.

"No one... is around?"

The apartment was only a few minutes from the college by

foot, next to a warehouse with boxes casually stacked outside.
From what I can see from the outside, there wasn't any signs
of people in.

"Good afternoon. Is there anyone... as expected."

When I entered with the key entrusted to me beforehand, I

saw a shared common room that acted like a living room and
dining room, with a table and a few chairs. There was a side
door leading to the kitchen. On the left and right sides were
doors leading to the bath and toilet. A hallway further down
led to two rooms, with a flight of stairs to the second floor as
well. The second floor had 2 more rooms.

From what I heard from the realtor, there were three more
tenants. It seems all of us were first-years, so the atmosphere
should be somewhat relaxed.

When I signed the contract, I had already decided where

my room would be. Going up the stairs, it was on the right
side of the second floor.

It was already night when the futon, the T.V. I used in my

room at home, and the box with my clothes arrived. At last,
my room became more homey.

When I realized that, I noticed that it was completely dark

outside.
•
 "Haaah, well it should be fine if I do it little by little later."

I opened the cover and drank the yogurt drink I bought on

the way here.

Since a person living alone tends to have some bias to some

food, the only advice my father gave before I headed to this
boarding house lifestyle was to get some lactic-acid bacilli or
natto bacteria.

Since my body broke down once ten years later, I decided

to obediently follow that meddlesome advice.

"The other guys, I wonder if they've come yet..."

Even if they did or didn't attend the entrance ceremony

today, there have to be here before enrolment guidance starts.
In other words, they should be here tomorrow. Even so, there
wasn't any sign of them arriving today.

"Haah, I guess I'm an arts college student."

I didn't have anyone to talk to. With nothing really to do, I

took out my student ID from my pocket, gazed at it, then put
it on my desk. Staring at it, I realized more that this is really
happening.

I'm standing on the same start line that those in that

platinum generation stood on.

We haven't actually entered the college yet. However, this

is the college that produced tons of famous creators. Once I
graduate, I might be able to seize success as well.

"Perhaps, together with Shino Akishima, Kyouichi

•
Kawagoe and N@NA, we might creating something!"

I am certainly curious as to the reason why I had a time

slip. I might be able to think calmly about it, but it's not like I
have a clear grasp just with that. Am I involve in someone's
plan, or an unknown disaster? Anyhow, I didn't have any
lingering attachments to that life that reached the limits in the
original world. Now I'm just thinking about what I should do.
There's not end to it, but...

Anyways for now, I am happy that there is a different

future for me.

"Fua... I'm tired..."

Because of moving around due to the entrance ceremony

and moving in, my body was more tired that I expected.

Leaving the yogurt drink that was halfway finished on the

bedside, I crawled into my newly laid out futon.

Before I knew it, I fell asleep.

Since I returned from ten years ago, I've been a bit scared
of my sleeping moments.

I'm afraid that if I sleep I might wake up to hear an ill-

tempered loli goddess whispering to my ear, 『Alright, that
was a good dream right? Toooo bad! The life where the
eroge company went bankrupt and you returned to your
parent's house was the right answer of course! Return to
your previous era ☆.』 And once I come to, I might be seeing
my younger sister's son riding on my stomach saying, 『Uncle!
Grandmother!』

•
 In reality, however, I did not return back to 2016 from the
year 2006, whether I slept in the afternoon or at night. Before
I knew it, I developed insomnia.

***

"Uun..."

Because the curtains haven't arrived, the morning sun

completely beamed onto my eyes and it hurts.

Today's plans is only the enrolment guidance, so there was

no need to wake up so early... I rubbed my sleepy eyes and
look the scene in front of me.

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

"..................Eh?"

I recognized it.

It was from my past of mine. That game that I help make in

2016. It was the completely overused situation; the fifth CG
event in that game.

Situation: A girl is asleep in front of the

protagonist. A divine morning light.

Clothes: A part of the clothes are exposed, and the

breast can also slightly be seen.

"—UwaaaAAAAA!!?"

The moment I realized that what I was seeing was real, I

raised my voice and jumped up. At times like this, a cliche
scream would really come out!?
•
 "...? Huh...? It's already morning...?"

The girl cutely yawned "Fuaaa~" her head lighting

shaking, then firmly stared at my direction.

Star~~~~~~e.

Enough to open a hole, her stare came at me.

"U-um..."

The distance was probably around 15 centimeters. A girl's

face was right in front my eyes.

The eyes appeared to be droopy from waking up were

slightly moist, her eyelids looking like they might fall. Still,
they looked sufficiently big. Her tiny nose which was fit nicely
on her face. Her lips were slightly parted. Although her
childish features and physique was enough to make one think
she was still a middle school student than a college student, it
was still possible to declare perfection.

"C-Cute...."

I unintentionally muttered in a low voice.

In an instant, the girl's face twirled and turned away.

"I'm thirsty."

Then, she casually pictured up the yogurt drink that I had

saved,

"H-Hey!?"

Without time to stop her, she poured it down her throat in

•
one gulp.

"Gulp, gulp, puwaa~ Yup, as expected of yogurt drinks in

the morning!"

"......"

I wonder if it her lips were lose; the girl spilled the yogurt
drink on her face and breast.

It was supposed to be a normal CG, but it was accompanied

by an ero one as well.

Also, I noticed that contrary to her looks and small build, I

noticed that her breasts were reasonably big. Since she's here
that means that she isn't yet 18 years old, which is practically
a crime...... is not the case. I am 18 years old after all.

"Y-You are...?"

"Eh? Ah, I haven't introduced myself yet~!"

The girl suddenly stood up cheerfully. Even after getting

up, as expected she's still small.

"I came from Itoshima, which is at the far end east of

Fukuoka...... fua?"

Just when she took some kind of pose, she slipped on the
sheets, and her body danced around mid air.

"Careful!"

I promptly extended my hand, but.

"Hya!?"
•
 "Wa!?"

As it was now, it has become a state similar to catching the

falling girl from the front.

"——Ah, there's also rooms on the second floor as well."

"——There's two rooms here as well. Ah, there's already

somebody in? Is it open?"

A voice could be heard from outside the room, and the

door opened wide.

"Ae?"

"Wow!"

"Ge..."

"What..."

I think god is malicious. Without any explanation, I

returned ten years back. Next, the situation used in eroge that
I did not wish for became a reality.

"U-Um, you're misunderstanding me. I was only sleeping

here. Then when I woke up early, this child was sleeping next
to me without any warning!"

"My futon hasn't arrived. I borrowed it for a bit."

The difference in explanations had quite a difference in

enthusiasm as well; I was desperate while she was carefree.

"T-That's... Right now her head is on your crotch. I think

you both should explain how you guys got all friendly and
•
hugging each other in the morning...?"

Of the two that walked in, the gyaru-like girl looked at me

and that girl on my crotch with a look like she was looking at
something filthy.

"However, with even cloudy liquid... Man, you are an

unbelievable guy."

As for the guy, he was nodding somewhat strangely and

with an admiring look. There's no doubt both of them are
having a misunderstanding.

"This is yogurt! Also, this kid just fell down!"

"Sure sure, in the first place you were sleeping together~"

"See!? As expected!"

"You're amazing!"

"Like I said, you're wrong!"

"There's nothing wrong~"

Ah, if it's this scene, I wonder how many kilobytes this text
might be able to earn...

***

After the incident in the morning, I somehow succeeded in

explaining the situation.

•
 After this, there is the enrolment guidance at the college.
We decided to respectively introduce ourselves to deepen our
friendship before that.

"Kyouya Hashiba. I came from Nara prefecture. Please take

care of me..."

"Is family name ok? Or by first name?"

The gyaru across from me frankly asked.

"Ah, umm, well by first name."

"Okaay. Well, then Kyouya."

Somehow, my heart skipped a beat just be having my given

name called.

I was called by a child who was a JK (high school girl) just

a while ago who was also originally ten years younger...

——If it's that sort of shop play, it'll take quite an amount
of money. Or rather, (room) sharing together with a girl,
seriously...!

To me, who certainly thought that it would be a dirty

cohabitation of four males, it was a organization that I did not
expect. Furthermore, it was balanced between 2 males and 2
females.

"This is kinda like a normie-ish..."

Just when I expressed it, both the two girls simultaneously

titled their head in confusion.

•
 "Nor... mie...?"

"What's that?"

"Eh...? Ah."

At that moment, I finally noticed what I had done.

I do not clearly remember, but the phrase normie should

not have lapsed 10 years since it was commonly spread.

"Eh, um, normie is..."

While I attempting to explain it in a fluster.

"Real (Riajuu). In other words, the guys who are fulfilled

with real life?"

The guy quickly helped me.

"What's that? I don't know what that is."

"It's a phrase that recently appeared on such things like

2ch. The phrase is an abbreviation for the group that's
fulfilled with life.

"Y-Yea. Well something like that."

...That's good. The phrase was just beginning to circulate

around.

I managed to survive with that save, but it looks like I

should be careful from now on when it comes to slang.

"Ah, Next is me. Err."

•
 The guy next to me with a bad expression in his eyes while
scratching his head began to talk .

"Rokuonji... Tsurayuki. My family name is super long, so

call me by my first name please. That's all."

Rokuonji, Tsurayuki... it's a strong name that feels like a

power word, but.

Tsurayuki is a guy who has a tall, slender build that

matches with his long T-shirt and slim jeans. His hair was cut
cleanly albeit shorter than mine.

I've got no objections calling him a handsome guy, but the

hostile look in his eyes and unsociable expressions ruins it.

"Woow, that's amazing, his last and first name seem like
they would appear in a textbook."

The neighboring small girl to my right was amazed.

"I understand, somehow inserting 'temple' into his last

name increases the substantial feeling."

(Note: Rokuonji, is written as 鹿苑寺, and 寺 means

temple.)

The gyaru across from me had a similar reaction.

"Forget about my last name. Rather than that, look, next

one, go."

Thinking that it wasn't worth continuing now, Tsurayuki

urged the next one to go.

"Eh? Ah, me."

•
 The gyaru who was sitting with her legs out to one side
fixed her posture.

"I am Nanako Kogure. I am from the Shiga prefecture. I'll

be in you care from now on."

I was worried on how to approach her at first sight, but

unexpectedly she properly introduced herself.

Her somewhat colored brown hair was tied up in a bundle

behind her, and held together with a strong colored
scrunchie. Her face was clear, her almond-shaped eyes had a
formidable feel to it. Nevertheless she was a beautiful person
with a good appearance.

"Isn't that Kogure? A tyke that became a tramp heh—

hooo!?"

Before Tsurayuki finished his teasing, Kogure's fist dove

right into his stomach at a good angle.

"You! Just a few moments after the introduction, you

poked at the part people didn't want to get poked at the
most!!"

...Ah, as expected she was concerned about that.

Me and the small girl were slack jawed at that gut check.
Seeing this Kogure panicked.

"M-My family was lax on school regulations! They didn't

say anything particular about my dyed hair! It doesn't mean
that it was just me who was a delinquent! No! Seriously!"

Right now, she just said, "It does not mean that it was 'just'
•
me."

Excluding Kogure, all of us were probably reminded of a

car horn honking late at night or the blaring of a trumpet.
That subject, however, wasn't touched upon in particular.

"For now, I'll be in your care Ko——"

"——Please, use Nanako."

When I tried to call her by her family name, I was glared at

with great intensity.

At that moment, the family name Kogure was nonexistent

in our minds.

"Yeah, then it's my turn right."

The small girl cleared her throat with a cough.

It was faint, but hearing her speak with an accent, I can't

help but think that she was a child that came from far away.

"Ahh, before you say your name I have a brief question

though."

Tsurayuki suddenly inserted a remark.

"What?"

"Err, You skipped grades up to college right? How old are

you really?"

While Tsukayuki carelessly asked that, his throat was met

with a knife hand without a second's delay. "—Guho!?"

•
 "I properly graduated high school! What is this lad
saying!?"

Her cheeks bulged like a squirrel and got mad.

"Hey you, she got angry." Nanako giggled.

"What? But with her height like that, wouldn't you think
about that even for a moment?"

To be honest, I cannot deny that I thought that for a

moment as well.

"Well then, to start over again..."

The girl, who appeared to be a JK just the other day,

earnestly puffed up with pride firmly,

"My name is Shinoaki. I came from Fukuoka's Itoshima."

"Shinoaki......? An unusual name."

"Really? I think it's the first time someone said it was

unusual."

She wore an expression that said it was really surprising.

"Eh? But doesn't Shinoaki sound like a guy's name?

Besides..."

While speaking an uncomfortable feeling began. Shinoaki

went on and smiled.

"Ahhhhh... so that's why. Yeah."

"That's, that you know, mixed up."

•
 "Mixed up?"

"My family name is Shino and Aki is my first name.

Because of that, Shinoaki."

"Ahh..."

Everyone nodded with the understanding facial expression.

"As expected, you were mistaken. My name is short."

Her suddenly realizing that means that this happened

before, probably.

"So what was Shino called so far?" Nanako asked.

"Well you see, I was also called by my first name but I was
mostly called by my full name as it is... I think. Well, since
everyone is calling each other by their first name, so Aki is."

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

Except her, the three of us nodded as if we agreed upon it,

and.

"I guess Shinoaki is fine."

"It's Shinoaki."

"Shinoaki is completely fine."

"Wait! Listen properly when people are speaking!"

Ignored the will of the person herself, it was decided to use

the reading of her full name.

•
 ***

"You know... every one of us is part of the film department.

Isn't that too big a coincidence?"

As we went to participate with with enrollment guidance at

the college, Tsurayuki pointed it out with a curious face.

"Thanks to that though, we can exchange info, so that's

good. Probably we'll go with language classes first; we can
match each other then."

As someone who's going to be a college student for the

second time, I have to say this is extremely lucky. If all four of
us have the same scope of lectures, we can teach each other
easily when it comes to lessons and tests. We can even answer
the roll call for each other.

"Wo~w, you're informed... I mean, is this really Osaka? I

can hear the sound of cows though."

"It's not very different from my hometown~"

"Well even if it IS Osaka, it's just the prefectural border.

Even a graduate from Oogei wrote in an essay of their that
『The Countryside is Terrible』."

"Ehh? Why?"

"There was a distinct signboard that had 『Be cautious of

Mamushis (Japanese pit viper)』!"

"...Maybe I'll go back home."

Nanako and Tsurayuki were lodging one complaint after

•
the other about while we walked the country road. On the
other hand Shinoaki was happily humming along, with the
green foxtails along the path swaying in tandem.

Of course, I had expectations of this new life with the three

people in front of me. I was also like that when I faced my
first entrance ceremony. However this time, the expectations
(and nervousness) I have this time is much more than before.
What kind of classmates I'll be having? What kind of lessons
await?

That aside, as we steadily walked, our destination soon

came into view.

"Ah, We've arrived."

From where we are, it was about 5 minutes to the college's

entrance.

"Ahh, that's right. I also saw it during the exam... but I

forgot."

Standing at the entrance, Tsurayuki wearily raised his

voice.

"This, made an impression on me after an all-nighter..."

Nanako resounded with a voice that was from the bottom

of hell.

"It feels like that large area you see before the final boss..."

Even Shinoaki is scared.

It's also the second time I've seen it, but right now Oonaka

•
Arts College's infamously nicknamed 'Geisaka' was now
before us.

Beyond ascending this precipitous slope without an

escalator is the school building that we aimed for.

"Where you are going to be seated is based on your student

number. Please look at the list handed at the entrance and sit
at the place your number is written."

The guidance for the film department was held in a lecture

hall that looked like it could accomodate around 200 people.

"Everyone's number is scattered all over."

"Looks like it. Seems like we can't sit together."

"Umm, Kyouya is 32, Shinoaki's at 23, I'm at 15... and

Rokunoji is number 102. We're separated alright."

"Hey! I told you to call me by my first name!"

"Well you called me by my family name, so we're even!"

"Come on, both of you......"

Fighting at the entrance is not good, so calm down for now.

"Fua~ there's unreasonably a lot of people right. Are these

all classmates?"

Certainly, there were more people than I thought. There

were probably around 130 people.

"For the time being, there isn't much time, so let's go to our
seats. After it's over, want to have lunch together?"
•
 "Okay. Let's gather at the entrance. I wonder if we can use
the cafeteria already."

"It's it okay? Also since we have the opportunity, I also

want to look around inside the school."

"Yea. That's right~"

After deciding on the plans after this, we dispersed to our

respective seats to sit.

The scene inside the classroom at first glimpse was the

same as any normal college. It did not deviate too much, nor
too little; most of the students do not embrace dreams or
ambitions, I remember the exchange of gazes of not knowing
(about their dream) of wherever I looked. .

However, even if the classroom itself or the pamphlets

distributed were similar, the students were different. At first
glance, the scene inside the classroom is the same as any
normal college. It didn't deviate too much or too little. Most
of the students don't embrace dreams or ambitions. I
remembered the exchanges of gazes of not knowing about
their dreams wherever I looked.

Frankly speaking, if you look around, it seems to be full of

people that look hard to deal with...... It was as I expected, or
rather, it seems like Nanako and the others were on the
normal side.

"33, is it here?"

"Ah, yea... yea!?"

After seeing the guy who came next to me, a strange voice
•
came out unintentionally.

"Haa, it's unbelievable, I finally came to Oogei!"

He looked like he was around 190 cm. He looked absurdly

muscular, clear to see from how tight that T-shirt that had
'Physical strength' written on it was clinging to him. No
matter how you look at it, rather than here at Oogei, he
should be at an athletics college.

"You, what are you called?"

"M-Me? Hashiba, Kyouya Hashiba."

"Hashiba right? I am called Genkirou Hikawa, nice to meet

you."

"......Genkirou?"

"Yeah. The 'genki' from 'how are you doing!?' and 'rou'
from failing college exams and retaking them'. Cool name,
right? I'll never get depressed or sick. Hahaha."

It's not just his looks. Along with Rokuonji and Shinoaki,
aren't there too many people with impactful names?

...As expected of Oogei. This is probably something only an

arts college could pull. I guess there's no mistaking that this
environment can easily gather these kinds of people.

"Hashiba was it? Did you come here to wanting to learn

film making?"

"Film? No... that's not it."

However when you think about it, this is the Department of

•
Film, so it's natural to normally think like that."

"Oh. Well then, game? Or is it anime?"

"Yeah, I like games. I wanted to make a RPG one of these

days."

"Oh, I also like games. I played games like SF2 (Street

Fighter 2) to the point of dying when I was a kid! Also, Super
Real Pro Baseball."

It seems like he was a fighting and sports games addict. His

image even fits his tastes.

"Well, I like moving my own body more though. Did you

also do some sports at high school?"

"No, not really. I like watching. Like baseball."

"Baseball! I also often appeared as a helper for my baseball

club in high school. Last year sadly we didn't get into
Koushien... The fall tournament was also disappointing; we
had to meet the rumored Yuuki Naitou!"

"Naitou is... Ah! The towel prince."

"Towel...... prince......?"

He looked like he didn't understand me.

...Crap! I forgot that Koshien only got that nickname in the

SUMMER of 2006 when he was caught wiping his sweat with
his towel. Right now, that title doesn't exist!

"Ah? No sorry, I mistook him for another player. I'm

looking forward to Naitou playing."
•
 "Oh! I've got no doubt he can go pro; he can probably go
major!

"Ha ha... I, guess so."

After this, he goes on to pitch against Hokkaido's steadfast

ace, AKA Mii-kun, at the summer Koushien. That guy
certainly hits it big; serving as an ace at college baseball, even
going pro to a lot of fanfare... But, far from leading the
Yankees to double-digit wins in the Major League, Naito will
have a hard struggle in the pros, huh...

"Alright! Let's go watch professional baseball together

sometime. Are you a Daigers fan? Buffalos? I'm a Fukuoka
Fawkes, but Kazuki Saito will probably reign as an ace for
now, so I've got expectations for this year."

...Wasn't Kazuki Saitou seriously injured this year...?

"Y-Yeah. It's good that professional baseball is always a

huge topic every year. Like Darvish Major challenge or
Number 4 ace using twin wielding."

"Twin...... wielding...?"

Crap! That also hasn't happened yet!

"F-For argument's sake, wouldn't it be amazing for a player

to play an active role as both a pitcher and a batter as well...?"

"Impossible impossible! It's not possible for something like

a manga to appear!"

"Haha...... I, guess so."

•
 How should I put it... The future is... an amazing thing.

While chatting, students gradually assembled.

Whether it was entering Oogei, everyone's mood was

uplifted, and was somehow filled with a pleasant atmosphere.

Then, the chime representing 9 o' clock resounded through

the room.

"We will now start the Oonaka Art's College Film

Department's 2006 Academic Year Orientation. First, from
the department chair Sasai-sensei."

The small old man, who was sitting besides the announcer,
stood on the platform. It was a person even seen on the
pamphlet. He should be a big-wig in the advertisement
industry if I remember correctly.

"Welcome to the Film Department. Let's see, our

department......"

The department chair indifferently explained about Oogei's

film department.

Originally, the department was established by a director of

eastern techniques of a film company. Even now, movie
production training is the main focus. The department chair
also talked about how the first and second year student
curriculum was nearly all group work.

Well, it was roughly the same as the contents written in the

pamphlet.

"Film production... I wonder what we'll be doing?"

•
 Higawa was wracking his brains beside me.

I was also filled with questions.

"Then to continue, Associate Professor Kanou who is in

charge of practical skills will explain."

In place of Sasai-sensei, an awfully young female professor

in a suit headed towards the platform.

The moment she stood in front of the mic, Kanou-sensei

smiled sweetly, and said,

"All the new students, congratulations on your

acceptance~! I am Kanou who is in charge of everyone's film
production training. I look forward to our four years~!"

She began her introductions as if her sentence endings had

heart marks attached to them.

——What's with this professor......

It was a sweet voice like a young voice actor doing the

introduction of a new anime.

Uum, I will now be conducting a surveyyy. Can you guys

raise your hands to answer~?"

Then, she suddenly started to conduct the survey.

It somehow started to change into a space of freedom

suddenly.

"Within all of you, those who wants to be a film director~"

Quite a few hands were risen.

•
 "Then, next, scriptwriters~."

This also had some risen.

"How about anime writer?"

It was similar to the first question amount of hands risen.

Next was game designers, advertisement planners, CG

artists, etc, various occupation names appeared.

While everyone was whispering, they were freely talking

about their dream path.

Concrete examples regarding vague thoughts of their vision

of their future like 'I see, there was that kind of occupation'
was pointed out. A tiny bit will grow into a serious dream.

——Aah, this kind of thing, this was the feeling of

imagined Oogei to be......

I personally also though nostalgically upon the work of

creating a game again.

"Hmm, ok ok ok......"

—While the professor was grinning and looking at that

state (of the classroom), but suddenly she suddenly opened
her eyes widely.

"Okay, listen carefully!!" She abruptly yelled in a

threatening tone.

"—Hiii!?"

"Eh, w-what......?"
•
 The students were frightened, and shortly grumbled. The
harmonious atmosphere instantly made a complete change
and fell silent.

After the professor looked at the state of us with contempt,

she quietly removed the mic from the stand, and held it in her
hand.

"Okay, listen up ok? Last year, there were 135 film

department graduates."

It was almost the same at this year's incoming students.

"Among them, around how many people do you think got

into the occupation they wanted to enter when they
enrolled?"

Everyone exchanged glances with each other.

"Alright, the blondie there!"

"Eh, ehh, me!?" Nanako pointed at herself in resignation.

"Around... 40 people?"

"Buuuuuuuuuuuuuu!! Wronggggg!!!!!"

The wrong verdict was slightly overcome with emotions.

"40 people...... uh-huh, if there was that much, it would be

a story in a dream though~ uh-huh."

While displaying a forced sad expression, she nodded her

head many times.

"The right answer is... eight people. Anime production two

•
people, scenario writer two people. Three people found a job
at a major game company. As for directors... only one person.

The assembly hall resounded in an instant.

It was clearly too little. I-is that so?

"Let's talk about money."

The professor's tone became even lower. Her expression

also suddenly changed into a serious one.

"Humans will grow hungry, sleepy, and even need to go to

the toilet. Beyond pursuing a social life, humans want clothes,
and want a house in order to endure the wind and rain."

She took off her coat, and left it on the mic stand.

"Clothes, food, shelter. Because those are necessary for

humans, though are naturally profitable. However, how
about... movies, animes, and games? Even without those,
humans won't be particularly troubled."

She sat on the stair that led up to the podium, then crossed
her legs. Her skirt was short, so although it was out of the
question, I was a bit nervous.

"Pleasure is something that only emerges after the various

things prior are fulfilled. To put it bluntly, it's low on the scale
of priority. It's useless. You people who purposely went to a
college to make games are... beyond eccentric; you're all just
fools."

It became a bit noisy inside the hall.

•
 "From now on, you've all decided to learn something
stupid for the next four years. While it may be true you have
learned, you might not achieve the qualifications; there is not
any sort of assurance with this. Just as I said at the beginning:
there's no guarantee you'll find employment..."

Then the professor paused, and smiled broadly. "So."

"Even idiocy, if done to the extreme, will become a selling

point. If you somehow become special, it'll become something
of value. Aim for that. Since you're all idiots, become an idiot
who no one can ever reach. If you reach that point, the line
between stupidity and genius will blur, and you guys might
become geniuses. How many of you will become geniuses...
I'm looking forward to it from the bottom of my heart."

"That's all." The inside of the hall had still fallen silent.

As if nothing happened, the male presenter went up to the

platform, and became to talk businesslike.

"Next, I will explain how to take classes. Please open the

class table and student handbook."

While continuing to listen to the explanation regarding

taking classes, the previous professor's words repeated in my
head.

——That was pretty clever.

Come to think of it, this industry is hard to enter. Her talk

had nothing to do with fims, anime, or games; only a really
stellar person would be able to sell their name and become
famous. Even if this era is the so-called 'platinum' one, not
every person at the time shined... Wouldn't my previous
•
future self be the best example?

Just like the professor said, there is no worth if pleasure

isn't demanded. Necessities of life are prioritized.

——I gotta do my best......

If I'm already depressed from the get-go, nothing will come

from it. I have to advance forward.

The guidance moved on to the next item. Once more,

Department Chair Sasai stood on the podium.

"Next off is, I will have everyone introduce themselves one

by one. Let's have student number 1 start... Hmm, since it's
the film department, let's introduce our favorite film director.

The students stirred at Department Chair Sasai's words.

——Eh? film director...?

Having said it, I'm stumped.

I did have a good balance of work hours, and I managed to

watch films every now and then. To be honest though, I
haven't remember the names of the directors of them.

"Okay then, student number 1. Akagi-san, please."

While I was flustered, the self-introductions started.

"Hello, I am student number 1, Yuuta Akagi. My favorite

film director is Martin Scorsese."

You can hear the other students say things like, "Ah, I like
him too." or "I like talking about Scorsese." in response.
•
 "......Who?"

However, a question mark fluttered about my brain.

"Number 2, Sanae Igawa. I like Director Yasujiro Ozu's

works."

"Number 5, Kouichirou Igawa. Director is... Sam Peckinpah

and Coen brothers."

"Number 9, Takashi Ono. I like and respect Director

Keisuke Kinoshita's works."

——Eh? Seriously...? I don't know any of local or

international film directors?

I now regret not looking at the names of film directors at

Wikipedia before enrolment. Umm... yeah. I should use
Wikipedia a lot during this era.

When I was searching for someone within my memories,

"Number 10, Eiko Kawasegawa."

A crisp voice passed from the seat immediately in front of

me. I raised my head without thinking.

The girl named Kawasegawa was a beautiful person with

long curly hair. Balanced looks, rather than refreshing.... she
had sharp eyes.

However, the words after introducing her name did not

appear.

——Hm? By any chance, does this kid also not know any
film directors?
•
 If so, a lame story, but my namaka will increase.

However,

"My favorite director... are too many, I cannot narrow it

down to one or two people, but."

The the girl started the conversation,

"I admire Sahara Okamoto's rhythmic production in old

Japanese films, and since the '80's, I've had a deep
impression with Sogo Ishii's works. However recently, I've
been thinking that Kenji Uchida's precise calculated works
are really wonderful. As for foreign films——"

•
 She then started listing directors that I've never heard of
before.

"——Ah. We get that you're well-versed in the subject so

please stop. You're making everyone else look pitiful you
know?"

Professor Kanou interjected.

"......Yes, excuse me."

I thought I heard a weak tongue click, but nevertheless

Kawasegawa stopped talking.

——That was the reason she became silent all of a sudden?

It felt like an ill-natured bee that had striked with all its
strength.

"Uhee... that's amazing. That kid knows an absurd

amount."

The neighbor Genkirou was completely in admiration.

Even from other seats, there were many gazes of respect

aimed at her.

"Number 15, Nanko Kogure...... director is umm, Director

Hayao Miyazaki, that's all!"

——Ah, damn, it was said first!

The hope of the few anime masters left, Nanako said them
first.

•
 ——W-Well okay, when needed, Oshii Mamoru......

When I gave my prayers so I won't lose another stock

somehow,

"Number 23, Aki Shino."

A strange voice resounded.

"Director... Director... Hmmmmm..."

While tilting her head to the side, an obvious 'none'

expression could be seen.

——Ah, this is a serious person.

This was not the 'effect' of Kawasegawa at first, but the

atmosphere that she really did not know.

——Shinoaki, instead of saying, "I don't know~" this is

also too unnatural/excessive......

"Umm, my coach is Coach Ou. Fawke's"

(Note: The word used for directors is 'kantoku'. People are

addressed like Miyazaki-kantoku for Director Miyazaki, but
'kantoku' also means 'coach', thus Ou-kantoku for Coach Ou.
Shinoaki was confused between 'kantoku' (director) and
'kantoku' (coach). Fawkes referring to Fukuoka SoftBank
Hawks, a Japanese baseball team.)

The moment that Shinoaki talked, the students feel down

simultaneously on the spot. After closely looking, within the
professors, a few probably fell over as well. This kind of easily
getting into the mood feels really Kansai.

•
 "Eh? A baseball coach and film director are different."

Shinoaki tilted her head while sitting on her seat.

After a moment of silence, the next student resume the

self-introductions as if nothing happened, and returned to the
previous times.

However, the hall that was filled with respect for

Kawasegawa just now, completely changed with Shinoaki's
remark; and was rewritten with 'there's something amazing
here' kind of curiosity.

"......Even though she entered the film department, what's

with that girl. Unbelievable......"

Eiko Kawasegawa, who was in the seat in front of me,

complained and muttered.

Looks like this school year will become an extremely

chaotic group.

"Alright, to commemorate the start of us rooming

together......"

Nanako rose the cup filled with Cola high,

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

"Ooh..."

The other 3 people also followed and rose their cup.

•
 After the end of the guidance, it was decided to have a
drinking party since we had the chance.

"A college toast, aren't you supposed to lift the ban on

drinking alcohol?"

Tsurayuki shook the cup filled with cider while looking

towards Nanako's direction.

"What's this minor saying? At least in this house alcohol is

prohibited until everyone turns twenty!"

"If it flooded a blog on Mixi, that'd be scary."

(Mixi: an online Japanese social networking service.)

Nanako and Shinoaki exchanged glances with each other

and nodded together. Even though her appeared like a gyaru
Nanako is surprisingly level-headed. She's a good girl.

"You're serious... well, since I don't drink, it's fine either

way."

Tsurayuki, who didn't care, gulped down his cider.

"Kyouya, you kind of have a serious face?"

"Ah, no."

I wonder if it looked so grave.

"Today's guidance, was a harsh story."

The lecture was informative and the professor's

performance was astonishing, but the contents were properly
etched into my mind.
•
 I'm sure even Tsurayuki, and even the others, should have
received a little bit of a shock without a doubt.

"Well, I certainly thought that she suddenly scolded us

harshly, but."

Tsurayuki crunched on the persimmon seeds.

"You also have four years of college life from now on, so
isn't it fine to be a carefree college student first? Since you
aren't out in the real world yet."

"That's also true I guess...?"

That's true. Even in the previous college I entered, I spent

the first two years playing around, and idolized Oogei, and it
shouldn't have changed too much.

"Thanks, I feel a bit at ease now."

"I see, then that's good. Then, let me ask once again."

"Eh?"

Tsurayuki brought his mouth close to my ear.

"You, which way do you go?"

"Which way?"

"Shinoaki and Nanako, I'm asking which one are you

planning on going for."

Suddenly, he began saying unexpected things.

"Haaa!?"
•
 "Well, after that this morning, of course you'd be Shinoaki,
but if it's actually a misunderstanding like you said, it's also
possible that you like Nanako after all. Such a thing, I think
you should properly make a decision."

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

I looked at the two people sitting in front of me.

"Hey Shinoaki, what was that about. The question about

which director you liked, seriously not Ou Coach."

"Cause I'm not really interested in directors, I don't really

know any. Are you informed Nanako?"

"U...... N-No, I also don't know any at all though......"

The two girls are smiling with a good looking relationship

while talking. The two girls looked like they were enjoying
eachothers company.

Looking at them again, both of them are quite cute.

Currently, their personalities don't seem terrible.

——Ah, I see. Of course, it's that sort of thing.

In my previous college, love relationships were far apart.

After that, I seemed to not be able to get a girlfriend the
whole time, in the middle, I started to stop thinking about it.
For example, even if there was a cute girl before my eyes, the
sense of reality of the relationship with me was not there.

"What's up with you two? You've been silent and glancing

here."

•
 "I-It's nothing."

I became flustered, and averted my eyes.

"So, who do you like, personally?"

"We just met today, so there's no answer."

......Nonetheless.

As expected, to say whether you liked the other person or

not, when they just introduced themselves is really troubling.
Also, it's a genuine 28 year old middle-aged man and a 18
year old girl.

"What? I see, I thought you had already decided."

Oddly enough, Tsurayuki quickly withdrew his

questioning.

"By the way, which one Tsurayuki?"

"Me? Well, neither in particular."

Even if I tried asking in return, only an indescribable cold,

uninterested reply came.

"The same reason as me?"

"Nn, well, there's that... and that I don't know them very
well, but I'm not interested in the first place, about love."

"Eh?"

As a college freshmen, isn't that a bit too mature?

•
 "That, why——"

As if to stop me from questioning him.

"——Well, I feel relieved because I understand that it's fine

to not particularly pay attention."

Whether or not Tsurayuki achieved his goal, he opened a

bag of candy in front of me and began to fill his mouth with it.

——I wonder if something happened, well, Tsurayuki is a

hunk.

He may not want to open up. Let's keep silent.

"A~h, Tsurayuki-kun don't eat my Kaki-pis!"

"Eh, was this Shinoaki's? Who decided that!?"

"You! The small bags were distributed to one person each,

so that should be understood with common sense! Kyouya
understood too right?"

"Eh? Ah, yea, that's what I thought."

"Kyouya, you! why did you betray me! This is where we

have allies among men!"

Even if I'm aware of the opposite gender, it doesn't quiet

down at all. : This racket, in less than a minute. While also
being involved personally, I was immersed in quite deep
emotions.

Aah, college students sure are nice......

Thus, the life in the share house began like this.

•
 First of all, while taking the aspirations of everyone, we
decided on the cleaning and cooking duties...... there was no
problem up to there but..

***

"Aah!!"

The third day after we starting living together..

The first sparks of trouble began with Shinoaki.

"What's wrong Shinoaki, raising your voice so loudly."

When I looked, Shinoaki sat in front of a cardboard box

with "Shinoaki's" written on it, and her eyes were teary.

"M-my 'Umakatoyo' was...... eaten......"

"What's that 'Umakatoyo'?"

At my question, a delightful voice answered me from

behind.

"It's a famous-super delicious tonkatsu flavored instant

ramen only sold in northern Kyushu...... oof."

His face was excessively content. When he put it like that, it

was pretty easy to figure out who did it..

"Tsurayuki-kun, you ate my 'Umakatoyo' of your own

accord right!?"

"I didn't eat anything. Instead, wasn't "Sukiyamon" (instant

noodles) left there?"

•
 "That's soy sauce flavored, it's completely different!"

"Isn't that fine!? They're both masterpieces of Barusu

Foods Corporation!"

"It's not fine! Do you know how important 'Umakatoyo' is

to Kyushu people, Tsurayuki-kun!"

Somehow, it seems like Tsurayuki ate the noodles that

Shinoaki brought from her home on his own accord. They
were fussing over this one item.

"Return it!"

"That's impossible!"

Even if their dispute continued, there were completely no

signs of settling this. Of course,

"Well you see, the two of you..."

The moment I reluctantly tried to interject, the sliding door

that seperated the living room and the bathroom rattled and
opened.

"——I have heard your stories!"

It was Nanako who was in the bath.

While in a daunting pose, came and lost her temper quickly

at Tsurayuki.

"Apologize, Tsurayuki! Arbitrarily eating people's meals,

it's not something we can have in a cohabitation life! It's a
crime!"

•
 "Ah...... uwaa......"

But for us, that wasn't the problem. Leaving that aside, it
couldn't been helped that Nanako's appearance caught our
eyes. Did you come out in a hurry? Nanako's upper half, only
had a bra.

——H...... huge.

It looks like the largeness of her breasts was much greater

of a crime, and my voice could not come out.

Her level of style was so good that she could laugh at

gravure idols scornfully. Furthermore, they're such a big size
that I have to wonder how such thin clothing was able to hold
them.

"Well, Nanako, um... getting angry is fine, but how about,

you look at your own chest for a bit?"

Tsurayuki, who was also absent minded, came to his senses

and said.

"Haa? What about my chest......"

Nanako was still angry while exposed, but.

"Eh...... eh......?"

•
 Finally realizing it, she roughly realized about her upper
half of her body as she became bright red.

"HyaaaaaaA!!!!?"

And ran away at once.

"W-Why!? I should be wearing a shirt thoughhhh, I was

seeeenn, I want to dieeee!!"

Soon, a sorrowful voice could be heard from the changing

room. I wonder if that T-shirt that was dropped at the
entrance of the changing room was the one.

"......Well, it's like that, so 'Sukiyamon' is also tasty?"

"This isn't settled! If you eat it next time, I'll take a

thousand yen for one!"

Thus, the incident remains questionably unresolved, and

rules like 『Don't eat the noodles that other people buy
without permission.』 and 『Write your name with a
permanent marker on things you want to protect no matter
what.』 were formally established.

Our communal life troubles were not just that.

"Today was a pain......"

The day after the food strife between Shinoaki and

Tsurayuki (and Nanako is included somehow), I, who had
returned from college, thought to immerse myself
comfortably in the bath.

After preparing the hot water, I killed time in the living

•
room for a while. Seeing it was a good time, I opened the door
to the bath naked vigorously.

"Ah."

"Eh."

It spanned about 3 seconds.

The moment I distincted between the pink body/object

that was already inside.

"—UwaaAAAA!!?"

Of course, when I opened the door, the door was

vigorously shut after, and quickly put on clothes.

I was flustered and acting if it didn't concern her,

Shinoaki's voice came from the bath.

"Ahaha, I thought something was weird~ As I thought I'd

enter the bath, the hot water was already put out, and I
thought I was lucky. So, it was Kyouya-kun."

"A-Ahaha... T-that's right."

"Kyouya-kun, sorry, I misunderstood and entered the

bath~"

"No, I don't particularly mind, or rather other than that, I

didn't see anything so I'm relieved!"

It's a lie. I actually fully saw quite a lot.

"Eh? Aah~ it's fine, since you immediately shut the door,
there's no problem~"
•
 Shinoaki seemed to have cheerfully forgave me.

——Haa...... nevertheless, the other day was Nanako's, and

now Shinoaki's. How nice.

I thought I was able to possibly to be one of those lucky

sukebe (luck lewd person) if we lived together, but to think
that such a high level would be realized.

But, yeah, as expected, she's young. Teenage years. Smooth

skin......

"No, that's that......"

As for more now, another threat on what to do took

precedence.

"——Isn't various explanations not required here?"

There was another girl, who had an angry expression, that

stood in front of me.

"......Normally, even before you open the door to the bath,

you would know if someone was inside right? This was on
purpose right!?"

"N-No, I was absentminded and didn't notice! Really! I-It

hurts! But, it's sof......t."

The headlock hurts for sure. However, Nanako did not only
hurt me. My head firmly came in contact with her breast, and
I was in a state where I did not know whether is was better to
reflect or be excited.

This co-ed share-house life, is full of dangerous things for

•
males.

Again, I thought.

——Aah~ college students are nice......

***

About a week has passed, each person's field of expertise

were roughly determined... Or rather, the inability of the
other three's to do simple housework came to light.

In the end, it was decided that I was in charge of the

general stuff such as cleaning and cooking, Tsurayuki was in
charge of manual labor and throwing away the garbage,
Nanako and I took turns cooking (her cooking was barely
edible), and Shinoaki...... had no particular strong point, so
she was in charge of helping everyone else.

And today, the two males, lost in a game of rock, paper,

scissors, were in charge of cleaning up after dinner together.

"Tsurayuki, you're bad at rock, paper, scissors."

"You... you're saying that shamelessly even though you lost

too."

The quarrel between Tsurayuki and I, who out of the three

rounds of rock, paper, scissors, lost them straight out
magnificently, was pointless.

"This, isn't this Shinoaki's?"

Tsurayuki, who wiped the table, picked up a small orange

pouch that was left behind.

•
 "Ah, probably. I recognize this."

When I answered, Tsurayuki softly threw the pouch over.

"You're both on the second floor, take it with you."

"Ah, sure."

While going up the stairs, I remembered the words of

Tsurayuki from the day we moved in.

"...Well, Shinoaki is cute, right."

Not only her face and personality, but despite entering the
filming department, she was not well-informed about films,
her practical side of life is entirely no good, a part of her is
free from worldliness...... she seems strangely stupid.

Nanako is also a good person, but if I became her

boyfriend, there's likely to be trouble. I'd immediately put up
my hands.

If it's Shinoaki, the desire to protect her would gush forth.

In that situation, it's kinda like a partner that you have to
protect no matter what. To begin with, it's mostly for girls ten
or younger.

Not to mention, this college is a survival place with a strict

female professor.

"O~i, Shinoaki, you here?"

I knocked on the door, but there was no reply.

However, when I listened carefully, faint sounds could be

heard from within the room.
•
 "Are you there......?"

She might be listening to music or something with

headphones or earphones.

I opened the door quietly, and entered inside.

"Shinoaki, you forgot——"

Being alive, it's not often you'd find yourself being at a loss
for words..

That's because there's no such thing as literally losing

words.

In the first place, an amazed voice, "uwa" kind of scream,

and words of admiration such as "amazing" and "so cool"
were almost all applicable reactions.

Therefore, at that moment, being at a loss for words, I

objectively "displayed" it.

"Shino...... Aki......?"

•
 A mountain of books largely covered the room. Regardless
of oil paintings, water paintings, canvases or drawing paper, it
was a forest of sketchbooks. There was no place to stand
because it was covered with a grasslands of art materials.
Every single thing that made up their existence there, was
related to 'art'.

Only the sound of the tip of the drawing tablet pen

resounded within the room. Enthusiasm gushed out from the
owner of the pen. The stroke of the pens were strong, and
heavy. That owner, who was supposed to be small, clearly
emitted a different atmosphere from their back.

The lights were off. However, there was light in the room.
It was the monitor's light. The 20-inch liquid display monitor
(LCD), there colors were leaping like they were throbbing,
and one drawing was made.

—It was a picture of a girl.

It was a painting of a girl smiling in the middle of a

sunflower field on the whole surface.

The straw hat that looks like it'd fly off with the wind, and
she pinned it down with both hands with a slightly troubled
face. The hem of the dress only slightly turned over, and the
slightly suntanned thigh from there was casted with white
light beautifully—it was that kind of drawing.

I quietly left the pouch there, and closed the door without
making a sound and went outside.

While staggering, I opened my room's door that was

immediately nearby, and flopped into my room.
•
 I threw myself on the futon that has been left out since last
night.

"Haha...... haha......"

Naturally, my laughter brimmed over from my throat and

came out.

I didn't know anything. About the fact that she drew and
how much effort was put into it, I was definitely surprised at
her fierceness that was before my eyes. Her vigor was so
overwhelming that I did not think that we were the same age,
and I also couldn't say anything.

However, the reason I was speechless, was for another

reason entirely.

"That's amazing......"

The one illustration book that Kyouya Hasiba cherished

more than anything else.

That book, called 『Sunflower』 contains many illustrations

that that artist continued to draw. And on the front cover, it
used the illustration that was drawn ten years from the
publication date going back to her student days. It was
impossible to have mistaken it. The girl who stood in a
sunflower field that I just personally saw just a few minutes
on the monitor screen.

We're in the same college, I thought it was the same

college. Even though I'm near her, although it was not a
mystery at all, and yet, I thought that she was a far off
existence.

•
 However, the existence that I yearned for, was by far closer
than I imagined, it seemed like she was close enough to be
able to hear her breathing in.

•
 Chapter 02: The Place Known as Oogei Arts University

Around two weeks have passed in order for life in the

sharehouse to calm down, my classes to start and my life cycle
to also settle down.

School was fun, living together was lively, and I had no

complaints. Except for one thing, there was something I
wanted to do.

I had no money.

I wasn't rich ten years in the future as a working adult, but

it's different now as a student. I more or less receive an
allowance, but it's unreliable to say I could use money freely.
So, I decided to work a part-time job.

Nonetheless, I wasn't going to do anything hard. Well, I did

contact the neighborhood convenience store and brought
along my resume—

"——Welcome!"

Despite it being late at night, the clerk who greeted me

with a smile was someone I recognized.

"Eh, w-why did you come here?"

Her business smile instantly changed into a "yuck" sort of

expression.

"Back at you Nanako, why are you wearing a uniform...?"

•
 The convenience chain store, Dawson, had many stores in
Western Japan.

Of course, many of them exist around Oogei, and many of

them recruit students part-time.

"Haha... to think that not only our boarding house, but

even our job location follows the same pattern..."

Strangely, Nanako was murmuring.

"Eh, then umm, Nanako also works here?"

"As you can see. Today marks exactly one week, I think."

It hasn't been long since she moved, but she moved faster,
or rather, she's a person to take action...

"...This isn't the place to talk. Y'know what, listen up."

"W-What...?"

"The owner here is Isokazu Maeda-san. You heard it when

you called, right?"

"Probably. I think it was that gramps."

"He's 78 years old this year. He was born when his father
was 51 years old so he's, Isokazu-san."

(Note: Isokazu's name is written as 五十一 which literally

means '51')

"Hee..."

"But who cares!" Nanako retorted herself. "So, today the

•
schedule was for the owner and I to come in, but as you can
see, it's only me right now."

"Perhaps... his health is bad due to his old age, something

like that?"

Before I had finished speaking, Nanako quietly struck my

shoulder.

"If you can tell that much, change into the uniform in the
back room and join me here! Over!"

"Hey, I get it, so don't pull me, Nanako!"

Just like that, I was forcibly dragged into the back room.

***

The fluorescent light that shone was different from the one
inside the store, the back room was dim, and it was silent.
When I sat on a pipe chair that was randomly put there,
Nanako came from the back and suddenly reached out her
hand.

"Here, from the manager."

"T-Thanks..."

I opened the pull-tab of the canned coffee she handed over,

and took a sip.

The sweetness soaked into my body which was tired from

moving around.

"The owner, is he okay?"

•
 "It seems like it. Help came so he should be fine. For the
time being, take a 30 minute break."

After that, in the end only the two of us, Nanako and I, had
turned up at the late night store.

Although the store had relatively few customers, it was

quite hard on the body to be entrusted with an unfamiliar job
as soon as I joined.

Fortunately, the manager returned, and as soon as the

veteran clerk Sakurai-san hurriedly came in, we were able to
take a break.

"Man, you saved me. Thanks."

No, it's nothing. It was a bit difficult, but I learned more

about my job."

Speaking of my previous student days, I only worked part-

time at a pachinko parlor, and this was my first authentic
experience of working at a convenience store.

As expected, it wasn't possible for me to operate the cash

register, so I was mainly assigned to restocking the shelves.

"Nanako, have you worked at a convenience store before?"

In such a situation, Nanako had displayed movements so

quick that one wouldn't think that it had only been around a
week for her.

"Yeah, around 2 years in my hometown. Our high school

was okay with part-timers."

•
 "No wonder."

Since she was an experienced worker, I could understand

how she moved that well.

"Haa, nonetheless, I get tired standing up for long periods

of time."

Nanako also sat down on a chair.

Having vigorously sat down, her breasts swung for a

moment.

——I had thought of this before, but her breasts are really
huge...

For a while now, it felt like her uniform was quite tight.

Her figure was like Kashima's from Kancolle. However,

even if I said that, no one would understand the reference in
the year 2006 anyway.

"Kyouya? You're staring over here... Is there anything

wrong?"

"N-No, it's nothing. C-come to think of it, don't Shinoaki

and Tsurayuki work part-time too?"

In order to dodge the question, I changed the topic.

Come to think of it, I didn't hear about part-time work

from the two of them. Especially since they didn't seem to
have a large allowance.

"I don't know about Tsurayuki. Wouldn't he just be doing

something suitable for him?"
•
 "Nanako also doesn't know..."

Even after living together for a while, Tsurayuki's timing

didn't really match ours.

At best, he ate dinner together with us sometimes, and

among the four of us, he was the person whose history I knew
the least about.

"Shinoaki seems to have applied for a student loan. Also,

she said that she wasn't suited to part-time jobs."

"Well, it doesn't feel like she'd be suited for it."

I could not imagine Shinoaki working with precision with

her demeanour.

But man, a student loan... Right now wouldn't the time to

be concerned about problems that arise from being late in
repaying the debt ten years in the future.

"Now that you mention it, Shinoaki is often secluded in her

room. I wonder what she's doing."

"Eh?"

"She's also not working part-time. When school ends, she

goes straight back home. Aren't you interested in what she
usually does?"

"Ah..."

"Kyouya, do you know?"

"Errm, um..."

•
 I tried to explain, but I gave up.

The scene I saw that night.

Akishima Shino——no, the scene of Shinoaki drawing.

I recalled how I was overwhelmed by the subject of the

illustration being drawn in that ghastly state.

"No, not really. But you see, won't she have a hobby or
two?"

"Hmm, well, maybe. She suddenly started living alone, and

she came from somewhere far away; as long as she doesn't
feel lonely, it should be alright... I think."

I haven't told anyone about Shinoaki drawing. She herself

had not said anything to anyone, and I didn't think she would
want anyone to talk about it thoughtlessly.

Nanako did not ask anymore. However, she was a good

person who was considerate of others. Her personality
betrayed her outer appearance.

Come to think of it, I wonder why Nanako came to Oogei.

After all, she must have considered something before

coming, but I still have not heard anything.

"Ah, I guess so. Do you want to help restock the drinks?"

"Sure, I'll tag along."

"Oh? Then tell me how many drinks we'll need~"

I stood up, and headed towards the drinks shelf.

•
 There were at most 2~3 bottles of tea and carbonated
drinks left.

"Quite a few are missing."

I bent down, and refilled the bottles with those from the
cardboard box from the back.

"Ah, then I'll do so too."

I heard Nanako's voice coming from behind, and found

that she was coming closer to me.

"Sure, thank....s!?"

My head and shoulders that were facing forward were

suddenly pushed up against something strangely soft and
warm, and I unconsciously released a strange sound.

"Ah, you're right. Ginger ale and Bokari are decreasing. I'll
do it over here."

"S-sure..."

I could not respond well.

As usual, her chest kept repeatedly moving away and

approaching my head. I could sometimes feel her thighs
through my back.

Alongside her "heave-ho"s, her breasts pressed even

further. I wonder what this is. I wonder how much it would
cost if this was a shop service?

Even though a cold air should have been constantly

flowing, my body felt hot the entire time, and I continued the
•
drink restocking quietly.

"Kyouya, you're silent, what's up?"

"Ah, no err, um..."

"Ah, it's cramped in here, so I might bump into you a little,

sorry."

"Thank... You very much."

Setting aside what I was thankful for.

The feeling of warmth and softness continued to press onto

me.

——Ah... This is bad, I might lose it.

I was no longer concentrating on restocking the drinks, my

consciousness was focused entirely on my back.

"Alright, I'm roughly finished with putting them in for

now."

After few minutes, heaven was about to quickly end.

I scolded my instincts that said they had not have enough.

My nimble eyes traveled around, and I reported to Nanako.

"Ah, there's still the left side."

"Oh, then I'll also do this side."

Touch, softness, heaven was reopening.

——This is bad... This is getting bad...

•
 The euphoria was too strong, strong enough that I thought
that I was going to die like this.

***

In the end, we continued working until early in the

morning and were released from our shift only after 6 am.

"Good job."

When my eyes were blinking at the morning sun, Nanako

cheerfully called out. How youthful... No, I am also young.

"You too. It was hard..."

"No, sorry, you were suddenly dragged in on the first day.

Aren't you tired?"

Nanako was apologetic.

Nonetheless, she must have worked even harder than me.

Even though she worked hard while serving customers

with a smile, taking orders, restocking and serving hot snacks,
she had been lively the entire time.

"Not at all. I'd just be in the boarding house doing nothing,

anyway."

"I see, well that's good~"

Nanako said, feeling relieved.

As with her words earlier, she's a nice girl who was

fundamentally caring...

•
 She's a bit of a delinquent or a gyaru, but normally she was
a beautiful person.

"Kyouya, do you have a bit of time after this?"

"Yeah... I have nothing to do in particular."

"Well, let's go to karaoke for just an hour?"

She suddenly proposed.

"Singing isn't really my forte you see."

"Ah, then I'll pay, so it's fine if you just listen."

Ten years ago, I also normally went to karaoke alone, but

Nanako was obsessed with the two of us going for some
reason.

"Nanako, do you like karaoke?"

"I really like it!!"

She immediately answered.

Since we had come this far, there was no reason to refuse.

***

There was a karaoke box chain store across the opposite

side of the Tondabayashi Station near the college.

Since there was only one store that was open 24 hours, we
entered it without hesitation.

"I'm relieved that it's Joy Karaoke~ There's actually quite a

•
number of songs assembled here."

We entered the room and Nanako started to quickly search

for a song through the song book.

"What do you sing?"

"I normally sing J-Pop you know? Also well, I guess I also
sing quite a few anime songs? For example..."

While continuing to input the number of several songs,

Nanako cheerfully named the song titles."

"Do you not come by yourself? To karaoke?"

"Well, isn't it somewhat lonely? Singing alone that is."

"Well, that's..."

"Whether one is good at singing or bad at singing, having

fun with everyone, isn't that what Karaoke is about? That's
what I feel."

As she was talking, she was getting quite familiar with how
to operate the devices. She turned off the echo and
reverberation, and turned off the guide melody settings.

——Huh? Is she one of those who are good when they turn
off the echo?

For a moment, my chest pounded and throbbed. I

remembered the incident with Shinoaki from the other day.

Could this be the pattern where I discover Nanako's

legendary class singing talent and end up finding a diamond
in the rough...!?
•
 ——Uwaa...

During the middle of the song, I was unable to stand up

due to my suprise.

I was surprised by the first line in full volume, my body

shook at the vibrato, and felt by the whispering voice that was
like it was whispering close to my ear, and was amazed at her
lung capacity that was to the point where one wouldn't know
when she would take a breather.

If it wasn't for that horrible pitch control, I would've been

deeply moved from the bottom of my heart for sure.

In a few words, Nanako was bad at singing. Furthermore,

devastating at an outstanding level.

The first song that was an anime song of a new singer who
was selected by audition and was famous for its technically
difficult musical piece.

In the beginning I was shocked, "You're singing that of all

things!?", then figured that she had suitable confidence, but...

Of course, it's just karaoke. If you sing a song that you like,
even if you sing bad, you'll probably get excited.

——No... But this is...

•
 However, if Nanako were to be put in terms of status,
within 5 parameters, only one would be outstandingly low, or
rather how should I put it, all that one felt was
disappointment.

"Haa, as expected it feels good since I haven't sung in a

while~"

Nanako finished singing, and put down the mic

temporarily.

"Nanako, your volume is amazing."

For the time being, it was hard to praise her admirable

points, so I attacked the place with the least amount of
problems.

"Really? At my parents' home, my grandma would sing folk

songs, and I sang a lot since I was young, so it might be
because of that."

If she always opened up her singing voice and vocalized

ever since she was a kid, then I can understand this volume.

"Do you still sing those, folk songs, that is?"

"I sing them. Fune~ woooo hiki~ a~ ge~"

Suddenly, Gachinko's folk song began, and the high volume

surprised me once again.

However, as usual, the pitch was out of sync.

"I felt fine in continuing folk songs, however somewhere

along the line, she told me, "it'd be better if you sang
•
something different." then I stopped."

Her grandma's choice of words moved me to tears.

"You like to sing?"

When I asked, she nodded greatly.

"Yeah, I like it. That's why I come to karaoke at times, but...

It's lonely being alone all the time, so I invited you just now."

Nanako said as if she was embarrassed,

"...I was bad, right?"

Suddenly, she stepped on the landmine herself.

"Eh, ah, no."

As the situation developed too suddenly, I behaved

strangely without thinking.

"It's no good right. I've been in love and practiced for a

long time, but I can't seem to fix only the off sync pitch."

She was aware of it...

I tried to smooth over my response but it backfired. Now I

felt embarrassed...

"If it's me, I can't tell where to fix it, so I wanted to have
people listen sometimes..."

Nanako glanced at me with an unusual apologetic look.

"...So, I have a small favor to ask of Kyouya."

•
 "A favor?"

"Since I'm like this, I'm trying to fix my bad points, but the
friends willing to go with me are gradually decreasing."

I felt bad for Nanako, but there's a maddening feeling I get

when I hear that pitch.

"So, it's fine if it's only sometimes, but can you come
karaoke together with me like this... Can't you?"

Uu...

I was lost for words for a moment.

Nanako was a good person, and it was fun talking to her,

but it would be quite hard to always keep her company with
her karaoke.

However, I had a feeling that she would lose her path if I

refuse here.

"Sure, that's fine. If I'm good enough, then there's no

problem at all."

"Seriously? Yay~! Then, I'll be in your care again after

work!"

Looking delightful from the bottom of her heart, Nanako

hit my shoulder without holding back and was glad.

"Yup, I saw quite a lot today...!"

Going outside of the karaoke box, Nanako stretched her

back at the already bright sky.

•
 Inside my head, I was continuing to transform the out of
tone song pitch that I heard into something better.

——I understand why Nanako's friends don't want to keep

her company at karaoke very well...

As expected, it was bad enough to infect your own singing

style probably.

"Thanks for today, Kyouya."

"Eh? No, don't mention it."

"For some reason, it's suuuper easy to sing in front of

Kyouya. Rather than feeling nervous, it felt like it was natural
for me to sing..."

Certainly, putting the pitch aside, I could see that Nanako

was singing freely.

"I'll try my best to get better, so please endure a bit until

then. Okay?"

It can't be helped when being relied on like that.

The other points were right on the spot. If she just matched
her pitch with everything else, I wonder how it would turn
out. I thought my meager singing ability had been sacrificed
in order to up Nanako's singing ability.

"Ah, that's right."

I remembered.

Nanako's desire to have someone to listen. A desire to get

better.
•
 Because I knew the future, didn't I have a piece of reliable
advice.

"Then, if Nanako's confident in that song, let's record it and

upload it to the net."

"To the net...?"

Nanako asked, staring at me blankly.

"Yeah, upload it to YouTube or some video site, and let

everyone listen..."

Right after I said that, the color of Nanako's face turned

pale instantly.

"N-N-N-No way no way no way! It's certain that sort of

thing is no good! Even though I'm already bad as it is, if I
upload it to the net, isn'it it decided that I'll be flamed
repeatedly! Kyouya, what is it? Do you want to break my
heart that much!?"

"N-No, like I said, after you get better."

"That sort of thing is no good! After all, YouTube and that

stuff is the world. If I upload karaoke and that stuff there, it'll
definitely be pointed out as a fame-seeker!

...I see, 10 years ago, was still this sort of time was it.

"Well then, isn't it fine if you try only upload to a Japan-

only video site and upload simpler karaoke first?"

"Japan-only...? There's no such thing currently."

Yup, you can do it around the end of the year or next year
•
though.

"It's just a hypothetical conversation. If you want to do it,

then it's fine to just do it casually. With a 'Tried singing'
feeling."

"Uuu... Tried singing, was it..."

Nanako still frowned at my proposal but, "Sure, if it's only

that... Can I think about it?"

"Alright, it's decided then! Let's use that as your target and
practice!"

"Wait up, don't decide that by yourself!!"

Nanako denied angrily.

However, her facial expression and her way of talking did

not feel like she truly disliked it.

If one wasn't worried about singing in public, then they

surely would have a desire to have all kinds of people listen.

In the immediate future, Nicodo will be created, and the

hurdle to exhibit one's videos and voice will be lowered

Even Nanako's song, there should be more people to listen

to her songs. If she gains enough experience, her songs might
get much better.

Nanako's thoughts should also change greatly from thereon

out.

***

•
 It seemed that the Imaging Arts Department, or rather the
lessons of Oogei were completely different from those of
general universities.

The first was general education.

Although a second foreign language was required in a lot of

ordinary universities, but in Oogei, excluding certain
departments, it wasn't required. It was not necessary to take
lectures like history or literature either. The lectures
themselves were relaxed as though they were based on the
premise that units would be given just by attendance without
any tests.

This was a heavenly environment for students who were

not good at studying through normal high school methods.

"Even though Japanese is shady enough, it will be difficult

to increase foreign language any more, right~? That's why I
chose this university!"

Although the name of the person in question was censored

for the sake of anonymity, these were the words of a certain
woman.

However.

When it came to specialized subjects, it was to be expected

that the expertise would be hammered in diligently.

"There are several types of cameras. The films are 8 mm,

16 mm, 35 mm, 70 mm. In the case of video 8 mm, S-VHS,
Beta, VHS, Beta Cam, U-Matic, DV, and a recently added
standard called HDV."

•
 "When using multiple cuts to construct a scene, there are
lines that should not be exceeded in relation to the camera
and the subject. We call this the imaginary line."

"We use a polarizing filter to get rid of the reflections that

occur when you shoot glass or water, on that occasion, you
should remember that you have a filter factor of 2.5. So
increase the exposure by two and a half."

The students who just made a fuss about studying

quadratic equations and grammar earnestly received lectures
in these subjects.

To be honest, I really couldn't fathom it.

It seemed that the first-year students who just enrolled

here were inflicted with a strong cultural shock with
textbooks filled with numerical figures and graphs lined up,
and a handbook in English literal translation which was
difficult to read.

——Why is it not camera (English), but kamera (German)?

Today was the day when lessons regarding scenarios,

which were considerably important for the courses related to
images, were held.

"Then, we will begin lesson in scenario creation theory."

A dreadful looking old professor with gray hair and

sunglasses stood on the podium.

I didn't know him, but I googled his name and found out
that he was a veteran director of Japanese films, and he was a
person who had won several awards.
•
 In fact, the girl who was sitting in front of me again and
was familiar with the movie industry — Kawasegawa
something—was staring at the grandpa standing on the
podium with sparkling eyes.

——He probably is a great person...

With looks that seemed to be way past 70, he wrote on the

blackboard energetically with a smooth tone cheerfully, and
left a considerable impact.

——Well, this too, is amazing.

On the other hand, next to my seat,

"Amazing... mm...... uh."

A student with bad eyes fell asleep in the first 5 minutes of

the lecture.

"Tsurayuki, you're going to be scolded at this rate. You

should stop snoring."

Unable to stay indifferent, I shook him awake.

"Mm...? Has the lesson ended already?"

"What are you getting all delirious for, it has only just
begun."

"Ooh... I see."

Tsurayuki shabbily followed the text written on the

blackboard from the right to left with his eyes,

"Well, later then."

•
 He said and lowered his face, and he began to sleep with a
somewhat more reserved snore than a little while ago.

"I don't care anymore... Geez."

With a sigh, I turned my sight back to the blackboard.

Tsurayuki came to my room suddenly at midnight

yesterday.

"——I found an amazing part-time job. Anyway, it pays

surprisingly well."

His eyes were sparkling, and he randomly invited me to the

part-time job.

"It's one of those eye drop administration experiments. A

freaking 300,000 for a week, 300,000! A senior in the
Department of Photography told me about it."

Administration experiments, eye drops, outrageous

remuneration, a senior's introduction. It was one of those win
worth thousand points risks.

"You should drop it. That part-time job is an absolute NO,

don't you think."

"Don't worry it's safe! I got a memorandum too!"

"Show it to me for a bit."

I received the memorandum from Tsurayuki and looked

through it. The first words written were 'I will say nothing
regardless of whatever happens.' and they were giving me a
headache just by seeing them.

•
 "For now, I'll pass."

"Why are you being such a party-pooper. Then I'll go by

myself."

And so Tsurayuki went out thus, and it was not until

morning before he came back.

Of course he was sleepy.

"I'm back."

Tsurayuki did not even try to conceal his sleepiness and,

with a pouting face, he just started to usher out complaints on
us while we were having our breakfast.

It seems that the staff at the part-time job was sufficient by

the time he reached the meeting place, and those who were
denied employment were suddenly given light work of
baggage carriers by the employment agency.

It seems to have been a fairly ordinary black part-time job,

and it seems like, in spite of having to carry heavy objects, the
part-time wage was just 7,500 yen.

"I'm going to sleep for now."

"What are you saying? We have a compulsory class from

9:00."

"Then, I'm going to sleep during the lesson."

It was good that Tsurayuki's eyes didn't get worse, but

conversely the physical fatigue accumulated made it
extremely difficult to take the first period.

•
 ——Well, it looks like it's just writing on the blackboard, so
I could always tell you about it later.

It seems this grandpa-sensei's style was, to write things

down, and then make you listen and learn.

"Okay, so let's talk about the necessary elements in writing

a scenario."

The words were just lined up on the blackboard.

They were titled as the 'Ten Clauses of Scenarios', and it

appeared to be a list of necessary elements for writing a
movie or drama scenario. 'Development', 'Fate', 'Treasure',
'Determination', 'Passion', 'Climax', 'Dawn', and 'Theme'.

The teacher began to explain every one at a stretch.

"'Development' depicts the literal meaning of the word as it

is. It shows how to go about the development, and it shows
how the scene unfolds."

While making a reference to an existing title and scene, he

explained where a part corresponds to the word.

Unfortunately, I did not know much, but from the seat of

the enthusiastic students at the front, "Ah...", and a voice that
sounded somewhat like they understood leaked out.

"Well, I am thinking of making everyone think about this

one."

Suddenly, the teacher stopped explaining and looked

around at everyone's face.

•
 "There are only eight entry listed here. It's quite funny isn't
it, even though it is labeled Ten Clauses?"

That means...

"I'll try to get someone to answer the other two."

Wow, are you serious!

——I didn't understand a thing... What could it be?

Even if it is said to be a necessary element, the only

technical terms I know for a scenario are story composition
and development, and the ten clauses that were just shown,
naturally, are all news to me.

"Somebody—"

"—Yes."

Even before the teacher could point at anyone, a single

hand was raised up without hesitation.

"Oh, you are quite enthusiastic. You are..."

A beautiful girl with long curly hair rose,

"It is Kawasegawa Eiko. Could one of the missing things, be

'Confusion'?"

Her explanation continued.

"The confusion shows unexpected development, it shows

the protagonist's, the hero's failure and such. No matter how
perfect a person is, they won't be fun if they have no faults or
failures. By showing that in the middle of a story, and
•
overcoming it through the course of the movie, one brings out
the essence of the drama, I think."

For a moment, the classroom was silent,

"That's correct. Perfect."

The Sensei smiled and added 'Confusion' on the

blackboard.

"Ohhh." the inside of the classroom filled with the voice of

exclamation.

——Amazing... She got it right.

It reminds me of her smooth self-introduction during

guidance and counselling.

"Then, can you answer the remaining one too?"

"I will cede the remaining one to someone else. I will feel
bad if I monopolized everything."

"You are quite an interesting lass. And mean too."

"Much obliged."

Everyone laughed at the interaction between the two

people.

Now that it had come to this, the next person to try and
answer was only going to embarrass themselves.

——I hope I don't get called...

As I put my hands together mentally.

•
 "OK, then, you there sleeping at the back! Try to answer it."

The sensei pointed his finger straight at me.

The student eyes are directed to this place at once.

"Hm... Eh?"

Tsurayuki raises his head with a sleepy tone.

"What's the matter, Kyouya? I feel like I was called just

now."

"You didn't feel it, you were called, look."

He turned his eyes toward the blackboard.

"Apparently, you seem to be starting class now."

The whole classroom laughed at the sensei's words again.

When Tsurayuki finally noticed the gazes that he had

gathered,

"It's that thing, right? Where you want me to answer

something?"

At this point, he said such a thing in a carefree tone.

"That's right, the ten clauses necessary for a scenario, you

were asked to tell us which one is missing."

"Oh, that's."

Tsurayuki nodded lightly and looked at the blackboard.

•
 No matter how you looked at it, it was not a situation
where you could answer anything.

"Maybe you don't know it? If you're giving up, be sure to

say..."

The sensei's half-inflame words were uttered to the end.

"'Adversary'"

All of a sudden, Tsurayuki said something.

"Eh?"

"Oh, I see. Maybe you want it as two characters of kanji.

Then how about 'Enemy Role'."

(Note: All the other 'terms' so far were written with two
kanji characters, but 'Adversary' is written as カタキ which is
3 characters and katakana, not kanji. He ends up using the
term 'Enemy Role' which is read as '敵役' which followed the
two kanji pattern the professor used the entire time. Just a
slight pun you would've gotten if you were Japanese so I
thought I'd explain the joke)

When Tsurayuki scratches his head, with his voice as

lethargic as ever,

"Literally, it is one who is the enemy of the protagonist in a

story. It can be either a person or an organization, or a trauma
or could even be a friend. It is easier to understand from the
standpoint of taking away the 'Treasure' like the one
enumerated here. I think that it is an important existence to
sustain the tension until the final stage of the story, but...
What do you think?"
•
 Everyone, was flabbergasted by Tsurayuki's words.

"...Exactly, That was exactly 'Adversary' right there. Well

said, correct answer."

Among everyone, Sensei nodded the most intensely.

"No way."

As Tsurayuki returns to his seat, without saying anything

more, he started to doze off again.

——Who is Tsurayuki, exactly?

Once again, I stared at my friend whose eye expressions

looked bad.

It was certain that there were several mysterious parts, but

to accurately guess the gist of the scenario in spite of being
pointed out suddenly, and that behaviour which gave the
impression of 'oh it wasn't a big deal' was clearly not of an
ordinary person.

——I wonder if he is one of the 'Platinum Generation'... By

any chance.

I felt the same ominous feeling as the one I felt with

Shinoaki with this man who was sleeping without any care in
the world.

"Who the hell is that guy? Even though he's been sleeping
all this while, unbelievable..."

And one more person.

Eiko Kawasegawa who was deprived of the seat of the

•
leading role in this place, just like the time during guidance
and counselling with Shinoaki, sent a hateful glance towards
Tsurayuki as well.

——This girl has an abnormal rivalry spirit too... What the

hell is it, like seriously.

***

"It's not a big deal. I just reiterated something I read in the

past."

Tsurayuki replied with a grin, as he ate the katsudon he

had in his hand.

"It's just that the one I happened to remember was the

missing one, I would have struck out had it been another. It
was just a coincidence, pure coincidence."

"So you say, but it's still amazing how you said it so
smoothly with that timing."

As I spoke enthusiastically, Nanako and Shinoaki agreed,

"Right, even I didn't understand any of the explanations."

"The sensei was shocked right, he was all like 'you could
actually answer this~!?'"

Everyone was very excitedly ushering out praises, but

Tsurayuki didn't seem to be particularly happy, and as
everything calmed down,

"Well. Then, I'm going to my part-time job now."

He said briefly, and walked out of the cafeteria.

•
 "I wonder if he was in a bad mood?"

He was being complimented, so he didn't have to be so

cold.

"I'm sure he is just not used to being complimented."

"Is that so?"

"Of course, I'm sure he must be feeling himself out of our

sights about now."

Nanako stretched as, "Well then, I also have a night shift,

so I'm out of here."

"Oh, alright."

"Later."

Shinoaki saw off Nanako, who was taking off.

Although Nanako did not stand out in class, she already

had many friends, and she seemed to be enjoying college life
smoothly.

"Everyone is really doing their best. I guess I have to try

harder myself so I'm not left behind."

"Ah, yeah. That's true."

I nodded to Shinoaki's words.

In my mind, Shinoaki and Tsurayuki were in the same

category.

——She will someday become a maestro, of course her

•
thoughts are completely different from mine.

I couldn't relate/connect the figure of this girl happily

slurping on her strawberry milk with the ghastly state she had
been in the other day.

Having come from a world 10 years into the future, I

thought that I had a much greater advantage over everyone
else. I thought it would be absolutely advantageous.

However, even though I was a professional in the

entertainment industry, the knowledge I cultivated there was
useless. Rather, it became clear that I did not even
understand the basics.

I began to think that it was more important to be talented

or to study than to have experience.

"Hmm..."

I faced down and immersed myself in my thoughts.

Everyone is amazing. Among them, I am the only one who

is helplessly mediocre.

I wondered if I would be able to keep up at this rate. My

anxiety wouldn't go away.

"What is it?"

"Eh?"

Before I realized it, Shinoaki was staring into my face.

"Oh, no, it's nothing."

•
 "Hm-m, well if you say so."

As Shinoaki smiled, "Hey, Kyouya?"

"Hmm, what is it?"

As Shinoaki smiled, she grabbed the hem of my cloth and

pulled it.

"If you don't have anything doing right now, will you
accompany me for a bit?"

"Eh? I-I don't mind..."

"In that case, follow me."

Shinoaki didn't have any plans for part-time jobs, so what

could it be?

As I was wondering, I decided to accompany Shinoaki, who

stood up and started walking.

***

A side street deviated from the main street of the school

building and led to the school gate. There was a building on
this street lined with the club rooms of the cultural group
circles.

It was this building that Shinoaki brought me to.

"Ooh, there are a lot of them. Where shall we start

looking?"

Speaking happily, she glanced at each room filled with its

own rich personality. At this point of time, many of the doors
•
were still pasted with member recruitment stickers.

"As expected of an Art University, there are appeals for

something everywhere."

There were several variations, such as handwriting, wood

carving, cloth dyeing, and so on.

"I caught a cold and missed the invitation party! So I have

to make up for it."

In Oogei, the recruitment of freshmen in each circle is

performed immediately after matriculation.

Many circles appeal on the stage of the auditorium, and

interested freshmen find the circle in which they want to
enter. But if you fail to join the circle, you'll have to go around
the building and choose a circle later. It seemed like the
number of clubs in Oogei was ridiculously large, and the
competition for new students was getting worse every year.

While I was looking at the enthusiastic appeals, there were

some weird clubs that I didn't know much about.

So, Shinoaki was among those non-participating groups,

huh.

"Oh, Kyouya-kun!" Shinoaki pulled my clothes again.

"Look! There's a tatami mat in the club room!"

Looking where she pointed, there was a room in the middle

of the line that was distinctly different from the others.

A lot of dangerous weapons could be seen in the tatami-

floored room when peeking through the entrance door.
•
 Not only that, there were also a number of shurikens, in the
shape of sticks, diamond shapes, and so on, on the tatami
mat, which was put up against the wall.

"Oh... That must be, the Ninjutsu study group."

"Ninjutsu?"

"Apparently, in Japan, it's only in Oogei which has a Ninja

circle, these only exist in 2 schools, even across the world."

Certainly, Genkiro told me about this as a remarkable

exercise circle at the time of the invitation party. I gave her
the explanation exactly as he told me.

"Wow... That's quite the rare circle..." Shinoaki said in

admiration.

Looking closely, students who were doing muscle training

in front of the club room were also wearing ninja outfits, so it
made for a very strange sight.

Is Genkiro really interested in this real world alternate

reincarnation kind of circle....

"Then, is that person a ninja, too?"

"Who?"

At the end of the hallway where Shinoaki pointed, a man

was crawling on the ground.

He raised a strange groan sound, and was slowly sweating

on his face.

He wasn't exactly wearing a ninja outfit.

•
 "...Could it be that he just collapsed?"

"Eh, eeeeh!?"

In a hurry, the both of us rushed over to the guy.

"Oh, uhmm, are you alright?"

The guy was clad in a shabby parka jacket and one of those
tattered crazy jeans, no... Rather, he was just dressed up
pretty wildly.

As I tried to hold his body, he raised a "Ugh, Ug~hh..." loud

groan.

And as he looked around,

"Are you confident in your strength?"

That's right, he was asking me.

"Aah?"

"I am very tired right now. Putting it simply, I can't go back

to the club room by myself, so I have been lying here
groaning, but if you have the strength, I was hoping you could
grit your teeth, lend your shoulder and carry this 5th year
photography department student, Takashi Kiryu, back into
the club room."

Setting aside the fact that that wasn't a word, This man was
a person who uttered his specific desire.

"Fortunately, I'm quite confident in my strength."

"Then I beg of you. I really can't move anymore."

•
 ...Oh geez.

"Shinoaki, uhmm."

"Oh no, you don't have to worry about me. That bro seems
to be in pain."

Despite having her time to look around the circle cut short,
Shinoaki had a bright smile on her face.

"I'm so sorry. Now then, uh-mm... Kiryu-senpai."

"Ooh, are you going to help me."

"For now. Where is the room?"

I lent my shoulder to the senpai and walked in the

direction that he indicated.

"I'm very sorry, I'm heavy right?"

"No, at all."

Honestly, I didn't feel the weight at all.

He looked thin at a glance, but he was surprisingly light

when I actually carried him.

If a man was this light, then it was kinda worrisome in it's

own way.

"Oh, here we are, it's at the second floor."

From the very end of the club building, there was a new
building that seemed to have been newly built.

•
 "There was a circle in this distant place."

Shinoaki looked at it in an unusual manner.

When I climbed up the stairs, a room without any sign

seemed to be the destination.

"Is it alright to leave you at the door?"

"No, please enter... Place me on the chair inside."

I entered the room of about 10 tatami mats, and laid Kiryu-

san on the chair at the center of the room.

There were canvas put up everywhere in the room. There

were paintings of multi-colored geometric patterns, realistic
landscape paintings, they had no uniformity at all.

"Wow, This place really reeks of Oogei."

Shinoaki seemed to be crazy about those pictures.

"Oh no, you've been a great help. I was able to return to the
club room thanks to you two."

Kiryu-san gave his appreciation, relieved.

"Not at all. Now then, we'll excuse ourselves."

Having said that, it was the moment I turned to walk away

from the club room.

As Kiryu-san, who had been exhausted so far, suddenly

stood up upright,

"——New members, secured~!!"

•
 "Eh?"

"Huh?"

People jumped out from various parts of the club room as a

result of that voice.

"Great, nicely done, club president! Finally, the tragedy of

3 consecutive years of reduction in budget"

"This year, I won't have to borrow members from the circle

next door! That was so miserable and really sad..."

"With this, we can finally breathe this year! Oh, there is a

girl too! Amazing! so cute!"

"Stop saying amazing and such, do you want to scare off

the freshman-chan! Hey what's your department? Fine arts?
Graphic? If it's performing arts, I can teach you a lot of
things!"

In front of Shinoaki and me, who were perplexed, they

cheered with joy and started shouting "Banzai!" repeatedly.

About a minute later, finally, "We were set up..." I realized

that this entire situation had been set up.

***

"I'm reeeeeeeally sorry!!!"

Kiryu apologized prostrating on the floor somewhat

exaggeratedly.

Next to him, the seniors who had been making a big fuss
until a while ago also sat down quietly in a dull state.
•
 "Oh wait, if you apologize to that extent, it puts us in a spot
instead."

As Kiryu-san raised his head, "Then, will you join us!?"

"This and that, are two different matters."

"So it's no good!"

He hung his head down again in disappointment.

After the foul play a moment ago, I raised my objection

with quite a loud voice.

I felt I must not allow that alone to happen, as I felt I would

get drawn into their strong pace if I did.

By the way, the name of the circle seemed to be Art

Research Society, commonly called Biken. It was originally a
circle of students from non-art-related department, and it
was based mainly on art-related activities by people who have
fewer opportunities to come into contact with paintings and
designs.

It seemed to be a circle that boasted a considerable history

even within Oogei, but in recent years, it had been troubled
by the dwindling member count.. As of that moment, there
were five people including Kiryu-san. It was just about the
number of people needed to be recognized as a circle by the
University, and it was in a situation where the club room was
on the verge of being taken away.

"Even so, there are many people in the non-art department

who are not interested in painting in the first place, and
students in the arts department are busy with tasks, and
•
usually, they mostly don't want to see pictures. So naturally,
nobody wants to join up!?"

"That has nothing to do with me!"

......Well, I could understand what he was trying to say.

If this were an ordinary university, there would definitely

be a certain number of people interested in painting. In such
a case, this kind of an art circle would have a reason to exist.

However, this was an Art University. It was a college which

made you draw pictures diligently in assignments, which then
became a standard for evaluation. At the very least, it was
natural to want to do something different in your leisure time.

"Please I beg you! It can be your secondary club, or it can

even be for a limited period until the club budgets are handed
down!"

As expected, when the other side clung on to someone this

desperately, one couldn't stop a little sympathy from welling
up.

"Hmm, what would you like to do?"

I called out to Shinoaki who had been besides me, looking

at the pictures all this time.

"Hmm, I wouldn't mind joining them."

"R-Really!?"

Kiryu-san only raised his head.

"Eh, are you sure?"

•
 "Well the seniors don't look like bad people."

The seniors got excited all at once. "Did you hear? we don't
look like bad people she said." "Even though we're this
dubious." "She's too pure." Certainly, even I felt she was too
pure.

"Besides, I like to see pictures drawn by different kinds of

people."

"Oh......."

I see.

I thought students who would be interested in arts from

non-arts department were a rare species, but Shinoaki was
exactly that.

"Alright, then I'll join too."

"Seriously!? Are you sure?"

"H-However, it is still just a provisional club entry! Which

means we can change our minds later!"

"Hooray!"

The seniors cheered even louder than before.

"Are you okay with this......."

Looking at the seniors who had started preparing for a new

member party at once, it was not like I didn't feel any anxiety.

It didn't even take an hour before the Art Research Society

newcomers party began.
•
 On the hill behind the Circle building which was the venue,
Kiryu-senpai already had a bright red face with a cup in his
hand and was calling for a toast.

"Well then, let's celebrate the joining of Hashiba Kyouya-

kun and Shinoaki-san!"

"Cheers!"

The cup was held high and the feast began.

"Well, Thank you, thank you. With this I'll be able to keep
my honor as a club president. For there to be such joy in this
world~!"

Kiryu-san was shedding tears of joy, but it felt so fishy that

I could tell it was an act with just a glance.

"Let me make it clear, but it's really only temporary okay?"

"I know, I know. Yeah yeah, I understand."

With a manner of speaking which could not be trusted one

bit, he hit my shoulder continuously.

I need to watch out for this person...

"Hehe, Kyouya-kun... Why are you making such a scary

face? Do you want a drink?"

"Eh, what do you mean drink, if it's a drink I am having

Cola though... Wait Shinoaki, face, too close."

A good-humored Shinoaki came in from the side.

She called out to me from a point-blank distance, her

•
breathe touched my cheek and I was surprised.

Even as I looked closely, there was not a single wrinkle on

her child-like smooth skin. I felt as though I was getting
captivated by her beauty. Moreover, a sweet scent drifted
from her half-open lips, and even more so.......

"......Hey!"

Detecting the smell of alcohol, I took the cup away from

Shinoaki's hand.

Clearly, something other than water and oolong tea had

been poured into the cup.

"Hey Kiryu-san! This is—!"

"Hm?"

"Don't 'Hm' me! What did you put in Shinoaki's cup!?"

"I-It's water of course......."

"Like there is a water with Junmai Daiginjoshu Hachiken

label written on it! hey!"

Kiryu-san bailed out before he realized it.

"Should I not have drunk this?"

"You shouldn't have. Also, be sure to drink sufficient water

later."

I replaced the cup with one with water and gave it to

Shinoaki.

•
 "Hey, what's your department Hashiba-kun? Imaging
right?"

The older sister, who had said 'amazing' earlier, leaned

against me. If her words and actions were lively, her attire
was even livelier, or rather, it was very revealing.

"Y-Yes, that's right...... Umm, what about senpai?"

"Yamatomo Rika. 3rd Year Craft. I am studying Pottery~"

Pottery...... I see, so there was such a department, here.

"Uhmm, may I ask one thing?"

"Go ahead, what is it?"

"Pottery is that um...... Thing where you spin a potter's

wheel, isn't it?"

As I asked with the image I had of it in my head, Yama-san

answered as though she had been waiting for the question,
"Alright alright, of course I knew you'd be interested in that,
please wait a moment okay."

As she put the cup on the desk and got up quickly,

"Oo~kay, Yamatomo Rika, I am going to perform Air

Pottery!"

She put both hands like a person who is being interviewed,

and she began to demonstrate her handling as though there
was a potter's wheel there. That was before this became
popular, right......?

"Hm~ like I thought~ I guess I wanted to have the trait of a

•
maker~"

She even started performing a highly self-conscious

interview.

"Keep it up Yama, that's quite good!"

"As expected of a specialist!"

Certainly, she's quite good, but is this the kind of act a

specialist does.

"2nd year Music Department student, Sugimoto Mikio!

I'm going to perform Dongurikorokoro!"

(Note: Lit. means Acorn rolling down, but it's a children

Japanese song)

As a senpai with a good physique from the music

department stood up and declared so,

"Do~ngurikoorookoo~ro~doonguurii."

From the top of the hill of the venue, he rolled down the
slope while reciting 『Doonguriko Kokoro』 with a high-quality
tenor.

"Sugimoto's singing voice is amazing, is it not?"

Before I knew it, Yama-san, who had finished spinning her

imaginary potter's wheel, commented.

"He's amazing alright."

"He might look like that now, but he has enough skill to do
•
concerts on the side."

"That certainly is amazing alright."

From the bottom where he fell I could only hear the DO of

『Donguri korokoro』 with vigor.

It was skillful, but honestly, it could haunt me in my

dreams.

The surroundings were filled with cheers and laughter.

Before I knew it, people other than the members had also
joined in naturally. There were way too many people, no
matter how one looked at it.

"Well, we were able to hold the new members party this

year too because of you two, so thank you."

Some good-looking bro broke out a conversation. That was

the last person I talked to in the club room.

"Ah, not at all...... Umm, and senpai you are?"

"Kakihara Sho. 3rd Year Performing Arts Student."

And here came yet another unfamiliar department.

"What do you do in Performing Arts?"

"What do you mean 'what'...... Then, should I demonstrate

to you."

As he put away the cup the same way as Yama-san earlier,

Kakihara-San stood at a position a little further away, and
suddenly breathes in...... Then, he repeatedly made a turn on
the spot abruptly, and began to dance swaying around.
•
 "Kakihara is into a dancing course."

Yama-san gazed at the movements which seemed to be a

dance with enthusiastic eyes.

"I-Is that so."

Clearly different from amateurs, his movements possessed

elegance.

Putting aside whether or not this was an art to be

performed at a drinking party, I had to acknowledge his
technique.

"How is it, Hashiba-kun! This is the Department of

Performing Arts move....... Twep-P."

The voice of Kakihara-senpai who was still dancing around

suddenly became dubious. "Ah, Kakihara is done for, it's quite
early today."

Yama-san's voice who should have been watching next to

me suddenly calmed down.

"Ah, umm, what do they mean by done for?"

"You'll understand once you see, look."

"Gerogerogerogerogerogerogerogerogerogero."

"Ugwaaaaaaa!?"

As I turned to look at him, Kakihara-san had turned into a

hell doll that spewed out vomit while spinning in the blink of
an eye.

•
 "There it is! Kakihara's specialty: spinning vomit!"

"If this doesn't appear, Miken's drinking party won't start,

right~"

"Oh, um, aren't you going to help him!? Kakihara-san looks

like he is about to drop dead!"

"It's fine it's fine, he'll clean himself up once he's done
spewing, and then come back to drink and spin again after
all."

"That doesn't look fine at all!"

"That looks fun! Maybe I should turn too——"

"——Shinoaki sit there! Geez Kiryu-san, that's why I told

him not to pour sake in this girl's Cup! And Yama-san, please
don't hug me!"

***

Drinking parties were being held all around the school, in

the dark. It seemed like this was how it usually was till the
freshmen recruitment period ended.

As I looked at the clock which said it was long past

midnight, I left the school.

"Like hell it was a freshmen welcoming party! The ones

that were supposed to be welcomed were the ones that went
through hell!"

While carrying Shinoaki who slept carefreely on my back, I

bickered complaints regarding the domineering seniors.

•
 The spring night was of moderate temperature, and the
only relief I had was that the road was easy to fare.

Contrary to the hustle and bustle which could be heard

from the school building, the air and sounds along the narrow
street were serene.

"......Hm? Huh, did I fall asleep...?"

I heard a voice from my back.

"Good morning."

When I answered, the creature on my back buried her face

in the hood of the Parker I was wearing.

"Ugh... It seems like my head is still in a daze..."

"Well, that's to be expected if you drink that much."

I said with a bitter smile, looking back on Shinoaki's actions

until a while ago. In the end, despite his efforts, Shinoaki
drank a considerable amount of "water".

While I was busy feeling anxious, Shinoaki was in a

position where she sat magnificently like a chief, smiling like
a cat, and the male seniors were pouring 『water』 into her
cup.

How many years ago did the word Otasaa princess come
out again... There was also the word sticky steam woman too.

"But I'm glad that the seniors are good guys."

Shinoaki said in a laid-back voice.

•
 "Well, they don't seem like bad guys... Maybe."

Obviously, they were all weird people from their behavior

and remarks, but they were not the stereotypical bad guys.

There wasn't anyone who forced Shinoaki or me to drink

alcohol (Kiryu was somewhat suspicious though), so in that
sense, they are quite a decent, or a gentle circle.

Well, they also said it's fine if it's just secondary, so it might
be a good place to enter for the time being.

"Kyouya-kun."

Suddenly. In a clear and distinct tone different from

earlier, Shinoaki called my name.

"Recently, you've being pondering about complicated

stuffs, haven't you?"

"Eh...?"

At an unexpected timing, moreover from an unexpected

individual, my heart was seen through.

How did she figure it out?

Certainly, I often thought about certain things after seeing

Shinoaki's state that day. Did I show it on my face enough for
Shinoaki herself to realize.

"Fufu~ your reaction is one that's asking, 'How did she

know~?'"

As though she realized my suspicious behavior by my reply,

Shinoaki laughed sneakily.
•
 "Ugh, so how could you tell?" I asked timidly.

"Kyouya-kun doesn't really talk about himself and is kind

of an adult, or rather you tend to worry about other people, so
I just made a little observation."

That made my heart BA-DUMB a bit.

Since I came from 10 years in the future, some part of me

had been seeing everyone as children. Nanako was a little
grown up, and Shinoaki was childish, but I didn't particularly
intend to show it, and I didn't think I was being discerned in
the slightest.

So, even though it was a hunch, I had been found out.

Moreover, by Shinoaki who I felt was childish. I was a little
shaken.

"So, it's something that's difficult to say?"

"Well, not really."

"Then why not talk to me? Maybe you'll understand things

better."

As she suggested, I spoke to her.

About how Tsurayuki and the people around me were all

amazing (obviously I didn't go anywhere near Shinoaki's
painting) and how compared to that, I didn't have much to
offer.

Even I was surprised at how honestly I was speaking.

"Hmm... That's surprising."

•
 "Surprising?"

"I see Kyouya-kun as somebody who is capable of a lot of

things, I had no idea you were worrying over something like
that."

"A lot of things, you say, how?"

That personal evaluation itself was what was surprising.

Did it perhaps seem different from Shinoaki's point of view.

"Well, for example... Tsurayuki-kun is super weak against

mornings!"

"I know. I've been forcing him up to go to school for some

time now."

"In addition, he's not any good with house chores, the most
he can do is prepare a bath!"

"I know. He had himself removed from cooking duty after

all."

"He readily mixes up garbage disposal days!"

"I know. I've had to step in sometimes."

As Shinoaki nodded in agreement.

"Kyouya-kun, can do all of those things."

"Well, yeah, but don't those errands have nothing to do

with lessons in Arts University?"

I involuntarily uttered it.

•
 "......But these are important things to know in order to
keep on living."

As Shinoaki responded solemnly with that, "People who

can't do anything, desperately look for things they can do. So,
I think people who Kyouya-kun thinks are amazing are also
desperate to do something, somehow..."

I felt like her body became very feverish for a moment.

From my back where we were in contact, heat flowed

through to my body. Shinoaki may have spoken casually, but
those words boiled through to my mind and shook it.

"You, may be right..."

After squeezing out one word, a scene emerged in his

mind.

The figure of Shinoaki, focused on the monitor, drawing

single-mindedly.

If you had something, cling onto it. But if there was

nothing, you just had to find something. I wondered if
Tsurayuki too was desperately searching for something to
cling to.

And, the me right now didn't have that.

"Kyouya-kun is a capable child, yo."

Shinoaki's tone had reverted back.

Somehow I laughed a little at the tone which resembled a

parent consoling a child. With this our positions were

•
reversed.

"Well thanks...... eh?"

Immediately afterwards, I involuntarily raised my voice to

the soft thing which was put on my head.

"There, there."

•
 Shinoaki's hand gently stroked my head.

A warm hand which was slightly flushed, stroked my head

several times as though wrapping around it.

The warmth should only have been on my head, but my

whole body seemed to have warmed up.

"......Shinoaki."

When I was in high school, my parents divorced.

I had not seen my mother ever since I was taken by my

father. The mingled emotions of loneliness and dismay were
being enveloped by her kindness.

And naturally, "Thank you." I expressed my gratitude to

Shinoaki.

"Hm......."

Shinoaki was relieved to hear my voice, and just like that,

she slowly lowered the hand she was using to stroke my head.
I soon began to hear her breaths from my back.

While rushing down the road to the boarding house, I

suddenly looked up at the night sky with the spring breeze
blowing on my face.

A cherry blossom petal celebrating the freshmen was

dancing in that wind.

"I wonder what it is I can do."

I returned 10 years back into the past, chose a different

•
route from my previous life, and enrolled into the Art
University.

There was nothing much I could do, and I didn't know

what I should have been doing.

However, somehow, I felt like I had finally arrived at the

starting point.

•
 Chapter 03: There is a Place Called The Film Department

University lectures are repeated weekly, but not all classes

start at the same time. Due to the circumstances of the school
or the teacher, some of them end in April and some begin at
that time.

When we freshmen were finally getting used to college life,

the only compulsory class which hadn't been started yet
began.

"Alright, so everyone has gathered now."

Kanou-sensei stood in front of the teacher's desk and

looked at the students while grinning,

"Now, finally, this will be your first real battlefield, the

class Comprehensive Practical Training 1."

She said in a fairly far-reaching voice.

"......I wonder what kind of lesson it is."

Nanako murmured in a half anxious state.

"Well, she called it practice, so I'm sure we'll have to make

something."

Tsurayuki didn't seem to be particularly concerned, as he

was just cracking his neck and preparing himself.

"That professor, doesn't she have big breasts~ I wonder if

she has stiff shoulders."
•
 Where the hell are you looking, Shinoaki?

"Does Nanako have stiff shoulders?"

"Hey, Shinoaki, what the hell are you asking out of the
blue!?"

......Shinoaki, I'm a little glad to hear that question just now.

"Kanou-sensei... huh."

And within the four of us, I was the most anxious.

Afterall, this sensei was the one who destroyed our dreams
and ideals the moment we enrolled.

Even in today's practice, I didn't know what she would say

all of a sudden.

——Even so, I can't just cower like a chicken!

I hit myself lightly on the cheek to get fire myself up.

There's also the person who taught us that it wasn't easy to
obtain anything, and I think I was looking forward to it.

"This class called, Comprehensive Practical Training 1, is

conducted in order to help you understand the most
important points in the production of movies and videos."

The sensei wrote, 'Direction, 'Technology', 'Performance',

and 'Production' on the blackboard.

"There are various opinions, but these are the 'Four major
sections necessary for video production' that I consider. Well
then, I will explain each one individually."

•
 This time, she used red chalk to circle the Direction part.

"First of all, Direction. This is the section that oversees the

production. Which, I am sure you know. They are responsible
for the overall work, and bears the brunt of it in all aspects.
The praises and criticism are all concentrated here. And the
role of the scriptwriter and assistant director are also
included in this."

"Next, Technology. This is the part that is responsible for

the technical aspects necessary for films, such as shooting,
lighting, sound, and so on. A lack in any of these will greatly
affect the work, so the guys who are always sleeping in class
will be in deep trouble later."

"And then Performance. The actors. From casting to acting,

the expression and voice displayed on the screen, the sense of
time...... The technique part also goes without saying, but they
have to delve deep into the inner surface of human beings,
making this quite a tricky part. Of course, the joy when one
finally gets it down right is that much exceptional."

And then.

The professor cut off her words, and drew a circle on the
last 'Production' part.

"This is the most unfamiliar part for you guys. Production

related this clothing... producing, progress, and so on section.
It is also called......"

Under the word 'Production', the professor wrote 'cleaning

up after another'.

"This part, at any rate, comes with lots of troubles. You

•
make preparations for shooting, and after scheduling with the
actors, they don't show up, or the staff doesn't show up. And
after finally showing up, fights break out, when you think that
they've finally reconciled, it turns out that they're now hooked
and in love with each other, they break up and quarrel with
each other, they'll say that they're not in good form and won't
perform well, and when you barely get the shooting started,
you want to shoot a sunny scene, that's when the clouds
gather, and then rain starts pouring...... Well, for a short
introduction, it's something like that."

From among students, voices going "Uwaa" could be heard.

Indeed, even when I was making an eroge, the production

was hard, and I often heard that anime production was very
difficult.

"At first, I have explained the 4 sections and in this class

Comprehensive Training 1, you will make a team comprising
of 4 people, each one will be in charge of one of these
sections."

The classroom buzzed all at once.

"Each team will have to make a 3 minute video, using the

period of time from now till the summer vacation. That is the
compulsory assignment for this class."

This time, the buzzing changed to commotion.

——Eh, Is she asking us to make a work all of a

sudden......?

Even though we've barely learned anything on the

technical side.
•
 "You can join together with friends, or you can leave the
selection to me. 15 minutes later, after you've created a team,
send a representative to come and report to me. Now then,
breakup temporarily!"

***

The hustle and bustle in the classroom wasn't likely to

settle down anytime soon.

Just as there were some people who were approached

immediately like they were picking up someone, there were
those who didn't call out to anyone and immediately went
and consulted with our professor.

In such a situation, we didn't have any trouble in forming a

team.

"It's so convenient that there are exactly four of us, right?"

Tsurayuki breathed out as if he felt relieved.

"I was getting nervous thinking that I might have to pair up

with some random guys."

In fact, looking around, the groups of exactly four people

forming together were few. Generally, there are many cases
where a group of two or three people were wandering
around.

"What!? If you're dissatisfied with me being the director,

then let's have a general knowledge quiz right here, right
now!"

It seemed like Kawasegawa was already clashing with a

•
member of her group.

"......She's so scary."

"She's quite the motivated girl, isn't she?"

Nanako said as if she was overwhelmed; Tsurayuki

shrugged his shoulders.

"She did seem to have a great deal of emotional attachment

to movies after all... Oh well~ let's decide on our roles."

Right, I knew that our team members would be easily

decided but it was a complete mystery on how to go about
assigning roles.

"I'm fine with whichever."

Immediately, Tsurayuki gave up the option to choose by

himself.

"I guess... I am also fine with any of them."

Nanako also gave up her right to choose as well.

"Oh! For me it's, you know! that! anything but acting! That
alone is an absolute 'No!'"

"Ehh, why? Nanako, you were so good in the previous

lesson the other day." Shinoaki questioned her in wonder.

"I said No! It was really embarrassing!"

The Acting Production Theory course which was held the

other day.

•
 It was an interesting lesson that studied the psychology and
production of actors by actually performing but Nanako
displayed an astounding acting ability, to the point where she
was highly praised by the professor.

The situation was like this.

There was a semi-circular stage, so it was a scene where

you walked from the center of the circle to the outside of the
circle while looking for someone there.

You just had to say a given line while walking, but everyone
just walked without planning ahead properly. They messed
up the distribution of their lines, and when they eventually
put everything together towards the end, it didn't go very
well.

However among everyone, Nanako properly utilized the

semi-circular stage, while also performing her lines properly.

The other students were struck with admiration. While the

well-known Kawasegawa also performed well, she was
completely overshadowed by Nanako, and as expected, she
felt bitter.

So, speaking of the person in question,

"Well err... I was in the theater club in both middle school

and high school, and I used to sing folk songs, so I am used to
raising my voice, so, umm..."

Contrary to her impressive performance, she was too shy to

comment on herself.

...Well, I am deeply glad that there was no scene where she

•
had to sing. Anyways, it was true that she was happy to hear
everyone's praise.

"I also think that Nanako is suitable as an actress... Right,

Tsurayuki?"

"Yeah, I also agree...... 'Where? Where are you? Hey, where

are you? Show yourself, please I beg of'—Guhoo!?"

The moment right after Tsurayuki imitated Nanako's

acting, an elbow landed on the pit of his stomach.

"No way! I am not going to do it, you hear!"

With a feeling which could be said to be 'the height of

embarrassment', Nanako turned the other way.

Geez, Tsurayuki, don't tease her unnecessarily...

"But I'm really glad. I mean when I heard those lines. I had
the chills. I think it's best for Nanako to be the actor."

I said my honest impression.

"U-Ughh... Stop cornering me..."

Nanako's face was bright red while still refusing, but even
though we knew each other for a short time, I knew she didn't
dislike being praised.

"Then, how about just doing it temporarily for the time

being... okay?"

"A-Alright. Temporarily okay, temporarily."

She was pouting with dissatisfaction, but we somehow

•
settled it.

"Then, should I take Technology." Shinoaki interrupted the

conversation as if matching me. "I wanted to try doing
something like holding the camera or lighting~"

"I see, then we'll leave Shinoaki in charge of technology."

I'm also personally interested in the storyboards Shinoaki

draws.

Moreover, I felt that the artistic position would fit

Shinoaki's nature.

"Now then, what do we do with the rest?"

Because Tsurayuki took a stab at arousing my interest.

"I'd like Tsurayuki to be the director...... and I'd also like

you to write the script."

I tried suggesting what I thought.

"Me?"

"Yeah, your knowledge was amazing even in class, so I was

thinking you would be suitable."

The other day's class was also like that, Tsurayuki

demonstrated his knowledge about scenarios in front of
everyone in various places.

However, the person himself was the type who didn't tell
what he was good at, even more so than Nanako.

"I am not particularly that good you know?"

•
 "I think that you're amazing. Is that okay?"

"Well, yeah... Alright then. But, since I don't know how to

edit or summarize the production, will Kyouya do that?"

Coordinator...

Well, since Tsurayuki's script is more important than

anything else, I might as well just do it.

"If that's all it takes to make Tsurayuki do it, then sure."

"Alright, then it's decided. Well, it's better than being

entrusted with the production..."

Although conditions were attached, Tsurayuki also agreed.

"Hmph, Tsurayuki doesn't have any life skills, so he can't

produce anything. No matter how you look at it."

When Nanako said it as if laughing scornfully, Tsurayuki

immediately stood up,

"'Where? Where exactly? Hey, where are you?'"

"You! Say that again and I won't undertake the acting role
again!!"

"And you too! You can't do housework like you claim you
can, right!?"

"I can't wait to see Nanako's performance~"

While everyone was making a fuss, my role had been

settled and I remembered something strange.

•
 Production. Thinking back, even when I was making eroge,
my position was similar to this. Well, it might be a suitable job
for me, who isn't particularly good at anything.

"Team Kitayama, I'm the representative, Hashiba Kyouya."

As the formation of the team was decided, I went to

Professor Kanou's office as our representative.

As for the team name 'Kitayama', we couldn't come up with

anything particularly good, so we decided to use the name of
our shared house.

As the professor turned over the application form,

"Are you the one taking Production?" She asked.

"Yes, that's correct."

"Hmm, then you'll be facing lots of troubles in many ways."

"Ehh, I guess... There aren't any other suitable roles for me

after all."

The director is Tsurayuki, Shinoaki will handle technology,

and the actress will be Nanako.

I think it's a very appropriate assignment of roles.

"Hashiba... Did you end up with Production through the

process of elimination?"

The professor looked straight towards me.

"Eh... B-But isn't that what production is?"

•
 I thought that it was common in every industry that a
person who couldn't do anything to undertake this role.

Even in eroge, it was usual for people who couldn't draw

pictures or write compositions to undertake the role of a
director or producer.

So I shouldn't have said anything particularly strange......

"Well, whatever. Then, bring me a proposal by next week's

lesson."

"A proposal?"

"That's right. What kind of production it'll be, where will

you be shooting it... All of the details will be outlined on
there."

As the professor handed over a bundle of printouts,

"Hashiba, Production isn't something to be landed through

process of elimination."

"Eh?"

"Don't worry, you'll understand once you do it. Well, do

your best."

After saying that, she waved her hand, urging me to leave

the room.

——I wonder what that meant...

Didn't the professor also say during the lesson that

Production was a role to clean up after another? It's a role
where you pick up and gather stuff that exploded, was on fire,
•
and somehow patch it up together into something.

Isn't that the farthest thing from the so-called

production.......

"——Kyaa!?"

While thinking, when I opened the door and stepped out

into the hallway, I just happened to bump into Kawasegawa
who, on the other hand, was about to enter the room.

"S-Sorry."

As I apologized, Kawasegawa seemed like she doesn't

particularly care, and stared at me,

"......Hashiba Kyouya."

"Eh?"

......Huh?

How does she know my name?

Before I could ask about this strange thought, Kawasegawa

opened her mouth.

"Your team, is filled with unpleasant people, you know."

"......H-Haa?"

It was so sudden.

In an aggressive tone, Kawasegawa cornered me to the wall

and spoke once again.

•
 "Shino Aki, who I don't even understand why she even
came to the Film Department! Rokuonji Tsurayuki who
properly grasps the main points in spite of just sleeping
during class! Alsom Kogure Nanako who appears as if she's
always messing around, but displays outstanding acting
skills!"

......Wow. She properly memorize everyone's full names

and their particular characteristics.

What in the world was this girl?

"And lastly, Hashiba Kyouya who has no presence!"

"Eh, is that all I get!?"

Apparently, I seem to have been remembered as a freebie

in the unique group.

"Well, umm... So, is there a point you're trying to make?"

When I finally responded with a question, Kawasegawa

said,

"...I won't lose."

"Excuse me?"

"I absolutely will never lose to the likes of you bunch, From
start to finish, I'll keep running to the top."

As she glared at me,

"You better not make light of movies."

After saying what she wanted to, Kawasegawa went into the
•
professor's office.

However.

"Huh?"

When I thought that she was gone, she had already come
back out in less than 5 seconds, and she suddenly approached
me.

"...Ah, you...... Are you good with devices?"

"H-Haa?"

"Do you know how to operate a mobile phone?"

"Well, enough to use one I guess..."

And before I finished answering, she stuck out her cell

phone in front of me,

"I-I just received an email now and would like to read it,
but do you know how to go about doing so...?"

Completely different from a while ago, she asked in a meek

tone.

"...Y-Yeah."

I took and checked the cell phone.

"Forget about the one that just you received, the number of
unread emails have piled up like crazy."

When I looked at it, there were so many unread messages

in the SMS, that the display couldn't keep up.
•
 "Because I haven't read any since I started using it......"

"No wait, I mean, wouldn't that affect your life?"

"It's fine. After all, the only people who'd send me

messages are either my father or older sister."

She said in a sulky manner, "Read the latest one."

•
 "Eh, but reading someone else' mobile emails is a bit..."

"It's fine! It's not like it's a secret or anything."

I hesitantly opened the email like I was told.

"Uhmm, 『Read your mails. And also pickup phone calls

too, Miki.』 Is this alright?"

"Since we're going to meet real soon anyway geez how

troublesome... Yeah, I got it."

She stretched her hands towards me, so as I proceeded to

return the cell phone,

"...Thank you. I'm sorry to have taken your time."

As she honestly expressed her gratitude and apology, she

politely bowed towards me.

"Ah no, you're welcome. Do you want me to teach you how

to use your mail?"

"It's fine. I don't usually read them anyway after all."

As she quickly refused, Kawasegawa opened the door to

the professor's office once again, and went inside.

"...What was that?"

As I was thinking how does someone suddenly take a

provocative attitude towards a person you're basically
meeting for the first time, she suddenly asked me to read her
phone mail. She was also unexpectedly polite.

•
 ***

After finishing the registration of our team, we decided to

gather at the usually vacant second cafeteria, nicknamed 2-
Shoku, for the time being where we were to decide our plans.

"So, here's the printouts."

I brought out the materials I received from Professor

Kanou.

"Apparently, using the theme written here as the base and

making a 3 minute video project is the assignment for
Comprehensive Practical Training 1."

When Tsurayuki turned over the cover of the printouts,

"The theme is 'Time'. A work that is able to demonstrate

the feeling of the passage of time in 3 minutes."

"Eh, that's it?"

Nanako peeked into the printout with astonishment.

"Yeah. Nothing else is written. The only other things are is

what points to take note off and how to borrow equipment."

"We could make anything but it feels like I don't know

what we could possibly make..."

"This is quite a difficult theme, isn't it?"

All four of us went into deep thoughts as we stared at the

printout.

"Even though it's written in one word 'Time', there's no

•
way to tell what kind of time it's referring to right."

Tsurayuki looked at the clock and murmurs.

"Is it morning, afternoon, or night? The length hasn't been

signified either."

Nanako looked at the cat outside the cafeteria,

"In the first place, is it even referring to a human's time or

not? Like an animals' or an insect's. It might not even be a
living thing."

"I see, there's also the time a building or tools have passed,
right?"

"It could be the history of an old tool or a story, right?"

After talking for a while, all four of us sighed at the same

time.

"But, the allocated time is 3 minutes."

"That's right..."

That's right. The longer 'the passage of time' was, the

shorter this time constraint seemed.

"This is a pretty nasty assignment."

Tsurayuki groaned with wrinkles between his eyebrows.

"When 'the flow of time' is written, you'd want to know the

length right, but the time limit is short..."

He tried looking at the printout to see if anything was

•
overlooked.

However, no matter how he looked at it, it was just the

exact same wording as before.

"That's right! How about fast-forwarding?"

Nanako made a face which said she had come up with

something good.

"If so, we can cram in the content, and if we include an

accompanying music soundtrack, I feel like we could make
something fun..."

"That's indeed true, but isn't it absurd to try to show 'the

passage of time' using a video that moves very fast? We might
be able to feel the speed of the passage though."

Tsurayuki seemed to be disagree.

"S-Something like that, we can't say for sure until we try it

now, can we?"

Nanako was dissatisfied with her idea being denied, and

showed resistance when saying so.

Nonetheless, it seemed that there was no more reason to

argue beyond that, and no one seemed to have no intention of
proposing any further ideas.

"This is homework then..."

Everyone could only nod with a glum face at the words

Shinoaki said with a stumped, smiling face.

***
•
 At Oogei, there's a compulsory physical education class
only for the freshmen.

At first, I felt it was absurd for there to be a physical

education class for university students, but since wasn't much
opportunity to move my body in the first place, I
unexpectedly ended up looking forward to it.

Furthermore, while I was struggling with this difficult

assignment, this would serve as a good mood changer.

"That thing has to be an assignment that was thought up to

stump us."

The ball that Tsurayuki pitched curved and I caught it with

my glove.

Today's physical education class was baseball.

Tsurayuki and I had been playing catch to kill time until

our batting order came.

"I guess you think so too."

The ball I threw strayed a little to the right.

Tsurayuki extended his long hand and grabbed it without

difficulty. Perhaps, he possesses some good reflexes.

"That has to be it, right? I mean we haven't even been in

Oogei for a month yet. Just when you feel like you're being
flooded by words you can't understand like perforation and
montage, we're suddenly asked to shoot a vague video, that
can't be anything other than being mean right?"

•
 Whether it was filled with frustration, Tsurayuki's next ball
was a little stronger.

"Moreover, the theme is so wide and difficult to narrow

down."

"Ahh. She's expecting us to create something nonsensical

while we're troubled. Then, she'll shower us with severe
criticism. It's a good method to teach a cheeky student a
lesson."

I recalled Professor Kanou's really sadistic smile.

Indeed, she seems like she would enjoy forcing someone to

yield by force.

"What will you do about the planning?"

"I'll think about it until tomorrow, and if I don't come up

with any ideas, isn't it fine if we go with Nanako's method? As
she was the one who suggested it, I'll make her act the part
starting from when she carries a randoseru (elementary
backpack) to when she wields a cane as a grandma with
special makeup."

"She'd probably rather die than do it."

Apart from the grandma makeup, acting like an elementary

school student would be impossible.

"——Hey, Rokuonji, it's your turn to bat."

The student acting as the umpire faced Tsurayuki and

called out.

•
 As I turned to look, the game had stopped as they were
waiting for Tsurayuki.

"Ah, sorry, I'm coming now." As Tsurayuki responded to

the voice. "Well, let's just do what we can. As long as it can be
displayed, she'll at least give us a pass probably."

He turned rotate his arms round and round, and headed

towards the batter's box.

I continued throwing ball up in the air and catching it with

the glove.

***

Time.

It was an ironic theme for me.

I, who had gone back ten years in time and was redoing my
college life, was right in the middle of that mystery. On the
other hand, it wasn't like I knew the mystery behind it.
Rather, having been thrown in all of a sudden, I was more
confused than anyone else.

"How would I know... Something like that."

Rather, that's something I'd like to know myself.

"Passage, passage, hmm, location, characters, situation...

Guhoo!?"

Suddenly, I was hit in the back and coughed hard.

"Yo, Hashiba! What's with the serious face!"

•
 As I turned around, a ninja with a good physique was
standing there.

"A-Ahh, Hikawa!"

"Oh, I'm surprised you could tell despite my disguise!"

It was Genkirou Hikawa whose student number was just a

single count away from mine.

"What's with that appearance?

"Huh? Didn't I say it before? I joined the Ninjutsu Study

Group."

"Ahh, that."

Before entering Art Circle room together with Shinoaki, it

was the one with the shurikens stabbed on tatami mats that
left a sudden impact with me.

I was able to safely hand down the knowledge which I

learned at the recruitment event to Shinoaki.

"Now that I've become a ninja, my senpai ordered that one

should always be in a ninja costume when you are going
around the campus! Dahaha!"

He's probably used to being asked. He told me before I

even bothered to ask, that they were always putting that
costume on daily.

"So, what's up!? Were you suddenly rejected or

something?"

"No way. Or rather isn't it way too early for that? It hasn't
•
even been a month since we've enrolled though."

"I have already confessed to my senior kunoichi, and have

already been blown off once!"

"Don't you think that's too early!?"

Hikawa is unexpectedly the assertive type...

"Well whatever, are you free right now?"

Kagawa suddenly asked about my plans.

It seems like the cause of my serious face has become

irrelevant.

"Well I am free till my part-time job in the evening...

Something up?"

"Alright, then please help me out for about 2 hours!"

Eh...? Hey, wait, don't pull me!"

While laughing out loud, Hikawa kept on walking leisurely

while pulling my hand.

In this situation, he looked more like an orc in disguise or a

red-horned ogre rather than a ninja.

***

"ONE!"

Smack!

"Wow."
•
 There is a fairly large river called Ishikawa about a 20
minute walk from Oogei.

"TWO!"

Smack!

"Guhoo!?"

There's a riverbed here, where students often played

baseball, fireworks, barbequed, and it was a perfect place to
enjoy a fun student life.

But currently, it had been transformed into hell, in which

sweat, tears, and screams flew about alternatively.

"THREE!"

Dogaaaaaaaaaaa!

"Gyaaah!?"

In the third attack, I staggered backwards a few steps

reflexively.

"Ooh, what's the matter!? If you're getting done in by this,

then you'll definitely die if you get a kick from Hogson!"

I would definitely die, no matter how much you train, if I

were to receive Hogson Dalacey's kick.

"Hey, wait a moment, a break... let me take a break!"

I unbearably put the mitt down, and sat down on the spot.

"Oh, alright. Then let's take a break for around 10

•
minutes!"

Hikawa threw a frozen sports drink from the cooler box

that he brought to me.

"Here, catch."

"Ahh, thanks."

I placed the drink which was still frozen and placed it on

my arm to cool the stinging before drinking it.

"I am going to have to show my gratitude for accompanying

me for practice some other time!"

After saying that, Hikawa laughed furiously.

Even though he had to move his body at the Ninjutsu Study

group, he kept up this personal exercise, just how energetic
must his body be...

"Do you always keep up this practice?"

"Yeah, since a long time ago. It's unrelated to the ninja

stuff."

I accompanied Hikawa to help him practice karate.

A kicking practice that he practices almost every day. I was

supposed to receive them with the mitts equipped on both
arms, but after trying it, it left a great impact on my arms.

"Sorry, this one thing is something I can't ask of a girl."

Well, of course.

•
 It's not so bad when it's a trained girl, but a normal girl will
be blown away along with the mitt.

"When did you start?"

I didn't really know the details, but it seemed to me

Hikawa had pretty strong feelings about this.

Unless he practiced pretty seriously, he wouldn't have

turned out like this.

"Since kindergarten I think."

"Eh, from that far back...!?"

That was even further back than I had expected.

"My father also did karate you see, so do both my older

brother and sister, there was no way for me to not do this
since everyone else was doing it."

In such an environment, I guess it was only natural.

"But if that was the case, shouldn't you have been

recommended to a university with a strong karate club...?"

"Yeah, I was told I could get a recommendation for Kinki

University or Daishou University."

"Eh, then why Oogei? Moreover, the ninjutsu study

group?"

Hikawa paused for a brief moment there.

"Nah, I just thought that it was... boring you know."

•
 "Eh?"

As Kagawa stroked the back of his head,

"Well, you see, everyone in my family practiced karate, and

all of them went to university through athletic
recommendations. So, the only subjects of conversation were
how practice went or how amazing one particular athlete is,
and stuff like that. Something like that is suffocating, isn't it?"

"Yeah, that's probably true..."

I don't think I could withstand that for a week.

"I like karate, but I also liked anime and games, so I

thought I could make an action movie by taking advantage of
this experience. I took Oogei's entrance exam with that
resolve, then enrolled when I got accepted, so while I'm at it, I
might as well become a ninja."

Hmm...

So, there was such a back story behind Hikawa too.

"Well, then I hope you can shoot such a movie someday."

"Oh! At that time, I'll be counting on your help at that time

Hashiba!"

If he had gone with the flow, he most likely would have

gone to college through karate.

No person can judge whether a life is good or bad, however

Hikawa already held doubts whether to follow the flow while
he was still a high school student. Thus, he walked a different

•
path.

I regretted the path I had chosen casually for some reason

or another, and I wonder how strong my will had been,
considering that I came 10 years back into the past as a result.

Even within his muscle head, he had also experienced

hesitation and conflict. Unexpectedly, he seriously attended
lectures, seemed like he had a lot of friends and belonged to a
circle, and was not just whiling away his youth.

"But, you could have just asked the members of the

Ninjutsu Study Group for help with this."

If he did that, he probably would have gotten a better

practice partner than me.

"Yeah, even so it's all good though, as it's been a long time
since I spoke with you... To be honest, I thought I might be
able to talk about my hobbies like anime, games, baseball,
which was my ulterior motive!"

"You can just invite me at any time for that... You can even
come to the boarding house if you like."

"Oh, well about that... That's a bit... I mean, there are girls
at your place, right?"

"Yes, but, is that bad?"

"Ah... Don't you like, don't you play eroge and stuff like
that?"

"Haa... Eeh!?"

•
 At those overly surprising words, I stuttered on my reply
for a moment.

I see, it might be difficult to talk about such a hobby at

length in that boarding house. If someone were to come visit
and play, Nanako and Shinoaki would probably join in as if it
were natural. Even Tsurayuki, even while if he said otherwise,
I was pretty sure he would also join in.

Even so, Eroge huh...

Whether I play it or not, it was something I created as part

of my job. Although my love and hate are jumbled together,
there's no doubt that I like them. That said, I can't straight up
say that.

"O-Of course I do... Just a little."

When I answered thus,

"Oh! Really!?"

Hikawa replied gladly, and shook my hand.

Wait, if he likes ninjas, likes eroge, then I can bet that he

likes Kukkorokei too.

(Note: It's a meme much like "Tuturu" and such like that,
but it's a kind of inclination mostly observed in female
antagonists that were either subdued by the male
protagonists in novels, anime, games and such.)

It's somehow pitiful his senior kunoichi rejected him.

"How about it, do you like Leaf and Key games? Or maybe

•
the rape type?"

AND A STRAIGHT BALL QUESTION OUT OF THE BLUE!

"I..."

I was going to say it, but I hesitated for a moment.

Afterall, this was year 2006. I couldn't talk about games

that have yet to be released.

While frantically trying to remember lineups from 10 years

ago,

"Eh, umm, I played a Biga game. The one of Narito Shirou's

scenario."

Of course, I couldn't say Dwight Album 2, so I answered a

little vaguely.

(Note. White Album 2 if anyone didn't get the reference.

This is also a Leaf game.)

"Oh, you mean Parche!? I like it too! But I'm more

concerned about the continuation of the B.G. NEO! Do you
think it'll have a sequel! What about Nukonuko? I cried at the
Shirogane end~"

"...Hey Hikawa, you really went all out, didn't you?"

Furthermore, he liked fighting games too like I expected.

In that regard, he didn't betray my expectations.

"Ooh! After all, I couldn't play them until I turned 18! I've
been at it since graduation!! Man~, I knew my eyes weren't
wrong. Hashiba is a fellow companion!"
•
 What kind of companion are you talking about.... But of
course, I understand that companions with whom you
converse together are valuable.

Until the sun went down, we had a passionate (somewhat

one-sided) conversation on the eroge situation in year 2006.

***

That night.

At the convenience store where I worked part-time, I told

Nanako about today's event (other than the eroge).

"Oh, so Hikawa does karate. Well, he does have a huge

body."

While organizing the cash in the cash register, Nanako said

so as if she was impressed.

"Yeah, to be honest, his power was really amazing."

"Action movie huh. But a physique like Hikawa's just might

be suitable for it."

Certainly, if one thought of it that way, it does suit him.

"But Nanako too."

When I tried saying, 'aren't you also suited for acting?'

"Don't say anything further, okay?"

"S-Sorry."

She glared at me with a serious look, so I apologized on

•
reflex. She was the same as ever.

"Well, but if I don't find anything to do, I am going to have

to look for a job. I can't keep working at a convenience store
forever."

Saying that, Nanako laughed in self-deprecation.

I had always thought so since I first saw her, but looking at

her again, she really was beautiful.

I wonder why she chose the Film Department? I was

curious about it, so I tried asking her about it.

"By the way, why are you here, Nanako?"

"Here, you mean Oogei? Hmm... I wonder why, I don't

have any particular reason to speak of..."

She tilted her neck slightly, and thought for a little bit, and
eventually,

"If I had to give the strongest reason, then it's because I'm
sick of Lake Biwa."

She replied with quite a strange reason.

"Lake Biwa?"

"Yes. I'm from Shiga. Do you know Nagahama?"

"Ahh, Nagahama Castle. Hideyoshi's castle, right..."

I remembered my history teacher talking about it in history

class back in high school. If I remember correctly, it was the
first full-scale castle that Hideyoshi built, and it was located
•
on the shore of Lake Biwa.

"Right, that very Nagahama. Well, it's the place with only
the castle." Nanako made a bitter smile. "Till grade school, I
always thought that Lake Biwa was an ocean."

"Eh?"

W-Wait, that's a bit silly, isn't it...?

Seeing my astonished face, Nanako getting flustered,

"Stupid, Lake Biwa, really is big! If you also saw it as a

child, believe me, you'd also think it was an ocean. You can
only say that because you know what oceans are!"

She got all worked up, and was appealing her legitimacy.

"I-I understand, so, why did you get tired of Lake Biwa?"

As Nanako's expression returned back to normal,

"Ah, right. Well you see, there's really nothing special in

Nagahama, Not a thing. There's a little town there, and there
is a small store at least, but there's a little shop there, and
that's all that there is."

Along with gestures, she tells me just how boring her

hometown is.

"There is only a single video rental store, and the game

parlor and the shop for CDs are also in the same place, so
there's nothing unusual listed there at all. And they only ever
have best-selling products, and if you order something, it
would take about a week to arrive."

•
 Then she sighed.

"Everyone born over there, don't travel much, and because

of that they believe that Lake Biwa is huge, they live without
knowing about the real oceans or mountains. It's not like
that's a bad thing... When you part with your friends at the
station, and become all alone, you sit on the bench and just
stare into space, the time that just passes by doing nothing, is
just too wasteful. And then I suddenly got the chills... It was a
bit too boring for me."

As Nanako looked toward me.

"So, when I got to Osaka, I thought it seemed like an

interesting place. So, when I tried looking for a university
here, I came across Oogei University and thought it sounded
interesting, so I took the examination and got admitted."

......Hmm.

The contents of Nanako's story, to me, was something I

couldn't afford to miss. Her story was quite interesting, and
was something that I could empathize with.

The previous 10 years that I had spent, were, at any rate a

world devoid of any substantiality.

It may have been because I let it pass too quickly, but the
world just kept moving on for the worse, and before I noticed
it, I had a body that could not go anywhere.

So when time turned back, I chose to change the world

even if I had to do it by force. To a world that Nanako
mentioned where I could see the ocean and mountains closer.

•
 "So now...... Nanako's no longer bored?"

"You bet. I'm happily getting along with everyone in the

boarding house, and for the university, the lessons are weird
and it's funny, so for now I am really glad that I came here."

As Nanako after saying all that, and started to get a little

teary,

"......Well, Tsurayuki's meddling might leave some things to

be undesired though."

"Haha......"

I felt I should leave out the words Tsurayuki said the other
day...

"Ah, that's right, I forgot to mention that we should talk

about the assignment."

"Ugh, that's right. Kyouya, did you come up with any good
ideas?"

"No, not yet......"

"Ah geez, if we have the time to talk about Lake Biwa, it'd
have been better to use it to think up of some ideas! Time,
time... hmm, hmm."

At almost the same time as Nanako began to worry,

Pingpong, the chime of door being open rang.

"Ah, welcome!"

"Welcome!"

•
 Nanako smilingly interacted with the customer who bought
tobacco by specifying the number.

Because the scheduled time for restocking was

approaching, I also returned to the back room to pick up the
slips.

"...For now, let's meet up and discuss this later."

"Ok, agreed."

I gave my consent in a low voice, and then returned to my

part-time job for the time being.

***

"I'm Home."

It was morning by the time I finished my part-time job and

went back to "Share House Kitayama".

"Ah, welcome back~"

In the living room I was greeted by Shinoaki with fluttering

hands, waved at me while reading manga.

"Aren't you up to early? What's wrong?"

High-school students aside, it's typically rare for college

students to be awake at 7 am in the morning. It's especially
true for Shinoaki as it's the norm for her to still be sleeping
when there are no compulsory classes.

"I came back rather late last night so I decided to stay up~"

"Ah... I see."
•
 If that's the case then it makes sense.

On a desk there's about 10 books worth of Shinoaki's

personal collection of manga.

The genres were wildly different from shounen manga to

shoujo and even autobiographical manga there really was no
rhyme or reason to it.

"You're not together with Nanako?"

Shinoaki asks as I sit in front of her.

"Yeah, her shift is from midnight till noon. That girl's

already a full-fledged worker there."

Answering with poise, works energetically, and on top of

that, a beauty. The grandpa that owns the store even treats
her as his own grandkid.

"Uwa... Nanako's such a hard worker~"

Shinoaki expresses with admiration as her feet dangle in

the air. Maybe because she doesn't work her self, so she
seems to have a sense of respect to those who do.

Not only to Nanako, Shinoaki often talked with me and

Tsurayuki.

"Oh yeah, Kyouya-kun have ye' already come up with a

solution to the task?"

"No, nothing yet. I thought about it with Nanako, but

nothing's come up yet."

"Eeehhh, I see."
•
 Shinoaki raised her body and threw her hands at the table.

"I've been thinking for a lo~ng time, but I just can't come
up with anything."

And then with a peaceful big smile on her face.

"It would have been nice if you could do the thinking for
me, but that won't be good huh~"

"Well it would be an issue if you can't think for yourself"

"Eh~ Kyouya-kun is so strict~"

Shinoaki made her eyes look exaggeratedly scared.

"Kyouka-kun is more mature than he seems."

*Cough*

Well it's the truth though but let's let that fact slide for now.
It's already my 2nd university life already though so I already
have a solid grasp of things.

"It can't be helped that my personality is like that, I wonder

if I smell like an old man too."

As I make an excuse, Shinoaki beamed me a peaceful smile.

"Looking at Kyouya-kun reminds me of my younger

brother."

"Younger? Not older?"

"Uh huh, He's a very serious person and tends to scold me

a lot."
•
 This is the first time I've heard the state of the Shinoaki
household ever since we met.

"If I remember correctly your hometown was Fukuoka

right?"

"Yup, At the western part in Itoshima."

I nodded in assent.

"When you think of Fukuoka prefecture, you might think of

an urbanesque landscape but that's not the case in Itoshima
it's just rice paddies and mountains as far as the eye can see.
Being a patriarchal society a girl like me whose head is in the
clouds gets scolded a lot as you can imagine."

Shinoaki talked about her hometown with a smile on her

face.

"My little brother in particular was very strict, and I don't

like it!"

As she was thinking that her cheeks puff up.

"Compared to my brother, Kyouka-kun also scolds me but

is gentler in a way~ So I like you."

"T-Thanks, I guess?"

Of course I know that it's not that kind of "like" but despite
that, when being told that by a cute girl like Shinoaki my body
can't help but heat up in excitement.

"There are barely any trains too!!! If you miss one the next
was 30 minutes away, I often killed an ama~azing lot of time

•
at the bench there waiting for the next train to come."

"I totally get that feeling. Waiting for the train to start
running again when you miss the train feels so slow."

"Yup yup, and because I missed it a lot of time the station

staff even remember my face."

Somehow that feels very Shinoaki-like.

I can see an image of her childhood self sitting on the

waiting on the same bench for quite a while.

"......I got it!!"

I pictured the scene in my mind as it overlapped with the

story I was told by Nanako earlier.

I suddenly stood up.

"What's the matter Kyouya-kun!?"

Shinoaki's voice sounded far away as if the cogs in my brain

started turning as it told me to focus on a more important
thing.

The length of time.

The things related to it.

Multiple people can share the same time at the same place.

"Shinoaki I think I may have come up with an idea."

"Eh~ You did?"

•
 ***

Later that night...

After catching Nanako and Tsurayuki who came back

home, I announced the idea I thought up of.

"...And that's why I want it to be set at a station."

And the verdict was...

"Station? Why?"

"Is Kyouya one of those train otakus?"

Question marks are written all over the girls faces.

Tsurayuki on the other hand is quietly looking on but he's

definitely paying attention as his ears are pointed in this
direction.

"Then let me explain my line of thought."

I tell them my perspective on the matter.

"Since the station is a place that everyone uses, I thought

could explain the setting with minimum effort with just the
premise alone... In other words you won't need to dwell too
much with setting up the location of the story. The film run-
time is limited so wouldn't this be convenient?"

It would be difficult to give a sufficient explanation of the

setting with just 3 minutes so I want it to be established as
early and easily as possible.

With that point in mind if it's a public place that everyone

•
can relate to like a train station, then you can explain it with
putting in a railway signage at the beginning and an image of
someone waiting at the train platform.

"Do you two girls remember the stations you talked

about?"

"Yeah there are many things that I can remember about it."

"Yup, now that you mention it..."

The two of them gave a nod of approval.

"Well then please look at this."

I let everyone see the plot outline.

Opening scene. Perspective of the station staff. A lone girl

at the station wearing a randoseru-style bag.

The girl gets on and off the train from the platform again
and again and with each time the girl grows older from a
child to an adult.

The last scene ends depicting a scene where she leaves the
station with a cane.

We start in the morning and end in the evening.

Overlay that scene with the life of a woman, then it mimics

the passage of time. One can closely relate their life In a place
like a station and that's why I thought it was a fitting place.

In a station there many ways to easily show the passage of

time and people can easily relate how time passes by in such a
place
•
 And above all it's easy to make drama in that kind of
setting.

"So how's it look?"

Once again I check everyone's opinions on the matter.

"The explanations easy to follow~ Count me in~"

"Me too, it's great that its easy to understand."

This time I have favorable impressions from the girls.

"What's your take on it, Tsurayuki?"

I glanced at him to see his reaction. Not a word from

Tsurayuki as he sits there motionless with his arms crossed.

"Wait for me for a sec."

As he said so he stood up before getting anyone's consent.

"Uhmm... Tsurayuki?"

And just like that he went into his room.

"What's up with him?"

Nanako with a puzzled face looks at Tsurayuki's room.

"He told us to wait so maybe he'll have something to show

us."

Shinoaki seemed to not worry about it and was scribbling

on a paper she has on hand.

•
 "What on earth is he up to?"

As I think about various things, not a single sound was

heard from Tsurayuki's room.

—30 minutes later Tsurayuki came out of his room.

"...Have a look."

Saying just a few words he put a piece of paper on top of

the desk.

"This is...?"

"It's a scenario. I took a jab at Kyouya's plot and quickly

wrote it."

I pick it up and read it. According to Tsurayuki this

scenario was made with my idea in mind. Despite it being
called a "plot" in reality however its only a memo with just a
few lines, but his scenario's description included detailed
situations, scene transitions, character profiles, and dialogues
while being easy to follow.

This was written in 30 minutes...?

He wrote it that quickly after seeing the plot, the scale of

his talents are insane.

"Tsurayuki this..."

After reading I called out to Tsurayuki. He had a solemn

expression on his face.

"I didn't contribute to the idea so I thought I'd write

something and that's what I've put together just now."
•
 Just as I suspected you really are amazing Tsuruyaki...

Nanako clinches the scenario paper from my hands.

"Fufufu, I wonder how a guy like Tsurayuki writes a

woman's lines in the script, this would be something to see."

Nanako doesn't return it to Tsurayuki but gives it to

Shinoaki instead. "Shinoaki, this is something that should be
seen by everyone in the team."

Shinoaki receives the paper and begins reading it.

"...Hmmm."

"Let's hear it from Shinoaki, say how bad Tsurayuki's script

is..."

Shinoaki then looks up.

"...I think this could be interesting!"

"Eh!?"

Nanako was surprised with her reaction as Shinoaki

murmurs in approval of what she's reading.

"We need to be careful how we handle each take but I'm

really looking forward to doing this~!"

Nanako looks a little interested now.

"Well, well, Tsurayuki's actually has it in him huh? Now we

just need to have you create a proper, completed version."

Nanako snorts and flashes a provocative smile at

•
Tsurayuki.

"Well I can't say for sure how it's going to work out till I
completely write it out though."

"Eh? I see. Do your best then..."

Unexpectedly Tsurayuki didn't respond to Nanako's usual

retorts as it ended up dead in the water.

"I'm looking forward to the screenplay~!"

As everyone was conversing about various things, I gaze at

Tsurayuki with a sense of respect.

——As I thought, Tsurayuki really is great... he's amazing!

Once again I am in awe at his talent.

***

It's now deeper into the night.

For the time being, we decided to disband. I was going to

the 2nd floor when Tsurayuki stopped me.

"Say... Kyouya."

When I looked back Tsurayuki was looking at me with

serious eyes.

"How did you come up with the train station idea?"

"How you say..."

A picture was formed in my head through talking with

•
Shinoaki and Nanako. That impetus was the reason for me to
come up with that idea.

"When I was talking to the girls, they brought up their

hometown's train stations, so I came up with the scene of a
girl and the train station, and then a few personal touches
were added here and there."

I explained the gist of it.

"...I see."

Tsurayuki then offered me a note on a piece of paper.

"What's this?"

"Read what it says."

A story was written on it.

— The setting is a train station.

— A story that begins in the morning and ends at night.

— It contains the life of a woman there. Settings,

characters, etc...

Looking at Tsurayuki's face with a shocked expression, he

nods.

"That's right, it's almost the same thing as the idea you
stated earlier."

The memo clearly looks old, its color being a slight yellow
tells that it wasn't written after my idea came to light.

•
 "I plan to make a novel one day so I creates footnotes for
it."

I was startled at the revelation.

As I returned the memo, Tsurayuki spoke about his past.

"This is one of those notes, I made it about 2 to 3 years

ago."

"I-It's not like I stole it after seeing the that."

"And I wasn't implying to. It's not that I doubt you or

anything. I keep my notes close to me at all times but..."

Tsurayuki shoots me a gaze trying to figure me out.

"You've never seen the memo, yet you came up with the
same exact idea."

Then it dawned on me.

It should have been clear as day and quickly realized it

when I decided on the train station theme because...

——I actually read it before.

"It was such crazy coincidence that I couldn't present my

idea out at all. It felt like I was being robbed of my own
identity, so I obsessed myself with writing that script earlier
in order to feel like I got it back."

Tsurayuki showed me an expression that I've never seen

before.

A frightening, desperate, and indescribable expression.

•
 "Tell me... is it a coincidence? What are you really hiding..."

My heart is pounding extremely fast. There was once a

collection of short stories.

In it there was a story set in a station depicting the life of a

woman. The work was so detailed, so beautiful that you'd
think it was written from the perspective of a woman.

I read that in the year 2014. Given the time that it was
written, it wouldn't be strange that the author was Tsurayuki
himself.

"Uh... ummm..."

The words won't flow out. It would sound too unnatural if I

just say that it's a coincidence. Should I tell him the truth? I
probably can't. I would seem like a mental case if I tell him
about the time slip.

The next instant though as these thoughts race through my

head.

"...That can't be it huh~" Tsurayuki laughed softly.

"Honestly, I just thought that no one else in this team would
be able to come up with something like this."

"...The scenario just now?"

"Yeah~" Tsurayuki nods. "As far as the theme is concerned,

a train station's characteristics and phenomena within it
would allow it to be a perfect subject for 'time'."

He lists out the logicality in using the train station as a

subject for the playwright.
•
 "But with that being said, it's only a concept that would
have been thought off by people who are interested in
studying and creating stories. That's why I was surprised that
Kyouya suggested the idea of the train station."

Tsurayuki sounded enthusiastic, far from his usual tired

self.

"I like thinking about stories, Ever since I was young I've
watched a lot of movies, novels, and manga as my time and
money would allow, studying more of those things is what got
me into consider entering Geidai in the first place."

After all, Tsurayuki's knowledge has bound to come from

somewhere.

"But things where different when I actually got here, No

one talks much about scenarios or stories, and when I did find
someone it was a scary woman like Kasegawa making her
hard to approach. When the task was being given out, I was
wondering whether I should contribute properly and take the
initiative but I thought that taking charge would be too
conceited of me."

Tsurayuki laid bare his feelings all out at once. He looked

at me and faintly laughed.

"But after hearing about Kyouya's thoughts, I thought it

would be possible for me to make something incredible with
this guy."

He then looks at the memo on his hand.

"...But this was nagging at me in back of my mind. It's not

like I thought that Kyouya was a bad person... so I called you
•
out like this, but I guess coincidences do happen. Sorry.
Forget I said anything."

"You don't have to apologize. It's understandable that you

would feel that way."

Rather it's more likely that it wasn't coincidence.

"Well I was just getting ahead of myself I guess. Let's make

this one count. I'll handle making a quality script and you
handle on making the production side the best it could be."

"Yeah. It's a promise then."

"I'll hold you to it then."

It's amazing how Tsurayuki wasn't embarrassed in letting

out his feelings, I then went back to my room soon after but
stopped in the middle of the stairs trying not to let my chest
burst in excitement.

Is it possible that Tsurayuki is...

At the time the number of works I read was limited. I liked

reading books not just light novels, although I was more of a
"games" person. My budget was fairly limited so I was only
buying books from my favorite authors.

Naturally I wouldn't remember every author that was in

that short story collection but one name did stick out to me.

—Kawagoe Kyouichi.

Is Tsurayuki and that person one and the same?

The possibility was quite high. Kyouichi Kawagoe wrote not

•
only light novels, but also general literary arts like mystery,
romance, and even likes to often write short stories.

However unlike Shinoaki whose name and pen name are

exactly the same, there was nothing like that with this case.

There's not much of a trail to follow and no other clues

besides both of them being writers and it's a bit of a stretch.
One thing is certain though.

"I did bad by Tsurayuki."

I unconsciously used something from the future.

And because of that I might have taken away one of

Tsurayuki's works.

"Well... it's not like I'm guilty."

I want to take advantage of the benefits of me time slipping

and move forward with my 10 years of experience, It's
certainly my only advantage.

Of course I will reflect on my actions. It is better to not

overplay and rely on this hand too much.

"That's why its just one more reason to keep learning

more!"

When I entered the room I pulled out a video techniques

book.

Tsurayuki asked me to help with the directing business, so

I have to properly study things other than production.

With a plan moving forward, my motivation was at an all

•
time high.

But back then—

—I didn't know how fragile everything was.

•
 Chapter 04: Learning Production

The submission of the plan went by without a hitch.

The 'go' signal from the teacher was immediately given so

full-scale production work began to move ahead.

First on the list of things is of course, the script and the

storyboard. Both Tsurayuki and Shinoaki began in earnest on
their respective works. And even though I was not used to it, I
continued to write the production manuscript while working
with everyone.

——1 month has passed...

I was in front of the script and storyboard I got from

Tsurayuki and Shinoaki respectively.

Disgruntled, I let out a sigh.

"It's impossible. It doesn't fit no matter what I try..."

The finished screenplay from Tsurayuki was a masterpiece.

The subject of the film is a girl from an unnamed countryside.
It starts with a shot of her when she was still in elementary
school, then transitions to noon when she gets on train at the
nearest station.

The next scene begins when the train returns to the

platform and a girl gets out wearing a sailor suit As a side
note he asks to make sure the girl has the same ornament to
signify it's the same person.

•
 The story ends with a transition again but with the sunset
moving forward to the deep night and simultaneously having
the woman turn older, getting a cane as she leaves the train
station. The lines with the station attendant also leaves a deep
impression and as a story was done very well.

Meanwhile, Shinoaki's storyboard is also coming along

smoothly.

The contents of the lesson learned recently in class, Cutting

on Action and Axis of action among other things, is also being
utilized well. There are no gaps in the contents of the cut.
But...

"...It just takes way too long."

Clearly with this much content 3 minutes isn't enough.

In the script written by Tsurayuki, the dialogue is just too

wordy. Clearly the sense of a time limit was lost on it.

Even if Shinoaki is good, basing things on the original

volume of the screenplay...

It's a really unreasonable order for her to adjust the

storyboard to the time constraints.

It's difficult to adjust just because the original content is

just too good, it would just feel unsatisfying to do so. If we
were to place an order of importance then I guess Tsurayuki's
script takes the top spot.

"I have to cut the time... but do I really have a say in it?"

——In the face of true talent, do I really have the

•
qualifications to do that?

It was a common occurrence back at my old workplace.

Those with talent would be brought down by those without

and also by the ones without forethought. No matter how
many things you do right, it would only be slowly chipped
away one after the other.

If this goes on we might be mimicking that same position.

"I can't just leave things like this."

This weight on my shoulders is too much for me to bear

but,

Someone has to do it.

***

The next lesson in Comprehensive Practicum 1 is what's

known as "Location Hunting" or what's commonly known as
"Location Scouting" it is a vital process in pre-production
once scriptwriters, producers or directors have decided what
general kind of scenery they require for the various parts of
their work that is shot outside of the studio, the search for a
suitable place or "location" outside the studio begins.

With that purpose in mind we arrived at Kamikosawa

Station via the Nankai Kouya Line.

"The weather is sooo~ refereshing~"

Shinoaki took a big leap and landed on the platform.

"The sun's amazingly bright today huh~ I have to be careful

•
to not get sunburned."

For today's purposes Nanako has a parasol and

accompanying with it a very actress-like aura. What she said
rings true, getting a sunburn when filming would be
disastrous as it would leave continuity errors.

Originally location scouting would be done in multiple

parts but since this is amateur work on a small scale we
treated it like a field trip.

"Isn't it fine? I think it fits the image of what we are going

for pretty well, as expected of Kyouya!"

Tsurayuki smiled at me as I exit the train, looks like

someone is in a good mood.

"Yeah, it might be so..."

In this excursion-like happy go lucky mood only I had a

gloomy facial expression, but it can't be helped because I
know for certain that a gut wrenching event will be waiting
for me.

The location shoot advanced smoothly...

Well at the very least it looks like that on the surface as we

didn't get stuck on anything in particular but after we finished
shooting we convened for a meeting at a family restaurant in
front of Kishi station, and as I expected it was wrapped in a
heavy atmosphere.

"Were you the one that scrapped parts of the script?"

I could only swallow my saliva in front of Tsurayuki's

•
words

"If you keep the script as is, we'll run out of time."

"So the script won't fit the allotted time budget is that it?"

"...Yeah"

Shinoaki and even Nanako stayed quiet in this heavy

atmosphere.

"That's why I'll have to ask you to rewrite the whole thing."

"I don't want to take anything out of the script."

And just like that the request was shot down. I felt a sharp
sense of tension coming from those words.

"I... I see."

If for example, this was strictly for business and he was

only a hired professional this would not have been as cut and
dry as a yes or no but of course that wasn't the case this time
around.

"Well you see it's not like I want to oppose anything and
everything, far from it in fact."

Probably because he saw that I was feeling troubled he

sighed and spoke again

"But I painstakingly made the script over a period of many

days and suddenly being told after all of that, that there
wasn't any time for it then of course I can't just suddenly
respond with a 『Yes, I understand.』 that easily."

•
 "Yeah I can see the sentiment..."

"That's why I want you to explain it a little more, If I listen

to everything and we can reach an agreement... Maybe then I
can follow your lead no questions asked."

"...I understand."

In regards with the original plans for the film that we have.

How did the production estimate completely exceed the

time budget?

First of there are many scenes in it, the location shoot alone
takes a lot of time. Then considering the time and effort for
editing it increasingly becomes more burdensome and
unrealistic.

I intended to explain each and everyone of it properly,

however...

"Wouldn't you usually need to shoot the film it first to

know if it really would exceed it or not?"

"No of course not... That's why earlier I measured it with a

stopwatch, It was a slight difference yes, but there was still a
difference."

"Then let's just ask Shinoaki, How about it Shinoaki is

going to go over the time limit?"

"Hmmm, I can't say for sure... but it might just be a teensy

bit long."

"See there it is! If it's only a bit long then we can manage by

•
editing it."

"I-It can't be done. Editing should be done after proper

calculations, doing it in production is a bit..."

"Then how about speeding up the delivery of the dialogue?

Can't Nanako do something about that?"

"Well, It is possible... But will that really solve our

problem?"

"Isn't it going to save time?"

"It will but that alone won't help very much."

"You can't know for sure unless we try it!"

"Even if it goes over the limit a little bit, If it' results a good
product won't that be enough? Let's just take a leap of faith,
how about it huh?"

Tsurayuki's tone has turned rougher. The words seemingly

gnaw at you.

——What should I do... If I allow the limit here then when

do we stop? Would there be no end to the allowances?

"W-Well..."

Just then and there I came up with a reason to persuade

Tsurayuki. But can he really be convinced with this?

No, before everything else our purpose here is to complete

this task. Tsurayuki was so excited for this that he couldn't
make any compromises. I have to take control of this
situation.
•
 "This was the task given to us and unless we follow the
rules we won't get any grade."

Tsurayuki's ears twitched.

"Is that so?"

It's not a lie. The instructions clearly states 3 minutes.

Well in actuality its probably not that strict, I'm guessing

that there's at the very least some leeway in the seconds. But
still it's not a lie.

"Yeah... It might even be the cause of our failure."

"......"

Tsurayuki stayed silent

Following suit, the rest of us also sank into silence.

The evening approaches, the middle school and high-

school students begin crowding the family restaurant and the
clatter of their conversations fill the room, yet only our seats
was continuing to permeate an air of silence.

I wonder if about 15 minutes have already passed when...

"I'm not completely satisfied yet but..."

Tsurayuki stood up and with his back turned on us.

"...Everything would be meaningless if we don't get our

work graded. Fine then, I'll condense the screenplay."

"T-Thank you Tsura——"

•
 Suddenly Tsurayuki blocked my words.

"——I thought you would have given a better answer."

"Ah..."

"What boring reasoning..."

With those parting words he left the store.

"......"

The words couldn't come out.

"Tsurayuki didn't have to say those words...!"

"Nice one Nanako."

I couldn't say anything because he was right.

Reasoning it's because of "rules" and because it was the

"task". Maybe if I promised from the start that it would make
everything better.

As Tsurayuki said so, maybe all of this wouldn't have

happened if I made a suitable plan from the get-go.

"Kyouya-kun..."

Shinoaki called out to me seemingly worried, but I was

already too out of it to respond.

***

June, The art school was surrounded by the heat and

humidity. There were no air conditioners for us to bask in at
•
the Art Research Club's cultural circle building. It was a state
were we had no choice but to depend on fans. I have
immersed myself there for a few days.

I have immersed myself there for a few days.

"Oi Hashi, want to bet in a match of rock paper and

scissors on who gets to buy pocari and potato chips?"

While leaning on a chair Kiryu-san called out to me

"...No thanks."

"...Suit yourself then~"

There were two tatami mats worth of space at the far end
of the clubroom. I was squirming restlessly over there.

Like being onslaughted by a rapid-fire machine gun I was

basked by the chirping of the cicadas and the heat of the sun.
Even while lying down it still mercilessly chipped away at
your strength. Even at the best of times mental strength is
robbed and now it even gets your physical strength? How can
such unreasonableness be allowed?

Today's only class is already over, and I have no part-time

work for today.

"Hashi, do you watch anime?"

"First off, when did you decide on my nickname?"

"You don't like it?"

"It's not that bad. And for the record I like anime very
much."
•
 It's not an exaggeration to say that late night anime was a
form of salvation for me. Ahhh~, I remember the times when
I was still working at the company.

"Then do you want to see this."

The temperature of the room seemed to rise further as the

CRT TV turned on.

Kiryu-san took out a DVD and inserted it in a dust covered

DVD player. On the nostalgic 4:3 screen a likewise nostalgic
work was projected.

"Do you know about this? 『The Place Promised in Our

Early Days』?"

"Of course I even watched 『The Voices of a Distant Star』."

How could I not know? Ten years later the director

becomes pretty outrageous.

"It really is incredible huh. A one man team preparing

everything and making an anime. I can't begin thinking of
imitating that."

On the slightly blurred screen of the CRT, One can see a

beautiful scenery of clouds.

But of course, 10 years ago the blockbuster work that set a

new record in Japanese film history was not yet of this world.

That director fought hard, steadily trying to reach his

dream and 10 years later he finally caught what he was
chasing after.

•
 On the contrary even though I unexpectedly gotten lucky, I
still managed to made a huge blunder early on.

"Kiryu-san, you like anime huh."

"At midnight when doing image correction, I end up having

free time, Ever since I entered the university watching it has
become an addiction."

Yeah he did mention he was from the Photography

Department.

"Right now the best one is Haruhi. KyoAni is amazing! If

you let them handle the original works they'll make it the best
it can be."

Ah that's right, Chuuni and Euphonium is still a long ways

off.

"Oh yeah, don't a lot of anime celebrities come from the

film department. Is Hasshi thinking of aiming for that."

"Anime isn't even a major. But you can choose a major

from 3rd year onwards."

In the Film department the 3rd courses are divided into 3.

There's Movies, Video, and Advertising.

"I see... but suppose that Hasshi becomes a famous anime

director, I can brag in various ways."

Boasting huh...

It's not like I'm a director in the first place, plus I don't
think I can become famous. It would be quite difficult to

•
become the talented man Kiryu-san wants me to become.

"If Hasshi has any questions about "still camera" you can
discuss it with me! So later down the line I can sell myself by
saying 『I was the one who though that guy everything he
knows about photography.』"

(Note: Still camera is any film-based device or digital

device that takes one picture at a time.)

"Haha.... Well when that time comes I will have to thank

you in that case."

But that will probably never come in this lifetime.

***

In the end it turned into an anime competition from

afternoon all the way to evening.

We talked about 『Tochuu Kara-san mo Haitte Kitte』, It

became controversial on which one is better between part 1 or
part 2. It got very messy and due to that I went back alone.

"Is that... Hikawa?"

In front of me a tall lone man wearing karate clothes while

walking against the setting sun as the background reminiscent
of a fighting game character.

"Yo! If it isn't Hashiba!"

When he sees me, he shows me a wide smile with

beautifully grown pearly whites as he laughs.

"It seems you're not wearing ninja clothes today"

•
 "Ahh, From now on I'm gonna wear this at class for
practice lessosns so I changed my clothes."

"Class...?"

"Yeah, I'm going to teach karate lessons at an elementary

school, It's a pretty sweet part-time gig!"

So he was also doing such a thing huh.

But I think It's great to be talented at something no matter

what it is. There are a lot of courses in life.

"Alright! elemtary school students! If you show them a

little strength they will respect you unconditionally! It also
means that I'll become popular with elementary school girls,
Gahaha! Well not that it means anything because I like
mature women though."

A sudden fetish confession! Rather if he actually liked little

girls I'd have to report him in advance.

"Oh right thanks for helping me out in practice the other

day."

"It's nothing special don't worry about it."

"In any case, I have to show my gratitude properly! Just tell

me if you need anything."

Then he raised he raised his right hand in goodbye.

"Looks like he's having fun..."

I can't find the right words but, Hikawa has found his own
place in this school. I myself am still far off from the abstract
•
thought of "a place where I belong". Even the relationships of
where I currently am are unclear.

How long until I find it?

***

I returned to the boarding house and opened the door.

"I'm back..."

"Ah, Kyouya-kun welcome back~"

Shinoaki was doing story board work in the living room

"That's odd, what are you doing here?"

"Un, I thought that I should draw in this room because it

would be easier to hear Tsurayuki-kun and Kyouya-kun's
opinions here."

Tsurayuki... those words made my heart pound.

"...Has Tsurayuki-kun come back today?"

Shinoaki shook her head

"He hasn't come home much lately. Sometimes I show him

the storyboard and he just says 『Whatever Shinoaki likes is
good.』 and leaves it at that."

"I see..."

As I thought, Has he lost interest because of the incident

before?

•
 I haven't met Tsurayuki face to face ever since the meeting
that day. The awkwardness couldn't be helped and no
breakthrough has been found.

"Kyouya-kun... Just do what needs to be done, so don't

mind it to much, ok?"

"Yeah, Thanks for that..."

Shinoaki encourages me in her own way.

Definitely the matter of Tsurayuki is still stuck on the back

of my mind.

"I wonder if this will continue to drag on till shooting."

With a heavy heart, I return to my room.

Even after that the awkwardness relationship between me

and Tsurayuki continued.

As I was busy preparing for the shoot I become increasingly

distant with him.

***

It's the end of June. Using the time of the General

Practicum on Monday I went out alone to get permission to
film so I went to the electric railway company that has
jurisdiction over the station to get the documents for it.

I went to the platform of Kishi station on the Kinetsu

Minami Nagano line to head to Namba station to where the
company is.

"Tch, It's unpleasant unnoticeable, Kyouya Hashiba!"

•
 "Doesn't the number of titles seem to have increased!?"

For some reason Kawasegawa Eiko, who is looking on with

hostility, is suddenly here on the train platform and heading
to the same destination.

Now of all times, thing could become troublesome because

of this meeting.

"Don't have that annoyed look on your face! I feel the same
way too."

"Don't just read someone thoughts!"

Although at the very least we are a student of the same

school, grade, and department and it wasn't the moment to
waste time on my smartphone so I took the same train and sat
next to each other.

Despite the train being not that crowded, there was only
one vacant seat to sit on.

"...So, why are you out during class? You suddenly playing
hooky? Or are you doing a location hunt now."

"Not really... since we're already done with location

hunting I was thinking of applying for permission to film."

Kawasegawa was surprised at my answer.

"Applying for permission...? If you were filming on the

road wouldn't it be best to go to the government office?"

"We'll be filming within the station so I'm going to the

railway's headquarters"

•
 When Kawaswgawa heard that she stood up from her seat.

"Haa!? You're filming at the station as well? Why? For what

reason!?"

"Uwaah, I get it so calm down you're on the train."

Suddenly voicing her complaint in a loud voice I quickly

tell Kawasegawa to settle down.

"Ah." A small voice was let out.

Kasegawa noticed that she was the subject of people's gazes

so she apologized as she sat down again.

"Perhaps, Kasegawa also came to apply?"

"That's right, there's nothing wrong with that I presume?"

I didn't say a single word about that...

"....And who's idea was it to film at the station? Could it be

that gaudy-looking guy Rokuoenji Tsurayuki?"

"Pretty much, though I brought the idea first although it

feels more of that we simultaneously had the same idea
though?"

"You also had that idea to...?"

"Yeah."

Kasegawa had a surprised look for a brief second though

afterwards it turned into a strangely serious face.

"...So that led you into coming to apply for today."

•
 "Yeah, this was a necessary step, I only looked it up
recently though."

"It's natural to reach that conclusion if you just think about

it properly!"

Kawasegawa sighed deeply.

"Eh?"

"It's nothing. So the documents, have you already written

it?"

"More or less."

"Can you show it to me a little?"

In response I handed over the documents.

From the circumstances thus far, I thought the documents

would be ripped apart as soon as it reached her hands but
there was no such thing. Surprisingly however, Kawase
carefully checked the documents.

"You haven't stamped* here and here, also you need the
address here too."

(Note: Japanese use stamps in lieu of signatures.)

"Ah I missed those parts."

"And right here. You need to add schematics to the

explanation of the filming area. Is the location a platform?"

"Yeah, It's primarily filmed in the train platform, front of

the station, and inside the site."
•
 "Then properly explain the plans for the train platform.
The camera placements, the time needed, If possible
comparing it to the storyboard numbers would be nice."

After all of that she continued to point out the deficiencies

of the documents down to the smallest detal.

After finishing.

"Thanks, It was really helpful!"

I sincerely express my gratitude.

"D-Don't be mistaken, Doing this thing sloppily, I won't

allow the reputation of the entire university to be brought
down... that's all. And also... the e-mail I got recently, I read
it."

Kawase in an embarassed state denied it.

"No really, You had no reason to help me at all, thanks for

that I'll return the favor someday."

I casually answered.

"...Then to both of our productions..."

An unexpected reply.

"Eh what did you say?"

"Hey you, you properly heard what I said don't act like you
didn't!"

"S-Sorry I was just going with the flow of things."

•
 That was supposed to be the reaction of a Light novel
protagonist, could it be that sort of thing was not around at
this time?.

...Come to think of it, Kawasegawa was supposed to be at

the director's helm to the point of infighting. However what
she's doing now is obviously the "production" work.

"Then why is Kasegawa the one applying...?"

As I said that Kawasegawa without reservations...

"I'll tell you! It's because it was absolutely necessary to

become one. Those guys keep saying 『Won't it be alright if we
film silently?』 and 『Isn't guerilla filming more interesting?』
and such, no one was saying anything competent. No progress
was being made so I had to do a lot of roles."

Ranting on in one breath with a lonely countenance.

"...I really don't understand anything."

Together with a big sigh she muttered.

"It's been hard huh..."

When Kawasegawa was yelling during team formation, I

honestly thought of her as a little annoying.

When she talks like this however you can feel she's just
genuinely earnest, serious about the film and is the reason
why she nags.

"...Well, that's how it is, so please help me if anything

comes up."

•
 "O-Of course... If there's anything to do count on me,
though with someone like me I don't know if I can be useful
though."

"Oh my, not confident are we? To me it looks like you're

doing pretty well."

"Not really..."

I confessed all my troubles to Kasewagawa. For some

reason I feel like I could confide to her.

"What a boring problem."

In response to my confession Kawasegawa retorted.

"Is that so...? I'm pretty worried about it though."

"It's because you took your role seriously right? And as a

result of that you had a fight is what you are saying. It's not
wrong to be proud. Worrying about whether or not it was
wrong... Getting hung up over it will only leave you
depressed."

With a scoff* she crossed her arms and turned away.

(Note: It's actually more of a Fu~n that thing that a classic

tsundere does.)

It maybe exactly as she says. But the me right now is not

prepared nor has the confidence to say it.

Thanks to Kawasegawa, the application for the railways

was accepted successfully.

After saying my thanks to the reception, I turned around to

•
find out that Kawasegawa wasn't there anymore.

However on the mobile phone where we exchanged email

addresses on just earlier,

『If anything else happens ask me again 』

Is on the e-mail that was just sent.

"So Kawasegawa can use e-mail now huh..."

That brightened me up a little.

***

That evening, I proceeded to head to the video research lab

just after class. It was for the purpose of submitting a copy of
the filming application documents and report the filming
plan.

"I think Professor Kanou's class will be over soon, is it

possible for you to sit and wait over there for a while?"

The Assistant Onee-san welcomed me into the room.

I took the offer to sit on the sofa. Due to my boredom I

rudely wandered my eyes around the room unconsciously.

"There are various things here huh..."

I didn't notice it when I entered here for the team

formation report but looking at it again there are a lot of
things condensed in this room.

There are numerous trophies, plaques, and certificates

messily piled up, on top of several movie reels are placed
•
here.

The number of video tapes were also incredible. The VHS

was surprising to say the least. There are also a lot of tape
drives that I had never seen before piled up like a mountain.

On the reception table in front of me are what seems to be

other student's scripts formed a heap.

"...How is it, you been working properly?"

"UwaaaAA!?"

Having a voice heard near my ears, I jump up in surprise.

"S-Sensei... did you come back just now?"

"I've been here since a while ago. Hashiba was looking at

this room like a rare specimen, so I thought not to disturb
you."

Sensei has placed two cups of coffee on the table. And also
sat directly opposite of me.

"So what will be discussing about today?"

My face turned toward the beautiful legs she also showed

on the welcoming orientation day were crossed in front of me.

"Yes, well the permission for filming has been filed and
that it was passed safely, is what I've come to report."

The shooting schedule, the scene content, the time

requirements and the like was reported.

Sensei also had some questions, but since I was told by

•
Kawasegawa in advance, there were no difficulties in
answering them.

"Although you applied properly, it's more or less the same

when all is said in done, It was still better of you to prepare."

"It's not really anything, thank you very much though."

I just did what I had to do, it's not something to get praised
over.

Rather than that I'm more worried about Tsurayuki. It's

been bugging me for a while now.

"Hashiba seems to have a depressed look did something

happen?"

"Eh?"

"With your role, it's not uncommon to have one or two

troubles. If you have something you want to consult about just
ask me how about it?"

Maybe it was out of pure goodwill or it might have shown

on my face.

Shinoaki was also worried too, I though I hid it a little bit

better but that doesn't seem to be the case.

At this point, I thought that maybe it wasn't such a bad idea

to consult with a person who is more familiar and
experienced.

When I talked about this with Kawasegawa, I felt that the

lump in the back of my throat has loosened up.

•
 "Um... I'm at a bit of a loss on what to do with my assigned
task."

"Assigned task? Oh?"

"The screenplay was very well done... but it was a bit too
large in scale. Is it really alright to modify the production...."

Sensei listened intently to my crappy explanation.

"Even if you say that I am in the production position, I'm

very scared of destroying everyone's work with my very own
hands."

When I finished my explanation she did a big nod and

began to speak.

"Didn't I say that production isn't about being the

leftover?"

I remembered. I also doubted it.

"Yes."

"Let me tell you the reason why."

Sensei stood up and and grabbed a bunch of printouts from

her desk and put it on the reception table with a thud.

"Ah, don't read the contents though, It's private for the
time being."

"What are these things?"

"These are another team's producer's complaints."

•
 "Complaints... you say?"

"『Everyone is not listening to what I say.』 or 『How to make

others listen to orders.』 Nothing but those things are said."

Sensei sighs and shrugs her shoulders in dissapointment.

"But you are different. Suddenly not saying things like

wanting others listen, but wondering how not to break what
was created as much as possible. Maybe you tried to persuade
someone or something, it didn't work, then now it lead to this
consultation on it?

She grinned.

"Production work is a very important job."

I shook my head.

"...But I broke apart his incredible screenplay, there's no

doubt about that."

"Broke it? How could say you've broken it when you

haven't made it yet."

Sensei picked up one of the scripts on the desk, then

shoved it onto me.

"This is a script. It's been bound and marked as the final

draft, It can be said this is a script's final form."

Then it was put back onto the desk.

"...But this is not a finished video. It is just a part. It's only

one of the components."

•
 Sensei picked up the coffee, and vigorously poured it down
her throat like it was water or juice.

"Lukewarm." She frowned as she placed the cup back.

"There are a lot of things to say once film production is

complete. Saying it's broken before you complete it, that just
means that you can't see the full picture yet."

"B-But..."

"If you really think that it's bad then do what you can for
him, Completing work as a producer is probably the best
thing you can do, don't you think so?"

"Ah..."

Compromise. Give up.

Words like that cross my mind.

Somehow, what I'm saying resembles a bit like

Kawasegawa... I think.

"Hashiba, what do you think production work is?"

"What do you mean... It's as Sensei said in class, chores and

asswiping."

(Note: This may be a point of confusion, in the early part

of other translator release the word "asswiping" was turned
into family friendly version of "cleaning up oneself" but this
and a following sentence will not make sense if viewed as
such.)

When I answered, Sensei laughed.

•
 "It is, but at the same time it's not. That's only on the
surface level. I'm happy with your honesty though."

There was a little bit of amazement in her tone mixed in

with her smile.

"Think carefully. The most important thing in production

work is 『Until the last second, never give up.』"

"Never... give up?"

"As I said, when a video work is finally completed and

finished at last, It is destined to touted front of an audience
and judged. After is said and done, An "accident" doesn't go
as expected and you wait, the complaints that are said don't
mean anything whatsoever."

Sensei leaned her body forward.

"That's why until the work is done. these hands and those
hands, through it, even if small should make the work good
until the limbs fall out. If there are no actors, get one. If a staff
member escapes do it yourself. From negotiating with an old
man or praying to to God and begging him for rain. Anything
that can be done is everything that you will do, that is the
Producers' job.

"Y-Yes."

"If the producer gives up the work will end at that point,
but if the producer says "It's still not over." the work will not
end. That's what it means when "wiping the ass.".

A light smile spilled out.

•
 "It's having the tenacity to go on until the end, that is its
meaning. It can be said that the producer is the most reliable
creator more than anyone else. The production is a splendid
creator. No, not just limited to his own job, it can be said he is
involved in everyone else's.

"Everyone?"

I remember the time I was making a game.

The artists and writers names are praised. In comparison

to the director and backstage workers were also working
hard. Although there were a few names working on it, there
were many difficulties.

You can't produce anything by yourself, joining them

together making do with assigning roles, and with that
grasping at it making opportunity and luck to come. Even in
that position, I wonder if that's the case.

Even with that question, Sensei gently answered.

"Everyone involved is a creator."

The inside of my eyes was starting to sweat, I was

desperately trying my best to not let it out.

Those words were salvation. I have a small role, it doesn't

amount to much, I was stuck with thinking that behind the
scenes work was a bad thing.

But that wasn't the case. Whether you are in the position of
creating something or not, there is no difference in their
significance. If someone is missing then the work will be no
good. There is no such thing as unnecessary.
•
 Sensei thought me that with those words.

Not only the me right now, but even myself 10 years later.

"Oh my, why are you in a daze?"

Sensei lightly tapped my forehead, I sat back down.

"That is all."

Even though we should have been the same age, it was

unthinkable to see me as an adult. Is it the gap in experience?

I couldn't say a word I was staring at my hands.

Doing what I can do. Certainly right now I can't do

anything.

But its better than continuing to make excuses for myself.

".........Thank you very much."

"Yeah, good luck."

Did the conversation end? And as I think that Sensei turns

back and gestures a goodbye with the back of her hand, I nod
back.

"Pardon for the trouble... Ah."

When I tried to stand up the pile of videotapes on the end

of the desk collapsed.

"Ah, S-Sorry."

"It's fine it's fine. I've been meaning to watch this but I can't
•
find the time."

Sensei piled up the videotapes and threw them in a box

labeled 『Watch now』

"This, what is it?"

"The 『Osaka Film Festival』 is a gathering of independent

films. Those are candidates. I have to see 20 works and
choose one and send a review the end of the day.

I don't know the runtime of one work, but it must be a

considerable amount of time.

"That's rough..."

"Besides school work, there's also the selection of scenario

awards, preparation of film festivals, writing novels, and the
writing of game scenario. I have a lot to do and it gets
confusing sometimes.

Sensei chuckled.

I can only imagine it, but that's a terrible amount of work.

"Why is Sensei doing so much work? Can Sensei even

consume all that work alone?"

It was an innocent question.

I don't know the annual income of the university's associate

professor in detail, but it can't be worth burdening all that
trouble by oneself.

If you're a film department teacher, I get that you can serve

as a film director. But handling novels and games? There's
•
not many people that do that. The field is just too wide no
matter how you think about it.

"Hashiba, I..."

"Because I like my work." or "I'm brimming with

curiosity." I wondered if such a response would come back.

"...I time slipped from 10 years into the future."

.........Eh?

What does that mean?

I opened my eyes in surprise. Naturally, no words can be

issued in response.

If this is something like in those stories, when Sensei

confesses everything here, I will float in time once again.
What will happen to my existence?

Will I be sent back to 10 years from this point.

Various illusions run in my head.

I was too impatient, I forgot to breathe.

"Uh, uhm..."

Still I had to say something, It was when I squeezed the

words from the back of my throat.

"Hey, hey what's with that face. Isn't this the part where
you say 『No way that's true.』"

Shocked, I showed a smile on my face and laughed wryly to

•
her.

"Ah.... Haha, y-yeah you're right."

"What I wanted to say was, I wanted to act with that sort of

determination, is what I think."

Ah I see.

If I think carefully, I've seen a similar sort of self-

development episode on 'SNS'.

(Note: Cellphone novels where a thing.)

"10 years later, I can't even make work on location, I'm a

shitty professor who can't help but say what's wrong with all
the works out there. One day I noticed it and regretted hard,
but it was at that time with a mysterious power I was able to
get back to 10 years ago. And that's how it is now."

Sensei made another cup of coffee, a fragrance wafts the

room.

"It's a childish mental suggestion, it unexpectedly works.

Well you can laugh at it if you want it is very simplistic."

An embarrassed, shy facial expression showed on Sensei.

But I couldn't laugh at it.

"....I understand."

"I see, I was wondering if you were too young to

understand the sentiment."

Sensei laughed suddenly.

•
 ...No. That's wrong Sensei.

Because of goodluck I was able to "Remake" the life I once

did. But It seems this "Remake" has ended up to become
mediocre.

...But I won't let it happen anymore.

"Please come back anytime."

I thanked Sensei who told me so, I gripped both hands and

stood up without opening it.

Then I swore to never let this opportunity go.

***

As I left the professor's office, with each step I take I felt

my heart thump. I have a sharp pain in my stomach and my
heart is resonating loudly.

Coming back from 10 years ago, what did I gain from it?

No matter how far back I come, time is still limited.

I didn't understand something so obvious.

"Now's the time to do it!"

If I leave it to tomorrow that tomorrow may never come.

The opportunity to act on it is now.

I burst into a sprint on the way to the boarding house.

"Tsurayuki!"
•
 "Uwahh!? It's Kyouya, you scared me."

Immediately after returning to the share house I knocked

on Tsurayuki's room.

After he comes out I lower my head to him.

"About Tsurayuki's script, sorry for screwing it up."

"W-What's this all of a sudden..."

I grasped the bewildered Tsurayuki's hand.

"Do you have time right now?"

"I do but... What the, w-wait a minute... hey!"

As I was holding Tsurayuki's hand I dragged him to the

living room.

"Eh, what's this all about?"

"Kyouya-kun did something happen?"

Nanako and Shinoaki also came out to the living room after
hearing our voices.'

"I want to redo the meeting one more time."

***

I look onto everyone's faces carefully.

"I want to discuss the contents of the film properly."

Without a hint of doubt I declare it clearly.

•
 When the silence ends.

"Now of all times..."

Tsurayuki shaked of my hands and turned around.

"You can do what you like. Can't you just leave it alone?"

"No!"

Once again Tsurayuki turned forward.

"What now!?"

"I was truly wrong... we haven't started yet."

Even through the intense pressure generated by

Tsurayuki's dissatisfied look, I look at him straight back.

"Because we haven't made the film yet. We can fix it as

much as you want, we can still discuss over it. And also..."

Even I would have thought of troublesome or a nuisance.

But running away? Ceating things with your own hands,

there is no way that's embarrassing.

"Sorry Tsurayuki, it was exactly as you said." I bow down

unwaveringly. "When creating something, create it properly.
The grade of it can come after the fact."

I raised my head.

"That's why until the last second, we can keep talking until
we're satisfied."

•
 Tsurayuki's face turned into surprise.

Nanako can't help but express a wry smile. Shinoaki didn't

even try to hide her excitement.

"......Well it can't be helped huh, fine then let's keep going

at it."

He showed a little hesitation, but Tsurayuki grinned and

put his hand on my shoulder.

"Hahh... I wonder if someone could take over my part-time

job for today."

Nanako arrived at the seat near the table.

"Kyouya-kun."

"Hmm...?"

"Isn't that great!"

Shinoaki smiles and gives me a thumbs up and with her left

eye closed*, also took a seat.

"Thanks... Well then let's start!"

I brought all of the storyboards and scripts so far and, with

a thud, put in on the table.

Outside the window a strong wind was blowing indicating

the turn of the seasons.

I didn't even get to see the cherry blossoms , but the cherry
blossom season had finally ended and the lush leaves had
spread all over. Soon, a full-scale summer will come.
•
 (Note: The real word was "Hanami" It's the tradition of
viewing sakura trees/cherry blossoms or sometimes plum
trees and usually consists of outdoor picnics Look at pictures
of Sakura trees or one of the flower viewings it's beautiful.)

•
 Chapter 05: The Ability To Put It All Together

2nd Week of July.

At last we were able to reach the final day of shooting.

"It was hotter than when we were on the day of the location
hunt......"

Kami-Kosawa Station, 10am.

Nanako who got off the train first, complained at the

strength of the sun.

"Good think there was a fan in the waiting room. When we

aren't filming let's cool down there.

Because I needed to set the tripod, I moved to the set

location first.

"Kyouya-kun, Kyouya-kun."

Shinoaki who finally got onto the platform, called over to

me.

"What's the matter Shinoaki?"

"Have you gotten in touch with Tsurayuki yet?"

"Yeah, He's already on the Kouya Line, so won't he be on

the train that's after the next?"

"Is that so... It's really fun to film don't you think so?"

•
 As if she's gonna get to play around with a new toy,
Shinoaki is looking forward to filming.

"...Then let's get to it."

I return to attaching the gaff tape on the camera positions.

I've done everything that I can do all for the sake of this
day.

For example, instead of just scrapping the scenes with the

young girl we got an actor for the childhood scenes instead.

Nanako's relative, she has ties to a children's troupe so I

asked to make some arrangements. With the increasing
amount of childhood scenes, Tsurayuki was convinced to cut
some parts of it.

Nanako's costume was loaned from a senior from the crafts

department via another senior from Arts Research Society. a
huge amount of effort was put into this film's scene. It was
probably worth it as it seems that Tsurayuki completely
regained his motivation.

"Oh that's right, have you told Tsurayuki about the

equipment?"

"Yeah, I even told him to properly mark it."

I left it to Tsurayuki to go borrow the equipment.

Shinoaki seemed to unable to carry the weight of the

camera, so a back and forth trip was needed to be done.

"Since the video research lab open 10 o clock, we have to

•
make separate groups."

Inevitably, If we all go to the lab to borrow it, the time loss

would become huge, that's why the the group that borrows
the equipment and the on-site group shared the work.

"These constrainsts are really hard huh?"

"You said it... It seems that if you become a higher year you
can borrow it for a number of days.

Being 1st years at this point in time, equipment rental

across days was not allowed.

So just like today, a filming schedule was needed to be set

up where you had to borrow it in the morning and rent it in
the afternoon.

While grumbling on, the train that Tsurayuki should have

been on has arrived.

When filming at the station, I am grateful for the part that

after getting off the train you are immediately on-site, the
convenience is great.

"Over here! Over here! Oo~ii!"

Tsurayuki got off the train carrying a case filled with

equipment.

"Ah my bad for being late. This case is unexpectedly light."

"Is that right? It was very heavy for me though."

"Well, for Shinoaki at least~"

•
 The camera case was handed over to Shinoaki, and the
tripod was handed to me.

"Thanks, Tsurayuki."

"It's no problem. Rather than that, we're finally shooting

huh~"

"..Yeah."

"Let's create something amazing, the discussions even went

so well."

And with a pop Tsurayuki hit my shoulders.

A refreshed expression showed on my face, as if a great

weight was unbound.

I'm glad that we were able to talk things out before filming.
I'm sure I couldn't have continued filming in such a
depressed state. I'm grateful for the good atmosphere we
have now.

"Okay, From the first scene immediately..."

After saying that I noticed there was no response from

Shinoaki.

"Hmm? Shinoaki what's up?"

Shinoaki stood still after opening the case as if mimicking a

stop-motion film.

"What's wrong Shinoaki?"

I looked around and see Shinoaki's expression.

•
 It was a shocked expression. Shinoaki looked confused.

"This camera... is not a video camera."

"Eh!?"

What does that mean? I check the equipment inside the

case.

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

I couldn't believe it but it was there.

"I-It's true!... This is a still camera!"

"Eh? What do you mean?" Nanako raised an anxious voice.

"It seems as if a still camera was borrowed instead of a

video camera. It was borrowed... by mistake."

I reported the situation as calmly as I possibly could.

Everyone's eyes gather to the one that borrowed it,

Tsurayuki.

"But I just borrowed the one that was said to be the right
one."

From his pocket, Tsurayuki took out a copy of the

equipment loan slip.

Looking at the contents, his expression turned pale at once,

"Seriously... this..."

The slip slides off of his hand and falls down.

•
 On the upper left the words "Video Camera" should have
been there with a "O" (Checked) written around it.

However...

"......It's not "Video Camera" but on the encircled one is a

"Digital SLR Camera"

It was a simple mistake.

Both the video cam and the SLR were in a similar looking
silver-colored hard case, at first glance it would be hard to
distinguish. Honestly amateurs wouldn't be able to tell it
apart.

Unfortunately the role of transportation of the camera fell

on the shoulders of Tsurayuki who was the same as an
amateur. That became our pitfall.

"Ehh!? ...What do we do about this?"

Nanako said in a confused tone.

"There's no equipment to shoot a video, In other words we

can't film."

"Can't you exchange it?

"If you go back now you can explain the situation."

"The lending time for the department takes breaks between

morning and the afternoon. If I go right now I would get there
at noon. That's why if I reborrow and come back... It's
definitely gonna take till evening."

It would take an hour and a half to reach the terminal

•
nearest the university, Kishi station, from Kamikosawa
station.

The time loss for the round-trip on the train and the break,
not to mention the travel time from the station to the
university, it would be five hours at the very least. Even if we
start moving now, the fastest we could start filming would be
at 4 p.m.

"If we can't film the daytime scenes... I can't make the

necessary cuts."

Shinoaki's voice sounds weak.

"This... is a little tough huh..."

After listening to my words, Tsurayuki breaks down on all

fours.

"Everyone... I'm sorry. It's all my fault. Such a stupid

mistake shouldn't be allowed....."

Seeing him, Tsurayuki's face looked pale.

"Can't we adjust the schedule...?"

Shinoaki asked in a small voice.

"...We're only allowed to film at the station today. If we

don't do it now... We can't shoot the story scenes set in a
station."

After asking Kawasegawa how to go about things, I barely

got permission to film for this day alone. There are lots of
people that use the public transportation that's why getting

•
permission is rigidly enforced.

Moreover we're on a set schedule. Starting from next week,

I should be doing editing work on it. The time that can be
used for shooting... I have to say that today itself was the best
situation.

"....I'll write the script as soon as I return."

Tsurayuki says in a heartbroken voice.

"Shinoaki I'm sorry about the storyboard you already

prepared, really sorry."

"Nah, it's fine really. I'll draw it again so don't worry."

"Nanako too, sorry about your acting preparations,

seriously."

"I don't really mind it, everything is A-Ok..."

Everyone answered in a depressed voice.

To be honest if such a thing were to happen, It can't be

helped but become a responsibility issue, apologize to the
client, and start over. But currently we're only students.
Apologizing to anyone won't get it back. I don't know what to
voice out to them, the words were lost.

Piririririri.

All of a sudden the sound of a cellphone rings out.

"Ah, sorry about this..."

Nanako takes out her cellphone and responds.

•
 "Yes, this is Kogure. Yes, eh... ah, yes, then please take
care..."

She turns of her mobile phone and turns to me.

Her expression obviously looks grim.

"...Our child actress can't come due to a fever."

"...I see."

These kinds of things do overlap.

In fact, it was probably a good thing since we can't film in

the first place.

——Is it all... over?

If this was 10 years later, the recording function of a

smartphone could have been used. Even an SLR camera
would have had the standard feature of taking movies. It was
at most a bonus feature for phones and the SLR,is of course,
is exclusive to taking still shots.

'Every method has been taken.' crosses my mind.

Tsurayuki, Nanako, and even Shinoaki.

All three had pained expressions.

"It can't be helped......"

"It's no use huh......"

It can't be helped. There's no equipment, no actors, there's

also no time, and changing plans won't work either.
•
 If you explain the reason and apologize, it would be
forgiven.

If there's no camera, don't film it.

If you don't have an actor, there's no reason to play it out.

If there's no original picture, it's fine to not draw.

If the writer is missing, don't write it.

If there's no budget, we can go on crudely and make

what's appropriate to said budget.

There's no helping it...! it's because there's really no

helping it...! It's hopeless to think about it!!

My heart cried out.

——Is there really no choice...?

I keep saying it, but I also keep regretting it.

Is this how I want to live my life 10 years from now?

Despite getting a chance at a do-over... will it all just repeat

again?

Just making excuses, should I put it off without doing

anything?

After I was sent from 10 years in advance, Is everything

going to stay the same?

"Saying that it can't be helped..."

•
There's no way that's the case!

"...Absolutely not, I'll do something about it!!"

•
 I raise my voice as hard as I can.

It was a voice so loud that it's something no one has ever

heard of before. I was screaming.

".......Eh?"

"W-What?"

"What's wrong Kyouya-kun?"

"It's no good giving up. Then you wouldn't be able to do

anything."

"But there's no way to do it... in this situation." Tsurayuki

countered my words with a hopeless tone. "It's bad that I
made a mistake on such a crucial thing... But because that
happened, We can't do anything without restructuring
everything right?"

"No, we can."

"Then tell me how you can say that we can do it!!?"

—Tsurayuki yeld back at me with tears falling out.

"We're all in the film department aren't we!? Then you

should know that we can't edit a video without a video! Well
we don't have any equipment for that, how can we do
anything, it's insane. There's no way to do it anymore!!"

"We definitely can!!!"

Louder than the voice from before, I desperately shouted.

•
 "Kyouya...."

Tsurayuki moved back, as if pressured.

"We can do it. Believe in me. For Tsurayuki, Nanako, and

Shinoaki who did their best, I will absolutely make use of it,
just watch."

In my head I remembered the Eroge movie which I was

forcibly made long ago.

After Effects, Premiere, and Photoshop.

It was right around 10 years ago...

The voices can be recorded later, The pictures can...

A puzzle starts to form in my head.

To compose a story, what's the minimum number of

images required?

From Shinoaki's storyboard, the images required from an

explanation can be drawn.

......Maybe it can somehow work that way.

I look at everyone's face and I declare with resolve.

"Let's shoot with this equipment."

"""Eeeeeehh!?"""

Surprised voices resound all at once.

I ignore everyone and opened the "Still Camera" case that

•
was accidentaly borrowed.

I confirm the model number and take out my cellphone.

After a few rings,

『——Yeees, Kiryu heere.』

An unusually slurred voice echoes from the telephone.

"......Kiryu-san have you been drinking?"

『Ohhh, If it isn't Haaaashiii!? Would you liike to come

oover? I got some Obon beer froom my paart time earlier so
I'm having a drinking party in my apartment.』

"Kiryu-san this is urgent."

『Eh?』

"Earlier you said that I can talk to you right? Then, I want
to ask for you now—"

While sweating, I take a deep breath.

"—Please tell me how to shoot with a still camera."

Over the phone there was silence for a few seconds. After
that, a composed voice rings out, 『I'll be going out for a little
bit.』, I then heard rattling footsteps and the sound of
someone wearing shoes.

『...Now? On the phone?』

As if the drunkeness earlier was a lie, I heard a serious

voice.
•
 I explained the situation on-site in a clear and concise
manner.

In the past, when shooting for materials, I mailed

instructions to the photographer.

On the actual site, the weather's good, and on the the

location is on the opposite side of a side platform. The target
is a person. The scenery is included in the photograph... etc.

After explaining the situation I also tell the camera model

number and lense type. There were also confirmation from
Kiryu-san about the fine details and somehow I managed to
finish the explanation.

『Are there any problems with the exposure and pins?』

"None, the camera operator has the right knowledge."

『Well then, first of all the thing to watch out for is... the
quantity.』

"Quantity?"

『It's the number. There's a need to take mountainous

amounts of stills. You can't just to decide on one cut and
shoot it. If you want to take effective shots, take a 100
photos.』

"A 100 photos...?"

『Professionals only show 5-6 shots to people.』

I took a memo of the advice.

『At a sunny station, the exposure is severe due to the stark

•
constrast in brightness between the sun and the shade. Digital
cameras are much less sensitive to brightness versus
negatives. Holding down the changed cut of the exposure or
just taking it all in RAW format.』

It's like he was a different person from the head of the

circle who leisurely watches anime in the club room.

『Well I've explained the gist of it, I'm going back to the
drinking party... Is that gonna be enough?』

"Thank you very much! Drink as much as you can!"

After I express my thanks, Kiryu gives me a 『Then good

luck~』 and reverts to his old tone, then the call was cut off.

"Ok! Up next is...."

I send a transmission over a different registered number in

my storage.

『Ohh, It's Hashiba. It's rare for you to call over the phone.』

"Hikawa, Is now a good time?"

『Ah, There's actually a demonstration in karate class today.

Why, is something wrong?』

....Yeah! Glad I was on point.

"It's my bad but, can I disturb your lesson at the moment...

Can you hear me out about the favor we talked about the
other day."

『Of course! Just tell me anything.』

•
 I explain the main points to Hikawa and I tell him that I'll
contact him about that thing later.

"Then see you later."

『Yeah!』

There's one more thing after that.

I hang up the phone.

I confirm with everyone about something.

"Did anyone here personally brought a digi-cam?"

Of the three, Nanako raised her hand.

"I have one but... doesn't it have poor image quality?"

"It's fine, can you lend it to me a little."

Nanako handed over the digital camera and I immediately

look at the back.

On the functions dial, I noticed that it has a small video

function.

"Ok with this... somehow..."

The weapons are assembled.

We weren't prepared, but we can fight!

I don't radiate talent like them but I have the power to take
and put them together.

•
 ——That's why I'm in production position!

"Then, let's go for it!"

Everyone looks onward with disbelief.

But my resolve has already been decided.

The pieces of everyone's painstakingly hard work, I'll

reshape it.

Let me show you—

—There is a reason that I came back from 10 years in the

future!

***

The camera shutters were released according to Shinoaki's

reshuffled cuts.

I stood next to the camera, having the role of checking

Nanako's facial expressions.

"Nanako can you try to look a little more hesitant here."

"Yeah, I'll give it a try."

When peering into the viewfinder, I see Nanako and was

amazed at her being an "Actor". One by one the detailed work
that was requested of her were realized. Even if it was a still
image I get the feeling that I could still hear her voice.

"Kyouya! It's here! The scenario's been fixed."

Tsurayuki holds the storyboard up with both hands and

•
points it here.

"Then Tsurayuki, could you be obliged to go on an errand?"

"Ah the address is written here. Can you go to Hikawa and

hear him out about our little business?"

"Business....? What business?"

"Ah well that's for when you get there, look forward to it.
Oh look the train's here."

"W-Wait can't you just tell me!"

Tsurayuki buys the ticket and rides away on the train that
came to the platform.

Shinoaki who was on stand-by near the train wondered

about Tsurayuki's fleeting visage.

"Kyouya-kun, where is Tsurayuki going off to?"

"Ah it's nothing. Ah look Shinoaki, you have to take the

next cut."

"Oh yeah that's right~"

Shinoaki looks into the viewfinder once again to capture

Nanako's facial expression.

The filming went on without an incident.

***

"You know Kyouya..."

•
 Nanako talked to me In between shots.

"What is it?"

"Well... have you been preparing this production for the

whole time? You know... in case of emergencies."

"Eh. There's no way that's true, It wasn't even on my mind

that this whole thing would happen in the beginning.

"I-I see......"

Nanako looked at me strangely.

.....I wonder if this is a bad idea.

I had the determination to do it, but I may have lost a little

bit of self-confidence.

***

"——I'm back!"

After a while, Tsurayuki came back and returned by train

bringing with her a young girl.

I think she's about a grade-school level. She has a red

randoseru with a recorder sticking out of it and she's
cheerfully jumping up and down.

"That was quite harsh for a punishment game...

hahahaha..."

After saying that, Tsurayuki sat down on a chair.

"Bringing over such a cute girl... You're definitely a

•
kidnapper."

"I was properly asked to do this job!"

"...You finally came back."

"I went to Hikawa and made a call to the parents to explain

the situation. I don't feel like living anymore..."

"Nomnom... So Tsurayuki-kun has a criminal record for

kidnapping now huh~"

"Hey don't just selfishly eat my ramen!"

Tsurayuki is bombarded with a mess of words.

"Thanks, with this the childhood scenes can be done."

"But this girl is not a bonafide actress, but an ordinary

elementary school student isn't she? Is that gonna be alright?"

"It's fine with just this."

"....is it...?"

Tsurayuki voiced out his doubts.

After this.... I'll show how its done.

***

It was past mid-July.

In the university, it was time for students to gather before

preparing for summer vacation.

•
 At this time the Film Department's freshmen willl be
holding a screening event.

On this day almost all students enrolled in the year 2006 at

the screening venue in the Arts Information Center near the
university's entrance.

"Ha~ It's finally the screening day."

"Is this how its supposed to feel like? I'm a little worried."

"Yeah, I wonder what should we do."

Everyone voiced out there anxiousness.

"We barely submitted it on time, sorry...."

Truth be told the circumstance was that the editing was

completed on the actual date of the deadline.

I submitted the original copy of the completed DVD so I

wasn't able to show It to everyone.

"Well we've come this far because of him so lets trust in

Kyouya."

"Me too. Without Kyouya we probably couldn't even

submit it..."

"I feel the same way too~"

.....If you tell me that much, then that alone was worth the
effort.

"Ah, It's Sensei."

•
 I turned around due to someone saying those words.

Kanou-sensei was walking leisurely towards the room, the

door's chime reverbrates and the buzz dies down.

"Attention please."

Sensei claps her hands and all our eyes focus on the front
of the class.

"So we will now be completing the screening of works in

General Practice 1. The screening will be..."

Sensei lowered a screen with the remote control and

projected an image with "Pointers" on it.

"Well, as I said earlier, the screening will be held as part of

the practical lesson in the film department... However!"

The student's became surprised all at once. We we're all

still traumatized from the orientation from before.

"Since everyone here was once involved in the making of a

film, you must take note of the audience. In other words
everyone here is both a creator and a critique."

I swallow my saliva.

"If it's funny, laugh. If it's boring, you can yawn, If it's
wonderful, you can applaud. What I mean is to react
properly. Don't just think that it's 『Because my friend made
it.』 Or 『They tried their best.』 Don't let those crap emotions
affect it."

Laughter spreads the venue.

•
 But I honestly put my heart into laughing.

——What if our work gets projected, and everyone just

quiets down...?

I could even handle getting jeered at.

I don't think I'll be able to recover if they move on to the

next work in silence.

......Well actually I should be grateful to the ones who

proceed on to the next while staying silent.....

"Ah, there will be questions for the staff for each show,
keep that in mind."

There's nowhere to run!

——I'll just pray that ours won't get shown after an

amazing work...!

The assistant Onee-san, who was both the moderator and

the device operator, held a microphone.

"Now then, We'll be now screening in order."

The venue went dark. The screen shines a light.

——So it will be screened with this kind of feeling...

It's like this so you'll be able to concentrate on the screen

more.

——I just want to somehow get through this... I pray.

The screening started.

•
 In order to survive this, I hoped for the average level of the
other works to be lower.

I mock my own shameful wish.

——Isn't everyone else pretty good...!?

I thought that a pile of amateur home videos would be

shown.

I was surprised that I could appreciate most of the works

that appeared.

It's not just the works that I found amazing. I thought that
the time limit of 3 minutes worked and functioned as a timing
for things to not be dull and drag on.

The judgement of Sensei on this part was accurate.

Eventually, the work of Eiko Kawasegawa's team was

projected.

"Astounding... what is this..."

This is a work that screams out 『There's nothing left to

say.』

Unlike our team, theirs had a theme of an "urban station"

Within the time of 3 minutes. It was a silent film on the

meeting and parting of a man and a woman. It wasn't out of
focus nor where there any exposure mistakes or any basic
mistakes of the sort. The dialogue was also easy to hear and
the transitions were skillfully done.

Even I, who wasn't very familiar with movies, can tell that
•
it's on a different level.

The title was also neatly done and even the end roll was
included.

From the end of the credits, No one applauded, and it

continued until the next film started.

——It's over, after that thing... It's the end.

And to my weakened self, a final blow happened.

"The next work is Team Kitayama."

——Ueeeeeeh...! Seriously...?

Any more than this.

Going screened after the work of Kawasegawa's team,

which is probably the best one here...

Is our very own work.

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

When I looked on over to the three of them, they had stiff

expressions.

——Please.....!

I give out a prayer. Whatever happens, please just don't get

bad reviews.

The screening has begun.

The beginning scene was on a bench. As for the

•
composition, the 'shape' of it was captured right next to the
opposite side of the platform.

(Note: A composition of a photo or film can be based on

shapes and building around it. The more you know)

There is a girl sitting there, strapped on the back is a

randoseru with a recorder. A train goes along from left to the
right of the screen. After the train runs off, the girl on the
bench changes to Nanako in a sailor suit.

The composition remains fixed, Nanako's clothes change

from a sailor suit to a blazer, and then becomes an adult in a
suit.

***

That day.

After noticing the mistake in the borrowing of equipment, I

launched the single biggest plan change we had.

"We'll represent the cuts almost entirely in still images."

Everyone's voiced out an "Eh?"

"Both Shinoaki and myself aren't used to handling a still

camera. So that's why once the camera is positioned, the
actors will be the ones moving instead. The idea is to make
cuts with a frame-in, frame-out. And from time to time a train
crosses by.

It wouldn't hold up if it was long, but with 3 minutes, it's

just barely possible.

•
 "A moving train... How do you want to shoot it? Do you
want to let the shutter shoot continuously?"

"That's where the video function of Nanako's digital

camera comes in."

"Ah! That's right there was such a thing!?"

Although to what degree we can do that, was not very good.

But even so if you use the built in memory to the fullest,

you can take a video for about 15 seconds.

"So that's where we use our valuable video cut and also..."

I look around everyone's faces again.

"First off, Nanako."

"Y-Yes."

"Because the facial expressions are extracted from several

consecutive shots, When the clapperboard sounds out, I want
you to act out as if it were a video for 2-3 seconds."

"I understand."

"And Tsurayuki."

"...Yea."

"All the dialogue will be dubbed."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. With each cut the number of seconds to put in the

•
lines is shown, adjust the original dialogue to make it fit and
attatch it in."

"It's fine, but wouldn't it be better for Kyouya to do it?"

"It's no good, These lines should be written by Tsurayuki

himself. So please..."

I look straight into Tsurayuki's eyes.

"Got it. Count on me to write it."

He nodded with a convinced look.

"And also... Shinoaki."

"Yeees."

Right now shooting this was gonna become the most

burdensome part of using this method.

"I want you to cut the composition in a way that will hold
up, even with a still image, there's no other choice. But I do
think it will be difficult..."

I remember the bloodcurling image of Shinoaki holding a

pen.

"I can only count on Shinoaki. Please."

Just a little bit after giving a thoughtful look.

"Yeah I'll give it a whirl! I will live up to Kyouya's

expectations!"

Shinoaki immediately pulled out the storyboard paper and

•
began to re-editing it.

"Thank you..."

That small back looked reliable, just like that day.

"Hey, Kyouya..." Tsurayuki calls out in a slightly uneasy

voice. "...Will this really go well?"

It's right here.

This is where I have to stand firm.

"This will all go well. You have my word."

Tsurayuki hits my shoulder with a tap.

"...Ok then, I'll leave it all to you."

I take a deep breath.

"Ok, then.... We're gonna commence shooting again!"

***

And also few days later after that.

"...Did you plan to edit at my house from the get-go?"

I visited Kiryu-san's house and monopolized his MAC to

perform editing work.

"Sorry about this, I wish I could've borrowed an editing

room from the department, but the non-linear editing rooms
have been fully booked by the seniors."

•
 Non-linear editing is the opposite of linear editing, and in
other words, it's a computer based editing method. The video
department also has an analogue video editing room. It was
free, but it was very difficult to use with the method I
prepared this time. Therefore this is a result from asking
favors from the seniors at Biken. Kiryu-san had a Mac and
Adobe software, which are professional-use image/video
editing software, so I decided to ask.

"Well it's okay to use it as you like anyway. And even

thanks to that I got a lot of beer~"

Kiryu-san was given a large amount of beer as thanks to

that and even on the advice on shooting.

"Thank you. And sorry but, could you convert this RAW
data? And if possible include file selection as well."

"...You're a slave driver aren't'cha."

As per my instructions, he helped me with the conversion

work quickly using a sub-PC.

"However you coming up with such a drastic technique"

Kiryu-san muttered in half-amazement.

"Almost all of the shots were taken as stills, the dialogue is

done by dubbing over it. If we make a mistake, It will be a
work not even worth to be so much as seen"

"That may be so, but..."

"But...?"

•
 "I didn't have the option of returning home empty-handed
without shooting anything."

Doing the location hunting properly, being prepared, and

perfectly making adjustments.

Although certaiinly that big blunder was not expected in

the least, but if there's a possibility to film something, I
thought it would be better to bet on it.

—That's why, even though I thought of it up on the spot, I

would choose to save the film.

"In order to avoid making the work into an eyesore. You

will stay here until die, maybe then it would make the work a
little bit eye-catching."

"No no no It would be a problem for me to die, but......"

I will sacrifice as much as I can for those talented people.

As a university student this is the first work they will ever
produce. I didn't want it to go to waste, and I also don't want
the work I did for them to go to waste too.

A producer is called many things, an organizer, an

asswiper, etc... I don't want their work to die just like the
game from that world,

That's why, I will never give up.

"Hey, I'll edit the sound so I'll need to borrow the

headphones."

"Ahh, It's fine."

•
 The sound is cut off and you can hear Nanako's voice after
dubbing it.

The script written by Tsurayuki was right on the number of

seconds specified coupled with the clear enunciation of
Nanako, made the message to the viewers straightforward.

"We'll be able to manage somehow or another.....!"

I feel uplifted with the results, as I cut each line and

arrange them into order.

***

In the end, the girl was used as the daughter, and with
Nanako now acting as the daughter and the were on the
bench in a lined composition. Then came the end marker.

—The screening ended.

The lighting was turned on and the venue basked in

brightness.

——No good, I can't look at this anymore....!

On reflex I closed my eyes. Why can't they just move on

and show the next work?

As I wished so, I kept my eyes closed.

And then—

......Pachi pachi pachi.

—I began to hear the sound of clapping hands.

•
 "Eh?"

It gradually became louder.

"No way...."

It was unbelievable.

Clapping came from all the students in the venue.

"Unreal..."

"Well, well, you did good, it was great."

Looking at it now, even Kanou-sensei was clapping her

hands.

"Apart from just telling you to make a video, I never said

what material to film. Hashiba, did you aim for this kind of
production?"

"Ehh, Ahh, Y-Yes..."

I suddenly told a lie.

Certainly, when looking at it again, the cohesiveness of it

wasn't so bad, if I do say so myself. But it's not really a film.
For all intent and purposes of this lecture, I couldn't expect a
legitimate evaluation on it.

"Is there any meaning in it being all monochrome?"

No way, I can't tell her the real reason for it.

"Ehh well... it's because..."

•
 While thinking about the design choices and intent for this
production, I managed to find the right words.

While talking, my eyes suddenly meet with Kasewagawa at

the front seats facing me.

I wondered if she was glaring at me.

".......................grin."

Unexpectedly, I was directed a smile that said "Not bad at

all."

"Ah... Finally, it's all over..."

I felt that a great weight from my shoulder leaving.

***

"Eh, well all the films have finished screening, Now I would
like to announce the top three films with the judging of the
faculty."

After the greetings, Sensei announced the top prize-

winning works.

To no surprise of anyone, the first place work was

Kawasegawa's team.

While the work of our "Team Kitayama" came in 3rd place,

I have to say that it was hard fought.

But I have mixed feelings on it.

If at that time, all the equipment was in place and the

filming was done in perfect condition. We might have gotten a
•
better evaluation.

After the screening, the students got up from their seats

and started leaving.

I was tired so I didn't stand up yet.

Shinoaki, Nanako, Tsurayuki too, everyone else was still

sitting.

"It's finally over guys."

I wanted to hear everyone's thoughts on the matter, so I

called out to them.

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

However.

Everyone who was sitting next to me were all silent all at

once.

"What's the matter everyone? Ah, I'm sure you're

dissatisfied with the results huh..."

I wondered as I called it out.

"Err..."

Are they really that dissatisfied with it? I'm suddenly

overcome with anxioussness. It was then when I tried to call
out again.

"—I'm sooooooo pissed."

"Uwaah!?"
•
 It was Tsurayuki who first raised his voice.

"What was that!? That really surprised me! I didn't

understand anything while we were filming. But when it was
actually shown, It got across the point in just 3 minutes. You
really are amazing. That was quite impressive."

"Eh, ah, Tsurayuki...?"

"But, I was the one who made that script first! And
thinking about it now, it was too time consuming that really
was a problem! But if that version was revised by me after
properly hearing your opinions, then it would have become
absolutely great. It might have become better than what you
made...... maybe?"

"Yeah, I think so too."

"Why didn't I think of that!? Why did I allow myself not to

do that!?"

From the right side of my body, Tsurayuki was visibly

shaken.

Eh? Eeehhh? Why?

"—I'm also pissed!!"

This time it was Nanako's turn

"It was really amazing you know! Such quick resourceful

thinking in such a place, I was just doing what I was told, And
it became such a decent thing. I was deeply moved by it,
That's true..... but!"

•
 Nanako turned left to where I was.

"But you see! I can properly do normal acting! But that

person you see.... F-Fine I'll spit it out, That person can
definitely make a good play! I'm not embarassed to say it, I
want to perform better next time!"

"I-it's ok it's ok I understand, I really do..."

This time Nanako was shaking from my left-hand side.

"—Kyouya-kun."

And then.

"Shino... aki..."

It wasn't Shinoaki's face that I've come to know.

She had both a serious and very happy face.

"Kyouya-kun is such a bad person!"

"Eh, Uhh, uhmmm... why?"

"It's because you usually look like a peaceful and gentle

Onii-chan. But when the emergency happened you had this
glaring look in your eyes! During filming and from the film
screening just now, my heart has kept on pounding really
fast!"

Shinoaki's face came closer to me.

"I knew that Kyouya-kun really was a very great person. I'll
be studying more about cameras and composition, It will
sweep Kyouya-kun's feet off the ground!"
•
 "Ahh, uhmm, that's why I ask... Why exactly?"

Even though I was confused on the inside I was

overflowing with joy.

That's right. This work was by no means satisfactory.

Everyone did their best, that fact was certain.

Everyone ought to be able to do it. I knew that, so that's

why even if the work was praised, the feelings of regret still
linger.

"——So, have you guys set your sights on your next goal."

Whether it was a good or bad thing, Kanou-sensei

appeared and said so.

Was she expecting a reply? Or perhaps she simply just

wanted to that to someone.

I didn't understand the reason at all as a matter of fact.

It was almost at the same time. That the 3 of them pointed

at me.

"If it's this guy——"

"If it's Kyouya——"

"If it's Kyouya-kun——"

"""——I don't want to lose to him!!"""

•
 —Was what they said.

"Ohhh~ That may have just been the right choice, yup."

Sensei then breaks out into a giggle.

"Since at the end of vacation, you will have to take a class

where you create another piece of work, so it's best to firmly
take your revenge there."

She said that and left the classroom.

"Let's have a quick meeting, leave the mistake I made with

the equipment for now!"

"That must be talked about first! If we didn't have that

problem I could've filmed normally!"

"The next time we do it we need to calculate the time and

make a storyboard on it."

"Ah, of course I'll have to do the script as well..."

I was stunned with everyone's energy.

"Hey, Kyouya! Next time, I'll show you something that will
surprise you!"

"Me too!"

"I will too!"

"Well let's go eat food worth for 2 people for the time
being, Let's have a meeting then!"

•
 "Okaay!"

Everyone was pulling me on.

I was startled and couldn't believe what was happening to

me.

"...I wonder if I earned a little bit of your approval huh."

If that's the case.

To the Platinum Generation that I admired so much and

wanted to get close to even just a little. If were to have put a
little pressure on you.

——Then maybe this was a good Remake after all.

I was thinking such things while being dragged by the

people I respect.

•
 Epilogue 01: Eiko Kawasegawa's Anger

General practicum 1 was scheduled to end in the first term

of this year with the video screening from earlier marking
that. Next week, after explanations of the 2nd term, will be
full blown summer vacation mode. In other words, today was
the last day of the 1st term classes. After this day, the faculty
and all of the university will go on a break and the
atmosphere today reflects that.

......Though this year alone, there was a room that was an

exception to said atmosphere.

"I'm not satisfied!"

The one who slammed the desk of the eating Misaki

Kanou, was a freshman who just enrolled this spring, Eiko
Kawasegawa.

"Heeh~ Then can I ask you why you the source of this
dissatisfaction?"

On the other hand, the aforementioned Misaki Kanou

rudely threw out her legs onto the desk as if getting ready to
fight.

"At today's screening deliberation, why wasn't that guy's

work ranked at the top?"

"Who are we talking about again?"

"Don't play dumb! It's obviously..."

•
 Kawasegawa, with a tinge of frustration, paused for half a
second.

"...Kyouya Hashiba's work!"

"Ahh. That's right, you could only be referring to him

huh~"

Kanou was in agreement.

"The reason is simple. As a movie, it's just full of gimmicks,

objectively speaking it was too much of a tangent for a work
like that to be done in this class. Despite that though, that
kind of work is pretty interesting, but it can't really get high
marks."

"But it was the work that got the most applause!"

Kawasegwa objects. "And also I couldn't give an answer as to
how you came to that conclusion. Among the works that
appeared this time, there's only one where I couldn't
understand the concept of it."

"Ah, Wasn't it a work that was made by accident due to

borrowing the wrong filming equipment."

"N-No way, they made a solid piece of work for such a

trivial reason...?"

"Ah, well maybe?" Kanou replied quickly.

She picked up the completely lukewarm coffee.

"A guy who has never properly done film production,

suddenly doesn't use a video but suddenly takes stills, and
lines them up then dubs them over? It's more likely that
•
accidents upon accidents overlapped, and made it that way
because they were driven into those circumstances... Isn't it
natural to go into that line of thinking?"

•
 Kawasegawa sank into silence. Certainly that point of view
was persuasive.

"The work wasn't actually planned out. So apart from the

quality of the work, My personal rating of Kyouya Hashiba
isn't particularly high."

For a moment, she cut her words there.

She sips coffee and continues talking.

"...Well, be that as it may it had meritorious balance and

cohesion wasn't unusual~ Things have gotten interesting for
the first time in a long time.

"....That wasn't an evaluation at all!"

"I wasn't giving praise you know. I will absolutely never

praise something if it isn't good, you should know that right?"

Kawasegawa went silent again.

"But I won't determine his value just yet. Doing something

that isn't an accident, When he trains up and it so happens
that he reaches his potential... I will give him a perfect score
or anything for that matter."

"Is it as a director? Or as a producer?"

"I don't know yet. The results of the activity this time was
because he was forced to do it. Maybe it can be said that the
guy has an unusual problem solving ability in production.
Originally a screenplay and its director should be able to hold
up on his own, even so, There is no such thing as a place

•
where "Production" can't be used."

*shudder* Kawasegawa's body trembled. She realized the

meaning of Kanou's words.

"The script, the director, the camera, and the sound, It's
like being told that you can be supplanted if you don't put out
the best work. It seems that his teammates could vaguely feel
that. At that place there are smiles all around but there must
absolutely be no mistake."

Kanou lets out a quick laugh with a smiling face.

"Well, I don't understand the extent of his abilities yet. I

could be decided on if he works together with someone with
the proper knowledge. Is it a fluke?, or is it a true ability?

Kanou drinks the coffee all at once.

"...Well, you are right I'm in favour of it, If the talent of

Kyouya Hashiba can be just seen once more."

"Hooh~ Well if you're convinced with that, that would be

for the best." Kanou laughed a little. "And that's why I will
have you join Kyouya Hashiba's team in the next classwork."

"Eh...... Huh? Huuuuhhh??"

In Kawasegawa's surprise she let out a voice she wouldn't

normally make.

"You said it yourself right? To partner him with a person

with proper knowledge. And also you were convinced,
weren't you interested in that guy more than anything else?

•
 "W-Well that was because of his solid production, and also
because I thought I was the only one convinced after seeing
that...!"

"Isn't this fine? At that time there might be another talent

that will surface. If you do video production together, you
may find another charming aspect of him."

"Uu..."

"Or is it perhaps that you are scared of Kyouya Hashiba?"

"*cough*"

Kawasegawa stared at Kanou, but ended up not enduring it

any longer.

"Nee-san is an idiot! I don't care anymore!!"

*thud thud*

As she said that, she leaves the lab with thundering

footsteps.

The only thing that was left behind was Kanou dumbstuck
holding an empty cup.

"No... Eiko... Well first things first..."

In the total mess of a desk, there was only one part of it

that was cleaned up.

"The setting of us being sisters, I didn't you want you to

expose that I'm your Onee-chan~"

In the strangely uncluttered part there was a photograph

•
displayed. Sisters that looked like they had a good
relationship with each other was reflected on it, the older
sister had a trophy with "Osaka Film Festival Grand Prix"
written on it.

— Misaki Kawasegawa

Very few people in the department knew what was written

on the nameplate.

•
 Epilogue 02: Shino Akishima, Transient Smile

"Uwah, It's already this time."

As I look at the clock on my phone, I was reminded of it

again.

After the making a fuss and eating those 2 full meals,

Shinoaki and I went to the clubroom at Biken to express our
gratitudes.

After taking our time there, the sunlight was growing dim.

"If you watch anime in the club room, time would

unknowingly pass by~"

Shinoaki was walking beside me with her usual soft smile.

"Yeah... it really does."

But I can't trust that smile that she shows anymore.

I once again realized it. Her raw desires as a creator.

Originally, It should have been beaten into me at that time.

That night, without anyone knowing, she continued to

draw pictures. This small and cute monster.

"Kyouya-kun."

Suddenly, Shinoaki called my name.

"You know... that I draw pictures, right~?"

•
 For a moment, I felt a little dizziness.

"......Did you notice me watching?"

Is Shinoaki angry with me?

"Well it's not like I was really keeping it a secret though. At

that time I had difficulties locking the room."

Her tone was laid back. They say that people instinctually
feel fear to unfamiliar things. But to be honest, after that
night, I couldn't Shinoaki as anything but a cute girl.

"Sorry that I selfishly looked on."

I didn't know if I should apologize, but I still meekly

apologized.

And I'm still not sure on what the act of drawing means to
her personally yet.

But I do understand that it's not easy to talk about it with

others.

"Is it ok if I tell you my own story?"

"......Yeah, of course."

"I talked about this with Tsurayuki-kun before, but I can't

do nothin' but be helpless my daily life."

I hear the story of Shinoaki's life so far.

Her everyday consisted of her being a clumsy-type

character. Her school grades weren't any better and to top it
all off her physical ability was bad.
•
 The only thing that she likes is painting pictures.

"But, That hasn't borne fruit at all. Nothing comes from me

liking to draw."

Shinoaki was talking casually, but the words were heavy

"I received some kind of prize, but that doesn't mean I can
live off of it... If I study photography and be able to handle the
camera, I was thinking that I would be able to work in the TV
industry. And that's why I came to Geidai."

(Note: Geidai could be used to refer to Osaka Arts

University, which the location of this series is based on, or it
could also be used to refer to Tokyo Arts Uni.)

"So that's why you didn't chose arts or design."

"I honestly didn't have the courage to go to the arts

department..." Shinoaki smiled. "I like to draw, I absolutely
definitely like it. But I don't have the confidence, so I kept it
to myself."

Silence flowed between the two of us.

Splash. from the pond next to the road, I heard the sound
of a duck* kicking in the water.

What are the right words to reply with?

"I was wondering that if I would, like Kyouya-kun, be able

to shine brightly. But such a thing never came at all."

"But no I'm not... it's a..."

As I was about to talk I squeezed my mouth shut.

•
 If I say 'it was a fluke', then there would be no salvation for
her.

Shinoaki laughed sadly and muttered.

"I'm wondering a little if it would be easier to just stop

painting all-together..."

Whether it would end with those words or not, No I should

interrupt her in the middle of it.

I walked fast in front of her and face her.

I held her shoulders firmly with both hands and say-

"T-That's not good at all, you must absolutely never ever

stop drawing!"

"Kyouya......-kun?"

Shinoaki was so surprised that she lost her voice.

When I look at her face, I realized that I was screaming.

"I....!"

I've been saved by you.

To the future you, who will spin a lot of paintings.

And to all the worlds that it will lead to creating.

"Shinoaki...."

I was about to say it.

•
 What kind of artist she would become 10 years down the
line.

How important it was to my existence.

I was about to say it.

"For me you are..."

However I couldn't say it.

She wouldn't believe anything that I could possibly say of

what's to come.

That's why...

I say the number one words that I should tell her right
now.

"I... love Shinoaki's paintings."

I told her the words that I wanted to say.

Because I wanted to tell her my sincere feelings.

To the her who was fighting alone, I want to at least give

her those words alone.

"......Kyouya-kun did say that when we were shooting back

then."

Instead of a direct reply Shinoaki said so.

"Only you can do it, so please."

"Yeah."
•
 At that time I told my genuine feelings.

I told it all in one cut.

The only one who can reciprocate these unreasonable

demands, Only her paintings had the power to do that.

"Being told that kind of thing, it's the first time since I was
born, it made me happy. And also I have this insane thumping
feeling in my chest. I wanted to know what people thought
about it so badly."

Shinoaki was smiling.

She smiled at me, I was staring at her sparkling eyes.

"I will do my best for Kyouya-kun!"

She looks up, facing the star-filled sky.

"Studying the camera, Learning composition, and even

study a lot more about painting. I want to be a person who
can draw the world that Kyouya-kun wants to see!"

"Shinoaki..."

People are truly amazing, never satisfied, they keep

marching on forward and forward.

"What does Kyouya-kun want to create?"

"What I want to create huh..."

"A thing that you want to make, I was wondering whether

there was a goal in mind?"

•
 The words of Shinoaki brought back memories from 10
years later.

—I wanted to make a game.

That day, I lost everything and found out when I ran away
back to my parent's home.

Like a new successful software.

With the staff aiming high, and able to work hard.

At the time, it was a dreamlike story, but now just a little

bit.

There is a chance for it.

"Yeah, there is..."

"Is it something you can tell me?"

"...I still can't tell it right now."

"That's a shame~ But I still want to do my best for my

companions."

Shinoaki giggles out a smile, but she had fun listening to

my story.

——To you 10 years later, I want you to be able to say to

me to do my best.

It's hard for creators to make things, but It feels extremely

exciting, you won't know the highest highs or the lowest lows,
though.....It's an extremely interesting thing.

•
 "We should get home soon, I got an email from Tsurayuki
and Nanako that they haven't eaten yet."

"Eh~~ That will be tough, I don't know if we can make it

home fast enough~"

While receiving the very humid night breeze, the two of us

hurry on the road home.

I will never forget the smile of Shinoaki this night.

The rainy season was over before I knew it.

Well this is the 2nd time for me though, but the first
summer of university that I spend together with them is
rearing its head.

•
 Credits

Source/Translator:
yado-inn.com
www.patreon.com/sinensistranslations

PDF+ePUB:
fb.com/AdminAzuraRen