Happy Spring - Chapter 5

 

Happy Spring 5

Writer: 結城由乃 (Yuuki Yoshino)

Location: Library

Tsumugi: 

Haha. Having a friendly rivalry with someone can be incredibly motivating.

And yet... I do wonder if you would have been better off attending a school with a stronger focus on athletics, Mitsuru-kun? You’re clearly very skilled when it comes to sprinting.

I know we do have a track team here at Yumenosaki, but idol activities will always be prioritized. Unfortunately, that means that club activities just don’t thrive to the same extent.

I feel like your skill is going to waste, considering what you’re capable of.

Ah, the thought just ran across my mind! If it’s difficult to answer please don’t feel you have to!

Mitsuru:

Nah, I don’t mind at all! No problems here.

It’s just like you said, Ao-chan-senpai—track club doesn’t do anywhere near as well as idol stuff does or like, there are students who don’t take it seriously. 

Especially Arashi-chan-senpai, who kinda just shows up whenever they feel like it... Imagine having such incredible athletic ability, but barely ever participating—what a waste!

I want Arashi-chan-senpai to put their heart and soul into it!

Tsumugi:

Mhm... It’s required that all students at Yumenosaki must join a club.

And of the numerous clubs available, Narukami-kun decided to go with the track team, so that means they must enjoy running?

Do you think they’ll start to naturally start attending club practice more often whenever you have a big tournament coming up?

Mitsuru:

I wonder... Seems like Arashi-chan-senpai kinda just shows up whenever they wanna get into shape...

I don't think Arashi-chan-senpai would come to practices more often just 'cause we have some tournaments comin' up!

... Hm? Wait, aren’t we gettin’ way off track?

Tsumugi:

Ah, we are. I should know better... I tend to get distracted far too easily and start to veer far away from whatever we were originally talking about.

Mitsuru:

Nah, it’s my fault too for goin’ waaay off track! Don’t worry about it, okay?

Anyway, we were talkin’ about why I chose to come to Yumenosaki instead of a school that focused more on athletics, right?

That’s ‘cause I wanted to become an idol, of course!

It happened back when I lost that first race. I was in such a bad mood I almost wanted to stomp around all angry! Apparently everyone around me was tryin’ to talk to me, but I didn’t hear a word they were sayin’!

All I could hear around me was a bunch of buzzin’ in my ears, and just when I was about to take off runnin’ to blow off some steam, that’s when I heard them singing.

I was so mad that it only got on my nerves how happy they sounded, singin’ away.

I wanted to see just who was singin’ like that, so I turned to look over to where their voices were comin’ from.

And that’s when I saw this group of idols shinin’ on stage like a bunch of stars! They were singin’ and dancin’ and everyone of ‘em had a smile on their face!*

Mitsuru:

And everyone lookin’ at them was smilin’ too! Before I knew it, I was smilin’ too!

I should’ve been all bitter about losin’, but all of my anger just melted away!

Apparently that group of idols came to cheer us on with a performance after we’d finished competin’ in our race—and they didn’t just cheer me on, they cheered me right up!

The reason I won my next race after that was all thanks to that idol group for sure! All I could think about was how much I wanted to shine as bright as them too! And that’s when I decided to become an idol!

Tsumugi:

I see! That’s a wonderful reason. If anyone can shine as brightly as those idols it’s you, Mitsuru-kun. Ah, to be young again...♪

Mitsuru:

Uh... Ao-chan-senpai, aren’t you still young?

Tsumugi:

You flatter me. Coming from you, the epitome of youth itself, that’s quite the compliment—I’m feeling more youthful already!

Ahaha. You came here to search for a book you could use as inspiration for your costumes and come up with an idea, but I ended up pestering you about all sorts of trivial things.

Mitsuru:

Nah, you weren’t pesterin’ me at all. It’s all thanks to you that I remembered how I felt when I decided to become an idol in the first place, Ao-chan-senpai.

Now that I think about it, I saw those peach blossom flowers back then too.

Peach blossom flowers, huh... I’ve got it! I’ve got an idea!

I’ve gotta go find the transfer student Nee-chan! Thanks a lot, Ao-chan-senpai! I’ve gotta dash!☆

Tsumugi:

Ah, Mitsuru-kun! No running in the... Ah, he’s already out of sight.

He really is the picture of youth. Full of energy it’s practically dazzling.

Haha. Never mind just shining on stage—that Mitsuru-kun has the potential to raise the spirits of everyone who listens to him sing, and make them shine just as brightly.

[1] In this story, Mitsuru says it was a group of idols who he saw on stage, but in both Black Bunny and his feature scout from !!, he claims it was only one idol. All stories were written by different authors, so it seems to be an inconsistency.

Translation: nazunyan427

Proofreader: Clyde/ @hummuskingclyde

Happy Spring - Chapter 6

 

Happy Spring 6

Writer: 結城由乃 (Yuuki Yoshino)

Location: Dojo

Kuro: 

…

Mm? What’s that, little lady? Havin’ trouble with somethin’ yer sewin’ and not sure about what to do? If ya need my help ask away—I’m all ears.

Haha... Ya made a mistake while stitchin’ and now yer panickin’ over how to fix it? Hand it over here; I’ll take a look. Yeah, I’ll have this right in no time.

I was here thinkin’ you’d come to ask me about some basic costume makin’ stuff like usual.

But I see you’ve got a whole design drawn up and everything. Someone ask ya to put together a costume for them?

That so? Ra*bits are gonna be performin’ up north and you’re gonna be makin’ their costumes?

Why does this job offer sound familiar... Mm? Ra*bits applied for that job that’s been stuck up on the notice board?

Yeah, I remember now. They offered compensation but it ain’t nothin’ more than chicken feed.

I remember boss man Hasumi talkin’ about how no unit’s gonna think it was worth it.

So Ra*bits went for it in the end... Looks like Nito’s steppin’ up and takin’ some drastic action.

Mm? He wants the first years to get some experience under their belt performin’ live?

So that’s what this is about. That guy’s playin’ his role as leader alright.

  Not that it’s any o’ my business, but whenever I look at Hasumi, it really hits me how difficult it must be to take charge and look out for other folks. Especially in Nito’s case—everyone else in that unit’s still a first year.

Unlike in Akatsuki where it’s just one second year along with us two third years, it must be takin' a real mental toll on him havin' fret and worry ‘bout the young ‘uns.

                  

Alrighty then, I finished fixin’ these stitches while we were talkin’, little lady. Haha, no need to thank me. Just make sure ya don’t make the same sorta mistake twice.

What’s with that face, little lady? Somethin’ gettin’ ya down? Yer comin’ to me for sewin’ tips on the daily and still feel like ya ain’t makin’ any improvement? And yer startin’ to get real sick of it?

Ya may think yer not makin’ any improvement or gettin’ anywhere fast, but I promise yer gettin’ better by the day.

When ya first started sewin’ all yer stitches were fierce crooked, but nowadays they’re lookin’ real nice, not a crooked stitch in sight.

    Yer focus wasn’t on finishin’ up the outfits,but instead on given’ even the monotonous work of sewin’ the fabric together everythin’ ya have, without so much as a scowl on yer face. And this is how the fruits of yer labor are payin’ off.

Considerin’ what a serious-minded hard-worker ya are, I know that one day yer gonna outrank me when it comes to sewin’, little lady.

                       

Mm? That’ll never happen? Never say never. Hard work and dedication’ll never let ya down.

And I don’t just mean when it comes to sewin’, little lady. You’ve really grown as a producer too.

       

Aside from the designs ya drew up yerself, ya often let me look at the costume drafts that're still at the plannin’ stage handed over to ya by the other units... Sorry to say this, but they all look like somethin’ scribbled by a five year old.

 Ya really blew my mind with the way ya manage to come up with an outfit design based on those half-assed drafts ya get stuck with.

Hm? So long as they’ve done a fair job of gettin’ their idea across, it ain’t that hard to draw up a design?

Yeah, ya really have grown. And if ya don’t understand what whoever yer workin’ with is tryin’ to say, don’t go reactin’ the way I did just now.

Yer startin’ to understand how an idol’s mind... How our minds work.

There’s all sorts of strange folks here in Yumenosaki’s idol division, so ya really have yer work cut out for ya.

But I know you’ll do just fine. Mark my words, I guarantee it. 

Mm? Yer feelin’ more confident? Yer feelin’ confident thanks to my words, huh.

I may know a thing or two about sewin’ but when it comes to producin’, I know next to nothin’.

So I don’t really know if I’ve even got the right to guarantee that yer gonna be just fine.

... Here, little lady. Make sure you look out for Nito from here on out too.

Nah, it’s just that... That might feel like it’s comin’ outta nowhere. Especially since I’m part of the crowd that came down hard on those Ra*bits during S2 in the first place. So it might feel like I’m full of crap, or somethin’.

 That guy may seem full of life at the moment, hoppin’ around place to place like he’s havin’ a great time, so maybe I'm just worryin’ over nothin’. That said, I do feel like he might be pushin’ himself a bit too far.

After all, I’m just seein’ him from the point of view of a classmate. Who knows what’s actually goin’ on.

Mm? Yer not sure if you’ll be able to support him by yourself, but yer gonna try yer best?

                          

Thanks, little lady... Whew, would ya look at the time. It ain’t safe for girls to be walkin’ home much later than this, so why don’t we call it a day?

Where about do ya live? If it’s alright with ya, I’d like to see ya home safe.

Nazuna:

Hey, transfer student!

   

I knew I’d find you at the dojo! I heard from Mitsuru-chin that you were talking about going to ask Shisho for help, and this is the place that came to mind.

Thanks, Kuro-chin. I really appreciate you helping out, even though this has nothing to do with Akatsuki.

Kuro:

I just happen to be fond of my classmate, so don’t worry about it.

More importantly, don’t ya have somethin’ important to take care of regardin’ this little lady here? It’s gettin’ dark out, so you’d best be seein’ her home before it gets real late.

Nazuna:

So the important thing I’ve gotta take care of now is walking her home? Got it!

Hm? What’s wrong? You look just about ready to apologize to me; don’t tell me you’ve got other plans?

Oh, that’s what it is? Kuro-chin already promised he’d be the one to walk you home? Well, I don’t wanna get in your way, so I can get out of your hair no problem!

Kuro:

Nah, I get the idea her folks would feel ten times better seein’ her comin’ home with you than a guy with a tough-lookin’ mug like me.

Nazuna:

You think? I feel like you’d be the safer option to go with when it comes to walking home late at night, Kuro-chin.

     

Though she’s been amazing with putting our costumes together, and it’s not like I’m feeling obligated to return the favor, I'd appreciate it if she’d let me walk her home at least! So do you think I could maybe steal her from you?

Kuro:

Alrighty then, make sure ya deliver her home safe and sound.

Nazuna:

Leave it to me! Alright, Kuro-chin! See you tomorrow!♪

Kuro:

Yeah, I’ll see ya in class tomorrow, Nito. 

Translation: nazunyan427

JP Proofreader: noodlemouth

ENG Proofreader: lulu / @pocketniuchuu

Happy Spring - Chapter 7

 

Happy Spring 7

Writer: 結城由乃 (Yuuki Yoshino)

Location: Street

Nazuna:

Whoa, it’s pitch black outside! But I already made a promise to Kuro-chin that I’d deliver you home safely. Hey, have you text your parents to let them know you’ll be home late?

You haven’t? Make sure you do!

Huh, me? I’ve been home late before thanks to stuff like rehearsing with Ra*bits and my extra curricular activities, so it’s really nothing out of the ordinary for me to be heading back around this time.

Besides, unlike you, I’m a guy. So my parents don’t make a big deal out of me walking home late at night by myself.

Hm? I’m as cute as a girl so you’d be worried about me?

Nah, no matter how ‘cute’ I look, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m a guy. Besides, I’m not really sure how I feel about having an actual girl like you worrying about me. I’m the guy here.

Oh, uh. No need to apologize. This isn’t the first time I’ve been told I look like a girl. Heck, I’ve even been mistaken for a girl before.

When we first met, those guys were under the impression that I was female.

Hm? Oh, when I say “those guys” I’m talking about the kids from Ra*bits.

They didn’t have the confidence to perform during A1 by themselves, so they begged me to step in and help them out.

But Hajime-chin said something like, that’s impossible! She’s a girl so she can’t perform with us!

All three of them got completely carried away by the idea of me being female, and I lost it. “I’M A GUY!” I yelled.

Have I told you about this before?

Well, anyway, once it was established that I’m no girl, I went on performing with them at that A1 to help them out.

And that was definitely for the best. They were a unit of first years, so there was no way I could just abandon them.

I said I’d have their back until they managed to hold their own as idols... That was my intention when I put Ra*bits together.

Well, it’s true that I also liked the idea of producing my own unit.

Looking back, it really was a godsend that those guys begged me to help them out.

Hm? Kuro-chin’s really impressed with what a great job I’m doing as leader of Ra*bits?

I’m happy to hear he approves, but I’m not sure if I can fully believe that myself.

If I could just get my hands on some kinda big job offer, there’d be no need for us to be applying for little things like this that hardly turn a profit.

I’ve been making the kids focus on nothing but campus jobs, without letting them take on any real idol work.

They enrolled in Yumenosaki’s idol division for the purpose of being idols, so you’d think it’d break their heart to be stuck with all these odd jobs instead of getting to perform.

But nah, they didn’t let that get them down. Even while working through all their part time jobs, they found the time to search for idol work all on their own.

I’ve got to support those guys as much as I can.

They’re such good, hard-working kids—the idea of them not getting to shine like the idols they are is unforgivable! They give everything all they’ve got, and that kind of attitude deserves to be rewarded.

... Well, that’s what I believe but—

I’ve no idea if I’m going about this the right way. Sometimes I worry that I’m even limiting their potential.

Mm. You know that I used to be part of Valkyrie, right?

You’re a producer, so even if I stay quiet about it, you’ll be able to find out easily enough by yourself.

Anyway, I used to be a member of Valkyrie, but a lot of things happened, and I left the group. 

And now I’m the leader of Ra*bits, standing in front of those kids and leading the way forward.

It’s my first time doing anything like this, so it often crosses my mind about whether I can really show these kids the way.

I don’t know what the ‘right’ way to go about things is, so all I can do is stumble towards what I think is the right direction.

Huh? You don’t have to look so serious!

All that just slipped out ‘cause of where the conversation was headed, so it doesn’t bother me it all if you just nod along! You don’t have to say anything in particular to ease my mind!

Hm? Listening to me talk makes you feel like you’re in the same boat?

Ah, I get it. You’re the only producer in the entire producer course.

And it’s not like you’ve any experience being a producer. You’re a total newbie!

You’ve only just transferred here and there’s still so much you don’t know about the school, yet you’ve been entrusted with the role of a producer... Even so, I think you’re doing an incredible job.

You really are amazing. I’ve a lotta respect for you!

Hm? You’re not sure what you should do, so you just do what you can? Being everyone’s producer feels like a huge weight on your shoulders?

... I get it. It sure is overwhelming to have a bunch of responsibility thrust at you.

But it feels so fulfilling all the same. I’m gonna keep stumbling forward and doing my best to make sure those kids will be able to make the right choices.

Thanks a lot! I feel way more at ease after talking to you.

You’re always saying how a producer’s job is looking after idols, aren’t you?

Looks like I took full advantage of that. You’re really growing as a producer!♪

Oh? Kuro-chin said the same thing? Then there’s no need for you to shrink back in fear so much! That’s something to be really happy about. Having someone expect great things from you is a positive feeling, after all.

... Oh, you take the train to school? In that case, we’ve gotta turn the corner here.

I told you, don’t worry about me! On the one in a million chance that anything does happen, I’ll dash away as fast as I can. I’ve got pretty decent reflexes y’know!

Oh, uh. Do me a favor and don’t tell the kids about what I said. I wanna play the role of a dependable older brother in front of them.

... Yeah, thanks! It’ll be our secret, just between the two of us!♪

Translation: nazunyan427

 

Happy Spring - Chapter 8

 

Happy Spring 8

Writer: 結城由乃 (Yuuki Yoshino)

Location: School Gate

Mitsuru: 

Tomo-chan, Hajime-chan, get a move on! The shops are gonna close!

Tomoya:

Pant, wheeze... Mitsuru! Stop right there!

Hajime:

M-Mitsuru-kun, hold on a moment!

Mitsuru:

Huh? Why’re you two so outta breath?

Tomoya:

W...Will you...wait up? Let me catch my breath... Gasp, pant...

Ugh, how many times do I have to tell you?! There’s no way the two of us can keep up with someone on the track team, so will you please keep that in mind?

Mitsuru:

Sorry, sorry! But like, it’s already dark out, so if we keep trudgin’ along all slowly the shops really are gonna close, y’know?

Tomoya:

It should be fine. The shops downtown should still be open around this hour.

Anyway, why do you want to go downtown in the first place?

You just dashed into the theatre clubroom out of nowhere.

And yelled out “Meet me at the entrance when you’re all done! We’re all going downtown!” without elaborating any further, before dashing right back out again.

At least tell us the reason! You’ve got a bad habit of skipping over explanations.

Hajime:

Oh, I’d like to know too! Mitsuru-kun, is there something you’d like to buy?

Tomoya:

If that was the case he could’ve just gone by himself... The fact that he dragged us along means that whatever he wants to buy is relevant to all three of us, right? I feel like that’s a pretty safe guess.

Mitsuru:

Yeah! Since Ra*bits are goin’ on an excursion, we should all go buy some supplies!

The spending limit for snacks is 500 yen! Not including bread and bananas that is!♪

Tomoya:

Snacks? It’s not like we’re going on some casual trip... Oh well, at least I understand why you want to go downtown so badly now.

Hajime:

Hehe. It can’t hurt that much, can it? It feels like we’re all going on an outing together, and that sounds really fun.♪

Tomoya: 

You seem to have a pretty lax attitude about this too, Hajime. The purpose of our trip is to hold a concert, so we’ve got to pull ourselves together.

Mitsuru:

How come? I heard from Ao-chan-senpai that our destination is famous for peach blossoms! It’d be a shame if we went all the way there and didn’t take some time to enjoy ‘em!

Tomoya:

Well, yeah, but what I’m saying is that we’re holding a concert for all of the people going to see the peach blossoms to enjoy!

Hajime:

Hm... It’s only going to be a day trip. If we stayed overnight, we’d be able to take some time to enjoy the flowers ourselves, but it’s a little difficult with the limited time we have...

Mitsuru:

Aw! But what’s the point of travelin’ that far if all we’re gonna do is work! It’s important to work hard, but it’s important to play hard too!

Tomoya:

Don’t be greedy, Mitsuru... Well, I might sound hypocritical based on what I just said, but if we could get a chance to spend some time enjoying the flowers, I’d like to take it myself.

I heard from Hidaka-senpai that he went cherry blossom viewing with all of Trickstar, and I’m a little jealous.

Hajime:

In that case, why don’t we talk to Nii~chan about it? I’m sure Nii~chan will be able to arrange things so that we have some time to spend enjoying the flowers together.

Tomoya:

You’re right. For this job in particular, he really seems to value our opinion.

... Oh, we’re talking about all going out to buy supplies together, but what about Nii~chan himself?

Mitsuru:

Nii~chan went over to Shisho’s place to meet up with the transfer student!

Tomoya:

Huh? Who’s Shisho?

Mitsuru:

I dunno! But Nii~chan seemed to know who he was!

Tomoya:

Hmm... In that case, he might’ve just headed home once he’d met up with the transfer student.

I guess we could send him a text, but I feel awkward about disturbing him just to go buy some supplies.

Alright, let’s do it with just the three of us!

Mitsuru:

Who put you in charge, Tomo-chin? It was my idea, so I’m callin’ the shots here!

Let’s daaash! Whoever makes it downtown first wins!

Tomoya:

Oh, come on! He’s run off ahead again... Mitsuru, will you wait!

Mitsuru:

...

Tomoya:

...Hey, Mitsuru! Oh, you actually did wait for us for once.

But you’ve seriously gotta stop dashing off like that out of nowhere! From here on let’s WALK the rest of the way there, alright?

Mitsuru:

...

Tomoya:

Mitsuru? What’s wrong, you’re just standing there... It’s weird seeing you spacing out like this. Is something wrong?

Mitsuru:

Nothing’s wrong! But look, isn’t that Nii~chan and the transfer student Nee-chan over there?

Hajime:

Huh? ... Oh, it really is the two of them! Hehe, they must be heading home.

Tomoya:

It looks like they’re talking about something.

Hajime:

Nii~chan’s got his finger to his lip like he’s asking her to keep quiet about something... Do you think they’re talking about some kind of secret? Oh, I’m a little nervous now...

Mitsuru:

Hey, Nii~chan! Nee-chan!

Nazuna:

Whoa, Mitsuru-chin?!

Mitsuru:

Yeah! And Hajime-chan and Tomo-chan are with me!

Nazuna:

Oh, they really are... Have guy guys still not gone home yet? It’s getting pretty late; your parents are gonna be worried about you!

Tomoya:

I already let mine now that I’d be back late thanks to club stuff, so it should be fine.

But anyway, does this mean you’re heading home now, Nii~chan?

Nazuna:

Nah, I’m just about to drop the transfer student here home.

Mitsuru:

We’re heading downtown to pick up supplies for our trip!

Tomoya:

S-Sorry, Nii~chan! We understand it’s not all fun and games, even though it might seem like we’re treating it that way, going to buy snacks and stuff...

Nazuna:

There’s no need to apologize!

Hmm... If you’re going to buy provisions for our trip then I should probably tag along too...

Mitsuru:

Yahoo! Are you gonna come too, Nii~chan?  Now I’m in a super good mood! ♪

Nazuna:

Come here, you, will you listen when someone’s talking? Usually I’d accompany you guys for sure, but I’ve got to drop the transfer student home.

Huh? You’ll come along too?

If you do come with us, it’ll be really late by the time you get home!

...Huh, you already let your parents know you’d be back late? You told them your senpai would be dropping you home, and they text back that in that case they’re fine with it?

Alright, got it! I’m kinda worried about these guys too, so this way I’ll be able to look out for all of you at once! ♪

Mitsuru:

Whoo! Nii~chan, I love you!

Hajime:

Me too! Nii~chan, I wanna squeeze your hand!

Nazuna:

Ahaha. You guys are real attention-seekers, huh? Alright, then let’s head downtown, hand in hand! Come on, Tomo-chin, you too! ♪

Hajime:

Hehe, you can hold my hand, Tomoya-kun. Come here! ♪

Tomoya:

Huh? A-Alright then, squeeeeeze. Ahaha, this is so embarrassing, but it’s kinda fun...♪

Nazuna:

You too, transfer student! ... Huh? Both my hands are full?

Mitsuru:

Then you can hold hands with me! Squeeze my hand, Nee-chan, squeeeeeze! ♪

Nazuna:

Alright! Does everyone have a hand to hold? Then let’s get going! Next stop—downtown!☆

Happy Spring - Chapter 9

 

Happy Spring 9

Writer: 結城由乃 (Yuuki Yoshino)

Location: Station

The day of the concert 

Nazuna:

...

Huh, transfer student? It’s still 30 minutes to go before we’re all supposed to meet up, so you surprised me!

Oh yeah? One of the ironclad rules of being a producer is to arrive 30 minutes ahead of schedule? But it can’t be good to arrive that early, so next time try to take it a little easier, okay?

Huh? Oh, I just arrived a few minutes ago.

It’s still way before we’re supposed to all meet up, so I was thinking about hanging around a convenience store to kill time when I saw you arrive.

It’s fine for me ‘cause I live nearby, but your house is kinda far from here, so it must be a bit of a hassle for you to be here so early.

That’s not the case? These days you’ve been making a habit out of waking up early?

Oh yeah? You’re waking up a little earlier to go jogging, in order to build stamina?

That’s true—being a producer’s all about physical stamina. You’re really putting a lot of work in; you’re just amazing! Atta girl! ♪

Hm? What’s wrong, you don’t like me patting your head like this? ...Huh, do you hear footsteps?

It’s a little early for anyone to be on their way to school or work.

Tomoya:

Huh, Niichan? And you’re with the transfer student? I thought I’d be the first one here. You guys are super early.

Nazuna:

Huh, Tomo-chin? I didn’t tell you guys the wrong time to arrive at, did I?

Tomoya:

Oh, nah. I was so nervous that I just woke up way too early.

That said, I was worried that if I went back to sleep I wouldn’t be able to get up again, so I thought I might as well just get here early.

Hajime:

Nii~chan! Oh, you’re with the transfer student, and Tomoya-kun too. Good morning! ♪

Nazuna:

Oh, Hajime-chin is here too. Everyone’s early today! Now it’s just Mitsuru-chin to go and we’re all here.

(Approximately 30 mins later)

Tomoya:

Where on earth is Mitsuru?

Hajime:

It’s almost the time we agreed to meet here at, but he’s still not here...

Nazuna:

Mmm. I’ll try and contact him. *beep beep* Hey, Mitsuru-chi...n?

Tomoya:

What’s wrong, Nii~chan?

Nazuna:

Yeah... When I tried him just now I just got a message telling me, “The number you are trying to call is not reachable at the moment.”...

Tomoya:

What? Is everything okay? Then we’ve no idea where he is right now!

Nazuna:

It could be that he’s on his way here and just not paying attention to his phone at the moment.

And we’ve still got time before our train is supposed to leave, so it should be fine. Let’s just put our trust in Mitsuru-chin and wait for him to get here.

Nazuna:

(Easier said than done... I really wonder if Mitsuru-chin’s okay? Will he really be able to make it in time?)

(If I start to worry, then Hajime-chin and Tomo-chin will start to worry too, so I can’t let them know that I’m actually panicking inside.)

(Ah, but this is seriously freaking me out! Mitsuru-chin, where are you? Why’s your phone turned off?)

(Argh, not being able to do anything but wait is driving me insane!)

Location: Street

(Around the same time)

Mitsuru:

I’ve got to dash, dash, dash!

(This is real bad! Aw man, I overslept! Mom noticed and woke me up, but I should be meeting up with the others by now!)

(Am I gonna be able to make it? What if I arrive and no one’s there? That’d suck!)

(What if everyone calls it quits and heads home ‘cause of me? That’d suck even more!)

(I’m such an idiot! I’ll never forgive myself if I end up being the reason for putting a frown on any member of Ra*bits’ face!)

(Run! Run, legs, run! I’ve gotta run like the wind! No—even faster!)

Location: Station

Nazuna:

...

(It’s passed the time we agreed to meet at, and Mitsuru-chin’s still not here... And I still can’t get a hold of him by phone either...)

(We’ve still got time before we have to board the train, so we can wait it out until the last minute... But if he still hasn’t shown up by then, I’m gonna have to make a final decision about what we should do.)

Mitsuru:

...Heeeyyy!

Tomoya:

Hm? ...Oh, Mitsuru! Nii~chan, Mitsuru’s here!

Nazuna:

Oh, Mitsuru-chin! Thank god. I was worried you wouldn’t make it in time to catch the train! But never mind that—all that matters is you’re here now!

Hajime:

Yes! I’m so, so relieved!

Mitsuru:

I’m so sorry for making you guys worry! I’m real sorry about this!

Tomoya:

Yeah, you better be super extra sorry about it! If you’re going to be late, you could at least let us know beforehand!

Mitsuru:

Yeah... I lost my phone, so I couldn’t contact you guys... And I couldn’t set my alarm, so Mom had to wake me up.

Hajime:

Wait, you list your phone? Do you remember where you last had it?

Mitsuru:

Nope! I only noticed it was gone when I went to set my alarm last night.

Oh well, I never really pay attention to my phone in the first place, so it’s no big deal!

Tomoya:

No, it IS a big deal. Your phone contains all your personal information!

If you’ve no idea when you last had it there’s no way we can start looking for it... At least report it missing to the police station!

Mitsuru:

Yeah, I know! But first, I ran all the way here so I’m patched! Lemme get a drink first—anything will do!

Nazuna:

You need a drink? Sure, take one of the ones we bought last night. Hang on a sec, I’ll take one out... Huh?

There’s a phone in here. Mitsuru-chin, is this yours?

Mitsuru:

Oh, yeah! That’s mine all right! Ahaha, so everything turned out fine!

Nazuna:

Looks like the reason I couldn’t get through to you when I called is ‘cause the power’s dead. Look, I’m trying to turn it on but nothing’s happening.

Mitsuru:

That’s ‘cause u hardly ever charge my phone! So it’s not weird at all, ehen!

Tomoya:

Why is that something to be proud about? ... Anyway, now that Mitsuru’s here and he’s found his phone, we can finally set off.

Nazuna:

Yeah. All right, I’m gonna give all you guys your tickets for the trip, so make sure not to lose them!

Mitsuru:

Yay! Ticket time! ♪

Tomoya:

He just warned you and yet you already look like you could lose them any second... Look, put them in your pocket already.

Hajime:

Hehe, you sound like Mitsuru-kun’s father, Tomoya-kun. ♪

Nazuna:

Yeah, it’d be nice to take it easy, but it’s almost time for our train to leave. Let’s hurry on over to the ticket gate!

Happy Spring - Chapter 10

 

Happy Spring 10

Writer: 結城由乃 (Yuuki Yoshino)

Location: Inside the train

Tomoya:

Whoa... It’s so early that this train’s deserted too.

Nazuna:

Oh right, you take the train to school huh, Tomo-chin.

Tomoya:

Yeah! It’s normally packed with people on their way to school or work when I take it, so this is a pretty novel experience.

Nazuna:

Yeah. It’s partly ‘cause it’s so early, but also ‘cause we’re heading in the opposite direction of the city. That’s why it’s so empty.

Hajime:

Um, Nii~chan? Will we be taking this train straight to our destination?

Nazuna:

Nah, we’ve gotta transfer part of the way there. But we’ll be riding the next train all the way to the last stop, so it won’t be too much of a hassle. And it’s a local train at that.

Though it would have been even easier if we’d just taken the bullet train... We wouldn’t have had to leave so early either—we could’ve left at noon and still made it in time.

But considering our budget, the local train was all we were able to afford. Sorry guys. I really wish I could’ve made it so you guys could ride the bullet train.

Tomoya:

No way, don’t apologize—it’s totally fine! We already knew that we’d have nothing leftover after all our travel fees, so there’s really no need to worry about that!

Mitsuru:

Yeah! Besides, it’s fun to take the local train!

I’ve taken the semi-express and the express train before, but I hardly ever take the local! Ridin’ on a train that’s gonna rock back and forth along the way sounds super fun too!

Oh right, here’s a guidebook I borrowed from the library. Let’s read it on the ride there!

Tomoya:

Wow, that’s a pretty clever thing for you to do, Mitsuru, considering... Oh right, you asked Ao-chan-senpai or something, right? By that, do you mean Aoba-senpai from the library committee?

Mitsuru:

Yeah! And what do you mean ‘considering’? Don’t be so rude! I’m always clever, hmph! *huff huff*

Tomoya:

Don’t get so worked up... I see, so this place is so famous for its peach blossoms that it’s considered one of the best known locations for them.

Yeah, I can already tell from the photos that the place is stunning in full bloom. I can’t wait to see it in person! ♪

...Not that I’ve forgotten we’re going there for work! I can’t go around acting like some tourist.

Hajime:

...

Nazuna:

Hm? Oh, this is our stop! Make sure you don’t forget anything, okay guys? We’ve got some time before our next train leaves, so let’s go buy some ekiben—y’know, the special bentos you can only get at train stations! ♪

Mitsuru:

Yahoo! I didn’t get a chance to grab breakfast so I’m starving!

Tomoya:

An ekiben sounds great! They’re like the train traveler’s comfort food! ♪

Oops, there I go getting carried away again. I’ve got to get it together. I guess I’m just excited about the thought of performing away from home.

Nazuna:

Go ahead, get carried away. We may be going there for work, but there’s something exciting about traveling so far!

Looks like the train’s stopped, so let’s hop off! Everyone, follow me! Let Nii~chan lead the way! ♪

Location: Inside the Train

Mitsuru:

Yay! I’m the first one on board!

Tomoya:

Mitsuru, calm down! You’re disturbing the other passen...huh?

You’re actually behaving pretty well. I wouldn’t have been surprised if you’d jumped onto the seat and started clamoring around.

Mitsuru:

Quit being so rude about me, Tomo-chin! Oh well, you’re always nagging me about something, so it’s nothing new!

More importantly, this train’s dead empty so it’s free real estate! Although I already went ahead and sat here, in these seats facing each other for five people. I’ve never seen seats like this before!

Nazuna:

Yeah, you wouldn’t really see them around Yumenosaki. Now we can sit back, relax and enjoy our ekibens without worrying about the other passengers looking at us. ♪

Hajime:

...

Nazuna:

Hajime-chin? What’s wrong? You’ve been pretty quiet for a while now. Do you get travel sickness?

Hajime:

Oh, no—that’s not it! I’m fine! I promise! ♪

Nazuna:

Well, that’s good to know. I feel like you’re the type who even if you did feel sick, would just keep it yourself, so as not to worry the rest of us. 

If you do start feeling unwell, even just a little, make sure to let us know, okay?

Hajime:

I will! Hehe, you’re so kind, Nii~chan. ♪

Um. I really don’t want you guys to worry about me, so I’ll just come out and say it.

I actually did some research about our destination and put it all together in this booklet I made.

I was worried about being scolded for treating this too much like a vacation, so I couldn’t bring myself to speak up. I’m sorry!

Nazuna:

Nah, don’t apologize. Wow... This is so Hajimecore—you’ve written so much info about our destination right down to the smallest detail!

Whoa, you’ve even got the local specialties... This along with Mitsuru’s guide book is gonna be a huge help. You guys are awesome! ♪

Mitsuru:

Yay! Nii~chan called me awesome!

Tomoya:

I’m sorry, Hajime.

Hajime:

Huh? Why are you apologizing, Tomoya-kun?

Tomoya:

I’m the one who kept talking about how we had to take this trip seriously, and that made you feel like you couldn’t bring up the booklet you made.

I feel like such a hypocrite. I’ve barely bothered to research our destination.

You two are both treating this way more like a job that I am. This is so humiliating...

Nazuna:

Don’t get so down, Tomo-chin. You’re right—we’re on our way to a job, not some vacation.

It’s a huge help to have you here reminding us we’ve gotta get into work mode when the time calls for it.

Tomoya:

Nii~chan... Thank you.

Nazuna: 

We’ve got Mitsuru, who dashes head first into things, Hajime, who approaches things with prudence and care, and you, Tomo-chin, who fits perfectly in between. Yeah, now that I think it over again, you three really are the perfect balance.

Happy Spring - Chapter 11

 

Happy Spring 11

Writer: 結城由乃 (Yuuki Yoshino)

Location: Inside the train

Mitsuru:

*chomp, monch* ... ♪

Hajime:

Here’s your tea, Mitsuru-kun. Would the rest of you like some too?

Tomoya:

Thanks, Hajime. But you don’t have to see to everyone else—you should eat your lunch too. This is your first time trying an ekiben, right?

Hajime:

It is! Normally when my family travels we make our own lunches to save money... I’ve never bought an ekiben before.

So I’m a little bit nervous—but also excited! ♪

Mitsuru:

Hey, let’s all trade something! I’ll give everyone one of my stuffed peppers!

Tomoya:

You sure you’re not just trying to get rid of the food you don’t want? I’d rather one of your mini-omelettes than that stuffed pepper.

Mitsuru:

Heheh, I’m not picky about food at all! My Mom always told me not to be a picky eater and just try everything! Even vegetables are a-okay for me!

Tomoya:

Huh, I didn’t see that coming... I feel like you’re full of surprises today, Mitsuru.

Nazuna:

Getting to see a whole new side to your friends is part of the thrill of traveling.

Nazuna:

Alright, I’m gonna give everyone a piece of my chicken cutlet. ♪

Mitsuru:

Whoa! Nii~chan’s always so malevolent! ♪

Tomoya:

I’m going to assume you mean benevolent.

But are you sure? If you give everyone else your chicken cutlet, pretty much all you’ll have left is the rice.

Nazuna:

Nah, I’ll be fine with just the side veggies and pickled stuff. 

When I picked this bento out I really felt like eating meat, but now that I open the lid I’m stuffed just looking at all that chicken.

You guys are young, so you should be able to pack away way more than me.

Tomoya:

But you’re young too, Nii~chan... Um, here! Take one of my sweet rolled omelettes—that should be easy on the stomach!

Nazuna:

Oh, thanks! ...*munch, munch* Mmm, it’s so juicy! Delicious. ♪

Hajime:

You can have my vegetable tofu! It’s really flavorful, and tastes really good.

Mitsuru:

Here, Nii~chan! Take my pickled plum! They’re great from when ya have an upset stomach—that’s what my Dad always says!

Nazuna:

Ahaha. It’s not that I feel queasy or anything though. Plus, you already gave me one of your stuffed peppers, so I can’t go taking your pickled plum from you as well.

My lunch came with a pickled plum too, so you go ahead and eat your own. ♪

Mitsuru:

Oh yeah? Then I guess I will! Down the hatch! *chomp chomp*

Tomoya:

You don’t need to chomp down on a pickled plum like that! And at least try to have better table manners when you eat. You’ve got rice flying everywhere and it’s getting all over my clothes.

Hajime:

Mitsuru-kun, you’ve got some rice stuck to your face. I’ll wipe it off with my handkerchief, so hold still for a sec.

Mitsuru:

Wah! Ahaha, that tickles!

Nazuna:

You guys are all so close that it’s really heart-warming to see.

Hm? Uh, why did you just put your burdock and carrot stir fry in my bento box, transfer student?

Oh, you’re giving it to me? All right, then I’ll give you one of my chicken cutlets too. ♪

Wait, you’re already full? You sure don’t have much of an appetite. But I guess it’s ‘cause you’re a girl, huh?

Mitsuru:

Nee-chan! I’ll eat that for you then! I could still eat a whole bunch!

Tomoya:

If you stuff yourself silly you’ll end up feeling bloated, and it’ll be hard for you to move around on stage during our performance. You only need to eat until you’re 80% full, you know.

Mitsuru:

Haha, I’m always light on my feet, no matter what!

Whenever I’ve got a race or a track meet comin’ up, I always eat a ton! The more I eat, the more pumped up I get! ♪

Tomoya:

Oh right, once I thought I’d call into the school shop to buy some bread for lunch when I saw you buying a whole bunch.

So all of that was for a track meet?

Mitsuru:

Everything I eat turns into energy! *chomp chomp… swallow* That sure was tasty! I’m full up! ♪

Tomoya:

Yeah, I’m full too. Hey, Hajime, could you pass me some more tea?

Hajime:

Of course~ What should we do about the snacks we bought last night? Most of the things we bought will keep for the whole day, so we could bring them home with us either.

Nazuna:

We can eat them during a break, or have them on the train on the way home. Our show’s scheduled for noon, so it’ll be late evening by the time we’re heading home.

We can enjoy our snacks while flicking through Mitsuru-chin’s guidebook and reading the booklet Hajime-chin made for us!

So long as we’re all engrossed in our chat, we’re sure to reach our destination in no time! ♪

Happy Spring - Chapter 12

 

Happy Spring 12

Writer: 結城由乃 (Yuuki Yoshino)

Location: Inside the train

(Several hours later)

Tomoya:

…

Hajime:

What’s wrong, Tomoya-kun? You’ve seemed kind of out of it for the last while?

Tomoya:

Mmm, ah… I guess I might have a little travel sickness.

Hajime:

If that’s the case, I brought some medicine with me. I have both the lozenge type, and the powdered type. And since I figured the powdered type might be a little difficult to swallow, I brought some edible film along too.

Tomoya:

You sure came prepared! Mmm, I think I’ll be fine for now.

Mitsuru: 

Tomo-chan, look, look! The view outside the window’s totally changed!

Oh, I just saw a scarecrow! It’s nothin’ but mountains and rice paddies—this must be what they call a plural landscape!

Tomoya:

I think you mean a rural landscape, right? Looking at the scenery, it hits you how far we’ve travelled from Yumenosaki, doesn’t it?

Hajime:

It does, and it’s so exciting. But at the same time, I can’t help but feel a little lonely…

Tomoya:

I get you. We’re still a tiny unit, whose name isn’t even that well-known throughout Yumenosaki.

So when it comes to outside the school, we’re just a bunch of nobody idols that the locals will have never heard of.

I know Nii~chan said that everyone was super on board to welcome us to their town, but still… Uhh, Hajime, do you think I could have some of that medicine after all?

Hajime:

Oh, of course! Here you go, Tomoya-kun.

Tomoya:

Thanks. Wait, why is your hand so cold?! It feels like ice!

Hajime:

Does it? I never noticed myself…

Nazuna:

…

(Looks like Tomo-chin and Hajime-chin are getting worried. We don’t have all that much experience putting on shows within the school, and this job is off school grounds completely.)

(It’s no wonder they’re worrying about whether things will go well, or whether the locals will really be happy to see us.)

(I’m pretty much the same. I mean, I want to apply to jobs so that these kids will get a chance to build experience, but at the same time, what if something goes wrong?)

(What if we end up disappointing the audience? Then all three of them will end up losing confidence in themselves…)

Hm? Oh, it’s you. Nah, I’m not feeling sick or anything, so there’s no need to worry about me.

Huh? I look like I’m worrying about something? Mmm, it’s not that I’m worrying, more like, I’m starting to rethink whether this was the right idea or not.

...Yeah, you’re right. I can’t know for sure what the right answer is, so all we can do is keep on feeling our way forward.

Mitsuru:

…? Nii~chan, what do you mean by feeling our way forward?

Nazuna:

Mm-mm. It’s not something you guys need to worry about.

More importantly, aren’t you nervous at all, Mitsuru-chin?

Once one person starts getting nervous, it tends to spread to everyone else, but you don’t look like you’re affected by nerves at all.

Mitsuru:

Nope! I’ve never been nervous, ever! I don’t get nervous before any big track competitions, and even that time I lost, I was so pumped up to get back up and try again, that there was no time for nerves!

Tomoya:

Hm? Whoa, now there’s an intriguing statement. You’ve actually lost a race before?

Mitsuru:

Yup. Wait, have I never talked about it before?

Tomoya:

I don’t remember hearing about it. Maybe you didn’t want to talk about the times you lost.

Mitsuru:

Nah, talking about it wouldn’t bother me at all. In fact, nowadays, it’s a great memory of mine!

Mitsuru:

Hey, guys. You’re all worried about no one knowing who we are, right? Then we’ve just gotta make ‘em remember us!

See, after I set a record during a track race, loadsa people started rememberin’ who I was.

So whenever I’m takin’ part in a race, everyone cheers me on!

And when I set a new record, they cheer even louder! When I hear that, it makes me so happy that I wanna try even harder next time!

But before I broke that record, nobody knew who I was, and no one really cheered me on at all.

But I never let that get me down. They just didn’t know who I was yet, that’s all! I mean, I’m not gonna start cheerin’ for someone I’ve never heard of right off that bat.

Ever since I set that record during my first tournament, everyone started to remember my name, and now I’ve got a whole bunch of people cheerin’ me on!

If people don’t recognize our names or faces yet, then we\ve gotta make ‘em remember! We’ve gotta let ‘em know that we’re the brand new up and coming idol group, Ra*bits!

Yeah! Ahh, I can’t wait to let everyone know all about us! I’m itchin’ to go!

They can find us boring, or spend the whole show gazin’ at the flowers instead of us or whatever.

So long as we sing and dance and have a good time, we’re found to spark peoples’ interest in us from seein’ how we are!

We’re gonna shine and glitter as prettily as those peach blossoms, so everyone’s sure to fall in love with us!

Nazuna:

Wahhh, Mitsuru-chiiin!

Mitsuru:

Wh-Whoa?! Nii~chan, why are ya huggin’ me outta nowhere like that? You startled me!

Nazuna:

Sorry about that. Your speech made me kind of emotional… Mitsuru-chin is right—if they don’t know who we are, then we’ve just got to teach them.

Hajime:

Right! Let’s give it our all so that we leave a great impression on them!

Ehehe, you really are amazing, Mitsuru-kun. You blew all of my nerves away~ ♪

Tomoya:

Yeah. I could learn a thing or two from your positivity.

Mitsuru:

Ehen!  ♪ Feels good to be praised~! ♪

Nazuna:

(Ahaha… Looks like there was no need for me to be so on edge after all.)

(Everyone’s nerves have all been blown away, and it’s smiles all ‘round. You guys will be just fine. Now let’s tackle this concert with everything we’ve got! ♪)

Happy Spring - Chapter 13

 

Happy Spring 13

Writer: 結城由乃 (Yuuki Yoshino)

Location: Happy Spring Stage

Nazuna:

“Hey there, everyone, could I get your attention for a sec!”

“Thank you! I think most people here don’t really know who we are, so first of all, I’d like to introduce ourselves!”

“Our name is Ra*bits, and we’re an idol group from Yumenosaki Academy.”

“We Ra*bits are made up of one third year and three first years.”

Mitsuru:

“Yay! I’m Ra*bits proud superstar, Tenma Mitsuru! Nice to meet ya!”

Tomoya:

Mitsuru! Don’t barge in to talk about yourself while Nii~chan’s doing the MC! You’re gonna have everyone get the wrong idea!

They’re gonna get confused that you’re the most important member of Ra*bits!

Mitsuru:

…? But Ra*bits wouldn’t be Ra*bits without me, so what’s the problem if they end up thinking that way?

Nazuna:

Mm, Mitsuru-chin is right. But it’s not just him—both Tomo-chin and Hajime-chin are an irreplaceable part of Ra*bits too~

Ra*bits needs all three of you.

“Sorry about that! This guy’s one of Ra*bits’ first years, and he was just excited to say hello to you!”

“Speaking of which, let’s have the other two first years introduce themselves to you! ♪”

“Um, uh… Oh nooo, it’s my first time introducing myself to such a huge group of people, so my mind’s gone blank!”

Hajime:

“Tomoya-kun, take a deep breath and draw the kanji character for ‘people’ onto the palm of your hand. I just did it now too. ♪”

Tomoya:

“R-Right. L-Let me write it…!” *gulp*

Nazuna:

“Any better, Tomo-chin? Have you calmed down? Once you’re feeling better, go ahead and introduce yourself, okay?”

Tomoya:

Wah, I’m so sorry! Oh nooo, the audience is starting to laugh at me—this is so humiliating!

Nazuna:

Ahaha, nah, their laughter is good-natured. They just found you that charming! Listen, everyone’s cheering you on! “It’s okay! Hang in there!”

Don’t be so nervous—you can do this.

Tomoya:

Okay! Let me just take a deep breath… Whew…

“Sorry about being a little all over the place! Allow me to formally introduce myself—my name is Tomoya Mashiro. We’re going to give it our all today, so please cheer us on!”

Mitsuru:

AHaha! Even your self-introduction was pretty generic, Tomo-chin! That’s just like you!

Tomoya:

Don’t call me generic… Hajime, you’re up next. There’s no need to do anything special—just introduce yourself like normal.

Hajime:

R-Right! Here I go!

“H-Hello everyone! My name is Hajime Shino. I’m not the best at dancing, but singing is my specialty. Please cheer us on! ♪”

Nazuna:

All right, everyone managed to introduce themselves just fine. Great job, guys! ♪

“And last of all, I’m Nazuna Nito, and I’m the leader of Ra*bits.”

“We still don’t have a whole lot of experience as idols, but the theme of our unit is ‘small and cute’ and we’re gonna give it our all to entertain you!”

“We’ll try our very best to put on a performance worthy enough for all of you to think of us as adorable!”

“We’d love it if you could watch our concert while enjoying these beautiful peach blossoms! ♪”

“Okay, let’s get this show on the road! We’re gonna start our first song, so please give us your attention!☆”

“♪~ ♪~ ♪~”

Tomoya:

(Whoa… Nii~chan sure is an amazing MC.)

(One day I hope I’ll be able to pull of the MC role just as well as him.)

Mitsuru:

“♪~ ♪~ ♪~”

Wahoo! Singin’ and dancin’ onstage sure is super fun!

Tomoya:

Quit running around all over the stage! I can’t tell where you’re going, so I’m worried that I’ll end up bumping into you.

And anyway, if you don’t follow the choreography that we already planned, it’ll cause trouble for all of us.

Right now Nii~chan is out in front, and we’re supposed to be dancing behind him, so stop trying to dash out center stage.

Mitsuru:

But if I’m in the back, then the audience won’t be able to see me! I don’t want them just paying attention Nii~chan, I wanna be in the spotlight too!

Tomoya:

I know! That’s why after Nii~chan’s finished singing, then the rest of us will get a chance to sing center stage.

He’s just warming up the audience for us, and setting things up for everyone to watch us sing and dance too. If you mess this up, I’m really going to get angry with you this time!

Mitsuru:

It always seems this way Tomo-chin, but are you supposed to be my Dad or somethin’?

Still, you do have a point! I’ll behave myself!

Hajime:

“♪~ ♪~ ♪~”

Ehehe, singing is so much fun! I’m getting all excited.

Tomoya:

That’s not like you. You’re on such a high that you’re able to sing in front of all these people without even getting nervous,

Hajime:

Mmm, well, there’s that. But a huge part of it is also that loads of people here aren’t really focusing their full attention on us.

Tomoya:

Ah, yeah. It’s not that they’re ignoring us, but at least half of the people here are more focused on the flowers than watching us perform.

If every single person here was to have their eyes on us, then I’d be so nervous that my legs would start to shake!

Mitsuru: 

Hmph! What are you two hangin’ back like that for? We Ra*bits are way cuter than a buncha flowers!

Tomoya:

There’s no need to be jealous of the flowers… But still, you’re right. We can’t just stand around here. We’ve got to make sure we stand out just as much as the peach blossoms surrounding us.

Mitsuru:

Yeah! ...Oh, Nii~chan’s song is gonna be over soon!

Looks like we’re up! Let’s make sure we sing and dance so cutely that all these peach blossoms can’t hold a candle to us!

Happy Spring - Chapter 14

 

Happy Spring 14

Writer: 結城由乃 (Yuuki Yoshino)

Location: Happy Spring Stage

Mitsuru:

“♪~ ♪~ ♪~”

Tomoya:

“♪~ ♪~ ♪~”

Hajime:

“♪~ ♪~ ♪~”

Nazuna:

(All right, everyone’s traded places with me and taken center stage. They’ve been practicing as hard as they can leading up to today, but their movements are still a little awkward and clumsy, huh.)

(Still, they’re clearly singing and dancing their hearts out. Hehe, there’s an innocence and purity to them that they’re able to bring out specifically because they’re baby bunnies starting out in the business~ ♪)

(Though I’m hardly one to talk! I may be their more experienced senior when it comes to being an idol, but I’m still a baby bunny myself in terms of being a leader.)

(I was so nervous during the MC! Valkyrie would never take some time at the start of the show to greet the audience—our lives would just start as soon as we stood on stage. So I had zero experience when it comes to MC’ing.)

(I figured it’d look pretty bad if Ra*bits went straight into their performance without warming up the crowd first, so I watched and studied other units’ live shows…)

(It was more or less a learning through the process of observation sort of deal.)

(Judging from the audience’s reception, I seem to have done a fairly decent job, so I guess I’ve got this.)

(Ahaha… All four of us are pretty much just stumbling our way forward.)

(It’s my first time standing in front and teaching others what I know. I don’t really have any way of going about it other than stumbling my way forward.)

(In the case of the transfer student, she’s doing her best to stumble forward and produce us idols in a way that we can shine.)

(I really appreciate that. It’s thanks to the costumes she made for us that we’re able to shine brighter than everything and everyone else here.)

(The audience heard our song while enjoying the peach blossoms and we managed to catch their attention.)

(Then, one by one, they started to give us their full attention. Now almost all eyes are on us.)

(If I strain my ears, I can hear them showering our costumes with compliments. They’re saying things like, “Those kids dancing are so, so cute!” and “Their costumes are absolutely adorable!”.)

(You’re sitting in the audience, so you must be able to hear what they’re saying. Does it make you happy? Do you feel proud of yourself?)

(Ah, I guess she’s so modest when it comes to just about everything, so I wouldn’t go as far as to say she’s proud of herself. But she must be happy to hear people praising her costumes like that.)

Hajime:

 ♪…*pause*

Nazuna:

(Hm? Hajime-chin stopped singing midline all of a sudden?)

(Ah… All three of them were supposed to dance this part together, but Mitsuru-chin ran out in front. Guess that was enough to distract Hajime-chin and make him forget his lyrics.)

Nazuna:

(Don’t worry about it! Everyone makes mistakes. Nii~chan is here to back you up, so leave the rest to me! ♪)

“♪~ ♪~ ♪~”

Tomoya:

(Oh! Nii~chan was supposed to be hanging back, but now he’s taking center stage again!)

(He must have realized we messed up and came forward to fix it.)

(If all three of us have to head back to the back of the stage right after stepping forward, then the audience is going to suspect something is up… I better keep a smile on my face and wave at everyone!)

Hajime:

Oh nooo… It’s all my fault, I’m so sorry!

Tomoya:

You don’t have to apologize. I should’ve been able to step in to back you up, but I froze up and couldn’t do a thing. I’m the one who needs to apologize.

Mitsuru:

Nooo, I should be the one sayin’ sorry! I ran in front and startled Hajime-chan! I’m real sorry, guys!

Hajime:

It’s not your fault, Mitsuru-kun~ I’m the one who blanked for a second and forgot my lyrics!

Tomoya:

Ah, this is no good! Okay, everyone’s said they’re sorry, so there’s to be no more apologizing after this! Everyone, put that smile back on your face—it’s time to sing and dance!

Thanks to Nii~chan taking over for us like it was nothing, the audience probably think what happened just now was all on purpose, rather than an accident.

So if we hang back here with frowns on our faces, they’re gonna figure out we messed up after all.

I don’t want to make what Nii~chan did out of consideration for us to go to waste. We can’t!

Hajime:

Yeah... You’re right, Tomoya-kun.

Let’s head back to the front of the stage with smiles on our faces. I won’t forget my lyrics anymore! No matter what happens, I’ll keep on singing with a smile on my face~ ♪

Mitsuru:

Me too! I’ll show ‘em a smile so bright that it’ll make every member of the audience smile right back!

Thanks, Nii~chan~! All three of us are fine now! We’re ready to smile and sing and dance our hearts out! ♪

Nazuna:

(Yesss! Those guys fixed themselves right up. Once the show ends, I need to let them know just how fantastic they were~ ♪)

(I may not have the pure innocence the younger three have, but I’ve cultivated experience as an idol through being part of Valkyrie.)

(It’s thanks to that that I was able to step in and back them up when they needed it.)

(Even though back when I was with Valkyrie, I was nothing but a marionette doll. But even so, this proves that my time spent with Valkyrie didn’t go to waste.)

(Those kind, gentle kids embraced me and welcomed me into their family with open arms. They really saved me, so I’ve got to do whatever I can to pay back their kindness.)

(I’ll use every ounce of strength I’ve got to raise them and make them shine like the idols they were meant to be.)

Mitsuru:

“♪~ ♪~ ♪~”

(The whole crowd’s lookin’ at us! It feels so good!)

(Back when I was at that track race and those peach blossoms were bloomin’ nearby, almost everyone there was lookin’ at me.)

(But can ya believe there were a handful of people who weren’t payin’ me any attention ‘cause they were too busy admirin’ the flowers?)

(But right now, everyone here’s full attention is on us! No matter how far I run, I’ll never be able to reach someone’s heart! But thanks to our song, I’ll be able to reach everyone’s heart!)

(That’s why I wanna be an idol! No, that’s why I became an idol!)

(Comin’ to Yumenosaki sure was the right idea! I love runnin’, but I love bein’ an idol too!)

(I wanna reach as many peoples’ hearts as possible, and make ‘em know exactly who I am!)

(This is just the startin’ line! I’ll run forth toward the goal with everythin’ I’ve got! ☆)

Happy Spring - Epilogue

 

Happy Spring Epilogue

Writer: 結城由乃 (Yuuki Yoshino)

Location: Inside the train

Mitsuru:

Dash, dash, dash!

All right, we made it! Everyone, hurry up! The train’s about to take off!

Tomoya:

*huff, wheeze*

Man… I used up every last bit of energy in my body during our show, so even running for a couple of seconds has me out of breath…

Ah… That’s more like it. I seriously can’t move so much as a finger.

Mitsuru:

You sound like an old grandpa, Tomo-chin! You really don’t have a lotta stamina at all, do ya? I’ve still got plenty of energy left! You could learn a thing from me! ♪

Tomoya:

You have so much energy that it’s bordering on concerning. Still, you have a point. Every time I see how cheerful and full of energy you are, you make me wanna follow in your footsteps.

After the show, we had plenty of time to rest. So how am I still so tired?

Nazuna:

After the show, we had a handshake event with the audience, not to mention, we took some time to go peach blossom viewing.  When you’re not used to something, it’s only natural that you get tired after an exciting day.

I was worried we wouldn’t make the train, so I made all of you guys run to catch it… Sorry for not being more on top of checking the timetable.

Hajime:

Please don’t apologize, Nii~chan! It’s our fault for having so much fun that we didn’t think to check the time!

*sigh*  Who would have thought that there’d only be a single train per hour?

Nazuna:

Yeah, there aren’t a lot of trains in the countryside… If we’d missed this one, we would’ve had to kill time for a whole hour sitting on that bench.

Tomoya:

There aren’t even any convenience stores all the way out here, huh. It’s gotten pretty hot lately too, so waiting outside for a whole hour would’ve been rough.

Nazuna:

Yeah. In any case, sit down with us, Mitsuru-chin. Come here and take a seat beside Nii~chan~ ♪

Mitsuru:

Woohoo! The best seat in the house! ♪

Nee-chan, you sit down beside me too! I’ll be in the middle of a Nee-chan and Nii~chan sandwich!

Hajime:

Oh, I’m a little jealous… I wanna sit beside you guys too… But there’s no room left, is there? Tomoya-kun, mind if I sit beside you?

Tomoya:

Sure… Oh, the train’s starting to move. Looks like it’s time to say goodbye to this view.

Hajime:

Y-Yeah… I’ve got to take a mental picture so it lasts forever! Ahh, it feels so sad that we’ll never get to come back here again!

Tomoya:

We may not be back here for work, but we can always take a trip back here. So I guess “saying goodbye” wasn’t the right way to phrase it.

Mitsuru:

All right, let’s make this place our next trip together! I wanna stay overnight with everyone here!

Hajime:

Haha, that sounds lovely. A sleepover with everyone sounds like so much fun. ♪

Nazuna:

I dunno about staying overnight, but the organizer of today’s show told us they’d love to have us back again. So we can come back here for sure.

Hajime:

R-Really? They enjoyed our concert that much?

Nazuna:

You heard the audience cheering, didn’t you?

Not to mention, once the show was over, the organizer came forth and told us he was super grateful that real idols came to perform for everyone.

We had a few bumps along the way, but we pulled off a whole show without any major setbacks.

You guys did a great job! Nii~chan’s super proud of you! Come here, I wanna give you all a pat on the head~ ♪

Tomoya/Hajime:

Ehehe… ♪

Mitsuru:

Wahoo! Nothin’ feels better than a pat on the head from Nii~chan! ♪

But still, the reason we made it through without any major setbacks, was all thanks to you being there to back us up, Nii~chan!

Hajime:

Yeah. If it was just the three of us, we’d be bound to slip up, and we'd probably end up crying tears of frustration right about now.

We owe a whole lot to you, Nii~chan. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much!

Tomoya:

I know we’re still super inexperienced and it’ll take a huge amount of time and effort to teach us what you know, but please don’t give up on us, Nii~chan! It’d mean the world to us if you keep guiding us forward.

Nazuna:

Don’t worry about it. I swear that I’ll raise all three of you as best that I possibly can!

Tomoya:

*yawn*...

S-Sorry! Your words just made me feel so calm and safe that a yawn slipped out!

Hajime:

*yawn* … ♪

Wah! S-Sorry, after Tomoya-kun yawned, I couldn’t help it!

Nazuna:

Nah, it’s fine. We’ve been on the go since early morning, and it’s more or less night time. It’s no wonder you’re getting sleepy.

I’ll wake you guys up, so you go ahead and sleep soundly.

Mitsuru:

… ♪

Nazuna:

Hm? Something heavy is leaning against my shoulder… Ah, looks like Mitsuru-chin has already fallen asleep.

Tomoya:

Zzz… ♪

Hajime:

Zzz… ♪

Nazuna:

Ahaha. Now Tomo-china and Hajime-chin are fast asleep too!

You must be tired too, right? Don’t worry about me—you go ahead and sleep if you need to.

Hm? You say you’re fine and not a bit sleepy, but I’m not convinced by the way you’re rubbing your eyes.

Still, if you insist on staying awake for my sake, then I wouldn’t mind sharing my thoughts with you for a bit.

I’ll whisper so that I don’t wake the kids… Thanks for coming along with us today.

You’re everyone’s producer, so there was no need for you to come all the way out here with us.

You didn’t just sew our costumes, you even accompanied us on our trip.

The concert was a success all thanks to you.

Not a single person knew who we were at today’s venue, but thanks to having you by our side, I felt like everything would be just fine.

I’m so glad you decided to transfer to Yumenosaki. And I’m so glad you decided to become our producer.

Hm? Ahaha, looks like she fell asleep while I was talking.

(This really is the picture of happiness—being surrounded by these adorable kids, and a producer who’s there to support us.)

(It’s not like we’re going to get any new idol work right away. From tomorrow on, it’s back to the drawing board for Ra*bits—we’re gonna have to keep taking on part-time work in order to earn funds for our unit activities.)

(But today’s success will definitely make an impact on those kids’ future.)

(You guys are going to bloom as sweetly as those peach blossoms and become a unit that fills everyone’s hearts with pure serotonin~ ♪)