bakemonoremy | Jul. 17th, 2019

Jul. 17th, 2019

Location: Sunshower Stage

Akiomi: Anzu-san, there you are.

The client prepared box seats for us. We should be able to see the boys’ efforts well from here.

Hinata: Ah, it’s Anzu-san! Anzu-sa~n, you came to watch us, didn’t you~☆

Ugeh, Kunugi-sensei is there too!? H-hello there~...?

Akiomi: Why are you surprised about that. This is a job outside of the school, so it’s not unusual for a teacher to be there as supervision, right.

Hinata: Ah, no, I just put myself on guard out of reflex.

Kunugi-sensei and Anzu-san, thanks for working hard on your day off~.

Ahaha, we’re working hard too, you say? We went around the food stalls for a good while, so rather than working, it feels more like we’re enjoying ourselves though~♪

The guests seem to be delighted, too.

We all assumed it’d be raining, so I’m sure a lot of them expected to have to walk around underneath an overcast sky.

But as though that was a lie, it cleared up today! Well, calling it a lie is a bad way of putting it, maybe I should say the skies cleared up like magic, instead?

The other unit we’re appearing in the parade with, Switch, has magic as their strong point, right?

Maybe it’s thanks to Switch’s magic that it’s sunny today despite it being the rainy season~, nishishi ♪

Yuuta: …Aniki!

Hinata: Owah, Yuuta-kun!? What’s wrong, why are you in such a hurry~?

Yuuta: We’re almost up and I couldn’t find you anywhere so I was looking all over for you, Aniki!

Good grief, everyone from Switch has already gathered, so come with me right away, Aniki.

Hinata: Gotcha~. Well then, Anzu-san. Kunugi-sensei. Please enjoy yourselves all the way to the end ♪

Yuuta: I’m sorry Aniki’s so annoying. Anzu-san, Kunugi-sensei, excuse us…♪

Sora: HaHa~♪ Yuu-chan has returned! Hina-chan’s with him, too~. Welcome back ♪

Hinata: I’m back, squeeze squeeze~...☆

Sora: Wau!? Were you lonely because you’ve gotten lost?

There there, it’s all okay now~♪

Hinata: Ahaha, it’s not like I’ve gotten lost, though?

Umm, first up will be our performance, then as a follow-up, it’ll be Switch’s turn to perform, right?

Natsume: YeAH. Your performance is something to be amazed BY, surely the audience won’t be able to take their eyes off of yOU.

Hinata: Huh? Your evaluation of us is unexpectedly high~?

Natsume: You’re the same as flowers in the middle of buddiNG. Right nOW, you’re still at the stage of taking in nutrients from the ground and developiNG.

I have high hopes for you that you’ll be able to make large flowers bloOM.

Hinata: Guess we’ve got no choice but to live up to those expectations. Yuuta-ku~n, let’s do our best ☆

Yuuta: Of course. Let’s show them the fruits of our labors, Aniki.

Hinata: “Everyo~ne! Look over here! The umbrellas may be nice, but observe us as well~☆”

“Ehem. I apologize for the late introduction, my name is Aoi Hinata of 2wink. The person standing next to me is my younger twin brother, Aoi Yuuta-kun.”

“We are the two-in-one twin idols, please commit that to your memories~♪”

“May you enjoy the extravagant combination of 2wink’s wonderful performance and Switch’s magic from the bottom of your hearts...☆”

(Yepyep, I grabbed their attention flawlessly! Even the people who were strolling among the food carts are looking over here.)

(And there were people waiting on stand-by in the seats over the street, they must’ve been looking forward to our performance.)

(This is why I can’t stop being an idol. There’s not that many occupations that grant dreams to adults and children alike.)

(There’s no greater happiness than making as many people as possible make memories that’ll make them say “This was fun”...☆)

(Yuuta-kun, are you ready? I’ll throw this umbrella, so catch it~, heave-ho ♪)

Yuuta: (Ro~ger, Aniki.)

Yuuta: “I’ll skillfully use one, two… three of the umbrellas for my juggling~”

“Those among you guests who think this is dangerous, rest assured ☆. As you can see I’m throwing them and catching them before they hit the ground~”

“I can easily juggle them while they’re opened, too! Ahaha, thanks for the abundant applause...♪”

“We’re still in the early stages of this performance that won’t lose to the umbrellas that adorn this parade in terms of flashiness. Next up we’ll show you an even mo~re amazing technique.”

“Now then, observe~☆”

Hinata: (Whoops, it’s my turn. Gotta use this wall to jump up and catch one of the umbrellas from the skies! And then jump from one of the gathered umbrellas to the next…!)

Hinata: “Behold, my secret technique, the jutsu of traveling between umbrellas~☆”

“Aaaand, I landed safely! Thank you, thank you. Thanks for the abundant applause...☆”

Yuuta: (Guess there was no need to worry about Aniki making a blunder. He’s easily monopolizing the audience’s attention.)

Hinata: Yuuta-kun, isn’t this ultra-fun! My body and heart feel so light, I could just fly in the sky~☆

Yuuta: Don’t go over the top, will you? You can’t really fly in the sky, we didn’t make any preparations for wire fu*.

Hinata: Yeah. We’d need to prepare a lot of equipment for wire fu…

But it’s so cool, like in the movies~. Well, we’ll do that once an opportunity presents itself ☆

Yuuta-kun, Yuuta-kun, there’s kids waving their hands at us. Let’s wave back, he~y ♪

Yuuta: Ahaha, he’s so popular with kids. Aniki is easily liked by children, I’ll also do my best so that I’ll remain in those kids’ memory~♪

---------------------

*Wire Fu

Location: Sunshower Stage

Natsume: SenpAI, SoRA. It’s our tuRN.

We practiced plenTY. There’s no need to feel timID, we’ll just do it as we rehearsED.

SoRA, you may just be a first yeAR, but your skill is the real thiNG. You have the same brilliance as those two DO.

NoW, go aheAD. The kids of 2wink are waiting for yOU. It’s fiNE, we’ll be following close behiND…

Go and turn your imagination into realiTY, SoRA.

Sora: Yes! Sora will go! Shisho~, Senpai, Sora’s going on ahead~ ♪

Tsumugi: Sora-kun ran off while jumping up and down.

It must be because he was really looking forward to co-starring with those kids, that we’ve been blessed with these clear skies.

One’s habitual behaviour is important. Sora-kun is a good child, so he received a reward from God...♪

Natsume: Stop acting like a dreaming maiden and get ready for your performanCE, SenpAI.

Tsumugi: Ahaha, understood~.

First, Sora-kun is going to show his performance where he moves from one umbrella that’s hanging in the sky to another, then it’s our turn to perform, right ♪

Natsume: That’s rigHT. He’s going to match up with 2wink’s acrobatiCS, so timing is everythiNG.

NoW, that’s enough for the chattER. Who knows if someone might overhear our conversatiON, and I don’t want to miss out on Sora’s efforTS. Let’s GO, SenpAI.

Tsumugi: Yes. I’ll accompany you to the ends of the earth, Natsume-kun ♪

Sora: ~....♪

(It’s so amazingly colorful~♪ Red, blue, yellow, purple… The sky is decorated in umbrellas in all kinds of colors~ HaHiHuHeHo~...☆)

(Whoops, Sora should focus! Sora was too captivated by the umbrellas~, how dangerous, Sora almost crashed into the ground!)

(The umbrellas are amazing, but so is everyone’s enthusiasm~)

(It’s not an angry color~, rather the color of excitement? Everyone’s having fun, so Sora is having fun as well ♪)

Natsume: (HmM. Now’s a good time for Sora to cut across that buildiNG.)

Kids of 2wiNK… Are you reaDY?

Hinata: We’re rea~dy. Alright, we’ll quickly get into position. Let’s go, Yuuta-kun.

Yuuta: Yeah. Excuse u~s.

Tsumugi: (Alright, everything is proceeding without problems. Time for me to carry out my job, too.)

“Everyone, sorry to interrupt while you’re enjoying yourself. I am Aoba Tsumugi of Switch.”

“The child who’s been swinging from the umbrellas in the sky is Harukawa Sora-kun, and our leader is Sakasaki Natsume-kun ♪”

“Let’s leave our self-introductions at that. Everyone, please turn your attention over here.”

“2wink’s new performance is about to start~!”

Hinata: “Just like that, I’ll place my palm on the grip of the umbrella and~ handstand! If you thought that was amazing, give me some applause…”

“Er, thanks for the thunderous applause~!”

Yuuta: “Now look over here~♪ A handstand while balancing balls on the underside of my feet~, and I’ll add in an umbrella too~!”

(Aniki, we’re getting a lot of attention.)

Hinata: (Even the clerks from the food stalls are closing up shop to come and watch. That shows just how much they’re enjoying themselves, I’m so glad~)

(Let’s turn them even more into captives of our artistic skill, Yuuta-kun...☆)

Natsume: (Relying on the two of them paid oFF. Everything’s going off without a hitCH. NoW, the time has come to grant the audience unequalled dreams and wishES.)

Ì͙̮͍̥̖ ṣ̪͙h̵̲̙̲̺a̡̻̺̼l̝̩̰̝̞l̳̳̯̖̬̙ ̡͔͉͍̙c̩̲͚̰̯͉̗a͈̭͜st̹̱͓̳̟ͅ ̧̲m̪͍̳͇̮̺y̦̙͖ͅ ̠̀m̦͓̘̺͖͞a͕̫̤̮̦g͔̳͉̩͎̼̰ic͓͓͎͟ ̺͖̱͚̗̫́ͅon̷̜̯̝̜̤ ̨͖̫̺͖͙̭ͅy͉̗o͈̰͉̪̣u͎̯̰̘.͈͍

(FufuFU, everyone is struck with admiratiON.)

(At this poiNT, they won’t find it strange even if we pull off phenomenons that surpass human knowledGE.)

(And it’s not by my power aloNE, it’s thanks to Sora and SenpAI… And thanks to the kids of 2wiNK, toO.)

Natsume: “Just like the sun peeking through the rift between clouDS, there’s surely a beam of light wrapping around all of yOU.”

“The magic won’t end heRE. Even once the curtains cloSE, it’ll remain in your hearTS. For as long as you have a heart that believes in “magic”, forevermore...♪”

Location: Game Research Club Room

Sora: HaHa~, HiHi~, HuHu~, HeHe~, HoHo~...♪

Shisho~, hello! When you enter the clubroom, you greet everyone inside first ☆

Natsume: ~.....♪

Sora: Shisho~? You’re humming, are you in a good mood?

Ah, you’re doing experiments again~. What kind of experiment are you doing? Please explain it to Sora ♪

Natsume: AaH, SoRA. I was just killing time by making some birdliME*.

Sora: Birdlime? Is that some kind of mochi?

Natsume: It’s not mocHI. It’s a substance used to capture prEY… I was interested in how it’s maDE, so just like thIS, I’m trying it oUT.

YuP, this birdlime is completED ♪

Sora: HaHa~, is this daifuku*2? Shisho~, you lied again?

Natsume: I wasn’t lyiNG. While it may look just like a daifuKU, when you touch it you’ll see that it’s amazingly sticKY.

Don’t accidentally put it in your mouTH, SoRA.

I’ve prepared some actual sweets as weLL. HeRE, eat UP ♪

Sora: HiHi~, Sora loves sweet things! Thank you very much! Munch, munch ♪

Shisho~, now that your experiments are over, let’s play some games ♪ Sora wants to play this one~.

Natsume: HmmM. Is that the game you played with the little kitten befoRE?

Sora: HuHu~♪ That it is! Shisho~, take this controller! Sora is also fully prepared ♪

Nh~, nnh? Sora hears footsteps! They’re not Senpai’s color~.

Ah. But, it’s a color Sora has seen before! It’s probably Great-Shisho~♪

Wataru: Hello! It’s your, no, everyone’s Hibiki Wataru...☆

Natsume: How rare of Wataru-niisan to show his face in the Game ClUB. You’re not going to tell me you’ve come to play gamES, rigHT?

Wataru: Well now, we’ll see about that.

...Is what I’d say, but I don’t want to mar Natsume-kun’s good mood with my words of confusion. I’ll get straight to the point.

Actually, I wanted to ask you if you’d like to appear in a magic show.

The one I want to ask to be my partner is Natsume-kun, and so I’ve come to pay a visit.

The show I’m planning this time is going to be rather large-scale. Well, if it comes down to it, I’d be able to pull it off by myself, though.

That is, in the worst case. I’d like to overcome any obstacles.

Sora: HeHe~, a magic show? What kind of show is that?

Wataru: Are you interested? You’re interested, aren’t you? A magic show is the highest form of entertainment, where you grant dreams to hundreds of people...☆

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Allow me to demonstrate a simple magic trick*3 ☆

Now then, have this rose as a gift! And this cosmos, and this tulip, too! As well as this sunflower, have all kinds of flowers...☆

Sora: HoHo~♪ Amazing, amazing, there’s so many flowers! All these beautiful colors are spilling out ♪

Natsume: SoRA? AhaHA, that makes your eyes sparkLE, doesn’t IT. Have you become captivated by Wataru-niisan’s magic tricKS?

Sora: Yes! Great-Shisho~’s magic tricks are amazing!

They’re just like magic~, no, they are magic!

Wataru: I’m sad to say they’re not real magic. There’s tricks and hidden mechanisms to it.

And yet it offers the people who want to believe in magic an “astonishment just like magic”. And that’s what a magic show is ♪

Sora: Nh~, Sora doesn’t really get it~.

But, there’s one thing Sora did understand!

Great-Shisho~. Sora wants you to teach him magic tricks~.

Sora wants to be able to do magic tricks like Great-Shisho~, and make the audience feel the same things Sora just felt!

Wataru: Hrm~m. I’m not particularly fond of teaching people things, though.

Sora: Uu~, is that a no?

A magic show is the highest form of entertainment, where you grant dreams to hundreds of people, that’s what Great-Shisho~ said!

Sora wants to grant dreams, too! Just like Great-Shisho~, Sora wants to master the magic that makes people happy~.

It’s Abra Kadabra, right? That’s the magic spell that Shisho~ chanted before!

Wataru: Aah. Indeed, I also use that during my sleight of hand performances. Abra ● Kadabra, Chichinpuipui~♪

Sora: HaHa~♪ Great-Shisho~’s hair is twisting and turning~. May Sora touch it?

Wataru: Go ahead ♪ If you’d like, I could increase the number of my arms, too? Look, one, and two, and three~...☆

I’ll grow infinite arms like the thousand-armed Avalokiteśvara*4, fuhahahahaha...☆

Sora: HiHi~♪ It’s almost like the color Switch paints~. As expected of Shisho~’s Shisho~, Great-Shisho~!

Natsume: HeY, Wataru-niisAN. If it’s a partner for your magic show you waNT, why not take SoRA.

Sora himself seems eager to do IT, so pleaSE, I’d like to ask you on his behaLF.

Wataru: Hrm~m. I’m weak to Natsume-kun when he says “please” with upturned eyes like that.

Well, I was the one who came here to request help in the first place… As long as it’s within the limits of this one job, I don’t mind teaching him.

Sora: HuHu~, thank you very much!

Sora will do his best with all his might...!

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* Birdlime or bird lime is an adhesive substance used in trapping birds. It is spread on a branch or twig, upon which a bird may land and be caught. Its use is illegal in many jurisdictions. (Wikipedia).

Birdlime in Japanese is “torimochi”, which makes Sora think Natsume is making mochi (rice cakes).

*2 Daifuku mochi are filled mochi, usually with red bean paste inside.

*3 In this story (as well as others) there’s a clear difference between the magic Switch is known for (mahou) and the magic tricks Wataru uses (majikku). Whilst translating majikku as magic would be straightforward, I’m going to avoid confusion by translating it as “magic tricks” to separate it from “real” magic.

*4 Called “Kannon” in Japan, he’s referring to a bodhisattva of compassion.

Location: 1st Floor Passageway

Sora: Shisho~, over here, over here! Sora’s over here~♪

Natsume: SoRA, I can walk even without you pulling me along that strongLY.

HeY. Can you at least tell me our destinatiON?

For noW, I came along because you told me to follow yOU, howevER. We did promise to meet up with Wataru-niisAN, this isn’t the time to dawdLE.

Sora: HaHa~♪ Great-Shisho~, you say? Great-Shisho~ is right over there~.

Natsume: EH?

BuT, if Sora says he’s over theRE, that’s probably the truTH. Good griEF.

I’m not sure what to think of Wataru-niisAN, he told us to “please gather at the Theater Club room”, just to nullify the promise he himself maDE.

WeLL, in any caSE, let’s head to where Wataru-niisan IS.

Sora: HiHi~♪ Sora will lead the way! Shisho~, please follow Sora ♪

Location: In front of the Fountain

Wataru: Hmhm… I’ve understood the gist of it. I look forward to your follow-up report.

Sora: HuHu~♪ Sora will greet you energetically! Great-Shisho~, hello!

Wataru: My oh my, Sora-kun. You’re as dazzling as the sun again today~. If I keep looking at you I’ll go blind!

However, absorbing the sunlight is all I need in order to shine dazzlingly myself! Now then, come closer to me and share your heat with me...☆

Sora: HeHe~, should Sora hug you tightly? Squeeze~...☆

Wataru: Very well. In that case, I’ll return your hug! Let’s fill the world with love...♪

Natsume: Wataru-niisAN.

Wataru: Please don’t look at me with such cold eyes. You’ve made Nii-san very sad, sob sob.

Natsume: I think this every time I see IT, but your crying act is really impressiVE. By deceiving yourseLF, you put yourself into a state where you can shed tears naturalLY.

To sum it UP, you completely turn into the role you’re playiNG. Anyone who doesn’t know Wataru-niisan would surely be deceived at just a glimpSE.

Wataru: It's the human emotions. A human’s expressions are varied, you see~. I just wear the mask that’s suitable for the scene.

The tricks I have up my sleeve are merely akin to a number of worldly desires.

In any case, I thought I told you two to gather in the Theater Club room?

Natsume: YeAH. Sora noticed Wataru-niisan on our way there and changed our destinatiON. What about yOU, Wataru-niisAN, what were you doing in this plaCE?

Wataru: Aah. I was receiving my regular report from my pigeons.

Sora: HoHo~, pigeons? Are they your familiars? Sora can’t really use a lot of magic yet~, so Sora doesn’t have any familiars!

But, if Sora becomes a worthy magician, will he get familiars like Great-Shisho~ has them, too?

Wataru: If that’s what you wish for, it’ll be granted through hard work. Incidentally, what sort of familiar would you like to have?

Sora: Great-Shisho~, can Sora ask for anything? In that case, Sora wants the pigeon that flew away earlier!

Wataru: Oh my, that pigeon is rather difficult to deal with~. Because that one already has a sweetheart, you see.

I’m the only one besides their lover they’re willing to do as they’re told by.

I can’t give you that one, but if you’d like, I could teach Sora-kun magic tricks involving pigeons.

The magic show takes place on an underground stage, it's not well-suited for large-scale events like that, you see.

First, I’ll have you get used to the pigeons I properly trained before we put those tricks into practice.

And there’s a number of other magic tricks I’d like for you to learn…

How about I first instruct you in how to do simple coin magic.

Now then, let me show you a petit magic show full of tricks and secret mechanisms! If you can’t see through the tricks, please applaud lavishly.

The audience consists of only two people, but that’s no problem! Please express your astonishment with your whole body, because it’ll become the source of my encouragement...☆