bakemonoremy | May. 29th, 2020

May. 29th, 2020

Location: School Store

Mitsuru: Hajime-chan, Hajime-chan, look at this cute stationery they’re selling!

Hajime: Huh, which one? Waah, there are dogs on it, how cute~♪

Akehoshi-senpai seems to really like dogs, so I think he’d love to receive a letter written on this paper.

Mitsuru: ……….

Hajime: Mitsuru-kun? Are you going to buy some stationery as well?

Mitsuru: Uh, yeah! I’m kinda running low on stationery to use for our letter exchange, so I was thinking I should stock up again!

Hajime: Fufu, I see. I’ve decided to buy this one, so I’ll meet you at the register, okay?

Mitsuru: Y-yeah. Gotcha!

Location: Garden Terrace

Hajime: Hrm~mm… Hrm~mmmmm…

Mitsuru: Ahaha. Hajime-chan, you haven’t been saying anything but “Hrmm” for a while now. If you’re troubled, I’ll hear you out, ‘kay?

Hajime: Umm, I’m wondering how to phrase it so it doesn’t come off as rude, and I feel like once I start talking about all the things that are cool about Akehoshi-senpai, one page won’t be enough. So basically, I’m worrying about everything.

Umm… “I’ll cheer you on, so please keep working hard.”... There. I-I’ve finished it~!

Mitsuru: Then let’s go deliver it to Suba-chan-senpai right away!

Hajime: But I’m sure Akehoshi-senpai is really busy… I’ll just wait until I get a good opportunity for it.

Mitsuru: Whaaat~? But you went through all the trouble of writing it, don’t you want him to read it as soon as possible?

Hajime: Of course I want him to read it. But to tell the truth, I just can’t muster up the courage to give him the letter...

Mitsuru: You poured your heart into writing this letter, Hajime-chan, so I’m one hundred percent sure he’s gonna be thrilled about it!

Alright, I’ve got it. I’m gonna dash over and deliver that letter to Suba-chan-senpai!

Hajime: Nooo, it’s fine, really~! I can’t treat you like you’re my errand boy, Mitsuru-kun!

Mitsuru: I’m telling you that I want to do it, though. Also, you helped me out lots with my signature, Hajime-chan. Let me return the favor!

Hajime: Mitsuru-kun…

In that case, while I really do feel bad that I’m making you do this, I’ll entrust that letter to you, okay?

Mitsuru: Ehem, leave it to me! I’ll dash and deliver it, dash da~sh...☆

Location: 2-A Classroom

Mitsuru: ‘Scuse me!

Superstar of Ra*bits, Tenma Mitsuru, comin’ through!

Umm, is Suba-chan-senpai here?

Subaru: Ah! It’s the noisy kid that always goes “dash, dash”! Whazzup~?

Mitsuru: Phewie, Suba-chan-senpai is still around, what a relief~!

Subaru: I’m dashing through today’s day duty right now~! Lucky you, dash-dash kid ♪

Mitsuru: “Dash” is my thing! Wait no, I mean, I’m here to give you something, Suba-chan-senpai…

Tada~-... Huh?

W-wait just a moment! I put it right here into my pocket. So why isn’t it there~!?

Subaru: Calm down~. Dash-dash kid, did you lose something?

Mitsuru: Y-yeah. Suba-chan-senpai, do you have any idea where it is?

Subaru: Why would I? I don’t even have a clue what your lost item is to begin with.

You might be able to find it by retracing your steps. I’m free right now, so I’ll help you.

Mitsuru: Huh!? N-no, that’s okay! I’d feel bad if I made you help me!

Subaru: No need to hold back, we’ll get it done together in a dash ♪ Dash-dash kid, you’re friends with Shinonon, so when you’re troubled I want to lend you a hand.

Mitsuru: Suba-chan-senpai...

Yep yep, I think I kinda get why Hajime-chan likes you so much, Suba-chan-senpai.

I dashed here from the cafeteria, so let’s go back and search as we go~!

Location: Hallway

Mitsuru: Sniff, sniff… I can smell it. It’s probably somewhere around here!

Subaru: Oooh, so your strategy is to sniff out where it is? Does that mean your lost item is food, dash-dash kid?

Mitsuru: Nope. My lost item is a letter!

Subaru: Huh, it’s a letter? Is that really something you can sniff out~?

Well, whatever. If I find anything that resembles a letter, I’ll let you know.

...Oh?

Mitsuru: Suba-chan-senpai? Did you find it already?

Subaru: Nah, but I feel like I’ve seen that guy over there somewhere before~.

Mitsuru: Hmm? Isn’t that the guy Tomo-chan always goes on about… Mister Masked Pervert?

Wataru: Amazing! Allow me to respond to your summons!

Spreading love and wonder to the world one day at a time, I am your Hibiki Wataru...☆

Subaru: Umm, Hibiki-senpai? Hello~!

Wataru: Yes, hello there~! You must be Hokuto-kun’s friend, Akehoshi Subaru. I’ve heard looots about you from Hokuto-kun.

Subaru: Huh? What, pray tell, did he tell you about me?

Wataru: Fufufu. There’s no need to speak so politely.

Subaru: Thank god. I’m so bad at it~! So, Hibiki-senpai, whatcha doing here?

Wataru: Nothing in particular. I was in the middle of my club activities, but I tasked my juniors with an assignment, and now I have more free time than I know what to do with.

If you two have some time to spare, won’t you keep me company?

Subaru: Oh, great timing! I’m helping the dash-dash kid find a lost item, maybe you want to join forces with us, Senpai?

Mitsuru: Mister Masked Pervert. You didn’t happen to see a letter lying around here somewhere?

Wataru: If it’s a letter you want, I’ve got hundreds~.. Which one of these letters did you drop?*

If you’d like, you can have all of them!

Subaru: Uwah, a whole ton of letters appeared somehow! Wait, aren’t there way too many?

Mitsuru: Ahaha, amazing! Is this a magic trick? How is he doing this~?

Wataru: Fufufu. If you get so visibly excited, I’ll get carried away, you know?

Mitsuru: Ah, it’s this one! That’s Hajime-chan’s letter!

Wataru: It appears you’ve found the letter you’ve been seeking. How wonderful...☆

Mitsuru: Mister Masked Pervert, where did you find this?

Wataru: I picked it up just a moment ago, on the staircase over there. But when I went to deliver it to the owner’s classroom, I found that it was locked, so I intended to deliver it tomorrow.

Mitsuru: I’m so glad you found it~! Thank you, Mister Masked Pervert!

Hajime: …-kun. Mitsuru-ku~n…?

Mitsuru: Hm? Ah, it’s Hajime-chan! He~y, Hajime-cha~n!

Hajime: Mitsuru-kun! What a relief~. So this is where you went.

I got worried because you didn’t come back no matter how long I waited, so I went looking for you~…

Mugyuh!?

Subaru: Yaaay, it’s Shinonon! You’re as cute as ever today!

Hajime: Huh, Akehoshi-senpai!? I-I’m glad to see you too, but I don’t really know how to react to this~!

Subaru: Hugging Shinonon gives me life, it’s so soothing~, nuzzle nuzzle ♪

Hajime: P-please don’t rub your cheek against mine~! I don’t dislike it or anything, but there are people watching! It’s embarrassing~!

Mitsuru: That’s no fair! I’ll snuggle Hajime-chan, too~!

Hajime: Wawah, not you too, Mitsuru-kun… I’m gonna get crushed between you both~.

Wataru: My, what a lively atmosphere...☆ There’s no room for me to slide in, so I’m feeling kind of lonely!

Hajime: Huuh? Isn’t that… Hibiki-senpai? I-I’m so sorry. With all this fuss, I didn’t notice you were there!

Wataru: I don’t mind, please do go ahead and keep up that hilarious commotion! I shall be enjoying the view with a refreshing drink in hand!

Mitsuru: Hmm? Somehow I feel like I’m forgetting something important.

Ah, right! I need to apologize to Hajime-chan.

Hajime-chan, I’m really, really sorry!

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

* Wataru is referencing The Honest Woodcutter. The wikipedia link has a good summary of it.

Location: Hallway

Hajime: Huh? Wha? Why are you apologizing? Mitsuru-kun, please raise your head!

Mitsuru: No, I’ll keep speaking like this. You see, I dropped the letter that you entrusted me with, Hajime-chan.

And then I made Suba-chan-senpai help me look for it… I really shouldn’t have gotten him involved, when he’s the one I was supposed to deliver the letter to in the first place. Really, I am so sorry!

Hajime: Mitsuru-kun… It’s okay. Please don’t worry about it so much.

My name is written on the letter, so maybe some nice person will find it and return it to me.

And even if no one finds it, I can just write it again.

Mitsuru: Ah, we actually already found the letter. Mister Masked Pervert picked it up for us.

Hajime: Oh, I see. All’s well that ends well, then ♪

...Mitsuru-kun, I’m sorry to say this after I already asked it of you. But can I hand over that letter myself, after all?

Mitsuru: Huh, are you sure?

Hajime: Seeing how hard you were trying for my sake helped me gather up my courage ♪

Mitsuru: Hajime-chan…

Alright, go for it, Hajime-chan! Hit ‘im with those feelings of yours!

Hajime: Y-yes! I’ll do my best!

Akehoshi-senpai, giving you a letter out of the blue like this may just be a bother to you, but… Well, I don’t need a reply, but please accept this!

Subaru: It’s no bother at all! In fact, I’m really happy~! Thank you, Shinonon ♪

I wonder what’s written in here? Heyhey, is it okay if I read it right away? I wanna read it out loud!

Hajime: What…!? Please don’t, I’d be so embarrassed if you read it in front of me~!

Also, if you read it out loud, everyone’s going to find out just how much I like you, Akehoshi-senpai…

Subaru: That’s alright! I love you too, Shinonon...☆

Hajime: Uwah… Hearing you say that with that smile on your face is making me all dizzy, Akehoshi-senpai…

Subaru: Your smile always makes me dizzy too, Shinonon...☆ (winks)

Hajime: Wawah!? I-I get it already, so please stop~!

Subaru: Sorry, sorry. Oh right, thanks for what you did back at “SakuraFes”, Shinonon!

Hajime: Huh, why are you suddenly bringing that up? You didn’t even read my letter yet…

Subaru: It’s always been at the back of my mind that I still had to thank you for it, so I thought right now would be a good opportunity to do it~♪

Hajime: B-but I didn’t even do anything you’d have to thank me for, Akehoshi-senpai…?

Subaru: Geez Shinonon, didn’t you, well, I mean all of you, advertise for us with your marching band back then?

Thanks to you, “SakuraFes” had a full house, and the excitement carried all the way up to the stage!

I can’t thank you enough~!

Hajime: Akehoshi-senpai…

So you knew about the marching band… Just giving you my letter would’ve already been enough for me, but now I really feel like I’m on cloud nine~♪

Mitsuru: Yep yep, seeing Hajime-chan so happy makes me happy, too! I guess that’s case… Case, what was it again?

Hajime: Fufu, you mean “case closed”~. You know, I’m really glad I mustered up the courage to give Akehoshi-senpai my fan letter in person.

Really, thank you so much, Mitsuru-kun.

Wataru: What a heartwarming tale~. I’m truly fortunate to be witness to such a moving scene ☆

By the way, and I hate to butcher the plot to your tale like this, could this be another letter that you dropped?

Mitsuru: What? I-I’ve never seen that letter in my life! Someone else must’ve dropped that one, no?

Wataru: Hmm, maybe I was mistaken? However, this letter was on the stairway right next to the one you dropped…

Hajime: Huh? Isn’t that the same stationery that you bought at the school store earlier today, Mitsuru-kun?

Mitsuru: Uhii!? N-n-n-no it’s not~!

Wataru: Whoops, were you trying to snatch this letter from my hands? And yet you have no reason to do that, since it doesn’t belong to you, correct?

Mitsuru: U-uu~!

Location: Hallway

Mitsuru: Uu, guess I’ll give up and confess… The truth is, I also wrote a letter to Suba-chan-senpai.

Subaru: Oh you too, dash-dash kid? Yahoo, I’m dashingly popular~♪

Mitsuru: Geez, stop stealing my “dash” thing.

The reason why we performed as a marching band was all thanks to Hajime-chan, you see. He said he really wanted to help you in any way he could.

I wanted you to know that, so I wrote it to you in a letter…

But Suba-chan-senpai already knew all about it, so I guess there was no need for that.

Hajime: Mitsuru-kun… Thank you for doing that for me. I’m so happy I could cry~♪

Ehehe, guess I’ve been in your debt in more ways than one today.

Mitsuru: It’s fine for you to indebt yourself every once in a while. I only ever receive favors from you, Hajime-chan, so I’m happy that I got the chance to return some favors this time around!

Subaru: Heyhey, that letter’s addressed to me, isn’t it? Which means it’s okay for me to read it, right?

Mitsuru: But I already told you what I wrote, so won’t it be a pretty boring read~?

Subaru: Still, you wrote that letter out of your heart-felt consideration of Shinonon, didn’t you? It’d be a waste not to read it. You think so too, right Shinonon?

Hajime: Yes. If it’s okay with you, Mitsuru-kun, I’d also like to read it.

Mitsuru: Well, I won’t say no if you insist like that. Umm, if there’s parts you find hard to read or don’t get, you can ask me.

Subaru: Roger-dodger~. ...Wow, it’s all hiragana ☆

Mitsuru: Uu, it’s actually better than it used to be. I exchanged letters with Hajime-chan, and now I’m gradually starting to use more kanji.

Subaru: Ahaha, it’s like a letter from a child~♪

Mitsuru: Mph, I’m not a child. It feels like you’re making fun of me, and that’s super annoying.

Wataru: I think it’s fine the way it is, what really matters is the sentiment.

Actually, I took the liberty of reading it as well, and thought that your strong feelings for your friend were conveyed vividly. I am blinded by the tears I am moved to, ahahahaha...☆

Mitsuru: Owah, where did these pigeons come from!?

Subaru: Yeah. I feel the same way, dash-dash kid.

After reading all of it, I finally understand. I’m sorry for saying that it’s like a letter from a child.

It’s a great letter that conveys that you like Shinonon lots and lots.

Really, it’d be a waste to throw it out. I’ll treasure it, just as much as I’ll treasure the letter from Shinonon!

Hajime: I was kind of embarrassed while I was reading it… But by the end I was tearing up again, and I feel like I’ll really burst into tears any second now~♪

Mitsuru: Mister Masked Pervert, Suba-chan-senpai, Hajime-chan…

After dashing for so long, I feel like I can finally see the finish line!

I’ll trust that this is the right answer, and push on through~♪

Location: Dance Room

- A few days later -

Hajime: Haah~... Squeak, squeak ♪ Haah~... Squeak, squeak ♪

Tomoya: Hajime~? You started polishing the windows as soon as you stepped into the dance room, huh. But it’s not like you’re here for a school part-time job, so there’s no need for you to do that, you know.

Hajime: Ahaha, you’re right. But there was still some polish residue on the windows, and it bothered me…

Alright, it’s sparkling clean now~♪

Doing laundry is fun, but so is cleaning. When everything is clean and orderly, it makes me feel so accomplished.

Nazuna: Well, I hate to break this to you when you look so satisfied, but our practice is only just starting~. Brace yourself, okay?

Hajime: Wawah, Nii~chan? I didn’t notice you at all!

Umm, I’ll clear everything away, so please wait just a moment!

Nazuna: Oh no, there’s no need to be in a rush~. We got lucky today and managed to rent a dance room, so we’ll start practice once Mitsuru-chin gets here.

Actually, does he know that we’re having practice today? He didn’t go home because he forgot about it, did he...?

Tomoya: Aah, I walked by Mitsuru’s classroom, and he told me “I’ll come as soon as I’m done!”.

Nazuna: I see, that’s a relief.

...But “done” with what? What’s Mitsuru-chin making?

Tomoya: Beats me, I didn’t ask him, so… Ah, speak of the devil.

Mitsuru: Dash, da~sh! Sorry I’m late! Did you already start practice?

Tomoya: Don’t come barging into the room like that. Well, unlike our usual practice room, this one’s soundproof so at least you’re not bothering anyone…

Mitsuru: Nii~chan! I’ve got something to show you!

Here it is… I’m sorry it took me so long, but it’s my signature. ...What do you think?

Nazuna: Yeah, this one really shows your individuality, Mitsuru-chin. It’s a really great signature. Well done, Mitsuru-chin, you’ve improved a lot ♪

But are you sure you don’t want to go with kanji? Didn’t you say that hiragana are uncool?

Mitsuru: Well, yeah… But I stopped aiming for coolness. What really matters is the sentiment!

Nazuna: Ooh, how mature of you, Mitsuru-chin~! Did something happen that made you change your mind in such a short period of time?

Mitsuru: Yeah. It’s all thanks to Mister Masked Pervert! I think I might actually kinda like that guy~!

Tomoya: Eeh, don’t be ridiculous, Mitsuru! That guy’s such a weirdo he deserves the title of “pervert”! What about him could you possibly fall for!

Hajime: Hm~, I actually like him quite a bit, too~. He’s a good person, that Hibiki-senpai.

Tomoya: Sigh, not you too, Hajime… Uu, he’s defiling my oasis~! S-stop it, keep your hands off my friends!

Nazuna: Hm…? Tomo-chin, you dropped some kind of paper.

Are these practice signatures…? Huh, so Tomo-chin also turned his signature into hiragana?

Tomoya: Yeah, I was thinking it over for a while and decided to try hiragana, too. But I never expected Mitsuru to do the same, it was a real surprise.

Mitsuru: Fufun, but my signature’s way cooler than yours!

Look, I drew a little dash symbol next to it. Dash, da~sh ☆

Tomoya: I thought you stopped aiming for coolness. ...Well, whatever.

Nii~chan. I like this signature best, so can you reject the one I turned in before and accept this one instead?

(TN: Tomoya’s final signature:

)

Nazuna: Sure. Alright, then I’ll accept your hiragana signature as the official one~♪

Hmm… So we have two signatures with kanji, and two in hiragana. That might be a good balance. And each of them brings out your personalities, so I’m sure the fans will love them, too.

Mitsuru: Nii~chan, do you want my autograph? I’ll give you my commemorable, very first autograph~♪

Nazuna: Oi Mitsuru-chin, what do you think you’re writing on? Stobbit, that’s my favwowite button pin!

Hajime: Mitsuru-kun, I just happen to have some autograph boards with me today, so how about you sign one of those instead?

Mitsuru: That’s perfect! I want your autograph too, Hajime-chan!

Hajime: Ah, in that case, how about we all exchange autographs? That way, we’ll get a taste of what it feels like for our fans to receive our autographs ♪

Nazuna: He~y, did you guys already forget what we came here for?

...Well, whatever. Guess we’re practicing giving autographs today.

Check it out, this is my signature~♪

(TN: Nazuna’s signature: