Merry Xmas - adhésion 2

Location: Meeting Room

- The next day -

Sora: Uff~. Yesterday sure was a lot to handle~...

Hajime: It really was… But I’m glad we managed somehow.

After all that fuss we went and explained the situation thoroughly, cleared up the misunderstanding and were able to finish the recording… It was all just very mentally draining.

Shiratori-kun seemed rather depressed... I hope he recovered his good spirits by resting well last night.

And Tori-kun acted the way he always does, but he somehow seemed to be in a bad mood yesterday… I’m a little concerned about that.

Sora: Hrm~m… Sora’s impression is slightly different.

Hajime: Huh?

Sora: Sora feels like Hime-chan’s source of irritation doesn’t lie in what happened yesterday, but that it has some entirely different reason behind it~. He can’t tell for sure though.

Hajime: You think so…?

Oh well! We can’t allow ourselves to sulk like this forever, right? It’s times like these when we’ve got to keep our heads up! Ey, ey, oh~♪ 

Today us fairies are going to make the ornaments that we’ll use to decorate the art installation, right?

Sora: HaHa~♪ That’s right! That’s why we’ve got all these materials here, huh~?

Hajime: We have materials for making shrinky dinks and even resin for casting ornaments. We should have everything we need to make anything we want.

Tori (Off-screen): Sorryyy~! I didn’t mean to be late!

Sora: Hime-chan! Hello ☆ 

No worries~, we’re still missing some people anyway.

Tori: Right, Anzu and the cameraman said they’d be running a little late today… Sheesh, it was silly of me to be in such a hurry~.

Hm? Hajime, Harukawa, you both got changed already? I’d better change my clothes too, then.

By the way, where’s Shiratori? Not here yet?

Hajime: Ah, no… He hasn’t come yet…

Tori: I see…

Sora: HiHi~, but Sora feels like Ai-chan is somewhere nearby for sure! He’s gonna go look for him, okay~? Please stay right here and wait.

Aira: … Excuse me…

Sora: Wawah?! Ai-chan! Hello there~? Sora got a bit startled because you were right behind the door when he opened it.

Aira: Umm… I…

Sora: It’s alright, Ai-chan! Come, come on in ☆

Hajime: Ohh, now we’ve got everyone ♪

Aira: Umm… I’m so sorry! I caused so much trouble for everyone yesterday…

Tori: No one minds that. And we managed to wrap it all up in the end. You shouldn’t let it weigh on you either, Shiratori.

Aira: I know… But, still… I’m just so sorry.

Tori: ………

Alright! We’re making the ornaments for the tree today, but we still haven’t even decided what exactly we’re going to make.

I want us to have as much time as possible to make them. Anzu and the staff aren’t here yet, but let’s just go ahead and decide what we’ll be making!

Hajime: Christmas trees look cutest with lots and lots of ornaments on them, don’t they? ♪ So let’s make a list of christmas-y things we can use.

Sora: What are we going to do with the treetop? We still haven’t decided anything, huh~?

Tori: We sure didn’t~. A star would be traditional… But I also kinda want to come up with something new and inventive.

Hajime: Hmm. If we want something no one else has… Then how about we decorate the tree with the motifs of all kinds of different units?

Tori: Angels would be cute too, and they bring the words “holy night” to mind ♪

Sora: HuHu~. Or we could choose other things one can find in the sky besides stars~? Like the moon, or planet Saturn!

Aira: ………

Tori: Hey Shiratori, what do you think? What kind of ornaments should we make?

Aira: ...Huh? Oh... I’m fine with anything! And all your ideas are really cute anyway.

Tori: — Ugh!

Shiratori. You know, I really want to put the golden shachihoko* of Nagoya on top of the tree! I wanna do that soooo badly! What do you think?

Aira: Huh? Sh-shachihoko…?

Tori: Yup, you’ve got it. So, what do you think?

Aira: ...Umm. Err… I mean. I think that should work? And like, shachihoko are cute, so…

Tori: …!

Aira: Ehehe…

Tori: Is that really what you think? I’m talking about a shachihoko here! Having a shachihoko on top of a tree would be weird no matter how you look at it!

Why do you only ever smile and nod, no matter what I say?! You’re not acting like you’re one of us at all! And since you keep acting like that — I can’t think of you as one of us, either!

Aira: — !

Hajime: T-Tori-kun…!

Aira: ...Uh, umm… I’m so sorry, I’m just… just going to the bathroom for a moment…!

Hajime: Shiratori-kun! Please wait!

Sora: Jime-chan, Sora is going after him. Please leave it to him.

Hajime: Thank you…! Then I’ll look after Tori-kun…!

——————

* Shachihoko are animals from Japanese folklore with the head of a tiger and the body of a carp. Nagoya Castle is known to have golden ornaments in the shape of shachihoko on its roof, to protect it from fire (shachihoko have the ability to make rain fall.) This is what golden shachihoko ornaments look like. (PLEASE LOOK AT IT)

Merry Xmas - adhésion 3

Location: Meeting Room

Tori: ………

...I’m such a terrible senior, aren’t I.

Shiratori’s a rookie compared to us, and I know he’s earnestly giving it his best effort. Even after what happened yesterday, he didn’t run away and showed up today, too…

Hajime: You’re not terrible at all. I think you’re a really good senior, Tori-kun.

And I don’t think your anger had anything to do with that, anyhow. Am I wrong?

Tori: You’re not angry with me…?

Hajime: Why would I be? Neither you nor Shiratori-kun are in the wrong. There’s no reason to blame either of you, is there?

You’re both kind-hearted people, so you were both walking on eggshells around each other, that’s all. You just clashed a little, nothing more.

I don’t think we need to find someone to blame in this situation.

Tori: ………

I tried to handle everything skillfully… But I couldn’t do it at all. I was a leader in name only. I was putting on airs like one, but I wasn’t leading anybody.

These days I can finally stand side by side with the person I admire… So I felt as if I’d become just as omnipotent myself…

But of course I’m nothing like Eichi-sama...

I’m sorry…

Hajime: You’re telling that to the wrong person, you know? Tori-kun.

Tori: ...Yeah. You’re right. I’m gonna go tell him…! I’ll tell him what really matters!

Hajime: Huh? But we don’t even know where Shiratori-kun is…?

Tori: Then I’ll look for him! If I just sat around waiting — Well, no citizen’s going to follow a king who won’t leave his castle, right…!

Hajime: Fufu. You’re right. I think that’s a good idea...♪

Location: Hanging Garden (Winter)

Aira: …

(He told me I’m not one of them…! That’s like saying he doesn’t need me anymore…)

(It’s all over… He’s totally sick of my shit for sure…!)

(Why am I like this? I thought I’d gotten used to this job by now, and even gained some confidence… But I was wrong, and this is what I get for getting all carried away.)

(I thought that my love for idols would always prevail, that that’d be enough for me to eventually accomplish anything I set out to do.)

(I never thought these feelings would ever hurt anyone… I didn’t think they’d get in anyone’s way.)



Aira: Uuu, *sniff*. *sob, sob*… *sniff*…



Sora: Ai-chan…?

Aira: ! Harukawa-senpai?! — Wh-why are you here…?

Sora: It’s because Sora saw Ai-chan’s sad “color”. That’s how Sora could tell you were here.

Aira: *sniffles*. “Color”...?

Umm, I, I’m sorry, this isn’t what it looks like. I’m okay, really. I just cried a tiny bit, but I’ll stop now… *sniff*…

Sora: Ai-chan. Is it okay for Sora to sit next to you? Sora brought a tea that contains a spell to make your tears stop~.

Aira: *sniff*... A tea… with a spell? — Hehe, that’s so weird.

Sora: HaHa~♪ Ai-chan looks loveliest when he smiles after all. Here you go, warm and toasty tea ♪ Sora is sure that it’ll make you happy~!

Aira: Thank you very much. — *gulp*. It tastes so good...♪

Sora: HiHi~. Sora is glad to hear that! Did you calm down a little?

Aira: Yes…

Umm. It’s not Himemiya-senpai’s fault that I was crying, okay? It was just because I felt pathetic, that’s all…!

Sora: It’s fine. People cry because their heart overflows sometimes, you know~?

So there’s no need to hold it in. Sora wants Ai-chan to treat his heart with care.

Aira: Harukawa-senpai…

Sora: Ai-chan. Please don’t regret your feelings of love, okay~?

Aira: Huh?

Sora: Did Sora guess right? That’s how it looked to him, you see.

Ai-chan’s feelings of love sparkle so beautifully, and they twinkle like the stars in the night sky! That’s why Sora wants you to take good care of that twinkle.

Aira: The stars…

(He might be right…)

(Their twinkle is way too beautiful. Even if you try, your hands will never reach them… Still, I can’t help but reach out again and again. I reach out to that which I want so much that I could cry, so much that it’s unbearable. To that which I admire.)

Tori (Off-screen): Shiratori, there you are…!

Aira: ! Himemiya-senpai….

Sora: Hime-chan’s here, huh~? Then Sora is going to take his leave.

Aira: Ah, H-Harukawa-senpai…!

Sora: You’ll be okay~. Please don’t be scared.

You’re just like the stars. There may be clear days and rainy ones, and on some days, they might be hard to see. But the stars’ twinkle doesn’t change because of that. And Hime-chan is the same way, too ♪

Aira: Me and Himemiya-senpai are the same…?

Merry Xmas - étoile 1

TL Note: The chapter title “étoile” is French for “star”. 

Location: Hanging Garden

Aira: Umm. Himemiya-senpai, I…

Tori: — I’m sorry.

Aira: Huh? You have nothing to apologize for, Himemiya-senpai…

Tori: I tested you without even letting you know how I felt, and said such horrible things to you — And for that, I’m sorry, Shiratori.

Aira: No, those… Those things were all my fault.

Tori: I really want to make this job a success.

I felt that I wanted us to become the kind of idols that people see and aspire to be like.

But there’s no point to it if I do it by myself… I felt like I could grant my wish with these members, so I got all frantic.

But you know, there was no way we were going to become a true unit just by seeing each other and talking for such a brief time.

I didn’t even realize that much. And for that, I’m sorry too.

Aira: I was the one who held everyone back yesterday… and caused so much trouble—

Tori: You can cause trouble for us.

Aira: Huh?

Tori: Saying you’re sorry is important, but more than that, I wanted you to say “thank you”!

We’re a unit, aren’t we? We’re not solo artists, not on our own. Shouldn’t we shoulder all our failures and successes together?

And that’s why it’s okay for you to cause trouble for us! That’s what we’re here for!

You were always holding back, always staying one step behind us, weren’t you, Shiratori? I hated that!

Aira: Himemiya-senpai…

Tori: You idolized us unconditionally… And that’s why I got the wrong idea about having become someone’s object of admiration.

Aira: ……....

(Himemiya-senpai… The Himemiya-senpai, of fine, the strongest unit of all…)

(He’s just the same as me…)

(Just like me, he’s struggling so much, and reaching his hand out to the stars in the night sky…)

I was under the impression that you were like a god who has everything, Himemiya-senpai.

Tori: I’m really not. I’m always frantic, you know. And the same goes for Harukawa and Hajime, too.

On the surface we’re keeping up appearances and might even make it look easy, but underneath that surface, we’re all paddling desperately to stay afloat.

What do you think? Are you disappointed to see this side of us?

Aira: Ehehe. Not even a little.

In fact, I suddenly feel closer to you guys. So we’re all the same, huh? And yet I deliberately put all that distance between us and single-handedly forced my expectations of what you should be like on you.

Tori: Well, now you know how uncool we really are. So none of that from now on, okay?

Let’s become a real unit this time, Shiratori.



Aira: I still admire Himemiya-senpai, Shino-senpai, and Harukawa-senpai for being idols, who I love so much… Even now, that won’t change.

But if I keep only admiring you from afar… only ever looking at you from one step behind you… then I’ll never stand side-by-side with you.

Please let me become one of you for real this time…!

Ahaha. My inner idol otaku is going hogwild and calling this blasphemy, though.

Still, I really want to belong with the rest of you guys…!

Merry Xmas - étoile 2

Location: Meeting Room

Aira: Wow, you sure were running late, Anzu-san and Mr. Cameraman.

Huh? My eyes look red?

Ah, ahaha. Some dirt got into my eyes, that’s all…!

But I’m alright now. Everyone helped me get it out, so I can see clearly now ♪

Sora: Hime-chan, it looks like the camera’s all set up and ready!

Tori: Okay~☆ Anzu and the others are here, too, so let’s get started on the orna—

Sora: Hm? What’s the matter, Anzu?

Tori: What?! Our unit name’s been chosen?! Why didn’t you tell us right away!

Yaaay ♪ What is it, what is it?

Hajime: — “Branco”?

Aira: Ra~vely~♪ It’s sooo cute! The way it sounds is cute, and like, it seems fun!

Tori: I do think it suits us well since we’re so cute, but why “Branco”?

Sora: Hmm? So it’s not the name of that playground toy?*

It means “white” in Portuguese?

Aira: Ohh, I get it! “White Christmas”... It’s the color of snow, so the unit name means “white”.

Sora: HaHa~☆ What a lovely name! Sora likes it a lot!

Because we’re fairies that gently float down with the white snow~♪

Hajime: Yes! I also really like it...♪ It fits this project perfectly!

Tori: Alri~ght, now that our unit name’s been decided, let’s decide what ornaments to make next!

Hajime: Umm, we already started compiling some ideas, right? So far we’ve got unit motifs and angels, and also the moon and planet Saturn. Should we choose from these?

Aira: Um, may I? I think we should go with stars…!

Sora: HiHi~, you want to use stars?

Aira: Yes. Stars might be kinda conventional, but… I think that’s what makes them a good choice. Sometimes the simple approach is easiest for people to get into, I think.

Also it’s like, stars are crammed full of everyone’s wishes!

People don’t turn to the moon or angels when they wish for happiness, they wish upon a star, right?

So in order to make everyone happy this Christmas, I want us to go with stars.

Hajime: Fufu, it’s almost like in Tori-kun’s picture book. I think it’s a great idea.

Sora: Yes! Sora is in favor, too~!

Tori: So am I ♪ We’re going with Shiratori’s proposal, the stars!

Besides, I feel like stars suit us really well ♪

Hajime: ? How come, Tori-kun?

Aira: Our unit name is Branco, and stars remind you more of Trickstar or even Ryuseitai, though…

Tori: Still, you know how they call performers like us “stars”? And at the same time, stars are the decorations of the night sky ☆

- A few days later. The day the commercial is being recorded -

Sora: “♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪ ~ ☆” 

(Hime-chan and Ai-chan’s “colors” feel really good… While looking at them, Sora gradually becomes dyed in them as well~.)

(We’re all sharing the same “color” right now! Sora is convinced that real fairies are just like this, too.)

(This is so much fun ☆ Sora can’t help it, he wants to view this scenery forever and ever, he doesn’t want it to end~!)



Sora: (But of course, that’s impossible. Every song, every dance, has its end…)

(And that’s why… Sora wants to collect all of our joy and twinkles and convey them to the world!)

Hajime: “♪ ~ ♪ ~”

(I’m so glad — I’m so happy we’re all singing here together, right here and now, with these bright smiles on our faces.)

(We’re still growing, and perfection is far out of reach for us.)

(But it’s because we’re not perfect that we get to encounter each other and support one another.)

(Compared to units that have spent a lot more time together, we may not understand each other all that well yet.)



Hajime: (But that’s okay…)

(After all, not knowing everything yet just means there are still more things I can find to love about the others ♪)

Aira: “♪ ~ ♪ ~”

(Ahh… I’ve never been this nervous in my life…)

(But it’s not like my mind is blanking, it feels more like it’s all light and fluffy.)

(This is fun — It’s so, so, so much fun…!)

(My body isn’t frozen stiff, and I can move the way I want to. I can hear the rhythm of everyone else’s breaths. I know how I have to move…!)

(I’m having so much fun right now I just can’t contain myself…!)

(I don’t have to hate myself and cower in fear — It’s alright.)

(Because the others saw my good parts and bad parts, all of them, and they took me by the hand and told me I’m okay the way I am.)



Aira: (When you raise your head and look the people before you in the eyes… When you open your heart… the world is overflowing with so much love.)

(Fufu. The kindness I received from the others is overflowing from my heart, too. So I’ll pass it on to everyone.)

(Ai lo~ve...♪)

Tori: “♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪ ~”

(At first I thought making this project a success was going to be an easy feat with these members.)

(But it turned out to be a super bumpy ride. What a joke.)

(I should’ve seen that coming, though. We’re all different people who were raised in different environments.)

(We’re flawed and have rough edges. Almost like we’re pieces to a jigsaw puzzle.)

(But that’s exactly why we can click so perfectly, turning into cohesive scenery that spans the horizon.)



Tori: (Even if it’s not the perfect scenery I pictured at first…)

(Still, all those times we worried, and the times we laughed together — and even all those meaningless moments in between… They’re becoming something altogether irreplaceable.)

(I’m confident that anyone who sees us right now can find something to admire in this scenery — and that’s why I can say it with my head held high!)

Tori & Aira: “Merry Christmas ♪“

Hajime & Sora: “Merry Christmas ♪”

—————

* “Branco” (buranko) is a homonym with “buranko” = swing set

Merry Xmas - Epilogue

Location: Sakura Park (Center, Christmas)

Aira: Uwaaaah ♪ Ra~velyyy! It looks amazing…!

Hajime: Wow...♪ We were shown the 3D design mock-up, but it’s so much more dreamy than I ever imagined!

Sora: The tree we’re going to decorate is the one on the very top, right?

Tori: Yup, that’s the one.

Aira: But how are we even going to climb up there? Himemiya-senpai?

If we climbed the outside of the structure, I’m scared that we’d damage some of the ornaments on it~...

Tori: Of course we aren’t gonna do that. Don’t worry, there’s a plan in place for this.

Ummm…? Ah, here it is. See, if you look closely there’s a door here.

We can go inside the structure from here, and a staircase leads to the top of it.

Sora: Wooow! It’s like a secret hideout~!

Hajime: Fufu. When I was younger I built secret hideouts out of cardboard boxes with my little brother and sister. To children, a secret hideout is a place of dreams, isn’t it?

Sora: Hm~. Shisho~ really likes secret hideouts, secret rooms and other places like that, so they feel really familiar to Sora, actually.

Tori: Let’s keep moving. We can leave the idle chatter for later. I want to get this done and over with before anyone walks by and catches us putting up the star. It’d spoil the fun.

You got the star ornament with you?

Aira: Yessir! I’ve got it right here!

Tori: Alright, then let’s all go put it up together.

Hupp. It’s a narrow path, so be careful. Shiratori, make sure you don’t drop and break the star.

Aira: Uu. I knooow…! But it’s really tight in here~.

Tori: Ah, look! There’s the exit!

Wow, the view from here feels entirely different, this is great ♪

Hajime: Fufu. This time you’re the one chattering away, Tori-kun.

Tori: Oops, silly me. Alright, let’s put up this star! Shiratori, you hold it too. We’ll do it together.

Aira: Huh? Are you sure?

Tori: Of course! No holding back, right?

Aira: Ahaha ♪ You’re right, no holding back. We’re fairies who make Christmas fun for everyone together.

Tori: Exactly!

There are all kinds of people in the world. Some are happy, and others aren’t. Giving equal joy to all of them might be difficult…



Tori: Still — Even still, I pray that everyone in the world gets to spend time with those who bring them joy this Christmas…

Tori & Aira: Heave-ho… ☆