Cats and the Camellia Train - Epilogue

[bakemonoremy]

Location: Camellia Train Live Stage

Keito: “Everyone who has come to see us, welcome to Akatsuki’s live show.”

“Luckily the snow has stopped, and yet the cold cuts into your bodies.”

“For all of you to come here despite this, I am truly grateful. As an idol, I couldn’t be happier.”

“We’ll be firing up the stage, so please enjoy it all the way to the end.”

Souma: “Yes! We shall melt the freshly fallen snow with our singing voices!”

Kuro: “From the thawed snow, flowers bloom. Like the camellias, we’ll show you the blossoming of deep red flowers...♪”

Keito: (Very good, the beginning was satisfactory. As usual, it’s the result of our practice.)

(I’m not worried about our performance, but the issue lies with the weather.)

(The weather report said it’d be clear with some clouds later on, but despite that, it snowed earlier… During winter, you can’t rely on the forecast.)

(I hope the bit of snow we got earlier is the extent of it…)

Kuro: Oi, Hasumi. What are you lookin’ all gloomy for. If you look like that, the audience is gonna worry, yknow?

Keito: Y-yeah. I’m sorry. Kanzaki is… moving around in defiance of the cold, huh.

Kuro: They do say children are outdoor creatures. And besides that, he’s probably real happy to be doing this live.

Keito: Aah… We haven’t been able to do any idol activities lately, after all.

I should have realized this during the “Tsukimi Live”, but I almost made him hesitate again. It’s inexcusable.

Kuro: I can’t find fault with what you’re sayin’ this time, Hasumi. We should both reflect on this.

Keito: But I was truly happy that Kanzaki came to us with a job he wanted to do.

Kuro: Right. It’s probably because he doesn’t want to place the burden on us, but even now he’s the one movin’ the most. He’s catchin’ everyone’s gazes.

Keito: Yeah. Because he’s a kid who can do it if he tries.

Kuro: Hm? Haha, it started snowin’ aga~in. Well, it seems to be rather light snowfall, so there’s no need to stop the live because of it.

Keito: Yes. Let’s proceed with the programme as planned.

Keito: “♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪“

Kuro: (Ooh… Hasumi won’t lose to Kanzaki with that determination. What’s he doing, competin’ with his comrade like that.)

(As if, he’s probably just enjoying himself so much he can’t help it. That’s a good face you’re makin’, Danna.)

(We’re singin’ and dancin’ on stage so much, I can barely even feel the cold. Not to the extent that I can’t feel it at all, though.)

(I’ve worked up a real sweat, so I expected my body to cool down quickly. And yet, my body is gradually heatin’ up instead...♪)

(Oh? The customers from the streetcar came outside.)

(Haha, they’re cheerin’ us on to do our best. It must be cold for them with all this snow, but not a single one of ‘em is going back inside.)

(The customers over there are the ones I served.)

(I thought they’d be scared of me, but instead they said “Amazing how you’re so well-liked by all these cats” with a sparkle in their eyes.)

(Seems like I got all worried for nothin’. The guests and the cats weren’t scared of me one bit… Haha, I guess the only one who wanted to give up and built up a wall was me from the beginning.)

Kuro: (We’re the No.2 unit of Yumenosaki Academy. We can’t stop in our tracks here.)

(The real thing’s from here on out. We’ll show them why Akatsuki is called the school’s No.2.)

“♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪”

Souma: (Fufu, as expected of Hasumi-dono and Kiryuu-dono. Even though it’s easy to slip due to the snow, their footwork is so fluid I’m getting enchanted...♪)

(If it’s not just my imagination, I’d say the both of them look like they’re in much higher spirits than usual.)

(After meeting “Maru”, I made up my mind to persuade them to do the “raibu”... And yet, I frankly didn’t think everything would go this smoothly.)

(I thought they’d reject the “raibu”, saying they don’t have the time for it. I thought I might be making the gentle two of them fret about it.)

(...My head was full of thoughts like that. But, it was nothing but needless anxiety!)

(Hasumi-dono, Kiryuu-dono. I am deeply grateful for this. To be standing on this “suteeji” with the two of you, I couldn’t be happier.)

(I am also part of Akatsuki. I can’t have the two of them protect me behind their backs forever!)

Souma: “♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪”

(Ooh, the customers are enjoying watching us sing and dance. I wonder if our music reaches “Maru” and the other cats as well.)

(Even if they can’t understand our words, our feelings will surely reach them through our song.)

“We shall dye this pure white snow in Akatsuki’s color! Now, let us dance!”