Hi, I'm Circ! Welcome to my translation blog! I mostly focus on Mahoyaku here (especially Rustica and Chloe), but will upload other joseimuke material from time to time.
[All translations are unofficial; you are allowed to use them for things such as quote bots without asking; cards are listed by character, rarity, then chronological order]
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
ā Live Streamingā Interactive Chatā Private Showsā HD Qualityā Free Actions
Free to watch ā¢ No registration required ā¢ HD streaming
the store owner was already brewing a coffee for me.
I knew exactly where to sit and what to order.
The moment the coffee touched my lips,Ā
I could feel the stress escape my nostrils.
It was the same routine as always.
My breathing calmed down.
Just a year ago, I couldāve never imagined having this kind of familiar regularity.
I absentmindedly opened my bag to pull out my book when suddenly,Ā
my fingers froze.
Beside my book was a second copy with the same cover.
One I had thumbed through front-to-back,Ā
and the other, was Hinode-kunās.
In the early morning rush,Ā
I mustāve accidentally taken it with me.
Shooting out of my seat, I headed towards the school.
During the evenings, only the lights that are strictly necessary are on at school.
This includes the hallway, the staff room,Ā
and a singular classroom.
When I peered into the little window, I could see class going on.
Written on the blackboardĀ
were vocabulary words from the very book in my hand.
However.
Hinode-kun was nowhere to be seen.
There were only a few teachers in the staff room.
As I searched in vain for the head teacher,Ā
I heard someone call out to me in the hall.
Head Teacher: āAre you Hinode-kunās brother? Good evening.Ā
Is something the matter?ā
Oosaki: āGood evening.Ā
Hinode-kun left his book at home, so I came to bring it to himā¦ā
Head Teacher: āOh, heāll certainly need that.Ā
However, isnāt he supposed to be at home today?ā
My heart stopped.
Oosaki: āWhat do you mean?ā
Head Teacher: āDidnāt you contact the school to let us know?ā
Oosaki: ā...That heād be absent today?ā
Head Teacher: āYes. He was to be out yesterday, today, tomorrow, and the day after.Ā
We were told you had plans to return home for the four days of Obon.ā [1]
The head teacher narrowed his eyes in confusion.
However, I didnāt have anything else to say,Ā
and left the school as quickly as I came.
Walking along the darkened road,Ā
I rotated this new information in my head.
Absent.
For four days.
He was planning to be out tomorrow and the day after as well.
But why?
And where was he now?
With nowhere else to go,Ā
my mind unexpectedly calmed down.
Only the second hand on the wall clock continued to move.
The steam from my coffee had dissipated, and the color of the liquid darkened.
Around 8 pm, Hinode-kun arrived.
I had put the two books on the table.
Oosaki: āMy apologies.Ā
I grabbed your book by mistake this morning, but I hope class went alright without it.ā
He nodded.
It was such a smooth motion
that I could sense nothing off about it whatsoever.
If I hadn't known better,Ā
I wouldāve fully believed Hinode-kun went to school as usualĀ
and managed to do without his forgotten book.
I ordered the neapolitan spaghetti.
Hinode-kun ordered a sandwich for today.
It was completely dark by the time we walked home.
As usual, neither of us spoke.
Only the sounds of my footsteps,Ā
Hinode-kunās footsteps,Ā
and the cane he carried with him broke the silence.
I wanted to respect his muteness as always.
However, the heavy knowledge I bore
turned the silence oppressive.
As soon as I could see the light in the house,Ā
I noticed something was off.
There were two large shadows standing beside the landlady.
Policemen.
A third officer was inside the house,Ā
sweeping the floor with a flashlight.
Landlady: āOosaki-san!ā
Oosaki: āWhatās happened?ā
Landlady: āIt was, it was only a short while.Ā
I had left the house to restock on soy sauce,Ā
and when I returned to put away my wallet, the, theāā
Oosaki: āPlease calm down. Tell me what happened.ā
The policeman answered for the trembling woman.
Policeman: āThere was a burglary.Ā
In that short time, her safe was taken.ā
Oosaki: ā!ā
Landlady: āOh, I havenāt even thought to check your room, Oosaki-san!ā
In a panic, she rushed up the stairs.
When I pulled open the drawers, my safe was still there.
ā¦It was completely untouched.
Landlady: āWait, Oosaki-san!Ā
We should open it to make sure!ā
Oosaki: āI never locked it to begin with.ā
Landlady: āWouldnāt that make this a regular boxā¦?ā
She was right. I was being too careless.
The safe not only contained my belongings,Ā
but Hinode-kunās seal and bankbook as well.
A chill ran down my spine at the thought of them being stolen.
The policemen scoured the room for traces of the thief.
After concluding their sweep, they left.
The landlady shut the door firmly behind them.
Her eyes were shaky with fearĀ
as she clung onto me.
Landlady: āOosaki-san. No, Detective-san. Please catch the culprit for me.ā
I lowered my eyesĀ
and tried to retrace the criminalās steps.
From the footprints, there was only one thief.
They had boldly entered through the front door.
It seemed the landlady had forgotten to lock it.
Landlady: āI thought Iād be back within 10 minutes.
It was only 10 minutesā¦ā
The criminalās footprints were all on the first floor.
There were no signs of a break-in on the second.
From this information, the criminal had to beā
Oosaki: āSomeone who knowsĀ
where the money isĀ
and when the occupants are in and out of the house.ā
Hiding your faceĀ
was as good as revealing it.
Midnight.
I was wide awake in my futon.
My detective brain was whirring,Ā
reanalyzing my situation from a clearer perspective.
ā¦Although the matter itself was personal,Ā
perhaps it was time to put my detective skills to work.
The next day.
Wednesday, August 15th.
I pretended to go to work.
Hidden behind a fence, I began to stake out the house.
Normally, it wouldāve been suspicious for a man to just stand on the street corner,Ā
but since I was a local, I simply greeted anyone who passed by.
The first person to leave the house was the college student rooming next door.
Truthfully, I wasnāt sure if he was a college student or roninsei. [2]
Next, I heard the landladyās laughter.
It seemed she was hanging the laundry in the garden.
She mustāve been talking to Hinode-kun.
However, I couldnāt hear his voice nor what they were saying.
Midday.
It was the quietest time of the year.
When I looked up,
there wasnāt a single cloud in the sky.
Power lines criss-crossed overhead.
The chirping of cicadas could be heard between them.
Everything felt like a daydream.
After the war, I was lucky enough to be saved by Shinkiba-san.
He enrolled me in night school where I didnāt miss a single day.
Whenever I didnāt understand something,Ā
I would turn to Shinkiba-san.
Shinkiba-sanāmy fatherāwould read ahead in my textbooks and leave furigana for me. [3]
He was an amazing father.
However,Ā
could I become an amazing brother for Hinode-kun, too?
Hinode-kun never asked questions.
He never ordered the same neapolitan spaghetti as me.
Whenever he looked in the mirror, he would fix his appearance himself.
It was like we were complete strangers.
As the realization hit me,Ā
it occurred to me
that I wanted to become someone he could rely onā
Evening.
It was time for class.
Hinode-kun left the house.
However, he began to head in the opposite direction of the school.
He didnāt look at anyone passing byĀ
nor at any of the stars in the sky.
Although he kept his head down,Ā
he moved without the slightest hesitation.
Eventually, we left the town behind and arrived at the embankment of the river.
Before him with the great black expanse of the Sagami River.
The water was still and unperturbed by the wind,Ā
its glassy surface reflecting the train lights running overhead.
Hinode-kun stared into its depths.
The water seemed like it could suck his shadow right inā
Oosaki: āHinode-kun.ā
I called out to him.
He quickly turned around.
I thought he might be shocked to find I was following him,Ā
but he looked neither disappointed nor surprised.
His expression was the same as it was at the appliance store.Ā
It was a look of knowing.
Oosaki: āWork ended early, so I decided to take a walk.ā
Hinode: ā...ā
Oosaki: āWhat are you doing here?Ā
What about school?ā
Hinode: ā...ā
Oosaki: āDo you not like it there?ā
He shook his head before I finished speakingĀ
and returned to looking at the water.
It wasnāt that he was avoiding me, but more like he was searching for something.
I cautiously approached him and held out my arm.
If he didnāt want to speak, he could write it instead.
To my surprise, he began to trace letters with his finger.
Oosaki: āāFireā¦fly?
Are you looking for fireflies?ā
He nodded with a nervous expression on his face.
Oosaki: āFireflies are most active in July.Ā
Itās rare for them to live through mid-August.ā
It was incredibly unfortunate.
For the past two days,
Hinode-kun had skipped school to search of fireflies.
Oosaki: āIf you wanted to see fireflies, you couldāve told me soonerāā
Hinode: ā!ā
He shook his head vigorously.
It seemed he had a reason for his search.
Oosaki: āThere wonāt be many fireflies here.Ā
This is the mouth of the river where its currents meet the sea.Ā
Fireflies canāt survive in brackish water.ā
Hinode: ā??ā
Oosaki: āRivers appear to flow one way because the ocean pushes them inward.ā
I made sure to explain everything step by step for him.
As I expected, Hinode-kun seemed dejected,Ā
but I already had a back-up plan prepared.
Oosaki: āThereās a better chance of finding them at the Hanamizu River.ā
Hinode: ā...?ā
Oosaki: āHiratsuka has more than one river.ā
It would take a while to get there.
The two of us returned homeĀ
and borrowed the college studentās bicycle.
With Hinode-kun sitting behind me, we sped through the cityās nightscape.
The silence dispersed into the wind.
Each pedal of the bikeĀ
seemed to take me further away from my troubles, giving me a sense of calm.
I felt like I could finally fill the space between us.
Oosaki: āIt was bold of you to lie to me about skipping school.Ā
I didnāt expect it.ā
Hinode: ā...ā
Oosaki: āYou got bored because it was too easy for you, right?Ā
I shouldāve known from your notes.ā
Hinode-kun nervously fiddled with his shirt.
Even though he didnāt say anything, I could sense his silent apology.
Oosaki: "Donāt worry. Iām not angry with you.
In spring, the dawn. In summers, the nights. Thusāā [4]
We arrived at the Hanamizu River.
Here, the waters were shallowĀ
and thick with the smell of grass.
We got off the bike near the waterās edge.
At first, there was nothing to seeĀ
but the darkness before us.
Then, a single light flitted past.Ā
Then a second, and third appeared.
As I had thought, the fireflies were here.
However, there were so few that I had to strain my eyes to see them.
If we hadnāt been looking for them, we wouldāve never found their light.
Oosaki: āEven though weāre still by the ocean, itās more difficult for the saltwater to mix here due to the riverās twists and turns.Ā
Shall we go upstream? There might be more fireflies in a quieter placeāā
Hinode-kun shook his head.
Then, he crouched down and stared intently at the firefly before him.
He made no move to touch it.
He made no move to capture it.
He simply looked at it in silence.
Oosaki: ā...I see.ā
I finally understood what was going through his head.
With the same feeling in my heart, I watched the firefly breath.
Oosaki: āSurely, Rouren-san is somewhere in that light.ā
Obon was the season when spirits returned from the dead.
To my shame, I had been far too focused on work this year.
For next year and the year after, the two of us ought to come back.
To find the ones we loved within nature.
Sunday.
The thief was caught.
The landlady received her safe back.
Under the policemanās watchful eye,Ā
she nervously opened its door.
A bankbook.
A brooch.
A necklace.
And a portraitā
The landlady lovingly stroked her dearest possessionāa photo of her deceased husband.
Policeman: āIt appears the thief was unable to unlock the safe.Ā
Luckily, we were able to retrieve it before he broke in.ā
Oosaki: āWho was the culprit?ā
Policeman: āOosaki-san.Ā
It was exactly whom you described.ā
I knew it.
Policeman: āThe thief would disguise himself as a door-to-door salesman to acquire information about various households.Ā
His latest gimmick involved selling fluorescent lamps.ā
Landlady: āHim! I canāt believe I bought a lamp from him!Ā
Oh, I did tell him quite a bit that dayā¦ā
The thief would inquire about the householdās residents, then strike while they were away.
While selling his products, he would also note the path the house owner took to retrieve their money and pay.
Thus, he was able to break in-and-out as swiftly and efficiently as possible.
Then, the policeman turned and looked at Hinode-kun.
Policeman: āThat was some mighty fine work, son.ā
Hinode-kun was sitting at the foot of the stairs.
Policeman: āOn the night of the 14th, Oosaki-san came by the station to tip us off on the suspect.Ā
On the afternoon of the 15th, we received a call from this youngster here.ā
Oosaki: āHinode-kun called youā¦?ā
Policeman: āHe was able to clearly describe the thiefās mannerism and M.O. for us.ā
Oosaki: āClearlyā¦ā
Policeman: āIn fact, he even correctly hypothesized where the culprit would strike next.Ā
As a result, we were able to arrest the thief at the scene of the crime.ā
Despite being the center of the conversation,Ā
Hinode-kun quickly rushed up the stairs.
Policeman: āMake sure to give that boy his laurels.ā
When I returned to our room,Ā
Hinode-kun was sitting at his desk.
My old incandescent lamp had returned to the spotĀ
where the fluorescent lamp used to be.
As per usual,Ā
Hinode-kun was scribbling away in his manuscript.
Oosaki: āThat was quite brave of you.ā
Hinode: ā...ā
Oosaki: āIt was brilliant work.ā
Hinode: ā......ā
Oosaki: āHowever, this time, Iām still one step ahead.ā
Hinode: ā.........ā
Oosaki: āYou worked hard to retrieve that safe.ā
Hinode-kun didnāt track down the culprit just for the sake of it.Ā
Rather, he simply wanted to return the landladyās safe.
Hinode-kun glanced back.
His lips were pursed, his nose upturned, and his face had flushed completely red.
Hinode: āThe matter was so simple that Iād hardly call it work.ā
He had the haughty expression of a boy full of complexities yet childish all the same.
He voiced his embarrassment so eloquently
that I couldnāt help but laugh at this newfound side of him.
Kanagawa Prefecture, Hiratsuka City.
A widowed landlady,Ā
a shy college student,Ā
a piddling detective,Ā
and an aspiring detective novelist,
still had their entire summer ahead of themā
[Ten Views of Shonan -Firefly-] 1956.Hinode Route [5]
Translation Notes
[1] Obon is a Japanese festival meant to honor the deceased. During this time, it's said the spirits of the dead can temporarily return to visit their loved ones. It typically occurs from August 13th-16th.
[2] Roninsei: a person who failed to passed their university entrance exam and is studying to retake it the next year.
[3] Furigana: a pronunciation guide to help read difficult characters.
[4] A quote from the opening passage of The Pillow Book by Sei ShÅnagon, the text Hinode has been reading for class. In full, the lines read, "In spring, it is the dawn that is most beautifulā¦ In summer, the nights. Not only when the moon shines, but on dark nights too, as the fireflies flit to and fro, and even when it rains how beautiful it is!" (Morris 16).
[5] As a fun fact, the Japanese word for "fluorescent lamp" (čå ēÆ) literally translates to "firefly light."
Bibliography
Morris, Ivan, translator. The Pillow Book of Sei ShÅnagon. By Sei ShÅnagon, Penguin Books, 1971.
[Ten Views Of Shonan -Sky-] - Funeno Route Short Story
Thank you @/phampiremagic on Twitter for helping proofread as always!
I finally got my driverās license in the spring.
Since Shinkiba-san and Shinagawa-kun already had theirs,
I was the last at the agency to acquire mine.
While driving was convenient, it also came with a great responsibility,
one I hadnāt felt ready for.
However, this year, on a sunny day,Ā
I finally had someone I wanted to take on a drive.
It was a clear day at the airport when
Kureichirou-san spotted me.
Giving me a big wave,Ā
he slipped through the din of the crowd.
Kureichirou: āIām sorry I kept you waiting!ā
Hiiro: āDid you get lost?ā
Kureichirou: āA little.ā
He chuckled.
The summer bustling with visitors, comers, and goers.
With Kureichirou-san in the passenger seat, we began to drive along the coast.
Gulls glided in and out of the windĀ
just beyond the open window.
ā¦I had noticed this earlier, but for some reason,
Kureichirou-san was holding a large apple in his hand.
Hiiro: āWhere did you get that apple?ā
Kureichirou: āIt was given to me at the airport.ā
Hiiro: āWas there a specialty store?ā
Kureichirou: āNot exactlyā¦Ā
There was a man who dropped an armful of apples.Ā
When I helped pick them up, he gave me one as thanks.ā
Hiiro: āWhat will you do with it?ā
Kureichirou: āWhat will I do? Well, I was going to eat itā¦ā
Hiiro: āBut what if itās poisoned?ā
Kureichirou: āUfufu, donāt be silly. Itās not like Iām āSnow Whiteā.ā
He split the apple with his bare hands and divided it into quarters.
Kureichirou: āDoesnāt it smell lovely?ā
Hiiro: ā...ā
Kureichirou: āI appreciate your concern, but thereās no need to worry.
The apple seller was very kind to me.ā
At the next stoplight, I took a piece.
For a poisoned apple, it was terribly fresh and juicy.
My suspicions disappeared with every bite.
Eventually, we left the sea behind and entered a mountainous road.
Steering with one hand,Ā
I folded the map Shinkiba-san had given me with the otherā¦
Hiiro: ā...I apologize for dragging you to a job as soon as you arrived.ā
Kureichirou: āOh no, I completely understand.
Iām just happy to be here.ā
It was Shinkiba-san who had requested my services this time.
He wanted me to pick something up from a farmer in Ninomiya.
Even though Iād borrowed his car for the job,Ā
I hadnāt realized our destination was in the mountains.
The disparity between his crude map and the rugged terrain was astounding.
Hiiro: āIt should be around here somewhereā¦ā
Suddenly, the car jolted to a stop.
My body jerked forward.
The backwheel spun helplessly.
We were stuck in the mud.
As panic seized me,Ā
Kureichirou-san hopped out of the passenger seat,
and placed both hands on the back of the car.
Kureichirou: āIāll push.ā
Understanding his message,Ā
I pressed on the accelerator,Ā
and we freed the car together.
Hiiro: āThank you.ā
Kureichirou: āItās no problem.ā
True to his word, he smiled as if heād done nothing at all.
Before long, the woods began to clear,
giving way to row upon row of fields.
Cucumbers, eggplants, tomatoes.
The verdant produce grew in neat lines,Ā
casting distinct shadows on the ground.
We were so high up
Ā that it almost felt like we could brush the clouds.
A single-story house overlooked the plantation.
Beside it was an enormous tree,Ā
its branches heavy with fruit.
They were bright yellowĀ
like freshly squeezed paint from a tube.
Getting out of the car, we went to find the owner.
Kureichirou-san spotted someone firstĀ
and pointed towards the distance.
Kureichirou: āIs that who youāre looking for?ā
There was a woman alone amidst the greenery.
She was hunched over, weeding the fields.
Then, all of a sudden, her elderly frame toppled over.
Kureichirou: āM- Maāam!ā
We carried the woman back to her house and checked her for injuries.
Thankfully, she didnāt seem to have any.
Farm Lady: ā...My sons will be terribly cross with me.Ā
Theyāre always telling me not to work the fields alone.ā
Kureichirou: āThe important thing, however, is that youāre safe and sound.ā
Farm Lady: āAll thanks to you.Ā
I appreciate the two of you for coming to my aid.Ā
Although, might I ask, why are you hereā¦?
Kureichirou: āWeā¦ā
Kureichirou-san faltered and looked at me for help.
Weāve finally arrived at the purpose of our visit.
Hiiro: āI am Shinkibaās son.ā
Farm Lady: āAh, youāre the detective!Ā
Your father was of great help to us back in the day.ā
Hiiro: āI believe he received something from you every year, so Iāve come to pick it up in his stead.ā
Farm Lady: āYes, yes, I give him a portion of my vegetables as a token of thanks. Howeverā¦ā
The womanās gaze shifted towards the fields,Ā
and she dropped her head with a sigh.
Farm Lady: āMy dear, how could we let this beā¦ā
We were granted permission to take what we liked,Ā
and soon ventured into the fields.
I carried the basketĀ
while Kureichirou-san surveyed the vegetables.
Kureichirou: āIt seems like everything is ripe and ready to harvest.Ā
We ought to take advantage of the situation and choose the best ones.ā
He gradually began to fill the basketĀ
with produce in all shapes and sizes.
Kureichirou-san carefully plucked the vegetables with his gentle hands.
It was as if he was asking each one for permission before taking them away.
My fingers began to numb as the basket grew in weight.
Kureichirou-san worked with a smileĀ
until he finished his harvest with one last tomato.
Suddenly, the wind began to blow, drawing my attention towards the sky.
Hiiro: āWhat kind of tree is that?ā
Kureichirou: āItās a summer mikan.ā
Hiiro: āIs it also ripe?ā
Kureichirou: āNoā¦ā
For some reason, he hesitated to answerĀ
and the conversation drew to a sudden close.
We ate our lunch outside on the porch.
Rice balls, pickled radish, thick miso soup.
It was nothing special, yet my chopsticks hungrily moved on their own.
Farm Lady: āAll the ingredients were sourced right here.Ā
Theyāre from a smaller field, but it grows quite a bit.ā
Kureichirou: āDid you harvest everything yourselfā¦?ā
Farm Lady: āOh no, my sons actually came by to help yesterday.ā
Then, she looked at the summer mikan tree with a smile in her eyes.
Farm Lady: āHonestly, I wanted to give Shinkiba-san a couple of fruits from that tree as well. However, my husband raised it with such love that itās grown far too large to harvest.ā
Kureichirou: āIf itās alright with you, perhaps we could help.ā
Farm Lady: āT- That would be lovely, but I wouldnāt want you to fall.ā
Kureichirou-san stuffed a rice ball into his mouth.
Taking in his hearty grin and wide stature,Ā
the woman seemed to cast aside her fears.
The tree was massive up close.
Its leaves and branches practically touched the sky.
I held the step ladder steady as Kureichirou-san carefully ascended,Ā
using a pair of scissors to snip at its fruit-ladened boughs.
Plucking and peeling a mikan,
he tossed a segment down to us.
Together, we each brought the fruit to our lips.
Hiiro: ā...ā
Kureichirou: ā...ā
Farm Lady: ā...Itās awfully sour.ā
Sour.
And bitter.
Farm Lady: āSummer mikan are actually harvested in winter.
Throughout the summer months, we let them sit and ripen to their full sweet potential.Ā
I doubt anyone could eat this as is.ā
Kureichirou: āI know a way!ā
Suddenly filled with determination,Ā
Kureichirou-san began picking the fruits and piling them into his arms.
Their yellow hue reflected in his sparkling eyes.Ā
Kureichirou: āIf we boil these in sugar, we could create a delicious marmalade!Ā
Would it be alright to harvest all of these?ā
Stunned, the woman nodded without the slightest hesitation.
Kureichirou-san stepped off the ladderĀ
and moved deeper into the boughs of the tree.
I held onto the basket and circled the area beneath him.
Farm Lady: ā...This tree was actually never meant for profit.Ā
My husband would always distribute its fruits to our workers.Ā
I didnāt think thatād be possible this year,Ā
but it seems things have changed thanks to the two of you.ā
Once we filled a basket, I took it back to the womanās kitchen.
There, we washed the fruits, peeled them,Ā
and boiled them in a pot with sugar.
A sweet scent permeated the room.
The bitterness had all but faded,Ā
leaving nothing behind but pleasant memories.
Before long, I returned to the garden to find Kureichirou-san with a second filled basket.
Kureichirou: āThere are still more at the top,Ā
but I thought Iād leave those for the birds to enjoy."
Hiiro: āWe have plenty as is.ā
Kureichirou: āBefore we go inā¦Ā
Would you like to come up here and pick some fruit too, Hiiro-sama?ā
Hiiro: āIām no good at climbing trees.ā
Kureichirou: āThen Iāll help.ā
He reached his hand out to me,Ā
and I felt myself drawn in by his smile.
Kureichirou-sanās palm was large and thick,Ā
yet soft as cotton.
His fingers were creased with deep lines,Ā
giving him a sturdy grip.
If I had that kind of strength,
there would be so much more I could do, so much more I could see.
As the thought occurred to me,Ā
I was filled with gratitude that Kureichirou-san was by my side.
With his borrowed strength, I easily ascended the tree.
As I pushed through the leaves and branches,Ā
the world came into view.
The base of Mount Fuji was obscured by the mountains of Tanzawa and Hakone.
Between Shonan and Odawara were the Soga Hills.
And in the distance, the Sagami Bay of my childhood.
I could see everything spread out before me at once.
There was probably no better place to catch the changing of the seasonsĀ
than this singular mikan tree in the midst of Ninomiya.
As I plucked a mikan off its branch,Ā
sunlight poured down on me.
The sunset chased us as we sped along the coast.
Kureichirou-san held a jar of marmalade
up to the rearview mirror,Ā
observing the glow of the sun as it refracted through the glass.
Before long, I could hear the soft sound of his breathing as he fell asleep.
Cars truly were convenient.
I could feel the weight of newfound responsibility upon me.
By the time we got to Fujisawa,Ā
it was already night.
The light was on at the agency.
However, Kureichirou-san showed no indication of leaving the car.
Hiiro: ā...Kureichirou-san?
Kureichirou: āI think Iāll stay here.ā
Hiiro: āThereās someone I want you to meet.ā
Kureichirou: āIs it the person I remind you ofā¦?ā
Hiiro: āI talk about you all the time, so heās already familiar with you.Ā
There wonāt be any need for formalities.ā
Kureichirou-san lowered his head,Ā
and fiddled with the short sleeve of his polo shirt.
All his energy seemed to wither away.
Hiiro: ā...I apologize. I didnāt mean to push this on you.ā
Kureichirou: āNo, itās fine. I want to go in.Ā
Itās justā¦ Iām not sure Iām brave enough.ā
Suddenly, someone tapped on the window.
Startled, the two of us got out of the car.
Waiting for us outside was Shinkiba-san.
Shinkiba: āWelcome back, you two. I appreciate the help..ā
Hiiro: āIām sorry weāre so late.ā
Shinkiba: āDid something happen?Ā
I heard the sound of the car outside, but nobody came inā¦ā
Hiiro: āNo, everythingās fineā¦ā
I glanced at Kureichirou-sanĀ
and saw he had straightened up in surprise.
Kureichirou: āYouāre the apple seller from the airportā¦!?ā
Shinkiba: āOh?Ā
And youāre the kind gentleman who picked up all those apples for me.ā
Hiiro: ā...What are you up to?ā
Shinkiba: āNothing at all. It was merely a coincidence.ā
Kureichirou: āI- Itās nice to meet you.Ā
M- M- My name is Funeno Kureichirou!ā
Father: āItās to meet you too. Iām Hiiroās father.ā
My father lived and worked at the detective agency.
However, it had been a while since Iād stepped foot into his living quarters.
At the familiar dinner tableĀ
were the same two chairs weāve always had,Ā
along with a third that wasnāt there before.
It was probably for Kureichirou-san.
My father scanned the basket of produce as if in search of something.
He must have been looking forā¦
Kureichirou: āThis is for you, father.ā
Father: āThis isā¦ā
Kureichirou: āSummer mikan marmalade. We made it from the fruit left on the tree.ā
My father took the jar and held it up to the light.
Bits of mikan pulp bobbed in the liquid.
Father: āWhat a beautiful golden hue.Ā
A color that could only be achieved over time by the efforts of many.ā
As he spoke, a nostalgic smile grew on his face.
Father: "Shall we have some for dinner?ā
It was the 3rd day of Obon before I knew it.
The sun was already setting as our departure time arrived.
As we were leaving, my father handed us a paper bag.
Father: āA souvenir for Kureichirou-kun.ā
It was a tin of Hato Saburou that must have held a flock of 50.
Wrapped with a thick ribbon, it was clearly meant as a gift.
Father: āPlease share these with your family. I hope Iāll be able to meet them soon.ā
Kureichirou: āM- My family isā¦ā
Overwhelmed, Kureichirou-san trailed off.
The tin of Hato Saburou. Myself.
My fatherās smile wasnāt just for Kureichirou-san.
When Kureichirou-san realized that, his eyes began to moisten,
Ā and he gripped the paper bag even tighter.
Kureichirou: āIāll look forward to itā¦!ā
Father: āAs will I.ā
Hiiro: ā...Are you sure itās alright for me to take the week off? Only I will be gone.ā
Father: āOur tasks will start picking up from today.ā
Hiiro: āIsnāt that all the more reason to stay?ā
Father: āItās a collaboration project with the police. There are about 5 to 6 suspects weāll need to arrest.ā
Hiiro: ā...ā
Father: āBut you worry too much! Just go have fun!ā
He pushed us forward
as if chasing us away.
Sitting down in the airplane,Ā
Kureichirou-san rubbed his fingers together anxiously.
Kureichirou: ā...I still canāt believe the apple seller was your father.Ā
What a small world we live in.ā
Hiiro: āHe did it on purpose.ā
Kureichirou: ā!?ā
Hiiro: āHe planned everything from showing up at the airport to dropping the fruit.ā
Kureichirou: āW- Was he testing me!?āā
Hiiro: āHe probably wanted to meet you and realized there was a possibility you'd refuse a visit.ā
Kureichirou: āIām sorryā¦ā
Hiiro: āKureichirou-san. Thank you for making the effort.ā
Kureichirou: āI didnāt do muchā¦ It was the two of you who gave me the courage.ā
Kureichirou-san opened the tin of cookies on his lap and began counting the Hato Saburou.
Kureichirou: āThese are for my father, my mother, and my little sister.Ā
Then, Iāll save these for the public officials, the fieldworkers, the neighborsā¦ā
Hiiro: āIt seems 50 wonāt be enough for your entire family.ā
Hi there, thank you so much for your Ooe -Ten Views of Shonan- translations! Your translation of the stories reads really well, and it's generous of you to translate and share the stories to English fans. Do you plan on translating the other stories when they're out? (I'm so curious about Funeno, Toyosu and Shizuma's lol)
Thanks again for your great translations!
Hello and thank you for reading! I am planning to translate the other stories when they release. Admittedly, I've been slacking on Funeno's since I was busy with holiday plans when that released, and now I'm busy with work, but it helps knowing there's a reader looking forward to that translation! I'll try to make time for it, especially since Hinode's SS is coming soon. šāāļøšāāļøšāāļø
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
ā Live Streamingā Interactive Chatā Private Showsā HD Qualityā Free Actions
Free to watch ā¢ No registration required ā¢ HD streaming
[Ten Views Of Shonan -Bait-] - Takeshiba Route Short Story
Thank you to Luc for proof-reading the Japanese as always and my dear friend Tiny for proof-reading The British. Additional shout-outs to Melee, Birb, and Chatts for enabling me when I first conceived the idea of translating Takeshiba's Kansai-ben as Cockney.
The following dialect is not pure Cockney because I'd have to provide translation notes for the English (and indeed I've indulged in a few), but spiritually, the cock is there. Aside from being a distinct working class dialect, what better way to capture the spirit of Takeshiba than making his every word a dick joke.
It was a bright and clear Sunday.Ā
In Katase, an ocean breeze was caressing the great white walls of Aqua World. [1]
Towering over the seaside,Ā
the building had opened just this year,Ā
and the smell of fresh concrete still lingered.
Aqua World was an open-air circular structure with a massive pool at its center.
Its waters were a deep blueĀ
as if someone had scooped out a piece of the sea itself.
We were sitting on the uppermost deck.
Shimbashi-san was gripping a pair of binocularsĀ
as he anxiously scanned the crowd.
Shimbashi: āāgoodness, are you absolutely sure that man is coming?ā
Oosaki: āWithout a doubt.ā
A few days ago.
A pearl ring belonging to Shimbashi-sanās theater troupe suddenly disappeared.
The members reported seeing an unaffiliated janitor flee from the warehouseā
I was hired to conduct a background check on that man.
During the process, I stumbled across a promising lead.
Oosaki: āThe man was known to frequent pawn shops.Ā
It seems he was committing petty thefts here and there to scrape together quick cash for a living.ā
Shimbashi: āA seasoned thief, is he?Ā
And of all things, he took the one prop we actually need for the play.ā
Oosaki: āFortunately, it doesnāt seem like the ringās been pawned yet.ā
Shimbashi: āThen itās still within his possession?ā
Oosaki: āMost likely. He was overheard boasting at one of his regular bars about plans to propose to his new lover with it at this weekendās dolphin show.ā
Which meant it would happen today.
Shimbashi: ā...Iāve found him!ā
Shimbashi-san cried out.
On the opposite side, at the end of the second-floor spectator seating, was a familiar face.
Shimbashi: āI suppose thatās his lover beside him.ā
Oosaki: āWhere?ā
I took the binoculars from Shimbashi-san.
However, I was unable to see whom he was referring to.
Oosaki: āThe only person next to him is a man.ā
Shimbashi: āWhich means that man is his lover, doesnāt it?ā
The two of them affectionately linked arms.
A bright ray of sun suddenly struck my eyes,Ā
causing me to lower the binoculars.
Oosaki: ā...Were you not surprised?ā
Shimbashi: ā?ā
Oosaki: āBy the fact that his lover was another man, I meanā¦ā
Shimbashi: āWhy should I be?Ā
Itās not like such relations are uncommon in the theater world,Ā
so thereās no reason for me to harbor prejudice against it.ā
Shimbashi-san's true personality always caught me by surprise.
Shimbashi: āMore importantly!Ā
Itās egregiously, disgustingly, perniciously hot today!ā
Oosaki: āPlease bear with it a little longer.Ā
If we can acquire the ring, weāll be able to catch this thief for good.ā
Shimbashi: āI have half a mind to rip them apart right now, but I suppose it would be better to wait.ā
Oosaki: āThe timingās the issueā¦Ā
When do you suppose heāll take out the ring?ā
Shimbashi: āIsnāt it obvious?Ā
Heās evidently waiting for the ring jump.ā
Theā¦ ring jump?
There were balls and hoops lined up on the stageā
Toys for the dolphins to use.
Catching the light reflecting off the waterās surface,Ā
they sparkled and glittered like jewels.
The most dazzling of these was the ring suspended mid-air.
Shimbashi: āThe dolphinās jump is the highlight of this show.
The second it leaps for that ring,Ā
heās sure to strike!Ā
I- If it were m- me at least, Iād wantā¦
Iād want to wait for the most beautiful moment to whip out that ring!
Oosaki: ā...Youāre getting awfully heated about this.ā
Shimbashi: āWhat!? Iāll have you know itās nothing but righteous anger.ā
The fantasies of a dreamer and the indignation of a businessmanā
āIt seemed Shimbashi-san was unaware of his two conflicting sides.
However, he possessed the insight of a playwright.
With his understanding of the heart,Ā
he could predict what the loversā next movements would be.
At any rate, there was nothing that could be done until the show began.
Before long, a cheerful tune began to play.
The sound of the sea dissipatedĀ
as the spectators redirected their attention towards the stage.
A person wearing a mascot costume plodded out.
The suit had large black eyes and a pure white body that slightly curved like a boomerang.
What I had initially thought were feet turned out to be a tail and fins.
Was it supposed to beā¦ an anchovy? [2]
Baby Anchovy: āLa~dies and ge~ntlemen! Boys and girls~!ā
Oosaki: ā...Takeshiba-san?ā
Shimbashi: āHuh!?ā
Oosaki: āThat manās voice, it was Takeshiba-sanās.ā
Shimbashi: āDonāt be ridiculous. It couldnāt be.ā
Shimbashi-san snorted.
Shimbashi: āThis is Aqua Worldās dolphin show.Ā
Even if itās just the opening act,Ā
I hardly think anyone would ask the likes of him to be here.ā
Oosaki: āI suppose you have a pointā¦ā
I couldnāt think of a way to push back.
However, my attention was now fully focused on the stage rather than the job at hand.
Baby Anchovy: āOākay, everyone! Welcome to Aqua World Shonan!
Thank you for coming to see Mr. Dolphin!
Iām his good friend, Baby Anchovy!
You might know of Mr. Anchovy, my father!ā
A constant buzz polluted the sound of the mic.
Feedback occasionally shrilled through the air.
I felt sorry for thinking it, but the pitiful set reminded me all the more of Takeshiba-san.
Baby Anchovy: āMy dolphin friend will be coming out very soon!
But before that,Ā
thereās a couple of things you need to know!
Is everyone listening?ā
Children: āYāes!ā
Baby Anchovy: āWonderful, wonderful~!
First things first!
Mr. Dolphin loves anything that glitters and shines!
He just canāt help putting sparkly objects in his mouth!
Thatās why throwing things into the pool is an absolute no-go!
Got it, everyone?ā
Children: āWe got it!ā
Baby Anchovy: āWonderful, wonderful!
Next up!
Mr. Dolphin can be a rather mischievous fellow!
To my friends in the first row,
I hope youāre prepared to get a little splish-splashed.
If you donāt want your cameras and toys to get wet,
Please keep them in your bag!ā
Children cheered and adults applauded to his words.
Baby Anchovy was a master at handling the crowd.
He neither faltered nor rushed,Ā
clearly conveying his message bit-by-bit via his voice and gestures.
You could feel the audience warming up,Ā
new guests gravitating towards the radiant energy that emanated from the stage.
Baby Anchovy: āāIt appears my friend is just about ready!
On the count of three,
I need everyone to cheer for Mr. Dolphin and his big brother!
Ack! I completely forgot!
His big brother is a human who is very close to my friend.
Okay, are we ready now?
One, two, three! Hello Mr. Dolāā
āGET OUTTA THERE!ā
A male voice boomed through the stadium.
My blood went cold.
āThe dolphin pens were located behind the stage and connected to the main pool.
However, the gate separating them remained closed.
Instead, the dolphin leapt over the partition separating the enclosures,Ā
a wall about 3 meters high, and dived into the poolā
It happened in an instant.
Everyone gasped in amazement at the splendid feat theyād just witnessed.
ā¦Then, the reason why that man had yelled earlier finally struck.
The dolphin sprang onstage and clamped down on Baby Anchovyās side.
Baby Anchovy: āGAAAAHHHHHH!ā
Then, sliding across the stage with its remaining momentum,Ā
it shunted him into the water.
The microphone gave one final gurgle as it sank into the pool and died.
Still holding Baby Anchovy tight in its mouth,Ā
the dolphin began to lap the pool as if whipping up a vortex.
Every so often it would breach the water before diving down again.
ā¦What was I watching?
A sweat-drenched man, the dolphinās caretaker, appeared from backstage.
Registering the scene before him, he froze in astonishment.
However, he quickly regained his bearingsĀ
and raised his eyes to face the crowd.
The music switched to an even livelier pieceā
Caretaker: āHello, everyone!
Iām Mr. Dolphinās big brother!
Welcome to our special summer show āFriends of the Sea!ā
Now, let the show begin!ā
Oosaki: ā!?ā
Caretaker: āMr. Dolphin is a carnivore!
That means he loves eating things like squid, octopus, and tender fish!
Itās what makes him so lively and strong!ā
Shimbashi: āOh?ā
Oosaki: āThis is bad, Shimbashi-san!
We have a crisis on our hands!ā
Shimbashi: āWell, I certainly agree that the show is distasteful,Ā
but everyone else seems to be enjoying it enough.Ā
In terms of entertainment, itās a success, no?ā
Oosaki: ā...!?ā
Bits of laughter began to crop up within the shocked crowd.
The caretaker who had yelled earlier was now clapping his hands to the beat.
Baby Anchovy was still being whipped around at a blinding speed.
This wasnāt a show.
This wasā¦ hell.
Of course.
I remember now.
His voice, his gestures, his ridiculously bad luck.
I was now certain Baby Anchovy and Takeshiba-san were one and the same.
As soon as Takeshiba-san was involved, the show was done for.
Suddenly, the dolphin accelerated and launched Baby Anchovy into the air.
He spun rapidly from the centrifugal force, spraying water droplets everywhere.
At that moment.
For some reason.
A memory from a drinking party flashes before my eyes.
Takeshiba: āOi, Oosaki-kun. They say this shopās got dolphin meat.ā
Oosaki: āYou certainly donāt see that every day. Are you going to order it?ā
Takeshiba: āEugh! As if!
Thatās proper minginā!Ā
In the west, they fink them dolphins are the āmessengers of Godā.Ā
Says theyāre meant to ferry your soul to the other side.ā
Baby Anchovy had finally come to a stop.
By a stroke of luck, heād gotten stuck in the suspended hoop.
Directly below him, the dolphin poked its head out of the water and squealed with laughter.
ā¦At the very least, I was glad he was safe.
However, even my relief was short-lived.
Shimbashi-san, who was holding onto the binoculars,Ā
suddenly lurched forward in the opposite direction.
Shimbashi: āHeās moving, Detective!
His expression changed!ā
Oosaki: ā?ā
Shimbashi: āThat resolve in his eyesā¦!
I know heās up to something!
Ah! There! Heās getting down on one knee!!ā
Oosaki: āHuhā¦?ā
Shimbashi: āIs thatā¦ the ring!?
It is!
Heās taking out the pearl ring!!!ā
Oosaki: āThat confirms it.
He was planning to propose here.ā
Shimbashi: āIām going!!!ā
Shimbashi-san bolted for the stairs.
I redirected my attention back to the pool.
Baby Anchovy was being moved with the hoop still around him.
A pale-faced worker was frantically pulling on its rope.
Caretaker: āBye-bye, Baby Anchovy!
See you next timeā!ā
The show went on.
I offered my seat to a nearby spectatorĀ
and left the cheers of the crowd behind.
I waited for him by the backdoor of the stadium.
Before long, Takeshiba-san appeared, his shoulders sagging with defeat.
Water still dripped from his wet hair.
Upon seeing me, his eyes widened with surprise.
Takeshiba: āEhā¦? Oosaki-kunā¦?
Oosaki: āI knew it. You were Baby Anchovy.ā
Takeshiba: āYouā¦ You didnāt see everythinā that happened earlier, didja?ā
The two of us wordlessly left the building.
We decided to drop by Aqualand in the adjoining annex.
Stopping in front of an enormous jellyfish tank, the two of us finally sat down.Ā
Takeshiba: ā-Just my luck.Ā
Whyād the two of you āave to come by today of all days.ā
Oosaki: āI have questions for you, too.Ā
Why were you on stage?ā
Takeshiba-san was usually in Asakusa performing magic shows.Ā
Takeshiba: āMate of mine in the biz asked.Ā
He threw his back out and couldnāt move.Ā
I felt sorry for the poor fella anā stepped in.
Oosaki: āI figured it was something like that.ā
Takeshiba: āNahaha, guilty as charged.Ā
Iād never score a spot like that on my own, right?ā
The roar of the crowd seemed worlds away.
The bubbling of the water pump filled my ears.
Jellyfish pulsed before us like a sigh.
The atmosphere was so somber that I felt like my heart, too, was drowning.
Oosaki: ā...Takeshiba-san. I want you to promise me something.ā
Takeshiba: ā?ā
Oosaki: ā...Stop accepting every job that comes your way.ā
Takeshiba: āHnnā¦ā
Troubled, Takeshiba-san closed his eyes.
To anyone else, it wouldāve looked like he wasnāt taking things seriously.
Only I knew he was deep in thought.
Oosaki: āIām not referring to the pay either.
I want you to be somewhere that respects what you do.ā
Takeshiba: āHnngh~ā
Oosaki: ā...Iām certain thereās a place that will love you for who you are.ā
Takeshiba: āCheers, Oosaki-kun.
I aināt nothinā but sixes and sevens, after all.ā [3]
I was only a bystander getting worked up on my own account.
However, I couldnāt stand seeing such careless managementĀ
or the way Takeshiba-san was willing to sweep everything under the rugā¦
And yetā¦
The man himself unexpectedly began to look shy.
Takeshiba: āWhen I really fink about it though,
I couldnāt never give this sorta lifestyle up.Ā
It just aināt like me to leave someone in trouble.
If thereās somefinā I can do, consider me there.ā
Oosaki: ā...ā
Takeshiba: āRings a bell, dunnit?ā
Oosaki: ā....ā
Takeshiba: āThatās jusā like you, aināt it?ā
Oosaki: āEven I donāt take on more than Iām capable of.Ā
If I fail, then all my effort would be for nothing.ā
Takeshiba: āAh. So I did cock-up the show then?
Oosaki: ā....It was a dire situation from my point of view.
However, in terms of entertainment, I suppose it was a success.ā
Takeshiba: āNaha~ā”ā
Once his damp hair dried, we went back outside.
The sun was setting now, and it was getting cooler.
Unexpectedly, Shimbashi-san was waiting for us.
Shimbashi: āIāve finally found you, Detective.
Here is your compensation for today.ā
Oosaki: āI apologize for allowing the culprit to get away.ā
Shimbashi: āNot at all. The ring has been recovered safe and sound.Ā
āThere was no way he couldāve escaped in that situation.ā
Shimbashi-san took the ring out of his breast pocket before quickly stowing it away again.
Then, he turned to Takeshiba-san with a frigid glare.
Shimbashi: āNow tell me, what are you doing here?ā
Takeshiba: ā...Youā¦ didnāt notice me earlier?ā
Shimbashi: āMeaning?ā
Takeshiba: āAh~ Umm~.
Say how ābout we get dolphin tonight!?ā
Shimbashi: āSorry?ā
Takeshiba: āIāve gotta bone to pick with them fishy bastards.ā
Shimbashi: āWhat in the world are you talking about?
Dolphins are mammals, arenāt they?ā
Takeshiba: āThey aināt fish?ā
Shimbashi: āThey are most definitely not fish.ā
Takeshiba: āNo wonder theyāre so smart, I never stood a chanceā¦ā
Shimbashi: ā...Ugh! Put a stop to this nonsense, Detective!ā
Takeshiba-san clung onto Shimbashi-sanās arm.
As the two of them became even more entangled, I leisurely trailed behind them.
Humans are terribly complicated creatures.
For every person dazzled by gold and riches,Ā
there is another who would be fully satisfied with a delicious meal.
The thiefās lover was surely the latter.
I still couldnāt consider myself as either.
However, perhaps someday I will.
I wanted to become the kind of person who would value a simple seafood rice bowl
over the shine of a jewel.
For some reason, I felt more alive that way.
Every time I sit down to eat, Iāll envision it.
Baby Anchovy being bitten.
And the smile on the dolphinās faceā
[Ten Views of Shonan -Bait-] 1957. Takeshiba Route [4]
Translation Notes
[1] Although the aquarium's name is Aqua World in the story, there is not actually an Aqua World in Katase. The referenced building is most likely Marine Land located at the Enoshima Aquarium, and the name was changed for copyright/legal reasons.
[2] "Baby Anchovy" is originally "Shirasu-kun." Shirasu are young sardines and anchovies that are cooked and served as a local delicacy in Shonan. Since Takeshiba specifies "anchovy" in this story, that's what I decided to go with.
[3] I couldn't resist throwing in the British-isms here, but what Takeshiba means to say is: "Thank you for your kindness. I ain't nothin' but an idiot, after all."
[4] The name of the story is actually a pun in Japanese. The kanji used is "č“" which means party food served with drinks. However, it is also a homophone for the word "fish" (both pronounced "sakana"). For the English title, I went with "bait" since shirasu can also be translated as "whitebait." However, Takeshiba was truly bait in more ways than one in this story...
[Ten Views Of Shonan -Shell-] - Shijoumae Route Short Story
Thank you @/phampiremagic on Twitter for helping proofread!
The Meiji Era.
During this time period, there was a push in Japan to hire Westerners as a means of acquiring their technologies.
Erwin BƤlz, a German doctor, was one such foreigner.
Initially hired as a professor, he settled in Japan and established himself as a physician.
BƤlz believed that the Shonan seaside possessed the perfect environment for long-term recuperation.
Subsequently, he constructed over ten sanatoriums along the coastline.
BƤlz was especially fond of Shichirigahama Beach.
According to his records, it is āthe most beautiful place in Japan.ā
ŹÉ
Today, Shichirigahama Beach was baking beneath the afternoon sun.
As one approached the water, the smell of disinfectant intertwined with the sea.
Upon a nearby hill, a sanatorium gazed down on us.
A young girl of about 15 or 16 was standing in the waves.
She had on a dark green swimsuit.
Her black seaweed-like hair hung in braids.
There was no light in her eyes.
She was exactly as Iād imagined from her voice on the phone.
Gumi: āThank you for cominā out here, Mrā¦ Errā¦ā
āOosaki. I presume you are Gumi-san?ā
Gumi: āāes.ā
At times, her timid voice was cut off by the wind.
āGumi-san, forgive my abruptness, but about your requestāā
Gumi: āAhā¦ Yesā¦ About thatā¦ā
She nervously turned her attention towards the beach.
Gumi: āThereās a reason I wanted ya to come out here.Ā
Yāsee, I recently dropped a hair accessory somewhere along this huge stretch of beach, and Iād like your help to find it.ā
ā...ā
Gumi: āI know Iām askinā for a lot, Oosaki-san. Still, Iād āppreciate it if we could search together.ā
I was surprised by the thickness of her accent that occasionally slipped out.
However, it seemed all she wanted was help finding a lost item.
ā¦I lightly shook my head.
āMy apologies.ā
Gumi: ā!ā
āRecovering lost items is the policeās job.
Iām afraid the best I can do is redirect you to their services.ā
Gumi: āThat soā¦ā
Then, she smiled again.
Gumi: āStill, ya couldāve told me that on the phone earlier.Ā
Yet, you still came all this way, and with that enormous rake too.ā
āWhile conducting investigations is the policeās job,Ā
thereās nothing they can do if a crime wasnāt involved.Ā
Thatās why Iāll make an exception for todayāā
And just like that,Ā
the two of us searched the beach together.
Me in the sand and her in the waves.
Suddenly.
I found something pink and shiny buried in the burning sand.
It was a little sakura shell. [1]
When I held it up to the sun, the shell crumbled into sparkling fragments.
Gumi: āA sakura shell. Thereās plenty of them here.ā
I looked around the area.
Sakura shells in all different shades glittered along the beach.
It was a dazzling sight.
āWhat does your hair accessory look like?ā
Gumi: āItās green.Ā
Itās a piece of green glass more beautiful than an emerald.ā
I began to sift through the sand again.
Then, a shell with a dull luster caught my eye,
āGumi-san, is this the color youāre looking for?ā
I made my way toward the ocean.
She waded back toward the beach.
I presented the shell in my hand for her to scrutinize.
Gumi: āYep, thatās it, although this is just a green mussel.ā
āA green mussel?ā
Gumi: āThey aināt native to Japan. Ya find āem further south.Ā
They stick onto boats and get carried here.Ā
Invasive species, theyāre called.ā
Our footprints disappeared beneath the powerful waves.
I felt stuck, not because of my feet sinking into the wet sand,Ā
but because of the sudden weight of Gumi-sanās gaze.
Gumi: āYāknow, I originally thought ya were kinda scary, but I had ya all wrong.ā
Holding the shell behind her back,Ā
she walked towards the water.
The ocean front glittered even brighter than the sun, turning all the people in the shallows, including her, into shadows.
Everyone looked thin and sickly.
Gumi: āThe people here are patients at the sanatorium.Ā
Since the ocean air contains nutrients,Ā
just breathing it in improves your health.ā
āAre you also a patient?ā
Gumi: āNah,Ā
Iāve already recovered.ā
She extended both of her arms.Ā
They were mottled with tiny scabs.
āSyphilis scars.
Gumi: āIāve grown fond of these scars now.Ā
Yāknow how pearls form from the irritants that get sucked in by clams? Itās like that.Ā
Theyāre proof of the struggles my bodyās overcome, the wounds itās healed.Ā
Doc was the one who told me thatā¦ā
āDocā¦?ā
The tide rose. My feet were sticky with salt.
Gumi: āWhen I first heard your voice, it made me think of a wolf.Ā
I got the impression you were a persistent sorta person with a keen nose for trouble.Ā
Once youāve got a bone in your mouth, ya donāt let it go.Ā
But once we met, I changed my mind.ā
ā¦I had been suspicious about this request since the beginning.
āWhere did you get my name?ā
I asked as calmly as I could.
Gumi: āI overheard it during a conversation with the Missus.Ā
I was standing right next to her.ā
āThe Missusā¦?ā
I couldnāt grasp the situation at all.
Gumi: āDocās wife. Iām one of her maidservants.ā
āAnd this doctorāā
Gumi: āAh! Oosaki-san!!Ā
Donāt act like a stranger!!!Ā
Gahahaā!ā
A strong wind blew her voice away.
My thoughts were ripped apart once more.
Gumi: āI lied on the phone to get you here.ā
āWhy would youā¦ā
Gumi: āDocās been sad ever since you disappeared.ā
āWhatā¦?ā
Gumi: āI wanted the two of you to meet again.ā
Clouds covered the sun, plunging the area into darkness.
There was an intense look in Gumi-sanās eyes.
I took a step backwards.
Thunder crashed overhead like a warning.
It sounded like a girlās vengeful scream, causing my hair to stand on edge.
āI had to run.
As I braced myself to take off,
Gumi-san tightened her grip on the shell, and ran it swiftly down her wrist.
āYou!!!ā
Pushing through the waves, I rushed to pick her up where sheād fallen.
Blood was pouring down her arm.
The peaceful afternoon seaside was thrown into chaos.
Behind us, a car cluelessly drove by.
Gumi: āAhā¦ Thatās Docā¦ā
A man came out of the car and headed towards the sanatorium,Ā
none the wiser as to what was happening on the beach.
Gumi: āOosaki-san.Ā
Donāt leaveā¦Ā
Please, take me to himā¦ā
As far as I could see, there was no one else around who could carry her.
ā¦Ugh, there was no time to waste.
Only a doctor could save her.
Picking up the girl, I dashed towards the hill.
ŹÉ
āPlease wait!!!ā
The man paused in the doorway,
Retracting his step, he slowly turned around.
Our blood-soaked forms greeted himā¦
Gumi-san met his gaze and smiled as she weakly reached out to him.
Grabbing her hand, the man sighed and shut his eyes with relief.
Judging by his unexpected reaction,Ā
it would appear the severity of her wound was greatly exaggerated.
Gumi: āDoc, Iāve brought him to you. Oosaki-san.ā
Shijoumae: ā...ā
Gumi: "Because he wouldnāt come otherwise.ā
The man took the girl into his arms.
Then, slightly crouching, he finally met my eyes.
āIāā
Shijoumae: āWho are you?ā
Gumi: āDocā¦?ā
Shijoumae: ā...Thatās enough, Gumi.ā
Gumi: āI donāt understand.ā
Shijoumae: āGoodness, what am I going to do with you?ā
A nurse noticed the commotion and came running over.
With a single glance from the man, she immediately took over as his arms and legs and carried the girl inside.
Wiping off his bloody hands, the man turned only his head to look at me again.
Shijoumae: āYoung man, I suggest you go home.ā
Then, he pulled on his jacket with his now empty handsā
āAnd shut the sanatorium doors behind him.
ŹÉ
The smell of disinfectant intertwined with the sea.
Thick clouds rushed into the sky as it began to pour.
The world and I melted into an indistinguishable blur.
Senpai has been missing for two weeks.
Shinkiba-san and I have been looking for him since. [2]
The reason why I borrowed his name and accepted this job,Ā
was because I stubbornly refused to accept he was gone.
ŹÉ
The sudden disappearance of Oosaki-senpai.
The mysterious girl who knew his name, the tight-lipped doctor.
And the investigation report Senpai left at his house.
The name on the report was definitelyā
Shinagawa: āShijoumaeā¦?ā
I turned around.
The white-walled sanatorium seemed to swell like a cloud.
Its two windows became Shijoumaeās eyes silently looking down at me.
[Ten Views of Shonan -Shell-] 1956. Shijoumae Route
Translation Notes
[1] The scientific name is Nitidotellina nitidula if you want to look these up. They're pretty cute.
[2] As I mentioned in Ariake's SS, Shinagawa mimics Oosaki by using the same first-person pronoun as him (jibun). Throughout this story, he uses the same spelling as Oosaki (čŖå) until this line where he switches to his typical spelling (ćøćć³). Both are still pronounced "jibun," the only difference is the spelling.
[Ten Views Of Shonan -Hill-] - Shimbashi Route Short Story
Thank you @/phampiremagic on Twitter for helping proofread!
Shimbashi: āI require your services.ā
ŹÉ
That was all the message Shimbashi-san left at the detective agency said.
With haste, I hurried to meet him at the appointed location.
It was a Friday in the midst of August.
The mountaintop rest area was bustling with tourists.
It had been a while since Iād seen Shimbashi-san.
His hair had grown longer and was tied behind his neck.
His clothes were disheveled as if heād just rolled out of bed.
Shimbashi: āGreetings.ā
Oosaki: āGood afternoon, Shimbashi-san.ā
Shimbashi: āMy apologies for calling you here on such short notice. I hope this compensation fee will suffice.ā
Oosaki: āItās fine.ā
Shimbashi: āYou do realize Iām hiring you for a job?ā
Oosaki: āThere wasnāt much work at the agency today, so I took off early.ā
Shimbashi: ā...What a disgusting amount of free time. Just accept it already. You peon. Pauper. Peasant.ā
Oosaki: āYou wonāt change my mind by calling me names. Please give it up.ā
Shimbashi: āWhat am I to do if your family thinks me an unreasonable man?ā
Oosaki: āI suppose youāll have to act reasonably.ā
Shimbashi: āWhich is why Iām paying you a reasonable amount.ā
And with that, he forced the money upon me.
We were sitting in a corner by the windows.
Outside, the town of Oiso and its beach stretched out beneath us.
This area was formerly known by the rather elevated name, āSenjoujikiā.
However, after officially becoming a scenic park, it was renamed to Shonan Daira. [1]
Neither of us holds a connection to this place.
When I was summoned here, I had thought to myselfā
āThis must be importantāā Howeverā¦
Oosaki: āWhatās the situation?ā
Shimbashi-san brought out a single handkerchief.
Then, with trembling fingers, he carefully, reverently placed it on the table.
Although it was folded into quarters, I could tell it was a rather large piece of white cloth.
Shimbashi: āAfter our last performance, I found this handkerchief in one of the audience seats. My request for you is to find its owner.ā
Mirroring his caution, I gently touched the handkerchief.
Printed along its edge was the name of this rest area.
Without a doubt, the owner had a connection to this place.
Still, it would be a difficult search.
Shimbashi: āI understand that I am grasping at straws. However, I thought that perhaps someone from Hiratsuka, such as yourself, would be able to discern moreā¦ā [2]
Oosaki: āWhile itās true that Hiratsuka and Oiso are neighboring cities, Oisoās tourism industry is much more developed. Even this rest area has been open since spring.ā
Shimbashi: āWhich is to say the handkerchiefās owner couldāve been a visiting tourist rather than a localā¦ā
Oosaki: āExactly. It would appear this place sells similar items over there.ā
I pointed to the store by the register.
An array of souvenirs, including handkerchiefs, pens, and coffee beans, were on display.
The store was completely packed.
With no other place to escape the scorching heat of the sun, everyone on the mountaintop gravitated here in search of a cool respite.
Tropical music. [3]
Childrenās laughter.
Clattering silverware. In the midst of this bright placeā
Shimbashi-san was like a gloomy shadow as he sipped on his acrid, black coffee.
Shimbashi: āThe handkerchief owner was sitting in the front row in the very last seat on the right. She was a woman with short hair.ā
Oosaki: āYou remember that much?ā
Shimbashi: āSheās been a patron for some time.ā
Despite being an author who could fill a thousand-seat theater, he still remembered a single guest hidden in its wings.
Oosaki: āIf thatās so, then we could sketch a portrait and ask the waiters.ā
Shimbashi: āSuch was my initial plan. However, they havenāt even the time to take your order.ā
Several waiters were flitting about, but they all seemed busy.
With no other choice, I swiped Shimbashi-sanās iced coffee and took a sip.
Shimbashi: āAhāā
Oosaki: āIn that case, thereās another way to return the handkerchief. If the owner is a regular guest, then at the showing of your new play tomorrowāā
Shimbashi: āI fear she wonāt come.ā
With that, Shimbashi-san pressed his lips together and fell silent.
His eye watered like he was about to cry.
I was startled.
For the first time, I noticed his agitation.
Shimbashi: āPerhaps, the owner of this handkerchief didnāt forget it at the theater.Ā
Perhaps, they meant it as a gift for me.Ā
Take a close look at the hand-stitched embroidery.Ā
This streetlamp was the motif of last yearās play.Ā
This magnifying glass was a previous motif as well.
And this, is the insignia of the Pluto Theater Company.ā
Suddenly, the handkerchief felt warmer and weightier in my hand.
Shimbashi: āConsider this:
If the handkerchief was indeed intended for me, why would the owner choose to bequeath a handkerchief specifically?Ā
Gifts come in all manner of shapes and sizes, such as watches, fountain pens, letters, and so on.
But to give a handkerchiefā¦ā
Oosaki: āWhat does it mean?ā
Shimbashi: āTo give a handkerchief as a gift, is to signify an eternal parting.ā
He turned to face the window.
His eye welled with the color of the sea.
He was fighting back tears, pretending like his wavering gaze was nothing more than the reflection of the waves.
Shimbashi: āItās said that the deceased leave handkerchiefs behind so the living may wipe their tears.ā
Oosaki: āThe deceased?ā
Shimbashi: āWhen I saw the ocean today, I felt certain of it.
That guest will never again come to the theater.
That guest, she's already goneāā
Oosaki: ā...ā
Shimbashi: āYou can tell the kind of person she was from the stitchingā
āA delicate, sensitive soul.
The boundless ocean. The no-swimming flag.
Oh, it could only end in tragedy.ā
Oosaki: ā...ā
Shimbashi: āAll I wish is to return this handkerchief to her family.
However, Iām powerless to achieve even thatā¦ā
Oosaki: āHave you slept lately?ā
Shimbashi: āI havenāt slept well for an entire week.ā
Oosaki: āThat would explain all the nonsense.ā
Shimbashi: āYou mock meā!?ā
His vivid imagination was causing him to jump to the wrong conclusions.
As a detective, I had to intervene.
Firstly, I spread the handkerchief out on the table.
A street lamp, a magnifying glass, a red ribbon and heel.
The embroidered images seemed to trace Plutoās artistic journey.
Putting my face to the table, I sniffed the fabric.
Shimbashi: āDisgustingā¦ā
Oosaki: āThe smell could provide us with a clue.ā
Shimbashi: āEven so, itās an unsightly actā¦ā
Oosaki: āWeāll absolutely find her.ā
Regardless of whether the owner left or forgot her handkerchief, there was a case to be solved.
Thenā
Oosaki: āI smell coffee. Itās faint, but itās there on the edge of the handkerchief.ā
Shimbashi: āCoffee? Are you sure thatās not my drink?ā
I thrust my nose into his coffee.
Shimbashi: āEeā!!!ā
Oosaki: āJust as I thoughtā¦ Itās the same scent.ā
A waiter approached us.
Employee: āMy apologies for the wait. What would you like to order?ā
Oosaki: āAn iced coffee plāā
Employee: āAh!!!ā
The waitressās scream drew everyoneās attention.
However, she didnāt notice whatsoever.
Her focus was solely on the handkerchief lying on the table.
Employee: āThatās my handkerchief!ā
Oosaki: āHuh?ā
Shimbashi-san stiffened.
All around us, people returned to their previous activities.
Only I continued to look at her.
Oosaki: āAre you certain this is yours?ā
Employee: āIt has to be.
I stitched everything myself.
The street lamp, the magnifying glass, the red ribbon and heelā
āPlutoās pawprint insignia.
Wherever did you find it?ā
Oosaki: āIt was on one of the seats at the theater.ā
Employee: āI mustāve left it there.ā
Shimbashi-san clutched his head and planted his face on the table.
Oosaki: āI figured that was the situation, so I came to return it.ā
The waitress held onto the handkerchief tightly as her eyes welled with tears.
Employee: āAre you a fan of Pluto too, sir?ā
Oosaki: āI am.ā
Employee: āFor how long?ā
Oosaki: āItās been about three, no, four years now.ā
Employee: āWhat drew you to him?ā
Oosaki: āHis consideration for the audience.ā
Employee: āHe does seem like a very kind person.ā
Oosaki: āThe type to clean the theater himself despite being the playwright.ā
Any other person wouldāve deemed the handkerchief rubbish and thrown it away.
However, Shimbashi-san was part of the stage himself.
His thespian soul compelled him to pick up the handkerchiefā
āFor anything could be a valuable prop.
Shimbashi-san suddenly took off.
Bewildered, I chased after him.
The waitress quickly waved her handkerchief to see us off.
As we stepped outside, the droning of cicadas immediately filled our ears.
The midsummer sun made everything hazy, except for the shadows, which stood out in stark contrast.
Shimbashi-san partially turned around to face me.
He was sulking with a pouty expression.
However, a single wet droplet slid down his cheek.
It was a tear of relief.
Shimbashi: āI apologize for my unseemly behavior.
It appears Iāve worked myself up over nothing.
I hadnāt even considered that the owner could be an employee.
Had I realized sooner, I couldāve settled everything with a phone call.ā
Oosaki: āI wouldnāt say it was all for nothing.ā
Shimbashi: ā...ā
Oosaki: āYou saved her.ā [4]
Shimbashi-san was never wrong about people.
The waitressās tears mustāve come from deep within her heart.
In the end, I was glad we came.
ŹÉ
The two of us boarded a bus back to town.
As if his strings were cut, Shimbashi-san began to doze off despite the coffee heād drunk earlier.
Before I realized, his head fell against my sturdy shoulders as if thatās where it belonged.
The weight of his body was comforting.
Today.
He was a client and I was a detective.
Tomorrow.
Heāll be Pluto and Iāll be his audience.
The day after, Sunday.
A day when there are no roles assigned.
Weāll play as lovers.
[Ten Views of Shonan -Hill-] 1959.Shimbashi Route
Translation Notes
[1] "Senjoujiki" literally means "thousand mat room" but can signify an expansive rocky plateau. "Shonan Daira" translates simply to "Shonan Plateau" which is significantly more straightforward.
[2] "Grasping clouds" in the original which is cuter than grasping at straws, a very Shimbashi phrase.
[3] Just a fun fact, but the restaurant Oosaki and Shimbashi are in is apparently Hawaiian themed. Shout-out to Luc, the editor, for this discovery.
[4] The one (1) word used in the original leaves the meaning of this line slightly vague. In one interpretation, Oosaki could be saying Shimbashi was able to "save" the woman by returning something that was clearly precious to her. In another interpretation, Oosaki might've meant that Shimbashi could've literally saved the woman's life had she truly been planning to jump into the sea. I think the latter is more empathetic towards Shimbashi since it encourages him to embrace his anxious nature on the off-chance that he's right.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
ā Live Streamingā Interactive Chatā Private Showsā HD Qualityā Free Actions
Free to watch ā¢ No registration required ā¢ HD streaming
[Ten Views Of Shonan -Beach-] - Shiodome A Route Short Story
Spoilers for Shiodome's A and B Routes!
A black mass was lying by the shore.
Its body was long and thick, while its tail was short.
It didnāt seem real at all, like something forgotten by the midnight sea.
āPolice: āDanger. Do not approach the beach.ā
The police were blocking off the path to the water.
They didnāt need to explain why. It was obvious with a glance.
Sunday.
A whale washed up on Koshigoe Beach.
A crowd was forming on the sidewalk by the beach.
Everyone was silent as they gazed towards the ocean.
Beneath the blazing sun, the whaleās stomach was slowly, but surely, expanding.
It was the first time I had seen such a somber summer sea.
Elderly Man: āLooks like a blue whale.ā
Suddenly, I heard a voice beside me.
At some point, an elderly man had come between me and Shiodome-san.
Shiodome: āFishmaster!ā
Oosaki: āFishmasterā¦?ā
Shiodome: āHe sells the fish I buy for dinner. He always helps me pick them.ā
Oosaki: āIt seems we owe you a debt of gratitude.ā
Elderly Man: āLook.ā
The man spoke curtly as he pointed to the whaleās stomach.
Elderly Man: āHeās a male calf.ā
Shiodome: āHow do you know?ā
Elderly Man: āHis p*nis is sticking up.ā
ā¦I couldnāt argue with that.
Elderly Man: āWhen the insides decompose, it builds up gas. This creates pressure that causes the p*nis to erect.ā
Shiodome: āIf heās rotting, does that mean we canāt eat him?ā
Elderly Man: āWe canāt. What a wasteā¦ā
And with that, the Fishmaster left.
His back swayed back and forth wistfully as he ambled away.
Shiodome-san continued to stare at that black lumpāthe blue whale calf.
Shiodome: ā...I wonder what his parents are doing now.ā
Oosaki: āI donāt know, but theyāre probably looking for him.ā
Children returning home from the pool. An elderly couple sharing a shopping bag.
The whale drew everyoneās attention as they passed by.
It felt as if we were all nonsensical guests attending a great funeral.
ŹÉ
The direction of the wind changed.
With the rotting stench blowing our way, the onlookers finally began to disperse.
Shiodome-sanās eyes didnāt waver.
Shiodome: āHow did he die?ā
Oosaki: āPerhaps he ate something he shouldn't have, or hit his head on a rock.ā
Shiodome: āWhat a reckless way to go. Are you referring to what I did last week?ā
Oosaki: āMaybe thatās why I canāt help but feel a connection to himāā
With that, the two of us went quiet, joining the silent prayer.
ŹÉ
Day 2 since the whaleās appearance.
Even though it was a Monday, I took the day off.
Shiodome-san and I gazed at the sea with straw hats on our heads and ramune in our hands.
Word had spread, and the sidewalk was even more crowded than the day before.
The local aquarium and university had been notified of the whaleās existence.
The Fishmaster informed us in passing that they were waiting for the whale to āexplodeā before collecting his remains.
āEventually, all the built-up gas in his stomach would cause the whale to burst.
As befitting of a fishing town, the residents were hardly concerned and treated the occasion like a festival.
They set up food stands along the beach, the smell of yakisoba intertwining with the fetid stench of the whale.
I, too, was busy holding my breath and suppressing my hunger.
The whale continued to expand. Hairline cracks ran up and down his skin.
Separated from the waves, his dry body was no longer a thing of the sea.
Access was still restricted to the ocean and beach, so it was another quiet day.
Although I searched near and farā
The calfās parents were nowhere to be seen.
ŹÉ
Night 3 since the whaleās appearance.
There was no one at the beach.
Only the crashing of the waves filled the darkness.
We went down to the water.
Since it was the middle of the night, there was no one to stop us.
The powerful wind blew the rotting stench away.
Approaching the whale for a closer look, we noticed details that werenāt visible before.
āHis left eye was an empty cavity plucked clean by birds.
āHis left side was discolored white and peeling.
The whale looked larger under the moonlight than he did during the day.
I knew it was because of the swelling.
However, it seemed to me as if the whale was in the midst of a deep, deep breath.
Shiodome-san gently placed his hand on the whaleās enormous body.
The Fishmaster had said only researchers were allowed to touch it.
Yet, this ritual seemed to transcend the rules.
He began to mumble to himself.
Shiodome: āāThis calf, he was looking for his mother.ā
Oosaki: ā...ā
Shiodome: āHe was looking for her whenā¦ he got lostā¦ and hit his head. He washed up here. Perhaps his mother is alreadyāā
Things no one else could see.
Things no one else could explain.
Shiodome-san could occasionally scoop the inexplicable to the surface.
I listened to him as if in a trance.
We were suspended in both dream and reality.
Shiodome-san removed his hand from the whale.
The reading was over.
If something had come and gone inside him, I didnāt ask.
As we were on the way back, we heard a pop in the distance.
The sound was so quiet, it mightāve been a figment of our imagination.
Meeting each otherās eyes, we hurried back to the beach.
The whale had finally burst without anyone to witness.
As the swelling subsided, he seemed to drift back to sleep.
Shiodome: āSweet dreams, little whale.ā
The whale had finally exhaled.
And now he was taking another deep, deep breath.
ŹÉ
Evening 4 since the whaleās appearance.
When I headed to the beach after work,
The whale was already gone.
Shiodome: āThe university researchers came at noon and brought heavy equipment with them.ā
The noise of the sidewalk and the lights of the street stalls were gone.
The sand on the beach had settled.
Chatter filled the seaside once again.
We sat down where the whale once lay.
Shiodome: āSomething strange happened to me the day before the whale appearedāā
Shiodomeās Recollection: āI was in the middle of cooking when I heard your voice call out to me.
However, when I turned around, a stranger was standing there.
Since you were at work, I knew you couldnāt be home.
So I asked, āWho are you?ā
And that seemed to startle him.
Then, without saying a word, he left.
When I turned the corner in the hall, he was already gone. It was like he was never there.ā
Shiodome: āāI messed up, didnāt I?ā
Oosaki: āWhat do you mean?ā
Shiodome: āI asked him who he was. That mustāve hurt him.ā
Oosaki: āDid you report the incident to the police?ā
Shiodome: āNo, because nothing happened. He didnāt take anything.ā
Oosaki: āIf it happens again, donāt say a word to him next time.ā
Shiodome-san fell silent before slowly speaking again.
Shiodome: āAt first, I thought I didnāt know himā¦. But, when I think again, he was definitely you, Oosaki-san.ā
Oosaki: ā...Why do you say that?ā
Shiodome: āHis voice sounded exactly the same. Like a drop of ink slowly seeping into parchment paper.ā
Oosaki: āThatās a difficult description to understand.ā
Shiodome: āWhat I mean is, he sounded kind. Ihihiā
Shiodome-san blushed at his own words.
Shiodome: āHas anything strange happened to you lately?ā
Oosaki: āNot at all.ā
Shiodome: āThatās good. You wonāt get lost then.ā
Oosaki: āEven if that was a dream, it was certainly a strange one.ā
Shiodome: āIt wasnāt a dream, though.ā
Oosaki: āThen perhaps you were half asleep.ā
Shiodome: āI guess it doesnāt matter too much whether it was real or not, so long as you only give special treatment to me~. If you ever run into another Shiodome, donāt fall for it, okay~?
āAnother Shiodome-san.
Ah.
Thatās right.
I thought it was a dream.
No.
I wanted to believe it was a dream, so that I could forget.
That day, I was in an unfamiliar house.
I met a Shiodome-san who seemed different from usual.
When he extended his hand, I had turned it away.
I had made him cryā
Shiodome & Oosaki: āAh.ā
We noticed it at the same timeāfootprints in the sand.
They started somewhere inland, descended onto the beach, and continued into the waves.
From the town, to the sea.
There was no sign of hesitationāit was as if they were simply making their way home.
Oosaki: āI suppose he made it back safely. The whale, and the other me.ā
Rather than leaving, itād be more accurate to say they'd returned.
Shiodome-san rested his heavy head on my shoulder.
His eyes were closed as if in prayer.
Shiodome: ā...For dinner, I was thinking of somen with chilled summer vegetables and a Michio-kun on the side.ā
Summer is when the lines between everyday life and the otherworldly intersect. [1]
This summer, too, was just beginning.
[Ten Views of Shonan -Beach-] 1959.Shiodome A Route
Translation Notes
[1] In Japan, summer is the prime time for ghost stories and supernatural occurrences. One explanation for this cultural belief is that telling ghost stories will send a "chill down your spine" and cool off the heat. Another reason is that Obon, a festival for the dead, happens during the summer. During Obon, the line between life and death grows thin, allowing the spirits of the dead to visit their family.
Shinagawa: āCāmon, whereās your greeting?ā
Shinagawaās Brother: ā...ā
Shinagawa: āHey, introduce yourself.ā
Shinagawaās Brother: ā......ā
Hiding behind his older brotherās back, the boy tugged on Shinkiba-sanās sleeve and peered at me.
He had a red oni mask on his head made of paperāperhaps a leftover from Setsubunāwith slightly crushed horns. [1]
From that, I could tell it was his favorite.
I crouched down to meet him at eye level, but he immediately protested and turned away.
Shinagawa: āRingo. Stop being so antisocial already. Itās rude.ā
Oosaki: āPlease donāt worry about it. Iām the one at fault for wearing a black yukata. It makes me look scary, like a nurikabe.ā [2]
Shinagawa: āNo, no, no, not at all.ā
Shinkiba: āIf youāre a nurikabe, then perhaps Iām a nurarihyon in my brown yukata, and these two are a pair of crimson oni brothers.ā [3]
Shinagawa: āWhat has our detective agency becomeā¦ā
Shinkiba: āThat said, I think everyone looks splendid in their yukata.ā
Shinkiba-san looked the happiest to be here.
Actually, it was him who had invited us to the festival.
Heād even taken it upon himself to buy everyone matching yukata.
However, I was the only one who couldnāt seem to get used to the outfit.
Oosaki: āDid we have to wear these?ā
Shinkiba: āOosaki-kun, if youāre going to a festival then a yukata is mandatory.ā
Then, Shinkiba-san turned with a light clack of his wooden sandals and passed through the torii gate.
The rest of us were left with no choice but to follow.
ŹÉ
The road leading to Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine, also known as the Dankazura, was lined on both sides with trees which provided cool shade in the summer heat.
As the evening hours encroached and the lighting grew dim, shadows began to obscure the faces of the people around us.
Our sleeves rustled as we brushed past one another, but there was no one in a hurry and no one being rushed along.
The wide pathway soon narrowed and people streamed into the shrine grounds where the dazzling lights of the street stalls greeted them.
Festivals are rife with deceitā
Artifically-colored chicks.
Rigged childrenās games. [4]
Lotteries no one can win.
āAt a festival, such things are permissible.
To experience the extraordinary, we must first be deceived.
In the midst of this, my eyes alone wandered from stall to stall.
Shinagawa: āSenpai, are you looking for something?ā
Oosaki: āYes. ā¦Could we take a closer look over there?ā
Shinagawa: āI donāt mind, but, huhā¦ā
There it wasāthe place Iād been looking forāa mask vendor.
Hidden below an assortment of foxes, monkeys, rabbits, and other lucky masks was a singular red oni.
I picked it up without the slightest hesitation.
It had a charmingly crooked smile like a child had scribbled it on.
When I placed the mask on my face and turned around, Ringo-kun suddenly popped up before me. He approached with interest.
Shinagawaās Brother: āYouāre one of us!ā
Shinagawa: āOh, so now youāre talkingā¦ā
Shinkiba: āIt seems heās a good kid after all.ā
Shinagawaās Brother: āLetās hold hands!ā
Oosaki: āOf course.ā
Shinagawa: āI suppose itās fine if Senpaiās fine with itā¦ā
From there, we ventured deeper into the shrine grounds.
Water yoyos, ring tossing, shooting games. The laughter of children filled the air.
It occurred to me that the mask had slipped off my forehead at some point, but even with my face revealed, Ringo-kun continued to smile.
As the darkness settled in, the shrine maidens emerged and lit the bonbori lanterns.
The Bonbori Festival is a purification ritual that occurs every August in Kamakura. [5]
Rectangular lanterns made of washi paper are displayed, each with a painting on one side.
These works were created by artists connected to Kamakura.
It's a magnificent sight to see a hundred of these lined up in a row.
The area around the warmly lit lanterns had fallen mysteriously silent.
Everyone was captivated by the illuminated images as if they were being drawn in.
Then, Shinkiba-san broke the silence with his conspicuously cheerful voice.
Shinkiba: āAlright, shall we go find our dear Oosakiās lantern?ā
At that moment.
Within the crowd, I thought I saw a familiar face.
He crossed the street and disappeared down an unlit road that led to a pond.
I couldnāt help but trace his path into the darkness.
Shinkiba: āOosaki-kun? Are you alright?ā
Oosaki: āYesā¦ā
Shinagawa: āAh!ā
Shinagawa-kun suddenly shouted and pointed at something.
āI recently took a job from a writer in Kamakura.
We had a conversation about watercolor painting,
And as a result, I received a special opportunity to paint a lantern.
The subject I had chosen was a sunset-view of the sea.
It was the kind of fleeting scenery you wouldnāt be able to find in broad daylight.
Illuminated by the warm flame of the candles, the painting glowed a gentle pink.
It was as if the waves were sparkling beneath the sun.
Shinkiba: āYour painting has a quiet beautyāit cleanses the soul. Iām glad we all came to see it.ā
Shinagawa: ā...That island on the edge is Enoshima. And in the distance you can see the faint outline of Mount Fuji. Which is to say, this must be a view of the Shonan seaside. From the perspective, Iād guess weāre on the side of a mountain or perhaps gazing at the scenery from the veranda of a houseā¦ Well? Am I right?ā
Oosaki: āOn every point.ā
There were only a few clouds in the sky on the day of this sunset.
A bright and clear gradient had formed as noon turned to night.
From the peculiar color of the sea, it couldāve easily been morning.
We watched it togetherāhe and I.
āHow beautiful,ā heād murmured as he began to drift off.
Truthfully, thereās a certain person I wanted to see this painting with.
However, heād turned my invitation down.
I was hallucinating phantoms of Ariake-san within the crowd.
It was as if I was possessed.
Just as I was clearing my head, Ringo-kun suddenly tugged on my sleeve.
Shinagawaās Brother: āAre you sure you donāt want to go? To find the person youāre looking for?ā
ā¦Who?
Oosaki: āIām not looking for anyone.ā
Shinagawaās Brother: āBut you are?ā
Oosaki: āEven if I am, thereās nothing I can do about it now.ā
Shinagawaās Brother: āHe was dragging his foot, like it was in pain.ā
Oosaki: ā...ā
Shinagawaās Brother: āAre you really sure?ā
Ringo-kunās eerie voice felt like a gentle stab.
He couldnāt have possibly known anything about the two of us, yet he seemed worried all the same.
ā¦It would appear he was just as sharp as his brother.
I freed myself from the festival goods Iād been entrusted withā
Cotton candy, candy apples, water yo-yos, excessively long fugashi cakes.
āAnd distributed them to the rest of the party.
Shinagawa: āSenpai?ā
Oosaki: āI remembered I have urgent business to attend to. Please excuse me.ā
Shinagawa: āHuh!? What about praying at the main shrine? Or checking out the food stands!?ā
Oosaki: āWeāll do it next time, no, later.ā
With that, I put my mask back on and melted into the crowd.
Shinagawa: āAhh, wait! I wanted you to get something for me from the shooting game too! Ugh, heās already gone! ā¦I shouldāve just been honest about it earlier!ā [6]
Shinkiba: āBeing a detective certainly comes in handy.ā
Shinagawa: āWhat are you talking aboutā¦?ā
ŹÉ
It was silent around the pond.
There were only a few lanterns here, and the gagaku music playing near the temple sounded far away.
Ariake-san was sitting on a fence. A man was kneeling at his feet.
His fat fingers were slithering all over Ariake-sanās foot.
Letting this happen, he laughed as if it tickled.
I stood within the shadow of the trees.
ā¦So this was the reason Ariake-san was being so evasive when I called him last week.
A gust of wind rustled the leaves, allowing light to seep through the cracks.
Ariake: āāOosaki-san?ā
Just as I was about to leave, a voice stopped me from behind.
If I wanted to run, I still could.
However, my hesitation became my answer.
Ariake: āAh, it hurtsāā
Ariake-san had attempted to stand up, but he fell.
I gallantly rushed towards him.
Supporting his arms, I helped him back up.
But he simply collapsed against me.
Ariake: āSince I donāt often wear these sandals, I ended up twisting my ankleā¦ However, everythingās fine now that youāre here to help, Oosaki-san.ā
Oosaki: ā...ā
Ariake: āYou are Oosaki-san, arenāt you?ā
He asked, despite being entirely sure of the answer.
With no other choice, I took off my mask.
I didnāt know what kind of expression I was making, but I couldnāt help but feel as if some dark, ugly feeling had come to light.
ā¦Who was that man?
Doubt had rooted itself into my heart.
Still clinging onto me, Ariake-san smiled at the man.
Ariake: āThank you for accompanying me here, but Iāll be alright now. Heāll be with me from now on.ā
Man: āWho is heā¦?ā
Ariake: āOosaki-san is myāā
I gave the man a quick bow and roughly steered Ariake-san away.
ŹÉ
We silently walked down the main pathway of the shrine.
Since the lantern viewing was in full swing, there was no one besides us heading out.
I sat Ariake-san down on the stone steps by the entrance torii gate and began to feel his foot.
I couldn't tell how bad the sprain was with just a glance, but he did have a few blisters on his toes.
Oosaki: āCan I pop these blisters for you?ā
Ariake: ā...Huh?ā
Oosaki: āIf you pop them now, the pain subsides faster.ā
Ariake: āOhā¦ No, theyāre fine as is. Do you usually do that?ā
Oosaki: āI did it often when I was young.ā
Ariake: ā...Did it not hurt?ā
Oosaki: āOnly at first.ā
Ariake: āIā¦ think you might be an exception.ā
Oosaki: ā...ā
It was a perfunctory medical treatment. I had let my hatred of the doctorās slip.
However, what made me even more restlessā¦
Was the fact that I was in the exact position as the man from before.
Oosaki: ā...Iāll call a taxi so you can go home.ā
Ariake: āAre you not going to ask me why Iām here?ā
Oosaki: ā...ā
I couldnāt come up with a reply.
His eyes were pinned on me, and I was sure I was looking back.
However, I couldnāt help but notice the sweat on the back of his neck, the slenderness of his fingers as they trembled.
There was no way to hide my wandering gaze.
Oosaki: ā...Shall we take a break?ā
ŹÉ
There was a small teahouse on a path that split from the road.
Inside, we were led to a tatami mat room on the second floor.
Ariake-san sat in a chair with one leg propped up, an ice pack on his foot.
A kind attendant had made it for him.
I sat in the seat directly across, gazing at the bright sky above the shrine grounds.
I think the conversation had stopped on my end.
Oosaki: ā...Who was that person?ā
Ariake: āA junior from work. He wanted me to come and see the lantern heād painted.ā
Oosaki: āShould you have left him behind?ā
Ariake: āItās fine. Iām sure heās with the others.ā
Oosaki: āThe others?ā
Ariake: āWe came with a group of coworkers.ā
Oosaki: ā...I see.ā
Hearing that, my shoulders clearly sagged with relief.
ā¦Ariake-san didnāt come alone with that man after all.
Ariake: āHe lives in Kamakura and often played around Hachiman Shrine as a child. When I hurt my foot, he knew exactly where to take me to rest.ā
Oosaki: āItās good he was a local, so you didnāt have to look around on your own.ā
Ariake: āHe's probably meeting up with everyone at the main shrine now.ā
Oosaki: ā...That said. I heard only professional artists could paint a lantern. He must be exceptionally talented.ā
Ariake: āApparently, heās won several awards and was recommended for the task. It really was a beautiful lantern.ā
Oosaki: ā...ā
I pretended to drink tea to hide my lips.
To muddle my reply.
I meant to swallow it all down, but I couldnāt hold it in, and everything came pouring out.
Oosaki: āThe two of you must be very close.ā
Ariake: āEhe?ā
Oosaki: āI didnāt interrupt anything, did I?ā
Ariake: āAhā What you saw back thereā¦ Heād said something that was a bit troubling for me, so I was trying to laugh it off.ā
Oosaki: āWhat was it?ā
Ariake: āHmm, I canāt say.ā
He shrugged his shoulders and smiled.
Ariake: āWhy did you come to the festival?ā
Oosaki: āI saw the lights on my way back from a job and thought Iād take a quick look.ā
Ariake: āYou had a jobā¦ that required you to wear a mask and yukata?ā
Oosaki: āThatāsā¦ confidential information, so I canāt answer your question.ā
Ariake: āWere you tracking someone?ā
Oosaki: āI canāt answer that either.ā
Ariake: āWell then, it seems like weāre both keeping secrets today.ā
The ice in his glass rattled, making a light noise.
Or perhaps the sound was from Ariake-sanās eyes flicking towards me.
He was wearing a devilish grin.
Ariake: āTell me, why are you angry?ā
Oosaki: āAngry? Iām notāā
Ariake: āIs it because of him? Or perhaps me?ā
Oosaki: ā...ā
Ariake: āItās fine, you know. You can lash out if youād like. Weāre lovers, arenāt we? Shouldnāt we be able to tie each other down?ā
It sounded like there was a tinge of sadness in his voice.
Ariake: āThe very fact that we were allowed into this teahouse is proof of our love. Anyone can see how close we are.ā
Oosaki: āThe attendant was just concerned about your foot. ā¦Itās the same as with your colleague.ā
Ariake: āOh, but I think heāll ask me again tomorrowāwho was that person? And this time, Iād like to answer him properly.ā
Oosaki: āStop this.ā
Ariake: āWhy?ā
Oosaki: āIā¦ donāt particularly mind, but I donāt think itās good for you to associate yourself with me.ā
Ariake: āIf you donāt mind, then whatās the issue?ā
Oosaki: ā...ā
Ariake: āDo you not care about me whatsoever?"
His perfectly composed smile slipped, unveiling his insecurity.
I had noticed this from the beginning, but Ariake-san was acting differently from usual.
Ariake: āWhat he said to me back there was that he wanted to bring me to his house and prepare an ice pack for my sprain. There was nothing about popping blisters or calling a taxi to send me home.ā
I found my gaze drifting back towards the window.
Then, Ariake-san unexpectedly stood up and squeezed in next to me.
Since the seat was too small, we were practically on top of each other.
If this was a scale, I had the feeling it would tip in Ariake-sanās favor.
ā¦I was completely unfit to call myself his lover.
Oosaki: ā...Iām sorry.ā
Ariake: āDo you really understand what youāre apologizing for?ā
His breath was terrifyingly close.
Ariake: āIt mustāve been fun playing that shooting game with all those children around you.ā
Oosaki: ā!ā
Ariake: āThatās right, I saw you first.ā
Oosaki: āI have nothing to feel guilty aboutā¦ā
Ariake: āThen why did you lie and say you had work?ā
āIt couldnāt be.
Crossing the road.
Stringing along that man.
Allowing his foot to be touched.
Was everything to spite me?
Ariake: āI couldnāt stand seeing how happy you looked.ā
Oosaki: āThatās just the maskās designā¦ā
Ariake: āWhat about when you won the heaviest prize from the shooting game?ā
Oosaki: āThat was pure luckā¦ā
Ariake: āOr when you landed every try at the ring toss?ā
Oosaki: āThat was a miracleā¦ā
Ariake: āOr when you netted five yo-yos in a single round?ā
Oosaki: āThatāsā¦ inexcusable.ā
I had completely ruined the childrenās festival.
Ariake: āHowever, what I absolutely canāt stand mostā¦ is myself.ā
Oosaki: āAriake-sanā¦ā
Ariake: āWithout judgment, will you listen to what I have to say?ā
Oosaki: āOf course.ā
Ariake: āDonāt hold anyoneās hand but mineāā
Even though his opponent was a child.
Even though he had nothing to worry about.
Ariake-san still spat those words out bitterlyā
āAs if he were a child himself.
His painful confession sank deeply into my chest.
As if to absorb as much of that pain as I could,
I kissed him.
ŹÉ
Love has a way of warping even the most ordinary people into enemies.
If this is the way love works,
Then it truly is a foolish and pitiful thing.
However. Despite my fear and anguish, I could never leave Ariake-sanās side.
This, too, is the work of love.
ŹÉ
The next morning.
We walked along the deserted pathway lined with glowing lanterns.
With the clamor of the festival long gone, the pale bonbori seemed reminiscent of ephemeral bones.
Ariake-san wistfully gazed at my painting.
He contemplated it for a long time.
Ariake: āāSo this is why you came to the festival.ā
Oosaki: āItās also the reason why I invited you.ā
Ariake: āIf you had told me, I wouldāve changed my plansā¦ā
Oosaki: āI didnāt want to raise your expectations just to disappoint you. Iām only an amateur artist. Compared to everyone elseā¦ā
Ariake: āYour painting is amazing.ā
He poked at the waves.
It was a subtle, gentle gesture so as not to damage the paper.
Ariake: ā...Will you come over next week?ā
Oosaki: āOf course.ā
Ariake: āIād love to watch the sunset with you again.ā
He tucked his bangs behind his ear and smiled softly.
Then, he straightened up, grabbed my hand,
And took off running.
Ariake: āWe have to hurry!ā
Oosaki: āPlease slow down, Ariake-san!ā
Ariake: āI canāt! I have work soon, so I have to get dressed!ā
Oosaki: āI understand, butā¦!ā
It didnāt seem like his foot was in pain.
Almost as if there was never any to begin with.
If that was true, it seems Iāve been terribly deceivedā¦
It appears I havenāt escaped the festival just yet.
[Ten Views Of Shonan -Light-] 1956.Ariake A Route
Translation Notes
[1] A Japanese festival that celebrates the coming of spring by throwing beans at family members wearing oni masks to purify the home.
[2] A yokai that appears late at night to obstruct a traveler's way. Sometimes it is depicted as a large wall with a face, other times as a dog-like creature with three eyes.
[3] A yokai that appears as an old man with a gourd shaped head. He is said to be the supreme commander of monsters.
[4] Originally "wet katanuki." Katanuki is a children's game that involves carving shapes out of a slab of candy without it breaking. If the katanuki is wet, the game becomes more difficult.
[5] The Bonbori Festival actually occurs over three days with a different focus for each day. This story takes place on the first day, also known as the Nagoshi-sai or "Summer Purification Festival" which is meant to ward off misfortune and danger.
[6] Shinagawa typically uses the same atypical first-person pronoun (jibun) as Oosaki out of admiration, but in his bewildered state, he switches to a more common one (ore) which I think is cute.
[For The Bride He Loved] - Rustica SSR Card Story Translation
Ft. Owen and Akira
Say It With Love - Chapter 1
[Heineās Castle]
Rustica: Thank you for agreeing to help with my proposition today, Master Sage.
Rustica: It's truly an honor to be able to bless such a powerful bond of love as our dear bride and groom possess.
Rustica and I were at a manor in the North preparing for a wedding.
As he laid the silverware out on the table, he spoke to me with a gentle smile.
Akira: Iām honored to be here as well.
Akira: They must share a truly special relationshipā¦
Rustica: I certainly agree with that. There are as many ways to love as there are people, and each one possesses its own beauty.
Rustica: Although one seed may differ from another, with enough tenderness and care, they may all come to bear delicious fruit.
Akira: (Now thatās an apt metaphor for the situationā¦)
Akira: Well, I hope Lady Tina and Sir Heine's wedding is a fruitful one. Iām sure she'll have much to say to him.
Rustica: Iām sure she will. Words have a powerful way of moving the hearts of those we cherish.
Rustica: All it takes is a mere whisper for love to bloom.
Owen: And what a beautiful, foolish lie that is.
Akira: Owen.
Owen: Those two are nothing but silver-tongued bait and the wizard who fell for it and paid with his life.
Owen: What more, they ended up sharing the same grisly fate, both deceiver and deceived. Isnāt that hilarious? You canāt even call it a tragedy.
Owen had appeared without a word. Shrugging nonchalantly, he swiped a nut off the table.
His skin was so pale from the wedding preparations earlier that it seemed almost translucent beneath the moonlight.
Owen: Crunchā¦ Utterly flavorless, as I expected.
Rustica: Why, hello Owen. If thereās anyone who understands the power of words, itād be you, no?
Rustica: You always have so much to say and seem quite fond of it too. Why else would you have approached us?
Owen: You understand me so well. I do love a good conversation.
Owen: Thereās nothing quite like striking fear into the hearts of others and watching them sink into despair.
Rustica: Oh, how wonderful! Then you certainly understand how important it is to convey oneās love through speech.
Owen: Huh? Love? I have absolutely zero interest in such a thing.
Rustica: Oh? Do you have difficulty expressing your feelings through words? Perhaps I can be of assistance then.
Rustica: <<Amorest Viesse>>
Say It With Love - Chapter 2
Rustica cast his spell and suddenly, the nuts resting on the table were glittering with a powder coating.
Rustica: There we are. Please, feel free to try one.
Owen: ā¦Donāt keep us waiting now, Master Sage.
Akira: Wait, me? A- Are you sure?
Rustica: But of course. Your happiness is what matters above all.
Akira: Thank you. In that case, Iāll help myself.
Akira: Munchā¦! Mm, itās so sweet and juicy!
Rustica: Iām very glad you liked it. Please feel free to take another one.
Akira: Well, itād be rude to refuseā¦
Owen: Unfortunately youāll have to because your time is up.
Akira: Ah!
Owen snatched the nut out of my hand and tossed it into his mouth.
Owen: ā¦Hmph, itās passable, but it could always be sweeter.
Rustica: Hmm, I see now. Thanks to your actions, Iām now a step closer to understanding your feelings.
Rustica: Of course, itās only one step of many.
Rustica: However, if I continue walking down this path and learning more about you, surely youāll come to feel something for me as well.
Owen: I suspect youāre right. āHatred,ā for one, comes to mind.
Owen: <<Cur Memini>>
Owen: If thatās the best you can come up with, then Iāll show you how itās really done. Here, Master Sage. Why donāt you give this a try for me?
Owen shoves a nut into my hand.
Akira: (Why am I getting a bad feeling about this? ...It's not good to doubt others though.)
Akira: O- Okay. Here I go!
Akira: (...Itās super sour!)
Owen: Ahaha, you look like an idiot with your face all scrunched up. And now I know you hate sour things.
Akira: Itās not that I hate them; thereās just a limit to these things!
Rustica: <<Amorest Viesse>>
Rustica: Here, Master Sageāsome tea to cleanse your palette.
Akira: T- Thank you!
Rustica: So Owen, what was it that attracted you to the Master Sage so much?
Akira: Gehā Cough, cough!
Owen: I beg your pardon?
Rustica: You chose to give the nut to the Master Sage instead of me, did you not?
Rustica: It seems youāre the type to express your feelings through actions rather than words.
Owen: This is ridiculous. I chose the Master Sage because I canāt stand them and wanted to see them suffer. However, I have an even worse hell in store for people I hate. People like you.
Saying this, Owen gave Rustica a razor thin smile.
Owen: What right do you have to speak of love when your own bride didnāt want to stay with you?
Owen: Have you ever considered that she got sick of you constantly pushing your ideas onto others and ran away?
Owen: Hasnāt it ever struck you as strange that no matter how hard you search, youāve never, ever been able to find her?
Owen: Perhaps you already know exactly where she is. Perhaps youāve locked her up somewhere and completely forgot about it.
Owen cackled and continued on without a care.
Owen: In the end, you only remember whatās convenient for you, and are more than happy to leave the important things shrouded in mist.
Say It With Love - Chapter 3
Rustica: I wonderā¦ Itās true that I donāt remember things very wellā¦
Rustica gazed at the ceiling as if contemplating Owenās words before he sweetly continued with a smile.
Rustica: However, I still understand her more than I have anyone else.
Even though he couldnāt remember a thing, his feelings didnāt waver for a second. I was struck by his confidence.
Rustica: And in return, she understands me.
Rustica: The happiness we shared still rests within my heart like the gentle warmth of the sun. Oh, how I wish I could convey that feeling to you.
Rustica: Perhaps I could turn it into a song upon the harpsichord, or imbue it into the taste of a delicious tree nut.
Owen looked at the ceiling in exasperation.
Owen: You truly do piss me off. Did you not hear a single thing I said?
Rustica: But of course I was listening. You were trying to understand me, were you not?
Owen: ā¦Fine, yes, whatever. Iām not even going to try anymore. Iām already exhausted and if I stay here any longer, I might really lose my head.
Akira: Ah, Owen.
Akira: ā¦Heās gone.
Akira: However, I do feel as if Iāve gotten one step closer to understanding Owenās feelings thanks to you.
Rustica: I think I have as well. Iām quite looking forward to seeing how much more I can learn while living together.
Rustica: And someday, I would like to express my feelings to everyone at the manor as well.
Akira: Ahaha, whenever that day comes, Iām sure everyone will be smiling from ear to ear.
Akira: (I, too, want to keep talking to everyone and continue strengthening our bonds.)
As if reading my mind, Rustica made eye contact with me.
Rustica: Master Sage.Ā
Rustica: Someday, I hope youāll express your feelings to everyone as well.
Rustica: May you love and be loved and find your happiness. Iāll do whatever I can to help you.
Akira: Rusticaā¦
After reflecting on his words, I lightly nodded.
Akira: ā¦I understand. I want to know what my happiness is too.
Akira: I want to learn more about myself and grow closer to everyone else. If thatās what it means to love, then Iāll do my best to walk that path to a brighter future one step at a time.
Rustica: What brilliant resolve. In that case, shall we start with you professing your love to me? Iād like to hear it in your own words, if you please.
Akira: Huh!? I- I can try! But what do I even sayā¦? Iām completely drawing a blank right nowā¦
Rustica: You neednāt worry too much about it. Iād be happy to accept anything you give me.
As Rustica reassured me, he took my hand as if caressing a precious object.
Rustica: However, if youāre still feeling nervous, I can always profess my love for you first.
Rustica smiled as he gazed into my eyes from beneath his long eyelashes.
Rustica: My dearest Akira.
Rustica: Will you accept my feelings?
Love as Infinite as the Stars - Card Episode
[Hallway]
Rustica: Good afternoon, my dearest Master Sage.
Akira: G- Good afternoon to you tooā¦ Rustica.
Akira: (He really caught me off guard with that ādearestā...)
Rustica: Oh? Is something the matter?
Akira: N- Nothing at all!
Akira: You just reminded me of that time we were in the North for Sir Heineās wedding, and you kept professing your love to me.
Akira: It was a super overwhelming experience, and I don't know if I'll ever get used to hearing things like thatā¦
Rustica: If thatās your concern, then why donāt we play the āI Love Youā game?
Akira: What!?
Rustica: Itās the one where we each take turns professing our love, and whoever flusters the other first wins. If we practice with that, youāll be charming the whole manor effortlessly in no time.
Akira: Youāve played the game before, havenāt you? I remember you being insanely good at itā¦
Rustica: I was certainly trying my best.
Rustica: After all, if I lost, I wouldnāt be able to express all the feelings I have for you which are as infinite as the stars.
Akira: !?!?!?!?!
Akira: Wow, you really are too good at thisā¦
Rustica: Ahaha, Iām honored to hear you say that. Now then, Master Sage.
Rustica: Is your heart ready?
Home Screen Voice Line
āShould your wedding day ever arrive, Iād like to compose a song to bless you with endless joy. After all, love has no limit. As the two of you create memories together, Iāll continue to add new phrases to the song. I hope you and your beloved partner will accept my tribute to your happiness.ā
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
ā Live Streamingā Interactive Chatā Private Showsā HD Qualityā Free Actions
Free to watch ā¢ No registration required ā¢ HD streaming
