#shunin

Nagi: Haa.....

Boy: Mama, that man on the swing set has been staring at the ground for so long now.

Mother of the boy: It's not good to stare, we should leave him alone.

Nagi: I couldn't tell anyone it was my birthday today in the end.

Nagi: The "Random Present System"... I wonder if I was counted in it too.

Nagi: I'm sure the person who was selected to gift me a present has been decided, but no one actually knows it's my birthday today.... Besides, it must have been a hassle to get me something when the system was only just implemented....

Nagi: ...... Well, I guess it's fine even if my birthday isn't celebrated.

Nagi: Sonia sent me off with a smile and told me to enjoy the party, so I can't just go back to the shop now. I'll just return to Hama House, take a nice hot bath and sleep.

Nagi: I'm ba...ck?

Ryui: Finally! Where the hell were you off to all this time? You're late!

Nagi: Huh? Um, I'm... sorry?

Momiji: Welcome back, Nagi-kun.

Yodaka: We were just about to set off to find you.

Yodaka: It wouldn't do for the birthday boy to be absent for his own party, now would it?

Nagi: But I thought no one knew my birthday...

Netaro: What a silly goose you are Gii~ Surely you must remember the fact that you had to note down your birthday on your profile.

Momiji: It was in the company's documents too.

Nagi: Ah... you're right.

Toi: Ushio-kun prepared the cake -"Blooming Happiness ⭐ Full Bloom Flower Cake"! The flowers on top of the icing are all edible, isn't that amazing?

Nagi: Not just that, the entire table is packed with all kinds of food...

Nagi: You prepared all this... for me...?

Momiji: Nagi-kun, I've prepared a ton of vases so I can receive as many flowers as you want to give me later, so enjoy tonight as much as you want!

Nagi: ....!!

Everyone at Hama Tours: Happy Birthday!!

Renga: As fellow team leaders... let's do our best to get along and hype up HAMA.

Renga: This pink rose is my birthday gift for you.

Renga: It's thanks to your advice that my roses grew so beautifully, so you can have this one.

Nagi: ....hic.....

Renga: ...Wait, huh!? Are you crying!?

Ten: Ah... look at those tears. Renga-san, how could you do that to him....

Renga: Is this my fault!?

Renga: It's not like it's something specia- I mean, I did put a lot of thought into it, but!

Renga: O-Oi, stop crying already...!

Nagi: ....hic, I've never seen such a beautiful rose before. It's the most beautiful one in the world, no, in this entire galaxy!

Renga: I-Is that so...!

Muneuji: Hachinoya-san, please accept this watering can from me. I hope you can make use of it at your store. I wish for 'Flower Laundry' to continue to flourish and prosper.

Nagi: I-I promise to make my store one that everyone loves for the next 1000 years.

Liguang: ... He keeps crying every time someone greets him.

Ryui: He's a pain...

Nagi: Liguang-san, and Ryui... Even the two of you prepared a present for me?

Liguang: That's right. Grease and cloth included, I've prepared a maintenance tool set that you can use on your beloved bike.

Nagi: Thank you very much....

Ryui: This is a little something to ward of bad luck.

Nagi: Band-aids? It's even got a nice design...

Ryui: It's because you keep getting hurt all the time and getting Toi all worried. And stop bawling so much it's gross.

Nagi: ... Thank you for getting someone like me a gift. It's the first time my birthday's been celebrated like this...

Chihiro: Oh em gee, isn't Nagipeko crying a lil too much tho? You'll shrivel up at this rate!

Nagi: It'll be ok if I drink water right after letting it out.

Raito: Haha, guess I should prepare a pitcher for you in that case.

Nagi: I would really appreciate that.

Nagi: I want to give back all this gratitude I'm feeling. So that all of you can smile just like I am-

Nagi: I'll do a stand-up comedy right now.

Momiji: Eh, all of a sudden?

Tao: That's not what I was expecting from that speech!

Nagi: Even if you feel like cringing, please don't look away. I'd like you to accept my honest feelings of gratitude.

Momiji: Huh, wait, Nagi-kun...!

Nagi: Presenting my short skit, "How I surprised myself on my own Birthday."

The chief (MC) is referred to only as 'Shunin', and no pronouns have been used.

📍HAMA House Living Room

Nagi: …What should I do? Hachinoya Nagi, you’re facing the most important event of your Ward Mayor life…

Nagi: (I wonder if this is how scriptwriters usually feel before a deadline. Even though I haven’t come up with a single idea for that event, dumb thoughts like “I think I’ll make mixed rice for dinner” keep popping into my head one after another.)

Shunin: Nagi-kun, are you alright?

Daniel: You hangin’ in there, Nagi?

Nagi: Ah, Shunin and Buchi-san… And everyone else too.

Toi: Kiro-chan said you’d been glued to the couch all afternoon and hadn’t moved an inch, so we got worried and came to check on you.

Netaro: You’re just like a Jizo [1] statue. Gii-zo ♪

Ryui: Oi, quit making Toi and Kiro worry about you.

Yodaka: Is something on your mind? If you’d like, we’d be happy to listen.

Nagi: Ziiiiing. Everyone’s kindness is permeating every fiber of my being.

Nagi: The truth is…. I haven’t been able to come up with any ideas for the mahorova BD event.

Daniel: Ah, the project started by the president, right?

Shunin: Well, since it’s being held at mahorova, you can technically do anything, but maybe having that level of freedom makes it hard to decide.

Shunin: Kafka said that what really matters is the spirit of hospitality.  So… I think it’s good for you to just do what you want, Nagi-kun.

Nagi: …Right. Sonia said the same thing when I discussed it with her at the shop.

Nagi: So, at first, I wanted to create a peaceful space where you could nap or relax while surrounded by flowers blooming from all seasons with the sound of the washing machine humming in the background, but —

Ryui: That’s literally just your shop.

Nagi: Yeah. I thought so too and scrapped the idea in about eight seconds.

Netaro: Well, it can’t be helped~ Here comes my moment to shine with a stroke of genius!

Yodaka: Oh? Do you have an idea?

Netaro: Yes! I read about it in a book, but there's apparently an invention that can wash people. How about using that for your hospitality, Gii?

Nagi: Washing people…… what do you mean by that?

Netaro: Toss a person in whole, and they come out sparkling clean! All the worries and pain swirling in your gut? Gone without a trace! And as a bonus, every memory since you were born disappears too! ♪

Toi: Huh…!? All my memories too!?

Nagi: …….

Nagi: …That could work.

Shunin: (Has Nagi-kun been thinking so hard that he lost the ability to make normal judgments?!)

Ryui: What the hell do you mean!? Get your shit together, Hachinoya!

Nagi: Ow.

Nagi: …………Ohhh.

Ryui: What?

Nagi: —This is it.

Nagi: A numbing head chop — or rather, a sharp tsukkomi comeback. Thank you, Ryui.

Nagi: I’ve decided on the hospitality I want to provide.

📍 Backstage

Shunin: A comedy stage that’s always running an act, huh?

Shunin: (How should I put it… I guess you could say it’s something only Nagi-kun would do…)

Toi: Woah. That’s a tight schedule… And almost all of it’s you, Nagi-kun. Will you be alright?

Nagi: I’ll be fine. Everyone from the Night Team and people from the other teams will be taking the stage too, so I’ll rest while they're on.

Nagi: I can do it. Please let me.

Ryui: Alright, since you’ve made up your mind, give it everything you’ve got.

Shunin: We’ll back you up so that you can stand on stage till the end, Nagi-kun. Do your best!

Nagi: Mm. Everyone….. I look forward to working with you today.

Translation Notes

Jizo (地蔵) is a beloved Buddhist deity in Japan, often depicted as stone statues with gentle features. Jizo's primary role is to protect children and travellers.

The chief (MC) is referred to only as 'Shunin', and no pronouns have been used.

Part 1

📍 Vacant Lot

Nagi: I never would have thought there would be a pitfall trap in a place like this… It’s such an open, flat area, and yet I didn’t notice at all. It must have been made by professionals, like those from a hidden camera prank show.

Shunin: It’s good that you were able to get out safely… Are you okay? You’re not hurt, are you?

Nagi: Mhm, I’m okay. Thanks for lending me a hand.

Nagi: I’ll fill in the pit later so that no one else falls in.

Shunin: Your clothes and shoes are all muddy. Why don’t we head back for now?

Nagi: Mm… I’ll show you the ropes some other time. I’m just glad the souvenir is safe.

Shunin: Souvenir?

Nagi: While weeding, I was making a wreath with white clover. I was thinking of decorating the dorm’s door with it. Here it is…

Shunin: Wow, that’s amazing! What a lovely wreath. How nostalgic… When I was little, I made one with my sibling too.

Shunin: I made them into bracelets and crowns. Though, I wasn’t as skilled as you, Nagi-kun.

Nagi: Then…

Nagi: Shunin, give me your finger.

Shunin: My finger? Like this?

Shunin: (He’s holding… a white clover ring?)

Nagi: The pinky… is too loose, so the finger next to it… Mm, that’s perfect.

Nagi: As thanks for saving me from the pit…and, to show my usual gratitude.

Nagi: … No, scratch that. That was a bit too childish. Instead, I’ll take something more practical out of my wallet now, so please wait a bit…

Shunin: N-No need! Then it’ll become extortion!

Shunin: This ring makes me really happy! Thank you so much.

Nagi: …My pleasure.

📍HAMA House Living Room

Shunin: I’m back~.

Nagi: I’m home.

Toi: Ah, welcome back!

Toi: …This is it, Netaro-san! The iconic scene that would be remembered in JPN romance drama history!

Netaro: Hoooh-, so the protagonist in this cafe scene is wrapping a straw wrapper around his lover’s ring finger. What’s that supposed to mean, exactly??

Toi: He’s pretending it’s just a game, but he’s actually measuring the ring finger. He’s planning to prepare an engagement ring later and surprise his lover with it!

Netaro: What a roundabout lad~! One could just ask for the size directly, no?

Toi: That won’t make for a good drama. This is a common trope in romance dramas.

Netaro: Humans are peculiar and complicated creatures indeed~! I’m curious to see how this guy’s love story will unfold!

Nagi: ……

📍HAMA House Bathroom

Nagi: ………….

📍HAMA House Bedroom

Nagi: ……………….

Nagi: (The ring finger…..)

📍 Flashback

Nagi: The pinky… is too loose, so the finger next to it… Mm, that’s perfect.

📍HAMA House Bedroom

Nagi: Ah, wh—whh—wha………….

Yodaka: ! Nagi?

Nagi: (In other words, I’ve become the kind of guy in romance dramas who, under the pretext of thanking someone for saving me, secretly measures their ring finger size…)

Nagi: (If I try to explain now… No, that might just make things worse…Shunin doesn’t think of it that way. Probably. Surely. But—)

Yodaka: You’re hiding under the futon, what’s the matter?

Nagi: I-I’m…okay.

The chief (MC) is referred to only as 'Shunin', and no pronouns have been used.

📍 Public Park

Shunin: (...Alright. That wraps up the rounds to the ad agencies.)

Shunin: (Maybe I’ll go eat lunch somewhere? Or should I head back to HAMA House for now…)

Boy with shaved head: Wow! The ‘Weed Fairy’ really exists!

Boy with glasses: It wasn’t an urban legend after all! Hey, let’s go see the fairy one more time!

[The boys run off.]

Shunin: (The ‘Weed Fairy’...?)

Shunin: ……

📍 Vacant Lot

Boy with shaved head: Hey, did you see that!?

Boy with glasses: I saw it, I saw it! Normally the roots would be left behind and it’d just snap, but to pull them out so cleanly at that speed…!

Boy with shaved head: That’s something else! Seriously, that godlike skill is so awesome—!

Shunin: (This is Ward 16…. Could it be that the ‘Weed Fairy’ is—)

Nagi: ……

Shunin: (I knew it! It was about Nagi-kun.)

Nagi: ………………

Shunin: (That’s certainly a 'godlike skill'…..! Such an efficient, adept handling. The grass is swiftly being pulled out with the perfect amount of force…..)

Nagi: …..Ah, Shunin.

Shunin: ! Hello, Nagi-kun. I’m sorry for staring at you.

Shunin: I just happened to pass by, I was so amazed by your godlike skill that I forgot to say hi…..

Nagi: 'Godlike skill'…..?

Shunin: You’re weeding the grass, aren’t you? If you’d like, shall I help out a little too?

Nagi: Huh? No, I’m doing this on my own, so I can’t trouble you with it, Shunin.

Shunin: It’s alright. I just wrapped up some work, so I’m taking a small break now. I'd like to master the secret art of weeding with you, Nagi-kun.

Nagi: 'Godlike skill’, ‘secret art’..... I didn’t expect my personal and plain hobby to be praised so highly.

Nagi: It’s not anything as grand as a secret art, but I might be able to teach you some tips and tricks.

Shunin: Yes! Master, I am in your care!

Nagi: Mm, the pleasure is mine.

Nagi: Well then, let’s focus on this untouched area. The ground should be soft after the rain, so the weeds should be easier to pull out.

Nagi: When weeding, it’s important to pull out the roots. For large ones that have grown fully, use a shovel or something like that to dig them up.

Shunin: I see…!

Nagi: Ah, wait a moment. I have some spare gloves in my bag, I’ll go get them.

Nagi: —!

Shunin: Eh!?

Shunin: (Nagi-kun disappeared—!?)