月光天下、ここにあり

Scout and Event Stories

Heaven and Earth

Gourmand Fragrance

Keito Hasumi

Feature Scout story: Lotus & Vows — 1 | 2

With: AKATSUKI, Anzu

Feature Scout story: Shutter Chance — 1 | 2

With: AKATSUKI, Tomoya, Anzu

Idol Story: An Exchange of Information between Instructors

With: Yuzuru, Ibara

Management stories:

With: Mao

With: Yuzuru

With: Kaoru

With: Madara

Kuro Kiryu

Feature Scout Story: Preparations for the Future — 1 | 2

With: Mao, Ritsu, Niki, Sora, Mitsuru, Nazuna, Anzu

Idol story: An Idol's life of Daily Study

Management stories:

With: Keito

Idol story: Let’s Play and Learn

With: AKATSUKI, Ra*bits

With: Shu

Souma Kanzaki

Management Stories:

With: Kanata

Other

8th Anniversary Heart to You FES!!

(1) With: Eichi, Wataru, Yuzuru, Tori

(4) With: Keito, Yuzuru, Souma, Mao

(10) With: Souma, Kanata, Ibara, Kaoru, Shinobu

(11) With: BUTOKAI (Kuro, Adonis, Tetora, Jun, Madara)

(12) With: Yuzuru, Subaru, Midori

(23) With: Keito, Wataru, Tsumugi, Nazuna, Hokuto

(26) With: AKATSUKI

(27) With: Chiaki, Nazuna, Kuro, Shu

(28) With: Souma, Mika, Natsume, Adonis

(31) With: Yuzuru, Ibara, Hajime, HiMERU

(40) With: Overnight Outdoors Party (Kuro, Leo, Mitsuru, Niki, Mayoi)

(42) With: Keito, Leo, Eichi, Madara

11/26/23 Tsukisuta Skit

With: AKATSUKI & Tsukasa

Memories of Ensemble 2023 (AKATSUKI)

Lyrics

ROCK ROAR Lyrics (Game size)

金色千夜夢舞台 Lyrics (Game size)

絲

Mitsuru: Why not, why not? Everyone can have fun at an amusement park!

Mitsuru: I’ve been looking forward to this for looong time, so I’m gonna have as much fun as I can! YAHOO!

Tomoya: Wai- Don’t drag me by the arm, listen to me!

Souma: …… Today, Tenma seems more excitable than usual.

Hajime: Heheh. It’s been a while since all us four Ra*bits have gone on an outing like this.

Hajime: I think it’s because everyone from AKATSUKI is with us. Right, Nii-chan?

Nazuna: Yup. Hajime-chin, you can spend your time however you like too, kay? Relaxation is important.

Hajime: Okay!

Hajime: … Ah, Tomoya-kun and Mitsuru-kun are waving me over. It looks like they’re taking pictures with the mascots.

Kuro: Hey, Kanzaki. You go and take a picture too.

Souma: I as well?

Kuro: You’re the eldest amongst the students. That makes you their ‘big brother’. Keep an eye on the little ones and make sure they don’t tire themselves out.

Souma: I am their ‘big brother’, you say?

Souma: Leave it to me! ♪ I shall go forth, as an elder!

Keito: —Considering what you came here to accomplish, shouldn’t you be the one interacting with the kids, Kiryu?

Kuro: Uhhh…… That’s, well, I’ll get around to it eventually…

Nazuna: Ahaha! At that rate, you won’t make any progress at all, y’know~?

Keito: I agree. By the way, Nito was the one who came up with the plan for today, correct?

Nazuna: Ah, yeah. I happened to bump into Kuro-chin at the office last week, and he told me his thoughts on ‘Bogie Time’.

Nazuna: He also asked me: “How do you react entertainingly on shows like that?”

Nazuna: I gave him some advice on a few things, but ‘reacting’ isn’t a skill you can just get by listening to someone tell you how to do it, right?

Nazuna: We decided to train somewhere far removed enough from day to day life to put it into practice— Hence the special training at the amusement park.

Nazuna: Then we figured two guys hanging out on their own would be lonely, so we decided to invite our pals along! ♪ 

Keito: I can understand that much, however… Other four invitees aside, why call me? I’m not exactly the kind of person that would jump for joy at the prospect of going to an amusement park.

Kuro: With everyone else taggin’ along, wouldn’t you feel sad bein’ the only one left out?

Kuro: I didn’t want to make you feel bad, or have ya thinkin’ that I didn’t call ‘cause you’re too busy with work or somethin’.

Kuro: Havin’ ya here would make me happier too, Hasumi. Guys like us don’t tend to come to places like these often, right?

Kuro: I’m lookin’ forward to seein’ an unexpected side of ya. ♪

Keito: So, you’re expecting me to make a fool of myself? You have terrible taste. 

Keito: … But well, like you said earlier. Kanzaki seems to be happy about this.

Keito: I suppose you’ll need a reliable adult around. Don’t you appreciate that, Kiryu?

Kuro: ‘Course. I’m always appreciative of ya, Hasumi danna……♪

Keito: Hmph… Now that I’m here, I’ll make certain you accomplish your goals.

Keito: According to the pamphlet, the attractions that would be best for training your reactions are…… The haunted house, log flume, rollercoaster, as well as the—

Kuro: Ugh. Could we skip the rollercoaster and other swingy stuff? You already know I’m not a rides guy.

Nazuna: Then, how about this one? It’s an attraction where you can have fun talking to the crew.

Nazuna: Since you can’t predict what people are going to say next, it’ll be perfect for upgrading your adlib power. ♪

Souma: …… One and all, how long do you intend to keep conversing for?

Souma: T’would be a shame to waste away our time for naught. I wish for our senpai to enjoy the amusement park alongside us as well.

Kuro: Whoops. Sorry Kanzaki.

Kuro: You’re right. Even if I’m avoidin’ the rides, I’m sure I’ll be able to learn somethin’ from all the other attractions.

Kuro: Alright, shall we go and have some fun together? ♪

[A few hours later]

Nazuna: … Oh, I’ve got a call from Hajime-chin.

Nazuna: Hello? Were you able to buy the churros?

Nazuna: Uhuh. Yup, yup. …… Got it, you can take your time. Seeya.

Nazuna: Turns out the line ended up being surprisingly long, so it’ll take them some time to get back.

Kuro: I see. Honestly, that’s kind of a relief. They were constantly draggin’ me all over the place.

Keito: Yes. The amount of walking around they did was quite surprising.

Nazuna: Both of you look exhausted~. Feels like you’re two dads on vacation! ♪

Nazuna: But I’m impressed, ‘cause Kuro-chin still seriously practiced his reaction expressions.

Kuro: ‘Course I’d take it seriously. Otherwise there’d be no point in comin’ here.

Keito: Even so, doesn’t embarrassment tend to win out for most? You put in so much effort to act horrified at the haunted house, that you managed to horrify the ghosts—

Keito: And when you asked the mascot character for an autograph, It was like you were threatening him. You took it so seriously that it was almost comical. In some ways, this has been a learning experience for me as well.

Kuro: Haha. Comical, huh? Can’t tell if I’m bein’ praised or degraded here.

Kuro: So now, let’s have a look what other attractions there are……

Mitsuru: —Then, how’s this?

Nazuna: Oh, you guys are back. …Hm? What’s that?

Mitsuru: A horned headband! It glows in the dark! I bought one for everyone so we could remember our amusement park trip! ☆

Kuro: You want me to wear that and walk around? Nah, I couldn’t. I mean, obviously…… It just wouldn’t suit me.

Mitsuru: Eeeh? I expected a happier reaction! You might have to wear even sillier outfits when you go on variety shows, don’tcha think?

Mitsuru: If wearing a headband makes you feel embarrassed, you’re not gonna be able to do anything!

Kuro: But…

Mitsuru: Now’s my chance!

Kuro: Yipes. Close call… I almost got a headband put on me.

Mitsuru: You dodged!? If you had stayed put for just a little longer, I would’ve had it! Bummer!

Nazuna: ……Oh. Kuro-chin, Kuro-chin, wouldn’t this also work as training your reaction skills?

Kuro: Huuh? Whaddya mean?

Nazuna: Liiike this! —Hiiyah! ☆

Kuro: Woah! Nito, not you too!

Nazuna: Darn it~! Tomoya-chin, Hajime-chin, come on! Let’s join forces and put this headband on him!

Tomoya & Hajime: Got it! 

Kuro: Hey now, how’s a 4v1 even fair…?

Souma: Indeed, it seems as though Kiryu-dono is also enjoying himself whilst frolicking around in such a manner. I shall cheer for you as well…♪

Kuro: I don’t need you cheerin’, help m—

Kuro: …No. I ain’t gonna make a peep. If I start complainin’ now, I’ll lose my dignity as a man.

Kuro: Bring it, rabbits. I’ll take ya all on…!

Souma: Hehe. As one would expect of Kiryu-dono, he fights a solitary battle. ♪

Souma: ……By the by, Hasumi-dono. In this particular circumstance, what exactly would qualify Kiryu-dono as the victor?

Kuro: The real show starts now. If anythin’, things’re only gonna get tougher.

Souma: Hehe. Somehow, before any actual running has occurred, one already feels exhausted.

Keito: Things were truly very difficult this time around… However, it’s a relief that everything has fallen into place somehow.

Keito: All of the ‘Three Sages’ were convinced of the plan we presented and were happy to cooperate.

Keito: With the support of senseis, ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’ will continue to be— No, it will become, more than ever, a show that viewers will want to watch. 

Keito: An educational show beloved by all that allows you to learn history in a fun way.

Kuro: That’s the thing though. Even though ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’ s’gonna stay on, and it’ll probably be a great show that the viewers love—

Kuro: Oogami said it too. In the end, we ended up completely changin’ the contents of ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’.

Kuro: It’s like we’re tramplin’ on the wishes of Ieyasu-sensei, who said he didn’t want ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’ to change. I feel kind of bad about it.

Keito: You still understand nothing, Kiryu. You’ll have to continue your studies.

Kuro: Now why am I bein’ criticized outta nowhere?

Souma: Hehe. The person Ieyasu-sensei had the most profound interactions with was Kiryu-dono, who had been put in charge of him.

Souma: And so, from Kiryu-dono’s vantage, what has Ieyasu-sensei’s attitude been? Has he perhaps been lamenting the changes to ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’?

Kuro: …… No. In fact, he was so happy that the other sages were stunned.

Kuro: I get it. Seems like I was only lookin’ at the surface of things again.

Kuro: Suppose that’s the downside of havin’ been a delinquent.  People kept their distance from me ‘cause I intimidated them, and I used to keep my distance from them ‘cause I didn’t want to get involved.

Kuro: We haven’t changed ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’ at all.

Kuro: No, we haven’t changed what Ieyasu-sensei found most valuable, the essence.

Kuro: Sensei loves history. That’s why for all these years, even though he’s become a dodderin’ old man, he’s still researchin’ it intently.

Kuro: Sensei wanted to share that love he felt with everyone. So when he was younger, he made up his mind and teamed up with his buddy from the TV station to create ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’.

Souma: Indeed. It is just as what we discussed in depth during the prototype edition of the show.

Kuro: Haha. It was pretty interestin’, seein’ how the outrageous old man was outrageous when he was younger too.

Keito: Yes. People have history. And those myriad histories, that don’t appear in any textbooks, are just as worthy of love.

Keito: They are fascinating and brilliant stories that mustn’t be ignored.

Keito: We will continue to watch over them, as ‘Spirits of Light’. And we’ll learn all sorts of things through our amusing investigation and interpretation. 

Keito: What is history? What is life? Does good and evil, right and wrong, truly exist?

Keito: We are still young and inexperienced, so we can’t draw any conclusions yet. We don’t know what the right answer is.

Keito: The aged Ieyasu-sensei, and the talented Hideyoshi-sensei and Nobunaga-sensei, none of them would ever triumphantly claim to have “understood”.

Keito: We know very little about this world— about the heavens, about the earth, and about people. 

Keito: That is why we research, we learn, and we discover. With care, perseverance, bit by bit, step by step.

Keito: It’s what Ieyasu-sensei and his colleagues have done, and it’s what we will do from now on as well.

Kuro: That’s right. The reason Ieyasu-sensei was convinced was ‘cause we didn’t change the most important aspect.

Kuro: Even if everythin’ might’ve changed on the surface, the soul is the same.

Kuro: We’ll make the ‘soul’ we inherited from our senseis shine too.

Souma: Indeed. Let us shine so bright that even the sun would envy us!

Keito: Yeah. We’re AKATSUKI, after all.

Keito: Life is about learning everyday. Graduating from school doesn’t change that.

Keito: So we’ll keep learning, keep growing, and become fine adults.

Kuro: Followin’ in the footsteps of those senseis?

Keito: To learn from their good qualities, you know? There’s no need to imitate their flaws.

Keito: No. A lotus blooms from the mud, swallowing all purity and impurity.

Keito: Let us create an innumerable amount of such flowers, and make this world into something even more beloved. 

Keito: A hundred flowers, blooming in profusion.¹ That’s what AKATSUKI is.

Keito: “♪~♪~♪”

Kuro & Souma: “~......♪”

[END]

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Translation Notes:

Ieyasu: Which is why I’ll digest this information unquestioningly for now, but do tell, why cover a personal experience instead of historical events?

Keito: Because it’s an interesting historical fact that the show ought to cover.

Keito: ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’ didn’t just cover important historical events, it also covered more obscure events that nobody but history enthusiasts would have heard of.

Keito: That’s why history enthusiasts loved it too.

Keito: Even viewers who had initially thought to themselves, “It’d be easy to remember the details of something that was so boldly stated in most textbooks”, were greatly impressed.

Ieyasu: ……

Keito: From hereon, we will transcend time and space to watch over the life of Ieyasu-sensei in his youth.

Keito: The show will chronicle the struggles Ieyasu-sensei faced while creating ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’, and how, over the years, it came to be such a beloved show.

Kuro: Also, don’t worry about the past versions of Ieyasu-sensei and everyone else, they’re gonna be played by actors.

Kuro: Sensei, if there are any mistakes or misinterpretations, you can point them out from your place in the present.

Keito: Yes. We ‘Spirits of Light’ have set out to correct historical wrongs, so if there are any inaccuracies, we’ll swiftly amend them.

Keito: After listening to a rough recount of events by Hideyoshi-sensei and the like, we combed through related records and past shows to weave together an intricate tale, however—

Keito: Most of it is guesswork. So naturally, a few things might have been misinterpreted.

Ieyasu: Wahaha! You fellows are acting like true historians.

Nobunaga: Oh, the old man is getting worked up now. 

Hideyoshi: Old man’s a total hassle to deal with when he gets like this.

Ieyasu: I see, I see. How interesting.

Ieyasu: I have been researching and interpreting historical events and figures for many years of my life.

Ieyasu: However, who would have thought I would end up as a figure to be researched and interpreted? Suppose that’s what you get when you live long enough.

Ieyasu: The prospect of having my life examined and evaluated in detail is frightening, but it’s something that I’ve done to historical figures for a long time.

Kuro: Don’t worry, gramps. Just like how you’ve done with other historical figures, we won’t portray you with any sort of scorn—

Kuro: We’re just gonna introduce someone we like by showing off all the nice things about them. Kind of like saying, “Here's this charming person.”

Souma: Indeed. ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’ is interesting. The people that created it are similarly interesting.

Souma: This we would like to prove, and make all aware.

Keito: Yes. The reason that ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’ is worth protecting—

Keito: That’s what we’ll demonstrate with this prototype.

Keito: Or rather, the agency behind the show, the sponsors that fund it—

Keito: and so on, will watch the prototype version and think to themselves that “This incredible show must go on.”

Keito: If they have those kinds of thoughts, then our efforts will have been an immense success.

Kuro: Yeah. We’re not just doing this ‘cause it’s our job, or ‘cause the agency told us to.

Kuro: We’re doing it ‘cause it’s something we have to protect, and that’s exactly why we’re throwing ourselves into protecting it.

Souma: But of course, if that were simply the case, it would be naught but self-satisfaction.

Souma: For which reason we shall aim to make the show interesting and entertain the viewer to the fullest extent.

Souma: And so, if we are able to make a sort of show that brings happiness to those involved with, those who view, all persons who have been touched in some manner by ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’—

Souma: ‘Tis only then, will we have accomplished our goal.

Souma: How about it, everyone?

Ieyasu: Yes…… Yes, that is what us historians have been doing. 

Ieyasu: No, it’s what we wanted to do.

Ieyasu: Did you figure that out through your interactions with us?

Kuro: Haha. It’s ‘cause I’m slow to catch on, and I’m pretty dumb. When I was in school I was always a failure when it came to my studies.

Kuro: That’s why I don’t wanna miss out on what’s important. I don’t wanna make that mistake.

Kuro: So whaddya think, sensei? Have I, have we gotten any wiser?

Kuro: If you think we have, it’d be all thanks to you senseis.

Nobunaga: Nope. It’s because you took on an attitude of sincere willingness to learn.

Nobunaga: That’s why you were able to learn and grow.

Nobunaga: How wonderful. If all students were like you, maybe I wouldn’t have to constantly live in a foreign country. I wouldn’t have been regarded with annoyance and disdain, and lost my place.

Hideyoshi: I think the main reason people don’t like you is because of how harshly you speak and act, Nobunaga-sensei. Anyways, the point is that you wanted to see an increase in the number of ‘good kids’ like them, right? 

Hideyoshi: To nurture kids just like these ones, kids that’ll absorb everything great, that’ll swiftly grow and change.

Hideyoshi: To do that with ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’. No, to do it with what you guys will be creating from now on,  ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth R’.

Hideyoshi: That’s exactly like what Ieyasu-sensei would always say when I was a student. He’d say it so much I got sick of hearing it.

Hideyoshi: Studying isn’t just something you do to pass your exams or use in the future.

Hideyoshi: It’s to live a happier life, to make a happier world. Because It’s something that everyone can enjoy.

Ieyasu: Oh, you remembered? I’m glad.

Ieyasu: There is joy in learning, and so, there is joy in teaching. May you continue to experience such joy to the fullest.

Keito: Yes. Please enjoy yourselves as you watch over us, senseis.

Keito: Because what you senseis have loved, protected, and nurtured—

Keito: Is something that we will never neglect.

Ieyasu: …… Will someone, anyone, please say something? The atmosphere is too heavy for my old bones to bear.

Nobunaga: In that case, it’d be best if your body and mind snapped from the weight, you keeled over, and died.

Hideyoshi: Yikes, how horrible! What a terrible thing to say to your mentor! Hey hey, did anyone else catch that? This woman is like, heartless for being able to say such cruel things without batting an eye, right?!

Nobunaga: He’s not my mentor. He’s your mentor, you womanizer.

Nobunaga: If you’re dying to be the teacher’s pet, why don’t you do your mentor a favor and try to lighten the mood a little?

Hideyoshi: I mean like, what do you want me to do? We’ve got ‘The Av*ngers after completing their first mission together’ energy going on here. Not even I can save this, and I’ve got nothing to say to you guys right now anyways.

Nobunaga: Well, I feel the same.

Nobunaga: I had hoped to never meet either of you again, preferably for the rest of my life.

Ieyasu: Actually, why are we gathered together here? “We’re going to make a prototype for ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’, so we’d like you to remain on standby”— That’s what we were told.

Ieyasu: But in older episodes of ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’, we historians would bring the cameras into our homes and labs and would show off our expertise on the spot.

Ieyasu: I assumed that that was what was happening in this instance as well… But if that was the case, why have we been forced to wait around in a restaurant like this?

Ieyasu: It’s going to be rather difficult to engage in formal historical discussion in such a noisy environment.

Nobunaga: Does that mean that we aren’t here for a formal discussion?

Nobunaga: I think I’m starting to see the full picture. Since I only supervised the costumes and such, I’m not too aware of what the story element introduced in ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’ is about—

Nobunaga: Though I can make a guess based on their costumes. I can figure out what those kids are aiming for from there.

Nobunaga: They think of some pretty interesting things, don’t they? It’s nice, young kids think so freely.

Hideyoshi: It was me. I was the one who proposed the basic idea. It was me.

Nobunaga: The kids were the ones who actually developed the idea from there. Don’t try and take credit for everything, it’s pathetic.

Hideyoshi: Yup. I just helped out a teensy bit.

Hideyoshi: The greatest contributors to the ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’ show were—

Keito: — Excuse me.

Kuro: Yeah, sorry for botherin’ ya, senseis.

Souma: Good day to you, those of the ‘Three Sages.’ ♪

Ieyasu: Oh, it’s Kuro-kun. What is the idea here?

Ieyasu: I’m quite confused. Could you please elaborate?

Kuro: Haha. I’m sure the people that were involved in historical events back then felt and thought just like this. 

Ieyasu: ……?

Keito: Ieyasu-sensei. I apologize for informing you so late. For the prototype edition of ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth R’, formerly known as ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’—

Keito: We’ve decided to cover ‘The History of Rumbling Heaven and Earth.’

Ieyasu: ? What do you mean by the history of ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’? ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’ is a show about history, but what sort of history would it have……?

Keito: I’ll explain properly, in detail.

Keito: We of AKATSUKI were given the task of rebuilding a show on the verge of death, called ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth.’

Keito: In order to fulfill the conditions laid out for this task, we had to interact with members of the ‘Three Sages.’

Ieyasu: ……

Keito: And as each of us came into contact with the sages, we got to know their extremely unique characters—

Keito: We began to love you¹, and at the same time, we began to learn of the passion you had for ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth.’

Nobunaga: I don’t feel anything in particular towards you, though.

Hideyoshi: Don’t butt in. That’s a bad habit you’ve got, Miss Nobunaga. …… So?

Keito: So we wanted to share the fun experiences we had with everyone.

Keito: There once was a show called ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’, that would have you enthralled to death. Due to the support of some incredibly fascinating and unique historians, it was loved for many, many years.

Keito: But in the present day, young people like us have no clue something interesting like that even exists.

Keito: Only a few enthusiasts know about it, and those who don’t know write it off, concluding that it’s “probably some old and complicated history show.”

Keito: We want to change this.

Keito: No, we will change it.

Keito: It’s the work we’ve been entrusted with, and it’s what we want to do.

Ieyasu: Being grandiose is all well and good, but it’s easy to just run your mouth— What are the specifics?

Keito: In ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth R’, we travel through various eras to experience historical events in person, as ‘Spirits of Light.’

Keito: In this edition, we’ll be traveling back to the time when you first created ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’, Ieyasu-sensei.

Ieyasu: …… What’s a ‘Spirit of Light’?

Hideyoshi: He’s not gonna understand if you start sprinkling in that kind of SF speak ‘cuz he’s an old geezer.

Nobunaga: Calling it ‘SF’ is old-fashioned too. You’re not getting any younger either, you womanizer.

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Translation Notes:

Keito: But naturally, Kiryu doesn’t fall asleep when he’s talking to me or Kanzaki. Why is that?

Kuro: Well, that’s ‘cause it’s rude, ain’t it?

Souma: Slumbering whilst class is in session is also considered rude, Kiryu-dono.

Keito: Yes. However, though Kiryu falls asleep when he’s in class, he doesn’t fall asleep while talking with us. What’s the difference?

Keito: It’s possible that this is due to the difference in how likable Kiryu finds the person speaking to him.

Keito: The fact is, that it’s rude to fall asleep when the other person is making an effort to talk to you. Obviously, if you act rude, you will be disliked.

Keito: However, even though Kiryu is okay with being disliked by the teachers at the academy, he doesn’t want us to dislike him.

Keito: Therefore, he concludes that he shouldn’t fall asleep when we talk to him.

Koga: What’re ya goin’ on about?

Keito: You could apply the same formula to viewers of a show.

Keito: They listen with interest, and can even remember trivial details, as long as the person saying it happens to be their favorite character or celebrity.

Keito: Like how children can’t remember historical dates, but can easily rattle off the names of a hundred, maybe even two hundred of their favorite P*kemon.

Keito: If you want someone to listen to you, you have to be liked by them first.

Keito: That’s what the story is for.

Keito: We’ll hire professional mangaka and scriptwriters, and have them create an exceptionally captivating story.

Keito: We’ll become characters in this story, beloved by the audience.

Keito: Hopefully, ones that they might excitedly watch over the fate of.

Keito: The audience can ‘experience’ various historical events through the eyes of our characters.

Koga: Right, I remember you sayin’ somethin’ about time-travel.

Keito: Yes. In order to right historical wrongs, we travel through time and space.

Keito: For example, we could arrive at the scene of the Battle of Sekigahara and witness Ishida Mitsunari at the mercy of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Souma: Ishida Mitsunari, he says. ♪

Koga: What’s Zakki laughin’ about?

Kuro: Don’t worry about it. Anyways, we’re gonna ‘experience’ various historical events like this.

Kuro: That’s how we’re gonna make it interestin’ to watch. ‘Cause even if ya say, “There was some war in the somethin’ era that made the Shogunate do somethin’ or the other”, it’s hard to understand when it’s in plain ‘words.’

Kuro: But if it’s in story form, like in a manga or movie, you’d be able to sorta remember, even if it’s fuzzy.

Keito: Right. Even complex laws and the like can be made easy to understand when presented in manga form.

Keito: Rather, instead of being a collection of tedious sentences, it becomes something you’d ‘want to read’, right?

Keito: So if we construct ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’ like a movie or manga, even people who don’t have much interest in history might ‘want to see.’

Keito: Even more so if it involves popular idols and voice actors.

Souma: To that end is what the, erm, ‘meedeea-mikusu’ strategy we discussed prior is for.

Koga: Well, I think I kinda understand what you guys’re gettin’ at now.

Koga: So basically, in order to make the slightly complicated educational show ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’ easier to understand, you’ve prepared a load of interestin’ gimmicks, right?

Koga: But I’m pretty sure one of those idiot ‘Three Sages’, Ieyasu-sensei, said somethin’ about not wantin’ ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’ to change at all.

Koga: Is it really okay to make such bold changes? Won’t it upset that big-shot historian?

Kuro: I doubt Ieyasu-sensei’d be offended by us doin’ that. Actually, he’d probably be real happy to hear it and say somethin’ like: “The youth are so spirited and free, how wonderful!” 

Kuro: And of course, we’ve thought about this point as well. Ain’t that right, Hasumi?

Keito:  Yes. I- We are always prepared.

Keito: The episode of ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth R’ we’re currently recording isn’t scheduled to be broadcast. It’s like sample food.

Keito: We’ll be producing the version of ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’ that we came up with as a test. If it turns out to be unfit for consumption, we’ll rebuild it from the ground up.

Keito: There's too much risk involved in doing it off the cuff, so it’s important to look before you leap.

Koga: Hah, that’s just typical of you guys.

Keito: However, this isn’t just a prototype. There’s a twist to this too.

Keito: In this prototype episode, the era that we ‘Spirits of Light’ are going to is—

Souma: Have the two of you come to cheer for us?

Koga: Wonder if it counts as cheerin’, but it’s more like somethin’s naggin’ at me… Y’know you guys’ve been talkin’ my ears off about your troubles even though I never asked right?

Koga: I guess I just had to know how it turned out after hearin’ about the whole saga, ‘cause I was startin’ to lose sleep over it.

Souma: Fufu. ‘Tis far from an admirable motive, Oogami-dono.

Koga: It’s not like it’s anythin’ I gotta apologize for though. But really, are you guys doin’ alright?

Koga: From what I heard as a bystander, ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’ was this landmine of a show in big trouble, right?

Koga: Is it even possible for things to work out?

Keito: Of course. There’s no need for you to worry, Oogami, though as you already know—

Keito: I’m the kind of man that always, eventually, somehow, finds a way by the end of it all.

Koga: Hmph. That bein’ said, you still failed a bunch and made loads of mistakes.

Keito: No matter how many times I fail, I won’t give up, and as long as I keep trying I can make it work eventually. You can do anything you put your mind to.

Koga: I see. Things must seriously be tough for Kiryu-senpai and Zakki, I feel real sorry for them.

Souma: Heheh. Are you envious, Oogami-dono? ♪ 

Koga: Haaah? Did ya even hear what I just said?

Kuro: Calm down now…… Oogami had a point. Honestly, we haven’t done anythin’ to solve the problem yet.

Keito: We're going to begin the process of bringing this mess to a swift resolution, starting now.

Keito: Or rather, that’s what the prototype version of ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth R’ is for.

Koga: What’s the ‘R’ stand for?

Keito: It stands for whatever you’d like, from ‘remake’, to ‘restart’, to ‘revolution’.

Souma: Incidentally, the ‘taitoru’ and costume ‘dezaeen’ were created under the supervision of Nobunaga-sensei, who has much proven experience in the field.

Souma: The most comprehensible way in which to convey that ‘a change has occurred’ is through the changing of the ‘taitoru.’

Keito: There was also a proposal to change the title from ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’ to ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth ! ’ If that show ended up being remade too, another ‘!’ would be added, making it ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth ! !’, and so forth.

Kuro: Hard to tell the difference with that one.

Keito: Yes. So in addition to updating the title and costume design to be in line with newer trends, naturally, we’ve updated the contents as well.

Keito: The biggest change would be our role, the host.

Keito: In the old version of ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’, the host did as any host would, confined to the studio, merely asking the experts for their opinions—

Keito: Basically, all the host did was keep the discussion going.

Keito: However, in this reincarnated edition of ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’, that is to say, ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth R’, we as the hosts will be taking a more active role.

Keito: As ‘Spirits of Light’ dispatched from the heavens, we’ll cross space and time to experience various historical events first-hand.

Koga: Hold on. There were a buncha words in there that sounded like nonsense to me, whaddya mean by ‘the heavens’?

Keito: The set-up hasn’t been completely clearly defined yet, but please think of heavens in a vague sense, as a world where gods and Buddhas reside.

Keito: These gods and Buddhas have lived there since time immemorial, watching over us humans. This is the setting.

Keito: However, due to the accumulation of disasters like war, pollution, epidemics, and the like, they foresee that the world that we humans live in is destined to die in the near future.

Keito: In order to prevent such a miserable end, the gods and Buddhas sent us, ‘Spirits of Light.’

Keito: We travel through time and involve ourselves in various historical events.

Keito: Then, we correct everything that went wrong over the course of history, and set humanity back on the right path— That’s the set-up.

Koga: Uh, somethin’ seems kinda fishy.

Keito: Yes, I’m well aware that this sort of cold-hearted language sounds like what Eichi might say in a speech.

Keito: However, having just been born, we ‘Spirits of Light’ have no reason to doubt this development principle.

Keito: So we actively try to intervene in history. For example, we’d try and prevent tragic events from occurring.

Keito: But ultimately, for the most part, our actions change nothing, and when they do, they lead to even more suffering.

Keito: During all of this, we ‘Spirits of Light’ begin to change through our interactions with various historical figures.

Keito: We begin to question if we’re doing the right thing.

Keito: And we begin to think about what history actually is.

Keito: We think, “Is it really okay to tamper with and distort the shape of it by force?”

Keito: In the midst of this, forces who are also trying to change the course of history appear and oppose us.

Keito: Questions begin to arise, and we start to wonder if perhaps the destruction of the world will be brought about by the heavens attempting to manipulate humanity to suit their will.

Keito: …… Well, there’s quite a bit that happens.

Koga: Th-That sounds kinda grand. Felt like I was listenin’ to a movie synopsis.

Keito: Dramatic, right? Since the previous version of the show was lacking in the drama department, we decided to introduce a narrative element into ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth R.’

Keito: The narrative is further supported by our media mix strategy, through mediums like manga.

Keito: If we can get people to fall in love with the story and characters, we can attract viewers who would otherwise have no interest in complex historical tales. 

Keito: Kuro. You designed and tailored these outfits, correct?

Keito: They’re made with the level of workmanship you’d expect. The costumes you make suit us more than any top designer’s ever could.

Kuro: Don’t start callin’ us by our first names outta the blue.

Kuro: There’s probably a reason, but don’t do it outta nowhere. We’re more stubborn than most other ‘young folk’, so we can’t even react in time.

Kuro: Also, if I’m bein’ honest, it’s disturbin’.

Souma: I- Indeed. I do not fully comprehend, but t’was horrifying.

Keito: Was it that bad? I tried to imitate the behavior of Hideyoshi-sensei, since he’s a people person—

Keito: For instance, he’ll act like he’s practically related to, or been friends with someone for decades, even though they aren’t that close. He’ll use their first name or nickname, casually sling his arm around their shoulder, and shower them in compliments.

Keito: By continuously behaving like this, he confuses the brain of the other person, and before they know it, they start to actually think he’s like a close friend or family to them.

Keito: If you keep repeating a lie, it can become the truth.

Kuro: Personally, I don’t think that’s somethin’ ya gotta imitate.

Kuro: You’re perfect just the way you are, Hasumi danna.

Souma: Yes. We love the usual Hasumi-dono. There is no need for you to unnaturally praise, to flatter, or force a smile.

Souma: Well, I do suppose we may have been influenced unknowingly in a myriad of ways through our interaction with the ‘Three Sages.’

Souma: I, as well, have begun to pay closer attention to my hair and clothes each morning due to the influence of Nobunaga-sensei, for she would consistently critique my appearance each encounter.

Souma: Earlier, Hasumi-dono praised me for being ‘well-dressed.’

Souma: However, recently I have become concerned with earning Nobunaga-sensei’s praise, that is to say, I have become concerned with adhering to what may be in fashion. 

Souma: It is most certainly not being well-dressed. It is mere frivolity.

Kuro: Haha, ain’t that a good thing? You’re real uptight, Kanzaki.

Kuro: I reckon it’d be fine to be a little more flexible, for the sake of becomin’ an idol beloved by all, don’tcha think?

Keito: Agreed. Though Kanzaki is surprisingly self-conceited. No matter how much I lectured him, he never stopped wearing that sword or shed his old-fashioned way of speaking.

Keito: Though with that being said, I think having character is a good thing, because that’s what makes an idol. You truly are a good kid, like a moon that hasn’t waned, Souma. ♪ 

Souma: As expressed earlier, I truly wish for you to cease complimenting me without reason and addressing me by first name. It sends a shudder down my spine.

Kuro: Yeah, feels like danna’s been possessed or somethin’.

Keito: Hideyoshi-sensei is a talkative person. Whenever I was with him, he was always going on about his pet theories and opinions, and I tended to be brainwashed by the contents of his theories.

Keito: So naturally, I suppose I ended up unconsciously trying to play a character that matched Hideyoshi-sensei’s ideal—

Kuro: Haha, but I thought that you were ‘self-conceited’, was it? Thought ya were the type that’d never ever compromise or change.

Keito: I am aware of that quality to some extent.

Keito: In fact, I tried my hardest to be that way.

Keito: To not change, no matter what happened. I clung to the character of ‘Keito Hasumi’ as much as I could.

Keito: Growing up, I was surrounded by people who had a strong influence on those around them. And so, while we mingled amongst each other like colors on a palette, I tried my best to avoid being dyed the same shade of red.

Keito: That was mine, AKATSUKI’s, and perhaps even ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’s greatest fault.

Keito: There may be great things that remain unchanging. However, in order to survive, change is necessary.

Keito: The law of this world is survival of the fittest. Likewise, we need to adapt accordingly to a world upheaved by the establishment of ES.

Kuro: Well, I learnt that one the hard way.

Kuro: We’ve gotta change too, yeah?

Keito: Yes. I hope that the sequence of events surrounding ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’ is a sign of what’s to come.

Kuro: Of course. But don’t go changin’ everythin’ all at once, danna.

Souma: Truly. When the ever dauntless and sophisticated Hasumi-dono, abruptly dons a sycophantic smile and draws close, ‘tis as if he has become a different person, which strikes fear into one’s heart in turn. 

Kuro: Nito got mad and said somethin’ similar to me too.

Kuro: When we change, it’s gotta be in a way that doesn’t cause a disturbance in the surroundin’s. Slow and steady…… Right?

Keito: Yes, like the constantly waxing and waning moon.

Keito: Not just ‘like’, we will become it.

Keito: We’ll become beloved by all, from ancient past to present day, just as that ethereal moon is.

Koga: But more importantly, the hell are ya doin’ in our office so early in the mornin’?

Koga: Huuh, they’re bringin’ outside manpower ‘cause they’re short-staffed? ‘Cause the thing from earlier, what was it called, the ‘Rumblin’ Heaven and Earth’ thing’s about to start production?

Koga: Eeh? You’re tellin’ me that the show that was obviously destined to fail, is gonna be properly made into reality?

Koga: That’s— Well, guess that’s just what you’d expect from that shitty glasses guy…… Even when things seem absolutely beyond savin’, he manages to turn it around.

Koga: He absolutely never gives up, just keeps persistin’ and persistin’ stubbornly until he makes his hopes a reality.

Koga: Prolly tough for the people that gotta deal with someone like that. But well, it ain’t my problem, so I’m just gonna sit back, relax, and watch it all happen.

Koga: Heheh…♪

Keito: Oogami! It’s good you’re here! Don’t just stand around and chit-chat, come help!

Koga: Ugh, He found me!? He’s still got the same old ears from hell!

Koga: I- I don't have the time for this, y’hear! UNDEAD and HELLSING¹— I mean, we were talking about makin’ a breakthrough and goin’ all out, right?

Keito: This is something that will benefit you all too, as members of the same office.

Keito: We submitted the proposal to reform ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’ yet again, and though it was accepted by the agency, it ended up being a much larger scale project than anticipated, so—

Koga: AAAAAARGH! I DON’T WANNA HEAR IT! I DON’T WANNA! DON’T DRAG ME INTO YOUR SHIT!

Souma: Please do not say such things. If you could simply do odd jobs here and there to the extent of your abilities, it would be of great help. At present, reality fails to reflect our lofty ideals—

Souma: In truth, we have a shortage of most everything. We are lacking in manpower, costumes, props, setpieces, scripts, publicity and anything else you could imagine.

Keito: Yes. ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’ is an antiquated show, so it’s been a little difficult.

Keito: After discussion of the fact that the show wasn’t very interesting to younger audiences, we decided that the presentation of it— The design aspect of it, would need to be revamped. 

Keito: And though RhythLink is a well-established agency with a strong base, there is absolutely not enough staff available.

Keito: The more skilled a person is, the busier they tend to be, so it becomes difficult to ask them to go out of their way for our sake.

Koga: HAAH? So the reason ya called out to me was ‘cause ya thought I wasn’t talented enough to be busy!?

Keito: You’re being paranoid. I know you’ve always been like this, but why are you so excessively snappy towards me?

Souma: Heheh. His behavior is reminiscent of a child who acts rebelliously so as to test the patience of his parents or older brother. My own younger brother behaves similarly as of late.

Koga: I- I don’t need any sorta big brother! I’m happy bein’ an only child!

Kuro: Oh, Oogami, good timin’.

Koga: Argh! Why’re each and every one of ‘em comin’ to bother me? I ain’t some sorta emotional support animal to soothe yer weary souls with!

Souma: Well in truth, speaking with Oogami is quite soothing. There, there. ♪

Koga: DON’T PET ME! I’LL FUCKIN’ KILL YA!?

Kuro: Haha. By the way, after our presentation, I was put in charge of the costumes for ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth.’

Kuro: I thought I’d try changin’ too, and after a lotta experimentin’, I think I’ve come up with some good stuff.

Keito: Yes. This is something Kiryu achieved through his own desire and effort, not because I forced him to. I’m proud of you.

Kuro: Haha. You’re too quick to praise me, danna.

Kuro: I’m pretty terrible at dealin’ with pressure, so when I get given a huge responsibility, my brain and body start to shut down.

Keito: Your self-esteem is far too low. You should think yourself deserving of an even bigger position. It’s good to be more arrogant.

Koga: That ain’t real convincin’ comin’ from a constantly condescendin’ arrogant jackass like you, shitty glasses.²

Keito: Shut up. It might feel like your clothes are wearing you at first, but you’ll grow into it.

Kuro: Sounds about right. So I decided to stop complainin’ and just do my best to design the costumes.

Kuro: I’ve sewn a sample, try it on and see, Oogami.

Koga: HUH? Why me? This has nothin’ to do with me!

Souma: We have been doing a bit of deliberating. This new costume being exclusively suited for us AKATSUKI is insufficient.

Keito: Though naturally, having it suit us is our first priority. Our first order of business is to win over the hearts of the viewers in order to make this into a long-term series.

Keito: However, we won’t be able to spend all of our time on ‘Rumbling Heaven and Earth’, so we’re planning to gradually increase the frequency of show hosts that aren’t us as time goes on.

Kuro: We’re also plannin’ on invitin’ a couple of guests, so we wanna have costumes that’ll look good on people that aren’t us.

Keito: Of course, the costumes will be adjusted to suit the cast, but generally, we’d like them to look good on anyone.

Kuro: So I designed this.

Keito: Woah? Don’t lean your body forward like that, Anzu!

Souma: Hehe. Anzu-dono adores Kiryu-dono’s outfits. Or rather, one could say Kiryu-dono is Anzu-dono’s master when it comes to sewing—

Souma: As a disciple, she simply cannot miss her master’s work. ♪

Koga: OI! Quit gettin’ all mushy and gushy on me! The hell is this outfit!?

Kuro: The theme for this one was ‘An AKATSUKI beloved by children too.’

Koga: Don’t look so proud of yourself!? I’m not gonna wear this frilly fluttery outfit! I’ll look like an idiot!

Souma: Ooh, ‘Tis akin to the ‘aneemay’ for young girls that airs in the morning on weekends. 

Kuro: Heheh, I’ve been gettin’ into cutesy costumes lately.

Koga: I said, don’t act so weirdly proud of yourself! You guys know that you’re the ones that’re gonna have to wear this on the show, right!?

Keito: It’s fine, Oogami! We live in a time where boys can be Pr*cure³ too!

Koga: SHUT UP! Are ya guys so fuckin’ busy that the sleep-deprivation is makin’ your brains glitch!?

Koga: Are ya seriously gonna be okay, with that aura of chaos ya got goin’......!?

Translation Notes:

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HELLSING is a unit comprised of the same members as UNDEAD, but with a more traditionally rock centric image. It was initially made up of AI versions of the UNDEAD members, but has since been taken over by the real versions of them. Keito was in charge of managing HELLSING. You can read more about this in Flashback, a story set chronologically before this one.

This line was localized for better reading flow, but Koga originally refers to Keito's second person pronoun of choice: 'kisama' (貴様), a derogatory way of addressing someone.