V2C4 Part1

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

  

It’s the Friday of the 2nd week of November.\n The morning is blessed with clear weather, the clear blue sky stretched on as far as the eyes can see with no cloud in sight. Balloons of varying colors ,large and small, populated the area and the fanfare of the Geidai Band resonated all around.

The chairman of the school festival executive chair took the stage that was set up in the central plaza with a microphone.\n “I am pleased to announce that the Oonaka* Arts University Festival is now underway!”

(TN- probably an intentional flub of Osaka.)\n \n 

--

The school festival is a storied event in the Kansai area, so people come in droves especially on the first and final days where there are a lot of planned projects and showcases. And due to that the chaos starts as far back as the nearest station.\n “When you board the bus please fill the seats at the back first!”

The buses are parked in front of the station and required temporary staff for sending it out today.\n  “Uwa--… we’re not getting on the bus anytime soon.”

“The crowds slipped my mind, Gahaha! We’re in deep trouble!”\n Me and Hikawa were at a loss while carrying shopping bags with both hands. We were in front of the station, a place where I can navigate through with my eyes closed. Today however, the scenery here is a completely different beast. The heavy congestion made the people look like packed sardines.\n “Let’s go! If there’s no use waiting then we’ll walk!”\n The well built Hikawa took only five seconds to come to a conclusion. But executing his plan would prove a bit difficult. 

“There’s 3 kilometers of road between us and the university! If we walk with this much luggage then the bout will be over before we even arrive….”\n We are just burning time by waiting around here and so-

“There’s no other way. Why don’t we go to that place that we rarely use?”\n We transferred over to the somewhat empty taxi stands at the opposite side of the bus station. 

Even then though, we still had to wait for a bit. As I sat down on the bench and lowered my bags, I felt my sweat starting to trickle down.

“It’s aready November but why is it so hot today!”\n Hikawa takes out a fan from his bag and starts to flap away. Even in this type of season, he still had his spiffy looking tank top with him.

“Are you attending the afternoon concert?”\n “Yeah! It’s rare for a freshman to have a named role in it.”

The Ninjutsu Research club* that Hikawa was a part off pulls off a flashy performance every time at the school festival. This time, it seems they are experimenting with a gradually changing storyline over the course of five performances. The pamphlets distributed by the school heavily highlighted it.

(TN- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNOWiTu63vY Surprisingly it’s real XD Those sword sound effects got me rolling at the edge of my seat.)\n 

“You got to go see it Hashiba!”

“Of course I will. What’s your role in it?”\n “As Large tree!”

“Tree?”\n It is a ninja period drama so it might actually be a pretty big role, like a magic tree or something.\n “That’s right a tree! I don’t know the name of the tree but it’s a mysterious role no one can predict because I don’t have any lines! Gahaha.”*

“……………I see”\n Ah maybe he’s an old sage type character tree that grants advice to travelers that suddenly appears out of nowhere type of mysterious….\n “I’m rooting for you”

“Thanks! I’m going to go out there with a bang!”

A tree standing out is not a common occurrence but even so they will still get the job done.\n 

(TN- Whole banter between the two translation notes is heavily localized Kyouya thought that his role is named Ooki Moku which is literally a large tree and even when Hikawa explained that he was just exactly that, a large tree, Kyouya is so mind blown that Hikawa thought it was a mysterious and important part exactly because he doesn’t talk ,that he chose to ignore reality and still treated it as a name is the gist of the original joke here hope I didn’t localize anything here that would come back and haunt me like a throwback reference joke down the line or worse… a running gag. Yeah like that could ever happen (Please don’t))

We waited over 20 minutes for a taxi to arrive and once we got on the ride, it only took 5 minutes to arrive at the main gate of the university.

“Woah! This is amazing. The place has a totally different air than usual!!”

Hikawa let out a surprised voice immediately after getting of the car.\n “Woah indeed…..it really is amazing….”\n I give a similar opinion. There is a slope aptly named as “Geizaka” in front of the main gate. What was usually a dreary climb is now abnormally decorated. A large arched signboard has the words ”Welcome to Oonaka Geidai School Festival!” woven together with electric lights. The railings are chock full of fliers announcing the events. The majority of it are plays, followed by exhibitions, and then independent films. As one would expect from an Arts University, each and every flier design is eye-catching

“Wow, there’s so many clubs I didn’t even know existed!” \n While walking up the hill, Hikawa is filled with amazement. There are a large number of unofficial clubs and troupes here. Even if one didn’t have a club room, a classroom could be lent with permission, or even a get together at someone’s home. There are many such clubs that are not officially registered. It’s at this very school festival that the numerous inconspicuous clubs can get a chance to bask in the limelight.

“There’s an awful lot of them though…”\n The numbers border on that a hundred would be a low estimate. The chaos and heat in this area may be a factor for the production of many eccentric people here. 

We then entered the area reserved for stalls. As soon as we enter, we were swarmed by a maelstrom of activity greets us.

(TN-Roadblock 1 incoming I hate translating this part and yes it not being spaced is intentional as the author did it too as it creates the effect of chaos.)

“Come one, come all! Try out the Advertising Research Club’s famous choco bananas~!”\n “The Broadcasting Research Group’s indie film “Kibensha”, will beging screening at the projection room in Building 8 today at 12!!” “This way! Bring it over here! I’m totally out of gas so I’ll use the portable electric stove!”  “Hey! Hikawa!” “Osu! How about trying out the Shorinji Kenpo club’s Red Hot Guts Jumbo Franks! The Red represents Guts while the white represents Ingenouity. if you purchase a set of two then you can get a free “Life” sticker made by a student of the Design Department ” “We have 5 kinds of uniquely delicious drinks! The women’s volleyball team “Café Libero” is on the second floor of building 9! For those who pay the exact amount you’ll get a gorgeous freebie for your nice receive!” “We’re the Science Fiction Society! This year, we’ll be reproducing menu items that appeared in games and animation! Today’s highlight is the curry set that Yell-senpai loved!”  “Hikawaaa!”  “The girl’s softball team here! How about trying a fresh soft serve ice cream made with caramel from the popular Hanabatake Farm.” “It’s an anticipated big match! On the opposing side it’s the wrestler Piercing Big Bang! who has kept his unyielding love for pro-wrestling even after becoming a 6th year student and on the other side is an up and coming wrestler making his debut who has received recommendations, give it up for the freshman Rodriguez! ” “This is the figure skating club! Pose and get a prize! Take a picture of yourself doing Ina Bauer’s signature pose and the person who gets the most votes will win a copy of Zintendo GS’ “Most Brainy.” “You too can bust out a pie and leave behind the stress of everyday life Eiken clubs’ darts are a 100 yen each! If you win you can hit the staff with a pie with all your might!” “Lost Child Announcement: Rinne-kubota-chan I repeat,  Rinne Kubota-chan from Sayama City, Osaka, Japan is looking for her father” “Hikawa where the heck are you!?” “The student newspaper club is selling a special issue for this year’s festival! The headline is the current hot topic of social disparity as we look into the various inequalities on campus” “Get ready for next year’s entrance exam! The Entrance Exam Success Seminar for enrolling in Oonaka Geidai is now open on the 1st floor of building 5!” “Dear guests, would you like try our Takoyaki?” “Yes, that’s two for 750 yen” “The pancakes here are sold by a current highschool girl get your JK pancakes here.” “We need change over here!” “

““”THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATRONAGE”””  

…..We somehow got past the area.\n On the way, I called out Hikawa’s name so many times on the way but with all the commotion and people buzzing around I couldn’t get through to him at all. Honestly speaking, I don’t remember much of what went on but hearing some of the words made me realize it’s 2006 after all. 

“Th-that was incredible….it was so crowded that I couldn’t buy anything.” \n As expected of Hikawa, he seemed to be a bit enraptured by it.\n “I’ve only heard the food stalls themselves being on a whole other level…..but even the customer pandering was all out”

I’ve witnessed first hand why it was the best in Osaka.

“Let’s drop off the luggage soon. Do you want to leave your stuff in the clubroom, Hikawa?”\n “Roger that.” 

 With our hands tied up with the luggage we won’t be able to do anything. We avoided the crowds and headed for the clubroom.

“Ah, there you are. Thanks for all your hard work since morning”\n I headed over to the back door to hand over the supermarket bag to Hiyama-san.\n “It’s just shopping anyhow, anyone can do it.”\n At my words, Hiyama-san sighed and directed to look outside of the room with her chin. Kiryu-san was there the same man who I took away his job from.\n “Some people here get lost and forget their original purpose by buying their own extra personal items along the way. Just doing what the task entails is meritorious in and of itself.”

How low will Kiryu-san let his stock drop till he’s satisfied…….\n “Are the others ready to go? Shinoaki and Nanako left very early in the morning”\n Hiyama-san grinned as a response to my question.\n “Humor me for a bit Kyouya-kun”\n “S-sure thing.”

“When it comes to home cooking don’t you sometimes get the feeling that “I’ve made something amazingly good! Isn’t this a level where I can put it out on a store?”. “

“I do sometimes.”\n “Then it gives off exactly that feeling. Our circumstances were terrible but now it’s already a work of art….”\n Hiyama-san ecstatically closes her eyes. Just what is it that they accomplished?\n “This is the fruit of all that labour, come inside…..”\n We step into the store separated by a curtain.\n “It’s Kyouya, welcome in~”\n “Mornin’ Hashiba-kun”

“Look at this Kyouya-kun the decorations are all done~”\n It was a different world.

Light from the outside brightly lit the interior . The decorations weren’t overdone, it was just enough that the bleakness of the originally empty classroom was now gone. The cups, saucers and pots looked nice for something that was prepared in a jiffy. But at the peak of all of that, it’ the maids that are the crowning jewels.

“What’s the matter? You’re just silently staring.”\n  Nanako(Maid ver.) let her usually scrunched up hair down. Her light wavy hair perfectly balances well along with her American-style maid uniform.\n “I’m sure he’s staring at us.”\n *hihihi*\n Keiko(Maid ver.) does a crude laugh.

Aside from her mannerisms and tone of voice, she looked great in her fantasy-type maid outfit. Her fashion sense was a bit eccentric, but as a result, her pink hair melded very well with it.

“Maybe he’s just tired of shopping, would ya like a cup of tea?”

And someone who can boast to be at the pinnacle of perfection was Shinoaki(Maid ver.)\n Her short, black hair fit with her traditional English maid outfit. The pot in her hand doubled as an accessory, further enhancing her perfection. In the soft morning sunshine the girls were dazzling.

“How do they look Kyouya-kun?”\n How do I go about praising them……. Unfortunately my limited vocabulary couldn’t hope to express my true thoughts so I go the opposite way and do it as simply as possible.\n “Hiyama-san”

“Yes?”\n “This is what they call perfection….right?”\n “I agree.”\n This could attract droves of customers……\n I might just not be able to check out much of the school festival because of it. In my heart I prepare for the worst.\n \n