Editing Tasogare-iro no Uta Tsukai:Volume3 1st Play (section)

=== Part 1 ===

Along the continent's border was a single specialist school.  It was a huge school with a headcount of several thousand students ーーーTremia Academy.  
In one corner of the enormous ground the school possessed, inside one of the rooms of the girls dormitoryーーー

"Kululu, I'm done over here!"

From the direction of the living room an absolutely cheerful voice rang out.

"Oh?  You are already done?"

Resting her hand from polishing the kitchen sink, Kluele Sophi Net turned her head towards the voice and replied.

"Ehehe,  it was quick and easy"

All of a sudden a childish looking girl showed her face from the living room.  It was her friend Mio Lentear who had wavy blond hair and a childish face that looked 2 or 3 years younger than her actual age.

"All right, I'll also help you out!"

While holding a drenched washcloth, Mio vigorously ran over.

"Ah, stop!  Don't swing the washcloth around!"

"Eh?  Ah!"

Mio abruptly stopped in a panic but it was already too late.

Oh no...  Even though after all that work I should have cleaned the inside of the room, the water from the washcloth is completely scattered all over.

"Kululu, I'm sorry"

"No no, don't worry it's fine."

With a downhearted look, Mio's shoulders dropped.  Kluele smiled at that figure and waved her hands.

There was one day left of summer vacation.  Today they were doing a major cleaning in preparation for the new school term that started tomorrow.  
Kluele and Mio had promised to meet up in the school grounds with the kids from class for a summer homework review session.  Up until the agreed upon time, Mio promised to be her helper.

"Leaving that aside why don't we take a small break.  You've been helping me clean this entire time after all."

Just inside the front door was the kitchen and bathroom.  In-between was a small living room and small bedroom.
Even though it was a small one person bedroom that felt suffocating with two people in it, as expected it would take a while to clean with only one person.
Like this if Mio hadn't come it would have probably taken all day.

"hmm～..., then how about."

Letting go of the washcloth, Mio stared into space for several seconds.  It seems she was thinking about something.

"Kululu, how about I go to the school store and buy juice and snacks?"

"Ah, should I ask you to please do that I wonder?"

Since starting cleaning this morning they had worked through lunch without stopping.  It was a good time for a break.

"Understood.  Then I'll see you in a bit."

With her wallet in one hand, Mio dashed to the door.   Seeing her offーー

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Sigh*.  Until Mio returns I'll rest as well .

Rubbing away the sweat on her forehead, Kluele sat at the table in the living room.  A gentle breeze blew in from the window and swung the curtains.  It felt good on her sweaty body.

ーーAlready summer break is ending.

"......Recitations huh?"

All the students who attended this school had the goal of learning the technique called Recitations.
It was a summoning technique to call out the things you wanted that were imagined in the heart.
The process of the technique was to sing praise to the summoning target's name.
In other words this was the thing called Recitations.

"Somehow it's mysterious."

Summoning the thing I imagine,  at a glance recitations look like such a brilliant technique.  But, not everything in school life is rose colored.

The disaster at the concours just before summer break.   Just when she thought that her injuries from then were healed she got involved with enigmatic recited creatures causing turmoil at the research institute while at summer camp .

After that situation was settled in the middle of summer, she thought about returning home.
But there was one person living in the boy's dorm, the night color boy, that she was unintentionally worried about.  In the end she didn't return home.
Thanks to that this summer was steeped with accompanying him in practicing recitations everyday.
Though she was principally watching from the shadows.

"But... it was by no means unpleasant right?"

The words she spoke were as if she was asking herself a question.

Even though just this last January she was that indecisive at the recital school's guidance counseling.

I wonder the thing that has grown so big within me.  Just what is it I wonder?"

Concours.

The summer camp incident.

No, before that...  As I thought did it grow bigger when I met you?

A shy person is a very shy person, that night color boy.   Yet if I said this in front of his face, he'd probably deny it with a bright red face.

"Mio is bad with jokes to an amusing level after all"

Remembering his figure facing away bashfully, Kluele laughed.

Altogether not every memory was a good one.  But, even the undesirable ones drew them together little by little.  She felt like her connection with recitations had grown deeper as well.  ーーI wonder, have I come to like recitations?

She stared vacantly at both her palms.

No, it's not just like.  Lately her reciting condition was frighteningly good.
She had realized this just a little bit before summer camp hadn't she?
No matter how sleepy or bad shape she was in, as soon as she started constructing the recital image in her head it no longer bothered her.

As if she was calmly cut off from the flow of time, it was a feeling of super creativity.  When she was reciting it felt as if she was in a separate universe.

But, I wonder how it is for other people.

It was embarrassing to ask about it and she unintentionally missed her chance to ask.  Maybe I should be courageous and ask Neight next time.

"Well...  regardless of that, this is the real problem isn't it."

Stacked on the table was a mountain of exercise books.

It was the homework handed out in the middle of summer vacation.  Incidentally 90% hadn't been started yet.
Even though it didn't look like it each one took great effort.……I did them but, as I thought unreasonable things are unreasonable.

"As expected, I have no choice but to borrow Mio-sensei's strength don't I?"


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On an expensive deep crimson carpet sat a luxurious leather sofa.  Installed on the wall were wooden shelves that had all the awards the student's had acquired up until now lined up.

Tremia Academy, headmaster's office.

"It's about time isn't it?"

Glancing at the grandfather clock in the corner, head teacher Jessica opened her mouth.

"Well, it'll be fun won't it."

Along with the background noise, headmaster Zea Lordfill crossed his arms and stared at the student data on his desk.

At almost the same time a *Ton* knock sound rang out.

"Excuse me"

Along with a powerful and pleasant voice, a glasses wearing uniformed male student entered.
Three blue lines were attached at the collar.  In other words this was the proof that he was a 3rd year specializing in 『{{Furigana|Ruguz|Blue}}』

『{{Furigana|Keinez|Red}}』・『{{Furigana|Ruguz|Blue}}』・『{{Furigana|Surisuz|Yellow}}』・『{{Furigana|Beorc|Green}}』・『{{Furigana|Arzus|White}}』

One characteristic of recitations is this color coding.　　From within the 7 foundational prismatic colors, 4 are used.  Add in white and you get 5 colors.  The students can pick any of these 5 colors for themselves to specialize in.  Their objective is to call forth objects of the same color.

"Fernando-kun,  sorry for suddenly summoning you.

"No, it's not particularly a problem."

With an overly serious expression the student shook his head.  Rather than too serious, maybe nervous would be the better way to put it?

"Since it's your precious summer vacation, let's keep this brief"

The documents on top the desk were lifted up as if to show him as well.

ーThey were the letters of recommendation from the teachers.

"I saw your recital at the Concours.   The appearance and technique of your large knight ice sculpture recital were at a very high level.
The same goes for your paper test grades.  Both your homeroom teacher and the 3rd year 『{{Furigana|Ruguz|Blue}}』supervising teacher Mirror gave high evaluations of you.

Fernando ReibaーーThe student report from the supervising teacher said that he was always calm and collected, an exemplary student.  As for his paper tests, he had several times had his name lined up alongside the top 12 seniors. 

"Is that so, thank you very much."

Did his nervousness go away?  The male student showed a gentle expression appropriate for his age.

"Accordingly at the opening ceremony the day after tomorrow, I'd like you to express your aspirations as the third year representative.   I apologize the abruptness but this is a result of us having just barely finished racing to make our student selection."

"You want me?"

"You can't do it?"

"No,  please let me do it!"

His face pulling tight, the student fixed his posture.

"By the way, I wonder what is your current aspiration?

There was a somewhat hesitant pause in between with regards to head teacher Jessica's question.

"Currently it's to be able to perform a  {{Furigana|Second Scale Recitation|Noble Aria}}"

Specifically every color had small existences belonging to it.  If a student were to acquire one before graduating from the recital school then afterwards he would surrounded by many scouts after him.

"Good.  Then I'll request you go in that direction"

"Yes, well then."

The student began to exit.

"Ah, that's right.  Fernando-kun, I wonder if you have a little more time?"

Confirming that the feet had stopped, Zea uncrossed the arms that had been folded this entire time.  He pointed at a painting that decorated the wall.  It a painting covered in a deep blue paint that was far from fine arts.

"It's just that I want to see your recital.  I don't mind if you use that painting as a catalyst.   It's especially suited for your『{{Furigana|Ruguz|Blue}}』major right?"  As for what you should recite out, I know, a small blue flower would be fine."

Catalysts are an indispensable tool for conducting recitals.  Blue flowers, green leaves, and the like, the human perceptible color's identity was a visible wave of light.  Recitations are a technique that use catalysts of the same color as their visible light to summon that which was imagined in the heart.

"Eh?  A blue flower you said.  Umm, is that really ok?

Did he think we were making light of him?  His expression was frankly disappointed.  If I look at it, it is his long awaited chance.  He probably thought this was his best opportunity to appeal his strength to me as the school headmaster.

"Well, first give it a try and see."

"Understood."

While doing as he was told he touched the painting.  He closed his eyes and entered the image construction phase.

Moreover several dozen seconds passed, he murmured lightly.

『{{Furigana|Ruguz|Blue Song}}』

They were the recital's completion words, however, from those words nothing was born.

"...This is"

"Did you realize it?"

The student turned with a bitter smile towards the old man who asked the question.

"No, I completely forgot that was a possibility.  This picture is a crime isn't it."

Indispensable to the process of recitations, a catalyst of the same colored as the summoned things was required to open the {{Furigana|Recital Gate|Channel}}.  However, within that existed one trap.

Compared to the ease of opening the recital gate the first time, once it closed it was firmly locked.

For example after using a red paper to recite a red flower, if you used the same paper to call out another flower the degree of difficulty would immediately jump up.
An expert was required to force open the {{Furigana|Recital Gate|Channel}} for a {{Furigana|Song of Praise|Oratorio}}.  Furthermore a {{Furigana|Third Scale Recitation|Prime Aria}} was the limit of what could be done.

That being the case, switching out the catalyst each time for a new one was more reliable and faster too.  In order for reciters to become skillful they would usually carry around large quantities of materials for creating their own catalysts.  For the reason that if you compounded your own catalyst then no one else could have used that catalyst before you.

Consumer's crime ーー It had the meaning of being the person who used the catalyst second.  The painting Zea pointed at had been used for reciting numerous times.  It was already a goods that had the {{Furigana|Recital gate|Channel}} tightly closed to an atrocious degree of difficultly.

"Would you like to challenge singing the <{{Furigana|Song of Praise|Oratorio}}> one more time?"

Implicitly he indicated that it was fine to abstain.  However, by touching the blue painting, the student announced his stout-heartedness. 

"……Let me challenge this one more time."

The <{{Furigana|Song of Praise|Oratorio}}> flowed in the room.

Several minutes laterーー

"This is...  my limit."

What he handed over with a fatigued expression was glittering blue ice fragments.

They were tiny, inanimate, and also in an imperfect condition.  If the middle school students saw it they might have laughed from the shadows.

But even then his recital was more than enough to be praiseworthy.

"I'll speak frankly Fernando-kun.  You are an even more superior student than I thought.

There was no lie in those words.  It had been a long time since Zea had witnessed a student succeeding in using this painting as a catalyst.

"Yes."

There wasn't any power in his voice, did he concentrate too hard?  

"No, it was truly magnificent.  I'm looking forward to your efforts from here on out."

"Thank you very much.  Well then, excuse me."

After a bow, the student left the room.  They waited till his footsteps could no longer be heard in the hallway.

"So, what do you think?"

Zea turned towards his back and asked.

The school headmaster's room extended into a small archive.  The archive door opened and several teachers showed themselves.

"As the teacher of the {{Furigana|Ruguz|Blue}} seniors, that student has a thoroughly promising foundation.  I think it would be fine to anticipate seeing a Second Scale Recitation at next year's recital . 

Wearing blue research clothes, the too serious teacher saved his glasses from the tip of his nose with a practiced action.

His neighbor was a teacher wearing a gaudy warm colored shirt with large patterns.  This teacher scratched his head with a carefree appearance.

"Umm, Fernando-kun was it?  No it's just as Mirror said he is an excellent student.  For him to be at that level as a third year is great.  Right Enne?"

"Zessel......  Do something about those clothes!  Mirror too, it seems lately like you've only been wearing those clothes."

With a disgusted expression face the female teacher called out both of their garments.  She had a slim body wearing a white one peice dress without a single wrinkle.

『Geez』

Both teacher's looked at there clothes.  A little while laterーー

『I'm very pleased with him.』

In one voice as if they had prearranged it the male teacher duo spoke.

"……It's only times like this that you are perfectly in sync isn't it?

With a sigh mixed in, Enne shook her head.

"I'm never bored watching the two of you."

An astonished laugh slipped out of Head teacher Jessica unintentionally.

"Hrmm.  In any case it looks like we are all in agreement about that third year student having a promising future.  Butーー"

Zea slowly shifted his line of sight.  Standing one step away from the three teachers, there was a woman wearing a leaf green suit.

"Kate-kun, your story is trustworthy right?"

"Umm...,  That……I don't have any proof myself.  After all I was knocked out at that time."

Nervously the first year homeroom teacher gave an unreliable answer.  She hung her head in shame.  Her blond hair glittered in the sunlight as it quietly shook.

ーーYes, this time on top of his desk there were two student reports.

One was of the top third year student.  An honor student with top class recital technique and paper test results.

The other one was a certain first year female student.  According to the records her recital technique at the Concours was about average.  Amongst the first years exam results it would probably be easier to find her starting from the bottom, that kind of girl.

Nevertheless.

''"Headmaster, If you see that child's recital you'll be so surprised you won't be able to stand up."''

''"That recited creature.  It's a little unbelievable."''

both teachers Zessel and Enne said those words.

It was about what happened over summer break at the seaside school.  Without a single person becoming aware, a incident occurred at certain research institute.   What the girl who had been in high school for only half a year called out that time wasーー

"I can't suddenly believe it but, if by some chance that story is true...."

Cutting off his words halfway, he stared at the student's photo on the desk.  It was the student's enrollment photo.
It was of a a girl with scarlet hair sitting down with a somewhat nervous expression.

ーーThis girl couldn't have surpassed every student in my school, right?

"Kate-kun, this female student is living in the student dorms isn't she?"

"Yes"

Now then, is this child currently in the dormitory?

The end summer vacation is close.  It's about the right time for the students to be returning to the dorm.  If so then it is highly likely that this female student is already in the dormitory.

"Jessica, for the present please call the supervising teacher for the first year class to our meeting here.  Kate-kun will you find out whether or not your student is in the female dormitory?"