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Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume2 Chapter7

2011-04-19T04:32:22Z

Dragonst: Volume 2 Chapter 7

===Chapter 7===

After getting through the ticket-barrier, I saw that the streets were filled with people.

It sounds a little weird to use such a commonly-used literary description, but I really couldn't think of anything better to describe what I was seeing. At nine o'clock in the morning of August the 17th, I was standing in front of the International Exhibition Centre station that was on the sub-line of the Rinkai high-speed rail line.

"Wow......"

Anyway, no matter where I looked, all I saw were people, people and more people. Just how did they manage to assemble so many poeple here? This place was literally bursting at the seams with the sheer amount of people. The amount of people at the shopping district was already extremely high, but this makes the shopping district look almost empty. This exceedingly chaotic assembly of people really reminded me of groups like Black Dragon and Sea Iguana. (TL Note: Don't ask me, I have no idea what those groups are either -_-)

And that's not all.

"......It's really hot."

Even though it was still quite early in the day, the sun's rays were already shooting down on all directions like laser beams. Add the heat-reflecting properties of the asphalt road and the number of human 'heat sources' in this place and--How do I put it......In other words, it was so hot, I could literally feel myself wilting under the heat. Although I really wanted to use the hose of the fire-truck parked nearby to hose down the masses, but I resisted the urge to do so. In a country that has one of the highest population densities in the world, it is generally frowned upon to complain about the number of people around you. And now and I mention it, I seem to be part of the crowd, so I'm really not in any position to complain.

"......I guess I should start walking." I mentally prepared myself for the crowd as I stepped out, trying as hard as I could to avoid knocking into people. I slowly made my way past the ridiculously crowded bus interchange, walked over the small bridge that was obviously over-capacity, and started to climb past the mountain of people on the steps. I could see the strange-looking structure that looked as though it had an inverted pyramid on top of it in the distance. The place that they call the 'Tokyo Big Sight' was my destination, and also where I was supposed to meet Haruka.

Right, as to why we're meeting in a place like this. Because we lived in the same direction from the Big Sight, I had suggested that we meet along the way, but Haruka insisted on meeting at the Big Sight itself.

"An event like this starts from the moment you wait for the other person. Don't you think that it'll be really exciting to meet at the place itselt to soak up the atmosphere? It'll feel like something good will happen."

Haruka explained. I guess it's the same sort of reasoning that every activity you do before you get home is part of a long journey? (I don't really understand) Well, I don't really understand Haruka's way of thinking sometimes (......most of the time?), but since it didn't really made a difference to me, I agreed to Haruka's arrangement without much thought. And then, after about five minutes of forging my way forward in the crowd.

It looks like I've finally reached the entrance of the Tokyo Big Sight, but......

"......"

It looked like a ridiculously long queue has already formed up outside the entrance. The queue looked like a drunk anaconda, and I couldn't see where the head of the queue was. All I could see was that the queue had split up into several rows that extended towards the parking lot.

......Hmm, wasn't the the event supposed to start at ten? I confirmed the timing on the 'Summer Comiket Map' that Haruka had given me. Haruka had wanted to meet at ten o'clock sharp, but after the Akihabara incident last time (The item was sold out), I suggested that we meet not five minutes, but an hour before the opening time, but--

"Y,Yuuto-san......"

--It looks like I've been too naive in my planning. Haruka, who had reached before me, ran over to me with tears in her eyes.

"W,What do we do, there're so many people......"

Haruka didn't even have time for her usual morning greeting as she looked at the people around her, her voice a significant amount of decibels higher than normal.

"T, To ensure that we don't fail this time, I even came a little eariler than our meeting time, but it was already like this......"

"Ah-"

Well, I can't say I'm too surprised about that. It's quite obvious that a queue of this magnitude didn't just magically form up in the last ten minutes.

"T, Then I might not be able to buy Neko Bus Station's book......Even though Yuuto-san has agreed to come to the Summer Comiket together--" (TL Note: Neko = Cat)

Haruka's voice was trembling as she spoked. On a side note, the Summer Comiket seems to be some kind of free market for books and CDs, and a book by a group named 'Neko Bus Station' seemed to be Haruka's top priority today.

"W,What should I do......"

"Well, why don't you calm down a little first."

I attempted to get Haruka, who was panicking a little, to settle down. As usual, Haruka's rather weak in dealing with such sudden situations.

"B,But......"

"......Anyway, we should join the queue. It looks like there's only one entrance."

I wasn't fully aware of the whole situation, but it looked like the only thing we can do is to queue up with the rest of the people.

"......Alright."

Haruka and I walked to the back of the queue, which seemed to stretch to the other end of the horizon. We still hadn't managed to catch a glimpse of the front of the queue.

......Just what time had the people at the front of the queue started queuing? On the other hand, one good thing was that despite the length of the queue, it was extremely neat.

"What should we do......Would it be alright, would we be able to get to 'Neko Bus Station'......"

Haruka, who was standing beside me, had been mumbling under her breath as though she was reciting Buddhist scriptures for a while now. Hmm. Although I really want to tell Haruka that it'll be alright, but looking at the amound of people in front of us, it probably won't be very persuasive......To be honest, even I was beginning to despair.

Just as I was trying to think of how I should comfort Haruka,

"Hey, are you referring to the production group, 'Neko Bus Station'?"

Suddenly, the bespectacled guy who was queuing in front of us (for some reason, he was also equipped with colorful fan) turned to look at us.

"Ah, y, yes."

Haruka nodded in response.

"Hmm, it'll be a little difficult to get their new publications from this position, since we're quite a distance behind the front of the queue."

"Just as I had feared......"

Haruka put a hand to her forehead as she looked as though she was about to faint. Her face was deathly pale as she looked like the seer who had just foreseen the end of the world. Looking at her reaction, the bespectacled guy hurridly attempted to calm her down.

"B,but even then, I think it should be alright."

"......Eh?" "It'll be a little difficult, but if you hurry, you should be able to get a copy."

"Really!?"

Haruka took a step forward, her aura so overpowering that the bespectacled guy took a step back in surprise.

"Well, I guess so. If this was any of the previous comikets, then you wouldn't stand a chance. But they're the super big wigs this year, so they'll have printed significantly more of their works to sell."

According to this guy, we still have a chance, even though I don't understand the big wig reference. Did he mean the big wig supermarket of books? (TL Note: Because of Yuuto's stupid random referencing (which aren't even funny in the first place), I'm forced to use a comparatively more awkward phrase (big wig) so that the two sentences link up -_-)

"T,That's great......"

Haruka had a relieved look on her face as she sat down on the ground. I'm really relieved too, looks like we'll be able to avoid the tragedy of our previous trip to Akihabara. I patted myself on the chest as we patiently waited for about an hour.

"The Summer Comkiet is now open. Participants, please walk in orderly."

We heard the broadcast from the speakers that were spread out all over the place. Looks like the Summer Comiket is finally open.

"Yuuto-san, it has finally began, hasn't it."

"Yes, it has."

The queue finally started moving slowly, like a lumbering African elephant. At the same time, we heard the ground rumbling in the distance.

"--? What is that sound?"

"I have no idea. Could it be some kind of construction work?"

The two of us looked to the direction that the rumbling was coming from.

"Ah, that's the first rush of the Summer Comiket opening."

The bespectacled guy turned to us once again.

"Summer Comiket opening......"

"......First rush?" What's that?"

To put in simply, that's the sound of the footsteps of the people who are already inside. Individual footsteps may not make much noise, but because everyone wants to get to the booths as quickly as possible, they literally make the ground shake with the force of their running.

"But the announcer had just told everyone to walk orderly......"

"Well, everyone are willing to give up their lives to get the books that they want. And it's not very likely that you'll continue walking slowly when everyone around you is running."

The bespectacled guy smiled sheepishly. In other words, it's like how 'If everyone runs the red light, then there's nothing to be afraid of' (not a very apt analogy, I'm afraid). Which means what I thought sounded more like the roar of a monster, or the battle-cry of a certain silver alien superhero who's fighting alien monsters is actually the sound of people running.

"......"

......Looks like we've come to a really intense place. The slightly uneasy feeling that I'm getting from the rumbling footsteps of the people further in front of us seemed to signal that the road ahead of us is fraught with difficulties. The events that followed proved that for once, my gut was right.

"......W,we're finally in."

"......Ah, right."

The two of us breathed heavily as we looked at each other. It was already eleven when we finally got into the exhibition centre.

......Even though the 'Opening rush' was a little too intense, but I was rather surprised that it took us an hour just to get in. Although I hadn't expected to get in early, but an hour was really too much. And looking back at the queue behind me, I couldn't see the end of the queue......Once more, this is a really intense place.

"Well then, what do we do now?"

"Right. I would like to go over to Neko Bus Station's booth first."

Haruka immediately responded to my question.

"Because saving the most enjoyable activity for the last didn't work the last time, I think we should make it the first item on our agenda this time round."

I could see the flames burning in Haruka's eyes. Looks like she's still strung up over what happened the last time.

"And then, the location of Neko Bus Station is......"

Haruka opened up the 'Summer Comiket Map'. Just like the 'Shopping guide' the last time, all the major locations and the timetable for going to the locations were clearly denoted on the map.

"It should be over here."

Haruka said as she went over to an escalator with me following close behind. According to the Summer Comiket Map, our first destination was a exhibition hall named East 1. On a side note, even after looking at Haruka's map, I had no idea where East 1 was. Even though the Summer Comiket Map was extremely detailed (At least Haruka seems to think so)......Personally, I think Haruka's the only one who can actually read and understand the map. To be a little more detailed, I could only see a bunch of Arikabes standing in a cemetary. (TL Note: Arikabes can be literally translated as 'Grey Wall Demons')

"Speaking of which, is admission free?"

I asked Haruka as we made our way towards East 1. Usually, such a big event would require an admission fee (about maybe a thousand or two thousand yen), but I haven't seen anything that looked like ticket booths or admission gates.

"Ah, yes, admission is free."

Haruka looked intently at the Summer Comiket Map as she answered me.

"I've heard that for the earlier comikets, you had to buy an official catalogue before you were allowed entry, but right now, it's completely free. I guess the organizers just want to encourage more people to come for this event?"

"I see......"

"Don't you think that it's better to share happiness with as many people as possible?"

Haruka ran towards the elevator with an innocent smile on her face. On the other hand, I do think that the sharing is a little too extreme. There was a tunnel at the end of the elevator. The tunnel was about thirty metres wide, and had an extremely high ceiling (I would estimate it at about fifty metres in height), and looked more like an exhibition hall than a tunnel. The tunnel split off into smaller paths at both sides. To my right was East 1, 2 and 3, while East 4, 5 and 6 were on my right. Looks like most of the exhibition halls for the Summer Comiket are within this area.

"There really are a lot of people here......"

Even though the tunnel was extremely large, but it was stuffed to capacity with people. There were people weaving through the crowd, there were people calling their friends on their cellphones, and there were even groups of people who had sat down on the ground, looking as though they were having some pre-battle briefing. What I was seeing was a literal representation of people being 'packed like sardines'. It was so crowded that even a dog would have gotten kicked if it had tried to move. Any movement could result in an accident.

"Kya!"

Just as I was thinking about how easy it would be to knock into someone, Haruka gave a surprised shout as one of a three person group who were walking in a line knocked into her.

"I, I'm sorry, are you alright?"

The guy who had knocked into Haruka quickly turned around to apologise.

"Y, Yes, I'm alright. What about you?"

"Ah, I'm alright too."

"That's great......I'm really sorry."

Haruka bowed her head as the three guys walked off apologetically.

"Haruka, are you alright?"

"Yes, this is nothing."

Haruka smiled like a playful puppy as she answered me. Even though I had though that the collision looked rather painful. It looks like Haruka's surprisingly durable. And speaking of durable, Haruka didn't have a scratch on her after half the bookshelves in the school library came down the other time.

"Shall we go, Yuuto-san?"

"Ah"

But Haruka only managed a few steps before......

"Wahh"

This time, she collided with a concrete pillar that had been hidden by the crowd.

"I, I'm really sorry. I wasn't really concentrating on what was in front of me. I'm really sorry."

She still hadn't realized that she had walked into a concrete pillar as she continued to apologizing.

"......"

Hmm. Even though it was exactly Haruka's fault for not looking at what was in front of her, but also because there were really too many people around. It would be extremely easy for us to get separated in such a crowd if this continues. Haruka doesn't have a cellphone, so it'll be practically impossible to find her again if we get separated......And it's not like Nanami-san is here to use her mysterious tracking ability either. Which was why.

"Ah-, Haruka."

There was only one solution for the problem at hand.

"Yes? What is it?"

"--Umm."

I slowly stretched out my right hand towards Haruka, not because I wanted to do something perverted, but because I didn't want us to get separated, yes. Haruka looked at my outstretched right hand as though it was a rock from the moon, her eyes wide with amazement, before saying......

"Umm...... Doggie handshake?"

"No!"

I grabbed Haruka's left hand with my right hand.

"?"

Haruka slanted her head to the side.

"It's not that......Umm, how do I put it, your hand......"

"? The other one?"

Haruka placed her right hand on top of mine.

"......Woof?"

......I'm begging you, please stop linking everything with dogs.

"That's not what I'm trying to say. You see, it's really easy to get separated in the crowd like this, so to prevent us from getting separated from each other......"

".......Ah."

Haruka finally understood what I was trying to say, as she started blushing furiously.

"No, I, I'm not trying to hint at anything here, t,this is just to prevent us from getting separated."

"......A, Ah, r, right."

Haruka shyly took the hand that I offered her.

"P, Please take care of me......"

I felt the softness of Haruka's skin in my hand. Her hand was as smooth as marble. I held her hand a little tighter, and felt Haruka holding my hand back lightly.

"Y, Yuuto-san's hand is really big."

Haruka smiled as she said. S, She's really cute...... I desperately tried to hold down the sudden urge to hug her, as I didn't have a good reason to do something like that in reality, and also, I didn't really dare to do something like that. I would probably get arrested for something like that. Hmm, I don't think that would be serious enough to warrant an arrest right? Ah--What am I thinking about.

"W, Well then, we should get going. The books might be sold out if we don't hurry."

"R, Right."

I tried to cover up my embarrassment by changing the subject. And just like that, the two of us stepped into exhibition hall East 1--

"Wow......"

"Wow......"

In a sense, we had stepped into a completely different world. In a hall that was about one-fifth the size of a school gymnasium, numerous booths that were made up of rectangular office tables and foldable chairs were lined up (the regulars seem to call the booths 'circle spaces'). Looking down the line of booths, it seemed as though there were about a thousand of them, and huge amounts of books and CDs were stacked on top of each table.

"Welcome-"

"Please take a look at our newest book!"

The 'circle spaces' were surrounded by people holding up handmade advertisement boards, giving out fliers, and asking people to take a look at their booths.

"Ah, please give me a copy of this."

"Sure, that would be five hundred yen."

The people working at the booths were either busy attending to the customers or counting their earnings. Monstrous queues were also forming up in front of some booths.

"So this is the Summer Comiket......"

The light-hearted atmosphere felt like that of a school festival. Whether it was the people working at the booths or the people buying from the booths, they were all extremely busy with something. But one thing they all had in common was the smile that they wore on their faces.

"......"

In a moment, I too was swept away by the atmosphere. The 'Summer Comiket'......because it was held at such a formal place (The Tokyo International Exhibition Centre), I had expected a more business-like atmosphere.

"This is incredible......"

Haruka looked like a person who had lived her entire life near the equator seeing snow for the first time. The two of us looked around in awe like two people from the countryside who had gone into a big city for the first time. I suddenly remembered something.

"--Hey, Haruka, don't we have something more important to do?"

According to that bespectacled guy, we already had a bad position in the queue. Which means that we really couldn't afford to stand around around like this.

"! Y,You're right. We've got to get to 'Neko Bus Station'."

In response to my reminder, Haruka whipped out the Summer Comiket Map violently as she looked for the exact location of our destination (she had no problem with using only one hand, as her single hand flew over the pages of the map).

"Hmm, let's see, we're at the entrance of the East 1 Hall, so......"

Haruka was still holding on to my hand as she looked around, her cute actions reminding me of a squirrel looking for food. Although it's not a very nice thing to do while Haruka is hurridly looking for the right direction, but I couldn't help but be mesmerized by how pretty she was. To be honest, I've been having another problem since a while ago. Quite a few people were staring---No, many people were staring. Some people looked at Haruka and I from afar, some turned aroud for a second look after walking past us, while some even stopped to blatantly stare. Of course, they were looking at Haruka, not me. For your information, Haruka was wearing a white summer dress with a matching white cardigan over it, topped with a straw-colored had on her head, giving everyone a perfect representation of the style of a lady from a rich family. Well, a girl as beautiful as Haruka would be the centre of attention everywhere she goes, so I wasn't very surprised by the looks we were getting. Even though I wasn't surprised......But Haruka seems to stand out even more than usual in this space that was unusually detached from our usual reality. --Like the white swan in the middle of a crowd of Brown-eared Bulbuls......? Hmm, how about the only stalk of white Lilium in a field of Dandelions. (Actually, I think both analogies are quite suitable.)

Just as I was thinking of analogies,

"Ah, that is!?"

Suddenly, I felt a strong force pulling on my right hand. Immediately after I felt the force, Haruka shot out like a bullet.

"H, Hey." "I found it! 'Neko Bus Station' is over there! Ah, there are so many people queuing up already--We should quickly get in line as well."

The force that was pulling on my right hand was like trying to pull up a rock bream that had bit into the end of a fishing line.

"Hey, wait up."

"Hurry up, hurry up."

--Looks like Haruka's up to her usual antics again. I only just remembered that Haruka had the tendency to disregard everything around her when she sees someting that she really wants. It's a small miracle that Haruka started to act like that only now in a place that was practically a treasure trove to her.

"H,Haruka, I understand how you feel, but we really don't need to be in such a hurry."

"N,No. If we don't hurry, then they might be sold out."

Haruka sprinted like a cheetah while dragging me along behind her. Haruka was moving at about 8.5 times her normal speed as she weaved through the enormous amount of people and inanimate obstacles that stood between her and 'Neko Bus Station'. She was simply unstoppable.

"J,Just where are we going?"

"There, we're going towards that booth in that corner."

Haruka pointed towards a booth at one end of the hall. There was still about fifty metres between our current position and out destination.

"......"

......Hmm, is it even possible to see the books that were placed on the booth fifty metres away in such a chaotic hall? Well, at least I can't do it. I looked at Haruka.

"I,If we don't hurry......"

The look in her eyes mirrored that of an eagle that had locked on to its prey. By the intensity of that look, it was probably a huge eagle too. I really wonder where the cute squirrel from a few minutes ago had disappeared to. I thought to myself as I attempted to keep up with Haruka as she half-dragged me towards the booth. What kind of situation am I in? Summer holidays. Shopping while holding hands with a stunningly beautiful girl. Although it sounds really romantic, but reality couldn't be further from that. The romantic atmosphere was nowhere to be found......But then again, I'm really happy to be able to just hold on to Haruka's hand (what an innocent boy).

When we finally got to 'Neko Bus Station', what awaited us was......another queue.

"......Don't tell me we're going to have to queue again?"

"Well, it sure looks that way."

It was a queue that was about thirty metres in length. Although it wasn't as long as the queue that we were in outside the exhibition hall, but for a single queue, it was quite long. And the queue didn't just confine itself to the interior of the hall, as it stretched towards the huge doorway (probably used to move large objects?) leading out of the exhibition hall. As the popular booths would always get extremely long queues, the queues usually stretched towards the exit out of the hall so as to not as to clog up the already crowded exhibition hall. Well, it really would be extremely frustrating if a long queue like that was snaking around the interior of the hall. And so, Haruka and I took our place at the back of the queue outside the hall.

"......It's hot."

Unsurprisingly, the summer sun was extremely hot. The sunlight stabbed into the top of my head mercilessly, its uv-rays made more deadly by the thinning of the ozone layer in the atmosphere. For a modern person who grew up in air-conditioned rooms like me, my body's ability to dissipate heat was extremely low, which made standing under the sun like this torture. Haruka look at me worriedly as though I was the classmate with low-blood pressure who could faint at any moment.

"Yuuto-san, are you alright? You don't look good......"

"I'm fine, it's just a little hot out here."

"......I see. That's alright, but--"

"Ah."

Well, the main problem was the sun, so...... Looking at the length of the queue, an optimistic estimate would put our waiting time at about ten minutes......I think (personal deduction). No matter what, it shouldn't take us more than twenty minutes.......Probably (personal deduction). Although it was torture to be standing out in the sun like this, but I shouldn't have any problem with it if it's only about twenty minutes--

"Ah, the two of you over there."

--That's what I thought. But I was too naive. I was as naive as the grasshopper who hopes to survive winter without building up any supplies of food. A staff member who was in charge of the queues ran over to us.

"That's no the end of the queue--"

"......Eh?"

"It's like this, we actually split up the queue into a few sections so as to not cause too much inconvienience to other people. Which means that this isn't the end of the queue. For your information, this is the segment that leads directly to the booth."

"......So, where is the end of the queue?"

"Over there."

The staff member pointed to......a spot that was about sixty metres from where we were. It was a little far, but I managed to spot a sign that said 'End of queue' there. Of course, the space between our current position and the 'end of queue' sign was as concentrated with people as a sausage was with meat.

"......You have got to be kidding me."

"I'm serious."

The staff member gave us a professional smile as she answered. I felt as though all the strength was sapped from my body in an instand......I would have wanted her to tell me that it wasn't true, even if she was just pulling my leg. Beside me, Haruka answered for the two of us.

"Ah, I see. We'll be going over now."

She told the staff member without any change in her facial expression whatsoever. Speaking of which, Haruka seems to have come mentally prepared to queue till the end of time.

"Well then, we better get going, Yuuto-san."

"......Ah."

Looks like I have no choice but to brace myself for the long, long queue ahead. Now I know exactly how the carp on the cutting board feels. And so, Haruka and I became a member of the approximately ninety-metre long queue.

"It's really how......"

I'm really no match for the heat of the summer sun.

"Yuuto-san, are you alright? You're sweating like crazy......"

Haruka tried to stem the never-ending tide of sweat that was washing over me with her handkerchief. -Rub Rub- I felt an expensive-feeling material on my cheek, along with a soft fragrance. I also felt the softness of Haruka's hand through the fabric......Her touch feels really good.

"Ah-Thank you. Haruka, are you feeling alright?"

"Yes, I'm perfectly fine." Haruka nodded her head, her straw-colored hat bobbing up and down together with her movement as she continued a little smugly.

"I'm really resistant to heat because the animal fortune teller says that I'm a Koala bear."

"......Huh?"

"And Koala bears live in Australia, in the southern hemisphere."

"......"

......No, I really don't see the link between the two.

"Shouldn't the properties of my body mimic that of Koala bears if the animal fortune teller says that I'm a Koala bear? Isn't that how it works?"

Haruka blinked with an innocent look in her large eyes......Looks like she has had a complete misunderstanding of the animal fortune teller.

--Anyway, whether Haruka is a Koala bear or not is not the point. Just as she had said, Haruka's face was extremely cool. Even though she has spent the same amount of time under the sun as I have, but there wasn't a drop of sweat on Haruka's skin that seemed to have the color of shaved ice. In other words, the area around Haruka has a comparatively lower temperature......Looks like this is the second rule of the world that concerns ladies from rich families after 'Ladies from rich families don't sweat. This should be the rule where 'Ladies from rich ramilies are always cool' right?

"? What's wrong, Yuuto-san?"

Haruka slanted her head to one side like a white penguin from the south pole.

"It's nothing."

"?"

This isn's something that I should try to get to the bottom of. Let secrets remain secrets, just like many things in this world are. After coming to this conclusion (or rather, avoiding the issue altogether), I opened the can of Pet-Bottle Juice (One for 200 yen, tourist attraction-pricing). Just as I was drinking that can of exhorbitantly-priced juice,

"Ah-, look who's here......"

Suddenly, a familiar voice flew into my ear. That voice was so powerful that it simply sliced through the crowd.

"......"

It can't be...... I only know one person (other than Ruko) who is in ownership of such a powerful voice. I looked in the direction of the voice with a sinking feeling--

"Could it be Yuuto? It's Yuuto right?"

I saw my childhood friend of more than ten years coming towards where I was, both of his hands weighed down by numerous paper bags, but...... I hurriedly looked away (turning my face away so as to hide from him), but it was too late. My childhood friend (male) -- Asakura Nobunaga shouted happily as he waved the mass of paper bags that he was holding in both hands.

"Ah-, it really is Yuuto. Why are you in a place like this? Could it be that you're interest in our path has finally awakened?"

"Ah-, no, it's just that......"

I stuttered as I attempted to hide Haruka behind me so that Nobunaga won't notice her. It would not be a good thing if Haruka and I were to be seen together like this, and the place where we're at makes it even worse. Because this concerns Haruka's secret, trying to avoid such a meeting would be the best course of action so as to avoid the inevitable deluge of questions and misunderstandings.

"You don't have to hide it--I see--You've finally come over to our side-"

The only silver lining in this dark, dark cloud was that Nobunaga didn't seem to have noticed Haruka's existence.

"Hmm-, although I never doubted that you would eventually come over to our side, but I hadn't expected you to come to your senses so quickly. This is such a touching moment! So-So- what have you bought already?"

As usual Nobunaga chugged along at his own pace as he started on yet another of his long monologues. He seems to have grossly misunderstood something, but correcting him would only make things more difficult than they already are, so I think I'll just leave it like this.

"Well, I've already bought the newest publications of 'Fuji Tsubo Machine' and 'Twinkle Heart'-. Of course, I've also gotten the Neko Bus Station's new publications. To be honest, for a first-timer like you to be queueing up at this booth, it shows that you've got good taste, Yuuto!"

Nobunaga rambled on.

"Ah, speaking of which, did you know-? It's basic knowledge, but every single product that is sold here are made by the circle members themselves-. We call these Doujinshi, because these are made by people who have a common interest. Which is also why this event is completely different from a normal business exhibition--"

Nobunaga showed no signs of slowing down as he continued to drown me with the finer points of otaku culture.

"--Well, anyway, my main target for this event is 'Hani Tora'. Of course, there are many other books that I'm going to get, but this is my top priority. Ah, by the way 'Hani Tora' is the abbreviation for 'Hanikami Triangle'--. You should also remember that 'Hanikami' is written in hiragana, while 'Triangle' is written in katakana so you don't get it wrong. Also, 'Hani Tora' has already had two seasons. Even though I'm really attached to the first season's 'Clumsy Girl Aki-chan' and 'Useless Girl Megu-chan', but recently, 'Cat Girl Mia' has started to grow on me as well. Even though her cat ears and cat tail is really cliche and over-used, but I think that it's quite a unique choice in the context of the show. I guess this is what they call the 'full circle' effect. Just like how the suspect of a crime returns to the scene of the crime? Well, you get my point, and anyway, she's really popular right now. Ah, but it's not just that. Other characters like 'God|Little Girl Sakura' have also been introduced, another overused cliche where a three hundred year-old god is trapped in the body of a little girl, but because she looks really cute with her twin-tales, so it's alright. And she's also a bit of a 'Tsundere', which makes it even better. Oh, and there's one more person that you cannot forget, 'Spirit Bird Chizuru', who's the the air-headed, older sister type. She may be air-headed, but a pretty older sister's really nice isn't it--. I would also rather have that kind of older sister than the rude younger sister that I have now. I'm really jealous of Yuuto for having such a pretty older sister. And also--" (TL Note: I had actually translated 'Hanikami Triangle' into english for the earlier chapters as 'Shy Triangle', but because Nobunaga was going into the specifics for writing the title in Japanese, I had to use the romaji version instead.)

Anyway, Nobunaga continued in this vein for a while longer. (Otaku-encyclopedia mode) About three more minutes passed. Nobunaga rambled on in one single breath with the intensity of a pony chasing a carrot that was being dangled in front of it as he completely ignored my reaction. And he continued to ramble......Hang on, just how large was this guy's lung capacity? He couldn't be breathing through invisible gills could he? And also, I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about, and he didn't even stop to explain the otaku-specific terms before shooting them at me. The only part which I remotely understood was the part about older sisters......But even though I understand what he was saying, I really wonder if he's normal for wanting something like 'that'.

"And then, there's still some more of this--"

"Ah-, stop, stop!"

I quickly cut Nobunaga off before he could go into otaku-encyclopedia mode again.

"Hmm, what? The good part's only just beginning--"

Nobunaga gave me an irritated look. If I let him go on like this, then it'll be nightfall before he finally finishes talking (real-life experience).

"Ah--, I'm really grateful for your professional explanation, but don't you have someplace that you have to go?"

"Now that you mention it--Ah, that's right!"

Nobunaga suddenly shouted.

"I, I remember that I still have things that I need to buy. Even though I really want to educate you more about 'Hani Tora', but I really must go over to 'Operation Battlefield'-"

"Ah, don't mind me."

Actually, I would really want you to go.

"Ah, really? Then I apologise for having to go off so hurriedly-"

"Ah, goodbye."

"Yes, see you, Yuuto, Nogizaka-san."

"Eh......"

"Bye Bye."

Nobunaga bid us goodbye as he threw himself into the crowd.

"Ah, hey......"

Did he just say 'Nogizaka-san'? I wanted to ask him about it, but Nobunaga had already disappeared into the crowd.

"......"

I don't know how to put this. But even though I've known him for more than ten years, he's still quite a mysterious person...... And so, as Nobunaga was in otaku-encyclopedia mode, we were steadily moving forward in the queue. And finally, we were about four, five people away from the booth.

"Just a little more......"

Haruka became increasingly excitable as we neared the booth.

"Are we not there yet......How many more people are in front of us......Can we really get the book......"

Haruka mumbled the questions that a child would ask Santa Claus as she peeked in front of us with her hands clasped in front of her chest. She's really looking forward to buying that book isn't she? Is there a special reason for why Haruka was so excited about that book? After I asked her about it,

"I really like the Neko Bus Station's artiest. I've been a fan of that artist ever since I saw his illustrations in a megazine......That's why I'm looking forward to buying his work so much today."

Haruka answered. I see where she's coming from now. Now I understand why Haruka's so excited about this. And so, we queued for about five more minutes. Finally, the long queue was over.

"I, It's finally our turn."

We finally stood in front of Neko Bus Station's booth-- But a figure suddenly cut in front of us from the blind spot of the attendent like a ninja.

"Hey......"

"Ah......"

That figure was a plump guy in a T-shirt who had his face hidden with a baseball cap. He snatched the three books that were on the table with the agility of middle-aunties at a supermarket time-sale, threw one thousand five hundred yen onto the table before running off. All these happened in less than twenty seconds. Because it all happened so quickly, we were all a little stunned.

"Ah......!"

Suddenly, Haruka let out an exclamation.

"R, Right, the book......"

Haruka snapped out of her stunned state as she took out her purse. But-

"Ah, I'm really sorry, but the previous customer just bought the last few books."

"......Eh?"

Haruka's expression froze.

"W, What do you mean......"

"I, I'm saying that we're sold out. I'm really sorry, looking at how you've queued up for such a long time......"

"S, Sold out......"

Just as the attendent had said, the table was completely empty, save for the advertisement board and the sample book. The people who were behind us in the queue were already starting to walk off.

"......"

I finally got a sense of what had just happened. The guy who suddenly cut into the queue. How he hurriedly bought the last books. The sold-out booth.In other words......He had cut our queue? So he just snatched up the last few books from right under our noses? I see......No, how could something like that happen!? I couldn't help but question the attendent.

"I'm sorry, but is there really no more stock!? And that guy had just cut our queue!"

"......Did he?"

"Yes, that guy wearing the baseball cap who just ran off......"

"Huh......"

But I didn't get the answer that I was looking for. Not that I'm surprised, seeing as that person had cut in from the attendent's blind spot......

"I'm really sorry, but we're sold out, so please return......"

"How could you do this, but......"

"Please, go."

"......"

"......Yuuto-san, it's alright."

Seeing that I wasn't about to let this issue go, Haruka attempted to stop me.

"It's......alright. I'll, give up."

"But......"

You really wanted that book didn't you? Is it really alright for some person to just cut in and steal the book that you would have been able to buy? Haruka shook her head lightly in response to my question.

"I'm really angry about it. But even if I'm angry......Yuuto-san will seem like the bad person if we carry on like this."

"......"

She was right. If I can't prove that the previous customer had cut into the queue, I would simply look immature and unreasonable to the people around us. But to give up like this......

"......It's alright. I understand Yuuto-san's feelings."

"......"

"Yuuto-san."

"......I get it."

Even though I don't agree with her, but because it's what Haruka wants, I have no choice but to let go of the issue.

"......I'm sorry for being so rash."

After apologising to the attendent, the two of us walked away from the 'Neko Bus Station' booth.

"Ah, the two of you over there! Please wait!"

As Haruka and I walked along the fringes of the exhibition hall, someone called out to the two of us. Looking back, I saw a brown-haired man who looked to be a little older than the two of us walking over. When he finally made it through the crowd to where we were, the man breathed heavily from the exertion as he said,

"Ah, I'm glad I was able to catch up with the two of you. I almost lost you two for a moment there."

"......Umm, is there a problem?"

Looks like he's looking for the two of us, but I don't remember seeing him anywhere. From Haruka's reaction, it doesn't look like she recognizes him either. The two of us were a little confused.

"Ah. How do I put it. Well......here."

"?"

The man took handed us some books as he tried to explain what he was doing. The a blue-haired girl was on all three cover illustrations on the books. Huh, what's with the books?

"T, This is......"

Beside me, Haruka sounded as though she couldn't believe her eyes.

"T,This is......the new publications. Neko Bus Station's new publications."

"Eh?"

So...... I looked at the man standing in front of us. He looked a little embarrassed.

"I saw what happened just now, how that strange guy cut in front of the two of you. It's really not your fault, since it all happened so quickly. Because there were so many other customers around the booth, we couldn't make it up to the two of you in front of the other customers. I'll feel really bad if the two of you go home empty-handed even though the two of you queued up for such a long time in the sun."

He continued.

"How do I put it, I'm really sorry to have caused the two of you such unhappiness......As such, I will be very happy if the two of you would accept this."

He said as he handed Haruka the books.

"Umm, eh, eh?"

Haruka looked as though she had just been tricked by a fox as she looked at the books in her hands before looking at the man's face.

"T, Then, how much is it......?"

"Ah, you don't have to pay. It's one of our back-up copies."

The man winked mischievously at us.

"B, But even so......"

"It's really alright."

He replied. Looked like this man's connected to 'Neko Bus Station' in some way. He obviously isn't the booth attendent, so...... But no matter what, someone who chased after us just because he saw how someone had cut our queue must be a good person.

"T, Thank you very much. I will really cherish this."

"Please do, I will be very happy if you do."

"T, Then, if you're willing to leave your name--"

Haruka tried to say as her the ringing tone of a cellphone drowned out her sentence.

"Ah, excuse me."

The man answered his cellphone.

"Hello? Yes, that's right. Ah, I see. Yes......Yes......I get it, I'll be right back."

The man got off the conversation.

"I'm sorry, but I really have to go back."

"Ah, I see."

"Then, I'll be taking my leave.--I will continue to work hard at my art,so please continue to support me."

"? Hmm......Yes. Thank you very much."

Haruka bowed deeply. The man bid us goodbye with a light wave of his hand as he left. In the end, we still didn't know who he was. Just who could he be?

It's been three hours since Haruka and I entered the exhibition centre. After 'Neko Bus Station', the two of us queued for five more booths, and also went around to take a look at the western halls. Since we've gotten most of her targets, Haruka was now happily looking for buried treasure in the other exhibition halls (of course, I was walking around with her).

"Yuuto-san, this is really cute isn't it?"

"Mm, Ah, I guess so." I answered ambiguously. Asking like me something like that was as good as asking a wall for its opinion.

"It is right? ---Yes, I've made up my mind. Excuse me, could I have this?"

Haruka paid 500 yen for a book with a girl in a western dress on the cover. This was something that I've seen a couple of times before already.

"Thank you very much-"

Under the gaze of the booth attendent, Haruka and I left the booth.

"That was a good buy."

Haruka smiled happily as she remarked. She really looks content.

"......That's great."

To be honest, I don't really know what's so great, and I really can't tell the difference between these things, but since these things make Haruka happy, they're great. (What an irresponsible way of thinking).
"Ah, over there-"

And once again, Haruka had seen something interesting and ran off towards it. Ah, not again. As I chased after her, I looked around the hall. Although it has already been quite a while since the exhibition halls opened, the tide of people showed no signs of abating. Conversely, the exhibition hall looked to have become even more crowded. The hall looked like a giant hamster theme park. People walking around with paper bags in their hands, people who were queuing quietly, people who were holding up advertisement boards or shouting advertisement slogans, and......Maids. A Maid-san. I'm not using this uncommon term not for the sake of rhetoric, nor am I trying to make a political statement. Because there was really a Maid-san walking around the hall. On a side note, there wasn't just Maid-san's walking around. Miko-sans in traditional costumes and waitress-sans, men in karate costumes, and there was even someone in a black costume who looked like a demon.

Ever since a while ago, I've been seeing such people walking around. These people are probably the same type of people as the cat-ear maid-sans in Akihabara right? Even though I was a little surprised at first, but I've gotten used to it by now. Looks like I've underestimated the power of human adaptability. I looked around once more, feeling like I've unravelled the secrets of the world. See, there's a smiling Maid-san who's taking pictures over there--

"......Hmm?"

--Hand on, isn't that......

"Ah, this is bad-, go under cover."

"What's the point, he's seen us already."

That familiar-looking maid-san hurriedly turned around and disappeared into the crowd after noticing my gaze. Beside her, I seemed to have caught a glimpse of a twin-tailed figure that looked a bit like Haruka......

......

......

......Speaking of which, those two probably know about the existence of the 'Summer Comiket Map'......

Since we're on this topic, I'm really not surprised that the existence of the 'Summer Comiket Map' was sniffed out. Or should I say, there was a hundred and sixty percent chance that the two of them would be able to find something like that. Taking into account their past actions, I really won't be surprised if the two of them were following Haruka and I today. In other words, this was similar to what we did with Hazuki-san the other day--

"......Well, I guess I'll just leave it like that."

Because I felt that I would probably be bogged down in a swamp of possibilies if I continued to think about this, I wisely decided to think of what I just saw as an illusion. Of course, not like I can do anything about the two of them in a crowd like this. I shook my head as I tried to focus my thoughts on something else-

"......Oh?"

I saw a familiar-looking male-female group over at that side. One half of that familiar-looking group was a wild-looking guy who, just like Haruka, looked completely out of place at an event like this. Beside him was a quiet-looking girl who was walking beside him in small steps like a little puppy. Aren't the two of them from our class--Sendai and Yatsusaki-san? Although there was quite a bit of distance between us, but it's really hard to mistake that kind of facial features for anything else. Sendai Keiji was a short-tempered, violent, aggressive guy who was the natural enemy of otakus. People call him 'Mad Dog'. Yatsusaki Setsuna, on the other hand, was a shy and weak-looking girl who couldn't even talk to people without blushing. She is affectionately (?) known as the 'Lord Hachi, the Loyal Puppy'. Other than Haruka and the three idiots, who, for a variety of different reasons, stood out in our class, the two of them were also stood out due to either positive or negative reasons. The two of them looked to be deep in conversation as they disappeared into the crowd.

"......"

......This was also an illusion, right? That was the only rational explanation I could come up with. It was already an extremely unblieveable scene for the two completely different people like those two to be walking side by side, but for the two of them to be walking together in such an event was practically a miracle. Because putting Yatsusaki-san aside, 'Mad Dog' Sendai-san was the natural enemy of otakus, so his appearance in a place like this was as impossible as a vampire singing gospels in the middle of a churck with a rosario to his chest.

"Hmmm......"

It must be the unusual place that I'm in that's making my brain go wonky. Yes, that must be it. There's no other explanation. I (forcibly) persuaded myself that it was indeed the case.

"Yuuto-san."

Haruka called out to me, as she pointed in a certain direction. Looks like she's spotted something interesting again.

"This, This way."

"Ah"

I walked over to her.

"What do you think? This looks quite goo--"

Haruka suddenly stopped speaking as she completely froze in place.

"Haruka?"

As I got closer to Haruka, her eyes had practically disappeared as she squinted at the book in her hands, while a steady stream of steam was shooting out of the top of her head. W, What's wrong? Did Haruka just break down?

"Haruka, what's going on--"

I quickly got over to take a look at the book in Haruka's hands--

".......Ah."

The reason for Haruka's reaction was immediately made crystal clear. The reason being, the book had a lot of exposed skin. The characters in the illustrations rarely wore any clothes, while some illustrations were clearly adult-material......Well, I guess by now it's clear that it was that kind of book.

"Ah, Waaaaaaa......"

Haruka was in a state of complete shutdown. I guess this proves the myth that ladies from rich families have absolutely no immunity towards such things right? Something that's the complete opposite of a certain sexually harrassing music teacher who give stacks of adult megazines as birthday presents.

"......A, Anyway, let's go someplace where you can calm down."

A brief survey of the area showed that most of the booths in our immediate vicinity were selling adult material. Looks like we had accidentally wandered into a place where we shouldn't be. After taking the book off Haruka's hands, I gave the surprised-looking attendent a sheepish look before ushering Haruka out of the area. However, the exhibition hall was still full of people, and it was hard enough to move through the crowd, let alone finding a quiet place to calm Haruka down. Which was why the two of us were making our way out of the exhibition hall--To that tall building that looked like an observatory (it seemed to be a rooftop exhibition hall). Of course, I was the one who thought that going to someplace high was a good idea, although I would like to believe that this has nothing to do with the old adage 'Smoke and something likes high places'. (TL Note: If I remember correctly, the 'something' in this saying refers to proud people, which means that the saying basically implies that people who like high places are inherently proud)

"Haruka, are you alright?"

"Y, Yes......"

Haruka replied me in a small voice, sounding like a weak baby rabbit. I could hear her muttering 'I, It became like that, and t, this, became like that, ah, waaaaa......' from time to time......Looks like it's quite serious.

"......Well, why don't you have a drink first. Would orange juice be alright?"

I took out the can of orange juice (the 200 yen per can tourist attraction pricing) and handed it to Haruka. Under ideal circumstances, I would rather buy a nice, cold can for Haruka, but I really can't leave her alone like this right now.

"Here."

"E, Excuse me......"

Haruka took the can from my hand and started drinking in small sips. As I had expected, she was probably feeling a little dehydrated after letting off so much steam just now.

"It tastes really nice......"

After sipping her way through about two-thirds of the can, Haruka stopped drinking.

"Thank you. I feel much better now."

"That's great."

I took the can of orange juice and drank the rest of it as I was also feeling a little thirsty.

"......"

"Yuuto-san, what's wrong?"

"N, Nothing......"

Once I thought about it, didn't Haruka just drink from this can? In other words, Haruka's lips have just touched the can, and since I've also drank from the can, doesn't that mean that we've had an indirect kiss...... I looked at the can in deep thought. Hmm, to drink or not to drink, that is the question--

Just as I tried to make up my mind like how a theatre director would make up his mind,

"Hmm?"

Haruka suddenly exclaimed in surprise at something that she saw.

"Yuuto-san, doesn't it look like quite a number of people are gathering over there?"

"Ah, Ahh, it sure looks that way."

I covered the can with a plastic cap (what a useless person) before looking in the direction that Haruka was pointing at. Haruka was looking at the middle of the square, and after taking a closer look, it did seem as though there was some kind of event going on.

"What could they be doing? Probably an event......"

Her interest piqued by the crowd of people, Haruka walked towards the centre of the square. Although I had a bad feeling about it, but I had no choice but to follow her. And so, what awaited us in the middle of the square was--

"Wow......"

"This is......"

......How should I put it. What was in the middle of the square was, in a way, out of this world. A female demon with feathery wings (she also happened to be showing a lot of skin) was sitting on a chair with her legs crossed, while a cat-eared maid strolled by with a broom in hand, only a small distance from a pink-haired girl making 'V' signs with both of her hands. There were also female knights posing in medieval armour, as a girl in a sailor high school uniform smiled, her hair an impossibly bright color. Also, every single one of them were literally surrounded by guys with cameras happily snapping away as they chatted with the girl.

"......"

What I was seeing was really out of this world, has the sun finally melted my brain?

"Wow~That's 'Princess Spring Onion' from 'Magical Dinner', and that's 'Sergeant Cinnamon' from the 'Milky Way Afternoon Tea War'."

In stark contrast to my lost expression, Haruka's eyes glittered as she looked around excitedly. Even though we had come out here to take a break, but it looks like the opposite has happened.

"W, Well, do you mind if I go for a closer look?"

Haruka looked like a cat who had just discovered cat powder as she looked at me expectantly. As expected, I just can't bring myself to reject her.

"......Sure, just take care of yourself. I'll wait for you here."

"Yes, thank you very much. I'll be going now."

Haruka answered me before making her way towards the cosplayers.

"Ah."

She seemed to have remembered something as she suddenly came back.

"I'm sorry, but could you hold this for me?"

Haruka took off her cardigan and straw hat and handed them over to me, probably thinking that they'll be a more of a hindrance in the crowd.

"It's probably a bit of a burden......"

"Don't mind me."

It's not like the cardigan and straw hat were large objects or anything......At least, they seemed small in comparison to the three bulging paper bags that were beside me.

"Well then, thank you for holding these for me."

"No problem."

Haruka's cardigan still had Haruka's warmth on it as I took it into my hands, as my heart started to pump a little at that feeling.

"I'll be going now."

Haruka said to me before skipping into that other world like a fish in water---

"--Hmm?"

She was surrounded by a few camera-holding guys almost immediately.

"H, Hey, you."

"W, Would you be willing to pose for a picture?"

"......(Silent)"

"H, Hey......"

Haruka had a confused expression on her face as the guys moved closer around her.

"Hmm, could it be that this is your first time?"

"A Summer Comiket debut? Ah, don't worry, it'll be over in an instant. It won't hurt or anything."

"......(Silently moving closer)"

Why do I feel some sort of killing aura from what they were saying? And speaking of which, why were they surrounding Haruka? Even if pretty girls like Haruka are always the centre of attention, but this is ridiculous!

--And so.

"Oh, isn't that a cosplay of Haruna-sama from 'Nocturne Girls School Lacrosse Club'?"

"That's rare. Isn't that the Ojou-sama (lady from a rich family) character?"

I heard the guys around Haruka talking among themselves.

"I have to admit, she really looks like Haruna."

"I know, right? This cosplay's famous for being extremely difficult. I've seen other versions, but they all looked really fake."

"Could it be that she's a real Ojou-sama?"

"Hah, that's impossible. Why would a real Ojou-sama come to a place like this. Anyway, let's go for a closer look."

The guys laughed among themselves as they edged closer to Haruka.

"......"

......I seem to have finally understood what was going on. In other words, after taking off her cardigan, Haruka just happened to look like a certain anime character (also an Ojou-sama), and so the people around her mistook her for a cosplayer. Hmm, normally, such a coincidence would never happen, but because Haruka was an Ojou-sama herself, I wasn't very surprised at how she resembled an Ojou-sama character. Just as I was thinking about the current situation, the camera-toting guys and the audience (mostly guys) around Haruka was steadily increasing. And of the entire crowd, the three people who had initally started talking to her were moving even closer.

"Hey, Hey, what's your name? Ah, your cosplay's really good, so I'm really interested in knowing your name."

"Could I have your address so that I can mail the photos to you?"

"......(Silently moving even closer)"

"No, umm, I'm......"

"Oh, she looks exactly like Haruna-sama when she's unsettled!"

"Yes, this is beautiful!"

"......! (Silently moved)"

The three of them continued to chase Haruka for answers, while everyone else around them were starting to walk away after seeing how their presence was unsettling Haruka.

"C, Come on, just your name--"

"Your cellphone number too. Ah, I won't mind your email adress either."

"......(Silently taking out his cellphone)"

The three of them clung on to Haruka like evil salesmen.......This was going too far. I don't know about the rules of this world, and I don't want to spoil Haruka's happy mood, but there was a limit to my endurance. I won't just stand aside as those people continue to unsettle Haruka.

"--Ah-, excuse me."

I forced myself between the three of them and Haruka, as the three of them looked like three hungry wolves who were closing in on a young deer who had lost its mother. The three of them gave me really angry looks, but I simply ignored them.

"Ah, Y, Yuuto-san." Haruka looked extremely relieved at my timely intervention, and I could even see the tears of joy forming up in the corners of her eyes......If I had known that this would be her reaction, I would have done this earlier. Now I kind of regret waiting for such a long time before intervening.

"--Let's go."

"Ah......"

I took Haruka's hand in mine and turned to walk away. But.

"H, Hang on. What are you trying to do. We're taking pictures here you know. Don't meddle with something that you don't know about."

"You should stop blocking us."

"......Disappear (really small voice)"

As expected, the three of them were extremely unhappy. Well, the three of you aren't exactly in a position to complain, I thought, but because the three of them looked to be really unreasonable, I chose to ignore them and simply walk away.

"I, I told you to stop!"

"Ah......"

But we weren't able to just walk away. Haruka was stopped in her tracks as one of the guys grabbed her on the shoulder. These three are really irritating. Looks like we won't be able to settle this peacefully. Whether it was for the two of us, or whether this was the wrong thing to do, I couldn't just let them get their hands on Haruka like this, as I lifted up the paper bags that I was holding in my other hand (which contained books, fliers and posters, among other things' to swing it at the three of them.

"Why don't the three of you stop what you're doing right now-"

But before I could swing the papers down at the three of them, a voice from the crowd sounded out.

"It's really obvious that she doesn't want you to take her picture. The three of you have taken it a little too far."

While Haruka and I were tussling with the three of them, a small group of people had gathered around us. And it wasn't just the people who were looking at the cosplayers, as the cat-eared maid and the female knight were also here. Everyone looked at the three guys who had surrounded Haruka with cold gazes.

"That's right, they've been harrassing her since just now. I saw everything."

"Should we call the organizing staff?"

"Gah......"

The three of them, who had been as aggressive as cockroaches in the summer, suddenly realized that they were completely out-numbered.

"D, Damn it, I'll remember this!"

"I'll remember your face!"

"......We'll be back for revenge (small voice)"

The three of them ran away from us after throwing down cliche lines that small-time gangsters usually use. I have to admit though, they ran away really quickly.

"......Fuu." Well, at least the problem seems to have been solved for now. Just as I breathed a sigh of relief,

"The three of them have all been blacklisted, so you should be careful."

One of the people in the around around us (the cat-eared maid) said to me.

"They're notorious for harrassing shy-looking female cosplayers. You did a really good thing back there, standing up to them."

"That's right, I was impressed."

"Well, but not everyone who's interested in cosplaying are like them, so I hope you carry on cosplaying."

Well, even though Haruka wasn't what they thought she was (cosplay?), but the care and concern that they were showing us really made our day, as Haruka gave them thankful looks.

"Well, see you around. Let's do this (cosplay) again next time."

"Yes, yes."

"See you."

After waving goodbye, the cat-eared maid and the other cosplayers left.

"They're really nice people right......"

"Yes, they are."

I honestly think so too. In today's society, even if someone were to faint in the middle of a busy street, there may be no one willing to help him. But for a moment there, I felt like a part of the solidarity and warmth that modern Japan had lost was found again (a little exaggeration there). After that incident, Haruka and I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering from one booth to another, and also taking a look at the various events that were happening around the exhibition halls. Four o'clock in the afternoon. We safely got to the end of the Summer Comiket. 'As of now, the three-day Summer Comiket is over. Thank you very much for your participation', the announcement echoed through the exhibition hall as Haruka and I started on our way home.

"......"

"......"

"......Please don't tell me we have to queue again?"

"......I, It looks like it."

We were standing in front of the International Exhibition Centre station. There seemed to be more people than I had seen when I came here in the morning. Even though the crowd would be split into taking the Rinkai high-speed rail and the Yurikamome, but it wasn't exactly a surprise to see that the number of people that could flood an entire exhibition hall would be able to flood the train station as well. (TL Note: Unlike the normal high-speed rail, the Yurikamome is an automatic rail system with no operator on its trains.)

"......Shall we go?"

"......I, I guess we should."

It took us fifteen minutes to get our tickets, twenty minutes to get to the boarding platform from the ticket-barrier, and twenty more minutes to squeeze onto one of the incoming trains. All in all, it took us about fifty-five minutes just to get onto the train at the International Exhibition Centre station.

"Ugh......"

"Kya......"

After pushing and squeezing our way into the train, what awaited us was even more chaotic pushing and squeezing.

"H, Haruka, are you alright?"

"I, I guess......probably......"

Haruka answered painfully. Well, I guess it's quite obvious that the train was a lot more passengers than its legal limit.

"Gah......"

To make Haruka a little more comfortable, I supported my body against the door of the train with both of my hands, but it was almost impossible to push against the combined weight of the other passengers. Because of the rocking of the train, the weight pressing onto my back came in waves. I barely managed to stem the first two waves before the third wave went over the limit of my endurance. The amount of space that I had managed to keep between Haruka and I disappeared--

"Argh"

"Kyaa"

Due to the natural law of physics, my body came into intimate contact with Haruka's body--looking as though I was embracing her.

"Ah......"

"Ugh......"

Haruka's beautiful features were right in front of my eyes. I also felt something soft pressing up against my chest. C, Could this be......

"A, Ah, I'm really sorry."

"N, No......"

Even though Haruka was the one apologizing, but I felt like I should be the one apologizing. And then, the fourth wave of force smashed into my back. As it took me by surprise, my arms instinctively wrapped themselves around Haruka as they looked for something to grab on to.

"Ah......"

"I, I'm really sorry!"

In response to Haruka's soft exclaimation, I really wanted to take my hands around her, but the weight on my back prevented me from making any kind of movement. Argh, what should I do? I felt like a Cicada trying to wriggle out of its old skin.

"I, It's alright, so......"

Haruka looked up at me.

"Eh?" "I, I'm alright. I was just a little surprise at the sudden movement, but I'm not feeling uncomfortable."

Even though it was her first experience in such a crowded train for Haruka (actually, this was my first time in such a crowded train as well), Haruka was smiling at me, even though she was obviously in an uncomfortable position.

"Haruka......"

Looking at Haruka's smile, I felt as though I had just received an adrenaline shot, as power coursed into my arms once again.

"Y, Yuuto-san?"

Haruka was initially a little surprised, but then she acknowledged my action with a soft 'Mm' before burying herself into my chest. Haruka's body felt really soft, as that sweet fragrance found its way into my nostrils once again. I was holding Haruka in my arms. Ah-, maybe it's not that bad after all. I won't mind the ridiculous amount of people in the train, as long as I can have Haruka in my arms......But just as I was thinking along those lines, the pressure on my back suddenly vanished.

"Osaki--, Osaki--, passengers who want to get of at this station, please hurry up."

Looks like we've reached the train interchange already, even though it didn't feel like any time had passed at all.

"Ah--, e, excuse me!"

I quickly let go of Haruka as I was harshly dragged back into reality.

"Ah, n, no, it's alright."

No......What did I just do? Even though there were situational factors at play, but to hug her in the middle of a crowded train...... I guess the only rational explanation for this would be that we were still caught up in the excitable atmosphere of the Summer Comiket. Probably.

"......"

"......"

An awkward silence descended upon the two of us, as the ambience sounds around us seemed to have become several times louder.

"B, But......" And then, Haruka opened her mouth.

"But I......didn't dislike it."

"Huh......"

"I, If it's Yuuto-san, then I don't really mind. On the contrary, my heart--"

She stopped for a moment, looking as though she was too embarrassed to carry on.

"My heart was beating a little too fast."

Haruka said to me. The expression on Haruka's face as she said that was the cutest that I've ever seen. For a moment there, I felt like I had felt a bit of true happiness. And just like that, our Summer Comiket trip that could be described with the word 'chaotic' 80% of the time, ended on a happy note (especially for me).

*

After sending Haruka to the train station closest to her home (I had wanted to send her to her door step, but Haruka said that I only needed to send her to the station), I started on my way home.

"Ah, fancy meeting you here, Onii-chan~"

"Good evening~"

The timing of these two people were impeccable.

And the two people I am referring to is, of course, a certain twin-tailed girl and a maid-san.

"What are you doing in a place like this~? Ah, could it be that you went on a date with Onee-chan?"

"Ah, it's so good to be young~"

I glared at them with my eyes narrowed, for they were stating the obvious.

"Ah, Onii-chan, what's with those scary eyes~. What's wrong?"

"Like the eyes of a dog with rabies~"

"......It's been a long day for the two of you too."

I replied with an oblique reference.

"Eh? W, What are you talking about? Nanami-san, do you understand him?"

"No~, not at all~"

The two of the looked away suspiciously. Did they seriously think that they weren't discovered?

"--Well, about that."

After a while, Mika finally looked at me with a sheepish look.

"Just as we feared......you saw us?"

"......Did you seriously think that I didn't see the two of you?"

In a way, it's a really big problem if they really thought that way.

"Well, about that~"

"Since Yuuto-sama had looked directly at me~"

Mika and Nanami-san finally admitted their actions with sheepish expressions on their faces. Looks like they've finally decided to face the music.

"......Well, I'm hoping for an explanation."

"Ah~, yes."

Mika had a strange expression on her face as she explained.

"There was--something I was a little worried about."

"Worried about what?"

Although I hadn't expected a valid reason, but it looks as though there was a reason for the two of them following Haruka and I.

"Of course, we were also just a little interested in whether Onii-chan would be able to safe escort Onee-chan to the Summer Comiket and back."

"......"

"Well~, your performance was rather acceptable this time round, since you actually manage to hold hands with Onee-chan. But I felt that you would probably be able to take it one step further~"

"Exactly~. You should have at least gotten her to hook her arm in yours. That's elementary knowledge~"

"......"

"Because of the excitable atmosphere of an event like that, so even if you take it a step further, Onee-chan probably won't mind it~" "And that's what we commonly refer to as the 'High Bridge Effect'~" (TL Note: The 'High Bridge Effect' comes from a study that was undertaken as part of the two-factor theory of emotion. In the context of the novel, it refers to the fact that because Haruka was in an excitable state of emotion after the Summer Comiket, any feelings that she could harbour towards Yuuto would be amplified.)

And as usual, the two of them started to ramle of topic again......

"---So, what is it that you're worried about?"

To prevent the two of them from going further off-topic, I decided to cut off their rambling.

"Hmm? Ah, right."

After giving me a surprised look, Mika returned to a serious expression. Looks like she had really forgotten about what she had wanted to say for a moment there......

"Well, I'm probably being a little too sensitive here, but......Onii-chan, did you happen to spot any suspicious people who seemed to be following the two of you around? Really big men who look like security forces?"

"No, other than Mika and Nanami-san, I haven't really seen anyone else who seemed to be following us......"

At least, I don't remember seeing anyone like that. But then again, I've been looking at a lot of strangely-dressed people today, so I really can't say for sure. Mika seemed to be deep in thought as she answered me.

"......I see. But even if I don't think he'll go that far, but it's Oto-san we're talking about."

"......Oto-san?"

I seem to have heard a really inauspicious word. Oto-san......Could she be referring to the man who looks like a mafia boss whom I had met in London?

"Hmm~......"

Mika made a small sound as she continued to think about the issue.

"--Well, let's not think about this right now."

"What do you mean."

After piquing my interest with that inauspicious word, you now tell me to not think about it amymore? Mika wagged a finger at me in response to my disappointed expression.

"Don't mind it, guys who're don't know when to let go of things won't be popular you know~. Ideally, guys should be as steady as Peking Ducks before they're shipped out."

"......"

What kind of example is that.

"Anyway, you're going home right? We'll give you a lift."

"I'll go get the car~"

Nanami-san mimed holding the steering wheel as she grinned at me. Even though they were probably changing the subject......But, I guess I'll just let it go.

"No, it's alright. I'll just go home by train."

I still have to buy food for Ruko on the way back, and I have a straight train back home, so I didn't take them up on their offer.

"I see. Goodbye then, Onii-chan."

"Zai Jian~" (TL Note: Zai Jian is chinese for goodbye)

The two of them said their goodbyes (although I don't know why Nanami-san had to say it in chinese) as they walked off. I looked them for a moment before turning around to walk through the ticket-barrier into the station. Well, even though I'm a little concerned about Mika's father, at least the day's activities are over. And speaking of which, I'm feeling quite tired. After making dinner for Ruko, I'll retire early for the night--

--Or so I thought.

Because most things do not go according to plan in life.

I had just gotten home after buying some discounted 80 yen chicken from the supermarket when the phone in the hallway sounded as though it was waiting for me.

"Hello--"

"Onii-san!?"

The voice on the other end of the line was the voice of the energetic girl whom I had just said goodbye to a little while ago.

"Mika?"

"Onii-chan, this is really bad! Onee-chan, Onee-chan has......"

<noinclude>
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|-
| Back to [[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume2_Chapter5|Chapter 6]]
| Return to [[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume2_Chapter7|Chapter 8]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Registration Page

2011-04-19T04:10:38Z

Dragonst: /* Volume 2 */

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu

2011-04-19T03:43:06Z

Dragonst: /* Updates */

[[Image:Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu_vol_1_cover.jpg|230px|thumb|Volume 1 Cover]]

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu (乃木坂春香の秘密, lit. Haruka Nogizaka's Secret) is a Japanese light novel series by Yūsaku Igarashi, with illustrations by Shaa.

You can also read the Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu novel in the following languages:

*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu (Greek)|Ελληνικά (Greek)]]

==Story Synopsis==
The main character, Ayase Yuuto is your average boy without any special traits. He attends a private high school where he is one of the many and doesn't stand out, until, one day, he happens to discover the secret of the school princess Nogizaka Haruka, and his life changes drastically from there on.

Haruka, the school's most unattainable girl, is so idolized in the school for both, her looks and intelligence, that her classmates nickname her Nuit Étoile (The Silver Star of the Night) and Lumière du Clavier (The Shining Princess on the Piano). However, nobody knows that it is only a fake role she assumes to hide her true nature. In reality she is a die-hard fan of anime, manga, and otaku culture.

== Translation ==

=== [[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Registration Page|Registration]] ===

Those who wish to contribute are asked to first notify a supervisor beforehand.

'''Translators are asked to [[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Registration Page|register]] which chapters they're working on'''

===Format Standards===
'''Every Chapter (after editing) must conform to the general format guidelines.'''
*[[Format_guideline|General Format/Style Guideline]]

== Updates ==

*July 18, 2009 - Volume 1 Chapter 1 completed.
*August 2, 2009 - Volume 1 Chapter 2 completed.
*December 25, 2009 - Volume 1 Chapter 3 completed.
*December 17, 2010 - Volume 1 Chapter 4 completed.
*December 20, 2010 - Volume 1 Epilogue completed.
*December 20, 2010 - Volume 1 Author's Notes completed.
*February 7, 2011 - Volume 2 Chapter 5 completed.
*March 22, 2011 - Volume 2 Chapter 6 completed.
*April 1, 2011 - Volume 2 Novel Illustrations completed.
*April 19, 2011 - Volume 2 Chapter 7 completed.

== Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu by Yūsaku Igarashi ==

===Volume 1 ([[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Volume1|Full Text]])===
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Prologue|Prologue]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Epilogue|Epilogue]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Author's Notes|Author's Notes]]

===Volume 2===
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume2_Novel Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume2_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume2_Chapter6|Chapter 6]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume2_Chapter7|Chapter 7]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume2_Chapter8|Chapter 8]]
::*Epilogue
::*Author's Notes

===Volume 3===
::*Novel Illustrations
::*Chapter 9
::*Chapter 10
::*Chapter 11
::*Chapter 12
::*Author's Notes

==Teasers==
[[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Teaser 1|Teaser 1]], [[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Teaser 2|Teaser 2]], [[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Teaser 3|Teaser 3]], [[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Teaser 4|Teaser 4]], [[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Teaser 5|Teaser 5]], [[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Teaser 6|Teaser 6]] and [[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Teaser 7|Teaser 7]] forum translation by [[User:ShadowZeroHeart|ShadowZeroHeart]]

==Project Staff==

*Project Administrator: [[User:ShadowZeroHeart|ShadowZeroHeart]]
*Project Supervisor:

===Translators===

:*[[user:Dragonst|Dragonst]]

All translators who are interested all welcome.

===Editors===

:*[[user:Dan|Dan]]

All editors who speak English proficiently are welcomed.

==Series Overview==

*Volume 1 - Released 2004.10.25 ISBN 4-8402-2830-2
*Volume 2 - Released 2005.6.25 ISBN 4-8402-3059-5
*Volume 3 - Released 2005.12.25 ISBN 4-8402-3234-2
*Volume 4 - Released 2006.6.25 ISBN 4-8402-3447-7
*Volume 5 - Released 2006.12.25 ISBN 4-8402-3634-8
*Volume 6 - Released 2007.6.25 ISBN 978-4-8402-3880-9
*Volume 7 - Released 2007.12.25 ISBN 978-4-8402-4115-1
*Volume 8 - Released 2008.7.25 ISBN 978-4-04-867127-9
*Volume 9 - Released 2008.12.25 ISBN 978-4-04-867419-5

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu

2011-03-22T04:49:06Z

Dragonst: /* Editors */

[[Image:Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu_vol_1_cover.jpg|230px|thumb|Volume 1 Cover]]

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu (乃木坂春香の秘密, lit. Haruka Nogizaka's Secret) is a Japanese light novel series by Yūsaku Igarashi, with illustrations by Shaa.

You can also read the Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu novel in the following languages:

*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu (Greek)|Ελληνικά (Greek)]]

==Story Synopsis==
The main character, Ayase Yuuto is your average boy without any special traits. He attends a private high school where he is one of the many and doesn't stand out, until, one day, he happens to discover the secret of the school princess Nogizaka Haruka, and his life changes drastically from there on.

Haruka, the school's most unattainable girl, is so idolized in the school for both, her looks and intelligence, that her classmates nickname her Nuit Étoile (The Silver Star of the Night) and Lumière du Clavier (The Shining Princess on the Piano). However, nobody knows that it is only a fake role she assumes to hide her true nature. In reality she is a die-hard fan of anime, manga, and otaku culture.

== Translation ==

=== [[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Registration Page|Registration]] ===

Those who wish to contribute are asked to first notify a supervisor beforehand.

'''Translators are asked to [[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Registration Page|register]] which chapters they're working on'''

===Format Standards===
'''Every Chapter (after editing) must conform to the general format guidelines.'''
*[[Format_guideline|General Format/Style Guideline]]

== Updates ==

*July 18, 2009 - Volume 1 Chapter 1 completed.
*August 2, 2009 - Volume 1 Chapter 2 completed.
*December 25, 2009 - Volume 1 Chapter 3 completed.
*December 17, 2010 - Volume 1 Chapter 4 completed.
*December 20, 2010 - Volume 1 Epilogue completed.
*December 20, 2010 - Volume 1 Author's Notes completed.
*February 7, 2011 - Volume 2 Chapter 5 completed.
*March 22, 2011 - Volume 2 Chapter 6 completed.

== Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu by Yūsaku Igarashi ==

===Volume 1 ([[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Volume1|Full Text]])===
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Prologue|Prologue]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Epilogue|Epilogue]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Author's Notes|Author's Notes]]

===Volume 2===
::*Novel Illustrations
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume2_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume2_Chapter6|Chapter 6]]
::*Chapter 7
::*Chapter 8
::*Epilogue
::*Author's Notes

===Volume 3===
::*Novel Illustrations
::*Chapter 9
::*Chapter 10
::*Chapter 11
::*Chapter 12
::*Author's Notes

==Teasers==
[[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Teaser 1|Teaser 1]], [[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Teaser 2|Teaser 2]], [[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Teaser 3|Teaser 3]], [[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Teaser 4|Teaser 4]], [[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Teaser 5|Teaser 5]], [[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Teaser 6|Teaser 6]] and [[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Teaser 7|Teaser 7]] forum translation by [[User:ShadowZeroHeart|ShadowZeroHeart]]

==Project Staff==

*Project Administrator: [[User:ShadowZeroHeart|ShadowZeroHeart]]
*Project Supervisor:

===Translators===

:*[[user:Dragonst|Dragonst]]

All translators who are interested all welcome.

===Editors===

:*[[user:Dan|Dan]]

All editors who speak English proficiently are welcomed.

==Series Overview==

*Volume 1 - Released 2004.10.25 ISBN 4-8402-2830-2
*Volume 2 - Released 2005.6.25 ISBN 4-8402-3059-5
*Volume 3 - Released 2005.12.25 ISBN 4-8402-3234-2
*Volume 4 - Released 2006.6.25 ISBN 4-8402-3447-7
*Volume 5 - Released 2006.12.25 ISBN 4-8402-3634-8
*Volume 6 - Released 2007.6.25 ISBN 978-4-8402-3880-9
*Volume 7 - Released 2007.12.25 ISBN 978-4-8402-4115-1
*Volume 8 - Released 2008.7.25 ISBN 978-4-04-867127-9
*Volume 9 - Released 2008.12.25 ISBN 978-4-04-867419-5

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume2 Chapter6

Seitokai no Ichizon:Registration Page

2011-02-07T16:19:11Z

Dragonst: /* Volume 3 - Seitokai no Sanshin */

==The ''Hekiyō Gakuen Seitokai Gijiroku'' series by Sekina Aoi==

===Volume 1 - Seitokai no Ichizon===
*Novel Illustrations
*Prologue  -- [[User:Poke2201|Poke2201]]
*Chapter 1 -- [[User:Poke2201|Poke2201]]
*Chapter 2
*Chapter 3: "ON AIR" -- [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]]
*Chapter 4
*Chapter 5
*Chapter 6 - Forum translation sponsored by [[User:Negator|Negator]]
*Last Chapter:～振《ふ》り返る生徒会～
*Epilogue 
*Extra Chapter: The creatively writing student council 
*会長のあとがき
*Afterword 

===Volume 2 - Seitokai no Nishin===
*Novel Illustrations
*Prologue 
*Chapter 1
*Chapter 2
*Chapter 3
*Chapter 4
*Chapter 5
*Chapter 6
*Last Chapter:～私の生徒会～
*Epilogue 
*Extra Chapter: ～シリーズ化する生徒会～
*Afterword 

===Volume 3 - Seitokai no Sanshin===
*Novel Illustrations
*Prologue 
*Chapter 1
*Chapter 2 - Forum translation done by [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst] ]- '''Completed'''
*Chapter 3
*Chapter 4
*Chapter 5
*Chapter 6
*Last Chapter:～差し伸《の》べる生徒会～
*Extra Chapter: ～企《たくら》む生徒会～
*Epilogue 
*Afterword 

===Volume 4 - Seitokai no Shisan===
*Novel Illustrations
*Prologue
*Chapter 2
*Chapter 3
*Chapter 4
*Chapter 5
*Chapter 6
*Epilogue
*Afterword

==The ''Hekiyō Gakuen Seitokai Mokushiroku'' spin-off series by Sekina Aoi==

===Volume 1 - Seitokai no Nichijou===
*Novel Illustrations
*Chapter 1
*Chapter 2 - Forum translation done by [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]]
*Chapter 3

Seitokai no Ichizon:Registration Page

2011-02-07T16:17:55Z

Dragonst: /* Volume 1 - Seitokai no Ichizon */

==The ''Hekiyō Gakuen Seitokai Gijiroku'' series by Sekina Aoi==

===Volume 1 - Seitokai no Ichizon===
*Novel Illustrations
*Prologue  -- [[User:Poke2201|Poke2201]]
*Chapter 1 -- [[User:Poke2201|Poke2201]]
*Chapter 2
*Chapter 3: "ON AIR" -- [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]]
*Chapter 4
*Chapter 5
*Chapter 6 - Forum translation sponsored by [[User:Negator|Negator]]
*Last Chapter:～振《ふ》り返る生徒会～
*Epilogue 
*Extra Chapter: The creatively writing student council 
*会長のあとがき
*Afterword 

===Volume 2 - Seitokai no Nishin===
*Novel Illustrations
*Prologue 
*Chapter 1
*Chapter 2
*Chapter 3
*Chapter 4
*Chapter 5
*Chapter 6
*Last Chapter:～私の生徒会～
*Epilogue 
*Extra Chapter: ～シリーズ化する生徒会～
*Afterword 

===Volume 3 - Seitokai no Sanshin===
*Novel Illustrations
*Prologue 
*Chapter 1
*Chapter 2 - Forum translation done by [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]]
*Chapter 3
*Chapter 4
*Chapter 5
*Chapter 6
*Last Chapter:～差し伸《の》べる生徒会～
*Extra Chapter: ～企《たくら》む生徒会～
*Epilogue 
*Afterword 

===Volume 4 - Seitokai no Shisan===
*Novel Illustrations
*Prologue
*Chapter 2
*Chapter 3
*Chapter 4
*Chapter 5
*Chapter 6
*Epilogue
*Afterword

==The ''Hekiyō Gakuen Seitokai Mokushiroku'' spin-off series by Sekina Aoi==

===Volume 1 - Seitokai no Nichijou===
*Novel Illustrations
*Chapter 1
*Chapter 2 - Forum translation done by [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]]
*Chapter 3

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume2 Chapter5

2011-02-07T10:54:19Z

Dragonst: Volume 2 Chapter 5

===Chapter 5===

The summer holidays were finally here.

Another name for the summer holidays is the studying-at-home time from the end of July all the way into August.

Although it's a long holiday, but since I won't be doing anything special during the holidays, it doesn't really affect me.

I'll be wasting away at home like a Koala Bear, or I'll be ordered around to run errands for Ruko, or I would be dragged around all over the place by Nobunaga. Such normal, boring days continued to go by until it was already the thirty-first of August when I looked at the calender. Which is why summer holidays is merely a cummulation of weekend holidays to me.

...This was what I had thought until last year's summer holidays.

This year's summer holidays was a little different.

Because for the whole of August, I was assailed by all kinds of sudden situations, making my originally boring summer holidays into one that was fresh and exciting.

And the reason? There can only be one reason.

For me, there is only one difference between this year's summer holidays and last year's.

That is, I got to know Haruka.

Nogizaka Haruka.

She's pretty and extremely clever at the same time, and has a fan club whose members number in the hundreds, is nicknamed the 'Nuit étoile', and she also happens to be the daughter of a rich family.

That someone as amazing as Haruka would actually be friends with an average joe like me, was solely because of the incident that happened four months ago. Ever since I came to know of Haruka's secret, the relationship between us has become deeper and more complicated. In these four months, many things have happened regarding Haruka's secret, and also the people that we've come into contact with. Notable incidents include the 'The incident where half of the school libarary was destroyed', 'Our first shopping trip', 'Studying at the Nogizaka residence', and the 'Exposed magazine incident'. Every exciting thing that I never had the chance to experience seemed to be queueing up for me to experience ever since that incident four months ago.

Ever since I got to know Haruka, the boring days of my life have indeed changed rather drastically.

And also...

'Change' seems to be the word of the season for the summer holidays.

The first monday of August.

The Cicadas outside my home were singing as thought their lives depended on it, so much so that it was more of a 'Cicada Storm' than a 'Cicada rain'. To be honest, I really felt like running out of my house to spray the garden hose at those pesky little insects whose singing was preventing me from sleeping. This year's summer was unbearably hot.

I spread myself on the sofa as I watched television.

"Yawn..."

I'm bored.

This must be how the rich madames who are so bored that they spend most of the day fussing over their pets feel.

It has already been two weeks since the summer holidays started. Apart from the trip to Haruka's house on the first day of the holidays, I haven't done anything interesting for the rest of the two weeks.

As for my recent activities, they basically revolve around being dragged around by Nobunaga, the person whom I practically grew up with to buy games, manga, Dvds...That's weird, why does all my summer holiday activities involve Nobunaga?

Summer holidays shouldn't be like this right?

Shouldn't the summer holidays be about exciting, youthful events such as going to the beach with girls, attending festivals and watching fireworkds?

I really thought so, but all talk and no action obviously isn't going to get me anywhere.

Which is the reason why I spend eighty percent of my summer holidays being dragged around by Nobunaha, doing household chorse and taking care of my family's pet turtle (named BIG CAMERA after a certain famous turtle-like monster in a famous Japanese movie), it's kind of sad to be saying this about my own life, but my life is really boring...Haruka hasn't contacted me ever since I went over to her house either. But I'm probably reading to much into it, since Haruka is the 'Nuit étoile', the daughter of a rich family with both brains and beauty in abundance. Even if it's summer holidays, she's probably too busy to have time to contact me.

"Yawn..."

I yawned again.

Compared to the sauna-like conditions outside, the air-conditioned living room seemed like heaven.

As per normal, the television stations had arranged for some programme about unbelievable phenomenon at night again, as the middle-aged host spewed saliver all over the screen as he talked about the possiblity of UFOs.

"--It has also been said that in America, anyone who comes into contact with an alien will be visited by a group of special agents and have their memories wiped almost immediately--"

And at that veyr moment...

Cluck Cluck Cluck~~Cluck Cluck Cluck~~

A strange clucking suddenly sounded in the entrance hallway.

It was something that never feels to make you feel stupid.

...Although it's embarrassing to admit it, but that's the sound of my home's doorbell. My sister had ordered me to change the doorbell after she had the idea that 'I'm sick of this generic-sounding doorbell, let's have the sound of a foreign chicken clucking'...I really don't know what she has in that head of hers! And also, if she really wanted to change the doorbell, shouldn't she have done it herself?

But then again, now is not the time to be talking about family gossip.

Because I'm the only one at home right now.

Because my parents are busy with work, they rarely spend time at home. And the person who forced me to change the doorbell had run off to a certain music teacher's place in the morning.

Cluck cluck cluck! Cluck cluck cluck!

Which is why I have to shoulder the responsibility of answering the doorbell. Of course, I could just ignore the person if it's a salesman, but it could be a delivery, so I have to go take a look.

Cluck cluck cluck! Cluck cluck cluck!

Just when I was thinking about whether I should get up to answer the door, the stupid-sounding doorbell sounded again. Ah! It's really irritating! Fine, I'll go open the door now! Please stop pressing the doorbell!

To achieve my goal of walking towards the entrance hallway, I slowly got up from the sofa like a polar bear who've had too much to eat.

Bang!

The door to my living room suddenly burst open.

"Ah...!?"

I was completely stunned as I watched my living room door fly right into my television before falling down on the ground.

"Good afternoon! You must be Ayase Yuuto-sama right?"

Following the cheerful voice, a...shades-wearing maid (her normal appearance) appeared at the gaping hole that was once my living room door. She also happened to be holding a huge hammer in her hands.

"Looks like you've been obediently waiting at home~Nanami's here to pick you up!"

"..."

"I rang the doorbell a lot of times but no one answered the door, so I had no choice but to open it a little roughly!"

A little roughly...How can that be 'a little roughly'! You blew my door off its hinges!

The maid-san (wearing sunglasses) looked at me.

"Hmm...You should know why I'm here right? I apologize for any inconvienience caused, but I'm here to fetch you."

"...Why you're here?"

What on earth is going on? Even though I know that my memory's as good as a chicken's, but I can unequivocally confirm that I do not know why a maid-san (wearing sunglasses) whom I have never seen before would break into my living room like this. And to make matters worse, this maid-san hasn't said a word at all about tearing my door off its hinges.

Looking at my reaction, the maid-san (wearing sunglasses) slanted her head slightly as though she couldn't understand why I was acting like this.

"Ah, this isn't how I expected you to react, did something go wrong? Oh well. Because we're on a tight schedule, you have to come with me right now!"

The maid-san (wearing sunglasses) snapped her fingers, summoning two dark figures from her sides. Black dresses with white aprons...They're maids too...something which really shocked me. In the next moment, the two maids stepped forward and propped my entire body up into the air. I don't know what grappling technique they used, but I was completely unable to resist.

"The tar...target has been apprehended! Na...Nanami-san, what do we do now?"

A long-haired, shy-looking bespectacled maid-san (A), asked the first maid-san (wearing sunglasses).

"Hmm...Send him to the car politely."

"Un...Understood."

"Yuuto-sama, we're sorry for the inconvenience."

The other maid-san (B), who had her hair in a ponytail, expressed their apology before moving me away like a piece of luggage.

What is going on? A kidnapping? They can't be MIB can they?

Just like that, I was brought (carried) to a--

--Black Rolls Royce.

This car probably cost more than a hundred of the one that Ruko drives. This would also probably be the top of the list of cars that you would want to scratch with a 10 yen coin (my own rankings).

"Please get on!"

The maid-san (wearing sunglasses) opened the shiny black door of the Rolls Royce and bundled me into the car without waiting for my reply. Just as I fell into the interior of the car, the Rolls Royce started to move off with a light rumble of its exhaust.

It only took three minutes for the maid-san to break into my living room and bundle me into the car.

Such kidnapping efficiency was extremely frightening.

"What is..."

I was unable to comprehend the situation that I was in.

"Onii-chan, good afternoon~~"

Suddenly, someone started speaking to me.

"It's been almost a month since we last met. How have you been?"

This slightly muffled voice was very familiar.

I looked back and saw--

"Mi..Mika?"

The second daughter of the Nogizaka family winked at me as she giggled.

"Hmm? What's wrong? Why do you look like a priest who has just seen Count Dracula walking around in broad daylight? Hmm..I know that you're really happy at seeing cute Mika, but don't you think this is a little too much?"

"..."

---Why is Mika here?

Mika completely ignored how I was still struggling to comprehend the situation I was in as she continued to talk.

"I've heard all about it! I know all about how you were alone in onee-chan's room when I was hunting in Nara, and how the two of you had a really good atmosphere going on. Ah! Onii-chan is really~good at this!"

"..."

"Looks like the day that you'll officially become my brother-in-law isn't far off! Ah, right, this is a present I got you from Nara."

Mika stuffed a bag of Nara's famous Shika Sembei into my lap...Shika Sembei? (TL note: Shika Sembei are deer crackers that tourists in Nara buy to feed deers)

"Hmm..Onii-chan, shouldn't you thank the person whom you've just received a present from?"

"...Ah? Ri...Right, Thank--Hang on, that's not the point!"

I managed to recovered in time to avoid falling into Mika's trap.

I finally realized that Mika was the chief perpetrator of this kidnapping (including the illegal break-in and destruction of personal property). How could she even expect to appease me with a bag of Shika Sembei after she sent her maid-sans to kidnap me from my own living room!

But there was no hint of guilt in Mika's gleeful expression.

"Hmm? Do you really need to be so excited? I never knew that a single bag of Shika Sembei could make you shout for joy! Hmm...I was trying to decide if it'll be better to buy Yatsuhashi instead for close to an hour. Looks like I made the right decision in the end!"

"...I think that you should have just bought Yatsuhashi instead."

Something like that shouldn't take more than three seconds to decide.

"Is that right...But Shika Sembei tastes really good too!"

"That's not he point...Wait a minute, please don't tell me you've already tried eating it?"

"Yes, because it looked really tasty."

Mika beamed with happiness as she confirmed my worst fears

I suddenly had a mental image of Mika fighting for Shika Sembei together with a herd of deers in a random park in Nara...Which part of that forms an image befitting that of a daughter from a rich family?

Ugh, looks like I'm going off topic again. That wasn't the question that I wanted to ask.

"Why did you suddenly do something like this?"

"Like this?"

"This kidnapping..."

Objectively, this really did look like a kidnapping.

Mika seemed to find my question really strange, as she answered,

"Hmm...I don't what onii-chan's talking about, I'm just here to pick you up so that we can go attend onee-chan's piano competition together!"

"Piano competition?"

A piano competition that Haruka's taking part in?

"That's right. I'm sure Oni-chan would want to go support Onee-chan as well right?"

"Ah..."

So Haruka's going to take part in a piano competition! If I had known that Haruka was going to take part in a piano competition, I would surely put down everything I have to do to go and support her.

In short, there wasn't any problem with going to support Haruka, but...

The only problem was that...I only knew about it here (in the Rolls Royce), and now (on the afternoon of the competition), which is a little too sudden, even for me. Shouldn't I have been informed about this at least three days in advance?

Mika puffed up her cheeks in response to my complaints as she looked a little surprised.

"Hmm? But I did! If I remember correctly.....I should have called your house the day before yesterday because Onee-chan was too busy."

"The day before yesterday?"

I should have been out with Nobunaga in Akihabara looking for something called the 'Shy Triangle Second Season Limited Edition Catgirl Figurine First Episode DVD' (This name's really long...) the day before yesterday.

"Yes, but because Oni-chan wasn't home, Oni-chan's sister took the call, so I asked her to pass the message that 'Onee-chan's going to take part in a piano competition the day after tomorrow, so we'll come and pick you up at noon~'"

"...My sister?"

"Yes, she speaks like a samurai."

"...That's definitely Ruko."

But even though I've seen her yesterday night and this morning, Ruko didn't mention anything like that. The whiteboard in the kitchen that's supposed to hold reminders was also blank--

Ding ding ding~

At that very moment, 'The Ride of the Valkyries' sounded on my handphone, and the contents of the message was--

"I just remembered that someone's coming to pick you up today."

This...is too late!

I had the urge to throw my handphone onto the ground. That stupid sister of mine!

And that sister still doesn't know the person who called. She's worse than a kindergarden kid at taking calls. But...how did someone like her become the secretary to the president of a large corporation? Is the industry that short of manpower?

That wasn't the worst part of the message.

"PS:I want to eat crab hotpot tonight, and it better be Matsuba crab. Because Yukari's coming, so you have to get everything ready by seven o'clock."

This really riled me up. It's the middle of summer! How does she expect me to get crabs?

Seeing how I was shaking from anger, Mika could only say,

"Ah...Oni-chan leads such a hard life..."

I've been pitied by a middle school kid. And the expression on her face really gives the impression that she's looking at something really pitiful. Sob...

"Well, let's put that aside first."

Mika mimed pushing an object aside.

"In any case, we're going to Onee-chan's piano concert now, right?"

"...Right."

That's right, there's no use wallowing in self-pity. Since everything ended well, I guess I'll just forgive my sister.

...To be honest, if I don't think like that, I won't be able to take it.

15 minutes after I was bundled into the Rolls Royce.

"--Speaking of which, who's this?"

I looked at the cheerful maid-san who was sitting beside Mika, who also happened to be one of the perpetrators of my kidnapping.

"Ah, that's right, Oni-chan hasn't met Nanami-san before right?"

Mika clapped her hands together lightly.

"Nanami-san?"

Right, she did introduce herself just now, but because the only maids that I've ever seen are the cat-eared maids in Akihabara and the quiet head maid of the Nogizaka family, I didn't know who she was.

"Hmm...She's Nanashiro Nanami--"

"Ah, perhaps I should introduce myself again...Ayase Yuuto-sama, let me introduce myself. I am Nanashiro Nanami, and I am the third-ranked maid in the Nogizaka family."

This maid-san didn't care that the car was still moving as she twirled around with the folds of her maid costume billowing out around her before bowing...Eh? Maid rankings?

"I always hear Haruka-sama, Mika-sama and Hazuki-san talk about Yuuto-sama."

The maid-san said as she giggled. What have the three of them been talking about me? To be honest, I was quite interested in that.

"Nanami-san usually acts as Hazuki-san's second in command. She's also one of the more experienced maids in the family, as she has been with us for a long time. Hazuki-san went out with Onee-chan yesterday, so Nanami-san's here with me."

Mika paitently explained.

Even though she looks a little careless, but she seems to be quite the character.

"We'll be seeing each other quite often from now on, so you can relax. Just call me Nana-chan."

"...Please take good care of me Nanami-san."

It's impossible for me to address a girl who isn't much older than myself with a '-chan'. Even when I'm referring to a certain music teacher, I would still add a '-sensei' after her name.

"Hmm...Yuuto-sama, you're a stubborn one! It's good to stick to your principles, but if you don't maintain a certain level of flexibility, you won't have any luck with the girls!"

She smiled teasingly.

I could feel that Nanami-san was an extremely friendly maid-san, the completely opposite of the head maid, whose facial expression wouldn't change even if she was spraying bullets around while robbing a bank.

"Oni-chan, you're too serious about things! Although that's not a bad thing...Ah, let's eat some Shika Sembei! We seem to be quite a distance away from our destination, is there anything to drink?"

"Yes there is, everything from sugared water to Romanee Conti."

Sugared water? Who's going to drink sugared water? And the main problem is, is Mika really going to eat the Shika Sembei?

"Then I guess I'll have some coke. Because the Shika Sembei's more on the salty side, so a sweeter drink should go down well."

"No problem."

...She really does look as if she's going to eat the Shika Sembei.

"What about Oni-chan?"

"...I just want some tea."

I'm definitely not touching the Shika Sembei.

And just like that, the three of us passed some time that had Shika Sembei as the main dish.

"--Ah, speaking of which..."

"Hmm?"

I suddenly remembered something, as I whispered to mika,

"...Does Nanami-san know about Haruka's hobby?"

I suddenly thought about Haruka's hobby.

'That thing', which also happened to be how I got know Haruka, was something that most people would never think of when looking at Haruka. I had to know if Nanami-san was in on this secret before deciding on how to interact with her.

This was also the reason why I was asking Mika in such a serious tone. However...

"Yes, she knows about it."

Mika nodded her head lightly before turning to Nanami-san,

"Right, Nanami-san?"

"Hmm? About what?"

"About Onee-chan's secret hobby."

"Ah, right, I know all about it."

Nanami-san nodded her head vigourously.

"Hee hee, Haruka-sama's really cute!"

"To be honest, it's impossible for Onee-chan not to be found out. Even grandpa knows about it. I should think that everyone who works in the house knows about her secret hobby. Father and mother should be the only ones who haven't noticed it...Although Onee-chan still think that she has a well-hidden secret."

...I see. Once I thought about it, Mika was right. Even though Haruka wants to hide this from everyone, but because she's doing things that do not contribute to her keeping of the secret, it's no surprise that she's unable to keep her secret a secret (that's a really hard-to-understand sentence there...). It can only be seen as a miracle that she has been able to keep her secret under wraps at school all this while...Looks like I'll have to be more careful so as to prevent Haruka's secret from getting out from now on.

I looked out of the window with a new perspective on the matter.

"Hmm?"

I realised that the Rolls Royce had left the highway while I was busy talking to Mika and Nanami-san.

The Rolls Royce weaved in and out of the traffic as it roared towards its detination with amazing speed.

...Where is it moving towards?

I started to get a bad feeling about this whole thing.

I had thought that the piano competition was going to be held comewhere in the city, but looking at the current situation, I was more inclined to think that the competition was going to be held in another city. If it's really like that, then it'll be quite a stretch to try to get back home within a day. The two hungry puppies (they aren't that cute in real life) will still be at home tonight, so I still hope to be able to get home before dinner.

"Hmm, where is the piano competition going to be held?"

"Eh? Didn't Onee-chan tell you?"

Mika blinked as she happily munched on a piece of Shika Sembei.

The next moment, Mika gave a smile that was almost a carbon copy of how Haruka would smile, as she replied,

"London~"

I would have never thought that I would experience my very first trip overseas, my very first first-class flight experience in home casual wear and a pair of slippers...I really hope that I'm dremaing.

The first-class cabin is a place where even the air is high-class.

Looking over at the other occupants of the cabin, I could only see either well-dressed gentlemen or classy rich ladies. I guess I'm the only one who would dress so casually to take a flight in the first-class cabin. Even the clothes that the rich ladies dog was wearing looked more expensive than the clothes that I was wearing, which made me feel really uncomfortable.

I really didn't feel like I belonged in this place.

"It's alright, I think that Oni-chan's dressing is really unique!

Mika probably saw that I was a little too sad, as she tried to comfort me.

"Really unique?"

"Yes, your style looks really unique, like a French Bulldog in the middle of a crowd of Chiwawas."

That did not make me feel better, how is being a French Bulldog going to make me feel good about myself...

There was another question that I wanted to ask Mika.

Normally, no matter if a person wanted to go overseas for a holiday, or to emigrate to another country, that person would need a passport. As I've never gone overseas before, I don't have a passport.

But for some unknown reason, I was holding a passport in my hands, and it had a photo that I don't remember taking.

Other than the mystery of the passport photo, it would take at least two weeks of red tape to obtain a passport, but...

I asked Nanami-san about it.

"It's a corporate secret."

That was how she replied me. So...What exactly is this coporate secret...

"It's a coporate secret."

"So..."

"It's a coporate secret."

"Just how..."

"It's a coporate secret."

"...I get it."

I guess that's all I'm going to get out of her.

Looks like the maids of the Nogizaka family have an unspeakable grey area.

We landed at London's Heathrow Airport shortly after my conversation with Nanmi-san before going towards London in yet another of the Nogizaka family limousines.

Mika also took the chance to tell me more about London's iconic landmarks as we passed them.

"That's the famous Tower Bridge on River Thames, a certain masked superman got the name for his ultimate attack from here. That's the British Museum, the famous Rosetta Stone is in there. And that's Buckingham Palace..."

"You're really familiar with the city..."

Mika's familiarity with London would embarrass many a tourist guide.

"I'm not that familiar with the city! This is only my eleventh time here!"

Mika replied nonchalantly.

My god! That's about the same number of times I've gone on tourist trips in Japan (including graduation trips)...

"I've been to many other countries too, I've been to Italy fifteen times, France twelve times, Germany nine times, Australia nineteen times...Ah, and thirty seven times to America, also--"

"..."

Mika (fourteen years old) was happily counting off the countries that she had visited.

Well, I guess that's too be expected of a daughter of the Nogizaka family. She's only fourteen, but going to a foreign country is like shopping at the local grocery store to her.

--And speaking of travelling, I still cannot believe that I'm actually here in England.

I thought to myself as I looked at the view outside the limousine. A few hourse ago, I would never have imagined that I would be in a limousine, looking out at the very sights that I had only been able to see on television or postcards. Ever since I got to know Haruka, I've been overwhelmed with these new experiences, but I'm enjoying these new experiences.

The piano competition was to be held at Victoria concert hall, situated right in the heart of the city.

The massive concert hall looked more like a palace as it hulked over us.

Just for your information, it took us a grand total of fourteen hours to get here from Japan.

But all these still felt surreal to me...And I guess that was probably...no, definitely because I was still dressed the same way that I would normally dress for a trip to the local convienience store.

"This way please."

We followed Nanami-san into the concert hall.

Even though I was already prepared for how grand the concert hall was from its exterior, I was still caught off-guard but the grandeur of its interior.

Whether it was the high ceiling, or the vast amount of seats in the concert hall, the luxurious renovations, the fluent english that everyone conversed in, or the celebrities and rich people in formal wear, everything had absolutely no connection with me.

We were brought to the most high-profile seat in the concert hall, the vip seats.

"Wow, this is great..."

The vip seats were situated on a balcony on the third storey of the concert hall, overlooking the entire hall.

"Oni-chan, your seat is beside mine."

"Alight."

Mika pointed at a row of three seats that were placed together like what royalty would sit on. I gingerly sat on the luxurious seat as I got a first-hand experience of how soft it was, as though there were ten blankets worth of down feathers in the cushioning.

"If you can't see the stage properly, we also have telescopes.

"I'm alright! What about you, Oni-chan?"

"I don't have any problems either."

Even with my short-sightedness, I could still see the piano on the stage very clearly, these really were the best seats in the concert hall.

"Yuuto-sama, would you like anything to drink?"

I leaned over the railing to look down as Nanami-san asked me a question.

"Hmm? There are drinks provided?"

I was under the impression that pets and food and drink were not allowed in a concert hall like this.

Nanami-san nodded.

"There are. It's not allowed, but because these seats are EXSSS, there's a private bar situated here!"

"E...Executive Triple S?"

"Yes, it's Executive Triple S."

I never knew that there would be a row of seats with such a long name, and I still can't believe that I was sitting on one of these seats.

I looked around the concert hall once more as I waited for the surreal feeling to disappear.

It wouldn't be too much to say that these seats would really be hated by the normal citizens in the standing area.

I probably won't get another chance to sit on such a seat for the rest of my life right? Then I should really enjoy this feeling of being king as much as possible right now. I placed my elbows on the handrests as I crossed my legs proudly. Wow, even the world looks different.

After going milking the moment for all its worth (short-lived happiness)...

I suddenly noticed something.

"Ah, Nanami-san, won't you sit down?"

Actually, I've noticed that this energetic maid-san had been standing beside Mika ever since we came in, with no intention of sitting down.

Hmm, why doesn't she want to sit on such a nice seat?

"It's alright, it's basic manners for a maid to not sit beside her master.

Nanami-san smiled as she replied.

"...Is that right?"

"Yes, that's how it is."

Is it really like that?

To be honest, I really don't recall Hazuki-san ever sitting down in front of Haruka. I see, that's a basic rule of being a maid.

But at the same moment, another question popped into my head.

"--Hmm? But if Nanami-san's not going to sit down, then there's one extra seat right?"

"Eh? Why?"

"Because...Because there are three seats here...Ah, is Haruka coming too?"

"Hmm...I don't think she's coming."

Mika twirled a strand of hair around her finger as she shook her head.

"Onee-chan's taking part in the competition, so she has her own dressing room. Hazuki-san should be with her in the dressing room."

"Then--"

There's a problem with the number of seats?

If Haruka's not coming and Nanami-san's not going to sit down, then two seats will be enough for Mika and me.

But there were three seats.

"..."

I suddenly had a bad feeling about this.

It was like how the weather forecast only predicts rainy days correctly...Anyway it was the kind of feeling that's never right about good things, but always right about bad things. And what made this worse was the fact that in my case, this bad feeling had a hundred percent success rate.

"Oh, that's Oto-san's seat."

Mika responded to my question as casually as how she would say 'It's a sunny day today'.

"...Oto-san?"

"Right, our oto-san, which is, OUR FA~THER."

I don't know why she had to repeat it in english, but I still thought about the meaning behind that word. Oto-san...

Oto-san means fater, and Mika's father is also Haruka's father, and then Haruka's father is...

--It can't be! That person that Haruka had once talked about...that he's going to be here...

This was something big...At least, now wasn't the time for me to be crossing my legs like a rich man.

"Mika, you're already here?"

Just as I finally realized what situation I was in. A voice sounded behind me.

"Nanami, thank you for your hard work."

It was a voice that was low and powerful.

--This...It can't be...

I turned back stiffly, feeling like a broken down robot, and what I saw was -- A tall, well-built man with piercing eyes, his hair combed back, making it hard to gues his actual age.

"Ah, you must be Ayase! I've heard about you from Hazuki and the others."

This man looked at me with the eyes of a thunder god and offered his muscular hand to me.

"It's good to see you. I am Nogizaka Gentou, Haruka and Mika's father."

Haruka's father was standing right in front of me.

From the direction of the stage, Mika was sitting between her father and me (Nanami-san stood behind her.

Even though I felt lucky that Mika was sitting in the middle, but...I was still very nervous, feeling like I had just walked into the cage of a carnivorous beast with fresh meat in my hands. One wrong step, and I could possibly be a floating corpse in the straits of Dover by this time tomorrow.

That is why the most intelligent thing to do now was to act like a stray dog who has just lost his territory, just quietly...wait for the time to pass! At least with Mika between us, I don't think Haruka's father would point his spear of questioning towards me (hopefully).

However, just as I breathed out in relief at the thought of Mika shielding me--

"Ah, I'll go look for Onee-chan!"

"!?"

--Mika surprised me yet again.

"I'm a little worried about Onee-chan, and since there's still a bit of time to go to the start of the competition, I think I'll make a trip down to the dressin room."

"Then I should go too..."

"Ah, Oni-chan, you should just sit here and rest! You're our guest after all!"

Mika cut me off with a smile before she left her seat, Nanami-san following after her.

Don't...Don't leave me here! You could have at least noticed the awkward atmosphere here...

My soundless cry for help fell on deaf ears.

"Oni-chan, I'll see you in a while!"

"Pleas etake care of yourself!"

And just like that, the two of them disappeared into the other side of the stairway.

"..."

"..."

Of course, the only ones left on the seats were Haruka's father and me.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

The atmosphere in the viewing balcony was as heavy as a bear who has loaded himself full of fats for hibernation.

I felt as though something extremely heavy was pressing down on me.

"..."

"..."

...This...What should I do about this?

I really felt like crying.

I prayed silently to some unknown god in this hellish silence as I wished with all my might for Mika (in such desperate times, even Hazuki-san or Nanami-san will do) to come back.

I don't know how long this situation lasted.

Objectively, I guess it should only have been about five to ten minutes. But to me, it was like eternity.

"...You're Ayase-kun right?"

"Ye...Yes."

Haruka's father started to talk in a serious tone.

"There's something that I would like to talk to you..."

Ring ring ring ring ring!

But just as he was about to continue talking, his phone convieniently (or should I say, inconvieniently?) rang.

"Excuse me, I have to take this call."

Haruka's father put the phone to his ear with an irritated expression on his face.

"--It's me."

He spoke in a low but powerful voice as he talked to the person on the other side of the conversation.

"What? You don't need to ask me about something like that, just do it yourself!"

...Do it?

"Yes, that's right. If it's going to be useful then just strike it off (from the list). Have I not always said that we need only to leave the ones that are useful to us?"

...This...Is he telling the other person to kill the peolple that aren't useful to them?

"You're asking me how you should take care of the remains? Just throw it anywhere you like (in the corner of the warehouse)!"

Throw...Throw it anywhere you like? Is he referring to Tokyo bay?

"--That should be it, don't bother me about this anymore."

Haruka's father breathed out heavily as he kept his cellphone.

"I'm sorry, there seems to be a bit of confusion over in Japan."

"It's...It's alright..."

...Are they fighting over territory? I didn't dare to delve deeper into the problem.

"..."

"..."

We lapsed into an uncomfortable silence once again.

The good thing was that the awkward silence didn't carry on for long.

"---You're Ayase-kun right?"

Haruka's father looked at me with the eyes of an ancient artifact expert who was trying to ascertain whether a certain artifact was real or not.

"Yes...Yes I am."

"There's something that I want to ask you--"

"Oni-chan!"

Haruka's father was once again cut off by a sudden voice.

It was Mika.

When did she come back? She hopped over like a feisty rabbit as she pulled on the sleeve of my shirt,

"Oni-chan, Onee-chan's calling you--Eh? Oto-san, were the two of you talking about something?"

"--No."

Haruka's father shook his head in reply.

"It's nothing...Haruka wants Ayase-kun to go over?"

"That's right! Onee-chan's really nervous about going on stage, but she seems to want to see Oni-chan to help calm herself down. The dressing room's off-limits to outsiders, but Oni-chan won't have a problem...Because you're not an outsider, right~"

Mika looked at me as she spoke suggestively.

"Hee hee hee, because Oni-chan's the only candidate to be my brother-in-law!"

"...Brother-in-law?"

My...My god...It was horrible to be the target of a death-stare from Haruka's father.

"Oni-chan, hurry up! Let's go!"

Mika was literally hugging me as she dragged me from my seat. My waist came into contact with something soft, and the sweet smell of Mika's hair wound it's way into my nostrils...

"..."

And then, Haruka's father's stare became even sharper, as it shot towards me with the force of a railgun.

...Perhaps I won't be in the world of the living anymore tomorrow morning.

Haruka's dressing room was the last one in the corridor that was one floor below the stage.

Under the guidance of Mika and Nanami-san, I immediately saw the familiar expressionless maid-san, who stood outside the door to Haruka's dressing room like a neon sign.

"Hazuki-san, I've brought Yuuto-sama here!"

"...Yuuto-sama, it's been quite a while."

Hazuki-san bowed with her usual expressionless face the moment she saw me coming. Her expressionless face was made even more obvious by the contrast between her and Nanami-san, who was stading beside her. Contrary to her appearance, she's actually quite a nice person.

"It's been quite a while since I saw you too, Hazuki-san. Haruka's looking for me?"

"Yes. Haruka-sama says that no matter what, she wants to see Yuuto-sama before she goes on stage. Haruka-sama seems to be really nervous..."

"Nervous?"

"She's always been like this."

Mika shrugged.
"Onee-chan is the type of person who would think a lot about any kind of activity before doing it. She's the kind of person who would only be able to sleep soundly after making sure that she is prepared for everything that the activity could possibly require. The 'shopping guide' from a while back was also the result of her character, which is why Onee-chan'll always be nervous about such a competition. Even though she doesn't even need to be at her best to win a competition like this."

I understood what Mika was trying to say. In other words, Haruka always puts in her best effort for anything. To put it nicely, you could say that Haruka'll never slack on the job. Even though she seems to be a really smart girl, but in reality, she's rather unflexible when it comes to such things.

"However, Onee-chan seems to be more nervous than usual today. She seems to be thinking more than she usually does about the competition, which makes her even more nervous. But since it's Onee-chan, this competition shouldn't be a problem for her."

Mika nodded as she continued,

"But I really don't understand why Onee-chan's so concerned about this competition."

I don't understand that either. Just what is the reason behind Haruka's abnormal behavious?

No matter what the reason is, the only thing that I can do now is--

"Well then, I guess I'll just go and talk to Haruka to try to get her to relax?"

"Please do."

Hazuki-san nodded her head.

"Then we shall be going back to the third storey first."

"Oni-chan, you're the chosen one!"

"It's so hot in here! I'm so jealous! Somebody lower the temperature in here!"

Mika and Nanami-san teased me simultaneously...I suddenly realized that the two of them were very alike.

"Please don't do anything strange just because the two of you are alone in the room!"

"Because there are cameras in the dressing room!"

How could I do something like that!

Just as I was going to walk into the dressing room while ignoring the exaggerated teasing from Mika and Nanami-san, Hazuki-san called out to me.

"Yuuto-sama."

Hazuki-san bowed deeply to me with a serious expression on her face.

"I leave Haruka-sama in your hands."

"Ah, Yuuto!"

Haruka bounced towards me with the energy of a puppy running towards its mother the moment she saw me.

"Thank you so much for coming all the way to London today."

She clutched my hand tightly.

"Sorry for not contacting you recently, I was extremely busy with piano practise for the competition...I actually have a lot of things I want to talk to you about."

Haruka, whom I had not seen for two weeks, was wearing a white evening gown.

Probably because she was practising on the piano before I came in, Haruka's face was red. Also, for the sake of easier moment of her hands, her evening gown (I heard that it was specially tailored for the competition) did not cover her shoulders, and the front of the gown was designed rather elegantly...Hmm...How should I describe it, it was a little sexy!

My heart started to pump...No, if this goes on, I won't be able to dismiss Mika and Nanami-san's teasing.

"Hmm...Is there something wrong with my appearance?"

Haruka leaned her head to one side as she looked at me.

"No...Nothing's wrong."

I'm the one who's acting strangely.

"?"

"An...Anyway, don't mind me."

I looked away from Haruka to survey her dressing room.

The dressing room was about twenty tatamis in size.

There was a long mirror on the left wall of the room, with a grand piano placed in front of the mirror.

"Wow, that grand piano looks really expensive."

"Hmm? Ah...Yes it is."

The tone with which Haruka replied to my question implied that she probably thought that I just asked a strange question.

Other than the piano, there was also a cupboard and some other cabinets for Haruka to put her personal stuff.

And then, I saw a very familiar object.

It was placed on top of a large stack of music scores. From the direction of the piano keys, it was right in front of the player.

The object was a small figurine of about 10cm in height of a girl with blue hair who held the hem of her dress with the tips of her fingers as she bowed. I remember that this was...

"Ah."

Haruka immediately hid the figurine away after she noticed me looking at it.

"This...This is...I brought it over here as an amulet..."

For some unknown reason, Haruka's face was beet-red.

"That's...That's why...There's no special meaning...No, I can't say that there's no specialy meaning, actually..."

"I know, because you really like this...what was it called...the 'Shy shy pose'? You brought it here because you really like this figurine right?"

"Ah, ye...yes."

This was probably what Haruka always does! It's quite normal for someone to want to have something that they like nearby when they're in such a tense enviroment. This is a personal characteristic, so Haruka really didn't need to explain!

Upon hearing my explanation, Haruka's expression suddenly became very complicated.

"...It's not just that, because you...It...It's nothing"

Haruka shook her head wildly.

"An...Anyway, don't mind this, please don't think about this anymore!"

"Eh? Oh...Alright."

I have no idea why Haruka's so nervous about this.

I sat down on a foldable chair that was placed in a corner of the room.

Haruka was more energetic than I had thought she would be, and she didn't seem to be very nervous. I guess I won't need to worry too much about her right? She should be alright.

--But almost immediately, I realised just how wrong I was.

Five minutes later.

"Ah, hmm, it should be like this..."

Haruka sat in front of the piano as she started to groan like a mangaka who's going to miss a deadline.

"This...this part should be like this..."

Haruka's beautiful fingers wavered uncertainly over the piano keys.

Haruka had began warming up before I came in, but...from what I could see, she didn't seem to be in a very good condition.

Even someone who doesn't know anything about music like me could hear that she was playing some parts of the song wrongly, and furthermore, her movements were extremely stiff, like a metal toy that hasn't been oiled for a long time.

"Eh? Eh? How should this part be? Ah...This..."

Haruka's eyes were completely unfocused as she attempted to find the right keys. Is...this really alright?

"Don't worry, even though Onee-chan's always like this before she goes on stage, she always manages to win the competition."

Even though Mika had said that, but looking at Haruka's current condition, I was extremely worried.

To alleviate Haruka's nervousness, should I tell her a joke? Or perhaps I should imitate a gorrila (when I was in primary school, Ruko had forced me to do that)? But just as I was trying to decide on the best way to get Haruka to relax...

"I'm sorry, Yuuto-san, but could you get those scores for me?"

"Hmm? These ones?"

"Ah. Yes, all of them.

There were a few books of scores piled up in another corner of the room. As they were all wrapped up in book covers, their titles could not be seen. I grabbed those scores and passed them to Haruka.

"Sorry for making you get is for me.."

Just as Haruka was about to place one of the scores onto the piano stand--

"Ah...Kyaa~"

Haruka suddenly screamed shrilly, sounding like a girl who had just bought a hamster from a friend for 2000 yen, only to find that its actually a rat.

"What...What's wrong?"

"i...I brought the wrong score."

I looked at the music stand on the piano, and saw that the title of the score was 'The Shy Triangle BGM Collection' (There was also a hand-drawn picture of a blue-haired girl whose pose had clearly exceeded the limits of the human body...Hmm...About the drawing, I don't think there's a need for me to elaborate on its origins).

...My god!

Even I could see what had just happened. It was obvious that Haruka had brought the wrong 'music score'.

"What...What should I do?"

Haruka looked up at me with tears in her eyes.

"Is it a very bad thing to be without your music score?"

No...Not really, I've actually memorised it, so there shouldn't be a problem. I'm just a little worried about the introduction of the piece..."

...Looks like it really is a very bad thing to be without the music score!

"...Haruka, what is the title of the music score?"

"Complete Collection of Transcendental Etudes..."

It was the set of epic-sounding pieces that I once seen in Haruka's room.

"I get it, Haruka, wait for me here."

"Eh? Yuuto-san? Where...Where are you going?"

"I'll be right back!"

I rushed out of the dressing room.

I decided to go and discuss the problem with Hazuki-san, Nanami-san and Mika first, as they might have brought an extra set of scores. If they haven't, then I'll go and look for a music shop. Although I don't have much confidence in my english, but...they should understand body language!

I better look for Hazuki-san and the others first.

Hazuki-san had said that she was going back to the vip seats on the third storey, so Mika and Nanami-san should also be there.

I rushed through the corridor to get to the staircase, but just as I turned the corner of the first flight of stairs...

"...Eh?"

A girl wearing an evening gown suddenly entered my field of vision.

I tried to avoid her, but due to the laws of physics, the speed at which I was going dictated that I would be unable to stop in time.

Which means that...

"Ah!"

"Ah!"

I ran straight into the girl, who fell backwards onto the floor, the object that she was holding flying out of her hands.

"It's really painful...You...Why did you suddenly run around the corner!"

The girl sat up as her eyebrows wrinkled in pain.

"It's unbelievable that anyone would run around the corner of the stairwell like that!"

It was exactly what I had just dont...So I should just apologise.

"I'm sorry, I was in a hurry...Ah, no, that's not what I should be saying..."

I only realised that I was in England, not Japan halfway through my apology.

"I...I AM SORRY...HURRY UP..."

"Huh? What do you mean by 'hurry up'?"

"Ah, No...Not that!"

Just for your information, my english standard is grade three. Grade three, out of a possible ten grades.

"Ah! What should I say in a situation like this? HOLD UP...Eh? No, that doesn't sound right either..."

"Yes, that isn't what you should be saying."

"That's what I thought. Then I should...Huh? You're speaking Japanese?"

I suddenly realised that the girl was speaking in Japanese (too late).

"You...You're Japanese? Ah!"

The girl looked at me with a surprised expression on her face.

"Could it be...that you're either a friend or family of Nogizaka-san?"

"Hmm? Yes..."

"Ah, just as I thought. I had guessed that the two of you knew each other after I saw you walk into her dressing room. What's your relationship to her? You can't be her younger brother can you? The two of you don't look alike."

The girl was starting to ramble. Is she...a friend of Haruka?

I asked her about it.

"Ah, no. Because Nogizaka-san's a very famous person, so I know her, but she doesn't know me."

The girl replied.

"Right, I'm Shina. Amamiya Shina. What's your name?"

"Hmm? Me? I'm Ayase Yuuto..."

"I see. Hmm...I guess I can call it fate for the two of us to collide here? Can I call you Yuuto? Please take care of me."

The girl shook her layered short hair as she giggled and offered her hand to me. She's the first person I've meet who calls a person whom she's just met for the first time in her life by his full name. She seems to be a very friendly girl.

"Please take care of me too."

I shook Shina's hand before helping her to her feet. Shina smiled with a satisfied look on her face.

"Shina, are you here to take part in the competition too?"

"Hmm? Of course I am. Why else would I be wearing an evening gown here if I weren't taking part in the competition."

She pulled on the hem of her gown as she mischievously winked to me.

"To be honest, I'm more surprised to see you dressed like this here. There really isn't another person in this concert hall who'll walk around in slippers and casual clothes!"

"There were irresistable factors behind this..."

I described what I had gone through to Shina (Kidnapping + Straight to the airport + Sitting in first-class + Straight to Victoria Concert Hall).

"Hahaha! You're really funny!"

But all I got for it was such a reaction from Shina...Oh well! I should have expected that.

"Speaking of which, Yuuto, what were you in such a hurry for?"

"Ah!"

I suddenly remembered what I was supposed to be doing after Shina reminded me about it. Now wasn't the time for such casual conversation, I have to find Hazuki-san and the others to solve the problem--

"I'm sorry, but I have to go now...Eh?"

I suddenly realised that this friendly girl was also taking part in the competition. Hmm...Maybe she'll--

"Right, Shina..."

"Hmm?"

Since it had come to this, I decided to give it a try.

Which was why I asked Shina about the score that Haruka needed. And then--

"Yes, I have it, is it this one?"

Shina took out a set of scores from the pile that was scattered around on the floor.

"So you were looking for this?"

"Yes."

"Hmm...Do you want to borrow it from me?"

"Well..."

Shina smiled as she looked at me.

"It's for Nogizaka-san right?"

"Uh..."

We've just met! Is it because she's really intuitive, or is it written all over my face?

Now's not the time to talk about this. I didn't think that she would believe me if I lied, so I just nodded my head. Shina merely looked at me as she said 'I see!' before giving me a knowing smile.

"Alright, I'll lend it to you."

Shina passed the book of scores to me.

"...Is this really alright?"

"Yes, this isn't the piece that I'll be playing for the competition."

"But..."

Shina's taking part in the competition, which makes her one of Haruka's competitors. Normally, I would be a little suspicious of why she would lend her scores to me so easily. But since I was one who asked for her help, I had no reason to be suspicious.

"It's alright, just take it. If I'm unable to win just because I lent a competitor my scores, then it merely shows that I was never good enough to compete."

Shina waved her hand in front of her face.

"And furthermore, it's not everyday that I get the chance to lend my scores to Nogizaka-san."

She spoke as though I was overreacting.

"--Since you've put it like this, then I shall borrow it from you. Thank you very much."

"Haha! No problem!"

Shina giggled as she replied.

This girl was a really good person.

"Thank you once again."

I thanked Shina once more before hurrying back to Haruka's dressing room.

"Ah, Yuuto-san..."

Haruka looked at me, the lonely look in her eyes giving the impression of a bird who has been left behind by its flock. Ah...I shouldn't have left you here by yourself, but I had no other choice!

"Here."

I passed the scores to Haruka, whose eyes widened in surprise.

"What...What is this about?"

"I borrowed it, everything's fine now right?"

"Ye...Yes. But, how did you..."

"Well, it's a long story..."

It's not a good time to tell Haruka that I borrowed the scores from one of her competitors as that would probably make her even more nervous.

"Anyway, don't worry about little things like that?"

"..."

Haruka thought about it for a little before finally nodding her head in agreement.

"...I'll listen to you. I won't think about this for the time being."

"Thank you."

"But to be honest..."

"Hmm?"

Haruka looked at me.

"--Yuuto-san, you're really reliable. You're always here to help me whenever I'm in trouble, just like...a knight in shining armour."

"You...What are you talking about..."

"Hehe!"

Haruka looks so cute when she smiles like that...

No matter what Haruka seems to have relaxed somewhat.

For some time after that, Haruka practised her piece, practised her stage entrance, and also chatted with me occasionally.

Until there 45 minuties before the beginning of the competition...

"I'm really sorry, but we have to start preparing for the competition. Yuuto-sama, I'm afraid you'll have to go out."

After Hazuki-san made that request, I walked out of the dressing room and sat down on the chair that was closest to the dressing room, flipping through the programme as I waited for Haruka to finish preparing for the competition.

There were eight participants for today's competition, and Haruka would be the fifth one to go on stage. I had thought that there would be more participants....Looks like they've already gone through several preliminary rounds before today's competition.

"That's right, there would surely be more than eight competitors at the beginning of the competition..."

Because this competition isn't on the same level as some random chess competition for kids held at a department store! Just as I confirmed my stupidity once again...

I heard Hazuki-san's voice coming from the dressing room.

"We're ready, Yuuto-sama, you can come in now."

The first thing I saw when I walked back into the dressing room was--

"Ah, Yuu...Yuuto-san."

Haruka in all her competition finery.

Her hair was braided up as a nice scent floated across the room to me. Some accerssories had been added onto her while evening gown, and they glittered under the light of the dressing room.

But the most important part was Haruka herself.

The blushing Haruka that I had seen before was also very nice, but...A relaxed Haruka with makeup on was even more stunning.

My heart started to beat with the velocity of a bullet train again. MY HEART! Slow down!

"Haruka-san, I will be waiting outside."

Was Hazuki-san trying to leave Haruka and I alone together?

After Hazuki-san closed the door behind her, the dressing room lasped into an awkward silence.

Because I rarely braid my hair, so I don't know how I look..."

"It...It really suits you."

I'm so nervous precisely because Haruka looks really good with her hair braided.

"Re...Really? Hehe, I'm so happy..."

Haruka smiled as she lightly turned her upper body, allowing me to have a better look at her evening gown.

"Look at this, the frontal design of this gown's really interesting, and the design of the back of the gown's really cute too."

Just as Haruka twirled around to show me the back of her gown...

"Ah!"

She stepped on the hem of her long evening gown.

"Kya!"

Haruka spun in mid-air as she was thrown off-balance.

"Haruka!"

I instinctively lunged towards Haruka as she fell towards the ground, managing to catch her just in time.

"Ah, that was close..."

I managed to keep my balance as I breathed out in relief.

"I...I'm sorry."

"As long as you're--"

I didn't get to finish my sentence.

I didn't do this on purpose.

There's a very innocent reason for the current situation.

Me catching Haruka, Haruka getting caught by me, the situation brought about by these two actions was--

"?"

Haruka looked at me with the eyes of a new-born deer before realizing the position she was in.

"Ah!"

Haruka, who was lying in my lap like a princess, immediately lowered her head as she blushed furiously. Because her reaction was so cute, the rate of my heartbeat started to increase again...

"I...I..."

"Ugh..."

The two of us froze.

Ugh...What in the world are we doing?

Half-lying on the ground in such a position, and then suddenly freezing in place like an ancient computer that suddenly hangs after 10 years of usage. One was an average person in casual clothes and slippers, while the other was a dignified lady from a rich family in her stunning concert attire.

Objectively, we must look really weird.

But...

Haruka's face was right in front of my eyes, I suddenly realized that we've never been so close to each other before.

I could clearly feel Haruka's warmth and the softness of her skin, and my nostrils were full of the scent of her hair. I felt as though I could literally hear my own heartbeat pumping furiously. And then, my self-control withered like a slug covered with a think layer of salt...

No, No!

I shook my head violently as I desperately tried to control myself.

--Calm down and think about what I should do!

I thought of three choices in this situation.

1: Pretend that nothing happened, help Haruka up and ask 'Are you alright'?

2: Maintain our current position and wait for time to pass.

3: Hug Haruka.

...Firstly, the third choice is definitely out of the question. If I were to do something like this right before the competition, Haruka would surely be affected by my actions. If something happens to her performance later because of my actions, then I would be a criminal.

Which is why only the first and second choices remained.

The second choice didn't seem very viable to me, while I would already have chosen the first choice if I were smart enough.

--Suddenly, all three choices disappeared.

This is bad.

This is really bad!

...I suddenly realized that something like this always happens the moment I'm alone with Haruka.

I snuck a peek at Haruka.

Haruka hadn't moved at all.

While I was desperately trying to decide on my course of action, Haruka, whose face largely resembled an Italian tomato, continued to lie in my arms.

Only her eyes was looking straight at me--

"...Ah!"

"...Ah!"

For a moment, our eyes met.

Our gazes locked together, the distace between us a mere ten centimetres.

I saw myself, stiff and awkward, reflected in Haruka's large eyes, while a blushing Haruka was reflected from my glasses.

This continued for about ten seconds.

And then, Haruka slowly closed her eyes.

"!?"

...How am I supposed to interpret that action?

If it was any other girl, this action would probably mean 'that' right? But because it's Haruka, the chances of misinterpretation is very high. If I were to act without thinking about the consequences, then that action might result in a lifetime of regret (Haruka screams + Haruka's father appears + I get thrown into the straits of Dover).

But my heart spoke differently.

Under such circumstances, Haruka had no other reason to close her eyes than for 'that'. There were only two of us in the room, time seemed to have stopped, the girl has just closed her eyes. Every single condition had been fufilled. It's not possible that Haruka closed her eyes at this moment because she was sleepy...Which means that it'll be rude for me not to do anything? But...

My god! What should I do!

Could it be...that we'll get to that level today...

After a lifetime (at least, it felt like a lifetime) of internal struggle, my overheating neural system overpowered my weakened self-controlled and plunged towards the third choice--

"I'm very sorry to interrupt such an important moment."

"!?"

A voice that was as calm as the surface of a lake roughly pulled Haruka and I back to reality.

"Ah!"

"Kya!"

I looked back and saw Hazuki-san standing behind us.

"...I'm used to such a reaction already, so I don't think you'll require an explanation."

I really don't like this...How is it possible that this person is always able to appear behind Haruka and I without either of us noticing! She's like an assassin!

Seeing the disappointment etched into my face, Hazuki-san gave me an apologetic look as she said.

"...I'm sorry, I really didn't want to interrupt, it's just that...it's almost time."

"Time?"

"Yes, the third competitor has just finished. Haruka-sama will have to go onstage in a short while, so it'll be better to start preparing backstage..."

Is it that time already? I looked at the clock on the wall, and saw that there was indeed only seven minutes to go until Haruka was scheduled to go onstage.

Objectively, the time that I had just spent with Haruka wasn't as short as I had thought it was.

"Ah, yes, I understand."

Haruka stood up hurridly as she attempted to tidy up her evening gown.

"I'm sorry, but I have to go now..."

"It's alright, I'll be supporting you within the audience."

I prepared to leave the dressing room after saying that, but Haruka stopped me.

"Yu...Yuuto-san."

"Hmm?"

I looked back and saw Haruka with an extremely serious expression on her face."

"Please...Please..."

What is it that's so hard to say? I wondered before Haruka walked to me and held both of my hands tightly in hers.

"Please listen to the song carefully. Because...Today...I'm playing for Yuuto-san."

The only word that could describe Haruka's performance would be that it was brilliant.

To be honest, I was really worried that she would fall down when Haruka walked out from the side of the stage with unsteady steps. But any worries that I had quickly dissipated with the beginning of Haruka's performance.

Even the tone of the piano keys sounded different when Haruka was playing.

The previous competitor, was probably quite a good player too, having progressed through the preliminary rounds, but when compared to Haruka's playing, the previous competitor was like a Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle competing against an African Giant Rhinoceros beetle, looking as though he had wandered into a different weight category. Although it's not a very nice thing to say, I really couldn't believe that Haruka was using the exact same piano as the person before her.

"It was brilliant..."

That serious expression on her face.

Her fingers that flew across the keyboard with the intensity of a tornado.

The uninterrupted string of notes coming from the piano.

I was completely entralled by Haruka's playing.

I was seeing a Haruka that I had never seen before.

Speaking of which, this was the very first time that I've seriously looked at Haruka playing the piano...At this very moment, I felt that I could truly appreciate just how good Haruka was.

The programme clearly stated the three pieces that Haruka was performing.

"Piano Sonata #2 in G (R. Schumann)"

"Mephisto Waltz #2 (F.Liszt)"

"Transcendental Etude No. 4 in D minor, "Mazeppa" (F.Liszt)"

Right now, Haruka was playing her third piece, which was also her last piece for the competition. Everyone's focus was on this piece now that Haruka had played her first two pieces perfectly.

"...Mazeppa?"

That's a really strange name, does it have a special meaning?

"Hmm? Oni-chan, you don't know the story behind it?"

Seeing that I was looking at the programme with a frown, Mika started to explain the origins of the name behind the piece.

"Mazeppa was Russian Cossack hero of who lived in the 17th Century. After his affair with the wife of a high-ranking official in the palace was found out, he was tied to a wild horse and dragged all the way to Ukraine. This story's really famous! Don't you think that this part of the piece sounds like the sound of a horse running at full gallop?"

It really did sound like a horse galloping through the countryside, but...I really couldn't see why he was a hero. From my limited knowledge of his exploits, I think he's quite useless...

Putting the Mazeppa's heroics aside (honestly, I really didn't care about what happened to him in the end), the piece sounded really epic.

It felt as though every note was strong and laden with weight, and even though Haruka had a delicate and small frame, I was really impressed by how she could express the overpowering aura of the piece.

For the length of the piece, the entire concert hall seemed to shake with galloping of a thousand horses.

Although Haruka's third piece wasn't as long as the previous two pieces, but it's impact on the audience was definitely as large as the previous two pieces.

And then--The performance was over.

Haruka gently stood up from the piano as she walked over to the front of the stage to bow to the audience.

Thunderous applause erupted from the audience, as shouts of 'Bravo!' filled the concert hall. Many people (actually, most of them) even stood up to give Haruka a standing ovation.

Haruka had a slightly awkward expression, as though she wasn't used to such attention, before walking backstage.

Although her footsteps made me feel that every step was a disaster waiting to happen, I felt absolute confidence emanating from the way Haruka carried herself.

--As expected, Haruka won the competition.

Haruka looked really glamorous as she went onstage to receive her trophy (Even though she almost tripped on the hem of her gown on the way there), like the brightest star lighting up the darkest night.

How should I put it?

Looking at such a glamorous Haruka...My feelings were a little complicated.

"Hmm, of course, this was expected."

Haruka's father looked at the prize presentation on the stage expressionessly as he said,

"Haruka could have won such a competition in her sleep...But, please tell Haruka that she did very well."

"I will."

Nanami-san nodded her head. She was like a domesticated Iriomote Cat around Haruka's father, which was a huge contrast from what I've been seeing of her.

"Oto-san, you're not going to see Onee-chan?"

"I would love too, but I don't have the time. I almost late for an appointment with some one from the British Intelligence Agency."

"Hmph, I see."

Mika replied unhappily.

Disregarding the reason for not going to meet Haruka (seriously thinking about it would only make it even scarier), but since you're here, shouldn't you at least meet your daughter before going?

Haruka's father didn't seem to notice my feelings as he quietly stood up and walked towards the exit.

However, he turned around and walked back.

"Ah, I almost forgot...Ayase-kun."

Haruka's father walked back and patted me on the shoulder with one gigantic hand.

"I would like to talk to you alone one of these days."

...About what?

That very night.

At the party organized for the participants, judges and other personnel involved in the competition, held at the hotel that was next to the concert hall.

"Yuuto-san, you have to attend this party."

Obviously I wouldn't turn down Haruka's invitation, but...to be honest, I'm regreting the decision to come.

Of course, one of the reasons was the fact that everyone looked at me strangely (I'm still wearing my casual clothes + slippers combo), but that wasn't the main reason.

I looked towards the liveliest part of the party.

Haruka was there, having changed out of her concert attire to a more formal evening gown.

She was surrounded by people of all ages and gender.

Some of her admirers looked like judges as they twirled their mustaches arond their fingers, there were also middle-aged men who looked like they belonged to the very top of the social ladder, there were gentlemen in tuxedos, foreign middle-aged woman with hairstyles so exaggerated that a parrot could probably build a comfortable nest in it, and also other participants.

They were all talking to Haruka, and Haruka replied to every single one of them with a smile.

I know that this is the attitude that a winner should be adopting.

But looking at Haruka surrounded my her admirers, I felt a little sad. Because that reminded me of the distance between us.

Although I've almost forgotten about this, but Haruka's the daughter of a rich and powerful family, a celebrity among piano enthusiasists, the most popular girl in school with her own fan club, the 'Nuit étoile', and

I...I live in a completely different world from her.

"Sigh..."

I walked out to the balcony that overlooked the Thames River and sighed deeply.

I felt that I had finally acknowledged the 'reality'

Haruka and I were separated by an unseen, unscalable wall.

I had originally thought that the distance between us had shortened through these few months of interaction, but right now, Haruka felt as far away from me as she first did. I felt as though I had merely moved forward by three steps when I was pushed back eighty-one steps.

Perhaps this was the reason why I felt that Haruka was so far away when there was only a glass window separating us.

Suddenly, someone tapped me on the shoulder from behind.

"Oh, Hello again."

I looked back to see the friendly, short-haired girl, Shina.

"Wow! This party's great, that middle-aged man is a famous musician from Germany! And that's the famous new-age cassanova from Italy. And that's the..."

Shina told me more about the people who were around Haruka, and as I had expected, they were all famous people. The middle-aged woman who looked like she had a bird's nest for hair was actually known as the 'Queen Mary of the Piano World', looks like you really can't judge a book by its cover.

"As expected, Haruka-san's really too good. Even though hard work is also a very important, but no amount of hard work can make up for a lack of talent. Even though I don't want to admit it, but Haruka-san's on a completely different level."

"No, Shina, you're also..."

"It's alright, you don't have to say anything! You don't need to comfort me like this. It's not like you remember how I played, right?"

"Ugh..."

She was right. Because of Haruka's overwhelming performance, my memories of the other participants' performances have completely disappeared, even the performance of Shina, who had gotten second place, wasn't spared.

"Thank you for caring, but I know that with my current ability, I can't compete with Nogizaka-san."

Shina smiled sadly.

"To be honest, Nogizaka-san's ability is way beyond her age group. I don't think that anyone under the age of twenty, no matter how famous, can be better than her. No wonder they call her the 'Lumière du Clavier'."

In Shina's eyes, Haruka seems to be a very special person. As for the 'Lumière du Clavier'...This is Haruka's second exaggerated nickname that I've heard. But, thinking about it, who's the first one who thought about such a nickname?

"I may not be anywhere near her level of ability. Even though I'm so far away from her, but...I will not admit defeat. It may not be possible now, but perhaps one, two years later, or maybe even later, but one day, my performace will be better than hers."

"Shina..."

At that moment I saw the iron will that was burning in Shina's friendly amber eyes. Looks like both Haruka and Shina were very serious about the piano...

After that, I talked to Shina for a while longer.

"Ah! I have to go now. I still have to talk to my teacher and the judges."

"I see."

Of course, I would have liked her to stay and talk to me for a while longer, but since she has other things to do, I couldn't exactly force her to stay with me.

"Well then, Yuuto, I'll be going now!"

"Ah, right, thank you very much for lending me the scores."

"It was nothing! Goodbye!"

Shina waved at me before disappearing into the crowd.

Alone once again, I looked towards the Thames River that was flowing by under the balcony. In the day, th river was extremely beautiful, but at night, it was just a dark mass of flowing water.

--It's time for me to go back home.

I had looked forward to a party where I could enjoy myself together with Haruka. But Haruka had been surrounded by her admirers since the begninning of the party, depriving me of the chance to even congratulate her, among the other things that I had wanted to tell her.

However, looking at the current situation, I don't think that's possible.

I walked into the ballroom and looked towards Haruka. Right now, a few blonde guys around my age were talking to Haruka--They're probably participants too right? To be honest, I don't remember the faces of any of the participants apart from Haruka and Shina--To me, those guys looked like hungry wolves rounding on a lost rabbit, as they moved towards Haruka with fake smiles on their faces.

One of them even looked like Sasaoka, which made me really angry, but I can't possible grab the ice sculpture of a piano (1/8 the size of the real thing) sitting on the table and throw it at him can I? But since Hazuki-san's beside Haruka, those guys shouldn't dare to do anything strange right? Just when I was (forcibly) persuading myself, preparing to leave the party...

Haruka turned and saw me looking at her.

"Ah!"

Haruka's expression suddenly became really lively as she ran towards me with the speed of a bullet and latched herself onto my arm.

"Hey...Hey!"

"Hehehe!"

Every single human male in the vicinity turned to us, their eyes shooting daggers in my direction. Even though I didn't really understand what they were saying, but I still understood words that were full of violence and hatred like 'F**k!', 'Damn!' and 'Kill!'.

"Yuuto-san, I finally found you!"

Haruka happily looked up at me, completely ignoring (or rather completely oblivious to) the angry mob that had began to gather in our direction.

"I've been looking for you since a long time ago. But because there were so many people who were trying to talk to me, I wasn't able to find you..."

Right, Haruka's the famous idol, and she's been surrounded by her hordes of admirers since the beginning of the party.

"I was really nervous, because I didn't know any of them! But...I'm not nervous anymore, not that I've found you."

Haruka smiled happily. Ugh...She's so cute.

I forced down the urge to hug Haruka as I noticed that Haruka had been looking at me as though she had something to say.

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

"Ah, umm..."

"Hmm?"

"Ac...Actually, I have something I want to discuss with you..."

Haruka tiptoed as she straightened her body to whisper into my ear.

"Actually, I saw the a 'Clumsy Girl Aki-chan UK-version' figurine in the shop next to the hotel, and it was really cute...I want to go and buy it now, so if you don't mind, would you go with me? I don't dare to go by myself..."

"...CLum...Clumsy Girl Aki-chan?"

"Yes, and it's the UK-version."

Haruka held her hands together tightly, looking as though she was ready to move out any minute.

"...Haha!"

Looking at the serious expression on Haruka's face, I felt like laughing, but at the same time, I also breathed a sigh of relief.

--That's right, no matter what, Haruka is Haruka.

Although the glamorous person with brilliant piano skills who's always surrounded by a horde of admirers is also Haruka, but right now, the girl who's smile is finally looking like that of a high school student's, her eyes shining with happiness as she talks about a Made-in-England Akihabara figurine is also the real Haruka.

"Eh? Did...Did I say anything wrong?"

Haruka reacted with a confused expression as she blinked. This was the innoocent Haruka that I know.

"No, You didn't say anything wrong."

"?"

Haruka became even more confused.

"I don't really understand what's going on...But, let's just..."

"Alright, let's go."

I answered without any hesitation, because I had no reason to reject her.

"Great! Let's go! Now! Now!"

Haruka dragged me towards the exit as she squealed like a little kid, but I stopped her.

"But before we go, I want to tell you something."

"Hmm? What is it?"

Haruka leaned her head to one side like a young bird.

No matter what, this was something that I have to tell her.

"Right--Haruka, congratulations on winning the competition."

Haruka reacted with a blank expression at first, but then she grinned at me while nodding furiously as she understood what I had just said.

"Than...Thank you!"

Haruka's smile was like a flower in full bloom.

--Even though many things have happened today, but as long as I get to see Haruka's smile, everything has been worth it.

I think...that this should be the end of today's events.

Even though I have the feeling that I'm forgetting something.

A strange feeling was tingling in my mind.

Hmm--

But no matter how much I tried, I couldn't remember what I was forgetting.

...Oh well, since I can't remember anything, then it shouldn't be anything important!

"Yuuto-san! Hurry up! If we don't hurry up, it's going to be sold out!"

"Alright, let's go."

Because of Haruka's incessant hurrying, I stopped trying to remember what I was forgetting to follow Haruka out of the hotel.

Twenty-six hours later.

"Sob...My crabs...Are my Matsuba crabs ready yet..."

"...We're starving to death...Yuu-chan..."

Returning home (the strange thing was, the door and television that had previously been broken were miraculously fixed by the time I got home), I found two young ladies (Occupation: Secretary and teacher) who weren't able to cook for themselves lying on the floor of my living room like zombies, before finally remembering what I had forgotten twenty-six hours before.

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| Back to [[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume2_Illustrations|Illustrations]]
| Return to [[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume2_Chapter6|Chapter 6]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu

2011-02-07T02:18:08Z

Dragonst: /* Volume 2 */

[[Image:Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu_vol_1_cover.jpg|230px|thumb|Volume 1 Cover]]

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu (乃木坂春香の秘密, lit. Haruka Nogizaka's Secret) is a Japanese light novel series by Yūsaku Igarashi, with illustrations by Shaa.

You can also read the Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu novel in the following languages:

*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu (Greek)|Ελληνικά (Greek)]]

==Story Synopsis==
The main character, Ayase Yuuto is your average boy without any special traits. He attends a private high school where he is one of the many and doesn't stand out, until, one day, he happens to discover the secret of the school princess Nogizaka Haruka, and his life changes drastically from there on.

Haruka, the school's most unattainable girl, is so idolized in the school for both, her looks and intelligence, that her classmates nickname her Nuit Étoile (The Silver Star of the Night) and Lumière du Clavier (The Shining Princess on the Piano). However, nobody knows that it is only a fake role she assumes to hide her true nature. In reality she is a die-hard fan of anime, manga, and otaku culture.

== Translation ==

=== [[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Registration Page|Registration]] ===

Those who wish to contribute are asked to first notify a supervisor beforehand.

'''Translators are asked to [[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Registration Page|register]] which chapters they're working on'''

===Format Standards===
'''Every Chapter (after editing) must conform to the general format guidelines.'''
*[[Format_guideline|General Format/Style Guideline]]

== Updates ==

*July 18, 2009 - Volume 1 Chapter 1 completed.
*August 2, 2009 - Volume 1 Chapter 2 completed.
*December 25, 2009 - Volume 1 Chapter 3 completed.
*December 17, 2010 - Volume 1 Chapter 4 completed.
*December 20, 2010 - Volume 1 Epilogue completed.
*December 20, 2010 - Volume 1 Author's Notes completed.

== Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu by Yūsaku Igarashi ==

===Volume 1===
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Prologue|Prologue]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Epilogue|Epilogue]]
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume1_Author's Notes|Author's Notes]]

===Volume 2===
::*Novel Illustrations
::*[[Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume2_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]
::*Chapter 6
::*Chapter 7
::*Chapter 8
::*Epilogue
::*Author's Notes

===Volume 3===
::*Novel Illustrations
::*Chapter 9
::*Chapter 10
::*Chapter 11
::*Chapter 12
::*Author's Notes

==Teaser==
[[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Teaser 1|Teaser 1]], [[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Teaser 2|Teaser 2]], [[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Teaser 3|Teaser 3]], [[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Teaser 4|Teaser 4]], [[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Teaser 5|Teaser 5]], [[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Teaser 6|Teaser 6]] and [[Nogizaka_Haruka_no_Himitsu:Teaser 7|Teaser 7]] forum translation by [[User:ShadowZeroHeart|ShadowZeroHeart]]

==Project Staff==

*Project Administrator: [[User:ShadowZeroHeart|ShadowZeroHeart]]
*Project Supervisor:

===Translators===

:*[[user:Dragonst|Dragonst]]

All translators who are interested all welcome.

===Editors===

All editors who speak English proficiently are welcomed.

==Series Overview==

*Volume 1 - Released 2004.10.25 ISBN 4-8402-2830-2
*Volume 2 - Released 2005.6.25 ISBN 4-8402-3059-5
*Volume 3 - Released 2005.12.25 ISBN 4-8402-3234-2
*Volume 4 - Released 2006.6.25 ISBN 4-8402-3447-7
*Volume 5 - Released 2006.12.25 ISBN 4-8402-3634-8
*Volume 6 - Released 2007.6.25 ISBN 978-4-8402-3880-9
*Volume 7 - Released 2007.12.25 ISBN 978-4-8402-4115-1
*Volume 8 - Released 2008.7.25 ISBN 978-4-04-867127-9
*Volume 9 - Released 2008.12.25 ISBN 978-4-04-867419-5

Seitokai no Ichizon

2011-01-05T14:00:58Z

Dragonst: /* Volume 3 - Seitokai no Sanshin */

[[Image:Seitokai_no_Ichizon_vol_1_cover.jpg|thumb|Volume 1 Cover]]

Seitokai no Ichizon (生徒会の一存) is volume one of the light novel series Hekiyō Gakuen Seitokai Gijiroku (碧陽学園生徒会議事録) written by Sekina Aoi, illustrated by Kira Inugami and published by Fujimi Fantasia Bunko since January 19, 2008.

==Story Synopsis==

The student council members of a certain high school are chosen by an extremely unique method: They are chosen based on their popularity with the other students of the school. This unique balloting system has resulted in a student council full of pretty girls, with the third-year Sakurano Kurimu as the student council president. However, one member of the student council did not get in based on popular vote, but by taking advantage of a loophole which specifies that the student who tops the school in the year-end examinations may choose to join the student council. That student is Sugisaki Ken, a guy obsessed with eroge whose goal is to make the student council into his own personal harem!

== Translation ==

=== [[Seitokai no Ichizon:Registration Page|Registration]] ===

Those who wish to contribute are asked to first notify a supervisor beforehand.

'''Translators are asked to [[Seitokai no Ichizon:Registration Page|register]] which chapters they're working on'''

===Format Standards===
'''Every Chapter (after editing) must confirm to the general format guidelines.'''
*[[Format_guideline|General Format/Style Guideline]]

== Updates ==
*12th October 2009
** Seitokai no Ichizon teaser project initiated.

==The ''Hekiyō Gakuen Seitokai Gijiroku'' series by Sekina Aoi==
'''Teaser for:'''

===Volume 1 - Seitokai no Ichizon===
*[[Seitokai no Ichizon:Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Seitokai no Ichizon:Teaser 1|Teaser 1]] ("ON AIR" from Volume 1 Chapter 3)
Forum translation done by [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]]
*[[Seitokai no Ichizon:Volume 1 Chapter 6|Teaser 2]] (Volume 1 Chapter 6)
Forum translation sponsored by [[User:Negator|Negator]]
*[[Seitokai no Ichizon:Teaser 2|Teaser 3]] (from Volume 1 Extra Chapter "The creatively writing student council")
Forum translation done by [[User:ShadowZeroHeart|ShadowZeroHeart]]
===Volume 3 - Seitokai no Sanshin===
*[[Seitokai no Sanshin:Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Seitokai no Ichizon:Volume 3 Chapter 2|Teaser 4]] (from Volume 3 Chapter 2 "The student council that's starting on a journey or The LRLRLLLLRRRRR○□×△←→-ing Student Council" )
Forum translation done by [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]]

===Volume 4 - Seitokai no Shisan===
*[[Seitokai no Shisan:Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Seitokai no Ichizon:Teaser 3|Teaser 5]] (from Volume 4 Chapter 4 "The second radio broadcast")
Forum translation sponsored by [[User:Negator|Negator]]

==The ''Hekiyō Gakuen Seitokai Mokushiroku'' spin-off series by Sekina Aoi==
'''Teaser for:'''

===Volume 1 - Seitokai no Nichijou===
*[[Seitokai no Nichijō:Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
*[[Seitokai no Nichijou:Volume 1 Chapter 2|Teaser 6]] (Volume 1 Chapter 2: "The Student Council President's Opening Address")
Forum translation done by [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]]

'''If you enjoyed the teasers, why don't you tell us in the [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=3034 Feedback Thread]'''

==Series Overview==

*Vol. 1: ISBN 978-4-8291-3252-4, 19. January 2008 (生徒会の一存, Seitokai no Ichizon)
*Vol. 2: ISBN 978-4-8291-3278-4, 19. April 2008 (生徒会の二心, Seitokai no Nishin)
*Vol. 3: ISBN 978-4-8291-3313-2, 19. July 2008 (生徒会の三振, Seitokai no Sanshin)
*Vol. 4: ISBN 978-4-8291-3366-8, 20. January 2009 (生徒会の四散, Seitokai no Shisan)
*Vol. 5: ISBN 978-4-8291-3390-3, 20. April 2009 (生徒会の五彩, Seitokai no Gosai)
*Vol. 6: ISBN 978-4-8291-3417-7, 18. July 2009 (生徒会の六花, Seitokai no Rikka)

Spin-off: Hekiyō Gakuen Seitokai Mokushiroku (碧陽学園生徒会黙示録) since 20. September 2008.

*Vol. 1: ISBN 978-4-8291-3328-6, 20. September 2008 (生徒会の日常, Seitokai no Nichijō)
*Vol. 2: ISBN 978-4-8291-3440-5, 19. September 2009 (生徒会の月末, Seitokai no Getsumatsu)

==Project Status==

Project Status: '''Teaser'''

[[Category:Teasers]]

Seitokai no Ichizon:Volume 3 Chapter 2

2011-01-04T08:39:45Z

Dragonst: Completed the chapter

==Volume 3 Chapter 2 (~68%)==

(page 43-69)

"No matter what, anyone will be able to find courage within themselves!"

Kaichou stuck out her small chest as she proudly regurgitated a line from some random book as usual.

And the reason behind her choice words today was......

"RPG games always place the fate of the world in the hands of a chosen few, and that pisses me off! Let's get everyone to fight!"

"Yes, yes......Just start playing."

Mafuyu-chan attempted to calm Kaichou down, who was throwing a tantrum at the display screen. But Kaichou still had an extremely unhappy look on her face.

Today Mafuyu-chan had brought an entire set of gaming equipment (including the display screen) from the Gaming Club to the student council room. As to why it had become like this......It all started a few days ago when Kaichou's classmate skipped school so as to buy an RPG game that was being released on that day.

Of course Kaichou would be extremely angry about something like this.

"I don't understand what's all the rage about RPG games! It's unbelievable that anyone would spend dozens of hours on a game! If you want to appreciate good stories so much, then go read a book or watch the television!"

Kaichou lost her temper in the student council room......in front of Mafuyu-chan, and that was where it all went downhill.

"......Kaichou. Shall I take this as a declaration of war towards Mafuyu?"

She had stepped onto the few landmines that Mafuyu-chan, as a gaming maniac, had. But even then, Kaichou still insisted on defending her own opinion on the issue of students skipping school to buy RPG games.

"Hmph! Hmph! I, I won't take that back! Ev-even if you threaten me like this, it won't do any good! R,R,R,R,RPG games are just low-class entertainment!"

Although she was completely bowled over by Mafuyu-chan's aura, she still managed to squeeze out that sentence, thus igniting the flame of Mafuyu-chan's gaming spirit. Mafuyu-chan suddenly lowered her head, as a streak of light suddenly flashed across her eyes, giving an extremely suspicious smile as she gave Kaichou this proposition.

"Alright then, Kaichou. Mafuyu will bring an RPG game over next week for Kaichou to try, and if Kaichou finds it interesting, then please take your words back. If you don't find it interesting......Then Mafuyu will tell everyone during assembly to 'please try to limit the time you spend on games'!"

Upon hearing such a thing, all the other student council members couldn't help but hold their breath. For the gaming addict Mafuyu-chan to make such a declaration, it could be even be said that she was ready for a fight to the death.

Since it had come to that, then Kaichou was in no position to back off.

"Al-alright, I accept your challenge! In response, I won't let you get off so easily! You'll have to convince me, a game skeptic that RPGs are interesting!"

"Of course. Let Mafuyu create an RPG game herself. Together with Onee-chan, Sugisaki-senpai and Chizuru-senpai!"

Just like that, the showdown between Kaichou and Mafuyu-chan began.

"......Hah."

And they even got Minatsu, Chizuru-san and me involved.

In the following week, the four of us spent all our time on Mafuyu-chan's RPG game, completely neglecting our student council duties. Mafuyu-chan laid the technical foundations for the game, while the three of us took on the roles of script-writer, voicing, and system designer, and also had to think of a theme for the game......

That was a physically draining undertaking, for Mafuyu-chan never compromised when it came to games......She worked us to the bone until the wee hours of the morning every day, until we were but empty husks of our former selves.

And just like that......Today. Today finally arrived.

Ignoring Minatsu, Chizuru-san and me, who had already become corpses, the two of them began their showdown in front of the display screen.

Kaichou seemed to be playing this sort of game, was holding the controller while listening to Mafuyu-chan's instructions. Even though they were only at the title screen of the game.

<<~Eternal Crimson~Tooi[[Talk:Seitokai_no_Ichizon:Volume_3_Chapter_2|*]] Sekai>>

Behind the two of them, I stared at the title screen that had appeared in front of my eyes for at least a thousand times. It wasn't particularly impressive or creative. Just a coloured title on a black background. Including the contents, it was only a SFC-level product, but it should be just right for a beginner like Kaichou.

Kaichou immediately had a question.

"......How do you read this?"

"It's pronounced as 'tooisekai'. It could mean either 'Ten Disparate Worlds', or 'The Farawar World', and also, because ten is pronounced as 'to', the title of the game will become 'seitokai (student council)', if you change the order of the words, it's a brilliant title."

"Hmm, hmm......I can see that you put in a lot of effort in this."

Kaichou grudgingly sounded her appreciation for the title. Mafuyu-chan happily nodded her head.

"But the title has no connection whatsoever with the story itself!"

"Then what's the point of the title!"

Kaichou rebutted her. Mafuyu-chan smiled sheepishly.

"No, because we came up with the title last, so......"

"There's no point in coming up with such a good title if your content isn't good enough!"

"Alright, alright. Since this world is filled with fantasy games that have no notion of 'final', and dungeon adventure games where dragons turn out to be not so important after all."

"......Fine. Then let's begin......Hmm? Why doesn't anything happen when I press the button......"

"Ah, Kaichou, you won't be able to start the game like this. If you want to start, you'll have to input 'LRLRLLLLRRRRR○□×△←→' first."

"Such difficulty at the title screen! If the creator wasn't with the player, then no one would be able to start the game!"

"I experimented with placing an end-game difficulty level at the title screen."

"You're merely pulling a huge prank aren't you!"

Kaichou managed to correctly input the opening sequence while grumbling about the difficulty level.

"......It was hell when we all forgot that password."

Minatsu, who was sitting beside me, muttered......Because I couldn't recall any memories of the past week, I ignored her.

Kaichou finally began the game.

"The main character's name is fixed as Kurimu......"

"Because this is an RPG game that's specially made for Kaichou."

"Well, that's alright I guess......"

Kaichou continued playing the game, even though she was only pressing the button to skip through the opening dialogue that gave an overview of the game world and the environment that the main character is in.

In short, the premise of the game was like this.

"One day, Cherry Kurimu, the teenage girl with an apologetic body, suddenly said something stupid along the lines of 'I have to defeat the demon king'. Her parents and relatives ignored her stupid words and told her worriedly, 'Girl, why don't you go for a check-up at the hospital', to which Kurimu responded by starting on her adventurous journey wearing only her pajamas."

"There are already many weird things!"

"Because the character is modeled after Kaichou."

"What do you mean by that!"

Kaichou muttered under breath as she continued the game. Anyway, she got into the wilderness, going towards the first village, 'Lleh's Village' from her home.

"Just a fun fact, if you reverse the letters, it'll become 'Hell's village'."

"Just where am I going wearing only my pajamas and sprouting nonsense!"

Although Kaichou continued to complain, she had to continue playing. Kurimu used her special ability 'Inability to feel pain' to move through the wilderness that was dotted by patches of poisonous swamps.

"Why am I so weird!?"

"Because the character is modeled after Kaichou."

"Don't give me that kind of answer!"

Kaichou finally met an enemy. The screen changed to the battle screen.

<<'Serial killer' appeared!>>

"I seem to have gotten into a fight with a powerful fellow in my first battle of the game!"

"It's alright. He's just a creep."

"A Creep!?"

"Yes, Kaichou. The battle is fought by selecting commands. Please select 'Fight'."

"Logically speaking, I think one should 'Escape' when coming into contact with a serial killer......"

"Don't mind it. It's only Kurimu-chan anyway."

"What kind of reason is that!?......Argh, never mind. Hmm, 'Fight'."

After Kaichou selected the command, the battle began.

<<Kurimu attacked! Dealt 50 damage to 'Serial Killer'! 'Serial Killer' was destroyed!>>

"See, you won didn't you, Kaichou."

"What kind of person am I! I actually killed a serial killer in one hit!?"

"Because you're the chosen one."

"I've been chosen by the devil!"

During the time when Kaichou continued her complaining, the battle ended and the Kurimu was brought back to the wilderness.

After walking for a while more, Kurimu met another enemy.

<<'Hated Handsome Boy' appeared!>>

"This enemy was definitely modeled after Sugisaki!"

"How, how did you know that!"

I couldn't help but shudder at Kaichou's deductive ability. Kaichou sighed, saying 'never mind......', and selected the command 'Fight'."

<<Kurimu attacked! 40 Damage! 'Hated Handsome Boy' became 'Loser with a Pock-marked Face' and ran away>>

"Was I aiming for the face!?"

"Sometimes you might do a critical hit like that."

"I hate this system!"

The battle ended. In the next moment, a lively trumpet tune sounded.

<<Kurimu Leveled Up!>>

"Hmm? Mafuyu-chan, what's that?"

"You leveled up. In an RPG, you accumulate 'experience points' from killing enemies. Once you accumulate a certain amount of experience points, you'll level up."

"What happens when I level up?"

"That character will become stronger. The damage that you take from enemies will decrease, while the damage that you deal will increase......That's how you become stronger."

"Hmm......"

Kaichou skipped through the congratulatory message, and came to the screen that reported the level up conditions.

<<Cruelty increased by 2! Maximum time whereby Kurimu ignores pain increased by 4! Sneaky hands increased by 3! Hair grew slightly longer! Kurimu became 1cm shorter!>>

"It feels like I've become stronger in strange areas!"

"Because the character's modeled after Kaichou."

"And for some reason, I've become shorter!"

"Because the character's modeled after Kaichou."

"Do you intend to answer every question with that answer!?"

Kaichou was already tired......This isn't good. If this goes on, she surely won't find RPG games fun.

Chizuru-san whispered to me,

"It felt really interesting when we were making the game......"

"That's true, since we won't be playing the game anyway. And we became extremely weird after going without sleep for several days."

"Now that we look at it......We've created a really 'impressive' game."

"You're right. It's already past the level whereby one could describe it with words such as rubbish game."

The two of us sighed at the same time......Just what had we spent an entire week creating.

Although Kaichou had already lost the motivation to play the game, Mafuyu-chan made her continue, finally reaching the first village without meeting anymore enemies.

"Hmm, the scene changed?"

"You've gone into the village. You don't need to fight here, just talk to people and buy equipment."

"Hmm......"

"Ah, anyway, please talk to the person in front of you."

"Hmm......like this?"

Kaichou pressed the button. And thus, the villager began to speak.

"Welcome to Lleh's Village!"

"Oh oh......I finally met a normal person!"

Kaichou was moved by some strange reason.

The villager continued.

"Even though my entire family was killed by the serial killer yesterday, but it's alright! Welcome, welcome! Welcome, adventurer!"

"Self-delusion! This villager's refusing to face up to reality!"

"Everyone......has a few worries of their own."

"For someone in the first village, the background impact's too big don't you think so!"

"It's alright, just ignore him and continue. He'll say the same thing no matter how many times you talk to him."

"That's because of the system isn't it!? Because you didn't set him as 'that kind of person' right!?"

Ignoring Kaichou's shouts of complaint, Mafuyu-chan gave her next instruction.

"Then......why don't you go get some equipment. Kurimu-chan's still wearing her pajamas."

"I forget that setting!"

And so, Kaichou went towards the defensive equipment store.

"Welcome! We have the best defensive equipment in the game!......No, no, I'm telling the truth. No, I, I'm not lying! The, the price here is the same as the other villages! Seriously! We're a chain of stores, so our prices won't change! Hmm? You're......an adventurer? I, I see......Ah, hang on. 300G seems to be too cheap for that......"

"The shopkeeper feels extremely suspicious!"

"Don't mind him, start buying defensive equipment. You should have gotten a lot of money from the serial killer and the hated handsome boy."

"I am unable to sense even a trace of righteousness from this character!"

Although she said that, but since Kurimu was still wearing her pajamas, Kaichou could only choose to take a look at the equipment on sale.

<<School Swimsuit (400G) Kamehame Toga (300G) Female Dominatrix Tight Leather Outfit (3000G)>>

"This obviously reflects the various fetishes of the student council members!"

Kaichou looked towards the three of us. We quickly looked away.

"Tsk......But what do I do. I don't want to wear any of those."

"It's alright, you don't have to buy anything here then. There's U-IQLO next to the defensive equipment shop."

"There's even UNI-LO!"

And thus, Kaichou bought a set of normal clothes at UNIQL-.

"And now......let's go to the weapons shop. Even though I don't think there'll be any normal weapons......"

"Well, a teenage girl in -NIQLO walking around brandishing a weapon is already strange enough. Every other thing is merely a small problem."

"The theme of this RPG must be 'Twisted Soul'!"

"Because Kaichou seems to dislike the generic storyline of warriors fighting demon kings, so we tweaked the formula a little."

"How is this 'a little', you people have tweaked the formula until it's close to breaking point!"

The two of them held that kind of conversation as Kurimu walked towards the weapons shop.

"Welcome! We have the best weapons in this area!"

"Hmm? The shopkeeper's pretty normal......"

Kaichou muttered to herself as she looked at the weapons for sale.

<<Short Sword (400G) White Wood Staff (300G) Spinning Blade (550G)>>

"Hmm, hmm? Even though I'm not really knowledgeable about RPGs......But it feels very normal. At least there aren't any twisted elements in this store."

Kaichou gave a peaceful smile. But at this moment, Mafuyu-chan gave a hint.

"Ah, Kaichou. Please use the <<Membership Card>> that you obtained when you destroyed the serial killer. Something good will happen."

"Ah, will I get a discount?"

Kaichou used the item as instructed. And then......

"......Fu. I see. Madam, so you're......from 'that place' aren't you. Alright, please follow me."

"A staircase to the basement seems to have appeared!"

"Please follow the shopkeeper, Kaichou."

Kaichou timidly followed the shopkeeper into the basement.

"Come, welcome to the 'inside' weapons shop! Heh heh heh......Please feel free to choose whatever weapon you like."

"Ah, ah, and I thought he was a normal person!"

"That's how the world works."

"This game is abnormally deeps in a certain twisted way!"

Looking at the weapons for sale in the shop.

<<Excalibur (3G) Lucifer's Demon Blade (2G) Laser Rifle (4G) Bazooka (1G) Nuclear Missile (5G) Mega Paticle Cannon (4G) Mobile Suit (6G) Time Skip Machine (2G) Shiina Minatsu's Favourite Tiger Claw (2000G) Akaba Chizuru's Favourite Whip (2000G) Sugisaki Ken's Ero-book (2000G)>>

"A whole lot of extremely powerful weapons are being sold at drop dead prices!"

"Because it's the 'inside."

"How do they even earn money like this!? And, why are only the student council members' weapons extremely expensive!"

"You get what you pay for. The student council weapons are 500 times more powerful than the Mega Particle Cannon."

"Who are you people!"

"In this world, the student council members, including Kaichou, are the five strongest warriors."

"Then I have no reason to go adventuring and gain levels right! Since I'm the strongest already!"

"Becoming even stronger after becoming the strongest......This is the joy of continuing a RPG after completing the main storyline!"

"I don't see the point in making me the strongest from the beginning!"

Kaichou continued her endless stream of complaints as she chose a weapon. Since she didn't want to use any of the student council weapons, Kaichou went with the mega particle cannon in the end......but even that was a little too overpowered.

"I want to buy weapons in a healthy and wholesome weapons shop run by seven teenage boys and girls......"

Kaichou was exhausted. So I stepped in to give her some extra motivation.

"We're sorry for not putting in that kind of special weapons shop in this game, but this game isn't very long, so please work hard for a while longer."

"......What's there to work hard for, the girl who's part of the 'five strongest', who can kill a serial killer in one hit just got herself a mega particle cannon you know? I don't think I'll lose even if I don't work hard."

She's right. The main character is already one of the strongest in the world from the beginning. Even though she was only buying weapons at the first village. But that was something that couldn't be avoided. To display the fun of RPG games in such a short period of time was extremely hard.

"Because our focus is on the story."

"That's counted as well!?"

"You'll surely burst into tears at the ending."

"The script-writer who's able to direct this kind of situation to that kind of ending should be a genius right!"

Kaichou seemed to have become familiarised with the controls, as she continued the game even while complaining incessantly.

Going into the items shop, Kaichou ignored the weird-looking item names and just bought some potions before exiting the place. After talking to all the villagers and ignoring all of the bloody and violent background information, Kaichou finally found out that her next mission was to defeat the 'Demon who is tormenting the villagers', and set off.

Kaichou returned to the wilderness once again.

"Ah, Kaichou. The location is---"

"The cave in the south right? I know."

"......I see."

Mafuyu-chan didn't even had a chance to give a hint before Kaichou cut her off, moving swiftly southwards. She used her mega particle cannon to easily dispatch the 'Serial Killer Bass (slightly stronger)' and 'Fuwa Fuwa Loser', seemingly enjoying her own overwhelming attack power as she giggled, looking satisfied when she leveled up again.

After watching Kaichou play through the game for a while more, Mafuyu-chan silently turned towards us and smiled before whispering.

"(Kaichou's already familiar with RPG games.)"

"(About that, I think it's because of the balancing effect of not needing to slowly level the character. Though the fun is cut by about half, but the charm of the RPG has been adequately displayed to Kaichou.)"

"(I still think that it'll be better if the game was harder.)"

"(It's alright, Minatsu. With regards to Aka-chan, this is just right. That child loves to be the strongest, and to be praised. Look)"

Chizuru looked at the display screen. There, Kaichou had already dispatched the Boss of the cave 'Village Tormentor' without breaking a sweat, and had returned to the village. She was being talked of as a hero and even a god by the villagers.

"Ohohohohohohohohoho.......Villagers, more praise, more praise!"

Kaichou was completely immersed in the game......Such an easy-to-understand person. She really did love to be praised.

"See?"

Chizuru-san winked at us. The three of us also gave her an extremely suspicious smile in return.

"Now what do I do?"

Because Kaichou asked a question, Mafuyu-chan turned around and gave her a hint.

"Then you can finally challenge the final dungeon!"

"So fast!?"

"It's alright, Kurimu is already the one of the strongest."

"That's right, she's already holding a mega particle cannon......"

"Since it has come to this already, only the final BOSS is left."

"It might be a bit too late to ask, but what's the overall mission in this game?"

"To defeat the demon king, didn't Kurimu-chan say that at the beginning of the game?"

"I remembered an explanation along the lines of 'crazy girl'. Does the demon king really exist?"

"She does. The Demon King <<Majiru>>."[[Talk:Seitokai_no_Ichizon:Volume_3_Chapter_2|*]]

"I can see from the real-world person that I won't be able to win!"

She's right, but that's also the reason why Majiru was the perfect choice to be the final boss. THAT Majiru-sensei, THAT unbreakable aura, THAT feeling of futility, but let's put that aside for now.

Mafuyu-chan was persuading Kaichou.

"Anyway, you have to defeat the Demon King."

"You're, you're right......Mm, bad guys must be defeated."

"Ah, no, Majiru's a good person. Although she's a bit too forceful at times, she's still a good person."

"Then I'm not a righteous hero anymore am I!"

"Well, you're right. Kurimu's more of a crazy terrorist type of character. She's an un-needed existence that throws rocks down on to the peaceful world."

"I don't want to go to the final dungeon anymore!"

"Kaichou, you shouldn't be so stubborn."

"That's not the problem is it!?"

That's bad. Kaichou doesn't want to go adventuring......Looks like I have no choice but to step in.

I whispered the words of a devil's temptation into Kaichou's ears.

"Kaichou, listen carefully. Kurimu isn't a righteous character. But as long as you defeat the demon king, the next ruler will be you."

"Eh?"

"The moment you defeat Majiru is the moment you become the ruler of the world."

"Ruler!"

"You won't be a seitokai kaichou (student council president) anymore, but a sekai kaichou (president of the world)."

"Sekai Kaichou!"

Kaichou's excitement level began to spike.

"You've already received such praise for merely saving a village. When you conquer the world......everyone in the world will praise you."

"Ah, ah......popularity......"

Kaichou's eyes started to emit a strange, shining light. In the game, the 'Airship going towards the demon king's castle' suddenly appeared in front of the village for no reason.

"......Demon King......Hmm, have to defeat her, ah."

Kaichou finally sold her soul to the devil. She got into the airship and started to fly the ship at an inhuman speed without any prior instructions.

"Watch out, Demon King!"

Kaichou was now completely synchronized with the Kurimu in the game......That's right, this is the joy of playing RPG games! Synchronizing with the main character, becoming one with the main character!......Although Kaichou seems to have gone slightly overboard in this respect.

"That's the demon king's castle!"

After flying for a while, an evil-looking castle appeared on the horizon. It really did look like a place where Majiru-sensei would live. We all felt that the real Majiru lived like that in reality as well......

"Attack!"

Kaichou bashed into the castle without hesitation. Kurimu-chan jumped down from the airship and began her last adventure.

After a few steps, a creep-level enemy appeared.

<<Demon King Bodyguard Appeared!>>

"You're blocking my way!"

Kaichou used her mega particle cannon on the enemy the moment she went into battle. An extremely long row of numbers appeared above the enemy. But......

"He, he's not dead!?"

No wonder that's a creep of the final dungeon. He didn't die even after taking that ridiculous amount of damage.

For the first time ever, the enemy had a chance to attack.

<<Demon King Bodyguard attacked! Dealt 10 damage to Kurimu! Kurimu starts to cry!>>

"Hmph, my HP is more than a billion, that kind of small damage......Hey, why am I crying! I'm so weak! I'm such a weak-minded individual!"

<<Kurimu lost her will to fight. She was shocked by a little prick to her shoulder, and ran away while sobbing loudly>>

"I ran away! Me, the strongest character with the mega particle cannon ran away because of a small prick!"

"My game is a perfect representation of reality!......What a game!"

Mafuyu-chan was shamelessly praising her own game.

Though Kaichou was shocked by her own weakness, she continued to forge ahead in the castle, meeting another creep soon after.

<<Demon King Bodyguard Appears!>>

"Gah......What do I do! Even though I'm overwhelmingly more powerful, but I'll still run away!"

Although she was confused, Kaichou still chose to 'Fight'. But she still wasn't able to kill the enemy in one hit!

<<Demon King Bodyguard attacked! Dealt 10 damage to Kurimu!>>

"Argh......"

Kaichou's face twisted into scary proportions. But......the battle took a surprising turn.

<<But Kurimu endured the pain! Even though she was shaking violently as though she was about to burst into tears any moment, she still endured the pain! 'Who-who-who-who's afraid!' Kurimu shouts towards the enemy!>>

"Oh oh!"

The atmosphere in the student council room heated up. Even though it was only a creep battle, but everyone was particularly emotional. That LOLI Kaichou......everyone was moved by the image of her struggling to stand up against the bodyguards!

Even Kaichou seemed to have been moved by this show of willpower, as she was completely emotionally synchronized with her in-game character.

"Nicely said, Me! Even though your brain is a little strange, you're still a child who can do anything you put your mind to! Go! Mega Particle Cannon!"

Kurimu used her mega particle cannon again! And then......

<<The Demon King Bodyguard has been destroyed! Kurimu obtained 6 billion experience points! Kurimu leveled up a lot of times! And......Kurimu obtained an infinite amount of a certain thing, and leveled up again......Obtained an infinite amount of gold!>>

Even the system message was emotionally moving.

"Fu......Kurimu, you're such a brilliant child......"

Like Mafuyu-chan, Kaichou was praising herself......Even though she merely didn't run away......

After that, due to the many times that Kurimu had leveled up in that battle, all the other creeps were easily dispatched as Kaichou moved closer to her goal.

And then......

"You've finally came, Cherry Kurimu......No, Seitokai Kaichou, Sakurano Kurimu!"

"She saw through the in-game persona to the real player immediately!"

Kaichou finally came face-to-face with the demon king Majiru, and was immediately defeated by her ability to see through to the other side of the screen.

"I knew that you would be able to make it here. Because the game is so easy that even Sakurano can play it."

"Majiru,don't you think you're being a little personal here! I feel that this battle is unwinnable from a completely different perspective now!"

Majiru-sensei was, from a variety of perspectives, very powerful.

"But it's true that you cannot defeat me. Because......"

Majiru said as she took out a weapon from under her cloak. That was......

"I've equipped basically every single one of the best equipment available in this world, my stat points are at the maximum allowed in this game, my HP and MP are recovered to full at the beginning of each turn, and of course, instant-death attacks are useless against me. In other worlds, it's theoratically impossible to defeat me in this game!"

"This is long past the question of whether you're despicable or not! The balance of the entire game has been shattered!"

Kaichou turned towards us. We swifty looked away from her......You're right, Majiru's character is way overpowered. If you have to know why......It's because the real Majiru-sensei had intervened when we were making the game, changing the settings of the demon king herself, and forbidding us from changing it back to normal by using her powers as the teacher-consultant of the student council.

In other words......This Majiru was the strongest, in all senses of the word.

Kaichou sank completely into despair. Although it wasn't obvious due to graphical limitations, but Cherry Kurimu should be shaking like a leaf right now as well.

The Demon King Majiru took a step towards Kurimu.

"But Kurimu. I'm not the devil. So how about this? If you're willing to swear allegience to me, I'll give you half of the world. Let the two of us rule the world together."

"Half of the world!"

Kaichou was sorely tempted. It was an unwinnable battle anyway. Then isn't this the best alternative. Such thoughts were written clearly on Kaichou's face.

Regarding this part of the game, even we, the developers didn't know what would happen, because Majiru-sensei had changed all of our original work to suit her own fantasies. It was perfectly probably that choosing to obtain half the world would lead to the happy ending right now, because that Majiru-sensei didn't do things like how normal people did.

Kaichou gripped the controller in her hand tightly, silent.

Frustration, frustration, frustration, frustration......

And then......

"I've decided."

Kaichou made her decision with a steely glint in her eyes.

Kurimu, who had not spoken a word ever since she came face-to-face with the Demon King, finally spoke!

"I will not compromise! I've already come this far! I might had accepted your proposal if you had offered me eariler! But now......now that I've understood how one must bravely face anything that stands in the way even if one is frightened to bits to succeed, I will not fall to temptation like this! I......I will prove my righteousness!"

Demon King Majiru and Cherry Kurimu goes into battle!

The surprising development had all the members of the student council clenching their fists in anticipation!

<<Demon King Majiru appeared!>>

"You foolish girl......You disappoint me, Sakurano, choosing to challenge me even though you know that you will definitely lose!"

"I will fight, even if there's only a one percent chance of victory!"

"Haven't I told you that you don't have have a one percent chance of victory!"

<<Demon King Majiru attacked! The invisible weapon <Void> slices Kurimu, along with the dimension apart! Kurimu suffers 亣 damage!>>

"Which is why I already told you that you won't be able to win......"

"......It's not over yet!"

"What!"

<<Kurimu's special ability <I Don't Care> awakened! She treats this deathblow as it 'never happened before'!>>

"Hmph......You've merely extended your lifespan by a little bit. What could you possibly achieve with that."

"My turn! Attackkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!"

<<Kurimu attacked! The mega particle cannon scored a direct hit on the Demon King Majiru! Majiru suffered 30000 damage!>>

"It's useless!"

<<Majiru's Hp and Mp were restored to full!>>

"No matter how you attack me, I will be back to full health at the beginning of every turn! No matter how you dispel my attacks, you cannot defeat me!"

"......."

"......Although I had fun toying around with you, but it ends here, Sakurano!"

<Demon King Majiru's used her ultimate attack! The invisible weapon <Void> sliced Kurimu, along with the laws of existence into pieces! Kurimu's existence was completely eradicated!>>

"Hmph......Goodbye, Sakurano......"

".............It's still not over yet!"

"?! Wha--"

<<Sakurano's existence was restored!>>

"What is......happening? Why isn't she dead yet!"

"I am......Kurimu! My existence will never be erased from this world! Because......The players that have joined me in my quest have not given up on me! That's right......My other half is on the other side!"

"Ugh......"

"I am different from you, the 'Lonely but strongest existence', who is merely a programme! I......We are companions! We are companions whose friendship transcends time and space! As long as my companions believe in me, I will not lose to you, the 'strongest existence in this world'!"

"How......How can this be possible! This is......theoretically impossible--"

"Theory? Rules? These things......will be created by me, the 'Kaichou'!"

<<Kurimu attacks! The mega particle cannon......Kurimu throws the mega particle cannon away and claws at Majiru's face! 0 Points of damage!>>

"Wh,What are you trying to do. These attacks won't hurt me--"

<<Tears roll down the face of the Demon King Majiru! Majiru is unable to continue fighting!>>

"Wh,Wh......at......"

"It's over, Majiru. No matter how powerful you are......it is meaningless if you do not have the will to fight."

"......"

"No matter what, power depends on the person who wields it. Right, Majiru."

".......Haa.......Sakurano. I've.......Lost."

<<Demon King Majiru has been defeated! Kurimu has obtained......something that can be expressed in neither words nor experience points!>>

The battle finally ended.

......The entire student council was stunned......No one remembered writing such a, such a hot-blooded story......

Tears were even rolling about in Minatsu's eyes. Mafuyu-chan stared at the screen blankly from this bewildering development. And the main character of the story, kaichou was trembling uncontrollably, desperately trying to hold back tears as she gazed at the screen.

Chizuru-san and I looked at each other as we whispered to the other person.

(Th,This....is, probably......)

(Majiru-sensei right. Only she could have put in such a development.)

(Should we say that she's too clever......or that she's too devious?)

(You're right. To be honest, it's not even a problem of interest anymore. Look at how she acts, that person probably likes that kind of childish ending doesn't she.)

(Ah......True. But it is a good ending.)

(Even though the boss battle was needlessly exaggerated and pointless, but it really was a special ending wasn't it.)

Chizuru-san and I turned back to the screen.

After defeating the final boss, the game went into the ending screen.

The ending went like this:

"And so, Kurimu became the new demon king. Her family, who had looked down on her as they thought that there was something wrong with her head, suddenly changed and became extremely friendly to Kurimu. But Kurimu completely ignored them and surrounded herself with the people that she trusted the most. The five most powerful people (including herself), and the previous demon king, Majiru. People called them the 'student council', short form for 'the council of students who rule over every living being in the world'. The demon king and the student council, who had absolute power, did not abuse their power in anyway. And even though they were always engrossed in something extremely boring and never bothered about ruling the world properly, the world was extremely peaceful for some reason. Perhpas the demon king and the rest of the student council were trying to convey to everyone through their actions that things like power, strength and popularity were not important, for real happiness did not lie within these things. Just like this, Kurimu and her student council lived happily ever after. The end."

After the narration, the credits (which consisted solely of the members of the student council) started rolling.

Because kaichou keep her faced turned away from us, we didn't really know what to do. As the people's representative, I sneaked a glance at kaichou and saw that she was tearing up a little.

But after noticing that I was looking at her, kaichou hurriedly wiped the corners of her eyes with her sleeve before turning towards us as she stuck out her chest.

"Hmph, Hmph! What a we,weird game! This kind of thing will never sell!"

Kaichou mounted a stuttering defence of her position. In response, Mafuyu-chan giggled as she asked.

"So, kaichou, even though it didn't go exactly as Mafuyu expected......Can you change your stand that all RPG games are boring things now?"

"Gah......"

Kaichou's conviction wavered. And then she began her last struggle against the inevitable conclusion.

"Ah, but, that's because the script was rather well-written. I would have been moved even if it was a novel and not a RPG game......"

"But I think that the story can only be justified within a video game. Because of the references to the relationship between the player and the character."

"Gah!"

"And 'the happiness in leveling up' can never be experienced through paper don't you think so?"

"Ah, ah, ah......."

Kaichou was slowly being forced into a corner by Mafuyu-chan. She reluctantly looked away from Mafuyu-chan......But after seeing the cliche 'Congratulations! You've cleared the game!' screen after the credits finished, she started grinning widely.

"Kaichou, that's an expression of self-achievement."

"Gah......I, I get it! I'll admit it! RPG games aren't boring things!"
Mafuyu-chan, Minatsu, Chizuru-san and I high-fived each other and smiled back at kaichou.

Kaichou continued trying to make excuses by giving stupid ones like 'But, but I've only recognized that this RPG isn't a boring thing, but not every RPG in the world--', but nobody was listening to her.

Although the boss fight was a little surprising, but it still felt good to have something that we've made be recognized by other people.

The four of us just sat there as we savoured the feeling of accomplishment.

However, we were too caught up in our own feelings of accomplishment to notice how dangerous it is to get kaichou hooked onto something new, something that we would normally have smelled a mile away.

The very next day, kaichou told us this,

"This is the era of RPG games! Which is why we, the student council should make an official RPG after we finish publishing our books! Of course, I'll be the scriptwriter! Come on, let's start work--!"

......And just like this, a new nightmare began......one where we had to work through the night and didn't even get to rest on weekends.

But that's another story altogether.

......Or rather, I no longer have the strength to tell the story.
<noinclude>
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|-
| Return to [[Seitokai_no_Ichizon|Main Page]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

2010-01-30T07:10:25Z

Dragonst: /* Updates */

[[Image:Toradora! novel cover.jpg|200px|thumb|Volume 01 cover.]]
Toradora! (とらドラ！) project page. Everyone is welcome.

You can also read the Toradora series in these languages:

*[[Toradora! (German)|Deutsch (German)]]
*[[Toradora! (Greek)|Ελληνικά (Greek)]]
*[[Toradora (Italian)|Italiano (Italian)]]
*[[Toradora! (Romanian)|Română (Romanian)]]
*[[Toradora! (Russian)|Русский (Russian)]]
*[[Toradora! (Español)|Español (Spanish)]]
*[[Toradora (Saling Tagalog)|Wikang Tagalog (Tagalog)]]
*[[Toradora! (Turkish)|Türkçe (Turkish)]]

(Note: Translation progress varies for each version.)

==Story Synopsis==

Takasu Ryuuji begins his second year of high school trying to look his best. However, there is one thing that torments him: despite his gentle personality he has inherited his gangster father's intimidating eyes, which often leads to misunderstandings by his classmates. But all that is about to change, on the first day of the new school term he accidentally bumps into the most dangerous being in school - Aisaka Taiga, also known as the Palmtop Tiger. Despite her diminutive appearance, Taiga has a very negative attitude and has left a "bloody trail" wherever she goes, hence her nickname.

After his unfortunate encounter with Taiga, Ryuuji does his best to avoid her. Yet by chance he discovers that Taiga has a crush on his best friend Kitamura Yuusaku, while Taiga finds out about his crush on her best friend Kushieda Minori. And so Taiga decides to let Ryuuji help her hook up with Kitamura as her "personal servant", and in return, Taiga will help Ryuuji get closer to Minori.

Due to Ryuuji's obsession with cleanliness and the close proximity of Taiga's apartment block, besides sleeping, Taiga ends up spending most of her time at Ryuuji's place. Over time, Ryuuji witnesses a side of Taiga that people normally don't see, and their relationship becomes so close that rumours begin to spread about whether they are going out as a couple.

Thus begins the clash between the Tiger and the Dragon - Toradora!

== Translation ==

=== [[Toradora!:Registration Page|Registration]] ===

Those who wish to contribute are asked to first notify a supervisor beforehand.

'''Translators are asked to [[Toradora!:Registration Page|register]] which chapters they're working on'''

===Format Standards===
'''Every Chapter (after editing) must conform to the general format guidelines.'''
*[[Format_guideline|General Format/Style Guideline]]
*[[Toradora!: Naming Conventions|Toradora! Naming Conventions]]

==Updates==
*Dec 24, 2009 - Volume 8 Chapter 4 completed.
*Dec 30, 2009 - Volume 9 Chapter 3 completed.
*Jan 02, 2010 - Volume 8 Chapter 5 completed.
*Jan 30, 2010 - Volume 9 Chapter 4 completed.
Older updates can be found on the [[Toradora!:_Updates|Toradora! Updates page]].

==The ''Toradora!'' series by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuyuko_Takemiya Yuyuko Takemiya]==

===Volume 1 [[Toradora!:Volume1|(Full Text)]]===
::*[[Toradora!:Volume1_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume1_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume1_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume1_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume1_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume1_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume1_Chapter6|Chapter 6]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume1_Author's Notes|Author's Notes]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume1_Translator's Notes| Translator's Notes and References]]

===Volume 2 [[Toradora!:Volume2|(Full Text)]]===
::*[[Toradora!:Volume2_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume2_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume2_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume2_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume2_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume2_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume2_Chapter6|Chapter 6]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume2_Spin-off|Spin-off]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume2_Author's Notes|Author's Notes]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume2_Translator's Notes| Translator's Notes and References]]

===Volume 3 [[Toradora!:Volume3|(Full Text)]]===
::*[[Toradora!:Volume3_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume3_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume3_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume3_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume3_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume3_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume3_Author's Notes|Author's Notes]]

===Volume 4 [[Toradora!:Volume4|(Full Text)]]===
::*[[Toradora!:Volume4_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume4_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume4_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume4_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume4_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume4_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume4_Chapter6|Chapter 6]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume4_Author's Notes|Author's Notes]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume4_Translator's Notes| Translator's Notes and References]]

===Volume 5 [[Toradora!:Volume5|(Full Text)]]===
::*[[Toradora!:Volume5_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume5_Prologue|Prologue]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume5_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume5_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume5_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume5_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume5_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume5_Chapter6|Chapter 6]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume5_Chapter7|Chapter 7]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume5_Author's Notes|Author's Notes]]

===Volume 6 [[Toradora!:Volume6|(Full Text)]]===
::*[[Toradora!:Volume6_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume6_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume6_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume6_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume6_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume6_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume6_Chapter6|Chapter 6]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume6_Author's notes|Author's notes]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume6_Translator's Notes| Translator's Notes and References]]

===Volume 7 [[Toradora!:Volume7|(Full Text)]]===
::*[[Toradora!:Volume7_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume7_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume7_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume7_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume7_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume7_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume7_Author's Notes|Author's Notes]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume7_Translator's Notes| Translator's Notes and References]]

===Volume 8===
::*[[Toradora!:Volume8_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume8_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume8_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume8_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume8_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume8_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume8_Chapter6|Chapter 6]] (32%)
::*Author's Notes

===Volume 9===
::*[[Toradora!:Volume9_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume9_Prologue|Prologue]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume9_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume9_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume9_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume9_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
::*Chapter 5
::*Author's Notes

===Volume 10===
::*[[Toradora!:Volume10_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*Prologue
::*Chapter 1
::*Chapter 2
::*Chapter 3
::*Chapter 4
::*Chapter 5
::*Author's Notes

===Spin-Off - The Cherry Colored Tornado of Happiness===
::*[[Toradora!:Spin-Off_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*The Cherry Colored Tornado of Happiness
:::*Part 1 - Trigger Mechanism
:::*Part 2 - Emergency Alert Issued
:::*Part 3 - F12 Tornado
::*[[Toradora!:Spin-Off_Legend of the Black Catboy of Misfortune|Legend of the Black Tomcat of Misfortune]]
::*[[Toradora!:Spin-Off_Author's_Notes|Author's Notes]]

===Spin-Off 2 - Fall-Fattened Tiger===
::*[[Toradora!:Spin-Off_2_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Toradora!:Spin-Off_2_Fall_Fattened_Tiger|Fall-Fattened Tiger (10%)]]
::*When Spring is here, let's go to Gunma!
::*The End of Summer Vacation
::*Fall's here, let's go to the farm!
::*Teacher's Pet
::*[[Toradora!:Spin-Off_2_Postscript|Postscript]]

===Alternative Adaptation===

This script is considered an adaptation by [[user:caster13|Caster13]] who is using our script to adapt it into contemporary fluent English with appropriate English context.

Think of it as a English Spin-off based on Toradora!

You can read [[user:caster13|Caster13]] adaptation at [http://inky-text.livejournal.com/7571.html Livejournal The Literary Works of Caster] and/or discuss this adaptation on the forum [http://www.baka-tsuki.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=2435 here]

::*[[Toradora! ~Adaptation~:Volume1_Chapter1|Preview - Chapter 01- ]]

==Project Staff==

*Project Administrator:
*Project Supervisor:

===Translators===

:*[[user:Kinny_Riddle|Kinny Riddle]]
:*[[user:Trabius|Trabius]]
:*[[user:Pliky|Pliky]]
:*[[user:Dragonst|Dragonst]]

===Editors===

:*[[user:Dan|Dan]]
:*[[user:Chansey|Chansey]]
:*[[user:Akirasav|Akira]]
:*[[user:Nobuharu|Nobuharu]]

All editors that speak English proficiently are welcomed.

==More Information==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toradora The wikipedia article] and [http://www.baka-tsuki.net/forums/viewforum.php?f=53 the Baka-Tsuki forum for Toradora].

Toradora!

2010-01-30T06:55:19Z

Dragonst: /* Volume 9 */

[[Image:Toradora! novel cover.jpg|200px|thumb|Volume 01 cover.]]
Toradora! (とらドラ！) project page. Everyone is welcome.

You can also read the Toradora series in these languages:

*[[Toradora! (German)|Deutsch (German)]]
*[[Toradora! (Greek)|Ελληνικά (Greek)]]
*[[Toradora (Italian)|Italiano (Italian)]]
*[[Toradora! (Romanian)|Română (Romanian)]]
*[[Toradora! (Russian)|Русский (Russian)]]
*[[Toradora! (Español)|Español (Spanish)]]
*[[Toradora (Saling Tagalog)|Wikang Tagalog (Tagalog)]]
*[[Toradora! (Turkish)|Türkçe (Turkish)]]

(Note: Translation progress varies for each version.)

==Story Synopsis==

Takasu Ryuuji begins his second year of high school trying to look his best. However, there is one thing that torments him: despite his gentle personality he has inherited his gangster father's intimidating eyes, which often leads to misunderstandings by his classmates. But all that is about to change, on the first day of the new school term he accidentally bumps into the most dangerous being in school - Aisaka Taiga, also known as the Palmtop Tiger. Despite her diminutive appearance, Taiga has a very negative attitude and has left a "bloody trail" wherever she goes, hence her nickname.

After his unfortunate encounter with Taiga, Ryuuji does his best to avoid her. Yet by chance he discovers that Taiga has a crush on his best friend Kitamura Yuusaku, while Taiga finds out about his crush on her best friend Kushieda Minori. And so Taiga decides to let Ryuuji help her hook up with Kitamura as her "personal servant", and in return, Taiga will help Ryuuji get closer to Minori.

Due to Ryuuji's obsession with cleanliness and the close proximity of Taiga's apartment block, besides sleeping, Taiga ends up spending most of her time at Ryuuji's place. Over time, Ryuuji witnesses a side of Taiga that people normally don't see, and their relationship becomes so close that rumours begin to spread about whether they are going out as a couple.

Thus begins the clash between the Tiger and the Dragon - Toradora!

== Translation ==

=== [[Toradora!:Registration Page|Registration]] ===

Those who wish to contribute are asked to first notify a supervisor beforehand.

'''Translators are asked to [[Toradora!:Registration Page|register]] which chapters they're working on'''

===Format Standards===
'''Every Chapter (after editing) must conform to the general format guidelines.'''
*[[Format_guideline|General Format/Style Guideline]]
*[[Toradora!: Naming Conventions|Toradora! Naming Conventions]]

==Updates==
*Dec 24, 2009 - Volume 8 Chapter 4 completed.
*Dec 30, 2009 - Volume 9 Chapter 3 completed.
*Jan 02, 2010 - Volume 8 Chapter 5 completed.
Older updates can be found on the [[Toradora!:_Updates|Toradora! Updates page]].

==The ''Toradora!'' series by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuyuko_Takemiya Yuyuko Takemiya]==

===Volume 1 [[Toradora!:Volume1|(Full Text)]]===
::*[[Toradora!:Volume1_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume1_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume1_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume1_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume1_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume1_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume1_Chapter6|Chapter 6]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume1_Author's Notes|Author's Notes]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume1_Translator's Notes| Translator's Notes and References]]

===Volume 2 [[Toradora!:Volume2|(Full Text)]]===
::*[[Toradora!:Volume2_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume2_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume2_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume2_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume2_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume2_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume2_Chapter6|Chapter 6]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume2_Spin-off|Spin-off]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume2_Author's Notes|Author's Notes]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume2_Translator's Notes| Translator's Notes and References]]

===Volume 3 [[Toradora!:Volume3|(Full Text)]]===
::*[[Toradora!:Volume3_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume3_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume3_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume3_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume3_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume3_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume3_Author's Notes|Author's Notes]]

===Volume 4 [[Toradora!:Volume4|(Full Text)]]===
::*[[Toradora!:Volume4_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume4_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume4_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume4_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume4_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume4_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume4_Chapter6|Chapter 6]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume4_Author's Notes|Author's Notes]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume4_Translator's Notes| Translator's Notes and References]]

===Volume 5 [[Toradora!:Volume5|(Full Text)]]===
::*[[Toradora!:Volume5_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume5_Prologue|Prologue]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume5_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume5_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume5_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume5_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume5_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume5_Chapter6|Chapter 6]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume5_Chapter7|Chapter 7]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume5_Author's Notes|Author's Notes]]

===Volume 6 [[Toradora!:Volume6|(Full Text)]]===
::*[[Toradora!:Volume6_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume6_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume6_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume6_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume6_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume6_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume6_Chapter6|Chapter 6]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume6_Author's notes|Author's notes]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume6_Translator's Notes| Translator's Notes and References]]

===Volume 7 [[Toradora!:Volume7|(Full Text)]]===
::*[[Toradora!:Volume7_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume7_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume7_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume7_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume7_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume7_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume7_Author's Notes|Author's Notes]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume7_Translator's Notes| Translator's Notes and References]]

===Volume 8===
::*[[Toradora!:Volume8_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume8_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume8_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume8_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume8_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume8_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume8_Chapter6|Chapter 6]] (32%)
::*Author's Notes

===Volume 9===
::*[[Toradora!:Volume9_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume9_Prologue|Prologue]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume9_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume9_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume9_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]
::*[[Toradora!:Volume9_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
::*Chapter 5
::*Author's Notes

===Volume 10===
::*[[Toradora!:Volume10_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*Prologue
::*Chapter 1
::*Chapter 2
::*Chapter 3
::*Chapter 4
::*Chapter 5
::*Author's Notes

===Spin-Off - The Cherry Colored Tornado of Happiness===
::*[[Toradora!:Spin-Off_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*The Cherry Colored Tornado of Happiness
:::*Part 1 - Trigger Mechanism
:::*Part 2 - Emergency Alert Issued
:::*Part 3 - F12 Tornado
::*[[Toradora!:Spin-Off_Legend of the Black Catboy of Misfortune|Legend of the Black Tomcat of Misfortune]]
::*[[Toradora!:Spin-Off_Author's_Notes|Author's Notes]]

===Spin-Off 2 - Fall-Fattened Tiger===
::*[[Toradora!:Spin-Off_2_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
::*[[Toradora!:Spin-Off_2_Fall_Fattened_Tiger|Fall-Fattened Tiger (10%)]]
::*When Spring is here, let's go to Gunma!
::*The End of Summer Vacation
::*Fall's here, let's go to the farm!
::*Teacher's Pet
::*[[Toradora!:Spin-Off_2_Postscript|Postscript]]

===Alternative Adaptation===

This script is considered an adaptation by [[user:caster13|Caster13]] who is using our script to adapt it into contemporary fluent English with appropriate English context.

Think of it as a English Spin-off based on Toradora!

You can read [[user:caster13|Caster13]] adaptation at [http://inky-text.livejournal.com/7571.html Livejournal The Literary Works of Caster] and/or discuss this adaptation on the forum [http://www.baka-tsuki.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=2435 here]

::*[[Toradora! ~Adaptation~:Volume1_Chapter1|Preview - Chapter 01- ]]

==Project Staff==

*Project Administrator:
*Project Supervisor:

===Translators===

:*[[user:Kinny_Riddle|Kinny Riddle]]
:*[[user:Trabius|Trabius]]
:*[[user:Pliky|Pliky]]
:*[[user:Dragonst|Dragonst]]

===Editors===

:*[[user:Dan|Dan]]
:*[[user:Chansey|Chansey]]
:*[[user:Akirasav|Akira]]
:*[[user:Nobuharu|Nobuharu]]

All editors that speak English proficiently are welcomed.

==More Information==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toradora The wikipedia article] and [http://www.baka-tsuki.net/forums/viewforum.php?f=53 the Baka-Tsuki forum for Toradora].

Toradora!:Registration Page

2010-01-30T06:43:43Z

Dragonst: /* Volume 9 */

To re-iterate the registration procedure:

*"First Come, First Served": please register your intended chapters here

*The maximum number of chapters you are recommended to work on is no more then half of any given volume

*Maximum number of Translators per volume is two

*Maximum number of volumes you may be active on is one

*This is not some Binding Contract of "I must do the work I put down here". Choices put down here are negotiable between translators (including their own selves who signed up for it).

==''Toradora!'' series ==

===Volume 1===
::*Novel Illustrations
::*Chapter 1 - [[user:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 2 - [[user:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 3 - [[user:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 4 - [[user:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 5 - [[user:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 6 - [[user:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''
::*Author's Notes - [[user:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''

===Volume 2===
::*Novel Illustrations
::*Chapter 1 - [[user:Trabius|Trabius]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 2 - [[user:Trabius|Trabius]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 3 - [[user:Trabius|Trabius]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 4 - [[user:Trabius|Trabius]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 5 - [[user:Trabius|Trabius]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 6 - [[user:Trabius|Trabius]] - '''Completed'''
::*Spin-off - [[user:Trabius|Trabius]] - '''Completed'''
::*Author's Notes - [[user:Trabius|Trabius]] - '''Completed'''

===Volume 3===
::*Novel Illustrations
::*Chapter 1 - [[user:Seaghyn16|Krikit]] / [[user:Pliky|Pliky]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 2 - [[user:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 3 - [[User:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 4 - [[User:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 5 - [[User:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''
::*Author's Notes - [[User:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''

===Volume 4===
::*Novel Illustrations
::*Chapter 1 - [[user:Trabius|Trabius]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 2 - [[user:Trabius|Trabius]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 3 - [[user:Trabius|Trabius]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 4 - [[user:Trabius|Trabius]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 5 - [[user:Trabius|Trabius]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 6 - [[user:Trabius|Trabius]] - '''Completed'''
::*Author's Notes - [[user:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''

===Volume 5===
::*Novel Illustrations
::*Prologue - [[User:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 1 - [[User:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 2 - [[User:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 3 - [[User:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 4 - [[User:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 5 - [[User:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 6 - [[User:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 7 - [[User:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''
::*Author's Notes - [[User:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''

===Volume 6===
::*Novel Illustrations
::*Chapter 1 - [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 2 - [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 3 - [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 4 - [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 5 - [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 6 - [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]] - '''Completed'''
::*Author's Notes - [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]] - '''Completed'''

===Volume 7===
::*Novel Illustrations
::*Chapter 1 - [[user:Hamster|Hamster]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 2 - [[user:Hamster|Hamster]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 3 - [[user:Hamster|Hamster]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 4 - [[user:Hamster|Hamster]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 5 - [[user:Hamster|Hamster]] - '''Completed'''
::*Author's Notes - [[user:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''

===Volume 8===
::*Novel Illustrations
::*Chapter 1 - [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 2 - [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 3 - [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 4 - [[User:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 5 - [[User:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 6 - [[User:Kinny Riddle|Kinny Riddle]]
::*Author's Notes -

===Volume 9===
::*Novel Illustrations
::*Prologue - [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 1 - [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 2 - [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 3 - [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 4 - [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]] - '''Completed'''
::*Chapter 5 - [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]]
::*Author's Notes - [[User:Dragonst|Dragonst]]

===Volume 10===
::*Novel Illustrations
::*Prologue -
::*Chapter 1 -
::*Chapter 2 -
::*Chapter 3 -
::*Chapter 4 -
::*Chapter 5 -
::*Author's Notes -

===Spin-Off - The Cherry Colored Tornado of Happiness===
::*Novel Illustrations
::*The Cherry Colored Tornado of Happiness
:::*Part 1 - Trigger Mechanism
:::*Part 2 - Emergency Alert Issued
:::*Part 3 - F12 Tornado
::*Legend of the Black Catboy of Misfortune - [[User:RonnieCorny|RonnieCorny]] - '''Completed'''
::*Author's Notes - [[User:RonnieCorny|RonnieCorny]] - '''Completed'''

===Spin-Off 2 - Fall-Fattened Tiger===
::*Novel Illustrations
::*Fall-Fattened Tiger - [[User:rpapo|Rick Papo]]
::*When Spring is here, let's go to Gunma!
::*The End of Summer Vacation
::*Fall's here, let's go to the farm!
::*Teacher's Pet
::*Postscript - [[User:rpapo|Rick Papo]] - '''Completed'''

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