Difference between revisions of "Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter1"

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==Chapter 1- City of Aliens==
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==Chapter 1 - City of the Aliens==
   
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<noinclude>
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Let’s talk about ''Seishun''<ref>: Its meaning is similar to youth or adolescence, but those words don’t really fit to me, so I’ll be using the Japanese term directly.</ref> Points.
  
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|-
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| Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1_Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]
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| Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]
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| Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
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|-
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|}
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</noinclude>
   
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[[image:Dts_0011.jpg|406px|Total Point:0]]
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The highest ''Seishun'' Points that can be gained from an action is five. Here are some examples.
  
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[[image:Dts_0010.jpg|406px|Chapter one]] <br>
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Let’s talk about Youth Points.
   
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“Five-Points” is the most which could be scored in a single event; below are some examples.
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First up are one point actions. For instance, chatting with a girl during recess, or going for lunch with male classmates on the way home is a one point action. Just having a normal school life will allow you to score this point in your daily life.
  
   
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First and foremost are the One-Point’s, such as chatting with girls during recess, eating with friends after school; anything that involves having a normal student life generally generates these points.
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But ''Seishun'' Points will drop as days pass if you just ignore it, so these will probably cancel each other out. Even though you may be feeling quite happy that time, it’s most probable that you will regret the memories that were nothing special when you look back after you graduate, so don’t stay satisfied with your current situation.
  
   
  +
But Youth Points depreciate over time, and negligence of these points cancels out any accumulation. These events may be fun at the time, but a lack of memorable highlights is something no high school graduates want.
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Next up are two point actions. Similar to what I have said just now, a symbolic action would be to chat with a girl at an age similar to that of yours in a park at night. Actions that warrant two points are mostly one point actions upgraded after being catalysed by atmospheres or situations such as ‘night-time’ or ‘club activities’. If you say that one point is the basics, two points would be the application. Although it’s unlikely that they would happen every day, as long as you live on in a smart way, there are definitely a lot of opportunities.
  
   
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Next is the two-point. Similar to the above examples, some of the most iconic activities include talking to a girl in the nearby park during the twilight. Two-Point’s are mostly One-Point’s catalyzed and enhanced by factors such as “night” or “club activities;” if One-Points are the basics, then Two-Points are the applications. They don’t come often, but with a bit of wit, chances are definitely not insufficient.
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Speaking of three point actions, its success is added with quite a lot of uncertain factors, so you can see it as shooting three-pointer balls in basketball. Landing a decisive hit won’t be easy, but if you succeed, you might even be able to turn the tides. This is the time to boldly take on the challenge.
  
   
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Three-Point activities are riddled with many uncertainties – as the name suggests, they are sort of like the Three-Pointers in a ball game: making a decisive shot isn’t easy, yet a successful one can easily turn the table. In short, it is a leap of faith.
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Going on a date with the person you love is already enough for you to get three points. More importantly, the dates after going out officially almost won’t add on any points at all. The range of calculation is strictly limited to crushes or targets who haven’t reached the couple stage.
  
   
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A date with a crush easily ranks as a Three-Point; note that, however, regular dates with an actual girlfriend won’t gain any more points – these points are limited to single-sided romance or ambiguous relationship.
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When you reach this step, it’s easy to misunderstand that opposing party’s drawing of the line is dubious business, so more attention should be paid.
  
   
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But at this point, care should be put when determining whether the other is giving ambiguous remarks, or simply drawing lines.
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Apart from that, the range of three point actions includes special cases when most people are taking the same action. For example, getting everyone into the mood to go on the trip together, or having activities when people quit the club. But situations warranting such a high point are quite rare.
  
   
  +
Aside from that, Three-Point’s also contain special occasions with group activities. Things like a gathering for a trip, celebrations for clubs, etc, are all very unlikely and therefore score high.
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Chances of gaining four points are from set events, and the school festival would be a good example. But one cannot just join it indifferently, but rather, one must have a clear goal to prevent the deduction of marks from unprecedented situations.
  
   
  +
Chances for Four-Point’s mostly come from specialized events; school festival is exemplary, but these events have to be participated in with intent: a distinct goal and preemptive steps to prevent any chances that lead to potential point loss.
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On the other hand, if not for the especially high spirits of the surrounding people, forming a hot-blooded trend, or wanting to gain points during Sports’ Day is a difficult task. After all, the difference in sports capabilities of individuals is very large, so most people cannot enjoy themselves thoroughly.
  
   
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On the other hand, if the surrounding atmosphere doesn’t feel right and fails to build hype, it’s hard to get higher points during a sports festival. Most people can’t even enjoy sports to the fullest, reason being that gaps between individuals’ athletic abilities are far from small.
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And the graduation ceremony is also an event when points can be gained depending on the means as well. Trying to lock on to people who forget to be shy when they are immersed in a melancholic mood is a pleasure as well.
  
   
  +
Graduation ceremony as well – from the methodical viewpoint, many points can be racked up during this event; after all, crying one’s dignity away amidst the sea of sadness could be considered joyous to some.
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In a sense, five points are dramatically weighed according to personal standards. As long as it is a special memory has a personal value that makes you think “This is it!”, it can be said to be five marks exclusively for the party concerned.
  
   
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To begin defining Five-Point’s, their subjectivity must first be established. If a person can proudly declare “This is it!” to a specific memory, that, to him, must have been determined as a whole Five-Point.
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For instance, madly running all around the town without regard to shame or rumors for the sake of the opposite sex, or getting first place in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_High_School_Baseball_Championship Koushien]. Only people who are treading on the border formed by the interlacing of mental traumas and honor can head towards the highest point.
  
   
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For example, running wild in town disregarding basic human dignity for a crush; and winning the Koshien championship.<ref>Refers to the Japanese National High School Baseball Championship held annually in the Koshien district of Nishinomiya City, Hyogo.</ref> Only by stepping on the fine line between permanent PTSD and eternal glory, and sprinting forward can one ever hope to achieve the highest points.
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People living a life where they cannot even gain one point cannot even see the shadow of five point events.
  
   
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For those without ambition, the tail of a Five-Point is forever out of reach.
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Which means, adolescence can only thrive in a Capitalist society.
  
   
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In a sense, adolescence can only prosper in a capitalistic manner.
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People who are able to master the basics and have high tolerance might even be able to save up more than twenty points in the three years of high school. These savings probably don’t have much value in choosing one’s future, going for college or getting a job. <!-- Translator please reconfirm this sentence; I don’t quite get it. *Magykalman -->
  
   
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With a deep understanding of the essentials, along with the needed capacity to grow, a person may even get more than twenty Youth-Points in the three years of high school. Such wealth in the future, universities and vocational aspects may not hold much value, however.
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But the satisfaction of the success before one’s death will be worlds apart with ordinary people.
  
   
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But for someone who’s reached nirvana, accomplishment feels drastically alien than for the commoners.
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As the ‘process’ of life exists just for the ‘results’, you can see how important high school life is.
  
   
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Since life’s ‘process’ exists only for ‘result,’ it is obvious just how significant high school is.
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…… I just thought of a definition since I had nothing better to do.
  
   
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… I was just bored, and came up with these definitions on a whim.
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As I felt that there was some kind of gap when my brain isn’t thinking of anything while my hands were doing work, I couldn’t help but rack my brain.
  
   
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The brain tends to spin when the hands are busy at work, so I couldn’t help but think about a few things.
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However, being able to feel a sense of pleasure while doing the action of ‘stuffing a cardboard box full of personal belongings’, what sort of hobbyist am I? An arranging hobbyist? Working hobbyist? Rectangle believer?
  
   
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Only, what kind of fetish do I have, getting all excited from stuffing things into boxes? Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? Vertical Movement lover?<ref>I found that this is a euphemistic term for something, but I think it's literal here...</ref> Rectangle cultist?!
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“My~ Humans really do like to categorize, or perhaps I should say distinguish between types?”
  
   
  +
“Ahh, humans do enjoy categorizing. Or should I say differentiating?”
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While doing a tsukkomi <!-- LOL what’s this? :P *Magykalman --> on my thoughts, I hummed a song and glanced at the television as my hands were busy sorting out my luggage. My high spirits was in contrast with the view of the desolate room where items were slowly disappearing. Even though I didn’t have enough sleep, I was generally in top form due to the influence of excitement.
  
   
  +
I nitpicked at my own thoughts while humming, and glanced at the television, at the meantime stuffing my luggage. My exuberant feeling contrasted well with the room, which became more and more desolate as time passed. Despite having sleep deprivation, my spirit elated: in all, my condition was top notch.
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Experiencing the situation commonly gone through by RPG main characters, having parents who are deployed overseas → leaving their son two years from high school graduation at his aunt’s house → after gaining permission to transfer schools, two days finally passed, and only four days were left until I had to move. Drooling with anticipation, my mood was like I was heading towards the zenith of my life.
  
   
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Like in the common galge’s <ref>Refers to a type of game in which the player takes on the role of a character, usually in a school setting, with access to different heroines/heroes with whom the player can engage in relationships</ref>, my parents moved oversea, leaving their son with two more years of high school at the house of my aunt. Two days after my official transfer notice was accepted, four more remain before my relocation. For the yearning me, this is like welcoming the peak of my life.
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That year was the first time I did not complain that the Spring Break was too short.
  
   
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This year is my first ever to not complain about the short break during spring.
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Instead, I was anticipating the arrival of the new Semester.
  
   
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I can’t wait for the arrival of the next semester.
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In any case, the school I was transferring to was in the city, so it’s impossible for the number of students to be only twenty; the menu of the canteen can’t have only curry bread as well. It’s even possible that the school would have a convenience or a cheap barber shop with only hair-cutting service that charges a thousand yen for ten minutes.
  
   
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After all, where I’m going is the city; classes will have more than twenty people, and student stores will have more than just curry bread on their menu. The campus may even have convenience stores, or ten-minute-one-thousand-yen barber shops.
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To be honest, if I had to do an appraisal for my ''Seishun'' Points, the high school life that I lived before this had only negative points. Using zero marks when I entered school as a benchmark, I’d probably have about negative three. I couldn’t fill in the point deduction that were gradually exhausted like one’s lifespan, and was even unable to keep it at its original state. However, it’s going to be different after this.
  
   
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Honestly speaking, from the Youth-Point standard, my past high school life has nothing but negatives. If enrolling into the school equates to starting from zero, then my total points are probably negative three. The points that are lost like my youth – never mind a refund, I can’t even keep my own balance. But that changes today.
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“Fuhahaha, hehe!” If there were any neighbours present to see the disgusting smile that surfaced on my face, they would have probably been so scared that they would move far away. A sense of superiority numbed my limbs. This feeling was like the residue left when tension thawed after regaining freedom when one broke away from the final exams session. How wonderful. Is this the feeling of swaying along the waves, when the semi-circular canal went into disorder that was just right?
  
   
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“Wahahah! Heehee~!” If my neighbor saw the disgusting smug on my face, she’d probably move her house further away. Sense of superiority drove my limbs numb. This feeling is probably the same as those liberated from major exams, when the last of the anxiety melts away. How soothing. Is this how the Cochlea feels after readjusting from a shock? <ref>Organ in the inner ear that controls balances</ref>
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“I never went to the sea, so I don't know!” After staying in the city, I’d take the train to the seaside, gaining ''Seishun'' Points in large amounts! If possible, I’m going with girls, but if not, I’ll just join a mixed group.
  
   
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“I’ve never been to the sea; I wonder what it’s like!” After settling down in the city, I have to ride the train to the beach, and rack those Youth-Points up! If possible, with a girl, and if not, a group is fine.
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I placed the sole certificate that I got from primary school at the bottom layer of the second cardboard box, stuffing a whole set of textbooks tied up with rope on it: “Ah~ But I’ll have to buy textbooks again over there, don’t I?”
  
   
  +
I put the only prize I ever won during elementary school into the second cardboard box below, and stuffed an entire rope-bound textbook on the top. “Ahh, but I’d probably have to re-buy all the books.”
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It was as though I was a pretty college girl fretting over what to do with the old fridge when she was moving out of her broken down apartment, enjoying the joys of choosing with her head tilted.
 
   
  +
Like a college girl moving out of a crappy apartment agonizing over her old fridge, I tilted my head, immersed in the entertainment that is choice-making.
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As for the explanation for the location for my new life, it contained factors that were enough for most high schoolers like me to be full of excitement.
  
   
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Regarding the explanation as to where I am living, it is full of things that can make a highschooler like me hop in joy.
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My aunt’s house where I was to move to seemed to have only her living there, without a husband or any children, and she was working as well (but of course). Anyway, it was equivalent to me having a life of living alone with conditions. If I describe it in one sentence, “How can I express this simply?” It was a magical situation that completely extracted the meager pocket money and cheap honor of rebellious high school second year boys, and was everything they could wish for. I could only think of it as the awkward Divine Dragon unwilling to grant the adults’ wish of ‘wanting to raise healthy teenagers’, standing on my side on a whim.
  
   
  +
My aunt lives alone: she has no husband or children, and she works (of course). In essence, I am living independently with few restrictions. Put into words, it’d the dream every rebellious, pre-pubescent high school boy could only wish for – an evil incubator that they wish to live in even by throwing away money and pride: “How could anyone simply express this?!” To me, it is probably just the momentary defiance which sought to topple adult’s ‘plan for healthy teen’ that excited me so much.
−
I got rather excited for a moment. I shall enjoy my new life even happier than an ape wasting away crops.
  
   
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My hysteria for a new life could probably rival even the joy of apes that defiled a whole field of crops for a delicious meal.
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Will a country bumpkin like me offend the small organizations of the city kids, and be bullied? Not worrying about problems like this at all, it was as though my boiling heart was running around nude at a spring camp.
  
   
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Would a bumpkin like me offend the cliques of the city kids? I couldn’t even care about such problems. My boiling heart beat – so wonderfully that it felt like a nudist streaking through the spring sun.
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The situation couldn’t have been better.
  
   
  +
I feel absolutely terrific.
   
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The four days of combating gravity, turning and defeating the luggage (basically, wasting a lot of energy) are over: the days of my city life finally began.
   
  +
Two days ago, I bid farewell to my old classmates. It was inevitably disheartening, as in the countryside students tend to stick to the same classes; hence members of the school hardly changes. Even if we only spent about a year together, there were still many familiar faces.
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After the four days of tossing, flipping and conquering my luggage with force passed (anyway, just a waste of effort), the day I was to move to the city finally arrived.
  
   
  +
More or less submerged in the sentiment, I think the atmosphere and scene of the parting were satisfactory.
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I couldn’t help but feel somewhat sorrowful when I walked onto the teacher’s stage to bid farewell with everyone two days ago. At a countryside school, the members in the class usually won’t have much change from primary school, middle school up till high school. Thus, even though we only got along with each other for a year, there were a lot of familiar faces in the class.
  
   
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If a girl were to cry for me in front of everyone, I planned on mailing her entire person to where I live. Of course, I ended up not being a kidnapper. With the power of the EMU <ref>Basically a train that runs on electric motors</ref>, I said goodbye to the land where I'd lived for almost fifteen years. I didn’t know anyone well enough to have them see me off.
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I immersed the classroom in sadness more or less, creating a rather satisfactory scene and mood of farewell.
  
   
  +
My parents also left Japan about a week ago, heading to somewhere called the Socotra Archipelago or Soviet Union – something like that.
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If any girls shed tears without regard to other people because she had to part from me, I planned to immediately stuff her into a cardboard box and mail her over, but in the end I didn’t have to become a kidnapper. Using the power of the train, I said goodbye to the land that I lived on for almost fifteen years. I didn’t have any good friends whom I was so familiar with that they would specially send me away at the train station.
  
   
  +
But, if the excitement blooming from the departure was enough to cancel any Youth-Point negativity, wouldn’t my balance be back to zero? As if peering into the horizon of my heart, I felt the compatibility between a great mood and a fresh start.
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My parents left Japan about a week before as well, heading towards a place called Socotra or Soviet or something.
  
   
  +
Being able to experience the welcoming ceremony twice in itself is also rare enough.
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However, isn’t just the sense of excitement born from leaving and facing the unknown enough to cancel out the negative marks of my ''Seishun'' Points, returning it to zero? It was as though I was looking at the level of my soul, seeing that my open feelings were very equal to the new beginning.
  
   
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Two and a half hours passed quietly as the train seat shook me gently. About midway of the trip, I apparently slept for about an hour. Most of the seats were filled with passengers by the time I woke up, and the scenery outside had changed from fields to houses and factories.
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Being able to experience the feeling of joining a high school entrance ceremony twice is quite rare as well.
  
   
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Ear buds stuck in my ears (This grammar may make sense in English, but it’s like saying nosebleed from the nose) returned to silence after finishing another round of shuffle.
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Sitting on the seat of the train, I swayed along with the train for two and a half hours. Mid-journey, I seemed to have slept for about an hour, and passengers already occupied most of the seats when I woke up. The scenery outside the windows already changed from fields to houses and factories changed as well.
  
   
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I took the iPod out of my pocket and played another song, but listened with little attention as I was barely awake.
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The music played by the earphones stuffed in my ears (although such grammar exists in English, this sentence is as redundant as the sentence, a nosebleed flowing out from the nose) turned silent after the songs randomly chosen finished playing.
  
   
  +
With blear eyes, I gazed at the name of a company gardened on their lawn, appealing to some environmentalist messages – Mount Fuji and even the ocean passed my view, all while the PA read out the names of destinations.
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I operated the iPod taken out from my pocket and played only one song that I liked on repeat this time. But since I wasn’t completely awake, I only had my right ear on the music.
  
   
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‘I’m almost there.’ I took out my cell and sent a mail to the inbox of my recently-registered aunt.
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I sleepily looked at the company endorsing the love of Earth and its name that was arranged on the grassy slope with a parterre— Mt. Fuji, and when the sea passed by my eyes, I heard the name of the station of my destination broadcasted in the compartment.
  
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‘I’ll meet you right away.’ The train hadn’t even slowed down, and a reply already arrived.
   
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“.......” Was she serious? It’s hard to tell from a text! I deemed it to be a friendly response and put my cell back.
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''‘I’m reaching soon.’'' I took out my cell-phone and sent a message to the inbox of my aunt’s phone number that was newly registered. ''‘I’ll go fetch you right away.’'' Before the speed of the train even slowed, I already got the reply.
  
   
  +
Most of my luggage was already delivered to my Aunt’s house; I carried only a wrinkly, dry bag which reeks of bleach as my carry-on.
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“……………………………………” Was she serious, or was she just joking? It’s hard to determine from the message! I decided to treat it as a friendly answer and kept my cell-phone.
  
   
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The neighboring purple-haired woman moved her leg for me; I nodded to her, and moved to the walkway. Perhaps led by my walking toward the door, passengers originally standing at the walkway all started the preparation to get off. Every time I brushed by a person, I’d shoot a glance; no signs or stickers to differentiate people of the city and the countryside, nor were there fashionable people clanking with accessories.
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Most of my luggage had already been sent to my aunt’s house beforehand, and there was only a bag with a grubby base, shriveled handle and gave off the smell of toilet bowl disinfectant.
  
   
  +
I didn’t even smell the so-called urban air. My sense of excitement waned.
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From god knows when, the purple-haired oba-san on my neighboring seat moved her foot away, and I shifted from my seat to the walkway after nodding to her. Perhaps because they were drawn by my action of moving towards the door, the passengers originally on the walkway were preparing to disembark as well. Each time I passed by the city people, as a country bumpkin, I would sneak a peek at them. There weren’t any city markings or stickers to differentiate them with the countryside, and there weren’t any trendy people with metallic accessories hanging on the whole of their bodies as well.
  
   
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The train rode into the platform. It was six times the size of the town station where I used to live; people filled the entire stop. I shriveled a bit. Music of my iPod went from piano performance to the howling of a male vocal – a preparation for my courageous journey. The automatic door opened as I plunged first out of the cart; the line began pouring out.
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I still couldn’t smell the presence of the city, and that weakened my excitement slightly.
  
   
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I didn’t ride the escalator, instead climbing the stairs towards the ticket booth. Started half-way, I thought for a bit:
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The train drove into the platform of the city. It was six times larger than the small station of the town I lived in in the past, and the platform was full of people. I cowered slightly. I changed the music I was listening to from a piano piece to the roars of a male singer as preparation for myself to bravely continue. The automatic door of the train opened, and I stumbled down the train first, and the crowd in the compartment started to flow to the platform as well.
  
   
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My aunt – the person whom I will be living with: what kind of person is she? I’ve never met her. From the sole information that came from my parents:
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I did not go on the lift, but chose to head towards the ticket counter by the stairs instead. Along the way, I thought for some time.
  
  +
“She’s a big kid - a combination of an adult and a kid.”
  +
Hence, her name became “Aunt Kamaboko” <ref>A type of seafood consisting of mashed white fish formed into loaves and cooked. Quite delicious, by the way</ref> on my contract list; but how well does this intelligence mix with the overall impression? All I could think of was one of the Yakult salesladies<ref> Yakult is a probiotic dairy product made by fermenting skimmed milk with a type of bacterium – a very popular drink world-wide. According to the original translator, the company has direct delivery to houses, which is what these ladies are</ref>.
   
  +
The ticket machine stopped for a second, but I went through shortly. I dodged to the wall on the side so as to avoid the crowd, and began scouting.
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My aunt, the person I’m going to live with after this. What sort of person is she? I never saw her before, and as the sole informant of relatives’ appraisals, my parents declared that: “She’s a big child. The fusion of an adult and a child.” That’s why I entered her name as “Fishcake Aunt” when I recorded her phone number in my cell-phone, but how could I connect that information with her overall image? I could only think of a Yakult Oba-san. <ref>The fishcake in Fishcake Aunt is a compound of fishcake, while Yakult has females staff in charge of promoting their products house by house.</ref>
  
   
  +
I looked around for my aunt anxiously – more so than the girl with dyed hair next to me, who was probably looking for her boyfriend. My father gave me a twenty-seven year old picture of him and his sibling. But to look for my aunt this way, I might just end up being Urashima Tarou. If anything, I’d rather be Momotarou (TL Note: Urashima Tarou is a fisherman in Japanese legend who rescued a turtle, and was rewarded with a visit to the Dragon God's palace. He stayed for three days, but upon returning, realized that time above had passed three hundred years. Momotarou is also figure in Japanese legend who was born from a giant peach and raised by an old couple. He later on went on a crusade with a dog, monkey and pheasant to defeat the Oni, or demons, terrorizing the land.)
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The ticket stopped for a moment before it entered the machine, but I still successfully went through the automatic ticket counter. While escaping to the walls to evade the flow of people from three sides, I started to look around.
  
   
  +
“Makoto!”
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I looked around even more obviously than the high schooler with bleached hair probably waiting for her boyfriend by my side, and continued to search for the person waiting for me. The photo my father handed to me was a group photo of the two siblings twenty-seven years before, but if I can locate my aunt using this photo, I’d turn into Urashima Tarou. If I had to change, Momotarou would be better.
  
   
  +
Someone probingly called out my name. The little man living in my mind, like a youthful Edison, relayed all of my consciousness (from the Martian station) – coincidentally, his name is resentment. My name is Niwa Makoto. Not Tana, Niwa; not Shin, but Makoto. <ref>A reference to the 1898 SF novel Edison’s Conquest of Mars, which was about a scientist, coincidentally named Thomas Edison, in the time of a Martian invasion. Secondly, Niwa Makoto is written as 丹羽真, which can be pronounced in several ways, like Tana Shin</ref>
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“Makoto-kun!”
  
   
  +
I turned to the right in search of the owner of that voice. A refreshing, thirty-some year old woman looked straight at me. Since we are not familiar enough to communicate through our eyes, I had hoped that she’d be more tactful.
−
Someone was tentatively calling my name. In my mind, there lived a small person in charge of relaying the will of the universe who was just like Edison when he was still a child (through a Mars relay station), claiming to be sentimentalism, but my name is Niwa Makoto. Not ‘Tanba’, but ‘Niwa’. Not ‘Shin’, but ‘Makoto’.
  
   
  +
I couldn’t help but avert my gaze and shut my lips, unsure of what to say during the moment.
−
I turned around to look to my right, searching for the owner of the voice. A female aged thirty something, giving off an innocent impression, was looking at me. As we did not have a relationship of being able to communicate with our gaze, I really wished she could keep it down.
  
   
  +
“You are Makoto, correct?”
−
I couldn’t help but avert my gaze and lower my head, shutting my mouth as well. I didn’t know what to say for a moment there.
  
   
  +
She smiled politely due to my lack of response, and gently asked again. Elegant, refined behaviors of a young girl created a gap between her demeanor and appearance. Plus one to first impression.
−
“You’re Makoto-kun, aren’t you?”
  
   
  +
[[image:Dts_0021.jpg|thumb|"She smiled politely due to my lack of response, and gently asked again."]]
−
As I didn’t speak, she inquired again with a polite smile. Elegant, gentle actions of a young lady. The difference between her look and appearance took effect towards a good direction, adding marks for her first impression.
  
   
−
“Ah! Yes, I’m Niwa Makoto, whom you have referred to. Hello, hello.”
 +
“Ah, yes! I am Niwa Makoto. Ugh, nice to meet you!”
   
−
I hurriedly lowered my head to greet her. Trying to use such half-hearted modesty to please people made even I, myself, feel angry too. “I’ll be in your care for the moment.” Flustered, I added. Ah~ I’m really clumsy.
 +
I hurriedly bowed. Even I feel with my petty attempt to act polite. “I will be in your care for a while!” Flustered, I added on. Ugh, real smooth.
   
−
“No, no, I should be the one to say that.” Oba-san lowered her head in regards as well, and her long hair fell from her shoulders like a cascading waterfall.
 +
“No, no. I should say the same.” My aunt bowed as well, her long hair pouring off from her shoulder.
   
−
“Ah, let me give you my name card then.”
 +
“Ah, I’ll hand you a business card.”
   
−
After straightening her back, Oba-san somewhat roughly rummaged in her handbag for a moment and took out a plastic box of cards. She opened the lid and handed a rectangular name card with the golden ratio to me.
 +
She crudely searched in her purse after straightening her back, and retrieved a plastic card case. She opened the case and handed me a rectangular card befitting the Golden ratio of Fibonacci.
   
−
“Thank you, you’re really too kind.” I took the card with messed up politeness and scanned it:
 +
“Thank you, how polite.” I took the card with an absolute mess of a manner and skimmed it:
   
  +
'Touwa Meme – “Thirty Nine”' A bold double-quotation mark emphasized the age label. It would appear she wants to carry out the “What are frozen shoulders?” way of life, though the business card’s expiration date was barely a year away... <ref>A shoulder inflammation causing chronic pain. People above forty are usually at risk</ref>
−
‘藤和女女— “39 Years Old”’ Her age was strongly emphasized with strong double quotes. It seems like she’s still planning to carry out the attitude of ‘What’s forty years old?’, even though the expiry date of her name card was less than a year.
  
   
−
However…… Even though I heard of it once before, her name…… was strange.
 +
Still… Even though I knew beforehand, her name… How strange.
   
  +
“Um, Touwa… Probably has an artistic or floral origin, or maybe it’s a generic pseudonym; it may even be the written name of the alter ego, but...”
−
“This, Eiwa…… Although it’s possible for this to be a stage name or nickname, a name registered for a competition or can be known as this, the more unexpected thing is, it might be a fake name used in this world by a 2P character at the depths of your heart, but……” “That’s my real name!”
  
   
  +
“It <i>is</i> my actual name!”
−
I could feel that each of her airy comments attempted to leak out presence of youth. Although I already know her name, but I was rather unclear of whether it should be read as ‘Meme’ or ‘Jojo’.
  
   
  +
I sensed every attempt from her airy lines to sound younger. I recognize the characters, but do I read it MeMe, or Jojo? <ref>Similar to Makoto’s name pronunciation; though I believe this is a reference to the manga/anime series “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure”.</ref>
−
Perhaps because she realized my confusion, Oba-san added while pointing at herself:
  
   
  +
Perhaps noticing my confusion, my aunt added on:
−
“Touwa Meme. It’s fine even if you call me Jojo.”
  
   
  +
“Touwa Meme. But you can call me Jojo.”
−
She blinked, and the wrinkles at the corner of her eyes increased. If I spoke that out, my life thread might be shredded to pieces, so I swallowed to delay my answer and re-evaluated the name card.
  
   
  +
She blinked. Crow’s feet emerged on the sides of her eyes. If I accidentally spilled it, my life may be cut short. I swallowed gingerly and reevaluated the business card.
−
The name completely showed the interests of the parents who gave the name. I could just laugh and forget about it if I came across such a real name online, but before the party concerned, I didn’t want to deliberately tear apart my mouth and muster the courage to chat about this topic to laugh at her.
  
   
  +
The name speaks explicitly about the naming sense of the parents. I would definitely laugh if I saw this somewhere on the web, but I’d rather be polite in front of said person.
−
“Oh~” I pretended to exclaim, and kept the name card in my wallet in wait of further instructions of movement.
  
   
  +
“I see~” I gave a simple voice of assent, put the card in my wallet and waited for a sign to move.
−
“Let’s go home on a cab today.”
  
   
  +
“Let's take the taxi home today.”
−
“Ah, okay, how wasteful!” I kept talking about meaningless things. It seems like I’m gradually getting used to this.
  
   
  +
“Ah, sure. How luxurious!” As I spat out these words, I realized I may have became numbed to them.
−
With a friendly smile, Meme-san led the way with nimble movements, walking towards a taxi stand across the road. Halfway through, she spoke to me while stroking her hair with her palm:
  
   
  +
Meme-san briskly crossed the road ahead with a genial smile; about half way there, she asked while stroking her hair.
−
“You’re probably tired after boarding the train for so long, aren’t you?”
  
   
  +
“Are you tired after spending so much time on the train?”
−
“Yeah. Ever since the field trip during junior high, I never came here again.”
  
   
  +
“Yeah, since I haven’t been on one since the middle school field trip.”
−
“Is that so~ You’re in high school second year this year, right? You’re already so big.”
  
   
  +
“Is that so~? You are a second year in high school, right? They sure grow fast~”
−
“Yes. Is the high school over here near to your house?”
  
   
  +
“Right. Is the school close to your house?”
−
“Nn~ It’s about fifteen minutes away by bike. Ah, that’s my speed, it’ll probably be quicker for you.”
  
   
  +
“Hmm~ it’d take about fifteen minutes on bicycles. Ah, but that’s for me – you should be faster.”
−
We filled the journey with almost tasteless conversation that we’d forget completely after five minutes. The only memorable things was her unique tone that was neither intimate nor unfriendly, or it can be said to be slightly sticky warm water as well, even though it wasn’t uncomfortable, it would make people feel unusually queasy for standing there.
  
   
  +
We prattled along the way, talking about trivial things. One thing that did strike me was Meme-san's unique mien – one that was neither intimate nor estranged. Like warm but sticky water, it’s not discomforting, but slightly unnerving.
−
“Heeeey~” Meme-san intentionally waved at the green taxi by the taxi stand. I couldn’t help but think that it was slightly cute. However, I don’t have any preference for elder women, so I looked at the creased spot of the skirt of the high school girl just now who was waiting for the traffic light to turn red some distance away. I really can’t stand it~ I thought, evaded and quashed various thoughts. Although she was saying ‘Aren’t you an idiot~”, it wasn’t like I disliked her particularly for that.
  
   
  +
“Hold up~” Meme-san waved at the green taxi next to hub. I thought it was kind of cute, but I'm not into older women, so I looked to the high school girl from earlier waiting by the light with her boyfriend from a distance away; I stared at the frill of her skirt. How unbearable... No, no; I pushed away the thoughts. 'Are you stupid~?' Even though she mouthed those words to her boyfriend, I did not feel one bit repulsed.
−
I got into the backseat of the cab. Meme-san got into the front passenger’s seat and told the driver whose hair was spotted with white our destination. She talked really quickly, and at a side, I couldn’t hear it clearly. I sank deeply into my seat and rubbed my heavy eyelids. Speaking of which, why did Meme-san sit in the front passenger’s seat even though there are only two passengers?
  
   
  +
I got into the backseat, Meme-san the passenger seat. She told the gray-haired driver our destination. She spoke quickly, and I didn’t even remember a word. I sunk into the seat as I rubbed my heavy eyelids. On a different topic, how come Meme-san sat in the passenger seat when there were only two of us?
−
For some reason, she didn’t specially turn around from the front to speak to me. Sigh~ Even if she spoke, the empty conversation in the taxi won’t heat up at all, and would continue to drag on half-heartedly, so good thing she didn’t do that.
  
   
  +
For some reason, she didn’t especially turn to talk to me. Sigh, even if she did, the conversation would probably just die miserably in this hole. I’m grateful that she didn’t try to talk.
−
I’ve only entered high school, and my parents already requested me to study in a local university. As though the sky was raining luck on me, I gained a lifestyle that I’ve originally given up on before coming of age, so I was rather grateful of Meme-san.
  
   
  +
As I first entered high school, my parents required me to study at a local university; being able to live the style of life I almost gave up half a year ago, I am deeply grateful for the blessing in the form of Meme-san.
−
I am going to search for a virtual solitary life. Because this is a suitable environment for cultivating, no, increasing ''Seishun'' Points.
  
   
  +
I want to live a semi-independent life in this city. This is a place perfect for growth – nay, for Youth-Points!
−
I’m hoping to move towards my target of ‘saving fifteen points’ for the next two years.
  
   
  +
My goal for the next two years: a total of fifteen Youth-Points.
   
  +
Ten minutes after leaving the row of skyscrapers, the car drove into the housing area. Despite that, the environment lacked green; metallic building filled the scene, and I was somewhat bewildered.
   
  +
The city brimmed with the scent of metal. Compared to my hometown’s smell of dirt, it seems to be full of promises.
−
After leaving the skyscrapers before the station for about ten minutes, the cab drove into an area where houses eventually increased. Even so, the surroundings with scenery that was still scarce of grassy areas and was full of metallic buildings still surprised me more or less.
  
   
  +
After my little secret celebration, I met Meme-san’s eyes through the rear-view mirror.
−
The smell of the city seemed to be full of metal. Compared with my hometown, which was full of the smell of earth, it seemed like I could have more anticipations over here.
  
   
  +
That was awkward.
−
After I secretly danced in joy, I met Meme-san’s gaze through the rear view mirror.
  
   
  +
As the taxi passes under an overhanging sign, she suddenly turned back with a radiant smile.
−
I just couldn’t help but feel somewhat awkward.
  
   
  +
“Welcome to the city protected by aliens.”
−
On the instant the taxi passed by a signboard of the city’s name hung by the road, she suddenly turned around while smiling:
  
   
  +
“…Huh?”
−
“Welcome to the City Watched Over by Aliens.”
  
   
  +
A smile and a sentence more aversive than welcoming.
−
“…… Huh?”
  
   
  +
A jagged ray of confusion mixed with words traveled from my eardrums to the brain.
−
She spoke some words of welcome that would make people feel like maintaining a respectable distance from, all smiles.
  
   
  +
Judging from the lack of reaction of the driver, I couldn’t deny the possibility of mishearing. I sincerely had no words.
−
A part of the comment showing pleasant radial cracks jumbled together, and was transmitted to my brain through my eardrums.
  
   
  +
“Eh~ No reaction?” Meme-san put up a fake smile with wide eyes.
−
However, from the calm manner the taxi driver was driving, I couldn’t deny the possibility of my making a mistake. I was totally speechless.
  
   
  +
“There are many sightings of UFO’s here – kind of like in Florida?” She explained.
−
“Eh, isn’t that a cold response?” A bogus smile surfaced on Meme-san’s face while her eyes widened.
  
   
  +
“Oh~” I see how it is. Before I understood, I thought “maybe this person is an alien fanatic?” Maybe she was born during the time of MMR? <ref>Magazine Mystery Reportage, a mystery oriented manga series regarding the supernatural and conspiracies</ref>
−
“I just couldn’t make a suitable response because the topic was just too abnormal.”
  
   
  +
But youth does not belong in the milky ways. Potential points set in my mind began to dwindle in their number.
−
“There were quite a lot of reports of eye witnesses for UFOs over here, so perhaps I should say that this place is like Florida, huh?” She explained.
  
   
  +
“Older grocery stores even sell these ‘seventh-dimension’ key chain figures!”
−
“Oh~?” So that’s why. Besides understanding that, the suspicion of “This person isn’t an alien believer, is she?” circled my mind at the same time. It’s possible that she’s an enthusiast of MMR as well.<ref>MMR refers to a manga by mangaka Ishigaki Yuuki, which deals with the research of aliens and supernatural phenomenon.</ref>
  
   
  +
“I don’t understand, limiting technology like that in a three-dimensional shop.”
−
And outer space doesn’t have any signs of Youth as well. My points that were gradually getting into a better situation started to show signs of shrinking.
  
   
  +
Besides, aliens and dimensions may sound relevant, but are in fact unconnected. The difference between them is like that of electronic and rhetoric.
−
“Some old grocery stores sell toys like seven-dimensional key chains as well!”
  
   
  +
“Do you want to go straight home, or explore a bit?”
−
“I cannot understand the business policy of limiting such strong science in three-dimensional activities.”
  
   
  +
Meme-san confirmed the definite part of my travel, and asked me for the indefinite part. “Hmm, let's see.” I scratched at my temple, taking my time before answering.
−
Besides, aliens and dimensions sound like related nouns, but are actually completely unrelated, having differences as large as the words ''electronic'' and ''rhetoric''.
  
   
  +
“I can make a simple introduction for ya if we walk home.”
−
“We’re going home directly after this. Do you want to stroll around the neighborhood today?”
  
   
  +
She spoke with just the right amount of kindness – enough to be wiped away with a finger; enough to not make things awkward.
−
Meme-san spoke a part that was confirmed in our later schedule and asked for my opinions for the undecided parts. “Hmm, let’s see~” I rubbed my temple with my fingers, inserting time for consideration before answering.
  
   
  +
“Have to take care of the luggage… Let’s just stay home.”
−
“If we walk, I can do some simple introductions.”
  
   
  +
I hesitated at the word ‘home:’ whether I should have added ‘auntie’s home.’ But for brevity's sake, I didn’t bother. Maybe talking like this can actually bring us closer in the end.
−
After that, she added some slight friendliness. The amount was so small that it could be easily wiped away with my fingers, and wouldn’t start any troubles after that.
  
   
  +
“Alrighty~ Then let’s have dinner at home!”
−
“I have to take care of my luggage today…… So I think it’s better for me to stay at home today.”
  
   
  +
The smile on her face never faded till she turned the other way.
−
I hesitated if I should add the word ''Meme-san’s'' before the word ''home'', but decided in the end to answer simply. Even if I didn’t have any particular meaning for that, speaking from the results, that way of speaking might be able to bring us closer.
 
   
  +
And so, the taxi drove on the asphalt road for five more minutes.
−
“Understood~ Then we’re having dinner at home!”
  
   
  +
“Ah, this is it.” Following Meme-san’s instruction, the taxi stopped at a plain spot with no landmark. Left door to the back seats opened automatically as I first exit the car. I glanced at the taxi meter as I left; with the allowance my parents gave me, I can at least ride twice back-and-forth. Speaking of which, where do I get allowance from now on?
−
The smile on her face did not fade before she turned around to face the front.
  
   
  +
Part time jobs? Or are my parents sending it to Meme-san?
−
After that, the taxi ran on the roads that was as dirty as the cities for five minutes.
  
   
  +
“Here we are – Makoto’s second home~”
   
  +
Meme-san stood next to me after paying the taxi. According to her, I can live here like at my own house (how shameless of me).
   
  +
Though I would like to elaborate, there really wasn’t much to describe in my new abode.
−
“Ah, this is it.” In accordance with Meme-san’s instructions, the taxi stopped at an ordinary location without any landmarks. The left door of the passenger’s seat opened automatically, and I got off the car first. I glanced at the meter before leaving. Even with the pocket money given by my parents, I could take the taxi twice. Speaking of which, how do I deal with the problem of pocket money after this in my new life?
  
   
  +
It was very normal: an inconspicuous house. If someone took a picture of it and posted it everywhere around town, no one would compliment it, saying things like “Wow! What a wonderful mansion” – any comment like that would probably result in suspicions like “Is this a new form of house fanaticism?” Sigh, maybe this house only appears normal, but is full of mechanics and traps like a ninja’s house – spinning hidden doors and junk, things impractical in real life.
−
Do I still have to take part-time jobs? Or will my parents send it to Meme-san?
  
   
  +
“Let’s head in!”
−
“Come, here’s Makoto-kun’s second home.”
  
   
  +
“Oh yes, uh, I’ll be in your care now.”
−
After paying for the fare, she stood by my side and said while smiling. She’s saying that I don’t need to treat this place as my relative’s house, but my own house. (How thick-faced I am)
  
   
  +
Before stepping inside, I greeted once again. If a son’s attitude is less than stellar, others will doubt his parents’ teaching!
−
Although I wished to introduce it more, just looking up at the new place I’m going to live at, there wasn’t any special features that would make people feel like describing naturally.
  
   
  +
“How polite of you.” Meme-san copy-pasted my line – of course, recycling and using it with a different tone of voice. “That should be my line, really. Sorry, please excuse everything.”
−
Very ordinary. It was an extremely normal house, and if you take a photo of the picture to paste it all around the town, it won’t get comments such as “Wow, what a beautiful, magnificent mansion!’, but would instead be suspected, “Religious organization? Is it a newly formed religious organization?” Sigh, it might only look ordinary on the surface, but inside, it would be like a ninja’s house of traps, full of revolving door or other mechanisms that would be troublesome in our daily lives.
  
   
  +
She swiftly replied… hmm? Just now, I thought I heard something like an apology blended into her words…?
−
“Here, let’s get in.” “Yes…… Erm, I’ll be in your care now.”
  
   
  +
Ahh, she meant “sorry if my mansion was so grand?” I must have came off a bit too cocky~
−
Before stepping into the house, I said my greetings once again. If a son’s attitude is too bad, other people would doubt the parents’ education!
  
   
  +
Aunt Meme opened the slide-door before I even finished solving the mystery. I followed as she disappeared into the entrance hall. I tried sniffing, curious to know what type of life transpired here… Just then –
−
“How polite of you.” It was like Meme-san copied the contents of the words I said just now, but only reused it after adjusting her tone:
  
   
  +
“I’m home!”
−
“I should be the one to say that, I’ll be in your care now. I’m really sorry I’ll be in your care now.”
  
   
  +
She deftly took her shoes off and landed lightly onto the hallway… Hold up.
−
She answered rapidly…… Nn? Why does it sound like words of apology were mixed in the sentence just now……?
  
   
  +
Before putting your slippers on,
−
Ah, perhaps she meant “Sorry that my house is such a luxurious mansion”? I really sound a bit overconfident~
  
   
  +
Before calling my name,
−
Without stopping to answer my questions, Meme-san slid the sliding door open and disappeared into the house with me behind her. I tried to sniff for a moment, thinking of sniffing out what sort of presence of life was inside the house…… That- was- when.
  
   
  +
Before putting on that smile,
−
“We’re back!”
  
   
  +
There is something by your feet you should watch out for!
−
She quickly took off her shoes and lightly walked into the house…… Wait a minute.
  
   
  +
I can see the imaginary starting-line drawn by my feet distort.
−
Before changing into slippers—
  
   
  +
“Makoto, try saying that too!”
−
Before calling my name—
  
   
  +
But she ignored my piercing gaze, and repelled it with a money-worthy smile.
−
Before showing me a bright smile—
  
   
  +
The world’s focus blurred instantly.
−
Shouldn’t you first notice something by your feet!
  
   
  +
“…Eh, ah… Yes...” I answered while locking my sight to the lower right.
−
It was as though I felt the starting line that should be straight become curved.
  
   
  +
I came from the country side, but I can't speak in its accent, and my pronunciation is rather stiff. This is not important, but… Next to the carpet laid on the entrance hallway, there was something – no, ''someone''?
−
“Makoto-kun, why don’t you say it once as well?”
  
   
  +
… From then, my enthusiasm paralleling that of a kid’s night before field trip was frozen off by an omen that spread in my heart.
−
But she overlooked my strong gaze, showing me her welcome with a smile so radiant people would feel like paying for it.
  
  +
  +
It's like seeing an abnormally cute puppy, but only being able to think “What's wrong with the furball? The fleas are everywhere now!” and refusing to hug it.
   
  +
The pile of thing dropped a load of ‘reality’ into my dreamy life.
−
The focus of the world turned blurry in an instant.
  
   
  +
[[image:Dts_0029.jpg|thumb|"The pile of thing dropped a load of ‘reality’ into my dreamy life."]]
−
“…… Eh, ah…… Okay.” While answering, my gaze stuck onto the lower right side of my gaze.
  
   
  +
On the lovely entrance that will later see the reluctant me off to school, and welcome an absolutely tired me home…
−
Even though I once lived at the countryside, I couldn’t speak the accent of a country bumpkin properly, and was rather stiff. That didn’t matter, but…… By the carpet just after we got through the door, there seemed to be something, no, someone?
  
   
  +
A Chikuwa-like object lay there. <ref>A tube-like food made from fish paste</ref>
−
…… From that moment on, a bad premonition caused the excitement in my heart before I travelled here to cool down.
  
   
  +
That person fashioned — to be precise, ''swallowed'' by the outfit — an attire tasteless anywhere on the globe,
−
Such a feeling was like someone seeing an exceptionally cute doggy in a photo, but having a thought of “What sort of thing is this shorty? Fleas are already jumping from your body!” arise, and couldn’t help but refuse hugging it.
  
   
  +
Fully expanded toes, completely throwing the doubt of sleeping on the floor out of the window,
−
The lump of thing sent a pile of ‘reality’ into my new dream life.
  
   
  +
That thing nagged at my brain, and I wanted to stomp on it and kick it around.
−
After that, what sent me unwillingly out to school and welcomed me at my precious entrance as I dragged my exhausted body home……
  
   
  +
“……”
−
There was an object similar to a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chikuwa chikuwa].
  
   
  +
The spring sun shone down through the frosted glass and into the entrance. A chill froze up my back as droplets of sweat perspired. I sensed wiggly lines on my forehead, poking and dancing on the skin.
−
That person was wearing a fashionable accessory that would look completely out of place at any corner of the Earth, or perhaps I should say, was swallowed by it.
  
   
  +
My Youth-Points are slapped back to the negatives.
−
The happily stretching feet completely tossed away the doubt of lying on the ground.
  
   
  +
[[image:Dts_0033.jpg|406px|Total score at last school: -3 Sense of superiority, living a different life: +3 Discovering Chikuwa-object at my Aunt's house: -3 Youth-Point Total: -5]]
−
The roly-poly look stimulated the impulse of my central nervous system, making me feel like stamping or kicking it away.
  
−  
−
“……………………”
  
−  
−
The spring sunlight poured down through the frosted glass glass at the entrance, causing sticky beads of sweat and a slight chill to surface on my back. The feeling of black lines popping out on my forehead pulsed on my skin.
  
−  
−
My ''Seishun'' Points fell back into the negative once again.
  
−  
−
==Translator's notes and references==
  
−
<references/>
  
   
  +
* Total score at last school: -3
  +
* Sense of superiority, living a different life: +3
  +
* Discovering Chikuwa-object at my Aunt's house: -3
  +
'''Youth-Point Total:''' -5
   
 
<noinclude>
  
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==Translator's Notes and References==
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Latest revision as of 10:16, 11 June 2017

Chapter 1 - City of the Aliens[edit]

Back to Novel Illustrations Return to Main Page Forward to Chapter 2


Total Point:0 Chapter one
Let’s talk about Youth Points.

“Five-Points” is the most which could be scored in a single event; below are some examples.

First and foremost are the One-Point’s, such as chatting with girls during recess, eating with friends after school; anything that involves having a normal student life generally generates these points.

But Youth Points depreciate over time, and negligence of these points cancels out any accumulation. These events may be fun at the time, but a lack of memorable highlights is something no high school graduates want.

Next is the two-point. Similar to the above examples, some of the most iconic activities include talking to a girl in the nearby park during the twilight. Two-Point’s are mostly One-Point’s catalyzed and enhanced by factors such as “night” or “club activities;” if One-Points are the basics, then Two-Points are the applications. They don’t come often, but with a bit of wit, chances are definitely not insufficient.

Three-Point activities are riddled with many uncertainties – as the name suggests, they are sort of like the Three-Pointers in a ball game: making a decisive shot isn’t easy, yet a successful one can easily turn the table. In short, it is a leap of faith.

A date with a crush easily ranks as a Three-Point; note that, however, regular dates with an actual girlfriend won’t gain any more points – these points are limited to single-sided romance or ambiguous relationship.

But at this point, care should be put when determining whether the other is giving ambiguous remarks, or simply drawing lines.

Aside from that, Three-Point’s also contain special occasions with group activities. Things like a gathering for a trip, celebrations for clubs, etc, are all very unlikely and therefore score high.

Chances for Four-Point’s mostly come from specialized events; school festival is exemplary, but these events have to be participated in with intent: a distinct goal and preemptive steps to prevent any chances that lead to potential point loss.

On the other hand, if the surrounding atmosphere doesn’t feel right and fails to build hype, it’s hard to get higher points during a sports festival. Most people can’t even enjoy sports to the fullest, reason being that gaps between individuals’ athletic abilities are far from small.

Graduation ceremony as well – from the methodical viewpoint, many points can be racked up during this event; after all, crying one’s dignity away amidst the sea of sadness could be considered joyous to some.

To begin defining Five-Point’s, their subjectivity must first be established. If a person can proudly declare “This is it!” to a specific memory, that, to him, must have been determined as a whole Five-Point.

For example, running wild in town disregarding basic human dignity for a crush; and winning the Koshien championship.[1] Only by stepping on the fine line between permanent PTSD and eternal glory, and sprinting forward can one ever hope to achieve the highest points.

For those without ambition, the tail of a Five-Point is forever out of reach.

In a sense, adolescence can only prosper in a capitalistic manner.

With a deep understanding of the essentials, along with the needed capacity to grow, a person may even get more than twenty Youth-Points in the three years of high school. Such wealth in the future, universities and vocational aspects may not hold much value, however.

But for someone who’s reached nirvana, accomplishment feels drastically alien than for the commoners.

Since life’s ‘process’ exists only for ‘result,’ it is obvious just how significant high school is.

… I was just bored, and came up with these definitions on a whim.

The brain tends to spin when the hands are busy at work, so I couldn’t help but think about a few things.

Only, what kind of fetish do I have, getting all excited from stuffing things into boxes? Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? Vertical Movement lover?[2] Rectangle cultist?!

“Ahh, humans do enjoy categorizing. Or should I say differentiating?”

I nitpicked at my own thoughts while humming, and glanced at the television, at the meantime stuffing my luggage. My exuberant feeling contrasted well with the room, which became more and more desolate as time passed. Despite having sleep deprivation, my spirit elated: in all, my condition was top notch.

Like in the common galge’s [3], my parents moved oversea, leaving their son with two more years of high school at the house of my aunt. Two days after my official transfer notice was accepted, four more remain before my relocation. For the yearning me, this is like welcoming the peak of my life.

This year is my first ever to not complain about the short break during spring.

I can’t wait for the arrival of the next semester.

After all, where I’m going is the city; classes will have more than twenty people, and student stores will have more than just curry bread on their menu. The campus may even have convenience stores, or ten-minute-one-thousand-yen barber shops.

Honestly speaking, from the Youth-Point standard, my past high school life has nothing but negatives. If enrolling into the school equates to starting from zero, then my total points are probably negative three. The points that are lost like my youth – never mind a refund, I can’t even keep my own balance. But that changes today.

“Wahahah! Heehee~!” If my neighbor saw the disgusting smug on my face, she’d probably move her house further away. Sense of superiority drove my limbs numb. This feeling is probably the same as those liberated from major exams, when the last of the anxiety melts away. How soothing. Is this how the Cochlea feels after readjusting from a shock? [4]

“I’ve never been to the sea; I wonder what it’s like!” After settling down in the city, I have to ride the train to the beach, and rack those Youth-Points up! If possible, with a girl, and if not, a group is fine.

I put the only prize I ever won during elementary school into the second cardboard box below, and stuffed an entire rope-bound textbook on the top. “Ahh, but I’d probably have to re-buy all the books.”

Like a college girl moving out of a crappy apartment agonizing over her old fridge, I tilted my head, immersed in the entertainment that is choice-making.

Regarding the explanation as to where I am living, it is full of things that can make a highschooler like me hop in joy.

My aunt lives alone: she has no husband or children, and she works (of course). In essence, I am living independently with few restrictions. Put into words, it’d the dream every rebellious, pre-pubescent high school boy could only wish for – an evil incubator that they wish to live in even by throwing away money and pride: “How could anyone simply express this?!” To me, it is probably just the momentary defiance which sought to topple adult’s ‘plan for healthy teen’ that excited me so much.

My hysteria for a new life could probably rival even the joy of apes that defiled a whole field of crops for a delicious meal.

Would a bumpkin like me offend the cliques of the city kids? I couldn’t even care about such problems. My boiling heart beat – so wonderfully that it felt like a nudist streaking through the spring sun.

I feel absolutely terrific.

The four days of combating gravity, turning and defeating the luggage (basically, wasting a lot of energy) are over: the days of my city life finally began.

Two days ago, I bid farewell to my old classmates. It was inevitably disheartening, as in the countryside students tend to stick to the same classes; hence members of the school hardly changes. Even if we only spent about a year together, there were still many familiar faces.

More or less submerged in the sentiment, I think the atmosphere and scene of the parting were satisfactory.

If a girl were to cry for me in front of everyone, I planned on mailing her entire person to where I live. Of course, I ended up not being a kidnapper. With the power of the EMU [5], I said goodbye to the land where I'd lived for almost fifteen years. I didn’t know anyone well enough to have them see me off.

My parents also left Japan about a week ago, heading to somewhere called the Socotra Archipelago or Soviet Union – something like that.

But, if the excitement blooming from the departure was enough to cancel any Youth-Point negativity, wouldn’t my balance be back to zero? As if peering into the horizon of my heart, I felt the compatibility between a great mood and a fresh start.

Being able to experience the welcoming ceremony twice in itself is also rare enough.

Two and a half hours passed quietly as the train seat shook me gently. About midway of the trip, I apparently slept for about an hour. Most of the seats were filled with passengers by the time I woke up, and the scenery outside had changed from fields to houses and factories.

Ear buds stuck in my ears (This grammar may make sense in English, but it’s like saying nosebleed from the nose) returned to silence after finishing another round of shuffle.

I took the iPod out of my pocket and played another song, but listened with little attention as I was barely awake.

With blear eyes, I gazed at the name of a company gardened on their lawn, appealing to some environmentalist messages – Mount Fuji and even the ocean passed my view, all while the PA read out the names of destinations.

‘I’m almost there.’ I took out my cell and sent a mail to the inbox of my recently-registered aunt.

‘I’ll meet you right away.’ The train hadn’t even slowed down, and a reply already arrived.

“.......” Was she serious? It’s hard to tell from a text! I deemed it to be a friendly response and put my cell back.

Most of my luggage was already delivered to my Aunt’s house; I carried only a wrinkly, dry bag which reeks of bleach as my carry-on.

The neighboring purple-haired woman moved her leg for me; I nodded to her, and moved to the walkway. Perhaps led by my walking toward the door, passengers originally standing at the walkway all started the preparation to get off. Every time I brushed by a person, I’d shoot a glance; no signs or stickers to differentiate people of the city and the countryside, nor were there fashionable people clanking with accessories.

I didn’t even smell the so-called urban air. My sense of excitement waned.

The train rode into the platform. It was six times the size of the town station where I used to live; people filled the entire stop. I shriveled a bit. Music of my iPod went from piano performance to the howling of a male vocal – a preparation for my courageous journey. The automatic door opened as I plunged first out of the cart; the line began pouring out.

I didn’t ride the escalator, instead climbing the stairs towards the ticket booth. Started half-way, I thought for a bit:

My aunt – the person whom I will be living with: what kind of person is she? I’ve never met her. From the sole information that came from my parents: “She’s a big kid - a combination of an adult and a kid.” Hence, her name became “Aunt Kamaboko” [6] on my contract list; but how well does this intelligence mix with the overall impression? All I could think of was one of the Yakult salesladies[7].

The ticket machine stopped for a second, but I went through shortly. I dodged to the wall on the side so as to avoid the crowd, and began scouting.

I looked around for my aunt anxiously – more so than the girl with dyed hair next to me, who was probably looking for her boyfriend. My father gave me a twenty-seven year old picture of him and his sibling. But to look for my aunt this way, I might just end up being Urashima Tarou. If anything, I’d rather be Momotarou (TL Note: Urashima Tarou is a fisherman in Japanese legend who rescued a turtle, and was rewarded with a visit to the Dragon God's palace. He stayed for three days, but upon returning, realized that time above had passed three hundred years. Momotarou is also figure in Japanese legend who was born from a giant peach and raised by an old couple. He later on went on a crusade with a dog, monkey and pheasant to defeat the Oni, or demons, terrorizing the land.)

“Makoto!”

Someone probingly called out my name. The little man living in my mind, like a youthful Edison, relayed all of my consciousness (from the Martian station) – coincidentally, his name is resentment. My name is Niwa Makoto. Not Tana, Niwa; not Shin, but Makoto. [8]

I turned to the right in search of the owner of that voice. A refreshing, thirty-some year old woman looked straight at me. Since we are not familiar enough to communicate through our eyes, I had hoped that she’d be more tactful.

I couldn’t help but avert my gaze and shut my lips, unsure of what to say during the moment.

“You are Makoto, correct?”

She smiled politely due to my lack of response, and gently asked again. Elegant, refined behaviors of a young girl created a gap between her demeanor and appearance. Plus one to first impression.

"She smiled politely due to my lack of response, and gently asked again."

“Ah, yes! I am Niwa Makoto. Ugh, nice to meet you!”

I hurriedly bowed. Even I feel with my petty attempt to act polite. “I will be in your care for a while!” Flustered, I added on. Ugh, real smooth.

“No, no. I should say the same.” My aunt bowed as well, her long hair pouring off from her shoulder.

“Ah, I’ll hand you a business card.”

She crudely searched in her purse after straightening her back, and retrieved a plastic card case. She opened the case and handed me a rectangular card befitting the Golden ratio of Fibonacci.

“Thank you, how polite.” I took the card with an absolute mess of a manner and skimmed it:

'Touwa Meme – “Thirty Nine”' A bold double-quotation mark emphasized the age label. It would appear she wants to carry out the “What are frozen shoulders?” way of life, though the business card’s expiration date was barely a year away... [9]

Still… Even though I knew beforehand, her name… How strange.

“Um, Touwa… Probably has an artistic or floral origin, or maybe it’s a generic pseudonym; it may even be the written name of the alter ego, but...”

“It is my actual name!”

I sensed every attempt from her airy lines to sound younger. I recognize the characters, but do I read it MeMe, or Jojo? [10]

Perhaps noticing my confusion, my aunt added on:

“Touwa Meme. But you can call me Jojo.”

She blinked. Crow’s feet emerged on the sides of her eyes. If I accidentally spilled it, my life may be cut short. I swallowed gingerly and reevaluated the business card.

The name speaks explicitly about the naming sense of the parents. I would definitely laugh if I saw this somewhere on the web, but I’d rather be polite in front of said person.

“I see~” I gave a simple voice of assent, put the card in my wallet and waited for a sign to move.

“Let's take the taxi home today.”

“Ah, sure. How luxurious!” As I spat out these words, I realized I may have became numbed to them.

Meme-san briskly crossed the road ahead with a genial smile; about half way there, she asked while stroking her hair.

“Are you tired after spending so much time on the train?”

“Yeah, since I haven’t been on one since the middle school field trip.”

“Is that so~? You are a second year in high school, right? They sure grow fast~”

“Right. Is the school close to your house?”

“Hmm~ it’d take about fifteen minutes on bicycles. Ah, but that’s for me – you should be faster.”

We prattled along the way, talking about trivial things. One thing that did strike me was Meme-san's unique mien – one that was neither intimate nor estranged. Like warm but sticky water, it’s not discomforting, but slightly unnerving.

“Hold up~” Meme-san waved at the green taxi next to hub. I thought it was kind of cute, but I'm not into older women, so I looked to the high school girl from earlier waiting by the light with her boyfriend from a distance away; I stared at the frill of her skirt. How unbearable... No, no; I pushed away the thoughts. 'Are you stupid~?' Even though she mouthed those words to her boyfriend, I did not feel one bit repulsed.

I got into the backseat, Meme-san the passenger seat. She told the gray-haired driver our destination. She spoke quickly, and I didn’t even remember a word. I sunk into the seat as I rubbed my heavy eyelids. On a different topic, how come Meme-san sat in the passenger seat when there were only two of us?

For some reason, she didn’t especially turn to talk to me. Sigh, even if she did, the conversation would probably just die miserably in this hole. I’m grateful that she didn’t try to talk.

As I first entered high school, my parents required me to study at a local university; being able to live the style of life I almost gave up half a year ago, I am deeply grateful for the blessing in the form of Meme-san.

I want to live a semi-independent life in this city. This is a place perfect for growth – nay, for Youth-Points!

My goal for the next two years: a total of fifteen Youth-Points.

Ten minutes after leaving the row of skyscrapers, the car drove into the housing area. Despite that, the environment lacked green; metallic building filled the scene, and I was somewhat bewildered.

The city brimmed with the scent of metal. Compared to my hometown’s smell of dirt, it seems to be full of promises.

After my little secret celebration, I met Meme-san’s eyes through the rear-view mirror.

That was awkward.

As the taxi passes under an overhanging sign, she suddenly turned back with a radiant smile.

“Welcome to the city protected by aliens.”

“…Huh?”

A smile and a sentence more aversive than welcoming.

A jagged ray of confusion mixed with words traveled from my eardrums to the brain.

Judging from the lack of reaction of the driver, I couldn’t deny the possibility of mishearing. I sincerely had no words.

“Eh~ No reaction?” Meme-san put up a fake smile with wide eyes.

“There are many sightings of UFO’s here – kind of like in Florida?” She explained.

“Oh~” I see how it is. Before I understood, I thought “maybe this person is an alien fanatic?” Maybe she was born during the time of MMR? [11]

But youth does not belong in the milky ways. Potential points set in my mind began to dwindle in their number.

“Older grocery stores even sell these ‘seventh-dimension’ key chain figures!”

“I don’t understand, limiting technology like that in a three-dimensional shop.”

Besides, aliens and dimensions may sound relevant, but are in fact unconnected. The difference between them is like that of electronic and rhetoric.

“Do you want to go straight home, or explore a bit?”

Meme-san confirmed the definite part of my travel, and asked me for the indefinite part. “Hmm, let's see.” I scratched at my temple, taking my time before answering.

“I can make a simple introduction for ya if we walk home.”

She spoke with just the right amount of kindness – enough to be wiped away with a finger; enough to not make things awkward.

“Have to take care of the luggage… Let’s just stay home.”

I hesitated at the word ‘home:’ whether I should have added ‘auntie’s home.’ But for brevity's sake, I didn’t bother. Maybe talking like this can actually bring us closer in the end.

“Alrighty~ Then let’s have dinner at home!”

The smile on her face never faded till she turned the other way.

And so, the taxi drove on the asphalt road for five more minutes.

“Ah, this is it.” Following Meme-san’s instruction, the taxi stopped at a plain spot with no landmark. Left door to the back seats opened automatically as I first exit the car. I glanced at the taxi meter as I left; with the allowance my parents gave me, I can at least ride twice back-and-forth. Speaking of which, where do I get allowance from now on?

Part time jobs? Or are my parents sending it to Meme-san?

“Here we are – Makoto’s second home~”

Meme-san stood next to me after paying the taxi. According to her, I can live here like at my own house (how shameless of me).

Though I would like to elaborate, there really wasn’t much to describe in my new abode.

It was very normal: an inconspicuous house. If someone took a picture of it and posted it everywhere around town, no one would compliment it, saying things like “Wow! What a wonderful mansion” – any comment like that would probably result in suspicions like “Is this a new form of house fanaticism?” Sigh, maybe this house only appears normal, but is full of mechanics and traps like a ninja’s house – spinning hidden doors and junk, things impractical in real life.

“Let’s head in!”

“Oh yes, uh, I’ll be in your care now.”

Before stepping inside, I greeted once again. If a son’s attitude is less than stellar, others will doubt his parents’ teaching!

“How polite of you.” Meme-san copy-pasted my line – of course, recycling and using it with a different tone of voice. “That should be my line, really. Sorry, please excuse everything.”

She swiftly replied… hmm? Just now, I thought I heard something like an apology blended into her words…?

Ahh, she meant “sorry if my mansion was so grand?” I must have came off a bit too cocky~

Aunt Meme opened the slide-door before I even finished solving the mystery. I followed as she disappeared into the entrance hall. I tried sniffing, curious to know what type of life transpired here… Just then –

“I’m home!”

She deftly took her shoes off and landed lightly onto the hallway… Hold up.

Before putting your slippers on,

Before calling my name,

Before putting on that smile,

There is something by your feet you should watch out for!

I can see the imaginary starting-line drawn by my feet distort.

“Makoto, try saying that too!”

But she ignored my piercing gaze, and repelled it with a money-worthy smile.

The world’s focus blurred instantly.

“…Eh, ah… Yes...” I answered while locking my sight to the lower right.

I came from the country side, but I can't speak in its accent, and my pronunciation is rather stiff. This is not important, but… Next to the carpet laid on the entrance hallway, there was something – no, someone?

… From then, my enthusiasm paralleling that of a kid’s night before field trip was frozen off by an omen that spread in my heart.

It's like seeing an abnormally cute puppy, but only being able to think “What's wrong with the furball? The fleas are everywhere now!” and refusing to hug it.

The pile of thing dropped a load of ‘reality’ into my dreamy life.

"The pile of thing dropped a load of ‘reality’ into my dreamy life."

On the lovely entrance that will later see the reluctant me off to school, and welcome an absolutely tired me home…

A Chikuwa-like object lay there. [12]

That person fashioned — to be precise, swallowed by the outfit — an attire tasteless anywhere on the globe,

Fully expanded toes, completely throwing the doubt of sleeping on the floor out of the window,

That thing nagged at my brain, and I wanted to stomp on it and kick it around.

“……”

The spring sun shone down through the frosted glass and into the entrance. A chill froze up my back as droplets of sweat perspired. I sensed wiggly lines on my forehead, poking and dancing on the skin.

My Youth-Points are slapped back to the negatives.

Total score at last school: -3 Sense of superiority, living a different life: +3 Discovering Chikuwa-object at my Aunt's house: -3 Youth-Point Total: -5

  • Total score at last school: -3
  • Sense of superiority, living a different life: +3
  • Discovering Chikuwa-object at my Aunt's house: -3

Youth-Point Total: -5


Translator's Notes and References[edit]

  1. ↑ Refers to the Japanese National High School Baseball Championship held annually in the Koshien district of Nishinomiya City, Hyogo.
  2. ↑ I found that this is a euphemistic term for something, but I think it's literal here...
  3. ↑ Refers to a type of game in which the player takes on the role of a character, usually in a school setting, with access to different heroines/heroes with whom the player can engage in relationships
  4. ↑ Organ in the inner ear that controls balances
  5. ↑ Basically a train that runs on electric motors
  6. ↑ A type of seafood consisting of mashed white fish formed into loaves and cooked. Quite delicious, by the way
  7. ↑ Yakult is a probiotic dairy product made by fermenting skimmed milk with a type of bacterium – a very popular drink world-wide. According to the original translator, the company has direct delivery to houses, which is what these ladies are
  8. ↑ A reference to the 1898 SF novel Edison’s Conquest of Mars, which was about a scientist, coincidentally named Thomas Edison, in the time of a Martian invasion. Secondly, Niwa Makoto is written as 丹羽真, which can be pronounced in several ways, like Tana Shin
  9. ↑ A shoulder inflammation causing chronic pain. People above forty are usually at risk
  10. ↑ Similar to Makoto’s name pronunciation; though I believe this is a reference to the manga/anime series “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure”.
  11. ↑ Magazine Mystery Reportage, a mystery oriented manga series regarding the supernatural and conspiracies
  12. ↑ A tube-like food made from fish paste
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