Ringing Sounds at the Summer Festival - Ch.1

Chapter 1. Memory of failure

a few years ago
Referee: With a score of 4 by 0, Team “Shibuya Diamond” wins!

Akito: Good work!¹

Akito: Oi, Shouta. You were all sloppy in the second half of the match. You need to train your stamina a bit more.

Shouta: S- sorry! I’ll try running more

Akito: Sheesh…

Shouta: Akito-kun’s final shot was amazing! As expected of our Ace!

Akito: It’s only natural. What’s the point of having an Ace on the team if he can’t score?

Shouta: Ahaha, that’s just like you, Akito-kun

Akito: Anyway, if we’re gonna continue competing, we must win. We’ll definitely win the next one.

Shouta: You’re right! But the next team is a really strong contender ...... Will we be alright..?

Akito: Why are you acting all weak like that, idiot? You can’t win against anyone if you don’t believe in yourself!

Shouta: S-sorry!

Akito: …….
…Well, if anything goes wrong, just pass the ball to me. I’ll help you score

Shouta: Ah…
(Akito-kun is, a little scary but ....... He's also actually very dependable and kind.)
Thank you, Akito-kun…! Next tournament, we’ll win for sure!

Akito: Yeah! I’ll beat even the best of the best

A day before the tournament
Shouta: Good work!
(Alright, tomorrow is the day of the tournament. I ought to try not to make any mistakes…!
...... Hm, that person is ......
Akito-kun? Practice is already over…

Akito: Hah, hah…

Shouta: Akito-kun, good job!

Akito: Huh? Ah, you’re still here

Shouta: Aren’t you the same, Akito-kun? Are you still practicing?

Akito: Yeah, I’m probably good to go for tomorrow
It’s the last match I’ll have in 6th grade. I want to put in everything I can

Shouta: As expected of Akito-kun, you’re our ace afterall! You’re so cool!

Akito: You’re exaggerating it. I just don’t want to do anything half-assedly.

Shouta: I see…
Hey, do you mind if I practice with you?

Akito: Hah?

Shouta: I want to put in my all too!

Akito: You...Don’t go gettin’ tired half-way, okay?

Tournament day, quarterfinals
Akito: Alright, if we win this round, we’ll be in the semi-finals!

Shouta: I heard that the members of the other teams are all kids scouted by famous youth soccer teams...But we’ve come this far, we have to win no matter what!

Akito: That’s for sure, we’re gonna definitely win this!

Rival team member A: Alright, we got a lot of points, if we keep this up, we’ll definitely make it!

Rival team member B: That doesn’t mean you should let your guard down

Akito: Damn! They’re above us by three points
(Ever since this match started, I feel like my defense is worsening...I keep getting outsmarted....!)
(If we don't do something, we're not gonna make it….!)

Teammate: I knew the candidates for the tournament were gonna be on a whole different level…
There’s too much of an imbalance in power, we might just lose this one…

Akito: tch…!
Oi, you can’t give up here! All this time, you’ve been determined to win, haven't you!?

Shouta: Akito-kun…
Akito: Next time, pass the ball to me. I’ll definitely score
C’mon, don’t give up until the end! Just run-- and don’t hold back!

Shouta: Yosh, we won’t lose here…! We can score some more!
...B-but
(Uuu, their defense is too strong. I can't pass the ball...)

Akito: Hah,hah…!

Shouta: (Akito-kun, you're amazing ......! You're doing a great job at evading your opponent!)

Akito: ...tsk!

Shouta: (I have, I must pass this ball..tch..!)

Akito: Over here!

Shouta: A-Akito-kun…!

Akito: Alright, We got one in!

Shouta: W-we did it….!

Teammate: Amazing, how did you even pass their defenses…!

Akito: Oi, don’t go cheering about this just yet
There’s still more, we're going to win this game, and we're going to win the championship! Let's keep scoring!

Teammates: YEAH!!

Rival team member: They managed to score 1
The guy from earlier had a good sense of judgement. I couldn’t keep up with his movements for a second
That’s why, I'm not going to let them score again. Let's keep our heads up!

Referee: Team East Musashiya, goal!

Spectators: Whoa, they scored again! Now they’re above by three points!
Team Shibuya Diamond, you’re running out of time...There’s only less than five minutes left

Akito: Dammit, seriously...!?

Shouta: They've got great skills, ....... I can’t even touch the ball.

Akito: There’s still time! Don’t give up until the very end!

Shouta: Ah, alright…

Akito: Damn...Dammit! I can’t keep up with them at all…!!
(We all came here to win…! It can’t end here!)
Damn it…!

Referee: With a score of 5 by 1, Team East Musashiya wins!

Rival team players: Thank you for the match!!

Akito: Thank you …!!
...Damnit, we lost…!
Why can't I win! I've been trying so hard, so seriously, to get this far...!

Teammates: --There was no way we can win

Akito: Wh-
You guys…! That mindset is  why you couldn’t win at all!

Teammates: Of course we couldn't! Those guys from East Musashiya are playing soccer in a special dormitory away from their family, right?

Akito: Eh…

Teammates: I heard that they practice all the time after school. They said there wasn’t even a moment when they weren’t touching the ball 
They play soccer from day to night to become pros. They don’t even have a minute to have fun or relax, you know

Akito: …!
(I don't think I've been playing half-heartedly. But ......)
(Leaving home,......playing from morning till night, using all my free time. I never thought of playing soccer that much.)
(I thought I was being dedicated, but I--)

Teammates: There's no way we're going to be able to compete with those who are that determined…

Akito: ...tsk!!

Residential area
Shouta: I'm sorry for today... It was our last official game for the sixth grade, so we wanted to win, but .......But we got matched against a strong opponent.......Even so, I think we did well enough
.
Akito: …

Shouta: Hey, Akito-kun, you're still going to play soccer in middle school, right? Let's join the same team again!

Akito: I’m--I’m quitting

Shouta: What?! Wh-why…?

Akito: I thought about it when I fought those guys today.
I wonder if I'm as serious about soccer as they are.
And, .....I'm wondering if I'm even going to be able to work any harder than they are.
…...I don’t know anymore

Shouta: Akito-kun…

Akito: It's ......really lame, isn't it? I want to do something about it, but I'm not sure what anymore.
...... The fact that I’m bothered by the idea of practicing that much shows that I’m not taking it seriously.
That’s why...I quit

Shouta: I think Akito was more serious than anyone else! Today's opponent was definitely tough, but out of all of us...You were-- you were---

Akito: Thanks, Shouta
But that isn’t good enough
That’s not enough...for someone like me

Shouta: Akito-kun…

Akito: Sorry for being such a pathetic ace...see ya

Shouta: Wa-wait! Don’t quit, Akito-kun…!

Current time, livehouse
Akito: ♪ ————！　————！

Touya: ——♪　——♪

Akito - Touya: 『♪　————！』

???: I never thought I'd see you here ......!
Maybe Akito and his friends can help make the event more exciting--

1. *Akito is using the slang term “あざっした”

Ringing Sounds at the Summer Festival - Ch.2

Chapter 2. Invitations to summer festival

Livehouse

MC:...... There’s no need to judge this one. The winner is BAD DOGS!

Audience: You guys, sing more! I can’t listen enough!

Audience: Exactly!

MC: My, what an unexpected turn of events. How about you two, BAD DOGS?

Akito: It’s alright. I was just thinking that I didn’t sing enough just yet

Touya: Yeah, it’s no problem for me either. We'll sing for as long as time permits.

MC: Okay then, BAD DOGS, one more song, please!

 

Kamiyama Street

Len: "You guys did a great job today! The venue was filled with cheers!”

Akito: It was exciting but...We can't afford to get carried away like this.

Touya: I agree. There's still room for a few more improvements.

Len: "Oh, really? But don't you two think it's okay to have a little fun? You're not needing to practice for a while, right?”

"An is going to be gone for a while because of family matters, and Kohane is busy with Miyamasuzaka Academy, so you two can go have some fun…”

Akito: It’s not like those guys are taking time off practice for selfish reasons. Besides, they said they'd join us for practice as soon as they got back here.

Touya: Yes. Just because Azusawa and the others aren't here, doesn't mean we can just go and get distracted. 

Len: "Amazing...... both of you. I have to do my best too!”

???: Ah,um ......! You're Akito Shinonome, right?

Touya: Len, sorry for this, but can you go hide for a bit?

Len: “I got it!"

Akito: You are--

???: Do you remember me? I'm Shouta Hayashi. We were on the soccer team in elementary school together.

Akito: Ah..

a few years back, residential area

Akito: Sorry for being such a pathetic ace...see ya

Shouta: Wa-wait! Don’t quit, Akito-kun…!

Current time

Touya: Akito?

Akito: ...I do remember. It’s been a while

Shouta: I'm glad you're doing well! I haven't been able to talk to you at all ever since you quit soccer.

Akito: Well, what do you want?

Shouta: Ah, ...... Well, I actually saw Akito-kun and his friends at an event earlier. I heard you sing, and I wanted to ask you a favor.......

Akito: Hah? What do you want me to do?

Shouta: Well, I want you both to be in the live event at the summer festival!

Touya: Summer festival live event?

Shouta: The festival is called "Shibuya Summer Festival". Every year we invite artists and have live events......

Akito: Oh, that festival. Every time they have a live show, they divide it into professional and amateur categories, right?

Shouta: Yes, yes, you know it well! I'm going to be a member of the committee for the festival this year.

Akito: You...Why are you doing that again?

Shouta: My brother is on the committee, and he asked me to join because he was short on staff. So, I was put in charge of the live event….

But then the unit that was supposed to perform as the encore¹ in the amateur category couldn't perform at short notice......

Akito: Because of that, you were looking for a replacement, so you came to see the event earlier.

Shouta: Yeah!I didn't think that Akito-kun would be performing, but you were...... and you even sang brilliantly earlier. I'm sure the audience will be happy to hear you two sing!

That's why I want you both to be at the live event! Please.....! 

Touya: I see...... By the way, what other units are going to be there?

Shouta: Ah, right! Here's the list of units that will be performing.

 

Akito: Oh....it’s units whose main focus is dancing.

Shouta: Mhm, for the amateur division, we're asking units that can mostly dance to participate.

Touya:  Since you've seen our events, I’m sure you know that our main focus is singing, not dancing.

I’m afraid that...We don’t really match the concept for the event, do we?

Akito: I guess so. We don’t do the kind of performance the audience wants to see.

Shouta: I can understand why you would think that. ......! Since the encore amateur units aren’t singing units, they are mainly dancing.

Bur by the end of the amateur performance--that is, after the encore units finish--the professional artists will start performing.

So I was hoping to close with the performance with a singing unit!

Touya: I see…

Shouta: H-how about that? I think the two of you are good enough to be performing the encore…

Akito: …..

Touya: Akito, I’m willing to participate

I understand why you asked me to do this, and I'm honestly happy that you appreciated my singing. If you want our songs, I’ll gladly perform

Besides, at the time of the Summer Festival Live, we won’t be having any events.

Akito: ...Well, you’re right

Shouta: Well then…!

Akito: But since we're in a dance-based event, we’re gonna have to incorporate more dance performances than usual.

Even though there's still plenty of time before the live event, can we really improve that much?

Shouta: Ah, no, It’s alright! Akito-kun and your friend can just perform in the same style as usual--

Akito: You can't do something half-assed like that when people are expecting to see a dance unit.

Touya: ...You’re right, Akito 

But if we spend more time on dance practice, we can perform better than usual, can't we?

We won't be able to practice our singing as much, but it won’t hurt to try something new every once in a while.

Akito: ……..

(It's true, performing isn't only about singing ....... And it might be nice to perform in a different place than usual.)

(Besides--)

Flashback to the festival sceneries

Akito: ...Alright, we’ll be participating in the event

Shouta: Eh, really!? Thank you! You helped me this time!

Akito: Well, it's a win-win situation for all of us.

But if I'm going to do this, I'm not gonna do it halfway. I'm gonna sing, dance and be the best one standing onstage. 

Shouta: ..... I knew I could count on you, Akito-kun. You haven't changed at all since then.

Thank you again, let me know if I can support you in anything! 

Akito: Alright, just let me know later when you've got more of the details.

I never thought I'd be in the summer festival event. ......

Touya: Yeah, I’m looking forward to it

Akito: Looking forward to it? Touya, you ......

 

Touya: These feelings are true. I’ll do my best to make the event a success

Also, it's my first time going to a summer festival. I'm curious to see what the atmosphere is like there.

Akito: ............ Hah. If so, then it’s alright. 

Len: “Hey hey, can I come out now?”

Touya: Ah, sure, it’s fine now

Akito: Sorry for the abruptness, Len.

Len: “ Ah, it’s alright! You're both going to the summer festival, right? Can I go with you?”

Akito: I don’t mind, but it’s not like we’re going there to play

Len: “ I got that already!” 

"So, I heard you talking earlier. Are you going to increase your dance practice?”

Akito: I guess so

Len: "So, can I join you in practicing? I've got a new thing I want to show”

Akito: Dance shoes?

Len: "Yeah, they say you should wear high-quality shoes when doing difficult dances.”

“Here, look at this!”

Touya: I see, how cool

Len: “I know right! I told Kaito my previous shoes were getting old, so he gave me some cool new ones!”

Akito: So that’s how you got ‘em

Touya: Well then, let’s go practice in the Sekai

Akito: More importantly, about those dance shoes…

I've never really paid attention to them, are they any different from the ones I normally wear?

Touya: I’ve looked into them before.  Apparently there's nothing special about the shoes themselves, they’re just like ballet shoes.

But if you select a good pair of shoes that are light and functional, it will be easier for you to perform strenuous movements and special steps when you dance.

Akito: Hmm…

Touya: I'm sure the shoes you've been wearing won't hinder you. But dance shoes might be nice to have if you want to raise the bars for your performance.

Akito: You’re right...I’m nothin’ like Len, but a good pair of shoes is a good way for me to get hyped up

I'll go check some out after practice.

Len: "Yay! Let me see the shoes when you buy them, okay? I'll be looking forward to it!”

Miyamasuzaka Street

Ena: Well then, let’s split up here

Mizuki: Ena, thanks for hosting a celebration! Thanks to you, it was really fun

Ena: I’m glad you had fun. Next time, Mizuki should be the organizer.

Mizuki: Ahaha, only if I have time~

Ena: Jeez…

(I still feel like there’s a riff between us...Usually, you’d be saying you’ll be the one who organizes the party, but this time you didn’t say anything until I pointed it out)

( I decided to wait and watch over Mizuki, but…)

Mafuyu: I’ll be taking my leave then

Ena: Ah..um, see  you

Mizuki: Bye bye!

Kanade: I wanted to go to the CD store near the station, though. Mafuyu, will you come with me there? 

Mafuyu: ….

Kanade: Is anything wrong? 

Mafuyu: We can’t go there, the road there is closed for construction

Kanade: ...Eh?

Ena: No way, the main road is closed off? I’ll have to take a different path home…

Mizuki: It's a bit of a detour, but we can go home from the park over there. If we go through there, we can go straight to the station.

Ena: It's hot and tiresome, but there’s no other choice, is there…?

Mizuki: Ena and Kanade don't get enough exercise anyway, right? So it's a perfect opportunity.

Ena: You haven’t changed at all, have you? Don't go pretending like you're the only one who's healthy!

Mizuki: Right right~ well then, let’s go!

1.*The word for this was トリ which according to my research is a group of final performers in a set list. There’s no direct translations so I decided to go with “encore”