Ringing Sounds at the Summer Festival - Ch.6

 CW for mentions of guns

Chapter 6. I won’t give up

Summer festival venue

Mizuki: We’re all here! It’s good that Mafuyu managed to get here quickly

Mafuyu: Yeah, I was on my way to class, but apparently there was a clean up being done by the janitor, so they told me to leave.

Mizuki: That’s super lucky though ♪

Ena: Hey, since we still have a bit of time before the live event, why don’t we take a look at all the stalls?

Kanade: There’s food stalls…? I don’t ever go to festivals at all, so I’m not sure what’s there to see

Mizuki: Then, I’ll go look around! Let's go!

Ena: Ah,hold on, Mizuki…! You’ll get separated from us if you go running off all by yourself!

Shooting Range Stall¹ 

Ena: Eek..! Ah, I missed…! Urgh, I can’t hit the target at all..!

Mizuki: Ahaha, Ena is really bad at this ~

Ena: I don’t usually practice shooting targets, so it can’t be helped!

Mafuyu: ...Right here

Kanade: Amazing..!

Ena: Eh, could it be that you’re the one who shot all those prizes!?

Mafuyu: Yeah

Mizuki: Woah, you even hitted the most difficult prize! Mafuyu, are you good at this kind of thing?

Mafuyu: Not really, it’s my first time doing target shooting. But it’s easy, you just have to aim and shoot.

Ena: Hey, was that supposed to be a dig at me?

Mafuyu: I was just telling the truth.

Ena: Hah? Hey, you…

Kanade: Uu...It requires a lot of power to just pull the trigger...I can’t hit anything at all, it’s so heavy, I’m getting tired from just holding it…

Ena: Kanade, are you alright?

Kanade: Y-yeah...My arm is starting to hurt though, so I’m gonna take a small break

Mizuki: Well, it’s good to not overdo it. Ena didn’t manage to shoot anything either, so it’s alright!

Ena: Shut up…! Mizuki hasn't been able to get any of the prizes either! 

Mizuki: Actually, I got one just now- Here, this keychain!

Kanade: ...This, what character is this?

Mizuki: It’s the local mascot of Shibuya. It’s called Shibunyago, it’s pretty popular nowadays ♪

Mafuyu: It’s just a cat. It’s not cute at all

Mizuki: If anything, that’s what I like about it~! I like the way it looks as if it’s mocking me!

I’m gonna put it on my bag right away ♪

Ena: Eh, you’re putting it on right now? It doesn’t really match the design of the bag, does it?

Mizuki: I don’t really care about that!  It's a memento of our visit to the summer festival together, afterall ♪

Ena: Memento…

(--Mizuki, I’m glad that’s what you think of us)

 

Mizuki: ...Put it over here and...Look look, it’s super cute right!?

Ena: As expected, it doesn’t match the design of the bag at all. But...if it’s a memento, it’s fine right?

Mizuki: By the way, should we stop doing target shooting now?

Ena: Yeah, I couldn’t hit anything anyway, so we can stop now

Kanade: Me neither…

Mizuki: All right! What should we do next? Should we grab something to eat?

Kanade: Hmm, I don’t think I’m that hungry yet

Mizuki: Then, let's go yoyo fishing² !

Ena: Eh? Won’t we be late for the live?

Mizuki: It won’t take that long, we’ll be fine!

Come on, let’s go!

Ena: Ah, hey, don’t run so fast!

---------

Shizuku: Hey, Airi-chan, should we buy those penguin masks for Minori-chan and Haruka-chan?

Airi: That’s a good idea! It has a round and cute look, so Haruka will surely love it. 

Oh, something fell down

Shizuku: It looks like a keychain. Fufu, it has a cute face ♪

Airi: Eh, really…? It looks kinda weird...Did somebody drop it?

Mizuki: That was fun~! I wish we could be with Miku as well

Ena: But there’s no such thing as festival in Sekai

Mizuki: Yeah but...Ah, maybe we could set up the stalls ourselves? 

Mafuyu: What activities are we even setting up?

Mizuki: Yoyo, and target shooting practice! For target shooting, we can just shoot rubber bands!

Kanade: ...Miku, would probably love that

Ena: But if we’re actually gonna do this then, I wanna get revenge for the shooting activity earlier. I don’t like being made fun of constantly

Mizuki: Ena was--super bad at that game!

Ena: Hah!?

Mizuki: Ahaha! Well then, if we get the chance to hang out together again, let’s all…

…….

Ena: Mizuki?

Mizuki: Ah, no, it’s nothing!

Anyway, it’s almost time for the event to start! First off is the amateur division, let’s go see what’s happening there!

Ena: Ah, alright…

(...Mizuki, what were you about to say earlier?)

(I thought you were having at least a bit of fun...but I guess you’re still the same as usual)

Kanade: ...Ena, what’s wrong? Everyone is going ahead already

Ena: Ah...sorry. I’m coming!

Summer festival live stage

Mafuyu: ...There’s a lot of people here, more than I expected

Mizuki: I agree. Kanade, are you alright? Won’t you get sick?

Kanade: I’m- probably alright for now…

Ena: If you don’t go too near the front, you should be fine. Look, there’s not too many people around that tree over there

Mafuyu: You can even see the stage from there, can’t you?

Mizuki: Then, we can go watch from there!

Ah, I brought some cold water, we can all have some. Here, I’ll give some to Kanade

...Huh?

Ena: What’s wrong? 

Mizuki: My keychain is gone…!

Kanade: The one you got as a prize at the target shooting range earlier, right?

Mafuyu: It was on your bag just a while ago

Mizuki: Yeah,it’s supposed to be there... I must have dropped it somewhere…

Ena: Eh, really? Then let’s go look for it

Mizuki: Ah-...no, no need to. The event is starting soon….Besides, it’s too crowded here, I doubt you’ll be able to find it

Ena: But Mizuki, you loved it a lot didn’t you? You even said you were gonna keep it as a memento

Mizuki: That’s right, but...There’s no way we can get it back

Ena: ...tch!

That’s no good. How can you just give up like that when you haven’t even tried yet?

Mizuki: But the event is starting--

Ena: That doesn’t matter! Come on, we can go look for it together! 

Mizuki: Wait, Ena!?

Ena: Mafuyu and Kanade, wait here. We’ll be back by the time the pro division starts.

Mafuyu: Understood

Kanade: T-take care…

Ena: Mizuki, have you found it yet?

Mizuki: Umm, no. Hey, we’re not gonna be able to find it anyway, let’s just head back

Ena: But…!

Flashback

Mizuki: I’m gonna put it on my bag right away ♪

Ena: Eh, you’re putting it on right now? It doesn’t really match the design of the bag, does it?

Mizuki: I don’t really care about that!  It's a memento of our visit to the summer festival together, afterall ♪

---------

Ena: ...tsk!

Let’s look around some more

Mizuki: But it’s just a keychain prize right? You don’t have to go that far to find it…

Ena: It’s not just that simple to me! 

...That’s right, maybe it’s in the lost item area. Mizuki, let’s go!

Mizuki: Ah, hold on, Ena..!

Eh, it’s really here..!

Ena: See, I told you, didn't I?

Mizuki: Um, this keychain, who left it here?

Female staff member: Two girls did. They said they found it near the stage

Mizuki: As I thought...Ena, thank you so much

Ena: It's no big deal. I was the one dragging you around in search of it anyway. Anyway, the event is starting, so how about we head back to Kanade’s spot?

Mizuki: Yeah!

Committee member A: Eh? The extension cord is not in this box, it’s some completely different items

Committee member B: You’re right...There’s just a bag...and some dance shoes?

Ena: (Eh, is that--)

 
1. A classic japanese festival game, where you shoot down items and get the reward
2. A game where the “yo-yo” is a small water balloon, and you have to use paper strings with a hook at the end to fish it up

Ringing Sounds at the Summer Festival - Ch.7

 Chapter 7. Words that formed the present

Summer festival live stage

Touya: Akito, did you manage to find it?

Akito: No, I can’t see it anywhere

Len: “Did the whole box somehow manage to disappear…? What should we do now…?”

Touya: Even though my valuables are all safe, I still don’t have my dancing shoes...

Akito: ...It can’t be helped. I’ll just give up looking for it. I can handle dancing in these shoes

Touya: But…

Len: “...Ah, it seems like the event has started. That’s the opening song right?”

Akito: --Yeah. Come on, let’s go back

Touya: Akito…

Shouta: Akito-kun, Touya-kun, thank you for your hard work. Please go stand by the stage over there!

Akito: Ah, got it

Touya: …….

Len: “But, I still really wonder where Akito's bag and dancing shoes went…”

Akito: I don’t wanna think about that anymore. We can’t do anything about it anyway

(..I’m a bit upset about it but... we’re gonna be onstage soon, I need to calm down)

...A phone call at a time like this? From Ena too…

Hello? I'm kinda in the middle of something right now, so I'll see you later.

Ena: "Akito, did you lose your dancing shoes at the summer festival? You know, the ones with the fancy designs you bought the other day!

Akito: ...Ha?

Ena: “I don’t know how, but one of the executive committee members said he took it by accident. I contacted you because I thought it might be yours--”

Akito: Ena, bring it to me right now! The live is almost starting!

Ena:  “Live? Where is it at?”

Akito: It’s at the summer festival’s outdoor stage!

Ena: "Outdoor stage ...... Oh, there it is. I'll be right there, wait for me!”

Akito: Alright!

---------

 

Ena: Here you go! I was pretty surprised to see a pair that looked exactly like yours

Akito: You really saved me! Thanks, Ena

Ena: It’s no big deal, but you better buy me a cheesecake as compensation. The most expensive one from that Miyasuzaka cake shop that we went to before!

Akito: ‘Kay, got it

Mizuki: Otouto-kun and Touya kun are going to be performing at the event right? I’m looking forward to it! 

Ena: Good luck, Touya-kun!

Touya: Thank you very much

Akito: Akiyama, sorry that ya had to deal with all of that

Mizuki: It doesn’t bother me at all! I’m glad that you found your shoes

Ena: Akito, since I went all the way here, don’t go giving a half-hearted performance. 

Akito: Of course I won’t. Do you even know how much practice I had? 

Ena: You've been coming home all exhausted lately, haven't you? And the moment you get home, you’d  go to the backyard to practice more

Akito: ...So you knew about that

Ena: I mean, we live together, how could I not notice? 

But, I didn’t expect Akito to perform on stage like this. You look way better than you did back then.

Akito: What do you mean “back then”...Don’t tell me, you also remember when--

Flashback

Ena: ...Hey, Akito. Why don’t you try something like that out?

---------

Shouta: Akito-kun, Touya-kun! It’s your turn to go onstage

Akito: Ah, I got it!

Ena: Then, Mizuki and I will go back to our spot. I'll be watching you closely, so don't  go making any mistakes.

Mizuki: Do your best, you two!

Akito: (...You also remember what happened then, don’t you?)

Touya: We better get going

Len: “I’m rooting for you two! Fight¹!

Akito: Alright, let’s go!

Mizuki: Kanade, Mafuyu, we’re back!

Mafuyu: Welcome back, the pro division hasn’t started yet. 

Kanade: Mizuki, did you find your keychain?

Mizuki: Yeah, thanks to Ena

Kanade: I'm glad to hear that. I was a bit worried since you took quite a long time to come back. 

Ena: Sorry. Some other stuff happened which took up our time

Kanade: What do you mean? 

Ena: Ah no, it’s nothing important

Mizuki: Hey hey, looks like Ena’s young brother is going to perform the encore for the amateur division.

Mafuyu: Ena’s brother?

Ena: Yeah, I’ve never got to see him sing properly either

Event host: Next up, we have BAD DOGS

Mizuki: Ah, those two are coming up! 

Akito: ♪——！！

Ena: (...Amazing, the moment Akito started singing, the atmosphere changed completely)

Touya: ——！！　♪——！

Touya - Akito: 『♪——！！』

Mizuki: That was amazing, the dance was super cool!

Ena: Seems like they usually focus on singing. They probably practiced dancing a lot this time though.

Mizuki: Is that so...I’m glad we were able to give the shoes to them, Ena

Ena: Yeah, you’re right

Akito: (...The atmosphere is good)

(It’s a completely different stage compared to the usual, but I can still move and sing just fine)

(All those practice paid off)

(--Yosh, it’s my solo part. I need to get the crowd hyped up for Touya’s solo part too)

————！！　♪————……！

Crowd cheers

Akito: (--I did it! Now I just need to match Touya's movements…!)

Akito - Touya : 『——！　————！！』

Audience: Those guys are super amazing!!

Audience: Yeah, they usually specialize in dancing, but the fact that they can dance like this too is wonderful

Mizuki: Woah...That was super great-!!

Mafuyu: It was loud and annoying..But I don’t hate the singing

Kanade: The dance was amazing. Especially the way they can move and still sing like that

Ena: (...Well done, Akito)

Event host: That’s all from the two members of BAD DOGS

Akito: Hah, hah…!

Touya: Akito, we managed to perform without any issues. The audience was really pumped up

Akito: Yeah, we managed to match pace with each other too

Touya: I guess it’s also thanks to our dance shoes. It made our movements lighter and our steps more stable.

..I’m glad we managed to find it in the end

Akito: Yeah! I was wondering how would it go if we didn’t have it--

(Ah…) *He saw Ena looking at him with a smile

….

1. The way Len is saying fight is not in the literal meaning, it's just a way of cheering in Japanese