Today is Thursday, September 30th.
The Wild Geese
It's finally autumn, the season my true love is named after.
Episode 6: A Replica Is Shaken
Good morning.
Nao-senpai! It's been ages!
I've missed you!
I've missed you, too.
Oh, yeah. How'd your midterms go?
I think it's time for me to workshop my next novel.
Welcome back from cleaning duty.
Thanks.
What's that you're reading?
The Wild Geese
Ogai Mori
Where are you going?
You won't want anyone talking to you if you're reading The Wild Geese.
Why's that?
Well, The Wild Geese is an emotional, gut-wrenching classic.
You should be absorbed in the story without being disturbed.
You can let go, Aki-kun.
Don't wanna.
We haven't been here together in so long.
It'd be cruel to be apart.
Okay.
Coming!
Hi, there.
Do you have a minute?
Moririn!
It's Moririn the forest fairy!
Literature Club
For the sake of clarity,
I'm Suzumi Mori from class 3-4. I used to be the student council president.
It's nice to meet you.
I'm Aikawa, the head of the literature club.
So where did "Moririn" come from?
You don't know?
She dressed as a fairy when the student council did a PSA assembly back in May.
Moririn the forest fairy lamented students not following the dress code,
so she taught us how to dress as casually as possible while still toeing the line.
Moririn's PSA was such a success, dress code infractions plummeted by 30%.
Wow.
Thanks for the intro-morin.
And just so we're clear, my hair's naturally wavy,
so I'm not breaking the school code-morin.
Actual fan service!
Mochizuki-kun, you're next.
I'm Mochizuki, the former student council vice president.
I'm in class 3-2.
By the way, what brings you to our club?
It's bad news, I'm afraid.
The literature club might be disbanded.
The budget for club activities gets tighter every year.
We're now at the point where we need to eliminate clubs
that only have a few members and no achievements to their name.
That's our club all right.
What the heck? You're shutting us down just like that?
Calm down, Ricchan.
How can I possibly stay calm?
This is so... It's so...
It's mega exciting!
You see this kind of trope in anime and light novels!
"A club in danger of being disbanded."
It's a total rush!
So what do we need to do to save the literature club?
A hundred.
At next month's Seiryo Fest,
you need to sell 100 copies of your club zine.
If you can do that, it will count as an accomplishment.
Then the teachers can be talked out of disbanding you.
How's that sound?
We accept.
We'll fight for our club.
If you need any help, feel free to come to us.
Mori.
I've told you not to do that.
What? You used to say that when you were younger, Shun-kun.
That's ancient history.
And I've told you a million times not to call me "Shun-kun" at school.
Don't use our club room...
for your rom-com.
We already have a couple filling that role.
Ricchan!
So 100 club zines, huh?
We sell them every year at Seiryo Fest.
How many did we sell last year?
Um, I think we sold five.
Five? Isn't that catastrophically low?
Is it?
You don't seem too worried.
Well, this year's zine will feature Ricchan's novel.
So I think we'll be fine.
We're not fine.
A novel by a complete amateur will never sell 100 copies in a couple of days.
But I think your novels are riveting.
Even if you think so, look.
We still need to come up with a battle plan.
So that's what's going on.
In that case, wanna go to school in my place for a while?
Huh? Why's that?
I can't say much for now, but this works for both of us.
You need to save the literature club,
and I can't really go to school right now.
If you don't want to go, that's cool. I won't force you.
I-I do want to go.
But are you sure?
I'm sure.
Will you come to Seiryo Fest?
Yeah, maybe.
But you'd want to go too, right?
Then, we can each pick a day.
We'll decide who goes first later.
Are you in?
Yeah, I'm in.
So what's your plan for tonight?
Will you eat?
Sleep in the bed?
Neither.
If you say so.
Then I'll see you tomorrow morning.
Hold on.
Thanks for summoning me after getting dressed in the morning.
Oh, I've only started doing that to wake myself up.
Okay. See you.
Sure. Nao.
You can go.
Haunted \hHouse \h\h\hIIII IIII II
m 0 0 l 100 0 100 100 0 100
Maid Café IIII IIII
m 0 0 l 100 0 100 100 0 100
The results are in.
Haunted House IIII IIII II IIII\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h
m 0 0 l 100 0 100 100 0 100
Maid Café IIII IIII
m 0 0 l 100 0 100 100 0 100
Escape Room IIII III
m 0 0 l 100 0 100 100 0 100
Class 2-1 will do a haunted house for the fest.
A haunted house?
Sounds neat.
My class is selling crêpes, by the way.
Ooh, I'd like a strawberry cream crêpe.
I'd go for tuna and cheese.
Picking a savory crêpe is the sign of a sophisticated guy.
You think so?
So anyway, I've been thinking about the club zine.
Do you have an idea?
Yup. But we'll need to head to the student council room first.
Student Council
En garde!
Oh, it's the literature club.
Mori's not here.
No, we're here for you, Mochizuki-senpai.
For me?
We've been wondering...
Are there other clubs besides us in danger of being disbanded?
Yes, there's one other.
The drama club, correct?
They're so tiny, they're always asking outsiders to play parts.
Well, sorry we're so small.
Wait, so you're...
I'm the only member of the drama club.
I knew that.
The drama club is in bigger trouble than the literature club.
Seiryo Fest Documents
But I have an idea.
Why don't our clubs partner up for Seiryo Fest?
What?
I'll write a script, and the drama club can act it out.
Then, our club will sell the zine containing the spin-off novel of the play.
Of course, we'll also help with the performance.
Let's join forces and win top prize at the fest.
That way, both of our clubs will survive.
It'll be The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.
We could talk about this all day.
But I can't refuse the offer.
Do you mean it?
But on one condition.
What is it?
Get Mori to play Princess Kaguya.
Huh?
I'll be the emperor.
You're wondering why, aren't you?
No, we're not.
I'm just her childhood friend.
Back in kindergarten, our class did Snow White.
Mori wanted to be Snow White,
but she played the evil stepmother, a part nobody wanted.
So I made her a promise.
One day, she would play a princess and I'd play the prince.
We'll be going to different colleges, so this is our last shot.
So please.
Should we?
I'm totally okay with it.
Thank you.
So what parts will you guys play?
I'd like to play the granddad.
Will you be the grandma, Nao?
A grandma?
Sure. Why not?
We can reuse the costumes from when we did The Feather Mantle in June.
As for the other parts... Huh?
Wait a minute.
Did you pick Bamboo Cutter because of the costumes?
Yep.
Ricchan, you're a genius.
Actually, you should thank Aki-senpai.
Hm? Why's that?
Someone on the basketball team knew Mochizuki-senpai was in the drama club.
He told me all about the drama club and what they did for their June play.
Still, Hironaka was the one who came up with the plan.
Wow. Still, I wish you guys had looped me in sooner.
Actually, I was wavering on the plan right up until the last minute.
Remember what you said yesterday?
That my novels are riveting.
I wanted to use my original story
instead of going with Bamboo Cutter for its name recognition.
But I wasn't confident enough.
Ricchan.
But one day!
No, at next year's Seiryo Fest, I'll sell 100 copies purely on my own talent.
Yeah, that's the spirit, Ricchan.
I'll do my part too, so ask me for anything.
Nao-senpai.
Well, I do have a favor to ask.
Could you find someone who can draw a poster for Bamboo Cutter?
Will I mess this up?
Finding an artist for the poster?
It's more than that.
I've never done any acting before.
I wouldn't say that.
Right now, you're acting like Sunao Aikawa.
I'm also playing Shuya Sanada.
I guess you do have a point.
I'm always relieved to see your half ponytail.
I'll be the one coming to school for a while.
Really? That's perfect.
There's a doppel- gänger at this school
A doppelgänger?
There's a doppel- gänger at this school
Is this about me?
It's best to ignore it. Let's go.
Yeah.
You're the doppelgänger, aren't you?
Just admit it and be done with it.
You're Aloysia Jahn, aren't you?
No way. You've gotta be Aloysia Jahn.
Aikawa-san?
Are you okay?
Oh, sorry. I didn't get enough sleep.
Okay.
So anyway, another group is running out of paint.
There's more in the art room and you can get some air while you're out.
Art Room
This is beautiful.
Thanks.
Mori-senpai, did you paint this?
The school's trying to decide which picture to enter into an art contest.
They're all stunning.
My grandparents live in Fujinomiya.
That picture is the field in front of their house.
That's my grandma and grandpa.
So that's why they look like they're enjoying themselves.
Is that how you see it?
Yes.
Mori-senpai, will you draw the cover for our club's zine?
Huh? Me?
Yeah. You and your art would be perfect.
Wait, are you trying to hit on me?
Huh? W-Well, I...
All right. I'll give it a shot.
Thank you so much.
So what am I supposed to draw, anyway?
A picture for The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.
That's what the zine is about?
To be honest, it's actually more for a play.
Your club is putting on a play?
Well, the drama club and our club are doing a play together for Seiryo Fest.
Are you really? Sounds fun.
So are you playing Princess Kaguya?
No, you'll be playing her, Mori-senpai.
What?
That Shun-kun. Why can't he just let me be?
If I had to, I'd rather play a villain than Princess Kaguya.
Well, I can go talk to Mochizuki-senpai about it.
It's fine. If it's already planned, I'll do it.
I was the student council president, you know.
Senpai.
This will be our first day of rehearsals. Mori will join us later.
The other actors will join us on Wednesday.
Hironaka.
Yessir!
Neo Tale\h of the Bamboo Cutter (Working Title)
Suruga Seiryo High School Literature Club
Here's the script. We can do a quick read through.
"Long ago and far away,"
"there was an old man who made his living as a bamboo cutter."
"He went by the name of Sanuki-no-Miyatsuko."
"Whoa. By thunder."
"Who would've thought I'd find a cute little baby inside a glowing bamboo stalk!"
That sucked. I've never seen such wooden acting.
"Grandma, take a gander."
"I found this baby inside a bamboo stalk."
Aikawa, your line.
"My... My word, grandpa. Who is this cute baby girl?"
That makes two sucky actors.
I'll get you guys up to the standard expected of a high school play.
You hams prepare for the worst.
Yessir.
Sorry.
For being late.
Senpai, here's a script.
Thanks.
All right. Let's start from the top of page two.
"Grandfather, I don't wish to be married."
"I want to live here at home with you and grandmother."
"Tell me, is that so wrong?"
That was amazing. Do you have acting experience?
I'm afraid not.
The closest was when I played Snow White's wicked stepmother, or maybe Moririn.
No.
You've definitely improved since May.
Okay, I need to head to Nanbu Library, so I'll catch you soon.
Suruga Seiryo High School Seiryo Fest
Sure. See you.
There's a doppel- gänger at this school
Nao, you ready to go?
Nao. Look.
Let's go on a date.
A date?
The aquarium?
You said you wanted to go to one.
I thought this'd be convenient since it's in town.
Thanks.
Wow, a moray eel.
Nao, your mouth's moving like the moray.
"Give me food."
Aki-kun, are you hungry?
Not me. That was the hermit crab.
It says the blacksaddle filefish mimics the poisonous sharpnose puffer fish
to protect itself from predators.
If you're a fish, it doesn't matter if you're the replica or the original.
So you're taller than Sanada-kun and have a bigger butt?
How to tell a blacksaddle filefish apart from a sharpnose puffer
Dorsal fin and anal fin bigger
Dorsal fin and anal fin smaller
Blacksaddle Filefish
Sharpnose Puffer
The blacksaddle filefish isn't poisonous, but mimics the sharpnose puffer to protect itself from predators. The sharpnose puffer is poisonous throughout the body, which protects it from predators. You can tell the species apart by their dorsal and anal fins.
And yours is bigger than Aikawa's?
Yowch.
I'm glad you're not playing Princess Kaguya.
Because I'm a "sucky actor"?
I don't want you to go to the moon right after trying to turn into sea-foam.
I'll never do that again.
What's wrong?
If you're lying...
I'll make you eat a thousand porcupine fish.
Not a thousand needles?
That'll hurt worse.
So promise me.
I won't.
We can pinkie swear.
Let's make it a great Seiryo Fest.
Yeah.
I'll be there with you.
Yeah.
All right.
Pinkie swear!
Translation: Gad Onyeneho Timing: Mariana Martinez Editing: SMR Quality Control: Riley Dalton Translation Check: David Saylor