Volume 3 Chapter 5 (2/2)
I mean, what can I say, I really love rainbows - that hat her roo me
”What are your thoughts on the room?”
”Eh?”
Since it was such an abrupt question by Amaniji-senpai, I was rather discourteous and had her ask the question again However, it seemed that Amaniji-senpai didn't particularly ain
”Our room, what's Yuu-chan's impression of it?”
”Err… Let's see, it's unexpectedly normal?”
Even though I was the one who said it, but unexpectedly normal? Why did I say that?
Unexpectedly normal - that phrase contained a word that didn't apply to Amaniji-senpai, a word that the differently didn't fit
Although the word 'unexpectedly' is a coed since it was attached to 'normal'
”Yeah, it's surprisingly norht?”
Amanji-senpai appeared satisfied with my reply
”We're just, unfortunately, an unexpectedly normal person”
”That's not true, I've seen just how eccentric you are It's a bit unreasonable and unjustified to conclude that you're not just based your room…”
”Ahaha, that certainly may be true However, in our opinion, a person's roo a peek into another person's roo their true personality Their bookshelf, their clothes, their accessories: wouldn't you say that they give a good outline of what the person likes? It's both beautiful and dirty You can also generally tell when a roo a secret as well”
”I see…”
”We were going to keep silent, but to be frank, as in observing your roo to find the true self that you've hidden - not!”
”No, for the ti, take a seat, kay?”, said Amaniji-senpai as she took a cushi+on out for herself to sit on I too also borrowed a cushi+on and sat down
”Moving to a simple place like this: well, this was the reason why”
”You mean you wanted for me to see this room?”
”That's right It was easier if you saw it Our - or as you would say, the ”true nature of unexpectedly normal person” And, emphasis on the word 'normal'”
The word that Amaniji-senpai made sure to emphasise shocked me
Somehow, my impression of her was of a person ould never say words like that in earnest
It was surprising, as, that she'd call herself nore to the point that it felt abnormal It was a word that differently didn't fit Amaniji-senpai
The shock tothat I couldn't even respond A short period of silence followed
But then, as if to break that silence,
”We want to ask you a little soht?”, said Amaniji senpai
◆
”It's better if you didn't say those words To not say things like, ”you're normal” In our opinion, see, it's not a word that's very positive
”That's right, words like 'norenerally, aren't compliments at all Even so, it seemed that ere normal Normal: to phrase it in another way, 'not special'
”Viewing us from afar, ere someone asn't special at all, someone who had no personality whatsoever: ere simply Girl A
”Aha, that's a fierce retort froht of yourself like that before?
”That you were someone as 'more special than anyone else'
”Was it the same for Yuu-chan as well? We see You understand e're talking about
”Still, it was different for us Although we did think all that ofthat we could call special, and from a distance we could only be seen as someone as personality-less We were the very essence of 'normal'
”That's not the case? Ahaha, thanks That may be the case now Yeah - only now
”In the beginning, anted to be ”a special person” in a ht of as special
”By our parents
”Don'tof a story It's pretty common It's just the story of my father's affair
”Eh? It's not a common story?
”We, well, that's just hoas to ht it was pretty coht that us and our mother weren't someone special to our father
”Now that I think about it - this story of ours You could say that it's the cause ofus the person we are today
”We rong as a kid, thinking that we didn't have anything special Weourselves as someone asn't special
”Then again, even if someone like that didn't happen, we're certain that ould have eventually ended up being the same eccentric person that we are today
”Wouldn't you agree? We ht?
”Ahaha Anyway, so - from that day onwards, we tried to become someone special
”After deciding that, we thought to ourselves: what did it mean to be someone special? The result - we had to be someone as absolutely different from every other person
”To live as a special and unique person
”However, ere told soht after our parents divorced Back ere in the first year ofthe parent-teacher interview for course guidance
”Amaniji-san's 'normal'
”Those words by my teacher were probably ood child It was probably supposed tolike that
”What do you think, Yuu-chan?
”Is that so? japanese is quite hard, isn't it? Or are we just weird?
”Hehe, right? Yay!
”We weren't happy to be praised like that Yeah, even if it was meant to be a co Maybe our mother knee saw those words Maybe she didn't We don't know
”Either e didn't think of it was a coht that it was normal to not be told stuff like ”she is nor as told so like that
”At first, I didn't understand it's significance But then, I realised it right away That I was a worthless hu with no personality - that I was a nor bad
”Your words are so kind, Yuu-chan
”However, back then, there wasn't anybody who tell us the things you've saying now, Yuu-chan
”Mother didn't say anything either - that was thepoint for us
”As such, froood” Being part of thespecial And so - we became a special person
”Well, that's just how it is And now, like how Yuu-chan puts it, our identity has now become like this
”Yeah, that's e made our personality like this There's no one else like us
”But, there's no one else that thinks like us, right? There's no one else ants to be special like this
”Ahaha, right That's true Everyone's like this at least once Thank goodness
”But you knoe may have made a mistake back then Or rather, we made a misinterpretation
”Yep, that's right To put it simply, the antonym of 'normal' isn't 'special'
”The antonym of 'normal' is 'abnormal'
”For the young us, by the time we realised our mistake, we found ourselves already in solitude
””That child's weird” hat others would say of us
”Or in other words, abnormal… Yep, we became a 'heretic'
”That's right, ere already past the stage of ”norood”
”Hehe, but then in that sense ere already kind of unique, weren't we?
”And so, from that point onwards, we've been the e are this whole time Even so, we had tried to push ourselves even further Because ere special
”Yeah, but fro misunderstood as a 'heretic' The past us would have been pleased with the current us
”Even if everyone around us was judging us, anted to be 'special'
”For exas like this
”Ahaha, isn't it a seventy-seven points on every test! Even noe're a bit prideful of this! By the way, it's still a work-in-progress
”Subjects like japanese are quite difficult, right? When it's an essay, there's no chance at winning We score 0 points on those
”Grrr! We're not an idiot!
”Ah… Yeah, in my case, ere treated as if ere soet infected if they got too close Aside froreat for us back then
”Back then, we experienced what it was like to be a special person - since ere always alone
”Eh, no way!?
”We, well, let us finish this funny old tale of ours Even though it's probably not that particularly funny No, although it was probably a tale of rets about it Even noe didn't think that our past was bad
”And then, e entered high school, we had an encounter That's hoe became the final form of us, the present us
”Yep, that's right It was the Eccentric Drama Club
◆
I - even though it was Amaniji-senpai's story, for some reason I felt that I could relate
How do I put it; it was similar my past
It wasn't to the saly special person I was certain of it
And so, I was ill
Ill with chuunibyou
After listening to Amaniji-senpai's story, it seemed that she too was also a sufferer or sympathiser
Still, given how far she takes it, I' chuunibyou Then again, only someone with chuunibyou could take it as far as she does
She was as devoted to it as Rikka, and as ultimate of a patient as shi+chimiya
To be frank, I think that she's a
Normally, you wouldn't be able to take it this far
The reason I know all this is because I too once shared the same view as Amaniji-senpai However, in the end, I concluded: ”Oh I'm not special”
Thinking back to it, I despaired a bit as I realised it
Even though I believed that I was co of and doing the saraduated from chuunibyou
Unlike h - Amaniji-senpai persisted
Even now, she continues to persist
It isn't easy to be special
It isn't easy to keep being special
And so, to be frank -
”You're a”
Such were the words that came out
”Huh? A?”
”Well, as expected, Amaniji-senpai's not normal at all”
Given the situation, those words (which were intended to be a compliment) could have been interpreted differently However, it seemed that Amaniji-senpai understood my intentions, as she let out a ”hehe” with a smile
”Is that so? How joyous Even if it's just a little, it's great how you sympathise with us Normally, no one sympathises with us Maybe you understand us, Yuu-chan, since you're looking at things in third person - or so like that”
”…Personally, I don't think that's the case Surely, anyone -”
”Hehe, Yuu-chan really is kind However, reality's a little harsher than that A heretic's a villain simply because they are a heretic Even if they didn't do anything wrong Ah, but it was bad of us to trespass”
”…Right In that the case, I'll do what's normal to do and report that intrusion of yours”
”But! There was a legiti Yuu-chan can't be done via normal means!”
”If such awas acceptable, there would be thieves in my room all the time!”
”Ooh, we see! Next time, we'll make an appointment to enter from there!”
”That still against the law!”
”Is that so… Even so, on't give up So up's too normal”
”Are you just trying to sound cool with that pointless remark!?”
”No - we sincerely are sorry about what happened back then Next tiressive law!”
”Ah… norise…”
”Hehe, nor!”
”In this situation, prostrating does feel like the nor to do…”
”Eh!? Un, understood! Prostrating it is!”
”Did prostrating's normalness pass away[4]!?”
It'd be troubling if it became a star
Furthermore, it'd be a terrible constellation
I have absolutely no idea how I ended up on this line of thought
Let's see… That's right, there was so I wanted to ask about
”By the way, there's so that I'm a little curious about - why do you refer to yourself with the royal 'we'? Why do you keep using such a unique way of addressing yourself? Is the reason why related to the story from before as well?”
For now, beforeto the main issue at hand, I asked about this as a preface
I had been a little curious about it ever since we first met
Was it because of so novel? Why did she decide to refer to herself like in third person?
”Ah, correct! Hehe, it's cool, isn't it, right? Since it's norht that it was necessary to do soinal!”
With her chest puffed out, Amaniji-senpai had a beautiful smile on her face as she replied to me
Well, I understand why she's so pleased, as I too also thought that it was Amaniji-senpai-like
”Haha, that's very Amaniji-senpai-like Still, to be frank, it doesn't see that you should be fussed over”
”It is worth fussing over We”nou(のう)”, but we stopped since no one else understood e meant”
””nou(のう)”…?”
”Yeah, nou(儂) [5]”
”It's was a mispronunciation!?”
I et it Both ”washi+” and ”nou” have an archaic ring when you say it In addition, ”nou” certainly is quite original… itwashi+
Still, it didn't change the fact it rong
Regardless, there was still so more important that I had yet to properly ask about
”U Why is the clubroom the principal's office?”
Once again, I asked about so inconsequential
Since I was thinking about unrelated things, I ended up unconsciously asking about so pointless…
Then again, that question ofthat I had also been very curious about
”Guess Yuu-chan really is a strange person after all What a high-level question”
”You h-levelled!?”
”Well, yeah That's e said As for the clubroo the principal's office, it's because the principal's the club advisor We've sorry that we couldn't betray your expectations”
”Even if I did expect it, I still would have been shocked!”
Our advisor's the principal! Our advisor's the principal!
And that's e're in the principal's office! And that's e're in the principal's office!
I was so surprised that I retorted twice incould happen at this school
”Really? If you say so Still, itstory short, the principal is looking after us now”
An embarrassed ”Ahaha” leaked out from of Amaniji-senpai's dry smile
”The principal ereat that the principal was so rich in personality You know, if it wasn't for the principal, we definitely wouldn't have chosen to enrol at this school Even the fact the school was right next to this place wouldn't have swayed us!”
On the contrary, I've heard that soainst enrolling here
But, well, I could sort of get where A from, since I too ayed by school's ethos of freedom (or excessive freedom)
Noever - it was time to raise that
For some reason there always seemed to be some sort of complicated question on my mind I must have some sort of anxiety disorder, for ht actually be the case, but even so I'm still concerned about it
Concerned about theI've yet to ask about properly
”U that I'd like to ask about Is that okay?”
”Ah, is that so? It's not like we particularly o ahead”
Since I didn't want the mood too heavy, I chose my words as carefully as possible
”It's about the script; I'e the script with a bang, it'd be perfectly fine if you disregarded her After all, you see you this was the reason why I returned”
Silence
I had tried to avoid setting a heavy o over smoothly…
After about five seconds of silence, Amaniji-senpai made a wry smile
”Ahaha, so that's as on your mind? Sorry, that's not we meant at all, see…No, yeah, that was a lie It's a fact that ere unsure of what to do about it But it's fine now We're incorporating DevTru Rikka-chan's idea! We have to stake everything on theoption!”
”U-umm, if you really do have circus: it's fine After all, we shouldn't be inconveniencing you with this… Besides, Rikka will understand if we tell her that the setting can't be changed”
”It's not troubleso like this Rather, we've the one who should be sorry for burdening everyone… H, since our facial expressions can't capture just how sorry we are Right then, hoould you like for us to commit seppuku[6]!”
”What kind of idiosyncrasy is that!? Don't kill yourself off all of a sudden please! Rather, don't stab your stomach with a mechanical pencil please!”
The heavy ly ill!
To suggest seppuku… Ah, persuasion…?
I
Even the heavy mood from before was more preferable than this
But, then again, , since the ed for the better
”But yeah, you're right Let us properly explain what the circu the play We at least owe you thatus out”
”If it's so that's hard for you to talk about, there's no need for you to…”
”Ahaha, there's no need to worry It's not so that's hard for us to talk about Let's see, where should we start?”
To show that she was thinking, Amaniji-senpai crossed her arms
”Right - first things first, we should probably start by talking about the script In regard to changing the script, it's true that ere a little hesitant… But Yuu-chan, there's no need for you to worry about that anymore, okay?”
”Yeah, that's fine”
Hearingagain
”This script - to tell you the truth, eren't the sole authors”
”…Is that so?”
”Yes, and so for us to just arbitrarily change the script - that hat crossed our minds It was a collaborative effort to come up with the scenes of the script And so, the scenes - wouldn't the scenes be special to its other author?”
”…Yeah, I guess”
”We want to cherish special things And hence ere a little hesitant Ahh, ould be the right thing to do?”
”Still, ithout a doubt, want for things to go in an interesting direction That feeling was, and still is, true So that's ithout deleting or altering the existing scenes - ill add Since it's special to that person, it's i a scene, and so the only way tois to add new scenes That's why, Yuu-chan - it's all fine, there's no need to worry”
”Umm… about the script, as its other author?”
”My upperclassraduated -”
Once again, Amaniji-senpai sed her words
As if to signify her indecision, her eyes were closed
However, she then opened her eyes slowly, and -
”But now… Senpai's no longer here anymore”
- were the words she said as she bit her lip
The significance of those words -
Although her words were a had happened
…Whatever it was that had happened in the past - it was probably so sad…
It's probably the reason why she's been this desperate to perform the play…It also explains both her fervour to perfors of unease she's constantly had in regard to the script It hy she was abrupt, and, above all, in a hurry
I couldn't find theht words to respond to her
Unintentionally, however, my face told a different story
It clearly leaked how I felt
”Ahaha, it's pointless to worry about it, Yuu-chan …It's so inevitable after all”
”…I'm sorry But, even so -”
Although I ed to choke out a reply, I wasn't able to stop
Concerned by my response, Amaniji-senpai made an effort to be cheerful
”It's fine it's fine! Senpai - Catgirl-senpai, as you could probably tell froe person She was the personification of interestingness”
Choosing her words carefully, Amaniji-senpai continued
”She truly was a great upperclasseration to say that the reason e haven't changedwith Catgirl-senpai”
”We liked her so much that we proposed to her”
”You're exaggerating, right!?'
”That's right! The problem past”
…That response had a troubling twist
It's doubleDid she mean a problem from the past, or that the past itself was the problem?
”Well, although I've been joking about it - she really did save us back then To someone like us, she was kind In fact, she drowned us joy It was the first time someone treated us like that And that's e proposed to her”
”…What was the joke from before then…?”
”Haha, ere joking about the e It was a trial from Onee-san here to help you, Yuu-chan,retorts faster”
Until now, it was hard to find the chance to ainst her… How extraordinary
”Anyway, such was our benefactor and irl-senpai Even when there was a script, she was always happy to ad-lib, transforle ti as the core parts of the play weren't incorrect, it was fine Frankly speaking, DevTru Rikka-chan's idea to take things in athat Senpai would have approved of with pleasure”
She was extraordinary, but She was , but
Amaniji-senpai - she was a kind upperclassman
I thoughtlessly oversteppedsensitive - it was truly inexcusable, for me to use the mood like that
”…Is that so?”
And so
Because of those feelings for that upperclassman, and the memories that have accumulated as a result -
”Anyway, that's why - that's anted to do to so like this for our last perforht up in our club's circu you a story that would make you feel sympathy for us”
It's why Amaniji-senpai had been so desperate to perfor to take whatever means was necessary
It's why she called out to Rikka and me
For me to not feel sympathy for her was an impossible task
”That's… personally, I'lad that I'm able to help you out”
”Really? If that's how you feel about it, then we're glad We're truly delighted to be able to talk to you about all this, Yuu-chan”
”If it lad too”
”Ahaha, and sorry forthe mood so serious withsoe!”
”Not really, and I'm not sure why you're so fixated on that…”
I' to worry that others would say that I only associate with people who say weird things
Now that I think about it, out of the people I know only Nibutani doesn't say weird things
Although it would be ato talk with Nibutani
What a blunder…!
”Although we've told Yuu-chan about it, we'd appreciate it if you kept this a secret from the other two We wouldn't want for them to be concerned about this”
”Got it I'll keep secret about it”
In response to my words, Amaniji-senpai let out a smile
And in order to not erase that sive it my all for the play
On that note, however, there's another problem
In regard to the guerrilla nature of the play - the ti that matter for today had just passed
Well, there's still tiain tomorrow
”Now then, if Yuu-chan's free, let's think about the 'Dark Flaether - let's properly think about it and !”
”…Yes!”
”By the way, Yuu-chan, what's the Dark Flame Master?”
…That? It was my creation
That's right, that was ether
”…My, it's my sealed power that I've since lost”
Despite itme feel a little nihilistic in a chuuni-like way, I ra creation to Ath
The greatest redee at anything in particular, listening to my story seriously
Rather, she seee power! We wish that we had a strange power like that” Guess A like that as well
We must have mixed in some similar silly conversations as we added to the script, as quite some time had passed
When I turned to look at the clock, it was alo
Since I o hoain
Then again, since the two of us had worked on the script right up to the point when school closes, we just ed to finish the revised script
”Phew, it's finally finished, isn't it?”, I said as I took a breather
As if to thank me, Amaniji-senpai, with a tender voice, responded:
”Thanks for your hard work Surely, the script has improved- the said patron must have plain tastes!”
In that case, e had then was a terrible story
[1] A 'Web Genie' based on the game Twenty Questions
[2] Originally this pun was an abbreviation of Magical Demon duchess (魔法魔王少女) into 魔々女 (read as 魔魔女), which then plays off the word for witch (魔女) Since there isn't a good direct translation of this pun, I've taken a bit of creative liberty instead
[3] An Amanojaku (天邪鬼, 'heavenly evil spirit') is a youkai who is able to provoke a person's darkest desires and tempt them do act on their wicked impulses
[4] A pun on the japanese eupheinal japanese text, なくなった (nakunatta), usually means ”to lose/disappear/be consumed”, but can alsoa star, the japanese euphe
[5] The kanji (儂; the personal pronoun used generally by the elderly) is usually pronounced as わし(washi+), but can also be pronounced as のう(nou)
[6] This following exchanged is based on a pun between 切腹 (a japanese suicide ritual to die with honour) and 説伏 (persuasion), as they are both pronounced seppuku (せっぷく)