Air Ride
Chapter 1
~……♪
(Heheh~ Feels like I’m in top shape! I could do anything thanks to the ninja provisions I ate~♪)
(The path of a ninja is by no means simple, but…)
(If I make ninja training too harsh, any member that’s joined the Ninja Association might quit because the difficulty’s too steep.)
(On the other hand, if I put more of a focus on lecturing the material, it’ll get boring. Hm~m, it’s tough being the head of a club.)
(Well, I’m the only member of the Ninja Association so far, so...)
(If this were a popular club, there wouldn’t be any shortage of worries for a club head managing a lot of people!)
(I'm a teeny bit jealous, though. If the Ninja Association could get just three members at the very least, it could be promoted to club-status.)
(At this stage, it’s a dream within a dream. Today marks another day of devoting myself to Ninja Association training on my own…)
(No, no! Don't lose heart!)
(I’ll work hard to train with the same enthusiasm I had when I started Ninja Association!)
(As long as I do that, I'm sure I'll meet someone with my same aspirations someday!)
(I will show the world the splendor of ninjas...☆)
Uu~ I’m so bored. There’s no Track and Field Club activities today, so I can’t go on a run. My frustrations are startin’ to build up, yanno~...?
(Huff, huff)…♪
Huh? Someone’s out there running on the sports grounds? Is it someone from the track team? Uu~ I can’t see very well. Lemme get a little closer. Da~sh…☆
(Oh, that was a new record! The fundoshi1 around my waist didn’t touch the ground, even after one lap!)
(The wind direction’s excellent today, so I’ll keep at it like this for two or three more laps~♪)
Eh-hem, I caught up! I thought I saw someone, it was Shinobu-chan! Shinobu-chan, wanna race?
Track and Field Club didn’t have any activities today so I was feelin’ pretty bleh.
But Shinobu-chan’s here! There aren’t any Track and Field Club members running around, so we won’t end up bumpin’ into anyone. Wahoo~☆
Eek!?
(Wh— Wh-Wh-Who is this!? … Oh, now that I take a good look at him, it’s just Tenma-kun, from my class.)
(No ordinary person is able to keep up with my ninja strides.)
(... Well, Tenma-kun does do track and field, so his running speed is outstanding.)
(More than that, at this rate I’ll end up having to race Tenma-kun! We may be classmates, but that doesn’t make us close.)
(What should I do? Should I come up with an excuse to decline? But he went to the trouble of inviting me~? Uuu, I hate my lack of communication skills!)
Dash, dash, daaash…♪
Eh? T-Tenma-ku~n…?
(Tenma-kun ran off and left me behind. It feels like once he breaks out into a run, he can't be stopped.)
(It’s like he doesn't even notice I'm not there with him...?)
( — My fundoshi dropped to the ground. Tenma-kun’s entrance surprised me so much, I ended up stopped in my tracks.)
(I’ll call it for today's training and see myself out quietly.)
Tenma-ku~n, I'm going home.
I’m happy you invited me but my training ends here.
～……♪
(Ough, my voice is too quiet, it doesn’t seem like he heard me at all! …Tenma-kun can’t help but have a blast when he’s running, huh?)
(I’m the same way— I love ninjas so much I just can’t help myself, so I can kind of understand how he feels.)
(... Yeah. I’d be a complete disgrace of a ninja if I gave up and went back home after one failure! I'll tie the fundoshi around my waist again and go back to training too!)
Hum, humhumm~♪ I knew I’d have fun getting a run in! The wind feels sooo good~
Dontcha think so too, Shinobu-chan~? … Wait, where’d he go? Shinobu-cha~an, answer me!
I-I kept you waiting. You’re so fast, Tenma-kun, I had a hard time catching up with you. (Wheeze) Huff!
Uu~ I left you behind. I’m sorry that I didn’t notice.
I just started running and couldn’t stop, yanno. It’s like bein’ in a car and slamming on the gas pedal.
There’s no brakes, so I just keep on running until I bump into someone. I get hurt a lot when I do that, but injuries are just the badge of honor of a man, right~...?
One time, I got so absorbed in my ninja training, I couldn’t get down from a tree~ I’m pretty sure they say it’s important not to get too absorbed into things.
You’re so smart, Shinobu-chan! I'll try running without getting too absorbed in it too.
Dash… Uuwhoa!?
You ran straight into a fence!? A-Are you okay~? If you’re hurt, let’s go to the infirmary!
Nahh, nothin’ a little spit can’t fix. (Spitting)...♪
That’s so primitive… I get hurt from ninja training too, but you shouldn’t underestimate injuries.
The both of us are idols, so it’d be a big deal if we left bumps and bruises on our faces, right~?
Anyways, it's probably best to call the race here, Tenma-kun.
It looks like students are coming over here for their club activities. They’re in uniform and they’re coming in droves.
There’s no Track and Field Club activities today, so it’s probably a different club~? Uuu~ I didn’t get to go all out on running, so I feel all groggy.
I’m gonna run to the school building. Wanna join me, Shinobu-chan?
N-No, go on without me.
That right? Well, I'm off then~! Bye-bye~☆
Wait–! If you run around the school buildings, the teachers are gonna find out and get mad... Agh, he ran off before I could warn him.
Chapter 2
……
(Ough, lunchtime at Garden Terrace is just as packed as usual, huh~)
(I got my allowance, so I’m gonna splurge on some lunch here today! It put me in high spirits, but—!)
(It's suffocating when it's this crowded.)
(I didn't bring a bento, so if I don't eat, I'll have to go to the school store. It’ll probably be crowded there too, though, so...)
(I might not even be able to get whatever bread is left over)
(And I’m already in line for the ticket machine. That’s not to mention the question of finding a free seat, but I'll think about that after I buy my meal ticket.)
Uhyaa!? S-Someone just patted me on the back! But I'm not the kind of person who has many good friends!
Ah, maybe they were reminding me not to step out of line? Pardon me, pardon me! I'll pay attention, so please forgive me~...?
Huh? Transfer Student-dono? Could it be that you recognized me as an acquaintance and approached me? I'm pleased~♪
Are you here for lunch too?
Hmm. You forgot to make a lunch for yourself, so you thought you’d have something at Garden Terrace for once, and so you’re waiting in line for the ticket machine?
I’m here because I have extra spending money. The portions at Garden Terrace are just so big, sometimes I can’t even finish it all.
And so to prepare, I skipped breakfast today~
Thanks to that, I’m starving. I was on pins and needles in class wondering if my tummy would growl loud enough to hear.
And since I couldn't really concentrate on the lesson, I ended up getting scolded by the teacher!
Kunugi-sensei's lectures are long. I was worried I’d be late and miss lunch.
Huh? If I’ve decided what I want off the menu, you’ll put in an order for the both of us, Transfer Student-dono?
Hmm, I see. You’d rather I reserve a seat for us instead?
Ordering is certainly only half the battle – if there’s nowhere to sit after you get your food, you’ll just be left searching around with a tray in your hand.
Umm, does that mean you’d like to have lunch with me?
Er— of course I don’t hate it or anything— far from it! If anything, I’d be more than happy to have you. I'm so happy, I'm jumping for joy! (Humming happily)~♪
Well then, I’ll go hunt for some seats! The meals are in your hands, Transfer Student-dono~☆
(Hm~m...? Well, it is lunchtime, so it’s a given all the seats are taken. Should I ask if we can share a table with someone?)
(Ah, a seat opened up at just the right time! This gift from god— it’s mine~!)
(Ahhhh, I was too late to it!)
(Uuu~ I’m supposed to be a ninja. I don't have the qualification to call myself such if I lose a contest in speed. I’ll make sure to get the next one!)
HaHa~♪ HiHi~♪ HaHiHuHeHo~...♪
Ahaha. Sora-chan’s in a good mood! I’ll sing with you too, HaHiHuHeHo~……♪
Mitsu-chan’s good at it~ Two’s better than one, the more people there are, the more fun it is~ Sing with Sora and dye the world with the colors of the rainbow! The colors of a rainbow are infinite~♪
Hm? And I was wondering why it was so lively. So it was Sora-kun and Mitsuru-kun, huh? Heyo~☆
HuHu~ it’s Hina-chan! There’s a sweet smell coming from Hina-chan~ A bittersweet spring color, milk and strawberry… Is it shortcake?
Right on the money~! Garden Terrace has tons and tons of cuisine, but I’ve always got room for dessert.
Are you guys about to have lunch? If you can’t find a seat, wanna sit here?
It’d help a bunch, but is it really okay?
We just finished up. You shouldn’t hog seats when it’s so packed, so don't think twice about sitting.
HeHe~ Sora shows his gratitude when he is shown generosity! Thanks~♪
Ahaha, don’t mention it.
Look, Aniki. We ate so much that the table’s filled with plates. Don’t tell me you haven’t had enough to eat yet.
With how much we’ve gorged on, any more surely would be too much, right?
We’re in our growth period. No matter how much I eat, I’ll never be full~
Well, I guess you know what they say, you should only eat up to being “80 percent full”…☆2
Welp, we’ll be off, then.
Hina-chan, Yuu-chan. Bye-bye~ Until next time…♪
…………
Mitsu-chan? Is something on your mind? Sora is following Mitsu-chan’s gaze!
Mm~ There’s a lot of people so everything’s all jumbled. Is that color Shinobu-chan’s?
Yeah, it’s Shinobu-chan. I thi~ink something’s wrong, he’s looking around all restlessly.
It's good he made it in time for lunch, but maybe he’s having trouble finding a seat?
Sora-chan. I’m gonna go flag Shinobu-chan down. I’ll put our orders in too while I’m at it. Whaddya wanna eat?
HoHo~ Sora wants the omurice set! Omurice is packed with happiness~ Its fluffy and creamy roundness is absolutely delicious!
Ahaha, roger~☆ I'll dash on over and put the order in, so just wait a sec. Dash, da~sh...♪
Chapter 3
(What do I dooo~? At this rate, I won’t be able to complete the mission Transfer Student-dono gave me!)
(If I can't secure even a single seat, Transfer Student-dono will think I’m completely useless~!)
(I can't afford to worry about appearances anymore. I have no choice but to beg for a seat using the dogeza Isara-dono taught me…!)
Shinobu-chan.
Hyeek!? Y-Y-You startled me~! Uuu, Tenma-kun, right? I thought my heart was going to stop! What business do you have with me?
If you're looking for a seat, how ‘bout you come eat with us Shinobu-chan!
Huh? Is that why you went out of your way to come talk to me? You’re being kind to me because I was nervous?
Errr, I'm having lunch with Transfer Student-dono, so... I have to find seats for the both of us...
Transfer Student Nee~chan? We‘re camped out on the sofas, so it should be alright! Tons of people could fit there, no problem~♪
Over here, over here. Sora-chan’s waiting~!
Uwawa! Please don’t pull me by the hand! I feel like I’m gonna trip, awawa!?
Aaand~ We’re here! Sora-chan, Shinobu-chan’s gonna sit with us, so scoot, scoot!
HaHa~ Sora will get closer to the edge! Come, come, wel~come~☆
P-Pardon the intru~sion…?
(Tenma-kun’s energy pushed me into sitting with him!?)
(Well, I was having a hard time finding a seat, so this does help.)
(I-Is it okay for me to be here? Tenma-kun and Harukawa-kun are my classmates, so this could be a chance for us to talk more!)
Okay, I’ll go pick up our orders~...
Mfph!?
Owowow… Hm? I’m so sorry, Transfer Student Nee~chan, I bumped into you! Are you hurt?
That was a close one? Ahh, Nee~chan’s holding a tray full of food.
I managed to avoid bumping it when I ran into ya. What a relief, it’s safe~♪
Hm? Shinobu-chan? If you’re looking for Shinobu-chan, he’s sitting on the sofas, yanno. Sora-chan’s with him too~♪
I'm gonna go get the food I ordered. You guys can go ahead and eat!
T-Transfer Student-dono~! Here, come this way, this spot’s empty~♪
“Thank you for saving a seat for me”?
No, no! It’s not like I found it… Tenma-kun noticed me and came to invite me to sit with him and Harukawa-kun.
If it weren’t for that, I’d still be rushing around trying to find a seat.
HiHi~, A happy-looking color is coming from Anzu! (Sniff, sniff) That smells delicious~
Curry rice and lasagna? HuHu~ Sora got it right! The lasagna’s piping hot~ so be careful not to get burned!
Eh? I can pick out the things I like? Well then, I’d like some of the curry rice~♪
Sorry to keep you waiting! Here’s the omurice set for Sora-chan and a katsudon~
HeHe~ It’s glistening, it looks delicious~♪ Oops, before eating Sora has to show his thanks! Hands together~ Thank you for the food…♪
Me too, me too! Thanks for the meaa~al.
Th-Thanks for the meal…
(Munch, munch) This katsu’s so crispy and delicious! Want a bite, Sora-chan?
HoHo~ Sora will eat it! Sora will return the favor too~ Take a bit of Sora’s omurice~♪ By all means, please have a bite, Mitsu-chan～☆
(Hm? Tenma-kun and Harukawa-kun are pretty close, huh.)
(I see them together in class a lot… Am I intruding?)
Shinobu-chan, Shinobu-chan.
Huh? Were you talking to me? Not a different person with the same name…?
Ahaha, you’re so funny~ Aren’t you the only person here with the name “Shinobu”, Shinobu-chan?
There's something I wanna ask you, Shinobu-chan!
I’m always seein’ you playing weird games like sticking to ceilings and climbing walls… the other day, I saw you hide in the supply closet!
I thought to myself, “I wonder if Shinobu-chan’s playing hide and seek.”
Next time, invite me too! I'm better at running than hide and seek, but I still like it~♪
No, um, it wasn’t that I was playing hide-and-seek, though~...?
It was part of my ninja training. I was playing out an espionage mission, hiding in the supply closet to escape from pursuers.
Hmm. I didn't really get what an esspinach mission is, but… it was hide-and-seek after all! Who was “it”? Someone from our class?
Ninjas are destined to live and die in darkness, so… just me.
Two is better than one, and three is better than two, yanno! Hide-and-seek is way more fun when you play with a bunch of people rather than just on your own!
HaHa~, Sora agrees with Mitsu-chan too~♪ Sora also likes climbing walls and sticking to the ceiling with everyone~♪
Ahaha, Sora-chan’s definitely nimble too! He’s just like a ninja~♪
Ninja…? B-By any chance, do you two have an interest in ninjas?
Whoa, I didn’t realize there were such people so close by! It’s always the things right under your nose that you miss!
Chapter 4
Ninjas? Oh~ there's a ninja as a playable character in one of Sora’s games~
They set traps to slow down enemies, and easily climb walls that the samurai can't~
The ninja is a secret character! You can't unlock it unless you clear all stages as a samurai~
Even if an enemy approaches, ninjas can avoid battle by camouflaging with the color of the wall!
But it's not all benefits~ Ninjas don't have any combat ability, so if they’re seen by the enemy, it's Game Over!
Whoa, that sounds fun! Is it one of the games at the Game Research Club?
Yes! The Game Research Club has lots of games!
Time flies when you’re playing~ Make sure to limit playtime!
Oops, Sora got off topic~ What stuff does Shinobu-chan usually do? Please tell Sora~♪
Hmn~... Stuff like what I was telling Tenma-kun. Hiding oneself through Concealment techniques are just one aspect of ninja training.
The “Blazing Escape Technique” is another way to hide from the enemy, but... Training with fire will get you in huge trouble if a teacher finds out.
Worst case scenario, the Ninja Association would be shut down.
Even running in the halls will make them angry. It's a hard world for a ninja to live in.
Shinobu-chan, eat some tasty sweets to cheer up! Look, look, here’s a parfait, say aaa~aaa…☆
Fweh!? I'm so full from all the curry I ate, so I'll just accept your feelings for now!
Really? Well, I’ll go halfsies with Sora-chan then! Oh, do you want some too, Nee~chan?
Oh right, you had lasagna, huh. Guess you’re full too. You and Shinobu-chan don’t eat much, huh…~?
Ahaha, it’s just the menu at the cafeteria is huge... (Munch, munch, gulp). What a great meal~♪
So, are you guys really planning to join me for my ninja training?
(Munch, munch)... Yep! I’ve always been curious about what Shinobu-chan does. If that’s ninja training, I’m in~♪
HiHi~, Sora also wants to try something fun! Sora can’t wait for after school~ HaHiHuHeHo~...♪
Yay, I'm so happy...♪ I can't wait for after school either~
Hehehe, we’re all done with school!.
We’ll start ninja training right away, but... If there's something you don't understand, please feel free to ask ♪
Question!
Ohh, Tenma-kun! What is it? Heheh…~♪
Shinobu-chan, what’s that sheet you’re holding for?
It looks dirty, so you should ask Hajime-chan to wash it for you! Not even the most stubborn stains stand a chance against his hands!
When pure white cloth gets stained from dirt, it’ll turn the color of that cloth Shinobu-chan’s holdin’... Was the color called ochre, or somethin’~?
Umm, it’s always been that color, you know~
It's a sheet used for concealment techniques, so it shouldn’t be dirty at all. Please use it without any worry.
Concealment? Now that you mention it, you said at lunch that you used a concealment technique to hide yourself? So the sheet’s used for that?
That's right. I’ve learned from past mistakes, so this time I’ve prepared a sheet of the same color as the floor.
Pull this over your head and poof! It will make it look like we’ve disappeared...!
Anyways, seeing is believing! We’ll practice at the edge of the hall so no one accidentally steps on us.
I’ll go first and show you how to do it, so please watch carefully.
Ninpou: Concealment Technique…!
HaHa~ Shinobu-chan has vanished! Is it magic? Did he cast a spell?
Hmm~...? Ah, I see him! It’s hard to tell from far away, but if you look closely, there’s a weird bulge on the floor!
Ohh, so you’ve spotted me. But but! It wasn't immediately obvious! That’s a new record~♪
Ah! I got an idea!
If I had this sheet, I wouldn't have to worry when Kunugi-sensei’s after me I can just go into the first classroom I see, cover myself with the sheet, and I’d be off the hook!
Kunugi-sensei? That person’s glorious lectures go on and on. If you even think about falling asleep, he’s there in a heart-beat to wake you up.
I was so surprised by his perceptiveness at the DDD, I’d wondered if he came from a bloodline of ninjas.
I getcha. Even if I try not to get seen, he finds me right away! I don't like getting chewed out, so I try to make a break for it as soon as I can~
HiHi~, Speak of the devil~? Sora can hear footsteps coming this way~ Is it Kunugi-sensei, maybe?
Eh!? I'm toast if Kunugi-sensei spots me! He already got mad at me yesterday for running in the halls...
I want a way to escape without being seen, whatever it takes!
A way to escape from here without detection!? Mm~ Maybe if we used the “Wall-Climbing” ninjutsu...
Huh? What’s that? If it’s a good way of doing it, please tell me!
Umm, it’s a ninjutsu where you go out the window and scale along the outside wall like this. Still, it's a difficult technique for a beginner to try off the bat...
Hup! Like this?
HuHu~ Sora is good at this sorta thing too! Sora will follow after Shinobu-chan and Mitsu-chan~♪
(Whoa. Tenma-kun and Harukawa-kun's physical abilities are seriously unreal, aren't they? This stuff’s usually tough for beginners.)
(But, escaping a pursuer by climbing a wall is so ninja-y, huh.)
(Having friends who get to experience ninjutsu like this with me feels a little new and exciting— I can’t help getting giddy…!)
Tenma-kun, Harukawa-kun. Follow me! Behold: Ninpou: Wall-Climbing Technique, Ahhahahahaha…☆
Chapter 5
(Peek, peek, peek… Which floor are we on?)
(Anywho, I climbed like crazy to get away from Kunugi-sensei so I ended up outpacing Shinobu-chan and Sora-chan.)
(I see the rooftop fence from here, so I gotta be on the third floor? If I managed to make it this far from the first floor already, I’m pretty sure I’m in the clear from here~♪)
……
Eeya!? This guy’s scowling at me with a terrible look on his face! Umm, are you the megane guy from the student council?
You. You’re a first-year… You just came through a window instead of a classroom door, didn’t you? Does this mean you were climbing along the outer wall?
That’s right. ‘Cause Kunugi-sensei~ woulda gotten mad at me if he saw me.
So what you’re really saying is that you did something that warranted a scolding from Kunugi-sensei?
Scaling the wall into a third year classroom is certainly worthy of a lecture indeed!
That’s not it! I got scolded yesterday for running around the school…
I haven’t done anything wrong today yet, I was running away from Kunugi-sensei~ ‘cuz it was a reflex, yanno!
How incorrigible. “I haven’t done anything wrong”? You were climbing up the school walls, that’s enough to be worthy of punishment.
You do know this is the third floor, don’t you?! What if your hand slips and you fall? Chances are things wouldn’t just end in injury…
I think I’ll be giving you a thorough talking-to and straightening you out before I hand you over to Kunugi-sensei.
HeHe~ Sora’s arrived~♪ Mn~... What a furious, stinging color~? Sora sees a really dejected color too!
Ah, Sora-chan! You saved me~ This guy was just ‘bout to lecture me!
HoHo~ So the furious, stinging color was that person~
Hm? It’s getting more and more sharp~ The anger’s getting red hot! Is Sora gonna get lectured too~?
That’s right, you troublemakers. I won’t overlook you all and your dangerous behavior.
Tenma-kun, Harukawa-kun. I’ve arrived too~♪
Wow– both of your physical abilities are outstanding!
I thought I’d catch up to you along the way, but you completely left me behind!
The two of you would be just splendid in the Ninja Association…- Oh?
……
U-Um. If I’m not mistaken, this doesn’t look like a good situation…?
Shinobu-chan, Sora-chan, make a break for it!!
Haha~ a furious, stinging color means danger! Let’s all make a break for it together…♪
I can sense something off in the atmosphere too~! I-I just got here, but there’s no other choice but to scale up the wall again!
Hey, hold it, don’t scale up the walls! Do you all hear me~!?
… Mmn, I can’t see them anymore. Are those guys animals?
In any case, I can’t just sit here like this. Seems like they’re headed up to the rooftop, so I’ll catch them soon and give them a lecture they won’t forget.
… Hasumi-kun? What’s wrong, you’re unusually frazzled.
Kunugi-sensei… As a matter of fact, I was just chasing down some first-years to warn them— they were doing dangerous things like scaling the wall.
Hm, there’s only a few students who have the physical ability needed to scale the walls of the school building. I have an idea of who they might be.
They said that if you found them, you’d get angry, so… I figured they might have done something wrong.
Well, dangerous behavior within school grounds cannot be overlooked. Where did they run off to?
I suspect the rooftop. There were three of them, all first years.
The rooftop, huh? Understood. I'll take care of the rest, so don’t worry about it.
But I’d hate to trouble you with this… I’ll find the ones responsible.
You have your own duties and practice to do, don’t you? I'm in charge of student counseling, so it's my job to find and lecture them.
Leave the rest to me. Understood, Hasumi-kun?
… Yes. Well, then, I’ll leave it in your hands.
(It's good to be full of energy, but there are limits.)
(It would be a serious problem if other students imitated that behavior. Shall I rake them over the coals a little so they learn their lesson?)
HaHa~ We got to the rooftop~ Sora doesn’t see any angry colors! We should be safe here, hm~?
You think so? That guy seems persistent.
He’s just like Kunugi-sensei~ Sensei~ hunts me down ‘til he gets to lecture me too, yanno. Please spare me~...
Uuu, I got scared and ended up running away, but... that person was the vice president of the student council, wasn’t he?
Did we make an enemy out of the student council? If this gets the Ninja Association shut down, I’ll sob my eyes out~…!?
Chapter 6
Shinobu-chan, don’t cry… When it comes down to it, it was my fault. I was the one who asked to run away so Kunugi-sensei wouldn’t spot us.
‘Cuz of that, we ended up being chased down by the student council megane guy... I'm super, super sorry!
Tenma-kun…
No, please don’t apologize.
Wall climbing is just one type of ninja training... I was already thinking of moving on to it after I taught you the concealment technique.
A prominent member of the student council set his eyes on us, and so we got scared and ran away… But the truth is, we still did something dangerous, didn’t we~?
Yeah! So let’s say we’re sorry properly. If we apologize with all our hearts, they might forgive us.
You can do anything if you set your mind to it. Nothing will be achieved if you don’t try~♪
……
Sora-chan? You’re staring over at the entrance. Is the student council megane guy coming?
HiHi~ Sora can see a furious, stinging color! And Sora hears footsteps too~ But it’s not the one from earlier~ They look similar, but it’s slightly different!
Eh? What’s that s’posed to mean? If it’s not the student council megane guy, then who could it be?
Tenma-kun.
Eeya!? That voice is… Kunugi-sensei~! Wh–Why is he here~?!
Hasumi-kun told me what happened. The school rules might not have “do not climb the walls” spelled out, but common sense should dictate it as unacceptable behavior.
I’ll take responsibility in correcting you to ensure no other students follow your lead. You all should better prepare yourselves.
Uu~ This is dangerous too! Sora-chan, Shinobu-chan! Run away! Dash, da~sh…!
HuHu~ Sora doesn’t want to be yelled at either~ Sora will run away with Mitsu-chan! Bye-bye~♪
Eeek!? I-I shall take my leave as well~!?
Good grief… Those three are nimble. It’d be nice if they used those physical abilities for something that wasn’t so ridiculous, though.
Well, whatever. Guiding naughty students is my job.
Shall I pick out a few places they’re likely to go and get ahead of them?
It’s time to teach them a lesson that just recklessly scattering and running is futile.
♪～♪～
(Heheh, no one seems to have noticed that Yuuta-kun and I swapped, huh~?)
(If we change out our headphones and hairpins, I don’t even need to say “I’m Yuuta!” for people to mix us up.)
(Even when I was taking Yuuta-kun’s classes~ the teachers didn’t even say anythiiing~)
(I can copy Yuuta-kun to a T because I’m his big bro.)
(And if I’m disguised like this, I’ll get to know things like what everyone thinks about Yuuta-kun, huh.)
(Yuuta-kun’s having fun too, so I’ll stay as “Yuuta-kun” just a little longer…♪）
Huh? Yuu-chan, yoohoo～☆
That’s… huh, Mitsuru-kun!? It’s dangerous to sucker yourself onto the ceiling like that, y’know~...? If a teacher finds you there, won’t they scold you?
Or maybe I should ask, why are you up there? You’re not playing a game with someone, are you…?
I’m not playing around, yanno! I’m hiding from Kunugi-sensei~!
From Sensei…? You did something you shouldn’t have again, didn’t you, Mitsuru-kun?
He was after you yesterday too. You were running down the hall so fast it surprised me.
HeHe~ Are you talking to Yuu-chan, Mitsu-chan?
Mm~ That’s weird~? It looks like Yuu-chan, but the way it’s colored… seems different?
Mm~ Mmm? Ah, Sora gets it now! HoHo~ This is Hina-chan~♪
But why is Hina-chan pretending to be Yuu-chan?
Eeek!? The wall just peeled away! And Sora-kun appeared out of nowhere~!?
Haha~ So it was Hina-chan! Hina-chan calls Sora “Sora-kun”~ Yuu-chan calls Sora “Harukawa-kun~”
Ah man~... The wall peeling off threw me off so much I let my true self show through. You got me, Sora-kun~ One point for you ♪
Are you two playing ninja, sticking to the ceiling and wall like that?
HiHi~ Nope! We didn’t wanna get scolded by Sensei, so we’ve been running away from him~ If we get caught, we might not make it home today~ That's how mad he is!
You too, Sora-kun? Not just Mitsuru-kun?
If Sensei found out I switched places with Yuuta-kun, he’d probably get mad at me too~ Brrrr, just thinking about it’s scary!
Well, join us in running away! We have to look for Shinobu-chan, too~ We lost him somewhere along the way.
Hinata-chan, have you seen Shinobu-chan?
Sorry, I haven’t. But, I see. If he got separated, it’s a cause for concern~ Alright, I’ll lend a hand too~ ♪
Ah, bad news! Sora can hear footsteps~ Sora and the others are gonna get captured at this rate. Run away, run away?
Of course we make a break for it! Hinata-chan, Sora-chan, hurry, hurry! There’s no time to dawdle~!
Chapter 7
……
(Uuu, I got completely separated from Tenma-kun and Sora-kun~!)
(The pressure of Kunugi-sensei’s presence made me flee. It will be no laughing matter if he catches me.)
(There really might be a likelihood the Ninja Association gets disbanded…?)
(I-If I apologize up front, he’ll forgive me, right? I mean, It’ll be a problem if he doesn’t~!)
(Kunugi-sensei isn’t a demon, so if I just let him know it was all a part of my ninja training…)
……
(Hm? That figure is… Kunugi-sensei!? Wait a sec, I haven’t been able to mentally prepare myself for him yet~!?)
(Uhhh, I need to hide! There… the fountain!)
… Hm, I thought I saw Sengoku-kun, but it seems it was just my imagination.
(H-... He left? Phew~... No, I can’t be relieved!? I have to accept my fate!)
(Mnn..nnn~ a handwritten apology should be enough, but...)
(I don’t want a lecture too. His sermons make me so sleepy I can’t stay awake~)
(Still, I never would have thought my water escape ninjutsu would come in handy like this!)
(The fountain is Shinkai-dono’s turf though, isn’t it~ He’ll definitely scold me for having entered without asking.)
heheh, are you [soaking] in the water too, shinobu? doesn’t it feel good~? [water] is [life]...♪
Sh-Shinka… Blububub!?
(Cough, cough) I just swallowed tons of water in surprise~!?
My tummy’s gurgling, I feel sick~...
shinobu, are you okay? i am sorry, i surprised you.
I’m so embarrassed, I got completely thrown off. The fountain is Shinkai-dono’s turf, so I’m sorry for coming in here without permission.
hm~mm. i was not aware this was [my turf] though~...?
everyone is hesitant to join me in the [fountain]. isn’t that [strange]?
Er, everyone holds back because it’s hard to get a read on you, Shinkai-dono.
Umm, but could I ask you something real quick, Shinkai-dono…? … Have you seen Tenma-kun and the others?
I got separated from them, so I’m looking for them.
i haven’t~ but, i did see a [teacher] though?
speaking of which, he was calling your [name]. shinobu, did you do something to make [him] angry?
if so, you have to make sure you properly say [sorry], right~?
I– It wasn’t right to run around trying to escape after all, huh… I vow to you that I will never run away again, Shinkai-dono. Where did he go?
It’s troubling for me to be sworn to, but… i feel like he went towards the [passageway].
i was just floating in the [fountain], so i wasn’t looking very carefully~?
No, no, that’s more than enough. The staff room is under the passageway, so he might have returned there. I’ll go after him at once~!
shinobu, don’t run in the [halls], alright~?
i’ll stay here a little longer. the [water] is nice and cold, it feels so nice~
puka, puka…♪
Chapter 8
Umm, the staff room was next to the counselor’s room, right? That’s where Kunugi-sensei should be!
Sengoku-kun.
Huh!? Weren’t you on your way to the staff room, Kunugi-sensei? You were loitering close to the wall, as if you were waiting to ambush someone…
As I thought, you really must be a descendant of ninjas, Kunugi-sensei!
What kind of a joke is that? I was waiting for you. I saw you dive into the water fountain, after all.
Eh!?
And so I was lying in wait for you here. Your physical abilities are quite impressive— this goes for Tenma-kun and the rest too.
So, I caught all of them this same way. I thought… I’d do the same for you.
Well, it seems you’ve reflected on your actions, Sengoku-kun. I won’t drag you to the counseling room by the scruff, then.
Is that so…? Tenma-kun and the others were apprehended…
Um! I’m the one at fault here. I was the one who invited them to do ninja training! So Tenma-kun and the others didn’t do anything wrong!
Please set them free and allow me to take the blame instead!
It’s a wonderful thing to care about your friends, but whatever the reason behind it, they became equally complicit the moment they accepted your invitation.
Please don’t cause too much trouble. You’re all high schoolers, so you should know right from wrong by now.
You’re students and you’re idols. Take care not to forget that.
Idols are in the business of being watched. If you are bashed for even the smallest thing, your career as an idol will be cut short.
Uuu~... Forgive me, please forgive me. I'm fully prepared to pen a handwritten apology.
I’ll try to bear with the lecture as best I can, so could you take a teeensy bit easier on Tenma-kun and the rest…?
Honestly… I don’t have the heart to scold you if you beg at me with tears in your eyes like that. You’re absolutely drenched, aren’t you? Before anything else, change your clothes and go put them out to dry
While I cannot allow them to get off scot-free, a handwritten apology will suffice.
Yaaay, I can’t thank you enough, thank you, thank you~! Kunugi-sensei’s really not all that scary a person after all~♪
What is there to be so happy about? I only let you off with a handwritten apology this time because it seemed like you reflected on it.
If you get too carried away, I’ll confiscate those toys you hide under your clothes, okay?
Eh!? They’re not toys, they’re gear necessary for ninja training~...?
But, how did you know about them? Mnn~ what a mystery.
Aren’t you always taking them out and doing intensive training? Your eccentric behavior is just as noticeable as Tenma-kun's.
It’s unusual for you to not be on your own today, hm...?
Th— That’s right…
Today, two people told me they were interested in the activities of Ninja Association… I'm always by myself so I'm a little embarrassed...♪
I’d prefer you not increase the number of people doing dangerous things, though.
That being said, it’s a good thing to have comrades.
Ehehe, it feels strange to be praised by Kunugi-sensei~
Today was a failure, but if things keep up like this, more and more people will get interested in ninjas~♪
Like I said, what’s there to be happy about? You’re about to get scolded.
Good grief, I’ve really gotten too lenient on my students, haven’t I.