Droplet of a Flower
Chapter 1
Mn~n. I thought about brewing some green tea, but it might be nice to make some black tea every once in a while.
If I remember correctly, Shino should have put some rare tea leaves out— Hm?
I thought it was lively here, but it seems it was just the “tee-vee”1 … Ahem. The… Te-... TV that was left on.
(Heheh, my katakana is coming along nicely. With enough practice, even I can do this much ♪)
Be that as it may… who on earth left without turning it off. Honestly... Despite how hard Hasumi-dono works to maintain order within the dorms everyday...
It cannot be helped. I’ll just turn it off—
“You can’t! You absolutely mustn’t!”
Mmnm? I can’t turn it off?
“Yes, what a shame… You’d better be careful, you!”
“Eh? What on earth is this!?”
What the— I thought someone was speaking to me, but it was just the TV, hm?
What on earth is this program…? Err… “Good Luck Charm, Better Fortune! It’s Your Lucky Day Divination”?
So this is a fortune-telling program, then?
"You were born in April, which makes you a Taurus right?"
Hm? Those born in April are Taurus… just like me, hm?
“Today is a very, very bad day! One of the most unlucky days in history! My goodness, it appears as if a horrible watery misfortune will fall upon you. Today is the one day not to leave the house!"
"Understand? If you don’t, you’ll die!"
Watery misfortune!? Die!?
… No, no, that can’t be. Calm down. I don’t want things such as fortunes to have bearing on my final hour
…
But… Come to think of it, this morning—
I returned home for the first time in a while and practiced my sword-swing in the bamboo forest nearby.
Morning dew went and got right in my eyes, and I was so surprised I lost my rhythm, missed my aim and hit the bamboo with my katana.
Not just that, but since I hit the bamboo at such a strange angle, my beloved blade chipped on accident. Thanks to that, I ended up having to send it off to get sharpened.
I don’t think I would ever make a mistake like that ordinarily but… perhaps that incident could be referred to as a watery misfortune…?
Huh–?! No, no! Do not be misled, Kanzaki Souma. A hogwash matter like fortune-telling will not become something that toys with my destiny…!
Be that as it may… I can't seem to settle down without it. I’m restless.
Lately, I haven't been wearing my blade every single day.
Even so, it's a completely different feeling between relinquishing it yourself and having it being snatched from your hand against your will.
No, be patient a little while longer. For now, there is nothing a man can do but put up with it in silence.
Hm? Why so serious, Kanzaki-dono? You have such a grim face, what on earth could you be watching on TV?
Ohh, is that you Sengoku? Well, I wouldn’t say I am earnestly watching it, but… I just happened to see this fortune-telling program.
Fortune-telling?
“How wonderful! A red aura is proof of good fortune, you know. But take care not to be too overconfident and prideful!”
It really is a fortune-telling program, huh. Do you like these kinds of shows, Kanzaki-dono?
No. If anything, things as unreliable as this aren’t my cup of tea.
Eh? You say that, yet you’re still watching it?
Next, for those of you who are Gemini, born in June.
Ah, I’m a Gemini too. I wonder how my luck is~? I’m planning on doing kind of a huge job soon, so I’d actually be glad to have some good luck on my side.
“— Oh? Wait! Such a striking and curious result! This is rare, you know!?”
Eh. Could I be in possession of a one-in-a-million kind of luck..!?
Uwahh~ My OP2 Ninja Legend is totally about to start~♪ I’m sooo in for it now, huh~♪
“Bird troubles will fall upon you. It's an extraordinary misfortune on top of that. The best thing to do is to stay indoors and stay put for the day.”
What the…!?
Rather, what on earth are bird troubles!? Does that kind of fortune even exist in this world!? I really don’t want something like that, though…!
Calm down, Sengoku. Things like fortune-telling and such are hogwash. The moment you start caring is the moment you’ve lost.
R–Right. What are they going on about, “bird trouble”. This isn’t a Hitchcock movie.3 Believing in something like this is nuts.
If we stay inside the dorms, birds can’t get in here in the first place, right?
… (A gentle fluttering of the breeze.)
… I don’t believe in it, but…— I'm gonna close the window that’s open for ventilation, just to be safe.
As long as we shut in and stay in place, we’ll have peace of mi—
Wait!
Eh…?
A–gyaAAAAAH!? ABABABABA!?
How on earth could a bird get indoors and hit Sengoku…!?
A–Are you alright, Sengoku!? Pull it together!
Chapter 2
My apologies. It pains me that I cannot even make use of you as sustenance, but there are times when sacrifices must be made. Hup...!
...Phew. That should be most of the weeds pulled up for now. They must be dealt with before they take root completely.
I think the Lord's command to "be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth"4 isn't only limited to humans. However, when it grows out of control like this, it becomes a problem.
All the circle members are doing their best to take care of things, but the fluctuations in workload make it difficult to do it consistently.
We really need to do something about the unavoidable periods of inactivity.
Well, it is spring, the season of growth. It wouldn't do to complain too much about it for human convenience.
Now then. I'll tend to the seedlings I planted earlier next—
Hm? What is that flapping sound I hear?
It seems to be coming from beyond this hedge.
...Oh my. A white dove has gotten caught in the bird netting. Could this child be one of Wataru-san's doves?
If I recall, they were named after historical heroes... Napoleon...? No, that doesn't seem right. Sa... Ja...?
—Oh, yes, of course. This must be Jeanne d'Arc-san.
Jeanne d'Arc-san, I'll free you right away, so stay still for just a little while, please.
Ahh, it looks like you got a little tangled up and, in your panic, made it worse by struggling.
Let's untangle this leg from here and... there we go. It's okay now. The net is off.
Hm? It looks like you injured your leg a bit when you struggled. It doesn't seem too serious, but...
The net isn't sanitary, and now there's dirt on the wound. At the very least, let me clean it for you. Will that be alright?
.....
How curious. I recall seeing you conversing with Wataru-san before.
Well, everyone has days in which they don't feel like talking. Animals are even more unpredictable than humans. Since you're not objecting, I'll take it as a sign of consent.
Bear with me a little longer, Jeanne d'Arc-san. You'll be back with your owner soon.
Now then. This might sting a little, but it will wash away the germs.
...?! You mustn't suddenly struggle like that! It's okay. I have no intention of hurting you—
Ah?! Please wait!
(Darn...! In that brief moment I loosened my hold, Jeanne d'Arc-san slipped out of my hand!)
(She flew off towards the common room. If she flutters around in such a confined space, she might crash into something. I have to catch her quickly...!)
Wait!
♪~ (Humming)
whew. what wonderful [water] that was...♪ i am brimming with [energy].
one daily [bath] is not enough for me, after all. i am not [good] with hot [water].
why is it that every time the [season] changes, it gets too easy to dry out? it would be better if the [humidity] were 100% every day.
I'm home~
—Ah!
oh. ohisama-san… welcome home~
Kanata-kun. You've come out of the bathroom still wet again. I've told you a million times not to come out unless you're properly dried off.
uuu. i do not do things halfway. i [dried] off properly, okay?
Lying is bad, you know. You can't fool these eyes. You wiped your body in a rush, and you didn't even touch your hair, did you?
Because of that, there are droplets of water all over the floor.
puka, puka…♪
That's not going to work on me.
Jeez. Don't cause trouble as soon as I get back, okay?
Here, I'll dry you off. Stick your head out and stay still!
ahh… sto~op~ i went out of my way to get damp, though. if you wipe me off with such a [dry] towel, i will shrivel up and dry.
You won't shrivel up and dry. I'll allow you to stay slightly damp. Come on now, let me dry you properly!
no can do~ leave me alone, please.
Ah! Running away like that is so underhanded!
And now he's gone outside the room. If he walks around the dorm all drenched like that, the whole place will get wet. That's some foul weather!
Good grief. You're even more of a handful than Bloody Mary is, you know that?
Wait up, Kanata-kun!
Chapter 3
— ABABABA!?
Gh! Damn you, stay still…! I can’t capture you with you thrashing so much!
… Ah, damn! It flew out the window in a flash. What a quick fellow.
Ahh, she's gone outside again, has she? There's no helping it then. Once she's up in the sky, there's no way to chase after her. I just hope she'll be okay.
Well, it seems she goes for strolls quite frequently, so she'll likely come back to the dorm when she's had enough of the outdoors.
Th-Th— That scared me~!
That was rather unfortunate. Shinobu-san, are you alright?
Uuu… We were in the room, I never thought it’d come flying in… Never in my wildest dreams could I have seen that coming!
It thrashed so vigorously, I couldn't catch a long enough glimpse to know for sure, but— was that a white dove just now?
That's right. I believe it was Jeanne d'Arc-san, one of Wataru-san's doves.
Excuse me. Shinobu-san, may I take a look at where Jeanne d'Arc-san collided with you?
Ummm, it slammed full force right into me ri~ght here. I’m pretty sure it pecked me a few times when it crashed into me too.
How am I doing, Kazehaya-dono? An air hole didn’t get punctured in my forehead, did it?
—Let's see?
Ahh, rest assured, there is no hole. It's just a little red.
I happen to have a band-aid with me, so let me put it on for you.
Ah. Thank you very much. You’re well-prepared, huh?
Fufu, though it's rare, you can injure your fingertips while gardening. I'm glad I prepared for today as well. This must be God's will.
But, why was that dove flying indoors?
Oh, I apologize. That was my fault.
Earlier, while I was doing gardening work as a circle activity, I came across Jeanne d'Arc-san tangled up in a net and flailing around.
I rescued her, but it seems that she injured her leg a little in her struggles…
So I brought her back to the dorm to wash her wound, but she managed to escape in the blink of an eye.
I understand why the bird was flying in the room, but why did it only attack me? That’s what I just don’t get...
It’s not that I hate birds, it’s that birds hate me, huh… boo-hoo.
… Hm? Bird…?
Sengoku, what’s the matter?
Kanzaki-dono… could this be the bird troubles that were foretold on the fortune-telling program…?
No. That’s absolutely ludicrous… It was just a coincidence.
? What do you mean by bird troubles?
A little bit ago, there was a fortune-telling program on the TV. That fortune-teller told me that bird troubles would fall upon me.
This fiasco is most definitely a result of that fortune. If not, how else could I have been attacked indoors?
Something like bird troubles finding me while I try to avoid them is nonsensical~!
U~mumumu…
(... Could that fortune have really come to fruition? Then am I liable to meet my watery misfortune soon too…?)
(Nono, it can’t be. A fortune will not define my fate!)
It was just a coincidence. People want to tie together cause and effect as best they can, but the world has its own big share of happenstance.
If you allow every little thing like that to sway you, you’ll wear yourself out.
Is that so…? Kanzaki-dono says it with such certainty, maybe I really have been giving it too much of my time, worrying about it so much.
Mhmhm. That is right. Now then, it is about time I see myself out of the room.
Enough already, just let me dry you off! Kanata-kun!
uu~ no can do~ it has been a long time since i have been this [damp]~
hmm?
U–wah…!?
ahh. i am so sorry, souma. i was not [looking] in [front] of me properly, and bumped right into you.
i never thought you would be there when i [turned] the corner, [souma]. are you alright?
I am fine, but… Shinkai-dono, why is your hair soaked like that…?
“like that”? it is because i was taking my [soak] a little bit ago. puka, puka…♪
See? Since you didn't dry your hair properly, now Souma-kun is all wet.
this is what they call an [act of god]. ohisama-san was pursuing me so i was just running away.
… A soaking wet Shinkai-dono happened to collide with me and got me wet too. This couldn’t be the watery misfortune could it…?
No, no. Shinkai-dono certainly wanders around the dorms soaking wet every now and again.
So, this incident can be chalked up as just another coincidence to add to the pile. I sincerely, wholeheartedly will not pay it mind…!
Ah. Kanata-kun's been leaving droplets everywhere, so be careful not to—
Yayayaya!?
… slip. Well, from next time on.
Wawah. Kanzaki-dono slipped and fell as hard as he could— are you alright!?
Ghgh. One after the other…! Could this be the so-called watery misfortune~?!
Watery misfortune...?
Watery misfortune...?
Chapter 4
I see. The fortune telling program told me that I would have misfortune with birds, but Kanzaki-dono was told he would have misfortune with water.
Yes… Well, that is true, frankly speaking.
Be that as it may, it doesn’t mean any fortune has been read.
It’s just, ever since this morning, there have been all sorts of follies related to water that have happened to me— too many, so I’m just starting to get a little concerned.
Hmm? But, putting believing in it or not aside...
Isn't it a little too coincidental to have two boys here experiencing the bad luck exactly as the fortune-telling predicted?
Ghh… That might be so, but…
Right? Kanata-kun, you think so too, don't you?
—Wait, he's gone?! When did he...
Kanata-san quietly left this room a little while ago.
Jeez, he's so quick at running away. He really is like a fish.
Oh well, that's fine. This conversation seems far more interesting than chasing Kanata-kun around anyway ♪
Please don’t amuse yourself with our misfortunes, though.
Fufu. This is a rare opportunity to prove whether or not there's an absolute power in this world that no one can defy. Sure sounds interesting to me.
Well, I'd prefer it if my destiny were the result of my own choices, and for the world to be a place where those who put in the effort are rewarded. Otherwise, it'd be rather foul weather.
H~m…
(Absolute power that no one can defy… In other words, it’s something akin to the divine work of gods from long ago.)
(When you put it like that, it is difficult for me to deny God. There have been several times I’ve seen acts like miracles with my own eyes, after all.)
(Still, I just can’t come to think of fortune-telling that way.)
… Come to think of it, it might be better if we tried asking Hasumi-dono about this sort of topic.
Hasumi-dono?
Yes. Hasumi-dono is the son of a temple. Temples are miraculous places, and so you can go for purifications too.
I wonder what he feels about fortune-telling and misfortune. I would like to try asking him if he knows of any ways to ward it off.
Purification, you mean? Purifications are actually performed by shrines, not temples.
Hm. Is that so?
Yes. Generally, what is performed at temples is protection against misfortune, I think.
What’s the difference between purification and protection against misfortune? Both of them feel like the same kind of purification ritual to me, though?
Purification is the literal act of removing the bad luck that has attached itself to you, while protection against misfortune is a prayer to prevent disasters from approaching.
They're similar, but differ in their timing and location.
Also, I'm afraid it might be difficult to consult Keito-san.
I saw him leaving the dorm earlier while I was gardening.
When I greeted him and struck up a conversation, he mentioned that he'd be away from the dorm for a couple of days due to urgent work.
What…!?
Mm~nn… What horrible timing?!
If you want to talk to someone knowledgeable about the divine, why not ask Tatsumi-kun here?
Me?
Mhm. When it comes to views on fate, both Christianity and Buddhism are pretty similar at their core. You're Christian, aren't you? I've seen you praying before.
Is that right? Well, I certainly get that sort of feel from Kazehaya-dono.
Hmm. Well, I suppose you could say that for the sake of convenience, but…
It’s hard to say that it’s the type of Christianity that comes to people’s minds first. Since I'm a descendant of the Kakure Kirishitan.
This seems like an intricate conversation, but… Well, this is the time for fine details.
If there is someone here who is very well-acquainted with the matter, it will be settled quickly. Kazehaya-dono, do you know of a way to clear away this misfortune?
I’m pretty sure there are people in the west called exorcists who do exorcisms. I read that in a manga.
Exorcists are a special case. One must go through appropriate special training to become one, and regrettably, I am not qualified.
Moreover, an exorcist is one who banishes demons. Misfortunes and demons may not be exactly interchangeable.
Hmnm. So that’s how it is?
The best I can do is pray to God.
I mean... It feels as if this discussion keeps growing much too grand... Talking about God and fate and such.
Wasn't the root of this whole incident fortune-telling? In that case, I believe it's best to ask someone well-versed in it.
That’s true… What happened was the cause of an irrational, mysterious event... Now that you say that, I agree.
Well then, there happens to be just the right person in this dorm.
Natsume-kun's fortune-telling is famous even among us nobles. I often hear stories of people inviting him to their mansions just for a reading. Asking him is the way to go!
One should go to specialists for the best results. Going to ask Sakasaki-dono would certainly be the best course of action…! Well then, let’s go at once—
(... No, wait. Is it really alright for me to walk around places so carelessly…)
? Souma-san, is something the matter?
No, it’s hard to believe, but for a while now, something troublesome happens every time I move to go somewhere.
If I move around, it is likely that other people will get embroiled in it as well… So I was wondering whether it’s actually alright that I walk around so carelessly.
If that’s how you feel, I could go ask Sakasaki-dono for you. I really doubt I’ll be attacked by birds again. Probably.
Besides, if there’s a way to clear it away, I wanna hear it~
I'll tag along with Shinobu-kun. Natsume-kun's fortune-telling skills sound like they'll make for great conversation at social gatherings.
I am sorry. Unfortunately, I am under both of your cares. Please look after me.
What about you, Kazehaya-dono? Will you be returning to your room?
Hmm... Let's see...
(Honestly speaking, I don't believe in paranormal phenomena, and I think that this situation is just a matter of state of mind.)
(And yet. Getting too caught up in it could lead to distractions, causing greater trouble.)
(It's quite possible he'll get into an accident.)
(In that case, it might be the best course of action to stay here and keep Souma-san company, in order to ease his mind.)
I'll stay here with you and wait for their return.
Hm? Is that really alright?
Of course. Besides, it'll help pass the time for you too, right, Souma-san?
Chapter 5
I hope Shinobu-san and Hiyori-san bring back some good news.
Yes. Even so, I am really sorry that you got involved with all of this, Kazehaya-dono.
Tomoe-dono is having a good time, so that is fine, but there was no reason for you to have been brought into this.
No need to worry. After all, I was the one who brought Jeanne d'Arc-san back in the first place.
Rather than being dragged in, I feel like I'm one of the involved parties...
Besides, I haven't yet repaid you for the delicious hot pot and seafood dishes you treated us to back when we first moved into the dorms.5
…?
Ahh, back then?
Please do not worry about that. I had gotten too many ingredients at the time, and it would have spoiled had I done nothing about it, so… I’m the one who should say thank you— you had done me the favor of eating it.
Heheh. Speaking to you like this, I can see that you are a very serious, collected adult, Kazehaya-dono.
Oh? Were you under the impression that I came off as dubious until recently?
No, that is not it. If anything, my first impression of you was that you were a very serious, collected adult.
But, I was taken aback by the time I had seen you talking to a pair of glasses.6 I had thought, naturally, that you were a rather suspicious fellow back then.
On occasion, Hasumi-dono will also speak to his glasses when he polishes them, but that is different from this.
Seeing you face the glasses and speak to them in a low, constant murmur was quite frightening.
Aah, that did happen. In that situation, it's only natural to be unsettled. I would've felt the same.
It is because of that, that my impression of you has been changing quickly and constantly— dizzyingly so.
That makes sense. I also work together with members of other units, but just that alone isn't enough to understand a person's character.
As we repeatedly see unexpected sides of each other like this, our impressions gradually change, and we come to know one another more deeply.
Well, the thing with the glasses was entirely a misunderstanding, though.
—and that's what happened. After all, when working as a unit...
… (Fidgeting)
? Souma-san?
Hm? Ahh, forgive me, Kazehaya-dono, I wasn’t listening to what you said properly.
No worries. I was only making small talk.
But is something wrong? You've been fidgeting and keep glancing at the time.
Don't worry. I'm sure Shinobu-san and Hiyori-san will bring back the information we need.
Ahh, no. It’s not that. The truth is, after this I want to go out for a bit. I have just been keeping track of the time.
It would be a great help if this situation were to work itself out by then.
You need to go out?
You're free to do as you please, so it's okay, but...
You're not really in the mood to walk around too much, are you? Wouldn't it be better to stay in the dorm all day?
Mn~nn. As much as I’d like to, I have a very great business matter to attend to that I absolutely cannot miss.
No. It does not have to be done today, so it might be misleading to say I can’t miss it…
The truth is, I would like to go pick up the sword I sent out to be sharpened this morning.
A sword? Ahh, now that you mention it, you're not wearing it today.
That’s right. Recently, I have been trying to wear it less and less to abide by the trends of society, but that is neither here nor there.
That blade is my family’s treasured sword. It has stayed at my side ever since I was very, very young. That is to say, it’s no exaggeration to say that it is my other half.
I feel differently when something is snatched from me against my will than from when I choose to part from it myself.
Moreover, the blade typically takes half a month to maintain and sharpen, but the sword sharpener is a friend of the Kanzaki family, and so it gets repaired right away.
I cannot take that consideration for granted.
So that's why you've been watching the time.
Yes. The thought of being without my sword at my side makes me anxious. That’s why I would like to go pick it up, no matter what it takes.
Oh, well would you look at that…! What is there for me to be worried about? It will be okay, certainly!
Take a look outside the window, Kazehaya-dono! It is as sunny as can be today, is it not?
There can be no watery misfortunes under the good grace of the sun like this. As long as we don’t step near a river or pond or ocean, it does not matter in the slightest!
...Oh? It's suddenly getting darker, and the clouds look ominous...
……
……
It's started to rain...
So it seems…
Eyaaah! This is the worst~!
(Sigh). It got me~ It came pouring down all of a sudden, so I got totally drenched.
… Hm? What’s up, you guys? You’re gazing out the window. What is it?
Chapter 6
— A fortune~? That’s the reason it’s been raining?
Could this be one of those sudden downpours? It feels unusual for this time of year, though.
Could this be a watery misfortune!? Why did the rain come as soon as I pointed at the sun…!?
… I mean, hold on a second? People born in April are Tauruses— doesn’t that include me too!? So that’s why I got soaked to the bone just now~!?
Ah! And on top of that, if my bag’s this soaked too—
! Just like I thought! After all the trouble of going to the agency to pick up the script from them, it’s completely sopping wet!
Why’d this have to happen to me? Is this because of that watery misfortune too~? What am I supposed to do with this script…!
Nazuna-san, here's a towel.
Ah. Thanks ♪ You’re real thoughtful, Tatsumi-chin~
I just happened to have it because I was gardening. I'm glad if it could be of help.
You can use it to blot off all the water. Then, you use a hairdryer to make it readable again. It’s a bit of work, but using an iron might help too.
Uuu, what a pain. But I have to do it, I need it. It really isn’t my lucky day, huh~
Come to think about it… When I was at ES earlier, I bought a tea from a vending machine, but the machine broke down and wouldn’t spit it out.
It couldn’t be helped, so I thought I’d get some from the water cooler, but the bottle had just been changed out, so the water was just lukewarm…
I know room-temperature water is good for your body, but I wanted something ice-cold to drink.
I really had thought it wasn’t my lucky day, but it makes sense if it’s because my fortune was bad~
Do you believe in fortunes, Nito-dono? That the existence of divine forces can compel bad things to happen to you?
What do you mean? I feel like it’s not that complicated. I believe and take fortunes at face value, but I don’t believe in supernatural forces, I guess?
You believe in it, but you don’t believe in it…? What on earth does that mean?
Look, when you see your fortune on the TV in the morning, you’ll be in a good mood all day if it’s a good one, right?
And if your luck is bad and something bad happens to you, you can just give up and say, “Ah~ today just isn’t my day is all. Can’t be helped.”
It’s like a way to keep yourself from getting irritated when things go wrong all of a sudden. I think of it like a pastime that makes getting through life everyday just a little bit easier.
So that’s what I mean when I say I believe in fortunes. I don’t really believe that some magical, incomprehensible force has any say in stuff that happens to me.
Hmm… So that is how Nito-dono thinks about it, hm…?
What~? Are you worried about the outcomes of the fortune, Souma-chin?
I know I was making a big fuss about it just now, but don’t take it super seriously, okay~?
It’s not that I am taking it too seriously… I was merely a little worried with all of these water-related situations happening in succession.
Here’s some advice from me to you, Souma-chin!
This is just something I’ve heard once, but the ups and downs of someone’s life happen in equal measure.
It’s good to think like that. Because even if you have misfortunes, blessings will come next.
Therefore, if bad things are happening today, good things will definitely happen next time. I’m not too sure of that, but~
That’s how you should approach something like fortune-telling.
I see… That’s another way to think about it, hm...
Chapter 7
Ummm. I’m pretty sure Sakasaki-dono’s room was this one? I remembered it was on the same floor as mine, but…
I feel like I remembered it being around here. I remember that Shinobu-kun’s room was close to mine, but his is too far from mine for me to remember clearly.
Well, if we make a mistake, we’ll just apologize. Now then, let’s get to knocking at once—
Uwaa!?
Okay then. Tsukinaga-kun, please— W-Waugh?!
Ahh, that startled me~ I opened the door and there you were all of a sudden, Hiyori-kun.
I surprised you? You nearly smashed that door in my face!?
Oh, I apologize for that. I'm so glad it didn't hit you.
Anyways, what brings the two of you here?
Ah. We came to meet up with Sakasaki-dono!
Natsume-kun…?
Unfortunately, he's away for work. The recording goes until night, so he probably won’t be back until midnight.
Eh~? What rotten timing. What foul weather…!
What business do you have with Natsume-kun? If it's urgent, I can pass it along. I imagine he’d reach out to you by tomorrow.
Hm~mn… It might be a lost cause then. The fortune will have already ended by tomorrow, so…
Errr… Fortune?
Ahh, that’s right! I’m pretty sure you’ve talked about all sorts of things like fortunes and lucky charms, right, Tsumugi-kun? Ah, those were the days, hm?
Well, I do still like them, but I'd rather they not get lumped together. "Lucky charms" and fortune-telling are two completely different things.
Actually, what on earth are we talking about? I'm completely lost.
With that segue, I’ll explain the whole thing to you! Here’s what happened—
—I see. So you're looking for a way to erase or change Kanzaki-kun and Sengoku-kun's bad fortunes.
In that case, I might be able to help.
Eh!? Really!?
Yes. In my case, it's not because of fortune-telling, but my knowledge of "lucky charms" and feng shui.
“Lucky charm”... Like, when you wish on a shooting star three times before it disappears and the wish comes true?
Right, broadly speaking, it's something like that.
But even if you're told that your wish will come true that way, it's hard to completely trust it, right?
Well, yeah. I’d say wishing on shooting stars is the stuff of dreams. There’s no way a wish could come true from something like that.
Besides, there are also plenty of “lucky charms” themselves that are impossible to materialize in the first place.
Yeah, I think so too. It’s occult-y, or… maybe I should say it looks like something made to entertain children…
Ahaha, I know, right? It's no wonder you feel that way.
The well-known “lucky charms” everyone has heard of at some point tend to be ones popular with children.
So, I'll give you advice on feng shui instead.
Feng shui… Like when you increase your luck with money by having a yellow coinpurse?
H~mn. But I feel like feng shui isn’t that far off from “lucky charms” either.
Well, I suppose they all share their roots. But I think the same applies to things like exorcisms, protection against misfortune, and amulets.
? What do you mean?
It's important to believe in them yourself.
See, there's a saying, "illness starts from the mind." It's the same kind of thing.
The idea is to overwrite the belief that you're unlucky with the belief that you're free from bad luck.
Also, feng shui is about "controlling the flow of qi through the placement of objects," but it actually makes a lot of sense, you know~?
Lucky colors usually stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, while colors like blue and green tend to have a relaxing effect.
Incorporating these colors into your life helps control positive feelings through self-suggestion and self-improvement. That's the benefit of feng shui.
Thinking of it that way, it's no different from warding off evil and exorcisms, right?
Hmm. When you put it like that, definitely. When you pray, you hold a sort of charm to bring yourself peace of mind.
That’s exactly right.
It feels super duper fishy when Tsumugi-kun says it, though!
Huhh?! Why does it sound bad when I say it?!
If I had to pick, it’d definitely have to do with how you look! We’re leagues apart, comparing it to my refreshingness, y’know.
You should get that mop chopped off already. It’d be a little better if you did, you know! It used to be shorter.
Well... It's not so much that I'm growing it out because I like it, but more because I made a vow7, you see.
Anyway, let's put the topic of me aside. Kanzaki-kun is waiting.
Let's go give him peace of mind that bad luck won’t defeat him...♪
Chapter 8
Sorry to keep you waiting~ I remembered there was a great book in the bookroom and brought it over. This feng shui book is easy to read and I highly recommend it.
Even though I made a whole section for books on "lucky charms" in the bookroom, people in the dorm haven't really taken to it...
Maybe I'm lacking in promotional effort?
Anyway, I'll worry about advertising later. Right now, we've got this matter to deal with.
So, Aoba-dono. What sorts of concrete things can we do to improve his good luck and ward away the bad?
Hmm, let's see... One orthodox method would be something like, "walking in an auspicious direction."
But if you take a walk while basking in the sun, your fortune will improve even more~ And it feels nice, too.
A walk in the sun might certainly feel pleasant, but unfortunately, it’s been raining for quite a while now.
Even if pacing around in this kind of rain weren’t a watery misfortune, it would absolutely ruin your mood to the point it’d bring down your luck, right?
In that case, maybe an indoor activity would be better~
What about this? "Place a bowl filled with water and a heap of salt by your bedside."
… That feels a little too risky. If it were me, I’d definitely turn over in my sleep, knock it over and spill it.
The drowning misfortune is trouble enough, but if something like that fell on my head while I was sleeping, I’d get totally traumatized.
Is that so?
Hmm... In that case, how about this? "Keep eating things you dislike."
Is that book really about feng shui? It’s not a book about torture? It just seems like it’s trying to torment you.
Oh, geez... It's a genuine feng shui book. This one doesn't work either?
Well, no way around it~ ...Aah. Then how about this one? It suggests "sleeping for three days straight."
Seems like it’d make you into a lazy slacker before it’d improve your luck…
Honestly… Why did we choose to do something so difficult?
Huh? Is that so? I think they're all easy to do and worth recommending.
For anything else, we'd have to change the dorm's building layout, so it'd turn into a big fuss. Ahaha.
This is no laughing matter, you know. Tsumugi-kun, isn’t there anything even a little better than these?
Let's see... In that case, how about placing an appropriate item in a lucky direction?
There! That would work! Speaking of feng shui~ it’s got that kind of feeling to it.
What the. So there was something legitimate. I wanted to hear something like that from the start..
It can actually be pretty tricky, though? There's no guarantee the right item will be put in the right direction.
Aoba-dono. What kind of things should we prepare?
Hmm. Items that Sengoku-kun and Hiyori-kun might have...
Ah. I don’t think it needs to be something that belongs to us. There are plenty of people here in the dorms, so as long as it can be something borrowed, I think we’d be able to prepare it.
Oh, that's true. I'm sure others will lend us theirs as well. Let's start walking around the dorm to find some luck-bringing items.
Huff, huff. Kanzaki-dono, Kazehaya-dono~
Ahh, welcome back.
Sengoku, Tomoe-dono, you’ve returned—
W-Wha—!? What the!? What are those large flower pots!?
They’re ornamental houseplants. Aoba-dono, where should I put this?
Give me a moment, please. First, I need to take a look at the layout of the room…
Ohh, just our luck! There’s a window right at the southeast, and so you just need to put the plant towards the south.
Sengoku-kun, please put the ornamental house plant there. Hiyori-kun, please put your things on top of the shelf over there.
Will do~☆
Mine should be here, right?
You are helping for my sake as well, Aoba-dono? I am truly indebted to you.
No, no, it’s no worries. It’s an opportunity to put the knowledge I’ve got to good use.
Besides, my recommendation section in the bookroom isn’t very popular. I might be able to stir up some interest in it by taking advantage of this opportunity.
Ahh, Kanzaki-kun. Here, take this too. It’s something that is easy to wear, just right.
The color red will give you great fortune. When I explained the situation, Yuuki-kun happily lent this to me.
This is… a scarf? It’s a little too hot for the season, but I will receive Yuuki-dono’s kindness gratefully—
Hm? I get some kind of incomprehensible feeling from this scarf… It feels heavier than it seems…
What on earth is on this scarf here? There are words written on the inside…
Let’s see? “I LOVE YOU ♥” is written on it, huh.
Waahh, how passionate. Could this be a present from a fan?
……
I feel that this scarf is sucking away my strength rather than lending it to me, so I will politely decline.
Ah. Then, here, take my shuriken keychain instead!
If it’s this, it’s easy to put in your pocket, and it’s made of rubber, so it isn’t dangerous!
Whoa. A red-colored shuriken is quite an unusual sight.
Toys these days are colorful. I’ve got blue and green and yellow and black, all kinds. My shuriken are RYUSEITAI-colored too ♪
You’ve invested in so many kinds of strategies to help me. I am sorry everyone. It is thanks to all of you that my morale has risen!
With all of this, It seems I can go out and retrieve my sword from the shop without succumbing to a watery misfortune.
Huh? You’re headed out? You should just give in and stay put in the dorms today.
That will not do. I would truly like to retrieve my sword by the end of the day, no matter the cost. I won’t be able to settle down without it.
In that case, I'll accompany you.
What? No, you do not need to go that far out of your way for me…
Ah, no. It's not just for your sake, Souma-san. I also needed to go buy some fertilizing soil.
Since I have some business in the shopping district, I figured it would be a good opportunity to join you.
Is that so? If that’s the case, shall we go together?
Chapter 9
Finally, it has returned; my blade in hand. As I thought, my mind could not be put at ease without my sword at my hip.
I'm glad to hear it. And there haven't been any problems so far.
Right. The rain bands are strong, but all we have left is to return home, so it shouldn't be a problem.
However, there is always the story of “The Famous Tree Climber” from Tsurezuregusa8. Let us not lose our focus until we reach the very end of our destination.
Indeed.
Oh–! I have never really noticed this before, but… The gutters in this residential area are quite large. Not just that, but they’ve filled considerably high from all this rain.
Ahh, that's right. This area was once a large rice field in the past. It looks like some remnants from those days are still here.
Just to be safe, let us not get too close and head home—- Hm?
Oh? Is something wrong, Souma-san?
No, it’s just... In the gutter all the way over there… is that not the dove of Hibiki-dono’s? The one that had gotten loose from the dorms earlier?
Ah, you're right. She's sitting right in the middle of the raised part of the gutter.
Kazehaya-dono. The waters in the gutter are steadily rising. At this rate, it’s dangerous for it to keep sitting over there, isn’t it?
Jeanne d'Arc-saaan! It's not safe for you to stay there! And it's raining, so wouldn't it be best to return to Wataru-san quickly?
......
......
It’s not moving, hm? It does have wings, so perhaps I am worrying too much, but…
...No. Maybe she can't fly after all...
What!? What on earth do you mean by that?
The truth is, when I rescued Jeanne d'Arc-san, she injured her leg. Perhaps because of that injury, she can't take off...
Th—That is a grave matter, isn’t it…! At the rate the water is accumulating, the dove will be swallowed up before five minutes can even pass!
We cannot just let things continue like this! There is no time to waste! We need to rescue it…!
Huh...?!
Don't, Souma-san! Even without the premonition of water misfortune, it's still dangerous to enter the water in the rain!
As a samurai, my entire being is one that is meant to fight to protect the weak! I cannot be so selfish as to forsake something that is in need of help in front of my very eyes!
(Ee-eee! The water is sticking to my clothes, and it is making it harder to walk!)
Stay nice and still, as you have been…! Just a little more…
— Alright! Safe and sound, under my protection!
Souma-san, hurry over here! It's dangerous to stay there...!
Ah. There we are. I must get out of the water quickly.
Khh…!?
(Damn! I slipped on some seaweed at the bottom of the tide, my balance…! At this rate, the waters will sweep us underwater— the dove and me along with it!)
Souma-san...!
Kazehaya-dono… You came in an instant to support me, I’ve been saved…
That was a close call—waugh?!
What the…—!?
(Cough)...! I-I apologize, Souma-san... I ended up slipping as well. I tried to help, but we both fell in the end. How shameful...
Please do not worry, Kazehaya-dono.
Look, I lifted the dove up above the water instantly, so it didn’t get wet. If we are the only ones to get wet, and the dove is saved, then I consider that excellent…♪
Fufu. Your water misfortune is rather formidable, Souma-san.
Anyways. Let's quickly get back on land.
— Al-right… Hup.
(Sigh). Good grief. This dove is just as much of a troublemaker as it was a short while ago. I won’t be at peace until I have a few words with Hibiki-dono about this.
And not only did I get wet, but Kazehaya-dono, who got involved in the matter, did as well.
Getting a little wet is no big deal. It's already raining anyways…
Huh? Just as I was saying that, the rain let up, and rays of light broke through the clouds.
So it seems… Does this mean that the watery misfortune has passed?
Hmm...
(There's been something bothering me since earlier... What exactly am I hung up on...?)
Could it be related to the feng shui from earlier...?
I still have the book I borrowed from the bookroom, so I'll check.
... (Flipping through the feng shui book)
… Huh? Oh no! This is where that sense of unease was coming from!
Looks like that feng shui earlier wasn't for overall fortune, but specifically to improve interpersonal luck.
My subconscious might have felt off about the combination of direction and items, hm…
I'll have to apologize to Kanzaki-kun later.
Well, the other items were for boosting luck, so it's not a big failure. But I'd still like for everyone to learn the correct information...
Errr…?
Hibiki-dono. This dove of yours wandered off and got lost.
It is none of my business if you operate off of a "so be it" basis, but if you leave them to their own devices too much, it could come across as animal abandonment. Please be more careful going forward.
… Oh? Who might this little one be?
Huh?
Umm... Isn't this dove the one you keep? Jeanne d'Arc-san, isn't it?
Why, Jeanne d’Arc’s right here. One~ Two~ Three~ …. Amazing☆
What the—!? A white dove just emerged from Hibiki-dono’s hair!
— So that means… Where in the world did this one come from!?
It seems we’ve had a case of mistaken doves.
(Sigh)... And all of this strife for what…
Wait, is this precisely what it means to have watery misfortune? I am fed up with a fortune dictating the course of my life already…
Fufu. That was certainly a strange experience. I'm sorry, Souma-san, but it did seem like an intriguing experience at first.
Well. It may have been an absurd personal experience, but I am exceedingly grateful for the hard work Kazehaya-dono and the others put in for me.
A watery misfortune certainly fell upon me.
But I think this was a day where I had more interpersonal luck than anyone else…♪
Translation Notes
- ↑ In Japanese, words from other languages (such as English) are typically rendered in katakana. However, when Souma uses katakana words, they are all written in hiragana instead, likely to emphasize how he struggles with foreign words. These words are kept as written in hiragana, and put in "quotes".
- ↑ 俺TUEEE is slang, meaning being super strong or "OP"; TUEEE comes from 強い (tsuyoi, strong).
- ↑ Referencing Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds.
- ↑ From Genesis 1:28 in the Bible: God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
- ↑ This is referencing !! Main Story Chapter 35, when ALKALOID meet Souma in the dorm kitchens.
- ↑ This is referencing Housouge.
- ↑ A gankake is a type of Buddhist prayer for a wish. The type of gankake Tsumugi made is where a vow is made in exchange for a wish from the deities; in this case, his vow was to never cut his hair.
- ↑ Tsurezuregusa is a collection of essays written around 1330 by the monk Yoshida Kenkō. The point of the story Souma references is that if you do a difficult task, and you then underestimate it and think it's easy, you're screwed when something goes wrong.