The Legend of KAGETSU | Epilogue
Epilogue 1
Ah~h, it's over alreaaady? I woulda liked to keep going for a whole five hours more~! Hey? Don't you feel that way too, Hasumi-san?
… Hm? I feel like I’ve said something just like that before~
The exact same thing back during 4piece.
Ahh, is that right? It was pretty fun back then too, huh~?
I’d known AKATSUKI’s songs since when I was in America, and I was interested in them, but...
If I hadn’t gotten to have a jam sesh with you on that stage, Hasumi-san, I don’t think I woulda wanted to stand on the same stage with AKATSUKI as much~
I feel the same way.
…
I’m glad I got to do a live with AKATSUKI~ It was nice that being with AKATSUKI felt really cozy~ Just like Jii-chan’s house.
If you ever feel like getting together again, let’s do it~ Mata ya~sai 1
Hold it, Taki. Aren’t you looking for "true Japanese-style”?
With that, is this one live really enough for you?
? Whaddya mean by that?
If you want to find "true Japanese-style”, is it not here in AKATSUKI that is the closest place you’ll find it?
Eh? Errr…?
Well, look. Danna and Kanzaki are both dancin’ around the subject, but… what we mean to ask is— why dontcha join AKATSUKI and become our comrade?
…
But I’ve caused tons of trouble for AKATSUKI~
As a kid, I have all the freedom in the world, but even a kid like me knows how to be polite, too. I can’t cause trouble for AKATSUKI anymore~
Says the person who cut it close getting to the exam on time.
Nyahaha. Well, that was just because I didn’t know the etiquette of the mainland, though~?
Taki. You’ve been saying you’ve “caused us trouble” for a while now, but I don’t think you’ve caused us any trouble in the first place.
AKATSUKI is bound by a bond stronger than blood. That's because we’re comrades who have swept through countless battlefields and hardships together.
We watch our backs, and sometimes we can watch each other’s backs— the backs of our comrades. No one’s troubled by that.
I didn't call out to you because I pitied your lot in life.
I will evolve AKATSUKI with the times and take it into the next era - In order to make AKATSUKI into a "tradition"2, I saw you as a comrade who would fight with us on the battlefield.
...
So. You’ve got yer own dream, and to make that dream come true, this unit AKATSUKI is tailor-made for it, right?
I want you to lend me your strength. That’s what the deal is. So, I’ll say it once again.
… — Taki. Won’t you join AKATSUKI?
…
Hasumi-san, I wanna join AKATSUKI— No, please lemme join…!
That would be great. I look forward to working with you.3
Nyahaha. Thanks for having me. Talk about a load of deja vu, huh~?
… Got a snide email from agency higher ups.
… H~mm.
Well, whatever. I’ll let it slide. If I take it seriously, I’ll just lose in the end.
These documents are for The Legend of KAGETSU, so they’ve already finished being processed. These ones still need to be dealt with, but... I can't do anything if I don’t have the other required documents.
Well, the debut live is still a little bit away, so it’s not really an issue.
So, all that’s left is the paperwork needed for when Taki joins AKATSUKI?
… ♪
Whoa!? Sakuma, speak up when you enter. Stealing glances at people’s business is rude.
Sadly, I missed the window to speak up.
You’ve completely changed, Hasumi-kun. You went from all of that anxiety the past few weeks to working with such vigor.
Hmhm… A registration sheet for a new member…?
Oh? Will Taki-kun be joining AKATSUKI, then?
Yes. It’ll be announced at the next live.
Is everything alright, with the opposition from the agency? I doubt it’s all smiles up there, adding a new member.
Going forward, there might be some interference here and there, but this time, I’ve made up my mind. No matter who objects to it, I’ll trust my instincts.
I'm rooting for you, Hasumi-kun. Overhauling everything for the sake of reexamining the foundation... I’d say that kind of pluck is very fine indeed.
So then, how about it? Does it look like things are going to go all according to plan for Hasumi-kun and changing for the better?
It’s not just about the change itself. We’ll show that we can change together. That’s the kind of resolve I’m talking about.
Hm, I see. “If you want to go faster, take it solo. If you want to go farther, go together,” right?
I won’t let AKATSUKI die. With this growth and development, I’ll take it into the next era.
Because AKATSUKI is the legend I began, and I am the main character of that story.
Ku-ku-ku…♪ You took far too many detours to finally manage to get to that resolve, Hasumi-kun.
Hmph. Being surrounded by people with innate talent, you end up like this whether you want to or not. Because effort alone just isn’t enough.
Epilogue 2
…
? Taki, what’s got you so silent? You’re unusually tense?
Look, look~! I’m wearing the AKATSUKI uniform right now~!?
What are you, a kid wearin’ a hakama for the first time at Shichi-Go-San5? I mean, you had it on durin’ the costume fittin’, right?
You don’t get it, Kiryu-san~ Having the stage right in front of you while wearing the uniform gets higher points for me, y’know~
What’s this about points? Well, if you’re that happy with it, makin’ this one feels real worth it.
That said, the live’s soon, but you’re not nervous? This is the first time you’re takin’ the stage as AKATSUKI, yet…?
I’m not nervous or anything, y’know~ If anything, I’m so excited I can’t calm down— like I wanna start running around right now! Can I?
Obviously, the answer is no. We’ll be starting soon.
Taki. While I can understand your glee, don’t get too overenthusiastic.
From this moment on, you are a member of AKATSUKI. You need to keep in mind that you are carrying its name at all times, and maintain discipline and decorum.
That just reminded me of something. Kanzaki was unusually overenthusiastic the first time he put on his AKATSUKI uniform, wasn’t he?
Yeah. Now that ya mention it, he was like that too. He got so worked up backstage, he suddenly started doin’ practice-swings with his sword to calm down. Hasumi and I had to stop him.
… Hasumi-dono, Kiryu-dono. I’d like for you to spare me any more of that.
Nyahaha. So there was a time when Kanzaki-san was like that too, huh~ I get it~ He was just like me~
Hey…! Don’t lump us together…!
… Hm? It’s about time, huh?
Taki, you’ll start by jumping out onto the stage and running around as you please, just like you did during 4piece.
Is doing that kinda thing okay~? Don’t tell me to take responsibility after, ‘kay~? Give me your word, ‘kay~?
It’s scary, so let’s make a contract. I can’t feel safe if a promise isn’t put down in writing, y’know~
Don’t worry. I’m not going to say that. The first move of a live show is essential. Fire up the stage in one go, like tossing kindling onto a fire pit.
Lives are like festivals, after all. The more you fire everyone up, the better it gets ♪
Just attract the attention of the audience. If you fumble a little or get too reckless, we will cover for you on all of it.
Hmnm. If you all say so… Please leave it to me~ Going on a rampage is what I’m the absolute best at~
If anything, it’s you guys who’ll have to keep up with me? Are you gonna be okay?
Who do you think you're talking to? I couldn’t ask for anything more.
Let's go show the audience the newly reborn AKATSUKI. Let's show them an overwhelmingly Japanese-style performance.
(Yeah, that’s right. Hasumi-san.)
(I was putting on a brave front for Kiryu-san, but the truth is, I’m a little scared~)
(I want to be in AKATSUKI of my own will. The more I learn about AKATSUKI, the more I like it.)
(But just because people love AKATSUKI doesn’t mean they’ll come to love me. If that’s the case, that makes me a hindrance~)
(I don’t really want to be rejected anymore. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been excluded from all kinds of circles~)
(But I also take a lot of pride in the fact AKATSUKI is cherished that much~ It says “The unit I adore is the absolute strongest”~)
(That’s why I’ll cling to it like my life depends on it. I haven’t done anything yet, so it can’t be helped I haven’t been recognized~)
(So I’ll do whatever I can. To earn that proper recognition.)
(If I do that, someday, it’ll be proper—)
Taki, did you hear me? What’s with the blank look?
Nah. I heard you fine~ I’m alright~ Leave it to me, kay~?
I see. Well then, let’s go!
“Come, now! I’m the descendent of an oni that silences even crying children— Taki Ibuki!”
“Behold the newly reborn AKATSUKI that I’ve joined!!”
♪~♪~♪
Translation Notes
- ↑ Uchinaaguchi for "See you later". The feminine version is mata yatai.
- ↑ 伝統 (dentou); Tradition in the sense of convention.
- ↑ He says this same exact line at the end of Final Ceremony Chapter 3. The same song plays as well.
- ↑ At times, they refer to the new AKATSUKI as 新生『紅月』(reborn AKATSUKI). This is the first time they do so. From here on, any translations that includes Ibuki as a member of AKATSUKI will be referred to as "Shinsei AKATSUKI" translations. Read the Unpacking Shinsei AKATSUKI note to learn about the problematic implications of this unit.
- ↑ Shichi-Go-San (七五三) is a traditional Japanese celebration to pray for the health and wellbeing of children. Children are usually dressed in kimono for the first time.