Valentine's Campaign | Sweet and Bitter Rehearsal Lines 2026

Characters

Writer

H.E. Staff

Translation

citrinesea

Proofreading

Ibuki's entrance into AKATSUKI has insensitive parallels to the history between Japan and the Ryukyu Islands, specifically the annexation of Ryukyu into Okinawa from 1872-1879 onward. Click for more information

AKATSUKI is a unit embodied by 和 (wa, lit. harmony, but also a self-designator for Japan). The word 和風 (wafu, Japanese style) comes from 和. During the Meiji Restoration, 和 was central to Japan’s efforts to unify and assimilate new territories under a shared cultural identity. On top of his membership, Ibuki's active pursuit of 本当の和風 (true Japanese-style) being the reason he pursues AKATSUKI is inappropriate, bearing this in mind.

Additionally, the Ryukyu Disposition was driven by military interests, particularly securing Japan's southern borders from other nations. In Okinawan schools, national pride was linked to serving Japan’s military goals. This had devastating consequences, particularly during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. This in mind, having Ibuki join the self-proclaimed "war unit" is also inappropriate.

Read the full-length analysis here: Unpacking Shinsei (新生) AKATSUKI; An Extended Translation Note and Analysis.

Sweet Lines

I understand how you feel, but don’t get too excited. If we get separated, you might end up lost, you know. Well, I don’t mind seeing you laugh so happily beside me, though…♪

The wind’s still pretty damn cold, huh. Why don’t you come in a lil’ closer so I can warm you up. Here, lemme just fix that scarf around you… Might as well hold hands while we’re at it, right? So we can keep warm?

I was really, really looking forward to going out with you today, you know~! I was looking for a few places the two of us could have fun at, and so I’d like for you to pick where we should go…♪

ufufu, are you [nervous]~? your [hand] has gotten stiff in mine. my heart is [pitter-pattering] too, so in a way, we match, hm…?

Nyahaha ♪ Spending the day with my crush is the best~! I’m gonna take you wherever you wanna go today, so let’s have a great time together~!

Bitter Lines

This translation includes she/her, he/him, and they/them gender-inclusive options. Click on a tab below for your preferred pronouns.

She/Her He/Him They/Them

My confession was turned down, and yet here I am, still pathetically clinging to these feelings… Haha. If only I could just hate her. But you can't control the heart that easy.1

I wanted to get outta that “caring, reliable older brother” box, personally, but… not so easy, huh. Maybe it’s better we keep each other at this kinda distance instead.

(Sigh)… There was no chance for me to tell her how I truly felt today. I hardly have the opportunity to see her, much less do something as absurd as invite her out with me. It seems there is nothing I can do but give up.

I know that right now, I’m not a good match for her. I know that. So, when the time comes that I become the man among men… that’s when I’ll tell her how I feel.

I never thought I’d fall for her so much when I met her. I doubt she'd have feelings for me anyways, so I guess I'll just have to shove these feelings away, huh?

you cannot see a person’s [heart], so it is lonesome not knowing if she holds the same [feelings] as me. however, just being able to see her [smile] is enough to make me happy.

Uu, I’m a complete mess trying to figure out how to tell her how I really feel…~ Just saying “I like you” all casual doesn’t feel like the right way to go either. This really isn’t like me, huh~?

My confession was turned down, and yet here I am, still pathetically clinging to these feelings… Haha. If only I could just hate him. But you can't control the heart that easy.1

I wanted to get outta that “caring, reliable older brother” box, personally, but… not so easy, huh. Maybe it’s better we keep each other at this kinda distance instead.

(Sigh)… There was no chance for me to tell him how I truly felt today. I hardly have the opportunity to see him, much less do something as absurd as invite him out with me. It seems there is nothing I can do but give up.

I know that right now, I’m not a good match for him. I know that. So, when the time comes that I become the man among men… that’s when I’ll tell him how I feel.

I never thought I’d fall for him so much when I met him. I doubt he'd have feelings for me anyways, so I guess I'll just have to shove these feelings away, huh?

you cannot see a person’s [heart], so it is lonesome not knowing if he holds the same [feelings] as me. however, just being able to see his [smile] is enough to make me happy.

Uu, I’m a complete mess trying to figure out how to tell him how I really feel…~ Just saying “I like you” all casual doesn’t feel like the right way to go either. This really isn’t like me, huh~?

My confession was turned down, and yet here I am, still pathetically clinging to these feelings… Haha. If only I could just hate them. But you can't control the heart that easy.1

I wanted to get outta that “caring, reliable older brother” box, personally, but… not so easy, huh. Maybe it’s better we keep each other at this kinda distance instead.

(Sigh)… There was no chance for me to tell them how I truly felt today. I hardly have the opportunity to see them, much less do something as absurd as invite them out with me. It seems there is nothing I can do but give up.

I know that right now, I’m not a good match for them. I know that. So, when the time comes that I become the man among men… that’s when I’ll tell them how I feel.

I never thought I’d fall for them so much when I met them. I doubt they'd have feelings for me anyways, so I guess I'll just have to shove these feelings away, huh?

you cannot see a person’s [heart], so it is lonesome not knowing if they hold the same [feelings] as me. however, just being able to see their [smile] is enough to make me happy.

Uu, I’m a complete mess trying to figure out how to tell them how I really feel…~ Just saying “I like you” all casual doesn’t feel like the right way to go either. This really isn’t like me, huh~?