Influence (Chapter 6-10)
Influence 6
...
Good morning☆ Did you sleep well last night?
Well enough.
Fufu. Judging by the looks of things, it certainly seems to have been a pleasant dream ♪
“Everyone. How did yesterday’s examination go?”
"I left most of yesterday’s progress to Seiya-san so I could observe the examinations going on at the Arena— Don’t worry, I’ve confirmed by watching footage of all of your valiant figures."
“Now then. We’ve entered the phase where we get closer and closer to the climax.”
“With three days remaining, what can you deliver with the cards you’ve been dealt? I’m looking forward to it.”
“At last, let us announce the audience of a hundred for the fifth day!”
“Today’s audience is one hundred foreign tourists.”
"Heheh. I called upon people who flew out here just like I did ♪"
“In order to obtain 'hearts', you must understand and convey your feelings to those from different cultures.”
"The first theme is 'An appeal that substitutes a proper greeting'. I wish you all luck!"
The fifth day’s audience is a hundred foreign tourists, huh?
If they’re people who can't speak the same language, that might be a strong point of mine. Hibiki, have a minute?
Sure. Knight-san spent some time living in a foreign country, so I’ll rely on him ☆
I don’t know where the members of the audience are from, but I’m thinking we should use several different languages in our appeal.
I can speak Italian, some basic French and English. What about you?
Any language you desire!
... That’s what I’d like to say, but we’re low on time. Shall I try saying hello in Chinese and Hindi?
Hah? What’s with those choices?
Fufufu☆ There are a hundred people, so there’s a high enough likelihood of breaking through to them with those languages!
Hmm. Well, I want to convey to everyone that I'm a model, so how about we each introduce ourselves while demonstrating some poses?
Leave it to me! Now then, let us take the stage!
Grazie mille!! 1
Phew, we did some real good work.
Now let’s see. We got...— 62 hearts!?
Th-This has to be a mistake...! My beautiful looks with a score as low as this...!
I don't think the evaluation is based on beauty alone. Though, it seems that today's audience has a different perspective than the ones before.
Were they looking for something different than what we’ve prepared for them?
Nyahaha! They’re tourists, so duh~?
If you’re playing to the overseas crowd, you should find a way to make stuff unique to this country easy to understand~
Also, getting a shoddy greeting in a foreign language is just gonna be seen as shoddy communication~♪
Hah? Are you bad-mouthing your senior? You’re cocky through and through.
But I don't think the strategy I was talking about was wrong? If you want proof, just take a look at Hasumi-san's appeal.
Hasumi’s...?
“Everyone. Now, I will be demonstrating one of my specialties: kyudo.”
“Taki. If it looks like any words and phrases are confusing the audience, could you help explain it so they can understand?”
“Nyahaha! Leave it to me!”
“This is a yumi, or a Japanese bow. I suppose it’s surprising how much longer it is than a Western-style bow, isn’t it? Using this, you shoot a distant target by clearing your mind of every thought.”
“This – kyudo – is one of Japan’s military arts.”
“Now then, watch closely.”
“Hah!”
What splendid ability, Keito-kun. Right on the mark on the first try...♪
Whew, that’s Hasumi-san alright~♪”
“We’re not done just yet. Here’s a second arrow– a third arrow too–”
Uwah~ Keito-chin’s so proficient.
We should use that as reference for our appeal when the time comes, but let’s see what we should demonstrate to begin with.
If that’s the case, I could try giving archery a shot too.
Huh? You’re confident in your archery skills too?
Keito-chin’s got a considerable amount of ability, so it seems like it would be hard to make a bigger impression than that~?
Of course, I don’t plan to do the same thing Hasumi-senpai did. I’m not going to use a kyudo bow.
It’s not kyudo I take pride in, but hunting after all!
Throw this ball, Nazuna-senpai, I’ll track it with my eyes, and shoot it down. ... How’s that sound?
It doesn’t have a Japanese feel to it, but if we succeed, it’ll be quite a showy impression. A moving target will probably have more of an impact than Keito-chin’s target.
Alrighty, let’s give it a go.
Lemme throw it far enough so there aren’t any mishaps. Is that okay?
“Yes! Well, Nazuna-senpai. If you could–!’
“There!”
Ooh, that was right on the mark! Amazing!
Hehe, this is my specialty, alright ♪ What if we added even more balls?
Alrighty. Now then, here comes another~!
Hm... Even though they based their decision on what we’d done, it’s still an impressive skill.
Looks like I totally gave the two of them a hint, huh~?
It coulda been our chance to get a lead, but I tend to say things inadvertently like that, huh~
No, it’s not as if you did anything wrong. Besides... give the monitor a look.
We made out with 76 hearts, while Amagi and Nito earned 72.
Hunting is actually more popular outside of Japan. The excitement of being able to see a Japanese bow in such an elegant building probably led to a more favorable impression.
Huh, I see? I didn’t think of that!
Could it be that you showed off your kyudo anticipating that? As expected of Hasumi-senpai.
Heheh, this is just how we do things~♪
Good grief, you’re getting carried away...
But let’s keep up this pace for the next one too.
Hmm. You're planning on performing a sword dance next, aren't you?
Hmph, who do you think I am? This is my chance to show off the skills I've honed as part of AKATSUKI: taking the traditional performing arts and evolving them into something one of a kind.
Hiiro-chin, there should be more things we can do. You can’t look down on the KAWAII of Japan, right? Leave that to me!
... I see. I might be starting to get it a little.
Hibiki. Let’s fall back and recover.
Seems like it'll be tough to beat Hasumi when it comes to a Japanese-style theme, but still, it’s too early to give up, right?
Translation Notes
- ↑ "Thank you" in Italian (lit. a thousand thanks)