[ES!! Era Year 2] Decorate
Chapter Index
Ch 1 - Ch 2 - Ch 3 - Ch 4 - Ch 5 - Ch 6 - Translation Notes
Strawberry Jam and Pancakes 1
Season: ES 2nd Year, Summer (August)
2nd year since ES’s establishment, August. During summer holidays, in Yumenosaki Academy’s Garden Terrace…1
(As the ones who got locked up, it felt way longer than that to us.)
(I got so used to the rules over there that it’s thrown me off-course… I feel like I’m sufferin’ from awful jet lag.)
(Well, I’ll prolly get myself back in shape after a few more days, though.)
(Anyway, it’s pretty quiet here, huh…?)
(I guess that’s what you’d expect, actually. The summer holidays started by the time we were in Mega Sphere.)
(Ever since ES was established, I haven’t been coming here as much…)
(But even if that’s true, a place I’ve known for so long bein’ this quiet feels weird.)
(Garden Terrace would always be bustlin’ with energy at this hour, with people laughing everywhere—)
(…Huh? There’s someone sittin’ over there…)
Hee~y, Tori-kun! (waves)
Mm…? Ahh, so it was you greeting me, Tetora.
Ossu! You also came to school, Tori-kun? Fancy meetin’ ya!
I’ve got club activities soon, but what ‘bout you?
Same here. Oh, and the Student Council.4
Huh? You have Student Council stuff to do even in the summer holidays?
Yep. Since I haven’t been in school for a good while, I have a backlog of Student Council work to do now.
I’ll have even more to do once the next school term starts, so…5 I thought to clear up a good chunk of it in the summer holidays.
Huh, I see…
I don’t really know much ‘bout big-shot positions like that, but shouldn’t there be a li’l more flexibility over that?
Yumenosaki counts work as part of our academic credit, and it’s not like you were in Mega Sphere for a vacation.
You’ve also got your student life to deal with, so I don’t feel like you need to pour so much energy into your Student Council work…?
Mhm… Well, that’s true.
The school’s also told us that they’ll make some arrangements for us. Like exempting us from working, or simplifying the procedure.
I’m also way busier than I used to be… so I’m really feeling the pressure of how tough this is, but—
Even then, I’d like to complete whatever I can with all I’ve got, y’know? Whether it’s club activities or Student Council work.
After all, the Student Council is all about making the school better for the student body, right?
I was chosen to be the president of that council, so I can’t just abandon my duty like that, that’d be so lame of me.
Not even Eichi-sama did that… He was always wrapped up with work, but he never used that as an excuse to skip out on his Student Council duties.
If the person I look up to was like that, then I can’t allow myself to cut corners in my own work.
Besides… All the adults watching from the sidelines are sooo obnoxious.
Adults?
Y’know, the ones that graduated from here! Eichi-sama, Hibiki-senpai… And now Yuzuru, too!
They’re always nagging me about how I can never go back to high school after graduating, so I should have fun doing stuff I can only do as a student.
Even telling me that while fun stuff is a given, even the hardships turn into a great memory, and all that.
They’re all just saying whatever they like since it doesn’t have anything to do with them! They’re so irresponsible!
Even though they never once had to deal with something as insane as Mega Sphere back when they were in school~!
Ahaha. They were mostly just fightin’ other units like cats and dogs in the school premises, yeah.
But, well, I’m sure it was a rough time back then, too.
Yeah… If they look at all that as a good memory now, then…
I guess what Eichi-sama and everyone else’s words are true, huh.
Ossu. My seniors tell me somethin’ similar aaall the time.
Morisawa-senpai’s always like, “Live out your youth with everything you’ve got! Dash off with all your club members towards the setting sun! ☆”—
And Shinkai-senpai’s always like, “you become a [suspicious person] after you graduate from school, so please make sure to [bathe] a lot in the [water fountain] while you still can~”.
Those examples are way too unique…
And Shinkai-senpai’s just speaking from experience, isn’t he?
Ahaha, I can’t deny that.
Also, Taishou told me, “School life’s hardships are the growin’ pains that help you grow bigger and stronger.”6
Ah, that’s pretty reasonable, I think.
Anyway, everyone’s sayin’ somethin’ different, but their main point is the same: that we should enjoy our school life with all we’ve got.
…Does this mean that when we graduate, we’ll also be the type to poke our nose in our juniors’ business?
Mm~… I’d really rather not do something so patronizing to other people, but…
It’s frustrating how I can easily imagine myself saying something similar in the future…
Well, either way. When we eventually graduate, I want to make sure the students will be able to proudly say all of this was a good memory to them.
Something like, “A lot happened, but I’m glad I was a student of Yumenosaki.”
So that’s just another reason why I can’t run away from my Student Council work. I need to work hard to make the present into the best it can be.
…Hmm…
By the way, Tori-kun. What do you have planned for today?
Today? After I’m done eating, I have club activities until 3 PM, and then I plan to stay in the Student Council Office.
Aight, that’s that then! I’m gonna have ya cancel your Student Council duties for today—
So that you and I have an outin’ together!
Huh!? Hold on! Did you even hear what I said!?
I just finished expressing my determination to work hard on my Student Council work, y’know!?
Don’tchu worry, I’ve got an ace up my sleeve!
Just relax and leave it all to me…☆
Strawberry Jam and Pancakes 2
Several hours later. Inside the train for the local line…
…Um, Tetora. We’re getting farther and farther away from the city…
Are you sure this is okay? We’re not going to get thrown into some unknown wasteland by the end of this, are we?
We’ll be fine! I double-checked the way to get there on my phone.
This won’t turn into a fight for survival like it was in Australia, so no need to worry!7 ☆
I sure hope so…
We only transferred between trains twice, but the scenery outside has already changed so much… It’s kind of taking me by surprise.
Ah, really? I use the train a lot ‘cuz of the tours I take with my club and stuff, but…
Are you not so familiar with trains, Tori-kun?
Compared to the common people, yeah, I think so.
I take the bullet train, but… Typically, I get around places through my household’s private car.
“Local line”… was it?8 I don’t really ride these types of trains much.
It seems like a pain to have to transfer between trains and then wait around.
I saw the timetable at the platform, and this train stops by every 30 minutes, doesn’t it?
It feels like my time’s being used up by all the trains, and I’m not a fan.
Ahaha, yeah, I’d expect a rich person to feel that way~ It’s pretty interestin’ how different the way you guys live is from my way of life.
It’s true that you can’t help but despair when the door closes shut right before your eyes, but train trips are pretty fun too, y’know?
Like, when nobody’s on the train like how it is right now, you get to talk as much as you want. And the lunchboxes you can buy at the station feel kinda special in a way, not to mention tasty!
But to prepare for the strawberry picking we’ll be doin’, I avoided buyin’ anything today.
Maybe I shoulda bought you somethin’ at the station, Tori-kun~ Like a pork-cutlet sandwich or somethin’.
Ehh~ You can find a pork-cutlet sandwich anywhere, though.
I bet there’s plenty of top-grade ones in the department store.
No, no! The ones sold at the station are particularly special, y’know!
It really seeps right into your body after exhaustin’ yourself with exercise. It has the taste of happiness in a way!
Huh… Well, I feel like anything tastes good after exercising, though.
…By the way, about that strawberry picking in question…
Is that really possible to do in this season? I don’t really know much, but strawberries usually have the image of winter or spring, so wouldn’t the summer be the off-season?
Ossu, I thought the same thing at first.
All the work in the strawberry farm is done by Midori-kun’s relatives, and it sounds like they have a variety of strawberries, like ones that can be harvested even in the summer.9
But the problem is, it seems like the place is hard to reach, and “strawberries of the summer” isn’t really catchin’ on well to the general public…
So even though they’ve been preppin’ a “strawberry picking” campaign, no customers have been comin’ in to try it out, and it’s put ‘em in a fix.
That’s when Midori-kun personally asked me to go try it out if I’m ever in the mood, and today happened to be the exact day I was plannin’ to go.
Ah, I get it now. So that’s why you decided to invite me over, since you were already going there anyway.
If I wasn’t around, were you planning to go by yourself?
Yep! You can eat strawberries alone, after all~♪
Huh… I feel like that’s a little unexpected.
I thought that you’d ask Shinobu to join you, since he’s in Ryuseitai too… But instead, you offloaded all my work as the Student Council President on the other members and took me with you, huh~
Whoawhoa, I didn’t offload anythin’! I only asked ‘em to take on the work after I properly explained what’s goin’ on.
I even told them, “I wanna invite Tori-kun to pick strawberries with me, so please take on the work in his stead, just for today”.
So on the condition that we prepare ‘em a nice souvenir, everyone in the Student Council agreed to split the work between each other! ☆
Ohh, so that’s what happened. That’s why everyone was so cooperative with you—
And why there was even a poster that says “Himemiya Tori is forbidden from entering” taped on the door to the Student Council Office.
Thankfully we’re in the summer holidays right now, but — If a student saw that without any idea what’s going on, they’d think I got exiled from the office, you know.
Ahaha, that’s exactly why it’d be funny to see, I’m sure~
That’s what’s so special ‘bout the summer season, after all. Like how in the Karate Club, we’ve played the watermelon splitting game behind the teachers’ backs!
That doesn’t make the season charming at all!
If we’re talking about something that makes summer special, wouldn’t it be this landscape we get to see from the window?
Like the paddy fields, or the huge clouds… Or even all the mountains you see from afar.
I don’t think I’d be able to experience any of this through the window of a private car speeding through the highway.
…In that sense, maybe it’s a good thing you took me here. This feels kind of extraordinary for me in a way.
Huh, for reals? Personally, I’m so used to seein’ this in my trips that it just feels like an extension of the ordinary.
Either way, I’m so happy to hear you’re enjoyin’ it~♪
But we’ve only just started, y’know~! We’re not even at the farm yet, after all.
We’ll have to walk for fifteen minutes after we reach the station, too.
Wh—Fifteen minutes!? You’re going to make me walk for that long in this murderous hot weather!?
You’re overexaggeratin’ it~ Fifteen minutes is around the same time it takes to sing the full version of “Yumenosaki Ryuseitai Song” three times, so it’s nothin’ to sweat over!10 ☆
What kind of comparison is that!? Using a Ryuseitai song as an example won’t make it make sense to me!
Walking in the sweltering heat… What kind of punishment game is this!? Uuu~ I don’t wannaaa~
The moment we’re at the station, I’m going to make sure we catch a taxi, no matter what…!
Uu~myu… I don’t think you’ll be able to catch one easily when we’re this far into the countryside, though.
You don’t have to be on guard like that, it’ll be alright. The weather should be a lot cooler here than the city!
…Ah! Our stop’s comin’ up soon after we talked so much!
We’re almost there! I’m so excited to do some strawberry pickin’…☆
Strawberry Jam and Pancakes 3
Twenty minutes later. At the strawberry farm…
Huff, huff… W-We finally made ittt~…
The path to get here was on a hill road, so you must be real tired~ Good work getting up here.
If this was Seisoukan Dorms, we’d be able to build our leg muscles through our daily life alone! ☆
Eep— Just the thought of it freaks me out.
If that ever happens, I’m totally asking Yuzuru to flatten the front of the dorms!
Anyway, are you sure it’s okay for us to enter the greenhouse without asking?
Isn’t there usually a reception for this?
True~ It feels like we’re trespassing, and it’s making me a li’l nervous.
We walked here while followin’ the arrows on the signboards, though, so I don’t think we’re in the wrong place…
…Ah! Someone’s comin’ to us.
He’s wearing work clothes, so it must be the farmer.
Good afternoon~! (waves) We’re here on Midori-kun’s invitation. I’m Nagumo Tetora!
This here’s Himemiya Tori-kun! We’re in your care today! Ossu!
…Ohh. Shinobu’s come to this farm before, huh?
Looks like Hinata-kun and Yuuta-kun were with him, too. If you look over there, there’s a photo of ‘em hung up.9
They’re all posin’ with strawberries in both of their hands.
Oh yeah, you’re right. Everyone looks a little awkward, huh? Takamine is basically blurry in the picture, like he wasn’t even trying to match pace.
Fufun, if it were me, I’d take a much cuter pose, y’know~♪
Ahaha, I didn’t think this would be what you’d try to compete against.
…Mm? What’s wrong, Mister?
Ahh… Yeah. We’re also idols like the kids in the photo.
Ohh, right. I’m used to thinking “it’s normal for us to be famous”, but there’d obviously be people who don’t know who we are, huh?
Ossu. Yumenosaki Academy specializes in idol training, and our life is full of idol-related work, so it’s pretty easy to forget.
But either way, it’s kind of a novel feeling to interact with someone who doesn’t know much ‘bout idols.
Yeah. We were released from Mega Sphere only a little while ago, so that novel feeling is even stronger.
…Anyway, I don’t see anyone else here.
Are we the only customers here for strawberry picking? Is it because it’s a weekday?
…I see. Even in the usual season, there’s been a huge decrease in customers in recent days — so you’ve had a huge leftover of strawberries, enough to ask Midori-kun to harvest some for you?
But you won’t be able to manage through with just that, so you tried lookin’ into a variety of strawberries that’re good with the summer—
Now that they’re finally bearing fruit at a consistent rate, you’ve started the strawberry picking summer campaign this year to see how people respond to it — is that right?
Hmm… So you really have just started the campaign, huh.
It sounds like you’re going to start putting effort into the advertisements, too.
…Huh? There’s actually a TV news report scheduled for today?
And it’s aired live? Is it okay for us to be here, then?
…Hm, hm. The strawberry picking might have to temporarily stop dependin’ on the circumstances, but otherwise, we’re free to do as we like here.
Aighty then! It’s time I start pickin’ up some strawberries! I’m starvin’ for some now, anyway!
I don’t get to eat strawberries infinitely every day, so! I’mma eat, eat, and eat~!
Jeez, that’s way too much sportsy energy… We’re not throwing a party after some competition, y’know~
I’d rather take my time looking for the tasty ones and eating them.
I wonder which ones are the tastiest? Let me look it up on my phone…
…Ohhh. Strawberries that have a deep-green stem and look shiny should be more fresh than others.
The ones with an evenly-spread out red are the freshest, and the smaller the seeds, the sweeter it is…
Mm~… I know what to look for, but with this many around me, it’s hard to decide which to try.
And while I’ve been struggling to pick, Tetora has already gobbled up a whole bunch of them.
Ah well. Let me first just try any one of them for now~♪
…Mm? Mister, what’s wrong?
A tip on how to eat it at its tastiest? Huh, I didn’t know there was a certain way to eat them, too.
Mm, I should eat it from the stem? Why’s that?
Ohhh… That’s where most of the sugar is, so if I start by eating the stem first, I should be able to taste all the sweetness from start to end?
I’d actually always eat from the tip, since it’s easier to bite from this side…
The stem area is a little sour, so leaving it for later leaves a sour aftertaste, huh… I’m learning a lot.
…Wait, what!? You can eat the stem?
Hee~y! What were the two of you talkin’ about?
Mister Farmer was telling me that you can eat the strawberry with the stem.
Ehh!? I’ve been tearing ‘em off and throwing ‘em away this whole time!
Yeah, I get it. I also thought you were supposed to throw them away. Like, when I see them on the dining table, they don’t even come with the stem.
And they look like they’re basically begging you to tear them off, too.
By the way, he said that eating it from the stem is a lot sweeter. Tetora, you go ahead and give it a try.
Me? Sure, I don’t mind.
So I eat it from the stem… Nom, nom.
How is it? Is it bitter?
It does taste a li’l leafy, but… When I eat it with the strawberry itself, it doesn’t really bother me that much.
And from what you’re sayin’, this is really high in nutrients, so maybe it really is good to eat the stem while we’re at it!
Then I’ll also try it out. Nom, nom—
…Mhm. It’s not at all bitter like I thought it’d be. And since it’s not that bitter, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad as a complement to the taste.
The best part is, you don’t have to waste time plucking off the stem before eating. And your fingers don’t get dirty from the strawberry’s juice.
I’m going to tell Yuzuru about this the next time I can…♪
One hour later…
…Tetora has been gone for a long time after saying, “I’m gonna go buy something to drink at the vending machine!”…
He’s still not back… Did he get lost on the way? But I think Mister Farmer said it’s pretty nearby…
Gosh, where on earth is he wandering around in this rural area?
…Ah. Just as I was talking about him, I hear footsteps…
Hey, Tetora! You took way too long to come back! You had me a bit worried, y’know!
So where was that vending machine, anyway? I’m thinking of buying something to drink myse—
W-Wait, huhhh!? What’s with that get-up!?
Tetora… turned into a strawberry…!?
Strawberry Jam and Pancakes 4
You’re Tetora, right? What’s up with the get-up?
Ehh…? What happened out there…?
I’m baaack~! Oh maaan, the vending machine was outta change, and it had me sweatin’ a li’l.
But I managed it in the end after a nearby clerkman made change for me!
I went ahead and bought somethin’ to drink for both of us. Tori-kun, which do you want, tea or wate—
UWAAAH!! Tetora ate so many strawberries that he turned into some weird yuruchara~!
I turned into a yuruchara…? What the heck is that ‘bout?
Wha…? Tetora… Are you real?
Ossu. Why’d ya mistake me for a yuruchara?
Also, this one over here is “Berry Happy-chan”.
Mmh, huh? Is this someone you know?
Naw, not me. This is Midori-kun’s acquaintance—
…Or I guess not really? It was originally a character for a children’s show—11
But it seems that now, it’s a tragic yuruchara who’s burdened with the heavy responsibility of “popularizing strawberries”.
Midori-kun asked me to take a photo of it if I miraculously got to encounter it on the farm…
And wow, I really did happen across it after all! Berry Happy-chan, could I take a photo?
Thank you so much! Aight then, I’m takin’ it now~ …Right, say cheese~☆
So why’re ya here anyway, Berry Happy-chan? Are you workin’ in this farm?
Nope, it’s accompanying us for our news report~♪
Ah, Yuuki-senpai! And…
HiMERU-san is here, too. When didja get here?
—Just a little while ago.
We heard that the two of you were here from the farmer, but since you were still talking to each other about something, we were looking for the right timing to greet you two.
Yep, yep. We were having a brief meeting, so we figured we could greet you after we were done.
Meeting… Ahh, the news report that Mister Farmer spoke about was the one from you two, huh?
Yep. We’re in charge of a mini segment for an evening news program.
It’s basically for introducing unusual campaigns that people haven’t heard about. This time around, they’re featuring the “strawberries you can eat even in summer” from this farm.
There will be PR marketing as well, but it isn’t a formal news report so to speak.
We’ll be showing off the charms of this farm while trying out the strawberries and having a casual conversation.
…It’s almost time for the relay to come to us.
What will the two of you do, Himemiya, Nagumo? It’s possible to have you in the filming on the basis that we happened to come across you two, but—
Mmh~… No, I’ll pass.
If we show up in the filming, you’ll have to talk to us about stuff too, right? Like, about why we’re here and stuff.
This a special opportunity to spread news of the strawberries here, so it’d just be a waste to use up time on us, and I’d feel bad on behalf of the farm.
Yeah, true. We’ll eat strawberries outside of the camera’s angle, while watchin’ you two do your work!
Ah, alright. I might get a bit nervous being watched by people I know, but…
Thanks for being so thoughtful. We’ll do our absolute best so that the people in our field don’t end up finding faults in our work~♪
…Ah, the cameraman gave us the signal. Alright, time we get started.
We’re in your care, everyone. 3, 2, 1—
“—Good afternoon, everyone. How are you on this fine day? This is HiMERU, the main reporter, speaking.”
“And I’m his assistant, Yuuki Makoto! We’re broadcasting today’s ‘HiMERU knows everything’ show in this greenhouse here! ♪”12
“Let’s cut straight to it — There’s something being grown here that’s unusual to see in this season.”
“Everyone in the studio, what do you think it may be?”
“…Ahaha, you can clearly see Berry Happy-chan on the camera, so the answer is pretty obvious, huh?”
“That’s right, the answer is strawberries! The strawberry PR ambassador Berry Happy-chan caught word of our talk, and came rushing over to support us~♪”
“And what’s more! We’ve heard that this farm is researching strawberries that are super-duper tasty to eat even in the summer.”
“Fufu. Everyone in the studio is surprised to hear that, since strawberries in the summer are rare, right?”
“You barely can come across them in supermarkets during this season, but in cake shops, there’s always strawberry-based cakes no matter the season.”
“Everyone in the studio, do you know why?”
“HiMERU will provide the answer to that.”
“Yuuki-san, the flip chart, please.”
“Got it~ Berry Happy-chan, you and I will hold one page at a time~♪”
“The strawberries distributed during the off-seasons are mostly imports from overseas.”
“However, there has been a high demand for domestically grown products, thus leading various places performing selective breeding so that they can grow strawberries consistently throughout the year—”
“And this farm is one of them. It is said that in recent days, they have stabilized the flavor as well as the crop amount — and for this year, they’ve implemented a campaign for the general public to experience picking strawberries first-hand.”
“And so! For this special occasion, we’ll also get the chance to try it out first-hand~♪”
“…Mmm~! Sooo tasty! Eating freshly grown strawberries in the summer is the best…☆”
Wawa—! HiMERU-san’s just naturally throwin’ away the stem!
Uu, I wanna mention it! I wanna tell him ‘bout how nutritious it is to eat strawberries with the stem, right now…!
Hey, Tetora, you’re sticking out way too much!
You can’t butt in, okay? You’ll just make this all go to waste.
…But I do agree that it feels a little restless watching them. It’s not really something many people know, after all.
Aight, y’know what this means… I’ll just have to show him with gestures! Please watch closely, for the Gesture of Spirit!
(……?)
(Behind the cameraman is Nagumo desperately trying to convey something. He’s pointing at the strawberry…)
(And then he ate the strawberry with the stem attached…!? He has his hand on his cheek, and is shaking fiercely…)
(…Hm, so that’s what it is.)
(None of it made any sense whatsoever.)
(However, HiMERU will not give up thinking here.)
(In the name of HiMERU, he will decipher the meaning behind this flawlessly…!)
“HiMERU-kun!? What’s wrong all of a sudden?”
“I feel like it’s better to take off the stem first…?”
“…For some reason, HiMERU suddenly has the urge to eat a strawberry with the stem attached.”
“It isn’t as bad as HiMERU thought it would be. Though it has a bit of an earthy feel, it is quite tolerable to the taste.”
“H-Huh, is that so…? The stem looks bitter to me, but…”
“Ah! The farmer is nodding his head. …Ohh, so it’s full of nutrients?”
“Ah, so HiMERU-kun, could it be that you knew this, and suddenly ate it to surprise us?”
“—Precisely. HiMERU knows everything, after all. ♪”
“Ohh, there it is! This segment’s catchphrase! ☆”
“And with that said, it’s time we return the mic back to the studio! This was the ‘HiMERU knows everything’ segment!”
“Berry Happy-chan, thank you very much for accompanying us today.”
“Right then, may we meet again the next time…♪”
Strawberry Jam and Pancakes 5
—It’s true! Eating the strawberry from the stem tastes sweet, just like Himemiya-kun said…!
Fufun, right? ♪ You should show your gratitude to me, for bestowing upon you such indispensable knowledge~♪
Ahaha. Mister Farmer’s the one who told him that, though~
Wow… It’s amazing how different the taste is just by changing the way you eat it.
Ah—! What if all the sour strawberries I’ve ever eaten could’ve tasted sweeter if I had eaten them a different way?
Uuu… I feel like I’ve been missing out…!
—All the same, we cannot change the past.
How about you think about it more positively, that you are able to enjoy two types of flavors from now on?
Yeah, you’re right. Not many people know about it yet either, so it’d be a nice conversation starter.
…Oh, I’m sorry that we’ve overstayed our welcome. Thank you so much for having us in your care today, Mister!12
Huh? You’ll give us strawberries as a gift back home? Ehehe, thank you so much…♪
You’ll also give some to us? It’s alright, we’ll pay for it.
You’ve got so few customers here, and you won’t make a profit like that, right? I’d feel bad.
Ossu, we got to enjoy picking strawberries for free, so I’d like it if you could let us buy the strawberries at least.
…“I can’t take money from Midori-chan’s friends,” he says. What’s your call, Tori-kun?
He’s been so nice to us, I’d hate to go home without having done something back.
Obviously, we’re totally going to advertise this place to our friends, but… Mmmh~…
…Huh? You’d like us to take a photo and put it up over there?
That’s easy-peasy to do! Right, Tori-kun?
Mhm. Alright then… While we’re at it, the other two should join us in the photo.
That would be nice. As an idol, it is proper manners to express gratitude to the shop that cooperated with our news report.
If you’re alright with it, I’d love to~♪ What will we do for the pose?
You should match with me. I’ll give you all the steps for the ultimate adorable pose~♪
Cuteness is unnecessary for HiMERU, though.
No complaints~ Come on! Copy my pose and smile!
Alright~ Say cheese…☆
A few hours later. At the roundabout of the station near Yumenosaki Academy…
I’m here now. Driver, take us to Seisoukan Dorms.
Ohhh! This is the household private car Tori-kun was talkin’ about…!
Woah, amazin’… The sheets are so soft, like freshly pounded mochi!
Fu fu fu… I called the car in advance to come by the station to make sure you don’t suggest walking back home.
And if we’re in here, I won’t get scolded for having bad manners and stretching out my legs. This is just perfect~♪
Ah, right. The train was packed so I couldn’t sit down and talk much, but—
What are going to do with all the strawberries we got at the farm? He gave us a lot, but it’s not enough to split between Takamine and everyone in the Student Council.
I was thinkin’ the same thing. Uu~myu…
Ah! Then how ‘bout making a strawberry cake?
A cake…?
Yep! You can adjust how much to use based on the recipe, so we should be able to split it evenly across everyone.
Yeah, but… Baking something like that with amateurs in the kitchen just fills me with anxiety, y’know.
Don’tchu worry! I’m here with ya! ☆
You know you’re 100% part of the “amateur” group, right!? Don’t think I’ve forgotten about what happened back in Australia, ‘kay!7
Let’s try a much simpler recipe, so that we don’t also end up wasting away the strawberries. For example—
Welcome! “Tetora’s Kitchen”, held by Chef Nagumo, is temporarily open for a special occasion!13 ☆
We haven’t even started yet, and I’m already super anxious…
Hey, is it really going to go okay? This won’t turn into a disaster like what happened back in Australia, right?
Just the reminder of the taste back then is making my stomach hurt.
No need to worry! I’ve gone through tons of trainin’ since then, and now I’ve improved so much that you might think I’m someone else!14 ☆
As the chef of burning flames, I’ll whip up the most passionately hot cooking ever!
I don’t know where you get that confidence from, but it’s exactly what keeps making me even more anxious.
We decided that you’d make the pancakes, and I’d make the strawberry jam and whipped cream, but—
With how excited you are, I feel like the pancakes will be burnt to a crisp… Should we swap roles?
I don’t mind either way. Strawberry jam is also passionate cookin’ using fire, after all.
…………
…Never mind, let’s stick to how we have it now. I just imagined strawberry jam turned into nothing but charred black goo.
I’ll be able to watch over you while working if I stick with making the jam and cream.
We’re making everyone wait, so let’s get started.
I’ll start by preparing the strawberries, and once I’ve blended it with the other ingredients, I’ll start making the whipped cream.
I’ll have to be careful not to cut my hand while cutting off the stems.
Hmhmhmm~♪ (Humming) It’s real nice that this pancake flour’s bag has the instructions written on the back~
Pour the eggs and milk in a bowl, then make sure to properly mix, like fwip-fwip…♪
Pour the flour, then lightly mix like fwip-fwip-fwip…♪
Heat up the frying pan, and… There we go!
Look over here! I prepared flawlessly! I just know this is gonna go well~♪
…You haven’t even started cooking them yet, and you’re already brimming with this much confidence.
Don’t get so hyper that you end up burning it, okay?
Ossu! It’s my first time makin’ pancakes, but I feel like I’mma peak by the end of today alone! ☆
Hey! Don’t get ahead of yourself right after I told you not to~!
But, well, the steps look pretty simple, so even someone like Tetora should be able to manage it… maaaybe?
Hm, hm… Drop the fire to low heat, and then pour the batter from a high position in one go…
Sound of footsteps
…Huh? Hold on—
Why’d you bring the stool? What are you planning to do?
I’m gonna pour the batter from a high position into the frying pan, ‘course. Just like the instructions tell me.
That’s totally not what they meant! When they say “high position”, this level of height would be enough!
Eh~? Isn’t that too low?
They made sure to mention the height, so I gotta drop it from a position near the ceiling! That’s the pancakes of men!
…Okay, level with me. Have you ever seen Shiina-senpai stand on a stool while cooking?
Errr…
……Nope.
You see? Now that you get it, get off the stool!
Uu~myu… It doesn’t feel right to me somehow, though.
Well, I’m gonna be makin’ a buncha them, so I should learn by makin’ a couple first, right?
UOOOHHH!! FIRST ONE, IN!
It’s nice to be motivated and all, but I seriously can’t afford to take my eyes off of him…
I have to make sure to keep my eyes peeled on Tetora’s frypan cooking and the jam simmering so that none of it goes to waste…!
Strawberry Jam and Pancakes 6
Thirty minutes later…
…Put the forks and knives and… done.
And I brought some extra napkins too, so it’s perfect~♪ Now we just wait for everyone to come.
It’s surprising that I’m doing something a servant would usually do. I’m sure this would’ve been done in a snap if I left it to Yuzuru…
But then it wouldn’t really feel like repayment to them. This time’s a special case, so—
Sound of footsteps
Sorry to keep ya waitin’, Tori-kun! I brought everyone over!
Good evening! Thank you for the kind invitation…♪
I was getting hungrier and hungrier from the smell of tasty pancakes trailing all the way out to the corridors!
Welcome~ Pick the seat you’d like to sit on.
…Being told that just makes it awkward for me instead. I don’t mind any seat in the end…
Jeez, what a pain~…
Alright, then I’ll pick where you sit. Takamine sits here, the left seat is Shinobu, the right is Tsukasa — The ones across are for Hajime and Shiratori.
Tetora and I will eat at the other table. That’ll make carrying the food easier for us.
Ah, I’ll also help with setting the table.
Naw, it’s fine! You’re all VIP guests of “Tetora’s Kitchen”, after all.
“Tetora’s Kitchen”…?
Don’t mind it. He’s just calling this gathering whatever he likes.
Ohh, that’s what it was~ I thought it was a spin-off of “Niki’s Kitchen” or a rival circle or something.
No, no! Bein’ on par with Aniki is way outta my league!15
But I wanna build up more experience, so that I liven up the Seisoukan kitchen with Aniki someday…☆
With that level of cooking? I can’t imagine how long that’ll take.
I can see him livening up the kitchen in an entirely different way. With a fire disaster or something…
Come on, no need to say somethin’ so ominous!
More importantly, it’s time I serve you guys some! Enjoy your passionate pancakes of men! ☆
And here’s the strawberry jam and whipped cream. I made both of them.
You won’t get to eat this often, so take a nii~ce bite knowing how blessed you are…♪
That’s quite a pompous manner of speaking.
I’ve looked up the Recipe on my Smartphone, and both recipes appeared to be quite simple, might I add.16
It’s not about whether it was easy or hard. I’m talking about the added value in the food.
Actually, you went through the trouble to look it up just to start something with me, huh?
You’re so narrow-minded, Tsukasa~ But I don’t dislike that; it’s fun watching you be such a small fry. Pupu~♪
Wh—! N-No, you have it wrong. I was simply checking its nutrition value—!
I just happened to come across the recipe while doing so, that’s all…!
Munch, munch… Mfun, it’s super tasty~
Tetora-kun’s personality shines through the slightly burnt parts of the pancake, and it’s simply wonderful!
Ooh! That’s Shinobu-kun for ya; he’s always got such a different point of view!
The black flame is the mark of effort! I loaded my Ryusei Black spirit into the fryin’! ♪
Isn’t that just a sign of cooking it for way too—…
Nah, never mind. The two look like they’re having fun, so it’d just be tasteless to throw a remark here.
By the way, Midori-kun. The farmer calls you “Midori-chan”, huh?
It felt heartwarming to hear, like “the uncle from the family” vibes! ☆
Wh—Where the heck did that come from… I got the creeps being called that by you, so never ever say it again..
Ahaha, Midori-kun, you're as bright red as the jam.
I also plan to visit that farm in due time. I look forward to strawberry picking in the summer…♪
Ufufuu, this is pure bliss…♪
I can eat the pancakes with strawberry jam, or with whipped cream, or splurge and put both at the same time…
I get to enjoy all three different ways to eat these… I’m soooo lucky~♪
Fufu, instead of only adding on top, it’s also just as tasty to squeeze it between the pancakes~♪
That being said, Tori-kun… I assume it was a lot of trouble to prepare this much, wasn’t it?
Not at all. I just had to boil for the jam, and stir in a bowl for the whipped cream.
Plus, the whipped cream is done in an instant if you use a hand mixer. If you want, I could make some more for you~♪
I’m sure what was a lot of trouble was the Student Council work, right?
There was so much piled up, but I just ditched you guys.
Please don’t worry about it. When we sat down to work on it, it wasn’t as much trouble in the end.
We’re still in our summer holidays as well, so we were able to get through it without much stress.
Mhm, mhm. It’s way more likely to make careless mistakes when you’re tired after all the lessons.
The numbers would keep changing every time I used the calculator… It was heeell~…
…Hey, Tetora, could I talk to you for a second?
Thanks for today. We went out for a trip, and cooked stuff when I’m not really used to doing that… so honestly, it tired me out a lot.
But thanks to you inviting me to the strawberry picking, I think I got to refresh myself even more than I expected. I’ll give my thanks for that at least.
But why did you invite me anyway? We’re not close enough to worry over each other’s well-being or something.
Uu~myu… Huh, I wonder why?
Huh? You don’t even know?
Ahaha. I don’t have a specific reason, or well… If I put it in Morisawa-senpai’s words, I guess it’s ‘cuz “an ally of justice never overlooks a person in trouble”, maybe?
We may not have special bonds or anythin’, but we’re meant to be acquaintances — enough for me to consider talkin’ to you when you seem to be havin’ a hard time.
There’s a lotta people around me who bear things on their own when they could just rely on others, y’see.
…Well, I also tend to be that sorta person, so maybe that’s why I can’t really wave it off when I see it.
But y’know, Tori-kun — You may be working hard as the Student Council Prez, but you’re still a student of Yumenosaki. That’s why I thought, instead of just bein’ caught up in so much stress—
You deserve a moment where you find yourself thinkin’ how fun it was, every once in a while.
And since I was already plannin’ to go strawberry picking, I took the shot and invited you to join me. I thought that maybe a trip somewhere far could work as a change of pace for ya.
Still, that ended up with me passin’ all your work to Shinobu-kun and the other members, and then forcefully draggin’ you outta the school, so I can’t call this the standard way to solve somethin’…
But the time we have with everyone, where we eat and laugh together, is like an extension of our school life — so I also feel like maybe it worked out in the end.
I know I was just meddlin’ by doing all’a that, though. Either way, I’m happy to know you enjoyed it!
…Huh, so that’s what it was.
Alright then, if you ever don’t seem to be doing well, that’s when I’ll be the one to save you.
That way, I can repay you for today, right? You don’t have any complaints about that, do you?
Ahaha, I didn’t do anythin’ worthy of bein’ paid back a debt, y’know.
But it’d be rude to turn down your kind offer, so! Ossu, that’d help me out lots! ☆
…Eh, what? Why’re you suddenly thrusting your fist out… Is this some fighting pose?
Naw, this is what you do when it’s “a promise between men”!
C’mon, copy after me, Tori-kun!
Eh~… I don’t really like uncivilized things like that, though.
I’m only doing it this once, okay? …Like this?
Ossu! It’s perfect!
And with this, I’m never ever forgettin’ anythin’ from today!
…Yeah, me too.
I’ll never forget what happened today…♪
Translation Notes
- ↑ The Garden Terrace is where students can eat their lunch in Yumenosaki Academy.
- ↑ Tetora is in the Karate Club with Hiiro, and he’s also the club captain.
- ↑ This is referring to the Mega Stream main story arc. In July, all the ES idols were locked up in the Mega Sphere for a month to do a world-wide stream. As of August, idols can freely go between ES and Mega Sphere as they like.
- ↑ Tori is in the Tennis Club, and is the current president of the Student Council.
- ↑ In Japan, the first school term starts in April, and the second one starts after the summer holidays, in September.
- ↑ Taishou (大将) is how Tetora calls Kuro. It means “chief”, “boss”, “general”.
- ↑ Referring to High and Low, when Tori and Tetora got stranded with a few other classmates during their second year school trip. During that time, Tetora cooked food for them over fire, but the food was always burnt.
- ↑ Local line is a waseigo term. It usually refers to trains that have much less traffic and are connected to the countryside.
- ↑ This story is a fun throwback to exactly 10 years ago; to the story Strawberry Colored Holiday, when Shinobu, Yuuta, and Hinata help Midori pick strawberries at his relative’s farm!
- ↑ Referring to Yumenosaki Ryuseitai Song, which is 4:52 minutes long. Also, as a random fun fact, Chiaki has made Tori dance to a Ryuseitai song before, in I’m At Your Service, Master!.
- ↑ Berry Happy-chan was first introduced in Strawberry Colored Holiday!
- ↑ Makoto switches from his usual way of speaking to speak in polite language (keigo) on camera, as well as to the farmer.
- ↑ Back in High and Low, he also called himself Chief Nagumo. This story is a nice callback to Tetora’s cooking back then, as well as showing his improvement in cooking!
- ↑ In ES Year 2, Tetora has been practicing his cooking more often, even getting advice. It’s mentioned in his Stella Maris mini talk, and in a Subaru mini talk, Subaru said that he’d taught Tetora how to cook.
- ↑ Tetora calls Niki “Aniki”. I recommend reading Niki’s Idol Story 3, when the two met for the first time!
- ↑ Tsukasa can speak English fluently, so instead of saying foreign words in their typical spelling (katakana), he says them in English. The words in italics are all the words he says in English rather than Japanese.