Stella Maris – hidden island
Chapter Index
Ch 1 - Ch 2 - Ch 3 - Ch 4 - Ch 5 - Ch 6 - Ch 7 - Ch 8 - Ch 9 - Ch 10 - Ch 11 - Translation Notes
Chapter 1
Chapter TL Note: The chapter title “hidden island” is written in hiragana only, so I’ve written the title in lowercase letters, similar to how Kanata’s speech quirk (speaks in hiragana only) is written in my translations.
Location: Vocal Room (ES Building)
Alright! Time-out strategy!
okay, i will allow a [time-out].
Sengoku, Takamine, Nagumo, come with me. Let’s discuss what we’ll be doing together from here on.
Ossu. We need to talk this over ASAP.
oh~? am i the only one being [left out]~?
Sorry. We’ll be done shortly, so please bear with it for now.
Morisawa-dono…
Don’t make that face, Sengoku. It’ll be alright. We can’t be the ones in the wrong here.
It sounds like you’re tellin’ that to yourself more than anyone else…?
This is starting to make me think that the concept of changing leaders for every job really is impractical—… It was a tough time when it was my turn, too…1
But your turn was a huge success, wasn’t it, Midori-kun?
Only in terms of the outcome… I honestly never wanna do it again…
However, I feel as though we’ve managed to have excellent success thus far. Although, the agency has remained silent the whole time, which is a little scary—
That’s ‘cuz we’ve been regularly producing results. The agency can’t make complaints over somethin’ like that, right?
And so far, it seems that our fans are accepting how we are right now.
They do seem a little bewildered, though, since we changed courses so suddenly before providing them with a proper explanation.
But even then, as we continue to approach things in a new way, I feel like they’re gradually coming to understand how we operate.
I can sense an increase in the amount of fans gladly looking forward to seeing who’ll be leader next.
Yeah. I’d like to ride that pleasant wave if possible, and correct our trajectory after having fallen down rock bottom for a period of time.
No, in fact— I want to make a huge comeback here from the brink of death.
Ossu. I split from Ryuseitai for a while, even if it was only for an infiltration mission2, so — I know this’ll sound weird comin’ from me, but… We all feel the exact same way.
We should avoid rushing at all costs, though. Let’s regain our radiance, slowly but surely.
We aren’t in a tokusatsu show with a running time of only thirty minutes per episode.
It’s impossible to solve every little thing and reach a happy ending in one single shot, like turning the tables with a new form change or secret weapon.
We have no choice but to chip away at our problem in this reality, steadily and carefully.
It’s through this recent policy to steadily work hard together, that Kanata was tasked with the commander role this time, but—
What do you guys think about it, frankly?
I think it’s pretty freaking bad.
Ah— Shinobu-kun, you thought so, too? I felt the same way, but I just couldn’t get myself to say anything about it when Shinkai-senpai looked like he was having so much fun…!
There’s no need to hold back just because we’re your seniors, y’know? Healthy relationships can only be formed when we can point out each other’s shortcomings without hesitation!
Aight, then I’d like to mention this upfront: Morisawa-senpai, you stink, so please try not to get near me.
That’s so mean!? Eh? Eh!? Takamine keeps criticizing me for stinking of sweat, so I’ve been really careful, though…!?
It’s the amount of deodorant you use — it’s way too much. Everything’s so extreme and excessive with you.
Deodorants are supposed to suppress the smell of sweat, not to numb other people’s senses, ‘kay?
M-Mm! I’ll make sure that I use the right amount!
Fufu. Morisawa-dono, what people say to you weighs on your mind… You are surprisingly delicate, aren’t you?3
I really am! I’m a delicate guy, like a fruit that rots from wherever it’s touched!
……Morisawa Durian Chiaki.
Don’t call me by the name of a stinky fruit in a whisper! That’s bullying! There’s bullying taking place in Ryuseitai…!
Durians are also delicious fruits, y’know… It’s the king of fruits…
Oh! So what you were trying to say is that I may have my weak points, but I have my strong points too, Takamine! You sure are bad at compliments!
Chapter 2
Let’s return to the topic at hand. I only first became aware of it through this job, but — Kanata is extremely bad at leading people from a higher position.
I believe Shinkai-dono was the president of the Marine Life Club when he was in Yumenosaki, though—
Do you recall any proper achievements the Marine Life Club accomplished as a club?
Now that you mention it, I could never understand what on earth they were doing there… Perhaps that isn’t something to be said by someone from the Ninja Association, though.
Exactly, that’s the problem: We can barely understand what on earth he’s doing.
Everything Kanata says is so vague and floaty, that we can’t at all tell what he actually wants to do.
The only reason we came to know that our job is for a commercial filming is thanks to Sengoku, who ran all over the place and surveyed everyone for information.
Kanata, on the other hand, told us nothing past, “it is a fish job!”.
It feels like he’s expecting us to use our comprehension skills to understand each and every instruction, too… I definitely remember a time in Yumenosaki when Shinkai-senpai guided us as a coach, though…4
Back then, I was the one who set up the fundamentals. Kanata simply just had to compare that with your performances and fill in the lacking areas.
In other words, he excels as an assistant, but the very moment Kanata is the corepoint, it’s impossible to understand what’s going on.
…What are we to do?
Well, I mean… We’ve got no choice but to handle it somehow. It’s pretty nerve-wracking not knowing where we’re headed, though.
After all, we follow the fundamental concept of the reborn Ryuseitai, and that is: The member who takes up the commander role is in charge of everything, and the rest of the members follow his command.
Mm… It’s worrisome, but we can’t go back on our word now. We’ve only just decided to work abiding by this direction.
It also isn’t cool to retract one’s statement right after saying something so brave.
Plus, our job this time is small-scaled; it’s only a single commercial filming. Of course, that doesn’t in any way mean we should cut corners, but—
In the worst case that we cause an accident and make mistakes, we should be able to minimize damages.
And it’s by repeating such mistakes, using them as fuel to learn and grow, that even Kanata will one day become a splendid comma—
okaay, [time-out] is over~♪
unfortunately, it is [time] for us to stop here, so come on everyone, let us [depart]!
D-Depart? What are you talking about?
huh? did i not [explain] this to all of you?
the [commercial filming] is located in [okinawa].
Okinawa!? We did go to Okinawa for the SS qualifying round last year, but—5
yes. it is due to the [relationships] i made during that time that i was able to receive this [job].
Wouldn’t it have been nice to tell us something as important as that much earlier? Don’t you know we have our own planning and mental preparation to do beforehand!?
Uumyu, we’re going to Okinawa…? It was fine durin’ the SS qualifying round and all, but it’s tricky for me to show my face now, when I’ve had connections to Crimson Production before.2
You have to think in the opposite direction, Nagumo! Consider it a chance to sort out all the things you left undone back then!
Ossu. I’m clumsy like Morisawa-senpai, so I’ve got a lotta things I inadvertently left unsettled. I gotta make sure to pay off my debts.
then it is time to [depart]~! let’s go~♪6
Shinkai-senpai’s strangely in high spirits… You let us have so many opportunities up until now, but if you’re acting this way, does it mean you actually wanted to be the leader deep down, after all…?
ah, no~ i do not really [like] to be high and mighty like a [king] or [god].
but this time around, there is something i am [looking forward] to.
………?
Chapter 3
The next morning. In Okinawa…
we have arrived~♪
everyone, mensooore~♪7 welcome to [okinawa]~!
Are you a local now?
Ahaha. To be fair, all of us have a pretty deep connection to this place at this point.
Uu~ I know Okinawa’s just got that kinda climate, but… it feels like the hottest days of summer here even though it’s still spring… My body’s starting to act up a little…
I know what you mean~… I also tend to feel unwell by the slightest change in environment, so I have to be careful.
Yeah… I brought over-the-counter medicine with me, so let me know if you’re low on anything… Then again, it’s probably not a good idea to share medicine much…
I don’t even think the other three can be thoughtful about this sort of thing, since I bet they can live in any environment just fine, so…
Ah, to one’s surprise, Morisawa-dono is quite sensitive to changes in environment as well, as he was once a sickly child.8
In fact, he has always provided me support every time I was on the verge of falling ill.
But I appreciate the thought, Midori-kun. It really makes me happy.
You see, I was continuously participating in a harsh show called “2x2” up until recently… And for the whole duration, my troublesome friend made me go through a lot with his whims.9
So a friend simply showing concern for me is enough to move my heart.
Wasn’t that a 2wink show or something… Making our Shinobu-kun miserable is unforgivable…
Ah, no, the show itself was quite fun and fulfilling until the very end.
But as one would expect, it was pretty tough to constantly be invited as a semi-regular participant in a show I hadn’t planned to be in so often…
So it was a little out of my capacity… My stamina has completely dried up thanks to that, and I feel somewhat exhausted.
If you feel worn out, how about Tetora-kun and I take turns carrying you…?
No, no! I’m not a baby, you know~?
Heeey~! What’re you two talkin’ about together~?
We gotta hurry a li’l. It seems like this isn’t our final destination, and we’ll have to get on a ship to make it there—
But if we’re late to board it, we’ll have to wait a whole day for another one to hitch a ride.
What… Where the heck are we going…?
Is it a remote island that rarely has visitors?
Uu~myu… As usual, everythin’ Shinkai-senpai says is too vague and floaty to really know what it is.
While that is one of Shinkai-dono’s charms—… I think about this a lot, but is he truly alright carrying out his daily life activities like this…?
We’ll just have to make sure we support him then — as much as he has for us, at the very least. Ossu.
Yeah… Shinkai-senpai is our mascot character10… We need to protect him at all costs.
…? what is wrong, everyone? are you tired from the [long trip] after all~?
You guys are so half-hearted despite your young age! C’mon now, you’ve got this! Muster all your energy from the depths of your stomach…!
I think ‘bout this a lot too, but — Our seniors are way too energetic.
Ahaha. The fact that there was a time when even our over-energetic seniors lost their energy truly shows how abnormal the situation was for Ryuseitai.
But right now, their energy is starting to return, at least. The goofy atmosphere that Ryuseitai had in the past, too.
Just that alone makes me happy. We should be content with that, I’m sure.
mm~…? mm~…?
…? What have you been looking around for, Kanata? Did you drop something? Would you like to look for it together?
no, erm. we are supposed to have someone [pick us up] from here—
he will lead us to the [place] by [boat]… but i do not [see him] anywhere, even though we are supposed to have met him [by now].
Mm~ I did hear something about Okinawans having a different sense of time from us, as they live in a paradise-like environment.
Apparently, it’s like that in other countries, too. If anything, it’s only Japanese people who’re way too punctual when it comes to time.
Heheh. In that case, with how floaty Shinkai-senpai is about everything, he might actually be the universal standard.
Mm—? Y-You guys…!?
Hweh? What’s the matter all of a sudden, Morisawa-dono?
B-B-Behind you! There’s someone standing right behind you guys!
Eh…?
ahh, hello~♪
ah, no— how do people [greet] each other in [okinawa] again…? Ermm, haitai~?
Haitai~…♪
But no worries, there’s no need to speak in Okinawan dialect with me~. We also like to use the mainland’s language thanks to our westernized “Ani-sama’s”11 influence.
In fact, kids might not even understand you if you talk in Okinawan dialect~…♪
……!
(Huh!? Wh-What’s with this person…? From how the two’re talking, I think he’s the person Shinkai-senpai was looking for, but—)
(He’s huge! Midori-kun’s pretty tall already, yet he’s two heads taller than him!? It’s like the perspective’s gone wonky all’a sudden!)
(A-A giant…? Is he seriously human like us?)
Oh wow? Some of you seem scared…?
Sorry~. I’m not scary, really~. I won’t eat you up~…♪12
yes, this is the person who will [guide] us to our job’s [location] — ermm, what was your [name] again?
Friends and family call me “Mizusaba”~.13 I’m pretty huge, after all~. Fufufu~♪
Mizusaba…?
it refers to the [whale sharkie]~ [okinawans] call it that.14
That’s Shinkai-senpai for you; he knows so much about fish.
Mhm. Kanata-sama is what you’d call an erudite~. We all respect him~.
Kanata-“sama”…?15
Ah, wait— We don’t have the time to chat right now… The ship is ready, so let’s hurry to the harbor and hop on board~.
We can talk all we like once we’re settled~…♪
Chapter 4
Nearly an hour later. Onboard the ship to the location…
Hm, hm.
So to summarize — Mizusaba-san is a worshipper of Shinkai-senpai’s uh, religion…? The same one he mentioned before, right?
Ah~. I’m not, actually~? We’re pretty influential in Okinawa’s main island, so we act as mediators — the bridge between the local worshippers and Kanata-sama~…♪
The worshippers don’t get involved with other people much, after all~. Without a point of contact, the conversation won’t get anywhere~, such a bother, right~…♪
(Mm~… Mizusaba-san may look intimidating, but he’s actually a pretty calm, kind person, huh?)
(But he’s just so huge that my instincts acted up as soon as he was in close range.)
(Heheh. I kinda recall feeling somethin’ similar with Shinkai-senpai when I first talked to him. He’s pretty big, and his voice has a peculiar frequency when he speaks, so I didn’t think he was a human being like me.)
(He seemed more like a strange, mysterious monster at first.)16
(That just sounds funny to me now, though — ‘Cuz Shinkai-senpai is actually harmless. I’d actually say he’s even kinder than ordinary people.)
Hm. Speaking of which, Kanata made contact with those worshippers during the SS qualifying round, didn’t he?5
yes. if we are to consider my household as the [client] fish, like a [giant moray eel], then the [okinawans] would be the [cleaner fish], like a [bluestreak cleaner wrasse].
Main house, primary line. Branch house, supporting line.17
Thank you for the translation.
If I’m not mistaken, the worshippers that split into their own branch a very long time ago advanced a religion of their own in Okinawa, right?
But even then, those from the supporting line consider Kanata as their god as well, so—
yes. though i am no longer a [god], of course.
but even so, there is no way i can abandon [those] who adore and worship me as [one]—
so after the qualifying round was over, i have been staying in [contact] with those [worshippers] every now and then.
after all, i had [promised] them that i would [help] them if they are ever in trouble.
During the qualifying round, the reason we managed to achieve victory in the ruthless battlefield here in Okinawa was also thanks to the cooperation and support of the locals.5
We ought to repay that favor, at the very least.
Ossu. Though, thanks to that, I ended up getting dispatched as a spy after they concluded Ryuseitai likely has a lotta influence ‘round Okinawa.2
That’s because it’s impossible for everything to have a 100% positive influence.
There’s no such thing as the 100% perfect right answer. What’s important is looking at the outcome of your choice, then making full use of the positive effects that it brought, while recovering from the negative effects as fast as possible.
That’s why it’s always important to change strategies when necessary, and be flexible with your approaches.
Those are the fundamentals of basketball.
You were talking about basketball?
He’s talking about “overhaul” through “basketball”.18
That was a good one! Sengoku, you win one million zabuton cushions!
If you were to stack that many cushions on top of each other, it would exceed the Earth’s atmosphere.
And that’s how we’ll become stars! Fuhahahaha…!! ☆
ermm, may i get back on [topic]?
Please, by all means. There’ll be no end in sight if an idiot’s nonsense is encouraged.
fufufu~ i like this sort of thing too, though~♪
but yes, so. since ss, i have been occasionally performing some [activities] with the [okinawan] people.
I heard the gist of that before.
I’ve basically been managing everyone’s schedule in Ryuseitai, as nobody tries to do it themselves, so that is how I know.
Mhm! Letting Sengoku take care of everything will guarantee us no problems!
I would rather you don’t rely on me so much for that~… I’m quite feeble, so I will eventually collapse.
In any case, after having performed various activities, Shinkai-dono has gained a reputation within Okinawa.
Perhaps this is not the best expression, but it seems like at this point, he is almost treated as a god here.
That again…? I thought he stopped behaving as if he’s a god?
ahh, well~ it is a force of [habit], you see~
Force of habit…?
Well, either way, I’m starting to see the picture.
That’s why Kanata once again received a request from the Okinawan people— or rather, from the worshippers who believe in him, right?
They’re using him for their own convenience, aren’t they… I think it’s fine to refuse to do anything you don’t wanna do, y’know?
oh, no, no~ it is not like i do not want to [do] it~?
it makes me very [happy] to be [useful] to others.
it is possible that my [senses] are [different] from all of yours, but…
the [worshippers] also simply believe in an [uncommon religion], that is all.
they do not cause any [harm], nor do they bear any [sins].
Of course. Hate the sin, not the sinner. If they aren’t doing any harm, then they’re also citizens with human rights, who deserve to be protected.
In fact, I hope that our— or rather, Kanata’s activities, can clear off the prejudices and misunderstandings those kinds of people face, even if only a little.
yes. [mikejima] might have a different [opinion] here, but… i have [high hopes] for something like that.
Chapter 5
That being said, I’m a little confused about the details again.
Our job this time is filming for a commercial, right? Why did the Okinawan worshippers, of what I’ll tentatively call the Kanata Religion, request for that?
ahh… to be more precise, the [commercial filming] is one of the [strategic steps] i will be taking to reach the [final destination].
in other words, it is how i [assume] we will reach the final point—
……?
mm. the [worshippers’ request] is to perform a [restoration] of their land.
Restoration of their land? As in, to rejuvenate the area?
In that case, that’s exactly an idol’s area of expertise, which means, quite a typical job for an idol! We’re always working hard to liven up the unenergetic land and its people!
Actually, if it needs restoration, does that mean it’s in decline right now?
hm, rather than decline… well, i think it will be very [obvious] when we arrive [there].
you see, the [land] those [worshippers] live in was actually a [confined area] for a very long time.5
in particular, they disliked the thought of [idols] getting involved.
…? Why were they against that?
the reason is [unknown]. it seems as though something happened in the [olden days].
but. it appears that as the [generations] have changed, even that [land] became accepting of [idol culture].
so they want to match the times, and [allow] access to their [closed land] from now on. then, they want to make the [land] be reborn as a place where everyone can live with [smiles] on their faces.
that was their request.
I-It’s a much more large-scaled request than I expected. It’s exactly what you’d call “rejuvenating the land”, huh.
I really thought we were just doing a commercial filming, though…?
we will also film a [commercial], yes~ if we [advertise] the [land] and let people know “it’s not scary, it’s actually fun~”, there will be more [residents], yes?
gathering [people] and [things] is bound to lead to the [restoration].
That’s true… A restoration is out of the question if you don’t even have the human resources and materials for it. It would be an unreasonable request to make only one person to rehabilitate a land — It’s simply impossible for an individual to manage it alone.
that is exactly why the [worshippers] are having trouble. they want to do something for the land, but they do not know what to do.
that is why they asked for my [help].
and i have been trying to do [whatever] i [can] up until now. like performing [ceremonies] and cleansing the [land].
Ahh, yes. Apparently, a cleansing ceremony to prepare for construction was performed. I heard something like that at the end of the previous school year.19
Huh, so that’s how that story links to our current situation…
I recall hearing that Tori-kun’s unit plan to create an ES branch in a land that had been untouchable up until then.
yes. and to match with that, we will be livening up the [land] around that branch.
Ah, something like, “we’re making a new shinkansen train station, so let’s draw a lot of people to the market street around the station”.
yes, something like that~♪
I finally understand the full story… Shinkai-senpai seriously talks in such a floaty way, that I couldn’t tell at all what he wanted to do.
i am sorry~ when i was young, i only ever fulfilled my [role], and never really did anything that i [wanted] to do.
so i do not know how to explain what i [want] to do properly.
in the end, i simply want to make everyone [happy]. and the reason for that is because everyone made me [happy].
in other words, i am [repaying] the [kind favor].20 fufufu~♪
How admirable! Those feelings are what matter most! The good you do for others is good you do yourself!
yes. that is exactly what [ryuseitai] is about — i will always believe in that.
Have you all sorted out everything~…?
Because we’re about to arrive, so… start preparing your belongings to make sure you don’t forget anything, okay~?
Oh— We’re already there? That was faster than I thought.
It isn’t that far from the main island, actually~. But its existence was ignored for such a long time, that it can’t even be found on a map~♪
Hm. If it isn’t that far from Okinawa, then transportation will be easily accessible. It would genuinely be possible to liven up the place, exactly like a market street around a train station.
We should be able to make something similar to local shops that Okinawa visitors can frequently come by and see.
Mhm. That would be ideal, but it might still be a little difficult at this point~…?
What do you mean?
You’ll understand when you see it yourselves, but… Our destination, or rather, the island that you will be restoring—
That star island, “Hoshijima”, is in immeasurable ruins.
Chapter 6
Several minutes later. A remote island near Okinawa’s mainland, “Hoshijima”…
Mensooore~♪
Welcome to “Hoshijima”! The land that was once confined~♪
Right now, as long as you have permission — or really, as long as I’m here, it’s fine to disembark the ship, so feel free to step onto this land~…♪
W-Woah, this is—
Mm… I know I shouldn’t say it this way, but the place is completely in tatters, far more than expected…
T-There’s only ruins as far as the eye can see… What a crazy sight.
I had no idea there was an area in our country with such an unbelievable landscape.21
The sight of this scenery excites me somewhat… I’m still a boy, after all.
I get you. I want to explore the area.
Ah~. The buildings could fall any moment, so don’t walk wherever you like, okay~?
As you can see, the place is filled with ruins, and there aren’t any real facilities — not even a hospital~. We can’t have you getting injured by accident~.
The main island may be nearby, but not so close that we can head back there in a flash~.
If the ship were to sink now, we’d end up in a typical plot for classic detective novels. Like a closed circle sort of situation.22
P-Please don’t say something so ominous… It’ll be fine, right? The ship won’t sink, right?
No worries, no worries~. Besides, even if it did sink, we’re in a modern age where we can just phone call for a replacement to come pick us up~.
Oh, right… Phone calls should work just fine here.
There’s still that worrisome thought we wouldn’t be able to reach a signal… Which sort of reminds me of that time Tetora-kun turned evil. It was truly tough on me to have all signals jammed—2
Urk— I was avoiding mentioning that ‘cuz I knew it’d sting to hear a remark…!
Let’s stop our chatter here. We didn’t come here to enjoy sightseeing — We’re technically at work right now.
…But, actually, that sort of thing should only be said by the current leader — Kanata.
ah— yes, that’s right. heeey~ you should [not] get ahead of yourselves, okay~?
we have an important [job] to do.
Yeah. Still, where do we even start…? Can we really restore such a ruined land like this?
S-Surely this is too much for only us to handle—
Mm~. I’m sure you’re tired from the long trip, so we’ll first head over somewhere you can drop your belongings and rest~. This island isn’t completely uninhabited, after all~.
There’s something of a village here, where Kanata-sama’s worshippers live~.
This was a confined area before, so there are no lodging facilities like a hotel, but I negotiated with them to let us rent an unoccupied home~.
Also, all the folks from my group came together to clean the whole building for you… So, you should be able to sleep comfortably~.
T-That’s very kind of you. We really appreciate your thoughtfulness, Mizusaba-san.
No need to thank me. This is my job~♪
But I ask that you don’t rely on me too much.
I’m also an outsider on this island, so even if I’m well known with the Okinawan locals — I haven’t actually made many connections with the people here yet.
This is just hypothetically speaking, but for example, I might not be able to cover for you if they cause any harm to you. So you shouldn’t act without restraint~.
He’s talking to you, Morisawa-senpai. Jeez, you’re always acting like a li’l kid wherever we go, runnin’ about as soon as you can.
H-Huhh—!? Wait, I wasn’t the one doing the scolding, but the one receiving the scolding!?
Hehe~. Right then, everyone, follow me~.
Fufu. I know we were just scolded for acting like tourists, but it feels as though we’re on a tour, with Mizusaba-san as our guide.
But if this were a tour, we would’ve been able to learn something about the place from a guide book or something… We don’t know a single thing about this island, and it’s seriously scary…
Don’t stray too far, Takamine. We may not be able to find each other again if we lose track of each other.
Here; if you’re feeling anxious, big brother will gladly hold your hand~♪
…tch…
He clicked his tongue!? Why!? I really was trying to be considerate, though…!?
Midori-kun doesn’t wanna be treated like a li’l kid either, y’know~♪
……………
…? What’s up, Shinobu-kun? You seem dazed…?
Are you feelin’ exhausted from the long trip after all?
Ah, no… Mm~ Perhaps it’s simply my imagination…
But I feel as though someone is watching us—
Chapter 7
Several minutes later. At the lodging accommodation for Ryuseitai — An unoccupied house in the outskirts of Hoshjima Village…
Right, we’ve arrived~♪
For the time being, you’ll all be living here until you’ve finished the first few steps of your job~.
Thank you for guiding us, Mizusaba-san. Ahh, we can finally take a breather.
Ahaha. Not only did we need to travel for a long time, but we were also completely thrown into an unknown environment, so… I strangely feel exhausted after such a stressful journey.
But this is a surprisingly decent-looking building… We should actually be able to rest here for real…
Right~? I was worried about where we were headed at first, as we had only come across ruins on our way.
It seems like the village in the center of this island is generally livable, even if the buildings are old.
Yeah, they did mention that it was just a confined area, not a deserted island.
Honestly, I don’t really know what confined areas actually are, but they’re basically places that are off-limits, right…? So why are people living here in the first place…?
I’m not sure if saying “the island’s native people” is the right wording here, but I assume the residents are an exception?
I wonder what sorta people live here, on an island full’a ruins…?
They’re pretty ordinary people, really — It’s just that they believe in a unique religion~. They also had connections with the main island back when Hoshijima was still confined~.
My grandpa was the point of contact back then, and he’d sometimes ship any basic needs over by boat~.
That makes sense; it doesn’t seem possible at all to live here without someone supplying the bare necessities. On our way here, I saw a minimal amount of farm fields.
Even if they caught fish for food, it still didn’t seem enough to stay self-sufficient.
Despite that, the buildings in the village look legit and clean.
They still have to buy basic supplies too, though, so it really makes me wonder how the people of this island make money here…
For that, since they’re worshippers of the tentatively named Kanata Religion, they collect donations—
I’m tryna say that those worshippers don’t seem to have any money, either.
mm. it seems that a [long time] ago, they formed a [contract] with a [higher-up]—
which allowed them to be under a [system] that periodically provides them [money].
that appears to be why the people on this [island] can live fairly [comfortably] without a job.
but, it is a little bit of an [unhealthy] lifestyle, so to speak…
after all, if you are to count on someone else for [money], then you will be [wiped out] as soon as that person has a [change of heart].
so in hopes of avoiding a money drought, we need to help these people be capable of earning [money] on their own.
And that’s another reason why we need to rejuvenate the land, correct? They’ve been living on that sort of financial benefit for a long time, so it’s likely that none of them know how to do business and such.
yes. even if we call over [tourists] to visit, no profit will be made without any [shops] set up.
and it is not like we can live here forever, either, yes?
we need to arrange an [environment] where the people here can live [independently] without us.
Shinkai-senpai is talking about a super serious topic…
i am always [serious], though~?
Everyone~? I prepared tea and confections for you, so feel free to help yourselves~♪
Ahh—! I’m so sorry! Forgive me for not helping out…!
No worries, no worries. The guests should just make themselves at home~♪
I’ll prepare a proper meal for all of you, as well~. I’m sure you’re starving by now, right? I’ll treat you all to local cuisine~.
Okay! I’m so sorry for the trouble, we’re in your care today! C’mon everyone! You should show your respect, too!
Ossu! Thank you very much! We’re in your care today…!
Yes, yes, so you are~…♪
…Mizusaba-san is surprisingly a kind person, isn’t he?
Right? Not gonna lie though, I did freak out at first ‘cause he looked so intimidating.
It’s ‘cuz of his height… Man, I’m jealous. What do I gotta eat to grow that big?
would tetora like to grow big, too~?
Ossu, bigger means stronger.
Well, we are still in our growth period, so I have hopes that we will grow bigger eventually…
Uuu~ I’ve practically given up on trying to grow taller, though…
Don’t give up, Sengoku! Your dream will come true!
I’d rather you never grow bigger, Shinobu-kun… The smaller, the cuter…♪
Yuuta-kun said the same thing to me… But I’m not some kind of pet, you know~?
Chapter 8
Heheh. As nice as it is to chat, let’s discuss what we’ll do from here on out while we have the time. We wouldn’t want the day to end as nothing but a sightseeing trip.
that sort of thing should actually be said by me, the leader, don’t you think?
Mm. Sorry, I’m meddling too much.
no, no, i appreciate the help while i am still getting used to these things.
mm, alright. let’s see… …what should we do? what are we supposed to do here?
Why do you sound so unreliable!? You’re the commander this time, Shinkai-senpai, so you gotta be the one to decide what we do to some extent, y’know~?
yes… erm, our [goal]— or rather, the [request] we received is to [restore] this [land].
In other words, to rejuvenate the area. We’ll turn this peculiar island into a place that can support itself and develop.
Erm. This has been on my mind for a while, but — What exactly do you mean when you say “to restore”?
…? what do you mean?
Restoration indicates bringing life to a land that was once developed but had turned to ruins, correct?
For example, the restoration of a land struck by disaster and such…
Therefore, does that mean that this land was also once a developed area?
Ah, erm, but perhaps there was no deeper meaning in phrasing the request in that way…?
Still, as someone who works as the secretary of the Student Council, I am extremely mindful of the use of such words.
Sorry to cut into your conversation, but yes, that’s what restoration means here~.
I heard from my grandpa that in the olden days, this land was pretty well-developed, for reasons such as being located near the main island of Okinawa~♪
That does make sense. In fact, a location being near to the mainland is a major factor in its development.
Mhm~. You saw ruins everywhere, right~? But it’s not like they always looked like that from the start~.
So those ruins are relics of the time from when this island was prosperous?
Yep. They’re not historic ruins, but abandoned ruins.
Which means they’re buildings that began to break down after people stopped occupying them~. This island was once destroyed, and had deteriorated since then.
So your job is to bring back the radiance of such an unfortunate island~.
Nyahaha, this is a job that was meant for us locals, though~. But since it’s such a complicated land, we need help from people outside the prefecture, too~.
Especially Kanata-sama’s help. The people of this island are religious worshippers, so they likely won’t listen to anyone but Kanata-sama~.
w-what a heavy responsibility on me.
On the contrary, I think they’ll take everything Kanata-sama says seriously, like it’s said by an oracle from god—
So if you guide them efficiently, the islanders are bound to unite as one and do their best for you~.
it became an even heavier responsibility…
It’ll be alright, Kanata. We’ll all think about what to do together!
Ossu, all for one! That’s what Ryuseitai’s all about!
Mm~… But I really do feel like restoring a whole island is way too massive of a job for us to handle…
I guess there’s nothing we can do about that, though, right… After all, Shinkai-senpai’s the commander this time, and this is the job he’s brought for us.
Mhm. Until this job is sorted out, the only thing we can do is devote our body and soul to our leader’s commands.
y-yes. please and thank you. i will do my best as well, really.
Mhm, do your best~. That’s why you should start by filling yourself up with a nice, tasty meal~.
It’s as they say, you can’t fight on an empty stomach~. Make sure to eat well and get enough nutrition, or you won’t be able to handle taking care of anyone~♪
Chapter 9
A few hours later. In the main temple of Hoshijima Village…
(I-I’m so nervous~!)
(Before deciding our next move, we thought it’d be best to first hear what this land — what the Hoshijima people — have in mind.)
(And I agree that that’s the right choice here; we should first confirm what the residents of this island wanna do.)
(We could transform this place however we like without asking ‘em first, but… If the people living here won’t welcome it, then it’ll have been pointless.)
(It’s unreasonable to impose our own ideas on ‘em without a care for their perspective. Especially since we’re completely fed up with that sorta thing from the bottom of our hearts.)
(I don’t think it’s right for us to do the same thing to ‘em that our agency did to us. It’s plain irritating when someone says, “I did it with the best intentions” without any regard for how you feel ‘bout it.)23
(If possible, we wanna restore this land in the way the islanders want.)
(‘Cuz that’s how we also wanted to transform Ryuseitai, as best as possible.)
tetora.
Hahyu—!? Wh-wh-what is it, Shinkai-senpai!? Is there an enemy invasion!?
there are no [enemies] here~ you are too nervous.
it seems that i am [bad] at [explanations], so for [negotiations] with the other party, as well as [reporting] back the news to everyone—
i can only rely on tetora, as you are capable of [explaining] things properly.
so please stay [focused]. i am worried about you; you seem [distracted] somehow.
O-Ossu! I’ll do my absolute best to meet your expectations, Senp— I mean, Taichou!
but, why is it tetora?
Huh!? A-Am I not good enough!?
mm~… once it was decided we could meet with the [island’s higher-up], they told us only one person was permitted to [accompany] me.
because it would only stress them to have [so many strangers] barging in.
the people of this [island] have been confined in their village for a long time, so they appear to be relatively afraid of [others]… that cannot be [helped], though.
Ossu. If I were to put it in a negative light, it’s sorta exclusionary in a way.
It’s prolly like those closed-off villagers you often see in movies, who hate outsiders. So just in case, we can’t risk the unlikely scenario of ‘em attacking Shinkai-Taichou.
And ‘cuz I’m the most skilled in combat among the five of us, I’m accompanying Taichou as the bodyguard.
i do not think anything [violent] will happen, though… what i am [expecting] from tetora for this occasion is not [violence], but [the art] of [conversation].
after all, if they were to actually see us as [enemies], we would not be able to [get anywhere] with our job… so please behave in a [friendly manner].
Uu~myu… It’s true that negotiation is the main goal here, yeah. In that case, Shinobu-kun should’ve joined you instead of me, honestly.
it will be alright. tetora can also do it as long as he tries. during the [commotion] we had a while back, you did your very best at that [crimson]-something, yes?
you managed it wonderfully, as the [executive staff] of the [evil organization].
that is not something that an [idiot] can do. only a [clever person] capable of [negotiations] would be able to accomplish that.
you are growing incredibly much more than [you] think, tetora.
…Ossu. Thank you, that’s very kind of you to say.
Yeah, true. I personally think back on that time like it’s my dark past, but… Through a change of positions, I managed to accomplish somethin’ I’d never been able to do before.
That experience’ll surely come in use too, right?
yes. that is what i am [expecting].
…oh, i see the other party has [arrived].
(……! They’re making their appearance at last…! Uuu, I don’t feel mentally prepared for it at all, but—!)
(This isn’t a karate match — Reality never waits for you to prep yourself first!)
(Even in an unstable and shaky situation, I gotta do everythin’ in my power to stand my ground and do my best!)
(The black flame is the mark of effort…!)
(fufu. tetora is always such a [hard worker]~ i truly do believe that part of you is [admirable].)
(as for me, i am just [not there] at all~… i really am trying my best to do this [seriously], but i always end up being so floaty…)
Please excuse me.
You suddenly called for me… But what on earth could this be for, Kanata-sama?
(…? Huh?)
(This kid…? This tiny li’l kid… is the higher-up who represents Hoshijima?)
(Wait— Doesn’t he kinda look like someone…?)
As long as you do what you must, I don’t see a reason to report it to me.
we need you and your people’s [cooperation] so that we can achieve that goal. not only that — it is necessary that we learn about your [prospects].
Prospects? We simply want to continue living, even after God’s influence has vanished.
Any method will do. Survival takes precedence above all.
you are as [stiff] as ever~ i think you would be much [cuter] if you behaved more like a [child], you know?
come on, kona-chan~ smile, smile~♪
Please do not call me “Kona-chan”.
uu~ but if i call you by your [real name], it will be easy to mix up with mine.
Hmph. I suppose it is true that the “Kona” in “Konata” and “Kana” sound similar to the ear.24
Konata…?
Yes…? Indeed, my name is Minase Konata, the lord of this island.25
Minase… Not “Shinkai”?
…? Whatever do you mean?
Ah, well, you’re like the splitting image of Shinkai-Taichou, so I was wondering if you might be his sibling or relative.
yes, kona-chan is my adorable [little brother]~♪
That isn’t true. You and I are complete strangers who have nothing to do with each other.
……?
Chapter 10
That night, at the lodging accommodation for Ryuseitai…
Huh~… So the person that Mizusaba-san calls “Ani-sama” is the “Okinawa Oni” that I’ve heard about a few times?26
Yep~. Well, “Oni” in Okinawa would be my grandpa, though~. Apparently, it all originates from when he was a pirate who ran rampage across the island.
He barged into Okinawa seas with a gigantic ship he’d filched from some other country, and was super feared by everyone~. He’s just a withered up old man now, though.
Ani-sama is his successor~, he’s called “The second generation of the Okinawa Oni”~♪
He was truly respected~. Actually, I’m the older one between us~, but Ani-sama was like everyone’s big brother in a sense, so I call him “Ani-sama”~.
I really respect him lots~. He’s super strong~, nobody can beat him in a fight~. Where I lived, whenever someone had a problem, they’d talk to Ani-sama about it~.
He’s gone to the US now, and nobody can reach him, so there’s not much anyone can do there.
But technically, if it were possible, we probably could have entrusted this job to Ani-sama instead of you guys~.
Ah, actually, though — This request involves religion, so maybe it wouldn’t have been a job for him? Huh, I wonder…?
If I may interject — with the exception of Kanata, we aren’t experts in religion, either.
Ah— I’ve been meaning to mention this, but — you don’t have to talk so politely with me, y’know~?27 It’s actually harder to understand you that way~. Nobody uses polite language among my family, so~♪
Mm~… And likewise, we’re not really experts in rejuvenating land, either.
Shouldn’t something as large-scale as that be a job for fine instead of us, if we’re sticking to our agency…?
Actually, it seems that they’re taking a move right now, too.
Sengoku mentioned Himemiya earlier, so I contacted Tenshouin — Apparently, fine is also working on something in Okinawa at the moment.
Tenshouin told me, “depending on the circumstances, we may be able to join forces with you, so feel free to rely on us if anything happens.”
It makes me happy to see his compassion for friendship, but… why is it that I get strangely anxious when he’s being kind…
Yes, since they apparently plan to build an ES branch of some sort in Okinawa. Tenshouin-dono and his unit members are likely working towards that.
Though, it’s more so a project to build an amusement park…28
However, it seems that there is no land available in the mainland to build such a park, so they are instead aiming for Hoshijima.
Hm. If the amusement park and various establishments are arranged, its vicinity might actually develop tremendously, in a similar fashion to a certain dreamland.29
While building the park, they may remove all the unusable ruins, too.
Although, that on its own is a pretty rare sight to see, and therefore perfectly suits being a tourist attraction.
It’s way too dangerous to be a tourist spot… We can still see them all the way from here, and the crumbling exterior is clearly peeling off just from the strong wind.
It’d be dangerous for anyone to get close… I think we’re better off having all of them demolished.
Mm. There are many plots of land across the world that are off-limits to the public for similar reasons.26
If the buildings could only crumble, that’s still not too bad… But depending on the area, there could be landmines or unexploded bombs buried in the ground.30 It’s necessary to take these things into account.
Rather than to forcibly turn such a danger zone into a tourist attraction, it may be best to take the predictable path, and rebuild the area into an amusement park that can make an infinite amount of money.
Those abandoned buildings don’t seem to be old enough to carry any cultural heritage either… It looks like any regular ghost town you’d find around the world.
Well, whatever we’ll do with those ruins depends on what sort of agreement Kanata and Nagumo reach with the islanders.
They may tell us not to tamper with those buildings in any way.
Oh yeah, I’m pretty curious what’s going on over there… I wonder if they’re doing okay… I hope they didn’t get dragged into some questionable ceremony by the religious people…
That’s just prejudiced thinking, Midori-kun~ As mentioned before, they simply believe in a different religion — they are still human beings just like us.
I’m sure nothing inconceivable is happening to them at all!
i am back~♪
Oh, as soon as we mentioned them—
Welcome back, Kanata! Thanks for your hard work, and great job to Nagumo, too!
How was it? What did the islanders say?
yes, so. they were quite [unfriendly], but they [appeared] to be [accepting] of anything we plan to do~ or rather, they are indifferent either way.
that is how little they are willing to [cooperate] with us. it seems, though, that they will not [oppose] our decisions, either.
which is a good thing. it would have been a problem if they [forbade] all our choices after specifically [requesting] for our help.
Chapter 11
While it is true that we have been confined for a long time, we don’t lack basic common sense.
I would appreciate it if you do not make light of us.
……?
K-Kanata, who is this child…? Wait, don’t tell me—… Did you give birth to this kid!?
i cannot give birth, you know? i am a [guy]. i am not [saint mary]~?
T-Then did you split apart and multiply in number!?
What!? This turn of events is a lot more inconceivable than I ever could’ve imagined…!?
i cannot multiply, either~? what do you think of me as?
Hello, everyone. It’s nice to meet you.
I’ve heard about all of you from Kanata-sama. You are Kanata-sama’s allies, who have come to aid us and our island — Known as Ryuseitai, correct?
As the lord of Hoshijima, I, Minase Konata, would like to express my deepest gratitude.
K-Konata? Is that his name because he’s a tiny Kanata?31
Is it not simply konata for “here” and kanata for “there”…?32
Their names are really similar, though… Eh? Eh? Are they siblings?
I‘ve asked that question already.
Ah— Tetora-kun, welcome back to you, too~…
Ossu. Mm, so, this kid is apparently somethin’ like a relative to Shinkai-Taichou.
What do you mean by “something like a relative”…?
Uu~myu… As always, everything Shinkai-Taichou says is too floaty to understand, and Konata-kun keeps denying any blood relations with him for some reason.
Honestly, I’ve still got no clue what sorta relationship this kid has with Shinkai-Taichou.
As I have stated already, we are complete strangers.
The resemblance is far too much for that to be possible… But alright, it seems like they have deep circumstances of their own, so I won’t ask for details.
I appreciate it. Erm, you’re the leader of Ryuseitai, correct?
No, Kanata’s the leader this time.
“This time”? I don’t quite understand, but am I correct to consider this person the leader then?
ehe~ ehe~♪
What are you acting so proud for? I didn’t compliment you in any way.
onii-chan is so happy that he got to [introduce] his [close allies] to kona-chan~33 i was [forbidden] from doing so up until now.
That is because my existence was meant to be concealed. Nonetheless, since the main house of the religion had been abolished… It should be alright to show my appearance at the very least.
After all, our island must lift its isolation policy, and open itself up to the outside world moving forward.
I cannot be the only one who confines oneself far from the public’s eye.
Even if I were chosen simply due to blood relations, I am still the lord of this island in the end.
W-What a responsible kid… Incredible. I could barely speak this eloquently when I was around his age.
Erm… Konata-kun— Konata-chan…?34 How old are you?
I will become ten years old this year. My growth has been relatively slow for my age, as I had been living a poor lifestyle.
Ah, if that’s the case… I think there can be kids like this at that age? Probably?
He may look like a preschooler… But he’s actually much more intelligent than he seems. He clearly understood our side of the story, and took our thoughts to heart.
Apparently, the islanders will abide by Konata-kun’s wishes, so as long as Konata-kun says it’s okay, then we’re all good to go.
That’s immensely helpful. Now we don’t have to worry about the possibility of the islanders strongly opposing us, leaving us unable to accomplish anything.
But still, this just leads us back to the matter of: What are we going to do next? How are we going to restore this island?
For that, we have something of our own in mind, as well.
That’d be great, then. I know we shouldn’t be saying this upfront, but we seriously haven’t thought up a single thing—
Indeed. When we were practicing the “fish song”, we never even expected this to happen.
Seriously… It was just supposed to be a simple commercial filming…
I’m very sorry about that. Kanata-sama is always short on words.
[talking] a lot is not very [god]-like, after all~♪
You aren’t a god anymore, are you?
Regardless… It seems that the true governor of this land, the ZK Zaibatsu35, has also approved of developing the area. I am not aware what sort of magic trick was performed to accomplish this, but…
After such arrangements, it has been decided that a branch of the so-called “ES” will be built on this land.
When that happens, it inevitably means that this land will be dyed in the colors of idols.
However, we have not come in contact with idol culture for eons. It had been taboo to do so within this land.
Because of that, we don’t exactly know what an idol is.
That is why, I implore all of you — Please teach us what “idols” are.
Translation Notes
- ↑ Referring to Tropical, the story about Midori’s Ryuseitai.
- ↑ This is referring to Supervillain, when Tetora was tasked to act as a spy in an agency that was also a criminal organization. The story happens in Okinawa.
- ↑ The word for “delicate” is sensai, and it can also mean “sensitive”. It was mentioned in Epilogue 1 of Submarine (Translated as “sensitive” in that story).
- ↑ Referring to Supernova, a story that happens during their Yumenosaki days together.
- ↑ Referring to Ryuseitai and Akatsuki’s SS story, Submarine. Submarine covers various aspects mentioned in this story.
- ↑ Kanata says “let’s go” as you would in English, but written in hiragana in the text, as that’s how Kanata speaks.
- ↑ This is how Okinawans say “Welcome”.
- ↑ Chiaki has mentioned this before in Submarine, Ruthless Battlefield 8.
- ↑ Referring to 2wink’s Climax Event, 2x2. Wiki link here.
- ↑ Midori literally says “mascot character” in Japanese here. This is a different term from Midori’s favorite type of mascots, known as yuruchara (which are known to have odd but cute designs, unlike the typical mascot characters).
- ↑ Ani-sama, lit. “Older brother” with “sama”, a polite honorific used for names.
- ↑ Mizusaba uses the 吾 (wa~) first-person pronoun to refer to himself. It’s a slightly old-fashioned, formal pronoun to refer to oneself.
- ↑ Mizusaba has no character model in the story. Since his name originates from a shark, I’ve decided to use a shark icon for the translation, so that he’s identifiable. The icon used is this.
- ↑ The whale shark is extremely large, see here.
- ↑ Mizusaba calling Kanata with “sama” indicates a deep respect for him. In addition, as general knowledge, the sama honorific is also used to refer to superior beings, like gods, deities, etc.
- ↑ The word for “monster” here is kaibutsu (怪物), usually referring to an ominous, strong-looking creature.
- ↑ In Japanese, Kanata says the words “main house, primary line, branch house, supporting line” all in hiragana, since Kanata always speaks in hiragana. However, this can be confusing to comprehend due to the lack of kanji to differentiate the words from each other. Shinobu then repeats the same 4 words, but in kanji this time. I decided to add an English equivalent to simulate a similar feeling the original line had. Thank you to my proofreader ryuseipuka for the localization!
- ↑ Originally, the wordplay is basuke (Basketball) with risuke (Reschedule). I tried to make an English equivalent of that.
- ↑ The cleansing ceremony was mentioned in the epilogues of fine’s Climax event. Specifically, this sort of ceremony is to ask permission from the god of the land to do construction in the area, and praying everything goes well with the construction. Read more here.
- ↑ This expression was also mentioned in the chapter that Ryuseitai appeared in Parallel World (Ra*bits’ Climax event).
- ↑ This scene was slightly adjusted. The main translation follows the story as it currently is in-game, but if you’d like to see the version before it was adjusted, please go here.
- ↑ Closed circle of suspects is a common genre of detective novels, where there are only a set number of suspects possible for a murder. See more here.
- ↑ This is referring to the events that happened to Ryuseitai throughout the previous year. For more information, please read the !! Era stories that precede this story, such as Comet Show, Submarine, Supervillain, etc…
- ↑ Unlike young Kanata in ABYSS, Konata speaks in polite language, as well as using kanji in his speech. His first-person pronoun is watashi, a neutral pronoun (and the standard first-person pronoun in Japanese). Also, while he does share the same 2D model as young Kanata, he has no voice clips when speaking.
- ↑ “Konata” is only in hiragana. As for minase, the kanji is 水無瀬 (water, inexistent/none, shallows/current). Minase originally referred to a stream of water flowing underground, but the surface appears to be dried up. Read more here (Japanese source). There is also a Shinto shrine in Osaka called Minase Jingu Shrine, said to have one of Japan’s best 100 natural water sources. Read more here (English source).
- ↑ “Oni” means demon or ogre. Oni was first mentioned in Supervillain.
- ↑ Chiaki was speaking in polite Japanese (keigo) to Mizusaba.
- ↑ This is referring to Atlantis, fine’s Climax event.
- ↑ This is possibly referring to Nara Dreamland and Yokohama Dreamland, but unfortunately I’m not sure of its history. You can read more here: Nara Dreamland, Yokohama Dreamland.
- ↑ Also known as unexploded ordnance.
- ↑ This is a wordplay in Japanese. Chiaki asks if his name is konata, as in ko 小 (small) + nata, because he’s a “tiny” Kanata.
- ↑ The kanji 此方 (konata) means “here, this way/direction”, whereas the kanji 彼方 (kanata) means “over that way, (beyond) the distance, far away”. Konata’s first name is in full hiragana (no kanji), whereas the kanji in Kanata’s name (奏汰) is homophonous with 彼方 (far away).
- ↑ Onii-chan, as in “big brother”.
- ↑ For young children, “-kun” is usually used for boys, and “-chan” for girls.
- ↑ This is referring to the ZK Zaibatsu that was mentioned in Atlantis, fine’s Climax event. The Zaibatsu is business conglomerates in Japan.