Tsukiuta. Girls’ 1st Season CD January – “Rikka Nadeshiko”

[nebulancer]

1. OP (Mini-Drama)

 

Yuki: Earth and the Moon have a relationship of coexistence and mutual prosperity.

It is because the people who live on Earth... Earthlings’ various spirit energies are a must-have for our Moon’s residents, as well as its society.

Unbeknownst to those living on Earth, the Moon’s residents receive the spiritual life energy being released from Earth, converting it into our resources.

This way, we prevent our dimension from becoming an unstable existence.

If we were to compare it to something... it would be like a relationship between the Earth and the atmosphere which envelops it.

Through gaining the protection of the atmosphere, the Earth starts being capable of shielding itself from excessive harm, such as overpowering energy or meteors. Thus, it becomes capable of nurturing life.

 

[She flips a page.]

 

The atmosphere of the Moon is the Earth’s residents’ life energy. Putting it this way, we can realize just how important it is to us.

This is why, ever since ancient times, we residents of the Moon have treated Earthlings’ life energy with great interest and have put painstaking labor into watching over and guiding them.

To make sure such a process doesn’t come to an end or head into an unwanted direction, we have continued to support each other all this way.

Goddesses are at the center of that activity, representing the effort.

 

[She closes the book.]

 

This has been an excerpt from the Goddess Theories, textbook page 235.

...Yes. Yes. Allow me to excuse myself here.

 

*sigh*...Goddesses, huh...?

 

All right, then. Ai?

 

[Ai turns to her.]

 

After this, the headmaster’s called me over. It looks like he has some sort of request for me... I don’t know how long the conversation will take, so could you go back to the dorms ahead of me?

...Sorry about it. I might get back late, so it’d be a huge help if you could inform the dorm teacher for me when you get back.

 

[Ai accepts the request.]

 

...Thank you. I hope we can eat dinner together.

Okay, I’ll see you later.

 

Leaving the classroom, I headed to the headmaster’s office, located in the room deepest within the academy. I wasn’t particularly nervous.

After all, it wasn’t very rare for me to get called out after classes like this, since I’d be entrusted with tasks to help out with.

At most, I’d be asked around once a week. Even when things weren’t as frequent, it would happen once a month at least.

I walked down this path that I’d grown completely accustomed to.

 

On the way there, I passed by the first years’ classrooms.

I was called out to several times, surrounded by the innocent liveliness which differed from the third years’ area, exchanging words with them.

A girl who was in the committee with me, or juniors in the same dorm as me.

I could guess that they all faced me with eyes clearly full of admiration. I felt half bashful. The other half was the urge to tell them that I wasn’t such an impressive person as they thought.

Though I was used to being called out by the headmaster, I couldn’t exactly get used to these gazes.

 

Oh?

I suddenly felt a strong gaze on me. I nonchalantly searched for the owner of the glare.

Familiar sparkling, golden hair from someone on the stairs.

The genius girl who skipped a grade to enter the school, being the top student in the grade. There, Hijiri Kurisu stood.

 

It feels... as if I’m being glared at again...

 

She was the type of girl I didn’t have in my immediate surroundings up until now.

At any rate, the very day she moved into the dorms, she boldly declared me to be her rival. Me, whose titles were indeed impressive, being the school representative-slash-dorm head, the top student in my year.

Each and every thing she did was quite flashy, often dragging either her next-door neighbor Momosaki-san or my friend Ai into her rampages.

She’s quite ambitious to improve herself, and she’s not double-faced in the slightest, with a brave personality.

Because of this, she easily states things to people’s faces that others would normally have a difficult time doing.

Some in her own grade whisper behind her back that she’s being an upstart, but I don’t hate that straightforwardness she displays.

Acting mature for her age, occasionally going around in circles, yet despite it all, she’s earnest and single-minded. I always feel that... if I had a sister several years younger than me, she would be like this. I imagine her this way whenever I deal with her.

 

Her expression said it all. “I’m not gonna lose to you!”

Ufufu... Speaking of which, I heard there was a disturbance when she went to record for her radio. I wonder if the teachers got upset with her for that?

According to what Kurisu said, the teachers often brought up my name when she was being scolded. It seems that, too, was a reason for her declaring me to be her rival, but I felt complicated about that.

 

To the teachers, I suppose I’m seen as the exemplary role model for all students...

I should be... happy about this, right?

But an exemplary honor student... the ideal... These numerous words I’ve been called since I was young are supposed to be compliments.

Yet recently, those words have been piercing my heart slightly. Just ever so slightly.

 

*sigh*... Closest to becoming a Goddess, am I...?

Is that... really the case...?

 

[The bell rings.]

 

Ah! Oh, no! I have to hurry up.

 

[Yuki knocks on the door.]

 

Excuse me. ...*sigh*...As I thought. There’s no one here today, too.

Hanazono Yuki is coming in.

...I’ve gotten used to there being no one here. Even when I ask the teachers about it, they say it’s always like this, so...

No one’s here, no matter when I come. But a note written with instructions for why I was called out...

Like this, is always left atop the desk without my noticing.

And sitting in the imposing seat where the headmaster would normally sit...

Is you!

 

Ufufu.

Good afternoon, white rabbit Shiroda-san. You’re always so clean and pretty. I wonder whose pet you are?

I guess the most likely choice is the headmaster’s?

Could you tell me what kind of person your owner is?

Fufu... but I guess there’s no way you could answer me, huh...?

You’re quite the enigma. It’s like you understand what I’m saying.

Your eyes make you seem very smart, too.

It’s a shame, isn’t it? You seem like you’d make a wonderful conversation partner if you could talk.

Er, no. Perhaps it’s fine even if you don’t talk.

I don’t need you to respond in any way, so could you listen to me air my grievances for a bit?

 

Everyone treats me as their ideal, an honor student, and compliments me, saying that I’m closest to becoming a Goddess.

But... But, listen. I didn’t put in all this hard work to be seen as someone’s ideal, nor did I wish to become an honor student.

Even though they say I’m closest to becoming a Goddess, Goddesses are... see, there are so many of them, and there are all sorts of types.

I wonder just what kind they’re saying I’m close to becoming? I don’t really know. To tell the truth, I’m sort of perplexed.

I have an image of what type of Goddess I aspire to be like. I’m still far, far away from it, and I’m still so, so lacking.

I know there’s a proper order to these things, so every time someone compliments me, I feel a heavier weight on my shoulders, and it makes me feel guilty.

Also... at times, I think, “Jeez! You all don’t know a single thing!”

Fufu... Keep this a secret, okay?

 

[Shiroda snuggles up against Yuki.]

 

Ufufu... Shiroda-san, you’re quite skilled at listening even though you don’t talk, hm?

Thank you for listening to my complaints. With your help, I feel like the load off my chest has lightened.

Then, well, I’ll see you again!

 

Hanazono Yuki will return. Thank you for having me.

 

4. ED (Mini-Drama)

 

Yuki: Father, Mother. Happy New Year. I’ve been in your care this past year.

Thanks to your gracious support, I will be graduating high school this spring.

Before I graduate, I’ll have to take the final selection exam to become an official Goddess candidate, but I will pass, beyond the shadow of a doubt.

In order to achieve my dream of becoming a Goddess, I will strive with further efforts.

I hope to continue receiving your support this year as well.

 

[Yuki is greeting relatives at her family home.]

 

It’s been quite a while, Uncle. I had heard that you were hospitalized in the autumn. Thank goodness that you’ve completely recovered back to full health.

 

Ah, Aunt! Happy New Year. Your obi color is fantastic.

Oh, my kimono? My mother chose this for me. I said to her that it was a bit too flamboyant for me, but she responded that, since it was the new year, it was fitting.

 

Grandmother! It’s me, Yuki.

Yes, I’ve been in the academy dormitories, but I returned just the day before yesterday. I plan on remaining here until the day after tomorrow.

What are your plans, Grandmother?

 

[Yuki leaves the chatter of the greetings.]

 

*sigh*... I finally get to take a break.

Though it’s a gathering of my relatives, they’re all my superiors, so I’d obviously get exhausted.

And my kimono... The last time I wore one was also last New Year, so it’d be a whole year ago. I guess I can’t do anything about the fact that it feels stifling.

I can’t be away for too long, but I’ll take a quick breather.

 

*breathes* ...Fufu. My breath is white.

There was snow yesterday, after all. I suppose it’s obvious that it’d be cold.

But I don’t hate winter. The chilly air makes me stand up straight.

If snow falls, it’s cold, but it looks so pure white and soft. It’s beautiful.

Maybe because my name is also Yuki for snow, I feel even more this way.

 

Ah, a bird! Ufufu. This garden hasn’t changed a bit.

I remember playing here a lot when I was a child. The seasonal flowers would bloom, the little birds would gather up in Mother’s prized garden.

In winter, these brilliant camellia flowers would bloom, and I felt bad when the snow smothered them. The morning after snow fell, I’d always gently brush the snow off.

Mother would laugh at me, huh...?

Fufu! And then, yes! She taught me, “Those flowers are fine, even without your help. Though they might be buried right now, once the snow melts with help from the sun, you’ll be able to see the flowers’ natural beauty.”

That takes me back...

 

Phew... It’s very quiet here.

It feels as if the commotion I was in right before this happened long, long ago.

 

[Yuki reminisces.]

 

...So?

Since you’ve continued constantly getting barely above failing marks until now, you’ve gotten this stack of tasks added on to your winter break homework.

I wouldn’t be wrong in summing it up this way, correct? Togawa-san, Yuuki-san?

If you submit your tasks, you’ll be able to get someone to sign by proxy to show that you’ve done it, but you felt discouraged on the very first problem. That’s when you went crying to your senior Ai for help, hm?

 

Fufu. You don’t need to back them up so desperately. I understand, Ai.

It’s fine. Instead of being angry, I’m more exhausted.

 

Um... You two? I’ve skimmed over the contents, but the questions in this textbook aren’t exactly difficult. At most, they’re like review materials for class.

When you’re unable to solve these, I’m surprised that you managed to get through your tests while also avoiding failing grades.

I am not complimenting you two.

 

Hijiri-san, don’t laugh at them!

Ah... *clears her throat*

Back on track, I understand very well that you don’t have the signature and want to avoid having to repeat a grade, thus wanting her to help.

But I won’t allow you to put Ai through such struggles alone. I will help you.

I would normally try to thoroughly teach you starting from the foundations up for the future, but I have to go back to my family home for the end of the year.

You’re all the same way, right?

 

In that case, I’ll teach you based on the priorities that you have to focus on. For the rest, you’ll have to do your best at home individually.

Trying to force things in and being unable to make it in time goes against my personal rule, but the situation being what it is, it won’t work otherwise.

Do you hear me, you two? I’ll be helping you this time, but make sure to properly pay attention during classes.

Do you promise to strive with your best efforts from now on?

 

*chuckles in relief* This is a promise, got it?

Well, then... Ai, could you look after Togawa-san? I’ll help teach Yuuki-san.

So, Yuuki-san, could you tell me the part you had trouble with?

 

[Yuki is brought back to the present.]

 

We somehow managed to get through all the pages an hour before I had to leave.

That was the first time in my life I’d ever frantically packed with such haste. But... it was fun.

Now that I think about it, I don’t have many experiences of working hard with the people around me the way I did then.

It’s not as if I intend on drawing a line between myself and others, but I suppose there’s a side of me that makes me difficult to talk to.

In that case, I must fix that part of me.

 

I’ve never said it to anyone, but the ideal image that I have of a Goddess is surely... like Ai. Ai’s the closest.

Treating everyone equally kindly, someone filled with consideration.

And she doesn’t forget to hope.

Ai often says I’m amazing, but from what I see, Ai’s the more amazing one.

She can get along with anyone and everyone, empathize with them, and help relieve them of their pain.

It’s said that people yearn in others what they lack... but I guess that really is true.

 

...I’ll become a Goddess. But right now, I’m still very inexperienced. There are many things I’ve still yet to learn.

Yet... Yes, that’s right.

I’m sure I’ll be fine. If I manage to do my best with Ai and everyone else by my side... I’m sure of it.

 

[A bird chirps.]

 

Ah! Ufufu.

Good afternoon. How do you feel?

How does it feel, being in the Hanazono family’s prized garden?