Probably one of my first translations ever, so I did some tweaking before reuploading this.
Title: The Laid-Back Genius Director
Characters: Rui, Tsukasa
Full story under the cut!
Part 1
Kamiyama High School 2-B Classroom
Rui
(Hmm…… I don’t think the desired lighting can be achieved with the number of lights that the Wonder Stage has.)
(Plus, it’s an outdoor stage in the first place. The lighting possibilities for performances would be mostly limited by its width. Furthermore, if it doesn’t fit Tsukasa’s image then……)
Classmate A
(…… Kamishiro isn’t taking any notes at all, and he’s either drawing or writing some formulas or something. I wonder why……)
Rui
(Ah, I got it. It would work out fine if we were to refer to the day’s weather to determine the optimum brightness. I will try to calculate it later. If Tsukasa cooperates then……)
Classmate A
(Uwah! He started smiling all of a sudden. Kamishiro looks off his rocker……)
Rui
Well then, Tsukasa would probably be in his classroom, right…… Hmm?
Tsukasa comes out of the classroom
Tsukasa
Oh, if it isn’t Rui! You came at just the right time! There’s something I want to discuss with you!
Rui
I had just thought of something too. Let’s start with your topic first. What is it?
Tsukasa
Hehehe…… Take a look at this! I came up with a promotional flyer for our performances!
Rui
Huh? When did you create that?
Tsukasa
A future star always has to be forward-looking! How is it? Not bad for something that was hand-drawn, right?
Rui
It’s certainly a good piece of work. You're unexpectedly skilled, aren't you?
Tsukasa
What’s with the “unexpected”!
Anyway, that’s it. Help me fold this.
Rui
……Well, that size does look easier to distribute. By the way, since you asked me to help it means you already have a sizable number of flyers on hand, right?
Tsukasa
Yeah, I have a stack of them over there. That one!
Rui
……Hmm. Just like before, you prepared quite a lot. There’s probably hundreds of sheets in there.
Tsukasa
Now, let’s fold all of these into halves, pronto!
Rui
I refuse.
Tsukasa
Huh……?
Rui
I don’t want to do such inefficient work. Plus, with that amount, there’s no way we would be done by the time school has ended, right? It’s a waste of time.
Tsukasa
W-what are you–! It’s a flyer made for promoting our performance, you know! That–!
Rui
I know, I know, but listen to me. It’s not as if we need to do everything with our own hands, right?
Tsukasa
…..What do you mean by that?
Rui
It’s exactly as I said. Well, let’s meet again during the next break, Tsukasa.
(I can raise my concern later, it’s no big deal even if I didn’t get the chance to do so just now anyway.)
Tsukasa
???
School bell rings
Kamiyama High School 2-A Classroom
Rui
Hey, sorry to keep you waiting. Here’s the stuff you asked for.
Tsukasa
Oh, Rui tha–…… wait. What’s that tiny printer-looking machine?
Rui
It’s a machine for folding the flyers. I made it using one of the robots I had on hand plus some equipment I borrowed from the school’s trash disposal area.
First, you put the machine down on a desk and lock its arm onto the edge of the desk. The arm becomes an output tray for the folded flyers.
Tsukasa
Uh huh……
Rui
A power supply isn’t required since it uses the robot’s batteries to function. Then, you put the flyers into the input tray and……
Tsukasa
W-whoa! The paper is getting sucked into it…… Oh! It has been folded into half!
And then the folded sheets land perfectly onto the arm……! There’s no need to worry about the sheets getting crumpled!
Rui
Exactly. With this, all you have to do is to set the paper in the input tray. Isn’t it simple?
Tsukasa
Yeah, definitely!
Rui
Hehe, although its structure is a simplified version of a standard paper folding machine in the market, its ability as a folder is guaranteed1. After all, it’s a flyer folding machine.
Tsukasa
You’re pretty good, Rui! Did you make this during class just now!?
Rui
That’s right. I also had some time to spare, so I input the instructions on how to fold a paper airplane into the robot’s AI as well.
Tsukasa
O-oh. I don’t really get it, but it’s amazing!
Rui
Hehehe, anyway, if you let it run during class, I think it can finish folding all the flyers by the time school is over.
Tsukasa
Got it! I appreciate it, Rui!
Rui
No no, I should be the one thanking you. Thanks for providing the space to place this
Tsukasa
Hmm? You’re welcome?
Rui
Hehehe…….
Tsukasa
There are times where I have a hard time dealing with his weird ideas, but there are also times like these when I can rely on him.
Now then, I should quickly set the paper……
……Hmm? Wait a minute. Didn’t he say ‘leave it running throughout your classes’ or something?
Is it going to keep folding while it’s here? At my desk!?
Huh! He said something about providing it with space…… Ah! That guy!!
Tsukasa (offscreen)
Rui!!! You!!! Doesn’t this mean that I can’t attend classes with this!!!
Rui
Hehehe……
Part 2
Kamiyama High School Courtyard
Rui
Oh? They’re even here as well. It’s easy to overlook this place.
Tsukasa
…Hm? That Rui, what’s he doing at the flowerbe– Huh!
Could it be that he’s thought of a bothersome performance to put up and is now beginning with preparations!?
Oi, Rui! What are you up to this time!?
Rui
You’re looking as scary as a demon. What’s the matter? I’m not up to anything at all, I’m just weeding the flower bed.
Tsukasa
W-what? In other words, you’re plotting something with the weeds……?
Rui
Not at all. If the weeds are not removed, the sunlight wouldn’t reach the flowers. Isn’t that pitiful?
Tsukasa
WHAT!? You, who would not only blow fire at me, but also launch me sky-high, are feeling sorry for flowers!? Did I get that right!?
There’s no chance of you pulling off such human acts……!
Rui
……You’re kicking up such a huge fuss just because I was weeding?
*Tsukasa goes up to Rui*
Tsukasa
Huh! Are you having a fever!? You must be burning up a high fever, aren’t you!?
*Rui backs off a little*
Rui
Don’t be silly, I really don’t have a fever. Am I not doing what obviously needs to be done?
Tsukasa
O-obvious!? And you’re referring to being gentle to flowers!?
Rui
I’m a Green Committee2 member, you know? Taking care of the flowers is obviously one of my responsibilities, isn’t it?
Tsukasa
You would carry out your committee duties seriously? You, the same person who would spend class time building weird robots?
In fact, wouldn’t it be more fitting of you to just let all those weird gadgets that you keep making do all your dirty work instead!
Rui
Well, you’re not wrong, since that method would probably be much more efficient. However, a delicate task like this requires careful hands, without which the flowers would likely get damaged.
Tsukasa
You’re worried…… that the flowers would get damaged!?
Rui
…… Aren't exhausted from reacting like that?
Tsukasa
I’m not acting surprised because I enjoy it, you know!
No, in the end I can’t believe that you would do this just to complete your committee obligations. You must be plotting something……
Rui
Sigh…… Ah, now that I think of it, Tsukasa, you’re afraid of bugs, right?
Tsukasa
Guh! W-what are you talking about? I’m not afraid of anything…….
Rui
There you go!
*Tsukasa jumps back*
Tsukasa
Gyaaah!!!
Rui
It’s just a caterpillar and you’re already…… Ah.3
*Tsukasa collapses*
Tsukasa
Oof…!
Rui
Oh dear. You’ve fallen into quite a beautiful form once again.
Tsukasa (offscreen)
…… (twitches)
Rui
I apologise for tripping you over so suddenly. However, I would like you to be aware of where your feet are going here. You could’ve accidentally stepped all over the flowers just now.
Now then…… I think I have eaten into the time for planting the seeds. Don’t bloom all over there on your own4,scoot over here instead.
*Rui shifts Tsukasa’s body*
Rui
…… Here’s probably fine.
*Tsukasa gets up*
Tsukasa
…Ugh. I was wondering what was up with you all of a sudden. Didn't think it would all be for those flowers……
Rui
I can’t just overlook someone who's about to trample all over the flowers right before my eyes now, can I?
Tsukasa
…… Is that so. I didn’t know you liked flowers that much. Sorry for doubting you.
Rui
It's alright, I don't mind. Rather than simply liking them……
Tsukasa
Arghh!? There’s mud all over my clothes now thanks to you! If I don’t get it off soon–!
*Tsukasa runs off*
Rui
Oh my, there he goes.
…… It seems like Tsukasa still hasn’t noticed your splendour
That is, the fact that you’re able to bring smiles to those who walk past just by being in bloom
Now, with this I've finished up the maintenance for your stage
I hope to continue seeing more wonderful shows from you.
Notes
-
This line is a gigantic tangent about paper folding and contains a pun…… which I can’t translate into English because there doesn’t seem to be any English equivalent to this. The full line is:
ふふ、市販されている紙折機を簡略化しただけの仕組みだけど、性能は折り紙つきさ。チラシ折り機だけにね。Here he talks about how even though its structure is a simplified version of a regular paper folding machine (紙折機), its abilities are 折り紙つき, as you would expect of a flyer folding machine (チラシ折り機).
折り紙つき translates to genuine, or authentic (i.e. its abilities are certified, trustworthy etc.) But uh I have no idea how to retain the pun so this note exists because of that. Press f to pay respects because i lost a solid 15-30min trying to figure out what this was supposed to mean
(Return to text)
- Rui says he’s a 緑化委員. Not completely sure how to translate this, I saw stuff like Planting Committee, Tree Planting Committee, Greening Committee etc., so I just went with what hopefully makes sense while being simple. The committee’s job is basically to take care of the plants in school and/or plant new ones if needed (Return to text)
- It’s not immediately clear here, especially with the dialogue and the limited animations, but Rui did indeed trip Tsukasa here. You can assume that Tsukasa was freaking out a lot after he saw the bug (even though his sprites dont even move a single inch here lol) (Return to text)
- Weird expression, but Rui’s referring to what is presumably a spreadeagle Tsukasa on the path (Return to text)