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distortedheartStory: (Ensemble Stars!) Leo Tsukinaga: With Pen to Paper
Characters: Leo, Tsumugi
Writer: Akira
Unlock: (Return Order) Leo Tsukinaga's Idol Road
Translator: distortedheart (twitter: adriessene)
Location: Library ✧ Spring
Tsumugi: (Mm~hm, mm~hm... I'm stumped. But I've always known I'm not particularly artistic... which is a bit of a problem, since my library committee duties require me to make quite a few posters.
People aren't likely to read a poster if it's only text, so I wanted to add a few illustrations. But, I can't think of a single idea...
Since art is Keito-kun's specialty, I considered maybe asking him... But it seems he's awfully busy with student council work, as usual.
Well, it's not as if I'm in any kind of rush... So why don't I take my time and do the best?)
Leo: Wahaha! I feel it, I feel it! Inspiration, like an endless well! I already feel a masterpiece at my fingertips... ☆
Tsumugi: Nnnn... Tsukinaga-kuuuun, if at all possible, could you be quiet in the library, please?
Granted, I'm the only one here right now... I guess kids these days don't have much interest in literature... So maybe it's all right that you're loud.
Leo: Ohh!? When'd you show up, Obaa-chan!?[1] I was concentrating so hard I didn't even notice you!
Y'know, feels like every time I see you your hair just gets shaggier and shaggier! Any shaggier than this and you're not gonna be able to see a thing!
And! If your bangs get any longer, aren't your eyes just gonna get worse?! And if your eyes get worse, won't your spectacles just get thicker and thicker!? Not that I'm complaining! The more a person sticks out, the easier they are to remember!
Anyway! Obaa-chan! Gimme gimme ♪
Tsumugi: I see you register me as someone who always gives you something whenever we meet.
But... I suppose I don't mind. It's much, much better than being forgotten.
Leo: Huuuh~? What're you all sad for all of a sudden? What's wrong! Cheer up!
When one person's, it brings down everybody's mood!
Tsumugi: Ahaha. You're always so sunny, aren't you? I'm jealous.
Maybe it's just because I'm getting old, but everything leaves me so tired lately... Maybe it's because I have bad posture? My shoulders are always painfully stiff, too...
Leo: Wahaha! How'd you get so old all of a sudden, Obaa-chan? Did you go visit the Palace of the Dragon King? Tell me, what was it like? The scent of that lacquer-box you weren't meant to open?[2]
Hey, hey, actually, you guys just got that one newbie, right? That one who's got the wires crossed between all five of his senses?
He sees sound, but does he smell it too? What's it like for him when he listens to my songs?
I'm interested! Introduce me! And then—in exchange!—I'll lend you our newbie, too!
Tsumugi: I'd rather not, if that's all right. Offering a kid I barely know doesn't exactly make me any more willing, either...
That aside, it's pretty unlike you to come by the library.
Ummm... I'm guessing you're here because you're looking for a book, right? If you can let me know what the title is, I can go find it for you. I know where pretty much every book in the library is.
Leo: Nope! I'm not here 'cause I'm looking for a specific book! Don't sweat it!
'Sides, it's fun sometimes to do the searching all by yourself~ I'm just gonna be looking at poetry anthologies and stuff today.
Can't be getting myself into a slump again, so I'm looking for some stimulation.
Well~ Since this is me we're talking about, I'll just grab whatever I find. I've always liked looking at things like picture books and poetry anyway.
Mm, it's more like... If I try to read anything too long, like a novel or something, my vision starts to blur, and I lose focus...
Like, when I'm reading, my thoughts start to wander away down some side street, and I forget what the story was about... So I can't really finish anything that's too long.
Tsumugi: Ah~ I sort of understand what you mean.
The e-book reader I use has a dictionary tool, so I end up looking up the meaning of each word one by one to learn each definition by heart... So it's a little difficult for me to finish things, too.
Leo: Wahaha, I get it. Technology makes things wayyyy too convenient, but then you end up with way too many options~
Like, me, I'm still learning how to use software for composing and stuff. It's got a ton of options for all sorts'a instrumental sounds, so sometimes I dunno where to even begin 'cause there's just way too many places to start.
It's kinda like, if you get too much freedom, you just end up not knowing what to do.
Tsumugi: Ahh, so you have the same problem, too~...
Though it may be falling out of fashion, I've always thought writing with pen to paper might be best. It's simple and easy.
Leo: Oh, yeah, actually, what's up with the pen and paper you have out, anyway? You've always been pretty bookworm-y. Are you writing a novel now, too?
Wahaha! ☆ Stare at a blank page all you want, but, no matter how hard you pray, a masterpiece isn't just gonna pop up from nowhere! First you have to write! The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step!
Tsumugi: Mmm, I know that, but my hands just won't move.
Oh, but I'm not writing a novel— I'm making a poster.
They're posters meant to explain how to use the library or to remind people to return their books.
Leo: Ohh? Sounds fun! Lemme help! I looove creative things ♪
Tsumugi: Ahaha~ It isn't really meant to be fun; it's just work.
But, if I have to be honest, it's been pretty difficult making so many posters all by myself. I won't say no if you're willing to help.
Thank you very much. You really are a good boy, Tsukinaga-kun.
To tell you the truth... I've been wondering if you hated me, as a former member of fine, since you seem to hate Eichi-kun.
But you and the Three Oddballs... All of you treat me normally.
Oh, though... They're not part of the Three Oddballs, but the last two of the former Five Oddballs, Natsume-kun and Shu-kun... I get on their nerves often.
I'll admit, I prefer how they treat me. It puts me at ease.
Leo: Nah, it's just that something like hating someone and being mad at them exhausts me. I guess you could call it a weakness...
Like, look at our Sena: every day he's huffing and puffing all angry over something or another. It's pretty impressive.
... Well, I guess it's my fault, too, for always doing things that make him angry.
But! When someone sings with a smile, the whole of them resounds nicer than anything else. Instead of stomping about with a chip on my shoulder, I just wanna focus on making happier and happier songs! It just feels waaay better.
Anyway! Look, look! I just made a poster!
How's this slogan? "If you don't return your borrowed books, His Majesty the Emperor's gonna murder you in cold blood!" ♪
Tsumugi: ... I see you still resent us a little bit, don't you, Tsukinaga-kun?
Translation Notes
1. Leo refers to Tsumugi as "Obaa-chan" (Grandma) because the last few letters of "Aoba" (oba) sound similar to the "oba" used in "obaa-chan." ↑
2. A reference to the fairytale about Urashima Taro, who loses his effectively eternal youth by opening a forbidden lacquer-box, the smoke within instantly aging him into an elderly man. ↑
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