#QC by Shiku

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Girls meet meat! à la carte Part 11

Previously: Part 10

Shiho: Whew, that was good. I’m more than satisfied.

Haruna: Our little friend was so happy.

Honoka: They were asking their mom to make it at home, too.

Maika: Don’t go relaxing just yet. The barbecue’s not over.

Honoka: Hm? Was there something else…?

Shiho: But I can’t eat any more…

Maika: No, not more food. We’ve gotta clean up.

Haruna: That’s right! We should leave it as spotless as it was when we got here.

Maika: Everyone’s helping out, okay? Pick up our trash and wash everything up!

---

Haruna: Phew…I think that’s everything.

Maika: Now we just have to return the tent. Can you handle that, Honoka?

Honoka: No problem. Can you guys help me take it down?

Shiho: Can I rest first? I’m so tired…

Honoka: C’mon, this won’t take long, let’s just get it done.

Haruna: Hey…look over there.

Maika: Hm? What’s up? Oh, wow…

Honoka: What a beautiful sunset…

Shiho: It’s such a vivid red…

Haruna: …Thank you, Maika-chan.

Maika: Huh? What for?

Haruna: Oh, you know. This whole thing was your idea. Today was so much fun…

Haruna: And we even got to see this beautiful sunset.

Honoka: Yeah, it’s all thanks to you, Maika.

Shiho: Even if we did have some hiccups.

Honoka: All’s well that ends well, right?

Haruna: At any rate, I sure had fun! Even all the little challenges were part of the experience.

Haruna: I love you all more than ever!

Shiho: How can you say such an embarrassing thing with a straight face?

Haruna: It’s fine, isn’t it? Especially at a time like this.

Honoka: Yeah, and even if your face turns red from embarrassment, people can’t tell because of the sunset.

Shiho: I see. Good point.

Maika: I love you guys too!

Shiho: Oho, even Maika’s confessing now.

Maika: It’s a little embarrassing, sure, but it’s the truth.

Honoka: In that case, me too!

Shiho: Same here, by the way!

Maika: Are you even saying it seriously…?

Haruna: …I’ll never forget this day. What a wonderful memory…

Fin.

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Girls meet meat! à la carte Part 10

Previously: Part 9

Maika: …Now then, it’s been a long time coming, but I think it’s time we grill some meat!

Maika: Haruna, if you would!

Haruna: On it! On behalf of the group, I humbly present this meat and place it upon the mesh.

Shiho: Hold it firmly now! Don’t get nervous! I know you can do it, Haruna!

Honoka: Shush it, you.

Haruna: The meat is…on the grill!

Sizzle

Shiho: What a soothing sound. It heals my weary soul…

Haruna: How does everyone like their meat?

Maika: For an expensive cut like this, we could probably go for medium.

Honoka: I want it well done!

Shiho: I’d prefer it a tiny bit rarer than medium-rare.

Haruna: Well, this is a pickle…

---

Haruna: Alright, meat’s done!

Maika: Thank you! Alright, let’s dig in!

Shiho: Here we go…!

Honoka: SO good! This is some real tasty meat!

Maika: You can say that again!

Haruna: Are you…crying, Shiho-chan?

Shiho: Incredible…meat is truly amazing…All hail the barbecue, long may it reign…

Maika: Overdramatic like usual…or so I’d like to say, but honestly I kinda get it.

Shiho: You get what I’m saying, Maika…?

Haruna: Honestly, until now, I’ve…never really felt particularly strongly about meat, but…

Haruna: I think grilling and eating meat like this truly is something special…

Shiho: Truly, anyone would feel joy eating this!

Honoka: It’s not the meat on its own though, you know. It’s the barbecue that’s filling you with happiness.

Shiho: This is true.

Honoka: If everyone in the world could just have a barbecue together, perhaps that would bring world peace and eternal happiness!

Shiho: When foreign politicians come for those big international conferences, they should just do barbecues instead of those stuffy old course meals.

Haruna: I think we’re blowing it a little out of proportion here…

---

Honoka: Phew…that was some incredible meat.

Haruna: What did you think, Shiho-chan?

Shiho: My verdict: Quite Satisfied.

Maika: Alright, time to cap it off with dessert.

Honoka: Oh right! I almost forgot about those bananas we bought.

Shiho: After how high we’ve peaked, ending with bananas is a bit of a downer…

Haruna: Oh, don't say that. Here, I’ll peel one for you.

Maika: Hold up, Haruna. We won’t be needing to peel these today.

Haruna: What do you mean, we don’t need to peel…?

Maika: Here, watch this.

Sizzle

Honoka: She put them on the grill unpeeled!

Haruna: Grilled banana…?

Maika: Just hang tight for a minute, okay?

Shiho: What on earth are you cooking?

---

Maika: Alright, any moment now…

Haruna: The bananas are turning black?

Maika: Yup! You wanna let them slowly cook until the peel is completely black.

Maika: After that, steam starts forming inside.

Honoka: She’s right. Look, the peels are coming off and steam is coming out!

Maika: Alright, so now we take the bananas off the grill…make a little incision, and open it up.

Shiho: Incredible…the insides look like they’ve been glazed with syrup.

Maika: Sprinkle some cinnamon sugar on top…

Maika: And voila! Dessert bananas! Eat it while it’s hot.

Honoka: …What the heck?! This is so good…!

Shiho: You could make a killing if you started selling these!

Haruna: Maika-chan, where did you learn this? This is so good!

Maika: This is how my family always ends our barbecues.

Maika: You can put some chocolate chips on it too! Here, give it a try.

Shiho: …Gasp! It’s even more perfect with chocolate chips!

Honoka: It’s like something you’d buy from a festival stall.

Haruna: This was the perfect way to end this barbecue!

Maika: Oh, I know! Why don’t we share this with our new friends?

Honoka: Good idea! It’ll be the perfect way to thank them for the meat.

Shiho: I’m sure the kid will love it.

Haruna: For sure. I can already picture the smile on their face…

Maika: Alright, I’ll go let ‘em know.

Maika: Excuse me, do you have a moment? We wanted to share with you our best item off the grill, if you’d like to try?

To be continued...in Part 11

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Girls meet meat! à la carte Part 9

Previously: Part 8

Maika: Alright, it’s time to resume the barbecue!

Honoka: What should we start with? Onions? Eggplants? Cabbage?

Shiho: Or perhaps…meat?

Maika: Who would’ve guessed that family would let us have some of theirs…

Shiho: Very lucky.

Honoka: It’s a good thing you approached them, Maika.

Maika: It’s not like I was after a reward or anything, though. The poor kid just seemed to be having a rough time, even in their sleep.

Maika: That’s why I asked them if they wanted to use our tent…

Haruna: Don’t worry, we know. We weren’t saying that’s what you were after.

Honoka: I’m sure that’s exactly why they felt like sharing with us, you know?

Honoka: And it looks so good, too! This can’t have been cheap.

Shiho: The end result: Very lucky.

Maika: Well, it is what it is.

Haruna: Hey, let’s try and keep it down a little, okay? We wouldn’t want to wake the little one up.

Honoka: Oh, good point…

Shiho: Shall we start cooking the meat? You guuuuys, you wanna start cooking the meaaaat?

Haruna: Shiho-chan’s so eager, she’s started acting weird…

Honoka: We’ve already been over this, we gotta start with veggies first!

Maika: Right. Okay, let’s get onions and eggplants on the fire then.

Honoka: Here we go!

Sizzle

Haruna: Mmm! It smells delightful.

Shiho: Do we have any sauces? What condiments should we use?

Maika: Try just soy sauce first.

Shiho: Really? Just soy sauce…?

Maika: Just shut it and give it a try.

Honoka: Onions are done!

Haruna: Alright, let’s try it with soy sauce. Here goes…

Maika: Well? Good, isn’t it?

Shiho: What on earth? This is incredible!

Haruna: Who knew it could taste this good just from grilling it and dipping in soy sauce?

Maika: That is one of barbecue’s greatest mysteries. 

Honoka: We have this barbecue tare sauce too.

Shiho: Yes please. I’ll try the eggplant with it.

Haruna: Uwaah! So good~

Shiho: The humble eggplant, reincarnated into a delicacy…

Honoka: Things just taste better when you put in the hard work to grill them, you know?

Shiho: We did go through a lot today.

Maika: Plus we’ve got the crisp fall air! A clear blue sky! And everyone’s big smiles!

Maika: That’s the best seasoning you could ever find!

Haruna: Food does taste better when you’re surrounded by smiling faces.

Shiho: I have been underestimating onions and eggplants…who knew they held so much potential?

Maika: Try the cabbage too, it’s good.

Haruna: Oh…the little one woke up…

Honoka: It’s ‘cause you’re all so loud…

Shiho: We can only talk so quietly.

Maika: We’re sorry if we woke you up. Did you sleep well?

---

Maika: I have an announcement to make. Just now, after escorting our young friend back to their parents…

Maika: They gave us this beautiful salmon!

Honoka: Wha?! This humble barbecue is getting real fancy now!

Maika: I honestly tried to tell them that I couldn’t possibly take it, but they insisted…

Shiho: Such kindness. We must receive it with gratitude.

Haruna: We should see if we can’t repay them somehow.

Shiho: So, how shall we cook this magnificent specimen?

Maika: Just leave it to me! First, lay out some aluminum foil…

Maika: We’ll place enoki mushrooms on first.

Haruna: And then…the salmon goes on top of that, I’m guessing?

Maika: That’s right! Then you spread some butter, and add a drop of soy sauce.

Honoka: Foil-grilled butter soy sauce enoki and salmon!

Shiho: Sounds good. Can’t wait.

---

Maika: Let’s see…I think it should be ready now? I’m gonna open it up, ‘kay?

Haruna: Oh wow! It looks amazing!

Honoka: I’ll dig right in…Mm…. What the heck?! It’s like a party in my mouth!

Shiho: I would like to meet the person who invented this cooking technique, and give them a high-five.

Maika: Why a high-five…?

---

Haruna: Should we get the sausages on soon?

Honoka: You want some, Shiho?

Shiho: I’ll pass. It would take away from the experience of eating the meat later.

Honoka: Suit yourself. …Mmm! So good! I love sausages!

Maika: No barbecue is complete without ‘em!

Haruna: I’ll try it with some mustard. …Mmm! This is so good!

Honoka: Aren’t sausages the best?

Shiho: …Aaah! Fine, I yield! Give me some too, please!

Maika: Here you go. Careful, it’s hot.

Shiho: Oh ow, ih’s ho’. …Bu’, ih’s ‘ood!

Maika: Alright, next let’s get the meat going!

Honoka: Time for the star of the show!

Shiho: Here come the fireworks! [1]

Haruna: I don’t…think that’s quite right…

To be continued...in Part 10

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Notes

[1]: Shiho originally calls out "Tamaya~!", a name often shouted as a cheer when watching fireworks in Japan. (Tamaya was one of two well-known fireworks guilds from the Edo period)

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Girls meet meat! à la carte Part 8

Previously: Part 7

Maika: I’ve got an idea.

Haruna: What is it?

Maika: Here, look at this poster here.

Honoka: Let’s see…”Tents available for rent”?

Haruna: You want to rent a canopy tent?

Maika: If we get a waterproof tent, we won’t have to worry about another sudden downpour.

Shiho: Do we have the money for it, though?

Maika: See, my family’s always been coming here for all our barbecues. So I’ve got a stash of discount coupons.

Honoka: So you can rent one on the cheap?

Maika: With the amount I’ve got, it might as well be free.

Haruna: That’s amazing, Maika-chan!

Shiho: But what if it doesn’t end up raining?

Honoka: That’s fine, it’ll still be handy. It’ll give us shade from the sun’s heat, for one.

Maika: The only thing now is how we’ll set it up.

Haruna: Oh no…would we have to do it all ourselves?

Shiho: But we are just helpless little girls.

Maika: Aren’t you forgetting someone? We’ve got someone who’s perfect for this kind of thing.

Maika: Isn’t that right, Honoka?

Honoka: Stuff like this, you can count on me!

---

Maika: I got the tent~ All yours, Honoka.

Honoka: OK! I’ll need you guys to help, though. Don’t worry, just do what I tell you.

Haruna: You got it!

Shiho: I’ll do what I can.

Honoka: Okay, first let’s open it up. Everyone grab a corner and spread it out.

Maika: All done. What’s next?

Honoka: Next, take these poles…

Shiho: Are we going to do a pole dance?

Haruna: Shiho-chan, don’t be weird.

Shiho: I was just thinking we could have some fun while we were at it…

Maika: What do we do with these?

Honoka: These will give the tent its structure. It’s gonna be a dome shape, right?

Honoka: Stick the poles through the hole like this…and give it a good bend, like this.

Maika: Ooh, it’s starting to look like a tent already.

Honoka: Come on, you guys do it too.

Haruna: Hup…there. Is this okay?

Honoka: Ooh, yup! Alright, now we’ll secure it all together.

Shiho: Honoka, help…

Honoka: What the heck? You really can’t do it?

Shiho: I am just a mere humanities student.

Honoka: Here, let me. Hup…okay, there we go.

Maika: Will this do, Honoka?

Honoka: Let me see? …Yep, perfect. Way to go, Maika!

Maika: Yay! I help my dad out with stuff like this all the time.

Shiho: Curses, I wish to be praised as well…

Honoka: Okay, moving on to the next step. Stick these pegs into the ground, and we’ll tie the tent down using them.

Haruna: Pegs? What are those…?

Honoka: They should look like big spikes with a hook on one end.

Haruna: Found them! These, right?

Honoka: Yep, so now we’ll drive them into the ground with this hammer.

Haruna: I don’t think I’ve so much as touched a hammer before…

Shiho: Allow me. I’ll do it.

Haruna: Are you sure, Shiho-chan?

Shiho: Of course. This is nothing.

Honoka: Careful not to hit your hand.

Shiho hammers away.

Shiho: Oh no…!

Haruna: Shiho-chan! Are you okay?!

Honoka: Sigh, what did I tell you? Are you hurt? Give me your hand.

Honoka: Wait, what? It’s perfectly fine.

Shiho: I saw that I was about to hit it, so I quickly moved it out of the way.

Honoka: Nice. Didn’t know you could react that quick!

Shiho: Praise from Honoka. Yay.

Maika: Is that really what you want to be complimented for, though…?

Haruna: Thanks, Shiho-chan. I think I can take it from here.

Honoka: You’ll get the most power if you go at it from a 45° angle.

Haruna: 45 degrees? Okay, got it.

Haruna hammers away.

Honoka: There you go! Nice work, Haruna!

Haruna: You’re right Shiho-chan, it does feel good getting complimented.

Shiho: See what I’m talking about?

---

Honoka: …Alright, and that’s how you set up a tent!

Haruna: Yay! We did it!

Maika: Honoka did most of the work, though.

Shiho: That’s all well and good that we set it up, but it really doesn’t seem like there’s going to be any more rain.

Shiho: The weather’s all nice and clear now.

Haruna: Yeah. It’s getting pretty hot out, actually.

Honoka: Hey, look at the family next to us. Their kid’s fallen asleep.

Haruna: Yeah. They look like they’re sweating up a storm, too…

Maika: Excuse me! If you don’t mind, I have a suggestion for you…

Shiho: Maika’s approaching them.

Maika: You can come use this tent if you’d like! It’s nice and cool in the shade.

To be continued...in Part 9

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Girls meet meat! à la carte Part 7

Previously: Part 6

Shiho: Hm? Honoka appears to be running back like her life depends on it.

Haruna: …She sure is. I wonder what’s wrong?

Honoka: Help! We’ve got a big problem on our hands!

Haruna: What’s wrong? Did you see a snake or something?

Shiho: Perhaps a bear?

Honoka: No, no, it’s our tomatoes! All our tomatoes are floating away down the river…

Haruna: Wha? But we had them in that mesh bag…

The sound of crows.

Honoka: I bet the crows did this…there wasn’t a single one left in the bag…

Maika: Hm? Where’s the tomatoes, Honoka?

Honoka: Ahh, you see…

Shiho: Ah! Look over there!

Maika: What? …Ahh!!

Haruna: Our meat! That crow is taking our meat!

The crow flaps its wings.

Honoka: Damnit! To think that they’d even steal our meat!

Maika: It’s flying away! We gotta go after it!

Shiho: We’ll catch it no matter what! We must reclaim our meat…!

Maika: Haruna, you stay here!

Haruna: Got it! Be careful, you three!

The crow flies away.

Haruna: Ahh…the crow flew into the trees…

Haruna: Can they really get it back…?

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Haruna: Welcome back! How’d it go…?

Honoka: No dice…we lost sight of it.

Shiho: It was a lost cause. Flight is a huge advantage, after all…

Honoka: We’ll have to see if Maika can pull it off. She chased it deep into the woods.

Haruna: Oh, here she comes now.

Honoka: Any luck, Maika…?

Shiho: Where’s our meat?

Maika: …No good. Let’s just let it go.

Honoka: Oh no…first the tomatoes, and now our prized meat…

Shiho: We should have bought a little more after all…

Haruna: Huh? Just now, did you guys feel a raindrop too…?

Honoka: Don’t tell me it’s about to start raining…?

Shiho: I knew it. What’d I tell you?

Maika: Quick, we gotta pack this all up and get to cover!

---

Rain falls.

Honoka: It’s really coming down…

Haruna: We managed to get everything to safety, at least.

Maika: What should we do now? Do we want to try waiting the rain out?

Shiho: That’s assuming it’ll stop anytime soon.

Haruna: The forecast does say it shouldn’t last too long, but…

Shiho: Even if it does, we are meatless. What are we going to do about that?

Shiho: The crow took our meat, remember?

Honoka: When it rains, it really does pour…

Maika: I’m sorry, this is all my fault…

Haruna: Maika-chan…why would you think that?

Maika: I’m the one who bought that block of meat, and then said we didn’t need to buy any more…

Maika: Plus, this barbecue was my idea. And now look what happened.

Haruna: It’s not your fault. We all wanted to go on this barbecue together.

Honoka: Exactly. Don’t blame yourself, Maika.

Maika: I appreciate that, guys. …Let’s just go home and get something to eat.

Shiho: …Can we wait a moment before we do that?

Haruna: What’s up, Shiho-chan? What are you taking out your sketchbook for…?

Shiho: We did come all the way out here, I thought it would be nice to get a sketch to commemorate.

Shiho: It may not be ideal, but the current situation will do.

Maika: You want to draw us all hiding from the rain?

Shiho: This too will one day be a good memory. Okay, I’m starting. Everyone stand still.

Honoka: Now you’re making me nervous…

Shiho: What’s with the long faces? Come on, turn those frowns upside-down.

Honoka: Uh, easier said than done. It’s hard not to feel gloomy with this weather.

Shiho: You really want to be preserved in this picture looking like sad wet cats?

Haruna: This will be how we remember this moment, so let’s try and make it a happy memory.

Honoka: That’s true. That way we’ll be able to laugh about it one day, at least.

Maika: Alright, everyone smile! You better make us look good, yeah Shiho?

Shiho: We’ll see. I simply draw it as I see it~

---

Shiho: …Alright, I’m done for now.

Maika: Wow, you sure are fast.

Shiho: It’s only a sketch. Coloring and stuff comes later after we get home.

---

The rain stops.

Haruna: Oh, look…! The rain stopped! The sun’s coming out!

Honoka: Yeah!! What do you think, Maika? Should we resume?

Maika: But we don’t have meat anymore, remember?

Haruna: We weren’t excited for this barbecue because we wanted to eat meat.

Haruna: We were excited because we wanted to spend time together, as the four of us.

Honoka: Exactly! Well said, Haruna.

Shiho: Besides, we do still have the sausages.

Maika: …Okay, then. I guess the barbecue’s back on…if you guys are down?

Honoka: Yeah, let’s do it! I’m gonna chow down on those veggies!

Haruna: Maybe you can get another sketch, Shiho-chan! One where we’re smiling for real!

Shiho: Let’s stay ready to get to cover in case the rain comes again, though.

Maika: Nah, no need for that. I’ve got an idea.

To be continued...in Part 8

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Girls meet meat! à la carte Part 6

Previously: Part 5

Maika: By the way, where’s Shiho? I told her to come here.

Honoka: Oh, she was here earlier but…she wandered off somewhere.

Maika: What the heck? Where did she go?

Honoka: She mentioned she was gonna go for a walk…

Maika: Ugh, looks like I gotta go find her…

Haruna: Hey Maika-chan! I cleaned up over there.

Maika: Thanks, Haruna. I’ll be right back, I’m gonna go track Shiho down.

Maika: You two can start putting the cut veggies on a platter.

Haruna: Yepperoni~

Honoka: Is that a thing people say now? Since when?

Haruna: I think it’s just Shiho, really. But I guess it kinda rubbed off on me at some point too.

Honoka: Hehe. Okay, let’s get plating these veggies!

Haruna: Ta-daaa! Look! We cut them nice and big!

Honoka: Ooh, looks good!

Haruna: And the sausages we basically left as-is, for the best biting experience!

Honoka: Yeah! That’s how it should be for a barbecue.

Haruna: My thoughts exactly. …Oh no! I forgot to cut the tomatoes…

Honoka: I think that’s fine. Just leave them uncut too.

Haruna: You think that’ll be okay?

Honoka: We’ll add a dash of salt and have at it. Let out your wild side a little, you know?

Haruna: I guess… Wouldn’t it be bad manners, though…?

Honoka: Don’t you worry about that! We’re not in some fancy restaurant or anything out here.

Honoka: We’re on a barbecue out in the field! No one can stop us from pigging out a little.

Haruna: But people can still see us…like that family over there in the next spot over.

Haruna: What if their little one saw us? We’d be setting a really bad example…

Honoka: Biting into tomatoes whole and making them look really tasty? What’s bad about that?

Haruna: Well...nothing, when you put it like that, but…

Honoka: You know, I bet that kid isn’t a fan of tomatoes right now.

Haruna: What makes you say that?

Honoka: I mean, most kids aren’t. Go ahead and look it up online.

Haruna looks at her phone.

Haruna: …You’re right. This list of kids’ most disliked vegetables says it’s 7th.

Honoka: 7th? I honestly thought it would be higher…

Haruna: While we’re at it, do you want to guess what’s number 1?

Honoka: Number 1? Hmm…maybe bell peppers?

Haruna: Bzzzt. Bell peppers are 5th.

Honoka: …I give up. Just tell me!

Haruna: Number 1 is…celery~

Honoka: Ohhhh, of course! …Wait, what were we talking about again?

Haruna: How kids don’t like tomatoes.

Honoka: Right! So…imagine if that kid saw us biting into them whole and absolutely wolfing them down.

Honoka: It would make tomatoes look really tasty and wonderful to them, right?

Haruna: That’s true…okay, you’ve convinced me!

Honoka: That’s what I’m talking about! So to really make the tomato-crunching experience as good as can be…

Honoka: Why don’t we let them chill in the river? I did buy this mesh bag and all.

Haruna: But Maika-chan said we shouldn’t…

Honoka: It’ll be fine. Look, there isn’t even anyone playing in the river right now. Come on, it’s not everyday we go out in the great outdoors and get to use the Earth’s natural fridge like this!

Haruna: Well…I do also want to try it!

Honoka: It’ll be good, I promise. This is what going on a barbecue is all about!

---

Maika: Shihoooo! Where are you?

Shiho: Hm? What’s up, Maika?

Maika: Don’t “What’s up” me! What are you doing wandering off while everyone else does the work?

Shiho: Honoka made it pretty clear she didn’t want my help…

Maika: What were you doing here?

Shiho: Can’t you tell? I’m sketching.

Maika: Huh, you really brought your sketchbook.

Shiho: I found a good spot here.

Shiho: Beautiful flowers, rare wildlife…so many sights, I just had to commit them to paper.

Maika: I guess you can find all sorts of cool stuff in the wild, yeah…

Crows flap their wings.

Shiho: There are quite a few crows about, as well.

Maika: They better not think about messing with our ingredients…

Maika: Come on, let’s head back. If you don’t hurry, we’ll eat all the food without you.

Maika leaves.

Shiho: Ah! Wait!

---

Maika: Alrighty, it’s time to get grilling!

Honoka: At long last!

Shiho: Let’s start with the meat.

Honoka: Hold on, it’s better to start with the vegetables.

Honoka: If you start right away with meat, your blood sugar level spikes really suddenly. You’ll gain more weight if you do that.

Shiho: Very well, let us start with the veggies.

Maika: Hm? Where’d the tomatoes go?

Haruna: You see…we put them in the river to chill…

Honoka: Sorry, I just really couldn’t help myself! I want to eat river-chilled veggies!

Maika: Oh, fine…it’s probably time to go grab ‘em, though.

Honoka: I’m on it! Be right back!

Maika: The rest of us will get the meat on the fire. That big block of meat will take a while to cook all the way through, after all…

Shiho: I approve. Don’t mind if I do, then…

Maika: Whoa! You can’t go touching it with your bare hands.

Shiho: Whyever not?

Maika: Raw meat is covered in all kinds of germs! Plus, you wouldn’t want to risk burning your hand.

Haruna: What should we use, then? We can’t possibly pick this up with chopsticks, it’s too big.

Maika: I forgot to bring tongs…ugh, how could I forget?

Haruna: Should I go ask if we can borrow a pair?

Maika: I’ll do it. You guys sit tight.

Haruna: What shall the two of us do in the meantime? Should we get started on the veggies?

Shiho: Indeed. Let’s do it.

Haruna: Okay, let’s start with the onions…

Shiho: Hm? Honoka appears to be running back like her life depends on it.

Haruna: …She sure is. I wonder what’s wrong?

Honoka: Help! We’ve got a big problem on our hands!

To be continued...in Part 7

[prismatranslates-cue]

Girls meet meat! à la carte Part 5

Previously: Part 4

Maika: Alright, here we are! Now then, let the barbecue…commence!

Honoka: At long last!

Maika: That said, we’ve still got a lot of setup work to do, like prepping the ingredients.

Maika: Anyone feeling particularly confident in their knife skills?

Silence.

Maika: …What, really? No one?

Haruna: The way you said it really turned up the pressure…

Honoka: I’d have to say I’m probably below average…

Shiho: I’m completely hopeless with a knife.

Maika: …Alright, Haruna, please and thank you.

Haruna: O-okay. I’ll do my best.

Maika: Then, Honoka, can I get you to start the fire?

Honoka: Can do, boss!

Maika: If you need help with it, you can ask the person on duty. They’ll be at the place where we rented the equipment.

Honoka: I’ll be fine! I’ll get this fire going with my own two hands!

Maika: Geez, no need to get all stubborn about it… Anything you feel like you could do, Shiho?

Shiho: I assume besides drawing pictures?

Maika: Yes, preferably something related to the barbecue…

Shiho: I’ll try and think of something. Ask me again in an hour.

Maika: Uh, it’s fine, I’ll just get you to wash the vegetables for now. Let me know when you’re done and I’ll think of something else.

Shiho: Yepperoni~

Honoka: The river back there looked really clean. You could use that?

Maika: Please just use tap water.

Honoka: Come on, shouldn’t we try and do things naturally if we can? It’ll reinforce the barbecue atmosphere.

Maika: But we don’t know what’s in the river, especially with people playing in the water there. Just use tap water, it’s safer.

Shiho: What will you do, Maika?

Maika: I’ll go around checking on all of you and giving directions.

Honoka: Our own commander-in-chief!

Maika: Everyone’s got something to do? Okay, break!

---

Maika: While we wait for Shiho to finish with the vegetables, you and I can get started with the sausages.

Haruna: How big should I cut them?

Maika: We’re grilling them, so you can honestly make them pretty chunky. Nothing beats biting into a big juicy piece of sausage, yeah?

Haruna: In that case, we could probably leave them as-is, no?

Maika: Sure! I guess just score them a little with the knife to make sure they cook through.

Shiho: Veggies are washed~

Haruna: Whoa, already?

Shiho: It’s not like we pulled them straight out of the field. We bought them from the supermarket, they were pretty clean to begin with.

Maika: Good work. Next, could you go see how Honoka’s doing?

Shiho: Yepperoni~

Haruna: Is that her new favourite phrase or something…?

Maika: Alright, let’s cut the onions next.

Haruna: Onions, huh…the tears always get to me, so this might not turn out well.

Maika: Not to worry. You know there’s ways to cut them without having to deal with the tears?

Haruna: Oh, like wearing swimming goggles and stuff?

Maika: Don’t even need to make it all complicated! All you need is this one simple trick.

Maika: All you gotta do…is cut them all in one go, before the tears can come!

Haruna: I…see…

Maika: Alright, ready? And…go!

---

Honoka: Ugh, no good…I’m not getting anywhere with this fire…

Shiho: How’s it going, Honoka?

Honoka: Oh, uh…well, you know! It’s going, it’s going.

Shiho: Are you okay? You’re sweating pretty hard.

Honoka: Well… I’m trying to get this fire started with just matchsticks and a fan, so it takes a lot of elbow grease…

Shiho: Why not use a block of firelighter or borrow a torch? That sign over there says they have some.

Honoka: I really want to try not to rely on stuff like that. …It would feel like giving in, you know?

Shiho: So you’ve chosen stubbornness.

Honoka: Between a flame lit naturally with the good old match, and one lit with stuff like firelighters and torches…

Honoka: Which one do you think will cook tastier meat?

Shiho: Either would be fine, surely.

Honoka: No way! The fire you lit through grit and hard work is obviously better! It’s all about the emotion, you know.

Shiho: I don’t get it…

Honoka: Feel free to leave if you don’t! I’ll do this myself.

Shiho: Yepperoni~ I’ll go for a walk, then.

Shiho leaves.

Honoka: …All that said, all the other groups I can see from here got their fires going so easily.

Honoka: Like that family in the spot next to us. The dad didn’t even break a sweat, and now they’re having so much fun…

Honoka: …No, keep it together! I won’t lose! I’ll get this fire going with blood, sweat, and matches and fans…!

---

Maika: …Alright, that should be pretty much it for food prep.

Haruna: What about the meat?

Maika: We’ll grill it whole! And then we’ll slice it up nice and thin after.

Haruna: Sounds good! Gosh, that sounds downright fancy!

Maika: Can you handle cleaning this up on your own? I’m gonna go check on how Honoka and Shiho are doing.

Haruna: Yepperoni~

Maika: Damn, now she’s got you doing it too…

---

Honoka: Oh, hey Maika. I got the fire going, no problem.

Maika: Way to go! That must’ve been tough.

Honoka: Not at all. Piece of cake!

Maika: Oh, you ended up using a firelighter.

Honoka: Yeah…that family next to us gave me some of theirs. I guess…taking the easier route is okay too, sometimes.

To be continued...in Part 6

[prismatranslates-cue]

Girls meet meat! à la carte Part 4

Previously: Part 3

Maika: Meat? We don’t need to buy any.

Honoka: Now hold on a second…what do you mean?!

Haruna: You’re joking, right Maika-chan…?

Maika: Nope. I’m as serious as can be.

Honoka: So, what, you want to have a barbecue without any meat?

Shiho: A barbecue without meat is…is like a birthday party without cake! [1]

Honoka: Well said, Shiho.

Haruna: I have to agree. It’s such a sad image…

Shiho: At this juncture, we can no longer avoid what must be done. We demand that Maika resign from the post of Barbecue Leader at once!

Honoka: Hear hear! This is the will of the people!

Haruna: Please calm down, you two…

Honoka: What, are you okay with this barbecue then, Haruna? A MEATLESS barbecue?!

Haruna: No, of course not…

Shiho: Then stand with us! We must seize the reins of this barbecue back from Maika.

Honoka: Yeah, exactly! We gotta seize the reins!

Haruna: Maika-chan, please, it doesn’t have to be expensive but…surely we can buy some meat, right?

Shiho: Or else this barbecue will be more of a bore-becue.

Maika: ….Oh, alright.

Haruna: You’ll let us buy some meat?

Maika: Oh, no, we’re not buying.

Honoka: Ugh, stubborn to the end…what should we do, Shiho?

Shiho: Negotiations have broken down. Our only option…is to cancel the barbecue.

Haruna: Oh no…but we were all looking forward to it…

Maika: Whoa, slow down! Just hear me out.

Maika: Look, what I meant is, we don’t need to buy any meat from here. From this store.

Haruna: From this store…? What are you trying to say…?

Maika: Aw, geez. Honestly, I wanted to keep this for a big reveal right at the moment of truth.

Maika: Here, take a look at this.

Haruna: Inside the cooler you’ve been bringing around…?

Maika: Keep it on the down-low, ya hear?

Honoka: What is it…? Wait…is this what I think it is?!

Maika: Shh, keep your voice down.

Shiho: It’s a huge block of meat…!

Maika: It’s no premium quality or anything, but it’ll be really good on the grill, right? And it was relatively cheap, all things considered.

Haruna: Where did you get this, Maika-chan…?

Maika: That one meat shop not too far from the dorm.

Honoka: Oh, the one you’re always getting side dishes and prepackaged stuff from?

Shiho: The source of those delicious fried croquettes.

Maika: That’s the one! I mentioned that we were going on a barbecue, and they gave me a special discount for it~

Maika: Will this be enough to tide you over?

Honoka: A beautiful block of meat like this? Of course it is!

Shiho: This will make a fitting star to our barbecue show. In fact it deserves an Oscar, best leading actor.

Haruna: You should’ve told us about this from the beginning, Maika-chan!

Maika: I was hoping to surprise you guys later…

Honoka: I totally thought you were just being stingy like usual.

Maika: I’m not ashamed of being thrifty, but c’mon, even I know a meatless barbecue would be pretty sad!

Maika: I wouldn’t ruin our special barbecue like that.

Shiho: I have no further objections.

Honoka: Long live the Barbecue Leader!

Haruna: Um, in case you've forgotten, we’re still in the middle of a store, you know?

Honoka: Oops…I got too carried away…

Haruna: You too, Maika-chan, you should hurry and put that away.

Maika: Alright then, let’s finish up buying stuff here.

Honoka: If we have that beautiful meat, I don’t need anything more.

Maika: We still gotta get drinks though, right? Plus aluminum foil and paper plates and stuff.

Shiho: We gladly heed your commands, O Great Barbecue Leader!

Haruna: Meat sure does have an amazing power…

---

Maika: Alright, we’re all set on ingredients. Now it’s time to make our way to the barbecue site!

Haruna: …We didn’t buy all that much, relatively speaking, but these veggies are surprisingly heavy…

Shiho: The drinks, too. Ohh, my arms…

Honoka: Here, let me carry the veggies then! The drinks, too.

Haruna: Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to burden you.

Honoka: It’s easy if I just think of this as more training! I’ll see you guys there.

Honoka runs ahead.

Maika: And off she goes. How can she run so fast while carrying so much stuff?

Shiho: Incredible… Useful, one might say.

Haruna: Mmmm…haaa….I love how nice the air feels on a clear autumn day like today.

Maika: We got lucky with the weather, huh?

Shiho: I wouldn’t be so sure. I'm expecting an unexpected downpour. Caution is advised.

Maika: Really? There’s not even a cloud in the sky right now, though.

Haruna: And the forecast said it’d be clear skies all day.

Shiho: I spend a fair amount of time outside working on sketches. I’ve developed a sixth sense for the weather.

Shiho: I…can feel it.

Haruna: Maybe we should have brought umbrellas…?

Maika: If it rains…well, we’ll cross that bridge if and when we come to it.

To be continued...in Part 5

---

Notes

[1]: Shiho originally compares a barbecue without meat to a Christmas without cake. The Christmas<->cake connection is particularly strong in Japan, more than most other places as far as I'm aware, so I changed it to a birthday party for an association more familiar to English speakers.

[prismatranslates-cue]

Girls meet meat! à la carte Part 3

Previously: Part 2

Maika: Alrighty! Let’s start heading to the barbecue site!

Haruna: Is it near here?

Maika: It’s a few minutes’ walk, I’d say. There’s a supermarket on the way that I want to stop by, though.

Maika: We’ll stock up on barbecue ingredients there.

Honoka: When I looked up the barbecuing place before, I saw that we could get ingredients there. We can get charcoal too, and rent equipment.

Haruna: Right! I saw they have premade sets of meat and veggies.

Maika: We’ll get the charcoal and rent equipment there, but let’s buy the ingredients ourselves.

Maika: That’s part of the fun of a barbecue!

Shiho: I can concur with this.

Maika: But no getting carried away, okay? We’re on a budget here!

---

Maika: Alright then, let’s start with the vegetables.

Shiho: I don’t see the need. Why eat vegetables when you could use that room for more meat instead?

Honoka: No no no, that won’t do! We gotta eat a good balance of meat and veggies.

Haruna: How about we start with onions?

Honoka: Onions are good! They help keep your blood pressure low.

Shiho: I suppose I wouldn’t mind tomatoes.

Honoka: Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, which is a great antioxidant.

Haruna: How about eggplants?

Honoka: Eggplants are full of potassium, which helps you cool off when your body’s too hot.

Shiho: You sure know your vegetables, Honoka.

Honoka: I’m always trying to learn everything I can about taking care of my body!

Maika: Let’s slow down a little. This is a barbecue, remember? It’s all well and good to think about the health benefits…

Maika: But what’s really important is getting the most bang for our buck! So let’s be more strategic about this.

Haruna: So can we get onions and eggplants…?

Maika: For sure. You can’t have a barbecue without ‘em! But not those ones, those are too expensive…let’s look over here.

Maika: We want to get the best possible deal.

Honoka: I guess it’s a little weird to think about tomatoes for a barbecue.

Shiho: Aw…but I really wanted some.

Maika: We can get tomatoes, too. They’re cheap enough.

Maika: If you eat nothing but grilled stuff your mouth gets kinda tired of it, right? Tomatoes will be a nice refreshing change in texture.

Shiho: Following that logic, how about some mozzarella?

Maika: Way too expensive. Rejected.

Shiho: Aw, I was thinking we could make some caprese salad.

Maika: Caprese salad at a barbecue? Don’t be silly.

Honoka: How about pumpkins and carrots?

Maika: Those are hard to grill because of how tough they are, so we’d probably end up just having them left over afterwards…

Haruna: What about asparagus?

Maika: Hmm, we can’t really get a lot given the price…let’s substitute with cabbage instead.

Haruna: Substitute asparagus with…cabbage?

Maika: They’re both leafy greens, right? And cabbages are a little more filling, too.

Shiho: Can we get mushrooms too, Maika?

Maika: Good idea! We’ll grill them in aluminum foil.

Shiho: Okay, I’ll get some matsutake.

Maika: Whoa, no you won’t! Do you know how expensive those are?!

Shiho: Okay, truffles then.

Maika: Are you even listening? We’re grilling it in foil, enoki is more than good enough!

Honoka: Oh, hey, how about sausages? You can’t picture a barbecue without ‘em, right?

Haruna: How about these? It says they’re stuffed with herbs. Doesn’t that sound good?

Maika: These are way too pricey. If you want sausages, let’s get this cheaper kind here.

Honoka: Okay, can we get corn? Grilled corn would be fun.

Haruna: Hehe, yeah! It’ll be our dessert.

Maika: No need, I’ve already decided on our dessert. We’ll get bananas!

Haruna: Bananas? To end a barbecue…?

Maika: Don’t you worry, I promise it’ll be good. Just trust me.

Honoka: I’m sure they’ll taste fine, but…

Maika: I’m pretty sure they have cheap ones over there. Wait here, I’ll go get some!

Maika leaves.

Shiho: Bananas for a barbecue? What is she thinking?

Haruna: I’m sure she has a plan of some sort…

Honoka: Doubt it, I bet it’s just her being as stingy as ever, you know? Just take a look at our shopping cart.

Shiho: Onions, tomatoes, eggplants. enoki mushrooms, cheap sausages…

Shiho: And apparently, bananas for dessert.

Honoka: Doesn’t this seem really underwhelming for a barbecue?

Haruna: But I mean…our budget is pretty limited.

Honoka: Then couldn’t we raise it just a little? It’s a barbecue! If we let Maika keep this up this is gonna be the lamest barbecue of all time.

Haruna: Maika-chan knows what she’s doing…surely.

Honoka: But just look at this! How are we supposed to get excited about this?

Shiho: Here’s a question. What is the star of a barbecue?

Haruna: …What’s this coming from all of a sudden?

Honoka: The star? That’s gotta be meat, of course!

Shiho: Spot on. If it’s barbecue, it’s gotta be meat. If it’s meat, it’s gotta be barbecue.

Shiho: Let us band together and firmly present our demands to Maika: If nothing else, we must buy some good meat!

Honoka: Yeah, you’re right! We gotta at least have that!

Haruna: I do agree that meat is pretty important…!

Honoka: Oh, here she comes! Okay, Shiho, you start it off.

Shiho: I humbly accept the task.

Maika: We got lucky on the bananas, I found some super cheap ones! …What’s wrong? You guys look real serious all of a sudden.

Honoka: Shiho has something she wants to say to you, Maika.

Maika: Huh? Sure, what’s up?

Shiho: We hereby present our demands! One which we will not compromise on: Even should the price be a tad high…

Shiho: Let us buy some tasty meat!

Applause.

Honoka: I second the motion! Come on, you too Haruna.

Haruna: Maika-chan…just this once? At least just the meat.

Maika: Meat? …We don’t need to buy any.

Shiho: Did I hear that right…?

Honoka: Surely not…!

Haruna: What do you mean…?

To be continued...in Part 4

[prismatranslates-cue]

Girls meet meat! à la carte Part 2

Previously: Part 1

Maika: What do you mean, a long story? I’m all ears.

Honoka: Okay, so when I left the dorm I had plenty of time to get here, right? So there I was, leisurely strolling along and thinking about how fun this barbecue would be.

Maika: So you really WERE excited for it after all…?

Honoka: Uh, duh! I was imagining how great it was gonna be the whole time I was coming here!

Honoka: So then, I suddenly started getting worried.

Haruna: Worried? What about? 

Honoka: I mean, we’ll be out in nature all day, right? So we’re gonna need bug spray.

Haruna: I did bring some…

Honoka: Okay, but what kind of bug spray is it?

Haruna: Um, just the regular kind I guess…?

Honoka: That’s what I thought. And I realized, what if it doesn’t agree with our skin? So I went and bought one made from herbs and other natural ingredients.

Haruna: I see! That was very thoughtful of you, Honoka-chan.

Honoka: And that’s not all! Summer may be over but the sun can still be pretty strong, so I also bought some sunscreen.

Honoka: What if someone gets too excited and burns herself on the barbecue? Burn ointment! What if someone can’t control herself and eats too much? Stomach medicine!

Honoka: What if someone gets carried away and trips and falls? Bandages and compresses!

Maika: W-whoa, slow down! Do we really need to worry about all that?

Honoka: You know what they say! Better to have and not need than to need and not have!

Maika: So what you’re saying is, you were almost late because you were busy buying all this?

Honoka: There’s still more, too. I hit up a lot of different stores.

Honoka: Like I thought, “maybe we’ll want to run around after eating!” So I went and bought a frisbee.

Honoka: And then, “maybe we could chill some vegetables in the river!” So I went and bought a mesh bag.

Haruna: It’s a very Honoka-chan way of showing her excitement.

Honoka: Yeah! This is how I roll.

Maika: Well, I guess I can’t fault you for that…and you were on time, even if just barely.

Maika: The real problem now is Shiho…

Honoka: She’s not here yet?

Haruna: It’s already past 10 o’clock…

Honoka: And she hasn’t sent a message or anything either. Strange.

Maika: Whatever, let’s just go without her!

Haruna: Hang on, I’ll see if I can get a hold of her.

Haruna steps away.

Honoka: You never know, maybe she got in an accident or something.

Maika: That would be one thing…but if it turns out she just overslept or something, we should give her a punishment!

Honoka: A punishment? Like what? Make her do all the barbecuing for us?

Maika: No way, that’d be a reward if anything. It’s gotta be something unpleasant, like…not being allowed to smile, maybe.

Honoka: Shiho doesn’t really crack a smile that often anyway.

Maika: Oh…good point. Okay, how about not being allowed to talk!

Honoka: I don’t think Shiho would mind an excuse not to talk, either.

Maika: …Argh, this is hard! What could we do that Shiho wouldn’t like?

Honoka: We could maybe make her buy us all a drink or something?

Maika: Nope! That’s too light! Being late to a barbecue is a serious crime, you know.

Maika: I know! For the rest of the day, she has to do whatever we tell her to!

Honoka: Like a servant?

Maika: Yeah! And she has to reply like this: “Your wish is my command, master.”

Shiho: Please, I’m sorry, anything but that.

Haruna: Oh, Shiho-chan! I was just trying to call you.

Shiho: I forgot my phone at home.

Honoka: That explains why you weren’t contacting us.

Maika: Shiho! You’re late! Explain yourself.

Shiho: Do I really have to…?

Maika: Of course you do! Your reason will determine what punishment you get!

Shiho: A most unavoidable wrinkle of fate conspired to entrap me…

Haruna: I knew you had to have a reason. …So, what happened?

Shiho: I overslept.

Maika: How is that unavoidable?!

Maika: How on earth could you sleep in today?! Did you not really want to go barbecuing?

Shiho: If you’re asking whether I wanted to or not, I didn’t not want to.

Shiho: In fact, I was looking forward to it.

Maika: Shouldn’t you have woken up on time, then? If you were looking forward to it so much.

Shiho: The thing is…I couldn’t fall asleep until very late.

Maika: How come you didn’t go to bed early?

Shiho: I did. I went to bed super early, and yet…

Haruna: Oh, I know. It’s like how it’s so much harder to fall asleep the night before a field trip, right?

Shiho: I’m embarrassed to admit it, but…

Honoka: Oh? Were you really that excited for the barbecue?

Shiho: It’s caused a lot of misunderstandings for me, but I’ve always had trouble falling asleep before field trips and such.

Shiho: And so, the next day…I would be late.

Maika: …Why were you so excited?

Shiho: Do I even need to explain? Going on a barbecue with the four of us…of course I’d be excited.

Honoka: I’m a little shocked to hear that from Shiho of all people…

Maika: Well…I guess I can understand that.

Haruna: Isn’t that great, Maika-chan? Everyone was really looking forward to the barbecue you suggested.

Shiho: Maika, everyone, I’m sorry for being late…

Maika: Don’t you worry about it! You must’ve left in such a hurry when you realized, didn’t you? You even forgot your phone.

Maika: Your lateness has been completely pardoned!

Shiho: Very good. I approve.

Honoka: What’s with the sudden change of tone…

Maika: Alrighty! Let’s start heading to the barbecue site!

To be continued...in Part 3

[prismatranslates-cue]

Girls meet meat! à la carte Part 1

Maika: Mmm, the weather’s so nice today! Perfect for a barbecue.

Maika: If only everyone wasn’t so late! I’m the only one here… What gives?

Maika: We’re supposed to meet at 10AM, right? It’s already 9:30!

Maika: …Okay, maybe it’s still a little early.

Maika: No wait, no, I was right! It’s obvious they should be here at least 30 minutes early!

Maika: I mean, come on, we’re going on a barbecue! What could be more exciting than that?

Maika: Gasp! Maybe they don’t agree…? Did none of them actually want to do it?

Maika: Was I the only one looking forward to our barbecue this whole time…?

Maika: There’s no way…that can’t be it, right…?

Haruna: What’s wrong, Maika-chan…?

Maika: Haruna!! Thank goodness! Am I glad to see you!

Haruna: Uhh, you seemed like something was really upsetting you just now?

Maika: Oh, you know. I was waiting here by myself, so my thoughts were kinda getting away from me…

Haruna: Have you been waiting long? What time did you get here?

Maika: Hmm, I’ve been here since maybe 9AM?

Haruna: You got here an hour early?!

Maika: I mean, going barbecuing was my idea, after all. It’d be pretty lame if I wasn’t the first one here.

Haruna: I guess I could’ve showed up a little earlier myself, then. …To be honest, I kind of took it slow coming here.

Maika: Oh? How come?

Haruna: Well, I didn’t want to get here so early that I looked hopelessly excited for it. That’d be a little embarrassing, you know?

Haruna: But I mean, I am. I really couldn’t wait for today.

Maika: Haruna…! I knew you were a real one…!

Haruna: Wh-what? What are you talking about?

Maika: Well, to be honest, I was getting a little worried… I thought maybe you guys didn’t actually want to go on this trip with me.

Haruna: You thought we didn’t want to do this barbecue? Of course we do! We’ve all been looking forward to it!

Maika: Then how come it’s just you and me here? Where are the other two?

Haruna: Well…I mean,  there’s still 15 minutes before our scheduled meeting time, right?

Haruna: Maybe they’re killing some time before coming here like I did.

Maika: …Well, I guess that’d be okay… you don’t think they overslept, do you?

Haruna: I-I don’t think they would…

Maika: Thinking about it now, maybe we should’ve just gathered up at the dorm and left together instead of meeting here?

Haruna: But I do kind of like meeting up at the station. It makes it feel like a real special outing, you know?

Maika: That’s how my family always does it, yeah. My parents, my siblings, we’d all meet up at the place itself.

Haruna: Does your family do barbecues like this often?

Maika: Every year! Most people would probably like to save for big fancy trips, but we were always content with going on barbecues.

Maika: So every single member of my family is a real pro at this point.

Haruna: It must be really fun, especially with all your siblings.

Maika: You bet! Cooking our own food in the beautiful outdoors, and then chowing down on it afterwards? That’s what it’s all about!

Maika: That’s when I’m really thankful I have a big family. It makes up for all the constant squabbles…probably.

Haruna: Hehe, that sounds so fun. I’m an only child, so I’ve never experienced anything like that.

Maika: You’ve got us now, though! Me and Shiho and Honoka, we’re all under the same roof now.

Haruna: That’s true! There’s never a dull moment with you guys. Each and every day is always so fun.

Maika: And a barbecue like today will be full of even more excitement, so I hope you’re ready!

Haruna: I sure am!

Maika: …But geez, where are the other two? The meeting time is only a few minutes away.

Haruna: Should we try messaging them?

Maika: No, it’s fine. If they’re not here in the next few minutes, they’re getting left behind.

Haruna: Huh? But…then it would only be the two of us?

Maika: Fine by me! The two of us will help ourselves to their share of the food too.

Haruna: By the way, I’ve been wondering…what’s in the cooler?

Maika: Hehhehheh. All will be revealed in time.

Haruna: Ohh? But I wanna know now! Please?

Maika: Let’s just say it’s something key to today’s barbecue.

Haruna: Oh, I know! I bet it’s ramen ingredients!

Maika: Uh, I know that I’m not shy about my love for ramen but…come on, even I wouldn’t bring it to a barbecue.

Haruna: Mmm, I wonder what it could be then…hm?

Maika: What’s up? Did you figure it out?

Haruna: No, but look! Honoka-chan is sprinting over!

Honoka: …Whew! Made it…!

Maika: You’re late, Honoka!

Honoka: Huh? It’s not 10 o’clock yet.

Maika: It might as well be! It’s 9:57. You ought to be at least 5 minutes early for a barbecue trip. That’s just common sense!

Honoka: I don’t wanna hear it from someone who’s always barely getting to lessons on time!

Maika: Lessons are one thing, but barbecues are different!

Honoka: How on earth is a barbecue the only thing you’ll be punctual for…?

Haruna: It sounds like barbecues are really special for Maika-chan.

Maika: Honoka…are you saying you don’t like them?

Honoka: I would never! Of course I do! I was so excited for today, I was out the door so early!

Maika: Then how come you only just got here?

Honoka: Well…it’s a bit of a long story…

Haruna: What do you mean…?

To be continued...in Part 2

[prismatranslates-cue]

Yuuki [Three Sentinel Fortification, Fall Thanksgiving Fair] Part 3

Previously: Part 2

Yuuki: Mission…complete!!

Airi: We did it!

Yuuki: I can’t thank you guys enough, honestly.

Yuzuha: So I guess now we’re free to do whatever, right? Is it time, Chisa?

Chisa: Yes, yes. Here we go.

Yuuki: Hm…? What’s this? That’s a big chunky box you’ve got there.

Chisa: Go ahead, open it.

Yuuki: Haha, what is this? Hang on, is this a prank or something? Is something gonna pop out like, “Bam!”?

Airi: You won’t know until you open it.

Yuuki: Hm..?

Yuuki: I honestly don’t know what’s happening, but oh well! Here I go! Open…sesame!

Yuuki: …Huh?

Airi: We weren’t lying when we said we wanted to help, but this was our real reason for coming today.

Yuuki: It’s…a pumpkin cake!

Yuuki: And it says “Happy Birthday”!

Yuzuha: Honestly, Yuuki. We were planning on throwing a party for you and then you just had to go and run home.

Chisa: We really wanted to celebrate with you on the actual day, so we decided we’d come all the way out here.

Yuuki: You guys…

Chisa: And Manager sends their regards! They bought this cake, actually.

Chisa: We told them that we wanted to come wish you happy birthday, and they said, “Then I guess you’ll need a nice big cake!”

Yuzuha: That’s our Manager, always knowing what we need from them.

Airi: A big round cake is easier to share, after all!

Chisa: A Halloween party would be fun and all, but more than anything we wanted to celebrate your birthday, Yuuki.

Chisa: We brought you some birthday presents too, of course. Here’s mine.

Yuuki: Ooh, it’s…tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants…why vegetables?

Chisa: Those are from my own garden, you know. Raised with love and care. Er, but I guess it’s not exactly the most exciting gift…

Yuuki: I love it, Chisa! They look super tasty! Honestly, they almost look too good to eat!

Airi: Here’s mine…

Yuuki: Gasp! This is…a 1/100 scale MG Daibarion modelling kit! And you even got the additional kit for submarine mode parts!

Yuuki: I checked so many stores trying to find these! I’d honestly given up. You’re really giving this to me?

Airi: Mhm! I got it because I knew you were looking for it, after all. Can I see it after you’ve built it?

Yuuki: You betcha! Oh man, I feel like I’m going to start bouncing off the walls just from holding the box in my hands…

Chisa: That exciting, huh…

Yuzuha: Here’s mine. It’s a Peranakan porcelain tableware set. [1]

Yuuki: Ooh. I’ve never seen anything like this fun little squid design!

Yuzuha: It’s a big set, so you could even use it here in the restaurant if you want.

Airi: I feel like it sort of conflicts with the atmosphere here though…

Yuuki: Not a problem! We’ll use every last one! We'll take good care of them. Thanks, Yuzuha!

Chisa: She’s not kidding…

Yuuki: To be honest, I’ve never really celebrated my birthday before.

Yuzuha: Oh no, really?

Yuuki: It’s on Halloween when we’re always so busy, so I’ve never been able to do anything besides help out here at the restaurant. Before I know it, the day’s already over.

Yuuki: So I’ve never really had time to celebrate it. And I’ve never really done anything for Halloween either.

Yuuki: But this year was different! And I even get to spend it with you guys!

Yuuki: Wanna eat the cake now? Let’s eat some cake! Come on, I know you want to!

Chisa: We can if you really want, but I think it’ll taste better cold.

Yuuki: Good point! We’ll stick it in the fridge and have at it later then!

Airi: I was hoping we could go look around the shopping district. I saw some amazing decorations earlier.

Yuuki: Now that you mention it, I’m not sure I’ve ever had a chance to really experience the shopping district at this time of year either, since I’m always holed up in here…

Yuzuha: This is perfect, then. Let’s all explore together!

Yuuki: Yeah!

---

Airi: Oh wow, it’s so pretty…All the lights turned on, glowing in the night…

Yuuki: Ooh…it’s amazing!

Yuzuha: It’s your birthday, Yuuki, so get whatever you like! The rest of us will cover the costs.

Yuuki: You mean it?! You mean that you mean it?!

Chisa: It’s your special day, after all.

Yuuki: Waaah! You guys are too much.

Yuuki: Let’s see…Ooh, that ice cream over there looks yummy.

Yuuki: Oh, but I wanna try that cotton candy too…

Airi: In the end, it’s all food…

Chisa: Isn’t it too cold for ice cream now?

Yuuki: Don’t you know, Chisa? That’s when you can truly savour the ice cream experience!

Chisa: Are you sure…?

Yuzuha: Oh, look! There’s a pumpkin mascot character!

Yuuki: What?! Where?!

Yuzuha: Look, over there.

Yuuki: Ooh, there it is! Wow, that costume is huge. Must suck for whoever’s inside.

Chisa: Come on, you’re not supposed to talk about them out loud…

Yuuki: Ooh, I wanna touch it! Oh, I wonder where their eyes are.

Yuuki: You guys come too! Let’s go!

Airi: She looks like she’s having so much fun. I’m glad.

Chisa: You’d think she’s a kid, the way she’s running around.

Yuzuha: Really? Isn’t this how she usually is, though?

Yuuki: Come on, hurry it up guys!

Chisa: Yeah, yeah. Coming~

Fin.

---

Notes

[1]: Peranakan porcelain wares are vibrantly colourful and expensive, associated with wealthy Chinese immigrants (and their descendants) to Singapore and other regions of Southeast Asia.

[prismatranslates-cue]

Yuuki [Three Sentinel Fortification, Fall Thanksgiving Fair] Part 2

Previously: Part 1

Yuuki: Uhh, let’s see...the table that ordered the ginger fried pork was next…

Yuuki: …After the table that ordered the karaage?

Yuuki: Oh, are you ready to order? I’ll be right with you!

Yuuki: Oh, you want your bill? Coming right away!

Yuuki: Wait, no, the order! No, but the bill….aahhh! I wish I could clone myself!!!

---

Yuuki: Oof…so busy…I can finally catch my breath.

Yuuki: I swear we’re even busier than last year. The old man’s just thrilled we’re making more money, though.

Yuuki: I forgot how cool the shopping district is at this time of year. They go all out with the decor every October, and this year’s no exception.

Yuuki: And I bet the others are having fun with that Halloween party right about now…Oh how I wish I could taste a tray of that big funtastic meat…

Yuuki: …Oh, asking for me? Coming! Sigh…life is hard when you're this popular…

---

Yuuki: Huh…? What are you guys doing here?

Yuzuha: There you are, Yuuki! We came to play!

Chisa: That’s not it.

Airi: Um…it sounded like you would be super duper busy, so we thought we’d see if we could maybe help out.

Chisa: It’ll be easier if you have more hands on deck, right?

Yuzuha: Just tell me what you need me to do! La serveuse? La cuisine?

Yuuki: I can’t believe it! You guys…you’re lifesavers!

---

Airi: That’s a lot of food…can you really carry this much out in one trip?

Yuuki: Of course I can!

Yuuki: It’s all part of the show, you know? Just picture me taking this plate, balancing it on my arm like so, and bringing everything out at once, to thunderous applause from the crowd…

Yuuki: Well, not that I’ve ever managed to pull that off.

Airi: W-wow…okay, I’ll give it a try…

Yuuki: Go for it!

Airi: Okay…here goes…ah! Aaaaah!

Chisa: Hey! Are you okay?!

Airi: T-that was close…I almost fell over…

Yuuki: But the food’s all safe, so there’s nothing to worry about!

Chisa: Uh, yes there isl Geez…this is no time to be horsing around.

---

Yuzuha: Okay, I have Table 3’s order. I’ll read it out, here it is:

Yuzuha: One order of tempura karaage curry.

Airi: Tempura karaage curry…that sounds super intense…

Chisa: I’m getting heartburn just picturing it…

Yuuki: Uhhh…did we have that kind of dish on the menu?

Airi: Wha?

Chisa: …What do you mean?

Airi: Do you think…she mixed up the order?

Yuzuha: Oh, and they also ordered 7 hamburger steak meals!

Chisa: Now that’s definitely not right! Table 3? There's only two people!

Yuzuha: Huh?

Airi: It’s like she’s in her own little world…

Yuuki: Tempura karaage curry…that sounds good, now that I think about it…

Chisa: …Seriously?

Yuuki: One sec, I’m gonna go ask the kitchen if they can try whipping one up!

Airi: Is this how a new dish is born…?

Yuuki: Thanks, Yuzuha!

Yuzuha: My pleasure.

Chisa: What just happened…? 

---

Chisa: Welcome, dear guests. Have you decided on your order for today?

Yuuki: Wow…she makes it look easy!

Airi: Chisa-chan has that part-time job at a maid café, right?

Chisa: I’m no maid, I’ll have you know! I’m a princess!

Yuzuha: She is? Did you guys know about this?

Yuuki: Look at that perfect customer service smile…that speed of taking orders…

Chisa: The house recommends this dish here…if you order this one, you can get it with this as a set for a lower price.

Yuuki: …She’s like a real pro.

Airi: Oh, she’s back.

Chisa: …Some of the customers even ordered stuff for me.

Chisa: They said it’s to show their appreciation for my good service. The customers here are so generous.

Yuuki: Let’s see? …Oh wow. Can you even eat all this?

Yuuki: It’s definitely gonna take a while to make.

Yuzuha: Chisa, why are you making them do more work?

Chisa: You’re the last person I want to hear that from! Ugh…

Chisa: Hey, Yuuki…are we really helping here?

Yuuki: Sure you are! Don’t worry about it. My old man’s super happy to have people here to help. And of course, I’m having loads of fun too!

Chisa: Yeah? Well, as long as you’re okay with it.

To be continued...in Part 3

[prismatranslates-cue]

Yuuki [Three Sentinel Fortification, Fall Thanksgiving Fair] Part 1

Yuzuha: And then, one after the other, the children walked along the street. Arriving at the next house, they each knocked on the door and uttered these words…

Yuzuha: “Trick or treat!”

Airi: Ooh…!

Chisa: Trick or treating, huh? People know the phrase here, but they don't really do it like they do in America.

Airi: Dressing up in costumes and going door-to–door and getting candy…it sounds so fun…

Yuzuha: It’d be neat if it became more popular in Japan.

Airi: I’ve never so much as been to a Halloween party, actually.

Yuzuha: Oho. Should we have one, then?

Airi: Huh. …Can we?

Yuzuha: We can, right Chisa?

Chisa: Sure, I don’t see why not. I’m sure the others would enjoy it too.

Yuzuha: Let’s make it a surprise party though. It’ll be more fun if they’re not expecting it!

Yuuki: Whatcha guys talkin’ about?

Chisa: Oh, Yuuki! Welcome home.

Yuuki: Hehe, thanks! Check this out. Isn’t this ikayaki huge? I bought some for each of us!

Yuzuha: What is this? Is it…edible?

Yuuki: It’s squid! Grilled squid! It’s not just edible, it’s delish! Give it a try, I guarantee it’ll blow you away.

Chisa: What happened to the curry ingredients I asked you to buy for dinner tonight?

Yuuki: Got ‘em right here, boss! Here you go. Here’s your squid, too.

Chisa: Er, thanks…but why’d you get ikayaki, anyway?

Yuuki: The squid was calling out to me, Chisa! It was begging me to buy it. There was nothing I could do.

Yuuki: …Anyway, what were you guys talking about?

Chisa: Oh, uh…right. We were thinking about throwing a Halloween party for everyone.

Yuuki: A Halloween party?

Yuzuha: It’ll be très fantastique! We’ll have all kinds of fun decorations and food. Oh, and we should come up with some fun tricks too!

Airi: And maybe we can go around saying “Trick or treat!” and get candy for it! I really want to try it out. 

Yuuki: Oooh! Sounds like a blast. Will the food be tray funtastic too?

Yuuki: Like maybe a huuuge roast beef?

Yuzuha: Sure, I bet Chisa can make that for us!

Chisa: Huh?! I’ve never handled anything that intense before…

Airi: I’ll help out! It’s something I’ve been interested in trying too.

Chisa: Hmm…I guess I can give it a shot.

Yuzuha: Maybe I should start looking for costumes.

Yuzuha: What do you guys think? The more realistic the better, right? Maybe ones with super crazy bloodstains!

Airi: U-um, a violent-looking costume like that…sounds kinda scary…

Chisa: Please don’t get anything too realistic…

Yuzuha: It won’t be très fantastique if we don’t get the best costumes possible.

Yuuki: Oh, I just realized, I can’t be there for this party. I have to be back at home that day.

Airi: Oh, you do?

Yuuki: My family runs a diner, remember? We always get suuuper busy on Halloween…

Yuuki: There’s never been a year they didn’t need me helping out. Man, how did I forget?

Airi: Oh wow, speaking of intense…

Yuuki: Waaaah! I was getting so excited about chowing down on the biggest tastiest meat, too…

Yuuki: Parting is truly such sweet sorrow…I beg you, have fun at the party in my stead…

Yuuki: Sniff…

Yuuki leaves.

Chisa: …It was supposed to be a surprise birthday party for her, too. But if the birthday girl won’t be there, then…

Airi: Based on how she was acting, I doubt she even remembers it’s her birthday…

Yuzuha: She even forgot about her squid…

Airi: If she’s going to be back with her family that day, we won’t be able to greet her properly. What should we do? Should we have the party on another day?

Chisa: Hm…

Yuzuha: …I have an idea.

Airi: What is it?

Yuzuha: I say…we follow where she goes! Let’s visit her restaurant!

To be continued...in Part 2

[prismatranslates-cue]

Shiho [Unhatched Seiyuu] Part 2

Previously: Part 1

Shiho: And yet…it really isn’t showing any signs of letting up…

Manager: Yep…what unfortunate weather.

Shiho: I disagree. If rain did not fall, that would be most unfortunate for the farmer.

Manager: I mean, you’re not wrong, but…

Shiho: It’s not just farmers. Many people benefit from the blessings of rain. You should not assess reality only from your own narrow viewpoint.

Manager: (It was just small talk, it’s not that deep…)

Shiho: To be stranded with me in the rain like this…you must be cursing the machinations of fate.

Manager: Of course not! It’s not like I mind it.

Shiho: Then, are you enjoying this turn of events?

Manager: I think that being with you like this is an experience worth treasuring, Shiho.

Shiho: You’re an odd one, Gamaner.

Manager: (You’re the last person I want to hear that from…)

Shiho: Spider.

Manager: Huh? A spider? Where?

Shiho: Nowhere. It’s shiritori.  [1]

Manager: Shiritori? You want to play?

Shiho: Let’s try and make something of this time so it’s not a total waste.

Manager: Okay. Let’s see, “spider”, so R…ratatouille.

Shiho: What a tasteless word to choose.

Manager: What? It’s shiritori, what does it matter what word I choose?

Shiho: Ratatouille, right? E…ewer. Like those large jugs.

Manager: Sure. R…rustic.

Shiho: Chowder.

Manager: R…roundabout.

Shiho: Teaser.

Manager: R…rink.

Shiho: Kisser.

Manager: R…rollerblades.

Shiho: Salvager.

Manager: R…oh, racecar!

Shiho: Racer.

Manager: R…roar! Like a lion!

Shiho: Rowboater.

Manager: You keep ending with Rs. …Whatever, I quit.

Shiho: Why? It was just getting fun.

Manager: For you, maybe.

---

Shiho: And yet…I guess it’s not so bad every once in a while.

Manager: What is?

Shiho: Being out in the rain like this. Stopping in my tracks and whiling away the time…I don’t know when I last did that.

Manager: Yeah, that’s true…

Fin.

---

Notes

[1]: Shiritori is a Japanese word game where players take turns saying words, where each word has to start with the last kana from the previous word. As you might imagine, it is basically impossible to translate perfectly.

In this case, there's fortunately no visual significance to any of the words used and the only real contextual significance is Shiho starting with an animal that Manager thinks she is pointing out, so I'm pretty free to just use entirely different words, though I tried to at least match the vibes as best I could. The original series of words are:

Shiho: Ka-ra-su (crow) Manager: Su-ru-me (dried squid) Shiho: Me-su (scalpel) Manager: Su-shi Shiho: Shi-ra-su (whitefish) Manager: Su-be-ri-ta-i (playground slide) Shiho: I-su (chair) Manager: Su-te-(k)ki (steak) Shiho: Ki-su (kiss) Manager: Su-ri-(p)pa (slipper) Shiho: Pa-ra-da-i-su (paradise) Manager: Su-i-su (Switzerland) Shiho: Su-fu-i-n-ku-su (Sphinx) Manager: Su (vinegar) Shiho: Su-te-n-re-su (stainless steel)

What I considered important and tried to emulate in the translation was Shiho always ending with the same kana (su), and Manager getting exasperated near the end and trying to catch her out with a palindrome and then the shortest possible word that also ends with shiho's chosen kana--literally just "su".

There's also some cheekiness in some of Shiho's early word choices that I can't quite preserve: the two-kana words like "mesu" and "isu" require basically no thought: She has the kana she needs to start with, she has the kana she wants to end with, she just puts them together and can reliably make a valid word. Can't really do that in English as most two-letter combinations (and even two-syllable combinations) would be random gibberish, but I tried to make up for it by putting some cheekiness in her last words in my translation: "Racer" comes straight off racecar, and I imagined her hearing "roar", thinking of the similar-sounding "rower", and then adding an extra syllable as a flex.

[prismatranslates-cue]

Shiho [Unhatched Seiyuu] Part 1

Shiho: Doesn’t look like this rain is stopping anytime soon…

Manager: And here I was hoping the weather forecast would be right when they said it wouldn’t last long…

Shiho: Taking shelter under the eaves like this is an exercise in futility.

Manager: Do you want to run to the convenience store and buy some plastic umbrellas for now?

Shiho: Ah, yes, the parable of the cheap umbrella. Bought only for the moment and never for love.

Shiho: A wretched existence, doomed to be left behind forgotten somewhere. On the seat of a train perhaps, or in the umbrella stand of some store or another.

Shiho: In the end, you may as well have thrown several hundred yen directly into the gutter. The moral of the story: Such purchases are frivolous.

Manager: I guess we can wait here a little longer, then.

Shiho: Alternatively, we could go home in the pouring rain.

Manager: I’d really rather not…

Shiho: It should be fine as long as you change clothes as soon as you get home. Take a hot shower if you need to warm up.

Manager: But I’m sure you don’t want to run all the way from here to the dorm.

Shiho: Nor do I want to waste my time sitting here.

Manager: Okay, how about we use that piece of cardboard over there to keep our heads dry while we go?

Shiho: Gamaner, please think that through more carefully. Two full-grown adults, running in the rain whilst holding a dirty piece of cardboard overhead.

Shiho: What would people think if they saw us?

Manager: They wouldn’t exactly be impressed.

Shiho: To be blunt, they’d think us unsightly fools.

Manager: I’m sure they wouldn’t go that far.

Shiho: I have an idea. I know what we should do.

Manager: Yeah? What is it?

Shiho: You should hang down from up there like a teru teru bouzu doll. [1]

Manager: …Is that a serious suggestion?

Shiho: I’d be quite the weird little guy if it was, wouldn’t I?

Manager: Hahaha…

Shiho: …

Manager: …

Shiho: Are you having trouble breathing?

Manager: No, it’s not that, just…

Shiho: It’s not often I find myself totally alone with you like this, Gamaner.

Manager: No kidding…so, I guess I suddenly feel nervous…

Shiho: What a coincidence…me too.

To be continued...in Part 2

---

Notes

[1]: Teru teru bouzu dolls are small, simple figures made of white paper or cloth that are hung outside as a sort of charm with the hopes of stopping or preventing rain and bringing a sunny day.