#聖夜を奏でるSymphonic numbers

[jokertrap-ran]

[Stand My Heroes] 聖夜を奏でる♪ Symphonic numbers (Performing the Holy Night ♪ Symphonic numbers) Shindo Kiyoshi SR Event Drop Card Story 【The Trembling Heart is a Tremolo】 Translations

*Sutamai Master-list *MC name is retained as my usual. Requested by Anon! *Part 2′s Story title: [寒空の下で滲むもの Things that blur under the cold skies] and is voiced. *Scenario Writer: @Atomiatomi (Ａｔｏｍｉ)

Part 1 / Part 2

Ran: —Hm?

It was a couple of hours since I visited the Kujo Mansion, and I had just finished explaining the documents I had on hand when I looked outside—

Ran: Shindo-san, it’s snowing out. No, actually… It’s piling up!

The parts of the garden I could see were covered in a sheet of pure white.

Shindo: And what about it?

Shindo was absolutely calm about the matter, continuing with his organization of his documents without giving the garden even so much as a glance.

(This icyness is rather hard to swallow...) (Oh, right! Maybe he’ll become more excited about this if I build a cute snowman or something like that!) 

In a flash, I immediately took action.

Ran: How about we go outside?

Shindo: No. I don’t have a reason to.

Ran: You do have a reason to, actually. Let’s make a snowman together!

Shindo: ……

He had on a face that spoke of the annoyance he felt from the bottom of his heart, but yet, he still followed after me as I took the first couple of steps ahead of him, walking off.

And this was how we ended up going out into the gardens to make a snowman.

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

MC: Um… How about you make a snowman too, Shindo-san?

Shindo: I’m perfectly fine with just watching you from here.

MC: You’re just going to look?

Shindo: Well, yes. I only followed you because you told me to, that’s all.

Despite his bluntness, he didn’t make a move to return back to the mansion.

In the end, I ended up continuing my work on the snowman under his watch. Observe; that was all he did.

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

MC: ...Achoo!!

(Mmf… It really is freezing now that I’ve been out here for a while.)

The longer I spent frolicking out in the snow, the better my body would adapt itself to the colder temperatures out… Or so, I could only wish.

Unable to do anything to combat the cold winter winds, I could only endure it as I snuffled.

Ran: Shindo-san, about the snowman’s face— Huh? He’s not here?

I could see neither hide nor hair of him from the spot I last saw him standing at.

(Well, it IS quite cold outside after all, so maybe he went back in.)

Shrugging it off since he was his own person after all, I turned back towards my snowman.

And then—

Shindo: You must have brought a muffler scarf with you, didn’t you? Why aren’t you using it?

Ran: !

Something fluffy came from behind me, wrapping itself around my neck.

(It’s my muffler?)

Ran: Did you go fetch it for me?

Shindo: If you catch a cold, then that’d mean a chance to extort a huge amount of money for you as your treatment fee… But, I’ll let it go just this once. Warm yourself up properly.

His hand carefully wrapped the scarf around me.

Ran: ...Thank you.

Shindo: Have you finished the snowman?

Ran: Yup, all that’s left now is to finish up the face.

Shindo: I see. You can use round pebbles for it’s rounded eyes, a tree branch for its nose and some dead leaves for its mouth. Oh, and it’ll be a nice finishing touch if we have a hat and a muffler scarf lying around somewhere that we could use.

Shindo mumbled on by himself, but after he had voiced it all out, he went off in search of said items.

(And he actually helps, in that regard. Maybe because he wants to make sure that it has a cute face?)

What I saw was his defenseless back facing me.

Ran: ……

(Ooo, yess!)

Thud!

Shindo: ——!

Aiming for his back, I flung a snowball at him, hitting bullseye as it met its target right smack in the center.

And just as I’d expected, he naturally turned to me with an inscrutable look on his face.

Shindo: Hey, what are you trying to pull?

Ran: I hereby declare a snowball fight!

Ran: Listen up! 3 hits by a snowball and you’re out!

Shindo: ...Do you really think that you can win against my strength and physique?

Ran: You wouldn’t know that until you try now, won’t you?

Ran: Here goes… There! ...Take this…!

Shindo: ……

He easily dodged the snowballs that I threw at him with all my might.

(Damn… I managed to land a hit on him like a piece of cake with his back to me, but I can’t score a single one when facing him head front!)

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

And then, finally, he retaliated—

Shindo: If you’ve prepared yourself, then this will be where you meet your end.

Ran: Ugh…

And then, taking on a brilliant form, he threw his snowball at me, which then flew towards me with startling speed—

(...Hmmmmmm?)

It didn’t reach.

Ran: Err, you don’t have to hold back at all, so just come at me like you really mean it.

Shindo: ……

However, no matter how many times Shindo flung snowballs at me after that, they were all amateur shots… With none of them ever reaching me.

Ran: What in the world...

Shindo: ...Nope.

Ran: Huh?

Shindo: What your existence means to me is something that has changed along with the flow of time itself. Although my brain registers the fact that this is just merely a game, I cannot do anything about it if my body refuses to listen to me.

Ran: Changed…? What do you mean by that?

Shindo: It means that the you inside of my head is someone that I wish to protect from both the cold and danger alike, and not as an opponent to pelt snowballs at.

Shindo: ...Think about the rest on your own.

Ran: Wha-

The hand that I was using to pelt him with snowballs halted at his sudden confession that quite literally came out of nowhere.

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

(It should be cold, but yet I’m suddenly feeling hot...)

Behind the muffler scarf I had wrapped around me, I felt the sweat beading at his sudden, unexpected words.

───⋅𝕿𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖓����𝖝𝖙 𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖊…⋆⋅☆

[jokertrap-ran]

[Stand My Heroes] 聖夜を奏でる♪ Symphonic numbers (Performing the Holy Night ♪ Symphonic numbers) Shindo Kiyoshi SR Event Drop Card Story 【The Trembling Heart is a Tremolo】 Translations

*Sutamai Master-list *MC name is retained as my usual. Requested by Anon! *Part 1′s Story title: [カクテルとジャズの聖夜 Holy Night of Cocktails and Jazz]. *Scenario Writer: @Atomiatomi (Ａｔｏｍｉ)

Part 1 / Part 2

Ran: So, err… Why have you called me here?

——The 24th of December, Christmas Eve. Shindo contacted me to come to the bar he had given me the directions to, which I have been at for the past couple of seconds. 

Shindo: I wanted to have a drink to wash down the unpleasant dinner I was just coming home from. 

Shindo: But drinking on a day like this will no doubt make people shoot glances at me as if I’m a pain.

Ran: So, you called me here to act as a camouflage against said glances.

Shindo: Yeah, sorry about that, but accompany me for a while? 

Shindo unceremoniously pulled out the chair beside him and gestured to me to sit down.

Ran: I’ll be bothering you for… a while, then. 

Taking a seat by him in front of the counter, I ordered my first drink for the time being.

(Still, this bar really has a mature vibe to it…) 

The bar had a live performance going on, performing Christmas songs jazz-style, along with a subdued-looking guy in his older years bartending. 

(Uh oh, if this goes on, I think I might actually become way too comfortable with the atmosphere of this place and get swept along…) 

Bartender: Thank you for waiting, here is your Martini.

Ran: Thank you.

But there’s no way I won’t go down with a fight! And so, I took the mature vibe of the place in stride, elegantly downing my cocktail like a shot.

Ran: Mm, this is delicious.

Ran: Sorry, err… Could I get a Mojito next?

Bartender: Understood.

Shindo: You’re drinking through them rather quickly. Drinking your sorrows away because of the loneliness you feel from not having any plans this Christmas?

Ran: What? No! I mean, look! Isn’t this triangular glass rather small?

Shindo: So that’s why you’re downing it so elegantly like that.

Shindo: Cocktail Shots are meant to be drunk quickly, often times in succession, but because of that, it has more concentrated alcoholic content.

Shindo: …You good?

Ran: Yes, I’m technically okay with high alcohol content since I like them. But still…

Shindo: ?

Ran: A lonely Christmas without any plans?

Shindo: I was simply stating the facts.

Ran: You aren’t wrong, but… Thanks to you, it won’t be a lonely Christmas anymore.

Ran: I’m glad that you invited me out, even if it’s to act as your camouflage.

Shindo: ……

Stating my honest thoughts about it, I picked up the Mojito that was left out on the counter, downing it. And as I gradually sunk down into the adult world—

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Ran: Phew~ That was delicious…

I continued drinking on, in an absolutely pleasant mood. Who knows how many Cocktails I’ve had by now? 

(The taste of the alcohol served in a bar like this with such mature-vibes is really on a whole other level.)

Just as I was getting myself drunk whilst spending time luxuriously like this and enjoying myself—

Shindo: It’s about time you stopped.

Ran: !

Shindo grabbed onto my hand, stopping me from taking another glass.

Ran: ……

Shindo: ?

Shindo: Hey, are you listening to me?

Ran: …Shindo-san, you…

Ran: Your hands are really big.

Shindo: Huh?

Shindo: …Your hands are just as small as a kid’s.

Saying so, I looked at my hand that he had released in utter seriousness.

Ran: I never thought that it was that small…

Ran: Besides, I’m not a kid, so I know how to moderate my own alcohol intake.

Shindo: Oh? Think you’re an adult now?

Ran: …I’m still a 26-year-old woman no matter how I look.

Shindo: I know that.

Shindo: But you’re still a child if you can’t spot my excuse for what it really is.

Ran: …Excuse?

I don’t even know what he was talking or referring to.

Shindo: I knew it; you’re still inexperienced.

Ran: ……

It’s honestly pretty vexing to be treated as a child, but…

(But it’s true, there might still be some parts of me that have yet to fully mature.)

Ran: Well then… I’m starting to feel a little of the fuzziness set in, so I’ll take a little break from the alcohol.

Shindo: Yeah. Sorry, but could I get water for her instead?

Bartender: Understood.

Ran: …You’re really an adult, Shindo-san.

Shindo: That so?

Ran: You don’t feel out of place even when you’re in an establishment like this, and you’re also smart about the way you place your orders.

Ran: …It’s cool.

Shindo: ……

Shindo: I’m a lame-excuse for a man who can’t even invite the girl he fell for out without an excuse.

Ran: Huh? What did you say?

Shindo: Nothing… I said to drink the water and hurry up and get yourself sobered up.

Ran: ……

(Did he say something like that?)

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

But as for me, who didn’t have the courage to ask if it was really true, I suppose I might still be a child after all.

───⋅𝕿𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖊…⋆⋅☆

[jokertrap-ran]

[Stand My Heroes] 聖夜を奏でる♪ Symphonic numbers (Performing the Holy Night ♪ Symphonic numbers) Yui Kotaro SR Event Drop Card Story 【Using the Baton to cast a Spell】 Translations

*Sutamai Master-list *MC name is retained as my usual. Requested by Anon! *Part 2′s Story title is: [ラブを歌に乗せて Putting love into a song], and is voiced. *Scenario Writer: @benihara_k (紅原香さん)

Part 1 / Part 2

(His voice is as stunning as ever; he’s way too good at this...)

I was currently at the Karaoke together with Kotaro. Because…

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Yui: A class reunion?

Ran: It’s not anything that big, but we were talking about how it’d be great for all our friends to gather together again since it’s been a long time and all.

Ran: And for some reason or another, we decided that we’d all be going to a Karaoke place.

Yui: That’s great, isn’t it? Is there something bad about this idea?

Ran: Rather than it being bad, well… I haven’t exactly been to a Karaoke recently.

Ran: I’m out of the loop when it comes to recent hits. And I’m also worried about whether I can sing properly or not…

Yui: Then it might be better if you clocked in some practice before the reunion.

Ran: Yup. And that is why; will you go to the Karaoke with me on our next day off, Kotaro-san?

Yui: Sure, of course. Karaoke is indoors anyway, so it doesn’t have anything to do with the sun shining outside.

Ran: The reason why you gave your OK is just like you…

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

...And that was how I managed to get Kotaro to join me for a practice Karaoke session.

(I knew that he was good at this, but he’s still way too good at this no matter how many times I listen to him...)

I unconsciously found myself clapping once he’d finished singing.

Yui: I feel as if I’ve been the only one singing since just now. Are you not going to sing?

Yui: You came here to practice singing for your class reunion, right?

Ran: Yes, but I’m a little at a loss as to which song I should pick.

Ran: And honestly speaking, I guess I don’t mind hearing you sing as many songs as you’d like.

(But it’s just like he says, I came here to practice so there’d be no meaning to coming here if I don’t fulfil what I originally came here for.)

Ran: Hmm, but I don’t know much about any of these newest songs they have here.

Yui: Same here. I have not the slightest idea about any new trending songs.

Ran: I used to watch music channels quite a lot back in the past, but I’ve been so busy recently that I couldn’t really find the time…

Ran: I’ll think over it a little, so feel free to go on ahead.

Yui: This makes it the 3rd song in a row.

The PV of the newest songs they had to offer would run whenever I chose a track, but they were all songs that I hadn’t the slightest clue about.

(I wonder how everyone fares in this department. Have they got all the newest songs down to pat?)

(But I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if I sang the older songs, right?)

The song that Kotaro had chosen started playing the very same moment I finally decided on one.

I felt as if I was being needled at how he managed to bag even an English ballad without even so much as a hitch.

(How cool… The gap between this and his normal weirdo personality is amazing...) (I don’t have to sing, just let me hear you go on forever.)

He didn’t seem to have noticed that I had unconsciously fallen head over heels for his voice at all.

As he continued singing, he angled his body towards me and pressed his lips to my cheek.

Ran: !?

Yui: Something wrong?

Ran: S-Something!? You just…

Yui: But that's just the sort of song it is, isn’t it?

Ran: That’s just the sort of song!?

(Oh, come to think of it, he WAS just singing a love song...) (No, not just the last song. Even the ones before that were all the same!)

I felt my cheeks heat up the moment the realization struck that they were all songs directed at me.

Ran: ...You’re really unfair, Kotaro-san.

Yui: Oh?

Ran: You’re way too cool, and I’m not just talking about Karaoke!

Yui: I don’t know about that, personally, but I’m glad that you like it.

Yui: Besides, it feels great when I see your eyes turn into hearts.

Ran: Hearts!?

Yui: Were you not aware of it yourself?

(What!? My eyes… Hearts!?) (But things like that only happen in manga… No, wait.)

Just remembering his singing voice made my chest tighten, and the corners of my lips fell in realization.

(I see, so they did turn into hearts...)

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

When faced with that singing voice of his, such a manga-like development might actually have happened.

Convincing myself that that was the case, I replied him with a traditional Japanese love song.

───⋅𝕿𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖊…⋆⋅☆

[jokertrap-ran]

[Stand My Heroes] 聖夜を奏でる♪ Symphonic numbers (Performing the Holy Night ♪ Symphonic numbers) Yui Kotaro SR Event Drop Card Story 【Using the Baton to cast a Spell】 Translations

*Sutamai Master-list *MC name is retained as my usual. Requested by Anon! *Part 1′s Story title: [最高のクリスマスのために For the best Christmas ever]. *Scenario Writer: @benihara_k (紅原香さん)

Part 1 / Part 2

Yui: Alright, this analysis report is done and dusted. Next is…

Aoyama: Hey, what’s going on with Kotaro? He’s been like that since morning!

Imaoji: I know, right? He’s been working 3 times more than usual.

Natsume: I wonder if he drank some sort of weird energy drink or something? Or maybe he took some super concentration boosting medicine?

(Well, Kotaro-san seems to be way busier than usual today, that’s for sure. It’s around year-end right now, so maybe the cases are piling up.)

Seki: You free now, Mizushima?

Ran: Yes. Do you need me for something?

Seki: There’s something I’d like to ask of you. There’s actually a rather complicated case tha—

Kotaro literally flew over the moment Seki got closer to me.

Yui: I decline on her behalf.

Seki: Huh…?

Yui: It’s Christmas today; a day where couples express and share their love to each other. I want to spend it together with Ran, so I’ll have to decline this.

Aoyama: Hey, why are you refusing on her behalf? This is her job.

Ran: Ahaha…

Seki: Mizushima. You don’t have to do it today, but could you do it within the week?

Ran: Alright, I understand.

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

And right on the dot when it was the time to get off work, Seki and the rest chased us off, saying “leave the rest to us!”, and—

That was how we were both booted out of the Division.

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Yui: Merry Christmas, Ran.

Ran: Merry Christmas to you too, Kotaro-san.

We both raised our glasses, clinking it together. A girl dressed in an ankle-length dress was seated in front of the piano situated within the room, playing Christmas songs.

Ran: I never thought that you’d gotten a reservation at such a nice place… Thank you so much for this.

Yui: I’m glad that you like it. Looks like it was worth asking Itsuki for places that were good enough to gain his recommendation.

Yui: I got some wine that fits this Christmassy occasion. Here, drink up as much as you want.

Ran: Thank you. This wine has a fruity taste and it’s absolutely delicious!

Whilst enjoying the wine, I tuned my ears into the music flowing from the piano in the slightly dim interior of the place.

(What a beautiful tune. I might actually be rather taken by it...)

Yui: ...Ran.

He beckoned me forwards.

Ran: ? What’s the matter?

The moment his face got closer—

MC: ...Mmngh!?

He gave me a quick peck on the earlobe.

MC: Kotaro-san!? What are you-

Yui: Please don't get too enraptured with anyone else other than me; I'll get jealous.

MC: Huh…!?

(He's jealous? Because I was so enraptured by the piano performance…?)

He's getting jealous over something like that? How unbelievably cute of him.

Ran: Don't worry about it, Kotaro-san. You're always in the forefront of my mind.

Yui: ...Really? I'm glad.

Yui: Sorry for surprising you like that. I won't do it again if you don't like it...

Ran: I don't hate it. It's just proof that you just love me that much; so much that I'm actually happy to hear that.

Yui: You can't do this, Ran. You can't go any further than this.

Ran: ? What are you talking about?

Yui: You're facing me with such a lovable smile. Now, my love for you is overflowing so very much that I want to...do much more to you right here, right now.

Ran: ……! H-Here!? That's a little…

Yui: I know. I want to, but the dinner course has only just started. Now the problem is whether I can withstand the urge until I manage to see dinner through…

Ran: ...Are you sure about that?

Yui: Of course. This is a precious moment in time where I can age these passionate feelings, I have for you, like fine wine.

Yui: The longer wine ages, the richer the taste grows to become. The same should apply to feelings as well.

He took a sip of his wine, the sound reverberating by my ear.

Yui: And these well-brewed feelings of mine… Will be layered on and delivered in kind to you in our room.

The sweet sigh laced with the scent of wine made my eardrums vibrate. I'm pretty sure the reason my cheeks warmed wasn't due to my being drunk at all.

Yui: Just you wait… Until the time comes.

Ran: ...Okay.

I gave a small nod, feeling myself flush all the way to my ears.

───⋅𝕿𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖊…⋆⋅☆

[jokertrap-ran]

[Stand My Heroes] 聖夜を奏でる♪ Symphonic numbers (Performing the Holy Night ♪ Symphonic numbers) Event Story: Part ② Translations

*Sutamai Master-list *MC name is retained default Izumi Rei *Scenario Writer: @eno_bara (榎戸乃ばら) *Kurisu Masuo Charisma Suoh…I see what you did there coly ww

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Special Stages

⋆⋅☆ Kujo Mansion: Living Room ☆⋅⋆

Kaname: And Koya-kun says that he watched your Shampoo CM.

Kirishima: Tell him that he was really dashin’! And help me ask him how he made his eyes sparkle like that.

Kaname: —Yeah, see you.

Kirishima: Ah, he hung up?

Kaname: Kyosuke-kun and Hikaru-kun are going to the Concert on the 24th. Tell him yourself then.

Kirishima: For real?

Shindo: What an unusual crowd is going to be gathering.

Kaname: Seems like they’re going because Tsuduki-san got the green light to gather references there.

Kujo: I see. So he contacted you because he knew that we were the one of their backers?

Kaname: Yup.

Miyase: Oh! I’ve just thought of something good.

Kirishima: What is it?

Miyase: How about we invite them to the party since we’re all going to be there?

Kujo: Brilliant.

Miyase: Do you agree to it too?

Kaname: …I don’t mind; not particularly, anyway.

Miyase: I’ll do my best to whip up all the food then.

Shindo: Looks like this we’re having another unnecessarily lively Christmas again this year.

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

⋆⋅☆ Streets ☆⋅⋆

MC: (Phew…we ended up getting off late again.)

When I speed-walked to the Station——

???: Oooooi, Rei! Get on in!

Rei: (Hm?)

I turned around upon being called, noticing a familiar face waving from behind an open window of a car, stopped by the roadside.

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

⋆⋅☆ Inside the Car ☆⋅⋆

Kirishima: Is it cold in here?

Rei: Nope, it’s warm.

Kirishima: I see.

Rei: Thank you so much.

Rei: It’ll be a great help if you could send me all the way back, but are you sure about this?

Kirishima: I was just on my way back from running an errand for Kujo-san, and I was just in the mood to go for a drive.

Rei: Sorry about this…I’m really beat to be honest, so thank you.

Kirishima: That’s good then. I’ve got something I wanna talk to you about too, so nice timing!

Rei: What about…?

Kirishima: We’ll be holding a Christmas Banquet on the 25th so Kujo-san wanted to extend an invitation to you too!

Rei: A Christmas Banquet…

Kirishima: Could it be that you’ve already made plans?

Rei: Rather than plans, I suppose it can be called work…in a sense, but that’s how it is.

Rei: I’m really glad to be invited, but…

Kirishima: I see…So you’re busy.

Rei: (Ahhh, my heart hurts when I see him so disappointed like a kicked puppy…!)

Rei: I apologise. Can I put my invitation tentative or will that be an inconvenience?

Kirishima: You can just take as long as you need. Even if you barely make it on the day itself.

Kirishima: Miyase’s all hyped up making tons of food.

Rei: I want to eat his cooking!

Kirishima: Don’t push yourself too hard at work, okay? I hope you come to the party.

Rei: Yes! Thank you so much!

Rei: You too, Kirishima-san! Be sure not to catch a cold or anything like that!

Kirishima: ‘Course! I’d only make Kujo-san worry if I’m not healthy during Christmas!

Rei: (Seems like everything and everyone are already in Christmas-mood except us down in the NCD.)

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

⋆⋅☆ Investigation Planning Headquarters ☆⋅⋆

It was only on the next day, that the Investigation took a big step forward.

Imaoji: Seki-san, has that information been checked over?

Seki: Yes.

Seki: Kurisu bought drugs from the dealer in Club R and used it before continuing with his night life.

Seki: That’s why we’ll call him out on his way back and intercept him then.

Seki: That’s the plan we’ve come up with after all the prior investigations we’ve carried out.

But the new information from his Ace was that, “Kurisu didn’t do drugs at all when he was out enjoying his night life”. Therefore——

Yui: Then, why was he buying all those on a schedule…?

Seki: That’s because…

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

——A few days ago.

⋆⋅☆ Concert Hall ☆⋅⋆

Makoto: ——I see. So, there’s a difference in practicing in a Hall and in a Studio.

Kurisu: Yes! I’d get even more into it whenever I practice in a hall!

Kurisu: The sound’s different, you see. For example, the violin. Are you aware of this, perhaps?

Kurisu: It’s sound like mm~♪in a studio, but nnnn~~♪in a Hall.

Makoto: ——I apologize. Amateurs like me can’t tell between such subtle differences.

Kurisu: Ahaha! It’s all OK, all’s good♪Because I’ll show you how different they are now!

Makoto: (He’s someone who’s always full of energy, but he seems to be way more excited than usual today.)

Makoto: (…Actually, his eyes seem to be sparkling strangely…)

Kurisu: Now, my lovely Orchestra! Are all of you ready!?

Kurisu: Let us descend into the lovely world of music!

Seki: ——Pardon me.

Kurisu: !?

Makoto: You guys…

The Orchestra members all looked uneasy as a buzz filled the air at sudden entrance of the Outsiders. Kurisu’s face paled as a sheet as Seki questioned him.

Seki: Kurisu-san, you’re under suspicion of possession and usage of Illegal Drugs.

Seki: ——According to our Information, you use dangerous drugs whenever you do music, more often than not.

Makoto: ——!

Seki: Could I ask of you to cooperate with our Investigation?

Kurisu: …I see~ Alright. I’ll cooperate with you.

Rei: Then, may I check your personal belongings?

Kurisu: What you’re looking for is over here.

It looked as if a lightbulb had clicked in Kurisu’s head as he opened something that resembled a Conducting Baton’s Case——

Aoyama & Yui: ——!

A bucket’s worth of white powder fell from within.

——And now, back to reality.

Makoto: I’m with the NCD right now. I’ve also gotten arrested.

Kyosuke: “ARRESTED——!?”

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

⋆⋅☆ Investigation Planning Department ☆⋅⋆

Makoto: I’ll contact you again once I’ve been released.

Aoyama: Released…?

Makoto only calmly sipped at his coffee after he ended his call.

Rei: Makoto-san…please don’t say things like that; It’ll only invite more misunderstandings.

Rei: We only wanted to ask you some questions.

Makoto: I just wanted to try using the word “release” in relevance to my current situation.

Makoto: I just thought that I’d never have another chance to do so in the future if I didn’t take the opportunity now, when it presented itself.

Man: Ahaha…

Seiya, the Concert Master who seated beside him, only laughed bitterly at that.

Apparently, it looks like the Concert Master was responsible for “Rounding everything up” when it came to anything concerning the Orchestra. You could say that he’s a Conductor-player, if anything.

Seiya: Uhm…So, how long do we have to stay cooped up in here, exactly?

Aoyama: We’ve already heard whatever you have to say, so you’re free to leave.

Seki: Thank you so much for cooperating with us.

Rei: Thank you so much!

Seiya: Ahh, is that so. That’s great to hear…Everyone in the Orchestra’s really worried.

Rei: (Oh, that’s right. Their Conductor was suddenly arrested and taken away in the middle of their practice, so they must have been pretty shaken up about it.)

Makoto: It doesn’t look like I can gather the material I need in this situation.

Seiya: You must have it rough too, Sensei. I’ve got to think of something else, now that I’ve lost my Conductor…

Seki: You have my deepest condolences.

Seiya: Thank you…Actually, I’ve been thinking about this for quite a long time now, but…

All Three: ?

Seiya: All the guys down in the NCD look astonishingly dashing.

Aoyama & Seki: Wha——

Rei: (That’s what caught his attention!?)

Seiya: Man, I thought that I’d have gotten used to being around such good men after having spent every day seeing Kurisu-san around recently.

Seiya: But Seki-san and Aoyama-san both have a manliness about them that would make even top Kurisu-san’s own.

Seiya: I’m really, REALLY, in the mood to play a Violin now! I feel like this will make for a really nice tune!

Seki: R-Right…

Rei: (I wonder if all musicians are all that emotionally sensitive…)

Yui: ——Seki-san. About Kurisu, Imaoji-kun’s Investigation seems to be going smoothly in that field.

Seki: I see, that’s good——

Seiya: PINK HAIR!? AND NOT TO MENTION, ANOTHER DASHING ONE!?

Yui: Huh…?

Seiya: HA!? I apologize for being so loud.

Rei: (Seiya-san…)

Makoto: (How interestingly curious…)

Seiya: No— Really, all the beauties are being gathered here, in one place.

Seiya: So good, that I’m almost tempted to ask you to take Kurisu’s place as the Conductor to draw in the same crowd that his good looks would have inevitably drawn.

Rei: (Just for that reason…?)

Yui: What in the world is he talking about…?

Makoto: ——I see.

Rei: Huh?

Makoto: The NCD suddenly turning into Orchestra Conductors? Now… that’s interesting.

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

⋆⋅☆ Investigation Planning Department ☆⋅⋆

Makoto: ————

Aoyama: (……? I don’t know why, but I feel like…he’s staring an awful lot at me…?)

Makoto: (The Narc’s Ace, Aoyama Itsuki.)

Makoto: (——If he were to be the Replacement Conductor…)

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Aoyama: ——Stop. I’ve already repeated myself countless of times, but this isn’t getting any better. Is it that difficult?

Aoyama: I’ll play the Violin so listen well to how I do it.

Aoyama: ——♪——♪♪♪——♪♪——

Player: ……! He’s way better than me! I’ve just lost all my confidence!!

Aoyama: Huh…?

Player: Rather, normal people like us cannot just manage to do everything like you high-spec people do on the drop of the hat!

Aoyama: Yes, I do understand that I’m on a different level from the average joe. Therefore, it was in my intention to do this properly and stand as everyone’s equal here.

Aoyama: How about you first tell me what you’re able to do? …Wait, what can you do?

Player: There it is; that’s what I was talking about.

Aoyama: ……?

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Makoto: (…That didn’t turn out very interesting.)

Makoto: (Since he’s an Ace, he might be much more suited to be the Concert Master than a mere Conductor.)

Aoyama: (Why is he staring so intently at me with such a poker face?)

Rei: (Makoto-san…?)

Makoto: (Next will be him…)

Seki: ……?

Makoto: (The reliable Section Chief of the NCD, Seki Daisuke——…)

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Seki: ——Yes, everyone’s doing brilliant.

Seki: Especially the Violins, it was a pleasantly beautiful sound.

CRAAASH!!

Seki: !?

Percussionist: WHOA!? ALL THE VIOLINNISTS HAVE FALLEN PREY TO THE CONDUCTOR’S SUGAR-SWEET WORDS!

Seki: Eh…?

Woodwind Player: Hey…you’ve…got to be…kidding…Even the guys are down for the count!?

Brass Player: THE CONDUCTOR’S WAY TOO HANDSOME, I CAN’T CONCENTRATE AT ALL!!!!

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Makoto: (…Maybe it’s because I read the original work of the Love-comedy movie that Kyosuke’s going to be appearing in; my imagination seems to be oddly geared in that direction of things, for some reason…)

Seki: Uhm…?

Makoto: (He’s up next, I guess.)

Yui: ……?

Makoto: (The NCD’s most Inquisitive and talented brain when it comes to Research, Yui Kotaro——…)

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Yui: No, all wrong, that’s not it! Violins! You’re causing Arteriosclerosis with that!

Yui: More——! We need more, if we’re going to make for a nightfilled with bloodshed!

Yui: Cymbals! More violent actions! Treat is as if you’re having Sympathetic Nerve Reactions!!

Player: W-What is he talking about!?

Player: He’s super, duper, hard to understand…!!

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Makoto: ——Pft!

Yui: ! What’s with him?

Rei: Um, Makoto-san? Is everything alright there?

Makoto: I had thought that it’d be interesting to see all of you NCD people as Replacement Conductors, but——

Makoto: I think that’s impossible, after all.

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

⋆⋅☆ Investigation Planning Department ☆⋅⋆

Seiya: Of course, it was just a little joke of mine.

Seiya: To an Orchestra, a Conductor is akin to their heart, or a Piero, at times.

Seiya: It’s precisely because we’re not high-leveled individuals that we can’t just simply pass the reigns over any Conductor just on the drop of a hat like that.

Yui: I won’t do it even if you asked.

Seki: Yui.

Yui: …Sorry.

Seiya: Haha. Looks like I’m the only one with a long history running, as things are looking out to be.

Seiya: I was also introduced to other people, so don’t worry about it.

Makoto: Does that mean that I can still continue gathering the data I require?

Seiya: Of course, if that is what you wish.

Makoto: That’ll be a great help. I’ll be in your care again.

Seiya: I suppose this must also be some sort of fate. Please come by to watch us on the 24th, if you’re free.

Yui: A Orchestra Concert on Christmas Eve?

Aoyama: That doesn’t sound bad at all.

Rei: Now that things have come down to this, I’m kind of interested in seeing how the performance turns out.

Seki: We’d gladly attend once the case with Kurisu-san calms down. We’ll be supporting you.

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

⋆⋅☆ Streets ☆⋅⋆

Rei: (I’m finally walking the streets at the usual time I get off from work. That feels kind of new, now.)

Kaname: ——Big sister?

Rei: Oh, Kaname-kun? Hello.

Kaname: Are you on the way home now?

Rei: Yup. You too?

Kaname: I’m on my way back from the Bookstore. I checked where this particular book was stocked and that was the only Bookstore that had it.

Rei: I see. What a coincidence.

Kaname: ————

Rei: ? What’s wrong?

Kaname: …Do you have some time next weekend, big sister? It doesn’t matter even if you’re only free in the night.

Rei: Next weekend——?

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

⋆⋅☆ In a certain Room ☆⋅⋆

TV: “Uh— Now, continuing on! This will be the follow-up report on the Dashing Conductor, Kurisu Matsuo!”

???: SHUT UP!!!!

???: Shut up, shut up, shut up! I’ll never forgive you…! How dare you arrest my Mats!?

???: I’ll never acknowledge a replacement! A Concert without Mats? I’ll destroy it…!

───⋅𝕿𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖊…⋆⋅☆