#Saotome Ikuto Character Event Story

[jokertrap-ran]

[Stand My Heroes] 魅惑の歌謡ショウ (A Mesmerizing Music Performance) Saotome Ikuto’s Character Event Story: 晴空に鳴るエキゾースノート (The Exhaust Note that rings through the Clear Skies) Translations (Happy END)

You, who had been so caught-up in work that your entire Summer Schedule was practically cancelled, had suddenly ended up going on a trip with him on an odd stroke of luck… It’s neither the place nor time to be going on a drive, but you were still elated about it, and he, in turn…♡

*Sutamai Master-list *MC name is retained as the defaulted Izumi Rei *Scenario Writer: @kanroyu (天白かんろ)

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Happy END

I tuned in to the radio again as we headed back. It was a different channel that had started playing an old pop song upon a listener’s request. It was one that I didn’t know, but yet, it still held a tinge of nostalgia in it.

(This might have just been the “Maturity” I imagined and longed for back as a kid, looking up to the adults.)

I snuck a glance at Saotome-san’s side-profile as he drove beside me. He had completely turned into an adult, with not even a single hint of his younger self left in his face.

(I still have a long way to go if I’m to become the adult I’ve always wanted to be…) (But he--)

Saotome: …What’s up?

Rei: !

Saotome: Speak up if there’s something you want to say.

Rei: No, I don’t have anything to say in particular. I was just…thinking.

Rei: About how Big Brother Nikuto has really grown up.

Saotome: Are you mocking me? Who are you to say that?

Rei: It’s nothing.

Rei: It’s just that you brought me to a place like that on such a whim for no rhyme or reason an-

He cut me off before I could finish, almost as if he was mad.

Saotome: There’s no way I’d do something like that for you.

Rei: But you brought me there because I looked like I wanted to go to the sea, didn’t you…?

Saotome: Continue on, and I’ll leave you in the mountains.

Rei: The mountains!? I like the mountains too but leaving me there’s a little-!!

I bit my words back, noticing that his ears had slightly turned red at the tips.

(He’s affected…Just like how my body temperature shot up when his fingers grazed mine.) (I wonder if he felt the same heat as well.)

Rei: You’ve got work to do right after returning, right? Won’t it be rather rough since you’ve already lost quite a lot of time?

Saotome: It’s just a little break. I’ve still got the time to spare and still make-up for it before the deadline.

Rei: …You seem like the type to finish things way earlier before the deadline, though.

Rei: By the way, don’t you think the song that was just playing a rather good one?

Saotome: It might have been sung in a really happy and bright tune, but it’s still a song about breaking up, you know?

Rei: It was!?

Saotome: Complimenting a song for being a good one, but yet being unable to grasp and understand it’s lyrics…You must really be one happy fool.

Rei: The tune’s really enjoyable! And it said “The time I walk together with you on the coastline’s the happiest time”!

Rei: …Oh. It’s actually bringing up memories of the past, now that I listen closely to it.

Saotome: You’re too late to realise it.

Rei: W-Well, that still doesn’t change the fact that it’s a nice song, in any case…

Saotome: This might not be where it all ends either.

Rei: Huh?

Saotome: There might be a time where the wheels of fate come together and brings them together again, one day.

Rei: …You’ve got a point. This song only depicts a small portion of a long life ahead, after all.

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

--The summer sea rippled peacefully.

Even the time we spent together, basked in the light of the sunset, was nothing more than a small part of our lives. Despite all that, when the next summer comes, I’ll…

I’ll still remember the joyful beat of music along with the warmth I felt in the palm of my hand.

⋆⋅☆ ─────⋆❅❉ 𝐻𝒶𝓅𝓅𝓎 𝐸𝓃𝒹❉❅⋆───── ☆⋅⋆

[otoroll]

And at the end of the year, here’s my current status in mobage. (Feel free to compare to the beginning of the year!)

A3!: by far and away my most played game this year, I can’t believe I went up 112 levels... I won’t lie, there were times I considered spending money on this game in these past twelve months - haven’t yet, but sometimes I think I’m breaking. Rank 246, featuring Fushimi Omi.

Stand My Heroes: In contrast, I totally stopped playing Sutamai towards the end of the year. The UI changes got finalized early on this year, and we got the introduction of Seo Labs to the cast, with my new favorites. At the very least, I can definitely say I like Ikuto as opposed to being vaguely into Sosei. I do want to get back into this game, honestly; Match-3 are easy time sucks. Featuring Saotome Ikuto.

On Air!: The new coly game of the year, where the popularity and longevity of Sutamai meant they could make a move onto the same territory as A3! and Enstars. I give it grief given that I didn’t really play it much, but I did like my time with it. Also has a teacher character, and I’m Hot for Teacher type, so I’d like to give it a little more attention in the new year. Rank 6, featuring Kokuyou Mamoru.

Granblue Fantasy: The mobage king. I have a Mobage account (two even), so the best part about this game is that I’m never losing my data. The English is nice and convenient but I still skip stories, so my representative “favorite,” Holy Saber (female player avatar) Djeeta, is more “This is who I’m leveling right now.” This game feeds the part of the brain that likes numbers going up, in a traditional fantasy setting, and the collab events have me paying more attention to this one than A3! at times. Rank 58, featuring female Holy Saber.

SINoALICE: My other major game this year; it’s been a toss between A3!, GBF, and SINoALICE for which game has held my attention at any given time. If GBF feeds the numbers-go-up part of the brain, SINoALICE does the same in its sadistic fairytale bent. I guess my major gripe, if anything, is that all the jobs are so pretty that I want everything. Rank 106, featuring Invader Three Little Pigs.

THE iDOLM@STER SideM LIVE on ST@GE!: iM@S block! There were times I got really focused on events this year, then the grinding got to me until it came back with a vengeance for the Christmas event. BEST IDOL JIRO summoned, okay. P-Level 33, featuring Yamashita Jiro.

THE iDOLM@STER Million Live Theater Days: The way Mirishita’s home screen is set up, oshi units aren’t really a thing, because the idea is that you’re in the 765 office and you’ll run across the girls. But I love basically all my 765 daughters so picking a favorite is just too hard. That’s a lie. Mizuki. It’s Mizuki. Unlike MSte, the bulk of Mirishita’s event play definitely focuses more on the rhythm game side, so I’ve practically dropped it; but I swear I’m clinging to the daily login ritual just because there’s nowhere else for me to find these babies now. Level 54, featuring Yabuki Kana & Julia.

THE iDOLM@STER Shiny Colors: The new kid on iM@S block started up this past June? Ish? And after we all got freed from the hurdle of overseas players needing VPNs, has kept true to iM@S style with gorgeous character art and “idol production” gameplay. Shanimasu is more like traditional iM@S games than all the phone games, with zero rhythm element - the flip side is this is a game that needs babysitting, and so I just can’t deal with the attention it needs. Featuring Morino Rinze.

Shinen Resist: Or what I unfairly call “Apocalypse A3!” - Shinen Resist is honestly a pretty good game in its own right, with nice graphics, a level-up system, and a battle system that actually feels like your participation is valid. (But if you’re like me, you can still totally auto it if you want to.) Rank 9, featuring Volker.

World End Heroes: And yet another attempt from Squeenix to hit the otome mobage market this past year (after iFan), Wahiro’s biggest contribution to mobage is bringing Ogata Megumi on for a role. It’s got a lot of kinks to work out that it won’t ever because it’s a quick cash grab from Square Enix to see what will stick, but I played one event and hit a higher rank than I did for one event in Shinen Resist, and you can draw your own conclusions. Rank 23, featuring Hisamori Akito.

2018′s been a crazy year for mobage, with a lot of new games starting up; some being postponed (Palette Parade...) and others being revamped (Otome Yuusha); and a number of losses. Cocktail Prince, they still have yet to fill your niche. (And also Wiz;Alice, which ended just two months after it started...? Even though an English version was touted? Damn.)

But there’s already some stuff to look forward to in 2019, so here’s to more mobage amazement!

[jokertrap-ran]

[Stand My Heroes] 魅惑の歌謡ショウ (A Mesmerizing Music Performance) Saotome Ikuto’s Character Event Story: 晴空に鳴るエキゾースノート (The Exhaust Note that rings through the Clear Skies) Translations (Part 1)

You, who had been so caught-up in work that your entire Summer Schedule was practically cancelled, had suddenly ended up going on a trip with him on an odd stroke of luck… It’s neither the place nor time to be going on a drive, but you were still elated about it, and he, in turn…♡

*Sutamai Master-list *MC name is retained as the defaulted Izumi Rei *Scenario Writer: @kanroyu (天白かんろ)

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Happy END

(Oh, that’s the colour of the sea…)

I passed by someone who had been lugging a small suitcase behind them along my way home from work. It’s shade of blue was reminiscent of the sea, and it was a painful reminder of the trip that never saw the light.

(I would have been spending time leisurely and relaxing at the beach now, if I had gone.) (But I suppose it’s no use crying over spilt milk since work suddenly picked up.)

A large-scale investigation had started at the beginning of August, thus effectively cancelling almost all my plans this Summer. It’d be hard to match schedules with my friends now, despite how things have finally calmed down.

(Somewhere…I just want to go somewhere far…) (A place where I can experience the feel of Summer to the fullest, under the clear blue skies…)

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

--A few days later.

I went down to Seo Laboratory, my ears catching the sound of soft, rapid typing of the keyboard as someone worked on their computer.

Rei: It’s been a long time.

Saotome: What, it’s just you? I haven’t seen you in so long that I thought you collapsed at a Summer Party or something.

Rei: Haha, don’t worry about me. I’m as peppy as I seem.

Rei: I’ve just been a little busy with work recently. I’m here to return this to Seo-san…

I handed him the envelope that held the documents within, and he immediately opened it, checking through the contents.

Saotome: Alright. I’ll take these for you. Seo-san’s not coming back in today.

Rei: Is he on a Business Trip?

Saotome: He has a meeting with the Professors from the other Universities.

Saotome: I’d normally go along with him, but I’ve got something to settle here and I can’t afford to leave so,

Saotome: Hosho and Kawai are with him instead. I’m truthfully a little worried, but I suppose it’ll be alright.

His hands never once faltered even as he spoke to me, flying across the keyboard with terrifying speed as he continued typing along.

Rei: Sorry; seems like I came at a bad time since you’re so busy.

Saotome: It doesn’t matter whether you’re here or not; your presence, or lack thereof, has no effect on my work efficiency. So don’t get so full of yourself.

Rei: …Is there anything I can do to help?

Saotome: Don’t you have to return to your own work?

Rei: I’ve got a day off today since I was working last Sunday.

Saotome: Then, perhaps I shall bestow a task upon you, seeing as how you’re so free today with all the time to spare. How about you go pour some Iced-coffee or something?

Rei: Got it!

I opened the fridge and retrieved a bottle of Iced-coffee, pouring it into an ice-filled glass. Someone had entered the lab and engaged in conversation with Saotome-san while I was at it.

(I wonder if it’s about work…?)

───⋅𝕿𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖊…⋆⋅☆

[jokertrap-ran]

[Stand My Heroes] 魅惑の歌謡ショウ (A Mesmerizing Music Performance) Saotome Ikuto’s Character Event Story: 晴空に鳴るエキゾースノート (The Exhaust Note that rings through the Clear Skies) Translations (Part 7)

You, who had been so caught-up in work that your entire Summer Schedule was practically cancelled, had suddenly ended up going on a trip with him on an odd stroke of luck… It’s neither the place nor time to be going on a drive, but you were still elated about it, and he, in turn…♡

*Sutamai Master-list *MC name is retained as the defaulted Izumi Rei *Scenario Writer: @kanroyu (天白かんろ)

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Happy END

Saotome: And it would have been troublesome if we went straight back from the hotel, only for you to tell me that you wanted to see the sea in the end.

Rei: ……

--This is, without a doubt…

(Saotome-san…he had been watching me and noticed that I wanted to go somewhere, anywhere.)

As soon as the realization had dawned on me, I noticed how the sea in front of me sparkled, as if it had been dusted with diamond dust.

(It’s a marvellous sight.) (This sea; it’s really breath-taking…)

The sea that I had seen through the car’s windscreen was indeed beautiful; but now, at this moment in time, the sea reflected in my eyes was something that was mine, and only mine to witness. And beside me stood he, who had brought me here to this wonderful place—

(Big Brother Nikuto won’t run with me along the coastline.) (But, I’m sure…I’m certain that he’d be watching out for me as I ran to my heart’s content.)

Said person had strangely adverted his eyes from my gaze.

Saotome: …Stop making that face.

Rei: What face?

Saotome: The kind that says that you just fell underwater.

Rei: Huh!?

(What peculiar expressions, as always…)

Rei: Thank you, Saotome-san, for allowing me to have such good memories of this year’s Summer.

He never once attempted to meet my eyes again, but I felt that he somehow had his heart open to me. The wind, carrying with it the salty tang of the sea, gently blew at us two, mischievously ruffling it up.

(I hope this can also serve as a breather for him too…)

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Rei: Oh, over there! There’s a beach house over there! Wonder if it’s still open?

We rushed off to the blue-roofed beach house, barely making it in before it’s closing time. I ordered a Pineapple-flavoured Shaved-Ice while he took an Oolong Tea.

Rei: Aren’t you going to eat some Shaved-Ice too? It’ll cool you down.

Saotome: It cools you down only when you’re eating it.

Rei: It’s important to stay cool during this period.

Rei: Here, my hand’s become cold now that I’ve been holding onto the Shaved-Ice for quite some time now.

He lightly brushed his fingers against the hand I had carefreely held out to him.

Saotome: It’s certainly cold.

(…Wait, what?)

At that moment in time, it felt like someone had unknowingly flicked a switch in me, for my body temperature started to rise.

(At a time like this…)

I’m sure he’d laugh at me if he found out. I hurriedly gathered the remnants of my Shaved-Ice onto my spoon and shoved it into my mouth in an attempt to cool off my head.

(I didn’t think much of it since our hands often back when we were kids…) (And I even remember myself initiating the hand-holding when it came to being in certain places!)

How had I been that bold in the past? Or, did I just grow up into a coward…?

Saotome: You’ll ruin your stomach if you eat it that quickly.

Rei: R-Right, I’ll slow down!

Saotome: I think I’ll go buy myself some too.

Rei: Have a safe trip!

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding after I saw him off as he headed back towards the beach house we had just left. My heart was still racing, with no signs of stopping anytime soon.

───⋅𝕿𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖊…⋆⋅☆

[jokertrap-ran]

[Stand My Heroes] 魅惑の歌謡ショウ (A Mesmerizing Music Performance) Saotome Ikuto’s Character Event Story: 晴空に鳴るエキゾースノート (The Exhaust Note that rings through the Clear Skies) Translations (Part 6)

You, who had been so caught-up in work that your entire Summer Schedule was practically cancelled, had suddenly ended up going on a trip with him on an odd stroke of luck… It’s neither the place nor time to be going on a drive, but you were still elated about it, and he, in turn…♡

*Sutamai Master-list *MC name is retained as the defaulted Izumi Rei *Scenario Writer: @kanroyu (天白かんろ)

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Happy END

I could smell the salty tang of the sea and hear the sound of waves the moment I opened the door. The soft orangey glow of the setting sun reflected on the vast expanse of water that was the ocean, bathing everything in a warm light as it slowly made its descent.

Rei: Whoa, it’s really beautiful out here!

I had unwittingly started into a run, soon reaching the sandy shores of the beach and making my way towards the sea in an attempt to get closer. The sand was getting in my sandals, so I tossed them aside and continued on barefooted.

Rei: Saotome-san, how about you remove your shoes too? The sand here’s really soft and it feels really good under your feet!

Saotome: That’ll only dirty your feet, wouldn’t it?

Rei: It’ll be fine! All you have to do is to wash the sand off with the seawater here and wipe it off with a towel before we return to the car!

Saotome: ……

He reluctantly removed his shoes and slowly made his way towards the sand.

Rei: Feels great, doesn’t it?

Saotome: It gets a pass.

Rei: Hehe~

There weren’t many people at the beach in the evening, so it was almost as if this place had been reserved exclusively for us two. I was so elated to finally be at sea that I started walking aimlessly on the beach, rewriting the footprints that had already been previously present in the sand beneath my feet.

Rei: It’s amazing, isn’t it!? It’s the sea! The sea!!

Saotome: Anyone can see that. The only people who get this happy over seeing the sea are probably kids, dogs and you.

Rei: Even adults can love the sea! That’s why the seawater baths are always super crowded every year!

I could feel the seawater lapping at my feet as I stood at the coastline. The water was soothingly warm, almost comforting as it gently frolicked at my skin.

Saotome: I know that you’re an immature hot-headed idiot, but don’t you dare start running off into the water. I won’t be coming after you.

Rei: Ahaha, I won’t do that, I say!

(I actually kind of feel the urge to do so…) (I used to run straight to the waves whenever they came back, chasing after them when I was a kid…)

--If the one here with me today had been the same Big Brother Nikuto back then. We’d probably be able to run around in the sand chasing after each other without a care in the world.

(…If only. Why am I thinking about such meaningless things?)

Rei: The sea really brings out the nostalgia, don’t you think…?

Saotome: Humph. That’s a line that doesn’t really suit well with that personality of yours.

Rei: Even I feel that way sometimes, you know.

Rei: …Why did you bring me here, out to the sea today?

Saotome: Nothing much; just that the hotel was near.

(How curt!)

Rei: I was just wondering if you can really afford to spend time here since you’ve still got work left to finish.

Saotome: ...You were getting all hyped just by the mere music playing in the car. Just how much were you itching for a vacation?

Rei: !

Saotome: And you were literally glued to the car’s windscreen, gazing out at the sea, as we passed it on the way to the hotel.

(I’ve been completely seen through…!! How embarrassing!)

Saotome: And it would have been troublesome if we went straight back from the hotel, only for you to tell me that you wanted to see the sea in the end.

Rei: ……

───⋅𝕿𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖊…⋆⋅☆

[jokertrap-ran]

[Stand My Heroes] 魅惑の歌謡ショウ (A Mesmerizing Music Performance) Saotome Ikuto’s Character Event Story: 晴空に鳴るエキゾースノート (The Exhaust Note that rings through the Clear Skies) Translations (Part 3)

You, who had been so caught-up in work that your entire Summer Schedule was practically cancelled, had suddenly ended up going on a trip with him on an odd stroke of luck… It’s neither the place nor time to be going on a drive, but you were still elated about it, and he, in turn…♡

*Sutamai Master-list *MC name is retained as the defaulted Izumi Rei *Scenario Writer: @kanroyu (天白かんろ)

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Happy END

(I wanted to be of more help to Saotome-san, but it seems like all I can do right now is to search up locations and be the car’s navigator…) (Right, speaking of drives!)

Rei: Do you mind if I turn the radio on?

Saotome: Do whatever you like.

I pressed the switch to turn the radio on and the car was soon filled with bright, light music coupled with a brilliant female vocal.

Rei: Wow, this song’s really nostalgic…

Saotome: I’m pretty sure you weren’t even born yet when this song was popular. Don’t go twisting time and space in your brain on a whim like that.

Rei: That might be true, but hearing songs like this make me feel nostalgic.

Rei: Maybe the nostalgia stems from having heard it before as a kid.

Saotome: It’s completely different from the songs that are trending now.

Rei: You know what’s trending?

Saotome: I interact with youths on a daily basis. So it’s safe to say that I know more about it than you, who have no interest in anything other than work and alcohol.

Rei: It’s not like I’m…completely clueless about it...or anything.

Saotome: You’ve suddenly gotten softer half-way through, you know?

Rei: I just realised that I haven’t been watching the Television or checking my Social Media (SNS) recently because I’ve been so cooped up in work, so there goes my initial confidence of knowing at least something about the recent trends…

Saotome: That pressed for time, huh.

Rei: Oh, sorry! I’m sure everyone’s just as busy too. I’m just bad at time management.

Saotome: Don’t be. Everyone has a different threshold of what being busy entails.

Rei: …Okay.

He was blunt and straight to the point, so much that some people might think that he was mad and thus, being snippy.

(But I’ve known him long enough to know that that’s not the case.)

───⋅𝕿𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖊…⋆⋅☆

[jokertrap-ran]

[Stand My Heroes] 魅惑の歌謡ショウ (A Mesmerizing Music Performance) Saotome Ikuto’s Character Event Story: 晴空に鳴るエキゾースノート (The Exhaust Note that rings through the Clear Skies) Translations (Part 2)

You, who had been so caught-up in work that your entire Summer Schedule was practically cancelled, had suddenly ended up going on a trip with him on an odd stroke of luck… It’s neither the place nor time to be going on a drive, but you were still elated about it, and he, in turn…♡

*Sutamai Master-list *MC name is retained as the defaulted Izumi Rei *Scenario Writer: @kanroyu (天白かんろ)

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Happy END

Rei: Here you go. I’ve also added in sugar.

Saotome: I do hope you aren’t thinking that I can’t drink coffee without sugar.

Rei: O-Of course not! This is just an act of service…!

Saotome-san let out a bitter sigh as he took a sip of his coffee. I was momentarily worried that it had turned out tasting bad, but then I realised that he had his gaze directed at the document he had in hand.

Rei: Someone came earlier, right?

Saotome: The documents we requested for the meeting have only just arrived.

Rei: Huh!? Wouldn’t that be pretty troubling for Seo-san…?

Saotome: It’s something of an add-on, so he’ll be fine without it, but it’s also better to have it then to have nothing at all.

Saotome: I could employ a Courier-service that runs on Motorcycles…

He pondered for a while before glancing upwards, seemingly having decided something, and downed the rest of his coffee in a single gulp.

Saotome: It’ll be more efficient if I drove there and delivered these instead.

Rei: Will you make it?

Saotome: He’s at a hotel by the sea, a little less than 2 Hours away from here. It’s close enough; just a day trip away.

Saotome: I’ve managed to settle my work here somewhat, so this trip won’t set me back too far. I can make up for the lost time in no time at all.

(The sea…)

Rei: It would be nice to go for a drive by the sea on such a sunny day.

Saotome: ……

(Oh no, was that too laid-back to be brought up? And it’s not like he’s going there to have fun either…)

Saotome: I don’t mind taking you along as an errand-runner since you’ll just be idling around at home otherwise.

Rei: !

Saotome: What do you say? I’ll even specially allow you to seat beside me.

(He seems pretty tuckered out too. I guess we could take turns driving half-way through if I went along with him.)

Rei: Okay, let me come with you!

Saotome: Very well. We’ll be heading out shortly so don’t dawdle.

───⋅𝕿𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖊…⋆⋅☆

[jokertrap-ran]

[Stand My Heroes] 魅惑の歌謡ショウ (A Mesmerizing Music Performance) Saotome Ikuto’s Character Event Story: 晴空に鳴るエキゾースノート (The Exhaust Note that rings through the Clear Skies) Translations (Part 5)

You, who had been so caught-up in work that your entire Summer Schedule was practically cancelled, had suddenly ended up going on a trip with him on an odd stroke of luck… It’s neither the place nor time to be going on a drive, but you were still elated about it, and he, in turn…♡

*Sutamai Master-list *MC name is retained as the defaulted Izumi Rei *Scenario Writer: @kanroyu (天白かんろ)

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Happy END

Seo-san, Hikaru-kun and Hosho-kun met us in the Hotel’s Lobby since we had contacted them prior to our arrival.

Hosho: !

Kawai: Huh? Rei-san’s with you too.

Saotome: She just so happened to be in the Lab so I brought her along as a special service.

Hosho: H-Hello…

Kawai: You okay there? Was Ikuto-san being mean to you throughout the ride?

Rei: Hehe, I’m fine.

Saotome: If you’re talking about her, she seemed to be enjoying herself all by her lonesome while listening to music.

Rei: I was absolutely prepared to help you out in the case of something happening along the way!!

Seo: Thank you both. You’re a really great help.

Saotome: I’m just here to hand you your documents so the whole gang didn’t have to come down here to welcome us.

Kawai: You say that, but you’re actually glad to see us aren’t you?

Saotome: I see your faces everyday that it’s become a nuisance in and of itself; so not particularly, no.

Saotome: We’re leaving, Izumi.

Kawai: Huh? You’re already leaving? Surely you guys can afford to take it easy here for a little while more!

Saotome: I’ve still got work left to finish up. Make sure not to lose the documents.

Hosho: Of course…thank you so much…

Seo: I don’t think there’s anything to worry about since Ikuto-kun’s there, but do take care.

I couldn’t help but to feel crushed and relieved at the same time, knowing that we had successfully accomplished what we came here for and that it was already time to leave. I greeted Seo-san and the rest goodbye before hurriedly rushing to catch up to Saotome-san, who had already been speedily heading towards the carpark.

─────────────────────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

(Hm?)

I thought that we were heading straight back after we were done, but… The car’s heading in a different direction from the one we originally came from.

Rei: Saotome-san? This isn’t the way back, is it?

Saotome: There’s no way I’d get the roads wrong. Don’t lump me in together with a dumb brain-cell like you.

Rei: Then, why are we…?

Saotome: …Special service.

He uttered, and that was the end of it as he held onto the wheel, eyes set onto our next destination, wherever that was. I was still troubled over whether I should tun the radio back on are not when we arrived near the coast.

───⋅𝕿𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖊…⋆⋅☆

[jokertrap-ran]

[Stand My Heroes] 魅惑の歌謡ショウ (A Mesmerizing Music Performance) Saotome Ikuto’s Character Event Story: 晴空に鳴るエキゾースノート (The Exhaust Note that rings through the Clear Skies) Translations (Part 4)

You, who had been so caught-up in work that your entire Summer Schedule was practically cancelled, had suddenly ended up going on a trip with him on an odd stroke of luck… It’s neither the place nor time to be going on a drive, but you were still elated about it, and he, in turn…♡

*Sutamai Master-list *MC name is retained as the defaulted Izumi Rei *Scenario Writer: @kanroyu (天白かんろ)

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Happy END

Rei: Come to think of it, weren’t you practicing how to sing the Theme Song of some Medical Drama for the last event?

Saotome: I can do old pop songs too. Most of the Professors are getting on in age so going for older songs while at Karaoke with them is always the safer option.

Rei: Wow, that’s pretty amazing. I’d love to hear it next time.

Saotome: There’s no merit in it for me, if I were to comply to your request. I’d be better off singing to a cat in the Courtyard.

Rei: It’s not a request, just, normally…you know,

I was about to say “as friends”, but I hurriedly swallowed my words back down. For I doubt that our relationship with each other was even at the level of “Friendship”.

(What should I call this then…?) (If I asked Saotome-san about it, he’d probably say that we’re just “Work Acquaintances” …Well, not that he’s wrong about it though.)

Saotome: Normally, what?

He gave me a side-glance, as if impatient to hear the continuation of my words.

Rei: Err…Enjoying singing together like normal people?

Saotome: I don’t particularly have a thing for singing. I only do it out of necessity.

Rei: There’s that too, and it’s truly a pity…

Saotome: That’s why, I don’t mind joining you next time if I feel like it.

Rei: Please do!

Saotome: The fact that you wish to go for Karaoke that badly must mean that you’ve got quite the confidence in your singing ability.

Rei: It would be much appreciated if you didn’t expect too much of me to that end…

Saotome: Try singing a song here as a test.

Saotome: I’m in the middle of driving right now, so I’ll still hear you out even if you’re absolutely shit at it.

Rei: T-That’s impossible! Just…spare me that.

Saotome: There’s no difference between you singing here and at the Karaoke though.

Rei: It’s totally different! Augments and filters are a thing when doing Karaoke…

Rei: So I think you’ll be better off listening to the beautiful voices on the radio rather than mine.

He narrowed his eyes in suspicion as I desperately tried to steer the conversation clear of the subject.

Saotome: And to think that you’d just sing on the drop of the hat without anyone asking you to back then.

Rei: Right, that happened, didn’t it…haha…

I was way younger than “Big Brother Nikuto” at that time. I felt my face flush in embarrassment when I recalled how proudly I used to sing all the trendy songs in the Park, as if it was a performance back then.

Rei: You can…forget that ever happened.

Saotome: That’s easier said that done. You’re a pretty strong presence in my memories because you were an odd one.

The pop song that had been playing on the radio transited into the next song. This time, it was a male vocalist who was singing about how happy and sweet it was to go out with his lover.

(This isn’t a drive…I’m just a tag-along attendant.) (Even so, why do I feel this excited? Is it because of this bright song that’s playing in the background?)

Saotome: ……

He was driving with his usual poker-face on. Even such a heartfelt and touching song seemed to have absolutely no effect on his being.

(I guess this also has something to do with the person on the other side of the conversation, but…I suppose he isn’t the kind of person who’d get all excited over a drive either.)

───⋅𝕿𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖊…⋆⋅☆