taishou romance - a flower story ii

[faeil]

[Taishou Romance] A Flower Story
Chapter 2
written by Akira
>>forest

Tsubasa: Kotoriiin? Hurry up~ changing clothes quickly is a required skill for an idol, you know?

We’re cutting it pretty close to the time we’re supposed to be there. Punctuality is a hard rule for idols too.

Well, on our way over here we had lunch at the orchard… It’s not great that you’ve gotten so sluggish now.

If that’s the case, I can help you change? Normally, I end up relying on you for a lot of things… so it’s kinda like I’m paying you back?

For today, so you can focus on practicing for our performance… I’ll do anything for you. I’m a “hostess”, after all. I have to offer services~

Excuse me, miss, shall I take your clothes off for you? I’ll help you change~ …Okay, I sound a little more like a stripper than a hostess, don’t I?¹ Hmm…



Kotori: S-Sorry! I got a little held up, I’m not quite used to wearing a uniform like this?

Tsubasa: Nice, nice. Looks like you’ve also traveled back to the Taishou Era ♪

Ahaha, I know there’s no way around it, but… In the modern era, outfits from back then look really dated or ugly. I mean, they look like something a grandma would wear~♪

Kotori: Uuuh, it’s a little hard to move in this. Well, we ain’t dancin’ or anythin’ in these costumes, so I guess this is fine?

Tsubasa: I’m pretty light-footed~ I could probably dance the Rumba in this. This is a “hostess’’ costume, after all. They’re made so that they won’t get in the way while you’re working.

Kotori: But, Tsubasa-shan… ‘s there a reason why we gotta change into our outfits right now?

Tsubasa: Yeah, we were instructed to have a fitting session — basically, to make sure our outfits fit well on our own today. We’ll be heading up a narrow mountain road, which means we won’t be able to ride a bus to take us to the location.

So we’ll only be able to take our costumes with us on our way up there. I mean, it’d be nice if we could change at the place we’re getting an acting consultation at, but… Well, I guess it is better to break in these outfits ahead of time, right?

Kotori: It was real hard to change inside the location bus while it was shakin’~ Well, ‘s probably good ta practice that too, ‘m guessin’. Every time we’re workin’, I never know if we’ll have enough time to change.

Tsubasa: Right, right. Wow, this mountain road is worse than I imagined~ …It hasn’t been paved at all, so it looks like we’ll be getting our outfits dirty.

We might have changed too early. Well, these costumes are a temporary thing, so it wouldn’t really be a problem even if we rolled in mud or something.

Kotori: Woah, this ‘s a pretty steep slope. Jus’ walkin’ is makin’ me all tired out.

Tsubasa: Why do we have to head up to a place like this for acting lessons? Besides, our manager won’t even accompany us to the location — what’s up with that? And we even have to carry our own luggage up! They’ve been pretty defiant lately, haven’t they?

Kotori: Ah~ …Ahaha, but I guess there’s no way ‘round it. After all, I reckon you ain’t acceptin’ the other option just yet.

Tsubasa: Going back to school, you mean? Well, everything’s pretty much set in stone, so it’s like a bit too late to be complaining, right? Ugh, I want that guy to get sacked~ I just wish I had more power...

Well, just as often as the manager gets their way, they’re disgustingly accepting of terrible situations. Hey, let’s report them to the office manager — and not everything we report has to be entirely truthful. I hope we make that shitty manager take a hit to their salary ♪

Kotori: If you do that, we’re not gonna get along real well with manager-san… We gotta thank them just for driving us this far.

Tsubasa: Aye, aye. I get it. I’m not a kid either. …By the way, once our acting lessons are over and the sun sets, our manager will come pick us up, apparently.

Let’s go, Kotorin. If we dawdle, we’re really going to show up later than we promised.

…Hm?

Kotori: What’s wrong, Tsubasa-shan?

Tsubasa: Umm… Sorry, Kotorin. Not to cause you trouble, but could you go up ahead on your own?

I… had something urgent come up. Tell the instructor of the acting lessons that I might be late. You can go ahead and start a few things without me, too.

Kotori: Nnah. By somethin’ urgent, do you mean you gotta piss? I mean, they’ll probably at least have toilets up there, you know… You really gotta go that bad, Tsubasa-shan?

Tsubasa: Kotorin, don’t say all those off-limits words at once. Idols don’t use the toilet… I just have something small I need to take care of. Don’t worry. I’ll meet up with you as soon as I can, so go on ahead.

Kotori: A-All right. ‘s probably okay, since it’s better than both of us showin’ up late.

Hmph~ …Tsubasa-shan’s my precious partner, but… Even so, there are times when I can’t understand her at all…?

Tsubasa: …

(I’m sorry, Kotorin. I wouldn’t want to act alone, either, if I could help it.)

(But I don’t want you to step in dirty, dark places. I only want you to walk in sparking, beautiful places.)

( I ripped you away from your peaceful everyday life, and dragged you into the cutthroat world of idols, and my… That's where I finally draw the line.)

(…Hmm. I got this strange feeling like someone’s sizing me up for the kill, coming from over there.)

(There’s no way it’s a bear or anything. It’s a very human-like, slimy, wet-feeling hostility… I really hope I’m just imagining it, but…)

Gin: …

Tsubasa: (…?! It’s closer than I thought! No way — to think I misjudged the distance between us?! What is this feeling, like my heart is being squeezed…?!)

(Kotorin. I’m sorry, but I might not make it back.)

(But. At the very least, I will never let this sinister thing… get close to your side. I’ll take it down, right here. That is something that I can’t let you get involved with.)

Gin: Hmm?

Huuh? Who’s there? Hmm… I might be a bit slow to notice things?

Tsubasa: Don’t talk! Move and I’ll shoot!

What’s up with that getup? Are you a soldier? There’s no way you’re a spirit or anything, right? I heard there are a lot of trees in Vietnam that look like people… I've heard there are cases of people accidentally shooting them in a panic over ghosts.

You’re a human, right? If I shoot you with a gun, you’ll bleed out and die. So don’t move! My trigger finger is prone to slipping… Nngh?!

Gin: Nyahaha~☆ No, no~ A cute girl like you shouldn’t be brandishing a pistol like that ♪

Tsubasa: (From behind?! No way! Then what did I see just a few moments ago? Could it really have been a ghost? No… then that murderous presence I felt was just my imagination?!)

(This guy is way too close! I... have to kill them before they kill me…!)

Gin: Whoa?! You’re really letting those bullets fly~ When did Japan’s gun policy get so lax? Looks like we have a misunderstanding, so let’s talk it out, okay~?

Tsubasa: (F*ck! This can’t be happening — I’m shooting at them at this distance, and they’re still avoiding every bullet?!)

This… this! Ugh, this ghost! Why can’t I hit you already?!

Gin: Huh~? Not even gonna listen to what I have to say? Knock it off~ I’m not a fan of guns, you know~?



Hmm~ …If you’re gonna come this way with that intent, I’m gonna fight back, you know~? It’s been so peaceful lately~ I haven’t gotten to battle with my full strength, so I have a lot of pent-up aggression stored up ♪

notes:
1. what tsubasa's specifically referring to is an "image club", or a sex establishment in which staff dress in costumes, like maids, schoolgirls, etc.
2. tsubasa literally says (thinks) fuck which is why it's censored. it's censored in game. (ファ * ク !)
3. i mentioned this last chapter but the manager's gender isn't specified in this so far so they/them unless someone can point me to an instance where it has been
4. if you're curious on what all the outfits look like. also the sword sprites are Important, okay... 
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