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cindiPROLOGUE
SCENE 1
TV Room, U17 training camp. Day.
KIRIHARA, KIKUMARU, SHISHIDO, MUKAHI, and YUKIMURA are watching the news together.
NEWS ANCHOR: Up next, a new couple in the entertainment industry is born.
KIKUMARU: What! Did that idol get married?!
KIRIHARA: The actor she married is very popular right now! The guy who starred in a manga adaptation movie.
SHISHIDO: Can you guys calm down? You’re too close to the screen.
MUKAHI sighs.
MUKAHI: Right. The people sitting in the back can’t see anymore.
KIRIHARA: Sorry.
YUKIMURA: Are they holding the wedding soon? If it’s in June, she’ll be a June bride.
KIKUMARU: The two of them are both smiling, they look so happy.
NEWS ANCHOR: The two met through the stage play “The Blue Bird,” you could say that the blue bird brought them happiness…
KIRIHARA: Blue bird? If I recall correctly…
YUKIMURA chuckles.
YUKIMURA: It’s a famous fairytale. The story is about a brother and sister searching for the blue bird that symbolizes happiness.
KIRIHARA: If it’s just a bird that’s blue, I’ve seen it before, it was perched on the fence around the tennis court at school. Does seeing the blue bird mean you’ll be happy?
YUKIMURA: That’s not really what it means…
SHISHIDO: I think the message is that after searching high and low, happiness was right by your side all along.
KIKUMARU: Wow, you’re familiar with this story, Shishido.
SHISHIDO: Chotaro told me about it.
MUKAHI: He loves these kinds of stories.
KIRIHARA: So did the brother and sister find happiness in the end?
YUKIMURA: Are you curious about this? Then go check it out. I remember the library has it.
KIRIHARA: Good idea.
(Even though I only like comic books… but since Yukimura-buchou said so, I might as well take a look.)
End scene.
CHAPTER 1
SCENE 2
205 dorm, U17 training camp. Night.
KIRIHARA reads a book on his bed.
KIRIHARA: ……
KAIDO: I’m turning off the lights.
ZAIZEN: No, it’s too early for bed. What time do you think it is?
HIYOSHI: I stayed up late with you and Kirihara last night, you should follow our bedtime tonight. Okay, Kirihara?
KIRIHARA: ……
ZAIZEN sighs.
ZAIZEN: Seems like he didn’t hear you.
KAIDO: What is he reading?
HIYOSHI: Dunno. If he were reading manga like usual, he’d be laughing or kicking while reading.
KAIDO: Yeah.
Fade to black.
KIRIHARA: I finished reading it, but…
(I still don’t really get it. The protagonists searched high and low for the blue bird, but they didn’t find it… Yet when they returned home, their pet bird turned blue? But then they gave the blue bird to an old grandma who wanted to cure her sick daughter…)
KAIDO: Oi, are you done reading?
KIRIHARA: Hm? Oh, I just finished.
ZAIZEN: “The Blue Bird?” That’s so unlike you…
HIYOSHI: You read things other than comics?
KIRIHARA: Hey! I do read things like this sometimes! It’s called tall literature right? I feel like reading this stuff makes you smarter.
ZAIZEN: Tall literature?
HIYOSHI sighs.
HIYOSHI: He means high. Man, I was curious because you had a weird look on your face while reading, who knew…
KAIDO: Let’s chat tomorrow. Bed time.
The lights go out.
KIRIHARA: Hey! Don’t shut off the lights all of a sudden!
(In the end the protagonists were still very poor, could they really be happy like this… What is happiness, after all? I’ll ask someone tomorrow…)
Zzzzzzzz……
End scene.
CHAPTER 2
SCENE 3Tennis court, U17 training camp. Day.
KIRIHARA and MARUI are playing a practice match.
KIRIHARA: Fuck! I thought I’d get that one.
MARUI: Tensai teki~?
JACKAL: Good play. You can take a break now.
NIOU: It’s more humid than usual today…
YAGYUU: Yes. And you’ve both perspired a lot. You should replenish your hydration.
MARUI: Replenishing water is important, but replenishing sugar is important too. Which bubblegum should I have today? The new kind, or…
JACKAL looks at MARUI with fond exasperation.
JACKAL: How happy you look over some gum.
KIRIHARA: (Happiness…)
Marui-senpai can gain happiness through bubblegum. I’m so envious.
MARUI: What? What are you talking about all of a sudden?
NIOU: He means to say you’re simple.
YAGYUU: Niou-kun!
NIOU: Pupina.
JACKAL: Did something happen, Akaya?
KIRIHARA: No, yesterday I read the fairytale “The Blue Bird.” I can understand the ending about being surrounded by happiness, but…
MARUI: But? What are you trying to say?
KIRIHARA: What is happiness, after all? Reading the book got me thinking…
YAGYUU/NIOU: ……
MARUI/JACKAL: ……
YAGYUU: “What is happiness…”? That’s a very philosophical question.
JACKAL looks shocked.
JACKAL: Akaya thinks about deep problems like this?
MARUI: Does he have a fever?
KIRIHARA: What’s that supposed to mean?!
NIOU: Is he really Akaya? Maybe it’s someone disguised as him to trick us.
YAGYUU: Who would do that besides Niou-kun…
KIRIHARA: Fine, I’m an idiot for trying to discuss this problem seriously with senpais! I’ll think about it myself. Thanks.
Exit KIRIHARA.
MARUI: Oops, he’s upset…
JACKAL: Did we pick on him too much?
NIOU: Let him go. He’ll cheer up in no time.
YAGYUU: I hope so.
End scene.
CHAPTER 3
SCENE 4Tennis court, U17 training camp. Day.
SANADA: Who knew that Akaya would be interested in books other than comics?
YANAGI: Maeterlinck’s “The Blue Bird?” There must be a reason.
YUKIMURA: It was brought up when we were watching the news together yesterday. Akaya seemed to be interested, so I recommended the book to him.
SANADA: Really…
YANAGI: Even though it’s a fairytale, the themes it illustrates are very profound. Akaya must be trying to understand it by asking those questions.
SANADA: Yes. No matter the reason, not bottling up his questions is a good thing.
YUKIMURA: I think so too. So, I want to help him solve his questions, but…
YANGAI: But, something so intangible as “happiness” is hard to explain with words…
SANADA: It’s just as Renji said. We should let him feel it himself…
YUKIMURA: Feel it himself…
(……)
I have something to discuss with everyone, do you have a moment?
Fade to black.
End scene.
SCENE 5
Common room & hallway outside common room, U17 training camp. Day.
YAGYUU: What did you have in mind? I heard we’re keeping it from Kirihara-kun…
YUKIMURA: Sorry for calling you out here. I need a favor from all of you. Where are Marui and Jackal?
NIOU: With Akaya in the caf. We needed someone to distract him so we could convene.
YANAGI: We told them to meet up with us later.
YUKIMURA: Is that so? Then let’s begin first. It’s actually about Akaya wondering about the definition of happiness…
SANADA: You want to see if there’s anything we can do to help.
YUKIMURA: Yes. Let’s do some things that would make Akaya happy, and let him sense the happiness around him, what do you think of this idea?
YAGYUU: What should we do specifically…?
YUKIMURA chuckles.
YUKIMURA: Specifically——
Fade to black.
Enter MORI, who starts eavesdropping outside the door in the hallway.
MORI: It’s almost the time I promised to meet with Tsuki-san. If I don’t get there soon, I’ll be late.
Hm? What’s that voice…
YANAGI: To make Akaya happy, creating a game-like feel would be ideal.
YUKIMURA: Good idea. Let’s draw a map of the training camp…
MORI: Oh, these guys… seem to be planning something fun.
Fade to black.
End scene.
CHAPTER 4
SCENE 6Common room, U17 training camp. Night. KIMIJIMA: SOund likes rain
TOHNO: rainong so much altely
TANEGASHIMA: indoor courts
OMAGARI books or whatever
cannot be fucked to type this shit out who cares i know you don’t
Enter OCHI, looking left and right.
OCHI: ……
TANEGASHIMA: Tsukki. Are you looking for something?
OCHI: I’m looking for Mori…
KIMIJIMA: I just saw Jusaburo practicing alone by the courts.
TOHNO: Just leave him, he’ll come eventually.
Enter MORI, breathless.
MORI: Tsuki-san! Oh, what’s everyone gathered here for?
OMAGARI: …Speak of the devil.
MORI: The devil?
OMAGARI: Nothing.
OCHI: Did something happen?
MORI: Hm? Oh, I just heard something so fun…
Fade to black.
OCHI: Looking for happiness?
MORI: My kouhais want to cheer up their second-year, and make him feel happiness…
MORI laughs.
MORI: They seem to have arranged a lot of items all around the camp.
TOHNO: How stupid. Fucking middle schoolers
KIMIJIMA: Really? I think it’s meaningful
TANEGASHIMA: Then let’s help out secretly.
OMAGARI: But they probably want to do this themselves. Don’t meddle.
TANEGASHIMA: Chai~☆
OCHI: What do you plan to do?
MORI: I’m very interested in this, I’ll observe in secret for now.
…I’ve already done what I wanted to.
End scene.
CHAPTER 5
SCENE 7
Library, U17 training camp. Night.
KIRIHARA: (I got too caught up talking to senpais, I forgot to return the book…! I’ll put it back and go back to my room.)
MUKAHI: Yo! Are you here for the comics too?
KIRIHARA: No, I’m just here to return something today.
SHISHIDO: Could it be “The Blue Bird?”
KIKUMARU: Wow, Kirihara’s really interested in this. You actually read it?
KIRIHARA: I did read it, but I don’t really understand…
SHISHIDO: But it’s not a complicated story.
KIRIHARA: No, the story itself was very straightforward. But when I think of what happiness is, I get confused…
KIKUMARU: Happiness is just feeling happy, right? Playing tennis with everyone, going home to a warm fluffy omelet, finally buying the beanie I wanted…
MUKAHI: You’re so childish.
KIKUMARU scoffs.
KIKUMARU: Okay then, Mukahi. What makes you happy?
MUKAHI: Hmm, tennis is the same as you. And then, fried food for dinner. I feel lucky when I find a pretty feather on the ground too.
SHISHIDO: Those are not that different…
KIRIHARA: That’s not what I mean… Yukimura-buchou recommended this book to me, I’ll go ask him.
KIKUMARU: Yukimura? I saw him around the fairytale section just now.
KIRIHARA: Really?
MUKAHI: Maybe he wants to reread “The Blue Bird” too.
KIRIHARA: Thank you! I need to return this book now. I have to go!
Fade to black.
KIRIHARA: Yukimura-buchou! —He’s not here. Did he go to a different bookshelf?
I’ll go look for him after I return this book. It should be somewhere around here…
Hm? There’s a piece of paper here.
What is this. It looks hand-drawn… A bird and a map? And this marking…
End scene.
CHAPTER 6
SCENE 8
Library, U17 training camp. Night.
MUKAHI: A drawing of a bird and a map, and a meaningful marking…
KIRIHARA: What do you guys think?
KIKUMARU: Looks suspicious nya~
SHISHIDO: There doesn’t seem to be any comments either…
MUKAHI: Was this piece of paper really left where “The Blue Bird” was?
KIRIHARA: Yes. Could it be some kind of code…
Enter YUKIMURA.
YUKIMURA: Akaya.
KIRIHARA: Yukimura-buchou!
YUKIMURA: Don’t shout in the library. I could hear you from the other side of the shelves.
KIRIHARA: S-Sorry.
YUKIMURA sighs.
YUKIMURA: Take care next time. So, what happened?
SHISHIDO: We’re discussing whether this is some kind of code on this paper.
KIKUMARU: It’s hand-drawn, what is this map of? It looks kinda familiar…
YUKIMURA: Can I see? ……
Isn’t this the training camp? See, this is the middle court…
SHISHIDO: Now that you say that, it does look like that! …So, the marked spot is the cafeteria?
MUKAHI: We go there every day. Is there something suspicious there?
KIRIHARA laughs.
KIRIHARA: It must be hidden then! Do you wanna go check now? Maybe we can find something!
YUKIMURA: But it’s almost curfew.
KIKUMARU: Oh, is it so late already?
MUKAHI: Okay! Let’s look tomorrow.
SHISHIDO: Sounds good. We have tomorrow off anyways.
KIRIHARA: Yukimura-buchou, will you come with?
YUKIMURA chuckles.
YUKIMURA: Okay. I’m a bit curious too, I’ll take a look.
KIRIHARA: I’ve been waiting for you to say that! I’m so excited for tomorrow!
End scene.
CHAPTER 7
SCENE 9
Cafeteria, U17 training camp. Day.
KIRIHARA: There’s nothing here at first glance.
MUKAHI: This is the spot marked on the map, right? I think it is. But what should we be looking for?
KIKUMARU: Is the bird the key to the code?
SHISHIDO: The key…
YUKIMURA: Why don’t you try putting the map against light?
KIRIHARA: I can’t see anything.
Enter ONI.
ONI: What are you doing huddled around a sheet of paper?
KIRIHARA: We’re solving a puzzle. This is a map of the camp…
ONI: Show me.
Hm? This is…
SHISHIDO: Eh? Did you discover something?
ONI: I can smell a hint of something. Citrus…?
YUKIMURA: If it’s citrus, it must be oranges or lemons.
MUKAHI: Paper… oranges…
KIKUMARU: Scent… liquid… Ah!
KIRIHARA: Invisible ink!
[T/N: aburadashi, a traditional type of invisible ink that reappears when the parchment is heated up]
KIKUMARU: Wow, it’s invisible ink! A lot of effort was put into this.
KIRIHARA: I’ll go heat this up on a stovetop! Thank you, senpais!
Exit KIRIHARA.
ONI: He gets so worked up over something so small.
YUKIMURA: Thanks. You helped out a lot.
SHISHIDO: Oi oi, he is way too excitable.
MUKAHI: Whatever. He’s so arrogant usually, who knew he could be cute too?
KIKUMARU: Let’s go there too!
YUKIMURA: Oh, wait. There’s something I wanted to tell you. Actually…
Fade to black.
SHISHIDO: Oh! So this puzzle was designed by you!
MUKAHI: You must’ve come to the library last night to put the map there too.
KIKUMARU: But Yukimura, you didn’t know that the paper needs to be heated up either?
YUKIMURA: We just decided that Niou would set the first clue, the rest of the clues we each made on our own.
ONI: So you don’t know the answer to the clues either. You’ve really put in so much effort for your kouhai.
YUKIMURA: If it’s alright, I hope you can…
KIKUMARU grins.
KIKUMARU: Keep it a secret? Gotcha!
SHISHIDO: Okay! I’ll see this through. I understand wanting to look out for your kouhai too.
GAKUTO: Yup. We all have arrogant kouhais. Of course I’ll help out too.
YUKIMURA chuckles.
YUKIMURA: Thank you.
ONI: Hope it goes well.
YUKIMURA: Yes.
End scene.
CHAPTER 8
SCENE 10
Kitchen, U17 training camp. Day.
KAMIO peels a carrot while IBU and TACHIBANA watch on.
IBU: Kamio…
KAMIO: Wait! I’m riding the rhythm!
IBU: You can ride the rhythm all you like, but you’re peeling too thick. Once you’re done there’ll be no carrot left.
KAMIO: Eh… oh!
TACHIBANA: What’s wrong? Oh, the peel broke…
KAMIO: I’m sorry. You even showed me how, but I can’t seem to do it right…
TACHIBANA: Don’t worry. Peeling looks easy, but it’s actually quite hard. It’s enough that you’re here to help.
IBU: We asked to have Tachibana-san’s cooking in the first place, it’s only right that we should help out…
KAMIO: I’m so excited for Tachibana-san’s cooking.
TACHIBANA: Oh, really…
KAMIO: Tachibana-san, can you show me one more time?
IBU: I want to learn too.
KAMIO: What? Don’t you already know how, Shinji?
IBU: I can still ask to be taught if I know…
You’re so sneaky, asking Tachibana-san to teach only you… After all, Kamio…
KAMIO: Oh, I see how it is.
TACHIBANA: Alright. I’ll do it again. First grip the carrot with your fingers…
Enter KIRIHARA.
KIRIHARA: WOW! Something smells good!
Oh, are the three of you cooking? I need to use the stove…
TACHIBANA: Sure. What are you doing?
KIRIHARA: Heating up invisible ink!
KAMIO: Why do you have invisible ink?
KIRIHARA: To solve a mystery. If I heat up this paper, the clues will…
IBU: Oh. It really did start appearing.
KAMIO: Wow, really! What does it say?
KIRIHARA snickers.
KIRIHARA: Hehe, wait. I’ll read it in a sec.
TACHIBANA: ……
enter YUKIMURA.
YUKIMURA: Sorry for the bother.
TACHIBANA: It’s fine. They’re having fun. Since you’re here, do you want to try some?
YUKIMURA: Wow, may I? I’ll help myself then!
KIRIHARA: Huh? Yukimura-buchou, when did you…
IBU: We just finished making it… Our portion will be gone…
KAMIO: But Tachibana-san looks happy, isn’t this nice?
End scene.
CHAPTER 9
SCENE 11
Cafeteria, U17 training camp. Day.
KIRIHARA: Kikumaru-senpai, is there anything over there?
KIKUMARU: Nope, I didn’t find it nya.
MUKAHI: It’s not here either. It does say “under the cafeteria tables,” right? You didn’t misread it?
KIRIHARA: That’s what the baked words say.
YUKIMURA: There are so many tables. If we could narrow down the area…
SHISHIDO: No use blathering. All we can do is follow the clues…
Found it!
It was taped carefully to the underside of the table. Seriously, why’d they hide it so hard?
YUKIMURA chuckles.
YUKIMURA: It’s a new clue!
KIRIHARA: So, what does it say?
SHISHIDO: Uhh… “Proceed to the place that is neither the sea nor a river, but where you can see boats.”
MUKAHI: Huh? Boats?
KIKUMARU: Not the sea or a river… um…
KIRIHARA: Huh? This handwriting looks familiar. Doesn’t it look like Sanada-fukubuchou’s handwriting?
YUKIMURA: Does it? You must be mistaken.
SHISHIDO: Oi, rather than that, let’s think about the answer first.
KIRIHARA: But, boats…
SHISHIDO: Not the sea or a river, it shouldn’t be outside of the camp.
KIKUMARU: So within the camp, where can we see boats?
MUKAHI: The TV… nah. Does it mean somewhere with water?
KIRIHARA: …OH! I got it! Is it the bathhouse? Bathtubs are sometimes called “bathing boats.”
MUKAHI: Ooh, nice one, Kirihara.
KIRIHARA smirks.
KIRIHARA: Easy peasy!
SHISHIDO: Let’s check out the bathhouse.
YUKIMURA: If it’s where we can see it, it should be the changing room.
KIKUMARU: We’ll find out once we’re there. Let’s goooo~
KIRIHARA: Yeah!
(Invisible ink and riddles, I don’t really know what’s going on but it’s so much fun!)
End scene.
CHAPTER 10
SCENE 12
TV Room, U17 training camp. Day.
KOHARU: Oh~ Everyone’s here, nakayoshi~
YUUJI: What’s up, are you watching a show together?
SENGOKU: Nope, we just happened to gather here.
LILIADENT: Omosheeroy desu! We’re chatting. Puns are so funny.
DAVIDE: There’s plenty more where that came from. Look how happy you are!
KUROBANE: Hm? That’s…
LILIADENT: It’s Akaya-san and co. I ran into them several times already.
KOHARU: Speaking of, we’ve run into them too. They said there’s a riddle in the bathhouse.
KUROBANE: I heard Mukahi say they were solving puzzles this morning.
DAVIDE: The clues are a blue bird and a map of the camp…
LILIADENT: So, is it a treasure hunt?
SENGOKU: Hm, maybe it’s yesterday’s…
YUUJI: What? Do you know something?
SENGOKU: Yah, yesterday Sanada took out a riddle-solving book from the library. And then he started muttering “this might be too hard,” “but this might be too simple…” all serious-looking.
KOHARU: Mmm… We should probably keep this secret.
SENGOKU: Yeah. Speaking of, isn’t the blue bird a symbol of happiness?
YUUJI: My symbol of happiness is Koharu! No matter how many thousands of blue birds there are, with Koharu by my side, I’m happy!
KOHARU: Yuu-kun…♡~
SENGOKU laughs.
SENGOKU: They’re at it again!
End scene.
CHAPTER 11
SCENE 13
Workout room, U17 training camp. Day.
KITE supervises KAI, HIRAKOBA, CHINEN, and TANISHI doing one-hand handstands.
KITE: Thirty more minutes. Hold this position.
KAI: Are you serious?
HIRAKOBA: Thirty more minutes?
CHINEN: My arms are at their limit…
TANISHI: Before my arms give out, my stomach will…
KITE: You can’t even take this much? You’re an embarrassment. One-hour handstands on the other hand next.
KAI: Eugh! I can feel the blood rushing to my skull just hearing you say that.
Huh? What are they doing around here?
KITE: It’s Yukimura with company. They seem to be looking for something.
KAI: Then we should also—
KITE: Kai-kun, focus.
KAI: Damn!
HIRAKOBA: Ah, my form broke…
TANISHI: Eugh…
CHINEN: Kei-kun, are you okay?
TANISHI: How could I be okay? I’m at my limit…
CHINEN: Kei-kun! Not this way! OH!
TANISHI topples over, knocking down CHINEN and HIRAKOBA.
HIRAKOBA: Idiot!
KAI: Wah!
KITE: What are you doing…
KAI: You’re so h-heavy! G-Get off me!
HIRAKOBA: Yuujiro, don’t move. When you move your hair tickles me… Hahahahaha!
TANISHI: Oi, who’s scratching my belly?
CHINEN giggles.
CHINEN: It’s soft…
KITE: Enough… No more dawdling, get back to training.
Enter KIRIHARA.
KIRIHARA: (Looks like they’re doing something fun too. I need to focus on the riddle!)
End scene.
CHAPTER 12
SCENE 14
Workout room, U17 training camp. Day.
HIRAKOBA: Hahahahahaha!
IRIE: Oh, what a ruckus.
KIRIHARA: They look like they’re having fun!
TOKUGAWA: Is the one crushed underneath okay?
IRIE: He’s laughing, he should be fine, right? More importantly, we need to find the paper.
YUKIMURA: Sorry to interrupt your resting time.
TOKUGAWA: It’s no problem. If we’re looking for a piece of paper, the more people the faster.
IRIE: After solving the bathhouse riddle, the next destination was the training room… Even though I was surprised hearing you explain it, running around the camp solving puzzles sounds fun. What’s waiting for us at the end? Just thinking about it makes me happy…
KIRIHARA: Yes! Every time we find a piece of paper, there’s a new riddle on it! Where to go next, what we’ll find hidden there… I get so excited every time I think about it!
TOKUGAWA: But what is the purpose these riddles were prepared for…
KIRIHARA: (Come to think of it, that’s true… I was focused on solving the riddles, I never even considered who came up with them.)
But there are no clues about that yet.
YUKIMURA: Maybe we’ll find out at the end.
KIRIHARA: Perhaps… Oh! Found it!
YUKIMURA: In the sit-up rack.
TOKUGAWA: What does it say?
KIRIHARA: Um, wait… what is this? It says 口猫加猫口猫非猫猫厅
YUKIMURA: Are there any other hints?
KIRIHARA: And some strange drawings. It looks like a squirrel, or a bear…
TOKUGAWA: May I see? …it’s a 狸猫?
KIRIHARA: Eh, really?
IRIE: When you put it like that, it does… sort of look like one?
KIRIHARA laughs.
KIRIHARA:If we know it’s a 狸猫, then it’s simple! The answer is the cafe.
YUKIMURA: [t/n: he explains the riddle but it was localized for chinese so i’m giving up on translating]
KIRIHARA: Yes! But whoever came up with this riddle is really bad at drawing. It looks exactly like the ones Marui-senpai draws.
YUKIMURA: …….
IRIE: Either way, you’ve solved it, right? We have something to take care of, so we can’t accompany you to the next riddle… I hope you can tell us when you’re done, what kind of puzzle you’ve solved~
End scene.
CHAPTER 13
SCENE 15
Hallway, U17 training camp. Day.
KIRIHARA: We’ve visited the cafeteria, changing room, workout room…
YUKIMURA: And the cafe, library, indoor courts… a lot of different places.
KIRIHARA: I hope we can find more clues in the next destination, the common room.
YUKIMURA: Yeah.
End scene.
SCENE 16
Common room, U17 training camp. Day.
KIRIHARA: Oh! It’s Yanagi-senpai and others. What are you doing here?
YANAGI: I’m discussing training menus with Akuto-niisan.
MARUI: We’ve joined too.
MITSUYA: Everyone is so helpful. I’m having a good time too.
JACKAL: Akaya, you’re solving riddles right? It looks like it’s going well.
KIRIHARA chuckles.
KIRIHARA: You could say so! Wait, have I ever told you about this?
JACKAL: Oh shit… Um.
YUKIMURA: He probably heard it from someone else. See, we told someone every spot we went, right?
JACKAL: Y-Yeah. I heard it from someone passing by just now.
KIRIHARA: Huh… okay.
MARUI: You’re here to look for clues right? I’ll help out so you can find it faster.
KIRIHARA: Okay!
[to MITSUYA] Senpai! If you come across any suspicious slips of paper, please tell me!
MITSUYA: Oh, of course.
Fade to black.
YANAGI: Seiichi, according to the order, this should be the final destination of the puzzles.
YUKIMURA: Yes. I was planning to tell Akaya here.
(Akaya seems to be having fun. All we need to do is to tell him our purpose behind designing the riddles… Then, how should we tell him?)
MITSUYA: Could this be the paper you’re referring to?
YUKIMURA: Eh…
KIRIHARA: You’ve found it already?!
Enter KIKUMARU.
KIKUMARU: Ooooi! What what? You found it?
KIRIHARA laughs
KIRIHARA: Kikumaru-senpai come here, let’s read it together!
YUKIMURA: …… (We didn’t prepare paper here… Who could it be…)
End scene.
CHAPTER 14
SCENE 17
Outside, U17 training camp. Day.
MUKAHI: We’ve been all over the camp, now we’re outside…
SHISHIDO: “Check the trees around the camp.” The area is way too huge…
KIKUMARU: It’s getting dark, nya…
SHISHIDO: We need to speed up, it’s gonna rain soon.
MUKAHI: The piece of paper they found in the common room wasn’t prepared by Yukimura and co., right?
KIKUMARU: He said it wasn’t them on the way here.
SHISHIDO: Someone must’ve taken the chance.
KIKUMARU: Hmm…
MUKAHI: What, Kikumaru? Is something up?
KIKUMARU: This was Rikkai’s plan to make Kirihara happy, right? So I hope their efforts aren’t ruined by someone’s prank…
MUKAHI: ……
SHISHIDO: …Yeah.
Enter KIRIHARA.
KIRIHARA: Is it over there?
MUKAHI: Nope, still looking.
KIRIHARA: I’ll join. Where should we look next?
SHISHIDO: Kirihara, what do you think of this riddle-solving game?
KIRIHARA: What do I think? I think it’s really fun. Going to many different places by solving the riddles, finding new riddles to solve at the destinations… it’s thrilling!
KIKUMARU: I see~
SHISHIDO: Looks like there’s no problem for now then.
KIRIHARA: What do you mean?
KIKUMARU laughs
KIKUMARU: Nothing!
MUKAHI: We’ll do our best to help. Remember this frame of mind.
KIRIHARA: Okay?
MUKAHI: Great! Let’s find it before it starts raining!
KIKUMARU: Yeah———!
Fade to black.
KIRIHARA: Oh! There’s a slip of paper tied to that branch!
KIKUMARU: Ooh! Could it be our riddle?!
MUKAHI: ‘Kay, if it’s that high up, I’ll get it!
MUKAHI runs off towards the tree.
KIKUMARU: Hey! Wait!
KIKUMARU follows MUKAHI.
SHISHIDO: Why are they competing over this too…
MUKAHI: Heh, I got it!
KIKUMARU: Awesome!
MUKAHI: If you’re bitter, try jumping higher than me!
RYOGA: ……
B******: What are you looking at?
RYOGA: Nothing, they just look like they’re having fun.
B******: Boring as fuck.
End scene.
CHAPTER 15
SCENE 17
Outside, U17 training camp. Day.
MUKAHI: According to the paper I found, our next destination is “the highland.”
KIKUMARU: What? The one who found the paper is Kirihara!
KIRIHARA: Is there nothing we need to solve on it?
MUKAHI: Nope. The ones before this one all had a riddle, but this one just has the answer.
SHISHIDO: The highland…
KIRIHARA: It’s a bit far from where we are. Maybe we’ll figure it out once we get there. Yukimura-buchou!
YUKIMURA: ……
KIRIHARA: What’s wrong?
YUKIMURA: Oh, sorry. I was just thinking about something.
MUKAHI: Okay, what next? Do we go there now?
KIKUMARU: If we hurry, we can make it before dinner right?
YUKIMURA: Hm…?
Suddenly, it starts raining.
KIRIHARA: Eugh… it’s so cold!
SHISHIDO: We’ll get drenched if we stay here! Let’s go back.
KIKUMARU: Oh~
MUKAHI: Oh, lightning!
KIRIHARA: Is it thundering?!
KIKUMARU: Bye you two, I’m off first~~~
SCENE 18
Gym, U17 training camp. Day.
YUKIMURA: The way it’s looking, the rain won’t stop anytime soon.
SHISHIDO: Yeah. Let’s go to the uplands tomorrow.
KIKUMARU: I hope it’s sunny tomorrow~
KIRIHARA: I hope we get to the end of this puzzle tomorrow.
YUKIMURA: (The trees and highland around the camp…? The clues that shouldn’t have continued are continuing. Who could it be…)
End scene.
CHAPTER 16
SCENE 19
Hydrangea trail, outside U17 training camp. Day.
KIRIHARA yawns.
KIKUMARU: Oh that was a huge yawn!
SHISHIDO: Super lame.
KIRIHARA: We got up way too early…
YUKIMURA: If we didn’t get up early, we might miss morning practice.
MUKAHI: Right. Hey, watch your step.
KIRIHARA: Okay.
Fade to black.
SHISHIDO: Just a bit more before we reach the highland. Thank god the rain stopped last night.
MUKAHI: Even though it’s still a bit cloudy.
YUKIMURA: The forecast said it’ll turn sunny soon.
KIKUMARU beams.
KIKUMARU: Then we can practice outdoors as much as we want!
KIRIHARA: ……
KIKUMARU: What’s up, Kirihara? Are you still sleepy?
KIRIHARA: No, I’m awake. I just thought of some stuff…
MUKAHI: What?
KIRIHARA: The paper in the common room, and the ones before that, all had riddles or hints written on them right? But the one we found outside only had a destination. Even though I thought it only said that because it was the end…
MUKAHI: That’s true…
KIKUMARU: Maybe they made too many riddles early on and couldn’t come up with any more?
KIRIHARA: Huh…
SHISHIDO: Kirihara’s right. What’s going on?
YUKIMURA: Akaya’s right. We were planning to reveal the truth in the common room.
SHISHIDO: Have you checked with the others?
YUKIMURA: I asked everyone last night, but they each only know the place they hid their clue…
SHISHIDO: That means someone else has joined. Who is it…
KIRIHARA: OH!!!
YUKIMURA: Hm?! It’s…
End scene.
CHAPTER 17
SCENE 20
Highlands, U17 training camp. Day.
The trees part to reveal a wide clearing with benches, a huge rainbow hanging in the sky.
YUKIMURA: ! This is…
KIRIHARA: Wow! It’s so rare to see such a massive rainbow!
MUKAHI: Right, because it just stopped raining…
KIKUMARU: It looks so beautiful under the morning sun~
SHISHIDO: Yeah. So worth it.
KIKUMARU: Let’s go closer!
MUKAHI: Me too!
SHISHIDO: Hey, wait up!
Exit KIKUMARU, MUKAHI, and SHISHIDO.
YUKIMURA: ……
Could the final paper be…
KIRIHARA: It must have been for us to see this rainbow! It was worth all the effort running around the camp to get here.
YUKIMURA smiles.
YUKIMURA: Yeah. Akaya, you were thinking about the meaning of happiness earlier… Have you found your answer?
KIRIHARA: …I think I understand now. Playing tennis with senpais and everyone, playing riddle games on rest days… I think doing enjoyable things with others is a kind of happiness. That’s what I think…
YUKIMURA: Is that so… Then treasure this feeling.
KIRIHARA: Right, let’s take some photos, so senpais can see the rainbow too!
YUKIMURA laughs gently.
YUKIMURA: They’ll be so happy to see it.
End scene.
CHAPTER 18
SCENE 21
Hydrangea trail, U17 training camp. Day.
MORI: Phew… Those two looked happy, looks like my gift scheme was a success.
OCHI: This is my first time hearing you’d planned something like this. Is this what you meant when you mentioned the thing you wanted to do?
MORI: Kind of. I only planned to send them to a spot with nice scenery… The rainbow was a lucky bonus.
OCHI: You sure look out for your kouhais.
MORI: Really? If you say so.
OCHI: ……
MORI: Yukimura gave me a chance to reflect on myself. Seeing my kouhais doing things for their kouhai made me want to do something for them too.
OCHI: Really. You brought them smiles and joy.
MORI: I-It’s not that serious!
OCHI: No need to be humble.
…Maybe happiness will find its way to you too.
OCHI points up.
MORI: What are you pointing at…? Ah…
OCHI: The blue bird is here.
MORI: Yeah. Looks like we’ll find happiness too.
End scene.
CHAPTER 19
SCENE 22
Hydrangea trail, outside U17 training camp. Day.
KIRIHARA: Oh no, we have to get back!
YUKIMURA: Let’s hurry. We can’t be late for practice.
SHISHIDO: Oh, I promised we’d practice doubles today! Chotaro might be looking for me now…
MUKAHI: Ah, I promised Yuushi too…
KIKUMARU laughs brightly.
KIKUMARU: When we get back, I’ll tell Oishi about the rainbow!
KIRIHARA: Yukimura-buchou, will you play me once we get back?
YUKIMURA: You seem more excited than usual, Akaya.
KIRIHARA: Yes! After seeing something so amazing early in the morning, I’m pumped! Any practice can come my way!
YUKIMURA: Heh… Then let me formulate a special training plan for today’s extra motivated Akaya.
KIRIHARA: Eh?! I-It’s fine, I’ll take it!
YUKIMURA chuckles.
SHISHIDO: Oi, we’re not gonna make it! Get running!
MUKAHI: Hey Kikumaru, race you?
KIKUMARU: Sure! I’ll win though!
KIRIHARA: Let’s go too!
YUKIMURA: ……
KIRIHARA: Yukimura-buchou?
YUKIMURA: Oh, sorry. Let’s go. I hope that the rainbow stays in the sky until we get back.
End scene.
