verdantgrove

After the Summer Rain— Chapter One

Location: Inside ES Elevator

Author: Yuumasu

Season: Summer

Keito: (Phew… Finally, the elevator’s here.)

(Are there a lot of people trying to use it right now? It took more time than usual for it to arrive.)

(Well, I’m not in any rush, so that’s fine by me. Although I should probably take into account the time I lost from waiting for the elevator.)

(I’ll press the button to go to the tenth floor, and… Hm?)

Is that you, Anzu? How long have you been here?

So you were waiting for the elevator just behind me, you say? You have just as little presence as ever.

Well, moving on. What floor are you going to? I’ll press the button for you, since it looks like you’ve got your hands full with your bags.

The twelfth floor… That’s RhythLink’s office. Have you been requested for a new job?

A personalized outfit, you say...Oh, so Kanzaki is up next? And the bags you have are all materials for the outfit?

So you say you scraped up as many Japanese-style materials as you could, huh. Hmm… Mind if I take a look?

...Hm, not bad. These all seem like things Kanzaki would like. As long as you have things like these, you can likely make something nice out of them.

Actually, though, you might have too much; you two could get lost trying to decide on which options to go with.

Though I wouldn’t go so far as to call this a once in a lifetime opportunity, this costume will be one-of-a-kind. So please, I want you to lend him your strength.

Mhm, good answer.

Meanwhile, it seems we've arrived at the tenth floor. This is where I get off.

If you come across any trouble while making Kanzaki’s personalized outfit, feel free to come to me. Well, Anzu, I’ll be off.

Location: RhythLink Office

Souma: Oh, Anzu-dono! I am pleased you came.

In truth, I was so looking forward to our meeting that I had quite some trouble sleeping last night.

My roommate, Sengoku, taught me some breathing exercises in hopes of urging me towards a peaceful sleep, but he wound up falling fast asleep while he was teaching them to me...

Suou, who was also practicing the breathing exercises with us, fell asleep as well, and then it was only I who was left behind to greet the dawn.

...Oh, you mustn’t worry. The art of sleeping while one is standing is a Kanzaki family secret which I have long since acquired, so I have the opportunity to do so when I have a spare moment to recuperate.

Leaving that aside, I would like to discuss my personalized outfit.

You had contacted me on “Hooruhanzu” to say that there was something that you had wanted me to see. What is it that you would like me to review?

...I see. Then all of these goods are for me? They are materials with a traditional Japanese design, you say?

Hmm… They are all so charming and spectacular that it is difficult for me to choose.

Anzu-dono, among these, are there any in particular which win your favor? I would like to begin by taking a look at those.

Ooh, a gold haori. If I were to array myself in this, one would likely be able to spot me from quite a ways away.

The materials for the garments? There is nothing that I am particularly picky about, but… There are a few materials that feel especially nice to the touch.

This is a “sampuru”? ...Ooh. It is almost as if I am petting a long-haired cat.

Fufu. If I close my eyes, I can almost hear a “meow” ♪

Hmm, by the way, these marks that are drawn on the material...

I see. So you had prepared some recommendations in advance for me, then.

I am grateful that there are so many options. But on the other hand, there are so many contenders for me to choose from that I am lost on what to choose…

Hm? What is it, Anzu-dono? Why are you laughing? Is it perhaps that I said something strange?

Ah, Hasumi-dono said the same thing just a short while ago, you say?

That is just as I would expect of Hasumi-dono; he knows me remarkably well.

However, it is truly difficult to narrow down the contenders and decide which I should discard. Whatever shall I do…

“Picture what you want to wear in your head, and then we can go with whatever outfit you want to wear the most,” you say… Understood. I shall begin brainstorming at once.

(...Hmm. All of these are much too elegant for me to wear.)

(No matter which one is chosen for me, I shall have no complaints. It is Anzu-dono’s choice. I am sure it will suit me well.)

(However… Are these outfits truly me?)

(It is less so that I will don my outfit, and more as if I am being dressed in an outfit, is it not…?)

(I shall wear the costume that is prepared for me as I am told, as I have already done so many times before, but… Why is it that I am so lost now?)

(...)

(...Ah, right. I know a costume that shall suit me well—I would like to wear it, and so I shall request to do so implicitly.)

(Whether or not it is permissible for me to do so, I cannot yet conclude, but…)

...Ah, my apologies for my silence. Although I have a suggestion, first I would like for you to allow me to take these with me and examine them carefully.

As for now, I need more time.

Proofread by Sei and Gigi.