Chapter 1
May, the year ES was established—on the roof of the idol course building at Yumenosaki Academy
Hmhmm ♪ La la beats, love Ra✽bits~… ♪
(Ahh, It’s been so peaceful recently~ The sun is so nice and warm, and even the laundry smells so good.)
(Ever since ES was established, the school has gotten much quieter… I can even hear all the birdies chirping away.)
(I suppose it’s because the most energetic and intense students of Yumenosaki have graduated now. I do like how calm it’s gotten, but I also kind of miss them, I suppose.)
(So I guess I just started humming without even realizing—)
Hmhmm ♪ La la beats… ♪
Gyah?!
(Huh? Huh? What? Who’s that? But I didn’t hear any footsteps!)
(Nnnngh, that’s so embarrassing! I hope they didn’t hear me singing...!)
Senpai Senpai where are youuu?! Senpai-whose-name-I-don’t-know-yet-but-you’re-still-so-cool!
Um, um! I just want to thank you, Senpa—
—TONFA?!
Tonfa?!
Hagyah?! Mmgwuh?! Wagyopyah?! Wahpoo?!
H–hey! Are y–you okaaaay?!
……
Wawah, wh–wh–what do I do? That was such an… elaborate fall—Are you hurt?
“—It’s fine.”
“I’m quite lucky I’ve a sturdy body.”
“No matter what may happen, I shall persevere. That is the fate for a girl like me.”
(G–girl? This person’s a girl, then? They do have long hair, though.)2
(—Yeah, no. I of all people shouldn’t be judging them like that.)
(But they are wearing the boy’s uniform…? So maybe they’re similar to Narukami-senpai?)
(Wait, this isn’t the time to be thinking about that! Urgh, I’m always so slow when it comes to urgent situations…!)
E–excuse me!
“……”
Are you all right…? Would you like me to carry you to the nurse?
“……”
Oh! I may not look it, but I’m actually pretty strong, so…?
“One moment, please. I’ll switch back.”
(Switch back…?)
—I thought I was gonna diiiiie!
Gwaaah?! P–p–please don’t shout so suddenly!
Fwah? Oh oh oh I’m sorry! I don’t really get it, but I’m sorry! Usually when this kinda thing happens I’m aaalways the guy to blame!
Hmm? You look so familiar! And sooo cute!
Huh? Me? Well, I’m in the idol course, and I’m part of Ra*bits, so—
Waaah!!!
Waaah—?!
I’m so sorry! My head goes all like pow! when you say confusing things, pow!
L–like… pow?
Yes! My brain’s a little out of commission, you could say! So just having a conversation like this is like whoops! The thing just flies right out the window—
Um, what thing…?
Waaah!!!
Waaah—?!
—Exactly, that’s the thing! It’s annoying!
I–I see…? That’s, um, not great…?
I’m used to it, so it’s fine! Onee-chan handles all the important stuff anyway!
Onee-chan…? Umm, do you have a sister in the idol department, then?
Huh? Why would you think that? I don’t get it!
Wha? Because you’re here in the idol course building…? And it seemed like you were looking for someone…?
Oh, so cool! Smart people just get things like that, huh!
You’re right~ There’s someone I really want to see… ♪
A–and that would be your sister, right?
Couldn’t be farther off-target! I can see Onee-chan whenever I want!
Or I guess like, I can never meet her? Huh? Wait, I’m getting all confused again!
Where am I? Who am I…?
…? …?
U–um? Then if you’re looking for someone, maybe we could get someone to make an announcement over the school broadcast for you?
Nii~cha—I mean, I have a senpai who just graduated, but he used to be a really important member of the broadcasting committee. So I know how to help you, maybe?
Stop, stop! Too many words! I’m too stupid to get it!
Awawa. Um, I was just saying that we can use the broadcast to find who you’re looking for, maybe?
Whoa, really? That’s amazing, like magic! I don’t really get magic, actually! But Onee-chan knows a whole lot about it!
And she’s best at cycromanee!
Cycro…? What’s that?
No wait! I got it wrong! It’s necromancy…! Me no speak-a the Japanese!
Um, are you not Japanese…?
I’m the Japanesiest! And Onee-chan and Dad too! The Japanesiest!
Right, got it~… I am, too. We’re the same ♪
Yes! We’re the same, so we’re friends now!
Wait! We’re friends, but you still don’t know my name! I’m a second year in the producer course—Kurone Hitsugi!
Ohh. So if you’re a second year, then we’re the same age? I’m a second year in the idol course—Shino Hajime~ ♪
Oh! Maybe we’re the same age, but I only just started school!
That person who helped me out—umm, I don’t know her name either, but the third year—everyone other than her is a new student! At least in the producer course!
Umm. Well, the only third year in the producer course would be the only producer who enrolled last year—
So that would be Anzu-onee-chan?
Huh? Onee-chan? Wait, so you’re that amazing person’s little brother, Shinohaji-kun?
That’s a unique nickname… Um, but no, I’m not actually her little brother. But we were able to get close.
Ohh~! I have an Onee-chan too! We’re the same! Friends~ ☆
Friends… ♪ So um, Kurone…san?
No no, please call me Hitsugi! Or else it’ll be confusing with Onee-chan around!
Well anyway… Aaah!!! Waaah!!! I forgot what I wanted to say!
Wait I remember! Shinohaji-kun, you said that person was Anzu-senpai? So then if you know her, can you call her phone or something maybe?4
Oh, then Hitsugi-kun—Hitsugi-san? Are you looking for Anzu-onee-chan?
You got it! I want to see her so bad!
I see! Fufu, Onee-chan’s always so popular.
But umm, Hitsugi-san, what do you need from her?
I want to grant her wish!
Huh…?
She helped me, so I want to thank her by granting her wish!
Shinohaji-kun! Do you know if Anzu-senpai would want someone killed more, or would she want to bring someone back to life more?
…?
My Onee-chan is a necromancer, see! So she’s really really good at that kinda stuff!
Uncle Gatekeeper even gave her lots of praise for it! Ehen ☆
…? …? …?
Hitsugi uses all three syllabaries here, going from kanji to hiragana to katakana.
In the original Japanese, Negi uses アタシ (atashi) as her personal pronoun. Hajime is surprised by that because atashi is a very feminine pronoun. It’s also the pronoun Arashi uses for herself.
In the Japanese, Hitsugi uses ボク (boku) as his personal pronoun. Hajime is confused by the change in pronouns, and especially how he went from a feminine pronoun (atashi) to a masculine one (boku).
In the voiced lines, Hitsugi says “Onee-chan-senpai” instead of Anzu-senpai (because they can’t say Anzu’s name in the voice clips).