Chapter 1
.....
(HiMERU-han's scrolling through his phone, and it looks like he's in a pretty good mood.)
(Is he looking at newbie job posts again? I think it was sometime in the summer when he said that seeing "earnesty" made him smile[1]. And like I said before, I just don't get it. I really don't understand that kind of hobby...)
(Oops. This isn't any time for me to be escaping reality and being on my computer. I've got a problem on my hands.)
(No other way to do this comes to mind, so I'm just gonna...)
—Hey, HiMERU-han. I wanna ask you for a bit of advice, do you have a sec?
Yes, what is it?
Actually, I was finally called about my "personalized costume", and when I said that I had no idea about idol costumes, Anzu-han said that we should think about it together.
"Crazy:B" is pretty far removed from all the other "units" Anzu-han compared us to, so I don't wanna rely too much on that. I told her that I would get back to her after I came up with a few ideas of my own, then we went off our own ways.
...And? Have you come up with any ideas?
Nope. I thought I could try it on my own and I’d have it under control, but I'm not getting anywhere. I've never even thought of designing my own costumes before, so I haven't got a clue.
So, I need a bit of advice. HiMERU-han, if you were me, then what kind of costume would I pick?
That's a difficult question. HiMERU is HiMERU, and he isn't anyone else.
The same would apply to you. Wouldn't it be best to try asking this question to yourself?
Duh. But, if I could do that, then I wouldn't be having such a tough time…
I think it'd be better if idols wore western clothing, but I've also always worn kimonos at home so I really don't know what's what.
"Outerwear" and "innerwear" are all fancy words I didn't know until I moved here, y’know? It's all so complicated.
No need to daunt yourself. If all the choices were truly infinite, then everyone would also be lost.
You should take your time in thinking about it. You don't really need to decide today or tomorrow, since it's "Oukawa Kohaku's personalized outfit".
I get that, but if I can't come up with anything then what should I do? I don't want to spend all my time worrying about it…
Yo, Kohaku-chan! Rinne-kun is here to give you a hand~
Ugh. The number one person I didn't want involved at all showed up.
I hate it when you involve yourself in things, because everything just gets even more complicated.
"Number one" you say, I'm so loved~
So, I hear you're having trouble crafting up a "personalized outfit", right?
I'll come up with something unique. Here, hand over your sketchbook.
Rinne-han will help? I dunno what I should expect.
Gyahaha! Just leave it to me.
(It's hard to see anything from here. He's just humming and drawing smoothly. Fashion sense, I think is what it's called? Does he have a good fashion sense?)
♪〜♪〜♪
There, all done.
Where...
What's with that weird looking outfit? For some reason, it looks a little like Rinne-han's "personalized outfit". I don't like it much.
If I showed up to a "Crazy:B" performance in this, people will just think we're wearing the same outfit.
Heh, "Crazy:B"'s performance huh…
You remember when I said "when everyone's personalized outfits are ready, we'll all wear them and put on a show"[2]? You're pretty sharp, Kohaku-chan~
Th-that's not it. We're part of the same "unit", so I just thought that the opportunity might come up for us to do that one day–
Thank you for waiting. Here's hashbrowns for four~
Isn't this a bit much for four people?
Don't worry about that, because I'll eat half of it! Thank you for the meal~
Mogumogu...I overheard something about "personalized outfits", so I guess it's Kohaku-chan's turn next. What kind of outfit are you going to wear?
I'm still trying to figure out what I'm gonna do, but I really can't come up with anything…
Niki-han, what do you think?
Uuuun. If I had to pick, then I’d definitely choose colorful clothes. If it was plain white, it'd just get dirty when I cook.
That would help you, Shiina, but it wouldn't really apply to Oukawa's case, correct?
Yup, yup. That's why I can't really come up with ideas and help answer any questions~
Fashion isn't really my forte! Whenever I buy new clothes, I just ask the shopkeeper to help me find things that would look good on me…
So, if you're really worried about it, Kohaku-chan, then why don't you just let professionals help? That would be your best bet.
(In other words, I really should just leave it up to Anzu-han? That's no good. If I rely on her, then I'd be back to where I started. Well, it's not like I'm getting anywhere here...)
I'll go think of "personalized outfit" ideas somewhere else. Niki-han, you can eat my share.
.......
(I tried borrowing an idol magazine from the office to use as a reference...but all the clothes in it have already been worn by someone else, and I don't think any of them would fit me much.)
("I want you to design as freely as you want" is what Anzu-han told me, but I can't even put a single line down.)
(Is this what it means to have freedom valued this much nowadays...? Isn't it just becoming an obstacle...?)
Oukawa-shi, how is the design process coming along?
Vice Prez-han, Nagisa-han...
Amber...? Isn't that just sap with dead insects in it?
...That may be true, but that's not all there is to it...This piece of amber is for you.
Nn? Thanks... Oh, that's not a bug, but a flower right?
Yes. It's speculated to have bloomed around ten million years ago.
To begin with, the flower was wiped off the earth a long time ago–but since it was protected by the sap, it can be sustained for a very long time.
...Amber is a stone of miracles.
Chapter 2
(A stone of miracles, huh...I don't like it, since insects floating in sap remind me of bodies floating in rivers, but...this might be beautiful.)
(...? What's this presence...)
—Who's there!
Fufufu. It's me, Koha-kun~
Bon…
So, I heard from Ran-senpai. You're having trouble mulling over your "personalized outfit", right?
Poor Koha-kun. It's alright now, since Tsukasa-onii-chan came to help. Now, wipe up those tears.
I am not crying, and I don't need any of your help.
We're in different agencies. Go back to yours if you're not here for anything business related.
Koha-kun and I are inseparable. There there, you can leave this to me~
Don’t come sit next to me, it’s bumming me out.
Haaa…I’ll cave, but just this once. I’ve got no choice but to turn to my roots.
Even if it’s you, Bon, any little bit of help is useful.
Ufufun, it’s good to be honest~…
By the way, my “personalized outfit” is—
You don’t need to show it to me. I know what it looks like.
Really?! Koha-kun and my outfit…
While I was doing a bit of research for personalized outfits, I just stumbled upon it.
The western design didn’t really meet what I had in mind, but…it looked fine on you, Bon.
To be complimented by you…I’m thrilled. Marvelous!
I was complimenting the outfit, not you, Bon.
Still, it made me happy to hear that. Thank you.
Now then—enough idle talk, shall we talk about your “personalized outfit”, Koha-kun?
Why do you get to be the one in charge, Bon…
Fufu, because I’m your “Onii-chan”~
For the Design, I think a Japanese style kimono would fit you best, Koha-kun. And if you give it a sakura Motif, then wouldn’t that make it a beautiful outfit?
Don’t you know I’m just a kid of the branch family[5]? I can’t carry something like sakura.
This matter has nothing to do with being in the main or branch families.
Sakura is not some ordinary concept. There are hundreds of different types of sakura. I have mine, and Koha-kun has his.
Each sakura blossom should be unique. Why don’t you make your own kind of sakura blossoms bloom for your Fans?
…Even though you're just a kid, Bon, you’re so arrogant.
My own kind of sakura, huh…
I always thought sakura blossoms only lasted for a quick second before fluttering away, but…
...Even if it's just for a fleeting second, can someone like me bloom beautifully like that?
Absolutely. It will stay in the hearts of your Fans not just for a second, but forever. I want that for me, too.
Please show me your own type of sakura.
A few hours later.
...Done!
(A Japanese style kimono with a sakura pattern and amber accessories—This is my "personalized outfit"! The design was hard, but interesting.)
(I'm really excited to see the finished result, so I'll have to get in contact with Anzu-han right away.)
(—Yaaaaawn...Oops. I'm exhausted from doing things I'm not used to. It's pretty late. I'll call it a night, just for a bit...)
.......
—So you were here. We found you, Oukawa.
.......
Oukawa?
Zzzz...zzzz....
Nyahaha. Seems like he's fast asleep~
As an idol, he acts all grown up. But when he's asleep like this he really looks his age.
What a cute little sleepy face (poke poke).
Hey. He's sleeping peacefully, so don't poke him.
His "personalized outfit" design...looks like it's finished.
Sakura and amber…it’s certainly an outfit only he could wear.
Right. It's a nice looking fit, not any lesser than what we have.
(muttering in sleep)[6] Just what're you on about…
...Could it be, is he actually awake?
Nope. Just sleep-talking.
Gyahaha! So that leaves just Niki, right? Once the four of us have our "personalized outfits", that's when the party will start!
Let's go out flying endlessly and making some noise on stage, Kohaku-chan!
Translation Notes
(1): This thought line here is referencing chapter 1 of the story “Honeybee”! HiMERU was looking at newbie jobs and talked about how seeing inexperienced idols quickly try to take every job they see was charming!
(2): This is referring to the end of Rinne’s FS1 story!
(3): Different from a deadend, a deadlock is when someone is stuck going in circles.
(4): Word play of sorts? “琥珀” is “kohaku”, meaning “amber” (a type of gemstone), which obviously has a connection to Kohaku’s name.
(5): For those unaware of Kohaku and Tsukasa’s relationship as cousins. The Suous are the “main family” and the Oukawas are the “side family” that lived in the same estate.
(6): The onomatopoeia for this written was “むにゃむにゃ”/“muniya muniya” but I left it like this for clarity purposes.