nhp | Scout! Coloured Flower Cards, Chapter 4

Writer: Akira

Season: Summer

Characters: Souma Kanzaki, Shinobu Sengoku (and Anzu)

Location: Garden Terrace

T/L Notes:

Souma uses an old way of counting the cards here, 'hii, fuu, mii'
In playing cards, the Japanese term for the 'common' or 'normal' cards is "kasu-satsu". 'Kasu' is also a word that can mean 'useless' or in slang terms, 'scum'
'Boar-Deer-Butterfly' (Ino-Shika-Chou) is a high-scoring combination in the Koi-Koi game. It also happens to be the theme for the Akatsuki cards in this scout
'Seppuku' is committing suicide by cutting open your bowels (wikipedia link)

Superficial Dreaming - 4

Shinobu: Kanzaki-dono~! Anzu-dono~!

Souma: Oh, if it is not Sengoku. We often cross paths—are you catching food for the frogs again?

Shinobu: No, no, because Shinkai-dono has been feeding the frog-chan as of late! I, myself, no longer need to wave around the flypaper de gozaru~ ♪

Souma: I see. That is good to hear—Buchou-dono really is a kind person, after all

Shinobu: Yes! At first, he had a lot of eccentric behaviours so I was strangely afraid of him de gozaru. But now, I am really relying on him de gozaru!

But more importantly. Kanzaki-dono, I could hear your conversation in passing de gozaru…… If you’ve cooked too much food, then I’d like for you to share some of it with me de gozaru

The truth is, I’ve kind of run out of money this month……

I’ve been doing a ninja exhibition at a museum far away, and I didn’t take into account the travel costs—so after frequently visiting there, my wallet has become completely empty de gozaru

Souma: Hahaha. You really do love ninjas

Not a problem, come, come…… If anything, we are in the same boat. I would be grateful for you to eat. It is good to eat a lot so you can grow up fast

Since you are so small, Sengoku. Get some proper nutrients in you, it will be good if you grow taller

Shinobu: Ahaha, I think my height is genetic so I’ve semi-given up de gozaru

But “Ryuuseitai” has a lot of rigorous movements, so it’ll be difficult if I don’t build up my stamina a little bit more de gozaru

I will gladly receive a share of the food de gozaru. I will eat a lot and put on some meat de gozaru

Souma: Yes. I hope it is to your liking. Lately, Anzu-dono has been feeling tired so I tried making a fish dish that was rich in taste

Fish is good for your health. If you just eat meat all the time, then you are more likely to have shortness of breath

Shinobu: Uwaah, thanks for the meal! I’m not the fussy type of ninja so I’ll eat everything deliciously de gozaru!

Souma: Good—eat, eat

…… Oh? What is wrong, Anzu-dono? You are making a long face there?

Perhaps there was an ingredient in the food that you did not like. I was under the impression that Anzu-dono was also the type to sort of gobble everything up

Hm? You thought it was a little bit strange so you counted up the Hanafuda cards, and you have found that there is one card missing……?

Where—let me see. One, two, three*...... Aah, there is certainly one card missing

The missing card is the willow tree card worth one point. It is a common* card with low points and is not very important so even when I was playing, I did not notice that it was gone

Shinobu: Common…… It’s not like Kanzaki-dono to say that. The way you said that feels like a stab to the chest de gozaru

Souma: No, that is normally—that is what it is officially called……

But setting aside what it is called, there is no special card to replace another in Hanafuda. If it is like this, then we cannot play it right

H-huh? What is the matter, Anzu-dono? W-why do you appear as if you are about to cry?

Hmmm…… So this set of Hanafuda cards is something you were entrusted with by Kiryuu-dono at the time you were planning for “Quarrel Festival”

Anzu-dono, I thought that you were carrying around something unlike that of a typical female high school student, but it was something borrowed. I understand now

If I think back on it, the stage for “Quarrel Festival” did have designs from Hanafuda like the Boar-Deer-Butterfly* arrangement……

Even the assembly of the music and production felt like they were chosen to be a Hanafuda battle

Hmm. Speaking of, “Quarrel Festival” was when Hasumi-dono found fault with the planning so he thoroughly changed it up

At that time, you borrowed several of “Akatsuki’s” clothing and accessories because you thought that they could be used as reference for the planning? And in time, you failed to return the Hanafuda cards—is that right?

Today, you found it in your bag, and going with the flow of conversation, you decided to use it for our match……

Hmmm, I was deeply impressed when thinking that Anzu-dono surprisingly held interest in such a refined hobby, but—

That is how the story goes, I see. Indeed……

Anzu-dono, you are turning pale, and I understand the reason for that. There is a missing card in the Hanafuda that you borrowed

“If by chance, I myself am the one that lost it, then I am greatly at fault”…… That is what you were thinking

But the person who lent it to you was Kiryuu-dono, was it not? I do not think that person shall be angry at a careless mistake

Even that time when I was half-asleep after a rigorous “ressun” and I tried to cut him down with my sword……

He only pinched my cheeks and then forgave me. But depending on the circumstances, I was even prepared to commit seppuku*

Shinobu: It’d be a problem if you commited seppuku after all, so didn’t he have no choice but to laugh and forgive you?

…… W-wha, Anzu-dono? You suddenly stood up—is something wrong de gozaru?

Eh? You might’ve dropped that one Hanafuda card somewhere so you’re going to try looking for it along the route to school and at home……?

Souma: Hmm. If that is what shall ease Anzu-dono, then I shall not try and stop you. But first, you must make sure to finish eating. There is an order to how things are done

After eating, we shall search up until the very last minute of the lunch break……

And if we still cannot find it, then we shall try again after class or at another time. Or it is better to explain the situation to Kiryuu-dono and apologise

It does not lead to a good outcome to simply act on a moment’s whim and to jump ahead of oneself. That is also something important that my seniors in “Akatsuki” have taught me

Shinobu: That’s right de gozaru, Anzu-dono. I understand that feeling of wanting to quickly get rid of your uneasiness…… I’m good with finding things so I’ll lend a helping hand de gozaru

If you’re looking for something, then it’s better to have more people, right de gozaru? As a repayment for letting me dine with you, I’ll put all my power into helping you de gozaru

Ah, if you dropped it within the campus, then somebody may have picked it up and handed it in to the Student Council’s Lost-and-Found box. I’ll go and have a look later de gozaru

Fufun. Isara-dono often asks me to find the owner of the lost items, so I’m pretty used to that sort of work de gozaru

Souma: How very reliable you are, Sengoku. You are doing excellent…… Good, good, eat up

Shinobu: Uwaah, it feels like I’m a little animal being fed de gozaru~!

Souma: Fufu. Anzu-dono as well, you should first have a meal before doing anything

You cannot battle on an empty stomach after all—to rush is to fail

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