nhp | Scout! Coloured Flower Cards, Chapter 6

Writer: Akira

Season: Summer

Characters: Souma Kanzaki, Keito Hasumi, Kurou Kiryuu, Shinobu Sengoku (and Anzu)

Location: Martial Arts Hall

T/L Notes:

'Washi' is traditional Japanese paper (wikipedia link)
Keito's action was literally described in the story, and it was not a part of his speech
'Hyottoko' is the character from those funny Japanese masks of a guy with his mouth to the side (wikipedia link)

Superficial Dreaming - 6

Keito: ………….

Hmm. Okay, it’s done

Kurou: ? What exactly is it that you’re doing? No matter how you see it, it just looks like you’re drawing…… Didn’t you give up on that, Hasumi?

Keito: Yes. But I have no choice this time

Now then, after drying, it should be finished. I’ll fan it dry with the folding fan we use on stage

Kurou: This—it’s pretty convenient ‘cause you can use it normally too, right? I’ll fan it with you, *flap flap* …… ♪

Hm~? What’s this—is this a Hanafuda card?

Keito: Yes. Because of such and such, it seems like there’s just one card missing from the Hanafuda pack

If Kanzaki were to find out about the missing card, then there’s a possibility that it’ll turn out to be rather troublesome, so I tried making a counterfeit one

Kurou: And here I was wondering what you were drawing……

Well, it’s important to have props and all to use for “Akatsuki’s” stage. There’s plenty of washi* and such, so you should be able to make a fake one to that extent

Keito: Yes. I tried reproducing it from memory, but the result is quite well-done

Kurou: Haha. That Hanafuda pack is the one I lent to the little miss, ain’t it? I’m sure it was something cheap-ish that you could probably buy at a convenience store

If this were a genuine high-class item, then it’d also be damn difficult to forge

But for something like Hanafuda, the designs are all pretty much the same anyway

Since Kanzaki doesn’t know of the real card that’s missing, if you hand this to him as the real deal, then he probably wouldn’t doubt you

That guy—even if it’s a downright lie, he’ll immediately believe it. Especially if it’s coming from you

Keito: Yes. Sometimes I worry. Whether he’ll be okay or not, or if he’s not being deceived by bad guys?

Souma: What are you speaking of, Hasumi-dono?

Keito: Uwaah!? K-Ka-Kanzaki—when did you suddenly get behind me?

Souma: Just now. I did call out to you just in case, but you most likely did not notice because you were talking to Kiryuu-dono

Kurou: Even I didn’t notice—if you were an assassin, we’d be dead right about now. That’s impressive. Is that the shuffling of feet in swordsmanship? Or the way of walking in Japanese dance?

Souma: Hahaha. Perhaps it is because I am relatively loud normally, but…… When I erase my presence, I am quite unnoticeable to anyone so instead, they get a shock

Shinobu: Kanzaki-dono, that was super awesome de gozaru! I want you to teach me how to do it—that is a skill more necessary for a ninja rather than a master of martial arts…… ☆

Keito: Oh? Anzu, and if I recall…… Sengoku, was it? You lot don’t have a presence either?

Shinobu: Fufuun, it’s because ninjas are specialists in covert operations ♪

Keito: I see. Yes, that’s amazing…… However, I understand why Kanzaki is here seeing as I summoned him to come to the martial arts hall after class, but what business do you other two have?

Souma: Yes! The truth is that, due to a various turn of events, we were searching for that one missing Hanafuda card!

Anzu-dono would surely be bothered by the fact that she lost something she borrowed, is that not so?

Keito: Aah…… Fuu~ fuu~! [Blowing onto the drying Hanafuda card]*

Souma: What is the matter, Hasumi-dono? Are you imitating the hyottoko*?

Kurou: Haha. “Akatsuki” has an impression of being stiff-mannered, after all. It’s probably necessary to also practice funny gestures

It’s not at the point of being a shortcoming or anything, but it looks like Hasumi is a little bit worried about it

Souma: Hmmm…… As one would expect, Hasumi-dono is always doing the utmost when it comes to trying to conquer his weak points

For such a Hasumi-dono or Kiryuu-dono, and Anzu-dono—it is my role to eliminate the anguish of my lord for whom I ought to respect

Therefore, I have come after having properly found it…… The missing Hanafuda card, that is ♪

Keito: ……!? Eh, is that true? How did you find it?

Souma: Hmm. We tried every possible means that we could. Fortunately, Anzu-dono and Sengoku are exceedingly capable

We did such things as borrowing a dog that was in the area, and pursuing the scent

And browsing through the Student Council room’s record of lost items, and inquiring with a number of people if they have any leads or not

If it was just me, then it probably would have been impossible to find. It really was a lot of work—I thought that I was going to be late to the meeting

Keito: Ugh…… Y-you—just as I thought, you really are essentially capable

<Keito's Unbloomed CG>

Keito: Good, good, good—you did well, Kanzaki~!

You really had the nerve to put my toils and concerns to waste, huh—you sometimes have those moments where you do that~ ♪

Souma: ? It is an honour to receive your praise, Hasumi-dono

Kurou: Oi. I’m being left out again, or rather, I don’t get what you were so worried about…… Hasumi

Is it something you can’t say here and now?

Keito: …… I’ll explain it to you later

More importantly. All of “Akatsuki” have gathered, so as planned, let’s begin the meeting

If you’re also free, Anzu, then please participate and give us your opinion. You’re becoming relatively reliable these days

Kurou: Aah…… While you’re at it little miss, please give me some suggestions for the design of the new uniform as well

Shinobu: W-what about me? What should I do? There’s no business here for me, so should I leave?

Keito: …… No, it appears that Kanzaki received your help for reasons or other, after all. If you have no other plans, then please participate and let us hear your opinions and such

Because we’re all upperclassmen here, it seems that our thinking is biased, so I’d like the opinion of a first year as well

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