[Paradise] Epilogue

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The Opportunity Maker Arrives! The Door to Your Blooming Paradise

Epilogue

Written by: Akira

Characters Involved: Chizuru Yakumo, Yako Konan

Chizuru:

Yaaako-cha~n♪

The tickets for our next show's finished printing, I guess!

We should hurry up and distribute them, right~? Where did we put that reservation list again?

It sure is nice that everyone's pumped up for it this time around too♪ 

Kinoshita-san from the Literature Club is working hard on finishing up the script, and we’re putting blood, sweat, and tears into our practice too, after all!

It's definitely going to be a huge success, I guess♪

But, but! It's pretty nerve-wracking just before opening night, isn't it~♪

Which reminds me, Minami-san from the Art Club didn't make just the costumes for us, but even did the posters too!

Lookie, lookie! "The Drama Club's upcoming performance—An avant garde sociocommentarial musical! The Hyena King!"

It's got an ultra-cool feel, like da DUUUN~♪

But if it were up to me, it'd be more up my alley to go for a "cute" vibe when it comes to musicals, don'cha think~?

Next time, why don't we ask Aino-san for help? We can have Kinoshita-san and Aino-san take turns, just like that~♪

Yako:

..............

Chizuru:

Nuhwat? I thought she wasn't being responsive—Yako-chan fell asleep!

Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey! We still have bunches of stuff to do, I guess!

We've been pulling a lotta all-nighters lately, so it's a given that anyone would fall asleep, y'know~?

And yet, you're the one always telling us "Don't fall asleep or I'll make you sleep with the goddamn fishes!"

How can you go beddy-bye just like that~?

Well we~ll? This sure is an act of betrayal, so I hereby sentence you to the Tickle-Tickle Penalty~☆

Goochie goochie goo☆ Yako-chan, I said rise and shine alreadyyyy!

Yako:

... BWAAH!? Wai—Stop, dammit! Didn't I tell you that my sides are sensitive!?

Chizuru:

Yako-chan, buenos di~as☆

You sure must've been having a real sweet dream, huh? You were letting out this weird ugly laugh while you were sleeping, you know?

Yako:

You watch your mouth. ... Ugh, fine, my bad for falling asleep.

Chizuru:

Nyufufu. Yako-chan, I guess you did a good job in giving an actual apology♪

Yako:

I've grown up, after all~ I can't stay bullheaded forever.

... Chizuru, you've gotten a little more mature too, haven't you?

Chizuru:

Huh, you think so? Glad to hear that~☆

So what part of me became more mature? Am I oozing out a mature kind of seductiveness~? Bow chicka bow-wo~w♪

Yako:

Sorry, looks like I was mistaken.

Chizuru:

Booooo, I don't want that kind of apology, I guess!

Well, moving on!

The stage set we've got is way too big, to the point our scenery specialist, Chika-chan, is yelling, so maybe we should go help her out? 

The girls from the Art Club are lending a hand too, so let's do our part!

I'm super glad~ Looks like kindness can be found in just about anyone, I guess♪

Yako:

Guess so. It's different from back then—I feel like our "Allies" have increased considerably. 

Chizuru:

... Did you dream about the past, Yako-chan?

Yako:

A little. Ah~ It's getting stuffy, so I'm gonna open the window, 'kay~?

Chizuru:

Woah woah, wait wait! The wind will blow the tickets away, so let me put a paperweight on them first!

Yako:

Noo~pe, not waiting. Aah, what nice weather! It sure is shining out there~ Hot damn♪

Chizuru:

Geez! Yako-chan, you've always been way too inconsiderate towards others no matter what! It's always been a huge problem! 

Wahwahwah, the tickets are flying awaaay~!?

Yako:

Hmph. Isn't it fine if they get blown away? That way, they'll reach all of Kimisaki Academy.

Wouldn't that be grand? Even the gods themselves will be invited to bear witness to my "stage"♪

(Aah, it sure is another noisy day at Kimisaki Academy. Even though it's the same ol' box, the same ol' school building...)

(Even though it's just what's inside that's changed, isn't everything shining more than back then?)

(I... failed.)

(Back then, my hand couldn't reach what I had wanted... and when I tried to grasp it, it slipped through my fingers by a single thread...)

(I lost everything... and I ran away in frustration.)

(If my former self saw the person I am now, the one who wants to cover up the remnants of the past, she'd probably laugh, huh?)

(Though, the current me is also laughing at my former self.)

(I'd tell her, "You’re one hell of an idiot who doesn't think at all, huh?")

("You sure are dumb for not realizing you had that precious thing all along." ... Something along those lines.)

(Back then, the thing I wanted was... a warm place to belong, something that neither my papá nor mamá could give me.)

(In a mad search for "Paradise," I finally reached it before I realized.)

(I'm living in it. Right now. A happiness where each minute and second is more precious than it was back then.)

(... It's the same for you too, right Angie?)

(If that's the case, I'm glad.)

(I hope that... You're also finding a "Paradise" of your own, after all our struggles.)

(I hope you're living happily there. With a warm smile, just like before.)

Chizuru:

Yako-chan~? What's wrong? Are you overflowing with memories from the past?

Yako:

Dum~my. There's no way for me to overflow—All of my memories and experience are my own property, you know?

I'm not the type to grow sentimental with age, after all. I'm just... still a little sleepy, that's all.

Now then, Chizuru! We don't have time to stop and smell the roses like dumbasses⁠—Today, the curtains open for another "stage" filled with tension!

In the first place, I wasn't anything like the "lead actress"!

But despite that, I found a "stage"—an adolescence with the most supreme play... together with you guys!

Yo~! Pue~do! Vo~lar!

I'll keep flying, no matter what! Piercing through the boring heavens and beyond, I'll soar higher and higher!

All the way to skies no one has ever seen before!

.............☆

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