Aka and Ao's Research on Alchemy ~Winter Stars Season~/Story

## Introduction

 You're here. We've been waiting.
As you can guess, our week of winter research is starting. 来ましたか。待ってましたよ
お察しの通り、冬の研究週間が始まります

 No matter how much you helped us out, there's still much research to be done.
Though once we finally get the results for this one, it'll be a breakthrough. 何度か協力してもらった研究もいよいよ大詰めだ
今回の研究成果を発表したら、やっと区切りがつくぜ

 That's right. Since we're at the finish line, we'll need more help from you than ever. そうですね。仕上げですから、今までよりもたくさん協力してもらいますよ

………………

 What is it, Aka? どうしましたか、アカ

 Hm, no one is here.
Usually by this point someone would have shown up wearing a white coat. うーん、来ないな
いつもなら白衣を着た誰かが来る頃だと思ったんだけど

 Now that you say it, no one's here. そういえば、今日は誰も来ませんね

 That said, they've helped us quite a lot until now...
Maybe we were getting too in over our heads. なんだかんだ言って、今までの奴らはちゃんと手伝ってくれたし……
結構助かってたんだけどな

 Aka... アカ……

\*appears\*

 You called? I'm here to help! お呼びでしょうか！　お手伝いいたしますよ！

 Eh!? え！

\*appears\*

 Hm, it seems my help is needed. Leave it to me. うむ、やはり我の助力が必要らしいな。任せておけ

 Wa-wait. ちょ、ちょっと

\*appears\*

 We're in it together in times of trouble. I'll help you out. 困っている時はお互い様と言うからね。協力するよ

 You, you guys...! お、お前ら……！

 Until now we've been pushing to help you, but we were worried that we weren't able to help you.
But if it's okay with Aka and Ao, we'll help you guys out until the end! 今まで僕らが押しかけて来ましたけど、ちゃんと力になれてるか心配だったんです
アカくんとアオくんがいいなら、僕らは最後まで精一杯がんばりますよ！

 What the hell... Still, at this point let's work at it till it's done! なんだよ、もう……けど、せっかくだし最後まで付き合ってもらうか！

 ...That's right. There's a lot of work to be done.
Everyone, we'll be relying on you. ……そうですね。仕事はたくさんありますから
皆さん、よろしくお願いします

## A New Ally

 Not enough... 足りない……

 Yeah, not enough at all... ええ、全然足りません……

 We don't have enough hands on deck!!
"We'll help out" they say, and where the heck have they gone! 人手が全ッ然足りてない！
「協力します」なんて言っておいて、どこに行ったんだよアイツらはー！

 Earlier, I saw them grab some bookmarks and go off somewhere... Sigh... 先程、栞を持ってどこかに行くのを見ましたけど……はぁ……

\*returns\*

\*returns\*

 Sorry. We're back. すまないね。戻ってきたよ

 Ah! Dammit, where the heck did you go? あ！　もう、どこ行ってたんだよ

 It seems we made you wait. We went to get another helping hand. 待たせてしまったようだな。新たに助手を連れてきたぞ

 A helping hand...? 新たな助手、ですか……？

\*returns\*

\*appears\*

 Now, let's continue our research together! さあ、一緒に研究に励みましょう！

 I've just gotten here, the hell... I ain't gonna do it without some alcohol in my system. 来て早々になんなんだ……酒もないのにやってられないぞ

 What a cocky newcomer. Won't help without blabbering his mouth first, I see. 新参者が、生意気な。文句など言わず、協力せぬか

 You might get some inspiration from research, you know.
Right, here you go... 研究は君のインスピレーションを刺激してくれるはずだよ
さ、こっちだ……

 Ah, shit, can't wiggle outta it...
Hey, if I can't have the ol' liquid courage, can I at least have coffee? ああクソ、仕方ないか……
なあ、酒がないならコーヒーくらいは飲ませてくれよ？

 Bringing a new author back, huh... 新しい文豪を連れてきた、ってことか……

 It's great that we have more hands, but what the heck do they want out of it? 人手が増えたのは助かりましたが、彼らのやる気は一体なんですかね……

 I don't mind as long as they do their job.
Well, with this we'll finish in time! 積極的に協力してくれるんなら、それでいいけどな
ま、これで資料の作成も間に合いそうじゃん！

 Yeah. You too, thank you for your help all this time.
...We'll have to go thank them later, too. はい。あなたも、ずっと手伝ってくれて助かりました
ありがとうございます。……あとで彼らにもお礼を言いに行かないと、ですね