EpsilonΦ Band Story - Chapter 3, Episode 3

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Band Story

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Chapter 3: Episode 3

Disarray
As Reiji continues his attempts to negotiate with the President of Duck River's secretary, Shu suddenly appears. Reiji can’t hide his annoyance at his whimsical behavior.

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— Duck River —

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Yer quite the nasty bastard. Can ya please lay off the bullyin’?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Shu ...!!

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎What is, Reiji? I haven’t seen ya for a while and now you’ve become so scary. Oh, wait ... were ya like this from the start?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Who ... who’s fault do you think that ...!!

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‏‏‎No ... that’s besides the point—where have you been this whole time ...!?

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Ah, ya wanna see a picture? Ya wanna see? Ya wanna see, don’tcha?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Huh? This is ... a dog ...?

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎My family home’s little Momo-chan♡ Ain’t she just the cutest~? Though she’s an old lady now.

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‏‏‎It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen her.

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Your family home ... Shu ... did you possibly go back to Kyoto ...?

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Bingo.

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎You ... why didn’t you tell me where you were going ...!!

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎If I told ya I was goin’ back to Kyoto, you woulda just made a huge fuss.

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Do you have any idea ... how these past few days have been for me ...

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Hey now, pull yerself together. The live’s tomorrow, are ya gonna be okay?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎But ... the venue’s already been ...

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Yeah, yeah. Reiji, just follow my lead like ya usually do.

 Secretary:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Shu-san, you returned to Kyoto. I wouldn’t have minded if you’d just stayed there.

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Oh, I forgot you existed. Thanks for the unnecessary comments.

 Secretary:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎...

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Anyways, tell Papa I said hi. Tell ‘em to look forward to tomorrow’s concert.

 Secretary:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎... Yes, sir.

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*\*Door opening\**

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Shu-kun ...!!

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Tadaomi, I’m home. Oh, what a rare sight. Are Haruka and Kanata here to welcome me back too?

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Shu-kun ...

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Kanata, here's a souvenir. This time ’round, it actually is Ajari-mochi.

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎You ... after telling others to focus on preparing for the solo live, you’ve got quite the nerve ...

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Seems like Haruka’s still irritated, huh. C’mon, let’s eat somethin’ sweet and get ready for tomorrow’s live.

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Get ready for tomorrow’s ... no way you’re planning to perform ...

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎‘Course I am. What do ya think I came back for? Are *you* gonna be fine? It’s not gonna be the same as a street gig, y’know.

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Who do you think you’re talking to, you little brat ...

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Alright, alright, let’s leave the past in the past. Reiji, start the hōjicha1, will ya?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Got it ...

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Oh, and one more thing. ‘Bout what ya did earlier—just keep yer mouth shut like ya usually do and never do something so unnecessary ever again.

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎What do you mean by something unnecessary ...?

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎I can only imagine what you were plannin’ on doin’, meetin’ with that rotten secretary. There’s no point in tryina reason with him.

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‏‏‎And attemptin' to cancel the live ... I guess ya really don’t trust me. How sad.

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎With you not here, and with EpsilonΦ in such disarray, there’s no way the show would’ve been a success ...

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎... Yer an idiot, Reiji. You’ve really got no idea how this all works.

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎But ...!

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎I’m here. No matter what happens in the future, I’m always gonna be here.

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Shu ...?

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎And anyways, this ain’t the first time EpsilonΦ’s nearly fallen apart, is it?

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‏‏‎Well then—let’s create a cacophony of sound.

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