Co-Research with Chief Librarian ~Part Eleven~/Story

## Introduction

 I've been waiting for you. Got a favor to ask. 待っていたよ。君に頼みがある

 ...Before that though, I decided to prepare my research report for this time starting from over a month ago.
It's setting a bad example to always rush it all up to the deadline. ……その前にだな、今回の俺は研究報告のひと月以上前に準備を始めようとしたんだ
いつも締め切りギリギリでは示しがつかないからな

 That's why I wanted to give you plenty of leeway for you to collect materials... だから今回は、余裕を持って君にデータ収集を頼もうと思ったのだが……

 But this year, because of the headquarters' construction revisions and some groundbreaking discoveries in our field, the investigation reports are going to increase, apparently...
For that reason, the research reports will be due a month earlier than they have been up until now... 今年は本部の組織改正とか分野の開拓とかで、調査報告が増えると……
そのため、従来の研究報告の時期が一ヶ月早まるらしい……

 ...Ahem, the rewards will correspond properly!
I'm in a rush now, so help me out like crazy! Please! ……ゴホン、報酬は弾むぞ！
急ぎになってしまったからな、どんどん手伝ってくれ！　よろしく頼む！

## The May Blues

 Agh, I've got zero motivation... あー、全然やる気でない……

 Aka, stop slacking off and get to it. アカ、サボってないでしっかりしてください

 With the holidays ending, there're many who get in a funk. 連休明けの今の時期は、憂鬱な気分になる人が多いからな

 The May sickness, as they call it? 五月病、というやつですか

 That's right, and I feel out of it just from holidays ending, but...
On top of that, the rainy season hits like a wrecking ball, and after that it's the hell of summer heat exhaustion, ya know?!
Dear God... そうだよ、休み明けってだけでもやる気出ないのにさ
このあと雨ばっかりの梅雨が来て、それが終わったら夏バテの季節だぜ？
あー、やだやだ……

 That's true... How about asking the writers here at the Imperial Library?
I'm sure there are many who have overcome slumps or bad times.
Maybe they could tell you the ultimate secret to keeping up your motivation or something. そうだな……ここは帝國図書館にいる文豪たちに話を聞いてみるのはどうだ？
彼らの中にはスランプや落ち込んだ時期を乗り越えた人も多いだろうし
なにかモチベーションを保つ秘訣なんか聞けるかもしれないぞ

 Is that the case?
But I do feel there are some people who are struggling with feeling down or that we're concerned about their mood right now... そうなんですか？
今でも結構、落ち込んだり悩んだり、情緒が心配な人が多い気がしますが

 Hm.... That's true as well, creators will never run out of things to struggle with, after all... うーむ……それもそうか、創作者に悩みは尽きないものだからな……

 Won't we just get dragged down with them... Sigh... 一緒に落ち込んじゃうじゃん……はあ……

## Change of Mood

 Is there no way to banish the feeling of May sickness or the melancholy of May or whatever you call this feeling? 五月病というか、五月の憂鬱な気分を解消する方法ってないんですか？

 It's a different story if there's a diagnosis, however...
The only way to beat that melancholy feeling is to hit it out of the park with some bright and happy ones. 診断があれば話は別だが……
憂鬱な気分は、明るい気持ちでふっとばすしかないだろうな

 Bright and happy, huh...
For example, changing up your mood by having a snack? 明るい気持ちね……
例えば、お菓子を食べて気分転換とか？

 Yeah, something like that I suppose.
As for me, I like to read a feel-good book or something... Mushanokouji or Yamamoto's books might be good. まあ、そういうことだな
俺なら、明るい雰囲気の本を読むとか……武者小路や山本の本がいいかもしれん

 So one should keep some techniques in reserve to project your feelings in a positive direction, basically. 個人でなにかしら気分を向上させる術をもっておく、ということですね

 I believe that's pretty essential.
What do you want to do when you're feeling down or depressed, Ao? 結構大事なことだと思うぞ
アオは落ち込んだときや暗い気分になったとき、何をしたい？

 Let's see... I don't really have anything.
I'm not the type that gets down just because the month happens to be May or anything. そうですね……僕は特に何も
そもそも五月だからといって気分が沈んだりしませんし

 Ao, you seem like you'd be totally chill with anything. アオはどんなことでも結構平気そうだよなー

 Haha, well it's a wonderful thing to have strong mental fortitude.
However, you should never overwork yourself. はは、心が強いのは素晴らしいことだ
でも、無理だけはしないようにな

## Hidden Melancholy

 ...It's getting late, huh. I have finished getting the documents in order, for the most part.
Where on earth did Chief Librarian and the others go to get those snacks, I wonder. ……遅い、ですね。資料整理もあらかた終えてしまいました
館長たちは、どこまでおやつを取りに行ったんでしょう

 ...Ah, it's raining outside.
No wonder I felt like my fingertips were getting cold. ……あ、外は雨が降ってますね
どうりで指先が冷えると思いました

 It's not like I'm feeling down, but...
I guess I don't really like to think cold thoughts all alone... 暗い気分、というわけではないですけど
一人で、寒い思いをするのは嫌ですね……

 Phew... ふう……

 Oiii!
We brought today's snacks! おーい！
持ってきたぞ―、今日のおやつ！

 Oi oi, the one who said "the soybean powder will get everywhere, so let's carry them carefully"
was you right, Aka... Don't open the door all gung-ho like that! おいおい、「きなこがこぼれるから、そっと持っていこう」と言ったのは
アカだろう……そんなに勢いよくドアを開けるな

 It didn't spill, so it's fine!
Ao, today we'll have roasted green tea and warabi mochi!  こぼれなかったから良いじゃん
アオ、今日はほうじ茶とわらび餅だぜ

 Is that so?
...It sure looks delicious. そうですか
……おいしそうですね

 Oh, it's not often that salty-snack-favoring Ao would get baited by something sweet. お、辛党のアオが甘い物をおいしそう、と言うのは珍しいな

 Sometimes I get into that kind of mood, too.
Also, setting the table to have this kind of snack would probably be too difficult for our rowdy friend Aka here, so I'll be the one to move them this time. たまにはそういう気分にもなりますよ
あと、騒がしいアカにこういう配膳は厳しいので、今度は僕が運びますね

 Whaddaya mean, I brought them here fine, right! なんだよ、ちゃんと持ってきただろー！

 Hahaha, I know. Next time let's all go get them together.
Thanks for having you help out even with preparing the snacks. Now then, let's feast! ははは、わかったよ。今度は皆で取りに行こう
君もおやつの準備まで手伝ってくれてありがとう。それじゃ、いただくとするか！