Aka and Ao's Study on Alchemy ~Fifth Years~/Story

## Introduction

*Something is heard dropping at the Office...*

 No matter who would try to persuade me, I won't absolutely delve into a dirty book like this! 誰に説得されようとも、このような汚い本に潜書するなど、僕は絶対にご免ですよ！

 What's with you... You don't have to be shouting loud like that, you know? なんだよ……そんなでかい声で怒鳴らなくてもいいだろ

 Wha-what, what's up!? Is something wrong, Izumi-san, Aka-kun? な、なになに！？　どうしたの、泉さん、アカくん

 I was just wanted to ask him take up a job... Would you also say something to him= ちょっと仕事を頼みたかっただけなんだけど……お前からもなんとか言ってくれないか？

 An old textbook...? Waah, it's a little dirty. Had it been left as it is without any care? 古い教科書……？　わあ、ちょっと汚れてるね。お手入れしないで放っておいたの？

 Quite far in the past someone put it away, and it's been buried in the depths of the stack room.
Examining it I figured it's pretty valuable, so I thought it could be the materials for the research this time. 随分昔に誰かがしまい込んだのが、書庫の奥に眠ってたんだ
調べてみたら結構貴重なものだったから、今回の研究の材料にしようと思ってたんだけど

 Of all things, you don't have to be so particular about such a dirty thing, don't you think so too?
It stinks, and the pages have become glued together so it's an unreadable book.
Even further abusing it would be a blasphemy for the book. よりにもよって、そのような汚いものに拘泥しなくても良いでしょう
悪臭を放ち、頁が張り付いて読めなくなった本ですよ
それをなお酷使するなど、最早書物への冒涜です

 I absolutely don't want to touch it, nor delve into it! 僕は絶対に触りたくありませんし、潜書もご免です！

 I see. Hmmh, how about I take up the job? そっかあ。うーん、それじゃあボクが引き受けようか？

 Really!? That would be great! It's rather valuable book, so I was quite in a pinch for not having someone else as substitute. 本当か！？　助かるよ！　なかなか貴重な本だからさ、代わりがなくて困ってたんだ

 But with that even Itou-san would dirty himself. でも、それでは伊藤さんまで汚れてしまいますよ

 I'm used to get dirty while taking care of my cows. It's no problem! ボク、牛さんのお世話で汚れるのは慣れてるから。へっちゃらだよ！

……………………

 ...Please wait, Itou-san. ……待ってください、伊藤さん

 If you're going to clean places, then I shall help you. 掃除をするなら、僕も手伝いましょう

 Eh!? えっ

 Please don't get me wrong. This doesn't mean that I've forgiven your careless handling of books.
The fact that there's even one ruined book in this world is more intolerable for me than that. 勘違いしないで下さい。あなたの杜撰な本の管理を許したわけではありません
汚れた本が一冊でもこの世にあるということの方が、僕には耐えがたいのです

 Whatever your reason is, it will be great help if you can lend a hand.
I'll leave it to you guys! 理由はどうあれ、手伝ってくれるなら助かるよ
よろしく頼むな！

## The Guidelines of Beautification Committee Members

 Cough, cough... The state of the book is terrible even inside it. It has become dirty and a mere shadow of its past self with all this dust and whatever things... ゴホッ、ゴホッ……中もひどい有様です。埃やら何やらで見る影もなく汚れて……

 Makes you really feel the weight of time... As expected, this might be quite a tough job... 年月の重みを感じるねえ……これはさすがにちょっと大変、かも……

 ...Since we've accepted to do it, we've got no other choice than just do it. Let's use the tools I brought. ……引き受けた以上はやるしかありません。僕の持ってきた道具を使いましょう

 Izumi-san, what are those? 泉さん、それなに？

 Cleaner's seven tools. They are very essential for keeping your surroundings clean. 掃除七つ道具です。身辺を清潔に保つのに欠かせないものですよ

 Heeh, that's incredible. Izumi-san, you sure love cleaning. へええ、さすがだなあ。泉さん、お掃除好きなんだね

 I don't particularly like cleaning. I just can't tolerate filth and untidyness. 掃除が好きなわけではありません。不潔やだらしないのが許せないだけです

 Izumi-san is always so punctual. Did you also take care of your teacher's tools? 泉さん、いつもきっちりしているよね。お師匠さんの道具の手入れとかもしてなかった？

 Yes, I did... Rather than leaving it to others, it's more reliable and faster to do things yourself. ええ……人に任せるより、自分でする方が確実で早いですからね

 I see. That's amazing. I'm always just relying on others. そっかー。すごいなあ。ボク、いつも皆に頼ってばっかりだ

 Really? And I thought that you're often helping out people, Itou-san. そうですか？　伊藤さんは、普段からよく人の手助けをされていると思いますが

 That's not it! I'm doing it because others are helping me, so I have to return the favor.
Taking care of the cows, making preparations for haiku gatherings, there are a plenty of things you can't do all alone. そんなことないよ！　それは皆が助けてくれるから、お返しなんだよ
牛さんのお世話とか、歌会の準備とか、ひとりじゃ出来ないことが多いから

 ...Is that so? ……そうなのですか

 Yup. I always think that it's great if people can help each other when in trouble. うん。困ったときはお互い様、助け合えたらいいなって、いつも思ってるんだ

 So that's why today, could you teach me some cleaning methods, Izumi-san? だから泉さん、今日はボクに、お掃除の方法を教えてもらえないかな？

 ...Yes, of course. That's totally fine.
We will be done with the cleaning faster if we both do it. ……ええ、もちろん。いいですよ
二人でやれば早く終わりますからね

 Yay! Let's work hard together. やった！　一緒に頑張ろうね

 Yes. When we finish cleaning this room to a comfortable level, let's have some tea. ええ。この空間を気持ちよく一掃したら、お茶でも飲みましょう