EpsilonΦ Band Story - Chapter 1, Episode 4

<
Band Story

>

Chapter 1: Episode 4

New Toys
Shu, who has begun to write a new song, visits Shimokitazawa with Tadaomi for inspiration. There, they meet ...

 ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

— Shimokitazawa Shopping District —

 ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

*\*Footsteps\**

 Banri:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Come on, Ren-kun! Hurry up! We won’t make it in time!

 Ren:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎W-wait ... we don’t need to be in such a rush ... the spinach won’t run away ...

 Banri:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎It’ll escape! No, it’ll be snatched! There’s a lot of competition during a sale!

 Ren:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎If that’s the case, we should’ve just gone to the local supermarket ...

 Banri:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎The market over here is cheaper and fresher! We need to keep our expenses as low as possible in order to cover the cost of the live.

 ‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎And also, Wataru-kun's been in the dumps for a while ... some good food might cheer him up a bit, y'know?

 Ren:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎That's true ... but still, even if food *is* cheaper here, it’s probably just a couple yen worth of difference ...

 Banri:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Haven’t you ever heard the phrase, “a yen saved is a yen earned”? And anyways, if this market’s food is fresh and tasty, of course we should go here!

 ‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Oh, no! It’s already this late ... sorry! I’m going on ahead—you can stay here and rest!

 ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

*\*Footsteps\**

 Ren:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Oh ... he's gone ...

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Time is money, y'know?

 Ren:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Ah! You are ... EpsilonΦ's Shu-kun.

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Hiya. Fancy meetin' ya here.

 Ren:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Yeah ... in Shimokitazawa, of all places.

 ‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Oh right ... it was really a shame that EpsilonΦ couldn’t attend the Starting Live. I heard that Shu-kun wasn’t feeling well ... are you okay?

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Oh ... ? Were ya worried ’bout little ol’ me? How flatterin’.

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Shu-kun ... is this a friend?

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Ah, right. Tadaomi hasn’t met ya yet. This is the vocalist of a band that’s gonna be playin’ at the LRFes.

 Ren:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Nice to meet you. I’m Nanahoshi Ren. I’m in a band called Argonavis.

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Nice to meet you too. I’m Kurama Tadaomi, EpsilonΦ’s keyboardist.

 Ren:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Why are the two of you here?

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Hmm ... Tokyo sightseein’?

 Ren:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Oh, I see. I’ve just moved out to Tokyo myself, so I don’t know much about it ... but it’s an interesting city!

 ‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎ I’d show you around if I had the time, but I’m in a bit of a hurry.

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Yeah, yeah. Those darned limited-time sales, right?

 ‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Don’t worry ‘bout us. Why don’tcha catch up with that onii-san from earlier?

 Ren:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Alright, excuse me then—have fun! See you later!

 ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

*\*Footsteps\**

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Ah ... ahaha! “Have fun” ... he says. I don’t need someone like him to tell me somethin’ like that.

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎ ... Shu-kun, is that kid a new toy?

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎As expected, Tadaomi, yer a sharp one.

 ‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Argonavis’ Ren Nanohoshi is a bit of a special case. I hope you’ll enjoy the lil’ pranks I’ve prepared for ‘em.

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Yeah ... and that you’ll be able to get more inspiration for the new song we’ll be promoting at the solo live.

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Of course. But y’know, I’m not stoppin’ at just the live performance and a new song.

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Do you have something else in mind?

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Hehe. Maybe ... somethin’ super special that’ll surprise everyone ... ?

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎What is it?

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎A secret~ Ya better look forward to it. Reiji’s Noh-like1 face might just finally collapse~

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎I see. Reiji-kun seems especially tired lately, so it’d be nice if it made him smile.

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Well, that might askin’ for the impossible—I’m pretty sure the smilin’ muscles in his face are dead.

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Don't worry, it'll work out. I'll help.

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Ah, I’m so excited ‘bout this ... but first, I’ve gotta finish the preparations.

 ‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Let’s go. There’s no point in stayin’ here any longer.

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Huh? Didn't you want to explore Shimokitazawa?

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Of course not! This place ain’t interestin’ at all.

 ‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎This is just ... where the show starts.

 ‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎