Assorted Oddballs Management Stories (from ! era)

[iridesenescence]

Everything except Shu 3 and Rei 6 proofread by strifesclouds and mizuhanome tl

Natsume 3 (with Wataru)
Natsume 6 (with Rei)
Shu 3 (with Natsume)
Shu 6 (with Kanata)
Wataru 5 (with Natsume)
Kanata 3 (with Rei)
Rei 4 (with Natsume)
Rei 6 (with Wataru)

Natsume 3 (with Wataru)

Natsume: Wataru-niisan, do you have a minute?

Wataru: Oh my, it’s Natsume-kun! Fufufu, I’m positively delighted that you came to play with me!

Natsume: Ahaha, there you go scattering flowers in an extravagant welcome. Nii-san, this dove is one of yours, isn’t it?

Wataru: Yes, this is indeed one of my doves. But I’m amazed you could tell~ Appearance-wise, it’s just like the ones you’d see anywhere, so most would never be able to recognise it.

Natsume: It was strangely affectionate, so I knew right away that it wasn’t a wild dove. And you’re the only one in Yumenosaki who has pet doves, Wataru-niisan.

Wataru: Hmmm. This one isn’t usually very affectionate, though?

Natsume: Is that so? I’d assumed that the reason it was so comfortable around people, to the point of perching on my shoulder like this, was the result of your training.
Fufufu, I just had a great idea ♪ Every magician needs a familiar, so I shall have this dove become mine.

Wataru: Oh my, so you’ve taken a liking to it, Natsume-kun… ♪

Natsume: … Ju~st kidding. Rest assured, I’ll return it to you, Wataru-niisan.
Besides, I have no need for it — I already have a capable little kitten as my familiar ♪


Natsume 6 (with Rei)

Natsume: Rei-niisan, do you have a minute to spare?

Rei: My, it’s Sakasaki-kun. For you to come all the way to my classroom, I assume there is something you wish to discuss?
Come, come. You’re like a darling youngest child to us, Sakasaki-kun, so feel free to come to your grandpa with any~thing ♪

Natsume: Not again with the “youngest child”... Well, I’ll tell you anyway, since I didn’t come here to argue. You see, one of Switch’s next jobs is an interview.

Rei: Mm, is that not a good thing? You're not one to struggle when being interviewed, after all.

Natsume: That might be true, but from the information they’ve given us, it seems likely that they’ll ask about our hobbies.
I’m sure you’re well aware, Rei-niisan, but I don’t particularly have any interesting hobbies.
I’ve been worrying about how I should answer... And that’s why I came to discuss things with you.

Rei: Hmmm. I suppose you could just answer with whatever you wish...
Ah, but it wouldn’t exactly be a lie to say you are still searching for one, would it?

Natsume: Hm~... You have a point. Thank you, Rei-niisan.

Natsume: Fufu, you know, all of you say such similar things.
When I asked the other nii-sans about this, they all answered in pretty much the same way.
Alright then, I’m done here, so I’ll be taking my leave. Bye-bye ♪, Rei-niisan.


Shu 3 (with Natsume)

Shu: ... Boy? Don't just stand there, you're in the way. Move aside.

Natsume: Oh, Shu-niisan. How rare to see you at the school store; are you here to purchase food as well?

Shu: That I am. More importantly, is that a croissant I see in your hands?

Natsume: Mmhm. ... Oh, that's right — croissants are your favourite food, aren't they?
Mm~nn... I bought the last one for today, but if you're fine with taking something touched by someone else, you're welcome to have it.

Shu: Hm... Well, I did make my way here just to obtain it. Since I lack other options, I will accept it.


Natsume: ......

Shu: Boy? Don't space out on me, take the money. ... Ah, unless it's insufficient?
Mm, I don't recall hearing about the price increasing since the last time I came, though.

Natsume: Ah, no... Sorry, I was just a little surprised.
Knowing you, Shu-niisan, I was expecting you to exclaim, "Non! Then I shall simply go without lunch today!"

Shu: Hmph. It would be vexing to have made a fruitless trip here, and it's not as if you are a stranger to me.
But if this offer had come from another person, I might have declined without a second thought.


Shu 6 (with Kanata)

Kanata: Hello, Shu~...♪

Shu: Oh my. How rare for you to pay the Handicrafts Club a visit, Kanata. Well, you’re always welcome. I’ll prepare tea for you, so you may take a seat and wait.

Kanata: Thank you very much~ Ah, I don’t like it “hot”, so please make it “cold”.
Sniff sniff… There is a “pleasant” scent coming from somewhere.

Shu: Ah, that’s from the croissants. You may have one if you’d like.

Kanata: Fufu, you’re providing me a “full service”~ In return, I will give you this “plush” of an “Atlantic footballfish”~ ♪


Shu: Gah?! Keep that thing away from me!

Kanata: Oh, do you not like it? But it’s so cute~
In that case, what about a “plush” of an “orca”? Its name is “Orca-tarou” ♪

Shu: I appreciate the sentiment, but there’s no need. Besides... Orca-tarou, was it? Its tail appears to be torn here.

Kanata: Ah… I remember now. I came here to ask you to fix “Orca-tarou”, Shu.

Shu: I see. Since it seems precious enough to you that you would even name it, I have no reason to object.
I won’t take long to finish mending it, so you may wait here if you have no other business to attend to.

Kanata: Sure, I’ll take you up on that. Please take care of “Orca-tarou”, Shu~♪


Wataru 5 (with Natsume)

Wataru: Oya, Natsume-kun? What a pleasant surprise to have you come to play at the theater club~!

Natsume: Wataru-niisan, I’m happy to receive your welcome, but there’s really no need to scatter rose petals everywhere.

Wataru: My, you’re always so unfettered regardless of what I do, Natsume-kun~ I’d like to get a “Wow” out of you.

Natsume: I'd tell you if I was surprised, you know. But more importantly, today I came here to borrow outfits from you, Wataru-niisan.

Wataru: Hm, what outfits could you require? We have no plans to use any of them today, so I believe the choice is yours.

Natsume: I'd like to borrow outfits that we can use in a live — we suddenly ended up having to perform in one, you see.
But Senpai sent our regular unit outfits for cleaning, and it seems we won't get them back until next week.
I don't particularly want to stand on stage in the school's common outfit, so I came here to discuss things with you, Wataru-niisan.

Wataru: I se~e. In that case, then please go ahead and use whatever outfit you fancy♪
Fufufu, you would probably look delightful in a dress, Natsume-kun, and we have one that's just recently been completed — won't you try it on?


Natsume: Ahaha, I won't comply with that request, even if it's from you, Wataru-niisan. Same goes for that royal-looking outfit you have in your hands.

Wataru: How unfortunate~ Do let me know as and when you change your mind, mm?
I'd be happy to dress you up in the most interesting and amusing ways!
Well, I do believe you'd look lovely no matter what you wear, so the outfits may all fit you so well that it doesn't feel the slightest bit out of place. Ah, but that is a type of fun in itself!
There's surprise and joy to be found in everything, ahahahahaha… ☆


Kanata 3 (with Rei)

Kanata: Puka, puka….♪ Here I go, Rei~ Hiyaa~h……☆

Rei: Oh my… Shinkai-kun, you sure put all your strength into that throw.
During the day, my stamina is far lower than usual, so I have no doubt I will be worn out before I am capable of running over to retrieve the ball.

Kanata: Then I'll go get it~

Rei: Mm, please do. … Uh, Shinkai-kun, you threw the ball the other way, you know?

Kanata: Ah… I’ve started to feel thirsty, so I was thinking of going to buy a “drink”...
Picking up the “ball” can wait until I come back~♪
Rei, do you want me to buy you anything? Umm, you like “tomato juice”, right?

Rei: Indeed, I’m surprised you remembered.

Kanata: Rei is my “friend”, after all~


Rei: The feeling is mutual. But putting that aside, we’re the only ones here not properly following the lesson, you know.
Shall we wait till our lesson has ended before we purchase the drinks together, Shinkai-kun?

Kanata: Fufufu, how fitting for a pair of good “friends”~ Yep, let’s do that, Rei ♪


Rei 4 (with Natsume)

Rei: Pardon me, Sakasaki-kun ♪

Natsume: Oh, Rei-niisan? How unusual for you to visit the Game Research Club.

Rei: Indeed, there’s something I wanted to ask you about, Sakasaki-kun.
Since you’re part of the Game Research Club, I take it you are knowledgeable about games?

Natsume: Mmhm. I’m well-versed in both old and recent ones. Rei-niisan, could you perhaps be interested in a game?

Rei: You see, Yuuta-kun and Hinata-kun informed me of a mobile game that sounded interesting.But as you know, I constantly struggle with using smartphones…
Even if they try to tell me about it, I can’t make heads nor tails of what they’re saying.
Therefore, I’d like for you to teach me what to do in order to play it. I apologise for bothering you with this, but would you be willing to assist me?

Natsume: Sure. Since it’s you who’s asking, nii-san, it would be my pleasure to help.
But you know, I would never have foreseen you asking me about something like this.

Rei: Indeed, I must say I’m surprised myself.
We truly never know what to anticipate from life. Who would have thought we would be able to reestablish our bonds like this? Ah, what a blessing that I’ve been able to live for so long ♪


Rei 6 (with Wataru)

Rei: Holing up in my coffin has made my body all stiff... A short walk will do me some good ♪

Wataru: Ah, Rei! Here you are at last — you certainly kept me waiting!

Rei: Wow, you're full of energy despite it nearing the end of the day, Hibiki-kun.
Hold on a moment. Do you mean that I was supposed to meet you here today?

Wataru: Yes, you were! Don't tell me you forgot about it? How cruel!

Rei: My apologies, one becomes forgetful with old age...
But if we did indeed arrange to meet, then we should do just that.
It's the perfect season for statice flowers, so what do you say to a leisurely stroll to admire them?

Wataru: Oh, that sounds lovely~! The statice flower represents "unchanging hearts"... ☆


Rei: Yes, our hearts haven't changed the slightest since those days. Isn't that right, Hibiki-kun?

Wataru: It is! Our friendship will never die, will it, Rei~ ♪

Rei: Oh, there goes a dove flying out from your hands...
We're just taking a leisurely walk around the garden today, so let's keep those tricks to a minimum.
Well then, Hibiki-kun. Let us be on our way... ♪