Chapter 9: Tanabata
“Move out of the way!”
The club door suddenly slammed open and Mao came barging in.
Kyouya didn’t flinch at the usual shouting, but what came after the Mao surprised him. Kirara was carrying a long, green thing that rustled at every step –
“Why did you bring a bamboo plant?!”
Mao always brought strange things to the club room, but what she brought today was on a different scale.
You couldn’t see through the plant, mainly because it was so large.
“Aah, it’s impossible. It won’t fit through the door. Did you not hear me? See, it’s stuck…”
“Shut up. You don’t know anything. Bamboo can bend, you know.”
As Mao was saying that, she gave the bamboo plant a push. With a pop, she bounced back and fell on to the ground.
“Oh great. Kirara, don’t move. I’ll help out.”
Kirara, listening to Kyouya, stopped moving. However, even with Kyouya’s help, the bamboo couldn’t squeeze in; it took all four people to get it through the door. Mao tried to lend a hand, but she could only do so much as a person with the body of an elementary school kid.
Using the wall as a support, the club members finally got the bamboo plant to stand.
“What do we do about this plant? What is this plant even for?”
Mao, who was crouched down panting, immediately straightened herself upon hearing Kyouya’s voice.
“Are you an idiot?”
Mao glared upwards towards him, something which she’s rather good at.
“I didn’t say anything. Especially not to President.”
“Someone who has time, teach this idiot.”
“Shinomiya-kun. Today is a very special day, you know.”
Megumi said that as she joined her fingertips and grinned very happily.
“Kyoro-kun. I have one question. What day is it today?”
Shion asked with her finger sticking upwards. She looks like she’s trying to give a hint.
“Um… July 7th… ah… is it the Tanabata Festival today?”
“Correct! That’s why I brought this bamboo gra.s.s!”
“President, didn’t you say this was a ‘bamboo plant’ earlier?”
“It’s better if you don’t pry into a girl’s past.”
“I don’t follow your logic.”
“Do we have enough paper, Onee-chan?”
“Nope, none at all. We need to make this a big celebration, or else our wishes won’t come true.”
“Geez, going off and cutting this down without anyone’s permission. Did you take this from the forest on the hill behind the school? You shouldn’t do that. They’re going to get angry if they find out, you know. You bamboo thief~.”
“Then I’ll go ask the Origami Club to exchange some tokens for some paper. Be back later!”
Megumi-chan left. In her arms, she carried “GJ Club Tokens”, or just “tokens”, which could be used to exchange for special items at the upcoming Culture Festival.
“So who can fold a crane? How about making Altair and Vega, or a Kabuto? We also need to make a boat. If we don’t, they can’t go on a date!”
“I’ve seen people fold them, but never done it myself. I can replicate it though.”
“Then, Shion, teach Kirara how to fold origami. Afterwards, we should make paper loops and make chains out of them. Now, where are the scissors and glue? Where indeed… over there? Over here?”
“Please listen to me. I beg of you…”
Kyouya, being left out of the conversation, continued to say that in a resigned voice as he followed Mao, who was searching for supplies, around.
“Have you reflected on your actions?”
“Yes, I have.”
Tossing over scissors and glue, Kyouya sat down with Mao and began to make decorations for the festival.
“If you don’t have fun at events, you’re not qualified to be a GJ Club member.”
“You just said ‘Gujjobu’, right? That’s the first time I’m hearing it said like that1. But now I’m curious. Is stealing bamboo plants part of GJ Club activities as well?”
“It’s okay, I’m friends with the spirit of that hill. He even let me build a secret base there.”
“Take me with you next time.”
“Only when you start acting more like an adult.”
“I’m back! I brought back lots of paper!”
Everyone diligently made decorations, then wrote their wishes on the paper.
On those five slips of paper, which are hung on a bamboo plant (not bamboo gra.s.s), this was what was written:
I want to become more of an adult.
I want to grow tall. Also, I want my chest to not be flat.
I want for these days to never go away.
I want meat.
I want for the world to be at peace.
Mao: To qualify as a GJ Club member, you must have fun at events.
Kyouya: I do like festivals.
Mao: Having fun at festivals is what normal people do. To be a GJ Club member, you must make a festival yourself when none exists.
TRANSLATOR’S NOTES
1. So far, GJ Club has only been p.r.o.nounced/written as GJ部. This is the first instance of it actually being p.r.o.nounced “gujjobu”, or グッジョぶ.