Untranslated Content
This issue of Gekkan Uso also included a flyer advertising the second drama CD and a lower-price edition of the game, which isn't present here (it doesn't contain any particularly new content, so I haven't bothered typesetting a translation (these things take time, you know)).
If you're interested in looking at it, the flyer is available here: https://archive.org/details/gekkan-uso-45
(To view it, click on "JPEG" under the download options on the right of the description and select "flyer_yurirei_front.jpg")
On Content Presentation
The map presented here isn't a direct copy of the one in the issue, but rather an edited version of a recreation of it created by hand. I've tweaked it to better match the map presented in this issue, but there are minor differences between it and the original map in this issue (scale/position of some items are slightly different, and it's also in color).
Things like the school emblem, etc. have also been colorized for general stylization purposes when converting things to a web format.
Mandatory Building Terminology Clarification
The terminology used in the game's English translation makes things confusing, but to make things clear, the "Hoshikan" is not the same as the "Hoshikan building"; the "Hoshikan" is the smaller building at the center of the campus featuring the shoeboxes and tatami room, while the "Hoshikan building" is the main school building (connected to the Hoshikan) that features the classrooms, broadcasting club room, hallways, cafeteria, etc.
Of course, this isn't helped by this map labeling the whole Hoshikan + Hoshikan Building as the Hoshikan Building...
Published: 11/1/13
Note: Click the map image to view it full-size! (opens in a new tab)School Special Edition Article
Exclusive release to the school special edition!
The Kokonotsuboshi Girls' Private Academy of Commerce, which Yuna and the others attend, is an all-girls school built on the site of an old castle that holds a storied past.
At the time of the school’s founding, classes took place in the Hoshikan, which was built in front of the castle tower during the Taisho era (1912-1926). Later, to match an increase in the school’s student population, a three-story wood-frame school building would be built, extending the Hoshikan along its east and west sides. The school would then continue on to gain fame and prestige among the local populace. Enoki Sachi enrolled at school during this period.
Before the start of the second World War, the castle’s Crane Building, which served as the former castle lord’s dwelling and library, was opened to the public. It would be used by the school, becoming what is now known as the Inner Building. During that period, the castle’s smaller tower, the Kumomiyagura, was also converted into a student dormitory.
At the time, the Ninomaru courtyard, which currently houses the running track, was a wooded area home to the teachers' lodgings. It's said that the atmosphere there was like that of a small town.
Kokonotsuboshi Girls’ was able to avoid damage to its facilities over the course of the war, and after the war’s end, it saw a great uptick in student admissions. Both wings of the Hoshikan building were torn down and replaced by a new steel-reinforced school building (which is H-shaped when viewed from above). The Ninomaru courtyard was developed into the schoolyard, and the auditorium was built, making the school’s layout almost the same as it is today.
Kokonotsuboshi Girls’ Current School Emblem
Kokonotsuboshi Girls’ was founded on the idea that it would serve as a place for its students to develop and grow ever brighter until they each become big, shining stars. The design of the school emblem serves as an embodiment of this idea.
Japan enters its bubble economy. The student population increases. As the student dormitory’s facilities have become too cramped to fit the increased student population, the dormitory is moved off campus. The Kumomiyagura is repurposed to serve as both clubrooms for the athletic clubs and lodgings for school camps. Nagatani Megumi enrolls at school during this period. Megumi seems to have wanted to live at the school’s dorms, but was prevented from doing so due to various factors. Even so, it’s said that she believed that they “were probably really pretty!” and would grumble to Yuna about it at any chance she had.
The Hoshikan building would be reconstructed into its current form just before Megumi would begin her school life here.
At the time, the school was also considering the demolition and reconstruction of the similarly wood-framed Hoshikan, but faced backlash from students that wanted to preserve what they thought represented the face of the school. Using the Hoshikan’s tatami room as its headquarters, the opposition movement would work to spread its message, eventually emerging victorious in the battle to win the building’s preservation. (This event would be recorded in the school’s history as the “Hoshikan Drive”.)
And now, we arrive at the present day. Kokonotsuboshi Girls' continues to thrive in its current state—as represented in the map above—with its long history serving as its foundation. And upon that stage, a yuri tale unfolds... To those who haven’t played the game, might you consider giving it a try?
The Shirojo Times, Final Issue
TL: Mezase, Yuritopia
Drawing close to winter, it’s Yuritopia! This is the last issue of the Shirojo times. We were planning to take things nice and slow, but it turns out we’ve got a major announcement! Sachi-san, Megumi-san, I’ll leave it to you.
Cursongrats! A drama CD is in the works!
Sachi: “That’s right! It’s been announced online already, but a drama CD for Kindred Spirits on the Roof is currently in development!”
Megumi: “The first CD stars Ano Fuji-chan as the protagonist! And, with the help of Yuna, Hina-chan, and Nena-san, we’ll be seeing new events unfolding between the four during their winter of 2013~!”
Sachi: “Hold on, Megumi. Did you just say ‘the first CD’?”
Megumi: “That’s right, Sachi-san! This drama CD’s planned to be the first in a series. It all hinges on whether the CD actually sells, though...”
Sachi: “It’s is a hard world out there, isn’t it? But don’t worry. As long as we have everyone that’s supported us so far by our side, we’ll be okay.”
Megumi: “Yeah! News about the drama CDs will be released sequentially, so make sure to check the Liar-soft website. There might be other stuff in the works, too~!”
Sachi: “We hope for your support. Well then, next, we’ll be presenting some of our readers’ reactions to the forerunner in our media expansion campaign: the Vocal Collection CD Prosit!”
Prosit!
Prosit was a CD released in 2013 containing a collection of vocal tracks from various Liar-soft/raiL-soft games, bundled with an illustration/commentary booklet. Kindred Spirits-wise, on top of featuring the OP and ED of the game (“Girl’s Spirit -Otome no Kimochi-” and “A New Day”), it also features new content in the form of a vocal remix of “Sweet Words, Sweet Hearts” ("Itoshi Kotoba Itoshi Kokoro") and two new illustrations by Peg. It's also just a full album of Rita's vocals, so it's well worth listening to.
You can find the CD contents and scans of the booklet here: https://downloads.khinsider.com/game-soundtracks/album/liar-soft-rail-soft-vocal-collection-cd-prosit
From: Mocchi
Prosit’s great, it’s seeing heavy use in my music rotation! “Sweet Words, Sweet Hearts” was so cute! I’ll leave my reactions to the twin vocals for next time, though. There’s gotta be even more yuri couples worth watching over within that one illustration of Peg-san’s, I’m sure...!
Given how many stellar tracks were in Prosit’s lineup, I can’t help but feel a little proud that “A New Day” was able to beat out the rest of the tracks and star as the closing track on the CD. The sight of Yuna and Hina together at sunrise is just pure love, isn’t it?!
Tsukuyo: “It sure is~”
Kiri: “The vocal version of Sweet Words, Sweet Hearts seems to have been a big hit. From what I've heard, they were originally wanting to have a full ensemble chorus version of the track, too.”
Tsukuyo: “You mean, they’d have everyone do the whole ‘Fuu! Fuwa fuwa!’ part together?”
Kiri: “Yeah, that’s right... Ah! A fully Tsukuyo-chan chorus version would be nice, too!”
Tsukuyo: “You really... think so?”
Kiri: “Of course! Being able to have Tsukuyo-chan ‘fuwa fuwa’ into my ear the whole time... that’s paradise!”
Tsukuyo: “Yeah, yeah... The girls featured in that new illustration pique my interest, too.”
Kiri: “Will we ever hear more about them someday?!”
Tsukuyo: “When will we ever appear in the drama CDs?!”
Kiri: “Oh, I heard that we’ll be starring in about the second CD or so. Us two are going to be driving together the whole time.”
Tsukuyo: “Um... would that really be fun?”
Kiri: “Yeah, I'm sure I'd have fun!”
From: Elk
Yuna-san, how are your exam studies going? Have you been able to withstand Hina-chan’s temptations? From the bottom of my heart, I hope that Hina-chan’s running wild without holding back.
Actually, having Yuna-nee initiate things might be...
Hina: “...I’ll do my best.”
Yuna: “Y-you’re going to do your best?”
Hina: “Mm.”
From: Yuuki
To the kindred spirits: I’m really, really interested in hearing more about the different anniversaries that you have between you two. Could you tell us a bit more about them?
Megumi: “A lot of them are secret, so...”
Sachi: “Fufu~ There’s the anniversary of us meeting Yuna-san, for example.”
Megumi: “They’re secret, though!”
From: Mentan
“Okujou no Yurirei-san” (“Kindred Spirits on the Roof”) feels like the perfect title for this game, but did you ever have any other working titles for it?
Ano: “At the very beginning, it seems like the game was originally called ‘Okujou Rakuen’ (‘Rooftop Paradise’).”
Megumi: “That was from before the game’s idea was pitched to Liar-soft, right?”
Ano: “Y-you’re striking up a conversation with me pretty naturally, huh, Megumi-san?”
Megumi: “It’s fine, isn’t it? You can see me, after all. Go on, go on.”
Ano: “O-okay. At around the time the game was being pitched, its name was ‘Okujou Yurirei’ (‘Rooftop Kindred Spirits’), but because that sounded a bit too horror-ish, it was changed to ‘Okujou no Yurirei’ (‘Kindred Spirits on the Roof’). That still sounded a bit too stiff, so then it got changed into the ‘Okujou no Yurirei-san’ we have today.”
Megumi: "Basically, it was changed to make it sound milder and cuter.”
From: Tagosaku
It looks like Sachi-san isn’t here at the moment, so, while she’s gone, there’s something I’d like to ask Megumi-san. To be honest, what do you think about Sachi-san’s unique naming sense?
Megumi: “I think it’s cute, of course!”
Yuna: "You seemed like you were a little taken aback by 'Operation Sparkling Sunshine', weren't you?"
Megumi: "No, I wasn't~... I was the one who started calling things ‘sparkling’ or ‘hearthrobbing’ in the first place—my habits just ended up rubbing off on her.”
Ano: “I see... By the way, where is Sachi-san, anyways?”
Megumi: “Fufufu... She’s busy getting a special training course ready for our surprising new protagonist, Ano-chan!”
Ano: “Eh?!”
Yuna: “And I’m here because she asked me to call you over, Ano. She’s done getting ready.”
Ano: “No way!”
Megumi: “Now, to the roof! It’s just a tea party, that’s all. It’s Operation Congratulations Ano-chan!”
Yuna: “She said it’s just a little talk to help you get mentally prepared.”
Ano: “But I’m already feeling dizzy from the pressure of being the protagonist, c’mon~”
Megumi: “Sachi-san, Yuna, and I will be there to support you, so don’t worry! Supporting people’s our strong suit.”
Yuna: “Well, we're experienced, after all.”
Ano: “Uuu... Be gentle with me, please...!”
Yuna: “Well then, off towards new beginnings!”
The first drama CD is planned to be released at the end of the year. Please look forward to this new development in the world of Kindred Spirits. Thank you for all of your support thus far!
Back Cover
