Content Presentation, Character Names
This was originally posted as a blog post, so for the sake of context, I’ve translated the entire post rather than just the story itself.
The story also briefly mentions a student named 高野寺. Her name’s reading isn’t mentioned in this story, and it’s not a commonly used name, so its reading is up to interpretation. I’ve gone with “Kouyaji,” but I apologize if her name’s proper reading is mentioned in K★R/the manga/etc. and I’m just not aware of it.
Kindred Spirits on the Roof’s One Year Anniversary Short Story!
Originally posted by Toitentsu on YURITOPI-EARTH on March 30th, 2013 (link)
To commemorate the first anniversary of Kindred Spirits’ release, I’ve received a gift from the game’s main writer, Mutsuki Tatara! It’s a short story that gives a glimpse into how the school is one year after the events in-game. It’s Tsukuyo x Kiri!
Before we begin, first, an apology. Although I had previously stated that the new member of the Math Club was “Ametani Aya,” her name has been changed to “Kametani Aya.” I apologize for any trouble that may have caused.
Well then, enjoy the story!
Spring Comes Around
TL: Mezase, Yuritopia
As expected, at school, it’s not New Year’s, but rather the start of a new school year that marks the real start of a new year. The opening ceremony at the auditorium was over, the homeroom back at the classroom had finished, and I was wandering down the halls of a school that had been let out earlier than usual when I had that thought. The bustle of the students hasn’t returned to its usual liveliness quite yet, but the school’s atmosphere is back. It was only gone for two weeks, but part of me can’t help but feel reassured by its return. And with its return, it seems a little different, too.
The graduates have moved on, while the first-years have become second-years, and the second-years have become third-years, so that kind of difference is natural, I suppose. Maybe I’ll have a clearer picture of how things have changed once the week is over. A new year brings new students, after all.
“Tsukuyo-chaaaan!”
“Kya!”
Perhaps it was because it was mixed in with the calming sounds of the students’ chatter that I didn’t notice the sound of those footsteps rushing behind me. After all, it was a sound I had gotten all too used to hearing at school, especially when classes were over. But that voice. And those arms, coming down from above me, wrapping above my shoulders, and hugging me from behind.
“Tsurugimine-san?”
Your arms. Your voice. And what I see as I look over my shoulder—your face, and your smile.
“...Hmph, no running in the halls, okay? Also, call me Sensei!”
“Okaaay!”
“...You aren’t going to listen, are you...?”
We have our usual exchange. One that serves to reassure me so much more.
As I bask in those feelings, I take in my surroundings, observing the state of the school during the first after-school period of the new school year. The voices of the students starting their clubs early faintly echo through the halls of the Hoshikan building, down to the hallway where Kiri and I stand alone.
“Your suit today was so cool and cute, Tsukuyo-chan!”
“You didn’t have to call it ‘cute,’ too... ...Kiri.”
I call your name, trying to fill it with some of my feelings for you. The name I can only use when we’re alone together.
“But you only see suit-outfit Tsukuyo-chan on days with those kinds of events, huh?”
“Well, I'm a teacher, after all. I’ll dress up properly on those days, at least.”
“Oh, I really liked your outfit during the graduation ceremony too.”
“You did? Fufu, I bought that one brand new, just for graduation.”
“Mhm, it was like you were dressed up for the Shichi-Go-San festival!”
The Shichi-Go-San Festival and Hakama
Shichi-Go-San (lit. “Seven-Five-Three”) is a day that serves as a rite of passage for young children, specifically three year-old children, five year-old boys, and seven year-old girls. On this day, children of those ages are dressed up in traditional formalwear, with girls wearing a kimono, and boys wearing a hakama (a pleated skirt/trousers) and haori (a kimono-like jacket).
Additionally, hakama are commonly worn by women during graduation ceremonies, both by the students and their teachers; this is usually only done during elementary school and university graduations, but it's also school tradition to wear one when graduating from Shirojo (see Gekkan Uso #44). The way it’s worn by women is a bit different, as they don’t wear a haori, and the hakama is worn at the bust rather than at the waist, but you can see where Kiri’s joke is going here.
For later context, on Shichi-Go-San, in addition to dressing their children up, it’s tradition for parents to take their children on a shrine visit, as well as give them a long candy stick known as a chitose-ame (lit. “a thousand years-old candy”) to wish them a long life.
“.....Hmmph.”
Her response expectedly left me a little disappointed. I know she’s just being honest, but still...
“It’s like, I could totally tell that you were fired up for the whole thing.”
“Well... I wouldn’t really call it being fired up. It’s more, just... those students and I both came to this school at the same time, right? So, because of that... you know...”
“Ah, I see.”
The graduation ceremony, just half a month ago. Just as I told Kiri, the students I sent off back then had started their studies at Shirojo at the same time as I had started teaching here.
I know it’s not my place to say this, but when they first started their studies here, they were all so innocent, so naive. And yet, over those three years, they all slowly matured into adulthood. When I finally sent them off that day, they were all so dazzling, so radiant.
Among those students, there were a number that really left their mark on me. Amishima-san and Inamoto-san from the track team. Aihara-san from the beautification committee. Sasaki-san, the chairman of the drama club. Kouyaji-san, who had even served as student council president... Well, everyone left their mark, really. Even if I can’t remember their names, their faces are all forever burnt into my memories.
And now, those girls must all be starting their new lives.
“Starting today, you’re a third-year too, Kiri.”
“You're also a third-year now, Tsukuyo-chan.”
“A third-year teacher, that is.”
I felt like I had to confirm that that’s what she meant. If I didn’t—even though no one else is listening to us—I’m afraid that someone might mistake me as being a Shirojo student, too. But even that might still be a better outcome. If someone heard us and thought that I’d just become a third-year middle schooler, I'd just... Aaah, part of me can’t help but resent the way I look. Looking like this, even though I’m almost thirty... ...almost thirty...
“But what a let-down... I was hoping that you’d be my homeroom teacher this year, Tsukuyo-chan.”
“But Kiri, you’re in the science class, aren’t you? I don’t think I’d be able to be the homeroom teacher for that. Besides, you have your future to think about, too.”
Kiri's enrolled in the science class that specializes in preparing students for higher education. As for me, I’m the homeroom teacher for the Humanities class again, but not for the same year—they moved me up a year along with the students, so I’m teaching the next grade’s class now. Otherwise, it’s the same arrangement as usual, with me being co-homeroom teachers with the same teacher for the third year in a row.
“Are you still wanting to get into a university’s science department?”
“Yeah. I think I want to study math a bit more.”
“I see... Do your best.”
“Mhm.”
After Kiri started laying out her plans for higher education at the start of the new year, she’s been shining ever brighter. That look of determination she had as she discussed her future—it was just so cool, so lovely, and such a thing to be proud of. She’s my cute student, and at the same time, she’s also my lover. I’m so happy that I’m able to love you, Kiri.
“Are the preparations for the new student information session going well?”
“Yeah. Kame-chan and I worked things out together.”
Kametani-san, the now-second-year girl who enrolled in the Math Club last fall. She’s just a bit shorter than Kiri, so when the two walk by my sides, surrounding me, people joke that I look like the Extraterrestrial Silverman. How rude. The two girls have nicknames for each other, too: Tsuru-chan and Kame-chan. I can’t help but feel happy that they’re getting along so well, and it’s fun just watching them interact with each other.
The Extraterrestrial Silverman
The “Extraterrestrial Silverman” refers to the alien in this alien hoax photo:
The photo doesn’t seem to be as well-known in English-speaking spheres, but it’s a famous photo in Japan, where it’s known as “the captured alien” (捕まった宇宙人), or less commonly as “Little Grey” (リトルグレイ). Not only has it been commonly referenced in popular media (such inspiring Little Gray from MGS4), it’s been turned into merchandise, such as being turned into a bag, multiple times.
“It would be nice if some of the new students decided to join.”
“Right? Plus, if that happened, I wouldn’t have to worry about Kame-chan being alone after I graduate anymore.”
“Fufu~”
When I hear Kiri say something like that, I can’t help but laugh. Kametani-san has only been in the club for a few months, but because of her, Kiri has become such a mature upperclassman already. I could never have imagined that happening just a year ago. Back then, Kiri and I had spent so much time together in the club room, just by ourselves, but now, Kametani-san is there with us. And, to think, with some more time, more members might be joining us too. Things really change, don’t they? The Math Club’s club room is getting more lively—and in turn, that lets me value the time I can spend alone with you even more.
“Isn’t it a bit too early to be thinking about graduation? You still have a whole year left to go, you know?”
“A whole year, huh...”
“A year’s still such a long time at your age. You have so many things to do, and things to see...”
“Then how much shorter are your years now, Tsukuyo-chan?”
“Hey...!”
I’m sensitive about that, you know? Even now, I’m still doing my best to stop the days from feeling routine. But, to be honest, I don’t need to be so worried. After all, just being able to watch all the students here makes every day feel new.
“Hey, hey, Tsukuyo-chan! Are you going to wear a hakama to our graduation ceremony, too!?”
“Eh? H-hm... I think I will. I’ve been the homeroom teacher for some of those students, after all.”
I'd get in trouble if I just wore the same hakama I wore to my college graduation, right? I wonder if they’d take away my bonus if they found out...
“Whoa, I’m so looking forward to it! Hey, could I bring you a chitoseame candy?”
“Hey!”
Aaah, I thought you’d say something like that!
But Kiri and the others are going to graduate, huh? And in just one more year, no less. It’s... still something I can’t even imagine. If I think about it too much... I think I might start crying.
“Kiri, you don’t have club today, so you should start heading home.”
“Yes, ma’aaaam.”
You give me an honest reply. Even though you’ve matured so much, you’re still so childish when it comes to these things. But it’s all of you—including that childish part of you—that I’m reaching for as I grab your hand, after you let go of my back and try to walk away with a smile.
“Kiri.”
“Hm?”
“I’m sorry that we couldn’t go anywhere this weekend.”
“...Oh no, it’s fine. I know you’re busy right now, Tsukuyo-chan.”
I couldn’t stop myself from saying that. Even though we’ve already had this conversation before.
“Once there’s a long weekend, let’s go somewhere together, okay?”
“Mhm!”
We exchange those words, and as you wave my way, I send you off.
Ah, this must be...
Next spring, I’ll be sending off Kiri—and so many other students—just like this. Not at this hallway, but at the school’s gates. And they won’t be going home for the day, either—they’ll be leaving the nest for good. I’ll be waving them goodbye as my heart's full of both happiness and loneliness.
Maybe this was meant to be a small rehearsal for that day. That’s why I couldn’t stop myself from saying that to her. Since, you know...
Kiri... you’ll be by my side forever, right?