Track 4

Kiroku, Kiroku, look at this!! Isn’t this insane!? There’s like this super goated installation, like look~~!

Isotake… It’s dangerous to swing, the tablet around, like that… Which, one…?

This one, right here, look! Doesn’t it look like a sea of blue light? THE BLUE OCEAN IS LIGHT!¹

……

Wow… It looks… just like, ocean waves… So, pretty…

Right? It’s actually so goated! I found it right smack dab on the Space Art Light Festival website!

There’s an, explanation… for it here… When, the light… vibrates at a, high speed… it leaves behind, an afterimage…

Light can vibrate!? Whoa… I’m getting the vibe that there are infinite SFX possibilities you could do with light!

Yeah, I saw that one too. It’s pretty cool. The exhibits look like they came from another world.

Yeah… So this kind of thing, is also art… I’m learning… a lot…

The Space Art Light Festival is a festival held on Tanegashima, an island said to be the closest to space, centered around the fusion of nature, space, and art.

There are many innovative light installations scattered across various parts of the island including a sea cave transformed into a planetarium.²

I heard there’s gonna be an outdoor stage too. I’m pretty excited since there are some bands I wanted to check out.

Hey DJ~~~! Nice music, c’mon!

There will also, be food trucks… at the Space Centre Plaza…

Okaaaaaay~! Time to FEAST, boys~~~!

It’s nice that they let you enjoy live music while eating and drinking there.

We are currently considering operating a food truck of our own as well for this trip.

Yeeeeeees~! Won’t catch me slacking on that front, that’s for sure!

……

…Hey, we’re in the middle of discussing the study tour here. Maybe save the manga for later?

I’m at a good part right now.

…I mean, okay, but since you are the subhost, shouldn’t you be taking this seriously?

Thank you for your wonderful advice. You really shouldn’t have.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying this for you. I just don’t want Muneuji to carry any more burdens than he already does.

…Excuse me?

Speaking of which, are there any places or activities you all wish to see or try out on Tanegashima? Let us go around in a circle and share our ideas.

It’s not like we’re leaving tomorrow, so if you want to waste your time, then do it alone.

Why are you turning this on me when you’re doing the exact same thing?

Ooh me, me! I wanna film a space movie on Tanegashima! I’ve already decided on the title!

Behold, “Tanegashima in Troopers”!³ And what’s more! Our production budget is a whopping $300!!

Th-That’s a, huge budget… You’re really, going all out…!

It’ll be a next level, out of this world space battle story where a hammerhead shark dukes it out with an octopus alien on a space station!

I made a friend online recently who’s super into urban legends, space, and all kinds of cool stuff and keeps telling me about it!

(Isotake’s into aliens again… Wait, so all that time he’s been on his phone recently was because of that…? What kind of person is he talking to…?)

I am sure you will be able to scout a good location on Tanegashima for your movie. The theme also happens to suit the island.

Then I’ll be counting on Grandmaster Space Professor Muneuji for the script edits! What about you, Kiroku?

For me… it’s the, Space Art Light, Festival… I’m looking forward… to seeing the, exhibits… and maybe helping out, too…

As expected. That goes without saying, we plan on allocating some time for us to go around enjoying it.

Mm…

Uu-chan, Nanamegi, what about you two? Are you still bickering?

…He asked you a question, Panda. How about you take it seriously yourself before throwing complaints at people?

He’s also asking you. How about giving your answer first before throwing it at me?

Hm…? It’s a call from the chief.

Huh?

…

Hmmmmmmmmm…

Maybe a manga artist? I remember you talking about that for a while, Chief-chan.

No, I guess not…

Perhaps an adventurer? I recall giving you a ride on my shoulders once when you wanted to hang your Tanabata wish on the highest branch.

Nope, not that either…

…Oh, what about a shumai shop owner? I remember drafting up a business plan because you said that the both of us and Yukikaze would run one together.

Ah, what fond memories… I remember it like it was yesterday. I, too, was also enlisted, though unofficially, as a consultant. Shall we consider this checkmate?

I can’t believe this one’s wrong too…!

…

…Then, maybe a groom…?

—Is the chief here?

Ah, Muneuji-kun! Sorry for calling you out of the blue.

You seem at your wits’ end at the moment. Is something the matter?

Yeah. Truth is… we’re actually having a hard time figuring this one out.

…Security question: What was your childhood dream…?

Chief-chan’s trying to log into some site he joined over a decade ago, but no luck yet.

If I could just remember the answer to this one question, I’ll be able to log in…!

Your childhood dream… Was it not to become a tour guide?

Apparently not. I guess I had another dream before that…

I see. I assumed that you would have always wanted to work as one.

A person’s dream is indeterminate. It is in one’s nature to drift and change along with the passage of time.

Hey, Chief-chan. Maybe it was to become a groom after all…

Oh, I actually called you over for something else, Muneuji-kun. Let’s head over to the conference room.

Understood.

Kafka, Sakujiro-san, thanks for sticking by! I’ll see you later!

…

Our poor young master… *sob sob sob*...

So, what was it you needed me for?

Actually, I heard from Ushio-kun that you might be thinking of changing the study tour location.

…From Uu-chan?

Yeah, but I wanted to run it by you first before anything else.

(…So his uncooperative attitude back at school was to stall for some time…)

(Some time for me to reconsider my thoughts and dreams…)

It’s not too late to change the location, so if something’s bothering you, feel free to let me know.

But only if you’re comfortable sharing.

…No, it is fine.

We will hold our study tour at Tanegashima. I do not intend on changing locations.

Please convey that to Uu-chan for me too.

…Are you sure?

…Chief, I would like your opinion. Does it look like I am troubled by something?

Hmm…

Actually, I’ve been a bit worried about you ever since that day we went to your house.

…Is that so.

(The fact that Uu-chan, and even the chief, could see through my thoughts means that I still have a ways to go.)

(If so, it would be strange for me to not disclose myself here. It is not as if I cannot talk about it.)

(What’s more, I would not want to cause the chief any more worry than necessary.)

The truth is, I am reconsidering whether or not I should become an astronaut.

…Huh?

(If I remember correctly… Muneuji-kun was set on becoming an astronaut because of a promise he made to his father.)

(I wonder what happened to him to have a change of heart…)

(It’s such an important dream to him.)

However.

Yeah…?

Tanegashima is riddled with interesting sites and is a place that can provide inspiration no matter the dream one pursues.

Visiting would surely contribute to the research for my feature tour.

Which is why, although I am currently pondering over matters… I think it would be best if we do not change our destination.

…Yeah, that makes sense.

Even if you no longer want to become an astronaut anymore, I’m sure you’ll still have an amazing time there.

(…It feels as if I was given a push on my back.)

Thank you, Chief.

No, thank you for being willing to talk about it with me. We’ll go with Tanegashima as planned!

The Noon Team was just discussing places we would like to visit there. I shall report back as soon as we decide.

I have returned.

(I hear the sound of running water… Uu-chan must be taking a bath.)

*sigh*…

…The transceiver.

(Up until now, I have somehow always found myself fiddling with it. It never fails to help clear up my mind each time. Connecting to the channels is like breathing for me…)

(It was an object meant to help restore things back to the way they were. It was a connection with my father, a way to find him.)

(Every movement ingrained within my body reminds me of the years I have invested in this dream.)

…I wonder where exactly it is I currently stand.

Hm…?

(What is happening? I hear something…)

…y …nd …ne …er… C… …ro …le…