Dengeki Girl's Style/A3!RING

Introduction

A3!RING is a series of short stories that ran in the January 2017 to May 2017 issues of the Dengeki Girl's Style magazine.

Leader Story

Tenma	Triangle, triangle.
Sakuya	!?
Banri	Tenma......?
Tsumugi	Is that Misumi-kun?
Banri	That troupe is a real zoo.
Sakuya	The Autumn troupe is lively too.
Banri	Our liveliness is a slightly different sort.
Tenma	Rather than lively, you're loud.
Banri	You're back, Tenma. Say, who's loud, oi.
Tsumugi	Was that Misumi-kun before?
Tenma	Yeah. It was tough getting my phone back from him......
Sakuya	You did a good job catching him!
Tenma	I bumped into Omi-kun, who had cake, so I lured him with that.
Tsumugi	Cake slices are triangular, aren't they......
Banri	You're something else for being able to spot that right away. You're the same sort.
Tenma	Don't put me in the same boat as that guy!
Tsumugi	Since we're all here, shall we decide when to have our next leader's meeting?
Sakuya	That's right! I'm fine as long as it's outside of school hours!
Banri	It's better to do it sooner rather than later, hey. The Spring Troupe's starting practice for their next play soon.
Sakuya	Yeah. We're actually having a meeing about that after this, but......
Banri	Itaru-san's not there?
Sakuya	Amazing! You really understood!
Tenma	Are you an ESPer?
Tsumugi	Are you in the middle of playing on the new machine at the game center together?
Banri	Correct.
Sakuya	Are you an ESPer too, Tsumugi-san!?
Tenma	There's something else you should be pointing out!
Sakuya	?
Sakuya	Ah!!! Itaru-sun!!!
Banri	You made a typo.
Tsumugi	I'm going to see a play with Tasuku, but spotted you on the way.
Tsumugi	It's about to start now, so that was about two hours ago, though......
Banri	We should be done soon, so I'll suggest we go home.
Sakuya	Thanks!
Tsumugi	What are your plans like, Tenma-kun, Banri-kun?
Tenma	I've got filming for a movie starting from next week, so I'd prefer having it earlier too.
Banri	I'm fine whenever. Tsumugi-san? You've got work, right.
Tsumugi	The exam period is over, so I can do weekdays at the moment.
Tsumugi	How were all your exams?
Tenma	Let's not talk about that! So, when are we having it?
Banri	We might as well do it tonight.
Sakuya	Right!
Tenma	No objections.
Tsumugi	Then it's decided.
Tenma	You gotta bring these sweets I recommend ☆
Tenma	Sorry, that was Kazunari.
Banri	The Summer Troupe's leader is a popular guy, hey, oi.
Tsumugi	We can each bring a snack along with something to discuss.
Banri	Got it.
Sakuya	Then we'll meet on the balcony tonight as usual!

Troupe Stories

Spring TroupeSummer TroupeAutumn TroupeWinter Troupe

Sakuya	Hoot hoot, hoot hoot......
Masumi	Sakuya's broken.
Sakuya	I-I was just imitating an owl......!
Masumi	It doesn't sound the same at all.
Tsuzuru	Say, why were you imitating an owl?
Itaru	It looks like Citron's the culprit.
Sakuya	When I said I had a dream where I became an owl user, he told me that if a bird other than an eagle appeared in the first dream it was a bad omen......
Masumi	I don't get how that turned into an owl imitation.
Sakuya	On the other hand, if I did an owl imitation, he said my luck would improve! Amazing, isn't it!
Itaru	Well, owls are said to be good omens.
Sakuya	Really?
Itaru	They've got a high suicide attack status and they're generally rare.
Tsuzuru	That's not it! It comes from the pronunciation sounding similar to 'no suffering'!
Citron	I'll give you a big owl object as a present so you don't suffer, Tsuzuru!
Masumi	That offer's too sudden.
Citron	I'll offer up my elder.
Tsuzuru	You can't offer your elders! You mean your New Year's money, right!?
Itaru	Tsuzuru's counters are in great shape from the start of the New Year. Nice, nice.
Sakuya	Have you all had your first dreams of the year?
Masumi	I have.
Itaru	Hmm, what sort of dream?
Masumi	I won't say. If I say it, it won't come true.
Tsuzuru	So it was about the Director, then.
Citron	It was definitely a dream where he got together with the Director.
Masumi	......It wasn't.
Itaru	You're smiling really hard. Out.
Sakuya	Have you had yours, Itaru-san?
Itaru	I still haven't. In the first place, I haven't slept.
Sakuya	You haven't slept!?
Itaru	Between the mystery item bags, New Year's quests and limited edition stories, I haven't had the time to sleep.
Citron	Itaru's a splendid gaming addict this year too. I've already seen five!
Sakuya	Five!? Amazing......!
Tsuzuru	Just how much are you sleeping! The adults in the Spring Troupe are hopeless from the start of the new year.
Citron	In my first dream, I became a fisherman in Naples and made Neapolitan.
Masumi	Too weird.
Itaru	Tsuzuru?
Tsuzuru	Ahh, I still haven't. Once I start writing, I can't stop.
Itaru	Here comes a comrade.
Tsuzuru	Don't lump me in with a regular addict like yourself.
Sakuya	That's right! Why don't we all sleep together at the theatre tonight?
Tsuzuru	Oh, it's been a while, huh.
Citron	Nice!
Masumi	I'm sleeping with the Director, so I'll pass.
Tsuzuru	Face reality. You're only dating in your dreams.
Itaru	As long as it's after the New Year's quests finish.
Tsuzuru	Then bring your blankets and pillows and we'll meet up, okay.
Sakuya	I'm kind of excited! ......I hope we all see the same dream!

Kazunari	Well! Kazunari's Kitchen has begun!
Misumi	Clap clap clap~!
Kazunari	It'll be Valentine's very soon~. So, today, we're making truffles ——
Yuki	Hey, how long are you going to continue that charade?
Muku	Kazu-kun's amazing! It was like a real cooking show!
Tenma	Don't be moved.
Kazunari	When you stand in the kitchen, doesn't it make you want to do this sort of thing~?
Misumi	It does, it does~ It makes you want to make onigiri~
Tenma	That's just you! And don't slowly open the rice cooker!
Yuki	Enough, you three idiots. We're making chocolate for the Director today, correct?
Muku	It's a present from all of us in the Summer Troupe to show our thanks for what she does for us every day.
Misumi	The present box is this triangle~
Tenma	That's fine, but do we know how to make them?
Kazunari	Of coursies! First, we toast the cocoa~
Tenma	We're making it from cocoa!?
Yuki	You didn't know? This is common knowledge.
Misumi	It's as common knowledge as triangles are! Right, Muku.
Muku	Erm......
Tenma	I-I know that much! Let's hurry up and buy the cocoa ——
Kazunari	......Pfft. Ahaha! Tenten's the best!
Tenma	What! Did you trick me again!?
Yuki	Normally you'd know. We can just melt chocolate from the market.
Tenma	I was getting into the art of it! Let's hurry up and make it!
	❤ 30 minutes later...... ❤
Tenma	......Say, we've melted the chocolate, but how do we shape it?
Kazunari	It'd be boring to make them just round~ Let's do something with a bit more originality!
Misumi	Super Mr Triangle!
Yuki	Denied.
Tenma	If we're talking about the Director, how about curry?
Yuki	That doesn't have a fixed shape. Rather, it's complete in the current form.
Muku	It has to be a heart after all! Like on page 12 of the new volume that came out just yesterday ——
Yuki	A heart, huh. Alright, it's decided.
Misumi	Eh~ triangles are good.
Tenma	Hearts are like triangles too. Here, if you turn it upside down like this......
Misumi	Hmm, it's a bit like a triangle......maybe?
Kazunari	Hey hey! We're forgetting something muy importante!
Yuki	Speak Japanese.
Muku	It means something important, right.
Kazunari	Honestly, get it by the feeling of it! Um, who's going to pass this to her?
Tenma	That's obviously me, the leader.
Yuki	Huh? We're deciding this fairly with rock-paper-scissors.
Muku	I always put out paper when I'm nervous......
Kazunari	Then let's start.
Tenma	Wait, this is too rushed!
Misumi	First is triangle!
Yuki	Rock, paper...
All Five	—— Scissors!

Taichi	T-This is bad~! It's an emergency~!
Sakyo	What are you so flustered about.
Juza	Have we received a dojo challenge?
Banri	Since when did this become a dojo?
Omi	So what's the emergency?
Taichi	It's! Almost! White Day!!!
Juza	Was that March 3rd?
Taichi	Juza-san, what a pity~! That's Girls' Day! It's March 14th!
Banri	It's not a pity at all!
Omi	Haha, Juza doesn't seem to have those sorts of interests, does he.
Sakyo	Sigh......Either way, it's not an emergency or anything.
Taichi	It is an emergency! Because we have to give something back to the Director!
Banri	Ah......
Sakyo	Is that so......
Omi	I might bake a cheesecake.
Juza	Cheesecake......I want to eat it.
Omi	Haha, I'll prepare a portion for everyone as well.
Taichi	Geez~ You're all too relaxed! You have to return things three times over on White Day! It's a man's chance to show off!
Sakyo	Well, it goes against human nature to not show thanks. We'll have to prepare some sort of product.
Juza	Something that will make the Director happy......Ingredients for curry?
Banri	Idiot. If you do that, we'll live the curry life for a week.
Omi	Shall we all make cake together?
Sakyo	I don't want to think about five men standing in a kitchen......
Taichi	Me, me! I think a splendid flower bouquet would be good!
Banri	That's a reasonable idea from you, Taichi. Flowers and stuff are the standard, so it should be fine.
Juza	Five men in a flowershop......
Omi	Well, someone can be our representative and go buy it.
Sakyo	I don't mind getting flowers, but what sort of flowers should we get?
Banri	That's right. There isn't anyone knowledgeable about flowers here.
Taichi	I think pansies are nice! They're small and cute, just perfect for the Director!
Banri	I've never heard of having pansies in a bouquet.
Sakyo	Flowers, huh......I can only think of chrysanthemums.
Banri	Are you making an offering.
Juza	......Cluster amaryllis.
Banri	You've got no taste! There's got to be something safer and more popular out there.
Omi	Popular......Carnations?
Banri	Is it Mother's Day!? Even if she accepts them, she'll worry about how to respond!
Taichi	Speaking of which, Ban-chan, what do you suggest~?
Banri	......C-Cosmos, maybe?
Omi	......That's a surprisingly cute choice.
Taichi	Unexpected!
Sakyo	You're ignoring the season.
Banri	Shut up!
Juza	......
Banri	Oi, Hyodo, you jerk, you're laughing, aren't you.
Juza	......I'm not laughing.
Taichi	How rare! He's laughing!
Sakyo	Sigh......As much as it pains me, they're all pittances.
Banri	Shall we ask our gardener......

Homare	― I actually carry Shakespeare's DNA.
Tasuku	It's April Fool's, isn't it.
Homare	How dull. The others were all shocked into silence.
Hisoka	They were just so stunned they didn't argue.
Azuma	Hisoka told a lie too.
Hisoka	I said I wasn't sleepy. But nobody believed me.
Tsumugi	Because you fell asleep halfway through saying it...
Azuma	Was yours a success, Tsumugi?
Tsumugi	Yes. When I said "I'm getting married next month", Tasuku easily believed me...
Tasuku	Saying it to my face is one thing, but using the Director as an intermediary for your lies is sneaky.
Tsumugi	That was Azuma-san's suggestion......
Azuma	Hehe, it was fun throwing a curveball, wasn't it?
Homare	What sort of lie did you yourself tell?
Azuma	"I'm......actually a woman......You don't believe me, do you. Shall I strip here right now and prove it?"
Hisoka	Woah......
Tsumugi	It's a classic lie, but when Azuma-san says it I'm somehow inclined to believe it......
Tasuku	What a terrible lie......
Azuma	Speaking of which, Tasuku, what sort of lie did you tell?
Tasuku	I didn't tell one. I'm not very good with this sort of event.
Hisoka	......How boring.
Tasuku	I don't want to hear that from you when all you do is sleep.
Azuma	Why don't you try telling one now?
Homare	Tell it to......ah, the Director would be good.
Tasuku	This is pointless.
Azuma	Really? It requires acting skill, so I think it's a perfect chance to test your skills.
Tsumugi	Yeah. If the Director believes you, it gives you a bit of confidence.
Tasuku	That......has some sense to it.
Hisoka	Acting idiot.
Tsumugi	Now what sort of lie would be good......I actually hate currry, or something?
Tasuku	That'll seriously give her a shock.
Homare	Wait, if that happens it might prompt a curry week to make him like it.
Hisoka	I don't want that.
Azuma	I'm actually American, or something. You like that sort of fashion, don't you.
Tsumugi	American casual, right.
Tasuku	That's such a random lie.....
Hisoka	Go in the other direction and make it an easy to understand lie. Say happy birthday......
Homare	That's the sort of pattern that'll make her counter with 'it's April Fool's!', hm.
Tsumugi	That's good.
Azuma	Tasuku, shall we try it? Ah, with a princely air, like you were taught at GOD-za.
Tasuku	............Happy Halloween!
Tsumugi	.........gh.
Homare	Pff......
Hisoka	............
Azuma	......Heh.
Tasuku	You guys......Don't laugh when you're the ones who made me say it.
Tsumugi	Sorry, Tasuku! I hadn't thought you'd go with Halloween of all things.
Homare	Nice sense! Tasuku-kun!
Azuma	Trick or treat ♪
Hisoka	Have a marshmallow.
Tasuku	I don't need it!