Hisoka Mikage/Dazzling Milky Way

A Little Bit of a Long Detour

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Izumi	(In order for us to have a Tanabata festival at the MANKAI dorms, I've come out to shop for supplies. And it's fine that I'm also stopping by a store that sells bamboo cheaply, but...)
Hisoka	Zzz...zzz...
Izumi	Hisoka-san! You're going to cause trouble for the people around you if you sleep while standing in the middle of the road...!
Hisoka	...Huh? Did I fall asleep?
Izumi	You did. If you're that sleepy, should we take a small break after we buy the bamboo?
Hisoka	Mm...Yeah.
Bamboo-selling Salesperson	Welcome-! Are you looking to buy some bamboo?
Izumi	Yes, I'd like to buy one for Tanabata.
Bamboo-selling Salesperson	If you're looking for Tanabata-related bamboo, they're over here-.
Bamboo-selling Salesperson	We've prepared many different sizes, so please go ahead and pick one that you'd like!
Hisoka	...Which one are you getting?
Izumi	Umm......I'm pretty sure Tsumugi-san said that a good one would be one that has a "firm base."
Hisoka	...Then, let's get this one. It's big and thick, and it looks pretty firm.
Izumi	...Can we really carry this big of a bamboo home by ourselves?
Bamboo-selling Salesperson	Not to worry. Our shop also delivers.
Izumi	I-Is that so. Thank goodness.
Izumi	Hmm. If everyone at the dorm is going to be decorating it, then something about this size would be pretty good...It's also cheap.
Izumi	Alright! I'd like this one please!
Bamboo-selling Salesperson	Thank you very much. Alright then, later on we'll deliver your bamboo to the address you wrote down!
Izumi	(Whoa, there's so many bamboo that are scheduled to be delivered outside of ours......)
Izumi	Is this store going to deliver all of these? You sell a lot of bamboo.
Bamboo-selling Salesperson	Oh no, these are being used for this evening's Tanabata Festival.
Izumi	Ahh, is that so.
Bamboo-selling Salesperson	If you have time, by all means please go ahead and participate!
Izumi	Okay, thank you very much.
Hisoka	...Sleepy. I'm tired.
Izumi	We managed to buy the bamboo sucessfully, so let's take a break on that bench over there.
Hisoka	Mm.
Izumi	Hisoka-san, you seem sleepier than usual today.
Hisoka	It's because I had to work late at my part-time job yesterday...
Izumi	And yet you still helped me out with my shopping. Thank you.
Hisoka	Mm...I'm at my limit...
Hisoka	Director...Lend me your shoulder for a little bit.
Izumi	Huh!? Hisoka-san!?
Hisoka	Mrgh...This position...doesn't feel right.
Hisoka	Yeah, I'd rather...
Izumi	--.
Izumi	(H-He's using my lap as a pillow...!?)
Hisoka	Yeah, this is more comfortable. ...Good night.
Izumi	You're going to sleep like this!?
Hisoka	Zzz...Zzz...
Izumi	...He really fell asleep.
Izumi	(Well, it looks like he came shopping with me despite being tired, so I guess I can let him sleep for a bit.)
Hisoka	Whistle...
Izumi	(...I feel like even I'm getting sleepy by just watching Hisoka-san sleep so peacefully...maybe...)
Izumi	...Zzz...
Hisoka	...Snore.

Hisoka	Zzz...Zzz...
Izumi	...Hm?
Izumi	Ah, it's a LIME from Kazunari-kun. The bamboo was delivered to the dorm. Thank good--.
Izumi	No way, it's already this late!?
Izumi	Hisoka-san, wake up! It's nighttime!
Hisoka	Mm~...Marshmallow, don't move.
Izumi	Wha-Hisoka-san! That tickles!
Hisoka	...Huh. It wasn't a marshmallow but Director's lap?
Izumi	Jeez, you're half-asleep! Hurry and wake up!
Hisoka	...I don't want to. Just a little more sleep...
Izumi	Look around you! The sun's already set! It's time to go home!
Hisoka	...I'm sleepy.
Izumi	Just hold on until we get to the dorms. Come on, stand up properly.
Hisoka	Mm...
Izumi	Hisoka-san, you have to open your eyes and walk or else you could run into something.
Hisoka	It's okay...Because you're here.
Izumi	No no, I have things to carry so I can't support you all the way--Wait, my stuff!!
Old Man	Heey, Young Miss! You forgot something~!
Izumi	I-I'm so sorry! Thank you so much!
Old Man	Hohoho. You two were sleeping like newborns. Did you have good dreams?
Izumi	Y-You saw us?
Old Man	From just a little while ago. I was going to watch that from my special seat, but you youngsters were there first.
Izumi	"That"...?
Hisoka	Director. There are lights floating on the river.
Izumi	Ah, you're right. Those are...lanterns?
Izumi	(Now that I think about it, that salesperson told me that there was going to be a festival here. Maybe they were talking about that?)
Old Man	Beautiful, isn't it. That's what we call a "lantern send-off ceremony." Originally the lanterns were used to send messages to people who have passed away.
Hisoka	...Messages to people who have passed away...
Old Man	Well, lately youngsters have been participating more. Right now it's become more normal to write your wishes and send them off in the lanterns.
Izumi	Sir, you're very informed.
Old Man	Ho-ho-ho. Last year I handled the event as the chairperson of the neighborhood association.
Old Man	If you have the time, why don't you kids go and send lanterns off, too? If you go straight toward that bridge, they're selling lanterns to send off below it.
Izumi	Sending lanterns off...It seems kind of interesting.
Hisoka	...
Izumi	If you're interested, why don't we try it since we're here?
Hisoka	...Mhm. I want to try it.

Izumi	There are a lot of people around now. Hisoka-san, be careful to not get separated from me.
Hisoka	Okay.
Izumi	Hmm...I wonder where they're selling those lanterns that that older man was talking about?
Hisoka	...Director, look over there.
Staff Member	Those who are looking for lanterns to send-off, over here please-!
Izumi	Just what I'd expect from you, Hisoka-san! I'm going to go buy them.
Izumi	Sorry for making you--wait, huh? Hisoka-san?
Izumi	(He's not here...Is it possible that we got separated!?)
Izumi	--Waa!?
Hisoka	Director, over here.
Izumi	Hisoka-san!
Hisoka	I found a place where there aren't a lot of people, and it's easy to send off the lanterns...
Izumi	Is that what you were doing. Alright then, let's head over there.
Izumi	Hisoka-san, did you decide what wish you'll make?
Hisoka	...I'm still wondering what to do...
Hisoka	What about you, Director?
Izumi	I think I'm going to go with wishing for the well-being of MANKAI Company and everyone, after all. I don't have enough time to think about anything but the theater and curry!
Hisoka	I see...That's very like you.
Hisoka	...I've made my decision, too.
Izumi	Then, let's go send off our lanterns.
Hisoka	Yeah.
Izumi	Are you ready? Let's send them off on one, two, okay?
Hisoka	One, two...
Izumi	Wow, they blended in with the other lanterns in a blink of an eye.
Hisoka	I can't tell which lantern is mine or Director's anymore...
Izumi	...The glow of the lanterns is beautiful.
Hisoka	Yeah.
Hisoka	...I hope everyone's feelings are delivered.
Izumi	Fufu, me too!
Hisoka	But if there are so many lights out there...... I wonder if mine and Director's share will be able to reach.
CHOICE 1: "They will." [+] Izumi I'm sure they will. Izumi After all, your light is glowing so that your feelings may be heard, and may be found. Hisoka ...I hope that's the case.
CHOICE 2: "I wonder." [+] Izumi I wonder...I think it's up to you, Hisoka-san. Hisoka Up to me...? Izumi Yeah! If it's something that you feel strongly about with all your heart, then I'm sure those feelings will be delivered properly! Hisoka ...Is that so.
Izumi	Hisoka-san, what did you end up wishing for?
Hisoka	I wasn't wishing for something, actually...
Hisoka	The old man at the riverbed said that originally the lantern ceremony was for sending messages to people who have passed away, so.
Hisoka	...I sent a message to August.
Izumi	...I see.
Izumi	I'm sure it'll reach him. Your feelings. They're words from his precious family, after all.
Hisoka	Mhm...Thank you, Director.
Hisoka	(August, sometime in the future...)

Kou