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>> HANA: Yes, that's roughly the impression I got from looking at her.
Understood, sir!
(All right...she should be somewhere around here, he said...but all I see are the blossoms.)
(They are gorgeous, though...one time a year, they show up without fail to touch everyone's hearts with their beauty,
knowing just as well as we do it's all over the instant the last petal falls. Isn't that strange?)
(Well, maybe that it's so fleeting only adds to the beauty...oh, there we go! Is that her over there...?)
(Yeah, that's got to be her. That long silver hair is impossible to mistake.)
(Wow, it really stands out among the blossoms. That's not something you get to see every day either...)
(It's so pretty...it feels almost otherworldly, really.)
...? Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare...y-... you just looked so beautiful, it sorta caught my attention...
Performing a-...? You mean, am I hitting on you? No! Well, maybe that's what it sounded like, but it's not what I meant. I, uh...
Uhhmm...no!? And would you please tell me why -that- had to be the only other possibility?!
*sigh* Well, I don't know which of those girls gave you -that- literal idea, but someone needs to have a nice, long talk with them...
Hm? ...Oh, yes, I didn't quite get around to telling you who I really am, did I? Um...
I'm Hana. The long and short of it is, I'm the one who's been assigned to be your new producer, Shijou Takane-san.
That's right. The President told me where to find you, so I came here to introduce myself...
But, uh...for me to just randomly come up and tell you that...I wouldn't blame you if you didn't believe me.
...Warmth? ...So, it didn't make you uncomfortable?
A-All right, thank you...but, don't you think it's a little...forward to be calling me 'dearest' and stuff?
I mean, it's, uhh...just a little embarrassing, is all...
Umm...look, you can just call me 'Producer' like normal, all right? I think that'd be easiest for both of us.
Umm...hey, Shijou-san? There's something I'm starting to get really curious about, if I may...
You have...kind of an unusual way of speaking, you know? I just feel like it's very...unique.
(To be honest, she comes across as just plain weird at first. But she might actually be more shrewd than she's letting on...)
Well, I hope you don't mind, but there's still a bunch of other things I'd really like to ask about...
Like, what made you decide to become an idol, or why did you join 765? ...Or how did you get your hair that color?
Um...OK? Me, demonstrate...?
Ah, so you want to check and make sure I'll be able to do -my- job properly, hm. That's fine with me!
Well then, let's head back to the office and draw up a schedule.
Then we'll get to work, and you can see for yourself if my ability to manage is worthy of your confidence!
(Just like a cherry blossom, huh... ephemeral beauty and a quick death?)
(Heh, well, that's probably reading too much into it.)
(All I have to do is put forth my best effort and make the most of what time we do have!)
All right Shijou-san, let's head back. Our first day on the job together is waiting for us!
I'm just going to need a few minutes to schedule us some work for the day. Is that OK, Shijou-san?
Uh-um...*ahem* y-yes, likewise. It's a pleasure to meet you...Otonashi-san.
(Well then, if all the introductions are out of the way, I should start making out our schedule already!)
All right, I think this should be good for now. We can leave for our first job as soon as you're ready!
All right! Here we are in good old Shinjuku.
We're going to start things off with some promotional work. Let's do our best, OK?
(So to start, I figured we could record a set of demo tapes for sending to TV stations and sales agents and things like that.)
(And as an added bonus, it'll help me get a good feel for Shijou-san's singing abilities!)
OK, so, not to overwhelm you right away, Shijou-san, but I've gathered a few songs here, and I'd like you to try singing some.
Well...here, like this one. Called, uh...rabu, rabu... OK, 'Love-Love Machine'. Modern young love, I guess.
I'll be recording your voice as you sing, OK?
Then we'll have a bunch of demo tapes that we can use to demonstrate your talent to people who might be interested...
...Umm, Shijou-san? Are you listening to me?
Oh, that's OK. But wow, you were concentrating pretty hard...
You weren't having trouble reading the lyrics, were you? It is a -modern- love song...haha, sorry, just k-...
...Wait, what? The lyrics are really giving you a hard time? This song doesn't seem -that- Western, despite the title...
OK, I think I get it...so you're having trouble understanding what the lyrics are trying to convey?
Well, the words aren't all that complex though, are they? Your own speech is already a fair bit more difficult than the lyrics...
...You mean loanwords? Shijou-san, are you sure you aren't secretly a...time traveler from the past or anything?
So basically, you had a very sheltered childhood...? Somehow, I feel like that raises more questions than it answers...
But anyway, would you like to switch to a more traditional song instead? An enka would probably be easier, right?
(Wow...I see Shijou-san has a stubborn side to her as well. Either that or she just hates to admit defeat.)
Hmhm...despite all appearances, Shijou-san, there does seem to be a little kid in you in some places still!
Haha! Sorry, I'm just playing around. If that's your decision, I'll help you out of course.
Just tell me what parts are giving you trouble. We'll go over them together and see if we can't make them at least a little clearer for you.
Ah. Yeah, that's a tricky one. Let me see... ...All right, the expression there means, um...
Basically she's falling in love. The 'kyun' there is an onomatopoeia for that feeling you get, like your chest is tightening.
...? Uh...is there something else you realized just now?
(Umm...OK? What recent event is this now?)
Oh! All right then, please, go ahead! We'll do a test run first, so don't worry about missing a few notes here and there.
I'm pretty sure this song'll be easy once you're used to it.
(Holy crap, can this girl sing!)
(I wasn't expecting such a sweet-sounding voice from her either! This is awesome!)
Oh, that was excellent work Shijou-san! I think we'll be getting plenty of offers if we have demos like this!
(Haha! She's funny. I like working with her! Not only that, she's a talented singer, she's drop-dead gorgeous...)
(And she seems to be opening up to me a little too! I'd say we have a really good shot at making a top idol out of her!)
All right, next on our schedule is a Lesson! Are you ready to go, Shijou-san?
Here we are. I'll be directing this Vocal Lesson for you personally. You ready?
All right, not bad! What did you think of our first Lesson, Shijou-san?
Ahaha...well, thank you! If you were satisfied with it, that's what matters most.
Let's keep this pace up next time too!
*sigh*...We're back. Congratulations Shijou-san, we made it through our first day!
Shijou-san, you don't have to speak to me so deferentially, you know?
I mean, I admire that you're so well-mannered, but I don't want you to feel like you always have to be so formal with me.
Um...sorry, I don't think I could. There's a difference between informal and just plain rude.
Well...thank you, I'm happy you've acknowledged me as a worthy producer, but...
It's just a little tough for me...you really carry yourself kind of like a princess, you know?
I mean, when you're a commoner speaking to nobility...the honorifics just kinda slip out, whether you want them to or not.
(What does she mean just as she feared? I thought other people told her that sort of thing often...?)
...All right, I understand. In that case, I'll be looking forward to working with you again next week...Takane.
(That'll teach me to practice what I preach. After all, my most important job is bringing out that smile of hers, right?)
Oh, uh...just one more thing before you leave, if I may...
...That is, if you don't mind...I'd like to hear you talk more about yourself some other time.
I just feel like, the better we get to know each other, the easier it'll be for us to be more comfortable around each other.
(I can't quite figure her out. I learned a few things about her today, but I feel like the more I learn, the more I realize I don't know.)
(I hope I'll be able to get to know her even better as I work to raise her into a top idol.)
(I hope that this time next year, I'll be able to say I've earned the right
to be treated to a sight as lovely as her silver hair among the cherry blossoms.)