Translated by : Emiko (http://ribon.toxikon.org) HTML-ized by : Flipper (http://www.suzaku.nu) note : text in [] are actions Kanshaku Dama no Uu-utsu [lit. A Melancholy Fire Cracker] by - Tanemura Arina GRANDFATHER: Now Kajika, lately there has been a ninja called "Hayato" who is after the weapon that has been running through our family for generations. Be careful and make sure you aren't found out as a kuno-ichi (female ninja). YUUGA: Kajika----! We're going to be late for school-----! [Yuuga is standing outside the gate] GRANDFATHER: Ah, Tanimoto's son..... (note: Tanimoto is Yuuga's surname) KAJIKA: Yes, ye----s! [jumps over the gate] GRANDFATHER: Kajika!! I haven't finished talking yet!! KAJIKA: [salutes] It'll be fine grandfather! I can defeat any enemy that comes along! So I'll be off! YUUGA: Don't be too unkind to your Grandpa. He's saying those things because he cares about you. KAJIKA: I've heard it so many times. (note: The phrase in Japanese is "Mimi no tako" which translates to "Callouses in your ears", which means she's heard it so many times that she's getting callouses in her ears. 'Tako' also means octopus in Japanese and Kajika is holding octopuses.) YUUGA: There are octopuses other than from your ears!! KAJIKA MONOLOGUE: We have the blood of ninjas for many generations, running through our family. Grandfather tells me to hide it and live like an average person, but SOMEONE SCREAMS: Ahhhh---!! A child----!! [There is a little girl in front of a truck on the road] KAJIKA MONOLOGUE: Whenever a situation like this happens, [Kajika's eyes are serious and stern] KAJIKA: [throws school bag to Yuuga] Yuuga, here! YUUGA: Wha? Oh...! [Kajika jumps in front of the truck, grabbing the girl from the road and lands safely on the path] KAJIKA: Are you okay? [People cheer] KAJIKA MONOLOGUE: I just have to help out and now I'm famous! YUUGA: Hey Kajika, don't do things that are so obvious. I'll tell your grandpa that you're famous as a kuno-ichi. KAJIKA: What Yuuga, then would you rather I didn't save her? YUUGA: That's not what I meant. [a girl comes up behind them] GIRL: You're so cool Kajika chan!! [hugs Kajika from behind] KAJIKA: Don't scare me like that Tomoka! TOMOKA: Sorry~ ANOTHER GIRL: Good morning Kajika san. KAJIKA: Well this isn't like you to come so late, Hitomi. HITOMI: There were no morning lessons today.... KAJIKA: Lessons? You mean for the tea ceremony club? KAJIKA THINKS: That would mean... VOICE: Morning Kajika kun. [cue the roses and sparkles ^^; The voice belongs to a handsome fellow] GUY: You were very brave. KAJIKA: Fu.....Fujisaki senpai!! KAJIKA THINKS: I thought he'd be here~ [love heart] [Yuuga senses something is different with Kajika] KAJIKA: I only did something that anybody would do. SENPAI: I'm impressed. YUUGA WHISPERS [to Hitomi]: Who's he!? HITOMI: He is the president of the tea ceremony club. KAJIKA MONOLOGUE: His gentle manner... His calm actions... I've admired him for a long time... SENPAI: It's nice that you're full of energy, but I think it would be better if you were more feminine. [Kajika is shocked] [Yuuga frowns] YUUGA: Oi, you! Don't say weird things! SENPAI: Huh? Who are you? KAJIKA: [trembling] ...... I've decided... [Yuuga pauses from beating up Fujisaki senpai] KAJIKA: I'll be one!! I'll quit being a Kuno-ichi and I'll be a girl within a girl!!! [Yuuga is shocked] [Fujisaki senpai pops party crackers] SENPAI: Well, good luck. [waves and smiles] [Kajika waves back, smiling] YUUGA: Kajika, do you like him? KAJIKA: What?..... Yes. Oops, I said it! Keep it a secret Yuuga. I'm telling you because we're childhood friends. [Kajika runs off] [Yuuga looks dissapointed/sad] YUUGA: I care about you too... (At Kajika's house) KAJIKA: [dressed in kimono] If you think 'feminine' you think tea right? Let's go Hitomi! HITOMI: As you say. [time passes] [there is a mess in the room] KAJIKA: If you think 'femine' you think cooking right? HITOMI: Can't you say anything else? TOMOKA: Is it my turn? Cooking is easy! Just whip something up! Here! [Tomoka gives Kajika a whisk] KAJIKA: Okay! [time passes and again, there's a mess] TOMOKA & HITOMI: ....... KAJIKA: [laughs] Well maybe more like sewing. [Kajika tries sewing, flower arrangement, the koto (Japanese harp) and crafts but she is no good at any of them] KAJIKA THINKS: I can't do anything. (back in the class room) YUUGA: Cheer up Kajika! You're fine just the way you are! KAJIKA MUMBLES: Shut up Yuuga. [door opens and Fujisaki senpai walks in] SENPAI: Kajika kun? KAJIKA: Senpai! What are you doing here? SENPAI: I was just passing... YUUGA THINKS: What? That guy... I couldn't sense him coming at all... SENPAI: Oh yes, did you quit being a Kuno-ichi? KAJIKA: Yes! YUUGA: Kajika! SENPAI: I see. Well I have to talk to you about something. Will you meet me at the river tomorrow at 5? [everyone is stunned] KAJIKA: I'd be glad t o! SENPAI: Bye. [Senpai leaves] KAJIKA: Yay!! [Kajika and her friends chat happily as Yuuga looks on, frowning] KAJIKA MONOLOGUE: I'm so happy! If senpai has something good to tell me, I might tell him that I have been admiring him. That I have been for a long time... (at the river) KAJIKA: ----so... what are you doing here!! [Yuuga is sitting next to Kajika] YUUGA: Why not?.... I'm worried about you. KAJIKA: Wha... [Kajika turns away] KAJIKA: Senpai's late isn't he? KAJIKA MONOLOGUE: Yuuga surprised me-- He gave me a look. He gave me a look that I had never seen before... TOMOKA: [running] Kajika chan!! KAJIKA: Tomoka! Hitomi! What's the matter? TOMOKA: When we were going home, we passed by your house and we heard a cry from your grand- father... We peeked in and saw lots of people dressed as ninjas and your grandfather was captured! [Kajika & Yuuga are shocked] [Kajika remembers her grandfather's words about a ninja called 'Hayato'] KAJIKA: Could grandfather be caught by them....? [Kajika disappears] YUUGA: Kajika!? [Kajika is running, remembering Fujisaki senpai asking her to come to the river] KAJIKA THINKS: I'm sorry senpai! [Kajika jumps on rooftops and power poles] (at Kajika's house) A NINJA: Oi! Tell us where the weapon is! GRANDFATHER: I don't know a thing. A NINJA: Why you...! KAJIKA: Stop right there! [Kajika is standing on the roof with her ninja gear on] KAJIKA: I, Kuno-ichi Kajika, appear before you!! NINJAS: Who!? GRANDFATHER: My granddaughter! KAJIKA: I won't let our enemy go! [Kajika attacks] [The ninjas are pinned against a tree with shuriken (star shaped dart type weapon)] KAJIKA: Well you're pretty weak. Are you okay grandfather? GRANDFATHER: I'm fine... [someone appears & Kajika notices] SENPAI: Well, well Kajika kun. I thought you quit being a Kuno-ichi? KAJIKA: Fujisaki senpai! What are you doing here!? [Yuuga, Tomoka and Hitomi come running] YUUGA: Kajika! Get away from him! KAJIKA: Yuuga? [senpai throws shuriken] [Yuuga pushes Kajika over] YUUGA: As I thought. You're the leader aren't you? KAJIKA MONOLOGUE: What? Could it be senpai----? [senpai removes his school uniform and underneath, he is wearing his ninja gear] SENPAI: Correct. I am the leader, 'Hayato'. YUUGA: I thought something was funny. You appeared without any sign and you told Kajika to be more feminine. That was to try and get rid of her as a Kuno-ichi! [senpai has a knife against grandfather's face] SENPAI: If you want your master's life to be spared, I suggest you give me your secret weapon. KAJIKA: Then.... why did you ask me to go to the river today? SENPAI: You would be in the way when we searched the house. Now quickly.... YUUGA: Kajika... [Kajika pulls out the rope that keeps her hair up] KAJIKA: here. This is the weapon, 'Kureha'. [Senpai grabs it] SENPAI: This... is the secret weapon? [Senpai wraps it around his head like a bandana, then uses it as a skipping rope] SENPAI: This string is the weapon!? Don't fool me! [throws it on the ground] [Kajika grins] [she disappears] SENPAI: Wha.... [Kajika grabs the rops and whips it around senpai's ankle] KAJIKA: 'Kureha' is a secret weapon that is given to those who understand us Yamano!! You play with a girl's heart. No wonder you can't figure out how it's used!! [senpai is thrown away] [he lands and takes out some weapons] SENPAI: ---- Quick death flying swallows! (note: I think it's something like that. It's the name of an attack..) [Kajika dodges and appears right in front of him] KAJIKA: It's over. Yamano ninja art 'Kureha illusion curse'! YUUGA: She did it.... TOMOKA: Kajika chan's so cool! (the sun sets) YUUGA: What are we going to do with them? [senpai and other ninja are tied up] GRANDFATHER: Death penalty! HITOMI: Exiled. TOMOKA: Let's put ribbons on them! KAJIKA: Why don't we let them go? YUUGA: Kajika! KAJIKA: You wanted to strengthen yourselves right? That's why you did it. I know how that feels... [senpai is in awe] KAJIKA MONOLOGUE: And then my love popped like a fire cracker but.... YUUGA: Kajika! KAJIKA: What is it? We're going to be late for school! YUUGA: So you aren't going to quite being a Kuno-ichi right? KAJIKA: ..... No. The one who's protecting the weapon is me. And I found out that my feelings for senpai were just admiration.... YUUGA: Even if you're a Kuno-ichi, you're feminine enough! KAJIKA: Are you trying to make me feel better? Thanks. YUUGA: [blushing] No, I wasn't... I like -- KAJIKA: [cuts him short] Oh no!! Look over there! A little girl is being chased by a dog!! Let's go Yuuga!! YUUGA: ..... Okay... KAJIKA MONOLOGUE: A new tale might start. SENPAI: Kajika kun! I fell in love with your smile! HITOMI: It's too late.... END