Episode 1: A Tanabata Crisis!?
Translation notes
[1] Tanabata is a Japanese festival held on July 7th that commemorates the mythical tale of the weaver girl and the cowherd, whose Japanese names are Orihime and Hikoboshi.
According to the story, Orihime was a talented weaver and the daughter of the emperor of Heaven. She met and fell in love with Hikoboshi, a cowherd. Their love caused them to neglect their duties, and because of that, they were separated by the emperor of Heaven to reside on opposite sides of the Milky Way. But once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month, they are permitted to see each other, crossing the Milky Way on a bridge formed by a flock of magpies.
Orihime is identified with the star Vega, while Hikoboshi is identified with the star Altair, which form two points of the so-called "summer triangle."
Several days later. Yuuki was on his way to the vacation spot together with Luka, Anna, and Nanaka...
Nanaka
We're here! Whew, that was farther than I'd expected...
Yuuki
1. "It was a little difficult to walk here."
Luka
Yes, and it was quite easy to get lost along the way. Though of course, we knew ahead of time that this was supposedly a secret vacation spot.
Stechepalme
By the way, do we know where we're staying? It'd be awful if we got here and all the inns were already full!
Nanaka
Heh heh, no need to worry! I made a reservation ahead of time, so we're good!
Nanaka
... Though they did hang up on my other calls right away, so I'm a teensy bit worried.
Stechepalme
Hey, don't tell me we came all this way for a vacation only to mess up that part!?
Luka
As long as we've got a room and a bed, I'm fine with any...
Stechepalme
Luka, you need to expect more quality out of your vacation! Um, me and Nanaka will use our magic to put together a house right away...
Stechepalme
No, before we go to those kinds of extremes, let's check the inn first. I really want to set these bags down, too, so we should hurry and check.
Nanaka
Got it! Once we've checked into the inn, let's head to the sea!
Luka
My, that sounds nice. A walk along the seaside sounds heavenly.
Nanaka
We can't settle for just walking on land, though. Now that we're on vacation, we've gotta put on our swimsuits!
Luka
Well, even if you say so, I didn't bring a swimsuit. Aren't we kind of out of luck?
Nanaka
Heh heh heh, don't worry! I thought something like this might happen, so I brought along a selection of Nanaka-brand swimsuits!
Stechepalme
What!? You mean, you even prepared a swimsuit for me...!? Was this all a part of your plan!?
Nanaka
Ohoho, maybe it was...!
Luka
... Nanaka. How exactly did you pick out swimsuits for us? Don't tell me you took our measurements while we were sleeping...
Nanaka
Hey, wait, stop! I didn't do any sketchy! I just did some estimates via magic! I don't know if they're right or not!
Luka
Since when was that possible... You certainly covered your bases. All right, then, after we've changed into our swimsuits, let's head to the beach.
Nanaka
The ones I picked out for you two are perfect, so look forward to it! Hoho, ohoho...!
Begin animated cutscene.
Nanaka
Luka doesn't get embarrassed as easily, so I picked out a grown-up, sexy style for her!
Stechepalme
Whoa, it really looks good on you! Nice one, Nanaka -- it's no surprise that you thought of everything!
Luka
Ah, I can't quite relax with all these frills on me, though. I'm not so sure that it's right for me...
Nanaka
The selling point of your swimsuit is that fleeting glimpse of your thighs that it offers! Ooh, I've gotta get a close-up of that!
Luka
H-Hey! Don't look at me in such a lewd way!
Stechepalme
I-I'm up next... Oooh...
Nanaka
How long are you gonna be embarrassed for? Hurry and show it!
Stechepalme
Waaah!
Nanaka
Ooooh! There it is! It suits you perfectly, Anna! This is the greatest swimsuit ever invented -- the school swimsuit!
Luka
I-Isn't this just as embarrassing as being naked!?
Stechepalme
W-Why'd you pick a swimsuit like this for me!? And why is my real name written across the front!?
Nanaka
Well, that's like a rule for school swimsuits! Don't worry about it! It looks good on you, so wear it proudly!
Stechepalme
There's no way!
Nanaka
And at last, it's time to reveal my bikini outfit! Whooo! A sexy magical girl appears!
Stechepalme & Luka
......
Nanaka
Huh? Why aren't you two reacting?
Stechepalme
I mean, your usual outfit is already...
Luka
Kind of like a swimsuit, so...
Luka
I feel like it's not very different.
Nanaka
No way! It's totally different! I suppose it falls to Professor Nanaka to teach you the true sexiness of this outfit!
End of animated cutscene.
Nanaka
Hey, Yuuki. What do you think of our swimsuits? They look super good, right?
Yuuki
1. "Luka's looks especially good."
2. "Anna's looks especially good."
3. "Nanaka's looks especially good."
Option 1.
Luka
Eh... Y-You think so? It's a little embarrassing to hear you say that, but... Thank you.
Nanaka
I can feel the plot of a rom-com starting here...! Ooh, this is all thanks to the Nanaka brand.
Option 2.
Stechepalme
Seriously!? Do you seriously think that!? I can't get past the fact that it's totally the wrong size for me!!
Luka
It does seem to be about one size too small, compared to a normal swimsuit... I'm thankful that mine is just the right size.
Option 3.
Nanaka
Oooh, you've got a good eye! How nice of you to appreciate the charm of this sexy magical girl!
Stechepalme
Ooh, y-you coward! Of course you'd pick a swimsuit for yourself that looks good!
End of branches.
Nanaka
Now, then... Take this, Anna!
Stechepalme
Waah!? W-What was that for!?
Nanaka
Ahaha, hee hee, just try and catch me!
Luka
Running off like that, I guess they really are on vacation now. They certainly seem to be having fun...
Nanaka
... All right, we've gotta put on a show of enjoying ourselves. That way, our plot to get the Bamboo of Wishes won't be revealed!
Stechepalme
The important thing is the element of surprise, after all. Shouldn't we head out to gather some information?
Nanaka
That's right. They have a Tanabata festival here, so if we ask about that, info about the Bamboo of Wishes will naturally come up... Probably!
Stechepalme
Then, let's casually slip out of here for a break...
Stechepalme
Oooh! I sure am thirsty after all that running! I wonder if there's anywhere we can take a rest around here!
Nanaka
Ahhh! There's a shop over there where we should be able to take a break! Luka, you should come over with us, too!
Luka
I don't really need a break, but... What's going on with you two?
Later.
Man
Here you go, your drinks. Enjoy!
Nanaka
Mister, do you have a moment? I heard that this village puts on a Tanabata festival every year. Is that true?
Man
Ah, that's right. This village has shrines dedicated to Orihime and Hikoboshi, you see. Every year, we put on a festival to commemorate Tanabata.[1]
Man
They say that Orihime, Hikoboshi, and all the spirits of the stars residing in the Milky Way between them will grant the wishes that we make on that day.
Nanaka
Ooh, what a fantastical backstory.
Man
According to our traditions, there are people among us who can commune with the stars of the Milky Way.　Though, well, it's only a myth nowadays.
Luka
But it's a wonderful dream to have. It seems like we came at just the right time to enjoy a festival so steeped in history.
Man
However, this year, putting it on may be a little difficult...
Stechepalme & Nanaka
Huh!?
Stechepalme
What do you mean!? Has this place come under attack by the forces of darkness!?
Man
The forces of darkness...? No, rather, it seems that this year, Orihime and Hikoboshi aren't getting along. Something's happened to their likenesses in the shrines, and that seems to have caused a host of problems.
Luka
Huh? What do you mean, their likenesses?
Man
The two of them reside in the Milky Way, you see. But every year, on the week of Tanabata, entities that are something like illusions of them are sent to this place.
Luka
Huh. And this year, the illusions that arrived are in the midst of some kind of feud. What a shame, considering all this talk of a festival.
Nanaka
Mister, Mister! There's something else I wanted to ask you... Does this festival have something to do with the Bamboo of Wishes?
Man
Oh, so you know about that. That's right, when the Tanabata festival begins, the Bamboo of Wishes appears as well. The bamboo plants that we tie our strips of paper to are reborn as that glowing bamboo.
Stechepalme
Also, is there any way to obtain the Bamboo of Wishes other than this festival...?
Man
There's no other way. The Bamboo of Wishes only appears during this time.
Stechepalme & Nanaka
N-No way...
Later.
Stechepalme
What do we do, Nanaka? At this rate, we'll never be able to get the Bamboo of Wishes!
Nanaka
Yep, it's impossible! No -- I don't want to give up that easily. I want to make a replacement fishing rod for Luka, no matter what!
Stechepalme
Sigurd, do you have any ideas?
Yuuki
1. "Let's try to help Orihime and Hikoboshi."
Nanaka
That's right! If we can't get the Bamboo of Wishes the way things are, then we've just got to think about this differently. We have to think about how we can fix things ourselves.
Stechepalme
Hmm... You have a point. But how do we explain this to Luka? Won't she suspect something if we suddenly start talking about helping these people?
Nanaka
Yeah, definitely. Our guild's famously full of weirdos, after all...
Luka
You two, what've you been murmuring about this entire time?
Nanaka
Whoa! N-no, nothing at all! Right?
Stechepalme
T-That's right! You worry too much, ha ha ha!
Luka
... Well, all right. More importantly, there's something I'd like to ask you two.
Nanaka
Oh, really? What could that be, Luka sis?
Luka
We heard today that the Tanabata festival might be cancelled. Shouldn't we try to do something about that?
Luka
It would be a shame for such a special festival to be cancelled. I also feel some kind of connection with the people we've met here today, so I'd like to help them.
Yuuki
1. "I want to help, too."
Luka
You'll help, too? Thank you. But you two, if you'd rather enjoy your vacation, then there's no need to...
Nanaka
What a coincidence! We were also just thinking that we wanted to do something about the Tanabata festival!
Luka
Eh, you were?
Stechepalme
Festivals are a big part of vacation. If we don't get to experience one, then there wouldn't have been any reason to come here!
Nanaka
Yeah, yeah! We were just saying how we wanted to go to the festival!
Stechepalme
Don't fret, Luka. If we all work together, then we'll have this sorted out in an instant!
Luka
For some reason, hearing you say that just makes me more worried... But well, let's talk it over some more tomorrow.
Though their motivations were different, their goal ended up being the same, and that was to resolve the problems between Orihime and Hikoboshi.