Episode 3: The Descent of the God of Literature! A Harmony of Stimulating Scents and Colors (Part 1)

☀️ The Burning Sun

Tsumugi
“Man, when you think of a school festival, you think of takoyaki!”

A roar of laughter erupts from the venue.
The voice, projecting local vibes, echoed into every corner of the gymnasium.

—
(Koharu)
The school festival is bustling.
Shirai-san is in high spirits.
Our school's first comedy contest was a landslide victory for Shirai-san.

My anxieties turned out to be unfounded.

However—while surrounded by laughter, it was also true that something like a small thorn remained deep in my chest.
(Was this really the right thing to do...)

—

Tsumugi
“Huh? You buy takoyaki at a stall? No way, I’m a DIY person even at the school festival! ...But, man, if I spill the sauce, my sweater is toast!”
A girl’s voice from the audience calls out, “I feel you!”
As Tsumugi closed the distance in an instant, a wave of laughter spread even further.

—
(Koharu)

She was free.

Using the words I wrote in my notebook as a foundation, she kept changing colors based on the atmosphere of the moment.
—It was as if she were painting colors onto the stage itself, through improvisation.
While being swayed by the audience’s laughter, I clearly felt my own heartbeat unable to keep up.

—

The contest came to a close, and the venue still held its heat.

In the wings, Tsumugi held a paper plate in both hands, tossing sauce-covered takoyaki into her mouth one after another.

“Man, talent is a scary thing!”

With her cheeks puffed out, she laughed as if it were someone else’s business.
—
At that moment, the homeroom teacher hurried over.

“Shirai-san, as a victory encore, could you do one more comedy routine?”

Tsumugi’s eyes went round while her mouth was still full.
“...Huh, now? My stomach and my comedy routine are both running at full capacity, you know?”

The teacher grinned and announced.
“Mitani-kun and Takahashi-kun want to see it too.”

The atmosphere changed.
Beyond the gymnasium doors, past the stage illuminated by lights,

the two from “Curry-Colored Pearl” were standing with their arms crossed, looking our way.
(Koharu)
Shirai-san’s back straightened.

Beyond the steam of the takoyaki, it looked as if the “god” of manzai was standing there.
—
Tsumugi

“Whoa! Seriously!! You should’ve told me that first, Teach! I’ll do it! Let’s show them!!”
Tsumugi thumped her chest and headed back to the stage with vigor.
The venue was once again wrapped in applause and cheers.

🌸 Wavering Words, Shadowing Sun

(Koharu)
That comedy routine began.

“Sangetsuki” — Shirai-san acting like a tiger, going “ROAR!” The audience burst into laughter.
“The Bag” — “...Wait, am I Esper Ito?” The laughter was enough to make the chairs rattle.
“The Spider’s Thread” — “Hello! I’m Nakayama Kandatan!” Even the students outside the gym were holding their stomachs laughing.

Looking from the wings, the two from “Curry-Colored Pearl” also looked surprised.
(The pros... are surprised!?)

My chest grew hot.

—

“I thought about making a card at TSUTAYA, and when I asked if I could use my graduation certificate—!”

Laughter from the audience: “No way!”
But from there, the rapid-fire delivery began.

“Who carries their graduation certificate around!”
“You can earn points—no, wait! It’s an app now!”
“Let’s build a good country, Mayor Ito! In 19.2 seconds, you can’t build a country where you can show your graduation certificate!”
—
(Koharu)

There was laughter. But—it was different from the explosion before.
The faces of the two from “Curry-Colored Pearl” were clouded.

(Ah... the flow is forced.)
Relying too much on the sharpness of the ideas, the original rhythm is collapsing.

If you look at it calmly, you can tell.
But Shirai-san on stage didn’t notice, and it even looked like she was drunk on her own momentum.
The “comedy routine we made together” that was so funny,

was fading... like a single leaf being blown by the evening wind, drifting away from the branch.
—

Suddenly, a low voice reached my ears.
Mitani (whispering)

“...Big sister noticed too.”
Koharu turns around, startled.

Standing there were the two from “Curry-Colored Pearl”.
Mitani
“Are you related to that girl, Tsumugi?”
Koharu

“My name is Koharu Kirino. ...I wrote the script. Though, I leave the comedy parts entirely to Shirai-san.”
Takahashi (quietly)
“Even so, it’s not easy to get the venue this excited. ...But.”

The gymnasium shakes with applause.
“It seems the time is up! That’s all from Tsumugi Shirai, on her third life and thinking she’s enlightened!”
Tsumugi runs back to the wings with a beaming smile.

“Man, that was a huge hit, wasn’t it? ...Oh, Curry-Colored Pearl!”
Mitani smiles faintly and shrugs.
“Seeing your seniors, that’s the first thing you say? ...You’re a big deal.”

Takahashi remains silent, arms crossed, staring intently at Tsumugi.
Tsumugi’s smile wavers slightly.

“...Huh?”
She looks back at Koharu next to her.

“Kirino, did something happen?”

(Koharu)
My throat tightened. I couldn’t say it.
But—I definitely felt it.
That the laughter from before had faded a little by the end.

Mitani (provocatively)
“Since your friend can’t say it... should we say it?”
Mitani
“There aren’t many people who can get the gym that excited all by themselves. You can’t normally do that.”

Takahashi (nodding)
“The momentum and the ideas are the real deal. You definitely have the power to pull the audience in all at once.”

(Tsumugi grins)
“Heh, obviously. I’m Tsumugi Shirai, you know?”
Mitani (tightening his expression)

“But—”
Mitani

“The flow is forced. You have good ideas, but you’re forcing the connections in the rapid-fire. That’s why the audience’s heat cooled down.”
(Tsumugi looks annoyed and frowns)

“...Momentum is just like that. Don’t sweat the small stuff, if you get the laughs, you win, right?”
Takahashi (quietly)

“The script is structured as ‘manzai.’ But what Shirai-san is doing is ‘mandan’ (monologue comedy). Because there’s no back-and-forth, cracks are bound to appear.”
(Tsumugi starts to open her mouth—then falls silent. She looks away, bites her lip, and swallows her words)

(Koharu)
It felt like my chest was being gouged out.

(The timing of the back-and-forth... I see. I hadn’t noticed it myself.)
—
Mitani (grinning)
“Can’t be helped. For our cute juniors, we’ll show you what real manzai is.”

At the same time as those words, the gymnasium speakers blare.
Announcement

“Now, let’s have them come out—on the verge of taking off nationwide! Our school’s pride!! The two from Curry-Colored Pearl!”
—
(Koharu)

In that moment, the venue exploded.
Applause, cheers, and stomping like an earthquake.
The entire Bun-toku High School gymnasium was shaking.
Mitani and Takahashi walk to the center of the stage.

Illuminated by the dazzling lights, their figures emerged.

The frenzy of laughter turned into a “silence of expectation” in an instant.
Everyone was watching with bated breath.
(...They haven’t even exchanged words yet. The stage is being dominated—)
My heartbeat became painfully fast.
—

✨ To be continued (to Part 2)

Mitani
The second half of Episode 3 starts with our manzai!
Takahashi
Don’t just smooth it over!