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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 5 Chapter 5.1

Episode 5 – Tanabata Festival

「Well it’s finally here, the big annual event, the 《Tanabata Festival》! A whopping 98,657 wish strips were collected for this day! Only seven of these wishes will be granted! Whose wish will be chosen this year?! Nanaejima’s local station 《NNE》 will once again broadcast the GREAT7 granting the wishes live from the special venue at Daiichi Chuo Park! 」

Hearing the voice of a female student announcer on the TV, Ryugajo Nanana, the earthbound spirit who possesses room 202 of the Happiness Dorm, stops playing her online game. She took a pudding out from the refrigerator in the corner of the room, sat down on her cushion, and focused on the TV.

At about the same time someone’s footsteps could be heard coming from the front door of room 202, which had been propped open.

「Sorry to disturb you」, says the famous detective Tensai Ikkyu who lives next door in room 203.

「Welcome Tensai-chan. What’s up? 」

「I thought Nanana-dono was watching TV alone, so I came here to watch it with her. 」

She puts a straw in the coffee milk box she brought and sits down next to Nanana.

「There was a saying that , ‘Japanese people eat soba while watching Kohaku (TN A popular singing contest TV show) at home during New Year’s Eve.’ Well I’ve made it a tradition to eat pudding while watching this on New Year’s Eve. 」

「I agree. It doesn’t feel like Tanabata if I don’t watch this. 」

The special venue was projected on the TV screen, and many students could be seen in the audience. There are those wearing plain cloths and uniforms. Some were in jinbei and others in yukatas. Everyone is smiling and seems to be having fun.

Nanana smiled while watching the fun images on the TV in front of her.

「I love watching this broadcast every year. Seeing everyone having fun makes me happy too. 」

「I see. 」

Nanana’s smiling profile looks happy as she said. But, strangely enough, it also seems somewhat lonely.

「So anyways, where is Juugo and D’ark? 」

「They are there. 」

Nanana was surprised to see Tensai point to the TV.

「Eh, they went to the special venue? 」

「Yeah. 」

「Hmmm, I see, 」 says Nanana looking a little down.

「Are you feeling lonely Nanana-dono? 」

「Why are you asking that all of a sudden? 」

Nanana is confused.

「No I mean… I was just thinking…」

Nanana chuckled at Tensai’s thoughtfulness.

「I’m not lonely at all, because Tensai-chan is right next to me. 」

Nanana directed a dazzling smile at Tensai and her face turned bright red.

「Well Juugo and the others should be back soon, so don’t worry Nanana-dono. 」

Nanana laughs, amused by the flustered Tensai.

「You are acting strange Tensai-chan. But Juugo and the others are at the venue to have fun, so they should take their time coming home. 」

「That’s not the case Nanana-dono. They will be back as soon as they have finished their job. 」

Nanana tilts her head when she hears this. One question arises.

「Now that I think about it, why didn’t you go to the venue with Juugo and the others Tensai-chan? 」

When asked this Tensai turns away a bit.

「…Well it’s like… I was wanting to spend Tanabata with Nanana-dono this year.「

Nanana hugs Tensai as she fumbles over her words.

「Tensai, I love you!」

「Funyaaa! 」

A live video from the special venue showing the crowd full of excitement tells us that the event is about to begin, as Tensai collapses while being hugged by Tensai.

「Twenty minutes u ntil 5:00 PM! The Tanabata festival will start soon! 」

1

Chuo Park, located in the center of Nanaejima’s Chuo Ward, Daiichi-gai, is a large park in the middle of the city. A special venue was set up there. The 5,000 seat audience surrounding the outdoor stage was full.

Right before the start of the Tanabata Festival, the atmosphere of the venue has reached its climax.

In this audience that is full of such excitement is my sister (wearing a Yukata) and I. The name of my sister sitting next to me is Yukihime Fugi. She is a member of the 《Matsuri》 band of thieves that our family has been running for generations, and she is also my older sister who has been nice to me since I was little. Today though, Yukihime was dressed in a yukata. Her long black hair was tied back and the nape of her neck is glossy, which is dangerous. Or rather dangerous to me because I’ve felt dizzy like I’m about to have a nosebleed.

In this situation I couldn’t help but ask myself. Is it ok for me to feel this happy? Yeah it’s ok!

「What are you looking at, young man? 」

Yukihime-neesan seems to have noticed my gaze and turns towards me. Seeing Yukihime-neesan look at me in this atmosphere, I hurriedly avert my gaze.

「No..nothing it’s just… Oh right. I’ll buy you something to drink. 」

I left my seat and headed outside to the concession stands to cool off.

It is still before the start of the Tanabata Festival and the venue is filled with excitement. The excitement is not just limited to this venue though. The main road we walked down on the way here is lined with stores, and many of the students and residents are looking up at the large displays outside the buildings and at the intersections. All the restaurants on First Avenue were reportedly full. Even in other towns, schools, and hospitals, everyone was sitting in front of televisions and enjoying the festivities in their own way.

I don’t know if this is true or not but it is said that the average viewership of the local station is 90% and the highest viewership once reached 100%.

「It’s really amazing to see the unity that the whole island feels during a festival. 」

As I was walking along, overwhelmed by the power of Nanaejima’s festival, I heard a voice say, 「Hey, Yama-kun. 」 I was surprised to see them. It was the student council chairman from Nanaejima’s 7th High School, Asumi Nishi-san, whom I had met the other day at the 《ruins》 in the warehouse.

「Good evening student council chairman Nishi. Thank you for everything you did for me the other day. 」

「No no, don’t mention it. Anyways though, I never thought we would meet again here. Are you watching from the bleachers today? 」

「Yes. How about you Nishi? 」

「Well, we are visiting, but it’s as the Seventh High School Student Council. It’s more for business than pleasure. 」

Kishitani-san and Imawano-san are behind Nishi-san. All three of them are dressed nicely. Their appearance was very serious for the festival. And the other one…

「Why the hell do I have to go through all this trouble? 」

The Vice-Chairman, the tall and conspicuous older brother, was standing a little behind the other three, sighing unhappily.

「Even though he says that, he’s enjoying this the most. 」

He was wearing a jinbei, had a mask on his head, was holding a water balloon, and eating takoyaki. This person is clearly enjoying the festival.

「I’m all about having fun and enjoying myself. 」

「Is it ok that you are the only person that doesn’t match the rest of the group? 」

「Yeah that’s fine,「 says Nishi-san on behalf of the vice chairman.

「Our vice chairman has zero sociability anyways. He’s totally useless in this situation. 」

「Shut up Asumi! 」

「Call me chairman here. If you can’t do that, I’ll make you wear a uniform and accompany me as I greet high ranking officials. 」

「Forgive me student council chairman. 」

As the vice-chairman bowed his head respectfully, he shoves a toothpick with takoyaki on it into Nishi-san’s mouth.

「Grumble grumble. He really is helpless…」, Nishi-san sighed.

I couldn’t help but laugh watching all this.

「What is it Yama-kun? 」, 「What’s wrong Yama-kun? 」

「No, I’m just thinking. It feels like your positions are the opposite as before. 」

「Well you know. Our vice-chairman is guttersnipe who only shows his true powers in that kind of situation. 」

「Well you know. Our chairman is stubborn, so she can only do that kind of thing. 」

Nishi-san and the vice chairman glared at each other. It seemed like friendly banter.

「Well, we will excuse ourselves now. There are still many things I need to do. 」

「OK, see you again soon. 」

Nishi-san placed her hand on my shoulder as I was turning to go and whispered, 「About the matter we talked about last time, I want to hear your answer next time we meet. 」

Nishi-san giggled as she took the other members of her group and left.

「Well then, should I go try to scoop some goldfish? 」

The vice chairman walked off in the other direction. However Nishi-san soon came back at a brisk pace and pulled him along with them by the ear.

「You’re useless. At least stay where I can see you. 」

「That hurts, that hurts! It doesn’t matter, I don’t even do anything! 」

「That’s why you need to! Don’t you feel sorry for Kishitani-kun and Misao-kun!? 」

「I need freedom..! 」

The group of four people walk off and are swallowed by the crowd.

Again I think, 「How did he become the vice chairman? 」