Vol. 5 Ch. 1 Ep. 4: From the Yin-Yang Club

I'm glad you trekked all the way out here, Sensei.

It's nice to see you again, nyahaha!

Welcome to Hyakkiyako.

Hello, Sensei...

Yeah... I suppose it's been some time now.

Yes...

The gulf of time has grown vast...

Sensei's smile fades,

lost by my poor memory.

Now it shines once more.

A-A Chise haiku!

We should record this!

...?

Nyahaha! Well, aside from Chise's poetry...

Life at Hyakkiyako has been busy for us, too.

Isn't that so, Kaho?

Correct. The reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, the allocation of emergency funds to repair the damaged dorms, among other projects... Overall, the restoration is still on-going.

Ah, Kaho, don't bore Sensei after that long journey out here.

Lately, Hyakkiyako's been dealing with more than our restoration...

Like, for example, this festival we're holding.

I see...

Then we can cut to the point. Yes, Shizuko worked very hard to pull this off.

She goes a bit wild whenever it's time for a new festival. It keeps things interesting, at least.

...No, I mean, I'm proud of her.

It seems that Shizuko's wanted to revive the Hyakkiyako Lantern Festival for some time now. Even though it was shut down two decades ago.

Well, I suppose she chose her moment well.

Niya, saying it like that gives a bad impression...

Come on, Kaho. You can't deny that the timing was perfect.

"...What is that supposed to mean?"

Well, isn't it convenient that Shizuko wants to revive the perfect festival for this situation?

It's a fitting first step for Hyakkiyako to take in the middle of all this restoration work. Doesn't it let everyone know that the future is going to be grand?

While I do believe Niya is stretching things a bit...

We all agree that Hyakkiyako has needed something to ease the gloomy atmosphere around the academy.

Nothing chases away a funk and puts smiles on students' faces like a festival!

It's good when your goals justify themselves.

Chise, you've been staying up late to practice for a concert, right? I'm so proud of you!

Yes... I'm...working hard too...

Ch-Chise!

Nyahaha! You all make me so proud!

We've all had a heavy workload lately, so I hope Niya takes care of her assigned tasks herself this time...

Ah... Just when we were getting into a good mood...

You're such a meanie, Kaho, saying something so cruel out of nowhere.. *sniff* *sniff*

Niya, it would be very inconvenient if you ran away right now...

Nyahaha... I-Is that so?

Well, anyway, I hope Sensei can enjoy the festival to the fullest, nyahaha!

And it would be even better if you encouraged Shizuko while you were at it!

What's wrong?

Oh, yeah. I guess I did say that you could pet Chise.

Meow?

Oh dear, looking at your lovely students with such doubt...

The idea that we only called you here because we wanted something makes me very sad. *sniffle*

I work so hard to make Sensei see me as someone trustworthy, yet it's never enough. *sniff*

Well... There is one tiny thing I'm worried about.

Niya, that's...

Yeah, Kaho thinks it's probably a prank.

But I figured I could report it if you came out for the festival.

The Yin-Yang Club received it the other day.

The senders call themselves Nature's Beauty.

It's an urban legend. A club that only exists in whispered rumors... You could say it's a letter out of time.

To tell you the truth, only a handful of people know the stories about Nature's Beauty, even in Hyakkiyako.

They're whispers, rumors, the scary stories told at sleepovers. To describe them with even more sensational words...

They're the authors of the Hundred Ghost Stories passed down from generation to generation.

Some call them a wicked club that rebelled against the Hyakkiyako alliance, while others say they're monsters who bewitch people with strange tomes...

And they sent a threat to the Yin-Yang Club, of all places!

I'll read it to you.

"Let all lost souls heed our words."

"Our fine leisure shall soon end, for some feelings mean the most when enjoyed together."

"When the time of joy begins and your eyes sparkle with flowers blossoming in the sky,"

"Nature's Beauty shall reveal itself again."

And that's it.

Niya, this letter...

Exactly, Kaho. It's your typical vaguely-threatening warning message.

It's hardly a surprise. These things happen during big events.

Isn't that so, Kaho?

...Yes. It's just as Niya said.

Like the supposed orders from the General Student Council to stop the festival unless we give more booth tickets to the Mouryo.

...Or the official-sounding phone calls demanding we make the Mouryo festival judges... It's mostly pranks from them, to be honest.

Of course, it's an internal matter. They're not worth running to Sensei and having Schale start meddling.

Nyahaha! We'd never trouble you like that. Isn't that so, Kaho?

Well, that's...

Yes, what Niya said is correct.

Well, I'm glad to hear it, but usually the Hyakkaryouran handles these situations anyway.

But then the Hyakkaryouran ceased their activity after their president and vice president vanished.

On top of that...

The Hyakkaryouran officially released a Declaration of Dissolution just the other day.

Wait, that can't be right. Someone told me that they won't be patrolling the academy anymore, not after they were ordered to disband or something like that.

No!

"...So the Hyakkaryouran actually disbanded?"

After the disappearance of its executive officers, the club can no longer maintain its activities...

Or maybe someone decided there wasn't a reason to keep it around any longer.

At this point, it's hard to imagine a way their dissolution can be prevented, officially.

...I wonder what they're up to.

It's only a matter of time until the Mouryo discover the absence of their greatest obstacle.

So that's why I was kind of hoping Schale's Sensei could stay here and fill in for the Hyakkaryouran for a while...

Of course, you should enjoy the festival too while you're at it. I meant it when I told you that.

Nyahaha! I'm always honest with you!

Of course, some might say it's selfish to give more work to Sensei right now...

But in times like these, I have to utilize every resource I can.

It's such a hassle... I mean, I'm doing the best I can as the president of the Yin-Yang Club.

And if that means revealing my conniving side to Sensei, so be it.

Sensei...

Nyahaha. Are you disappointed by my ulterior motives?

Oh my, are you saying I'm a hypocrite?

...Well, Sensei, maybe I shouldn't say this.

But if you keep accepting unreasonable requests, you're going to regret it someday.

Like right now, you have no idea if I'm up to something.

You really worry me sometimes, you know?

Nyahaha! Don't fret, we're so grateful that you'll lend us a hand!

Isn't that so, Chise? Kaho?

Of course...

...Any assistance Sensei can give us is greatly appreciated.

Sensei...you'll be here for a while, right?

Then I can show you what I'm practicing today...

A Chise rehearsal!

What an unimaginable privilege to watch it live!

Nyahaha, I take it that you're willing to go along with our request then, Sensei.

The next step...

W-Waaaaaait!

I have heard the tales!

I am Yukari!

Elite first-year student and proud member of the Hyakkaryouran Resolution Council!

President of the Yin-Yang Club, hear my request!

...Huh.