Flirt and Frolic by the Ebbing Waves 1

Oh yes, this is it! This is what I've been searching for!

This land of Luluhawa looks to be just the kind of creator's holy land I've always dreamed of!

Here, I can spend many long hours at my desk surrounded by beautiful, natural light, free to write or draw whatever I like, however I like!

There will be no one to get in my way, and nothing but the sound of the waves lapping at the shore to ask how my progress is coming along!

Truly, this island may be the closest thing we have to paradise on Earth! Ha, hahahaha!

Ha...ha...

...Or at least, that is what I was led to believe. But is that truly the case?

Hmm... What are these people doing here?

This is not at all what I expected. But then, their smiles... They're so dazzlingly bright...

...Pops? Pops?

I understand you're excited, but I don't believe anything and everything goes around here.

Remember what Master told us before we left?

This Singularity still has strict deadlines and customers who expect their tastes to be catered to.

Yes, you're right. I am aware of that.

And I remember that there is an event called "ServantFes" that will be taking place in a few days...

...during which Heroic Spirits of similar tastes will come together to fervently create, buy, and sell manga and novels of their own creation.

Indeed, this "ServantFes" is where our own worth as creators will be tested, as we will be making a book for it ourselves.

...At least, that was my understanding. Am I right, O-Oei?

You got it, Bakin!

That bein' said, neither me 'n Abigail here have ever attended this ServantFes thing as creators before!

Yes, it's true. Last summer, I was here as a regular attendee, but this year will be my first time as part of a club!

I can't wait for the big day to get here!

Hmm... Where did things go wrong?

Now, now, don't be like that, Pops.

Now that we've got a hotel room, why don't we take this opportunity to celebrate the launch of our new club?

Hell yeah! I've been rarin' ta try one of those poke bowls!

And I can't wait to try the pancakes!

I heard that Luluhawa has the most yummiest pancakes anywhere in the world!

Oh my, that does sound nice. And as luck would have it, there's a restaurant just across the street.

So to celebrate the creation of our new club, Bishonen, why don't we

What the!?

Wuff?

Bishonen?

Yes! That's our club name!

Hold up. Wait just a damn minute there.

Did you really just say our club is named "Bishonen," Omichi?

Because this is the first I'm hearing about it.

Yes, I did.

In fact, I just provisionally registered our club's name with the committee not too long ago!

An inferno! This is an inferno!

Wuff!

Sweltering air... Searing rays of sunlight... This must be Luluhawa's baptism by sheer heat!

To think I would set foot on an island of eternal summer such as this before even visiting Ryukyu...

Uh-oh. Sousuke, you're practically melting! Hang in there, Sousuke!

Wuff!? (Whiiine...)

Pops? Sousuke? What are you doing? Come on, there's shade right over here!

The heat is a lot more bearable as long as you avoid direct sunlight. It can even feel pleasant with a nice ocean breeze.

I see. You make a good poi Hmm?

...Michi? Omichi, is that you!?

What's going on!? How did you manage to manifest separately from me!?

...Oh. I did, didn't I? I didn't even realize at first.

Perhaps it's because this Singularity has so much more magical energy in the air than Chaldea?

It seems we'll have to take the dog warriors on regular walks then.

Woo! This is great, Omicchan! Now we can have you and old man Bakin around instead of always tradin' off!

It seems I've even retained my eyesight without you. Now this is what I call hospitality.

And that's not all. I'm surprised to see you two here as well.

Hm? Us?

I thought I had talked to the two Servants behind Tentacle Iron Bar.

I didn't want to do so at first, but I decided their experience at the past "ServantFes" was too precious to pass on and swallowed my pride.

But then I get to Luluhawa and find you two here instead? What's going on?

Oh, that?

My other self said she had a hell of a time at Luluhawa before, and not in a good way, so she was never settin' foot here again if she could help it.

How 'bout you, Abby?

Well, of course I want to enjoy summer in a summer Spirit Origin!

And once I found out you were going to come here in your swimsuit, Oei, I knew I wanted to do the same!

Haha! Glad to hear it.

You got that right. What kinda Edoite would I be if I didn't come to an island of endless summer ready ta make the most of it?

(Aw, Abby. You're still puttin' up a brave face 'round the dog warriors, ain'tcha?)

(It looks like you're just barely hangin' in there by usin' your summer Spirit Origin and hidin' in my shadow.)

So you two are simply here on vacation. Great.

Hmm. I suppose the best-case scenario is that two amateurs together can add up to one fully-fledged artist, if only just...

Are you sure you two will be ready for the hell that lies ahead of us? Because I have my doubts.

I've tried delegating creative duties before, but those attempts always failed to provide me with any useful experience...

Wuff?

Oh, by the way, have you already decided on a club name, Pops?

Apparently, we're going to need one if we're going to get a table at the ServantFes venue.

Oh, right. I nearly forgot. A name for our club, huh. Hmm...

"Field of Rabbits"? ...No, that's too on the nose. "Indulgent Minds"? ...No, no, that's not the tone we want to strike...

Well, in the meantime, shall I take care of the provisional registration then?

I heard they'll accept a tentative name just so we can reserve a spot.

Yes... Good idea. Thank you, Michi. That will be a big help.

Hmm... "Loco Moco Chronicles"? ...No, we're not here for the food...

(Oh wow. Oh wow...)

(So these are Luluhawa's ultra special pancakes!)

(After forty minutes in line, I finally get to try them!)

(Now I just have to say grace, and then, it's time to eat! Right after I take a pic for Servantgram!)

Mmm♪ So goood!

(Flinch)

Sweet hints of coconut milk... Unbelievably fragrant macadamia sauce...!

Oh goodness, these pancakes really are as good as I'd heard!

They must have made the batter by simmering down every kind of sin and punishment in the world, and flattened them with the tears of children who have never known warmth...

(Pourquoi? What in the world is that girl saying?)

(Everyone knows pancakes are meant to be eaten with maple syrup!)

(Let's see... That looks like Williams. Or rather, her swimsuit version.)

(I also see Bakin and Hokusai... Maybe they're having an artist get-together or something.)

Phew, I'm stuffed! I don't even know if I can polish off these chilled pineapple pieces.

That hamburger with extra avocado was delicious, too.

Though I did have a little trouble eating it, since it was so much bigger than I'd imagined.

So that explains it. I'd never seen anyone eat a hamburger with chopsticks before.

Ain't this great, Omicchan? Ya finally got your own tongue and stomach, and at a perfect time ta use 'em, too.

Now ya can really stretch your wings at this resort place.

Indeed! Now that I'm over my shock, I couldn't be happier about this turn of events! Now we can finally talk face-to-face again!

I suppose this means they were right when they said this place was a kind of Servant holy land!

I agree, Pops.

Hehe. So, what kinda book are ya lookin' ta make for this event, Bakin?

It's gotta be a novel, right? A whole new one you're writin' just for ServantFes!?

Settle down, Oei. I was just getting to that.

The truth is, there's been a thought lurking in the back of my mind ever since I was summoned.

I want to try to finally complete "A Modern-Day Record of Bishonen."

...!!!

Oh my. More bishonen? (Fingers crossed)

Hahaha! Yes, Omichi's stunt with our club name did throw me for a loop, but maybe not for the reasons you think.

"A Modern-Day Record of Bishonen" was my final book; one I never managed to complete before I died.

And ServantFes seems like it might just be a good opportunity to finally settle this unfinished business.

I see...

So that's why you were so excited to come to this tropical Singularity when we first heard about it.

Right you are!

And since this was my plan all along, I've already been making some preparations.

That's the main reason I arrived a little late.

I'm still not completely done with everything...

...but for now, I'd like to discuss matters such as the bookbinding and distribution.

Now I gotcha! In that case, I've got your illustrations covered!

Excellent! I know I called you an amateur earlier, but in truth, that would be a great help.

Omichi, I'd like to ask you to handle the printing arrangements. Oh, as for you, young lady

I don't think I can be of much help, but maybe I can at least assist with simple jobs?

Don't be ridiculous, Abigail.

We're going to be running a store, which means we'll need all hands on deck. We'd be grateful for yours.

Oh! Well in that case, of course I'd be glad to help!

Wuff wuff!

Hehe, yes, you're right, Sousuke. We'll need all paws on deck, too.

(Huh? Are these people serious? Don't they know it's already day five!?)

(Are they really going to edit, design, revise, and print a whole book starting now!? Th-that's just not possible!)

(Heck, it sounds like they may not even have a finished manuscript yet...)

(Hm? Hang on. What did Fujimaru's group do at the last ServantFes again?)

(Come to think of it, he still hasn't made his way to Hawaltria yet, has he?)

Excuse me. I heard there's a group of promising new club applicants meeting here?

Ah. (It's the scary head of the Normalization Committee!)

Oh! You're that famous influencer on Servantgram! So you're the one applying?

Where's the rest of your club? Oh, is that them over there?

This is great! There's nothing like a club featuring a celebrity to get con attendees excited!

Okay, come with me and we'll get your club all sorted out. Don't worry. It may be day five, but you still have time to finish a book!

Huh!? H-hang on! I don't have anything to do with

There we go. Your application has officially been accepted.

Congratulations on the launch of your club "Bishonen"! I believe I speak for the rest of the committee when I say we're glad to have you!

After all, it doesn't matter how well-run a doujin con is if there's no clubs there to make and sell books.

You may not have much time left, but I'm not worried.

I can see you're all expert creators and artists, so I have every faith you'll make a great book.

As the head of the ServantFes Normalization Committee's executive board, I'll help anyway I can.

If there's anything you need, come see me at the nearest antenna shop.

Oho, ain't that somethin'. You must keep real busy then.

Um, if you're the committee head, then you must know the ServantFes venue fairly well, no?

Can you tell us if Master has arrived at Luluhawa yet?

He said he'd come here as soon as he was caught up with work.

Master? ...Oh, you must mean the rumored Master of Chaldea.

I'm interested in him too, but no, we haven't received any reports of his arrival yet.

But never mind that. It sounds like you didn't read the pamphlet at the airport.

Then, as the head of the Normalization Committee, I must inform you of some important matters.

They directly concern your club activities, so I'd suggest you all listen closely.

Is that so? Understood. All right, everyone, let's hear what the nice committee head has to say!

(Oh man, I just want to get out of here...)

E komo mai! How'd you like some nice, cold ice cream!?

Ooh, yes please♪

Hmm, gosh, there are so many to choose from I don't know what to go with. Which one looks good to you, Bunyan?

M-me? Th-that's okay, I don't really need any ice crea

Okay, you can go with ripe durian then! Me, I think I'll have strawberry.

Durian!?

N-no way! I want strawberry, too!

Okay♪ Two strawberries, please!

Mahalo! Coming right up!

Hmm...

So this Singularity is no longer Luluhawa, but "Hawaltria ."

What's more, any book sold at ServantFes has to be part of the Altria genre...

And on top of that, we've already been through two of these resets since Lady Yaraändoo told us about all this.

Is it any wonder all I want to do at this point is stare at the sea? One can only take having one's hopes dashed so many times.

I know what you mean... It really has been one surprise after another.

This is nothing like the ServantFes of the past we heard stories about.

And if that weren't enough, even the Normalization Committee's turned their backs on us because they consider us part of the Anti-ServantFes Alliance...

That's the worst part about all of this!

If I'm bein' reeeal generous, there ain't anything anyone can do 'bout this whole reset nonsense.

But why the hell'd they lump our club in with this Anti-ServantFes Alliance crowd?

I have no idea, either...

Those Normalization Committee bastards are flouting their authority! That's what it all comes down to!

...

(I think it has more to do with neglecting to make an Altria book and getting caught up in other things.)

(Speaking of which...what am I still doing here, anyway?)

Oh, there they are!

Heeey! Club Bishonen! Bishonen genre!

C-cut that out! You're gonna give people the wrong impression!

O-oh, I'm sorry. I was just so excited...

Never mind that. We have no time to spare!

I have some news for you, and I'm going to deliver it without worrying about giving the wrong impression!

You know how the Anti-ServantFes Alliance has been on strike to protest the Altria-only genre restriction?

Well, we've just had a talk with a representative from the Normalization Committee, and she agreed to your conditions!

I expect you might already know this, Hokusai, but to go into more detail...

...And there you have it!

All right, I'd better get going! I still have to tell other clubs this news!

So, whadda we do now, Bakin?

Surely ya ain't gonna give up after we've practically been given this chance on a silver platter, are ya?

Of course not!

But how do we go about doing that? Am I supposed to just throw Altria into "A Modern-Day Record of Bishonen"?

I can't do that! It would be utterly absurd!

I don't know... That sounds like it might be worth exploring...

I mean, uh, yes! Completely absurd!

Still, be that as it may...

...it sounds like we're going to need to include Lady Altria somehow if we're going to make a book at all.

...Hey, Bakin. Remember what Mash told us?

She didn't say we had ta make a book that's all about Altria. We just gotta make one that incorporates her into the theme.

I know this ain't how things've traditionally been done, but that's what makes it interestin'.

As long as we capture the essence of who Altria is, it won't matter what the rest of the book looks like.

And don't ya think comin' up with a book like that...

...is somethin' only we could do?

What a pragmatic idea, Oei. That's just like you to look on the bright side!

Hmm. Even soNo, that's all the more reason why we can't turn in subpar work.

Not while we're still trying to build recognition for the name "Kyokutei"or rather, our club's "Bishonen."

This all sounds complicated.

Yeah. It's a big adjustment, and it came basically out of nowhere.

You'd have to work at breakneck speed, which obviously doesn't lend itself to quality work.

Hm?

Ah.

(Dammit, why'd I open my big mouth? I didn't mean to say anything.)

Bunyan... I'm sorry, Super Bunyan.

You've been with us even through the resets. We've broken spiced ham musubi together over the same rice cooker.

Those spiced ham musubi WERE really good, weren't they?

Wait. Has it been that long already!? Yikes, these reset Singularities are scary!

Perhaps it was fate that brought us together. Would you be so kind as to offer us your counsel?

...(Oh man, I don't know...)

...Hey, Bunyan? It's okay if you don't want to.

I know you wouldn't even be here in the first place if I hadn't dragged you along.

...

...I think the thing that surprised me the most...

...is how quick you all were to go along with this.

The committee basically imposed that Altra-only rule on you out of nowhere, right?

I wouldn't have expected a group of artists that were famous for breaking the mold and not playing by the rules to just...swallow them like that.

Ghh...

Hehe... Ahahahaha! Looks like she really got ya good, Bakin!

Grrr! Stop laughing, Oei!

She does make a good point though. Why DID you just go along with this?

Hmm. I suppose I can understand why it might have seemed unexpected...

...but in the Edo period, there were numerous strict rules regarding entertainment and artistic expression.

Maybe...that's why we didn't think anything of this one.

Perhaps we're simply used to accepting rules handed down to us from on high, no matter how unreasonable they are.

Back then, luxuries and morals were strictly controlled, and all publications were subject to shogunate censorship.

And they weren't just empty threats. There were a number of people who were fined and imprisoned for violating these rules.

Lord Kitagawa Utamaro, who dominated the art world for a time with his gorgeous nishiki-e woodblock prints... Lord Santou Kyouden, the author who mentored Father...

Lord Ryutei Tanehiko, a fellow author we were close with, and a hatamoto, a samurai retainer in direct service of the shogunate...

Lord Tsutaya Juzaburou, Pops' and Lord Hokusai's friend and publisher... Not one got off from their supposed infractions lightly.

...They knew what they were in for.

But they stayed true to themselves and their art, even if they had ta risk their lives.

We'll never be able ta properly thank 'em for the rest of our lives, even after becomin' Servants.

Then, what do you think about ServantFes?

How do you feel about a place where anyone can make, sell, and buy whatever kind of book they want?

How do we feel about it? It's the kind of place we've always dreamed of!

It's the kind of place our predecessors fought long and hard to achieve, and that could be lost again all too easily.

Huh. I had no idea.

I thought it was just another festival. Now I understand why you were all so excited about it.

In that case, we have to do whatever we can to make it succeed.

Yeah...maybe you're right.

There's no need to get desperate.

Getting excited about a festival is fine, but there's no point in pitching in if it makes you want to give up, like when you try to carry a portable mikoshi shrine that's too heavy.

Still, I don't like the idea of just meekly going along with whatever the committee says, either. So I'm going to find some way to fight back.

Let's show 'em that you can take an Edoite out of Edo, but you can't take the Edo out of the Edoite!

Hell yeah!

Edo... Um, about that...

I read some e-book versions of your work, Monsieur Bakin...

...and I can't quite believe that you're really planning on bringing...that...to the con.

Is that really what people are looking for these days?

What was that? (Flash of anger)

I'm sure you'd get some sales from name recognition alone, but that would be the same as people getting souvenirs as a free add-on to their purchase.

I mean, you don't want your new book to end up buried in a bookshelf growing dusty and moldy without ever having been properly read, right?

Dusty and moldy? (Anger intensifying)

(Oops... I think I might have run my mouth again.)

...(Hmm. Maybe now isn't a good time to tell Father I published an abridged version of "Inu no Soushi"...

...and an updated version of "Eight Dog Chronicles" designed to be more palatable for modern-day readers...

...for the same kind of reasons Bunyan just expressed...)

It would certainly be interesting to try some new tricks to get people interested...

...but don't we still need to discuss what to do about the Altria book at the center of all this?

Oh, yeah, good point! We'd better get back ta the hotel and start figurin' out our next moves.