The Celestial Path Where Water and Sky Merge to Become Daylight 1

You're sounding just like those narrow-minded fools at the Normalization Committee! No, in fact, it's even worse!

Shut it! If you refuse to listen to me as your producer, I'll tie you to a tree and saw you down, trunk and all!

Y-you want to saw me down!? How dare you treat me like some kind of criminal!

Fine, then I'll just pound you down into the beach and use your head as a volleyball net peg instead!

What was that!? I don't know what you're talking about, but I can tell I don't like it!

Intense arguing... Shouting back and forth... This is good. I'll have to remember it the next time I write lyrics. (Taking notes)

Ahaha, those two're arguin' again, huh? Well, that's okay. Let 'em get it outta their systems!

The old man's legendary for his hardheadedness, and Bunyan can give as good as she gets. We're in for a good show.

But, aren't you concerned, Oei? I mean, you're going to be making the illustrations for whichever kind of book they decide on, right?

Me? I ain't gonna fight the current. Long as they tell me what I need ta paint, that's good enough for me.

Once our leaders tell us which way we're steering, I'll row as hard as I can thataways, even if we end up 'n the sea or up a mountain!

Wouldn't that leave us stranded either way...?

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Oh, Master. Did you come to check on us?

I'm sorry you had to see this. Yes, they're very much going at it.

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Oh, yes, gladly.

Pops? Bunyan? Can you both take a step back and try to calm down?

Ooh, I know. Why don't we order some pancakes for Master then?

H-hey, I want pancakes too! With maple syrup!

We initially arrived at Hawaltria late, so we didn't have much time to spend on our doujin...

...but for better or worse, we got that time back when the festival was reset to the first day.

We were fortunate enough to finish our first book, and once we learned we would have a chance to make a second...

...the entire club was ready to put everything we had into our original plan to finally complete "A Modern-Day Record of Bishonen."

That was when our producer, Bunyan, said something that shocked us.

Yeah, I've been thinking.

Instead of an old-fashioned novel, we should do something that'll reach a broader audience.

Now, I'm not saying to forget about writing "A Modern-Day Record of Bishonen" entirely.

I just think it's a really bad fit for ServantFes.

For example, have YOU ever read any of Monsieur Bakin's books, Master?

Right? And who could blame you?

At most, you probably had Mash summarize their plots for you...

...or read more modernized versions, or learned their stories from movies and comics, right?

Whoa, really? Wow! I'm impressed!

So you've actually read the original unabridged editions of the Eight Dog Chronicles and Moonbow instead of the modernized digests?

There, you see? Bravo! I knew you wouldn't let us down, Master!

That's great. Isn't it, Pops?

Indeed. It's enough to bring a tear to my eye.

Okay, that's great, but even then, lookin' at all of Chaldea, ain't the only ones who can say to have done that me, Mash, and Master?

Ghh...

Is Chaldea even representative of readers at large...?

(I technically stayed up all night to read them myself, but it definitely wasn't easy.)

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So we should start by building hype.

And to do that, we're going to start with a book that'll get people interested to learn more about "A Modern-Day Record of Bishonen."

Besides, it would be a waste not to make use of every tool in our toolbox.

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Exactly! Materials, talent, knowledge, skills, tools, pure power... We've got so many resources at our disposal!

First off, the doggies! Did you know you little guys are Bishonen's greatest weapons?

...?

That's right, you. We need to take full advantage of what you bring to the table.

Ideally, I'd like to make a movie featuring you guys, but even if I knew how to do that, it would definitely be too much time to make the ServantFes finale.

So instead, we're going to take a page from one of your home country's customs and make a kamishibai, a paper theatre video of you guys that's sure to grab people's attention!

I'm still not sure how we're going to get the word out about it yet, since there are lots of options to choose from, but we can worry about that later.

I see. So you want to use the Dog Warriors as stand-ins for our book's characters.

Uh-huh. Specifically, we're going to have them play Akenosuke and Morishirou.

I may not know movies, but I do have experience posting videos online.

And we all gained experience making outfits and photographing models when we made "Ex Bean Paste Photo Collection," right?

Hokusai, you can paint the backgrounds and visual effects...

...and Monsieur Bakin, you of course will write the script.

Nnn...

All right, I understand this project is meant to be a kind of primer to get people interested, but don't you think you're overstepping your bounds as producer?

Hey, I'm not planning to direct the video. I'm leaving that all up to you, Monsieur.

Whatever you make, it's sure to be a Kyokutei Bakin classic. But make sure the video is no more than thirty minutes!

That short!? There's no way I can do that!

Hey, I'm already compromising a lot here! Ideally, it shouldn't be more than fifteen minutes!

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Oh, that? We can just put subtitles under them barking. And if that doesn't work, we can go completely silent movie style.

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...

Aah! Where did you come from!?

He must have come here with Master. But he blended in as a local so well I didn't notice until now, either.

I'm actually jealous of how good your summer outfit looks on you.

I didn't come here with Master. I just happened to run into him around here.

But never mind that. So you're going to make a kamishibai video?

That's a good call. There's no law that says you can only tell a story via books, after all.

And if you're having a staunch, old-fashioned writer handling the script, even better.

This is going to be a sequel to one of your most popular works, right? That'll be sure to draw attention then. I think it's a great idea.

A book from the heart, filled with all the business you left unfinished upon death. I'd imagine writing such a thing must feel like baring your soul, Mr. Bakin.

It's things like that being consumed that really demonstrate this world's true worth☆

Oh?

Thank you, Lord Oberon. It's very kind of you to say that.

Lady Bunyan may have likened this video to a movie, but for me, it will truly be a performance.

As a matter of fact, my stories have been adapted into kabuki plays and puppet shows before.

And I've read a number of scripts for classical Chinese plays as well.

So while I do know a little bit about theater, I also know enough to know it has its own challenges.

If you want mochi, talk to a mochi specialist. That is to say, ask someone who knows theater inside and out for help.

Lady Izumo-no-Okuni should be a good start...

...and we may want to see if Lord William Shakespeare would be so kind as to advise us as well.

Oh my, that's a wonderful idea. I'm sure they'll have some very useful advice for us.

Indeed! I will admit, I was initially thrown by the sudden change in course, but I'm starting to get behind this idea.

Hold on. There's no need for that.

Frankly, you'll be worse off if you go asking for help from a playwright who only cares about pandering to his audience.

If you ask me, I think this kamishibai idea is great, but you can't do one that's thirty minutes long.

There's a big difference between a story where readers turn the page at their own pace, and a movie where the pace is controlled by camera direction and editing.

If this is going to work, you need to grab the audience's attention in the first minute.

The problem is, Mr. Bakin is a novelist, and they're not typically known for drawing audiences in with flashy tricks.

The more serious you make this story, the more likely you are to lose over half your audience before it's finished.

I-I know that. I know we still don't have what it takes to really draw people in.

But we still have to get started as soon as possible!

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I agree. You're all such earnest people, and that's great. But this isn't supposed to be a job, right?

It's really wonderful that you're taking this so seriously and putting everything you have into it...

...but I think it's important to enjoy ourselves too, so that we look back at this summer fondly. I'm sorry. I hope that wasn't too improper of me...

...Oh, I guess that just leaves me.

I'm glad that we managed to finish my cosplay collection, but I was worried that I wasn't going to be of much help afterwards.

But if we're going to make a video, then I still have a part to play. Especially with the accompaniment!

Accompaniment?

She means the soundtrack. Every good movie and TV show has a soundtrack to go with it.

That sounds wonderful. I'd love to hear what you've got in mind!

Wuff.

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Wuff?

A talkie!

I mean, the thought did cross my mind, of course!

But we don't have nearly enough actors for all the parts, so I didn't think it was realistic.

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You do know that means a lot more work for both you and Bishonen, right, Master? Oh well, as long as you're okay with it☆

It's definitely true that voice acting would be a good way to keep an audience engaged for the whole story.

Hehe. Thank you, Oberon. This seems like it's going to be lots of fun.

You really do like plays, don't you? I like them, too!

I wonder, did you hear a rumor through TeddyI mean, Blackbeard's network that we were considering putting on a play for our next project?

Oh... Is that why you came here with Master?

No, no, this was a coincidence. Though I was certainly curious what a group of cute girls like yourselves were up to.

But the only rumors I heard were ones about how good this place's melon soda is.

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Here you go, sir. One special Blue Hawaii Melon Cream Soda.

...Impressive. So you'd already ordered one, huh.

All right. I can help out enough to pay you back for this soda.

Just so you know, there's no actual melon in that soda.

Hmm. I think, maybe...this might just work.

No, not think. I'm sure it will! So, what's it going to be, Monsieur Bakin?

Just be aware that if we do this, it's going to be hell on earth for the next few days.

...Very well, you have convinced me. We will go ahead with this new plan!

I'll call it "Dog Days Bishonen Records"!

Come, let us begin!