The Starry Night We Dreamed of that Day — Chapter 6

[gyaxa]

Akira: (sigh)... What to do…

Argh, I can't think of anything! What happened to all my usual ingenuity? Gone along with the shooting stars, I guess…

Brad: Quite the monologue you've got going on there.
 

Akira: Geh, Brad…?!

Wh… Why are you here? Ain't it late?

Brad: I caught a glimpse of you sighing as you headed up here, so I came to check on you.

You can't come up with any ideas, but since you said you had it covered, you can't ask Will or Oscar for help. Does that sound about right?

Akira: Not at all it doesn't!

Brad: “Gone along with the shooting stars”, was it not?

Akira: Urgh…

Brad: No matter. I had something to talk to you about.

Akira: Huh? Not really in the mood for one o’ your lectures right now, got it?

Brad: You did something to earn a lecture?

Akira: That ain't what I meant!

So? What's up?

Brad: I'd like to know why you gave up the lead role.

Akira: !!

Why are ya even botherin’… I thought that whole thing was done and dusted already.

Brad: I can't imagine someone as ostentatious as you are willingly giving the role up without some kind of reason.

And I doubt you have any problem with LOM itself, correct?

Akira: ……

Brad: I doubt it's anything to be particularly concerned about, but since I have to give a report to the PR Department, I'd like to know the reason why.

Akira: Look at you, soundin’ all high and mighty…
 

Doubt we'll be seein’ any shooting stars today.

Brad: ……

Akira: … Y'know, a couple years back, everyone got hyped over a meteor shower, yeah?

Brad: It becomes a popular topic every couple of years, yes. You talked about it in your interview, right?

Akira: Well, yeah, but I'm talkin’ about the one… 5 years back? I was already a delinquent by then.

Thing is… Will invited me to watch the meteor shower with him, sayin’ we could relive our childhood—
 

───

 

Will: Akira! Are you heading to that delinquent… Gast Adler's spot again?

Akira: What's it to you? Buzz off!

Will: Akira…

Hey, they say there's gonna be a meteor shower tonight. Do you wanna go stargazing together?

Akira: Stars…

Will: I'd like to. It'd be just like back when we were kids. I'd invite Ren too, but…

Akira: Hmph, sounds like a total snoozefest. Go watch it yourself.

Will: ……

I wanted to bring this up during the meteor shower, but…

Akira: ?

Will: I plan on enrolling in the Academy, Akira.

Akira: ……

Will: I'm gonna try my best to be a hero. I don't know if I'll be able to pull it off, but I'm gonna follow my childhood dream.

Akira: … That so. You're gonna become one of those lame-ass heroes, are ya?

Will: What…?

Akira: I told ya, buzz off! I'm busy becomin’ the strongest delinquent over here!

Will: ……
 

───

 

Akira: I said somethin’ really lame to him.

And I knew that he dreamed of bein’ a hero, ever since we were kids…

Brad: … I see.

I have no say in the matter, but at the very least, I doubt Will is still bothered by it.

Akira: I'm pretty sure he forgot. I only remembered durin’ the interview myself.

But that's not the point.

Later, when I told him I wanted to be a hero, he was super happy for me.

Even though I said all that… and then forgot all about it and went back on my words…

Brad: That sounds like Will alright.

Akira: Yeah. He can be annoyin’ sometimes, but he's always so nice. Too nice, even.

But I can't just take advantage of that, so I guess… now that I've remembered, I wanna apologize to him.

Y'know, take responsibility for what I said.

Brad: Quite a roundabout way to go about it, considering the kind of person you are.

Akira: Huh…

Brad: So you can't just go and apologize because it's a touchy subject… I understand the sentiment.

I get the picture. But everyone has their eyes on the two of you this time around. There are quite a lot of people with high hopes for you too.

It wouldn't do to disappoint them.

Akira: I know thaaaat!

But I'm seriously comin’ up blank! Is this one of those “slump” things?

……

Brad: What are you staring for?

Akira: … Havin’ to lean on ya kinda bugs me, but if you got any advice, I'll hear ya out.

Brad: … Let me think.

How about basing the story off of that incident between the two of you?

Akira: Between the two of us…?

Brad: One who dreams of being a hero, and another who mocks that dream… That shouldn't be too hard to incorporate into the story.

Akira: Ooh! So if Will's the one who wants to be a hero, then I'd be the mocking one… like the bad guy?

I dig it! I've always wanted to have a go at that kinda role.

And at the end, I have a final bout with Will! That's sure to get everyone hyped up!

Brad: Looks like you've found your way forward.

Akira: Yep! I've got tons of cool ideas now!!! This has gotta bring the crowd to max voltage!!!!!
 

Brad: Good grief. It doesn't take much to make you change your tune, huh?¹

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1. Brad uses the phrase 現金な奴 to describe Akira here, which refers to someone who's quick to change their attitude when it comes to personal gains. ↑
 

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