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ryuu-to-sobakasu-hime · 3 years

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Ryuu to Sobakasu no Hime (Belle) Novel | English Translation | Chapter 6

**This is a machine translation. I put it together by extracting text page-by-page from a .pdf version of the Japanese novel, and running it through Google translate. I have only minorly edited some of the more confusing lines to make it more read-able. It is still a very rough translation, but it’s good enough to understand what’s going on. If there is anyone out there who wants to properly translate the novel, I am more than happy to edit it, if you’ll contact me.**

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Chapter 6: Encounter

The crescent moon shining on the equator moves and brings darkness to the world of "U". In the city of "U" that continues like a big river, Az and others were overflowing more than usual today. There is a mysterious feeling of exhilaration here and there, and it seems that everyone is restless. Countless net news is broadcast in various languages. "... Soon, at 20:25 standard time on 'U', Belle's biggest live concert will take place here at 'U's spherical stadium."

The city of "U" is basically a "skyscraper" and a "park."

It consists of repeating two types of modules, "(Park)". However, there are some other special modules. One of them is a spherical module called "Stadium". "..... The number of Az that can watch at the same time in the world is said to be 100 million or 200 million, which is unusual for a newcomer who appeared within 6 months ..."

As you approach the spherical stadium, you can see that many small units are gathered together to form a sphere. It passes through the gaps of each unit and enters the inside. Each unit has multiple windows. The shape of the window matches the shape of the screen of the smartphone, and you can see Az in it. That is the audience seat of this spherical stadium.

A myriad of Az are waiting for the start of the live. The start time has come. The space of the wide sphere gradually darkens with the driving sound. The units are getting closer to each other and the gap is narrowing. Eventually, a roaring sound was heard. The gap between the units was completely closed, and the space was surrounded by darkness. A red line like the equator emerges in the darkness. It's the beginning of the live. Music starts. A huge drop of water can be seen floating in the center of the space. In front of this mysterious sight, the audience grabbed a sight of what was about to begin.

The huge water droplets began to emit light from the inside, shaking the surface with surface tension. A number of glittering lights are generated and are stored in water droplets. Eventually, the water droplets filled with light burst like a big bang. When a large amount of droplets diffuse into the space, a mysterious object that reflects light appears behind it. A huge splash with a dozen meters, assembled from delicate beads.

At the tip of the dress is Belle, me.

"Woooooooooo ...!"

The cheers of Az and others like the rumbling of the ground boiled up. Mosaic-like light is emitted from the countless windows of the audience seats. In response to the light, the color of the beads that make up the dress changes in a complex way. These are special beads whose brilliance changes depending on the light. It's the best outfit, coordinated by the best designers, from headdresses to high heels. I swam in the space, changing to various colors in response to the light. The parts of the huge dress are separated like a multi-stage rocket. In the meantime, it will be separated. The beads swirled like the swell of the sea, transforming into a virtual fluctuation of the sea surface.

Three whales with headphones appear there and slowly snuggle up to me in the center. The whales are top-notch dancers hired for this concert. When one of the whales hits the surface of the sea with its tail fin to the music, a beautiful wave appears. The crest has spread. Another one also hits the surface of the sea. The ripples overlapped. The other one blew up the tide from his nose. Next is my turn. Like the whale I mentioned earlier, I surrendered myself to music, twisted my body, and hit the surface of the sea. Ripples spread beautifully. I twist my body again and hit the surface of the sea, ripples piled up. And, like the squirting of a baby whale, I rushed out of the sea. The whales come in again and swim and dance in the calculated combination. I sing at the center. The sparkling flash of the audience seats reaches the dress, changing the color of the beads one after another. What a beauty. The colors that would never appear without each of the light from the windows of smartphones are a collaboration between me, the designer, and the audience. And again, it's a one-time art that can never be reproduced in the digital world where reproduction is natural. I finished singing proudly.

"Ooooooooooooooooo!"

The roaring cheers of Az and others shook the spherical stadium. The flashes in the audience seats disappear all at once, returning to the darkness of the equator. The prelude of the second song begins, and the next set of graphical steel frames slides from above and below. During the blackout, the producer of this live, Hiro-chan’s Az, slipped in.

"Belle is the best. I'll go next."

"Yes."

Hiro-chan’s Az threw a piece of cloth in her hand. It fluttered around my body and turned into a patchwork dress. This is also the work of the same designer as the bead dress, and is woven with fibers that change when exposed to light. Suddenly, there was a strange noise.

"ah…"

The gap between the rugged stadium and the spherical stadium opens a little.

"Who? You opened the door without permission!" Hiro-chan’s Az yells.

Someone invaded through a small gap in the unit. A lone Az at the beginning.

And then a group of Az. They are moving at high speed just past the audience unit. I can tell that the audience in the window is upset by this happening.

Hiro-chan’s Az is very angry. "Get out of here, asshole!”

The lone Az appears to be escaping from the group chasing him.

"Is he being chased?"

They go around the perimeter along the equator of the spherical stadium. The group of chasers was divided into two.

"Jeeze! What is that guy?" Hiro-chan’s Az looks up in the air and asks. Avatars all over the world instantly raise chat balloons:

《Dreki》

《Long》《continuar》《naga》《Dragon》《lass》

《Ejderha》

"Dragon?"

<<It's an ugly monster-type Az that lives in “U.”>>

Two protruding horns. Long nose. Sharp fangs and claws. The characteristic is exactly the dragon itself, and the impression is like a violent beast. Still, the crimson cloak with a raised collar and the white frills peeking through the sleeves of the suit reminded me of something like a nobleman. A mysterious balance in which this opposite nature coexists. The thin, sharp look that I could see in the gaps between his long, curly hair seemed mysterious to me. On the other hand, all his chasers have the unified appearance of a white battle suit with a red line. It looks like a group of justice heroes. The dragon flipped the cloak and I thought that he had soared, but then he twisted and plummeted. With a tricky move, he tossed the chase and swung it off in a blink of an eye, and this time he headed for the other group, which was split into two. Really. The stone mask Az, who leads the fist chaser group, thrusts in without fear. The two collided violently at the front. A fierce spark is scattered. The dragon extended his fist at a speed that my eyes couldn't follow. The chasers flew like pebbles. As it was, it emitted light like glitter and ice crystals, and stopped moving. The data was corrupted by too much blow and it froze.

I watched the dragon in a daze.

"Amazing…"

"What is he?" When Hiro-chan’s Az asked, the balloons answered immediately.

<<A few months ago, he suddenly appeared in the martial arts hall of "U" "He’s been breaking the record of consecutive wins since then" "But he has the worst fighting style">>

"How?"

When Ryu landed on the unit on the wall and turned around, he attacked the other group that he had just shaken off. He does not give them a chance to escape, and defeats them one after another with a quick move. Iconography of crystals, showing freezes, floats here and there.

《Spoil the game》《Attack until the data is corrupted and unusable》《It's like trying to get rid of my anger》 I was stunned and stared at the dragon without words.

"Ah..”

I noticed a lot of patterns on his tattered back.

"That is……?"

<< This is a nasty guy who is like the bruises on his back >> Adds a balloon. I saw it to make sure.

"There are so many bruises ..."

The group of chasers is increasing in number before I know it. When the Az of the dreadlocks led by him points to go, more than 10 members scream and head for Dragon all at once. It is one versus ten, but he heads for the fight without hesitation. The dragon rolled out his knife at a blazing speed. The chasers are beaten one after another.

"Waaaaaah!”

Even the last one - bang, smashed down in a breath. The dreadlocks Az was shocked to see that his allies were wiped out in an instant. While making a strange voice, "Woooooo!", He headed for the dragon in the dark clouds. However, immediately after that, Dragon knee-kicked him in the face. Then the upper combo is decided. The dreadlocks Az was blown off.

Hiro-chan’s Az listens with interest. "Who is chasing him?"

《The Justices》

"Justice?"

<<They insist on keeping the justice and order of U.>>

There are Az looking down from a distance. Like the Stone Mask Az and Dreadlocks Az, they were the executives of the Justice Corps. They are strong people who seem to be allies of justice. Half are female. Hiro-chan’s Az made a convincing voice when she saw them.

"Hmm. That's why they look like heroes."

A large number of the justice corps surround the dragon with various weapons such as spears, hammers, and blue swords. The members screamed and attacked all at once. It seems that there is no chance for the dragon to win. The dragon slowly crossed his hands. And he slashed the space at a tremendous speed. He slashed the men as if he were really manipulating a sword. A dense army corps bursts out all at once. "Waaaah!”

At the same time, it gave off a glittering and crystal-like light. The overwhelming strength of the crowd is breathtaking. The dragon turned his back and slowly got up. Justice corps executives were stunned and said, "What a terrible thing ...!"

"What can they do if you hurt them that much?"

"Is it okay that you’re the only one who is not wounded?” With that as a trigger, some spectator Az and others booed.

"That's right!" "You messed up Belle's concert!" "How will you take responsibility?” The voices eventually spread throughout the spherical stadium.

"Apologize to Belle!" "Give us back the time you wasted!" "Get out of here!" "Get out!" I looked around the stadium in a kind of strange atmosphere. Most of the Az on the spot are throwing a fierce boo like a rumbling at just one person. A dragon standing alone in the center. The bruise on his back seemed to me like a wound that had been hit by countless boos. I asked him unintentionally.

"You…"

The dragon turned around slowly and looked at me with a keen eye.

[............]

"Who are you..…?"

I asked unquestioned questions at will. Then the dragon opened his mouth for the first time. It was a muffled voice, like a filter.

"...Don’t look.”

"Huh?"

"Don’t look at me."

The dragon's gaze peeking through his curly hair indicates refusal. I can't hear any more.

At that time, there was a sharp voice that echoed in the spherical stadium.

“Dragon!!”

A man is standing. "I can't forgive you anymore ... I can't forgive you! If I don't defeat the dragon, I can't keep the peace of 'U'!"

"Is that the leader?" Asked Hiro-chan’s Az.

<<Yes. He is Justine>>

It was a blue-eyed Az with blonde hair. His toned, muscular, majestic body reminded me of strength and courage, and the white battle suit that wrapped around him represented his noble personality. He deserves to be called a hero, a mighty man, an ally of justice, a savior.

Justine raised his right arm and pointed to the coat of arms on his wrist. "Look!"

The Metamorphose coat of arms was wrapped in light and became huge, transforming into a winged metal lion head. A jewel-like lens body pops out from the lion's mouth by bolt action. It's like a cannon. Justine raises the gun and shows it off.

"This is the true light that protects the justice and order of 'U'! We will definitely unveil the evil dragon!" He declared in a voice that pervaded the entire "U". Then, banners with the names of the companies came flying one after another and piled up behind him. It seems that these supporting companies support his activities. Hiro-chan’s Az pointed with her eyes rounded.

"Look, the number of sponsor logos!"

"What is Unveil?"

To my question, Hiro-chan’s Az answered "Unveil" with the gesture of Peek-a-boo. Justine holds his right hand to aim at him, and the inside of his lens body shimmers like a mosaic. The particles focused and emitted a green light. Pow! The light cut through the darkness and headed straight toward the dragon. The dragon barely avoids the light. The particles focused again on Justine's right hand and fired two shots in quick succession. The dragon kept a sufficient distance and avoided it carefully. It seems that he is very cautious about this unknown light. "Nuu ..." Justin groaned, lowering his right hand. A long, thin light that moves far away. There is too much distance to hit Dragon.

He signaled, "Door!" In response, the justice executives scattered in all directions. Soon, the gap between the unit and the unit begins to move, and the interval narrows.

"Eh ...?" As it goes on, the brightness disappears. The spherical stadium was engulfed in darkness, with a completely closed sound. Many searchlights owned by the executives turned on all at once. It illuminates a dragon at one point in the center of intersection.

"You can't run away anymore, dragon! I'll uncover your origin right here, you ugly thing!"

Justine's speech wowed the audience.

"Ooooooooooo!"

The field is in full favor of Justine. Hiro-chan’s Az also goes along.

"Good, do it ~~!"

Origin? Uncover? Can he do that? I wondered. Justine said earlier, "The true light that protects the justice and order of 'U'(that green light) will surely unveil the evil dragon." The meaning may be "to clarify who the real person who controls the dragon is.” It means that there is no privacy that should be equally protected by the security of "U". I understood that was what he meant by "unveiling." If it's aimed at the dragon, which is hated by all over the world, everyone will be convinced it’s the right thing to do. But what if I was in his position?

Then, the story is different. I don't want to be unveiled. Anyone wouldn’t. Shouldn't that be the case? Shouldn't security equality be maintained? Executives approach the dragon with a searchlight. The dragon blocks the light with his hands, as if he hates the dazzling lights. However, the executives continue to shine a strong light without mercy. The dragon moves because of the glare, looks like he can't get rid of it. Justine aims carefully from a distance. The searchlight is caught. It seems very easy to shed light on the dragon that has stopped moving. Kuun ……, and the inside of the gun lens shines brilliantly, and the light is focused.

"Get him!!” Hiro-chan’s Az screams with excitement. Next to that, I kept staring at the dragon.

[.............]

The dragon looked up at me as if he had noticed me. His eyes met mine and my heart pulsated.

"Huh?"

From the narrow center of the searchlight, the dragon jumped towards us. The search light suddenly loses sight of the dragon and sways in a confused manner.

"Uh!"

Once Justine lowered his gun in the situation, but quickly repositioned it, he fired two consecutive shots. However, passing through it, the dragon rises at high speed and heads straight toward us.

"Ahhhhh!"

I and Hiro-chan’s Az are upset by the oppressive feeling and cannot move. The dragon approaches at a tremendous speed. Collide!

"Kyaaaa!" We screamed. But the dragon barely slipped beside us. A violent gust of wind occurs with a slight delay. The dragon rose as it was, turned around, and landed on the steel frame of the set. Hiro-chan’s Az was angry and looked up. "You’ve got to be kidding me, you idiot! What if Belle had been injured?"

Dragon approaches us again. "Ah!" The dragon rubbed right next to Hiro-chan’s Az and I, who were shrinking tightly, at a tremendous speed. His goal is the executives of the Justice Corps.

"Waaaaah!” The executives screamed, throwing out searchlights and escaping in all directions. As soon as the dragon did not let them escape, he swung a steel frame over his head and approached.

The light of the searchlight went out, and the area was surrounded by darkness again.

Only the cruel hitting sound and the painful screams of the executives echoed there. What's happening in the dark? Invisible horror dominated the field. Justine shouted, unbearably. "Open the door ..., open the door!"

A gap in the spherical stadium opens to follow the instructions. When it got brighter, I saw the sad appearance of the executives who were knocked down and couldn't move. How many Az did the dragon beat in this short time? It was overwhelming and strong. Justine stepped back, stiffening his face.

"This ... this shouldn't be allowed ...!"

The dragon flew with recoil when he released the steel frame he had in his hand. I look up at him with my eyes. Justine shouted to swear revenge.

"I will be sure to unveil you!"

As if he couldn't hear such a voice, the dragon went out of the stadium through the gap between the units on the ceiling and disappeared somewhere. I kept looking at the empty space where he had disappeared into.

"Who are you……?"

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https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Dcx2NedPVBEdbfQaU-WC0pJMRmn20ASn7HSC0KY9R7E/edit?usp=sharing ~ Google Doc of the English-translated novel.

ryuutosobakasuhime.wordpress.com ~ English fan-site for Ryuu to Sobakasu no Hime where translations, scans, and other content is posted.

#belle #belle movie #belle 2021 #ryuu to sobakasu no hime #ryu to sobakasu no hime #ryu #ryuu #studio chizu #hime #mamoru hosoda #竜とそばかすの姫

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dancing-with-dichotomies · 6 years

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Yoshiwara fandom? Does Yoshiwara have a fandom...? XD

SO, I started writing this thing a while ago but I don’t think I’ll ever finish it, probably... XD Hope you guys like what I started out with though~~~

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Iroha, like most of the equally elegant men who worked in Yoshiwara, hardly ever felt the need to run. It was not dignified, and more so than that, there was no need for it. Usually...

He also usually wouldn't be seen at the rival shop to his Kikuya, Ohgiya, unless there was some kind of rare and important festival that they ought to attend together.

This morning, however, something most extraordinary and almost unheard of had occurred...

A woman came into his shop that morning. A woman who bore a thousand details all over her body that revealed her to be from the noblest and most wealthy of families, including a kimono that was a royal rainbow of red and purple, laced with gold details and an ornate golden hairpin. That itself would have been hardly anything to blink at, except then...

"Yes, sir. You heard right. I'm requesting to buy the company of every single geisha possibly available at both Kikuya AND Ohgiya. You see, I am part of an entourage that is accompanying an extremely important and distinguished young woman, whom we wish to host here and see if any of your gentlemen suit her liking... I myself am only a messenger. The actual members of the party I represent are of the absolute highest of social standings. I realize it's asking quite a lot, but I assure you it would be very much worth your trouble. If it's something that may interest you, can I please trouble you to ask the manager of Ohgiya to comply as well?"

Of course Iroha still didn't run until well out of eyesight of the supremely classy woman, but he wasn't about to keep her waiting either, so as soon as he was around a corner, he started running at full speed.

Not caring how the manager at Ohgiya looked at him for the big gulps of air he was still taking as he arrived, Iroha gave him a secret signal between managers that let him know -why-. Code Royalty.

Quickly taking leave and finding a private place to speak, Iroha explained everything to the manager. Just as he was finishing up, Ohgiya's Manager started to fret a bit, "Dear oh dear, what a massive undertaking. And what strange circumstances! All of them are rich, but none are from well known families on the island or the nearby mainland. Foreign tourists from abroad then, I suppose...?"

Just as he was supposing, the messenger in the royal red and purple kimono suddenly appeared at the door's frame. But she was not alone. This time, she had several female attendants in tow, all of them dressed every bit as regally as her, who were each carrying a small chest, which they opened to reveal was full of pure gold ingots.

The messenger spoke for the otherwise eerily quiet group, "Sorry to interrupt. We'd like to be more patient, but our distinguished guest only has a few days left to visit before they must be moving on... This is merely a down payment to prepare for the banquet, we'd of course send the rest, which would be over a hundred times this amount, to both Kikuya and Ohgiya tomorrow - But should this suffice to prepare for a grand gala in a matter of, hmm, let's say four days? On the fourth day our esteemed guest will arrive for the banquet. Of course we realize that you gentlemen only give love after a certain time has passed, but that's not what we're seeking. We would simply enjoy your company in celebrating our grand friend and cherished guest. The party should start earlier than usual, and we'd like to start at Ohgiya for a formal dinner and getting to know each other, before heading over to Kikuya for slightly rowdier festivities later in the night. However, we would like the top geisha from Kikuya to be present for the first half of the party at Ohgiya, and for the top geisha at Ohgiya to follow us to Kikuya and continue the party with us there."

It certainly was a lot to ask for. But both managers were well aware that there wasn't much of a choice. True, they had to right to turn down anyone's money, but a sum that great was a lot harder to value less than even your pride and any amount of inconvenience. Plus, even if they were asking for quite a lot in a short amount of time, it wasn't common policy to displease a guest in any way if they hadn't acted especially uncouth, but especially one that was obviously so prestigious, wherever it was they came from...

"...Well, certainly!" Ohgiya's manager finally decided, and he and Iroha both bowed. "We shall start preparing right away! Your esteemed guest will surely not be disappointed! We will make it a night no one will ever forget!"

The messenger smiled. "We very much hope so." And said no more after that. As soon as he had confirmed her wishes, she nodded in understanding, and after leaving the gold with the men, her attendants followed her out.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Great pains were taken to prepare both Ohgiya and Kikuya estates to the absolute height of of their decadent aesthetic potential. An obscene amount of the finest sakes available was bought for the occasion, and all kinds of lavish foods. Games had been prepared, an entire orchestra of instruments laid in wait to be played, and of course, an insane amount of new kimonos and various decorations, from jewelry to hairpins, had been bought. Close to a thousand new robes and pieces in every color of the rainbow, and all kinds of attractive, intricate shapes.

The managers and staff were all very pleased and impressed with themselves at first. And they tried to maintain that confidence when their mysterious guests arrived on the afternoon of the fourth day, but when they saw the procession that they came with... It knocked all their silly little courtesan parades right out of the water. This was a procession held for true nobility...

There were several groups, each led by a woman possessing such phantasmagorical elegance and flawless beauty, as to leave one wondering if she could really be a true flesh and blood woman at all.

The first of these stunning creatures was wearing a gown of pure gold, a kimono shimmering from head to toe in gold, and sun-flower patterns designed into the fabric. Her hair too was mostly gold, but with a touch of red, leaving it looking like a rose gold color. She had it pinned with a red comb, and she had red eye make up and lipstick to accentuate the gold. While the men looked on in awe at her, she proclaimed, "I am called... Amara."

Her beautiful escorts and attendants led her onward, while another otherworldly beauty came forward after her. This one was robed in a silk kimono the color of the clearest blue sky, with golden suns etched into the fabric. A large and very ornate blue hydrangea hair pin made of gold and aquamarine crowned her hair like a tiara, and she carried a wide and mirthful smile. "I am called Suzume."

The third of them stepped forward after her, wearing a black and white kimono, with blue full moon patterns here and there. She wore no hair ornaments, but only because her hair was so long and fine, so perfect, that it didn't need any ornamentation. Her skin was as white as ivory, and her hair and eyes were pure pitch black ebony. She somehow seemed just slightly less ornate than the other women, more down to earth, and yet at the same time, she might as well be as far away as the moon. She smiled to them all, seeming a little more human than the other two ladies so far, even though she clearly belonged to their world... "Well, as it happens, I was to be called Kagura, but since it seems that one of the gentleman here tonight is named that, could I humbly request that you all humor me and call me 'Kaguya' while I am here tonight, to avoid confusion?"

From where they were watching, Kagerou quickly whispered to Kagura, "Kaguya, like the mythical moon princess? I understand it's to avoid confusion, but that's quite grand..."

Kagura only shushed and contradicted him, "I think it seems appropriate in this case..."

Iroha nodded to her and answered for them all. "Then while you are here, Princess Kaguya it is~"

The fourth of the grand ladies to come forth was wearing a mostly white kimono, with beautiful accents of red and wearing red jewelry, a beaded necklace, red lipstick and eye shadow, and a ruby red hairpin with a large white pearl resting in her hair, which almost rivaled Kaguya's in length and luster, and was the same raven black. She did a small bow as she approached and added, "I am called... Inami. And I now have the great pleasure of introducing you all to our most special guest, the guest in who's honor my companions and I are throwing this celebration tonight. Everyone, please extend your warm feelings towards our good friend, the highly revered - Ao Kimi!"

All of the ladies and their attendants began to applaud the last girl, who couldn't yet even be seen, because she was sitting in a grand and very tall palanquin, at the very top of it. It was held by twenty women and was adorned with flowers, and the seat at the top was shielded by a dark screen. When her name was finally announced, the girl peeked her face out just briefly. But when she saw the crowd, she made a squeak and ducked right back in.

That's when the men of Yoshiwara began to applaud too. Takao was especially loud, a fire lit under him at the sight of that cute face, however brief. "Aah, Kimi-sama! Don't be shy, please do come out!"

Takigawa quickly joined in, "Yes Kimi-sama, do come out~ It is your party, after all!"

So finally she let herself be coaxed, and the girl known as Ao Kimi shyly emerged, carefully stepping down the steps to the bottom, where she was helped off the palanquin by a few female attendants. The crowd at first hushed itself in amazement of her beauty, before heartily applauding her. She was... Actually surprisingly tall for a girl, as tall as some of the smaller sized men, which made her shyness even more adorable, in some strange way. Her hair was a light shade of brown, and her eyes were a very lovely and alluring shade of blue, with just a hint of green. Likewise, her kimono was also a very similar shade of teal, mostly blue with green mixed in it. It fit her surname perfectly. There was a pattern like waves and sea foam going around the dress in silver thread, and a blue-green jade in the shape of a teardrop adorned the hairpin in her hair.

"My, my..." Gakuto calmly hummed. "We've seen many beautiful women in lots of impressive finery before... But you ladies are really something else, aren't you?"

"...Thank you. We like to think so." Inami answered him rather curtly and with a wry kind of smile, a smile that suggested it knew secrets untold, before bypassing him and going to stand by his little brother Ageha, and Asagiri.

In fact each of the grand ladies quickly found a few favorites, except Kimi. Inami stood close by Asagiri and Ageha. Kaguya went to stand by Kagura and Kagerou. Suzume stood close to Inami and her party, and took the company of Takigawa, Gakuto and Utsusemi. Amara took a shining to Tokiwa, and although she responded kindly to Takao too, it was kind of driving him crazy how much the golden goddess clearly preferred the courtesan he considered to be underneath him...

Kimi, however, simply followed Kaguya around shyly, much in a similar way to how Kagerou followed Kagura.

The men were complimenting the ladies on their clothes and accessories, which the ladies appreciated at first, but when the food arrived, it was as if day had become night. Most women who came to these places might take a nibble here and there, but they were usually too enamored with the men and too worried about how they would look eating. Not this group. They took to the offered meal like hummingbirds to nectar, excitedly going from one dish to another.

"So good~!" Inami proclaimed after trying a bite of inarizushi. She quickly had another.

"Mmm, how long has it been since we had a meal quite like this?" Amara asked idly, treating herself to a stick of mitarashi dango.

"Feels like at least a few hundred years, right?" Kaguya suggested with a smile, biting into a bean-paste filled bun.

The only one among them who seemed to have a regular girl's appetite was Kimi, but even she finally took to the dishes with gusto after Suzume suggested to her, "Go on, Kimi - Eat up! You never know when you'll have the chance to again, after all~" With this encouragement, Kimi nodded and began sampling small amounts of each dish, and taking a few extra bites of what she liked best.

Ageha blinked as he pondered their words. "Oh... Because it takes so long to do your hair and make-up? That must be why you all are so hungry, right? You must have spent all day making yourselves look perfect for the banquet!"

Afraid this might be seen as rude, Asagiri quickly covered for the boy in training. "Well, the effort clearly paid off!"

But finally, after all the ladies had eaten their fill, they returned to being more talkative with the gentlemen. Amara began to explain to them all, "Well then, I suppose we should start by saying that the banquet is held in Ao Kimi's honor. We have been visiting with this special guest for a while, and after tonight she will be leaving the island, so we wanted to send her off accompanied with who we considered to be the single most beautiful man on the island! Each of us will suggest a suitor to Kimi at the end of the night, and Kimi will pick from them who she wants to see her off."

"So for now." Suzume took over for her. "Let's get to know Ao Kimi!"

Kimi now sat shyly surrounded by the eager men, who were all taking great fun in this 'game' that the ladies had set up for their mutual entertainment. Whoever saw Kimi off at the end of the night would obviously be considered by this distinguished group of women to be the most beautiful man at either of their shops. It had the potential to either skyrocket a lower courtesan to the top, or cement a top courtesan there for years...

So of course Takao, Tokigawa and Tokiwa all fought for the honor of getting her attention first. Tokiwa opened his mouth, but Takao quickly covered it. But then while he was distracted with Tokiwa, Tokigawa beat him to it anyways, and asked Kimi first, "Well, well then~ Kimi, tell us - Are you from some distinguished family? To be honored so by such distinguished women, who must all be from very good families indeed?"

Kaguya answered aloud for them while the other women merely nodded mutely, "Indeed, we are..."

But Kimi looked down at her lap. "Not... Not I, though..." She finally admitted with some shame.

The men blinked at her admission. Kagura was the first to speak up. "Well, of course Kimi, it matters not what your family is like. We're simply surprised since you seemed to be of the same status as these other women-"

Kimi gasped, and quickly denied that, "Oh no, NO, not at ALL...!"

But Suzume took over for the poor girl then, "Well, the truth actually is, gentleman... Ao Kimi is kind of a nobody. She doesn't come from a wealthy or distinguished family, in fact she comes from a rather poor family. But they are only poor because they have a lot of medical costs, taking care of a sick relative, They are very good people. In fact, Kimi even came out on a rainy day to help us get our carriage out from where it had been stuck in the mud. She got all muddy helping us out. So of course we had to bring her into town with us and get her cleaned up, and hold a celebration in her honor for her kindness!"

Inari nodded and concluded for them, "And afterwards, Kimi is going to come with us and work for us~"

"To support your relative?" Takao finally got a word in, determined to get it now that he had something to relate to. "That's very noble of you, Kimi-san!"

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

(( ANYWAYS, long story short, Ao Kimi was the spirit of a dying girl, it was her own medical bills that kept her family so poor so she wished to pass away to spare her family further trouble and pain. The women accompanying her to the other side are all goddesses in disguise. Amara is actually Amaterasu, Suzume is Ame no Uzume, Kaguya is indeed the Moon Princess Kaguya, and Inami is actually Inari. At the end I was going to have Ao Kimi be seen off to the other world by Kagura, who I felt was the most selfless and kind of Yoshiwara’s gentlemen, and the story would have ended with Ao Kimi becoming a minor goddess and protector of the island, granting calm seas and good health. ))

#the men of yoshiwara #the men of yoshiwara: ohgiya #the men of yoshiwara: kikuya #yoshiwara #kagura

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