Ch. 4 EX: Islands of 8 - Kogasa
Yatsugatake
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"Sorry, I can't play with you right now." "We're busy relocating the village."
"Um, Miss, don't you have any work to do?" "This ain't no time to be messin' around. It's an emergency."
"Sorry, I don't think I'll be able to play with you for a while." "Ask me again once everything has calmed down... OK?"
"Leave me alone." "Ahaha, you're so full of energy."
"Oh, sorry... I don't really feel up for that right now."
"I have to leave my house that I've always lived in... and my village... so I can't... *sob*"
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...
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...
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So boring...
???
I'm so boring...
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Is this how it ends?
???
...Am I going to disappear?
There's blue ocean as far as the eye can see!
It's so pretty but also pretty scary... I hope I don't fall.
Remilia
So how are you feeling now that we've set out on our grand adventure?
I'm excited.
I wonder what we'll find.
Remilia
Me too.
Remilia
It's fun to journey out into the wide world on your own without anyone looking over your shoulder.
Remilia
Now that we've left, I'm sure we'll be fine even if this journey takes us to the ends of the Earth or the far side of the Moon.
Remilia
Getting away from Yukari, Reimu, and the others will be a good learning experience for you.
Remilia
By the way, it's really convenient how you can come with us while simultaneously adventuring in another world.
Remilia
This is thanks to that ship that fell from the sky, right? Do you know how it works? Sakuya just kind of accepted it.
Yeah, I don't really understand it, either.
But is it really OK for me to tag along with you?
???
Good question. Normally, you wouldn't have what it takes to accompany me and my sister on our grand adventure.
???
But we need someone to use the Seal Crystal, take notes, and...
Flandre
...to hold our umbrellas on the off chance the weather turns south!
Flandre
That's why I'm going through the trouble of carrying you on my back!
Flandre
Hmph!
S-Sorry!
I'm not too heavy, am I?
Flandre
No, you're light!
Flandre
But I was looking forward to going on this adventure with just my sister!
(I'm really sorry!)
Flandre
Well, I guess it's fine. You can't compare to Sakuya, but you're better than nothing.
Remilia
I didn't expect Sakuya to prioritize hunting for swimsuit materials over this. She must really want a swimsuit.
Remilia
Then again, she applied for leave before I invited her on this adventure, so I can't really complain.
Flandre
Huh? I didn't even know that was a thing.
...Wait, why are we going on this adventure anyway?
Remilia
Have you forgotten already? Fine, I'll explain it again.
Remilia
This world is covered in water, and the sea level is rising. Apparently, this is all due to an incident.
Remilia
That means we can resolve it. And once the incident is resolved, there will be a lot less water.
Remilia
That'll make this world much more livable for us vampires. With the running water gone, we can go anywhere we like.
Remilia
And at night, we'll be invincible.
Flandre
Only my beautiful and charismatic vampire sister could come up with such a brilliant plan! ...So, where are we going?
Remilia
I've got no idea!
Flandre
Huh?!
Remilia
From what I've heard, there are eight islands in this world, including the main island where we live.
Remilia
The rising sea level swallowed up all the land leaving only the highest point... the Youkai Mountain.
Remilia
And then the mountain broke up to form islands or something. I'm not really sure about the details.
Remilia
The Keine from another world said it was supposed to become the Yatsugatake mountain range if not for all the water.
Yatsugatake... the mountain range with eight peaks.
Remilia
Yeah, but this doesn't really mean much since we don't know which island will provide us with a lead to resolve the incident.
Remilia
In fact, there's no guarantee there'll even be any leads on an island. We might have to search the bottom of the ocean...
Flandre
R-R-Re...!
Remilia
Re?
Flandre
REEEEEMIIIIILIAAAAAAAA! Why didn't you say that before instead of playing with your dumb rockets?!
Flandre
Huh?
Remilia
Whoa! It's raining! It's a full-on storm! How come?! There weren't even any clouds a second ago!
Oh, no! Get under my umbrella, you two!
Remilia
This is bad...! Real bad...!
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...
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...Hey.
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Are you... surprised?
Remilia
Wh-Wh-What was that?!
Flandre
Yikes!
(They're scared even more because of the storm!)
???
Are you... surprised?
Remilia
St-St-St-Stay away!
Flandre
This is terrifying!
???
If you're surprised... say so.
Remilia
Yeah, you surprised me! I'm really surprised!
Flandre
This is the most surprised I've felt all day!
Kogasa
Woohoo, I did it! Thanks for being surprised!
Remilia
A k-k-ka...
Flandre
K-K-Ka...
Remilia & Flandre
Karakasa-obake!
Kogasa
Welcome to One-Eighth Island! That's what everyone calls it, anyway.
Kogasa
Wow, it's been quite a while since I succeeded in surprising anyone like that! It really filled me up! Thank you!
Kogasa
...Huh? Did the shock wear you out or something?
Flandre
No! It was the rain! That sudden torrential downpour!
Remilia
We need a towel to dry off, or it'll keep sapping our energy! Urgh, it completely ruined all the sunscreen I put on!
Yeah, you can't dry off in the sun, like me...!
Kogasa
Hmm... Oh!
Kogasa
This might be my chance to pull off even more surprises!
Kogasa
I've heard that vampires are powerful youkai, but I might be able to beat them in a battle!
Kogasa
I challenge you both to a battle of bullets!
Remilia
What?! Hold on a second!
Flandre
...This is why we brought you along, PLAYER! To handle situations like this!
OK! Leave this to me!
Bullet Baseball
Kogasa
All right then, let's play baseball together!
Flandre
That sounds fun!
Kogasa
Yeah, let's play!
Remilia
...Hold on!
Remilia
What are you talking about?!
Remilia
Why are we playing baseball? That doesn't make any sense! I demand an explanation.
Remilia
Also, why are you here on this island? What'd you call it, One-Eighth Island? That's such a funky name.
Kogasa
Huh?
Kogasa
Don't you know that the Youkai Mountain broke apart to form an archipelago? I thought even the village kids knew that.
Remilia
Of course, I know that!
Kogasa
Then you must also know that...
Kogasa
...vampires are about the only ones who can't travel across the sea to other islands, right?
Remilia
Huh?!
Flandre
Wh-What did you say?!
Flandre
I can't believe this!
Remilia
No way...! Why?! Why didn't anyone tell us?! Not even Sakuya! ...Were they keeping it a secret out of kindness?
Flandre
I got so excited to finally cross the ocean, but you're telling me all the other youkai have already done it?!
Kogasa
Wow, are you really that weak to sunlight and running water? It's kind of sad. Vampires have a lot of weaknesses, huh?
Remilia
I'll only say this once, karakasa-obake, so listen up. Everyone has their limits.
Remilia
This also applies to things that are seemingly harmless. For example, a single tupai is pretty cute.
Remilia
But if there was a bathtub full of the little critters, they'd be really scary. Sunlight and running water are like that to us.
Kogasa
Yeah, that would be pretty scary.
Remilia
So, why baseball? Actually... no, you don't have to explain.
Remilia
We embarked on this adventure and stopped by this island for the sole reason of ending this detestable eternal summer.
Remilia
While, as a noble, I have a moral obligation to help my lessers, we simply don't have any time to waste.
Remilia
I'm terribly sorry, but you'll have to find someone else to play with you.
Remilia
Come on, let's go, Flan, PLAYER.
Kogasa
So you want to end summer, huh...?
Kogasa
Hmm, I know of an item that grants wishes. Would that help?
Remilia
What?! Why didn't you say so?!
Flandre
Are you serious?!
Kogasa
You really don't know anything, do you? I guess that's no surprise since you haven't traveled to other islands before.
Remilia
Just tell us already.
Kogasa
There's this thing called the Occult Bowl.
Flandre
The what bowl?
Remilia
There are orbs with a similar name that were part of an incident in the past, but this sounds like something different.
Kogasa
It's a common practice to hold festivals and parties to repel the fairies of Levania, and One-Eighth Island is no exception.
Kogasa
However, the way we do things is kinda special... We hold a massive sports festival on the beach!
Kogasa
The Occult Bowl is one crazy big festival tournament where everyone competes in various ball sports.
Kogasa
I'm planning to participate as a baseballer 'cause I'm super good at swinging a bat while standing on one leg!
Kogasa
And my ultimate goal is to surprise everyone by winning the entire tournament!
Kogasa
So I don't have any interest in the Wishing Ball prize that's supposed to grant any wish.
Remilia
Is that really what it's called?!
Flandre
It sounds fake!
Kogasa
I can't force you to believe me. I'm just telling you what I know.
Flandre
This is obviously a trap, Remilia. I bet someone's putting on this sports festival thing to hide some kind of scheme.
Remilia
I agree, Flan. It sounds like a little incident in the making. And if we get involved, I'm sure we'll get caught in the crossfire.
Kogasa
Does that mean you don't want to help me win it?
Remilia & Flandre
No, we're in!
Kogasa
Whoa, you're all fired up!
Remilia
So, what do we have to do? Help you practice baseball?
Kogasa
Mostly, but there's one more thing I'd like your help with.
Remilia
What?
Kogasa
I need a baseball uniform!
Kogasa
Wow, this swimsuit is super cute! It's perfect for playing on the beach!
Kogasa
IS THIS A JOKE?!
Kogasa
Didn't I ask you for a baseball uniform?!
Remilia
We couldn't help it. The owner of Beach House Kourindou seems to have a one-track mind recently.
Flandre
All he makes is swimsuits.
I didn't know Seal Crystals could be used like this.
It's like getting things made-to-order over the internet.
Remilia
It was a piece of cake and a cup of tea, thanks to my ability to manipulate fate.
Flandre
Yeah, you can't have cake without tea.
(It can't have been easy to use her ability like that!)
Umm... Are you OK, Remilia?
Remilia
Hm? Don't worry. I'm fine.
Remilia
Anyway, karakasa-obake, the materials you gathered for a uniform have been made into a swimsuit.
Remilia
What's done is done, so you can either wear the swimsuit or change back into your normal clothes.
Kogasa
Are you kidding?! Of course, I'm gonna compete in this!
Kogasa
With a swimsuit, I might be able to beat that shrine maiden! I'll have to practice while pretending she's my opponent!
Wow, you're really pumped up for this!
Kogasa
You betcha!
Remilia
Good, it seems you don't lack motivation...
Remilia
So let's test out your swimsuit. You're up, PLAYER.
Leave it to me!
Flandre
...
Flandre
(How do you test a swimsuit?)
Kogasa
C'mon, pitcher, give me everything you've got!
Kogasa
I'll send all your bullets flying!
Kogasa
N-No way...
Kogasa
...Are you saying my batting style's outdated?!
Remilia
No, no one said that. Gosh, it's hard to believe that you're the same karakasa-obake who caused that scary storm.
Flandre
Outdated, huh? ...I guess that's one way of putting it.
What do you mean, Flan? Can you help Kogasa?
Flandre
I can't say anything for certain since I haven't seen you play in an actual match, but...
Flandre
Kogasa Tatara. Everyone's going to be there at that Occult Bowl sports festival you were talking about, right?
Flandre
So am I right to assume that the participants are youkai and those destructive humans?
Kogasa
U-Um, yeah, that's right.
Flandre
This means that what you've been calling "baseball" probably isn't just ordinary baseball.
Flandre
To emphasize my point, the practice you just showed us was more like a battle of bullets.
Kogasa
...?!
Flandre
You can't beat your rivals with ordinary baseball, but bullet battling isn't a sport.
Flandre
Kogasa Tatara, you'll never succeed while you're stuck in two minds!
Remilia
Whoa, has Flan evolved? She just used her ability to destroy the karakasa-obake's misconceptions.
Kogasa
Oh, no...
Kogasa
...What should I do?!
Flandre
Don't worry, Kogasa. I'll coach you. Your weak mind, bad form, and chronic muscle fatigue will hold you back...
Flandre
...So I'll destroy them all along with your minimal chances of success!
Kogasa
C-Coach!
What a touching scene!
Flandre
All right, let's start training.
Flandre
Prepare to go through hell!
(I spoke too soon...)
Kogasa Surprise
*umbrella swinging montage*
*squat montage*
*tire pulling montage*
Kogasa
*wheeze* *pant*
Kogasa
*sob* *sniff*
Kogasa
*sob*
K-Kogasa!
(I have to help her...!)
Vampire Coach
Wait, PLAYER.
C-Coach?!
But Kogasa can't keep going like this!
Vampire Coach
Don't you believe in her?!
Huh?!
(What is she on about...?)
Vampire Coach
Look! Look at Kogasa! Can't you see?! She has what you lack right now!
What I'm lacking?!
(Right, I'm not a baseballer or a participant―)
(―but I'm still a part of this... No, I still don't get it.)
*Kogasa running super fast while pulling a tire*
Vampire Coach
...
Coach, will this training really help with Bullet Baseball?!
Vampire Coach
...
Vampire Coach
I've got no idea!
Remilia
Wow, it's been a busy few days, hasn't it?
Remilia
It's not much longer until the Occult Bowl. This is just like in manga, where the protagonists train until the final hour.
Remilia
All right, show me the results of your training!
Kogasa
With pleasure!
Kogasa
I finally realized what I was lacking...
Kogasa
It was friends to play baseball with! You're meant to have at least nine players per team.
Flandre
Then what was the point of all that training?!
Remilia
I know you were just coaching for the fun of it, Flan. It's not like any of us know the rules of the Occult Bowl tournament.
Flandre
Hehe, I knew I couldn't hide that from you.
Kogasa
But I don't think it was entirely pointless. It's thanks to my improved skills...
Kogasa
...that the other tsukumogami agreed to play baseball with me!
Kogasa
So, thanks, Coach! And thank you, too, Manager!
Vampire Coach
You're welcome!
Vampire Manager
Wait, since when am I your manager?!
Kogasa
The batting order and fielding positions play an important role in deciding a match! And batting is all about control!
Kogasa
Give me your best pitch, PLAYER! I'll use my one-legged batting technique to hit it right back at you!
Kogasa
Oof!
Kogasa
Thinking about it now, hitting it back at the pitcher only works if they can't catch it...
Kogasa
That...!
Kogasa
That was terrible!
Kogasa
We'll never make it to the Occult Bowl finals at this rate! I'm not even sure we'll make it out of the qualifiers...!
Kogasa
Even after all your help, I'm still useless...!
Vampire Coach
Don't say that...
Vampire Manager
Karakasa-obake...
Kogasa...
Kogasa
Maybe I should just give up...
???
―I saw everything, Kogasa.
Byakuren
I'm impressed. That match really showed how far you've come.
Shou
Well done. Your batting technique was truly a joy to watch.
Nazrin
You still have to pick up all the balls you hit, right? We can finish that in no time if we all work together.
Kogasa
Miss Shou! Miss Nazrin!
Minamitsu
I'd love to practice with you! Though, I'd need some time off from the temple, and you'd have to teach me the rules first.
Ichirin
Yeah, it's amazing how Kogasa can understand all those complex rules. Oh, Unzan says he'll help pick up the balls, too.
Kyouko
Bullet Baseball looks like a really fun sport! I'll cheer you on from the sidelines!
Kogasa
Miss Murasa, Miss Ichirin, Mister Unzan, and Miss Kyouko!
Nue
I thought just watching battles of bullets would be boring, but I was wrong! That was really exciting!
Mamizou
Oh ho ho! I'm sure it would be even more fun to watch with a drink or two!
Kogasa
Miss Nue! Miss Mamizou!
Kogasa
Are you all here to cheer me on...?!
Byakuren
Of course! When we heard you were training, we came as fast as we could.
Kogasa
Huh, how did you hear about it...? Who told you?
Reimu
You can't have expected me to just sit back and do nothing when youkai are causing a fuss.
Reimu
I told your guardians so they'd deal with it.
Reimu
Got a problem with that?
Flandre
Oh, it's the red-and-white shaman with her omnidirectional eyes of destruction!
Remilia
Is she blushing?
Reimu
And I didn't just bring the folks from Myouren Temple.
Reimu
It seems you've got some little fans, too. They kept pestering me, so I brought a few of them along.
Reimu
Come on out. This is your chance to get her autograph before she gets famous.
Village Child A
You were so cool, Miss Kogasa! I was really surprised! I wanna try playing baseball too!
Village Child B
That match was really fun to watch! I'm gonna bring all my friends to cheer you on next time!
Village Child C
Th-That's one of those swimsuit things, right? I-It suits you...! Um, er, you look... No, forget I said anything!
You've surprised so many people...!
Isn't this great, Kogasa?!
Kogasa
Y-Yeah...! I'm surprised too...!
Kogasa
Thanks, everyone! Thank you, Reimu! Thanks, PLAYER!
Reimu
So what were you saying before? You aren't seriously gonna quit before the qualifiers, are you?
Kogasa
Of course not! I'm not gonna give up on my dream just yet!
Kogasa
...I'm gonna get to the Occult Bowl grand final with all my friends, and then I'm gonna win it!
Kogasa
Please cheer me on!
???
Bullet Baseball and the Occult Bowl sports festival, huh?
???
Those kids really seemed to idolize Kogasa, and her swimsuit is super cute. I bet she's gonna go far.
???
Hehehe...
Sekibanki
Things are getting interesting.
