E7 - Friend, Foe or a New Character

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    #7 "Friend, Foe or a New Character"
[02:01] ---
    So, the reason
    you called me here was...?
[02:03] ---
    Well, old chap, I'm in rather
    a spot of trouble, rather indeed...
[02:08] ---
    Please, drop the fake accent!
[02:10] ---
    Your English grades are
    even worse than mine.
[02:14] ---
    We're pretty short on time for
    the manuscript for Summer Comiket.
[02:16] ---
    I had a feeling that's
    what this was about.
[02:19] ---
    Just so you know, I have
    absolutely not been slacking!
[02:22] ---
    You've been getting us into these
    ridiculous situations, so we got a late start.
[02:27] ---
    I know.
[02:29] ---
    I intend to take responsibility for that.
[02:31] ---
    T-t-t-t-t-t-take... responsibility?
[02:34] ---
    So, what should I do?
[02:37] ---
    Confirm our setup?
[02:39] ---
    Put a Summer Comiket notice on our
    homepage? Negotiate with printing places?
[02:43] ---
    I want you to look at the storyboard and
    help think about the story and setting.
[02:48] ---
    Hang on!
[02:49] ---
    I'm still an amateur at this
    doujin thing, you know!
[02:52] ---
    Believe me, I know.
[02:54] ---
    But at this point I have no choice
    but to turn to an anime freak like you!
[02:58] ---
    You're like an arrow that breaks after
    one use, or a reed that sinks right away.
[03:03] ---
    Thank you so much for
    that incredible demotivation.
[03:07] ---
    Look, when it's finished, I'll do the game
    character design, so be quiet and help.
[03:12] ---
    If I stay quiet, I can't
    give you my ideas, can I?
[03:15] ---
    What's the basis, anyway?
[03:18] ---
    That Snow Prism.
SIGN    That Snow Prism
[03:21] ---
    Oh, I know that one!
[03:22] ---
    I saw the whole thing!
[03:24] ---
    You know its spring season
    got to number one?
[03:28] ---
    Yeah, I know.
[03:30] ---
    I heard about it from
    your blog in the first place.
[03:33] ---
    I see now, I see.
[03:34] ---
    Maybe I'll help you out after all.
[03:37] ---
    Are you even listening to me?
    You couldn't have refused anyway!
[03:41] ---
    So, what kind of story should we do?
[03:43] ---
    I'd like to do a heartwarming
    epilogue about Kouhei the protagonist
[03:47] ---
    with Ui, the main heroine.
[03:50] ---
    Well, it'll be an epilogue about him and
    Mariko, the childhood friend heroine!
[03:54] ---
    Wait, hang on!
[03:56] ---
    I'm Team Mariko, so
    there's no changing it.
[03:59] ---
    I mean, Ui's too flawless,
    she's like a doll.
[04:03] ---
    She seems like she's getting
    forced along through the story.
[04:06] ---
    That's not what I'm talking about
    at all, you're missing the point!
[04:09] ---
    You're getting me, a man, caught up in
    this and making something 18-and-over?
[04:13] ---
    If there's no sex, it won't sell.
[04:14] ---
    You're a minor!
    You can't sell it with sex!
[04:16] ---
    That's why my mom
    and dad will sell it!
[04:18] ---
    There's nothing illegal
    about me making it!
[04:21] ---
    You're unclear about the derivative
    work guidelines, right?
[04:24] ---
    It's not like we're suddenly getting
    sucked into the seedy doujin underworld!
[04:28] ---
    Now, you're going to become
    Kouhei the protagonist,
[04:31] ---
    and you're going to passionately
    whisper your loving words to Mariko!
[04:47] ---
    Hurry up!
[04:48] ---
    Fine.
[04:52] ---
    Hey, smile, Mariko.
[04:55] ---
    K-Kouhei...
[04:57] ---
    Yes, that's it.
[04:59] ---
    You've got the cutest smile I know.
[05:03] ---
    I hope you'll always
    be smiling, at my side.
[05:09] ---
    Y-Yeah.
[05:11] ---
    I'd like that.
[05:16] ---
    But why change clothes all of a sudden?
[05:19] ---
    Well, it's our first time and everything.
[05:23] ---
    I'm not reading the script,
    I'm asking you, Eriri.
[05:27] ---
    I'm Mariko right now!
[05:29] ---
    Don't get caught up in idle thoughts.
[05:32] ---
    Hope you don't think
    it's a good excuse.
[05:34] ---
    Come on, next line!
[05:35] ---
    All right, so, what
    should we do from here?
[05:39] ---
    Well!
[05:42] ---
    I guess we better get started.
[05:48] ---
    S-Started...?
[05:49] ---
    Hurry up, we're running out of pages!
[05:52] ---
    Here we go then, Mariko.
[05:54] ---
    Ouch!
[05:55] ---
    Sorry, are you okay?
[05:57] ---
    I just told you, we don't
    have the pages left!
[05:59] ---
    Just keep moving!
[06:01] ---
    Um, okay!
[06:03] ---
    Come on, love me more...
[06:06] ---
    Didn't I tell you?
[06:08] ---
    I love you more than
    anything in the world.
[06:12] ---
    I can't believe you...
[06:14] ---
    with words alone.
[06:16] ---
    So how can I make you believe me?
[06:18] ---
    Mess me all up.
[06:23] ---
    Do something so amazing
    to me that I'll never forget.
[06:32] ---
    Don't get out of character now!
    You'll make me want to die!
SIGN    Next School Day
    August 5 (Thursday)
    Please don't get into an accident during summer break
[07:07] ---
    Kato!
[07:08] ---
    Today, at last, I'll finally
    tell you what I mean to say.
[07:11] ---
    Have you been actually holding
    something back any other day before this?
[07:15] ---
    Never mind that, just listen.
[07:17] ---
    You don't have any idea
    what a character is really about.
[07:20] ---
    Yeah, that's true.
[07:23] ---
    Their personality, speech style, birthday,
    three sizes, favorite underwater-only Mobile Armor!
[07:29] ---
    A character's important points.
    You can't just go changing them.
[07:33] ---
    The Megumi Kato that readers
    fell in love with would die!
[07:38] ---
    Really? That's too bad.
[07:42] ---
    So how could you do this?
[07:44] ---
    What?
[07:45] ---
    How could you suddenly
    change your whole hairstyle?
[07:48] ---
    Well... I just kind of did it.
[07:51] ---
    You just kind of did it?!
[07:53] ---
    Did you take this gamble that could
    destroy your entire character?!
[08:00] ---
    Wait, but look, doesn't it
    happen in manga sometimes
[08:04] ---
    where a heroine will change her
    hairstyle one day and get noticed?
[08:07] ---
    But you're not!
[08:09] ---
    Basically everyone but me is
    looking through you!
[08:12] ---
    I guess the closing ceremony
    was a tricky time for it.
[08:15] ---
    Maybe the opening ceremony
    would've been better?
[08:17] ---
    If you have to rely on curveballs like that,
    you'll never be a first-rate main heroine!
[08:23] ---
    Protesting that much about a girl's hairstyle
    means you're paying some attention, right?
[08:30] ---
    So are you going anywhere
    for break, Sawamura-san?
[08:33] ---
    Me? Uh...
[08:35] ---
    How am I supposed to
    go out in this stupid heat?
[08:38] ---
    Y-Yeah, I haven't decided yet, but maybe
    to our villa in Nasu, or my papa's family home?
[08:45] ---
    Your father's home is
    in England, right? Amazing!
[08:49] ---
    He doesn't live in a castle
    or anything, does he?
[08:51] ---
    No, it's nothing special.
[08:55] ---
    Not that I've ever been there.
[08:56] ---
    You understand, Kato?
[08:58] ---
    It's not the little tricks
    that latch onto readers' hearts.
[09:02] ---
    It's the core traits that have been
    polished and tested by time!
[09:06] ---
    Ah, so maybe blonde pigtails
    or plain old long black hair?
[09:10] ---
    Okay, sure, maybe those.
[09:13] ---
    But this applies to your overall
    character too, you know?
[09:18] ---
    Ah, like the tsundere childhood
    friend or the ultra-harsh senpai?
[09:24] ---
    Sure, yes, you have those too.
[09:26] ---
    But there's more to a core
    than that, isn't there?
[09:29] ---
    Such as?
[09:31] ---
    Such as, I don't know, how about
    a little-sister-type kouhai?
[09:36] ---
    Oh, just a kouhai,
    not an actual little sister?
[09:39] ---
    Well, a real little sister would cause
    controversy, so let's leave that out.
[09:44] ---
    I see. It takes all kinds, huh?
[09:47] ---
    But anyway!
[09:49] ---
    Think about a younger girl
    who's always saying "senpai,"
[09:52] ---
    sticking to you all the time, looking up at you
    in admiration, isn't that just the most moe?
[09:57] ---
    Um, I'm still not used to speaking
[10:01] ---
    under the assumption that
    "moe" is part of conversing.
[10:05] ---
    How great it would be to see her leaning against
    the school gate, waiting to leave together!
[10:11] ---
    Tomoya-senpai?
[10:13] ---
    Yes, just like that!
[10:18] ---
    I knew it! It is you, Tomoya-senpai!
[10:21] ---
    Thank goodness I finally found you!
[10:25] ---
    I'm back. I came back for you, Senpai!
[10:30] ---
    Senpai! Senpai! I missed you!
[10:33] ---
    Even core traits have limits.
[10:45] ---
    Is that really you, Izumi-chan?
[10:47] ---
    Well, of course it is!
[10:50] ---
    Don't tell me you forgot about me.
[10:54] ---
    No.
[10:57] ---
    Izumi Hashima?
[10:59] ---
    That was definitely her name.
[11:02] ---
    So she's your and Mr. Ethical's kouhai?
[11:05] ---
    I don't know anything about her.
[11:06] ---
    Our elementary schools were
    different, and she's two years below,
[11:09] ---
    and above all, she moved to Nagoya
    before she went into middle school.
[11:13] ---
    "Don't know anything about her"
    seems like a stretch, then.
[11:18] ---
    The point is, I've never talked to her.
[11:22] ---
    All I know is she was always
    following Tomoya-kun around!
[11:28] ---
    So wait, if she's two years below us...
[11:31] ---
    she's still in middle school?
[11:37] ---
    Funny, you seem more like
    the middle school type here.
[11:41] ---
    Die in a fire.
[11:43] ---
    Do I really look that different?
[11:45] ---
    You're practically another person!
[11:47] ---
    You used to have really short hair,
    and you were tan all the time.
[11:54] ---
    So I look a little more girly now?
[11:57] ---
    Yeah.
[11:58] ---
    Well, if I do, that's all
    because of you, Senpai!
[12:04] ---
    After all, you taught me
    the pleasures of being a girl, Senpai!
[12:13] ---
    Hang on a second.
[12:14] ---
    You've not seen her in three years
    since she was in elementary school?
[12:18] ---
    Wait, just hang on, Kato!
    All I taught Izumi-chan was...
[12:21] ---
    So, Tomoya-senpai...
[12:26] ---
    Please accept this!
[12:34] ---
    We're on the second day, East Hall, 29b,
    and we're called "Fancy Wave!"
[12:40] ---
    Come and see us!
[12:44] ---
    So you started working
    in doujins too, Izumi-chan.
[12:49] ---
    And on Little Love Rhapsody books, too.
[12:51] ---
    Yes! Last year was my first time
    in an event, so I'm a beginner.
[12:56] ---
    Hey, Aki-kun.
[12:57] ---
    Is that Little-Whatever
    a dating sim too?
[13:00] ---
    It's not "Little Whatever,"
    it's "Little Love Rhapsody!"
[13:03] ---
    Little Love Rhapsody!
[13:05] ---
    Also known as LitRhap, or LLR,
[13:08] ---
    and it's a popular series over three volumes that
    sold more than two million copies, so get it right!
[13:14] ---
    Okay, got it.
[13:16] ---
    So you're Aki-kun's
    teacher's-pet, Izumi-chan.
[13:22] ---
    I'd never seen any games
    or anime until I met Senpai.
[13:28] ---
    He took the ignorant little girl I was
    and showed me a whole new world.
[13:34] ---
    He got me LitRhap 2 on every
    system for my birthday!
[13:41] ---
    If Senpai hadn't gotten me
    LitRhap 2 as a present,
[13:44] ---
    I wouldn't have this happy life full of
    games and anime that I do now.
[13:50] ---
    I can never pay back
    what he's done for me!
[13:55] ---
    Huh, I see.
[13:56] ---
    So this is the little-sister-type
    kouhai core trait you meant, Aki-kun.
[14:01] ---
    I can't pretend there's
    nothing off about this.
[14:04] ---
    I might be saying
    weird stuff, but...
[14:06] ---
    It's a very "I wonder..." kind of deal.
[14:10] ---
    So he corrupted a pure, innocent
    elementary schooler with dating sims.
[14:15] ---
    He's really been wily from
    the start, hasn't he, Mr. Ethical?
[14:19] ---
    Little Rhap...
[14:21] ---
    What's wrong, Sawamura-san?
[14:22] ---
    N-Nothing, nothing's wrong!
[14:25] ---
    Are you not feeling well?
[14:27] ---
    If you're looking for the slide,
    it's over there. I'll take you.
[14:31] ---
    Why would you try and
    lead me to the slide?
[14:35] ---
    So, Senpai, that's why you have to, have to,
    have to come to Summer Comiket!
[14:42] ---
    Sure, I'll definitely go.
[14:44] ---
    I'm looking forward to seeing
    what you made, Izumi-chan.
[14:47] ---
    All right, see you,
    Tomoya-senpai, Kato-senpai.
[14:50] ---
    And you too, Sawamura-senpai!
[14:53] ---
    Ah, uh, um...
[14:55] ---
    So you and Izumi-chan knew
    each other too, Sawamura-san.
[14:58] ---
    No, I just knew who she was.
[15:01] ---
    She was one of the biggest names
    in our school district, after all.
[15:12] ---
    Ah, that's right, Senpai!
[15:13] ---
    What?
[15:14] ---
    You should come over to
    our new house sometime!
[15:17] ---
    I know Big Brother would be
    happy to see you too!
[15:19] ---
    All right, goodbye!
[15:23] ---
    Yeah, see you.
[15:34] ---
    So Big Brother would be happy too?
[15:40] ---
    Has something been
    making you mad?
[15:43] ---
    Not really.
[15:44] ---
    An old friend just came back
    after three years.
[15:47] ---
    Isn't it natural we'd
    have a lot to talk about?
[15:49] ---
    I told you, I'm not mad.
    You're just being too self-conscious.
[15:52] ---
    Not to mention misunderstanding.
[15:54] ---
    That so? Well, that's fine then.
[15:57] ---
    The way you just settle for whatever
    explanation suits you is the worst.
[16:03] ---
    Well, which is it?
[16:05] ---
    So... you were talking up LitRhap to her.
[16:10] ---
    Hey... it's a masterpiece.
[16:12] ---
    It's just—
[16:14] ---
    Well, it's been a while, both of you.
[16:24] ---
    I want to get good works
    played by many people.
[16:27] ---
    It's probably otaku instinct.
[16:29] ---
    But it's an otaku instinct to keep people
    from jumping on the bandwagon.
[16:34] ---
    Even so, if someone is important,
    it's normal to want to talk it up!
[16:37] ---
    I don't need your lowest common
    denominator opinions right now!
[16:41] ---
    This is on purpose, isn't it?
[16:43] ---
    You must have noticed me, right?
[16:46] ---
    All right, so what's the problem?
[16:48] ---
    I can't understand
    if you don't tell me!
[16:50] ---
    You already know!
[16:51] ---
    You know exactly
    what I want to say!
[16:53] ---
    Can I ask you to not just ignore me?
[16:57] ---
    I've been waiting here for
    more than half an hour already.
[17:01] ---
    What do you want, Iori?
[17:04] ---
    Thanks to my father's work, I could
    come back to Tokyo after three years.
[17:08] ---
    A greeting would be nice.
[17:10] ---
    No need to come all this way.
[17:12] ---
    You could have stayed in Nagoya eating
    all the good food I've heard about.
[17:16] ---
    Have you heard, Tomoya-kun?
[17:17] ---
    There's a famous jumbo fried shrimp in
    Nagoya that uses imported black tiger shrimp,
[17:23] ---
    not even a famous Nagoya food!
[17:25] ---
    When Hakata's marinated pollock roe doesn't
    use Kyushu-made cod roe, does that matter?
[17:30] ---
    You two sure picked the most
    whatever thing possible to fight about.
[17:34] ---
    Why have you appeared
    before me again?
[17:36] ---
    I seem to recall
    severing ties with you.
[17:38] ---
    You're so cold, Tomoya-kun.
[17:40] ---
    Weren't we once true friends, who agreed
    to rise through the otaku world together?
[17:46] ---
    Yes, there certainly was
    a time when we said that.
[17:49] ---
    I haven't forgotten the shock when I found out
    you, one of the best-looking guys in class
[17:54] ---
    who I thought I couldn't have a conversation
    with, were an even bigger otaku than me.
[18:00] ---
    You think so? I had
    the opposite impression.
[18:04] ---
    I thought of you as the only person
    that would ever understand me.
[18:09] ---
    I... Iori.
[18:10] ---
    Do you know how many girls in your class
    were into that weird dynamic of yours?
[18:20] ---
    But...
[18:22] ---
    but you were too
    different from me after all.
[18:27] ---
    You didn't become an otaku so you could
    enjoy and spread the things you liked.
[18:33] ---
    You just wanted to ride the coattails of famous
    works and creators, and show off to the big shots.
[18:40] ---
    I told you from the beginning.
[18:43] ---
    My goal was to rise up
    through the world of otaku.
[18:47] ---
    So start building up from the bottom!
[18:49] ---
    Don't just feed on the creators!
[18:53] ---
    Have you tried turning those
    exact words back on yourself?
[18:58] ---
    Iori! The way you do things is wrong!
[19:01] ---
    Is that so?
[19:02] ---
    You're doing some pretty
    shady stuff, aren't you?
[19:06] ---
    That's why you couldn't show yourself
    as you are to Izumi-chan, your own little sister?
[19:11] ---
    I wonder about that.
[19:14] ---
    But one thing, Tomoya-kun.
[19:17] ---
    This is who I am now.
[19:19] ---
    Representative
[19:22] ---
    Rouge en rouge?
[19:24] ---
    Akane Kousaka's circle?!
[19:27] ---
    Akane-san's very busy and rather fickle.
[19:30] ---
    I've helped them out with many things,
    and they couldn't turn me down anymore.
[19:35] ---
    Hold on.
[19:37] ---
    This is the ultra-big creator who hasn't come out
    in front of a camera in more than a decade, right?
[19:43] ---
    I did everything it took to get me here.
[19:45] ---
    See how my methods that
    you so revile worked for me?
[19:55] ---
    I look forward to our
    fruitful relationship.
[19:59] ---
    I don't need a business card
    from a greedy doujin punk like you.
[20:03] ---
    Oh no,
[20:06] ---
    I'd like you to have one most of all...
[20:09] ---
    Eri Kashiwagi-sensei.
[20:11] ---
    I, no, my circle is
    quite interested in you.
[20:17] ---
    Did you know?
[20:19] ---
    About Eriri's secret identity?
[20:21] ---
    That's not all.
[20:23] ---
    We know all about what you're
    planning to make, Tomoya-kun.
[20:27] ---
    You're making a game with Eri
    Kashiwagi and Utako Kasumi.
[20:31] ---
    You know what kind of impact this will
    have on the otaku world, don't you?
[20:36] ---
    You're the producer behind this
    grand design, aren't you?
[20:39] ---
    Aiming to send shockwaves
    through the industry?
[20:42] ---
    You're wrong! I'm not doing this
    to get further up in the industry!
[20:45] ---
    And yet, Tomoya-kun, my circle just
    happens to have the exact same plan.
[20:53] ---
    You see, as we were
    searching for that animator...
[20:56] ---
    What... you...
[20:58] ---
    Hashima, did you...
[21:01] ---
    It's a contest now, Tomoya-kun.
[21:03] ---
    Iori...
[21:05] ---
    Does this brand-new, baby circle of yours
    deserve to have Eri Kashiwagi on board?
[21:10] ---
    Or might she perhaps be
    better able to shine with us?