備えなければ憂いあり
Unpreparedness Brings Regret


I am collapsed upon the ground.
My four limbs strewn powerlessly every which way, I lay there on my side.
Even in the middle of summer, my skin is slightly cold.
In the midst of an air conditioned room, I am slumped and sprawled about.

Kei: So boring---

Following my solitary mutterings, my ear, pressed neatly against the tatami, catches the sounds of approaching footsteps.
As the footsteps stop in front of my room, I hurriedly rouse myself and check the state of my clothes. Alright!

Kei: Welcome baaack! oh, it's Sakuya-san.

Sakuya: Well, I'm so sorry it was me.

Kei: I'm not disappointed, really, I just thought it was Uzuki-san.

Thinking about it, though, Uzuki-san wouldn't unreservedly open the door to a person's room.

Sakuya: Now that you mention it, where is she?

Kei: I told her to go on a stroll, so she did.

If I didn't say that, she'd probably get chewed out for leaving me.

Sakuya: Figures. So even you can't bear looking at that irritated, sour face all hours of the day, huh?

Kei: Wah, that sounds like the typical twisted deduction you'd come to.

Sakuya: ......And what part of it's so twisted, then?

Kei: Maybe the hair whorl, or the belly button, or something.

And so, at the end of our skirmish, the main event, as usual.

Kei: So, how was Tsudzura-chan?

Not quite satisfied with the handling of that little girl from yesterday, I had Sakuya-san look at the Hazama mansion.

Sakuya: It was all just an empty shell. She probably ran off since she knew the scary Onee-san was in town, dontcha think?

Kei: Oh, so I'm "scary," am I?

Sakuya: No, I didn't mean you... but, right, right. After that, I went fishing around inside, so...

Kei: Okay.

Sakuya: Here, today's souvenir.

With that, she takes out a bulky bundle and lobs it in my direction.

Kei: Fnya!

I fumble at the reception and take a direct hit to the face, but it doesn't really hurt. Unlike a cushion or the like, it's heavy, but the bundle's contents seem to be made of cloth.
As I untie the knot and open the bundle, inside I find an indigo dyed kimono with blue flowers arranged on the surface.

Kei: Wah, it's a yukata......

Unlike the hotel yukata I wear for pajamas, this one is thick and textured.

Sakuya: The festival's in two days, right? For a festival, you gotta have a yukata.

Kei: That's true. So where's yours?

Sakuya: I'm gonna pass on that one. Japanese style outfits are oh so tight when you're too uneven, you know.

So she says, while taking a bouncily insinuating pose.

Kei: Wah, my self-esteem is mangled beyond hope.

Of course, I can't really compare to Sakuya-san, but I consider myself to fall within the average, at least.

Sakuya: That aside, Kei.

Kei: What?

Sakuya: Just look at yourself, to the tray, from the tray, lounging about and then sleeping in a lump to top it off, what a remarkable life you must live, your highness.

Wah, my doings before the door's opening have been exposed.
With this happening, I guess you could say it's better that Sakuya-san came back first......
Seeing as she knows events from really far back, like drawing maps on futon or the like, it doesn't matter much if she sees me in such a deplorable state.

Kei: But there isn't much to do in a room by yourself, and I've read all the books I brought, and there aren't many TV channels...

For some reason, I try to defend myself.

Kei: What is there to do besides sleeping in a lump?

Sakuya: What about your school work?

Kei: Eh?

Sakuya: Don't students get homework assignments over the summer nowadays?

Kei: Ah......

Sakuya: We're talkin' about you, after all. Isn't this the part where you say, "preparedness brings no regrets" or "I thought there might be something like this," and it just pops out of your bag?

*furufuru* (TN: Onomatopoeia for shaking your head.)

Sakuya: Nothing?

*kokukoku* (TN: Nodding.)

Sakuya: ......Mayumi, now that you've gone, that Kei's headed straight down the road to good-for-nothing-dom.

Kei: Uuu, I'm sorry, mom!

I turns out my image is full of holes.
Let's resolve right now to take the first step towards being a good citizen.

Kei: I'm sorry, Sakuya-san, but could you go to the bookstore and buy Dokushokansoubun no Shiteitosho for me, please? (TN: Basically something like, "Must-Haves for the Cultured Reader".)

Sakuya: Well, alright.

Kei: After that, there's this one book for myself that I'd like you to buy......

Sakuya: Uwa, am I Kei's errand runner, or what?

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