Panyose

It’s time for the Friday Film Festivaaaaal!

I knew it. Oh, and Raito-san too. It’s rare to see you two together.

Yeah. I found him on the hallway floor one night nearly passed out from hunger, so I invited him out to have ramen, and he’s been quite attached to me ever since.

Noodles: firm. Flavor: strong. Oil: extra. Topping: ramen eggs, and a nice bowl of char siu with rice on the side! Praise be!

Ahaha. I’m glad to see you leaders are getting along.

Agreed. Akuta’s cute in a different way from Nayuki.

(Yeah, Akuta-kun does feel like a quintessential younger brother. And if Raito-san offered Nayuki-kun food, he wouldn’t be swayed like Akuta-kun was…)

C’mon, back on topic! We still gotta go visit the other rooms!

Right. We don’t have much time. We’ll be watching Spirited Away to the Valley of the Sky¹ tonight. It’s Studio Ghizli’s most widely-acclaimed film, so he’s quite excited.

So Teach and…Nagi-san and Toi-san, right? You want in?!

It’ll be the perfect opportunity to make new friends.

Yeah, yeah! We can all become popcorn pals! C’mon, let’s all watch it together!

Ahaha! Okay, okay. We’ll be there later.

Be there or be square! Okay, time for the next room!

Akuta, we just came from that direction. Let’s go this way.

Well, now that we’ve decided on our study trip destination, let’s head to the film festival.

Ah, okay… Is everyone going to be there…?

I think so… Are you nervous? You were having a pretty good time at the party the other night.

Th-That’s because Chii-sama was there, so I got too excited and started acting unlike myself…

(So he got caught in a trance. And this is what the real Toi-kun is like. Noted.)

There’s going to be so many people I don’t know… I-I’m so nervous… Ah… If only Brother Dearest were here with me…

What about you, Nagi-kun?

I…

Mhm?

I wouldn’t fit in with a crowd of party animals… I think I’d stick out like a sore thumb.

Party animals?

Ohh… You must have no self-awareness… So this is the true nature of a party animal…

It’s not that bad. We’re just gonna watch a movie. It’ll be okay. Nothing to be scared of.

Chief, you’re just like Naumicäa in front of Ehm.²

Nagi-san, please!

Will you please go with us…? If the Night Team members aren’t there, I might just die out of pure loneliness…!

Hrmmmgrmmm…

You don’t have to force yourself. I know it came up really suddenly.

Okay. It’s more reassuring with Toi around.

Thank you so much for understanding… That really makes me feel better…

(I’m not sure if I could describe Toi-kun as shy, but he does seem to be on the same wavelength as Nagi-kun at times.)

Okay. Let’s go. Together.

Yaaaayy!

Valley of the Sky rocks. I really resonated with the main character when I was a kid.

Having your loved one come down to you from the sky… That’s so romantic.

……

Is this your…first time…watching… Spirited Away to…the Valley of the Sky…Azekawa-san?

I do have. Records of seeing it. Once. In. Theaters.

Huh? In theaters? Wasn’t it shown a long time ago?

They do re-releases for anniversaries sometimes! I wanna see it on the big screen someday too!

Wow, looks like everyone’s here. Oh! You have pizza too!

Chief, you can sit over there. Nagi and Toi can sit here. We can have the pizza while we watch.

Um, uh… Thank you very much… Nagi-san, sit here! Next to me!

Okay. Thanks, Renga.

Well, y’know… Like I said, you don’t need to act so distant. Just act natural.

Okay.

We made it in time.

FUDGE, we gotta hurry! It’s about to start!

Welcome back, you two. Oh, Akuta-kun, about the cake…

Oh, I forgot! I was running around dishin’ out invites the whole time. I still gotta apologize to Nagi-san…

…I’m not mad about the cake. I’m actually sorry that you had to go out and buy a new cake for me.

Huh? Why are you sorry? Meh, I don’t really get it, but you’re a pretty funny guy!

But, yeah, I’m sorry. For real. I shouldn’t have eaten your cake.

I knew it was yours, but I couldn’t stop myself… It’s like the cake demons were takin’ over my brain…

It’s okay. Making mistakes just means you’re human.

It all worked out, Akuta-kun.

Yep! Thankya, Nagi-san!

Umm… Are Kafka-san and the others not going to watch with us?

He stated that he would return in time for the destruction incantation, “Power, Nuclear, Success,” or Panyose for short.³

That’s practically the end of the movie…

IT’S STARTIIIING! Aw, heck, this pizza’s out of this world!

I like Only My Neighbor Dodoro⁴ too. I really resonated with Ganta when I was a kid.

Oh, I thought I smelled something good… Are you guys having a Studio Ghizli party? Mind if I join?

Go right ahead! I just ordered more pizza!

(I’m glad everyone’s having fun. We’re all different ages and come from different walks of life, but it feels like we’re one big family.)

……

……

(It’ll take a little bit of time for those two to warm up to everyone else, but I’m sure it’ll turn out okay.)

(I hope everyone makes friends with each other…)

……

U-Um… I need to use the restroom…

Phew… That was so scary…

(I want to get closer to everyone, but… I can’t seem to find the courage without Brother Dearest…)

But… I just need to keep doing my best. Yeah.

Nnnu.

Ah… Netaro-san… You seem kind of tired.

I was ever-so busy running tests on my invention of the century, the Five Senses Times a Billion Sticker, that I failed to even notice the sun setting below the horizon.

Oh, there was this ominous piece of text affixed to my door when I left my room.

That’s probably a note from Akuta-kun. He was going around the house inviting us all to movie night, so maybe he invited you too…

Hohhh. In that case, why are you up here murmuring to yourself?

Well… Um, I like being around the others, but…I’m still a little nervous around them…

Nerrrrvooous?

I was hoping I’d get more used to it by the Panyose scene…

Panyose?

Huh? You don’t know what that is?

I have never heard nor seen that word in my life. Is it a French word? Or perhaps a relative of the nachos?

Don’t tell me… Have you never watched a Studio Ghizli movie before?!

Non.

Whaaat?! I thought everyone in JPN had seen at least one!

Is that so?! I suppose that renders me an ultra-rare specimen then! Wahoooo!

Huh?! Is that a good thing?

If you watch one, then you can longer go back to a state of not-watchedness. It is irreversible for the have-watchers, thus, I have the advantage.

Pfft, ahaha! That’s true! My dear brother and I both love Studio Ghizli movies, so I’d be really happy if you could join us downstairs!

Ah, but you’d miss half of the movie if you went now…

Um, I can tell you what you missed, if that’s okay! I can sit next to you and explain!

Hmmm. I do enjoy a good movie or TV show. They help me understand the workings of the human mind.

Hm. I will go.

Okay, let’s go together!

I hurried home to make it in time for the Panyose scene, but…

THERE IT IS! PANYOOOOOSE!

Isotake, please lower your voice.

I get why you’re so excited though. This scene really hits me every time I see it, especially when I watched it for the first time at an outdoor screening…

Hm… The pizza is…good…

Pizza tastes even better when you have a movie to watch with it.

I see the party is in full swing. Camaraderie is a wonderful thing to behold. But on the other hand…

……

(In the midst of all of the jolly stands Nagi, ghostly pale and at a loss.)

(He reminds me of a Millet painting. His presence is so faint that nobody seems to notice it.)

Aaaghh! A commercial break right before the good part?!

I already know how it ends, but I’m still itching to see it.

Guys, guys, we should TOTALLY put our hands together like they do when they shout Panyose! Panyose party!

Absolutely not.

I’m down.

……

……

Aha… Well, there’s nothing I can do. That’s just another quality of his to love.

(But some advice from your elders never hurts. You’ll have to become the target of my meddling, Nagi.)

It’s already so late, but…maybe I can still get some chips to eat…

Chief, do you have a moment?