Toji Notes: -The Heroes of Twenty Years Ago-

1: The "Toji Notes" of 20 Years Ago

Kaoru: Sigh, why're we the ones who've gotta sort the books in the library?
Ellen: Didn't you listen to what Sana-sensei was saying? A lot of new books are coming in, so the old ones need to be archived. This is as important a job as any other.
Kaoru: I got all that. But, why us...? And just look at all these old books... Cough... Cough... They're all caked in dust... Cough...
Mai: They sure are. But, while we're here, we should make an effort to clean them off and neatly pack them away. Cough, cough...
Mihono: Right. This is the job we were given, so we should give it our all! Let's see, history books go in this box, and swordfighting books go...
Mihono: Huh? The box with the swordfighting books is gone!
Kanami: Hm hmm...
Kanami: Oh wow! I didn't know that style had that kind of history-!
Ellen: Kanamin just locked right onto the old swordfighting books, huh.
Kaoru: Ever since I heard we were dealing with old books, I figured this would happen. Still, there's way too many of them. They just keep piling up and up...
Kaoru: Ah, this book! This is just the book I've been looking for...
Mai: It's very thick, isn't it? It's a compilation of all that author's works.
Mihono: Huh, so you read tough books like that, Kaoru-san...
Kaoru: Nn? Read? When'd I say anything about that?
Kaoru: This thickness, and just the right firmness, it's the exact type I've been looking for this whole time. I'm gonna test it out right away...
Kaoru: ZZZZZZZZZZZ...
Mai: That's more like Kaoru-san: using a book as a pillow for a nap.
Ellen: Kanamin's busy reading, Kaoru's busy sleeping; at this rate, we'll be cleaning up forever!
Mihono: But Kaoru-san and Kanami look like they're having such a nice time, so I'd feel bad for interrupting them...
Mihono: How about I work hard enough to cover for both of them!
Mihono: Swordfighting... History... Geography... Literature... And...
Ellen: Wow! Look at her go! A mountain of books is piling up around Mihomiho!
Mihono: Swordfighting, swordfighting, history, swordfighting...
Mihono: Uwah-! Watch out, book avalanche~!
Ellen: Oh my god! Right after you sorted them all!
Kaoru: Zzzzz... Nn? What's so noisy...
Kaoru: ...Hey! Why're all the books on the floor.
Mihono: Wahh, I'm sorry-!
Kanami: I'm the one who should be sorry, Mihono-chan. I shouldn't have been getting lost in books like that. I'll try harder too.
Mihono: Thanks, Kanami!
Mihono: Then, all the books on the floor here... Huh? Hey, take a look at this! There's a notebook mixed in here...
Ellen: It says "Toji Notes" on it.
Mai: It seems to be some kind of anthology of notes an older generation of toji left behind for us.
Kanami: Toji Notes... My mom told me about this, a long time ago!
Kanami: Whenever we'd go to hot springs together, she'd always say "This takes me back" and smile like she was remembering something.
Kanami: When I asked her why, all she would say was, "Instead of hearing it from me, you should find the Toji Notes someday."
Kanami: Ah, I found my mom's notes! I wonder if she wrote about the hot springs in here...
Mihono: Ehhh-!? What's an aradama doing in the library!?
Aradama: Keeeeeeee!
Kanami: Hm...? It's just staring at my mom's notes...
Ellen: Maybe it's interested in what your mama wrote down too?
Mihono: Kanami's mom is even popular with aradama! She's amazing!
Kanami: Ahaha, she's not that amazing~.
Kaoru: This isn't really the time to be screwing around.
Aradama: Keeeeee!
Mai: Oh, it ran off with the notes...
Kanami: EHHH---!? I didn't even get to read them yet-!!
Ellen: Even worse! There's a lot of pages missing! I think it ran off with a bunch of toji's notes!
Kaoru: If that ha... If the president finds out, we're screwed...
Mai: It's a one of a kind handwritten notebook. We have to get it back in one piece.
Kanami: Yeah! I want to find out what my mom was smiling about too! Let's get those pages back from that aradama!

2: The Origami Yukari of 20 Years Ago

Ellen: We finally got a volume of the notes back. They're from 20 years ago, but the toji's name was... Wow!
Kaoru: The handwriting's so neat it's actually hard to read... Renpu Senior High School, 2nd year, Origami Yukari... Hang on a sec! It can't be the Origami Yukari, can it!?
Kanami: The head of the Origami family, back when she was our age! I wonder what she was like then. Let's all read some of it together!
Yukari: Aren't you feeling tired, Kagari? You've been up night after night training lately. There's no need to push yourself so hard.
Kagari: I'm doing fine. It's simply a part of my duties; living with you as your constant attendant.
Minato: Yukari, Kagari, morning-! Hey hey, Yukari, do me a favor! Help me out!
Yukari: What is it, Minato? You're bowing your head awfully desperately first thing in the morning.
Minato: Let me copy your homework! I was so tired from training yesterday that I passed out. Just let me copy you this one time, okay? You're cool with that, right, Yukari?
Kagari: I remember hearing the same excuse last week... [mumbled]
Yukina: Yukari-onee-samaaaa~!
Yukari: Oh, Yukina...
Kagari: Sigh... I'll take her to our classroom, before she gets her hands on Yukari-sama. Excuse me...
Yukina: Hey, Kagari! Let go of me! Yukari-onee-samaaa~! Ahhn, wait for meee~, Onee-samaaa~!
Kagari: Give it up already. The first year classrooms are this way. Every morning, you never learn...
Minato: That reminds me, does Kagari have any friends? I never see her with anyone besides Yukina, and I don't know if that really counts...
Yukari: (It's true, Kagari has never once introduced a friend of hers to me. Maybe it's because...)
Minato: Nn? Looks like something's bothering you, Yukari... Is it because... You're worried about Kagari, right?
Yukari: You see right through me. That's right. I think the reason Kagari has no friends is because she's always serving at my side.
Minato: Well, that's just the kind of family you were born into, so there's nothing you can really do... But, I've got an idea on how to fix things!
Yukari: Fix things?
Minato: I'll be Kagari's first friend! That way, you'll feel better too, right?
Yukari: Minato...
Minato: Best to strike while it's hot! Let's take a detour when the three of us go home together today.

After school that day.

Kagari: Yukari-sama, why are we stopping by here...?
Yukari: Everyone needs a break sometimes. There's nothing wrong with spending our time after school like ordinary high school girls.
Minato: You heard her. Sometimes, you just have to let loose. Ooh, Kagari, I'll buy you a croquette!
Kagari: For me? Why would I...
Minato: Ehh, then, what about if I give you half the yakisoba I bought! Here, say ahhh!
Kagari: No thank you. Dinner will be ready once we get home.
Yukari: (Even with Minato's friendliness, Kagari refuses to open her heart...)
Minato: Oh, duh! Every girl loves sweets. Wait here, I'll buy you something delicious.
Minato: And I'm back~! Here, have some mamekan. The stuff that shop over there makes is good like you wouldn't believe. Don't just take my word for it, try it.
Kagari: Gulp... If you'll go to those lengths, then fine. But only one bite... Chew chew...
Kagari: It is good...
Yukari: (I've never seen Kagari make such a soft expression before.)
Minato: I told you so, didn't I? Here, I got some for Yukari and me too!
Kagari: We aren't going to eat all that much... Om om... Chew chew...
Minato: Ahaha, you say that, but you already cleaned it out!
Kagari: Ah-!
Yukari: (Fufu, Minato might actually have what it takes to be Kagari's first friend.)

3: The Fujiwara Minato of 20 Years Ago

Mihono: There, another volume! I wonder who wrote this one?
Kanami: Fujiwara Minato... That's my mom! We finally got it back~. Okay, let's see what she wrote already!
Minato: Ahh~, today's practice wore me out. Wait? Where's Kagari?
Yukari: She's involved with a school event, so we'll be separated today. By the way, I never thanked you for the other day. I knew I could count on you to get Kagari to open up.
Minato: Nah, I still have a long long way to go. Actually, I need a favor from you, Yukari! Could you help me out a little, so I can get closer to Kagari?
Yukari: Help you? With what?
Minato: When I saw her eating mamekan back then, I realized, if we made Kagari's favorite foods, she'd probably be super happy.
Yukari: I see. I can help with that then. Kagari's favorite foods... How about kenchin soba?
Minato: Kenchin soba!? Kagari sure has some refined tastes.
Minato: But, we should at least be able to make that! Let's try it right after school tomorrow.
Minato: Okay, let's get right to it!
Yukari: Of course. All the ingredients have been provided by the Origami household.
Minato: Radish, carrot, burdock... Nn? Buckwheat flour!? Hang on, Yukari! Don't tell me you plan on starting at pounding noodles from scratch?
Yukari: Naturally. We said we would be making it by hand. I'll pound the soba, so please take care of the kenchin soup.
Minato: Okay, I'm on it. Let's make kenchin soba so good Kagari won't know what hit her-!
Minato: Yukari, once this finishes simmering, I'm all done here.
Yukari: Hmph... Hmph... Hmph...
Minato: That's crazy! The way you're kneading that would put the pros to shame! Next up is the main event: chopping the noodles. This part's going to take a skilled hand.
Yukari: Don't worry. Leave it to me.
Minato: Wait, a kitchen knife in both hands! You aren't gonna...
Yukari: TAAAAAH!
Minato: Dual wielding's cutting the soba up twice as fast!
Yukari: Phew, now we only need to boil it and we're through here.
Minato: That was incredible, Yukari. I never thought your skills with an okatana would come in handy here...
Minato: It'd be better if we boiled it after Kagari gets here, right? I'll go look for her.
Minato: Kagari-! Oiii, Kagari, where'd you go-?
Minato: Sorry, Yukari. I looked all over school, but I couldn't find her. Where'd she even go...
Minato: Sigh~, and we went to all this effort too...
Yukari: Kagari, shouldn't you come out already?
Minato: Huh?
Kagari: You noticed me here, Yukari-sama?
Yukari: Yes, I've had a vague sense you were here for a while now.
Minato: Hey, Kagari! Were you hiding and watching us this whole time?
Kagari: Yes. It's my duty to always serve at Yukari-sama's side, after all.
Minato: What the heck. So that means, it's no use trying to surprise you either, huh...
Yukari: I went ahead and boiled the soba while you were searching, Minato. Here, let's all eat together.
Minato: Good thinking, Yukari! Then, you're up first, Kagari. We're pretty proud of how it turned out!
Kagari: Is that so. I'll try it then. Chew chew...
Kagari: This is delicious... Chew chew... Om om... Chew chew...
Minato: The operation was a total success! With this, we're friends for sure!

4: The Hiiragi Kagari of 20 Years Ago

Mihono: We read all of Kanami's mom's notes, but that story about the hot spring didn't come up anywhere.
Kanami: Hmmm, I know. I still want to find out... What it was my mom was remembering.
Mai: Maybe there's something written about it in another toji's notes?
Kaoru: That reminds me, in this latest batch we found, there's notes from Hiiragi Kagari in here.
Ellen: Hiiragi Kagari... That's Hiyoyon's mama!
Kanami: Since my mom wanted to be friends with Hiyori-chan's mom, maybe whatever she was smiling about is in here! Let's read it!
Yukari: Kagari, this may seem sudden, but I'm giving you the next two days off.
Kagari: Time off? You know I don't need that. Where is this coming from?
Yukari: I knew you'd react like this. But, breaks are necessary to reliably perform your day to day tasks.
Kagari: If that's what you'd order me to do, of course I'll carry it out... But, with how sudden this is, I'm not sure how I should spend my time off...
Minato: I figured you'd say that, so I already made a reservation for us. Two days and one night at a hot springs inn! We're leaving tomorrow: you, me, and Ema.
Kagari: Minato-senpai!? What are you saying, barging in here out of nowhere... You made reservations without me? You're always like this; always so pushy.
Yukari: What's the harm in it? I'll feel better if you're with Minato and Ema. Take your time in the warm waters and come back feeling refreshed.
Kagari: Kh... If those are your orders, Yukari-sama...

The next morning...

Kagari: Why is it only the two of us here? Where's Ema-senpai?
Minato: She said she had to take care of something. But she'll meet up with us later, so it's just us two for now.
Kagari: I see...
Minato: So, how about we break out the bento boxes already! Chew chew chew.... Nnn, so good~! There's something about eating on a train that makes it even tastier.
Kagari: If you say so... Chew chew...
Minato: Come on, act a little excited. If we're done eating, I brought cards! Let's play old maid!
Minato: Whoever loses, how about... You have to do an impression of someone close to you? Even you'll take it seriously with that on the line, right?
Kagari: ...I'm not going to compete with you.
Minato: Huh? You know, Kagari, if you back down here, that counts as a loss by default? And what would Yukari think if she found out you were running away from a match?
Kagari: Kh... Even when you're inviting someone, you're so heavy handed. Fine then. All I have to do is win then, is that right? I'll accept your challenge.
Minato: Nice-! That's a win for me!
Kagari: Kh, how could I lose...
Minato: Time to hold up your side of the bargain, Kagari. Someone close to you~ that's gotta be Yukari, right?
Kagari: I-I could never impersonate Yukari-sama.
Minato: But you lost, so I guess you'll just have to give it your best shot.
Kagari: It's true I lost... But, for me to mock the person I serve...
Kagari: ............
Minato: Hurry up, unless you want to wait for Ema to join in so you can have a bigger audience? I promise I'll keep it a secret from Yukari, okay!
Kagari: (Ah, that's right! I have another option.)
Kagari: Then, I'll begin my impersonation... Of Yukina, following Yukari-sama every morning on the way to school.
Kagari: Yukari-onee-samaaa~! Ahhn, please wait for meee~, Onee-samaaa~!
Minato: Uwah! You went with Yukina!? And you sound just like her too! Ahahaha! Way to go, Kagari!
Minato: Man, I didn't think you'd be so good at this.
Kagari: I've seen it so many mornings that I'm sick of it, after all.
Train Announcer: Last stop~, this is the last stop~.
Minato: Ahahahaha, I didn't even notice we were here, I was laughing too hard. You really are funny, Kagari~. I'm glad we're friends~!
Kagari: N-Nobody's ever said that to me before...

5: Finished Reading the "Toji Notes"...

Kanami: Wait, Kagari-san's notes only cover up to the train arriving at the station! Where's the rest?
Ellen: There's no sign that the aradama tore any more pages out, so I don't think there's any more to the story.
Mai: That's right. And each volume has a set number of pages, so I think this might just be the end of it?
Kanami: Then, that would mean, what my mom was remembering was the impression Kagari-san did!?
Mihono: It must have been really funny if she was still thinking back to it as an adult. I wish I could've seen it too-!
Ellen: That solves the mystery of Kanamin's mama, but it makes you want to see what comes next at the hot springs, doesn't it!
Kanami: I know-! Looking at notes from the other toji, there's nothing about it.
Mihono: What happened at the hot springs? Did Minato-san and Kagari-san start getting along? Did they have a really good time? I wanna know-!
Kaoru: You know, if they wrote this much about just the train ride there, I think they had a lot of fun with it.
Ellen: Me too. They were best buddies by the time of the disaster. They must have gotten along on this hot spring trip.
Mihono: Still, it's weird to think that the head of the family and the others were just normal high school girls.
Kaoru: Right? Hiyoyon's mom seems like she'd be just as fun to bully as Hiyoyon herself.
Ellen: And Kanamin's mama seems like a good girl; full of energy and always looking out for her friends!
Kanami: Ehehe, it's sort of embarassing hearing you say that.
Mihono: Our coach always says, "Toji in the past used to train so hard every day; they never had time to play around," but they totally did.
Ellen: Training is important of course, but you can tell just from reading these that toji in the past enjoyed their school lives too!
Mai: What if President Maniwa entrusted us with this job because she wanted us to figure that out...
Kaoru: No way. She'd never be that roundabout...
Kaoru: Actually, hang on. The president seems like she'd be bad with that kind of life guidance, so it's actually believable.
Kanami: Either way, we should thank President Maniwa for letting us work in here. Thanks to her, I got to solve a mystery about my mom.
Kaoru: Speak of the devil, she's calling.
Kaoru: Yep, our work's coming along great right now.
Kanami: Kaoru-chan, pass me the phone! Hello, President Maniwa! Thanks for giving us such a great job to do.
Kanami: Thanks to you, I had a lot of fun learning what my mom and everyone were like back then! Here, I'll give it back to Kaoru-chan now.
Kaoru: So anyway, thanks to those notes, we found a good way to waste some time. What do you think; you happy now?
Sana: Kaoru, you seem to think it's none of your business, but you girls are supposed to write your notes in there too.
Kaoru: What? You never told me anything about that.
Sana: Well, that's how it is. So use what's there as a reference and each of you work on preparing your own notes.
Kaoru: Wait, hold up! Nobody ever said we were going to have to write anything! Sigh, this annoying work just keeps piling up...
Ellen: Kaoru, that's not all the work we have to do. We were chosen to make up the editorial committee for everyone's notes. That's why we got this job sorting the books.
Mihono: We were!?
Kanami: Being the editorial committee means we get to read all the notes before anyone else, right? That sounds like fun~.
Mai: That's a big responsibility. Let's work hard at it, okay?
Kaoru: Sorting books... Writing notes... Editorial committee... Ahh... I'm feeling lightheaded...
Mihono: Wah, the stack of books fell down-! Kaoru-san, are you okay!?
Kaoru: Haha... That's even more work to do... Hahaha... Even more... More work...