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Octopus Towel |  |
Tsugumi
Should we head back? The sun's almost completely set now...
Ran
Ah, actually, can we stay here just a little longer?
Tsugumi
What are you doing, Ran-chan? You've been combing the beach for a while now... Are you looking for something?
Ran
Yeah, driftwood.
Tsugumi
Oh, yeah. Now that you mention it, there is a lot around here. I was so busy looking at the sunset I didn't even notice.
Ran
There's a lot of different sizes here. Everything from big to small.
Tsugumi
And all different kinds of fun shapes too. Ah! Doesn't this one look like a guitar?
Ran
It does. If you just chiseled this part right here it would look exactly like a miniature guitar.
Tsugumi
I always thought driftwood and tree branches were kind of the same, but that doesn't seem to be the case at all.
Ran
Yeah, you can find driftwood in a lot of unique shapes if you look hard enough.
Tsugumi
With these two pieces, I bet I could make a photo frame!
Tsugumi
Oh, and then I could frame one of the pictures I took today! What do you think?
Ran
That's a good idea. Sounds like the perfect way to remember the day.
Tsugumi
I wonder if there's anything else I could use around here... I want to keep looking, but... it's getting pretty late.
Ran
We still have time, don't we? I want to grab a few more pieces anyway.
Tsugumi
Really? Then we can do it together! What kind of driftwood are you looking for?
Ran
I want something to use for a flower arrangement... I think it'd make the perfect accent piece. By adding something like driftwood to a motionless work, you can change the impression it gives...
Tsugumi
Wow, a flower arrangement with driftwood! That sounds amazing~! When you're finished, I'd love to see it!
Ran
Th-that's fine, if you have the chance... Although I'm not sure I could make exactly the kind of thing you're imagining.
Tsugumi
Maybe I can put something together using the driftwood even without flowers. I wonder if we could use it to decorate the café...
Ran
I think so. Driftwood would complement your place really well.
Ran
Ah, something like this would work. It's more rounded, giving it a softer feel.
Tsugumi
You're right! Aww, it's kinda cute. If you don't want it, I'll take it.
Ran
Yeah, you can have it. This one's a bit too wide to use for flower arranging anyway.
Tsugumi
Thanks! Alright, then I just have to dry it out and we can use it to decorate the café.
Ran
Ah, wait, you need to do more than that.
Tsugumi
Huh? What do you mean?
Ran
Driftwood isn't just wood drenched in seawater. It's been floating along for a while now, so there's all sorts of bacteria and stuff living in it.
Ran
If you just let it dry out, the wood might end up rotting...
Tsugumi
Really? I had no idea. You sure know a lot, Ran-chan.
Ran
... I just learned from watching my father.
Ran
Before you use driftwood in a piece, you need to clean the surface, and then boil it.
Ran
The amount of time you need to boil the driftwood depends on how big it is... For that size, I'd say about an hour would be good.
Tsugumi
An hour?!
Ran
Yeah, but any longer than that and you might end up destroying the fibers, so you need to be careful.
Tsugumi
I see... That's pretty complicated. So after you boil it, then you just let it dry and it's done?
Ran
You can't just set it out to dry, either. If the wood doesn't dry all the way to its core, it could get moldy.
Tsugumi
... You know, I figured I would just put together a nice, little art piece, but this sounds a lot tougher than I thought.
Tsugumi
I don't even know if I'll remember everything you just told me...
Ran
Why don't we do it together then? I have to treat the wood I'll be using anyway.
Tsugumi
You don't mind?! Thank you, Ran-chan! ... Oh, but that means... Fufu.
Ran
Wh-what?
Tsugumi
Sounds like you're still studying flower-arranging... I'm happy to hear that.
Ran
Wh-why?! I-I... I'm just doing it so I can keep playing music with you guys!
Tsugumi
Is that so...? Thank you♪
Ran
... H-hey, don't you think this driftwood would look good in your shop?
Tsugumi
Fufu, yeah! I'll bring this one home too then♪
Transcript
Ran
Marina-san, BanG Dreamer-san. Hey.
Marina
Ah, Ran-chan! Are you practicing in the studio today?
Ran
Yeah, but I got here a little too early, so I thought I'd hang out here while I wait.
Marina
Okay. There aren't many people here today, so feel free to relax.
Ran
Thank you... Uhm, by the way, do you use social media?
Marina
Technically, yes... but I don't post status updates all that often. You?
Ran
... I figured you would say that.
Marina
Something wrong? That was a pretty random question.
Ran
Afterglow and I went to Inoshima the other day, and the entire time, Himari was going on and on about needing photos to post online...
Ran
And I don't really have a problem with taking pictures, especially since we were on a trip...
Ran
But in Himari's case, she was way too focused on taking pictures. She even let her pancakes get cold.
Ran
And at the dolphin show we went to, she was busy trying to get a good shot the whole time. She pretty much watched the entire thing through the lens of her camera.
Ran
Social media isn't really my thing, so I don't really get it...
Ran
To make matters worse, she kept puffing her cheeks at me and bugging me to take more pictures...
Marina
I can sort of understand where Himari-chan is coming from, though. You can't help but want to take a picture of tasty-looking food. Even I'll occasionally post things like that.
Ran
Oh, really? But you wouldn't let your food get cold for some pictures, would you?
Marina
I don't think I'd ever go that far... Does that mean you didn't take too many pictures in Inoshima?
Ran
I took a few. No pictures of food or anything like that, though.
Ran
Here's the view of the ocean from the pancake place... And this one is of all the souvenir shops.
Marina
These look great! They really show off the atmosphere of Inoshima.
Ran
I thought I should get some photographs of the scenery since we were there... Hm? What's so funny, BanG Dreamer-san?
Marina
Oh, you're right. Good eye. They're all pictures of the scenery, yeah, but every single picture has the other Afterglow members in it as well.
Ran
Th-they just happened to be there when I took the picture...!
Marina
That's so nice. Even if it wasn't your intention, getting them in the photos is very like you, Ran-chan.
Ran
I-it's just a coincidence. Really.
Marina
Uh-huh. Sure is. Yep, a coincidence.
Ran
I-I told you..! Sigh... It's almost time. I'm gonna head to the studio to set up. See you guys later.
Marina
Okay~. Good luck with practice.