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olko71 · 1 year

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New Post has been published on All about business online

New Post has been published on http://yaroreviews.info/2023/02/new-rail-strikes-ballot-to-start-soon-rmts-mick-lynch

New rail strikes ballot to start soon - RMT's Mick Lynch

PA Media

Rail workers will be balloted “soon” on whether to stage fresh strikes later in the year, the RMT union’s general secretary Mick Lynch has said.

Mr Lynch told the BBC the union wanted to “keep talking” about pay, but felt the government was “trying to make an example out of the railways”.

On Friday, the union rejected what was described as a “best and final” offer from the body representing rail firms.

The government and Network Rail have condemned the decision.

Mr Lynch branded the offers “dreadful”, while Transport Secretary Mark Harper called the union’s decision “a kick in the teeth for passengers”.

The long-running dispute over pay, job cuts and changes to working conditions has led rail workers from a number of unions to strike over numerous days since the summer.

No further strikes are currently planned by the RMT – Britain’s largest rail workers’ union – but it has a mandate to call further strikes up until May.

RMT rejects pay offer to end strikes

When are the next train strikes?

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Lynch said a new ballot process would be sought so there was an overlapping “continuous mandate” for industrial action.

He went on: “We did put it [the pay offer] to our members. There was a universal rejection of what’s on the table.”

He said staff “feel under attack”, and some had not had a pay rise for the last four years.

But he added the RMT “want to keep talking” to the rail companies, despite fears ministers were trying to make an example out of the rail dispute.

“Ministers have told me that face to face – Mark Harper and (transport minister) Huw Merriman – that they can’t offer us anything fresh because it would set a precedent for nurses and other public sector workers, and they want to hold this line.”

Network Rail and the Rail Delivery Group, which represent train companies, have offered striking workers a pay deal worth 9% over two years.

But unions have said that any pay offer should reflect the rising cost of living – as inflation sits above 10%.

Mr Lynch described the offer as “very puny”, saying it did not meet members’ expectations “on pay, job security or working conditions”.

The RMT said it would now seek further meetings with Network Rail and the RDG to try to work towards a settlement.

The latest pay offer did not go to a vote of the full RMT membership.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “It is now clear that no realistic offer is ever going to be good enough for the RMT leadership.”

And Tim Shoveller, Network Rail chief negotiator, said the RMT was “condemning its members to a further round of fruitless, pointless and costly strikes”.

“We have made multiple concessions, compromises and offers, while the RMT has shifted on nothing. It’s time for a second referendum on our new, revised offer and time to end this and work together to rebuild our railway.”

Mr Lynch said pay offers without conditions attached had been made in Wales and Scotland – where there is no Department for Transport oversight – and that “something more along those lines” would be more acceptable.

Meanwhile, negotiations are ongoing for other rail workers.

The drivers’ main union, Aslef, says it hopes to have more talks next week.

And a smaller union, the TSSA, said on Friday that thousands of its members would be given a vote on the offers from the train companies.

More on this story

When are the next train strikes?

5 days ago

RMT rejects pay offer to end strikes

16 hours ago

New powers to curb strike disruption passed by MPs

31 January

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agirlinjapan · 7 years

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Red Data Girl: My Longest Day of School (Week 10)

Red Data Girl: My Longest Day of School By Noriko Ogiwara A Translation

Miss the last piece? Read it here!

Check out the RDG Translation twitter!

It’s been a good week and weekend! However, with this said, it’s been a long one and I am exhausted. I went home on Friday to spend some time with my family which means I got to do some fun things but I also lost a lot of planning/grading time in the process. Guess who’s pulling a 14+ hour workday tomorrow to make up for it? x.x With that said, there are a bunch of special events at school this upcoming week so the next few days should be a lot of fun.

Hopefully I’ll find some time to translate RDG too!

This week, we’re moving into the second chapter of RDG5. That means we’re about a quarter of the way through the book!

Red Data Girl: My Longest Day of School By Noriko Ogiwara Chapter 2: Manipulation Part 1 (1 of 2)

Due to Mayura and others’ skilled guidance, the middle school Warring States era parade began punctually and without a hitch.

Izumiko and Miyuki were wrapped up with other responsibilities and could not come to help. However, they were still able to see one warrior performance at the parade as well as witness the exuberant audience that had come to see the show.

As staff in charge of supervising the first day of the festival, they could say that everything was going pretty well.

At the same time that the parade was happening, the final counts for the popularity contest and decisions for the next day’s teams began in the lecture hall lounge. The students working on them didn’t even have time to take a breath, there was so much work to be done.

“Best Overall goes to the third years’ haunted house… There’s nothing surprising about that result. There wasn’t really another class who worked as hard as they did.”

Hayakawa, sitting at a table in the lounge, was writing a speech to be broadcasted later. He was wearing a kataginu, a sleeveless ceremonial robe, over the rest of his costume and grumbling often over the task.

“Another undeniable fact is that there’s seriously no chance of me having fun today.”

“Hayakawa.”

The president of the student government, her kuroko veil lifted up and out of the way, walked over to him.

There was a cold light in her grey eyes as she asked, “I want you to tell me straight. What was the point of betting on the result predictions? May I ask what amazing prize the winning students get?”

“Oh, you knew about that?”

“Don’t act like I’m stupid. Did you use the student government to sponsor this? Do you have no common sense?”

Hayakawa seemed somewhat surprised, perhaps due to the sharper than expected tone Jean Honoka Kisaragi had used.

“I never said a single word about the student government sponsoring it or anything like that. It only went as far as me and my friends.”

“If you’re scheming up anything, we’ll find out who your sponsors are.”

“Don’t say that. I’ve been dressed in this get up, manning the broadcasting room all day. Can’t I just have one little bit of fun?” Hayakawa asked.

He continued with a long, drawn out excuse but Izumiko did not hear what he was saying. She was too busy tallying the final results of the popularity contest.

The votes for the food stand category were a particularly close battle. There wasn’t a huge difference in votes and the rankings changed constantly. Still, when the final results were tallied, first place went to 1-A as everyone had guessed it would. Second place went to 1-C, and third place went to 2-B.

The reason why two first year classes had been able to outrank the second years was due to their ingenuity. They would probably be praised later for it. All the same, Izumiko saw how disappointed her 1-C classmates looked, having been defeated by 1-A. It was a hard end to the day.

I’m glad the Winds of Change Cotton Candy was so popular though…

During her patrol, she had seen people holding the pink cotton candy as they walked everywhere she had gone. What secret plan had 1-A come up with that was more popular than that? Izumiko thought about this, finding it all very strange.

The third years had put all their effort into the haunted house. Perhaps because of this, the second years had taken first place in the theater division. The teams for the next day’s events were put together by class based on the popularity contest’s results so all of this was important.

Unlike the year before when sports day had been a separate event, to everyone’s surprise this year, it had been incorporated into the school festival’s second day as an arranged battle game for the whole school to participate in. The students would move through various sports related challenges while dressed in battle outfits in order to play up the Warring States era atmosphere. Seeing as the students dressed in samurai armor would not be able to run, intellectual challenges had also been prepared.

And so, true to the game’s name, “The Hachioji Castle Siege,” the daylong affair would imitate the historical events of the local Hachioji Castle’s attack.

The class who won first place in the popularity contest would make up the team depicting the forward attacking army led by Shogun Toyotomi and Maeda Toshiie. The team with the next highest points would represent the army attacking the side of the castle led by Uesugi Kagekatsu. Finally, the rest of the classes would be broken up between the two final forces; the rear attacking army led by the father and son duo, Masayuki and Yukimura Sanada (historically at this point, this force had already broken through the castle’s defenses), and the castle’s own defending army. In all, the school would be divided into four teams.

Factually, the armies which had attacked the castle had been ten times greater than forces defending it. Because of this imbalance, the students had been instructed to turn to the other side if they “died” in battle. This wasn’t a simple game between two teams. It was set up within a tournament system. First, the frontal and side armies would fight each other for the high ground. In a different area, the rear army and the castle defenses would have a battle of wits. Slowly, the teams would merge together until everything was decided in a final battle.

Each team would select five commanders. These commanders would play a different game than the foot soldiers on the game field. Instead of a sports game, they would play a board game in a tent. The percentage of wins would go into deciding who lost the battle and affect who would be able to participate in the final showdown.

The members of the high school student government had given up their summer to plan this combination battle game because the members of the festival committee, which was made up of class officials, was too busy putting together the festival’s first day to take care of it. And so, the student government, who were in charge of patrolling the first day’s festivities, also ended up managing the second day as well.

Okouchi, who was the planning chief for the game, stood in front of everyone in the lounge and announced the results of the team distribution to the game’s management staff.

“Seeing as the third year volunteer participants said they wanted to join the game all of a sudden, one part of our plan has been changed. First, we had planned to evenly split each grade between the four teams but because there are so many unexpected third year participants, the entire third year class has agreed to play as the castle defense. In light of this, the entire middle school third year class will also be moved to castle defense. Having a setup where the first and second years go up against the third years will be fun.”

A number of student government members raised their voices.

“The third years might have won with their haunted house but I wonder if they know they’ll be on the losing side this time. Did you make that decision seeing as there were so many bitter spirits of the dead in their attraction?”

“Will the balance of people on each team be alright?”

“Won’t that be too much to the castle defense’s advantage in the field game?”

Okouchi calmly sorted through and dealt with the opinions. Around the time everyone had accepted the plan and there were no more questions, Mayura and Manatsu arrived in the lounge. The middle school’s Warring States era parade was over.

“The parade ended at the middle school’s sports grounds. There weren’t any problems,” they told the presidents of both the student government and the festival committee.

Honoka and Hayakawa, who had up until now not agreed on anything, gave identical smiles. They then thanked the Souda siblings for their hard work in warm voices.

“Alright. I’m off to make the results announcement,” Hayakawa said brightly as he stood up and left the lounge. The first year boys who worked with him followed behind.

Izumiko went straight up to Mayura.

“How were the girls from the beauty pageant? They didn’t argue with you anymore, did they?”

“They were fine. They calmed down and walked in the parade. I doubt it was because of my exorcism powers but either way it seems like they felt better about the situation,” Mayura said happily. “Everyone has their own way of looking at things like this so as long as there are results, anything’s okay, right?”

Izumiko gave her a relieved smile. “I knew everything would be alright if you were taking care of it.”

“How about things on your end? Was there a solution to the problem with the haunted house?”

Izumiko bobbed her head automatically but her voice carried the same brightness as Mayura’s had.

“Ah, everything’s fine there too. It wasn’t anything to worry about. There’s something I want to talk to you about in more detail later though.”

“So in other words, there was something in the haunted house after all, huh?” Mayura’s expression darkened.

“There wasn’t anyone there who was trying to cause trouble,” Izumiko added hurriedly. It’s just that I… It seems like something strange happened with me…”

“Tell me. It’s important.”

“I can’t tell you here. I think it’ll take some time for me to explain…” Izumiko stammered.

She would have to choose her words carefully when talking about an incident that had made her cry… Not to mention, one that had made her cling to someone while doing that crying.

“Izumiko, why is your face so red?”

“There’s no reason for it to be red.”

After gazing at Izumiko for a moment, Mayura lowered her voice to a whisper and said, “There was an incident at the middle school parade that I can’t explain well, too. The girls from the beauty pageant were fine the whole time but the horses the warriors were riding got spooked all of a sudden. They got really jumpy. The people riding them didn’t seem to be able to control them. Seeing as Manatsu was there, he was able to jump in and calm the horses though so the parade ended without any trouble.”

Izumiko stared at her.

“Wow… Manatsu’s amazing.”

“Do you think so, Izumiko?” Mayura gave a wry laugh. “We were on guard. I think the horses sensed something in front of the library. But I don’t think anyone else noticed that the horses were acting strangely.”

Mention of the library made Izumiko think about the steps the diviners had taken to make the barrier and she recalled finding where the cursed object had been buried. However, Miyuki had been the one to visit the actual spot. Izumiko had been frightened by the ominous feel of the place and hadn’t actually been able to see it with her own eyes.

I might not have seen it then but I definitely knew there was something dangerous there. Then again though, today when I went into the haunted house, I didn’t sense anything. Maybe that’s because I sympathized with them…

She let out a reflexive sigh at the unreliableness of her senses. This world didn’t always have definite answers like the ones you could learn in a textbook and write down on a test.

“Now, I’ll tell you a little about what happened, too… I saw what I think were real ghosts in the haunted house. I think they were the ghosts from the Hachiouji Castle ruins,” Izumiko murmured.

Mayura sucked in her breath. “Really? You saw ghosts, Izumiko?”

“Yeah. I think they were the women from the base of the waterfall.”

“But the gym isn’t above the east to west barrier line that the library marks. I guess that just shows how powerful it is.”

“I don’t know if we can say it’s powerful or not. There wasn’t anyone around who was trying to make trouble when I saw the ghosts. And there was another reason behind the rush of people going to the nurse’s office…”

She had reported on the incident at the 2 o’clock student government meeting and now the group had a full understanding of what was going on. However, the Souda siblings, who had been observing the problems at the parade, hadn’t been at the meeting. After Izumiko re-explained the circumstances, Mayura snorted.

“That’s hilarious. If Mr. Sagara was the nurse, I’d probably want to go to the nurse’s office too. I wonder if he’s planning to work there tomorrow again.”

“Who knows… I guess we’ll see.”

It was an uncomfortable idea for Izumiko. Whether he worked there again or not though, Izumiko felt like this would be the time to tell Mayura that Miyuki and Yukimasa were father and son. Still, Miyuki had to be the one to tell Mayura that first.

“It’s good for us to know that the third year’s haunted house is a lame attraction,” Mayura said, her tone straight forward. “In other words, that means the popularity award went to the attraction that made the guests laugh the most. If that’s the case, then we probably don’t have to get so worked up about it. No one could possibly think the haunted house was put together using diviner magic.”

Izumiko looked towards Mayura as a thought suddenly popped into her mind.

“Mayura, you were saying the third years joined the all school event out of nowhere, right?”

“Yeah. Naturally, that makes me wonder if something’s going on.” Mayura gazed out at something far away. “It must be related to whoever cast the magic by the library. I have a feeling that the magic was too high level for a high schooler to have cast. I think there’s an adult who’s skilled in some secret art mixed up in all of this.”

“You really think it’s high level magic? You’re not just joking?”

“That’s right. The joke will be when we crush it.”

Izumiko thought over Mayura’s words.

Crush it, huh?...

That made her think of how Miyuki had laughed so hard at her hair. But seeing as her emotions were so mixed up at the moment, the thought didn’t go any further than that.

When Izumiko didn’t say anything, Mayura prompted her for a response.

“Hey, Izumiko. Is there something about Sagara you want to talk about?”

“Huh? I didn’t say anything like that.”

“But it’s been on your face for a while.”

Izumiko recoiled and put her hands on her cheeks to check.

“No! How?”

“Hey, just tell me what’s going on. I’m worried about you.”

“…Later, okay?”

“No. I’m getting more and more worried about you.”

Right in the middle of Mayura’s inquisition on Izumiko, one of the first year boys in the student government appeared at their side. “I’m sorry to bother you,” he said in a particularly courteous voice. “Mayura, could you come to the broadcasting room for a moment? Hayakawa’s asking for you.”

Mayura’s hand, still on Izumiko’s arm, paused. The boy’s words made her blink.

“Huh? Me? What does Hayakawa want me for?”

“I think he wants to ask you something about the middle school parade. He said he wants to put it in his speech.”

“What a pain,” Mayura retorted.

But then she seemed to rethink and realize she could leave things as they were. She grabbed Izumiko’s hand tightly and said, “I’m going but come with me. I’m not going to let you get away until you tell me what’s going on.”

Izumiko protested but it was entirely futile. Left with no choice, she and Mayura went to the classroom building.

Keep reading!

#rdg #red data girl #rdg 5 #rdg 5 week 10 #translation #rdg my longest day of school

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brotherseph · 3 years

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My Father is at Work until now, so I am at Work

March 17, 2021, Wednesday Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent (Violet) CYCLE B - YEAR I RDGS: IS 49:8-15/ PS 145:8-9. 13-14. 17-18 GOSPEL: JN 5:17-30

Jesus answered the Jews: "My Father is at work until now, so I am at work." For this reason they tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God. Jesus answered and said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for what he does, the Son will do also. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes. Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself. And he gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation. "I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me."

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

The relationship between Jesus and his heavenly Father is the topic in this enigmatic passage. Jesus traces everything in his being and in his choices to their source in the Father. "I can do nothing on my own". "I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me" (the Father). He and his Father are intertwined in every way, so much so that they are one (Jn.10:30). Honour Jesus and you will be honoring the Father.

PRAYER:

Such was the unity of the Father and Jesus that the work of one is the work of the other. Jesus trusts me enough to call me into the same closeness. He reminds me that whatever I do I do with him and that what I do to others, I do to him.

#bibleverseoftheday

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nightmare-afton-cosplay · 5 years

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Bless! Converted Church From 1873 Is This Week’s Most Popular Home

realtor.com

Praise be! A Pennsylvania church converted into a cozy home sent clicks soaring toward the heavens this week. The former house of worship from the late 1800s wound up as this week’s most popular home on realtor.com®.

From the heavy wood double doors to the original stained glass and church bell, the property has held onto certain features of its ecclesiastical past, while being effortlessly transformed into a bright, airy family house.

Apart from this divine cathedral conversion, you also clicked on a brand-new castle in Illinois decorated in a pristine Scandinavian aesthetic, designer Betsey Johnson‘s $2 million hot-pink beach mobile home, and a Spanish Colonial Revival in the O.C. with a crow’s nest rooftop deck to take in water and city views. Plus there’s an appearance by former Packer wide receiver Randall Cobb, who’s selling his home in Green Bay, WI, after parting ways with the team last year.

No helmet required—but we ask you to tackle the complete list of this week’s most popular homes by scrolling down…

10. 16810 Springfield Rd, Pekin, IL

Price: $995,000

Why it’s here: This is a castle decorated in Scandinavian style, built in 2018. This large five-bedroom residence has over 5,000 square feet of airy living space. Highlights include white-oak hardwood floors, a grand white-oak staircase, 57 black casement-style windows, third-floor media room, and a walk-out on the lower level. The 12-acre lot offers rolling prairie views from almost every vantage point.

Pekin, IL

realtor.com

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9. 12F New Freedom Rd, Berlin, NJ

Price: $1,750,000

Why it’s here: This sprawling 37-acre estate is known as “Valley House” and overlooks Timber Lake and the Pine Valley Golf Course. It’s rumored to have been the home of Al Capone and his crew at one time. Built in 1920, the main house includes a studio, exercise room, vault room, game room, and an antique bar with views of the lake. There’s also a separate 2,400-square-foot guesthouse, heated pool and hot tub with cabana bar, European courtyards, seven-car garage, and tennis court.

Berlin, NJ

realtor.com

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8. 10675 Cavallo Rdg, Eden Prairie, MN

Price: $6,500,000

Why it’s here: Love the slopes? Built in 2013, this lavish European estate in the Minneapolis suburbs comes with its very own ski hill and tow rope. It sits on a 4.7-acre lot on the riverbank and offers Minnesota River Valley views from nearly every room. Over-the-top amenities include a glass-enclosed sport court and fitness room, home theater, billiard-room, and woodshop.

Eden Prairie, MN

realtor.com

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7. 206 N First St, Jeannette, PA

Price: $30,000

Why it’s here: Ten bedrooms for less than the price of a car! There’s a big catch, though. This huge, three-level property is in need of major renovation. The old mansion has lovely details, like the huge front porch, two kitchens, a chapel, and a large stairwell, but its condition is dire. The property does offer the opportunity of housing a business on the lower floor, or it could be converted into a multifamily dwelling.

Jeannette, PA

realtor.com

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6. 935 N. Broadway St, De Pere, WI

Price: $1,190,000

Why it’s here: Built in 1858 on the Fox River, this seven-bedroom home includes 10-foot ceilings, five fireplaces, maple hardwood floors, and exposed stone millwork. Outdoors, the nearly 2-acre lot has an in-ground pool, outdoor living area, and 200 feet of river frontage.

De Pere, WI

realtor.com

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5. 232 Paradise Cove Rd, Malibu, CA

Price: $1,950,000

Why it’s here: This isn’t your average mobile home. This hot-pink beaut is situated on Paradise Cove, along one of the most sought-after stretches of beach in the world. Belonging to the legendary fashion icon Betsey Johnson, the beach boho dream is awash in audacious color and has several entertaining areas, like a pergola-covered outdoor living area, as well as a backyard with outdoor soaking tub.

Malibu, CA

realtor.com

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4. 1707 E. Bay Ave, Newport Beach, CA

Price: $8,750,000

Why it’s here: Built in 1928, this dramatic Spanish Colonial Revival bay-front villa was designed by the celebrated California architect Wallace Neff. The five-bedroom, four-story home was completely restored in 2003. It’s the tallest structure on the Balboa Peninsula, with spectacular views of Newport Harbor and Fashion Island from the “crow’s nest” rooftop deck. The property also includes a pier and slips for two boats.

Newport Beach, CA

realtor.com

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3. 761 W. Eads Pkwy, Lawrenceburg, IN

Price: $499,000

Why it’s here: This historic four-bedroom home was built in 1835 and now needs a renovation. Highlights of the 19-acre property include seven fireplaces, hardwood floors, as well as original elements like the lights, doorknobs, and slide locks.

Lawrenceburg, IN

realtor.com

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2. 618 Marble Rock Cir, Green Bay, WI

Price: $649,900

Why it’s here: This home of over 4,300-square-feet is being sold by Packers wideout Randall Cobb, who was released by the team after the 2018 season. Highlights of the prairie-ranch house built in 2013 include the hand-hewn hardwood floors, wine cellar, theater room, fireplace, and a mud room with lockers. Cobb’s already caught an offer—the home is already pending sale after just three weeks on the market.

Green Bay, WI

realtor.com

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1. 3172 Route 212, Springfield Township, PA

Price: $325,000

Why it’s here: Holy moly! This charming church from 1873 still has its original bell, double doors, and stained-glass windows. It’s been converted into a modern two-bedroom, 2.5-bath home, complete with a finished walk-out basement, which could be used as an office space.

The open floor plan is whimsical yet functional, and takes advantage of the structure’s high ceilings and altar. The 2,800 square feet of interior space can be reformatted to adapt to almost any owner or lifestyle.

Springfield Township, PA

realtor.com

The post Bless! Converted Church From 1873 Is This Week’s Most Popular Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

from https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/bless-converted-church-pa-most-popular/

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davidoespailla · 5 years

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Philly Home on America’s Oldest Residential Street Is the Most Popular This Week

realtor.com

A historic property sitting at the end of Elfreths Aly—the oldest residential street in America—in Philadelphia is this week’s most popular home on realtor.com®. It’s listed for $1.2 million.

Built in 1703, the home is a National Historic Landmark and within walking distance to shops, restaurants, galleries, and historic sites such as the Liberty Bell.

The history is visible in the listing photos, even below ground! “The basement is like a fortress,” says listing agent Ryan McManus. “It was used as a root cellar.”

Other clues to the two-bedroom home’s rich history include the now inoperable outhouse just off the kitchen.

Elfreths Aly with its cobblestone streets is a year-round tourist attraction and homes in the area rarely go on the market, says McManus. The current owners have had this property for more than 30 years.

But not everyone was looking for 18th-century properties this week.

Other homes you clicked on include a Bucks County, PA, mansion with fire damage that’s headed to auction; a four-story, Mediterranean-style mansion in Florida with water views and private beach access; and the Washington estate once owned by department store magnate D.E. Frederick.

So whether you are a Yankee doodle dandy, shopping for a family home in Tennessee, or just want to dream about living lavish on the beach, there’s something in this week’s top 10 just for you. Take a look!

10. 151 NW Highland Dr, Shoreline, WA

Price: $4,750,000 Why it’s here: This historic estate was built in 1931 by architect Lewis P. Robert for D.E. Frederick, owner of department store chain Frederick & Nelson. The 15,000-square-foot, 10-bedroom, and 6.5-bathroom chateau is built entirely of concrete. It includes a Venetian room that was transported in its entirety from an Italian castle. The original crystal chandeliers, antique paintings, and Otis elevator are just a few of the perks that come with the home.

Shoreline, WA

realtor.com

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9. 200 Cherry Dr, Franklin, TN

Price: $290,000 Why it’s here: The price and prime location just outside downtown Franklin is what makes this three-bedroom home so appealing. Built in 1970, the split-level home has been updated throughout and is conveniently close to freeway access.

Franklin, TN

realtor.com

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8. 1517 Douglas Ave, Nashville, TN

Price: $324,900 Why it’s here: Built in 1920 and fully remodeled, this home has granite countertops, modern fixtures, and a fenced backyard. Its heart pine wood flooring has been refinished.

Nashville, TN

realtor.com

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7. 226 Windcrest Dr, San Antonio, TX

Price: $169,900 Why it’s here: This three-bedroom ranch house was built in 1959 and has nearly 1,500 square feet of living space. Located just a short distance from Randolph Air Force Base and major freeways, the home has a two-car garage, a new roof, and a new HVAC system.

San Antonio, TX

realtor.com

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6. 160 Burnet Rdg, Fort Thomas, KY

Price: $182,000 Why it’s here: The updates throughout make this cute brick ranch a big draw. Built in 1917, the two-bedroom home boasts light and airy interiors with wood floors, a roomy kitchen, and new lighting. Outdoors, the exterior railing and landscaping are new, while the front porch and mature trees shroud the home in privacy, making it a serene retreat.

Fort Thomas, KY

realtor.com

———

5. 9 Exeter St, Danvers, MA

Price: $559,900 Why it’s here: This seemingly plain ranch home recently received an incredible makeover, including new plumbing in the kitchen and baths, a new water heater, new electric and heating systems, windows, and roof. Originally built in 1960, the four-bedroom home is now modern and stylish.

Danvers, MA

realtor.com

———

4. 322 Water View Dr, Franklin Lakes, NJ

Price: $1,950,000 Why it’s here: Familiar to all who enjoyed the drama of the first seven seasons of “Real Housewives of New Jersey,” the custom-built estate of Jacqueline Laurita just had another price cut. While Laurita has left the show, she hasn’t been able to unload her mansion. Yet

Franklin Lakes, NJ

realtor.com

———

3. 5781 Stoney Hill Rd, New Hope, PA

Price: $700,000 Why it’s here: Up for auction, this mansion has fire damage and is being sold as is. Built in 1989, the six-bedroom home measures over 5,500 square feet. Sitting on over 10 acres, the home comes with an attached three-car garage and a detached three-car garage with second-floor storage. There’s also a pool and a woodworking shop.

New Hope, PA

realtor.com

———

2. 4720 Ocean Blvd, Destin, FL

Price: $5,999,000 Why it’s here: This gorgeous seven-bedroom, Mediterranean-style beach house has four levels and incredible water views. Upgrades include an elevator, covered patios on each floor, a private courtyard, private beach access, and media room.

Destin, FL

realtor.com

———

1. 139 Elfreths Aly, Philadelphia, PA

Price: $1,200,000 Why it’s here: This remarkable home dates to 1703 and sits at the end of Elfreths Aly, the oldest residential street in the country. The two-bedroom, one-bathroom home is a National Historic Landmark and is filled with reminders of its storied past.

Philadelphia, PA

realtor.com

The post Philly Home on America’s Oldest Residential Street Is the Most Popular This Week appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Philly Home on America’s Oldest Residential Street Is the Most Popular This Week

#TRUSTED LOCAL REALTOR #Philly Home on America’s Oldest Residential Street Is the Most Popular This W

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olko71 · 1 year

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New Post has been published on All about business online

New Post has been published on http://yaroreviews.info/2022/12/rail-strikes-rmt-boss-calls-for-meeting-with-sunak

Rail strikes: RMT boss calls for meeting with Sunak

PA Media

The boss of the biggest rail workers’ union has called on the prime minister to meet him in an attempt to resolve the long-running strike action.

Rail workers in Britain have been locked in a dispute over pay, jobs and working conditions since the summer.

In a letter to Rishi Sunak, the RMT union’s general secretary, Mick Lynch, said talks between the two men was now the best way forward.

The next round of strikes is due to start next week.

Passengers have been warned only to travel by train if absolutely necessary during the two 48-hour strikes on Tuesday and Friday. There will be no trains in some places.

The action is being staged by RMT members at Network Rail and 14 train companies – alongside other rail workers in the TSSA and Unite unions.

When are the next train strikes?

The strikes taking place in December

Passengers warned not to travel by train next week

The RMT is involved in two sets of talks – one with Network Rail and one with the train operating companies, represented by the Rail Delivery Group.

Mr Lynch said that from press reports, Transport Secretary Mark Harper’s appearance at the Transport Committee this week and from what he has been directly told by the Rail Delivery Group’s negotiators, it was clear that Downing Street is “directing the mandate for the rail companies and has torpedoed the talks”.

In his letter, he told Mr Sunak: “I now believe that a meeting with yourself represents the best prospect of any renewed progress.

“We have a duty to explore every possible option for settling this dispute and I’m willing to do my part. I hope you will agree to meet me.”

The RMT has accused the government of disrupting the resolution process by adding the extension of Driver Only Operation – meaning drivers would operate train doors in more places – into the offer from the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which was swiftly rejected.

The Rail Delivery Group has insisted that Driver Only Operation does not mean staff will be removed from trains.

But the Department of Transport insists that the inclusion of driver only operated doors were a part of the pay deal from the start of negotiations and described them as “essential to fund pay fund offers and modernise the railways”.

In its offer to the union, it said that it would allow staff on board to focus on other safety issues, as well as looking after customers or selling tickets.

It has also disputed the union’s claim that it would compromise passenger safety, with these types of services already running for almost 40 years.

Getty Images

Speaking in front of a Commons Committee earlier this week, the transport secretary was asked repeatedly if reports the Treasury or Number 10 had inserted the change around these types of services into the RDG’s offer, were true.

He did not directly answer, saying reform was necessary to drive the savings but he was “not going to provide a running commentary”.

A spokesman for the Department for Transport said then that: “It’s incredibly disappointing that, despite a new and improved deal offering job security and a fair pay rise, the RMT continues to hold Christmas hostage with more damaging strikes.”

He added: “The government has played its part by facilitating a fair and decent offer and the RMT and its members should vote this deal through and end this harmful disruption.”

The RMT has rejected the RDG offer which included a 4% pay rise both this year and next. It has decided to put Network Rail’s offer, which includes a 5% pay rise this year and a 4% rise next year, to its members in an electronic referendum, but has called for it to be rejected.

Mr Lynch noted RMT has resolved disputes with rail operators in Scotland and Wales.

“Where the Scottish and Welsh governments have had responsibility for mandates, pay settlements for 2022 have been agreed and neither of these settlements have been conditional on cutting staffing, and eroding safety, security and accessibility,” he added.

The rail industry is not the only sector to face disruption, as demands grow for better working conditions and pay increases in line with rising prices.

But it is under pressure to save money after the pandemic left a hole in its finances, and bosses say reforms are needed to modernise the railway and make pay rises affordable.

More on this story

When are the next train strikes?

4 days ago

Passengers warned not to travel by train next week

3 days ago

The strikes taking place in December

1 day ago

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agirlinjapan · 5 years

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That makes sense now that the goddess only came to Izumiko to see Miyuki since Izumiko only turned into the goddess when Miyuki was around. Does that mean yukimasa and yukariko were in a relationship before but couldn’t remain so Miyuki could be born? And was that to change the future? I feel like the fanfic you wrote about yukariko and yukimasa became real 😵

You’re right! I can’t think of a time the goddess showed up when Miyuki wasn’t around! The closest I can come up with was the first time the goddess showed up while Izumiko was upstairs in Yukariko’s house, but then she immediately came downstairs to talk with Yukimasa and Miyuki, so...

As for Yukariko and Yukimasa, you know I have a huge head canon about those two, but we’re going to get information on that in the next few weeks of RDG (next week I think? I can’t remember exactly), so I’m not going to say anything. I will say that I stopped writing that fan fiction because I really wanted to keep things canon and the more I read, the more I realized my facts were off. (I think it’s in book 5 where we learn Yukariko’s mom died when she was really young and that completely destroyed the plot. Also, Yukariko left the mountain when she was 10... which I tried to explain away, but it was kind of slapdash... haha.)

Thank you for reading the fic!!! I had so much fun writing it and I was sad to drop it the way I did. I had it all planned out and honestly, I was almost done with it. ;_; There probably would have only been about two more chapters. I was even messing around with ideas for a sequel because I loveeeee Yukariko x Yukimasa.

With that said though, I have other ideas for RDG fan fics that I’d love to write some day. I’m just going to wait until I’ve read the new RDG book, Ice Shoes Glass Shoes, before i write anymore to make sure I actually do have my facts right this time.

I want to write Miyuki x Izumiko fluff so badly...

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agirlinjapan · 6 years

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Red Data Girl: My Wish on the Night of the Shooting Stars (Week 2)

Red Data Girl: My Wish on the Night of the Shooting Stars By Noriko Ogiwara A Translation

Miss the last piece? Read it here!

Check out the RDG Translation twitter!

Help me pay for my next translation project on Ko-fi.

It’s hard to believe that the summer is almost over. While admittedly, I can’t say that it feels like it just started, it definitely doesn’t feel like we’re so close to the end. Where I work, the teachers’ first day is September 4th, and the students return on the 6th. That means I have just over a week left of summer. Wow... It’s been a great one though! I’ve focused on my translating this August, and have translated over 100 pages in less than a month. By the time school begins again, I expect to be about 60% finished with the RDG 6 translation. Isn’t that crazy?!

Translation note: In Japan, students stay in their classrooms while teachers travel from room to room to teach classes. Without a “designated classroom” which “belongs” to each teacher, teachers instead have all their desks together in the teacher’s room. Generally, teachers return to this room to collect what they’ll need for the next lesson in the 5-10 minute break that occurs between each class. Students often use this time to visit the teacher’s room and ask their teachers questions or help bring materials up to the classroom.

Red Data Girl: My Wish on the Night of the Shooting Stars By Noriko Ogiwara Chapter 1: Disappearance Part 1 (2 of 2)

The next morning, many students, unprepared for returning to the normal school schedule, barely made it to their classrooms on time.

Izumiko, her hair back in its usual tight braids, was later than usual as well. She had stayed up late the night before, finally feeling awake after sleeping the morning away.

As she flew into 1-C, Miyuu Hatano called out from a group of girls directly behind her.

“Good morning, Izu! We haven’t seen you in a day or two.”

“Good morning—huh? Izu?”

“You’re Izumiko, so ‘Izu.’ It’s okay if we call you that from now on, right? You’re one of the girls, after all.”

What’s going on? It sounds like they’re trying to say Isolde, like that girl from Tristan and Isolde…

Izumiko was reminded of the heroine from the world famous legend. This was what happened when you were raised by your grandfather on a mountain and only read classics. Still, it made her happy that her classmates had a nickname for her. She responded, saying that she didn’t mind the name at all.

“Is it okay if I call you Myu from now on?”

“Of course!”

After everything 1-C had been able to put together and accomplish together for the school festival, they seemed to be closer than ever. Karin Hasegawa and Mako Sagawa, who were standing next to Miyuu, also asked to call Izumiko by her nickname. They chatted for a bit, but the conversation never touched upon her dance or the ghosts.

Relieved, Izumiko headed towards her desk. Only then did she see Manatsu Souda just ahead of her. He was seated at his desk, currently in the middle of a large stretch.

I wonder if Manatsu slept completely through the days off, too…

Izumiko gave an absent smile as they noticed each other.

“Ah, morning. I thought I’d ask you something if I saw you. Do you know where Shinko went over our days off?”

Izumiko’s eyes went wide. “Huh? Sagara went somewhere?”

“I haven’t seen him around the dorm at all. I tried asking his roommate, and he said Shinko’s been off campus. People are saying he’s at the hospital.”

“What? I didn’t know… I didn’t hear.”

She stood there, staring at nothing. This was unexpected. She knew she had gone pale. Manatsu, who was always so carefree, didn’t look so happy at the moment either.

“I’m sorry. I thought he would have said something to you. Let’s not worry too much until we know exactly what’s going on. Going to the hospital could just be a story he’s using to cover up something else.”

Their conversation ended for the time being as their homeroom teacher, Mr. Sasamoto, came into the room. Still, Izumiko couldn’t concentrate on the homeroom discussion or the class that came after it. She began to shake more and more as she thought about how she had slept for so long, doing nothing.

He didn’t tell me anything…Something serious happened, and I didn’t even have the slightest idea…

When first period ended, Izumiko hurried to 1-A. Worried about how flustered she was, Manatsu followed after her. When they peered inside 1-A’s classroom, Miyuki, as suspected, was nowhere in sight. Mayura, however, was there, a frown on her face. When she noticed Izumiko and Manatsu, she joined them out in the hallway.

“Yeah, Sagara’s absent. But he must have given some notice about it because our teacher didn’t seem particularly surprised. It is a little strange that Takayanagi’s absent too, though.”

“Takayanagi, too?”

“Claus as well.”

Izumiko’s worry grew larger and larger. She put a hand over her mouth. “What if Sagara and the others never woke up in the nurse’s office?...”

“That didn’t happen,” Manatsu quickly put in. “If that was the case, I would have heard more about it in the boy’s dorm. Shinko went back to the dorm. But his roommate, Hiraoka, doesn’t know when he left campus either. I was sleeping yesterday and the day before that, too, so I didn’t look for him.”

“When did you know that Sagara wasn’t in the dorm?” Mayura asked her brother. “Did you try texting him?”

“I heard it from Hiraoka this morning at breakfast. I tried calling him, but his phone seemed to be dead. I haven’t gotten an email or text from him, either.”

“…If he’s really at the hospital, we’d know that too, though.”

“What about Takayanagi? Did you ask about him?””

“Ask about him? How could I ask about a guy in a white yukata?”

“You live in the boys’ dorm. Keep a better eye on our opponent!”

After the exchange between the two siblings, Mayura said it Izumiko, “I don’t think we have to worry right now. Sagara and Takayanagi probably have completely different reasons for being absent. They’ll probably be back this afternoon. If they don’t come back to school today, I’ll start asking around quietly. Let’s just keep our eyes out until then. You can do that, right?”

Izumiko had intended to nod her agreement. However, she found that she couldn’t.

“…This has to be my fault…”

“This is exactly why I said we were going to wait before jumping to conclusions,” Mayura said worriedly. “Hang in there, Izumiko.”

As hard as Izumiko tried, she couldn’t wait quietly by for something to happen. She couldn’t sit still.

That’s right. Mr. Sagara will definitely know if something happened…

Izumiko rushed away without taking the time to respond.

After watching her go, Mayura turned to her brother. “It must have been hard for her to hear this so early in the morning. First Masumi and now this. Do you think Izumiko can handle it?”

“I can’t say. But I know how you feel,” Manatsu replied.

They both turned back to watch Izumiko go.

Arriving at the teacher’s room in the administrative building, Izumiko took a deep breath and peered in from the door. However, beyond that, she didn’t know where to look or where Yukimasa Sagara’s desk was. They were currently in the short interval of time between first and second period, and people were hurrying in and out of the room.

Izumiko watched a number of people come and go, and then finally worked up the courage to ask one of them.

“Um, Ms. Miyamoto. Excuse me. Is Mr. Sagara here?”

Ms. Miyamoto was an English teacher in her twenties who was quick to raise her voice. She looked at Izumiko’s demure expression before frowning.

“Too many girls have asked me that this morning. It’s getting exhausting. Maybe I should put a sign on the door. Mr. Sagara’s out today. Visiting teachers don’t have classes every day, alright?”

Her tone was cranky enough that Izumiko couldn’t bring herself to ask if Yukimasa’s day off had been unexpected. Izumiko watched Ms. Miyamoto go, thinking she should get back to class, but she had absolutely no interest in sitting through more lessons.

Maybe I’ll go to the nurse’s office. I doubt Mr. Sagara’s volunteering there today, but maybe I should check…

Heading back towards the stairs, Izumiko noticed for the first time that Manatsu was standing nearby. The expression on his face was less serious than it had been before.

“Where are you going?” he asked. “Are planning on skipping class?”

“I’m going to the nurse’s office for a bit. You don’t have to go with me though.”

“That’s okay. I’ll join you.”

Cheerfully catching up to Izumiko’s quick steps so that they were walking side by side, Manatsu asked, “Can I ask you something? Why did you go looking for an English teacher because Shinko isn’t here?”

Realizing she had made a mistake with her immediate reaction to Mayura’s words, Izumiko remained quiet for a few seconds. But then, she soon began to feel badly about the secret she had been keeping from the Souda siblings up until now. She knew there was nothing left to do but tell Manatsu.

“Because he’s Sagara’s father.”

Manatsu laughed. “So even you tell jokes.”

“I know it sounds like a joke. He doesn’t want anyone to know, so please don’t tell anyone, even Mayura,” Izumiko said then hurriedly added, “It’s on the same level as how no one knows Hayakawa’s from Togakushi. You get it now, right?”

“Wha….. What?”

Manatsu flung both arms over his head and jumped back as if a horse had made a leap for him. The action conveyed his true astonishment.

“How is he Shinko’s father? That English teacher Mr. Sagara is so young! Is he like a stepdad or Shinko adopted or something like that?”

“No. He’s his real dad.”

“…I feel like I just heard this century’s greatest mystery.”

Manatsu was always so indifferent to the things happening around him. What he was saying now though made Izumiko rethink a few things. If a run in with ghosts hadn’t fazed Manatsu, then the identity of Miyuki’s father very well could have been the more unbelievable phenomenon in his mind. The only reason Izumiko wasn’t so surprised by the news along with him was because she had already known.

“Manatsu, the problem isn’t that they don’t look like father and son. It’s that talking about his dad makes him angry. Please understand that.”

“When you say angry, you’re talking about him releasing a total waterfall of rage, aren’t you? He really would be pissed off...”

Izumiko arrived at the first floor nurse’s office with Manatsu walking at her side, grumbling his thoughts. She knocked on the door, and Ms. Sakakiba appeared from the other side.

Before Izumiko or Manatsu could open their mouths, the nurse said, “Mr. Sagara isn’t here. He was only here for the school festival, so go right on back to your classroom… Oh, You’re Izumiko from 1-C, aren’t you?”

Izumiko lowered her head into a small bow so quickly her braids swung back and forth. “Thank you for helping us on the day of the school festival.”

Ms. Sakakiba’s expression softened immediately. She usually was an easy going woman.

“Well. You didn’t come all this way just to say that, did you?”

“No, we didn’t…”

Seeing whether or not Yukimasa was there was only half of why she had come to the office.

“Ms. Sakakiba, you know how Miyuki Sagara and Ichijo Takayanagi were sleeping here after the festival?” Izumiko asked before she could change her mind. “Do you remember how much longer they stayed here after I left?”

“I woke those two up before dinner. They were just snoozing, and they didn’t have fevers. Nothing else seemed to be wrong with them either. It was just sleep deprivation. First years aren’t used to the big events here, and they overexerted themselves.”

“Both of them are absent today though. Did you hear anything about that?”

Ms. Sakakiba looked surprised at Izumiko’s insistence. “Huh? Are they absent? I haven’t had a chance to look at the morning health check list yet. The attendance just arrived.”

She returned to her desk, flipped through the papers on it, and then said, “There certainly are a number of students out sick in 1-A. But I don’t know any details yet. However, the health office is only given names when a student has an excused absence.”

Izumiko was disappointed. She hadn’t learned any more than what she had already heard from Mayura.

“Thank you very much. Everything’s fine then, I guess…”

“Wait a second.”

Ms. Sakakiba’s worried voice stopped them as they were about to walk back out into the hallway. “Izumiko, I’m curious about something. You and those two disappeared in the middle of the festival, and then you showed up here all together. That’s been bothering me.”

It was natural that she would be suspicious. As Izumiko fumbled over how she could possibly respond, the nurse continued. “If you’re worried over something you can’t say to your friends, would you consider speaking to a counselor? Do you want me to make you an appointment? Do need to talk to someone?”

…Ms. Sakakiba definitely lives in this reality, Izumiko thought. Knowing this made her feel an emotion that was something like a mix of relief and loneliness. The school wasn’t only populated by teachers and students with connections to sacred spirits and ghosts. She felt that fact quite vividly just then.

“I’m okay for now.”

As Izumiko left the nurse’s office, Manatsu gave a quick bow to Ms. Sakakiba, and then followed after his friend.

Izumiko walked out the building’s front door, and did not stop until she had reached the small stone bridge further down the path. There, she looked up at the autumn sky dotted far above with little white clouds. The day was peaceful and bright, but that light did not reach all the way to Izumiko’s heart.

Something’s definitely going on… But even so, Sagara hasn’t necessarily disappeared from the school.

“Izumiko, you should just wait patiently for now. That’s what Mayura said,” Manatsu stated from behind her. He was still a few yards down the path. “If you don’t want to sit around in the classroom, how about going to the barn? Taking care of horses calms people down.”

“Thanks, but I think I’d rather go back to my own room,” Izumiko replied without turning to look at him. “Don’t worry about me. I won’t leave the school or anything. They’ll notice if there are two people missing from the classroom, so you should go back to class.”

For a moment, Manatsu stood there, reluctant to leave Izumiko on her own. However, he didn’t have the time to walk her back to the girl’s dorm, and so he grudgingly gave up his objections to the situation.

“If you’re going back, promise that you won’t leave the room. Mayura can look in on you there, so don’t move.”

Keep reading!

#rdg #red data girl #rdg 6 #rdg 6 week 2 #translation #rdg my wish on the night of the shooting stars

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agirlinjapan · 6 years

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Red Data Girl: My Longest Day of School (Week 30)

Red Data Girl: My Longest Day of School By Noriko Ogiwara A Translation

Miss the last piece? Read it here!

Check out the RDG Translation twitter!

Help me pay for my next translation project on Ko-fi.

Now that I’m back from Japan, I can enjoy a lazy summer vacation to the fullest!... Or maybe it won’t be so lazy. With all this free time on my hands, I’ve been translating like crazy. During the school year, I’m lucky to get 10 or so RDG pages done in a month. In the past two weeks, I’ve translated over 60 pages.

Lots of translating time means lots of material for me to post. Therefore, as I announced last week, I’ll be posting new RDG every Sunday this month. I’m excited to get back onto a weekly schedule after two years of biweekly posting.

Once September comes around and school starts, I’ll be returning to the biweekly schedule, but let’s enjoy the summer while it’s still around. :)

We’re getting really close to the end of this book! Including this week, there are only 2 more installations left! We’re finishing RDG 5 next week!!

Red Data Girl: My Longest Day of School By Noriko Ogiwara Chapter 4: Choice Part 4 (2 of 2)

It was decided that the student body would gather in the lecture hall. The guests who hadn’t left, as well as the parents and guardians, were directed towards the cafeteria.

Apparently the stoves and other cooking appliances weren’t working either, but the day’s kitchen staff was luckily able to put together a meal that required no cooking. The students’ lunches consisted of premade bento boxes, bread, and rice balls—all foods that were easy to eat while moving. There was plenty to go around. The only problem was that no one could have imagined the entire school eating together in one place at one time.

It was chaos.

Seeing as the middle school students had also been gathered into the lecture hall with the high schoolers, there were many students who couldn’t find a chair to sit in. As a result, plenty of people had spilled out into the lounge area.

The Warring States era costumes were also causing problems. Many students found that they couldn’t sit down while maintaining good manners. Students were strewn across the floor eating their lunches. Flags, banners, and armor were haphazardly left everywhere. At a glance, the room really did look like a battle field. The scene had more of a Warring States era feel to it than the actual all school game had.

Many of the students had taken pieces of their armor off, but the teachers and student government were hesitant to cancel the second half of the games. Seeing as what had happened with the electronics was so odd, it might be dangerous for the students to disperse across the campus after making such a decision. There was a need to cautiously continue on with the original plan. After waiting for more information to come in, the adults went back and forth over what to do, taking up valuable time.

It was taking so long to decide what would happen next that Mayura and Manatsu went out to sit in the hallway. There, Manatsu was able to relay every last detail he had seen and heard since the games had begun. He talked about the man Miyuki knew, what had happened with Hayakawa, and Takayanagi’s surprising situation. He didn’t stop talking until he came to the end of the story.

The more Mayura heard, the more she couldn’t help but think that it had been a good thing Manatsu hadn’t gone with Miyuki into the alternate dimension. She knew that Masumi was there and that some sort of altercation was going on. She was just glad that Manatsu had come back to her. If something happened here, she would desperately need his help. It wasn’t just that she had wanted to see him.

“Sagara’s a better guy than I thought he was…”

As Mayura murmured this, Manatsu gave a small laugh and said quietly, “Didn’t I say that from the start? He even took dog Takayanagi with him. I wonder what Shinko was planning.”

“He was thinking about what he could do for Izumiko.”

“Yeah. I think Izumiko’s the one who turned Takayanagi into a dog, but I’m not sure.”

Mayura sat against the wall, her knees up. She gazed at her hands resting on the luxurious fabric of her hakama pants. Manatsu, in his loose kuroko outfit, had his legs spread out in front of him.

“…Tell me, Manatsu. Will I become the World Heritage Candidate? Is Masumi gone?” Mayura asked after a quiet moment. She continued after asking her question. “I thought this was the best way to do it. I thought becoming the Candidate would show our whole family that we have power even when we’re not together and we haven’t called Masumi. But do we not have that connection between him and us anymore? That promise we made when we were kids, the connection… if Masumi is gone for good, there won’t be anything left between him and us, will there?”

“When we got taller, so did he, right? Obviously we noticed that, but Masumi didn’t. That’s why our connection to him or between us won’t necessarily disappear. It’s just going to take a different shape,” Manatsu said, voicing the ideas he had mulled over countless times before. “I don’t think Masumi will disappear, never to be seen again. If I thought that, it would be the end, wouldn’t it? The next time he returns, he’ll be a little different from me. From you, too. That’s all. Those things happen, even to triplets, right?”

“I want to welcome him back… I hope I’ll be able to say that much to him. I want to see Sagara and Izumiko again, too. But I feel like I only have you and Masumi, right now.”

Mayura leaned forward, putting her chin on her knees. “I did something mean to Sagara today. It’s not a nice story. That’s why after hearing everything you just told me, I think Sagara’s capable of way more than I gave him credit for.”

Manatsu gazed at his sister, but he didn’t ask her to elaborate. “I like seeing you all upbeat and competitive, but I don’t really like it when you’re so busy. You get weird when you try too hard. It’s okay to do what you want to do. I’m not going to disappear that easily.”

“So you’re saying I should relax.” Mayura’s tone was sulky, but Manatsu still continued on.

“If and when I die, there’s other ways to go that are unrelated to my heart. It could be a traffic accident or a natural disaster or some other illness. What I’m saying is something has to happen eventually, so there’s no reason to worry any more than you have to. You should enjoy Grandpa trying to find a husband for you.”

“That’s not something I can enjoy…”

“But today you say Shinko in a new way. Our opinions of people are always changing. And it seems like there’s still time for us to change as people, too. As we change, it’s totally alright for us to check to make sure that the unchanging ties we have to other people are still there.”

After reflecting on her brother’s words for a moment, Mayura murmured, “If you think that, it’s alright, I guess. You seem so confident that we can fix everything, so maybe I shouldn’t worry. But if you really do think all those things you just said, we probably need to start making things right again now.”

Just then, the student president along with Hoshino and Okouchi appeared as they turned a corner into the hallway. Their eyes fell on the two sitting on the floor.

“Is this where you’ve been, Manatsu?” Hoshino asked. “Listen to this—you too, Mayura. The teachers decided to go on with the second battle game!”

Mayura and Manatsu stared at the two older students. They had been sure the game would be cancelled due to the time the electric problems had taken up. However, Honoka and the two second year boys would be putting their black, kuroko hoods back on much earlier than expected. Their faces would be hidden behind the veils, and they were ready to go back to judging.

“Can we still continue the game? Even with the current limitations?”

“The official decision is that it would be better to just get through the last game than to stop here,” Okouchi responded in what couldn’t be called a happy tone. “Giving the students free time would just cause their panic to rise again. Besides, there are rumors of ghostly happenings going around. We don’t know where that’s coming from, so we’re just going to let that be, though.”

“Ghost stories?”

“They’re a little more fantastical than that, apparently. People are saying there’s nothing beyond the school campus, and after today, the world’s going to end. There are people who wanted to prove that the stories were wrong, but apparently no one’s been physically able leave the campus. No one knows why, but they can’t do it.”

Even Mayura had to admit it was a scary story. However, she could see how such talk would occur when communication with the outside world had completely stopped.

“No one can seriously go beyond the gate?”

“I haven’t tried,” Honoka said, frowning. “The teams who were competing by the horse ring are more upset than the others. When we took rollcall there, there were also a few missing students. Some of the teachers went looking, but apparently they didn’t find them. They didn’t search all the way up the hill though, and there is a chance they may have left campus for some reason. But, Sagara and Izumiko are among the missing students. This is a huge blow to the student government.”

“There are a few rumors flying around about their disappearance,” Hoshino added. “For example, they fell in a hole into a different dimension, or got dragged away by the dead, or fell through time into the past. All delusional disasters, I’m sure.”

Mayura and Manatsu glanced at each other, and then Manatsu quickly stood up.

“Ah. Sorry. I have to get back to work.”

“Please do so. Even you first years are busy today,” Honoka agreed.

The student president was never one to be lenient, but Mayura couldn’t complain today. It was clear to see how overwhelmed Honoka was as she struggled through the day.

“If all the electronics aren’t fixed by the evening, everyone’s going to get even more frightened, and I think we’ll have a real panic on our hands,” Honoka went on. “We need to continue the game as soon as possible. We need to gather all the students who are willing to work as leaders.”

Okouchi was already calmer than he had been before. He cradled his precious, broken laptop in his arms.

“If it all broke without reason, there’s a chance it’ll all start working again without reason, too, right?” he asked. “There’s no reason to give up on the possibility that it’ll go back to the way it was before. We just have to wait.”

The final game was a simple matter. Seeing as it would be played as a melee, it was important that the judges took care in managing the game. They would use the open space in front of the classroom building, and would follow traditional “balloon popping” rules. The soldiers who were still “alive” would carry their team’s banners into the battle along with a balloon attached to the same pole. The balloons’ fates would be the fates of the soldiers. It would make quite a spectacle as the two teams crashed into one another.

According to reports, the attack and defense teams had received around the same points during the first game and still had about the same amount of soldiers remaining. The commanders in their restricting armor would carry the balloons that would determine the outcome of the game; theirs were worth more points than the regular soldiers’, and therefore the team who defended theirs the best would most likely win.

The third year middle schoolers, disheartened by how the day was going, roused themselves to protect their princess general. With the game beginning again, spirits rose and rumors were forgotten. However, when Mayura looked to find Takayanagi, the attack team general she was supposed to be facing off against, he was nowhere to be seen. In normal circumstances, she would have been happy about this, but today she found that she wasn’t pleased at all.

None of this really should be happening. Not when Izumiko and Sagara are somewhere dangerous instead of here at the game…

The clouds in the sky had grown thick without her noticing. It was only three o’clock in the afternoon, but it was dark and gloomy already as if dusk was approaching. Without the sun shining, the change from the morning’s weather was distinctly apparent.

It took much longer than expected to gather everyone outside, whether costumed or no. No one had considered how slowly people would move when they couldn’t hear directions over a loudspeaker. It was just like the Warring States era.

The students who had quickly moved into their armies eventually grew tired of waiting.

That’s when it happened.

An army made up of something completely other than students came down from the sports grounds on the hill.

Some students saw it immediately. Others did not see it at all. A murmuring of surprise and disbelief began to grow in the crowd.

At first, Mayura didn’t notice it either. However, the moment she saw it, she could not take her eyes off of what was coming. The wiggling human shadows looked so weak they were practically transparent, but they were definitely part of a Warring States era battle.

They didn’t look like anything from this world, though.

Knowing no matter what it was, it was bad, Mayura hurried to find Honoka. It wouldn’t be good at all if the person in charge of the entire game fell into panic over ghosts.

However, Honoka, located between the two student armies, was already watching the incoming forces, as were the students around her. Some of them were murmuring to each other, but as the seconds ticked by, the crowd steadily quieted. They stared blankly, their eyes glued to the scene. However, none of them seemed scared. Strangely, Mayura felt the same way. She had assumed she would be frightened upon seeing ghosts for the first time, but apparently, this was not the case.

The semi-transparent soldiers coming down the hill were certainly frightening enough. No matter how Mayura considered it, it was strange indeed that the entire school was silently watching the spectacle in front of them. If she had to choose which was the stranger sight, the approaching army of ghosts or the silent students, she was certain she’d pick the students.

…What will I do if we have to fight them?...

And what about all the other students around her, carrying balloons on their backs, ready to play a silly game?

Was this the same thing as a frog being unable to take its eyes off a snake? But Mayura was at a loss of what to do as well. It seemed like the only thing left to do was pray that they weren’t attacked.

Just then, she felt a familiar sensation beside her. When she looked over, Masumi was standing next to her.

“Huh?... Masumi?”

“I’m sorry, Mayura. I was fooling around.” Masumi’s tone was cheerful.

“What have you been doing?” Mayura asked. “Where’s Izumiko?”

“Oh, Miyuki chased me off.”

“So Izumiko turned you down?”

“Nah. I don’t think she’s really decided yet. Anyway, I came to protect you.”

After letting out a long sigh, Mayura finally found the ability to speak. “Welcome back, Masumi. I knew you’d return to me.”

“I know. That’s why I came back,” Masumi said.

“Bring Izumiko and Sagara back soon.”

“Even I can’t do that.” He nodded his head in the army’s direction. “Look at that,” he urged, his tone still light. “It’s just all the ghosts of Hachiouji Castle returning home. You’ll understand after they’re gone.”

The deceased soldier ghosts passed right in front of the students. As Masumi had said, they did not give the crowd even one look as they went by. It was as if they didn’t even see the group pressed shoulder to shoulder in their own army costumes. The ghosts simply continued on to the gate, fading into oblivion as they passed through it.

The students watched silently as the spectacle went by like onlookers at a parade. The whole thing felt like a dream.

After the last soldier had passed through the gate, and the students had turned their heads back towards the campus, they found something else had appeared without their knowledge while they had been focused on the procession.

A half transparent woman was standing in the middle of the open space near the sports grounds. She was dressed in a Warring States era over kimono, performing a solitary dance.

Is that Izumiko?...

Mayura squinted to get a better look, but she wasn’t sure. Seeing as the dancer was transparent, she couldn’t quite make out the color of her clothing or the designs on it. All the same, it looked very much like the outfit Izumiko had worn at the kimono demonstration. There was an open fan in her hand. When she turned it around, Mayura could see that one side of it was white. The dancing princess’s hair flowed far down her back, and her face had a soft paleness to it. It reminded Mayura more of Izumiko than anyone else she had ever seen.

The other students were beginning to notice the dancer and murmur among themselves. All the same, the crowd was still encompassed in the silence of watching an event happen. They all gazed on in rapt attention, holding their breaths.

“Tell me. Is that Izumiko?” Mayura whispered to Masumi.

“Quiet. You need to watch this,” he whispered back. “I bet you never thought you’d get a chance to see Izumiko dance.”

Mayura knew exactly what Masumi meant. Izumiko was not the sort of girl who performed in front of crowds to bathe in attention. She had never once heard Miyuki mention anything about her dancing, either. However, when she realized that this was Izumiko, something deep inside of her chest relaxed.

Izumiko is special. She’s different from everyone else. There’s probably no one else like her…

The faint, goddess-like figure continued to dance alone in the one beam of sunlight that had made it through the cloudy sky.

As the slight figured continued her careful movements, her long hair and sleeves suddenly began to flutter, and the hem of her kimono gently rose off the ground. For an instant, everyone was blinded by the whiteness of her fan. Then she continued to silently move her feet…

Her movements repeated over and over. There were times when the onlookers could see her raise her hand to her lips, but she never made a sound. The students could not take their eyes off the simple movements. Watching her was like an invitation into a dream world.

“…Beautiful,” Mayura said, her voice quiet. “I think she’s letting you know that she doesn’t want to be with you.”

Masumi didn’t answer. However, he seemed to smile.

The students lost all track of time as they watched the unearthly girl’s dance. They had no sense of how many minutes had gone by. How many hours. But then suddenly, something snapped, and the end was instantly there.

Everyone heard a familiar mechanical sound began to fill the air; the beating sound of rotors. Up until now, no one had been looking at the sky. Now though, everyone raised their heads almost as if they were waking up.

A helicopter was flying above the school.

Keep reading!

#rdg #red data girl #rdg my longest day of school #rdg 5 #rdg 5 week 30 #translation

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