English Story (CEFR: A2)
The cultural festival arrived, transforming the school into a vibrant maze of booths. Food stalls sizzled, games buzzed, and music echoed through the courtyard. Kumicho was busy with the art club, painting banners, while Najimi and the music club prepared a live performance. Itao, of course, was hyping up the soccer club’s penalty shootout booth.
Najimi was the star of the music club’s stage. She’d been practicing a simple guitar riff for weeks, and today was her big moment. “I’m kinda nervous,” she admitted to Kumicho during a break, twirling her ponytail. “What if I mess up?”
Kumicho, wiping paint off his hands, smiled softly. “You’ll be great, Najimi. You always shine.” He meant it, her energy always lifting his mood, though he kept that part to himself.
“Thanks, Kumicho!” Najimi beamed, then dashed back to rehearse with Aoi and Taro. Aoi tuned her guitar, while Taro banged his drums with extra flair. “We’re gonna rock this!” Taro shouted.
At the soccer booth, Itao was flirting with a new girl, Sara, who’d joined the photography club. “Wanna see my killer kick?” he bragged, spinning a soccer ball. Sara, her camera around her neck, smirked. “Only if it goes in the goal, hotshot.” Itao’s kick sailed over the net, and Riku cackled. “Nice one, lover boy!”
Sara snapped a photo of Itao’s embarrassed face. “That’s going in the school paper,” she teased. Itao groaned but grinned. “Make sure I look cool, okay?”
Kumicho’s art club booth displayed posters and murals. Mika, from drama club, bounced over. “Kumicho, these are awesome! You’re totally designing our play’s backdrop!” She dragged Haru, the cooking club boy, along. “Haru’s helping with lights. Right, Haru?”
Haru nodded shyly, his glasses slipping. “Y-yeah, I’m trying.” Kumicho gave him a thumbs-up. “You got this, Haru.”
Yui, the student council star, was everywhere, checking schedules. “Kumicho, music club’s on in ten minutes! Help me get the crowd ready!” she ordered, her clipboard a blur. Kumicho nodded, grabbed a megaphone, and shouted, “Music club’s performing soon! Don’t miss it!”
The music club’s show started with a bang. Taro’s drums thundered, Aoi’s guitar wailed, and Najimi’s riff, though shaky at first, grew steady. The crowd cheered, and Kumicho clapped from the side, his sketchbook open to capture Najimi’s glowing smile.
But then, the speakers crackled and died. The crowd groaned. Najimi froze, her fingers on the strings. Aoi whispered, “Keep playing!” and Taro kept drumming. Yui sprinted to the tech booth, where Haru fumbled with wires. “I-I got it!” Haru yelped, fixing the sound just in time.
The music roared back, and Najimi nailed her riff. The crowd went wild. Kumicho’s heart swelled, not just for her skill but for her courage. *She’s amazing,* he thought, sketching faster.
After the show, Najimi ran to Kumicho, breathless. “We did it! Did you see?” Her eyes sparkled, and Kumicho nodded, a quiet grin. “Yeah, you were awesome.”
Itao joined them, still sulking about his missed kick. “Sara’s cool, but she’s tough to impress,” he muttered. Sara overheard and laughed, snapping another photo. “Keep trying, soccer star.”
Mika and Riku appeared, eating takoyaki. “Najimi, you killed it!” Mika said. Riku smirked. “Better than Itao’s air ball.” Itao huffed, “I’ll get her next time!”
As night fell, fireworks lit the sky. The group gathered to watch, joined by Yui, who finally put down her clipboard. “Good job, everyone,” she said, almost soft. Najimi leaned close to Kumicho, pointing at a spark. “Look at that one!” Kumicho nodded, her excitement enough to make the moment perfect.
The festival was a hit, but high school was just heating up. With new friends like Sara and Haru, and Itao’s endless quests for love, what chaos would come next?
日本語訳
文化祭がドカーンとやってきて、学校はキラキラの迷路に大変身！屋台でジュージュー、ゲームでワイワイ、校庭に音楽がバンバン。クミチョは美術部でバナーにガシガシ絵の具、ナジミは音楽部でライブの準備バッチリ。イタオはサッカー部のペナルティーキック屋台で、いつものドヤ顔でガンガン。
ナジミは音楽部のステージの主役。何週間も簡単なギターリフをジャカジャカ練習して、今日が本番。「ちょっとドキドキ…」とクミチョにポツリ、ポニーテールをクルッ。「ミスったらどうしよう？」
クミチョは手についた絵の具をゴシゴシ、ニコッ。「ナジミなら絶対イケるよ。いつもキラキラしてるじゃん。」本気で思った。彼女のノリ、なんか元気出るな、って心ん中で。
「クミチョ、ありがと！」ナジミがパッと笑顔、ダダッとアオイとタロの練習に戻った。アオイはギターをジャーン、タロはドラムをドカドカ、気合い入りまくり。「ぶちかますぜ！」とタロがガオー！
サッカー屋台では、イタオが写真部の新キャラ、サラにちょっかい。「俺のキラーキック、見ね？」とボールクルクル。サラ、カメラ首に、ニヤッ。「ゴール入ったらね、チャラ男。」イタオのキック、ネットの上をビューン！リクがゲラゲラ。「ナイス、恋愛マスター！」
サラはイタオの赤っ面をパシャッ。「これ、校内新聞行きね」とニヤニヤ。イタオはううっ、でも笑顔。「カッコよく載せてくれよ？」
クミチョの美術部ブースはポスターと壁画でキラキラ。ミカが演劇部からピョンピョン。「クミチョ、めっちゃスゴい！芝居の背景、絶対描いて！」料理部のハルをグイッ。「ハル、照明やるよね？」
ハルはメガネずり落ち、モジモジ。「う、うん、頑張る…。」クミチョはサムズアップ。「ハル、余裕だよ。」
生徒会のユイはバタバタ、予定をチェック。「クミチョ、音楽部あと10分！観客集めるの手伝え！」とクリップボードがシュッ。クミチョはコクン、メガホン持ってガンガン。「音楽部のライブ、すぐ始まる！見逃すなよ！」
音楽部のライブ、ドーンとスタート！タロのドラムがゴロゴロ、アオイのギターがギュイーン、ナジミのリフは最初プルプル、でもだんだんバッチリ。観客がワー！クミチョは横でパチパチ、スケッチブック開いてナジミのニッコリをガシガシ。
でも、スピーカーがジジッ、プツン！観客がううっ。ナジミ、弦に手置いてカチン。アオイがヒソッ。「弾き続けな！」タロはドカドカ続けた。ユイがテクブースにダーッ、ハルがワイヤーゴソゴソ。「お、できた！」と叫び、音がドーン！
音楽がバッチリ戻り、ナジミのリフがキマった！観客がギャー！クミチョの胸、彼女のうまさとガッツにドキドキ。*めっちゃスゴいな*って、鉛筆シュシュッ。
ライブ後、ナジミがハァハァでクミチョにダッシュ。「やったよ！見た！？」目キラキラ、クミチョはニコッ。「うん、めっちゃカッコよかった。」
イタオがしょぼんと合流。「サラ、いい感じなのに、ムズいな…」とブツブツ。サラが耳ざとく、笑いながらパシャ。「頑張れ、サッカースター。」
ミカとリクがたこ焼きモグモグで登場。「ナジミ、めっちゃキマってた！」とミカ。リクはニヤッ。「イタオのスカより100倍マシ。」イタオはプーッ。「次、絶対落とす！」
夜、ドドーンと花火がバンバン！みんな集まり、ユイもやっとクリップボード置いた。「みんな、よくやった」と珍しくフワッ。ナジミがクミチョのそばでピョイ。「あの花火、ヤバいね！」クミチョはコクン、彼女のワクワクがなんかバッチリ。
文化祭は大ヒット！でも高校はまだまだアツい。サラやハルみたいな新顔や、イタオの恋のバタバタ、次はどんなドタバタが！？
文章の解説 (A2レベル)
1. Kumicho, wiping paint off his hands, smiled softly.
解説:
"wiping + 名詞" は動作を具体的に示し、クミチョが絵の具を拭く様子を描写。
"smiled softly" は「優しく笑う」で、控えめな感情を表現。A2レベルでは動作と感情をシンプルに伝える。
- wiping: 拭く
- softly: 優しく
2. “Only if it goes in the goal, hotshot,” Sara said.
解説:
"only if" は「～の場合にだけ」で、条件を強調。サラがイタオに挑戦的な態度を示す。
"hotshot" は「自信家」というスラングで、サラのからかう口調を表現。A2レベルでは会話でキャラの個性を出す。
- only if: ～の場合にだけ
- hotshot: 自信家
3. The crowd went wild.
解説:
"go wild" は「大盛り上がりする」という表現で、観客の興奮を伝える。
A2レベルでは、短いフレーズで強い感情や反応を描写する。
- go wild: 大盛り上がりする