AREA 01 | Confusion and Order 1-5
Confusion and Order 1
What a surprise.
To think that this place is still standing, undemolished...
Ya stopped right in your tracks... Does that mean this is the place?
Such a well-kept buildin’ bein’ in such a dingy neighborhood like this is pretty wild...
So you’ve got people ya know overseas too, huh, HiMERU-kun?
Seems so...? But before, I thought he said he’d never been abroad.
— Correct, HiMERU has no experience abroad.
This residence here is where an acquaintance of HiMERU’s used to live. He would often send photos and insist for HiMERU to stop by if he ever came this way.
By following the address HiMERU was given back then, we’ve made our way here.
Hmm. An acquaintance who lives in such a far-out place like this, huh...
Well, anyhow, this means we won’t have to sleep outside in the chilly air!
Can’t argue with that! And we owe it all to Merumeru...!
A’ight, let’s head in. Sorry for intrudin’— Umm, the doorbell is...
No need to ring the doorbell.
Huh? What do ya mean by that...?
What’re you doin’, HiMERU-kun? Gutters like that are nasty, don’t put your hand in ‘em...
Here it is.
Is that... a key? Wait, is that for this buildin’?
But, why? You don’t have to go outta your way for somethin’ like that to get inside...
... So that’s why we don’t hafta ring the doorbell.
Well, I guess this way’s pretty chill too.
Stop comin’ to conclusions on your own. Tell us so we get it too, will ya?
The answer is simple. Nobody is currently living at this residence.
Like was said earlier, the story HiMERU mentioned is from years ago.
Ohh! It’s a little dusty, but the inside’s pretty fancy, huh!
...
HiMERU-kun? Is something wrong?
No, nothing at all.
(... That’s strange. This safe house should have been abandoned years ago...)
(Sure, I’d brought us here with the faint hope that we could shelter ourselves from the elements at the very least, but..)
(The electricity is still on. How?)
(Judging from the state of the interior and the dust settled on the furniture, it doesn’t appear anyone is living here, but...)
The lights were workin’, so I figured to give it a chance, but... Nope, no luck.
Seems there’s no runnin’ water or gas. Guess this place’s nothin’ more than somewhere to hunker down in for the night.
That’s plenty enough! If we need water, I got this here mineral water I bought to cook with!
Besides, I’ve got the most important thing packed in my carry-on— food♪
Ah, you all gotta be real hungry, right? Lemme whip up somethin’ to eat!
... No, HiMERU will pass.
I pass as well. I ain’t exactly hungry, so...
Actually, weren’t ya eatin’ while we were pickin’ up Rinne-han? You’re seriously eatin’ again, huh.
Nahaha, well I burned up all my energy walkin’ over here!
Oukawa. Where did Amagi go off to?
Oh, Rinne-han honed in on that big bed in the bedroom the moment he saw it, brushed off all the dust and flopped right onto it.
Bet he went through hell today. I reckon the exhaustion finally caught up to him?
In Amagi’s case, there’s nobody to blame for that but himself, but...
Whatever the case, it’s not as if there’s anything else we can do here. We should all get some rest.
You said it. ... Now that I’m thinkin’ ‘bout restin’, I can feel the energy drainin’ outta my bones.
I think I’ll be borrowin’ that bed over there. ... Well then, good night.
(Now, is there anything I need to do?)
(I don’t believe there’s anything left here that may lead to them, but...)
(There are some discrepencies... Such as the fact the electricity is still on.)
(Before I take any breaks, I think I’ll check if anything catches my eye. And hopefully, there will be nothing.)
(But before that, first...)
This with this looks like it’ll make for a good breakfast!
Ah, but... In the morning, maybe there’ll be some places open somewhere...!
If it’s morning, there might be places open somewhere...!
Shiina. We don’t have a single cent to our name right now.
Oh, right, you’re right! Then these will do for breakfast, then~ ♪
Are you not heading to sleep yet?
Nahaha, I just figured to fill my stomach a bit before bedtime.
There’s nothing worse than getting woken up from a real good sleep by your tummy rumbling~
... Got it.
Maaan, I seriously thought we were cooked for a while there, but you really came and saved the day, HiMERU-kun!
Rinne-kun and I are one thing, but y’know, I’d hate for Kohaku-chan to have to sleep outside.
... Well, if it weren’t for HiMERU dropping his wallet, we all would have made it back to the hotel, though.
Nahaha, but ain’t we as much to blame? Havin’ spent just as much money on ourselves.
I didn’t expect you to have known somebody overseas, though...
Nah, actually, I shouldn’t be surprised, should I? You speak English and everything!
How do you know the guy who lived here? He a cousin, or somethin’?
...
Well, the area here’s a bit rough ‘round the edges, it’s kinda surprising he lived somewhere like this.
HiMERU-kun, could this person ya know actually be pretty bad news?
That’s...
... Hm? Ah! The seal on this has opened up a little! Did I snag it on somethin’ somewhere...?
Hmm... Well, it’s already open, so I might as well have it for my late-night snack!
(He’s not really asking questions for the answer... is he?)
(This is Shiina we’re talking about. The guy who says whatever’s on his mind with little thought behind it.)
You really did buy a lot of things, huh? What is all this...?
Hm? These here are souvenirs for the kids who work part-time at Cinnamon! It’s some candy that’s apparently real popular in the states right now.
These over here are ingredients and seasonings for cooking... And this is a snack I’m givin’ my manager that pairs well with alcohol.
That truly is the perfect snack to go with alcohol.
Come to think of it, HiMERU has never seen you drink, Shiina. You’ve already turned 20, haven’t you?
I know, I know~! HiMERU-kun, you gotta hear me out with this too!
What is it...?
I was planning to start drinking the moment I turned 20, you know!
My manager promised he’d introduce me to some places with good drinks, and so I’ve been doing research and stuff on it.
Y’know, what kinda tasty drinks there are, the kinda snacks that go with them— that kinda stuff! And I was so looking forward to it, but...
— Hey, we’ve been crazy busy from the moment the MEGASPHERE stuff ended!
You’re right about that. The Vice President gleefully packed our schedules full after seeing our streaming activities on the MEGASPHERE bear fruit.
Guess it was kind of a ripple effect~? All sorts of work ended up comin’ my way, too.
And before I had time to kick back and relax, in came MM!
HiMERU sees. He had assumed that Amagi would have taken you out for a drink by now...
No way! There’s no way I’d go have my first drink with Rinne-kun!
I’d actually like to savor the drink, you know!
If I’m gonna go out drinking with someone, I’d rather it be you, HiMERU-kun. You wouldn’t get plastered and pester me the whole rest of the night.
That’s nice of you to say, but...
Hm? ... Oh, wait a second, you haven’t turned 20 yet, have you, HiMERU-kun?!
Forget what I said just now! Encouraging minors to drink alcohol is a serious offense! A serious no-no for a chef to do!
... No, please don’t worry about it.
Ahh... In that case, HiMERU-kun, I’ll read up on everything so once you turn 20, I can make sure you only have the best of the best!I’ll find the best places to go for a drink and the best snacks to go with it!
After all, it’s all about first-times, right~ ♪ We gotta make it the best it can be!
— Fufu, alcohol given a seal of approval by Shiina’s discerning palate sounds quite promising.
Aye aye! Leave it to me!
... Anyhow, it’s gotten quite late. Please get some rest after you’ve gotten your fill, Shiina.
There should be a sofa over there you can use.
Confusion and Order 2
— All “I” merely did was my job.
Indeed. That you did.
However, there are far too many things in this world that cannot be “merely done”.
I’m impressed with your work ethic. I’ll be counting on you next time, Nanashi.
... I told you to stop calling me by that name.
I call you that because I have nothing else to call you. I just need something to call you, whether it’s a fitting name or not.
And so I’ve chosen to call you “Nanashi”. I’ve adopted it from the placeholder name reigning from your home country of Japan of “Nameless Gonbei”— “Nanashi no Gonbei.”2
Doesn’t that make for a nice pair? Nameless Gonbei and John Doe.
...
Oh, could it be you would have preferred “Gonbei”? I had the impression it differed from the image you had in mind...
Enough. Let’s keep moving.
It’s that district again. I imagine this area’ll prove to be a difficult one, so how about we bring this one back and take care of him together?
That’ll just be a waste of our time.
Hmm... Well, I’ll call over my lackeys then. Give me a moment—
(— What am I doing in a place like this?)
(Maintaining public order within a slum sounds good on paper, but...)
(In reality, it’s nothing but squeezing pennies out of scumbags in the language this place knows best.)
(And... if our management requires greater force, we procure further manpower accordingly.)
(A city of splendor— and behind it, a heap of outcasts thrown out from it. And my job— to manage the bastards that squat in this dump.)
(I cannot comprehend how these people willingly choose to live in a place like this. These guys continue on living, even if it means crawling along the ground and gulping down muddy water.)
(... No, as if I’m in any place to speak.)
(I myself broke out into the outside world, unable to accept the world I had previously lived in. ... Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that I ran away.)
(Anywhere would have sufficed— anywhere but that place. No reality out there would be more unbearable to face than that one.)
(And so I decided to survive by any means necessary, and... I left into a world where I wanted to live.)
(And here is the result. I stand beside those who oppress the weak, living out my days, one at a time.)
(After all, that’s just how reality is.)
Haah... Even still, it’s far better than being at that place.
The amount here falls short of what we asked of you. And here I’d already granted you an extension and everything...
... That was not a cue for you to make excuses. Must I repeat myself?
Hand over the amount, in full. If you don’t have enough, then rob somebody, or whatever it is you do. You got this money through shady means too, didn’t you? Or... do you intend to make an enemy out of him?
(Wailing, screaming... Grating to the ears as always.)
(Where are you supposed to go if you’re kicked out from here, you ask? ... As if we’d give a damn about that.)
(Sigh) This is the only place where you belong, you say?
You don’t actually think saying things like that will get you any mercy from us, do you?
...
Why couldn’t you have gotten the money, in that case?
If this place is the only place where you belong, like you say, then why didn’t you fight for it like your life depended on it?
... Ahh, enough with that. How about you pay us in a different way?
This one will come with us, too. Take him away, and...
— I finally found you~ So you guys are the managers, huh~?
... It’s one thing after another. What is it?
I heard one of my buddies got snatched and so I came running~
(... Strange.)
(He looks a little shabby, but this pipsqueak sticks out like a sore thumb here. Is it because of his age...?)
Hey, Mr. Managers. ... If you need money, could you wait just a little longer?
Lately, turf wars have been real intense here~? So no one’s really been able to do what they need to as easily~
Everyone’s doing their best to get together the money, even at a time like this. So—
— So what?
That is your problem, not ours. Why should we have to make allowance for that?
You’ve got some big ol’ title like “manager”, but you’re pretty small-minded, huh~?
... What did you just call me?
It’s not as if you guys are exactly hurting for money, anyways, you get to live your life as freely without any worries!
We don’t have any choice but to live here. ... That’s the kind place this is~
I’ll put my entire life on the line to fight to protect this place~!
(...)
— That’s enough, there’s no point in listening to this brat. Take him away, and don’t waste time.
Yes, sir. ... And you— don’t put up a fight either. Unless, of course, you’re looking to get hurt...
... John Doe, don’t let your guard down!
...!!
Why you... You’re not getting away...!
Hey, stop it! Don’t you put a hand on my buddy...!
...– Guh!
(!? This brat, he’s getting in the way of my work again...)
(Sigh) ... I’ll go after that man. I’ll leave this matter to you.
You’re not going anywhere...!
... Forget it!
... Gh!?
Nyahaha. ... You’re pretty good, huh~?
But it’s not like I’m gonna throw in the towel, y’know~ I owe that guy a lot~
If you’re gonna get in my way, I’m not gonna go easy on you, y’know~?
— Don’t be ridiculous.
You called that man your “buddy”... But does he think the same about you?
... Huh?
There was not a lick of hesitation in his decision to flee. It was as if... He was sure that someone would come to try to stop us.
You’ve been used by him.
“Used by him”... Something like that’s just impossible... Don’t screw around with me like that~
... I’ll tell you again. Don’t be ridiculous.
Every so often, I’ll come upon people like you. Idiots.
Someone who knows how to use his fists, but someone who’s also easygoing, good-hearted.
People like that— people like you are great to keep around, because... those kinds of people make for good bullet shields in this line of work.
That’s not true...! We help each other...!
That’s just what you want to believe, isn’t it? What was it that was said earlier... Because “this is where you belong”?
If you wield your power, people will flock to your side. ... That must’ve felt good, didn’t it?
Shut your mouth...!
Here, those around you have deceived and taken advantage of you.
— Is that the place where you truly belong?
You’re wrong, you’re wrong... Everything that’s coming out of your mouth is absolute garbage~
And about me— ... And what do you know about me!?
... What a troublesome brat you are.
... Hn-gh!?
... Impressive work. You knocked him unconscious with a single blow...
He seems to have some semblance of skill, but... In the end, he’s still just a kid. I believe he lost control of himself in his anger.
Everything on your end taken care of?
Indeed, I had my lackeys detain him. ... I believe that concludes our work for the day.
I’m quite beat. Let’s make ourselves scarce and head back to the safe house?
... Right.
...
The place where I... truly belong...
Confusion and Order 3
...
(— That dream sure took me back.)
(Memories of the time “I”3 spent in America...)
(When I had left Japan and clung to life beneath that detestable man.)
(Is this place affecting me...? Maybe I’m being too high-strung about this all.)
(... No. Considering who I’m dealing with, there’s truly no such thing as being overly-cautious.)
(Still, life sure is unpredictable, isn’t it?)
(I never thought I’d ever come to this place again... Let alone as “HiMERU”.)
(And not alone, but with the other members of Crazy:B— )
(... What was that noise? Has someone woken up?)
(... Even if so, there’s something off about those footsteps. They don’t sound like steps one would make to avoid waking up those asleep.)
(... This slum used to be quite the unsafe one. There may not seem to be any people around, but it’s nature at heart doesn’t change.)
(That is to say, these footsteps are those of— )
(A crook here in the slum, perhaps? Whoever they are, one thing’s for sure— they’re an intruder.)
(Shall I make the first move? I should wait for them to draw a little closer before I do, but...)
(That comes with its own difficulties. I cannot allow them to enter that room.)
Who are you?
Are you the person who currently resides here?
(...? No response. It seems they’re on their guard as well.)
...!?
(They’re quickly drawing close? And they’re concealing something in their right hand...)
(While I’d rather avoid the hassle of waking the others, I’ve got no other choice.)
... Hah!
...!
(They dodged that? ... It appears this person is quite skilled as well.)
(I can’t see their face with their hood pulled down so low...)
(Judging from their height and the breadth of their shoulders, this appears to be a man, aged twenty to thirty.)
... You’re—
(... What?)
— Are you involved with Priest?
...!
Right on the money, huh?
(Shoot— I can’t react fast enough...!)
(No, at this distance, I’ll be able to dodge, though just barely— )
— And who the hell are you?
...!?
Hmph. Surprised ya could counter me. Thought for sure I was gonna getcha.
Are ya hurt anywhere, HiMERU-han?
... No. You’re just in time.
Was wonderin’ what kind ruckus could be goin’ on this late at night. Looks like I was right in comin’ to check it out.
You. I’m the one you’re up against from here. C’mon, gimme your best shot ♪
...
Ah— Hey, wait!
... (Sigh) He made a break for it real fast.
Let him be. It would be more trouble than it’s worth if we pursued him and drew unwanted attention to ourselves—
(More importantly, the words that man said— I didn’t mishear, did I...?)
(I’m sure he said his name— Priest.)
(This place used to be a safehouse, built to manage this slum.)
(Anyone could reasonably guess that someone who’d be staying there would be associated with Priest, right?)
(Based on how he was acting— does he consider Priest to be an enemy?)
(No, best to save all that for later. In order to avoid any more trouble, first we should— )
... HiMERU-han! Can you hear me in there?
Apologies, Oukawa. What did you say?
You just went quiet all of a sudden, so I was just tryin’ to snap you out of it.
Did you remember somethin’ to do with that guy who just broke in here?
...
No. HiMERU can’t recall anything whatsoever.
Hmm? I guess that’s just how things are ‘round these parts?
So it really does get pretty dangerous at night overseas, just like I heard.
Indeed, goodness gracious. There’s no way to get a good night’s sleep like this.
Oukawa. Do you mind waking Amagi and Shiina? It’s a bit early, but let’s leave this place.
Oh yeah. Can’t say I can rest easy either in a place where guys like that can break in.
Appreciated. HiMERU will get things packed so we can leave at once.
...
(I’m certain I locked the door before we went to bed. He likely entered through a window in one of the rooms...)
(For something like this to happen... “I”3 was naive. Even with the crisis we were in, I never should have brought us to a place with ties to Priest.)
(Knowing the things he has done, it’s no surprise he’s made enemies along the way. I should have ruled this option out from the outset.)
(It’s dangerous to stay here any longer. We have to move quickly, and...)
...!
(A phone call? Now?)
(... It can’t be a coincidence.)
... Hello?
"Oh my, I didn’t think the call would go through."
... Who is this?
"That should be my line... Hmm... How should I explain this?"
"I am the current owner of the residence. There was a break-in a few moments ago, and so I am currently verifying something."
(The current owner of the residence... Is this person also connected to Priest...?)
"May I ask what involvement you have with the person you just fought?"
(They’re aware of the struggle with the intruder... I’m being watched from somewhere.)
No involvement. Where on earth could he have come in from...? I didn’t expect anything like this to happen.
It’s largely possible he was some vagrant from the area, but...
"Hmm? ... Well then, can you tell me how the idol group known as Crazy:B came to be staying at my residence?"
(They know about us? ... No, is this place stealthily bugged with a listening device?)
"This may sound strange, but this is a property with a shady history, you know."
"No ordinary person would have any reason to know of its existence. Now, those who do manage to claw their way into the world of the underground..."
"Those kinds of people would know. ... Does that make you one of us too, HiMERU-san?”
...
(How should I answer? Given how little I know about the other party, I’d rather hold onto my cards a little bit longer, but...)
(It’s a matter of time before Oukawa and the others return. I can’t let them find out about “my”3 past.)
... I used to be involved with this place. With this slum.
You were as well, weren’t you?
"... So you used to be involved with this slum long ago, and you even knew how to get into this residence..."
"Your manner of speaking was different, so I removed him as a candidate in my mind, but... Now that I think of it, he did say he learned that technique directly from him, hm?"
... What do you mean to say?
"Still, how surprising it is to see that you’ve become an idol now. You sure have moved up in the world, haven’t you, Nanashi?"
That name...!
(The name “I”3 used to be called here in this slum...)
(The only people who should know that name are the vagrants of the slums, and my colleagues who managed the slum alongside me.)
Could you perhaps be... John Doe?
Confusion and Order 4
♪~♪~♪
What’s with you, Taki? You’re in a pretty good mood.
You think so~? I just can’t wait to go up against Crazy:B~
Getting a good start on things is important, you know~ We gotta make sure every corner of America knows our name: AKATSUKI~♪
Indeed. I took a peek out into the auditorium, and I was surprised to see a good deal of foreigners out there.
What’s more, so many of them are noticeably strong and brawny. It’s far different than our usual brand of audience.
Thinkin’ from the perspective of those who live here, I’m sure a ridiculously massive airship flyin’ in outta nowhere is enough to cause a huge stir.
I’ve heard that idol culture hasn’t really taken off overseas, so...
I’d say for those guys it’s probably less about the idols and more about seein’ what the commotion’s all about, don’t ya think?
Well, I had heard that ticket sales were quite competitive as well.. I find it hard to believe that was the case, however...
But still, isn’t that real convenient for us~? Let’s make this the most unforgettable performance, where AKATSUKI will burn in their minds just how amazing idols are~
Indeed. Thinking of it that way really exhilarates me. Let us go give them a good performance and let them feel our passion.
It’s good to be fired up, but let’s not forget that there are other units sharing the stage with us today.
Ahh, looks like those guys made it here somehow, huh.
Oh! Now that’s what I’d expect from the ever-so-serious AKATSUKI— Gettin’ ready and set to get crushed by us, are ya?
Well, look who it is, huh, Crazy:B~! It’s finally time for our showdown~!
Ko ko ko ♪ Aren’t ya just chompin’ at the bit to get started?
Sorry, but today’s stage will be all ours. I’m afraid we’ll be snuffing out Crazy’B’s fire.
Now aren’t ya talkin’ big. You guys been studyin’ up on your trash talk how-tos?
Not particularly. If we stay on the defensive, it will only allow you to grab and set the pace.
... By the way, Amagi-senpai. I heard that the day we got to America, you all ran into some trouble and nearly ended up stranded.
... ’Scuse me?
Honestly, all you needed to do was reach out to me if you needed help sent out. I heard you all spent the night at some residence out there.
Hey, hey! A’ight, who was it? Who went and yapped to our enemy when they shouldn’t’ve?
I didn’t do it! Don’t look at me!
It wasn’t me. This is the first time we’ve met since we landed in America, you know?
— It should be a given, but it wasn’t HiMERU either.
I just caught wind of it from the staff. You all hadn’t returned to the hotel the night we arrived in America.
The public order here is a lot more different from Japan, it can get dangerous in some areas. No matter how much of a senior you are to me, I have to say it, it’s just too reckless to go out and do whatever you please.
Well it’s too late for that. This guy— Rinne-kun went and blew every last cent he had at some casino, even stripped of every last thing he had—
Oww!
Niki-kyu~n? One more word outta you, and I’m yankin’ this ponytail of yours with all the force I’ve got, you hear...?
Ohh c’mon, I’m against violence! I’ll zip my lips so just lemme go, okay!
Well, it seriously has been just one thing after another with us.
Niki-han and I had emptied our wallets goin’ sightseein’ and HiMERU lost his wallet to pickpocketin’, so we couldn’t exactly go over to the hotel...
Thanks to HiMERU, we were able to spend the night indoors somewhere, but...
Even then, some random vagrant broke into the place~! I don’t really know what went on ‘cause I was asleep, though...
A vagrant? ... Are you guys alright?
Seems Merumeru and Kohaku-chan managed to chase ‘em off, so things worked out fine.
Whatever the case, things have been nonstop for us since the day we came to America.
Well, in a way it’s kinda “us” for that to happen, isn’t it~ ♪
Hmm. I know I’m one to talk, but you guys are pretty wild, huh~?
Amagi-dono. If Ibuki is the one saying that, you are certainly a truly wild bunch indeed, aren’t you...?
The hell are you all on about! Ain’t the show ‘bout to start? It’s not really the time to be worryin’ about us!
... Amagi-senpai. Were you able to get enough practice time in?
You guys are so persistent... Hey, guys, we’re gettin’ out of here! Move out!
Nyahaha, Let’s have a great live~
... Looks like they really did get into some trouble, huh. Well, it’s not like they seemed any different from usual.
I didn’t think it was right for us to involve ourselves too deep in our opponent’s affairs, and so we avoided contacting them as much as we could, but...
If trouble were to arise for Crazy:B, and setbacks were to happen to the MM itself, it would become our problem too.
If something happened, I’d hope they would come to us, but...
... No. Let’s stop thinking about that for now.
But first we should focus on the live close at hand.
So there are those out there hunting down former associates of Priest...
Could that be related to the man in the hood who attacked us?
"Whether this was the work of a lone wolf or a group is not yet clear, but..."
"There are two things we can be certain of— one, that mysterious man has been snooping on the circumstances surrounding us, and two, that people have actually been attacked."
... The fact this building has electricity— That is related to him too, isn’t it?
"Correct. Our investigation has revealed that the man who attacked you has ties to this slum."
"Thus, we used this building, the former safehouse under Priest’s jurisdiction, as a plant."
"That said. although I’ve stationed my subordinates there the past several days, we hadn’t actually yet been attacked..."
... And it just so happened that we were there the time they did launch an attack.
(Goodness, what awful timing...)
"As a result of the earlier incident, all of you may now be considered associated with Priest, and therefore, be considered targets."
"If you are worried about your safety, it would be best to leave immediately, but..."
"Given the fact you went out of your way to spend the night here, I imagine there was a reason behind it, no?"
That’s right. Due to circumstances, we were left stranded.
"Hm. Well then, I shall prepare you “transport”. Under the guide of a chauffeur service for idols."
... And what you want in return is... ?
"Fufu. You’re always so quick to catch on, Nanashi, it saves me a great deal of time."
But of course. There is no such thing as “goodwill” from someone who resides in the underworld.
"Sigh... I do have myself a legitimate, upright job these days, but... Well, fair enough."
"— Nanashi. Henceforth, I want you to act as my collaborator."
(To think that things have turned into such a headache...)
(With all that’s happened, there’s a possibility that the other party has dug up our true identities.)
(... It would be one thing if our faces were the only thing they’d seen, but if anything was said that could have revealed our identities to the assailant, then...)
— HiMERU-han.
It’s showtime. Save the overthinking for later.
... Right. Understood, Oukawa.
Oh, how I have waited for this day to arrive!
It’s time! Megasphere Match, the world tour to determine the “Icon of the New Idol Century”, has now begun!
The momentous first round, featuring AKATSUKI VS Crazy:B, is about to start...!
(... If we are now considered targets, then there’s a risk of us being attacked a second time.)
(John Doe gave me a condition. The condition being... HiMERU must act as bait as a means to capture the assailant.)
...
Confusion and Order 5
“— And those were the members of AKATSUKI, and Crazy:B! What a truly intense performance! A stage worthy of being the opening performance to MM indeed!”
“All of my friends at the venue— and those watching from home too— I’m sure such a performance has stirred your hearts!”
“But, this has only been the first of their matches! It’s only just begun ♪”
“What scenes will both these units show us on their next stage, I wonder?”
“And most of all, which of them will emerge victorious and proceed into the World Tour? You won’t want to miss what comes next!”
So the units go against each other three times for MM, but the judgin’ ain’t by the match, huh?
— Indeed. After the final match, the winner will be determined by tallying up the total number of votes from the fans.
HiMERU has heard that our assigned song that will debut at the final match is attracting a considerable amount of attention.
However, HiMERU does not believe that it will be easy to overturn the vote count at the final live, no matter how quality the performance is.
Hmm. So you’re sayin’ we gotta go ahead and let ‘em raise their expectations for the final match, and then we go and meet ‘em. That’s how you’re supposed to build up the votes we need, right?
Our start wasn’t all that bad judgin’ from the fan response, wasn’t it? I’d say it ended with a draw.
I had a lotta fun singin’, and I’m feelin’ right at home on the Sphere Stage too now ♪
... I wonder ‘bout that, though.
? Whatcha mean by that?
For things like this, as long as you whip up the expectations from people, it doesn’t matter if we actually meet ‘em. The people we’re talkin’ about are a dime a dozen.
So in order to win... I’d say the first thing we gotta do is figure out how to widen that pool as big as it can get.
‘Scuse? Can’t ya explain things more clearly?
“Let’s give another round of applause, my friends, to our stars for treating us to such a magnificent, captivating performance...!”
Ibuki. Your movements are too big.
Everyone has the same choreography here, so doing so will make you stick out.
M~n. But isn’t here a good spot to show off the member’s individualities~?
If anything, don’t you think me sticking out can guide the gaze of the audience members over, so we can make our next move extra lively?
You’re being self-centered again...
We have already decided that we will all match each other for this choreography. Do not go and change it now.
But what I’m saying is that I think this way is better than that~? So we should change it to the better way, right?
Ghghg. Cheeky as ever, I see...!
Fine. Well, let us decide which way is better, then!
That’s what I’m talking about~! Well then, let’s go again from right before the chorus, ‘kay~?
Those guys. They seem strangely motivated, huh?
Yeah. This is the first time they’ve put this much fire in their rehearsal since we came to America..
Guess goin’ up against Crazy:B on that live flipped somethin’ in ‘em, huh?
There’s no doubt about it. Even I’m starting to get impatient wanting to get on stage with those guys again.
We had the same level of fan excitement, but of course, Crazy:B excels at commanding the atmosphere of the venue.
Starting from their trash talk all the way to their improvisations during the interludes, I imagine it's always freshly stimulating for the audience.
It’s not something we can just watch and learn. You could call it Crazy:B’s signature flavor.
If you lose focus for even an instant, you’ll get stung by their venom and swept away by their pace.
Haha, you might be right about that, but... that’s a surprisingly meek statement from you, Hasumi.
We shouldn’t be doin’ a bad job on stage ourselves, yanno? We’ve surely been gettin’ a lotta good progress outta all our practices by now.
It wasn’t supposed to be meek or anything. We’ll stick to how we perform regardless of the stage Crazy:B kicks up.
If anything, if they do try sweeping us up in their pace, it might be a fun wave to ride and crush them with.
At any rate. I’m relieved that it seems they’re going to fight fair and square. With this, we’ll finally settle our score with Crazy:B.
So you really were suspectin’ it this whole time... So much time has passed since then, and pullin’ their underhanded tricks on this big a stage would be a risky move, wouldn’t it?
It should be fine, but... we can’t be too prepared.
I feel the same as Hasumi-san~
Taki, Kanzaki. Have we reached a good stopping point for practice?
Indeed, Ibuki started speaking selfishly again, so we wanted to seek out your opinions on it too.
I don’t mind, but... What’d ya mean ya felt the same?
I’m not saying I think Crazy:B is scheming something, but~
Didn’t HiMERU-san seem a little off-kilter during the performance today~?
Him? I didn’t notice anything.
M~n. Maybe I was mistaken or something but...
There was just something about it, I thought his movements were a bit more sharp back when we performed onstage together.
Oh yeah, you and HiMERU practiced and performed together for Dynamic Diamond, huh.
Hmm... And that’s exactly how you could notice a slight change such as that?
I dunno~? It’s not I know him that well or anything.
Maybe he’s feelin’ under the weather ‘cuz he dropped his wallet... Nah, that can’t be it.
... The outcome of this match is important. If we prioritize victory over everything else, “Himeru”-dono’s mood could be an opportunity for us, but...
Even if it is a rival I must defeat, to simply look the other way from my opponent’s poor condition goes against my values.
Really? An idol’s health is also their responsibility, isn’t it~?
The way you’re thinkin’ about it ain’t wrong. This is, well... I guess you could say a matter of our own feelings ‘bout it.
If this is about settlin’ our score from what happened back then, there’s no point in fightin’ ‘em unless we’re both goin’ at it full power. Right, Hasumi?
...
Hasumi-dono? You are staring at your “smaa-to fone”. What is the matter?
... Perhaps this is the source of it.
Is this an online news article?
It looks like somehow, Crazy:B’s found themselves in some online controversy.
Translation Notes
- ↑ This isn't written as an actual name, but written as "名無し" (nanashi; lit. nameless).
- ↑ Nanashi no Gonbei is a placeholder name for unidentified males in Japan. It is comparably used similarly to how John Doe is used, although typically not as a placeholder name that requires documentation.
- ↑ HiMERU typically refers to himself in third-person. Here, and in other places, he uses the first-person pronoun 俺 (ore) to refer to himself, rather than the persona of HiMERU he portrays.
- ↑ This story tackles English dialogue in several ways. Sometimes, words and phrases are written in actual English, but most of the time (for ease of reading), dialogue where characters are speaking English at length is actually written in Japanese and put in quotes (『』) ; this can get really confusing, especially once other characters start doing it. For this translation, I've denoted the "technically-speaking English" Japanese lines in bolded purple. When you see purple lines, assume it's the character speaking fluent or fluent-passing English.