Chitose Tsuzura | Idol Story 2
(Sigh) … Why am I so useless?
I tried to be careful, but I made the same mistake as before. I reflected on it and said I wouldn’t do it again, and yet–
Wh-What should I do!? At this rate, they might actually fire me from MELLOW DEAR US.
Maybe I should already start looking for new job openings…?
If I use the connections I’ve made throughout my career as an idol, I should be able to find new employment quickly, right…?
(Y-Yeah. It’ll definitely be okay. Even if I get fired as an idol, I can just go back to my old way of life.)
(… But… My current job is actually pretty fun, so I don’t really want to be fired.)
(Sigh) …
That was one big ol’ sigh just now, Chitose-kun. Did something happen?
Ah, Mashu-san. Um… Well, it’s just because I made a mistake at work earlier.
Ahh~ Are you still worried about the mistake you made at the interview we just had?
W-Well, I just keep on making the same kinds of mistakes over and over again.
Well, that’s alright! Even if you mess up, no one’s gonna notice it besides this old man and the others!1
But, it doesn’t change the fact that I’ve made a mistake. Uuu… I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry for being useless.
It’s because I’m here that everyone gets held back…
Come on, Chitose-kun, you always get so sensitive like that right away.
I’m telling you that you don’t need to get so worked up over such a small mistake
But… Um, well… This time in particular it really, really annoyed Nozomi-san.
Oh right~, he was annoyed, wasn’t he? Usually he doesn’t say anything the times you do make mistakes.
But this time, it’s Nozomi-kun who is senseless.. What was it? Something to do with one of his rules…?
Umm. It was Rule 38: “When you hear a sneeze, be silent for one minute”, I think.2
Yeah, that one. You sneezed, and so Nozomi-kun had to go quiet, huh?
Nah, it makes no sense hearing it a second time! Seriously, I’m telling you, you absolutely shouldn’t blame yourself for this one!
Here, cheer up, Chitose-kun! We have the afternoon off today, so let’s go take a breather!
Huh? A-Alright. If you say so, Mashu-san—
Alrighty! If that’s decided, let's go back to the dorms and figure out where we should go ♪
We're home~! Wait, huh? It looks like Juis-kun and Nozomi-kun aren't back yet.
After we finished work, those two said they were going to a cafe, you know.
– What the. So that means it’ll be just me and Chitose-kun then?
Huh…? Ah, I see. I’m sorry… Do you not like that?
Oh, no, that’s not the case at all!
Or, wait, is it the other way around? Do you not want to be alone with me, Chitose-kun?3
If that’s the case, it’d hurt my feelings. And here I thought we were best buds~
Ah, I-I’m sorry! That’s not how I feel…! If anything, I’m really happy to be alone with Mashu-san. I don’t know, though…
You totally ruined it adding “I don’t know,” in there! Be decisive.
R-Right. You’re right, I’m sorry…?
Heheh, you tack that on to everything, though. I get it.
No matter where or when, you’re always the same Chitose-kun~ That’s what makes you so easy to talk to.
D-Do you really think so…? Ehehe, it makes me happy you can make use of me.
Mhm, you’re super-duper useful. I end up speaking my mind subconsciously.
… Errr…? Aren’t you always speaking your mind, Mashu-san?
Oh, does it seem like that? Speaking my mind wouldn’t be very profitable for me.
Seriously, though… The way Nozomi-kun was earlier— he was totally out of line!
He’s always got that smug-ass condescending look on his face. Seriously, what goes on in that head of his? It even puts the on-site staff on edge.
Don’t you think so too Chitose-kun? You agree, don’t you?
Um, well… I’m sorry, I don’t know—
Mhmhm. Exactly.
Huh? It’s okay that I don’t know…?
It doesn’t really matter if you do. It’s like, I’m just grateful that I have someone to listen, you know? It’s like, The King with Donkey Ears, you know?4
A-Ahaha…
Well, if you’re fine with that, Mashu-san, alright.
Ah, but—
Yeah? What is it?
Ah, no, it’s just… You sure don’t get along with Nozomi-kun, huh…?
Yeah, I mean, clearly?
He picks a fight with me just for approaching Juis-kun. Even after all this time, he still calls me “newcomer” to assert some kinda dominance.5 It’s such a pain!
I-Is that right? If that’s how it is, I can try and help you be able to get along with Nozomi-san…?
Huh? Why would I need to get along with him?
Huh…? I don’t know.
“I don’t know,” huh? Does that mean I gotta figure it out for you?
Actually… Since you’re the one who brought it up, does that mean that you want Nozomi-kun and I to get along?
I— I don’t know. But, isn’t it better to get along—
I see how it is. Ah well, I doubt that’s gonna happen~ Besides, there’s no need to force ourselves to get along.
The activities we do here in MELLOW DEAR US are work. I’d say it’s better to live our personal lives however we like!
So does that mean… you don’t like any of us, Mashu-san…?
That’s a little too extreme of a jump. If that were the case, I’d have quit the unit a long time ago.
Honestly, all the support from our fans makes me genuinely happy... And more than anything else, I get to make so much money!
Look, there was a real good Japanese proverb about it, “The relationships you make through money end when the money ends.”
As long as money’s being made, you have to get along with everyone; even if you hate everyone. At least, with what the public sees.
M~n. I don’t really understand, but money seems pretty important huh…?
Yup, yup, I’m aiming to be a bazillionaire~♪
Now then, we’ve gotten a bit of a breather, so as promised, let’s go somewhere to unwind, just the two of us~
How’s something like yakiniku sound? It’s hard to remember your woes if you’ve got a real tasty plate of meat in front of you.
Huh? Yeah. If that’s fine with you, Mashu-san… I don’t know, though.
Okie-dokie. Then yakiniku it is! Of course, the bill’s on you, Chitose-kun ♪
Huh? I’m paying!? Hold on a second, Mashu-san!
Come on, come on, get on your feet already! If you don’t, I’ll order everything on the menu~
(O-Off he goes… Mashu-san really is some kind of strange kid, hm…?)
(What did he mean when he said I was the only one he could speak his mind around…?)
(M~n, I really don’t understand it, but… Well, I guess it just means I’m someone he can let his guard down around.)
(And if that’s the case, I’ll do my best to be become even better friends with Mashu-san…♪)
Ah. But before that, I need to make sure I’ve got enough money in my wallet, don’t I…?
Translation Notes
- ↑ Mashu refers to himself as おじさん (oji-san; older man/uncle). While he uses his own name Mashu as a third-person pronoun onstage, he uses Oji-san as a third-person pronoun offstage. I primarily translate him using "this old man" as his pronoun(?), but I also incorporate "I" and "me" at times for ease of reading. Just know that in this first scene, he uses Oji-san.
- ↑ Nozomi struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder, and has severe reactions when the rules he has set for himself are broken.
- ↑ Mashu actually uses the first-person pronoun オレ (ore) throughout this scene.
- ↑ In the King Has Donkey Ears story, the king hides his shameful secret that he has donkey ears, and the only person who knows is his barber. In this case, Chitose is the one person Mashu can confide in.
- ↑ As seen in Mashu Idol Story 2.