Conflicted Struggle
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We’re baaack~ … Ah, there are shoes at the door.
Hey. I didn’t know you were back in the room, Ayase-senpai.
… Welcome back, Mashiro-san.
Oh, Ibuki-san was with you too, hm…?
Mhm. I happened to bump into him when I was strolling around Saison Avenue~
We got a lil’ shopping done, and then we came home together~
Oh yeah, we got you a souvenir, Ayase-senpai ♪ There was an Okinawan goods pop-up with all kinds of tasty-looking treats, so we bought some for the three of us to split.
What was the name again? Uhh… Sanda… Andaa…?
It's sata andagi!1
Yeah, that’s right. I’ve heard the word, but whenever I try to say it, I can never seem to remember how.
Nyahaha. That might be because it sounds unfamiliar to you mainlanders~2
All it is is a deep-fried sweet, but the flavor changes depending on who cooks it, so~ I’m looking forward to seeing what these ones taste like.
(Whispering) … Hey, I know we’re just filling the dead air with small talk, but…
(Whispering) Hey, hey, Mashiro-san. Doesn’t Ayase-san seem a little different today?
(Whispering) Yeah, you thought so too, huh?
(Whispering) How do I put it… It’s like he’s not very lively. Maybe we shouldn’t bring it up, but…
(Whispering) We’re roommates, so just ignoring it would be wrong.
Hey, Ayase-senpai. Did something happen while we were gone?
You can tell us if you want. We want to help our senior.
Huh? Ummm, that’s…
It’s a personal matter, or should I say… it’s… really not that big of a deal.
If it’s not that big of a deal, then you should be able to talk about it right~? I wanna hear what it is too~
Here, have some sweets and cheer up. Let's just talk about it all whatever, like it's no biggie~
U—Understood… About that….
You know how the MEGASTREAM was a 24-hour broadcast?
Ever since that ended, I’ve felt fairly lonely… It’s gotten me down.
Huh? … Huh!?
Why? We were basically living under surveillance in that thing?
I was relieved when it ended. I get it was for the fans, but I can’t keep my guard up the whole entire day.
Yeah, I felt the same~ I got used to it pretty fast, but sure enough, I can’t feel calm being watched day in and day out~
Getting to interact with everyone on stream was really fun, but I wouldn’t want to do that kinda thing every day~
Did you have fun too, Ayase-san? You could always do your own streams if you wanted?
N—No! That’s not what it is.
I’m not lonely because I can’t stream anymore. It’s just… I–I’m troubled by the exact opposite thing…
It’s so hard, I’m not able to do my oshikatsu3 anymore…!
Oshikatsu…?
Oshikatsu...?
(It's over... It's time to say goodbye at last...)
(It was a dream being able to watch over everything Chief did 24 hours a day, back then, and yet…)
(The “LIVE” text doesn't come back no matter how many times I refresh the window… And the screen doesn't update anymore.)
(It was a mere month, but each and every day of it were ones of supreme bliss for me.)
(It was different from peering down at him from the ceiling. They were all fresh, new angles…!)
(But I suppose it became too much of a part of my daily life. There’s some sense of loss I just can’t wash away.)
(Sad, depressing… It’s like there’s a big hole in my heart…)
(And to fill that hole— that’s exactly why I had to break taboo and come here…!)
(If I can just slip this tiny camera somewhere in here, I'll be able to get a look at Chief’s private life agai—)
(AaaaAAAAA! You can’t, you can’t, Mayoi! This despicable behavior is unforgivable!)
(But— If I don’t do this, I just can’t satsify my appetite, so…!)
(I would never do something so horrifying as setting up a camera in Chief’s personal belongings. I’m just helping myself to a liiiitle peek at that wholesome private life of his from afar…)
(That defenseless sleeping face, and the precious facial expressions and actions he does when he’s talking to his friends…)
(Ahhh, just imagining it brings a smile to my face! Heheh, heheheheh...♪)
(Now then, let's make this fantasy reality! You just need to be a little brave, sometimes!)
(No pain, no gain..!)
(Huh!? Those footsteps—!)
I’m back~ … Huh?
No one’s here… I could swear I sensed someone’s presence, though.
Was it just my imagination?
… Uhhh. So.
I feel like you got caught red-handed…?
Eeek!? No I didn’t! I vanished before I could finish setting up the camera!
Nyahaha, that was a close call, huh~ If you got discovered, that kinda thing would go right to the police, you know~?
Yes… Uuu, I barely escaped facing Chief in court…
Well, I guess we can say your conscience won... in the end?
But this doesn’t actually solve your problem you know.
I’d prefer if we could just find a way to cheer you up. Is there a way we can make you feel less lonely without doing something shady…? H~m…
Well, how about we ask Sengoku-san straight-up if he can let you put a camera in there?
No way, come on, that’s not a good idea in any sensible world.
Even if Sengoku was okay with it, Suou and Kanzaki-senpai live with him too, and they’re not going to just take that.
If we went to them with this, all I can see coming out of it is big trouble.
Ahh… Of course, I figured…
I understand it rationally. I just have to give up.
But. Those unassuming expressions you can only see on screen— ones you won’t see being face-to-face with him— I just can’t forget them…!
... (Sigh) I’ll just have to settle with what I have for now.
"What you have"?
Heheheh. My “Archived Compilations of Chief’s 24-Hour Highlights.”
… And what is that?
They are compilation videos I made of each and every one Chief's precious moves, edited with all my heart.
There’s the “Getting Startled Compilation” video, the “Gallant Training Compilation” video, the “Yummy Yummy Snacktime Compilation” video and more. There’s about ten different types of videos…♪
I—Is that right?
… Well, you seem leagues more lively already, huh? I shouldn’t have worried so much.
Nyahaha ♪ But that’s a relief~ Looks like our fears were unfounded, huh~?
Mashiro-san, Ibuki-san. If you want, why don’t we sit and watch them together?
If it’s alright with you, I’ll give you my thorough commentary while we do so. Heheheh ♪
No thanks, I’ll pass.
Me too. I’ve got other things I need to do, so~
Heeeey! Just five minutes at least! Even just the opening summary is worth it!
Please burn my precious Chief's form in your memories for meeeee!
Translation Notes
- ↑ An Okinawan sweet deep-fried bun, similar to a donut.
- ↑ Uchinaaguchi is one of the native languages of Okinawa. The language utilizes elongated sounds quite frequently, so Ibuki might be suggesting the cadence is unfamiliar to a mainlander.
- ↑ Oshikatsu (推し活; lit. lifestyle supporting a favorite) encompasses all the different ways someone interacts with or supports their "favorite" (oshi).