Mainstream Megasphere (Kuro Focus)
- Possibility of Scattering 5
Partial Translation Disclaimer: This is a partial translation of chapters from Mainstream Megasphere main story.
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Possibility of Scattering 4
You can read Possibility of Scattering 4 here!
Possibility of Scattering 5
Ibuki's entrance into AKATSUKI has insensitive parallels to the history between Japan and the Ryukyu Islands, specifically the annexation of Ryukyu into Okinawa from 1872-1879 onward. Click for more information
AKATSUKI is a unit embodied by 和 (wa, lit. harmony, but also a self-designator for Japan). The word 和風 (wafu, Japanese style) comes from 和. During the Meiji Restoration, 和 was central to Japan’s efforts to unify and assimilate new territories under a shared cultural identity. On top of his membership, Ibuki's active pursuit of 本当の和風 (true Japanese-style) being the reason he pursues AKATSUKI is inappropriate, bearing this in mind.
Additionally, the Ryukyu Disposition was driven by military interests, particularly securing Japan's southern borders from other nations. In Okinawan schools, national pride was linked to serving Japan’s military goals. This had devastating consequences, particularly during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. This in mind, having Ibuki join the self-proclaimed "war unit" is also inappropriate.
Read the full-length analysis here: Unpacking Shinsei (新生) AKATSUKI; An Extended Translation Note and Analysis.
— How incorrigible!
She ran off before we settled things with MELLOW DEAR US. Why, Anzu…!?
Those guys are certainly formidable enemies. But the NEO-Six Selected fought them well enough to stand at the top of the world with them—!
The outcome might have been different if it had been decided by performance points rather than Nice points.
We ES idols might have defeated them on the next stage, but…
Of all things, to abandon the fight before the result was even decided…!
Hasumi-dono, please calm down a little.
I understand that you have all sorts of feelings you wish to release, but…
I wish you’d put yourself in our shoes and hear how you sound. The atmosphere’s heavy enough.
Hey! Taki, that was far too curt! You need to choose your words a little more carefully!
… Well, curt as it is, it's not like it matters. Hasumi’s been actin’ like this ever since he heard the news.
And all this complainin's for nothing given Lil’ Miss, the person he wants to say it to the most, isn’t even here to hear it…
I think it’d be hard for Anzu-neenee to come back knowing you were criticizing her like that too, don't you~?
… Sorry. I know I’m making the atmosphere heavier, but I just can’t accept it no matter how hard I think about it.
Certainly, we ES idols fought against MELLOW DEAR US as the Japanese representatives… and lost, during Dynamic Diamond.
She must have taken the loss hard as if it was entirely her fault.
That’s exactly the kind of person she is. She always tells people to rely on her, but bottles it up when it comes to her own problems.
… But she wasn’t fighting on her own.
Yeah, that’s right. We were the ones who actually lost, though, weren’t we?
… Stop saying it like that, Taki.
No matter how many times you reassert it, the performance every one of you put on as the NEO-Six Selected was absolutely splendid.
Anyone who saw that live would never blame you.
… If there are any rogues who do dare say so, I shall strike them down where they stand.
Nyahaha. Thanks, Kanzaki-san.
I’m happy for your feelings, y’know~ … But a loss is a loss~ If we’re gonna talk about responsibility, I’m mentally prepared to accept whatever someone has to say about it, y’know~?
I’m used to that kinda treatment, so~ If anything, I find dealing with those kinda complaints fun~
… (Sigh). That’s not somethin’ the brat of the group should be sayin’.
Like Kanzaki said, no one would place the blame on you.
And the same goes for Anzu, naturally. I don’t think a single one of us ES idols blame Anzu for having lost.
… It’s exactly because of that I feel so frustrated.
Even if our opponents had overwhelming power... if we idols worked alongside our producer, Anzu, we could have stood alongside each other at the top of the world.
And at the center of a glorious stage anyone could long for, we would have—
That's right, huh? If we did it together with Lil’ Miss, I feel like that pipe dream could really come true.
I’d say she’s got the power to make dreams like that come true.
Anzu-dono has fulfilled our wishes many times over up until now.
No matter how unreasonable of a demand it was, she always went around and worked with us to settle the matter.
She never knows when to give up. What's amazing is her tenacity, where even the slightest setback doesn't faze her.
And even when she falls, she always comes back the next day with a smile on her face and a different idea she's thought up.
… How nostalgic. It makes me think of when we were students, and she would bring me proposal after proposal.
You were real damn busy with the student council, werent'cha, Danna?1 Now that I think about it, you had all kindsa things goin' on.
Indeed. It feels as if we have come quite far since then.
…
Oop. Sorry, Taki. Even if we yap about old stories, you’re not gonna be in the loop, huh.
No, I don’t really mind~? It wouldn’t be a conversation that involved me no matter how hard I tried~
… But hearing the way you talk about it, I feel like I can picture it in my head~
What you guys were like back then. And what Anzu-neenee was like too.
I haven’t spent as much time with her as I have with you guys, but…
I can understand that Anzu-neenee cares about all of us a whole lot~♪
…
Ahh… yeah— I really did wanna beat MELLOW DEAR US.
Taki…
… This is not like you. Why are you acting as if it is the end already?
…?
Yeah. We still got time before Mainstream Megasphere. We still got time to take matters into our own hands.
Heh, Kiryu and Kanzaki took the words right out of my mouth.
It's exactly like they said. Just don’t let that regret of defeat fade before we get to the next stage, Taki.
This time will be the one where we beat MELLOW…
— Hm? Hold on a sec. Sounds like someone’s here.
Ossu, Taishou! And Hasumi-senpai and all the rest!
Tetsu? What's got you so worked up?
Have you guys seen everyone in RYUSEITAI!?
Everyone in RYUSEITAI? I saw Sengoku and Takamine together a little while ago, but…
Did something happen to them?
No, it’s not that something happened to them, but…
Still, you seem quite panicked. Were you unable to reach them via your “smaato-fone”?2
Smartphone…?
AaaAAAAH~! Wait, I could have done that!
No shot that actually slipped your mind.
Haha… I was so out of my mind panicked I completely forgot.
Honestly, you and your false alarms…3
But “something” clearly happened for it to get you that panicked, right~?
He’s got a point… Hey, Tetsu. What’s goin’ on?
Ummm, here’s the deal…
Translation Notes
- ↑ Kuro often refers to Keito as 旦那 (danna, lit. master ), or "boss". He'll also use Hasumi-no-danna.
- ↑ In Japanese, words from other languages (such as English) are typically rendered in katakana. However, when Souma uses katakana words, they are all written in hiragana instead, likely to emphasize how he struggles with foreign words. These words are kept as written in hiragana, and put in "quotes".
- ↑ The line is 人騒がせなやつだ; more or less "you caused a ruckus (for no reason)". I translated this line with stories like Onigashima in mind (a story where Tetora misunderstands something Kuro says, and Keito and Souma get involved with it) in the spirit of nostalgia.