Submarine | AKATSUKI
Partial Translation Disclaimer: This is a partial translation of main story SS2 Submarine.
Prologue
Hasumi... Kanzaki... Sorry, I’m done for—
Don’t give in, Kiryu! You’re a strong man, aren’t you?
That’s right, Kiryu-dono! Haven’t we AKATSUKI always come together to overcome any hardship?!
Haha. That’s right, we never lost to any enemy.
Whenever the three of us were together, we were always unstoppable. We showed them AKATSUKI was here, and we did it the right way.
But it’s not gonna work out this time. We can’t go on, our paths end here.
Whining like that’s pathetic but… Whining like that’s pathetic but… that’s just how it is.
This isn’t like you, Kiryu!
I agree with Hasumi-dono! I can’t bear to see you like this, Kiryu-dono!
It’s said that if you clear your mind, even fire will feel cooler! Bolster your spirit! With the power of your well-trained physique and your spirit, there is nothing that can defeat you, Kiryu-dono!
That’s right, Kiryu! Fight, do your best!
Don’t let something like seasickness get the best of you...!
Urrgh... hrgh. I-... I get it, I’ll try my best. Quit with the shakin’.
People who don’t get motion sickness can’t get how I feel.
Forget it, just leave me alone ‘til we get to Okinawa at the very least. I’m beggin’ ya. Please, I don't wanna lose it and sock you guys.
Mnmn... I knew you didn't like vehicles, but I didn't expect you to be so bad with boats, Kiryu-dono. Are you truly alright, your face is deathly pale.
Yes, it's worrisome... How are you holding up, Kanzaki? Do you want to take something for motion-sickness just in case?
Nay. On the contrary, if I ingest medicine I might feel worse. I suppose it's a consequence of me being very particular about what goes into my body at all times.
Hm. Well, I suppose too much medicine is poison. Taking drugs when you’re not actually feeling ill interferes with the body's homeostasis, so what good would that be.
But, well, it’s nothing more than awful luck. Of all the SS qualifying rounds held across the country, I never expected that we would be placed in Okinawa all the way in the south.
Right. If this were closer to where we lived, we could just run to the location as a warm up exercise.
I’m not like you freaks of nature. There’s no way I could stand on stage after running a full marathon.
If we can, I’d like to mobilize as soon as we get there.
Kiryu threw a fit and begged not to be put on an aircraft, so I chose for us to travel by boat instead.
Because we took a longer mode of transportation, we’ve got somewhat of a late start compared to the ES idols who flew.
On top of that, I’ve heard that Okinawa’s been a battleground and that the local idols have all the power. Hopefully, this delay doesn’t give us trouble moving forward.
Be that as it may, it’s not something we can help. We can’t leave Kiryu-dono behind just because he loathes transportation.
That’s right. Per the rules, we idols cannot move from the area we’re placed in during the qualifying rounds.
I’m sure not being able to make it to the qualifying venue would get you disqualified too.
So we have to make it to Okinawa by any means necessary, even if we have to crawl.
Right… As far as Kiryu-dono’s concerned, this is a harsh turn of events, but there is no other choice but to endure it.
I’m sure he’ll be fine, but I’m worried the motion-sickness will keep him out of commission.
And we’re fighting in a different environment than usual…
Between the constant setbacks and the late start…– I just hope we don’t end up with a bad result because of it.
Mnmn... This is the track AKATSUKI has been on since Unification by Force. I’m in no way superstitious, but it feels as if this is a terrible omen.
Hmph. It’ll be alright, Kanzaki. We won’t make the same mistake twice. We won’t fall to the same enemy twice. And so we’ll overcome every setback and loss, and become stronger through thick and thin.
It is we, AKATSUKI, who will make it through and win the battlefield of Okinawa.
(Hm~mm... the way he speaks sounds as if he’s trying to convince himself of it.)
(I imagine Kiryu-dono, his ever-reliable partner, not feeling well is making him anxious deep-down.)
(To me, I think it’s times like this where I must support them properly.)
(In fact, I think Hasumi-dono feels the same way. For some reason, he keeps trying to make me decide the course of action.)
(“What do you think we should do, Kanzaki?" “What do you want to do, Kanzaki?” “It’s up to Kanzaki to decide, alright?” and so on... He’s insisting for me to give my input, it’s all very unnatural.)
(I had thought Hasumi-dono should understand that I wish to follow the lead of my seniors, but… Sure enough, he’s so anxious, even someone like me is something to cling on to.)
(The particulars are unclear, but, whatever it is— the road ahead will be rough. Well, for us, that is nothing out of the ordinary.)
Battlefield 1
Now then. Before we arrive at the venue, let's review the contents of the SS qualifying round again.
We have free time while we’re en route, after all. I think it’s necessary to sort out the details— That way we’re fully prepared to start working the moment we arrive at the site.
(And the more Hasumi-dono talks, the spirited he becomes.)
To give you some context on SS, it’s a large-scale occasion with a long-established, storied history in the idol industry
The basic idea is to find the best and brightest out of the countless sea of idols out there.
Every year the rules change, but that basic principle remains the same.
Hm. But compared to past years, the scale is far bigger, and the content seems to have changed as well.
That’s right. First of all, you can only participate in SS as an idol unit. You could say it’s an advantage for those of us who are familiar with the unit system.
Well, you might also say it’s far too much of a disadvantage for solo idols outside of ES…
We ES idols have left our home base and been deployed to every corner of the country.
The SS steering committee, primarily made up of the P-Agency, decides which units get stationed in which areas.
What goes into the selection process is unclear. For me, I am relieved to see the people I know are scattered across various places, but...
It will be unavoidable when push comes to shove, but I am not particularly eager to face off against my friends.
Ultimately, I'm sure we’ll have to clash somewhere.
SS is an event held to decide who is at the top of the pack. All other idols are rivals that should be completely kicked aside— and even if they’re not enemies, they are still opponents.
That is the reality, though that’s just one side of reality for the idol industry. Everyone is a business rival.
That's right. Even if we said stuff like, “We don't want to fight, let's all get along”, it’d be an absolute laughingstock of a story.
Back to the topic at hand. Starting from now, in mid-November, each of the units across the country will conduct their idol activities in their respective regions over the next month.
By regularly conducting activities, idols will earn a currency called SSL$. At the end of the preliminary round, the idols that earn the most SSL$ will advance to the main tournament held at the end of the year.
That’s yet another advantage for those of us who are familiar with the L$ system.
I imagine local idols have a hometown advantage given their loyal fanbases. In order to compete with them on equal footing, we have to handicap them that much.
Right. When it comes to fighting local “aidoru” who have a local advantage on their home soil, how well we can strike and cut them down with the weapons we’ve mastered— that is the key to victory.
Hmph. If we ES idols are the ones to win, the validity of the structure of ES will be guaranteed.
ES can prove the effectiveness of its newest weapons by making a public example out of defeating idols who have worked tirelessly and developed built-in relationships with the people around them on their own turf.
By denying the existing way of being an idol, and crushing it, it just shows that ES’s way of doing things is precisely what is right and just.
That’s what it is to change the world, but the method is fairly violent.
Well, that’s not for me to say actually.
…
Well, that's fine. Having the support of ES is an advantage for us. Let’s make the most of it and succeed
There’s many things I don't like about it, but before we can change ES’s structure, we have to advance through the competition and gain authority through that.
We’re just mere footsoldiers right now, so no matter what we say, I imagine it’ll only make us sound like sore losers.
We’re not children anymore. We can’t dream that we’ll get everyone around us to notice and do what we want by throwing a tantrum.
We’ll follow the right steps, raise our standing, and change the world fair and square.
To do that, we need to start by proving our worth and strength in this qualifying round.
I’ll be leaving that strategy up to you, Kanzaki. Start thinking about what we’ll do when we arrive at the site while you still can.
I don't know about Kiryu, but I’ll obey your instructions to the letter.
R-Right…… You keep saying things like that, Hasumi-dono, but I just don’t understand your intentions, so I’m baffled.
Aren’t you the one who has always come up with such strategies, Hasumi-dono? Why are you trying to leave it up to me like this, at such a critical point in time?
I can't tell you. Figure it out.
… It surely can’t be something to do with your order, can it?
During the preliminary round, we are all given “orders”. These orders tell us what to do or what not to do.
If you go against it, you'll be fined, and since the condition for winning the preliminaries revolves around money, it’s quite a troublesome regulation.
Are you acting out of character because of that order, Hasumi-dono?
Even if that were the case, I can't tell you that. We’re forbidden from revealing the contents of our order.
The one thing I can say is that the leader of each unit is given an additional secret order, alongside the normal order.
If you break the normal order, you’ll simply get away with a fine. However, if you break the secret order, the punishment becomes more severe.
While I think it’s trivial, the penalty would feel as harsh as capital punishment for some people.
So Kanzaki, please don’t make me break it. I’ll do whatever I can as long as it doesn’t go against the order I’ve been given.
R-Right….. I understand. Even if it feels off to me, I won't ask about it any further.
(I see. An additional secret order, mm? I guess there are things like that in play, too. My order is something absurd like “don't eat seafood during the preliminary round”―)
(I figured the others’ orders were just as much of a prank as mine.)
(In reality, normal orders are probably meant to be that simple or light.)
(On the other hand, the secret order seems to be a burden. Maybe I should think about it as if it’s some sort of religious commandment that denies you from heaven if you break it?)
(If I do as Hasumi-dono said and tread smartly and carefully, things may work out, but...)
(It is difficult enough having to get accustomed to a new place as it is, there are so many things to do and think about―)
(It's fairly difficult to keep track of all those different trains of thought at once.)
(Hm~mm…… But thinking isn’t my strong point to begin with.)
Battlefield 2
We’ve arrived, Kiryu! Kanzaki!
So this is Okinawa……!
I see. I’d thought it wouldn’t be that different from Yumenosaki and ES, in terms of proximity by the sea, but...
The weather is so pleasant, it doesn't feel like it's winter. Seems we’ll make some good headway on our idol activities.
Heheh. You’re talking quite a lot more. It’s unusual to see you in such high spirits, Hasumi-dono.
Is that a bad thing? Temples are rooted where they stand, so I’ve rarely left my hometown. It makes my heart race just to set foot in a distant place like this. How fun.
I see. I go to all kinds of shrines for networking events quite often. Temples and shrines, Buddha and gods— are the forms of faith that different?
It's more a matter of family principle than religious belief. No, I suppose it's my own personal inclination.
One of my childhood friends was like an infant: it felt as if he’d die if I took my eyes off of him. The other was one I wanted to meet up with and talk to every day.
I feel like I didn’t have any particular desire to travel very far, especially when I was younger.
“Will my life be like this routine forever?” — Thoughts like that started to well up, and it frightened me, so when I hit puberty, I went on trips for no reason.
I used an archery tournament as an excuse, and tried to set out on my own.
But ultimately, I got homesick almost immediately. It seems it’s not easy to leave the place your soul is rooted to.
Heheh. If Hasumi-dono gets “hoomushikku” like that, we will have to settle our battle swiftly.
Without you, our chances for success are pretty dire if it’s just the inexperienced me and the limp, deflated Kiryu-dono left, Hasumi-dono.
Kiryu, are you doing alright……?
Sorry, ‘m sorry—
Hmm. All Kiryu-dono has been doing is apologizing since a while ago, but...
The motion-sickness likely won't last any longer. If he eats something delicious and gets some rest, he’ll feel better.
Right, because Kiryu’s a strong man, after all.
Sorry…
Heheh. Hence, before anything else, I was thinking we should get Kiryu-dono to some sort of lodging so he can rest. Where might our lodging accommodations be, Hasumi-dono?
Don’t leave everything up to me, do some research on your own, Kanzaki. But I suppose it’s not like I mind, I don’t dislike taking charge of coordinating everything.
If anything, you’d probably pout if someone butt in with their input, wouldn’t you Hasumi-dono?
Saying that, why you little……♪
… Hasumi… Kanzaki…
Hm. Kiryu-dono is trying to say something.
Forget that. You’re pretty composed carrying that hulk of a man Kiryu on your back while you have all that luggage under your arms. That’s a considerable amount of strength, Kanzaki.
Heheh. It’s because of my training. Managing heavy loads is about how you brace and posture yourself, not the muscle strength you have.
… hind…
Hm? Forgive me, Kiryu-dono, but could you speak a little more clearly――
— Behind you!
…!?
(What the–! Countless men are coming out from the bushes behind us!?)
(What’s more, they are unusually bloodthirsty! It is as if they’re possessed by a “curse”!)
(Moreover, those poles they’re brandishing seem to be weapons, don’t they? These are clearly ruffians...!)
Stay back, Hasumi-dono! Take Kiryu-dono!
Whoa!? Don’t just chuck him at me like a ball!
You’ll have to excuse me, these are times of emergency!
Heheh! You’ve picked a fight with the wrong person, you lowly scum! We came not by plane but by Tenshouin-dono’s private boat! A twist of good luck for us, isn’t it?
There was no baggage inspection, so I was able to bring my precious sword, my loyal companion!
Hee–ey! I told you to leave anything dangerous behind! SS is being broadcast across the country.
Everyone at ES may be used to it, but the world at large isn’t as tolerant to something so abnormal!?
I understand that! But rumors and reputation aren’t something that can truly kill you, right? I’d rather have the power to resist physical harm!
You ruffians! Whether you fell from the sky or came from the ground, I do not know, but consider it your misfortune that you are challenging us!
Even if the endless grains of the sand on the beach were to run out, my military prowess will not crumble! It’s nothing personal, but if you all intend to do us harm, I'll allow your blood to become the rust on my sword!
Get it together, Kanzaki! This isn’t Edo, we’re not in an era where you can just kill all guilty-before-proven-innocent anymore. If anything, you’re the one acting more like a villain, aren’t you!?
Ridiculous! We, AKATSUKI, are used to playing the villains! Fwahahaha☆
K-Kanzaki, has all of the traveling got you wound up too…?!