Influence (Chapter 1-5)
Influence 1
Now then, I wonder what business you possibly have with me?
Keito-kun hasn’t returned to the hotel room yet, so I was looking for a new toy… er, playmate ♪ I see, I see, are we playing tag?
.....
Oh my, after coming all this way, you're staying silent, Knight-san? Knight-san?
Calling me out to a place like this, don’t tell me… a love confession? I’m blushing~...♪
Or are you planning to call our partnership a bust and break up with me? Weep weep…
… Say what you will, we did get hearts. But it was so advanced, even the “hundred music enthusiasts” didn’t really get it.
What I wanted to ask you was… what your motivatation was for taking part in the audition, Hibiki.
My motivation?
You said you were filling in for Momo-kun, but is that for real?
Didn’t I say it already? Himegimi was looking forward to participating in the audition so much, and so when he couldn’t do it, I stepped in on his behalf~♪
… You just don’t seem serious about this, that’s all. It was bothering me.
Taking it seriously…? As an entertainer and someone taking part in 4piece, I’m taking this very seriously! It’s disappointing that it seems like I’m not!
That’s exactly the kind of attitude I mean that makes you look unserious. You really don’t get it, do you?
And what about you, Knight-san… Why did you participate in this audition?
… Why the hell should I tell you why I’m participating?
You’ve been far more on edge than usual ever since filming started. Even if you can't bloom in 4piece, there are plenty of places for you, surely?
If you’d like, we could always make this the start of our activities as Traumerei1 together ♪
How could such a beloved character like Sena-kun be struggling so desperately in this audition… It’s weighing on me myself ♪
We are partners in this ride-or-die drama! Surely, you can tell me, can’t you~?
Be-sides. Aren’t you the one who asked me why I was participating in the first place? I’d say it’s unfair if it were just me who spilled, you know!
Hold it, Hibiki. Don’t throw yourself all over me.
Fufufu~ Didn’t you notice how close the other pairs were, Knight-san? Wouldn’t it be good if we got to know each other much, much better?
If you’d like, how about we call each other by nicknames? I don’t mind if you call me "Wata-kun" ♪
Even though it's just for the week, we'll be together around the clock. It's about time we take the next step...☆
Seriously. You’re always like this!
Why do you piss me off this much!? Do you have a vendetta or something!?
I don’t have some profound reason for being here either, alright!?
...?
Anyways. I'm here to win. There's no point in doing all this unless I get first place.
Of course. I feel the same about wanting to win.
You're not doing this for yourself. If Momo-kun had taken part, you wouldn't have even set foot in this ring
And yet... Ah, I don’t care! Do whatever you want!
I'm going back to my room now. Just make sure you don’t piss me off again tomorrow, got it!?
Oh my... Have I stepped on a landmine?
Shouldn’t you be getting some rest too?
A professional idol should be in top shape everyday: you don’t know what kind of audience is waiting for you next.
Yessir ♪ I'm looking forward to whatever tomorrow brings! I’m off, Knight-san ♪
(Ughhh, he's so annoying…!)
(It's like I'm the only one thinking about winning as a pair, it’s so freaking annoying!)
(Looking at Nazunyan and Hasumi… Hibiki has to get that we’re not gonna make it at this rate.)
(What we’re missing is real team chemistry. Even though we're getting high scores for the novelty of our facts, it’s nothing more than a house of cards– our standing could buckle at any moment!)
(I can’t even hold a normal conversation with him. He gets caught up in his whims and muddles up the truth... There’s something real wrong with that guy.)
(Damn! Why can’t he even try to compromise!?)
(If he actually wanted to win this for himself, that’d be something at least, but doing it for Momo-kun? That’s just stupid.)
…
I… I just…
Influence 2
“Rraw wheat, rraw rice, rraw egg!”2
Hm? What was that you said just now, Nazuna-senpai?
Eh? You didn’t hear it? “Raw wheat, rawr ice”… Don’t make me repeat it so fast!
(Inhale… exhale…) … Errrm. Raw wheat. Raw rice. Raw egg. Got it?
Ah, I see…. That’s some kind of tongue twister, huh. I thought for sure you were starting to spew off insults, Nazuna-senpai.
Who would do something like that during an audition?! I said it before, it was a tongue twister?
You try saying one too, Hiiro-chin. Something like…… “The reason I bolstered this bundled bamboo balanced against the barrier was because the bundled bamboo balancing the barrier was what I wanted.”3
The reason I bolstered this bundled bamboo balanced against the barrier was because the bumbled bambboo...?
Look, see, it’s trickier than you think, isn’t it?
That was definitely a far tougher tongue-twister to say.
... Looks like we earned a considerable amount of hearts too. Is it really okay to get all these hearts even though we failed?
There’s times when it's better to fail.
Today’s audience is an audience of “a hundred elderly people”...
If anything, failing is a cuter thing to do when you do it in a way that makes people want to lend you a hand.
Hm… I see.
Nazuna-senpai’s suggestion to do tongue-twisters really helped us out. I’m surprised, I thought we had completely messed it up for ourselves.
To deceive your enemies, start with your allies… as they say. Thanks to Hiiro-chin's reaction, I was able to get across that I wasn't playing up a performance.
Well, I just don't like being treated like a little kid, but…
But if that's what they want me to do, I’ve got no choice. It's the audition I wanted after all.
So because of that, I asked you to say a more difficult tongue-twister, Hiiro-chin. Good thing you flubbed it.
Fufu. I always gain more insight from Nazuna-senpai’s opinions.
Since the discussion we had the day before yesterday, It feels like I’ve gotten far closer with you, Nazuna-senpai.
Ibuki and Hasumi-senpai’s pair is doing well thanks to that too.
Yeah. Since it’s Keito-chin, he’s probably used to dealing with a hundred senior citizens, isn’t he?
He expressed a really heartfelt gratitude a second ago, and made bank off a ton of hearts—
What’s more surprising is Izumi-chin and Wataru-chin.
Since yesterday, they’ve seemed out of sync, it’s like they’re out of sorts or something. They’ve gradually been getting fewer and fewer hearts.
I’ve got this bad habit of always playing it safe. But those two— it’s like they don’t have any brakes at all.
……
……
The mood seems pretty rough, too. Since they’re each trying to win hearts in their own way, they’ve lost all sense of unity as a pair.
Wataru-senpai too. It seems like it’s hard to get high valuations because of the judges. What he’s doing just feels too complicated, especially for the audience of seniors today.
Nazuna-senpai and Hasumi-senpai are keeping me and Ibuki in check. But Sena-senpai and Wataru-senpai don’t have that—
I think what’s happening right now is coming from their lack of compatibility as a pair.
"— Ladies and gentlemen, how did you like the first appeal of the day?"
"Et cetera, et cetera. Nice-kun is off judging other venues for the rest of the day, so I’m here on his behalf."
"As I stated a short while ago, today's round of judges have become one hundred senior citizens.”
"With respect to the judging, Nice-kun told me that I was allowed to state my opinions, so I will – presumptuous as it may be – make comments as a veteran in the industry."
"From me, I’d like to talk about two sets of pairs that are particularly noteworthy."
“First, the Taki-Hasumi pair.”
"You guys were much more unconventional than the audience thought you’d be, and were a very worthwhile pair to watch."
"Keito-kun had no choice but to respond to Ibuki-kun's ad-libs with his own unique strengths. That imbalance came off as charming."
"The humble words from a moment ago nestled in very nicely with the audience of a hundred senior citizens too."
"Fulfilling the role you're expected to play— that's an idol’s job."
Hehehe, we did it~ Hasumi-san? Looks like we got a pretty good score, huh~?
Hmm. I'm thankful for that, but it was more like a shop boy outside a temple gate chanting sutras — imitating something you’ve heard.
I was just copying what I’ve seen. I don't know what my family would say if they found out.
I thought it was interesting though~? Hasumi-san knows stuff I don't~♪
“Next, the Amagi-Nito pair.”
"You thought the reason for your high valuation was how cute you looked, but to be frank, you’re mistaken."
Eh? Did we do something wrong…?
I’m not sure. I think it's likely he’s just seeing things that only experts can see, though.
"That’s right. As Hiiro-kun says, I suspect the reason you were able to make off with so many hearts is because your voices were attractive."
Voice…?
"Yes. You sang together yesterday as a comeback for your blunder on day two, didn’t you?"
"Nazuna-kun's comfortable high notes with Hiiro-kun’s reassuring voice were well balanced, making it a pleasant singing tone for people of all ages."
I-... Is that right… I didn’t notice that.
"Even if you're not aware of it, your strengths are clear."
"Please keep showing us all of your hidden talents from here on out."
"And. I would also like to offer words of encouragement to the pairs that were not mentioned here.”
“Until now, the four days of the evaluation had been going well— Now, we’ve reached a turning point. Pairs that have not been able to show their strengths are starting to show signs of impatience.”
“In an attempt to save themselves, some participants here and there have been ignoring their partners and making individual appeals to show off their strengths.”
“This audition is judged by combining “individual points” with “competition points”.
“Throwing away “competition points” in order to gain “individual points” is an extremely risky move.”
“Showing your strengths in an attempt to reverse the situation might be a good opportunity— but how will that look in the eyes of the audience?”
“I think you need to keep your composure and take a good look at how you’re behaving.”
“An idol’s job is to entertain the audience.”
“Please do not lose sight of that reality.”
“— That's all. That was a comment from Hidaka Seiya. Keep up the good work ♪”
……
Influence 3
...
♪~♪~♪~
... Thank you very much.
(... Izumi-chin's final appeal today earned 62 hearts, huh.)
(He's holding his own in front of the hundred senior citizens, but he’s lost a lot of the momentum he started out with.)
...
(Wataru-chin too. He’s doing his own appeal without matching up with Izumi-chin's efforts.)
(It’s like they’re keeping the audience's preference in mind, but it doesn’t seem like they’re working together as a pair in particular.)
(It feels like their bad momentum won’t let up. This might be our chance...?)
"Everyone, this concludes today's evaluation. Thank you for all your hard work."
"Shall we count up the hearts you've earned and announce today's rankings?"
"The pair with the most hearts on this glorious fourth day is—"
"The Amagi-Nito pair ♪ Congratulations."
Ohh! We did it~!
Finally! We got first place! Hiiro-chin!
Hehe. It went really well, Nazuna-senpai!
Up until yesterday, we hadn't been able to break into the top ranks, but we've finally seen some results...!
“Next. Regrettably, second place goes to the Taki-Hasumi pair!”
Well hey, landing in second isn’t too bad, huh~? Nyahahaha ♪
Uuwhoa, don’t charge into me!
Don't act so carelessly. What do you plan on doing if you get hurt…!
Eh~? If a hit like this got you hurt, you’re way too delicate, huh Hasumi-san~?
It sucks we got second place, but we put up a real good fight today~! Let’s celebrate together~♪
… Hmph. You’re right about that too, but...
There’s still more to go. Let’s not get too optimistic or pessimistic, and psych ourselves up for tomorrow’s evaluation.
Nyahaha. ‘Course I got it, y’know~?
We're aiming for first! We won't lose, no matter what~♪
— And finally, announcing last place…
… The Hibiki-Sena pair.
"Though you finished first on days one and two, you started to lose steam on the third day and quickly ended up where you are now."
"I don't think you guys are the kind of idols that belong in this position. I expect that you’ll be getting back on course from tomorrow onwards."
……
They’ve got no eye for talent! What the hell do you mean, “a hundred old people”!?
What kind of judgment could a bunch of senile old coots *possibly *have!? They’re not seeing me as an idol — I’m sure they mistook me for their grandkid or something...!
That’s not something you should say, even if you don’t mean it, Knight-san.
The cameras might not be rolling, but keep saying such abusive things like that and it will damage your reputation.
You want to become first place, right? If that’s the case, you must behave appropriately!
Shut it…!
Enough with the jokes! The way you’re acting today is what’s inappropriate for a serious fight, right!?
You kept dialing yourself down to match the others and just going for easy reactions... Where did all that serious effort you showed at the start go?
You’re ten billion years too early to lecture me! Just zip it and stay quiet for the rest of time!
……
He just said what he had to say and left.
Honestly, I think he went too far. But I get why Izumi-chin's temper boiled over too.
Both Izumi-chin and Wataru-chin kept doing their own individual appeals... Couldn’t a little more of a compromise have been made?
Compromise, hm? I planned to meet Knight-san halfway considerably, but he turned me down so severely for whatever reason!
I'm not so meddlesome that I'd reach out to someone who keeps shutting me down like that...♪
Eichi and Hokuto... If it were someone I had an established relationship with, it’d be a different story, but after he brushed me off, how far should I step into his space!
… Wataru-chin.
Fufufu. This is an unexpected opportunity for you guys, hmm? It's not impossible to make something like a major comeback while we're out of sorts!
In all honesty, I don't really know what's going on inside Knight-san’s head.
When his temper flares up so suddenly too— I have no way of knowing the reason for it...
Everyone has feelings, though. Sadly, Knight-san seems to have been consumed by his emotions and lost sight of himself.
Ahhh, what on earth could I possibly do for that guy!
It takes two to tango, Hibiki.
Oh my, oh my? You were eavesdropping, Keito-kun~?
Everyone in the hall noticed it. Sena attracted attention raising his voice like that.
You have a point in what you’re saying, Hibiki. If I had no stake in the audition, I’d want to support your perspective.
But I wouldn’t be happy if we won like this.
If you're going to call yourself my “eternal rival”, at least put in the effort to live up to it. That's the least you can do, participating in an audition.
There’s no way Eichi and Himemiya would want to see you end up like this. For the sake of those who support you, why don't you try and face off against us a little more?
...
Fufufu...♪ It seems I’ve completely gained the attention of my onstage rivals!
Even if what they want is a comedy, my partner won’t even look my way. And even if we faced each other, we’ll just exchange the sword of words next time. A clown can do nothing more than dodge them, so—
It can’t be helped, mm? Shall I invite you onto my stage for a bit?
Influence 4
Ugh, seriously, the fact a guy like that is my partner is the worst!
Hibiki’s always like that, and it looks like Nazunyan’s spending time with his partner again today too...
The guys who are goofing off, and the guys who’re getting crazy chummy together… What the hell are they doing coming here on an audition program?
I’m getting real sick of it! If they're really aiming to make it overseas, they’re completely clueless!?
If they’ve got no intention in taking down MELLOW DEAR US, every single one of them should just drop out already...!!
I mean, MELLOW DEAR US— those guys are the root of all evil, aren't they?
I don't know if it's because they’re foreign idols or what, but the domestic media are blindly following suit and only featuring MELLOW DEAR US...
There’s no way they don’t have at least one flaw! Madoka must have an absolutely unhinged personality anyways– living off jobs they stole from the rest of us!
Fufufu. From what I've heard so far, a storm is brewing isn’t it?
If all of your rivals withdraw, this match won't be any fun.
Honor can only be savored by defeating a strong opponent! You of all people should understand that...☆
… Hm? What the, that voice just now…?
No freaking way…
"No freaking way," was it? Look outside the window☆
Eee!? You're clinging to the window! But this is definitely one of the higher floors–!
What the hell are you doing Hibiki?! One little breeze and you’re a dead man!?
No. I am not this Hibiki person you speak of ♪
I am but Kamen Mask, the mere inhabitant of dreams. You must have mistaken me for someone else!
Nope nope nope! You look exactly like Hibiki Wataru from every angle!
Hm~? I can’t hear you~
At any rate, enough talking through glass— Let me invite you into the dream!
From here on is the dream world! Please hold on tight…☆
Wha– Eh? W– Wai– what are you—!
I-I thought I was seriously gonna die…!
I thought you were letting yourself out the window, but suddenly, you kept scaling the side of the hotel building until we got all the way up to the roof—
This is seriously absurd…! Are you trying to kill me!?
Fufufu, please rest easy ♪ Never would I make such a careless mistake!
Well? Perfect marks for the thrill, perhaps?
What’s with that smug “mission accomplished” look?! My legs are still shaking, okay!?
What the hell are you planning Hibiki, bringing me all the way up here!?
I told you, I’m not Hibiki.
But. I just happened to see you brooding in your room.
Apparently, you’ve taken on all sorts of stress...
If that’s the case, let's scream from our guts and rid yourself of your gloom!
Go on, scream...☆ Let's gather up those piles of woes– all of the ones you can’t say to anyone else– and let them free to your heart’s content!
Hahh? Scream? Out here?!
It’s alright. This is just the dream world after all…☆
Like hell it is! It’s the real world…!
Fufufu. If you insist, I suppose it doesn’t really matter whether this is the real world or not?
Look look, the king has donkey ears…♪
We’re talking past each other…!
Hmm. Well then, you won’t scream?
You were so chatty back in the room, though… If you don't like it up here, shall we scale back down the wall~?
Fine, fine! You want me to say it? I’ll say it!
You're so freakin’ annoy~ing!!!
Are you stupid or what?!
Madoka, Hibiki— every last one of you—!
You're all so damn selfish! Thanks to you, my whole plan’s a complete mess!
Cut the crap! I’ve HAD it!!
If you’re just gonna get in my way, then get the hell out of my face!!!
(Pant, pant) ....
… Did that make you feel a little better?
Well, I don’t know…
No matter how much I scream, none of it is going to change the troublesome reality for me.
In the end, the only way to break out of this damn situation—
Is to win.
Haha, I knew it. This world’s survival of the fittest. The winner takes all—
To stand at the top, I need to change myself first. I can’t stay a weakling who keeps getting everything taken away; I need to become strong enough to crush any opponent.
I... I believe that I can do it. I’ll show the world that I can do it!
Fufufu, such wonderful resolve! After all, feelings can only be transcended by speaking them aloud!
Surely that Hibiki person— whoever he is— would have wished for the same...☆
Gimme a break… Would you stop playing pretend like that? It’s especially annoying.
Didn’t I tell you? This is a dream world. Go on, pinch your cheek, it doesn’t hurt, right? ♪
When you wake up from this dream— give it your best tomorrow.
It is a pair competition and all. You wouldn’t want to lose just because of poor teamwork, would you?
Of course. We haven’t shown our true potential.
If I want to get Hibiki to take this seriously, I’ve got to captivate the audience even more, don’t I?
I’ve got to make him think Sena Izumi has what it takes to surpass Hibiki Wataru... Otherwise, he won’t aim for victory for his own sake, right?
Fufu. Do you really think so?
Still. I’m sure he’s hungry for it too— someone who poses a real threat to him. Not just by a hair’s breadth— by someone grabbing him by the scruff of the neck.
Otherwise, it wouldn’t be very interesting, would it!
The masses crave emotional drama, the thrills of youth and growth! That is where the ensemble truly begins.
You’re the one who can take center stage in this audition! And at the end of it all awaits La vie en rose…♪
Influence 5
Seiya-san. Thank you for assisting me at the Twin Rooster Pagoda today.
Supervising all four venues at once was more than I could handle on my own.
If it weren’t for you taking the helm, along with the other experienced judges and the management staff, I never would have been able to hold this event.
Truly, you have my deepest thanks.
The pleasure is mine. It was a valuable opportunity for me too ♪
It's not every day you get to be a judge for a world-class audition program.
I just wish Hocchan’s schedule would have allowed him to participate in it. He really does have the worst luck.
Heheh. Bringing up your pride-and-joy son for me? I’ll take that as the highest praise ♪
The fifth day starts tomorrow. We’re entering the heart of the evaluation.
We’ll need to survey the examination even more closely.
You're so freakin’ annoy~ing!!!
Are you stupid or what?!
Madoka, Hibiki— every last one of you—!
You're all so damn selfish! Thanks to you, my whole plan’s gone to hell!
Cut the crap! I’ve HAD it!!
If you’re just gonna get in my way, then get the hell out of my face!!!
......
......
That voice just now was Izumi-kun, mm?
It seems Izumi’s probably talking about MELLOW DEAR US.
Heheh. He seems to resent them. What might you be feeling about it as their producer?
Ah, the passions of youth. Quite Nice, indeed... ☆
It seems that MELLOW DEAR US– who’re coming to Japan– are a business competitor of his. I imagine it's a one-sided rivalry.
The pain felt in youth should act as growing pains to help Sena-kun grow further. Since he didn’t say it to their face, I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear anything ♪
For an idol, losing work can feel like being told they've passed their expiration date, don't you think?
But their visit to Japan is very sudden. Could it be that they’ll be involved with 4piece in some way?
No. That’s not part of the plan. The main stars of 4piece are its participants after all.
However— As part of an effort to reform the malfunctioning “P-Agency”, I intend to showcase the unit I produced as the shining example.
I have faith that their presence will help further the development of idol culture here in Japan, and I’ve prepared more to come after 4piece.
Because of that, I figured the help of MELLOW DEAR US would be essential.
More to come… after 4piece? —
You’re good at coming up with new topics. Shall we chalk it up to the talents of a top-tier skilled producer?
I'm an idol, so the situation behind the scenes is none of my concern, but...
Still, it’s true that your work sets a high bar for ES idols to clear, which pushes them to grow even further.
Upending the idol ecosystem to create a new order… It's like terraforming, remaking the whole landscape.
The future of this country’s idol industry seems even more volatile than the founding of ES ♪
Take for instance, Izumi-kun... Faced with idols who have godlike fame and influence, more kids may find themselves running into misfortune.
However, it's not gods who weave history. It's humans.
I heard that Jun-kun, who I mentored personally, is out there fighting in the Arena like a human.4
Izumi-kun is surely no different. If he fully demonstrates the abilities he’s accumulated thus far, this audition should be a bar he can overcome.
If anything— isn’t it Hibiki Wataru-kun who will be the one to crash right into the bar?
… Now then. With that out of the way, I need to head back to my room.
The dream ends here. Starting tomorrow, reality awaits us, doesn't it?
Hibiki. I’ll show you how serious I am next, so get prepared, why dontcha?
I see. I’m not Hibiki, but I’ll look forward to that ♪
Now then, with this, please entrust yourself to me. You’re starting to wake up now... Amazing ♪
Huh…? This is… my room…?
Was that really a dream just a second ago? No– but that sensation...
Fufufu. Right about now, Knight-san should be in his room safe-and-sound, shouldn’t he?
It’s been a while since I’ve used hypnosis, so I wondered if I might be a bit rusty, but~ I was relieved that Knight-san was as susceptible as he was to it ♪
Even so, “how serious I am”... I'm a little envious
Eichi. When you entrusted this mask to me… you told me to "face the evaluation as myself", but… what is being myself, I wonder?
Donning the mask for the first time in a long time, hiding the monstrous face beneath… I thought I might get a glimpse of a hint.
I should have become human by now. Yet, showing that “humanity” is this diffcult!
Translation Notes
- ↑ Traumerei is a temporary unit Wataru forms in the story Diner Live. It's made up of Izumi, Keito and Madara.
- ↑ The original tongue twister is 『生麦』『生米』『生卵』(the tongue-twister is the "nya" part). I chose to localize it to keep the meaning, but tried to keep some purrs.
- ↑ The original tongue twister is 『この竹垣に』 『竹立て掛けたのは』 『竹立て掛けたかったからだ」(the tongue-twister is the "ta"s, "te"s, and "ka"s). I chose to localize it to keep the meaning.
- ↑ Referencing the fourth part of 4piece, VS GLADIATOR, where Jun is a part of.