[ES!!] Ibuki Taki – Idol Story 2
This story heavily references Supervillain. I recommend reading the story if you’d like to know more.
You can see Ibuki Taki’s profile on the Wiki.
Season: Spring
Location: The beach near Yumenosaki Academy
2nd year of ES’s establishment…1
One-two, one-two~♪
We’ve got this~! Karate Club!
Passionately, passionately invigorated~♪
That’s the energy that the power of fate gives me~♪
…I’ve been wondering ‘bout this for a while now, but why’s it become the Karate Club’s tradition to sing my solo while running…2 It’s a li’l embarrassing.
Hm. Singing while running is an effective way to build up our lung capacity, you know?
Yeah, that’s true, but it could’ve been any song then, right? So why my solo out of all songs?
Maybe it was just a rare joke from the previous club captain, Taishou…3 He sometimes plays dumb with a straight face.
Fufu. I think there’s charm to it, personally.
I feel like you and him are a lot alike, Hiiro-kun. You’re also the type to play dumb with a straight face. Plus your hair color is similar to Taishou’s; I’m so jealous—
Meanwhile, I’m still so far from matching his level…
—Buchou!4 Watch out!
……!?
(W-W-Wh…What!? A rock almost flew straight at me outta nowhere!? Did a rock bounce up while we were running on the sand…?)
(No— I definitely felt hostility from that.)
(Someone just tried to attack us…!?)
Ooh~, what a nice reaction time~♪ You’ve got pretty good reflexes, don’tcha~?
…Who is this? Do you know him, Buchou?
Nope, I can’t think of anyone I know who’d suddenly throw an attack on m— Or never mind, I can, but… That’d be Taishou, Kanzaki-senpai… or even you, Hiiro-kun, right?
Mhm.
Don’t “mhm” me. I’m not complimenting you. I know I shouldn’t be the one sayin’ this, but why does everyone ‘round here behave like they’re in an action manga…
…Anyway, the point is, I don’t know him. I’ve never seen him before.
Well, that’s ‘cause it’s our first time meeting each other~. Nyahaha.
I’m Taki Ibuki, born in Okinawa, and grew up in the US.
Okinawa—
I was super feared back in my hometown, and was called “Oni”~.5 Maybe that’ll make you figure it out?
The one from the vigilante group that defeated the villain known as Crimson Production once upon a time, after the corporation went on a rampage in Okinawa—
Huh? Wait, what’s that? What are you talking about?
Just talkin’ to myself. …A while back, Crimson Production was once again overthrown through the efforts of us Ryuseitai—6
But in that corporation, there were also a lotta people who once belonged to a vigilante group.
Are you by any chance here to take revenge on their behalf or somethin’?
I did hear ‘bout the vigilante group’s boss being a man who was called “Oni”. I didn’t think he’d be a young boy, though.
Well, that’s ‘cause it wasn’t just me, my whole family was called “Oni”~. The Oni that people feared the most is likely not me, but my grampa~.7
Also, I wasn’t thinking of taking revenge or anything~. That’s too old-fashioned for modern times, and it’s apparently forbidden by law nowadays~.
Hm, is that so? I learned something new.
Hiiro-kun and— Taki-kun, was it? Did the two of you time travel from the Edo era or somethin’?
Nyahaha. It’s just that you lot’ve got different accepted practices here— Which means, the practices stop being acceptable depending on the era and place~.
You shouldn’t think of yourselves as the standard for everything~, Mr. Japanese?
…If revenge isn’t what you’re here for, then what exactly is it? As you can see, we’re in the middle of training.
Ah~, sorry for getting in your way~. It’s a bad habit of mine~. I somehow can’t help but try to have my own way with everything.
I can’t really read the room, y’see? Nyahahaha.
…………
I don’t think you have to be on your guard, Buchou. I don’t sense animosity from him.
Hmm… Well, if Hiiro-kun says so, then it’s probably true.
No, no, no need to drop your guard! You should stay as you are!
I’m here to test my skills. I’ve been traveling around the place to hone and enhance my combat.
And today, I came to have a match with you, the person who magnificently took down that annoying Crimson Production~♪
You’d like to have a duel with me? You say you’ve been traveling around to hone your combat skills… But isn’t that pretty old-fashioned, too?
Right~? ♪ I can barely keep up with the cutting-edge stuff, so~?
But even though we’re in our karate uniforms, we’re actually idols, so we can’t fight in public. We’re in an era where anyone can take a video and spread it on social media, after all.
I’ll get fired immediately if I do anything violent.
Things just don’t go the way you want in this world, huh~… I see~, that’s a shame.
Alright, never mind then! Can’t do anything about that, right~? When in Rome, do as the Romans do! I’ll follow along your way of doing things~♪
…You gave up surprisingly fast.
It’s just ‘cause I’m not seeking value from physical strength only~. You said that you’re an idol, and idols engaging in any violence is a no-go — but I’m also an idol who got scouted by Yoshihide the other day~.
So you and I will have a match as idols~♪
Yoshihide? Who’s that?
You don’t know? I thought he was pretty famous, given his position~?
He’s probably referring to Sanda Yoshihide. His other name is Nice Arneb Thunder.8
Ahh~ The person that was a former top idol, and is now known as a producer with remarkable skills. He’s a pretty famous big shot across the world, isn’t he?
You’re acquainted with that person, Taki-kun?
Mhm. He’s a pretty big guy~, I feel like I could grow if I were to follow behind him~.
That’s why I crossed the seas and came to this country. I became an idol under his invitation, too~.
Nyahaha, that means we work in the same industry~. I hope for your guidance moving forward— My seniors~♪
As a symbol of our acquaintance, here’s a freshly-fried sata andagi for you~.9 It’s peanut butter-flavored ‘cause of my own preferences~. I’m used to American flavors, you see~.
Here you go, it’s super tasty~♪
Hah… Y-You’re surprisingly pretty friendly, huh…
When I heard that you were called “Oni”, I thought you’d be way scarier.
…!? Buchou!
……!?
…Nyahaha~. What a shame~. He dodged it~.
You may have the look of a tamed pet, but your true nature really is that of a beast after all, huh?10
Why, I could’ve sliced your head off if that kick hit.
(This guy…! He tried to throw me off guard so he could catch me by surprise with an upper roundhouse kick!?)
(He’s got insane power…! I only got a li’l grazed, but my cheek looks like it got burned…!)
…Did you not just mention how you’re also an idol who shouldn’t engage in violence, and that you wouldn’t take revenge as it’s too old-fashioned?
Nyahaha, are you mad? You also look pretty tasty~, what a nice glint in your eyes…♪
Answer my question.
…Hiiro-kun, I’m alright. You can relax.
…………
Taki-kun. If that’s how you’re gonna be, then I’ll take you head-on.
I’m also a man. I’ll always accept any challenge someone throws at me.
Even if those acts aren’t appropriate for idols, I will beat up any villain that hurls sneak attacks at people.
Mm~… Nah, I’m good. I got a good idea about you by now, anyway.
Nyahaha. You smell of mud like you’re still unrefined, but you’re a straightforward man, aren’tcha~. I’m sure even the guys at Crimson Production were happy to get taken down by you~.
What’re you turning your back on me for— Are you runnin’ away? Just so you know, my flame’s already ignited to the max!
Of course I’ll run~, I don’t wanna be exterminated just yet, after all.11
So bye-byeee~…♪ (waves)
Sound of water splashing
…!? He jumped into the ocean and started swimming! He’s so fast…!?
Nyahaha~. Japan’s number one Momotarō-san; if you wanna exterminate me, then you gotta cross the sea until you reach Onigashima island~♪12
…Hm, I think he’s too fast to catch up to.
Ossu. …The heck was that, seriously…
A demon who attacks anyone he passes by, maybe…?13 I’m not quite sure, but—
It appears that a pretty troublesome person has got their eyes on you, Buchou.
Ibuki Story Directory
Translation Notes
- ↑ At the start of the second year of ES’s establishment, Tetora and Hiiro are third years in Yumenosaki.
- ↑ They’re singing Tetora’s second solo, Unmei Power Energy!.
- ↑ “Taishou” refers to Kuro, meaning “chief”, “boss”.
- ↑ “Buchou” means club captain/president.
- ↑ “Oni” means ogre or demon. It refers to a type of demon found in Japanese folklore, and it typically looks like this. The Oni that Ibuki is referring to was first mentioned in Supervillain.
- ↑ This is referring to Supervillain, when Tetora was tasked to act as a spy in an agency that was also a criminal organization, and then eventually took down the corporation. The story happens in Okinawa. For more information on what Tetora’s talking about, I recommend reading the story.
- ↑ Ibuki’s grandpa was talked about in Stella Maris, hidden island 10. In the same chapter, there is information about Ibuki, so I recommend reading it.
- ↑ A link to Nice Arneb Thunder’s Wiki profile.
- ↑ Sata andagi is Okinawan food that are sweet deep-fried buns. More information here.
- ↑ In this line and the next one, Ibuki doesn’t speak in his typical speech quirk, instead speaking more plainly.
- ↑ Ibuki is referring to what typically happens to onis in Japanese folklores. The oni is exterminated by the folk hero, like in the Legend of Momotarō.
- ↑ In the Legend of Momotarō, Momotarō has to go to Onigashima, the Ogre/Oni Island, to defeat the oni. More information here.
- ↑ Hiiro says toorima, lit. demon who brings misfortune to people it passes by. It can also mean a slasher that attacks people at random.