The Fallen Angels’ Banquet – The Angels’ Motives
Chapter Index
Ch 1 - Ch 2 - Ch 3 - Ch 4 - Ch 5 - Ch 6 - Translation Notes
Chapter 1
Season: ES 2nd Year, Summer (Mid-June)
That surprised me… So it was you, Hanamura—… Er, Yume, huh. Where the heck did you come from?
From the other side of the table, obviously.
Huh? You were in the cafe too? Sorry, I didn’t notice.
No, it’s fine.
More importantly, if you don’t want that coaster, give it to Yume.
Don’t worry. Yume will take good care of it in your stead, Ra*bits’ leader-san.
N-No, he cannot simply do that! This coaster’s a souvenir to commemorate our visit to the cafe.
Mashiro-kun never once said he doesn’t want it…!
Mmrph… So loud. Nobody was asking you.
Yume is talking to Ra*bits’ leader-san, so don’t butt in.
Wh—Wha…wha…!?
C’mon now, you don’t need to talk that way. And besides, you’re the one who butt in our conversation, ‘kay?
Ahh, wait, do you not know who Sengoku is?
This is Sengoku Shinobu, from Ryuseitai. He’s a senior to you, so you gotta show your respect to him.
So what if he’s a senior?
He was just born a little earlier than Yume. Yume will only show respect to the people Yume deems worthy.
There you go again~… You’re as arrogant as ever. I don’t think you even remember who I am.1
Do you know my name? It’s “Mashiro Tomoya”, by the way.
Yume doesn’t need to be told that; Yume knows Ra*bits’ leader-san.
Then call me by my name, yeah? Calling me by that sounds like a pain from how long it is.
Mmrph… Memorizing things Yume has no interest in feels a lot more like a pain.
But… Sure, Yume will accept your demands for the sake of that coaster.
Then… Mashiro-san. You don’t have to give Yume the coaster; how about exchanging coasters instead?
Exchanging is fine, right? Erm… Shinobu…san?
M-Mm… It isn’t my place to decide, so as long as Mashiro-kun’s fine with that, then it’s alright.
That’s fine by me. So what coaster did you get, Yume?
You want to know? Ufufu, Yume will show you Yume’s collection.
…Woah, that’s so many…! Don’t you only get one per order?
You ordered this many times? You’re a big eater despite how you look, huh…
Of course not. How rude.
Yume has been a big fan of this manga from a long time back, so Yume has been visiting this cafe ever since the collab started.
So, this is proof of Yume’s efforts…♪
A long time back? This manga was serialized before Yume-kun was born, you know? It’s a different generation from ours.
The trivial details don’t matter. The point is that Yume is serious about this. Yume wants to complete these coasters no matter what.
Yume still doesn’t have the coaster that Mashiro-san has. There’s a few duplicates Yume got, so Yume would like to exchange with one of these.
Huh… Alright, then I’ll take this one, the one you have the most duplicates of.
Huh? Really? That character has only ever appeared three times in the whole story, though?
Whoa, seriously? Then this is a pretty rare one, in a way.
You can have mine now.
Fufufu. Thank you, Mashiro-san.
This is now Yume’s, so there’s no takebacks even if you change your mind.
Not to worry, Mashiro-kun wouldn’t ask for anything like that, Yume-kun.
…Shinobu-san, this has been bothering Yume for a while, but—
All that “sessha” and “-dono” and “gozaru” you’ve been saying… What’s up with that way of speaking?2
Eh?
Are you copying how otakus used to talk in the past? Yume’s so fed up with those guys who’d typically come to Yume’s photo shoot sessions and laugh creepily.3
Ahh, no, I suppose you aren’t aware of this, Yume-kun.
Erm. Once upon a time, I was born as a ninja, and—
Ninja~…?
W-What is it… Why are you staring at me…?
Ninjas wouldn’t wear such attire, and they wouldn’t show themselves in public.
T-That isn’t true! Disguising oneself as a regular citizen and blending with the crowd is the norm for an espionage ninja!
Even then, they wouldn’t expose their true identity to the public. You’re so half-baked.
When Yume cosplays, Yume turns entirely into that character. Cosplay isn’t just about wearing the outfit and nothing else.
That’s why, to Yume… Shinobu-san is just a weird person mimicking the way ninjas speak, nothing more.
Wh-Wh-Wh…Wha—…!
Alright, stop. You’ve said enough.
If you say anything further, you’re giving that coaster back, got it?
Nuh-uh. Yume already told you no takebacks. This is Yume’s now.
Sound of footsteps
H-Hey! Apologize to Sengoku fir—… He’s gone.
…………
Are you okay, Sengoku?
…Huh?
Ah, yes! I’m perfectly fine! This is not my first time being invalidated!
Alright then… But don’t worry about it too much. Yume’s always like that.
Let’s consider it a closed case and have a fresh start. We came to such a nice cafe, so we should enjoy ourselves, right?
…Mhm. I want to bring home a lot of exciting tales to my mom about today, so I will not let it bother me.
Yup, yup, that’s the spirit!
There wasn’t a fight or anything, but still, I’ll share with you a bit of my “Smiles of Reconciliation Gratin”. Maybe you’ll have more fun stories to tell your mom this way.
Then I shall also share a bit of my doria.
Excuse me, waiter! We’d like two more plates~!
The next day, in NewDi’s agency…
I apologize for keeping you waiting, Anzu-oneesama. Thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to come here.
…Yes, indeed. It is partially about a job I’d like to speak to you about, hence asking to meet in the agency, but I cannot say it’s entirely that, either.
Still, it’s a matter I’d like to confide in you, so I would be extremely happy if you would lend me your time.
…Right, yes, you can only make your decision after you’ve heard what it pertains to. Pardon me, I got ahead of myself.
Right then, allow me to explain.
There’s a banquet that all the aristocratic households take turns to host, but it’s set in a peculiar manner unlike typical buffet Parties.4
It is tradition that every year, the appointed household must plan a banquet based around a specified Theme.
This year’s Theme is “Hidden Faces”. Following the Tenshouin and Himemiya households, it is now finally the Suou Household’s turn to host the banquet.
It is our first time hosting after I had become the head of my family. This is the perfect opportunity to make my position as the new head known, as well as show the prestige of my household…
Thus, I’m determined to present the most upstanding banquet, but… I’m finding myself spinning my wheels, unable to figure out how to present the Theme of “Hidden Faces”.
That is when I hoped for your presence, Anzu-oneesama. You’re a skilled Producer who excels at drafting proposal plans, and so I would like to have some of your words of wisdom.
I will be paying you for your efforts, so may you please spare a hand for me — For the Suou Household?
Chapter 2
You’ll assist me? …Ah, I’m relieved to hear that.
Ahh, no! I trusted you would help, it isn’t that I thought otherwise…
However, you are now someone who works independently from an organization, and also, your main occupation is Producing Idols.
While I will be paying you, it is still a personal matter of mine that has nothing to do with your area of expertise. That is why I considered the possibility that you would refuse.
…Fufu, you’re right. You’re always someone who stretches their hand to me whenever I’m in trouble, Onee-sama.
Although it is a little regrettable that your kindness is not directed only towards me… At the same time, I respect you and the way you show kindness to everyone equally from the bottom of my heart.
After I became Knights’ king, I learned that such kindness can be fatal at times, however…5
In any case, I’m very happy to hear that. Thank you very much, Anzu-oneesama…♪
Mm, what’s the matter? …“I don’t have any experience with aristocracy, so I’m not sure if I’ll be much help”?
There is no need to worry about that. I don’t intend to leave all the work to you.
It would only be shameful to offload a responsibility on someone else without ever fulfilling my own as the head of the family, and it would infringe the rules of this banquet.
…You’d like to know the rules?
Ah, no, they aren’t that strict. It’s extremely loose; anything is fine as long as the Theme is utilized.
The sole absolute rule is “to not leave the entire planning to a third party.” After all, if that was allowed, there would be no point to having each household host the banquet.
That is why I would like to assemble the best banquet with you as a team, Onee-sama.
…“Producer’s Choice”? Yes, I’m aware of it. Ritsu-senpai participated in it this spring, correct?6
Hm, hm, I see…
True, my appearance as an Idol could be called a “Hidden Face” in an environment where I act as the head of a noble family of samurai lineage.
And since I am a member of Knights, performing as part of a Shuffle Unit could also be called a “Hidden Face” of mine.
However, I hesitate to launch a Producer’s Choice proposal just for the sake of a banquet. I’m not quite sure if that would be alright to do…?
I have a suggestion instead. We could host a Live Show for our Fans separate from the banquet, how does that sound?
That way, I believe the activities can be catered to the public eye, just like the other Producer’s Choice proposals.
However, a drawback to this is that planning both a banquet and a Live Show would increase the burden on you, Onee-sama…
“I’m used to it, so I’ll be fine”…? Fufu, such reassuring words.
Then let’s proceed in that direction. If there’s anything I can do for you, please don’t hesitate to tell me.
…You’re right. There are other arrangements that need to be made, such as preparing the dishes and invitation cards.
Then I’d be most glad to rely on you for the proposal’s specific details.
Yes, I very much look forward to it.
…Well, now that we’ve discussed the most important topic, we could part our ways here, but…
Could I have a little bit more of your time, Anzu-oneesama…? ♪
A little while later, in the COCHI Cafe, within ES’s premises…
Fufu. I’m very happy to have an opportunity to eat lunch with you. ♪
I will pay for the bill today, so please eat to your heart’s content.
…What’s the matter? Ah, do you feel awkward about that, by any chance?
While we will be working together under Producer’s Choice, I am also requesting you to do a job for the Suou Household on top of that, so please allow me to treat you here.
The place is quite empty. Where shall we sit? …Oh?
……♪
That’s Hanamura-kun over there. He’s eagerly looking at something in his hands…
……Ahh, I’m so sorry for going quiet. I couldn’t decide if I should greet Hanamura-kun or not.
The truth is, the agency president has personally asked me to look after Hanamura-kun until he’s grown accustomed to his environment.
It’s a senior’s duty to take care of his juniors, and I stand in a position where I must guide a multitude of people.
That is why I agreed to doing so, as I thought there would be no problems with one extra person…
But Hanamura-kun is not someone I can be on the same page with, or, well… Er, he’s a little bit of a strange one, in a different way from Leo-san and the like, no?
I thought I became accustomed to interacting with an oddball, but I’ve learned that I still have a long way to go.
I’m not entirely sure how long it will take until he “grows accustomed to his environment”, as the president said… Just thinking about it makes me a little reluctant.
Every time I witness him acting rude, I have the urge to correct his behavior, but… If I only forcibly impose on him until collapse, that would also be a problem of its own.
…You’re right. While it’s easy to simply ignore and move on, I will not fulfill my promise with the president if I keep that up.
Even the smallest interactions will eventually become the foundation to understanding Hanamura-kun. I can only hope to become more familiar with him, little by little.
Good day, Hanamura-kun. Please excuse us for taking a seat next to you.
…………
Hanamura-kun, you can hear me, right? Please don’t ignore me.
Don’t call Yume by “Hanamura”. The idol Yume goes by “Yume”.
…Ah, that’s right. My apologies, Yume-kun.
Mhm. That’s good enough, King…♪
“King”?
You’re the one who awarded Esu — the prince — his crown. So, it’s “King”, as in ousama. Fufufu.
I did not award him that. I simply thought I would forget to hand it to him in time, so I did it while I still could, that is all.
While yes, I am the king of Knights, the two of us are not from the same Unit, so please call me by a different name.
Mmrph. You’re discriminating.
It’s making a distinction. It would cause both of us trouble if people mistaken you as a member of Knights, no?
Mm… That’s true. Yume isn’t a knight.
Alright then, Knights’ leader-san.
Repeat after me… My name is Suou Tsukasa. Please call me by my name, rather than my official position.
Gosh, it’s just one complaint after the other… Tsukasa-san.
Yes, that’s perfect.
(I thought I warned him before not to call me “King”… I feel as though he’s making a fool of me.)
(No, I mustn’t think badly of him. That would simply be the same as a child who sulks the moment things don’t go his way.)
(I’m not frustrated that a problem child was pushed onto my plate. Not one bit in the slightest…!)
(Still, a box of cake is not enough to settle this for me. I must ensure that the president takes proper responsibility for the trouble I’m going through.)
(Nevertheless, now that we’re sitting at the same table, I have to bring up a topic somehow. I must show Anzu-oneesama what I am capable of, now that I’m a third year in high school.)
…Ah, what you had in your hands was a Coaster? Is that a Character from a manga?
Eh? Tsukasa-san, you’re interested? So, you see, this character is from a manga called “The Fallen Angels’ Share”—
Ten minutes later…
…The angel trainees can get promoted to angelhood if they accumulate enough virtue. But the mischievous trainees are naughty kids—
Another ten minutes later…
…That was all about volume one. And then, in volume two—
W-Wait a moment, please. You’ve made it clear enough what sort of story it is.
Mmrph, Yume hasn’t talked about it enough. Yume was just getting to the actual plot.
O-Oh… Well, I can tell you are quite emotionally attached to it, aren’t you?
Mhm. “The Fallen Angels’ Share” is a special manga to Yume.
Yume’s home is very strict, so Yume could never ask to buy manga.
That was when Yume found this manga in a library. Nobody would read it because it’s so old, so Yume would read it over and over again.
Yume couldn’t take it back home, so Yume would visit the library many times… and read the manga over and over and over again, to the point of memorizing all the dialogue.
The story has already concluded, so there’s no excitement over waiting to see how it ends, and it’s a shame that there’s no new story progression like the current trending manga, either.
The story ended before Yume was even born, so Yume has always felt lonely for missing out on the excitement.
But then reprint editions were being sold again, and a new event started for this manga after many decades…
So lately, Yume has been visiting the cafe that’s having a commemoration collab. These coasters are part of the collab…♪
Yume got most of these through Yume’s own efforts, but Yume got this coaster from Mashiro-san.
Mashiro-san… Do you mean Mashiro Tomoya-kun from Ra*bits?
Mhm. He came to the cafe with Shinobu-san. He won the coaster that Yume still didn’t have, so when Yume told him Yume wanted it, we made an exchange.
I see… I’m a little surprised.
I thought you had no interest in other people, but it seems that doesn’t mean you’ve been avoiding people all together.
Yume would honestly much rather be immersed in Yume’s own world, surrounded only by things Yume loves.
But Yume lives in reality, not within a fairytale. Yume will only die without food or water, and if Yume doesn’t tidy up Yume’s appearance, Yume will only become ugly over time.
So, Yume has to do this in order to survive. Even though communication with others is something Yume really, really can’t stand, and finds unpleasant.
There’s limits to being alone, and Yume won’t be able to be by Esu’s side otherwise, so Yume is doing Yume’s best. Yume is admirable.
Hah… Is that so.
Mmrph. You barely reacted to that, Tsukasa-san. How can you protect Yume as a knight when you’re like that?
I am not a knight exclusive to only you, though.
But the president asked you to look after Yume, didn’t he? Then Yume won’t take anything but the words that Yume wants to hear.
That’s just a servant at that point… Good grief, you truly are something…
…Mm? What’s the matter, Anzu-oneesama? “I just got a great idea”…?
Chapter 3
Several days later. In the meeting room of the ES building…
Please excuse me, nin-nin~!
Anzu-dono, I am grateful for you calling me for this occasion!
I am greatly indebted to you, and so if you request it, then whether it’s through flame or tide! With my specialty, ninjutsu, I—
…Eep!?
Woah, Sengoku. What’s up, why’d you hide behind my back? You won’t come in?
M-Mashiro-kun! There’s trouble…!
I thought Anzu-dono would be here, but it’s actually an entirely different person…!
Entirely different person…?
…………
Yume? Since you’re here, I assume Anzu-san called you over, too?
I thought the idols who’ll participate in P-Choice would be from familiar units, so I didn’t expect someone from Esupuri chosen.
Then again, you’re now a unit that’s part of an ES agency, so I guess it’s not all that strange, huh?
…………
Heeey~? Yume, you listening~?
…Mmrph. Yume noticed you just fine, you don’t have to wave your hand in front of Yume.
Then respond back. Let’s have an actual conversation; won’t it be weird if I’m the only one talking here?
Yume refuses. Yume didn’t come here to make small talk.
Erm… I presume you’re here to participate in P-Choice?
Exactly. Yume is the center of this project. Fufufufu.
The center? So that will be you, Yume-kun…?
—Please excuse me. I see everyone is here.
Suou-kun! And Anzu-dono!
That means everyone who’s meant to come is here now, right?
I heard a bit from Hajime about P-Choice, and gave a brief explanation to Sengoku.6
I just said it to Yume a second ago, but I really didn’t expect Esupuri to be involved, too.
Yes, if I’m to be honest, I was also surprised. But after I heard Onee-sama’s thought process, it made more sense to me.
You see, this Producer’s Choice will also involve a banquet program that the Suou Household will be hosting.
The Theme of the banquet is “Hidden Faces”. I am an aristocrat, so if I were to host the banquet as an Idol, it would bring about surprises to most of the guests.
However, Tenshouin Onii-sama and Tori-kun will be visiting, as well. To those two, all of us here would not be a new spectacle.
That is where we considered adopting Yume-kun’s Ideas, as he is a new Idol. That way, we could take them by surprise.
Ohh, I see. So that’s what he meant by “the center of the project”.
It makes more sense now, but I’m surprised Yume agreed to this. I thought he’d turn it down, saying he’s not interested.
Fufufu. Banquets tend to appear in all sorts of fairytales. It’s a sparkly, dream-like place to be.
It’s where the prince meets the princess for the first time, and where miracles happen.
Of course Yume would be invited to such a wonderful place. There’s no more suitable person than Yume.
Plus, Anzu-san said she wants to adopt some elements of Yume’s favorite manga. That’s another reason why Yume accepted the project.
Ufufu. When it’s just Yume alone, it takes all of Yume’s efforts just to collect merchandise, but… By relying on adults’ power, Yume should be able to accomplish so much more.
The outfits will be reproduced faithfully to the manga. Each character’s outfit is a little different from the other, so the details have to be perfectly crafted.
As for the stage, it has to be the lodging that the protagonists live in. The big bell that acts as the symbol of the story absolutely must be there, too.
And for the lyrics, their dialogue has to be added. “Show us that you’re prepared to fall into darkness!” is a famous, indispensable quote…♪ And for the interlude—
Stop! You’ve told us enough. Thank you very much for all your thoughts the other day.
However… Anzu-oneesama and I reviewed the project with all your requests in mind…
But we reached the conclusion that it will be difficult to directly mix in the original story with the project. I truly feel sorry about this, but…
Eh…? How come?
The schedule of the banquet has already been decided, and there’s simply not enough time to negotiate with the publisher.
However, you took the time to list us many requests, and I’d rather not disregard them, so… we will be adopting several aspects of the story as much as possible, and implement them as a Motif.
For example, for the accessories of the outfits and the stage props, we plan to implement elements that are associated with the story, in a subtle manner.
Of course, it will be reproduced in a way that does not infringe on its copyright, so it cannot be exactly the same sort of elements you would see in the original story…
But I hope you can compromise with us through this sort of layout.
Why? It’s impossible for Yume to compromise. Yume refuses to accept that, no matter what.
It doesn’t matter if you use a nice-sounding word like “motif”, it still won’t be able to act as a substitute for the real thing.
Yume doesn’t want to treat what Yume loves in such a half-hearted manner.
“There’s not enough time” is nothing but an excuse. Isn’t it a producer’s job to do something about that, a professional’s job?
…Yume didn’t think it’d turn out to be like this. And Yume was so happy to get involved in the manga Yume dearly loves, too… This is just so, so unfortunate.
You ask for Yume’s assistance, but then don’t even grant Yume’s wish. Choosing Yume for P-Choice was just for your own convenience in the end.
Yume is disappointed in you, Anzu-san.
Look, Yume-kun—
…That’s enough!
Eep!
Yume-kun, if you say anything further, even I will not be able to tolerate it any longer!
Both Anzu-dono and Suou-kun are doing their absolute best to make your wishes come true, within the limitations that they have! And you…!
Anzu-dono is someone who matters a lot to me! You don’t even know her at all, so stop talking like that right this instant!
Eh? Uu…?
Um, Shinobu-kun…?
……!
E-Erm… I, um…
U-Uu…
Woah—! What’s wrong, why’re you suddenly clinging to me, Yume?
Sniff, sniff… Uu~…
Wh— He’s crying!? Ahh, don’t wipe your tears on my clothes!
Ermm… I’ll calm Yume down with Anzu-san, so! I’m counting on you for the rest, Suou!
…Eh? …Eh?
Chapter 4
In the afternoon of the same day. In Seisoukan Dormitory’s tea room…
…………
…Ahh, so you were here.
I was looking for you, Shinobu-kun.
Suou-kun… How did you know I was here?
I did a thorough search for you. Though I could have simply Messaged you on my Smartphone, I worried that might be too overbearing.
And if I relied on the members of Ryuseitai, it might have turned into a commotion that something bad had happened. So I tried searching for you on foot.
It was the right choice to quickly switch to looking for you in Seisoukan Dormitory. If I didn’t consider that fast enough, I would have still been searching for you in ES.
Uuu, doing that much for me… I feel awful.
I am the one who decided to do that, so please don’t worry about it. I’m glad I found you without any problems.
…This tea room is quite relaxing, isn’t it? Only a limited number of people use it, so there’s rarely a time when you come across someone else here.
When I want to spend the time alone in silence, I come to make tea in this room.
And I, as well. I come here occasionally when I would like to mentally focus.
The fragrance of the tatami mats and the space filled with silence brings peace to my mind.
Not to mention, when I imagine how all the ninjas I admire might have also trained their mind in a place like this, my mood lightens up on its own…♪
I see. Being reminded of ninjas in the tea room is quite fascinating.
Your name has the character for ninja as well, Shinobu-kun7 — Could it be that you come from a family of ninjas?
Not at all, I come from a normal family. Then again, there are so many types of people in ES, so I no longer really know what is “normal” now…
But it is a complete coincidence that my name is “Shinobu”. However, if you ask me now, I feel as though that was fate in itself.
I grew interested in ninjas through a TV period drama I watched when I was young.
My jaw dropped at the sight of the people who were called “Shinobi” in the drama8 — they would blend within the darkness and magnificently accomplish their missions.
As I watched at the edge of my seat, the Shinobi leader suddenly called my name, “Shinobu”!
I still remember the heavy beating of my heart then.
When I rewatched the episode, I found out that the newcomer ninja’s name was “Shinobu”, so it wasn’t actually me who was called…
But nonetheless, hearing the same name as myself made me naturally feel a sense of closeness, and I grew interested. I became absorbed into ninjas after that.
And now, I could not even imagine myself as someone who isn’t a ninja…♪
That’s true. Ninjas and Shinobu-kun are a relationship that could never be severed.
Indeed. …That was why, when Yume-kun invalidated me, I felt very awful inside.
Invalidated…? By Yume-kun?
Yes… From Yume-kun’s standpoint, I looked half-baked… just a weird person who’s simply mimicking how ninjas speak.
Ever since that encounter, Yume-kun has felt like someone I can’t handle…
When I found out we’d be in the same unit under P-Choice, I was not sure what I’d do…
I tried to encourage myself all the same, that I’ll do my best now that I’ve been chosen… However—
When I saw him criticize even Anzu-dono without any hesitation, and not simply only me, I just couldn’t hold it in anymore… and I got emotional.
I have never yelled like that before, so it surprised me as well… I could no longer find the words to speak.
Now, not only did I worsen the atmosphere, but I even caused us all to start the briefing from scratch… I acted so carelessly.
Please don’t worry so much about it. The atmosphere of the place was looking sour even before that.
Yume-kun’s statements tend to be intolerable, so I believe it was only a matter of time until he got yelled at by someone.
…However, after hearing what had happened, I do not want to let this pass through only that.
You do not want to let it pass…?
Yes. I had no clue that Yume-kun said such horrible things to you, Shinobu-kun.
Showing no respect to an Idol senior’s individuality, belittling the Producer’s efforts… I can’t imagine him capable of surviving this world with such behavior.
Yume-kun will need a beating for this.
B-Beating!? That doesn’t sound like you at all to say, Suou-kun! And I don’t wish for that, anyway!
Shinobu-kun. Oukawa would say this often as well, but there are times when it’s necessary to harden our heart to make a tough decision.
He is a junior at my agency, and I have been watching over him because the president had asked me to look after him… But now that it’s turned out this way, there is no longer any need to hold back.
If he doesn’t get it, then I will simply have to educate him until he does.
N-No, you mustn’t! Peace is always number one!
I know this might sound over-idealistic, but my ideal is for everyone to accept one another even if they don’t understand each other, and live a comfortable life without feeling suffocated…!
That is what Ryuseitai is to me… and also, it is because I was living comfortably for so long that being invalidated caught me by surprise, since it was the first time in a long while.
I simply just, um… Uu…
I cannot put it in words well, but my point is, please cease from doing anything violent~!
Hm… Educating someone isn’t limited to violence only, though?
That being said, on behalf of your good will, I will proceed in a way that doesn’t involve any personal feelings as much as possible.
“As much as possible”~…?
Yes. Spoiling children like that only turns them haughty, after all. Just like Tori-kun.
But I think Tori-kun is quite remarkable lately, you know? Although, to you, Tori-kun must be a rival for eternity.
It reminds me of the Iga-ryuu and Kouga-ryuu of ninjas.9 It fires me up in a way~♪
Absolutely not. Tori-kun still has a long way to go from my perspective.
Let’s be sure to catch him by surprise through this banquet. Ahh, I cannot wait to see that kid’s surprised face…♪
Chapter 5
Meanwhile, at the shopping mall…
…………
Look, Yume, this frilly hat would suit you, don’t you think? Try it on.
…(Obediently wears it)
Mhm. It totally looks good on you.
This hairband looks neat too. Don’t you like stuff like this?
…The big ribbon is cute, but it isn’t really a design Yume likes.
Don’t just make random assumptions… okay.
…………
You aren’t getting angry at Yume, are you? Even though Shinobu-san got so angry at Yume.
Mm~ Well, I do wish you’d choose your words more wisely.
But you were also taking it seriously, and that’s what made you want to throw in a few complaints, right?
…Mhm. It felt like the things Yume loves were being looked down on, as if saying, “who cares, this is good enough”.
Suou isn’t that sort of guy, y’know. Neither is Anzu-san. I assure you, they wouldn’t treat something you’re so passionate about in such a careless way.
It’s just that there’s only so much a person can do, you feel me? You wouldn’t want to cause trouble to the manga publisher by asking for something unreasonable, would you?
Trust them a little, ‘kay? I’m sure they’ll do their best to find a way to satisfy you within the limitations.
…………
…Yume spoke too selfishly.
That’s something you should say to Sengoku and Anzu-san, not me, okay? You can do it after you feel a lot calmer.
…Why did you invite Yume to go shopping, Mashiro-san?
Well, I didn’t think it’d be right to leave you on your own, and well… We’re part of the same unit under “P-Choice”, so.
My little sister tends to be like this, but — Whenever she’s feeling down, I have her go shopping to clear her mind and it cheers her right back up.
Even walking around is enough to clear someone’s mind, and a mall has tons of places for kids to have fun, like the food court and arcade, right?
Even when she doesn’t apologize in an honest manner, the situation winds down and we make up before we know it.
And? That’s what would work on your little sister. You’re wrong to consider Yume as the same. You have the wrong interpretation.
Well, doesn’t matter either way. C’mon, I’m gonna be the one to carry all your shopping bags, so go ahead and buy whatever you like.
You’re so naive to think you can make Yume feel better with that.
But if that’s how it’s going to be, then okay. Yume will have you around until Yume’s satisfied.
Er, just make sure to have it at a reasonable amount, alright?
Mm? I see someone walking over here…
Oh, it’s Mashiro-kun and Anzu-san.
…And Hanamu—… Yume-kun? Was it?
Ah, Midori-sama.
Huh? I get Anzu-san, but why’s Mashiro-kun here? How do you know Yume-kun…?
“Midori-sama”? I could say the same back to you, Takamine — How do you know Yume?
Eh, me…? I just got a little involved while at the same job.10 He’s just a stranger to me, nothing more, nothing less.
Getting called by “-sama” through just a “little” talking is pretty special, though? I mean, he kept calling me “Ra*bits’ leader” for a good while.
I don’t know what to say to that. I didn’t understand the reason even when I asked for one… Just ask Yume-kun directly.
Ahh, true. Yume, why do you call Takamine by “Midori-sama”?
Yume happened to see him in a magazine, and thought he looked like a prince — an oujisama. So, he’s Midori-sama.
A prince? …Takamine, as one?
…Staring at me won’t make you notice anything. I’m really just a huge gloomy guy.
Mm~ Takamine, a prince…
To me, the prince would be Hokuto-senpai, but… I guess everyone has their own image of what a prince is, huh?
But man, I had no clue Yume’s prince was Takamine.
Don’t get the wrong idea, okay? Yume’s prince is one single person only. Midori-sama isn’t Yume’s prince.
Huh, he isn’t?
Mashiro-kun’s confused… Whew, I’m glad I’m not the only one who can’t make sense of the Princess-nese language.
We reached one of Yume’s favorite stores. Yume will look around with Anzu-san, so the two of you wait here, okay?
Huh, me too? ……He’s already gone. I’m only here to buy manga, though…
Sorry, Takamine. I don’t mind if it’s only until the two come back, so could you stick around for a while?
Ehhh~… Why’re you with Yume-kun, anyway? You don’t seem all that close…?
Right, so about that…
A few minutes later…
—And that’s the gist of it.
Huh, so that’s what happened.
I can’t imagine Shinobu-kun yelling, but if you of all people say so, then it must have really happened.
Yeah… I’m worried that he’s feeling down, but Suou’s with him right now, so it should be fine. As for Yume—
…I don’t really get Yume much. He was completely quiet up until a second ago, and only now got his mood back.
Hey, Takamine, can I ask? What sort of kid is Yume?
I have no clue. I guess it’s like, he’s a kid who’s making his own world…?
Maybe all the kids of this generation are like that, though.
“This generation”…?
Anyway, I’m amazed you can hold up looking after him. I could never. I don’t want to be with him during off hours…
Haha. In your case, you’re like that with just about anyone, Takamine.
Well, to be honest, I have my own reservations… But now that all that happened, I’m hoping he apologizes to Sengoku after all this, even if it’s only after he’s calmed down.
But strangely enough, I don’t feel tired at all, and it’s probably all thanks to my little sister and Mitsuru. I think I’ve grown used to this sort of thing after taking care of them for so long.
Ahh, so you have a little sister… That’s why you have such a reliable Onii-chan aura, huh?
Onii-chan aura? I have something like that…?
Yeah. At the very least, way more than I could ever have.
It always felt like whenever there was a problem at school, talking to you about it was enough to solve things.
You don’t get annoyed when people talk to you, and you don’t give off the air of someone hard to get close to, so it’s always been a big help to me.
Then again, it’s probably overbearing from your point of view…
Not at all, actually. It’d only make me feel stressed if I ignored anyone in trouble.
I’d rather help the person out, even if I might end up looking like I’m meddling.
Wow, really? It’s because you’re that sort of person that Yume-kun’s also relaxed, I think. More than when he was with me, at least.
—Yume’s back. Let’s go to that store next.
You just got back, but you already want to go someplace else?
Time is limited. Many wonderful things are waiting for Yume’s arrival, so come on, start escorting Yume.
Ermm… Does this mean I still have to tag along, too…?
Of course. The princess is always accompanied by servants.
No, no, I’m not a servant, okay…?
Chapter 6
Same day, at night. In Seisoukan Dormitory’s tea room…
P-Please excuse mee~…
Fufu, you entered the room so quietly, like a cat.
We are the only ones here, so please do Relax.
Ahaha… I barely ever come to places like this, so I get nervous. I’m not used to sitting in seiza position, either… Right, (sits down)
Ahem! I had a feeling you would say that, and prepared the finest selection of snacks, all for the sake of easing your nerves!
Tadaah~ Animal sweets…☆
Ohh! Thanks, Sengoku, I really appreciate you going through the effort.
They’re so cute, it’s almost a waste to eat them~ Hajime would totally be happy if he saw these.
Then what say I brew matcha tea to perfectly match our confectionery?
You guys are so thorough~ I’m not even a guest or anything.
Wait, you’ll seriously make some tea?
Yes. The tools to brew it are stored here, so how about we take this opportunity to have some? Of course, if it isn’t your cup of tea, I won’t force you.
I eat matcha-flavored sweets sometimes, so I’m fine with its taste, but… I haven’t ever had actual matcha tea before.
The authentic one has all that stuff you gotta do, right? Like passing around the utensil and then saying a certain phrase?
Indeed, there is a certain etiquette to tea ceremonies, and it might feel like a hurdle for those unfamiliar with it.
However, you don’t have to worry about anything for today; please just take it easy and enjoy yourself. The same with your posture; you’re free to sit however most comfortable to you.
Really? Then I’ll take up your offer and sit cross-legged instead.
I only sat in seiza for a little while, but my legs feel numb already. Ow, ow…
Are you alright, Mashiro-kun?
I’m fine. I’m not injured or anything, and the numbness will go away eventually.
More importantly, we should have our discussion, right? That’s why we’re all here.
Indeed. Sitting together in a place like this feels like we’re having a confidential talk.
Yes. This quiet, shut-off space acts as the optimal place to have a discussion. And in fact, the tea room has a history of being used for confidential talk.
In any case, thank you for your hard work today, Mashiro-kun. While you were out with Yume-kun, did anything of note happen?
Mm~ I can’t think of anything. Yume was acting the same as always…
If I had to mention something, I guess it’s that Takamine joined us midway in.
Takamine-kun did? Why is that?
We happened to come across each other in the shopping mall. Then he got caught up in Yume’s whims, and joined us for a while.
I was fine with going along with Yume ‘cause I’m used to this sort of thing, but he looked really worn out afterwards, so I might bring over some of these animal sweets to him.
Mhm. I will also give him my thanks afterwards.
…By the way, Mashiro-kun. Did Yume-kun mention anything about me?
Nah, nothing… Like I said, it felt like he was the same as usual.
I’m honestly surprised, actually. I thought he’d complain to no end.
I see… So that may truly be the usual state for him after all.
It still doesn’t mean that sorta attitude should get a pass, though.
Shuffle units may be a temporary collaborative thing, but it’d be way better if we could do our work in a pleasant way, and it only brings us trouble if the atmosphere is soured.
What about you, Sengoku? Do you think you can manage through this?
Mhm. There is no need to worry, I plan to accomplish our task until the very end.
…For the longest time, I was all by my lonesome. With no one to understand my interests, I would always shut myself in my very own world.
Even if I were to step outside for even a moment, there wouldn’t be anyone who could understand me. That was my reality then.
But after I joined Yumenosaki Academy, I was able to make companions — to find a place of belonging for myself.
However… That was not because society had completely accepted me for who I am.
I came to realize once more that there are still people in this world who think I am a ‘weirdo’.
But still, even then… I will no longer shut myself inside.
I have grown stronger now. I now know that it’s completely fine for me to say that I love what I love. That is why I will not lose heart over this.
While I unfortunately yelled at him, I do still wish to make this a P-Choice that even Yume-kun will think was worth being part of.
I see… You’re so strong, Sengoku.
No, no! Not at all. This is simply because I managed to collect my thoughts as I spoke with Suou-kun.
I am still but a novice, inexperienced ninja.
Fufu. If that’s how it is right now, then I’m looking forward to seeing how you will be in the future.
…This is only between the three of us, but — The truth is, I had warned Anzu-oneesama beforehand about this.
I told her, “it will be difficult to ask Yume-kun to cooperate with us, and I doubt the typical methods will do.”
But Onee-sama still chose the three of us and Yume-kun, so it must mean that she trusts that things will be alright in our hands.
If she is expecting that from us, then I want to make sure I meet those expectations. And most of all…
This is a little bit of my personal interest, but — I believe that a newcomer Unit, including Yume-kun, will act as a great tactic to gain prominence in the distant future, due to its freshness.
If we can build a proper relationship with the unit members, most especially a peculiar one like Yume-kun, our recognition will naturally rise.
Of course, I don’t intend to spoil him for even a single moment. But it is by confronting this matter with sincerity that we, too, can grow further.
Indeed. Plus, there might come other opportunities to work together in the future.
And also, for the sake of completing this job in a satisfactory manner, I would like to understand Yume-kun more.
Let’s see… What do you think of establishing a place to mingle, outside of briefings and Lessons?
Ohh, that’s a spectacular idea~♪
Where shall we go? An amusement park, perhaps?
Amusement park, huh… Nah, you need a lot of stamina when accompanying that kid, y’know?
It’ll be bad news if he strays off and gets lost. I think we should avoid spacious areas in general.
You’re right about that. Mmm~…
Hmm… This is simply a suggestion, but…
How does my home sound? It is quiet there, and we wouldn’t have to worry about anyone getting lost.
The security is flawless as well, so we should be able to spend the time with peace of mind…♪
Note: This translation is currently in progress!
Translation Notes
- ↑ Tomoya and Yume have met before in Yume’s 5* Feature Scout.
- ↑ These are all typical speech quirks that the ninja archetype uses in fictional stories. “Sessha” is the first-person pronoun, “(de)gozaru” is the typical sentence-ender they use (roughly sounds like an old-fashioned, polite way to speak), and “-dono” is a polite honorific, meaning "Mr.", "lord". Shinobu uses these in Japanese, and sometimes mixes in ninja-like words in his speech as well.
- ↑ This is referring to an old subset of male otakus. Their way of speaking involved using -degozaru at the end of their sentences, saying “[character name] wa sessha no yome!” ([character name]’s my wife!), and laughing in a distinctively creepy way, ‘dyufufu’.
- ↑ Tsukasa can speak English fluently, so instead of saying foreign words in their typical spelling (katakana), he says them in English. The words in italics are all the words he says in English rather than Japanese.
- ↑ Referring to the events in Gambit.
- ↑ Referring to the shuffle unit from EVIL Telephone. Ritsu and Hajime were in the shuffle unit together.
- ↑ Shinobu’s name, 忍, is the same kanji found in ninja (忍者).
- ↑ Shinobi is 忍び in Japanese, another term for ninjas.
- ↑ These are ninja traditions from two different regions. ryuu here means “school”, as in Iga School (of ninja), Koga School (of ninja).
- ↑ Yume and Midori met for the first time in Yume’s Idol Story 2, before Yume debuted in Esupuri.