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b1xi · 10 days ago

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───𝘊𝘜𝘗𝘐𝘋───ハイキュー!!

Haikyuu(ハイキュー!!)x fem!reader

Word count: 4919

𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩

Hinata’s eyes sparkled as he looked around the residence where the team would be staying before the match. “Oh, is this where we’ll be staying?” he asked, his voice brimming with excitement as he inspected every corner of the place. “It’s my first training camp! This is going to be so much fun.”

Off to the side, Tsukishima crossed his arms and sighed, looking at Hinata with a mix of exasperation and disdain. “Oh, great. A whole day surrounded by this bunch of airheads… what’s so fun about that?” You couldn’t help but roll your eyes at his usual sarcastic attitude.

“Tsukishima, you idiot!” Tanaka exclaimed, stepping forward.

Nishinoya backed him up with equal energy. “Kiyoko’s less than 500 meters away! How can you be so insensitive?” His expression was pure drama, as if the distance from Kiyoko physically pained him.

You shook your head with a smile, already used to the boys’ antics. Without wasting any more time, you headed to the room assigned to you. Sliding the door open, you were surprised by the spacious interior; it seemed ready to accommodate several people. While you would have enjoyed sharing it with someone like Kiyoko, you knew the young manager would head home since she lived nearby.

With a sigh of relief, you dropped your bag on the floor and started checking if you had everything you needed for the night. Pajamas? Check. Toothbrush and personal care kit? Check. Clean clothes and skincare products? Check. Satisfied that you had packed all the essentials for a peaceful night, you prepared for what would be a solo sleepover.

You got up, ready for dinner. Spotting Hinata and Kageyama sitting together, you decided to join them, though you quickly realized it wasn’t the best choice: both were devouring their food as if it were their first and last meal. Between smiles and incredulous glances, you carefully guarded your plate, mindful of your teammates' voracious appetites.

Even though you had been in Japan for years, you were still selective about some local dishes. Still, you ventured to take a generous spoonful of curry, offering a polite “Itadakimasu” before starting.

It wasn’t long before Hinata, with a hopeful look, pointed at the pieces of kakuni on your plate. “Y/N, are you going to eat that?” he asked, his eyes shining with a mix of enthusiasm and longing.

Smiling, you slid your plate toward him. “No, Shoyo-kun, go ahead.”

“Thanks, Y/N! You’re the best,” he said enthusiastically, savoring the kakuni you had shared.

Midway through the meal, Nishinoya leaned closer to both of you, a spark of curiosity in his eyes. “Hey, I’ve always wondered something, and if I don’t ask now, I think I’ll lose my mind.” He paused dramatically, capturing everyone’s attention. “Are you two dating or something? I mean, you’re always together... like, all the time.”

Both you and Hinata froze for a moment, exchanging a surprised glance before responding in unison: “Not at all!”

Shoyo laughed, throwing an arm around your shoulders playfully. “We’re best friends,” he explained with a carefree grin. “To me, Y/N is like a sister.”

“And to me, Shoyo is like a little brother,” you added, returning his smile. The familiarity and camaraderie in your words made the boys around you laugh, settling the matter.

“Little brother? Why little? We’re the same age!” Hinata protested, frowning comically while the others struggled to hide their smiles.

“Because I’m taller than you, obviously,” you replied with a triumphant grin, crossing your arms to emphasize your point.

Hinata looked at you with a defiant expression, stretching as much as he could in his seat. "Only by a couple of centimeters," he muttered, though his voice betrayed a hint of frustration, which made the boys laugh even harder.

"A couple? I’d say it’s more than that," you replied with an amused smile, raising your hand to emphasize the difference. "Come on, why don’t you try saying ‘big sister’?”

“I’m not saying that,” Hinata protested, frowning and looking away, crossing his arms in a show of stubbornness.

After dinner and a refreshing shower, you slipped into your comfy green Pochacco pajamas and started your nightly skincare routine, following the tips your mom had given you. Sitting on the floor, you opened one of the face masks you had brought, opting for the strawberry one this time. Taking out the small spatula that came with the package, you began carefully applying it to your face.

You hadn’t gotten far when the door burst open. “Excuse me!” Hinata exclaimed as he walked in like it was his own room, closely followed by Nishinoya. Without a second thought, they settled down next to you.

“What are you doing?” Hinata asked, his curiosity evident.

“Just relaxing a bit,” you replied, holding a small mirror as you applied the mask to your face. Then, with an amused smile, you offered, “Want to try?”

“Why not?” the redhead agreed, amused, as he pushed his messy bangs back with a couple of hair clips.

“I want to try too!” Nishinoya chimed in enthusiastically. Before you knew it, what had started as a solo routine turned into an impromptu group spa session. Tanaka and Asahi joined in on the fun, intrigued by the idea of trying the masks. Now, holding the lemon mask in your hand, you were carefully applying it to Asahi’s face as he shared, with a touch of guilt, how he had accidentally scared a first-year student earlier that day and how bad he felt about it.

Meanwhile, Hinata, Tanaka, and Nishinoya had moved to the other side of the room, apparently focused on your PSP, trying to beat the level you had left unfinished. You could hear their murmurs and exclamations every time one of them made a mistake in the game.

Tsukishima and Yamaguchi were walking down the hall after their showers. Tsukishima, with his usual air of indifference, wiped the steam off his glasses, adjusting them slightly in an attempt to restore a clear view. When they passed by your room and saw the door slightly ajar, with murmurs and laughter spilling into the hallway, both stopped, intrigued.

“What the hell…?” Tsukishima whispered, glancing inside with a mix of surprise and exasperation at the scene unfolding. From the doorway, they could see Hinata, Tanaka, and Nishinoya engrossed in your PSP in one corner, while you sat on the floor, carefully applying a lemon mask to Asahi’s face, who looked more relaxed than either of them had ever seen him.

Noticing their presence, you gestured for them to come in. “Tsukishima, Yamaguchi! Want to try?” you asked with an amused smile as you finished applying the mask on Asahi.

Before Tsukishima could respond with his usual sarcasm, Yamaguchi had already stepped forward. “Sure,” he replied enthusiastically, moving to where you were. With complete confidence, he settled on the floor and rested his head on your lap, relaxed and ready to be pampered. He chose the strawberry mask, and you began applying it to his face with gentle movements, enjoying the calm of the moment.

Tsukishima let out a barely audible murmur. “Traitor…” he said under his breath, though his words lacked their usual bite. Without much else, he moved closer and sat beside you, crossing his arms and giving you a look of patient resignation, as if waiting for you to finish.

“This is so relaxing,” Yamaguchi commented, enjoying the soft strawberry scent of the mask on his face. When you finished, he sat up and joined the others, who were still struggling to beat the video game level, fully immersed in the challenge.

With an amused smile, you turned to Tsukishima, showing him the remaining mask options. “Alright, which one do you want?” you asked, holding up the two for him to see.

He simply shrugged. Without much hesitation, you picked the lemon one. “Then it’ll be this one,” you said decisively, opening the container.

Without a word, Tsukishima shifted slightly and rested his head on your lap. “Make it quick. This is ridiculous,” he muttered with his typical indifference. But deep down, you knew that if he were really uncomfortable, he wouldn’t have agreed so easily. As you began applying the mask, you felt his hair, still damp from the shower, slightly soaking your clothes.

When your hands brushed his face to remove his glasses, Tsukishima tensed for just a moment—almost imperceptibly. To anyone else, his posture would still seem indifferent, but in that moment, he was grappling with thoughts he would never allow to surface. Ever since the day he met you, something about you had unsettled him in a way he couldn’t quite decipher. He remembered that second encounter—when you accidentally hit him in the face with a ball—and how it made him see you differently. And when you approached to check if he was okay, cheeks flushed and voice filled with apologies, he had been intrigued. He couldn’t explain what caught his attention; maybe it was your unusual accent when you spoke Japanese or the spontaneous expressions in your native language that you let slip into conversations. There was something genuine and refreshing about it.

But perhaps what surprised him most was how wholeheartedly you threw yourself into supporting them. Despite their chaotic practices, mistakes, and failures, there you were, cheering them on with fervor. Shouting words of encouragement that sometimes seemed almost ridiculous but somehow managed to energize and uplift them. And, though he’d never admit it out loud, there was something charming about your jokes—those corny ones you told when you sat next to him, not caring if they weren’t funny, simply enjoying the moment.

There was also the way your intelligence caught him off guard, like when you helped Hinata with his homework during breaks. He couldn’t deny that he saw you differently, in a way that clashed with his usual attitude.

It was the little things, the unconscious details that made you stand out. The way you furrowed your brow when something didn’t sit right with you or when you didn’t understand something—a look that became even more evident when you reviewed sheet music in the gym during breaks. Often, he watched you from afar, observing in silence. Your presence seemed to have its own rhythm; you always smelled nice, dressed gracefully, and to him, you looked more than good. However, whenever he started thinking about all of this, his mind would quickly rein itself in, reminding him that he shouldn’t think of you that way—especially in a moment like this.

Suddenly, the snap of fingers in front of his face pulled him out of his trance. “Earth to Tsukki,” he heard your voice, clear and amused. He opened his eyes and saw you raising an eyebrow, his glasses perched on your face, making you look funny. His gaze met yours, and for a brief instant, he couldn’t help but smile—if only on the inside.

"Man, you’re really blind," you said playfully, noticing how strong the lenses were.

Tsukishima looked at you with a mix of frustration and resignation, quickly extending his hand to try to grab his glasses back. "Give me that," he said seriously, but you, quick as ever, moved away before he could reach them. He was lucky the mask covered the slight blush on his cheeks, which didn’t escape your notice.

"'Give me that,'" you mimicked, copying his tone and posture, which only made him huff in annoyance.

"I don’t sound like that," he complained, still trying to retrieve his glasses, but you moved deftly to keep them out of his reach, enjoying the slight discomfort you seemed to cause him. Tsukishima’s nearsightedness didn’t help him much in this situation, and when he tried to distract you by smearing a bit of the mask onto the bridge of your nose, you paused to clean it off. He took advantage of the moment, grabbing his glasses back with a small victorious smirk.

"How annoying," you muttered, rubbing your nose to remove the excess cream, only to hear a triumphant cheer from the other side of the room.

"We did it!" Hinata and Yamaguchi shouted in unison, celebrating as they finally cleared the level you’d been stuck on. Their excitement filled the room, and Tsukishima, clearly irritated by the noise, let out an exasperated sigh.

"So loud," he commented, his tone as sharp as always.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and Daichi appeared, looking surprised and slightly annoyed. "Hey, it’s late! What are you all still doing up?" he said firmly. Taking in the scene before him, he frowned in disbelief. "What… what is this? Go wash that stuff off your faces and get to bed. Now."

With a collective sigh, everyone began getting up and reluctantly leaving the room, some grumbling about the captain’s order while others simply muttered their goodnights, resigned to Daichi’s reprimand.

You grumbled softly under your breath as you walked at a slow pace, trailing far behind the group of boys. "Damn… This is what I get for showing up early," you muttered, casting a frustrated glance at the figures running ahead. Ukai’s training sessions were notorious for being grueling, but you’d never thought you’d find yourself caught up in one.

"Come with us, you never exercise, not even in PE," the redhead had said with that boundless energy of his that sometimes got on your nerves. Stupid carrot head, you thought with a mix of irritation and resignation.

Unlike the rest, who were already running at a steady pace, you chose not to rush. Instead of trying to keep up, you preferred to stroll leisurely, enjoying the cool morning air and the quiet streets stretching out before you.

"Hinata, don’t yell for no reason; you’re just going to tire yourself out faster," Daichi warned, his tone firm but patient. Hinata, however, ignored the advice, picking up his pace to try and overtake Kageyama.

"Hey, where are you going?" Daichi exclaimed again as the redhead suddenly veered off course with all his impulsiveness.

You sighed at the commotion, finally catching up to the group, who had stopped by the side of the road for a break. Despite the curious glances sent your way, you didn’t stop. You simply kept walking with the same calm as before, unwavering in your stride.

"Wait, where are you going now?" Daichi asked, raising an eyebrow at your indifference to the team’s pause.

"To find him," you replied without slowing down, adjusting your high ponytail and brushing away the strands of hair that had begun sticking to the back of your neck from the heat. "Let’s just get this over with. It’s too hot to drag this out any longer."

You continued walking, your pace steady and determined. As you turned a corner, your gaze landed on Shoyo, who seemed engrossed in an animated conversation with another boy.

"Shoyo!" you called firmly as you approached. He quickly turned at the sound of your voice, an innocent smile lighting up his face. However, your attention soon shifted to the young man standing beside him.

He was dressed in a red tracksuit, probably his school uniform, and though his posture was relaxed, there was something in his gaze that unsettled you. His sharp, feline eyes rested on you for a moment, calmly analyzing before returning to the phone in his hands. He was reserved, that much was clear, but there was something intriguing about his demeanor. For a moment, he reminded you of Nayuta, though with a more masculine version of her serene expression—except for the blonde hair that set him apart.

"Oh, there you are!" Shoyo exclaimed, interrupting your thoughts with his usual energy, bouncing toward you like he was celebrating a victory. "This is Kozume Kenma; he’s a second-year in high school and, well… he’s lost," he explained, casually pointing at the blonde boy.

"I-I’m Y/N Y/LN," you introduced yourself, bowing slightly with more nervousness than you would’ve liked to show. Why are you stuttering? For god’s sake, he’s just a cute guy, you scolded yourself internally, feeling a slight warmth on your cheeks.

Kenma barely nodded in response, murmuring something that sounded vaguely like "nice to meet you" without looking up from his phone. His lack of interaction didn’t bother you; instead, it piqued your curiosity about his quiet and reserved personality.

"Did you know Kenma plays volleyball too?" Hinata chimed in enthusiastically. Hearing that, your eyes drifted to the athletic shoes poking out of the bag next to the blonde boy. They were of good quality, evidently worn but well cared for.

"He’s a setter, but not like ours," Shoyo continued, referring to Kageyama.

"Thank God," you muttered under your breath, just loud enough to pass as a casual remark. The thought of dealing with another Kageyama sounded exhausting.

Kenma glanced up for just a second. "What about you? What position do you play?" he asked, raising his voice just enough for you to hear him clearly.

"She’s our coach’s assistant," Hinata answered before you could even open your mouth. You shot him a sidelong glance, mildly annoyed, but decided not to correct him.

While Hinata continued chatting with Kenma, you stayed silent, merely observing. You noted how effortlessly Shoyo filled any empty space with his contagious energy. Before the redhead could ask the boy about his school, a deep voice rang out from down the street, cutting through the moment.

"Kenma!" called a tall guy with black hair styled in an unusually striking way. His presence dominated the space, his tone a blend of authority and familiarity.

"Kuro," Kenma responded with his characteristic calm. Without hurry, he stood and walked toward his companion.

"Bye," Kenma murmured as he left. You felt a pang of disappointment watching him go so quickly. "See you, Shoyo, Y/N," he added, his tone slightly warmer.

Your eyes met his in that final moment. And just when you thought there wouldn’t be any further interaction, Kenma did something unexpected: he threw you a quick wink, so subtle you might have missed it if you hadn’t kept eye contact. A sudden warmth rose to your cheeks, and before you could process it, he was already walking away with Kuro, as if nothing had happened.

The air, which had felt cool and relaxing earlier, now seemed uncomfortably warm. “Someone hold me…” you muttered under your breath, stunned by what had just occurred. The sense of discomfort and confusion was almost tangible.

“Y/N, are you okay?” Hinata asked, noticing your bewildered state. His eyes sparkled with concern as he observed you curiously. “You’re red. It’s because of the sun, isn’t it?”

Hinata, in his typical fashion, placed a hand on your forehead to shield you from the direct sunlight, trying to protect you with his innocent gesture. However, something in his expression shifted when his gaze followed the direction Kenma and Kuro had taken. His eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, it seemed like something had just “clicked” in his mind.

“No… no, no, no way…” he mumbled to himself, as if trying to process an impossible thought. Then, he looked at you, bewildered, noticing you were still silent and your face was still flushed.

“No… it can’t be!” Hinata repeated, his face a mix of confusion and barely hidden curiosity. “Come on, you just met him, and you already… you?” he tried to continue, but you cut him off, placing a hand over his mouth to silence him before he could say more.

“Stop talking,” you said firmly, trying to regain your composure. Straightening up, you stared at Hinata. “Not a word about this, okay?” The seriousness in your tone made it clear this wasn’t the time for jokes.

Hinata looked at you with an amused expression, and you knew you couldn’t trust him to keep this secret. His face was far too mischievous, as if the whole thing was just a game to him.

“Understood?” you insisted, pressing your hand more firmly against his face, hoping he’d finally get the message.

Instead of answering directly, Hinata did something completely unexpected—he licked your palm, as if he couldn’t care less about what you were asking. The gesture left you utterly stunned and, if you were honest, a little grossed out.

“Ugh, that’s disgusting!” you scolded, pulling your hand away quickly and shaking it with a look of disdain.

The familiar voice of Sugawara interrupted you both at that moment. “Hey, guys!” he called out, making you and Hinata turn toward him. “We’ve been looking for you.”

“Sorry,” Hinata apologized with a sheepish smile, not seeming too bothered. “I ran off and got lost.”

“It’s fine,” Sugawara replied, brushing off the incident. “Come on, we need to head back.” With that, the group began walking back to the gym, their conversation resuming its usual flow.

It wasn’t long before Hinata sidled up to you, murmuring a question. “Are you going to tell me what that was about?” But before you could respond, he darted away when he caught the murderous glare you shot at him—a clear warning that you didn’t want to talk about it.

“Girls are so weird,” Hinata muttered under his breath, seemingly to himself, glancing at you with a mix of curiosity and mild fear.

Finally, the long-awaited day of the match against Nekoma had arrived. Both teams were lined up in front of the entrance to the gym, ready to enter the venue where the match would take place. The rows were neat, with Karasuno players on one side and Nekoma players on the other.

Your gaze swept across the opposing lineup, and that’s when you saw him: Kenma, the reserved guy you had met not long ago, now dressed in the red and black uniform of Nekoma. To your surprise, he was playing as the setter for the opposing team. Wow, so he's their setter. Cool, I’ll get to see him play, you thought, feeling an odd excitement at the prospect of watching him in action.

"Kenma!" Hinata called before he could enter the gym, excitement clear in his voice. "You're on Nekoma?" he asked, not bothering to hide his surprise.

"Ah, yeah," Kenma replied with his usual calm.

"Why didn’t you tell me?" Hinata puffed his cheeks, clearly annoyed that he hadn’t known this detail earlier.

"Because you didn’t ask..." Kenma looked away, his answer as simple as ever, though no less effective.

Hinata furrowed his brows, as if trying to process his teammate's logic. "But you said we’d see each other! How could you not tell me something like that?" he insisted, still confused.

Kenma glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, a slight glint of amusement in his gaze. "Your shirt said 'Karasuno High.' It was pretty obvious," he concluded indifferently, leaving Hinata without a comeback.

Before the conversation could continue, a tall and intimidating-looking guy appeared behind Kenma, drawing the attention of both you and Hinata. His expression was serious, and his posture radiated a kind of passive threat.

"Hey," he said in a deep voice, addressing you and Hinata directly. "What do you want with our setter?" His tone aimed to be intimidating, but to you, it was nothing more than a half-hearted attempt.

Hinata, almost instinctively, took a step back and hid behind you, leaving you to handle the situation.

"It’s none of your business," you replied calmly, crossing your arms while maintaining eye contact with the guy. Your voice, though relaxed, carried an edge of challenge. "And who are you?" you added, raising an eyebrow, making it clear that his attitude didn’t impress you.

Before the other guy could respond, Tanaka's voice rang out behind you, full of energy and attitude. "And what do you want from our first-years?" he spat, stepping forward to position himself in front of you with a challenging stance. You glanced at him, feeling a twinge of exasperation. This is ridiculous, you thought, crossing your arms while trying to maintain composure.

As Tanaka and the tall guy began an exchange of words that seemed to escalate quickly, something else caught your attention. A soft "hello" was heard next to you, immediately capturing your interest. When you turned, you found Kenma, who was staring with unusual concentration at the screen of your PSP. On the device, the startup menu of God of War: Ghost of Sparta glowed with its characteristic dark and rustic tones.

Kenma kept his gaze fixed on the screen as you held the console in your hands, his interest clear despite his serene expression. "Do you like it?" he asked in his calm tone, which somehow made your heart beat a little faster.

"Yeah, although... I’m still on level 5," you confessed, lowering your voice slightly as if admitting it were some kind of weakness. "It’s harder than I expected."

Kenma nodded, moving a little closer to get a better look at the screen, his golden eyes analyzing every detail. "Yeah, God of War can be tough if you’re not used to the combos. This one, in particular, has some interesting mechanics, but also a couple of frustrating enemies. Have you faced the Giant Scorpion yet?"

Your face lit up with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "No! I haven’t gotten that far yet, but I’ve heard it’s pretty tough. I’m trying to improve my combos... but I always end up pressing buttons randomly when I get nervous," you admitted, letting out a small nervous laugh as you brushed a lock of hair from your face.

Kenma made a small gesture that seemed like an attempt at a smile. "That happens at first. But if you focus on blocking and dodging at the right moment, the fights get easier. Have you tried using the Spartan Rage? It’s good for clearing out hordes."

You shook your head, embarrassed. "No... I think I forgot how to activate it. The tutorial went too fast, and I didn’t want to go back and check."

Kenma looked at you, surprisingly patient. "It’s L1 and R1 at the same time. Try it next time you’re surrounded by enemies." Then, his eyes returned to the screen, but his closeness made you increasingly aware of every little movement.

"Ah... thanks," you managed to say, feeling ridiculously nervous by his attention. It’s just a guy, calm down, you repeated to yourself, even though your hands started to sweat slightly as you held the console.

"If you want, I can help you with that level," Kenma offered, completely casually, as if it were no big deal. But for you, that simple suggestion made your mind go blank for a moment. Help you? Play together?

"R-really?" you stammered, heat rising to your cheeks. "I mean... if it’s not a bother."

Both of you were so absorbed in your conversation that you didn’t notice the four Karasuno guys watching from a few steps behind. Kageyama had approached Hinata, who seemed to be following the interaction with a mix of surprise and amusement.

"What’s going on?" asked the black-haired boy, frowning.

Hinata, with his usual enthusiasm, leaned toward him and whispered something in his ear. Kageyama furrowed his brow even more, confused. "What about her?" he asked aloud, causing the other two—Yamaguchi and Tsukishima—to step closer.

"Shh, lower your voice," Hinata insisted, whispering. "Look!"

Following his indication, Kageyama turned his gaze toward you and Kenma, who were still absorbed in your conversation. He seemed to understand what Hinata was implying, although his reaction was more of a shrug.

The scene didn’t go unnoticed by Yamaguchi and Tsukishima, who had also approached out of curiosity. Hinata, always the first to spread rumors, whispered the same thing to both of them. Yamaguchi covered his mouth to hold back a nervous laugh, but Tsukishima didn’t react immediately. His gaze darkened as he watched the interaction between you and Kenma, the slight flush on your face, and the calm with which the Nekoma blond stayed by your side.

"Ridiculous," Tsukishima muttered, adjusting his glasses with a sharp motion before stepping forward toward you.

"Hey, Y/N," he said, his voice laced with false calm, "I think Coach Ukai is looking for you." He placed a hand on your shoulder, guiding you forward while looking at you with an almost challenging intensity. "He might need your help."

You couldn’t help but let a hint of doubt show in your eyes. It didn’t sound convincing, but still, the pressure of his hand on your shoulder pushed you to take a few steps forward. "Really?" you asked, your tone revealing more skepticism than certainty.

Tsukishima, however, didn’t seem to be shaken. "Yeah," he responded with a calculated softness, though his expression wasn’t entirely honest. "You know how he is. Better go before he gets in a bad mood."

With a resigned sigh, you finally decided to follow him, stealing one last glance at Kenma before he walked away without saying a word.

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sevenboarproductions · 2 years ago

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[IDOLiSH7] [Part 6] Chapter 3: A new way to live

6.3.1. - Locked up heart

Isumi Haruka: Haa~ I’m tired!

Utsugi Shirou: Good work today. Is something wrong, Midou-san? Holding your stomach like that.

Midou Torao: No… I just thought “I really ate a snake today, huh”. And then I started feeling kind of weird.

Inumaru Touma: Looks like with this job, the list of things you’ve eaten just constantly gets updated~

Isumi Haruka: I want to update it with the three biggest delicacies in the world or something.

Natsume Minami: Rather than waiting for a TV program for that, it would be faster to just ask Midou-san.

Inumaru Touma: Haru even leaves behind the oily part when eating kakuni*. Someone like that can’t eat foie gras.

Isumi Haruka: Really?

Midou Torao: Don’t lump foie gras together with pork belly…

Utsugi Shirou: If you’re as young as Isumi-san, aren’t things like hamburgers even better than foie gras and caviar?

Isumi Haruka: Well, yeah! I love hamburgers!

Natsume Minami: Between hamburgers, gyuudon, curry and ramen, which do you like the most?

Isumi Haruka: Curry, probably? What about you, Minami?

Natsume Minami: I love them all.

Inumaru Touma: You’ve got a big appetite, Mina.

Natsume Minami: Fufu, it’s because I am still growing. Oh, this disc is…

Utsugi Shirou: Ah, sorry. I was looking at it.

Natsume Minami: What is on that disc?

Utsugi Shirou: It’s the data of your live at RedFes.

Isumi Haruka: The one from RedFes!? You watched it! How was it?

Utsugi Shirou: I raised my voice.

Isumi Haruka: Like what?

Utsugi Shirou: Like… “Oh my god…” and “It’s so cool…”.

Inumaru Touma: Eeeh! I wanted to hear that. Don’t just watch it without saying something, you should've invited us!

Midou Torao: Aside from that? How was it? Your impression?

Utsugi Shirou: It was really amazing. You only see that kind of live once or twice in your lifetime.

Midou Torao: …Is this flattery?

Utsugi Shirou: No way. It’s my honest opinion. That’s why the cheers of the audience were that loud too, right?

Utsugi Shirou: Your tension and determination really came across through your expressions… even the amused audience fell quiet.

Utsugi Shirou: With that defiance, your desperate singing voices excited the entire venue, and they started to feel it too.

Utsugi Shirou: “Who are those guys?”, they were thinking. But those people, who were just standing there, folding their arms, became united through your performance.

Utsugi Shirou: That sort of miracle is something that doesn’t exist. It was like a movie.

Isumi Haruka: …Tell me more.

Utsugi Shirou: Haha… Isumi-san, you were really cool. Even though you’re the youngest, it felt like you were taking responsibility for the other members too.

Utsugi Shirou: Your dancing and singing were perfect. You were relaxed, yet your eyes were sharp and tense… It grabbed me by the heart.

Isumi Haruka: Out of a 100 points, how many would I get?

Utsugi Shirou: I can’t give points to the one and only.

Isumi Haruka: The one and only. That’s…?

Utsugi Shirou: I’m saying there is no replacement for you.

Isumi Haruka: ……

Utsugi Shirou: Inumaru-san, you were also cool. I usually only know the friendly Inumaru-san, but you looked surprisingly aggressive.

Inumaru Touma: Really?

Utsugi Shirou: Really, really. When you’re standing on stage, you have an overwhelming aura around you. But it doesn’t feel like you’re driving away an enemy or anything…

Utsugi Shirou: It feels more like a “Come on, let’s be friends”.

Midou Torao: I get that… He’s always given me that feeling.

Natsume Minami: Fufu… It was around the time ŹOOḼ was formed, wasn’t it? We must have lost to that aura of his.

Natsume Minami: Both us and the audience at RedFes.

Inumaru Touma: Haha… I was just trying really hard, though. I’m happy to hear it worked.

Utsugi Shirou: Natsume-san, there was no way you wouldn’t be nervous, yet it seemed like you didn’t mind the people at the venue at all…

Isumi Haruka: Ahaha! I get that!

Utsugi Shirou: It was really cool. That sort of mood is what makes ŹOOḼ seem cool and mysterious, and gives it a strong character.

Natsume Minami: Not a bad rating, is it?

Utsugi Shirou: Midou-san, you made things look like a painting just by standing there. Your dancing was cool and simply beautiful. And also…

Utsugi Shirou: You seemed kind.

Midou Torao: Kind? Me?

Utsugi Shirou: That’s right. Maybe it’s the insight as a senior…

Midou Torao: Insight? Even if I do say so myself, I didn’t have the composure for something like that.

Isumi Haruka: You didn’t.

Natsume Minami: You didn’t, huh?

Midou Torao: Shut up…

Inumaru Touma: Come on, don’t fight.

Utsugi Shirou: What I mean is that compared to the other three… That feeling of “Listen, do what I say” is surprisingly not as strong as with the others.

Utsugi Shirou: That’s why I think Midou-san is the kindest person in ŹOOḼ.

Isumi Haruka: He’s not kind! He’s the most selfish!!

Inumaru Touma: You’re being deceived by his looks!!

Natsume Minami: His appearance isn’t that kind, either, though…

Midou Torao: I’m right here, you know?

Midou Torao: But you’re misunderstanding. I’ve been rejected before, too, and people always say I’m not kind.

Inumaru Touma & Natsume Minami & Isumi Haruka: So we were right.

Utsugi Shirou: Well then, maybe it’s exactly because you know how it is that you could be calm. Aside from that, I do wonder if it’s an ingrained behavior.

Utsugi Shirou: For example, I accidentally took a picture of this scene…

Isumi Haruka: Eh? Did you take a picture of the TV screen?

Utsugi Shirou: I just thought I would look at it again later. But this scene…

Utsugi Shirou: Even though you three look like feral animals, Midou-san is calm.

Isumi Haruka: Don’t call us feral animals!

Natsume Minami: Ah, it’s true, though. I’m cute when I’m murderous.

Isumi Haruka: Cute.

Inumaru Touma: Ahaha! Such scary eyes! We look so unbehaved!

Inumaru Touma: If you look at it like that, Tora is like that, isn’t he? It’s the elegance of a rich guy…

Midou Torao: …..Mhm….

Midou Torao: It does look like we have a different level of grace…

Inumaru Touma: Uwaa, he said it himself.

Isumi Haruka: What else is there? Praise me more!

Utsugi Shirou: The cheering was so much, it seemed like it could split the sky at any moment. It was super dramatic.

Utsugi Shirou: I don’t think there could be a happier moment for any music fan than to have their emotions be moved by that sort of live performance and artists.

Utsugi Shirou: It’s like a real miracle. You went to a country you don’t know, and you came back having created a miracle.

Utsugi Shirou: It’s wonderful, but at the same time it's a little frustrating.

Natsume Minami: Why is that?

Utsugi Shirou: Because at that time, I hadn’t met all of you yet.

Utsugi Shirou: One day… I want to see that sort of live with my own eyes. That’s what I think.

Isumi Haruka: Fufun. You don’t need to say “someday”, we’ll show you at the next live!

Natsume Minami: Of course… is what I’d like to say, but that might not be that easy.

Natsume Minami: Lives are affected by a lot of conditions.

Natsume Minami: The emotions at that time, the atmosphere at the venue, our relationship…

Natsume Minami: Utsugi-san, up until that live, we were just arguing all the time.

Utsugi Shirou: Ah, so you were like that.

Natsume Minami: Yes. We were a unit that was just going to fall apart anyway, one that only exists for the moment.

Natsume Minami: But at that time, in this situation where we were away from home… we had nothing to rely on but each other. So while arguing, I was hoping.

Natsume Minami: I was hoping that our bonds could become real.

Inumaru Touma: Mina…

Utsugi Shirou: …Ah, I see… Then that live and that venue is what made you guys true members of one group, isn’t it?

Isumi Haruka: Yeah, that might be it… It could be true… Touma did always tell us this.

Isumi Haruka: That there was meaning to the four of us meeting. …And on that day, I thought so too.

Utsugi Shirou: Is that so… Then it really was so dramatic, wasn’t it? That’s nice, I wish I could’ve seen it.

Inumaru Touma: Haha… I’m glad.

Inumaru Touma: Ryou-san never told us anything like that, after all…

Midou Torao: Maybe he was meaning to tell us. I mean, he did prepare a party.

Isumi Haruka: Aah. The one where Torao got champagne poured himself.

Utsugi Shirou: That’s the worst… I’m sorry…

Midou Torao: I wasn’t mad, but it was really scary…

Inumaru Touma: He was standing on the table and stomping with his feet…

Utsugi Shirou: Your manners are bad, Ryou-kun…

Isumi Haruka: Is that a matter of manners?

Natsume Minami: …But… both Utsugi-san and Ryou-san were impressed by this live.

Natsume Minami: Though, because it was an overseas live, our fans mostly weren’t there.

Inumaru Touma: Aah… That’s true…

Inumaru Touma: One day, I want to show it to our fans. A live that’s even better than the one at RedFes.

Isumi Haruka: We’ll do it. We have to show it to Utsugi-san, too, after all!

Utsugi Shirou: Haha, thank you very much.

Utsugi Shirou: The shooting of “BLAST” is also finishing soon, isn’t it? I’m looking forward to it.

Inumaru Touma: I’m looking forward to it, too! Even when I was reading the script, I got absorbed into reading all the scenes!

Isumi Haruka: It’s just flashy action! We’re not the ones doing it.

Midou Torao: …yeah, that’s true. I’m also looking forward to Minami’s excellent performance, too. I’m sure it’ll be a hot topic.

Natsume Minami: Thank you. If there are no other topics that stand out, I’m sure that’ll be the case.

Midou Torao: Topics that stand out?

Natsume Minami: I’m already done shooting. It’s rare to be blessed with an environment with both a good director and staff.

Natsume Minami: Make sure you don’t have any regrets.

Midou Torao: Aah, that’s right. Let’s make it safely towards the end of shooting. Well then, I’ll be leaving…

Utsugi Shirou: I’ll drive you home.

Midou Torao: It’s fine. I’ll be going then.

[thud]

~ to be continued ~

6.3.2. - A king’s crown

Isumi Haruka: He went home so fast. Do you think he had a date planned?

Inumaru Touma: Mina, what was that earlier? You were putting it in complicated words.

Natsume Minami: Inumaru-san, you were busy thinking about whether you should get back together with your old bandmates, so you might not have noticed it, but…

Inumaru Touma: Don’t say it so sarcastically!

Natsume Minami: Midou-san was behaving a bit strangely during the shooting.

Isumi Haruka: Ah, I kind of thought that, too.

Utsugi Shirou: Strangely… you say?

Isumi Haruka: Yeah. Even though Tora really likes action movies, he never stayed to watch the stunt scenes.

Natsume Minami: I wouldn’t say “never” but it certainly wasn’t how a person who likes action movies would act.

Inumaru Touma: Yeah…

Inumaru Touma: Maybe he was just pretending, and he actually can’t deal with it well? Things like high places, or things that make you shudder.

Utsugi Shirou: Can’t deal with it well?

Inumaru Touma: Right, right. It’s because he tends to pretend to be tough and tries to show off.

Natsume Minami: I know he tends to show off, but it didn’t look like he was scared.

Isumi Haruka: Well, you can’t know for sure. When I have something I can’t do, I also say I can.

Utsugi Shirou: Eh, please be honest with me. I’m bad at guessing things like that.

Isumi Haruka: Yeah… Somehow, I already knew that…

Inumaru Touma: But knowing the true motives of the other person would definitely help.

Natsume Minami: Maybe it’s because he is that type of person that he got along well with Ryou-san.

Utsugi Shirou: Then that means Midou-san is bad at doing nerve-wracking scenes?

Inumaru Touma: It’s because he kind of grew up rich and sheltered.

Isumi Haruka: He was nervous at RedFes, too. Though, we were all nervous then.

Natsume Minami: Being nervous… Midou-san was probably scared during the shooting of “BLAST”, wasn’t he?

Isumi Haruka: It felt like that, right?

Natsume Minami: ….Kind of… I had the feeling like he wanted to say something.

Natsume Minami: It kind of reminded me of my past self. So I just got curious.

Inumaru Touma: Mina in the past…

Natsume Minami: It was when I still thought I had to listen to what adults said.

Natsume Minami: Thinking that the world was like that, I ended up giving up on my wishes.

Natsume Minami: He looks the same way I did during that time.

Inumaru Touma: Giving up…?

Isumi Haruka: That bossy, egotistical bastard Torao would…?

Utsugi Shirou: …I understand. I will ask Midou-san about it tomorrow.

Inumaru Touma: Aah….. if you ask him too directly, you might not get an answer.

Inumaru Touma: It’s like, he also has insincere parts, so…

Utsugi Shirou: ….. I will try to guess.

Isumi Haruka: No, no. Didn’t you say you’re bad at that?

Natsume Minami: My… even though he’s the oldest, he’s a troublesome person.

Okazaki Rintarou: Welcome back~

Momo: We’ve returned~! President, take this, it’s a souvenir.

Okazaki Rintarou: What is it~?

Momo: Crayfish.

Okazaki Rintarou: What am I going to do with crayfish?

Yuki: Use it for its healing properties*.

Okazaki Rintarou: That won’t heal me. Bring me a thousand.

Yuki: Should we do that… Momo, do you wanna deep fry the one you caught?

Momo: I won’t eat that!

Yuki: It’s the kind you can’t eat, then.

Momo: Oh, yes! It’s a pet!

Yuki: Maybe I’ll keep it. What do crayfish eat?

Okazaki Rinto: Isn’t it algae or small fish?

Yuki: Is that so. Can I call it Okarin?

Okazaki Rinto: Uhm, this fish?

Yuki: Yes. The more I look at it, the cuter it gets.

Momo: Isn’t that nice, Okarin? Having Yuki name something after you to keep it…

Okazaki Rinto: This crayfish seems to be ruining relationships… I’ll take care of it in the office after all.

Yuki: Is that so? Then, have fun with it.

Okazaki Rintarou: We don’t even need crayfish… That aside, about today’s recording. Was President Takanashi here?

Okazaki Rinto: He wasn’t.

Okazaki Rintarou: I see. Because everyone was assembled, I figured he’d show his face.

Momo: What happened with Takanashi Papa?

Okazaki Rintarou: He may have taken the position I wanted, but he is a pretty interesting person.

Okazaki Rintarou: I remember talking to him about it. “Why did you go into the entertainment industry? Why did you make a talent agency?”

Momo: Why did you?

Okazaki Rintarou: Because I like people.

Yuki: Haha. No way.

Okazaki Rintarou: It’s true. I like making people happy and surprising them. And I like the entertainers, too.

Okazaki Rintarou: If you go into this sort of field, it seems like a race, and you end up only focusing on compliance.

Okazaki Rintarou: That’s what I mean when I think back to the beginning. A business that both the buyer and the seller enjoy… that’s fun, right?

Okazaki Rinto: Haha, that’s nostalgic. Back in college, you talked about that a lot, too.

Okazaki Rintarou: That’s true…

Momo: Even the President was like that in his youth, huh.

Okazaki Rintarou: Do you want to hear about it?

Momo: No. We’re fine for now.

Yuki: Ah, Okarin. You can put the crayfish in this sweets box for now.

Okazaki Rinto: Aah! Thank you!

Okazaki Rintarou: What about you, Re:vale? Why did you become idols?

Yuki: You know that already. That was the only way I could afford to eat.

Momo: You know about my reason already, too.

Okazaki Rintarou: But that’s not all anymore, is it? If it was, it wouldn’t have continued for this long.

Re:vale: ………

Okazaki Rintarou: For you, what does being an idol mean?

Okazaki Rintarou: If you pinpoint that, wouldn’t it be the key to protect your throne as kings?

Momo: A way to protect the throne…

Yuki: How pompous…

Okazaki Rintarou: Zero’s era is over. Kujou Takamasa and TRIGGER have ended it. It was a wonderful final stage.

Okazaki Rintarou: Just right now, people’s memories of Zero are being reawakened, so things are heating up. But the topic of Zero will die down soon enough.

Okazaki Rintarou: The next ones to become legends will be Re:vale, I think. No, I believe it.

Okazaki Rintarou: Don’t misunderstand me, though. Even if you lose against someone, I won’t sigh in disappointment.

Okazaki Rintarou: I don’t want to pressure you guys. That sort of thing doesn’t matter.

Okazaki Rintarou: It’s only been a couple years since you were first called kings, but haven’t you been lacking in ambition lately?

Okazaki Rinto: President…

Okazaki Rintarou: You said so, too, Rinto. Playing the funny, kind and reliable senpai might be fun, but…

Okazaki Rintarou: Both your fans and I, we want to see it soon.

Okazaki Rintarou: A cool Re:vale who will crush their kouhai.

Momo: …..Even without being told it, I would never put Yuki… would never put Re:vale below anyone else.

Momo: Re:vale will always be at the top. I won’t hand the throne to anyone. Not IDOLiSH7, not TRIGGER, and not ŹOOḼ!

Yuki: Momo….

Okazaki Rintarou: As expected from a sports ace! You’re burning with fighting spirit.

Momo: That much is obvious. A crown fits well on Yuki’s head.

Yuki: But every flower eventually has to wilt, right?*

Momo: No! They don’t…!

Yuki: And the petals inevitably fall to the ground and decay…*

Momo: It won’t happen!! Re:vale are the eternal kings and champions! I’m getting angry, Yuki!

Yuki: Okay.

Momo: President. For me, the reason why I became an idol and the meaning of being an idol are the same.

Momo: To make Yuki stand at the top! I don’t even want to imagine falling down or losing!

Momo: We will never lose!

Okazaki Rinto: I think so, too. The two of them will never lose to anyone!

Okazaki Rintarou: Ah, seems like you’re in better shape now, aren’t you? What about you, Yuki?

Yuki: ….. Well. If Momo says so…

Yuki: Let’s defeat our kouhai.

Momo: Yeah!

Momo: Everyone~! We’re sorry~! But our time as nice senpai is over!!

Okazaki Rintarou: Where are you shouting that at?

Momo: Actually, we’re…

Re:vale: …The last boss.

~ to be continued ~

6.3.3. Connections

Nanase Riku: (coughing) …I choked on something…

Izumi Iori: Have some hot tea and a scarf. Don’t let your throat get cold.

Nanase Riku: But… I was just choking a bit! Because something got caught in my throat!

Izumi Iori: You still might be having an attack.

Nanase Riku: Ugh. If you say it like that I’ll get anxious.

Izumi Iori: You’re fine. You’ll be alright in a minute. Since it’s you, Nanase-san, you’ll be fine.

Nanase Riku: Ahaha! Ah… I really got better.

Izumi Iori: It seems like you finally trust my words as much as Kujou-san’s.

Nanase Riku: I didn’t get better when Tenn-nii told me that sort of thing, though.

Izumi Iori: Besides that, have you read the script for “Wolf Boy and Boy Detective 2”?

Nanase Riku: I haven’t read it all yet. I saw the part that seemed to have to do with today’s special program, though.

Izumi Iori: Since it’s you, Nanase-san, you probably didn’t notice it but… The culprit in episode 2 is…

Nanase Riku: Oh, I did read it that far. He’s actually the shinigami* piano tuner.

Izumi Iori: It seems like Nikaidou-san will be playing him.

Nanase Riku: Eeh, I’m happy! Yamato-san is starring in our drama!

Izumi Iori: Not telling us anything about that.. He’s mean, isn’t he? …Is what I thought, but the client in the third episode is…

Nanase Riku: The tsukumogami* with the umbrella?

Izumi Iori: It seems like he’ll be played by nii-san. It says it here, “Izumi Mitsuki”…

Nanase Riku: You’re right! In that case, the guest of the fourth episode, either the culprit or the client, is…

Izumi Iori: The client is an injured inugami* played by Yotsuba-san.

Nanase Riku: I was right…!!

Izumi Iori: Satori, the culprit of the second half of the fifth episode, is played by…

Nanase Riku: Sougo-san! Since it’s been like that up until now, the sixth one is definitely…

Izumi Iori: The culprit is an automaton. Rokuya Nagi.

Nanase Riku: That means we’re complete! I’m happy we can all star in this drama together! It looks like it’ll be lots of fun!

Izumi Iori: Because there will be a good mood at the shooting, right?

Nanase Riku: I’m looking forward to the rest of the show, too. Do you think the oni king they foreshadowed at the end of the previous part will show up?

Izumi Iori: He might appear eventually… Somewhat like a mastermind who is pulling the strings.

Nanase Riku: Who could play the role of that oni king*?

Izumi Iori: Going by this pattern, maybe Re:vale-san…?

Nanase Riku: Re:vale-san are the last boss, after all.

(knock knock)

Staff: There’s fifteen minutes before the “Wolf Boy and Boy Detective Special Program” starts. Nanase-san, Izumi-san, please be on standby!

Nanase Riku: Yeees! We’re coming right now!

Izumi Iori: We’re looking forward to working with you.

Nanase Riku: Ah, right. What do you think the “surprising news” they’ll mention at the end of this show will be about?

Izumi Iori: It has to be the sequel announcement, right?

Nanase Riku: I know about the sequel though.

Izumi Iori: Why would they want to surprise you? It’s supposed to be surprising news for the viewers.

Nanase Riku: Ah, I see! Iori, you’re smart~!

Izumi Iori: Your very existence holds too much surprising news…

Nanase Riku: I’m so happy we’re getting a sequel! It feels like our hard work really got across.

Izumi Iori: That’s true.

Nanase Riku: Iori, you had an interview with the president, right? What did you talk about?

Izumi Iori: Why are you suddenly bringing that up?

Nanase Riku: I was wondering what kind of future our producer had in mind for us.

Nanase Riku: It’s not like I want to leave it all to you, though! I just felt like asking you about it once.

Izumi Iori: ……

Izumi Iori: IDOLiSH7 strikingly won against TRIGGER and ŹOOḼ at Black or White.

Nanase Riku: Yeah.

Izumi Iori: We’re making steady progress, but there is a group we haven’t defeated yet.

Nanase Riku: …Re:vale-san?

Izumi Iori: Exactly.

Izumi Iori: We’re going to push Re:vale from the throne and take the overall win at Black or White.

Izumi Iori: Both in name and reality, IDOLiSH7 will stand at the top.

Announcer: Now it’s time for a big announcement!

Announcer: What’s this? The overwhelmingly popular drama that became successful in all of Japan, “Wolf Boy and Boy Detective”…!!

Announcer: …Is getting a sequel!!

Audience: Kyaaaaah…!

Nanase Riku: Thank you very much!

Izumi Iori: Thank you very much!

Announcer: Getting to watch the endeavors of Japan’s beloved duo again… I’m looking forward to it!

Nanase Riku: Me too! Everyone, please look forward to it, too!

Audience: Kyaaaaah…!

Announcer: Now, if you can, would you give us something like a summary or even just a small hint?

Izumi Iori: This information might be kind of pushing it, but if I tell you just a bit…

Announcer: A bit of information! Thank you very much!

Izumi Iori: Up until now, Ichirou’s past was only touched upon lightly in the first part, but in the sequel, we plan to explore it more.

Audience: Kyaaaaah…!

Announcer: You might not be able to go into so much detail already, but basically, Nanakawa’s ancestors have something to do with Ichirou’s past?

Nanase Riku: Yeah! I heard that, too…

Izumi Iori: Nanase-san, that’s enough! They’ll understand their connections and secrets soon enough.

Izumi Iori: Aside from that, Ichirou became good at acting like a dog in the last series, but in the flashbacks, he will return to being wild.

Nanase Riku: He’s howling like a wolf.

Audience: Kyaaaah…!

Announcer: Oh, I can’t wait! Isn’t that right, Nanase-san?

Nanase Riku: Yes!

Izumi Iori: Please look forward to it.

Nanase Riku: Everyone, I’m looking forward to it a lot! Ichirou, bark!

Izumi Iori: What kind of bark?

Nanase Riku: The dog-like one!

Izumi Iori: Woo~ Woof, Woof!

Audience: Kyaaaah…!

Takanashi Tsumugi: The “New Black or White”… I wonder what sort of project it is.

Takanashi Tsumugi: …The best live, huh…

Oogami Banri: Tsumugi-san.

Takanashi Tsumugi: Banri-san.

Oogami Banri: There’s a card for you from Kujou… I mean, the stage director Haw9-san.

Takanashi Tsumugi: …”Thank you for your help with the “Zero” musical. It was a performance without regrets. Take care.”…

Oogami Banri: It’s simple, but it’s a thank-you message, isn’t it?

Oogami Banri: We helped him a lot, didn’t we? With the dress rehearsal or with the soundtrack, too.

Takanashi Tsumugi: …I never thought I’d end up listening to a duet from Riku-kun and Kujou-san like that.

Oogami Banri: That’s true…

Takanashi Tsumugi: ….”Take care”….

Oogami Banri: What’s wrong?

Takanashi Tsumugi: It feels like Kujou-san is saying goodbye… I also heard that he’s been refusing to do jobs for TRIGGER, too.

Takanashi Tsumugi: The musical “Zero” was amazing. It was a spectacular stage performance. But precisely because of that…

Takanashi Tsumugi: Because he put an end to his feelings for Zero as Haw9, Kujou-san is…

Oogami Banri: …Burnt out and probably going to retire?

Takanashi Tsumugi: Yes…

Takanashi Tsumugi: Anesagi-san asked him whether he wanted to do a job together with my father.

Takanashi Tsumugi: I don’t think he would have sent such a message, if he planned to do something like that.

Oogami Banri: That’s true… Even if he retires now, he has enough savings.

Oogami Banri: He might plan to have a quiet life overseas.

Takanashi Tsumugi: It would be sad for the Japanese entertainment industry to lose a person with this much talent and experience.

Takanashi Tsumugi: If possible, I’d want him to continue to be involved directly.

Takanashi Tsumugi: There’s still a lot of things I want him to teach me, too.

Oogami Banri: You respect Kujou-san a lot, don’t you?

Takanashi Tsumugi: I’m sorry… Even though I know you have complicated feelings about him…

Oogami Banri: More than about myself, I was worried he’d do something to the people who are active in the industry right now.

Oogami Banri: Riku-kun, Tamaki-kun, TRIGGER’s Tenn-kun and even ŹOOḼ’s Isumi-kun got dragged into that person’s problems and he caused them pain.

Oogami Banri: The idea of respecting Kujou-san from the bottom of my heart feels strange. But…

Oogami Banri: The musical “Zero” was great. If he hadn’t been there, I would not have been able to see that stage performance, either.

Oogami Banri: I still feel bitter, but I’ll give him a “yes” for this one.

Takanashi Tsumugi: You’re very kind, Banri-san.

Oogami Banri: That doesn’t mean I’m nice. I just live according to my own values. Haha… It was like this when I was with Yuki, too.

Takanashi Tsumugi: With Yuki-san?

Oogami Banri: Yeah. His personality is awful, but I loved his music, so…

Oogami Banri: I gave him a “yes” for that. And then it was like that approval I gave started to pile up.

Takanashi Tsumugi: Connections between people can be like that, too, huh…

Oogami Banri: …..Tsumugi-san…. Are you done with work for today?

Takanashi Tsumugi: Yes.

Oogami Banri: Then I’ll walk you home. I have something I want to ask you for advice about.

Takanashi Tsumugi: Advice…. Okay, of course. I’ll get ready right away!

~ to be continued ~

6.3.4. Future path

Kujou Tenn: …..

(door opens)

Kujou Tenn: I’m home.

Kujou Takamasa: Welcome home. Aya went to sleep already.

Kujou Tenn: I only got home just now. The flowers in the living room are pretty.

Kujou Takamasa: Right. Apparently they’re called blue star.

Kujou Tenn: Blue star? A pretty name.

Kujou Tenn: That…

Kujou Tenn: …What’s with that luggage?

Kujou Takamasa: I’m thinking about leaving Japan.

Kujou Tenn: …..

Kujou Takamasa: There’s nothing left to do for me. With “Zero”, everything I had to do is finished.

Kujou Takamasa: I wanted to make you into an idol who surpasses Zero. I wanted to take revenge on Zero, but…

Kujou Takamasa: All of that stopped mattering when I saw that performance.

Kujou Takamasa: Thank you, Tenn.

Kujou Tenn: ….Kujou-san….

Kujou Takamasa: ……

Kujou Takamasa: You’re free, Tenn. You can change the family register back, too.

Kujou Tenn: …….

Kujou Takamasa: I’ll leave Aya here, too. She begged me to let her go with me. Eventually, she fell asleep because she was tired from crying.

Kujou Takamasa: But rather than taking her with me, it would be better for her if she was with Yotsuba Tamaki at Takanashi Productions.

Kujou Tenn: You took us in, and now you’re going to throw us away just like this?

Kujou Takamasa: You want to be free from me, don’t you?

Kujou Tenn: Nobody said that.

Kujou Takamasa: Didn’t you try to sacrifice yourself to free Aya from me?

Kujou Tenn: Didn’t you say you would turn me into a star that surpasses Zero!?

Kujou Takamasa: You already surpassed Zero.

Kujou Tenn: …..

Kujou Takamasa: The people who watched “Zero” must have noticed it already. And the people who didn’t will notice it, too.

Kujou Takamasa: Zero’s era is over. All that’s left is to forget it. And I, too, have become a person that isn’t needed anymore in the new era.

Kujou Takamasa: It’s just like Nanase Riku said, I used money to buy you.

Kujou Takamasa: I wanted someone to take revenge on Zero with. For my own desires. You can be free from that.

Kujou Takamasa: Are you not happy?

Kujou Tenn: Stop talking so selfishly. My life will never return to the way it was.

Kujou Tenn: I’m not going to try and get back the opportunities I lost. But I don’t resent you, either.

Kujou Tenn: But after dragging so many people into this, selfishly just burning out and disappearing overnight is…

Kujou Tenn: Isn’t that no different from the Zero you hate so much?

Kujou Takamasa: ……

Kujou Tenn: Please stay here, Kujou-san. Please watch over us… over the new era.

Kujou Tenn: It’s too early to retire. There’s got to be things only you can do. Even I…

Kujou Tenn: I was happy and thought that I could finally talk to you normally…

Kujou Takamasa: …..Tenn…..

Kujou Tenn: I don’t know where the future will lead me, either. I will have to find a new way to live.

Kujou Tenn: After Riku already did, please don’t stop being my fan, too.

Kujou Takamasa: ….Haha. That’s absurd. Nobody could forget someone like you. I can’t, and Nanase Riku can’t, either.

Kujou Takamasa: You move people’s hearts, we can do nothing but love you. That’s why you’re a star.

Kujou Tenn: I wonder about that… Riku doesn’t need me anymore, and you’re suddenly deciding to pack your bags.

Kujou Takamasa: Sorry… I’m really regretting that.

Kujou Takamasa: But I really don’t know what to do from here.

Kujou Tenn: …..If you’re saying you have nothing to do, then this time, it’s my turn to buy you with money.

Kujou Takamasa: ….For stage direction related work?

Kujou Tenn: For now, you can help with the housework.

Kujou Takamasa: I’m not good at that…

Kujou Tenn: I know.

Kujou Tenn: Listen to me, Kujou-san. Disregarding me for a moment, Aya lost a person she called her parent twice already.

Kujou Tenn: If even you throw her away, she will never be able to trust anyone again. Please think about that seriously.

Kujou Takamasa: …..But she says she wants to get married.

Kujou Tenn: To whom.

Kujou Takamasa: To me.

Kujou Tenn: ……

Kujou Takamasa: There’s no way I can take her along like that, right?

Kujou Tenn: …I will be talking to Aya.

Kujou Tenn: Aya was raised in a complicated family, so she might be confusing her feelings of admiration for a father with romantic love.

Kujou Tenn: But it would be unfair to just decide that for Aya… so I will properly listen to what she has to say.

Kujou Tenn: Kujou-san, as her father, please think seriously about a way to make Aya happy.

Kujou Takamasa: …I understand.

Kujou Tenn: Where is your passport?

Kujou Takamasa: Eh?

Kujou Tenn: Give me your passport. I’ll be holding on to it.

Kujou Takamasa: Are you serious?

Kujou Tenn: Should I burn it right here?

Kujou Takamasa: ….. Be careful with it so you don’t lose it.

Kujou Tenn: I’ll do my best.

Kujou Tenn: ……I’ll have to consult Yotsuba Tamaki about Aya’s future.

Kujou Tenn: Now that I think about it, Yotsuba Tamaki didn’t seem to be feeling that well during the barbecue.

Ousaka Sougo: I wonder if this sound is too heavy… Maybe I should make it a bit lighter.

(knock knock)

Nikaidou Yamato: Sou…. Sou!

Ousaka Sougo: Ah… Yes! Come in!

(door opens)

Nikaidou Yamato: Sorry, did you have your headphones on? Even though I was calling for you for a while, I didn’t get a reply. I even considered texting you on Rabicha.

Ousaka Sougo: Why would you send me a text when you’re right outside the door…. Sorry, I didn’t notice you….

Nikaidou Yamato: It was just a joke, don’t take it seriously. Were you composing?

Ousaka Sougo: Yes. I’m listening to what I did in the studio once more…

Nikaidou Yamato: It’ll be the title song of the drama, right? The last time you played a main role and also composed the title song was for “Koi no Kakera”, wasn’t it?

Ousaka Sougo: Back then, it was Sakura-san’s song. Our success was probably because both Tamaki-kun and I got drawn in by that bright song.

Nikaidou Yamato: That was the result of both of your efforts. I’m sure it’ll go well this time, too.

Ousaka Sougo: That’s true… I’m still fumbling around, but I kind of want to give more of a shape to the song.

Ousaka Sougo: Family bonds… If I could turn my connection with Tamaki-kun into a song… Like you did, Yamato-san.

Nikaidou Yamato: Like I did?

Takanashi Tsumugi: Even at night, it’s hot. I want to eat ice cream.

Oogami Banri: I want to have a cold beer.

Takanashi Tsumugi: It’s summer, after all! So, about the thing you wanted to talk to me about…

Oogami Banri: It’s about Tamaki-kun. He originally said I should forget it, so I wasn’t sure if I should be talking about it…

Takanashi Tsumugi: Tamaki-san… Now that I think of it, he seemed kind of unhappy today…

Takanashi Tsumugi: Did something happen with Tamaki-san?

Oogami Banri: He seems to be having a lot of doubts regarding his own future.

Takanashi Tsumugi: …What kind of doubts could that be…?

Oogami Banri: ……..

Oogami Banri: He asked me if taking a break from IDOLiSH7, MEZZO’’ and his idol work for the time being would be fine.

Takanashi Tsumugi: A break from his work as an idol…

Takanashi Tsumugi: Does that mean he wants to go on a hiatus…?

~ to be continued ~

----

TL notes:

3.1. 角煮 - kakuni - a braised pork dish simmered in dashi, soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and sake.

3.2. Crayfish shells are known to contain chitin, which has healing properties.

Yuki references the first four lines of the Tale of the Heike at Momo. We changed the metaphors so it makes sense without the context, but it should have a similar feel. Haruka-kun did all of the work for that, though, lol.

3.3. 死神 - shinigami - a kami (deity in shinto) that is associated with death

犬神 - inugami - a dog-like kami

付喪神 - tsukumogami - a kami that resulted of something (an object or an animal) becoming a 100 years old, definitions vary

悪路王 - akuroou - we put it as 'oni king'; it's a type of oni leader in Japanese folklore

Aaah~ We survived another chapter! Mod Riku here. This time, I really tortured Haruka-kun with the editing. Just kidding! We both took a bit to deal with… (gestures at the TL notes). Updates will be sporadic, by the way. That being said, please direct corrections etc. at our inbox or our DMs!

#idolish7 translations #idolish7 part 6 #idolish7 spoilers #idolish7 #idolish7 translation #[main]

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