Syo Kurusu (Repeat)
Translator: Terry (Twitter: turtlemudge)
Proofreader: Raz (Twitter: agnadance)
October — Five-Second-Early Vicenda
It's now October. In class, everyone's talking about what we should do for the school festival.
Syo Kurusu: Hmm. We have the chance to use the stage… it'd be a shame to waste it.
Haruka Nanami: Yeah.
Syo Kurusu: Considering the graduation audition, maybe a song would be best… but wouldn't it be boring to do the same thing twice…?
Syo Kurusu: Is there anything just the two of us can do…?
Haruka Nanami: Just the two of us… hmm…
Select the Phrase!
漫才 Stand-up comedy duo (+5 Love, +0 Music)
Syo Kurusu: A comedy duo? You're already too naïve—if you tried to be stupid on purpose it'd be a disaster.
Haruka Nanami: I'm...naïve?
Syo Kurusu: Yes. You totally are.
Syo-kun swats lightly at my forehead.
Haruka Nanami: Then, what if I played the straight man…? "Don't be ridiculous" or something…?
Syo Kurusu: Nope, you have no sense of comedic timing. Rejected!
社交ダンス Ballroom dance (+15 Love, +5 Music)
Syo Kurusu: Dance, huh…? Well, it'd be good rhythm practice, at least… But then again…
Syo-kun starts measuring our relative heights with his hands.
Syo Kurusu: Unfortunately… our heights are almost the same.
Haruka Nanami: I trip over my own feet so I don't think I can dance well... I would get in your way.
Syo Kurusu: I'd be fine with ballroom dancing at a party or something, but that's not the same as performing for an audience… Let's think of something else.
Haruka Nanami: Sorry…
アンサンブル Chamber music (+15 Love, +5 Music)
Syo Kurusu: Chamber music? What do you mean?
Haruka Nanami: Like a duet for piano and violin, or something…
Syo Kurusu: Well, if that's what you want to do, I don't have a problem with it…
Syo Kurusu: … But it also sounds like the sort of thing that Natsuki would insist on butting into.
Haruka Nanami: Well, then, Shinomiya-san could join us…
Syo Kurusu: If he does that, what will his partner do? They'll be out of a job for the festival.
Haruka Nanami: Oh… that's right.
Syo Kurusu: Well, it's not a bad idea. It can stay as an option, but let's keep brainstorming.
Haruka Nanami: Okay.
Haruka Nanami: Oh, actually, wait! Your sense of rhythm is really good, so dance seems like a good fit for you… If we could pull that off, you'd look so cool.
Syo Kurusu: I can definitely do that!
Haruka Nanami: Really?
Syo Kurusu: Hey. Who the heck do you think you're talking to? I'm Syo Kurusu, the world's greatest idol. There's nothing I can't do!!
Haruka Nanami: Then, shall we do a dance? Ah, but I can't dance since I never learned how…
Syo Kurusu: I've never actually learned how, either. But whatever, we'll figure it out somehow.
Haruka Nanami: Hmmm. My reflexes are… terrifyingly poor… I'm not sure I can actually do it.
Syo Kurusu: Oh. I see… I was sure that the two of us could find a way to manage it, but…
Haruka Nanami: Oh, wait, I could make a song! I'll make a really cool song that's perfect for you, Syo-kun!!
Syo Kurusu: Yeah!! A collaboration by the two of us!! All right, now I'm stoked!!
Haruka Nanami: Yeah!! Ahh, I'm getting excited already. What sort of song should I make?
Select the Phrase!
アニメソング Anime song. (+0 Love, +5 Music)
Syo Kurusu: Why an anime song? I mean, I don't hate the idea, but…
Haruka Nanami: Ah, I just thought… it would be a good fit for you, somehow.
Syo Kurusu: I mean… there's a lot of anime songs out there already, aren't there?
Haruka Nanami: Oh… that's true…
J-POP. J-pop. (+0 Love, +15 Music)
Syo Kurusu: Since it's dance music, I don't think it has to be particularly Japanese. Besides, it doesn't need lyrics, right?
Haruka Nanami: Oh… right. But I'd like to do something stylish and cool, with a melodious feel.
Haruka Nanami: If possible, maybe something I can add lyrics to and make into a song later…
Syo Kurusu: Well, okay then… Oh, but make sure it's a good speed to dance to. If the tempo's too high it'll just wear me out.
Haruka Nanami: Sure.
演歌 Enka.* (+0 Love, +0 Music)
*Enka is a music genre that resembles traditional Japanese music, usually in the style of sentimental ballad music. It is popular amongst older people.
Syo Kurusu: How the heck am I gonna dance to that?
Haruka Nanami: I thought it would be original.
Syo Kurusu: That's TOO original. Let's go with something normal.
Haruka Nanami: Okay.
A few days after that, I finish the new song.
Haruka Nanami: … What… do you think?
Syo Kurusu: … So is this what you hear when you think of me…?
Haruka Nanami: Huh…?
Syo Kurusu: Oh, nothing… I was just thinking… so, this is me, huh.
Haruka Nanami: Well… yeah. I tried to imagine a song that would fit you. Something bright and sparkling and bursting with energy… I'm happy that you picked up on that.
Syo Kurusu: It was obvious as soon as I heard it that it's my song! … I was just thinking, I'm really happy with it.
Syo-kun smiles happily.
Haruka Nanami: You… like it?
Syo Kurusu: A good song is one thing, but… There are tons of artists who never manage to find a song that really fits them, no matter how hard they try.
Syo Kurusu: But you… you've made a song that's just for me. A song that'll really let me shine…
Syo Kurusu: As a singer, that's what makes me happiest of all, I think. I'm really lucky I met you.
Syo Kurusu: I really feel that way… but anyway! Yeah! Let's get started on the dancing part!!
Haruka Nanami: O-okay! I'm ready when you are!
Syo Kurusu: Uhh. One, two, three, four… whoops, that's wrong…
Haruka Nanami: Should I lower the speed a bit?
Syo Kurusu: No, it won't come together right if it's any slower. This is fine.
We practice for hours. Syo-kun trains his muscle memory, perfectly internalizing the rhythm.
Syo Kurusu: … haa, haa, haah… I think I'm starting to get it…
Haruka Nanami: "Starting to"? You're doing great. You've been amazing to watch.
Syo Kurusu: No… I'm still not quite quick enough. … It'd be better… if it were more… precise…
Syo Kurusu: I want the audience… to appreciate your song through my dancing. I want the people watching to feel that joy in their hearts.
Syo Kurusu: … I… really… love… this song… Let's practice… again…
*Wobble*.
Syo-kun's body lists to one side.
Syo Kurusu: … Ugh…
Haruka Nanami: Syo-kun…!
I immediately rush over, trying to support him, but…
*Smack.*
He bats my hand away.
Syo Kurusu: Ah… sorry. But, I'm really okay…
Haruka Nanami: Syo-kun…?
What was that? Syo-kun seemed different from his usual self… My chest tightens.
Even though he says he's fine…
Syo Kurusu: Welp, back to work!
Select the Phrase!
無理しない方が... Don't overdo it. (+10 Music, +0 Music)
Syo Kurusu: I'm not!!
Syo Kurusu: Dammit…
Haruka Nanami: … Syo-kun?
Syo Kurusu: It's nothing. I'm seriously fine. Stop worrying…
Despite Syo-kun's words, I'm worried…
Is there anything I can do to help?
お水飲む?Would you like some water? (+10 Love, +10 Music)
Syo Kurusu: Nah, it's fine…
Haruka Nanami: It's just, you've been sweating a lot, and it can be bad to get too dehydrated. And just now it looked like you got a bit lightheaded…
Syo Kurusu: Oh, yeah, I guess.
Haruka Nanami: I'll get you a water bottle.
Syo Kurusu: Okay, thanks. You're a big help.
少し休憩しない?Shall we take a break? (20 Love, +0 Music)
Syo Kurusu: I don't need it.
Syo Kurusu: …
Haruka Nanami: But… you look a little pale…
Syo Kurusu: This is nothing.
Haruka Nanami: It's not nothing!
I reach out and grab the hem of Syo-kun's uniform, gripping it tightly.
Haruka Nanami: I'm... worried, so… please…
If you train too hard today, you'll have terrible muscle pains when you practice tomorrow. So…
When I say this, Syo-kun reluctantly finds a chair and sits down.
Apparently he can be quite stubborn…
Oh, I know…
I crouch down and start massaging Syo-kun's calves.
Syo Kurusu: … Hey! What are you doing?
Haruka Nanami: What…? I'm giving you a calf massage.
Syo Kurusu: … Haah…
For some reason, Syo-kun sighs deeply.
Syo Kurusu: I can't believe you. Don't just do things like that out of nowhere.
Haruka Nanami: … What do you mean?
Syo Kurusu: Never mind! Just, don't go around touching other guys like this, all right?
Syo Kurusu: Especially not Ren! If you tried something like this on him, there's no telling what he'd do to you…
Haruka Nanami: What he'd… do?
Syo Kurusu: Don't make me say it. Figure it out yourself! If you don't get it, just shut up and do as I say!
Haruka Nanami: Y-yes sir!!
Syo Kurusu: Good!!
...W-what was that about?
And so, we continue practicing hard, day after day.
We finish the song, refine the dance steps, and keep developing the choreography.
At this point, all that remains is memorization—learning the movements not with the mind, but with the body.
Even on the day of the school festival, we reserve an empty classroom and practice right up till the last minute.
Syo Kurusu: … Hah, hah, hah. I've just about… got it, I think…
Haruka Nanami: Yes!! I can't wait to see you perform it for real!!
Syo Kurusu: What time is our performance again?
Haruka Nanami: It's at 2 PM.
Syo Kurusu: All right, then I still have an hour to practice.
Haruka Nanami: … It might be better to rest for a bit…? You haven't even eaten yet…
Syo Kurusu: Nah, I'm good. I want to keep perfecting this. I want to practice right up till the last second.
Haruka Nanami: Why do you need to go that far?
Syo Kurusu: Well, when I'm up on stage, everyone in the audience is waiting to see me, you know?
Syo Kurusu: Even if the tickets are free, everyone is spending their precious time to watch me dance.
Syo Kurusu: I don't want to waste the audience's precious time. I want them to enjoy themselves, to be glad they decided to come to my performance.
Syo Kurusu: So, I don't want to show them anything less than my best. I want to keep working right up until the last second so I can show them just how well I can do.
His expression is one of a serious professional. Even though he hasn't made his debut yet, Syo-kun already seems like a full-fledged idol.
He's a true performer, one who refuses to compromise on any part of his performance.
He refuses to settle for "good enough."
Haruka Nanami: I'll… play the song again, then.
Even with ragged breathing, even with sweat dripping from his brow, Syo-kun keeps dancing.
By now, I'm sure it's agonizing, and yet Syo-kun is still grinning widely as he dances.
He'll only get to perform this once in front of an audience. He's challenging himself to get as close to a perfect performance as he physically can.
I can understand how he feels.
I think over my compositions and lyrics over and over, hundreds of times, and if that leads to even one improvement, then it's worth it.
During the editing process, it's fine to include only the good parts of each take.
But with a live performance, you only get one shot. Even if you practice a hundred times before a single live performance, if you can't display the pinnacle of all your efforts during that one performance, all that hard work becomes meaningless.
That's why he keeps improving. If he practices a hundred times, he'll create something better than what would result from 70 or 90 repetitions.
The only way to raise the quality of his performance is to single-mindedly train his muscle memory until he's memorized it perfectly.
And so, Syo-kun keeps practicing, over and over. Rather than relying on luck to grant him a good performance, he won't settle for anything less than a guarantee.
Over and over and over. Right up until the last moment before the performance…
That is the duty of a professional… Syo-kun knows better than anyone else just what he's aiming for.
Syo Kurusu: Ugh…
Suddenly, Syo-kun collapses, clutching at his chest.
Haruka Nanami: S-Syo-kun!
I panic and rush over, trying to lift him up, to no avail. Syo-kun's face is twisted up in pain as he pushes his clenched hand hard against his rib cage.
Syo Kurusu: Don't… yell… It's nothing… serious. If I rest for a moment… it'll go back to normal…
It's not just that he's tired, or that he tripped, or anything like that.
Haruka Nanami: But… This seems like something serious. I, I need to call an ambulance, or…
As I start to rush out of the room…
Syo Kurusu: No, it's fine…
Still pressing a fist to his chest, Syo-kun reaches out with his other hand to grab my arm.
And then he shakes his head in protest.
He seems to be in a lot of pain… Why is he stopping me?
Haruka Nanami: Syo-kun…
Trying to ease even a little bit of the pain Syo-kun is in, I wrap my arms around him, hugging him gently.
I really want him to see a doctor as soon as possible, but even though I'm still considering rushing off to call an ambulance, I don't think Syo-kun would release my arm to let me go.
Somehow, I can't bring myself to leave his side.
Syo Kurusu: *pant, pant, pant*
His ragged breaths continue for a long time, but after resting for twenty minutes or so, he seems to start breathing a bit easier.
Syo Kurusu: Sorry… to worry you. I'm okay now.
Haruka Nanami: Really…? You're really, truly fine? You don't need to go to the hospital?
Syo Kurusu: Yeah. Also… you cannot tell anyone about this.
Select the Phrase!
でも…… But… (+0 Love, +0 Music)
Syo Kurusu: I'm serious. Tell absolutely no one about this… If people heard that I'd collapsed, then… it'd be bad, okay? Don't… tell anyone.
Since he's going this far to press the issue… there may be more to this than I know.
Haruka Nanami: … O-okay.
I nod as I agree, but… honestly, I'm still really worried. Syo-kun, what's wrong??
どうして? Why not? (+20 Love, +0 Music)
Syo Kurusu: It doesn't... matter why.
Haruka Nanami: Yes it does. You looked like you were in a lot of pain, Syo-kun… We should at least tell one of the teachers…
Syo Kurusu: We don't need to. Please, just listen to me. Don't tell anyone…
Syo-kun pleads with me, gripping the hem of my uniform tightly. He looks really upset.
Haruka Nanami: … All right, then. I won't tell anyone.
Syo Kurusu: Thanks. Seriously, thank you… Just, wish me luck for the real thing, yeah?
Syo-kun breathes a sigh of relief, and his grip loosens.
誰にもって…… No one at all…? (+10 Love, +0 Music)
Haruka Nanami: Not even Kaoru-kun?
Syo Kurusu: No, don't… Especially not him…
Haruka Nanami: Why? He's family…
Syo Kurusu: That's exactly why you can't. You'd be scaring him for no good reason. So please, keep quiet about this, okay?
Haruka Nanami: … I understand.
And now, we're backstage.
Syo-kun seems to have returned to normal in the time we had before the performance. And yet… I can't help but feel uneasy.
Syo Kurusu: We're next… I'll stay calm on stage, no matter what… Stay humble, don't get cocky…
He whispers words of affirmation to himself.
From beside him, I can see an expression of utter confidence on his face, brought about by his focus and determination.
Haruka Nanami: Syo-kun…
I'm still extremely worried, but there's no way I can stop him.
I know that trying would be a waste of effort. Syo-kun isn't the type to let anyone stand in his way.
Syo Kurusu: What I said just now is what I say to myself when the moment of truth finally comes. It helps me get my head in the game… Okay, here I go!
Syo-kun thrusts out his tightly clenched fist, then opens his hand in a single, explosive motion. That's the signal to begin.
Haruka Nanami: Yeah… You've got this.
Otoya Ittoki: Next up, S Class's littlest idol, Syo Kurusu!!
The MC, Otoya Ittoki-kun, introduces Syo-kun.
Syo Kurusu: Syo Kurusu, S Class! I'm gonna dance my heart out!!
Matching the beat of the song, Syo-kun dances exuberantly.
High leaps. Gorgeous footwork. Powerful, energetic movements without a single atom of tiredness anywhere in his body.
I wonder if anyone would ever believe that just thirty minutes earlier, he was clutching his chest in agony…
Syo-kun's dancing is too perfect for anyone to suspect a thing.
Most of all, his brilliant smile never falters. He dances as though overflowing with joy.
Otoya Ittoki: Ladies and gentlemen, Syo Kurusu!!
Syo Kurusu: Thank you very much!!!
Tokiya Ichinose: … Syo, you've really improved.
Ren Jinguji: Excellent work, Shorty!! That one step sequence was superb. Even pros might not hold their own against a performance like that.
Ichinose-san and Jinguji-san, who were watching with the rest of the audience, praise Syo-kun highly.
And yet…
Kaoru Kurusu: …
Kaoru-kun alone watched the performance with a complicated expression, never once taking his eyes off his brother.
Syo Kurusu: See? I told you it'd be fine.
Haruka Nanami: … Yeah. You're okay now, too? Does anything hurt?
Syo Kurusu: I'm a little tired, but… it's the good kind of tired, you know? Right now, it seems like the best feeling in the world!!
Haruka Nanami: Syo-kun, that was amazingly cool! You were dazzling.
Syo Kurusu: Well, if you want to get picky about it, I made plenty of mistakes. But I was able to really give it my all, so I don't have any regrets. It was awesome!!
Haruka Nanami: Yes! It was so obvious you were having a great time. I got excited just watching you. But… I'm still a little worried about your health.
Syo Kurusu: Okay, okay. I was hoping to check out the rest of the festival, but if you're gonna insist, I'll go back to the dorms and rest. Satisfied?
Haruka Nanami: Yeah. Please give yourself plenty of time to recover.
Syo Kurusu: You got it!! I'll be all better by tomorrow!!
Right after our conversation, Syo-kun leaves for the dorms.
Syo-kun… Are you really okay…?
In the end, I get worried enough that I furtively follow after Syo-kun. When I do…
I spot Kaoru-kun lying in wait for him on the path to the dorms.
Syo Kurusu: Kaoru…
Kaoru Kurusu: Syo-chan… you've been having symptoms, haven't you.
Syo Kurusu: Of course not.
Syo-kun looks away, blowing Kaoru-kun off completely.
What does Kaoru-kun mean, symptoms…? What kinds of symptoms?
Could these symptoms have caused the pain Syo-kun went through before the performance?
Kaoru Kurusu: Don't lie!! I could tell just by seeing you up there. You might be able to hide it from everyone else, but you can't fool me.
Syo-kun goes quiet, listening to what Kaoru-kun has to say.
Kaoru Kurusu: Syo-chan, please… let's just go home. Being an idol is more than you can handle. You can't do this.
Kaoru Kurusu: You've always been so careful. Why are you being so stubborn about this?
Syo-kun clenches his fists tightly.
Syo Kurusu: I just… don't want to look bad in front of her…
Kaoru Kurusu: … In front of who? Who is "her"? Whoever she is, she can't be more important than your health, right?
Syo-kun…
What should I do? It's a bit too late to come out of hiding, but I shouldn't be eavesdropping like this.
*Snap.*
While I'm wondering whether or not to leave, I take a careless step and break a twig under my foot.
Syo Kurusu: Who's there!?
Oops…
Haruka Nanami: I'm sorry… It's just me.
I raise a hand weakly, stepping forward.
Syo Kurusu: Haruka… Did you hear…?
I nod.
Syo Kurusu: I see…
Kaoru Kurusu: Syo-chan? What's wrong? Don't tell me you haven't told her anything about this…
Syo Kurusu: Sigh… Honestly, I just couldn't bring myself to do it.
Syo Kurusu: But if you've already heard this much, there's no avoiding it. Haruka…
Syo-kun fixes at me with a serious gaze.
Haruka Nanami: Yes?
Syo Kurusu: I'm sorry I didn't tell you this before. It's important information that you deserved from the start, as my partner.
Haruka Nanami: …
Syo Kurusu: I have a serious heart condition.
Haruka Nanami: Then, what happened earlier was…
Syo Kurusu: That was one of the milder symptoms. It wasn't serious. But... when I overdo it a bit too much, that's what happens.
Syo Kurusu: There were a few times growing up when I was pretty sure I was gonna die from it, but…
Kaoru Kurusu: Syo-chan…
Syo Kurusu: But then I started karate, and got stronger. At this point, it doesn't really affect my everyday life.
Syo Kurusu: Now, I can try as hard as anyone else… and honestly, I want to give it my all… I really hate it when people fuss over me, too.
Syo Kurusu: So, will you please keep quiet about this?
Haruka Nanami: …
I can see the strength of Syo-kun's will shining in his eyes, and simply nod silently.
Syo Kurusu: Thanks. Oh, and don't you worry about it, either. I'm perfectly fine, and I want this to change anything.
Kaoru Kurusu: You're not fine at all!! Are you planning to just keep pushing yourself too far?!?
Kaoru-kun suddenly explodes in Syo-kun's direction.
Syo Kurusu: I'm telling you, this time was just a coincidence. Otherwise I've had plenty of energy, and haven't had any problem staying on top of things.
Kaoru Kurusu: … Syo-chan, you promised before you moved into the dorms that if you experienced any more symptoms, you'd move back home right away. You promised you wouldn't make us worry.
Syo Kurusu: I…
Kaoru Kurusu: Liar… You swore to me you'd come home, and yet even though I'm begging you, you're still…
Syo-chan. Please, please come home.
Syo Kurusu: I'm not going to.
Kaoru Kurusu: Why…? There's no way you can keep this up without hurting yourself. It's too dangerous. What are you thinking?
Syo Kurusu: We've been over this. I came to this school so I could follow my dreams.
Kaoru Kurusu: But forcing yourself to the point of collapse won't grant that wish either!
Syo Kurusu: I'm telling you, I'm fine! I won't be collapsing anytime soon.
Kaoru Kurusu: I don't believe you… There's no proof that you won't. … So I'll just stay here.
Syo Kurusu: What!?
Kaoru Kurusu: Until you come home with me, I'll stay here at your school.
Syo Kurusu: Seriously…?
Kaoru Kurusu: I won't go home!! If you won't look after yourself, Syo-chan, then I'll have to look after you!!
Kaoru Kurusu: If you won't do it, then who else can!? You can't make me leave!!!!
Syo-kun and I exchange perplexed looks.
Syo Kurusu: … and then, well, he just straight-up refused to leave, so I brought him back to my dorm room….
After that, Syo-kun, at a loss for what to do, takes Kaoru-kun with him to his room for the time being.
Of course, he avoids mentioning his heart condition to Natsuki-kun.
He explains that Kaoru-kun is just having a childish tantrum because he doesn't want to leave his side.
Natsuki Shinomiya: How cute!!!
Shinomiya-san, overjoyed, is quick to embrace Kaoru-kun the second he spots him.
Natsuki Shinomiya: You're welcome to stay as long as you like!!
As long as he likes…? I don't think that's allowed…
I hope Kaoru-kun realizes that…
Select the Phrase!
大丈夫……だよね I'm sure it'll be… fine… (+10 Love, +0 Music)
Feeling worried, I glance briefly over at Syo-kun.
When I do…
Syo Kurusu: It'll be fine. Don't look so worried!!
Saying this, Syo-kun pats me kindly on the head.
これから、どうなっちゃうのかな I'm not sure this will end well. (+5 Love, +0 Music)
When I hang my head in worry, he rests his hand on my shoulder.
Syo Kurusu: Don't look at me like that. You don't have to worry. I'll handle this.
Grinning, Syo-kun gives me a thumbs-up.
翔くん…… Syo-kun… (+25 Love, +0 Music)
I suddenly realize that I'm gripping Syo-kun's sleeve tightly.
Syo Kurusu: … Hm? What's wrong?
Haruka Nanami: Ah… no, it's… nothing.
I let go quickly, but with a resigned smile, Syo-kun takes my hand and squeezes.
Syo-kun's hand… it's so warm. The heat I feel from his palm seems to be melting away my worries.
Even though he's in the toughest spot in all this, he's still looking out for me…
I can't accept that. I need to get my act together so I can be the one reassuring him…
MINI GAME
Ryuya Hyuga: Now then, today we're returning to the fundamentals with a rhythm test. "Fundamental" doesn't mean "basic," though, and it'll be harder this time.
Ryuya Hyuga: Relax and go for it!! You wanna be a composer, so impress me!!
Ryuya Hyuga: That said, I'll still be giving you an example first. Try to follow my lead.
Ryuya Hyuga: Let's go!! Don't fall behind!!
S RANK
Syo Kurusu: You know, there are times when I've started to get discouraged. But because you're here with me, always smiling, I've had the will to keep fighting. Thanks.
Haruka Nanami: No, I… I've just wanted to see you do your best…
Haruka Nanami: … If it'll help you, Syo-kun, then I'll never stop smiling.
Haruka Nanami: If you ever start feeling discouraged, don't keep it to yourself, okay? Let me know.
Haruka Nanami: I may not be the most reliable person in the world, but I should be able to support you at least a little bit.
I want to become someone Syo-kun can rely on. The first step is to keep improving my skills as a composer…
Chapter End
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8bit reviews: Shining Song Starnova
I really don't understand why this game had an android idol. Maybe it's to do with the fact that Love in Space make sci-fi visual novels, and that's why they had an android idol in this game. Shining Song Starnova is a visual novel where you play as Mr. Producer (who has a name, but it comes up very infrequently, it's Kaoru Nishiyama by the way), the producer for a small-time idol group made up of former/disgraced idols and a few other girls who seem to have signed on to the group for a lark. It's up to you help these girls achieve their dreams of making the group a success despite the deck that is incredibly stacked against the girls. Whether you succeed depends entirely on which route you're on because in some of the routes the plot dictates the group breaks up.
The characters who make up your idol group are: Mariya Yamamoto, a twenty-five year old woman who used to belong to another idol group known as Quasar. Natsuki Tanabe, a girl from Osaka who has gumption and enthusiasm. Nemu Akimoto, she has boobs and a DARK SECRET(TM). Julie Watanabe, a half-American, half-Japanese girl who doesn't fit in neatly to japanese culture man. Mika Hashimoto, the obligatory anime nerd. Aki Kashiwagi, another former idol who will do anything to reclaim her former glory and become the number one idol in Japan. And lastly: Sasami Shimazaki, the main girl. The generally uninteresting girl who doesn't have the sheer force of personality of other characters, and has the sort of generic anime girl look that just says "there she is, the generic main love interest in every anime ever. The one the hero will inevitably wind up with in the end." This games Shiori Fujisaki, if you will.
I would like to introduce to you now the main two thesis statements of Shining Song Starnova. The idol industry is a cruel meat grinder where only the most cutthroat and duplicitous will survive. If you're not prepared to backstab and connive your way to victory you will inevitably be chewed up and spit out by the machine. Be it the cruel machinations of the higher ups in management, the vindictive pettiness of your fellow idols, or the cruelest of all: audience indifference and their fickle nature. Just to make sure you're perfectly aware of where the game stands it will go out of its way to repeat to you dozens of times during the various routes just what a deadly dire game idol fame is. By all that is holy and good in the universe does the game want you to know that the entertainment industry is a diabolical and loathsome machine.
The character Mariya will grab the plot by the neck, force it to stop just to reiterate what a dread beast the idol industry (and indeed all entertainment) truly truly is. Another way it loves to constantly berate you and shove the message in your face is with the constant and lengthy diatribes about the fickle nature of fandom.
Your fans will love you all the way to the gallows, and cheer when you suffer indignities that besmirch your name and leave your life a ruined mess. Your precious fans will turn on you on a dime just to chase after the newest latest and greatest, and lap up any and all drama they can bleed from you personally.
As the game puts it "uplifting messages are good and all, but what people really want is blood. Nothing excites people more than seeing a beautiful girl get torn down."
The second thesis statement is: holy shit blowjobs are awesome!
The thing is despite how thick the game lays it on about the media machine/idol industry if the game was actually about that I wouldn't have minded so much. There are times where it seems really indecisive about whether you're trying to lead the group to success or simply trying to navigate the minefield of each girls personality.
Three of the routes are largely about it, and incidentally those are the routes that actually feel like they have any real substance to them. At a certain point in the game you have to choose one of the seven girls to be "the center" of the group, the leader of this idol unit. Then the game goes on a largely disconnected plot centered on whichever girl you choose. The problem with the branching narrative is you can tell which ones are the important ones, and which ones really feel like they were written due to a sense of obligation. Which is really unfortunate, if you like the characters Mika, Natsuki, Nemu, or to a lesser extent Julie you get to see just how little they matter to the larger narrative. Which is doubly unfortunate because you would assume that the plot point of Nemu's mental illness, or Julie's brush with death would be fairly substantial plot points. Alas they don't really matter, except for a couple of mentions during Sasami's route whatever plot/drama that occurs in any of the other routes simply doesn't exist. Nemu's psychosis for instance is never brought up except to make one or two yandere jokes at her expense, and Julie's scandals just don't exist in every route that's not hers.
It's a shame because I feel that these routes could have felt more like something of substance rather than simply filler arcs meant to prolong the game until you get to the three routes that actually matter. The character Mika, for instance, her plot about overcoming her insecurities and feelings of being nothing more than a sex object has some strong narrative strings to it. Instead it amounts to very little, you make a rather unconvincing speech about sticking to your values instead of accepting that the entertainment industry is just sex sex sex. What makes it worse and feels like it was rushed to its finish is the fact that her story features a character who hates what Mika has become by turning into nothing but a whore and not living up to his personal ideas of what she should be. So her main character struggle is "no one values her except for as a sex object" but her main outside antagonistic force despises her for doing fan-service roles in an adaptation of an anime she likes.
Meanwhile Natsuki gets nothing, large swathes of time pass without anything really affecting the plot. But the larger plot point she has about the bank foreclosing on her family's farm gets mentioned in the main routes so I guess that's fine. You get two to three hours (depending on individual reading speed) of drama that doesn't actually do anything about her family losing the family farm, but they make a brief one sentence reference in Sasami's route so I guess that makes up for it! Again, this is a plot point that I feel could have been something rather than the damp squib it really is. Having to utilize your idol groups newfound fame and prestige in an effort to organize some sort of charity drive to save the farm? That could be something, there are plenty of movies about those scrappy youths banding together to save the rec center from those evil land surveyors. Plus you would get the benefit of at least one of the stories not being a depressing read all the way through.
Nemu's plot involves her having to deal with the fact she has some sort of heredity psychosis she got from her mother who was also an idol back in her youth. This makes her occasionally imagine scenarios where people are conniving to displace her or steal her loved ones away from her. The route reaches its inevitable conclusion where her mental issues causes her to lash out physically and ruin the life of another idol, and in her bad ending become a murderer. Again though, outside of this route nothing ever comes up of her mental issues. They make reference to her DARK SECRET(TM) about her birth, but it comes up once and just as quickly gets swept away. As with Mika and Natsuki's paths I feel this really could have been a decent arc, unfortunately it just gets wrapped up rather quickly and just feels like a waste. Also in the first chapter, before you select the individual paths of the girls, they all but say that Nemu is some sort of psychic. That's all they ever say about it. It never comes up at all, which is especially weird given the whole "gonna kill that bitch for trying to steal producer-kun" plot.
The character I feel that gets it the worst is Julie, her plot anyway. Since she's a half-American half-Japanese girl, she butts heads with Japanese culture, and is a walking scandal magnet. This comes to a head mid-way through her route. This one I felt really could have been a plot that could involve all of the girls because of the realness of the subject matter. However except for one other character all of the other girls in the group basically cease to exist until the ending. It's infuriating to me because this is the one arc outside of the main three that had the strongest core to it. However it wasn't to be, and it just sort of meandered around until it was over.
Arriving to the final three routes it becomes quite obvious these were the important routes. For one they are significantly longer than the other routes, get more unique CG scenes, and generally have a more complete feel to the writing (again, some more than others). Mariya's plotline has to do with the fact that Mariya is in her late twenties and is considered over the hill in the idol game. By god do they not want you to forget that once you hit twenty-five your life as an idol is basically done. But it's not just ageism in the entertainment industry you also get to find out what events forced Mariya out of the business years ago and why she became the heavy-drinking chainsmoker she was at the start of the game. It's because: points at paragraph three also because the former leader of Quasar was a stabilizing force for peace and when she got taken out and replaced with a new center Quasar become a ferocious den of monsters etc etc.
Aki Kashiwagi's plotline meanwhile has to deal with the fact that she is literally killing herself in her efforts to become the number one idol in Japan. And also! The entertainment industry is a terrible den of wolves and with chew you up and swallow you whole, and maybe your mother who's forcing you into it might just be an irredeemable shitbag. Until the plot decides she isn't anyway.
Sasami's route is one of the hardest to talk about because of the sheer amount of spoilers that have to be discussed. On the one hand this truly is the best of the routes because this is what I honestly thought the game was going to be mostly about, the day to day minutiae about the industry. The skullduggery, the frankly great writing on display. But I don't think it really saves the game because for one it takes well over twenty four hours to get to this point. Twenty four hours of misery porn, questionable writing, and some of the worst sex analogies I've read. Also despite the fact I find Sasami's route to be generally better written than the rest of the game it doesn't get away entirely unscathed and has some terrible writing throughout. The completely out of left field Tropic Thunder reference stands out to me as one such an example.
One of the larger issues I have with the game is the lack of choices that are on offer. Every path is a linear plotline until you are given one singular choice that will either almost instantly give you a bad ending, or the good ending. There are only three characters who get a section with a blistering TWO choice segments but the differences are minuscule at best and don't affect the plot in any real way. Two of the choices that I remember basically amount to the chosen girl saying bullshit to your choice, and the plot marches forward regardless. It's somewhat respectable to whittle the choices down to a binary "fail" and "don't fail" button, but isn't that why we're here? To see just how bad/miserable the paths can get? I suppose I was just expecting the bad endings to go slightly longer than clicking the bad answer and then a character immediately dies! At least with Mika and Aki's bad ending you get something before it abruptly ends. Also this is going to sound like the minorest of nitpicks, but I wish the game let you save when you have to choose which girl is going to be the center of the group. Two clicks isn't a major issue, but it was just a small annoyance. Very small, microscopically small.
I believe we've gone as far as we can without dipping into major spoilers. I know I gave away the entirety of Natsuki's plot and most of Mika's but honestly without what I had written there their plots would have been summarized as: They exist! If you're interested in Shining Song Starnova I wouldn't recommend playing the game (read the VN, whatever). It isn't a particularly good story, and the constant beating of the drums of "entertainment industry bad, all the fans are shit, den of wolves" really drags down the story. The art isn't particularly great, it took a while to get used to the western anime look of the characters, and honestly if it's anime porn (or anime style porn) you're after there is so much out there that there's really no need to endure this miserable miserable experience.
Spoilers for Shining Song Starnova
I do sort of wonder what this game is like in its non-18+ version. There are numerous scenes of sex and nudity that help move the plot along. I especially wonder what that version is like considering what a major role pedophilia and rape play during at least three of the routes. Of course there's no sex scenes involving minors, nor any nudity during said pedophilia moments, but it does play a pretty major factor during Aki and Sasami's routes.
Aki, Mariya, and Sasami's paths are the most important of the paths because of how deeply they dive into the behind the scenes nature of idol groups and the in-fighting between both the talent and the management of said groups. While the other four routes do feature some element about managing the talent it really feels like a small side thing that's unrelated to the larger narrative for whichever girl you choose. More so Nemu and Natuski's routes, because even though they're unimportant to the larger narrative Mika and Julie's routes do feature the entertainment industry to a larger degree.
One of the main problems I have with the game and its story is that in hindsight it makes every route except for Mariya, Aki and Sasami's just feel like a waste of time. Sure some terrible things can happen during these routes but it all feels rather weightless and inconsequential. It feels the worst during Julie's route because in today's terrible world a story about an idol being attacked by a crazed fan during one of their events is a surprisingly poignant and topical inclusion. It really feels like a missed opportunity to not examine the topic more than they did. Surely a crazed fan attacking one of the group would have had long lasting implications for the rest of the group, least of all Aki, who got injured during said attack. Instead the game just sort of shunts them off to the side to focus on Julie, and the fact she gets over the effects of the attack in a surprisingly quick pace. I'm not saying it needed to have Mika or whoever's woes on top of Julie's, because god knows I was getting really annoyed when during Mariya's story it kept focusing on Aki. It just feels like the game could have been entirely about an event like that instead of the disparate stories we did get.
Also I can't really think of a good place to put it, but the game also has some very unfortunate implications that all a girl needs to get over mental illness/trauma/crippling self doubts is a good dicking. Shortly after the attack Julie and Producer-san go on the run to get away from it all. The pair inevitably fuck, and within minutes of game time Julie seems to be largely over the incident. But this isn't the only time Producer-san's magical penis saves the day. During Mika's story when she's at her lowest point she has sex with Producer-san and regains her self confidence, and in the bad ending of her route it can also convince her to join the porn industry. The most mystifying and poorly thought out one though is the sex scene in Nemu's path. During her path Nemu is going through some dark times and the psychosis she's inherited from her mother starts to make her insanely paranoid that everyone is out against her. This ranges from her assuming Mika is out to steal Producer-san away, to believing her stepmother had attempted to kill her and her birth mother. But when she has sex with Producer-san in the good ending his magical penis seemingly cures her of whatever hereditary psychosis she has.
I would like to circle back to the girls' individual paths to talk about the bad endings in the routes. This is also a thinly veiled excuse to complain about some of the flimsy plot. During Natsuki's path there's a moment where the group films a segment for the local news to save the family farm. However, the company that owns Quasar, Golden Calf Entertainment uses their power to get the segment removed from the show they're set to debut on. During the only choice in the section if you beg to have the segment run Natsuki leaves you. Nothing prior to the leaving had implied that's the character she was, and it just comes out of left field. Mika's meanwhile if you tell her that indeed the entertainment industry is just sex the game gives you a sex scene and then Mika leaves your company to become a full-time porn star. In Mariya's bad ending you have her retire being an idol during the Idol Grand Prix. Mariya then slides back into her alcoholism, and disappears, never to be seen again.
I made mention during the relatively spoiler free section that there are bad endings that as soon as you click them a girl just immediately dies. One of which is sort of sign posted, during Aki's route a doctor tells Producer-kun that if Aki keeps going at the rate she's going she will die. Then shortly after this revelation you have to either tell Aki to keep going, or cool her jets for a minute (I'm paraphrasing). If you have her perform to the top of her ability in one instant Aki suffers a severe heart attack that kills her instantly. Which to be fair the game did warn you about ahead of time, but it's just so sudden that it comes across as little more than a game over screen. The other death is much more random than Aki's death. During Julie's route you're overseeing a fan meet and greet, where the game offers you the choice to see if the neurotic nerd girl who's prone to shutting down during times of social interaction is doing alright or not. If you opt to see how she's getting along Julie is stabbed to death instantly by a crazed fan. Nothing foreshadows it, it just abruptly happens, which to be fair happens if you check on Julie anyway, but the difference there is Julie escapes with her life.
This was written some time after I had wrote the preceding texts. But I'll be honest with you midway writing the review I just couldn't do it any more. The sheer scope of the pointlessness and irritation I felt from playing/reading this Visual Novel just drained me and I just gave up. And I've tried continuing this! Since April I have gone back to it at least once monthly to try to find a way to continue on and actually go over what happens in the routes. Perhaps some day I will, maybe by April 2024 I'll have re-edited this to get rid of this paragraph and make this fucking behemoth of a review actually be complete.
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