Parallel World - Ch. 8

 
PREVIOUS CHAPTER

Parallel World - “Cuteness is Unjust” Chapter 8

Writer: Akira

Season: Winter

Location: Tomoya’s Dorm Room

(10 minutes later)

Tomoya:

I-I’m really sorry about this.

Hajime:

N-Nii~chan ♪ Shall I make you some tea? I promise it’s good ♪

Mitsuru:

Ahaha! Hajime-chan, sometimes when ya mess up, you offer to make some tea to gloss over it!

Hajime:

A-And why are you laughing like this has nothing to do with you? You fell asleep too, Mitsuru-kun, so you’re just as guilty as me?!

Mitsuru:

What’s so wrong about fallin’ asleep when you’re tired~?

If anything, the way you wouldn’t wake up even when the rest of us were makin’ so much noise must mean that you’re pretty tired, Hajime-chan. Shouldn’t ya try to get more sleep each night?

Hajime:

D-Don’t change the subject! You’re the one who’s in trouble right now!

Tomoya:

Ahaha. I remember when I used to see this kinda scene play out all the time. Hajime acting like a big brother and lecturing Mitsuru.

Hajime:

I-I’m not acting like a big brother, I really am a big brother, you know? Back home! Don’t make fun of me! Whose side are you on, Tomoya-kun?!

Tomoya:

Anyway, now’s not the time to be squabbling amongst ourselves, right?

Nazuna:

Tomo-chin is right~ All of you take some deep breaths and calm down.

Hajime:

Uuu… In… And out…

Mitsuru:

In, out, in, out…

Hey, is there some sorta weirdly sweet perfume comin’ from the ceiling in here?

Tomoya:

Oh, sometimes Ayase-senpai lights things. It’s some sort of aroma something or other.

Hajime:

I feel like it might affect the flavor of the tea… Wait, no, never mind that.

Things got a little bit all over the place, but let’s go back to what we were talking about. Now that I had a decent nap, my head is much clearer and I feel like I could stay up all night chatting if needed.

Nazuna:

Right, that’s why we’re all here.

Mitsuru:

I got all tired while we were talkin’ earlier so I fell asleep! Wahaha☆

So I kinda forgot. What were we talkin’ about again?

Hajime:

Please don’t forget… It’s a very important topic.

Tomoya:

Right. And now that Nii~chan’s joined us again, let’s go back over things from the top.

Frankly speaking, this might be the greatest pinch Ra*bits have ever experienced.

Mitsuru:

Is it? But you guys looked way more gloomy back when we first got together around the spring of S2, or during last year’s Repayment Fest?

Tomoya:

To be honest, this still doesn’t feel like it’s actually happening… Part of that is probably because Bishojo-senpai feels like a fictional character who’s totally detached from our world.

And I’m still in shock that something like this would actually happen to us.

Nazuna:

I get it~ It’s the feeling of shock you get when your brain can’t process reality so you just freeze up.

(I felt the same that day when I was on stage as part of Valkyrie. The music stopped all of a sudden, and my head went completely blank…

I was totally freaking out when I suddenly heard Mika-chin singing.

I can still remember it clearly to this day.)

~...♪

Tomoya:

Hm…? Why did you suddenly start singing, Nii~chan?

Mitsuru:

Starmony Dorm is supposed to be totally soundproofed, so it should be fine to start singin’ out loud even at night, right?

Tomoya:

No, that’s not what I’m concerned about…

Nazuna:

…This is what Bishojo-senpai is trying to steal away from us.

Tomoya:

……

Nazuna:

They’re trying to shut us up.

They’re trying to strip away the outfits we put our heart into crafting for ourselves by picking out the materials from scratch and making sure they suit us. They claim this style doesn’t work for us.

They even got our agency to take action by putting pressure on them.

Hajime:

I-I’m sure there’s a profound reason behind Ideia-sama’s thought process—

They said that they’re fond of us and that they’re doing this out of concern.

Nazuna:

And what if that’s just something they’re saying? It wasn’t that long ago that parents and teachers used corporal punishment on kids and claimed it was for their own benefit. How’s it any different from that?

Hajime:

But Ideia-sama has done so much for me all this time.

Back when I was going through a rough patch, they took me in and acted so kindly to me, making sure to look out for me.

Right now, while I may not be perfect, I’m praised for my cuteness as an idol and I’ve managed to earn a place I belong to.

A lot of that is, of course, thanks to Ra*bits, but there’s no doubt that Ideia-sama has played a huge role too.

Ideia-sama has become like a shield guarding me from behind and exercising their influence over everyone around me.

Mitsuru:

But if they should’ve been protectin’ ya like that all along, why are they suddenly tryin’ to destroy us? I seriously don’t get them at all!

Hajime:

W-Well, that’s because… The situation has changed…

Nazuna:

The thing about the utopia for female idols? That’s a questionable story if you ask me.

Hajime:

Wh-What do you mean…?

NEXT CHAPTER

–

Translation by:

Ara @. nazunyan427

Proofreader: 

Sophie @.ra_bits_daisuki

Parallel World - Ch. 9

 
PREVIOUS CHAPTER

Parallel World - “Cuteness is Unjust” Chapter 9

Writer: Akira

Season: Winter

Location: Tomoya’s Dorm Room

Nazuna:

A couple of things had been bugging me all day, so I ended up contacting a couple of reliable sources to ask them what they knew during my lectures—

Hajime:

Y-You should really pay attention during classes, Nii~chan.

Nazuna:

I normally take my classes pretty seriously… But to be frank, now’s just not the time to be focusing on that.

Anyway, I asked a bunch of guys who have insider knowledge about the industry, but none of them have heard anything about what Bishojo-senpai said, even as a passing rumor.

Tomoya:

S-So the whole thing is completely made up?

Nazuna:

I’m not sure. But even if it is completely made up, why would Bishojo-senpai lie about that?

So, back when I was at Yumenosaki, I’d often go information-gathering as part of the broadcasting committee.

Tomoya:

The broadcasting committee was basically like an organization for all of the conspiracies floating around, wasn’t it?

Nazuna:

Yeah. And what I came to know back then, was that if you can’t find any information about something, it means one of two things: that whatever it is, is total B.S., or conversely, that makes it more likely to be true.

Extreme measures have been put in place to cover-up whatever’s going on precisely because they don’t want anyone else to know about it. And so, no matter how hard they search, no one can find a thing.

It’s because there’s nothing there, that ironically means something is going on. I can’t really explain it well.

Mitsuru:

Ya mean like when a weapon should absolutely have fingerprints, but there’s nothin’ there at all, and that’s what makes it suspicious?

Nazuna:

Oh, yeah. Like that. That’s an unusual thing for you to say, Mitsuru-chin.

Mitsuru:

A staff member said that to me on-set back when I was on this cop drama.

They were like, uh… there to make sure that everything was bein’ portrayed as realistically as possible.

Hajime:

You keep on building up experience after experience, Mitsuru-kun… I feel like you’re going to end up leaving me behind.

Mitsuru:

Don’t worry! If ya end up fallin’ behind, I’ll just grab ya by the hand and pull ya forward with me!

Hajime:

I don’t want to end up holding you back by mistake… This is probably part of what Ideia-sama was trying to say too.

Hehe. I feel like we just keep coming back to the same thing.

Aren’t we actually better off just focusing on cuteness? Are we really going to end up at a plateau if we don’t explore all sorts of different directions?

No… Are we really so cute that we can say with absolute confidence that that’s our ultimate appeal?

I’m really starting to doubt everything… Should we really be so focused on sticking to cuteness?

Maybe everything Ideia-sama said was something that only I never realized. Maybe everyone else has the same collective opinion after all.

Tomoya:

So Bishojo-senpai is suggesting that we’re not even that cute at all, and we need to stop forcing ourselves to act that way? And just change direction already? Wouldn’t that be just finding fault with us based on a personal opinion?

Hajime:

But if someone as influential as Ideia-sama said that, then—

Tomoya:

Are you really sure that every single thing someone says is correct just because they’re an influential figure?

Hajime:

B-But! Tomoya-kun! I’ve looked up to this person for so long…!

Tomoya:

Ah, ah~ah~! I’m sorry! Don’t cry, Hajime! I didn’t mean to make it seem like I was ganging up on you!

Hajime:

I’m not crying! I’m not some little kid! Don’t make fun of me!

Tomoya:

I-I wasn’t making fun of you, but you always were a crybaby.

Nazuna:

Ah~ Well, we’re all a little bit emotionally distressed at the moment… And I’m sure Hajime-chin is still in shock right now.

But we all need to calm down. You said it yourself, Tomo-chin; now’s not the time to be squabbling amongst ourselves.

All that talk about a utopia for female idols is still up in the air, but one thing's for certain—Bishojo-senpai is standing between us and our agency.

And our agency has caved in to pressure from that senpai and is making us give up on our cuteness.

So right now, we need to seriously think about our future and whether we'll be able to forcibly change direction like that.

Hajime:

But what would that even entail…? Being told to give up on cuteness is such a vague order, and I can’t even predict what would happen as a result.

Nazuna:

Well, we’ll find out pretty soon. Probably. Whether we like it or not.

All we know is that from tomorrow onwards, things can’t stay the same as they were yesterday.

I suppose we seriously need to brace ourselves for that. Not even I can predict how all of this is going to play out.

Tomoya:

Nii~chan, if not even you have any idea despite all of your experience, then the rest of us definitely don’t have a clue…

Mitsuru:

Yeah… I feel so lost ‘cause I have no idea what’s goin’ on.

NEXT CHAPTER

–

Translation by:

Ara @. nazunyan427

Proofreader: 

Sophie @.ra_bits_daisuki

Parallel World - Ch. 10

 

PREVIOUS CHAPTER

Parallel World - “The Bad Kid Survival Strategy” Chapter 10

Writer: Akira

Season: Winter

(One week later. Madara Mikejima’s little sister’s rehabilitation center.)

Mitsuru:

Ta-dah~! ♪

There! Look, look, now it looks like we’re in a field of flowers~!

Ehehe. I don’t really like this room ‘cause it feels so gloomy, but all these pretty flowers’ll fill it with color and their pretty smell! So now it’s like we’re outside!

Like we’re under the sun! Right? And look, if we hold hands and move like this it feels like we’re runnin’ outside! Dash, dash, dash~ ☆

Madara:

…I sure wish you wouldn’t make my little sister go along with your crazy behavior.

Thanks to your influence, she’s becoming needlessly energized which is turning into a bit of a hassle.

Mitsuru:

Oh! Mike-chan-senpai! Caught ya, caught ya, caught~!

Madara:

Whoa there!

Mitsuru:

Don’t try to escape! Put your hands up and come quietly! You’re under arrest!

Madara:

Don’t jump at me like that. Surely you know better than to make a fuss in this sort of facility?

Mitsuru:

But if I don’t catch ya, you’re just gonna escape on me again!

Madara:

I really wish you’d just let me go already… Look, you’re much stronger, faster, and a superior idol to me. There, satisfied?

Mitsuru:

No! None of that counts until I’ve accepted it myself!

Madara:

You really are a bothersome kid.

Though I guess that’s why you and my little sister get along so well.

I suppose I do at least owe you an obligatory thank you. Apparently you come and visit my sister a lot?

That’s what the receptionist told me just now. And she made sure to glare at me and comment that today’s the first time she’s seen me in ages.

Mitsuru:

You’re supposed to be Guu~chan’s big brother. You guys are family, so you should really come and visit her a ton more!

Madara:

So, you call her Guu~chan? What about her is so Guu-d?

My misfortunate little sister has always been the gloomy sort, and a real schemer at that. She’s a bad kid rather than a good one.

Mitsuru:

‘Cause that’s her name! She’s called “Maguro”, so I call her “Guu~chan”!

“Maa~chan” sounds too much like your name, “Madara”, so I don’t like that, and Guu~chan doesn’t like it either!

Madara:

Quite the unpopular guy here, aren't I? I suppose I brought this on myself, karmic retribution and all that.

Mitsuru:

If ya don’t wanna be disliked, you should put in the effort for us to like you more?

…That’s what I’m tryin’ to do lately.

Madara:

Yeah, I heard you guys have found yourself in quite the tricky situation.

You Ra*bits are normally so peaceful—flouncing about without a care in the world, but now you’re in the center of a pretty scandalous plot.

On the contrary, Double Face—or rather just me—happens to be the subject of a plot that seems peaceful and carefree at first glance.

Unusual events are unfolding one after the other lately, to the point where I feel myself becoming practically religious these days… Do you think we’d better perform an exorcism at ES just to be safe?

Oh, that was a joke, by the way.

Are you guys in Ra*bits really okay? 

Mitsuru:

No, not at all! Nothing’s okay about this! My head feels like it’s gonna explode!

Madara:

As expected, huh.. Not that I’m particularly interested in you, but I just so happen to be in a position where I hear a lot about what’s going on, whether I chose to or not.

The super-idol Kirarai Dearu, otherwise known as Bishojo-senpai, is guilty of power harassment against you guys, and now all your work has dried up.

Mitsuru:

Yeah… All of a sudden, any sorta jobs focusing on “cuteness” have completely vanished.

We can still do jobs that focus on being cool, so it’s not like work has totally dried up.

But Hajime-chan’s not used to gettin’ offers for that sort of job at all. And since he’s left with nothing to do, he’s wanderin’ around worryin’ himself sick. I can’t stand seein’ him like this.

I feel like he’s seriously gonna get ill any day now.

But I’ve never worried so seriously about anything like this before, so I don’t even know what I should say to him.

Madara:

And so, you’ve come to my incessantly gloomy little sister to ask for advice? No one knows the way of a snake better than a snake herself.

Mitsuru:

What are you comparing a cute girl to a snake for? You should compare her to somethin’ like a bunny, or a kitty cat—

Wait, no. I can’t go sayin’ ya have to talk about her a certain way just ‘cause she’s a girl. Man~ This is so complicated…

Madara:

? Has Arashi-san said something to you about that?

Mitsuru:

Mhm-mhm. But that Kide, Ide… What was it again? Our enemy with the long name, Bishojo-senpai, seems like the type to be concerned about that sorta thing?

In order to win a war, it’s important to get to know the enemy. Isn’t that what someone once said?

Madara:

Your enemy, huh? Hahaha! You’ve really gone and made an actual enemy.

Isn’t this great? Everyone’s always been so kind and soft on you Ra*bits.So if anything, you had a more warped point of view of the world back at Yumenosaki. Frankly, it made me sick.

Doesn’t the thought of having a true rival get you all fired up? I’d go as far as to say I’m jealous; this sounds like the events right out of a manga ♪

Mitsuru:

If you’re jealous, then I’d rather just trade ya… No, I can’t say that. This is our problem to solve.

We have to do our best to think it over and figure out what the right answer is. Even though I suck at thinkin’.

And that’s why I’m here to borrow Guu~chan’s advice, since she’s way smarter than me.

Madara:

My, my. Mitsuru-san seems to have placed an unusual amount of trust in you, my misfortunate little sister.

NEXT CHAPTER

–

Translation by:

Ara @. nazunyan427

Proofreader: 

Sophie @.ra_bits_daisuki

Parallel World - Ch. 11

 PREVIOUS CHAPTER

Parallel World - “The Bad Kid Survival Strategy” Chapter 11

Writer: Akira

Season: Winter

Location: Madara Mikejima’s little sister’s rehabilitation center.

Madara:

Well? What advice would a bad kid like you give these poor little bunnies who are being bullied by some big higher-up, Maguro?

Uwha?! All I did was say your name and you spit in my face?! Who's responsible for raising you? I’m supposed to be your big brother?!

Mitsuru:

Ahaha. You’ve never acted like a big brother to her at all, so it’s no surprise she’s not gonna treat ya like one.

It seems like Guu~chan’s managed to come up with a plan. But she said she’s leavin’ it up to us whether or not we wanna carry it out.

Apparently if we decide to go with it, it’s gonna involve playin’ dirty… But Guu~chan said she doesn’t want to see us hafta play dirty.

Madara:

Oho? I’ve got it! Does this plan involve assassinating this Kirarai Dearu in question?

Quench that stink straight from the source! Once you take out the main boss, that’ll settle everything! Make sure to serve ‘em up good!

Mitsuru:

What are you sayin’? Mike-chan-senpai, are you stupid?

Madara:

Hahaha! Ticks me off to be called stupid by someone just as stupid!

Mitsuru:

Yeah. And since I’m so stupid, I always leave thinkin’ about everything to everyone else.

So everyone always has to think about stuff on my behalf too.

And since it’s like they’ve gotta carry my baggage on top of everythin’ else, it’s extra stressful for them.

So I feel really bad about that. Like, I feel real shameful.

But this time, I’m gonna think too. And since I suck at thinkin’, I came to borrow advice from Guu~chan, since she’s so smart.

I’ll do whatever I can to help Ra*bits outta this trap we’re danglin’ over.

Don’t ya have any complaints, Mike-chan-senpai?

Madara:

No?

I’m very impressed right now. No, I actually admire your straightforward approach a lot.

Souma-san and Chiaki-san are the same. Maybe it’s one of the qualities that makes someone a hero…?

Instead of forcing yourself to act tough, you accept your own flaws, and ask others around you for help in order to improve yourself.

And it’s because you continue to improve that you won’t lose to anyone.

I have no proof and I may be just saying this, but I know for sure that you’re not going to lose this time either.

Mitsuru:

I sure hope so…

Madara:

…Oh, look at that. Visiting hours are coming to an end.

Mitsuru:

Hm? But Mike-chan-senpai, you just got here?

Madara:

You've been talking to her for quite a while, haven’t you? And in that time, a bunch of reporters thirsty for gossip happened to have swarmed around this building, you know.

I noticed them when I was taking care of another matter and about to head home.

Since I heard from the receptionist that you were here visiting my sister, I hurried over here.

Mitsuru:

Huh? What are reporters doin’ here…?

Madara:

Hahaha. Whether you like it or not, Ra*bits are a hot topic at the moment.

You may not be all that pleased about suddenly being thrusted into the spotlight, considering you’re the type to have gradually built your fanbase all this time.

But when you’re an idol, there’s no such thing as bad publicity. Whether you can turn this pinch into an opportunity all depends on you guys.

And so. See that exit over there, Mitsuru-san? You go and escape through there.

Mitsuru:

Huh? What? How come?

Madara:

I’ve become the odd subject of a separate topic, so once the reporters catch sight of me at the front, they’ll latch onto me instead.

In other words, I’ll become a decoy, giving you a chance to escape. Fufufu, these kinds of diversionary tactics remind me of Souma-san back in the day.

Mitsuru:

…? …?

Madara:

You’re not used to dealing with these kinds of reporters, correct?

In other words, I’m going to take your place, so that you don’t slip up and say something careless.

Mitsuru:

I mean, I’d be grateful for that, but… You doin’ somethin’ so nice is so weird that to be honest, I can’t really accept it.

Madara:

How awful! Even I can help people out of the goodness of my heart from time to time.

But if you won’t accept that, then how about this? There are all kinds of people with their eyes on you right now, far more than you can even imagine.

And if they hear about one of their “clean, pure, beautiful, young male idols” sneaking around and fraternizing with a girl his age…

—And that sort of gossip makes it to the tabloids, then it’s bound to cause trouble for the other members of Ra*bits, won’t it?

Mitsuru:

A girl my age—but Guu~chan and I are just friends?

Madara:

The world will definitely see it in a different light. Even though everyone demands innocence and purity, their own characters and sensibilities are all muddied.

After all, that’s how humans are. Everyone just ends up envying the people who possess the things they want.

Even though we’re all human, with the same kind of flesh and blood; an angelic, God-like level of sanctity and purity is demanded from idols alone.

I really don’t feel like seeing that sort of crowd getting the wrong idea and making a fuss about falling into despair. And, for the record, this is my little sister we’re talking about.

I’m not so much of a failure as a human that I can just sit back with a smile at the sight of a bunch of strangers using my little sister as a toy.

That’s all there is to it, really. Do you get it now, Mitsuru-san?

Mitsuru:

Yeah… Right, if anythin’ I’m really sorry that I never realized any of this, Guu~chan.

I love talkin’ to ya ‘cause you’re so smart. You even make me start to feel like I’m gettin’ smarter too just by spendin’ time with ya. It makes me so happy! So that’s why I come and visit ya even without ya askin’ me.

But now I see how this could end up makin’ trouble for you too.

Madara:

Well, what I said did sound quite threatening. But if anything like that did happen, both my folks and I would take action.

And the truth is if anyone started making a fuss, they sure would soon regret it.

But now’s not the time for you to get involved in any unnecessary sort of trouble, is it?

Mitsuru:

Yeah… That’s true.

But I promise that I’m gonna sort all of this out. And once things calm down again, I’ll be right back to visit you. And I’ll be more careful next time and bring even prettier flowers with me.

So don’t worry; just keep on watchin’ over me, Guu~chan. I wanna be able to come to ya for help the next time I’m worried about somethin’.

Okay? Pinky promise! A promise between two friends!

When there’s someone I wanna see, I’m gonna dash as fast as my legs’ll carry me so I can be with them as soon as possible!

I’m gonna grow into such a big, strong man that no one’ll have any complaints, and you’ll easily be able to forgive me for somethin’ like this—that’s how I'm gonna be!

NEXT CHAPTER

–

Translation by:

Ara @. nazunyan427

Proofreader: 

Sophie @.ra_bits_daisuki