Parallel World - Ch. 12

 

PREVIOUS CHAPTER

Parallel World - “The Bad Kid Survival Strategy” Chapter 12

Writer: Akira

Season: Winter

(One week later. Starmony Dorm Theater Room.)

Tomoya:

No way this is gonna work.

Nazuna:

Yeah… Sorry, I don’t think I can do this either.

Mitsuru:

Huh~? How come, how come? I thought it was pretty funny. Ra*bits playin’ dirty…☆

Hajime:

F-For the record, the official name of the project is “Parallel Ra*bits.”

We asked dozens of idols, pro and amateur alike, to make use of the SSVRS and transform into Ra*bits.

And then each of them performed in the same way they always do, albeit while looking completely like us.

For example, Akatsuki performed in their traditional, Japanese style, and Undead performed rock and roll.

Nazuna:

Yeah. That way, we’ve been able to see all sorts of Ra*bits from an audience’s perspective, which should help us figure out what direction we’d be best suited to go in. 

That was the plan, anyway.

Tomoya:

But it’s a total failure… 

Surprisingly, Mitsuru was the one who put forward this proposal and was really adamant about trying it. So I figured, well, maybe a miracle is about to happen. That’s why I went along with it.

Mitsuru:

What? So this is my fault? But I just took Guu~chan’s idea—

Tomoya:

No. I’m the one who made the final decision to try it out, so the blame lies with me.

I’m the Leader of Ra*bits, after all. The ultimate responsibility belongs to me.

But. We’re completely broke after using up all of our L$ to pay the other idols for helping us out. And speaking of which, so many people applied that it’s taking ages for everything to get approved.

Thanks to all that, we haven’t been able to be very active as a unit at all. Though I guess work has all but dried up for us right now, so maybe that’s not so much of a problem.

I’m scared of how the world is going to react… To be honest, I’m starting to worry we strayed completely off path?

Nazuna:

Mhm. We may not know which direction we should turn and run in, but it’s better than just staying still and letting ourselves get put completely out of business.

Hajime:

You’re so positive, Nii~chan…♪

Nazuna:

All we can do right now is stay positive, even if we have to force ourselves. It’s not like we can go back now.

That awful Bishojo-senpai was as good as their word. They put pressure on our agency, and completely stripped “cuteness” away from us.

Hajime:

Ideia-sama basically reigns over the world of all things cute as its ultimate boss, so to speak… If they give the order, everyone else falls into line and goes along with it.

Nazuna:

We got a real glimpse at the authority of a major influential figure, huh…

Of course, there were plenty of people who felt animosity towards Bishojo-senpai’s cruel way of going about things too.

And that’s probably why so many people went along with our proposal to help us out. Everyone let us know they’re on our side, and made their attitudes towards this clear.

Hajime:

Well, I’m very grateful for that at least… If all other idols had turned their back on us too, that would have been the absolute worst. We would’ve been so isolated and helpless.

It reminds me of a long time ago when I was ostracized by everyone for being so dimwitted and slow.

Not that I was being outright bullied or anything then either, but I did always think it felt so unfair.

Tomoya:

Well, you never did anything wrong.

Hajime:

I don’t know… Maybe it was my fault for being so slow and dimwitted—basically someone so inferior compared to everyone else.

Mitsuru:

Hajime-chan, you're really makin’ yourself sick. Are ya sure you’re all right? Won’t you go to the hospital?

Hajime:

I can’t help it~! I feel completely drained right now… I have absolutely no idea what Ideia-sama is thinking.

Even to the point where I’m starting to suspect that the person behind the persona might have been replaced.

Nazuna:

Is that a possibility? If that’s the case, then once we determine that this Bishojo-senpai is a fake and expose them to everyone—

They’ll lose all their power and status, and won’t be able to pressure us with all of these illogical demands anymore.

Hajime:

Oh, no, what I said just now was a joke. I do believe that this Ideia-sama is, without a doubt, the real Ideia-sama.

Of course, it’s not like I have any proof. But it’s just my heartfeel from the extra special super-idol aura emanating from them.

Mitsuru:

That sure sounds suspicious…

Hajime:

I don’t know how else to put it… If anything, I feel like Ideia-sama is revealing more of their true self than ever before—facing us head on with who they are as a person.

They’re a senpai I’ve relied on for so long—one who’s always been watching over us. They’re highly-acclaimed, beloved by the world, and probably one of the ultimate super-idols who’ll go down in music history.

When I consider what’s unfolding, there really shouldn’t even be any need for Ideia-sama to say the things they’re saying now.

All they’re doing is falling into disgrace with our fans and other idols and putting themself in a worse position.

Tomoya:

Yeah, exactly. That’s what’s so weird about all of this.

Bishojo-senpai isn’t trying to run away or hide themself at all. And it doesn’t seem like they’re trying to falsely represent or deceive anyone with what they’re doing either.

They’ve publicly declared themself that they’re the one putting pressure on Ra*bits to quit the whole concept of “cuteness.”

And despite claiming that what they told us was off the record, they’ve talked a lot about their utopia for female idols on TV and stuff.

That’s not really the best sort of business strategy.

If everything about the female idol utopia is true, then Bishojo-senpai has basically been spreading leaks about it without even waiting for the official announcement.

Nazuna:

Yeah, that too. While they may not be necessarily under any sort of NDA, they’re making it seem like they’re totally oblivious to the tone of the media and pissing everyone off.

Besides, if there is going to be a utopia for female idols, it’s naturally going to be a competitor of ES.

It basically sounds like a faction of conspirators who felt slighted by ES got together of their own accord in some foreign country to form an organization.

And considering that Bishojo-senpai is hinting about transferring there, they’re basically a viper in ES’ bosom. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they end up with an even bigger shortage of work than us.

Bishojo-senpai is a majorly influential figure in the industry with an enormous amount of fans—they're not someone we can carelessly criticize.

But ES is basically ignoring all of that.

Though ever since SS, there’s been a major increase of anti-ES organizations like that, so it may just be that they haven’t been able to keep up with all of them.

NEXT CHAPTER

–

Translation by:

 

Ara @. nazunyan427

Proofreader: 

Sophie @.ra_bits_daisuki

Parallel World - Ch. 13

 

PREVIOUS CHAPTER

Parallel World - “The Bad Kid Survival Strategy” Chapter 13

Writer: Akira

Season: Winter

Location: Starmony Dorm Theater Room

Hajime:

There really is no way to know what Ideia-sama is thinking, is there… I’m even starting to think they’ve just gone on a reckless rampage.

Tomoya:

Yet despite all of that, they’re pretty much acting like everything’s the same as it’s always been.

When it came to our Parallel Ra*bits proposal, they sent us their wishes of support like usual and even made financial donations for our benefit.

Nazuna:

Yeah. And they’ve gone on radio shows telling everyone to show Ra*bits their support…

Like, whose fault do you think it is that we’re in this mess in the first place? Pisses me off.

Oh well. There’s no point in trying to understand how someone’s mind works when they’re that eccentric. Oddballs like that are as unpredictable as a natural disaster.

Tomoya:

When you say that, it does have a ring of conviction to it, Nii~chan… Especially considering you’re one of the people who managed to survive your senior year surrounded by oddballs like Hibiki-senpai and the rest of his herd.

Nazuna:

Yeah. Seems like the world is claiming that our time has come, and this is bound to be our lucky year.

But I wanna yell back that it’s not so easy being right in the middle of a controversy like this.

Tomoya:

Ahaha. Sounds like they’re saying “our time” is a pretty unlucky one, which bugs me a lot too.

Well, I guess I can’t help it if that’s the sort of thing people are saying. Man… For real, what are we going to do?

I can’t think of a thing. We can’t be like our Trickstar senpai and manage to pull off a complete 180 to get ourselves out of a huge pinch and conquer whatever we’re up against.

Though I guess the way they’re able to break through walls of adversity while we can’t is the reason I admire them so much.

Oh to be with Hokuto-senpai right now… If only he would embrace me gently in his arms and whisper softly in my ear: “It’s going to be okay, Tomoya. I still love you,” the way he always does.

Hajime:

Does that version of Hidaka-senpai even exist?

Tomoya:

At least let me have my fantasies… Especially since reality is such a mess right now.

Mitsuru:

Reality… Fantasy…

Tomoya:

Hm? What’s wrong, Mitsuru? Why have you started mumbling to yourself?

Come on, give me a break… You’re supposed to be the most stable one out of all of us. If you start losing your mind, Ra*bits are completely doomed.

Mitsuru:

No, it’s just that Guu~chan said somethin’ like that. Wait, I’ll try to remember properly.

Tomoya:

Is “Guu~chan” supposed to be Mikejima-senpai’s little sister who helped you come up with this tactic?

Nazuna:

What’s this? What are you talking about? I feel like I haven’t been told anything about this?

Hajime:

Hehe. So, there’s this girl that Mitsuru-kun has been pretty smitten with these days; or rather, someone he’s been getting very close to.

Nazuna:

What? What?! No way? Mitsuru-chin? Getting involved in something romantic…?!

Hajime:

That's right~ Tomoya-kun and I are breathlessly watching their relationship bloom. It’s really making my heart flutter.

Tomoya:

I dunno if I’d go that far, but Hajime is weirdly invested in it… 

You’re really into this sort of thing, aren’t you~? When it comes to anything related to someone’s love life.

Hajime:

Of course I am! I mean, isn’t it so unexpected that the Mitsuru-kun we’ve known all this time would be involved in something so exciting and heart-pounding? Am I the only one who thinks so?

Tomoya:

It’s not that I don’t get it. But it’s not something that other people should get involved in, so you should really leave him be.

Hajime:

But! I can’t just sit back and watch! He was supposed to be paying a visit to this girl, and yet he’d planned on taking her some bug he caught as a gift!

I made sure to stop him! And then I made him pick out flowers with me instead!

Nazuna:

Maybe she’s the type of girl who likes bugs~?

Hajime:

It’s not about whether she likes them or not! It’s about doing things romantically—or rather, in the way people constantly fantasize about!

Nazuna:

You shouldn’t push your own fantasies onto other people though~? Weirdly enough, you’re kinda guilty of doing that a lot, Hajime-chin.

When you push a fantasy version of someone onto them, it quickly becomes too much to bear.

That, too, is me speaking from experience.

Mitsuru:

—Oh, I got it! I remembered! The stuff about fantasies!

Nazuna:

Whoa?! You scared me?! Aren’t I always telling you not to suddenly start yelling in such a loud voice~?

Tomoya:

What did you remember, Mitsuru? Something important?

Mitsuru:

Yeah! Super important! But it’s been a whole week since I last talked to Guu~chan, so I don’t remember everything in detail…

But what’s important is what’s gonna unfold from now on. Everything up to now was just layin’ everything in place.

Hajime:

What? Huh? So there’s still more to come? “Parallel Ra*bits” isn’t just about seeing dozens of different versions of ourselves to decide which direction we’re going to go from now on?

I thought it was about seeing all of these parallel world versions of ourselves and then picking out which one looks best and suits us the most.

Then after we’d picked out a direction to go in other than “cute”, that’s the way we’d continue our activities from now on?

Tomoya:

Though in the end, it sure feels like we won’t easily be able to find a “new style of clothes” to wear.

Mitsuru:

That’s fine!

Nazuna:

Who are you, Tensai Bakabon?*

Mitsuru:

I have no idea who that is, but anyway! It’s just as important to make everyone think that this “new style of clothes” doesn't suit us at all! That’s what she said!

Tomoya:

What do you mean…?

Mitsuru:

Uuu~! Since I’m so stupid and Guu~chan is so smart, I can only understand about half the stuff she says!

But this much I know! If we carry out her strategy perfectly, then it’ll save us all. This is how we’re gonna get ourselves outta this huge pinch.

Hajime:

A-Are you sure? We really seem to have hit rock bottom right now though?

Mitsuru:

Yeah! Absolutely!

But I want Tomo-chan to be the one to decide if we’re really gonna go all the way and put the full plan into action.

At this point we can still choose to turn back. Everyone will be able to laugh it off as Ra*bits just doing something a little weird. They’ll be all: "Aww what little dummies, aren’t they so cute?"

But if we keep going forward from here, they probably won’t be able to just laugh it off as us being cute anymore.

Tomoya:

Just what is this plan…?

Mitsuru:

“Mashiro Tomoya.”

Tomoya:

Hm? Wh-Why did you use my full name all of a sudden…?

Mitsuru:

I’m just repeatin’ what Guu~chan said.

—“Mashiro Tomoya. Do you have the guts to become a bad boy?”

Tomoya:

……?

–

*A manga series about a dimwitted-boy.

NEXT CHAPTER

–

Translation by:

Ara @. nazunyan427

Proofreader: 

Sophie @.ra_bits_daisuki

Parallel World - Ch. 14

 

PREVIOUS CHAPTER

Parallel World - “The Bad Kid Survival Strategy” Chapter 14

Writer: Akira

Season: Winter

(Later that night. Starmony Dorm. Mashiro Tomoya’s dorm room.)

Tomoya:

……

Nazuna:

Hey, I’m coming in. Huh? Tomo-chin, is it just you tonight?

Lately, all of us have been gathering in your room to discuss our next steps even though no one specifically suggested it; we all just started doing it out of habit.

Tomoya:

Oh, Nii~chan.

Sorry, I was focused on something and didn’t hear you. What did you say?

Nazuna:

I asked you if you were alone tonight~?

Tomoya:

Well, I can sense Ayase-senpai’s presence in the ceiling…

When I get so distraught that I end up groaning or sighing to myself every now and then, he’ll say something like “Please hang in there!” or “Please don’t give up!”

Nazuna:

Like your own personal poltergeist.

Tomoya:

By the way, Hajime was seriously on the brink of losing it so Mitsuru forced him to go to the hospital. Hajime tried to protest, but Mitsuru threw him over his shoulder and forcibly carried him there.

Nazuna:

That happened? I had to go back to college so I had no idea…

Tomoya:

I’m sure things are pretty hectic for you right now with it being the end of the year.

…By the way, has anyone at your college said anything to you about us?

Nazuna:

Hm? No, not really. Part of it is probably out of consideration for me.

But ever since I started attending a regular university, I’ve come to learn something pretty well. That is: the world has nowhere near as much interest in idols as we think.

Tomoya:

Ahaha. I guess that’s for the better, in a way.

It’s actually a relief to hear. If we were some of the most famous people in this country, I can't even begin to imagine the stress we’d be under.

Nazuna:

Yeah, exactly. Everyone at ES basically exaggerates their own importance~

But even though this amount isn’t exactly fatal, there’s no denying that we’re under serious stress right now—enough that even someone as resilient and strong-minded as Hajime-chin had a complete mental breakdown.

Tomoya:

Oh, I get the feeling that Mitsuru might have been overexaggerating about that a bit. Since he’s spending so much time visiting his friend at the hospital, I feel like he’s started worrying way too much about everyone else.

Mitsuru might be a pretty invincible guy, but the rest of us ordinary humans around him aren’t… We have weaknesses, and we end up crumbling sometimes. I think that fact is finally sinking in for him.

And that’s why he started panicking and making such a fuss.

Nazuna:

That might also be why he never told us the entire strategy this Guu~chan or whatever her name is came up with from the start. I guess he did so out of consideration for us. Pretty cheeky of him to make a call like that, if you ask me.

Tomoya:

Yeah, it does feel kind of frustrating. We’re the same age, but it’s like he’s trying to act like our guardian right now.

Though I’m not sure if I'm in the right place to say something like that; not when I’m the one who’s basically taken on the role of Hajime’s personal guardian all this time, even though no one in particular asked me to.

Nazuna:

I get the feeling that your presence has saved Hajime-chin in all sorts of ways, Tomo-chin.

Back when I was at my worst mentally, back when Valkyrie temporarily came to an end—

—I sometimes wonder what it would have been like if I’d had a friend like you around.

Tomoya:

Didn’t you have any friends back then, Nii~chan?

Nazuna:

Well, I had Kuro-chin when it came to casually hanging out with someone. But he had his own situation to deal with, so I felt like I’d probably be just a burden if I tried to depend on him too much.

Tomoya:

I really wish you’d turn to someone for help when you’re suffering, Nii~chan.

Nazuna:

Cheeky… But listen, whether you ask me to or not, I’m going to turn to you for help whenever I need it, Leader~?

Let me just get straight to the point. What do you plan to do from now on?

You’re the only one who can make the final decision. Though of course, the rest of us will share our opinions with you.

But ultimately, you’re the one who has the call on the overall direction we’ll go in and steer us towards our goal. That’s your role as our Leader.

Are you really going to go through with the plan that Mitsuru-chin said this Guu~chan came up with?

Tomoya:

Well, if we don’t, all of the prior investment we put into Operation: PR will have been a complete waste. That was basically laying the foundation for the first stage of our plan.

Nazuna:

It’s still possible to cut our losses. Mitsuru-chin said something like that too—it’s totally possible to still pull out before we go past the point of no return.

Tomoya:

But... I do think I want to go the whole way.

Even now, I’ve been laying the groundwork over Holdhands.

Nazuna:

Getting everyone else to help is basically going to be vital when it comes to carrying out the next part of this plan.

The enemy we’re up against is the formidable Bishojo-senpai, after all. We won’t be able to take them down by ourselves.

Tomoya:

And that’s why we’ll have everyone help us out. That’s pretty much how we always do things, isn’t it?

That’s why, in a way, this time is no different;the scale is just way bigger this time around.

NEXT CHAPTER

–

Translation by:

Ara @. nazunyan427

Proofreader: 

Sophie @.ra_bits_daisuki

Parallel World - Ch. 15

 

PREVIOUS CHAPTER

Parallel World - “The Bad Kid Survival Strategy” Chapter 15

Writer: Akira

Season: Winter

Location: Tomoya’s dorm room

Tomoya:

…Nii~chan.

Nazuna:

Hm? What’s wrong, Tomo-chin? If there’s anything you want to vent about, feel free to let it all out~?

Tomoya:

No, it’s not that I want to vent. But I wanted to ask you: why did you become an idol, Nii~chan?

Nazuna:

Oh? Why do you ask all of a sudden?

Tomoya:

I guess I just want to know. I want to compare it with my own reasons.

Nazuna:

Hmm~ I’ve already talked about this in a magazine interview, but it’s basically just how my life took its course.

I’ve always loved to sing ever since I was little, so I joined a church choir.

Plus, it’s not like I had any other exceptional abilities… Might be rich of me to say right now, but I figured that I’d be able to make it somehow.

Everyone around me would say things like, "you have such a pretty face."

Tomoya:

I really do think you’re stunningly pretty. If I were to borrow an expression from a novel I read a long time ago, I’d describe you as “having features as beautiful as a maiden.”

Nazuna:

I’m gonna flare up at you if you describe me like that right now, Tomo-chin.

But let me ask you instead, why did you decide to become an idol?

If you’re not particularly attached to the industry and really starting to suffer from how grueling it is, then I still believe that there’s always the choice of calling it quits.

Never mind your fans lamenting the loss it’d be or how it’d look in the eyes of society. Screw all of that. 

The most important thing for all three of you is how you feel in your heart, and how you want to live your life.

Tomoya:

I don’t feel like I want to give up. If anything, I feel like things are finally starting to get interesting.

The reason I became an idol was partly out of being a fanboy who hopped on the bandwagon.

I’ve always had a complex about being too ordinary, and I really admired idols for being such exceptional people who shine so brightly.

I figured that if I became an idol, I’d become someone extraordinary; someone worthy of admiration.

But what I didn’t realize at all was that when you’re in an extraordinary position, you risk getting a taste of an extraordinary level of suffering. Just like what we're facing right now.

I totally had no idea.

Nazuna:

Do you regret becoming an idol?

Tomoya:

I’d be lying if I said I had no regrets whatsoever.

But the reality is that life isn’t just all rainbows and butterflies. No matter which path I chose, I’d probably have both good and bad experiences.

So if the path of choosing to be either ordinary or extraordinary leads to the same result, I at least want to be the kind of person I admire.

I want to be someone I can be proud of. And so long as I’m someone I’m proud of, I feel like I can bounce back on my feet no matter what happens.

Nazuna:

If we go ahead with this plan in question, we’ll have to play dirty. There’s a chance you might become someone you won’t be proud of.

Tomoya:

Mitsuru seemed concerned about that too. But I’ve been doubting this myself—are we really as pure as everyone says we are?

Ever since Bishojo-senpai asked us “Are you really and truly that cute?”—

—It really made me think. I wondered if that was really the case. Are we really the cute, angelically pure idols that the world tells us we are?

Ever since what happened at Yumenosaki’s S2 became known, everyone’s always been so considerate of us that we never even questioned it.

We just accepted it. Everyone made a fuss over us, telling us how cute we are; what good kids we are.

And in no time at all, I was convinced that the way everyone describes Ra*bits is the “real us.”

In a way, it was kind of like being brainwashed. If someone tells you the same thing over and over again, you eventually start to believe it.

Nazuna:

For what it’s worth, you guys are the cutest and best kids in the entire world from my point of view.

Tomoya:

Thank you, Nii~chan.

I feel the same way about you. Ever since we met you, and the moment you reached out to offer us your hand back when we were at a complete loss—

You’ve been someone so beautiful and precious to us—someone we admire more than anyone else.

Nazuna:

Cut that out~ Don’t say things like that… You’re gonna make me cry…

Tomoya:

Please do cry. It’ll be revenge for the time I broke down and bawled my eyes out in front of you before Poppin’ Party.

Nazuna:

Back then, you were feeling seriously unstable about having been made Leader of Ra*bits.

But now you seem perfectly calm to me. You really have grown too, Tomo-chin.

Tomoya:

I may not be making progress as fast as Mitsuru and Hajime, nor is my growth as noticeable as theirs...

But if you say so, Nii~chan, then it has to be true. I’ve grown too. And as crazy as this situation is, at least I’m not feeling at such a loss that I’m going to break down and cry.

I’m actually really happy about that. I'm proud of how far I’ve come.

I used to hate how ordinary I was. But now that I’ve dove into the world of idols, I’m surrounded by so many astonishing people that I could never begin to compare myself to.

Once again, I don’t stand out at all, and I’m back to being an ordinary kid.

But I don’t hate this position half as much as I did in the past. Both my friends and fans still acknowledge me, despite me not possessing any exceptional qualities. They still cheer me on and tell me how much they love me.

Maybe that’s all I ever wanted, ever since I was younger.

I just wanted to be acknowledged by someone. I wanted to be recognized, seen, and loved.

And that’s why I decided to become an idol.

I did my best to work hard and grow, acted cutely so that everyone would love me, and tried to be the best kid I could possibly be. Maybe even more than necessary.

And it was all for the sake of being loved by other people.

That’s me, Mashiro Tomoya.

Nazuna:

Yeah. And I’m Nito Nazuna. Nice to meet you.

Tomoya:

Let’s make this relationship a good one. 

Heh, what was that “nice to meet you” for?

Nazuna:

It felt like that sort of moment.

Tomoya:

What? Haha…

Anyway, that’s the reason that I don’t want to give up on being an idol. It doesn’t matter how we do it; I just want us to be loved; to be valued and cherished by everyone.

I want to do something about this situation where our work has all dried up and we can’t be active as idols.

I want to do everything in my power to fix it. At least, that’s my official declaration.

Nazuna:

You don’t even have to declare it, all of us already know~

But thanks, Tomo-chin. You do your best to put on a brave face and be the best kid you can be, but I’m so glad that you’re willing to be open and honest about feeling like any kid your age would in front of me.

That… makes me so happy.

It’s like, right now… I feel so alive—like, I’m really living.

Tomoya:

Then let’s make sure that we keep on making our life worth living. 

First of all, we’ve gotta do something about the enemy right in front of us—Bishojo-senpai.

Let’s go take our life back. Let’s ward off this invader who’s trying to knock us down, and defend our world to the very end.

NEXT CHAPTER

–

Translation by:

Ara @. nazunyan427

Proofreader: 

Sophie @.ra_bits_daisuki