Parallel World - Ch. 6

[nazunyan427]

 

Parallel World - “Cuteness is Unjust” Chapter 6

Writer: Akira

Season: Winter

Location: Rhythm Link Office

Ideia-sama:

“And so, in despair with the state of things as they are now, the female idols who’ve lived in such discontent have demanded their own new world.”

Hajime:

So that’s why a Utopia for female idols is being founded overseas…?

Ideia-sama:

“Yes. At first, ES proudly declared that it would be a safe haven for all idols.”

“And yet. The ‘idols’ ES spoke of did not include people like us.”

Tomoya:

B-But you’re a man, aren’t you, Bishojo-senpai?

Ideia-sama:

“Yes. I am a ‘bishojo.’ Exactly as you have called me.”

“That is the name I am called, how I identify, and how I have lived proudly by.”

“And so, I want to be an ally to the people I feel are the same as me.”

“Those girls and I, we are one and the same.” 

Hajime:

So do you plan on transferring to that utopia for female idols, Ideia-sama…?

Ideia-sama:

“Yes. But just between you and me. So long as I keep it a secret, I can continue to put pressure on this agency by hinting that I may or may not transfer.”

Tomoya:

You mean like you’re doing now?

Ideia-sama:

“What happened to the good little boy speaking to me so politely up until now?”

Nazuna:

…I don’t get it. You’re going on and on about this utopia for female idols, but what does that have to do with you demanding us to give up our cuteness?

Ideia-sama:

“It is simply out of the kindness in my heart.”

“I happen to like you boys a lot. I support all of you.”

Tomoya:

Huh? Uh, really? …Thank you very much?

Ideia-sama:

“Speaking politely again I see. You really should learn the social skill of acting in an amicable way—at least on the surface—even when you’re dealing with a potential enemy or someone you dislike.”

“Though I suppose acting otherwise is proof that you are still children.”

“And that is precisely what is so loveable about you, and why I worry.”

“Let me make a prediction. If you continue to use cuteness as your main selling point, you will end up clashing with the female idol utopia that’s bound to form in the near future.”

“That is, you will end up in stiff competition against the countless number of adorable “bishojo” idols who will rise up.”

Tomoya:

And as a result, we’re no longer going to prosper… Is that what you’re trying to say?

Ideia-sama:

“Yes. Without a doubt. Why, even now, I get the impression that you’re losing ground against Japan’s female idols in terms of financial success.”

“Perhaps even I might be included among them—the endless number of fictitious female idols born from all of the manga, anime, and video-sharing sites Japan has to offer.”

“And when you’re up against such incessant, formidable competition, you’ll be unable to utilize your cuteness—bound to continue tasting one bitter experience after another.”

Tomoya:

(That’s true… I do get the feeling that we’re getting less and less jobs focused on that line of work.)

(Especially me, and maybe Mitsuru too—to the point where we’re praised more for just going in a cooler direction.)

Ideia-sama:

“Fictional idols will never age.”

“Therefore, there is a huge demand for those with the loveliness you would associate with youth. I, too, have given in to those demands.”

“But you will all age. It won’t be long before you have completely grown up. 

Neoteny—that is, adult animals who retain their juvenile features—does exist. However—”

“—Humans are creatures who will steadily grow and develop to reach maturity.”

“To force yourself to retain the loveliness of youth is an impossibility.”

“Mitsuru-san, haven’t you been troubled by growing pains and the beard you might grow one day?”

Mitsuru:

Why do ya hafta keep on turnin’ back to me?

Ideia-sama:

“Because you and I are alike.”

Hajime:

(Now that I think about it… Out of the dozens of rumors that surround Ideia-sama, there is one that suspects they’ve even had their own body modified in order to preserve their cuteness.

I thought it was just part of the lore of the character they play.

And besides, Ideia-sama uses a CG image of themself, so it’s not really a huge deal if that character model has supposedly been modified in some way.

But what if the person behind Ideia-sama has had that kind of surgery too…?)

Ideia-sama:

“It’s because I like all of you that I don’t want you to destroy yourselves by forcing yourself to live in an impossible way.”

“And that’s why I want to strip away the corset of ‘cuteness’ bound to you so tightly and set you free.”

Hajime:

……

Ideia-sama:

“I don’t mind if you resent me for it. I’m simply acting according to my own ego.”

“However, I do want you to think it over in detail.”

“Is this truly the style that suits you best of all?”

Nazuna:

……

Ideia-sama:

“No, let me rephrase that. You sell yourselves as cute.”

“But are you really so cute that discarding the style you’ve worn so far would be such a regrettable loss to the world?”

“Are you cuter than beautiful girls? Than animals? Than babies? Than angels and fairies?”

“If you have the confidence to proclaim that you, Ra*bits, are far cuter than any of them…”

“...then come to me and boast that you are what it means to be cute idols, ‘newbies.’”

“...Don’t underestimate cuteness.”

Tomoya:

……

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Translation by:

Ara @. nazunyan427

Proofreader: 

Sophie @.ra_bits_daisuki