Parallel World - Ch. 19

[nazunyan427]

 

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Parallel World - “The Bad Kid Survival Strategy” Chapter 19

Writer: Akira

Season: Winter

Location: Sanctuary Food Court

Mitsuru:

Of course, it would’ve been the absolute worst if everyone thought the real Ra*bits were a bunch of fakes, and we had to disappear—

Hajime:

That’s why we put our heart and soul into our performances, even more than usual. Thanks to that, we’re pretty exhausted.

Ideia-sama:

“You’ve worked hard. Though needless to say, so long as no horrifying incident unfolds, your victory is basically guaranteed, isn’t it?”

“And that’s exactly because you are the one and only ‘real’ Ra*bits in this world. When urged to choose the ‘real’ thing, anyone would choose you.”

“You’ve earned that degree of recognition and possess that amount of uniqueness.”

“Though some people might select a different version of Ra*bits for laughs, they’re sure to be vastly outnumbered by your die-hard fans.”

“If anything, by seeing all of these fake versions of Ra*bits with their own eyes, it will sink in just how valuable the ‘real’ you are.”

“It’s what we refer to as uncanny valley—things that look eerily similar, but there’s something not quite right about them. You took all of this into account when you prepared to take to the stage for this event.”

“And choosing this amusement park as your location was a smart move. Since it’s not yet officially open, the fee to enter isn’t all that high, but taking part in this actual event doesn’t come cheap.”

“And so, the only people gathered here today are ones who want to see Ra*bits so badly that they’re willing to pay for it. In other words, your most passionate, die-hard fans.”

“And it’s because they are your fans, that they will choose you—boys and girls alike. Because you are their one and only ‘real’ beloved Ra*bits.”

“And so. Your fans' reaction, and the amount of people who voted for you, will go down in the records.”

“That was your aim. To have this many people judge that the cute Ra*bits you’ve always been are the ‘real’ you.”

“You wanted to make it clear that the vast majority wants you to stay exactly the way you’ve always been up to now.”

“And you’re going to show that by using numbers that anyone can easily understand—old and young, male and female alike.”

“After all, it is numbers that decide everything in this capitalistic society. When it comes to selling a popular product, this is something our agency cannot ignore.”

“So long as the highest in command at Rhythm Link aren’t utterly useless, they’ll have no choice but to accept this decision.”

“After all, they don’t want to be thought of as an agency that would disregard what their fans want. They’d have to make a call that that sort of reputation would affect them financially.”

“And so, they’ll have to withdraw from the illogical way they’ve been treating you, and shift their focus to convincing me, the person who demanded that treatment, instead.”

“They’ll weigh up the costs and benefits of both scenarios, and make a choice on what they determine is best.”

“And they’ll no longer listen to what I have to say, since falling into displeasure with me alone is far, far less terrifying than falling into displeasure with the entire world.”

“That was the true intention of this event, wasn’t it?”

“It really is a wonderfully genius plan.”

Mitsuru:

Well, we didn’t think it up. It’s a tactic a girl who’s way smarter than I’ll ever be, came up with for us.

Tomoya:

Now that I think about it, we basically relied on other people every step of the way… Or like, all we really did ourselves was just a little bit.

Hajime:

Well, I think that’s perfectly fine. After all, all anyone can ever do by themselves is ‘just a little bit.’

And it’s only once all those ‘little bits’ add up, that we’re able to accomplish something huge.

That’s something you taught me—Ideia-sama.

Ideia-sama:

“......”

Hajime:

Back when I was new to this industry, panicking over not being able to tell left from right, those were the words of encouragement you shared with me. You supported me and came to my aid.

Even though you were such a major, influential figure that it wouldn’t be any shock at all if you never even noticed someone as tiny as me. 

But you were so warm-hearted to me and supported me with such kindness.

"It doesn’t matter whether you’re a superstar or a fledgling in the business; it’s essential to support one another with kindness"—that’s what you told me.

And I’ve never, ever forgotten it.

So no matter what sort of horrible things you do to us, or when the time comes I have to decide whether you’re friend or foe, I know the happiness I felt back then was no lie.

Ideia-sama:

“Oh? I suppose I did say something like that.”

“—All of my life, all I’ve ever done is tell lies.”

“As you can see. Hehehe.”

“So maybe I just wanted to experience something real for once.”

“I most definitely exist in this world. So I guess I just wanted to experience what it’s like to open my heart to someone in a real and honest way.”

“I only did it on a personal whim. There’s really no need to feel any sort of gratitude to me, Hajime-san.”

Hajime:

Gratitude is gratitude. And I’ll never be able to forget this debt of gratitude.

Ideia-sama:

“What a clumsy boy.”

“No. It's because of how clumsy you all are that you’re such easy pickings in this society.”

“In general, diligent, well-behaved kids like you will be taken advantage of and simply used until it’s time to dispose of you. That’s the sort of vicious society we live in.”

“The reason some people are doomed to work and work, while their life gets no easier, has nothing to do with them being bad people who’ve committed some sort of crime.”

“It’s simply because they’re easy pickings; the sort of person far too benevolent for their own good.”

NEXT CHAPTER

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Translation by:

Ara @. nazunyan427

Proofreader: 

Sophie @.ra_bits_daisuki