Parallel World - Ch. 22

[nazunyan427]

 

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Parallel World - “Epilogue” Chapter 22

Writer: Akira

Season: Winter

Location: Sanctuary stage

Hajime:

What we faced this time is a problem that we’re absolutely going to have to go up against one day. No, in fact, it’s a problem that we’ve been dealing with this whole time.

—That is, can we continue to pursue “cuteness” for the rest of our lives?

—Or are we even cute enough to be adamant about sticking to “cuteness”, no matter what, in the first place?

We should have seen it coming, but we’ve been pretending not to. We acted like we were taking it into consideration, but the reality is, we hadn’t been thinking it through at all.

This is our fate. It’s the conclusion of where our future will end up. And this time around, that problem was amplified enough for us to have to grapple with it head on.

Maybe it’s the same adversary Ideia-sama had to face themself, when they were younger.

They anticipated that we’d be able to fight back too, and had faith that we’d triumph.

That’s what I want to believe. Ideia-sama really is someone I look up to, after all.

Though I guess Mitsuru-kun might be thinking about how they put us through such an awful situation, that there’s no need to have such a benevolent interpretation of their actions, right?

Mitsuru:

Huh? Yeah! I hate that person! They dragged us into their plans, decided how it all ended, then just up and left! Everythin’ they did was for themself!

Tomoya:

Although you often go getting involved in Mikejima-senpai’s business of your own accord, Mitsuru.

Mitsuru:

I’m allowed to do it! Their way is their way, but my way is my way!

Tomoya:

Haha, that’s such a self-focused way of looking at things. Though I guess if anyone can be forgiven for that, it’s you, Mitsuru.

Mitsuru:

Huh? If I did somethin’ weird or somethin’ ya didn’t like, you gotta tell me? I’m too stupid to figure it out myself!

Hajime:

No, I love everything about you, Mitsuru-kun. And it’s because I love both of you that I’d really like for you and Ideia-sama to get along.

Mitsuru:

No way. Not right now. I’m not just gonna get over what they did to us that easy.

Tomoya:

Strangely enough, whenever someone makes Mitsuru feel strong negative emotions, he tends to have trouble letting go of them. You’d think he’d be able to bounce back right away, so it’s kind of surprising.

Hajime:

That’s true~ This time, Mitsuru-kun was probably the second most depressed and lethargic out of all of us, after me. 

Mitsuru:

Yeah. But even though I can’t let go of how I feel yet, I’ll be sure to spend time thinkin’ about it all seriously.

That goes for this person too, after what they did.

Like the way we might be part of the people who turned them into a jerk in the first place… I thought about that a little bit.

If you were forced to run 1000 meters every single day, even though you really should’ve only been runnin’ 50 meters, anyone would get real annoyed.

Tomoya:

Odd. I thought you’d say something like: "the more I can run, the happier I feel!" Mitsuru?

Mitsuru:

Maybe if I’m runnin’ as a hobby. But when it comes to a contest, that sorta rule makes no sense.

It’s no wonder they’d get so stressed out that they’d lose the ability to be nice to anyone anymore. Hmph.

Nazuna:

Oh~ So you do get serious when it comes to competitions alone, Mitsuru-chin?

Mitsuru:

No, I take bein’ an idol seriously too? See how everyone was focusin’ so much on comin’ up with a plan this time that we didn’t get as much rehearsal in as we should’ve, so the rest of you aren’t as sharp as usual?

All of you should look at me and learn! See how I’m singing’ and dancin’ full of energy, like always~!

—Like this!

“♪~♪~♪~”

Tomoya:

Ahaha. You’ve always been my—no, all of our role model, Mitsuru.

You’re always giving us a hand, but this time you really did come to our rescue.

If you hadn’t come to us with that plan, we’d probably still be racking our brains right now, panicking about what to do.

Mitsuru:

If ya wanna thank anyone, it better be Guu~chan! All I did was dash over to you guys to share what she said! I may not be as fast as the speed of light, but I ran as fast as my legs would carry me!

Nazuna:

Right! If we want to express our gratitude to all of the people who helped us out this time, we can’t be sloppy on stage.

Tomoya:

Got it. And that goes for Guu~chan-san, all of the parallel Ra*bits—and, of course, Ideia-sama.

Hajime:

Oh, Tomoya-kun, you’ve started calling them Ideia-sama?

Tomoya:

I guess I’ve come to look up to them a bit. They’re an even bigger superstar than what I’ve heard, so I thought it only feels right to address them by ~sama.

I can’t possibly imagine changing the world in the same way as Ideia-sama and Tenshouin-senpai just yet.

I’m just an ordinary guy, so I made up my mind from the start that that sort of thing was impossible.

But, when it comes to all three of you in front of me, as well as our fans watching over us…

…I’m going to make up for all of the dirty conspiracies we’ve been used in—no, more than just that. I want to guide the way towards the happiest, most fun and peaceful world that I possibly can.

At least until the curtain goes down on this stage, we’ll share a moment of joy, just for a little bit.

Right now, that’s about all I can do—and even that won’t be easy.

But so long as I’m with the three of you, I know I can do it.

“♪~♪~♪~”

END