nazunyan427 | Entries tagged with mao

Previous Chapter

Chapter 2 - Battle Royale

Characters: Mao, Subaru

Season: Spring

(Several minutes later. 4piece Venue 1, “Prince Castle.”)

Mao:

I think this is the venue we’re supposed to be in…

Subaru:

Whoa~! It’s like a real castle! It’s all shiny and sparkly~!☆

Subaru:

I dunno what any of this means, but! This place is crazy fancy! Hey, Sally~ What are they gonna make us do here?

Mao:

I told you; this is 4piece.

Haha. The second you catch sight of something shiny, you snap back into a great mood, Subaru.

Subaru:

I can’t stay sunken forever!

Mao:

Yup, the sun never does. And I really appreciate that.

Anyway. I already said this on the way here, but the most I’ve heard about what they’re gonna make us do during 4piece is all rumors at best.

So even if you ask me for an explanation, I can’t say I can give you one. Seriously.

Subaru:

Yeah. Uh, so this “4piece” isn’t managed by ES for once?

Mao:

Well, ES are lending their support, so I’m sure they’re gonna be heavily involved. They’ve dispatched staff as part of their contribution, so we’re gonna feel their presence here and there.

But the main organizers and management behind 4piece seems to be some sort of huge foreign company.

Supposedly it’s called “Thunderbolt Entertainment.” You ever heard of it, Subaru?

Subaru:

There seems to be a whole lot of super long English names all of a sudden, which are hard to remember. Though I guess seeing as this event is centered around a foreign company, that can’t be helped.

Wait, why are you asking me? I’m the one who doesn’t know anything, so isn’t it your or Ukki’s job to explain everything to me, Sally? C’mon, do it properly!

Mao:

What are you getting mad at me for…? But if you look at things objectively, you’ve been performing for, hell, involved with the idol industry in general for waaay longer than I have, Subaru.

You’ve been submerged in it right up to your neck ever since your father was around.

Subaru:

Hehe. I really like how you guys bring up my dad while we’re just having a regular conversation lately. I don’t want it to seem like a sore subject that no one’s allowed to talk about.

But I feel like I was pretty isolated from the idol industry when I was younger. And he never really told me much about working abroad.

And that’s why I don’t really know anything about this Thunder-something; sounds more like the name of a movie monster or a pro wrestler.

Sally~! Explain please!

Mao:

Makoto seems to like this kinda of thing, and he’s much better at it. But I guess it can’t be helped, seeing as I’m the only one here this time.

“Thunderbolt Entertainment”, otherwise known as “Thunderbolt”, is one of the world’s biggest corporations.

It seems to have mainly flourished within the entertainment industry.

Subaru:

Oh… But I feel like I might have seen their logo around Japan sometimes too. Like, on toys or at amusement parks.

Their logo is super shiny, so I happen to like it.

Mao:

Yeah, it seems like something you’d like. Though I’m a little triggered by anything spiky, and it’s so flashy that it’s sorta hard on the eyes.

Subaru:

It feels like bolts of lightning!

Mao:

Yeah. Though seeing as ES, or rather, the Tenshouin and Himemiya conglomerates are in a position where they take priority, it doesn’t really stand out that much within Japan.

Now and then when it comes to our outsourced proposals and stuff, we’ll do some sort of work related to Thunderbolt though.

Subaru:

Yeah. So like, seeing as some big, fancy foreign company is hosting this thing, we can’t just do whatever we want, like always⸺is what they warned us, right?

Mao:

No, the whole “you can’t just do whatever you want” applies in general. Though I guess that’s who you, and Trickstar are as individuals.

Subaru:

Ehen.

…So this big foreign company sniffed out the scent of ES, then waited for the right time to set out here for this huge scale event?

Mao:

I guess ‘cause ES have really been making an impact lately, so it’s not like even a foreign company could just sit back quietly and watch.

By the way, people in Japan may be talking about ES non-stop, and not to mention it’s growing like crazy, but the reality is, it’s still a young company that was only just established.

So as a company, when it comes to scale or achievements, it’s just not on the same level as Thunderbolt. So, at least it has the awareness that it’s no match for it as an opponent.

Subaru:

So it’s like, if a young rascal mishaves, he’ll get scolded by his big, important uncle?

Mao:

Mmm… Dunno.

Thunderbolt is a huge international company. I’m suspicious of whether or not they even have a personality.

Rather than coming here to scold anyone, they might just be here after the scent of profit?

Subaru:

Hate that sort of greedy old uncle.

Mao:

Well, that’s capitalism for you. We’ve learned that much from the bitter experience of being played around with in the past.

Still, we do have a chance here.

Company though it may be, the people within are all only human. So the more active we are during 4piece, we should be able to get a lot of support from the staff of a global company.

When it comes to the foreign countries that ES has already expanded to up to now, we should be able to get our hands on those sorts of connections and stuff.

And so, the sort of stage we’ve never laid eyes on before is bound to be awaiting us on the other side.

That is, every single country overseas; nothing could be bigger than that.

Next Chapter

Prologue

Chapter 1 - Battle Royale

Characters: Mao, Subaru
Season: Spring

(The following day. Road towards 4piece venue.)

Mao:

Oh, I can see it!

Well, more like the thing we’ve been looking at all along seems to be it.

Man, it’s seriously massive, huh? The biggest venue we’ve ever been to so far was SS, but from the scale of this place, you’d probably fit about four SS venues in there.

It’s so freaking huge that the closer you get, the harder it is to grasp what it looks like. Doesn’t seem to have any windows or anything either, so I’ve really no idea what the inside could be like.

…Subaru? Are you listening to me? You could at least reply, instead of leaving me feeling all alone here?

Subaru:

…

Mao:

What, you still sulking? Look, if it was possible, I’d have wanted to go crazy with all of Trickstar together too.

But we’ve gotta take part in 4piece as individuals. That’s the rule that’s been put into place, so we’ve got no choice but to go along with it.

This time alone, you and I are rivals.

If you go letting your guard down, I’ll knock you out of the competition in a flash, so you’d better brace yourself~♪

Subaru:

…

…Huh? Sorry, Sally~! What did you just say? I wasn’t listening!

Mao:

Oi, oi, seriously, are you all right…? Is something wrong? I heard that you went and visited your dad’s grave yesterday, so…

Subaru:

Yeah. And that was when I met this strange kid.

And since I stayed up so late talking to the kid, I barely got any sleep… Phaaaugh ♪

If I’m not in my own house, my daily routine gets thrown way out of whack.

At least when I’m at home, I’ve gotta take care of my mom’s portion of the chores too, so I’m pretty much forced to get myself into a proper routine.

But anyway, why are you the only one here, Sally? Not that I’m disappointed that it’s just you, but I wish everyone could’ve come!

Mao:

So I take it you really don’t get what sort of situation we’re in at all…?

Subaru:

I don’t get anything I’ve no interest in! Ahahahahaha! ☆

Mao:

Well, you should try and be a little more interested. This 4piece supposedly markets itself as enormous scale audition programme, one that’s never been held before⸺

“4piece” ⸺ Its official name is the “Thunderbolt Challenge 4piece.”

Subaru:

San-da-bo-cha-pi… Huh? I didn’t catch that at all!

Mao:

You’ve got good hearing, but my English pronunciation is another story…

Seeing as the full title is way too long, everyone’s just shortening it to 4piece.

But right now, I don’t really understand what exactly it entails either.

Subaru:

I know all about audition shows~ Not that I’ve ever taken part in one before, but I’ve watched those kinda shows.

Mao:

Oh, so you even watch shows that don’t have any relation to you? Wow, you’re really passionate about your studies.

Subaru:

Nah, that’s not it. My dad originally started off on an audition type of show.

That show gathered all sorts of wannabe idols⸺fledglings who’d never stepped foot in the idol industry before⸺and made them compete against one another by singing and dancing.

And whoever performed the best during the competition⸺in other words, the winner⸺supposedly got to debut as an official idol?

Or maybe it was like, a show where they made ordinary people fight against one another with debuting as an idol being the prize?

But, for the record, we’ve already made our debut as idols, right? So then, what’s our reward gonna be? There’s no reason for us to compete?

Mao:

Supposedly there’s an extra special prize. But as to what that is, it’s being kept tightly under wraps. It’s a total mystery.

Subaru:

4piece is serious about its no spoilers policy, huh.

Mao:

If the content of the competition was leaked beforehand, then people would be able to strategize in advance, which’d be unfair. So they didn’t have any other choice, I guess.

Subaru:

Yeah, that’s true. I dunno what the prize is supposed to be, but if there were people who wanted it, they’d be able to make preparations or do some kinda special training in advance.

Mao:

There could be people laying the groundwork behind the scenes too. In which case, it’d hardly be a fair competition.

Speaking of which, if that kinda meddling behind the scenes was allowed, then you wouldn’t stand a chance against the likes of Tenshouin-senpai or Sakuma-senpai. Not that those two are taking part this time it seems.

But, as a result of spoilers being completely forbidden beforehand, 4piece is probably gonna genuinely be idols testing their abilities and competing against one another.

Subaru:

Ahaha, even if that was the case, I doubt I’d stand a chance against Eichi-senpai or Sakuma-senpai~♪

Mao:

If you don’t stand a chance, then no one does.

Well, seeing as that’s how it is⸺

Not that I can say anything for sure, seeing as the whole thing is shrouded in mystery. But actually, there’s a huge merit to us taking part in 4piece.

Subaru:

Huh? Why’s that?

Next Chapter

Title: “To The Flowers That Have Begun to Bloom”

Writer: Chitose Umeda

Season: Autumn

Location: Common Room

Notes:

The title of Nazuna’s 5* feature scout featuring his personalized outfit is “Flowers Will One Day Bloom”, so the title of this story feels like one big love letter to that story!

Nazuna: I’m hooome~

(Whoa, for a second I thought I was back at my place, so I ended up announcing that I’m home outta habit.

I guess that’s just proof of how well I’ve adjusted to life at Starmony Dorm~ Well, my life is pretty much based around here at the moment.)

Makoto: Welcome home, Nito-senpai!

Nazuna: Mako-chin? Oh, hey. Yeah, I just got back~

Mao: Did you have college today?

Nazuna: Oh, you’re here too, Mao-chin.

Yeah, I did. The content of today’s lecture really got my attention, and I ended up exchanging views with the guy in the seat next to me, which is why I’m late back.

Makoto: Whoa, now there’s something only a college student would say!

Nazuna: Nah. Back at Yumenosaki, when you don’t understand something in class, you turn to ask your friend, right? It’s the same sorta thing.

What are you two up to? Since you’re together, can I assume you guys are revising over stuff from class together, like the way I said just now? ♪

Mao: Sorry to burst your bubble, but I can’t say we’re really the type to do that sorta thing. Although I suppose you could say we’ve been studying, in a way.

Makoto: Look! We’ve got a bunch of fliers for open campuses spread out across the table.

Nazuna: Whoa, you really do. You sure gathered a lot!

…Hm? I recognize this brochure. Wait, is this…

Makoto: That’s right! ♪ Right on the front of that flier is the university you attend, Nito-senpai!

Nazuna: I thought so… Yup, this is my uni. Now that you mention it, I have a feeling I’ve seen this before on one of the notice boards on campus.

…Oh! And I just remembered something else. Now that I think about it, one of my friends said they were gonna help out.

But why do you guys have so many fliers to begin with? Are you planning to take part in an open day?

Makoto: We didn’t exactly have any plans… But just looking at all these brochures does pique my curiosity a little for sure, I guess!

Mao: Right, I feel the same. For most high schoolers, they’d be getting pretty serious about exams and looking into higher education right about this time period.

It’d probably be a good experience to get a taste of university life too. So if I had the chance, I’d like to go and check it out.

Nazuna: Oh, you guys are real forward thinking! I for one think it’d be a great opportunity! I mean, you did go through the trouble of collecting all these fliers…

Hm? Wait, so you didn’t collect these fliers out of interest to attend an open day? Based on what you guys just said, it sounds like the other way around.

Makoto: Right. All of these fliers were handed out at Yumenosaki.

So to be honest, we kinda just took what was given to us…

Nazuna: You got these at Yumenosaki? Hmm, I feel like they never did anything like this up until last year.

I mean, in my case, I had to do my own research into higher education all by myself. Then I’d go consult with my teachers god knows how many times.

Mao: Ahaha, yup, it’s just like you said, senpai.

Apparently up until last year, Yumenosaki did get a bunch of fliers, but apparently not many of them were handed out.

So recently a bunch of students started clamoring about wanting more information, some sorta guidance… All because of the lecture you gave this summer, Nito-senpai.

Nazuna: …What?

Makoto: Neither Isara-kun nor I were at the auditorium on the day itself, but we caught a recording of it afterwards.

“Hold everything you learn at Yumenosaki dear to your heart. And if you can take a step forward in a direction that you yourself are happy with—well, that’s all I ask for.” Those words you said at the end were really powerful…

I feel a lot of people were spurred on thanks to what you had to say, Nito-senpai.

Mao: There’s more than just idols at Yumenosaki—there are other divisions too. And your speech would’ve made an impact on anyone, no matter where they belonged to.

Even after graduating from Yumenosaki, you’re still active as an idol. And you’re making use of everything you learn at college, giving yourself a great skill set…

So for anyone who wasn’t really sure about what they should do after high school, you planted the idea of college being an option in their head, I guess you could say?

Makoto: That’s what it felt like! Your lecture made it so everyone realized that it was time for them to think about what sort of path they wanna walk down, huh?

Nazuna: No way… You guys are exaggerating way too much.

Makoto: It’s not an exaggeration at all. Your words were the push forward so many students needed, senpai. Right, Isara-kun?

Mao: Right. And the fact that the two of us brought home all these college brochures, and are thinking about going to an open campus, is all thanks to the lecture you gave this summer making it so that this information is available in the first place.

Nazuna: …Yeah? So my words really have reached the students of Yumenosaki?

(...If that was the case, that’d feel pretty amazing.

I’m pretty tiny, so I didn’t know if I’d be able to make any big waves or anything.

I worried that I might’ve just gotten lost, and just gone bouncing down a different path… That thought has definitely crossed my mind before.

But the path I chose… The path I’m walking down right now has, just like these two said, encouraged others too and given them the push they need.)

Mako-chin, Mao-chin. Thanks for telling me this.

I feel kinda proud of myself. I’ll make sure to put everything I’ve got into both my studies and my work as an idol from now on too! ♪

Location: Nazuna’s college

(Several days later.)

Nazuna: Mako-chi~n! Mao-chi~n! Over here!

Makoto: Whoa… Just stepping foot on campus is making me all jittery.

Mao: There’s not even that much of an age difference between us, but it’s like, everyone already seems so grown-up just from spending time on campus…

Nazuna: Ahaha. Don’t worry about it! You’ll get used to it right away.

Welcome to college! I’ll be your guide to show you guys around and make sure that you enjoy your campus experience!

First of all, I know. We’ll go through the lounge and I’ll take you along to the library. Just follow your Nii~chan! ♪

—

Translation by nazunyan

Note: There was no JP/ENG proofreader for this story, I just double-checked it myself.

Story Name: Brother to Brother

Writer: Yuumasu

Season: Fall

Location: Kuro, Mao, Izumi, Shu Dorm Room

Characters: Kuro, Mao

Kuro:

Zzz… Zzz…

Mao:

Whoa, this can’t be happening!

Kuro:

(Hm...?)

Mao:

This is so bad, I completely overslept! Argh, nooo, why did I stay up so late?!

Kuro:

*yawn* Ya sure are lively this mornin’, Isara?

Mao:

Oh, Kiryuu-senpai. Good morning!

Oh god, don’t tell me—did I wake you up? I’m so sorry for making such a ruckus!

Kuro:

Don’t worry about it, it’s about time for me to wake up anyway… See, my alarm just went off there now.

Ya could still sleep for another hour and make it into school on time though. Do ya have somethin’ scheduled?

Mao:

Morning practice with my basketball club! Ever since I became stuco president, I haven’t been making it to practice as much. But I’m the captain, so I should try to attend as many sessions as I can.

I’m not the only member who’s busy, so I don’t want to go making excuses.

I only have half a year left at Yumenosaki, so I want to make myself some fond memories to look back on.

Kuro:

Now aren’t you something.

Mao:

Not at all, I still have a long way to go.

Kuro:

No need to be so humble. You’re the stuco president on top of the captain of the basketball club, so… Hmm?

Haha, I take that back. Looks like ya do have some ways to go after all.

Take a look at yer feet there. Ya have yer socks on inside out.

Mao:

What? Oh god, you’re right!

This is so embarrassing… Thanks for pointing that out. You just saved me from becoming a laughing stock among my juniors.

I’ll just put them back on properly… There! All right, I’m off!

Kuro:

Hey, did you just drop something?

Mao:

A button? Whoa, it’s the one from my sleeve!

Why is this happening today of all days? I guess today is my unlucky day…

Kuro:

Calm down, Isara. C’mere, I’ll fix that up for ya.

Mao:

Thank you. Uuu, sorry for putting you through all this too…

Kuro:

I’m tellin’ ya, it’s fine. Look, now yer right as rain.

Mao:

You really saved my butt here. Once again, I’ll be on my way!

Kuro:

Righto. Watch yerself on the way over there—make sure ya don’t trip and fall on yer way.

...Haha. Mornings with my little sis were always hectic too.

(There’s supposed to be four of us in this room, but Itsuki and Sena are away overseas most of the time. So it’s more like it’s just the two of us.)

(Considerin’ I’m comin’ from such a lively family, it did feel awful quiet at first. But I can call home any time I want, so it’s not like I’m lonely.)

(That said, I do miss mornings back at my place.)

Several hours later

Location: Starmony Dorms Common Room

Mao:

There you are, Kiryuu-senpai.

Kuro:

Welcome home, Isara.

Mao:

Thanks! And thanks a million for all your help this morning!

Here, consider this a token of my appreciation! I hope you like it…

Kuro:

Didn’t I tell ya it’s fine? I hardly did that much.

Mao:

You did loads! If it wasn’t for you, in the worst case scenario, I would’ve spent the whole day with my socks turned inside out and my button missing from my sleeve—how pathetic would that look?

I can’t thank you enough. So please, at least let me offer you this much in return!

Kuro:

Just a thank you is more than enough, ya know? But if y’insist, I’ll take it. Can I open it now?

Mao:

Of course. You should eat it while it’s still hot~ ♪

Kuro:

Whoa, pork buns? I see ya got them from that Chinese place in town. There’s two in here, so let’s have one each.

Mao:

Oh no, you should eat them both. They’re supposed to be my way of thanking you for being such a thoughtful senior.

Kuro:

And as your “senior” I’m asking you to eat one with me. Here, go on and take it.

Mao:

Ah… Got it. If you don’t mind.

Kuro:

Go on, dig in. This mornin’ was a bit of a disaster, huh?

Mao:

Yeah. Even though I try to present myself as this reliable older brother who has his act totally together back home. I need to get a hold of myself.

Kuro:

Hey, it happens. Everybody has those days.

Speakin’ of back home, once you left, I immediately started thinkin’ about my little sis.

Mao:

Oh yeah, you mentioned before having a little sister too.

Kuro:

Yeah. She can be a bit careless herself. I’ve lost track of how often I have to sew her buttons back on or fix up a frayed sleeve.

Mao:

My own sister won’t lose when it comes to carelessness. God knows how many times she’d forget her bento and I ended up having to chase after her.

And then she has the nerve to casually complain about how much I nag her. She’s so blunt with me! I’m just about the only one she has an attitude with.

Kuro:

I know what you mean. My own sis can be a real handful too.

But all of that combined is what makes her so cute, y’know? She’s real special to me.

Mao:

I get you. She sure does bug me sometimes, but I could never bring myself to dislike her.

Kuro:

Yeah… Oh right, since the two of us have sisters, we have that connection. D’ya think I could ask ya somethin’, get yer opinion as an older brother?

My sis has a Parent’s Day comin’ up, but my old man can’t make it ‘cause of work, so he asked me to fill in in his place.

But I ain’t got any idea just what I’m supposed to wear to that sorta thing. If all of the students’ parents are gonna be there, should I be wearin’ a suit or somethin’? And maybe wear my hair down, no gel?

Are there any manners I need to keep in mind for that sorta occasion?

Mao:

I don’t think there’s anything in particular. You can just act normal? It’s not like you’re going to a wedding ceremony or anything.

Kuro:

I dunno what actin’ “normal” is supposed to entail. I’m hardly the kinda guy ya can brag about a whole bunch.

But at least when it comes to the stage my sis stands on, I wanna present myself as a good older brother, y’know?

Mao:

I see, I get you. In that case, why don’t I help you pick out what to wear? I know exactly what it feels like to want to present yourself as a good big brother ♪

Kuro:

That’d help a lot. It’d sure give me a huge boost of confidence to have a fellow older brother by my side~ ♪