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Parallel World - “The Bad Kid Survival Strategy” Chapter 17

Writer: Akira

Season: Winter

(Several days later. A certain building in the city, within the world of Sanctuary. Operation: Parallel Ra*bits is a go.)

Chiaki (Tomoya): 

“Fuhahahaha! This marks the start of our Hero Show, and what better place to hold it than an amusement park?”

Midori (Hajime):

“Our white fur is a mark of justice! A pure, blinding light, untainted by darkness…!”

Shinobu (Nazuna):

“With our big, doe eyes and our long, floppy ears—we’ll be sure to exterminate the bad in this world…!”

Tetora (Mitsuru):

“That’s us! The lovely ☆ cute Heroes of Justice; Ra*bits…!”

Hajime:

W-Wow~ Clap, clap, clap! ♪

Mitsuru:

Whoa, you guys! That was so cool~!

Hajime:

Yeah~ We did already see the footage before, but seeing it in real life really is extraordinary; or rather, I feel like I’m dreaming right now.

Nazuna:

Wait, sorr… Ahahahaha☆ I could get on board with this! Weirdly enough, this is right up my alley! And you even came up with catchphrases, this is too funny!

Chiaki (Tomoya): 

“Great! Seems like we have Nito’s approval!”

Nazuna:

Hey, can you not call me Nito when you’re wearing Tomo-chin’s face~? You better stay in character for the most part while you’re playing Ra*bits.

Midori (Hajime):

“Yeah… That’s important. If you act in a way that other people will be able to tell there’s a “person” inside a mascot character, it’ll seriously dampen their mood…”

Tetora (Mitsuru):

“Aye aye, sir! We’ll be sure to put our all to stayin’ in character to the best of our ability!"

Shinobu (Nazuna):

“Nihihi. Since Ryuseitai has also been wondering about how we’ll proceed henceforth, I’m grateful that this project will give us a chance to test out and get a feel for all sorts of possibilities.”

Chiaki (Tomoya): 

“Mhm! But while all of us have adjusted to the roles already, I guess having an orthodox unit like Ra*bits act like superheroes might feel a little off to others?”

Tetora (Mitsuru):

“Well, forcing two separate concepts together whether they match or not has always been the way Ryuseitai does things.”

“To be honest, while heroes and idols might seem like a good match-up, there are still subtle incompatibilities.”

Midori (Hajime):

“Beep, beep, this is the Mascot Character Patrol. We’re supposed to be playing Ra*bits right now, so it’s problematic to start talking about this Ryusei-whatever unit.”

Tetora (Mitsuru):

“You say that, Midori-kun, but you’re the one sticking to ‘ore’ as your first person pronoun while you’re supposed to be playing Hajime-kun.”*

Midori (Hajime):

“Yeah… I’m sorry, Shino-kun, I ended up being the one playing as you…”

Hajime:

Huh? No, I’m thrilled that you’re playing me, Takamine-kun! It’s an absolute honor!

Midori (Hajime):

“I’m actually quite happy about it too… Hehehe, right now, no matter how you look at me, I’m so cute…♪”

“I no longer have to lament about how tall I am every time I look in the mirror…♪”

Hajime:

I-I’m not actually that short though?

Midori (Hajime):

“But for some reason, you really give off the impression of someone who’s tiny and cute… Odd.”

Hajime:

Well, I’m pretty selective about my angles when it comes to taking pictures or videos.

Chiaki (Tomoya): 

“Mhm! Absolutely fascinating! But while it’s great that we’re all getting along, we are in the middle of a job here! So I’d like us to leave the idle chatter at that!”

Nazuna:

Oh…? I had the impression that Chiaki-chin has been taking a step back from Ryuseitai for a while, but right now it seems like you’re taking control just like old times.

Chiaki (Tomoya): 

“That’s because I’m the one in command this time!”

Nazuna:

What do you mean “this time”...?

Well, in any case, it seems like a lot has happened with you guys.

Chiaki (Tomoya): 

“And the same with you. I’ve been worried about this strange fuss you’ve found yourselves in. Are things really okay with you?”

“If you need any more of our help, feel free to reach out to us any time!”

Nazuna:

You’re already helping us out plenty. Right, Tomo-chin?

Tomoya:

Right. Sorry to ask so much of you, but I’d like you to keep on playing your version of Parallel Ra*bits just like that.

That’s the whole objective of this “Parallel World” project, after all.

Chiaki (Tomoya): 

“A ‘Parallel World’... In Hero-ese, it's what we call the multiverse.”

“In other words, in this parallel version of the world, the Ra*bits everyone knows have evolved into all sorts of different forms.”

“In Ryuseitai’s case, it’s ‘what if Ra*bits became superheroes’?”

“But what’s the point of having all of these different versions of Ra*bits spread out through this amusement park, and making them sing and dance?”

Tomoya:

You’ll find out soon enough. It’s almost time for us to make all sorts of official announcements.

Chiaki (Tomoya): 

“Mhm! I can’t say I follow, but I eagerly await whatever's about to unfold!”

“Hang in there, Mashiro Tomoya! Your unit has the strongest heart in all of Yumenosaki! No matter what difficulties you face, I’ve no doubt that you’ll be able to persevere!

Tomoya:

Ahaha. When I’m being cheered on by someone who looks just like me, it’s like I’m looking into a mirror and giving myself a pep talk. Feels kinda weird.

Hajime:

It really does feel like we’re in another universe… Here and there, I see people walking around, looking just like us…

There might even be a much superior version of myself among them. I don’t even have to go out of my way to search, since they’re everywhere.

Tomoya:

No matter how outstanding or what sort of prodigy they are, they’ll never replace you, Hajime.

The Shino Hajime from Ra*bits that we know and love is you and you alone.

Midori (Hajime):

“Mashiro-kun… Sorry, but you’re going to make me blush when you gaze at me closely like that…”

Hajime:

You did not just go and mix us up! Tomoya-kun, you liar! And right when you just claimed that you loved me! If you really love me, you won’t mix me up with someone else!

Tomoya:

S-S-Sorry! But you really do look exactly alike right now!

Mitsuru:

Yeah. This technology is sure somethin’~ SSVRS or whatever it’s called.

Nazuna:

Right~? I can’t think of it as anything other than magic. All you have to do is put on these special contact lenses, and there’s suddenly a whole new world right in front of you.

Hajime:

To everyone here, ourselves included, all of the other idols look exactly like Ra*bits right now.

Tomoya:

That’s the whole point. Though apparently this is pretty standard technology for Sanctuary. Once you take a step inside, everyone is under the “magic of technology.”

It’s like we’re all dreaming, while still in reality.

Hajime:

In this case, everyone is part of our Parallel World.

Nazuna:

I understand our strategy and I do find it pretty interesting. But I can’t help it; I’m already starting to feel like I’m tipsy. This is all so crazy…

Hajime:

Well, you’re a very sensitive person, Nii~chan.

Nazuna:

Or like, I just can’t keep up with the flexibility of the youth, no matter what.

Kanata (Flapjack Octopus):

“All ‘five’ of us together are ‘Ra*bits’...☆”

Chiaki (Tomoya): 

“Ah, come on, Kanata! You lost our game of rock-paper-scissors, so you have to play the bad guy, get it? Ra*bits is a team of four, so there can’t be five of us!”

Kanata (Flapjack Octopus):

“But I am lonely! I am lonely because I am the only one you are all ‘leaving out~’!”

Midori (Hajime):

“I-I feel really bad now… You do see heroes in teams of three or five, but a team of four is rare. It does feel a bit odd.”

“Why don’t we let Shinkai-senpai join us anyway—”

Kanata (Flapjack Octopus):

“Midori! What a good boy! As a ‘thank you’ for your kindness, I will gift you this ‘seaweed’ ♪”

Shinobu (Nazuna):

“Ahaha, now things have delved into a random folktale!”

Tetora (Mitsuru):

“‘The Flapjack Octopus’ Requital of A Favor.’”

Chiaki (Tomoya): 

“Like Metalder?! The same turn of events that often unfold in Superhuman-Machine Metalder?!”*

Midori (Hajime):

“So annoying… Thanks to this guy sorting out his problems, we’re seeing a revival of the SFX otaku. I hate it.”

Tomoya:

…Well, all of you guys who agreed to help us out seem to be having a lot of fun, which I’m really glad about.

But we still don’t know if this will solve anything. Let’s get to work and do what we need to do.

Mitsuru:

Yeah! Let’s take out that Bishojo-senpai! Ei, ei, oh! ☆”

Hajime:

W-We’re not going to be fighting Ideia-sama though…? I’m not so sure why you seem so eager to get into a fight, Mitsuru-kun?

Tomoya:

Right. The only people we’re about to face off against right now—are ourselves.

–

*Hajime’s first person pronoun is “boku” which sounds soft and humble. Midori’s is “ore” which sounds more masculine and casual. 

*A franchise about a metal superhero.

NEXT CHAPTER

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Translation by:

Ara @. nazunyan427

Proofreader: 

Sophie @.ra_bits_daisuki