Operetta - Birthday 6

Location: Operetta Stage

Rei: After all, “Operetta” is, as the name suggests, a show that’s modeled after an opera.

It's a type of performance one is unable to put on all on their own… Well, due to that there were plans that the troupe members affiliated with this opera house would lend their assistance as well.

Mao: Mhm. Of course, we still secured the full cooperation of the opera house for the revised plan. They’re the pros when it comes to operas after all.

And it’s a good thing too, because I think it’d be a problem if a bunch of idols who don’t know the first thing about operas crashed the stage being all like “This is what operas are really about”.

Koga: Aah… I get it, no one would want just anyone tramplin' through their territory.

I was already at my wits end, wonderin’ how the hell I’m supposed to pull off an opera.

So what you’re basically sayin’ is that all the opera-like parts of this'll be performed by actual troupe members from this theatre?

Mao: Yup. We're just gonna be extras in the world the opera's set in already...

All we'll have to do is use the skills we've acquired as idols to entertain the guests to the best of our abilities.

So everyone, there’s no need to force yourselves to sing in a opera-esque way, alright? But if you wanna go for it, I guess you can try…

But aside from Sakuma-senpai, who apparently has some opera experience under his belt, I think your amateurish performances would be physically painful for them to watch.

Arashi: ? Sakuma-senpai, you can sing operas? You really do have an impressive repertoire as a performer…

Rei: I can. Or rather, I may just be an especially shameless believer in omnivory.

Opera, Jazz, Rock… Even being an idol; I had a phase where I extended my hands indiscriminately towards anything that seemed entertaining.

Acting like an old man who had grown tired of life, I sought out ways to comfort my heart…

Of course, I am now entirely devoted to being an idol; in order not to let the skills I acquired go to waste, I make use of them in my work during opportunities like this.

Kaoru: This guy's so good at outdoing anyone, even the pros, without breaking a sweat that it's actually kinda irritating.

When we practiced together in “that building”, his perfomance did look the same as any pro's to an amateur like me.

...I kind of feel like it’s a waste for someone like this guy, who can pull off pretty much anything, to restrict himself to nothing but idol activites.

Rei: ‘Tis but the path I wished for and chose by myself.

And as this current project proves, the concept of idols is as vast as the universe… There is nothing you can’t adapt to it.

You could say it is my life’s calling to be an idol who you can ask anything of, who can perform anything because they are able to.

No, maybe it was for exactly this purpose that I spent all this time wandering from one place to another in my domain.

All so I could shine bright as an idol now. So you see, there’s no need for you to feel regretful about it… Kaoru-kun.

Kaoru: That so? Well, as long as you’re enjoying life, I guess all's well that ends well.

Ritsu: Alright, that’s it. You’re being too noisy, graduates. Maa~kun was talking, so can you shut up for a while?

Mao: No, as long as they’re not speaking so loudly that they’re interrupting me, it’s okay to have a little bit of idle chatter on the side. Let’s keep things chill in a good sense of the word, it’s not like this is the military or anything like that.

In any case, all we have to do is go along with the plot of the opera that has been prepared for us and perform the usual song and dance, just like during our lessons as idols.

By the way, through Knights, Ritsu was able to request Tsukinaga-senpai to write this opera for us. So once more, I’d like to thank Tsukinaga-senpai as well ♪

Rei: Ooh, now that you mention it, I see Tsukinaga-kun sitting in the staff seating area… However, he seems to be sleeping deeply right now for some reason.

Ritsu: I think he hasn't gotten enough sleep lately 'cause we caused him so much extra work. Well, once the music starts he’s probably gonna wake up, 'cause Tsukipi~ seems to really love operas.

He told me he was really happy that he got to compose one.

Koga: Hm~. So we’re gonna perform a brand new opera, huh. Ain't operas more of a traditional art form? Not that I know anythin' about ‘em, really…

And most of the performance squad here are complete amateurs. Wouldn’t we be playin’ it safer if we performed some well-known rep of operas instead?

Like how at grade school festivals they’ll perform Snow White or somethin' else everyone knows already.

Rei: No can do, because we aren’t grade schoolers who get full marks and a gold star just for flashing our cute smiles at the audience; we are, though imperfect, professionals at heart.

And in the world of professionals, the true noble path is the one wrought with hardship.

Ritsu: Mh. Also, if we did some opera that’s been done to death and is known to anyone who's dabbled in this for a bit… Well, we might have our pick of the litter there--

But we’d be compared to all the other productions, and our flaws would stick out like a sore thumb.

After all, we’re pretty much all amateurs here.

If we get in the same ring as those before us, we’ll just make a fool of ourselves… So it’s best for us to perform an opera that we can only perform as idols.

And while that may not be the noble path of operas, it's definitely the noble path for us idols. Don’t you think so, Nacchan?

Arashi: I agree. Let’s walk it down confidently; our very own noble path.

If we mind our steps too much, we’ll just tremble unsightly. So let’s throw our chests out and flaunt our love and brilliance to the whole world.

Boldly, with elegance ♪

Ritsu: Yeah, that’s what Knights is all about. ...Well, we won’t force that attitude on the rest of you, who aren’t Knights.

Koga: Aaahn? This project is for you guys’ sake, so I’ll make sure to match your pace.

Well, while we’re takin' it into consideration, we’ll still be doin’ things our way though. ...You guys are on board with that, aren’t you, Senpai?

Kaoru: Of course. It’s just too bad Adonis-kun isn’t here. But that’s exactly why, in order not to make that child who’s in a far-away foreign country worry over us… We’ll roar loudly and cause a riot.

Rei: Indeed. We’ll be so radical that he can’t ignore us no matter how far he may be ♪

Rei and Kaoru: -- We are UNDEAD!

Yuzuru: Fufu. And bestowing some discipline upon all of you who just recklessly do things as you like is our duty as fine. 

I think this will turn out to be quite the difficult task, Bocchama.

Tori: I’m fine with that, it gets me more fired up this way. By keeping a tight rein on those idiots who're rampaging as they like, we’ll cultivate our empire.

Mao: Haha. Seems everyone’s all hyped up, that’s great. I guess I was worried for no reason, it was worth the effort of cutting in line for this project after all.

Well, it’s just like someone from Trickstar to get roped into this jumbled mess half in jest, isn’t it.

...Wait, it’s so sad for me to be the only one without any friends from my unit here! You guys are so unfair!

Ritsu: You say that, but.

Isn’t Trickstar busy at “that building” with some kind of debut or something right now? ...Actually, is it really okay for you to play along with some idle gossip like this?

Mao: Of course. And I don’t think of it as idle gossip either, it’s a problem that concerns my dear childhood friend after all.

...Now that we’ve climbed the ranks, it's been hard to find the time to spend together.

But that doesn’t mean the bond between us has been lost. When you’re in trouble, I’ll always come running.

And then I’ll always meddle in your business, even if it’s none of mine.

Ritsu: ...This isn’t “none of your business”, Maa~kun.

Thank you Maa~kun, I’m happy you feel that way. Let’s have lots of children together and raise a happy family ♪

Mao: I have no plans of the sort, though!? What the hell, sometimes I worry that we talk right past each other!

I don’t get you at all..!

Rei: Kukuku. I won’t hand over my cute little brother to a husband that easily. First, you have to prove yourself to me, Isara-kun… Prove that you’re a worthy man for my Ritsu.

Here, at this “Operetta”.

Mao: Hold it right there, I have no idea what you’re talking about either!?

I bet you’re just pulling my leg because you think it's real funny! You siblings are always like this, and I really think there’s something wrong with you for that!

Koga: ...Hey, the introduction for the audience has started. Come on bird-brains, stop foolin’ around and get ready to go on stage.

Seems like there’s somethin’ Dekosuke wants to discuss right now, but you’re out of time.

You can always talk about it later, so put it off til then. Right now, we gotta focus on entertainin’ the folks who came to see so much that they’ll drop dead.

Rei: Indeed. You always have such a way with words, Koga. 

“Dropping dead” is a fitting phrase. We shall have them die and revive over and over again, and turn all of them into our beloved brethren ♪