Night Club - Epilogue 3

Location: Night Club Interior

HiMERU:  — Hmm.

As expected, that was your thought process behind this. So that’s why you denied HiMERU’s intent on returning to solo activities, Amagi.

Rinne: Yup. ‘Cause think about it; what's gonna happen if you were to go back to bein’ the good ol' idol the “former HiMERU” used to be?

What if you were to go back to bein’ all pure and virtuous, or in other words, some goody-two-shoes who would never ever go against ES’s lil' schemes?

HiMERU: — HiMERU would no longer have anywhere to go, that is for sure.

To the outcasts who seem to have gathered at this club, who all rever Crazy:B as their shining star of hope, it would appear as though HiMERU is betraying his comrades.

Even though HiMERU's supposed to be someone representing their dissatisfaction.

To them, it would simply look as though HiMERU is buttering up the very ES that they loathe and turning into its literal lap dog.

And at the same time, there's basically no way for a solo idol to survive at ES, the way it is now.

Of course, there are solo jobs, but there are barely any chances for a solo idol to flourish and be acknowledged.

At the very least, expecting the former HiMERU’s working conditions to net you the same level of fame and rewards these days would only be futile.

Not to mention, Crazy:B has such a terrible reputation that we basically can’t land a job.

Now that the stench of Crazy:B is clinging to HiMERU, no one would touch him even with a ten-foot-pole.

By no means does HiMERU hope to receive the same treatment he did in the past... There’s no way HiMERU can return to his former self, surely. No matter how much he longs to do that.

Rinne: Well, ya never know ‘til ya try. But even as someone who loves risky gambles, I don’t think the odds look too good for ya.

Pretty sure you've got nothin' to gain, but a lot to lose here.

I figured it’d just remind ya of all the things ya lost, and end with you gettin’ hurt for no reason.

HiMERU: ………

Rinne: That’s why “I” stopped ya. After all, when I was losin' all hope worryin' over shit on my own and did nothin' but run away bawlin' my ass off, you guys were the ones who stopped me.

...Ya got a problem with that, huh, do ya? HiMERU?

HiMERU: — No.

It’s just... a rather lonely feeling. Like —  “Aah, so returning to those days is truly impossible.”

Sad and painful things may have transpired, but without a doubt, it had been happiness.

Rinne: Yeah. You can wish for it with all your heart but no matter what, no one can ever return to the past.

So instead, we face the future. How about it — why don’tcha get your head outta the clouds for a sec and take a look around ya?

HiMERU: ………

Rinne: All these people gathered here today don't know shit about your past self. But they might know about us, here in the present.

And if they don’t, then we’ll give them a lil' self-intro, sing and dance — And even if we have to carve it into ‘em with our stingers, this is what we’ll tell ‘em:

“We’re right here. And so are you, and that’s alright.”

“It’s okay for you to be alive. It’s okay for you to decide for yourself what you believe to be right.”

If society won’t tell ‘em that, then we will! With everything that we are!

Even to all those folks who were denied at every turn, who were told, “You’re in the wrong” by some yahoo — We'll be the only ones to tell ‘em, “You’re right!”

‘Cause I was once saved by people like them! ‘Cause there were people who loved, rooted for, and validated a stupid piece of shit like me!

‘Cause some idol I already forgot the name and face of, who I saw when I first came to the city, told me “Thank you!” when I got excited and overjoyed watching ‘em!

“Thank you for being alive, thank you for watching and smiling for me!”, they said!

Havin’ been told that I’m in the wrong time and time again, I’d forgotten how to breathe, but those words which they prolly say to everyone they meet — they saved me!

That’s why I’ll go on and say the same thing! To everyone who’s just like how I used to be back then!

No matter how much they may hate it, no matter how much they'll try to reject me, I’ll steal a kiss from their lips and keep ‘em breathin’ by force! Gyahahahahaha ☆

And among the survivors, there’ll definitely be people who’ll thank us and love us!

Those people'll swarm together, team up, and form a hive!

A hive that’s just like this club! Let’s build more an’ more of those hives all over the world, HiMERU! Crazy:B!

In a world where no one will deny our way of life — let’s live there together, playin’ around every day ’til we drop dead!

“♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪”

HiMERU: (Fufu. As always, you dance to your own tune, simply say your part, and you're off.)

(What are you, a child? ...Even though you’re the eldest among us.)

(You truly piss me off. And yet —)

— HiMERU understands all the points you’ve made, in spite of your rather flawed presentation of them. Please don’t just “play around”; be sure to do your work properly, too.

To HiMERU, there is no greater happiness than working as an idol and being able to live as the idol known as HiMERU.

Playing mahjong, having foolish conversations, and drinking alcohol —  well, HiMERU has no experience with that last one, but he derives no pleasure at all from such things.

However, while this vulgar and filthy setting may be far removed from the ideal HiMERU had pictured —

HiMERU: And while the insects in the vicinity may be unpleasant to be around in all their annoying buzzing…

As long as he can sing and dance and stand on stage as “HiMERU”, then perhaps this setting and situation may not be all that undesirable for him.

This is happiness, it’s fun.

HiMERU: In that case, Amagi… Right now, HiMERU has not a single reason to deny your words or refuse your request.

“♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪”

Yuuta: (That’s right… No matter how much we may wish for it, we can’t return to the past.)

(All we can do is accept the present and struggle for a better future. Just like HiMERU-san, just like Crazy:B.)

(No matter how we may weep and whine like babies, we can’t ever crawl back into our mother’s belly.)

(No matter how much we insist that we’re “two in one”, that we can become the strongest individual together, we can no longer return to the time before we split into two.)

(Aoi Yuuta and Aoi Hinata are separate people by now, who live their separate lives. And I know that already, I know we’re no longer “one and the same” since a long time ago...)

Hinata: Onii-chan, Onii-chan.

Yuuta: ...Whatever is the matter, little one. Your Onii-chan is fretting about some very serious matters right now and it’s the middle of a performance, so if this is about something trifling, save it for later.

Hinata: Mhm. But look, over there.

Yuuta: Over where—

U-uhyah!?

(...Wha—!? Huh, this can’t be real, can it? W-w-what's going on?)

(—Right there, in the audience, sits our dad.)

(Our father, who hurt us deeply a long, long time ago, when he told us that we’re revolting because it’s impossible to tell us apart.)

———————

TL Note about personal pronouns: Rinne switched from his usual “orecchi” to simply using “ore” when he addresses HiMERU by name, making him come off as more down-to-earth and serious than he usually is, which I felt was worth pointing out. He goes back to using “orecchi” shortly after.

TL Note about the twins: The way they address their father has not changed since Setsubun, the word is still お父さん (father, dad).

Night Club - Epilogue 4

Location: Night Club Interior

Hinata: Aah, so I wasn’t mistaken. You know, Onii-chan, you’re gaping at Dad almost like he’s a murderer.

Yuuta: ...That’s because I hate him. I loathe his guts. So much that I wish he’d bite his tongue and drop dead right this second.

Hinata: Mhm.

Yuuta: What on earth is that guy doing in a seedy nightlife district like this? Treating himself to some drinks for working himself ragged or something?

Hinata: Oh, I don’t think so. You won't like me saying this, Onii-chan, but I think the family resemblance between you two is showing…

He’s probably worried about us, just like how you were worried about me, Onii-chan.

We’ve been really active all over the place lately, and have become celebrities, too.

If people like us are spotted in a shady club within this kinda "nightlife district", of course there’ll be talk.

Hearing rumors like that could worry just about anyone. That is, if the person in question loves us even a little bit, parent or not.



Yuuta: ……....

Hinata: I figured it’d make you mad, Onii-chan, or at least put you in a bad mood, so I never told you, but…

He’s always been like that, you know. Whenever 2wink becomes the talk of the town, he’d text me a few words over the phone.

And whenever worrying rumours about us pop up on the 'net or anything, he’ll give me a call.

Like when Crazy:B went on that rampage during summer break, for example, he asked me if we were doing okay.

He said he cares about us, and that he wants to help us out if anything happens. ...Though you're probably thinking that any good parent should lend their help before something goes down.

But he did help us out, y'know. In his own way.

Or did you really think that I'd managed to sustain our idol activities on my own this whole time, when I'm the same age as you?

When we’re both still at an age where we need a guardian's approval for everything?

Yuuta: ...That man is not our guardian. We’ve left that house to live in Starmony Dormitory and we have our own income, so at this point he’s nothing but a stranger with zero relation to us.

No. That person became a stranger to us the very instant he spoke to us like we were monsters.

Hinata: Mhm. That’s why I won’t ask you to forgive him.

He may as well be a complete stranger to us, since he lost any right to be our parent through his callous statements.

But you know… In that case, I wanna at least face him the way I would a stranger.

If we hated that person more than necessary, held him in contempt, and spoke of him as if he was less than a stranger — less than a human; a monster…

Then we'd be just the same as him, who talked about us as if we were repulsive monsters. No, we really would become monsters who won’t even treat humans as humans.

I don’t wanna become like that, and I don’t want you to turn into that kind of creature either, Onii-chan.

Which is why, as a stranger to him, and as an idol — I’ll treat him like he’s a guest who's just come to watch our performances, and I’ll tell him:

“Thank you.”

And then, I’ll spread love as an idol by singing and dancing to the best of my ability. Maybe I can’t offer the love of a boyfriend or husband, or a family member...

But at the very least I won’t play favorites amongst fans, or withhold love from certain people — I won’t discriminate.

After all, isn’t that the very thing we hate the most?



Hinata: The love of those who “love everyone” isn’t any weaker, or insufficient, compared to people who love only one single person.

Even love that’s directed at “everyone” has the power to save people. I know this for a fact, and I believe in it.

“♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪”

Yuuta: (...What the hell.)

(Talk about arrogant. You’re always, always like this, huh.)

(Talking like you’re an adult who knows the right answer, and I’m just a kid who doesn't know a thing. Even though we were born on the same day, and were supposed to have been growing at the same pace.)

(You've taken up the role of my guardian, just because you’re the older brother and the leader.)

(You know, I've wanted to share the burden you’re carrying, even just a little.)

(That’s why I’d always ask to do things together with you… Saying that we should carry the burden together, no matter what it might be — and we made that work.)

(And I thought that just by doing that, everything was going well. I convinced myself of it.)

(But was I just like a kid who innocently says, “Lemme help, too~!” to you?)

(Was everything I offered just the useless ideas of your cute little protegé, who doesn’t even realize his own powerlessness?)

Night Club - Epilogue 5

Location: Night Club Interior

Rinne: — Oi. Why the long face? Don’tcha know we’re in the middle of a live?

Yuuta: ...Of course I do. I know it’s unprofessional of me, but I kinda saw something unpleasant and it put a damper on my mood.

Rinne: That so? Guess it’s only natural, though. All your life, you’ve been diligently protected from seein’ anythin’ unclean or unpleasant, right?

But y’know, that kinda overboard consideration makes me wanna puke — though it’s probably definitely all done outta love.

Yuuta: ...I said I get it already. Honestly, I was surprised to find out that lots of people don’t know that their love's something that can hurt others.

Rinne: Yep. So go on and tell ‘em.

Tell ‘em the truth of this world that no one ever told ‘em about, which they in turn never tried to figure out. The only one who can do that is you, 'cause no one else knows your “right answer”.

We’ve got mouths and we’ve got words. And we’ve got the right to turn those words into a lovely lil' song, and spread it all over the world…

You’ve got a place set up for you to reach lots and lots of people with your message.

It’s right here, on this very stage. Why didja get up here? To earn some cash? To be fawned over?

Or was it in order to get all the affection that your parents and society never gave ya from someone else instead?

Yuuta: ...Is it bad to stand on stage for an impure reason like that?

Rinne: Nnnope? ‘S just, I’m not sensin’ the slightest hint of a narrative from the two of ya…

From what I found out 'bout your personal history, it looks like you’ve been through some shit, but you’re just tryna bury all those murky feelings in the depths of your hearts.

You guys are flashy and talented, and you’ve got the skills, but there’s no context to it. Ya don’t have a story to tell — all you’re doin’ is opening your toy box and havin’ fun playing around together with your fans.

And I think that’s already fine by itself; after all, that's what pretty much all idols are by nature — nothin’ but amusement for the masses.

If ya can let ‘em kill some time enjoyin’ themselves, even just for a lil' while, that’s already enough.

Unfortunately, I’m already too old to be satisfied with that kinda child’s play, though…

If you guys are gonna be grapplin’ with the world for real from now on, you’d better belt out stories that'll resonate with all those bored-ass adults that live in it.

Your way of doin’ things may fly in the world of children, and everyone's prolly been heapin' praise on you for it.

But the ones who make this world go round are the adults who've long grown tired of those kinda thrills, y’know —



Rinne: Well, if you’re not interested in that kinda stuff I’m not gonna force ya, though.

If no one’s up for doin’ it, then we will. And for better or worse, there're as many idols out there as there are stars in the sky.

Brats like you guys should just do whatever you can do, and give your all in that.

“~.....♪”

Yuuta: ………

(Ugh~... This guy really pisses me off. I feel like I suddenly get why everyone hates Amagi Rinne — It’s because every single thing he says and does is provocative and vulgar, huh.)

(It’s because he digs up those sewers which everyone pretends not to notice while going about their lives, and scatters the mud and stench around.)

(It’s something I’d absolutely never do, and I’ve never been stained by such things. ...Thanks to Hinata-kun risking his life keeping me clean and protecting me from them.)

(But I’m grown-up enough to at least have noticed that there are disgusting things flowing beneath my feet.)

(All those people who've forgotten that I'm a grown-up by now, and who'd treat me like a kid forever — maybe it'd be okay... to do stuff that'll surprise them.)

(It’s fine if I put my feelings — if I put Aoi Yuuta’s feelings into song and released them to the world, right?)

(...My heart's racing so fast it could burst at the thought of that alone. Guess it’s still too soon for me to take part in games for adults like this.)

“— Dad!”

(Alright, I’m gonna tell you! I’ll tell you something a hundred times worse than all the things you said to us!)

(But I’ll do it in a way that’s worthy of us — a way worthy of idols!)

(And once I do, I’m sure I’ll have a weight off my shoulders — even if just a little bit!)

(I'm just venting my anger on you, but you did the exact same thing to us, so it’s fine, right!)

“Did you come to cheer for us? Thank you! We’re always so grateful to you! It’s all thanks to you that we became such splendid idols, Dad!”



Yuuta: “And that’s why! Today, wholeheartedly and with all my might — I’ll put all my love into it and sing!”

“With the smile of a child, but the freedom of an adult! As a single, regular human, the likes of which you could find just about anywhere!”

“♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪”