Antique Legend - Artists and Assassins 3
Sep. 26th, 2021 03:10 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bakemonoremyCollab with Soup
Location: ES Underground Live Stage
Nearly one hour later. In an intermission during one of Valkyrie’s rare performances.
Shu: Non! Useless thing! Just what in the world have you done, Kagehira!? No motivation, no energy, no spirit and, above all else, no love and beauty!
If I was as arrogant as I was in the past, I surely would have immediately stripped you of your Valkyrie outfit! You are unfit to wear that!
Mika: …
… Ngah~? Ehehe, did ya say somethin’, Oshi-san?
Sorry, I was thinkin’ a lil’ ‘bout somethin’ an’ didn’t hear ya ♪
Shu: Y-you! Honestly! Shall I strip you naked like a newborn?! Incorrigible!
Mika: Mn? “Incorrigible!”? Is that yer imitation o’ the dormitory supervisor? Ahaha, even Oshi-san’ll say those kinds o’ funny things~♪
Shu: (What is this child smiling so strangely for… He seems to be in a good mood; is his mental state not what causes him grief?)
(I’ve only seen Kagehira doing this badly very rarely in recent years.)
(It is entirely as if he had returned to when I had unfairly called him such things as “failure” and “good-for-nothing”, to when his movements were nothing but stiff.)
(So, do you really find it so unpleasant to create art with me…?)
(I had been wondering if he had held resentment towards me for what happened in Neverland, when I had thrown out his personal belongings without permission.)
(Concerning that matter, when I gave him my earnest apology, I believe he forgave me.)
(I understood that my blunder in forcibly throwing out his belongings was cruel, as that is something Kagehira excessively fears being done to him.)
(Since then, I’ve been careful to not set him off again.)
(It would be troubling if he were to declare he would throw out Mademoiselle like before, even if he was bluffing back then.)
(But if what happened then is not the issue, then what is the reason for his strange lack of liveliness?)
(It can’t be that he’s fallen into poor health again like back then.)
(Rei’s little brother is Kagehira’s dormmate, so I requested for Rei to check up on Kagehira whilst he looked after his little brother.)
(Since Rei, who has never denied a request from anyone, accepted, he should have been able to handle it perfectly, right?)
(However it’s possible his brother, who detests him, drove him out and prevented him from doing much.)
(But still, since Kagehira lives in the dormitory with everyone else, someone would have noticed and made him rest if he were in poor health.)
(I would have had to be contacted, as his guardian.)
(But why? Why are this child’s gears malfunctioning now, of all times?)
(I don’t know… In the past I was able to understand him thoroughly like a suit I’d tailored by hand myself.)
… … … (Gazing at Mika, pondering.)
Mika: … … … (Happily returning his gaze.)
Shu: Don’t stare at me, it’s disturbing!
Mika: Wha!? But Oshi-san, ya were the one starin’ at me~!
But… Ehehe…Oshi-san still looks real pretty whenever I look at him ♪
Shu: Hmph. Of course, it’s only natural. From the second I was born up to this moment, I have continuously strived to be beautiful.
You should be doing the same; observe me and learn. Lately, you’ve been showing off such disgraceful behavior, and I believe that to be unbefitting of my partner.
Mika: Aah… I’ve just been feelin’ real poorly as o’ late.
Shu: I can tell that just by looking at you. Recently, while I’d been abroad, it seems you’d taken an awfully proactive approach to taking personal job offers.
Like those vulgar gravure photoshoots intended to arouse the lust of others, and those absurd variety show programs…
However, it is intolerable to see you taking up that kind of tasteless work without even thinking about it. Didn’t you think that even my dignity would be brought down with you since you’re my partner?
Mika: Ngah~... Yeah, I know, an’ I’m mighty sorry bout’ that, but I needed the money—
Besides, Valkyrie, as it is, is Oshi-san’s — it has been from way back when t’ now.
I thought that if I only did a bunch o’ work by myself, it wouldn’t’ve dirtied Valkyrie’s name as much.
Shu: Your self-awareness is as feeble as ever, hm? You need to reflect on how your presence is interpreted by the world.
Your name is quite popular here in Japan compared to my own, since I mostly work overseas now.
Mika: Maybe… Yeaaaah that is true, recently fans have been callin’ out to me way more often than before when I’d go walkin’ out in the city.
Even though I’ve been wearin’ a cap an' stuff as a disguise.
Shu: Your eyes are a very distinct characteristic of yours. Apart from them, you’re quite ordinary, but because your eyes are emphasized, people are likely to stop at them.
The times have not changed, and so those kinds of peculiar physical characteristics have easily become the subject of discrimination.
Be careful. As an idol, you need to make a name for yourself, however, in the case that you find yourself in bad light, you will become the target of witch hunts.
This is how this country has been from the past to the present, the never-faltering and nauseating nature of this country.
Mika: Yeah… Naru-chan, Oshi-san an’ all y’all’re so kind, so I kinda forget. Yer right, it’s always been like that, but I’ll be careful.
Shu: Of course; I don’t want to push that blame onto you. Don’t misunderstand, I’m not blaming you. Your condition recently has just been especially peculiar.
I don’t believe you’re simply overworked, your performance is suffering from your exhaustion. There must be something else troubling you, no?
Mika: Ngah~? Ahaha, Oshi-san bein’ so kind feels outta place, I can’t help but laugh fer some reason ♪
Shu: …!? I’ve really been wasting my precious time and brain cells to worry about you!
Mika: I didn’t ask ya to worry bout’ me, Oshi-san, but thank ya!
Though m’ really just fine and dandy. I’ll try not t’ bother ya too much, Oshi-san.
Even if I do have a problem, it’s somethin’ I gotta deal with on my own. No, it’s to settle “that” that is the reason I became an idol.
Shu: …?
Madara: Excuuuuuse uuuuus!
Kohaku: Good evening~, Double Face’s here fer a lil’ visit ♪
Shu: …? Is there something you two want? You’re being noisy!
Madara: Hahaha! Phew, what a relief! Looks like we made it in time, huh?
We’d have been in a real pinch if you’d had a chance to hide the evidence of your wrongdoings, so I really wanted to get in contact with you guys while you were still helpless and in the middle of a live ♪
Mika: Wrongdoin’s? What’re ya talkin’ bout’, Mikejima-senpai?
Shu: Don’t tell me you’re involved in some sort of criminal activity, Kagehira?! Is that why Double Face has appeared before us…?
Madara: Who knows, that part is still shrouded in mystery! But in fact, that’s exactly what we’re here to investigate, so let’s talk it out with our fists ♪
Shu: How barbaric. Leave this stage of ours at once, and take your vulgarity and crudeness with you!
I won’t say it again, Mikejima Madara. …You're but a counterfeit of a hero who's always too late in the most crucial times.
Madara: Yep! But that’s why, in order to become the real thing this time, I’ve donned this mask of justice that doesn’t even suit me and go around exterminating villains! Hahahahaha!
— Come, Valkyrie. It’s time for you to lay out your sins.
Location: ES Underground Live Stage
Nearly one hour later. In an intermission during one of Valkyrie’s rare performances.
Shu: Non! Useless thing! Just what in the world have you done, Kagehira!? No motivation, no energy, no spirit and, above all else, no love and beauty!
If I was as arrogant as I was in the past, I surely would have immediately stripped you of your Valkyrie outfit! You are unfit to wear that!
Mika: …
… Ngah~? Ehehe, did ya say somethin’, Oshi-san?
Sorry, I was thinkin’ a lil’ ‘bout somethin’ an’ didn’t hear ya ♪
Shu: Y-you! Honestly! Shall I strip you naked like a newborn?! Incorrigible!
Mika: Mn? “Incorrigible!”? Is that yer imitation o’ the dormitory supervisor? Ahaha, even Oshi-san’ll say those kinds o’ funny things~♪
Shu: (What is this child smiling so strangely for… He seems to be in a good mood; is his mental state not what causes him grief?)
(I’ve only seen Kagehira doing this badly very rarely in recent years.)
(It is entirely as if he had returned to when I had unfairly called him such things as “failure” and “good-for-nothing”, to when his movements were nothing but stiff.)
(So, do you really find it so unpleasant to create art with me…?)
(I had been wondering if he had held resentment towards me for what happened in Neverland, when I had thrown out his personal belongings without permission.)
(Concerning that matter, when I gave him my earnest apology, I believe he forgave me.)
(I understood that my blunder in forcibly throwing out his belongings was cruel, as that is something Kagehira excessively fears being done to him.)
(Since then, I’ve been careful to not set him off again.)
(It would be troubling if he were to declare he would throw out Mademoiselle like before, even if he was bluffing back then.)
(But if what happened then is not the issue, then what is the reason for his strange lack of liveliness?)
(It can’t be that he’s fallen into poor health again like back then.)
(Rei’s little brother is Kagehira’s dormmate, so I requested for Rei to check up on Kagehira whilst he looked after his little brother.)
(Since Rei, who has never denied a request from anyone, accepted, he should have been able to handle it perfectly, right?)
(However it’s possible his brother, who detests him, drove him out and prevented him from doing much.)
(But still, since Kagehira lives in the dormitory with everyone else, someone would have noticed and made him rest if he were in poor health.)
(I would have had to be contacted, as his guardian.)
(But why? Why are this child’s gears malfunctioning now, of all times?)
(I don’t know… In the past I was able to understand him thoroughly like a suit I’d tailored by hand myself.)
… … … (Gazing at Mika, pondering.)
Mika: … … … (Happily returning his gaze.)
Shu: Don’t stare at me, it’s disturbing!
Mika: Wha!? But Oshi-san, ya were the one starin’ at me~!
But… Ehehe…Oshi-san still looks real pretty whenever I look at him ♪
Shu: Hmph. Of course, it’s only natural. From the second I was born up to this moment, I have continuously strived to be beautiful.
You should be doing the same; observe me and learn. Lately, you’ve been showing off such disgraceful behavior, and I believe that to be unbefitting of my partner.
Mika: Aah… I’ve just been feelin’ real poorly as o’ late.
Shu: I can tell that just by looking at you. Recently, while I’d been abroad, it seems you’d taken an awfully proactive approach to taking personal job offers.
Like those vulgar gravure photoshoots intended to arouse the lust of others, and those absurd variety show programs…
However, it is intolerable to see you taking up that kind of tasteless work without even thinking about it. Didn’t you think that even my dignity would be brought down with you since you’re my partner?
Mika: Ngah~... Yeah, I know, an’ I’m mighty sorry bout’ that, but I needed the money—
Besides, Valkyrie, as it is, is Oshi-san’s — it has been from way back when t’ now.
I thought that if I only did a bunch o’ work by myself, it wouldn’t’ve dirtied Valkyrie’s name as much.
Shu: Your self-awareness is as feeble as ever, hm? You need to reflect on how your presence is interpreted by the world.
Your name is quite popular here in Japan compared to my own, since I mostly work overseas now.
Mika: Maybe… Yeaaaah that is true, recently fans have been callin’ out to me way more often than before when I’d go walkin’ out in the city.
Even though I’ve been wearin’ a cap an' stuff as a disguise.
Shu: Your eyes are a very distinct characteristic of yours. Apart from them, you’re quite ordinary, but because your eyes are emphasized, people are likely to stop at them.
The times have not changed, and so those kinds of peculiar physical characteristics have easily become the subject of discrimination.
Be careful. As an idol, you need to make a name for yourself, however, in the case that you find yourself in bad light, you will become the target of witch hunts.
This is how this country has been from the past to the present, the never-faltering and nauseating nature of this country.
Mika: Yeah… Naru-chan, Oshi-san an’ all y’all’re so kind, so I kinda forget. Yer right, it’s always been like that, but I’ll be careful.
Shu: Of course; I don’t want to push that blame onto you. Don’t misunderstand, I’m not blaming you. Your condition recently has just been especially peculiar.
I don’t believe you’re simply overworked, your performance is suffering from your exhaustion. There must be something else troubling you, no?
Mika: Ngah~? Ahaha, Oshi-san bein’ so kind feels outta place, I can’t help but laugh fer some reason ♪
Shu: …!? I’ve really been wasting my precious time and brain cells to worry about you!
Mika: I didn’t ask ya to worry bout’ me, Oshi-san, but thank ya!
Though m’ really just fine and dandy. I’ll try not t’ bother ya too much, Oshi-san.
Even if I do have a problem, it’s somethin’ I gotta deal with on my own. No, it’s to settle “that” that is the reason I became an idol.
Shu: …?
Madara: Excuuuuuse uuuuus!
Kohaku: Good evening~, Double Face’s here fer a lil’ visit ♪
Shu: …? Is there something you two want? You’re being noisy!
Madara: Hahaha! Phew, what a relief! Looks like we made it in time, huh?
We’d have been in a real pinch if you’d had a chance to hide the evidence of your wrongdoings, so I really wanted to get in contact with you guys while you were still helpless and in the middle of a live ♪
Mika: Wrongdoin’s? What’re ya talkin’ bout’, Mikejima-senpai?
Shu: Don’t tell me you’re involved in some sort of criminal activity, Kagehira?! Is that why Double Face has appeared before us…?
Madara: Who knows, that part is still shrouded in mystery! But in fact, that’s exactly what we’re here to investigate, so let’s talk it out with our fists ♪
Shu: How barbaric. Leave this stage of ours at once, and take your vulgarity and crudeness with you!
I won’t say it again, Mikejima Madara. …You're but a counterfeit of a hero who's always too late in the most crucial times.
Madara: Yep! But that’s why, in order to become the real thing this time, I’ve donned this mask of justice that doesn’t even suit me and go around exterminating villains! Hahahahaha!
— Come, Valkyrie. It’s time for you to lay out your sins.
