bakemonoremy

Collab with Soup

Location: ES Underground Live Stage

Reminiscence, an hour shortly after contact between Valkyrie and Double Face had been made.

Shu: This is, just absurd—

(Is this… real? Double Face suddenly emerged like a nightmare... they had one-sidedly challenged us, Valkyrie, to a bout.)

(Calling for us to partake in an old-fashioned battle of the bands, they had proposed a game in that abhorrent DreamFes method, but—)

(We fell for their persuading words, and took the challenge.)

Madara: — There we go. Now that we’ve made short work of you two…

I’ve gotta say, you’re as weak as ever, Valkyrie… Nah, I think this time it’s you alone who deserves to be criticized, Shu-san.

You haven’t grown in the slightest since that period of conflict two years ago. The moment one pokes you with the tip of their finger, you crumble without even putting up a fight — you’re a castle of sand.

Shu: ………

Madara: Anyhow, it’s only common sense that the losers have to obey the winners. In fact, those were the conditions for our bout, so I don’t wanna hear any whining now.

As promised, I’m gonna have you spill the beans about Valkyrie and the CosPro higher-ups — specifically, those nebulous money transfers that took place between you and the vice president, Ibara-san. And don’t be skimpy with the details.

You see, that information is all we’re really after, Shu-san. We don’t particularly want to hurt you, or Valkyrie’s honor.

However, if you were to break your promise and sully our honorable fight between men… Then I’ll bare this current disgraceful sight of yours to the whole world.

Right now, the entire audience that witnessed this has been paid into silence, and of course, we also don’t intend to let the video recordings of this ever see the light of day.

And just like that, this battle between Double Face and Valkyrie never happened… We can assert this with confidence.

But if you don’t give us the information we want, we’ll make the whole thing go public in retaliation.

Your foothold is unsteady even at the best of times, so that’d probably spell the end of Valkyrie for good.

Shu: ………

Madara: Still, I’d prefer if you didn’t force me to do something as cruel as kicking over a sand castle made for fun by children.

Unlike Eichi-san, I don’t derive any pleasure from doing things like that, you see.

Giant-killing just sends a shiver down my spine, ‘cause I’m convinced that I’ll be taken down next.

Shu: ………

Madara: ? Hellooo, anyone home?

Pretending to have poor hearing isn’t gonna help you, y’know. It’s a Mama’s duty to clearly tell the children even the things they don’t want to hear ♪

Even if you clog your ears, I’ll always find a way to force them open and push my way in.

Mika: O-Oshi-sa—

Kohaku: — Stay right where you are.

Mika: …!?

Kohaku: Reckon you’re on pins an’ needles since it looks like yer beloved partner is bein’ picked on.

But this is the result of a fair match, an’ we absolutely won’t loosen our grip ‘til we get what we want.*

Tryna be lenient on yer prey will just make it suffer more than necessary. Doin’ that ain’t kindness… So I’ll end his life mercilessly and swiftly instead.

Mika: (What? I dunno this kid at all, but he’s real scary!)

(I dunno why, but even though I get the jitters real bad from standin’ so close t’ him, when I turn ‘round right quick t’ look at his face it’s like he’s not even there!)

(It’s like a ghost’s been talkin’ t’ me… )

(But this weird pressure I feel from him’s real strong, n’all I get is if I don’t do what this guy’s tellin’ me t’do, somethin’ bad’ll happen—what’s goin’ on? S’just downright frightenin’!)

Kohaku: (Hmm~... Maybe I overdid it, seein’ as he’s a layman. Poor fella, he’s gone white as a sheet.)

(Still, I heard he’d do anything fer his “Oshi-san”, so I can’t exactly let him take any careless actions. Better keep this one in check.)

(But when it comes down ta it, our target here is Vice Prez Saegusa, not these Valkyrie fellas.)

(They’re nothing but a steppin’ stone, the thread that’ll connect us to the root of all evil — There ain’t no need to torment ‘em pointlessly, is there?)

(We’re not here to take yer lives, so quit throwin’ a tantrum an’ spit it out already.)

Shu: As per usual, you’re willing to do anything to complete your objective.

Why not follow the example of Ryuseitai? Their methods are much more peaceful.

Madara: You can’t save anyone like that.

Lip service like that only works in the peaceful world of coddled children, but those guys were thrown into the world of adults without ever having that experience first-hand.

They’re strong when it comes down to it, so I’m sure they’ll be fine anyway, though. And as for the dirt those kids shouldn’t get in contact with, I’m right here to plunge my hand into it in their stead.

Maybe I’m pampering them too much by doing that. But it’s my duty as Mama to act on behalf of my beloved children, even if they may resent me for it.

Shu: “Mamas” are meant to be gentle and embracing beings, are they not?

Madara: A completely normal and respectable human parent would be like that, yeah.

But I was born in the world of beasts, where the law of the jungle rules.

A peaceful and happy life and living environment is, globally and historically speaking, an exceedingly rare and special thing —

Your parents and teachers never taught you that growing up, and just look how weak you two turned out.

Shu: ………

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* This expression (“absolutely won’t loosen our grip”) is taken directly from the beginning of the =EYE= chorus lyrics.