bakemonoremy

Location: Wonder Game Stage

Sora: Definitely! Sora will definitely chase after Senpai, even to the ends of the universe! Because Sora wants us to sing and dance together as Switch one more time… No, forever and ever!

Natsume: ...YeAH. WeLL, not to ruin the mood or anything by pointing this oUT, but there’s no need to actually “chase after” anyoNE.

Us Yumenosaki idols are “not affiliated” with any particular agency after aLL.

So even when Senpai graduates and becomes affiliated with an agenCY, it doesn’t mean that Switch will have to disband or anythiNG.

If we were to tie the knot with that agency as weLL, we could probably continue our activities just like they were before without any probleMS.

Which means that if we ever feel like iT, we can just chant the spell “Open Sesame!” and the door will open and we’ll be able to meet you agaIN. We’ll be able to sing together again for suRE, all three of US.

Sora: Yes! It’s a promise, yeah~? Pinky promise, if you lied, Senpai has to swallow a thousand needles!

Tsumugi: Huh, so I have to swallow them!?

Sora: HaHa~♪ That was a joke! A wonderful magic spell to calm the mood...!

Tsumugi: Ahaha. We can’t really calm down yet, though. The real match of “Wonder Game” is about to start.

If we don’t go all out, the door to that sparkling future may close entirely.

Natsume: I highly doubt thAT. I was interested in what you were talking aboUT, so I didn’t interject when you went off on a tangeNT, but rest assured that your future prospects are securED, SenpAI.

Tsumugi: Eh, they are? Maybe I shouldn’t be the one to say this, but the agency I’m joining is really small, you know~?

You never know if it’s going to fall on hard times and disappear, just like that!

Of course, I’m going to work hard so it won’t meet such a tragic end, but still!

Natsume: YeAH. That’s a givEN, but there are reasons to feel secure in spite of thAT.

This is just another thing I heard from our student council presideNT, even though I didn’t aSK, but the agency in question is apparently going to enjoy the full support of both Yumenosaki and CosPRO.

Tsumugi: I-is that so? I wonder why that is? You wouldn’t expect it from a moneybags like him, but Eichi-kun dislikes spending his funds frivolously, right~?

Natsume: They’re obviously investing in it because they believe they’ll get something out of iT. Even though Senpai talked about that agency as if it was a hangout spot for worthless trash and social dropouts or somethiNG--

Tsumugi: I-I didn’t go that far!?

Natsume: …--In realiTY, it has a strong influence on the industRY, inside and oUT.

It’s unclear if this is by mere chance or if it’s intentionally being built this wAY… But it’s probably the lattER. In any caSE, it has the potential to control trends within the entertainment industry in the near futuRE.

Figuratively speakiNG, it’s an untouched mine with a mass of gold buried withIN.

While forcing insincere smiles on the surfaCE, the student council president and others are already brandishing forks and knivES, ready to scramble to be the first to cut a piece out of iT.

Though I am not sure if that metaphor holds uP. You could say that agency is like the focal point of the cold war between Yumenosaki and CosPRO.

The student council president didn’t tell me these kinds of detaiLS, but it’s what I read between the linES.

It seems like they're racing to see who can seize the initiatiVE, regarding financial investments and involvement with the agenCY.

If I had to gueSS, they're planning to turn the agency's passionate manager into a puppET, controlling them from the shadoWS.

All in order to grasp the fate of the idol industry in their own hanDS.

Given how eager the student council president is on thIS, paradoxically it just goes to show how much hidden power must be slumbering theRE.

After aLL, I find it hard to believe that the student council president would support some random dinky agency just because his former friend is employed theRE.

Tsumugi: ………

Natsume: Oh weLL, at any raTE. The issue of having a lack of funds will probably be resolved by the incoming financial suppoRT, so the agency’s survival should be guaranteed for the foreseeable futuRE, don’t you thiNK?

I think you chose a good career paTH, SenpAI.

This is surely the reward for all the sorrow and misfortune you endured up until nOW.

I shouldn’t be saying thIS, seeing as magicians are supposed to defy divine providenCE, but maybe there is such a thing as a God after aLL ♪

Tsumugi: (Eichi-kun… Since it’s you we’re talking about, Natsume-kun’s conjecture is probably spot on. You’re only investing into the agency I’m employed at because there’s something in it for you.)

(However. If, in those actions of yours… there’s even just the slightest trace of the friendship we once had, that may not have ever even existed in the first place--)

(Then that would make me feel happy, and as such, I choose to fantasize that it’s the case.)

(That’s fine by you, isn’t it? After all, you don’t dislike those kinds of childish fantasies yourself...♪)

(But. In that case… Such wasteful behaviour on Eichi-kun’s part would only have served to provoke CosPro, who have antagonized him for so long. The poor guys.)

(They must be misunderstanding the situation and acting rashly, investing a large sum of money into the agency as well. If anything, I feel bad for them…)

Location: Wonder Game Stage

Natsume: ...In any caSE. The student council and CosPro may be superficially joining hanDS, and appear to be on good terms nOW. But in realiTY, they’re both trying to outwit each othER, and making every effort to be the firstto hoist their flag in the metaphorical new frontiER.

Tsumugi: W-what do you mean...?

Natsume: SenpAI. That ill-natured student council president told me that once you graduaTE… You'll be working at a new agency that formed just recentLY?

Tsumugi: Ah, yes. It happened by some turn of fate.

I was still fretting about my future path until just recently. In fact, until about half a year ago, I was thinking I’d quit being an idol and go into teaching instead.

Then my mother used her expertise from her past profession to introduce me to the higher-ups from that newly established agency.

Since my mother is a disappointment by nature, her business ended up being a massive failure, but she kept her personal connections alive to this day.

Also. She may be bad at doing any kind of work, but for some reason, people still love her.

Natsume: HmM. She really is your mothER. You may not like hearing thIS, but I can see how you two are related by bloOD.

Tsumugi: Eh~... But I can get my work done, more or less, and I’m well-despised by lots of people, like Natsume-kun for example…

Natsume: ...AnD? After you met with those bigwigs from the new agency thanks to your good-for-nothing mother’s introductioNS, what happened neXT?

We keep getting sidetrackED. There’s just no rectifying that bad habit of youRS, is theRE, SenpAI?

Tsumugi: I-I am sorry. I tend to frantically try to get my point across and end up needlessly blabbering on and on.

The agency in question has only just been born, and still lacks just about everything. It feels like it only got going at all thanks to the fervent enthusiasm of the young founder… They neither have funds nor know-how.

Natsume: The “young” foundER?

Tsumugi: Yeah, apparently the agency was brought into the world by a child our age through willpower alone.

I’ve only met them a few times during my job hunt, so I don’t know them that well, but they seemed like a pleasant person.

I think I will work at that agency after graduation.

This doesn’t mean I’ll quit being an idol and become a normal member of society, though. I will raise the agency while also working as an idol.

That agency is a place where all the unusual idols with nowhere else to go, and ideas that never came to fruition for whatever reason, naturally gather.

And I want to gather up those people and things, love them, and make them bloom.

I don’t want to merely collect them, like the “Mad Hatter” this outfit is based on does, but to realize their potential and make everyone recognize their value in this world.

Even if days where nothing out of the ordinary happens stretch on indefinitely, that might still be a sort of happiness in itself. No, I might have made myself believe that even just that is already happiness.

I had given up already, spending peaceful but dull and tedious days… Until I met the two of you, and I changed, even if just by a bit.

The never-ending tea party is now coming to an end. Like a weight off my shoulders, I’ll switch to a new state of mind and begin a new life.

I don’t want to just leave the seeds buried, I want to stick around and grow them.

And of course, while I continue to be an idol, I want to discover my very own value, too… The value no one noticed in me when I was a young child.

I was able to find many treasures here at Yumenosaki, as a member of fine and Switch.

But I won’t arbitrarily decide that there’s nothing left inside of me anymore, or that I’m a desolated wasteland just because of that.

Because, even though I fought to the bitter end, wore myself out entirely, burned out and turned to ashes…

Natsume-kun, Sora-kun, thanks to you, I was able to make the flower called Switch blossom from that.

And it’s such a beautiful flower… It may even be considered a rare miracle, but making miracles happen is what magicians are for ♪

Sora: Senpai...♪

Tsumugi: Ahaha. Now I’m embarrassed that I spoke so much, I’m sorry. But I’m glad I finally got to say it.

I really am sorry. The truth is that my employment at that agency was only fairly recently decided. I couldn’t tell you about it any earlier, even if I wanted to.

If possible, I’d have wanted to tell you about my career plans with a smile as soon as they were settled. But trying to act cool like that just ended up causing you unnecessary concern.

In any case, you two… I won’t tell you that I want you to pursue me.

As you know, despite being the oldest among us, I’m unreliable and a complete klutz.

That’s why I can’t act like a high and mighty senpai and tell you to “follow me”.

But, if that day ever comes, I think it’d be like a dream come true. I will always look forward to that moment and prepare for the two of you to finally come meet me while I wait.

The blue bird of happiness dreams of the day you open that door and step inside… And just anticipating it fills me with so much happiness.

Location: Wonder Game Stage

- On the last day of “Wonder Game”, moments before the final live show -

Natsume: …………

Sora: Wah! Shisho~, you look so pretty~...♪

Tsumugi: Fufun ♪ What do you think, it’s well made, isn’t it!

I sewed Natsume-kun’s costume under continuous harassment from Shu-kun in the Handicrafts Club Room and put my whole heart into it! And when I told him that it’s for you, he even helped--

Natsume: ...Shu-niisan dID?

Tsumugi: Yes! He even threatened me, saying “If this ends with that boy being hurt again, I will drive a long nail into you”*. You’re really loved… Natsume-kun ♪

Natsume: HmmM~... He is overprotective as alwaYS.

WeLL, seeing as we’re in this pathetic mess where we are just being onesidedly attacked by our eneMY, he can’t help IT.

That he didn’t assault our enemy in a fit of rage shows that he has grown up a lOT ♪

Tsumugi: Ahaha, you sound a little bit condescending.

Natsume: My abusive language is how I show my affection towards my Nii-saNS… Towards my famiLY.

By the wAY, since you’re no longer my Nii-sAN, when I say cruel things to yOU, they’re just normal insults completely devoid of loVE.

Tsumugi: I-I didn’t want to know a sad truth like that!

(Uu~... Natsume-kun is acting cheeky and cracking jokes “like always”. But I feel like he’s forcing himself to act like this, and it worries me.)

(Even though he told me “not to worry”. But I can’t help it, since Natsume-kun stubbornly refused to tell me anything.)

(I don’t know a single thing Eichi-kun talked to Natsume-kun on behest of Saegusa-kun about, even now.)

(I still consider Eichi-kun a precious friend of mine, but that’s exactly why… I can’t put it past him to do something cruel to us.)

(He can be pretty ruthless when it's necessary. And he will do anything to achieve his goals.)

(...I wonder what Eichi-kun put into Natsume-kun's head.)

(There’s probably Saegusa-kun’s ulterior motives hidden behind that. What kind of strategy is he using, and where is he leading us?)

(...I don't know a single thing, how pathetic of me.. At this rate I can’t even pretend to be a senpai.)

(However. At the very least, I will protect Natsume-kun and Sora-kun, no matter what happens. ...Even if I have to use my body as a shield.)

Natsume: SenpAI. You’re thinking something idiotic agaIN, aren’t yOU?

Sora: Making scary faces is a “no-no”, Senpai! Our fun live is about to start, where Switch will cast the magic called smiles!

And whenever we do, the world is dyed in the “color” of a flower garden~! HaHiHuHeHo~...☆

Natsume: AhaHA. You’re in high spirits todAY, SoRA.

Sora: Yes! Sora was lonely because he barely saw Shisho~ at all during “Wonder Game”, so he’s happy that we will be together all day today!

And also, Sora really loves singing and dancing~!

...This time, though, Sora did lots of things he isn’t used to, so he’s pretty exhausted~?

Natsume: YeAH. The rate at which you get exhausted is higher than it is for ordinary peopLE. But idols aRE, by natuRE, versatile beings who do a lot of different joBS.

Yumenosaki Academy is unique for putting all the focus on singing and danciNG.

From now oN, we’ll probably be doing even more diverse jobs than befoRE.

That is the “flow of thinGS”. Instead of being experts in one field who only master their own specific techniquES, we’ll become real idoLS.

Tsumugi: Hmm… It’s how things naturally unfold, and I would greatly welcome it since it would mean that we, as idols, are growing up, but…

I just don’t know anymore.

For Yumenosaki idols who are used to the emphasis being on live shows, jobs like this one that have other components to it could be said to be a weak point, since they have no experience in them.

If he simply wanted to defeat a unit from Yumenosaki, I wonder why Saegusa-kun chose us, Switch, as his game opponents?

We regularly act as jack-of-all-trades, or rather, we are proactive in doing the kinds of jobs that other idols at Yumenosaki wouldn’t normally do…

One way or another, we were able to keep up with the events of “Wonder Game”, and actually managed to stand out through our hard work.

It makes me think that maybe Saegusa-kun’s plan isn’t about defeating a Yumenosaki unit in order to restore their honour after what happened during “SS”.

Of course, there’s a chance that they chose us randomly, without knowing about our special characteristics.

But it seems like they did extensive research on us, and that doesn’t mesh with that theory at all.

Natsume: YeAH. Which means “that” isn’t their objectiVE, and there’s no need to try and guess what it really IS.

From the very beginniNG, they kept talking about how they want to forge a cooperative relationship over and over until it got annoyiNG.

Us Yumenosaki idoLS... Or rathER, our student council prEZ and CosPro might just have the same goals and interests in miND.

They set their eyes on the futuRE, and in anticipation of what it will briNG, they started taking measurES.

This “Wonder Game” is simply a farce based on these grown up’s circumstancES. NO, it’s just spadewoRK, they’ve only just begun moving their pawNS.

If things continue according to their ulterior motivES, they’ll castle and become the kinGS.

Sora: That’s chess, isn’t it! Sora thought it might come in handy, so he learned the rules in advance!

Natsume: Y̯̖̺e̷͍̙a͙ḩ̩̩̘̟̳ͅ,̜͇͔ͅ ̺̥̙̗̱go͏̘ͅo̥̠̠d̟͇̪̙͓͉̖ ͟b͖̤͚̜͔o̴̞̞͔̼y̩͚̼̩͈̲ ♪̛̣̳̗̫

------------------

* Shu is talking about a curse in which a straw effigy of your victim is nailed to a sacred tree using long nails. After 7 days of driving nails into the straw doll every day, the curse is supposed to take effect and kill its target.

Location: Secret Room

Tsumugi: Excuse me~... Natsume-kun, do you have a moment?

Natsume: WhAT. As you can sEE, I am quite busy right nOW. I don’t know what you need from mE, but save it for latER.

Or rathER, judging from the tiME, today’s “Wonder Game” is about to staRT.

I’ve lost my costuME, and therefore forfeited my appearance in the eveNT. But unlike mE, you have to participaTE, don’t yOU, SenpAI?

Tsumugi: Well, that’s true, but… Natsume-kun, aren’t you still bothered by the incident from yesterday? The way you’re talking makes me think that you are.

Natsume: YesterdAY… AaH, the date changed alreaDY. I was cooped up in this room for so loNG, absorbed in my experimenTS, that my sense of time has become fuzZY.

Tsumugi: Umm, are you telling me that you’ve been doing these shady experiments the whole time since yesterday...?

Natsume: YeAH. I can’t participate in “Wonder Game” yet anywAY, and just watching on makes my idle mind wander too muCH. So I've decided to put my time to good uSE.

On the last dAY, we will be “AliCE”. In order to elevate our performance even in the slighteST, I have been developing a new chemicAL, so theRE.

Tsumugi: “So there”, you say... Geez, I was worried, you know? You even blocked my calls!

Natsume: Excuse mE? AaH… I’m sorRY. I wasn’t blocking your calLS, thouGH. I simply didn’t notice my battery running out of juiCE, that’s aLL.

Nevermind charging my phone batteRY, I even forgot to take a bath because of how absorbed I was in my experimenTS.

Tsumugi: Aah… Now that you mention it, the automated message did say something like “the device you called is turned off--” and so on. If you had declined my calls, it would’ve been a different message, I think.

And no matter what may happen, there’s no way Natsume-kun would decline Sora-kun’s calls. If I’d thought about it a little bit harder I should’ve figured this out… Good grief, I was so worried over nothing.

(...No, that’s not it. In reality, the chances of him blocking the calls was pretty high.)

(That’s how terrible the things I did to him were.)

(I have to apologize properly. I’m out of time to keep putting it off.)

...Natsume-kun.

Natsume: SenpAI. If you don’t feel like returning to the set of “Wonder GaME”, make some coffee for mE. It’ll wake me uP.

Tsumugi: Ah, alright. That’s an easy task.

But you have to sleep properly, Natsume-kun. I’m worried about you.

Humans sleep for one third of their lifetimes. Getting enough sleep doesn’t make you a “slacker”.

Natsume: Oh shut uP. In order to stay ahead of otheRS, this is the price I have to pAY.

I’m youNG, so I’ll be fine even if I miss a night of sleEP. And even Napoleon only slept for three hours each dAY, rigHT?

Tsumugi: You’re not Napoleon though, Natsume-kun. And he made up for it by taking naps during the afternoon, you know?

Natsume: AhaHA. He’s a great person of histoRY, but you speak of him almost as if he’s an acquaintanCE.

Tsumugi: Yes, I speak of him as if he’s my neighbour. But even personages from history, when seen through the eyes of someone from their time, are simply “neighbours”.

And right now, in front of my very eyes, is a child who may go down in history himself.

Speaking of that child the same way I speak of a great historical figure doesn’t seem strange or unnatural to me in the least.

Natsume: ...You think too highly of mE, SenpAI.

I was under the impression that I could become anything I wanted if I only wished for IT. That I could become a historical figuRE, or someone who’s lauded by everyone as a great persON, like Mommy and DadDY.

With parents like thEM, I thought it would be only naturAL. I was mature for my aGE, and learned faster than otheRS, so everyone around me told me over and over again what a genius I wAS, so much that I grew tired of iT.

I started to think the same way they dID, and grew up convinced that I was a special existenCE.

How stupID. Long, long aGO, you told me I had “chuunibyOU”, the kind of bloated ego peculiar to puberTY…

And you turned out to be rigHT, I thiNK. It took me far too long to realize thAT, thouGH.

Tsumugi: Natsume-kun… Please don’t talk like that, you’re an amazing child, and so talented.

Natsume: Thank yOU. But you knOW… There’s countless other people of my caliber in this worLD.

If you tossed me into a crowd of other genuisES, I’d become normal right then and theRE. I’d be a “normal genius” you can find anywheRE.

At the very eND, even Shishou told me “You are a normal, good chiLD”*.

To think that I didn’t realize this simple truth all this tiME… I am such a half-wit that I can’t even sneer at yOU, SenpAI.

Tsumugi: ………..

Natsume: AaH, don’t get me wroNG. Even nOW, I’m still braggiNG. “Aren’t I great to have realized this myseLF”, and aLL.

I’m not laughing at myself out of despaIR, nor am I complainiNG.

As long as I’m aware of where I staND, and my feet touch the grouND, I can go anywheRE.

Since the curtain was lowered on the stage of the “Five OddbalLS”, I have graduated my childhood and finally become independeNT.

It’s been one year since thEN… It seemed so long and yet so shoRT. SenpAI, how far do you think I’ve coME? Tell mE, because I can’t tell by myseLF.

É̠͙ṿ̗̠̮̫͓̟͢e͈̲̞n̯̻̥ ̲̬̳̣̘n̢o̲̘͉w̡̱̖̹̩͉

͔̖͙̝̭̕

̝̙̝̫D̬̹͓͕o ͙͔̟̰͚͞I̙͢ ̻̻̹̬̤͚̙s͍̮͈͉̼t̲̫͔̦̤̲i̤͖̯͚̟̲̣ll̹̮̮̀ͅ ̳̩͖͚̟̭͝r͈̳͖̣̠̜͞e̬̮m̸̖a̤̺̤̣̠̙͍͝i̝͚̹͈̕nͅ ̬̟͜ͅa̞̙͉͝ş̮ ̩͕̰͖̺̱t̴͖̺h̳̫̻̫͉͢ͅe̫̟ ̖̘̞͉͔͍͡s̡̰̖̻̻̖a͎̱̙̘̫̠m̭̙͈̜͍̖͚e̵ ̸̹͍̼̮̝̭"̨͖̬͎͓ć̙͙͕̳̦̤u̯̻̘͇̞̺t҉̤̗e̵̳̺͍͉ͅ ̜̦͓͓͢l̢̻̻̟̼̭̫̟i͚̩̯̳̟̥t͇͈̟͈͇̝̮͞t̟̻̻̜̰̦͞ͅl̖e̴̲̹̗͇ͅ ̶̞̫͔N̗̰a̙̪͖t̛̳s̹̪̬̣u̼̰̝̯̦̝ṃ͔̫͖̳ͅe̫̻͖̖-̱̗̦͍͡cẖ͓̺͈͕͠a̵̘̰̖̹̠͖n̵̖͓"̴̖̜̜ i̬̭̻̦̖̩̺͟n̡͖ ͔y̴̬̱o̜̯͔̘̘͔ù̲̦̟̯̲r̟̭̘̰͘ ͕̩͓̜e͎y͈͚͔ḛ̭̗s̮͙̦͉?

Tsumugi: ………..

Natsume: If you’re telling me that I’m nOT, then stop pretending to be my senpai or onii-san alreaDY, and don’t worry about ME.

I’m no longer AliCE, the young child who does nothing but frolic in the world of dreaMS.

And when someone challenges me to a matCH, I won’t ask for help from an aduLT. I’ll sit down in front of the chessboard myseLF.

B̴̘e̡l͕̭̩͠i̸e̮̹͉ͅv͙̟͉̩̰̬͇͜e͉̟͘ ̴̥̞̱̫ͅi̢͕͖n͓ ̭͍̞̞͎͔͇m̜̮̘̭͕̯e͚̮͕̝.̺̠̞͓̼̺́ͅ W̠͟a͟t͔̹͈̯͇̻c̩͇͙̹̀h̠͘ ̵̙̤̗̹ḿ̖̗̞͙̤e̷̦̝͕̲̦.̶̗͇ ̣̟I̟̪͞ ̗̰w̖̱̼͖̩̫͔o͈̝̰̼͠n͙̯'̼̺͕̪̰̯t̯̬̯̟̟̻͡ ͙̟͈ļo͏̟s͞ȩ̳̰̬̼̹̤ͅ.̡̼̥̣̤͎̘̜.͘.̻̻͡ ͍̝̲̤̖͡A̜̺̦̥̗n̴̻̰d̡ͅ ̢̥̥̥̦t̰h͏i͕̖̙͎̻͙s̛̟͖̖̼̹͓ ̗̳͔b͇̝͔͕a̪̳͕̘͖̙t͙̬̠̬͡t͎̤͕̱͔̮̀l̺̞͓͕̣e ̞͚ị͚s̬̥ f̞̻͕͉̭͢a̼͇̳͖̭͔r ̴̹̹͎̣̺̺f͓̥̬̠ͅͅr̲o͔͔̗̠͈ͅm̸̤͇ ̪̖ò̟̯v̖ḛ͈͟ṛ̯̤̼̤.̢̳͕̦̫̟̘̱

---------------------

* This quote is from the moment before Wataru’s match against ex Fine, in Magician’s Assemble.

Location: Underground Archive

Tsumugi: Natsume-kun!

You’re here, aren’t you? You may have blocked all incoming calls on your phone, but… I pinpointed your location by gathering information and reading what people wrote on the schoolwide SNS!

Fufun. I've still got a long way to go compared to Saegusa-kun, who is affiliated with information bureaus and the like, but out of necessity I've taught myself some intel-gathering techniques!

I still find it difficult to use the kind of magic you’d find in fairytales, so I did my best by just squarely using my legs and all the tools and techniques at my disposal!

What do you think? I bet you see your “Senpai” in a whole new light now!

No, it’s just me, so even if you don’t acknowledge me, it’s all okay! But at least let me clear up the misunderstanding, I don’t want to graduate while you’re still hurting because of me!

Natsume-ku~n...!

...Um, huh? There’s no response? How strange. I was so sure you would be here, though?

Uuu, please don’t make foolish mistakes at a time like this, me!

(.....No, wait. There’s a weird stench drifting out from the back of the underground archive. It’s coming from the “secret room”.)

(It’s a chemical smell that you’d normally never encounter… Aah, it feels kind of nostalgic.)

(This situation is a lot like that time when I first reunited with you here at Yumenosaki Academy. Human memory is strongly influenced by smells, so when you catch the scent of something you smelled once before, the memories of that time come flooding back.)

(Scientific things like that, and a lot of other stuff… You taught me, who knew nothing at all, so many things.)

(You’re so well-read and clever. A genius that someone like me could never compare to.)

(I’ve always admired you so much, even when we were young.)

(Maybe that’s weird, since I’m the older one?)

(Even sneering at me would be enough for me, as long as I can bring back the smile on your face.)

Location: Secret Room

Tsumugi: N-Natsume-ku~n...? I’m coming in, okay?

Natsume: ………..

Tsumugi: Ah, so you were here after all! You probably left the door slightly open for ventilation, so there’s no way you couldn’t hear my voice, right?

Natsume-kun! You may not want to speak to someone like me ever again, but I want to talk things out! Please, I’m begging you, talk to…

Nhyah!?

Natsume: .…. …..

Tsumugi: (H-huh? Natsume-kun, could it be that you’re sleeping? Huh…)

(He’s swaying from side to side, this is dangerous! Was he in the middle of an experiment…? He’s holding a test tube with some suspicious-looking chemical in his hand!)

(If he loses his balance and falls over, the chemical is going to spill on him! I don’t know what it is, but the color doesn’t look like it should get in contact with anyone’s body!)

(I’m not Sora-kun, so I can only see normal colors! But even so, I can tell!)

Natsume: ~.…..

Tsumugi: --Natsume-kun!

(That was dangerous, a real close call! I managed to catch Natsume-kun in my arms just before he fell over!)

(Fu fu fu, I’m not half bad sometimes, huh!)

(...Er, uwaohh!? The moment Natsume-kun tipped over, the test tube was flung in my direction-- GyaaaAAH!?)

Natsume: ….Yawn.

I fell asleEP. Yaaawn. How shamefUL, even though I could last three days without sleep when I was a chiLD.

Tsumugi: Nghyaaah! OgyaaAHH! It’s somehow slimy, and it smells sickeningly sweet… Just what were you making, Natsume-ku~n!?

Natsume: OH, SenpAI. ...Why are you still aliVE?

Tsumugi: Because I didn’t die! And I couldn’t die even if I tried as long as I haven’t apologized to you yet!

More importantly, please do something about this chemical! It’s weirdly slimy and sticky at the same time…!?

Natsume: AaH, while I dozed off carelessLY, the contents of the test tube must have undergone some chemical chanGE.

I doubt it can do any real harm to your boDY, but just for caution’s sake I’ll take a sample to make suRE.

Tsumugi: Please don’t just calmly analyze things, do something about this instead! Could you at least bring me a wet towel or something!? I’m sorry to cause trouble for you, but please!

Natsume: ….If Senpai hates it that muCH, it must feel quite unpleasaNT. InterestiNG. Too much medicine can be poisON, and the opposite of that is true as weLL.

HmmM. My luck must rival that of Noguchi HideYO*. If I use this chemical that accidentally underwent chemical chanGE, I can… *mumble, mumble*

-------------

* Noguchi Hideyo, famous bacteriologist.

Location: Rooftop

Ibara: (Aah, how busy I am! There's barely any time until today's "Wonder Game" starts, so I better hurry and adjust the plan to suit the present situation!)

(After how long “Wonder Game” has been going on, the staff has probably gotten the hang of things, so it’s a good time to do this… I’ll just contact them through the internet, and… there ♪)

(I’m not so senile that I feel restricted by superstitions such as “unless you speak face to face to someone, you won’t be able to get your feelings across”, after all!)

(There may be some lingering anxiety, but that’s fine for now--)

(Switch’s condition is developing just the way I had planned, so I have to get in touch with the other agencies I’m colluding with!)

(Fu fu fu ♪ Humans all tend to think of themselves as special, so as long as you whisper “this is just between you and me, in secret” to them, they’ll just believe it without reservations!)

(Not one of them expects that I, Saegusa Ibara, am secretly in touch with every single idol who’s participating in “Wonder Game”!)

(It makes me wonder why everyone else isn’t doing things the way I am! After all, the pieces on the board won’t move unless you touch them with your own hands! Ah hahahaha...☆)

Nagisa: …..Ibara.

Ibara: Yes? Oh yes, yes, what is it, Your Excellency? You’ve arrived early today, I am pleased to see that you are so full of motivation! I have much to learn from you!

My apologies though, as you can see I have my hands full right now… I don’t know what came here for, but if it’s a trivial matter you should go talk to someone else from the staff, or--

Nagisa: Ibara.

You bastard*. Since when are you so high and mighty that you can just order me around without even looking at me?

Ibara: ………

...H-huh? Your Excellency, what did you just say?

Nagisa: ………

Ibara: H-hiyeoh!? W-wait just a second, Your Excellency… You must be fooling around! As expected, your arms are very strong! To think that you are able to pick me up with just one hand…!

W-what kind of joke is this? I’m not a child who gets happy when someone lifts them up in the air, you know?

And I could drop and damage my laptop like this, which would be a great loss for me, so please let me down!

Nagisa: Aah? You wanna repeat that, “please let me down”? Bastard, are you in any position to demand things from me?

Ibara: U-umm…? Eh, what is this? I find it hard to keep up with this situation!

Nagisa: Hahn, is it that unexpected? Did you think of me as nothing but a game piece you can use however you like? Did you take me for an animal who doesn’t even think, or a powerless little baby?

Ibara: N-no, I would never! The mere thought is absurd! P-p-please calm down, Your Excellency, this is dangerous, I’m gonna fall I’m gonna faaaall!?

I-I’m gonna die if I fall from this rooftoooop!?

Nagisa: You wanna try dying once, aah?*² Ibara?

I told you, didn’t I? “The rooftop is off limits, so don’t go up there”! And now try to remember, what’s the relationship between me and you, bastard?

I’m the lord and you’re the servant, or did you forget that? How pitiful -- That’s gonna cost you dearly! If I had my due, you would be decapitated for lèse majesté, got it?

Ibara: ………

Nagisa: But you know. I’m a kindhearted guy, so I’ll give you one more chance, bastard.

Ibara: ….? ….?

Nagisa: Obey what I tell you from now on. I won’t permit the slightest bit of treachery, your reply to me will be either “Yes” or “Yes”.*³

Ibara: Y-yes…

Nagisa: There, there. That’s a good boy, you do get it after all. I love you, Ibara, that’s why I’ll forgive you, just this once.

Everything was just going so smoothly that you couldn’t suppress your laughter, right?

And so, you got a bit cocky, didn’t you?

I get it… But you’re nothing but a servant, aren’t you? A mere pawn like you can’t move the other pieces, right?

Ibara: ...Y-yes.

Umm. I am aware that I’m not permitted to speak out of turn, but please allow me to apologize. I am sorry, Your Excellency… I, “I”*⁴ got cocky, just like you said.

All because! At last, my aspirations were so close to being fulfilled! I was so close to getting all those guys who’ve always looked down on me on their hands and knees, so I could laugh at them!

And when I imagined that, I… got too absorbed in this! Or rather… Uwaaah, I’m really so sorryyyyy!

Nagisa: ………

…..Good boy ♪

…..You’ve apologized properly, well done. I’m sorry for scaring you.

Ibara: ….? ….?

Nagisa: …..What do you think? Did I make a convincing “oresama character”?

Ibara: Eh, ah… Aah! So that’s what this was about!

Since Your Excellency couldn’t seem to get accustomed to that role, we have been reconsidering it, so I haven’t seen you act like that in a while.

It completely slipped my mind, or rather, I forgot about it!

You were splendid, Your Excellency! You even managed to frighten me, Saegusa Ibara! So it was all just a joke~, you’re so mischievous, Your Excellency ♪

Nagisa: …..All just a joke?

Don’t be stupid. Tone of voice aside, I meant every word I said, and everything I say is the truth. …..If you get carried away again, I’ll drop you for real next time!

Ibara: Hiii!? Sir, yes sir--...!

Nagisa: …..Mh. See you then. Today’s “Wonder Game” is about to start, so I’m leaving.

…..You should hurry, too. The set won’t function without you, Ibara. Don’t concern yourself with unnecessary plans, and just do what you need to do.

Ibara: Y-yes! Of course, Your Excellency! I am a man who gets his work done, after all!

Nagisa: …..I know that. Tell me only things I don’t know, because that’s what I’m expecting from you.

Ibara: ………

(A-aah~… That shocked me! It really shocked me!)

(There’s a limit to how unexpected one can be, Your Excellency! Though, it was a splendid surprise attack. Just as one would expect of you! Nothing less from the lord I serve with respect and affection!)

(Of course I don’t think of him as a baby who can’t do anything by himself!)

(...To tell the truth, I might have made light of him just a little bit, though. But he cleverly figured that out, and gave me a warning.)

(Hmm. To think that I would allow His Excellency, who is always so easygoing, to approach me from behind and stab me…)

(Maybe I really was too impatient, and it led to a lapse in consideration and intuition.)

(That’s no good. I can’t mislead myself and think that everything is going to fall into my hands so easily. Of course, there’s no way it would…)

(It has never been that easy, but in my foolishness, I forgot about that.)

(That’s what you were scolding me about, right, Your Excellency? I am greatly obligued for your thoughtfulness!)

(Thanks to you, I’ve cooled my head again… Like a cold-blooded animal, for the first time in a while.)

-------------

* In the following part, Nagisa consistently refers to Ibara with the impolite “kisama” (Keito loves to use this, too). It’s often translated as “you bastard”. He also notably stops using the “.....” before every sentence he says.

*2 This is the catchphrase of Jigoku Shoujo (Hell Girl), who says this to her victims before taking their souls to hell.

*3 This is a Japanese meme that originated from the TRPG “Night Wizard”. In the meme, the reply options one is offered are either “hai” or “yes”.

*4 He switches to the personal pronoun “ore” instead of his usual “jibun” here.

Location: Dance Room

Sora: ...Senpai? Your whole body is giving off a terrible "color", what's wrong~?

Tsumugi: Sora-kun! Aah, I’m glad you’re here, you’re good at finding things, right? Please, help me find Natsume-k--

Umm, huh?

Nagisa: ………..

Tsumugi: Sora-kun, why is Nagisa-kun carrying you on his shoulders? I guess you two have really become friends while I wasn’t looking~♪

Nagisa: …..I wonder about that.

…..I don’t really understand it myself. But somehow, this child is always by my side.

Sora: Yes! This person is “hard to see”~, or in other words, light passes right through him!

He must get chilly from that, so Sora is warming him up with a hug...♪

Nagisa: …..I see. Usually, everyone keeps their distance from me for some reason, so it makes me a little happy to be touched like this.

Tsumugi: Ahaha. Nagisa-kun has a rather frightening expression, so you look downright terrifying when you stay silent.

When one talks to you it becomes evident that you’re a kindhearted good boy, but people don’t usually dare to take that first step.

Nagisa: …..Mhm. But, I am not the issue at hand right now.

…..Tsumugi-kun, your face really is terribly pale. Did something happen?

…..I’m worried. We just walked past Ibara, who seemed to be in a great mood. Did he do something?

…..I am sorry. He was raised in an environment where he was surrounded by nothing but people who were stronger than him, so in order to win against them and survive, he developed a tendency to be overly aggressive.

…..He has only treated me with kindness and consideration as long as I’ve known him, though.

…..I wonder why?

Tsumugi: Fufu. Anyone would hesitate to trample all over an innocent child that doesn’t hold a single ounce of ill will within him.

You’re harmless, and you don’t go out of your way to take others down, Nagisa-kun.

Nagisa: …..I’m no longer a child, though.

Sora: Senpai! Don’t stand there chattering away without a care in the world! Something’s the matter with Shisho~, isn’t it? That’s the kind of “color” you give off, and you said so, too! Right?

Tsumugi: Ah, that’s right! Natsume-kun didn’t come on set today, and on top of that, it seems like Saegusa-kun did something reprehensible to him…?

I am worried about him, so I thought I’d go look for him! Sora-kun, how about we split up and and look around some places?

Sora: Hm~... Sora thinks there’s no need for that, though~?

The one who knows Shisho~ best is Senpai after all.

Sometimes even Sora gets envious of the bond you two have, even if Shisho~ and Senpai don’t want to acknowledge it for some reason.

As long as you don’t sulk and act stubborn, or avert your eyes out of guilt… Sora is sure that Senpai is the one who can “see” Shisho~ clearly.

Even if you don’t have strange eyes like Sora does! All humans have this ability! Right, “Nagishan”?

Nagisa: …..My name isn’t “Nagishan”, it’s Nagisa.

…..However, everything else, aside from that, was correct.

…..Tsumugi-kun. Back when you were in fine, you would always find me whenever I wandered off and lost my way.

…..And every time, you’d look so happy when you called my name in a kind voice, and reached your hand out to me.

…..And then you guided me to a future that I couldn’t have ever imagined from my tiny, cramped room.

…..We may have grown distant since then, and a lot of idle time may have passed.

…..But still, I want to believe that “this part of you” hasn’t changed.

Tsumugi: H-huh…? I guess you’re praising me, thank you very much!

Nagisa: …..Mhm. Enough of this, go already. You can leave Ibara to me.

Tsumugi: Hoeh? Is something up with Saegusa-kun? Don’t tell me he’s keeping Natsume-kun confined somewhere..?

Nagisa: …..Mm-mm. This is between me and him, it’s our story.

…..Until they intersect once again, let’s keep struggling on our separate chess boards.

…..My old friend.

Tsumugi: …….?

Location: Dance Room

- A day after the falling out between Tsumugi and Natsume, in the morning -

Ibara: Eh, so Mr. Sakasaki really has gone missing? I did think it was strange that I hadn’t seen him around since yesterday at noon…

Tsumugi: Yes… We got into a bit of an argument yesterday, so I’ve been anxious, trying to contact him over and over since then.

But he’s not only blocking my calls, it seems like even Sora-kun’s calls are being rejected.

Despite that, I know he is serious about work, so I thought he’d at least show his face for it.

But he isn’t showing up at all, and I’m so worried. What should I do…?

Ibara: I’m afraid I don’t know what to do either…

Hm~m… Today’s “Alice” isn’t Switch, so to put it bluntly, we can continue “Wonder Game” even if he doesn’t show up at all.

As a result of our impartial little behind-the-scenes talks, it’s pretty much set in stone that Switch will be “Alice” on the last day, though.

We’ll be in trouble if he doesn’t at least participate on that day.

Tsumugi: I am sorry… This is my responsibility, because I'm the one who caused Natsume-kun's misunderstanding. He might hate anything and everything right now.

No, I can’t bring myself to believe that Natsume-kun would just skip work without permission. I think the chances are much higher that he's been in some kind of accident and is unable to move right now!

I-I’m gonna go check some places I have in mind, so please start today’s “Wonder Game” without me!

Ibara: Aah, please hold on just a second!

Tsumugi: Gyahn!? P-please don’t pull on my necktie like that! I thought I was gonna choke to death!

Ibara: My apologies! How inexcusable of me to be so careless!

More importantly. It happened a bit sooner than I expected, but I made allowances for this kind of situation to happen sooner or later.

Tsumugi: ……..?

Ibara: Ideally, I had wanted him to “explode” on camera, though. In order to achieve that, I've been carefully and gradually adding stress and cornering him.

Tsumugi: …What exactly are you saying?

Are you telling me you have an idea as to why Natsume-kun has been acting strange lately? Depending on your answer, even I might not be able to help getting angry…?

Ibara: I’d be surprised if that happened. Just like all of you did in the past, I merely manipulated the pieces on the board and arbitrarily changed the situation, nothing more.

Whatever I had to do to achieve my goals. Goodness, somewhere along the way, I may have become too powerful...

Who would have thought that everything would unfold just as quickly and easily as I wanted it to.

I feel as if I’ve become God himself. Makes me wonder if that’s the same sensation all of you from the former fine experienced back then?

Tsumugi: ………..

Ibara: Hmhm. Thanks for the valuable information. It seems like His Eminence acted accordingly to my request. As expected of him, he keeps his promises perfectly.

He is a trustworthy business partner.

Tsumugi: “His Eminence”... You mean Eichi-kun, right?

(Now that I think of it, yesterday Eichi-kun suddenly appeared and took Natsume-kun somewhere. He said he had something to talk about.)

(I wonder what the two of them spoke about, then?)

(Natsume-kun is a sorcerer who can manipulate words freely, so I can’t imagine him being easily manipulated by someone else verbally reaching out to him, though…?)

Ibara: Fufu, I said too much already. A slip of the tongue can be fatal for a politician. Time to retract my sinful tongue and zip my mouth right up ♪

Please, if you want to look for Mr. Sakasaki, be my guest! As long as you’re all able to participate on the last day, there’s no problem on our part!

No, in the worst case scenario, even if Switch was to disappear off the face of the planet, at this point it wouldn't be a hindrance to us! The king has already been cornered on the board*, so feel free to do as you like ♪

Well then, I have to talk to the staff about today's program… So let’s end the idle chat here, please excuse me! Good luck ♪

Tsumugi: Ah, please wait, Saegusa-kun! We aren’t done talking yet!

(...Uu. He walked away without even looking back at me. Youngsters are so “impatient”.)

(But it’s too early to say that the king has been cornered. I am sure it’s not all over yet… Anything but a fatal wound is nothing but a scratch, so as long as we don’t die, we can persevere.)

(First, I have to find Natsume-kun.)

---------------

* Ibara is once again using shogi terms… Does this guy really not know chess rules?

Location: In front of the School Gates, Nighttime

- One year ago, in fall. Immediately following the subjugation match against Hibiki Wataru of the “Five Oddballs” -

Hiyori: Hm~, the stars are sparkling beautifully, with no regard for the situation here on earth! What wonderful weather!

Now then, Nagisa-kun, what shall we do next? We are free now, free to go anywhere we’d like!

Nagisa: ………

Hiyori: Wow, you're a spoiled child today, aren't you! What’s the matter, why are you gripping my hand so tightly? Ahaha, it’s been a while since we last did this, huh ♪

...We took quite the detour, didn’t we.

Nagisa: ………

Hiyori: Ahaha. You’re shaking your head, are you trying to say “It wasn’t a detour”?

You’re right! It’s not like this was all just a dream, we really did spend our youth here at Yumenosaki Academy!

While trampling over the youth of countless innocent young people.

There was no other way to go about it. If we had stopped halfway through, that would have been the real tragedy. It was a close call, and completely wretched, but we achieved our goal, so we should feel satisfied with that.

...We really did our best, didn’t we?

Nagisa: ………

Hiyori: Yep! You don’t have to say anything for me to understand, we’re family after all! I feel the same way you do, I am also at my limit. We... can no longer sing on that stage again, right?

Even though, as we are the revolutionaries of this school, we’d be ushered in by thunderous applause for sure. But that’s all just because we spent so much time manipulating the consciousness of the students.

The applause and the smiles we earn… I can no longer tell if they’re the real thing.

Nagisa: ………

Hiyori: Yep. Of course, there’s no such thing as 'true' and 'fake' for smiles and even emotions. There's value in being able to produce them in someone else, no matter the methods employed for it..

However. That is just the same thing as peddling drugs, and my soul can’t take any more of that.

That's why, even though I feel bad for Eichi-kun and Tsumugi-kun, who apparently want to stay here, or rather, seem under the impression that this is only the beginning...

I want to go far away. It's the perfect chance, now that the contracts expired.

It may be too late for it now, but… I want to protect the purity of my soul.

If I were to defile it any more than I already have, I’d feel guilty towards the ancestors whom I inherited my soul from.

I’m an aristocrat, not a killer or a warmonger. Everything was so much fun and sparkling so brightly that it took me a long time to remember that.

But I want to believe that it isn’t too late now.

What will you do, Nagisa-kun? There’s no need to force yourself to come with me, okay? If you want to stay here, you can!

Your life belongs to you and no one else.

Nagisa: …..Hiyori-kun, you--

…..Ever since we first met, you’ve never conveyed what’s really important through words.

…..That’s why, just like you taught me, I will respond to you in kind.

…..Not letting go of your shaking fingertips, is my response.

Hiyori: Ahaha. I see, so that’s how it is.

Let’s go together, then. We may not know our destination yet, but as long as we’re together, we can go anywhere!

The world is wide and life is long, there’s still so much fun awaiting us….☆

Ibara: Salute~! I apologize for interrupting this pleasant chat, but I assumed from your appearances that you must be the two leading actors of fine, am I wrong?

Hiyori: ....? …And who might you be?

Ibara: Aah, how rude of me to do this through the window of a car… Here is my card!

Hiyori: ? Cosmic Production’s… Saegusa, Ibara-kun?

Ibara: Yes! I am still a mere novice though, so I am sure you haven’t heard of me!

I am but a rogue* who snatches up various jobs while being an idol on the side, but it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance nonetheless!

Hiyori: And what kind of business does a rogue such as yourself have with us? It’s cold, and I’m exhausted for the day, so to tell you the truth, I’d like to go straight home now.

Ibara: Allow me to apologize once more! I am deeply ashamed, there is no excuse for my inability to read the atmosphere!

However, the guard around the two of you has always been so tight that there was no gap to get in touch with you at all… But today, the long awaited chance that I’ve been hoping for from the bottom of my heart has finally come!

I don’t intend to bother you by drawing you into a longwinded conversation today, though! I shall take my leave after exchanging greetings with you!

Please keep the names 'Cosmic Production' and 'Saegusa Ibara' in the back of your mind as you return home!

It surely won’t prove disadvantageous to you! As they say; when God shuts one door, he opens another, although it is cheeky of me to act like I am God in that scenario! Makes me sick to my stomach!

In any case, if you have nowhere to go, please consider joining us!

With us, you’ll be able to start at management level, no, we are even prepared to grant you leadership positions right away! We will give you a passionate welcome any time, so please give it some thought!

That’s all! That’s the gist of it, well, I do apologize for appearing in front of you so suddenly and rambling on and on!

However, I pray that this encounter will turn out to be a fortunate destiny for the two of you!

Now then, I shall excuse myself for today! If at all possible, I hope we meet again someday! Salute~♪

Hiyori: ………

Nagisa: …..What was that all about.

Hiyori: Who knows. Even for a solicitor or headhunter, that guy was quite bold, and rude to boot.

Well, on days where fine has a live, the security around here is extraordinarily high, so he could only get into contact with us in this short moment.

But even then he was in an awfully big rush, and since he didn’t preface his statements I couldn’t even comprehend what he was going on about…

Well, I guess if we’re interested, we can always call the number on the business card he left us with…

But right now, this all feels way too fishy.

Nagisa: …..That child--

Hiyori: Hm? What’s wrong, Nagisa-kun?

Nagisa: …..He smelled like father.

Hiyori: He smelled like milk?** Yep yep, it’s freezing out here, I’d love to drink some hot milk right about now!

Nagisa: …..Mhm. Let’s go home, and go to sleep once we warmed ourselves up.

…..We will think about tomorrow’s matters when the day comes.

…..For today, I am completely exhausted, too.

--------------

* Yes, he’s using the word “gorotsuki”, the one Kanata uses to refer to Madara.

** The words “father” and “milk” are homonyms here.

Location: 2nd Floor Hallway

Natsume: ………..

Tsumugi: Huff, huff! Please wait, Natsume-ku~n!

Natsume: ...What is iT. Is there something you forgot to tell mE, SenpAI?

Don’t concern yourself with mE, just go finish your woRK.

This might be the last chance to be spoiled and fawned over like a priceless senior that you will ever get in your unfortunate liFE, you knOW--

You should accept this happineSS, SenpAI. You have the right to do sO. I’m not being sarcastIC.

Tsumugi: But… Natsume-kun, you keep frowning and looking displeased. And if you aren’t happy, then I probably can’t feel happy from the bottom of my heart, either.

So let’s talk about this properly. I want to take away everything that brings you pain, and bring a smile to your face.

No, I want to make you happy. Because it is my duty as someone who hurt you in the past, and because I want to do it. ...Or am I being a bother?

Natsume: ………..

I̵̖̻͙̭̳͉ ҉͎d̲̙̤̹͕͉͍o͔̲͟n’̼̩͖t҉̮̦̭̞̣ ͈̲͓̼͡úͅnd̪͇͚͍͕̣͖͢e̯r̦s͞t̯͙̮̱a̙͙̣̘n̮̫̞̗d͔͕͔̪̲̲̬ y̙̬̹̻o̰̪̼̠̗͕͢u.͚ͅ

͇̯ͅͅ

̙̗̳̲̙͢W͈͉̩͚̝̹ͅh̳̲̫͚͎̞́a̡͕͉̙͕t̙ ̪̼̦̞͓́ḁ̙̼̫̀r̘̫e͉̬͉̣̲̖͔ ̛̱̹̥̲͓y̜̣o̙̺ͅu̩͡ ̠͖̫t̘̞h͕̫í̱̥n̤̙k̗͉͙̞̗̩͘ì͎̫̣̫ņ͕͕̫g̡̬͕̮̝͇?̩̭̳̣̜͕̀ ͠W̼h̟̩̤̹͎͠a̱̪̬̭͎͟t̰̝̯̲ ͏̲̞͕do̞̯̞̘ ̼͜y̦͖̗͉o͏͎̳̳̱̭̳u̧͙̘ ̭̪̻̱̲͚w̦̠͎͉̦a̞̦̥nt?̸ ̯͕̳̮̯W̸̗h̰͕̫͖̼a̪̯̫̗̘̭͎t̶̰̺̯͖ ̴̫͚̻k̵̥̹͔͇i̼̜̱̟̰n҉̞̪̰̮d̗̯́ ̙͓̘͉o͉̮f̼̺̖͢ ̤̳̰͍̗̮ͅd̤̤̮̜̪̭͠re̠̙a͎͟ḿ̠̯̱̣̭͉ś ͙͚͎̮́do̙̦͚ ̷̩̠͙̫͕y͚͈̮͚̳̹͞o͈u͕̼ ̧̹͈̱̺͉̮̬h̡͙̭̠̘͖͔̲a̗͢v̧͍e̟͍̲̟͍̮̳?̨

̼̟̜̦̕

̞͖͉̳͔̟͍́W̷̥h̙̝̗̜̜̜̥͘a̰͕͓̗͕͓̯t̩̪̼̜̬̹̼ ̩ͅa̝m̦̬̫̀ ̶̳̪͉̤̠̤ͅI̙̖̲̭͇,̗̩̪͉̫͔̀ ̢t͕̫̺̳̺͘ͅo̵̹͙̹̺͙ ͚̘̻ͅy̢o̵̼̻̬͖̹͉u͙͔͘?̖

Tsumugi: ………..

...Do you want to know?

Natsume: N-nO. You don’t have to say iT, just forget iT.

The tongue is an organ that exists in order to produce liES, which is why you can say anything you want if it’s just worDS. And Senpai only ever says whatever’s convenient to me anywAY, so I can’t believe a single word you sAY.

Tsumugi: ...Yes. That’s why I intend to show it to you through my actions.

Fortunately, I was granted the chance to do so, like this.

I’m so glad. I really am, Natsume-kun. And it’s all because Nagisa-kun and Hiyori-kun, and even Eichi-kun, didn’t forget about the past.

It wasn’t all a dream, and it wasn’t an illusion that will disappear as soon as I close my eyes...

That means that the path we walked together, and the days we spent together, weren’t all in vain.

That thought makes me happy, and that’s why I will finish “Wonder Game” with everything I have. It seems like Saegusa-kun and others set up various schemes, but it’s all okay.

I am sure you know this, but I am a pretty bad guy myself. I trampled all over countless children and their dreams, and when it comes to being a scoundrel, I am even more experienced than Saegusa-kun.

That’s why I won’t lose this game. I will make it a success just like you want me to, and I’m sure this will yield great results for Switch even in the future.

Natsume: So you are free to retire in peaCE, and graduate while feeling complaceNT?

How selfish of yOU, SenpAI.

Tsumugi: ………..

Natsume: ...Truth be toLD, I kind of did whatever I could to look into Senpai’s future plaNS.

I have a grasp on the teaching staff's weaknesses to a certain degrEE, so I was able to get my hands on the career survey questionnaires through some dishonest meaNS.

WeLL, they’re the kind of frivolous teaching staff that would divulge classified information like that after being threatened just a little bIT, anywAY…

And those people are only able to access information of little importanCE, so they were only able to get their hands on questionnaires from over half a year aGO.

I acquired a summary of thEM. Reading that constitutes a violation of privaCY, and I’m sure even you wouldn’t be okay with thAT… Which is why I never mentioned this to yOU.

But I had to knOW. As a member of the same unIT, Switch, I have to consider Senpai’s future plaNS.

Because it impacts our upcoming scheduLE, and the winning conditions of “Wonder GaME”. If we don’t know what outcome to aim fOR, and what our goals aRE, we can’t take a single step forward after aLL.

...In any caSE. SenpAI, apparently you plan to quit being an idol and aim for a teaching positiON?

Tsumugi: Eh? Um, well, I do remember writing something like that on a career survey, a long time ago…?

Natsume: You’re so easy to reAD. If possible you want to become a teacher at an idol training school like YumenosaKI, rigHT?

The apple doesn’t fall far from the trEE, or have you possibly already forgotten how your mother failed at that very same vocatiON?

I’m sure you just want to make up for all the dreams you crushed underfoot by making other people’s dreams come true this tiME. And why nOT, I gueSS. It suits yOU, SenpAI.

You love to look after peopLE, after aLL. And you make up for your lack of talent by working that much hardER, so I’m sure you’ll see better results by putting all of that into teaching otheRS.

Just nOW, you were giving out very accurate and suitable instructions to the former students of that idol training schoOL, tOO.

And they adore you quite a bIT, so I think this kind of work really suits you weLL. If I were a fortune teller you consulted about your careER, I’d tell you to “go forth without hesitatiON”.

Tsumugi: ...Natsume-kun, are you telling me that I should quit being an idol?

Natsume: That’s what you want to dO, isn’t iT?

It’s what you meant by saying you’ll “show it through your actioNS”, rigHT? Isn’t that why you spent all that time earlier showing off what a splendid “idol instructor” you maKE?

Like you were trying to say “This is what I’m going to be, best of luck with whatever you guys are doing~”, rigHT?

And I’m fine with thAT, Switch was only formed in the first place because you asked me to help yOU, after aLL.

If you say “I’ve had enough”, then I’ve had enouGH, tOO.

Tsumugi: ...I can’t accept that. Why did this conversation turn out like this, Natsume-kun?

You misunderstand me. No, I’m at fault for not explaining anything to begin with. I made you anxious, raised your suspicions, and forced you to say all these things you don’t even mean.

I am sorry. I am always too late to realize these things. I’m a simpleton, a complete idiot… That’s why Natsume-kun has to scold me practically every day.

But, I believe I changed just a little bit. I’ve grown up, and I’m no longer unable to feel anything.

Natsume-kun, you were the one who taught me. You taught me pain… and everything else.

Natsume: ………..

Eichi: ...Hey there. It seems like my timing is the absolute worst, if I may say so myself. But do you have a moment, Sakasaki-kun?

Natsume: ...W-what is iT? What business do you have with me instead of SenpAI?

Eichi: I can’t tell you that here. I’ve often tried to get you to have this important one-on-one conversation with me, though…

I can’t do anything that would constitute a breach of contract, like trying to make you exchange things that you are unwilling to part from.

Tsumugi: ...Contract?

Eichi: Yes. We may have had bitter experiences with them, but sometimes, laws and contracts that leave no room for human kindness are necessary.

For me and Yumenosaki Academy, and probably the entire idol industry, the time to become adults has come.

Natsume: What are you talking aboUT? WeLL, if it’s just a conversation you waNT, I don’t miND. It’s not like I have anything better to do right nOW.

To be honeST, I much prefer a conversation with the student council president over one with that man over there who’s laughing without a care after abandoning Switch in order to fulfill his own dreaMS.

Tsumugi: P-please wait just a second, Natsume-kun! We’re not done talking, I still haven’t conveyed a single thing I wanted to tell you!

Natsume: You’re out of tiME. I had gotten my hopes up and waited all this tiME… But it turns out I’m the “idiot” heRE.

B̩͕͙y͍͔e̬̭̮͞ͅ-̸b̳̖̫̙̗y̞̲̬ͅe͔̗͍̞̩,̙̰̀ ͇̘͈͎͇͟ͅT͏͖̖̜̗͙̰s͇u̗͍͕͙̼͕͘m̺̹̘͎͢u͏̩̜͉̪̺͕̱g̠͝i̺̝͇̦͕-̜͘n͚͚͞ͅiis̭̰̲̪̙͝a̴n̫̦͙̙̤.̻̺̦͕͖ ̣I̮ ̦̼͚͍̻h̷̦͙o͕̫͔̠p̻̳e͕̹̞̟̤̲͝ ͏̪̝y̙̹ͅǫ̝̝̳̭͕̟u’̪̩̤l͕̲̩̱͚̰̙͟l̰̜͕͚͕̠͘ ̞̝̱͙̲̘͘b̡͉͖͚ę ͕͚̻̺͞h̯̜͔a̷̦̞̟̘̹̭͕p̹̜̻͞p̖͇͡y͖.͓͙̗̲͉͜

Tsumugi: Please wait, Natsume-kun! You’ve got it all wrong! To me, happiness is…!

Location: Soundproof Lesson Room

Tsumugi: (...? For some reason, Natsume-kun is staring intently at me... Yoo-hoo~♪ Thanks for the encouraging words, I’ll do my very best!)

Natsume: (What is he waving at me all giddily fOR? He’s such an incomprehensible gUY, and always has beEN.)

(The exact opposite of mE, I thought he never hAD, or was able to gaIN, a single thiNG… His life was supposedly so miserable all this tiME, so how can Senpai smile like this nOW?)

(...When I don’t have anything to dO, I can’t stop my mind from wandering like thIS.)

Tsumugi: Hey, Natsume-kun, Natsume-kun!

Natsume: ...WhAT. I told you not to speak to mE. Get back to woRK, glassES. Don’t you know that glasses are only permitted to be worn by diligent peopLE?

Tsumugi: Who cares about my glasses! Listen to this instead! I somewhat had my suspicions, you know!

But then I went ahead and asked just to make sure, and I couldn’t believe it!

The kids who are “Alice” today seemed oddly obedient, and for some reason seemed to want to get along with me from the very beginning~... And I thought that was so strange!

Because, you know, when I first meet someone it’s normal for them to look down on me and make fun of me! So for them to take to me like that is really out of the ordinary for me, or rather, miraculous?*

Natsume: What on earth are you talking aboUT? Get your thoughts in order before you speAK, SenpAI.

Tsumugi: I’m sorry! I got a little excited! Umm, so, apparently a lot of the participants in this “Wonder Game” are former acquaintances of mine!

Not just acquaintances, in fact they’re former students of the same idol training school that you also attended for a short while back in the day, Natsume-kun!

They all continued being idols~, it’s somehow really touching ♪

Natsume: ...AaH, the one from my dark paST. You’re talking about that school your no-good mother failed to manaGE, until it finally went bankruPT. That small-scaLE, privately managed coaching schoOL.

(Now that I think about iT, after that school went undER, all of its students who no longer had a place to train at were split up and sent to other various schools through Mommy’s connectioNS.)

(If they were so inclinED, nothing was stopping them from continuing to pursue careers as idoLS.)

(After aLL, they must have started going to that shady school to begin with because becoming an idol was their dreAM.)

(I never ran into anyone from that school agaIN, besides SenpAI, so the thought of re-encountering those kids never even crossed my miND…)

(WeLL, until recently Yumenosaki Academy was pretty much like a closed countRY**, so if they all went on to other training schooLS, it’s no wonder I never came into contact with any of thEM.)

Tsumugi: Yes! Since my parents managed that school, I was made to help out too. Because of that, I know all the students by sight!

To think we’d reunite after all this time~!

It’s an amazing coincidence! No, it must be a miracle...♪

Natsume: (Yeah, nO, there’s no way this is a coincidenCE. Miracles are called that because they happen seldomLY, but speaking from a point of probabiliTY, this is completely impossibLE.)

(But if this was all set up by someoNE, what were their intentioNS?)

(It’s no goOD. The gears in my head just won’t turn right nOW. Since when was I such an idiOT…? This is all Senpai’s fauLT, I must have gotten infected by his stupidiTY.)

Tsumugi: Fufu. They all still idolize me and call me “Tsumugi-niisan”, just like back then.

Come over to us, Natsume-kun! Maybe some of them still remember "Natsume-chan", the legendary pretty girl idol!?

Natsume: If there’s any living human around who still remembers thAT, I will burn off every single one of their cranial nerves one by oNE.

Tsumugi: D-don’t say such scary stuff, please! The cameras are still rolling~!

Natsume: That’s my liNE. Stop getting sidetracked and start getting serious about your responsibilities alreaDY, SenpAI.

Tsumugi: Fiiiine. Still, this concerns you too, so... I felt like I had to tell you, Natsume-kun. And I always find myself wanting to share these kinds of deeply moving moments with others ♪

Natsume: ...All you share are joyful and exciting moments like this oNE, SenpAI. And the sad and heavy things you keep to yourseLF, refusing to share the burdEN.

Tsumugi: Huh? Did you say something, Natsume-kun?

Natsume: NoPE. I guess if I stick around and watch you’ll just keep getting distractED, and I don’t want to get involved with anyone who might remember me from back then eithER…

I’m gonna head out and find some other job I can help wiTH.

Sora seems to be somewhere elSE, so I’ll go join hIM.

AnnoyingLY, and for some incomprehensible reasON, it seems Sora took a liking to that former fine, Ran NagiSA, and follows him around all over the place nOW..

Tsumugi: Ahaha. Rather than taking a liking, Sora-kun seems to have developed a strange fixation on Nagisa-kun.

I thought they just got along well as fellow weirdos, but it’s somewhat rare for Sora-kun to react like that to anyone.

Natsume: YeAH. I’m concerned about that paRT, which is another reason why I want to check on how Sora is doiNG. ...Don’t slack off on your job just because I’m no longer watchiNG, got it, SenpAI?

Tsumugi: How rude! I am always giving everything I have! It’s my only redeeming quality, and if I don’t work hard I can’t accomplish a single thing, after all!

Natsume: …………

Tsumugi: (H-huh? Usually when I say self-deprecating things like that, Natsume-kun scolds me… He didn’t react at all, even though there’s no way he didn’t hear me.)

(What could possibly be the matter? Ever since “Wonder Game” began… No, shortly before that even, he has been acting strange…?)

(...It’s weighing on my mind. I’m in the middle of work, but I’ll come up with some excuse and slip away for a moment.)

(And if there’s something troubling Natsume-kun, I want to resolve it… Or at the very least, I want to worry about it together with him.)

(Never again. Never again do I want to think of myself as a background character that has no right involving himself in other people’s lives… And restrain myself while I lose the things that are important to me.)

(This time, for sure. I will ____ the bluebird of happiness--)***

-------------

* Tsumugi keeps using the word “不思議” which means curious/strange/amazing/wonderful depending on how it’s used, and it’s also in the Japanese title of Alice in Wonderland (as the word for “Wonder”).

** Natsume is referring specifically to the Sakoku (isolationist foreign policy) in Japan during the Tokugawa shogunate.

*** Because of how Japanese sentence structure works, Tsumugi leaves this sentence unfinished without adding a verb at the end of it. Notably, he finishes on an “o”, which makes “I will become the bluebird of happiness” unlikely, since it would normally be phrased with “ni”, not “o”.

Location: Soundproof Lesson Room

- A few days later, one week has passed since the curtains opened on “Wonder Game” -

Natsume: (Our strange daily life continuES.)

(And “Wonder GaME”, which is based on the eternal young girl Alice’s stoRY, continues on without any major incidents or even minor troublES; everything is going just perfectLY.)

(As of nOW, Switch has yet to stand out from the competitiON…)

(But as a resuLT, we aren’t being ostracized or bothered by the others, in fact it feels like we blend in naturalLY.)

(We are usually misfits here at YumenosaKI, or to put it in the words of a certain someoNE, it’s like we are always running around in the shadoWS*.)

(RealLY, you can’t call this state of affairs anything but wondroUS.)

(It’s peaceful and relaxED, so there shouldn’t be any reason for me to be displeasED, and yET…)

(I still feel this vague uneaSE… But wHY? What is it that’s stuck in my throAT?)

(...It’s fine like thIS. BesidES, this is ideal as the last big job for us before Senpai graduatES.)

(It may not have a big impact on “that person’s future paTH”, but having made an enormous event into a huge success will definitely not detract from it in any wAY.)

(It’ll be our somewhat premature graduation party for hIM.)

(...And the person in question is happy like the cat that got the creAM, so I don’t have the right to voice complaints based on feeling “kind of uneasy for no reasON”.)

Tsumugi: ~.....♪

Oka~y, listen up everyone! Try to do these steps after me!

One, two! One, two! Alright, you’re a little bit out of sync! If you keep this up, this tea party is never going to end~♪

I’m fine with that, but doesn’t “Alice” have other plans?

Days where nothing out of the ordinary happens are wonderful too, but please make up your mind and move forward!

Now, everyone, take this “Mad Hatter” as an example! Learn proper etiquette, and embark on your journey towards adult society!

Natsume: (...The things you’re saying sound like they have a deeper meaning to mE, SenpAI. To even go as far as to put on a play aCT, you’re really unusually cheerfUL.)

(WeLL, everyone aside from “Alice” is also playing a character in “Wonder GaME”.)

(It’s not strange for that Mojacko to act according to his roLE, thEN.)

(ActualLY, I should also be wearing some kind of cosplay and participating in thIS.)

(But for some reasON, my costume went missing or somethiNG, and until a new one is preparED, I can’t do anything but sit and watCH.)

(They said the loss of the costume was an accideNT, but is that really trUE?)

(So~mehOW… It feels like I’m being excluded on purpoSE, but since I don’t feel like joining in the cheerful clamour anywAY, I’m fine with IT.)

(But I feel like I’m constantly being manipulated by someone lateLY, and it’s giving me the creePS.)

(In the eND, I agreed to collude with Eden, and if everything goes according to plAN, we will be chosen to be “Alice” on the last, most exciting day of “Wonder GaME”.)

(Getting what you want without working hard for it should be “ideAL”... I shouldn’t have anything to be dissatisfied aboUT, since I am an advocate for efficienCY.)

(..........)

Tsumugi: ….Natsume-kun? What’s wrong, you look really pale~? This is bad! If you feel sick, I’ll carry you to the infirmary right away!

Natsume: No need for thAT, just leave me BE. In faCT, the cameras are still runniNG, so get back to the sET, idiOT. Go carry out your role as the “Mad Hatter” until the eND.

Tsumugi: Fufu. In that case, caring for you is still in-character for me, so there’s no problem with it.

Well, maybe not in the original work, but it’s the kind of role the “Mad Hatter” has in the movies and such ♪

Natsume: HaH? What are you talking aboUT?

Tsumugi: Fufufu~, I am the one who’s in charge of making your costume that’s been said to have gone missing, Natsume-kun.

It was originally Anzu-chan’s job, so I feel quite bad for snatching it up from her, though.

In Alice in Wonderland, I felt like Natsume-kun just absolutely has to play “that role”...

Though I think that due to how “Wonder Game” works, it’ll be difficult for you to wear that costume the whole time, so we might have to make some other costume for you as well.

Natsume: ? Can you talk in a way in which you might be understoOD, SenpAI?

Tsumugi: Aah, I’m sorry for my bad explanation! But actually, I shouldn’t be chatting away, right? I don’t want you to scold me about that again, so I’ll be going back to work now~♪

Natsume: ….YeAH. Do your beST, SenpAI.

Tsumugi: I will! Thanks for your encouragement, Natsume-kun!

♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪

Natsume: (HrmM. I feel somewhat guilty about making Senpai do all the woRK.)

(Compared to “AliCE”, there’s a number of other characteRS, so they’ll be fine even if I don’t force myself to participaTE.)

(....NO. Thinking baCK, it feels like I’ve always been like thIS.)

(Mommy is a highly successful and popular fortune tellER, Daddy a businessman who travels the world trading various merchandiSE. Even before I was boRN, I already had everythiNG.)

(A kind famiLY, monetary fortuNE, any precious item I would waNT.)

(Descended from such magnificent parenTS, I was blessed with abundant taleNT, and since I was surrounded by nothing but idioTS, I was able to easily make friends whenever I wanted TO.)

(Daddy only had to snap his fingers to procure anything I could ever waNT, and Mommy only had to call and any number of people from her personal connections would come running immediateLY.)

(As soon as I realized that I could have anything I wantED, I stopped desiring anything at aLL.)

(Not wanting anything is the same as not liviNG. I was bored every single dAY.)

(It was me who was Dr. FauST, who had grown tired of life because he had everythiNG, ShishOU.**)

(HowevER. Here at YumenosaKI, even though I didn’t even particularly wish for IT, I was granted wonderful treasurES.)

(A sparkling youTH, and magnificent Nii-sans that I respect from the bottom of my heaRT.)

(But thEN, those things were taken away from mE… And for the first time in my liFE, I thought that I “wanted” somethiNG.)

(I wanted to get back everything that was stolen from mE, but I didn’t know hOW.)

(Because I had never wished for anything before thAT. There was only a hollow void within mE, an emptiness that could never be fillED… I struggled desperateLY, but I’m out of tiME: My Nii-sans are going to graduate soON.)

Tsumugi: ~......♪

Natsume: (...”Tsumugi-niisan”, that includes yOU.)

------------------

* He is quoting what Mao says about Switch in Pleiades Night - Concealed Heart 5. Weirdly enough, Natsume wasn’t in the room when Mao said this.

** He is referencing a conversation he had with Wataru in Rocket Start - Set Theory 2 where he compared Wataru to Faust.

Location: Rooftop

Nagisa: .....Hmmm. It’s not time for the “Wonder Game” participants to meet up yet, so I had been wondering why you came to Yumenosaki already.

…..You’re planning to make preliminary arrangements before the story of the day begins.

Ibara: Yes! As they say, there’s no rest for the wicked, and diligence is my only redeeming quality after all!

Apparently, His Eminence Eichi has recently been getting here early and spending all day immersed in office work, so I figured it was a good opportunity!

Fu fu fu ♪ I am sure Mr. Sakasaki of Switch is close to hitting the limit of how long he can endure agonizing over this unbearable either-or-choice he is facing!

He’s been struggling for so long that I’m thinking I will take pity on him and end his life already!

Nagisa: …..What a disturbing way of phrasing things.

Ibara: My apologies! I experienced a minor lapse in memory regarding Your tenderhearted Excellence’s dislike of these things!

I truly apologize for the lack of consideration; when one was raised in a rough environment, these kinds of defects are difficult to hide at times ♪

Nagisa: …..Aah, you were raised in something like the military, weren’t you, Ibara?

Ibara: Yes. It’d seem like playing house when you compare it with the real military, but for what it’s worth I did undergo ordinary military drills.

Of course, since that turned out to be unexpectedly helpful for idol activities in the long run, I don’t lament my circumstances in the least.

But so~metimes I just can’t help but wonder; what if I had been born into a normal family…?

Nagisa: …..That is something I wonder about myself sometimes, too.

…..But what does “normal” mean? What a difficult concept it is, maybe it’s like an average score?

…..The average score changes when you increase the statistic sample.

…..Seen from space, all of humanity, clinging to and crawling over this planet, is nothing but heresy.

Ibara: Yes. And that’s why I think it’s best not to think about this stuff.

The grass is always greener on the other side, after all… Even if you compare yourself to someone else, it’s a given they’re different from you, since you’re separate people.

And yet. From time to time, despite usually being satisfied with crawling on the ground… I find myself wanting to climb up somewhere high. I wonder why that is.

Nagisa: …..Attempting to rise to the heights where God resides will only invoke his wrath and lead to divine punishment, though.

…..And yet we can’t help it. Because that’s what human instinct dictates.

…..However. If you, just like Eichi-kun back then--

--…..Nh~nh. I’m sorry, nevermind.

Ibara: Pardon? Please don’t abandon this conversation halfway through~, now you made me all curious. It’s a bad habit of yours to act incomprehensible to everyone except yourself, Your Excellency?

Nagisa: …..Mh. Well, when the time comes and the need arises, we will finish this conversation.

…..Because I told myself I wouldn’t let that happen ever again.

Ibara: ………?

Location: Student Council Room

Ibara: Please excuse my intrusion! Saegusa Ibara humbly reporting for our arranged meeting! Salute~☆

Yuzuru: Yes, how nice of you to come visit ♪

Please excuse my rudeness, but I must ask you to take your leave. We have no tea to offer a stray dog such as yourself, you see.

Ibara: Geh… Hello my lifelong friend, why are you aliv-- I mean, what are you doing here?

If I'm not mistaken, you were supposed to be accompanying your owners on a trip overseas at this time...?

Yuzuru: How well-informed you are. That would normally be my plan this time of year... However, due to differing circumstances, I am staying by the Young Master’s side this time.

Seeing as it is graduation season, it’s a busy time with no end to the idol work coming in.

That can't be helped, so the Master and Madam have given consent to my staying here.

Moreover. I could perceive the smell of an unwashed dog in my territory, you see.

Ibara: Hmm… Here I thought your senses had withered ever since you became a collared lap dog, but it seems that your nose still works to some degree.

Yuzuru: Reluctantly so. As long as I’m by President-sama’s side, I have no shortage of fishy situations in my surroundings.

Eichi: Fufu. I suppose I’ll take that as a compliment. But it’s funny-… I mean, surprising. I’ve heard stories about it, but you two truly don't get along at all.

Ibara: On the contrary! Early in our lives, we spent many sleepless nights in one bed together, and are so close as childhood friends that we even call each other “Onii-chan ♪” and “Little brother ♪”! Right, Yuzuru-Oniichan ♪

Yuzuru: Hah? Did you take a bullet to the frontal lobe in the time we haven’t seen each other or something?

Eichi: Whoa.* While I could keep watching this charming exchange all day, unfortunately, I am a very busy man… Let’s skip the preamble and get right into business.

Saegusa-kun. Let me verify one last time; are you really okay with this?

Ibara: …...Yes. If Your Eminence agrees to the conditions I explained beforehand, that is.

Eichi: I see this as unavoidable for us. Or rather, it’s turning out exactly as desired, to the point that even if you hadn't come to me with this proposal, I would have suggested it myself.

As you know, the landowners are still raising hell.

We didn’t get anywhere with those antiquated old-timers who’ve tied themselves down with traditions, customs and so on, no matter how much money we threw at them--

So if you manage to make that land available for the “ES Plan”, I’ll gladly go along with the things you suggested.

In fact I’d be so indebted to you that I feel like payment by itself won’t be sufficient. How about I make Yuzuru wear a maid uniform and give you the right to keep him as a servant for around a week as a bonus?

Yuzuru: President-sama, that isn’t funny.

Eichi: Well, I was just kidding. But are you really okay with doing “this and nothing more”...?

Out of consideration I’ll give you a word of advice: You seem to be in an awfully big hurry.

But you are still so young; I think you should look at the long term.

If you’re in a hurry to rack up achievements and keep your relationships superficial, I can’t imagine myself taking your hand and joining you for a dance in the future.

Ibara: ....Don’t worry.

Please forgive me, as I don’t intend to criticize Your Eminence. ...These are words of warning I have received before from my seniors who wanted to play up their higher rank to me.

But that was nothing but empty talk from fools who were apprehensive after losing their vested interests to me.

I have gotten to where I am today by disregarding their words and doing as I please.

Eichi: Very well. If you’re aware of your standing yet possess the courage to keep moving forward, there is no problem.

I love young people like that, so let me root for you from the bottom of my heart.

Let’s raise the notion of our beloved idols to new heights, together.

Ibara: ...I intend to strive for that to the best of my ability, poor though it may be.

Well then. Since we have reached an agreement, I will head to the set of “Wonder Game” now. My apologies for the interruption, please excuse me ♪

Yuzuru: Ibara.

Ibara: ……..?

Yuzuru: Among all the people I know, you are the most despicable and filthy of all of them.

Ibara: ...Well, thanks.

Yuzuru: Which is exactly why. Don’t keep thinking that you have to hold on to your pride and die like a dog; if you’re ever at a loss, rely on “me”**.

You may not be my little brother, but you are my favourite pupil, whom I raised with care.

At the very least, I want to lend you a hand when you’re in trouble… I’m also human, after all.

Ibara: ...Hm~, I don’t entirely understand what you’re getting at, but... I’ll keep that in mind, “instructor”.

----------------

*This might seem like an exclamation of surprise, but he’s actually using the command “Whoa” to stop a horse.

** Yuzuru uses the emphasis quotes and the masculine pronoun “ore” here, instead of his usual polite “watakushi”.

Location: Rooftop

- Several days after “Wonder Game” started -

Ibara: (And so, this strange daily life has begun.)

(So far, it's going smoothly... In fact, everything is going just as planned to an alarming degree. At this point, you might even think the name “Wonder” is unfitting for it.)

(Every morning, the "Alice" of the day is announced at the regularly scheduled meeting.)

(“Alice” makes it sound like it refers to a singular person, but it actually refers to an entire representative “unit” from an agency or training school, so 3 to 7 people are “Alice” at a time.)

(During the time it takes them to do their warm-up exercises, the remaining idols are moved to a different room where they discuss the schedule for the day and such.)

(We prepared episodes from Alice’s story for every single day… A theme based on which we plan the lessons and a live show.)

(Watching the heated discussions and differing, incompatible opinions of people during the meetings is quite interesting.)

(Since I am used to that kind of thing, it’s an easy feat for me to take the lead during these discussions.)

(Afterwards, we announce the plan for the day to “Alice” and the viewers.)

(If there are no objections from “Alice”’s side, we assist them in their lessons next.)

(We take on the role of a coach, instruct them and aid them in their training, prepare meals and clean up after them, and divide odd jobs between us.)

(Our budget is quite lavish, so we have the leeway to dress everyone up as residents of Alice’s stories and let them show off their talents a little.)

(Well, that part is quite amusing, and serves to keep the event from becoming too monotone.)

(It makes the event a bit like a variety show. I expected agencies who usually focus on live shows and the idols of Yumenosaki to struggle with that part, but…)

(Since Switch is centered around Mr. Sakasaki, who has experience as a fortune teller on television programs, they are unexpectedly adept at these kinds of jobs that are unorthodox for Yumenosaki Academy.)

(I anticipated it based on the information I collected beforehand, but they really did establish their own presence well for now.)

(Oh well, it takes one to know one*, but they can’t compare to Eden, who has prioritized TV broadcast activities so far.)

(Anyway, through this and that we follow “Alice” around like we’re in a funny documentary of sorts, and at night the grand climax of the day, the live show, is held.)

(The viewers who know how much agony “Alice” has suffered through, working so hard all day, must be on the edge of their seats, watching over her and rooting for her.)

(The enthusiasm in the actual live venue is one thing, but I’m sure the broadcast is just as exciting.)

(The very first “Alice” was decided impartially through a lottery, but after that…)

(During the evening, the audience including the TV viewers get to vote the “Alice” for the next day.)

(Although, we were the ones who prepared the lot for the first day, and there’s a time lag involved with the editing and broadcasting of the event…)

(So in reality, the “Alice” for each day has essentially already been decided well in advance.)

(It’s a TV program. Through editing and production, it’s easy to control the voting results arbitrarily.)

(As long as the results don't seem unnatural to the viewers, we can easily proceed with our plans.)

(For the very first day of “Wonder Game”, we didn’t choose Eden, the most influential of all participating units, to be “Alice”...)

(Because that would be too obvious for the viewers.)

(To be honest… All the other “units”, including Switch, have no outstanding characteristics whatsoever.)

(Since there’s no obvious winning horse in this race, there probably won’t be any distrust in the results of the “Alice” elections.)

(Even if they differ from viewer expectations, they’ll probably just shrug it off. It’s not like these are political elections, so there likely won’t be anyone who gets angry because the results differ from their predictions.)

(As long as people don’t feel like they’ve been wronged, they surprisingly won’t complain.)

(Anyway. In this manner, all we have to do is spend these two weeks playing out a pleasant slapstick comedy.)

(If nothing impedes it, we can take it easy and earn huge profits from all this.)

(We turned down the role of “Alice”, the leading role, of our own volition, but...)

(That just made us look generous and increased our likability, while putting us in a more favourable position.)

(A more unique position. The role of “Alice”, the protagonist, is chosen again every single day for two weeks, so it has no scarcity value.)

(Things that stand out and are valued just for being rare are the basis of economics… The rule of supply and demand.)

(Officially, “Alice” is the protagonist of the story. But from a meta perspective, we are the ones standing at the center.)

(Known as the “Red Queen”, if you change the reading of the name a bit, it becomes “Evil King”**!)

(Ah hahaha! How wonderful and thrilling, “I” am the “King” of that world...!)

Nagisa: …..Ibara~? Why are you laughing ominously and loudly in a place like this?

…..If the school regulations haven’t changed since then, the rooftop at Yumenosaki has been declared off-limits.

…..I think it’s best not to trespass.

Ibara: My oh my! To think that His Excellency would preach to me about common sense, you’ve really matured!

It makes me feel like a parent or a teacher who has learned from their own child, though that might be an insolent manner of speaking! Ah ha ha ☆

Nagisa: ….You’re in a good mood. That’s fine, though. A laughing face is better than a crying one.

Ibara: Yes. It’s smooth sailing~, I can’t help but break into a smile.

Though I believe we must keep our guard up. Which is exactly why I’m about to visit His Eminence Eichi for one last push.

------------------

* Since this is Ibara, he uses an idiom involving snakes in Japanese. “蛇の道は蛇” (lit. A snake knows the path of snakes).

** “Aka no Jouou” turns into “Aku no Ou”

Location: Animal Pen

- One year ago, in fall. On the day of old fine’s very last Live -

Nagisa: ………..

.....”The Jabberwocky is coming ♪ The Jabberwocky is coming ♪”

.....”Out of fear we built a bulwark, and now he’s angrily clawing at us ♪”

.....Hey ♪ Yo ♪

Tsumugi: Nagisa-kun.

I was looking everywhere for you. It’s almost time, so let’s get ready.

Nagisa: ………..

Tsumugi: I implore you. Because this is probably going to be the last one.

The other fine members got exhausted, grew tired of being used like tools and quit already.

If you and Hiyori-kun don’t participate, we won’t be able to win the next show. This is a crucial match for the sake of our revolution; the conclusion of the subjugation of the “Five Oddballs”.

I want to make sure we succeed. But you’re so kind, and I don’t want to make you do any more inhuman things…

I think this will be the “happy ending”, so please, I beg of you.

Nagisa: .....Tsumugi-kun.

…..Don’t lower your head to me, please.

.....You-- No, we, aren’t doing anything wrong, are we?

Tsumugi: ………..

Nagisa: .....You see, I was caring for the rabbits.

.....Raising animals helps cultivate your aesthetic sensibilities.

.....That’s the official reason why the school built these animal pens.

.....However. Now that everyone is so absorbed in waging war, no one is paying attention to this place.

.....Is it justifiable to abandon frail creatures and to let them die, if there is some greater cause for it?

.....I don’t know. Lately, I’ve become unable to tell.

.....If I hadn’t remembered these little ones, and wasn’t taking care of them, they would probably starve to death.

.....Back when we started our revolution, it was the same with the concept of idols at this school.

.....They were such a feeble existence that without someone to find them and support them, they would have surely died and disappeared.

.....Father, loved us idols. That’s why, I wanted to protect them.

.....I just wanted to keep them alive, out of love.

.....How many dreams did we have to starve to death for the sake of this greater cause?

Tsumugi: Nagisa-kun. We couldn’t have helped that. We aren’t God, after all.

All we could do was either hold on to this one dream, or to abandon all of them and let every single one die.

That’s why… I want us to keep those alive whom we trampled all over, those we hurt and tried to protect until they met utter misfortune.

Together, just one last time.

Nagisa: ………..

.....Don’t worry. I’ll stand on that stage just like that contract obliges me to do.

.....I will abide by the contract. If I broke it even once, the door to Heaven would close for me, after all.

Tsumugi: Contract? Aah… A long time ago, you and Hiyori-kun were acting so unrestrained that we were all made to sign written contracts, I remember.

I think that was just something like a game of make-believe between children, though.

Nagisa: .....Is that really what you think?

Tsumugi: Yes… Because, if it wasn’t, then that would mean…

That Eichi-kun was serious about it ever since we signed the written contracts back then. It would mean that he knew things were going to turn out like this, and worked out a scheme for it in advance.

It would mean this wasn’t fun and games, it wasn’t a childish flight of fancy, he really put his life on the line to make this revolution happen.

And it would mean that despite Eichi-kun's expression telling me that we are best friends--

I was never able to understand even the most fundamental thing about him at all.

I abandoned his true self in the darkness, and was never able to find him even to the very end. And all this time, I was just making merry like a complete idiot.

I don’t want this… I don’t want to acknowledge it. It feels like our whole year is going to turn into nothing but a dream.

All I wanted was to spend a glittering youth together with my beloved friends--

To think that I was all alone all this time, merely shown a dream from a corner of the world…

Nagisa: …..Tsumugi-kun.

…..When I’m no longer here, I want you to look after these Jabberwockies in my stead.

Tsumugi: Eh, what do you mean, “no longer here”? You’re exaggerating, Nagisa-kun! Well, it does kind of feel like we’re about to head into a cruel, decisive battle…

But it’s not like we’re really going to take up swords and arms and kill each other.

Nagisa: …..Eichi-kun, probably intends to.

…..That’s why. If you get on stage, aware of this, you might be able to reach it in the very end.

…..The bottom of the darkness, where he is.

Tsumugi: ………..

Nagisa: …..Take care. And don’t die, because there’s no guarantee that Heaven and Hell really exist.

…..Bye-bye, Jabberwockies.

Tsumugi: Jabbaworkies? Is that what these rabbits are called?

Nagisa: …..I don’t know. But the one running at the head of the herd is a white rabbit, so.

Tsumugi: Aah, like in “Alice in Wonderland”.

Nagisa: …..Yeah. This one is “Alice”, this one is the “Cheshire Cat”, and this one is the “Mad Hatter”.

…..The one who always lazes around arrogantly in high places is “Humpty Dumpty”.

…..And these twins who always get into fights are “Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum”.

Tsumugi: Fufu. So you even gave them names, and looked after them enthusiastically. That’s kind of surprising. I always thought that you didn’t have any interest in animals, Nagisa-kun.

Nagisa: …..I don’t. Maybe Hiyori-kun asked me to take care of these rabbits because he wanted me to cultivate an interest in them.

Nagisa: …..I still don’t understand life. Or love.

…..But. I find it hard to part with these rabbits, and feel some kind of attachment to them.

…..That’s why right now, I can truly feel the weight of the precious lives we trampled all over. It hurts.

…..It hurts so much. I find it hard to breathe, being alive is suffocating.

…..Ultimately, this is surely the Original Sin that was bestowed upon me.

Location: In front of the Auditorium

Natsume: WeLL~… It’s hard to explaIN. To put it in a slightly misleading wAY, you could say we were asked to take part in collusiON.

Sora: ? Collision?

Natsume: NO, collusiON. You could also call it match-fixiNG. Right nOW, Yumenosaki and CosPro hold the most influence over the trends in the idol industRY…

The proposition was whether WE, as their representativES, Switch and EdEN, would like to dominate the board known as “Wonder GaME”.

By making arrangements with Eden in secrET, we could collude and take control of the flow of “Wonder GaME”, effectively having free reign over IT.

If we could manipulate the results of “Wonder GaME”, a giant project that’s used to predict the future of the idol industRY, in our favOR…

The benefits we would gain from that would be unfathomabLE.

But this all doesn’t sit right with me for some reasON. It’s definitely evidence that during the recent “Rebirth LiVE”, they colluded with some influential people in order to manipulate the results to their likiNG, tOO.

Maybe they got a taste for it thEN, and want to use the same trick once moRE?

Jun: ...What are you looking at me for~, I wasn’t the one who did those kinds of nasty calculations.

Wasn’t all that stuff spearheaded by Hidaka-sensei, Ibara, and your student council prez?

Natsume: (...TruE, this is the kind of method our revolting stuco prez would uSE.)

(Maybe I should agree to thIS, since it’s the “grown-up thing to DO”, just the way my Nii-sans of the “Five Oddballs” did with the former fiNE.)

(BuT. Back thEN, wasn’t I the one who struggled in vain trying to find some other option because I just couldn’t bear IT?)

(Didn’t I run myself ragged trying to think of something and doing everything in my powER, just to end up exactly where I startED? OR, to put it in better worDS, just to end up in the same place as my Nii-sans from back thEN?)

(I don’t want thAT… It’d be as if that whole year was nothing but a dreAM.)

Tsumugi: Excuse me! Sorry for being late~ ♪

Natsume: ...SenpAI.

Tsumugi: Ah, I’m back, Natsume-kun! What a relief~, I heard there was some discord between you and the others, so I was pretty worried!

But from the looks of things you’re having a friendly chat. I’m so relieved ♪

Natsume: ...PueH! (He spits on Tsumugi’s glasses.)

Tsumugi: Gyaah, a new technique!? Please stop it, this is quite the troublesome attack!

Sora: HiHi~♪ Sora always says this, but this is probably not an attack, but an expression of love~?

Tsumugi: I can’t bring myself to believe that… Uuu, at least refrain from doing this stuff to anyone else but me, okay?

Depending on the country, spitting is the rudest possible act a person can do, you know?

Ibara: I think it’d be rare to find a country where it isn’t considered rude, actually…

Ah ha ha, to think that you would forgive even such an act, you must really be so close that you need no reservations around each other! How enviable!

Hiyori: Aah, Ibara, you’re finally here. Thanks for your hard work in guiding the other idols here.

But how come I don’t see Nagisa-kun anywhere? Didn’t you come here together?

Ibara: Oh-oh? The moment His Excellency stepped off the bus, he suddenly said something like, “I remembered something” and went ahead without me, though...?

I was sure he was heading to Your Highness Hiyori’s side, but he doesn’t appear to be here. Hmhm~, I wonder where he went off to?

This is the greatest mistake of my life! Aah geez, His Excellency has been behaving sensibly lately, so I let my guard down! I-I will go look for him at once, okay~?

Tsumugi: Ah, I think there’s no need for that. Nagisa-kun said something about Jabberwocky, didn’t he?

Sora: Ja... baworky? Senpai, what’s that?

Tsumugi: You could say he’s the personification of wordplay, a character from “Through the Looking-Glass”.

...Because of that, well, I think Nagisa-kun is headed for the animal pen.

Natsume: ? How do you figuRE? I can’t follow your leap in logIC.

Tsumugi: Aah, I’ll explain it later. It’s nothing, really… Just something from back when I was in fine.

Fufu, this means Nagisa-kun also still remembers those days~♪

Natsume: ….? I don’t really get IT, but you seem stupidly happy lateLY, SenpAI. So you’re really overjoyed to be doing activities with those guys from the old fine after aLL?

Tsumugi: Eh, do I seem like that?

I wasn’t really aware of it… We met a rather sad end together as fine, which is why I’m really glad that we are able to laugh together like this now ♪

Natsume: ………….

Tsumugi: Excuse me, I’m going to head to the animal pen to meet Nagisa-kun!

Saegusa-kun, please lead the other idols who arrived backstage, I’m sure they all want to put down their luggage.

Ibara: Yes Sir! What splendid instructions, just as expected of the old fine’s manager! The central figure of the revolution of Yumenosaki Academy! I deeply respect you ♪

Tsumugi: Eh? Nono, I was just something like middle management back then!

Ibara: No need to be modest! It’s the powerful ones whose work goes unnoticed who are the most vital for an organization! I strive to be like that myself one day. Maybe I should even call you my teacher!?*

Tsumugi: Hoeh? Oh no, you’re flattering me way too much, I’m just used to doing assistant work like this...♪

Natsume: (...What the hell is thIS? Seems like you’ve gotten quite cozy with the enemy while I wasn’t lookiNG, haven’t yOU, SenpAI?)

------------

* He says “Shishou”, like Sora calls Natsume.

Location: In front of the Auditorium

Hiyori: Ahaha! While I had my back turned for a moment you started getting along so well, let me join in on your little chat, too~♪

Natsume: ……….

Jun: Natsume-san is averting his eyes and blatantly ignoring him, huh. I don’t know the details of the situation, but do you really detest him that much just because he’s a former fine member?

Natsume: Just like you detest our class teacher Sagami Jin-sensei about the same amouNT, or even moRE.

Though it appears that you managed to do a great job in clearing up your resentment towards hIM, so if you have any pointers on how to pull that off so easiLY, I’d very much like to hear thEM.

Jun: …’xcuse me. I have an issue with both this topic and the way you’re talking about it, alright~?

Hiyori: Ahaha. You’re really adept at hitting other people’s nerves, Natsume-kun!

But don’t bully our kid too much, okay? He’s quite tender-hearted since he is still a pupa, a flower bud in the middle of his growth phase ♪

I do think that it won't be too long that he will turn into a butterfly or flower capable of splendid singing, though?

Natsume: Singing floweRS, hUH. I guess you did your reading in preparation for “Wonder GaME”.

Sora: ? What does that mean?

Natsume: It means that in Alice’s stoRY, those kinds of episodes actually happEN.

It would be good for you to gain some knowledge tOO, SoRA. Waiting around here must be boring for yOU, so why don’t you look over the original book in the meantiME?

Sora: HaHa~♪ As long as he has games, Sora will never be bored!

The “Wonder Game” we’re participating in this time has “game” in its name, and that’s enough reason for Sora to be excited for it! What kind of pleasant game is it going to be?

Natsume: It’s not a gaME, but rathER, woRK. WeLL, I suppose there are some game-like components to it this tiME.

We were given a detailed explanation of it earliER, so I’ll be repeating a few things from IT.

But I think it’s good to go over it again before we begIN, so let me go over the specifics with you once moRE, with my personal opinion mixed in this tiME.

“Wonder Game” is going to take place over the course of two weeKS, and will be comprised of a series of evenTS. For the entire duratiON, there will be daily live shows and such modeled after “Through the Looking-GlaSS”.

Hiyori: To add to this: There will also be episodes based on “Alice in Wonderland”, though I personally think just the story of “Through the Looking-Glass” would give us plenty of material.

Natsume: Don’t intrude on the conversation like it’s naturAL, ex-fiNE.

...“Looking-Glass” isn’t as well-knoWN, compared to “WonderlaND”.

SO, I’m sure it’s because there’s a chance we’ll be leaving some of our viewers behind if we don’t put in some more popular stuFF.

Sora: Viewers?

Jun: Aah, it looks like all of “Wonder Game” is going to be broadcasted… On television, as well as on web streaming services.

That includes not just the live shows, but the scenes of us getting prepared for them and such, too.

Which is exactly why I’m saying we should try to get along, so the viewers don’t have to see a tense atmosphere between us, right~?

Natsume: As I just saID, could you stop cutting into the conversatiON? BesidES, I plan to behave while I'm in front of the camerAS, so there's no need for your conceRN.

AnywAY. Thanks to certain people interjectiNG, my explanation has gotten out of ordER,but every event during the two-week duration of "Wonder Game" will be recorded and broadcastED.

Sora: Hiyah, then Sora has to be a well-behaved, good boy, right~?

Natsume: Of courSE, the recordings will be editED, so if there’s things we don’t want to be broadcastED, they’re bound to delete those scenES.

We live in a time where it’s important to be cautious with matters of privaCY, so they won’t show anything exposing.

Hiyori: Fufun. I wouldn't have any problems with it if everything I do 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, was recorded on camera and broadcasted, though!

I'd actively want to show myself off, if anything ☆

Jun: Just where is that confidence coming from… You generally have a surprisingly sloppy side to you, so wouldn’t you just be exposing your disgracefulness for everyone to see?

Hiyori: Fufu. It’s an idols’ job to turn even the disgraceful parts of oneself into appeal… Well, physically speaking, even if I were to be filmed 24 hours a day it’d be impossible to broadcast all of it.

There’s such a thing as “time slots”, and some editing will always be necessary. Regrettably so.

Natsume: YeAH. ...Let’s get this conversation back on traCK. During “Wonder GaME”, there will be a leading role known as “Alice” who is chosen anew every dAY.

And that is another distinctive featuRE.

“Alice” is the protagonist of the stoRY, in other words, the “idOL”.

The “Alice” that is chosen once per day in “Wonder Game” is the only one who gets to do lessons and idol activitiES, and is able to sing and dance in the live show held at the end of the dAY.

That’s the privilege they attaIN.

The other idols who weren’t able to become “Alice” will be dressed up as residents of the Wonderland and the Looking-Glass Land and have to mess with hER.

To put it more clearLY. They will act as her producers and manageRS, and have to guide and support “AliCE”.

They will also construct the staGE, work on promotional activitiES, and if “Alice” demands for IT, be her background dancers and suCH.

That means they will simultaneously be the players moving the "Alice" chess piece, and the chess pieces moving according to "Alice's" instructiONS.

This is likely all in order to imitate the chess game from “Through the Looking-Glass” on a meta levEL.

Hiyori: Yep, yep. When you look at “Through the Looking-Glass” from an omniscient perspective, the characters’ movements, including Alice’s, seem like those of chess pieces on a board.

Natsume: SupposedLY. But in realiTY, if you were to prepare a chessboard and move the pieces according to the plot of “Through the Looking-GlaSS”...

All the movements of the pieces would be improbable and rule-defyiNG, so it’s really kind of randOM.

Sora: Muu, you have to stick to the rules~. Otherwise games aren’t fun!

Natsume: FufuFU. A board gaME, just like sporTS, is a “drama without a synopsIS”.

If there are no exciting developmenTS, it’ll be considered a failure as a stoRY.

We should turn a blind eye to trickery and cheating to an exteNT, since those are a necessary evIL. For magicians like US, who defy reasON, you could even say it’s the best decisiON.

Maybe that’s wHY… Mr. Saegusa asked us to do “that thiNG”.

Sora: HiHi~? Shisho~, what exactly did he ask us to do? He was whispering into your ear in secret, so Sora still doesn’t know the details~?

Location: In front of the Auditorium

- Several Minutes Later -

Sora: ~.....♪ (He’s playing a video game on a handheld console.)

Natsume: ~.....♪ (He’s embracing Sora from behind and watching him play.)

Sora: ~ ♪ (After clearing the game, he proudly looks up at Natsume.)

Natsume: ~ ♪ (Looking satisfied, he nods his head a few times.)

Jun: ...Excuse me~, do you have a moment~?

Natsume: WhaT. Do you have a problem with US. We’re on standby while we wait for the other idols who participate in “Wonder Game” to arriVE, which means there shouldn’t be any issuES.

Jun: (Hoh… What a relief. Sakasaki Natsume-san of Switch… He hadn't said a word and has been making scary faces ever since I went to greet him with Ohii-san.)

(But it looks like he’s at least willing to have a conversation with me, since I’m not a former fine member.)

(He’s emanating a strong aura of “Don’t talk to me!”, or rather, it’s like the two of them are in their own little world, though...)

(Because of how “Wonder Game” is set up, we’re gonna have to lock step with a bunch of other idols, so we all really should try to get along at least a little, right~?)

(It’s not like that’s my strong point either, but in order to achieve our goal, I have to compromise a little.)

Natsume: ...So what’s the mattER, if you’ve got something to sAY, say it clearLY, will yOU?

It’s quite unpleasant to be stared at like thAT. BesidES, there was that time when your Lilith made a big spectacle of injuring Ba-Barrier, that our Sora belongs TO.

That’s nothing compared to what the former fine dID, but it doesn’t make you entirely exempt from my hatrED, got IT?

Jun: (Uwah, he’s petty!? Everyone in Eden is so “laid-back” that this kind of resentful attitude is actually kinda refreshing~?)

(I wonder if back then, before I was a “special student”, I was like this, too?)

(How unendearing… It’s pretty amazing of Ohii-san to have picked me up when I was like that~?)

...Haha. Don’t say that, won’t you open your heart just a little bit~?

Especially considering that from now on, as you know, Yumenosaki and CosPro are pursuing collaborative policies?

We’re not enemies, right.

Natsume: ...That’s what’s stuck in my throAT. The collaborative policy was simply decided by other peopLE, it’s not like we were informed about it and consented to IT.

Our student council president's like the ghost of a defeated soldiER, a completely senile geezER -- He's just burning the candle at both ends by doing any reckless nonsense he can get his hands ON.

Jun: ...I don’t really get it, but to me it looks like you’re kinda displeased with the status quo right now?

Natsume: DispleasED? Of course I AM, absolutely every part of this is rubbing me the wrong wAY.

The other dAY, your companion Mr. Saegusa proposed a certain role for us of Switch to plAY… Just another thing I can’t stomaCH.

Jun: (Ah, so this guy’s the type to call others “Mr.”, too. It’s like he’s creating himself a persona~, but that’s typical of Yumenosaki idols.)

(CosPro-affiliated idols, with Eden as the exception, are severely lacking in personality… Feels like this is the difference between factory-made and hand-made.)

...Umm. Did that Ibara guy ask something of you?

Natsume: YeAH. You didn’t hear about IT?

Jun: Hah… Ibara is entirely in charge of strategies, so the rest of us kinda stick to a policy of keeping our mouths shut~.

As a result, we've been successful with barely any problems so far.

That guy is basically in control of our agency… of CosPro~. When I put it like this, I guess he’s kind of our boss.

We're the same age, so we're like friendly colleagues in a sense, but it'd still be bad to disobey him.

Natsume: HmmM. Feels like there’s a strict hierarchy at Cosmic ProductioNS?

Jun: I guess. The restructuring is well underway, but even now, we live in a stratified society that the "Special Student" system influences.

But, it’s not like we’re just begrudgingly abiding by everything Ibara says~, if we have our doubts or complaints, we just say them right off the bat.

For what it’s worth, he does try to take our opinions into account~.

But well, in general he basically just does whatever he pleases. That’s why even now, he still doesn’t get along with the selfish Ohii-san, or rather, they clash a lot.

Natsume: ...Quite straightforward of yOU, to just lay your situation out in the open like thIS.

Jun: No point in trying to hide it, really. I’m repeating myself here, but we’re like comrades now, so I think we should share information with each other~?

If we didn’t open our hearts to you, and then one-sidedly demanded you to “be sociable, get along with us” it'd be ridiculous, don’t you think~?

Did I say something weird?

Natsume: Not realLY. You’re more flexible than the rumours saID, Sazanami Jun of EdEN. I imagined you to be more liKE, a hoodlum who’s just putting on a tough guy aCT.

Jun: Haha. “Hoodlum” is harsh~, but I guess with the kind of life I’ve lived, it’s inevitable.

Natsume: (HmmM. He’s not stirred by my provocatioNS… He really is more mature than what I’ve heard about hIM.)

(NO, it seems more like he gained a lot of experience during “SS” and “Rebirth LiVE”, and matured through thEM.)

(...Compared to thAT, how much have I grown UP?)

Location: Bustling Street

- 10 or so minutes later -

Ibara: Yes, yes, hello! Saegusa Ibara speaking~!

Oh my, what’s the matter, Your Highness Hiyori? You were supposed to head there before me, was there some kind of trouble?

Hmhm? How troubling, and here I thought that Your Highness Hiyori, who can generally befriend anyone, would even be able to get along with the former “Oddball”, Sakasaki Natsume-san…

Just kidding, I saw this coming just a bit!

The atmosphere on-site is fairly hostile? My goodness, I understand how you must be feeling! No, there's no need to worry, this merely means we'll have to adjust our strategy!

Fufun. If anything, the fact that Sakasaki Natsume-san doesn’t even try to hide his animosity for ex-fine members means that the other party hasn’t seen through our tactics yet--

If they had guessed our ulterior motives…

When taking my research on Sakasaki Natsume-san's personality and disposition into account, I believed he would try to befriend us, even if only outwardly.

However! Considering how he's not trying to do that means everything is proceeding in our favor. It's more reassuring than anything else!

There’s no need to provoke him any more than necessary, but please continue to disturb his peace of mind at the current pace!

I’m leaving it in your capable hands! Now then, please excuse me until we meet again later ♪

(Fu fu fu, it’s entertaining to see just how much everything on the board is progressing the way I imagined. However, we can’t let our guard down just yet--)

(First, I rejected the proposal that Aoba Tsumugi-san put his heart into planning back during old fine’s time in order to replace it with my own scheme.)

(I was betting on the chances of His Eminence Tenshouin Eichi still agonizing over it even now.)

(This gamble is the one I judged to be the most perilous one in all of this.)

(However, His Eminence is only human. Despite this "Wonder Game" proposal having entirely different contents, I was able to push it through without problems simply because it had the same name as the previous one.)

(Surprisingly enough, it was accepted exactly how I devised it, and I wasn't even forced to make any revisions.)

(Maybe His Eminence thought, “This time I will make sure to grant Aoba-san’s wish exactly as he intended it”?)

(With this, the first move in order to secure victory has been made. The rest will be easy if we can bring His Eminence under our control. We will be able to rule the board however we see fit.)

(As for Sakasaki Natsume-san, he is still stuck with resentment from days long past, and his anger costs him his otherwise levelheaded thought processes... Our enemies won’t even be promoted* to players.)

(The possibility of Sakasaki Natsume-san and His Eminence overcoming the long-held animosity between them just to join forces at this point is exceedingly low, anyway.)

(But if it came to that, it’d be a bit of a nuisance.)

(Aah, I was right to choose Switch as our adversaries!)

(They seem to harbour suspicions like, “Why us of all people?”, but the reason is “Because you’re the easiest to defeat”, of course!)

(To put it more precisely, “Because I already know exactly how I can conquer you”!)

(Nevertheless, due to their affiliations with the former fine and “Five Oddballs”, the degree of praise and popularity we’ll gain from defeating them is unequivocally high!)

(They’re sleeping lions, and those are, historically speaking, the best kind of prey! I’ll coil around them, use my fangs to inject them with my poison, and enjoy eating them all up~!)

(Assault! Invade! Conquer!)

(Historians may look back on us unfavourably after this incident, saying things like “How could they do such a terrible thing”!)

(But I don’t care about that in the least!)

(I’ll discard the shadow for the substance! Ah Hahaha, I am really so glad that I’m the ultimate scumbag….☆)

Tsumugi: Ah, Saegusa-ku~n ♪

What’s the matter? You seem to be in a good mood!

The last of the participating idols for “Wonder Game” have been collected, so the driver is telling me the bus is about to depart~.

It looks like you're in the middle of work from what I can see, but let’s return to the bus as quickly as possible, okay ♪

Ibara: Ah, yes! That’s not a problem! I was merely taking care of some trivial work while waiting for the remaining idols to arrive, since it was taking a while!

Tsumugi: Fufu. What a dedicated worker you are~, as expected of the young businessman who’s the talk of the town.

Ibara: Ahaha. Rather, with how many skills I lack, I'll never catch up to my seniors unless I spend every free moment working.

Being the president of a company might sound high and mighty, but in reality it just means that you’re a convenient errand boy who’s gotta do everything himself.

Well, whatever. I'm at a good stopping point with my work, so let’s walk to the bus. Much obliged for coming all the way here to get me, Aoba-san.

Tsumugi: Don’t worry about it. I was the unreasonable one, requesting the bus to let me accompany them to greet the other idols, so doing odd jobs like this is the least I can do.

I just hope I can be useful... or am I just a nuisance?

Ibara: Far from it! You’re exceptionally helpful!

Not only did you offer the Yumenosaki facilities as the location to hold “Wonder Game”, but you’re even participating in the reception by choice!

Your endeavours are indubitably deeply moving and reassuring to the other idols participating in "Wonder Game"!

I hope to gain valuable insight from observing such a magnificent senpai's demeanor up close!

Tsumugi: Oh stop it, it’s embarrassing to be praised so much! There’s nothing someone like me could teach to youngsters like you at this point, Saegusa-kun...♪

Ibara: (...Hmm. People are usually happy when they get praised. Aoba Tsumugi-san seems just as unsophisticated and ordinary as the advance reviews said.)

(But something feels off… Hm~m, what is this feeling of discomfort?)

(Is Aoba-san really merely accompanying us on this trip on a whim in order to help pick up the other idols?)

(Or could it be a diversionary tactic in order to sound us out…?)

Tsumugi: Wawah!? Aah, that startled me, I tripped over this part on the ground that kind of sticks out~ ♪

This flight of stone steps looks like it was made to prevent accidents, so I'd look pretty stupid if I stumbled on it and and injured myself!

Ibara: (Hm~m… He looks like nothing but a simple half-wit to me, though… If this is all an act, he is one hell of an actor.)

(I must be overthinking this. I guess even I get a bit over-sensitive before a rare, crucial match such as this.)

Tsumugi: What’s the matter? Let’s hurry, Saegusa-kun, we are running late with the schedule!

Ibara: Aye-aye… Even if you don’t remind me, I am we~ll aware of our schedule.

(Well, for now… I'll stay vigilant, because the better things seem to go, the more you have to watch for pitfalls.)

---------------

* At this point I feel like I have to explain this. Ibara keeps making references to the “board”, which would be a chessboard in the context of Wonder Game, but here he uses a shogi term for promoting your pieces in the game. Shogi is more specifically themed after the military, so it’s a fitting expression for Ibara to use.

Location: Student Council Room

- Present-day Winter, Early Morning of the First Day of “Wonder Game” -

Jun: Excu~se me! Eden’s Tomoe Hiyori and Sazanami Jun have arrived!

Hiyori: Ahaha ☆ You sound like you’re in the military, don’t we get enough of that from Ibara already?

Jun: Cut out the jokes and do your introductions, Ohii-san.

...Huh?

Eichi: (His eyes are closed.) ……….

Hiyori: Oh, seems like Eichi-kun’s dead! I always knew this day was going to come, but who would’ve known it’d be today? What bad weather…! (He’s smiling.)

Jun: Th-, that’s not funny, alright? I’m sure he’s alive, it’d be a pain if he died at an important time like this~?

Hiyori: He~y, Eichi-kun, Eichi-kun! Wake up if you’re alive! If you’re just asleep, open your eyes!

I don’t know what kind of dream you’re having, but as long as I’m here, reality is infinitely more interesting than whatever you’re dreaming about!

Eichi: Uu~... Mh, mmh?

...My apologies. I must have dozed off for a moment.

I was having a dream about the past.

Hiyori-kun. You’ve changed a lot since then.

Hiyori: Fufun ♪ I’m sure I have, since I’m constantly changing myself for the better!

Eichi: I wonder about that. In fact, to me it seems more like you’ve become unnecessarily over-familiar and just a bit of a dope.

Hiyori: How nice of you. You’ve also changed a lot~, I feel like you’ve gotten a lot calmer than you used to be! Your age must be getting to you, huh?

Eichi: That must be it. Aah… Thanks to Hiyori-kun being as noisy as an alarm clock, my mind has cleared up.

Fufu. Once again, I apologize. It seems that lately my fatigue has been building up from how busy I’ve been.

Welcome to Yumenosaki Academy, gentlemen of Eden ♪

Jun: Thanks. Rather than Eden, it’s just us Eve in here right now, though~.

‘Cause Adam is currently greeting the other idols who’re participating in “Wonder Game”.

Hiyori: Yup. Seems like they went through all the trouble of preparing a shuttle bus, put on cute bus guide uniforms, and now they’re showing everyone around.

Jun: Pretty sure they wouldn’t go as far as wearing bus guide uniforms~, usually. But then again, Ibara and Nagi-senpai are usually willing to wear whatever outfit they deem necessary.

Hiyori: Yep, yep. One time, I saw them wearing these prison guard-like uniforms and twirling around iron clubs, I wonder what kind of job those were for?

Jun: Wasn't that part of a campaign to use their sorta intimidating image as Adam to prevent children from engaging in nightlife, or something?

Actually. How about you take some interest in the kinda jobs they’re doing, since we’re part of the same unit and all… Ohii-san?

Hiyori: Hm~... I haven’t felt that way lately, but until just recently, whenever I saw Nagisa-kun getting along with others while he was working, I got a complicated feeling in my chest just looking at them.

Could this be love? Or the desire to monopolize him?

Eichi: Ah~, Ahem. It’s a wonderful thing that the two of you get along so well, but you can’t keep chatting on and on.

Though I’m sure you only came here out of courtesy to give your regards to me, seeing as I am the chief executive of the matter at hand.

The tale always continues someplace else, so get these annoying formalities out of the way already and head to the location.

Well, I’m sure the other participating idols, aside from Switch, have yet to arrive…

So even if you went on-site now, all you could really do there is warm-up exercises.

One of the former “Five Oddballs”, Sakasaki-kun, is part of Switch.

You should try to approach him and deepen your friendship with him as soon as possible, especially you, Hiyori-kun. Just as you would guess from his high-strung appearance, he is the type to hold a grudge.

Even now, whenever I try my very best to strike up an amiable conversation with him, he ignores me completely, more-or-less. And I can hear him muttering curses at me all the while.

Hiyori: Aha, my deepest condolences! But at this point I’m unperturbed even if the amount of curses against me was to increase by one or two… What about you?

Eichi: Ditto. But, well, it’s not a nice feeling, even though I’m just reaping what I've sown…

That child is a real magician after all, as much as those have become a rare species nowadays. So even just a simple curse from him brings about so much evil influence that it is no laughing matter.

Jun: Magician, you say… Magic isn’t real, so shouldn’t you be fine just ignoring him?

Eichi: Magic is very real, just like fortune-telling and sleight of hand.

Of course, RPG-like things, such as chanting “abracadabra” to shoot fire or lightning bolts at will, are impossible.

But there exist certain arts that we don’t have any choice but to call sorcery. And Switch knows how to make use of those. You’ll get burned if you underestimate them too much.

Be careful, “Ohii-san”. In the world of fairy-tales, it’s the magicians who influence the outcome of the story the most.

Hiyori: Hmm. Thanks for the warning.

From how I remember things… This Sakasaki Natsume was the most insignificant among the “Five Oddballs”, in my opinion.

It’s been over a year since we subjugated the “Five Oddballs”, so if he’s human, it’s only natural that he has done some growing-up since then, though.

We may have treated them like they’re monsters, but in fact, they are human, and didn’t die.

For now, I’ll see how that child has changed.

Children change fast, and even Wonderland’s Alice-chan turned into a queen in the short time we took our eyes off her.*

Eichi: Aah… That’s what “Wonder Game”’s theme is, I remember now.

In the end, we never managed to perform it together as fine, so I am personally looking forward to seeing how this will turn out.

From what I could tell from the proposal, the mood of the source material has been a strong influence on the details…

Now that we’re opening this box, I can’t even guess what’s going to jump out of it. I am keenly interested.

Hiyori: ...I thought you hated matters with this many uncertain elements, Eichi-kun?

Eichi: I did, in the past. Entrusting things to fate isn’t to my liking, and in order to accomplish my goals, I needed to calculate things level-headedly.

Relying on things like fortune-telling would make one a failure as a politician, and entreating oneself to a deity means that it’s all over for one as a human.

Hiyori: Hmm. And yet you gave the go-ahead for this proposal, and even went as far as to become the chief executive for it.

I’m not sure if you’re aware of it or not, but this isn’t like you at all, Eichi-kun.

But then again, you really seem to have changed a lot in the span of this year without me noticing.

I feel like that’s not all there is to it, but since this is convenient for me I won’t say anything about it at this point.

Eichi: What’s with the loaded phrasing just now. ...Are you trying to say I’m being manipulated by someone?

Hiyori: Maybe. Even in “Through the Looking-Glass”, Alice-chan, who’s supposed to be the protagonist, is nothing but another chess piece if you change your point of view.

Now let’s see who the one moving the chess pieces is this time… And who’s the one that’s dreaming?

Eichi: ……..

---------------

* This happens in chapter 9 of Through the Looking-Glass.

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