Hanamichi 1

Mika: Howdy do, come on in ♪

Would ya like some bread? It’s shaped like a flower, see? ♪

(Phew... these things are flyin’ off the shelves. Which is funny ‘cause I think the only thing they changed about their bread is the shape of it.)

(Well, whatever’s good for profit, right?)

(I guess the festival’s got everyone willing to spend more money.)

(But jeez... There sure are a lotta people here. Everywhere you look there’s more and more of ‘em.)

(I don’t much like bein’ tossed around in crowds...)

(This shop’s down a little alley a ways away from the main street so it’s a li’l better, but there’re still plenty of people around.)

Oh, here ya go! Thank you kindly, and come back real soon!

Ngah, there’s some fresh-baked bread? Well, come on in! Get it while it’s still hot! ♪

(Hoowee, I’m beat. I never did like servin’ customers, but the pay’s too good to pass up.)

(For some reason, people keep starin’ at me... I reckon my eyes are weird to look at. I should’ve worn an eye patch or somethin’.)

(I just forget about it every time.)

(Ngah, I can’t be gettin’ all down in the dumps in front of customers, though. This ain’t nothin’ compared to when we do lives...)

(I gotta get used to it. I’m an idol too, after all.)

Shu: Kagehira.

Mika: What the crap?! Oh, it’s you, Oshi-san ♪

What’s up, Oshi-san? You come to check out Flower Fest, too?

You’re way worse with crowds than I am, though.

Shu: Hmph. It’s not as if I wanted to come to a place crowded with uncultured philistines.

So vulgar, so disgraceful... I think I’m losing my sanity.

Mika: Ahaha, well hang in there. ...Ngaah, you didn’t bring Maddie with you? But you been bringin’ her along everywhere you go lately.

Shu: Don’t be stupid. I would not dare bring my sweet little Mademoiselle to a cesspool of indecency such as this.

She could get damaged if someone runs into us, or she might get dirty because of exhaust fumes.

Mika: I guess so. I wanted to dress her up in some flowers, though. She’s a girl, so she’s gotta like flowers, right?

Look, the bakery ain’t just sellin’ bread; we got flowers, too ♪

Here, you have one too, Oshi-san~ I got some freesias for ya.^[2]

Ehehe, basically all the stores are either sellin’ flowers or givin’ ‘em away, so once you put ‘em all together they make a super colorful bouquet. See? Ain’t it pretty?

Shu: If I cared any less, I’d be dead.

I had heard you were working at Flower Fest... so I’d suspected that you intended to betray me for that odious student council.

It appears my apprehensions were unfounded. What a relief. Not that your affairs are of any import to me...

Failure though you are, it is simply intolerable to watch a doll I built myself flirt with such fools.

Mika: Ngah, the student council? Whatcha talkin’ about?

Shu: You could stand to use your brain a bit more. Ah, but you never had one in the first place, did you...? You defective thing.

Mika: Naw, I may drop it once in while, but I’m pretty sure I’ve got a brain up there somewhere!

Shu: Whatever. It isn’t the first time you’ve made a fool of yourself, and I’ve long given up on you.

Though I suppose it’s praise-worthy that you didn’t so shamelessly forget your debt with me and fawn over the enemy.

In any case, idols from Yumenosaki Academy are performing in Flower Fest so as to bring life to the event.

The ones performing are Akatsuki and... that most irritating fine.

In all regards, they are the two titans which represent the authority of the student council—no, the empire we call Yumenosaki Academy.

Well, with Tenshouin Eichi hospitalized, the current state of fine is unknown.

Mika: Haha... I guess you’re right, now that you said it. I didn’t think this live had anything to do with us.

I’s just tryna make some money.

But wow... if that’s how it is, we’ll have to watch the show.

If Valkyrie’s gon’ make a comeback, they’ll be the guys we gotta take down, so it’s like scopin’ out the enemy, right?

Shu: Haha. Do you still intend to remain on the battlegrounds? Valkyrie is derelict and condemned.

Well, I suppose your ignorance, your innocence is not a sin.

...Regardless, it seems an old friend of mine has joined fine. I was curious to know what his intentions are, so I came to see him.

Hedonism is by and large his greatest flaw.

But I can’t imagine he would tread upon other people’s feelings solely for his own pleasure... at least, I want to believe in that.

Mika: Who’re you talkin’ about? A friend would be, um... the Five Oddballs?

Shu: Ah, apparently they are only Three now. Not that it’s of any consequence.

I and that boy were considered too insignificant and without influence over the masses... and so we were erased from the list of major characters.

Mika: What the hell? that pisses me off... So what, they give y’all some weird name without even askin’ first, and then they just toss y’all aside the second they don’t need you no more?

What’s their problem? Who died and made them king, huh?!

Shu: Hah. I have no lingering attachment to the Five Oddball name, really.

But I do feel a sense of loss, as if I’ve simultaneously been cut off from the group of friends I once had.

Anyway. It is mere sentimentality, but I wish to see how my former friend is faring.

That’s why I took such great pains to come here to this crowded place. Though I’m aware how pointless it is.

Mika: No way. It’s natural to care about your friends. I get how you feel, Oshi-san.

I’ll be finishin’ up with my work real soon... so d’ya wanna go watch the show together?

I don’t know how to say it too well, but I feel like I shouldn’t let you alone today.

Shu: Hmph. This is not of your concern. Nevertheless, my old friend is the complete opposite of you: utterly shameless and flamboyant... I’m sure he would be overjoyed to have a bigger audience.

It would be a comfort, I suppose, for a pitiful clown who wears a smiling mask to hide his tears.