Prologue

Mika: Oshi-saaaan, can ya do some maintenance on me? ♪

Shu: We already do that regularly, Kagehira. If we touch each other that much in front of all these people, we would certainly get strange looks.

Or do you feel that there is some abnormality in your body?

Mika: Ngah? Well I don’t really know what’s wrong with me ♪

Shu: Of course. You ought to be able to diagnose yourself. You make everything so difficult...

I can’t look after you forever, you know.

Mika: Huh...? Puttin’ it like that makes me feel all lonely! We’re gon’ be together forever ♪

Shu: Stop clinging to me; it’s irritating. It’s already sweltering outside this time of year...

Though being in such poor health, with how thin you are and how low your body temperature is, you probably don’t mind that at all, do you?

Mika: Well if that’s how it is, then sure. C’mon, Oshi-san, take a look. Ngah, I just really like when you do maintenance on me.

It’s the only time when I’m the only one you pay attention to... ♪

Shu: Shut your mouth. You’re distracting me.

Hm... you’ve put on some weight, but stress and fatigue are inhibiting healthy growth. What a distorted creature you are. Ah, so repulsive!

Mika: Ngh... would ya rather I didn’t keep growin’, then?

Shu: What does that mean?

Mika: You like li’l baby-lookin’ things, don’tcha? Like Nazuna-nii, ‘cause he always looks like he’s still in elementary school.

Shu: Nito is one of a kind. By virtue of being Nito, he is the cutest thing in the universe.

I am still unsure how to love another human being, but I find that there is a certain beauty within each one of them. Don’t you agree?

Mika: Ya think so? Ngh... I guess I’ve been mighty tired lately, an’ I feel all sortsa stiff, too. Maybe it’s ‘cause I been workin’ more jobs?

Shu: Have you increased your workload again? I’ve told you before: your parents send me a suitable amount to cover your rent and other expenses.

You have no need to worry about me thinking you a freeloader.

Mika: I know that, but I don’t wanna be a burden on my mom an’ pop. I wanna pay to live there all on my own.

‘Sides, workin’ as an idol is real expensive. We always need more money.

You’re mighty particular too, Oshi-san, so we gotta fork out a ton of money for each performance we do...

But since all our shows are on this li’l bitty underground stage, we ain’t got many guests, and there’s barely any turnaround.

Lord knows it ain’t profitable. Well, I work to make up for what money we don’t got...

But even if it’s just the two of us, I’m real happy we get to perform as Valkyrie again ♪

Shu: Hmph. It’s just a little box compared to what we achieved in our golden age, though.

Now we’ve been reduced to this underground stage on the outskirts of town...

Ah, what a pity. None of these drunkards have any idea what fine art is. Though it is better than being cooped up in a room.

Mika: Well no matter. It’s still a good place for meetin’ all sortsa artists, whether they’re pros or amateurs. They can give you some motivation, right?

An’ I been learning some dance moves and how to play some instruments from people in another bands ♪

Shu: For whatever reason, women flock to you... You seem to have been getting along quite well with that young, frivolous band.

Mika: Ngah, it’s just easier to talk to girls.

I dunno if she’s in the band or just one of their fans, but there’s a girl who’s got different colored eyes just like me.

She told me she’s rootin’ for me. Made me real happy...

I started talkin’ to the band ‘cause I thought they were connected to her, and then I ended up becomin’ friends with all of ‘em.

It kiiiinda feels like I know her from somewhere... Maybe she’s my sister from another life, or somethin’? Anyway, I could introduce you if you want, Oshi-san.^[1]

Shu: I’ll respectfully decline. I have no intention of intermingling with the masses.

You should also focus on improving the precision of your performance instead of engaging in such unnecessary ventures all the time.

Mika: Sure thing. It’s just hard to keep up with you, Oshi-san. Your ideas keep gettin’ harder an’ harder to pull off...

But I’ll keep doin’ my best so you don’t throw me away ♪

Shu: Good. Continue to endeavor in your own defective way.

...The curtain is about to rise. We’ll be in the way if we stay here. We ought to remove ourselves from the stage for the time being.

Mika: We don’t go on for a long while, yeah.

We always go last ‘cause our performance’ll be worse if we gotta deal with messy equipment in the way an’ such.

Shu: There is insufficient staff in this little box. Well, it’s an inconvenient setting for us, but it’s still better than participating in those Dream Fests at Yumenosaki Academy.

I have no desire to be part of that bothersome carousal.

Mika: Sure, but we can only do so much by ourselves...

Aw, but you can do whatever you want, Oshi-san. I’ll follow you to my last breath ♪

Shu: You have such strange tastes. In any case, we have some time on our hands: what should we do with it?

Kiryuu asked me to help make costumes for some Tanabata Festival or other, so I’d like to work on those.

But do you have any idea where I might find a quiet and relaxing place?

Mika: Well, we’re downtown, so all the places nearby are prolly crowded.

But huh, is it already time for Tanabata...? I done saw some stores and the streets all dressed up on our way here, now I think about it.

Ehehe, let’s hold off on the sewin’ and walk around to look at the Tanabata decorations.

Maybe there’s food stalls, too. We could kill time and fill our bellies at the same time ♪

Shu: ......

Mika: Oshi-san?

Oh, you’re all focused on sewin’ now... It was what Ryuu-kun-san done asked from you, so it’s gotta get done, right?

I can’t always be your number one, I guess... ♪