Intersection of Pranks 10

Ibara: “Well, well. It seems as though you’re in quite a bind, Amagi-shi. You look rather unsightly, running around like that—”

Rinne: “Aren’t we in the same boat here, Snakey-boy?”

“Those cuffs you got around your legs have you tripping all over the place. Gyahaha!”

“Ah, shit, we don’t have time for chitchat right now!”

Yuuta: “That’s right. If you don’t hurry, the bomb might just go off~”

Rinne: “That key you got can disarm the bomb on my waist, right Snakey-boy? So hurry up and cut it!”

Ibara: “Ah, no, I don’t have any key. So if you could just step away from me...”

(I can’t confirm whether the bomb is real; on top of that, disarming it myself might even trigger yet another trap.)

(Or rather, attempting to disarm it is dangerous precisely because Yuuta-kun is pushing us to do so.)

(But I also can’t deny that Yuuta-kun may have anticipated me considering this.)

Rinne: “Hey, hey, don’t lie to me. I’m one of CosPro’s most important idols, ain’t I?”

“If you’re heartless enough to abandon me here, even ol’ Rinne-kun would cry from the shock...”

“So I’m not letting you go no matter what, Snakey-boy. We’re in this together ♪”

Ibara: (Damn... of course would understand that much, which is why he’s come to this conclusion!)

(Is this why Yuuta-kun robbed me of my legs? It makes escaping from Amagi-shi nearly impossible...)

Rinne: “Hey, look! Only fifteen seconds left on the clock!”

“Waste any more time and we’ll be sharing a grave. Let’s jump straight into hell together, Snakey-boy ♪”

Ibara: “Stop clinging to me. At least spare me of such an embarrassing display.”

“It seems there’s no other choice. I’ll disarm it... It’s better than making a fool of myself!”

Rinne・Ibara: “Gyaaaaah!”

Yuuta: “Tah-dah ♪ Success!”

“And the final prank was... a joy buzzer!”

“As soon as you stuck the key in to disarm the bomb, you sent the electric current right into the both of you. Did that shock you, senpais?”

Rinne: “That wasn’t funny at all... You took that way too far.”

Ibara: “How humiliating. To think I’d allow Yuuta-kun to lead around by the nose...”

Hinata: “Looks like that was a job well done, huh Yuuta-kun?”

Yuuta: “You’ve already changed back, Aniki?”

Hinata: “If I stayed in disguise any longer, it’d start confusing people.”

“Maaan, I never thought this whole thing would go off without a hitch, though.”

“You’ve really polished your tricks and schemes, Yuuta-kun ♪”

Yuuta: “I mean, the whole problem was that it wasn’t going well, though. I even had to use you as my last resort.”

Hinata: “Your last resort?! Aw, c’mon, bro! You don’t have to put me in reserve like that!”

“Onii-chan will always give everything he’s got to grand your wishes! I’d get up early a million times over!”

Yuuta: “That’s exactly why you’re my last resort. If I ask you for something, you’ll go way overboard.”

“Anyway, thanks for your help. I really appreciate it, Aniki ♪”

Hinata: “......”

Yuuta: “...What? Why’d you suddenly get all quiet?”

Hinata: “I feel like it’s been so long since you thanked me so sweetly!”

“C’mon, do it again Yuuta-kun! One more time! So I can get a voice recording of it!”

Yuuta: “Well anyway, I’m don’t need you anymore, Aniki, so you can go to work. Good luck~”

Hinata: “You’re so cold! The temp difference is gonna get me sick...!”

Yuuta: “So there you have it, folks: Aoi Yuuta’s wake-up-joy-buzzer prank!”

A few days later. In the common room, watching the prank show

Kaoru: Ahaha! You two totally fell for Yuuta-kun’s prank~

It went over really well with everyone in the studio, too.

Yuuta: I’m glad to hear it. Honestly, it was a real pain getting everything set up.

Especially figuring out how to stab the VP in the back without cluing him in. I was worried.

Kaoru: Saegusa-kun had such a smug look on his face right up until you revealed everything.

That feeling of being knocked down a peg is comedy you can’t get from normal pranks, for sure.

Ibara: ...I really was outwitted.

Rinne: For realsies. Yuta screwed us both over big time, huh, Viper-kun?

Ibara: I’d rather you not put your arm around me like we’re friends of any sort. I merely got cocksure and let myself be careless as a result.

In the future, I’ll turn down variety show appearances unless they offer particularly favorable conditions, even if it’s tedious to do so.

Rinne: What’s up, Snakey-boy? Sulking ‘cause Yuta gotcha good?

Ibara: ...To begin with, you are forcing me to watch this variety show that I have no desire to watch.

Kaoru: Aw, I guess it’s no fun when you were the one on the receiving end of things.

Yuuta: They’re also airing the prank the VP pulled on me, so I’m calling it even.

Honestly, I’m pretty sure the only reason my prank worked was because you two underestimated me so badly.

Ibara: I was handling yours and Amagi-shi’s pranks only in my spare time, after all.

Rinne: I just assumed you lost your fighting spirit a while ago.

I mean c’mon, you wanted to team up with me? The Yuta I know would never agree to do that.

Yuuta: Hmph. If I broke so easily, I’d never survive in the idol industry.

...That’s not true. I did get demotivated for a minute there.

Rinne: Ohh? So was there some top-of-the-line counselor who put you back together so quickly?

Yuuta: Yep. I decided to try again after talking to Hakaze-senpai.

Kaoru: Huh? Me? Did I even say anything particularly motivating?

Yuuta: You know, it was what you said about me being scary when I get down to business.

Kaoru: Oh yeah, I did say something like that. Was that seriously the trigger, though?

Yuuta: It’s the VP and Rinne-senpai. If I was going to mess around with them, I couldn’t pull any punches.

I had to use all my cards... If I didn’t take this challenge seriously, I would’ve failed.

So I decided to swallow my pride and everything else, and I asked Aniki for some help.

I used everything at my disposal to cement Aoi Yuuta’s track record.

Kaoru: Huh, I get it. Well, if I helped give you the push you needed, then I’ll consider that an honor.

Yuuta: Of course, all this still proves that I’m still inexperienced working on my own, which pisses me off.

Ibara: ...Hm. Inexperienced, you say?

As someone who was outmaneuvered by one so “inexperienced” as you, I would prefer you be more cocky about your accomplishment.

I was careless, but I still pride myself on my ability to easily manipulate to my advantage most situations I find myself in.

Even without you informing me about Amagi-shi’s prank, I could have handled myself.

Rinne: Really now? You telling the truth? Or are you just being a sore loser?

Ibara: Think whatever you like. Regardless, it’s true that I was entirely outwitted by Yuuta-kun.

I commend you. You showed me just how capable Aoi Yuuta of 2wink is.

I’ll ask that you continue using your abilities in the service of CosPro.

Yuuta: Ehehe, it’s kind of embarrassing to hear you tell me that, VP.

But if you feel that way, then keep sending me some good gigs, okay? ♪

Ibara: Of course. I’ll engage you in plenty of work worthy of your skill... ♪