Intersection of Pranks 4

Ibara: Well, well! It looks like everyone is here!

Shinobu: Good day, Saegusa-dono. I look forward to working with thee.

Arashi: Fufu, I’m looking forward to it, too. This is a pretty eclectic sort of group, isn’t it?

Kuro: For real. It don’t really feel too cohesive or anything. I guess it’s just a taste testing, so they just pulled a buncha guys together with nothing better to do.

Ibara: I cannot let that comment slide. Time is money, after all, so I have no time to waste.

Kuro: Whoa, my bad. Guess I shouldn’t’ve said “nothing.” This is work, too.

Ibara: Yes, it is. We can’t sell anything that would hurt the agency’s reputation.

Arashi: Ufufu, are you excited to see what kinds of drinks they’ll pull out? You are, too, right Shinobu-chan?

Shinobu: A–aye, that I am! I am quite curious!

(...Get it together, Sengoku Shinobu! If I’m going to be a proper ninja, I have to ensure Yuuta-kun’s prank succeeds!)

Yuuta: “Oof. I hope Shinobu-kun will be okay. He looks pretty nervous.”

“Oh, is the camera already rolling? I’m Aoi Yuuta, the mastermind behind this prank ♪”

“This drink taste testing... is actually a prank I put together.”

“Shiina-senpai from Crazy:B tipped me off that they were cooking up an image drink for each agency at Café Cinnamon.”

“So I took advantage of it!”

“I’d like to thank the manager at Café Cinnamon for cooperating with me! Thank you very much!”

“Now, let me explain the prank to the viewers at home~”

“My target is CosPro’s vice president: Saegusa-senpai!”

“The café is still developing the drinks, but the one they’re serving StarPro is actually a super spicy drink made specifically for me.”

“It’s so spicy, in fact, that even someone who loves spicy food like me feels like my mouth is going to catch on fire. So when the VP drinks it, it’s sure to be even worse...”

“Of course, the only one who doesn’t know about this is the VP himself. Shinobu-kun, Kiryuu-senpai, and Narukami-senpai are all in on the prank.”

“To tell the truth, I actually wanted to get the VP to drink it myself, but since only one idol from each agency gets to go, I reluctantly accepted my role in the shadows.”

“Aaaanyway, Shinobu-kun and the others will get the VP to drink StarPro’s super spicy drink.”

“And while he’s writhing in agony from the drink, I’ll jump out from a different room and reveal my prank ☆”

“I wonder what kind of reaction VP Saegusa will give us! Stay tuned to find out!”

“Now, let’s watch the scene unfurl together. How’s it going...?”

Niki: Sorry to keep you! I’ve got all the agency-themed drinks~

Arashi: Ooh, they’re so stylish ♪ Which one’s the NewDi drink?

Niki: Here you go. We wanted opinions from the idols at each agency when we made the drinks.

Kuro: Is this RhythLink’s? The colors ain’t as flashy as the others, so it kinda looks more mature...

Niki: Right on the money, Kiryuu-kun. Man, it feels great when people just get what you’re going for~ ♪

Ibara: Hm. Then by process of elimination, this must be CosPro’s drink. I would imagine the bright, lively drink is more suited to StarPro’s image.

Shinobu: Ahaha. Just looking at the colors giveth me more energy. It looks delicious ♪

(...Phew, that’s good. Saegusa-dono doesn’t seem to suspect anything.)

Niki: Okie dokie, then I’ll let you guys have at it ♪

Arashi: Thanks for pulling this all together, Shiina-senpai.

The StarPro and CosPro drinks look super yummy, too. Let me try them later, okay?

Ibara: Of course, I don’t mind. I ought to taste the drinks from the other agencies, as well, so that I may properly convey the qualities of CosPro’s drink.

Kuro: ‘Kay, then let’s give ‘em a go.

Shinobu: Ah—wait one moment, please!

Kuro: What’s up, Sengoku? You need a straw or somethin’?

Shinobu: No, that’s not it. I was only wondering if perhaps we should swap drinks and try each other’s first.

Ibara: Why would we do that? We should try our own agencies’ drinks first.

Kuro: Yeah, it just makes sense to start with your own agency.

Shinobu: (Huh? I thought thou wert my ally, Kiryuu-kun! This isn’t the plan!)

Arashi: I don’t mind doing it that way. Like, if you try your own drink first, you’ll obviously want to say it’s the best one.

So I guess we could avoid bias by commenting on each other’s drinks first.

Shinobu: Y–yes, that is exactly what I was thinking! Which is why I suggested it.

Kuro: Oh, huh. Well, I don’t care either way. Don’t make much of a difference what order it goes in.

Shinobu: (Okay, things are looking up! Now I shall have Saegusa-dono try StarPro’s drink...)

Ibara: No, I disagree with this. It’s better that we try our own drinks first.

Shinobu: ...Huh?

Ibara: And once we’ve tasted all of the drinks, we can taste ours again and then comment on them. It would allow us to give a more accurate review

Arashi: Hmm, I get it. Once we know what everyone else’s is like, we can understand the appeal of our own even better.

Ibara: In addition, if there is by chance a problem with CosPro’s drink, we can avoid having another agency’s representative suffer any ill effects from it.

It’s simply more beneficial that we provide commentary after we’ve made sure the drinks are delicious. Is that all right?

Arashi: Yeah, makes sense. If NewDi’s drink sucks, I wouldn’t want anyone else drinking it.

Kuro: Sure. It’s a prototype, so it’s possible it could be bad. We gotta be our own taste testers.

Shinobu: (Wh–what are ye doing, Narukami-dono, Kiryuu-dono?!)

(If they drink their own drinks, then I will have no choice but to drink StarPro’s super spicy drink...!)

Ibara: Oh? What’s wrong, Sengoku-shi? You haven’t even taken a sip of yours yet...

We must ensure that we have time for the interview, so we shouldn’t linger here too long.

Shinobu: R–right! I shall just have to drink this, then...

(I can only resolve myself for what is to come. This is the fate of a ninja who has failed in his duties...)

Th–then... I, Sengoku Shinobu shall partake!

Mm... glug glug...

Guh—?!

Arashi: Shinobu-chan?! Hey, what’s wrong? Come on, wake up!

Kuro: Yo, his eyes are rolling to the back of his head! You okay, Sengoku? What’d that drink do to you?

Ibara: ...I thought so.

Kuro: Huh? Was it some kinda trick?

Ibara: How about you show yourself, Yuuta-kun? I know you’re watching us.

Yuuta: ...S–say my name and I shall appear, tah-dahhh ♪

Just kidding. Ah, hahaha...

Arashi: Yuuta-chan?! Wait, what’s that sign you’re holding...?

Kuro: Prank: Huge Success...? So if Sengoku’s passed out, then...

Yuuta: No way! I wasn’t trying to set Shinobu-kun up for a prank...

Ibara: I was your target, I presume? In that case, I reversed our positions and used your tricks against you.

I suppose it would be more appropriate for me to hold that sign, then. “Reverse Prank: Huge Success,” shall we say, Yuuta-kun?

Yuuta: Gh...

Ibara: This is what happens when you strike at the wrong person. Next time, I hope you’ll more carefully assess your opponent’s strength and choose your prey wisely. Ahaha ♪