star gazer 4

Mao: Ahaha. After we went through all the trouble of bringing back the game club members to prevent it from being disbanded...

They just turned the club into a shady hangout spot instead.

Makoto: Yeah. I got uncomfortable, so I dropped out... So it wasn’t your fault at all, Isara-kun.

I never really see anything through.

Or maybe I’m just not good at being part of a group. Like I can’t get into anyone’s inner circle...

Well, obviously it’d be impossible for me to fall in with a group of delinquents.

But now I’m not part of any club. I’m just drifting, basically.

Hokuto: Hm. It seems we’re a whole group of outsiders, then.

Makoto: Not entirely. Isara-kun is in the student council, remember?

I’m the loner here! It’s been so long since I’ve actually talked so anyone, I’m actually getting all worked up from this~ ♪

Hokuto: Uh, are you going to be okay like that? Can you perform in the live?

Never mind. We don’t have much time left, so let’s rehearse as much as we can. Climb up on the stage, you two.

Mao: Sure thing. Coming up~ ♪

Here, Yuuki, lemme give you a hand.

Makoto: Oh, thanks. Whoa, the lights are so bright from the stage ♪

Subaru: Yeah! They’re so bright and sparkling ☆

Ahaha. Maybe it’s just my imagination, but I feel like they’re even brighter and sparklier since you guys got here.

Two is better than one, yeah? And so a whole group is better than two!

Like how you can shine a bunch of lights on the same spot and it gets brighter! Ahahahaha ☆

Hokuto: Quit laughing. We’re going to have to practice up until the last minute, Akehoshi. It shouldn’t be too difficult, though, since we’re only performing the songs we’ve learned in class.

But since it’s the first time we’ll be singing together, we need to make some effort here.

We’ll do whatever we can and leave the rest up to destiny—the results of our efforts will follow.

That’s what I believe.

Let’s give this everything we’ve got. We’ll make sure our ensemble echoes across the world.

Wataru: ......

Natsume: Excuse me, Master~ ♪

Wataru: ...Oh. Hello, Natsume-kun. You’re as adorable as ever today.

Natsume: I resent that remark. Anyway, am I all right to bother you? I wouldn’t want to interrupt your rehearsal.

Wataru: Of course. Come over here and climb up in my lap ♪^[1]

Natsume: You, or should I say all of you Oddball nii-sans, keep treating me like a baby, or like a little kitten...

I would rather you stop doing that.

Not that I particularly mind, but you have a performance today. I wouldn’t want to hurt you by sitting on your lap... so I will decline.

I’ll just sit on a chair.

Wataru: What a shame. Anyhow, Natsume-kun, the Venus Cup is today. Do you intent to participate?

The best students in the first year are selected to perform in a live, are they not?

Natsume: Mm... I of course qualified for it, and I was offered the position. But I declined because I thought it would be a waste of my time and effort.

Wataru: How so?

Natsume: It’s only Rei-nii-san’s conjecture, but he says the Venus Cup is hosted merely for first years to obtain the achievement of performing live.

Students of all years are being given a chance to participate in something without discrimination.

It’s common practice in politics to throw a bone to the weak as a sort of relief measure; this performance is just a ploy to garner public support.

The budget is minimal, with no money allocated for publicity at all.

As such, there will be few attendees, so there is little point in participating.

I’m just as much an Oddball as the rest of you; I have no intention of taking part in such an insignificant live.

I want to stand on a brighter, flashier stage, one with more meaning.

Wataru: Ahaha. Every stage has value if there is but one person in your audience.

Hasten not after glory, Natsume-kun. You are our younger, and thus you are at an earlier stage in your life.

You will face only an uphill battle in your effort to match us.

Natsume: I understand that. ...It seems that there has been something evil brewing around the student council lately.

I declined my invitation to the Venus Cup because I didn’t want anyone to exploit me.

Wataru: Fufufu. It is in your difficult nature to think far too much and fall into a trap of your own design.

You are too clever to think so hard; you ought to let yourself act on your impulses more often.

No matter the age... it is always the innocent children and the unthinking fools who bring innovation into the world.