Crown 1

About an hour later. The curtain rises on the SS Finals. Right before the first round: Valkyrie VS Switch

Shu: It seems we are bound by destiny until the very end, Switch.

To think we would face you again upon the final stage, after the absurd Qualifying Rounds in Tohoku.

If I can be honest, though, I’ve grown tired of seeing your lot all the time. I would have preferred a fresh face this time.

Natsume: Ahaha. If fresh faces are what you wanted, perhaps you should have taken part in the opening performance with members from both the Red and White Teams?

Shu: Hmph. And do what, exactly? Hold hands with everyone and make merry? You’ll forgive me if I have doubts in those who smile and sing shoulder-to-shoulder with the enemy they intend to crush in battle!

Tsumugi: But it would have been fun~ Anyone was allowed to participate if they wanted, but I guess you were busy making preparations for the first round, right?

Shu: Hmph. I couldn’t nearly concentrate because of the unbearable noise you lot were making.

Sora: Haha~ ♪ That was all part of the plan!

Tsumugi: Yes. The Red Ream plans to win by any means necessary. And we were picked as your opponents because our chances of winning were high.

While we were all getting ready for the Finals, they broadcast the most impressive performances from the Qualifying Rounds on repeat.

At this point, the audience is probably bored of seeing Switch and Valkyrie go head to head.

Natsume: Valkyrie nonetheless has a considerable and enthusiastic fan base who will vote in your favor without second thought.

I rather worried you would have let them save up all their votes until the final stage to flood the systems.

Combine that with the what you would obtain from the more undecided voters, and Valkyrie would accumulate a mass of votes—enough to win the showdown.

Tsumugi: And by the time the show ended, everyone would be bored watching all of the more traditional performances, so they would have been even more amenable to the unique allure of Valkyrie’s stage.

Natsume: Unfortunately, we have no intention of giving the White Team a victory. The Red Team will win this competition without even a single loss.

Shu: Kakaka. How bold of you. Do you believe you can beat us in a direct confrontation? Switch, of all units?

Mika: Ahaha. We did get jerked around by ‘em in the Qualifiers, though ♪

But still, y’all aren’t usually so go-getter about things. Not really your thing, right? Like there’s always somethin’ more important than winnin’ and losin’.

We’re the same way, so I understand what that’s all about, but still...?

Natsume: How shameless. You can’t expect us to believe this show of ignorance.

Mika: ...?

Natsume: We’ve recently received a notice that concerns our Red Team’s commanding unit: fine’s very own Himemiya Tori-kun has been kidnapped.

The sender is the commanding unit of the White Team: Eden.

This news was politely delivered to the Red Team via a card with a photo attached. Naturally, we are in an outrage at such a despicable crime.

The “red” of the Red Team is symbolized by the flaming crimson of the lotus. It is an angry, fiery red.

Natsume: W̉͞eͪ͜ i̹͜ntͥe͒ͮnd t͚̰o̤̽́ bu̹̱r̜̀n̹̎ yọ̢̔u͕̝ t́o t̠͔͌h̥̼̔e̡̙ bo̶͍͖nͧeͣ͛ͨ w̤͟i͇̺tͫ͘hi̜̝ͧn ṫͬ̈́h̩o͙̠s̪e̯͋ f̍l͐́aͣm̡̃ẻͪs̢̗̳ an͉͎ͥd̢̦ͭ tǘ̢͓r̦̹̽n̝̎ͩ t̡̹he enti̮̳ͭr̜̂e͎̒ͦ Wh̤́it̷͐ͦe͘ T̿e̩͘aͥm̺ t̡o̕ pṳͯre̸ w͋̃h͉ͨ̚i̜țĕ̳̕ as͉̞̄hẽ̒s̡̻̍!^[1]

Mika: Huh—now hang on. Whatcha sayin’ about kidnappings? And Tori-kun...? We ain’t heard nothin’ about that!

Shu: Wh–what do you mean? What is Tenshouin scheming? To leave such a lovely child defenseless and expose him to such suffering...!

No, this must be Tenshouin’s plan! It couldn’t be more obvious! It’s yet another ploy to make us into villains so as to curry favor with the audience!

Mika: Ngah, pipe down, Oshi-san! There’s already guests in the hall—someone’s gon’ hear us!

Tsumugi: He’s right ♪ People have been asked to turn off their phones inside the venue, but they can always go outside during intermissions to post on social media.

And I doubt everyone here will be willing to adhere to the etiquette guidelines.

Shu: Absurd! Idols are meant to set the standard—if there are people who are breaking the rules, it must be that one among us took the initiative first!

Natsume: Ahaha. You’re an admirable person, Shu-nii-san. Who has ever said that idols ought to be role models for mankind?

It’s just that we’re in a business of popularity: if we step out of line, we’ll see ourselves at a disadvantage.

Now those idols who have sold themselves as spotless and pure have committed such a disgusting crime as kidnapping—

If rumor gets out, it would be a massive blow to your faction, the White Team.

By the time the truth comes to light and the facts are publicized, the year will be over ♪

Shu: The way you speak of this... It’s true: this was your own devising, wasn’t it? No pitiable child has been kidnapped, has he?!

Natsume: Nn... I’m rather suspicious about that, too. There was indeed a letter sent to use in the name of Ran Nagisa of Eden, from the White Team’s commanding *unit.

However, if such a thing were posted on social media, reputations would be at stake. It would affect not only the SS Finals today, but his futures as an idol, too.*

Tsumugi: Yes. Nagisa-kun does have a tendency to act in fairly offbeat ways, but he’s a smart boy. He wouldn’t do something this senseless.

I feel like it’s a plot created by someone to discredit Nagisa-kun and Eden as a whole. For the first time in a long time, I’m genuinely angry about something.

Sora: Hihi~ ♪ Yes! This is the first time Sora has seen you burn so bright, Senpai!

Natsume: You could stand to show your emotions like this more often...

In any case, what is true is that we received a card, and that no one has been able to find Tori-kun as of yet.

You two probably didn’t realize, but he was the only member in fine missing from the opening lineup, as well.

...So there is a distinct possibility that he has been abducted.

As such, we must consider all possibilities and do whatever is needed. We cannot afford to mess around.

We will put all our effort into this so that we have no regrets. I don’t believe we can afford a friendly competition the way we could during the Qualifying Rounds—Valkyrie.

Mika: ......

Shu: (What is the meaning of this? What on earth is happening? Damn you, Ran Nagisa—this is why I shall never place my trust in someone from the fine of old!)

(Have none of you matured from those days of war, where you trampled over us with your cruel schemes?!)