Crown 11

Yuzuru: There’s no need to lash out at me. The cause of your string of defeats is surely those oracles—

So why did you not advise everyone not to follow their instructions?

Ibara: I did tell them! Repeatedly!

Nevertheless, the White Team is full of such uncontrollable people that I did not even know where they were until immediately before the performance. Once I finally tracked them down, I tried to persuade them, but they simply refuse to listen!

Yuzuru: Hm. I suppose it is more convenient to them to simply follow the oracle’s instructions.

To give an impressive performance at a nationally televised event as the SS Finals would surely garner them plenty of new fans.

And should they lose, they only need to use the oracle as an excuse to absolve themselves.

Ibara: It’s not an excuse, it’s a fact! As their commanding unit, Eden is entirely responsible for what happens!

It’s going to ruin our reputations! I don’t care what happens to anyone else, but we should be trying to avoid that, at least!

Yuzuru: You should be, you mean. Well, does it really matter so much? You already have a spectacular record as last year’s runner-ups.

Would it be so bad to let other idols wear the crown this time?

Ibara: It wouldn’t, were it not that the crown was being plucked right off of my head! Actively so!

Yuzuru: Hmm... however, this only gets more and more confusing. What is the purpose of Ran Nagisa-sama acting in such a mysterious way?

I find it hard to believe it’s simply to cause chaos.

Ibara: I’m afraid there’s always the possibility that he’s gone clinically insane!

Supposedly, His Excellency discovered something at the ruins of a temple during the Qualifying Rounds, but he’s keeping it close to his chest—^[1]

Since then, though, his behaviors have been strange. He’s unfocused when I speak to him, and he goes off and does whatever he wants without listening to my instructions anymore.

Yuzuru: What do you mean by “something?”

Ibara: If I knew, we wouldn’t be in this mess to begin with! His Excellency locked himself away in that temple for a considerable length of time, and then he disposed of all the evidence!

He did mention something about “that Akehoshi’s” diary, but it’s all hearsay from His Excellency in the end... to be honest, I can’t confirm anything.

The plot of land where the temple was has since been cleared away, and the documents His Excellency must have engaged with have vanished.

I can say as much that I have no idea where it is. I swear it’s the truth.

Yuzuru: Hm. You have the tendency to put on a front around me, and yet here you are exposing your own incompetence. I suppose I’ll take this as the truth.

Under normal circumstances, you might say something like “I have everything right where I want it!”

Ibara: ......

Yuzuru: ...Well, no matter. You say you know nothing, so I’ll look elsewhere. I have no intention to stop until my master is returned to me safely.

Fortunately, there is still time. Round three, four, five, and...

Our commanding units will clash in the final showdown, on a special stage so as to bring the Finals to a close.

Until that time, I may move about freely. Next, I will capture Ran Nagisa-sama or Tomoe Hiyori-sama—whichever—and extract the truth.

Ibara: I can offer my help, if you’ll let me? I want to know the truth as much as you!

Yuzuru: If you bring harm upon your own, you risk losing the place you’ve worked so hard to obtain.

I was unable to give you a place to return home to, so at the very least I will not rob you of the one you found yourself.

Ibara: ...How kind of you. That part of you hasn’t changed, instructor.

Out of consideration for our bond, let me offer you some advice: do not be too reckless, despite how important your master is to you.

This situation is not one that can be resolved with one-on-one violence.

The industry—rather, the entire world and all its history are baring their fangs. If you reach too carelessly into the darkness, you will lose your life.

Yuzuru: Even so, throughout this very history people have done whatever they possibly could in any given situation they found themselves in.

I would like to do the same. Even if I am but dancing in the palm of someone else’s hand, I will work sincerely, desperately, as one single human being can.

Ibara: ...I feel the same way, Yuzuru.^[2]