Crown 2

Hinata: Hey, did you hear that just now?

Yuuta: ......

Hinata: They said Hime-kun got kidnapped! You think they were being for real? Or is this some kinda strategy to throw us off our game?

Have you heard anything about it from Ran-senpai, Yuuta-kun? Since you’re roommates.

Yuuta: —I don’t care either way.

Focus on the performance.

Hinata: ......

Yuuta: ...Obviously that was a joke. But we really do need to focus.

I know Hime-kun is your friend at school, and if he’s gotten involved in some crime, of course I’d want to help him out.

I mean, if Ran-senpai really did kidnap him, I wouldn’t want to fight alongside him anymore. Worse comes to worst, we could even boycott the show.

...But it probably doesn’t make a difference to anyone whether we perform or not.

Hinata: Hey, don’t say that! We’re strong! How else could we have beat out everyone else in Chuugoku and made it to the finals?^[1]

Yuuta: Because we played dirty. ...Maybe we don’t have the right to criticize anyone else, then.

Hinata: Ohhh, c’mon! You’ve been so depressed since the Qualifiers, bro! It’s done, the die has been cast—all we can do now is stand and fight.

Yuuta: Yeah, I guess it’s too late to say sorry. The only thing that’d come of that is them telling us we shouldn’t have done it in the first place.

We already crossed the line, so I guess fighting is all that’s left for us, like you said.

Weren’t you the one who didn’t want to be a “bad kid,” though? That’s what I thought, at least. Did you have a change of heart?

But if you’re trying to distort yourself for my sake again, I’ll seriously kill you this time.

Hinata: Ough. Man, this sucks... Why does everything have to be so tense all the time? Hinata-kun just wanted to have some fun.

Yuuta: So did Yuuta-kun, you know. But the world didn’t let us have that, so now we have no choice but to bite back.

Hinata: I mean, I think pretty much anyone would have let us have it, actually. What are you so upset about, Yuuta-kun?

Yuuta: I’m just sick and tired of people who try to shut angry children up by giving them money or toys.

Rinne: Gyahaha ☆ I heard a thing or two about it, but man is it nice to see it fermenting from up close—2wink!

Yuuta: ......

Hinata: Whoa, why’re you hiding behind me, Yuuta-kun? When’d you get all shy?

Rinne: Aww, Yuta, a senpai who took such good care of you came to say hi, and you’re gonna ignore him? This is why everyone hates you, yanno.

Yuuta: Says ES enemy number one...

Hinata: Um, did you need something, Rinne-senpai? You’re not going up on stage yet, right?

The oracle told us that we should be the White Team reps for the next performance...?

Rinne: Yup. You’re pretty damn lucky they didn’t make you the opening act this time, right?

Make sure you give some love to Valkyrie for firing the first shot. They got to be the fall guys instead, so you oughta thank ‘em!

Yuuta: ......

Rinne: ‘Course, tryna follow such a flawless performance as Valkyrie’s—any old unit’s gonna look bad in comparison.

So anyone going up second will be pit against them and, well, the judgment is prolly gonna be harsh.

So they’d be a smart cookie to send up a throwaway unit.

Yuuta: ...What are you saying?

Rinne: You don’t get it? You’re the sacrifice, 2wink! Our commanding unit knew from the start they were giving up round two!

Hinata: I... don’t trust that. The oracle says we actually have a chance going after Valkyrie, since they have a totally unique style and we’re more typical idols.

Red or White Team doesn’t matter—just like people crave salt after gorging themselves on candy, the audience will want something more traditional.

That’s what everyone’s watching these idol competition shows for, right?

So that’s what they were waiting for, and that’s what we’re giving them. And so we should get lots of votes—

Rinne: Yeah, you got the right idea there.

But lemme ask you this, 2wink: are you guys really traditional idols? With your synced-up twin thing as your main selling point?

That’s the opposite of traditional, I’d say. You belong more in a circus with how how eccentric you guys are.

Yuuta: Are you trying to pick a fight with us?

Rinne: Oh, did I make you mad ‘cause I nailed ya right on the head? How cute! Gyahaha ☆

I’m just tryna give you some advice here. If you trust that oracle, you’ll be played like a fiddle.

I thought you might not even realize it, since you’ve been jerked around by big, bad grown-ups your whole lives—

jp proofing: mia