Crown 8

Hajime: A pleasure to work with you~!

Tomoya: Ahaha. At Yumenosaki, we were together on the stage a lot, since we were both units with pretty much everyone in the same year.

But this is the first time we’re performing together since ES started up.

It’s been a while since we’ve been together like this! I’m glad; Good luck, Hinata, Yuuta! Let’s bring out the best in each other and make this the best performance ever!

Mitsuru: But we aren’t letting you off the hook! The rules say it’s a battle between the Red and White Teams! And competitions are most fun when you follow the rules and go full force!

Nazuna: Obviously, we’re not gonna lose!

Hajime: Yep! We’re growing up, too, just like you two in 2wink!

Tomoya: Ahaha. But things were pretty hectic for a while with Nii~chan leaving and then coming back.

Nazuna: You guys have gotten so mature since then, though! Don’t even worry about it!

It’s not like I wasted all the time I spent in college, either—I’ll make sure I don’t get left behind~ ♪

Hajime: Yes! Let’s do our best, Nii~chan!

Mitsuru: Yup! All together... ☆

Yuuta: (They got us?!?!?!)

(Of course! The most effective unit against use right now would be Ra*bits!)

(They are more or less “traditional” idols, and they match the atmosphere around the second round!)

(And it’ll be hard for us to lean into our anger and stab them, since they’re in a similar situation as us!)

(They’re always having to deal with being told they’re weak and small, too!)

(I sympathize! But they didn’t go wayward like us. They just keep plugging away at it all, so earnestly and admirably!)

(So if we stick a knife in these sweet kids like some kind of stress relief, it’ll look like we’re crazy sore losers!)

Tomoya: Wh–what’s wrong? Your face is kind of, uh, sour...? Are you okay?

Mitsuru: Yeah, yeah! What’s up? I thought 2wink was always in a good mood!

Tomoya: I’m pretty sure you’re talking about yourself, Mitsuru.

Mitsuru: Eh-hem ☆

Nazuna: ...But for a while there, even you were a bit down in the dumps.

Hajime: Oh, did you two hear about that? I wish I could say it was a prank or a joke, but Tori-kun god kidnapped—

Nazuna: Well, you guys are on Ran’s team, so you must have heard something, right? He’s the culprit, after all.

Yuuta: We heard rumors, but... uh, I’m sure all you guys on the Red Team are taking Hime-kun’s (tentative) kidnapping as an out-and-out fact, huh?

Tomoya: That’s because all of our units got a statement from the culprit, with a picture attached.

Hinata: You’re pretty calm then, all things considered~ Or more like, you’re the same as always, Ra*bits.

Tomoya: It’s hard to believe it’s real, honestly. I’m going through the same thing I did when I first heard all that stuff about Gatekeeper.

Hajime: ? What do you mean? We haven’t heard anything.

Tomoya: Oh, it’s just stuff that came up at the strategy meeting with the leaders. It doesn’t have anything to do with you guys, really... It’s fine. Tenshouin-senpai said you’ll be able to figure it all out in the end.

That guy pisses me off, and I really don’t get him at all—but he does what he says he’ll do, at least. He’ll do whatever’s necessary. That much I can trust.

Hibiki-senpai puts all his faith into him, so I have to hope he’s at least man enough to be worthy of it.

Hajime: ...? ...?

Tomoya: Mm. Well, it still doesn’t feel real, but I honestly don’t think it’s too serious, either.

We got the card claiming responsibility for it, but it just mentioned that he was kidnapped. There was no demand for ransom or anything like that.

Nazuna: Yep. We’d definitely be more shaken up if it said we had to intentionally lose the showdown if we ever wanted to see Tori-chin again. But there’s nothing like that at all.

So all we can do now is try our best here. Everyone else on standby may be looking all over the place for Tori-chin—

But we’re on stage right now. We have to act as normal as possible so the kidnapping incident isn’t exposed as some scandal.