Melée 1

Time passes—New Year’s Eve, the day of the SS Finals

Wataru: ♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪

And so it begins! The SS Finals... ☆

What tragicomedy will unfold this year at the largest event of the depraved yet sacred idol industry?

~ ...♪

Keito: ...I feel an upsetting presence from above.

Eichi: Perhaps it’s god looking down on us?

O foolish humans, what inspires your dance? Do you fear the will of god? Fufu ♪

Keito: You’re in a strangely good mood, Eichi. We’re not out of the woods yet, as they say. Now’s the time to gather your wits about you. ^[1]

Eichi: Bravado is cognate to the word “brave,” Keito. Besides, it’s been a while since we’ve fought side by side. It’s got me in good spirits.

Keito: At least try to sound sincere. You’ve always preferred fighting against me instead, haven’t you?

Eichi: I leave that privilege to Sakuma-kun. I’m sure he’s lonely nowadays, since he can’t fight with you as often now that you’re in the same agency.

—In any case, the final rounds of SS begin and end today, December thirty-first.

We have no time to waste, so at the risk of rushing everyone along, I’d like to get down to business. Do you object, leader of Akatsuki?

Hokuto: I do.

Natsume: As if that’s anything new. Setting that aside, who put you in charge—Your Majesty the Emperor?

Eichi: Are you unsatisfied with this, Magician-kun? Then again, it would stand to reason that the leadership of the Red Team ought to go to Hokuto, as he led Trickstar to victory at last year’s SS.

But this outcome was unavoidable. fine was appointed as the commanding unit by the SS Administration Committee.

I’m only trying to dutifully carry out the role given to me.

Natsume: Hmph, and how much did it cost you to get a position like that, I wonder?

Eichi: Your opinion of me is quite low. There are many things in this world that money cannot buy, Sakasaki-kun. For example... hmm... well, I can’t think of any at the moment ♪

And besides, Switch has been advancing through the competition with underhanded means as well, by currying favor with the SS Administration Committee. Am I correct?

Even if there were a relationship between us and the Administration, I don’t quite think you’ve earned the right to censure me as a villain here.

Natsume: Always the glib talker, aren’t you?

And by the way, to our credit, we did not cheat our way into the Finals.

We made use of the Administration to invest in our future and ensure our survival.

In the end, the SSL$ we had in our possession was enough to advance to the Finals.

Keito: You’re making so many excuses for yourselves that it conversely makes it sound like a bunch of lies, Sakasaki.

Natsume: Oh my, are you defending your beloved childhood friend—you heartless former Vice President-san? ♪

Keito: In terms of sympathy, I’m actually more on your side, Sakasaki. I’m just saying that you shouldn’t go around picking fights with whoever you dislike. Peace needs to be kept.

Right now, the Red Team needs to come together and focus on our strategy so that we can win.

Eichi: You’re correct. And for that end, I’ve gathered you all, the leaders of your respective units, here with me.

For the record, I’ve already confirmed that this tour bus isn’t wiretapped, and I have Wataru sitting on the roof to keep watch just in case.

This bus has an angel watching over it. Wataru would never overlook anything suspicious.

Keito: That man is something suspicious.

Hokuto: This doesn’t happen often, but I agree with Hasumi-senpai.

Tomoya: Ahaha, it does make me kinda happy to this sort of drama club reunion, though, even if it is just a coincidence.

Hokuto: Fufu, and Hibiki-senpai is the same as ever, way up in the sky all by himself.

Eichi: (Yes, this is good. I made the correct choice in positioning Wataru on the roof.)

(Because there’s a possibility that his esteemed “Master” might overhear, Sakasaki-kun, as well as Hokuto and Mashiro-kun, will make sure not to do anything unsightly.)

(Then again, compared to all the troublemakers on the White Team, our Red Team is very well-behaved.)

Chiaki: Listen up. I know you guys all have your own thoughts on the matter, but I think Hasumi’s right—we should be a united front for the sake of victory.

I don’t want to shove Ryuseitai’s “one for all, and all for one” mentality down your throats—

But SS is a huge event we—no, all of us can’t afford to waste.

If we spend all our time hating and hurting our brothers in arms, we’ll just end up with a big pile of regrets at the end of this.

Hokuto: ...If Morisawa-senpai insists.

Natsume: You seem to think very highly of our overbearing senpai, Hokke-kun.

Hokuto: He did a lot for me while we worked as Rain-bows. ^[2]

Tomoya: If Hokuto-senpai says so, then I promise Ra*bits will play nice, too. Well, that’s what we were planning on doing, anyway.

Eichi: I’m grateful for that.

Had Nito-kun still been the leader of Ra*bits, I imagine he would have responded, “None of that matters! I hate your guts, Tenshouin!”

Tomoya: ...It’s not like I’m a big fan of yours either, y’know. ^[3]

Hokuto: Did you do something to Tomoya, Tenshouin-senpai? I won’t forgive you if you hurt him!

Eichi: Fufu. Have I ever asked for your forgiveness to begin with, though?