Melée 2

Chiaki: —That’s enough, Tenshouin.

You have a bad habit of stirring the pot; it’s why people misunderstand you all the time.

Eichi: You’re a leading example of others misjudging me, don’t you think?

Chiaki: ...Ryuseitai took up our conviction and devoted ourselves to protecting the oppressed locals during the Qualifying Rounds.

Eventually, we were able to form a united front with Akatsuki, and we made a big comeback—but we didn’t have the confidence that we’d earn enough SSL$ to make it to the Finals.

Keito: Hmph. It’s because none of you were doing anything profitable.

That’s your virtue, though, or rather it’s just as you said: your conviction.

Chiaki: Yeah. But when you look at it from a broader perspective, we had no real trouble getting into the Finals. It makes me wonder if there’s a greater power working behind the scenes.

Someone thought it would be more convenient to them for us to advance in the competition.

Eichi: And you believe that “someone” was me?

Chiaki: I’d be glad if it was. Not that we made it to the Finals, but that I have your friendship, Tenshouin.

That gave us a chance to turn things around. It’s all we’ve wanted since everything that happened this summer.

I don’t like the idea of dancing in the palm of someone’s hand—I’d rather fight open and honestly, with our own merit.

But if we could get back those things precious to us—the results of our effort, our bonds with each other, which both got torn apart for the convenience of a bunch of adults—then it would most likely be through the gains we make in the Finals.

I read that the Finals were structured in a way to let us do that. So I am really grateful to whoever brought us here.

Eichi: Fufu. If you weren’t so clever, Chiaki, you’d be shouting, “Justice prevails!” and calling it a miracle ♪

But you ought to tuck away that agonized expression of yours before the show.

It is lovely to see you floundering in the gap between good and evil, but this isn’t what Ryuseitai’s fans are here for.

Chiaki: ...Yeah, you’re right. Sorry.

Eichi: Besides, you should know there’s only so much I can do when it comes to an event as big as SS.

I’d rather you not think too highly of me, and at the same time not be so suspicious of me, either.

Ryuseitai got to this point fairly.

God is dead. There is no mastermind controlling us from the shadows. You made it here on your own merit.

Of course, it is also thanks to the support of all the fans who love you.

This is the result of a variety of factors which sought you out and drew you to this place.

Amongst countless other idols, you were plucked out and led to the peak of the industry. Long ago, we might have called this destiny.

Destiny. What a convenient word, fufu.

Natsume: Is this really the appropriate time to listen to your boring monologue?

Keito: This is supposed to be a strategy meeting. If we leave things to Eichi, we’ll keep getting sidetracked and we’ll never get anywhere.

Eichi: I seem to recall you being the same way.

Hiiro: ... ♪

Tomoya: Amagi. You’ve been quiet this whole time, are you okay? Do you get carsick? I have something that can help that, so let us know if you’re not feeling well, okay?

Hiiro: I’m fine! I know to ask if I need anything, but I train my body to stay healthy and fit no matter the circumstances!

Tomoya: Huh, okay. I guess I never have seen you get sick before.

Hiiro: Yes! That’s my only redeeming quality! But we have been able to enjoy our idol activities as usual up to now, except for Trickstar’s intrusion in the early stages of the Qualifying Rounds.

I am neither fatigued nor burnt our, so there’s no need to worry about me. I’m fine!

Hokuto: Sorry about all that trouble, by the way.

Eichi: Wow, it’s pretty rare for Hokuto to lower his head so meekly.

Hokuto: ALKALOID didn’t actually do anything wrong here. It seems Kazehaya Tatsumi was trying to mess with us, but I think that was because of his orders.

You guys were just fighting to survive. I understand that feeling; I was the same way before.

Hiiro: Yes! I appreciate you thinking of things that way!

Tomoya: ... ☆ ... ♪

Hiiro: Ouch! Why did you hit me so hard on my shoulder, Mashiro-kun?

Tomoya: Hokuto-senpai is suuuper awesome, right? But don’t you dare fall for him! He’s mine!

Hokuto: The only one I belong to is me, Tomoya.

Tomoya: Did you just reject me?!

Hiiro: Fufu, I think Hidaka-senpai is just saying what he believes. Just like Chiaki-senpai earlier.

Keito: Hmph. The youngsters here are so easygoing and carefree. Ignorance is bliss, hm?

Natsume: I would say you senpais are the weird ones, what with your scheming and troubled looks. Have you forgotten we’re idols? This is a festival; we ought to treat it like a fun adventure ♪

Keito: That’s true. But don’t get too relaxed.

Many of you here have already picked up on it, but this year’s SS isn’t your average, everyday singing competition.

Hokuto: It’s a little late to be saying that. I’m pretty sure everyone’s figured that out after going through the hell of the Qualifiers.

Keito: That’s good—Although it was slightly misrepresented in the promotional program Eichi and them were in, victory at SS will grant the winners a number of benefits.

Most concretely, a massive cash prize.

Eichi: Correct. Even from my perspective, it is a shocking amount of money.

In the Qualifying Rounds, we idols were practically working for free.

We were competing to earn the most SSL$, but that currency only had value during that competition.

And at the end, all of the SSL$ was collected by the Administration.

Hokuto: Well, those were the rules. You can’t exchange the SSL$ for yen or even normal L$—

So once the Qualifiers were over, all that money would be taken back. None of us were in it for the money; we were fighting purely on our worth as idols.

The SSL$ was more like a tool to make that happen.