Melée 6
At the same time, in the Chubu region—at the SS venue, commonly known as the ES Dome
Ibara: They’re late...!
Nagisa: ......
Ibara: I did tell them when and where the White Team was supposed to meet, did I not? Over and over and over and over again!
So why hasn’t anyone shown up? The SS Finals only lasts a single day, so we can’t waste even a little time!
Of course, I should never have expected Crazy:B or Valkyrie to listen to me from the beginning.
But how is it that even 2wink and Eve aren’t here? They’re always so obedient to us...!
Nagisa: ...Hiyori-kun went into town for sightseeing and shopping, he said.
...I believe he wanted to get a sense of the atmosphere by touring the area.
...That is very important when he plans to perform on stage. At least, it is important to Hiyori-kun.
...Some other units, such as 2wink, have mentioned that they want to “do their own thing.”
...So I think they are preparing for the competition in their own ways.
...But I am uncertain what Crazy:B and Double Face are doing.
Ibara: Well, I suppose this is just within expectations, then!
The moment I saw the list of units competing as the White Team, I knew it would be impossible to take control of them. But still!
Nagisa: ...Yes. I wonder what criteria was used to divide the units. I see that there is a bias, but I don’t understand exactly how it came to be.
Ibara: Hmph. It must be the pro wrestling stratagem the ES management love so much.
Geriatric pieces of... It’s all so old-fashioned. The key players are the face and the heel, a hero and a villain.
Nagisa: ...Hm. That would mean our enemies, the Red Team, have been designated the heroes.
...fine is the commanding unit of the Red Team. Under their banner they have Trickstar, ALKALOID, Ryuseitai, Switch, Ra*bits, and Akatsuki.
...We know their true colors, though; and yet they made Eichi-kun the hero? It gives me an uncomfortable feeling. That said, the general public seems to view him as a good person.
Ibara: Indeed! It’s unbelievable that His Eminence Eichi insists on wearing a star-studded mask and the rest of the world still doesn’t realize it! I can only admire it!
Nagisa: ...Hm. I feel as if we have been sorted into “good” and “bad” based on how the Administration sees us, rather than the public.
...The Administration, in this case not the Watchdog but rather the rest of the P Association—the management at ES—seems to be controlling this.
...So they’ve put the ones they found convenient on the Red Team.
Ibara: And our Eden is a problem for them, then?
Nagisa: ...The one creating that image for us is you, Ibara. We come off as the final boss of a game.
...In the eyes of adults, good children are those who never act unpredictably—those who are easily controlled.
...Or at least, those they believe are easily controlled.
Ibara: Well, when you put it that way, the lineup for the Red Team makes perfect sense.
I don’t have the first idea why they would think Trickstar is easy to control, though.
Nagisa: ...They have a sparkling and cheerful image. I think this is normal, to prevent much deviation in fighting prowess.
Ibara: I see. And because Eden, the runner-ups from last year, are commanding the White Team—
They had no choice but to put Trickstar, the previous winners and our equals, on the Red Team.
Hmph. But if it’s a simple matter of skill, I think we dominate them completely.
Nagisa: ...That may be true, but we still lost to them at SS.
...Official records state that Trickstar’s ability surpasses our own.
Ibara: Well, it’s just that they have this explosive power that I can’t begin to understand... They’re a nuisance if you make enemies of them.
On the other hand, our White Team is full of people who are even more of a nuisance than our enemies.
Nagisa: ...That’s true. Eden is the commanding unit for the White Team.
And under our banner we have Crazy:B, Valkyrie, UNDEAD, Knights, Double Face, and 2wink.
Ibara: Ahaha ☆ It’s a lineup that makes you feel lightheaded, almost! I can’t help but laugh!
It’s nothing but units who have skill in spades, but are completely impossible to manage!
I can’t tell if the Administration knew this beforehand, but they’ve somehow grouped every single one of the most inconvenient, uncontrollable units together into the White Team!
Nagisa: ...From that perspective, 2wink being included feels somewhat out of place.
...They have a certain darkness within them, but I am under the impression that they’re much more well behaved in the public’s eye.
Ibara: Mm... Nowadays they’ve become more docile, but it seems that in the past at Yumenosaki they got up to all sorts of mischief with UNDEAD and Trickstar.
Perhaps to the higher-ups, they come off as problem children who cause problems.
Nagisa: ...Compared to Ra*bits, there’s no question about that.
Ibara: Yes. If you put those two units side by side and ask which are the good kids and which are the bad, ten out of ten respondents will give the same answer.
Nagisa: ...Yet you like the bad kids of 2wink better, Ibara.
Ibara: I also like Ra*bits because of Jimenyan~ As far as the fans know, at least.
As a manager, though, it’s difficult to find contexts to utilize them in.
In that sense, oh, if only everyone on the White Team were placed entirely under out control—
If only I could move them exactly as I see fit! I can’t help but grind my teeth!
We had the opportunity to form the most sinister, most threatening “army of evil” the world has ever seen!
Nagisa: ...In American comic books, those villainous organizations succumb to self-destruction and internal decay.
Ibara: I’m already afraid that’s what will happen! What am I supposed to do about such egoistic people...?!
I feel like somehow Anzu-san would be able to get them under control, though!
Ohh, how irritating! I hate that I’m not as good a producer as she is!