Melancholy and Compassion 1

Shinobu: Whoa... the cheering from everyone is like an earth-quaking roar. ‘Tis making my whole body shake, too! Gyah, I’m so nervous...!

Tetora: Hey Sengoku-kun, when you’re nervous try rolling your shoulders. It gets your blood flowing and clears your head.

Shinobu: Ah, just as one would expect from thee, Tetora-kun! Thou art so dependable, that thou canst stay calm in the face of this!

Tetora: Ossu. No point freaking out about it now, right?

Also, I heard Taishou brought his little sister to cheer us on, so I can’t let her see me looking all pathetic.

C’mon Midori-kun... hurry up and get changed.

Midori: S–sorry... it’s dark and claustrophobic in here, I can barely move. I’m having trouble getting out of it...

Shinobu: I shall give thee a hand. I am short, so I can move around with considerable agility.

Midori: Fwah... wow, that’s awsome... the air feels so nice. I was sweating like a dog in that costume... Does anyone have a towel or something...?

Tetora: We don’t have time to sit around, though. The props are gonna start moving as soon as the next song begins.

And then we’re getting sent flying up onto stage.

We only have time to take off the costumes and throw them somewhere out of the way.

Midori: R–right... sorry for moving so slow... We practiced so much, but I’m still holding you guys back on stage...

I keep bumping into people and almost tripping and stuff... so I–I’m sorry...

Shinobu: Nooo, our senpais have provided perfect coverage for us. Until now, we have been playing the role of kaijin and kaiju.

As a result, everyone’s focus was on the heroes. ‘Tis somewhat disappointing, but we didn’t stand out at all.

But now we will get to be heroes, as well, so we mustn’t lose heart.

Tetora: Yeah, this is like our big comeback, right Midori-kun? Let’s do this thing ♪

Midori: Yeah... it’s just that this part’s so complex...

There’s a little recess behind the stage between the screens... We’re hiding out here for a minute...

But once the props start moving, we’re gonna get launched into the air...

It’s pretty flashy—I mean, the production scale for this thing is insane... When did they even have time to pull this together...?

Tetora: Apparently it’s actually been part of the amusement park’s stage set from the start.

I guess the reason we’ve been practicing all those stunt moves was so we could use this machinery for the show.

But we only got to practice with the machines a few times... so we’re still a bit shaky. I just hope no one gets hurt.

Shinobu: Nihihi. ‘Twould be embarrassing if I made a mistake on the landing and went splat.

Tetora: Don’t worry. If that happens, I’ll be there to help you up. And if I end up falling, I hope you guys will help me, too.

Shinobu: Ahaha, saying that is rather “Ryuseitai”-like of thee.

Midori: ......

Shinobu: Midori-kun? What’s wrong? Thou hast seemed quite down today. Now that I think about it, thou didst mention something bad happening...?

What was it?

Midori: Mm... I can’t talk about it now. I’ll tell you later when there’s a chance...

Tetora: You’re being kinda distant, Midori-kun. If you’re worrying about something, you should tell us.

We’re friends, aren’t we?

Well, I guess I am the one who kept saying stuff about wanting to join Akatsuki instead and how Ryuseitai is like playing make-believe.

So I guess I can’t really pull the friend card now.

Sorry, guys. I’ve been a huge jerk up to now, haven’t I?

You’ve all been working so hard at this Ryuseitai stuff, and all I did was complain. I really suck.

But I’ve started thinking I wanna try harder at being part of Ryuseitai, too.

I know it comes off like I’m way too late to the party, but... please, put your lives in my hands.

Let me fight... believing that I’m Ryuseitai, too.

Midori: Why do you need permission for that...? Have you been thinking about this the whole time, Nagumo-kun...?

That’s surprising, actually... I thought you were more the type of guy who didn’t brood over things...

Tetora: I’m kind of a sissy, honestly. But I want to be a man among men.^[1]

Shinobu: Thou wilt get there, Tetora-kun. It may be hard now, but someday for sure. Perhaps thou canst not do it alone, but thou has friends with you.

...I, too, will become a great ninja someday.

Midori: All of you have something they want to be... I’m kinda jealous of that... I just kinda floated around until I ended up here...

I don’t know what I want to be, or if I could even achieve that...

They only let me into Yumenosaki ‘cause I supposedly have idol potential...

And Morisawa-senpai is the one who asked if I wanted to be a hero and invited me into Ryuseitai...

I don’t have a clue if I can be an idol or a hero, but I absolutely hate being a total nobody...

So I wanna try the best I can, too...

Tetora: Hehe ♪ And Supernova is our first step! We’ll go at it with all we’ve got, and if we fall, we’ll do it feet first!

Shinobu: Aye! ‘Tis only natural for us boys to aspire to rule the world we were born into!

Midori: Ahaha... well, I’ll just try not to get left in the dust... ♪

Tetora: Oh! The next song’s starting already. And the set’s moving! C’mon, brace for impact! This is our time to shine!

Shinobu: I feel a rush of excitement! Ah, it’s like I’m a knight about to charge into battle—or rather, a ninja about to charge into battle?!^[2]

Midori: Why’d you change it...? I’ve ended up becoming friends with some serious weirdos... ♪

Shinobu: Mhm. Allow me to keep tempo~ I’m used to timing things of this sort from my work with the broadcasting committee!

One! Two! Three! Four!

Go! Ryuseitai, here we come... ☆