Melancholy and Compassion 3

Midori: (Oh... that’s right, we did practice this... even though it was a pain in the ass and exhausting and it made no sense and it was so hard I wanted to run away...)

(But for some reason, I hate the idea of having wasted all that time...)

(So that’s it... That’s what Shinkai-senpai meant about seeing yourself from above, right...?)

(I’m part of Ryuseitai, too. And that makes me a shooting star, which means I can see things from high up.)^[1]

(Mm... yeah, I feel a lot calmer now...)

(Looking down from up here, everything seems so tiny... The audience is like a bunch of vegetables, no different from potatoes or eggplants or something...)

(They can’t hurt me... They aren’t scary, so I don’t have to be afraid of them...)

(I took a wrong turn and ended up going in a weird direction...)

(I veered away from the kind of happiness you can find anywhere, like what my classmate from middle school has...)

(And here I am now, right in the middle between the warmth of the sun and the sea, washed in people’s cheering and attention.)

(I feel like it can’t really compare, but I wonder if maybe I am just as happy as he is, or even happier... I can’t tell yet...)

Kanata: fufufu. do you Know someone out there midori?

you should wave your Hand back at them. they will be very happy i am sure ♪

Midori: Oh, sure... um... heyyy, it’s Takamine...?

(Whoa, he waved back with so much enthusiasm... and it looks like he’s bragging about something to his girlfriend...)

(Maybe he’s boasting about being my classmate or something...?)

(Ahaha... he looks so surprised. Honestly, me too... What am I even doing here...?)

(I don’t really get it... but I guess I’m doing pretty well for myself, and I’m happy, too... ♪)

Chiaki: “Yes! And this one here is Takamine Midori! He’s a real gentle giant! The limitless growth of nature, the green flame is the symbol of love! Ryusei Green, Takamine Midori... ☆”

“And here’s the full lineup! All five of us together make up Ryuseitai...! Please keep an eye on us from now on, everyone!”

“For all you long-time fans of the idols at Yumenosaki Academy...”

“The moms and dads of all the little ones out here might just know this.”

“But Ryuseitai is actually the oldest unit at the school.”

“They say it was the first unit ever born from Yumenosaki.”

“As the eras passed and the structure of the school evolved, the meaning of the word ‘unit’ has shifted.”

“There was even a time when it was used as nothing more than a tool for rivalries.”

“But even during that period of upheaval, Ryuseitai kept going.”

“They kept fighting, flying a banner of justice, even though they were worn down and exhausted, reduced to just a husk of their former selves.”

“It’s been a while since we’ve had a full team of five members assembled, like it was in the beginning.”

“What did those pioneers think when they created Ryuseitai?”

“The reasons and meaning behind their decision have been forgotten to the flow of time... and Ryuseitai was left as an empty shell, retaining only its name.”

“But now, times have changed. It’s not a matter of nostalgia; we want to reclaim the original meaning of Ryuseitai.”

“We want to revive the spirit of justice, along with the name that we’ve inherited.”

“This might not happen in my generation. But maybe the next generation, or the one after that...”

“They’ll fight their way up into the night sky and light up the darkness once again.”

“We’re shooting stars. And that means we make all the prayers and wishes sent to the stars in the night sky come true.”

“So we’ll keep fighting to grant the little wishes. And then we’ll restore the light of justice to this world.”

“Hey kids, do you like heroes? I love them! I think they’re so cool!”

“And why are they cool? Because they’re strong, because they fight for what’s right, and because they protect the peace and all of us, too!”

“We all want to be happy, we all want peace, and we all want to smile...”

“Heroes fight for those simple wishes. They make them come true, and they protect us.”

“They’re our allies. Even when our parents, teachers at school, bullies, and people we hate are all against us...”

“We know that there’s a hero out there we can count on. They’ll always be great people.”

“They’ll face us and validate us and tell us it’s going to be okay. They blow away our worries and get rid of all the evil in the world.”

“They tell us with all the conviction they can muster that it’s okay for us to be here, alive.”

“We all make mistakes and do stupid things, but heroes always make the right choice. They’re the ultimate ideal; how could they not be cool?”

“Evildoers like to exploit justice and take advantage of overwhelming power. We’ve also made countless mistakes and caused problems for people around us.”

“I can’t say that we’ll never make another mistake.”

“So if we ever start straying from the path of justice, just tell us. Set us back on the right path.”

“Teach us what justice means to you, and we’ll protect it with our lives, or at least with all of our might.”

“Maybe you’re wondering what gives us high school idols the right to act so high and mighty.”

Chiaki: “I get looked down a lot for it, but I’m not even a little bit ashamed.”

“As long as there are people in the world who love peace and justice, Ryuseitai will keep fighting.”

“Even if all that remains is our name. That’s how Ryuseitai has survived to this day, after all, right up to this very moment.”

“So whether it’s past, present or future... we’ll keep shining bright next to you—yesterday, today, tomorrow, forever.”

“...Anyway, I’ve talked long enough. Sorry, I just had to say something!”

“I’ve spent so much time hanging my head, unable to even say something so obvious!”

“But that ends today! We’re going to become heroes, the heroes I’ve always loved and admired!”

“With my comrades—no, with these kids who hold the future in their hands!”

“Please support us! We’ll take everything you give us, whether it’s cheering, blessings, curses, or insults, and we’ll transform it all into a radiant light that we can shine before us!”

“The blinding light of a dying star: that’s what a supernova is...!”

“So here’s our Supernova! Our time as superheroes is just getting started... ☆”