Prologue

Chiaki: Excuse me!

Jin: Oh. What’s up, Morisawa? You get hurt again?

I’ve told you before not to shout in the nurse’s office. Your voice is so loud that it would overwhelm a kid with a weak heart and kill them.

Chiaki: Oh, sorry! I’ll be more careful! Thanks for all you do... ☆

Eichi: Ahaha. How rare it is to see you humble yourself, Chiaki.

Jin: Yeah. I was on a tokusatsu show a loooooong time ago, so maybe he thinks I’m some kinda hero and admires me ‘cause of that.^[1]

Eichi: Hmmm, that’s quite the misfortune.

Chiaki: Ohhh, Tenshouin, I finally found you! I’ve been looking for you everywhere! I heard you were in the nurse’s office, so I came running over... ☆

That is to say, I’m not actually hurt this time! So don’t worry, Sagami-sensei!

I’ve been taking good care of myself ever since I got sick the other day!^[2]

Jin: Yeah seriously, stop yelling. I’m hungover as shit, and my head’s pounding.

Chiaki: Huh? Drinking alcohol is bad for you, Sagami-sensei! You should never drink or smoke!

Jin: Nah, it’s fine. I’m not an idol anymore, so it’s not like I need to worry about how people perceive me.

You bright and cheery youngsters just don’t know what it’s like to be a middle-aged man who can’t sleep without a good-night drink.

Eichi: Even if you aren’t an idol, Sagami-sensei, you are still a teacher. The idea that sake is the best medicine is nothing more than superstition; it’s a shoddy excuse.^[3]

Jin: Urgh, why am I under fire from my adorable little students...?

What did I do to deserve this, anyway? Hey, new girl. C’mere for a sec.

I have a staff meeting soon, so I’m letting you take care of this.

If any of those brats try any funny business, you use this paper fan to give ‘em the what for.

Chiaki: Oh, the transfer student! What’s the matter? Why are you here? Did you get sick? Don’t tell me you caught my cold from the other day?!

Eichi: That’s not it. I collapsed in front of her, so she lent me her shoulder and brought me here.

I had thought she was scared of me, but at least she seems unwilling to watch me die.

Chiaki: Really? That was really nice of you! Here, let me praise you. Good girl ♪

Hey, Tenshouin. If you’re ever in a bind, just call for help. I’ll always be there for you ☆

Eichi: I have a principle against owing debts to anyone. I intend to repay the transfer student properly once this is over, too...

In any case, Chiaki, you said you were looking for me? What could you possibly want from me?

Chiaki: Right! I wanted to know how that proposal I submitted a few days ago was coming along.

I’ll need a reply as soon as possible; it’s a pretty tight schedule, so we’ve already started practicing for it!

Eichi: Oh... that proposal was unfortunately rejected.

Chiaki: Why?!?!

It’s an expanded version of the hero shows Ryuseitai is always putting on at the park!

We’ve been wanting to move onto the amusement park stage so that we can show all the little kids what we can do! Isn’t that great?! What’s wrong with it???

Eichi: Chiaki. Take a deep breath and remember what your role is currently.

Chiaki: Of course! I’m Yumenosaki Academy’s ally of justice, the burning heart, Morisawa Chiaki! The sun of vitality burning bright red: Ryusei Red... ☆^[4]

Eichi: Yes, that’s correct. You are an idol. As in, you are neither a tokusatsu actor nor a stunt man.

I know that Ryuseitai is a unit that themes itself around heroes.

However, you are still just idols, not bona fide superheroes. You are idols who look and act like heroes; you understand this, yes?

Chiaki: Uh? Well yeah, I’m a hero who’s also an idol at the same time!

Eichi: ...I suppose I should be frank with you. The student council and the school cannot pay for you to play heroes.

We cannot fund it or recognize it as an official Dream Fest.

If you really want to do it, you’ll need to host it as an unofficial Dream Fest—a B1.

The student council will not approve of it, and we won’t be able to allocate manpower or funds for publicity and preparation.

A B1 is subject to strict censure by the student council. I’m willing to overlook it, out of a sense of fellowship as your classmate.

However, I cannot provide any further assistance. I’m sorry.

Chiaki: Y–you can’t do that! We won’t get paid for this job until after it’s done, and there’s no way we can fund a whole live show with just the money Ryuseitai has on hand!

We need the support of the student council, no matter what!

Please, Tenshouin! We’ve been putting in honest effort up to now, and we finally got this breakthrough!

It’s a mission we absolutely need to clear, for the sake of Ryuseitai’s future!

Eichi: Yes, but regardless...

The fact that Ryuseitai’s funding has been deleted is your own fault, isn’t it? Because you keep taking jobs that don’t bring in any money.

If you want to be a leader, then you need to manage your unit with your financial situation in mind at all times.

Being an idol is not an easy job; you can’t accomplish anything with mere ideals and pretty words.

I thought this was something I wouldn’t have to tell you, since you experienced firsthand that hellish War Era between units.^[5]

I suppose I was wrong about that. Perhaps it was dumb luck that you didn’t die?

Chiaki: ......

Eichi: Oh my, that shut you up. I apologize; I didn’t mean to tease you...

However, it seems to me that you all are wasting your time and your talents.

I can’t invest in such foolishness; it’s a waste of money. I’m sorry, but this is the only answer I have for you as things stand.

Chiaki: Why is it no good? My kids were really looking forward to it. It was an opportunity for us to show off our new members!

I’ve do anything, just please give me the backing!

Eichi: I can’t deny that I feel bad about it, but crying isn’t going to help you.

You aren’t the only ones working so hard. If we gave handouts to every single one of you out of pity, our whole organization would collapse.

And anyway, Chiaki... I hate heroes. So much that I could puke.