IDOLISH7 PART 5 CHAPTER 7

[shionstear]

IDOLiSH7 PART 5

Chapter 7 - Box of secrets

7.1. Three separate consultations

In Riku’s room.

Riku:

You want… us to meet?

Tenn, on phone:

Yes.

Riku:

Me and you?

Tenn:

Yes… Do you think we’ll stand out?

Riku:

We won’t! Uhm… I’m off this Friday.

Tenn:

I think we will. Friday, huh… I’m a bit worried about meeting in public, so what if we meet at Ryū’s?

Riku:

In Tsunashi-san’s apartment? Isn’t that where TRIGGER is currently living? I can go?

Cut to Tenn.

Tenn:

Sure. I’ll tell the other two to leav— What? Can’t you see I’m on the phone?

…sorry. Gimme a moment.

Riku:

Okay.

Cut to Tsumugi’s room.

Tsumugi:

This Friday…

Gaku, on phone:

Yeah. …are you busy then?

Tsumugi:

No, I happen to have nothing planned then.

Gaku:

I’m glad. I’ll come get you then.

Tsumugi:

You don’t need to, I have a car too. Where should I head to…?

Gaku:

Let’s see… We might stand out in public, so what about Ryū’s place?

Tsumugi:

Isn’t that where TRIGGER is living right now…?

Cut to Gaku.

Gaku:

Yeah. I’ll have the other two leav— Oh wait a sec.

Tsumugi:

Alright.

Gaku:

…what, no, I made the arrangement first… I was first, okay!?

Cut to Nagi’s room.

Nagi:

About Haruki…? And you said it had something to do with your work?

Ryū, on phone:

Exactly… But I can’t tell you more right now…

Nagi:

…

Ryū:

I want to know more about Sakura-san, but I felt like it might be rude not to ask you, since you were the closest to him.

Yet I realise this is a very selfish wish of mine. It hasn’t even been that long since he passed away.

So if you don’t want to, then…

Nagi:

I accept.

Ryū:

…you sure?

Nagi:

Yes. Because you don’t know Haruki.

My group members know him. So whenever I think of him or want to talk about him…

We can’t yet… fully face our feelings. We get sad and feel shaken.

But it’s not like I want to remain silent. Therefore I will talk to you.

Ryū:

…thank you.

Nagi:

And I’m also curious to find out how Haruki relates to your work. OK, when shall we meet?

Ryū:

Hmm… What about meeting at my place this Frida—wah!? What’s up with you two!?

Nagi:

WHAT?

Ryū:

Uhm, uhh… it seems… we can’t do it this Friday here.

Nagi:

Are aliens coming to abduct you? UFO sound effects.

Ryū:

…is that the cry of aliens?

Nagi:

It’s a UFO. UFO sound effects

Cut to Ryū.

Ryū:

Ah… I’m sorry, can we meet in your dormitory instead?

Nagi:

OK. May I ask you something as well?

Ryū:

Of course!

Nagi:

Is it about Haruki’s posthumous song?

Ryū:

…

I can’t say it isn’t related at all.

Nagi:

…understood. I’ll be waiting then.

Cut to Riku’s room.

Tenn:

…sorry for making you wait. It’s okay, I won. You can come.

Riku:

Are you sure…?

Tenn:

Don’t worry.

Riku:

It… kinda feels like a dream. To be invited over by you, Tenn-nii.

Tenn:

We’re not gonna play around. I have something I wanna talk about.

Riku:

That’s fine too! I’ve been so tired today, so promising to meet each other is almost making me cry.

Tenn:

…are you okay? Aren’t you overworking yourself?

Riku:

I’m fine. Haha… We just keep repeating the same things.

Are you fine? Yes, I’m fine… We just say the same again and again. How weird.

Tenn:

Haha… you’re right.

Riku:

… Thank you for calling me, Tenn-nii. I’m looking forward to Friday.

Tenn:

Good night, Riku. Be well.

Riku:

Good night.

Phone call ends.

Riku:

…to think he’d wanna see me…

Cut to Gaku.

Gaku:

…sorry for making you wait. We can’t meet here anymore, my bad.

Tsumugi:

No, don’t mention it! Where else should we meet up then…?

Oh I know! There is a very nice soba shop near our office. What about there…?

Gaku:

Uhhh… that might be… difficult. It’s not like I hate soba, but, uhh, you see, things happened and I… was banned from entering.

Tsumugi:

Banned…

Gaku:

Since we have no office right now, maybe we could borrow your conference room or a practice room or something?

Tsumugi:

A practice room… if it’s Friday night then there should be no problem!

Gaku:

Then I’ll go there. Thanks.

Cut to Tsumugi’s room.

Tsumugi:

Okay. I’ll be awaiting you here then!

Gaku:

Night.

Tsumugi:

Good night.

Phone call ends.

Tsumugi:

I wonder what he wants to talk about…

Cut to Riku’s room.

Riku:

I wonder what he wants to talk about…

…I should’ve asked him what their new musical is called…

 

7.2. Our today

Outside.

Banri:

Well done, Sougo-kun! Since Tamaki-kun’s learning for tests you’re all on your own this week, are you okay?

Sougo:

I am. I hope Tamaki-kun won’t have any supplementary exams this time.

Banri:

I agree. He’s been losing focus more often recently, I wonder if he’s tired from the filming.

Sougo:

…

Banri:

Do you have any ideas? Though it might be somewhat early, we still have time to get dinner somewhere and talk?

Sougo:

Uhm, no, I… Is it okay if I tell you right now?

Banri:

Me? …eh, is this about me? Did I do something?

Sougo:

He told me that he overheard you talking to the president. About…

Moving out from the dorm…

Banri:

…ah!

So Tamaki-kun was there. Nothing’s set in stone yet, we just discussed the possibility of it happening someday.

Sougo:

…but that still means we will have to move at some point, right?

Banri:

Yes. For your own security too.

Sougo:

Will we be split up to live on our own then?

Banri:

…

Sougo:

Banri-san…

Banri:

That depends on everyone’s opinions. Of course, we won’t force you to do that.

And we would want the minors to live somewhere near the office.

But we thought it might become more and more difficult the more of you become adults.

Right now you’re all like one big family, but with time you might want to treasure your time alone and your privacy more.

You too mentioned how you’d like a place to focus and compose, right?

Sougo:

That’s…

Banri:

That’s not something bad. Even Yamato-kun and Mitsuki-kun have started to treat their alone time with more care.

Sougo:

…

Banri:

If you moved and lived together as seven, your fans could find out and it’d become difficult to live there again.

We discussed that it might be a good idea to have the ones over twenty become more independent too…

Sougo:

…I believe Iori-kun would want to live with Mitsuki-san if he left the dorm.

Banri:

That might happen, yes.

Sougo:

And because Riku’s parents’ home is nearby, he might want to just move back there. Then Tamaki-kun and Nagi-kun would be…

Banri:

This is all future talk, Sougo-kun. Nothing’s decided yet. We’ll get the chance to talk about it with everyone.

Sougo:

Okay…

Banri:

Uhm… I’m sure it’s a burden on you and Tamaki-kun if you’re the only ones that know about this.

Let’s talk to the others about this too. Ensure them that the decision is still far away.

Sougo:

…you want to tell everyone?

Banri:

Don’t you feel bad being the only ones that know?

Sougo:

I… do. But…

Banri:

Don’t worry. You understand each other like a family; I love everyone from IDOLiSH7.

And you two from MEZZO” are like brothers, I love you too. So I absolutely won’t do anything bad to you.

Sougo:

…understood. Thank you very much.

Cut to Sougo doing radio broadcast.

Sougo:

Good evening! This is MEZZO”’s Long Hit Album!

I am MEZZO”’s Osaka Sougo. Uhm, Tamaki-kun couldn’t appear tonight…

Sougo, thinking:

I’m sure Banri-san only said to tell everyone out of consideration for Tamaki-kun and me.

It would feel kinda off if we two were the only ones to know about the moving idea.

But when he told me he’d talk to everyone, I felt anxious all of a sudden.

If they’d know that there’s a possibility of us breaking apart a bit in the near future…

That idea of us living apart, which we had never even thought about that before, would come crashing into our minds

I wonder how we will change our shape.

Cut to night sky.

Sougo, thinking:

Before I knew it, I convinced myself that we wouldn’t change.

Even though we became “us” by constantly changing ever since the day we met.

Cut back to the studio.

Sougo:

…a request from an anonymous listener. Zero’s “Dis one.”.

‘Good evening Sougo-san, Tamaki-san. Re:vale’s “Dis one.” has been doing numbers lately, but I also love Zero’s “Dis one.”.’

‘I like the song because it lets me fantasise about what kind of person Zero was…’

‘...about whether he was trying to cling to the world or whether he was trying to abandon it.’

‘I passed by my past self, of yesterday– Dis one. Step past it, overcome it! And make it anew– This one.’

‘I don’t know where Zero went to, but I’m looking forward to finding out where MEZZO” is heading towards.’

‘PS: That doesn’t mean I want MEZZO” to disappear! Lol’



… Haha… The place we’re heading towards… Hmm, I see…

Sougo, thinking:

Will I be able to stay here if we continue like this?

Sougo:

Let’s see. I want to challenge myself and grow as a person. Alongside Tamaki-kun and the others.

Sougo, thinking:

Even though we might not be together anymore someday.

Sougo:

Well then, it seems we’ve run out of time already. Thank you very much for hanging out with us again. See you next week, everyone!

 

7.3. Face to face

In Otoharu’s office.

Tsumugi:

You’re going to tell everyone about moving out of the dorm?

Otoharu:

It seems Tamaki-kun overheard our conversation and told Sougo-kun about it.

I don’t want to force them to remain silent, so even though it’s a bit earlier than planned, I think we should tell them.

Tsumugi:

That’s true, but… I’m a bit worried. …that it’s too soon…

Banri:

I agree… I did imagine that Tamaki-kun and Riku-kun might feel lonely about it, but…

Sougo-kun looked lost too, more than I was expecting… and he seemed quite serious too.

The majority of IDOLiSH7 are kids with complex feelings, so their bond as a family is strong.

That’s why I thought it’d be no problem if they were to live separately, but maybe the opposite could happen too.

They might feel anxious that the end of them living together equals the end of them being family…

Otoharu:

This is merely a security issue. If they so wish, I don’t mind arranging for another dorm where all seven of them can be together again.

Banri:

But what if not all of them wish for that? I don’t mean to say that they’re on bad terms with each other.

Some might hope for a moderate distance. So they don’t cling to each other too much…

Otoharu:

Is that you talking from experience?

Banri:

Eh?

Otoharu:

Because of the incident with Yuki-kun, don’t you think you’re inclined to instructively suggest a moderate distance with other people?

Banri:

Eh, do you think so…? I believe that’s a pretty general way of thinking…

Otoharu:

Oh Banri-kun, you say that’s common, but you didn’t really live a common life, did you?

Banri:

You think so!? …but Yamato-kun and Mitsuki-kun are growing up more and more with each passing day.

Their twenties are such a vital point in life for them, if they’re together with the younger members they can’t help but look after them.

What do you think, Tsumugi-san?

Tsumugi:

So, to summarise, you don’t want to forcefully end their cohabitation…

But by suggesting they continue living together, we might put a burden on some of them, correct?

Banri:

Yes. To be their best selves around each other, they want to take some privacy sometimes.

Tsumugi:

It’s difficult, isn’t it…? We might not get a clearer idea unless we ask them directly…

Otoharu:

Hmm… What about interviewing them one by one?

Tsumugi:

Face to face?

Otoharu:

Yes. Just me, you, Banri-kun and one of them.

They’ve won Black or White twice, their work is doing well too. They’ve also each started working on projects outside of IDOLiSH7.

They’re all busy but looking at their schedules I think we can do it.

Tsumugi:

Talking to everyone on their own… I’m a bit nervous, but I think it’s a good idea.

I’ll go talk to them to find days that work for them.

Otoharu:

Thanks.

Cut to another room.

Riku:

An interview with the president and managers!? Like in school with the teachers?

Tsumugi:

Something like that! We’d like to talk to you about what the future holds.

Nagi:

Not just with you, manager? Then we could also go on a date afterwards…

Tsumugi:

I’m sorry, the president and Banri-san would come along.

Sougo:

…interviews, huh… Sounds large-scale.

Tsumugi, thinking:

Since he knows about the moving, he’s trying to react carefully…

Tamaki-san seems calm too…

Tamaki:

We’re doing them one by one? I don’t wanna be first.

Mitsuki:

Why not? It’s not like you’ll get jabbed.

Tamaki:

‘Cause then I can ask the others about the questions.

Tsumugi:

There won’t be any difficult questions. If necessary, you can also tell us what you’d like to talk about beforehand.

Tamaki:

I don’t really care…

Yamato:

No need to be nervous! Thought I get you. I was always nervous before a part time job interview.

Iori:

I’m probably the first, right? I’m used to it, so I don’t particularly mind.

Riku:

Since there’s a one in your name you always get to be first!

Iori:

Your name is associated with something too, so please keep drawing luck towards yourself.

Tsumugi:

No, this time we’ll arrange the interviews depending on everyone’s schedules.

So we’re not going by name order.

Iori:

Oh, I see.

Tsumugi:

Now then, Riku-san. If you’re free on Friday, we could move your day off to another one…

Riku:

Ah… I had something planned for Friday.

Tsumugi:

Understood, then I’ll ask you again about it another time.

Mitsuki:

Sure! Thanks! Fufu, I’m kinda getting excited. I wonder what we’ll be talking about.

Yamato:

Haha, my bet is on salary assessment.

Riku:

Feel like when we auditioned, I’m getting nervous.

Nagi:

It’s very nostalgic! I wonder if we’ll have to sing and dance this time too?

Tsumugi:

No need to sing this time.

Sougo:

…

Tamaki:

…

Iori:

Manager, do you have some spare time right now?

Tsumugi:

Ah, yes. Well then everyone, looking forward to it.

Cut to practice room.

Iori:

Team MEZZO” seemed somehow off, did something happen?

Tsumugi:

That is… something we’ll talk about during your interview.

Iori:

Why? You’ve always shared information about IDOLiSH7 with me so far, right?

No worries. Whatever it is, I won't feel troubled. You know that, don’t you?

Tsumugi:

…

Iori:

Please tell me about it.

Tsumugi:

Please let me share the information with everyone the same way this time.

Iori:

I can’t agree with just that. Can’t you tell me the reason why?

Tsumugi:

…telling you the reason would be telling you what it’s about, so I cannot say it.

Iori:

I thought we trusted each other more, that we had another relationship besides manager and member.

If there might be trouble concerning MEZZO”, I want you to tell me beforehand. If it’s now we might be able to stop it.

Tsumugi:

Iori-san. I am truthfully thankful that you’ve been supporting me in producing and managing IDOLiSH7.

But I think it’s about time to tell the president and others about it.

We should talk about it during the interview.

Iori:

Hang on. Don’t just change the subject.

There might be people that won’t think lightly of it, if they found out that the youngest member was having a say in all of that.

Didn’t you agree to not tell anyone about it?

If you tell the others, even though it was just a verbal promise, it’d be the same as a breach of contract. And it will affect our trust in each other.

Tsumugi:

I won’t just tell them about it. Once I’ve gotten your Okay, I think we should tell them…

Iori:

I will not give my Okay. I refuse.

Tsumugi:

…back then, IDOLiSH7 had just been established.

I thought the others might oppose the idea of you producing them as well.

But after all this time, I don’t believe anyone would act like that. They will surely accept it.

Iori:

That’s not true.

Tsumugi:

…let’s say you have someone in mind that would be opposed to the idea, who would it be?

Iori:

…

Tsumugi:

Please be honest. You were the one who said we are supposed to trust each other, right?

Iori:

You’re not playing fair…

Tsumugi:

I’m sorry.

Iori:

…my brother.

 

7.4. Unopened lid

Tsumugi:

Mitsuki-san?

Iori:

Nii-san has a complex concerning me.

Tsumugi, thinking:

I’m surprised… He’s saying that without hesitation.

For Iori-san this is nothing more than an analysis. Neither sarcasm nor pity. I wonder if that’s why he can say it so calmly.

But he doesn’t want Mitsuki-san to hate him… His conflict and confusion are very age-appropriate.

Iori:

I think Nii-san is a wonderful person, but he has an inferiority complex towards me.

He’s caught in a contradiction of approving of my skills but not wanting any help from me.

Tsumugi:

A contradiction…?

Iori:

Usually, if someone skilled would offer their help and the end result would be beneficial for them, they’d accept that help, right?

There are only merits. But because of his complex he refused my help.

…and this isn’t a deduction on my part. Some time ago he actually told me about it himself.

Tsumugi:

What did he say…?

Iori:

I was reprimanded when I gave him advice after he continued to fail auditions.

He said that he will fight with his own power. That I shouldn’t concern myself with him, that he’ll do things his way.

I was… bewildered. I just wanted to save Nii-san, I saw something he didn’t.

Objectively, the answer is easy. The world consists of simple needs. They’re there in business, friendship and possibly love as well.

If people don’t want me there’s no reason for me to keep pushing myself to sell.

Whether we look for and approach people that demand me or we make people who don't demand me want me, both work out.

Tsumugi:

In other words, if they want to accept you for who you are, we need to advertise your true self?

Iori:

Yes. …wait, what is with that impertinent expression? Are you going to lecture me?

Tsumugi:

That’s not my intention, but you said we need to advertise the real Iori-san, yes…?

Iori:

That has nothing to do with my relationship to my brother. I already failed once when trying to make him sell.

That is why I’ve been doing this while hiding behind you as a facade.

It’s the same with fraud. When it’s found out people get mad. They might even start to hate you.

If that happened, could you take responsibility for it? If handled badly, IDOLiSH7 might disband.

Tsumugi:

…but we can’t keep doing this all the time, can we?

Iori:

Hah…

…remember when I left with Nii-san after he and Nikaidou-san fought…?

Tsumugi:

…yes.

Iori:

He apologised to me. Saying ‘sorry, even though you were thinking of me and giving me advice’...

Tsumugi:

…! Where’s the problem then!? He might forgive you even if he knew!

Iori:

Wait! You’re so impatient and jump to conclusions…! What if it was only that time!?

Tsumugi:

What do you mean?

Iori:

It might’ve just happened in the heat of the moment. Once on shore, we pray no more. …if we told him now, he might get angry.

Because it doesn’t change the fact that I’ve been hiding it from him.

Tsumugi:

…but…

Iori:

Manager, look at my eyes.

Tsumugi:

Y-yes.

Iori:

This is IDOLiSH7’s Pandora’s Box. It’s a prohibited box that must never be opened, ever since the day we made it a secret.

If it is opened, every conceivable calamity will fall upon IDOLiSH7. We will be disrupted by a myriad of thunderbolts.

To avoid tragedy, to protect IDOLiSH7, we should carry this to our graves, okay?

Tsumugi:

I… I still think we should tell them…

Iori:

This is all from me. I won’t ask about MEZZO” anymore for the time being, but if it gets worse, I would like you to tell me beforehand.

Are we clear, Tsumugi-san?

Tsumugi:

Wai—

Door closes.

Tsumugi:

…it seems he doesn’t want Mitsuki-san to know…

…but I have to do something… about both Iori-san and the dorm situation. Before trouble appears…

Because it was the both of us that made IDOLiSH7 into what they are today…

Cut to dorm.

Voice coming from TV:

And this is the very popular idol group ŹOOĻ! We have a special report about the drama they’ll be starring in soon, “BLAST”!

Iori:

…

Iori, thinking:

ŹOOĻ’s popularity is stable… They resemble TRIGGER at their prime, but…

They’re a younger, newer group than us and our fanbase overlaps to some degree.

They’re a cocky, charismatic, and antisocial idol group. But recently they seemed to have mellowed out a bit.

But I’m not worried. With the win at Black or White we have definitely pulled ahead of them.

And there is also “Backyard MAGIC”.

Sound of page flipping.

Iori:

…it was worth borrowing the written proposal and script from Nii-san.

If Nii-san is the MC and the style is a documentary, most of their attention will probably fall onto us.

…I was expecting Momo-san to be the MC, but maybe he’s been avoided due to the recent gossip.

So, as a matter of fact, Japan’s top idols are IDOLiSH7…

Mitsuki:

Oh, Iori. You’re already reading the “Backyard MAGIC” scripts?

Iori:

Ah, yes. I’m borrowing them.

Mitsuki:

Are they fun?

Iori:

Yes, quite. The progress and plans are light and gentle, but there’s also an air of social awareness.

Mitsuki:

Ohh, you got that? They said that’s what they were going for.

To make it something you can watch with your family. A serious variety show. Without too much comedy, but also not coming off as a lecture.

Iori:

It seems it’ll be a show that carefully follows idols, their work and those involved with them.

I think that it might make people, who had only witnessed idols on TV, want to go and see them live.

Mitsuki:

I see! That’d be nice!

Iori:

Yes.

Mitsuki:

Oh yeah, speaking of which, Iori.

Iori:

Yes?

Mitsuki:

You really like this stuff, don’t you? Like planning and producing. Are you interested in it?

Iori:

…

Mitsuki:

You’re smart after all. Give it five more years and you might be able to produce other idol groups, right?

Iori:

… Tha—

Mitsuki:

Ahaha! Did I go too far? Is this what they call a brother’s bias?

Iori:

…

Mitsuki:

Iori?

Iori:

Ah… No… Yes… You’re right…

Mitsuki:

Ahaha, you’re right, he says.

Iori:

It’s because I hadn’t thought about that before… I have no plans of doing that right now.

Mitsuki:

Fufu, I know.

Iori:

…

Nii-san…

Mitsuki:

Hm?

Iori:

…

…can I keep the scripts for a bit longer?

Mitsuki:

Oh, sure! I’ll go take a bath then, leave it on the table once you’re done!

Iori:

Understood.

Mitsuki:

See ya!

Door closes.

Iori:

…

…should I have told him?

…I couldn’t…

The truth…

 

To be continued…