IDOLiSH7 PART 4 CHAPTER 18

[shionstear]

IDOLiSH7 PART 4

Chapter 18 – Sprout

18.1. Desolation and determination

Night, on a street.

Woman:

Ahhh! A TRIGGER countdown concert!

Woman:

I definitely wanna go! I want to welcome the New Year together with them! And it’ll even be streamed for free!

I feel like Tenn-kun would count down in English, while Gaku-san does it in Japanese!

Woman:

Watching the Black or White and watching that concert! How busy! As expected of December!!

Woman:

Re:vale didn’t announce anything for a long time, but it seems they’ll perform at Black or White, so I’m relieved!!

Woman:

Their rooftop concert was so cool! It was great seeing them so happy!

Woman:

And IDOLiSH7 is super popular right now too, right!? Riku-kun’s and Iori-kun’s drama seems about to start, I can’t wait for it…!

Woman:

I wonder if ŹOOĻ isn’t doing any drama!? They were in lots of weird variety shows lately, but I want them to be in something cool…

Woman:

Well JIMA is coming, Black or White too, there’ll be lots of Christmas specials as well; the end of the year is always so exciting!

Ah, right. Will you visit “YAOTOME Fes.” this year?

Woman:

Nope! TRIGGER isn’t there! And there’s a rumour that that agency chased TRIGGER away.

Woman:

Yes, and there was one with a young songstress too. I wonder if Gaku-san went independent because he has a father like that…

Woman:

I know right… Yaotome Agency was always cold to their fans, so they kinda deserve this!

Woman:

Yeah! I like the current TRIGGER! I feel like my hand can reach them now! If I went to a concert, Ryūnosuke-san would be just there!

Woman:

Eh!? Then you can touch him!

Woman:

Yes! …ah…

…it started snowing…

Cut to in front of Zero Arena.

Minami:

…snow… It’s the first time we’re seeing any in Japan this year, isn’t it?

Torao:

You’re right…

Touma:

…

Haruka:

…

Touma:

…why did we do something like that…?

Haruka:

…we thought it was our right to. I thought, if I didn’t get to sing any more then you shouldn’t get to sing either.

Even though grandma told me… …that if you do something bad to others it will come back at you…

Even though I was told…

Torao:

…

Let’s say I was the only one that did it.

Minami:

…what are you saying, Midou-san…

Torao:

If I testify confidently, I can trick them. That way you guys can continue. You won’t have to disband.

Touma:

Don’t be stupid!

Torao:

What do you mean stupid? I’m here just by chance. It’s not like I’m an idol because I want to.

You guys wanted to be idols, to make music, right? Then keep doing it.

Even if I stop, I can have it easy at home. It’ll work out. I have the leeway, unlike you guys.

Okay, I’ll go talk to Ryo-san.

Haruka:

Wait!

Torao:

…

Haruka:

Don’t lie! So you can’t even say the truth at a time like this!?

Torao:

What do you mean, the truth?

Haruka:

Say that you’d be lonely if we disbanded! Say that you want to keep doing it with us! Don’t act all cool and put on airs…!

Torao:

It’s not like …

Haruka:

It is like! Understand it, you idiot…! Because you don’t say it, it got to this! Don’t play dumb! Say it…!

Minami:

…Isumi-san…

Torao:

…

…it is lonely…

Haruka:

…see…!

Torao:

It’s lonely and I regret it! Because it was fun being with you guys! …but it can’t be helped…

It’s something I did… I was the one who cared least about the consequences. Go fulfil your dreams.

Touma:

…we’re the same. It’s not like I want to leave someone behind like a lizard that doesn’t need its tail.

I said it when they talked about the JIMA and Black or White results being set in stone already. I don’t want a prize won by unjust means. That’s why…

Let’s talk about what we did before JIMA. About everything.

Torao:

…

Touma:

And if that results in us being driven out of the business world than that’s only natural. We did something that could’ve easily led to TRIGGER disbanding.

Let’s do what we have to… And afterwards, once again, let’s try and sing.

Torao:

Touma…

Haruka:

But what if Ryo-san crushes the plan? If it’s not live it can be edited out, if we say it in a live broadcast we’ll cause trouble for others.

Touma:

Let’s talk to the journalist we met at Red Fes. He said he’d write only the truth. He’s someone with the guts to oppose TSUKUMO.

Are you okay with that too, Mina? We’d end up dragging you into it too though…

Minami:

Please do. I’ve always been looking for people that would drag me into things until the end.

Also, if Isumi-san hadn’t said anything before I was ready to throw a manhole cover at Midou-san.

Torao:

Don’t say scary things…

Minami:

Don’t exclude me. Please don’t show me your back and leave me behind after showing me how to have fun.

Just trick me by force, like you did with the false fortune telling.

Torao:

So you noticed, huh?

Touma:

Fortune telling? When we decided to go to Noth Meir?

Torao:

Yeah. You counted down honestly, but I knew there were no clouds.

Touma:

How unfair…!

Minami:

I knew as well.

Touma:

Then why did we even do that?

Haruka:

We needed an excuse. You know, like, fate or a ritual or something.

We tried moving forward on our own but got hurt, so our feet got used to not moving. So we needed an excuse to make us move by force.

But now we more or less got to the point of telling each other what we really think, didn’t we?

We need you, Minami. Let’s get covered in wounds together. And then make a song about our wounded selves.

And then, even if we end up hating it or become scared of moving forward, we’ll just show them our trembling middle fingers.

Minami:

…

Thank you very much, Isumi-san.

Torao:

Want me to tell you too?

Touma:

I will too! Uhm…

Minami:

My, the big brothers got serious now too. You got a late start after the youngest member after all.

Haruka:

Hehe!

Woman:

Ahhh…! ŹOOĻ…!

ŹOOĻ:

…

Woman:

Ah, sorry for screaming… Are you here on private business? I am ŹOOĻ’s fan!

Minami:

Thank you very much.

Woman:

…no, I thank you… Ah… I’m happy! This is like a dream…

Haruka:

…what do you like about us?

Woman:

E-eh!? That you’re cool?

Torao:

Our looks huh…?

Woman:

No! Uhm, how do I say it, like how you’d say ‘shut up, I’m good just how I am’…

Touma:

…

Woman:

There was a time where I wasn’t doing well at work and with my family and was really feeling down… But then I heard ŹOOĻ’s songs…

Shut up, I’m me!

ŹOOĻ:

…

Woman:

Saying something like that… That it was okay for someone like me to say that… It felt like I had been saved…

I still can’t really talk back to people now, but… When I listen to ŹOOĻ’s songs I can forget about all the things that I don’t like.

Ah, I’m so glad that ŹOOĻ exists! That’s what I always think!

Haruka:

…

Haruka:

…ugh…

Woman:

Ha-Haruka-kun…?

Haruka:

…I just wanted to hear those words…

Why… did it take such a roundabout way…

Woman:

Haruka-kun…

Touma:

…sorry… Thanks, we’re glad…

Woman:

Yes… Please do your best from now on too! I will always forever support you!

Touma:

… Thank you…

… Thanks…

Woman:

Wh-what happened…? Were you fighting…?

Minami:

…no, we get along. Lately, we’ve actually gotten along better. Even if only a little bit…

Woman:

…please… get along… Even though getting along might not fit ŹOOĻ that much…

Please don’t disband… Please don’t go away… I finally found something in my empty everyday life.

I finally found something I can dream about.

Torao:

…I know how you feel.

It’s late. We’ll accompany you to the station.

Woman:

Eh…!?

Torao:

I don’t have ulterior motives. I just want to do something good right now.

Woman:

…something good…

Torao:

… No, really. I don’t mean that…

Woman:

…I-I don’t mind if you would…

Haruka:

…sniff… See! That’s because your usual behaviour is bad…

Touma:

…to be misunderstood even at a time like this…

Torao:

Shut up…

Minami:

Haha… Having something to retort with a tearful voice, you sure get along well.

…we really do get along better now, don’t we…?

18.2. Conversation

In a practise room.

Gaku:

Good morning.

Staff:

Gaku-kun, you’re early. Looking forward to today as well.

Gaku:

Yes! …hm?

Kaoru:

…and that’s how it is…

Ryūnosuke:

…I wish we could do something…

Tenn:

…let’s make sure Gaku doesn’t hear about it…

Gaku:

Hey!

Tenn, Ryūnosuke and Kaoru:

…

Gaku:

What? Having secrets?

Tenn:

Morning.

Ryūnosuke:

Morning, Gaku.

Kaoru:

I heard you overslept, but you got ready quickly, huh?

Gaku:

Don’t play dumb, I heard you. That I shouldn’t hear about it.

‘Kay, well then. Everyone line up. Look me in the eye and tell me there’s nothing to hide.

Tenn:

There’s nothing to hide.

Kaoru:

There’s nothing to hide.

Ryūnosuke:

…th-there’s nothing to…

Gaku:

There! Ryu! Your eyes moved!

Ryūnosuke:

Ah…

Tenn:

What’s this? A new kind of Red Light Green Light?

Gaku:

Tell me, Ryu. You can’t lie to me. I’ll keep on asking all day until you tell me.

Kaoru:

…I will tell you.

Ryūnosuke:

Anesagi-san…

Kaoru:

It seems there are rumours about how Yaotome Agency is a heartless company for having chased away TRIGGER because an incident occurred.

Gaku:

… Is it TSUKUMO’s work?

Kaoru:

I don’t think so. Perhaps it’s a rumour born among the fans themselves… That’s how much they love you.

Because the fans are on your side, they’re favourable towards your allies. But the same is true for the opposite.

Yaotome Agency couldn’t correctly follow up with TRIGGER’s incident. And then they cut their ties with you.

From the fans’ perspectives, they’re someone that wasn’t on your side when you needed it most. I think it can’t be helped…

…also, Yaotome Agency was never that kind towards its fans.

Tenn:

I agree with that.

Ryūnosuke:

Tenn…

Gaku:

It’s the truth. He talked about controlling the fans and even denied us to perform out of nowhere.

TSUKUMO latched onto that.

Kaoru:

The performance denial was too much, but I still believe that President Yaotome’s principles weren’t wrong.

Gaku:

Why…?

Kaoru:

There are people, which think it’s better for idols to just focus on the entertainment part while being protected by the agency and they deal with trivial producing, too.

For people like that Yaotome Agency was supposed to be the ideal. But the President’s way of doing things just looked like arrogance…

For your allies it looked like overprotection. And on the other end of the spectrum lies Takanashi Agency, being extremely Spartan with their laissez-faire principles.

‘Go for it and if you fall, go for it again’ is their way of doing it. There’s people that lose confidence that way.

Well, it just depends on compatibility… Yaotome Agency’s way of doing things just didn’t match you. …though it’s unfortunate.

Tenn:

‘I decide what happens to myself’ is part of the Yaotomes’ lineage after all.

Ryūnosuke:

The egos just clash with each other, right?

Gaku:

In any case, he has a reason for this too. If this opportunity can change him or if he stands firm; it’s like a do-or-die situation for my dad.

We did what we had to and took Mikazuki Ookami into our hands. Now it’s his turn.

Ryūnosuke:

You’re very resolute. I thought if we told you you’d be worried, so we wanted to keep it a secret.

Gaku:

Hmph. We don’t have such a sentimental relationship.

Tenn:

Then what’s with that phone in your hand?

Gaku:

…well, I… thought about asking if everything was okay at least.

Tenn:

If you’d get a call from the President during a predicament and he asked: “Are you okay?”, what would you answer?

Gaku:

I’m okay, leave me alone.

Tenn:

He will tell you the exact same thing though?

Gaku:

You can’t know until you ask.

Phone ringing.

Gaku:

Hello.

Sousuke:

What.

Gaku:

It’s been a while.

Sousuke:

Tell me what you want.

Gaku:

I heard the YAOTOME Fes. tickets aren’t being sold. Are you okay?

Sousuke:

Who do you think you are!? You don’t have time to be worrying about others! Focus on your own stuff!

Gaku:

…

Sousuke:

I’m busy. Bye.

Phone call ends.

Gaku:

…what even.

Ryūnosuke:

What did he say?

Gaku:

You don’t have time to be worrying about others. Focus on your own stuff.

Tenn:

Just like I said then.

Gaku:

… Hmph, whatever. He can handle it.

Time for practise, let’s go!

Cut to a changing room.

Mitsuki:

Gooood morning. Oh…

Magazine reporter:

Ah, I’m sorry for bothering.

Tsumugi:

It’s an interview for Riku-san and Iori-san’s drama.

There was no other available time in our schedule, so I asked them to do it while on stand-by for the show.

Mitsuki:

It’s okay, no problem, it was the same for me once too. We have a lot of stand-by time with special programs after all.

Riku:

Mitsuki, you can eat that chocolate if you want!

Iori:

We got it earlier at our previous location. Yotsuba-san said to leave some for him.

Mitsuki:

What about MEZZO”? Already here?

Tsumugi:

MEZZO” is borrowing another room for a different interview. Yamato-san said he may arrive a bit late…

Mitsuki:

Everyone’s so busy. I guess I’ll read a book while I wait.

Nagi:

Hallo! I found a beautiful bouquet, so I bought it on impulse!

For you, Manager.

Tsumugi:

Thank you very much! Wow, it’s so pretty…

Nagi:

You’re welcome.

18.3. The compensation of fashion

 

 

On stage.

Riku:

Good evening! We’re IDOLiSH7!

Audience:

*scream*

Yamato:

Hi there!

Mitsuki:

Let’s have a good time tonight too!

Audience:

*scream*

Cut to a TV studio.

Moderator:

Tonight’s guests are IDOLiSH7!

Audience:

*scream*

Moderator:

Is it okay to let a prince sit down on our normal set?

Nagi:

OH! It feels very nice to sit on.

Audience:

*scream*

Yamato:

We’re happy to be here today!

Cut to another TV studio.

Newscaster:

Good morning! “Today’s Fashion Finding” is “sth-sth-ish7!”.

Highschool girl on VTR:

I have it too! You can like share pictures and videos with a group of 7 friends!

Wife on VTR:

Yes. My daughter invited me… It’s like an ad for IDOLiSH7, right? Fufu. Ours is called Yamadash7…

Female university student on VTR:

I have it! I decide on like member colours with my friends! Rikkun is so cute!

Cut to a shopping mall.

Woman:

Eh!? Sold out!?

Salesperson:

Please excuse us. Ever since IDOLiSH7’s Nanase-kun wore it on TV, that t-shirt has been on shortage all the time…

Woman:

Ah, I was late… I’m Riku-kun’s fan too.

Salesperson:

Yes, me too! He’s so cute, like a little brother! I’ll be going to their concert with my girlfriend!

Woman:

Seriously!? I’m going too! I wanted to wear that t-shirt, but I guess I’ll look for something else.

Salesperson:

I have a recommendation! One that has a 7 written on it!

Woman:

Wah, please show me!

Cut to a street.

Women:

*scream*

Tamaki-kun! Sougo-san…

Banri:

…don’t push! Please don’t push! You two, get on the car, hurry…!

Sougo:

Yes. Let’s go, Tamaki-kun.

Tamaki:

Yeah. Bye-bye.

Women:

*scream*

Cut to another street.

Woman:

Hey, did you watch yesterday’s “TV Man Show”!?

Woman:

I did! Mitsuki-kun was so cute! Way too good…!!

Woman:

That corner was so short, I wanted to see more of it! Like…

Who needs Mister Shimooka anyway? Mitsuki-kun should just do it on his own!

Woman:

I feel you! I want it to become “Izumi Mitsuki’s TV Man Show”!

Woman:

Whoa! I wanna see that! I bet more people would watch that!

Cut to i7’s dorm.

Tamaki:

Hmm…

Phone rings.

Tamaki:

…oh, hello. Right now? Just me. Sou-chan is not heeere.

Iorin are you with Rikkun? You coming home? Ah… You’ll be late?

Okaaay. Yeah. Yeah… I have food. ‘Kaaay…

Phone call ends.

Tamaki:

Sighs.

Short fad out and in.

Mitsuki:

…I’m baaack… …hah, I’m tired… Sorry, you good with take-out food today?

Tamaki:

Ban-chan bought us something when he drove us home. I just ate it.

Mitsuki:

Oh, good. What about this note?

Gotta wake up at 3am tomorrow. Do not wake me up now… Yamato.

Tamaki:

That’s why I didn’t ask him. I wonder if Yama-san ate dinner.

Mitsuki:

Well… Sleep is important too. What about the bath? Did someone clean it?

Tamaki:

Nope. Everyone said it’s too bothersome lately, so they just took showers.

Mitsuki:

You’re right… There’s no time to do chores. I guess I’ll turn on the washing machine at least.

Yawns. …ah, Sougo did it. Where is he? In the studio?

Tamaki:

Yeah. Hey, Mikki.

Mitsuki:

Hmm?

Tamaki:

Would you be mad if Iorin stopped going to school?

Mitsuki:

…

Why, is getting credits difficult?

Tamaki:

That’s not it…

Mitsuki:

Are you having trouble?

Tamaki:

Ahaha. Yeah.

Mitsuki:

Both our manager and the president told you it’s okay to focus on school first, right?

Tamaki:

That’s not it…

…lately, even if we go to school it’s just full of our fans. Before they were just normal classmates.

I’m happy, but… it’s not like a school.

Mitsuki:

…

18.4. Growth and agony

 

 

At i7’s dorm, no bgm at all.

Sougo:

…I’m back. It got late… Well, they’re all sleeping already, huh…?

Nagi:

…welcome back.

Sougo:

Nagi-kun. You’re still awake?

Nagi:

I found a beautiful bouquet, so I bought it on impulse.

I put it in a vase and was looking at it.

Sougo:

…

Nagi:

Everything okay with the composition?

Sougo:

I’m running into trouble more than before… I overthink too much about various things…

Nagi:

I’m sure it’ll go well.

Sougo:

Thank you. …sorry… For being busy…

Nagi:

What are you apologising for?

Sougo:

…we should try to make more time to spend together, right? You…

Nagi:

But you are together with me. And being busy distracts me feeling down.

Sougo:

…

Nagi:

I’m looking forward to your song, Sougo.

Short fade out and in, still no bgm.

Yamato:

…hah, cold…

…3am… No way anyone’s awake, huh? Well, I’m off.

Riku:

…coughing…

Yamato:

… Riku…

Riku:

… Good morning, Yamato-san.

Yamato:

Are you okay? Did you have an---

Riku:

I’m good. I just got a bit cold… …it’ll get better after drinking some hot tea…

Yamato:

But…

Riku:

Ah… It sounds like a car. The people from the agency must’ve arrived.

Yamato:

… Sorry… I gotta go, but tell Mitsu, okay?

Riku:

Cough … I want to let him sleep. He climbed Mount Tanigawa in yesterday’s TV show.

Yamato:

Mount Tanigawa?

Riku:

It was snowy… And so pretty. Haven’t you seen the pictures he uploaded onto SNS?

Yamato:

…even though we live together… To find out about where one was going through SNS is…

Riku:

He mentioned it though. But that might have been when you weren’t--- Coughing…

Yamato:

Riku…

Riku:

I’m sorry, I’m fine… Have a nice trip, Yamato-san. It’s cold so please take care.

Yamato:

…

Cut to Otoharu’s office.

Tsumugi:

…giving every member of IDOLiSH7 a personal manager…?

Otoharu:

Yes.

Until now you were in charge of IDOLiSH7’s jobs and Banri-kun was in charge of MEZZO”’s jobs.

We got by with agency staff adapting to their different personal jobs, but we won’t get anywhere if we continue like this.

And it’s also better for them to have someone they can build a trusting relationship with rather than someone that changes every day.

Judging from IDOLiSH7’s current circumstances, they’ll only get more and bigger jobs from now on.

We have to create a space where they can work easily. That what the personal managers are for.

And even if that relationship they’ll form with those managers is to someday overpass the bonds you have with them, you’ll need to keep supporting them.

Tsumugi:

…

Otoharu:

Or should we stop aiming to be top idols?

Tsumugi:

Eh…?

Otoharu:

I’m not joking. The bigger the jobs become and the more personal offers they receive, the more they’ll have to work separately from each other.

But if we stop aiming higher, then we can also keep on protecting them, letting them work at their own pace.

But those kids have always strived to go higher. They’ve always said ‘Let’s do it, let’s do it”.

If you ask them ‘why don’t we just stop now?’, then that might steal away their ambitions and desires to improve themselves.

If we continue like this and they become top idols and famous, they might not keep being the good friends that they are now.

What do you think?

Tsumugi:

… If we could go on like everyone wishes to…

Otoharu:

Of course, that’s a right answer. But I think this will divide their opinions. I’m sure they’re incredibly worried about this too.

If we just leave it to them, they might get anxious. You have to express your vision as well, okay?

And that’s why you have to listen to everyone’s opinion. If you still have no answer, then that’s fine. Keep on worrying, keep on thinking about it.

Tsumugi:

…understood…

18.5. Song of the future

 

 

At Takanashi Agency.

Banri:

…please accept my apologies. Yes… We will definitely think about countermeasures…

Please excuse me.

Tsumugi:

…was it a call from the neighbours of the dorm?

Banri:

Yes… We hired guards to keep noise down and avoid traffic jams, but…

They said they look coercive; the children are scared, and it doesn’t fit a residential area…

Tsumugi:

…I see… …it really might be better if we quickly find a new place to move in into…

Banri:

You’re right… Since they’re all so kind too…

If their fans keep on causing trouble for the neighbourhood, I’m sure they’ll feel bad about it too…

Tsumugi:

…did you hear about what the president plans on doing?

Banri:

Yes. It’s a difficult problem, isn’t it…?

Tsumugi:

What do you think about it, Oogami-san…?

Banri:

Hmm. It’s not something I can say with one word…

If I may talk about MEZZO”, in the past those two didn’t have any enthusiasm for their jobs, in a good meaning.

They felt responsible for it, but they weren’t the type to say ‘I want to do this, I want this job’.

If I’d say: ‘let’s do it slowly’, I feel like they would’ve agreed. But, now…

Sougo-kun started composing and Tamaki-kun is doing his best supporting him. They’re changing, step by step.

And there’s people that want MEZZO” to sing the main theme of another drama, now that they got fond of his song.

I think that’s something those two want to do. A job that really fits them.

If saying ‘let’s do it slowly’ would rob them of such a chance, then I can’t really agree with it…

Tsumugi:

…

Banri:

…but, what if… After all the hard work is done, MEZZO” isn’t like MEZZO” anymore?

Saying ‘just do the jobs you like’ is easy. I can work on my end for that too. But I don’t think those kids can do that.

Since they are full of affection and feelings of responsibility, the more they do a job, the more they create a bond to it that they can’t sever.

To be honest, the current flow was out of my expectation… I always wished for them to be successful, but I never thought it’d go this fast.

What do you think about it, Tsumugi-san?

Tsumugi:

I…

I still don’t know. Iori-san and Mitsuki-san… And maybe Riku-san too, are the type of person that would like to keep on challenging themselves.

I think they’d say ‘even if we keep doing our best and become top idols and are really successful we won’t drift apart’.

And I think Yamato-san and Nagi-san would adapt to the others…

Because their point of view is more that of an adult, they can envision the future and tragedy of a successful person more than the others; and they have more experience with it than others too.

So I think they might choose the route of going slowly because it’s what would keep them all save…

Banri:

…we really don’t want IDOLiSH7’s opinion on this to be split right in half, huh…?

Tsumugi:

…that’s exactly it. Even though they’re all just working hard towards their dreams… Even though it’s just starting to become real…

I don’t… want to hinder them by asking something like… ‘Is this really okay?’

Banri:

… If they do get personal managers, we’d mostly just do office work then?

Tsumugi:

I think I’d still want to accompany them on jobs where they’re all together, but… probably, ultimately…

Banri:

It’d get lonely…

Tsumugi:

It would…

But, if this is how their dreams can get true, then I want to properly support them from my heart…

Letting go of them, seeing their backs walk off… I want to be happy and think ‘IDOLiSH7 grew up so much, didn’t they?’

Banri:

Haha… It’s kind of like being their mother.

Tsumugi:

Fufu… If so, then my father is amazing too…

He was such a worrywart, yet he let me do anything…

Banri:

Watching over others is difficult, right? If they fall you want to stretch out your hand immediately, but if you do, they’ll never learn to stand up on their own.

No matter how much they cry, we have to watch over them from afar until they stand up on their own…

I think he was pretty anxious too, since to him you’re the cutest daughter there ever was.

Tsumugi:

…I wonder… It might be like that…

IDOLiSH7 just began walking from their starting point in last year’s Black or White.

They’ve been doing their best moving forward ever since. That the view they’re seeing would change is obvious, I think.

I love IDOLiSH7. I want to say that I love them even ten years later from now. And I want everyone to think like that too.

So they don’t vanish… like Zero did… But what do I have to do now to achieve that…?

…Black or White is right around the corner… I want them to focus on that for now. …that’s why…

I want to steel myself to be ready to properly talk to them once Black or White is over…

Cut to Iori’s room.

Iori:

…how unfortunate. If we had hurried a bit, it might’ve become a buzzword.

Nanase-san’s CM.

From children to the elderly, knowledge about IDOLiSH7 is spreading further… It’s a good direction. It’ll become a strength if they can watch us with their families.

Winning against ŹOOĻ at Black or White and then next year IDOLiSH7 takes the overall victory. And stand above Re:vale.

And then, we’ll become idols that overcome Zero. Nii-san’s, Nanase-san’s and our manager’s dream will come true.

…though I’m worried that everyone might feel tired with this much work right after returning from Noth Meir.

I’ll have to make some time for everyone to spend it together…

That might cut into less time for sleeping, but that would probably keep their stress levels further down. And I have to be cautious about Nanase-san’s condition…

We finally got this far. If it’s us, we can overcome this. It is everyone’s dream, after all.

Cut to Yuki’s apartment.

Momo:

It’s been a while since I was here last time.

Yuki:

That’s what I thought and bought nice meat. Let’s have sukiyaki tonight.

Momo:

Amazing, nice!

Yuki:

Should I put on Sougo-kun’s song? The one he finished was good. I wonder when it’ll go on sale.

I should… complete it already too…

Momo:

…uhm, Yuki? I have something important to talk about.

Yuki:

What?

Momo:

It’s about “Mikansei na bokura”.

Yuki:

…

Momo:

You rearranged it so many times, but it just didn’t work out… It’s not your fault, they were all great!

But I never understood why it didn’t fit my image of singing it. …I understood the reason during our rooftop concert.

Yuki:

What…?

Momo:

I was like Ryo-san… I didn’t even know what I wanted and tried to bury the wound in front of me.

I didn’t want to sing “Mikansei na bokura”, I just wanted you to say that it’s okay for me to sing together with you.

Yuki:

…

Momo:

Because… I was scared if you’d accept me… Because I had no confidence of becoming Ban-san’s replacement…

I thought singing with you would make me feel bigger. I thought we could become the perfect Re:vale. But… That wasn’t it.

That song is yours and Ban-san’s song. A song of the Re:vale that I loved so much. A song with precious memories…

I don’t want to write those memories… Even if it’s me or you, I don’t want that…

I love you two…

Yuki:

Momo…

Momo:

…I’m sorry I was wrong and wavered. I’m sorry that I couldn’t let you sing that beloved song again.

I don’t want “Mikansei na bokura”, I want your and my song.

Yuki:

My and Momo’s song…

Momo:

…yes… Uhm… here…

Yuki:

...is this a letter?

Momo:

…lyrics. Something that might become lyrics.

I want my words to ride on your music. I want you to create a song for me. Without looking at the past anymore.

I will only pester you about the future. I want to sing a song of the future, about my and Yuki’s Re:vale, that will go on forever.

Yuki:

…what a challenge.

Momo:

If anyone, then you can do it.

Yuki:

Haha… You really know what to say.

…I’ll create it. Like back then, getting serious, like my life depends on it. Like repeating my youth.

Momo:

Yuki…

Yuki:

I’ll create it with you. And then, let’s stand on Black or White’s stage with this song.

Momo:

Yes…

Like a debut concert, once again, from the start. It’s exciting, isn’t it!?

To be continued…