IDOLiSH7 PART 4 CHAPTER 2

[shionstear]

IDOLiSH7 PART 4

Chapter 2 – Echoing melody

2.1. Things that don’t disappear

Host:

And that was this week’s ranking! After the commercial break you’ll get to see the idols!

Audience:

*scream*

Host:

Please look forward to it!

Cut to backstage.

Tamaki:

…hey, Nagicchi, you don’t wanna sing it after all, right?

Nagi:

…

Tamaki:

‘Cause you look troubled. It’s okay. You don’t have to force yourself. We can stop.

Iori:

Yotsuba-san, what do you mean stop…

Tamaki:

We can’t see feelings and stuff but, what if it’s as bad as when Rikkun had his attack or when Sou-chan collapsed?

It’s okay not to do it then. I mean, please don’t. That’s what you always say Nagicchi.

The “Are you happy”.

Nagi:

Tamaki…

Tamaki:

Well, we’re supposed to always do our best. But that’s to become happy, right? It's okay not to do your best for everything besides becoming happy.

Nagi:

…

Iori:

What are we going to do? The commercial break is about to end.

Mitsuki:

We’ll sing.

Tamaki:

Mikki!

Mitsuki:

Of course we’ll sing. As if Nagi wouldn’t be happy to sing Sakura Haruki’s song!

Tamaki:

…ah…

Mitsuki:

It’s weirder to think of it as trouble! …who told you that his song was “such a song”!?

Nagi:

… …I…

…

Mitsuki:

If you don’t wanna say it, I’ll do it. I’ll make you remember. Now listen, Nagi.

It’s okay not to throw away things that you consider a treasure. Even if it’s dirtied or has a wound, Sakura Haruki’s song is the best!

It’s kind, beautiful and heartrending too, sure, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a warm melody. Right?

It’s the same with your memories of us and Sakura Haruki. Not even one fragment of those is wounded.

And even if they are, I’ll just make them into the best thing ever again. No matter how many times, I’ll make them your treasure again!

Nagi:

…!

TV staff:

IDOLiSH7, it’s your turn! IDOLiSH7?

Iori:

We’ll be right there! Rokuya-san…

Yamato:

You said it once, right? My name represents Japan.

Nagi:

…

Yamato:

I heard that when I was a kid too. I liked my own name, I was proud of it. It was my treasure.

…but when I learned about my dad’s circumstances, I came to hate it. What do you mean yamato. Hiding me like I was something embarrassing to show.

The one who made me like it again was you, Nagi. You pulled out my true self.

Even things you’re fed up with, get to dislike or don’t even want to see anymore… You can come to love them once again…

Even someone like me understood that.

[TL note: to explain it simply, “Yamato” was the name of Ancient Japan at some point.]

Nagi:

…Yamato…

Yamato:

Sing it, “Sakura Message”. There’s no way your true self doesn’t want to sing it.

I mean, you liked it, right? You’ve always liked it. Even now, you probably still love it, right?

Nagi:

… …

…yes…

Yamato:

Then sing.

If there’s something trying to hurt you or make you cry, then we’ll protect you from it.

TV staff:

IDOLiSH7, it’s time…!

Yamato:

We’ll go right now! You good?

Nagi:

…I’ll sing it…

Mitsuki:

Good! Let’s go.

Nagi:

…I can’t believe it, it’s like a miracle…

Mitsuki:

What is?

Nagi:

…the thorns that were supposed to make me suffer forever have vanished like foam…

Mitsuki:

Because you know things that don’t disappear, right?

Nagi:

…What…?

Mitsuki:

“Sakura Message”! I love the lyrics of this song!

[TL note: Mitsuki quoted Nagi’s part of the first verse. This is fine.]

Cut to the studio.

Audience:

…I wonder when they’ll come… Ah…!

IDOLiSH7!

Riku:

Good evening, we’re IDOLiSH7!

Audience:

*scream*

Riku:

Let’s sing about Japan’s seasons! Therefore we’ll be singing a song about spring! Do you know which song it is!?

Audience:

We dooo!

I love it!

Riku:

Thank you! It’s a spring song I love as well!

Well then, Nagi. Do the title call!

Audience:

*scream*

Oh? Nagi is crying…?

But, he’s smiling so gently…

Nagi:

…

“Sakura Message”

Tsumugi, thinking:

Everyone’s voices are echoing on stage.

And the audience is listening to them even more closely than usually.

The kind, heartrending melody is carrying spring as it passes by.

It makes me remember what Banri-san once said.

That the lyricist of “Sakura Message” had been ‘threatened to write’.

But, no matter what bad intentions are hidden within it.

These voices and this melody embrace everything and make it disappear.

Wholeheartedly, like falling sakura petals dancing in the wind.

Cut to a café.

Banri:

…so you were threatened to turn this message into a code and hide it?

Lyricist:

Yes… They said they were surveying my family and that something bad would happen if I didn’t listen to them.

Banri:

…that’s horrible. Who in the world would so something like that…?

Lyricist:

I don’t know… But, I’m a lyricist.

I didn’t want to write lyrics that were just meant to hurt such a beautiful song… I couldn’t.

Banri:

…

Lyricist:

I will always be quietly thinking of you, no matter what. Even when that heart is locked away. Those are the words befitting the song.

[TL note: he quoted the first two lines of the chorus.]

They’re words that fleetingly, kindly and powerfully watch over a precious someone while walking forward and facing tomorrow.

Rather than the cryptic code, this is the melody’s true, noble message. …that’s what I felt...

Banri:

…I understand you. Feelings put into music can’t be hurt by anyone.

I’m sure it’ll overcome both time and space and reach everyone without fading away. This melody and also your lyrics.

Cut back to the studio.

Audience:

*scream*

I love you IDOLiSH7!

Riku:

Thank you! We love you all too!

Audience:

*scream*

Nagi:

…thanks.

2.2. Humiliating manners

Audience:

*scream*

I love you IDOLiSH7!

Riku:

Thank you! We love you all too!

Audience:

*scream*

Nagi:

…thanks.

Cut to a dressing room.

Minami:

…

Haruka:

Minami what are you watching? IDOLiSH7?

Touma:

“Sakura Message” huh? This is a good song, makes you feel something.

Minami:

I don’t think so.

Such a shameless person… Even though he knows the meaning of the song, making the others sing it and smiling so peacefully.

Torao:

The meaning of the song? Hey, where’re you going Minami?

Minami:

Picking up a flower.

Door opens.

Tsukumo:

Hey, I’ve heard you! Perfect timing. I’m giving this bouquet to you.

Minami:

…what happened, why a bouquet? Were you on a date in a restaurant but then you started talking about something grotesque and the bouquet was returned to you?

Tsukumo:

How awfully specific. Talking about your own experience?

Minami:

By no means, that’s just the image you give off.

Tsukumo:

Image! What an unpleasant word! Once I’m able to make laws I’ll make it so that sexy men can’t walk around town anymore.

Torao:

Stop that, that’d be troublesome for me.

Minami:

For me as well.

Touma:

You two aren’t lacking self-confidence, huh…

Tsukumo:

This is a celebratory bouquet. Congratulations on getting an appearance at the “Redhill Festival”.

Touma:

“Redhill Festival”!? Isn’t that the worldwide known outdoors Rock Fes in Denmark?

Minami:

That wildly enthusiastic event on which rock fans from all around the world gather and which causes a quarrel uproar each year, isn’t it?

Even though we’re idols that don’t play as a band, and moreover, are quite new?

Tsukumo:

Who cares, you’ll increase in value.

Haruka:

Even if we get booed?

Tsukumo:

Only people that like rock will gather.

If we stir up “rave reviews” and information in the media, people will think “Oh, is that so?”. After all, they can’t confirm it for themselves, now can they?

Torao:

I don’t like it. Isn’t this as if I’d ask a woman out on a date that already dumped me once? I don’t wanna prepare a bouquet that I know will be returned to me.

Touma:

You’ve been dumped already!? Seriously? So even good looking guys get dumped, huh!

Minami:

You’re the type that prepares bouquets for dates, aren’t you?

Haruka:

Isn’t it embarrassing to buy flowers at a flower shop? When they go all “ohh, flowers, for whom are you buying them?” and stuff. I can’t bear that atmosphere.

Torao:

Your impressions are all over the place.

Tsukumo:

Sorry but it’s already been decided. You’ll appear even if you don’t want to. You’ll raise your value and win against IDOLiSH7 in the Black or White.

Riku may be frustrated then, right! I don’t know if he’ll cry, but, well, if he does I’ll just have to console him.

Minami:

It’s like stealing parts from a car and running a repair shop at the same time. What a horrible approach.

Touma:

We’ll show our power here without having to stick out like a sore thumb in an overseas Rock Fes. We’ll win against IDOLiSH7 in the Black or White.

Tsukumo:

How foolish, Touma. You thought the same when you lost against TRIGGER, didn’t you?

Touma:

…this time we’ll win for sure!

Haruka:

Touma…

Touma:

If it’s us, if it’s ŹOOĻ, then we can win against IDOLiSH7 without playing any petty tricks! Even we have real worth too!

Tsukumo:

You don’t. You’re only mannequins to turn the idols’ stage upside down.

That was the deal, wasn’t it? What are you talking about after all this time?

Haruka:

…wait a second. I knew we were supposed to crush TRIGGER and Kujou, but I’ve never heard of this mannequin business.

Torao:

I didn’t hear about being bathed in booing in such an away stage. Don’t you feel bad for me?

Minami:

Ryo-san, did something happen? Not like what you were doing until now was any decent either, but you’re doing whatever it takes, more than before.

Tsukumo:

It’s because of that that I’m telling you to go. What’s wrong with getting rid of one-way idols?

You’re not supposed to create a movement, just a foolish fad. At most, you’ll last 3 stupid years.

That’s what I told you, that’s what you agreed on, right? Or what, are you misunderstanding things now that there’s people screaming because of you?

Touma:

…exactly.

Tsukumo:

Huh?

Touma:

I wish to be greedier and ride on the spur of the moment. Even more, together with them… I want to sing earnestly with them more!

Tsukumo:

Are you stupid?

Touma:

Yeah, I am! And because I am, we’ll appear at that Rock Fes and make them applaud for real!

And then, even you should change your way of thinking! We’re not mannequins, and we’re no fad. It won’t be over after 3 years.

ŹOOĻ are singers that’ll create a new age!

Tsukumo:

… Come home after raw eggs have been thrown at you. Even then, I’ll make them write you a very favourable article.

I’ll make you the greatest heroes with the most humiliating methods. …I’ll have to ready 4 thicker collars for you, right!

Hmph!

Door closes.

Touma:

… …hah…

Haruka, Torao & Minami:

…

Touma:

I… I accidentally opposed Ryo-san. But… but, I wasn’t wrong, right?!

Minami:

…well, uhm…

Haruka:

This is troublesome though…

Torao:

Even though we said we didn’t want to appear…

Touma:

You’re kidding right!? Stop it, stop!! Isn’t this where you pat my shoulder and say “let’s do it!” or something!?

Minami:

You’ve watched too many dramas, Inumaru-san.

Torao:

„Ahh, he said it now“ is what I thought while watching you.

Haruka:

You jumped the gun! Why did you get so intense all of a sudden?

Touma:

…because… he was forcing you even though you didn’t want to, and he was making a fool out of you…

Haruka, Torao & Minami:

…

Minami:

…please stop… You’re making this flow into a cosy direction.

Haruka:

Like… somewhere around my chest there’s this, like, ticklish feeling…

Torao:

How troublesome… Seriously troublesome…

Touma:

In any case, now that we’ve said it we have no choice! Let’s make him accept our true strength!

Haruka:

But you said it!

Torao:

Oh dear… Does it hurt being hit with a raw egg?

Minami:

…a Rock Fes in Denmark… That’s close to Noth Meir, isn’t it?

Haruka:

Minami?

Minami:

…it’s nothing.

Cut to studio.

Host:

That was IDOLiSH7’s “Sakura Message”!

Audience:

*scream*

It was so good today!

Yes! I’ve always liked it, but I’m just so moved right now!

IDOLiSH7 really is the best!

Cut to backstage.

Nagi:

…thank you very much, everyone.

Riku:

It’s okay. But, Nagi, what’s wrong?

Nagi:

…

Mitsuki:

You’ve been weird lately. Tell us. Whatever it is, we’ll help you.

Nagi:

…understood.

I have something to confess. Will you listen to me?

Mitsuki:

… of course!

Yamato:

We can’t do it calmly here. Let’s talk when we return to our dressing room later.

Nagi:

Understood.

2.3. Family name

In the dressing room.

Riku:

Nagi, what did you mean you have something to confess?

Nagi:

...before I tell you, there’s something I have to confirm with you all.

Tamaki:

What?

Nagi:

What I’m about to tell you could put you all in danger. …are you okay with that?

Yamato:

Haha… you say danger, but it can’t be worse than that time we got involved in a terrorist’s bombing incident, right?

Nagi:

…it’s about 6 times as dangerous.

Yamato:

Eh!?

Nagi:

Hm… Maybe 7 times…

Mitsuki:

By terrorist bombing do you mean Tamaki's stories with no punch line? That was real?

Tamaki:

I told you!!! I carried a bomb!!

Riku:

Amazing, Tamaki!

Tamaki:

Fufun, I know right?

Sougo:

A bomb you say… You shouldn’t be doing something as dangerous as that.

Tamaki:

I didn’t do it because I wanted to!

Iori:

7 times a terrorist bombing’s danger… If you carry out a normal life, you wouldn’t come across something like that, would you?

What in the world did you do?

Riku:

Did you go on a date with the wife of the boss of Noth Meir’s mafia…?

Sougo:

Or do partners of that terrorist incident have a grudge on you now…?

Tamaki:

Or was the MagiKona friend you met in real life actually an alien that wants to conquer the world…?

Nagi:

…

…there is something I haven’t told any of you.

The others:

…

Nagi:

My real name is Nagi Valhart von Noth Meir.

The Second Prince of Noth Meir.

The others:

Wha---!!!

…

Iori:

Isn’t that the story of a weekly magazine’s gossip?

Riku:

Ah so that’s it! I almost fell for it!

Mitsuki:

Man don’t surprise me like that. You were making such a serious face, I thought you were saying the truth.

Yamato:

Well, it’s like Nagi, if anything. You wanted to make us laugh so the atmosphere wouldn’t get serious huh?

Nagi:

…

…OH…

Tamaki:

So, what’s the real story?

Nagi:

…I just… told you…

Sougo:

Why are you whispering? Is it embarrassing to say?

Mitsuki:

Eh, it is? Though you said you’re the prince quite loudly.

Iori:

That sure was a claim.

Riku:

When I read the magazine, I immediately knew it was a lie!

Yamato:

Yeah, if Nagi really was a prince, Onii-san would end up in prison for lèse majesté. I did quite some stuff.

Nagi:

…OH… …OH MY GOD…. Jesus… This development…

Tamaki:

…? Nagicchi, was that really…

Riku:

Eh, it can’t…

Door opens.

Tsumugi:

Good work everyone, Nagi-san, was everything okay…?

Riku:

Manager! Right now Nagi is telling us about---

Nagi:

Riku. I cannot talk in front of her.

Riku:

Eh?

Tsumugi:

…what are you talking about?

Nagi:

About how you’re a young and beautiful lady and how you have a father that loves you dearly

Tsumugi:

Nagi-san…?

Nagi:

Let’s continue this once we get back to the dorms. Please let me be on my own for a bit, so I can think of everything I need to tell you.

Mitsuki:

Got it… You better come back home!

Nagi:

Of course. Manager. Good night.

Door closes.

Tsumugi:

…

Nagi-san…

Cut to outside.

Riku:

I wonder if Nagi is alright…?

Mitsuki:

Don’t worry. He has to order what he wants to tell us and then come back. He may look like that, but he’s actually pretty dependable.

He’s strong, always facing forward and more than anything he loves us all.

Riku:

You’re right!

Whatever happens, as long as we 7 are together, we’ll surely overcome it!

Cut to terrace with view onto the Zero Arena.

Nagi:

… I should probably head back soon…

…Haruki, I might just be increasing the number of friends I’m dragging into misfortune, like I did with you…

Even still, there is nothing sadder as parting with a friend without being able to tell them goodbye…

…so I shall tell them in person.

My farewell.

Sound of someone being grabbed.

Nagi:

…

…Is anyone there?

…!

Cut to the dorms.

Riku:

…Nagi is late…

Yamato:

He should’ve been home already. He’s not picking up his phone either…

Mitsuki:

I’ll go look for him.

Tamaki:

I’ll go too!

Iori:

Me too…

Sougo:

It’s late at night so you two go back to your rooms. And Riku too, it’d be bad for your health.

Door opens.

Tsumugi:

I’m sorry it’s so late at night. Is Nagi-san present?

Banri:

I sent him a rabichat but he didn’t answer…

Iori:

Manager, Ogami-san. What happened?

Mitsuki:

Did something happen to Nagi!?

Tsumugi:

… Nagi-san hasn’t come back?

Banri:

What about his passport!? Was he carrying it with him!?

Riku:

Passport!? I don’t know, but will Nagi go overseas… Wait, is he going to Noth Meir?

Banri:

…I don’t know, but it could be. He said he’d return to Noth Meir. I’ll go look for him.

Tsumugi:

I’ll go as well!

Yamato:

Wait a sec, Manager, Banri-san! What do you two know?

Tsumugi:

…

Yamato:

If you know something then please tell us. We know that he was acting strange. That’s why he wanted to talk to us tonight.

Mitsuki:

But he didn’t come back… And what do you mean passport? And Noth Meir!?

Why did Nagi say he didn’t want to sing Sakura Haruki’s “Sakura Message”?

Tsumugi:

…that is…

Iori:

…you’re not telling us because it has something to do with us too, right?

Riku:

Then please, tell us, Manager.

Tsumugi:

Riku-san…

Riku:

It’s okay. No matter what happens, we won’t be hurt. And even if we are, we’ll be fine with everyone together.

Our heartbeat won’t end. Nagi said that after the Music Fes. It’ll come back every time, just like the morning sun.

Tsumugi:

…

Understood.

Banri-san, could you explain to everyone what the lyricist told you?

Banri:

Yes.

2.4. Long night

Iori:

…there’s a hidden code in the lyrics of “Sakura Message”!?

Banri:

Yeah. You all remember the lyrics, right?

Riku:

Of course. We’ve sung it so many times. …Two words, perhaps that’s all I needed…

Banri:

That part is the guide to crack the code. Another hint is Tamaki’s part…

Tamaki:

One week later, I wrote in the notes, a sound from far from now…?

Banri:

Exactly. Just as those two lines say, one week later… in other words, if you pick the two words after each line’s seventh sound a certain phrase will form.

[TL note: Okay, trying to explain this simply. The “two words” are “futamoji” in the original, which means “two characters”. Now then, if you decompose the Japanese into Hiragana only, you can count seven characters from the beginning of each line and take the two characters that follow right after. If you do that for some lines, you get the secret message. I’ll write that in romaji so you can follow it.]

Sougo:

Two each starting from the seventh… So-t-to-ho-ko-ro-bu-sa-ku-ra-ta-chi… Sa, ku…

Yamato:

De-a-e-ta-no-na-ra-ha-na-re-te-mo… Ra, ha…

Iori:

If you continue it’s… saku, raha, ruki, wohi, toji, chini, shita, kara, iu, koto, kike.

Mitsuki:

[…sakura haruki o hitojichi ni shita kara… iu koto kike…!?] …I’ve taken Sakura Haruki hostage… so do as I tell you…!?

Banri:

…exactly.

Riku:

…why… …even though it’s such a pretty song…

Tamaki:

Who would do something this horrible… That’s why Nagicchi said he didn’t want to sing it!

Mistuki:

…Nagi…

Banri:

The lyricist said he was being threatened by someone with a foreign accent. Everything excluding that code was written by him.

He said he did his best to include the music’s feelings into the lyrics.

Yamato:

I will always be quietly thinking of you, no matter what…

Banri:

Yes. So please don’t hate the song. It doesn’t change the feelings Sakura Haruki put into the song.

Tamaki:

…I know, but. Who threatened the lyricist guy?

Sougo:

…I’ve taken Sakura Haruki hostage… so do as I tell you… And the person who threatened the lyricist had a foreign accent.

So in other words, this message is addressed at Nagi…?

Riku:

So someone wanted Nagi to do as they told him?

Iori:

If that’s true, then the person must have malign intentions if they’re taking such delight in crimes. After all, they’re making the person they’re threatening sing the song.

And they have the free time to wait for us to solve the code while we’re saying his “listen to what I tell you”.

Yamato:

…Natsume Minami…

Mitsuki:

What about ŹOOĻ’s Natsume?

Yamato:

When we were acting together he said that Nagi singing “Sakura Message” was wonderful.

And when I asked him if he liked Nagi, he answered “it’s the highest grade of irony”.

Iori:

…he might know something then.

Mitsuki:

Irony? What’s with that bastard!! Was he the one to threaten the lyricist into writing these lyrics!?

Yamato:

Calm down! Nothing’s decided yet. And Natsume doesn’t talk in a foreign accent in the first place, right?

Mitsuki:

How can I be calm!? A code that threatens him has been hidden in the song of Sakura Haruki!?

Iori:

A person that has malign intentions and takes delight in crimes with free time to spare… He doesn’t have a foreign accent, but it all fits Natsume-san. Though that’s my biased opinion.

Tamaki:

I know. Codes and stuff seem like black magic too.

Riku:

Black magic?

Tamaki:

He said he was good at it.

Riku:

Wasn’t that fortune telling…?

Yamato:

It seems like he knows something, but to write a code like that… Natsume-chan isn’t that much of a bad kid…

Sougo:

But Yamato-san, didn’t you also say that he feels slimy like snake?

Yamato:

He does. It’s like you’re walking around in a swamp.

Mitsuki:

Banri-san, do you know Natsume’s contact info!? Maybe that’d help!?

Banri:

I never met with him, so we’d have to go through the agency but…

Iori:

Agency you say, that’d be TSUKUMO PRO right…

Riku:

Ah, I should’ve exchanged rabichat info! President Tsukumo even invited me to…

Iori:

Please don’t. They have an eye on you don’t they?

Riku:

But…

Tamaki:

Ah! I know Isumin’s rabichat info! I kinda forced him to exchange it so he could refill my life in a game!!

Sougo:

Isumi Haruka-kun huh? He may know the contact info of his unit members.

Mitsuki:

Well done, Tamaki!! …by the way, Iori, you didn’t exchange it?

Iori:

I’m not the sociable type of person.

Mitsuki:

…Iori…

Iori:

Please don’t look at me with such eyes, Nii-san. You don’t need to worry, I do have proper friends.

Tamaki:

Just me though.

Iori:

Just hurry up and call Isumi-san already!

Cut to Haruka’s room.

Rhythm game slide note sound effect.

Haruka:

Yes, this time for sure I’ll comb---

Phone rings.

Haruka:

Ahhh!!! Just as I was about to clear it!! Who calls at this time!!

…Yotsuba?

Cut to dorms.

Haruka, on phone:

Hello? I just sent you life earlier didn’t I?

 

Tamaki:

Isumin? Isumin ŹOOĻ?

Haruka, o.p.:

Huh? What do you want?

Tamaki:

Can’t you tell me Natsume Minami’s contact info?

Haruka, o.p.:

Why? Don’t wanna.

Tamaki:

I wanna call him. Hurry!

Haruka, o.p.;

Why should I tell you! Also Minami’s scary when he’s angry!

Tamaki:

Black magic?

Haruka, o.p.:

Black magic!?

Tamaki:

Ah, no wait, that was just a theory. It’s about the code. From SakuraMe.

Haruka, o.p.:

What are you even talking about.

Tamaki:

As I said…

Sougo:

Hello, I’ll take the phone. My name is Osaka Sougo, I’m working as MEZZO” together with Tamaki-kun. Please accept my apologies for calling so late at night.

Tamaki:

…d-don’t snatch it away, Sou-chan!

Haruka, o.p.:

Eh? Ah… Osaka?

Sougo:

We apologize for imposing on you, but a matter of utter urgency has occurred and we’re in need to immediately inquire about Natsume-san’s contact info.

We shall hand our contact info over to you, so would it be alright for us to ask you kindly to contact him with it? Please excuse the trouble we’re causing for you. We thank you very kindly for working with us.

Haruka, o.p.:

*confused noises*

Un… Understood…?

Iori:

He has definitely not understood anything.

Yamato:

A high school student stands no chance against the pushy force of the son of a distinguished family that was peremptorily taught in etiquette and manners…

Tamaki:

That’s how Sou-chan barged into TRIGGER’s live broadcast…

Sougo:

…ah!

Haruka, o.p.:

Wh-what?

Sougo:

Thank you for looking after Tamaki-kun and Iori-kun at school during the day.

Haruka, o.p.:

Y-you’re welcome… …but, he might not notice my message. Minami wears earpieces when sleeping.

Sougo:

…I see. Then please let him know verbally, thank you very much.

Haruka, o.p.:

Okay… Okay then, excuse me, I’ll hang up.

Sound of phone being hung up.

Beep sound.

Sougo:

He gladly accept.

Yamato:

Let’s put aside whether he accepted gladly or not but… that means we won’t know until tomorrow huh. I’ll go look for him after all.

He wanted to come back, I want to believe him. Nagi wouldn’t just disappear with his passport after saying he had something to tell us.

Mitsuki:

I want to believe in him too. But Nagi was talking about danger. And he’s even being threatened, I’m worried…

Tsumugi:

Danger…?

Tamaki:

Uhm… Isn’t it… true after all?

Sougo:

What is?

Tamaki:

Being a prince from Noth Meir.

Banri:

A prince!? Who?

Riku:

Nagi. He said it himself.

Tsumugi:

Nagi-san did!?

Everyone:

…

Yamato:

A prince…

Mitsuki:

A prince huh…

Iori:

A prince, yes…?

Sougo:

Nagi-kun being a prince…

Riku:

I can’t process that…

Tamaki:

Ehh! You all said Nagicchi was prince-like!

Yamato:

Like a prince and actually being one is quite a difference…

Riku:

Can princes become idols…?

Iori:

He’d be doing it because he could, right? Otherwise that’d be troublesome…

Riku:

So he’s not a prince?

Iori:

I wonder… Even I didn’t think of a plan if one of our members ended up being a prince.

Tamaki:

Then… should we make it open bracket beta close bracket then?

Everyone:

…

Yamato:

…uh, I guess…

Mitsuki:

For now… Prince (beta)…

Riku:

…understood.

Sougo:

…alright.

Iori:

… …what’s with this conversation…

Mitsuki:

…I thought he was a young master from somewhere with certain incidents but…

Whatever happened I thought I’d save him. I believed I’d definitely save him.

Iori:

…Nii-san…

Mitsuki:

But, I don’t know how to resolve the troubles of a prince… If I just were the wizard of a fairy tale…

I’d cast every magic possible. Even a carriage, a swan, a rose or a castle of thorns, I could make it all…

Yamato:

…Mitsu… Nothing’s decided yet. And even if they’re princes or kings, they’re just human too.

There’s a way to resolve it, definitely… And Nagi wants to be with us as well.

Mitsuki:

…Yamato-san…

Banri:

…in any case, I’ll look for him too. It’s late already so Tsumugi-san you head home. Tamaki-kun and Iori-kun you stay in the dorms as well.

Riku:

Me too…!

Yamato:

Riku you wait with them too. Look after Tama and Ichi, okay?

Mitsuki:

If Nagi returns home, call me immediately!

Iori:

Understood.

Door closes.

Tsumugi:

…Nagi-san…

Cut to night sky.

Tsumugi, thinking:

But, that night---

No matter how long we waited, Nagi-san didn’t return.

2.5. Letter

Yamato:

Found him?

Sougo:

No.

Banri:

Neither over here.

Mitsuki:

…

Where have you gone, Nagi…

Cut to Takanashi office, morning.

Tamaki:

…so Nagicchi didn’t come back?

Riku:

It looks like that… And he didn’t call any of us either.

Iori:

Rokuya-san is a free spirit, but he has never spent a night out without contacting us so far.

It seems like something happened after all…

Otoharu:

---please wait!

Riku:

President’s voice… For him to raise his voice, something must have…

Tamaki:

Let’s check!

Iori:

Wai… Yotsuba-san! You can’t just barge into his office, what if he’s in a call---

Door opens.

Iori:

Ah, whatever! Please excuse us!

Cut to Otoharu’s office.

Tamaki:

Boss! What happened!?

Riku:

Ah…! You’re Nagi’s stalker!!

Thorvald:

These are the necessary documents. This is the cheque with the money for breaking the contract. Everything else after this shall go through the attorney.

Otoharu:

…this amount of money… No matter how much you pay, we can’t respond to something like that so suddenly.

In the first place, where is Nagi-kun!?

Riku:

What about Nagi…? Do you know where he is!?

Thorvald:

Nagi-san returned home to Noth Meir.

Tamaki:

Returned home…? When will he come back!?

Thorvald:

He will not.

Nagi-san is withdrawing from IDOLiSH7.

Riku:

…eh…?

…withdrawing…?

Tamaki:

Huh!? I don’t get it at all! What do you mean!?

Thorvald:

I have a message from Nagi-san.

Thank you for taking care of me all this time.

Thanks to you all, I had enjoyable holidays.

Riku:

…holidays…?

Iori:

Calling the work with IDOLiSH7 holidays…!

Thorvald:

Well then.

Tamaki:

Wait, dammit!!

Thorvald:

Would you please let me go?

Tamaki:

No way! Hey, where’s Nagicchi…

Tamaki is pushed aside.

Tamaki:

Uwah!

Riku:

Tamaki…!

Otoharu:

You! What did you do to Tamaki-kun…

Thorvald:

He surely isn’t hurt. Please excuse me.

Door closes.

Riku:

…wha…

Iori:

…wait please! I won’t approve it! Withdrawing from IDOLiSH7…

Door opens.

Cut back to office.

Iori:

…he’s gone…

Tamaki:

…I’ll go look for him!

Door opens.

Yamato:

Uwah…

Tamaki:

Yama-san!

Yamato:

Where’s the manager!? Some weird guys appeared in the dorm and were carrying Nagi’s belongings away!

Mitsu and I tried to stop them but… Who are those guys!?

Tamaki:

…

Yamato:

…what’s wrong with you guys…

Riku:

Nagi is… Nagi is leaving…

Yamato:

…

Haha… You’re kidding, right? There’s no way he’d do that.

Iori:

President, did you check the contract’s signature? Is it Rokuya-san’s?

Otoharu:

…

It’s Nagi-kun’s handwriting, without doubt…

Riku:

…that’s…

Otoharu:

If we believe this, then it means it was according to Nagi-kun’s own will…

Short fade-out and fade-in.

Mitsuki:

…Nagi is leaving?

As if that’s possible! He wanted to tell us something important yesterday!

Sougo:

Exactly! There’s no way he’d just leave without telling us anything.

Door opens.

Tsumugi:

Everyone, please look! There was a letter from Nagi-san in the company’s car…

Yamato:

A letter!?

Mitsuki:

…please show us!

… …it’s Nagi’s handwriting…

Tamaki:

What does it say?

Mitsuki:

…To my beloved friends…

Please forgive me for telling you with this letter.

It is very unfortunate, but I cannot continue working as IDOLiSH7…

Cut to a blue sky.

Nagi:

I regret that I cannot say goodbye to the fans. But I believe you will tell them in my stead.

I won’t forget the days I spent with you. From now on I shall watch over the IDOLiSH7 I love so dearly from a faraway sky.

Take care.

Farewell.

Cut to a noble looking room.

???:

<Hurry and come home to my side. Valhart.>

<Your holidays are now over.>

To be continued…