Chapter 1

Ohh, what fun we had today! Certainly, we’ve enjoyed ourselves to the fullest~ ☆

Fufu, you’re in high spirits, Wataru. We ought to do this again the next time we have a day free of work.

Do we ever have those?

We bestowed SS upon Trickstar, but they’re still unstable; we can’t leave them to it, can we?

We must look after them yet.

Yet, we will be engaged in an overseas tour soon…

Yumenosaki Academy’s sister schools across the world are in a state of disarray thanks to a certain someone, and we need to bring order to them.¹

Fufu, Sakuma-kun and Mikejima-kun did maintain the status quo, at least.

But there must have been a limit to what one person can do; we must restructure it incrementally.

For the sake of the idol industry, and for the sake of our future.

Fufufu. So you intend to go around giving Annunciation, to give birth to messiahs all around the world.

This is the rule of fine in our modern times, is it?

It is. We will be busier from here on out, Wataru. …Will you follow me?

Naturally. You needn’t force us to stay with you; we will walk right by your side… Eichi.

I sincerely hope you will continue to entertain me.

That’s my line, Wataru.

Pardon my saying, but you two have yet again gone off into your own world…

However, my master is singing; I would appreciate that you both support him.

It seems he wants to sing while performing his original dance, so I would be most delighted if you would watch him and give your evaluation of it.

Of course. That was the purpose of today, and I will see my role in it through to the end.

A round of applause for you! Please shine to your heart’s content, Princess ☆

Um, yeah. Are you sure it’s fine? I came along ‘cause you invited us to karaoke…

And I’ve almost got my choreography figured out, so I want to finish that up.

I’ve always thought this karaoke bar was perfect for lessons…

But everyone’s exhausted today, right? We ran around so much.

I also had a reasonable amount of rest, so I have no problem with this. I am a bit concerned about Wataru, though.

Me, you say? What are you saying? I’m always bursting with energy! For I am a superhuman with a Perpetuum heart fueled by dreams… ☆

You don’t need to put on airs when you’re around us, you know. Honestly, it makes me feel like you’re putting distance between us…

We helped Tori with his problem this time, but I’d like if we could all share among us whenever we run into a wall.

We’re friends, aren’t we? Unlike the fine of before, we don’t have a mere business relationship.

We’ve formed a community together, where we support each other in sickness and in health as a family would.

During the summer, my health and stamina decline at the drop of a hat.

To help me and to make myself appear as I normally would, Wataru pushes himself far too hard, fussing over me and attending to my needs.

Did you believe I wouldn’t notice this?

You exhaust yourself for my sake—Is this not why Tori found you dozing off today? That’s hardly like you.

You are human, too. Your strength and stamina have limits, and you like the rest of the world are bound by the laws of physics. The Perpetuum mobile is nothing but a fantasy.

You don’t need to live your life atop a stage, putting on a show. Especially among your friends.

Are you, perhaps, lecturing me?

I’m only frustrated with my own inadequacies… Because of my health, you force yourself to carry such a large burden.

It’s pathetic—aggravating. I’m so tired of it.

I do this because I want to.

If you’ll allow me to copy you, we are a community who loves and supports each other. When one of us is in low spirits, I will be spirited enough for us both.

This way, fine can maintain a steady force of strength.

That is the purpose of units; we do not come together just to hold each other back.

I understand this, and I am satisfied with this life. So please, do not make that face.

I don’t understand you. …And I want to keep up appearances in front of my kouhai, so don’t treat me like a child.

Oh yes, of course. On that note, our Princess is going to sing! A round of applause, if you please! ☆

Give it everything you have, Princess~ Show us how cute you can be!

How exhilarating my first time at karaoke is…!

Is it your first? It’s mine, too; I’ve been avoiding it because I don’t know the etiquette…

Are we allowed to use the tambourine and maracas without asking?

Fufufu. Anzu-san appears to be very knowledgeable in this regard; she was just a normal girl only a short while ago…

So you say! And I can use this phone here to order drinks?

Wow, what a refined system. Today is my treat, so please sing, eat, and drink as much as you like.

…Hmm. But for some reason, everything on the menu looks unhealthy.

Might we find another place to eat and simply sing while we are here?

Oh, but I can’t deny my burning curiosity for this mysterious, sugary composition… ☆

Huh? What are you looking at? I want to see, too.

…Oh, just looking at this gives me heartburn.

♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪

Oh! The song is starting, and the Princess is singing!

Let’s wait until the song is over, Eichi ♪

Uh, no. This isn’t a live.

You can talk to each other and order drinks and stuff while I’m singing. It’s just supposed to be fun~ ♪

Ehehe. I’m glad we could all go to karaoke.

I’m always intimidated by you guys… but today at least, I feel a lot closer to you, I guess.

Playing together, joking around, and now karaoke? It’s like being at a normal high school hanging out with all my friends.

But instead it’s with people I’ve admired for so long.

Just your saying that is a blessing to me. You have a wonderful smile, Tori.

Fufu. My master loves karaoke.

Though he aspired to be an idol in fine alongside those he admired most, he did not have a home environment where he could practice singing.

Occasionally we would slip away to a karaoke bar to sing and dance together.

This was, of course, before we installed a karaoke room in the manor, and before we enrolled in school here.

It seemed like it would be a good way for him to relax, since he was under so much stress from his lessons and in society.

Yep! Singing and dancing is just pure, simple fun… ☆

I have no clue if I can pull off this original dance thing. I might fail big time and die of embarrassment when everyone makes fun of me.

But I know this experience won’t be for nothing. I’m clinging to that belief.

I just want to dance! I’m “fine,” thank you… ☆²

Ahaha, how cute… What a wonderful thing to have someone look up to you. I’m jealous of you, Eichi.

Is that right? But it’s also because of you that Tori is chasing after me. I’ve always admired you, after all, and I endeavor to get ever closer to you.

Since that day…

I have pored over whether it was the correct choice to let go of a future where I could live as a normal high school student and go to karaoke with Tsumugi.

But I’ve finally arrived at that exact future. I think now I can face those old friends I’ve mourned and make amends with them.

I will always carry the burden of my guilt and my regrets.

But I can swallow them now and move forward. Slowly, step by step.

Yes. Let us go together, toward a brighter future.

One where we may play in the park, or sing karaoke…

We can find what we lost during our childhoods and use it as nourishment. Then we may become adults who can proudly guide the children of the next generation.

There is no need to hurry. We only need enjoy ourselves, hm?

Oh, Eichi—heaven is here, where we live.