99: Feeding

Thank you for the meal.

Ahh~ I’m sooo full. This morning I was convinced I wouldn’t be able to keep anything down—I’m surprised I ate so much.

Fufufu, I finally got to eat that chocolate parfait I’ve been craving… ♪

Yes. We got more money for Bon Festival than we were expecting, so go ahead and eat as much as you’d like for today.

But starting tomorrow, we’ll have to show more restraint.

I, too, have indulged in meat and the like. May we give thanks to God and to all creation for His bounty.

Ahaha, I don’t even think it’s weird anymore that Tattsun-senpai prays before and after every meal.

Yes. And I believe I’ve developed a good sense for the social etiquette in the city. Before, I didn’t even know what the dishes on the menu were.

Now I at least have a general idea about what I’ll be served.

Ahaha. But Hiro-kun, you mistook an omelet for omurice and had to order rice on the side.

Yes. Well, relatively speaking, I mean.

Of course. You just have to take it one step at a time. Each person goes at their own pace; the important thing is that you’re always moving forward.

Well, that said. We are still just babies toddling about. We’ll topple over if we’re not careful.

I think we should take Crazy:B’s proposal into serious consideration.

But to be honest, we don’t really have time for that. Summer vacation will be over if we take too long thinking about it—which means it’s game over for us, too.

Yes. It’s better that we didn’t just make a decision on the spot and that we took the time to talk it over for a little bit like this.

We’re so worn out from Bon Festival yesterday that it may lower our ability to make decisions—

—I think Nii-san launched his attack anticipating just that.

Fufu. But Tattsun-senpai just forced his way in all like, “Do you mind if we talk about the specifics after we eat?” with a totally serious face…

You really saved our butts and bought us some time to make a decision.

Of course. However, it’s just what we were talking about before Hiiro-san’s brother came to visit.

I thought we ought to do what we must without being led astray by other people’s actions.

Hehe. You’re right, but I’m easily influenced, so I admire you for digging in your heels…

Tattsun-senpai, you really are the backbone of ALKALOID, aren’t you ♪

Fufu. I am the eldest of us, so if you expect me to be a paternal figure, then I’ll fulfill that role.

But I’d also like Mayoi-san to take up the maternal role of nurturing and protecting everyone.

Eek… Before I can do that, I’d need more physical strength… There’s no way I can support everyone when I break in half if the wind just blows on me.

I’ve finally recovered enough to put a little bit of food in my stomach, though.

I’m glad. …Mayoi-san, you’ve been picking at your food; whatcha eating?

U, um. I thought it might be easy to digest, so I went with some fruit jello… ♪

Hm. Sometimes you act like a little bug, Mayoi-senpai.

Huh—Are you giving me a compliment?!

Yes. When I was younger, Nii-san and I would go bug hunting together, and then we’d put all the bugs we collected into a miniature garden—It was a kingdom of bugs.

Bugs are tied to a lot of my happy memories.

Hmmm. To think there was ever a time when that Amagi Rinne got all gaga about catching bugs…

Wait, I dunno if this even matters, but do bugs actually eat jello?

Yes, I used to make it every day—using a recipe Nii-san came up with.

How nostalgic… But that kingdom fell with the coming of winter.

I don’t want my hometown, the place where I was born and raised, to face the same fate—not if I can help it. Now that Father has fallen, we need a powerful chief—

If Nii-san doesn’t return, my hometown will be torn apart and vanish completely.

…Wait a sec. I was just thinking, isn’t Crazy:B in almost the same position as us? Like, on the brink of being laid off.

Rather than being in “almost” the same position as we are, they’re in exactly the same position. But they’re taking quite unexpected actions.

From what I’ve read, they’ll also be laid off if they can’t produce results at the MDM.

Hmmm. I wonder why, since they’re from a different agency… Then they also have to do well at the MDM?

Or like, if they can’t make it to the stage, it’s all over for them.

Hiro-kun’s brother—Amagi Rinne can’t keep being an idol if he’s laid off.

And if that happens, he’ll have to go back to the boonies, and Hiro-kun will be able to achieve his goal, right?

Hiro-kun, you’ve been saying a lot of weird stuff about destroying idols and all that.

But you don’t have to go that big—You just have to hurt Crazy:B bad enough that they can’t perform at the MDM.