Chapter 1
Oop… Careful, Anzu-chan, there’s a buncha empty cans all on the ground there, so make sure not to trip.
Yep. There’s no classes or DreamFes during the winter break, so there shouldn’t be too many students around here…
So I’m kinda surprised there’s so much trash all over.
Well yeah, I guess that could be the reason they out here callin’ for in-school jobs so early in the year.
Ngah? Why’re you puckerin’ up your face like that, Anzu-chan? Did I push your buttons or something?
Eh—? We met up without sayin’ happy new year to each other?
Oh, right! Happy new year, Anzu-chan~ ♪
La~tely I been busier than a one-eyed cat watchin’ three mice holes. The new year came an’ went before I knew it, so I sti~ll can’t believe it’s really here.
Did you go anywhere over the holidays, Anzu-chan?
Ooh, you helped out a friend workin’ as a shrine maiden?1
I’m prolly not the one to be sayin’ this, but you oughta let your body rest on your days off, right?
People keep sayin’ they’re worried about me since I’m always working, so I make sure to rest as much as I can in my downtime.
Huh? Then why am I working right now?
Ngah~ When I’m lazin’ around at home, I start feeling like I’m doing something wrong.
And then even when I was tryin’ my best to take a load off, I jus’ got so bored I thought I was gonna die.
I asked Oshi-san for something to do, but he couldn’t think of anything.
So for now, I just threw on my uniform and came on down to school… An’ while I was wanderin’ about, I came across this job offer. Figured it could kill my boredom, so I ended up applying.
Ahaha, you’re the same way, Anzu-chan? Maybe we’re a lot alike, then ♪
…Ngahh—?
Nn~ I picked it up ‘cause I thought it was garbage, but this is a lottery ticket, ain’t it? Lookie here, it’s got “First Dream Lottery” written on it.
Usually I’d just bring it on down to the student council office, but since it’s winter break there’s no one there. I could give it to the police?
Huh? You think there might be a teacher in the staff room?
Now that you mention it, you’re right. Then I’ll go head down to the staff room and let them know someone lost something ♪
……
Ngah—don’t hit me on the shoulder so outta the blue like that~ Y’scared the bejesus outta me!
Y–yeah. Right now it’s just a little piece of paper, but depending on the situation it might could turn into a whole lotta money, right? So I’m a li’l fidgety…
I can’t seem to hold myself together. If I’m already this bad, I can’t help but feel like, if I fell into this kinda money I’d prolly be shaking like a leaf.
Nn? What I’d do if I won?
Um~ I dunno… Even if I go rackin’ my brain, I can’t think of anything except to stick it in Valkyrie’s funds.
My imagination ain’t none too great. Sorry I can’t come up with some kinda dreamy-like thing, Anzu-chan.
But lemme turn the tables on ya. What might you do with that money?
Hmm, use it on everything you need for your idol work?
But since it’s your money, you oughta spend it on something for yourself. You’re always puttin’ idols as your top priority, huh?
Well, what if you imagine your dream live? You could do anything you want if you got the funds for it.
Ehehe. If I had the money, I’d wanna put it toward a super extravagant live ♪
Maybe in a concert hall instead of that underground live house. I’d wanna help Oshi-san create the stage of his dreams.
And then we’d show off to the audience all like, look! This is the kinda art that goes down in history!
Well, one day I’m gonna do that anyway, even if I never get all that money…
But in order to do that I gotta keep savin’ up our unit funds by doing in-school jobs.
Uhmm, well, I done said my piece, so now it’s your turn, Anzu-chan~
Ngah, you could say a whole lot about that?
Ahaha, just talking ‘bout it makes me feel all floaty. Yeah yeah, I wanna hear all about it ♪
‘Scuse me~
Nnoh…? Kagehira and Anzu, huh? What d’ya want? This old man wanted to head on home, so make it quick, yeah?
Nnngh, I found this when I’s workin’ a job an’ so I’m bringing it here.
Found what?
Ah~ Hang on a sec. This is kinda familiar… Oh wait, this is mine.
I just kinda shoved it in my pocket, so it must’ve fallen out.
Thanks~ Actually that reminds me, there’s that law that says if someone finds something you lost, you’ve gotta pay them back ten percent.
So if I win, I’ll share some of the prize money with you two.
Mm~ What day is today, anyway?
Huh? You don’ remember? Even though it’s right after new years?
Ah, well, as you get older, the days passing by don’t really matter anymore. In any case, the lottery results should have been published in the paper by now.
Umm, 2395… hm? Wait, is this—the jackpot…?
Wait, seriously?! H–how much is that jackpot worth?
……
Ngahh—?! Aw dagnabbit, I up an’ passed out for a second there. What’s goin’ on, Anzu-chan?!
That big ol’ number’s so far past my understanding that I couldn’t believe it.
How much is ten percent outta 200,000,000? Well nah, even just ten percent’s gotta be a whole lotta money… I can’t even think o’ nothing to do with that kinda cash~!
Ah~ Sorry to get your hopes up. I compared the numbers up to the last one, and they ended up being different.
Gah, you went an’ got us all excited…!
But I’m a bit relieved. Since gettin’ a wad of cash that big’d just make me more scared than happy.
I like to think money’s earned from workin’ hard, and that’s why it’s so precious. If someone just up an’ hands it to you for no reason, it don’t got near as much worth.
Yup yup, work hard while you’re still young. If you spend your youth in the lap of luxury, you definitely won’t grow into a decent adult.
Ngah~ Teach, ain’t you feelin’ even a little bummed out that you didn’t win the lottery?
I just bought a ticket since I had a few leftover coins. If I’d actually won, I’d feel pretty guilty since there are people who wanted it way more than me.
Well, it does look like I won three hundred yen, so I’ll give thirty of that to each of you.
Ngah, you don’t gotta. You already showed me a real nice dream ♪
Right up until we got here, we were talkin’ about what we’d do if we had all that money.
And that already was super fun… So even if you didn’t win, just thinkin’ about those dreams was enough for me ♪
I see, I see. It’s good to keep dreaming~ After all, it’s an idol’s job to show their audience a dream.
There’s no way an idol can touch someone’s heart if they don’t have dreams or wishes of their own.
So what’re your dreams, then?
Ngah~ Y’can’t go askin’ me what my dream is all the sudden. Feels a li’l off to consider makin’ Oshi-san’s art well-known my “dream”…
What about you, Anzu-chan? You wanna keep helpin’ out idols? An’ me too?
Right, thanks.
Just like idols are Anzu-chan’s top priority, mine’s Valkyrie.
Well as far’s I’m concerned, it’s already a dream come true to be in Valkyrie with Oshi-san. The devil himself might come an’ smite me if I ask for anything more.
I pretty much already won the best lottery in the world ♪