Chapter 2

…Heh. Reasons, huh? Welp, no helping that~

(? I thought he’d pester me a lot more about it, but he’s actually being understanding...)

If you’re not gonna spill the beans, I’ll just have to come up with my own answer!

Let’s see—You’re growing your hair out for a wish, so since you’re a strapping young man it must mean you found a sweetheart or two you wanna get with!

C’mon, it’s just us here, you can tell me who you’ve got the hots for ♪

(Or not!)

This has absolutely nothing to do with my love life…!

Also what do you mean by a sweetheart or two? Can’t you at least make me more devoted in your insane fantasy world?

Ooh, so you’re the devoted type… I getcha, it’s ‘cause you get so consumed by love. And that’s why you had that wistful look on your face just now too, amirite?

Why does it have to have something to do with romance? I was thinking about stuff—stuff that has nothing to do with you, Senpai…

Oh, maybe it does have something to do with you?

Whatcha mean?

You know how Chocolat Fes is happening within the next month?

I was thinking you might be related to this whole thing if Crazy:B is planning to perform in it.

Chocolat Fes…? Oh yeah, pretty sure Mr. Four-Eyes said something or other about it.

Some over-the-top email about it being held at ES for the first time… Oh oh, here it is.

Aniki and I got the same email. The VP is really going all out for this, isn’t he~

Aniki was all like, “Oh, that guy’s a real businessman, so he’s gotta be itching for some Valentine’s stonks.”

Hmmm? Well when you think about it, the work the White Team did during SS wasn’t worth the shit payout, so I bet Mr. Four-Eyes is really hankering for a new battle.

If he’s just tryna line his pockets, it won’t be any fun getting in on the action. But at the same time, we do have a chef on our side, and a real sweet tooth.

I keep totally ignoring my email. It’s damn annoying to get sent reminders though, so I’ll give ‘em a reply.

Oh, so you still haven’t gotten that far.

We responded the day the VP emailed us and told him we’d be there.

I don’t really get this whole Chocolat Fes thing. There’s something like that back at Yumenosaki Academy right?

Sure is. Which is why we’re performing in both.

Yumenosaki’s Chocolat Fes, and ES’s very first Chocolat Fes—

We’ll be on both stages to show off what 2wink can do. And then a whole bunch of people will see us.

We’ve at least agreed about that much.

That’s it?

(…Crap.)

Haha~ Is that really the only thing you’ve decided? That you’ll go to both Chocolat Fests? So that’d mean you’re not doing so hot in any other area?

I didn’t say that…

Up to now you’ve always made sure you guys look so similar no one’d be able to even figure out if you swapped places.

You little 2wink-chans have always put so much stock in your “two-in-one” twin shtick, but now you’re so mismatched you can only decide on one single thing ♪

Nobody wants to get anywhere near a lovers’ spat, but fights between bros? Whew, those bad boys go down in history! Just open any old textbook and see for yourself.

If a war broke out every time two brothers fought, we’d have been through a million battles by now.

Man, Hiiro-kun’s such a good and honest guy though, I can’t even imagine you guys fighting.

……

But anyway, it’s not like the two of us are fighting about this whole thing.

It’s more like… We just have different visions.

Gyahaha—different visions, huh? That’s enough a reason for bands to break up ♪

Good thing we’re not a band then, or I might be a bit worried~

Different visions isn’t the only reason bands split, anyway. Sometimes it’s when they get too satisfied from all the accomplishments they’ve built up.

And we’re well aware that’s a goalpost we aren’t even close to, so that just means we’ll never break up.

But you guys’re so bent outta shape you just spilled all your woes on me without thinking.

I can’t help but get irritated when you keep treating us like your little playthings…

Curiosity killed the cat, y’know. Get your nose out of our disagreement.

Look, when we go to get snacks, Aniki always gets chocolate, and I get senbei.

And even though we have the same options for curry, he’ll pick a normal curry and I’ll get a super spicy one.

It’s just small, everyday things. We don’t have to agree on everything; that’s normal.

Normal, huh…?

If you’re so on edge about normal stuff, then you must get real pissy every day, right Yuta? Gyahahaha ☆

Yeah, I’d say someone’s pissing me off right about now…

(Ah, this is so so so bad. Talking to this guy puts me in the worst mood.)

(And he’s even more persistent than usual today too… I don’t know how long he’s been sitting next to me, but he’s way too close.)

(Okay, that’s enough. I have to stop the conversation here. I can’t do research when I’m talking with Senpai.)

……

Whatcha getting up for?

I’ve got a meeting with Aniki in the office after this. So I think I should get going, even if it’s a little early.

A meeting? What kind?

Just a normal meeting about work. And then we’ll be talking about Chocolat Fes.

Like I said, there’s less than a month left. We have a lot of decisions to make.

It’ll be Crazy:B’s first Chocolat Fes if you guys decide to perform, right? You don’t really have the leeway to worry about anyone else.

You’re worrying about us even though you guys are in deep shit? Aww, you’re so sweet, Yuta~ ☆

Ahaha, I’m not worried about you at all, Senpai. But I know you aren’t sold on participating just yet, so I’m worried about everyone else.

……

Well anyway, I’ve gotta put up the senbei I didn’t finish and wash my teacup…

Holy shit—all that red powder just came spilling outta the bag. Just how much shimichi powder is on that senbei?!

I don’t care how bad you want them, I’m seriously not gonna share with you, got that…?