Chapter 5

A–anyways! This is probably a terrible idea, but I’m gonna read through this diary! I just need some kind of info right now!

Yes, um… the person who wrote this diary, and who lives in this apartment, seems to have been an idol.

What is an idol? Based on what I’ve heard from you, Tomoya-kun, I was that thing too…?

Seriously? You’re asking what an idol is? Don’t ask me all these impossible questions like you’re some sort of Amagi factkinner! Just give me questions I actually know the answer to!

That’s a pretty difficult request, though? I’m not sure if I can do that.

Urgh. And here I thought I’d finally be able to show your high-and-mighty ass who’s boss around here.

Boss? Did we have that sort of relationship?¹

Gh, shut up!

Anyways, I’m getting the impression that the idol who lives here was a total flop who never made it big.

Look at the beginning of the diary: “From here on out, I’m an idol! I’m going to work hard and get crazy popular!” They wrote it with so much conviction and spirit.

I guess this person couldn’t learn the ropes or get a job, or something.

They started out as an indie idol because they wanted to compete with their own ability and without relying on ES.

But nowadays, it’s pretty hard to be a successful idol without being part of ES.

Is that right? ES… That’s yet another thing I’m unfamiliar with, perhaps due to my missing memories.

If I had to sum it up, it’s an organization that basically runs the show for idols everywhere. That’s what they’re doing right now for SS too—which is the thing we’re in the middle of right now.

SS… I don’t understand all these technical terms.

Just try to keep up somehow. It looks like because of all that, the person who lives here wasn’t able to sell themself as an idol at all, and they started losing their mind after some time.

It says that they couldn’t reach the ideal they had dreamed of, and they had to stand and face the harsh reality.

Umm, I feel bad for them?

Me too. And after this, it’s too much for me.

There’s a lot of talking about their grudge against ES and their peers in the industry—other idols, that is—and a bunch of self-loathing and wondering why they’re so useless. The complaints grow with each entry.

The last parts are just… insane.

Things like “die die die die” scrawled all over the pages, and some drawings of some kind of incomprehensible monster, and a skewered human body.

On this last page, it’s just a bunch of scribbled lines. And after that… it’s blank.

What the hell is this…? Just skimming through it gives me this terrible feeling.

Like, is the person who lives here okay? D–do you think they killed themself? I kinda wanna call the cops or something!

Oh god, what if we find their body lying around in one of the rooms…? I never looked around ‘cause I would’ve felt guilty invading other people’s privacy, but?!

…?!

—Gyah?!

Wh–what was that? That was the doorbell just now, right? Is someone here?

(banging on the door) This is the police!

Open up! This is the police!

Th–the police…? Oh my god, we’re saved!

That’s some great timing! Um, we found something weird in this apartment and—

Please wait, Tomoya-kun.

Ngah?! D–don’t grab me by the neck, do you want me to die?!

Apologies. I have no memories, so I wasn’t aware of that… If you grab someone by the neck, they’ll die. I’ll keep that in mind.

Urgh, what’re you doing? Why’d you stop me? The police are here, so we can get help now—

—Wait! We’re the trespassers here! We just barged into this apartment and ate their food and stuff! Shit, what do we do? Are we gonna get arrested?

But y’know, we couldn’t help it! We’re in this completely outlandish situation, so if we just explain everything to the cops and ask them to protect us then—

Before you do that, are you sure that voice belongs to a policeman?

Wh…?

I’m not sure, but it sounds similar to the cries of the monsters roaming around outside…?

U–uh?? So like, what’re you saying—that a monster is impersonating the cops?

The monster is pretending to be a cop so it can lure us out and eat us…? I’ve seen that in a movie before!

Wh–wh–what should we do? Isn’t this really bad?

Mm. I could be mistaken. We should probably check first to see if the voice really does belong to a policeman.

But for some reason, just hearing the voice makes me feel anxious, like I want to run away as fast as I can.

—No response, huh. Well, whatever.

We’ll break down the door and rush in. All of you, secure the suspect as quick as you can. Don’t matter if you gotta break an arm or two.

Huhhh?!?!?! What’re they saying? That’s dangerous!!

Just like I thought—Let’s run, Tomoya-kun! The window over there leads out onto the street! Hurry!

Nghh? Seriously, what the fuck? There’s nothing normal about this situation no matter how you slice it…!