Chapter 2

Ah, whatever. Like I said, take a load off, Nito Nazuna. The only thing ya can do right now is talk to me.

Sure, ya can go run around lookin’ for your precious friends, but you’re not gonna find ‘em. And even if you figure out where we’ve put ‘em away, ya can’t get to ‘em.

Put ‘em away…? What do you mean by that? What did you do to them?!

Don’t snap at me, it’s annoyin’. Is that really the kinda attitude people think is cute?

But it ain’t real smart of ya. Ya oughta be tryin’ to schmooze me—Get me talkin’, wheedle some intel outta me.

I already told ya, I got your dear friends’ lives in my hands.

Ya don’t hafta butter me up so blatantly like Aoba or nothin’, but there’s an art to socializin’ and gettin’ on someone’s good graces.

Aoba? Is Tsumugi-chin involved in this uh, conspiracy-thing or whatever?

…Man, talkin’ to morons sure is exhaustin’.

Why’d Tenshouin even send ya scurryin’ over here, anyway? Well, if you think about it, it’s not like you’re gonna get in the way of my plans—

So you’d be a useful tool—We can take advantage of that and pry information outta ya.

And if that don’t work, you’re still a nice plaything we can use to pass the time.

You trying to pick a fight with me, huh? I’m not so softhearted that I’ll put up with this forever, you know?

‘Cept ya got no choice here. And that’s ‘cause… the next time ya make me repeat myself, I’m gonna kill ya.

……

Hey you, Nito Nazuna. I dunno how I’m s’posed to get it through your little head.

All youse guys out there who live by your emotions—You’re obnoxious. It’s like I’m tryin’ to train an animal.

But whatever. Anzu, how ‘boutcha make some tea for our guest here. It’s the middle of winter and the air’s dry as hell—Nito’s gotta be parched.

…‘Scuse me? I’m the one who forbid ya from interaction’ with the ES idols?

And you think just ‘cause you’re not my subordinate or my slave, ya don’t gotta follow no orders?

That’s where you’re wrong. Ya are my subordinate. I’m the chairman of the SS Administration Committee, and you’re just a peon at the bottom of the totem pole.

…Tch, so you’re ignorin’ me now. What, ya hate me or somethin’?

This broad’s been actin’ like that this whole time. Don’tcha think that’s pretty damn rude, Nito?

She don’t even give me a proper answer when I talk to ‘er. It feels like I’m just monologuin’ at myself all the time, so I wanted someone to talk to.

So why don’tcha think of this as helpin’ me out a bit, Nito.

(…? What, is he just looking for a friendly chat? Why would he want to do that?)

(But he’s been acting like he doesn’t give a crap about us at all. It feels so contradictory.)

(Urrgh… I’m not any good at picking at people’s brains.)

(Even though I spent all that time at Yumenosaki, where lying and cheating each other was an everyday occurrence.)

(It was only last year, though, that I finally started thinking for myself—and stopped giving others that power. I have about as much experience in this field as Tomo-chin and the rest. So basically… nothing.)

(I know I don’t have the right to act all haughty and call myself Nii~chan, or even a senpai, but—)

Hm? Oh, did you make this tea for me, Anzu? Thanks~ ♪

Huh? It wasn’t ‘cause I ordered ya to? Just ‘cause you wanted to serve tea to your favorite senpai?

This’s what I’m talkin’ about. She just won’t learn her place, that Anzu broad.

Even though doze idols she relies on so much are scattered all across the country, and she’s all alone, a prisoner, with nobody to help ‘er.

But ‘er eyes still got a little spark in ‘em. Why don’t she just give up and be a good little doll who does what I want?

…Anzu-chin, you’re so strong.

(And it’s because of that willpower that you’ve become a producer that everyone trusts, even the ones with a lot of strong tendencies, or the ones who do whatever they want.)

(I can’t get a good read on this situation, but it looks like you’ve just been deprived of your freedom…)

(As long as you don’t give up, you can still win. After all—You’re part of Trickstar too, right?)

(Stirring the pot and making a big comeback is your forte.)

(So I’ll give it my best shot, too. At least, I don’t wanna get in your way—)

(Well, I’ll do whatever I can to the best of my ability. Just like it’s last year, when we all fought against the student council’s iron fist.)

(Ahaha, I can really feel my energy rising~ ♪)