Chapter 3

Fufu. Well—It sure is swell to see you folks so fired up, even though we all really went through it this time around.

I think it’s totally impossible to turn things around at this point. But, if Rei-kun says we can do it, I actually start to believe we can. Pretty weird, right?

Yes—Sakuma-senpai has always been very reliable.

Hmph, it’s too late to be pullin’ that motivation outta your ass, ya piece of crap! I’m sick of you two always bein’ so irresponsible!

…… (ignores Koga and looks away)

Wait no, cut it out? You just think it’s sooo funny that I get upset when you ignore me, don’tcha?!

Ahaha, but it’s nice to have a new running gag, isn’t it?

Yes. You should always look on the bright side of life, Oogami.

I don’t really care what you do, but can you at least do your job? The live already started, y’know?

Ahaha, it’s been a while since we were all together, so I guess we all wanna catch up?

Even so, you can do that backstage, okay~? The fans were just as lonely as we were, so don’t just keep all your excitement in this little group, okay~?

If you’re too useless, I’ll have to set up another trap for you and get rid of you for realsies this time~

What’d you say? Don’t get so fulla yourself just ‘cause you pulled one over on us. You were only playin’ the bad guy to con the Administration, right?

We know for sure you two’re just a coupla good kids.

But there might be some guys out there who’ll think you’re actually cold-blooded, ruthless villains, so be careful about that!

That’s right. You can’t entertain them if they’re afraid of you. But at the same time, you can’t get too close to the people you want to make happy. I know that well.

And so I want you to smile, and to not make such scary faces—Yuuta, Hinata.

Huhhh? But I’m always smiling~ ♪

Yeah, yeah. We’ll listen to what our senpais tell us~ After all—we’re good, obedient kids.

…Dumbass.

Ow?! Don’t mess up my hair, you monster! I had it done all nice, too!

“~… ♪”

And now you’re ignoring me. Didn’t your mommy teach you to treat others how you want to be treated?

Ahaha, but the one who taught us that was our dad.

He didn't teach us anything; all he did was pick and nag. You know, “don’t cause trouble for anyone”—That’s what toxic parents always say, isn’t it?

“♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪”

Jeezy creezy, you care so much about Dad it’s almost like you love him or something~… Right, Yuuta-kun?

—Hey, Hinata-kun.

Hm? What’s up Mister, you want a little kissy-kissy? Even though Onii-chan’s watching us~! Oh, how scandalous!

Your personality’s as fickle and hard to figure out as Rei-kun’s~

But yeah, I guess it’s more fun if you’re not so predictable.

That aside—

Yikes! No señor, don’t take out that sword por favor! I get it’s just a fake sword we’re using as a prop, but it’s still scary!

Fufu, I’m copying Souma-kun~ ♪

Whoa, you're the coolest dude in Japan! Kyaaa~ You’re so hot, Mister Hakaze~ ☆

…I have a question for you, if that’s okay.

…What is it? You’re glaring at me like you’re gonna chop my head off with that sword if I give you the wrong answer.

—Yuuta-kun probably wasn’t playing back there, wasn’t he?

……

He was actually, seriously trying to destroy us.

Adonis-kun and them really talked him up when they were explaining everything, and so it made it seem like he was just playing the villain.

But was that really the truth?

Rei-kun goes without saying, but Adonis-kun and Koga-kun have a really sharp intuition, like wild animals. At the same time, they can’t read the atmosphere to save their lives, and they don’t think too deeply about anything.

Yeowch. You’re not holding back, huh.

Yep. But it’s because they’re such pure kids that they always see the truth of things. They manage to get the most important things right every time.

That’s why, if Yuuta-kun’s true intentions were to dupe the Administration—They wouldn’ve seen right through it, probably.

But. From what I heard, those guys were seriously panicking about it.

Rei-kun told me they were so pissed about Yuuta-kun betraying them, they were on the verge of getting physical with him.

It seems to me that they were so mad because they realized that Yuuta-kun really did betray them.

He really did trick us, and he really did use that to get an in with the Administration—

He tried to use us to get ahead.

……