Chapter 5
“—Ya rat, the hell ya doin’ playin’ around in a place like this?”
“Oh dear…?”
Huh? There’s… two Maddies…?
(What the heck? Now there’s two little guys who look just like Maddie? And now they’re flyin’ all around me an’ Oshi-san!)
So that’d mean one of these Maddies is a fake…!
“Um, no, there’s still the possibility that both of us are fakes? You’re not exactly an idiot, so why do you keep saying such idiotic things?”
Ngah? But I am an idiot?
“Not at all. You’re naive with childlike innocence, but you’re not dumb.”
“It wouldn’t be wrong to say that both me and you-know-who over here are both fakes.”
“Oi. You’re lettin’ the truth slip out, Hidaka.”
“Since there’s two of us now, I figured it would be a good idea to make it easier to distinguish between us. Well, we are wearing different clothes, so you can already tell us apart.”
“But in any case, it looks like Mika-kun has pretty much figured out who I am…”
“I wasn’t actually planning on hiding it the whole time, anyway. So it was just a matter of now or later.”
Hidaka, like Trickstar? Or maybe not? Wait, are you really Hidaka Seiya—san?”
“Correct. It’s me, superidol and dearest father of Hocchan, Hidaka Seiya. It’s been a while, Mika-kun; how have you been?”
……
“Ahaha, I’ve put you on guard, haven’t I? It looks like your beloved and respected Oshi-san isn’t the only one who hates being manipulated by others.”
“Hmmm, perhaps we got off on the wrong foot the first time we met.”
“I’m not exactly great at connecting with others in my private life. Especially if they’re idols—I just can’t get it right.”
“There are various potential causes for that, but…”
“At least I’m able to influence others with power or money, but I feel bad for Hocchan. He has the same disposition as me, so he’s going to have a hard time out there, don’t you think?”
Uhh, whatcha even talkin’ ‘bout…?
Kagehira! What on earth is happening here? Why are there multiple Mademoiselles flying around me now…? No, I’m positive these are both imposters!
And yet, to have such adorable Mademoiselles floating about within my sight—Oh, what sweet temptation! I feel as though I’ll go dumb with excitement!
“Ahaha, I’d say that ever since you logged into SHINSEKAI, everything you’ve said and done has been nothing but dumb.”
“You’ve got to be better than that if you want to be an idol.”
I can’t hear a word you’re saying, but I am well aware you’re taking me for a fool!
“I’m doing no such thing. I do think it’s a waste, though.”
“However. For an idol, losing your personality is the same thing as dying. At best, you ought to regret choosing a doll that’s so difficult to manipulate.”
“Idols who can do anything, in every field, and pull it off with flying colors—”
“They’re the ones who survive the longest. So why does everyone cling to something as transient and unbalanced as individuality?”
“First off, there’s not too many out there who can do everything, Hidaka. It’d be better to line all doze guys who can actually do anything up in the shop windows, just like we did in the past.”
“Way too many idols deez days.”
“That’s all because it was good for business. The system is making efforts to be flexible in order to keep up with the times.”
“Now that we’re in a transitional period, it looks like we’re seeing some problems and defects here and there.”
“I doubt the ones who call the shots over at ES have any ill will—It’s more that they’re just plain incompetent.”
“Why ya tellin’ me all this?”
“It could have been anyone. It’s not often that I get to criticize the top brass, so I figured I’d give it a shot.”
…?
Onii-chan, why don’tcha just unmute them if y’can’t hear ‘em?
…I already have. It appears as though something strange has occurred.
“Sure thing. Looks like some trouble broke out that’s affectin’ the whole shebang—”
“So just to make sure, we’re headin’ into our scheduled rest period. Youse oughtta log outta here and get back to reality.”
Yeah, but we don’t even know how to do that…?
“If I told ya how, you’d probably just scram as soon as possible.”
“Since Switch is runnin’ this whole show, they probably didn’t wanna tell ya nothin’ ‘cause they didn’t want no trouble.”
“But it don’t bother me one bit. I couldn’t care less about ya.”
…Judging by your tone, might you be that Gatekeeper person?
“That’s the name, don’t wear it out. Actually, no need to even remember who I am.”
“Well, you know. Doze other idols are the same way—too busy fightin’ amongst themselves, they can’t even see that’s what we want ‘em to do.”
“It’s all accordin’ to plan. And I’m outta sight, outta mind.”
“Idols sure are dumb as ever.”
“Hey now. If you bully these kids too much, they’ll hold a grudge and hate you for the rest of their lives, you know?”
“Hmph. I’m no idol—It’s no skin off my back if other people hate me. ”
“Must be rough havin’ to clamor for public favor, huh?”
“Did you come all this way just to say that?”
“Nah, I came here for you. I just figured I’d say hi to Valkyrie while I was at it.”
“You seem pretty attached to deze guys, but I’m gonna need ya to cut it short and come with me.”
“And if I say no? I’m not participating in SS; I can’t be bound by any of your orders.”
“C’mon, be a good little robot and do what you’re told. …Or we can always just say you’re the bad guy here and clean up this little mess.”
“That wouldn’t be very good~ But I still don’t know what the little mess even is.”
“The wise man fears and turns away from evil. I intend to live a long life to avoid making my beloved family sad.”
“I don’t want to make the same mistakes Akehoshi-kun did.”