Chapter 8
“Anyway, the compulsory event has begun.”
“From here on out, what you do will affect the amount of SSG you earn—So think before you act, okay?”
Ngh… Well, whatever. You did say it’s a surefire way to turn a profit.
I can’t go chasin’ after Onii-chan, so I’ll do what I can to make some money.
“That’s the spirit! Then let’s start with the special mission~! IZUMI –Goddess of the Spring–”1
Izumi? I know that name, from ES right…?
“This is a work of fiction. No resemblance with actual persons, living or deceased, is intended or should be inferred.”
It’s really him! Wait, if you’re here—Can y’even do that? Did you get permission for that?!
Wait a sec, what’d you say about a dirty Onii-chan—
“Gehehe! Hey hey onii-chan, that’s a damn cute face you got there! Why don’tcha come play with widdle ol’ me~?”
Gah—You really are dirty! It’s like they used the sleaziest guy at ES as a reference!
“Or perhaps it was this Pure Itsuki Shu who you dropped?”
“Fufu. Come, let’s build an idol utopia together, you and I… ♪”
Gah–You’re dirty too! You musta been modeled after someone who just puts on some act of bein’ all pure, but your insides are all totally wonky!
“Fufu. You’ve said quite hurtful things, Kagehira-kun.”
Wait uh? Are you s’posed to be Tenshouin-senpai?! Don’tcha know how mean it is to make Oshi-san act like you?!
“Yeah, yeah. Quit making such a racket, it’s sooo~ annoying.”
Hey—You said it! You said his catchphrase! Seriously, do you have the right permissions to use that?!
“Of course. Switch, who is managing SHINSEKAI, is part of the same agency as Knights, so they have a partnership of sorts.”
“It’s not particularly strange that they would provide us with various materials and data.”
Ngaaaah! You’re tickin’ me off! The more I think about it, you look just like Onii-chan, but everythin’ you do screams Tenshouin-senpai!
“Fufu. I’m happy to hear it. If you can grasp that much, it means you’ve taken that much interest in me.”
“Y’know what I’m interested in? A good gamble! Chicks! A fat wad of benjamins! A hard pack of cigs…!”
This guy’s all over the place tryna mimic him! Or like, he barely has any grasp on his personality at all!
It’s like the people who made the program don’t care a lick about the actual people?!
“Whatever, just answer my question? Did you drop Dirty Itsuki Shu or Pure Itsuki Shu?”
Ngaaah…?
“Fufu. This should be an easy one, right? It’s not even a trick question, just a fairy tale that everyone knows.”
“The golden axe, or the silver axe? Fufu, I wonder if we’re giving away too many hints?”
You’re fufu-in’ too dang much! ‘S that your Pokémon cry or somethin’?! Well I mean, the real one of ya does it all the time too but like, you’re puttin’ so much emphasis on it it’s just bummin’ me out!
“I love gamblin’!”
Is that all y’know how to say?! You—!
“Uh-huh, now quit playing straight man and answer my question. Pure Itsuki Shu, or Dirty Itsuki Shu? Well? Which is it?”
Oh, you keep sayin’ it over and over for me… You’re a lot nicer than the real one.
“Fufu. Well, they are from the same agency. And on top of that, they’re programmed to be likeable characters.”
“I looove Sena Izumi-kun! Just as much as I looove gambling!”
Uh? Have y’all’s originals even talked to each other before? Were you s’posed to say that even?! Y’just came out an’ said his name without tryna censor it!
…Ngh, never mind. Onii-chan’s waitin’ for me, so I gotta hurry up and finish this so I can get outta here.
Y’asked me what I dropped, but Tsumu-chan-senpai’s the one who dropped him—naw, ya told me to stop playin’ the straight man.
‘Kay, I got my answer.
My Oshi-san is the greatest artist in the world. He’s someone who can’t be recreated even a little. There’s only one of him, and no one can fill his shoes or take his place.
“Fufu. Is that your answer?”
“Oops! You said ‘Oshi-san!’ You’ll be fined for violation of your orders.”
“I dig the shit outta gambling!”
Shut uuuuup!!!!! I already feel like I’m goin’ bonkers, so can’t you pipe down a sec?!
Ngaaah! I barely even get what SHINSEKAI is, but I am sick an’ tired of this place…!
泉 (izumi) means “spring” as in a fountain or hot springs. There’s a pun happening here~
This is a reference to The Honest Woodcutter.