Chapter 8

I apologize for having kept you waiting! Do excuse me. I’ve brought the script, so I’d appreciate if you give it a once-over just like always!

Naturally, I trust you all, but kindly refrain from wandering around the grounds or making any other moves on your own!

The shrine has already been so gracious as to allow us to film here.

We must be on our best behavior, so as not to make anyone think that celebrities are thoughtless and irrational!

Now then, let us proceed! Salute~!

…What is with that guy? He’s always been prone to doing stuff like this, but since when did he jump so quick to telling people what to do?

Here he is, giving orders like we’re children who aren’t allowed to do anything!

It gets on my nerves that he keeps talking us up like he respects us, but he doesn’t actually trust us one bit!

Haha. Well, we did kinda do whatever we wanted back in Shikoku and Kyushu… Ibara’s just tryna hold us down with some ground rules ‘cause he’s worried about us, probably.

…Yes, that’s probably it. I feel responsible for that, since it was mainly my doing.

…However, I will never apologize. This was necessary for me.

Mmm? If you can never say you’re sorry about anything, you’re going to end up just like Eichi-kun, you know?

…Fufu. I’m too embarrassed to face him after all that’s happened, but I would to talk to him face to face, just once.

…I think we would be able to have more worthwhile conversations now than we could back in those days, when we didn’t know anything.

Oh come on, don’t think so much about Eichi-kun! I’m the only one you should look at, I’m the only one you should think about, and I’m the only one you should love, Nagisa-kun! Hug~ ☆

…I can’t breathe, Hiyori-kun.

Fufun~ It’s freezing outside, so we need to hug each other just like this to share our warmth! That’s how they do it in the wild! And that’s fine weather… ☆

Ah, c’mon. Can you please stop acting so weird when the cameras are rolling? How many times have I had to say this?!

Fufu. How nice that everyone’s getting along ♪

It’s easy to see that Eden is shaping up to be the top dog this year!

Last year we ran into some unusual trouble and suffered greatly for it, but I have full confidence that we will take the crown as the champions of this upcoming SS!

Well, this year’s SS is considerably different from last year’s, both in terms of the Qualifying Rounds and the Finals—

Even to say that we will win SS has a different implication.

Yes, indeed! We shall give those watching from your TVs or computers a brief explanation!

This is why we have assembled here today in the Chubu region, the location where the SS Finals will be held, and are streaming our prayers for triumph!

The program will be uploaded to the official website for SS and will be available for viewing at any time! This is Eden’s privilege because we’ve earned seed rights!

Basically, we were picked to be guides and explain everything about the SS Finals because all the other units are too tired from the Qualifying Rounds, right?

That’s why they’re filming us freezing our asses off at this shrine to show to the whole country?

I’ll get through it ‘cause it’s my job, but to be real with you, I wanted to kick back and relax during this rest period.

We weren’t picked; we got this position because I wanted it.

It’s times like these, when everyone else’s focus is wandering, that make for the greatest business opportunities—and the greatest victories.

Those idiots—Si vis pacem, para bellum! The final battle of SS has already begun in these preparatory stages! Wahahahaha ☆¹

…The units who have remained in the competition, other than us, are likely acting on their own to obtain victory. Or they should be, if they want to win, that is.

Well, there may be those who don’t find value in that.

I speak particularly of Trickstar. They have the same seed rights that we do, but I imagine they are merely idling their time away.

Well, those guys made a name for themselves pretty weirdly too. They’ve got their own way of doing things, for better or worse.

Hmph. However, I’m sure the public would want to support us, given that we’re so eager to win.

Displaying that attitude is of the utmost importance in the upcoming SS Finals.

What’s that s’posed to mean?

Allow me to explain—in front of the camera, so that everyone will understand.

I’ll begin with the basic rules of the Finals this year—