Chapter 1
Mid-December, during the preparatory phase between the SS qualifiers and the Finals—Yumenosaki Academy
“Salute~!”
“We welcome you all to the special feature preluding the largest event in the idol industry: SS!”
“I am Fushimi Yuzuru, a member of the Red Team’s leader unit, fine. I’ll be leading the program today… along with—!”
“Saegusa Ibara, from the White Team’s leader unit, Eden. Salute~!”
“Fufu ♪ It is my sincere hope that everyone watching and everyone in the press will enjoy themselves today! Salute~!”
(whispering) I was simply having a little fun ♪ It’s been some time since I led a press conference such as this—
(whispering) And so I attempted to imitate the mannerisms of those two in 2wink, as they had a good reputation and were assigned to these positions quite often in Yumenosaki.
(whispering) I suppose you could call it mirroring? It’s a tactic which makes people feel more intimate with you by copying their behaviors.
(whispering) Hmm! Well, it seems that your tactic has failed you, yes~? Rather than feeling closer to you, I'd say I feel closer to murdering you~ ♪
(whispering) Fufu. Getting this heated from the smallest of agitations—Doesn’t that merely show what a novice you are?
…… (calculates the precise angle that will allow him to avoid the camera, and duly attempts to step on Yuzuru's foot)
…… (avoids it)
Fufu. I’m happy to see sparks flying so early on, but I’d prefer they cut their petty bickering short and continued on with the program.
…Yes. This isn’t a live broadcast, though, so it can be edited out later on. It’s not worth it to stop filming.
...But I have a lot on my plate right now. I want to finish our work today as soon as possible and go home, so try not to waste too much time.
Hmm. That’s quite rare for you; you always look like you have so much free time. I wonder if hell has frozen over this winter.
—I do hope it’ll warm up by the time the sun rises on the new year.
…Yes. I hope for the same.
Yes yes! It’s just the finest weather when the sun’s shining down on me!
But y’know, this sure takes me back~ We filmed for a program right here same time last year, didn’t we?
Back then, it was Trickstar on the set next to us, though.
Fufufu. It seems the filming of this program has become an annual tradition. Naturally so, considering Yumenosaki Academy was the sponsor for SS—
Sure, but this year ES’s the one sponsoring it.
I know the event used to be organized by Yumenosaki in the past, so did you make everyone come all the way out to your home turf to film all the promotional stuff?
Yes. It’s a tradition that doesn’t need to be changed, and so this year, too, it was decided that we would film here at Yumenosaki.
Ooh, thanks for enlightening me.
…I didn’t expect that you’d be able to speak with me so naturally.
Huh? Uh, am I not s’posed to…?
No, that isn’t what I meant. Actually, you’ve reminded me: You’re the only member of Eden who has no relation to anyone in fine.
Oh, huh. Ohii-san and Nagi-senpai were originally in fine or something, right… I guess that counts as a relation.
No clue why Ibara’s so mad at that Fushimi guy, though.
It seems they were something of childhood friends—I envy them. But Butler-san doesn’t speak much of his own past, so I’m unaware of the details.
Do you know any more about it, Princess?
……
…Princess?
Gwah?! Uh, wh—what? Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention!
No, there’s no need to apologize. Are you all right? You’ve been quite out of it for some time now. It’s still too early to let the winter vacation cloud your mind, don’t you think?
Yeah… I–I’m fine. I just haven’t been able to get much sleep lately.
We’re supposed to have a break between the Qualifiers and the Finals and like, take a break and stuff…
But I’ve had to keep working for all sorts of reasons, so maybe I’m just tired.
I see. It seems you’ve also been busy with work pertaining to Christmas.
Christmas? You tryna pull a Santa or something?
What do you even mean by that…? I don’t think that even makes grammatical sense?
Right, I’m not really one for formalities, so people often tell me the way I talk is kinda odd~ ♪
There’s way too many people who talk all weird at ES. Seriously, I’m always like, how do you even talk like that?
I feel you there ♪
Hey, Jun-kun! Who do you think you are, ignoring me and getting all friendly with fine?!
Uh? I have zero clue why you’re mad at me.
I always get first dibs on everything, no matter what it is. And then, because I’m such a kind person, I’ll toss you a bone or two… That’s how the Earth keeps turning and the economy keeps working!
I barely understand what you’re saying at all… but okay?
Fufufu. Perhaps he means to say that he gets jealous and lonely when he’s apart from his most cherished friend, especially when that friend is off making friends with others?
All right, if you could all just settle down, now! We may have been the ones who caused the atmosphere to relax, but I would ask you to kindly refrain from idle conversation, so as not to further interrupt our progress!
Fufu, but I am rather relieved to see you all much more comfortable than I thought you would be.
—Even though from here onward, we will be putting everything on the line to destroy each other ♪
Ibara uses 俺 (ore) here as his personal pronoun, as opposed to his usual 自分 (jibun). This is the pronoun he used when he was still at the military camp as a kid, and he will use it around Yuzuru occasionally, as well (the same goes for Yuzuru by the way). He also speaks informally in this line, as opposed to his usual kiss-ass polite speech.