Chapter 14
“Ladies and Gentlemen!”
“Everyone, thank you for waiting!”
“And now may we present the joint live between Valkyrie and 2wink~!”
“We’re adventurers! We’ve been traveling far and wide in search of treasures unseen, but…”
“Hey, Aniki. Are you sure we’re in the right place? I’m pretty sure we’re lost.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine! Just put your faith in your onii-chan ♪”
“…Or well, that’s what I would say, if we weren’t totally lost! I’m so sorry!”
“But how’d we end up in a place like this? I had a map and everything~!”
“Are you travelers?”
“Whoa, you scared me! Ummm, and you are?”
“I am the curator of this museum. If you are in need, shall I show you the way?”
“Uh—Yes, please! If we’re left to our own devices, we could very well wander around endlessly without ever finding the exit~!”
“Yuuta-kun, look over there! We just found some amazing treasure~ ♪”
“Huh—An animal cast in iron…? Can it even move like that?”
“Whoa, that fish over there has steam coming out of it! And it’s swimming through the sky!”
“Incredible, I’ve never seen anything like it… This place must be home to a civilization we never even knew existed!”
“Ngah~ Is it that uncommon?”
“Wah! Someone just crept up on me?! Umm, hello there?”
“Howdy do~ ♪”
“Ehehe, It’s been a while since we had any visitors, I’m tickled pink. I got some even more interestin’ stuff for y’all—Here, take a look-see ♪”
“Ohh… It’s an antique clock. Wait, it has a number thirteen on the dial? Why’s that?”
“Yuuta-kun. We’ve traveled all over the place, but this is the first time I’ve been this excited ♪”
“For sure! This, that, everything is so new to me! I can’t help but wonder what else is out there in the world!”
“Ahhh, this is so much fun! I wanna go and explore every single inch of this amazing and mysterious place!”
“My adventurer’s soul is soaring~ ♪”
“But um, before we go searching for the exit, would you mind guiding us around the museum first?”
“Certainly. Follow me.”
“And you’re all welcome to join us! Let’s all enjoy this dream-like experience together ♪”
“♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪”
“♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪”
(Ngah~ Their performance is even better than when we were practicin’!)
(Maybe they been practicin’ a bunch since then—They’re totally in sync. 2wink really are the two-in-one twin idols, ain’t they ♪)
Kagehira. Don’t just stand there in a daze—Sing.
Ngah, sorry ‘bout that Oshi-san! Their performance was just so cool, I couldn’t stop watchin’!
…Oshi-san, are ya puttin’ me in the spotlight again today?
That certainly was the plan. And yet, even when you were talking to those children, you were standing off in the wings of the stage.
I’ve said this time and time again, but there is no room for imperfection in Valkyrie’s lives.
Ngah~ …I know that. I’s just flabbergasted by how those two’re real good at being MCs an’ I missed the timing.
I oughtta learn a thing or two from them. Well, Valkyrie’s lives always kick off with a bang, no introduction or speech or nothin’. So there prolly ain’t no reason for me to go an’ pick up that kinda skill.
Despite that, you still think it’s necessary. So go ahead and polish your skills.
I–I guess… I dunno, lately you’ve been way too nice to me, Oshi-san. It’s kiiinda freaky.
But I am happy ‘bout it… C–can I be happy ‘bout it?
Why are you asking me? I would think anyone would be happy to be treated kindly. On the contrary, you just called me freaky!
W–well yeah, I mean. You’re always layin’ it on thick with the mean comments, so anybody’d be all confused if y’started bein’ nice to them all the sudden.
I’m still confused even now, honestly. But I wanna try an’ be happy with this new, nicer Oshi-san, too.
Ngah~! We’re s’posed to be singin’ an’ dancin’!
Oshi-san, you hate talkin’ during lives, don’tcha? You’re aaaalways sayin’ stuff like “Cut the chatter!” afore lives an’ such.
So I’ll quit yammerin’ on and focus on the live! I gotta do my best to live up to your expectations since y’put me out in the spotlight an’ all!
Just watch me, Oshi-san! This’s gon’ be my masterpiece!
“♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪”
(Hmph, all that talk about your “masterpiece,” and yet your steps are a tenth of a second slow!)
(But… I can still feel your enthusiasm.)
You’ve done well, Kagehira.
Ngah? What’dja say, Oshi-san? It was the climax of the song so it kinda drowned your voice out.
…Wait a sec, You’re still talkin’?!
Careful! Oh good grief, it’s still far too nerveracking to let you handle this on your own!
Your steps are half a second behind! Don’t lose focus; we’re in the middle of a live!
Y–yeah, my bad, Oshi-san!
“♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪”
(Ngah~ Oshi-san just casually stepped in to follow up on my mistake!)
(Feels kinda dumb that I was goin’ on about this bein’ my masterpiece. I really am useless without Oshi-san controllin’ me ♪)
Why do you look so pleased after I’ve just scolded you? You’re like a weird, distorted doll.
Perhaps your cogwheels have warped and broken, so your expressions have become just as strange.
Well that’s why I still need the most important cog—you, Oshi-san.
So long as you’re here with me, I can keep goin’ forever and ever! I can cry, I can laugh—
And I can sing…!
“♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪”
(Ahh, this is a blast! I’m s’posed to be the guide, but I’m just as excited as an adventurer lost in some fantasy world!)
(Ahaha, Anzu-chan an’ the others are in the audience wavin’ their penlights around, so they must be enjoyin’ themselves too. And if the audience is havin’ fun, then so are we!)
(This is my masterpiece! I made everyone realize that Oshi-san’s art is just as valuable as anything else this museum has on display!)
(It feels like I’ve died an’ gone to heaven! Ahahahaha… ☆)