Chapter 14

Crazy:B was reputed to have become more mature recently—

But in the end, it seems that rumors are nothing more. From the way you speak, I would liken you to a demon.

The enemy of human society.

Well yeah, I’m sure that’s how it looks to you… You don’t see us as humans just like you, so you can do all sorts of terrible things without ever losing your cool.

…But we offered you protection.

We pardoned your sins, accepted you, loved you as our own.

And you repay our kindness with evil, Crazy:B?

…Oukawa…

……

I already said Kohaku-chan didn’t know shit about this. But if you wanna view our kid as a traitor and put him on blast—

Then we’re gonna come at you with our complaints. I’ll even spit in your pretty face.

You people are beyond vulgar.

You’re the one who came up to us all on your own and proclaimed you were gonna protect us ‘cause of your family—We never once asked you, did we?

And yet, as soon as we stop following your orders to a T, you start screaming that we’re traitors, that this is so unforgivable. What are you, some toxic parent who treats their kid like their pet?

If you wanna raise them up like a robot who only wears the clothes you buy them and only does the things you approve of—

Then how ‘bout you go play one of those games where all the characters are tailored to your convenience!

…I’m only trying to do what any other person would do.

—Listen, I know you’ve been on your soapbox bragging about your big victory and stuff.

But the game isn’t over yet. We’ve still got plenty of SSL$ left. Even if the Qualifiers end as-is, we’ll probably be able to scrape by with a win.

There’s no way you didn’t know it’s not gonna be that easy. You’re the pride of Knights for a reason—right, Mr. Strategist?

……

Starting now, we’re challenging you to throw down with us. This is our official request for a live showdown.

Can’t say ya didn’t hear us, can ya?

The hell you think we were doing, riding in on those bigass art trucks? Now we’ve got a crowd of rubberneckers filming us with their phones.

Maybe there’s even some reporters for magazines and TV programs, who knows. But there’s a shitton of people out here to serve as witnesses—You can’t just ignore them.

So we, Crazy:B, are formally challenging Knights. Right here, right now.

…And we can refuse that challenge.

You sure can. But if you refuse, you lose by default, and you’re obligated to fork over half of the SSL$ you’ve got.

And once you turn us down, we’ll just challenge you again a few seconds later.

No matter how many times you reject us, we’ll just keep coming at you over and over and over and over—

……

We’ll keep doing this same song and dance until you’ve lost so many battles you’ve got just a fraction of an SSL$ left.

……

By the time it’s all over, the majority of that SSL$ you’ve earned will be ours.

And at that point, it’ll be all but impossible for you to make it through the SS Qualifiers.

There’s no rules that says you can’t challenge someone over and over if they turn you down.

ES probably figured that’d never happen, but yanno.

Just what do they think idols are, anyway? We’re the ones who can make the impossible possible—In other words, we make miracles happen.

Honestly. For better or for worse, you lot are just like Trickstar.

I can’t tolerate those types of people; they’re far too irrational.

Gyahahaha ☆ Aww, do you hate me now? Poor baby. Whatcha gonna do about it, ya dumbass? If we piss you off so bad, why not give us a nice shiner?

And boy, do I have good news for you: you even got the chance to let us have it. You can beat us black and blue at a live showdown. That’s your specialty, innit?

…You are perfectly aware that we can’t do that.

Oh yeah, that secret order, right? How you can’t do live showdowns?

The instant you accept our challenge and start one up, you’ll be penalized for violating your secret order!

So whether you accept or not, you lose something. You can’t walk away with everything in your hands—no one can.

……

If you refuse our challenge, we’re gonna clean you out, just like I said.

We’ll run away with every last SSL$ you got, and you’ll be eliminated from the SS Qualifiers.

Even though you’re one of ES’s Big Three—arrogant powerhouses who act all high-and-mighty. That’s a little too embarrassing, ain’t it?

But hey, if you accept our challenge and beat us at a showdown, you might feel a bit better, right?

You’ll get to beat the hell outta us, who’re being so, so mean to you, and you’ll get to protect your image as valiant knights ♪

But in return, you’ll be punished for going against your secret order—

…Please. Don’t tell anyone.

I’m sure that, as per your connection with the one who gave us our secret orders—with the Gatekeeper, you know what my punishment would be.

Even if it were to kill me, I would never, ever choose that option.