Chapter 9: Calculated Animosity

An Omen

Anesagi Kaoru: I feel like TRIGGER has been getting less and less work lately…. Well, it’s not significantly less, but still.
Anesagi Kaoru: They’ve been getting more one-time jobs and less regular positions. Maybe it’s because all the TV shows are switching over for the new season? (1)
Anesagi Kaoru: Just this month, however, we don’t have any CM-related jobs for them.
Yaotome Sousuke: It’s because we continually turned down job offers after we added more dates for the Last Dimension musical, among various other things.
Yaotome Sousuke: You better make them sell out.
Anesagi Kaoru: Understood. But if we think about it this way, I’m glad they can get a little bit of rest in before the end of the year.
Anesagi Kaoru: They barely got any breaks last year…. Oh? We have a visitor.
Yaotome Sousuke: …….
*door opening*
Tsukumo Ryou: Why, hello there, Yaotome-san. Thank you for the gift you got me the other day.
Yaotome Sousuke: ……Well, if it isn’t President Tsukumo. Congratulations on your promotion. The previous– No, the former president’s predecessor took very good care of me.
Tsukumo Ryou: Not sure why you’re telling me this, but I don’t mind if you feel indebted to me. Anyways, let’s cut to the chase. Let’s talk business. (2)
Tsukumo Ryou: How much is TRIGGER?
Yaotome Sousuke: …….

Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: I wonder if this place is good enough…. Ah, there she is!
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Good evening, Hanamaki-san. I’m sure Torao-kun has already introduced me to you, but I’m Tsunashi Ryuunosuke. I think we’ve met a couple times before because of work.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Huh? Where’s Torao-kun? Guess he’s not here yet.
Hanamaki Sumire: …….
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Are you okay…? You look really tired…….
Hanamaki Sumire: I…. I want to go back to the countryside….
Hanamaki Sumire: I want to quit singing….
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: …….

Yaotome Gaku: Good morni– Tsumugi!
Takanashi Tsumugi: Good morning. It’s been a while since we last saw each other, Gaku-san!
Yaotome Gaku: Yeah, long time no see. Are things settling down at the office?
Takanashi Tsumugi: Yes. I just finished training the new hires, so I can finally go back to doing manager work!
Takanashi Tsumugi: I look forward to working with you again, including the upcoming charity telethon.
Yaotome Gaku: Yeah, same here–
Staff: See, look….
Staff: Oh my gosh, it’s true….
Yaotome Gaku: What the hell…? They’re staring real hard at us….
Yaotome Gaku: I look forward to working with you too, Takanashi-san. Anyways, I gotta go now.
Takanashi Tsumugi: Alright, thank you for today!
Yaotome Gaku: …….

Yaotome Sousuke: Haha. You must be joking.
Yaotome Sousuke: TRIGGER is the main star of our agency. I’m terribly sorry, but we are not taking any offers for them.
Tsukumo Ryou: Yaotome Productions couldn’t have established itself as an independent agency without Tsukumo’s help. If you turn me down, isn’t that being a little… Ungrateful?
Yaotome Sousuke: Well, if I did take on your offer, then everyone will see it as Tsukumo forcing Yaotome Productions to yield.
Yaotome Sousuke: Both of these would cause quite unsavory rumors to spread.
Tsukumo Ryou: Now, that I don’t care about. Honestly speaking, I just want to scare everyone a little bit by seizing TRIGGER.
Yaotome Sousuke: …….
Tsukumo Ryou: You see, I need fear on my side so I can do whatever I want. I’ll end it a way that’ll send chills down everyone’s spines. ‘What!? No way, I can’t that happened to the Yaotome Productions!’ Just like that.
Yaotome Sousuke: ……Tsukumo-san.
Tsukumo Ryou: Everyone will ally themselves with Tsukumo Productions if Yaotome Productions is together with us. We’ll even watch over you all and make sure nobody gets scorched.
Tsukumo Ryou: That’s just how power works. At first, everyone will be bursting with righteous indignation. 'How dare they! We’ll never forgive them!’
Tsukumo Ryou: But it’s just like a game of Othello. As more and more people turn to my side, all of that courage will disappear and they will submit to me, one after another. Clink! Clink! Black, black, black.
Tsukumo Ryou: Give TRIGGER to me. Don’t worry, I’ll show your son plenty of love.
Yaotome Sousuke: Please leave, Tsukumo-san.
Yaotome Sousuke: Anesagi! Show him out.
Anesagi Kaoru: Y-yes, sir….
Tsukumo Ryou: I take that as a no?
Yaotome Sousuke: Do I have to spell it out for you to understand, you brat? ……Forgive me, that was rude of me. The exit is that way.
Tsukumo Ryou: I saw a picture of you the other day, from back when you had first joined Tsukumo Productions. So, who was that beautiful young woman next to you in all of those photos?
Yaotome Sousuke: I have heard all about you from Momo. Including the fact that you used to work in an business of unknown nature alongside hired muscle.
Yaotome Sousuke: I hope you exercise some caution and make sure that doesn’t become a scandal.
Tsukumo Ryou: Oh? So you’re close with Momo? I see, you must be part of the Sports Club too.
Yaotome Sousuke: Sports club?
Tsukumo Ryou: I’m gonna go home now. Thanks for the coffee! It tasted like dirt, so much to the point where I actually feel sorry for you.
*slam*
Yaotome Sousuke: ……Anesagi! Throw some salt!!
Anesagi Kaoru: Are you sure about this…?
Yaotome Sousuke: As if it matters right now!
Anesagi Kaoru: Well, I vote no because I’m the one who has to clean it up later–
Yaotome Sousuke: I will personally vacuum it so hurry up and throw!!
Anesagi Kaoru: O-okay!
Yaotome Sousuke: Also, make sure you call him and tell him to come to our agency right this instant!

Producer: Ah, there you are. Takanashi-san!
Takanashi Tsumugi: Good morning!
Producer: So there’s this new concept for a show I have in mind and I really wanna have TRIGGER’s Yaotome-kun in it. How about the two of you come grab dinner with me some time?
Takanashi Tsumugi: Oh, is this about work? I’m IDOLiSH7’s manager, so….
Producer: See, here’s the thing. Yaotome Productions turned me down. But weren’t you super close with him during that party? I figured I’d get a good response from him if you were there. (3)
Producer: It’d be dinner at a hotel serving French cuisine. If it really comes down to it, I can just conveniently leave too. So, how about it?
Takanashi Tsumugi: I am terribly sorry, but negotiating work for another agency’s talent is outside of my jurisdiction.
Producer: Aw come on, you just have to sit there. That’s all.
Takanashi Tsumugi: I apologize, but I simply cannot accept this offer. More importantly, what was the idea you were thinking about? And would it be possible for IDOLiSH7 to do it?
Producer: U-um….

Staff: Cut! Let’s check the footage.
Yaotome Gaku: …….
Stylist: Let me give you a quick touch-up, Yaotome-kun.
Yaotome Gaku: Thank you.
Stylist: Soo…. Is it true you’re going for IDOLiSH7’s manager?
Yaotome Gaku: * cough* * cough* What are you talking about?
Stylist: Oh come on, everyone knows. How about I set you guys up?
Stylist: It’s way too easy to get found out in Tokyo, but I could call her over when we’re shooting somewhere away from the city and have her stay for a bit. Maybe you guys could have a little bit of fun. Yeah?
Yaotome Gaku: …….
Yaotome Gaku: That was obvious as hell.
Stylist: Huh?
Yaotome Gaku: Who’s paying you off? Is it another agency? Or is it the press, desperate for something to talk about?
Stylist: …….
Yaotome Gaku: How about I do something fun with you instead? Who knows? Maybe you’ll like having cameras chase you down, day after day.
Yaotome Gaku: So tell me. What will it be?
Stylist: Sorry, sorry. I was just kidding. No need to get mad.
Yaotome Gaku: Hmph.

Momo ・ Yuki: Good evening, we’re Re:vale!
Yaotome Sousuke: You’re here too, Yuki? ……I don’t remember inviting you.
Yuki: How cold. We were at the gym building up stamina together for the charity telethon.
Momo: Yuki looks super handsome when he’s exercising! He even swam 25 meters down the pool!
Yuki: I swam 25 meters.
Yaotome Sousuke: My son did that when he was in the first grade.
Yaotome Sousuke: I called you over because of Tsukumo Ryou. You were close to him, Momo. Correct?
Yuki: ……So you’re still hanging out with him?
Momo: I’m not!!
Yaotome Sousuke: Momo. There’s something I’d like to ask you. Have we ever done sports together?
Momo: Sports? I don’t think so. I invited you out for a round of golf and you never came.
Yaotome Sousuke: At the slightest hint that you and I were close, Tsukumo asked me if I was in the Sports Club.
Momo: Ah…. Basically it’s a bunch of people who come together and play sports together from time to time, both entertainers and people in the industry.
Momo: You can really get a feel for a person when you play games or sports with them! Like, there’s people who care more about the atmosphere than winning, people who blame others for mistakes, and people who have a really broad perspective on things.
Momo: And if you get closer to them on a daily basis, then you’ll know if anything happens in the studio just from their face. Like 'Oh, that dude’s one of those people. Watch out.’ So on, so forth.
Yuki: Ryuunosuke-kun and Mitsuki-kun kicked off the Idol Sports Club with him pretty recently.
Yaotome Sousuke: There it is.
Momo: What is?
Yaotome Sousuke: Do you understand why Tsukumo tried to get close to you?
Momo: I really don’t know. Maybe it’s because I don’t suck up to him even when he bullies me. I guess he thought I was interesting?
Yaotome Sousuke: No. It’s because of Chiba Salon, the coalition of actors and young directors born out of a desire to fight against the ones in power in an oppressive industry.
Yaotome Sousuke: Thanks to Chiba Salon, working conditions substantially improved for the actors who had been under the beck and call of industry powers.
Yaotome Sousuke: You have a very expansive network. He must have mistaken your Sports Club as this generation’s Chiba Salon.
Momo: …….
Yaotome Sousuke: It might not even be a mistake. After all, you have only selected people you trust to be in the club and even more so since Re:vale doesn’t have any major company backing them up. (4)
Momo: It’s way too early for him to be setting his sights on us. We’re just a little community. But….
Momo: If he’s under the impression that we might be an organization trying to oppose him, then Ryuu-chan’s in danger.
Yaotome Sousuke: You invited him to the Sports Club?
Momo: I did. I made him our event coordinator too. (5)
Yaotome Sousuke: That was absolutely unnecessary.
Momo: Okay, but Ryuu-chan’s got a good head on his shoulders!
Yaotome Sousuke: I don’t give a damn!
Yaotome Sousuke: Hmph. So be it. Tsukumo is no longer the industry powerhouse they used to be. We’ll seize this chance and split from them.
Yaotome Sousuke: With the way Yaotome Productions is right now and with TRIGGER’s current momentum, we have more than just a fighting chance against Tsukumo.
Momo: You’re signing yourself up for trouble if you lump the current Tsukumo with the old one. Even though Ryou-san looks like that, he’s really sharp.
Yaotome Sousuke: He’s nothing more than an impudent, conceited greenhorn. If he forces our hand, then we will make your Sports Club into a real Chiba Salon and fight back.
Yuki: Could you stop talking about Momo’s friends like they’re some kind of army?
Yuki: I don’t hate you, Papa. But I’d really like it if you stopped thinking so selfishly.
Yaotome Sousuke: You’re the last person I want to hear that from.
Momo: That’s so mean! Yuki’s a gentleman! That, and I agree with Yuki.
Momo: Even though we all come from different backgrounds and positions, we’re friends working together towards one goal. Right?
Momo: If you keep on thinking like that, it’ll come back to bite you someday. And the ones who’ll take the fall are TRIGGER and all of the other talents at your agency, Papa.
Yaotome Sousuke: So long as our agency continues to assert its dominance, he’ll come begging at my feet. There is absolutely no need for us to yield. Same goes for you, Re:vale.
Momo ・ Yuki: …….
Yaotome Sousuke: TRIGGER will surpass Re:vale and Yaotome Productions will surpass Tsukumo Productions. We will become the best in Japan.
Yaotome Sousuke: I have no intentions of changing my ways.

To be continued….

TL Notes/comments:

FINALLY HAD A FREE WEEKEND TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF TLING before i am tossed back into a shitstorm \o/

Thank you @kuriiii​ for proofreading!!

(1) I googled 編成期 and the first result that popped up was 改編期, which is the period of time in Japan when TV/radio shows are switching over, predominantly in March and September (aka spring and fall). Basically, shows typically run for ~1 yr in Japan and when you enter March or September, a bunch of shows that air during prime-time come to an end and new shows come in to replace them. Until regular shows fill them in, there’s 2-ish hour long “connecting” special shows that are broadcast during those time slots. AT LEAST, I think this is what anesagi’s line is referring to since PT3 takes place around fall-ish (THANKS SARAH 4 CONFIRMIN) so this makes sense, or they’re talking about how trg is in the middle of editing or in some transition period bc they don’t have any new stuff yet…? which also makes sense but that’s way too many assumptions from one sentence LOL

(2) Ryou says “I’m not the one who took care of you, but I don’t mind if you feel indebted to me” literally but that dont quite sound right so there’s some fixes

(3) as much as I like entertaining the idea of gaku going to frat house ragers, this is referring to the party scene like wayyyyyyyyy back during the beginning of part 3 (aka the Yay! Yay yay! scene)

(4) I figured this was in reference to Tsukumo backing up Yaotome, esp since Okazaki Productions is a small family run business SO rather than relying on business connections as a fall-back (like in the case of Yaotome), Re:v needs to rely on personal connections and good networking to stay afloat? smth like that

(5) 幹事 can mean like executive secretary, organizer, etcetc. Event coordinator sounded like smth typical to clubs and stuff so! Yeah.

As usual, if you see any mistakes/mistranslations/etc, please message me!

Thank you for reading!!

 

Flower of Entrapment

Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: You’re going to quit, Hanamaki-san? But your CDs sell so well and you’ve got so many collaborations going on….
Hanamaki Sumire: …….
……
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Oh, my agency’s calling me. Sorry, do you mind if I–
Hanamaki Sumire: I want to keep going! I really do… But not at my current agency– I just can’t do it anymore. I feel like I’ve become nothing more than a robot, working from dawn to dusk….
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: …….
Hanamaki Sumire: And they told me if I went to another agency, they’d make it so I would never be able to sing ever again…. I just don’t know what to do….
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: That’s awful…. Which agency is this?
Hanamaki Sumire: Tsukumo Productions…. Tsunashi-san, I’m begging you…. Could you come with me when I go talk to them? Please….
Hanamaki Sumire: They’re all going to yell at me… And I’m so scared….
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Of course. If it’s just that, then gladly.
Rokuya Nagi: Oh …. Please wipe those tears away, my girl. There is nothing to be distressed about, o’ beautiful one.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Nagi-kun!? Where in the world did you come from!
Hanamaki Sumire: Nagi-kun!? Of IDOLiSH7!?
Rokuya Nagi: I finished my pilgrimage so I decided to take a break at this cafe, and happened to stumble upon your conversation.
Rokuya Nagi: Back in my home country, the mere existence of a company that fails to uphold the rights of working women is unforgivable. Your rights ought to be protected.
Hanamaki Sumire: Um…. I, uh….
Rokuya Nagi: Allow me to act as your agent. I will go and negotiate matters with your production agency right this instant.
Hanamaki Sumire: Wait…. What!?
Rokuya Nagi: Shall we? (2)
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Wait! Wait, Nagi-kun!?

Rokuya Nagi: Oh, I can’t seem to catch a taxi. If I were a pegasus, I could’ve taken your weary self upon my back and flown to our destination.
Hanamaki Sumire: So, you’re going to negotiate for me, Nagi-kun? Not…. Tsunashi-san……?
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Wait up, Nagi-kun! I agree with what you’re saying, but you can’t jump into something like this looking to pick a fight!
Rokuya Nagi: Her agency is putting her, a woman all by herself, through so much strife. All because she simply wished to have a say in her work. Any gentleman in his right mind would fight for her sake.
Hanamaki Sumire: Um…. I…. If someone’s going to fight for me I’d rather it be Tsunashi-san and not you, Nagi-kun…. Otherwise I’ll be quite troubled–
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: I never said I wasn’t going to fight! If you’re really a gentleman, then maybe calm down a bit first? You’re getting pretty worked up about this.
Rokuya Nagi: How rude! I am nothing but calm and composed right now. What you call prudence is nothing more than a coward’s excuse. People may call you ‘beast,’ but perhaps you ought to call yourself 'chicken’ instead.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Hey, that’s not very nice! But I’m not gonna argue with you right now. The culture here is different compared to where you’re from, Nagi-kun. Just because you’re right doesn’t mean you can keep insisting on something and force people into–
Rokuya Nagi: Japan is a civilized nation, is it not? Don’t tell me you’d rather side with the barbarians who force women into cruel, grueling labor?
Hanamaki Sumire: Nagi-kun, please stop! I just want to talk it out with my agency. Quietly and peacefully. That’s why I want Tsunashi-san to come with me….
Rokuya Nagi: Fear not, o’ beautiful one…. I will conduct myself with the utmost elegance and refinement. I would never do anything to tarnish your future.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Ah, right…. You did a really superb job at that press conference! If anything, you’re way better at negotiating stuff than I am, Nagi-kun.
Rokuya Nagi: I see you finally remember.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: What a relief! Well, with that said, Hanamaki-san–
Hanamaki Sumire: No! This won’t do! It has to be Tsunashi-san!
Rokuya Nagi ・ Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: …….
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: …Why me?
Rokuya Nagi: …And for what reason?
Hanamaki Sumire: I…. Because…. Because he’s my type….
Rokuya Nagi: Oh, I am wounded by your words! Terribly, terribly wounded!
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Aw, thanks…. I’m kinda embarrassed now– Wait, no, no! Nagi-kun’s more geared for this type of stuff. I have this habit of saying weird stuff when I get pissed off.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Nagi-kun, please take care of her. See you later–
Hanamaki Sumire: Wait! Um, I…. I’m going to call my manager right now! Can you talk to them in my place?
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Right now!? That’s really proactive of you, but that was a little out of nowhere!
Hanamaki Sumire: Nagi-kun, thank you! You can go now! Go over there…!
Rokuya Nagi: Oh. My. God. I’ve never been rejected in my entire life. I feel so, so depressed….
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: I think you’re way cooler than me, Nagi-kun! You’re beautiful, you’ve got a great body, and the color of your eyes is especially–
Rokuya Nagi: Shut up! I don’t want your pity! No thank you! I am not an ounce happier hearing praise from a man!
Hanamaki Sumire: They picked up! Here, Tsunashi-san…!
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: O-oh, okay. …Uh, hello? Nice to meet you, I’m TRIGGER’s Tsunashi Ryuunosuke….
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Yes. Hanamaki-san wanted to speak with her agency about quitting– Ah, no–
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Huh!? Wait, no…. Wait! What? No, that’s not what I meant… Wait? Huh? Uh…. Hello!?
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Hold on– …….
Rokuya Nagi: Oh? …What’s the matter?
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: ……They said they’re fine with voiding your contract, Hanamaki-san. And that Yaotome Productions should take responsibility–
Hanamaki Sumire: Yay! Thank you! You saved me, Tsunashi-san! I really owe you one! Please take care of me from here on out!
Rokuya Nagi: To think that he’d succeed in negotiating such delicate matters in one phone call and in a matter of seconds….
Rokuya Nagi: After all these years, I have finally lost faith in my own charms….
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: ……Was it really because of my charms? Is it okay if I think that? Wait, but that’s not–
Hanamaki Sumire: I’m begging you, Tsunashi-san! Please help me! I don’t have anywhere to go!
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: …….
Rokuya Nagi: This is utter defeat. Please make her happy, Tsunashi-shi….
Rokuya Nagi: Adieu.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: W-wait, Nagi-kun! Don’t you think something’s a little off…?
Rokuya Nagi: Oh! Excellent question. A beautiful woman chose to depend upon you, and not me. The world must be amiss, is it not?
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: That’s not what I was talking about….
Blonde Young Man: Nagi-san!
Rokuya Nagi: …….
Blonde Young Man: I’ve been looking for you.
Blonde Young Man: You informed me that we would be meeting in Akihabara, but you shook me off on purpose, didn’t you?
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: An acquaintance?
Rokuya Nagi: ……Yes. Of the troublesome variety.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: ……?
Blonde Young Man: Nagi-san. Please take me to your dormitory. Just as you promised.

Yaotome Sousuke: Hanamaki Sumire wants to switch over to our agency!?
Anesagi Kaoru: Yes.
Yaotome Sousuke: As if we could sign a contract with a ticking time bomb like her! If we put her out there, we’ll incur the wrath of everyone in the industry. If we don’t, then we’ll get backlash from the fans.
Yaotome Sousuke: However, I am quite thankful that Tsukumo’s lost their top seller. That damn Tsukumo gotten awfully full of himself, even though he’s an old geezer now. All of this is a direct result of that.
Yaotome Sousuke: Where is she right now?
Anesagi Kaoru: I sent her home. Nothing good will come out of keeping her here if we’re not going to have her sign with us.
Yaotome Sousuke: You let her go? Just like that? She must’ve done something strange to Ryuunosuke. Have somebody monitor her activity!
Anesagi Kaoru: President! We’re in trouble!
Yaotome Sousuke: What is it?
Anesagi Kaoru: She just announced that she’s switching over from Tsukumo Pro. to Yaotome Pro. on her blog! And that the deal is almost settled!
Yaotome Sousuke: Goddamn it! Is Ryuunosuke’s name there?
Anesagi Kaoru: It is. “I’d like to thank Tsunashi Ryuunosuke-san from the bottom of my heart for helping me out…”
Yaotome Sousuke: She must’ve intended on dragging Yaotome Productions and Ryuunosuke into this issue then!

To be continued….

TL Notes/comments:

THANKS @kuriiii FOR PROOFREADING!!! I AM FINALLY ON BREAK AKA I HAVE TIME TO DO STUFF WOOHOO!!!

The title literally translates to 'trap flower’ or 'flower of trap’ but I wanted it to sound snazzier so here we are LOL

(1) 聖地巡礼 (seichi junrei, lit. pilgrimage or visiting holy grounds) refers to the act of going to the irl equivalent of locations of landmarks, views, or even objects that you saw in a game/anime aka Anime Tourism. Examples of this would be people visiting Karatsu (the irl equivalent of Hasetsu from Yuri on Ice), Iwami (irl equivalent of Iwatobi from Free!), Shinsengumi-related-franchise fans paying respects at Hijikata Toshizo’s grave, i7 fans visiting the University of Southern California (WHICH IS FEATURED IN THE NANAIRO REALIZE MV)(sadly a little far from where I currently am)
Anyways here’s a cool article on pilgrimages!
(2) I couldn’t find a nice english equivalent for lit. “please give me your hand” that wouldn’t have marriage-y implications so cue me frantically googling what people say when they offer their hands to u before like ballroom dancing or smth etcetc yeaH. So it’s more implied here than anything but hopefully that came across!!!!!

As usual, if you see any mistakes/mistranslations/etc, please message me!

Thank you for reading!!

 

Gaze

Yaotome Gaku: Ah….
Takanashi Tsumugi: Gaku-san…. Good morning.
Yaotome Gaku: ……. Do you have time right now? There’s something I needa tell you.
Takanashi Tsumugi: Huh?
Yaotome Gaku: How about we got to a restaurant– No, that’d be bad. Or my car– No, not that. And my place– Would definitely be bad….
Yaotome Gaku: Alright. Let’s borrow that meeting room for a bit. We shouldn’t be alone either. We gotta have somebody else….
Nanase Riku: Manager! And Yaotome-san!
Yaotome Gaku: Nanase, huh. Perfect timing. Come with us.
Nanase Riku: Huh? Okay!

Nanase Riku: What’s going on? Why are we talking in a place like this…?
Yaotome Gaku: ……. There’s been a shit ton of people trying to start rumors about us.
Nanase Riku: Huh!?
Takanashi Tsumugi: ……I felt it too.
Nanase Riku: What!?
Yaotome Gaku: ……This is my fault. Ten’s scolded me about this before, but my feelings show on my face really easily.
Yaotome Gaku: I think I really like you.
Takanashi Tsumugi: …….
Nanase Riku: W-what!?
Yaotome Gaku: Sorry, Nanase, but could you shut up for a bit?
Nanase Riku: T-there’s no way I could shut up right now! What do you mean you ‘really like’ our manager? Does that mean…. You….
Yaotome Gaku: I said, shut up.
Nanase Riku: She’s our manager though!?
Yaotome Gaku: ……I know.
Yaotome Gaku: I’m sorry.
Takanashi Tsumugi: …….
Yaotome Gaku: I’m gonna contact you less for the time being so I don’t cause any more trouble for you. I won’t call out to you when I see you around too.
Yaotome Gaku: Sorry I’m making you do all of this.
Takanashi Tsumugi: Please don’t apologize. If anything, I’m one who was careless.
Takanashi Tsumugi: I was just so happy that we got closer…. I can’t believe I caused trouble for a talent when I work at an agency and should know better…. I’m such an idiot….
Nanase Riku: Manager….
Takanashi Tsumugi: I’ll keep on supporting TRIGGER. I always will be.
Takanashi Tsumugi: And just as always, please treat IDOLiSH7 well whenever you guys work together.
Yaotome Gaku: Will do.
Yaotome Gaku: That’s all I had to say. Sorry for taking up your time too, Nanase.
Nanase Riku: ……. No, not at all….
*door closes*

Takanashi Tsumugi: …….
Takanashi Tsumugi: ……I’m really sorry, Riku-san.
Nanase Riku: Don’t worry about it. …Are you okay?
Takanashi Tsumugi: I am. Ah…. We should leave this room soon. I wouldn’t want you to be the subject of misunderstandings too, Riku-san.
Nanase Riku: …….
Takanashi Tsumugi: …… If…. If only I were a man….

Blonde Young Man: Nice to meet you. I’m Rokuya Nagi-san’s otaku friend, Thorvald.
Thorvald: Please allow me to confirm the safety and security of these living premises while I discuss Magical☆Kokona with Nagi-san.
Izumi Mitsuki: Safety and security…? Do you really need that when all you’re doing is talking about anime?
Rokuya Nagi: One of the characters in Magical☆Kokona lives in a dorm, so he wants to experience that for himself.
Rokuya Nagi: He’ll be leaving when our otaku meeting ends, but for the time being, I do apologize for all the trouble.
Izumi Mitsuki: Don’t sweat it. Yamato-san and I are the only people here right now, so take your time! Yeah?
Nikaidou Yamato: Yeah. Do you guys want anything to eat?
Rokuya Nagi: Oh, no. That will not be necessary–
Thorvald: Absolutely! I would be delighted to partake in a meal here.

Izumi Mitsuki: Ah, I forgot to ask him if he’d like Japanese food or Western food.
Nikaidou Yamato: Onii-san here would love to have Japanese food. I think our guest would be happy with that too.
Izumi Mitsuki: Alright, then. I’ll start up the miso soup then…. Woah!?
Nikaidou Yamato: Man, they’re yelling pretty loudly. What language is this? Northmarean?
Izumi Mitsuki: Otaku meetings are a lot more intense than we thought.
Izumi Mitsuki: Nagi did say that this guy’s his friend from Northmare, so we can probably get him to tell us what Nagi was like back then at dinnertime! I can’t wait….
*door opens*
Thorvald: I apologize for the intrusion.
Izumi Mitsuki: Huh!? You’re going home already?
Thorvald: No. I’ll be back once I prove just how low the security standards are for this building.
Izumi Mitsuki: …What?
Thorvald: See you later.
*door closes*
Nikaidou Yamato: What was he talking about……?
Rokuya Nagi: –Where did he go?
Nikaidou Yamato: He just went out the front door. Said he’d be back in a bit, though.
Rokuya Nagi: …… Jesus. Listen. Both of you need to stay close to me.
Nikaidou Yamato: What?
Izumi Mitsuki: Woah, did the lights just go out? Is this a blackout?
*shatter*
Nikaidou Yamato: Uh? What was that? Did one of the windows break!?
*slam*
Nikaidou Yamato: Huh!?
Rokuya Nagi: Mitsuki! Yamato!
*slam*
Rokuya Nagi: ……!?
Thorvald: Alright. Thank you for your cooperation. I’m going to turn on my flashlight.
Izumi Mitsuki: Ugh, it’s so bright! ……!?
Izumi Mitsuki: Nagi, are you ok!?
Izumi Mitsuki: Also, when did you get on top of your otaku buddy!?
Rokuya Nagi: …… No problem.
Thorvald: As you can see, the security is extremely lacking in these living quarters. Do you understand now?
Nikaidou Yamato: If you guys are gonna play survival games, do it outside! What are we gonna do about this window….

Yotsuba Tamaki: I’m home. What happened to that window? Did Sou-chan do something to it?
Osaka Sougo: Do you mind explaining why you singled me out and offered up my name regarding this incident?
Izumi Mitsuki: Basically, Nagi and his otaku friend started playing survival games outta nowhere. Man, we really had our hands full when security came.
Izumi Iori: Is his friend from Northmare in his room right now?
Nikaidou Yamato: Yep, yep. They got super heated up talking about anime. Whatever language Nagi’s people speak, it sounds super scary when they’re mad. Riku.
Nanase Riku: …….
Nikaidou Yamato: Riku? You ok?
Nanase Riku: Y-yeah….
Nanase Riku: Oh! That reminds me, Nagi said he had a stalker in Northmare. Did he ever bring that up to you guys?
Izumi Mitsuki: Stalker……?
Yotsuba Tamaki: Ohh. That’s why we upped the security. Remember? We changed out the windows.
Nikaidou Yamato: Stalker, you say…? Why didn’t anyone tell us about something so important! Not just Nagi, you too!
Yotsuba Tamaki: Oh yeah? Well maybe I didn’t have the chance to because somebody got in a fight and stormed outta the house!
Nanase Riku: That’s right! If you guys hadn’t fought, we could’ve talked about it together in the dorm!
Yotsuba Tamaki ・ Nanase Riku: Apologize!
Nikaidou Yamato ・ Izumi Mitsuki: Sorry….
Izumi Iori: Wait…. Hold on. Isn’t there a chance that the person here right now is the stalker in question?
Izumi Mitsuki: Huh?
Nikaidou Yamato: No way…. A stalker wouldn’t come in and have dinner with us, right…?
*door opens*
Thorvald: Good evening. Sorry to interrupt in the middle of a meal. I would like to offer a suggestion to everyone.
Thorvald: How do you feel about setting up surveillance cameras in this room?

To be continued….

TL Notes/comments:

THANK U @kuriiii FOR PROOFREADING!!

I dont think there’s actually antyhing to note since this section went super fast (all dialogue!! no abstract monologues with Big Words!!! Looking at U yuki!!! and iori!!!!)

As usual, if you see any mistakes/mistranslations/etc, please message me!

Thank you for reading!!

 

Calculation and Fabrication

Thorvald: Good evening. Sorry to interrupt in the middle of a meal. I would like to offer a suggestion to everyone.
Thorvald: How do you feel about setting up surveillance cameras in this room?
IDOLiSH7: No!
Izumi Mitsuki: You goddamn stalker! First you follow Nagi around, then you come in and drink our miso soup, and now you wanna set up cameras!?
Nikaidou Yamato: You’re mighty bold for a stalker! Like hell we’d say yes to that!
Thorvald: It is only reasonable for all of you to react that way. Very well. I shall be bringing Nagi-san back to Northmare with me then.
IDOLiSH7: What!?
Yotsuba Tamaki: He! He’s tryna kidnap Nagicchi!
Nanase Riku: We would never hand Nagi over to a stalker! Sougo-san, do you see anything that’d work as a weapon?
Osaka Sougo: ……Here, take this!
Izumi Mitsuki: You can’t just throw glass pots around! That one’s expensive!
*door opens*
Rokuya Nagi: Thorvald…. Oh! What’s the matter, everyone!?
Nanase Riku: This dude’s been stalking you, hasn’t he!
Rokuya Nagi: Well, if you were to call him a stalker you would not be wrong, but…. He is not the stalker I spoke of the other day….
Nikaidou Yamato: Y’know…. You’ve got an awful lot of stalkers….
Rokuya Nagi: Hm…. I am quite a sinful man, if I do say so myself.
Thorvald: You misunderstand. I am not stalking Nagi-san in the slightest, I– Ah….
Yotsuba Tamaki: ……!? A bunch of stuff just fell outta his pocket!
Izumi Mitsuki: And they’re all pictures of Nagi…!
Nanase Riku: He has pictures of Nagi as a kid too! He’s a veteran stalker!!
Izumi Iori: ……This picture…. It must’ve been taken in a rather luxurious mansion…. Ah….
Rokuya Nagi: Thanks, Iori.
Rokuya Nagi: Dropping pictures of my face to the ground is rather impolite, Thorvald, is it not?
Thorvald: I apologize for the unacceptable behavior– Ah…. Sorry, Nagi-san.
Rokuya Nagi: In spite of the fact that you are behaving in a manner unbefitting of a subject of Northmare, you dare to warn me? I declare hereafter…. (1)
Rokuya Nagi: …….
Izumi Mitsuki: Oh…. They started talking in Northmarean….
Nikaidou Yamato: I have no clue what they’re talking about…. If they were talking in English, at least I’d have some idea of what’s going on….
Nanase Riku: Nagi, are you sure you don’t need to contact the police? He really isn’t a stalker?
Rokuya Nagi: ……. It is alright. Do not worry, he will be going home now.
Thorvald: Thank you for the dinner, it was very delicious. Thank you for having me over.
Thorvald: Nagi-san. You can only defer for so long. You are running out of time.
Rokuya Nagi: All because the entire lot of you are incompetent.
Thorvald: That is, unfortunately, painfully through. (2)
Yotsuba Tamaki: You mean, ‘painfully true?’
Thorvald: That is, unfortunately, painfully true. Good night. May you have splendid dreams.
*door closes*
Izumi Mitsuki: ……. He came and went like a storm. Man, what a guest….
Rokuya Nagi: A storm would have been more well-mannered than him.
Nikaidou Yamato: Nagi, are you really okay…? What the hell is this stalker business? And why didn’t you tell me about it?
Rokuya Nagi: He is my otaku friend. I was only jesting when I called him a stalker.
Nikaidou Yamato: Why’d he break the window, then?
Rokuya Nagi: Perhaps he got a little carried away in his excitement. He’s in a foreign country, after all. (3)
Yotsuba Tamaki: Really? Like, he said he was gonna take you with him back to Northmare and stuff….
Rokuya Nagi: Don’t worry. He was just copying something from an anime.
Izumi Mitsuki: You’re positive everything’s okay, right? You’re not gonna get stabbed by some weirdo outta nowhere, right?
Rokuya Nagi: Oh! My friend! Thank you for worrying about me! I am very happy!
Rokuya Nagi: I am alright. If there is ever a night where I cannot sleep, kept awake by my fear, I’ll take my Kokona DVD with me and go to your room.
Rokuya Nagi: Why don’t we watch it right now! Let’s turn on the TV…. Oh ….
TV News: Weekly magazines have been publishing a special scoop on TRIGGER’s Tsunashi Ryuunosuke-san and Hanamaki Sumire-san! Just what kind of relationship do they have?
Nanase Riku: Tsunashi-san…?

Reporter: Tsunashi-san, is it true you invited Hanamaki-san to join Yaotome Productions?
Reporter: And when did you get so close to her?
Anesagi Kaoru: Please let us through. Ryuu, hurry up!
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Sorry. I’m afraid can’t answer that.

Man: Did you hear? Apparently Yaotome Productions just went and snatched up Tsukumo Production’s top seller! It was all over the news!
Woman: He’s being super ungrateful to both agencies! I bet he just wanted to get his girl into the same agency as him, that’s all.
Man: Nah, I don’t think so. She was gonna be TRIGGER’s rival at Black or White, so he seduced her and made her fall for him!

Yaotome Gaku: Ryuu’s getting unilaterally bashed….
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: I’m really sorry…. I didn’t know this was going to happen….
Yaotome Gaku: You didn’t do anything wrong. You’ve been politely declining interviews and doing the usual stuff! Yeah?
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Yeah…. But it feels different this time around….
Yaotome Gaku: How so?
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: The interviewers are really…. Aggressive. It’s like they’re on the offensive.
Yaotome Gaku: ……The articles are like that too…. They’ve said all sorts of things about us, but this is the first time they’re being so blatant.
*door opens*
Yuki: Is everyone here?
Kujou Ten: Yuki-san….
Momo: Ryuunosuke, I’m sorry! I’m really sorry!
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: What’s wrong, Momo-san?
Momo: I know I texted you about it, but all of this is my fault, Ryuu!
Yaotome Gaku: What do you mean……?

Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Modern-day Chiba Salon…? And I’m the one who’s supposedly managing it…?
Momo: Ryou-san’s got it all wrong. He’s trying to get all of the power in the industry right now, and one of the things that’d get in his way is organizations.
Momo: Power is like a game of Othello. You get people to turn to your side, little by little, bit by bit.
Momo: If one or two people protested, they wouldn’t stand a chance. But if all of those people teamed up…. No one would have to turn to his side and they’d all be able to resist.
Momo: I gathered all my friends together so we could have fun, but he probably thinks we’re that kind of organization.
Yaotome Gaku: But isn’t that weird? If anything, he should be gunning for you and not Ryuu, Momo-san.
Momo: That’s true…. Have you ever done something that he’d bear a grudge against you for?
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Me!? I don’t think so….
Kujou Ten: People don’t usually hold grudges against Ryuu. He’s not that type of person. What about you, Momo-san?
Yaotome Gaku: Alright, hear me out. I’m only asking this because we don’t want to doubt your innocence, not because we suspect you. But you’re not on the same team as Tsukumo Ryou, right?
Momo: Of course not! If it came down to attacking Ryuu, then I’d rather send an assassin to off myself!
Yuki: Momo would never betray you guys.
Momo: Yuki…!
Yaotome Gaku: And why can you say that so confidently?
Yuki: Because he’d never do something that’d make me hate him. Right?
Momo: I swear on that.
Kujou Ten: I think so too. Gaku, you’re being rude. They’ve looked after us all this time.
Yaotome Gaku: I said it was just in case!
Yuki: Well, how about you, Gaku-kun and Ten-kun? Have either of you ever done something to incur Tsukumo’s wrath?
Kujou Ten: …This has nothing to do with President Tsukumo, but there’s a boy who sees me as his enemy.
Yaotome Gaku: What’s he like?
Kujou Ten: ……He’s one of the kids Kujou-san took care of.
Yuki: Kujou, again……?
Kujou Ten: …….
Yuki: Well, whatever. As long as you’re happy with Kujou-san.
Kujou Ten: If there’s something you’d like to say, please speak.
Yuki: Ten-kun, are you a masochist?
Momo: Yuki, that’s a little too direct!
Kujou Ten: I don’t really understand, but just know that I’m a sadist when it comes to senpai who ask inconsiderate questions.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Ten, that’s pushing it a bit! You might actually start a fight with him!
Yaotome Gaku: Well, we can’t help it. Ryuu, you were set up by that woman. We just gotta prove that.
Yaotome Gaku: Is there anyone who could prove it? Was there anyone else who was there?
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: ……Ah.
Yaotome Gaku: There was!?
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: There was…. But given the situation and the fact that Tsukumo’s definitely got something up his sleeve, I can’t get them involved.
Yaotome Gaku: This isn’t the time for that shit! We’re gonna get their testimony and prove your innocence!
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: I can’t. I won’t tell you.
Momo: Wait, is it…. Your girlfriend?
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: N-no!
Yaotome Gaku: What the hell? You should’ve told us you were dating someone!
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: I’m not!
Yuki: Of course he wouldn’t want to get his girlfriend involved. What kind of girl is she?
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: I’m telling you guys, it’s not a girl!
Kujou Ten: If that’s the case, then why don’t you tell us who it is?
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Yeah, but…. I don’t want to get him involved….
Yuki: Fine. So be it. Momo, Gaku-kun. Hold him down.
Yaotome Gaku: What are you gonna do?
Yuki: Torture him.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Torture!? Huh? Wait–
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Ahahaha! Ah! Stop! Stop it! Ahaha! It tickles! Ahahaha! I, I can’t take it anymore!
Kujou Ten: How merciless….
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Ahahaha! Ahahahaha! Okay! Okay! I give up! I’ll talk!

To be continued….

TL Notes/comments:

THANKS @kuriiii FOR PROOFING!!!

THORVALD IS THE GODDAMN FUckIng drops 2098042 pcitures meme I CANT BELIEVe

(1) this bit kind of goes on for a bit without any real subject so i just tried 2 make it sound as official as possible
(2) alright there’s a japanese saying/kotowaza that goes 'mimi ga itai’ (lit. my ear hurts) which applies to anything that has been said over and over to you to the point where you’re tired of hearing OR something that is painfully true. Thorvald says 'mimi ga nigai’ (lit. my ear is bitter) LOL
(3) literally he says 'hustle’ but clearly some katakana-eigo is at work because with every example sentence I read the more i was like 'yeeeeeeeah hustle does not mean what it means in english in japanese’

As usual, if you see any mistakes/mistranslations/etc, please message me!

Thank you for reading!!

 

Preparing for a Coup d'Etat

Rokuya Nagi: Testify? Sure.
Yaotome Gaku: Thanks! I really owe you one!
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Like I said, we can’t! We absolutely cannot drag Nagi-kun or IDOLiSH7 into this!
Rokuya Nagi: Hm…. That is certainly true. Alright then, I refuse.
Yaotome Gaku: Rokuya!? A man never goes back on his word!
Nikaidou Yamato: What are you guys talking about?
Izumi Mitsuki: Something about getting Nagi or us involved? I think they’re talking about the stuff that’s been on the news…?
Kujou Ten: Allow me to explain. Do you have time right now?

Izumi Mitsuki: What the hell!? I’ll never forgive those assholes at Tsukumo!
Nikaidou Yamato: Hanamaki-chan did seem like she was having a hard time lately. Maybe they’ve been using her….
Rokuya Nagi: Using women like that is unforgivable. Very well. Allow me to aid in this matter.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: You can’t! You’re still considered a minor in Japan. I will not let you get tangled up in this kind of mess. (1)
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: People are going to try to discredit your testimony. There’s no telling what the press is going to say or write about you!
Rokuya Nagi: There is no need to explain everything to me as if I were a clueless, ignorant student. If anything, I am more knowledgeable in these matters than you are.
Rokuya Nagi: I was able to clean my image up by holding that press conference. With my testimony, I’m sure that I’ll be able to manipulate your image into–
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: I’m telling you, this incident isn’t something a child should get involved in!
Rokuya Nagi: Pardon?
Yaotome Gaku: Shut up, Ryuu! It’s just like you said, Rokuya. Can you promise us your testimony?
Rokuya Nagi: No. I refuse.
Yaotome Gaku: Why!?
Rokuya Nagi: Tsunashi-shi’s attitude has put me in an utterly terrible mood.
Yaotome Gaku: Hey! We need him to help you, so apologize!
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: I don’t want him to help me!
Rokuya Nagi: Hahaha. The man said so himself.
Izumi Mitsuki: Nagi! Don’t be so cold. TRIGGER’s always helping us out, so we gotta return the favor!
Rokuya Nagi: Oh …. Well, if you say so, Mitsuki….
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: You can’t do that, Nagi-kun! Taking on something like this so casually might end up causing trouble for IDOLiSH7!
Rokuya Nagi: Do you mind explaining why you keep lecturing me when you’re not in any position do so? Might I remind you, you’re the one who is asking for something, not me.
Yaotome Gaku: Exactly! Ryuu, if you could be just a little bit more humble….
Kujou Ten: I see we’ve reached an impasse.
Nikaidou Yamato: You could say that again…. Who knows how long it’s gonna take before they stop flying back and forth between options and reach an agreement….
Kujou Ten: They might just run out of fuel, spiral down, and crash before then. (2)
Nikaidou Yamato: Better ready the parachutes then.
Yaotome Gaku: Alright! How about this? In exchange for your testimony, I’ll do anything you say. Anything.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Gaku!
Rokuya Nagi: You will, Yaotome-shi?
Yaotome Gaku: Yeah. Is there anything you want me to do?
Rokuya Nagi: …….
Rokuya Nagi: Please teach me some Japanese internet slang. I’ve run out of them lately.
Yaotome Gaku: Internet slang…? Oh, I know! Alright. Here’s one I can teach ya.
Yaotome Gaku: Tehepero. (3)
Kujou Ten: That’s a little outdated….
Rokuya Nagi: Oh, tehepero! What does it mean?
Yaotome Gaku: “Oopsie daisies! Sorry, can’t do anything about it. Forgive me?”
Rokuya Nagi: Do you have any more?
Yaotome Gaku: Kyawatan.
Kujou Ten: Like I said, isn’t that a little outdated?
Rokuya Nagi: Oh! Kyawatan! What does it mean?
Yaotome Gaku: “Cute.”
Rokuya Nagi: Oh, how splendid! I will definitely be using these words in the near future!
Nikaidou Yamato: Listen man, I’ve been keeping quiet this whole time, but this is the type of stuff high school girls say…. See also, not internet slang….
Rokuya Nagi: Thank you very, very much! I’d be more than happy to help you, TRIGGER. When would you like me to testify–
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: We don’t need your help! I’d rather bite the bullet and confront Tsukumo myself than drag a minor into this! (4)
Izumi Mitsuki: Oh, hell no! Going to Tsukumo is the last thing you wanna do right now, Tsunashi-san! Not with this timing!
Nikaidou Yamato: Say, how about we strike down the opposition by starting from the person of interest? Where is she right now?
Yaotome Gaku: Who?
Nikaidou Yamato: Hanamaki-chan. If we get her to spit out the truth, then problem solved, yeah?
Rokuya Nagi: Oh …. I am strongly against putting women in danger.
Nikaidou Yamato: Nah, it won’t be dangerous. We’re just gonna have her tell the truth.
Rokuya Nagi: Look at everything that’s happened to Tsunashi-shi. If she turns coat, there is a very good chance that she will have to face terrible things….
Kujou Ten: I agree with Nikaidou Yamato. It doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman– if you deceive someone, you ought to take responsibility for your actions.
Yaotome Gaku: Damn. You’re definitely someone who’d never forgive a partner for cheating.
Izumi Mitsuki: Listen, I don’t like picking on girls. But I’m all for taking on Tsukumo if all we gotta do is give her a good shake!
Nikaidou Yamato: Mitsu, that’s a little much! We can settle this with a peaceful discussion. It’ll be okay. We won’t need to shake her or anything.
Izumi Mitsuki: You’re scary as hell when you get pissed off, so I can’t trust you on that one.
Nikaidou Yamato: Well, you’re the one who straight up provoked me!
Izumi Mitsuki: See, look! You’re mad now!
Rokuya Nagi: We’re all over the place. I propose we act separately, following our own convictions. Who will be directly confronting Tsukumo with me?
Izumi Mitsuki: Me!
Yaotome Gaku: Count me in.
Nikaidou Yamato: And who’s down to tackle the problem via Hanamaki-chan?
Kujou Ten: I am.
Izumi Mitsuki: Cool. All is well no matter which team succeeds! Who ever settles stuff first should contact the other team, okay?
Izumi Mitsuki: Alright! Disperse!
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Wait! I didn’t want to get anyone involved…. Why is this turning into such a big deal!
Nikaidou Yamato: That’s easy. It’s because you’re a good person.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: …….
Izumi Mitsuki: Yep, yep! Like hell we could sit still. Don’t worry, we’ll figure something out!

Hanamaki Sumire: What should I do…. IDOLiSH7’s Yamato-san just contacted me….
Hanamaki Sumire: I know what he’s after. He asked me, ‘Why don’t you tell the truth?’
Midou Torao: I see. Well, what’s stopping you? Just do whatever you want.
Hanamaki Sumire: I can’t do that…. This isn’t just about me. This is about us. Isn’t that right!?
Hanamaki Sumire: You said you’d marry me! I’m prepared to retire from the entertainment industry for that purpose!
Midou Torao: Hmm, I don’t know about that. You see, I don’t like pushy women.
Hanamaki Sumire: I…. I’m sorry…. I just got so scared…. Please…. Please don’t hate me….
Midou Torao: Haha.
Midou Torao: Don’t worry. You’re the woman I chose, after all.
Midou Torao: Let me tease you from time to time.

Rokuya Nagi: I believe that is Mister Tsukumo’s apartment.
Izumi Mitsuki: You sure we don’t need to go his agency?
Rokuya Nagi: Yes, because Yaotome-shi is with us. The mere act of stepping over that threshold with him by our side would have brought about all sorts of assumptions.
Rokuya Nagi: Blackmail, collusion, bribery, secret agreements. Pick your poison.
Yaotome Gaku: If people are gonna misunderstand anyways, I’d rather stake outside his apartment for hours instead.
Yaotome Gaku: Sorry for making you guys do this.
Izumi Mitsuki: Don’t sweat it! I can’t let underhanded bastards have their way, after all!
Rokuya Nagi: I’m doing this for the sake of that beautiful woman.

Nikaidou Yamato: Good evening.
Hanamaki Sumire: …Good evening.
Nikaidou Yamato: You could’ve brought someone with you, y'know? I said I was okay with it. Talking one-on-one is pretty scary, after all. Anyways, I’ve got someone with me.
Kujou Ten: Hello. I’ve heard all about how kind you’ve been to Ryuu.
Hanamaki Sumire: …….

Tsukumo Ryou: …….
Yaotome Gaku: ……Ah! Somebody just got back!
Izumi Mitsuki: Quick! We gotta stop 'em before they get through the door!
Rokuya Nagi: OK. Let me handle this.
Tsukumo Ryou: La la la~ Wha–!?
Rokuya Nagi: Pardon me. You must be President Tsukumo, correct?
Tsukumo Ryou: You are….
Yaotome Gaku: Do you mind giving us a bit of your time? We wanna talk to you about Ryuu.
Yaotome Gaku: Hanamaki-san asked him to call Tsukumo Productions. That’s it. Why’d you guys void her contract just like that after he called?
Yaotome Gaku: Also, he never said a word about Yaotome Productions wanting her.
Tsukumo Ryou: Ahaha. You must be Yaotome-kun’s beloved son. Well, everything happened that way because that’s just how we want things!
Yaotome Gaku: But that’s not the truth!
Tsukumo Ryou: The truth, you say? Allow me to tell you the truth.
Tsukumo Ryou: Your Papa doesn’t love your Mama.
Tsukumo Ryou: There was someone he loved all along, but another man took her. So your Papa settled for a substitute.
Yaotome Gaku: …….
Tsukumo Ryou: Everybody knows about this at Tsukumo. So, tell me. How does it feel to work for your father? How does it feel to work for a man who sees your mother as nothing more than Plan B?
Yaotome Gaku: You fucking asshole!
Rokuya Nagi: Please calm down! You mustn’t let him provoke you–
Izumi Mitsuki: Are you fucking kidding me!? Listen douchebag, there’s shit you can say and then there’s shit you absolutely cannot say!