Feather Touch - Beautiful Dream (Chapter 3–5)
Chapter Index
Ch3 - Ch4 - Ch5 - Translation Notes
Chapter 3
Nearly an hour later…
Thanks for the meal~♪
Yes, eat up~ …although that may sound strange coming from me. Bless us, oh Lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to receive.
Mhm, Amen. I kinda feel like thanking God today.
I had the best sleep I’ve had in a while, and now I get to eat with the kind and gentle Tattsun-senpai….♪
Fufu. You often argue with Hiiro-san, but Mayoi-san is quite amiable to everyone, is he not?
Well, he is, but he looks at me with a weird glint in his eyes sometimes, I guess…And his lessons are seriously strict!
That certainly is so. However, that intensity is a manifestation of love.
Yeah. All this time, he’s been putting so much effort into teaching the useless me so I can take flight…even though some birds just can’t fly.
…Aira-san.
Ah…I’m so stressed out. Is it okay if I order something sweet?
Go ahead. That isn’t something you need my permission for.
Alright. Café Cinnamon has a ton of different sweets on the menu, huh. It’s pretty great~
To be honest, today I wanted to go on a little trip to a Chinese restaurant that’s been a super hot topic lately…
But I’m getting tired, and there’s the thing with your leg…so I think it’s for the best that we don’t wander around too much.
There’s no need for you to concern yourself with that. Were you in the mood for Chinese food today, Aira-san?
Wait, are you saying you don’t know?
Our agency’s famous fine and Trickstar are starring in a movie together, and that restaurant is being used as a filming location―1
Since they’re collabing, there’s always a ton of fans going out to see such a sacred location in person, so I haven’t been able to get in.
That’s why I thought I’d try to go on a weekday, at a time when people wouldn’t usually eat.
Hmm, sacred location…? Oh, is that a term that dedicated fans use to describe such spots? My, what an unusual expression.
Fufu. I only just took a brief look on my smartphone, but there seems to be a collaboration menu in celebration of the movie as well.
It appears that, due to its extreme popularity, the restaurant is constantly crowded with a multitude of fans.
It seems the film is still limited to only preview screenings, so it’s quite astonishing to read about such an explosive response from the public.
Yeah. I got to see it ‘cause we’re in the same agency, but it’s a pretty fun movie.
Or, I guess it was unexpected to see them in a movie…watching them pull off something completely new so naturally, I thought, “Wow, those seniors are really something else”.
Well, that certainly is what you see when looking in from the outside. It’s quite the feat. Behind the scenes, however, they’ve surely had to go through many hardships to get there.
Seems like they really buckled down and got to work, though that’s how ES always is. It’s rumored that the idols even pushed for the collab menu, but one of the items, the peach manjuu, didn’t even make it into the movie itself.
Hmm. I wonder if it was cut during the editing phase, yet the collaboration menu had already been decided, and so it couldn’t be taken out―could it have been something of the sort?
Well…there was a lot of speculation online, but it’s impossible to know what’s “right” if you go around trusting that every single person on the internet.
Fufu. It’s quite easy to repeat someone else’s opinion without doing any thinking of your own.
The human brain is inclined to save calories, since it would need them to survive in nature, so sometimes there’s no choice.
However, the incident involving those who have exploited human nature―Crazy:B―is still fresh in my memory. We, as artists, must think for ourselves.
To decide what is “right”, that is. “Amen” means “so be it”―one must discover the meaning of that “it” on their own.
Yeah…this project is pretty much in that vein, with us having to plan everything on our own accord and all. Did you come up with any fun ideas, Tattsun-senpai?
About that. I encountered the same struggle as when I had to think of ideas for my own personalized outfit…
In my old days as an idol I was a part of a CosPro-style system, where the office has all the power, so I’m unfamiliar with Yumenosaki’s method of allowing one to devise their own projects from scratch.
In this day and age, it isn’t simply a matter of following the agency’s every command.
Or rather, the agency―or perhaps Anzu-san’s―command is to “think for yourself”, so one can’t simply decide not to.
Of course, I’m speaking from the experience of having created my personalized outfit together with her.
Even if we left everything in Anzu-san’s hands after being unable to come up with any ideas, she would prepare something good for us without getting angry.
We’ve only just escaped from a situation in which we had no choice but to abide by a fate that had been laid out for us.
My own reins, my own initiative, is something I want to take hold of by myself.
And that’s why we’re stuck coming up with everything ourselves instead of just leaving it in someone else’s hands…Ugh, it’s so hard.
Fufu. That’s precisely why this opportunity will help us grow―we are obtaining experience in ‘the sort of thing’ that we’re unfamiliar with; perhaps that was the intent all along.
That is the principle of Eichi-san and his agency, as well as that of producers such as Anzu-san.
Of course, they should still offer us a helping hand when we find ourselves in serious distress…
But rather than resembling company employees, the idols at ES operate in a way more akin to self-employed workers.
Instead of relying on the security that “they’ll always be protected by the company”, they are responsible for the products they choose to sell at their shops.
Ugh…I’m not big on the feeling of having to think about expenses constantly.
The idol industry that I remember seeing on TV had a way more fantasy-like feel to it.
Fufu. That’s exactly what they want fans to think; I think it’s the result of our predecessors deciding that showing them a dream-like fantasy was the “right” thing to do.
But for us, this isn’t a dream―it’s reality.
Chapter 4
About ten minutes later…
That was a wonderful meal.
Huh, are you already done eating? That’s pretty manly~ I guess it’s one of those unexpected things about you.
Eating quickly is manly, you say…?
It seems I haven’t completely outgrown my habits from my time causing trouble at Reimei Academy. Back then, even at the time of a meal, every second was precious.
Fufu. It’s not bad, it sounds about right: the image of an idol hurrying to finish a catered bento before a job…it’s a little old-school, though.
Fufu. Take as long as you need to finish your meal, Aira-san. I’m still drinking my tea.
However, that isn’t enough to keep me busy.
In the meantime, may I see what ideas you’ve come up with for our current project? As long as you feel comfortable showing them to me, I don’t mind if they’re unfinished.
I’ve been stuck in a rut myself, so I was hoping to consult you about it.
Yeah. Even though we decided we’d think about the project individually first, I feel like the reckless Hiro-kun is the only one who hasn’t been having trouble.
I got the feeling that we should’ve tried brainstorming together from the beginning, but I guess it’s too late to say that now…
Here you go. I removed my phone’s screen lock, so you can look for as long as you want to.
Fufu. We do all need to determine what it is that each of us wants to do.
Therefore, I believe there is a certain merit in reviewing and reflecting on our individual concepts together like this.
(Although, Aira-san, you just handed me your smartphone quite incautiously…)
(You could have sent me the data through WholeHands…or would that have been too much of a hassle?)
(A smartphone contains plenty of personal information, yet you trusted me with yours so easily.)
(And that’s quite delightful…but what would you do if I turned out to be a bad person, Aira-san?)
Hm? What’s wrong, Tattsun-senpai? Is there something on my face?
No—
(Aira-san has this strangely childish side to him, one that leads him to act on his feelings without truly thinking his actions through.)
(It’s quite adorable — but it could also become a weakness of his.)
(Still, I don’t have the right to proclaim it a flaw and force him to fix it.)
(I mustn’t meddle. Solely pursuing an ideal doesn’t equal “correctness”— that is what my time in Reimei has taught me.)
…? You look kinda gloomy now…so my plan’s a total flop, huh.
No, no. So your idea was to have an autumn leaf viewing event with Hiiro-san as the center, hm? Picking a theme that goes with the season is a safe choice.2
“Safe” doesn’t feel like a compliment….
I mean it as such. Unlike the gambling lovers in Crazy:B, our goal is to partake in respectable jobs with a humble image, isn’t it?
Yeah, like the SakuraFes at Yumenosaki.3
It seems like other idols have done a lot of projects based around whatever the current season is — people are enjoying nature, and the idols just make that even more exciting. So I tried to copy that kinda thing.
At least for now, I’m way too inexperienced to pull off something as wild and flashy as Crazy:B’s antics.
After all, even at a regular, recurring live show, I’ll end up making tons of mistakes—just like my screw-up at the R2 the other day.
So you’re still thinking about that…but why did you decide to make Hiiro-san the center for this project?
Huh? Well, he’s technically the leader of ALKALOID, isn’t he?
He’s the ketchup guy and all, so I thought, “wow, the color of ketchup reminds me of autumn leaves”.
Hmm…since your plan relies on securing success by playing it safe, I thought you would have chosen someone who seldom makes blunders on stage, such as Mayoi-san or myself, to base the project around.
It seems unlike you, in a way, when you’re so cautious at best and afraid of failure at worst.
So I was slightly taken aback by that decision, and I thought that there had to be some deeper meaning behind it.
No, I really just associated ketchup with autumn leaves because of the color.
…Besides. He’s really talented, so isn’t it better to leave the most capable person front and center?
It’s hard to tell whether he’s aware of it or not…
But ever since MDM, Hiro-kun has been improving so fast that it’s hard to believe. I was left behind a long time ago.
Even if we’re singing side by side on stage, he shines so much more radiantly—it’s so bright, it’s dazzling.
That sort of charisma, that captivating aura that lures people in, is what the center should have. It’s what they call a business strategy.
Well, that is one aspect of it. However, as an objective fact, I wouldn’t say you’re so extremely inferior to Hiiro-san.
…Am I just too self-conscious?
Indeed. Considering the fact that Hiiro-san initially knew nothing about idols, the rate at which he has been growing is certainly impressive…
And so, seeing how quickly he managed to catch up to you, you must be feeling impatient at your own growth…
But this is not a competition. You have your own strengths, and I’m certain that you also have plenty of fans who love those things about you.
But what could even be a strength of mine…? I’m not very good at singing or dancing yet.
Fufu. Normally, figuring that out is the job of a producer and an agency. Right now, the challenge is to think about it yourself.
Chapter 5
…Oh?
Hm? What happened?
Aira-san, I’m astounded.
Even though it has only been a few days since we were told about this project, you have already come up with such a multitude of ideas?
…? No, all I planned was the Great Hiro-kun Ketchup Operation.
No, I’m not just referring to your unique ketchup plan, rather there seem to be many more carefully planned stage concepts here—
Oh dear, did I touch something I shouldn’t have and open an unrelated file?
My apologies. I’ve familiarized myself with the basics, but I’m still fairly inexperienced when it comes to smartphones.
Huh???
Wait, could it be…Wah, no way!
Y-y-y-you shouldn’t see that! Stop looking! Tattsun-senpai, you pervert!
My, my, what a bold thing to say about someone.
Ugh…I’m sorry, I just blurted that out without thinking. But it’s kind of embarrassing for someone else to look at my secret diary where I write down all my fantasies…
A diary, you say? But rather than that, I would say it seems like a collection of well-thought-out proposals for a live…?
_Aira_Shiratori_CG.png)
Ughh. Ever since I was little, I’ve always planned on being an idol, so it’s been a bit of a hobby to imagine myself as one and come up with ideas for my performances…
I guess some of those silly personal projects of mine are still there on my phone.
T-this is so cringeworthy, isn’t it…
Not at all. Don’t all teenagers do such things?
When we studied together at Reimei, HiMERU-san once told me about something he called “my vision of the strongest Tatsumi Kazehaya”.
It was something like— three pairs of glistening wings would sprout from my back, and my enemies would perish upon the gaze of one of my eyes, which I always kept closed. Every time that happened, I would gain another mole.
So that’s the secret behind your moles…?!
Fufu. That’s no more than a silly theory.
But as expected from such an avid idol lover, these fantasies of yours are very detailed and realistic. I believe any of these plans could become an amazing success in reality.
This one in particular is perfectly fitting for your adorable and innocent image. It seems to be based on Swan Lake, the name of the show being “Feather Touch”—Hm?
D-don’t read it out loud?! No way, no way, no way! I’m so embarrassed I could die!
Fufu. But I do believe it’s a fantastic plan. If we tweaked it a little and modified it to suit the four of us, we could very well use it for our current project.
The autumn leaf viewing idea is also good, but due to the lingering summer heat this year there is a possibility that there won’t be any autumn leaves to view at the time of the event.
It’s considered an autumn tradition, yet the autumn leaves are at their most beautiful after the weather gets cold.
But, ughh…I just don’t think it’s right to turn a kid’s fantasy into an actual professional project. It’d be better to do the most ethical thing.
I don’t think ethics has much to do with it.
I mean, that’s not what I, ummm…
Aira-san, here’s your tea.
Gulp, gulp…♪
But, like I said, all those plans in there are just fantasies.
There’s plenty of things in there that aren’t possible in real life, so we can’t make them happen just like that— they’re just daydreams, that’s all.
I didn’t take any sort of budget into account, and these are set in a fantasy where I’m a super-perfect and super-popular idol, which obviously isn’t true…
And those plans are assuming that the fans’ reaction will be largely positive, but in reality, who knows if it’d be the opposite, or if people wouldn’t care at all.
That is true. If everything always went ideally according to plan, I wouldn’t have this ticking time bomb that is my leg injury.
However…I made a mistake, and now I must carry this pain for the rest of my life. But even so, recklessly chasing after my ideals isn’t something I want to regret in the slightest.
The life that I dedicated to that purpose, the dream that I had— at the very least, I don’t want to deny them as if they had been sins and pretend that they never happened.
It never came true, but it was certainly a sparkling dream.
And thus, us idols live to bring dreams to others.
Making a dream into reality, even for just a moment, and giving one a fantasy with which they can forget about the trials and tribulations of ordinary life…It’s any idol’s desire, isn’t it?
Therefore, calling these abandoned projects of yours dreams seems perfectly fitting to me. They’re wonderfully crafted, full of love and radiance.
Even simply imagining a future in which this is turned into a reality has already brought a smile to my face.
The ultimate decision as to whether we can implement this plan or not will depend on Anzu-san— but there will be no harm in asking, even if it is rejected.
Don’t you think we should submit this for our current project?
But…what if I get laughed at for my childish fantasies…?
Fufu. Someone who dares to ridicule another person’s dream is surely a pitiful soul with no dreams of their own.
And so, to gain momentum for our idol activities as ALKALOID…
I thought it might be fun to make that dream that you had as a fearless child a reality.
What do you think, Aira-san? Why don’t you try to have courage, face the dream that you envisioned, and work hard to make it come true?
With the way that you are now, I’m sure it’s within your reach.
…
We managed to save ourselves at the MDM, and we were given an environment and an opportunity to fly with all our might. We’ve become capable of making dreams come true— we’ve become idols.
Moreover…even if you find certain things difficult to handle on your own, we can surely get through them together by relying on each other.
Even though I couldn't fulfill my dream in Reimei, and even though I was a helplessly foolish underachiever…This time, at least allow me to help you make your dreams come true.
No. Let’s dream together, and turn our dream into a reality.
Translation Notes
- ↑ In reference to Fist of the Shangri-la Idol.
- ↑ 紅葉狩り, or Momijigari (literally “autumn leaf hunting”) is a popular tradition during autumn where people go and “hunt” autumn leaves/view the beautiful autumn leaves that have changed color.
- ↑ SakuraFes is an annual DreamFes at Yumenosaki. It’s a flower viewing event in which a single unit is given the honor of holding a live show.