Knights VS Trickstar – Coda (Chapters 1–8)

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Writer

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Translation

toribocchama

Proofreading

TBA (first version)

Chapter Index

Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - Ch4 - Ch5 - Ch6 - Ch7 - Ch8 - Translation Notes

Chapter 1

To sum things up… that is essentially what transpired.

Hah… so that’s how it is.

So it was then that Secchan left to practice alone, and Tsukipii was in such a shock that he went back to his room.

Precisely. To think that on top of the situation concerning Sena-senpai’s health, a new problem would arise in the form of Sena-senpai and Leo-san getting into an argument…!

To be fair, this whole thing also seems to stem from the issue with Secchan’s health.

Why is this happening? Ritsu-senpai, since your condition has finally begun to improve… if only Sena-senpai and Leo-san were in top shape, everything would have been perfect…

And yet, we are so misaligned that it’s almost refreshing… Well, I suppose whatever happens will happen…

Hey, now, don’t be so down. If this is how the King is holding up, what are your vassals supposed to do?

Anyway. From what I’ve heard, Izumi-chan is acting a little strange…

It appears to me that the task of juggling both of his current obligations is a daunting one, which would obviously hinder his peace of mind.

Hmm… it’s true that he has no respite in terms of time or pressure…

But even then, such a self-deprecating attitude doesn’t strike me as the usual Izumi-chan.

Is there some other factor that’s taking away his peace of mind…?

Though that may be the case, there is nothing we can do unless he decides to talk to us about it.

Yeah, true. For now, all we can really do is see what happens. If we butt into his personal life now, Secchan’s just gonna get more agitated than he already is.

… I understand. Considering that the second round is just around the corner, it would be preferable if the two of them were able to reconcile as soon as possible. Hah…

Hm? Where are you going, Suu-chan? Back to the room?

This entire matter has taken a toll on my mental energy, so I’ll be heading to the public bath to warm up.

Oh, I see. Take it easy now… ♪

Thanks for tagging along with my extra practice, Isara-kun. Since I was late to our group practice, I wanted to get a little more done.

Of course. In fact, I kinda felt like I hadn’t gotten enough exercise, so it worked out for me.

Ah, I’m relieved then~

It sounds cooler to dub it as “intensive overtime training”, but the truth is that the second round being so close is making me pretty anxious, and it’s more like I just wanted to distract myself with exercise.

Just doing some exercise makes me feel like I got something done, so I can rest easy even though we don’t really have anything figured out yet…

Yeah… we sure are practicing, at least.

But to be honest, I feel like I’m just going through the motions with no goal in sight. Still better than nothing, I guess.

Ugh, sorry about that. I’ve been looking back at our old performances for a bit now, but I still haven’t come up with any strategies that can help us with MM.

So much for the “brains of Trickstar”, huh… Maybe I really should give up my glasses…

Come on, you’re starting to sound like Subaru now. Glasses don’t magically turn you into a strategist. You don’t have to blame yourself like it’s your job.

It’s not just you that couldn’t think of anything. Neither could I, or Subaru, or Hokuto.

In our last practice, you raised the issue that we should come up with a strategy that takes advantage of Trickstar’s strengths, but we still couldn’t make anything out of that…

If anything, we’re all a bit useless for that~

Well, up until now we’ve always operated by rushing to act before thinking much about it.

Yeah, you put it well. Trickstar’s fundamentally a “go with the flow” kinda group of meatheads.

It makes sense when you remember the ones at the forefront are Hokuto and Subaru, the biggest meatheads you’ll ever find.

Last time we talked, I got the vibe that they weren’t really listening… Like the whole time, they were just hoping to get back to practicing ASAP.

Not that I don’t get Hokuto’s reasoning, I guess.

If we dedicate our time to coming up with a plan only to arrive at nothing, that’s essentially the same as wasting it.

Compared to that, even a second spent practicing is clearly more productive. So, I can see his line of reasoning.

And I also wonder if we wouldn’t have arrived at nothing all the same, even if we had put all our time into it.

I see your point…

(Like I thought, if I don’t come up with a concrete strategy before trying to breach the topic, I’d just be confusing everyone.)

(Hidaka-kun and Akehoshi-kun both seem to think that a good performance is a universal language, and that if we put on a good show, it’s sure to resonate with any audience…)

(... But, to be honest, that seems entirely too idealistic to me.)

(In fact, for everyone that’s participating in MM at all, ‘performing to our utmost’ is just a baseline requirement.)

(Everyone’s going to be showcasing the strengths of their own unit and putting their best effort into their performance, so we have to come to some conclusion if we want to win.)

(Performing well isn’t enough. We need to add something more to that.)

(Just like a game, putting all your technical knowledge into it is a given.)

(But who actually wins in the end depends on your strategy for party composition, routing, and which enemies to fight… there’s even cases in which luck plays a part.)

(To win against Knights… no, to move forward in MM, we’re going to need something that will allow us to capitalize on our strengths… some kind of weapon that only Trickstar can wield.)

…

—Heeey, Makoto. Are you listening?

Oh, sorry! I was lost in thought. What is it?

Hey, don’t stress over it, okay? If it’s not coming to you right now, maybe revisit the topic tomorrow and you’ll come up with a foolproof plan then. In the end, things’ll play out the way they’re meant to.

Yeah, you’re right.

Then, how about we head to the baths to give our minds and bodies a little rest from this whole thing?

Oh, sounds good. I was just thinking I wanted to do something refreshing… ♪

Chapter 2

—Haaah…

Hm? Hey, Suou-kun, good afternoon.

Oh, it’s Yuuki-senpai and Isara-senpai. Fancy meeting you here.

Man, what a coincidence~ Even though we have this public bath, most people would still rather use the shower in their own room.

I would, too, in other circumstances. However, since I have been at my wit’s end lately… I fancied the brief respite of soaking in a large bath.

Makes sense, given that we’re halfway through MM. As the leader of your unit, it must be especially exhausting for you.

Well… (Glancing repeatedly at Makoto)

(…? What’s going on? Feels like he’s been staring for a bit…?)

Oh, I get it… we’re competing against each other in MM, so maybe this is an awkward situation for you? If that’s the case, there’s nothing to worry about…

Ah, it’s absolutely nothing of the sort.

I see… that response doesn’t exactly give me anything to work with, so I’m not sure what to say…

Um… that was not my intention. As far as I’m aware, you have a close relationship with Sena-senpai, don’t you?

Huh? Well, I’m not really sure if I can exactly answer that with a “yes”. But we’ve known each other for a long time, so it’d just be hard for me to get rid of him at this point, I guess…?

Do you by chance know of anything that could cheer up Sena-senpai, short of abducting you and delivering you to him?

You’re not picturing me as a gift you can use to get on Izumi-san’s good side, are you…?

Ah, no, that isn’t why I asked. It’s only that whenever he sees you, Yuuki-senpai, his humor does visibly improve…

Why’re you asking, though? Is Sena-senpai not doing good right now?

Speaking of him, Izumi-san told me that he was going to participate in Sera-san’s show. How’s that going for him?

Ummm… Well, you see, to sum things up…

Sena-senpai has been tense since the start of it, and thanks to an unnecessary intervention by Leo-san, a big argument broke out between the two of them…

Sena-senpai himself is also being unreasonably stubborn. Why does he refuse to acknowledge Leo-san’s concern for him? I don’t understand why he can’t be more straightforward.

Well, I kind of get it…

Hm?

When you’re too close to someone, instead of being more honest with them, you can sometimes end up acting more stubborn.

And when you’re joined at the hip like that, you can also lose your sense of distance to that person, and you might start interfering too much in their life.

That makes sense… To be honest, I’m at a loss when it comes to acting as a mediator between them… It doesn’t seem as though a logical argument is going to have any effect on them.

Oh, so that’s why you want to cheer him up.

That’s right. What do you think I should do in this situation?

Hmm… Well, it depends on the specifics, but… if they got into an argument because they misjudged the distance between them, some time apart might help them out? Just for a little.

Maybe they just need some time to cool down. Like a couple would, in a way.

So… you’re suggesting that I don’t intervene and that I observe from the sidelines instead?

I mean, it’s just one option. I couldn’t tell you for sure if it’s going to work out in the case of Sena-senpai and Tsukinaga-senpai.

Why are you and Tsukinaga-senpai so worried about Izumi-san, anyway?

Huh…!?

Oh, don’t misunderstand… I get that you’re concerned about the physical health of your friend and unitmate.

But, didn’t he say that he’s okay? Based on that, I think that it’s fine for you guys to just keep watch over him… or, rather, to support him as a friend.

When I talked with him, he was determined to pull off both MM and the fashion show, and he was really pumped up.

So, if everyone around him is just fussing over him and trying to stop him… I can see how that feels awful for him.

Saying you’re worried sounds kind and everything, but it might feel like you’re trying to prevent him from doing what he wants to do…

If the people around him can only rest easy when he’s in an environment tailored to him, with support being offered from every direction, where everything is easily within his reach, that’s just meaningless.

It’s the same as not being able to give anything a try at all.

… I think I can see what you are getting at.

Izumi-san is stubborn for sure, but he’s not dumb by any means.

I don’t think he’d push himself to the point of collapsing in the middle of an event as big as the tour. Even if he was anywhere close to that point, I think he would bring it up before he’d ever let it happen.

So, if he said he’s doing fine for now, that probably means he’s actually fine.

…

Huh? Tsukinaga-paisen and Seaweed Head had a fight!?

Yeah… according to what Suou-kun told us just now, it seems like they did.

Right in the middle of an event of this scale… Suou must be struggling.

And why’d they even fight? Arguing never helps anything. Even if you fight, shouldn’t you just apologize right away and get it over with?

That would certainly be for the best, but there are times when no one wants to say sorry or take back what they said.

Actually, Akehoshi. You’re saying something so noble, but when we first formed our unit, you used to quarrel with me constantly.

Huuuh? Really? I don’t remember that.

Oh, what a convenient memory you have.

That aside, at the risk of looking inconsiderate, an internal struggle among Knights might be beneficial to us.

The circumstances might make it more difficult for them to deliver a satisfactory performance.

And Knights is a large unit. Such conflict can lead to easily noticeable disparities in their performance.

Hmm… but it feels a little dirty, like we’d be exploiting a sore spot…

When our opponent is none other than Knights, we can’t afford to be half-hearted if we want to win.

We would be making up for and reinforcing the points where our opponent is lacking. Is that not a perfectly legitimate strategy?

Huh?

Yuuki, you’ve been trying to devise a plan of action for MM too, haven’t you. Don’t you think that taking advantage of our opponent’s weak point could be a good one?

Uh, um…

(… That’s right. There’s nothing wrong with what Hidaka-kun is saying on paper, but…)

(Something about this doesn’t sit quite right with me… But why…? What am I getting hung up on?)

? What is it, Yuuki? Did you have a different idea?

Oh, no, it’s nothing.

(I’m still not sure about this, but I don’t know how to explain why…)

(If I drop that on them after the effort they’ve been making, it’s just going to sour the air.)

You might be onto something. Let’s go with that game plan for the second round.

Chapter 3

…

(We lost…)

(Tsukinaga-senpai was clearly not at his best, but Ritsu-kun and the others made up for it perfectly.)

(Even when Knights had an obvious vulnerability… we couldn’t do anything with it.)

(No, rather… they understood that we were trying to take advantage of it.)

(So they reinforced their weak point, until there was no weak point to be seen.)

(Knights are clearly very aware of their own current state as a unit…)

(And Trickstar is—)

—Hm? Singing…? What a nice voice… I wonder who that is.

…

(When did this start?)

(How did things end up like this?)

I don’t need any of that. I never asked for it.

That concern is just something you want to shove onto me, isn’t it…?

(That’s wrong—that’s wrong, that’s wrong, that’s wrong!)

(It’s not like that! I thought I was Sena’s number one confidant…!)

(So… how did I end up turning into someone that lords over him…?)

(It wasn’t supposed to be something that grandiose…)

(I was just trying to do my part as Sena’s weapon.)

(All this time, he never left me behind. He’s always been extending a hand to me. I just wanted to return the favor…)

Actually, Leo-kun, I…

…

… What did he want from me…?

Ah…

! “Yuu-kun”... Are you eavesdropping, or what? That’s a creepy hobby.

Sorry, I didn’t mean to. I just heard a nice singing voice, and I wanted to know who it was.

… You’re the last person I want to see right now.

…

If we’re being honest, same here. I’d really rather not be talking to you.

Why’s that? …Oh, I get it. ‘Cause we curbstomped you guys just now?

Your self esteem is gonna take a massive hit from coming face to face with the center of Knights, huh? And this is me at my worst, all worn out after falling from any grace I ever had!

… That’s right.

Even if you’re worn out, your reputation as Leo Tsukinaga is alive and well.

You’re still so high above me that no matter how hard I try, no matter what lengths I go to, even if I were to dedicate my life to it, I’ll never measure up to you.

Ever since MM started, I’ve been feeling so insecure that it’s killing me.

And even when you’re not at your best… you’ve got people ready to back you up right when you need it.

That’s how you were able to leverage the name of “Leo Tsukinaga” to turn the tide in your favor.

Knights have been putting their merits as a unit to good use. You’ve been doing what I wanted to do with Trickstar as if it were nothing.

I’ll say it; I am jealous.

…

Ha! Ahahaha…! You? jealous? of me?

Ahh, right, right… grass is always greener, and all…

So my grass looks that green to you? “Yuu-kun”?

But, you know, I never asked for that grass. I was just doing my own thing, writing ‘cause I love to write, and it sprouted at my feet by itself.

And because of that, I kept tripping and falling over time and time again.

All I even wanted was to protect what was precious to me…!

…

I’m jealous of you.

Hey, why does Sena even trust you so much? You act like you’re his biggest confidant or something.

You didn’t even give him work, fame, power… you haven’t done anything like that for him.

So why are you even taking up that place?

Um… I don’t really understand what you’re trying to get at…

But I don’t think that’s true. You’re in the same unit as him, so aren’t you the one that’s closer to him?

…

… But still, concerning yourself so much with giving him things just sounds weird to me.

Even if you didn’t give him anything, I think he would put his trust in you all the same.

…I know. I know that… he’s a kind person…

Even if I didn’t do anything for him, he’d just say stuff like “you idiot; well, it is what it is”, and stay with me all the same.

And even still, I betrayed that trust.

I was anxious that I couldn’t give him anything, and I felt better once I did. I was glad that I managed to indebt him to me.

I know that Sena is kind, so he would stay by my side out of gratitude if nothing else.

That’s why I made myself into his weapon.

But… even so, I really was worried for him…

I’ve already been on the brink of falling apart from pushing myself too hard. I didn’t want him to have to suffer through that.

I thought I had to protect him…

Izumi-san is not that weak. It’d be for the best if you stopped trying to act like his guardian.

…

… Hey, “Yuu-kun”. Make sure you lose again in the next round.

Huh…?

You don’t want Sena to overdo it either, right?

If you guys lose, he can rest easy until the end of MM. So… let yourselves lose for his sake.

…

… So you’re going to act like our conversation until now didn’t happen.

That’s the one thing Izumi-san would hate more than anything. You understand that, right…?

So unflappable, aren’t you, “Yuu-kun”.

… That’s another part of you I can’t stand.

I do get it.

If he found out I just said that to you, he would kick me in the shin, stop cooking for me all week, and refuse to talk to me for a month.

He’s really tough on everyone, including himself.

But… even then, I can’t rest easy doing nothing for him.

This time, I haven’t managed to help with anything. Not writing, not assisting him, not covering for him. In fact, instead of helping, I just made him angry.

I haven’t been of any use to him, even when I’m supposed to be his blade—

—You never stop whining, do you, Leo-kun.

Se-Sena…!?

Chapter 4

What are you doing here!? Wait, how much did you hear!?

Pretty much everything, I think? If you’re asking whether I heard you badmouthing Yuu-kun, the answer is yes. If you had been serious, I would’ve knocked you into next week.

Well, I know it’s not right of me to hide and listen in, though.

I started looking for you because I wanted to talk things out, and it turns out you’re with Yuu-kun.

I didn’t really know when I should show myself.

Sorry, Yuu-kun, I need to talk to this idiot in private. Could you give us some time alone?

Yeah, alright. I’ll head back to my room, then.

Izumi-san, Tsukinaga-senpai. Next round, we’re going to win for sure. I’ll fight with all my might.

Oh, I’ll look forward to that. We won’t go easy on you, either. Goodnight, Yuu-kun.

…

Um… Sena.

Wait. First, I want to apologize for last time. I’m sorry for the horrible things I said.

You were genuinely worried, but I was so envious that I took it out on you.

Envious? Took it out…? You envy me? Why?

… Leo-kun, why do you think I passed my audition for Sera-san?

Didn’t you say it yourself? Sera-san thought you’d make for a good model for his show.

Yeah, you would think. That’s what auditions are for. I thought the same.

I was over the roof that he’d noticed me. I started celebrating without a care.

He didn’t choose me for my ability. He was actually aiming for you… to use your music for the show.

I was just his way of getting to you. Like a piece of bait.

Huh? Why do you say that? Did he tell you that?

No, he didn’t.

Then you’re just making it up in your head. You’ve been self-conscious about this for a while.

Of course I’m self-conscious. It’s hard not to be when I’m so out of place.

Huh?

When I went to Sera-san’s practice, I got a good look at the models he actually wanted in the show.

And I thought… “They’re on a completely different level”. I could tell that I didn’t belong there.

So I grew suspicious. I started wondering why he would choose me.

“Everyone else here is a top-tier supermodel, so why me?”

…

Remember what I asked you back then? “Which of these jobs came first?”

I was asking whether Sera-san’s request to have you write for him came before or after I passed the audition.

It was afterwards, right? I only hopped on when you invited me, so it had to be afterwards…

… So you don’t remember.

I was curious, so I asked Sera-san, “Have you ever asked Leo-kun to write music for you?”

Well, it turns out that he had, before the audition, and you’d turned him down. He was laughing while telling me.

How could you turn him down? It’s Eita Sera, you know? He’s a worldwide famous creator that an infinite number of people must be dying to work with.

… He asked me?

Hmm… That might’ve happened, but I don’t know… I don’t remember it…

… Yeah. Okay.

I figured you wouldn’t remember.

Yeah, that’s how it is. It’d be presumptuous to even envy you. That’s how big the gap between us really is.

To me, this opportunity is something so big that I can’t afford to let go of it even if I have to wear myself down in the process.

But for you, it’s one of a million options. Not even worth remembering.

When I had that thought, you suddenly felt so far away.

But… It’s always been like that, right? You were the one that said you’d rely on me! And now you’re telling me this…?

I know, it’s taken me this long… I don’t know how I forgot. How relying on you became so natural to me over time that I forgot to appreciate you…

Even knowing that going down this path was never going to fulfill my actual wish.

Then, what do you want…!? Work!? Status!? Fame!? To win!?

Everything! I want all of that! And if I just ask for it, you just give it to me!

But those aren’t things I should be getting from you…!

… Then, what’s your wish…? What do you wish I’d do for you?

…

… I wanted you to have faith in me.

When you saw me struggling, I wanted you to say “I know you’re up to the task”. To believe in me. To root for me by my side until the end.

I wanted you to stay firm on being an equal partner to me.

…

… Then we would’ve gone down together.

I get it. At least back then, it couldn’t have gone any other way.

But now, I see… No, I’ve known for a while. I’ve just been pretending I didn’t.

You and I, we both got too close to each other.

…

… I’m always just like Tyrfing.

Tyr… What is that?

No, it’s nothing. I’m going back to the room. Goodnight, Sena.

Yeah, goodnight.

…

(… Tyrfing? Maybe it’ll come up online?)

(… Here. Norse mythology…?)

(Tyrfing. A magic sword that shone a beautiful light. Its strength was unrivaled, to the extent that it never missed its target and was sharp enough to cut through iron as easily as through clothes.)

(It bore a terrible curse. It could not be unsheathed without being the death of a man, and its wielder would always be met with ill-fortune.)

…

… It might be time to do something about this.

I never wanted to turn you into a cursed sword, Leo-kun.

Chapter 5

The following day. Somewhere in Florence, Italy.

Woah, so this is the Ponte Vecchio~ Since they say it’s the oldest bridge in Italy, I thought it was gonna be more run down or something, but it’s actually really beautiful!

Secchan has told me about it, so I wanted to come see it eventually. I love how bright and colorful it is… ♪

This really feels like an overseas trip now. I want to take a pic to commemorate.

… Hey, Ritsu, move over. You’re in the way of the landscape.

Nah. The more pictures of me in your camera roll, the better ♪

What the hell… alright, alright.

Let’s take one together, then. Say cheese… ☆

… ♪

Ah, this is nice. Feels a lot like a date… ♪

We’re not on a date, we’re sightseeing.

I actually wanted to tour Italy with the rest of Trickstar, but I guess now isn’t a good time for that.

We lost both rounds so far, so everyone’s kinda frazzled… Makoto in particular seems to be dealing with something all by himself.

I guess Subaru and Hokuto think we’re not doing good enough, so they’re practicing even harder than before.

We’re all facing the same direction, but we’re really out of sync.

I’ve been feeling on edge the whole time. So, I’m really glad you invited me out today. Feels like your good mood is rubbing off on me already.

Oh, right. I heard from Suou-kun that something’s going on with Knights?

Something like that. That’s why I took the day off, to let my mind recover from everything.

Since the start of MM, our schedule’s been jam-packed with practice and all kinds of other stuff.

Being on edge from so much work is only natural. Basically, we all need a break every once in a while.

Yeah, I guess…

(Squishes Mao’s cheeks)

Whur ‘r you doong!?

Bad Maa-kun. Thinking about Trickstar today is strictly forbidden… ♪

When you’re with me, don’t look away from me and think of me only, okay?

Don’t be silly.

Our units are in conflict with one another… Even though we love each other so much, this is the only moment we can spend together… ♪

Huh? What’s with that?

Hehe. Aren’t we just like Romeo and Juliet right now?

What was that…? I feel like the theater club at school put it on at some point, so it’s a play, right? 1

Do you still read nothing but manga at your big age…? Romeo and Juliet is a play set in Italy. How about you pick up a book once in a while?

Well, anyway. Today’s our rare day off, so let’s clear our heads and enjoy Italy.

Sounds good~ but, where do we go? We’ve already seen a lot of Florence just from walking around.

Then, you wanna go to Rome? It’s a bit far, but we can get there in no time if we steal Secchan’s bike.

You’re suggesting that like it’s not a crime. I don’t even have a license yet.

Whaaat… but I wanna see the sights of Rome while riding on a Vespa. Let’s do it like in “Roman Holiday” ♪ 2

Alright. You drive, then.

I don’t have a license either.

Haha, that’s too bad.

Tch… Well, that settles it. You’re gonna have to give me a piggyback ride to Rome.

Don’t be silly.

Some hours later. Downtown in Rome, Italy.

Hey, Ritsu, I got you gelato~

Ooh, nice. Getting real “Roman Holiday” vibes.

I really wish we could’ve sat on those steps, but it turns out you’re not allowed to eat there. 3

Also, I really underestimated how many people there would be. It’s crowded wherever you go, so it’s hard to do any sightseeing.

Yeah. I wanted to throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain, but the place was so full of tourists that I would’ve had to do a free throw.

I guess visiting popular tourist spots rarely goes as smoothly as you imagine it in your head.

Oh, well. Let’s finish our gelato before it melts!

(Munch, munch) … Hmm, delicious ♪ You got me the exact flavors I like… ♪

Hey, I’m not your childhood friend for nothing. I’ve pretty much had every last one of your preferences drilled into my head.

Hey, I know I’m kind of late to this, but you’re pretty full of energy even out in the sun. Are you gonna be fine without a parasol? Actually, are you feeling okay right now?

Heh heh heh. I’ve been in tip-top shape since the start of MM.

Who knows, I might’ve conquered the sun and become the ultimate life form… ♪

Are we in J*jo’s now? 4

There you go again. What’s the point of a niche reference that most people aren’t gonna get~?

Hey, I’m not some kind of supergeek or anything! Clearly you knew what that meant!

Hehehe. Well, I’m not your childhood friend for nothing.

Back to the main topic, the reason I was the one that took charge in the second round of MM is that I’ve been feeling pretty good physically.

I’m so energized, I feel like I could beat all of Trickstar into a pulp by myself… ♪

Don’t say stuff like that…

Hah… Makoto’s stressing himself out on his own, meanwhile Subaru and Hokuto just want to push forward. I don’t know what we’re gonna do, honestly…

Hey, didn’t I tell you to think only about me?

My bad… it’s just kinda hard. I can’t help but worry, that’s just who I am.

I guess that’s true. And besides, you guys are different from Knights in that you’re super buddy-buddy, lovey-dovey friends.

Not to that extent, but… well, we’re colleagues and friends, after all.

In fact, from my perspective, it’s a little weird to see you so unaffected right now.

You’re here eating gelato so nonchalantly while your unitmates are fighting.

Mm, I’m not worried about them.

I’m sure Secchan and Tsukipii both have a lot to say to each other, but I know they’ll figure something out before the show.

And in the worst of cases, we still have Suu-chan and Nacchan. If we have to, we’ll just cover for the other two and it’ll be fine.

I see. You really trust your unitmates, don’t you?

It’s not so much “trust” as it is lived experience. A strategist doesn’t base their calculations on feelings.

Also, the final round’s right around the corner, so there’s no point in freaking out now.

… Makes sense. I guess I should just follow your example and trust them to figure it out.

Open wide~ ♪

Mgh!?

(Munch, munch) … It’s good, but you can’t just shove the spoon into my mouth… it’s dangerous.

How dare you think of other guys when you have me right here?

What you should be doing right now is focusing on the person in front of you and enjoying the moment. Here, try another flavor~ ♪

(Munch, munch) … Yeah, true. If I want tomorrow's practice to go well, I’ve gotta kick back and have as much fun as I can today.

Okay, let’s go back to the Trevi Fountain! ♪ Who knows, it might be less crowded now.

Hehe, sounds good… ♪ Here you go.

Hm? Why’d you give me two coins? One each should be fine, right?

Hehehe ♪ Nope, it’s gotta be two. Go look it up later.

? Fine… but what’s the deal with that?

Nothing, nothing… ♪ 5

Chapter 6

A few days later. The day before the final round, in the dance studio.

…

…

… Ahem. Narukami-senpai, do you by any chance know if the Show that Sena-senpai was to appear in has concluded without issue?

Yeah, it ended yesterday.

Then, with the event that caused Sena-senpai to overwork himself drawing to a close, he can dedicate all of his focus to Knights’ Live Show from this point onwards.

In addition, with Leo-san having no further need to worry for Sena-senpai, there should no longer be any obstacles in the way of us delivering a flawless Performance. Am I right?

You are… in theory.

Then, why are Sena-senpai and Leo-san in this state!?

Sena-senpai seems lively enough, yet Leo-san’s disposition only appears to be worsening…!?

Hmmm… Did something else happen between him and Secchan, maybe?

I mean, he’s been acting all weird, but he’s still getting through our practices pretty well.

That is all the more concerning…

The final round is tomorrow. Are we really in the right condition for it…?

We had planned for Leo-san to act as our Center… but if, heaven forbid, he were to break down on stage, it would make for a horrible sight.

The thought alone fills me with anxiety…!

Then, should we change our center?

Well… we don’t have anything in the way of an alternative strategy. Changing our center doesn’t seem like a viable option at this point…

You’re still green, Suu-chan. A ruler should never lose their composure.

If the king wavers, so do the vassals. Once your mind is made up and you’ve got a plan, you have to command your subjects without hesitation until the end.

That’s what we’re here for.

I’ll cover for Tsukipii. Luckily, I’ve been feeling great since MM started, so I’ve got the energy to spare for it.

I’ll do everything I can on my end, too. We can split the burden.

Haha. It’s a little funny, for the two of you to be acting in Support of someone else. Was Knights not a unit known for its individualism?

Yeah, we’re still individualists. That’s why, if Tsukipii doesn’t say anything, I’m not gonna ask. I’ll just act like it’s not my problem.

I’m not gonna go out of my way to get involved, or try to figure out what’s going on, or act as a mediator.

Well, if he wants my advice, I’ll be here to give it.

We’re not attached at the hip, and we don’t help each other out with everything, but I think I can still be someone for him to depend on.

We might be a bunch of free-spirited individualists, but after all the time we’ve spent together, it’s natural that we’d develop this kind of bond in the end.

It’ll be okay. I can stand by Tsukipii’s side as either an enemy or a friend. 6

He’s right. I might be an individualist myself, but this is a special occasion. I don’t want to stay a bystander, losing things only to regret it later.

So, let’s cover for him together. Like one whole, unified group… ♪

…

That will not do. I have to step up.

Ever since I let Leo-san close to me, I’ve been within reach of his blade. He’s always throwing me for a loop.

Though it may have arrived a little late, I have found my own resolve as King…!

Please gather, everyone.

Tomorrow, the final match will take place at last.

Although we have gained the upper hand in both previous rounds, we must remember that we are dealing with Trickstar. We must not spare any effort to deliver a flawless Performance from beginning to end.

Sena-senpai, congratulations on the conclusion of your Show.

Now that it’s over, you no longer have to split your attention, right?

Right. Thanks for your patience so far. I’m all clear now, so I’m ready to finish this.

Leo-san. Tomorrow, we will employ the same strategy we have been using so far. Our arrangement will highlight you as our Center.

The audience’s appraisal of us will depend largely on the merit of your own Performance.

Therefore, we are all depending on you.

Agh… But I’m not feeling great, so I might not meet your expectations.

Wouldn’t it be better if someone else was the center?

No, it will be you. If you don’t feel well, make sure that the audience doesn’t notice. You’ve done that many times in the past, haven’t you?

Huh? You’re a tyrant! So mean! I told you, I’m not feeling it. Come on, pick someone else alreadyyy! There’s four other people besides meeee!

Please don’t order me around. The one with the power to issue commands as King is none other than myself. Knights doesn’t belong to you anymore; this is my Knights…!

And for Knights to win, we need your strength.

My strength, huh… not a great thing to rely on. It’s a cursed power that leads to ruin and destruction.

If you make me go on stage like this, it’ll be the worst performance in history. I’m just gonna embarrass us on an international level.

There’s no coming back from that. Everything we’ve built up is gonna break into pieces.

So you’re saying you’re okay with Knights falling apart? You still want to borrow my strength knowing that?

… Leo-kun, stop that.

Wait, Izumi-chan.

…

I’ll ask again, our “King”.

—Does this really look like the “right path” to you?

… I would be lying if I said I have no concerns. After all, there is the old saying that “absolute power leads to destruction”.

But even so, armed with an even greater resolve, I will make this declaration: your strength is essential to us.

These are my orders as your King. I am entrusting you with this task.

—I have faith in you, Leo-san.

…

Chapter 7

Alright… the show’s about to start, so I should get going to the wings—

Oh! Yuu-ku~n ♪

Hey there, Izumi-san.

Uwaaah…! You’re not wearing those stupid glasses today? You always have them on, so what’s the occasion?

You look so much better like this, when I can see your pretty face clearly… ☆

Today’s our last shot, meaning we can’t take anything back, so I thought we should pull all the stops.

Since you’re always praising my looks, I decided to wear contacts to show them off.

Oh? For “pulling all the stops”, that’s pretty inconsequential.

But hey, I’m not against it. Not paying attention to details is a surefire way to get outmaneuvered.

See you on stage, Yuu-kun. Let’s have a good match.

Yeah! I’ll give it my all.

BGM: Unbalanced Triangle (Instrumental)

“Hey, hey! Fun transcends all borders! If you’re having fun, that's all that matters! ☆”

“We’re ready to exceed your expectations on this final round, so look forward to that.”

“♪~♪~♪”

“♪~♪~♪”

(In the first round, they were still figuring themselves out… but now, they seem to have polished their imperfections. Indeed, Trickstar is quite the opponent.)

(Of course, Knights won’t fall behind.)

(Hehe. Today, I’m the best in the world… ♪)

(Even while playing second fiddle, I’ve gotta show the audience my best. I’ll give them a performance they’ll never forget.)

“♪~♪~♪”

(Nice! The audience is fired up!)

(In all the previous shows, I felt like we were lagging behind Knights a little, but we’re putting up a good fight this time…!)

(This set has been really hyped up. If we can capture the fans’ hearts with it… there has to be a chance for us.)

(… Right, Makoto?)

“♪~♪~♪”

(Oh… Secchan seems to be doing okay.)

(You’d think he’d be exhausted to death from the crazy overwork he’s been putting himself through every single day. That’s crazy.)

(Actually, he looks so stoic that it’s putting me off. How does he have that much mental strength?)

(… I feel like Kuma-kun is thinking something really rude about me. I can just tell from how he’s looking at me. I’ll give him a piece of my mind later.)

(… Well, I do feel bad for stressing everyone out with my selfish whims, including Leo-kun. It wasn’t right of me.)

(But I swear I won’t let this go wrong, so please do put up with my selfishness a little longer.)

“♪~♪~♪”

(… Yeah. We put all our time into practicing to develop each and every one of our skills, and thanks to that, we’re able to give our best performance yet.)

(Right now, we’re the best version of Trickstar the world has ever seen.)

(But MM finally made me come to terms with something: that the strength that got us this far didn’t come only from us.)

(That’s not to say we’ve got no abilities of our own, either.)

(We’ve been working hard all the time, earnestly putting all our efforts into every show. We pushed ourselves beyond our limits every time we went on stage.)

(But we could only do that because we… because Trickstar only ever had to be performers, and nothing else.)

(Things like "how to present ourselves beyond our idol personas to interest the audience”, or “what trends to take advantage of to turn expectations into fanaticism”…)

(There were those that set up the stage for us to perform on.)

(That’s how we were able to focus entirely on performing, without having to worry about anything beyond that.)

(Anzu-chan, our seniors, other idols, and many others… it was thanks to everything they set up for us that we could perform to our utmost every time.)

(That’s why we were strong… No, we thought we were.)

(That’s why we thought we could compete on equal footing with any other unit…)

(But thanks to MM, that mask has come off.)

(Trickstar doesn’t have what it takes to self-produce.)

(We don’t have anyone setting the stage for us to be able to push beyond our limits.)

(I accepted my role as the “brains of the operation”, but in truth, I was just gathering and analyzing data.)

(You can study up on trends, numbers, your opponents… but that alone is not a solid foundation to build a winning performance on top of.)

(In truth, we’re not as flawless as we thought we were…)

“Let’s goooo! I can’t hear you, come on! Get louder, scream your lungs off~! Wahahaha ☆”

(Smile. Smile, smile, smile…)

(Act like always, like nothing’s wrong…)

(The lights from the audience are so bright, even when my heart is pitch black.)

(Agh, I’ve gotta stop thinking. I can’t fall apart here.)

(This is what the King asked of me, and the King’s commands are absolute.)

(… What a tyrant! A dictator is what he is, a dictator!)

(Who raised that kid!? Me!? Was that me!?)

(But somehow, when Suo~ gave me the order and entrusted me with this, I didn’t feel offended or anything.)

(Not many people can look at two options in front of them and choose one with so little hesitation.)

(And yet, he managed to do that.)

(He was definitely anxious and worried, but he still put those feelings aside to proclaim that he had faith in me.)

(What a kid, that’s amazing. I wonder if I can say that I raised him.)

(But it’s awful. Amazing, but awful.)

(Now I have to see this through, just ‘cause the King orders it so.)

(Well, I’ll do it. I’ll live up to your expectations, okay?)

(…)

(—Oh, right.)

(You wanted me to tell you that…)

“♪~♪~♪”

Chapter 8

… (Digesting the results of the voting)

(Knights are the winners.)

(I knew it would turn out like this, I did… but actually looking at the results is still painful…)

(I was no match for Izumi-san or Tsukinaga-senpai. We got completely obliterated—)

Ukkii! We looost!

…Wha—!? A-Akehoshi-kun, don’t jump at me out of nowhere!?

It’s just that this sucks so bad! But hey, at least we did our best, right? Right?

Ukkii, say something funny like always and make me feel better!

So our efforts weren’t quite enough…

Well, there’s no use in lamenting the results. We can’t turn back time now. Let’s use this sadness as motivation to make sure we’ll win next time.

…

Huh? What’s wrong, Ukkii? You’re all tight-lipped like you need to go to the bathroom, or something.

… There is no “next time”. Where’d you both get the idea that we have another chance…?

Don’t you get it? Trickstar lost, and we got eliminated from the tournament.

So what do you mean by “next time”...?

…

It’s true that we lost, but there will be more shows and competitions in the future. We can have our comeback then.

But what if Trickstar isn’t even in them?

You’re saying that like it's guaranteed that we’re going to participate in those events.

But that’s not true. For all we know, we might stop getting the work we did before. We might not even get invited to the next one.

When I was a child model, there were times when kids just stopped showing up to the studio from one day to the next. Even when I’d seen them every day until then.

And just like that, they were gone from the limelight.

It wasn’t because they’d done something wrong, or that there was a problem with them. They just stopped getting work one day, and they were gone.

In this world, the future is never certain for anyone.

Right now, there’s no “next time” for us. Just the reality that we lost this time.

Makoto…

Ukkii, you’re scaring me… What’s wrong? Are you mad about something…?

No, I’m not mad. I’ve just made up my mind.

I realized today that Trickstar is missing the ability to self-produce.

What we thought were our strengths until now weren’t just our own merits.

Before Trickstar was a thing, there was a time when we were looking for what we wanted to do, planning our projects, searching for work…

We were trying to get by as soloists for that little while, even if it wasn’t for long.

Then, we formed a unit and we didn’t need to do those things anymore, so all of that came to a stop.

Before long, we got complacent… but things had been turning out well for us, so we thought everything would work out the same as always this time.

And I think this is what came of that. There is no world in which we were going to win.

Trickstar is just not as polished as we thought we were.

With the way we are now, we’re not going to beat Knights no matter how many times we try.

…

… How can you say that!? I get that you’re upset because we fought so hard and still lost, but you don’t have to rub salt in the wound! We’re supposed to be a team!

That’s why I’m telling you this…!

Okay, okay, settle down, everyone… Now's not the time to argue.

Oh, you shut up, Sarii!

We did everything we could and worked our hardest until the end, and now you’re gonna act like it meant nothing just because we lost? I’m not gonna take that lying down!

It’s as he said. I won’t tolerate that.

We didn’t have a wide array of options at our disposal. What do you suggest we should’ve done?

Should we not have practiced, and instead used that time to continue agonizing over not having a plan? Would that have led us to victory? Wouldn’t it have been a waste of time?

Hey, listen! Everyone, calm down… We’re a team, right? Come on, say sorry and make up, okay?

…

I really didn’t want to start a fight. I’m always scared of confrontation, and I really don’t think I’m any better than anyone else…

The whole time, I was considering just saying it was all a joke, smiling, and pretending it didn’t happen.

But I really feel like it might be the end of us if we ignore this… I think this is our chance to grow for the better.

You’re all so important to me… and that’s why I decided I had to tell you this, even with how scared I was.

…

(—Agh, dammit… Why's this happening…!? I haven’t had a headache like this in so long…!)

Translation Notes

1. ↑ ES! continuity: just as he says, Yumenosaki’s theater club did perform (a very unique version of) Romeo and Juliet when Mao and Ritsu went to second year: Performance.
2. ↑ In 1953 romantic comedy Roman Holiday, there is a well known scene in which the two leads ride through Rome on a Vespa scooter (Vespa being an Italian brand of motor scooters).
3. ↑ Continuing the Roman Holiday reference, this and Ritsu’s previous line are in reference to a scene in which main character Ann eats gelato on the Spanish Steps. Eating there is indeed prohibited in real life to preserve it as a historic location.
4. ↑ In reference to the Pillar Men from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 2.
5. ↑ While throwing one coin into the Trevi Fountain is said to make it so you will return to Rome in the future, throwing two coins is supposed to make it so you will fall in love in Rome. There are variants to this myth: sometimes it's about falling in love in general, and I read one according to which the second coin promises to keep you and your beloved together for life. Either way, throwing a second coin is related to romantic prospects.
6. ↑ Ritsu is talking about two different meanings of 相手, which can be used for a companion or an opponent. He’s saying he can be Leo’s 相手 in either sense of the word.