Passé (5)

“—Valkyrie! MELLOW DEAR US! Thank you all for those wonderful performances!”

“They were incredible, and they truly conveyed the unique characteristics and artistic vision of both units!”

“To think that we got to see a spectacle like this in just the first round! I wonder what they’ll have in store for us next…!”

“Haha! Just imagining it is making my heart race~♪”

“Alright! Give them one more round of applause folks!”

Hey, hey, hey! Looking at how fired up the crowd is, I think Mashu and the gang definitely have the upper hand~★ #NailedThatOpening #OffToAGreatStart

Still, Valkyrie’s performance was better than expected.

Hmph. I’d heard about it, but a stage like this could only be brought about by those that are completely self absorbed.

In fact, it seems that the Dears who were unfamiliar with their performances are completely dumbfounded.

Yup, yup, yuuup! It’s kinda like Valkyrie’s performances are so unique that they can’t really keep up!

It’s not just Dears that are here cheering us on, but there are plenty of locals that aren’t familiar with idol culture too.

Maybe there aren’t that many peple that can take in that kind of performance right away, no matter how good it is.

…But, I’m still getting the feeling that Valkyrie hasn’t shown their full strength yet.

……

—Anyway. Nice job on round one, everyone~!

Let’s keep it up just like this through the second round and the finals~♪

You’re being awfully loud, newcomer. Would you like me to ensure that mouth of yours never opens again?

Yikes! Did Gramps say something would make you that angry~?

I’m sorry, everyone. I know I was… a bit late with the move right before the chorus.

I won’t make a mistake like that next time…!

You’re doing it again, Chitose-kun. Nobody’s mad at you, okay~?

……

Juis. If you’re going to stare at someone, I think you should be staring at me.

…Quit putting yourself in front of me, Madoka.

What’s wrong, Juis-san?

Nothing. I just got the feeling something was off.

“Off”…? Um… Juis-kun, were you looking over at Valkyrie…?

—You’ve been quite vague this entire time.

This is wasting time. So, I would rather if you didn’t make me repeat myself.

Sorry, Oshi-san…

I’m tired of hearing your apologies. What I’m asking of you is why it happened and your plan to correct it.

Even during the actual performance, you failed to execute the very move I repeatedly corrected during rehearsal.

You said you would somehow manage it by the time of the performance… Is this the result?

Those movements were but a superficial cover up… Did you honestly think you could fool me with that?

……

Even after everything I’ve said, you still intend to stay silent?

Ohh~ Are they having some kind of performance debrief? Looks like they’re pretty worked up for it to be that, though…

Augh… I wasn’t even the one being scolded, but somehow I’m starting to feel bad…

Hmph. To think that a poor performance would result in them infighting… I can’t describe it as anything other than foolish.

Don’t be like that, Madoka.

Still, being in the same room while it’s happening is really uncomfortable.

Can’t be helped. Maybe Gramps should go over and say something?

Leave them be, newcomer. They’re bringing about their own downfall.

There is no reason to meddle in matters that don’t concern us. If the atmosphere here is that uncomfortable, then we can simply leave.

I get that, but surely we can’t just leave them like this~?

Ah, wait. I’ll come with you, Mashu-san…!

If you intend to keep dragging this issue out any further, then I’ll stop at nothing to resolve it.

…If you’d like, I suppose I could listen to whatever it is that’s been troubling you—

Wait a sec, Itsuki-kun! Aren’t you taking this a bit too far?

Look. Mika-kun already looks like he’s thinking about his mistake, so let’s just leave it at that, ‘kay?

I don’t really know what happened, but it’s only the two of you in your unit. So, can’t you try to get along a bit better…?

This is none of your concern. It’s a matter between Kagehira and I, so I’d like it if outsiders didn’t stick their noses into it.

And, of all people, you came to intervene?

…What do you mean by that?

Well, fine. In that case, I’ll listen to what you have to say instead of Kagehira.

—Oshi-san!

I already know that this’s… all my fault.

But I don’t wanna cause any more trouble fer you, Oshi-san… So, I’ll figure it out somehow…

…Hmph. I have my doubts about that as well.

Fine. It’s not as though I want to waste my time talking to you philistines, either.

Hey, Itsuki-kun…! …He left.

Kagehira, right? Looks like you’ve got quite a strict partner.

Yeah. If I were in the same unit as Itsuki-san, I think my spirit would be crushed in just a day.

U-Umm… Kagehira-kun. Don’t get too discouraged by it, okay? Though, you did seem a little off today…

Like you started singing 0.7 seconds late. Your arm position at the end of the song was a bit stiff too, but…

I think mistakes of that size are still fine. No matter how much you prepare, it’s… only natural to get nervous when it comes to the actual performance.

So… don’t let it discourage you!

…I know. You don’t have’ta tell me that.

Y-You’re right! You know yourself best when it comes to things like this, after all…

‘S not Oshi-san’s fault, either… It’s all my fault.

Don’t you think you’re being a bit too hard on yourself? Sure, it’s a major performance, but it’s not like you aren’t allowed to make mistakes. I think it’s okay to take it easy~

…Sorry fer makin’ ya see somethin’ embarrassing like that. Don’t worry about it.

This’s our problem anyways… so it doesn’t have anythin’ to do with you guys.

You’re not wrong. We are outsiders in this~ Buuut still, I can’t exactly just leave you like this either.

If there’s ever anything that’s bothering you, you can always come chat with me, Mika-kun…♪

Oh. And when you’re talking to Gramps, you can just call me Mashu~

There’s somethin’ I wanted to ask ya…

Um… When you were a kid, Kuon-san… or, no—

How should I say this… Have ya ever been to a… circus, or somethin’?

A circus…?

Ah, nevermind. It’s nothin’.

Sorry fer askin’ somethin’ so weird… I’m gonna go now.

Ah. Hold on, Mika-kuuun~?

What was that all about?

Hey… When Kagehira-kun was talking about a circus, could he have meant Mashu-san’s…

Who knows? Gramps didn’t really understand what he was asking~

Actually, I think you made him angrier by saying all those unnecessary things, Chitose-kun.

You might be right about that.

I’m–I’m sorry…! It’s all my fault, isn’t it…?

……

…? What’s up, Nozomi-kun? Why are you looking at Gramps like that?

Self concious, are we? You simply happened to enter my line of sight while I was looking at Juis, newcomer.

To think that you aren’t even aware that you are the nuisance here. There are limits to how shameless you can be.

Whaaat? That’s a little mean, don’t you think?

…Besides. I have no reason to point out the obvious.

If Valkyrie continues to fall apart like this, then it will make advancing easy for us.