BUBBLE GUM DANCE - According to The Dream (2)

Ahaha! Welcome to ES, members of MELLOW DEAR US! I officially welcome you!

Oh, thank you for your kindness. I look forward to working with you. Um, please have these sweets with your tea. It’s nothing special… I think.

Nonono! Stop. This makes no sense no matter how you think about it!

Huh? So this wasn’t a good gift after all…?

But it’s honestly really good, y’know? Really filling too. Whenever I have to go apologize to someone, I always bring a box of these seppuku monaka ¹ sweets ♪

Woah. It’s almost like this sweet was custom made for you, Chitose-kun.

Wait, that’s not the point. Why are you on ES’s side and welcoming us with Nice-san?

Oh, right. I guess Nice-san was so welcoming that I ended up actually feeling like an invited guest.

But, now that I’m thinking about it… I guess that doesn’t make much sense either, does it? I can’t believe something so obvious didn’t even occur to me. I really am hopeless… I’m sorry.

There’s no need for apologies, Chitose.

Huh? Are you comforting me? I’m so happy… Thank you, Nozomi-san.

Your scatterbrained behavior is an everyday occurrence, your little mistake is trivial by comparison.

That’s why there’s no need for apologies.

Right… You’re the same as ever, Nozomi-san. Talking to you always feels like I’m being ripped back and forth between Heaven and Hell.

If you cherry pick what he’s saying he sounds like a saint… uuuntil you hear the rest of what he’s got to say…~

Okay break it up. The producer over there has no idea what’s going on anymore.

Ahaha! You all are as free-spirited and entertaining as ever!

But as Juis-kun mentioned, we shouldn’t keep Anzu-chan waiting any longer! Why don’t we start by introducing ourselves properly?

Introductions…? Now? We’ve met her plenty of times already.

Well, I can understand why you’d think that but…

You’re still joining ES officially as of now, so this is more or less just industry etiquette. Think of it as a blank slate, and just humor me will you?

If that’s the custom here in Japan, then I’ll expect it. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, right?

Exactly. You sure catch on fast! That’s so nice!

Well then, my name is Yoshihide Sanda.

But when working together, I’d prefer it if you called me by my business name! Nice Arneb Thunder! It’s friendlier that way!

We know that alreadyyy. Besides, Unc here is more interested in meeting ES’s producer more than you, Nice-san~

Good grief. I went through all the trouble of thinking of different ways to sell myself, but it seems no one was looking forward to it. I’m hurt…

Well then, allow me to introduce her. This is Anzu-chan, a producer that’s earned the unwavering trust of the idols at ES.

Although she’s still young, she’s already proving her abilities here in Japan’s fiercely competitive idol industry.

Surely you all know what she’s capable of by now. You’ve experienced it firsthand, after all.

Sure did. We learned it the hard way during Mainstream Megasphere.

So you’re Anzu-chan, huh…? We’ve bumped into each other a few times already, but this is the first time we’ve actually had the chance to sit and talk, isn’t it~?

Honestly, Unc here’s been reeeal jealous of the idols at ES.

Having a cutie like Anzu-chan as a producer probably makes being an idol worth it, y’know? I’ve never felt this way before ♪

Oh, but let’s keep that between us. How about we start by swapping contact info?

Kuon… your nasty habits are showing again. Knock it off. Don’t put the producer on the spot like that.

Okay, okayyy. Funny, you don’t normally try to stop me, Juis-kun. Buuut, it’s fine.

I would’ve let you keep going, but the conversation isn’t really going anywhere and Madoka looks like he’s run out of patience.

……(Glaring daggers at Mashu).

Juis-kun, you’re a life saver…! Thank God looks can’t actually kill ‘cuz Unc here would’ve definitely kicked the bucket just now~!

If looks really could kill, you would have died the moment we first met.

You hated Unc that much the second we both met…? Haaarsh.

Anzu-chan. This colorful bunch is “MELLOW DEAR US”.

The members are Kojika Juis, Madoka Nozomi, Kuon Mashu, and Tsuzura Chitose. They come together to make a high performance unit.

I’m sure you already know what they’re capable of. They’ve clashed swords with the idols of ES on stage, after all.

At any rate, MELLOW DEAR US will officially be operating under Rhythm Link starting today.

It truly is a case of the enemies of yesterday becoming the friends of today! How very nice!

From here on out, Anzu-chan and I will be producers for your unit together. I look forward to working with all of you.

…I must object.