BUBBLE GUM DANCE - According to The Dream (4)

Zzz… zzz…

⁠—BWEH?!

W-What’s going on?! Why’s my body suddenly all heavy?! Is this sleep paralysis?!

Wait wait wait. Unc doesn’t believe in sleep paralysis demons, alright~? So go bother someone that actually believes in that stuff…

……(Coldly staring down at Mashu)

U-Uhhh… Good morning, Nozomi-kun.

No, wait. How come you’re sitting on Unc’s stomach…?

I’m not exactly big or puffy enough to make a comfy seat, y’know… My insides are gonna be squeezed out like this…

“Comfy”…? As if someone like you could offer me any comfort. Don’t flatter yourself, newcomer.

Uh-huh. Unc doesn’t think it’s comfy for you either. So… why are you sitting here?

Juis asked me to wake up the next person.

If that was not the case, then why would I ever willingly go out of my way to sit atop a newcomer? Consider my feelings about this.

Then could you maybe spare a thought for Unc’s feelings about this too? I woke up with someone sitting on my stomach and bombarding me with insults.

Hang on, was this your idea of waking me up? It’s nothing like how you woke up Juis-kun!

If you have to, then just wake Unc up normally from here on out. Just call my name or give me a tap on the shoulder.

I wouldn’t mind slapping your cheek instead. I’ll slap the right one, so be sure to offer me your left as well.¹

Those are supposed to be the words of a good guy, but they don’t feel too inspiring when it’s coming from you, Nozomi-kun. Unc can totally tell that you just want an excuse to hit me twice~

Well, I guess it’s still better than being left here to sleep in. Thanks for going out of your way to wake me up.

But still… it’d be really nice if you did find a more normal way to wake me up next ti–

……

Wait… are you still upset about yesterday, Nozomi-kun? Since Unc and the others didn’t take your side…?

……

As if I would get upset over something so childish. Your thinking is far too simplistic.

(Really? He sure doesn’t look like he’s in a good mood~)

More importantly, get up already. We might actually be late for work. If I fail this task, then Juis’s confidence in me will decrease.

Should that come to pass, someone will have to pay with their life… and that someone will be you.

I’m going to! I’m going right now!

We have that interview on the morning show today, right? Better make lots of money today too…♪

Anyway, Nozomi-kun. Could you get off of me now~?

Ahaha. Sitting all prim like that makes you look like a proud, spoiled cat–

GhhgHK?! I was kidding! Don’t sit back down! You made your point, so let’s just go meet up with Juis, okay?

Hmph.

MELLOW DEAR US has already found tremendous success overseas. What made you decide to begin promoting yourselves in Japan as well?

Right. The time we spent performing overseas was truly an experience we’ll always treasure, but…

We felt that immersing ourselves in this environment would help MELLOW DEAR US grow even more.

I see! Very impressive~

It’s clear from your performances just how dedicated you all are, however…

Despite your overseas success, what made you all want to come here to Japan in order to grow?

We don’t believe we’ve reached our full potential yet.

The standard for idol performances here in Japan is incredibly high. So, we felt that if we could prove ourselves here, we’d grow stronger as idols.

…Hm? What’s the matter, Anzu-chan?

Oh! Haha. Well, they’re some of the finest professionals in the industry, so I don’t think it’s anything to praise them that much over.

Even if they each have their own reservations about something, they never let it show and see the job through to the very end.

So, in a way… praising them by saying “It’s incredible how you always do your job perfectly no matter what” could come across as underestimating them, no?

If they ever heard that evaluation from you, they’d be less than pleased. So, let’s just keep that hush between us… ♪

Hm? Oh, of course I know you didn’t mean any disrespect to them, Anzu-chan. It’s just that what we truly mean doesn’t always come across the way we intend it to.

It’s just that they’re so different from how they were at the agency, you say…?

Haha. Your assessment of them is pretty much spot on, Anzu-chan. I’ve been producing them every step of the way, after all.

The starker the contrast, the more fully realized MELLOW DEAR US is as an idol unit.

Even if you ask what I mean, I mean exactly what I said.

How can I explain this in an easier way… Oh, I know. MELLOW DEAR US has an “ON” mode and an “OFF” mode.

Hm? “Doesn’t everyone have an “ON” mode and “OFF” mode”…?

Ah, that’s not quite what I mean, Anzu-chan. You’re thinking about the difference between their idol selves and their private selves, aren’t you?

But that’s not it. Even as idols, the members of MELLOW DEAR US have an “ON” mode and an “OFF” mode.

Compared to other idols here at ES, they keep much more of themselves hidden from the public.

That is the key to producing them. It’s by preserving that distinction that they are able to exist as MELLOW DEAR US.

……

Haha. You’re still looking at me like you’re not sure what I mean, you know.

That’s okay.

From now on, you’ll be producing MELLOW DEAR US too. So take your time and unravel who they are at your own pace.