For those who have difficulty understanding, this is an idiom that means when you’re in a difficult situation, you’ll accept any help, but once you’re out of that difficult situation, you’ll neglect that help until you need it again.
< Mid-November. The opening of the “SS” Qualifying Rounds in the Tohoku region and the final battle of the “Championship Match”. >
Shuu: It’s our victory, Boy.
Natsume: …………
Shuu: Well, it’s the only natural outcome. You and I stand on two very different places. The difference between our many years of training and our honed abilities is as large as the difference between the earth and the heavens.
While you have all been indulging yourself in this game of pretend war and politics, we “Valkyrie” have simply been in pursuit of our arts.
You were making small steps all this time while we were running to turn our ideals into a reality!
And this is the fruit of our labour!
“♪~♪~♪”
Behold! The apotheosis of “Valkyrie”! Kneel! Before the beautiful art we’ve woven!
You foolish idols who have neglected your hard work! Succumb to the blinding brilliance! Ka ka ka ka ka!
Tsumugi: Well, we weren’t exactly slacking, though.
If you said we were sidetracked, then I suppose we were.
Shuu: ? I don’t quite understand but don’t talk to me in such a friendly manner, Aoba. I have not forgiven your betrayal from years ago!
Tsumugi: Say what~? Everyone else prays no more once on shore[*] and whatnot and they’ve been trying not to touch upon that topic, though?
Shuu-kun, I see you and Natsume-kun still bear anger towards us “fine”.
Natsume: Hearing you say “us ‘fine’” irritates me, thouGH. I can’t speak for Shuu Nii-san but I’m not that angry anymoRE.
However, I can’t simply pretend the past “never happenED”.
From the immense amount of emotions that were born from that trageDY, Shuu Nii-san used it to channel his flames of anger into his art and I used it as the base of my magIC.
That’s all there is to iT. It’s not about who’s at the top or the bottom nor is it about who’s won or loST.
I’m also moving forward, like yOU, Shuu Nii-san.
If you didn’t notice thAT or pretended you didn’t see iT… No, if you think I’m still a helpless child who cannot do anything, thEN…
You may be proud of your victoriES, Shuu Nii-san, but you might end up in tears latER ♪
Shuu: Non! What a filthy choice of words! That sort of inferior phrase does not suit us at all!
Natsume: YeAH. You would refuse to understand if I chose to word it that wAY, Shuu Nii-san. In other words, you won’t be able to notice our real intentioNS. This too is that sort of magIC.
Mika: ? Do you understand what they’re sayin’, Sora-kun?
Sora: HaHa~♪ Sora has no issues understanding them! Sora knows the premise so Sora can understand by working out the meaning~
Mika: What~? Whenever “Valkyrie” and “Switch” got together for work, we made a promise we’d stay in a corner ‘cause we’re the “kids who don’t know what’s goin’ on”, right~?
Sora: Heheh ♪ Sora has grown up, Mika-chan-san!
Tsumugi: Fufu. Well, in any case, allow us to applaud you: Congratulations on making it past the “SS” Qualifying Round in the Tohoku region, Shuu-kun.
Shuu: Hmph. It seems you’re making me repeat myself, but it was only natural for things to turn out this way.
One month has slowly passed without holding the Qualifying Round and which unit would make it past the Qualifying Round…
Would be decided in the form of a live battle tournament very reminiscent of Yumenosaki.
It’s only because I also approved of that decision, so we decided to cooperate and stand on the stage for the “Championship Match” which you three are hosting.
Tsumugi: Ahaha. The public’s reaction is rather vague, though. It seems there are people who have booked hotels to watch the entirety of the Qualifying Rounds, as well.
It would be unfortunate for all of it to end in the blink of an eye.
I think local companies have also made preparations in accordance with the Qualifying Rounds, but we’re the ones who chose to ignore all of that.
Shuu: Hmph. I’m sure you lot in “Switch” will have prepared some sort of magic that would entertain those who still have regrets.
That sort of narrow-minded behaviour is your forte, isn’t it?
Natsume: …………
Shuu: In any case, we’ve proved that “Valkyrie” is far superior. We’ve done it in the simplest way that even philistines can understand.
We’re satisfied with that. At the “Antique Market”, we were criticised by “Double Face” who claimed we were weak in dreamfests, however, we’ve been able to prove that wrong, as well.
Behold! We’ve demonstrated our overwhelming abilities and have emerged victorious!
Tsumugi: Well, if you put that much time and money into preparing for such a performance, the other units – including us – wouldn’t be able to stand a chance.
It’s a very conventional “Valkyrie” tactic, though.
Sora: HiHi~ That’s why it’s easy to predict what you’ll do ♪
Mika: ………?
Natsume: WeLL, bathe as much as you like in your triumph right nOW.
I don’t intend on hurting my brothers in tHE “Five Oddballs” and this is also one of my desired outcomES.
But if you still see me as a helpless child who cannot do anythiNG, then all I can say is, you have my condolencES.
Shuu: ………?
Natsume: The curtain of the “SS” Qualifying Round in the Tohoku region has fallen with “Valkyrie’s” victoRY. But this is where the real story unfolDS.
Elképesztően megszerettem Oszakát így közel 3 hét alatt. Már egész jól tájékozódom és például kedvenc boltjaim meg éttermeim is vannak. Nagyon furcsa lesz továbbmenni Kiotóba hétfőn, mert -röhögni fogtok- kicsit már olyan, mintha itt élnék. Nagyon remélem, hogy egyszer itt is fogok.
Az egyik kedvenc helyem egyébként a Shinsekai környéke, ahol kissé olyan lófrálni, mintha valami régi yakuza filmbe lépne az ember.
A szobrok amúgy Billikent (“the god of things as they”) ábrázolják, aki egy elég érdekes figura, többek közt azért is, mert az USA-ból jött, Shinsekaiban pedig saját kis szentélye is van.
(Az utsó képen elnézést kérek a cenzúráért, de én már nem tudom követni hogy mehet-e cickó tumblira vagy sem)
Location: Tohoku Town (SHINSEKAI)
Characters: Mika, Shuu & Natsume
TL Note:
“Shinsekai” literally means a “new world” but I’ve opted to keep the name in the original Japanese.
Natsume: “♪~♪~♪”
“Fufu, Good morning to all the idols in the Tohoku region ♪”
“I am ‘Switch’s’ Natsume Sakasaki! A magician as well as a fortune teller! And also the god of this “SHINSEKAI[*]”...!”
Mika: What nonsense are you spoutin, Nakkun?
Natsume: “Be quiet and listEN, ‘Valkryie’.”
“You’re the only ones who have been forcibly dragged into thiS, so I don’t blame you if there are question marks appearing all over your faces right nOW.”
Mika: Forcibly…?
Shuu: Be quiet for a minute and listen to what he has to say, Kagehira.
Don’t worry, he isn’t our enemy.
Natsume: “AhaHA. I’m happy to see you trust mE but do you realLY? Remember the basic premise oF ‘SS’, Shuu Nii-san…”
“This ‘SS’ is an event to find out who is the best idOL. Everyone else is our opponent – no, you should think of them as enemiES.”
Shuu: We “Valkyrie” have no intentions of joining the philistines in making a fuss over nothing. The best idol…? If you wish to call yourselves that, by all means, go ahead.
Even if you adorn yourself in all that ostentation, it doesn’t change the fact that we’re still superior.
We do not require a structure nor the public’s word or acknowledgement; it doesn’t matter as long as we are aware.
Natsume: “How splendID; you deserve the artist awaRD ♪”
“But is that really what your heart is telling yOU, Shuu Nii-san?”
Shuu: What…?
Natsume: “You don’t need to keep up appearances heRE because this is a dream world where all your wishes will come trUE.”
Shuu: Dream…? Right, are we not dreaming right now? How can I have a proper conversation with you in a dream?
Natsume: “AhaHA. It’ll get a bit confusing so I’m sorry but I want you to keep quiet for nOW. I do have the power to keep your mouths shut by force, thouGH.”
“To force someone to shut their mouth aND to not respect their free will is a grave and unforgivable siN.”
“I hope you won’t make your dear younger brother do something so unjuST, Nii-san ♪”
Shuu: …………
Mika: (Woah, that’s amazin’. Normally, he doesn’t like people treatin’ him like a kid, but he only acts like one when he needs to. I should take notes ♪)
Shuu: What are you secretly doing, Kagehira? You should be listening to what the Boy is saying so we can get a grasp on the situation.
Mika: Ngh, why’re you always mad at me? Don’t let your anger out on me~
Natsume: “FuFU. In any case, everyone else but ‘Valkyrie’ should have received the materials beforehaND and at the very least, should also have an overall gist of things, bUT…”
“As the god of this ‘SHINSEKAI’, I shall explain the general rules of the world once moRE.”
Shuu: Hmph. You? A god?
Mika: (Ngh~? Oshi-san’s sayin’ something awful but he looks like he’s happy? He must find everythin’ that Nakkun does adorable ♪)
(They’re both part of the “Five Oddballs”, after all. There is a bond between them that I’ll never understand.)
Natsume: “This world by the name of ‘SHINSEKAI’ is simply virtual realiTY. In other words, it’s a VR spaCE.”
Mika: I don’t know any of those words. Oshi– Onii-chan, do you get it?
Shuu: I don’t but it’s words from the Boy; it must be knowledge I don’t necessarily need in order to live.
He tends to have a liking for these sorts of things.
Natsume: “FuFU. I’ll explain for those who are unfamiliar with the most recent technologiES, but VR is simply technology that allows you to dream while being awaKE.”
“You can walk around in a fabricated world that someone built, an imaginative world and a dream world like it’s all reAL.”
“It’s like a technology that allows you to experience a dream someone created all the while you’re awaKE.”
“It’s exactly like Alice in Wonderland where we can explore this dream world through the use of ‘SSVRS’.”
“This is something we partially developed as a hobby previousLY, but thanks to a certain partnership that has provided us with a large amount of funding, the technology’s development has evolved dramaticalLY.”
“Two technologies from different backgrounds are combinED and a breakthrough occurrED. Now, that’s truly what you’d call the real pleasure of being involved with otheRS.”
Shuu: Are you criticising us who live alone in the darkness, Boy?
Natsume: “I wouldn’t daRE! Even in the closed-off Galapagos Islands, there are unique species born on those very islanDS ♪”
Mika: He’s callin’ you somethin’ from the Galapagos Islands, Onii-chan.
Shuu: He’s completely badmouthing me, even though it’s just a place name.
Natsume: “FuFU. And the Tohoku region was chosen as the testing grounds for the nEW ‘SSVRS’.”
“Unlike the other regioNS, the winner of the Qualifying Round for Tohoku has already been decided, after aLL.”
“It just means we have time to spare for other thinGS.”
Mika: Ngh~ No matter how you look at it, it’s just a fixed race. That’s exactly why you proposed to finish the Qualifying Round early, right, Nakkun?
Natsume: “I suppose you could say thAT.”
“That’s why we completed our new technoloGY and by offering that, it would look as if we’ve contributed to the entire industry, and then ‘Switch’ will be allowed to participate in the ‘SS’ finals through special entRY.”
Shuu: Hmph. No wonder you admitted defeat so easily during the “Championship Match”; you intended on advancing to the final round through a back door.
Natsume: “YeAH, it sounds like something we would do, doesn’t iT? ♪”
“We’re not knights or soldieRS so why would we fight fair and squaRE?”
Shuu: I should have known. Well, it is something you all would do. I’ll give you that.
Natsume: “AhaHA. It hasn’t been decided whether we’ll take part in the final round as a fellow participant or if we’ll be behind the scenes as a technician, thouGH.”
“I suppose it all depends on the results of the testing conducted here in the Tohoku regiON.”
“In any caSE, I hope you’ll provide me with plenty of ‘raw data’ that will complete the perfection of our technology for our futuRE.”
“You won’t regret it by any meaNS. We’re not so conceited to the point we think we can save the entire worLD, but at the very least, we should be able to do so for the places we can reaCH.”
“I’ll prove that it’ll be a utopia with no sadness, pain, despair or sufferiNG.”
“Someday, every nook and cranny of the real world will be repainted in the colours of our ideaLS.”