Infinite Expectations

Takanashi Otoharu: Their voices are very compatible. I’m sure they’ll be able to draw out each others’ charms and bring them to the foreground.
Takanashi Otoharu: The name of the song is “Koi no Kakera.” It’s a song that’ll give MEZZO" a chance to start anew, be reborn. I’m sure it’ll be the spark for the two’s growth.

Takanashi Tsumugi: As expected of Sougo-san and Tamaki-san! Your voices are truly compatible! They’re a perfect match!
Yotsuba Tamaki・Osaka Sougo: I see….
Takanashi Tsumugi: N-neither of you seem to be very satisfied….
Osaka Sougo: But it is quite rare that we’re listening to our new song despite the release date being up in the air.
Yotsuba Tamaki: Are we gonna sing this live or on TV?
Takanashi Tsumugi: You’ll sing it when it’s the best time to! The President said that this song will give MEZZO" a chance to start anew and be reborn.
Yotsuba Tamaki・Osaka Sougo: …….
Osaka Sougo: Can we, though….
Yotsuba Tamaki: I mean, this is pretty much just how we are….
Takanashi Tsumugi: I’m sure you two will get along even better! How about hanging out together on your days off?
Yotsuba Tamaki: Just looking at Sou-chan’s face, makes it not feel like a break anymore.
Osaka Sougo: Seeing Tamaki-kun’s face just dissipates any feeling that it’s a break.
Yotsuba Tamaki・Osaka Sougo: But we work together pretty well.
Takanashi Tsumugi: What calm, yet dry relations….
Takanashi Tsumugi: It doesn’t feel dangerous like how it used to be, but this coldness, where it seems like they’ve given up on getting on friendlier terms with each other, is kind of lonely and may pose a problem….
Takanashi Tsumugi: Even though their voices are so compatible…. With their voices, they draw out each others’ charms and bring them to the foreground. This song in particular is full of their charms.
Takanashi Tsumugi: Just as the President said, “Koi no Kakera” should be a song that will spur the rebirth of a new MEZZO"!
Takanashi Tsumugi: I’ll leave the two of you to practice all you want for another hour, since you’re already here. If you’ll excuse me!
Yotsuba Tamaki: Wha….
Osaka Sougo: Tamaki-kun, don’t say that. Let’s keep on trying for just a little longer.
Yotsuba Tamaki: ……. Sou-chan, sometimes you talk or apologize to people by yourself, when we’re working.
Yotsuba Tamaki: Is it because of me?
Osaka Sougo: Not at all.
Yotsuba Tamaki: Then, why? If something happened, it’s better if you tell me too.
Osaka Sougo: I do tell you what I want you to fix, nowadays. Don’t worry about anything else.
Yotsuba Tamaki: ……. I don’t like that about you, Sou-chan. (1)
Osaka Sougo: …….
Osaka Sougo: Now, shall we practice?
Yotsuba Tamaki: Ok.

Momo: Sorry for the intrusion~! Congrats on your show’s broadcast! I watched “A Lovely Night with IDOLiSH7!” and it was super funny!
Nanase Riku: Momo-san, Yuki-san…!
Yuki: So when will you be calling us in as guests?
Takanashi Tsumugi: Re:vale is probably, maybe, a little, not yet, in terms of budget….
Momo: But TRIGGER’s new show called us in though.
Yuki: They’ve got a different budget, since they’ve got good sponsors.
Osaka Sougo: …….
Takanashi Tsumugi: Ah…. What are the two of you here for today?
Yuki: We’re here to bully our kouhai.
Takanashi Tsumugi: Huh!?
Nanase Riku: You’re here to bully your kouhai!?
Yuki: Yamato-kun, come over here.
Nikaidou Yamato: No.
Izumi Iori: N-Nikaidou-san…?
Yuki: If you’re not going to come here, I have an idea.
Nikaidou Yamato: Sure, do as you like.
Yuki: Understood. I’ll yell it out then. You see! The reason why he turned down the offer! Could it be–
Nikaidou Yamato: I-I’m coming over right now!
Yuki: Sorry about that.
Nikaidou Yamato: …You’ve got a terrible personality, as usual.
*slam*
Nanase Riku: …I wonder what’s going on. Yamato-san and Yuki-san….
Momo: Now, now, don’t worry! Yuki’s a gentleman, after all!

Yuki: Accept the movie offer. It should help you get more work from here on out.
Nikaidou Yamato: Don’t need it.
Yuki: You’re not cute at all.
Nikaidou Yamato: Sorry.
Yuki: There was a senpai who took care of me back when I started out, and I want to repay him. (2)
Yuki: You should know him as well. His name is, mmph–
Nikaidou Yamato: I don’t care about what your circumstances are, but please don’t do anything excessive. I don’t have anything to do with him anymore.
Yuki: Don’t muffle your senpai ’s mouth. And he does have something to with both you and me, since he is my senpai.
Nikaidou Yamato: Do you know what this is called? This is abusing your power, senpai. (3)
Yuki: You know, if I really wanted to abuse my power, you guys wouldn’t have work anymore.
Nikaidou Yamato: …Go ahead, try it. Even if it’s you, I won’t forgive you if you do anything to them–
Yuki: Oh, how manly. Didn’t think you’d say such a passionate line like that. How about saying it once more?
Nikaidou Yamato: …You’re such a pain in the ass! How’d someone like you get so famous!? Just 5 years ago you were but a car washer at my place! (4)
Yuki: That gaze of yours, as if you were looking down at trash, is quite nostalgic. Your hatred of people in showbiz– did you change your mind?
Nikaidou Yamato: …Shut up.
Yuki: You can’t hide it forever. Even with glasses, you’re the spitting image of that person in their youth.
Yuki: Did you not tell your members either? If so, why did you get into the entertainment industry?
Nikaidou Yamato: ……. At first, it was supposed to be for revenge.
Yuki: How dirty.
Nikaidou Yamato: But it’s different now. I want to make their dreams come true. All this gossip about me just gets in the way of that.
Yuki: If it’s just gossip, we can protect you from that. If you want to make your members’ dreams come true, then you must go even higher.
Yuki: You’re a genius, when it comes to acting. To be honest, it was frustrating– I worked so hard to get there, and yet.
Nikaidou Yamato: Yuki-san….
Yuki: I heard you haven’t gone home? He’s lonely, you know. He even sent flowers to your concert. (5)
Nikaidou Yamato: …He fucking sent the type of flowers you’d send to a hostess. How ironic. Has that shitty old man gone nuts? (6)
Yuki: Well, I mean, he is a little insensible at times.
Nikaidou Yamato: …….
Yuki: Why did you give up on your revenge?
Yuki: Is it because it was more fun than you expected? This world.
Nikaidou Yamato: …….
Yuki: Acting alongside me will be even more fun. Please think about it seriously, both for your own sake and for the sake of your friends. Give me a reply then.

Momo: Sorry, about Yuki.
Takanashi Tsumugi: Not at all! Re:vale is always taking care of us….
Takanashi Tsumugi: Why do the two of you look after us, IDOLiSH7, so much?
Momo: Because we love you guys! Just watching those kids all on TV makes me wanna cheer ‘em on. So here I am, doing exactly that.
Momo: TRIGGER, and how they strive for perfection– I love them too. So I just can’t help but root for them, both TRIGGER and the hardworking IDOLiSH7.
Momo: Ever since their show started, IDOLiSH7’s fans have increased, right?
Takanashi Tsumugi: Yes! Thanks to the show, the fanclub numbers keep on increasing every day.
Momo: That’s good to hear!
Momo: There’s something I want you, as their manager, to be careful of. Especially since their popularity is skyrocketing right now.
Takanashi Tsumugi: What is it?
Momo: As more and more people come to love them, the feelings people have towards them will also begin to change, bit by bit.
Momo: And some of that might bring them pain.
Takanashi Tsumugi: Ah…. People who hate IDOLiSH7 will start to appear, won’t they….
Momo: That’s not it, Tsumugi-chan. It’s feelings of love, that has always tormented idols.
Takanashi Tsumugi: …….
Momo: As the fans increase, there’ll only be more and more types of that love, infinite. People are all unique! They way they love is also unique!
Momo: So there’ll be people who are fans of the cool Riku, and people who are fans of the cute Riku. There’ll be people who want to see them on variety, people who want to see them in lives….
Momo: All of them are thinking about Riku. But there’s only one of him, and he can’t make everyone’s expectations come true.
Momo: That’s what will make him suffer. How should I say it….
Momo: People who work as idols love to make others happy, and love being loved.
Momo: If we disappoint the fans, we feel that disappointment two-fold.
Takanashi Tsumugi: …….
Momo: There’ll be some who think 'Just what did we do wrong?’ and some who think 'I have to try even harder!’
Momo: But there’ll also be some who’ll snap, and go 'Hell if I’m gonna listen to you guys!’
Momo: And the fans will snap back. Because of those expectations, displeasure is born. Because there is love, hate is born.
Momo: Nobody is in the wrong, and there is no best way to go about this. But even if the idols suffer, it can’t be helped.
Momo: Everyone gets crushed during times like these. TRIGGER had a hard time too, since they got super popular really fast.
Momo: But since Ten was there, they pulled through. Ten’s amazing. I respect him too! He eliminated all factions, and dedicated himself up to the fans. (7)
Momo: Sometimes that’s a little worrying, though. It kinda feels like Ten’s indentured or something, even though it hasn’t been that long since he debuted.
Takanashi Tsumugi: Indentured, you say…?
Momo: Yeah. I guess you could say he’s self-sacrificing….
Momo: Like, no matter how painful it is, or no matter how much you wanna cry, you always have to smile for the sake of others! No matter what, you have to sing, you have to dance!
Momo: He’s perfected that mindset of dedicating yourself and serving others. It’s as if it was drilled into him when he was young.
Takanashi Tsumugi: …….

Nikaidou Yamato: Aight, I’m off. Also, I don’t need dinner.
Izumi Mitsuki: Got it! Have a safe trip.
*SLAM*
Izumi Mitsuki: What’s wrong with that old man…. He’s got this superbly displeased aura about him….
Yotsuba Tamaki: Right?
Izumi Mitsuki: We finally got everyone together, despite how busy it’s been lately.
Izumi Mitsuki: Tamaki, I’ll be watching TV in my room, so if you get hungry just eat what’s in the pot. Make sure to leave some for everyone else, though.
Yotsuba Tamaki: Okie.
Izumi Mitsuki: Don’t play too many games!
Yotsuba Tamaki: Okay.
Yotsuba Tamaki: ……. Ah– I died again.
*DING DONG*
Yotsuba Tamaki: Hm? Is it Yama-san?

*CLICK*
Yotsuba Tamaki: Welcome hom–
Kujou Ten: …….
Yotsuba Tamaki: Oh. It’s Tenten.
Kujou Ten: Don’t give me such an awful nickname. Here, take this. It’s a gift. King Pudding.
Yotsuba Tamaki: Hell yeah!! Is it okay if I eat it all myself!?
Kujou Ten: Do as you like.
Kujou Ten: …….
Kujou Ten: Where is Riku’s room?

To be continued….

TL Notes/comments:

AS USUAL, SHOUT OUT TO @kuriiii FOR PROOFREADING MY ENGLISH!! Bless Your Soul for all the ‘shiroi wtf you’re missing a worD HERE???’s frm 3 ft away… Bless…..

(1) 'nigate’ is always a heaDACHe bc as my jp teacher said, there’s a double connotation of 'don’t like and not good with’ so yeah, that’s what’s going on here!
(2) i never know how to translate 大先輩 except as ALPHA SENPAI but Very Big Important person who preceeded u in the industry, yeah. Though I’m just gonna assume y'all know what senpai is bc ur a weeb like me!!! weebology 101, now offered all year long, TA: shiroi. god what am i even saYING
(3) PAWAHARA aka 'power harassment’ aka 'harassment from someone of/using their position of power in the workplace,’ so as fun as pawahara is to say, alas it does not exist in English.
(4) うち is so so s o painfully vaGUE
(5) Remember the flowers in Ch. 20 of part 1??? The mystery flowers??? THATS YAMATO’S!!!! YOOOOo
(6) -yagaru expresses anger/contempt, also an edge of roughness and maN THIS WHOLE LINE IS SO CONTEMPT FILLED, HENCE WHY I DID WHAT I DID. Also 'Is he sane???“ is the literal but obvs what’s going on is Yamato is Heavily Doubting that fact based off of his tone and context so, here it is. I had half a headache but also some fun with this line. ALSO HOSTESS, if you’ve heard of host clubs, think of the female equivalent of that. Where you pay pretty young women to converse with you and drink with you etcetc hell, just read this.
So Yamato is 1. judging the hell outta the flower choice/style 2. judging the hell out of this Mystery Old Dude’s choice to even send flowers
(7) 奉仕 has the nuance of ~altruism~ or offering up a service, and based off of Momo’s subsequent lines that’s why there’s a 'himself’ wedged in there. 個を消す was strange, though, so correct me if I’m wrong! (FRANTICALLY GOOGLES, ONLY TO GET PLAYTHROUGH VIDEOS OF PUZZLES&DRAGONS OR TSUMTSUM)

As usual, if you see any mistakes/mistranslations/etc, please message me!

Thank you for reading!!

 

Chapter 5: You and I

A Sudden Visitor

*ding dong*
Yotsuba Tamaki: Hm? Is it Yama-san?

*click*
Yotsuba Tamaki: Welcome hom–
Kujou Ten: …….
Yotsuba Tamaki: Oh. It’s Tenten.
Kujou Ten: Don’t give me such an awful nickname. Here, take this. It’s a gift. King Pudding.
Yotsuba Tamaki: Hell yeah!! Is it okay if I eat it all myself!?
Kujou Ten: Do as you like.
Kujou Ten: …….
Kujou Ten: Where is Riku’s room?
Yotsuba Tamaki: Second from the right.
Kujou Ten: I see.
…….
Yotsuba Tamaki: Hell yeah…. 1, 2, 3… There’s 10 of ‘em! If I eat one every hour, there’s enough to last me 10 hours!
*click*
Izumi Iori: Yotsuba-san, what are you doing…. You’re eating nothing but snacks again! It’s too much, if you eat all of this.
Yotsuba Tamaki: I got this from someone!
Izumi Iori: From who?
Yotsuba Tamaki: Tenten.
Izumi Iori: Tenten? Are you taking care of a cat? Animal hair isn’t good for Nanase-san, though.
Izumi Iori: We have to find it and return it immediately. …By the way, just how big is it?
Yotsuba Tamaki: How big? On the small side…?
Izumi Iori: Oh, is it a kitten? What color?
Yotsuba Tamaki: White-ish, I guess?
Izumi Iori: A white kitten, how cu– No, for Nanase-san’s sake we must find it immediately and deal with this issue.
Yotsuba Tamaki: Huh? Are we looking for a kitten?
Izumi Iori: You’re the one who said so! Until we find it, your pudding will have to wait.
Yotsuba Tamaki: Ah…!
Izumi Iori: Instead, hold this saucer full of milk. A-Anyways, let us hurry and search outside.
Yotsuba Tamaki: Wha… Such a hassle….

Kujou Ten: Everybody! Thank you so much for today!
Audience: Kyaaaa…!
Nanase Riku: Hah…. Ten-nii is always so cool in TRIGGER’s lives.
Nanase Riku: Why are we so different, even though we’re twins?
Kujou Ten: Thank you! I love you all!
Nanase Riku: ……. That’s nothing but lies…. He made such a scary face at me when he was mad….
*knock knock*
Nanase Riku: I’m watching a video right now so I don’t need dinner yet!
*click*
Kujou Ten: Riku.
Nanase Riku: I said, I don’t need– Huh!? Ten-nii!?
Kujou Ten: …….
Nanase Riku: …Is this a dream?
Kujou Ten: It isn’t.
Nanase Riku: Maybe I fell asleep while watching the video–
Kujou Ten: You didn’t.
Nanase Riku: A-are you the real thing…?
Kujou Ten: …….
Kujou Ten: I am. I came to see you, Riku.
Nanase Riku: Ten-nii….
Kujou Ten: Good boy. You’ve been keeping your room clean. How’s your condition? Have you been going to the doctor’s?
Nanase Riku: Y-yeah….
Kujou Ten: Are you able to sleep at night? Now, you have to properly get rest and make sure you stay warm….
Nanase Riku: Yeah….
Kujou Ten: Did you watch TRIGGER’s live performance?
Nanase Riku: Ah…. Yeah. I watched.
Kujou Ten: You can turn the TV off. I’m right here, after all.
Kujou Ten: Will you keep me company for a bit?
Nanase Riku: …Yes!

Rokuya Nagi: OH…. That was time well spent. I have successfully converted Sougo!
Osaka Sougo: I’ve seen that anime countless times by now, but…. Oh? No one’s in the living room.
Rokuya Nagi: There’s stew and King Pudding. Are these all Tamaki’s?
*ding dong*
Osaka Sougo: We have guests. I’ll go answer.

*click*
Momo: Good evening! It’s Re:vale!
Osaka Sougo: R-Re:vale!? W-what’s the matter!? (1)
Yuki: Your leader blocked my number, so I am here to personally express my displeasure. Is he in?
Momo: And I’m here because I’ve got a special mission for Nagi. Ah, there he is! I’m glad! Now we’ll be able to protect the Earth!
Rokuya Nagi: OH! A Special Mission! How exciting!
Osaka Sougo: Nagi-kun, you agreed so fast! Um… Yamato-san is currently out….
Yuki: Then shall we wait in your room?
Osaka Sougo: What!?
Momo: Ah! It’s King’s Pudding! I love this. Is it okay if I eat some?
Yuki: What a wonderful smell. Is it stew? I haven’t eaten dinner yet.
Osaka Sougo: Well– Um….
Yuki・Momo: We’re your senpai, aren’t we?
Osaka Sougo: G-go ahead. Please enjoy your meal, inside my room….
Yuki: Alright then, if you insist.
Momo: C'mon, let’s go Nagi!
Rokuya Nagi: HEY! Do we need anything to transform for the Special Mission? Like a wand? Or compact? (2)

Nanase Riku: Would you like anything to drink? Have you eaten yet?
Kujou Ten: I’m fine.
Nanase Riku: I see… Um…. Ahaha. There was a lot of stuff I wanted to talk to you about if we met up, but it all left my mind.
Kujou Ten: Haha. Then I’ll talk. Sit down.
Nanase Riku: Ok!
Kujou Ten: Riku, is there anyone you like?
Nanase Riku: Huh!?
Nanase Riku: N-no…. There is someone I’m interested in, though….
Kujou Ten: Would you be lonely, if you couldn’t meet up with them very often?
Nanase Riku: I think I’d be really lonely….
Kujou Ten: What if the two of you finally get to meet after a long time, but they didn’t show up as promised?
Nanase Riku: I’d be sad…. And I think I’d be worried….
Nanase Riku: Is there someone you like, Ten-nii? What kind of person are they? Do they live really far away? …Are you asking me for love advice right now?
Kujou Ten: What do you think? Take a guess.
Nanase Riku: I don’t know…. Ten-nii’s really popular…. Um, a celebrity overseas then?
Kujou Ten: The fans are my lovers.
Nanase Riku: …….
Kujou Ten: I would never do anything that would make the fans sad, or break my promises to them. That much is expected, if you’re an idol.
Nanase Riku: Promises…?
Kujou Ten: The concert tickets are. They’re promises to the fans that you’ll definitely be there on that day, and smile for the fans with all your heart.
Kujou Ten: You couldn’t keep that promise. You haven’t, and you won’t be able to from here on out.

To be continued….

TL Notes/comments:

JUST A GENERAL NOTE ALREADY, the title for Chapter 5 is ボクはキミを, lit. I will (verb) you. So either it’s just “I will” or “You and I” and i went with the latter because having both components there is pretty important, and Yet Another Note: the pronouns are all in katakana, so this is Ten speaking to most likely Riku. So yep!
(1) JP does this thing where group names occasionally have a -san added to the end, aka TRIGGER-san or Re:vale-san, and it’s just an extra layer of honorific that is kind of haRD to put in but Yes. jUst know that it’s there
(2) HENSHIN = TRANSFORMATION, YES IN THE MAGICAL GIRL SENSE. DOWN TO THE WAND AND COMPACT STUFF. IM SCREAMING

AS USUAL, BLESS @kuriiii FOR CATCHING MY 120931820938 TYPOS

As usual, if you see any mistakes/mistranslations/etc, please message me!

Thank you for reading!!