Chapter 3: Can’t See Eye to Eye

3.1 - A New Project!

Tsukumo Ryou: You are my friend. I don’t mind sparing Re:vale, and only Re:vale. But only if you’ll strike a deal with me.
Momo: …….
Tsukumo Ryou: Yuki can’t live in such a tiny, confined world. But in my hands, I’ll liquidate every last drop of him into money.
Tsukumo Ryou: It’s just as you said, Momo. He’s a real hottie! You can use every bit of him, down to the bone– just like high-quality livestock. You can make bags, shoes, soup, and even manure out of him.
Tsukumo Ryou: So, what will you do?
Momo: …….
Momo: …You mentioned a deal?
Tsukumo Ryou: That big-name will reveal the naked truth of Chiba Salon’s existence.
Tsukumo Ryou: That in itself is enough, but I want it to be a little more festive.
Tsukumo Ryou: I want you to give me the raw voice recording of this confession from Chiba Shizuo’s bastard child– Nikaidou Yamato.

Nanase Riku: We’re finally going to announce our first anniversary single during today’s concert!
Yotsuba Tamaki: I really love this song! I can’t wait for everyone to hear it!
Rokuya Nagi: Yes! It’s a splendid song…. A splendid song that stays with you, in your heart.
Izumi Mitsuki: We’re finally gonna sing it in front of the fans! ……Oh? Where’s Yamato-san?

Nikaidou Yamato: ……Like an artisan, like an artist. Entertainment, literature. Exaggeration, realism. Father, this is all your fault.
Nikaidou Yamato: ……Find where you and your role intersect. Bring out the emotions common to both. And to find these emotions, search for similar relationships.
Nikaidou Yamato: Never thought the stuff he told me in that house would come in handy…….. Father, this is all your fault.
Nikaidou Yamato: A perfectionist who was raised under his father’s strict discipline, but had wasted away because of it. As for the reason why he killed his lovers and preserved them…. Was it for dominance? Was it out of rebellion? ……No– it was because he was scared.
Nikaidou Yamato: He was scared of parting ways with them. There was no way they’d love him even after finding out what he was really like. He was only able to show his true self and all of his weaknesses before corpses.
Nikaidou Yamato: That’s right……. There was nobody who’d continue to love him after finding out how ugly and grotesque he was inside. I’m sure they’d hate me too, those guys.
Nikaidou Yamato: …….
Nikaidou Yamato: He wants to be loved– that’s why he’s absolutely terrified of losing that love. ……Father, this is all your fault.
Nikaidou Yamato: ……. It’s all your fault.
*click*
Rokuya Nagi: Yamato! Hurry up! We’re starting soon.
Nikaidou Yamato: …Got it. I’m coming.

Nanase Riku: Good evening! We’ll be singing a new song for you all today!
Audience: Kyaaaaa …..
Nanase Riku: It’s a special song, filled with a year’s worth of our feelings– “Sakura Message!”
Audience: Kyaaaaa …..
Izumi Iori: ……See? Everybody is smiling happily as they listen to Nanase-san sing.
Izumi Iori: Nothing about this is sad. You were wrong, old man.

Ogami Banri: “Sakura Message” is selling great so far.
Takanashi Tsumugi: It really is! All of the music stores have been putting out lots of CDs for sale. The lyricist contacted me just earlier too.
Takanashi Tsumugi: She asked me how things were going post-release, and I told her that the single has been getting great reviews! (1)
Ogami Banri: Their solo activities have been going well too, and MEZZO" has stabilized. It’d be nice if they all went on tour after releasing a couple more new songs.
Takanashi Tsumugi: Zero Arena’s renewal……. Things have been going wonderfully since then, and it’s all thanks to that!
Ogami Banri: Zero lost a lot of face due to the vandalism uproar, but now that’s just another conversation topic. Now, let’s keep on advancing forward!

Nanase Riku: “A Lovely Night with IDOLiSH7!” is getting a new project?
Show Producer: Yep! Thus far, we’ve only had you guys help normal people out with challenges, but….
Show Producer: This time we wanna put IDOLiSH7 in the spotlight and have you guys challenge things instead. We’ve been getting lots of requests to see more of IDOLiSH7, after all.
Show Producer: We’re thinking about making it a documentary-style, weekly corner where viewers can catch up with you guys and watch your progress.
Izumi Mitsuki: So we’ll be doing the challenges this time, huh! Since it’s gonna be a long-term project, I think we should pick something that can’t be done super easily.
Osaka Sougo: Re:vale did something similar as well, where they tried their hand at rōkyoku . It was really interesting watching Yuki-san take on the shamisen. There were lots of tears and lots of laughter. (2)
Rokuya Nagi: Hm…… If we want to make the viewers’ hearts pound and have them on the edges of their seats, then we ought to venture into uncharted territory and try something we’re all weak at.
Osaka Sougo: What’s something we’re all bad at?
Yotsuba Tamaki: I’m bad at studying. I hate it too.
Izumi Iori: I’m good at it and happen to like it.
Nanase Riku: I’m not good at being assertive towards girls….
Rokuya Nagi: I’m very good at that.
Osaka Sougo: I don’t think I’m very good at getting funny reactions out of people on variety shows.
Izumi Mitsuki: I’m pretty used to doing that kind of stuff. You’re funny too though, Sougo.
Yotsuba Tamaki: ……. Now that I think about it, we kinda fill in the gaps for each other.
Nanase Riku: You’re right! That’s amazing! Yay!
Yotsuba Tamaki・Nanase Riku: Yay!
Show Producer: Ahaha! See, that’s one of the things that’s really good about you guys, IDOLiSH7! It’s really fun watching you all– it just cheers me up!
Show Producer: Everybody gets along so well, and you’re all so lively! That’s definitely your selling point, without a doubt.
Izumi Mitsuki: We get along well, huh…. Yeah, I guess so.
Nikaidou Yamato: …….
Show Producer: You’ve been awfully quiet today, Yamato-kun. Well, quiet isn’t quite right. Kind of intense, I guess? Are you angry……?
Nikaidou Yamato: Ah– Not at all….
Yotsuba Tamaki: It’s because you’ve been reading books on cannibals. That’s why you look even scarier than usual. Hurry up and go read a book on nice ramen shop workers already.
Nikaidou Yamato: There you go again. You just wanna eat ramen, don’t you?
Show Producer: Ahaha. Any opinions from you, as the leader?
Nikaidou Yamato: How about something that’ll make us fight a bit? Everyone likes that sorta stuff, right?
Izumi Mitsuki: Hold up, Yamato-san. Couldn’t you have phrased that a little better….
Rokuya Nagi: The more trouble we encounter, the more seriously we’ll tackle those problems. A plan like that will allow our friendship to shine through. That’s what Yamato’s idea was, in other words.
Show Producer: I see. So we gotta get the viewers a little nervous in order to pull them in and grab their attention, huh. The harder everybody works, the better.
Yotsuba Tamaki: How about instruments?
Osaka Sougo: Instruments?
Yotsuba Tamaki: Yeah. We usually just sing, but how about instruments?
Izumi Mitsuki: Sounds hard, but that could be really interesting! We could do classical music, but also brass band or marching band!
Nanase Riku: Making music together with something other than our voices sounds fun! I’ve always wanted to try playing an instrument!
Izumi Iori: We’ll be able to show our teamwork, which is a good thing. We could also use it during live performances for IDOLiSH7.
Osaka Sougo: I want to try playing with everyone. I’ve had some experience with an instrument before, so I’ll put that knowledge to use.
Show Producer: There’s tons of people learning how to play instruments right now, so let’s go with this idea! We’ll be giving it our all, and I look forward to working with you guys!
Nanase Riku: Of course! We look forward to working with you too!

To be continued….

TL Notes/comments:

I THOUGHT NEXT UPDATE WAS GONNA BE 27TH ISH BUT I THOUGHT WRONG AND NOW I AM A LOT BEHIND SCHEDULE, if they release next installment on the 17th, I’ll do my best to tl everything out so far before then!!!

THANK YOU KURI FOR CATCHING MY STUPID TYPOS x999, and also for helping me work out a phrase (either in this part or the next one, idr)

(1) used ‘she’ as pronoun here because all 3 lyricists who have worked with i7/trg/re:v are all female! Or at least that’s my reasoning, idk if the in-story composers are different tho \o/

(2) Rōkyoku is Japanese narrative singing accompanied by a shamisen. Read more about it here!

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

Thank you for reading!!

Encounter

Nanase Riku: Performing with everyone sounds really fun! I wonder what kind of project it’ll be?
Nanase Riku: Well, I have time to kill, so I’ll go shopping. Ah, the cakes at that shop look really good! Maybe I’ll buy one for Manager!
Inumaru Touma: …….
Nanase Riku: ……!? That person’s crouching down……. Maybe he feels sick?
Nanase Riku: Um, are you okay?
Inumaru Touma: …….
Nanase Riku: He…. He was crying……?
Nanase Riku: Huh…? Wait……. I feel like I’ve seen this person somewhere before….
Inumaru Touma: ……. It’s nothing. Leave me alone.
Nanase Riku: But…. Ah, if you don’t mind, please use these tissues!
Inumaru Touma: I don’t need them. …….
Inumaru Touma: Wait, these aren’t tissues! This is bread!
Nanase Riku: Ah! It looked white so I just– this was supposed to be my lunch! Sorry about that!
Inumaru Touma: Haha….. What a weirdo. Wait…….
Inumaru Touma: Are you IDOLiSH7’s Nanase Riku?
Nanase Riku: Ah, yeah…….
Inumaru Touma: …….
Nanase Riku: W-where are you going!?
Inumaru Touma: Don’t talk to me. I don’t even wanna look at someone from IDOLiSH7.
Nanase Riku: Huh…?
Inumaru Touma: Come on, ask me why!
Nanase Riku: W-why!?
Inumaru Touma: Because you guys won against TRIGGER, even though you guys are crappier than them at singing and dancing.
Nanase Riku: ……. Are you a TRIGGER fan by any chance?
Inumaru Touma: Like hell I am!!
Nanase Riku: I-I’m sorry!
Inumaru Touma: I hate TRIGGER. They won against us, even though we’re better than them.
Nanase Riku: ‘Won against us’……?
Nanase Riku: Ah!
Nanase Riku: I remember now! He’s from that one group that challenged TRIGGER at Black or White and lost!
Nanase Riku: He’s NO_MAD’s center, Inumaru Touma!
Nanase Riku: I haven’t seen him much on TV ever since then……. And I feel like he’s changed a lot too.
Nanase Riku: He used to be so energetic, confident, and full of smiles…….
Inumaru Touma: We should’ve won, going off of pure skills. We only lost because of dumb, intangible shit like popularity.
Inumaru Touma: That award can go suck a dick! But…. Everybody has changed ever since then. Everybody around us, and even my members…….
Inumaru Touma: …….Disbanding is just……. We were supposed win against Re:vale and become the best group in Japan!
Nanase Riku: …….
Inumaru Touma: ……I’ll do it myself. Mark my words, I’m gonna show the world that you guys are below us!
Nanase Riku: Please wait! Wah–
Man: You’re in the way. Move!
Inumaru Touma: ……! What the hell was up with that dude just now! He reeked of cologne! Is his nose clogged or something!?
Nanase Riku: *cough* *cough* *cough* …….
Inumaru Touma: Yeah, I choked just now too. ……. Wait, aren’t you choking a little too much…? You okay?
Nanase Riku: …… *cough* I-I’m fine…. I just need to drink some of this medicine…….
Inumaru Touma: Medicine…? That’s bread!
Nanase Riku: *cough* *cough* *wheeze* …….
Inumaru Touma: –Aw, what the hell! Here! Get on my back! I’ll get you outta here so you can go get water and drink your damn medicine!
Nanase Riku: B-but–
Inumaru Touma: Shut up, you dumbass! Hurry up and get on!

Inumaru Touma: Better now?
Nanase Riku: Yeah…. Thank you very much.
Inumaru Touma: 'Kay. Well, I’m gonna go.
Nanase Riku: Um…! If you don’t mind, please let me repay you! How about grabbing lunch together–
Inumaru Touma: Are you stupid? Didn’t I just say that I hated you?
Nanase Riku: …….
Inumaru Touma: ……Don’t make puppy dog eyes at me!
Nanase Riku: I’m really sorry. I caused you so much trouble…….
Inumaru Touma: No, I– I’m not complaining about carrying you! Listen. I hated you before that, okay! ……I told you when I introduced myself.
Inumaru Touma: Come on, raise your head. Nanase…….
Nanase Riku: Please call me Riku. Um, Inumaru-san…….
Inumaru Touma: Just Touma is fine. I’ll take this bread as thanks.
Nanase Riku: Ah. Do you like bread?
Inumaru Touma: Can’t you tell I’m tryna end the conversation!! Sheesh, you’re kinda slow for someone who’s supposed to be center…. Well anyways, I’m gonna go now. Make sure you get home safely, Riku.
Nanase Riku: Touma-san!
Inumaru Touma: The next time we’ll meet will be on stage. I’ll show you what a real song is like.
Nanase Riku: …….

Staff: Cut! We’re going to change the lighting!
Director: Wow, that was really good, Natsume-kun! As expected of a genius child actor– you’re the real deal alright.
Natsume Minami: Ahaha. Thank you very much.
Nikaidou Yamato: …….
Nikaidou Yamato: ……. I gotta pull myself together too. I have to make this succeed– for their sakes…….
Yuki: …….
Nikaidou Yamato: Ah, Yuki-san. Good work today.
Yuki: Good work.
Nikaidou Yamato: …….
Yuki: Looks like it’ll rain…….
Nikaidou Yamato: You’re right…….
Yuki: …….
Nikaidou Yamato: …….
Yuki: When I first met you, I thought you were a very serious boy. Seemed like the type to be a clean-freak too.
Nikaidou Yamato: What brought this on, all of a sudden……. I thought you looked really shallow and flippant.
Yuki: Haha…. Well, you’re not wrong.
Nikaidou Yamato: But…. That was the first time I was captivated by a man. I remember thinking, 'Wow, there’s people like this?’…….
Yuki: …….
Yuki: You’re a very serious and honest boy. I don’t understand why you pretend to not care, pretend to be rebellious.
Nikaidou Yamato: I don’t pretend to be rebellious–
Yuki: Listen to me.
Nikaidou Yamato: …….
Yuki: Are you having trouble with your role?
Nikaidou Yamato: ……Yeah.
Yuki: Don’t think too hard about it. You look downright menacing. Have looked at a mirror lately?
Nikaidou Yamato: I’ve always looked evil.
Yuki: Why won’t you ask the director?
Nikaidou Yamato: …….
Yuki: We actors pour our emotions out to the camera, and then we take them back in. It’s similar to how a therapist counsels their clients.
Nikaidou Yamato: …….
Yuki: It’s very easy to get sucked in if you go in with an unhealthy state of mind and with superficial knowledge. You’ll only drive yourself into a corner.
Nikaidou Yamato: Haha….. What now, are you pretending to be a criminal psychologist like your role?
Nikaidou Yamato: Speak for yourself. Everyone’s worried since Re:vale said they’d be singing the theme song for the drama, but there hasn’t even been a word about a demo tape.
Yuki: We’re stuck. It’s hard to breathe during times like this. You end up thinking about how it’d be great if the world could just crumble right this instant.
Nikaidou Yamato: ……You feel that way too, Yuki-san?
Yuki: Of course. It’s a very good thing when you manage to gently touch what’s lying deep inside your heart. But even so….
Yuki: You can’t put it into a tangible form. You become anguished to the point of tears as the clock ticks on, chasing you down– you feel as if you could go mad.
Nikaidou Yamato: …….
Yuki: You may have taken great pains to create something, but that doesn’t guarantee it’ll be met with love. It could even be met with hate and laughed at.
Yuki: Even so, that’s how we live. We’ll continue to express the 'something’ that’s right here, right now.
Nikaidou Yamato: Yuki-san…….
Yuki: You’re the same, aren’t you? It’s painful, so, so painful– isn’t it fun?
Yuki: Even though this is all it takes to overwhelm you, you’re not allowed to bring in anything else.
Yuki: If you start thinking about achievements, or success, or where you stand, it’ll only make things unnecessarily difficult. Right now, you’re not as in control of yourself as you used to be.
Yuki: You’re not thinking about technique, or about the work itself– you’re desperately trying to evaluate yourself. ……What’s the matter?
Nikaidou Yamato: …….

Yaotome Gaku: Alright! Bring it on! No need to hold back, Ryuu.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: …What’s going on? What are these gloves and punching mitts for…….
Yaotome Gaku: You know, I bet you’re tired of that old man talking your ears off too.
Yaotome Gaku: You’re a beast when it comes to sports, right? I’m gonna bring out your fighting spirit, that’s what.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: You want me to hit you with these on? Are you really sure……. Won’t you get hurt?
Yaotome Gaku: What the hell do you take me for! I’ve fought with an upperclassman before.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: He’s not gonna budge, huh…. Hiya!
*smack*
Yaotome Gaku: Ow–
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Are you okay!?
Yaotome Gaku: …I think I twisted my wrist from the impact…….
*click*
Kujou Ten: What are you guys doing?
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Gaku’s teaching me how to box. Gaku, did you take the glove off, yet? Does your wrist hurt?
Yaotome Gaku: Not at all. That was a pretty good punch.
Kujou Ten: I see. So the trainee’s taking care of the trainer?
Yaotome Gaku: Shut up.
Kujou Ten: Ryuu, have you made up with your brother yet?
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: No…. He hasn’t contacted me yet.
Kujou Ten: I see…. I hope you guys can reconcile soon.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Yeah. Thank you.
Yaotome Gaku: Someone’s being awfully nice today. Did something happen with Nanase?
Kujou Ten: Riku has nothing to do with this.
*click*
Yaotome Sousuke: Is Ryuunosuke here?
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: President…….
Yaotome Sousuke: About what we discussed the other day…. I’m going to introduce you to an acquaintance who you can use as reference for your future activities. Come with me.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: O-okay….
Yaotome Gaku: Where are you taking him!? You better not be dragging him to some questionable shop.
Yaotome Sousuke: You dare think that about your father!?
Yaotome Gaku: Well, how the hell am I supposed to trust someone who told Ryuu to go 'sleep with every last woman in Japan’ and make them his!?“
Yaotome Sousuke: ……Just read this article!
Yaotome Gaku: …..NO_MAD is disbanding? They’re the group that challenged us at Black or White that one year, right?
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: They’re disbanding, huh……. I don’t know when it happened, but I stopped seeing them around at TV stations as much. I haven’t heard their name lately, and now…….
Kujou Ten: …….
Yaotome Sousuke: This is the cold, harsh truth about the entertainment industry. Do you want TRIGGER to disappear, just like this group?
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: ……I understand. I’ll come with you, President.
Yaotome Gaku: Ryuu…….
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: I’ll do my best and learn lots! Let’s make TRIGGER the best in Japan this year!
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Well, I’ll be off now!
*slam*
Yaotome Gaku・Kujou Ten: …….

Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: President……. About the person you’re going to introduce me to…. What are they like?
Yaotome Sousuke: He’s the son of the family that manages the world’s most high-class, top quality hotel chain. In high society, he’s more popular among women than any entertainer could ever hope to be.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: That’s…….
Yaotome Sousuke: Exactly. He’s just like your fictional persona.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: …….
Yaotome Sousuke: He’s been interested in your for quite some time now. He believes you’re a kindred spirit.
Yaotome Sousuke: Get close to this man and learn how to be the real thing from him. Don’t let it slip that you’re actually the son of an Okinawan fisherman.
Yaotome Sousuke: It’s that shop. I’m leaving after the initial greetings. He’s a very important acquaintance– do not be rude to him, under any circumstances.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Just like…. My fictional persona…….

Yaotome Sousuke: Without further ado, I’ll be leaving him in your care.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: ……I wonder what kind of person he is? Will I be able to hold a conversation with him……?
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: I sing with all I’ve got, and I dance with all I’ve got. I’m not cutting any corners there. I’m proud of the fact that I give everything my best shot.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: But I guess that’s not enough, huh? Character……. Idol…….
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Just what are those things?
Midou Torao: Raise your head.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: Huh? Woah–
Midou Torao: Handsome, just like on TV. Come on, talk.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: I-I’m Tsunashi Ryuunosuke…..
Midou Torao: Haha. That’s the same voice as what’s on CDs.
Tsunashi Ryuunosuke: …Are you the acquaintance the President wanted to introduce to me……?
Midou Torao: Yeah. I’m Midou Torao.
Midou Torao: Let’s have fun tonight, superstar.

To be continued….

TL Notes/comments:

THANK U KURI 4 PROOFREADING!!!!!!!!!!!

General note, yuki’s lines @ yamato are kinda abstract and gave me a Grand Headache to TL, probably got some weird looks in the library a day or so ago when I tl’d this because I was frowning so hard at my monitor trying to piece together a good way to phrase things!!!!!!! Dam N

I also may or may not have had a little too much fun translating touma bc of his speaking mannerisms + the fact that I’m the same age as him LOL

also that last yaotome papa line i wasn’t sure if he was talking to torao or talking to ryuu so im just gonna pretend he was talking to torao or someshit bc he mentioned that he’d go in, do his greetings, and then leave. ryuu’s deep in thought and not looking up so?? idK tbh

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

Thank you for reading!!