Sleepy Translations

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[sleepythefoxx]

About me!

I was gonna make an about me page on my blog but I couldn't figure it out and I already spent too much time fiddling around with the themes and such so! I'm just gonna make it into a text post~ Hi hi I'm Sleepy!~

I've been studying Japanese for about 5+ years now as it was my college minor (yayy graduation), and much longer than that I've been immersed in Japanese pop culture ever since I was a kid. I only started to translate things for fun recently-- it's good practice !!!

I've gotten really into music projects so I'm primarily focused on those, especially ensemble stars. I'm an EsupuriP and a SwitchP but I might dabble in other things depending on if it's Really yummy stuff

I might also post some miscellaneous things not related to idol stuff but who knows what I'll get into in the future.

In any case, please enjoy~

Just a reminder, I'm not fluent in Japanese so I may make some mistakes here and there! If you spot any glaring mistakes or typos just let me know either on here or on Twitter~

You can link or use my translations as long as I'm credited :3

Thank you ~

[sleepythefoxx]

Chitose Tsuzura - Idol Story 3

Characters: Chitose, Eichi

Translation: Sleepy

[ ♪ ]

Chitose: Oof, uff… Phew. 

(Uu, this is so heavy… What the heck's even in this box anyway?) 

(It’s probably full of some really important stuff, knowing Nice-san.) 

(And he trusted me with that important stuff, so I’d better not drop it…!) 

Eichi: …Oof!? 

Chitose: Eh? Ah–Ahh…!? 

Ouch… 

Eichi: Are you alright? Sorry about that, I wasn’t watching where I was going since I’m in a bit of a hurry.  

Chitose: Eh? Ah, I-I’m so sorry! I wasn’t watching where I was going either… 

Eichi: Oya? I didn’t realize because of that box you’re holding, but look who it is—it’s Chitose-san. 

Chitose: Ah, so it was Tenshouin-san. Um, I’m sorry for bumping into you, like, really sorry…? 

Did I get your clothes dirty? Oh I totally did, didn’t I? I don’t know though. 

Do I have to compensate you or something? 

Oh wait, is it rude to ask that? Ahh, what should I do? I just don’t know what to do!? 

Eichi: Please calm down, Chitose-san. There’s no need for you to compensate me for something as trivial as this. 

More importantly, are you alright? Everything in that box you were carrying seems to have taken quite the tumble… 

Chitose: Eh? Oh no, this is awful! Nice-san trusted me with this incredibly important job too! 

Is the equipment okay, what about the camera? What do I do, they might’ve broken after a drop like that…  

Eichi: In the case they are broken, I will be the one to compensate. I’m partially to blame for this, after all. 

Chitose: R-really!? Thank goodness~ 

Fufu, you’re such a nice guy, Tenshouin-san! I never thought that an ordinary guy like me would even be on your radar to be honest. 

Eichi: You’re much too modest. You’re a world-renowned idol, which in my opinion, makes you the perfect subject to capture my interest. 

Coming from one idol working in the same industry to another, I can’t help but be amazed by the brilliance you all hold. 

Also, considering my position in being a part of StarPro, I cannot simply disregard the fact that Mellow Dear Us have joined Rhyth Lin either. 

Chitose: Ehehe, really? Honestly, it makes me really happy to hear you say that. Not like I really get it though♪

Eichi: Putting that aside for a moment. Will everything be alright with that “incredibly important” job of yours? 

Chitose: Ah, mhm. It’ll be okay I think. 

I mean, this was something Nice-san asked me for help with, but it was basically just a chore… Probably.

Eichi: Oh, is that so? But I could have sworn you said that it was incredibly important earlier. 

Chitose: Uh, I guess you could say it relates more to how I feel about it. Each and every job I accept from Nice-san is incredibly important to me. 

Eichi: Hm. Despite knowing you’re being given manual labor? 

Chitose: Eh? Um… Mhm… I don’t know though.

Eichi: Fufu, I think that’s something you should be able to declare with confidence. 

Chitose: R-right… Sorry. I’m not very good with that kind of thing. Ahaha—

Eichi: I see that. Nevertheless, to think NiceP would give a world class idol chores of all things—he’s quite the slave driver as well I take it?  

This seems more like the kind of task you’d hand off to one of the office workers, or some other staff member. 

Chitose: Ah, that’s because I specifically asked if I could do it… 

Um… I ask Nice-san to let me take on all sorts of jobs whenever I have spare time. 

Eichi: Ah, that reminds me. You were participating as the assistant director when we first met on the Megasphere, weren’t you? 

Well, I suppose that was a gambit on NiceP’s part to have you monitor us from the inside. 

Chitose: T-that really wasn’t my intention at all though. Sorry… 

But back then, I sincerely felt like I was putting my all into my work as the AD. 

Because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have known if it were a job only I could handle or not. 

Eichi: Hmm. Well you certainly talk like a wishful thinker. Much like a middle schooler at the height of adolescence, in a way. 

Chitose: Y-you think so? It’s kinda embarrassing when you put it like that. 

Eichi: Fufu, my apologies if that came across to you as condescending. 

I didn’t particularly mean it in that way. It isn’t strange for an idol to hold such a strong desire for recognition after all. 

For a world class idol such as yourself, no less, it’s only fitting for you to feel that strongly about it.

Chitose: …? Uh, Yeah. I guess so? 

Eichi: Ah, right. If you’re willing to go that far in your search for whatever it is you wish to discover, shall I pick out some jobs for you? 

Chitose: Eh? What do you mean? 

Eichi: There’s no need to overcomplicate it. All this means is that, much like NiceP, I would be asking for your assistance. 

The job details between our offers will most likely differ, but this ensures that the requested jobs will cover a wide range. 

I think it would be quite beneficial to you, considering you’re in search of “something only you can do.” How about it? 

Chitose: Uh, umm… But is that really okay? There’s the fact we’re from different agencies for one. 

And then I’d probably be in for a world of trouble if Nozomi-san started treating me like I’m some kind of traitor—

Eichi: There’s no need to worry about that part. I’ll handle the discussions between NiceP and Rhyth Lin myself. 

Chitose: Ah, thank you. But, um… I’ve got my idol work too and all… 

Eichi: Of course I would only ask you at times your schedule allows, I have no issue with that. You’re already in that of an occupied position, after all. 

Chitose: T-that’s right. Then, is it really okay…? 

But… Could someone like me really be of use to you, Tenshouin-san…? 

Eichi: I took the initiative of conducting some light research into you, Chitose-san, you seem to be quite the all-rounder. 

I heard you were referred to as a child prodigy from a young age, one who participated in a great many different fields. 

Chitose: Ah, yeah. But I’d abandon each and every one of them, leaving them all but half-baked…   

Eichi: Fufu, I don’t believe you can call such achievements “half-baked,” can you? 

You won the national championship for that card game. Not to mention, I heard that you’re fairly well known within the music composition world as well.  

I believe it would be of great assistance if I could fully tap into that versatility of yours. 

Ah, however… Although I’ve come so far in saying all of this… I have just one thing I’d like to ask of you. 

—Please refrain from committing plagiarism, at the very least. 

Chitose: …Eh? 

Eichi: Well, you wouldn’t do something like that either, given everything that's happened. 

Now then. I must be getting to my next meeting, so I’ll be taking my leave here. 

I’d be happy if you could reserve a space in your mind for our conversation from earlier. 

Chitose: Ah? Eh… You mean about asking me for assistance, right? 

Eichi: Yes, of course. Fufu, well then, I’ll be seeing you, Chitose-san. 

Chitose: Y-yeah. See you around, Tenshouin-san. 

Umm~ Everything he just said was really difficult to understand so I couldn’t really follow. 

And while I’m really grateful for the whole job offer thing, it wouldn’t really be fair to Nice-san or the agency… 

It may be inexcusable, but I could probably just pretend I didn’t hear any of that, right? Probably— 

[ ☆ ]

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[sleepythefoxx]

Special for Princess! VS Ra*bits - Lanakila - Chapter 4

Characters: Hajime, Yume

Translation: Sleepy

[ ♪ ]

Hajime: Fufu, Esu-kun and the others sure are full of enthusiasm, huh? Off they went, right back to practice. 

I’m glad I could help out…♪

Yume: …Hey, you. Just what was your intention here?  

Hajime: Um… Like I said earlier, I wanted to apologize… 

And well… I wasn’t very good at dancing in the past either.  

My seniors would help me at times when I was struggling. We’d practice together and they would kindly offer their advice. 

So if I simply stood by and said nothing, I feel like that’d make me one awful senior… 

Yume: And that’s what made you want to help Yume and the others? That doesn't make any sense.

We’re enemies. That’s why Yume said there was no need for us to help each other. 

Hajime: You may be correct, but… 

But if I keep turning a blind eye like this, I’d run the risk of getting stuck with this nasty personality forever… 

Yume: …? You’ve been saying nothing but cryptic nonsense ever since earlier.

Hajime: I’m sorry. I can’t help it, I’ve been really beside myself about it. 

Yume: Hmph. Whatever. Yume doesn’t care about your problems. 

If you’re asking for advice, then your unit members in Ra*bits will do just fine. 

Hajime: Fufu, you’re right. 

Ah, but… Just one thing. I had something I wanted to tell you, Yume-kun. 

Yume: …There’s no reason Yume has to listen to you.

Hajime: In that case… Pretend I’m saying one big monologue to myself. 

Yume: ……?

Hajime: A while ago, you asked me what exactly makes Ra*bits cute, didn’t you? 

Back then, I wasn’t able to give you a clear answer. But I’ve got one now. 

—Ra*bits’ cuteness is infinite. 

Yume: …Eh? 

Hajime: If you ask me for one thing that represents Ra*bits’ cuteness… Sure enough, there just isn’t one. 

I mean, I think our biggest appeal is how we’re always growing and changing in order for everyone to think we're cute.

I won’t be picking the so-called “cutest” thing, all so that I can always strive to go above and beyond, past the limits of cuteness. 

Yume: ……..

Hajime: About the final round… Spri and Ra*bits may be enemies, but we’ll also be sharing the stage as performers. 

That’s why, let’s all work together to create the cutest stage there is.

…If it’s with you all, I think we might actually be able to pull it off. 

Yume: …Yume’s speechless. You didn’t answer the question at all. 

You’re completely obscuring the concept. Stringing impressive sounding words together, “infinite,” going “above and beyond”—all that to avoid having to choose one exact thing.

It’d be impossible for us to work together. Yume refuses. 

For Yume and the others—and only us—we’ll create the cutest stage by ourselves. You bunnies can just stay out of the way and play by yourselves in the corner. 

Hajime: …Fufu, that’s exactly something you’d say, Yume-kun. 

It’s fine, in that case. Because ultimately, it doesn’t change the fact that we’ll be standing on the same stage. 

No matter what kind of stage Spri creates, Ra*bits will also be working to show off the ultimate cuteness at the same time. 

I’m really sorry for interrupting your practice. Well then, I’ll be taking my leave. 

—I’m looking forward to performing with Spri in the final round. 

Yume: Seriously, what the heck was that? He just one-sidedly said everything he wanted to say… 

Yume swears, Yume will absolutely not lose against that person…! 

[ ☆ ]

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[sleepythefoxx]

Special for Princess! VS Ra*bits - Lanakila - Chapter 3

Characters: Hajime, Esu, Kanna, Yume, Raika

Translation: Sleepy

[ ♪ ]

Hajime: Phew… The tea from the vending machine is nice and cold, how refreshing~  

(I did bring my water bottle with me, but I wanted something that’d cool my head down right away, so I ended up buying something anyway.) 

(Might’ve been a waste of money though. But it was kind of like a necessary expense to help me do some self-reflection, in a way…) 

(I mean, everyone in Spri have been trying their very best too, haven’t they…?) 

(If they hadn’t been, there’s no way we would’ve lost the second round.) 

(But even so… That selfish, awful kid, who does nothing but get in other people's way—I already have this biased view of Yume-kun. So it’s like I also have this preconceived notion that they’re not trying at all…)

(The reason Ra*bits lost… It might actually be my fault, huh.) 

(I turned a blind eye to Spri’s hard work, losing my temper when faced with a result I couldn’t accept… We lost because I couldn’t act cute.) 

(Even though I’ve been trying to be mindful of not becoming a nasty kid this whole time… I have to do better…)

*Takes a deep breath in and out* I can’t keep sitting here feeling sorry for myself forever! 

I have to put these feelings behind me, I have to practice hard so we don’t lose against Spri! 

Next time for sure, I’m going to act cute in the way that a member of Ra*bits should. 

Yume: —Ugh! Why isn’t this working? 

Hajime: …Huh? That voice… Yume-kun? 

(I think his voice came from over here…) 

Yume: Grr… Just why can’t Yume do this well? It won’t be perfect if Yume can’t do this!

Esu: Complaining won’t make you any better! I think you just gotta practice with all you got if you wanna conquer it! 

Yume: But Yume keeps falling no matter how many times Yume tries. Yume’s already tired… 

Esu: You say that, but weren’t you the one who insisted on doing it this way? 

Yume: In that case, Esu, you teach Yume the trick behind it. 

Esu: I’d love to, don’t get me wrong, but I’m not that great a dancer either.

Yume: Then Kanna-chan and Raika-chan will have to do. 

Kanna: Seeing as I have yet to acquire the know-how in perfecting this move, much like yourself, I will not be able to teach you. 

Raika: I can teach ya how to do it then! So it goes somethin’ like gwaaa~! An’ then byuu~n! 

Yume: …Raika-chan. 

Raika: Aye! I’d love to hear some praise if that helped ya pull it off…♪

Yume: Shut up. Never open your mouth again for the rest of your life. 

Raika: Why!? 

Esu: Hey, can’t we just change this part of the choreo if it’s not working out? 

Yume: Of course we can’t. If we can’t do this move, then our performance won’t be perfect. 

Spri finally managed to gain so many new fans—we can’t just show them a performance we had to make compromises on, can we? 

Esu: Mmm~ Again, even if you say that… 

Hajime: (...So this is where Spri have been practicing, huh?) 

(Looks like they’re working on our song for the final round. But it also seems like they’re trying to do something incredibly difficult…) 

Yume: ...Hm?

Hajime: (...Eh? Ah, Yume-kun spotted me…!?) 

Yume: …To think Yume would catch you sneaking a peek, what awfully bad manners you have, hm?  

Hajime: I-I’m sorry! It was a coincidence, I just happened to pass by… 

Yume: Liar. You can’t fool Yume, you were taking a peek at our practice so you could scheme up some evil plan! 

Hajime: You’re wrong! I was just passing by, I swear! 

Esu: What’s up, Yume? Why’d you suddenly come out here and start making a scene… Wait, Shino-senpai!? 

Hajime: Please help me, Esu-kun! I swear, I wasn’t peeking, I really, truly just happened to pass by. 

Yume: If so, then why were you staring sooo intensely at us while we were practicing? 

Hajime: W-well, that’s… 

……….

Um, not like it’s any of my business, but… About Esu-kun’s advice from earlier, I think he was right. 

Yume: …What are you talking about all of a sudden? If this is your attempt at trying to change the subject, Yume won’t fall for it. 

Hajime: No, that’s not it! Earlier, you were trying to do that really difficult choreography, weren’t you? 

Esu: Mhm, mhm, that we were! Yume was the one who initially thought it up, but there are a couple really difficult spots here and there…

It’s seriously hard, this dance—or I guess you could say the movements are kinda awkward…  

Hajime: Exactly, that’s why it’d be better to swap out that section for a simpler—

Yume: …Haah. Outsiders shouldn’t butt in with advice no one asked for.  

Hajime: …You’re right. I don’t think you need to listen to whatever I, a total outsider, has to say. 

However, don’t you think you should pay attention to what your group members—to what Esu-kun and the others have to say? 

Yume: Yume knows it’s difficult. But this is all for Yume to show Spri off in our cutest form. 

That’s why Yume won’t budge on this. If you can’t do something, then you just have to practice it over and over again until you can, right?

Hajime: ……….

Yume: …What? Got more to complain about? 

Hajime: Fufu, no, I was just thinking about how it’s exactly like Tomoya-kun said, that’s all. 

Yume: …? Yume doesn’t really get it, but if you’re set on being a nuisance then quickly hop your way on back to wherever you came from. 

Because we don’t have the time to be wasting on you either.  

Esu: You always dive straight into being rude to your seniors, no matter how many times I tell you, this guy. 

Hajime: No, don’t worry about it. I really did interrupt your practice, after all. 

Let me see… How about I offer you some advice on that part you were struggling with, as an apology. 

If you want to move the way Yume-kun described, I think it might be a good idea to try experimenting with your movement a little. 

Pay attention to your center of gravity, moving as widely as possible so you don’t trip over your feet… See, it works, doesn’t it? 

Esu: Pay attention to my center of gravity… As widely as possible… Woah! You’re right, I did it! 

Kanna: I see. After receiving a firsthand demonstration, it is rather simple, isn’t it? 

Yume: It’s true. There weren’t any issues with the movement you made just now. It seems like something we can properly dance to… 

Hajime: Fufu, I think once you start slowly getting a feel for it, letting your body memorize it little by little, it’ll come like second nature. 

Esu: Thank you very much, Shino-senpai! 

Al~righty! Let’s jump right into some intensive training to get that part down today~! 

Yume: ……..

[ ☆ ]

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[sleepythefoxx]

Special for Princess! VS Ra*bits - Lanakila - Chapter 2

Characters: Hajime, Tomoya, Mitsuru, Nazuna

Translation: Sleepy

[ ♪ ]

Time: Several days later

Location: Practice Room

Nazuna: 1, 2, 3… Finally, turn into our signature pose, and there! 

Feels like we’ve polished things up quite a bit. Our formation is on point…☆

Hajime: Haah… Haah… No, wait just a second…

Nazuna: Hm? What’s up, Hajime-chin? 

Hajime: It’s about the final turn… I think I’m the only one who’s falling a little behind.

So would it be alright if we went over the last section again? 

Nazuna: Y-yeah. Fine by me, but… You doin’ okay there, Hajime-chin? You’re sweating a ton. 

Hajime: Yup, I’m A-Okay. This much is nothing for—woah!? 

Tomoya: “Woah,” is decidedly not okay. You almost fainted just now, didn’t you?

It’s good to be fired up for the final match, but don’t push yourself too hard, alright? 

Hajime: Ah, ahaha… I’m sorry. But I’m okay, really. 

Mitsuru: It’s no good if you push yourself too hard, Hajime-chan! And it’d be the absolute worst case scenario if you got hurt before our performance! 

Hajime: That’s—but… 

Nazuna: Well, let’s take a short break for the time being. It seems like Hajime-chin’ll collapse if we keep going like this. 

Hajime: …I’m sorry. 

Tomoya: Don’t apologize. I get why you’re anxious... Spri has been on the up and up ever since the second round, after all. 

It seems like that dance video they made is still going viral. 

Mitsuru: Everyone just can’t get enough of it! Even me, I tried copying it too! 

Nazuna: Still, you’d better lay off on streaming that, Mitsuru-chin. It’s not a good look to hop on your opponent's trend when you’re in the middle of competing. 

Mitsuru: Yeah, of course! I know there’s no point in copying Spri’s dance. 

It’s just, I wanna do something that’ll get everyone talking about us too! 

Nazuna: I wish we could pull that off, but it’d be tough the way things are now~ I mean, Kanna-chin said it himself, that there was a 50/50 chance of it going viral or not.

Tomoya: Well, I think we should just keep going with our own way of doing things. 

Instead of trying to turn the tables in one fell swoop, we should place our trust in the foundation we’ve slowly been building up over time.

Nazuna: It’d be much too risky to panic and make a change of plans at this point. 

Plus, while it may look like they have the upper hand, I don’t think it holds a candle to our fans' enthusiasm. 

Look, although they might be getting overshadowed by Spri, Ra*bits’ fans are doing plenty of things on their own! 

Like these people, aren’t they new fans we made in Hawaii? 

It looks like they’re going back and watching some of our past streams, making reaction videos to share their thoughts! 

Hm hm… I think they’re talking about how they’ve been really putting in the effort to learn our call and response. 

That the call and response practice videos our Japanese fans made are really helpful. 

Mitsuru: Eh!? People have made those kinds of things? 

Tomoya: Yeah, this is probably the video they’re talking about.  

Feels to me that they made them with the intent of having overseas fans support Ra*bits in their place, since they’re unable to go to Hawaii themselves. 

Hajime: Fufu, seeing all of this is making me feel super happy for some reason.

It’s almost like it’s finally hitting me that our fans have been passionately supporting us this whole time… 

We’re able to stand on the MM stage because our fans have been by our side, cheering us on this whole time. 

Nazuna: Yeah, you’re right on that… Our fans, huh? 

If you really think about it, there’s actually a pretty big difference in demographic for the fans of Spri and Ra*bits now. 

Hajime: A difference…? Uh, what kind of difference…? 

Nazuna: It’s pretty obvious when you think about it. Spri used that video to gain a majority of their fans, didn’t they? 

And most of those fans were simply hopping on a trend. So you could say that when the craze dies down, their demographic will die with it. 

So in that respect, the heart of Ra*bits are our diehard fans who’ve continued to support us for a long time. 

Not like I don’t think Spri has diehard fans too, but when it comes to work history and past results, I’m sure Ra*bits are the ones coming out on top. 

Tomoya: …I see. You’re right, that’s certainly a possibility.

Nazuna: That’s why the major players that won them this round were those trend-hopping fans they brought along for the ride. 

I think the key to victory in the final round comes down to how many of those fans we can snatch away for ourselves. 

Mitsuru: Ahaha, now that’s what I’m talkin’ about! The most fun showdowns are the ones where you can’t tell who’ll come out the winner or loser, after all! 

Hajime: …Fun. You’re incredible, Mitsuru-kun. Leagues apart from me. 

Mitsuru: Really? Well, what do you think about all this, Hajime-chan? 

Hajime: A lot of stuff, my thoughts are all tangled up… I don’t really know myself, I guess… 

But I think what I’m feeling right now is… Is probably how it’s all just so unfair. 

Mitsuru: “Unfair”...? Why? Did something happen to make you feel that way? 

Hajime: …I mean, haven’t we been putting in the work, doing our best this whole time? 

We’ve been streaming, doing mini-lives, handshake events, stuff like that. Plus some other various things all for the sake of MM. 

So for them to be able to pull ahead of us with nothing but a single video—it’s so frustrating. 

Nazuna: Everyone feels that way. That said, there’s nothing that we can do about it.

Being earnest doesn’t necessarily mean the world will recognize your hard work. ‘Cause sometimes even the most unexpected thing can suddenly blow up and go viral. 

Hajime: I fully understand that. But… I just can’t swallow that fact so easily… 

I’ve been feeling this way ever since the day of our joint practice. I’ve been left with this indescribable, negativity towards Yume-kun. 

I’ve really gone and turned into one nasty kid, haven’t I…? 

Tomoya: …Hajime. 

I think you’re getting too worked up and it’s got you narrowing your perspective bigtime. 

Because you just said something you would never usually say. 

Hajime: Something I would never usually say? What… What might that be…? 

You called Spri’s dance video “nothing but a single video,” didn’t you? 

I just feel like if it were the usual Hajime I was speaking with, you wouldn’t put it that way.

You phrased it like it was “nothing but a single, worthless video,” y'know?

Hajime: Eh…!? I didn’t mean it like that… 

…No. You might have a point. 

We’ve been working much, much harder than them, so why… 

Tomoya: Well, I can understand how you’re feeling, just a bit. 

I mean, I certainly don’t think they were feeling motivated after the first round. That, and they were underestimating us. 

But from the second round on… No, it was after we split up for our joint practice—I think they really started trying their best after that. 

That’s why, don’t you think it’s due to the fruits of their efforts that their video went viral all around the world? 

You said it too, didn’t you Hajime? Cuteness comes in many forms. 

So for us—steadily building up a reputation, and for them—setting up an attack to turn the tables in one fell swoop. There’s really no clear difference between the two. 

I have no doubt that both of those coexist and represent cuteness. 

Hajime: …I suppose so. I think you’re right, Tomoya-kun. 

I… I got too worked up by the comments Yume-kun threw at me. I got so caught up in the feeling that if I had to lose, I absolutely cannot lose against him. I might’ve lost my mind a little. 

Haha, I feel a little embarrassed. If it’s alright, do you mind if I step out and cool my head a little? 

Tomoya: Say, Hajime. Want me to tag along? 

Hajime: I’m alright. I think I’ll take some time to myself to calm down, since we’re taking a short break anyway. Thank you though, Tomoya-kun.

[ ☆ ]

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[sleepythefoxx]

Special for Princess! VS Ra*bits - Lanakila - Chapter 1

Characters: Hajime, Tomoya, Mitsuru, Nazuna, Esu, Kanna, Yume, Raika

Translation: Sleepy

[ ♪ ]

Time: Several days later

Location: In the waiting room after the second round of Special for Princess! VS Ra*bits

Mitsuru: Spri really went all out this time~! 

So, what’d you think, Ni~chan? It was such a good performance, almost a complete 180 from the first round, don’tcha agree? 

Nazuna: Yeah, you’re right about that. It was much more put together than the last time. 

…Tomo-chin. Do you think we won the second round?  

Tomoya: I don’t know. Whatever call I'd make would just be a guess based on feelings after all… 

Nazuna: That’s fine. I still wanna hear your thoughts on it. That way we can base our plans going forward around it, right? 

Tomoya: …In that case, I’d say that Spri could very well be crowned the victor of this round. 

But if we’re talking about who brought the most excitement, then I can say without a doubt that we were the winners there.

As for online votes, it’s clear that Spri is steadily gaining momentum. 

Most of the comments you see on SNS are in support of them… 

Honestly, I never thought they’d creep up on us like this. 

Hajime: ………

Nazuna: Hajime-chin? You okay there? 

Hajime: Eh…? Ah, no. Sorry, I’m okay. 

It’s just… I can’t believe it turned out like this. Just why… It happened so suddenly too… 

Yume: —Fufu~ Seems like you're all finally realizing just how cute Yume and the others are, hm? 

Behold, Shino-san. This is Spri’s cuteness! This is exactly what cuteness is, even if you all don’t have any! 

Hajime: …Yume-kun. 

Esu: Oi, listen here Yume! Don’t go provoking our seniors all of a sudden. You’re still just as rude as ever, you brat. 

Yume: …Grr. We’re the ones that won, why should we have to suck up to them? 

The winner reigns supreme, so it’s not like they can really talk back, can they? 

Esu: Slow your roll, you dictator. I’m so sorry about our spoiled princess! 

Tomoya: Haha, nah, don’t worry about it. It’s the truth, you guys really killed it out there. 

So much so that you can’t even compare it to last time, you put on that good of a show. 

Esu: Thank you very much! It’s almost like we’ve finally stepped into the ring, which I’m super stoked about! 

…Well, that said, it’s pretty clear we got lucky this time. 

I honestly didn’t think the plan Kanna came up with would work out this well… 

Nazuna: …I see. So that was Kanna-chin’s plan at work, huh? 

Just before the start of the second round, you guys released a dance video. 

So the odds were already leaning in favor of Spri since it happened to go viral right before our match. 

Kanna: It was somewhat of a gamble of whether it would catch on or not, however. 

Nevertheless, the groundwork for its virality, as well as the basis for it to succeed were already in place. 

Yume-san came up with various cute dances of which I selected the relatively easiest to imitate, subsequently posting it. 

Seeing as our showdown was already known as a “battle of cute” amongst young people, appealing to their demographic was crucial to getting the word out there. 

Tomoya: And that’s how you landed on the dance video idea, huh? Well you’re right about that, your catchy, cute choreo has got everyone hooked. It’s the talk of the town. 

And to top it off, it’s so simple anyone can learn it. More and more people are making and posting their own videos trying out your dance. 

Thanks to that, Spri is really blowing up in popularity with the younger crowd.

Mitsuru: Mhm, mhm! I took a whirl at learning that dance of yours too! 

I think Ritsu-chan-senpai and Sora-chan, same with Mike-chan-senpai—they also gave it a shot and uploaded their own videos, didn’t they? 

Raika: Ehihi, ‘m so grateful to our seniors for gladly acceptin’ our request♪

Nazuna: …Thought so, that was also one of the measures you took in laying groundwork then? 

Esu: Exactly. We just don’t have the leverage, being the newbies we are. So we put our dignity aside and asked for help. 

We’ve gotta do whatever it takes to survive! 

Yume: Anyways. What happened this time was proof enough, wasn’t it? 

Hajime: …What do you mean, “proof”? 

Yume: Fufu, playing dumb are we? This was proof that there was nothing Ra*bits could have ever taught us. 

Hajime: Absolutely not. This was just a case of you relying on the help of the seniors from your agency… 

Kanna: And what might be the issue with that? 

Hajime: …Eh? 

Kanna: We simply utilized the tools we had at our disposal. This is a strategy that Ra*bits could have implemented as well, had you thought of it. 

Yume: Kanna-chan is right. Yume was just doing everything Yume could to spread Spri’s cuteness to as many people as possible. 

Besides, no matter what complaints you may have, they’ll only amount to the excuses of a hare who decided to nap without a care in the world. 

Hajime: ………

Esu: Hey, don’tcha think you’re getting a little too cocky there? We were the ones taking it easy in the first round, after all. 

Don’t forget that we also owe them for the joint practice too, alright? 

Tomoya: Nah, it’s fine, don’t worry about it. If anything, this only served to harden our resolve. 

Let’s go at each other with all we’ve got in the final round. ‘Cause this time, there’s no way we’ll lose! 

[ ☆ ]

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The final chapter title, "Lanakila," means "Victory" in Hawaiian.

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[sleepythefoxx]

Collab Challenge - Stream with 10 People 

Yume Idol Story

Characters: Yume, Midori, Tatsumi

Translation: Sleepy

[ ♪ ]

Yume: (...Ugh, he’s such a meanie, that Esu.) 

(“I’ll only stream with you if you find ten other people to collab with,” as if! Even though he collabs with so many other people like it’s nothing...)

(It’s not fair that Yume is the only one given a requirement.)

(If that’s how it is, Yume is going to find ten people to collab with so that Esu will have no choice but to eat his words!) 

(Fufu~ And the moment Yume meets his condition, Yume is going to make him do whatever collab Yume wants!)

(Like doing cute cosplay together, or taking a stroll, here and there…♪)

(Fufu, ufufufu… Yume’s getting excited just thinking about it.) 

(...No no, wait. Now isn’t the time for daydreaming. Real life isn’t that sweet and forgiving, after all.) 

(The ones who’ve collabed with Yume as of right now are Kanna-chan and Raika-chan. As well as the people from Ha/Lo. That makes five people in total—) 

(Yume’s still got a long way to go… Yume reached out to basically all of Yume’s acquaintances, but Yume’s already hit the limit. More won’t just magically appear if Yume waits around.) 

(...Now that it’s come to this, why not try calling out to people at random?) 

(Yume’s objective is just a measly five more people. Yume is sure it’ll be over in no time, although it might be tough. Yume just has to hang in there.) 

(Now that that’s settled, let’s get this show on the road!) 

(...Although, rushing in and picking just anyone takes a lot of nerve.)

(So if possible, Yume would prefer someone easy to talk to. Let’s see what we’re working with here in this room…)

(That glasses guy from Akatsuki—definitely not, he talks too much. He’ll probably say something about how it’s a “good opportunity,” and start preaching to Yume.) 

(The glasses guy from Switch, Yume doesn’t think we’d mesh well… That loud guy, MaM, his booming voice tires Yume out so there’s no way he could work.) 

(And Yume doesn’t like that barbarian from Crazy:B since he’d probably tease Yume—)

…Haah. The Shared Space is a no-go, Yume will try looking elsewhere. 

(—Hmm~ Yume ended up going all the way to the entrance while on the hunt for potential candidates.) 

(But this might end up working in Yume’s favor. All sorts of people end up coming and going through here, after all.) 

(Surely someone easily approachable will pass through here if Yume waits.) 

…Ah!

Midori-sama…♪

Midori: Geh, it’s Yume-kun… 

Yume: “Geh,” how cruel. You’ve hurt Yume’s feelings. 

Midori: Ahh, sorry… I was just startled since you called out to me all of a sudden… 

So, uh… Did you need something? 

Yume: Correct! Yume has something really, really important to ask♪ Please do a collab stream with Yume. 

Midori: Ehh…? 

I don’t wanna… I mean, I’m super bad at things like that. Not to mention it’s difficult partnering up with someone younger like you, Yume-kun… 

Yume: No way, you wouldn’t know that unless you try. Yume doesn’t mind the age gap at all. 

Midori: Even if you don’t mind, I mind it… 

Actually, isn’t a collab more of something you do with your close friends? 

Yume: If you’ve got complaints, take it up with Esu, not Yume. That Esu—

…Esu is really awful. He threatened Yume! 

Midori: Eh, Esu-kun did? 

Yume: That’s right. Esu said something suuuper ridiculous to Yume. If Yume doesn’t collab with ten people, then he’ll never ever partner up with Yume ever again!

That’s nothing short of declaring that Yume will be banished from Spri…! 

Midori: B-banished... Esu never really struck me as the type to go to such extremes, though. 

But I guess you can never judge a book by its cover, can you…? 

Yume: (Yay, he took the bait♪ Now if Yume exaggerates just a liiittle bit more—) 

Yeah, despite his looks, Esu is seriously coldhearted! He’s the kind of person that smiles from the shadows when Yume’s in trouble. 

Even though Yume isn’t good at streaming… Uu, poor, poor Yume… 

Midori: Eeh… Don’t cry, Yume-kun. 

Because anyone else would see this and think I’m the one that made you cry… 

Yume: Snff, snff… The only one who can stop Yume’s tears is you, Midori-sama. 

If you don’t save Yume, then Yume won’t be able to keep living… 

…That’s why, please? Pretty please? 

Midori: No, I think you’ll keep living just fine even if you look at me like that… 

What do I do…? I’d feel awful if something actually happened… 

…Fine. I’ll help out, just for a little bit.

Yume: Really? Thank you, Midori-sama♪

Midori: Eh… You’re already done crying? 

Wait, did I just get played…? 

Yume: Ufufu, saying you got played makes Yume sound like a bad person. It was your kindness, Midori-sama, that managed to stop Yume’s tears. 

Okay then, let’s start streaming before you change your mind! 

“Sorry to keep you all waiting, Heart-chan~ The collab project continues with our sixth guest, Midori-sama of Ryuseitai…♪” 

Midori: “Uwah, you’re starting already…? Uh… Hello, I’m Takamine Midori.” 

“‘Why does Yume-kun call you Midori-sama?’ they wasted no time on that…” 

“Who knows…? That reminds me, you called me ‘Prince’ before, didn’t you? Is it because of that…?” 

Yume: “Nuh-uh, you’re wrong. It’s because you’re so good-looking that Yume thought you looked like a prince.” 

“But you aren’t Yume’s Prince, Midori-sama.” 

Midori: “Oh… Yeah, I think I remember you saying something like that.” 

“...Wait, no wait a sec? If you deny it that hard, then doesn’t that make it look like I considered myself a prince…?” 

“This is so embarrassing… I want to disappear…” 

Yume: “Oh come on. Midori-sama, you’ll go out of frame if you drift away like that♪

Midori: “I’ve done enough, haven’t I…? I greeted everyone, answered a question—we agreed that I’d only be helping out for a little bit.” 

Yume: “Nuh-uh! It’s only been a few minutes. Yume won’t allow it to end like this. That doesn’t count as a collab, that’d just be you making a cameo.” 

Midori: “No way… Uu, I knew I shouldn’t have agreed without thinking it through first…” 

Tatsumi: “...Oya? Look at you, huddled around a camera, it’s quite the lively scene over here.” 

Midori: “Kazehaya-senpai…! Please save me. I’m being held hostage by a really troublesome kid!” 

Yume: “How rude! Yume is going to collab with ten people no matter what."

“And lucky for you! You’ll be the spectacular seventh person to join Yume’s collab stream!” 

Midori: “Yume-kun, you can’t just invite someone to stream with you like that, it’s way too sloppy…” 

Tatsumi: “I don’t mind.”   

Midori: “Eh? You don’t…? Seriously?” 

Tatsumi: “Of course. For one, this seems to be a matter of great importance, and it is the duty of a clergyman to offer assistance to the lost lambs of the world."

“Good afternoon to everyone currently watching. I am Kazehaya Tatsumi of ALKALOID.” 

“Fufu, the comments are speeding by. Thank you very much for your warm welcome♪” 

Yume: (...There’s no trace of reluctance on this person’s face. Far from it, in fact. He’s smiling right into the camera.) 

(If Yume is judging off of appearance alone, then Midori-sama is much more princelike.) 

(But the one who feels like a kind, reliable prince you’d find stepping straight out of a picture book would have to be—) 

“Tatsumi-sama…♪”

Tatsumi: “Yes, what’s wrong, Yume-san?” 

Midori: (Huh…? Kinda feels like his interest is shifting off of me and onto Kazehaya-senpai?)  

(I’m glad to be freed from all that, but… Weirdly enough, I feel a bit dissatisfied for some reason…) 

(Well, whatever. I’ve gotta make a run for it while I still can. I’ll leave the rest to you, Kazehaya-senpai…!) 

[ ☆ ]

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Ok I said I wasn't gonna do this one but I lied ehehe~

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[sleepythefoxx]

Special for Princess! VS Ra*bits - Kokua - Chapter 9

Characters: Esu, Kanna, Yume, Raika

Translation: Sleepy

[ ♪ ]

Yume: Regardless of it being something Nice-ojisan decided or not, there’s no doubt that that’s what sets us apart as Spri. 

If Ra*bits overwrites those characteristics, then Spri can no longer be called Spri anymore. 

What do you think of a unicorn stuffed animal with the head of a rabbit? Nobody would buy that, would they? 

That’s why relying on the strength of Ra*bits is the only thing Yume won’t back down from, even if it’s an order from you, Esu! 

Yume wants everyone to think we’re cuter than Ra*bits, but there’s no way we could ever surpass them if we rely on them for help! 

We should compete in this showdown with Spri’s exact concept! 

Esu: …So, against all odds you were actually thinking about this whole thing properly!? 

Yume: It’s only natural. Destroying our setting is an unforgivable crime. 

That’s why, no matter the reason, protecting Yume’s ideals and dreams comes first. 

To prevent the destruction of the world where people say they love Spri. 

Esu: …To be honest, I didn’t realize how much thought you’d put into this. 

Well, that might also just be a consequence from you constantly going around acting like you own the place. 

Yume: Yume admits to that too. So… Here. 

Esu: …Hm? What’s that notebook you got there?

Raika: Let’s see, uh…? There’re a buncha cute pictures drawn in here!

But there’s also a buncha itty bitty characters… Uu, my head’s spinnin’ just lookin’ at ‘em.  

Kanna: …I see. 

Esu: (Woah, this is crazy. There’s staging notes for our song in the final round. He wrote out hugely detailed arrangements for the lyrics and choreography on top of that.) 

(What kind of intention put behind it, what kind of effect to create. What he wants to express—you can understand all of Yume’s particulars if you read this whole thing.) 

Hey, if I’m not mistaken, did you come up with all of this on your own? 

Yume: …Mhm. Yume’s been putting a lot of thought into this ever since the end of the first round. 

Esu: …So the reason you holed up in your room was so you could write all this out, huh? 

Jeez, if you’d put in this much effort from the start I wouldn’t have had a single thing to complain about, y’know~? 

Yume: Well, that’s because Yume never even considered the possibility of losing. Yume thought we’d win as long as we showed off Spri as usual.

But we lost. Yume felt like nothing mattered after that… 

That everyone else was at fault for not understanding what makes Yume cute. 

But Yume couldn’t forgive them for saying we can’t express cuteness properly—that we’re just like preschoolers dancing around for a school play. 

Above all else, Yume couldn’t just sit and watch the fans who understand Yume’s world best be told those things… 

The precious world that Yume and everyone worked so hard to build, Yume won’t let anyone deny it. 

Esu: …Got it. I’ve got a reee~al good grasp on your feelings now. 

Eh, to be honest there’s about half of it that I still don’t really get, but what I do get is that you’re motivated. 

There’s a part of me that really wanted you to get your head in the game sooner, but I’ll give you a pass after seeing these notes. 

Yume: Fufu~ Just as Yume expected, Yume knew Esu would be the one to understand Yume best♪

Esu: Well, putting that aside, you’re still totally apologizing to Ra*bits, hear me! 

Yume: Yume takes it back! Yume didn’t do anything wrong, why does Yume have to apologize? 

Esu: Take some responsibility, responsibility! If we wanna compete against our seniors fair and square, this is an absolute MUST! 

You’d have to be insane to head into the final round with such bad vibes floating around from our relationship with Ra*bits going straight down the drain. 

Yume: Grr… Esu you meanie! Dummy! Stu~pid! 

Esu: Don’t think this kind of childish temper tantrum will work forever, you hear me! 

Raika: Awawa… Esu-sama, Yume-san, please don’t fight…! 

Kanna-sama, what do we do? The conversation was just about to end off on a good note too… 

Kanna: Hm. If you two are going to start a meaningless fight, then would you mind letting me interject for a moment? 

Esu・Yume: Huh…? 

Raika: W-what’s the matter, Kanna-sama? 

Kanna: I seem to have happened upon a plan while looking over Yume-san’s notes.

Esu: Woah, a plan from my good ol’ reliable partner, it’s been ages! Just what kinda plan have you thought up to save us from the brink of death!? 

Kanna: I’m doubtful it will save us “from the brink of death,” however… 

Yume: Ugh, seriously, if you’ve got something to say then spit it out already. You hate wasting time too, don’t you, Kanna-chan? 

Kanna: That is correct. We don’t have much time left. Let me get straight to the point. 

—The objective is as follows: how do we make the world aware of our existence as Spri? 

[ ☆ ]

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PART TWO DONE!!!

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[sleepythefoxx]

Special for Princess! VS Ra*bits - Kokua - Chapter 8

Characters: Esu, Kanna, Yume, Raika

Translation: Sleepy

[ ♪ ]

Time: At the same time

Location: Megasphere Tower

Yume: ……..

Esu: —Suspect spotted! I’VE CAUGHT YOU NOW, YUMEEE! 

Yume: …Kya!? 

Honestly, for Esu to suddenly run up and hug me like this—what an awfully needy child you are. Were you that lonely? 

Sorry about that, Yume didn’t realize how you were feeling. 

There, there, come here. Yume will shower you with all the love Yume’s got…♪

Esu: I’m not hugging you!—Seriously, quit screwing around! 

Today more than ever, you won’t be able to wiggle your way out of this by distracting me with your nonsense! 

Yume: ……..

Esu: God. I thought you ran off to Star House, but instead you had to go and get clever on me. 

Thanks to that, I’ve been stuck running around looking all over for you.

Raika: Esu-sama~! 

Esu: Hm? Oh, you guys finally caught up? 

Raika: Aye! More importantly, ya finally found Yume-san? 

Esu: Yup. ‘Twas a case of it being darkest underneath the lamp post. He was hiding right outside of the practice room. 

Raika: “Lamp post”? “Darkest underneath”? Uhh…? 

Kanna: Haah… Haah… It is a proverb… Denoting that the closer something is, the harder it is to notice. 

Raika: Aha, I got it! You’re as well read as ever, aren’tcha Kanna-sama? 

Wait, uwah!? What’s wrong, Kanna-sama? You’re sweatin’ buckets, an’ you’re huffin’ an’ puffin’ like ya just ran a marathon. 

Kanna: Haah… Phew. That is because, Raika-san, you ran all the way here while holding my hand… 

Raika: Eh? It’s my fault? I-I’m sorry! I didn’t realize! 

Kanna: …No. This is… No problem whatsoever. Just let me… Catch my breath for a moment. 

Esu: Take a good, hard look at Kanna, Yume. Kanna went through hell because of you! 

Yume: …Yume doesn’t think that should be blamed on Yume. That’s Raika-chan’s fault. 

Esu: I’ll have no complaints out of you! You’re the one who caused this to happen, meaning it’s your fault! 

If you’ve understood then repent! Repent I say! 

Yume: Grr… This is an outrage. 

Esu: And that’s something you’ve been forcing on the people around you this whole time, you’re the outrageous one here. 

Seriously, you’re always, always, going around digging your own grave, don’tcha think? 

You’ve been able to scrape by until now through NiceP’s arrangements, and with our seniors at our agency stepping in, covering your ass for you.

But you’ve crossed the line this time. This is beyond excuse, this is your fault! 

Yume: ……..

Esu: And you’re going to give our seniors a formal apology later! So you better start practicing your dogeza, you’ll need it! 

Yume: Hmph. No way, Yume is absolutely not doing that! 

Esu: You don’t have a right to refuse! You’re not getting your way this time. 

Be a little more self-aware of how disrespectful you are! Grow up, acquire some bare minimum social skills already, I’m begging you! 

Yume: …Okay, then apologize to Yume!

Esu: …Huh? And just why should I be apologizing to you? 

Yume: Well, because you never said anything to Yume about practicing with those something or other Ra*bits, that’s why! 

Yume didn’t hear a single word about it. Why would you do such a thing? 

Esu: Well that’s because you haven’t been putting in any effort at all, have you? 

No matter how hard I begged you to do something, anything to get yourself motivated, none of it worked. So what else was I supposed to do but go crying to our seniors for help. 

Do you have any idea just how humiliating it is to go up to your opponents, begging them, “Please let us go onstage for our showdown,” do you!? 

It was so pathetic I felt like I could cry. I’m serious! 

Yume: In that case, you shouldn’t have relied on them in the first place! 

If you just asked Yume for help from the start, Yume wouldn’t have ended up like this… 

Esu: Like~I~said~! You weren’t putting in any effort at all right from the very beginning! 

Making a fuss about how Ra*bits are an easy win for Spri! 

Yume: …That’s true. Yume admits that Yume wasn't motivated in the slightest. 

Listen, getting shipped off overseas and being forced to compete—it’s all so annoying, isn’t it? 

Yume doesn’t care about becoming the “world's greatest idols,” or whatever. Yume won’t let Yume’s precious time be stolen away for something like this.

Kanna: He’s right. I’m in complete agreement with this viewpoint. 

Esu: These goddamn Bothersome Brothers… 

Yume: But! Yume never imagined that you would ask Ra*bits for help! 

Why would you turn to those something or other Ra*bits!? Why would you when you’ve got Yume right here, stupid! You two-timing cheater!

Esu: What do you mean, "cheater"!? Seriously, you're making no sense… 

And what’s up with all this hostility you’ve got towards Ra*bits? Did they do something you didn’t like? 

Yume: Not really. It’s not like Yume hates Ra*bits or anything. Yume simply doesn’t approve of their cuteness. 

Esu: Haah… You’ve got me, I just don’t know what sort of weird things set you off. 

Yume: Why don’t you understand, you're the leader, aren’t you? This is completely unacceptable. 

What is Spri’s concept? You’re our leader so you should be able to answer that much, right? 

Esu: Ehh…? When you say our concept, you mean the one NiceP chose for us? 

If so, we’re the dreamy unicorn princes, is that what you’re looking for?

Yume: Exactly right! Though Yume has no idea how Nice-ojisan landed on such a concept.  

And that’s the worldbuilding that Spri has to stick to, isn’t it? 

Despite that. If we accept whatever Ra*bits has to teach us, we’d be muddying our concept!  Yume won’t allow it! 

Esu: …Huh?

[ ☆ ]

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[sleepythefoxx]

Special for Princess! VS Ra*bits - Kokua - Chapter 7

Characters: Hajime, Tomoya, Mitsuru, Nazuna

Translation: Sleepy

[ ♪ ]

Time: Dozens of minutes later

Location: Star House - Ra*bits’ room

Mitsuru: We’re hooome~...☆ Coming back to this room feels kinda real nostalgic in a way! 

Nazuna: Ahaha, I get what you mean~ We have been staying at the hotel in Hawaii this whole time, after all. 

I mean, we’ve been busying ourselves with MM ever since we got here. I don’t think anything bad’ll happen if we take a little break. 

Ra*bits are in the lead at the moment, so it’s not like we need to rush. 

Tomoya: Agreed. That’s why you can take it easy there too, Hajime. 

Hajime: Yes… I’m sorry for startling you earlier. 

Mitsuru-kun wanted us to have a fun showdown, but then I just had to go and spoil the whole thing… 

Mitsuru: Nuh-uh, don’t you worry about that. Although it is a bit of a shame we ended up splitting up after a fight, even though I wanted us to all enjoy ourselves…  

But it can’t be helped, especially after Yume-chan spoke his mind about hating the whole thing. 

Tomoya: Right. I didn’t think we could continue practice with Yume feeling that way. 

Actually, practice aside, how are you holding up, Hajime? Are you feeling a little better now? 

Hajime: I’m still shocked. I never knew I was capable of getting angry like that… 

Tomoya: Haha, you don’t ever raise your voice in anger do you, Hajime~? 

Mitsuru: I’m also super shocked! That Hajime-chan—the first I’ve ever seen it, that’s for sure. 

Hajime: …Yeah, I guess it is. I’m really sorry. 

Mitsuru: Why’re you apologizing? You didn’t do anything wrong! 

Nazuna: Exactly, and you had a completely valid reason for getting angry, didn’t you? 

Everyone else got pretty pissed off at Yume-chin’s comment too, after all~ 

Tomoya: That’s right. That’s why it made me happy to see you react like that, Hajime. 

Honestly if anything, I feel like I’m the one who owes you an apology. 

I should’ve shut it down right away and given him a stern talking to, but instead you were forced to step in. 

Hajime: T-that’s not true at all! I didn’t get angry with those kinds of good intentions in mind. 

It was more that I just couldn't stand it anymore after hearing all of those selfish things come out of Yume-kun’s mouth… 

That’s why… I think I really have become that nasty guy you’ve all been warning about… 

Nazuna: Aw, hey we told you there was no need to worry about all that. Always the worrywart, our Hajime-chin~ 

If being a nasty guy is your main concern, then I think that applies to Yume-chin more than you. 

What do you mean there's “nothing to learn from Ra*bits”? Even though we wiped the floor with you in the first round~! 

“Middle schoolers just say things like that,” is an excuse that’ll only get you so far!

Mitsuru: Mhm, mhm! No doubt about it, Yume-chan’s got no sense of respect! 

Hajime: …Everyone, thank you so much for cheering me up. I’m feeling a lot calmer now thanks to you all. 

Tomoya: I’m glad to hear it. Honestly, that stubbornness of his was a big headache when we teamed up for our shuffle unit. 

I kept having to break up Sengoku and Yume’s fights, it was really tough~... 

Nazuna: He gets into a lot of fights, that Yume-chin. He’s a problem child through and through. 

Tomoya: Ahaha, but well, that pickiness of his is one of his redeeming qualities, after all. 

Hajime: …I just don’t see it. What makes you think that, Tomoya-kun? 

Tomoya: I mean, the fact that he’s started nitpicking every little thing means he’s finally taking this competition seriously. 

It’s not like he’s going around acting selfish to get a rise out of anyone on purpose. I don’t think he says anything out of spite, y’know? 

Being stubborn is just his way of communicating that he absolutely cannot compromise until it’s something he’s wholeheartedly satisfied with. 

That’s why, Yume definitely won’t be compromising for the next match. He’ll be going with what he thinks of as the absolute cutest, we can be sure of that. 

I felt like I got a glimpse of that fighting spirit today. 

Nazuna: Now that you mention it, Yume-chin really did hit the nail right on the head, didn’t he? 

For Ra*bits, I mean. Saying we don’t have any one defining characteristic that makes us cute. 

Hajime: …So it really is a bad thing, isn’t it? 

Nazuna: Hm? What is? 

Hajime: Out of everything Yume-kun said, that was the one point I couldn’t find a response for. 

Maybe since Ra*bits is a unit that embodies many different types of cuteness, there’s not one single thing that we can call the cutest… 

Nazuna: That’s true. But I think of that as a good thing.

Hajime: Eh, a good thing?  

Nazuna: Yeah. I mean, if we decided on one thing that we hinge our cuteness on as Ra*bits, that’d only serve to limit our cuteness, wouldn’t it~? 

Same with the other thing Yume-chin said, aiming to put on a performance to make everyone in the world say you’re the number one cutest isn’t wrong either. 

It just means Spri and Ra*bits are working towards separate goals. 

The cuteness we’re aiming for is the one you described, Hajime-chin, so don’t go second guessing yourself. 

Ra*bits is striving to embody all the cuteness this world has to offer. 

So no matter what kind of preparations Yume-chin is making for his ideal, perfect “cuteness,” we’ll be sure to serve it right back to him on a silver platter, Hajime-chin…♪

Hajime: …I see. Thank you very much, Ni~chan! 

You’re right. I don’t need to worry about whatever Yume-kun has to say, do I? 

We’ll just keep doing as we do best. It’s enough for us to do whatever makes everyone who’s supporting us, our fans, think we’re cute. 

Nazuna: Exactly. In that sense, today’s fight might’ve even served as a good declaration of war. ‘Cause this time, it doesn’t seem like either side will be wasting any effort going for the win.

I think we might’ve unintentionally accomplished the initial goal of the joint practice session, in livening up our showdown. 

Tomoya: That’s exactly why we can’t afford to let down our guard heading into the second round. Especially since Spri is likely to make a move this time. 

This might even mark the start of our real Mega Match. 

Nazuna: We’ve still gotta do what we gotta do regardless! 

We’re gonna meet Spri head on with all the cuteness we got, so much so that they’ll regret ever looking down on Ra*bits…! 

[ ☆ ]

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[sleepythefoxx]

Special for Princess! VS Ra*bits - Kokua - Chapter 6

Characters: Hajime, Tomoya, Mitsuru, Nazuna, Esu, Yume, Raika

Translation: Sleepy

[ ♪ ]

Tomoya: C-calm down Yume. It’s not like we’re rejecting your suggestion or anything… 

Yume: Oh really? Then what’s the holdup—why aren’t you accepting it as is? 

Tomoya: I explained myself already, didn’t I? If we went with your suggestion, our movements would end up looking unnatural… 

Yume: Yume thought the plan was to work that out during practice, wasn’t it? Yume won’t let you take the easy way out. 

Esu: Oi, Yume! Enough is enough, quit it already! 

If you’re gonna keep talking crap like this then I’m gonna have to take charge as leader and kick you outta here! 

Yume: …Grr. Why are you taking their side? 

Yume is saying all of this for our sake as Spri. You wanted to win too, didn’t you Esu? 

Esu: This and that are completely separate things. Seriously, you literally never listen to what anyone says ever! 

Tomoya: Now, now, Esu, let’s all calm down. It’s not like Yume’s point is completely off base. 

He was just thinking about ways to make Spri stand out more, that’s probably what his plan was. 

Esu: …If you say so, Mashiro-senpai, then I guess it’s fine. 

Hajime: ……….

Nazuna: Oi, what’s up? Was there some kind of fight?

Tomoya: Ahaha, Well, uh… It wasn’t really a big deal, we’re all good over here. 

We just had a little, uh, difference in opinion regarding Yume’s performance plan. 

Nazuna: Is that so? I guess I don’t have to worry if that’s really all it was… 

Yume: Hmph. Yume had ideas that would make us more cute and charming, but Mashiro-san just kept shooting down each and every one. 

Tomoya: Well, your vision is important too, and I’d really like to respect it… 

But when you put it into perspective, I don’t think I can say the same. 

Yume: There you go with the same old boring excuses. What a joke of a “cute” unit. 

There’s a surefire way to make our performance cuter, so why settle? 

Yume doesn’t have any problems if you guys want to throw in the towel all on your own, but don’t go dragging Spri into it. 

Yume will never be caught dead compromising. The only Spri worth mentioning is the one Yume thinks is the absolute cutest! 

Nazuna: (Got it. So Yume-chin’s hang-ups are working against him.) 

(Hmm~ Let’s iron out the situation for the time being, and then get a hold on the problem itself—) 

Hajime: —”Don’t go dragging others into it.” Says you. 

Nazuna: …Eh? Hajime-chin?

Hajime: Yume-kun, you haven’t been listening to a single word Tomoya-kun has said up till now, have you? 

He told you, going along with your suggestion wouldn't work since our movements would look forced. He gave you a proper explanation for why it can’t be done.

And yet. ’My way is better, we’re going with my idea’—you’ve done nothing but whine! 

We’re not just convenient tools that you can use and abuse to achieve your goals! 

Don’t you dare go one-sidedly forcing your ideals on us!

Yume: It’s the same for us if that’s how you wanna play it. Yume and the others aren’t your tools either. 

Did you think you could secretly get away with using us, lending a hand when we’re down? 

Too bad for you, we’re not the naïve little kids you expected us to be. 

Hajime: We never thought about any of that at all! In fact, there was never any reason for us to help Spri in the first place! 

Better yet, we never even wanted to do this. We don’t have all the time in the world to spare on you, after all. 

Even so, Mitsuru-kun wanted to help you, help Spri… He voiced his concerns for you. 

And it’s because we wanted to cherish his kindness that we held this joint practice session. 

But for all that, you dared to ignore that kindness, acting ungrateful the whole time…

Why, just why do you act in ways that trouble the people around you, never stopping to consider how they’ll feel? 

Yume: Yume doesn’t remember ever asking him to treat us nicely. 

He’s the one who decided to butt in on his own, so do yourself a favor and don’t patronize Yume. 

Raika: Y-Yume-san! That’s not it, this all happened ‘cause I was the one who asked him for help… 

Uu, ‘m sorry! I might’ve gone an’ done somethin’ unnecessary again… 

Mitsuru: No way, you didn’t do anything wrong, Raika-chan! I just wanted everyone to have a good time together, that’s all… 

Nazuna: You two shouldn’t feel like you need to take responsibility for this!

Everyone here mutually agreed to a joint practice, after all. 

Right? So let's all hold our horses.

Tomoya: Yeah, Ni~chan is right. Hajime too, there’s no need to get so angry, is there? 

Hajime: …But I can’t help it. I mean, we’re taking precious time out of our day for this. 

And yet for all that, Yume-kun has been selfishly ordering everyone around the whole time… 

Yume: Yume agrees, this is a total waste of time. 

There was never any need for us to “learn how to be cute” from Ra*bits in the first place. 

Hajime: …….!

Esu: HEY! Oi, Yume, you little…! 

Hajime: Don’t you dare… Don’t you dare look down on Ra*bits! 

I don’t know what you think of as cuteness exactly, but know this. We’ve been grappling with the concept of cuteness for much longer! 

Yume: Okay, and? That doesn’t really matter to the people looking in from the outside, does it? 

If you’d go as far as to say that, then riddle Yume this. What exactly is cute about Ra*bits, specifically? 

Is it something so much lovelier than Yume’s idea of cuteness? 

Hajime: …I don’t know. I wouldn’t know because we have a lot of things that make us cute. 

Yume: …”A lot of things”? Yume doesn’t see what you mean. 

Hajime: We’re cute when we smile. We’re cute when we persevere after making a mistake. And a whole bunch of other things that the fans think of as cute. 

Ra*bits is a unit that operates embodying all types of cuteness. You can’t just narrow it down to one thing. 

Yume: …”Cute after making a mistake”? “You can’t narrow it down to one thing”? None of that makes any sense at all.

You call yourselves a “cute unit,” but you’ve never once put on a picture-perfect performance where you had full faith in your own cuteness, have you? 

Hajime: Well that’s…! 

Yume: Save it. After hearing all of that, Yume is convinced. Yume knows that there’s nothing you people could teach us. 

All Yume wants… All Yume needs is for everyone to think Yume is cute, in Yume’s ideal cutest form. 

But for you, it doesn’t really seem like you can confidently say that any part of you is the cutest. 

“There’s tons of things that make you cute” glosses over the fact that there’s nothing about you that’s the overall cutest. “You’re cute even when you make mistakes” is just a way to make you feel better for not believing in yourself… 

You’re just using cuteness as an excuse. All in all, it means you can’t find a reason or muster up an ounce of confidence in your own cuteness. 

There’s nothing we’d gain from practicing with someone like that, don’t you agree? 

Let’s go, Esu. We’d just be wasting our time if we stayed any longer. 

Esu: Ah! Hey—oi, Yume! 

That guy, he seriously went and said everything he wanted to then stormed off!

Tomoya: Ahaha, I never expected for things to turn out like this… 

For now, we can’t really continue practice like this, so how about breaking here for the day? 

Esu: I’m so sorry! You went to the trouble of helping us only for everything to turn into one huge mess… 

Hajime: ………

[ ☆ ]

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[sleepythefoxx]

Special for Princess! VS Ra*bits - Kokua - Chapter 5

Characters: Mitsuru, Nazuna, Kanna, Yume, Raika

Translation: Sleepy

[ ♪ ]

Nazuna: “Cute poses and gestures”... What’s gotten into you all of a sudden? 

Kanna: I have come to the conclusion in regards to this showdown that I am in need of the proper techniques representative of “cuteness.” 

Considering our designated piece of music, “The Prettycal Parade♪” places a fair amount of emphasis around this concept. 

Furthermore, the public has adopted a view of our showdown as “cute.” 

As is evidenced by the buzz surrounding our first round as the “battle of cute.” 

Meaning as far as our performance is concerned, cuteness will likely be a key asset. 

That being said, I haven’t the faintest idea of what cuteness entails. 

Therefore, I believed it would be best to ask you, Nito-san—an idol from the notoriously cute group, Ra*bits—for instruction. 

Nazuna: Well for starters your reasoning wasn’t very cute at all, but… Sure, why not? 

If that’s what you want, then I’ll be a prime example of cuteness! 

Just so you know, the path to cuteness is no easy feat! Prepare yourself, Kanna-chin! 

Kanna: There is no need for the preface. I simply have to learn out of necessity, so if we could please move into the instruction portion at once.

Nazuna: “At once” isn’t any cute at all! Looks like we’ve got a long way to go… 

Why don’t you start off by striking a pose that you think might be cute? 

Kanna: Understood. 

—”Pyon, pyon.” Would something along these lines suffice?  

Nazuna: No actually that blank stare of yours makes it scary if anything. It’s even worse since there’s no smile behind your eyes! 

Kanna-chin, do you honestly believe that’s cute?

Kanna: No, as I myself do not have much of an understanding of what qualifies as “cute.” That was simply my imitation of Ra*bits.

Nazuna: Thought so. Well that won’t do you any good right now.

If you want people to think you’re cute, try charging up your movements with more of an enthusiastic and conscientious air.

Kanna: “Enthusiastic and conscientious air,” just what might that mean? 

Nazuna: Mmm~ it’s actually pretty difficult to put into words, huh~... 

How should I explain it? It might even be a pretty good learning experience for me if I’m able to describe it concretely. 

I guess it’s kind of like when you see something and get a strong desire to protect it? No… That’s not the only thing that makes something cute… 

…Where just seeing it is enough to make you happy? Is that a good way to put it? 

Kanna: I’m still not quite seeing your point. Is there perhaps another more specific, quantifiable example?

Nazuna: And that’s why I said it was difficult. Actually, I feel like thinking about it in such a convoluted way is also besides the point. 

I don’t think you can just calculate your way through making cute gestures… 

Wait, actually hold on. I think I might have something that would work better for you, Kanna-chin. 

In your case, it might be better to coach you like Itsuki did way back when… 

Kanna: Huh? Itsuki-san “way back when”? 

Nazuna: Precise movements sculpted to perfection, each expression deliberate and filled with purpose. 

If we were to arrange that pose you did earlier in the Itsuki-style for example… 

Pull your chin down a couple centimeters. Look straight ahead while holding that position. 

When you do this it almost looks like you’re looking up at someone which, in theory, should be cute. 

Kanna: Hm. Like this, perhaps? 

Nazuna: Exactly that, it’s a huge improvement from that blank stare from earlier. 

Upturned eyes give off a playful, sweet vibe, that’s where the cuteness factor comes from. 

Kanna: I see. Indeed, this explanation is much more logical and has a more satisfactory answer. 

Thank you very much. With this I can expand upon my posing capabilities thanks to your help, Nito-san. 

Nazuna: You don’t have to thank me for that. Besides, I don’t really think this solves your main issue.

The way I see it, cuteness isn’t really some quantifiable, calculatable thing. 

Sure, with some superficial techniques you can somewhat get there. But in the end, you’re still missing that crucial cuteness aspect. 

The most important thing for people to think you’re cute has gotta be the emotion you put behind it. 

And then that specific cuteness factor they feel changes depending on the pose. 

Kanna: Regardless of your explanation, I continue to struggle with understanding such feelings, as per usual. 

Nazuna: Hmm~ How about this, is there anything you think is cute, Kanna-chin? 

Kanna: I haven’t given it much thought, I must admit. Hm… 

Mitsuru・Raika: ♪〜♪〜♪

Raika: Huh? Is everythin’ okay, Kanna-sama? Ya started lookin’ over here all of a sudden. 

Kanna: ……..

Raika: ……?

Kanna: …I see. “Cute”... I understand now. 

Nazuna: What’d you understand, it’s only been a second!? 

Mitsuru: What’s up, Ni~chan? Is something the matter? 

Nazuna: Nah, I don’t really get it, but looks like Kanna-chin just solved his problem.  

Mitsuru: Oh really? If so, Ni~chan, how ‘bout you come over and do some singing practice with us? 

I’ve been practicing with Raika-chan, but I wanna try singing along with ya too! 

Raika: Ah! In that case, I wanna try dancin’ together with Kanna-sama too! 

I’m sure we’ll only get better an’ better after practicin’ with Mitsuru-oniisan! 

Kanna: Duly noted. If that is what you wish, Raika-san, then—

Yume: —Ugh, can you just knock it off already! 

Raika: Uhya!? T-that scared me… That voice… That was Yume-san, wasn’t it? 

Nazuna: Yeah… Feels like we’ve got another storm brewing on the horizon, huh~... 

[ ☆ ]

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[sleepythefoxx]

Taking a short break

Hi hiiii just wanted to say that I’m taking a short break to recover some energy 😵‍💫 I’ll be back in about a week or so(?) hopefully but we’ll see! Thank you for reading and we’ll be back after this short break :3c

[sleepythefoxx]

Special for Princess! VS Ra*bits - Kokua - Chapter 4

Characters: Mitsuru, Nazuna, Kanna, Raika

Translation: Sleepy

[ ♪ ]

Time: A few minutes after the start of the joint practice session

Raika: ♪〜♪〜♪

Mitsuru: Oooh~ attaboy, Raika-chan! Your singing is just as good as ever! 

Raika: Ehe, well singin’ is the only thing I got to be useful! 

This uh, “set piece”?—of ours, it’s a really fun song, I like it a lot! 

Mitsuru: Mhm, I 100% agree! It’s the kind of song that really makes you want to hop up, down, and around when ya sing it! 

Ah, but… I’m a little worried about what Tomo-chan said about how the lyrics aren’t completely set in stone yet. 

I’m not really the best when it comes to memorizing lyrics, y’see. I might mess up onstage if I don’t memorize ‘em ahead of time. 

Say Raika-chan, how do you memorize your lyrics? 

Raika: Lyrics? Umm~ I guess I don’t really think all that hard about it? 

I just listen to the song, an’ then it sticks right into my head…♪

Mitsuru: Oooh~ I’m jealous, I gotta say. I wish I could memorize songs by just listening to them.  

Raika: Ehihi, if ya sing it to yourself over an’ over, then the words’ll just fall right outta your mouth! 

If anythin’, I struggle with memorizin' the dance the most...

Mitsuru: In that case, let’s make up for our weaknesses and teach each other! 

I’ll teach you the dancing, and you teach me the singing! 

Raika: You got it! You can count on me, I’ll do anythin’ an’ everythin’ to help! 

Raika・Mitsuru: ♪〜♪〜♪

Nazuna: (Ahaha, Mitsuru-chin and Raika-chin are just like birds of a feather, aren’t they~♪)

(On that note, it doesn’t seem like there’ll be any problems on their end.)

(What I’m more concerned about is Tomo-chin and the others…) 

(Ra*bits and Spri are going to be performing together during the last round to a predesignated song.) 

(That’s why we agreed to work together and fine-tune our performance, but…) 

Kanna: …Nito-san. Were you listening? 

Nazuna: Hm? Ahh, sorry. Got a little distracted there. 

Kanna: Would that statement not be considered inaccurate? You’ve been staring over there this whole time. 

Nazuna: Ahaha, you’re really sharp when it comes to things like this, huh~

I trust that there won’t be any issue as long as Tomo-chin is there, but I just can't help but worry all the same. 

Kanna: Yume-san is difficult to manage in many ways. Therefore your worry is warranted.

I myself am unable to make sense of what triggers Yume-san’s decline in mood to this day.  

Nazuna: Ahaha, seems like Yume-chin is a pretty big handful for you guys too, huh? 

Yume-chin mentioned he thought up a couple ideas for our performance, but do you have any more details about that, Kanna-chin? 

Kanna: No. I’m unsure, as it was my first time hearing about it as well.  

Nazuna: I see… 

(Tomo-chin seems to have somewhat of a grasp on how to handle Yume-chin since they were in a shuffle unit together, so it should be fine.) 

(The real question is Hajime-chin. He was upset over how he couldn't deal with Yume-chin recently. I guess he’s trying to meet him halfway, in his own way.) 

(That’s what makes him way too much of a good kid. There’s really no need to force himself into finding a middle ground.) 

(That said, it wouldn’t do any good for me to interrupt when he’s trying his best. If this’ll help them get along, then I suppose that’s a good thing…) 

(That said, it wouldn’t do any good for me to interrupt when he’s trying his best. If this’ll help them get along, then I suppose that’d be a good thing…) 

Well, guess I’ll just have to keep an eye out then, huh…? 

Kanna: It seems you were worried about something but managed to reach a resolution on your own. That being the case, I have something I would like to ask of you. 

Nazuna: Hm? Ah, yeah. Sorry for leaving you to fend for yourself like that, Kanna-chin. 

So? What do you wanna ask? Is there a part of the choreo you’re confused about? 

Kanna: No. It is unrelated to our choreography. Rather, it is something I would like for you to teach me personally, Nito-san. 

Please teach me how to make cute poses and gestures. 

Nazuna: Eh…? 

[ ☆ ]

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[sleepythefoxx]

Special for Princess! VS Ra*bits - Kokua - Chapter 3

Characters: Hajime, Tomoya, Mitsuru, Nazuna, Esu, Kanna, Yume, Raika

Translation: Sleepy

[ ♪ ]

Time: The next day

Location: Practice Room

Esu: Good moooorning~! Spri reporting for duty! To our seniors in Ra*bits, we look forward to working with you today! 

Mitsuru: Same here! Everyone in Spri, take care of us today! 

Raika: Ehihi, to think I get to practice with Mitsuru-oniisan, ‘m so very happy…♪

Mitsuru: I’ve also been really looking forward to practicing with you ever since yesterday! 

Tomoya: Best buds as always, you and Raika~ Just don’t get too carried away, okay? 

We didn’t come here for fun and games, did we? 

Mitsuru: Of course not! We’re here to practice together with everyone in Spri, right? 

Our set piece for the final round… Uh. What was the title again…? 

Yume: It’s “The Prettycal Parade♪”

Mitsuru: Yeah, that was it! You’ve got a good memory there, Yume-chan! 

Yume: It’s only natural for Yume to remember this.

The song file was shared way in advance, so Yume’s been listening to it a lot. 

Esu: Eh, really? Color me surprised, I had no idea you had a diligent side hidden in there! 

Could it be that you got yourself some motivation while I wasn’t looking, huh Yume? 

Yume: ….. (Looks away) 

Esu: …Oi, Yume? 

Yume: Hmph. Don’t act like you know how Yume feels… Stupid Esu. 

Esu: Huh…? Why am I being bad-mouthed when all I did was give you a compliment? 

Actually. Yume and Kanna, properly greet your upperclassmen already. We’re gonna be fully in their care today, after all. 

Yume: Ew, no. It’s not like these people can teach us anything, can they? 

Hajime: Eh…? 

Esu: HEY…!? Listen here, Yume! Quit being disrespectful to our seniors, right this instant! 

And to think they were kind enough to practice with us! 

Yume: Yume doesn’t remember asking them to teach us! Leave Yume out of it!

Hajime: (...I knew it. This is exactly the kind of thing I just can’t stand about Yume-kun.)  

(Always so self-centered, causing trouble for the people around him. Why go out of your way to deliberately ruin the atmosphere…?) 

(...Ah! I can’t keep thinking like this. I’ll start making that scary face again.) 

(I’ll just have to put up with it for the time being…) 

Now, now, don’t say that, Yume-kun. Why don’t you try practicing with us for a little while? 

You might even end up making some new discoveries that’ll make you feel glad you joined us, don’t you think? 

Yume: …Hmph. Don’t expect an obedient, goody-goody response from Yume. 

Why do we even have to hold a joint practice with you people in the first place?

Or maybe, did you bring us here so you could trick us into showing our hand, is that it? 

If so, Yume never expected you to be such schemers. Poor Esu… You fell right into their trap, didn’t you? 

Esu: You’re being way too paranoid! Not to mention insanely disrespectful! 

Kanna: If I may, I believe there is some merit to Yume-san’s words.

Esu: Seriously, come ON. Not you too Kanna! 

Kanna: Presently, Ra*bits have a high likelihood of success over Spri without the need for any additional pomp and circumstance. 

And yet, for what reason did you all decide to host a practice session between us? 

You are already en route to win as it stands. So what might be your intention, going out of your way to hold this joint practice in spite of that? 

One would not ordinarily do such a thing unless there was some sort of personal gain involved. 

Yume: See, Kanna-chan gets it since he’s smarter than Esu by a longshot. That's exactly right! 

They wouldn’t do something this weird if they weren’t plotting something, would they? 

Mitsuru: Whaaat~? Is that all? In that case, our reason is simple! 

We wanna make this showdown more and more exciting! 

Kanna: …Huh? “More exciting,” meaning? 

Nazuna: Haven’t you noticed how ever since the end of the first round, public interest in our showdown has taken a nosedive?

Kanna: Indeed. Seeing as currently Ra*bits’ win is all but decided, the lack of attention is unsurprising.

Esu: Don’t say it so matter-of-factly! We’re the reason the situation turned out like this! 

Kanna: I won’t deny that. However, there are additional reasons for the decline in attention. 

There are other unit showdowns, apart from ours, that are drawing attention away. 

Take Akatsuki and Crazy:B, for example. They’re causing such a stir that our very own controversy pales in comparison. 

Nazuna: They seem to be in hot water over on their end too. Plus it sounds like something crazy happened with UNDEAD and Eden that’s really getting people excited. 

Mellow Dear Us are as popular as ever, so their showdown with Valkyrie is also attracting a lot of attention. 

Everyone else’s showdowns are the talk of the town, so it just wouldn’t be right for ours to be the only one to fall by the wayside now, would it~? 

Kanna: …I see. I have reached a clear understanding of your objective.

Ra*bits’ have already set their sights far beyond winning this match, haven’t you? 

Nazuna: Yeah. When you think about the tournament as a whole, we’re hoping to maintain a level of recognition moving forward into the next showdown.

That’s why, in order to draw out some excitement, we want to set the stage for it to at least feel like a close match.  

Yume: …Wow, complacent much? You’re speaking as if you guys have already won. 

Nazuna: Well that's because I honestly think we have already won. 

Yume: ………

Nazuna: Sorry, sorry. Although it does make me feel somewhat satisfied seeing that frustrated look on your face. 

Call it revenge for making light of us, for saying that you could easily beat Ra*bits. 

Yume: …What a nasty senior you are. Just as Yume thought, there’s absolutely no way these people could be cuter than Yume and the others! 

Nazuna: No matter how much you whine and complain about it, you’re just coming off as a sore loser the way things are now. 

If you’re really that bothered, then bring it on—show us something that’ll make us want to take you seriously, Spri. 

You wanted to use this joint practice as a chance to prove that you can be our rivals. So go on, prove it. 

‘Cause at this rate, it’ll definitely end up being nothing but a mind numbing showdown. 

Yume: ………

[ ☆ ]

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[sleepythefoxx]

Special for Princess! VS Ra*bits - Kokua - Chapter 2

Characters: Hajime, Tomoya, Mitsuru, Nazuna, Esu, Raika

Translation: Sleepy

[ ♪ ]

Time: Tens of minutes later

Location: Ra*bits hotel room

Mitsuru: —And ‘cause of that, Spri are up to their heads in hot water, so we should lend ‘em a hand! 

Nazuna: Wait, wait, wait! There’s no way we could do that, Mitsuru-chin! 

Mitsuru: Eh~? Why are you being so mean, Ni~chan! 

Nazuna: It wasn’t supposed to be mean… It’s just, Spri are our opponents right now, y’know? 

There’s no way we could do something as stupid as help out the competition, right~? 

Mitsuru: But aren’t good upperclassmen supposed to help their juniors when they’re having a hard time? Or am I wrong? 

Nazuna: Ugh, seriously Mitsuru-chin, you’re such a good kid~! 

Esu: …Um. What’s even happening right now!? 

Tomoya: Why are you confused…?

Esu: I was literally minding my own business until Speed-senpai grabbed me—no prior information whatsoever—and now here we are! 

Honestly, what on earth happened for things to lead to this? I’m gonna need an explanation, Raika. 

Raika: Well, I just thought I’d ask Mitsuru-oniisan for some help. 

Uh, did I maybe go an’ do somethin’ unnecessary again? 

I saw how you’ve holdin’ your head, thinkin’ an’ thinkin’ about what to do, an’ I just wanted to be helpful to ya… 

Esu: I mean, I’m really grateful for you thinking about me, don’t get me wrong… 

But that doesn’t mean you can just ask our opponents, Ra*bits, for help, okay!? 

Mitsuru: Don’t say that, Esu-chan! I’m sure this’ll be a good thing for Ra*bits too! 

Hajime: It’ll be good for us too…? 

Mitsuru: Mhm! I mean, the current atmosphere surrounding MM right now isn't very good, is it? 

That goes for the fans who saw our live that day too, it doesn’t really feel like they fully enjoyed themselves, right?

Tomoya: Well, yeah I guess I kinda see what you mean…

Prior to the first round, I was under the impression that there was quite a bit of excitement surrounding the whole “cuteness battle” thing… 

But since the first round ended up a dud, it feels like the amount of interest in the showdown as a whole has died down. 

Nazuna: Well… I think that can mostly be attributed to Spri letting down the expectations of their fans with a performance like that.

Esu: Oof… I don’t even have a comeback for that. 

Mitsuru: Come on, don’t go picking a fight, Ni~chan. Let’s get along with everyone in Spri! 

Nazuna: Get along? Mitsuru-chin, can you really forgive them after they said such a thing about us? 

Esu: (...”Such a thing”?)

Mitsuru: Of course I can! I’ve got my own thoughts about that too, but there are more important things to worry about right now! 

Hajime: “More important things”...? 

Mitsuru: Yup! Y’know, I thought MM was supposed to be way more fun than this. 

Like how everyone is super stoked for the Mellow Dear Us and Valkyrie showdown. 

Just like that, we were excited too, thinking our showdown with Spri would get everyone around the world up on their feet cheering! 

But instead we’re at odds with each other, and our fans are getting anxious. Nobody wanted things to end up like this! 

Nazuna: Hmm~ But us being at odds can’t really be helped given the situation, right? 

It’s a showdown, that’s basically a fight in a way… 

Mitsuru: So it’s only natural to act so unfriendly because we’re competing? I don’t think so. 

Each side has to give it their all for it to be a real showdown! It’s important to push each other to do their absolute best! 

Above all else we should be aiming to put on the best performance, both Ra*bits and Spri, that’d make our fans happy too, wouldn’t it?

Nazuna: Geh. So that’s why you want us to help them even though they looked down on us… 

Esu: ...Huh?

(The “such a thing” from earlier, and now with him saying we “looked down” on them.) 

(Words I don’t know the reason for keep popping up, but I kinda feel like we’re being misunderstood in a bad light.) 

Excuse me~ …Sorry to interrupt, but do you mind if I ask something real quick? 

So the thing about us looking down on Ra*bits, what’s that all about…?

Nazuna: Hah? You of all people should know, or do you seriously expect me to believe you forgot, Esu-chin! 

We heard you were bragging about how you could beat us without breaking a sweat! 

That’s what you were thinking when you chose us as your opponents, wasn’t it? 

Esu: EHH!? Nonono, I would never say such a disrespectful thing… 

…Hm? Actually Yume did mention something along those lines back when he was sulking, didn’t he…? 

……….

—I am! So very incredibly sorryyyyyy!!!! 

Nazuna: If you’re apologizing, doesn’t that mean you’re admitting to your crimes!? 

Esu: Well y’see, about that actually, if you’d let me explain—what you heard was just a figure of speech, I swear! 

First of all, Yume was totally bluffing when he said we could easily beat you guys… Okay well, it is my fault for not being able to stop him from saying it! 

But it is true that I chose you guys as our opponents because I thought we could win against you, and for that I’m so terribly sorry!!!!

Raika: Since Esu-sama is kneelin’ then I’ll kneel too! ‘M so sorry! 

Tomoya: Wait—you don’t need to kneel for this! Please raise your heads! 

Esu: No can do! It’s the complete truth that we said something so rude and disrespectful about you, our seniors in Ra*bits! 

But I’d like to explain my reasoning a little. I did have a real, solid strategy to win and that’s why I picked you to be our opponents. 

I didn’t go around saying we’d win without anything to back it up. That’s all—poor excuse, I know! 

In any case, the fault lies completely with us for our insolence, so allow us to apologize once more! We fully and sincerely apologize!

Mitsuru: See everyone, Ni~chan too, Esu-chan apologized! 

Nazuna: Haah… Oh well. I guess I’ll accept your apology, out of consideration for Mitsuru-chin. 

But if I catch you talking smack behind our backs again, there won’t be a second time, y’hear me? 

Esu: Of course! I’ll make sure to thoroughly drill that into Yume’s head later too! 

Hajime: …Got it. I’ll also put what happened yesterday behind me. 

I mean, I’d also like to get along with everyone in Spri as much as possible… 

Mitsuru: Mhm, mhm! That’s the spirit, Hajime-chan! 

Nazuna: Haah… Well, for now, the question is how exactly are we gonna go about helping Spri? 

Tomoya: Agreed. Actually, what do you think about this, Esu? 

Mitsuru offered to help, but is that what you really want us to do? 

Esu: Well… Yes. If you’d be willing to help us, then I’d really appreciate it. 

If I’m being honest, I have absolutely no idea how we’d even go about winning against you guys. 

I’ve got my hands full enough as is getting my members in line… And as leader, I really want to do something about it.

You could also say the reason we suffered a total upset in the first round is partly on me for failing to bring them together… 

Tomoya: …Got it. In that case, we’ll chip in and give Spri a hand this time. 

Like I said earlier, we wouldn’t want the attention over MM to fall even lower. 

I want us to have a proper competition, one that’ll draw in attention from all over the world. 

And for that to happen, it’s absolutely vital for our rivals, for Spri, to do their very best. 

Esu: Thank you very much…! 

Hajime: Even so, what might be the best way to help Spri…? 

We did say we’d help, but we still wouldn’t want to do anything that would give them the advantage, would we? 

…Or, I wonder if that might just be the nasty side of me talking. 

Tomoya: No, that’s not it at all. I was thinking the same thing actually. 

I want us to help Spri, while also keeping the advantage towards Ra*bits. 

That being said, does such a convenient method even exist…?

Nazuna: Well, in that case, what if we held a joint practice session? 

I mean, the final round of MM involves us doing a joint performance to a predesignated song, right? 

Tomoya: Oh right! I forgot about that! 

If we’re doing a joint performance then it’s only natural we’d practice it together. 

Yeah, I like it! What about you Esu, does joint practice sound good to you? 

Esu: It's perfect! Since you're our seniors I’m sure we’ll be able to learn a lot from you!

We’ll learn as much as we can, and become rivals worthy of going up against Ra*bits! 

[ ☆ ]

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[sleepythefoxx]

Special for Princess! VS Ra*bits - Kokua - Chapter 1

Characters: Mitsuru, Raika

Translation: Sleepy

[ ♪ ]

Time: Several hours later

Location: A beach in Hawaii

Mitsuru: Dash~dash…! 

Ahaha☆ Running on the beach in Hawaii sure feels amazing~! 

Getting a change of scenery is so refreshing. That, and it’s the perfect way to exercise right after a meal! 

At the pace I’m goin’, it almost makes me wanna adventure out a bit further! 

I’d be in pretty big trouble if I got lost though, so I’ll just have to pass for now! I’d feel awful if I went missing and caused everyone to worry.

Hajime-chan especially, he’s already had a hard enough time today as is. 

(Hajime-chan is such an overthinker. Honestly, I just don’t get what it is he’s so worried about…) 

(Speaking of things I don’t get, our showdown with Spri is getting pretty confusing too…) 

(The vibes have been reeeeeally off ever since the end of the first round!) 

(Ni~chan and the others got all huffy about Spri, then over on SNS the fans have been arguing with each other like crazy…) 

(How’d things have to go and end up like this…?) 

(I thought it would be more exciting, I mean, it’s a world tour of all things! But everyone’s been on edge ever since it started, that’s no fun at all!) 

(I just wanted everyone to get along and have a blast together for our showdown…)

(I mean, it’s not like I don’t get why Ni~chan and the others are upset, y’know? Anyone would be angry after getting mocked like that—even me, I was furious.) 

(But when you look at it from Spri’s perspective, you can’t really fault them for going with someone they felt they could actually win against.) 

(That’s why… Umm~ I feel like I’m just going in circles for what I actually want to do about all this.) 

Jeez, I really wish they wouldn’t push me to use my brain this hard! 

Anyways, I gotta do something to fix this chilly atmosphere, stat! I want our showdown to be way more fun! 

But what do I need to do to make that happen…? 

(...Come to think of it, didn’t the ni~chan’s in Akatsuki help Crazy:B out when they got caught up in a controversy online, even though they were competitors?) 

(Although I think that whole thing turned out to be complete bogus…) 

Ah! In that case, maybe we should try calling up Spri to get a little closer with them…! 

Yup, yup, that’s it! I’m sure they’ll understand if we say loud and clear that we wanna get along with them! 

Now that that’s decided, I gotta ask Tomo-chan and everyone their thoughts— 

???: U…Uu…

Mitsuru: Uwah!? That startled me~... That voice… I think it came from the bushes over there? 

…No way, could it be a Hawaiian ghost!? 

Raika: …That voice, if ‘m not mistaken, isn’t that Mitsuru-oniisan? 

Mitsuru: Huh? So it wasn’t a ghost, it was actually just Raika-chan!? What are you doing, way out here? 

Raika: Ehihi, ‘m sorry… It’s ‘cause I’m as blind as a bird at night…

I was runnin’ around willy-nilly—not able to see a thing in front of me, an’ before I knew it, I ended up collapsin’ right here. 

Mitsuru: It’s really dangerous to walk around at night when you can’t see! Did Esu-chan or any of the other kids come with you? 

Raika: Aye, well, I wanted a breath of fresh air, an’ I really only meant to step out for a little bit, but… 

I was a little careless an’ completely forgot which way I came from… 

Uu… An’ I‘m just so hungry I don’t have the energy to walk anymore. 

Mitsuru: So that means you must’ve been wandering around out long enough to have completely missed dinner at the hotel, huh?

In that case, you can have this malasada pastry!

It came with dinner, and it was really yummy! 

Raika: D’ya really mean it!? Thank ya very much! 

Ehihi, I knew it, ya really are such a kind person, Mitsuru-oniisan♪

*Munch munch* Hyaa~~ this bread… It’s SO yummy~! 

Mitsuru: Ahaha! Feeding you bread like this kinda reminds me of the first time we met! 

At that time I found you collapsed on the side of the road and fed you some bread to get you back on your feet, right?*

Raika: Aye, an’ I’ve never forgotten your kindness since! 

If ya hadn’t saved me back then, Mitsuru-oniisan, then I might not have been here right now. 

An’ also all those other times ya helped me after that… 

Now that I’m thinkin’ about it, you’re always savin’ me, aren’tcha…? I feel like I‘m always causin’ ya nothin’ but trouble. 

Mitsuru: Nuh-uh, don’t even worry about it. It’s only natural to help a friend in need, don’tcha think? 

In fact, whenever you’re feeling hungry, you can always count on me to give you some bread! 

Raika: Mitsuru-oniisan… Thank ya very much! 

I’d be so happy if I could return the favor to you too someday. 

I might have a bit of trouble though, since I’m still so inexperienced. Even now, since I can’t do a single thing to help Yume-san… 

Mitsuru: Did something happen with Yume-chan? 

Raika: Uhh… I wonder how I should explain it…? 

Uh, Spri is havin' a lotta trouble at the moment…

Especially Yume-san… He’s been locked up in his room ever since yesterday.

Mitsuru: Yume-chan has? Is that because you guys lost the first round? 

Raika: ‘M not sure… It’s just, whatever it is, it’s makin’ me really worried about him. 

An’ then Esu-sama has been pullin’ his hair out, thinkin’ about what we should do from here on out to win MM… 

I don’t have any idea about what to do either… 

Mitsuru: So basically you went outside to get some fresh air, thinking you’d come up with a good idea while you’re at it, and got lost in the process?

Raika: That’s exactly it! Ehihi, you’re real smart, aren’tcha Mitsuru-oniisan? 

Mitsuru: Heheh! That’s ‘cause I’m a big ol’ grownup. It’s only natural for grownups to be able to figure out this much! 

But… Gotcha. So you guys are anxious over on your end too, huh? 

Raika: Aye… An’ to be honest, I just can’t think of anythin’ at all… 

What in the world are we supposed to do from now on…? 

I just wanted to sing an’ dance an’ have fun together with everyone in Spri durin’ the world tour… 

Mitsuru: …I see. So you felt that way too, huh Raika? 

I got it, in that case I’ve got a great idea! 

Raika: R-really!? 

Mitsuru: Yup, just leave it to me! ‘Cause I also wanna have a fun showdown with you guys too!

But for now we gotta get everyone else on board! Let’s go, Raika-chan! 

[ ☆ ]

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TL NOTE:

The title of this chapter "Kokua" means to provide assistance, working together!

From chapter 1 of VS Gourmet, also Raika's first appearance in story.

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