JP & EN proofer : royalquintet, iridesenescence

Season : ⭐

Spaceship Control Room

Shu: It seems like that jarring alarm has died down at last.

Rei: Yeah. Such a violent jolt and dissonant noises are tough on these old bones.

Honestly, to think that the reason for our first meeting in a long time is an explosion incident… Really, what is this world coming to?

Tsukasa: Yes, indeed… I am truly fed up with this.

Putting that aside, however, we must commence our discussion immediately. We cannot afford to rest knowing an explosion has breached this Space Colony.

Rei: But the representative of Starpro has yet to come. We can't begin our discussion without Tenshouin-kun.

Shu: It's him who is late. I have no qualms about leaving him out.

If his karma has dragged him into an incident, then it would be a perfect excuse for his tardiness, after all.

Rei: Such an ill-omened statement is hardly necessary, Itsuki-kun.

Haven't you also been taking the opportunity to cooperate with Tenshouin-kun through our advancement into space?

Shu: NON! ES' goals simply happen to align with my own; I have absolutely no intention of getting along with him!

...Nothing will come of our meaningless chatter. Let's proceed to discuss the main topic and fill Starpro in afterward.

Let me get straight to the point. There is a traitor among us idols who reside within this ES Space Colony.

Tsukasa: Among us Idols…?

Shu: Yes. That's the reason we have gathered for this emergency meeting. I propose that we lock down the Space Colony to conduct an investigation and search for the culprit.

Rei: Hm. I think that's quite a hasty move. Itsuki-kun, I would like to know why you are so certain that the culprit is amongst us idols.

According to the reports, the explosion happened in the hangar where the robots are kept. It is entirely possible that a staff member caused the explosion by accident while performing maintenance on the robot.

Shu: That's far too optimistic. I cannot say I agree with your thinking.

Especially in this stressful environment of space where idols' fatigue only increases by the day...

Destroying the mobile suits would mean they no longer have to fight—I see this as a strong motive for causing an explosion.

In fact, with the pressure to constantly participate in DreamFes weighing heavily on us, there's simply no time for the birth of new culture or art.

Rei, I'm certain you know of the many idols who ran away because they couldn't stand that any longer?

Tsukasa: I am also… quite perplexed by the Gap between the ideals I once heard of and the reality we are living in.

Akehoshi-senpai, the members of Crazy:B—they were just some among many Idols… who took combat lessons as an opportunity to flee into outer space.

It's possible that those who felt Stressed in the same way began to harbor thoughts of revolt.

Shu: Yes. I have no doubt that the culprit behind this incident is someone with a deep resentment for the ES space plan. If we don't catch them immediately, we risk having a second or even third incident on our hands.

That's all I wanted to say. Are there any objections?

Rei: I see. I can see the logic behind your reasoning, Itsuki-kun.

However, jumping to conclusions is quite an issue as well. Would it not be wiser to perform a careful investigation of the explosion in the hangar first?

Shu: Non. one like you always insists on taking things lightly..

I won't allow you to say you’ve forgotten about what happened to the Five Eccentrics. Do you not care that we may end up repeating the same mistake like back then?

Before it comes to that, we should lock down this Space Colony immediately and search for the culprit.

Unless, perhaps, you actually have something to hide?

Rei: Kukuku. I wonder, do you see me as the traitorous bat from the folk tale?¹ It's quite upsetting to hear that you suspect me of changing sides and cooperating with Tenshouin-kun instead.

The tale of the Five Eccentrics is an old story. While I'm aware you might find discomfort in a situation as unpredictable as this, it's imperative that you wait.  

There are always two sides to a coin. Which is to say, we can't make decisions simply based on speculation alone.

We are but a group of voyagers traversing through outer space. If we allow our suspicions to run wild without checking the incident site first, it will put us on the path of ruin.

Shu: Good grief… I'd completely forgotten that humanity's space venture was born from mere competitiveness.

Wanting to surpass other countries, wanting to serve one’s nation… With the world revolving around such ideologies, there is nowhere for freedom and culture to go.

It is constrained and suffocating.

Suou, Rei. Let's go to the hangar and investigate now.

Tsukasa: Understood…!

Still, letting the culprit run loose leaves me uneasy. 

Shu: I share your sentiments. But if Rei insists on being careful, we have to find evidence before locking down the Colony. 

Eichi: Everyone, apologies for being late. I hate to cut the conversation short, but I've just finished investigating the hangar.

Shu: Tenshouin. 

I thought you were late but it seems you were merely gaining a head start. I must say, I'm rather unimpressed. 

Eichi: "Gaining a head start" sounds terribly unflattering. This is an emergency. I simply decided to prioritize the investigation.

Until just a while ago, I was with Saegusa-kun investigating surveillance footage.

This is what was shown in the video. A mobile suit of unknown affiliation infiltrating the hangar and setting off explosives.

Also from there, we learned that Tsukinaga-kun, who was in Knights' mobile suit at the time, has fallen into a comatose state. We immediately brought him to the sickbay.

Tsukasa: Leo-san, you said…!?

Eichi: Yes. It appears that Tsukinaga-kun was composing there, to his misfortune. Because he left the cockpit hatch open, he bore the brunt of the explosion.

Tsukasa: It can't be…!

I can't believe this, Leo-san…

Eichi: I was also surprised by this sudden occurrence. I'm about to dispatch Hokuto to pursue the mobile suit that had infiltrated the hangar.

It's been one hour since the incident… A capable idol should have no problems catching up to the culprit.

Hokuto. Do you hear me loud and clear? 

Spaceship Hallways

Hokuto: …Yes. The maintenance for the robot has finished. Just give the signal; I can take off at any time.

No matter their reason, I will never forgive anyone who brings harm to idols. With Prince Star, I will charge in and shoot down that mysterious mobile suit.

Eichi: I'm counting on you, Hokuto. 

Hokuto: Yes. You can entrust the rest to me, Tenshouin-senpai.

After all, I am an idol who shoulders humanity's hopes.

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Note :

• ¹A reference to the bat in the Aesop's 55 Fable "The Bat, Birds, and The Beasts" the Japanese version is slightly different from English version as it implies that the bat was actively selling out each side to the other and is hated by both the birds and beasts in the end.