mireiarchive

JP & EN proofer : royalquintet, iridesenescence

Season : ⭐

Outer Space

Rinne: *pant*...*pant*...

Well damn, I’m just about screwed in a two-against-one…

Hokuto: Why don’t you just surrender? Even if we continue fighting, you have no chance of winning

Rinne: Yeah yeah, I get it. So this is as far as my luck takes me, huh. Fine, I give u―

Juuust kidding! Crafty lil’ Rinne-kyun still has a trump card hidden up his sleeve!

Hokuto: An electromagnetic pulse?!

Tsukasa: This is bad, Hidaka-senpai! That device is jamming our signals! He's planning on disabling our radars so he can escape!

Hokuto: Like hell I'll let him escape―

Rinne: Kyahaha! I ain't stickin' around to fight a losing battle -- time to hightail it! When even the goddess of luck has abandoned me, it’s time to be a good lil’ boy and retreat!

Urgh…?!

Wh-What was that? The attack just now…! Somethin' came from my blind spot!

Oh hell! The rocket booster's busted…!

Hokuto: What was that beam…?

Tsukasa: Look over there! Several battleships are approaching us!

Eichi: It appears that I have made it in time.

Hokuto: Tenshouin-senpai…?

Eichi: You’ve both done wonderful work, Hokuto, Tsukasa-kun.

Hokuto: I’m seeing a lot of enormous space battleships―just what is this fleet for?

Eichi: Fufu. This is my private military force that I had prepared in case of emergency.

I prepared this in secret, just in case I needed to get rid of hindrances like you all. 

An explosion at the docks turned into a battle, and now you’re all weakened after fighting amongst each other. With a plan like this, it'll be easy enough to eliminate all three of you at once. ♪ 

Hokuto: What…?

Tsukasa: What did you just say, Onii-sama? It sounded like you wanted to shoot us down―I don't believe this electromagnetic pulse would interfere with our transmission, though?

Eichi: You appear confused, but this is your fault, you know. You have questioned the perfect system―the new DreamFes.

Such defective elements must be eliminated as quickly as possible.

Hokuto: What? You're gonna eliminate us over a reason like that…?

That’s tyranny!

Tsukasa: As Hidaka-senpai says. In the first place, there are only a small number of us managing our district, correct? If we purge people for a simple difference in ideas, we will meet our ruin before long.

Eichi: Fufufu. I find absolutely no issue with it.

From the moment you stepped aboard the spaceship, I had already stored the data of your memory.

And not only that—I hold the key to cloning technology in my hands.

Even if your bodies were to be destroyed, I can simply replace them and transplant the stored memories from when you first awakened.

In fact, Hokuto… this body is your fifth.

Hokuto: That’s ridiculous. Are you saying that I am just a clone with relocated memories…?

Rinne: … Yeah, this guy ain’t bluffin’. Y'see, I unfortunately stumbled on the secrets of the ES Space Plan.

So I made a decision. I would steal the new mobile suit from the dock so I can kill all the masterminds.

The first step to that is wreckin’ up this sheltered paradise producing fakeass idols. If I take control of the Space Colony and throw you into the void beyond, we'll have peace again for sure.

Sorry to involve you in all this, but this is why I took down your partners in the first place.

Heh, I might not look it, but I know how to rule ♪ 

At the very least, I’d make the world a better place than it is under those who’re just tryin’ to take advantage of idols! Don't you think so?

Hokuto: …

Eichi: Which is justice and which is evil―perhaps you are confused?

Try thinking clearly about it for a moment. Essentially, it is important for people who have crossed over to the final frontier to work together under the common goal of pioneering.

Otherwise, it would only be natural for our efforts to taper off with petty disputes.

However, in the end, humans have always been self-serving creatures. Perhaps the stress of life in space leads you to label the new DreamFes as cruel and to romanticize the old days.

Thus I have prepared the reset button for you in advance. No matter how the situation changes, it can restore you to your original, ideal state.

Hokuto: So that’s what clone technology is meant for…!

Eichi: Yes. We call it cryosleep; with this, we can continuously produce idols with their memories and experiences completely set back to default.

And this is how we can constantly supply new idols for DreamFes.

The eternal idols who neither age nor die—these are the beings I have created.

Well then, let’s ask this generation’s Hokuto a question.

You've discovered the secret behind idols, and you also learned that you are but a component in a system where idols can be replaced. 

Of course, this is true for me as well. If you were to kill me here, no doubt the second and the third Tenshouin Eichi will appear as clones.

Behind the dream lurks a bloody reality. 

Now that your idol dreams have been shattered, what reason do you have to continue fighting?

Hokuto: …

(So this is the truth. I’m sure even Akehoshi has already been…)

(We are merely clones, nothing but disposable beings… Under such circumstances, it’s true that fighting might be meaningless…)

(But then... What is this anger? Why does my blood feel like it's boiling…?)

(Ah, I see now. I am angry for Hidaka Hokuto and his partners who died as gears in this system.)

(...For those who were being used as idols without knowing the truth.)

...Gh!

You want a "reason"? I have mine right here!

Eichi: That necklace...

Hokuto: This is the evidence of who we are. You might say we're clones, but the past that we went through hasn't changed.

Tricktsar still exists inside of me―inside of us.

Tenshouin-senpai, you are the root of this evil that I will defeat.

… Prince Star, to battle!

Tsukasa: Rinne-senpai, I will judge the good and evil in your actions later. For now, let us join hands in combat!

Rinne: Hell yeah! Gotta protect my pride as a chief!

Eichi: Fufu, to engage in reckless battle in the name of revolution―it seems none of you have changed at all. 

Eichi 2.0, Eichi 3.0, it is your turn now.

Eichi 2.0: Finally my time has come, 1.0.

Eichi 3.0: As long as we—Tenshouin Eichi—are here, purging the rebels is an easy task.

Hokuto: Huh. So by cloning yourself, you’re trying to gain eternal life, Tenshouin-senpai?

I will defeat you and become a real idol…! 

[Real Life]

Star Maker Production ES Office

[ Hokuto wakes up]

Hokuto: ...Ah!

...What? ...Oh, a dream? That was one hell of a nightmare.

Eichi: Hello there, Hokuto. Seeing you napping in the agency is quite the rare sight. You must've been very tired.

I didn't want to wake you, so I waited here―did you have a nightmare, perhaps?

Hokuto: Whoa?! T-Tenshouin-senpai…

How many bodies have you been through?

Eichi: Hm? I really don’t get what you’re talking about…

Ah... Was your dream perhaps related to the script in your hand?

“The Threepenny Space Opera (tentative)"¹, huh… So Dramatica is doing a Sci-Fi stage play?

Hokuto: No, it is only one of the options for our next production. It might be difficult, considering our budget, though.

Eichi: If money is an issue, might I offer to sponsor? I was just thinking that I’d like to watch a show directed by Wataru.

Hokuto: Please don’t. Nothing good will come out of sponsoring him. Not to mention, getting a personal sponsor for a circle activity doesn’t feel right.

But I am grateful, Tenshouin-senpai.

Eichi: Hm? What for?

Hokuto: Nothing, just... I've realized we are so blessed here.

We're able to be whatever kind of idol we please in ES. I just wanted to thank you for that.

Eichi: Fufu. That's very unlike you. Also, it's quite embarrassing to be told that face-to-face.

The establishment of ES has jump-started a new phase in the idol industry. We’ll be even busier from now on, Hokuto.

Hokuto: Right, bring it on. We'll never stop moving forward.

As long as the fans are still there for us―I will continue to be an idol.

END

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NOTE :

¹ The title of the Dramatica play (スペース三文オペラ) seems to be taken from The Threepenny Opera(insert link) (三文オペラ in Japanese). Interestingly, the wiki article mentions that the original opera was written to be a "beggar's" opera in contrast with opera's traditionally aristocratic origins, and that the plotline is a criticism of a capitalist world.

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.