rubestie | Entries tagged with ibara

Season: Winter

Writer: Haruka Kanata

Characters: Adonis, Kaoru, Nagisa, Ibara

Adonis: I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, Hakaze-senpai.

adonis+kaoru

Kaoru: Don’t be. I only just arrived myself, so don’t worry about it. And I was the one who asked you to come here all of a sudden, Adonis-kun.

Ah, would you like a cup of tea? If you’re thirsty, I can whip you up some coffee or whatever you want.

Adonis: No, I’m fine. Rather than that, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?

It must be of great importance since Hakaze-senpai went out of your way to ask me here. I won’t be able to calm down until I hear what it is.

Kaoru: Ahaha. You don’t have to get so nervous about it. Here, relax, relax ♪

But well, if you’re that curious then I’ll get straight to the point.

Adonis-kun, do you want to try being an MC on a talk show?

Adonis: …Me, as the MC of a talk show? Are you sure you have the right person?

Kaoru: Well, I kinda foresaw that reaction. Let me fill you in on the detailed information first.

I received an offer to participate in this program; it’s a talk show where two idols get together to have a conversation.

Adonis: If you were given the offer, then I feel it would be best if you were the one to accept it, though…

Kaoru: Yeah, normally I would’ve done just that, but the recording date for this show overlaps with another job I have scheduled.

I obviously can’t change the details for that job at this point, and it seems like the talk show would prefer not to change their recording date either.

So I contacted them to decline their offer, but then they asked me to please tell them if I had any ideas for a replacement.

Adonis: I see. So Hakaze-senpai nominated me as his replacement…

But, Hakaze-senpai, you’re well aware I’m not very good at talking. I can’t imagine I’ll be a very good replacement.

Kaoru: I know you don’t feel confident about talking. So I’m not planning on forcing you to participate.

However, now that Adonis-kun has appeared on lots of shows with all of us, I think you’ve gotten well used to that environment.

I think it’s worth trying this out, and maybe it’ll help you gain some confidence in your talking.

Why not consider this as an opportunity to grow and give it a try?

Adonis: I’m happy to be given an opportunity to grow, but… should I really take on a job with that kind of mindset?

Kaoru: It’s fine. I asked them beforehand if the job was suited even for kids who aren’t good at talking, and they said it was okay.

So, the rest depends on what you want to do, Adonis-kun. If you really don’t want to, then I’ll turn them down. How about it?

Adonis: …

…I always felt like it would be a problem for me to feel insecure about talking forever.

So now that I’ve been given a chance to overcome that, I’d like to challenge it.

Kaoru: Okie, I got it. Well then, I’ll let the staff know it’s official.

Please do your best, okay, Adonis-kun ♪

<Meanwhile, in the CosPro office>

nagisa

Nagisa: …I see. So Ibara needs to find a replacement for that talk show.

Ibara: Yes. Eve are currently preoccupied with another job they cannot step away from, so I had no choice but to decline the offer when it came for His Highness Hiyori.

I also had the option of providing a replacement, so the choice came down to either one of us in Adam. I would have preferred to take this on myself, but…

I’m busy with various producing jobs as of right now, so it would be difficult for me to manage everything on my own. Which means…

Nagisa: …Which means I’m the only candidate remaining.

Ibara: However, I must admit I am worried about whether or not it would be fine to send your Excellency on your own to a job that requires as much flexibility as a talk show.

Nagisa: …I guess Ibara can’t help but worry when I’m alone.

Ibara: No, no, I have absolute confidence in your Excellency’s abilities.

As long as we prepare ourselves fully beforehand, we are sure to be able to achieve a complete victory on any battlefield. Ahaha ♪

Nagisa: …In other words, this is a special case where we won’t be able to prepare ourselves sufficiently?

Ibara: …My oh my, I must admire your Excellency’s keen insight. You are absolutely correct.

There are many elements involved this time that are difficult to predict. For example, your partner.

As of right now, I’ve heard that Hakaze-shi from RhyLin has been invited to participate. However, it seems like there might be some scheduling issues on their part as well.

There is the chance that they will need to find a replacement for him, just as we have. And in that case, it is a mystery who your partner will be.

Personally, I believe your Excellency will be able to control the situation sufficiently even without relying on a script…

However, depending on who the other MC ends up being, there is a chance that they will attack us if we let our guards down. I would feel more at ease if we took certain precautions this time around.

Having said all that, as long as we don’t know who our enemy is, it’s impossible to come up with a precise plan of action…

Nagisa: …Does that mean you’re planning on declining the offer, Ibara?

Ibara: I would certainly prefer to accept if at all possible…

Our current strategy is one of persistent promotion of Eden’s existence through various media channels.

Which is why I want to accept as many offers as possible that will allow us to inform the world about Eden’s existence.

Nagisa: …By which you mean that this show is a part of your strategy.

…If that’s so, then I’ll take it.

Ibara: You will? But your Excellency. Are you sure you will be okay on your own?

Nagisa: …I just have to do the things I would normally do with Ibara on my own. If that’s all then I think I will be fine alone.

Ibara: Admittedly, that is a correct assessment of the situation. This time, it would be difficult for me to even show up at the recording site, you know?

Nagisa: …I know. Even then, you’ve judged this to be a job worth taking.

…That’s why you said you wanted to accept this job if at all possible. Or am I wrong?

Ibara: No, your Excellency is absolutely right.

Nagisa: …If that is so, then Ibara just needs to ask me once. Do that, and I’ll work hard for Ibara’s sake.

Ibara: …I understand. Well then, I will leave this case to you, your Excellency.

Now, thanks to your Excellency’s confident words, I was able to make this decision. Well then, I am counting on you.

nagisa+ibara

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Scout! Your Yorishiro:
"Nagisa is given a job as the MC of a talk show. Alongside his co-host Adonis, he will be receiving viewers' worries and giving out advice. The two decide to practice before recording the show, but..."

Writer: Haruka Kanata
Season: Winter
Characters: Nagisa, Adonis, Kaoru, Natsume, Ibara, Tsumugi, Sora, Hiyori

Chapters:

Trouble talking 1

Trouble talking 2

Trouble talking 3

Trouble talking 4

Trouble talking 5

Trouble talking 6

Season: Winter

Writer: Akira

Characters: Ibara, Madara

Ibara: I’ll leave it to you, Suou-shi.

All the employees of my private security company, myself included, are being kept away from the filming location.

I am currently taking your call at an airport far removed from your location.

I chose to stay at the airport so that if something was to happen, I would quickly be able to arrange an airplane and travel to your location.

After all, it would be impossible for me to rush straight to the scene in no time like an ally of justice in a tokusatsu show would.

Whether or not we can successfully save J-san depends entirely on those of you who are present at the scene.

However, Suou-shi, you should avoid moving about carelessly. Originally, you were also supposed to heed the culprit’s demands and stay away from the scene.

If you were to be discovered, there is a chance the culprit could enact punishment on us for breaking our promise to him. Additionally, there is no guaranteeing your own safety.

It appears that members of the Oukawa family are currently disguised as you, so the culprit shouldn’t be able to easily discover your actual whereabouts. However, we cannot be certain that our plans will succeed.

However, it is a great help for us as well if you are able to stay close to the filming site and provide us with information. This case is still awfully suspicious in my eyes.

I can’t help but suspect that there is a traitor among us, so I’m grateful to have a trustworthy person like yourself watching the scene for me.

Yes. I fear there may be enemies of ours lurking both within my security company as well as within the Oukawa family.

J-san’s kidnapping was too unnatural, so I cannot help but suspect even our closest allies. I have no proof, and all of this is simply based on my instincts-

However, Suou-shi. Unlike me, you are not a person who tells lies. This is a praiseworthy quality, I regard you as a sincere and honest person who doesn’t scheme or plot.

That is why I can be absolutely certain there is no possibility of you being a traitor.

It is important to have one such as you close to the site as my source of information.

Yes. Of course, you are free to be as suspicious of me as you’d like.

My being at the airport could have been a lie, and I might be hiding close to the filming location and scheming intrigue as we speak.

Fufu. That is not possible, you say? And what makes you say that?

Yes, you are right.

Rather than betraying you now and winning this battle, it would holistically be better to prove myself as your ally now to gain your trust and win the war.

I am a businessman. I make the necessary decisions for my investments. Even if my personality is untrustworthy, you trust my business sense, is that it?

Thank you so much, that is the greatest compliment I can receive.

Yes. If possible, please keep relying on my business ♪

…Oh, there is movement on-scene, you say? Understood. I would appreciate it if you could keep me regularly updated on the situation.

Even if I am far removed from the site, I have methods of taking action available. Yes, yes, thank you for everything.

Yes. Well then, I’ll excuse myself for now.

-Fufu. What an adorable person. It really is a good thing, the sight of a helpless child growing stronger.

This is the perfect entertainment. This is exactly why parenting programs and tear-jerking home dramas will always be popular.

Even while unconsciously looking down on and ridiculing these helpless children, adults can pretend to be good people when praising their growth.

It is the same as keeping small animals as pets while posting videos and making fun of them online. It is a pastime of the privileged to look down at foolishly weak creatures from up high and simultaneously admire them.

We hide away our unconscious biases by disguising them as good-natured. Thus we are able to keep consuming entertainment that treats people’s lives as toys while maintaining the lie that we are good people.

Aah, how entertaining! I truly am glad to be such an awful person!

Madara: -Welcome.

So you are the kidnapper, huh.

Yeah. We’re in the middle of filming, so I shouldn’t be calling you that. I get it, I get it. I spoke out of reach of the mic just now, so please don’t worry.

Yes. The sound of the helicopter you rode here should drown out the sound of our voices anyhow.

Hahaha. This is truly a glorious spectacle, huh? So the reason why you went as far as to rent out a luxury hotel rooftop like this is so you could arrive at the scene in that helicopter, is it?

And this way, even if we broke our promise and stationed soldiers inside the hotel, it’s no problem for you.

Of course, we didn’t break our promise. But like this, the chance of you getting captured before we can complete our “exchange” greatly decreases.

Of course, there’s always the danger of sniping rifles, but you’ve attached explosives to your helicopter.

If someone tried to shoot you without being careful, it would be a catastrophe. Even if they managed to eliminate you, both me and J would also be blown away in the following explosion. Since we are pretending to be the good guys, there’s no way we would want to cause such a tragedy.

That’s your reasoning behind this, isn’t it, uhm, what exactly should I call you?

Since it seems like you are GFK’s successor, why don’t I call you GFK II?

Yeah. Of course I’ve done some research into you.

You gave us your name without trying to hide anything, after all. Heading to the meeting spot without doing any research on the other party would just be foolish.

A child’s life is at stake here. It’s a given that we’d prepare ourselves as well as possible.

There is no blood connection between you and GFK. You were simply picked up by GFK and entrusted one of the companies he managed. You were mere strangers.

You should have been satisfied just with taking over that company. But you are as greedy as GFK was, so you ended up wanting more.

And that’s how you came to target J, who was set to inherit GFK’s fortune.

Even though the underworld tried putting a lid on all of this, your greed made you go and open that lid in search of money, huh?

What really takes the cake, though, is that our culprit ended up being some weirdo whose name was never even mentioned until now.

It’s too boring to be featured in any sort of story, but I guess there’s an element of realism to all of this.

You want money. Yup, that’s a motive everyone can accept.

Actually, it came as a relief to me. If your goal had been to enact revenge on us for erasing GFK, then there would have been no reason for you to keep J alive.

But since you’re only after the inheritance, you couldn’t let the recipient of that inheritance - J - die. At least not for now.

Ah, it’s okay. Rest assured. We will meet your demands fully. At the very least I have absolutely no interest in GFK’s fortune.

The only thing I care about is J’s life. If you will give him back to us, then we will give you all the money you could want.

However. If you went back on your promise and we find even a single scratch on J’s skin.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking you would leave here alive.

Yes. All right, it seems you’ve brought J here as promised. He seems to be restrained so he can’t move, but I can see his usual energetic self inside of the helicopter.

You must’ve had a hard time dealing with that kid. After all, he might look all cute on the outside, but on the inside, he is a proper monster.

You’d have to be on our level to be able to handle someone like him.

You’ve probably had that lesson drilled into you by now, so why don’t you try reconsidering this plan of yours? You don’t feel like it? Hmm?

madara

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Season: Winter

Writer: Akira

Characters: Madara, Ibara, Tsukasa, Kohaku

Madara: I tried asking my sister for information.

She wasn’t able to provide much valuable information, though. She claims she caught the cold that’s been going around, so she was sent to the same hospital as J for a check-up.

Once she heard that J was in the same hospital, she apparently went by his hospital room to say hello.

She was acquainted with J already, so this far her story checks out.

Once she got to J’s room, she ran into the kidnapper, who forcefully tied her up and left her under the futon.

Tsukasa: That’s some awful timing and luck there.

Madara: Almost suspiciously bad. It’s also puzzling that my sister was sent all the way to that hospital from her rehabilitation center just for a check-up.

Apparently she had left her rehab center because she got permission to come attend a Ra*bits live, since she has become a big fan of theirs lately.

She then caught the cold from the crowd while at that live. And that’s why she came to that hospital, which was close to the live venue, to be examined.

Tsukasa: It makes sense to me. Whatever are you suspicious about, Mikejima-senpai?

Madara: Tsukasa-san doesn’t know how black-hearted my sister can be, after all… She usually only becomes proactive like this when she’s plotting something bad-natured.

Tsukasa: You should try to trust your sister a little more. You are family, no?

Madara: Pointing out that she's related to me is actually just providing another reason to be suspicious of her, you know?

Ibara: So Mikejima-shi is suspicious of his sister, is that so?

Madara: There are no other suspects available. I can’t wrap my head around how the bad guys suddenly showed up out of nowhere when we haven’t heard anything from them ever since the show became popular.

Kohaku: Ain’t that because the bad guys heard I was leavin’ the show and thought they could kidnap J now that the protection surroundin’ him was lighter?

Madara: Our falling out should have eliminated the “anxiety” plaguing the people of the underworld, though.

All the less reason for that faction of people to go out of their way and risk their skins to kidnap J.

Simultaneously, J’s rise in fame meant there was less reason for people not related to the underworld to risk going after him.

We created that show so he would gain fame to increase his safety, after all.

Kohaku: That way, even if someone kidnapped J and brainwashed ‘im ta give them the inheritance, the loads of people who watch the show would notice the unnaturalness of the situation.

The public’s suspicions would lead the authorities ta launch an investigation, and the culprit would likely be destroyed.

That was all part of our plans, after all. I see, when ya consider all of that-

It should be impossible fer there ta be any villains targetin’ J at this timin’.

Of course, there are always idiots who don’t think things through before actin’, but this crime is too well thought out fer the culprit ta be some common idiot.

Tsukasa: Hm. When you put it that way, the case certainly becomes illogical. Too many facts don’t match up, and the culprit’s actions make no sense.

Ibara: That being said, there is also no reason for Mikejima-shi’s sister to want to kidnap J-san.

Kohaku: I agree with ya on that. My eldest sister is skilled at interrogatin’, so I asked her ta help us talk ta Maguro-han just in case.

And based on what my sister said, Maguro-han is innocent. She shouldn’t’ve been able ta lie well enough ta deceive my sister.

kohaku+madara

Madara: Still though. If my sister didn’t do it, then who exactly could have kidnapped J?

Ibara: Well. In cases like this, we have no other course of action available to us except waiting patiently for the kidnapper to contact us.

If the culprit is aiming for J’s inheritance from GFK, then there is no reason for them to contact us, however.

They could just keep J-san hidden somewhere and take their time to brainwash him, after all.

Tsukasa: Wouldn’t brainwashing be pointless now that the public is able to notice if J-san starts acting unnaturally?

Ibara: Indeed. This is just speculation, but it might be that the culprits of this case have managed to find a way to circumvent that problem.

-Oops, excuse me. I have a call on my work phone. You’ll have to forgive me, but even with the situation as it is, I cannot afford to neglect my normal responsibilities.

Kohaku: Ah, it’s fine. There’s nothin’ ya can do ta help right now, so ya should focus on yer job.

Madara: That’s true. It can’t be helped, Ibara-san is a very busy businessman after all.

Ibara: I can feel a certain amount of sarcasm flowing through your words…

I would appreciate it if you all could understand that having J-san kidnapped while under my protection has hurt my pride considerably.

Well, I’ll let it slide. As punishment for being unable to fulfill the duties expected of me in this case, I’ll gracefully allow you to take out your anger at me.

-Ah, yes. Hello. Sorry to keep you waiting.

…Huh?

Is this a joke? Are you serious?

Kohaku: D, did somethin’ happen? They say that misfortune seldom comes alone, after all, did somethin’ more go wrong?

Ibara: -That was the kidnapper on the phone just now.

Kohaku: Aah?

Madara: Wh, what are you saying? Did they call to demand a ransom or something?

Ibara: No. This is honestly entirely baffling.

It seems the kidnapper wants for you, Double Face, to appear on a “certain program”.

Kohaku: Wh, what’s that supposed ta mean… Double Face is supposed ta have announced our disbandment ta the public, so why on earth’s this person callin’ ta ask us ta appear on a show?

And what’s more, the kidnapper’s the one askin’? What does all this mean, really?

Ibara: Please quiet down. I’ll ask for more details.

Ah… I see, I see.

It appears that our current enemy is a much more intelligent criminal than we had expected… I would’ve never guessed they would try something like this.

Madara: …?

madara

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Season: Winter

Writer: Akira

Characters: Ibara, Madara, Kohaku, Tsukasa

Ibara: Yes. Putting J-san aside, Oukawa-shi is currently a member of one of the top earners for us at CosPro, Crazy:B.

It would be convenient for us if you, who are affiliated with a different agency, could take on all of the responsibility.

Anzu-san might get angry with you again, if you keep up this self-sacrificing habit of yours.

I prefer to consider the situation from a business-like perspective, however, and I insist on respecting your wishes.

Returning to the problem at hand, I’ll repeat my previous questions. What do you want to do? Do you want to cancel the show? Or would you like to continue?

Madara: …I’m not qualified to make that decision. Or rather, this isn’t something we should decide on our own.

J should decide. The most important thing is what he wants to do.

I’ve kept making mistakes because I never took that into consideration, or even thought about it.

At this point I’ve reflected on my own behavior, and want to do what’s right, this time for sure.

Ibara: …All villains are destined to be defeated by the allies of justice.

Villains can’t reflect on themselves, reform their ideology, and be reborn as an ally of justice.

You see it happen sometimes in Buddhist stories and old shounen manga, but reality is not that kind.

In “my” eyes, you look almost laughably much like you’re suffocating right now now*.

Madara: …

Madara: -J, how are you feeling?

Hahaha. I bet you’re surprised. I was kicked out of the hospital room earlier because the staff didn’t want me catching your cold, but there are many convenient ways to sneak into places.

Though I guess that also means any villains targeting you would have an equally easy time sneaking in here, so it’s not very good.

It might be better if we moved you to a hospital with a little more security if you’re gonna stay hospitalized. Like the hospital where my sister is receiving treatment, that place is specifically made to treat members of the police force.

…J? What’s wrong, you’re not saying anything.

Are you sleeping? Did they give you the kind of cold medicine that makes you sleepy?

(-No, that’s not it. There’s clearly someone under the futon, but even if J was to pull the futon all the way over his head, this still doesn’t look like J’s body.)

(J is too small and thin for his age, but even considering that this futon looks overly large on him.)

-J!

…!? Eh, why are you here? What’s going on?

Kohaku: Madara-ha~n!

Where’s J? Is he okay? Argh, I don’t even know what ta say, how could somethin’ happen ta J when y’all were together?

Madara: …Kohaku-san.

Kohaku: Wh, what’s wrong? Ya look so pale, is J’s condition really that bad?

Wait, what’s goin’ on in here? That’s yer sister, Maguro-han, ain’t it? Why’s she bound up in the bed like that?

What are the two of ya doin’, really?

Madara: You know, I don’t have the slightest clue myself-

J was supposed to be asleep in that bed, but when I moved the futon my sister was bound up there in his place.

J has disappeared somewhere.

Kohaku: …

Ibara: -It seems like someone took advantage of the disturbance caused by J-san collapsing.

I was busy contacting everyone involved in the program, and even Mikejima-shi was uncharacteristically obedient and left the hospital when asked to by the doctors.

To rebel against the doctor’s instructions when at the hospital would not only be pointless, but could even be harmful, after all. There was nothing else he could have done.

There was nothing Mikejima-shi could do for J-san while he was sick, so even though he was worried for J-san he had no choice but to leave the hospital room.

However, some scoundrel took advantage of that momentary gap in our security. He colluded with a fake doctor to get inside the hospital room, after which he swiftly kidnapped J and escaped through a back entrance.

In this way, J-san ended up stolen from us.

Tsukasa: Are we pursuing the kidnapper?

Ibara: Of course, I quickly mobilized my private forces and sent them in pursuit.

The kidnapper is a professional. There were almost no traces left in the room after the kidnapping, and the surveillance cameras both inside the hospital and in the nearby areas had been disabled aforehand. Honestly speaking, tracking him will be extremely difficult.

They’ve completely defeated us. The whole case was almost suspiciously well executed.

J-san’s sudden collapse should have been a completely unexpected occurrence for everyone.

And yet. J-san collapsed, was taken to the hospital in an ambulance, was examined and admitted to the hospital, after which he was taken to his room-

All this took place in less than an hour. During this time, the kidnapper managed to prepare and commit a seemingly perfect crime.

Perfectly utilizing the split second during which we were unable to react.

Tsukasa: Does that mean this person noticed J-san’s physical condition worsening beforehand and spent time preparing for the crime?

Ibara: There was no way to foresee this incident, which is exactly what makes me think this case is unnatural.

Though we can’t exclude the possibility that the culprit had prepared countless potential plans and one of them coincidentally happened to work out.

I just cannot help but feel suspicious.

Tsukasa: Suspicious in what way?

Ibara: What I am about to say could be interpreted as defamation, but I can’t help but wonder if the perpetrator behind this crime is-

ibara+tsukasa

TL-notes:
* - Ibara usually uses the "jibun" pronoun for himself in Japanese, but here he uses the "ore" pronoun.

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Season: Winter

Writer: Akira

Characters: Ibara, Madara

<At the same time. The large hospital near ES where J was taken after collapsing.>

Ibara: I just received a reply from Suou-shi. It seems he is heading here immediately with Oukawa-shi.

I was having trouble reaching Oukawa-shi. As you predicted, however, it seems he was being taken care of at Suou-shi’s home-

ibara+madara

Madara: …

Ibara: Mikejima-shi? Are you listening? Hello, he~llo?

Madara: Aah… right, sorry about that.

I should have been the one to make arrangements at the hospital and reach out to the people involved in the project, but you took care of it for me. You've been really helpful, thank you for that.

Ibara: Oh, I was simply doing what I do best.

You lot tend to forget all about those common-sense tasks, so as long as I am there to fill that gap, you will appreciate me - I’ll be sought after.

It’s all just part of my sales pitch.

Besides. Even though I haven’t added my name to the credits, I am acting as the producer for “[MaM]’s Chronicle of Parenting Struggles”.

As the one responsible, I will take care of what needs to be done. Unlike the people you are used to at Yumenosaki Academy, I never leave everything to the idols on-set.

But wow, I was really surprised back then. To think that J-san would collapse after the shoot finished.

Madara: In hindsight, it was bound to happen. I wasn’t careful enough.

J is still a child, he hasn’t grown to the point where he can work nonstop like this.

Even though he learned the basics of being an idol at the Maizuru House, he was fundamentally no different from any ordinary kid living a normal life.

As a performer, he was still a complete beginner. And we forced that child to do heavy labor that would be tough even for adults. Twice a week, we would shoot episodes for that weird program.

It looked like he was just having fun messing with adults, but the amount of work must have taken a huge toll on both his body and his mind.

It’s only natural that he would reach his limit and collapse like this.

No. We should have predicted this. How stupid of us, of me.

J… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.

Once again I’ve ended up hurting the one I promised to protect.

Ibara: Now, now, don’t be so pessimistic. According to the doctors, J is just ill with a common cold, right?

However, since it appears J-san’s consciousness is still rather muddy, they decided to have him stay admitted to the hospital for a couple more days…

At the very least, there should be no danger to his life.

Madara: Sigh, even though I knew there was a cold going around recently… I neglected to make any precautions, and didn’t even realize when he caught a cold.

I’m disqualified to be his guardian.

Ibara: N~... I wonder about that.

ibara

(I can’t help but feel like there is something fishy here. Is this really just a normal cold?)

(Since the common cold is going around currently, what if the doctors just went with the most likely explanation they could think of without actually being sure?)

(It is a doctor’s job to make a diagnosis, after all. They can’t very well get away with saying that they don’t know what is wrong. They may have tried to cover for themselves by picking a common diagnosis.)

(I only caught a quick glimpse of J-san as he was carried to the hospital, but more than a cold, it seemed as if he was-)

(H~m, what could it have been? This slight feeling of unease, the uncanniness of the situation.)

(They do say truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.)

(For all these hardships to fall onto this “family” at this impeccable timing - that is really something you would expect from a drama series.)

Either way, we can’t keep being depressed. Let’s do whatever is possible for us to help.

Of course, now that our main character J-san has collapsed, we can’t very well keep filming for “[MaM]’s Chronicle of Parenting Struggles”.

It has grown to become a popular program with a cult-like following, so it really is a shame. We created this show as a means to an end, however, so there is no reason to dwell too much on it.

What do you want to do? Should we cancel the show? Or should we go on hiatus until J-san is able to return?

Personally, I don’t mind either one. Whichever you choose, we will have to make an official announcement stating that intent for all the viewers who are looking forward to the show.

Now that Oukawa-shi has left and J-san has collapsed, the best course of action would be for our last surviving regular, Mikejima-shi, to personally make that announcement.

If the agency announces it without any of the regulars present, the fans might not accept it, after all.

Madara: That’s true… Of course, I’ll cooperate wherever necessary.

Rather than simply posting the announcement on social media, it would be better if we posted a short video titled “Important Notice” to let the fans know it’s real.

It still hasn’t been long since we posted the special episode announcing Kohaku-san’s retirement, so it might be weird for us to post another one this soon though.

Ibara: On the contrary, this could be positive for us. This should make the fans create a fuss over the entire ordeal, which will create an even bigger focus on our show than before.

Talents who can gather attention like this are rather hard to come by, you know.

In the beginning, this was our motivation behind incorporating Crazy:B into CosPro as well. Those guys have a valuable talent for creating controversies.

And lately, they’ve become more or less normal idols, and I strangely find myself missing the excitement.

They are probably catering to the wishes of their fans, but I personally don’t find it very interesting.

In that sense, I was expecting greater things of you two.

Madara: What you’re looking for in idols would be more apt in a terrorist organization, I think… So this time you wanted us to charge in with bombs instead of Crazy:B?

Ibara: Your wording makes me sound horrible. I merely want to revitalize this stagnating industry.

If everyone is a goody-two-shoes then things will be boring, no?

Madara: Well, I agree with you on that point. Though, putting us and Crazy:B aside, we probably shouldn’t have forced that kind of role onto J-san, who is still a child.

It’s probably too late at this point, but I’ve reflected on it. What occurred this time is all my fault. I’d like to emphasize that when we make our apology to the fans of the show.

Kohaku-san and J did nothing wrong. Everything bad that happened came from me.

If we phrase it like that, then we can avoid casting dark shadows over Kohaku-san and J’s futures. At the very least, we can keep it to a minimum.

All the bad things are mine to carry, as MaM.

madara

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Season: Winter

Writer: Akira

Characters: Tsukasa, Ibara

tsukasa

Tsukasa: In other words, you are rage-baiting.

…This is Crazy:B’s forte. Which is to say, this is a methodology known well not just by Mikejima-senpai, but Oukawa as well.

Personally, I would prefer if Oukawa was given more work which would shine light on his good traits.

Ibara: Sounds like you have some parental ego going on yourself.

Sometimes, shining light on oneself leads to even the ugly bits becoming exposed.

Oukawa-shi is well aware of this. He is well acquainted with the underbelly of the idol industry - he knows that there exists talented people who can only live in those dark alleys, away from the light. That is how things are, “Young Master”.

Tsukasa: …

Ibara: Having said that, this is merely a temporary measure.

Once the matter surrounding J-san has been resolved, please feel free to play with Oukawa-shi as your heart desires.

You may dress him up in the clothes of your choosing, and send him down whichever path you would like him to.

Tsukasa: Your choice of words is mean, senpai.

Ibara: Indeed. I may have gone too far. Haha, maybe I am just a little envious of Oukawa-shi.

Tsukasa: …?

Ibara: Anyways, the Double Face duo will appear as regulars on “[MaM]’s Chronicle of Parenting Struggles”, as will J-san, under the pretext of being their child.

Tsukasa: J-san is still only in first-grade of elementary, it’s so early for him to make his Debut.

Ibara: That’s actually a rather impressive achievement, for what it’s worth.

It seems the Maizuru House was also attempting to raise young idols, so he should already have undergone mental preparation for this sort of situation.

I am sure J-san also imagined himself becoming “a person on the other side of the screen”.

In that sense, having the opportunity to co-star with such impressive seniors at this point in his career might have a great influence on J-san’s future as an idol.

Of course, that is merely an afterthought, and I do not know whether or not J-san intends to continue working towards becoming a true idol.

What is more important right now is that J-san needs to covet the public’s attention.

As I am sure Suou-shi is well aware of as well, the public is surprisingly well attuned to every move of famous people such as ourselves.

Just as how assassinations and assaults become harder with mass surveillance, attracting attention onto J-san will directly lead to an increase in his personal security.

Tsukasa: In other words, it will be more difficult for any villains targeting J-san for his inheritance to reach him.

Ibara: Yes. Additionally, this TV station has a very tight security system in place to protect celebrities.

Suspicious-looking rogues would not even be able to approach this place.

By establishing J-san as an idol possessing a regular spot at “[MaM]’s Chronicle of Parenting Struggles”, it becomes possible for him to stay in a safe location, like at Starmony Dorm.

Since we wouldn’t want to cause trouble for any of the other idols, however, I will set him up in a fortified luxury hotel I have specially prepared for him.

Tsukasa: Right. That would help a lot, it is probably safer compared to my house.

Ibara: Please leave it to me. J-san’s safety is of utmost importance to myself as well, if a VIP like him was to get hurt while under my protection, my security company would likely suffer damage to its reputation.

I swear on our pride that I shall ensure that his stay at the hotel is perfectly safe - not to mention comfortable.

Tsukasa: Shouldn’t you just have protected him like a VIP from the beginning then… What is the reasoning behind going out of your way to make him appear on this fishy program with Oukawa?

Ibara: -By portraying J-san as the son of Mikejima-shi and Oukawa-shi through the program, we can make that connection into an established fact.

tsukasa+ibara

Tsukasa: …

Ibara: If the people watching the show are left with the impression that J-san and Double Face share that kind of strong bond, then that is all for the best.

If we weave such a narrative, then it will seem perfectly natural when J-san later on entrusts his inheritance from GFK to his “trusted guardians”.

As for me, I shall be satisfied as long as I receive a small portion of that inheritance from Mikejima-shi and Oukawa-shi as compensation for my current efforts.

Tsukasa: So even you are ultimately after J-san’s inheritance, is that it?

Ibara: Is there any other reason that could motivate me to act so cordially?

If you are to denounce capitalism as a sin, then why don’t you donate all the money you earn working as an idol to some orphanage?

You see, Suou-shi, things like love and kindness are merely fashion items to be worn by people with enough money that they can afford to look cool.

Only someone who rips out their own heart to give it to a child suffering from organ failure is given the right to truthfully claim adhesion to such ideals.

Tsukasa: Going so far would be nothing short of madness, though.

Ibara: Mutual understanding is but a pipe dream - this world is simply a sports day filled with madmen.

No matter who takes first place in which competition, even that winner is simply another lunatic undeserving of praise.

We have strayed too far from God. However, ah, that is exactly what makes it so interesting. Is it not meaningful that we, too, participate in those mad competitions, Suou-shi?

We have been lucky enough to be born, so if we don’t enjoy this while it lasts, wouldn’t that be a waste?

Tsukasa: To be honest, I can’t keep up with your monologuing.

The most important thing isn’t Oukawa, but J-san’s safety. If you say this is necessary for that purpose, then Oukawa is probably convinced by that, even if I am not.

No. That’s probably exactly why Oukawa went along with this plan in the first place.

(As for Mikejima-senpai, I’m not as familiar with him, so I cannot tell what is going on inside his head… Judging by his behavior, it appears he is enjoying this weird show to its fullest.)

(Perhaps it is exactly as Saegusa-senpai surmised, and this entire situation is like a dream come true to Mikejima-senpai.)

(To become a mother and raise a child. Is that senpai’s reasoning behind the name “MaM”-)

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Season: Winter

Writer: Akira

Characters: Kohaku, Madara, Tsukasa, Ibara, Anzu

<The day after. Inside Estele (A TV station located near ES), during filming for “[MaM]’s Chronicle of Parenting Struggles”>

Kohaku: “-Double Face’s~♪”

kohaku+madara

Madara: “[MaM]’s Chronicle of Parenting Struggles~! Yaaa~y, clap clap clap clap ✰”

Kohaku: “Hey, why’s it so unclear if this program is about MaM or about Double Face!?”

Madara: “And there we have it, what you just heard was a classically sharp straight man comment from Kohaku-san ♪ Well then, J, how would you rate that reaction on a scale from 1 through 100?”

“Hmmm. J is raising his cute little fingers - one, two three… He put up eight fingers, which means that you get zero points! Kohaku Oukawa, you’re disqualified~!”

Kohaku: “Since when was this an exam!? And ‘sides, why does eight fingers equal zero points? Don’t go abusin’ the fact that J doesn’t speak ta randomly make up shit, ya rotten idiot!?”

tsukasa

Tsukasa: …With that choice of words it is hard to believe this is supposed to be a parenting program.

Ibara: That gap is this show’s main selling point!

The exhilaration and tension created by pulling off statements that would never be aired on regular programs is the best entertainment there is!

In fact, many of the current programs targeting housewives are filled with similar taboos!

People say not to curse in front of your children! They say that parents should never complain about parenting, they should uphold a saintly image!

This show - “[MaM]’s Chronicle of Parenting Struggles” aims to stick its hands into that built-up pile of parents’ good intentions and bring to light the truth of the matter!

It is a very meaningful program! Salute~!

Tsukasa: It’s almost definitely gonna get flamed online.

Ibara: I would hope so! That is exactly the aim of this project, after all!

From the very beginning, my plan was never to make a profit off of this program!

I will have plenty of recompensation once J-san has inherited GFK’s fortune ♪

Besides, though I worked out the details of this plan myself alongside Anzu-san, the ones responsible for creating this program are not CosPro, but rather the agency “Double Face” belongs to, NewDi.

Which means that this is a chance for me to try out things I normally would never dare to do, all without having to take any responsibility for it. There is no profit to be had, but also no loss. It’s the ultimate entertainment for killing time.

Tsukasa: Sigh, once again our agency is being casually pushed into poverty.

Since there is no other way to protect J-san, and because both Mikejima-senpai and Oukawa want to do this, I can neither deny nor reject this project, however.

We did make enough money off of SS that we can afford to keep this charade up, especially since our agency is rather small and yet famous.

Ibara: Indeed! For my part I am more than satisfied to be able to make an interesting program using someone else’s money!

Even though us at CosPro tend to end up in the role of the villain, even we can’t usually go around doing things like this.

Something like making a program to trivialize and make fun of parenting programs, that is.

Tsukasa: So you admit you are making fun of them.

Ibara: I was always going to.

Let’s thoroughly make fun of and sneer at those silly programs that boast about love and kindness.

Aah, this feels oh so refreshing!

tsukasa+ibara

Tsukasa: (Th, this guy has the worst personality. I had heard rumors about this, but I didn’t expect it to be this bad.)

Ibara: -However, I had not expected this of Mikejima-shi.

Tsukasa: ? What are you referring to?

Ibara: From the beginning, that person has used the stage name MaM for his idol activities.

He chooses to define himself as “MaM”, Mama. Double Face is supposed to be his other, darker, identity.

Tsukasa: I thought the name was a pun on “Mikeji - Ma Ma - dara”, wasn’t it?

Ibara: What if that is not the entire story? What if he truly wanted to be able to play the mother role?

Could this not be a dream come true for him, though in a way he would never have expected?

Yes, I have helped him achieve that dream of his.

If idols are the ones to show dreams to the public, then it is the producers who help those idols make their own dreams come true, after all.

Really, I have done such a good job! Surely you feel the same way, Anzu-san?

Tsukasa: Fufu. It seems like Anzu-onee-sama is starting to wonder if we may have gone a bit too far… she seems a little regretful after all this time.

Onee-sama has a lot of complicated feelings for Mikejima-senpai, after all. It seems you bent the rules a bit because of that.

Usually you would never have taken this big of a risk, onee-sama.

Ibara: However, it is too late to regret anything at this point. The dice has already been thrown.

This unbelievably vulgar parenting show - “[MaM]’s Chronicle of Parenting Struggles” - will start attracting attention, either better or for worse. Well, I am nearly 100% certain it will be for worse.

And that attention is what is most important.

ibaba

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Season: Winter

Writer: Akira

Characters: Madara, Kohaku, Anzu, Ibara, Tsukasa

madara

Madara: You leave it to me, you say. Honestly speaking, I would have felt more assured if I could have left J in your care, Ibara-san.

I have my own work as well. Though recently it’s been drying up a bit-

I am trying to make a comeback after my jobs during “SS” and at the Maizuru House, so it would be too inconvenient to be unable to work right now.

If I have to stay with J twenty-four seven, I can’t exactly go to work as usual.

I would have wanted a trustworthy person I could leave J to, if only for while I am performing on stage.

Kohaku-san, Tsukasa-san or Ibara-san would have been appropriate for that job, but as of right now it doesn’t seem like J has warmed up to anyone except me.

I couldn’t very well nonchalantly go to work knowing that you guys are struggling to deal with this wild child while I am away.

Kohaku: I ain’t weak enough that this tiny brat could injure me.

But I’ll admit it’s too much work fer me. And I’m not fond enough of Madara-han ta spend all of my free time watchin’ after some kid fer him.

Madara: Don’t say such harmful things, Kohaku-san! This is your child as well!

Kohaku: Not my kid. Though I’ll admit I’m too invested at this point ta just up an’ leave.

J is the child of GFK, whom we erased. My dignity won’t let me ignore this situation.

I want ta be able ta do somethin’ for ‘im, but-- hm?

Madara: What’s wrong, Kohaku-san? Did you come up with a good idea?

Kohaku: No, I felt as if someone was watchin’ me, and then I noticed Anzu-han was standin’ there. She’s as quiet as ever, her presence is faint enough that even I couldn’t notice her right away.

Madara: Anzu-san is here? Oh my, it’s true! What are you doing here?

Ibara: This “Information Room” is one of the workplaces for the P-association to which Anzu-san belongs, after all.

Besides, I have a favor I would like to ask of her, so I called her here.

Madara: You want to ask her a favor? Hahaan, I get it.

Anzu-san! You came at the perfect moment! I have something I want to tell you!

Please marry me, Anzu-san! This child needs a mother…!

-Owie!? Anzu-san kicked me in the shin!?

That’s a huge weak point for humans, and even grown men would start crying from pain when kicked there-

madara+kohaku

Kohaku: This was entirely yer own fault, Madara-han. Well, most things tend ta be yer fault though.

Tsukasa: Indeed. You shouldn’t say such things even if you mean it as a joke, it’s imprudent.

However, Anzu-onee-sama. No matter how rude someone is, violence is never the answer.

The moment you employ such methods, you lose your position as a pure victim.

If you wished to sue the person later on, that could become a disadvantage in court.

Madara: I was just trying to make a joke and now you are planning a lawsuit against me… Tsukasa-san, you look pretty calm but are you actually really angry?

Tsukasa: I’m not angry… However, Mikejima-senpai’s jokes tend to be hard to stomach.

Kohaku: Kohkohkoh ♪︎ Watchin' that made me feel refreshed, actually.

I get ya, Anzu-han. Mikejima Madara really is the type o’ guy that makes ya want ta kick him every now an’ then.

Madara: What do you mean by that. How rude… Even someone like me feels pain when they’re kicked, I get sad just like a normal person.

Ibara: Are you all done with that skit? Well then, Anzu-san - could you explain the thing I asked you about?

Madara: And what thing is that? If this has nothing to do with us, we’ll be taking our leave.

Ibara: That will not be necessary. You are hardly unrelated to this matter. In fact, I’d say you are something of the main characters.

Madara: …?

Ibara: I shall title this project “[MaM]’s Chronicle of Parenting Struggles”!

tsukasa+ibara

Tsukasa: Are you feeling okay?

Ibara: Whatever are you referring to? The project name might sound stupid, but this is actually a properly thought-out plan!

Madara: N~? I don’t really get it, but why don’t you explain in more detail? This smells kinda fishy all over, but at this point I’m not in a position to refuse help in any form.

A child’s life is at stake. I don’t know about Ibara-san, but Anzu-san would probably never get involved with something like this as a half-joke.

I can trust you on that.

…Honestly, I didn’t want to get Anzu-san involved in this kind of situation.

Ibara: Ahaha. Anzu is charging up for another kick. You’re wearing a skirt, so please keep it to a minimum.

More importantly, please explain the project details to everyone. I’m sure everyone will be thoroughly convinced.

They’ll exclaim “I see, so there was that possibility!”, just wait and see ♪︎

-

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Season: Winter

Writer: Akira

Characters: Ibara, Madara, Kohaku, Tsukasa

-

<Noon that day. Information Room, ES building.>

Ibara: -I see. I understand completely.

This is beyond my powers.

The documentary program set in the Maizuru House showed that J-san was sorted into the “Kaiju Group”, consisting mostly of problem children.

I now understand perfectly how that came to be.

What is up with this shitty monster kid.

Kohaku: Aaaa! Don’t do that, J! If ya nibble on that, ya’ll get shocked!

Tsukasa: That’s right, J-san! Don't put that into your mouth, it's unsanitary! Please stick your tongue out for me, say “mlep”!

Kohaku: Shut yer mouth! The stuff yer sayin’ is weirdly incorrect and confusin’! This ain’t a sanitary problem, it’s that if he keeps nibblin’ on that power cord, he’ll be in danger, alright!?

Tsukasa: He is just like an untrained dog… J-san, I thought you were a good and quiet kid. This is a bit of a Shock for me.

Madara: Hahaha. He gave me a pretty hard time when I was at Maizuru House as well.

Ibara: I’d actually like to know just how Mikejima-shi was able to tame this viscous beast?

Madara: Ah, as expected, the program chose to omit those circumstances. Just watching the show would probably leave you with the impression that J is just a normal kid you could find anywhere.

But in reality, as is evident, he is a supermonster who indiscriminately destroys all that comes near him.

It seems like he respects me, or maybe is afraid of me, so whenever I’m closeby he becomes as quiet as a mech with its power cord plugged out.

Kohaku: Could ya stop watchin’ with that blank look on yer face and help us stop J!? J refuses ta listen to anything except what ya tell him!

Madara: Sounds like a drag. Just when I finally thought I had found someone I could entrust this troublesome child to.

tsukasa+kohaku

Tsukasa: Uhyaa, J-san is somehow taking his rampaging skills to new levels!?

Kohaku: Ah~ah~ah~, he’s just ‘bout old enough ta understand what other people are sayin’. I bet he overhead what Madara-han said, and is showin’ how much he hates that idea.

Seems that J doesn’t want ta be separated from Madara-han.

Madara: He’s such a spoiled kid, isn’t he? Here, here, it’s alright. I’m not going anywhere, at least not yet.

Kohaku: Can’t ya reassure him a lil’ and tell ‘im ya would never leave ‘im? Even if it’s a lie?

Madara: I will leave him at some point though. And since it seems like J trusts me, wouldn’t he just get sad if I ended up telling him lies?

Tsukasa: Ah… J, J-san just stopped moving all of a sudden. Thanks to Mikejima-senpai coming closer, he must have felt relieved.

Kohaku: Madara-han is like kryptonite for J. Or maybe he’s more like a grenade’s pin.

Madara: It’s accidental from my side though. When J is like this, I can’t exactly leave him at a police station or anything, and I have to stay by his side twenty-four seven, even while he’s in the bath or sleeping. It’s pretty hard, you know.

If I move away even a little, or even just seem as if I’m leaving him, he explodes just like how you saw.

He should be too old for this behavior, it’s almost like I’m taking care of a baby rather than a child.

Ibara: That might be an apt analogy. J-san is being targeted. If we take our eyes off him for even a second, there is no telling what kinds of danger he could be exposed to.

That does make him similar to a baby, in that taking your eyes off him for even the slightest moment can lead to his life being in danger.

Additionally, if you leave him unattended, he immediately starts bawling and attracting attention from his surroundings. To keep such a child safe must be a rather proving task.

I have neither the patience nor the time to complete such a bothersome mission. I also lack any obligation to.

The fortune J-san is set to inherit from GFK is mesmerizing in and of itself, to be sure. However, if it is merely money then I will sooner or later be able to earn that much on my own without having to go through this amount of trouble for it.

Which is why I am retracting my offer to become J-san’s guardian. Please continue taking care of this child as you have up until now, Mikejima-shi.

Madara: …How weirdly considerate of you. I thought you would keep arguing with me for a bit longer.

Well then, is everything thus far proceeding according to your hypothesis?

Ibara: I wonder. I was planning on actually securing J-san into my own hands if he had been a quiet kid who didn’t need too much attention.

This child is an incomparable treasure, but he is also simultaneously a ticking bomb whom many villains will be coming for. To care for this child is to take on a huge amount of risk.

I have other important jobs to attend to, and cannot afford to become occupied with such a dangerous task.

You have much more time on your hands, so I will leave it to you, Mikejima-shi.

madara+ibara

-

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Season: Winter

Writer: Akira

Characters: Tsukasa, Kohaku, Madara, Ibara

-

Tsukasa: Th, the car has stopped in front of the gate! What should we do, should we launch a valley of arrows?

Madara: Personally I would prefer doing that, but for now we should wait before resorting to such a violent solution.

It seems our visitor is someone we’re already acquainted with.

Tsukasa: Uuuhm…?

ibara

Ibara: -Kindness! Friendship! Benevolence!

Equality! Equity! World peace!

Tsukasa: Wha-

Ibara: My oh my everyone, what a great day this is! This is Ibara Saegusa, Vice President of Cosmic Productions! I am terribly repentant to have caused such a fuss this early in the morning!

Kohaku: Fer real, yer way too loud… Are ya tryin’ to overlap yer character type with Rinne-han? That’s the type of person I can’t get along well with.

Tsukasa: D, do you also prefer quiet children, Oukawa?

Kohaku: Ah? Oh, yeah. Which is why I also dislike Madara-han. He doesn’t talk as much as Rinne-han, but he makes up fer it with an awful volume.

Madara: Ouch, he went in for the kill with that one! And unprovoked, too!

Ibara: A~ah~… Right, right, right, right, I understand.

You all look a bit peeved, but I’ve mostly figured out what’s going on!

Mikejima-shi used his connections through Double Face to ask Oukawa-shi and Suou-shi for help in sheltering his ward, who also happens to be GFK’s child.

Kohaku: What’s that, are ya complainin’ or somethin’? Yer not the government, so don’t come waltzin’ inta other people’s homes and pryin’ into their business with that arrogant attitude of yers, ya hear?

tsukasa+kohaku

Tsukasa: Hey, Oukawa, House! Even if he is in a different agency from ours, he is still an important figure of ES. A certain level of hospitality is to be expected of us, no?

Ibara: If you could offer just a small amount I would be very grateful! I also do not wish to needlessly escalate matters, you see…♪

Really, as to be expected of the current head of the famous Suou family! You know perfectly well how to treat your guests! Magnificent!

Tsukara: Flattery is unneccessary. Now, what is your business here?

Ibara: It is exactly as you all have surmised. My reason for being here is that child who is currently the very center of attention.

Madara: We’re calling him by the nickname J.

Ibara: J, is it. That sounds good. By using a code name, you can avoid any unnecessary emotions.

My people were also looking into this J-san’s whereabouts. Although it is embarrassing to admit, I am the legitimate heir to inherit GFK’s fortune, after all.

Kohaku: Hah, yer bein’ ridiculous. Whaddaya mean legitimate heir? Yer just conveniently alterin’ the paperwork and twistin’ the law so ya can claim ownership of the fortune.

Ibara: …You are making it sound a lot easier than it was. Well, that level of understanding will do fine for now.

Either way, it seems some disturbing people are covertly moving in pursuit of GFK’s inheritance.

My heart hurts at the thought of J-san, who is innocent of any crime, being wrapped up in such a filthy plot.

Which is why my wish for justice led me to search for J-san’s whereabouts, and I found that Mikejima-shi was sheltering him in this place.

Kohaku: Whaddaya mean “wish for justice”, you hmfuh!?

Madara: Let’s shut our mouths and listen for a bit. If you keep butting in like this the current Zodiac will change before we’re done here.

Ibara: What a clever analogy, Mikejima-shi. Time is money and money is life itself. Wasting time is hardly a praiseworthy code of action.

Anyway. That’s the story of how I randomly searched any places Mikejima-shi seemed likely to go to, and after several failed attempts, I arrived here.

Why, I truly am delighted to finally have hit the jackpot!

Madara: For what?

Ibara: Excuse me?

Madara: For what reason were you looking for me? Depending on your answer, I might have to cancel the welcoming party.

Ibara: Of course, it was to take J-san in. From now on, I will take over custody for that child.

Madara: All of that to secure J, brainwash him, steal his inheritance and increase your own fortune?

Ibara: Would I be wrong to? Brainwashing sounds a bit too harsh, but what we are attempting to do is awfully similar, so I won’t correct your use of the word.

However, which part of that is it wrong of me to do?

The fortune this child is in line to inherit is a concept larger than he is capable of comprehending. It is sheer “power”. As long as this child is in possession of such a thing, it will inevitably lead him to ruin.

I am merely trying to remove, nay save, this child from the awful fate that has been imposed on him. Is there a problem with that?

Madara: There is a point to what you’re saying. I’ll admit that this child’s wellbeing should be prioritized above all else.

But. When I imagine the damage that could be done if this kid’s fate was to fall into the wrong hands, I cannot allow for any villains to steal it from him.

Ibara: Among those “villains” who are going after this child, I feel like I am of the more conscientious sort, though?

Let us consider this rationally, Mikejima-shi. It is for the best for this child as well to be placed under my, under Ibara Saegusa’s protection.

Madara: You’re barking up the wrong tree here.

What matters the most is this child, J’s opinion.

J, what do you want to do? Do you want to go with this spectacled young man?

Hm? Ah~... Oh, is that so? You think glasses are stinky so you don’t wanna?

madara+ibara

Ibara: What do you mean “glasses are stinky”? If Hasumi-shi heard that statement he would unlock a hitherto unseen level of rage. Don’t abuse the fact that J-san is taciturn to make up lies like that.

Madara: …Please give me some time to consider.

It’s not like I want to look after some kid for the rest of my life, and I’m obviously also not interested in GFK’s inheritance. I can earn any money I need myself.

It looks as if this kid is relying on me right now, but there are no obligations for us to stay together.

If there is someone available who could do a better job than me in protecting this child, then I should obviously entrust him to that person.

Ibara: You are right. By all means, give him here♪

I am used to taking care of children thanks to His Excellency. I also run a professional security company, so I can guarantee that I will be able to keep the child perfectly safe.

Madara: Right. That’s true, you’re very persuasive.

However, I can’t trust you based on your words alone. Our positions have switched for once, why don’t you prove your usefulness to me, Ibara Saegusa-san ♪

Ibara: …?

madara+ibara