Neverland - Prologue

[iridesenescence]

Writer: Akira
Season: Summer
Location: Dormitory Library

Translated by iridesenescence, proofread by haranami

[Mid-September, late at night in Starmony Dorm]



Nagisa: — The “Japanese Neverland Cup”?

Wataru: Yes. However, its name is long and visually unappealing, so it’s often simply called by its abbreviation, the JNLC.

Nagisa: ... Hm. Local events and organizations are almost always abbreviated with a “J” in them, so I get the sense that they’re easily confused with other things and harder to remember as a result.
... You and I are able to understand quite easily, but aren't such titles difficult for the average person to comprehend?

Wataru: Hoho? So you are quite aware that you are not “average”, are you? Speaking from experience here, allow me to warn you: that is a thorny path to walk.

Nagisa: ... A thorny path [1].
... Fufu. While I live as part of Eden and Adam, regardless of how much I struggle, my path will always be Ibara’s.

Wataru: A pun, hm? Our Eichi is quite fond of those too. Have you perhaps come to resemble him after working together as fine in the past?

Nagisa: ... Indeed. Humans live while interacting with and influencing one another.

Wataru: In your case it’s rather extreme, though.
To compensate for how you were trapped in a pretty box in your childhood, isolated from the outside world, you are far too easily influenced by others. It’s as obvious as a stain on a pure white outfit.

Nagisa: ... Mmhm. I was stained the moment I met Ibara, and now I’m pitch black ♪

Wataru: My, such words of affection. But given your disposition, I would say you’re better suited for white.

Nagisa: ... Conversely, I think you’re better suited for a black outfit, chaotically gathering all colours to yourself.

Wataru: Fufufu. Perhaps we both met with the wrong partners, hm?

Nagisa: ... No, I disagree. If one were to forever stay the way they were born without interacting with anyone, passing on without ever changing, what worth would that life of theirs hold?
... Everyone continuously adapts to their environment or changes in response to the stimuli they receive. By mixing and matching the “newest versions of ourselves” that we acquire from doing that, we preserve our species.
... That is how we can keep living in this world, despite it being forsaken by God.

Wataru: Amazing! Ahh, dear incarnate of the exalted, laughable Adam, the first of man. You truly are the embodiment of the human race’s journey as it is written in the Bible!
Please, continue! Take mankind’s foolishness, unsightliness and everything else — proclaim it as “humanity”, singing with all your might!
Dye the land in copious amounts of blood, all the while declaring, “We shall be the ones to rule on earth!”

Nagisa: ... Do you happen to despise me? Are you condemning me in an attempt to hurt me?
... After all, I — no, our past selves did act in unjust ways that would warrant “revenge” from you.

Wataru: No, no. If I were to exact revenge, would it not seem as if I bear a grudge against you all?

Nagisa: ... You ought to have. In this society that mankind has established on earth, it’s hard to live without at least putting on a “human front”.
... Though I suppose saying that to you is akin to teaching a fish to swim, Hibiki Wataru-kun of the Five Eccentrics.

Wataru: Oh, but of course I’m aware of that, Ran Nagisa-san, formerly of fine.
You all are the ones who taught that to me, after all. Nevertheless, in pursuit of love and surprises, I play the jester’s role purely by choice.
You are well aware too, are you not? O angel who cut us up, scattered the pieces of our corpses, and used those to establish a flourishing paradise on earth.

Nagisa: ... Yes, I am indeed aware. O foolish, mighty monster who read us like an open book, yet willingly lay down to serve as a foundation.
... The present has been built atop your sacrifices. We alone will never fail to remember that.

Wataru: ......

Nagisa: ......

Wataru: — Anyhow, let’s return to the topic at hand. If you’re so inclined, would you join me and enter in the aforementioned JNLC?

Nagisa: ... Has anyone told you that your actions are rather sudden?

Wataru: More precisely, I’m not very adept at negotiations or invitations, you see~ It is exceptionally rare for me to seek something from others, so I’m sorely lacking in experience.

Nagisa: ... Well, I can understand, so it’s fine.
... The JNLC, huh. If I recall correctly, it originates from the West.
... The original “Neverland Cup” has great power and history, and is hailed as the equivalent of the Academy Awards for musicians.
... Its aim is to select the most artistic musician in the world, I think. The JNLC is our local Japanese version of that, founded by my father.

Wataru: Indeed. Its founder is the great Godfather, whose name has once again begun to come up in conversation quite frequently.

Nagisa: ... Well, my father is practically the founder of all the structures and practises that the modern idol industry stands on.
... The name “Godfather” sounds wrong for him. It makes him sound like the head of a mafia.
... My father was an idol. Or rather, he was a caring father who loved and nurtured all idols.

Wataru: Yes, which is why we call him “father”, no? Each and every one of us is but a descendant of that formidable monster.
However, we cannot let ourselves forever remain as wastrel children living off of the inheritance from our parents.
Especially since we’ve obtained this home of ours, ES — trying to seek help from our parents would just be plain shameful.
There has been action to reassess the JNLC, bolster it up, and make it into an award with enough power to be recognised by the rest of the world.
A benefactor of mine from the acting industry happens to be in charge of this project, you see.
They approached me, asking, “Won’t you lend a hand, for old times’ sake”?
But, well, there are circumstances that make fine not very mobilisable right now, and as an individual, I have come to specialise in acting...
While I don’t doubt I could present myself as a musician, I have no clue whether I would be deemed as artistic.
The JNLC is a festival to determine the most artistic musicians in Japan, after all. I would be rather out of place if I were to enter on my own.
I could call upon the folks from Träumerei, but they all seem to be quite busy handling their own troubles as well.
And so, while wondering what I ought to do, I found you.

Nagisa: ... Hm. It feels more like you’d had me in your sights from the very beginning and came straight towards me, though.
... The JNLC, huh. For me to earn the trophy that my father left... I am quite partial to the idea of that.
... I’ll have to check with Ibara and get permission, but I’ll most likely be able to enter as well.

Wataru: Amazing! Wonderful, then you shall join me and we will enter as a duo!
Having former members of the Five Eccentrics and fine join hands — surely this will cause quite the uproar ♪

Nagisa: ... Fufu. Let us hope this doesn’t end with the reopening of any half-healed wounds.
... But. If we’re talking about artistic musicians, you already have a friend who is a perfect fit.
Would it not have made sense to go to him instead of me?

Wataru: Fufufu. Lately, “he” has had little interest in anything outside of their art. If I had invited him to perform with me, he would surely have declined.
I am not the partner he is meant to pursue the arts with.
In the first place, the type of art we strive for has always been polar opposites... Myself and Itsuki Shu of Valkyrie.

↑ [1] : The Japanese word for “thorn” is “ibara” (茨) — in Nagisa’s next line, he makes a pun on the same phrase to say “Ibara’s path”.