iridesenescence (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
iridesenescence) wrote2022-02-26 02:47 am
iridesenescence) wrote2022-02-26 02:47 am
Entry tags:
Magic Lantern - Mysterious 5
Writer: Akira
Season: Autumn
Location: New Dimension's Office
Proofread by septetstarlet
Natsume: ... Enough chit-chat, will you hurry up and remove this awful tape?
Tsumugi: Sure, sure.
Natsume: You sure are used to this, Senpai. You're not hooked on any questionable games, are you? Like getting addicted to being hit by me because you get a kick out of it?
Tsumugi: But you haven't even been hitting me lately, Natsume-kun.
Natsume: Yeah, because my hand ends up hurting too.
Tsumugi: Right, it's great that you've managed to kick that unhealthy habit of yours. I don't go out of my way to seek pain either.
Really, seeing either of you get hurt causes me far more pain than any suffering I could personally experience. So please don't do anything else that will worry me.
Natsume: ......
Tsumugi: Ah, by the way. It might seem like I've gotten proficient at using tape to bind things together, but it's only because I'm often packing materials.
I'm not hooked on strange games, I promise.
From spring all the way till now, it's not like I've had the time for games anyway~
Natsume: I guess that's true. You know, you're the vice president of the agency — you can just get your subordinates to do menial work like preparing packages for delivery.
Tsumugi: It's faster for me to do it myself, though... Besides, we don't really have any subordinates to speak of here; that's how lacking we are in manpower.
Natsume: But when you're in a position of power, you're expected to behave in a manner befitting that position.
So do the things that only you can do, as someone with that power, and let those below you handle the menial work.
Tsumugi: Mm~mm. But honestly, I'm just here to manage the place on President-kun's behalf until they return.
I don't want to be too assertive; I think my role is just to preserve the status quo as much as possible.
It's not like I have the sway, financially or otherwise, to turn things on their heads. Or the ambition to.
I'm just clearing up the problems and obstacles that arise each day.
I'm pretty good at that stuff, anyway.
Natsume: So you intend to work behind the scenes to let Sora and I reap all the benefits? Since when were you such a saint, Senpai?
I think you can afford to live a little more selfishly, you know.
Tsumugi: Well~... This is how I've always lived, so even if I'm told that I'm free to do whatever I like, I don't know how to respond.
Sora: ... ♪
Natsume: Ah, there we go again ignoring Sora and talking amongst ourselves!
Natsume: I'm sorry, Sora! Bad boy! I'm a bad boy...!
Tsumugi: Come on, I already said to stop hitting yourself! It hurts to watch!
Natsume: Oh yeah? Well I've felt the same about you since the day we met, it hurts so much I can't stand looking at you!
Tsumugi: Then just don't~?
Natsume: Like I have a choice, we're in the same unit!
Tsumugi: Huh~? But Sora-kun is too, and you've been neglecting him this whole time?
So the reason you keep fussing over me isn't because we're part of the same unit—
Tsumugi: But because... you have special feelings for me?
Natsume: ...!
Tsumugi: You probably find me especially irritating, don't you?! I'm sorry for being such an eyesore...!
Natsume: That's so wrong but also not! No, let's just go with that! I-it's not that I particularly like you or anything, okay?!
Tsumugi: What's with the sudden tsundere mode?!
Sora: HiHi~... ♪
Tsumugi: Ah ah, we're doing it again, talking only to each other and leaving Sora on his own!
Sora: Sora is fine! It feels like it's been a while since we went back to the regular atmosphere of Switch, so Sora's happy~ ♪
Senpai says something unnecessary, Shisho~ gets mad at him and starts arguing, and Sora has fun watching—
Tsumugi: But this isn't a TV show or anything, so you should participate more, Sora-kun~?
Natsume: Yeah, that's right! Let's exterminate this shaggy hair together, Sora! Fetch some hair clippers...!
Tsumugi: Wha~? But you'd probably still get angry with me even if I cut or straightened my hair, wouldn't you?
It doesn't matter what I do, you get upset regardless! So what should I do to please you?
Sora: HuHu~ ♪ HeHe~ ♪ Yup yup, this is the feeling! This is what Switch is~
Sora feels reassured! None of us have changed, we're still the Switch that Sora loves ♪
Natsume: ......
Sora: Ah, Sora's sorry! He has an individual job to be at, so he's going to leave now! To be honest, Sora wants to stay a little longer and watch Senpai and Shisho~, but—
Tsumugi: Ah, right. But work must be done properly, right? Off you go then — if you run into any problems, let me know right away, okay?
Sora: Sora knows! Well then — Harukawa Sora is heading out!
Natsume: ...? An individual job? What's the meaning of this? It's the first I'm hearing of it.
Tsumugi: Mm~ I've been busy with the agency, and you've had your hands full at Yumenosaki, while Sora-kun is the only one being left out with time to kill, so I've been trying to send some individual jobs his way.
If you're not picky about work, there's always plenty to do.
Besides, Sora-kun has always been well-behaved and just followed in our footsteps. I think it's about time he started seriously considering just what sort of idol he wants to become.
So I thought it might be good for him to try working alone, away from the two of us.
Natsume: I mean, you're not wrong. But will he really be alright on his own?
Tsumugi: Who can say? He's only ever worked in a unit...
And, well — it's weird to be saying this myself, but Switch isn't exactly a normal unit either.
It's true that he might be doing things that defy common sense and causing problems for those around him. But that too is something he should experience for himself.
I'm constantly reminding him to come talk to me if he encounters any problems, and also frequently contacting people like Anzu-chan to find out what others say about him and how his work went.
So no major issues should occur — or at least, I think we'll be able to resolve any before they escalate that far.
You might want to keep him in your care and coddle him forever, but...
Tsumugi: It is said that if you love a child, you have to let him experience the hardship that comes with venturing out into the world.
Besides, if Sora-kun does well in his individual jobs and gains more confidence, for better or worse, he might gradually become less dependent on our unit.
Natsume: Dependent, huh... That's a harsh way to put it — you make it sound like Sora is a spoiled brat.
In the first place, the two of us haven't even been giving him the warmth and happiness we were supposed to. All we've done is driven him to feel lonely and yearn for something more.
We've totally failed, both as his comrades and as idols.
Natsume: After that realisation during Next Door, we assumed things would be fine so long as we chose to prioritise Sora in our unit activities in the future.
But not only have we continued to leave him all by his lonesome, now we're practically distancing ourselves from him.
All the while, we keep making the excuse that, "we'll do it properly someday, after we finish up all the bothersome work".
— But when exactly is that "someday" going to arrive?
Tsumugi: ......
Mysterious 4 || Mysterious 6
Story Masterlist
Season: Autumn
Location: New Dimension's Office
Proofread by septetstarlet
Natsume: ... Enough chit-chat, will you hurry up and remove this awful tape?
Tsumugi: Sure, sure.
Natsume: You sure are used to this, Senpai. You're not hooked on any questionable games, are you? Like getting addicted to being hit by me because you get a kick out of it?
Tsumugi: But you haven't even been hitting me lately, Natsume-kun.
Natsume: Yeah, because my hand ends up hurting too.
Tsumugi: Right, it's great that you've managed to kick that unhealthy habit of yours. I don't go out of my way to seek pain either.
Really, seeing either of you get hurt causes me far more pain than any suffering I could personally experience. So please don't do anything else that will worry me.
Natsume: ......
Tsumugi: Ah, by the way. It might seem like I've gotten proficient at using tape to bind things together, but it's only because I'm often packing materials.
I'm not hooked on strange games, I promise.
From spring all the way till now, it's not like I've had the time for games anyway~
Natsume: I guess that's true. You know, you're the vice president of the agency — you can just get your subordinates to do menial work like preparing packages for delivery.
Tsumugi: It's faster for me to do it myself, though... Besides, we don't really have any subordinates to speak of here; that's how lacking we are in manpower.
Natsume: But when you're in a position of power, you're expected to behave in a manner befitting that position.
So do the things that only you can do, as someone with that power, and let those below you handle the menial work.
Tsumugi: Mm~mm. But honestly, I'm just here to manage the place on President-kun's behalf until they return.
I don't want to be too assertive; I think my role is just to preserve the status quo as much as possible.
It's not like I have the sway, financially or otherwise, to turn things on their heads. Or the ambition to.
I'm just clearing up the problems and obstacles that arise each day.
I'm pretty good at that stuff, anyway.
Natsume: So you intend to work behind the scenes to let Sora and I reap all the benefits? Since when were you such a saint, Senpai?
I think you can afford to live a little more selfishly, you know.
Tsumugi: Well~... This is how I've always lived, so even if I'm told that I'm free to do whatever I like, I don't know how to respond.
Sora: ... ♪
Natsume: Ah, there we go again ignoring Sora and talking amongst ourselves!
Natsume: I'm sorry, Sora! Bad boy! I'm a bad boy...!
Tsumugi: Come on, I already said to stop hitting yourself! It hurts to watch!
Natsume: Oh yeah? Well I've felt the same about you since the day we met, it hurts so much I can't stand looking at you!
Tsumugi: Then just don't~?
Natsume: Like I have a choice, we're in the same unit!
Tsumugi: Huh~? But Sora-kun is too, and you've been neglecting him this whole time?
So the reason you keep fussing over me isn't because we're part of the same unit—
Tsumugi: But because... you have special feelings for me?
Natsume: ...!
Tsumugi: You probably find me especially irritating, don't you?! I'm sorry for being such an eyesore...!
Natsume: That's so wrong but also not! No, let's just go with that! I-it's not that I particularly like you or anything, okay?!
Tsumugi: What's with the sudden tsundere mode?!
Sora: HiHi~... ♪
Tsumugi: Ah ah, we're doing it again, talking only to each other and leaving Sora on his own!
Sora: Sora is fine! It feels like it's been a while since we went back to the regular atmosphere of Switch, so Sora's happy~ ♪
Senpai says something unnecessary, Shisho~ gets mad at him and starts arguing, and Sora has fun watching—
Tsumugi: But this isn't a TV show or anything, so you should participate more, Sora-kun~?
Natsume: Yeah, that's right! Let's exterminate this shaggy hair together, Sora! Fetch some hair clippers...!
Tsumugi: Wha~? But you'd probably still get angry with me even if I cut or straightened my hair, wouldn't you?
It doesn't matter what I do, you get upset regardless! So what should I do to please you?
Sora: HuHu~ ♪ HeHe~ ♪ Yup yup, this is the feeling! This is what Switch is~
Sora feels reassured! None of us have changed, we're still the Switch that Sora loves ♪
Natsume: ......
Sora: Ah, Sora's sorry! He has an individual job to be at, so he's going to leave now! To be honest, Sora wants to stay a little longer and watch Senpai and Shisho~, but—
Tsumugi: Ah, right. But work must be done properly, right? Off you go then — if you run into any problems, let me know right away, okay?
Sora: Sora knows! Well then — Harukawa Sora is heading out!
Natsume: ...? An individual job? What's the meaning of this? It's the first I'm hearing of it.
Tsumugi: Mm~ I've been busy with the agency, and you've had your hands full at Yumenosaki, while Sora-kun is the only one being left out with time to kill, so I've been trying to send some individual jobs his way.
If you're not picky about work, there's always plenty to do.
Besides, Sora-kun has always been well-behaved and just followed in our footsteps. I think it's about time he started seriously considering just what sort of idol he wants to become.
So I thought it might be good for him to try working alone, away from the two of us.
Natsume: I mean, you're not wrong. But will he really be alright on his own?
Tsumugi: Who can say? He's only ever worked in a unit...
And, well — it's weird to be saying this myself, but Switch isn't exactly a normal unit either.
It's true that he might be doing things that defy common sense and causing problems for those around him. But that too is something he should experience for himself.
I'm constantly reminding him to come talk to me if he encounters any problems, and also frequently contacting people like Anzu-chan to find out what others say about him and how his work went.
So no major issues should occur — or at least, I think we'll be able to resolve any before they escalate that far.
You might want to keep him in your care and coddle him forever, but...
Tsumugi: It is said that if you love a child, you have to let him experience the hardship that comes with venturing out into the world.
Besides, if Sora-kun does well in his individual jobs and gains more confidence, for better or worse, he might gradually become less dependent on our unit.
Natsume: Dependent, huh... That's a harsh way to put it — you make it sound like Sora is a spoiled brat.
In the first place, the two of us haven't even been giving him the warmth and happiness we were supposed to. All we've done is driven him to feel lonely and yearn for something more.
We've totally failed, both as his comrades and as idols.
Natsume: After that realisation during Next Door, we assumed things would be fine so long as we chose to prioritise Sora in our unit activities in the future.
But not only have we continued to leave him all by his lonesome, now we're practically distancing ourselves from him.
All the while, we keep making the excuse that, "we'll do it properly someday, after we finish up all the bothersome work".
— But when exactly is that "someday" going to arrive?
Tsumugi: ......
Mysterious 4 || Mysterious 6
Story Masterlist