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iridesenescenceChapter 4:
Location: StarPro Office
Season: Autumn
Proofread by Rei and Blake
Hokuto: (I’ve racked my brains trying to figure out what Tenshouin-senpai wants from me, but in the end, I still don’t have a clue. Since I was called to the agency, it’s probably something related to idol work...)
(But this is Tenshouin-senpai we’re talking about. I can’t ignore the possibility that he’ll throw me for a loop with a completely unexpected converversation topic. Whatever the case, I’ll have to keep my wits about me.)
Eichi: Oh, you’re right on time, Hokuto.
Hokuto: There’s no way I would keep you waiting. And more importantly—
Eichi: You’re absolutely dying to find out what I have to say, so you want me to hurry up and get on with it?
Hokuto: ... Yes, exactly that. Is there anything you can’t foresee?
Eichi: Unfortunately, there are plenty. Especially in this situation.
Mm~mm. What should I do? My motivation is ebbing away the longer I look at you. I don’t wanna do this.
Hokuto: ... What?
Eichi: I would love to turn a blind eye to this, but I’m afraid that goes against my nature.
But honestly? Don’t you think it would be pretty absurd to let yourself fall into an obvious trap?
Hokuto: I don’t know how to react even if you seek my agreement... I don’t have a single clue as to what you’re venting about. Care to explain yourself?
Eichi: Yes, I suppose I should. Since all three of us have gathered, I guess I can start.
Hokuto: Three...? Who else is—
Wataru: That would be none other than me, Hibiki Wataru! ☆
Hokuto: Gah...?! Don’t show up out of nowhere, you.
Wataru: Fufufu. I can’t say I approve of how utterly defenceless you are.
You never know when or where something might occur. Prepare yourself for anything, lest you miss an Amazing moment... ☆
Hokuto: I’ll keep it in mind, but... I doubt anyone else would be making their entrance from the ceiling.
With Hibiki-senpai here as well... This situation grows ever more mysterious.
(The drastic difference in their energies is confusing me as well. Tenshouin-senpai seems troubled, but Hibiki-senpai is in high spirits.)
(Well, I guess this is how he is all the time—)
Okay, please just cut to the chase — what do you need from me, or what do you want me to do?
Eichi: ... Alright. Hidaka Hokuto, I need to ask a favour of you.
I want you to participate in some promotional activities with Wataru.
Hokuto: Promotional activities... You mean, as an idol?
Eichi: Of course. You two are idols, after all.
Hokuto: (That’s... kind of anticlimactic, after all that wondering about what he would say.)
If that’s all you wanted to ask of me, communicating via Whole Hands would have sufficed, no? Did this matter really necessitate going through all the trouble of calling me here?
Eichi: Absolutely. It’s precisely because I deemed it best to tell you this in person that I had you come all the way to the agency office.
It’s hard to add an emotional touch to formal messages, and I have a feeling just seeing the plain text would cause you a great shock.
What I’m asking you to take part in isn’t just publicity.
... It’s publicity for “Hockey Mask”.
Hokuto: Wh— Hockey Mask?!
What’s the meaning of this? Are you trying to dredge that up now? What would that achieve?
Eichi: ... I don’t know how to answer you. You see, I’m not the one who sparked things this time.
To better understand the situation, could you first watch this video?
Hokuto: Video...? What is this?
I... No, “Hockey Mask” is dancing.
Wataru: A fusion of a trending song and footage of “Hockey Mask” — this is what is known as an unofficial MAD*, isn’t it.
Apparently, some of these works even contain 3D CG modelled from that performance footage.
Wataru: Look, this one’s incredible! “Hockey Mask” is dancing along to one of fine’s songs, Amazing ☆
Hokuto: I don’t see what’s Amazing about it. How on earth did this...
Eichi: I don’t know the reason for it either, but the fact of the matter is that “Hockey Mask” has been going viral on this video site aimed at children.
It’s such a hit that there was even this special feature page set up. “The Return of Hockey Mask”, it’s called.
Hokuto: I can’t believe this is being dredged up after so long... But, at least I’ve finally figured out why I felt myself being watched.
Eichi: Being watched?
Hokuto: Lately, I would occasionally feel the odd sensation of being watched. My friends suggested it might be the work of an evil spirit, and for me to get an exorcism, but—
It’s likely that its source was simply people who learnt of “Hockey Mask” through that site. The date that the feature page was made corresponds to when I first started feeling like I was being watched.
I don’t think people have noticed that I am “Hockey Mask”, but it’s likely that they end up staring because they see a resemblance.
Despite the fact that, aside from wearing that mask, I didn’t try to hide my identity in any way.
Eichi: It’s bizarre, isn’t it? But putting that aside, this would normally be a situation that we try to quell...
Except that we’ve gotten a whole flood of partnership requests from external companies. If at all possible, I’d like you to accept them.
Hokuto: ... “Possible”? Are you not going to force me to?
Eichi: As StarPro’s manager, of course that’s what I would like to do. This is, after all, a huge business opportunity.
But this matter isn’t that simple. Putting aside how the rest of the world may view this... It’s a delicate and sensitive issue.
Because, even if just by a little bit, it requires the opening of a lid that has long been kept closed.
Hokuto: ......
Wataru: If you’re vehemently opposed to the idea, then it’s alright to decline. This is but a fad; people will soon tire of it, and the craze will die down.
Give it time, and the storm will pass before long — I’m sure you’ll eventually stop being stared at as well.
Hokuto: ... I can wait for it to pass, but that won’t erase the past. I can avoid being stared at, but I can’t pretend it didn’t happen. So, that’s why—
I’ll don this mask once more.
TL note *: For those who don't know, MADs are fan-made or edited videos. Here are two examples, courtesy of my proofreaders!
Location: StarPro Office
Season: Autumn
Proofread by Rei and Blake
Hokuto: (I’ve racked my brains trying to figure out what Tenshouin-senpai wants from me, but in the end, I still don’t have a clue. Since I was called to the agency, it’s probably something related to idol work...)
(But this is Tenshouin-senpai we’re talking about. I can’t ignore the possibility that he’ll throw me for a loop with a completely unexpected converversation topic. Whatever the case, I’ll have to keep my wits about me.)
Eichi: Oh, you’re right on time, Hokuto.
Hokuto: There’s no way I would keep you waiting. And more importantly—
Eichi: You’re absolutely dying to find out what I have to say, so you want me to hurry up and get on with it?
Hokuto: ... Yes, exactly that. Is there anything you can’t foresee?
Eichi: Unfortunately, there are plenty. Especially in this situation.
Mm~mm. What should I do? My motivation is ebbing away the longer I look at you. I don’t wanna do this.
Hokuto: ... What?
Eichi: I would love to turn a blind eye to this, but I’m afraid that goes against my nature.
But honestly? Don’t you think it would be pretty absurd to let yourself fall into an obvious trap?
Hokuto: I don’t know how to react even if you seek my agreement... I don’t have a single clue as to what you’re venting about. Care to explain yourself?
Eichi: Yes, I suppose I should. Since all three of us have gathered, I guess I can start.
Hokuto: Three...? Who else is—
Wataru: That would be none other than me, Hibiki Wataru! ☆
Hokuto: Gah...?! Don’t show up out of nowhere, you.
Wataru: Fufufu. I can’t say I approve of how utterly defenceless you are.
You never know when or where something might occur. Prepare yourself for anything, lest you miss an Amazing moment... ☆
Hokuto: I’ll keep it in mind, but... I doubt anyone else would be making their entrance from the ceiling.
With Hibiki-senpai here as well... This situation grows ever more mysterious.
(The drastic difference in their energies is confusing me as well. Tenshouin-senpai seems troubled, but Hibiki-senpai is in high spirits.)
(Well, I guess this is how he is all the time—)
Okay, please just cut to the chase — what do you need from me, or what do you want me to do?
Eichi: ... Alright. Hidaka Hokuto, I need to ask a favour of you.
I want you to participate in some promotional activities with Wataru.
Hokuto: Promotional activities... You mean, as an idol?
Eichi: Of course. You two are idols, after all.
Hokuto: (That’s... kind of anticlimactic, after all that wondering about what he would say.)
If that’s all you wanted to ask of me, communicating via Whole Hands would have sufficed, no? Did this matter really necessitate going through all the trouble of calling me here?
Eichi: Absolutely. It’s precisely because I deemed it best to tell you this in person that I had you come all the way to the agency office.
It’s hard to add an emotional touch to formal messages, and I have a feeling just seeing the plain text would cause you a great shock.
What I’m asking you to take part in isn’t just publicity.
... It’s publicity for “Hockey Mask”.
Hokuto: Wh— Hockey Mask?!
What’s the meaning of this? Are you trying to dredge that up now? What would that achieve?
Eichi: ... I don’t know how to answer you. You see, I’m not the one who sparked things this time.
To better understand the situation, could you first watch this video?
Hokuto: Video...? What is this?
I... No, “Hockey Mask” is dancing.
Wataru: A fusion of a trending song and footage of “Hockey Mask” — this is what is known as an unofficial MAD*, isn’t it.
Apparently, some of these works even contain 3D CG modelled from that performance footage.
Wataru: Look, this one’s incredible! “Hockey Mask” is dancing along to one of fine’s songs, Amazing ☆
Hokuto: I don’t see what’s Amazing about it. How on earth did this...
Eichi: I don’t know the reason for it either, but the fact of the matter is that “Hockey Mask” has been going viral on this video site aimed at children.
It’s such a hit that there was even this special feature page set up. “The Return of Hockey Mask”, it’s called.
Hokuto: I can’t believe this is being dredged up after so long... But, at least I’ve finally figured out why I felt myself being watched.
Eichi: Being watched?
Hokuto: Lately, I would occasionally feel the odd sensation of being watched. My friends suggested it might be the work of an evil spirit, and for me to get an exorcism, but—
It’s likely that its source was simply people who learnt of “Hockey Mask” through that site. The date that the feature page was made corresponds to when I first started feeling like I was being watched.
I don’t think people have noticed that I am “Hockey Mask”, but it’s likely that they end up staring because they see a resemblance.
Despite the fact that, aside from wearing that mask, I didn’t try to hide my identity in any way.
Eichi: It’s bizarre, isn’t it? But putting that aside, this would normally be a situation that we try to quell...
Except that we’ve gotten a whole flood of partnership requests from external companies. If at all possible, I’d like you to accept them.
Hokuto: ... “Possible”? Are you not going to force me to?
Eichi: As StarPro’s manager, of course that’s what I would like to do. This is, after all, a huge business opportunity.
But this matter isn’t that simple. Putting aside how the rest of the world may view this... It’s a delicate and sensitive issue.
Because, even if just by a little bit, it requires the opening of a lid that has long been kept closed.
Hokuto: ......
Wataru: If you’re vehemently opposed to the idea, then it’s alright to decline. This is but a fad; people will soon tire of it, and the craze will die down.
Give it time, and the storm will pass before long — I’m sure you’ll eventually stop being stared at as well.
Hokuto: ... I can wait for it to pass, but that won’t erase the past. I can avoid being stared at, but I can’t pretend it didn’t happen. So, that’s why—
I’ll don this mask once more.
TL note *: For those who don't know, MADs are fan-made or edited videos. Here are two examples, courtesy of my proofreaders!
