Mad Party - Mad Hatter Chapter 3
Jun. 1st, 2023 01:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shivalriesSeason: Autumn
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Location: Bus Interior
(After filming)
Izumi: Augh, this sucks...!
You practically never see a chance to wear a brand new Mad Hatter piece like this... Why aren't I at those auditions?!
Ritsu: Mnnn, zzz... Be quiet, Secchan. I'm trying to sleep...
Go back to being a professional... I can't believe I praised you before.
Stop whining about your regrets and let me... rest... Snzzz...
Leo: Whoa! Rittsu fell asleep in the middle of his sentence!
I want him to teach me the secret to snoozing~ Sounds useful for days when the inspiration hits so hard I can't sleep a wink... ☆
Tsukasa: Th-That's... not happening, right?!
Leo: Whoops, I was just joking around since things were getting a little catty in here...♪
I get why Sena isn't too happy about this, though.
Just goes to show how much he admires Mad Hatter, right? Did that boldness of yours come from her too, Sena?
Izumi: You really think I'm that easily influenced by other people? I just thought it must've felt exhilarating for her to shut up the existing industry bigwigs with sheer ability alone, that's all!
This seriously sucks... Ugh, just thinking about it ticks me off!
Tsukasa: These sorts of things all depend on luck and timing.
Luck will abandon you if you are too pessimistic. Should our juniors do well in Underland, there may come another chance to wear a new Mad Hatter design.
In the entertainment industry, it is not uncommon to succeed in one job and be contacted again for a similar one.
It is possible that Mad Hatter-san may make an outfit for us in the future.
An offer, if you will: what say you to helping to train our juniors to increase their chances of success, Sena-senpai?
Your advice would be as a club to an oni—a treasured sword to Knights ♪ [1]
Arashi: You are so hot-blooded over this, Tsukasa-kun. I'd rather be more elegant about it, you know?
We don't really have time to fret over this, though. We still have Cocktail Piano work to do.
Fragrance Live—let's make sure we don't slack on our preparations for it, okay? [2]
Leo: Agreed~ One job ends and another pops up. We're so busy!
The jobs are just flooding in! No, it's like a whole tsunami of jobs!
Izumi: Your metaphors are getting away from you.
Geez, every time somebody opens their mouth, it's "juniors" this, "juniors" that...
I bet you guys can only say stuff like that because you don't know just how much I've put into the Mad Hatter brand.
Leo: Oh? Then maybe we should have a Knights-style competition for it?
A showdown with the right to take the audition on the line! The winner gets the chance to try snatching the mad hatter role for themselves!
Completely skill-based, no frills! This'll make you less antsy about it too, right, Sena?
Tsukasa: Th-That would quash any and all trust our juniors have in us!
I have already called them to action and told them that this is their time to shine! To pull the rug from beneath their feet now would be an unprecedented abuse of power!
You understand that, don't you, Sena-senpai?
Izumi: ......
Alright, I've got it. I'm going to perform in Underland as part of Knights too.
We've only just passed the preliminary screening, right? There shouldn't be any problem with me joining in the audition.
Tsukasa: Well, technically, yes, but that isn't quite the issue at hand here...
For instance, what would you do about Fragrance Live, which is happening around the same time? You could not be thinking about missing it, could you?
I accepted the offer for the five of us—this is written on the contract.
If we were to cancel due to our own circumstances, we may have to pay compensation for breaching the contract. We must take responsibility for our choices.
Izumi: Hmph, just who do you think I am? As long as they don't take place at exactly the same time, I can handle both, no sweat.
Tsukasa: Urgh... Swayed not an inch by my reasoning...
Arashi: If that's the case, then why don't we just tweak the Fragrance Live schedule a bit?
Fortunately, the venue's only been tentatively booked for now, and we haven't announced the schedule publicly.
I had you all go along with my selfish wishes, so this is the least I can do in return, right?
Not like you'd listen to us when you're like this, Izumi-chan. Seriously, what a narcissist.
Izumi: Oh, and you're better than me? Don't be so annoying.
But still, if the schedule gets pushed back, then I'll be able to do both without an issue. I can put all my energy into Underland first, and leave the prep for Fragrance Live for later.
Any objections?
Tsukasa: *sigh* I see you are very intent on participating...
Very well, then. I shall attempt to negotiate our schedule. Informing our juniors of this change in plan takes top priority, though.
Izumi: Heh, gotta strike while the iron is hot. Let's hurry up and get to forming a strategy for us to win these auditions... ♪
In any case, I'll be there for tomorrow's practice. Also, Leo-kun will be writing a new song for Underland.
Seems like you can either choose one of the ready-made songs or bring your own to the audition, so I want to get an edge over the competition with a new, original song.
If Leo-kun's on board, then we have no reason not to use the weapons we have on hand, right?
Leo: Jumping the gun there, Sena~
But I like the enthusiasm! I wanted to write an Alice-themed song, anyway, so that's two birds with one stone ☆
This makes me kinda excited! I'm gonna write up a bunch of music while the inspiration's flowing~ ☆
---
[1] "A club to an oni" is a Japanese idiom meaning "adding a fearsome weapon to something that is already strong". Tsukasa first says this and then rewords the phrase to include "Knights" and "sword" instead. He's so cute actually ↑
[2] Worth it to note that while the JP text says "Fragrance Live" multiple times in this story, the Fragrance Live in the actual Fragrance story (Arashi center 2021) was canceled in late October in the timeline. For all intents and purposes I am assuming that the "Fragrance Live" mentioned in Mad Party actually refers to the Mystic Fragrance MV filming, which takes place in early November in Fragrance, and which was most likely the thing being moved for Izumi to participate in auditions.↑
---
< Mad Hatter Chapter 2 | Masterlist | Mad Hatter Chapter 4 >
---
Location: Bus Interior
(After filming)
Izumi: Augh, this sucks...!
You practically never see a chance to wear a brand new Mad Hatter piece like this... Why aren't I at those auditions?!
Ritsu: Mnnn, zzz... Be quiet, Secchan. I'm trying to sleep...
Go back to being a professional... I can't believe I praised you before.
Stop whining about your regrets and let me... rest... Snzzz...
Leo: Whoa! Rittsu fell asleep in the middle of his sentence!
I want him to teach me the secret to snoozing~ Sounds useful for days when the inspiration hits so hard I can't sleep a wink... ☆
Tsukasa: Th-That's... not happening, right?!
Leo: Whoops, I was just joking around since things were getting a little catty in here...♪
I get why Sena isn't too happy about this, though.
Just goes to show how much he admires Mad Hatter, right? Did that boldness of yours come from her too, Sena?
Izumi: You really think I'm that easily influenced by other people? I just thought it must've felt exhilarating for her to shut up the existing industry bigwigs with sheer ability alone, that's all!
This seriously sucks... Ugh, just thinking about it ticks me off!
Tsukasa: These sorts of things all depend on luck and timing.
Luck will abandon you if you are too pessimistic. Should our juniors do well in Underland, there may come another chance to wear a new Mad Hatter design.
In the entertainment industry, it is not uncommon to succeed in one job and be contacted again for a similar one.
It is possible that Mad Hatter-san may make an outfit for us in the future.
An offer, if you will: what say you to helping to train our juniors to increase their chances of success, Sena-senpai?
Your advice would be as a club to an oni—a treasured sword to Knights ♪ [1]
Arashi: You are so hot-blooded over this, Tsukasa-kun. I'd rather be more elegant about it, you know?
We don't really have time to fret over this, though. We still have Cocktail Piano work to do.
Fragrance Live—let's make sure we don't slack on our preparations for it, okay? [2]
Leo: Agreed~ One job ends and another pops up. We're so busy!
The jobs are just flooding in! No, it's like a whole tsunami of jobs!
Izumi: Your metaphors are getting away from you.
Geez, every time somebody opens their mouth, it's "juniors" this, "juniors" that...
I bet you guys can only say stuff like that because you don't know just how much I've put into the Mad Hatter brand.
Leo: Oh? Then maybe we should have a Knights-style competition for it?
A showdown with the right to take the audition on the line! The winner gets the chance to try snatching the mad hatter role for themselves!
Completely skill-based, no frills! This'll make you less antsy about it too, right, Sena?
Tsukasa: Th-That would quash any and all trust our juniors have in us!
I have already called them to action and told them that this is their time to shine! To pull the rug from beneath their feet now would be an unprecedented abuse of power!
You understand that, don't you, Sena-senpai?
Izumi: ......
Alright, I've got it. I'm going to perform in Underland as part of Knights too.
We've only just passed the preliminary screening, right? There shouldn't be any problem with me joining in the audition.
Tsukasa: Well, technically, yes, but that isn't quite the issue at hand here...
For instance, what would you do about Fragrance Live, which is happening around the same time? You could not be thinking about missing it, could you?
I accepted the offer for the five of us—this is written on the contract.
If we were to cancel due to our own circumstances, we may have to pay compensation for breaching the contract. We must take responsibility for our choices.
Izumi: Hmph, just who do you think I am? As long as they don't take place at exactly the same time, I can handle both, no sweat.
Tsukasa: Urgh... Swayed not an inch by my reasoning...
Arashi: If that's the case, then why don't we just tweak the Fragrance Live schedule a bit?
Fortunately, the venue's only been tentatively booked for now, and we haven't announced the schedule publicly.
I had you all go along with my selfish wishes, so this is the least I can do in return, right?
Not like you'd listen to us when you're like this, Izumi-chan. Seriously, what a narcissist.
Izumi: Oh, and you're better than me? Don't be so annoying.
But still, if the schedule gets pushed back, then I'll be able to do both without an issue. I can put all my energy into Underland first, and leave the prep for Fragrance Live for later.
Any objections?
Tsukasa: *sigh* I see you are very intent on participating...
Very well, then. I shall attempt to negotiate our schedule. Informing our juniors of this change in plan takes top priority, though.
Izumi: Heh, gotta strike while the iron is hot. Let's hurry up and get to forming a strategy for us to win these auditions... ♪
In any case, I'll be there for tomorrow's practice. Also, Leo-kun will be writing a new song for Underland.
Seems like you can either choose one of the ready-made songs or bring your own to the audition, so I want to get an edge over the competition with a new, original song.
If Leo-kun's on board, then we have no reason not to use the weapons we have on hand, right?
Leo: Jumping the gun there, Sena~
But I like the enthusiasm! I wanted to write an Alice-themed song, anyway, so that's two birds with one stone ☆
This makes me kinda excited! I'm gonna write up a bunch of music while the inspiration's flowing~ ☆
---
[1] "A club to an oni" is a Japanese idiom meaning "adding a fearsome weapon to something that is already strong". Tsukasa first says this and then rewords the phrase to include "Knights" and "sword" instead. He's so cute actually ↑
[2] Worth it to note that while the JP text says "Fragrance Live" multiple times in this story, the Fragrance Live in the actual Fragrance story (Arashi center 2021) was canceled in late October in the timeline. For all intents and purposes I am assuming that the "Fragrance Live" mentioned in Mad Party actually refers to the Mystic Fragrance MV filming, which takes place in early November in Fragrance, and which was most likely the thing being moved for Izumi to participate in auditions.↑
---
< Mad Hatter Chapter 2 | Masterlist | Mad Hatter Chapter 4 >
