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Season: Spring, one year ago

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Location: Private Hospital Room



Eichi: Good, this shall do. There are still a few points of concern, but let's consider this the final draft.

If I don't hurry up and make a move soon, it will only make it harder for the story to develop...

The hands of time are always ticking away. I have to pick up the pace and set a good stopping point for this plan, lest I fail to catch the train of reality before it leaves.

My days of being trapped inside a tiny room as I watch the story unfold outside will soon be over. Come, Keito—let us begin this story that you and I will weave together.



Tsumugi: Did you call for me, Eichi-kun? [1]

Eichi: Well, not quite. ...You certainly come by a lot, Tsumugi.

I recall you live quite far from here. Isn't the transportation costly for you?

Tsumugi: I mean, yeah, but I'm your friend!

We're gonna be working in the same unit together really soon, anyway. I thought it'd be nice for us to talk face-to-face and get to know each other as much as we can~♪

Eichi: I wouldn't quite describe our unit as a group of friends hanging out... but I'm glad you feel that way, Tsumugi. I do hope we can be friends for a long time to come.

Tsumugi: Of course we can! We'll be friends forever, Eichi-kuuun~☆

Eichi: Yes, continue being useful to me and we'll be friends forever ♪

Tsumugi: Uh, did I just hear you say something super scary?!

Eichi: You must have imagined it. More importantly—have you carried out what I requested of you?

Sorry to ask so much, it's just that I fell sick again and had to come back to the hospital... I can't do much myself.

I must have gotten far too excited about finally getting discharged and only caused my health to regress again. It is so very frustrating to have this happen just as everything is about to be set in motion...

Tsumugi: Ahaha, I'm sorry about that. It's my fault too—I should've known that would happen, having been right there next to you.

They said it was just a precautionary check-up, though, right? I'm sure you'll be out of here again in no time.

Besides, I can always do what you want done in your place.

So, as for what you asked... I'm still in the process of finding potential members for the new unit we created, fine.

I've done some write-ups on them. I'm assuming you wanna have a look?

Eichi: Of course, show me.

...Hm, I see. I suppose we can't help how much the overall idol quality has dropped at Yumenosaki...

Looks like we'll have to compensate for skill with numbers for now.

Let's see... Backgammon... Well, I believe it's back to "Chess" now, but we could probably rule out anyone from there.

I thought we might stumble upon a lucky find, but from what I gather from this info, none of them seem useful. Besides, Tsukinaga-kun may resent us for trying to poach his people.

Mmm... We can reserve some potential recruits from over here instead.

I'll handle the recruitment and negotiations. I have an idea how to win them over, after all, and I plan to use everything in my arsenal to get them on our side. Though, if we have to get rid of them later, it won't be such a big loss.

Let's try... this one, and this one. They'll bolster our forces greatly, but they may be difficult to handle.

Tsumugi: Which ones? Ahh, Nagisa-kun and Hiyori-kun...?

I'm acquainted with Nagisa-kun, so I think I can reach out to him.

As for Hiyori-kun, maybe you already know him, Eichi-kun? I think he's also pretty well-off.

Eichi: Indeed, his family's a big name in business circles. In terms of status, they were once on par with us Tenshouins.

...As such, our families have some discord with each other. I'd honestly prefer not to get too involved with him.

Hiyori-kun is not the type I mix well with on a personal level, either. We are perhaps too similar—looking at one another is like seeing a more flawed version of ourselves.

He is talented, I will admit. Having him in our grasp would be hugely beneficial. I suppose I should at least try talking to him...

I can't imagine he'll listen to anything I say, though.

Oh well, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. We don't have to rope in the most stubborn ones right away. Recruiting whoever is most convenient and using them effectively should be sufficient for now.

I'd rather turn our attention to the "Five Eccentrics", now that they've finally been decided.

Tsumugi: Oh? So we have a solid idea now! That sure took a while, huh... We couldn't find the perfect fifth member for so long.

Eichi: Mm-hmm. Added on to the first three suggestions of Rei Sakuma, Kanata Shinkai, and Wataru Hibiki...

...we now have Shu Itsuki from Valkyrie, and lastly, the first-year student Natsume Sakasaki. That makes five.

Tsumugi: Oh, so Natsume-cha— I mean, Natsume-kun will be an Eccentric after all, huh?

Eichi: I really went back and forth over it... But considering the influence he has on others as well as some other factors, he ended up the best overall choice.

There are plenty of others who are just as talented, but they all seemed to lack a certain level of "completeness".

Of the current first years, Sakasaki-kun is the only one who stands out as a "complete" power, one that would not be overshadowed next to the other Eccentrics.

I still have my reservations about selecting him via process of elimination, but he will indeed be the final Eccentric.

Tsumugi: Really? Oh, I can't wait to tell him.

He's been selected as one of the five idols that will get the whole school's support, after all. It's something to celebrate!

Eichi: Hm? Ah, yes, that was indeed how I framed it on the surface...

You've been a great help to me. Perhaps it's about time I began to reveal some details of the real plan to you.

Tsumugi: Huh? Are you... plotting something bad, Eichi-kun?

Eichi: Heh, whether it's good or evil will be for future historians to decide. Since I'd rather not go down in the records as some miserable petty villain, I'll have to ensure I win.

Let's do our best, Tsumugi. You and I will draw the curtains on the old era and begin a brand new story.

Tsumugi: Hehe, I'm not sure I entirely follow, but get some good rest first, okay? I'm more concerned about your health than whatever's in the distant future, Eichi-kun.

Eichi: That's a rather plain response, Tsumugi.

Tsumugi: More than 99% of the things in this world are plain and ordinary.

Those shining treasures that make up less than 1% are important too, of course, but I think it's a little sad to disregard everything else.

Eichi: I see that we disagree—but that actually serves to my benefit. Surrounding oneself with yes-men would achieve very little...

Should you have any opinions about anything moving forward, please do not hesitate to share them.

Tsumugi: Got it! Leave it to me! I'm the kind of guy who can't read a room...☆

Eichi: That's not something to be proud of, Tsumugi.

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[1] The wordplay unfortunately gets lost in translation, but Eichi originally uses the word 紡ぐ (tsumugu, "to weave"), which Tsumugi mishears as his own name.

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