![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shivalriesSeason: Summer
---
Location: Meeting Room
Ibara: Hm? What was that...?
Leo: Like. I. Said. You guys work too much!
Aren't you idols? Your job is to sing and dance in front of an audience and show 'em what dreams are made of!
So what the hell are you doing? Talking like you're a bunch of society heavyweights—investments this, labor that!
And even at the agencies, you're having staring contests with your computers and tapping away on your little calculators! Is that fun for you?! 'Cause I couldn't live that way!
You gotta take breaks sometimes; drop all your work! Get outside and see the sky!
What you need is rest! A holiday for ES!
Eichi: ...... ♪
Keito: ...Don't laugh, Eichi.
Eichi: Hm? I'm not laughing.
Keito: Liar. I know you—you passed the topic to Tsukinaga because you knew this would happen.
And sure enough, Saegusa's getting overwhelmed. You better take responsibility.
Eichi: Responsibility, you say...
But don't you find it amusing? Tsukinaga-kun's sensibilities are so unique, and he so easily says things that no one else would dare.
Perhaps we really should introduce calendar holidays into ES. It won't be so scary if we all rest together...♪
Keito: Enough of your dumb jokes. You'll just complicate things.
Eichi: Hehe, Tsukinaga-kun always says such out-of-pocket things, but what's so troublesome is that there's a grain of truth to them.
---
Location: Underground Catacombs
(Meanwhile, in Tsumugi's dream)
Mayoi: Now concludes our regular Secret Summit meeting.
Please take care on your way back to the darkness, everyone...♪
Hokuto: Our next meeting will take place two weeks from now. Until then, keep up your activities, but don't put yourselves in danger.
You don't want those surface dwellers to find you.
Tsumugi: ...You've worked hard, both of you.
Thank you for taking the time to explain everything to me, too. I think I'm finally starting to understand what "balance" means.
Mayoi: Hehe, that's good. What conclusions have you come to?
Tsumugi: I always thought that "balance" was more of a vague ideal.
Like, holding back on something, or drawing some lines somewhere—just being more conservative.
But looks like it's a little different from that. It's not just about letting go...
What's important is to ask yourself what you really want. That's my conclusion.
Mayoi: I agree. You might think you're doing fine, but your body protests otherwise.
Check in with your body and mind, and rest when you want to rest, work when you want to work...
That's how we conceive "balance" here.
Tsumugi: Yes... I'd always let my strong sense of duty dictate my actions.
I was always going at things from the angle of "Can I do it?", not "Do I want to do it?"
So, from now on, I'm going to keep checking in with myself as I work.
That way, I can notice when I'm feeling tired. And when I'm feeling happy, I won't put those emotions on the back burner anymore.
Hokuto: Yes, you're on the right track. Listen to your own voice—that's "balance".
It's exactly because you're able to work for others' sakes that I want you to take care of yourself. There's only one Aoba-senpai in the world, after all.
Mayoi: Hehe, you're fitting right in with the Secret Summit, Tsumugi-san ♪
Tsumugi: Oh no, I'm sure I still have a lot to learn.
Hokuto: But I bet it's feeling more comfortable for you.
Here, we are free. We can take things at our own pace, without anything tying us down.
I'm sure you'll find the specific path that's right for you in due time, Aoba-senpai. But until then, you can rest your wings here.
Tsumugi: I appreciate that. Guess I'll make myself comfy... Hm?
What's that sound...?
Hokuto: ...! Shoot. The surface dwellers have spotted us.
I'll buy time! You two go on ahead!
Mayoi: Hidaka-san!
Hokuto: Don't worry about me. I've been ready for this from the start.
Ayase, keep Aoba-senpai safe. Take him as far as you possibly can.
Mayoi: ...Alright, I understand. Tsumugi-san, over here!
There's an underground passage beyond this door. We've laid traps around it, so they won't capture us so easily.
Tsumugi: Got it!
Ack?! Something's...pressing on me!
Mayoi: A-Are you alright, Tsumugi-san?!
---
Location: Music Studio
(Back in reality, in the music studio)
Tsumugi: ...? Where am I...?
Mayoi: Ah! Sorry, did I wake you?
I was worried you'd catch a cold, so I carried a futon quilt over from the night watch office...
Tsumugi: Ayase-kun...
What happened to the Secret Summit?
---
< Dazed, Dazzled, Dreaming Chapter 6 || Masterlist || Dazed, Dazzled, Dreaming Chapter 8 >
---
Location: Meeting Room
Ibara: Hm? What was that...?
Leo: Like. I. Said. You guys work too much!
Aren't you idols? Your job is to sing and dance in front of an audience and show 'em what dreams are made of!
So what the hell are you doing? Talking like you're a bunch of society heavyweights—investments this, labor that!
And even at the agencies, you're having staring contests with your computers and tapping away on your little calculators! Is that fun for you?! 'Cause I couldn't live that way!
You gotta take breaks sometimes; drop all your work! Get outside and see the sky!
What you need is rest! A holiday for ES!
Eichi: ...... ♪
Keito: ...Don't laugh, Eichi.
Eichi: Hm? I'm not laughing.
Keito: Liar. I know you—you passed the topic to Tsukinaga because you knew this would happen.
And sure enough, Saegusa's getting overwhelmed. You better take responsibility.
Eichi: Responsibility, you say...
But don't you find it amusing? Tsukinaga-kun's sensibilities are so unique, and he so easily says things that no one else would dare.
Perhaps we really should introduce calendar holidays into ES. It won't be so scary if we all rest together...♪
Keito: Enough of your dumb jokes. You'll just complicate things.
Eichi: Hehe, Tsukinaga-kun always says such out-of-pocket things, but what's so troublesome is that there's a grain of truth to them.
---
Location: Underground Catacombs
(Meanwhile, in Tsumugi's dream)
Mayoi: Now concludes our regular Secret Summit meeting.
Please take care on your way back to the darkness, everyone...♪
Hokuto: Our next meeting will take place two weeks from now. Until then, keep up your activities, but don't put yourselves in danger.
You don't want those surface dwellers to find you.
Tsumugi: ...You've worked hard, both of you.
Thank you for taking the time to explain everything to me, too. I think I'm finally starting to understand what "balance" means.
Mayoi: Hehe, that's good. What conclusions have you come to?
Tsumugi: I always thought that "balance" was more of a vague ideal.
Like, holding back on something, or drawing some lines somewhere—just being more conservative.
But looks like it's a little different from that. It's not just about letting go...
What's important is to ask yourself what you really want. That's my conclusion.
Mayoi: I agree. You might think you're doing fine, but your body protests otherwise.
Check in with your body and mind, and rest when you want to rest, work when you want to work...
That's how we conceive "balance" here.
Tsumugi: Yes... I'd always let my strong sense of duty dictate my actions.
I was always going at things from the angle of "Can I do it?", not "Do I want to do it?"
So, from now on, I'm going to keep checking in with myself as I work.
That way, I can notice when I'm feeling tired. And when I'm feeling happy, I won't put those emotions on the back burner anymore.
Hokuto: Yes, you're on the right track. Listen to your own voice—that's "balance".
It's exactly because you're able to work for others' sakes that I want you to take care of yourself. There's only one Aoba-senpai in the world, after all.
Mayoi: Hehe, you're fitting right in with the Secret Summit, Tsumugi-san ♪
Tsumugi: Oh no, I'm sure I still have a lot to learn.
Hokuto: But I bet it's feeling more comfortable for you.
Here, we are free. We can take things at our own pace, without anything tying us down.
I'm sure you'll find the specific path that's right for you in due time, Aoba-senpai. But until then, you can rest your wings here.
Tsumugi: I appreciate that. Guess I'll make myself comfy... Hm?
What's that sound...?
Hokuto: ...! Shoot. The surface dwellers have spotted us.
I'll buy time! You two go on ahead!
Mayoi: Hidaka-san!
Hokuto: Don't worry about me. I've been ready for this from the start.
Ayase, keep Aoba-senpai safe. Take him as far as you possibly can.
Mayoi: ...Alright, I understand. Tsumugi-san, over here!
There's an underground passage beyond this door. We've laid traps around it, so they won't capture us so easily.
Tsumugi: Got it!
Ack?! Something's...pressing on me!
Mayoi: A-Are you alright, Tsumugi-san?!
---
Location: Music Studio
(Back in reality, in the music studio)
Tsumugi: ...? Where am I...?
Mayoi: Ah! Sorry, did I wake you?
I was worried you'd catch a cold, so I carried a futon quilt over from the night watch office...
Tsumugi: Ayase-kun...
What happened to the Secret Summit?
---
< Dazed, Dazzled, Dreaming Chapter 6 || Masterlist || Dazed, Dazzled, Dreaming Chapter 8 >
