VS Princess - Battle Royal Chapter 11
Nov. 15th, 2025 03:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shivalriesSeason: Spring
---
Location: Prince's Castle (Hall)
Tsukasa: Well, ES has no shortage of idols with unique backgrounds. This is hardly surprising at this point.
I myself have been asked in interviews and the like why the “heir of a distinguished family” would choose to be an idol.
Mao: That really is a good question, though. You already had a stable life set up for you with a family business to inherit, right?
Tsukasa: That's hardly your business. ...It may sound ridiculous coming from me, but I am well aware I'm leading a very unusual life.
Subaru: I'm just happy to see so many people gunning to be idols, 'cause I love idols!
Mao: And I'm sure there'll be more and more. I've been saying all day that idol careers are so much more lucrative these days...
Now, instead of just the odd misfit here and there, everybody and their mom wants to be an idol.
From here on out, we're going to have to compete against who knows how many average Joes out there.
And the more people there are, the harder it gets to stand out. The competition's gonna get very intense in the near future.
Tsukasa: That is exactly why becoming one of Mr. Nice's specially selected idols is an important step for our futures.
To put it rather tastelessly—victory here will secure glory for the future.
That is what it means to win victory in 4piece—to be chosen by the world. In other words, it would ensure victory for the rest of one's life—
Mao: You guys are already dominating the market as one of ES's Big 3, and you're still wishing for more?
Tsukasa: Those with such vulgar ambitions driving them are also the ones who will wager their lives to vie for victory. We mustn't let our guards down at the top—that's all I mean, senpai.
Leo: Just say you wanna get picked to win, Suo~! You're a boy, right?
You gotta become like me—somebody who makes people's eyes light up with surprise and admiration when they hear your name!
In that sense, you're already losing to this famous little adventurer over here.
Tsukasa: Is Sagiri-san truly so well-known?
I had no idea; as we all know, those who are famous overseas are hardly spoken of within Japan, so I'm afraid I'm ill-informed.
Esu: I’m not really advertising it, either.
Fuyume: Exactly, Esu is my wonderful, successful son ♪ I’m so proud of him ♪
Esu: Can we have this weirdo be quiet before he starts making things complicated?
Subaru: Yeah, but...
I mean, I get the gist that we'll have all sorts of success if we get picked in 4piece...
But we don't know exactly what the criteria are for getting picked, do we?
Mao: That Nice guy stuck to talking about vague concepts instead of specifics, after all.
The only thing he's made clear is the overall outline of 4piece.
4piece will last for the entire coming week.
And it seems like during that time, there will be all sorts of different mini-games and contests held in each of the four venues.
Tsukasa: So, does that mean that winning these "games" will earn us a place in the Nice Dream Unit?
Esu: I dunno. It seems reasonable to think so...
Subaru: But in audition shows, sometimes contestants who get eliminated in the events themselves can make a comeback through judge and fan votes, y'know?
And sometimes, the ones who win with dirty tactics or by kicking others down end up disqualified because the viewers and judges alike despise them.
Tsukasa: Is that so? I should have done more research on these programs...
Subaru: I think it's fine to just aim to win the mini-games, you know?
Just try not to do anything that ruins your rep while that goes on—you feel?
Tsukasa: I see. As they say: if you are to win, win with honor.
Mao: That's right. During the program, we get points from the judges, and our final results are the total of our "individual score" and our "challenge score".
So even if you don't win in the mini-games, you can increase your chances of passing by acting in a way that suits the Nice Dream Unit—
Then, after all scores have been counted in all four venues, the four contestants with the highest total scores will be chosen... That's probably where the name “4piece” came from.
It wasn't that easy to pick up on everything the way NiceP explained it, but that about sums it up.
Leo: I see now~ Our final goal is to get into that unit at the end, so we shouldn't get too caught up in smaller victories.
Doesn't even sound like it has to be "one contestant per venue", so we don't have to be at each other's throats too much.
Maybe it's better to focus on pleasing the judges so we have a chance even if we lose in the games.
It's no audition show, but I get the general idea of it since I enter music competitions a lot.
If the judges are straight-laced, you'll wanna go with a more conventional piece; if they've got bolder tastes, then you'll wanna show them something wilder. It's like that.
Tsukasa: Interesting... In such contexts, I'd thought you would rise above the competition without any struggle, Leo-san. Yet I see you surprisingly put a lot of thought into it.
Leo: I bet you think I'm just an idiot with no thoughts in my head.
I'm not a god, okay? Besides, these kinds of contests attract a whole buffet of talents and geniuses. Not to mention, music is meant to be heard by living, breathing humans.
There's no way you'd get accepted everywhere if you didn't put a single thought into your work.
Tsukasa: That is very good advice. I’m seeing you in a slightly different light now, Leo-san.
I'd imagined you were the sort of vexing being who could grasp all manner of victory and glory in his hands without exerting a drop of effort.
Leo: If people wanna see me play the airheaded genius, I will, but for the most part, I actually do think over my options carefully, you know?
I couldn’t prepare anything for 4piece, though. They’ve really kept us in the dark about it.
I wonder what kinda contests they'll make us do?
Tsukasa: No matter what awaits us, I have no intention to lose to anyone.
That includes you, of course.
Leo: Bring it on. If you had burst into tears and started going, "I don't wanna fight with my vewy favowite Weo-san", I woulda slugged you across the face. Wahaha!
Tsukasa: Aside from you, Leo-san, I also have my nemeses in Trickstar, as well as the—rather cloying—rumored Sagiri-kun... Why, I have no complaints about my opponents. In fact, I could not ask for better.
I am readier than ever.
Leo: Take care not to waste that energy going in circles, okay?
It's supposed to be a happy, merry event full of love and peace, right? You don’t wanna be that one guy who looks way too intense ♪
---
Masterlist
---
Location: Prince's Castle (Hall)
Tsukasa: Well, ES has no shortage of idols with unique backgrounds. This is hardly surprising at this point.
I myself have been asked in interviews and the like why the “heir of a distinguished family” would choose to be an idol.
Mao: That really is a good question, though. You already had a stable life set up for you with a family business to inherit, right?
Tsukasa: That's hardly your business. ...It may sound ridiculous coming from me, but I am well aware I'm leading a very unusual life.
Subaru: I'm just happy to see so many people gunning to be idols, 'cause I love idols!
Mao: And I'm sure there'll be more and more. I've been saying all day that idol careers are so much more lucrative these days...
Now, instead of just the odd misfit here and there, everybody and their mom wants to be an idol.
From here on out, we're going to have to compete against who knows how many average Joes out there.
And the more people there are, the harder it gets to stand out. The competition's gonna get very intense in the near future.
Tsukasa: That is exactly why becoming one of Mr. Nice's specially selected idols is an important step for our futures.
To put it rather tastelessly—victory here will secure glory for the future.
That is what it means to win victory in 4piece—to be chosen by the world. In other words, it would ensure victory for the rest of one's life—
Mao: You guys are already dominating the market as one of ES's Big 3, and you're still wishing for more?
Tsukasa: Those with such vulgar ambitions driving them are also the ones who will wager their lives to vie for victory. We mustn't let our guards down at the top—that's all I mean, senpai.
Leo: Just say you wanna get picked to win, Suo~! You're a boy, right?
You gotta become like me—somebody who makes people's eyes light up with surprise and admiration when they hear your name!
In that sense, you're already losing to this famous little adventurer over here.
Tsukasa: Is Sagiri-san truly so well-known?
I had no idea; as we all know, those who are famous overseas are hardly spoken of within Japan, so I'm afraid I'm ill-informed.
Esu: I’m not really advertising it, either.
Fuyume: Exactly, Esu is my wonderful, successful son ♪ I’m so proud of him ♪
Esu: Can we have this weirdo be quiet before he starts making things complicated?
Subaru: Yeah, but...
I mean, I get the gist that we'll have all sorts of success if we get picked in 4piece...
But we don't know exactly what the criteria are for getting picked, do we?
Mao: That Nice guy stuck to talking about vague concepts instead of specifics, after all.
The only thing he's made clear is the overall outline of 4piece.
4piece will last for the entire coming week.
And it seems like during that time, there will be all sorts of different mini-games and contests held in each of the four venues.
Tsukasa: So, does that mean that winning these "games" will earn us a place in the Nice Dream Unit?
Esu: I dunno. It seems reasonable to think so...
Subaru: But in audition shows, sometimes contestants who get eliminated in the events themselves can make a comeback through judge and fan votes, y'know?
And sometimes, the ones who win with dirty tactics or by kicking others down end up disqualified because the viewers and judges alike despise them.
Tsukasa: Is that so? I should have done more research on these programs...
Subaru: I think it's fine to just aim to win the mini-games, you know?
Just try not to do anything that ruins your rep while that goes on—you feel?
Tsukasa: I see. As they say: if you are to win, win with honor.
Mao: That's right. During the program, we get points from the judges, and our final results are the total of our "individual score" and our "challenge score".
So even if you don't win in the mini-games, you can increase your chances of passing by acting in a way that suits the Nice Dream Unit—
Then, after all scores have been counted in all four venues, the four contestants with the highest total scores will be chosen... That's probably where the name “4piece” came from.
It wasn't that easy to pick up on everything the way NiceP explained it, but that about sums it up.
Leo: I see now~ Our final goal is to get into that unit at the end, so we shouldn't get too caught up in smaller victories.
Doesn't even sound like it has to be "one contestant per venue", so we don't have to be at each other's throats too much.
Maybe it's better to focus on pleasing the judges so we have a chance even if we lose in the games.
It's no audition show, but I get the general idea of it since I enter music competitions a lot.
If the judges are straight-laced, you'll wanna go with a more conventional piece; if they've got bolder tastes, then you'll wanna show them something wilder. It's like that.
Tsukasa: Interesting... In such contexts, I'd thought you would rise above the competition without any struggle, Leo-san. Yet I see you surprisingly put a lot of thought into it.
Leo: I bet you think I'm just an idiot with no thoughts in my head.
I'm not a god, okay? Besides, these kinds of contests attract a whole buffet of talents and geniuses. Not to mention, music is meant to be heard by living, breathing humans.
There's no way you'd get accepted everywhere if you didn't put a single thought into your work.
Tsukasa: That is very good advice. I’m seeing you in a slightly different light now, Leo-san.
I'd imagined you were the sort of vexing being who could grasp all manner of victory and glory in his hands without exerting a drop of effort.
Leo: If people wanna see me play the airheaded genius, I will, but for the most part, I actually do think over my options carefully, you know?
I couldn’t prepare anything for 4piece, though. They’ve really kept us in the dark about it.
I wonder what kinda contests they'll make us do?
Tsukasa: No matter what awaits us, I have no intention to lose to anyone.
That includes you, of course.
Leo: Bring it on. If you had burst into tears and started going, "I don't wanna fight with my vewy favowite Weo-san", I woulda slugged you across the face. Wahaha!
Tsukasa: Aside from you, Leo-san, I also have my nemeses in Trickstar, as well as the—rather cloying—rumored Sagiri-kun... Why, I have no complaints about my opponents. In fact, I could not ask for better.
I am readier than ever.
Leo: Take care not to waste that energy going in circles, okay?
It's supposed to be a happy, merry event full of love and peace, right? You don’t wanna be that one guy who looks way too intense ♪
---
Masterlist
