Next Door - Closed Circle Chapter 5
Sep. 24th, 2020 08:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shivalriesSeason: Summer
---
[Heliport]
Izumi: ...Hm-hmm. ♪
Um... Harukawa-kun, was it? What're you doing up here? Meeting up with someone?
Sora: ......
Izumi: But y'know, if you stand out here in the wind, you're gonna get covered in dirt.
Plus, the sunlight's still harsh at this time of day. It's not good for the skin, right?
I mean, look at me. I didn't even notice 'cause I was talking on the phone, and now my beautiful hairdo's all ruffled up. ♪
Sora: ......
Izumi: (...He's ignoring me?! After I went out of my way to talk to him so nicely? Who does he think he is?)
(Why are none of my Yumenosaki juniors cute in any way?)
Sora: ...HaHa~?
Sorry! Sora should apologize when he's been rude! Were you talking to Sora... Silver-san?
Izumi: Huh? Silver? Just who are you calling elderly?
Sora: HiHi~! Your color and character are just like silver!
Izumi: Color? Well it's true that silver's beautiful and valuable, but if you're not respectful in how you handle it, it starts to blacken and lose its beauty, so—
Yup, it's just like me. ♪
Sora: Yes! Also, Sora's very sorry, but he doesn't really remember your name!
Izumi: Huh? We performed together in the Feast of Good Fortune, didn't we?! At least remember who you're working with, geez!
How many years have you been in the business already? These are basic manners!
Sora: Years? Uhh, about a year and a half or so~? Would it be better to express it in seconds?
Please wait a moment! Sora will do some calculations! HuHu~, HeHe~, HoHo~... ♪
Izumi: Oh, I get it. You're another one of those kids who takes things literally.
*sigh*... I feel like I understand why you get along with Kasa-kun, but at the same time I don't.
Just like me, Kasa-kun might gravitate towards people who have things that he doesn't.
Sora: Kasa-kun? Ahh, you mean Tsuka-chan?
Izumi: Yeah, yeah, Tsuka-chan. ...Are you still on good terms with him?
Sora: Mm~... Sora wants to be, but Tsuka-chan always seemed so busy.
Lately, it seems like things have calmed down, though~?
As usual, Tsuka-chan seems to hold back unless Sora talks to him first...
It looks like he doesn't really know how to act around Sora, so he doesn't even come close. It's sad.
Izumi: Yeah, he's kind of a loner, after all. He probably just doesn't know how being friends works and doesn't wanna mess everything up by making a careless mistake.
It's stupid, honestly. Holding back like that is what hurts your friends the most.
Sora: ? But Tsuka-chan is really smart~? He got the top test scores in the whole grade!
He didn't look very happy for some reason, though. He said something like, "If I'm careless, Hiiro-kun will overtake me"...
Izumi: Haha. Talking about tests really brings me back.
When you're an adult, every day's like a test, you know. It's like, how are you gonna handle it later on if you start complaining about tests now, right?
Sora: Yes! School is a microcosm of society—its practice stage~ ♪
Izumi: Heh. For a brat, you really talk like you know things.
Sora: Well, Sora's just repeating what Master told him. Master knows everything!
Master and Senpai "know" lots of things, so of course they "talk like they know things"~♪
Izumi: Well, even if they didn't know anything, it's an adult's duty to act like they do in front of children.
Anyway, seriously, what are you doing all the way up here?
Sora: HaHa~♪ Sora's observing the helicopter! Sora sees them in games all the time, but it's a rare experience to see a real one!
Izumi: Oh? That's very boyish of you.
Sora: ? Is there some kind of law that states that boys must love helicopters?
Izumi: Nah, guys just tend to love that kinda thing, right? Cars, martial arts, dinosaurs... Stuff that gives off this vague "strong" feeling.
Though when I was little, I couldn't bring myself to have even the slightest interest in those things.
Sora: ? So that means, Sil— Sena... senpai? Sena-senpai, you're a girl?
Izumi: What does gender have to do with it? It might be a serious topic to Naru-kun, but beauty surpasses everything.
I guess it's a blessing that I'm able to think that way at all, though.
Sora: Yes! If you look down from space, it already seems like a blessing just to be born as a human on this earth!
Izumi: Space...? You're talking like Leo-kun now.
Sora: Ah, right! Sora came to see the helicopter, but Anzu and Tsuka-chan also asked him to help look for Leo-san!
Seems like they don't know where he went?
Izumi: Ah yeah, I heard about that over the phone just now. Where the hell could that idiot be?
Sora: Who knows? Sora and Leo-san are different people, so Sora doesn't know the right answer!
There's no choice but to analyze the program and try to predict its next move, right~?
Sora's good at that! He loves games! Maybe that's why Tsuka-chan and Anzu asked him to help with the search?
Izumi: Hmm~ Grasping at straws, aren't they?
That moron—Leo-kun hasn't really gone missing at all since ES started up. Maybe they're panicking since it's been a while.
Sora: Yeah. Even then, no matter how used to it you are, it's still sad and scary to have someone important to you go missing.
So! Sora's gonna work his hardest to get rid of all the sad and scary feelings! Sora's part of Switch, after all~ He's a magician who brings in happiness!
Hudson! Hudson! Hudson! Hudson!
Izumi: ...?! What's going on? Is that some kind of incantation?
Sora: Raid on Bungeling Bay~ HaHiHuHeHo~♪ [1]
Izumi: You're... speaking Japanese, right?
Sora: Yes! You have to predict the opponent's movements, and it's got helicopters, so it's the perfect game for this situation!
Saying things that are appropriate to the situation is basic etiquette for living in human society!
Izumi: Is that appropriate, though? You suddenly started talking in a weird language and it really surprised me, y'know.
Sora: Hm~? Did Sora get it wrong?
Izumi: Nah, you're fine... It's cute, anyway. You sound like a little chirping animal.
That's something neither me or Kasa-kun—or all of Knights can mimic.
Kuma-kun might be able to do it with a straight face, though. He tends to fall into the cutesy act right away.
Anyway, I almost missed it earlier, but you said Anzu's looking for Leo-kun, too?
I thought she was too important now to go around cleaning up our messes?
Sora: Yes, but Master said...
"Apparently, under the pretense of bringing NewDi back from its dilemma, the Producer Association will forcibly intervene in our internal affairs."
Izumi: Mrgh. Don't just start using all these big words...
So in short, NewDi's in a pretty dreadful position right now, and the big shots—acting like our parents or whatever—are gonna do something about it?
Sora: Yeah, that's probably it~? It seems like Anzu's been running around lately trying to get that done.
She can't leave the other agencies on their own either. She said her schedule's so packed it's making her dizzy.
Izumi: She got herself in that situation again? Sooo~ annoying! It's good to be passionate about your job, but—
We're not some little babies who'd waste away if we're not looked after 24/7, you know?
---
[1] Raid on Bungeling Bay is a 1984 video game developed by Hudson Soft and published on the Famicom in Japan. This requires a bit of niche knowledge, but apparently the original Famicom came with a hidden microphone in the 2nd controller which was relevant for only a handful of games, one of them (according to Akira, at least) being Raid on Bungeling Bay, in which you shout "Hudson!" repeatedly into the microphone to do... some kind of helpful thing. Credits to JP fans on Twitter for pointing out the connection as there's no way I could have guessed this myself. (crying)
---
< Closed Circle Chapter 4 || Masterlist || Monologue 1 >
---
[Heliport]
Izumi: ...Hm-hmm. ♪
Um... Harukawa-kun, was it? What're you doing up here? Meeting up with someone?
Sora: ......
Izumi: But y'know, if you stand out here in the wind, you're gonna get covered in dirt.
Plus, the sunlight's still harsh at this time of day. It's not good for the skin, right?
I mean, look at me. I didn't even notice 'cause I was talking on the phone, and now my beautiful hairdo's all ruffled up. ♪
Sora: ......
Izumi: (...He's ignoring me?! After I went out of my way to talk to him so nicely? Who does he think he is?)
(Why are none of my Yumenosaki juniors cute in any way?)
Sora: ...HaHa~?
Sorry! Sora should apologize when he's been rude! Were you talking to Sora... Silver-san?
Izumi: Huh? Silver? Just who are you calling elderly?
Sora: HiHi~! Your color and character are just like silver!
Izumi: Color? Well it's true that silver's beautiful and valuable, but if you're not respectful in how you handle it, it starts to blacken and lose its beauty, so—
Yup, it's just like me. ♪
Sora: Yes! Also, Sora's very sorry, but he doesn't really remember your name!
Izumi: Huh? We performed together in the Feast of Good Fortune, didn't we?! At least remember who you're working with, geez!
How many years have you been in the business already? These are basic manners!
Sora: Years? Uhh, about a year and a half or so~? Would it be better to express it in seconds?
Please wait a moment! Sora will do some calculations! HuHu~, HeHe~, HoHo~... ♪
Izumi: Oh, I get it. You're another one of those kids who takes things literally.
*sigh*... I feel like I understand why you get along with Kasa-kun, but at the same time I don't.
Just like me, Kasa-kun might gravitate towards people who have things that he doesn't.
Sora: Kasa-kun? Ahh, you mean Tsuka-chan?
Izumi: Yeah, yeah, Tsuka-chan. ...Are you still on good terms with him?
Sora: Mm~... Sora wants to be, but Tsuka-chan always seemed so busy.
Lately, it seems like things have calmed down, though~?
As usual, Tsuka-chan seems to hold back unless Sora talks to him first...
It looks like he doesn't really know how to act around Sora, so he doesn't even come close. It's sad.
Izumi: Yeah, he's kind of a loner, after all. He probably just doesn't know how being friends works and doesn't wanna mess everything up by making a careless mistake.
It's stupid, honestly. Holding back like that is what hurts your friends the most.
Sora: ? But Tsuka-chan is really smart~? He got the top test scores in the whole grade!
He didn't look very happy for some reason, though. He said something like, "If I'm careless, Hiiro-kun will overtake me"...
Izumi: Haha. Talking about tests really brings me back.
When you're an adult, every day's like a test, you know. It's like, how are you gonna handle it later on if you start complaining about tests now, right?
Sora: Yes! School is a microcosm of society—its practice stage~ ♪
Izumi: Heh. For a brat, you really talk like you know things.
Sora: Well, Sora's just repeating what Master told him. Master knows everything!
Master and Senpai "know" lots of things, so of course they "talk like they know things"~♪
Izumi: Well, even if they didn't know anything, it's an adult's duty to act like they do in front of children.
Anyway, seriously, what are you doing all the way up here?
Sora: HaHa~♪ Sora's observing the helicopter! Sora sees them in games all the time, but it's a rare experience to see a real one!
Izumi: Oh? That's very boyish of you.
Sora: ? Is there some kind of law that states that boys must love helicopters?
Izumi: Nah, guys just tend to love that kinda thing, right? Cars, martial arts, dinosaurs... Stuff that gives off this vague "strong" feeling.
Though when I was little, I couldn't bring myself to have even the slightest interest in those things.
Sora: ? So that means, Sil— Sena... senpai? Sena-senpai, you're a girl?
Izumi: What does gender have to do with it? It might be a serious topic to Naru-kun, but beauty surpasses everything.
I guess it's a blessing that I'm able to think that way at all, though.
Sora: Yes! If you look down from space, it already seems like a blessing just to be born as a human on this earth!
Izumi: Space...? You're talking like Leo-kun now.
Sora: Ah, right! Sora came to see the helicopter, but Anzu and Tsuka-chan also asked him to help look for Leo-san!
Seems like they don't know where he went?
Izumi: Ah yeah, I heard about that over the phone just now. Where the hell could that idiot be?
Sora: Who knows? Sora and Leo-san are different people, so Sora doesn't know the right answer!
There's no choice but to analyze the program and try to predict its next move, right~?
Sora's good at that! He loves games! Maybe that's why Tsuka-chan and Anzu asked him to help with the search?
Izumi: Hmm~ Grasping at straws, aren't they?
That moron—Leo-kun hasn't really gone missing at all since ES started up. Maybe they're panicking since it's been a while.
Sora: Yeah. Even then, no matter how used to it you are, it's still sad and scary to have someone important to you go missing.
So! Sora's gonna work his hardest to get rid of all the sad and scary feelings! Sora's part of Switch, after all~ He's a magician who brings in happiness!
Hudson! Hudson! Hudson! Hudson!
Izumi: ...?! What's going on? Is that some kind of incantation?
Sora: Raid on Bungeling Bay~ HaHiHuHeHo~♪ [1]
Izumi: You're... speaking Japanese, right?
Sora: Yes! You have to predict the opponent's movements, and it's got helicopters, so it's the perfect game for this situation!
Saying things that are appropriate to the situation is basic etiquette for living in human society!
Izumi: Is that appropriate, though? You suddenly started talking in a weird language and it really surprised me, y'know.
Sora: Hm~? Did Sora get it wrong?
Izumi: Nah, you're fine... It's cute, anyway. You sound like a little chirping animal.
That's something neither me or Kasa-kun—or all of Knights can mimic.
Kuma-kun might be able to do it with a straight face, though. He tends to fall into the cutesy act right away.
Anyway, I almost missed it earlier, but you said Anzu's looking for Leo-kun, too?
I thought she was too important now to go around cleaning up our messes?
Sora: Yes, but Master said...
"Apparently, under the pretense of bringing NewDi back from its dilemma, the Producer Association will forcibly intervene in our internal affairs."
Izumi: Mrgh. Don't just start using all these big words...
So in short, NewDi's in a pretty dreadful position right now, and the big shots—acting like our parents or whatever—are gonna do something about it?
Sora: Yeah, that's probably it~? It seems like Anzu's been running around lately trying to get that done.
She can't leave the other agencies on their own either. She said her schedule's so packed it's making her dizzy.
Izumi: She got herself in that situation again? Sooo~ annoying! It's good to be passionate about your job, but—
We're not some little babies who'd waste away if we're not looked after 24/7, you know?
---
[1] Raid on Bungeling Bay is a 1984 video game developed by Hudson Soft and published on the Famicom in Japan. This requires a bit of niche knowledge, but apparently the original Famicom came with a hidden microphone in the 2nd controller which was relevant for only a handful of games, one of them (according to Akira, at least) being Raid on Bungeling Bay, in which you shout "Hudson!" repeatedly into the microphone to do... some kind of helpful thing. Credits to JP fans on Twitter for pointing out the connection as there's no way I could have guessed this myself. (crying)
---
< Closed Circle Chapter 4 || Masterlist || Monologue 1 >
