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shivalriesSeason: Autumn
--
[Studio]
Izumi: Hmph, well, Kuma-kun and Naru-kun probably aren't talking about anything important, so putting them aside for now...
Look, I don't wanna get in the way of whatever Knights—or rather, Kasa-kun is doing.
I'm not trying to take my stress out on my juniors, either. These days, I've actually been leading a fairly fulfilling life, thanks to a certain someone.
Leo: Well, for you it might look that way... I listen to everything you say, plus I'm as cute and convenient as Doraemon, so that's probably enough for you. [1]
Izumi: Huh? Got a problem with how things are now?
Leo: Naaah~... But getting back on topic, what's got you so grouchy, anyway?
Oh, I got it! Is it some kinda disease where you can't say anything without being naggy about it?
Ritsu: Secchan Disease is contagious. Be careful, everyone, and remember to gargle and wash your hands!
Arashi: You can prevent it?
When I was little, I used to copy the way Izumi-chan talks. You'd be surprised at how easily it sticks, you know.
Izumi: Treating people like germs—what are you, grade schoolers?! Sooo~ annoying!
Tsukasa: Could you perhaps avoid detouring into this meaningless buffoonery? I am trying to talk about something serious here, you see.
Ritsu: ......
Izumi: ...Hmph. Then I'm gonna say something serious, too.
Kasa-kun, do you honestly think that Knights is fine just the way it is right now?
Tsukasa: I do. We've reigned at the very top of ES since it was first established. That much is clear from L$ rankings, is it not?
Leo: Yup-yup! ♪ That's why they've always lumped us in under that weird title somebody-or-other came up with—"The Big 3 of ES"!
Izumi: Yeah, but I have to wonder how long that'll last.
Sure, we've been at the peak this whole time—but isn't a big part of that the fact that literally every other unit's in bad shape these days?
Arashi: That's true... All spring, pretty much everyone had a lot on their plate trying to get used to the new environment, and then summer happened and Crazy:B went on a rampage.
Luckily we avoided getting stung, though, and it's been smooth sailing the whole time.
Izumi: That's just it. You could say it just comes down to our luck.
Our fans and profits were at their peak during the Coronation, but there's been a clear gradual decline since then.
Though I think the biggest reason for that is because me and Leo-kun—two really popular members—have taken a step back for now.
Arashi: Yeah, you're not wrong. It's basically the same as saying two out of the original five left the group, right?
Leo: Mm~... But it's not like we quit Knights or anything? Does it really have that much of an effect on our earnings and stuff?
Even though we're still performing every so often anyway?
Izumi: Right? We're busy with our own stuff, you know?
Tsukasa: You did it to yourselves though, no? Especially Sena-senpai.
Izumi: What's that? Why are you so harsh with me today, huh? What did I ever do to you, Kasa-kun?
Tsukasa: ...In actuality, Knights has been a tad lackluster lately.
However, it only appears that we're gaining less, when in fact it was only our expenditures that increased. We have quite a few new members at Yumenosaki, after all.
Simply boosting our numbers would be meaningless, so we've been funneling quite a bit of our efforts and funds into training and managing the new recruits.
Izumi: Hmph, so you're just taking the money that we earned for you and pouring it all into a venture that might not even net us a profit in the end, huh? A perfect example of an incompetent successor, aren't you?
Tsukasa: Perhaps it won't produce tangible results right away, but there will certainly be a profit.
We shall plant Knights' flag within Yumenosaki Academy, which to this day remains the greatest idol training school in all of Japan...
And in the future, this will bring us a vast dominion.
The people are our walls, castles—in other words, the people are our kingdom.
These are the ones who will make up the future of ES; if we manage to bring most of them under our rule, the benefits for us will be immeasurable.
Izumi: Heh. I dunno who fed you those wild stories, but do you really think it'll all turn out fine for us?
Tsukasa: ...I am no prophet, of course. I cannot predict the future.
Izumi: That's why I'm saying you need to stop looking at the future and focus on what's right in front of you. Now this is just an example, but let's say we manage to make all of Yumenosaki's students into our minions—
Is there any guarantee that every last one of them will stay loyal to us their entire lives?
Arashi: Mm~ We don't know if they'll even want to affiliate with us, let alone be under our control.
Realistically speaking, we couldn't hire every single student at Yumenosaki... NewDi just doesn't have that kind of money.
Izumi: Okay, I know we've been there for a while already, but seriously, how did we end up at an agency that's practically broke?
Tsukasa: Have you never heard of the proverb, "Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of an ox?"
Leo: Well, seems like politics had something to do with it too. Like, maybe Tenshi tried his best to place the guys who might oppose him in other agencies...
Tsukasa: Fufu. He hoped to spark a friendly rivalry for each other's benefit, I see. I'd expect no less from Tenshouin Oniisama. ♪
Arashi: Back to the topic, but at any rate, places like StarPro with both the funds and connections to Yumenosaki will likely snap up a good portion of the students—maybe even a majority of them.
StarPro probably saw this coming, and that's why they didn't try to stop NewDi's conquest of the school.
Tsukasa: I'm well aware of that, yes.
Even so, those under our rule—those who have been nurtured by the blessings of us Knights—will never forget that undeniable fact.
We are showering them in money and affection. They are bound to feel indebted to us.
At the very least, they would not deign to kick dirt in our faces.
Izumi: So you think that just because you're so honest, everybody else must be that way too?
It could just be that a little rich boy from an old family has it in his head that everybody follows some code of "gratitude and servitude", you know?
But you see, humans easily forget kindness and goodwill—they can betray you without hesitation. I've seen it happen more times than I can stomach.
Love withers, just like a flower. If you want to keep that love healthy and lively, then you need to water it with actual profits every now and then.
---
[1] Doraemon is a main character in the eponymous manga/anime Doraemon, instantly recognizable to anyone who's lived or grown up in Japan. He is a cat robot sent from the future with the sole purpose of giving the protagonist Nobita a better life, and is known for his numerous and mysterious future gadgets that make everything more convenient.
T/N: The proverb Tsukasa mentions in this chapter is from the Shiji. While this isn't particularly an important fact to understand the meaning of the proverb, it might be interesting to know, since Knights has definitely quoted Chinese texts in the past.
---
< Another Sleepless Night Chapter 2 || Masterlist || Another Sleepless Night Chapter 4 >
--
[Studio]
Izumi: Hmph, well, Kuma-kun and Naru-kun probably aren't talking about anything important, so putting them aside for now...
Look, I don't wanna get in the way of whatever Knights—or rather, Kasa-kun is doing.
I'm not trying to take my stress out on my juniors, either. These days, I've actually been leading a fairly fulfilling life, thanks to a certain someone.
Leo: Well, for you it might look that way... I listen to everything you say, plus I'm as cute and convenient as Doraemon, so that's probably enough for you. [1]
Izumi: Huh? Got a problem with how things are now?
Leo: Naaah~... But getting back on topic, what's got you so grouchy, anyway?
Oh, I got it! Is it some kinda disease where you can't say anything without being naggy about it?
Ritsu: Secchan Disease is contagious. Be careful, everyone, and remember to gargle and wash your hands!
Arashi: You can prevent it?
When I was little, I used to copy the way Izumi-chan talks. You'd be surprised at how easily it sticks, you know.
Izumi: Treating people like germs—what are you, grade schoolers?! Sooo~ annoying!
Tsukasa: Could you perhaps avoid detouring into this meaningless buffoonery? I am trying to talk about something serious here, you see.
Ritsu: ......
Izumi: ...Hmph. Then I'm gonna say something serious, too.
Kasa-kun, do you honestly think that Knights is fine just the way it is right now?
Tsukasa: I do. We've reigned at the very top of ES since it was first established. That much is clear from L$ rankings, is it not?
Leo: Yup-yup! ♪ That's why they've always lumped us in under that weird title somebody-or-other came up with—"The Big 3 of ES"!
Izumi: Yeah, but I have to wonder how long that'll last.
Sure, we've been at the peak this whole time—but isn't a big part of that the fact that literally every other unit's in bad shape these days?
Arashi: That's true... All spring, pretty much everyone had a lot on their plate trying to get used to the new environment, and then summer happened and Crazy:B went on a rampage.
Luckily we avoided getting stung, though, and it's been smooth sailing the whole time.
Izumi: That's just it. You could say it just comes down to our luck.
Our fans and profits were at their peak during the Coronation, but there's been a clear gradual decline since then.
Though I think the biggest reason for that is because me and Leo-kun—two really popular members—have taken a step back for now.
Arashi: Yeah, you're not wrong. It's basically the same as saying two out of the original five left the group, right?
Leo: Mm~... But it's not like we quit Knights or anything? Does it really have that much of an effect on our earnings and stuff?
Even though we're still performing every so often anyway?
Izumi: Right? We're busy with our own stuff, you know?
Tsukasa: You did it to yourselves though, no? Especially Sena-senpai.
Izumi: What's that? Why are you so harsh with me today, huh? What did I ever do to you, Kasa-kun?
Tsukasa: ...In actuality, Knights has been a tad lackluster lately.
However, it only appears that we're gaining less, when in fact it was only our expenditures that increased. We have quite a few new members at Yumenosaki, after all.
Simply boosting our numbers would be meaningless, so we've been funneling quite a bit of our efforts and funds into training and managing the new recruits.
Izumi: Hmph, so you're just taking the money that we earned for you and pouring it all into a venture that might not even net us a profit in the end, huh? A perfect example of an incompetent successor, aren't you?
Tsukasa: Perhaps it won't produce tangible results right away, but there will certainly be a profit.
We shall plant Knights' flag within Yumenosaki Academy, which to this day remains the greatest idol training school in all of Japan...
And in the future, this will bring us a vast dominion.
The people are our walls, castles—in other words, the people are our kingdom.
These are the ones who will make up the future of ES; if we manage to bring most of them under our rule, the benefits for us will be immeasurable.
Izumi: Heh. I dunno who fed you those wild stories, but do you really think it'll all turn out fine for us?
Tsukasa: ...I am no prophet, of course. I cannot predict the future.
Izumi: That's why I'm saying you need to stop looking at the future and focus on what's right in front of you. Now this is just an example, but let's say we manage to make all of Yumenosaki's students into our minions—
Is there any guarantee that every last one of them will stay loyal to us their entire lives?
Arashi: Mm~ We don't know if they'll even want to affiliate with us, let alone be under our control.
Realistically speaking, we couldn't hire every single student at Yumenosaki... NewDi just doesn't have that kind of money.
Izumi: Okay, I know we've been there for a while already, but seriously, how did we end up at an agency that's practically broke?
Tsukasa: Have you never heard of the proverb, "Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of an ox?"
Leo: Well, seems like politics had something to do with it too. Like, maybe Tenshi tried his best to place the guys who might oppose him in other agencies...
Tsukasa: Fufu. He hoped to spark a friendly rivalry for each other's benefit, I see. I'd expect no less from Tenshouin Oniisama. ♪
Arashi: Back to the topic, but at any rate, places like StarPro with both the funds and connections to Yumenosaki will likely snap up a good portion of the students—maybe even a majority of them.
StarPro probably saw this coming, and that's why they didn't try to stop NewDi's conquest of the school.
Tsukasa: I'm well aware of that, yes.
Even so, those under our rule—those who have been nurtured by the blessings of us Knights—will never forget that undeniable fact.
We are showering them in money and affection. They are bound to feel indebted to us.
At the very least, they would not deign to kick dirt in our faces.
Izumi: So you think that just because you're so honest, everybody else must be that way too?
It could just be that a little rich boy from an old family has it in his head that everybody follows some code of "gratitude and servitude", you know?
But you see, humans easily forget kindness and goodwill—they can betray you without hesitation. I've seen it happen more times than I can stomach.
Love withers, just like a flower. If you want to keep that love healthy and lively, then you need to water it with actual profits every now and then.
---
[1] Doraemon is a main character in the eponymous manga/anime Doraemon, instantly recognizable to anyone who's lived or grown up in Japan. He is a cat robot sent from the future with the sole purpose of giving the protagonist Nobita a better life, and is known for his numerous and mysterious future gadgets that make everything more convenient.
T/N: The proverb Tsukasa mentions in this chapter is from the Shiji. While this isn't particularly an important fact to understand the meaning of the proverb, it might be interesting to know, since Knights has definitely quoted Chinese texts in the past.
---
< Another Sleepless Night Chapter 2 || Masterlist || Another Sleepless Night Chapter 4 >
