[TL] Part 2 - Chapter 11

* Chapter 11: Nagi's Battle

|||        11-1: A New Contract          |||
High School Girl: Did you see the news!? Apparently IDOLiSH7's agency has been appropriating Zero's songs!
High School Girl: Zero got mad and wrote stuff there, right? I heard he's mad at Re:Vale too, and that apparently there's some secret organization for Zero!
High School Girl: But, but! IDOLiSH7 did nothing wrong!
High School Girl: Right? It's the agency's fault for pissing Zero off!
Salaryman: My boss is from Zero's generation. He said not to watch any of the shows that IDOLiSH7 or Re:vale appear in.
Salaryman: Ahaha. My boss said that to me too. Maybe it's best if they didn't cover the song, if Zero himself hates it so much....

Announcer: Sakura Haruki was in charge of composing Zero's songs, and was a composer that was representative of Japan. IDOLiSH7's songs certainly do resemble his work.
Commentator: Well, it's the same composer after all. We let a specialist listen to them and they figured it out immediately.
Announcer: I see.... Perhaps this is one of the reasons as to why IDOLiSH7 skyrocketed in popularity.
Commentator: It would be for the best if their agency had a press conference, to apologize, anything. This has been stirring up quite the commotion, after all.

*ring ring*
ogm: Hello, this is Takanashi Productions.... I'm sorry, but we will not be accepting any interviews regarding our composer.
ogm: We hope you can understand.
*ring ring*
omg: Hello, this is Takanashi PRoductions.... I'm sorry, but we will not be accepting any interviews regarding our composer. We hope you can understand....
*ring ring*
ogm: .......
ogm: ... At the moment, the line is busy so your call cannot connect.
4: Ban-chan.... He finally pulled out his answering machine imitation....
3: Why is there so much commotion over this? Aren't we the victims of vandalism in this case?
1: It's because of Re:vale's plans to cover Zero's songs, the graffiti done by a man resembling Zero, and the new message of "Haruki the Betrayer!" that's all over the news.
1: Thus, a hundred million detectives couldn't help but try to decipher the code.
2: And what they found was Sakura Haruki, the guy who gave Zero his songs. And our songs happened to resemble his a bit too much.
2: ...Well. That's kind of a given since it is the same composer, after all.
5: This was just badly timed. All of this came to light just as the general mindset was that none are allowed to to impinge upon the legendary Zero's territory.
7: We angered Zero and his fans by singing Sakura Haruki's songs. Or at least that's what everyone things....
3: ... I wonder if Zero really did write that.
7: Mitsuki....
3: Is Zero mad that we're singing Haruki's songs?
2: At the very least, the dude who scribbled that on our door thinks so.
tmg: ...I am so sorry. We responded too slowly, and the rumors are spreading further and further.
1: It can't be helped. Dealing with the media has never been our agency's strong suit.
tmg: I'll figure something out. I don't want this to hinder everyone, not when we're at this point in time....
7: Don't overthink it, Manager....
*ding dong*
tmg: Ah, we have guests....
1: Don't open the door. Respond to them through the interphone.
tmg: Understood. Hello, this is Takanashi Productions....
Interviewer: Takanashi-san! Can we get a comment from you!
Interviewer: Do you think the perpetrator of the vandalism on your property is Zero himself!?
Interviewer: What is your relationship with Sakura Haruki?
tmg: ...I'm sorry! We cannot answer those at the moment!
tmg: ....... I have to do something.... I told everyone that I'd protect them.
tmg: I'll go ask the President!

tmg: President. If we continue on like this, this will obstruct everyone's activities.
tmg: We should hold a press conference. We didn't do anything wrong!
dad: I understand how you feel, and I agree in that respect. However, by holding a press conference, we will only draw even more attention to ourselves.
dad: Now, it'd be a different story if we had a good, skilled company lawyer, but....
tmg: But we can't just wait for the commotion to die down! There's a grand stage waiting for everyone, and yet....
*click*
6: Hello.
tmg: Nagi-san....
6: Manager, President. Let's hold a press conference.
6: I never told you, but I was the person Sakura Haruki entrusted his songs to. I am responsible for this as well.
dad: I figured it was you, Nagi-kun.... I had a feeling about that. Also about Sakura Haruki-shii being our composer.
6: I am sorry that I kept it a secret. However neither Haruki nor I are committing betrayal or misuse in any way or form. We must fight to protect his name.
dad: However, we don't have anyone who could hold a press conference....
tmg: I will do it! I'm their manager!
dad: If you make so much as one misstep, that comment will spread and all of the focus will be upon it. That's the type of world it is.
This is not a fight an amateur can handle, no matter how good their intentions are.
tmg: But...!
6: I will do it. Here is my new contract.
dad: Takanashi Productions.... Special Public Relations Manager, Rokuya Nagi...?

To be continued....


|||        11-2: Ripple 　　　　         |||
dad: However, we don't have anyone who could hold a press conference....
tmg: I will do it! I'm their manager!
dad: If you make so much as one misstep, that comment will spread and all of the focus will be upon it. That's the type of world it is.
This is not a fight an amateur can handle, no matter how good their intentions are.
tmg: But...!
6: I will do it. Here is my new contract.
dad: Takanashi Productions.... Special Public Relations Manager, Rokuya Nagi...?
tmg: Nagi-san's going to hold the press conference?
6: Rest assured. Back in my motherland, I would regularly hold meetings with the populace once every month.
tmg: 'Populace'...?
6: I am absolutely seething with rage regarding this incident. I cannot forgive them for calling him a traitor.
6: I shall make the media, clamorous like a horde of bees, into a flock of sheep with my own abilities.
dad: It's not the type of situation you can say 'OH....' in, Nagi-kun.
6: /Trust me! If I talk slowly, I can speak Japanese clearly and beautifully. A ka sa ta na. Ha ma ya ra wa. OK. (1)
tmg: I will also participate! President, let's hold the press conference!
dad: ......Understood. Let's tell the media that we'll be holding a press conference this weekend.
dad: The drama MEZZO" is starring in is just about to start airing too....
dad: It'd be for the best if this doesn't cause any trouble for those kids since they appear on TV a lot nowadays, but....

Mr. Shimooka: Today's guest is MEZZO"! They'll be starring in a drama together! Come on forward!
5: I look forward to working with you today.
4: Yeah.
Mister Shimooka: MEZZO" will be singing their new song for us today, and it's also the theme song to their drama! Now, let's hear it from them--
Big Name Singer: Was that song also composed by Sakura Haruki?
5: Yes, indeed.
Mister Shimooka: Ooh, so this song too! I'm even more excited to hear this song now!
Big Name Singer: Maybe it's best if you guys don't sing it-- Zero might hold even more of a grudge on you all. Ahaha, how about I compose for you instead?
4: We don't need-- mmph!
5: Ahaha. Thank you very much. We appreciate the thought--
Big Name Singer: So you're saying Sakura Haruki's songs are better than mine?
Mister Shimooka: Ahaha! Come now, both of you are splendid musicians! Anyone would be troubled having to choose between two extravagant options! (2)
Mister Shimooka: In any case, we might just get to see MEZZO" sing a song written by the great man himself! Now, onto their new song! (3)
Mister Shimooka: It's MEZZO"'s first performance of "Koi no Kakera" on TV! Let's hear it from 'em!

5: ......Haa, that surprised me. Everyone's curious about that incident with Zero.
4: Is Nagicchi gonna be okay doing the press conference? I think he's pretty funny, but I don't know if the mass media's gonna think his character's funny.
5: It's not like Nagi's going to be presenting them a comedy act....
4: I know, but.
4: ......Hey, Sou-chan. Are you hiding anything, by any chance?
5: ....... N-not at all....
4: 'Kay....

5: What should I do....
7: Ah, Sougo-san. Good work today! It's been a while since we last saw each other in the dorm.
7: Now that your drama's started, you seem pretty busy. Are you okay? Please take care of yourself, alright?
5: .......
7: W-what's wrong? You're staring....
5: ......Riku-kun. Is it okay if I tell you a little story....
7: ......A story?
5: It's kind of like rakugo. The characters that appear in it are a bit hard to understand, so I'll use people you know instead. (4)
7: Okay!
5: Once upon a time, Riku-kun and his older brother, Kujou-san, lived together in Edo.
5: Riku-kun and Kujou-san worked as firemen.
7: So me and Ten-nii are Edo-period firemen, huh.... They say stuff like, 'What art thou saying?' and stuff right? (5)
5: Yep. However, one day Kujou-san went missing.
7: Ten-nii's missing.... That's worrying.... I wonder if he's safe....
5: As Riku-kun worried, he continued to work as a fireman. At that time, Iori-kun found Kujou-san.
7: Iori's in this too? Is he also a fireman?
5: I guess so.
7: Everyone's a fireman, huh.
5: It's because there's lots of fires in Edo.
5: And so, Fireman Iori-kun said to Fireman Kujou-san this: Why won't you--
7: Hmm, this doesn't seem very rakugo. Can you say it more like a Edo fireman would!
5: Huh...? W-What art thou saying? 'I will not meet with Riku. You cannot tell anyone about this.'
7: Aha, that's more like it! And then? What happens?
5: Before that, what are your thoughts about the story thus far?
7: There's a lot of firemen.
5: What do you think Iori-kun should do?
7: He should talk more like an Edo fireman.
5: .......
7: W-what's wrong? You look like you're about to cry....
7: I got it! Uh.... I think Iori should catch Ten-nii and bring him to me.
5: Iori-kun failed to catch Kujou-san though.
7: Then he should ask Ten-nii why he won't see me.
5: He ran away before he could ask.
7: This Iori's kind of useless.... Why is he even in the story?
5: .......
7: W-what's wrong? Is this a really sad story? Are you prematurely crying, or...? (6)
5: ......Useless as he is, what do you think Iori-kun should do? Do you think he should tell Riku-kun about the situation?
7: I definitely think so!
5: But what if you end up neglecting your fireman duties?
5: If Riku-kun can't settle down and work because all he can think about is Kujou-san, then Edo will be engulfed in a sea of hellfire and disappear forevermore.......
7: That escalated really fast!? Um.... I know I'd be restless, but I think I'd be able to do my job properly.
5: Is that so! Then, I'll tell him after all--
7: But if this was Tamaki, then I have no clue!
5: ...Back to square one.......
*click*
4: Sou-chan. My phone's being really weird.
5: Eek......!
4: Why did you shriek?
5: I-it's nothing. Let me borrow it for a second. I'll fix it.
4: Rikkun. What were you guys talking about?
7: He was telling me a story about Edo firemen. Fireman Ten-nii went missing, and Iori was useless--
5: R-Riku-kun, you don't have to keep talking about how he's useless! Alright, it's fixed now. Go back to your room. Good night. See you tomorrow.
4: Are you kicking me out?
5: No, I'm not! I am so loathe to part with you that I feel like my heart is being torn into two, but you have to be up early tomorrow. Come on now, go sleep.
4: I'm not sleepy though....
5: Yes, you are! So sleepy. So, so, so sleepy.
4: I think, I'm starting to feel it.... *yawn* G'nite....
5: Don't forget your script for tommorrrow.
4: 'Kay.
*slam*
5: ...Haa, that was close....
7: Sougo-san.... Do you always put him to sleep that compulsively....?
5: That kid is obedient by nature, so if you say 'it's itchy, it's itchy' he'll start to feel itchy.
*click*
1: You're still up, Osaka-san--
5: ...So what do you think Iori should do, useless as he is, so he can become useful?
7: Well, if Iori's useless then there's no point in him trying to become more useful. He doesn't need to be there anymore, right?
1: .......
3: What's wrong Iori? Why are you standing outside the door....
1: Nii-san.... I.... I think the members might hate me.
3: What?

*knock knock*
2: Come on in. It's unlocked.
*click*
4: 'Sup.
2: What, Tama. You haven't gone to sleep yet? Don't you have to film early in the morning tomorrow?
4: Yeah.... It's just. Sou-chan has been kinda weird lately.
2: Weird, you say?
4: I get the feeling that he's hiding something.
2: How come?
4: He'll praise me like three times, all while avoiding eye contact.
2: I can picture it, alright.... Do you have any guesses as to why?
4: Nope.
4: ...But, maybe Sou-chan's troubled about his family again. Maybe something happened.
2: I wonder.... I haven't heard anything about it either.
4: I see....
2: Why are you asking me? Wouldn't it be better if you asked him directly?
4: Sou-chan would never talk to me about it. He trusts you more, Yama-san.
2: .......
4: That thing you told me, Yama-san.... That was a lie, right? All that stuff about how he looks up to me.
4: I don't really feel that from Sou-chan.
2: Tama....
4: It's fine. I don't really mind. I mean I've done pretty terrible things. And caused him a lot of trouble.
4: It can't be helped if he doesn't trust me.
2: ...I don't think he distrusts you.
2: He's always happy when you get praised. That's the truth.
4: ......Really?
2: Yeah.
4: I see.... I hope he's not worrying over his family. I told him something, a while ago.
4: That there's no way he'd understand, since he grew up with a normal family.
4: Even though Sou-chan has it rough too. His uncle, who he really loved, died.... And then he got kicked out of his house....
2: ...Tama, you're really nice and a great guy. Sou and I, as well as everyone else, really love that about you.
4: Haha.... Thanks.
2: Sou's the type to mull over things by himself. When he's ready, he'll talk. And he'll tell you first.
4: I wonder about that.
2: Now, go sleep. Don't oversleep, 'kay?
4: Yeah. Good night.
2: Good night.
*slam*
2: ...Are they gonna be okay...... Tomorrow's the press conference too....

1: Rokuya-san. Here is a collection of documents pertaining to IDOLiSH7's past achievements.
tmg: I don't know if you're going to use it, but here's a script for the press conference.
6: OH. Thanks, you two.
3: Are you gonna be okay, Nagi.... They might say mean things to you.
6: I'll be OK. I'm more worried about you, Mitsuki, when they say said things to me.
1: He's right, Nii-san. Please don't protest from the back of the venue or glare at the reporters.
3: Uh.... I'll do my best and smile, I guess.
1: You too, Manager. You're the type to let your emotions show on your face.
tmg: I.... I'll watch out for that.
6: /Don't worry. Manager said she would protect us.
6: That's why I will protect you, the President, and Banri. This place is our base, after all.
tmg: Nagi-san....
6: Leave it to me, /my girl. If I succeed, please go out on a date with me as a reward.
6: To me, delivering a speech to rouse support from the masses is easier than a putting on tap dance show.
6: Just like a maestro, with a wave of my baton I shall vividly bring together all of the scattered noises into one beautiful song.

To be continued....

(1) like the ABC's but for japanese. あかさたなはまやらわ. Extremely irrelevant and useless side note, iroha uta is also an alphabet thing.
(2) idk if this is changing it up too much but the original was "With such an extravagant/luxurious question, anyone would be troubled!" but obvs MR is referring to choosing between BNS vs haruki. not the question.
(3) not sure how literally 2 interpret this, 'the governor/boss's song' ??? or is he calling Sakura Haruki 'the boss man' lowkey??? I went with the second one since he is p godtier in canon anyways so yeah
(4) rakugo is this thing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakugo I was lucky to see a live performance once!! But anyways if you wanna, see some good (anime) examples of rakugo Please Watch (PLEASE WATCH) Shinwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu. It's one of those shows that you watch and it lowkey changes your life....... ahhh
(5) every time i hvea 2 translate archaic speak into english im like m  HH h H H I WAS ASLEEP 80% OF THE WAY THRU SHAKESPEARE UNIT IN FRESHMAN YR OF HS BC IT WAS 2nD PERIOD........... Shit ,,, anyways てやんでえ is edo period speak for 何を言っていやがるんだ or 'wtf r u sayin bro' / what the hell are you saying
ALSO EDO PERIOD FIREMEN ARE. Interesting. Read up! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fires_in_Edo#Firefighting_organizations
IM CRYING THE FIREMEN STORY,,,,,,,, Is SO CUTE, RIKU IS SO CUTE, SOUGO IS SO !  1h1Hfh
LATE notice but 八百八町 (via weblio) --> Edo came to be called as the city of "eight-hundred-and-eight towns' (The number eight-hundred-and-eight is traditionally associated with innumerable.).
So i just simplified it to edo to avoid confusion and eight-hundred-and-eight towns is so godDAMN CLUNKY
(6) フライング泣き。Me whispering 'what the living fuck is a flying cry.' After a really weird round of googling, that involved me looking at like 5 different kokugojiten to no avail, then specifying my search to just the phrase and prying through a few people's blog posts about leaving places or graduating, then finally just looking up フライング again but in a different, TURNS OUT!!! 'Flying start' is what they call premature/false starts, like during track. But with all of those pieces, eyYEHOO i pieced it together. Thank u google-sama. Another day another successful chase, another bit of trivia down. --> http://oshiete.goo.ne.jp/qa/7400392.html

|||        11-3: Showtime    　　       |||
/tmg: And so, with a large crowd of reporters before him, Nagi began the press conference.

[cg goes here]
6: Thank you for coming here today. I am Rokuya Nagi, Takanashi Productions' Public Relations manager.
6: A few days ago, a great tragedy befell us.
6: Unfortunately, there have been numerous misunderstandings regarding said incident.
6: I would like to dispel each and every one of those misunderstandings here today.
Reporters: He's beautiful....
Reporters: He's so beautiful....
Reporters: Y-you're IDOLiSH7's Rokuya Nagi, aren't you? Going so far as to say that you're the PR.... We'll be troubled if you're just fooling around--
6: Please be quiet. / Silence. (PICK ONE)
Reporters: .......
6: If you have questions, please save them for Q&A session at the end. I will be answering them then.
6: Slowly, and calmly.
Reporters: He's so smart....
Reporters: He's so intellectual, elegant, and beautiful....
3: ...... Who the heck is that...?

1: He's quite accustomed to giving speeches.... I wonder where he studied it.
2: Both the manager and the President are making the same face, and staring at Nagi with wide eyes....
6: ......That is all from me. Any questions?
Reporters: What are your thoughts regarding the 'Haruki the Betrayer' graffiti?
6: I feel nothing but absolute rage-- Haruki himself transferred the songs he composed to me, in good will.
6: He has done nothing to deserve being called a traitor. Of course, that goes for us as well.
Reporters: Do you have any official proof that he transferred them to you?
6: Both Haruki and I have signed the contract for the transfer of ownership rights. If you need said document, I will present it in the courtroom.
Reporters: You said that this incident was a great tragedy, but there are many people who believe it is a great tragedy that Sakura Haruki's songs are being sung by people other than Zero.
6: That may be the case. However, slandering and vandalizing our agency is a childish act and also a crime punishable under the law.
6: If a lady rejected my invitation to dinner, I would not take to her house and vandalize it in my sadness.
6: Instead, I would improve upon myself and then invite her once more. Though it would require a little.... No, a considerable amount of courage.
Reporters: Ahahaha!
1: ......He's good. With his refinement and humor as his weapons, he has the reporters on his side now.
3: ......So he's thinking before he speaks? I didn't know he could do that.
7: ......Everyone's very receptive to him now, even though when the conference first started it was super tense....
4: Naggichi's the only one who's mad.
5: ...Is he mad?
4: He's pretty pissed. He's not smiling with his eyes.... Haruki is pretty important to him, I guess.
7: Nagi.......
Reporters: What do you think about Zero?
6: I feel the same way as everyone here in this room-- I have nothing but love and respect for him and his work.
6: Furthermore, I hold affection for him as my friend Haruki's business partner.
6: We do not think Zero is responsible for this chain of incidents.
6: He, who was loved by many, is not the type of man who would act like this-- he would never do anything that would hurt others.
3: That's right.... None of this is Zero's doing....
6: We must find the culprit behind all of this sensationalist vandalism as soon as possible.
6: I pray, from the bottom of my heart, that Zero's honor will be restored.
1: Splendid.... He's guiding the media towards blaming the culprit instead of Zero.
2: He's making it so that the reporters think of us as on their side, and that the culprit isn't an ally of Zero. .......Man, the culprit must be real frustrated now.
2: Both Zero's fans, and Zero himself....
6: Are there any other questions?
Reporters: May I ask you, Rokuya Nagi, a question?
6: If the others will permit.
Reporters: It's rather unexpected that you have this type of skill, Rokuya-san. Are there any other special skills you're hiding?
6: I very good at winking. See?
Reporters: ...Kyaaaa....
3: Just now, someone went 'kyaaa' really quietly....
5: You wouldn't believe that this is a press conference venue....
2: He's a lady-killer through and through, alright....
6: If there are no other requests, then I'd like to wrap this up here--
6: ......!?
/tmg: ......! There's something flying at us from where the reporters were seated!
6: Watch out! Manager......!
tmg: Ahh--
7: Nagi! Manager......!
/tmg: Nagi protected me, but something had hit his shoulder. Whatever it was fell to the ground....
/tmg: It was a can of red spray paint.
/tmg: The reporters are in uproar-- a shadowy figure by the audience turns and flees.
6: Are you alright, manager?
tmg: Y-yeah. Are you okay, Nagi-san?
6: ....... Throwing something at a lady....
6: Guards! Seize that person at once!
Security: Yessir!
Security: G-guards...?
7: We should chase after them too!
4: I can't believe they threw a can of spray paint at Nagicchi and our manager!
3: We're gonna catch them, I'm gonna beat the shit outta them!
1: Please wait! Nanase-san! Yotsuba-san! You too, Nii-san!
2: It'll be bad if he hits them! Let's go after them!
5: Yes!

To be continued....


|||        11-4: Wizard                 |||
6: Watch out! Manager......!
tmg: Ahh--
7: Nagi! Manager......!
/tmg: Nagi protected me, but something had hit his shoulder. Whatever it was fell to the ground....
/tmg: It was a can of red spray paint.
/tmg: The reporters are in uproar-- a shadowy figure by the audience turns and flees.
6: Are you alright, manager?
tmg: Y-yeah. Are you okay, Nagi-san?
6: ....... Throwing something at a lady....
6: Guards! Seize that person at once!
Security: Yessir!
Security: G-guards...?
7: We should chase after them too!
4: I can't believe they threw a can of spray paint at Nagicchi and our manager!
3: We're gonna catch them, I'm gonna beat the shit outta them!
1: Please wait! Nanase-san! Yotsuba-san! You too, Nii-san!
2: It'll be bad if he hits them! Let's go after them!
5: Yes!

7: ...Where did they go...!?
1: ......! Nanase-san, is that...!
7: Is that...! ...Zero......?
???: .......
Passerby: Zero...?
Passerby: It's Zero! Are they cosplaying?
Passerby: Could it be.... Is it the man himself?
/7: All of the people walking stopped in their tracks. The person wearing Zero's costume turned around....
/7: The figure had everyone's attention on them.... And they bowed, elegantly.
/7: And so....
???: --I'll have you return my song to me.
/7: With an overwhelming voice, he began to sing.
/7: He began to sing our song.
7: What....
2: ...He can sound like this even without a microphone...!?
4: ...Wow.......
Passerby: ...This miraculous singing voice....... It's Zero!
Passerby: ...Zero has returned!
Passerby: ...Zero's back...!!
Child: Waah......! Mom, look!
Child: That wizard's really good at singing and he's dancing...!
Streetside Band: Alright guys, let's change up our song! We'll accompany Zero!
Streetside Band: Of course!
Flower Shop Lady: You! Why are you throwing flowers at the street-- Ah!
Flower Shop Lady: It's Zero! Zero is back!
Balloon Store Owner: To think I'd witness a moment like this...! Let's release all of them to the skies!
Balloon Store Owner: To celebrate Zero's return...!
Mother: Waah.... Flowers and balloons celebrating Zero......!
Child: .....Mr. Magician, you're amazing!
/7: Zero's singing....
/7: Zero's dancing....
/7: Everything about Zero brought a smile to everyone's faces.
/7: As if he had cast a spell.
5: ....... Could it be....
7: The man himself......?
/7: Mitsuki, who had unconsciously been smiling....
/7: At that very instant, he opened his eyes wide.
3: ...It's not.......
3: ...It's not him! This man isn't Zero!
7: ...Mitsuki!?
Crowd: Waah! It's Zero......!
Crowd: Welcome back, Zero......!
Crowd: We've been waiting for you...!
/7: The entire city was cheerful and brilliant, as if it were a carnival--
/7: No one knows when, but suddenly, Zero was gone.

To be continued....