The World is All One Chapter 23 (proofread)

Page 1
IA Grand Prize Nomination Presentation Venue

Announcer: And that's it!
	That was everyone from Ryuuguu Komachi!
	A big round of applause for their amazing performance!
	Thank you!
	The next entry
	are also members of 765 Pro!
	Everyone from SprouT!
	Well then, before performing a song for us,
	give us a word of your thoughts.


Page 2
Chapter 23	"Smoky Deal"
YuuYuu	Original Work/Bandai Namco Games


Page 3
Hibiki: We're back!

Haruka: Ha... I was so nervous...

Ritsuko: Ahaha, you didn't look like it, you know?
	...But this is a big deal for you guys too.
	Even at a time like this, you're keeping your mood up and have plenty of courage.
	Bet you didn't imagine something like this would happen back before you had this job.

Haruka: Ehehe...
	Maybe we're just getting used to this kind of stuff?

Yukiho: But we've gotten this far!
	...It's not a dream, huh?

Iori: What are you saying, it's from all your hard work, right?
	This is a reasonable outcome!
	...But,
	that means that everyone else should also be here...

Announcer: Well then, this is the final nomination!


Page 4
Announcer: From 961 Pro, Jupiter!
	...And
	the person who takes pride in discovering this overwhelmingly powerful unit himself,
	the President of 961 Pro, Kuroi Takao!
	And in a surprising turn of events,
	we also have the honor of seeing them perform their new song!

Ami: What's with the special treatment?

Iori: I'm upset!
	Everyone else was just one step away!
	It's their fault, isn't it?

Producer: ...I wouldn't go that far,
	but it's definitely difficult to deny it.

Ritsuko: While I am irritated by this,
	this is just due to our office being too weak as well.


Page 5
Ritsuko: ...Well, let's end this conversation here.

Announcer: Well then, let's let Jupiter begin singing!
	Debuting today,

Shouta: "Koi wo Hajimeyou"!

Haruka: Hah...
	I'm tired from waiting 'til the end.

Ritsuko: I hate to admit it, but President Kuroi sure has a knack for getting people talking.

Producer: I'll be seriously impressed if his methods
	were all honest here...

Kuroi: What's that supposed to mean?


Page 6
Kuroi: It's as if you're implying I'm doing something dirty.

Producer: President Kuroi...

Iori: You want to pretend as if you aren't?
	You've already done too much...

Kuroi: Do you have any evidence?

Iori: ...No, I don't have any.
	I don't need you to admit it.
	But there's one thing I want to ask you.
	Aren't you
	ashamed of yourselves?
	If you're so confident,
	shouldn't you play fairly?

Touma: (I can't answer...)
	(Now that it seems like I finally understand what's going on from talking with Kikuchi-san...)

Producer: What a painful position to be in...


Page 7
Azusa: Iori-chan, calm down.
	...Okay?

Iori: (Ooh...)

Kuroi: My my,
	you're quite snappy...
	Have you calmed down yet?
	I don't have enough time to go along with your false accusations, so excuse us.

Iori: You're just going to avoid my question and run away like that?
	Fine, just go.

Azusa: I-Iori-chan.

Kuroi: I'm running away?
	From you?
	Kuku, what a funny joke.
	If it suits you, shall we be opponents that
	play fairly
	as you requested,
	Ryuuguu Komachi?


Page 8
Kuroi: Why don't we arrange for an appropriate stage?
	Of course,
	I don't care if you want to run away.

Iori: FINE, WE ACCEPT...

Ami: Hey hey hey Iorin, stop!

Iori: You're always trying to trap us like this!

Touma: You don't have to worry.
	There's no trap.
	...If we're doing this, it's going to be honest.
	No tricks or anything.
	Right... President?

Kuroi: ...Hmph.


Page 9
Ritsuko: Iori's completely determined.
	What about you, Ami?

Ami: I wonder if we can have a proper showdown?

Ritsuko: Azusa-san?

Azusa: I want to honor Iori-chan's feelings.

Iori: Ritsuko.

Ritsuko: ...Yeah.
	On a nationwide network,
	during prime-time,
	on a program and studio not affiliated with 961 Pro.
	Can you prepare a stage with these conditions?

Kuroi: ...That should be fine.
	It's decided!


Page 10
Touma: Hey President,
	I hate to bring this up again, but...

Kuroi: You know.
	I didn't use any shady dealings when you competed against Kikuchi and Miki.
	While incapacitating others is my style,
	I couldn't stand the way you grabbed me the other day.
	Getting angry now would make things worse,
	so I withdrew from my interfering as you guys said.
	As a result, I allowed 765 Pro to be nominated.
	I take responsibility.

Touma: So what you're saying is you won't complain as long as we beat those guys?

Kuroi: That's it.


Page 11
Kuroi: There is only room for one at the top.
	The unit that loses in a direct competition will be labeled as lower ranked.
	It's falling from the highest stage.
	Anyway,
	I must settle this with that lot prattling on
	with my own hands.

Touma: I don't plan on interrupting that,
	as long as we don't hurt anyone and fight fairly.

Shouta: I agree with Touma-kun.

Hokuto: Yeah.

Kuroi: I guess I have no choice, thanks to your immature pride getting in the way.
	Now, I can't stay with them from here on.
	(It's unlikely, but)
	(it's just in case they are also a risk.)


Page 12
Kuroi: (I can't let them find out either.)

Shouta: Move.

Touma: Fine.

Kuroi: (I must think of a way...)
	Well, I
	was able to save some effort today.

Touma: Effort?

Kuroi: Either way, I had planned on matching you
	with SprouT or Ryuuguu Komachi.

Shouta: Ah, the promise you made with Ryuuguu Komachi earlier?

Kuroi: They fell for our taunt.
	(Kuku)

Shouta: You were the one that fell for their taunt, Kuro-chan...

Touma: Yeah.

Kuroi: Did you just say something?

Shouta: Nope, nothing.


Page 13
Haruka: More!

Hibiki: Lastly, let's do one more song!
	I can especially concentrate on the song's rhythm when I'm tired.

Yukiho: Uh-huh!

Haruka: Swing your hands, angle your body
	Keep your distance from each other, be careful to keep in synch
	Be aware of what's in your peripheral vision... right!

Hibiki: Lastly!
	Expression!
	You aren't too tense?

Producer: Well done.
	That was a pretty good feeling, wasn't it?


Page 14
Haruka: Hibiki-chan, was that harder than usual?

Hibiki: Uh-huh, Menu 3 Premium.
	Also, the check was pretty severe.

Haruka: Uhe...

Yukiho: Hmm...
	But, I think I feel better from today being that severe...

Haruka: Well,
	I guess I just remembered when we saw Jupiter onstage earlier.
	Besides, we've lost once...

Producer: But I really think it's a big deal.
	That was a great development and a huge accomplishment earlier.

Haruka: Thank you!
	Although from the look Hibiki-chan's giving me, I think I still have a ways to go...

Hibiki: That's not true?
	...I thought you did good.

Haruka: REALLY?
	YAY!

Yukiho: Maybe she's gotten a little more confident?


Page 15
Hibiki: That's right...

Yukiho: Let's keep this mood up!

Haruka: Uh-huh, uh-huh!

Hibiki: A-anyways,
	Ryuuguu Komachi were amazing.
	Even though it was immediately after seeing Jupiter on stage.
	They're pretty confident, huh? So...

Haruka: No, they were just completely caught up in their emotions.
	Iori-chan was angry that they sabotaged everyone...
	We also had a similar exchange, right?

Hibiki: Uh... Now that you mention it...

Yukiho: After that we ended up losing, huh.

Producer: Okay, stop!


Page 16
Producer: In the end it was Ritsuko-san's decision.
	She was prepared for those terms.
	The situation that time was completely different.

Haruka: R-right!

Yukiho: U-umm Hibiki-chan, in that case...
	Hibiki-chan, what do you think of Jupiter and Ryuuguu Komachi's...
	Umm... difference in ability...

Hibiki: ...I dunno.

Yuruka: ...Eh?

Hibiki: I can't complain about either unit.
	I see them both in that way.
	So,
	I don't know who'll win.
	...Sorry.

Haruka: (WHAT?! WHY ARE YOU APOLOGIZING?!)

Yukiho: (S-sorry for asking you something so strange!)

Producer: The venue for that day is close by.
	If you're worried about them, want to go cheer them on?


Page 17
Haruka: Of course!

Yukiho: Let's go!

Hibiki: ...Uh-huh!

Ritsuko: Why... did I accept the match?

Producer: Yes.

Ritsuko: I decided on it so we can get the IA Grand Prize.
	Anyway, our office's financial power is too different.
	Then there's Jupiter's talents and President Kuroi's ability.
	Even if there isn't a difference with our units,
	There's a high chance we'll lose from the difference in our planned activities.

Producer: Doing as much as you can so you will win in a
	direct confrontation?

Page 18
Ritsuko: Did you think I was just falling for his taunts?

Producer: No way!
	I thought you made a brave decision.
	They are preparing the stage,
	and even if he says there aren't any traps...

Ritsuko: If he was lying,
	don't you think something would come along sooner or later?

Producer: ...Certainly...

Ritsuko: Anyway, they aren't an opponent we can avoid.
	In this case, we need to force some terms, even if they're small.

Producer: Ah, by that you mean...
	(Nationwide network and prime-time?)

Ritsuko: If we win here, we'll instantly be a prime candidate for the IA Grand Prize.
	We're taking the match ahead of you.


Page 19
Producer: ...But thinking about it that far...
	(makes you a terrible person...)

Ritsuko: You didn't actually believe me, did you?
	I will confess, half of that was for later.
	Actually, how should I put it...
	I empathized with Iori's feelings.
	That's the serious explanation.
	W-well anyway!
	With our talent, we won't lose
	and as long as the competition is fair, we have hopes of winning...

Producer: Do you... believe what Amagase-kun said?

Ritsuko: I think that's how he truly feels.
	(I got the feeling from seeing his attitude and genuine words)
	I think we can believe in
	their pride as idols.

Producer: ...You're right.

Ritsuko: Ah, but,
	since we can't trust President Kuroi that much,
	please help with keeping a lookout on that day.

Producer: EH?
	Ah, okay...


Page 20
(The day of the competition program)

Azusa: Y-you can't seem to calm down, huh~

Iori: I-I wonder?

Ami: This might be the first time in a while you've been nervous before a performance...

Iori: I-I'm not nervous...

Ami: Really?

Iori: W-what?

Ami: Your hand.
	It's shaking! Look look~
	It's not good to be stubborn, huh Iori~n?

Iori: If I'm shaking,
	that's just because
	I'm trembling with excitement!

Door: (Knock knock)


Page 21
Door: Knock knock

Haruka: ...It's not time yet, right?

Producer: Yeah, shouldn't be...
	Well then, I'll leave you here since I have a meeting with Ritsuko.
	Ryuuguu Komachi's waiting room is over there.

Haruka: Okay.
	Shall we encourage them?

Sign: (765 Production Ryuuguu Komachi-sama)

Haruka: Now that I think about it, Ryuuguu Komachi came to see us when we first performed on TV.

Yukiho: They made me feel really happy then.

Hibiki: This time it's our turn to support them.

Haruka: Ahaha,
	but we might just end up annoying them.


Page 22
Ami: Hey,
	Iorin's shaking like when she first debuted!

Iori: Shut up!
	Aren't you the one that can't calm down?!

Haruka: Wah...
	Everyone came.

Azusa: Ara ara, everyone's here, huh.

Ami: It's our full force, huh?

Iori: I'm amazed...
	Even you guys...

Haruka: Ehehe...
	We were just returning the favor for paying us a support visit.

Hibiki: Yup.

Yukiho: Uh-huh.


Page 23
Iori: Really,
	isn't it ridiculous that everyone at 765 Pro ended up gathering here?
	Even though you don't need to worry about us that much...

Ami: Eh? Weren't you super nervous a little while ago?

Iori: QUIET DOWN, YOU!

Makoto: Ahaha, it can't be helped. An opponent's an opponent.

Miki: But I heard about the match you accepted, Deko-chan.

Takane: What...! They cannot afford to lose...!

Chihaya: Miki... Shijou-san...
	Try not to pressure them even more...

Mami: Still, you care right? That everyone came here to see you?

Yayoi: We don't need a reason other than cheering our friends on!

Azusa: Ufufu, I'm feeling much better now.

Ami: Thanks everyone!

Iori: Eh, umm...
	...Thanks.
Stagehand: Ryuuguu Komachi, we're ready for standby!

Ami: Eh? What was that?
	Iorin, please say it again!
	(Ah it hurts-)


Page 24
Iori: Well, let's go!