holistar

Hiiro: Happy birthday Tatsumi-senpai.

I’m happy we can spend this day together! As friends, as unit-mates, let’s celebrate as much as we are able!

Tatsumi: Thank you very much Hiiro-san. You always convey your feelings in such a direct manner.

Let’s continue to enjoy our time together as ALKALOID.

Hiiro: Certainly! I want to have many more lives together and let everyone know more about us as a unit.

Aira: Happy birthday Tattsun-senpai♪

Tatsumi: Ah, Aira-san. Thank you for the wonderful surprise today*. I didn’t expect you all to sing such a song for me. It’s a song I’ve heard many times, however this was a fresh and delightful take on it.

Aira: Fufufu, it’s your birthday and I love you sooo much Tattsun-senpai, so I wanted to do something special! I’m super happy you enjoyed it♪

To be honest, I also prepared a present for you that’s just from me... here you go!

Tatsumi: Inside this frame is... why, it’s a photo of ALKALOID taken when we were practicing together?

Aira: Yup, I asked Anzu-san to take some photos and she took a bunch! We all have such happy smiles, huh?

Tatsumi: Yes, indeed. It makes me happy just looking at it. Thank you very much Aira-san♪

*Alkaloid sang one of Tatsumi’s solo-era songs for him

Mayoi: H-Happy birthdayyyyyyy!

Tatsumi: Thank you Mayoi-san. By the way, I apologize for surprising you when I suddenly spoke to you yesterday. 

Mayoi: N-no! Um... I, yesterday I was very happy when you told me you were looking forward to today’s party. 

B-but I was so afraid that I would spoil the surprise that everyone was preparing if I said anything…

So I escaped by running away from you... For someone like me to act so impolite, I-I’m terribly sorry...!

Eichi: Happy birthday Kazehaya-kun.

Tatsumi: Eichi-san, you’re quite a busy person, thank you for attending the party♪

Eichi: Fufu, don’t be so formal. I want to celebrate the birthdays of colleagues from the same agency as often as I can.

I’ve prepared some special black tea for you today. If you don’t mind, how about I brew you a pot?

Tatsumi: That sounds like a lovely idea, I would enjoy that very much.

Midori: Um... happy birthday Kazehaya-senpai.

Tatsumi: Takamine-san, thank you for coming.

Midori: Yes, you’re so kind to me in Gardenia activities, and you came to my birthday party as well, but maybe you would have preferred if someone else came instead of me…

Tatsumi: No, I’m delighted you showed up. I hope we can become good friends.

You still haven’t told me very much about those mascot characters that you adore so much.

〈A few hours later, in the evening〉

Mayoi: Fufu. Our break has ended, so shall we wrap up today’s lesson here?

Tatsumi: Indeed, today it feels like just a test drive, as if we’re just taking the car out for a spin… Everyone did a great job today♪

Mayoi: Eek!? Tatsumi-san… recently driving-related metaphors have been cropping up in your speech a lot, but you couldn’t possibly mean…?

Tatsumi: So you’ve noticed? My life has become more stable as of late, so I’m considering purchasing my own car— with my parents’ permission, of course.

For that reason, I’ve only had cars on my mind recently.

Mayoi: Eeeek! Scaryscaryscary— cars are so scary!?¹ 

Tatsumi: Fufu. What’s the matter with you Mayoi-san, is it really so frightening...♪?

Hiiro: Phew, I worked up a good sweat! Great work everyone! Aira, it isn’t good for your muscles to sit down directly after a strenuous workout.

Aira: Shut up, fitness nerd. Huff huff... Tattsun-senpai called this a test drive? Are you kidding? I’m totally exhausted already.

Mayoi: Fufu. Aira-san’s body is still a work in progress. Of course, that’s also very adorable... ♪

Hiiro: If you’re working on your body then protein is a must! I’ve been exercising so much that I’ve become quite hungry. It’s about time for dinner, so how about we all get food together?

Tatsumi: Shall we? It’s been quite difficult to sit around the dinner table together since we officially moved into Starmony Dormitory...

During summer break we always dined together, so now it feels a bit lonely to be apart.

Mayoi: Yes, fortunately ALKALOID is doing well and we have plenty of L$.

Though I still find myself exhibiting self-restraint... Sometimes I catch myself thinking things like “Eating out is expensive!”, even if only for a second.

Tatsumi: Fufu. It would certainly be less expensive to dine in the staff cafeteria at ES, yes?

Hiiro: Then I want to eat that thing— umm, the omurice!

I wonder if my roommate Shiina-san remembers that I like it. Recently, he’s been making it for me without even taking my order first! “This is your go-to, right?” he says!

Aira: …………

Tatsumi: Naturally Aira-san is invited as well; would you care to go eat dinner with everyone?

Of course, if you’re exhausted from practice, please feel free to return to the dormitory instead—

Aira: Huh? Oh, um, it’s totally ok! Let’s go eat! Honestly I’m feeling pretty tired, but not too tired to eat some food.

Tatsumi: Fufu. I don’t know why you’re so tired after we’ve taken a break. Please take a rest when it’s the proper time to do so. 

Even God rested on the seventh day of creation.

Aira: Ugh… I’ve never had much stamina to begin with, and lately I haven’t been getting enough sleep due to this ketchup guy!

Hiiro: Fufu. I feel like I’m the only one being blamed for this, but I think you’re also an undeniable ‘ketchup guy’ yourself for covering me with it in the first place.

Mayoi: Then you’re the ketchup brothers.

Hiiro: Now I really have a craving for omurice!

Aira: Now you’re just making up weird characters, Mayo-senpai… Anyway, I’m sorry I worried you guys.

That’s why I want to become more competent, just enough that you guys won’t be concerned about me. On the contrary, it seems like a vicious cycle where I keep going in circles and worry you anyway. Ugh, I’m just hopeless.

Hiiro: It’s okay Aira! If you were truly hopeless, then I would perhaps be even more hopeless than you!

Aira: You’re always telling me things like that Hiro-kun… but what difference does it make if you’re more hopeless than me? We’d both be super hopeless anyway, right?

Tatsumi: Now now… let’s stop belittling ourselves. We are all equal in God’s eyes.

(However, MDM truly saved us. We’ve played numerous lives and gained support from fans...)

(Normally one would get rather carried away— therefore it’s essential to constantly check your behavior so that doesn’t happen.) 

(But in regards to Aira-san in particular, he can’t seem to break his self-deprecating habits.)

(An inferiority complex that has been deeply ingrained in your mind for many years is quite difficult to get rid of.)

(For this reason, the other day I consulted with the StarPro higher-ups— or rather, Eichi-san, one-on-one. Perhaps it would be beneficial to analyze the matters we discussed.)

(Eichi-san completely manipulated us until the MDM, so I would honestly prefer to distance myself from him for a while.)

(But he’s almost like our direct supervisor, so we can’t afford to get on his bad side and end up fired.)

(Of course, I’ll listen to everyone else’s opinions prior to making a decision.)

(As Eichi-san suggested, perhaps it would be a good idea to participate in the project by one of ES’s top producers, Anzu-san.)

(If it’s Anzu-san’s project then it will have a high success rate, and if we do a splendid job, then Aira-san will surely build some self-confidence as a result.)

(If there are problems that cannot be solved by idols alone, then it makes sense to ask agencies or producers for assistance in resolving them.)

Location: Starmony Dorm Common Room

Niki: ...Gone, gone gone gone, it’s all gone! The spare food I stored here is all gone… even the spare’s spare is gone!

This is crazy. It has to be some kind of mistake, or maybe I’m hallucinating!

I was supposed to have a stash of food in here! I even refilled it sometime last night一

No way… maybe the food was afraid of being eaten by me and it ran off into the night?

No no, that’s impossible. Ugh, I’m so hungry I’m turning into an idiot.

(Aah, I’m already at my limit... this is bad. I’m so dizzy, I’ve gotta get something in my stomach as soon as possible!)

(At this rate I’m gonna use up all my strength before I even make it to Café Cinnamon. If that happens then I’m just gonna rush into the kitchen and start eating all the condiments.)

(Sugar! Carbohydrates! Calories!)

...Urgh!?

(I tripped over my own feet… Jeez, it’s all because of my hunger.)

(Ugh, I’m losing strength… Am I gonna die here? My life flew by so fast.)

(Uwah, I’m seeing the faces of everyone in Crazy: B… Is this what it means to have your life flash before your eyes?)

(HiMERU-kun was… an elegant person who always gracefully ate every last grain of rice.)

(Kohaku-chan’s eyes lit up when I served him foods that were a little peculiar. It was real interesting to see him react in such a unique way.)

(Rinne-kun...)

(I… can only think of all the times he’s annoyed me.)

(I can’t think of a single good memory right now.)

(On the contrary, I can totally hear him laughing his usual “kyahaha☆” at how I’m on the brink of death…!)

(Am I really going to end my life being wrapped around his finger? I’ve gotta try to live no matter what!)

Gotta crawl to… the kitch...en....

<A little while later>

Hiiro: (~...♪ Today is a great day. I can’t believe Nii-san—)

(Hm? Someone appears to have collapsed, but that’s…)

Shiina-san? Are you alright? If you can hear me, please say something.

Niki: (Sniff sniff)…

Hiiro: ……?

Niki: Ha…

Hiiro: Ha？

Niki: Hand it overrr!

Hiiro: Uwah!?

You’re trying to bite my hand! What’s wrong with you?

Niki: (Panting)... It smells so good. Hand… hand your food over...!

Hiiro: Oh, are you hungry? I can’t give you my body; however, I can give you this bread instead.

Niki: A pastry!? So that’s where the sweet smell was comin’ from. Munch munch...

Hiiro: Wow, you absolutely devoured that.

I’m sorry, I wish I had more to give you.

Being given this bread made me so happy that I was satisfied with only receiving one.

Niki: It’s okay. That pastry you just gave me was filled with calories♪

Ahh, all of my energy is coming back… That was seriously the worst~ I was totally ready to die.

Thanks Otouto-san! I’ll never forget this! You saved my life!

Hiiro: It’s only natural to help someone in trouble. In any case, I’m very relieved to see you back to normal.

You looked like a wounded animal earlier. Did you eat something bad?

Niki: Nope, it was the opposite. I always get like that when I’m hungry.

My mind goes blank, and I can only see the people around me as pieces of meat. When I go past a certain point, I lose control.

I’ve been hoping to somehow fix it myself, but it’s so hard...

Hiiro: Hm, what a strange constitution you have. I’m not a doctor so I can’t heal you, but I can care for you.

If I see you hungry, I’ll be sure to give you some food.

Niki: Ahaha. That’d be a big help.

By the way... I’m a little curious, where’d you get that pastry?

I often buy this kind because it fills me up, but stores near Starmony Dorms don’t carry it, do they?

Hiiro: I got it from Nii-san, so unfortunately I’m not able to tell you where it’s from.

Niki: By "Nii-san", you mean... Rinne-kun…?

Hiiro: Yup. Amagi Rinne is my one and only Nii-san. I ran into him on my way back to Starmony Dorms, and he was carrying a lot of food.

I told him to be careful not to drop any, and he handed me this piece of bread saying, “It’s no problem, don’t worry about it.”

Niki: A lot of… food…?

Hiiro: Yup, I was so happy! Nii-san has changed since leaving our village, but thankfully he still has a kind heart.

It would be a waste to eat it on the spot, so I decided to treasure it, but I’m glad I was able to save Shiina-san’s life.

I’m sure Nii-san would be so happy if he knew that...♪

Niki: (So my emergency food vanished because...)

Rinne-kun, you idiotttt!