Title: Unexpected Remark
Characters: Rui, Tsukasa, Nene, Emu, Costumed Mascot
Working on this and Overflowing Ideas back to back ended up being a good idea because both cards have 1 part dedicated to Rui or Nene thanking the other and they are just such cute friends in both of them
Part 1
On a rest day
Rui's Room
Rui
Now then, since the Halloween show was also a great success, it's about time for me to start thinking of the next show's direction too…
That being said, it's mostly decided already. The issue though, is the wirework…
(I've used it to make actors float on stage so far, but using it to make someone fly like how it's done live for male idol shows seems fun too.)1
(While I can't make it appear free and effortless, it could be used to make the actor appear as if they are about to leap out of the stage.)
(However, whether it looks good from each audience seat's position is a concern. I also need to take the lighting into consideration on top of that.)
Rui
(And of course, the safety aspect too…)
(As the number of wires used and the number of people being lifted increase, the risk of accidents like wires getting tangled increases accordingly.)
(However, if it can be executed with multiple people at the same time, it will not only have a strong impact, but also allow for an impressive scene.)
(Furthermore, it might be better for multiple people to be able to fly if I were to take future use cases into account as well.)
…More verification is needed for this. In that case, what I need to do next is-
Nene
…Rui, I'm here.
Rui
Ah, right. Today was supposed to be Nenerobo's maintenance day.
Sorry. It completely slipped my mind since I was pondering over the details for our next show's direction.
Nene
It's fine. Forgetting stuff as basic as eating and sleeping while you're totally engrossed is just the usual anyway.
Rui
Heh! Hehe, you're not wrong.
I'll get started with her maintenance then.
Nene
Yeah, she's all yours now. Ah…
Rui, is this drawing on your desk of the wirework you mentioned before in our discussions?
So you've decided to go with that for the next show.
Rui
Oh no, it's not finalised yet.
How good it looks, the lighting, and the safety of it all- I have to solidify a plan that allows all three to coexist first.
Nene
Safety…
Are you still worried about it? About the fact that Tsukasa got injured, I mean.
Rui
…I'd be lying if I said no, but it's a little different.
Nene
…In what way?
Rui
You're worried about whether or not I'm fretting over it right, Nene?
Nene
Mm, well…
Rui
If so, there's no need to worry. After all, it's thanks to you and Emu that I was able to talk with Tsukasa properly too.
(But… As a director, I do not wish to take advantage of my actors.)
(All the more since Tsukasa in particular agrees to any kind of direction.)
Nene
I see. Then… Is it okay if I take it that you're thinking proactively?
Rui
Of course.
Nene
I'm glad you're feeling better.
Rui
Alright. With this, Nenerobo's maintenance is complete.
Nene
Thanks. I'll head back home then.
Rui
Yeah… Wait. Hang on a minute, Nene.
Nene
What's up?
Rui
Your suggestion to go to the Sekai when I fought with Tsukasa was a real help.
I'm certain that I couldn't have resolved it on my own. So I'm grateful for what you did.
Nene
I mean, the one who gave the crucial piece of advice was Kaito, though.
Rui
Hehe. But without your suggestion, I would've fallen into the depths2 of anguish on my own for sure.
That's why I wanted to thank you again.
Thank you, Nene.
Nene
Alright, alright. You're welcome.
Then, I'll be looking forward to the next show's direction, okay?
Rui
Yeah. I gave my word to Tsukasa and Emu too, so pin all the expectations you want on me.
Part 2
Phoenix Wonderland
Wonder Stage
Rui
Ooooi, Tsukasa! Is it alright on your end?
Tsukasa
Yeah, it's properly aligned with the zero!
Rui
Thanks! Then with this, the stage's width is sorted…
Since its depth and height are measured already, next up is the number of lights.
Costumed Mascot
For that, I have a diagram, albeit a simple one.
Lights that cannot be used due to age are marked with crosses.
Rui
This…is very helpful. Because I actually wanted to get equipment-related documentation ready for the next show no matter what.
(Plus, there might be more equipment that are available yet aren't in use just like the trap room we used for the Halloween show, too.)
Are there any other concerns you have regarding stage equipment, Mr. Mascot?
Costumed Mascot
No. Apart from the lights, I believe there are none. If anything, I have one concern regarding the audience seats.
Tsukasa
Hm? A concern regarding the audience seats? What do you mean by that?
Costumed Mascot
It's about how worn out they are. Although they have been repaired once before, the issue has yet to be addressed sufficiently.
Nene
Ah, right. They do have parts that are wobbly. They aren't comfortable either, so I'd love for something to be done for them.
Emu
Yeah, and it's dangerous too, so they definitely need to be fixed up! Mr. Mascot, please…!
Costumed Mascot
Gasp…! Understood. It will…require a number of days to fulfill, but I will definitely make arrangements for it.
Emu
Yaaaay! Thank you, Mr. Mascot!
Rui
Hehe! I'm grateful for your competence, Mr. Mascot.
By the way, would it be possible for you to add a few improvements to the seats while renovations are underway?
Costumed Mascot
…Like what?
Rui
I was wondering if it's possible to install a small device for each seat that could, for instance, generate water or wind effects.
Tsukasa
Water and wind effects? What are those?
Rui
Imagining the so-called 4D effects would do, I think.
Back when the audience seats were being repaired, I was told that moving the seats would sadly prove difficult…
But what if they were instead improved to transmit vibrations, blow air, spray water, emit scents or the like?
If this can be done, then I believe this could also differentiate us from the other stages.
Emu
Ooooh! That sounds kinda amazing!
Costumed Mascot
Roughly how big would it be?
Rui
I think it's small enough to fit beneath the audience seats. Large, bombastic equipment don't suit this stage anyway, and small, simple devices are easier to control on top of that.
Costumed Mascot
I see… In that case, there probably isn't a need to submit an application to headquarters.
Rui
Oh? Are there actually cases where it's needed?
I don't recall reporting to anyone regarding the simple stage lift3 I set up at the stage previously…
Costumed Mascot
Everything for that was settled by me.
Rui
So that's how it was. You're truly reliable.
Costumed Mascot
By the way, I need to submit a report including details on that device's maintenance situation and whether its functional performance has degraded very soon.
Rui
Oh, is that so? Well, your timing's just right. Why don't we assess it right away?
Which means… It's your time to shine, Tsukasa.
Tsukasa
Hm?
Rui
Have you fastened the safety belt that prevents you from flying too far, Tsukasa?
Tsukasa
Y-Yeah… It's on, but is this really alright…?
Rui
I've been performing routine maintenance on it, so it has no issues safety-wise.
Plus, since the assessment can be done even safer now that we have more practice mats at your suggestion4, I was thinking of launching you at max power.
Emu
At max power…! That sounds so cool!
Nene
You think so? All I'm getting is a bad feeling as usual, though.
Tsukasa
What a coincidence, so am I…
Rui
Now, Tsukasa. Break through the barrier of gravity and become a star!
Tsukasa
Oi, oi! I'm not gonna fly high enough to become a literal star no matter how you…
Rui
Launching in five…
Emu
Four, three, two…!
Rui
-One… Fire!
*Trigger click*
Tsukasa
GUAAHHHHHHHHH!!!
*Explosion sound*
Emu
Whoooaahhhh! Tsukasa's so, soooo amazing!
Nene
Yikes… That's some nasty height… I mean, this isn't a stage lift anymore, it's a full-on catapult, isn't it…
Rui
Heheh! The angle and height both fall within expectations. Doesn't seem like there's any influence from wind either. Get the mat ready, everyone.
Costumed Mascot
Already on standby.
Emu
Hey, hey, Rui! Lemme go next! I wanna become a sparkly, twinkly star too!
Costumed Mascot
N-No…! Please refrain from doing so, Miss Emu!
Emu
Whaaaat! But it'd be fun for sure!
Tsukasa
-AAAAARRRGGHHHH… Oof!
…W-Wow! This mat is incredible! I barely felt any pain even though I fell from such a great height!
No, if anything, the moment I landed was pleasant, like I was being wrapped up gently!
If it's like this, then I'll become a star as often as you wish!
Rui
Hehe! We even managed to verify how well the new mat works by accident, too.
Well then… Thanks to all of you, I managed to gather all sorts of information.
With this, I might even be able take a shot at the effects I'd held off from verifying till now.
Tsukasa
Ughh… On one hand I'm excited, but on the other hand, this bad feeling wouldn't go away either…
Rui
Well, keep your eyes peeled. Heheheheh…
Notes
- This one was quite tricky. Rui says
飛ぶthe first time, which can be fly or jump commonly, and then specifies flying outright in the latter half withフライング(incidentally, this can also mean a false start, which is the more common meaning for this term).
Tangent 1: I tried to look for examples of male idol shows where they fly on stage and the closest I can get to see one is one of the images in this article. A few articles also talk about this group (Naniwa Danshi) and how they utilise wirework to fly on stage a lot (4 times so far apparently).
I tried looking for older sources dating back to around the time this story was released (back in 2020 on Halloween LOL) to see if I could find any sources so that I can see if I can come to the same conclusion if I were translating this back then, and I found some forum posts talking about who started using wirework to (make singers/performers) fly and what it’s called etc., and a common agency I saw is Johnny’s, so it seems like this is something Johnny’s idols are known for. I’m totally unfamiliar with idols, much less Johnny’s idols, and I’m willing to think this is what they are talking about.
Tangent 2: Linking this back to my point all the way at the start of this note, the reason this line is tricky is because technically both飛ぶand the “flying” Rui talks about can be the same thing, which is Terrible since he’s clearly talking about them as distinct stuff. I don’t read the other side stories and having to go through all of them to find an answer is too much for me when I’m just brainrotted with Rui, so I’m making a guess here and assuming that he meant that he only really used wirework for making people float/levitate on stage at best and not make them appear to fly like Johnny’s idols. Thank you for attending my TED Talk on why Rui gives me headaches regularly. (Return to text)
奈落can mean hell in Buddhism and also trap room, as in the ones you use on stage like the one they discovered under the Wonder Stage in the event story. I’m pretty sure Rui’s using it as a metaphor with悩みの奈落, so I just made this a bit more of a liberal translation. (Return to text)
- This was a pain in the ass because
ポップアップmore often means pop-up stores or like the effects. As the later half of the story shows, this is actually a stage lift (which was powered up to unrealistic extents for god knows what reason). Here’s one in action (Return to text)
- This was covered in Tsukasa’s 4* side story. The TLDR is that Tsukasa got new practice mats for the team that were softer and better at cushioning falls. It wasn’t specified if it was one or many, but I figured multiple would be more appropriate since Tsukasa commented in there that the ones they already had were mostly old and worn out iirc (Return to text)