Section 5: Can't Let a Dream Die (2/2)

I'm good to go. ...Or at least, I will be soon.

I need one more day for my injury to fully heal, then another day to get my groove back... Ideally, I'd like more time on top of that to up my game further.

You and Cat really got ahead of me while I was out of commission.

The final round is the day after tomorrow... Right around when your injury will be just barely healed.

It's not enough! I demand more siesta time! (Flailing around in a tantrum)

Well, there's no point in whining about what we don't have. Besides, it'll be fine. I'll be perfect once I set foot on the stage.

In the meantime, we can work out a plan to make up for any shortcomings.

Everyone, I have urgent news from Grail Concert management!

What is it?

The date of the final round has been pushed back a week!

...Huh?

？！

Oh yes, this is wonderful! What a lucky turn of events!

This is oddly sudden. Why did they postpone it? Was there a problem with the stadium?

Not at all! It is because I, your opponent for the final round, asked them to do so!

So it is thanks to me!

？！

Umu, it is I, the idol emperor herself! You may even call me Idoltrix, the ruler of all idols, if you like!

Omigawd...! It's Nero from Virtuosa! The undisputed champions of the idol world!

Oh man, what do I do, what do I do!? Okay, just caaalm dowAaa! She's so cute I'm GOING TO DIE! I'm sorry!!!

Okay, deep breaths, deep breaths... (Inhaling) (Exhaling...) Phew, that was close. If I'd been unlucky, seeing her cuteness so suddenly at point-blank range could have killed me instantly...

Virtuosa! I should have known you would be our final opponents.

Your Idol☆Glo signal is overwhelmingly powerful, too. No wonder you're said to be the strongest idols ever.

Good, good. Praise me more, and shrink in my presence. My victory is all but assured.

Never mind that! What's this about an extension?

It is simple. I asked the Grail Concert management to push back the date, and they happily complied.

You requested it?

I see...

The Grail Concert is meant to decide the greatest idol of all time, and only qualified idols are even allowed to enter.

So if Virtuosa threw a fit and decided not to compete, it could end up making a mockery of the whole event.

Why must you put it like that? You make it sound as though I was threatening them.

As the undisputed top idol, I simply wished for this extension, and that was enough.

Yes, I'm sure you guys could easily get the event postponed if you wanted, but that's not what I want to know.

I want to know WHY you had it postponed.

？！

What did you say?

Oho! Impressive, Master. You are clever as always.

By this point, everyone knows that AxXxS is comprised of an up-and-coming idol who started at the bottom, a beautiful queen, and a strange yet bizarrely cute feline creature.

But any Holy Grail we may win from vanquishing you would lose its luster were we to defeat you without your queen.

So, on my own behalf, and that of Virtuosa, I demand that you all perform at your very best!

Meowch!

Such intensity... But, we're idols just as much as she is. We're not about to back down!

Exactly, Alter. Besides, I don't like her going around acting like she's holding all the cards.

Oh? Then what will you do, Queen? Hmm?

What else? I'm going to make sure my injury is fully healed, then I'm going to make you regret ever thinking you could beat us in the final round!

You said it, Medb! Like this cat always says, if sure they're gonna win, knock them down a peg!

Oooh, you've got spirit, don't you, sweetie? I think I'm in love.

Is that

You all look like you're having fun. Hope you don't mind if we join you.

Are you sure you know what you're doing, Nero? I wouldn't put it past you to decide you're having so much fun that you'd rather go over to Chaldea Productions.

Umu, good idea! Once we win, I shall have to see about bringing Chaldea Productions under my company umbrella.

Eee! It's Shuten and Euryale! I can't believe all three members of Virtuosa are here in the flesh! (Drool)

Uh-oh. This is bad. I don't think my spine and legs can hold me up anymore... Guhuhuh...

？！

Wipe that creepy smirk off your face! We're the ones who're going to wipe the stage floor with you!

...Mmm.

What? What is it, idol oni?

Your outfit and your eyes are both sooo pretty. I looove your whole royal dignity shtick too.

I bet you'd sing a reeeal sweet song if I snapped that beautiful body of yours in half...

But I think I'll wait a week first, to let you stew on that thought in the meantime.

Cruel AND easy, hmm? What a lovely combination. It really makes me want to spill my guts. Literally.

Fine. If that's how you want to play it, I'll let you hear all the snapping you like. Just as long as you don't mind it coming from your own broken body!

Are you toying with the competition again, Shuten? Dibs on the cat, then.

Hm? Did this cat's baby browns hit you like a million volts, too?

Oh yes. It wouldn't be any fun otherwise. Once we win, you're going to be my new pet.

That beautiful lightning may have given me happiness, but I don't know what it's going to give you, since I'm not even sure if you're a cat or a fox.

Why you greedy little goddess! You'll get nothing from me, you hear!? Nothing!

Ooh, I like this idea! Picking playtime partners! That should make the concert even more interesting.

In that case, Ex, you shall be my opponent!

Huh? You're choosing me? ...I see. I respectfully decline.

What!? B-but why!? Did you not just state your refusal to back down!?

That was me speaking on behalf of all of AxXxS. I don't want you targeting me personally. I'm too scared.

Hmm... I know. What about choosing Master instead?

？！

Oho! So then, once I win, I shall claim Master as my own!

...Oops, sorry. We definitely can't afford to lose him. All right, I guess I'll just have to accept your challenge after all.

Umu! That is the spirit! This should make for an even more beautiful battle!

Well, that was definitely a...tempestuous encounter, but at least Virtuosa has given us more time.

Mmm, I can still smell their scent in the air. Ahh, vive le parfum naturel!

I know this isn't anything new, but... You get, just...incredibly creepy whenever idols are involved.

Still, she's right: we do at least have more time now. So, I guess we should keep rehearsing?

Non non! We will keep rehearsing, of course, but that's not all we'll be doing.

No, we'll also...

...put on as many shows as possible!

The only way to really get better at performing on stage is...performing on stage!

I see. So I guess there's nothing more to do but put what we've learned into action.

Yes, exactly. Medb, I want you to perform too, though only to the extent your injury permits.

It's basically healed now. All that's left to do is get my groove back through actually performing.

That's great to hear, Medb. Thank you so much for letting me experience what it's like to be an idol while you were indisposed.

Why are you talking like your role is over? You're still part of AxXxS, Mash. You need to keep rehearsing too, so you can go on stage if we need you.

...! Okay! I will!

Just be careful not to push yourself too hard, Medb.

Oh please. Do you even know who you're talking to? I'm Medb, the queen who charms her adoring fans.

And I'm not about to let my throne (read: stage) remain empty one moment longer than necessary.

That's the spirit. I knew you wouldn't let us down.

...?

Did anyone else just hear that staticky sound?

Hmm. I think I might have... Oh well, it was probably just the wind rattling a window.

Anyway, what do you say we get Medb's comeback show started?

You've definitely got your groove back, Medb. In fact, I'd say it's even groovier than ever.

Of course it is. I was never going to settle for only being as good as I used to be. I'm going to be way better than ever before!

It sounds like you have your sights set even higher than an orbiting satellite. That's great to hear.

Hey, you're just as groovy she is, woof. And this cat's claws can leave grooves in just about anything.

I've actually been sensing my own power rising. My Idol☆Glo has been growing like it's on the verge of a big brea

That was weirdly disturbing. I wonder what it was. It sounded almost like a bomb's timer.

!!! Oh no!

Ah.

？！

BROKEN!?

Oh man. This isn't the kind of big break I had in mind...

(Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh)

？！

Of course I am! I just got to the biggest venue of all time, and now I have to start over from square one!

Come now, Ex, don't be so hard on yourself. If anyone should feel bad here, it's me.

I didn't make that outfit nearly as strong as I should have. I completely underestimated how much you'd grow and improve.

Here. It's not much, but I got you a shiratama dumpling anmitsu dessert as my way of saying sorry.

Thank you. That's very kind. But my heart's so broken I don't even want sweets...

(Munch, munch, munch... Sigh) I knew it. I can only eat oneno, twothreefourfive bowls.

...

...It's okay, Miss Crane. You don't have to apologize. I've come to terms with the truth.

What truth?

The only reason I made it to this venue, or was able to win any concert battles in the first place, was because of that outfit.

I can't take credit for any of it. I'm still the same pathetic idol who can't do anything on her own.

So even if you made me another outfit, there's no way I'd ever be able to defeat Nero's group.

Really, I don't even have the right to stand on the same stage as Medb and Cat.

？！

Master...

MasP is right, Ex. I think this is as good a time as any to let you in on a secret of mine.

The truth is...I was born and raised in Japan.

Huh? How is that a secret? We know you're the crane from

Ahem, ahem! That's right! Just between us, I'm actually a Japanese Servant!

？！

(Deadpan) Oh wow. I can't believe it. This is such a shock.

Right? You never would've guessed it, would you? I mean, I use French all the time.

Do you know why that is?

No, I don't. Is it because you love French sweets, like cannelés and crèmes brûlées?

I do love those things, but no, that's not why.

Some time ago, I actually lived in Paris.

Back then, I had formed a contract with another Master, different from Fujimaru.

Another Master, huh? That's a surprise. I thought you were here because you'd been summoned to this Singularity.

Well, you're wrong. I've actually been materialized for years now.

I'm a career Servant with a wealth of experience.

？！

She was very sickly, but she still managed to form a contract with me...

...so I think she must have had the makings of an exceptional Master.

Still, she wasn't a mage. She was a completely ordinary person, save for one thing.

What was that?

She had a divine gift for designing clothes and accessories. I can't overstate what a truly incredible talent she was.

She could take cloth and thread and turn them into outfits of pure hope. The clothes she made were genuinely life changing, in the true sense of the word.

Life changing clothes... That sounds just like the idol outfit you made for me.

I, too, used to think it was all thanks to the clothes. But one day, she told me:

"All any outfit can really do is press the 'courage' button on a person's back."

The courage button...

Let me ask you something, Ex. Did that outfit I made for you get up and walk on stage of its own accord?

No...it didn't.

Right? Clothes can't walk on their own. They can't sing. And they certainly can't flash a smile so wonderful that it brightens a whole audience's day.

Who do you think it was who did all those things, MasP?

？！

...!

I did inspire you to be brave, yes. But you're the one who used it to shine so brightly.

The moon can be very beautiful at night, but only because it reflects the sun's brilliance.

In the same way, an idol's outfit only shines because it reflects the light of the star wearing it.

So please, trust me when I say that the light of hope you cast on stage came not from your clothes...

...but from you.

But... But... Virtuosa is the best idol group we've faced by far...

If I lose...everything we've done will be for nothing. We won't even be able to get the Holy Grail!

That's right. This is a concert, not a typical Holy Grail War. Losing would be painful, certainly, but that's all.

Not to say the pain of losing would be enjoyable, of course. But as long as we're alive, we can always try again.

Another way...

Exactly. MasP is right. I'm sure there's something else we can try if necessary.

Right now, we're pursuing this idol route because we thought it would be the best way to get there, but it's certainly not the only one.

There's always another way.

？！

And even if our next attempt fails too, it's still not the end of the world.

The sun WILL rise again, and tomorrow is always another day.

...!

Okay, Miss Crane. Master. ...I'll give it another shot.

That's more like it. Ahh, now I'm filled with hope at the prospect of redoing your outfit!

？！

Thank you for remembering, MasP. If anyone sees me working, I'll have no choice but to leave, and I really don't want to do that.

I'm no longer here solely to repay my debt. I'm also here because I'm hoping for nothing more than to go the distance with all of you in the Grail Concert.

So as always, whenever I'm making clothes, it's very, very important that you don't peek.

We won't!

Ex is back! I'm so glad!

Hmph, she's such a handful. But, I guess she hasn't had the time to develop a real professional mindset yet.

Some people say that you shed one tear for each of your limits you push past. Personally, I can't wait to see what the newly awakened X Alter comes up with next!

Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll be something to see.

...Huh? You want me to take a break?

R & R is just as important for idols as it is for any other profession. So while I'm mending your outfit, I want you to do whatever it is you like to do for fun.

I see. That makes sense. Hmm... Does that mean I'm allowed to go out?

I'd love to go shopping, myself. I just haven't had the time lately.

Of course. Just make sure you stay away from anywhere dangerous.

Guess these tickets I have for Super Thrilling Athletic World will have to wait for another time, then.

Yes, that would be best. Oh, and just so you know, I'll be staying here. I have a few other small tasks I need to attend to.

Then I'll stay and help, too. Besides, someone has to be here to answer the office phone.

？！

Are you sure? Okay, we will. Thank you.

Here you go, ladies! Special Catty Sweets, courtesy of yours truly!

I still don't understand how you ended up cooking and waiting tables here after we decided to stop by for a bite.

What can I say? Cat habits die hard!

I guess this is an impromptu collaboration then. At least the café and the customers seem to appreciate it.

As an extra special service, I'll even let you take a group selfie with me. Big smiles now! Three, two, woof!

What are you talking about? We can take photos anytime!

Still...we'll never be able to take this photo of the three of us here at this point in time again. I'm going to hang onto it.

Ooh, is this new? ...Not bad. I'll have that delivered, too.

I've never seen anyone order so many high-end cosmetics and perfumes. You're obviously an old hand at this.

Here, Alter. This one's for you.

...Lipstick? I've never used anything like this before.

Here, give me that. Now turn this way.

Mmph...

Whoa, you look more unlike yourself than ever, Alter. Medb's makeup magic for you!

You always let someone else handle all your stage makeup, don't you, Alter? You should get in the habit of doing it yourself, too.

From now on, at the same time every morning, I want you to start paying attention to your skin and lip condition, including their color.

O-okay. That sounds almost impossibly difficult to me, but I'll try.

Now, what should we do next...

How about jogging? We can put on some background music and run to Budokan while a bunch of screaming fans chase after us.

It might even help us power up somehow!

What are you even talking about!? And where is this Budokan place, anyway!?

Um, I might have an idea...

Hm?

There's actually a place I've been wanting to go. Would you two mind accompanying me?

Hmm, maybe it's time we thought about heading home. We don't want to wear ourselves out from having too much fun.

Good point. Are you okay with that, Alter?

...This is the best music I can play right now.

Do you think it'll be enough to beat Virtuosa?

There's no point worrying about it now. All you have to do is surpass your current limits when it's showtime.

Isn't that how you've always won so far?

Well, yes, I guess so.

Looks like our day off turned into a rehearsal. Hell, we even rented this venue on a whim.

I appreciate you joining me. I really do. But this wasn't a whim.

It wasn't?

This is where I first saw true idols performing... The place where I first saw you and Cat perform as Inq.

Oh, yeah. No wonder this place looked familiar. So did you reserve it ahead of time then?

I did. Ex always comes prepared.

So this is where we inspired you to become an idol yourself, huh. It's hard to even imagine now.

I'll say. Even in my wildest dreams...

...I never thought I'd be standing on the same stage as you two, let alone aiming for the top together.

And this isn't a dream. It's really happening. But it's not just because of me. How can I put this...?

I could never have gotten here solo, but it also doesn't feel like teaming up with just anyone would have gotten me here, either...

Ugh, spit it out already, Alter! It's not like you to beat around the bush so much!

Now, now, partner, be nice. Here, Alter. Maybe some sweet cat dumplings will help you calm down.

Thank you. (Munch, munch...) Ahh. That was bliss.

Okay, I'm ready to sing now. I call this one "Big Bang Thanks."

...What was that?

Thank you... Thank you...♪ Thank you so much, Medb and Cat♪

When this Singularity brought me here, becoming a top♪ idol was just a dream, but now it's real♪

I'm so big bang lucky. I even got a Mystic Code♪ And it's all thanks to the two of you♪

I'm so grateful that we crossed paths♪ So here's a big bang thanks from me to you♪

...

Well? What did you think of my original song?

It's, uh...

Well, it's definitely a song. At least, uh...technically?

Hmm. I was hoping to revolutionize the music scene, but I guess I missed the mark.

Pfft. Hehe... That song was terrible. No wonder you used to struggle on the streets.

But, the feelings behind it did come through loud and clear.

...Even if that's all that came through.

Medb...

I've had so much fun being in AxXxS with you two. It's been the time of my life.

So let me say it once again: thank you.

...Hmph. You didn't have to say that now, Alter.

I mean, we're grateful to you, too. Ugh, I can't believe you beat me to it!

I knew our fateful encounter wasn't a mistake! We might all have different birthdays, but we can still break up on the same day, month, and year!

Um, yes, I'm sure that day will be the same for all of us, since we're all part of the same group.

Well, now that we've gone to the trouble of forming this group and all, we might as well aim straight for the top.

So we're going to beat Virtuosa, and we're going to be the first Servants ever to obtain a Holy Grail by being idols.

Yes. Together, I know we can change the world.

...So, um...if we really do manage to win, and are crowned top idols...

...what will happen to AxXxS afterward?

Beats me. We'll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it.

But just like Inq is still a part of me today, I do know we'll never lose what we have now.

...Yup! Things may change, but some things stay the same.

Yes... You're right. That's right. There's nothing to worry about.

I could never forget you two, even if I wanted to.

So with those feelings in mind... I'd like you to listen to the next verse of "Big Bang Thanks."

There's more!?