nebulancer

3. It’s an Assault with the Combined Power of Goddesses!

[The school bell rings. Chisa and Wakaba are running.]

Chisa: Uwhuwuhwuhwuh~! We’re gonna barely make it on time! This is bad~!!

Wakaba: *panting* Gah, goshdarnit~! That’s why I said we should’ve moved faster!!

Chisa: Urgh, I know~! I know, I get it, but who’d expect the teacher to ask us to do something as soon as we walked out of the classroom!?

Wakaba: Ngh. You’re right. Now that was unexpected.

Thanks to that, we ended up having to go on an errand that took us to the opposite side of the school building... Ack, wait! This isn’t the time for us to be complaining!!

Even a second sooner, let’s GO to the dorm leader Yuki-senpai’s room!!

Let’s go, Chisa!

...Whoop! Whew...!

Chisa: Whoa-ho! Wakaba, you’re fast! Err, wait, wait, wait a second! Wait up for me~!

Phew, whoa...!

[The door slams open.]

Chisa, Wakaba: *panting*

Chisa: Diana Academy second year, Togawa Chisa, present!

Wakaba: Also second year, Yuuki Wakaba, apologizes for being late!!

Yuki: Quite energetic. Welcome, you two. We’ve been waiting for you.

Kurisu: Yes, exactly! We have, indeed, been waiting for you. So long that I’ve gotten fed up of waiting, in fact! You’ve got quite the nerve to keep the great Hijiri Kurisu-sama waiting— mghghrgh—

[Hina covers Kurisu’s mouth.]

Hina: A-ahahaha! Chisa-chan! Wakaba-chan! You were helping out the teacher, weren’t you? Someone from your class told me that! Thanks for all the hard work!

Ai: Oh, is that so? Ah. Come on, come here. Sit over here?

Chisa, Wakaba: All right~!

Yuki: Well then, everyone. Thank you all for responding to my sudden summons today.

Everyone: Of course!

Yuki: Having to introduce ourselves to each other... seems unnecessary, doesn’t it?

We live in the same dorms and often see one another, after all.

Hina: Ah, yes! That’s perfectly fine with me, Yuki-senpai!

But what I don’t understand is... with what rule were these members gathered up? I’m curious to know.

Chisa: [SHOCK...] Ah...! Now that you mention it... You’re right!

Wakaba: You’re right!

Hina: ...The two of you never even considered it...?

Wakaba: Hina, Chisa, and I are second years, right? Yuki-senpai and Ai-senpai make the third-year pair, right? And if we have the first-year Kurisu...

Chisa: ✨ Does that mean she’s called over the people with the best grades in their year!? ✨

Wakaba: The fact that we’re here in the first place? Definitely not.

Chisa: Ah-hahaha~! You’re totally right about that~

And acknowledging it myself makes me feel so heartbroken!

Yuki: Togawa-san. Yuuki-san. Would it be fine for me to proceed with our topic of discussion?

Chisa, Wakaba: Er—Yes, ma’am!!

Yuki: But yes, I know. We’d best start with that explanation, I suppose.

Ahem. Everyone who’s kindly gathered up here with me today are the ones who sent in applications for the board chairman’s brand new venture, the chosen unit, last weekend.

Ai: Ah!

Chisa: Ahh~!

Wakaba: Owah~!

Kurisu: Oh, that?

Hina: Oh, that!

Yuki: Fufu. Yes, that.

And if I may, we’re the only applicants of this dorm, which I serve as the head of.

The exam to select the members will begin soon, but before it begins, I thought about putting together a pep rally... Well, a chance for us to say, “Let’s do our best together!” Which was why I called out to you all.

Ah, you don’t need to think of it as such a serious matter. It’s something like a tea party of sorts.

Chisa: Oh, I get it now~!

...Wait, huh? The applicants are... one, two, three, four... six. That means six people applied from this dorm?

Surprisingly few people, huh?

Wakaba: You’re right. It became a really big deal, so I thought there’d be way more people.

Yuki: Why, yes. There are two more dorms, so I suppose there’ll be applicants there as well, but...

It seems that the entire school’s population managed to gather only fewer than thirty applicants. I suppose the academy expected to get more... but unfortunately, things didn’t turn out that way.

Kurisu: Well! It was a sudden and “wonderful” announcement from the unidentified board chairman. I don’t think there’d be many people out there who’d apply to a project that’s basically an explosion of suspicions abound.

Like, we’ve got enough on our plates trying to keep up with our normal studies. We’ll have to straddle ourselves with even more baggage to weigh us down.

Ah~! But of course, I’m not in a tough spot. This is just in general, mind you.

Wakaba: One member of the general community here!

Chisa: Second member here! I sent in the application thinking the activities would be fun, but~...

Judging by the way Yuki-senpai and Kurisu were talking about it, I guess that was sorta... thoughtless of me... Ehehe...

Kurisu: Ugh, oh my gosh. Did you even read the application guidelines?

Guess I don’t have any other choice. My amazing self will explain things to you! Listen up good, and listen up well!

Chisa, Wakaba: Yes, ma’am~!

Ai: Ch-Chisa-chan and Wakaba-chan are second years... while Kurisu-chan is a first year... right? They’ve totally swapped positions as senior and junior, haven’t they?

[Drumroll... FANFARE~!]

Kurisu: The golden pretty-girl Goddess candidate student: Hijiri Kurisu-chan’s Goddess candidate student activity corner~!

Chisa, Wakaba: Yayyy~!

Kurisu: Candidate students that aim to become Goddesses. Those are Goddess candidate students! Well, it’s exactly what it says on the label... right there, anyway.

I guess you’ve obviously got that part down pat?

Chisa, Wakaba: Yes, ma’am~!

Kurisu: Well, then. What is the most important challenge for a Goddess candidate student to clear in order to become a Goddess~? I’m calling on you, Togawa Chisa-san!

Chisa: Roger that!

It’s to do idol activities so we can amass believers... or rather, fans, that increase the level of devotion that we have. This devotion is one of the purest types of spiritual energy which Earthlings can produce! ...Right?

Kurisu: Why’d you end that in a question...? Anyway, it’s correct. You’re right~!

Chisa: Thank goodness~! Ahaha!

Kurisu: The concrete way we’re evaluated is extremely simple. We link to the Earth’s internet from the Moon and the school uploads our videos and songs online!

The view count and download number in sales are integrated, thus leading to the decision to be made.

Ai: The numbers that result from that are incredibly objective and thus very fair, but they’re quite severe as well, don’t you think?

Yuki: Well, that’s just how it is. Goddesses are also a symbol that represent the gathering of spiritual energy from Earthlings.

No matter how upright and proper that person is, no matter how gentle and compassionate that person is... it’ll be all for nothing if it can’t be conveyed to the people of Earth.

Wakaba: Me, me, call on me, Kurisu-sensei~!

Kurisu: Hmm? What is it, Wakaba-kun?

Wakaba: So about the board chairman’s project that we’re discussing this time. Personally, I think that shifting from solo idol to unit idol work will expand our range of jobs that we can do. So, like, you can work on all sorts of different jobs compared to what you had before~!

...Is how I saw it. But... am I... getting something wrong here...?

Kurisu: Hrmm... It’s not... wrong, per se.

Yuki: Yes, I’d have to agree it’s not wrong. ...However...

Wakaba: H-however...?

Kurisu: It’s not enough. On top of forming a unit, you’re overlooking something vital from the whole picture.

Ai: Mmhmm. It was written right there on the application. If memory serves me correctly...

“The preparations for forming a unit will not result in recognition, no matter how much you struggle or how much time you spend on it.” Something of the like.

“The outcome will depend on your own efforts...” I believe?

Chisa: WHAAAAAAT!?

Kurisu: That’s right! ✨

So basically, even if we work in a unit, it’s not guaranteed that things will turn out well. Take responsibility for your own actions as you try your best, at least~! Is how it is.

That’s why you won’t get extra points added to your grades whether or not you formed the unit. Also, you won’t get any exemptions from required subjects with the excuse that they’ll take up time for the unit.

It’s a huge load of things you won’t be able to get, that... *laughing* it makes you wanna laugh, huh~!?

Chisa: Huh!? What!? For reals!?

They were taking applications within the school itself, so I thought there’d obviously be backup from the school...!

Yuki: This instance was not a venture from the academy in its entirety. Apparently, it’s an experimental trial attempt from the board chairman himself.

Of course, if the results are acknowledged to a certain degree, the way Goddess candidate students work may be changed in the future, but...

Kurisu: At the very least, for right now! We’ll have to clear the same studies and assignments as the rest of the students. On top of that, we need to put in extra effort to do our best!

...Is where things are at.

Fighting spirit and preparation are must-haves!

Chisa, Wakaba: WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!?!?

Hina: That’s clearly... the reaction of people who learned that for the first time.

You two... the guidelines wrote about that in great detail, and the teacher even explained it to us in homeroom...?

Yuki: Togawa-san. Yuuki-san. When you’re reading contracts or application fliers, please make sure to act after reading the instructions starting next time. And listen to people when they talk. Have I made myself clear?

Wakaba: Y-yes, ma’am...

Chisa: I understand that now. More than any other moment in my life, in fact.

Wakaba: We already don’t have ease to spare, but we’re driving ourselves even further into a corner by doing this!! Like, WHAT THE HECK ARE WE GONNA DO!?

...That’s how things are going, huh? Sob, sob...

Hina: Urk, um! Ch-cheer up, you two!

Take me, for example! If Kurisu-chan hadn’t encouraged me... If I were all on my own, I... probably wouldn’t have participated. I would’ve just watched, thinking, “It seems like fun, but it also seems like a ton of work.”

But I did think that I wanted to try it! I wanted to give it a shot! That’s why I sent in the application... but...

Now I’m getting antsy...! Will it be all right...!?

Kurisu: Gosh, you’re a real dumb-dumb, Hina! And Chisa! Wakaba! You won’t know if you’ll be all right or not until you actually go through with it!

Challenge yourself with something you’ve never done ever before! No answers will come to you if you’re just thinking and not doing.

After all, it’s said that courage is what makes a woman!

You were the one who decided to apply yourself, so all that’s left is to keep your head up and face things head-on!

Hina: E-eeek...!?

Chisa: W-well, yeah, I guess that’s... right...? *chuckling nervously*

Ai: Calm down, calm down, Kurisu-chan. You too, Hina-chan. And Chisa-chan, Wakaba-chan, too. I’m in the same boat as you for our studies.

Hina: W-what, really?

Chisa: Whoa, Ai-senpai, you’re the same?

Wakaba: That’s surprising~

Yuki: She’s the same as you girls. She saw the details of our activities and sent in the application as a result of that, right?

Ai: Yep. I heard that working in a unit would increase the range of jobs I could get, compared to working solo.

Wakaba: Um, if memory serves me right... When we’re working in a unit, we aren’t just limited to online activities. We’ll actually be able to descend to Earth in person and pursue our activities while looking at the fans face-to-face.

Chisa and I decided to send in the application after seeing that.

Chisa: Yes, yes! We’d get to directly see the fans’ reactions and interact with them! That’d definitely be tons of fun, so wouldn’t it pump you up a bunch?

...Er, of course, I guess there’d be equally as much stressful stuff that happens as a result of it, but I... I want to properly get to know the faces of the people supporting me!

When I’m in a tough spot, I think I’ll be able to work even harder than I ever had before, as long as I think about their faces~! ...Is just what I thought!

Ai: Ufufu! I feel the exact same way. I realized that I wanted to know the people I’d be cheering on and the people who’d be cheering me on!

That, and...

I wonder if you all know this already?

My mom is a Goddess, and my dad is an Earthling. Basically, that makes me someone with mixed blood.

My home is back on Earth, so I send in a request so that I can go back home during long breaks. Earth is also my precious birthplace.

It’s somewhere I love, so... I’d like it if I could check it out more frequently~

That’s also on my mind.

Wakaba: Ooh, I see~! Wait, huh?

Though, if we’re going to personally show up in front of fans in real life, I’m sure your mother, as a Goddess, would be fine with it... but would the deal with your father be like, “MY DAUGHTER’S SUDDENLY MADE HER DEBUT AS AN IDOL!?!?”

Will he be shocked? Or voice his opposition towards you doing that?

Chisa: Huh? Whaddya mean?

Kurisu: Looks to me like Chisa doesn’t get it, but... that’s a pretty astute observation you’ve come up with. Never expected that from you.

Well, true. For those who have affiliates on Earth, like Ai, the videos we upload onto the Internet are supposed to be altered with a mechanism that makes them look like highly similar strangers. It’s to make sure the existence of the Moon and our activities don’t get revealed to people.

Chisa: Huhhh! Ooooh~!

Hina: Ch-Chisa-chan! That’s basic knowledge, you know!?

Well, true, if we’re going to actually be standing onstage, we won’t... be able to use that mechanism.

Wakaba: Y-yeah, that’s what I wanted to get at!

Ai: Hmm... I did consider that, but...

My older twin brother, who lives on Earth, has already made his debut as an idol. So I figured it’d be all right~?

I tried giving wishful thinking a try! Plus, it seems that we’re going to debut under the same agency.

Chisa: What!? That’s awesome~! You have a real idol as your big brother?

Wakaba: Cool, cool~! I’d like to meet him!!

Ai: I get the feeling Onii-chan would be pleased to hear you react like that to him~! Ufufu.

Kurisu: We’ve gone off topic, so I’m putting us back on track.

To summarize. It looks like the points that attracted all of us to the board chairman’s project are the same.

Basically! Earth!

Filled with things, it’s a world bursting with chaos and passion! Oh, I can feel my heart beating like crazy from my interest in the place!

Yuki: Fufu. True. I’m similar in how I want to come into contact with Earth a bit more. I wanted to sing to the fans directly. That’s why I applied, after all.

Ai: It’d be nice if we could all go there together.

Hina: Yes...!

Yuki: We want to interact with our fans in person, isn’t that right?

Wakaba: Yes...!

Kurisu: Oohoo~...! I’m getting fired up...!

It’s an assault with the combined power of Goddesses!

Hina: I-isn’t that a little... er, no. Very different!? Still... still, still!

We don’t know how many people will be selected for the unit, but it’d be very nice if all six of us passed!

Chisa: Indeed~. And if possible, what if we managed to form a unit with the six of us, who already get along well? That’d be totally awesome~!

But I guess that’s~ hoping for something too greedy~?

Kurisu: Get along... well...?

Hina: Hehe. Kurisu-chan, you look happy.

Don’t worry. Chisa-chan and Wakaba-chan definitely, most surely, think of you as a friend, too.

Kurisu: Uh—er—urk—oogh—Sh-shut up, you! Who’d be bothered about something like that!? Obviously not me!

Yuki: Ai and I think of you as our adorable little sister as well.

Kurisu: A-a-a-and who asked you!? W-well, anyway!! The six of us are gonna be the last ones standing for the choice unit, and the six of us are gonna advance together! That’s all there is to it!

Chisa: I totally get it now~! Now that’s Kurisucchi for you! That’s one super-smart head on your shoulders!!

Yuki: You’re right. I think it’d be lovely if all of us could become a team together, so I’ll do my best to advance as well.

Ai: Ufufu. I’m relying on you, miss school representative. ...I just wanted to say that!

Yuki: Leave it to me! ...Was that the response you wanted?

Chisa: Haaah~! I know this makes me sound like I’m all over the place, but up until just now, I thought I was totally screwed in tons of ways!

And on top of that, we haven’t even passed! But the idea that the six of us could work together has made me look forward to it a bunch~!

Wakaba: Mmhmm, mmhmm! Me too~!

Hina: Me three. I’d sure like to become one of the chosen members~

Kurisu: YOU’RE TOO NAÏVE!!

Don’t you hit me with that “I’d sure like to be~” but instead, BE one! You’re gonna be one! For sure! If you make that your goal, you’ll be sure to beat anything lying in your way and achieve victory!

Wakaba: Kurisu’s brimming-with-energy, rampaging self is super reliable to have when she’s on your side~

Chisa: I couldn’t agree more!

4. Flowers in Full Bloom

Kurisu: Afterwards, this and that happened during the selection exam, and we splendidly... or actually, the six of us obviously remained the last ones standing. We made progress under the teachers’ tutelage~ and in the end, we managed to form a unit with us six girls!

Diana Academy’s representative unit, Fluna, was on the scene!

Hina: ...I get the feeling you omitted the most important part, but...

You’re right. After it was decided that we’d form a unit, I remember us making a big deal over deciding our unit name, too...

[Flashback.]

Chisa: It’s a girls’ idol unit, you know!? I really do think we should include “Milady” or “Princess” or something along those lines~! Oh, don’t you just admire that sorta thing~!?

Wakaba: P-princess...!? I-it might be fine for normal idols, and it’d be perfect for girls like Yuki-senpai or Ai-senpai, but...

Us. Proclaiming ourselves... to be PRINCESSES?

...There’s a limit to how bad the disparity can get, right?

Chisa: Ehh~! Isn’t it fine, though? Princess Wakaba~

Wakaba: GYAAHHHHHH!! STOP IT, stop it! That’s so embarrassing!!

Kurisu: I’d like something that sounds strong! Like, “Hyper!” or “Ultra!” or “Strong!” How about incorporating one of those words?

Chisa: Oh, so Strong Princess~!?

Ai: There are six of us, so perhaps... incorporating the word “six” somewhere into the name?

Chisa: Oh, so STRONG PRINCESS SIX~!? Aha!

Yuki: ...We’re straying off course.

Yuki: In the end, we decided to go with something fitting for women. Something gentle and gorgeous. Thus, from flower and Goddess, we settled on the name “Fluna”.

Ai: That sure happened! Whew, that takes me back~

[The door slams open.]

Chisa, Wakaba: *panting*

Chisa: Togawa Chisa, present!

Wakaba: Yuuki Wakaba apologizes for being late~!!

Yuki: Welcome, you two. We were just talking about the past, about how you charged in like this before, too.

Wakaba: Huh...?

Chisa: Whuh...?

Wakaba: T-talking about the past?

Ai: Ufufu. Yes, about the past. Good job at work, you two.

Chisa: Yes! I hope you all did well, too~! Hoohoo~

Wakaba: It was fun~

Chisa: Yeah, yeah, it sure was~!

Whew~! We did some good work as always!

Wakaba: Sure did. We really did our best!

Hina: Thanks for working so hard, Chisa-chan, Wakaba-chan. Here’s some tea for you.

Kurisu: Good work out there. Here’s snacks.

Wakaba: Whoo-hoo! Thanks, you two!

Ah. For the record, this is just a heads-up, but we properly made sure to hype up the Tsukiradi. as always! We got tons of interesting messages flooding in!

Chisa: And we got back to ‘em with conversations that were equally as interesting! At least, I hope we did!

Wakaba: Let’s hope, let’s hope!

Well, I’m pretty sure it got through to them that we were having fun as we did it.

Kurisu: Having fun, huh...? Wouldn’t have taken you two to be the same girls who froze up like statues in front of the mics. You’ve come a long way.

Chisa: Ahaha! That sure happened, didn’t it~! Once we actually gave it a shot, it turned out to be tons of fun!

But yeah! In the end, everything starts with an attempt! That’s all there is to it!

Wakaba: Mmhmm~! Totally!

Ai: Ufufu. I think the board chairman saw those aspects of you two and chose you as a result of that. You chat briskly during our radios, pump up the atmosphere with the fans, for the fans. You’re incredibly skilled at getting along with the fans.

Yuki: That’s true. ...I’m envious of that. Even now, people maintain a distance around me... I should follow Chisa and Wakaba’s example and, well...

Perhaps I should learn how to more assertively incorporate wisecracks and comebacks?

Kurisu: Gawd, you’re so serious about this! The fact that you’re saying those things shows that you’ve still got a long way to go before even attempting that stuff.

Yuki: Oh... is that so?

Kurisu: That is so!

Yuki: But even I...! I could say “What the heck!” as a retort, at least!

Kurisu: And why the heck are you suddenly bringing up “What the heck!” in your argument~!?

Hina: ...This type of back-and-forth seems like it fulfills the categories of “wisecracks and comebacks,” though...

Wakaba: Kurisu shouldn’t be underestimated, considering she’s capable of retorting to the likes of Yuki-senpai. According to the rumors, she’s been confidently dropping the formalities around her, ever since their first meeting.

Chisa: Whoa, for real? That’s awesome!

Ai: It looks like Yuki-chan’s happy that she gets to engage in these types of conversations.

Hina: Wow, really? When we’re working in a unit, we get to learn about sides to each other that we’ve never known about before!

Wakaba: I’m only here because I sent in the application without thinking too much. I let the course of events take me where I am now, but now, I’m glad I trusted my instincts back then~!

I’ve managed to do more through our unit activities! Way more than I ever could alone!

Ai: I understand completely...! I feel like I can’t cause trouble for you all, so there are times I manage to accomplish things that I never thought myself capable of!

Chisa: Definitely!

Yuki: We improve our strengths together, cover for our weaknesses together. Isn’t that right?

Chisa: Mmhmm~! If I were to give everyone a job they’re in charge of, based off their strengths~...

Fluna’s charismatic leader and mediator Yuki-senpai is also~ a plainly airheaded wisecracker!

Kurisu’s in charge of the snark and the facilitator~

Ai-senpai is... in charge of... the sexiness...

[A naughty SFX plays.]

Ai: B-by sexiness... you mean...!?

Chisa: You’ve got some lovely weapons on your side, don’tcha~! Haha~

Everyone: STARE...

Ai: Y-you’re all perverts~! Jeez, where are you looking!?

Chisa: As always... those were some fantastic weapons...!

And then, Hina’s basically filling the “pet” role!

Hina: P-pet!?

Chisa: Wakaba’s in charge of the sporty stuff, and~!

Hina: She didn’t even pay me any mind!!

Chisa: Oh! And, oh, uh! Everyone! What position do I fill in Fluna?

Personally, I think I fill the spot of little sister, or something~? Y’know, I can’t help but wonder that~

Yuki: Huh?

Ai: Huh?

Hina: Huh?

Kurisu: Huh?

Wakaba: ......You’re the explosive one?

Everyone: Ahh~!

Chisa: Why are you suddenly all in sync when that’s what you agree on!?

Wakaba: The explosive one is exactly what it sounds like. You’re always on a rampage. Basically, you’re always exploding! That’s what I imagine you to be like...

Everyone: That’s you, that’s you!

Chisa: No way!! I haven’t been exploding or anything!!

Yuki: Oh, you think so? During our recent dance lesson, remember...

Ai: Ah! That sure happened!

When Chisa-chan proposed a new dance step and performed it...

Wakaba: The instructor’s response to that?

“That’s one great loach-catching dance you’ve got there, Togawa!”

Chisa: UWEUGH! A-about that! I-I guess I do admit that I overdid it, and I screwed up, but...

Kurisu: Ugh, gosh. You just love causing a ruckus, don’t you?

Hina: Y-you’re the last person I’d like to hear that from, as the one who’s... making things physically explode...

Because things go “KA-BOOM!” as a result of your experiments.

Chisa: Ahh! That’s right, that’s right! Totally!