Tsukiuta. Boys’ 4th Season CD 3 – Tomorrow’s Color Drama

[nebulancer]

Summary – Koi dedicates his work as an idol to his tagline, “I’m the cheer captain of your hardworking self!” With his smile being the basic necessity, he’d constantly been working hard, facing forward. However, one day, a tweet saying, “That positivity of his hurts to watch,” catches his eye. He’d normally not let it bother him, but by chance, his work isn’t going well. Perhaps that’s why it oddly sticks in his mind... No matter how lucky, no matter how positive he can be, there are just some times that things don’t work out. When that happens, what does he do?

First, let’s start by talking in depth about it with his duo partner Kakerun.

...That’s the type of drama it is.

In the end, Koi-kun is very much an idol, in many different ways!

1. Drama – "The Cheer Captain of Your Hardworking Self! Kisaragi Koi, At Your Service!"

[A clapper goes off.]

 

Koi: Hey, everyone! Good afternoon. I’m Kisaragi Koi from Six Gravity.

 

Kakeru: Also from Six Gravity, I’m Shiwasu Kakeru!

The two of us will be reporting on trending shops or shops that are catching people’s attention on this “Special Mark Checking Corner”~!

As always, let’s get pumped up and do this~!

 

Koi: Yay~

Well, then, Kakeru-san?

 

Kakeru: Yes~ What is it, Koi-kun?

 

Koi: It’s February! My representative month! When you think about February? What comes to mind?

 

Kakeru: Setsubun.

 

Koi: Demons out~! Luck in~! HEY! *dope slap*

If Setsubun’s the first one that comes to mind, I’m pretty sure people’d call that choice freaky!

Like, it’d come from our fans... Actually, more like fans of Yoru-san from Procella? Anyway, that’s not it!

 

Kakeru: *laughing* I know, I got it! Valentine’s Day, right?

 

Koi: Exactly. Valentine’s Day, approaching in just three days!

Everyone, please do impart upon us a pure vote... or rather, pure piece of chocolate...! But unfortunately, our agency doesn’t accept foodstuffs as gifts.

So everyone, go and eat some tasty sweets as you think of us, in our place.

However, that’s not the main thing here!

The special feature today is not about Valentine’s Day!

 

Kakeru: *gasps* So does that mean... it’s THAT!?

 

Koi: Yes, it’s that...! February. We’re smack-dab in the middle of entrance exam seasons!

 

Kakeru: It’s THAAAAAT!

We also experienced that for high school and university. That entrance exam season, huh~?

To all entrance exam-takers around the nation...! Take care of yourselves and do your best! And if you’re done, good work getting through it.

We’d like to introduce shops that are perfect for those entrance exam students, as well as people involved, for our special feature this time.

It’s a huge feature of merchandise that has prayers for passing, power spots, and even more!

 

Koi: “The Cheer Captain of Your Hardworking Self!” I, Koi-kun, make that my selling point, so I’ll be cheering you on all the time, even throughout your entrance exams!

I’ll head out’n do this with even more energy than usual!

 

Kakeru: All righty, then! Let’s head on out! Ready, set~

 

Kakeru, Koi: Special Mark Checking Corner~!

 

[The clapper goes off, signaling it’s done.]

 

Koi: All right...! It was okayed in one go!

 

Kakeru: Nice job, Koi. Good going, as always.

 

Koi: You too. Good work. You’re doing well, too.

But the filming’s only just gotten started. Now’s the real deal.

 

Kakeru: For sure. Back when we were also taking entrance exams, we were so desperate in all sorts of ways.

Let’s make this feature a good laugh, to help relieve people feeling the same way from their stress, if only a little.

 

Koi: It’s the time for the cheer captain of your hardworking self to shine! All right, Kakeru-san! Let’s do our best as always!

 

Kakeru: Yah~

2. Drama – "Days That Don’t Go Well, and Concerning Words"

 

Kakeru: We’re home~

 

Koi: ...We’re home...

...

...*groans*...

Kakeru: Oof. Koi’s in bad spirits. What a rare sight.

 

Koi: Kakeru-san, saying it’s a rare sight was uncalled for.

 

Kakeru: *chuckling* Yeah, yeah. ...Phew. C’mon, perk yourself back up, Koi.

 

Koi: Haah... I screwed up.

 

Kakeru: You’re human. Everyone screws up.

Plus, it wasn’t only your fault this time. If it were, the place would’ve been restricted.

People popped up in a place that wasn't supposed to have them. It’s natural that you weren’t able to avoid them.

 

Koi: Still... would you say the same for me dropping the merchandise for school success and breaking it?

 

Kakeru: It’ll get cut out in editing, and the program said that they’d make sure to pay reparations.

And the shop employee said that you shouldn’t worry about it. They laughed it off, didn’t they?

 

Koi: Urgh~... Everyone does stuff like that to help reassure me, so I feel like I’ve screwed up even worse...! I’m sorry!

 

Kakeru: I’m not angry. I’m not angry, man!

 

Koi: If only I could’ve caught it in that instant I dropped it... slump.

 

Kakeru: *sighs* It’s good that you’re reflecting on your mistakes, but don’t you think you’re getting a little too bothered by that?

Typically, you’d be all like, “I’ll do my best to make up for how much I messed up~!” That’s how you think, right?

So, what happened?

 

Koi: Hrmm...

...Come on. Hear me out.

It sort of feels like recently, it’s total coincidence, but these little mistakes have been piling on.

Like, a while back, I screwed up when I was handling my phone, and I accidentally posted some strange tweet that was just a few words.

It took off, all while I didn’t realize. Tsukishiro-san told me about it, and in a rush, I went to delete it and apologize.

I mistook a program’s script with my own, and I’d bring home the script that belonged to the person next to me...

And on top of that! On top of that! I broke the case containing the CD I borrowed from Aoi-san!

 

Kakeru: None of those things turned out to be a big deal, right?

If it concerns you too much... it’s gonna take the opposite effect and be bad for you, okay?

You won’t be able to do what you normally do, and you’ll just keep screwing up even further.

 

Koi: GAH! That really is describing how I feel right now!

 

Kakeru: That’s not what I meant! Mm, anyway!

Don’t concern yourself with it so much! When it drags on, it just drags on longer! That’s all there is to it.

If you’re going to get back on your feet, you have to shape up your attitude first!

Fall seven times and stand up eight? That’s nothing! I’ve fallen a hundred times and stood up a hundred-one times, at least.

A word of advice from me, the constantly unlucky guy!

 

Koi: ...*chuckles*... Kakerun, you’re so resilient as always. It’s awesome.

 

Kakeru: I know, right? Come on. C’mon, c’mon, Koi!

Let’s go and eat something sweet for a change of pace.

That’s why we bought desserts from the convenience store, right?

 

Koi: Mhmm. I guess we should.

...HAAH!

 

Kakeru: What is it this time?

 

Koi: The spoon for my jelly...! It’s broken in two!!

 

Kakeru: *chuckles* It really is. It’s rare that the unluckiness for you is dragging on and on.

 

-

 

Koi: *sighs*... Tons of stuff happened today...

Kakeru was right when he said it drags on and on. I wonder why?

At times like this, I’m best off checking stuff online for a change of pace!

Umm~. The source account for some nice lighthearted jokes I can laugh at is...?

Ah, before I do that, I’ll go post that selfie I took with You yesterday, for the You fans.

“Actually, yesterday, the fashionista duo went shopping!

I got new clothes, so I’m totally pumped!

Let’s keep working hard tomorrow, too~” And post.

 

Oh, I feel like the likes are coming in even faster than usual... Maybe they’re from You’s fans?

I get the vibe that they’re always alert and ready to action~

Ooh~... Everyone’s saying that it was a bargain, too...

Ooh! I look cool, don’t I? *chuckles* Thank you very much!

Ah—Ahaha! Yep, that pose You’s making... He’s trying way too hard to show off. Obviously, that’s what you’d comment on.

 

...Hm? “Koi-kun’s always smiling. Looks like he doesn’t have a worry in his head. I envy him. Might be hard to watch when I’m the only one going through tough times.”

 

...Ohh...

...I know, right? There are tough times. I feel you. I totally understand.

That really is how I’m feeling! Right here, right now!

To be honest, I’m actually sorta in my cringefail depression mode right now, miss.

... *sighs*

...

 

[Koi slaps his cheeks.]

 

No! No, no! No more gloom! Idols don’t show gloom or exhaustion! They don’t!

I’ve gotta start from smiling! My smile!

All right, how ‘bout I post a sexy-styled selfie before I go to sleep?

 

“G’night, all! I, Kisaragi Koi, am gonna keep doing my best as your cheer captain tomorrow, too!”

3. Drama – "Always Your Cheer Captain!"

 

[At a photoshoot.]

 

Koi: Yay~! And pose!

I feel sharp~ Let’s go!

 

Kakeru: Hmm...?

 

Koi: All right, yes! We’re done now, are we?

Yes~! I’m excited to see it complete. I’m sure we’ll turn out total hotties. Just kidding~

Thank you for all your hard work, staff members!

Thank you so much~!

 

-

 

[They walk down a hallway.]

 

Kakeru: Ko~i!

 

Koi: Hey, Kakeru! Good work with the photoshoot!

 

Kakeru: Mmhmm. Good work to you too. ...So?

 

Koi: So what?

 

Kakeru: It was unnatural.

 

Koi: EH!?

Kakeru: Your smile was a little forced. Unnaturally so. It felt out of place.

 

Koi: Ggrgh... Was it that bad?

Would it show up in the pictures?

 

Kakeru: *chuckles* Nope. I thought, “Wow. Koi’s amazing as always.”

I think it was a proper smile during the pictures.

The cameraman’s a professional, too, so I think he would’ve said something if he had to.

I bet they’ve turned out to be some nice pictures. That point’s fine.

 

Koi: *sighs* ...That’s good to hear.

 

Kakeru: How~e~ver! You cannot hide the truth from your partner of many years!

 

Koi: GHACK—

Nothing less of Kakeru-san! You really could tell~!?

 

Kakeru: Of course I could.

...So, what’s up? Is yesterday’s thing still bugging you?

 

Koi: No, that’s already done and settled. Like, squeaky-clean with a sparkle~✨

 

Kakeru: So fast.

 

Koi: Well, uh, yeah. I get back on track real fast, if I do say so myself.

When I fell asleep, the doom and gloom up and disappeared. No point in hesitating about it. No use crying over spilt milk.

What’s important is making sure to apologize and redoing it better.

 

Kakeru: *sighs* Y’know, I could’ve said the same about you. I expected nothing less of Koi.

 

Koi: Better not fall in love with me, Kakerun~

 

Kakeru: Thanks for the offer, but no thanks.

 

Koi: An immediate response!

Kakeru: *chuckles* Don’t poke fun at the issue, and tell me already, Koi. Because your smile really did feel out of place.

If you’re done with your cringefail depression arc, why’s your smile so awkward?

 

Koi: Well, it’s because... whenever I think about smiling, there’s something that gets dredged back up in my mind.

 

Kakeru: Something dredged back up in your mind?

 

Koi: Mmhmm. It’s this one tweet from a fan that I happened to come across yesterday.

Basically, it reads, “Your smile hurts to see when I’m the only one hurting.”

 

Kakeru: Oh...

 

Koi: Ah, she didn’t mean it in an offensive way or anything. And I’m not upset about it, either.

Just thinking about it, like, this person seems exhausted. Must be tough on her~.

People fundamentally have different ways of thinking, so I can’t really do anything about when people bash me or complain about me.

I’m used to it. That’s the basic necessity when you’re on social media.

I’ll ignore the hurty comments and focus on the fun stuff!

Even that tweet I just mentioned... I’d usually never concern myself with it and ignore it.

 

Kakeru: Yeah, for sure.

 

Koi: But I guess it’s because I’ve been making tons of mistakes during work? It gets stuck in my head.

I was like, “What’s to be done~?” Y’know.

I bet you already know just as well yourself, but when you’re going through tough times, you just can’t smile. So, you can’t help but envy the people who can smile.

And you hate yourself for thinking that way, and it gets even tougher on you...

I even go through that spiraling negativity myself.

 

Kakeru: Ah, that... That does happen, doesn’t it~? We’re human, after all.

Even Haru-san, who seems perfect from every angle in our eyes, was curled up on the living room sofa a while back.

 

Koi: Yeah, that happened, too!

We all tried approaching him with desserts and sweet snacks. Like, “Haru-san, cheer up! We have taiyaki for you! And cake, too!”

 

Kakeru: And I bet even Hajime-san or Shun-san, who seem even more perfect... Ah...

...

...Do you think that happens to Shun-san?

 

Koi: That Shun-san? Getting seriously depressed?

...Is that possible?

 

Kakeru: Hrm...

 

Koi: Ah! *snaps fingers*

When he lost the lottery for Hajime-san’s fan event, he sat in the corner of the room hugging his knees!

 

Kakeru: You’re using that situation as your example!?

 

Koi: A-anyway! That’s just how we worry as much in our own ways and end up dispirited, but even so...

The image of the ideal idol I want to be is someone who presents people with fun and smiles. That’s why I’m smiling in front of everyone whenever I can.

 

Kakeru: Mm. I think your way of thinking is just spot-on. Plus, I think you’re properly putting it into practice, too.

You’re always having fun being positive, and I think you’re right on track to approaching that ideal idol you wanna be.

 

Koi: Thanks. Well, I’m not faking it because I’m an idol. That’s also how I am normally, anyway.

 

Kakeru: *chuckles* I know that, too.

 

Koi: Mm! Thanks! I want... to put smiles on the faces of everyone who cheers me on.

I’ll smile, and if everyone smiles along with me, that’s enough for me to think I’m glad I became an idol.

But...

 

Kakeru: This time, you were told the exact opposite thing, huh?

 

Koi: Exactly~!

And so, whenever I smile now, I get this weird anxiety rising up inside me...!

I’m smiling because I want to make others smile, but if someone says that my smile hurts to watch, I worry about whether or not it’s okay for me to smile!

I give up~

 

Kakeru: Don’t give up, man.

...Keep smiling, Koi.

It’s okay for you to keep smiling.

 

Koi: Kakeru~...

 

Kakeru: Didn’t you say that before? People have different ways of thinking.

So, if there are people who are hurt seeing you smile, there’ll also be people who gain energy from that.

If you ask me which ones are more common, I bet the people who get energy from seeing you are definitely the vast majority!

And I can attest to that! Because I’m one of those people who gets energy from seeing you smiling.

 

Koi: Hrm...

 

Kakeru: It’s exactly as you say, Koi! We’re idols, so let’s keep those smiles on our faces!

But don’t force yourself to smile. Let’s enjoy our work and do our best working jobs that make you say, “They’re genuinely so much fun that they make me smile!”

If we wanna present our fans with fun, we have to start with us doing fun work.

 

Koi: Mm. ...Mm! You’re right. It’s okay for me to smile, isn’t it?

 

Kakeru: Of course it’s fine! We’re not the only ones. That applies to anyone.

It’s okay for people to smile as much as they want, whenever they want!

It’s just by chance that our smiles can serve as a source of power to other people... to our fans!

That’s all there is to it. So that means...?

 

Koi: Let’s smile, Kakeru!

 

Kakeru: Exactly! Let’s smile! Because, Koi, who are you again~? Your hardworking self’s~?

 

Koi: Cheer captain!

Aah... No, wait. Maybe I should tweak it a little from now on.

 

Kakeru: Eh? Like how?

 

Koi: I wanna cheer hardworking people on, but when things get tough for them, I wanna tell them that they don’t have to work so hard.

Because there are times they’re all exhausted, like “Whaaa~!” or think they’re hopeless.

But that’s normal! I want to tell them, to not let that bother them too much!

So that’s why, from now on, I’ll “always be your cheer captain!” I guess?

 

Kakeru: The “cheer captain” part’s still there, huh?

 

Koi: Well, that’s my tagline as an idol!

 

Kakeru: *giggles* It’s just like you. I think it’s perfect for you!

 

Koi: Thanks!

...All right! I’m your cheer captain, forever and always, Kisaragi Koi!

I’ll continue doing my best at work, for the sake of my fans’ smiles!

 

Kakeru: Oho! Nice going! Hang in there, Koi!

 

Koi: First up is that photoshoot just now! I’m gonna go ask them if they could add in one or two more shots~

‘Cuz back then, I was, uh... wallowing in idling thoughts!

 

Kakeru: *snickers* What does “idling thoughts” even mean...

 

Koi: ...Thank you, Kakeru!

 

Kakeru: *giggles* You’re very welcome~

 

Koi: *runs off* Excuse me~! Before you lay them open, I have a bit of a request~!