Submarine: Ruthless Battlefield, Okinawa - 11

 

Location: Ryokan for use by ES Idols

<That night. In the ryokan for use by ES Idols, Akatsuki’s room>

Keito: Agh, I’m so fed up with this! This is incorrigible!

Kuro: Haha. What’s wrong, Hasumi? You’re gettin’ pretty hot-headed, huh?

Keito: What the hell do you mean by “what’s wrong”? Ugh, I’m furious! Kanzaki, get me some tea!

Souma: Yes, sir! Right away!

Kuro: I’m not playin’ this little period drama game—I’ve been stayin’ here by myself keepin’ house, so just explain to me all the stuff you’ve got goin’ on. Well, I guess it could be fun to joke around with each other like that, but still.

Keito: No, wait, I take that back—don’t make me tea. I won’t give you a single order, Kanzaki.

Souma: Huh?! So it is this again, Hasumi-dono? I find it stressful that I cannot be ordered to do anything at all!

Kuro: Haha. We’re way too off-kilter, plus we’re not on the same page anymore—we’re just all out of sync. I’m not feelin’ well, and I still can’t move right, so that’s one reason for it.

Souma: No, Kiryuu-dono, for now, you must rest to the fullest extent. Here, have a cup of tea.

Kuro: Thanks. You’re hard-working, Kanzaki.

Keito: I can brew my own tea, so. More importantly, Kiryuu, I want to share the situation with you as well.

We were verifying the validity of the things we heard from local—Okinawan idols earlier in the day.

Kuro: Well, I guess it’s important to backtrack like that. Whether it’s now or then, this world’s a liar’s village.

Keito: Indeed. I suppose those guys in Ryuseitai will believe anything if someone’s in tears, playing on their sympathies. Although that becomes a virtue in times of peace, wars are sweeping this land right now.

We must be properly informed first, and then decide our course of action. That way, we ensure that there are no regrets.

Souma: Mhm. Be that as it may, we have scarcely any acquaintances within this territory who can serve as a source of intelligence, and thus we struggled considerably merely to verify the current situation.

Keito: Even so, we have a helping hand. We’ve started to contact the other ES idols that have been deployed here—specifically those who are in RhythLin with us.

However, most of them are higher-ranked veterans, so just getting an audience with them was a difficult task.

None of them would go so far as to give up their time to meet with novices of low status within the office like us.

Nevertheless, we share a connection with the veterans of RhythLin through the same office. From their point of view, it should seem as though we’re friends within the organization.

And we haven’t been acting like an eyesore and trying to stop the fighting like Ryuseitai has.

Comparatively, we’ve been well-behaved within the office up to this point—

RhythLin’s veterans have essentially no misgivings towards us.

Souma: Mhm. We took advantage of such a position and endeavored to gather intelligence.

While apologizing to the many veterans for our unpunctuality, we flattered and gratified them, and even went so far as to entertain them at our own expense—

Keito: Ah, we had a pleasant meal… 

Kuro: Doesn’t seem like it was “pleasant.” Was it okay? I can’t speak for you, but you aren’t too good with that sort of thing.

I mean, sucking up to the big shots while putting up with power harassment. 

Keito: Ugh, it was like lying on a bed of nails. Though that’s all UNDEAD’s Sakuma and Hakaze were doing this spring, and I’m impressed that they were able to bear it.

Anyway. I don’t like it at all, and it was agonizing to do, but we won’t hesitate to do it if necessary.

If you think of this as though it’s an ascetic practice, then it’s inevitable.

Kuro: Haha. I woulda liked to see you with a big grin on your face, buttering up the big shots.

Keito: I’m glad you’re stuck in bed sick, honestly.

Souma: Hehe. In any case, we have been going about our intelligence gathering in that manner—we have gained an understanding of the situation to a certain extent.

Keito: The veterans, drunk on alcohol and their victories, were surprisingly bigmouthed. They rambled on and on, and they told us like they were bragging. 

Saying things like “Here in Okinawa, there’s no doubt that ES idols are going to come out victorious.”

Souma: Mhm. It appears as though what we were told by the local idols was largely true. 

Apparently, ES idols have been continuously defeating local idols since the preliminary rounds began—such circumstances remain ongoing.

Keito: That’s right. These plentiful achievements and abilities are befitting of the powerhouse that is ES.

Moreover, with the votes and support from the tourists who came to watch the preliminary rounds, the ES idols are proceeding with an overwhelming advantage in the competition.

Kuro: Really? I got the vibe that these veterans were unfamiliar with things like the DreamFes system and the unit system, though. 

Guess it’s just like the big shots to finally get off their asses to fight the whole restructuring craze that’s been going on since the summer, right?

Or, well. We should think about it like this: only the people who’ve gotten adjusted to that new system have stayed afloat and made it to the SS preliminaries.

Keito: Yes. The veterans may be just as arrogant as always and have a lot of weak spots to take advantage of, but they are by no means incompetent.

To make matters worse, the powerful ones are operating with the support of the enormous organization that is ES—

This is something that none of these local, half-hearted idols could ever compete with. Needless to say, even we as AKATSUKI cannot go against the veterans by ourselves.

Though maybe if we spent our time as we did during the War, I suppose we could. The SS preliminaries are a long stretch of time, but even then, they’re only a month long.

It’s impossible to hope for some sort of impressive development—like we’re heroes in a shounen manga who managed to gain the strength needed to defeat the main villain with only a short period of training…

We have to fight using the cards we’ve been dealt.

Take that into consideration, and decide what we’ll do from here on out, Kanzaki.

Souma: Agh, as I had asked before, why me…? Though it is foolish for me to remain perturbed about such a thing, is it not?

I understand. Hasumi-dono must have some inescapable circumstances which have forced him to make me the sole person who decides our course. 

If these actions are the result of a secret order, I would be seeking an answer that cannot be given to me. 

It is my duty to consider my lord’s true intention and act as he wishes. I shall give this careful consideration and attempt to find the most optimal solution, even though I lack the intelligence.

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Submarine: Ruthless Battlefield, Okinawa - 12

 

Location: Ryokan for use by ES Idols

Kuro: Kanzaki. It’s not like I got the same order as Hasumi, so if ya got any doubts about your judgment for any reason, just throw them my way. I got your back, at least. 

Souma: Kiryuu-dono, it would be acceptable by anyone’s standards if you were to decide our course of action and order us to implement it, you know?

Kuro: Huh? Don’t let an idiot like me make the important decisions. Not my place to use my head like that and make everything a mess.

Besides. Whether it’s an order or a secret order, if it’s somethin’ like “Let Kanzaki decide AKATSUKI’s course of action”— 

If I’m the one to choose, that’s when we’re out.

And if we get punished for disobeyin’ those orders, it’ll get real difficult for us to win in this ruthless battlefield that is Okinawa that’s got nothin’ but strong competitors. 

Don’t ya think so?

Souma: Kiryuu-dono, I do not think you are as unintelligent as you say you are. 

Kuro: Haha. I’ve been thinkin’ like crazy to make up for my lack of wisdom. I’ve just been lyin’ on the futon aaall day, so I’ve had a lot of free time. 

Souma: Hmm. In that case, I should learn by observing you, whom I cherish and respect, and devote myself entirely to squeezing every ounce of this lacking wisdom from myself that I can. 

I know, I know… I’ve prepared myself. I will try to think “like crazy.”

Keito: Ah, good luck. I’ll help you as much as I’m able to, and I’ll do whatever you order me to. 

Kuro: Haha. Make him do hara odori1 for no reason, Kanzaki. Chances like this don’t come along often. 

Keito: Kanzaki wouldn’t order me to do something like that—I trust him. 

He’s a good kid. 

Souma: …….

Mm. I’ve decided. 

Hasumi-dono. Kiryuu-dono, as well—once you have returned to good health it will not be an issue, but—from tomorrow on, let us continue to entertain the veterans of the office. 

Keito: What are you saying?

Souma: And then we shall gain their favor, and work at their beck and call. 

Kuro: What are you talkin’ about, Kanzaki? Just ‘cause Hasumi’s not givin’ you any more orders you wanna go and wag your tail for some big shot?

Keito: Well, hold on, Kiryuu. Let’s just listen to what Kanzaki has to say. 

You’re not saying we simply flatter the higher-ups and then take advantage of them, right—Kanzaki?

Souma: Of course I am. What we are aiming for is much like a retainer supplanting his lord; it mirrors the way of life of the Viper of Mino2. 

We shall become but one wielder of the great power and influence that is sweeping across Okinawa, and act while utilizing their strength to the greatest extent.

To begin with, the veterans were also quite concerned at the time of our audience with them today—

We shall overthrow those who are associated with the other offices that have been deployed in this region, particularly those in the CosPro office, who hold just as much influence and power as the veterans of our office.

Keito: Hmm. At this point in time, the veterans at RhythLin and the people at CosPro hold roughly the same amount of influence, and it seems like they’re in a state of rivalry with one another. 

Is it your intention to upset that balance of power with the support of the former?

Souma: Yes, we shall tip the scales. Though we are but a small force, it is feasible for us to do that much, depending on the way in which we conduct ourselves. In order to do as such, we introduce a third power that is not associated with the other two—

The powers of StarPro, founded by Ryuseitai, and NewDi, as well as those of the local idols in Okinawa, must be mobilized arbitrarily. 

Keito: Let me handle the coordination with Ryuseitai; I’ve got an intermediary. That is to say, I thought he might be of some use, so I contacted him in secret earlier today. 

I didn’t want to end the incident that happened today with just a simple “it’s nice that we ran into people we know.” So if you want to talk to Ryuseitai, you can go through me, Kanzaki—I won’t make it any worse. 

Souma: Understood. This is just as I would expect of you, Hasumi-dono—you are always thinking ahead.

Keito: That’s just because I fuss over the details of things. Ah, no—it’s because I’m a worrywart.

Kuro: Hmm. From what I’ve heard, I get the feeling that Ryuseitai’s well-liked by the local idols for tryin’ to stop the fightin’…

Which is exactly why they were beggin’ me for help earlier.

If we can go through a middleman to get to Ryuseitai, maybe we can make them set some of the local idols in motion too.

Keito: Hmm. Well, at best, they’ll be of help to us.

Souma: This conversation is a villain in itself…

In any case, we shall do as such—first of all, we will cut down all powers other than RhythLin.

And then, in the end, we shall stand as the sole victor at the very summit of RhythLin, and obtain all the spoils of war!

Keito: Exactly as though you’re overthrowing the higher-ups. You were saying something about vipers earlier, but now you intend to turn this into the Tale of a Stolen Country3?

Though maybe you’d have to do something as bold as that to get us to win the preliminary rounds.

This is quite difficult. We’ll have to act while ensuring that the higher-ups don’t pick up on our plans for rebellion, then, sooner or later, we catch them off guard. 

If they discover our true intentions, it would be the end of the line for us, and we might be made to do the dirty work they order us to do.

I can’t say I mind that, but is that alright with you, Kanzaki?

Souma: A foolish question. Though you and Kiryuu-dono like to keep me clean, to be painted in blood is a blade’s honor. 

Rest assured. I, Kanzaki Souma, am a man who can do more than just simply wield a blade.

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TL Notes:

1: Hara odori is a type of Japanese dance done at festivals in which the face is covered, and a comedic face is painted onto one’s stomach to act as the head as the person dances. It is often used for comedic purposes in Japanese pop culture. Here is an example image:

2: The “Viper of Mino” is the alias given to samurai Saitou Dousan who was known for his ruthless battle tactics.

3: The Tale of a Stolen Country is a 1965 novel written by Shiba Ryoutarou (later adapted into an NHK period drama) that chronicles the lives of Saitou Dousan and Oda Nobunaga during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. There are very few English sources on the novel itself, so I recommend looking into Oda Nobunaga’s history with the Saitou clan if you are interested in learning more.