Build! Freedom packed with ideals! - FREEDOM - Prologue
<Spring of the second year since ES was established, “Trickstudio”>
Makoto: I’m back~♪ Sorry for making you wait.
Makoto: I noticed that I was hungry, so I got us all a hamburger menu. The one with the limited edition side dish—
Makoto: Huh? What’s that red beam of light on the wall?
Subaru: Don’t move, Ukki~!
Subaru: If you touch the light beam, you’ll be turned into a cute plushie! Just like this!
Makoto: That plushie, is it supposed to be Isara-kun? It’s so cute~♪
Makoto: But I don’t think it’s possible for people to turn into plushies. We’re not in a sci-fi movie, after all.
Makoto: …Ooh, were you trying to set up a bit with that!? Let me think for a moment, I’ll play along!
Makoto: This plushie looks just like Isara-kun! And here I thought you were just kidding.
Makoto: Have I ended up in a different reality while I was out shopping? Or could this be a dream?
Subaru: No. Sadly, this is reality. Apparently, this is the result of extra security measures in the building.
Makoto: Hng, Isara-kun… Even if you’ve turned into a plushie, nothing can destroy our friendship. I’ll always be your friend, Isara-kun!
Hokuto: …Yuuki. Why are you standing in the doorway? Are you having trouble getting in?
Hokuto: Hm? What’s with this red beam…?
Makoto: No, Hidaka-kun, don’t do it! If you touch that beam, you too will get turned into a plushie—
Hokuto: Turned into a plushie? What are you talking about?
Subaru: Jeez, Hokke~. You never play along with our bits. You killjoy, you~
Hokuto: Don’t prod me with your elbow. What on earth are you two doing?
Subaru: We got a new lamp, so we were pretending to be in a sci-fi movie☆
Subaru: That light beam is just from a lamp. If you press this button, it’ll project Trickstar’s logo onto the floor, like this.
Mao: It’s quite fun, and it was on sale, so we ended up buying it. Though, it’ll probably lose its novelty pretty soon.
Makoto: Oh, Isara-kun. So you were on the second floor.
Makoto: What’s with this plushie? It’s an adorable little caricature of you. Did you buy this somewhere as well?
Mao: It’s a sample of a plushie that will be sold as merch soon. Anzu just came by to drop it off.
Hokuto: Is Anzu here too?
Subaru: No, she left again right away. Apparently she was needed somewhere else.
Mao: Exactly. There wasn’t even any time to make her some tea~
Makoto: Oh. I wonder if Anzu is just as busy as ever this year.
Makoto: She graduated from Yumenosaki, so I figured we would have more time with her than last year, but I guess not.
Subaru: Despite the fact that the four of us are hanging out in the Trickstudio almost daily~
Subaru: Speaking of. We’ve managed to spruce this place up quite a lot. We’ve added lots of decorations, and it’s starting to look like a true hideout…☆
Mao: That’s because you keep showing up with more sparkly things, Subaru~. Anyway, I hope Anzu finds this place cozy too.
Mao: Because the Trickstudio is meant for her as well♪
Hokuto: …Speak of the devil. I just got a message from Anzu.
Hokuto: Apparently she wants us to come to the StarPro office. It seems that Tenshouin-senpai has business with us.
Subaru: What kind of business?
Hokuto: No clue. Apparently Anzu doesn’t know the details either.
Hokuto: We know who we’re dealing with. I can’t say I have a very good feeling about this, but it’s not like overthinking it is going to help us.
Makoto: Yeah. Nothing in particular comes to mind.
Makoto: In two hours, huh? Then I guess we’ll have time to eat lunch first.
Mao: Sounds good. The smell of junk food in here is making my stomach growl~
Mao: Let’s eat up before it gets cold. Itadakima~su♪
<Two hours later. StarPro’s office>
Subaru: Oh, there’s Eichi-senpai. And Anzu is here too! Yaho, yaho~♪
Eichi: Yaa. I’ve been waiting for you, Trickstar.
Eichi: It’s already April, so this might be belated, but… Congratulations on your graduation.
Hokuto: Thank you. Did you make us come all the way here just to tell us that?
Eichi: Of course not. I don’t have that much free time.
Eichi: While you may no longer be students, a new year has started. As the president of StarPro, I would like to ask you what your plans for the future are.
Subaru: Wow, this feels like one of those student-teacher meetings at school. The future, huh? Hmm…?
Subaru: How about one that’s “bright, fun and lively”?
Eichi: What is that? It’s such a vague idea that it sounds like a slogan.
Subaru: How about “great financial growth”? Or “immaculate health”?
Eichi: Both are important, but neither are the kind of answer I’m looking for.
Eichi: You’re no longer a bunch of fresh new idols who are still wet behind the ears. You should at least set a clear goal for yourselves.
Mao: Ahaha, I’m so sorry… But we can’t just think of something like that on the spot. We’re always just flying by the seat of our pants, after all.
Hokuto: That’s right. Even if we draw up a detailed plan, we always end up in one predicament or another anyway.
Hokuto: Dealing with stumbling blocks on our path and overcoming obstacles that stand in our way is simply our way of doing things.
Subaru: Ooh, Hokke~ you’re so cool~♪ Woo~ woo~☆
Eichi: Come, now. Don’t try to glorify not having any plans.
Eichi: I was already worried that you guys would have this mindset. You should look at yourselves a little more objectively.
Eichi: There are children all over the world who want to become idols because Trickstar are their role models. Now is the time for you to set a good example.
Eichi: I’m not saying you have to become perfectly orderly and exemplary. I’ve experienced firsthand how difficult it is to reign you in, after all.
Eichi: But still. You need to at least put in considerable effort in order to avoid disappointing those who look up to you.
Eichi: Because you are shining idols¹ that are physical representations of their hopes and dreams.
- Eichi used the word 偶像 here, which literally means “idol” (a statuette to worship). But there was the reading “アイドル” (aidoru) behind it in parentheses, so it carries a double meaning, similar to how the English word “idol” carries a double meaning.
Translated by me, proofread by Altea (@icaruswasthesun on Twitter)