Denonbu Novel Part 1

**Denonbu Novel Part 1** is a series of novels that began on July 26th 2021 and ended on October 25th 2021. The author is Kuji Masamune. On April 4th 2022, Novel Part 2 started. See individual article for details.

You can read it on Asobistore Book for free for a limited time if you register for a free membership to Asobistore. There are four edition, Akiba, Harajuku, Azabu, Shibuya. On March 30th 2022, Asobistore page was renewed with respect to readability and organization, and these editions, which had been divided into several parts, was combined into each area. There is also a livestream explaining the contents of the novel.

## Episode Titles

 2
 3
 4

## Summary

Here each edition is divided into multiple parts. These divisions are based on the previous formal divisions.

### Akiba edition

* Part 1: pp.1-49 (Characters: Reina, Kazune, Reia)
* Part 2: pp.50-88 (Characters: Akiba, Hina, Reia)

Hidaka Reina dreams about her older sister from when she was in elementary school. Her sister had long black hair and was wearing a white dress for a piano competition. Together, they are identical twins, but with different looks, personalities, and talents. Reina looks up and see her mother's nostalgic smile. When she wakes up, it is the first day of school at Sotokanda Literature H.S. in Tokyo. She was brought back by her father from Hokkaido yesterday.

Reina starts talking to her classmates that she wants to join a electronic music club. They all say that there is no electronic music club in the school, but the teacher says that the club does indeed exist. She heads to the club room outside of the school building, where there are arcade game cabinets and a girl standing by. She is Shinonome Kazune, the president of the student council and has a stash of merchandise, photos, and videos of beautiful girls in the club room. To keep her secret, Kazune tries to convince Reina to join a different club, but Reina sees that Kazune is a member of the electronic music club and insists on staying. Kazune has never been serious about anything because she handles everything with ease, and thus she is struck by Reina's seriousness. After having talked with Reina, she then allows her to join the club on the condition that she wins the STACK BATTLE.

The next day, they meet again for the battle. Kazune is disappointed because Reina brings vinyl records and doesn't know about the STACK BATTLE nor Iris. Kazune teaches her how to do it, and they start with a simple STACK BATTLE. Kazune puts together a setlist with the game music she is best at, and then plays it out well so that the AI would give her a high score. Reina, on the other hand, shows off her high level of skill despite her unfamiliarity with the technique. She searches while playing a song, and intuitively selects a romantic love song that Kazune likes. Kazune couldn't help but shed a tear. In the end, Kazune wins in terms of total points, but she allows Reina to join the club. Reina tells her that her father taught her to DJ in analog. Kazune then realizes that Reina is the daughter of the legendary DJ Hidaka Reia, the winner of the first world championships of STACK BATTLE, but Reina doesn't seem to know much about it.

It takes a minimum of three people to register as a club in Iris, but Kazune seems to have an idea up her sleeve…

Reina and Kazune go to a local idol's live house. On the stage before open, a girl is singing. She is Kayano Futaba, Kazune’s childhood friend. She is invited to join the club, but she doesn't want to go out in public. Kazune proposes that Futaba and Reina have a STACK BATTLE, and if Futaba wins, she will give up recruiting.

During the preparations for the battle, Futaba confides in Reina that she wants to be an idol but lacks the talent and aptitude to become, and she thought she might be able to DJ, and she have, but she still can't. Reina, on the other hand, said that everyone can be a DJ, regardless of talent. Hearing this, Futaba is saddened by the thought that Reina has never experienced a setback. However, Reina reveals that she is not a good at piano and her teacher told her, “You can't play the piano,” but DJ accepted her.

Futaba plays mainly idol songs, but the play is terrible. Because of Kazune's grim expression and Reina's cheering, Futaba is transformed by the pressure, and then shouting, singing, dancing, and operating the DJ unit with a hand like a different person. But Futaba gets 32 points and Reina gets 58 points, and Reina wins.

The two student IDs and biometric data are registered in Iris at a music store in Akiba, then small pieces of metal (ID tag) are issued. It is customary for members of the electronic music club to attach ID tags to their misanga and wear them around their wrists, and the three of them each buy a different color misanga. After moving to a karaoke bar, they reflect on Futaba's live performance, but Futaba doesn't remember anything about it.

When Reina is asked why she insists on being in the electronic music club, she reveals her past. Her mother abandoned her as a child because she was not good with instruments. Her mother was a pianist and her twin sister had won several awards. Reina believed that music is limited to talented people. When she was about to absent from playing instrument at the elementary school music recital, her father lent her two boomboxes and a tape of her favorite anime theme song, and she took turns playing them at the recital. It was a DJ for the first time in her life. The whole classroom was excited, but her sister in the same class said, “That's not music.”

Another day, the three of them scramble to get ready for Sotokanda's first party. Kazune visits Reina's classroom, and after hearing their conversation about the lack of manpower, the dance club and the cooking club offer to help with the party. On the day of the party, Minakami Hina of Jingumae Sandou H.S., who come to Akiba to attend an illustrator exhibition, happen to find the party. She tries to look down on the newly formed electronic music club, but they are attracting more people than her club are, and it wasn't fun. Hina, however, let out a smile as she imagined Sakurano Mimito, teary-eyed and frustrated, stepping on the ground when she heard about this.
### Harajuku edition

* Part 1: pp.1-67 (Characters: Akiba, Harajuku, Reia, Fuga)
* Part 2: pp.67-110 (Characters: Akiba, Harajuku, Karin)

Reina, Kazune, and Futaba are celebrating the success of the first party. For Reina, Kazune explains the ranking maid by Iris, suppressing her excitement at the praise from the two beautiful girls. The ranking shows that Teion H.S. reigns as the undisputed leader. And Minato Shirokane H.S. is second place now. Sotokanda H.S. is in last place. To move up, Raina propose a match, then Kazune looks for a club with a low ranking and a short history, and Jingumae Sandou H.S. in Harajuku catch her eye.

In Harajuku’s club room, Hina fires Mimito burning rivalry and stamping her feet up as she watches Akiba's exciting and cute DJ, and Mimito retorts that it's the fault of those who don't understand how cute I am. When Hina asks her if she is jealous with a smile, she replies, "I'm not jealous! Because I'm the prettiest girl in the world, and I'm the best DJ in the world!”

A few days later, Akiba members come to Harajuku, and go to Kamizono Jingu Shrine. Reina prays for reunion with her sister. When the other two are surprised and try to change a subject, they find a shrine maiden. In the flow of conversation, Reina tells her that Reina’s parents divorced, and the shrine maiden talks to her that her father was dead. They empathize with each other and the shrine maiden smile slightly. But seeing the three are getting along well with and hearing that they have business with Harajuku's electronic music club, she starts to write her complaint in her phone. The three of Akiba leave there and Reina tells the apologetic pair not to mind, then she shows the picture of her and her sister.

They look around Harajuku and find Hina trying to get the character designed by herself in a crane game. When Kazune solicits Hina because she is a popular illustrator, Mimito, the club president, appears and stops her, then Inubousaki Shian, the shrine maiden they met earlier at the shrine also comes.

They move to the club room and decide to do the STACK BATTLE with 3on3 short set on two floors at the same time. After beginning, shrine parishioners come to support but Shian writes in her phone while DJing that they are annoying. Though Shian doesn’t dislike the shrine, she joined the club in search of a different identity. Reina at the same time, struggles due to her unfamiliarity. Next, Hina plays nonchalantly, covering half of her face with a mask, hiding in the DJ booth. Lastly, Mimito starts in high and proud spirits, but the music suddenly stops. A few fans laugh and offer support and good-natured teasing, so Mimito turns red and makes a noise. Kazune, coming to scout, chuckles, but Reina points out that she is making everyone smile. Mimito regains her composure and plays an original song “Princess Memeism.” On the other hand, Futaba surprisingly DJs calmly because there is no audience.

Iris picks Harajuku as winner. Mimito being proud of her victory, and Hina and Shian looking at her coldly get into an argument, then Mimito slips up and says that the two of them just make up the numbers. She thinks she has failed, but it is too late. The two leave and she is just stunned.

Next day, Futaba suggests making a song to Reina being inspired by Harajuku to try a new style. When Reina struggles to compose and consults Reia, he introduces her to a man. She visits elegant music studio and Haijima Fuga, a famous music producer, is there. Though Reina is in awe, she talks to him about her problems. He gives her a machine “Atropos” that can complete a song with just one machine without special knowledge. She refrains but he leaves her a message for Reia in exchange. “The person will be back to Japan soon, so let's have a drink together sometime.”

As a child, though Mimito was the cutest, smartest, and best at sports in the community, gradually became less so. Her friend said that it just happened to be the best in a small area. Mimito believes that no one will love her unless she is the best, so she started DJing the most popular thing now, aiming to the best school, Teion. Then she failed and realize that she isn't the best.

According to Kazune, Harajuku hasn't been active since the battle. Reina is depressed, thinking it's Akiba's fault, but Kazune points out Harajuku's lack of communication. Hina is considered pompous and disliked by other illustrators due to her lack of communication skills. Mimito has no tolerance for agitation and often argues with antagonists on social media. However, Reina guesses that she fights to protect herself, because to Mimito, not to argue is to admit it.

Mimito comes to Shibuya to battle Teion, find out what she is capable of, and give up her dream. She is approached by a member of the club, and she offer the member a battle suppressing a shiver. However, she is told that they cannot provide her with a suitable partner based on the ranking position of Harajuku, then she returns to Harajuku with tears in her eyes. While Shibuya has about 100 members, Harajuku has only 3. Mimito realizes how important Hina and Shian are and regrets that she destroyed the relation.

When she enters the club room, she finds Hina, Shian, and Reina. As Reina brought Shian from the shrine, Hina was peeking out from the shadows. Reina says that she likes Mimito's DJing, but she responds without confidence. Hina, the confidence of Mimito had unwittingly become a source of emotional support, is shocked. Shian is also dismayed, because she kind of admire Mimito, who had a straight line to the dream unlike her. However, Reina says that the fans, Hina and Shian like Mimito include her failures not because of being the best, but because of being herself. She also says that she would never want everyone in Harajuku to be destroyed, because she had broken relationships with people she cared about. Mimito regains her confidence and decides to become the best in her history instead of comparing herself to others. Then she murmurs in her mind that we are clumsy and that is why she need Hina and Shian.

The following week, Akiba and Harajuku fight again at Kamizono Jingu Shrine. The shrine parishioners planned it for Shian, and her mother, the Shinto priest, allowed it because it is the first time Shian shows interest in something other than working at the shrine. More than 500 people gather, and the three of Harajuku are nervous, but Shian, first in line, forgets her nerves as she is annoyed by the shrine parishioners cheering her on in their usual way. She tries to write a complaint on her phone, but she thinks they are supporting her even in that way, and she enjoys DJing. After finishing the DJ, Shian tells Mimito that she wants to DJ, not something else. The second DJ, Hina, uses a tablet connected to the projector and lives illustration streaming while DJing. Instead of hiding behind fear of criticism, Hina wants to stand tall with everything she has like Mimito. Finally, Mimito expresses the inner world of Harajuku with a selection of songs that are kawaii with a dark atmosphere. After playing "Dennou Lollipop," she calls Hina and Shian to the stage, put their hands on the fader, and play "Future," which they created together. At the end of the song, they sing together, and when they finish, the shrine is filled with cheers and applause. Akiba's turn begins and Kazune changes her plan to drown out the previous trend and puts Futaba first, and the audience is overwhelmed by the momentum of idol mode Futaba. Next, Kazune calls up the setlist made for in case from Iris. To make the most of Akiba's teamwork and the ultimate weapon Reina, Kazune gradually slows down the tension and BPM, acting as a link between Futaba and Reina. Kazune plays "Mani Mani," the song inspired by Reina's DJing, and Reina take over. Reina plays an original track by Mimito. Moreover, she understands the characteristics of the venue and adjusts the equalizer to achieve a cleaner sound than that of Mimito. She also mashes up Mimito's vocal with the other song and then plays anthems in succession, contextualizing the flow based on the crowd's reaction and closes with "Favorite Days."

When Mimito sees Akiba's victory, she sheds tears of regret, but she doesn't feel hatred for the winner or a sense of being denied herself unlike in the past, and instead, she feels the urge to catch up with Reina. As Reina watches the three of Harajuku exchanging hateful words, Houou Karin appears her eyes fixing on the prey and says, “You make interesting sounds.”
### Azabu edition

* Part 1: pp.1-40 (Characters: Akiba, Harajuku, Azabu, Shibuya)
* Part 2: pp.41-82 (Characters: Akiba, Azabu)
* Part 3: pp.82-137 (Characters: Akiba, Azabu, Karin, Mitsuki)

Karin dominates the moment with an overwhelming presence as the top of Shibuya and Iris ranking. When Karin asks her name, Reina tells her name with fear, and Karin's eyes narrow for a moment, then she smirks quickly. After that, she jumps up on the stage and accesses Iris. After winning Reina's heart with the first note, Karin quickly launches into the next song, "Shining Lights" with better quality sounds than Reina. The crowd, which is about to leave, see Karin and come back soon, and as a result there are rather more people than until then. Just as the crowd's excitement is about to reach its peak, silence suddenly envelop the place. Karin glances at the gate and sees Seto Mitsuki there. Karin is not allowed to DJ unscheduled, so Mitsuki had the school suspend her ID. When Reina sees Mitsuki asking Karin to come home with her, she realizes that Mitsuki is her sister and runs into the crowd after them. Reina catches up with them on the pedestrian bridge between Shibuya and Harajuku and calls out to her sister. Mitsuki coldly rejects the tearful Reina with a blank expression, and when Reina mentions that she also joins the electronic music club, Mitsuki asks in an irritated voice, "Also? Do You mean you are same with me?" Mitsuki leaves saying, “DJ is worthless.” It starts to rain, and Reina stands in as if smell of rain blocks her.

The six of Akiba and Harajuku are in awkward air at café near the shrine. Kazune boldly asks what happened, and Reina tells them that her and Mitsuki are twins, they hadn't seen since their parents divorced, and Mitsuki was a piano prodigy, but she wasn't. They all encourage Reina then go to Shibuya together. In Shibuya, flying AI Speakers light Taiga Lucia seeking challengers up, and a boy steps into the spotlight, then STACK BATTLE starts. The six visit the club room at Teion but are denied and backed down. On the train ride home, Reina says that she has no choice but to visit as many times as she can, but Kazune shows her another possibility. Shibuya are going to participate in an event named “Newcom Entertainment STACKBATTLE LEGEND” or NEW LEGEND, and they fought the lower rankers in the past. As a mandatory preparation for participation, they decide that a proposal is to be written by Kazune, and a dedication DJ at the shrine is to be submitted as a demo play.

At the residence of the Shirokane family in Azabu, just as Kurogane Tama is about to praise Shirokane Aki and asks for a raise, Haijima Ginka walks in. Aki and Ginka are left alone after scolding Tama for doing whatever she wanted in the city under the name of Shirokane. Ginka tells Aki that her father, Fuga, told her that Azabu and Akiba ​are going to fight, and the winner will fight Shibuya. Aki wonders, but according to Ginka, Karin recommended them. Aki says that with Azabu's capital, first-class equipment and coaching, there is no way they can lose, and she asks Ginka to plan a strategy against Shibuya, saying that they should concentrate on Shibuya rather than Akiba. Aki suggests a lunch meeting, but Ginka dodges her, winks, and leaves, and Aki feels her heart beats faster and holds her chest. Tama, hearing that secretly, heads to Akiba to scout for a bonus.

A gasoline-powered car, which have now become a luxury item, appears in Akiba, and Tama comes out from that. When she about to go to the school saying I’ll scout the electronic club of Sotokanda, Kazune calls out from behind her. Tama is said that she would be taken to the club room, so she followed her, only to be locked in. Tama blurts out information about Azabu that the three of Akiba haven’t asked for. Kazune finds her in the database of beautiful girls in the brain and when she tries to get more information out of her, she gets an e-mail from the NEW LEGEND management about a battle with Azabu. They let Tama go to avoid being accused of using cowardly means against their opponent. After that, they track down Tama's car in a cab to uncover the reason for the unusual match-up. They listen to Tama’s DJing of the official spring game in the cab. It’s a stylish house music, just like Azabu, but Reina points out that she doesn't look like much fun. The car stops and Tama walks into a bar called "BABEL" in Roppongi. Futaba doesn't want, but Reina takes the initiative and goes in. Inside, Tama is Djing with Eurobeat. Reina can't help but calls out as she's playing so freely. Then Tama tell them Aki saved this bar from going under, and she is now working as a maid to repay the favor. Reina says Tama’s DJing at here looks like fun than in Azabu, but Tama talks that the DJ is not supposed to do what they want, they're supposed to cater to the audience. At that moment, some maids suddenly come in, and the chief maid scolds Tama for taking the car and contacting Akiba without permission. Then they invite Akiba members to Azabu.

In Minato Shirokane, they are just having a party, and the three of Akiba listen to Aki’s DJing. A legitimate house is playing, and the students are swinging their bodies in a relaxed manner. Then Ginka, a beautiful woman dressed as a man, comes out and the play begins. Her style is basically the same as Aki's, but each difference adds up to make her better than Aki. When they are ushered into the VIP lounge, Aki is there, and Ginka comes in a little later too. Ginka tries to seduce Reina, but Aki stops her glaring at Ginka, then Ginka says that she’s just playing the role she's expected to play, especially by Aki. Kazune asks why Akiba members were called, and Aki answers that she is interested in Akiba, which is unknown but will battle them. She looks at them and Reina catches her eye. When Aki asks her Akiba’s style, and Reina replies that each one's style is different, Aki's eyes grow stern. Aki says that Azabu's music is the best, and Reina says that there is no superiority or inferiority because everyone is doing the music they like, but she is said that STACK BATTLE exist to judge that. Furthermore, she doesn't know how to answer when Aki asks what music she pursues most. Aki enquires Reina’s purpose of DJ, and she almost says to reunion her sister, but hearing the word sister, Aki says that she asks about Reina, not others. For Aki, spiritual connections are fragile and fleeting, and economic connections are the most trustworthy and prioritized. In addition, the DJ is also a way to increase the cultural value of Azabu, and thus its property value. Reina feels her sense of value being shaken, but she refutes that she has no financial connection with her sister. However, when asked what connection she has with her sister, she finally shuts up.

Aki and Ginka are driving on Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway at night surrendering themselves to automatic driving. When Ginka is asked about the chances of winning the Shibuya battle, she replies that she is not sure of victory. Then Ginka mentions Akiba and asks why Aki asked the nasty question. Aki admits inwardly that she was jealous of Reina because Ginka adores her, and sulks. Ginka worries about Aki, who acts as a girl of her age only in front of her but has a heavy responsibility as the heir of the Shirokane family, unlike Akiba members or her. The conversation shifts to Ginka's attire. Ginka had originally dressed as a man as a hobby of her parents. She acted like a gentleman and enjoyed meeting the expectations of the girls around her. However, one day in elementary school, a girl who mistook Ginka for a real boy confessed to her. Ginka hurt the girl deeply, and since then she had been sealed off from acting like a girl. This seems like a witch's curse to Ginka. Ginka gazes at the blonde witch and when asked what’s wrong, she replies, "I have thought Aki is always beautiful to look at." Aki turns bright red and embarrassed, suddenly remembering the conversation with Reina. And she thinks that while she's not childish enough to believe in emotional and psychological connections instead of financial ones, these are romantic, and she still was a little jealous of Reina.

Reina thinks about what Aki told her while building a plastic model and working as a storekeeper at Hidaka Model Shop. If joy even could be turn into money, indeed, she can't think of any other disinterested relationship except the one with her sister. Also, if she decides on the music, as Aki says, she likes best, will other music become her enemy? Reina doesn’t like that. After a while, she switches with her father and goes to Fardraut. Kazune says Reina and the wealthy one of Azabu live in different worlds, so there's no need to worry about that. But, hearing that, Reina thinks of Tama’s face and runs out of the arcade.

Reina visits BABEL again, and because Tama tries to turn her away, she orders an orange juice. Reina is relieved to see that the price is unexpectedly low, and Tama tells her that there are ordinary people even in Roppongi, and that's why the bar is inexpensive. But it's not running well due to that. When Reina asks her for advice, Tama says that she agrees with Aki, but seeing the kind eyes staring at the store, Reina can't believe that her loyalty to Aki, who saved the bar, is only for money. Besides, if money is everything, keeping a bar in the red is a contradiction in terms. Reina feels that Tama loves this bar. Unlike Aki, Tama says that she is not particular about her own style, but although not as much as Reina, Tama also says that Aki and Ginka seem to be cramped. Reina asks her why her started DJing, and Tama bring her a cassette tape that her don't know who mixes from the shelf. It contains Eurobeat, which makes her eyes light up even though she's sure she've heard it a thousand times before. But it's not even in Iris, and she don't know the name of the song. When asked about her origin, Reina replies that it is the theme song of the Supersonic War-machine Crossfader. Tama spurts out the Coke she's about to drink but laughs when she says she liked it too. Then, Reina realizes that even though she doesn't have "the best", she has many "favorites".

On the day of the NEW LEGEND’s qualifying round at Yoyogi National Coliseum in Shibuya, the Azabu booth is prepared on the right side of the huge stage and the Akiba booth on the left. This time's STACK BATTLE will be held in a real-time format using NEUCOM's newly developed technology. Instead of transmitting sound by air vibration, the sound is transmitted by special particles sprinkled around the venue, and the earphone-type receiver is used to select which sound to listen to. In this qualifying round, the audience is only online, but here, too, NEUCOM's new AR contact lenses project the viewers of the streaming video onto their retinas, making it appear to the DJs that the audience is actually there. These technologies were originally for military use but have been converted to civilian use. Aki and Ginka are checking the equipment while Reina, who brought her own equipment, and the staff are talking. Ginka tells Aki that they will win Akiba, but not Shibuya, and when asked why she says it at this time, she tells Aki that she wants to be nice to her. Aki is upset, but Ginka tells her that she can't help her if she's just nice to her, and that she will do what she can for her. Aki asks Ginka to tell her how to win Shibuya, and she honestly says she understands. Ginka wanted her chooses what she would give up and what she would gain, and Aki made it her top priority to win against Shibuya. When she asks her why she started DJing while there were other ways to increase the value of Azabu's assets, Aki clamms up. Aki wanted to have a connection with Ginka. All of Minato Shirokane's students had financial ties to the Shirokane family, but Ginka was an exception. So, not knowing when Ginka would be gone, she desires connection. Her first love with Ginka was shattered the moment she found out that she was a girl, but they have been by each other's side ever since. She is still vague about what kind of relationship she wants to have with Ginka and can't grasp herself or Ginka as if she is in a fog. She's brought back to reality when Tama arrives late. Her contract with Tama includes a clause that allows her to unilaterally terminate the employment relationship if she loses the STACK BATTLE, so she encourages Tama by telling her that she will be fired if she loses today's battle, and Tama replies cheerfully that she will leave it to her. The three Akiba members comes up behind her to greet them, and Reina talks Aki that she will tell her the answer to her previous question in the DJ. Aki inwardly feels she's cocky and ignites her fighting spirit to defeat Karin, who recommended Akiba.

First battle is Ginka vs. Kazune. Kazune, as usual, practiced and finished what she had decided beforehand, and grabs the audience's attention with game music from the calm intro. However, Ginka sing a moist ballad, Haiiro no kokoro, and plays 80's city pop instead of the usual orthodox house songs. Aki is anger with her not-so-good performance, but Ginka says she is enjoying DJing for the first time in a long time because she can play her favorite songs. Ginka tells her that to win Shibuya, they needs to destroy them style and relationships and become free, but Aki cries and says that her relationship with Ginka is fragile and if she loses it, it will never come back. Ginka says that the fact that they are together all the time with no strings attached means that they have a strong relationship, and she shows her true self in Night Flying. Ginka looks at Reina, enjoying her freedom and thinking that maybe it was Reina's influence that made her think so freely. Fuga, Karin, and Ginka all sensed something in her. Ginka tells an anxious Aki, who has come to take over, “to be brilliant tomorrow, even if we are covered in ashes today.” When Ginka is about to leave the stage, Aki tells her how cute she was, and she leaves without looking back, trying to hide her grin. A hologram above the floor shows Akiba's victory.

Aki vs. Futaba is next. Aki starts usual play, but she doubts she can beat Shibuya at this rate. Aki suddenly remembers the first time Tama DJed at Azabu. The students were jumping without shame listening to the unfamiliar new music, but Aki has made Tama keep Azabu's style since that. Aki somehow listens to the sounds of Akiba, wondering if she can be selfish too. Futaba is calmly playing an idol song since she is not wearing the AR contacts. However, to Aki, it seems to be in the vein of Ginka. Aki gets uncontrollably jealous and forcefully cuts in and plays MUSIC IS MAGIC then she sings and dances in a cute way with a microphone in hand. The next thing she know, a stunned Tama comes over, and Aki takes over like to escape. Ginka tells her that she has fallen in love with her again, and she is embarrassed. On the other hand, Futaba ends up not entering the zone and finishes peacefully, so Aki wins.

The winner will be decided at the last Tama vs. Reina. Tama begins with a house that Azabu people like, and Reina starts with future pop. However, Reina brings a vinyl and plays it on the turntables placed on either side of the DJ unit. When Tama can't resist her curiosity and listens to the sounds of Akiba, she hears the song that she played for her at BABEL. Reina shows the jacket to surprised Tama. It is a vinyl taken from Reia's storage room in the basement of Hidaka Model Shop, and Reina says that she listened to all her father's vinyl and remembers everything. Then Reina plays a Eurobeat anthem, and it fires up Tama's fighting spirit. Tama calls up her favorite Eurobeat from Iris and unleashes a thick bass and fierce rhythm from the loop machine Aki bought her. The rough sounds begin to echo from beneath the graceful music of Azabu and Reina is happy to connect with Tama through music. At that moment, Tama grabs the microphone and sings rap of Catch a Fire, furthermore, she crosses various genres and creates drops freely. Reina also mashes up the Eurobeat of the vinyl with Iris' EDM. Because club music is big enough to swallow everyone's different expressions of "favorite”, Reina thinks she can be herself here. Though Tama loses by a narrow margin and nods her head, ready to terminate her contract, Aki praises her DJing, gives her a bonus, and tells her to keep doing her best. Reina tries to talk to Aki about the question, but she stops her, saying it's tactless, and tells her to look forward to the Shibuya match. And Reina clenches her fists in imagination of delivering her sounds to her sister.

Karin is sleeping in Teion's club room, covered in stuff, when Mitsuki wakes her up to find out that her next opponent is Akiba. Mitsuki heard that Karin had pushed for Akiba and tells her to stay out of her private life with eyes that could kill someone. However, Karin says that she just wants an enemy, and anyone would do as long as they are strong. Mitsuki says she won't let her touch Reina, with a grudge. “Reina is my prey.”
### Shibuya edition

* Part 1: pp.1-39 (Characters: Akiba, Shibuya, Reia, Tsukiha)
* Part 2: pp.39-107 (Characters: Akiba, Harajuku, Karin, Mitsuki)
* Part 3: pp.107-217 (Characters: Akiba, Harajuku, Azabu, Shibuya, Reia, Fuga, Homura)
* Part 4: pp.217-260 (Characters: Akiba, Harajuku, Azabu, Shibuya)

One day, Mistuki asked her father, Reia, why he had quit DJing. He answered that when he did music as a job he would be restricted and would hate music. But her mother, Seto Tsukiha, didn't want him to lose his job as a mechanic or waste his talent as DJ. Mitsuki had liked both her parents and her twin sister, Reina, but her parents often argued with each other at this time. Reina, unlike her, had no musical talent. Mitsuki had to protect the family by living up to Tsukiha's expectations on behalf of Reia and Reina, and free Reina from music. However, at a music recital at her elementary school, her piano bored the students, and in anger she came to believe that uneducated people is not worth listening to music. What's more, Reina DJed driving everyone in the class crazy, then she came running to her like a puppy, expecting something. However, she said to Reina with reddish black negative emotions like lava, "That's not music." Not long after that, her parents divorced, Tsukiha took her in, and her name was changed from Hidaka Mitsuki to Seto Mitsuki. Though she hated Reia and Reina, dreamed of seeing them again, but she was left alone at home when Tsukiha went abroad to recuperate. She searched internet for Reia and Reina with a desperate desire, and contrary to her expectations, they were both DJing in Hokkaido with bursting smiles on their faces, sending people into a frenzy. She cried and pounded the floor as if something had broken, hating Reia, Reina, Tsukiha, and the source of it all, DJ, from the bottom of her heart.

On this day, one week before the NEW LEGEND, a press interview is held. When a reporter from an entertainment news site asks Mitsuki about the rumor that Reina is her sister, she says it's not a question worth answering and leaves the hall. The MC then asks Lucia a question, but despite her cute and young behavior, she sends shivers down the MC's spine with her eyes like to find her prey. She had only come for a battle, and didn't even know her opponent, Akiba. Then she says she wants to fight Karin right now and looks like she is about to bite and kill the MC who tried to stop her, but Karin doesn't care. Then Karin promises to fight Lucia if she wins Akiba. Lucia tries to attack the three of Akiba, but Teion officials take her out of the venue. When Karin about to leave, the MC says her that the Shibuya members is engaging in friendly competition with teammates, but she says that they don’t need teammates but only needs the strongest enemy, and that everyone in Shibuya is praying for others to fail for their own sake. She walks away, leaving the three of Akiba. After appeasing a frightened Futaba, Kazune calls out to a depressed Reina, then Reina suggests that they have a training camp.

The three go to Reina's house to assemble a plastic model of a robot. Reina thought that teamwork was important and invited them to her home to get to know each other better. Kazune successfully completes her first plastic model, and Reina and Futaba praise her, telling her that she can do anything and is excellent. But when she hears those words, she falls silent for a bit. The three of them explores Reia's warehouse in the basement before heading to the arcade, where is Kazune's house. Kazune shows off her gaming prowess to the fullest and win the praise. Lastly, they go to the idol theater Futaba’s family own, where has a live of her favorite idol unit soon. Futaba is very excited but maintains her usual persona as she cheers on the idols. Reina also cheers on the idols while thinking that although she is alone in the booth when DJing, she still likes the three of them together. After that, they go to an urban spa near Akiba. Kazune is about to say what is bothering her, but Reina talks that a team is only as good as the people who help each other, and because she doesn't figure her own problems out completely yet, Kazune says that her setlists always become similar, instead of the true reason. Futaba suggests using the DJ Unit's recommendations, and when Kazune thanks her, she humbles herself by saying she can't DJ better. She remembers all of idol's stage performances she has watched, but she doesn't remember her own DJing at all. It’s because, for her, having others see her DJing is like a public execution.

Karin found Mitsuki in last Autumn. That day, she was asleep in the club room, buried in things, as if she were dead. After a while of being enrolled in Teion, she had lost her motivation. At times she had wanted to destroy everything, at other times had wanted to DJ outrageous or make crazy tracks. She had expected Teion to be crawling with awesome monsters, but she was disappointed. Besides, her father and senior DJs were not interested in to battle her. When, a teacher called her, she tried to hang up but answered by mistake and was told to come to an award ceremony that was about to start. She had been told to come in a dress, but she couldn't find it buried in her things, so she put on a jacket that caught her eye and left the room. She was awarded as the unbeatable DJ. However, she didn't want a silly trophy, but wanted the strongest enemy. She noticed the other girl, Mitsuki, who had won the award in the classical category and looked at her, thinking that she was beautiful, pretty, and looked like a doll. Karin apologized to her for being late to the ceremony, but Mitsuki said that if Karin hadn’t come, she would avoid being got the same treatment as a DJ. Afterwards, Mitsuki played a perfect piano performance on the stage, but Karin read her deep despair, resentment, and anger behind it and smile naturally.

Next day, Karin went to the piano practice room of Teion. She walked up to Mitsuki and suddenly asked her to join the electronic music club. Mitsuki showed a cute reaction for a moment with surprise, but quickly dismissed the value of DJing. Karin said that DJs and dance music are now the mainstream of the world, but Mitsuki said that the reason why classical music had a small population was because it was the top of the pyramid. Karin, hearing that, began to play Chopin's piano sonata. Mitsuki asked why she was DJ when she had so much talent, but Karin said the piano was too confining. She pointed out the hidden resentment in Mitsuki's playing. Mitsuki revealed her anger and said she wouldn't be a teammate, but Karin told her to be her enemy, and further told her confused that if she didn't become a DJ, she wouldn't be able to defeat DJs and prove that DJing are worthless. Then she left her.

A week later, Mitsuki appeared in the club room with a pair of scissors. Then she cut off her long black hair as a half payment in advance for Karin to teach her how to DJ. After Karin receiving the hair, they went to buy some clothes to change Mitsuki's appearance. They bought leather jackets and belted the dresses they originally wore. Mitsuki didn't want to wear, but Karin told her that she was cute, so it suited her, and Mitsuki looked away shyly. When asked how she was going to pay with the other half of payment for the lesson, she said that defeating Houou Karin would be enough, and Karin agreed and smiled with a fighting spirit.

Kazune visits the student council of Teion on her own as a courtesy call. Unfortunately, there is a party at Harajuku that day, and Reina and Futaba go before her. After the conference, a member of Teion's student council to show her around the school, and she gets her contact information to secure a source of Teion's information. As she leaves the girl and tours the club room, Mitsuki speaks to her from behind. Though Kazune tries to talk about her problems, Mitsuki sees through before she can say all that her problems are being just intelligent but not genius such as Reina or the Shibuya members. Mitsuki says that she envies her smart because geniuses are somehow broken and can't live in other way. However, Kazune disagrees that, because she used to think that she could do anything, but after meeting Reina and other people, she came to think otherwise. Mitsuki, like Kazune, has a predetermined the setlist but thinks that is the right thing to do unlike her. And she says that to gain such confidence, Kazune must devote her entire life to it. She also says that Kazune's misfortune started when she met Reina, and Kazune can't take it anymore and leaves the room.

Mimito welcomes Reina and Futaba to the party in Harajuku. Since the dedication DJ, the electronic music club of Harajuku has been interviewed by local media and created collaborative goods, and this party attracts a much larger crowd than before. Mimito mumbles a few words of thanks to Reina, but they are drowned out by the sound of the audience. While Hina is DJing, Futaba tells Mimito and Shian, who are having their usual argument, that it's great to be able to DJ in front of so many people. The two are enthralled by the memory of the view from the DJ booth at the dedication DJ, but Futaba is too nervous to remember anything about it. When Shian hears this, she writes in her smartphone that she feels sorry for her, and Mimito and Reina also looks sorry for her. Futaba felt lucky that her other self would play instead of her but feels shocked when she is told she is pitiful. She is too embarrassed to watch even the video of her own DJing, but when Reina tells her with a smile that because she can remember all the idols' performances, she should be able to remember her own stage, she feels that it may really be true. Afterwards, Mimito gives Reina a memory card with their unreleased new song on it and asks her to take it to the fight with Shibuya for them. When Reina takes it and says that they are friends forever, Mimito turns red with shame.

On the pedestrian bridge between Shibuya and Harajuku, Karin thinks about Reina. It wasn't until much later since meeting her that she found out that Mitsuki was the daughter of the legendary DJ Hidaka Reia. And now her sister showed up. At that time, Karin listened to the sounds coming from the Jingu on this pedestrian bridge and was intrigued by the interesting sounds. As she listened to Reina's DJing, a mundane story of hard work, friendship, and victory, where the hero fights the enemy, makes peace with them, and gains friends came to mind. Her DJing has the power to speak to people's hearts. Just as she is thinking this, Reina and Futaba appear from the front. Reina asks her why she is DJ, and Karin says to meet stronger one. When she says that she wants new developments that excite her and someone she can fight with all her might, Reina says that Karin is lonely and isolated. She also says that Karin needs friends, not enemies, because not many people are as strong as her. Karin almost cries because Reina calls her a lonely person many times, but Reina finishes what she wants to say and heads to Shibuya with Futaba to pick up Kazune. Karin reminds that she certainly didn't have any friends, and her playmates were always her enemies. Then she realizes that she is looking for a playmate and stands there in dismay, feeling she may be lonely person.

On the day of NEW LEGEND, there are many pavilions and food stalls around the venue. The three of Harajuku are invited as guests, check their ID-Js and enter. And the Azabu members arrive in a limousine too. Aki heads off to greet the organizers with Tama's guidance, but Ginka finds a beef bowl stall and goes for her lunch. When Kazune slips out of the waiting room alone and sits down on a bench, Ginka appears and gives Kazune one of the two beef bowls she has bought. Kazune thinks about her stray worries, and the pressure of the battle, and she hurriedly eats that, to escape from this place. Ginka asks her to tell her about Kazune's problems instead of the payment, and she reveals them. Kazune is good at setting goals, analyzing successes and failures, and gradually digesting short-term goals. However, Reina, the Shibuya members, and the Azabu people do great DJing with their senses, not logic. She consulted with Mitsuki because she thought Mitsuki was like her, but their musical talents were very different, and Kazune couldn't penetrate as far as she could. Listening to her worries, Ginka says that geniuses are only good at one thing, but almost useless at everything else, and that their difference is only in types. Then she calls Karin, who is also lying on another bench, to ask her opinion as a classic example of genius. Karin tells Ginka that it's time for her to get serious and tells Kazune that she should talk to her friends, then leaves.

Fuga invites Reia to the VIP room at Yoyogi National Coliseum. Reia is in a foul mood after being summoned to the venue of the first STACK BATTLE World Championship in almost 20 years, and charismatic DJ Houou Homura shows up too. He greets Reia and Fuga hotly and says he is here for his daughter Karin. Karin told him she would kill him if he came, but he mistakenly thinks she was just embarrassed. Fuga asks Reia if he wants to continue the model shop, then Reia says that jobs for airplane mechanics is decreasing and that if the Floater System for military is converted to civilian use, it may be too much for ordinary mechanics to handle. The Floater System is the centerpiece of this NEW LEGEND and is used in the new AI Speaker. When Fuga suggests returning to DJing, Reia says he doesn't want to because he dislikes NEUCOM products which is felt that he is used, but Fuga says it's also possible to use them. And he can see Reia’s regret from the expression on his face when Homura tells him that if they fought now, he would win. At that moment, the STACK BATTLE starts. While Homura is excited to find her daughter, Reia regrets the unfortunate reunion between Reina and Mitsuki.

The spearhead is Futaba vs. Lucia. However, since Lucia has promised Karin that they will fight if she defeats Akiba, she calls for a winner-take-all match, and that is allowed. Lucia suddenly begins, causing Futaba to be late to start. The audience uses selective earphones, so few people bother to switch once they hear Lucia's DJing. Futaba is completely panicked and involuntarily looks at the audience. Though she tries to through this situation by thinking of the audience as potatoes, finally her consciousness sinks deeper into herself. There is the other idol-mode herself in the room of her mind. Futaba always wants the other herself to stay out of the public eye, so the other herself says it is terrible to call her only when necessary. The other herself says that it's sad to be hated by herself, but Futaba says that she also hates herself for being timid and that she really wants to be like the confident idol-mode herself. Then she confesses to the other herself that she loves her and promises that she still needs the help of idol-mode for now, but that one day they will be one. Hearing this, the other herself heads for the door. Futaba grabs the mic and sing Idol Break All, and the AI Speaker reacts and spreads the waveform effect to the arena, attracting people's attention. Lucia hears the Futaba’s sound and runs the zipper to remove the sleeve. Lucia eats and digests the DJing of defeated enemies and grows belligerent and feral. In response to this style of play, the AI Speaker embodies the tiger from "Genpei Tōma Den" as a VJ Character. Lucia layers several songs of different genres to create complex rhythms, but Karin analyses that only DJs and people who know a lot about music understand playing like this. Mitsuki then points out to her that if that logic is correct, Karin's DJing is flattering the public, but Karin says that the public is flattering her because they are willing to accept that she does what she wants to do. As Futaba begins the last song, Wagan materializes and blasts Lucia's tiger with a ray of light in time with her shouts. Suddenly, the other herself in dire need comes and drags Futaba, sitting in a dark room, out of the room. Just as Futaba can't help but exclaims that it's really awesome at the sight of the lovely view, time ran out and the battle ends.

The scoreboard shows that the two sides are tied. Lucia doesn't want to be on a different team from Karin and Mitsuki because of the drop in ranking, so she lays down and freaks out, but after Karin tells her that she has grown up, she is taken away by Teion officials. Seeing Mitsuki on stage, Kazune can't help but show her weakness, and when Reina realizes her worries, Kazune says that she is no match for geniuses. However, Reina says that everyone is good at different things and that STACK BATTLE scores do not determine value. She also tells her that STACK BATTLE is an opportunity to discover what she likes and how she is different from others, and that it is also important to recognize her own good qualities. Kazune hugs her and expresses her gratitude, thinking that her life has changed since Reina showed up. Mitsuki vs. Kazune is in favor of Shibuya at the halfway point. Because she is going to lose, Kazune cut the flow and calls out an ambient track, then it raises her score. When she adds a live song, the score goes up again. Apparently, Iris is prone to appreciate large developments. She realizes that there is a clear basis for Iris's scoring and concludes that STACK BATTLE can be captured. Furthermore, she is so excited at the think that using Iris's analyze of emotions of the audience, she could manipulate their enthusiasm and eventually control their minds. As Kazune sing TOARUTOWA with pleasure, Andor Genesis from "Xevious" in the evening sky is projected. Mitsuki says that Kazune makes an interesting thing, and with a dark EDM drop, the Blue Dragon from "Dragon Spirit" materializes and pierces Andor Genesis with flames.

Although she lost by a large margin, Kazune leave the stage with a refreshed expression and sends Reina off. Reina says she will convey her feelings through sound, but Mitsuki says she no longer has a heart to echo. Reina starts with Favorite Days, but there is no guarantee that Mitsuki listen to it since they are both DJing at the same time. Reina thinks it is important to get the audience's attention first, so she plays Do You Even DJ? which is entrusted by Mimito. Mitsuki learned not only the art of DJing from Karin, but also the culture, but she could not master the way to grab people's hearts, so she looks at Reina and grits her teeth in abhorrence. With less than half the time left, Reina is getting impatient. At that moment, she remembers the time when Tama asked her if she had a favorite song, so she improvises a club mix of the theme song of the Supersonic War-machine Crossfader with drum and bass loops on a sampler she borrowed from Tama. The audience smiles at the remix of the song that everyone knows, and Mitsuki senses the change and listens to Reina DJing. The AI Speaker projects the image of Crossfader behind Reina, and Mitsuki remembers the day when she was deeply hurt by Reina's talent to move people's hearts. When Mitsuki skips the setlist and plays the most exciting song, Blue Dragon appears, fight Crossfader, and both disappears. Reina then put her feelings into her original song and delivers it to Mitsuki. And she plays a vinyl that Tsukiha used to listen to and uses a sampler to recreate the sounds of the house when the family was still happy, such as footsteps, clocks, and the soft sound of the piano. The next thing Mitsuki know, she's hearing eye-catchers from the TV they watched together, or songs she played for Reina because she was happy to be able to play for the first time. She cries when she knows that Reina still remembers those days and realizes that she was jealous of her. Mitsuki's setlist is already over, and the silent time passes. She calls out the song not completed and sings it, then as soon as she finishes singing, the time limit comes. Mitsuki looks awkwardly at Reina and sees that she is also crying. She loosens her mouth and says, "See you again, Reina," before leaving the stage. When Karin asks if she's going to quit DJing, Mitsuki says that DJing has become a little more interesting. And she is ready to drop out of the team, but Karin says she will make up for Lucia and Mitsuki's loss and heads to the stage.

Reina sees the "strongest" on stage and decides to cherish the precious time that she will never have again. And she tells Karin that she will do everything in her power to defeat her with eyes that have no hesitation. Karin starts with a quiet ambient synth, unlike her usual impactful beginning. Just as the audience is overcome with a sense of unpredictable anticipation, a galloping bass and drums roars into life. Reina, on the other hand, holds a vinyl record up high and sets it on the turntable to attract attention. Taking a breath, she monitors Karin's sound and hears Favorite Days, an improvised remix in the style of Shibuya. Reina feels the familiar song come back to life like a phoenix, and Karin grins with her triumphant smile. Her style is to subvert and exceed the audience's expectations. She fuels the hunger of her audience and keeps them in the dream. Listening to Karin's DJing, Raina thinks that she is afraid of being rejected, so she every time just gives people what they want unlike Karin. When she sees Mitsuki behind Karin, she realizes why she has been so timid. But now her eyes are staring straight at her, showing interest. Reina gathers her courage and jumps into a new frontier. Accelerating her thoughts, she uses a mixer to assemble the countless parts of her favorite sounds. As Karin's DJing become more intense under her influence, the AI Speaker reveals a Fenghuang with fire, the symbol of the emperor. Karin has few enemies because she is at the top of the pyramid. And Mitsuki once said that dance music is the bottom of the pyramid of music. If that's the case, I'm going to turn it upside down. It is with this in mind that she plays Inverted Pyramid. With five minutes remaining, the score is 182 to 174. Crossfader is assembled behind Reina, who is manipulating the DJ Unit with surprising speed, hoping to beat Karin. Karin senses Reina's fighting spirit and lets the audience hear the sounds of the future with Shining Lights. Raina thinks about all the people she has met in Akiba, Harajuku, Azabu and Shibuya, and feels like she is almost reaching for the light.

The entire NEW LEGEND schedule comes to an end, and the STACK BATTLE between Shibuya and Akiba was deeply etched in people's memories. The three Harajuku members are invited to a hotel-like banquet hall and are excited to be there. As they are pushing each other the role that interacts with the other participants in the corner of the hall, the three from Akiba appear. Then Azabu and Shibuya members come to there. Unconsciously, Reina and Mitsuki's eyes meet, and Mitsuki looks away with an awkward expression. But not caring about her, Karin takes Reina out onto the balcony where no one is around. Reina scored 192 points, breaking Karin's last year's competition record, but Karin was even better, scoring 206 points. Karin says that Reina's statement, which she had once said that there was no one who could defeat Karin, wasn't right. She also says that without Reina, she wouldn't have been able to play as well as she did. She considers Reina as her "enemy" and Reina thinks that Karin now recognizes her as a rival, even though she feels it is presumptuous. Aki interrupts her with a deliberate cough, but Karin can't even remember her name. Mimito also insists that don't ignore her. Aki and Karin, both brushes her off lightly, but when they hear that Harajuku has beaten Akiba, they stare at her with interest and scary eyes, and Mimito shudders and huggs Hina and Shian. While watching Tama and Lucia skirmishing on over there, Reina is sure that the Denonbu club will be able to connect undiscovered relationships yet, just as it has connected her to her sister and everyone in Akiba, Harajuku, Azabu and Shibuya. The girls are just getting started out.
このコンテンツはファンメイドコンテンツです。ファンメイドコンテンツポリシー（https://denonbu.jp/guidelines）のもと制作されています。

## References

1. ↑ Official Twitter announcement on the start of serialization
2. ↑ Official Twitter announcement regarding the final episode release
3. ↑ Official Twitter announcement on improving readability
4. ↑ Summary and commentary streaming (Akiba and Harajuku edition)
5. ↑ Official tweet where part notation can be confirmed
6. ↑ One of the styles, each with 20 minutes to spare.
7. ↑ Probably modeled after Yoyogi National Gymnasium.

## Links

* Asobistore Book
* BookLive Page
* Fan translation linktree