EpsilonΦ Band Story - Chapter 1, Episode 2

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Band Story

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Chapter 1: Episode 2

Stage Of Judgement
Shu has been ordered by his father to hold a solo live concert and make it a success. While everyone else is excited about the performance and its grand venue, Reiji remains calm.

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— EpsilonΦ Sharehouse —

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Welcome home—! Shu-kun, are you okay? Did Papa-san get mad at you?

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎It was a super touchin’ reunion between father and son, y’know? Minus the father.

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Shu-kun, you didn’t get to meet your father?

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎He’s busy. But anyways, he got me an amazin’ souvenir.

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎A souvenir? What is it—? Ajari-mochi1?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Before the LRFes, we’re going to have a solo live concert. A live house that can hold over 2000 people has been prepared for us.

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Really!? Woaah! That’s a huge venue!!

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎We’ve never played on such a large stage before.

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Hey, cut it out ... you’ve already made enough decisions without consulting any of us, like that we wouldn’t participate in the Starting Live.

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‏‏‎A capacity of over 2000 people is as big as a Zepp hall2. Do you understand that?

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Oh~? Could you possibly be lackin’ confidence, Haruka? If yer so afraid of goin’ on stage, why don’tcha quit?

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Huh ... ?

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎It’ll be okay, Aniki! Your guitar is sure to make the crowd go wild!

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Shut up. Don’t act like you know what I’m thinking when you don’t, at all. Shit, you always get me so pissed over nothing ...

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Haruka’s concerns are reasonable. The venue is sizable, and this is our first solo show in Tokyo.

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎The people of Tokyo ... I wonder if they've heard of us ...

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎There's no way for us to know ...

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎The President has told us to make sure the live is a success. We can’t simply go through with a typical live show.

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Haha! If that’s the case, how about I paint myself in all white and wear a kimono while performing? That’ll be unique for sure.

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Take this seriously. EpsilonΦ’s future rests on the outcome of this live.

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎ ... I was just joking. You’re always so uptight ... it’s annoying ...

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Reiji, yer so worked up over this. It’s like Papa scolded *you* through that secretary of his. Did the meetin’ leave that big of an impression on ya?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎This is all for your sake. There’s no reason for me to stay in the band if you’re gone.

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎ ... Hah, when did you become such a sycophant? I couldn’t care less about that kinda flattery, y’know.

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎What is it? Did something happen after all?

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Is something the matter with Shu-kun?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎ ... I’ll tell you guys later. For now, just focus on making the live a success.

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎I can't deal with this crap.

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Hey, where are you going?

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Don’t get me wrong, I’ll perform in the live. But other than that, I’m not helping with anything else.

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‏‏‎Since, y’know, we’re not exactly the best of friends.

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*\*Haruka exits\**

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Ahh ... lashing out, like always ... I wonder if he's sad 'cause Karasuma-senpai got mad at him.

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Haruka-kun was sad? He seemed angry to me.

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Kurama-senpai, you have to know that Aniki’s a bit sensitive. He’s just at that age where he gets angry when he’s sad.

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎ ... That's enough. Anyways, I'll just adjust our plan.

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‏‏‎How about premiering a new song at the live? Treating it as a promotion will certainly attract attendees.

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎I'm all for it! I wanna play a new song!

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Hmm ... sorry to disappoint, but I don't wanna make a new song right now.

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‏‏‎I’m feelin’ sick ‘cause of that secretary from earlier, so I’ve got no energy to compose.

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‏‏‎Maybe I should just go back to Kyoto, like Papa told me to. What do ya think, Reiji?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎ ... In other words, my next task is to provide you with motivation to write a new song.

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Yep. Yer a smart guy, after all. What a reliable secretary.

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