Series 3

## Episodes

*Ongoing. Please note that these are fan-made translations and may contain mistakes.*

 "I understand. I'll do as you say."
 *\*laughs\** "Things just got interesting, didn't they? Don't get too comfortable with your temporary peace, LATCH. I'll crush it for you."

 "Wow~ I love mitarashi dango! I like store-bought ones, too, but I like the ones Grandma makes even better!"
**Daichi's Grandma:** "My, my, what a sweet smile! It's like magic. It cheers me up too."
 "Really?"
**Daichi's Grandma:** "Yes, really! It's a very special smile. See, it makes me smile as well."
 "You're right! Hey, when I grow up, I want to be able to make everyone smile even more. I want to spread smiles to everybody!"
**Daichi's Grandma:** "That's a wonderful dream. If it's you, I'm sure you can do it."
 "Yeah!"

 *(That was probably my very first dream. I wanted to make my grandma smile. I thought it would make me really, really happy if my smile could make someone else laugh. That's why I thought if I joined LATCH! and put in lots of effort, I could see the smiles of even more people. But...)*

 "It's raining today, huh... I need to get going to the studio."
 *(With the way I am now, could I really make someone smile properly?)*

 "Oh."
 "Are you alright?"
 "S-Sorry! I'm fine."
 "Lotus... Your spirits have been low ever since this morning."
 "Ahaha, that's not it... But maybe I should step outside for a moment."
 "Getting some fresh air could do you good. You do seem a bit down today."
 "Yeah, I'm sorry. I'll be right back."

 *\*sigh\** "I made them worry... No, no! I can't make anyone smile like this! I need to smile myself first. Smile... ...Smile..."
 *(I know there's no point in comparing yourself to others, but... Still, I keep wondering how 3on☆star and EQUATIONS do it. They just keep getting better and better. I can tell just by watching from the outside, and passengers even more so. But, could I... Could I change? Can I evolve?)*

 "Whoa, this place is packed!"
 "That's right. Everyone in LATCH got called here."
 "A sudden gathering... I wonder if something happened. Do you know anything, Shoji-kun?"
 "Nothing that I can think of. Just... The Ministry of Railways..."
 "Railways?"
 "Well, I can only talk based on speculation. Either way, I don't know any details about this."
 "I see. We'll just have to wait for an announcement."
 *(Oh, Rui-kun and his friends are over there too. Of course, since everyone is gathered. But, the sender of the message was someone named "Sakura"...)*

 "Alright, all active LATCH members are gathered here. Good day to you all."
 "Who is that? I remember that boy's face from somewhere."
 "..."
 "Now, now, silence. From here on, voting is open to decide the representatives for Yamanote Line's LATCH – the Ekimen General Election, and you're all participating."
 "Eh?"
 "It's compulsory for everyone, of course. There's no way for you to opt out~"

 "...the Ekimen General Election, and you're all participating."
 "Eh?"
 "It's compulsory for everyone, of course. There's no way for you to opt out~"
 "What do you mean 'compulsory'?"
 "Ekimen General Election? What's that?"
 "Silence, please. I guess I should start by introducing myself. To everyone I'm meeting for the first time and everyone I'm not, greetings. I am his secretary. Kai Sakurada is my name. Pleased to meet you."
 "C'mon, who's the 'he' you're talking about? I don't understand a word you're saying."
 "The person he's referring to is potentially the head of the railway ministry."
 "By railway ministry, you mean the one we belong to as well?"
 "That's right. The one who manages LATCH."
 "Shoji, long time no see! Thank you for explaining on my behalf. By the way, he's currently watching you through this plushie I'm holding. So follow my instructions properly. Don't underestimate me just because I'm cute or you'll regret it~"
 "What the hell is th– Hey. What are you doing?"
 "I've seen him somewhere... No, I've heard his voice somewhere? Sakurada... Sakuradamon? No, that's not it. What could it be...?"
 "Excuse me..."
 "Oh? What is it, Minato?"
 "You said something about an election. Is it an individual competition, or...?"
 "Obviously."
**All:** "???"
 "Forget the familiarity of your existing units. I'll have you fight individually. Of course there are rewards for you in it, too~"
 "Man, now you're just being mean for no reason!"
 "U-Um... Those rewards..."
 "Oh? That caught your attention? A pacifistic idiot like you is only interested in what you can get out of this?"
 "Pacifistic idiot...?"
 "But that's not a bad approach. You're ALL such pacifistic idiots the way you are now. Stupid, stupid, so stupid! You don't have an ounce of fighting spirit and I can't keep watching it. In the last audition, you all ended up standing on stage together anyways. It's laughable!"
 "...He's concerned about the situation."
 "..."
 "From now on, you will all be distributed into five blocks based on your attributes. Among them, you'll be subject to a popularity vote. The winners from each block will come together to form a 5-person group of everyone's dreams."
**All:** "???"
 "But... Our current units..."
 "We may have to suspend our activities temporarily."
 "Next year, those five people will be given all our support, receive special treatment, and we'll raise you to stardom~! Doesn't that sound like a dream come true?"
 *(This might be it... The chance to take responsibility to test my own power. I may not be chosen as I am now, but... If I make an effort, I'll surely have a chance.)*
 "So, everybody... Compete to your heart's content."

 "Takaiwa-dono, Hanabusa-dono."
 "Ah, Allen-san. We're all in different blocks, huh?"
 "Yes. I'm in Elegant, Orchid is in Fantasista, and Lotus..."
 "I'm in Smart, it seems. Together with Yuki-san and Hazime-san. They're strong opponents."
 "Strong opponents..."
 "Well, I suppose this is our goodbye for now. Although, I heard we'll be staying at a training camp of sorts. I hope we'll meet again there soon."
 "Me too. My heart is pounding, but I have to do my best."
 "...Don't you two have a bad feeling about this?"
 "I don't mind, at least. I'm taking this as an opportunity for growth."
 "How about you, Lotus?"
 "Well... I definitely want to win."
 "Eh?"
 "I want to survive on my own strength alone. That's how I'm going into this."
 "We're all in different blocks. If we all manage to win and join together again, we'll be better than ever."
 "Yeah, that's right. I think that would be our ideal form. But this time I want to put my own strength to the test."
 "..."
 "Well then, see you."
 "..."

 "Alright, Team Entertainer! Let's go!"
 "Hmm? Hmmmm... Hrrrmmmmm...!!! Think, think... Thinking so hard... Ah! Sakurada Kai... Sakurada Kai! ...Could it be Saku-chan?!"

**Ekimen General Election News!**

 "And so it begins, the Ekimen General Election. Passengers from all over the country will choose only the hottest guys among us!"
 "The hottest guys...?"
 "Yeah, yeah! You get to vote for the LATCH that you think is the most suitable for the attribute of each block. Man, I'm getting fired up. I'm not gonna lose either! I'm ready to fight!"
 "That's right. During the Ekimen General Election voting period, you can vote every day on the official LATCH website.
 "But that's not all! I can't hold my passion! We've got great news for all you boys and girls out there. Are you ready? A membership service called LATCH Tomo no Kai has been launched! Applause, please!"
 "Wooow!"
 "W-Wow..."
 "In Tomo no Kai, you get to take peeks at our daily lives too. I wonder what kinds of things will be published there? I'll check it out later!"
 "So, please join and come see us every day."
 "Tsk, tsk, tsk. What are you trying to do? We've still got more news to share. C'mon, Tonari."
 "Oh, me? Let's see... During the voting period, polling places will be open at Animate Ikebukuro."
 "That's amazing. Seems like posters of us are also up. Everyone, please go see them."
 "For more information, visit the official site. Y'all better go check it out! Alright, everybody."
**All:** "Happy voting!"
 "See ya!"

1. ↑ Sakuradamon is a subway station in Tokyo