< STRAY BAD DOG | Story
Chapter 3: Conflict
衝突 (Shōtotsu)
衝突 (Shōtotsu)
Character appearances:
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Vivid Street Live House Exterior
Audience Member A
Hey, you free after this? Me n' some of my musician friends are gonna grab a bite to eat together, wanna come with?
Arata
Aah, so sorry! I've already got my heart set on having a chocolate parfait after the live. I just can't cancel that, you know~
Arata
So thanks, but no thanks, I'll be... Hm?
Akito
--Good evening.
Akito
Sorry for asking out of the blue. You're Touno Arata-san, yes?
Akito
I sing around here quite often, but I've been hearing some rumors about you lately, and it's piqued my interest.
Akito
If it's alright with you, would you mind staying and chatting with me for a little while?
Audience
Wait, is that... Akito...?
Audience
Woah, it totally is!
Arata
Hm? I feel like I've seen your face somewhere before...
Akito
My name is Shinonome Akito. I sing as part of Vivid BAD SQUAD.
Arata
Ohhh! Vivid BAD SQUAD, that’s it! I heard you all perform at an event, just earlier.
Akito
Oh, you did? Thank you very much for listening.
Toya
Akito...!
Arata
Ah, and you, you were singing alongside him too, I believe. Nice to meet you, I'm Touno Arata.
Toya
Ah... Nice to meet you. I'm Aoyagi Toya.
Akito
We're teammates. He's my partner.
Arata
Partner…
Arata
I see. Partners are a wonderful thing, aren't they?
Toya
(...What was that? Just for a brief moment there, I could've sworn his expression shifted...)
Akito
There's something I'd like to ask you, Touno-san. May I?
Arata
Sure, anything's fine as long as I can answer it.
Akito
Okay, then-- Is it true you're planning on surpassing RAD WEEKEND?
Arata
...!
Arata
...Yeah, that’s true. Oh, but... I wouldn't phrase it like that, myself.
Arata
More than 'planning' to surpass it-- It's more that I will.
Akito
...Touno-san, did you see RAD WEEKEND for yourself?
Arata
Yes, I saw it! My close friend, who loved music, took me there against my will.
Arata
Then he got extremely fired-up watching it, and on the way home, he said "Let's both surpass RAD WEEKEND together!"
Arata
So, rather than say surpassing RAD WEEKEND is my dream... I'd say it was his dream. That kind of thing.
Toya
...? I've only heard that you've been doing events alone, though.
Arata
Oh, yeah. A lot's happened.
Arata
As of right now, I plan to surpass it by myself.
Akito
...Surpassing RAD WEEKEND... all by yourself?
Akito
Do you really mean that?
Akito
I know from seeing it in person. That event wasn't something so simple that one person could top it by themself.
Arata
Oh, of course I'm aware of that.
Arata
But-- I feel like I have much more of a chance of doing it than all of you, hm?
Akito
Eh?
Toya
That's…
Arata
You all have the same goal, no? To surpass RAD WEEKEND?
Akito
...So you knew about us.
Arata
I did. I heard the rumors soon after I came back.
Arata
"Vivid BAD SQUAD are aiming to top RAD WEEKEND."
Toya
I see…
Arata
But, you know-- It was kind of a let-down, to be honest.
Arata
I had pretty high expectations when I heard it was a team that had caught Ken-san's attention, you see.
Akito
Hah? ...What're you implyin', there?
Arata
Uwah, you got scary there, all of a sudden. Sorry, sorry.
Arata
But I won't take back what I said. The truth of matter is, you're all just a bit lacking in skill to surpass RAD WEEKEND.
Arata
Well, to be fair, I think you would all eventually reach that level given enough time. But by that point, I’ll already have surpassed it.
Akito
...Oi.
Akito
I dunno what kind singin' chops you got, but don't go lookin' down on us.
Arata
I'm not looking down on you, really. I'm simply telling you my honest thoughts.
Akito
The hell does that mean...!?
Arata
...Seems like you're still having trouble with it, so I'll put it in simpler terms for you.
Arata
Aoyagi-kun, was it? You have a brilliant ear. You never fail to nail every note. But it just feels like you're not making the best use of your talents.
Arata
And that An girl was good, too. Just as I'd expect from Ken-san's daughter. Well…she's still noticeably rough around the edges, though.
Arata
And the other one... I honestly can't remember her name. In terms of singing, she had some interesting aspects-- But as for her performance, she's still an amateur.
Arata
If it were me, I wouldn't even have her on the team.
Toya
.....Gh.
Akito
You motherfucker...!
Arata
And lastly, more than anything--
Akito
--You're just spoutin' whatever bullshit you want, aren't you?
Akito
You must be real hot shit to talk about us like that.
Arata
Oh, well, of course I am.
Akito
Then let's put that to the test, shall we? You or us-- let's see who's better.
Toya
What...?
Akito
If we can fire up this crowd here more than you can, you'll have to eat your words.
Audience
...Hey, could it be that Arata and Vivid BAD SQUAD are gonna face off?
Audience
You serious? That sounds awesome!
Arata
--Ahaha, so you want a showdown, huh? Sure thing. Since it seems like everyone's looking forward to it.
Arata
Hey, you there. Could you go grab us some equipment?
Audience Member A
Yeah, sure!
Toya
Wh…
Akito
You're singin' too, right, Toya? Your throat should be plenty warmed up.
Toya
You're really going to go up against him? Doing something like that here…
Akito
Would you rather just go home and leave it as it is, then?
Akito
After all the shit he talked about you guys, you're gonna just stay quiet and leave?
Akito
If you're not gonna join me, I’ll do it alone.
Toya
...Then I'll sing too.
Toya
I'm your partner, after all.
Akito
Let's keep the rules simple. Any song’s allowed. The winner is whoever can get the crowd here pumped up the most.
Arata
Mm, sounds good. Let's go with that. What order are we going in?
Akito
We're going first. We'll settle who the victor is before you even get a chance.
Arata
Ahaha, I love your fighting spirit. But that's just the standard for those wanting to top RAD WEEKEND, isn't it?
Akito
Obviously. We keep on singin' for that reason.
Akito
--Our resolve is completely different from anyone else's.
Arata
...Resolve, hm?
Audience
Heeey, we're done setting up! Who's on first?
Akito
We are.
Akito
I'll warn you now-- We won't go easy on you.
Arata
Cool. Give me all you've got.
— Some time later —
Akito & Toya
♪-------!
Audience
Amazing...! Coming on strong as always!
Audience
It's been a while since I've seen BAD DOGS perform, but they really are somethin'!
Arata
...They're not bad, I'll give them that.
Arata
But it's just not enough.
Akito & Toya
♪---------!
Audience cheers
Toya
...*pant, pant*...
Akito
How was that? Still got any confidence about winning?
Arata
Yes, plenty.
Arata
And with that, won't you listen? To my singing, that is.