Sweet Hunt - Chapter 3

(Several days later)

Niki: Nnngggh, I don't get it at all!

What was in that cola!? Did I just imagine it!?

I'm still stuck at square one even though I've been trying all kindsa things through trial and error… I'm starting to lose faith in myself, you know…?

(Sigh) Not to mention losing sleep over this… Or I guess, I'm getting more and more frustrated at how inexperienced I am.

Feels like there's nothing to do except eat something sweet to calm down...

Let's see… I put the wagashi Kohaku-chan gave me somewhere around here, right—

Huh...? This table's not from Café Cinnamon, is it?

When'd I get to ES's courtyard..?

Mao: Looks like we've got a customer, Ritsu.

Ritsu: O-kaaay. I'll be right over…♪

Niki: Huhhhh? What're you two doing here..? Actually, what am I at this table for? I don't remember ever sitting down here…

Mao: Haha, I guess it's natural to be surprised… It's what you've been waiting for, Shiina-senpai — we've set up Ritsu's homemade deluxe cola!

There's a ton, so feel free to drink up ♪

Niki: Woohoo~! All that trouble wasn't worth nothing! Gosh, I'm super glad! I'll finally be able to solve the riddle of this recipe…!

Niki: …

Rinne: Yo, Niki, how's ya boy's chokehold taste?

Did I squeeze you too tight an' make you pass out…? Hey, how’re ya feelin’? Say somethin’!

Niki: Guh— owowowow!? Wh-what the hell!? Why're you strangling meeee!?

Uncle, uncle! I give! Let me go already!

I don’t condone violence, you know! How awful, Rinne-kun, you oughta learn about human rights!

Rinne: Haaa? I can't deal with your damn victim complex, yanno?

You weren't payin' any mind to us for so long, ya boy just took the chance to wake ya up a bit. Shouldn't ya be thankin' me?

Niki: …?

Kohaku: Since yer all finished up with that shuffle project ya were part of, we're sittin' down to have a chat 'bout what Crazy:B oughta do next. Remember, Niki-han?

HiMERU: As that is the reason we were summoned, we can't afford for you to lose your mind.

Niki: Eh… Huh?

...Oh right, I forgot!

Kohaku: S'no good. We decided to keep on with bein' a unit, so ain't we supposed t'work together like everyone else?

HiMERU: HiMERU is of the same mind. After just managing to escape being disbanded during the MDM, we now have this thrust upon us?

Rinne: Right on the money! Ya gotta look alive, Niki~!

HiMERU: It's not just Shiina — it's you too, Amagi. Each and every time we gather for a meeting, you’re instead in the mood to play and gamble on mahjong and the like; are you truly interested in staying an idol?

Rinne: Damn, I'm gettin' heat too? Even though li'l ol' me was being sooo super serious?

I mean, since I'm reppin' our unit, I punished Niki for us, didn't I?

Niki: Nhaagh, that doesn't give you the right to get violent with me!

Uggghhh, but I guess part of this is on me, too… I've been worrying so much over my cooking that my focus has been slipping...

HiMERU: You always have cooking on your mind though, don't you? It truly seems as though you're more suited to being a chef than an idol, Shiina.

However, I hope you refrain from saying that you plan to resign from being an idol to focus on cookery.

Niki: Umm, that's something I'd say I'm still kinda on the fence about… but that's not what I'm worrying about this time, actually. I'm just losing confidence in my ability as a chef.

Kohaku: Don't tell me, Niki-han… Yer gonna quit bein' a chef?

Niki: Nhahaha, absolutely not. That's my main job, y’know?

But there's this super-extra-tasty homemade cola I can't recreate the taste of — that's what I've been wracking my brain over.

It doesn't seem like there's a recipe for it left either, so it's feeling like a "phantasmagoricola".

Rinne: Oooh, somethin' Niki can't recreate, huh? In-ter-es-tiiiiiing.

So problem solved if we can just make this "phantasmagoricola" of yours, yeah?

Niki: Well, I guess you could say that?

Rinne: Then it's decided! Let's go make some cola ♪

Niki: Wait — right now!?

I mean, I'd be really grateful for the help, but… are Kohaku-chan and HiMERU-chan gonna be okay with it...?

Rinne: The hell’re ya goin' on about? You're not the kind to hold back, man. Ya can't do anythin' with Crazy:B 'til this phantasmagoricola's made and off your mind, right?

Or what, you wanna try sittin’ in a meetin’, lookin’ like you’re zonin’ out and pretendin’ to be a li’l goody-two-shoes like every other idol in ES?

Niki: Ugh. I don't know if I'd go that far…!

HiMERU: I suppose there's nothing to be done. Oukawa, shall we leave them be and go rehearse by ourselves?

Whether you work as a unit or as a solo artist — there's only so much HiMERU and his peers can do.

Kohaku: That's so. I've been feelin' a little slow since the MDM too, so I'll just do some practice 'til Niki-han feels right as rain again.

Niki-han, if it ain't too much trouble, d'ya mind makin' some of that "phantasmagoricola" fer us if ya manage to perfect it?

Niki: Sorry for the trouble, but thanks… I'll definitely spring right back as soon as I've made it!

Rinne: Then let's get a move on, Niki!

Your very existence as a chef's at stake here.

We're gonna make that phantasmagoricola an' share that sweetness with our little worker bees over here ♪

Niki: I-I said I'd go, so don't yank on my clothes like that! If cooking's my raison d'être, is causing chaos yours!?