Chapter 2

 [Common] Episode 2: After We Parted Ways that Day

Unei: Oh, hello (name)-san.

MC: Hello, Unei-san. What are you doing outside the shop?

Unei: The boss told me to wait here for someone... but I don't know what they look like.

MC: That's a problem.

???: Excuse me, are you with Starless?

Unei: Y-Yes! Are you the owner's guest?

???: Huh? I don't think so. I'm Shinju's... acquaintance.

Unei: Oh, a friend of Shinju's! He's most likely cleaning right now... I'll go get him! *leaves*

???: Um... are you with Starless too?

MC: Hmm... well... uh...

???: Haha, are you having trouble answering? ...Sorry, how rude of me.

*Unei returns with Shinju*

Unei: Sorry, I forgot to ask his name. But he's your friend, Shinju.

Shinju: Huh?! But I haven't told any of my friends about Starless.

Shinju: Sorry for the wait! I'm Shinju, but... huh?

???: Who's Shinju? Is that your new stage name?

Shinju: What... why are you here? What're you planning?

???: I came to see you, duh. Wanted to check up on the guy who ruined my debut.

MC: (Wait, what?!)

Shinju: No... it wasn't my fault... I didn't...

???: It was your fault, quitting on your own like that!

Shinju: Why is it my fault?! You just couldn't keep up!

???: What...?!

MC: P-Please stop this!

???: Okaaay, stop right there! This is no place for fighting.

???: What kind of idol gets in a fight outside? There's even a woman here.

???: You were scared, right, Miss?

MC: Yes, but...

Shinju: .....

???: ......

Unei: Ph-Phew... Thank you for stopping them!

???: Ahaha, you look super unreliable!

???: ...Oh, are you Unei? Haseyama should've told you about me.

Unei: Oh, um, yes. So, you're his guest...?

???: Heck no, I'm no guest.

???: I'm Ran! Starting today, I'm a member of Starless.

Unei: Huh? I never heard anything about a new cast member~!

Ran: Well you're hearing it now. C'mon, hurry up.

Unei: In that case, please excuse me. I'm going to make a quick phone call!

Ran: Hey, you're a cast member too, right? Nice to meet ya.

Shinju: Ah, yeah, same. I'm Shinju.

Ran: If you're gonna fight, why don't you get your friend to join too?

Shinju: Huh? What kind of logic is that...? Besides, he's not going to join us...

???: Is it that easy to join?

Ran: All you have to do is choose a name and you're one of us. Any kind of mineral or plant works, apparently.

Ran: I got mine from a rock called "rangyoku." It's also known as aquamarine.

???: ...Is that why you're calling yourself Shinju? A pearl?

Shinju: Shut up, it's none of your business.

Ran: So what'll it be?

???: ...I'll be Yakou.

Ran: Yakou? What's that? A plant or a rock?

Yakou: Strictly speaking it's a type of shellfish, but it's used in shell lacquerware.

Ran: Huh, that's a nice name.

Shinju: Hey, why're you going along with this? You can't do this without the agency's permission anyway!

Yakou: That's none of your business.

Ran: Ahaha, such good friends.

Unei: I'm back, sorry! The boss said it's fine as long as you have Kei-san's approval!

Ran: Take us to that Kei guy, then. C'mon, Yakou.

Yakou: All right.

Unei: Ah, right this way.

Shinju: Hey, wait!

Ran: Oh, sorry for leaving you out, Miss.

Ran: You're that "special" one, right? I'm sure there's a lot going on, but hey.

MC: U-Um, what do you mean?

Ran: Ahaha, nice to meet you!