Neverland - Prologue
...“The Japanese Neverland Cup?”
Yes. However, since it’s quite the mouthful and not that visually appealing, it's usually referred to simply as “JNLC” (Japanese Neverland Cup)1
...So many national events and institutions frequently use a “J” in their abbreviations; I feel like it can be confused with other things and could be hard to remember
…You and I can understand them easily, but I think it can be hard for the common people…
Eh, so you’re aware that you’re different from the others “in general”, huh? As a person with some experience, I would like to advise you that this is a thorny path2
…A thorny path?3
…Fufu, as long as I live as a part of Eden and Adam, no matter how hard I try, my path will always be a thorny one devised by Ibara
Oh, a pun? Our Eichi is quite fond of those too. Since you two were in fine in the past, maybe you came to resemble him after working together?
...Perhaps. Humans live their lives interacting and influencing each other, after all
Well, and in your case, that’s quite extreme, huh?
Since you were stuck in a pretty little box as a kid and didn’t interact at all with the world, you’re more prone to being influenced by others around you, I fear. After all, the purer the white clothes, the more dirt stains will stand out
...Indeed. But well, I’ve already been completely stained the moment I met Ibara, so now it’s as pitch black as it can get♪
Such words of affection, but, due to your nature, I would say you’re better suited in white
...On the other hand, I would say you’re better suited in black, the chaotic reunion of all colors
FuFuFu. Perhaps we were matched with the wrong partners, then?
...No, I disagree. If your life ends in the same way that it did when you were born, without interacting with anyone, without any changes, then what’s the value of this life?
...Everyone adapts themselves for this environment or continues to change due to the stimuli they receive. By mixing and matching the “newest version of yourself”, we substantially preserve our lives
...Even in a world that was abandoned by God, we can still live in such a way
Amazing! Oh precious and good humored incarnation of Adam, the first of mankind. You’re truly the personification of the human trajectory that has been long told by the Bible!
Sing out loud in this key, as you claim that stupidity, that ugliness, and all the rest that makes humanity as indeed what gives meaning to “humanity”!
Dye the earth in blood while proclaiming “I’m the one who rules this land”!
...Do you perhaps despise me and it's trying to condemn me as an attempt to hurt my feelings?
...After all I...No, we acted in not very “fine” ways, so it's okay if you would like to take revenge on us
Not at all. If I were to take revenge, it would insinuate I have a grudge against all of you, would it not?
...And yet you should. In the present society mankind has built in this world, it's hard to survive unless you at least pretend to be “human”
...Though I suppose saying that to you would be like preaching to the choir, Hibiki Wataru-kun of the “Five Eccentrics”
Of course I’m aware of that, Ran Nagisa-san of the former fine
You were the ones who made me realize this, after all. And yet, when it comes to the pursuit of love and wonder, I'm happy to continue playing the role of the clown
You know that all too well as an angel that created such an utopia by chopping us up into several parts and scattering our remains out there
...Indeed I know, o foolish monster that read us as an open book, yet willingly laid himself down to serve as a foundation
...The present era has been built atop your sacrifices. We are the only ones that will never forget about it
.....
.....
Anyways, back to the subject at hand. If you don’t mind, would you like to participate in the “JNLC” with me?
...Has anyone ever told you that your actions are quite sudden?
Truthfully, I'm rather bad at negotiation and solicitation, for I rarely ever ask others for something, so I’m inexperienced
... I understand, so it’s fine
...“JNLC”, huh. If I remember correctly, it was originally a western competition
...The original Neverland Cup was an event with a huge history and prestige, the “Oscars” Academy Awards of the musical industry
...The original idea was to award the most artistic musicians in the world. The “JNLC” would be the Japanese version of it, founded by my father
Yes indeed, the founder is none other than the Godfather, whose name has been brought up again recently
...Well, my father was the founder of almost all systems and cultures in this modern industry of idols
...Though the name “Godfather” sounds almost wrong for him. It makes him sound like the head of a mafia
...My father was nothing but an idol. No, he was a father who loved and took care of all idols
Exactly, that’s why we call him “father”. Each of us is inevitably a descendant of that formidable monster
However, we cannot continue to be prodigal children who only waste the inheritance left behind by our parents
Especially now that we have this home to call ours,Ensemble Square, it's pathetic for us to still be stuck to our umbilical cords
Thus, there has been action to reassess the “JNLC”, to promote it, and let it become a solid and reliable musical prize for the whole world
One of my old partners in the acting industry happens to be in charge of this project. They asked me if I could help them, for the good old times
But well, there are some reasons that make fine not very ideal to take part in that, and I have to come to specialize in acting…
I'm sure I can join as a musician, but I'm not too sure whether my performance can be deemed artistic
The “JNLC” is an event to determine who’s the most artistic musician of Japan. Even if I joined as myself, I would be out of place
I could call the folks from “Träumerei”, but all of them seemed to be busy with their own matters
And so, while thinking on what to do, I found you
...Hm, but it seemed like I was your target from the very beginning ...“JNLC”? There’s something beautiful in the idea of winning the trophy that my father left ...I’ll check with Ibara for permission, but it's most likely that I'll be able to enter as well
Amazing! Wonderful, so you shall enter with me as a duo
The former members of the Five Eccentrics and fine joining hands! Surely this will cause quite the uproar
...Fufu. I hope this won’t reopen half-healed wounds of the past ...However, if we’re talking about artistic musicians, I'm sure you already have the perfect friend for it ...Wouldn’t it be better if you had called him instead of me?
Fufufu. Recently “he” seems to have little to no interest in anything besides his own art, so even if I were to ask him, he would probably decline
Besides, I’m not the person he should be pursuing art with…
In the first place, since always we walk completely opposite paths. Myself and Itsuki Shu from Valkyrie
Translation Notes
- ↑ Here Wataru says Never Land as two words, but since English has a single word for it, for this translation it’ll be referred as Neverland (in the English version of the game it was also translated as Neverland in one word).
- ↑ Most likely referring to how Wataru's an Eccentric, and therefore is "different from the others".
- ↑ The word for thorny in Japanese is "茨", which is pronounced Ibara, in the next line, Nagisa makes a pun on it.