#though! small disclosure: the og text wrote 'hagoita' wrt hanetsuki so i changed it up bc google tells me that hagoita is the paddle instead

[deus-ex-mona]

LIPxLIP and the Filming of the New Year’s Special Programme: Chapter 4

hakama h e l p

previous part (chapter 3)

next part (chapter 5)

The Day of the Programme—

Host: Now, let’s begin the New Year’s Variety Programme! May the participants please say a few words each…

Host: And here are our star attractions of the day… The popular heartthrobs from the idol unit of LIPxLIP!

Aizo: It’s nice to meet you!

Yujiro: I’ll do my best to achieve victory!

Host: Hey, Aizo and Yujiro. You guys are always seen together, but this time, you’re facing off against each other in a solo competition.

Host: How are you taking this?

Aizo: Ahh— I’m feeling nothing but the jitters, y’know?

Aizo: (Just kidding. I’m actually super chill with it, though.)

Chancing a glance at Yujiro, Aizo noted that, unlike their encounter on their day off, Yujiro had a friendly smile spread across his face.

Yujiro: I’m feeling rather uneasy too.

Yujiro: I’m so used to having Aizo by my side, so not having him here is a little…

Cheers and murmurs arose from the audience seats, as well as from the tiered gallery where all the performers were situated.

Yujiro: I think Aizo’s better suited for this kind of stuff, especially when it comes to variety programmes.

Yujiro: But I’m going to do what I can… to the best of my ability.

Aizo: Aww, if only I could support you by your side~! But we just so happen to be enemies this time~!

Aizo: (I’ll have to do my very best to stick around till the final round! If I don’t, this competition would’ve been for nothing!)

Host: Yup, yup, that’s sweet! I can see the love between you guys! Be sure to give it your all against each other!

Host: Now then, next up is—

Following that, the livestream continued to progress smoothly. However, the first event was, against Aizo’s expectations, the high jump—

Aizo: (Just as I’d expected, there’s a sports-related event, but…)

Aizo: Dammit! It’s hard to move in this hakama!

Host: Oooops! Aizo has knocked the bar over!

Aizo: No, it was the hakama! The hakama hit the bar, not me! I’m still in!

Host: Whether it was the hakama or not doesn’t matter! That was an out! You’ll get to jump another time, so good luck!

Aizo: Dammit! What’s with the strictness?!

Despite joking around with a smile, a mild feeling of irritation burned away at the bottom of Aizo’s heart.

Aizo: (Despite the state of his physical strength, Yujiro’s movements were weirdly nimble… If I lose here, he’s gonna laugh at me for the rest of our lives.)

Aizo: I can roll up my hakama and take a running start, right?! It’s fine, right?! I’m rolling it up, okay?!

Yujiro: Hey, don’t do that. How shameless…

Host: Ooh, how bold of you, Aizo!

Host: Will he be able to jump over it this time? He’s jumping… and he made it~!

Aizo: Awwright! I’m still in the game!

On Yujiro’s end, the results of the New Year’s-themed events were, sure enough—

Yujiro: (It feels as though these events were made just for me. I’m truly grateful, really.)

Having been familiar with the features of the cultural events like calligraphy, flower arrangement, komamawashi, and hanetsuki from his childhood days, Yujiro had fared very well in them.

Yujiro: (Aizo, on the other hand…)

Aizo: Hooold it right there!

Aizo: Why isn’t this hanetsuki thing anything like badminton?!

Aizo: The shuttlecock isn’t going where I want it to! It’s so hard!

Host: You’re fighting a tough battle, aren’t you~?

Yujiro: That’s just how it is. If you lose, I’m going to draw circles and crosses on your face.

Host: Oh my, he has already prepared his brush for the painting! Hey Aizo! Your partner’s waiting for you to lose!

Aizo: Why?! Cheer for me instead!

Host: Now then, whether tears were shed or laughter was had, we’re at the final event! The only people remaining after the many death matches are—

Host: Aizo and Yujiro! The pair that make up LIPxLIP!

Yujiro & Aizo: …

Host: By a strange coincidence, the two of them will have to face off against each other in this event… namely, a “Scavenger Hunt”!

Yujiro: (I definitely… won’t lose to him…!)

#aizo vs hakama #just honeypre things #[akihiko voice]: i ' v e b e e n w a i t i n g f o r t h i s - #though! small disclosure: the og text wrote 'hagoita' wrt hanetsuki so i changed it up bc google tells me that hagoita is the paddle instead #(ie not the game. so idk... i'm trusting google on this one...?) #unrelated: short poll guys!!! do y'all tie your hakamas like yujiro or aizo? #i'm personally not skilled enough to tie it like aizo's (tried and failed s o b s) so i tie it a little like yujiro's lol #aizo is right hakamas are a pain frrrrrrr speak your truth king