“I’m fine, thanks.”
“How did you get the helmet off?”
“Turns out the release button was jammed with ashes.”
“Whoever owns that helmet made sure to use it to the point of voiding the warranty.”
“Keep it safe in case she comes back, okay?”
“Sure.”
“R-Right…”
???: “Yes! It’s open. Great!”
“Welcome to Valhalla.”
“Did I step into some kind of afterlife?”
“Do you often enter places without knowing what they are?”
“Sorta. Kinda. Yeah?”
“Well. This is a bar.”
“A bar? Nice! Nice!”
“What can I get you?”
“I don’t know…I don’t drink that much, to be honest.”
“What do you recommend for me?”
“What do you normally enjoy?”
“I like tea.”
“That’s…not something I can work with.”
“What about flavors?”
“Bitter but not too bitter?”
“Sorry if it’s too confusing.”
(“Something bitter but not too much. Maybe something bitter and girly?”)
“Let me see what I can get you.”
Here’s why we got the Mulan Tea. And yes, that is a Simpsons reference in the drink menu.
“Hey, I like this one!”
“But didn’t you say you didn’t have tea?”
“Well, it’s not freshly made tea or anything like that.”
“You don’t look like you’re from around here. What brought you by, Miss…?”
“I’m the star that always shines in the dark night sky!”
“I’m the glow that will guide you through your sorrow!”
“I’m the northern light that will show you your dreams!”
“I’m ✩Kira✩ Miki!”
“S-So…Should I call you Miss Miki or Miss Kira?”
“No, you’re not getting it, I’m just ✩Kira✩ Miki.”
“Here, let me help you. I’ll say Kira and you say Miki, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Kira!”
“…M-Miki.”
“No no no no! Put more spirit into it!”
“Kira!”
“M-Miki.”
“Almost there!”
“Kira!”
“Miki.”
“Kira!”
“Miki!”
“Kira!!”
“Kira!!”
“That’s it! Are you feeling it?”
“Kira!!!”
“Kira!!!”
“Miki!!!”
“Kira!!!”
“Miki!!!”
“And don’t you ever forget it!”
“…”
“Wow. You’re good.”
“Thank you!”
“It’s nice to know I still have it.”
“Especially since I have a concert in a bit.”
“Concert?”
“Wait, you’re the Lilim that’s putting on a concert tonight?”
“I’m ONE Lilim who is putting on a concert tonight. I don’t know if I’m the same Lilim you’re looking for.”
“And what are you doing all the way down here?”
“Well, they were making last preparations for the concert so I snuck out.”
“My producer is always obnoxious while that’s going on, so I just decided to leave.”
“I saw one of the concert’s posters outside and decided to check this place.”
(“Just that? Isn’t that a bit…dangerous?”)
“Won’t your producer be mad when you go back?”
“He will, but it’s not the first time I’ve done this.”
“And he still needs me to do the concert anyways.”
“I-I see…”
“How big is the concert?”
“We planned for a bit over 100,000 people and sold out fast.”
“So, we managed to secure ourselves another show in a couple of weeks.”
“Oh, that’s nice.”
“Yeah. I may not have as many fans as other performers, but mine are very loyal, and that’s nice.”
(“Over 100,000 is not many? Then what exactly is?”)
“Hold on. Then, based on your little demonstration from before, I should call you “Ms. Miki”, right?
“You don’t get it! Let’s start from the top.”
“I’ll just call you Ms. Idol then.”
“Oh! I like that.”
“Hey, do you have anything…soft?”
“Soft? As in alcohol-free?”
“No, I meant soft as in soft.”
“Soft…?”
“L-Let’s see what I can get you.”
“Yeah, this’ll do it. Thanks!”
“Hey, have you considered being more theatrical when mixing drinks?”
“Eh?”
“Yeah, you know. Like spinning bottles and lighting drinks on fire. That kind of stuff.”
“When I was in college, I tried going to a party once.”
“The bartender who tried those tricks gave me a nasty bump on the forehead when the bottle slipped his hand.”
“Those kind of theatrics usually feel pointless and seem to slow down the process of actually making a drink.”
“Yeah, but never underestimate the power of putting on a good show.”
“It can feel incredible and be very rewarding, you know?”
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Hmhm…”
“Hey, is this glass important?”
“Depends on why you’re asking.”
“Do you want me to sign it?”
“Oh. Sure, I guess?”
“No guessing! Are you sure or not?”
“Yeah. Do as you please.”
“Okay, then. Who should I make it out to?”
(“Maybe for my boss? I wonder if Gil would like it though.”)
“Your name, girl!”
“Oh! For Jill then.”
“”For Jill. Never lose your star. From ✩Kira✩ Miki.””
“Oh, that’s a pretty autograph.”
“Thanks!”
“No, thank you.”
“I’m guessing someone with as many fans as you has their fair share of stalkers, right?”
“Well, there are two kinds of people that obsess over me.”
“There are the shy ones that follow me everywhere, hiding just out of sight.”
“And then there’s my fanclub.”
“What’s the difference between then?”
“The fanclub follows me around a lot too, but they usually keep a distance.”
“Actually, I think they’re outside waiting for me right now.”
“I-I see…”
“They’re also very organized. They’d make pretty good soldiers.”
“The others, the stalkers, are a bit sneakier and don’t act in groups.”
“I’m guessing those stalkers must be bothersome, huh…”
“Actually, they’re not that bad.”
“Stalkers are nice when you get used to them.”
“I remember one once protected me from being mugged.”
“There’s another that breaks into my house once a week to make me breakfast.”
(“And she fails to see the problem?”)
“I just wish they’d leave my underwear drawer the same way they find it.”
“I take pride in how neatly I organize my underwear, you know?”
“I take pride in my old liquor collection. I guess it’s the same.”
(“No, wait. It isn’t!”)
“Yeah! You get me, Jill.”
“…”
“Okay, one more drink before I go.”
“By now, the stage should be all organized, so the fallout should have settled.”
“Isn’t it a bit late for a concert?”
“It’s part of my gimmick. I always make concerts that go from night till dawn.”
“In this one, I’m supposed to close with a song called Sunshine Stone.”
“If everything goes as planned and the weather forecast is accurate…”
“The sun should come up just as I reach the climax of the song.”
“I’d be depressed if they ask for “Your Love Is A Drug” as an encore though…”
“That sounds nice.”
“Hey, I need to make people feel their tickets were worth the ridiculous price, you know?”
“Don’t you think it sucks to pay for something, only to find out you shouldn’t have bothered?”
“Yeah. One time I bought some expensive coffee in this one cafe…”
“It tasted like filthy water with cream. I still don’t know if it was the coffee or the girl that served it, but it was BAD.”
“Man, that sucks.”
“Speaking of which, do you have anything bitter? I really need to wake myself up.”
“Let’s see what I can find for you.”
“Yeah, this works.”
“So, how is it?”
“It could be a bit sweeter but it’s delicious.”
“I figured it was for waking you up or something so…”
“Really nice, thanks!”
“I hope you aren’t offended by this question, but…”
“Hm?”
“I can see that you enjoy what you do, but how much of it is about the music?”
“I’ll let you know that before becoming ✩Kira✩ Miki, I was a very accomplished pianist.”
“I had concerts every week and part-timed in bars with a jazz band.”
“I still write and compose my own songs!”
“Whoa…”
“Why the change?”
“Going from jazz and piano to idol…”
“Have you ever thought about the power music has over people?”
“You could argue it’s just noise, but it can make you feel a wide range of emotions.”
“And that power is universal. It can transcend language and culture.”
“Being in a jazz band or performing recitals, I can only take that power to so many people.”
“But being an Idol, I can take that power and spread it far and wide!”
“Kids and adults, men and women. They all have access to my music, and I can reach every one of them!”
“Wow…”
“What music do you like, Jill?”
“I’m not picky, but I do prefer versions with no lyrics.”
“Why?”
“I like to listen to music while working, and lyrics distract me.”
“And besides, it always bothers me when people nonchalantly start singing songs with creepy lyrics.”
“I think only half of the listeners actually care about what’s being said.”
“Oh, that’s a bummer.”
“I’d give you a copy of my latest CD, but I don’t have any at the moment.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Okay then, I’m out.”
“Thanks for helping me pass the time, Jill!”
“Sure.”
“Please come again.”
“Will she be alright?”
“Yeah, she’ll be fine.”
“You think she’ll come back?”
“Usually I’d say no, but I honestly don’t know.”
“Boss, we’re done.”
“You feel like going to that girl’s concert?”
“Nah, I don’t think so. I don’t have tickets anyway.”
“Hey, Boss. Does the name “Red Comet” ring any bells?”
“Why, that was my moniker during my wrestling days.”
“Your…huh?”
“That’s what they called me during my time in the Grand Slam Fighters.”
“They saw me coming, but they couldn’t stop me before I CRASHED INTO THEIR HEADS.”
“Any reason for being red specifically?”
“That way I was three times faster!”
“How did you find that out? Do you like wrestling?”
“A client mentioned it yesterday when he saw you. I just kinda remembered it.”
“Ah, I see.”
“I should take you to a wrestling match sometime. Maybe you’ll like it.”
“Maybe.”
“In any case, Gil’s cleaning the glasses today, so I’ll leave now.”
“Take care.”
“Oh, and…boss?”
“Don’t cram anything on your head without thinking, please.”
“Yeah, yeah…”
