High×Joker has been confirmed to be casted on a special corner for an idol program.
Although the idols are joyful over a TV appearance, it’s an unexpected idol-vs-idol tournament corner!!
The members, for whom daily exercise is already far away, begin to do special training at their school’s judo hall and face the program itself!
What are the possible results of their special training!? Let’s show the appeal of the unit with judo techniques, filled with energy!
High×Joker has been challenged with appearing on a special corner for an idol program to take part in judo tournament matches. The results of their training were put on full display, weren’t they!
Hayatocchi, was that phone call from Producer just now? About work?
Yeah, actually…… Our next appearance is gonna be on TV!
…Wait, seriously!? WHOA~! Awesome!! That’s something to super celebrate!!
……Ooh. That’s great…
…By the way, what details does the program entail, Hayato? Is it like a quiz program of sorts?
It’s a variety corner for idol programs. We’re participating in a high school judo tournament, they said.
Oh, sounds kinda fun! And we’ve all taken judo in class, haven’t we?
Just to confirm… Is there anyone aside from Haruna-san who’s good at sports?
Everyone except Haruna:
……
C’mon, guys, it’ll be fine. If we just give it a shot, things will have a way of working out…… Probably.
This club’s activities in school… It’s a surprising amount of force shoved at you when you look at it up close.
It sure does give off the “MANLY SPORT!” sorta vibe… Honestly, it’s a little mucky, gotta say.
……The people who are getting hit… look like they hurt…
Hayato, it’s nice how you sure seem enthusiastic about this. It’s like your eyes are sparkling.
Ohh… They’re so cool… Everyone’s so tall… And so muscular……
If you’re that manly, you gotta be popular, right…
Haah...… I’m so envious…
…You’re envious of… what looks like it’d be popular…? Is that what it’s about…? Hayato?
Of course, man! Guys totally want to be fawned over by girls, y’know?
I really think that a sports club would be more popular than a culture club…
The way that guys who can do sports are cool and reliable is amazing!
…Is what they’d say, huh…
Hayato… Are you being drawn to a sports club at this point in time?
Does that mean you’ll quit the light music club and join a sports club, Hayatocchi!?
WAHH—! I don’t want you to do that! High×Joker won’t exist without you, Hayatocchi!!
C-calm down, Shiki! I didn’t say anything like th…
Uuugh… Hayatocchi, I don’t want you to quit the light music club!!
I get how Hayato feels about wanting to be popular. I’m the same way, actually.
Wha—! Harunacchi, you’re saying the same thing…!? Why are you taking his side!!
Hey, calm down, Shiki. Hayato never said a peep about quitting the light music club.
No matter how popular he wants to be, Hayato’d never say anything so irresponsible.
…It’s all right… Hayato won’t… do something like that. Right, Jun?
Even I… don’t believe in the slightest that Hayato would seriously choose a sports club.
But… in the case that Hayato were to quit, then that would surely…
Uhh—… Ahem.
You’re right that I began playing guitar just to become popular.
It’s also right that I admire manly things. But I won’t just quit the band with that.
Since right now, we’re all part of High×Joker together.
One of my goals now is for all five of us to try to become top idols.
Uu… Hayatocchi… I’m sorry for sayin’ something so baseless and doubting you!
Let’s make sure we work hard at this program so that lots of people get to know our name!
Of coursies! Let’s aim to hyper-stand out on TV and become the talk of the town!
Yes, that’s right. Let’s all work hard.
……Yeah. Let’s do our best…!
…Haruna-san. Do you have a moment?
Uhh, what’s up, Jun? Yeah, sure.
I wondered if you could teach me a trick to move my body in the way that I imagine it in my head…
Ooh, if that’s what you want, then leave it to me!
But it’s sorta refreshing being relied on by you for a change. It’s usually the opposite…
I felt I was hitting my limits doing it on my own. I don’t have a good sense of how to move my body, either.
I don’t like dragging others down. In order to win, I’ll rely on others. That’s all there is to it.
Haruna, could you teach me that trick too? I feel like there’s a difference between just watching and actually putting it into…
Ye, ye, leave it to me. Same as Jun: once you’ve messed up your opponent’s posture using a foot technique…
*pokes Haruna from behind*
Huh? What’s wrong, Natsuki? You want in on the action?
……Yeah. Can you… teach me too?
Yeah, of course… I wonder when I’ve become so popular today~.
Harunacchi~! Please teach me a trick to move, like, a cool guy!
…What’s up, you too, Shiki? All right then, now that we’ve gotten to this point……
I’ll look after all your worries’n troubles! All you gotta do is follow me! Just kidding~
Hey, Haruna… Can you teach me this part… from before…
…Haruna?
…Huh? Oh, sorry, sorry.
Uhh, by from before, you mean… the ko-uchigari move?
…Haruna, you were… staring off into space just now… thinking about something?
Yeah… I was thinking… it doesn’t really feel that bad to have everyone else rely on me…
Since I’m always the one relying on others, y’know~…
I only joined the band because I was told I’d be able to keep going without dropping out of school if I was successful in club activities…
But it feels really good to be here. All of you guys are nice, and you treat me as someone essential.
…Oops, sorry about saying something boring. All right, Natsuki, let’s get started putting our bodies into action~.
…I’m also… glad that I joined the band. I’m the same… as you…
Hey~, you know how I’m always relying on you for studying, Jun?
Being relied on… seriously makes you feel happy, huh?
…Well, yes. At the very least, it’s not a bad feeling.
Jun… Actually… you get happy about Haruna and Shiki relying on you… I know…
You’re not honest about it… so you don’t usually talk about it……
Na—
NATSUKI! Don’t just say baseless stuff like that out of nowhere! Idiot!
……Nothing I said was baseless. *leaves*
Jun, your face is pretty red? It’s not that good to get so worked up.
…But still… Haha… This sorta thing feels nice.
……Pull my leg back… here…
And then next is…
Like this…… Fh—!
Hey~, Natsuki! Wanna take a break for a while?
……Hayato. Yeah, I’ll do that… I’ll take a break…
Natsuki, you’re putting in a lot of effort into practice. I don’t think you liked sports, though?
……That’s not really… why I’m……
……I have to become stronger… so that I can protect Jun…
Huh? But Jun’s perfectly fine. Plus he’s making progress thanks to coaching from the teacher and Haruna.
He’s been getting stronger and stronger, so I don’t think you have anything to worry about?
But… that’s not what it’s about……
Natsuki……?
In the past… back when we were just kids…… there was a time when I had something dangerous happen to me…
Something dangerous… —Wait, huh!? Were you all right!?
Yeah… When that happened, Jun saved me……
…But… because of me…… Jun was—…
Natsuki! Your face is white as a sheet. It’s all right, you’ve said enough… Sorry. I made you remember something painful.
……I’m fine. Right now, Jun’s also having fun every day, so…
…This time, I… want to be sure to protect Jun.
Hey, Natsuki. This is just a what-if situation, but… Even if Jun were to have something dangerous happen to him…
You can’t think things like, “I have to do something about this on my own.”
Hayato……?
Shiki, Haruna, and I are here, right? All of us can protect him.
Both Jun and you, Natsuki, are part of our group of High×Joker friends. Let’s all help each other out.
If you end up burdening yourself with everything, it’ll have the opposite effect and make us sad, okay?
……! ……Yeah. You’re right……
……Hayato… Thank you.
If that time ever comes… I’ll rely on… everyone……
Of course! Leave it to us! Ah, but of course, I don’t want anything dangerous to happen to you.
……Yeah… you’re right.
Natsuki, you should tell Haruna and Shiki directly that you’re relying on them too.
I’m pretty sure that it’d make them happier…
……Once you put it into words, and now that I think about it… It’s pretty hard…
But… if I’m ever able to say it, that’d be nice……
Haah… Haah…
This is frustrating. I still can’t move the way I want…
I still have to work harder… even harder… I can’t let myself be a burden…!
I’ve been moving my body around every day, so I guess it’s a given that I’m hungry. I wanna eat donuts…
Ah~, I’m hungry too… Let’s drop by somewhere on our way back home!
…? Wait, everyone. Why are you taking it so easy?
What will you do if you’re not practicing seriously? Even if it’s just an idol program…
Do you all understand how important this job is to us!?
Eh— Ah… S-sorry. We weren’t trying to act like we were screwing around…
…Jun. I don’t think that was a good way of phrasing… what you wanted to say.
…Gh!
I thought… it best to appeal ourselves by winning properly… because we’ll be appearing on this program…
Juncchi, you’re way too stiff about this! When it comes to variety, humor equals justice!
Humor… equals justice?
Yeppers! The most important thing’s to stand out, and whoever ends up catching the most attention by becoming popular will win!!
……Haah… So that’s what it’s about…
…It’s valuable to do things seriously to prevent injuries and for your opponent’s sake, too. But…
We’re idols after all! Giving a performance that’ll catch on is more important!
I don’t think it’s a good idea to overlook that!
I’m sorry, everyone… I felt I was the only one making no progress, so I harshly took it out on you all…
That’s fine. You got upset because you were putting everyone into consideration, weren’t you?
All that happened was your words getting harsh because you’re so serious about it.
Yep, yep. Juncchi’s a diligent guy~.
But really, you should let your shoulders loosen up a bit.
If you’re stuck like that forever, then you’ll get tired, you know?
…Jun… For a change of pace… taking breaks is important… too…
……That’s correct as well. I guess I’ll… take a break for a while.
All right, so… Let’s end practice here and all go out to get something good to…
Haruna-san! I said we could take a break, but I didn’t say we could stop with practice!
We haven’t finished with today’s basic training menu, and I want to put it into practice…
Ahaha… Jun, you’re so serious. I was just joking!
It’s just like Jun says. Since we’re showing up for it, we’re gonna aim for victory!
If that’s how we’re doing things, let’s try to do it so that we add humor while we’re winning!
Shiki-kun. What you’re saying sounds simple, but it’s not going to be as easy to make it happen in reality.
…So… that means it’s time for Coach Haruna to… show us what he’s got…
Me? …Okay, leave it to me!
What the heck is this all about!? I can’t let this happen, no way, no how! It’s totally horrible!!
What’s up, Shiki? You look so agonized over carrying your judo uniform.
Hayatocchi, don’t you think that this judo uniform is, like, hyper plain!?
…Huh? What about it being plain is bothering you? It’s just a judo uniform. What else could it be?
Can’t it be more flashy and stand out more ‘cuz it’s an idol program!
Like with red or with stripes, or like leopard print… This has absolutely no sense of individuality~!!
Well… it doesn’t have much idol-ness to it, as an outfit. It doesn’t draw the eye, I’d say.
You get me, don’t you, Juncchi! This’ll make me totally un-me…
Speaking of which… the parka you’re wearing… I feel like I remember it… from somewhere…
You remember this, Natsukicchi! This is the same brand as the time we did the summer festival!
The design I like is separated into both summer and winter clothes.
Haah. That is… definitely a great dedication you have.
Not to brag or anything, but I’m hyper-tuned in to the dedication I have about fashion.
I like wearing my favorite clothes just as much as I like singing!!
But I really do think that using the same design for summer and winter is going overboard…?
Uhh. I don’t really understand how that feels, so I wouldn’t know…
Ah— by the way… Is it okay for me to keep my glasses on during matches?
No, no, that’s totally not okay… They’ll probably tell you that it’s dangerous and you’ll have to take them off.
But my glasses are my trademark! If I take them off, no one will know who I am!
They’ll probably announce you… using a caption or something…
People who know about us in the first place will be able to distinguish you whether or not you have glasses on.
Hey, Shiki. If your glasses are so important to you, should I draw glasses on your face?
You’re so mean, Harunacchi! I’m seriously mega-worrying about this!
If you’re gonna tease me for that… I’ll do this to you! Take this! Tickling attack!
…PFFT! HAHA! Okay— okay— I got it, so don’t tickle m—… Ahyahya!
Haah… This uniform’s plain, glasses are forbidden… nothing good’s coming from this…
With this, my identity’s totally ruined… Uuugh…
What’re you so worried about, Shiki~. It’s not like you, man.
I’m sure you wouldn’t understand… How down in the dumps I feel…
Well, yeah, since I don’t really understand. Is it really something to worry about?
If you don’t have your flashy clothes and glasses, it’s not like you’ll become a different person.
But both of them are my trademark! If I don’t have that, then…
You’re always full of energy and good at getting on the groove— that’s you, isn’t it? In fact, I think the way you are now is less like you.
Harunacchi…!
WHOAAA—, you’re right! I’m excited now! Mega-thanks to you!
The actual thing’s going to start soon… My heart’s thumping so hard. This might be a little too late for everyone else, but…
Guys, let’s work with all we got today! It’s a rare chance to show up on TV.
If we make it work here, then I’m sure it’ll be a big plug for the rest of our jobs from now on.
Let’s get fired up enough that we don’t end up too stiff, and let’s do our best!
……Yeah. It’ll be fine. We all practiced a lot…
All that’s left is to do the very best we can do……
And aim to win!
And outshine everyone by standing out!
Huh…? Are those two… gonna be okay…?
All right, then… I’m first up. I’ll hook the viewers’ eyes’n catch their attention!
Hey—, Shiki! Your glasses! You gotta take those off!
Sorry, I absolutely can’t take these off, no matter what! Now, let’s…
Huh? It’s an issue of safety, so I can’t?
No matter what I do!?
Oh, staff member, please, can’t I… JUST…
I REALLY CAN’T…?
Ugh! Once my match is over, I’ll put it right back on!
Nn… It’s almost my turn… It really does make me nervous, like I thought.
Jun… Be careful… make sure you don’t get hurt. At the very least… don’t push yourself too hard…
Thank you, Natsuki. But I want to do the best I can and push my limits.
Whether it’s for lives or photoshoots, they’re the same. I don’t want to leave any regrets behind, as a member of High×Joker.
That’s why… I want to strive for this with all my ability.
Jun, you got this—! I understood loud and clear how passionate you feel!
…Y-you heard me, Hayato!?
…Ugh… This is so embarrassing…!
Unfortunately, High×Joker ended up not winning…
Darn it—, I was trying to aim for total victory, though…
Our rivals were simply that strong. They must have practiced a great deal as well.
Even after we tried with all we could… we lost. We can’t cry… over spilt milk. We all worked hard.
But I was surprised that not only Shiki, but also Hayato, managed to pull off some big moves.
The director complimented us and said that our unit’s got good promises for the future!
That’s awesome. I also think I heard squealing voices from the audience seats when Natsuki was up.
Jun, you were so close to managing to hit your opponent well.
With this much standout performance, they might just use a lot of our moments when it airs!
Yeah, I’m excited for the day it broadcasts. Let’s record it and save the date to keep track of it!