yumemigaoka | ☃️ HOLIDAY HIJINKS ☃️

[it probably makes sense that people stuck in a lineup would order Doordash. Which means it was only a matter of time before Nikki got sent out to handle the oddly regular request of "deliver to Tsubaki Department Store line up". Really, it's the only reason Nikki is here, rather than literally anywhere else, dropping off an order of assorted onigiri, drinks and other snacks for some poor soul who's been here since god knows when]

...

[he wasn't expecting to see a familiar face while searching for the person he was delivering to though. Nikki squints at Ango through his own sunglasses before walking past him towards the front of the line. Once he's dropped off the food though, Nikki jogs back to where he spotted his fellow delinquent]

You do know that they do digital releases for these singles too?

Brats like you can't appreciate the charms of physical media. Back in my day, a real otaku would buy three copies of every CD: one to listen to, one to keep sealed in its packaging forever, and a spare to loan to friends!

[Japanese idol fans singlehandedly keeping the CD industry alive and thriving long after the Napster era...]

There's no romance in a digital release.

Rude. I can appreciate the analog media AND read an analog clock, thank you very much.

[he crosses his arms and looks at the line up...]

Well, I get wanting to get a physical copy. Gotta give Ai something to sign, right? [he holds up one hand then mimes writing on it like it's a signboard] But do you even have the budget for that sort of thing?

[Even a basic release CD costs ￥3000, and Ango has pre-ordered all of the limited edition versions too... the sum total is very close to what he pays for his shoebox apartment each month. Oops.]

How should I know? I've never balanced a budget in my life. I went to school for philosophy, not accounting, so that alone should tell you that I make bad financial decisions.

[He claps his hands together as if in prayer, grinning.]

But they say that money is the root of all evil, right? So by spending it all, I'm freeing myself from worldly attachments! I'm practically a monk!

Pfft...- You know the 'artists are bad at life management' stereotype doesn't need such an ardent defender, right?

[he laughs, because first, Nikki doesn't even go to school and second--]

Hahahaha~ Something tells me that's not what they meant but sure. I guess that's one way of looking at it. Or maybe we could spin it as you being an example of how not to spend your money? Never hurts to have multiple examples!

[Ironically, Ango is probably the most successful at life management out of all of his old artist buddies... if only because he's the only one who's still alive.]

If you spin it that way, I almost sound like a role model!

[Back when Ango was a moderately famous writer, he was actually invited back to his old high school in Niigata to deliver the commencement speech... but he never bothered to show up, because he couldn't think of anything to say. Hell, he'd barely managed to graduate (he was threatened with expulsion on several occasions). Somebody like him has no business giving advice to teenagers.]

Hey, kids - don't do what I do, and you'll probably turn out okay in life!

[he crosses his arms, nodding thoughtfully]

Always good to have a variety of examples. Maybe we need to tone down the gallows humour for the younger kids, but I could see this working.

... How long have you been standing here anyway?

☃️ HOLIDAY HIJINKS ☃️

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