#so in an official evaluation I'm guessing they'd just be like ''you seem like you know

[knxfesck]

Considering the possibility that I have autism and not adhd considering that I score extremely high on every autism test I take, multiple people have told me I'm probably autistic, and the fact that all of the adhd medications I've tried worked so badly that I ended up selling/giving them to people instead of taking them because I thought admitting they were useless when I had an adhd diagnosis was like. the incorrect option. which in retrospect is the most autism response to that problem 💀

[toujokaname]

Card shuffle / Episode 10

Author: Akira

Characters: Rinne, Mayoi, Aira, Tatsumi, Hiiro

"—Now, let the showdown begin, ALKALOID!"

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[ Read on my site for a better viewing experience using Ois~su ♪ ]

Season: Winter

Location: MDM Stage

Ten minutes later. Matrix Round 1, just before the start of the "vocal ability" showdown.

Rinne: Welp, let's get on with it.

Mayoi: Y-You seem rather unenthusiastic, Rinne-onii-san.

Rinne: Hey, you've got no business calling me "Onii-san." Ah, though Ai-chan can do it, since you're gonna be my brother's wife ♪

Aira: Can't lose your temper... Can't lose your temper... This scumbag's one of us now, getting mad's just giving him what he wants—

Tatsumi: Fufu. Um, anyway... So, excluding Rinne-san, the three of us will participate in the first "vocal ability" match, is that correct?

Aira: In other words, it'll just be the official ALKALOID members...?

Rinne: Yeah. I'm the odd one out. No matter how much we rush to blend in now, the out of place feeling's gonna win out.

We haven't even practiced syncing our voices. Even if I try to fill in for what Otouto-kun usually does, it's just gonna be about matching the numbers.

I can't fully become the real Otouto-kun, so I'll always be inferior compared to the usual.

The place's also bad. We're on ES's turf, and the crowd gathered here are mostly our usual fans.

Tatsumi: Ahh, well, we did attempt some low-budget promotion to attract some audience.

Rinne: Yeah. It was a bit too late, but Akan-san worked hard for us.

Looks like there was some publicity on the internet and fans got rushed to gather at the event site.

And officially, Matrix is supposed to be a showdown between Crazy:B and ALKALOID.

Our rookie reputation ain't squat compared to the powerhouses...

So most of the crowd's just our fans.

It's meant to be "a grand event to celebrate the end of the fiscal year!" but it's not like fans of other units would really give a damn.

Aira: I guess... Especially since there's an entry fee.

Aside from our fans, the only people who'd still come to see the show would have to be either really curious or hardcore idol otaku.

Tatsumi: I see. For our fans, who constitute the majority of the audience, replacing Hiiro-san with Rinne-san as the leader would make ALKALOID seem rather phony.

Rinne: Right, right. They'd just be confused on how it got to that point.

On top of that, the differences between "your familiar songs" and the ones we'd be singing now will stand out, it's like shining a spotlight on the awkwardness.

They just won't enjoy the singing. People will find it hard to even evaluate us.

Tatsumi: The competition follows a DreamFes format, meaning the audience selects the winner through voting.

Eliminating elements that could dampen or confuse the emotions of the audience, who are at the core of the competition, seems reasonable—I can agree with that.

Rinne: That's the way it is! Man, you ALKALOID really came through on being so goody-goody.

If it were the Crazy:B guys, they'd be sticking their noses in everywhere, sometimes not even listening, making 'em not worth talking to.

Mayoi: Ahaha... Being serious is our strong suit, after all.

Aira: Let me clarify as an otaku.

It's dull to just be serious all the time, so Crazy:B really appeals to those who enjoy the chaos, you know?

It's not about which is better or worse, just different preferences.

Rinne: Yep, yep. Yet here they are, pitting these polar opposite units on equal footing, under the same rules, just to see who's better.

I'd rather not keep repeating the same point. It ain't sinking in, huh? What Matrix really boils down to.

Rinne: ...Akan-san's always been like that.

Aira: ...?

(I guess Rinne-senpai and that AkanP have history after all?)

(Maybe AkanP was the producer responsible for Rinne-senpai when he was a rookie...)

(He was pretty obscure at that time, and it's been so long that I don't remember much about it.)

(Maybe I'll dig up some old magazine issues later. I'm pretty sure there's some with Rinne-senpai's name lying around at home.)

(I-I mean, I don't even really care. So what if they knew each other before? It's not like it means anything.)

(But... I can't help but feel curious.)

Rinne: Hm? What's up, Ai-chan, staring at me like that... Gyahaha, you cheating with your brother-in-law while Otouto-kun's not around? You're pretty naughty for someone with such a cute face ♪

Aira: Can you please stop talking? People are already here, so I don't wanna hit you.

Aira: (Ughhh, I just got it wrong. Rinne-senpai is Rinne-senpai, and that fragile expression I thought I saw—must've been my imagination.)

(Rinne-senpai will always be an unpredictable, inconsiderate jerk who keeps you guessing.)

(I even felt a bit sorry for him back in summer, but there's no need to be kind to such an infuriating guy!)

Hiiro: —Now, let the showdown begin, ALKALOID!

Hehe. It's like the saying goes, "yesterday's enemy is today's friend," but in reverse. Once again, I feel the mysteries of fate that you and I will be facing off as enemies—

Aira: Hm? Eh, Hiro-kun?

Tatsumi: Wait... Is Hiiro-san the sole representative from Crazy:B's side?

Hiiro: Umu! That's exactly right! So, does that mean you guys have three representative players, excluding Nii-san?

Aira: Yeah... Mixing in Rinne-senpai would confuse the fans, so we decided to compete with just the three real ALKALOID members.

Tatsumi: Conversely, it's a strange strategy to have only the odd one out competing. Hm, what could be the reasoning behind this?

Numerically speaking, it's three against one, placing you at a considerable disadvantage.

While Hiiro-san appears to have practiced diligently, he's not yet accustomed to Crazy:B's music.

Aira: Does it mean they're throwing the first match and betting on the next?

Hiiro: You'll find out soon enough. But more importantly, we don't want to keep our audience waiting forever, so shall we get started?

—Let's have an enjoyable match ♪

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