Chapter 1393. School Festival Day 2 / P’s Tragedy
Margo-san goes to the corner of the schoolyard where the TV crew parked their cars in.
There was a van with equipment, a relay truck, and a microbus.
Then.
Around one van is a group of men wearing an identical shirt with a “STAFF” printing in yellow letters on the back with puzzled expressions.
If you look at the side of the van, you can see “Burnham Woods, Sports Video”
「 Hey, is Mori-san here? 」
Margo-san asks the staff guy.
「 Oh, Mori-san? He’s in the car 」
「 Thanks 」
I looked and saw a 50+-year-old man napping in the passenger seat with a script paper over his head.
Knock, knock.
Margo-san knocks on the car window, and the man wakes up and removes the paper on his face.
Seeing that it was Margo-san, he opened up the window in a hurry.
「 What’s going on? 」
The man asks Margo-san.
「 Well, it’s nothing special. It’s just the P from the station said that we’re not allowed to touch the site today 」
P from the station?
「 And, he brought a bunch of guys from his production company, right? 」
「 That’s not all, that bastard’s trying to direct everything to his liking 」
「 Hmm, who’s the P today? 」
Margo-san asks, the old man…
「 Sugimura, the one in charge of the entertainment department recently, he seems to be in charge of some variety shows, but he got a huge kick in his pants and got transferred to the sports department 」
「 Oh, he doesn’t get it then 」
Margo-san smiled wryly.
「 Yeah, he seriously doesn’t get it, the staff he brought in are from the variety shows. Even the camera placement is messed up 」
「 Okay, I’ll clean up in five, I’ll let Mori-san take care of the site today. See you 」
「 Hey, are you serious? That idiot Sugimura doesn’t even know Takasaki-san’s name 」
I’ve met that Takasaki this old man’s mentioning.
He’s a Yakuza big-shot backing the martial arts entertainment in Japan.
「 I don’t think his peers in the company taught him, he’s just sent from the entertainment to the sports department because he’s so bossy, and the other guys in the sports department framed him and told him to get to the field 」
「 Well, I guess that’s the case 」
「 If it’s that kind of P, I don’t think we’ll be seeing him again in the future, I’m going to take it out on him so he doesn’t make a sound anymore 」
「 You sure you want me to manage? 」
The old man stares at Margo-san, trying to emphasize.
「 It’s not about that, Takasaki-san recommended Mori-san, and the broadcast for the martial arts tournament last time went well. It satisfied me. Today was a sudden one so I feel sorry to have asked you to come 」
「 Don’t mind it, I got double the fee for this 」
「 I guarantee you that, yes 」
Margo-san smiled.
「 I also had fun with the tournament last time. Today’s project seems silly, but I’m sure that the contestants today will make some fun scenes 」
「 Yes, you can expect that 」
「 We don’t need any unnecessary entertainers. Seriously 」
Unnecessary entertainers?
「 So, where’s that Sugimura P? 」
「 That microbus over there, and they’re having a meeting with the talent they’re sending in as an emcee 」
Oh, I get that too.
This Sugimura doesn’t even know anything about martial arts broadcast, and yet…
Edie’s school swimsuit judo tournament is on air, and yet, they take the liberty of bringing a variety show staff, talents, and hosts.
「 Okay, I’ll go to them, give me five minutes 」
「 Sure, I believe you. Fellas, we’ll be back in business in five minutes, so get ready! 」
「 Roger that! Boss! 」
The staff hanging around the Burnham Woods Sports Video stood up.
「 Yoshinobu-kun 」
Margo-san talks to me while we head to the microbus where the Sugimura guy is.
「 We don’t have much time so can I borrow Tsukiko-san’s power here? 」
I…
「 Sure, Tsukiko 」
「 Certainly 」
Even in the family, they’ll ask me for permission to use Tsukiko’s Miko power.
What Margo-san does is always logical.
She’s an elder sister we can trust.
「 Where’s P Sugimura? 」
Margo-san shouts in front of the microbus.
「 What? 」
A staff member comes off the bus and comes near.
「 I’m Margo Starkweather Kuromori, the customer for this broadcast. I don’t know what’s going on but someone named Sugimura’s doing something different from what I asked for, so I came to stop him 」
「 W-Wait a second, Sugimura-san!! 」
Immediately after, an old man, who definitely seems Sugimura, comes down together with other young staff.
He looks like a man in his 40s but his skin is tanned and shiny, his hair is subtle and long, and he’s wearing black sunglasses, a sporty brand name shirt, and a cardigan on his back.
「 Huh? What does this foreigner want? Damn Idiot 」
When Sugimura found that Margo-san’s a young woman, he suddenly gives a condescending look.
He stands at the entrance of the bus and won’t come down.
「 Who are you? Some foreign model from Yanagawa Muroko? I didn’t order for foreign models, dumb idiot 」
「 No, you’re not the one who placed the order, I’m the one who ordered for the broadcast today 」
「 Oh! P! This lady’s definitely the one who ordered! Be careful with what you say 」
Mori-san from the Burnham Woods Sports Video from earlier shouts at him.
「 What the hell dumb idiot? She’s the one who ordered? What, you’re not going to tell me that you’re a sponsor or something? 」
「 I’m the one who asked all the sponsors for today’s broadcast so you can ask them if you want 」
Margo-san shows a daring smile.
「 But you’re not the sponsor, dumb idiot 」
Sugimura’s not willing to listen at all.
「 Anyway, we have a problem here. We’re supposed to use Mori-san’s production company, and I’m pretty sure that we didn’t agree on having some obscure entertainment celebrity host the event「 」
「 You’re the one who don’t get it! I’m the P of this station! In the TV world, I’m higher than the prime minister, In other words, I’m the president, dumb idiot! 」
I don’t get it.
「 Anyway, I’m the P so I decide what to use in the show. That’s how it works in the TV world! Do you get it, idiot? 」
Sugimura rants.
He’s already an old man, so why is he this shameless?
「 That may be your logic in your world, but we don’t want to have our broadcast ruined for that reason 」
Margo-san said.
「 Tsukiko-san, please 」
Tsukiko comes forward.
「 What, dumb idiot? 」
As soon as Sugimura looked at Tsukiko.
「 Please follow what Margo-oneesan tells you 」
Tsukiko takes control of Sugimura with a beautiful smile.
「 O-Okay, dumb idiot, I get it, dumb idiot, 」
This old man’s got a habit of saying “dumb, idiot.”
「 Please tell everyone to do everything Margo-oneesama instructed you, and leave early 」
「 I’m leaving early? Why? Dumb idiot 」
「 It’s because we don’t want people like you here, go somewhere else 」
Her Miko power invokes.
「 I get it, dumb idiot. Hey, do you what this girl tells you. Got it? Dumb idiots? And I’m going off now 」
「 Sugimura-san? Going? Where? 」
Sugimura’s staff asks in a panic.
「 Dumb idiot! If I say I’m going somewhere far, I’m going to the outskirts of Kanto! Then, I’m going to see the Great Buddha at Ushiku!. Farewell! Adios! 」
Saying that Sugimura jumped off the microbus, ran across the schoolyard, and disappeared outside the school gate.
「 No, wait! We can’t make our broadcast without a P! 」
Sugimura’s staff shouts, but…
「 No, you should be able to continue the broadcast even without a P 」
Margo-san laughs.
Then.
「 Mori-san, please take care of the rest 」
「 Yes, I’ll take care of it, go 」
「 Got it! 」
The staff of Burnham Woods Sports Video resumed their work.
「 Well then, are you the guys the production company of Sugumira P brought with him? 」
Margo-san asks the staff in the microbus.
「 Ah, yes, we’re from the Paradise Galaxy Films 」
「 I’m sorry to ask you but since Sugimura hired you without our permission, you need to leave. You can charge Sugimura-san for the cancellation fee. We’re unrelated to this 」
「 No, but 」
The staff guy looks troubled.
「 You have to tell the president directly, we can’t do that 」
Oh, the people responsible for this company aren’t here.
「 You have to go through Sugimura-san about that 」
「 But, Sugimura-san just went off 」
「 Then run and catch up to him, hopefully, you get to see him before he goes to the Great Buddha at Ushiku 」
Margo-san said nonchalantly.
「 You’re not needed for the broadcast today. Have you ever done a martial arts broadcast before? Have you? 」
「 We have experience with comedians going toe-to-toe with women’s wrestling athletes and the like. That’s why Sugiimura P called us over 」
Yikes.
If we let that Sugimura guy take over, Edie’s tournament would be turned into a comedy show.
「 Just a second, Sugimura-san also called over some talents or so I heard, could they be? 」
Margo-san asks, and the staff;
「 Yes, the two comedians Panchos 1 and 2, and Dorinja are here. Err, it’s about high-school girls wrestling today, right? 」
Y-Yep, they’re no good.
「 Can you call them over? I want to talk to them, they’re on the bus now, right]? 」
「 Yes, Pancho-san, Derinja! Sorry, someone’s calling 」
The man shouted inside the bus.
Then.
「 What’s this about? 」
「 Err, where did Sugimura-san go? 」
「 Hey, we’re in a meeting right now 」
「 What’s going on? 」
Oh.
These four not-so-young comedians.
They show up in wrestling clothes, naked tops, and tights on the bottom.
Furthermore, they’re either overweight or underweight.
「 What’s this meeting about? 」
Margo-san asks.
「 Let’s see, we’re going to enter the ring after three minutes into the broadcast. 」
「 What’s that again? There’s a Karate girl, so Panchos 2 and I will hug her from behind. 」
「 Then, she’ll kick us off saying “No~ Stupid!” and then laugh it off. 」
「 Then, I will just use the gag saying “what will you do? Like this? Like that? I’m getting slimy!” to brush it off 」
These guys are the worst.
「 Unfortunately, you guys won’t show up today. Goodbye, you can go home now 」
Margo-san said.
「 No, why would we?! 」
「 We came all the way here 」
「 I mean, where the hell is Sugimura-san! 」
「 Where?! Where, Where are they?! 」
Err.
「 Tsukiko 」
This is just bothersome, so I called Tsukiko this time.
「 Yes, everyone, please 」
The comedians simultaneously focused their attention on Tsukiko’s clear voice.
「 Please go home without saying anything 」
「!! 」
「!! 」
「 Mu! 」
「 Derin…guh!! 」
The four comedians shut their mouths.
「 You can go this way 」
Tsukiko points at the school gate and they walked off wearing their pro wrestling clothes.
「 W-Wait! Where are you going?! 」
Sugimura’s staff shouted at the four comedians but they disappeared beyond the school gate.
「 Okay, you should leave too. Oh, don’t try to obstruct Mori-san’s work. Thanks 」
「 Please do as Margo-oneesama says. 」
Tsukiko said. The staff;
「 Okay, we’re leaving. Don’t obstruct Mori-san! Clean up! Let’s go! 」
They started retreating.
「 Haa, so that’s how it goes 」
Erica says after seeing the situation.
「 I’ve seen those from the special broadcast for anime before, but… 」
Anime? Special show?
「 It was a normal anime, but it had a shocking scene, and it just so happened that the incident similar to the scene happened in real life, so the broadcast of the episode got canceled and it switched to a special broadcast for that week instead 」1
Erica said.
「 Then, the special show had the comedian introduce the story of the anime up to that point, but it was horrible. You can assume that the comedian hasn’t watched the anime at all. Instead, they started poking fun at the anime, poking fun at the people who liked anime, and the comedian started doing their own gags and stories that had nothing to do with the anime, and it became a total mess 」
So that happened.
「 That show happened because of those irresponsible people, right? 」
「 Something like that 」
Margo-san said.
「 Replacement broadcasts on sudden situations are handled by people who can’t do their jobs and just fail at the company. They think that they’re getting random comedians from an entertainment agency to fill the airtime, making it a stupid program 」
They were about to mess up Edie’s school swimsuit judo tournament.
Then.
「 Uhm, excuse me. Staff-san, producer-san? 」
Someone’s coming out of the bus.
「 Uhm, what do I do? 」
It’s a high-school girl.
◇ ◇ ◇
「 I’m Saito Yuki from the Death Star Promotions M&M Section F 」
The girl introduced herself to Margo-san.
「 I’m her Manager, Fujimori Linda 」
A woman in a suit appears after the girl and hands her business card to Margo-san.
Huh? Death Star Productions?
That’s the one where Minaho-neesan took the female talent department from.
I’m supposed to see what kind of company they are tomorrow afternoon.
「 M&M Section F, what does that mean? 」
Margo-san asks.
「 M&M stands for Models and Musicians 」
「 It’s an affiliate of Death Star Productions in charge of the female talents. Section F stands for Female, meaning, it’s a female department 」
Saito-san and the manager replied.
Meaning, the company I’m seeing tomorrow.
「 Oh, I see. So, what did Sugimura tell you today? 」
Margo-san said.
「 Producer Sugimura asked her to be the host of the program 」
The manager replied.
「 No, uhm, at first, I’m introducing myself in the ring “I’m the moderator, Saito Yuki,” then, Panchos 1 and 2 and Dorinja come to the ring, and then Panchos 1 will be the moderator and I’ll be the assistant 」
Oh, that setup.
「 Anything else? 」
「 He also agreed to let Yuki sing one song during airtime 」
The manager said.
「 No, he only said that I might be able to sing if there’s extra time, but it might not be likely 」
「 Hey, Yuki, didn’t we have him agree that you’re going to sing at least one chorus before the commercials? 」
Oh, the manager seems to be telling Margo-san some over-the-top minutes of her meeting with Sugimura
Meanwhile, Saito-san’s answering honestly.
「 Is that all? 」
Margo-san probes further.
「 Uhm, Sugimura-san told me to do pro wrestling in a swimsuit too 」
Eeeeh?