Elysium Everlasting

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Season: Spring

Location: Café Cinnamon

In the second year since ES's establishment, during late April.

Inside the ES Building. At Cinnamon, a coffee shop that has turned into a hangout spot for Crazy:B.

Kohaku: Ahh, this tea tastes so good.

The leaves are real sweet... Spring's in full swing by now, huh ♪

HiMERU: —Oukawa, it's important that you listen to this seriously.

This is an extremely troublesome issue for us.

Kohaku: You say that, but HiMERU-han, it ain't really clickin' with me.

This, uh, "pii-pii-pii" business—what even is it?

HiMERU: ......... (Overwhelmed because Oukawa saying "pii-pii" is just too cute for him to handle.)

Kohaku: ...If you're not plannin' to take it seriously either, then I reckon I'll just head on home.

Even though the year's just kickin' off, I'm swamped with school and other stuff. And I've also gotta catch up on some study prep I'm behind on.

HiMERU: You're so serious. No, let's call it sincere.

In every situation you find yourself in, you always try to do your utmost.

Shiina lacks motivation, and Amagi is always messing around... That's why HiMERU wanted to consult about "this problem" with you, Oukawa, since you're in charge of the conscience in our Crazy:B.

Kohaku: Conscience? So what're you in charge of, then? Sex appeal?

No, wait—is it comic relief?

HiMERU: HiMERU has no recollection of ever providing comic relief or exuding sex appeal.

To reiterate once more, please listen to this seriously without interrupting through facetious remarks.

—Let's try again. How much do you know about PBB, Oukawa?

Kohaku: Like I said, that, uh, pii-pii...

HiMERU: ...♪

Kohaku: ...pii thing, I ain't got the faintest clue of what it even is? It's the same with ES and all. Just throwin' letters together like that don't tell me squat, y'know?

HiMERU: Hm. That's rather unexpected. HiMERU was under the impression that you were infatuated with the internet.

Kohaku: Yeah, I used to be. But like I said, I'm too busy with my personal life and work to have time to be online.

So what's the deal? This "troublesome issue" you keep mentionin', does it have to do with the internet? Did Rinne-han get canceled again?

HiMERU: That's an everyday occurrence, so it's hardly worth making a fuss out of at this point.

Well then, let's do this instead. Oukawa, please try searching on your phone for "PBB Crazy:B" or something along those lines.

Kohaku: Mm, okay... But since we mostly get dragged through the mud online thanks to Rinne-han, I don't like to do much vanity searchin'.

HiMERU: So that's why you didn't notice it. The existence of that abhorrent PBB.

Kohaku: Seriously, what're you on abou... Uh, huh...?

W-Wha? I tried doin' an image search, but it's tellin' me, "Access restricted for those under eighteen"?

HiMERU: Oukawa, how old are you this year?

Kohaku: What are ya, my uncle? You know I'm sixteen.

So if it's blocked for folks under eighteen, is this "P-B-B" thing somethin' lewd?

HiMERU: That's prevalent, yes. Though it doesn't appear to be mainstream, there's an unusual amount of enthusiasm gathered in that particular niche—

Kohaku: Huhh? What's the actual problem here? Just spit it out already! I don't care for detours!

HiMERU: You say that, yet you took a long detour with Double Face.

No, nevermind. That was a necessary journey for you to take, Oukawa.

Kohaku: Huh? Would ya cut it out with this roundabout way of sayin' stuff...?

HiMERU: Let's be direct, then. PBB is something that is currently trending on the internet—what would you call it? A phenomenon? A fad? Something like that.

By the way, PBB stands for "Pastel Bee Brothers."

Kohaku: What's that? Some new game?

HiMERU: HiMERU hasn't fully grasped it either, but... Pastel Bee Brothers, abbreviated as PBB, seems to be the name of a duo consisting of HiMERU and Oukawa.

Kohaku: Ah? When did I form a comedy duo with ya, HiMERU-han?

HiMERU: How to explain it... There happens to be some sort of culture around it. But within Crazy:B, HiMERU and Oukawa have been singled out, attracting odd attention, so to speak.

Strangely, it appears we're being fawned over.

Kohaku: Fawned over...?

HiMERU: There's an easy to understand "summary" making the rounds on the internet, so HiMERU will read it aloud.

[PBB refers to the ship name between Kohaku Oukawa and HiMERU, members of the new idol group "Crazy:B".]

Kohaku: Ship...?

HiMERU: [This name originates from the doujinshi "Pastel Bee Brothers," distributed by XX-shi, a prominent creator within the community of the ship in question.]

Kohaku: ...?

HiMERU: [The quality of this doujinshi was so divinely excellent that it sparked a trend in which the real-life individuals Kohaku Oukawa and HiMERU are viewed as a couple.]

[Clips of their past interactions have been edited and uploaded to video platforms, where they are experiencing explosive growth in viewership.]

[Enthusiasts say: "PBB is no longer just a trend; it has already become a full-fledged culture."]

HiMERU: —That's all.

Kohaku: Umm... So... What's that mean, exactly...?

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