Work Text:
Electronic sirens ring out and a beat picks up, the girls joining me on stage. This is where my outfit fits in, the sleek black top and pants giving off the look of a work suit but provided the needed movement and comfort of a regular set of clothes. A pair of sunglasses are placed in my waiting palm and I raise the microphone to my lips, ready to start the group song with.
[Ochako + Jirou]
“Superstar, where you from? How's it going?
I know you got a clue what you're doing
You can play brand new to all the other chicks out here
But I know what you are, what you are, baby
Look at you, getting more than just a re-up
Baby, you got all the puppets with their strings up
Faking like a good one, but I call 'em like I see 'em
I know what you are, what you are, baby”
I step back from the edge of the stage and allow Mina to take my place, passing off my microphone in the process. Jirou follows me to the side of Momo, taking her hand. I drop low into a crouching position and put on my sunglasses, the screams of our fans only encouraging us more.
[Mina]
“Womanizer, woman-womanizer, you're a womanizer
Oh, womanizer, oh, you're a womanizer, baby
You-you-you are, you-you-you are
Womanizer, womanizer, womanizer (Womanizer)”
This song was originally Momo’s idea, but when you have a talented musician like Jirou around, nearly anything can be put into reality. It’s aimed towards the numerous men sending inappropriate messages and fanmail to us during the course of our careers, hoping to drive them off. One main target that was around way before we started singing at all was the worst of them, one Mineta Minoru.
[Momo]
“Boy, don't try to front, I-I know just, just what you are
Boy, don't try to front, I-I know just, just what you are
You got me going, you're oh-so-charming
But I can't do it, you womanizer
Boy, don't try to front, I-I know just, just what you are
Boy, don't try to front, I-I know just, just what you are
You say I'm crazy, I got you crazy
You're nothing but a womanizer”
Momo sings beautifully, nailing each note in her part before handing her microphone to me and nodding. It’s my turn again, time to put the nasty purple grape in his place.
No matter how many times we tell him off or complain to someone about his actions, nothing major ever changes. Not until this song dropped at least, nearly all the men that were sending things in before took to the internet to bash us, but they also stopped sending us things. Social media was able to contain them, censoring their content and banning them, but nothing was sweeter than the girls telling stories of using our song to fend off men as well.
[Ochako]
“Daddy-O, you got the swagger of a champion
Too bad for you, you just can't find the right companion
I guess when you have one too many, makes it hard, it could be easy
Who you are, that's just who you are, baby
Lollipop, must mistake me for a sucker
To think that I would be a victim, not another
Say it, play it how you wanna, but no way, I'm never gonna fall for you
Never you, baby’
I breeze through the lyrics, marching up to the edge of the stage and linking hands with a number of girls shouting along, their praise and excitement fueling me and adding to the power already in my words. One girl has tears streaming down her face when I connect our fingertips, sending her a smile and handing over my sunglasses. She cries out and I stand back up, joining Momo and Jirou once more.
[Mina]
“Womanizer, woman-womanizer, you're a womanizer
Oh, womanizer, oh, you're a womanizer, baby
You-you-you are, you-you-you are
Womanizer, womanizer, womanizer (Womanizer)”
Mina was one of the main targets, second only to Momo for obvious reasons. She thankfully never let it get to her, staying optimistic and cheerful after each message threatening her safety. As for myself, it was more difficult. Sure they looked at me and sent me things, but having to explain everything to your male friends and even girlfriend really puts things in perspective. No matter how upset they may have been, this was something only we could handle, they had little power over the situations we were in.
[Momo]
“Boy, don't try to front, I-I know just, just what you are
Boy, don't try to front, I-I know just, just what you are
You got me going, you're oh-so-charming
But I can't do it, you womanizer
Boy, don't try to front, I-I know just, just what you are
Boy, don't try to front, I-I know just, just what you are
You say I'm crazy, I got you crazy
You're nothing but a womanizer”
Momo hardly felt confident in herself at the beginning of her musical career, but hearing all the horrific things she had been sent and the people shouting at her while walking down the street did little to help her self-esteem. She’s been especially brave and enduring through it all, continuously holding her head up high and not letting the comments damage her.
Jirou’s part is next, her voice gearing up for the notes.
[Jirou]
“Maybe if we both lived in a different world
Womanizer, womanizer, womanizer, womanizer
It would be all good, and maybe I could be your girl
But I can't 'cause we don't, you…”
Jirou truly is one of the greatest musicians I’ve ever come to know, her range and vocal chords much stronger than those around her. She doesn’t try to outshine anyone, rather building their own talent up in the process and add the perfect pitch to the mix. Her voice brings people to their knees, drawing their emotions out and playing right into her hands.
[Mina]
“Womanizer, woman-womanizer, you're a womanizer
Oh, womanizer, oh, you're a womanizer, baby
You-you-you are, you-you-you are
Womanizer, womanizer, womanizer (Womanizer)”
The crowd is shouting out, fans everywhere showing their love and support for our song, proving the point we made it in the first place. Letters decorate a board in the common room of the recording studio, more than half of them telling stories about how this song has affected them for the better. All things combined, emotions swell in my heart, euphoria pooling in my head and creating oceans for my mind to swim in.
[Momo]
“Boy, don't try to front, I-I know just, just what you are
Boy, don't try to front, I-I know just, just what you are
You got me going, you're oh-so-charming
But I can't do it, you womanizer
Boy, don't try to front, I-I know just, just what you are
Boy, don't try to front, I-I know just, just what you are
You say I'm crazy, I got you crazy
You're nothing but a womanizer”
The beat thumps our around us and a microphone is placed in my hand, ready for the final verse of the song. Jirou meets my eye and turns to stand back to back with me, ready to concur yet another perfect performance.
[Jirou + Ochako]
“Boy, don't try to front, I-I know just, just what you are
Boy, don't try to front, I-I know just, just what you are
Womanizer, woman-womanizer, you're a womanizer
Oh, womanizer, oh, you're a womanizer, baby”
These girls have been through so much with me, the heavy breathing giving a glimpse into the effort of our work. Without them, I might’ve given up and stopped making music to get rid of the unwanted attention. They lifted me up and made everything work out for the best. And in the end, the purple grape was sent packing - one of the many perks of releasing this song.