Thread by @slug_hypmic

FP/M+ chapter 17 just released in Japanese! Summary thread below:
- A continuation of the MTR drama track with a very long name
- Mute #hypspoiler to avoid
- Please refrain from posting images to be courteous to JPN fans
- WARNING: PTSD flashback / panic attack

For those who'd like a refresher of where we last left Matenrou, check out chapter 16 here:

https://twitter.com/slug_hypmic/status/1541543368265584640

The chapter opens on Hifumi humming to himself as he puts in his earrings while preparing for work in the Fragrance dressing room. After stopping to chat with the club's owner Hoori [from DoD chapter 2] and a coworker, Hifumi gets to work charming various ladies.
#hypspoiler

The champagne is flowing, and Hifumi is doing a brisk trade when he goes to greet his new customer. He bows to her as he introduces himself and so doesn't realize who she is until he hears a very familiar, "Yoohoo~!" and a giggle. Hifumi's eyes snap open.
#hypspoiler

He looks up and sees Honobono wearing a cheery grin. She waves and says, "Long time no see, Hifumi! ♡" Hifumi jumps back in fright, and she chides him for looking so scared - it ruins his good looks, of course!
#hypspoiler

But that's the least of his concerns. As his heart begins to pound louder and louder, he remembers teenage Honobono standing in the rain under the umbrella and the image of her lips. Hifumi clutches his chest and doubles over, hyperventilating, while she chuckles.
#hypspoiler

Honobono sits down on the club couch and pats the spot next to her, inviting Hifumi to come take a seat.
One of Hifumi's coworkers comes up, concerned, and whispers in Hifumi's ear. He's as white as a sheet. Is he okay? Hifumi straightens up, takes a deep breath -
#hypspoiler

- and forces himself to smile. He tells his coworker he's just fine and, ever the professional, sits down to entertain the woman responsible for the most hellish experiences of his life. She complains that he's being too formal with her. They're old buddies!
#hypspoiler

Using the perfect formality and charm of the host persona as a shield, Hifumi informs her that he's afraid that would be unfair to the other charming young ladies in the club tonight. Honobono looks disappointed that she can no longer get a reaction out of him.
#hypspoiler

Therefore, she claps her hands to summon a waiter and demands to speak to a manager. Hifumi urges the waiter to do as she says, and Hoori appears in due time. She informs him that she wants to reserve the entire club for herself - oh, and like, right now.
#hypspoiler

Hoori is alarmed at this request so, after a fresh giggle, Honobono becomes deadly serious and informs him that this is an order from a Chuuouku officer. After threatening to strip him of his business license, Hoori dashes off. The staff quickly empties the club.
#hypspoiler

Lastly, she tells all the staff to scram... with one exception, of course. Hoori shoots Hifumi a concerned look, but Hifumi nods bravely, indicating that he'll be okay. Then the club is empty, with no one left in Honobono's warpath save for Hifumi himself.
#hypspoiler

Hifumi asks her what she wants, and, after giggling about how he said her name like he used to, she admits she just wanted to catch up with an old friend.
Oh, but she is no friend of Hifumi. Not after what she did.
Honobono pretends to think.
#hypspoiler

But it was just too long ago, and she can't remember at all! Oh wait! Never mind, she can. Wait, but what's Hifumi talking about? The thing with his mom? The thing with his older sister? Oh, she knows! She smirks at him in triumph. The thing at school, huh?
#hypspoiler

Hifumi can't take it any longer. He staggers, reaching for the table to support himself, as he hyperventilates. The image of a teenage girl's legs flashes through his mind, and Hifumi grabs his chest. He makes several noises of distress before his knees buckle.
#hypspoiler

Grabbing his head, Hifumi screams as hard as he can. A glass on the table shatters as, in his panic, Hifumi doubles over, hugging himself and trembling. Tears roll down his cheeks, and he begins to choke and cough as he hyperventilates.
#hypspoiler

Honobono laughs in utter delight. She thought he'd gotten stronger, but nope - he's just the same as he ever was. Hifumi tries to respond but stumbles over the first few words. He shifts pronouns from host mode, to bubbly mode, to finally his true self.
#hypspoiler

Unable to speak any longer, he hunkers down on the floor, making himself as small as he can, and screams in agony.

Then the door slams open, and in flies Doppo, fists clenched and desperation in his eyes, bellowing Hifumi's name.
#hypspoiler

Honobono gives him a dark look before turning on the charm for another "old friend". Doppo isn't having any of it and growls, "Keitouin!"
Honobono jokes about Doppo slacking off on the job if he has the time to hang out in a host club, much to Doppo's surprise.
#hypspoiler

He realizes she must have caused his temporary firing, but unfortunately for her, it didn't go according to plan. Honobono doesn't really care, though, since it was all just a big game to her! Doppo grits his teeth and tells her that's rotten to the core.
#hypspoiler

Just then, Hifumi cries out again, and Doppo's demeanor immediately changes. He shoves past Honobono and sprints up to Hifumi, immediately dropping to the ground to grab Hifumi by the shoulders. Doppo's eyes widen when he sees Hifumi's teary face.
#hypspoiler

Hifumi falteringly confesses that he can't do it after all. He's weak, just as he knew he was. He can barely even string a sentence together.
Doppo desperately insists that Hifumi isn't weak, but then Honobono pipes up. Isn't someone who breaks immediately weak?
#hypspoiler

Doppo rounds on her in fury. He remembers helping Hifumi crawl out from under a blanket, trembling. He remembers bringing Hifumi a glass of water and helping him up when Hifumi collapsed upon coming home. He remembers Hifumi's joy when he won the No. 1 host award.
#hypspoiler

Doppo: What the hell do you think you know about him? Do you know how much he's gone through hell and back since you did that to him? Do you know how many obstacles he's overcome to get past this? Now you tell me - what the FUCK do you think you know about him?!
#hypspoiler

His speakers explode into being as he screams, and he lays into her with a rap about how heartless she's been. And guess what? It's payback time, bitch, and Doppo isn't about to show her not one god damn scrap of mercy.
#hypspoiler

Yet for all Doppo's fury, Honobono doesn't even flinch. Her hair barely blows in the breeze from the attack. Doppo is dismayed, but now it's Honobono's turn. She pulls out her mic and makes fun of him for being hung up on the past -
#hypspoiler

- and a guy who's afraid of women. Doppo collapses alongside Hifumi. He tries to force himself to rise, but his legs give out, and he falls to the ground. Honobono giggles about how weak birds of a feather flock together. Hifumi's eyes widen.
#hypspoiler

Forcing himself to take deep breaths, Hifumi forces himself to his feet and pulls out his microphone. It's one thing if she hurts him. But he will never, EVER tolerate anyone hurting Doppo on his watch! His speakers materialize as he screams, and he begins to rap.
#hypspoiler

He raps about how he needs to work to overcome the trauma she did to him and, as he remembers Doppo smiling in pride when Hifumi won the no. 1 host award, says he's overwriting the past with his host act. This attack makes Honobono wobble, but she doesn't go down.
#hypspoiler

Instead, she retaliates with great delight. Her vine speakers [?] coil around Hifumi, trapping him in, before eventually cutting him. She raps about how it's not really trauma, it's just him being weak. But hey, they can still make it up, since she's so nice!
#hypspoiler

She leans in close, her face just centimeters away from his, and suggests that they "fix it with a kiss". As she blows him a kiss, the image of her lips fills his entire vision, and Hifumi limply collapses to the ground. Honobono lords over them with glee.
#hypspoiler

Sure, she could stop here, but unfortunately... well, she's just not nice enough for that!
But then there's a flash of light behind her, and she turns in shock. Like a savior angel, Jakurai comes bearing in.
#hypspoiler

He raps about how Doppo and Hifumi's friendship has helped each other grow stronger. They can stand up again and again whenever they're knocked down - with their steadfast hearts, they can triumph against anything.
Doppo and Hifumi are overjoyed.
#hypspoiler

They rise to their feet and then launch a double attack. With their friendship, they say, they can take on anything they couldn't do alone. Their bond is powerful, and they'll do anything to help each other. Honobono can NEVER come between them.
#hypspoiler

This attack actually makes Honobono stumble back and fall to her knees. Jakurai immediately asks if Doppo and Hifumi are all right and, exhilarated, they say they're okay. The issue is that Honobono's fine too. She's barely hurt!
#hypspoiler

Still, Jakurai tells her that the number of people here is not in her favor and urges her to surrender. Honobono says she won't, but she'll leave off here and continue this later. She gives Hifumi a flirty farewell and heads on her way - oh, but wait a second.
#hypspoiler

She turns to Jakurai. That Ramuda guy? Yeah, at the rate he's going, he's going to kick the bucket before the end of the DRB. But later, boys! Laughing hysterically, she slams the door behind her.
Alarmed, Jakurai calls out, asking her to wait and explain herself.
#hypspoiler

But then he remembers with a jolt the state his teammates are in, and he rushes over to see if they are, in fact, okay. They're both holding in there, leaning on one another for support. Jakurai touches their shoulders and tells them that while they may -
#hypspoiler

- not have run, they will in time if they put in the effort. More importantly, they stood up to her, and that makes all the difference. It's that which makes them strong, and Jakurai is a lucky man indeed to have such strong friends.
#hypspoiler

He encourages them to keep this up at the preliminaries, and Doppo and Hifumi vow to do just that.
Doppo begins to help Hifumi walk away, arms over each other's shoulders, as he asks if Hifumi's really all right. Jakurai watches them go.
#hypspoiler

He did what he could to help, but what will come of that now? Still, the sight of Doppo and Hifumi cheers him. He chuckles, steps forward, and then for the first time wraps his arms around both of his friends to join in their hug of mutual support.
#hypspoiler

As long as he these two by his side, he can overcome anything!

Meanwhile, Fling Posse faces one another and picks up their mics with grim determination.

With these three, FP and MTR promise, victory awaits!
#hypspoiler

The chapter ends here to be continued next month. Starting next month will be the adaptation of a "limited edition CD drama track". Not sure which one or if it's even a singular track, but stay tuned!