［Build-up］ カチリ、カチリ、値札の音 ピカリ、ピカリ、光る商人欲求 ［Chorus 1］ 揺れる 見映え 上辺のステップ 数字でなぞる 僕らのスペック 美味しいよりも 「高い」を食べて 正解（こたえ）をねだる 掌（てのひら）の上 （査定して 査定して） 無味な 記号の パレード ［ 噺 1 ］ 「えー、お立ち会い。 ある日、ふところに飛び込んできたのは『しかくいあきんど』で。 こいつが妙にまめな奴。俺がうごくたびに、そろばんをはじきやがる。 顔を洗えば『3円』。生欠伸（なまあくび）には『0円』だとよ。 冗談じゃねえ、俺の欠伸（あくび）は、俺の勝手（かって）だろうが。 なのに、気づけば奴の顔色（かおいろ）伺って、 『高い飯』食って、高い『幸（さち）』を演じてらあ。 ああ、浅ましい。悲しい。騙し（だまし）の、魂（たましい）。」 ［Pre-Chorus 1］ 淡い 期待 未来 狭い 世界 支配 淡い 期待 未来 狭い 世界 支配 ［Chorus 2］ 揺れる 見映え 上辺のステップ 数字でなぞる 僕らのスペック 美味しいよりも 「高い」を食べて 正解（こたえ）をねだる 掌（てのひら）の上 （査定して 査定して） 無味な 記号の パレード ［ 噺 2 ］ 「一番堪（こた）えるのは、夜（よる）の帳（とばり）でさあ。 泥（どろ）のように眠ろうとすりゃあ、あきんどが枕元で囁（ささや）く。 『お前さん、寝てるあいだは一銭（いっせん）にもなりゃしませんぜ。 その睡眠は、人生の赤字（あかじ）だ。不法投棄（ふほうとうき）だ』。 へっ！、眠ることさえ『悪』にされちゃあ、お釈迦（しゃか）さまでも 目が冴（さ）えちまう。効率（こうりつ）という名の、絞首刑（こうしゅけい）だ！！」 ［Pre-Chorus 2］ 苦痛 普通 流通 虚空 呼吸 没入 苦痛 普通 流通 虚空 呼吸 没入 ［Chorus 3］ 揺れる 見映え 上辺のステップ 数字でなぞる 僕らのスペック 美味しいよりも 「高い」を食べて 正解（こたえ）をねだる 掌（てのひら）の上 （査定して 査定して） 無味な 記号の パレード ［Bridge］ 無駄な時間が、僕を僕にしていたのに。 光る画面が、僕を値札に変えていく。 ああ、なまけものの叫びは、 データの海に、溶けて、消える。 ［Final Chorus］ 揺れる 見映え 上辺のステップ 数字でなぞる 僕らのスペック 愛を削って 「成果」に替えて 空っぽの夜 踊り続ける （値踏みして 値踏みして） 僕に いくらの タグを貼る？ ［落とし］ 「……もう、我慢ならねえっ!! 値打ちだ！？ 成果だ！？ 市場価値（しじょうかち）だ！？ うるせえんだよ、この守銭奴（しゅせんど）が！！」 ・・・・・・・・。 「ざまあみろ！！ これで、誰にも邪魔させねえ！！……俺の……俺の時間だ……！！」 『……。 今の行い、生産性なし。 ……「価値なし」です。。。』 ーーーーーーーーーーーーーー [Build-up] Kachiri, kachiri — the sound of price tags clicking. Pikari, pikari — glowing merchant desires. [Chorus 1] Swaying appearances, superficial steps, Our worth traced out in numbers and specs. Rather than taste, we consume “expensive,” Begging for answers in the palm of our hands. (Appraise me, appraise me) A parade of tasteless symbols. [Storytelling 1 / Rakugo] “Ladies and gentlemen, gather ‘round. One day, a strange little ‘square merchant’ came tumbling into my life. Fellow kept meticulous accounts of everything I did. Wash my face? ‘Three yen.’ Let out a sleepy yawn? ‘Zero yen,’ he says. The hell kind of joke is that? My yawn belongs to me, doesn’t it? Yet before I knew it, I was watching his expression, Eating ‘high-class meals,’ pretending to live a ‘high-class happiness.’ Ah… pathetic. Miserable. A soul built on deception.” [Pre-Chorus 1] Faint expectations, future, Narrow world, domination. Faint expectations, future, Narrow world, domination. [Chorus 2] Swaying appearances, superficial steps, Our worth traced out in numbers and specs. Rather than taste, we consume “expensive,” Begging for answers in the palm of our hands. (Appraise me, appraise me) A parade of tasteless symbols. [Storytelling 2 / Rakugo] “The hardest part comes at night. When I try to sleep like mud sinking to the bottom, That merchant whispers beside my pillow: ‘Sir, while you’re asleep, you don’t earn a single coin. That sleep of yours is a deficit to society. Illegal dumping of your lifespan.’ Heh…! When even sleep gets branded as ‘evil,’ Even Buddha himself would lose sleep over it. Efficiency… It’s a public execution by hanging!!” [Pre-Chorus 2] Pain, ordinary, circulation, Void, breathing, immersion. Pain, ordinary, circulation, Void, breathing, immersion. [Chorus 3] Swaying appearances, superficial steps, Our worth traced out in numbers and specs. Rather than taste, we consume “expensive,” Begging for answers in the palm of our hands. (Appraise me, appraise me) A parade of tasteless symbols. [Bridge] Wasted time was what made me “me.” But glowing screens turn me into a price tag. Ah… The cry of a lazy man Melts away into the sea of data. [Final Chorus] Swaying appearances, superficial steps, Our worth traced out in numbers and specs. Shaving away love, replacing it with “results,” Dancing through another empty night. (Judging me, judging me) How much of a tag will you stick onto me? [Punchline / Rakugo Ending] “...I’ve had enough already!! Value!? Results!? Market worth!? Shut the hell up, you money-grubbing parasite!!” ............ “Serves you right!! Now nobody can interfere anymore!! My… my time… is finally mine…!!” ‘…… Your recent actions: non-productive. …… “Value: none.”’ ーーーーーーーーーーーーー Rakugo / Cultural Notes • “Rakugo” is a traditional Japanese storytelling performance art where a lone performer sits on stage and tells humorous or dramatic stories using only voice, facial expressions, and minimal gestures. • The sections labeled 「噺」 (“Hanashi”) imitate the rhythm and language of classical rakugo narration: - conversational - theatrical - old-fashioned Edo-style speech - comedic yet tragic • The “square merchant” is a symbolic character representing: - capitalism - social media metrics - smartphones - productivity obsession - market-based self-worth • The word “square” also intentionally evokes the image of a smartphone screen — a glowing rectangle constantly displaying: - notifications - numbers - rankings - approval from others • The protagonist is not simply controlled by the merchant. Rather, he gradually becomes addicted to checking the screen himself, allowing numbers and external validation to define his emotions and identity. • Because of this, the “square merchant” is not just a villain. It symbolizes both modern society itself and the human tendency to willingly submit to systems of constant evaluation. • The repeated references to: - “price tags” - “specs” - “market value” - “appraisal” mean the protagonist feels human life is being reduced into measurable economic data. • The line: “Wasted time was what made me me” is the emotional core of the song. It argues that: rest, idleness, boredom, and unproductive moments are essential parts of being human. • The ending follows a rakugo-style “ochi” (落ち / punchline). At first, the protagonist believes he has defeated the merchant and reclaimed his freedom. But the final voice coldly declares: “Value: none.” This implies the system still survives inside his mind. • Tonally, the piece combines: - cyberpunk satire - social criticism - absurd comedy - psychological horror - Edo-period rakugo storytelling • The contrast between old-fashioned rakugo language and modern capitalist terminology creates the song’s unique identity.
