Chapter Three: The Former Idol’s Academic Struggles
“Ugh… I’m so nervous.”
In a corner of the hallway, Nagi rubbed her stomach, muttering with an anxious expression.
“Calm down. Fretting now won’t change the results. Besides, this isn’t make-or-break.”
“I know, but still…”
Nagi barely registered my attempt to reassure her, her eyes darting toward the display area in the hallway.
It’s understandable.
Today was the announcement day for the school newspaper club’s internal poll.
It had been a week since we successfully rallied the old school building clubs. Today would reveal how effective our efforts were and how wide the gap between us and our opponent remained.
Still, letting her stew in anxiety wasn’t good for her mental health.
“By the way, how’s the sewing club’s mentoring going?”
I tossed out some small talk to divert her attention from the bulletin board.
“Oh, yeah. Everyone’s got the basics down, so they’re doing well. The mentor even praised their potential.”
Nagi’s face lit up, happy about her friends’ progress.
“Especially Tsumugi—she’s really good. The mentor said she’s already close to professional level.”
“…Then maybe we didn’t need to hire a mentor. Couldn’t she just teach everyone?”
Recalling the whole ordeal, I couldn’t help but blurt that out.
“They tried that when Tsumugi joined, but everyone said they couldn’t understand her explanations. Apparently, her self-taught methods are super unconventional.”
Nagi’s wry smile made me nod in understanding.
“Great athletes don’t always make great coaches, huh? Geniuses are tough like that.”
“Oh, that reminds me—Tsumugi said she can’t help with the election for a while.”
Nagi clapped her hands as she brought it up, and I gave her a pitying look.
“I see. Finally abandoned, huh? Don’t worry, I’ll never betray you.”
“That’s not it! She’s just focusing on the contest next month!”
“Man, I thought I could swoop in and boost my likability while you were down… Shame.”
“Your likability just tanked hard!”
My strategy backfired. What a pity.
“Anyway… the sewing club’s contest, huh? That’s a problem. I was hoping to borrow some of their help.”
Having won the sewing club’s support, I’d planned to tap their resources, but that might have to be scrapped.
“That’s probably impossible. The contest deadline is the day after the election.”
Nagi shared the info with a wry smile.
Ugh, a direct conflict? That won’t work.
“Oh, look, it’s up!”
As I mentally adjusted our plans, Nagi pointed at the display area.
There, a newspaper club member was posting the latest edition.
“Finally. Let’s check it and go.”
“W-Wait, my heart’s not ready… Let me take a deep breath.”
While I moved to read the paper, Nagi hesitated.
Always striving to be a gentleman, I nodded at her request.
“Alright. I won’t tell you yet that Mutsu-senpai’s winning 70-30.”
“You just told me everything?!”
Nagi reeled from my sneak attack, but for someone as prone to hesitation as her, this was probably the right push.
“Come on, it’s good news. We dropped Mutsu-senpai’s approval from 95% to 70%. Be happy.”
“Your weird sneak attack totally ruined the moment!”
Nagi pouted, clearly unsatisfied.
Still, not wanting more spoilers, she finally started reading the paper herself.
“It’s true. We’re still behind, but this means we’ve been on the right track, right?”
“Yeah. We can’t get cocky, but you should feel good about the progress.”
When I gave my approval, Nagi’s expression finally softened.
“Yeah. Thanks, Kurusu-kun. But there’s still a gap, so we need to keep pushing! What’s next?”
Her renewed enthusiasm made me pause to think.
Honestly, we didn’t have any dramatic moves left like flipping the old school building clubs.
From here, it’s about steadily building support, but… we’re kind of out of big ideas.
“Hmm… Sadly, we’re out of flashy moves. It’s all about grinding out small gains to build votes now.”
“I see. Then we’ll have to work even harder.”
Nagi’s expression grew serious.
No need to stress her out too much. I should highlight the positives.
“Don’t take it too heavily. Luckily, first-years aren’t under Mutsu-senpai’s influence yet. They should be easier to win over.”
In the initial poll, Mutsu-senpai dominated, but most first-years probably voted for her thinking, “I don’t know, she seems like the obvious choice.” Classic bandwagon votes. Those shouldn’t be too hard to sway.
“Yeah, you’re right. Thanks.”
Nagi relaxed a bit, reassured.
Just as we solidified our next steps—
I suddenly felt a presence behind me, and my eyes were covered by soft hands.
“Fufu, guess who?”
A whispering voice in my ear and a sweet, floral scent.
Even with my vision blocked, I recognized that warm, enveloping presence…!
“Mutsu-senpai?”
“Correct! Nice guess, Kurusu-kun.”
Mutsu-senpai popped out in front of me.
“Good morning, senpai. Quite the playful entrance. My heart’s racing.”
Having unintentionally ended up in close contact, I greeted her with a goofy grin.
“…Hey.”
Nagi’s curt greeting carried an icy vibe, but poking at it would stir trouble, so I ignored it.
“You even remembered my name, huh?”
I changed the subject to steer away from the awkwardness.
“Yep. I’m pretty good with names. Plus, you’re from the rival camp, right?”
Saying that, senpai glanced at the posted newspaper and widened her eyes.
“Wow, you’ve closed the gap this much. You two are impressive.”
She praised our efforts with a wry smile.
“We’re not there yet. We still haven’t cracked your stronghold, senpai.”
I flashed a businesslike smile, and she gave me a probing look.
“Hmm, so humble. Got some crazy trump card up your sleeve?”
“Of course. Look forward to it.”
—Total bluff. We’re completely out of big moves.
But showing weakness wouldn’t help. Let’s make her waste energy on pointless caution.
“Haha, I can’t let my guard down. Guess I’ll have to step up too. Well, I’ve seen the paper, so I’ll head off. Catch you later!”
Done with her scouting, senpai waved and turned to leave.
Her graceful figure left only a faint rose-like fragrance, and I couldn’t help but stare.
A gentle yet sharp older woman.
“…She’s really something.”
My honest thoughts slipped out, and Nagi, catching them, shot me a cold glare.
“What are you staring at? She’s the enemy, you know.”
Her chilly words made me straighten up and face her.
“Don’t worry. I keep work and personal life separate. Honestly, senpai’s totally my type, but that’s beside the point.”
“You don’t seem like someone who can make that distinction.”
I tried to defend myself sharply, but Nagi’s icy tone didn’t budge.
Words weren’t working. Time to let my actions speak.
“Come on, think about everything I’ve done. It’s all been for you, right?”
“Hm… That’s true. You’ve done a lot.”
She finally softened, acknowledging my contributions.
One more push.
“Right? I confessed to you in public, sweet-talked Miyahara into cosplaying, and held back despite being smitten with senpai. I’m working hard here.”
“Your credibility just plummeted! That list makes it sound like you’re using the election to pick up girls!”
“No way! I’m mostly focused on the election.”
“Mostly?! I want you 100% focused on the election!”
“Then I’ll hurry up and get a girlfriend so I can focus.”
“Priorities! Why does getting a girlfriend come first?!”
Crap, this is straining our trust.
As I wondered how to fix it, my eyes caught a piece of paper on the display board.
“Huh… what’s this?”
I stared at the information.
“Kurusu-kun? Something up with that notice?”
Curious about my reaction, Nagi looked at the same paper and tilted her head.
At that moment, a spark of inspiration hit me.
“This… we can use this.”
After school.
Nagi and I were at the café near the station.
The same cozy hideaway we visited after I learned her identity. As usual, no other students were around, making it perfect for private talks.
And what were we doing in such a place?
“K-Kurusu-kun… I finished. Ugh, math is my worst subject.”
“Good. I’ll grade it, so hang on.”
Exactly—a surprise test for Nagi.
“Headache… Why are we doing this?”
Ambushed by her supposed ally, Nagi, thoroughly defeated, collapsed onto the table in exhaustion.
Ignoring her, I finished grading the test.
“Done. Your average across five subjects is about 47 points. Barely above failing—you need to study harder.”
My blunt feedback made Nagi look away awkwardly.
“Well, uh, I’m still catching up from my idol days…”
“You used to call yourself the ‘Great Leader’ and had enough smarts to teach others.”
“Stop! Don’t remind me! I only studied hard to look cool as a ruler! A middle schooler acting like the ‘Ruler of All Creation’ is already dumb—how didn’t I see it?!”
Nagi suffered several times harder than before. She’s got landmines in every area.
“Anyway, let’s put your past grades aside. You need to get better at studying, or it’ll mess up our next strategy.”
At my mutter, Nagi lifted her head from the table and stared at me.
“Okay, tell me already—what’s this strategy?”
“Oh, remember what was on that paper at the display board?”
“Yeah. The ‘retake exam schedule,’ right?”
I nodded at Nagi’s words.
We’d just had midterms recently.
I passed comfortably, and Nagi barely scraped by, but the retake notice meant some students didn’t make the cut.
“With more subjects in high school, plenty of students hit a wall. If we help them study—”
“…They’ll support me?”
“Exactly.”
Those who need retakes and those who passed but are shaky on grades.
They’re likely stressed about finals, which could eat into summer break, and worried about keeping up with high school academics.
That’s where we step in.
“I get it! That could pull in a decent number of people.”
Nagi’s face brightened, seeing the potential.
My expression, in contrast, was grim.
“But… there’s one minimum requirement.”
“What?”
Nagi tilted her head at my serious tone.
“Obviously—you need to have the academic skills to be a credible teacher.”
“Ugh…!”
The truth hit her like a knife, and she clutched her chest.
“C-Can’t you be the teacher, Kurusu-kun?”
“This is to boost your popularity. I’ll help, but you have to lead. If you get a reputation as a dunce, it’ll tank your election chances.”
“R-Right.”
That’s why I tested her current abilities.
Sadly, the results revealed a troubling reality.
“…No choice. We’ll have to train you up to teacher level first.”
Time to cram her to the necessary level, fast.
“P-Please go easy on me?”
Sensing something intense in my vibe, Nagi looked a bit scared.
I gave her a bright smile.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you have time to eat and sleep.”
Her face turned to despair at my declaration.
“W-Wait! Where are we supposed to study for that long?! The school library closes at dismissal, and we can’t keep coming to this pricey café!”
Desperate to escape the looming hell, Nagi armed herself with logic.
“We’ll do it at a fast-food place.”
“No way! Staying too long bothers other customers, and if a complaint reaches the school, it’ll hurt my image with other students!”
Her brain’s working pretty fast for this. If only she’d use that for studying.
But I anticipated this argument and had a counter ready.
“Then we’ll do it at my place. We can stay late there.”
A tough demand for a teenage girl.
If she refuses, I’ll suggest a diner, and she’ll take it, thinking it’s better than my room.
Raise the bar high with an unreasonable request to make the next one easier to accept.
That’s the classic door-in-the-face technique.
Come on, Nagi, show me an opening!
“Uh, y-your place? Um, well…”
But instead of refusing, Nagi blushed and looked flustered.
Huh, that’s not the reaction I expected.
“Well, uh, it’s for studying, right? Okay. B-But! Start tomorrow! I’m not mentally prepared today!”
“Uh, sure.”
Thrown off by her unexpected response, I nodded reflexively, overwhelmed by her reaction.
Guess we settled it, somehow.
The next day, during lunch break.
I was a bit nervous about the unexpected confirmation of a study session at my place after school, but there was another matter to address.
“Hey, Reo-kun! I did some digging like you asked!”
After finishing lunch, I was checking my phone at my desk when Miyahara approached, waving cheerfully.
“Thanks. Sorry for the hassle.”
I offered her a strawberry milk I’d bought from the vending machine as she sat in front of me.
“No worries. I feel bad leaving everything to you guys lately.”
Miyahara stabbed a straw into the milk carton.
“So, how’d it go?”
“Pretty good. I think I can get about twenty people just from my circle.”
“Twenty? That’s more than I expected. Guess a lot of people are worried about their studies.”
We were discussing the number of participants for the study group.
Yesterday, I’d shared our strategy with Miyahara and asked her to check for students worried about their grades or interested in a study group.
With about nine hundred students in the school, twenty sounds small, but every journey starts with a single step. It’s a solid start.
“Yeah, even kids who didn’t fail midterms were disappointed with their results. I reached out to them too, but should we narrow it down?”
“Nah, keep it as is. Numbers are power.”
When I said that, Miyahara frowned with concern.
“Sure, but… will you have enough teachers? It’s just you and Nagi-chan, right? And Nagi-chan’s skills are a bit makeshift.”
A fair point.
“That’s the weak spot. Ideally, we’d get upperclassmen to help. With just peers, it could get chaotic.”
I’ve been to “study groups” that turned into gaming sessions.
That might boost popularity, but it’d look like a slacker crew from the outside. We need a disciplined study group.
“Just so you know, the sewing club seniors are out. They’re pouring everything into the contest. Same reason I can’t help.”
“Figured.”
Nagi had already mentioned it, and I wasn’t expecting much, but as expected, it’s a no-go.
Getting Miyahara to do some light snooping during lunch with friends is one thing, but asking her to make time after school is tough.
That leaves one option.
“Got it. This is enough for now. Thanks for the help.”
“No prob!”
Miyahara waved casually and left.
After seeing her off, I stood and approached Nagi’s desk.
“Hey, Nagi.”
She was reviewing class notes and flinched, her shoulders jumping before she turned to me stiffly.
“K-Kurusu-kun? What’s up?”
Her voice was slightly high-pitched.
She’d been like this ever since we agreed she’d come to my place after school today.
It was a spur-of-the-moment promise, but for a teenage girl, visiting a guy’s house must be pretty stressful.
Still, trying to back out now would only make Nagi, being Nagi, double down stubbornly.
“Come with me. I need to talk about the plan.”
I kept the conversation focused on the task, avoiding the promise.
Nagi visibly relaxed, letting out a clear sigh of relief.
“Oh, that’s what this is about… Okay.”
She packed up her textbook and notebook and stood.
I led her out into the hallway.
“So, what’s the consultation about?”
Walking beside me, Nagi looked up, tilting her head.
“I was talking with Miyahara, and we’re worried we don’t have enough teachers for the number of students.”
“Hm… That’s a problem. Being a teacher would tie up a lot of time, and I don’t know anyone who could help.”
Nagi nodded quietly, apparently sharing our concern.
“Yeah. We were brainstorming solutions, and we think having just peers might lead to slacking. It’d be ideal to have someone older.”
“That makes sense. But the sewing club people are busy, right? So… wait, are you relying on my connections again? I’ll have you know, I don’t have that many convenient contacts!”
Thinking I was tapping her Nightmare of Calamity network again, Nagi made an openly sour face.
“Don’t worry. This time, I’m not accessing your ‘World Archive’ to ‘Dominion Link’ and borrow a ‘Legion of Heroes.’”
“Stop throwing out my old chuuni terms out of nowhere! If not my connections, what’s your plan?”
“I’m thinking we ask someone whose interests align with ours.”
Nagi frowned, unable to think of anyone.
“Aligned interests…? The only people who benefit from tutoring are teachers.”
“There’s one more. Someone with no ties to first-years but desperately wants them.”
I stopped walking.
In front of us was a door with a plaque reading “Student Council Room.”
“No way…”
Seeing it, Nagi’s face stiffened as she finally caught on.
“So, we’ll ask Mutsu-senpai for help.”
I boldly knocked on the door while Nagi frantically shook her head.
“No, no, no! That means we won’t get all the credit! What are you—”
“Excuse us!”
“Ignoring me?!”
Brushing off Nagi’s protests, I strode into the student council room.
Inside, Mutsu-senpai was alone, working on documents at a long table.
Perfect. No extra interruptions.
“Oh? What brings you two here?”
Unfazed by our sudden arrival, Mutsu-senpai greeted us with a soft, warm smile.
“Sorry to barge in during your busy work, senpai.”
Her calming presence made me smile back naturally.
“…Your face is way too smitten.”
A chilling voice and glare stabbed me from beside Nagi, but I ignored it.
“It’s fine. The student council’s disbanded right now, so there’s no activity. I’m just borrowing the space since no one else comes by. Oh, but keep that on the down-low—it’s a bit sneaky.”
Senpai giggled mischievously, pressing a finger to her lips. That gesture was insanely cute. If Nagi wasn’t glaring daggers, I might’ve fallen for her on the spot.
“Anyway, don’t worry about it. Have a seat.”
She gestured for us to sit, but I shook my head.
“No need, it’s a quick matter. We actually have a request for you, senpai.”
“A request?”
She tilted her head adorably, and I nodded.
“Yeah. We’re holding a study group for first-years struggling with classes, but we’re short on teachers. If you have time, could you help out?”
Her eyes widened in surprise.
She studied me with a probing gaze, but I kept up my friendly smile, and she finally spoke.
“…This is obviously an election tactic, right? Are you sure about sharing the credit?”
Her usual airy demeanor carried a hint of suspicion.
I nodded without missing a beat.
“Of course. A future student council president can’t prioritize personal gain over helping struggling students. It’s a shame for vote-gathering, but this time, it’s for everyone’s sake.”
It sounded disgustingly fake even to me, but it’s a win-win for senpai.
Her rival is willingly letting her in on a vote-grabbing strategy.
“…I see. Well, as someone also aiming for student council president, I can’t refuse when you put it like that. I can’t ignore struggling underclassmen either. Alright, I’ll help.”
Nagi’s prickly glares stung, but she seemed to trust me enough not to question me here.
“Thank you, senpai. We’ll share the details once they’re set, so please wait until then.”
“Got it. Looking forward to it. Hehe, being a teacher isn’t something I do often, so it sounds fun!”
Senpai beamed with her usual airy charm.
With that confirmed, I turned to leave.
“We’ll get out of your hair now. Sorry for the interruption.”
“Th-Thanks for your time.”
As I moved to exit, Nagi hurriedly followed.
Once we were a good distance from the student council room, she stopped short.
“Hey, what’s the deal? Why ask Mutsu-senpai of all people? This way, I won’t get any votes!”
Nagi’s frustrated question was expected, and I was ready to answer.
“I get it, but if we can’t hold the study group, the struggling students will stick with senpai. Even if we lose some credit, hosting it properly is the better deal.”
“That’s true, but… wait?”
Nagi started to nod but then frowned.
“…Then why did senpai agree? It’d be better for her to refuse and force us to cancel.”
She caught on.
Exactly. Asking our rival for help screams that we lack upperclassmen connections. Refusing would guarantee the study group’s collapse.
So why did senpai agree?
“Simple. She doesn’t know about our ties to the old school building clubs. She thinks your big push came from winning over first-years. It’s the most obvious voter base.”
The Old School Building Club Alliance won’t start until after the election, and we’ve sworn everyone to secrecy.
There’s no way senpai knows our real voter base.
“I see… That’s why she took the bait, even if she’s suspicious. She wants to steal our voter base.”
“Yep. And as long as she’s focused on first-years, she won’t look at the old school building.”
Stealing a solid voter base is a big deal.
Losing a single floating vote is one thing, but losing a committed supporter hurts far more.
“For us, we get to hold an otherwise impossible study group with her help and keep her eyes off the old school building.”
“I get it… You thought that far ahead. That’s a two-for-one deal.”
Nagi’s eyes widened in realization, finally convinced.
“Plus, I get to spend more time with a cute senpai. Three-for-one.”
“Don’t sneak in an extra bird! Your personal motives always creep in! Why can’t you let me praise you cleanly?!”
Despite pulling off the strategy, my stock somehow dropped. Weird.
And so, the promised after-school time arrived.
As homeroom ended, I stood, a bit nervous, and headed to Nagi’s desk.
“Nagi.”
“Eek!”
Her voice, far more tense than at lunch, cracked as I called out from behind.
“Let’s study today too.”
“Y-Yeah.”
At my prompting, she packed up with jerky, robotic movements and stood.
…This is bad. I thought I was calm, but her awkwardness is making me nervous too.
Both of us cloaked in a tense atmosphere, we fidgeted our way out of school.
“…”
“…”
Silent from the school gate to the station and onto the train.
Each time the train swayed and our hands brushed, Nagi jumped like a small animal, blushing and looking down.
W-What’s with this awkward vibe…?!
I seriously don’t know what to do! Someone help!
Screaming internally for help yielded no response, and we got off the train, arriving at my house.
“So, uh, this is my place…”
“Y-Yeah.”
Nagi froze like she might turn to stone, staring at my ordinary suburban house.
I nearly petrified alongside her but took a deep breath to steady myself.
It’s fine. My mom should be home at this hour. We won’t be alone.
I’ll get teased later, but that’s a necessary political sacrifice.
Calming myself with that logic, I unlocked the door.
“I’m home!”
“E-Excuse me…”
I swung the door open boldly, but there was no response from my mom, who should’ve been home.
Suspicious, I checked my phone and found a message from her.
“Grandpa threw out his back, so I’m staying over to help.”
“What the…?!”
My eyes widened at the unexpected news. My last line of defense!
“What’s wrong?”
Nagi tilted her head, curious.
“Uh… my mom’s staying out tonight.”
“W-What?!”
Nagi’s face turned red, and she stepped back.
I get it—this timing! It looks like I planned it this way! I swear it’s a coincidence!
“Uh, should we study somewhere else instead?”
Assuming she’d be uneasy, I suggested an alternative, but Nagi blinked, hesitated, then looked down quietly.
“N-No, moving now would waste time… Let’s just do it here.”
Surprisingly, she opted to proceed.
“O-Okay.”
My nerves spiked, but I had to commit. It’s not like I have any shady intentions—totally fine.
“Alright, I’ll show you to my room.”
Ignoring the repeated deep breaths behind me, I climbed the stairs.
We reached my familiar room, the first door at the top.
“Come in.”
“Y-Yeah.”
I’d cleaned for today, so nothing was out of place, but Nagi’s tension spiked as she entered.
I sat on a cushion by the glass table, and Nagi naturally sat across from me, kneeling formally.
Our eyes met.
“...!”
But we both quickly looked away.
My gaze landed on the bed, prominently positioned.
I hurriedly averted my eyes—only to meet hers again.
What is this ping-pong of glances? A perpetual motion machine of escalating tension?
“…I’ll grab some drinks.”
“D-Don’t trouble yourself.”
Needing a moment to cool off, I bolted from the room like a startled rabbit.
“Calm down, me.”
Being at home is normal. Being with Nagi is normal.
Two normal things combined shouldn’t make me nervous.
I’m just catching her jitters—that’s all. I’m fine.
Reassuring myself, I grabbed a bottle of iced coffee and glasses from the kitchen and returned upstairs.
“Sorry for the wait.”
“Oh, yeah.”
Nagi had started studying on her own, spreading out her textbook and notebook.
She’s usually not this proactive about studying, so this awkward atmosphere must be unbearable for her.
But something was off.
“…Your textbook and notebook are upside down.”
“Wha?!”
Nagi yelped in surprise, looking between her upside-down materials and me before covering her face with both hands.
“Ugh… Don’t look at me right now. I’m super nervous.”
Her confession was oddly cute, and I felt my own tension ease.
“Got it. I’ll just look at your hands while you solve problems.”
“That’s still nerve-wracking!”
She lowered her hands to protest, and I chuckled lightly.
That seemed to break the ice, and Nagi sighed deeply, giving a wry smile.
“Jeez, you’re so mean, Kurusu-kun.”
“Rude. I’m a kind soul tutoring you for free.”
“Fine, fine. I’ll study hard to make your kindness worth it.”
Trading light jabs, we finally settled back into our usual rhythm, the tension between us dissolving completely.
Now, we could actually start studying.
An hour later.
After relentlessly working through a problem set I’d tailored to her weaknesses, Nagi dropped her pen and collapsed onto the table.
“Done… Math is still my worst subject.”
“Good work. Take a break.”
I took the answer sheet from her trembling hand and started grading.
“…This is random, but your room’s kinda plain, huh?”
Bored while waiting, Nagi looked around and muttered.
True, my room only had the bare essentials: furniture, bedding, and a bookshelf. Pretty bland.
“Yeah. Oh, if you’re looking for naughty magazines, check under the bed, not the bookshelf.”
“I’m not looking! Why would you even tell me where they are?!”
“Huh, not the vibe?”
“No! I was just wondering about your hobbies!”
“Oh, my hobby’s teasing you.”
“Figured! That’s the worst hobby!”
Nagi looked even more exhausted than after studying.
Adding to her fatigue, I finished grading.
“Alright, results time. Your quiz score is 70. Much better, but too many careless mistakes.”
Handing back the answer sheet, Nagi groaned, staring at it.
“Ugh… You’re right. I knew how to do these but still messed up. So frustrating.”
“Your basics are solid now, so it’s about practice. Oh, there’s a good reference book on the shelf. Want to try its practice problems?”
“Got it.”
I pointed to the bookshelf behind her, and Nagi turned to look.
But her movement froze.
“Oh, this…”
“Found the reference book?”
I called out, but she gently picked up a book—not a reference book, but a magazine haphazardly tucked away.
“Rising Star <Nightmare of Calamity>! Diving into the Charm of the Hottest Idol!”
The cover featured that headline alongside a photo of Mea.
“You bought this, Kurusu-kun?”
Nagi’s face soured, likely from stumbling across her dark history.
“Uh… yeah.”
Feeling embarrassed, I looked away.
But Nagi kept digging, finding more magazines with Mea’s features.
“You said you’re not into hobbies, but you were pretty dedicated to following her.”
She pressed me, a bit shyly.
“It’s not a hobby. My friend debuted as an idol. It’s normal to care, right?”
No point dodging now—it’d just be more embarrassing—so I admitted it honestly.
“…I see.”
Nagi looked down at the magazine with a complicated expression.
“Yeah. I was a big supporter. Bought every new single, went to her concerts.”
Closing my eyes, nostalgic memories surfaced.
Mea, who used to be by my side, was shining in a far-off place, soaring higher and higher… It felt a bit lonely, but as her friend, I was prouder than anything.
“You looked like you were shining at the center of the world. Then you suddenly quit, and I didn’t know why. I was pretty worried.”
When she became an idol, cutting contact for gossip control backfired.
I had no way to check on Mea, torn between thinking it was just her wild style and worrying something had happened.
“I’m sorry about that.”
Nagi, hit in a sore spot, looked dejected, clutching the magazine.
“…Honestly, when I saw you at the entrance ceremony, I wanted to talk to you.”
She started speaking softly.
“But I hesitated. I’m not Mea anymore. Just a plain, ordinary girl.”
She looked at me with a forced bright tone and smile.
“I was afraid you’d be disappointed. You like weird girls, right? I thought you’d say, ‘You’ve become a boring, ordinary girl,’ and that scared me.”
Oh—I get it.
This must be a piece of the truth she’s been carrying since we reunited.
Finally brushing against it, I felt a mix of emotions but hid them with a playful smile.
“Don’t be ridiculous. After everything we’ve been through, that wouldn’t change anything. Looks, personality—none of it matters.”
She’s changed a lot since back then.
Her appearance, her personality, how she treats me.
But—that’s all it is.
No matter how much time passes, some things stay the same.
The sunset we saw together the day we met.
Her back as I watched her leave the last time.
Those will always remain unchanged in me.
“…I see.”
I don’t know how much of my feelings reached her, but Nagi replied softly, looking down.
Then she lifted her face, her usual smile back.
“Ugh, I said something weird. Forget it, forget it. Let’s get back to studying.”
She brushed off the heavy mood with bright words.
Putting the magazine back, she hurried to the table.
But, still flustered, she misstepped.
Nagi slammed her pinky toe into the leg of the glass table.
“Ow?!”
Letting out an oddly cute yelp, she dramatically lost her balance.
Unable to control her body from the pain, she fell toward me—
“Whoa?!”
“Eek?!”
Before I knew it, Nagi was pressed against me, practically pinning me down.
“Uh, um, um!”
Forgetting her pain, Nagi froze, face bright red.
I, meanwhile, was quietly panicking.
Nagi, nestled perfectly in my arms, was so delicate it was hard to believe she was human, her softness unreal.
Each slight movement sent a sweet scent tickling my nose, her slightly lower body temperature radiating a raw allure.
For a moment, I wondered what would happen if I hugged her.
Half-unconsciously, I started to wrap my arms around her back—then snapped out of it.
No! My already shaky rationality will shut down completely!
“W-Wow, Nagi-chan, you’re pretty bold, huh?”
Squeezing out a joking tone, I broke the spell, and Nagi rebooted, leaping back to the corner of the room.
“S-Sorry! It wasn’t on purpose, I swear!”
Flustered, she stammered, and I nodded deeply to show understanding.
“I know. You just instinctively tackled me.”
“That phrasing’s kinda weird too?!”
Teasing to cover my racing heartbeat, I hid how fast it was pounding.
That was close… Nagi’s impact was way stronger than I expected.
“L-Let’s get back to studying! I had some questions!”
“Y-Yeah! Let’s hit it hard today!”
Both pretending nothing happened, we turned back to the textbooks.
—Needless to say, we got no studying done after that.
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