Chapter three: Their Choices
Three days had passed since I got Eva to take things seriously.
Just three days. Yet, three days.
There’s an old saying: “If you don’t see a man for three days, look at him with fresh eyes.” But it seems even without being a man, three days is enough for significant changes to occur.
So, what exactly happened?
“Fushima-san’s really putting in the effort, isn’t she? When’s the live performance happening again?”
At the community center’s meeting room.
I’d come early in the morning to rally support since a few board members were gathering today. But the moment I saw Sugiura-san after a few days, he blurted out those words.
“It hasn’t been decided yet! And what’s with that rude comment toward Suihou students!? Besides, you forgot the schedule again!”
Thanks to that, the administrative assistant—er, I mean, support staff—was busy throwing in retorts.
“W-What’s going on here…?”
Even Nagi, standing before Sugiura-san, who had become a full-fledged Eva fan, couldn’t hide her bewilderment.
Seeing this, the assistant gave an apologetic look.
“No, it’s just… Fushima-san came by yesterday and talked with the chairperson for a while, and then he ended up like this…”
The assistant seemed just as perplexed by the situation.
“She’s quite understanding for a young person these days… If only my grandkids were like that…”
Sugiura-san praised Eva while subtly grumbling about her own family.
Wow, Eva… To think she managed to win over the one person who seemed the least likely to budge.
“…Eva, what did you talk about?”
Unable to contain my curiosity, I asked the assistant, who tilted her head as if puzzled by a fox.
“Well… it was just casual small talk, really. Things like the weather or hobbies. After chatting like that for a while, the chairperson started acting this way.”
…I see.
That’s a truly terrifying tactic.
“What does that mean, Kurusu-kun? What did Eva do?”
Nagi, still confused, tugged at my sleeve to ask.
With a grimace, I replied, “Probably nothing. Just casual small talk, like she said.”
Yes, and—that’s exactly why it’s so frightening.
What Eva used was a simple yet incredibly powerful method.
Empathy. Affection. Admiration. The ability to evoke such emotions in the person she’s facing.
In other words—human charm.
“Once it gets to this point, the quality of the proposal doesn’t even matter anymore. If it’s a good plan, they’ll support it. If it’s a bad one, they’ll cheer even harder to make it better.”
That’s what it means to be charmed. People won over by this power start acting out of emotion, not logic.
“Is that… even possible?”
Despite being a former idol, Nagi seemed skeptical of this power, her brows furrowing.
“It’s possible. In fact, you’re doing it too, aren’t you?”
“Eh, no way. I don’t remember doing anything like that,” she said, looking genuinely puzzled, making me freeze for a moment.
“How cruel…”
“Kanagi-san… that’s a bit…”
Even Sugiura-san and the assistant, unaware of the full context, reacted as if scolding Nagi for her words.
“Huh? What? What’s that about?”
But Nagi, oblivious to her own influence, blinked rapidly, looking around in confusion.
I let out a sigh, then boldly cupped her cheeks with both hands, locking eyes with her at close range.
“K-Kurusu-kun!?”
She stiffened at the sudden move, and I gave her a steady, piercing look.
“Why do you think I’m helping you out with no personal gain? It’s because you’re important to me, because I’m worried about you, and because I want you to be truly happy.”
“U-Um…”
I could feel Nagi’s cheeks warming under my hands.
Satisfied that my point had gotten across, I let go.
“That’s what Eva’s doing. In short, she’s just really good at making people like her.”
—Winning votes is, in essence, a battle for hearts.
She had already put my words from three days ago into action.
“By the way, how many people has Eva managed to win over like this?”
When I asked the assistant, who had been watching our exchange with a slightly flustered expression, she cleared her throat as if snapping back to reality.
“Ahem. Well, about half of the board members, I’d say?”
To think she’d made that much progress in just three days…
Those who became supporters out of emotion, combined with those who genuinely agreed with Eva’s plan.
Together, it wouldn’t be surprising if she secured about 80% of the votes.
If it were Mea, she’d probably steal those hearts back from here, but for the current Nagi, that’d be tough.
This calls for a drastic solution.
“We need more allies.”
Back at our stronghold, the student council room, after retreating—no, fleeing—from the community center.
As soon as we sat down, I opened with that statement.
“A-Allies? Do you have anyone in mind?”
Nagi asked, still fidgeting and avoiding my gaze whenever our eyes met.
The earlier “dose” must’ve hit her too hard. Well, I don’t mind my affection having that kind of effect.
“I’ve got an idea. That’s why we came here.”
Just as I said that, the student council room’s door swung open.
“Well, well, both of you are here today.”
With a cheerful smile, in walked our vice-president, Issa Mutsu-senpai.
“…Yeah, that makes sense,” Nagi nodded, as if it clicked for her.
“What? What’s with that look?”
Mutsu-senpai tilted her head, puzzled by our reaction.
I took the lead to explain.
“Here’s the thing—”
I gave Mutsu-senpai a rough overview of everything that had happened, omitting the details about Nagi and Eva’s relationship, of course.
“—I see. I got the picture.”
Since we’d only asked Mutsu-senpai early on to “set up a meeting with the community association for the summer festival,” hearing about Eva’s involvement and everything that followed seemed to surprise her greatly.
Then, for some reason, she pouted and shot me an accusatory look.
“I was wondering how things turned out, but… sounds like you’ve been having quite a bit of fun without me? It’s sad to be left out, you know.”
“Hey, I like to save the joker for last,” I replied with a bold grin, meeting her reproach head-on.
Honestly, I’d wanted to rely on her and involve her from the very start.
But Mutsu-senpai is, for better or worse, too sharp.
Trying to keep Mea’s secrets hidden from her while dealing with Eva? That’d be impossible, especially for Nagi.
Still, we’re out of options now, so here we are, relying on her.
“…Right, I forgot. You’re the type to pull off a last-minute comeback, aren’t you, Kurusu-kun?”
Perhaps recalling the student council election’s outcome, Mutsu-senpai grimaced slightly.
“I’d rather not be cornered to the point of needing a comeback, but unfortunately, we’re in a tight spot this time. So, I’m playing my strongest card.”
When I replied with a wry smile, she let out a small chuckle.
“You’re good at flattery. Fine, as a member of the student council, I’ll do my best for the president.”
I’d been confident she’d help, but having her officially on our side was a relief.
If, by some chance, she’d been an Eva fan and turned against us, we’d have been completely done for. She’s the last person I’d ever want as an enemy.
“That’s a huge help. Senpai, I’d like you to talk to the teachers and secure volunteers for the summer festival.”
At my proposal, she tilted her head curiously.
“Volunteers? Oh, for extra credits. You’re planning to build support that way.”
“As expected of you, Senpai. You catch on quick. That’s the idea.”
As we nodded in agreement, Nagi looked between us, confused.
“Um… what does that mean?”
“Remember who Eva’s supporters are?”
When I asked to jog her memory, Nagi nodded.
“Yeah, middle and high schoolers, right? And the community association members with grandkids in that age group are on her side.”
“Right. Though, given how close this is to a done deal, that breakdown might not matter much anymore… Still, if we can get that age group on our side, we might turn the tide.”
At that explanation, Nagi nodded as if it clicked.
“I get it. If students join us for extra credits, their relatives Might follow suit, right?”
“Exactly.”
Our school has a lot of local students.
Even if a board member’s grandkid doesn’t attend our school, what about the relatives of employees at their shop? Or their boss’s kids? Or distant family?
Extra credits are a sensitive issue tied to academic advancement.
That kind of subtle pressure could sway their decisions.
“Just leave all that to me. I’ll handle getting the teachers’ approval and recruiting volunteers.”
Seeing Mutsu-senpai take it on so confidently gave me a sense of reassurance.
“In that case, I’ll leave it to you. With that concern out of the way, we’ll work on other strategies, so we’ll head out.”
“Go for it,” she said, waving us off lightly.
Nagi left the student council room first, and I was about to follow—when it happened.
“By the way, that’s quite an elaborate risk hedge.”
A voice hit me from behind.
I turned around to find Mutsu-senpai’s probing gaze piercing through me.
“It’s almost like you’re certain Kanagi-chan would make that kind of choice. Is there something between her and this Fushima-san?”
Though phrased as a question, her words carried the weight of conviction.
My mind, momentarily blank from the surprise, started racing again as my heart rate quickened.
It’s fine. She probably hasn’t figured out Mea’s true identity yet.
—But she’d completely seen through the contingency plan I’d been keeping in my back pocket.
Knowing that, I flashed a casual smile.
“No, no, I just love Nagi-chan so much. I figured the more preparations, the better.”
In the tense moment, we locked eyes.
She was the first to look away.
“…Right. Well, I don’t want to stir up trouble and make an enemy of you. Let’s say I didn’t notice anything. That works, right?”
“Yep, much appreciated. I’ll take my leave now.”
Keeping my smile, I left the student council room.
…God, this is exactly why I wanted to save relying on her for last.
Less than a week remained until the competition’s voting deadline.
On the surface, nothing seemed to shift, with both sides engaged in a quiet war of attrition.
We were chipping away at Eva’s votes, while Eva focused on maintaining her lead and running down the clock.
A silent battle was unfolding.
“Thanks for today. My husband threw out his back, and I was at a loss.”
The liquor store owner’s wife thanked me after I finished carrying the last case of beer.
“No problem. Helping each other out is what neighbors do.”
When I replied with a friendly smile, she grinned happily.
“That’s kind of you to say. You’re with Suihou students’s group, right? Planning that summer festival? I’ll make sure to tell my husband to support you.”
Seeing her hearty assurance, I got a faint sense of the power dynamics in their household.
“That’d be a huge help. We’re a bit short on allies.”
When I showed a troubled expression, her brows softened.
“It’s tough getting caught up in the chairperson’s mistake. He’s not a bad person, you know. He’s long past retirement age, but since no one else wants to take over, he’s been pushing himself to keep going.”
It seemed she was trying to smooth things over after hearing the root of this issue.
She probably sided with us to avoid a rift between Suihou and the community association if the vote gap became too wide.
“I understand. We’re not trying to point fingers at this point. Besides, we’re the ones who decided to take on this challenge.”
When I showed willingness to settle things amicably, she visibly relaxed.
“Good to hear. Do your best!”
“Thank you very much.”
With a polite bow, I left the liquor store.
“Good work, Kurusu-kun.”
Nagi, waiting across the street with an apologetic look, handed me a towel.
“Thanks.”
I wiped my sweat with the towel and took a swig of sports drink.
“Should I help out too? It feels wrong making you do all the hard work.”
“Nah, it’s fine. When there’s two of us, splitting tasks is the way to go, right?”
I shook my head at Nagi’s offer.
Currently, Eva was spending more time with her established supporters.
She was posting on social media about helping with their work or joining in on their hobbies.
Thanks to that, we couldn’t even get meetings with them. She’s got their schedules locked down tight.
This made it impossible to pull off a dramatic move like stealing her supporters.
So, we turned to manual labor.
Nobody wants to do physical work in the middle of summer. But that’s exactly why taking it on earns goodwill.
“You’re working hard on perfecting the summer festival plan, right? Since there’s two of us, we should divide and conquer.”
If Eva’s weapon is charm, ours is manpower.
We’d be fools not to use that advantage.
“…Got it. I’ll do my best too.”
“Good. I’m counting on you.”
With a smile, we started walking back to our base at the school.
“By the way, Eva didn’t reach out to that liquor store, did she?”
“Yeah, she’s leaving the neutral votes alone.”
Eva was focusing all her efforts on protecting her current supporters.
“Well, even if we took all the neutral votes, a comeback’s impossible…”
Nagi’s voice carried a hint of dejection.
After enlisting Mutsu-senpai’s help, we checked again and confirmed Eva’s support was indeed over 80%.
Getting boxed in like this is brutally tough.
“Yeah, but—”
“But?”
“Would Mea have chosen this strategy?”
When I asked with a serious expression, Nagi paused to think before shaking her head.
“…No. Just stalling to maintain an advantage? That’s too boring for her.”
Exactly. This silent war is boring.
A contest that ends quietly without any excitement.
Mea wouldn’t choose that, and—having been mentored by Mea—I doubt Eva would either.
“So, maybe—”
Just as I started to say, an organ’s sound reached my ears.
A familiar, catchy, pop idol song.
“Is this… Eva’s song?”
Nagi, noticing it too, looked around.
Her gaze stopped at one point.
“Is that… the preschool?”
The organ’s sound was coming from the preschool, the first ally we’d secured.
A creeping sense of unease crawled up from my feet.
“Hey, could this mean—”
“Yeah, probably.”
We locked eyes and broke into a run.
Panting, we reached the preschool, got emergency entry permission from the staff, and rushed to the main building.
What greeted us was—
“You guys are doing great! Next up, Mea-senpai’s song!”
—Eva, wearing an adult-sized smock, playing the organ.
“You’re wearing that too!?”
I couldn’t help but blurt out a retort.
“Wah! W-What’s that… Oh, Ally-san?”
Startled by my sudden shout, Eva’s shoulders jumped, and her eyes widened when she saw me.
“How’d you know I was here…? No, wait! Fufufu, you found me, Ally-san! As expected of Mea-senpai’s right-hand man!”
For a moment, she almost responded naturally, but quickly shifted to hyping up the mood.
Still, the smock made her look less than imposing.
“…No, focus.”
I shook my head, snapping out of the disarming moment.
“To think you’d pretend to play defense while swooping in to steal our supporters! Well played, Eva!”
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“Too late now! I’ve already bonded with these kids! We’ve played in the mud together, and we’re even matching outfits! There’s no room for you guys to cut in now!”
“Don’t underestimate us, Eva! Our student council president’s already done that!”
I pulled out my phone and showed her a picture of Nagi in a smock.
“What!? No way, she went that far!? President-san, that’s amazing!”
Eva’s face twisted in shock at Nagi’s boldness.
“When did you take that!? When did you even snap that photo!?”
Nagi, ignoring Eva’s reaction, came storming toward me. It was pure chaos.
“And so, it seems Eva put in a good effort, but she couldn’t topple the stronghold of our student council president!”
“Ugh…! To think even this surprise tactic didn’t work! But the real battle starts now!”
Sparks flew as Eva and I squared off, ready for combat.
“Ugh… I want to press you about that photo, but now’s not the time. You’re deleting it later, got it!?”
Nagi, still with things to say, reluctantly shifted into battle mode.
By the way, that photo was taken as part of official student council duties to document extracurricular activities, so it needs to be submitted to the teachers before it can be deleted—a little secret for now.
“Sorry, Fushima-san. Thanks for looking after the kids… Oh? Suihou students?”
As sparks flew between us, a leisurely voice cut through.
Turning around, I saw the young preschool teacher we’d worked with before.
“Hey, good to see you. We’re back again.”
“Um, sorry for intruding.”
As Nagi and I bowed politely, the teacher gave us a relieved smile for some reason.
“Well, welcome back, both of you. I’m glad to see you’re unscathed this time.”
She seemed pleased that our clothes were clean.
Her warm demeanor somehow dulled our fighting spirit.
“So, since you came all this way, does that mean you’re here to help with the kids again?”
“Uh, well, we…”
I started to say we came to thwart Eva’s plan but stopped myself.
Her sparkling, expectant eyes were too much…!
Besides, causing a scene here would be the worst way to secure the preschool’s support.
“Y-Yeah, exactly. We were worried about the kids.”
After some quick thinking, I forced a slightly strained smile and nodded.
“Oh, that’s wonderful! Actually, the older kids are about to play outside. Would you mind joining them?”
“Sure, leave it to us…”
Well, fine. We needed to outshine Eva in winning the kids’ favor anyway, so this was a good opportunity, if you look at it positively.
Glancing at Eva, I saw her fighting spirit had also fizzled out, her expression deflated.
“I’ll go get the kids, then.”
The teacher hurried off.
Left behind were me, Nagi, Eva, and an indescribably awkward silence.
“Uh… well…”
In that heavy atmosphere, I steeled myself to break the ice.
“…It’s not our intention to drag this peaceful country into the flames of war, right?”
“…Yeah. I agree to a ceasefire.”
Eva nodded solemnly.
And so, we avoided an ugly clash in front of the preschoolers.
Even with a ceasefire in place, it’s not like we stopped competing entirely.
After all, our goal was to win popularity.
Naturally, we kept an eye on the kids’ favor while playing.
“And that’s how using this cloth makes the mud ball shine!”
“““WOOOAAAAH!!!”””
The boys’ excitement skyrocketed as I held up the gleaming mud ball.
“Got the hang of it? Now, let’s all give it a try!”
At my command, the boys dove into polishing their own mud balls with gusto.
The response was great—I’d secured the boys’ hearts.
The sandbox is the kids’ social hub. For someone like me, who’s been honing the art of fitting into new environments since childhood, this was my home turf.
Now, how were the other two doing?
“President-san, your hair’s so pretty!”
“But, like, braiding is super hard…”
“Wanna practice together?”
Nagi was with a group of quieter girls, teaching them different hair arrangements.
Most of them were kids she’d bonded with last time.
It was a small but solid group. Though, she seemed a bit shy even with kids, which was a little concerning.
“…And where’s Eva?”
I scanned the area.
No sign of her. Where’d she go?
“Does any cloth work for polishing mud balls?”
A question came from below, pulling my focus back to the sandbox.
“No, the shine depends on the cloth, so try different ones.”
I answered the questioner—Eva—before looking back at the playground.
“…Huh?”
Wait, did something weird just happen?
After a few seconds of thought, I glanced back at the sandbox.
There, diligently polishing a mud ball, was Eva.
“Hey! Why’re you here!?”
I didn’t even notice because of the smock!
Shocked that she’d slipped in so close, Eva flashed a smug grin.
“Fufufu. I was appealing to all the kids earlier, so now I figured it’s smarter to block you from gaining more support.”
Tch… Fair play. She’s as strategic as ever.
“Also, shining mud balls just looked super fun, so I couldn’t resist.”
“That’s not a ‘couldn’t resist’ thing!”
Her hands were polishing the mud ball with genuine enthusiasm.
“Back in the day, I was super shy, so I barely have memories of joining kids’ games like this. It’s like I’m reclaiming my lost youth—it’s fun!”
“Stop saying sad stuff with a sparkling smile! It makes it hard to brush you off!”
Now I felt guilty about trying to shoo her away.
…Fine. If I think of it as keeping Eva pinned down here, it’s not a bad deal. I’ll let Nagi handle winning support.
“It’s starting to shine!”
“Eva-chan! You’re so good!”
While I was scheming, Eva steadily polished her mud ball, drawing the boys’ admiration with her charisma.
…As expected of an active idol.
Kids are surprisingly perceptive to adults’ emotions.
If you approach them with a condescending attitude, they won’t warm up. But if you enjoy things on their level, they’ll accept you as one of them.
Eva was doing that naturally, threatening to steal the support base I’d built.
“But man, Eva, you’ve got it tough. Being an idol must keep you busy, yet you’re out here volunteering.”
Feeling the tide turning, I struck up a conversation to cut into her time with the kids.
“It’s not so bad. I actually enjoy this kinda stuff.”
Eva’s response seemed heartfelt.
“Besides, if it means keeping my promise to Mea-senpai, this is nothing. It’s the goal she set for me, after all!”
“Goal? Promise?”
I tilted my head, and Eva began speaking with a hint of pride.
“The day I first met Mea-senpai, I’d decided to take this job seriously, but I’d become an idol on a whim and never thought about specific goals. That’s when she told me, ‘Then aim to be an idol who can stand on the same stage as me without shame!’”
“That’s the triumphant live show?”
“Yup!”
With admiration, pride, and dreams shining brightly, Eva spoke boldly.
“…I see. That’s a big deal.”
“Yeah. That’s why I’m gonna set up the best stage ever. So, how about it, Ally-san? Wanna join my side now? It’d be a shame to crush such a great stage. The summer festival can wait till next year, right?”
Seeing my understanding as an opening, she tried to sway me.
“No way. We’ve got our own reasons to keep going.”
“Too bad!”
She wasn’t serious, as she backed off easily.
She seems so pure but is surprisingly cunning.
After hours of playing with the kids, all three of us ended up moderately popular, with no one standing out.
“Now what?”
“We can’t just let this slide, but we can’t force the kids to pick sides either…”
Nagi and I discussed with grim expressions.
We couldn’t let Eva steal our precious support base, but strong-arming them wasn’t an option.
What to do?
“Hey, you two!”
In the slightly heavy atmosphere, Eva waved with a relentlessly bright smile.
“What, ready to give up and leave?”
“No way! That’d be such a boring ending. But talking it out won’t settle anything, right?”
“Yeah, true.”
“Right? So, let’s settle it with that!”
Eva pointed to a group of kids playing “Red Light, Green Light.”
“…Not bad. Winner takes all here?”
“Yup. It’s peaceful, no hard feelings, and won’t cause trouble for the preschool.”
I glanced at Nagi, who nodded in agreement.
“We’re in. Loser backs off cleanly.”
“OK! Let’s join them!”
We headed to the group playing “Red Light, Green Light.”
There were five kids, so with us, it’d be an eight-person match.
“If one of us is ‘it,’ it’s straightforward, but what if neither of us is?”
“Then the first to touch ‘it’ wins, right?”
“Got it. That works. Oh, Sensei! Can you be the referee!?”
Eva, satisfied with my answer, called over a nearby teacher.
We successfully joined the game.
“Let’s pick ‘it’ with rock-paper-scissors! Ready—Rock, Paper, Scissors!”
At Eva’s call, we played.
Seven chose paper, one chose rock.
And the rock was me.
“…I’m ‘it,’ huh?”
I muttered with a grimace, staring at my clenched fist.
“Go for it!”
Eva, in contrast, was brimming with confidence.
“Well, I’ll sit this one out…”
Nagi quickly opted out.
No point in her touching me… Our forces were halved.
“To keep things fair, I’ll be the referee, okay?”
The teacher, tasked with judging “Red Light, Green Light,” tilted her head slightly, puzzled by the high schoolers’ intense focus on winning.
Still, the game began.
“Here we go! Daruma-san ga koronda!”
(T/N: “Daruma-san ga koronda” is the Japanese equivalent of the game “Red Light, Green Light” or “Statues,” commonly played by children. Literally translating to “Daruma doll fell down,” it refers to a traditional game where players move toward the person calling out the phrase (the “judge”) while the judge’s back is turned. When the judge says “Daruma-san ga koronda” and turns around, players must freeze like a Daruma doll (a round, red doll symbolizing perseverance). If caught moving, a player is out.
I turned, and the kids plus Eva froze.
Some kids couldn’t stop in time and wobbled.
“Yuki-san, Honoka-san, out.”
The referee teacher called them out, and instead of joining me, the kids were sent back to the preschool building. It was late afternoon, so this was the final round.
“Daruma-san ga koronda!”
I called quickly and turned.
More kids were out, but Eva was steadily closing in.
As expected of an idol with training, her core strength was impressive. She stopped perfectly.
“Almost in range!”
She even had the nerve to taunt me.
“Bring it on. Daruma-san ga koronda!”
I varied the timing, but Eva didn’t budge.
After three rounds, all the kids were out.
Now, it was just a bizarre scene of high schoolers playing “Red Light, Green Light” with intense seriousness.
“…I’m glad I sat this out.”
I ignored Nagi’s muttering from the sidelines.
No turning back now.
“Daruma-san ga koronda!”
“No dice!”
I turned with a quick chant, but Eva didn’t fall for it.
She was getting dangerously close.
This next round was probably the last. If she got through, she’d touch me.
“Here we go…”
“Let’s settle this!”
We locked eyes for a moment before I turned my back.
Taking a deep breath, I called out.
“Daruma-san ga koronda!”
I spun with a rapid chant.
Eva, inches away, was frozen mid-reach.
Close call. A tenth of a second later, and she’d have tagged me.
—But now, she’s done for.
Staring into Eva’s eyes at point-blank range, I placed both hands on my face.
And—with a squishing sound—I unleashed a perfect silly face.
“Pfft, w-what!? Hahaha! What’s that!?”
Blasted by my ridiculous face at close range, Eva burst into laughter, breaking her stance.
“Fushima-san, out. Kurusu-san’s victory.”
The teacher’s calm call rang out.
“Hell yeah! I win!”
I struck a dramatic victory pose, shouting in triumph.
“Nuooo!? I fell for such a stupid trick!”
Eva, one step from victory, clutched her head and stomped in frustration at her sudden defeat.
“Hahaha! Victory is mine! How’s that, President!? I dedicate this win to you!”
“Thanks, but that win was so immature, I’m conflicted!”
Nagi looked a bit put off as I puffed out my chest.
“Ugh…! I’ve got a ton to say, but a loss is a loss! I’ll back off cleanly!”
True to her good-loser nature, Eva accepted defeat without complaining about my dirty tactics.
“But I’ve still got the upper hand! I’ll show you with my ultimate trump card!”
Pointing at me dramatically, Eva declared.
If it’s an ultimate move, she should’ve kept it secret, but leaking it like that screams Mea’s influence.
“Bring it on. I’ll crush whatever you throw at me.”
Crossing my arms with a smug grin, I saw Eva’s face twist in slight frustration before she turned on her heel.
“Grr…! Don’t think you’ve won yet!”
With a classic parting line, Eva ran off. Her commitment to the trope was one of her strengths, I thought.
“We managed to hold the line here.”
“Yeah. Though it’s just maintaining the status quo…”
“Don’t say that.”
Watching Eva’s retreating figure as she ran off, Nagi and I let out sighs tinged with exhaustion.
We hadn’t gained any new votes, only lost time.
We’d protected the preschool’s support, but we were still firmly caught in Eva’s strategy.
“Well, whatever. We’ve still got a week until the deadline. No need to rush—just keep building up steadily.”
If there’s a silver lining, it’s that having less support means fewer points to defend. There aren’t many bases left for her to steal.
Plus, repeating the same strategy twice in a short time lacks flair. It’s not something Eva would do.
“Yeah. One week left, win or lose. Let’s give it our all.”
Nagi clenched her fist, brimming with determination.
Just then, my phone vibrated, signaling a new message.
“Hm? Got something.”
I pulled out my phone to check.
The sender was Sugiura-san.
—A creeping sense of unease spread through my chest.
I quickly opened the message and read it, my eyes widening involuntarily.
“I see… So that’s her move.”
“Kurusu-kun, what does it say?”
Sensing something off, Nagi looked at me anxiously.
I showed her the screen.
Her eyes widened too.
“‘To secure preparation time, the voting date has been moved up’…? This means!”
Meeting Nagi’s shocked expression, I nodded gravely.
“It seems Eva’s so-called ultimate trump card is already in motion.”
When you think about it, it’s obvious.
We’re steadily gaining support, but Eva still holds an overwhelming advantage.
For her, ending things now is the most effective move.
And she pulled it off.
“Ugh… She got us good.”
In the community center’s hallway, Nagi trudged along, shoulders slumped.
The voting day, brought forward from the original schedule.
For someone heading to the decisive battle of this summer’s war, she looked utterly deflated.
“No time to mope. Even if we’re losing, it doesn’t mean we’re done. If anything, we’ll be busier.”
After all, if we lose, we’ll have to start from scratch, searching for another event to build our record.
“…Right. I can’t let myself give up.”
Realizing her fight continues even if this is the day of reckoning with Eva, Nagi straightened her back and walked with purpose.
“Suihou students, we’ve been expecting you.”
At the end of the hallway, the administrative assistant was waiting.
“Please take care of things today.”
“Yes. I hope it turns out well for both of you.”
The assistant offered her support, but her eyes held an unmistakable air of resignation.
As someone who interacts most with the board members, her gut feeling seemed to predict our loss.
Following her into the meeting room, I saw the familiar faces of the community association board—and a striking blonde girl.
“…Eva.”
Nagi muttered softly.
Noticing us, Eva’s face lit up, and she gave a cheerful nod.
“Hey there!”
“Yo. Pretty bold trump card, huh?”
I referenced her move to shorten the timeline, and she grinned mischievously.
“Yup! I promised to get serious, didn’t I? Surprised you?”
“Quite a bit. I thought you might try something like this, but I didn’t expect you to actually pull it off.”
“Fufu, I’m honored to hear that from you, Ally-san!”
Eva giggled, tickled that I acknowledged her move.
Honestly, it’s the final showdown, and yet she’s having fun until the end. It’s hard to be upset about her pulling off such a bold strategy.
If anything, I couldn’t help but tip my hat to her ingenuity.
It’s not just about winning—she’s overflowing with the desire to entertain us with an interesting move. That’s Eva’s charisma at work.
“Now, we’ll begin the voting. But first, if Fushima-san or Suihou students have any final appeals, please go ahead.”
While I was lost in thought, the assistant spoke up.
Eva, seizing the initiative, raised her hand energetically.
“Then I’ll go first!”
With that, she stepped in front of the board members.
“First off, thank you all for going along with our competition! It started with a hiccup, but looking back, I’m glad we did this! Thanks to this contest, I got to know all of you so much better!”
Her bright smile and heartfelt gratitude rang true.
You could tell it was genuine.
The words, born from her enjoyment of the competition, came through with striking sincerity.
It made the recipients feel genuinely happy.
If Mea draws people in with her unwavering worldview, Eva captivates with her natural sincerity.
“That’s why I want you all to see my stage! My shining moment—please come witness it! That’s all from me!”
Finishing in one breath, she bowed and moved to the corner of the room.
The board members naturally broke into applause.
She didn’t mention the appeal of her plan, economic benefits, or even advantages for the board.
Just “support me” and “watch my performance.”
With those simple words, she won everyone over.
An astonishing, natural-born idol.
“Now, Suihou students, if you have anything to say, please go ahead.”
As the applause died down, the assistant prompted.
The room felt like enemy territory.
It was like a rookie taking the stage after the headliner’s electrifying performance.
“…Alright.”
Nagi stepped forward, as if refusing to give up despite having no plan.
“Nagi.”
Pleased by her growth—something unimaginable before the election—I gently stopped her with a hand.
“Leave this to me.”
She blinked, then nodded with a hint of relief.
“…Okay. I’m counting on you.”
Was that relief from avoiding the spotlight or trust that I’d handle it?
Hoping for the latter, I took the spot where Eva had stood.
“We’d like to make our final appeal as well.”
The board members’ attention turned to me.
But it lacked the fervor they’d shown for Eva—just formal interest.
Still, this kind of situation is my specialty.
I’d faced similar scenarios plenty of times on the first day at a new school.
So, I took a deep breath—
“Let me start by saying, I love Eva way more than any of you!”
—and declared war.
As the board members gaped, I pressed on.
“I mean, I’m a Mea stan! You know Mea, right? Eva’s idolized senpai! I was close with her, so naturally, I’ve known Eva since her debut—I’m an OG fan!”
My rapid-fire otaku spiel was in full swing.
The board members’ previously indifferent eyes began to spark.
To get people’s attention, a little rivalry works wonders.
And to bond, sharing what you love is the best way.
In other words, the OG Eva fan flex.
“You can’t talk about Eva without knowing Mea—it’s a crime! So, I was thinking of spending an hour explaining Mea’s charm—”
“Ahem!”
A deliberate cough from Nagi interrupted me.
“—but since we’re short on time, I’ll save it for next time. Let’s move to the summer festival. This is important and beneficial for Eva too, so listen up.”
Having hooked their interest, I dove into the main point.
It’s just a spark now. I need to fan it into a blaze before it fizzles out.
“This is the first summer festival in five years, so it’s got huge buzz and demand. People’s wallets will definitely loosen up. Part of the profits will go to the organizing committee, meaning your pockets will benefit too. Sounds appealing, right?”
I pitched the financial gain, but it didn’t seem to resonate.
Of course—right now, Eva matters more to them than money.
But that’s exactly why it works.
“Think about it. You all need money right now. Why? Because you’ve got a new favorite idol! You need funds for stanning!”
The board members’ eyes widened.
They hadn’t thought that far.
No matter how charming Eva is, they fell for her so easily because they lacked idol immunity.
They’re probably new to the concept of stanning.
“And money’s not the only issue! You can’t fully enjoy Eva’s live show as you are now. Why? Because this is the live show tied to her promise with Mea! But you don’t know Mea, do you? Or Eva’s idol journey? You can’t grasp the weight of this show like that!”
The board members were speechless, floored by my speech.
I paused for a breath, dialing back the intensity.
“To enjoy Eva’s live show, you need two things: time to learn her journey and funds for stanning. You can’t get those by the fourth Saturday of August.”
Speaking slowly, I let the regret sink into the room.
They realized they couldn’t fully understand the passion and motivation behind an idol returning to her hometown for a triumphant live show.
I’d taken complete control of the room.
“But what if we hold the summer festival and shift Eva’s live show to, say… the September holidays? You’d get both time and money.”
Speaking gently, I offered a solution to their shaken hearts.
“But… we can’t just shift Fushima-san’s live show for our convenience.”
One board member raised a concern, and others nodded in agreement.
No problem—they’re already sold but want me to resolve this concern so they can agree without guilt.
I’d planned for that.
“Of course, but as I said, this is a big, beneficial deal for Eva too. Think about it: a summer festival after five years will be huge. If she promotes her live show there, won’t it draw even more attention?”
Eva’s main promotion is through her SNS.
It’s effective for reaching fans nationwide, but it only reaches her existing fans.
Plus, fans far away might not be able to attend even if they know.
But promoting at the festival is different. It reaches people who can actually come to the town.
I’m not saying SNS or local promotion is better—they complement each other.
“Maybe, but…”
“There’s more.”
Sensing their hesitation, I pressed on before they could settle.
“If we hold the summer festival, our Suihou High student council will get a share of the profits. We’ll use that to sponsor Eva’s live show.”
The board members’ faces visibly changed.
Of course—they’d lose a sponsor if they made the wrong call.
That’s a solid enough excuse.
Satisfied I’d set it up, I spoke gently, with a warm smile, for the final plea.
“So, for Eva’s sake, will you vote for our summer festival this time?”
Several dozen minutes later.
After the voting and meeting, Nagi and I stepped out of the community center, each letting out a deep sigh.
“Phew, we pulled it off somehow.”
“Seriously, how did we win? They were so into Eva.”
The vote was a unanimous win for us.
But given the nature of my persuasion, Nagi had a complicated expression.
“Well, Eva’s like a potent drug for newbie stans. They’re like grandparents who want to buy everything for their grandkids.”
A lesser idol wouldn’t have made that pitch work.
Eva’s natural idol charisma made them fall right into my trap.
“You said you love Eva too, didn’t you?”
Nagi, fixating on that, gave me a sidelong glare. She didn’t miss it.
“Of course, I love Nagi-chan even more. I could go on about my love for you with even more passion if you want.”
“No thanks.”
I was half-serious, but she shut me down flat. Shame.
Just then—
“Hey, you two! Found you!”
A voice called from the community center entrance.
Turning, I saw Eva jogging toward us.
“Yo. That was a good fight.”
Not sure if it’s fitting for the winner to say, but I commended her effort.
Eva gave a wry smile.
“No way. Anyone can see it was a total defeat. I got so close with the board, but you flipped it all at the last second—well played!”
Her praise brought a bit of relief.
She might be putting on a brave face, but she didn’t seem too down.
“Anyway, I learned a lot this time. I kinda wanted to hear your Mea-senpai spiel too.”
“Oh? I can go on about her anytime you want.”
I leaned forward, unable to resist the excitement of the request.
“No way, that’s not okay! We still have work to do!”
Nagi yanked me back, trying to stop the Mea spiel from turning into a full-on embarrassing history reveal.
“My work’s half done, right? The summer festival prep is your job, Nagi-chan.”
When I brought up our agreed-upon roles, she made a sour face.
“…True.”
“See? All you’ve gotta do is bust your butt preparing for the festival, while I chat with Eva about Mea. That’s how roles work.”
“That’s seriously demotivating!”
“Come on, do your best. Honestly, there’s a lot I don’t know about the prep.”
These past few days, I’d been focused on gathering votes while leaving the festival prep to Nagi. It’ll take a bit to catch up and help out.
“…You’re right. I can’t keep relying on you, Kurusu-kun. I’ve gotta step up too.”
My words seemed to strike a chord, and Nagi’s motivation bounced back.
“Cool. Sorry, but could you head back to school and start on the prep? I’m pretty beat and need a break.”
The physical toll of manual labor in this scorching heat, plus the mental strain of that meeting, hit me all at once.
“Got it. Don’t push yourself too hard. Good work, both of you.”
Nagi gave me a slightly worried look but, perhaps wanting to ease my load, nodded obediently.
“Yeah, see you later.”
“Good work!”
Eva and I waved as Nagi’s figure disappeared into the crowd.
Once she was gone, I voiced something that’d been nagging at me.
“Hey, this is kinda late, but… is your schedule free for the September holidays, Eva?”
She gave a wry smile.
“Talk about last-minute. You’ve got some nerve proposing to shift my live show without checking.”
“I figured you’d protest, but you just watched the vote play out.”
Even if she’d objected, I’d have just suggested pushing it to another holiday to drag things out.
“No point protesting. My schedule’s not that packed. No matter how I struggled, you’d have gotten me to agree to hold the live show eventually.”
Eva saw through my tactics and didn’t bother with pointless objections.
“So, in the end, it was my total defeat.”
Gazing vaguely at the crowd where Nagi vanished, Eva wore a clear, almost relieved smile.
“Thanks for taking me seriously. It feels… refreshing, somehow.”
Her smile was bright, yet oddly tinged with loneliness.
“…I said I’d size you up and all that big talk, but we were desperate too. While fighting, I started looking forward to what you’d do next, Eva. You’re an incredible idol—charming even your enemies.”
Unable to bear that look, I found myself saying those words.
“—So, you chasing Mea as your goal and holding her promise dear? That’s never been a mistake, no matter how much you doubt yourself. You’ve been moving forward. Don’t forget that.”
That was my conclusion, having judged Eva in Mea’s place.
Her eyes widened at my words, then she bowed deeply, her expression more serious than I’d ever seen.
When she looked up, the usual bright Eva was back.
“I’m looking forward to the summer festival, so do your best! I’ll take my leave now!”
With that, she ran off toward the station. I looked up at the sky.
—I don’t know how much my words meant to her.
I’m just a stand-in, an ally, a temporary fix.
The only one who can truly catch her is one person in this world.
A massive cumulonimbus cloud loomed in the clear sky.
“…Looks like rain’s coming.”
Muttering softly, I headed back to school.
One week after the board vote.
Preparations for the summer festival were progressing smoothly.
Securing materials, arranging manpower, laying groundwork.
Busy but fulfilling days passed.
“Good work. It’s really coming together.”
Sugiura-san muttered, looking up at the yagura being built in a corner of the shopping district.
“Yeah, everyone’s more enthusiastic than I expected, which helps.”
The yagura was being assembled by locals from the shopping district.
I helped between other tasks, but I couldn’t match their practiced pace.
“Don’t overdo it.”
“Got it. No point collapsing. I’m sneaking breaks when I can.”
Sugiura-san nodded, relieved, at my joking tone.
“Reinforcements are coming soon, so take a rest, Kurusu-kun.”
“Thanks, I’ll take you up on that.”
With a light bow, I left the plaza.
“Phew… It’s hot.”
Glaring at the relentless summer sun, I headed to the clothing store’s backroom where my stuff was stored.
Two weeks until the festival.
We’re planning a slightly larger scale than past events, but at this pace, we’ll finish with time to spare.
Mulling over the plan, I opened the backroom door.
“…This one’s better… but maybe… ugh…”
There was Nagi, staring down several yukata, oblivious to my arrival.
I’d tasked her with delivering yukata made by the sewing club, so her presence wasn’t surprising… but, hmm.
“Maybe this is too flashy… or maybe that’s better?”
“I think a lighter-colored yukata would suit you better.”
“Eek!? K-Kurusu-kun!? Since when!?”
Nagi jumped, startled by my sudden comment.
“Just got here. Saw you picking out a yukata for our date, so I had to chime in.”
Nagi’s so adorable sometimes. Well, she’s always adorable.
“We’re not going on a date! We’ll be patrolling during the festival!”
Her flat denial made me stagger in mock shock.
“No way… Then why am I even reviving this festival…?”
“For our track record! Wait, didn’t we have this exact conversation before!?”
Tch, I thought a repeat might lock in the date, but it flopped.
“Then why’re you picking out yukata? These are bold choices for you.”
She was comparing a bright red yukata and a sky-blue one—both vibrant and eye-catching, far from her usual taste.
“I didn’t say I’m wearing them. They’re… well, I thought maybe we could give them to Eva.”
Nagi gazed at the yukata with a complicated expression, and I straightened up.
“Right. She said she’s looking forward to the festival. We should prepare a yukata for her.”
“…Yeah. I haven’t decided how to invite her, or if she’s really looking forward to it, but…”
Still, she couldn’t do nothing.
This competition must’ve left her with unresolved feelings.
She wanted to face Eva head-on, at least for the end.
“Got it. You pick the yukata. I’ll handle inviting her. I’ll call her later.”
Wanting to help Nagi, I offered to reach out to Eva.
“…Wait, hold on.”
Nagi froze.
“What?”
“No, I mean… You have Eva’s phone number?”
She looked up from the yukata with stiff, robotic movements.
“Yeah, we swapped numbers. Thought we might need to exchange info.”
After the park photo shoot, just in case.
It was for negotiations, but it’s coming in handy now. Past me, nice job.
“…Huh.”
For some reason, Nagi gave me a cold response to my brilliant move.
“What’s up, Nagi? You’re acting like you’re mad I swapped numbers with a girl.”
“N-No way! Don’t say weird stuff!”
Her eyes darted, cheeks flushed.
“No need to hide it. Get jealous all you want. I’m the type who loves that. Come on, admit you’re jealous—I’ll be thrilled!”
“I’m not saying it! I’m not thinking that! I don’t care about you!”
Nagi, red-faced, denied it completely.
Hmph, saying she doesn’t care stings my pride.
“Oh? Being so stubborn makes me wanna make you admit it.”
“I’m not admitting anything!”
As I crept closer, Nagi backed away.
The quiet standoff lasted a few seconds until she hit the wall.
“Come on, admit it—‘I’m the student council president, but I got jealous!’ Say it!”
“The president part’s irrelevant…! And I’m not jealous!”
“But your ears are bright red!”
I reached for her ears, playfully pinching them.
“Eep!?”
Nagi’s shoulders jumped, and I smirked.
“See? Red and squishy. Proof you’re jealous.”
“They’re squishy naturally!”
“And the red?”
“T-That’s natural too!”
Knowing her excuse was weak, she turned away, struggling.
“Stubborn, huh… When I did this to Eva, she admitted it right away.”
Muttering that, Nagi whipped back to face me.
“What!? You did this to her too!?”
“Nah, kidding.”
I said casually, and she froze, then puffed out her cheeks.
“~~~!”
Letting out a wordless groan, she started smacking my chest lightly.
“Haha! You can deny it all you want, but I won’t forget that reaction!”
As I declared victory, Nagi sulked, cheeks still puffed.
“Stupid Kurusu-kun.”
“Hey, I just love you too much.”
My excuse earned another light smack.
“Anyway, is it okay if I contact Eva?”
Forcing the topic back, Nagi shook her head, still sulky.
“No. I’ll check with her manager and invite her myself.”
She pulled out her phone and started a call.
Usually, she’d hesitate, but today she acted fast.
Guess our little spat gave her a push. A happy accident.
“Hello, it’s been a while. Yes… No, I’m calling about Eva… Huh?”
Nagi, starting lightly, let out a surprised sound.
Sensing something off, I watched her closely.
“Yes… Yes… I see… Understood… Thank you… Goodbye.”
The energy she had when she started the call was gone.
Nagi hung up, pale, and looked at me stiffly.
With an expression on the verge of tears, she spoke.
“Kurusu-kun, what do we do…? Eva’s canceling her live show.”
Honestly, this wasn’t entirely unexpected.
The live show postponement was my unilateral proposal.
Even when we talked after the meeting, she never gave a clear yes.
Still, it was a win-win for Eva and an event her fans were hyped for.
Given her personality, I thought she might push it back again if the schedule didn’t work, but full cancellation? That was beyond my expectations.
“What happened?”
In the community center’s lounge.
After rushing to the association’s base for details, we found the assistant and started piecing things together.
“Well… we don’t know much either. We assumed she’d hold the live show during the September holidays and were preparing, but Fushima-san came by earlier and announced it’s canceled.”
Sitting across the table, the assistant handed me some documents.
They were from Eva, detailing the cancellation of contracts with collaborating restaurants and merch sales.
She’d been prepared to cancel if she lost. It was clean, no loose ends.
Still, she’d paid significant penalties, so she didn’t come out unscathed.
“…If it was just a postponement, the penalties would’ve been minimal. Did she want to cancel that badly?”
At my mutter, Nagi’s shoulders twitched, and she looked at me anxiously.
Noting her reaction peripherally, I dove deep into thought.
Why would Eva cancel, even taking a hit?
There’s one possibility.
Something I’d vaguely suspected was now certain.
“…I see. Well, can’t be helped.”
“Kurusu-kun!?”
Nagi’s eyes widened in disbelief at my acceptance of Eva’s decision.
“What do you mean, can’t be helped? Why’d she cancel?”
Visibly shaken, she pressed me with uncharacteristic urgency.
But I kept my expression neutral and shook my head.
“It’s not for me to speculate or say. It’s Eva’s choice. We should respect it.”
We’re the ones who beat her and knocked her down.
We’re partly responsible for pushing her to cancel.
We’re not in a position to question her decision.
“That might be true… but!”
Nagi stood with a clatter, staring at me intensely.
“Even so, I can’t just do nothing when Eva might be struggling!”
“You’re saying that?”
—You, who quit being an idol without a word or notice.
Do you have the right to question Eva for doing the same?
“…”
The unspoken words hit her hard, and she bit her lip, speechless.
“Maybe she just had another job in September. I proposed the delay without checking her schedule.”
I offered Nagi an easy out.
But she shook her head.
“…Eva’s not that careless. If that was it, she’d have argued before the vote.”
She insisted there must be another reason.
It’d be easier to brush it off, but Nagi couldn’t.
She’s so clumsy. Always has been.
She couldn’t keep being Mea after outgrowing her chuunibyou phase, can’t hide her shyness, yet recklessly aimed to be student council president.
Even at the end, she can’t lie to herself.
So—
“You’re right. I shouldn’t be asking you. I’ll ask Eva directly.”
—I easily predicted she’d make this choice.
“I might not have the right to say anything anymore… but I can’t let it go.”
With that, she turned and left the lounge.
“…You’re not going after her?”
The assistant, who’d stayed quiet to read the room, asked with concern.
“Nah. If she’d stop just because I told her to, that’d be one thing. But since she’s decided to go, she’ll handle whatever comes.”
My blunt reply surprised the assistant, her eyes widening.
“…I thought you were super overprotective, Kurusu-san, but you’re kinda pragmatic.”
I gave her a smile.
“Not really. I just trust her. Nagi’s not the type to break over something like this.”
Nagi, burned out, aimless, drifting here.
Yet she’s standing up for what she wants, even against my objections.
She won’t stop.
If she’s chosen her path, she won’t stop.
That’s the Kanagi Nagi I know.
All I can do now is clear the obstacles so she can run her chosen path without tripping.
“By the way, I’d like to make one change to the summer festival before Nagi gets back.”
I ran through the town, dyed red by the sunset.
I didn’t know where Eva was.
But I had a strange certainty.
If she was leaving town, she’d stop there first.
Driven by that odd conviction, I kept running.
And I arrived.
The place I visited most in this town two years ago.
The place Eva begged Kurusu-kun to take her.
—The sunset park.
As expected, she was there.
Her golden hair and blue eyes glowed beautifully in the evening light.
Her slightly more mature profile turned toward me.
“…President-san. Fancy meeting you here.”
Eva looked slightly surprised.
She probably didn’t expect to see me here.
For a moment, I didn’t know what to say.
The price of avoiding her since our reunion.
But I couldn’t stay silent.
Catching my breath from running, I steeled myself and spoke.
“…I heard you’re canceling the live show.”
No preamble, just the question. I hated my own clumsiness.
But Eva, perhaps not noticing my turmoil, nodded quietly.
“Yeah, well… Since I lost, I figured I should bow out gracefully. No need to drag things out.”
Her words lacked the passion she’d shown for the live show during the competition.
She’d been so lively then.
Did losing make it all meaningless to her?
“…But why? You could still hold it.”
Having been an idol myself, I understood.
Canceling a live show now hurts your credibility as an idol.
If it’s unavoidable, fine, but throwing away a chance like this? It’s nothing but a loss.
“…You’re really asking why?”
Eva gave a small, soft laugh.
Instead of her usual bright smile, radiant like a sunflower, it was a darker, lonelier one.
Seeing that, a single premonition finally began to stir within me.
As if affirming my suspicions, Eva opened her mouth and spoke.
“It’s obvious, isn’t it? There’s no point in keeping a promise alone when you’re the one who broke it, senpai.”
—Those fatal words pierced the air.
The atmosphere grew tense.
My entire body felt as if it had frozen, yet my heart burned with an unbearable heat, pounding at a ferocious pace.
I tried to take a few deep breaths but failed, managing only shallow ones as I forced the words out.
“Since when… did you realize?”
“…I thought you seemed familiar from the first time we met, senpai,” Eva replied, her gaze drifting away from my shaken expression, her voice barely a murmur. “The manager told me that Mea-senpai had returned to her hometown, so I wondered if it could be you. But your personality was so different that I wasn’t sure.”
Her eyes avoided my trembling form as she continued in a soft tone.
“I became certain when Ally-san brought me here. He was supposed to be supporting someone else, but he said he’d take on my unresolved feelings too… That’s when I realized. For him, Mea-senpai is still the most important person. Ally-san probably wouldn’t support someone else in that state.”
And yet, Kurusu-kun is supporting me.
If that’s the case, then the true identity of Nagi Kanagi could only be “The Nightmare of Calamity.”
Eva is honest and carefree, but she’s far from foolish.
“…I see. I’m sorry for keeping it from you.”
“It’s fine, senpai. I was happy to see you again. Though, I guess I got a bit carried away because of it,” Eva said, shrugging her shoulders with a playful air.
She gave a wry smile, perhaps recalling the dramatic reversal Kurusu-kun had orchestrated.
Meanwhile, I felt as though my heart had been seized.
“That’s…”
I knew. I couldn’t look away from it.
Eva had been working so hard to keep our promise, and yet, I—of all people—had been the one trying to ruin the very live performance tied to that promise.
I had fought with everything I had to win—and that must have cut deeply into Eva’s feelings.
And now, it had led to this outcome.
“Sorry. That sounded a bit like I was blaming you, didn’t it? It’s not your fault the schedules overlapped, and I’m the one who suggested the competition in the first place,” Eva said, snapping out of her thoughts with an apologetic expression.
“…No. Even so, the fact that I broke our promise doesn’t change. It’s my fault.”
Yes, no matter whose circumstances I was caught up in, that fact remained undeniable.
And yet, here I was, watching Eva decide to cancel the promised live performance and trying to convince her otherwise.
“…Yeah, you’re right. But it’s okay now. I’m the one giving up on it, so we’re even, right?” Eva said, her expression carrying a maturity I didn’t recognize.
She must have overcome countless trials since I left.
She was no longer the lost little girl I met back then.
Nor was she the fledgling chick from the time we made our promise.
She had the face of a fully-fledged idol.
Maybe she no longer needed me.
Maybe coming here was just meddling.
But—
“…Can’t we still keep that promise, even now?”
The words slipped out, driven by the emotions swelling in my chest.
As expected, Eva’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What are you saying, senpai? I mean, Mea-senpai… no, President-san, you’re not an idol anymore, right?”
Yes, the idol known as “The Nightmare of Calamity” no longer exists.
Even if I tried to play that role now, it would only be a hollow imitation.
I could never stand on that stage again.
But standing on a stage as an idol isn’t the only way to keep a promise.
“…Even if we can’t stand on the same stage anymore, even so—”
I closed my eyes, picturing the example I had always followed.
How to support someone. Dedication. Strategy. Sincerity. Preparation. Foresight.
He had always shown me what was needed. I had always watched him.
So—I could do this.
Gathering my courage, I extended my hand toward her.
“I’ll create the stage for you, Eva. So show me—show me how incredible you’ve become.”
My heart pounded loudly. A surge of heat coursed through my core.
I knew this feeling. It was something that had always been inside me back then.
It was this passion that kept me running, kept me fighting until I burned out.
—The fervor of a dream.
I had found what I wanted to do now.
“…Honestly,” Eva murmured, looking down.
“…Honestly, during our competition, I kept hoping you’d have a change of heart, senpai. That you’d say our promise meant more than the summer festival, that you’d let me win this time. Thinking back, maybe that’s why I got so stubborn. But that didn’t happen.”
“Eva…”
“When you think about it, it’s obvious, right? If it was you, senpai, you’d seize both. That’s the kind of person I’ve always admired, the one I’ve been chasing all this time. What a mess, huh?”
Slowly, she raised her face.
And there it was—a joyful smile.
“But that’s okay. Knowing that the path I’ve run down wasn’t a mistake, that you acknowledged it—that’s enough.”
With that, Eva took my hand.
“Make it the best stage ever.”
Her small hand gripped mine tightly.
“…Yes. I promise.”
For a moment, I recalled the day I first met Eva.
Back then, she was a girl who couldn’t walk forward unless I held her hand.
Now, here she was, standing beside me as an equal.
She had truly made it this far, to this promise.
Now, it was my turn to keep it.
“I’ll prepare a stage worthy of you, Eva.”
—And so, the promised stage began to take shape.
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