121Hachiman awkwardly entered the office with his resume in hand, greeted by the face of a short but beautiful woman roughly in her 20s. Her friendly smile didn't make him ease up. In fact, it made him even more tense than usual.
He took a deep breath before sitting down, then let it out.
"Calm down, Hikigaya-kun. This interview is nothing but a formality, after all. We already know you have some potential." She smiled widely.
"Yes, well, Senkawa-san is right but still..." Hachiman twitched a little. "The Production office is giving me lenience, but you still want to do the correct procedures."
"Indeed. Let's start with something simple and basic. What do you think of Idol Industry?"
Crap.
Hachiman thought that she was going easy on him, but this question was actually hard. He had a lot to say about the industry, and not all of them are positive. But if he blabbers too much, wouldn't he just end up offending his employee before he can start?
Nevertheless, he felt that Chihiro wasn't someone he can bullshit his way with. So Hachiman will have to answer it in earnest.
"Well, I don't have a particular opinion about it..." Hachiman told her. "Some look down on the Idol Industry, but it's the root of all Japanese Entertainment business after all."
In this world, Idol Industry is the pipeline that raises roughly 90% of celebrities in Japan, with the rest being extraordinarily unusual. As Idol Industry became the mainstream career path, it is steadily getting better at fixing its flaws and removing its shadier side.
It's not perfect, far from it, but it used to be far worse. If this was the past, Hachiman wouldn't want to be part of it at all.
If Hachiman was asked his opinion of the current Idol Industry, then it would be solid meh.
"So it's not so different than other workplaces for me."
"I see." Chihiro nodded in approval. "Very professional, but I hope you're more spirited in doing your work."
"Yes."
"Anyway, everyone is almost certainly dedicated in their pursuit to
become top Idol, but what kind of personality you think would suit an idol the most?" Chihiro asked again. "The cute type, the cool type, or the passionate type?"
In the past, Idols and Cute goes hand in hand. However, as of recently, more and more varied personality archetypes show up.
"I guess the Cool type is the best."
"Why is that?"
"The cool type should maintain their calm whether they're facing their employees, newspeople, their rivals, and their fans. By assuming a controlled and measured attitude, it would earn them more respect in their future endeavors." Hachiman said. "They'll be more popular with the casual fans."
"...That and I think the cool type wouldn't be as hard to deal with."
"I like that answer!" Chihiro laughed happily. "I like that you're being honest."
Hachiman wanted to say that no one can be cuter than his little sister Komachi, anyway. But decides not to.
"W-well, I feel it would be bad if I lie here."
"Alright, alright. The last question, then! We all know you're pretty good with management and paperwork, but do you have anything else you're good at?" Chihiro clapped her hands, excited.
"Pardon?"
"I mean, at your previous school, what's your best achievement?" Chihiro clarified. "Also, whether you have other talents and abilities that may help in this industry."
"Well, I can speak English well and speak a little in other languages as well..." Hachiman replied. "Other than that, both my sister and I were trained by our mother as Idol. It was just the basics, though."
"Hmm hmm, nice!"
The interview continued with some more inane things. Involving past experience and hobbies, as well as Hachiman's type of girls.
"Why is that even important?"
"Well, in any case, you start to develop an interest in one of our Idol, we have to act accordingly." Chihiro turned a little dark and mischievously smiled. "So, do you have a particular type?"
"Well, I almost assuredly have one type I will absolutely avoid." Hachiman huff.
"Huh, really? What kind?"
"The nice ones." Hachiman confidently replied. "I hate nice girls the most."
Once bitten, twice shy. Hachiman had suffered far too much because he keeps falling for the nice girls. Whether he misunderstood or got despised in return.
It can be anyone. Never be another nice girl.
"Doesn't that disqualifies me? Ehehehe." Chihiro winked a little.
Hachiman felt a little embarrassed but shook his head. "In that case, it's not a problem of compatibility, you see..."
There was an issue of the age gap, for starters. And the fact that Chihiro will be his superior for the time being. Either way, there's also his father to consider. Not happening!
"You're working with female Idols starting today, so please get accustomed to their presence." Chihiro pokes his nose. "We have decided not to rule out the possibility of office romance, but your work will take priority. And also, I'll be mad if you try and play with their feelings."
Not happening. Not happening at all.
"I might be a little handsome, but that unlikely to happen." Hachiman joked a little. "There's no way they'll be romantically interested in me."
"You say that now, but beggars cannot be choosers." Chihiro sighs. "Because you're the only young man working in this office, these girls will try to approach you at the first opportunity."
Are they that starved for boys? Hachiman starts to feel a little ill already.
"...I'll keep that in mind." Hachiman squeezed his eyes, clearly afraid of the thought. "I'll try to be professional and keep my distance."
"While Director Mishiro would prefer that, we need you to build a good relationship with them!" Chihiro told him. "I don't know what your problem is, but I'll be here to help."
"Yes, thank you, Senkawa-san." Hachiman bowed. "Please take care of me."
"Ah, I almost forgot, you list these hobbies you have... of all those hobbies, which one you consider the most important?"
Ah, hobby? Hachiman's hobbies were shockingly common. To the point that it's probably not worth mentioning. But for the sake of clarity... these are Hachiman's hobbies, so which one is the most important?
Hachiman didn't spend a long time pondering. While he had multiple hobbies, they're not equally important at all.
"Reading Books!" Hachiman said to Chihiro.
"Reading books? What type of books you prefer?"
"All of them, really?" Hachiman truthfully explained. "Light Novel and Manga of all genres, probably the ones I read the most, but mostly due to availabilities. I read Japanese classics as well as foreign novels just as often."
Back in his home in Chiba, Hachiman had like three racks worth of books in his bedroom. It could be said that his preference for books surpassed his fondness of his other hobbies combined.
They're not all in Japanese. Some books were in English, French, and Russian.
"In the original language." Hachiman finally added. It was part of why he had perfect grades in the language class in high school and before. "Sometimes I'd watch foreign films without dub and subtitles too."
"Interesting, no wonder you're good at speaking multiple languages."
Admittedly, it's not as if Hachiman's motive was noble. Far from it. Hachiman didn't become a model student out of choice. He didn't have any friends, and that's why he ended up living a lonely, reclusive life.
When he got burned out playing games and reading books, he would use his parents' computer to download hundreds of films using the pretext of language study.
"W-well, only on a technicality! Speaking with natives would be out of the question."
Hachiman was confident in his oratory skill. But when it comes to actual conversation, his lack of social contact can be the real hassle. However, now that he's working in the entertainment industry, he had no reason to chicken out.
Or rather, he shouldn't chicken out. He thought he lost his chance thanks to the damned accident last year, but the circumstances surrounding his parents gave him an out from that lonely hell.
If he fails this time, he had no one to blame but himself. Hachiman feels that, as much as he despises superficialities and fake persona, they cannot be avoided.
It's all part of the job.
If everyone else put on a mask, then he shall be the one who dismantles them all.
Chihiro smiled and then stood up, getting around her desk and offer her hand. "Well, that settles it! Welcome to 346 Production! Since Komachi-chan will become an Idol as well, we put a lot of hopes in you, Hikigaya siblings."
Hachiman shily shook her hand and didn't spend too long enjoying it. He was afraid that his hand might get sweaty.
Komachi decided to become an Idol, at last. It was part of the reason why Hachiman agreed to come to Tokyo and work here. He wanted to support his little sister.
"Speaking of which, I've never heard about where did you live starting from now." Chihiro turned somewhat grave. "Your parents thought about renting a house in Tokyo, but I haven't heard the details."
"Well, actually..."
Chapter 01 - Entrance of the Siblings
"We're supposed to live in the Company dorm..." Hachiman replies.
Hachiman was skeptical about it at first, especially since the company dorm was supposed to be for women only. However, the Company probably will find a good compromise about it regardless.
"I see, so the new tenant in the staff area will be you and Komachi-chan, huh?" Chihiro nodded and eased up.
"The staff area?" Hachiman raised his eyebrow.
"Well, more like the adult area, the older Idols also lived there." Chihiro waves to signal him to follow her. "Come."
In the past, the world Idols generally refer to young girls and women, no older than 21 or 22 years. Afterward, they would 'graduate' and stop becoming Idol, either become full-fledged celebrities or seek other career paths.
However, as of recently, more adult Idols shows up. While there's a strong association with the porn industry, it's not always the case. The adult idols in 346 Pro have a clean career and just started recently.
Hachiman's father really had the weirdest idea of what makes someone worthy of becoming an Idol.
"Is this really okay?" Hachiman asks, a little worried. "Actually, it makes sense now."
It's probably better to arrange it this way. There would be less chance of Hachiman triggering incidents in the teen areas. In theory, these adult women would watch over him in more ways than one to ensure everyone is safe and orderly.
They'll be there to protect everyone from him and to protect him from everyone else.
"Well, since your mother will severely punish any women who cross the line, you should be fine staying with us." Chihiro smiled but clearly is afraid of Hachiman's mother. "You should see when she confronts Hamakawa-san for trying to have her way with your father."
Hamakawa... Hamakawa Ayuna? Ah, now Hachiman remember. She was a 22-year-old former Street Model his father scouted and recruited from Chiba. Ayuna clearly has the hots for the 40-year-old Producer.
It was also one time that Hachiman's mother legit about to murder somebody. Thankfully, his father was a loyal man despite his faults. Regardless of the issues in their marriage, their trust and relationship as husband and wife seem unbreakable.
Which Hachiman was really thankful for. His family might be a little distant, but they don't really hate each other.
"...Mother might actually do that."
If Hachiman and Komachi end up living in the dorm, their mother will have an easy time to visit as well. Father, not so much, but they will see each other a lot at work anyway.
Hachiman didn't expect the rift in this family to heal right away. But he was looking forward to mends it eventually. If not for his sake, then at least he wanted to do it for Komachi.
The Company dorm was a building relatively close to the Company Office. 346 Pro was not an industry juggernaut but hardly small. It owned several buildings, and this Dormitory was one of them.
"The Dorm has multiple facilities, including its own gym, recreation area, training area, cafeteria, and so on. The residential area was split into two, with the west wing assigned to staff and older idols."
Hachiman thinks for a moment.
"Is this dorm designed to be self-sufficient, so the Idols don't spend too much time wandering outside?" Hachiman blurts out.
"Hehe, a bit blunt, but yes." Chihiro winces a bit. "Though the Industry becomes a little more liberal and accepting, we still want to minimize needless exposure."
Ensuring the Idols can stay inside as long as possible without being stressed out would minimize the chances of the scandal breaking out... it was a pretty smart decision, though financially consuming.
In other words, it's absolutely perfect for Hachiman and Komachi! Komachi might not like it, she looks friendly and social. But she was every bit as introvert as Hachiman was.
The Hikigaya siblings were inherently indoor people, to begin with. Being cooped in a dorm with this dearth amount of facilities is absolutely important.
"So, what do you think?"
"Absolute perfection!" Hachiman replies earnestly.
"Good to see you excited."
They met Komachi at the entrance. She was every bit as excited as Hachiman is, perhaps even more outwardly so.
"Good afternoon, Chihiro-san!" She bowed at her. "Please take care of us from today on."
"It good to be spirited! You should learn from your little sister, Hikigaya-kun!" Chihiro raised her fists in approval.
Hachiman felt the treatment was unfair. But he decided against complaining. Komachi being the favorite child between the two, isn't exactly new.
"Sure."
"You two will be assigned to the Third Floor. We'll be neighbors starting today."
"Yay!"
"Do you have the key with you?"
Hachiman and Komachi pull out identical cards, which are required for them to enter the Dorm building and access its facilities.
The three enter the lavish reception area. Hachiman felt that breathtaking is an apt description. The lounge was not exceptionally large, but it combined minimalist decoration and elegant color, made it spacious and comfortable.
But they're not here to enjoy the scenery, so they head for the elevator on the Westside.
"Good afternoon!"
It seemed that there were already some people waiting for the elevator.
Two young women.
"Chihiro-san, who is this?" The woman with wavy, gray hair asks. She has this aloof expression that intimidates Hachiman a bit. She must be suspicious of him. If Hachiman was in her position, he would be the same.
"This is Producer Hikigaya's son and daughter."
"Hikigaya Hachiman." Hachiman bows.
"Hikigaya Komachi, please to meet you all!" Komachi also bows.
The contrast between their tone of introductions says it all. Komachi was much more confident and friendly, showing little to no hesitation. Hachiman was as wary as the women, instead.
"I've heard about it." The woman with excessively long bang said. "Umm, er, I'm Sagisawa Fumika, n-nice to meet you."
Wow, so much spaghetti spilled. Hachiman hardly ever meets someone this shy. But then again, Hachiman rarely met girls in general, so he might just miss their presence somehow.
"Takagaki Kaede." The ashen haired woman said. "...That's all."
Woah, cold.
"Starting today, they will be living with us. So let's get along!" Chihiro cheerfully clapped. "Komachi-chan will be an idol while Hikigaya-kun will be our newest Production Assistant."
"Ah, I... I see. What College did you go to... H-hikigaya-kun?" Fumika asked. "Ah, perhaps you recently graduated?"
"Umm, I'm in my second year of High School, so I'll go to Otomejoshi to study starting the next school year."
"Ah? Is that so?" Fumika blushed hard, seriously embarrassed by her mistake. "I'm sorry!"
Was it because Hachiman wears a formal suit at the moment? He was thankful he didn't look even older than vaguely looking like a College student, at least.
It's probably the most uncomfortable elevator ride that Hachiman experienced. Between the constantly fidgetting Fumika, and Kaede who kept staring at him... he felt unwelcome.
Komachi and Chihiro seemed to ignore him to boot! Sad!
"If you don't want to be mistaken for an adult, perhaps you should change your cologne..." Kaede said, half whispering. "You smell a bit like your father."
Well, it's true that Hachiman indeed borrowed his father's cologne this time, feeling a bit more mature. But seriously, though?
Hachman squeezed his eyes in utter disbelief. "Excuse me?"
Hachiman doesn't want to think poorly of other people, but as a matter of fact, Hachiman tends to view them that way. Let alone those with evil intent, even the seemingly good people can cause an unintentional catastrophe.
Orimoto Kaori probably can attest to that.
This soft-voiced expressionless woman had said something that could easily wreck families. And since it involved his father, Hachiman couldn't help but irately concerned.
"Ah, forgive me for saying too much." Kaede grimaced slightly. "My nose is actually sensitive, and I can tell people's perfume by their brands and series..."
Okay, that's actually even more creepy. At least Kaede did mean well there.
"I did borrow his cologne today." Hachiman huffed in response. He almost got a heart attack, too. "Please don't say something that can cause misunderstanding."
"I'm glad Mother isn't here..." Komachi sighed in relief.
Kaede's face became paler as if her skin wasn't already plaster white. The women here really fear his mother, it seems.
"Ahahaha." Chihiro could only wryly smile. "Be sure to always clarify what you're saying, everyone."
Or more succinctly: watch your mouth. The kids of the Chief Producer are here.
"Let's work together in the future!" Komachi thawed the tension immediately with a bow and a smile.
"Ah, yes." Fumika and Kaede bowed in return.
"I'll be in room 301 if you need anything." Chihiro smiles. "We'll prepare your nameplate soon."
Room 303 doesn't have a nameplate at all.
"Who the room originally belonged to?"
"One of our Idol moved out to her own apartment..." Chihiro says. "Though we strongly recommend it, Dorming isn't mandatory in this company."
"I see."
Hachiman had no complaints about that.
"I smell producer here!"
Shit.
Hachiman immediately opened the door lock and entered, and slammed the door shut. Komachi still outside, but Hachiman can't bear to wait at all. When Komachi entered the room, at last, she was not amused.
"Onii-chan, what was that about?"
"Is everyone here obsessed with Father or something? Scary! Too scary!"
"You have a point." Komachi rubbed her chin, thinking. "No matter how you look at it, it's an abnormal situation."
Hachiman began to think that his mother had the patience of a Saint. Most women couldn't be bear to bear the thought of so many women lusting after their husbands.
"In any case, you should avoid using the cologne next time." Komachi pointed at Hachiman. "I'm not responsible for Onii-chan's safety."
"Right. That was stupid of me." Hachiman dropped his butt on top of the nearby chair.
The siblings decided to unpack their belongings. The so-called Dorm room was actually a mid-sized apartment suite with a small living/dining room, two bedrooms, an attached bathroom, and a small kitchen.
When one considers the price of an Apartment in Tokyo, there's no way this couldn't be considered a bargain. The only drawback would be that you're forced to live with someone assigned to you. But since Hachiman is going to live with Komachi, he saw nothing but benefit.
If Hachiman had to share a Dorm with strangers, he wouldn't be this content!
More of their goods will be delivered in a few days. At the moment, they only bring a bag of clothes and essential items like personal hygiene.
Before they realized it, the evening had come, and soon enough, time for dinner. Hachiman and Komachi took a bath, and Hachiman especially made sure to not wear his previous clothes.
"Let's go with our usual!"
Hachiman sprinkles himself with blackberry-scented cologne, which sounds childish, but he found the aroma refreshing and relaxing. Japanese in general don't like a strong scent, so things like cologne and perfume must be worn lightly.
It was a different smell than his father's.
...
"Onii-chan, let's have dinner!" Komachi asks him. "To the cafeteria!"
"Ugh!"
Hachiman already started to lose his drive. If he goes to the cafeteria for dinner, it's guaranteed that he will catch a lot of attention. On the other hand, he can't really hide forever, either.
After weighing his option, Hachiman's heart dropped a little, and he gave up. "Sure, let's go to the cafeteria!"
"Whoa, and here I thought you would refuse." Komachi was legitimately surprised.
"Have some faith in your big brother, damn it."
Hachiman didn't deny that part of him wanted to refuse. But if he gives up here, he will never go far in his new school. The school is full of Idols, both famous and less famous ones.
Hachiman will have to overcome his own lack of confidence. Even if the world conspires against him, he will not fail this time. Against this youthful world full of lies and deceit... Hachiman will not lose for the third time.
"Let's go."
Hachiman and Komachi came out of their dorm dressed in identical track jackets. What makes the difference was that Hachiman wears a trouser while Komachi wears shorts.
The cafeteria was, as expected, huge. This made sense, considering it has to serve all the building inhabitants. In the breakfast, lunch, and dinner period, the cafeteria is self-serve. The buffet-style eating means it costs a lot less for the Company to feed the Idols while offering better food safety and menu variation.
That, and as Hachiman could see from the trays they carry, Idols are always on a controlled, even disproportionally small diet. And this doesn't change with the male Idol as well. There's still an unfortunate perception that thinner is better. Though it is slowly changing as more unusually built Idols made their debut.
Komachi isn't a big eater in the first place, so she doesn't have it hard. But with future intense training, she will have to plan her diet well.
As for Hachiman... even though he officially here for administration staff work, he was also there as a filler for minor roles. Hachiman didn't really believe it at first, but well, his mother hammer the facts into him.
"Your face is way above average, you have a good body, and you're both smart and athletic. Tell me, what exactly is that you lacked compared to the others?"
Sometimes, Hachiman tries to avoid that question. He felt that people who used their innate talent and accomplishment to attract people's attention are incredibly shallow. In the past, Hachiman avoids showing off too much, whether academically or athletically, because of that pride he had.
However...
Getting attention just because of his parental accomplishment feels so much worse. Of all a sudden, Hachiman was put in a position of the very people he despises.
People like Yukinoshita Yukino or Hayama Hayato from Soubu High. People who have always been showered by attention. These two have rich, famous, and politically influential parents. Do they feel a sense of pride... or do they suffer, just like Hachiman at the moment?
All these judgmental stares he got, and the whispers behind his back...
Hachiman couldn't say he didn't understand it rationally before. But now that he stood in their position, a bitter feeling of empathy filled his mind, and it was disgusting.
His mother knew this... that putting Hachiman in this position will challenge his supposedly rotten belief and change his attitude. He had always been closer to her anyway.
Hachiman will show her that she's wrong.
Hachiman and Komachi picked a table that's still empty and sat down around it. Unfortunately, the table isn't in the corner of the area, but it's not as if they have many choices.
"Excuse me, can we share a table?"
Hachiman looked aside to find two girls roughly his age and stood before him. Their appearance could only be described as sensual but in the opposite directions.
"Of course, please have a seat!" Komachi didn't hesitate to welcome them, much to Hachiman's chagrin. Komachi then changed her seating to Hachiman's side.
Which he's thankful for. If Komachi didn't move, Hachiman gets flanked from both sides. And that would be awfully awkward.
They're all celebrities, and honestly, they're all beautiful women that people he knew from Chiba can hardly compare to. But while Hachiman can acclimate himself with older women due to their age and position of authority, Hachiman still can't interact with girls of his age at all.
He became stiff, and his face became pale the moment these two beautiful girls sit down.
"My name is Hayami Kanade." The girl with strangely similar dark blue hair as he and Komachi introduces herself. She dresses in a white shirt with its collar unbuttoned and a dark red tie under her neck.
Hachiman felt that he couldn't look away. Perhaps this is what people call a 'cool beauty'? And not in the ironic, sarcastic way. This girl exudes a mature, calm, and collected aura. And if Hachiman isn't being careful, he feels as if he's going to get swallowed by her influence.
"Hello, I'm Jougasaki Mika! Are you two new here?"
The other girl was similarly pretty but in a different way. Her dark pink hair tied to the side, her ears pierced, and her dark and light pink tie reworked into an asymmetrical ribbon.
Is this the legendary creature they called a 'Gal girl'? Hachiman saw a few roaming in Elite Soubu School before but never up close like this.
"Yes, we just transferred here." Komachi smiled. "I'm Komachi, and this is my brother Hachiman."
Hachiman immediately noticed that Komachi avoid using their family name this time. Hachiman clapped his hands inside, Komachi might not be as bright as him at studies, but her social craft far exceeds his own.
Hachiman scanned their face trying to gauge whether these two got fooled. Mika seems to be affected, but Kanade is hard to read.
"Komachi is a trainee, and my older brother here will be a support staff." Komachi smiled shamelessly. "Please take care of us."
"Support staff?" Mika looks baffled a little. "Erm, I don't remember this Company hires young boys, ah, no offense. I'm sure you're capable, but well..."
Hachiman was actually surprised that Mika kept her guard, or maybe Hachiman's presence really was too suspicious. The Company does have male staff, but they don't live in this dorm at all.
Except for the security apparatus, everyone else is female.
"We got hired as a bundle." Hachiman forces a smile and throws a joke that's not entirely wrong. Both he and Komachi got scouted at the same time and received the exact same basic training.
That is, they got scouted by their father and got trained by their mother.
He saw Komachi holding her laughter in but persevere despite that.
Wow, that was cringe-inducing.
Hachiman really remembered this atmosphere, like, back in Junior high, whenever Hachiman had a chance to speak. Everyone got weirded out, and the air became tense and awkward.
Kanade, in particular, raised her eyebrows.
"Ahahaha, what was that? A bundle?" Mika broke out into a laughing fit, which was definitely not fake. "A bundle, he said! That makes like, zero sense!"
Well, at least ONE of them laughed. That has to count for something, right?
"By any chance, is he serious?" Kanade asked.
"Hmm, hmm." Komachi nods furiously. "Komachi and Oniichan got scouted by Producer and also trained at the same time, but since this Company didn't produce male idols, my brother becomes staff instead."
Again, what Komachi says isn't technically a lie.
"Well, it's not entirely unbelievable. I mean, Rika and I got hired as a bundle too!" Mika pointed at herself, then she pulled out her phone and showed a picture of Mika and a younger girl. "Ah, Rika is my little sister. She's 11 years old."
Though they have different hair colors (so likely dyed), they have a strong facial resemblance to each other.
"Woah, how cute!" Komachi earnestly praises. "So you made your debut together?"
"Not exactly, but she followed my path when she heard I got scouted, and we joined the Company together." Mika sweetly reminisced. "Too bad your brother is, well, your brother. If he was a girl, then maybe you can debut together!"
Hachiman had read about crossdressing male Idol before. But he couldn't possibly pull that off with his epic baritone voice.
"Have you ever thought of joining other agencies, Onii-san?" Kanade asked, clearly prodding him.
At this point, though, Hachiman already composes himself and can face them properly.
"Nah." He replied with confidence. "As long as I can support Komachi, that's more than enough."
It was the real reason why Hachiman agreed to come. Sure, it was also a second chance for him to restart his cursed high school life, but that reason still beneath the fact that Komachi will make her debut soon.
Hachiman wanted to do everything he can for her sake.
"Speaking of which, what school do you go to?"
"Originally, I'm from Soubu Municipal High, Chiba..." Hachiman said. "I'll transfer to Otomejoshi starting the next April."
This is technically the spring vacation period, so the school will start in a few days. Hachiman said that as a matter of clarity.
"Eh? What grades are you? We might become classmates." Kanade smiled, strangely eager.
"Hmm! Hmm!" Mika also nods. "We'll be in the second year."
"I'll be a second-year student as well..." Hachiman confirms.
He was calm outwardly, but he's internally screaming at the moment.
"Komachi will be third-year Junior High instead." Komachi points herself, feeling a bit left out. "Guess that will make both Kanade-san and Mika-san my Senpai."
The conversation after this went much more smoothly, as they began talking about their period as trainees. Hachiman and Komachi were careful by omitting the identity of their trainer. But other than that, they didn't hide anything else.
"That was fun. Let's talk again sometime!" Mika waved her hands as she stood up.
"Yes, let's talk again when we have the chance!" Komachi cheerfully agreed and picked her trays.
Hachiman was about to leave, then his eyes meet that of Kanade's. Hachiman's heart stopped for a moment before accelerating slightly. Mika isn't a problem, but this woman spells trouble.
But for some reason, Hachiman couldn't look away.
Kanade winked in response and gave an air kiss. Which Hachiman dodged. It looks as ridiculous as it sounds, and it made Hachiman flustered.
"Hey, Onii-chan, I think Kanade-san is interested in you!" Komachi whispered teasingly.
"As if." Hachiman shuddered. "Let's go. You still have vocal training before bedtime!"
"Right!"
青春 の輝かしいステージ ひどく明るい感じ
The Shining Stage of Youth feels awfully bright
(Oregairu/Idolmaster - Cinderella Girls)
Original Story by: Watari Wataru/Bandai-Namco
Written by: ZeroXSEED