Arc-1 Ep-04
“Huff… huff…”
“Wow, Mikuri-chan, you really have no stamina~”
“Huff… huff… I-I was always an indoor type… huff…”
In one of the smaller practice rooms, I’m doing dance lessons with four other trainees. But with my lack of stamina, I tire out quickly and end up getting sent to the gym after a short break to recover. There, a female trainer has me walking—more than running—on a treadmill. Even that feels like pure hell.
I regret avoiding anything that might’ve damaged my flawless skin or caused a sunburn. I should’ve gone outside and exercised a little… but it’s too late now.
“I might need to start planning out a proper stamina training routine… at least until August…”
“S-Sorry… huff for the trouble… phew…”
“No, it’s fine. This is part of my job, after all.”
The trainer glances at me, slumped over on the floor, with a distant look in her eyes. With only four months left until our debut at the Grand Festival, she might be losing hope that I’ll be ready in time.
“Alright, that’s enough for today. …You okay? Think you can get home on your own?”
“I’ll… rest in the lounge for a bit before heading back… huff…”
“Okay. Good work today. Be careful on your way home.”
“Y-Yes… Thank you…”
Dragging my exhausted body, I leave the training room and make my way to the lounge. It takes longer than usual, and when I arrive, the room is pitch dark and empty. I turn on the light and collapse onto the sofa, letting my weary body sink in. I finish off the last of my mineral water and lazily toss the empty bottle onto the table.
“Haa… I’m so tired today…”
Leaning back against the sofa, I stare up at the ceiling and mutter to myself. This was probably the most draining day of training I’ve had so far.
“I’ll rest a bit more before heading home. I’m starving too…”
Just then, an electronic beep echoes from the door—someone’s scanning their barcode to unlock the auto-lock. I sit up quickly, not wanting a senior to see me slouched like this.
“Excuse me— Oh! Mikuri-chan, you’re here!”
“…Nozomi-chan? You finished too?”
“Yeah. We all went to the locker room, but you weren’t there, so I wondered where you’d gone.”
“Sorry… Today’s training really wore me out, so I thought I’d rest a bit before heading home.”
“I see… You look completely exhausted. Are you okay?”
Apparently, there’s no hiding how drained I am—even from her. Today’s physical training was just that intense.
“Honestly, not great… But if it comes to it, I’ll call my family to pick me up, so I’ll be fine.”
“…How about I give you a ride home in my car?”
“Your driver? Wouldn’t that be a hassle?”
“It’s fine. We’re going in the same direction anyway, and it’s just a ten-minute detour.”
“But…”
“Besides… I’d really like to chat with you more on the way.”
“…Alright. I’d like that too, Nozomi-chan. Can I take you up on your offer?”
“Yay! The car should be here soon, so let’s get ready to go!”
“Sounds good.”
Urged by her gentle enthusiasm, I force myself off the sofa. Taking the train in this condition would be rough, and calling my family would take time. Her offer is honestly a lifesaver.
(Getting to ride home with a cute girl feels like today’s reward for all that hard work.)
Holding Nozomi-chan’s soft hand, I let her pull me toward the women’s locker room. I plan to shower before leaving, so I need to grab my towel and toiletries. Naturally, Nozomi-chan is coming too. It seems like today’s rewards just keep coming.
Inside the women’s locker room, I grab my things and head for the shower room, which is just a short walk away on the same floor. We scan our barcodes to enter. Inside, lockers block the initial view, so we walk around them to reach the changing area.
As we’re chatting and making our way over, we spot a slender girl with semi-long black hair getting dressed after her shower. She’s one of the eight sixth-generation candidates.
“Oh… G-Good work today…”
“Good work, Ichihara-san.”
“Mami-san, you’re still here?”
“Y-Yes…”
Mami Ichihara.
She started high school this April, and she’s definitely a beauty. Then again, all six girls besides Nozomi and me are attractive in their own way. Mami’s one of the two “normal” recruits who passed the audition and came from the countryside—not from an idol training school. Maybe that’s why she hasn’t really clicked with the training school groups… or with us.
For context, Nozomi and I are the “normal” pair from the local area. Shion is part of the agency’s in-house training school duo, and there’s another pair from a different training school, making eight of us in total. One of the training school girls also came from the countryside but moved here before passing the audition. So, the sixth generation candidates are loosely divided into four cliques.
“Well then… I’ll be going…”
“Take care on your way home.”
“See you tomorrow.”
“Y-Yes… Bye…”
Mami bows nervously and leaves. I honestly wonder if someone that timid can survive in the idol world.
“Can Mami-san hold out until debut?”
“…Hard to say.”
We undress at adjacent lockers, stripping down completely before heading into the shower room with towels in hand. Entering the semi-private shower area, I turn on the warm water and begin rinsing off the sweat.
“Ahh… Feels so good…”
Nozomi, showering beside me, lets out a blissful sigh. Showering next to a beautiful girl is… quite the situation.
No matter how used I am to my own body, I can’t help but be curious about another girl’s. Must be the leftover male instincts from my previous life. I have to be careful not to let Nozomi catch me sneaking glances.
“—Wait, seriously?”
“Totally. You’re gorgeous too, Mikuri-chan, so you really need to watch out.”
“Ugh… The entertainment world is terrifying…”
In the backseat of Nozomi’s luxury car, our conversation flows naturally. Nozomi’s love for idols means she’s full of useful information, and as a rich heiress, she also hears plenty of industry gossip—which she shares, likely to help prepare me.
“Some male idols apparently join the industry for that sort of thing.”
Her words sting. That had been my exact reason for getting into the idol world when I received cheat powers from that so-called god. Of course, the unexpected gender swap derailed those plans. I still want to file a complaint about the whole thing.
“There might even be female idols who join for the same reasons.”
“Huh? …Well, I get wanting a cool boyfriend, but…”
“No, I mean it’s not always about the opposite sex. Some girls might be into other girls.”
“What, like girls with girls!? …Oh, Mikuri-chan, you’re too much!”
Talking with a cute girl—especially one as beautiful as Nozomi—is endlessly fun. I’d love to keep chatting in the private comfort of her car, but all good things must come to an end.
“My apologies for interrupting, Lady Nozomi. We’re arriving at the destination.”
“Already!? I still wanted to talk more with Mikuri-chan…”
“Fun times always pass too fast.”
As we chat, the luxury car pulls up in front of my house. The driver steps out and opens the door for us, making me feel like some kind of heiress too. I step out and turn to thank Nozomi and the driver.
“Thanks again, Nozomi-chan.”
“No, I’m happy we got to talk.”
“Thank you too, driver.”
“It’s an honor to escort such a lovely young lady.”
The driver, probably in his fifties and clearly experienced, makes a playful remark. He’s probably used to scenes like this.
“Tanaka-san! Don’t tease Mikuri-chan too much!”
“My apologies, Lady Nozomi, Lady Mikuri.”
“Geez… Well, Mikuri-chan, see you tomorrow!”
“Yeah. Let’s keep doing our best.”
“Good night.”
The driver gets back in, and the car drives off as I wave to Nozomi. Once it’s out of sight, I turn and head toward the front door.