Arc-1 SS-07

“Ha… I knew it, I couldn’t do it…”

The words I let out with a sigh echo faintly in the bathroom. Soaking in the lukewarm bath to melt away the day’s fatigue, I recall today’s Reitaisai.

“Her face, her singing, her dancing—it’s all too strong…”

Last year’s Reitaisai was my day of triumph. But this year’s—barely half a day past—has already turned into a day of humiliation.

“I worked so hard…”

My biggest rival, Rina Takechi, snatched first place in the popularity poll. Well, I had braced myself for it to some extent after checking things online. But when it actually happened, my heart sank.

“What was I missing…?”

I took on acting jobs, the very ones she stubbornly refuses to touch, even pushing myself to the point of overwork. I appeared on countless variety shows for promotions, so my face should have been all over TV.

And yet, I still fell short of Rina.

The gap between me and third place was bigger than the gap between me and first, but a loss is a loss—it’s meaningless.

“If I couldn’t do it this year, then next year…”

Maybe it’s the shock, but I’m surprised at how much I’m talking to myself. Sistema Solare’s popularity is on a steady rise.

The agency predicts that with Rina replacing me as the ace, that trend will only accelerate. If that’s the case, I can only imagine the gap between me and her growing wider. And with other potential rivals out there, what will happen next year?

“…Mikuri Kayanuma.”

A rookie three generations below me, three years younger. First off—her face is stunning. A beauty on par with Rina, which already places her above me. I checked with the trainers, and her singing and dancing are apparently on Rina’s level—a monstrous rookie.

I’ve also heard her early acting training is getting high praise. Her only weakness is her lack of stamina and endurance. But time will fix that. It did for me, after all.

“Could second place be in danger too?”

Resting my head on the edge of the bathtub, I mutter to myself while staring up at the ceiling. The words, spoken without thought, echo back at me and jolt my foggy mind.

“…What? No way? Not just failing to reclaim first place?”

A vague unease swells inside me. When I picture her smile, it doesn’t seem impossible at all.

“…No, wait a second.”

This year’s Rina and next year’s Mikuri Kayanuma are in completely different positions. Rina didn’t have someone like Rina standing in her way. But Mikuri will have Rina, the ace, as a massive obstacle.

“If anything, their fanbases might overlap…”

Two exceptionally beautiful girls. Their personalities differ, but if they both focus on singing, they might end up competing for the same fans. Rina probably won’t take acting jobs, and as a first-year, Mikuri Kayanuma likely won’t get many acting offers, if any.

“That’s how it was for me, after all.”

In other words, my strength lies in acting. There’s also the option of variety shows. I can’t imagine either of them appearing on a ton of variety shows.

“So… does that mean I just need to double down on what I’ve been doing?”

That approach led to my loss in this year’s popularity poll. But it’s the only thing I can think of.

“…Alright! For the next year, I’ll work even harder!”

Clenching my fist in the lukewarm water, I steel my resolve. I’ll take on more jobs, appear on more shows, and make sure my face is everywhere. I’m still only seventeen.

I have no intention of ending up a loser. At the very least, I was Sistema Solare’s ace for a year. With that track record and pride on the line, I’ll take back the top spot next year!