Arc-2 SS-01

“—No, I have absolutely no interest in the entertainment industry.”

“At least hear me out—”

“I don’t have time. Excuse me.”

I gave a polite bow and slipped away from the persistent scout.

(…It’s been a while~)

Right after leaving Mikuri-chan’s booth, someone from the Sistema Solare agency had approached me. This wasn’t actually the first time. I’d been scouted twice before—both times after attending Rina-chan’s handshake events.

Lately, they’d learned to recognize my face and stopped bothering me, so I hadn’t expected it this time.

“...Did they change scouts or something?”

It was the same post-mini-live handshake event, so I’d assumed the staff lineup would be the same. Well, no matter how many times they ask, my answer isn’t going to change.

(I love cute idols, but actually becoming one? No way...)

I recalled the lingering sensation of Mikuri-chan’s hands in mine and unconsciously wiggled my fingers in a strange way.

“She was so cute~”

Even someone like me—a die-hard Rina-chan oshi—had ended up swept away by Mikuri-chan’s charm. Originally, I’d come intending to shake hands with Nozomi-chan, but after watching the stage, I switched lines.

She’d even remembered seeing me briefly at Kozue’s house and greeted me with a radiant smile. Of course, she treated all the other fans just as kindly—even the less-than-attractive male ones. Watching that made me certain that I could never be an idol.

The mere thought of physical contact like shaking hands with countless strangers sent chills down my spine. And doing that while smiling, as part of your job? Impossible.

That’s why idols shine so brightly to me. Because they’re people from a completely different world. In other words, having another dazzling presence like Mikuri-chan alongside Rina-chan just made me happy.

“Isn’t that girl cute?”

“Damn, she’s on a whole other level from average idols.”

“She should just join Sistema Solare already.”

On my way out of the live house I’d often visited for Rina-chan, I caught the stares and overheard admiring comments from what were clearly Sistema Solare fans.

Sure, my appearance was blessed.

Blessed enough to rival Rina-chan or Mikuri-chan. But to me, that was nothing but a source of pain. I knew Kozue harbored complicated feelings about my face.

If she weren’t the heiress of a major corporate group, our relationship probably wouldn’t be as close as it was. We were relatives—but very distant ones.

And if my father didn’t work for that same corporate group, maybe we could’ve had something resembling an equal relationship.

(Too late for that now...)

Lately, the way Kozue looked at me—the emotions she directed toward me—had started to resemble the ones she had for Nozomi-chan. I just had to keep enduring it, but how long could that last?

“Haa...”

A sigh slipped from my lips before I realized it, and the men nearby immediately turned to look at me. That only added to my stress. Maybe that stress was part of the reason I’d fallen so deeply into idol fandom.

When I watched a cute idol smile...

When I saw a cute idol sing and dance...

In those moments, I could forget the fog in my heart.

“Right.”

(I should ask Nozomi-chan to get Mikuri-chan’s autograph.)

Maybe I could join in next time she stayed over at Kozue’s house, like before. Thinking back to the handshake event, Mikuri-chan had seemed to have a good impression of me.

“Alright!”

I just needed to deepen my bond with Nozomi-chan somehow. Sneaking around Kozue was annoying, but maybe—just maybe—I could become friends with Mikuri-chan too.

Just imagining that made my heart flutter with excitement.