Arc-2 SS-09
18
Side Story
Chie Sekiguchi
2026
Even with her eyes closed, I could hear breathing from her next to me, something I normally never heard. When I opened my eyes and turned to the right, her face appeared in the light of the small lamp.
(Really beautiful……)
Even from Chie's perspective, as a girl herself, there was a strange emotion that welled up at her beauty.
Chie had also been told by those around her that she was a beautiful girl, but seeing Mikuri-san made her doubt that they had been entirely sincere.
“Mikuri-san……”
She whispered in an extremely small voice. Of course, at that volume, Mikuri-san didn’t wake up. Her eyes didn’t open, and those clear eyes didn’t look at Chiei.
“Haa……”
Thinking about how this feeling had first appeared, I remembered last year’s festival. At that time, when I had to give my debut greeting as an idol, I had stumbled over my words, my mind went blank, and I panicked.
The one who helped me back then was Mikuri-san, sleeping beside me now.
(Was I… a girl who liked girls?)
I didn’t fully understand my own feelings. I had entered the training school intending to become an idol, so idols on TV were something I admired and loved.
But the feelings I had for Mikuri-san felt similar, yet slightly different.
(My first love…… was a boy, though it was when I was little)
I think my first love was a boy I was in the same class with when moving from second to third grade. Before anything developed, that boy transferred schools and disappeared.
(I remember his face and name, but he was a child at the time, so now……)
From around the upper grades of elementary school, upperclassmen and early-maturing classmates started approaching me more often. As a result, I remember the attention from surrounding girls becoming stricter.
(It was because of experiences back then that I started avoiding contact with boys, right?)
I had a girl friend since kindergarten who acted like the leader among the girls, so I don’t think there was any bullying. There might have been whispers, but I never heard them, and I didn’t pay attention.
“Muu, nn…….”
As I thought about those old memories, Mikuri-san made a soft sound and rolled slightly toward Chie.
(Did she wake up?)
I looked at her face, but she didn’t open her eyes and kept breathing as she slept. It seemed she had just turned over. Our faces were now facing each other, even closer than before. Her smooth white skin, without a single pimple, was right next to me.
“…………”
Cautiously, I reached out with my left hand and touched Mikuri-san’s cheek. Her skin, like silk, had firmness and elasticity.
“Kuh…… nn, nn……”
Emboldened, I poked her cheek lightly, and Mikuri-san let out a small sound again.
(Did I wake her?)
I pulled my left hand back, but she showed no signs of waking.
(I-it’s fine)
I reached out with my left hand again, this time touching the strands of hair that fell over her forehead.
Mikuri-san, eyes closed in sleep, began to look almost mystical. As I moved my hand, sliding my fingers over her smooth skin, she moved.
“Mu, naa…….”
She made a small sound and rolled over in the opposite direction.
“Ah……”
I couldn’t help but say it aloud as I saw the back of her head.
(I went a little too far……)
Soon, Chie would need to sleep too, or tomorrow morning would be tough. The lessons were voluntary, so as long as it wasn’t too strict, it wasn’t a problem.
“Nn…… Good night, Mikuri-san……”
Saying that, Chie rolled over and turned her back. She figured that facing the right side next to her wouldn’t allow her to fall asleep.
~~~End~~~