Arc-2 SS-15

“Fuu…”

This is my favorite bath, the one that brings the day to a close. And yet, today, no matter how hard I try, my thoughts refuse to settle. So much happened today, on the day of the Reitaisai.

In the popularity poll results, I placed eleventh, and Mikuri-chan and I ended up in different groups. Then there was the disturbance Higashiyama-san caused after everything had ended.

And on top of that, Mikuri-chan, who protected me in that moment, was injured, even if only slightly. According to the hospital examination, it was a mild contusion.

There was some slight internal bleeding visible, and the diagnosis was that it would take two to three weeks for her to fully recover. The two seniors suffered injuries of a similar degree, while I was diagnosed with no particular problems.

That was only natural.

Mikuri-chan had swatted away the object thrown at me with her right hand, and by the time it reached me, its momentum was gone.

If she had not been injured by that action, there would have been no problem at all.

“…What will happen from now on?”

What Higashiyama-san did was clearly a crime.

I do not know the legal details, but it should fall under assault or something similar.

Under normal circumstances, the police would be involved. However, we are celebrities, and this was a dispute within the same idol group.

If the matter becomes public, the media outlets we usually work with would probably refrain from covering it. Still, the tabloid press would almost certainly sensationalize it.

The targets would naturally include the perpetrator, Higashiyama-san, and on the victims’ side, Mikuri-chan and me. As for the two seniors, the gap in name recognition is simply too large.

(What does Father intend to do?)

Naturally, the incident must have been reported to the guardians as well. Would they pursue responsibility not only from Higashiyama-san but also from the agency?

And if they do, would it not lead to a situation where someone is forced to quit being an idol?

“That… would not happen, right?”

I absolutely hate the thought of being separated from Mikuri-chan over something this absurd.

Right after the Reitaisai, I had been thinking that I would work harder over the next year so that we could end up in the same group again.

(It seems possible that the agency will want to keep this from becoming public.)

There is also the option of handling everything internally, without treating it as an official incident.

If they can reach a settlement that satisfies the three victims other than me, they could dismiss Higashiyama-san and offer some additional compensation to bring the matter to a close.

From the brief conversation I had with Mikuri-chan, she seemed to think that as long as it does not provoke resentment afterward, she does not mind whether it ends in dismissal or is framed as graduation and retirement.

She may be opposed to prioritizing and protecting Sistema Solare above all else. 

I have no idea what Mikuri-chan’s parents or her three older brothers will think.

It is also difficult to read the intentions of the seniors, who were even more directly involved than we were.

They are fourth-generation members with low popularity, so it is questionable whether they would act with Sushu-Solare’s best interests as their top priority. If they are deeply shaken and decide to quit, that would become troublesome for the agency as well.

“Honestly! What a problem child…”

I understand that she was shocked about falling out of the ranking where she could receive a nickname, but causing such an uproar over it.

Management is probably regretting now that they did not have her graduate sooner, if this was going to happen. Even now, they are likely still scrambling to deal with the aftermath.

The more I think about what kind of resolution they might choose, the more anxious I become. 

I just hope it ends in a way that causes no harm to me, Mikuri-chan, or Sushu-Solare.

(Maybe something will become clear tomorrow…)

The plan to go to the agency first thing in the morning has been put on hold. For now, I am waiting to hear from Taneyama-san.

“Fuuuu. No, that’s not good.”

I have been stuck looping over the same thoughts since earlier. Because of that, I have spent far more time in the bath than usual.

(I should get out soon and call Mikuri-chan before going to bed.)

I want to ask about the state of her injury and thank her once again for protecting me. She will probably laugh and tell me not to worry, but I still will not feel at ease.

If the opportunity arises, I want to become someone who can help Mikuri-chan as well.