Arc-3 Ep-31

"Well then, Takechi-san, Kayanuma-san, and Nanazawa-san. The three of you have finished your greetings, so you're done for today. Uchikawa-san, Kidato-san, Kawakami-san. What are you three planning to do?"

The latter three people Fujiyama-san mentioned are eighteen or nineteen years old. A generation ago they would still have been minors, but under the current Civil Code they're fully recognized as adults.

Since drinking and smoking begin at twenty, to me with my previous-life common sense they feel like a slightly awkward age group.

"Of course I'm staying."

"Same here."

Rio-san and Moyu-san declare their participation without hesitation. The two of them are currently competing for ninth or tenth place.

There's also the view that a smaller group like "Dwarf Planet" makes it easier to stand out, but it's still a fact that the first-string team "Sistema Solare" carries higher status.

The same applies to money as well. There is inevitably a difference in base salary.

I learned about that difference during my conversation with Nozomi-chan.

To me, either amount feels like an enormous salary for a middle-schooler whose workload has deliberately been reduced, and Nozomi-chan seemed to think the difference wasn't actually that big because of family circumstances.

Even so, it's a fact that not everyone feels the same way.

When a difference of just one rank can mean a noticeable increase or decrease in money, it's only natural to put in effort.

Between the two who could be called rivals, if one decides to participate then it's obvious the other will choose the same.

While thinking about such things, I turn my gaze toward Tomomi-san, who has remained silent. The other members also look toward her, apparently waiting for her to speak.

"…I think I'll head home~"

"""………………"""

Somehow I had a feeling it would turn out like that. I've heard from other Sistema Solare members that ever since the Reitaisai, the atmosphere around Tomomi-san's work has changed.

I didn't know the previous her in detail, so I couldn't tell, but apparently her motivation toward work has declined. Was dropping to third place in the popularity poll really that big of a shock?

With me and Rina-san above her, did she simply give up on reclaiming her position?

"…So Kidato-san and Kawakami-san will participate, and Uchikawa-san will not. Is that correct?"

After quite some time had passed, Fujiyama-san confirmed it with the three in question. Then Rio-san and Moyu-san, who had been quiet until now, hurriedly answered as if flustered.

"Y-yes!"

"…Please do."

"…………"

"…In that case, the four who are leaving early will be sent off first after greetings. The remaining ten can join at their convenience."

"Understood."

"Got it."

There was no reply from Tomomi-san, but with that the plan was finalized. I thought we'd change clothes and take a break until the after-party began, when Nozomi-chan, who was sitting next to me, suddenly spoke up.

"Mikuri-chan. About what we were talking about earlier, after this is over."

"Ah. The thing you started to say before? What is it?"

"I've prepared a car, so would you like to go home together? I'll give you a ride."

"Prepared? You mean the usual car?"

"Yes."

Well, for a super-young lady like her, having a car pick her up and drop her off even at this hour is probably completely normal.

"Hmm…"

"From here, even if we stop by Mikuri-chan's house on the way, it won't add much time at all."

By chance, my house happens to lie almost directly along the straight-line route from the venue of this nationwide song battle to Nozomi-chan's mansion.

It probably wouldn't take much extra time.

Besides, I naturally want to spend even a little more time together with this beautiful girl I'm close to.

"You're right… Then, could I ask you to do that?"

"R-really!? In that case, I'll go let Niikura-san know♪"

"Uh, yeah…"

Looking delighted, Nozomi-chan heads toward Niikura-san, the sub-manager.

Niikura-san, who had been writing something in what looked like a system planner, glances toward me for a moment after hearing Nozomi-chan out. I return a smile, then notice that Fujiyama-san is no longer around.

(Well, of course he isn't. We're about to change clothes.)

A common situation when a male manager is attached to female idols. I don't want to keep him waiting either, and the after-party is approaching, so I stand up from my chair and begin changing.

◆◆◆―――――――◆◆◆―――――――◆◆◆

"Well then. Excuse us."

""Excuse us♪""

At the after-party venue we split into several groups and repeatedly greet various big shots from the station and heavyweights of the entertainment world.

The group I'm in, led by Fujiyama-san, receives especially favorable treatment.

After all, we're the group that's leaving early as a unit, and besides me it includes Rina-san, Tomomi-san, and Nozomi-chan. A very strong lineup of four. So our group is responsible for greeting the truly important people. The other after-party attendees are presumably being greeted by the other groups.

"…Now then, everyone remembers who still needs to be greeted, right?"

"No problem~"

"We've finished everyone on the schedule."

"It's fine. …In that case, let's head back to the dressing room and prepare to leave. Takechi-san and Uchikawa-san will be driven by Gondo. Kayanuma-san… will be taken by Nanazawa-san, correct?"

"Yes. The car is already waiting nearby."

The greeting rounds at the after-party are finished, and work is finally coming to an end.

I'm feeling quite tired, so I just want to get home quickly, take a hot bath, and go to sleep early.

"Understood. …Gondo-san, I'm leaving those two to you. I'll go check on the other members."

"Yes. I'll contact you once I've dropped both of them off. …Now then, let's head back to the dressing room."

With Rina-san's de facto dedicated manager Gondo-san leading the way, we leave the cafeteria that's being used for the after-party.

Once we're back in the dressing room, to change clothes, and gather our belongings, preparations for going home will be complete.