LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 334
When I first saw that scene, what was I thinking?
“Thank you so much, everyone!”
It was truly a coincidence.
But it was definitely fate.
Sweat was trickling down my cheek.
Perhaps exhausted from the rough singing and choreography, my breath was ragged.
Yet she was smiling.
She sparkled more than anyone else here.
And I… was instantly captivated by that sight.
That was the first meeting between me and the idol ‘HatsuYuki Yoru.’
★
After regaining my memories from my previous life, I felt a moment of despair at being just as much of a loner as before.
Still, I was so used to being a loner that it was a relief I had no difficulties with it.
…No. Is it really okay to call this a relief?
Well, that doesn’t mean I disliked my current life.
Objectively speaking, I could say I was happier than in my previous life.
But for some reason, I felt like my vitality was draining away day by day.
Anime, manga, light novels, games—they all felt somewhat lacking, and drawing… yeah.
I really didn’t feel like doing it at all.
★
“Kayanoh-san, your personality is wrong.”
“Y-Yes….”
Since I was used to hearing this now, I could calmly nod in acknowledgment and let the words slide by.
“Isn’t it better to hang out with friends than to draw alone every day?”
“I-I’ll try….”
After all, the interlocutor was someone I wouldn’t have a chance to talk to after school.
So it was easier to just nod than to rebel here.
“People cannot live alone. It’s better to open your heart a little more to your friends.”
Friends… huh.
‘Aren’t they way too playful?’
‘I want to stop seeing them soon.’
‘Do they still think they’re a lower grade?’
‘Don’t call me next time.’
Is being in the same space enough for everyone to become friends?
No matter how much I try to open up, there are some who won’t accept me… Does this person really not know that?
‘…My mental age is probably much higher? And how could I abandon you? You’ll understand someday when your puberty ends how much effort I’ve put in.’
Of course, there are brighter people shining like the sun, but not everyone can be like that.
“Mina-chan, you know that I’m really worried about you, right?”
“I know….”
No, there’s no need to go that far.
Surely, there are people who are just comfortable being alone because of their inherent personality….
But no matter how much I say it, my words will never reach this person.
The answer is already decided within them.
Since I know that too, I just quietly nod.
Thus, I was slowly dying within my everyday life.
★
It was refreshing and nice weather.
As someone who likes staying at home, I was surprisingly tempted to go outside.
Of course, I hadn’t really decided on anything in particular to do.
I just felt stifled staying at home and wanted to get out.
To avoid catching anyone’s attention, I wore a hat and a mask.
It’s a bit awkward to say it about myself, but I attracted attention in good ways due to my looks.
Especially my blue eyes.
Thinking about that, it might be good to wear sunglasses… but I had once worn them and ended up attracting more attention instead.
Anyway, I wrapped myself up and went out, but the autumn breeze was quite refreshing, so I didn’t feel hot at all.
“Haah….”
I found myself gazing up at the clear sky without realizing it.
But for some reason, my heart felt much heavier than usual.
What should I do going forward….
As I walked, pondering that, something caught my eye—it was a small venue.
I heard underground idols often perform in places like this…
Thinking back, I had been an otaku since my previous life, and after recalling my memories, I had been enjoying a pretty fulfilling otaku lifestyle.
Yet even I had never seen an underground idol’s live performance in person.
I had seen plenty on OnTube, though.
…I suppose this could be fate, so should I go take a look?
With that thought, I quietly made my way toward the venue.
★
The inside of the venue was quite sparse.
There weren’t many people, but it wasn’t completely empty either.
There was no line of spectators waiting to enter, and I could count the audience inside with my eyes.
The group’s name was surely… Yohaku (夜白)?
While quietly listening to conversations around me, I heard it was a two-member group making their debut today.
Moreover, it was their agency’s first foray into the entertainment industry.
…Did I make a foolish choice?
It’s hard to be excited when they put that kind of pressure on.
But now that I was here, it would be a waste of time and money to give up and leave….
Just as I was convincing myself, the lights began to flicker, signaling that the live was about to start.
“Hello! We are Yohaku, making our debut today!”
A lively and energetic voice resonated.
And what appeared on stage was…
“On this first start! I hope today becomes the best day for everyone!”
The first thing that caught my eye was a girl with pure white hair.
Her hair was snow-white and didn’t look dyed at all.
And contrasting that… her ruby-like sparkling red eyes held an indescribable charm.
If I had to express it in words, fleeting beauty would suit it best.
Though I was sure I was seeing her for the first time today, for some reason, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
“My name is HatsuYuki Yoru! I look forward to your support in the future!”
So that’s her name, HatsuYuki Yoru.
Wait a moment.
If the group’s name is Yohaku and her name is Yoru, then the next member’s name must be….
“Nice to meet you all. I am Shirazaki Shiro, also debuting today. I look forward to your support.”
I knew it….
Next introducing herself as Shiro was a girl with long black hair tinged slightly blue.
She exuded a gentle atmosphere with her elegant features and reddish-brown eyes.
Yoru with white hair, and Shiro with black hair—aren’t they opposites?
As that thought arose, a chuckle escaped my lips.
“Does anyone here think it funny that Yoru has white hair and Shiro has black hair?”
“Of course! We laughed about it when we first met.”
The two on stage seemed to read my thoughts and exchanged light laughs.
“Enjoy the show we’ll present, as we’re complete opposites!”
With those words, the stage began, and I was instantly captivated by it.
I found myself dreaming of shining as bright as her… an out-of-reach dream.
★
“Honestly… that was so, so amazing.”
“Thank you! I’ll keep working hard, so please enjoy it with me!”
“Y-Yes….”
After the performance, during the handshake event, with that conversation, I left the venue.
It felt like I had dreamt something.
The live from Yohaku… especially I couldn’t take my eyes off Yoru-san.
“Haah….”
As I exited the venue, the sky had already turned pitch black.
It was a night sky adorned with stars.
“Hey… did you just come out of that performance?”
“Wha-?!”
As I quietly gazed at the sky, suddenly someone spoke to me.
“Oh, I’m really sorry if I surprised you.”
Shivering, I turned around to find a beautiful woman standing there.
With looks that seemed straight out of an anime, she had blonde hair and light eyes.
However, she felt completely at ease, not awkward at all.
If we were just judging by appearance, she was as beautiful as Yoru and Shiro from earlier.
She smiled at my flustered state and handed me her business card.
[YS Production]
[Manager: Aikawa Lenka]
M-Manager?!
“Umm, can I get your name?”
“Uh, I-I… um…”
“Take your time. Speak slowly; it’s okay.”
“K-K-Kaya, Kayanoh Mina…?”
Gathering myself somehow and taking a deep breath, when I answered, Aikawa-san suddenly furrowed her brow.
“Kayanoh Mina…? Could it be?”
“Huh…?”
“No, it’s nothing. Kayanoh-san, could you spare a moment? I have something I’d like to discuss.”
“Uh? E-eh?”
“Didn’t you just come from that performance? What did you think of Yohaku?”
Upon that question, I recalled the earlier scene.
Despite the small audience, Yoru and Shiro had smiled until the end.
Their singing was soulful, and the nonstop dance showcased their vigor.
I couldn’t take my eyes off them even for a moment.
Especially Yoru…
“They sparkled, glimmering brightly.”
“…Is that so? I’m really glad to hear that. Could I ask for your time for a bit?”
“Y-Yeah?”
Why was she leading the conversation like that?
I couldn’t understand.
“Don’t you want to shine like those two, Kayanoh-san?”
But hearing those words, I found myself following Aikawa-san without realizing it.
★
Aikawa-san led me to a quiet cafe.
Then she made an invitation to me.
“Our YS Production is a new agency that’s just starting with the Yohaku unit. I think it’s important to focus on Yohaku for now, but… as soon as I saw you, my intuition told me you have talent.”
To become an idol.
…Huh?
That’s absurd.
How could someone like me shine like those two?
“I-I’m sorry, but I have communication impairment and… being a loner… I don’t think I really fit the idol image… Someone like me becomes an idol, fans would definitely run away.”
Yeah.
That’s surely how it would go.
“My personality… it’s wrong….”
‘Kayanoh-san, your personality is wrong.’
“At school, I can’t get along with friends….”
‘Isn’t it better to hang out with friends than to draw alone every day?’
“I can’t even open my heart to someone approaching me….”
‘People cannot live alone. It’s better to open your heart a little more to your friends.’
“I’m a bad kid who thinks selfishly about people who worry about me….”
‘Mina-chan, do you know that the teacher is really worried about you?’
Yeah. Given who I am, how could I become an idol like those people?
“There’s no way I could have fans… I’m such an idiot….”
“You can. I can assure you of that.”
“…Huh?”
“If Kayanoh-san were to debut… I would become your number one fan, right here!”
And Aikawa-san’s answer shook my heart.
“B-But if I were to form a group, I wouldn’t be able to get along with the members at all…? My personality is twisted and there will be fights, right?”
“It’s my role to prevent such things.”
“I don’t understand what being an idol is at all. It’s my first time seeing it today…”
“From now on, you can develop an interest.”
Is that even possible?
Can I…?
“C-Can I shine like Yoru-san…?”
“You can shine. My instincts are very good, believe me.”
“Me—who can barely speak due to communication issues…?”
“Even that can be a charm in this industry.”
A charm?
At school, they always told me I was wrong, that I was weird?
Could that really be a charm?
“Kayanoh-san.”
“…Y-Yes?”
“Have confidence. Your personality is not strange. It’s not wrong. Where is the right or wrong in a person’s character? It’s not wrong; it’s just different. I’m someone with communication impairment and I’m a loner, but I’m making this proposal because I want Kayanoh-san to shine as an idol. And….”
“And…?”
When our eyes met, Aikawa-san smiled softly.
“I know how beautiful it is for someone who has admiration for another to move towards their dream.”
So please accept this proposal, as Lenka-san extended her hand.
And I….
★
“What are you thinking about, Mina?”
“Oh. Yuyika-nee… I was just remembering the first time I was scouted by the manager…”
“Ah, I can relate… I think you’d have such thoughts on your first stage.”
“Did you feel that way too?”
“Yeah. I had a lot on my mind, but really….”
Finally, my first stage.
Having accepted the manager’s offer, I was about to take on my first performance as an idol.
My seniors, Yohaku and Aikiria, were still shining ahead of us.
And my stage… it was finally starting here.
“Let’s go!”
The splendid lights and sound adorned the stage.
And now it was time for us to step out into the place where the audience was waiting.
“Hello! I’m Komachi Yuyika, making my debut today at Stella’s!”
Starting with Yuyika-nee, Sakurane-nee, Luka-nee, and Ren-nee, everyone made their way to the stage one by one.
And now, it was finally my turn.
“Ah… H-Hello…! Today, I’m debuting as Kayanoh Mina… Kyaah?!”
“Mina?!”
And I ended up dramatically falling as I made my entrance onto the stage.
Yeah. Guess it’s time to graduate because I totally messed up…