Chapter 5: The Start of the Holiday
Last night, Touya and Shizuku exchanged contact information.
During the night, they shared their schedules via messages, and their plans for the holiday period gradually filled up.
As expected, Shizuku’s schedule was never completely free for an entire day, with some parts packed down to the minute and involving travel to multiple distant locations, truly a state of extreme busyness.
There were many work-related details that weren’t disclosed to Touya, an outsider, but he didn’t need to know what she was doing in the first place. What mattered was that if plans changed, Touya would need to adapt flexibly.
According to Shizuku, overplanning wasn’t ideal, so their concept was to take breaks in the free moments whenever possible.
And so, the first day of the holiday arrived.
Right away, Touya found himself visiting a dance studio in the city center in the morning.
“This is the right place, yeah…?”
Looking up at the large, rectangular building, Touya, dressed in a safe outfit of a jacket and chinos, muttered with slight nervousness. Shizuku was already inside, so he cautiously entered the facility.
Touya completed the check-in process at the reception and headed to a room on the second floor.
The moment he opened the door, Touya was taken aback.
The room was spacious, with a wooden floor and a large mirror covering one wall, exactly like the practice rooms he’d seen in idol documentary shows.
In the center of the room, a lone figure was doing warm-up stretches, their back turned to him.
Wearing a typical practice outfit—a pink top paired with loose gray pants—the figure exuded a professional aura and, inexplicably, gave off the impression of a beautiful girl just from their silhouette.
“Yo.”
When Touya called out, the person stretching—Shizuku—turned her face toward him.
“Yo!”
“That’s a different greeting than usual.”
“Huh, what? Did you want me to say something like, ‘Good morning~♪’?”
Hearing her mimic a cute greeting while bending forward made Touya feel a strange sense of dissonance, as if his senses were thrown off.
“That’s not what I meant. It just felt kinda like something you’d hear from an athletic club.”
“That’s fine, isn’t it? Accept the not-so-cute me too.”
“Sure, sure.”
“So half-hearted.”
They were bantering in their usual rhythm, but Touya was quietly perplexed.
After all, he had no clear idea why he’d been called here or what they were about to do.
Last night, Shizuku had messaged him, asking, “Can you come to my practice tomorrow?” So here he was, joining her.
Feeling a bit at a loss, Touya started stretching as well, which made Shizuku burst out laughing when she saw him.
“W-What’s so funny?”
“No, I mean, I asked you to come to my practice, but I’m not expecting you to dance, Sezaki-kun.”
“I know that. As if I could dance.”
“Sorry, sorry, it’s just a bit awkward, you know?”
“You’re not wrong. To be honest, this whole place is an unfamiliar, unknown space to me.”
“Just wait a little longer, okay? I’ll be done soon.”
“Don’t worry about me. Just do your thing like usual.”
“Thanks.”
Warming up before exercise is important. There’s no harm in being thorough.
While waiting, Shizuku considerately turned on a monitor mounted on the wall.
The screen began playing live footage of Princia, showing Shizuku in her idol outfit, singing and dancing.
“I’m thinking of you~♪”
Her sweat glistened, and her smile sparkled.
When the camera zoomed in during the climax, she winked with a heart gesture.
Bathed in the spotlight, Himeno Shizuku shone as an utterly adorable idol.
“Everyone~ I love you all~!”
At the song’s end, she didn’t forget to give proper fan service. It was a performance that understandably earned her popularity.
Touya had thought the same when he saw her live, but Himeno Shizuku’s style was the epitome of classic idol charm.
She didn’t rely on gimmicks; her uniqueness lay in her blend of transparency and presence.
In a word, it could be called “aura”—Himeno Shizuku’s was distinctly different from other idols.
That said, understanding this didn’t make Touya a fan of hers.
Fans are those who are enchanted, who want to cheer for or admire someone.
At the very least, Touya’s first thought was that he felt more comfortable with the casual Shizuku. In short, he could watch idol-mode Shizuku with a calm, unaffected heart.
“Alright, done.”
As Shizuku muttered after finishing her stretches, Touya took the chance to ask something that had been on his mind.
“Hey, are you close with the other members of your group?”
“What’s with the sudden question?”
“I was just wondering if you hang out with them on your days off. But from that look, I guess you’re not exactly besties.”
Shizuku’s openly sour expression made Touya give a wry smile.
“It’s fine, isn’t it? We’re not on bad terms or anything. Most fans don’t even notice.”
“Speaking of, how many people actually know the real you?”
“You’re really coming at me with questions. Are you that curious?”
“Kinda, yeah.”
Answering honestly, Touya watched as Shizuku shrugged with an exasperated sigh.
“You’re the only one who knows the real me, Sezaki-kun.”
“Huh?”
“Is that so surprising? I generally don’t trust people.”
“Oh… wow.”
Her candid confession made Touya feel the corners of his mouth lift naturally.
“Oh, you look kinda happy.”
“Well, yeah, it’s nice to be treated specially, you know.”
“If you weren’t, I wouldn’t be hanging out with you on my day off, would I?”
Shizuku said it with a hint of embarrassment, standing in the center of the room and operating a remote.
A small speaker in the corner began playing the song from the live footage.
“I’m gonna run through one song, so just watch, okay?”
“Got it.”
Then, Shizuku began performing the choreography with the same intensity as a real show.
She focused solely on the dance moves without singing, but her sharp, precise movements were captivating enough to hold anyone’s gaze.
Touya had thought that without the flashy idol costume or singing, it might pale in comparison to the live footage, but that wasn’t the case at all.
During the upbeat chorus, her movements became faster, and though she was drenched in sweat, her smile never faltered.
This was the true strength of a popular idol, and Touya couldn’t help but be impressed.
Clap, clap, clap. As the song ended, Touya applauded.
Shizuku, releasing all tension from her body, approached while wiping sweat with a towel.
“How was it? Pretty impressive, right?”
“Yeah, it was amazing. You’re a real pro.”
“That’s the kind of comment I’d expect from you, Sezaki-kun.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Most people would say something like ‘cute’ or ‘beautiful,’ but your ‘you’re a real pro’ is so straightforward, it’s kind of funny.”
Shizuku said it with a slight smirk, which made Touya retort a bit defensively.
“What’s wrong with that? It’s what came to mind first. But if you want flattery, I can do that too. ‘Shizuku-chan is so cute~!’ How’s that?”
“Pfft, that’s so not you!”
“Tch, some goddess you are, you fake.”
“Haha, I’m not mad, so don’t pout~”
When Shizuku poked his side, Touya felt a ticklish sensation and looked away.
“I’m not pouting.”
“By the way, about that fancy nickname—I don’t go around calling myself ‘the super goddess Shizuku-chan♪’ or anything, you know?”
“Sure you don’t.”
“I mean, goddess isn’t really my vibe.”
As Shizuku stretched, even that simple gesture was beautiful, rendering her words utterly unconvincing.
“W-Well, putting that aside, be careful with the physical contact. Getting touchy in that outfit is a bit too stimulating.”
“Huh…? I don’t get your boundaries, Sezaki-kun. Like, are you even interested in girls?”
“What kinda question is that?! I’m as interested as the next guy, alright?!”
He shot back immediately, but Touya had never dated anyone, and if he was honest, he probably hadn’t even had a first crush.
“Sorry, sorry, but it’s true that you’re hard to read.”
“I get that. People often think I’m cold, and to be fair, I’ve never had a girlfriend.”
Touya wasn’t uninterested in romance, but ever since quitting his club, he’d developed a reluctance to throw himself into anything passionately, a kind of emotional distance he was aware of.
That’s why he was surprised by how this strange relationship with Shizuku had continued.
“But maybe that’s why we can hang out like this. If you were, like, seriously into me, we probably couldn’t have this kind of relationship.”
“Yeah.”
As they talked, Shizuku started playing the second song.
“So, did you call me here to talk about this stuff? Or was the goal to show off your dancing?”
“…A bit of both, I guess. I kinda wanted you to acknowledge the technical side of my idol work. Sorry, that sounds heavy. Maybe I’m just nervous because of the tour.”
“It’s not heavy. I’m not trying to act all high and mighty, but I already know you’re amazing as an idol.”
“Then that’s fine. Oh, and I had another reason for inviting you today, but it’s not something we’ll do here.”
“Oh?”
“Just let me adjust a bit more.”
With that, Shizuku started dancing again.
Touya didn’t feel bored, so he spent the time watching her graceful movements.
“Phew, all done!”
Under a clear blue sky, Shizuku stretched with a refreshed expression.
The practice session lasted about an hour, and the two of them left the studio together.
Naturally, Shizuku had changed into casual clothes—a white sleeveless top paired with navy wide-leg pants, a refreshing look.
Her hair was tied into pigtails, and she wore glasses and a mask, though her usual cap was absent. It felt less like a disguise and more like casual clothes with camouflage accessories.
Perhaps because her outfit left her shoulders bare, her fair skin caught Touya’s eye, making his heart race just walking beside her.
Noticing his reaction, Shizuku grinned mischievously.
“See? You might not care about idol me, but you’re totally aware of girls in a normal way.”
“I’ve been saying that from the start. Wait, why bring that up now?”
“Oh, no reason. Maybe because someone’s looking a bit smitten?”
“You’re the worst. So, what’s next? You’ve got a magazine shoot this afternoon, right?”
“Yup. Let’s grab lunch first.”
As if she’d already decided on a destination, Shizuku walked ahead with a cheerful bounce.
“You’re in a good mood.”
“Well, yeah. I’m finally feeling the Golden Week vibe.”
“That’s great.”
The streets were crowded, as expected during a holiday, and Touya noticed people’s gazes turning toward Shizuku.
At first, he worried her idol identity had been exposed, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
Just by wearing more feminine casual clothes, she drew attention even in her natural state. Realizing how effective her usual androgynous camouflage was, Touya felt a slight sense of unease.
“Hey, people are staring quite a bit.”
When Touya whispered, Shizuku responded with calm confidence.
“It’s fine. Just act natural. But if a scout tries to approach me, don’t stop walking, okay?”
“Got it.”
If Shizuku said it was fine, Touya had no choice but to trust her.
In her natural state, she had a carefree yet composed air, lacking the vibrant aura she exuded as an idol.
…But there was still that transparency.
That crystal-clear, magnetic transparency that captivated onlookers.
It was enough to make people stop in their tracks.
After this somewhat thrilling walk, they reached their destination.
It was a chain hamburger restaurant.
In front of the store, banners displayed a familiar idol-like figure.
“Is that you, Himeno?”
“Yup.”
To Touya’s surprise, the banners featured Shizuku.
The Shizuku on the banners wore a waitress outfit, complete with a beret and apron, which suited her strikingly well.
Though the chain operated nationwide, the combination of an idol and hamburgers felt a bit odd, but Shizuku looked somewhat proud and smug.
“You’re everywhere, huh…”
“That phrasing kinda bugs me. Don’t talk about a girl like she’s a bug.”
“My bad. Are we eating here?”
“Yeah. Places like this are hard to come to alone. That’s today’s goal.”
“Got it. Shall we?”
This time, Touya took the lead as they entered, only to be told by a staff member that it was crowded and there’d be a wait, but they decided to stay.
“Japanese-style tarako spaghetti and Caesar salad for the customer.”
“Over here.”
When the waiter brought the low-calorie meal, Shizuku raised her hand calmly.
“…Figures.”
Touya had briefly hoped to see Shizuku devour a hearty hamburger steak, but that wasn’t happening.
Sitting across from her, Touya gave a wry smile and turned to his own cheeseburger steak.
“I don’t know what you were expecting, but I do eat hamburgers, you know? Here, take a bite-sized piece.”
“Alright.”
While Touya cut a piece of his hamburger and placed it on a small plate, Shizuku served a portion of her spaghetti onto another.
“You’re sharing with me?”
“Of course. I’ll give you some salad too.”
Shizuku deftly portioned out a generous amount of salad from the bowl and set it in front of Touya.
Impressed by her efficiency, Touya waited until everything was ready, then clasped his hands together.
“Let’s eat.”
In unison, they began their meal, and Shizuku took a bite of the hamburger steak.
“Mmm, delicious.”
Her tone was flat, so her joy wasn’t entirely clear, but she seemed satisfied.
“Is it that good?”
“You’ll see when you try it.”
For some reason, Shizuku gave him a testing look, which heightened Touya’s anticipation.
“Alright, here goes.”
Touya speared a piece of hamburger with his fork and popped it into his mouth.
The juicy meat and rich cheese flavor filled his mouth, and he hurriedly scooped up some rice, nearly burning his tongue.
“Yeah, it’s good.”
“Right? I wonder why meat tastes so amazing.”
That said, Touya wasn’t nearly as moved as Shizuku seemed to be.
The taste was familiar, and Shizuku’s reaction felt a bit exaggerated.
Still, Shizuku was eyeing the hamburger with a longing gaze.
“If you want more, go ahead and eat as much as you like.”
“Nope, I’m still on a restricted diet. Even though I worked out, just a taste is enough—a single bite is plenty.”
Shizuku brought a forkful of salad to her mouth, as if trying to shake off temptation.
Just then, a promotional announcement by Princia featuring Shizuku played in the restaurant.
“Nikuniku~♪ Hi, I’m Himeno Shizuku from Princia! The moment you bite into this hot, juicy hamburger, it’s irresistible, right? It’s my favorite!”
Though it was just a campaign ad, it felt like it was voicing Shizuku’s current feelings.
While the ad passionately praised the hamburger, the real Shizuku was eating mostly salad, creating a complicated feeling for Touya.
“Did you want to come here because you’re in the promotion?”
“Something like that. Also to check out the place, but eating for a PR shoot feels different from eating normally.”
“And with me here, I can finish what you don’t eat.”
“Exactly. It’s wasteful to leave food, and guys like this stuff, right?”
“Pretty clever.”
“Yup.”
Apparently, Shizuku had thought this through.
Touya was genuinely impressed by the demands of her celebrity life.
“By the way, eat some salad, Sezaki-kun. You haven’t touched it.”
“I’m not exactly a veggie enthusiast.”
“It’s not about liking them—it’s about nutrition. Eating only meat will make you fat.”
“I’ve always been the type who doesn’t gain weight easily.”
“People who say that tend to balloon after twenty, you know.”
“Seriously? That’s scary.”
Though he said it without much concern, Touya continued eating his hamburger.
He planned to finish the salad eventually, but he was pacing himself to avoid being served seconds.
“You’re surprisingly stubborn, Sezaki-kun.”
“I don’t want to hear that from you, Himeno.”
As they bantered,
“Hey, isn’t that girl cute?”
“Oh, you’re right, she’s super cute!”
“A model, maybe? Her arms are so slim~”
A couple at a nearby table started whispering while looking their way, making Touya and Shizuku tense.
Shizuku awkwardly lowered her face and silently ate her spaghetti.
Even with her skilled disguise and different vibe, some people might still recognize her.
Especially since she wasn’t wearing a mask while eating, and the glasses alone weren’t much protection.
So, Touya deliberately glanced at the couple and gave an exaggerated cough.
The couple looked away apologetically and switched to a different topic.
“…Thanks, you saved me.”
“No problem. It’s for my sake too.”
“Maybe I should’ve worn a hat.”
“You didn’t want to wear one today, right? Honestly, I think your outfit looks better without it.”
“Yeah.”
Shizuku’s cheeks flushed slightly as she looked down.
Feeling embarrassed himself, Touya focused on eating quietly after that.
After leaving the restaurant, Touya walked Shizuku to the station for her magazine shoot.
“Thanks for today. I’ll text you. Good luck with your part-time job.”
“Yeah, see ya.”
Their parting was brief.
They waved to each other, and Shizuku got into a taxi while Touya headed to the station platform.
Bzzzt.
Touya’s phone vibrated, and he saw a message from Shizuku.
“Are you into clothes, Sezaki-kun?”
Surprised by the immediate message but relieved it was mundane, Touya smiled as he replied.
“Not really. But I’ll go shopping with you.”
“Then let’s hit a thrift store next time.”
“Cool.”
“It’s a plan.”
The next time they’d meet was probably in three days, in the evening.
Though it wasn’t far off, Touya already felt eager for it.
◇
The next day.
“Thank you for coming. Please fill out this form.”
Touya was working at a karaoke place starting from noon.
It was packed, and the rush continued without a break.
But as things finally calmed down a bit, a familiar face appeared.
“Hey, I’m here to hang out!”
Natsuki and a group of girls from the light music club arrived in a big group.
Some had brightly dyed hair that practically glowed under the shop’s lights.
“Ugh… Please fill out the form.”
“Sorry, we came at a busy time, huh?”
“Yeah. Don’t make too much noise, alright?”
“That’s hilarious—this is a karaoke place! It’s for making noise!”
The comment came from Girl A from the light music club (Touya didn’t know her name).
Ignoring her, Touya gave Natsuki a cold stare.
“Drinks? One hour’s fine, right?”
“No, we’re doing free time. Everyone’s getting the drink bar.”
“Got it. Please wait a moment while I prepare your room.”
While checking available rooms, Girl A butted in again.
“So, Sezaki-kun, you’re close with Himeno-san, right? Be honest—are you into her?”
Her blunt question almost threw him off, and her strong perfume didn’t help.
“We’re close, but I’m not into her like that.”
“That’s what he says, Natsuki.”
“Huh? Why’re you telling me?”
“Ugh, scary. That’s why you should hang out with Natsuki more, you know.”
“Thanks for the concern. Maybe if I have time.”
Girl A nodded, satisfied, and walked off. She seemed like a good friend.
It had been a while since Touya saw Natsuki, last meeting her at the arcade, but she hadn’t told anyone about going to Princia’s concert together.
Handing Natsuki the room plate and giving verbal directions, Touya saw them off.
After handling the next customer, the line finally cleared, and he took a breather.
The shop was short-staffed, so high schoolers like Touya had to handle front desk duties, cleaning, troubleshooting, and even some kitchen tasks.
Still, once he got used to it, it was mostly repetitive work, and the Princia songs playing in the shop, along with Shizuku’s smile on the large monitor, kept his spirits up.
“Taking a break!”
Touya popped into the kitchen to announce it before heading to an empty break room.
Sitting on a pipe chair, he checked his phone. The message he sent Shizuku earlier hadn’t been read, suggesting she was still busy.
To pass the time, he checked Himeno Shizuku’s official SNS account, where a staff member had posted a photo of her eating soft-serve ice cream.
There was also a short video, so he put in earphones and hit play.
“Mmm, so delicious~!”
“Pfft.”
Seeing her hard at work made Touya smile unconsciously.
To an outsider, he’d just look like a guy grinning at an idol’s off-shot video, so he was glad no one saw.
Setting his phone down to relax, it vibrated again.
Bzzzt.
Checking it quickly, he saw a message from Natsuki, and his energy deflated.
“On break soon, right?”
He’d mentioned his break time when guiding her to the room.
Unsure why she cared, he replied, “I’m on break.”
She responded, “Come to our room.”
He refused, but her “Just come” message left him no choice, so he headed to her room.
Knocking before entering, he found Natsuki and the light music club girls in high spirits.
He hesitated for a moment but was beckoned in by a few, so he sat next to Natsuki, who was cheering loudly, and spoke.
“Alright, I’m here. What’s this about?”
“Good work! I just felt like singing together.”
“Huh? No way I’m singing.”
“Because you’re working? But you’re on break.”
“No, it’s not that. I’d have to pay for the room.”
“Oh, forgot about that. C’mon, just one song.”
“No way.”
As Touya moved to leave, two girls who’d just finished a duet shouted, “Stop!” through the mics.
“Sing with Nacchan! She’s been looking lonely!”
Nacchan was Natsuki’s nickname among some club friends. Hearing it after so long almost made Touya laugh.
“I’m not lonely!”
Natsuki had queued a Princia song.
Intending to sing it with Touya, she handed him one of the two mics.
“If we get caught, we’ll apologize together. Just sing one song.”
“At least let me sing a guy’s song…”
“Shut up. I picked a recent song for you, so be grateful.”
“Fine, fine.”
And so, for some reason, Touya ended up singing a Princia song with Natsuki in front of the light music club girls.
Natsuki sang perfectly and skillfully, while Touya muddled through with vague recollection, and their duet began.
The room erupted in excitement, and Touya, getting used to the embarrassment, started feeling oddly carefree.
Well, this’ll make for a good story.
By the second half, he was even thinking such cheerful thoughts.
“Sorry for dragging you into that.”
Outside the room, Natsuki apologized.
“It’s fine. I still don’t get why, though.”
“Mukai said your holiday’s all work, so I thought you could use a break.”
So, Natsuki had been considerate in her own way.
Touya was genuinely grateful for that.
“Thanks for the thought. But my schedule changed, so it’s not all work.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. I’ve got a lot of shifts, but I’m making time to relax too.”
“Oh, I was gonna hang out if you were free.”
“Speaking of, tomorrow’s a school day, right? Shuuichi and I are hitting the arcade after. Wanna come, Kinai?”
At the invitation, Natsuki blinked in surprise before responding.
“Uh, sure, why not.”
She agreed with a hint of embarrassment.
Touya was surprised at how naturally he’d invited Natsuki, considering they’d been distant until recently.
“I’ll let Shuuichi know.”
“Y-Yeah. Keep up the good work.”
“See ya.”
Natsuki returned to the room, looking somewhat pleased.
As Touya headed back to the break room, his phone vibrated.
It was a message from Shizuku.
“Today’s lunch.”
Attached was a photo of Shizuku holding kushikatsu skewers with a smug grin.
“Yeah, they’d definitely post the soft-serve one.”
An idol with a sweet tooth versus an idol chowing down on kushikatsu.
Depending on the context, the former was the safer bet for public appeal.
Still, Touya found the kushikatsu-eating Shizuku cute too.
Without malice, he sent, “Looks good on you,” but got an angry emoji in return.
“So, my stomach was full from kushikatsu, but then they brought out unagi rice. But as a pro, I had to eat it, right? Leaving something that delicious would be unthinkable.”
That night, Touya and Shizuku were on a call.
Shizuku was in a hotel room in a city on her national tour, apparently lying down and talking since she was alone.
The conversation mostly revolved around the city she was visiting, particularly the food.
“You keep sending me food pics. I thought you were trying to mess with me.”
“No way. It’s me bragging about my hard work.”
“Then good job. But if you’re a pro, maybe you should’ve skipped the kushikatsu. No cameras were rolling for that, right?”
“True, but I wanted to eat it. Still, tomorrow’s outfit shows my stomach… I hope it’s okay.”
Apparently, they were also filming behind-the-scenes footage for a live DVD, and the kushikatsu would be featured.
To distract Shizuku from her calorie concerns, Touya shared his day.
“Actually, I sang one of your songs today.”
“Huh?”
“‘Your Only Princess,’ I think. Some light music club girls at the karaoke made me sing it. I’d only heard it at your concert, but I managed okay since it was a duet with Kinai. Half of it felt like a penalty game, though.”
“Hmm.”
Her reaction wasn’t what he expected.
The mood felt off, and he sensed a spike in Shizuku’s irritation through her tone.
“Anyway, never mind that.”
“No, no, sounds like you got to experience your dream harem. Kinai, was it? You guys are close, huh.”
“We’ve only talked since the concert—well, since the arcade. Wait, did something happen with you and Kinai?”
“Nothing with me. I’ve barely spoken to her.”
“You sound pretty grumpy for someone who says that.”
“Your imagination, maybe?”
“If you say so.”
“Tch.”
“Hey, is it okay for an idol to click her tongue like that…?”
“I didn’t!”
“Liar.”
“Even if I did, I’m in off-mode right now.”
“That’s some ultimate logic… But if I’m the only one who knows, I guess it’s fine.”
“Tch.”
“Doing it blatantly is a bit much, don’t you think?!”
“My bad, sorry~”
Given her mood, Touya decided not to mention his arcade plans for the school day. Shizuku was skipping school for her concert, so he kept quiet to avoid stirring trouble.
Just then, he heard a rustling sound, like fabric brushing, over the phone.
Curious, Touya listened closely.
“Nngh.”
“Uh, Himeno-san?”
“What?”
“No, I’m the one who wants to know what you’re doing.”
“Why the sudden politeness?”
“Well, unless I’m imagining it, that sounded like… fabric rustling.”
“Oh, I’m getting ready for a half-bath and undressing.”
“Pfft!?”
Touya sputtered, and Shizuku sighed as if exasperated.
“Don’t overreact. It’s not like we’re video-calling.”
“Even so…”
Splash…
Ignoring Touya’s fluster, he heard the sound of water being poured.
Then came the unmistakable sound of her entering the bath.
“…”
“You can indulge in dirty fantasies if you want, but at least keep talking.”
“I’m not having dirty fantasies!”
“Sure, sure. Enjoy this rare bath ASMR.”
“Don’t mock me…”
Still, his imagination was indeed running wild, so he couldn’t complain.
Shizuku’s voice echoed slightly in the bathroom, and every movement sent soft splashing sounds to his ears, which were oddly soothing.
Still, Himeno’s so nonchalant about this, or maybe just full of openings…
He’d thought it before, but Shizuku’s natural personality was laid-back and riddled with vulnerabilities.
Her occasional physical closeness could easily be misinterpreted by most guys, and her sense of boundaries often felt off.
That said, part of it was likely because she didn’t see Touya as a guy—as a romantic interest—so he couldn’t push back too hard.
Still, he wasn’t about to let her walk all over him.
“Alright, since you’re so relaxed, Himeno, are you wearing a towel or anything?”
“Why would I wear a towel alone? I’m completely naked.”
“C-C’mon, have a little shame or at least sugarcoat it!”
Touya had hoped for a hint of embarrassment, but his plan backfired spectacularly.
Despite talking to a guy friend, Shizuku sounded utterly relaxed, letting out a sigh.
“Phew~ I’m pretty tired, so cut me some slack.”
“Then end the call or something.”
“That feels kinda meh.”
“Fine, I get it. Looks like I’m the one who has to give in. I’ll be all zen about it.”
“Haha, if you’re zen, you can’t talk.”
“You carefree jerk…”
“Is that supposed to be an insult? To me, ‘carefree’ is a compliment~”
“Then how about ‘barefaced, vulnerable, and blunt’?”
“Ooh, that one stung a little.”
Touya wasn’t sure what hit Shizuku’s weak spots.
“And… nah, never mind. Thinking about it, you don’t have that many flaws, Himeno.”
“Oh, you’re getting soft. That’s rare. It’s kinda healing~”
“Glad to hear it. But don’t fall asleep in the bath, okay? You’ve got a concert, and catching a cold would be bad.”
“True~ Guess I’ll get out soon.”
“Yeah, do that.”
“But don’t hang up. You’re keeping me company until I sleep.”
“Alright, alright.”
After Shizuku finished her bath, they continued chatting about trivial things until just before midnight, when they ended the call.
◇
The next morning, it was a school day.
As expected, Shizuku was absent.
Perhaps because it was mid-holiday, the school had a sleepy atmosphere, and Touya attended classes with less focus than usual.
After school, he joined Shuuichi and Natsuki at the arcade.
“School days like this are so pointless.”
Shuuichi, slightly tanned, said cheerfully.
They were watching Shuuichi and Natsuki play a fighting game, with Touya spectating beside Shuuichi.
“Golden Week’s just a bunch of holidays lumped together. Sounds like you’re having a fun break, though.”
“Dates are expensive, man. My wallet’s crying. Maybe I should pick up more shifts—agh, damn it!”
Shuuichi worked as a kitchen staff at an izakaya but didn’t get many shifts, always complaining about being broke.
Meanwhile, Natsuki, spoiled by her parents, seemed to manage fine with just her allowance, even with all her fan merch purchases—a stark financial contrast.
“You’re too weak to even talk about.” Natsuki said boredly from the opposite machine.
Beaten one-sidedly, Shuuichi slumped and moved, letting Touya take his place.
“Entertain me a little, will you?”
Natsuki peered over provocatively, but Touya just nodded calmly.
The match began, and it was one-sided.
Natsuki’s fluid combos landed beautifully, draining the HP bar vividly.
In no time, “K.O.” flashed on the screen.
The winner, again, was Natsuki.
“What? You’re that weak? No way.”
“What’s wrong, arcade master?!”
“I can’t focus at all…”
“What happened…?”
Tomorrow, Touya would see Shizuku for the first time in three days.
That alone was so exciting that he couldn’t concentrate on the game.
“Sorry, I’m heading home.”
“Oh, alright.”
“Take care!”
With worried looks from the two, Touya left the arcade dejectedly.
“…I didn’t think I was that excited.”
Muttering to himself, Touya pulled out his phone.
The message he sent Shizuku at noon was still unread, and he sighed as he put it away.
Touya was aware that Shizuku’s presence in his life was growing day by day.
But that was probably just as friends, not anything romantic—or so he told himself.
With that self-assurance, Touya slowly headed home.
◇
The next afternoon.
The meeting spot was a town famous for its thrift stores.
Under a cloudless sky, Touya exited the station, looking around with restless anticipation.
He didn’t see anyone who looked like Shizuku, though there were plenty of stylish young people around.
For the record, Touya wore a safe gray jacket and chinos, unremarkable but not out of place.
Tap, tap.
Someone tapped his shoulder, and he turned to see a woman wearing glasses.
With no makeup, dressed in a black blouse and denim skinny jeans, her long hair tied in a ponytail, she was stylish but gave off a plain vibe.
Thinking it was a mistake or some kind of solicitation, Touya hesitated.
“Kept you waiting.”
Her flat tone caught him off guard.
No way.
“…Himeno?”
When Touya asked skeptically, the woman—Himeno Shizuku—nodded.
Ignoring his shock, Shizuku said, “Let’s go,” and started walking.
“Wow, that’s incredible. You’re like a different person.”
“This way, no one will recognize me, right?”
“Yeah… I didn’t even realize it was you at first.”
Apparently, she’d taken the attention at the hamburger restaurant to heart.
The Shizuku before him seemed like an ordinary, understated woman.
Without a mask, her expression and demeanor were even more subdued than usual, making her presence feel almost faint.
But on closer inspection, her features were still refined, and her figure was as striking as ever. It was an impressive disguise.
“I got serious today. I even used base makeup to make my complexion look paler.”
“Makeup can change you that much? I really didn’t recognize you for a second.”
“Then it worked. It’s not just looks—I paid attention to my behavior too.”
“You’ve definitely got a knack for acting, Himeno.”
“Maybe. I’m not exactly lacking confidence in that area.”
Her smile radiated confidence, understated yet captivating.
Curious about her talents, Touya voiced a concern.
“But then… does this mean you’ll be like this from now on?”
“No way. Even I don’t plan to keep going around with this no-makeup look. In my usual day offs, I still do try to dress up in my own way and be fashionable, you know?
“Right, of course.”
Maybe sensing Touya’s relief, Shizuku gave a wry smile.
His reassurance seemed to amuse her.
“Right now, I’m in the middle of a nationwide tour, so I just want to avoid any risks that might lead to something getting exposed. After all, from an outsider’s perspective, today’s outing totally looks like a date, doesn’t it?”
“Ugh…”
The word “date” stirred an indescribable sense of pressure in Touya, but Shizuku bumped her shoulder against his as if to cheer him up.
“There’s no need for you to make that face, Sezaki-kun. Even if we got caught, I’d make sure it causes as little trouble for you as possible.”
“No, it’s not like I’m worried about myself… I know I keep saying this, but you’re sure you want to hang out with me to unwind, right, Himeno?”
“Yeah, I do. Right now, that’s the one thing I want to do most.”
Shizuku’s face, as she declared this clearly, seemed to carry a hint of resolve.
Touya couldn’t quite grasp what she was truly thinking or feeling.
Still, he couldn’t help but think that a nationwide tour might bring pressure even for a top idol like Shizuku.
As they walked through the shopping district, no one paid any attention to Shizuku, passing by without a second glance.
It’s amazing how no one even looks twice.
While marveling at Shizuku’s disguise skills, Touya took in the unfamiliar streets.
Despite the crowd, the old buildings scattered here and there gave off a nostalgic vibe, letting him soak in the unique atmosphere of the town.
“So, Himeno, what did you do on your days off before we started hanging out?”
“Didn’t I tell you? I’d usually wander around alone or hole up in my room.”
“You’re so used to disguises, huh. I keep forgetting when we talk, but you’re a celebrity, aren’t you, Himeno?”
“Well, yeah. That’s not something I can change, so I’m not gonna deny it.”
From Shizuku’s tone, it was hard to pick up on her emotions.
Her default state was this laid-back, almost detached vibe, which made it tricky to figure out what was on her mind.
But Touya didn’t mind that about her.
Her natural, unapologetic way of being herself even felt cool to him.
That’s why Touya wanted to be as genuine as possible with her, too.
“We’re here.”
At her words, Touya stopped in front of a quaint little café.
This seemed to be their first destination.
“Not a thrift store, huh?”
“I figured we’d grab some sugar before hitting the shops.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Even so, Touya felt a slight twinge of nervousness facing the café’s chic exterior.
“Welcome! Table for two, right this way.”
The wooden interior had a relaxed atmosphere, with mostly female customers around.
The recommended order was a Mont Blanc and blend coffee set, so both of them went with that. As noted on the welcome board out front, the Mont Blanc seemed to be the café’s signature dish.
Not long after ordering, their cake sets arrived.
Shizuku’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the Mont Blanc topped with a large chestnut.
“Looks so good… Let’s dig in!”
Shizuku took a bite and immediately melted into a blissful smile.
Touya followed suit and found the chestnut’s gentle sweetness and smooth texture perfectly balanced.
“This is good. It’s not overly sweet, so even a guy like me can enjoy it.”
“Totally! No wonder this place is popular.”
“Is this café famous or something?”
“Hm? I don’t know, but the board out front said it was featured on a TV show.”
“Really? I didn’t notice at all.”
Touya vaguely recalled seeing “Mont Blanc recommended!” on the board, but that was it. Maybe guys and girls notice different things in moments like this.
Still,
Himeno and cake go so well together, it’s almost unfair.
Maybe it was her style, but the blend coffee added a nice touch, too. The image of a beautiful girl taking a break was picture-perfect.
“You don’t put sugar or anything in your coffee, huh, Himeno?”
Despite her usual appearance suggesting she’d add both sugar and milk, Shizuku was savoring the blend coffee as it was.
Touya mentioned it out of curiosity, and Shizuku, for some reason, gave him a smug look.
“I recently realized I can handle black coffee. Especially with something sweet, the bitterness balances it out perfectly.”
“Huh, nice.”
“Though I’m still a sweet tooth at heart. It helps wake me up, so I sometimes drink black coffee in the morning, too.”
“But what about your diet restrictions? Isn’t cake, like, the ultimate enemy?”
He knew it was a bit tactless to ask, but the conversation led there.
Shizuku, still smug, replied,
“It’s fine once in a while. The stress of holding back can be worse, and during the tour, I let myself have sweets or high-calorie stuff depending on my mood.”
“Let yourself? Like, your manager’s okay with it?”
“No, I mean me.”
Shizuku declared it with a proud grin.
Her bold confidence was so amusing that Touya burst out laughing.
“Huh? Was that really that funny?”
“Nah, it’s great. Building rewards into your own rules is surprisingly important, don’t you think?”
“Exactly! Like I told you about the Yatsuhashi in Kyoto, I’m all about making my own rules. Goals, rewards, or just whatever I feel like in the moment.”
“Yeah, I get that. It’s the secret to keeping up the grind.”
Maybe because they clicked so well, their conversation flowed naturally.
“Sounds like you’ve got some experience with that, too, Sezaki-kun?”
“Not as grand as yours, though.”
“From when you were in a club?”
“Yeah. Tough practices were easier to get through when I thought about the ice cream I’d have afterward.”
This time, Touya answered easily.
Maybe because they already knew a bit about each other’s lives, he didn’t feel much resistance to sharing his past.
Shizuku nodded with interest, munching on her Mont Blanc, saying, “Huh, I kinda wanna see a sweaty, exhausted Sezaki-kun.”
Touya popped the last bite into his mouth and noticed his coffee cup was already empty.
Glancing over, Shizuku’s cup was empty, too.
Apparently, they weren’t quite used to lingering in such a fancy setting.
“Wanna head out?”
“Yeah.”
They exchanged smiles, paid at the register, and left the café.
Next, they moved on to their main goal for the day: thrift store hopping.
The first shop was in a basement with a spacious, stylish interior.
There were clothes in bold colors and designs that seemed to ignore sizing conventions, but Touya couldn’t quite tell what was cool or tacky as he browsed.
The prices were reasonable, and some items looked surprisingly good when tried on, cleverly tempting customers’ wallets.
“Hey, try this on!”
Shizuku handed him an aloha shirt and a wide-brimmed straw hat.
…Wasn’t this totally a gag outfit?
“You serious?”
“Dead serious. I think you could pull it off, Sezaki-kun. Oh, and wear this cool T-shirt underneath, too.”
Despite his doubts, Touya took Shizuku’s straight-faced suggestion and changed in the fitting room.
No way, this is all wrong…
Even checking himself in the mirror, all he could think was that he looked like a struggling comedian.
The T-shirt with a weird smiling face peeking out from the open aloha shirt added an eerie touch.
“Hey, Himeno, this is way too much, don’t you think?”
He opened the curtain to call out, but Shizuku was nowhere in sight.
“Himeno?”
As Touya stood there awkwardly in his ridiculous outfit, the curtain of the next fitting room slid open—
“You called?”
There was Shizuku, decked out in the same aloha shirt, straw hat, and smiling-face T-shirt.
The only differences were her pants and the sunglasses she’d added. The sunglasses made it slightly more stylish, but it was still undeniably tacky.
“Pfft!”
They both burst out laughing, glaring at each other as if in a standoff.
“I’m pretty sure I’m pulling this off better, though?”
“No way—you’re just as bad. Those sunglasses make it look like you’re trying too hard.”
“Nuh-uh, your T-shirt’s sticking out way more and looks dorkier!”
“See! You admitted it’s a weird T-shirt! You tricked me by calling it cool earlier!”
“Ugh, fine, let’s call it quits. If we walked around town in this matching look, we’d stand out for all the wrong reasons.”
“Seriously, if we’re gonna match, couldn’t we pick something better…”
Grumbling, they changed back.
But since they were cheap, they each bought the weird smiling-face T-shirt anyway.
They visited a few more stores, picking up some decent-looking clothes.
Despite buying quite a bit, the thrift prices kept their spending lower than expected.
At one point, Shizuku switched back to her usual hoodie, cap, and glasses disguise, saying, “This is just easier.”
After leaving the fourth shop, Shizuku checked her phone and sighed.
“Ugh, I gotta go soon.”
“Work?”
“Yeah, I’ve got a radio recording.”
“Let’s head to the station, then.”
“Sorry.”
Touya shook his head at her casual apology.
“No need to apologize. Don’t worry about it.”
“Thanks.”
As the sun began to set, they walked to the station, their conversation naturally dwindling in the chilly evening air.
At the station, they climbed the stairs to the platform just as a train pulled away.
“Aw, bad timing.”
“Can’t help it. Those seats over there are free—let’s sit.”
They sat side by side on a bench, the platform empty since the train had just left.
Wondering how to pass the time, Touya spotted something perfect.
“Himeno, check that out.”
He pointed to a billboard leaning against a nearby building.
It featured idol Shizuku Himeno, holding out a bottle of Whitewater with a radiant smile.
“Ugh, really?”
As expected, Shizuku gave him a sour look.
“No, I just pointed it out ’cause it was there. I knew you drank Whitewater a lot, but I didn’t know you were their campaign girl, too.”
“It’s been in a bunch of commercials.”
“Really? I’ll have to check it out sometime.”
“Cool.”
Shizuku gave a half-hearted reply, then suddenly took off her glasses, turned to him, and said,
“‘Wanna get sweet and sour together?’”
That was the billboard’s catchphrase.
But coming from Shizuku in such a deadpan tone, it felt like a surreal joke.
“Pfft… Stop it! If someone saw that, your agency or the sponsor would flip!”
“You’re the one who made me do it!”
“No way! At least put on a proper smile if you’re gonna do it. With your makeup and all, it’s totally different from the billboard!”
“No way, it’s too embarrassing!”
“Come on, you’re tougher than that.”
Touya chuckled as Shizuku playfully bumped his shoulder in protest.
The lighthearted exchange felt oddly ticklish, and Touya found himself smiling naturally.
“You know, Sezaki-kun, you sometimes laugh at the weirdest moments.”
“That’s rich, coming from you.”
“You always try to dodge like that!”
“For me, I laugh when I’m having fun or when something’s heartwarming.”
“Hmm.”
“What about you, Himeno?”
“Not telling!”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Touya gave an exasperated chuckle, and Shizuku muttered softly,
“Honestly, I don’t even know myself. I got so good at fake smiles that I stopped thinking about it.”
“That’s fine, isn’t it?”
“So casual!”
“No, I mean it. You might not realize it, but you smile a lot when you’re with me.”
“Hmph.”
For some reason, she bumped his shoulder again, and Touya felt a warm, heartwarming sensation.
As they chatted, a train pulled in, and Touya assumed they’d board together—but Shizuku stayed put.
“I’m taking the train in the other direction.”
So she’d come to see him off.
“Got it. Catch you later, then.”
“Yeah, later. Today was a great break. Thanks.”
Her words and the faintly lonely look on her face struck Touya as odd.
“You okay?”
“Huh? What?”
“You just seem… different.”
“Heh, probably just your imagination. See ya.”
The train doors closed, and Shizuku’s waving figure grew distant.
Even as her lonely expression faded from view, it lingered in Touya’s mind, leaving him with a restless feeling.
Shizuku had said it was a “great break.”
Which meant she’d been feeling that weighed down.
More than anything, when Touya expressed concern at their parting, Shizuku had brushed it off with a smile, saying it was “probably just your imagination.” But he couldn’t shake the feeling it was her way of sending an SOS.
He might be overthinking it. Maybe she was just sad that their brief respite was over.
Still, he couldn’t help but worry.
Was it okay to leave things like this? Couldn’t he do something to help?
His heart was racing, but no clear solution came to mind.
Touya wasn’t particularly interested in the idol Shizuku Himeno, and he didn’t know much about her work.
But maybe that’s exactly why Shizuku felt comfortable around him, why she chose him to unwind with.
If there were other emotions Shizuku was still hiding…
…Come to think of it, I’ve never seen her really let loose.
Shizuku had mentioned shouting her heart out at karaoke a few times.
He’d overheard it once, but that was like eavesdropping.
If letting loose like that was her way of relieving stress… maybe if Touya could be there for it, it might mean something.
No, that was just his ego talking.
In truth, he simply wanted to understand Shizuku’s true feelings.
So what? If I don’t act now, it’ll just be the same stagnation I hate.
Since quitting his club, Touya had avoided taking action for anything, and he didn’t like that about himself.
He hated it, actually. He’d been searching for a chance to break free.
Getting to know the real Shizuku had slowly made him more proactive. Their easygoing, stress-free dynamic had been a positive influence.
But it wasn’t enough. What he lacked was the courage and resolve to step into someone else’s world.
And now, this moment, was his chance to show it.
The realization hit Touya, and with it came determination as he began to think.
“The question is how to bring it up.”
The sunset glowing red outside the train window felt like it was urging him to act fast.
From what Shizuku had told him, her schedule had her performing at the third stop of her tour the day after tomorrow, meaning she’d travel by car tomorrow night.
So if Touya was going to do something, it had to be by tomorrow night.
But her schedule was packed until tomorrow evening.
That left a window of about two hours, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Touya pulled out his phone and sent a message.
A few minutes later, Shizuku replied with a simple “Got it.”
“Alright.”
He muttered to himself, clenching his fist with determination.
Doing so filled him with an unexpected surge of motivation.
Right now, he just wanted to do something for her—for Shizuku Himeno.
That was his sole focus.
