Chapter 9 | Mission Start

Uyama’s wish was to see Makura’s shining figure once more—her performing as she used to.

However, there was, of course, a problem. Makura had already quit being an idol and was avoiding appearing in public.

Still, Makura had a desire to help Uyama in some way. If I could come up with a good idea, she’d likely put it into action.

That night, I started thinking about a strategy. Though my options were limited, the general plan came together quickly. To work out the details, I scoured video sites and SNS, which I wasn’t used to.

After school on Monday, on our usual way home, I told Makura about the parts of the strategy I’d settled on.

“I think the only option is to shoot a video. We’ll make one where your face is hidden and upload it to a video site.”

Uyama’s wish was to see Makura performing. So, performing just for Uyama alone wouldn’t fulfill it.

But given Makura’s current trauma, she couldn’t show her face in front of a crowd. A stage performance or even a street live was out of the question. That drastically narrowed our options.

Among them, the most feasible seemed to be making a video without showing her face. I looked into it and found quite a few videos of people singing or dancing with their faces hidden. Some artists had even become famous this way, with countless videos racking up insane view counts.

“I’ll handle the editing. I’ll make sure no one watching can tell it’s you. Don’t worry about anything, don’t hold back for anyone, forget the past, and just perform as a new version of yourself. Sing however you want.”

I stopped walking and looked at Makura’s face.

Makura stopped too, turning her eyes toward me.

“……Can I really do it?”

I nodded deeply.

“Yeah, you’ll be fine.”

I knew from Makura herself about the immense effort she’d put in since childhood. Uyama, a fan, had vouched for the quality of her performances. And I’d seen her past videos with my own eyes, confirming her skill was the real deal.

Makura thought for a moment, then nodded firmly.

“Thank you. I’ll give it a try!”

Hearing those words from her made me happy.

“I was thinking too, you know.”

As we started walking again, Makura spoke up.

“About what?”

“……Well, I was thinking I should properly tell Kuruha-chan why I quit being an idol.”

I let out an involuntary “Hoh.”

“Is that okay?”

Actually, since that night when we left Makura’s room and talked, Uyama hadn’t shown up at her place.

Maybe that day, Uyama was on the verge of giving up and made a direct move on me, the person closest to Makura, to shake things up. By approaching me and revealing herself, she might’ve been trying to bring Makura’s current situation into the open.

In the end, Uyama’s only gain might’ve been learning that the senpai she admired was still someone others looked up to.

“Kuruha-chan is an important member, a beloved kouhai, and my biggest fan. She even chased me all the way here this time…… It feels wrong to keep the truth from her. Even when I quit being an idol, I debated telling only Kuruha-chan because I trust her so much. ……And I’d like to stay close with her moving forward.”

“Got it…… If you tell her directly, I think Uyama will understand.”

“I hope so…… But I’ve decided, so I’ll tell her properly!”

“Yeah.”

The rice harvest was over, and an autumn breeze swept across the wide fields. As if embracing it, Makura spread her arms and stretched.

“Alright! I’ll contact Kuruha-chan when I get home.”

“Got it. I’ll start preparing for the shoot.”

“Please do. What should I do on my end? Also, Manamichi-kun, can you really handle video editing on your own?”

“I’ve been researching videos since yesterday. Compared to regular studying, it seems easy.”

“Whoa, you say that so casually, that’s amazing.”

“For you, Makura, pick a song to sing in the video and practice it. You probably can’t sing your idol-era songs to avoid being identified.”

“Got it. I’ll do that.”

For now, we’d settled things. At the same time, the mission was just beginning.

Makura thrust her clenched fist toward me.

A bit flustered by the unfamiliar gesture, I curled my hand into a fist and bumped it against hers.

◇ ◇ ◇

I’d been to the apartment complex many times, but this was my first time visiting that room.

It was 10 p.m. I figured she’d be home by now and rang the bell at what I thought was the right time…… but I’d completely misjudged.

“Oh? What’s this, the boy himself? A late-night visit? A sneaky rendezvous?”

Yako-san, who opened the door, was red-faced and drunk. She wore a loose white T-shirt with a neckline that revealed her cleavage, and I quickly averted my eyes.

Damn, coming at night was a bad move. I’d forgotten she basically drinks every day, even on weekdays.

Should I come back in the morning when she’s heading to work? But I’ve got school, and I don’t know what time she leaves.

For now, I steeled myself to deal with a drunk.

“It’s not like that. I came to ask a favor.”

“A favor? So it is a sneaky rendezvous, huh? Wait, how old are you, boy?”

“I’m underage.”

“Oof…… Am I about to commit a crime tonight?”

“You’re dead set on making this a rendezvous!?”

“Hahaha, just kidding, kid. No way I’d do that to Koiro’s guy. Come on, get in. It’s a bit chilly.”

“Koiro’s…… I don’t quite get what you mean, but I’ll come in.”

Invited by Yako-san, I stepped into the room.

I had no idea what kind of place she lived in, but……

“Sit wherever.”

“Sure. ……It’s a nice, clean room.”

I ignored the trash bag by the window stuffed with crushed alcohol cans. Other than that, the room was surprisingly tidy.

“I don’t keep much stuff around. All I buy is booze or cosmetics. And, well, I keep the visible areas clean in case a guy drops by. Just don’t look outside the window or in the fridge.”

“Uh, got it……”

What on earth was in those off-limits zones?

A TV stand sat against the right wall, with a bed against the opposite wall, just like Makura’s room. Next to Yako-san’s TV stand was a dresser lined with cosmetics I didn’t understand.

The floor had a firm shaggy mat, and judging by the umeshu sour can on the small glass table, she’d been drinking there.

“For now, keep me company. Can you handle a chu-hi?”

As I sat on the floor, Yako-san glanced toward the fridge.

“I’m underage, remember?”

“So serious. Have you told Koiro you’re coming here?”

She sat down near the table as she spoke.

“Yeah. I was at Makura’s place until just before.”

“Oh? So it’s not some secret fling behind the girl you like. What’d Koiro say? Like, ‘A boy going to a woman’s room alone!?’”

“She said to get out of the room if anything happens.”

“So I’m the one attacking!?”

Now that I think about it, Makura must’ve known Yako-san would be drunk at this hour. Her vague warning makes sense now.

“What’s that? Koiro should’ve come along then.”

Yako-san continued, taking a sip of her umeshu sour.

“She’s leaving this to me.”

At that, Yako-san let out a “Hoh” and narrowed her eyes.

“You mentioned a favor outside.”

“Yes.”

“Hmm. Let’s hear it.”

Yako-san set down her can and straightened up slightly.

“Thank you. Um, Yako-san, you work at an advertising company, right? I was wondering if you might have a video camera.”

Yako-san blinked rapidly.

“A video camera?”

“Yes.”

“What for?”

“Well…… I want to shoot a video. Of Makura.”

I explained how, due to certain circumstances, we’d decided to record Makura’s performance.

“And you’ll edit the video and upload it to a video site?”

“Yes.”

“And Koiro’s okay with this…… You said earlier she’s leaving this to you.”

“That’s right.”

Yako-san stared at my face, then let out an amused smirk. She downed the rest of her umeshu in one gulp.

“I’ve got a video camera. It’s the company’s, used for shooting promotional videos for clients’ businesses. I usually just use my smartphone, but I’ve heard from workaholics that the camera’s quality is way better.”

“Really!? Can I borrow it?”

“Sure, no problem. There’s always one spare. I’ll mark it as borrowed for a couple of weeks.”

“Thank you so much!”

What a relief. A professional-grade video camera isn’t something you can just borrow. If Yako-san couldn’t help, I was seriously leaning toward using a smartphone.

“Tomorrow okay? I’ll bring it home and drop it off at Koiro’s place.”

I thanked her again, and Yako-san stood up with a smile, heading to the fridge in the hallway for another drink.

I was in the mood to pour for her or anything else, but she opened a new can herself and came back sipping it.

“Still, you two are pretty close, huh? How far have you gone with Koiro?”

“How far? Nothing’s really……”

Even as I said it, my mind flashed back to that day on the bed. Her sweet scent, soft touch, and the sound of her breath by my ear.

“What stage are you at? Held hands yet?”

“No.”

“You call each other by first names, right?”

“Only she calls me that.”

“Hmm. Have you talked about past relationships?”

“Not at all.”

“……Are you two really living under the same roof?”

That phrasing could cause misunderstandings…… But, well, we don’t have that kind of relationship. We’re just living a wholesome, lazy life. The sleeping together was just due to circumstances—

“What about a hug?”

Yako-san’s sudden words made my body jolt.

“Huh?”

She looked at me, surprised.

“N-no way we’ve done that.”

“Right, right. But there was a weird pause just now.”

“Your questions suddenly jumped backward and skipped ahead.”

“Fair point. I just thought, since you two are always together in that room, you might’ve skipped a bunch of steps and done all sorts of things. My bad, my bad.”

Ugh…… Was that hug a bigger deal than I thought?

Does a hug from behind count as safe?

……Have we unknowingly crossed some major lines?

As I thought about it, my chest started to heat up.

“But even if it’s ‘nothing,’ something’s happened, right? Spill.”

“Why……?”

“This big sis just wants to sip her drink while hearing about young love. Come on, think of it as thanks for the camera.”

“Sigh……”

Yako-san laughed heartily and drank. When I asked for the favor, she seemed to listen seriously for a moment, but her face was red again. She’d chugged her drink, and a drop spilled from her lips, staining her white T-shirt.

Young love as a side dish, huh…… Youth……

That word triggered a memory of a moment with Makura.

“Oh, there was something!”

“Something?”

“Yeah, a fist bump.”

“A fist bump……?”

Yako-san looked dumbfounded, then burst out laughing again.

“Got it, a fist bump. I hope you two keep moving at that pace.”

“I’ll do my best. So, please, the video camera. ……I’ll get going.”

I stood up quickly, leaving Yako-san’s “Hey, boy!” behind as I exited. I wanted to avoid any more probing.

Successfully escaping the drunk’s room, I let out a small sigh of relief, feeling accomplished after getting through it all.

＊

The day after visiting Yako-san’s place, I went to the staff room after school to see Kumada-sensei.

“Negoro-kun, calling a girl to school after classes…… Does that mean I’m still in the game?”

“Sensei, you sound just like Yako-san when she was drunk yesterday…… I can see why you’re close.”

“R-really? That’s kind of annoying to hear.”

Kumada-sensei cleared her throat with a few coughs.

“This is bad. I’m starting to feel too comfortable around you, Negoro-kun.”

“I’ve been welcomed into the inner circle!? ……I’m honored.”

At that, Kumada-sensei let out a soft chuckle.

“For now, let’s talk at my desk.”

Following Kumada-sensei into the staff room, my body was enveloped by warm air and the scent of coffee. Having been here several times, I’d memorized Kumada-sensei’s desk.

It was the second from the back in the first-year homeroom teachers’ section, right as you entered. As usual, I pulled over an empty swivel chair from beside her and sat down.

Now, the reason I came here today was because I had a favor to ask Kumada-sensei.

Just as I was about to get to the point, Kumada-sensei spoke first.

“I’ve heard about it. From Yako-chan.”

“Huh?”

That was fast. Did Yako-san call her right after I left?

Still, it’d make things easier if she knew a bit already. A little surprised, I was about to continue when—

“I can’t believe you’ve already hugged. Young people these days move so fast, it’s shocking.”

“Hold on!”

That’s what she heard about?

I thought it was about Makura’s video.

And she’d exaggerated it. I’d denied the hug, but rumors spread like this…… Well, it’s technically true, but still.

“That’s not it. Yako-san misunderstood. We definitely haven’t hugged.”

“Really?”

“Yes!”

“Your face is red, though……?”

“T-that’s just your imagination, isn’t it?”

“You said ‘definitely haven’t,’ so does that mean someday?”

“That was just a figure of speech.”

Kumada-sensei hummed, her face grinning mischievously.

“That’s not why I’m here. I came to ask a favor!”

To steer things back, I forced the conversation to the main topic.

“You’re making some kind of video, right?”

“You heard about that too?”

“Yes. But I heard about it from Koiro-chan in the infirmary yesterday, not Yako-chan. She said she’s going to give it a try.”

“I see. She said that……”

I’d heard from Makura that she often talked with Kumada-sensei in the infirmary.

Give it a try, huh…… Hearing that made my chest flutter too.

I really want this to succeed.

“What’s the favor?”

“Oh, right. For the video shoot, I’d like to use the school rooftop on a weekend.”

Kumada-sensei glanced around. After a moment of hesitation with her gaze lowered, she slid her chair closer to me.

“You know the metal keybox on the left wall as you enter the staff room, right? The one with keys for special classrooms and the gym. The rooftop key is there too.”

She whispered.

“Does that mean we can use it?”

“Well.”

“Well?”

I couldn’t help but repeat.

Kumada-sensei put a finger to her lips, giving me a meaningful look.

“The rooftop isn’t explicitly off-limits by the school. There’s no ‘No Entry’ sign on the door. That’s because it’s always locked.”

“Right.”

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear your request. I’m not giving permission. But you know where the key is.”

“……I see.”

I caught her meaning. Seeing my reaction, Kumada-sensei grinned.

The rooftop isn’t officially banned because the lock keeps people out.

So, I could just unlock it and go in like it’s no big deal.

If I asked for permission, the school would have to say “No,” making it a rule violation to enter.

So, she’s saying she didn’t hear my request, and I should just go in confidently.

“I’ll get in trouble if a teacher catches me, right?”

“Maybe. But you can just play the naive high schooler. ‘I didn’t know we couldn’t go in!’”

Kumada-sensei leaned back, crossing her arms.

“That’s some language-teacher logic.”

“I’ll take it as a compliment. Even if you get scolded, it’s trivial in the grand scheme. If you get caught, just act sorry for a few minutes, and it’s over. The teacher’s just scolding for formality’s sake, not to make a big deal.”

“Yeah, true……”

“So, high schoolers should live a little more carefree, you know?”

She said the last part lightly, laughing.

She might be right.

The first time I skipped cram school during summer break, I was nervous at home afterward. But days passed, nothing happened, and the next class went on as usual.

More carefree……

Maybe that’s the mindset I need.

“Thank you.”

With that, I stood up. Leaving the staff room, I walked down the hallway, my steps feeling lighter.

The camera was secured, and the location was coming together.

Preparations were falling into place.

Still, there was much to do. An important mission in this strategy remained.

The shoot was set for Sunday. Not wanting to waste a second, I naturally quickened my pace.