*YAWN*
Yesterday took all of the energy out of me. I should take it easy today. It's Tuesday, you know what that means...
Wait, no, today's a day off. I can totally take it easy!
I've been so busy with the School Idol Festival preparations and managing everyone's fan clubs that I haven't had the chance to get out and enjoy myself.
So I'm gonna play my heart out today and get back to work tomorrow!
It's been a while since Ayu and I went out somewhere without it being anything to do with school idols.
Today would be the perfect day to visit Yokohama with her. So I should totally ask her out.
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AKI: 'Hey there! I was thinking about heading to Yokohama and was wondering if you'd like to come with?'
AYUMU: 'I would love to! Except I can't... I already made plans to hang out with my fan club today.'
AKI: 'Oh, I forgot all about that.'
AYUMU: 'I'm sorry, Aki.'
AKI: 'No, it's fine. Really. Enjoy yourself, I'll go alone.'
AYUMU: 'You didn't have anyone else as a backup plan?'
AKI: 'No, I only wanted to go with you. It's been a while since Akihabara, since we went somewhere without it being about school idols.'
AYUMU: 'That's true...'
AKI: 'But it's okay, enjoy yourself. Tell Yu and Shiro I said hi. :)'
AYUMU: 'Thanks!'
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Huh, guess there's a first time for everything. Ayu's never turned me down for a day outside before...
Guess I am going alone.
...
Train rides can be pretty boring alone. But at least I made it here safely.
Been a while since I've come to Yokohama. Now where should I go...
*GRAB*
*HAND BLINDFOLD*
???: "Guess who?!"
AKI: "WAUGH! ARGH! I'M GETTING MUGGED! GET OFF OF ME!"
Oh perfect... I knew I should have taken those martial arts lessons! I'm practically defenceless here!
My arms are free. Maybe...I could elbow my attacker in the stomach?
Oh well, I'm out of options, it's worth a shot.
AKI: "KYAH!"
*CRASH*
???: "OOF!"
It worked! I can't believe it worked! YEAH!
AKI: "Ha! That's what happens when you try to mug m- OH SHIT!"
YOU: "Oww..."
AKI: "I-I-I'm so sorry! I didn't know it was you, You!"
YOU: "I'm fine, I should be sorry for scaring you that badly. Happens to us all, shoulda seen Mari when she tried to surprise me from behind.
Guess that one came back to bite me, right?"
AKI: "I'm really sorry... I thought I was getting mugged or something. You nearly gave me a heart attack there."
YOU: *Giggle* "Sorry. I spotted you at the station and came runnin'."
AKI: "Good grief, you could've just called out for me or something... Anyway, what are you doing in Yokohama? Aqours doing a gig? Or you all just hanging out?"
YOU: "It's just me today. I've got a high-diving tournament coming up soon, so I came here to scope out the pool."
AKI: "A tournament, huh? I nearly forgot you were an athlete! Are you on your way now?"
YOU: "Nope. I just finished and was headed back to the station. I figured it was a bit early to be going home, so I wanted to hang out around town..."
AKI: "I see. Yeah, I came to Yokohama for fun, myself. If you want, we can hang out together."
YOU: "Would that be cool with you?"
AKI: "Of course. I just know having you around will make the whole day way more fun. So how about it?"
YOU: "Yeah, let's do this thing! Heehee. Actually, I'd already decided to hang out around here, but I couldn't decide where I wanted to go, so I'm glad we're doing this."
AKI: *Laugh* "Yeah, exactly. There's a ton of stuff to do here, so it's not always easy to pick.
I didn't have anywhere planned today either. I was just going to wander wherever I felt like going."
YOU: *Giggle* "Wow, you too, huh? Who needs plans, am I right?!"
AKI: "Yeah, after everything this past week, I'm through with following plans!
Though actually, we do need some kinda plan, so let's figure out what we wanna do first."
YOU: "Okay!"
AKI: "I'm just gonna search places to go in Yokohama, and... Hey, look at that! There's all sorts of stuff here. Gotta love city life."
YOU: *Giggle*
AKI: "What's up? You see something that looks fun?"
YOU: "No, it's not that. I was just thinking that we've done this before."
AKI: "Oh, that's right."
YOU: "Yup. When you came to Numazu, and when I went to Odaiba. We sat down and figured out where we wanted to go just like this."
AKI: "Come to think of it, I've gone all over the place with you, huh? I'm glad I can make memories like this with you in all sorts of places."
YOU: "Yeah, me too! So let's make a bunch more today too!"
AKI: "You got it. Oh, hey, how's this for a first stop?"
YOU: "..."
AKI: "Hm? Something wrong?"
YOU: "No, sorry. Just I've had the strangest feeling that I'm being followed."
AKI: "Really? Well, don't worry. They won't follow you while I'm by your side."
YOU: "Thanks. Also, I would love to make that our first stop."
AKI: "Great!"
YOU: "Full steam ahead!"
...
YOU: "Wow! We're up so high!"
AKI: "This viee is amazing. Come to think of it, we rode the Ferris wheel in Odaiba as well, didn't we? Sorry, maybe we should've gone on a different ride."
YOU: "I love Ferris wheels, so that doesn't bug me at all! You can't see the view from this high up without riding one."
AKI: "That's true. It's not like we often find ourselves at the top of any skyscrapers."
YOU: "Can we see the Odaiba Ferris wheel from here?"
AKI: "Hmmm? I wonder... Nope. I can't see it."
YOU: "Me neither. That's too bad, if we could then we would be able to see your school too."
AKI: "Would you really be happy if you could see my school?"
YOU: "Yeah! Then I could see your school every time I come to Yokohama!"
AKI: "I wonder if seeing it would really be that interesting. But, I think I'd be excited if I could see Uranohoshi from Odaiba as well."
YOU: "Really? *Giggle* I'd love to be able to see Nijigasaki from Numazu.
Oh, another ship arrived! There's a whole lot of them coming and going around Yokohama too."
AKI: "Yeah, there are a bunch of wharves in the area. Do you wanna take a photo?'
YOU: "Of course! Oh, wait, I didn't bring a camera. I'll just take it with my phone."
AKI: *Laugh* "You look like you're having so much fun."
YOU: "I love Ferris wheels near ports, like in Odaiba, since you can see all the ships. I wish all Ferris wheels were built near ports.
Hm? Hey, do you see that great, big ship anchored over there?"
AKI: "Where? Ohhh, that's... Let's go check it out later."
YOU: "Yeah!"
...
YOU: "So this is the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse! Wow, it looks exactly like what I saw on TV! It's so fancy and cool!"
AKI: "It gets all lit up at night and it's really beautiful."
YOU: "Really? Aww! At night?! I wanna see the warehouse at night too!"
AKI: *Laugh* "It's something to look forward to for next time."
YOU: "Can I stay at your apartment again next time I come? Then we could come here directly from your place!"
AKI: "Sure thing! I'm already excited for next time. All right, let's head in."
YOU: "Wait... There are two buildings. Are they both Red Brick Warehouses?"
AKI: "They are. Inside there are a bunch of shops. There's even an event space in Building One. They host all kinds of things, everything from exhibitions to music events."
YOU: "Music events? Do you think they could also host school idol live shows?"
AKI: "They probably could. Will Aqours set their sights on it? A live show at Yokohama's Red Brick Warehouse?"
YOU: *Chuckle* "We just might. Now I've got something else about this trip to tell everyone about!"
AKI: "I might just set Nijigasaki's sights on a show here in the future."
YOU: "..."
AKI: "What, too ambitious?"
YOU: "No, no, not at all! Just, I'm getting that feeling again."
AKI: "Someone followed you, even over here?"
YOU: "Probably..."
AKI: "Hmm... I've got a plan. We'll catch them in the act, or prove that nobody is."
YOU: "What do we do?"
AKI: "Wait here. I'll make it look like I'm walking away and leaving you alone. I'll hide and wait for the pursuer to make their move."
YOU: "I'm not sure about that..."
AKI: "You, trust me. They will never see it coming."
YOU: "Alright. I believe you!"
...
Nobody so far, hmm... Strange.
Oh?
That guy over there... Jackpot. We've got him!
Wait a second, he looks familiar. There's no mistake about it, he's the same guy from back then. The one in the black hat watching Aqours practice on the beach.
Ugh, behind the bright smiles and performances of every idol, there are certain 'fans' who take things too far.
If he so much as touches You, I will break him...
Ugh, I can only see his top half from here, but it's all the visuals I need.
Okay, he's approaching her. This has gone way too far. Enough is enough!
From behind I approached the stalker, bastard didn't see it coming. He was about to place his hand on You's shoulder, but before he could, I placed my hand on his.
AKI: "Explain to me what you think you're doi-"
???: "EEEK!"
Before I knew it, the world had turned upside down. My arm was grabbed and I found myself on the receiving end of a judo throw.
AKI: "WHA?!"
*THUD*
Body meets floor, pain follows. Ouch... But at least I knocked his cap off of his head. Wait... A skirt? It...it...was a girl this whole time...
???: "...Huh?"
YOU: "Tsuki?!"
TSUKI: "Hey there, geez, this creep almost gave me a heart attack!"
YOU: "You almost gave me one! Were you following me this whole time?!"
TSUKI: "Yeah, sorry about that. I was out in Yokohama running some errands for my boss and saw you with some guy. Kinda made me curious to see if you had a boyfriend."
YOU: "Boyfriend?!"
TSUKI: "Oh, he's not?"
YOU: "No, we're just good friends is all."
TSUKI: "So...where'd he go?"
YOU: "You're standing on him."
AKI: "Ow......."
TSUKI: "Oh! I'm really sorry! Here lemme help you up."
AKI: "Ugh...thanks..."
TSUKI: "Guess I forget this cap makes me look like a boy. I probably looked like some stalker to you, right?"
AKI: "Right..."
YOU: "He was only trying to look out for me. He didn't mean to scare you so much."
TSUKI: "Hey, don't mention it. Anyone who looks out for my favorite cousin is good in my book! Or was it, only cousin?"
AKI: "Cousin?"
TSUKI: "Oh, right, how rude of me not to introduce myself. Tsuki Watanabe, at your service!"
AKI: "Akihiko Suzuki, school idol producer and manager."
TSUKI: "Oh, is that what this is? Aqours got a manager now, You?"
YOU: "Not exactly, he helps us out with things time to time. He's also the Chairman of the School Idol Festival."
TSUKI: "School Idol Festival? Never heard of it."
YOU: "Really? It's all that Aqours have talked about for the past month!"
TSUKI: "Sorry, haven't kept up with the latest biz. Student Council President work and all that."
AKI: "Student Council President?"
TSUKI: "Yeah, I'm only a second year, but I'm the prez of Numazu High!"
AKI: "Wait... You're the girl from back then!"
TSUKI: "Huh?"
AKI: "I was in Numazu, then some girl in a blue uniform came crashing into me."
TSUKI: "Oh! I remember now! Well, hasn't fate brought us back together? Was kinda in a rush that day."
AKI: "It's alright. I've seen how much work Student Council Presidents have to do. I know four of them and one former."
TSUKI: "Whoa! Looks like you keep up the work of a School Idol Producer!"
AKI: "Well, we're currently in the midst of volunteer recruitment for the Festival. If there are any students in Numazu High who like school idols then we'd love to have them on board."
TSUKI: "Oh, yeah, barely anyone at my school pays attention to school idols. I think only one student does and you're looking at her."
YOU: "I kinda worry what the future holds for Aqours when we transfer there."
AKI: "Transfer? Oh... that's right. Uranohoshi will be abolished at the end of the academic year."
YOU: "Yeah, it will be tough to see it go, but at least we won Love Live."
TSUKI: "I'm sure that we can figure something out. Numazu High will be ready to welcome you with open arms...I think."
AKI: "Well, we're about to check out some of the sights of Yokohama. Wanna come with?"
TSUKI: "I'd love to, but it's probably for the best that we all go home."
YOU: "Huh? Why's that?"
TSUKI: "Weather forecast ain't good. Heavy storms, train tracks could get flooded, I wanna get back to Numazu."
YOU: "Yeah, same here. It's a shame that we have to cut things so short."
AKI: "Hey, don't worry about it. There's always next time, right?"
YOU: "Right!"
AKI: "If there's a train back, then we should get it."
TSUKI: "Don't wanna seem like I'm the bearer of bad news, sorry 'bout that. But if there's a festival of school idols, then it's bound to be a lot of fun! I want in on the volunteering!"
AKI: "For real?!"
TSUKI: "Sure, count me as part o' yer crew matey!"
Looks like this trip hasn't been for nothing. We got another volunteer, and a Student Council President at that!
To think of it... All I did today was end up working on the School Idol Festival again.
Oh well.