*SCHOOL IDOL CLUBROOM - NIJIGASAKI HIGH SCHOOL - ODAIBA - TOKYO*
Today is supposed to be a day off. But considering all the stuff I did for Aqours yesterday, I don't deserve one.
Not when there's work to be done for the School Idol Club.
It's not the first time I've sat in an empty Clubroom like this. Compared to when this place is full, it feels...wrong.
With the addition of Yu to our ranks, it should boost the mood here even more...
...is what I wish I could say. But after the stunts I pulled with the Student Council, I don't think anyone will trust me anytime soon.
Sure, I'm back to my original job as President of the School Idol Club, but nobody can look at me the same way they previously did.
Before I messed everything up, letting my jealousy take over. *Sigh* It's complicated.
Like there's two sides of me battling it out.
The Friend VS The Fan.
The Friend in me wants what's best for their personal lives.
The Fan in me wants what's best for their school idol careers.
Am I a friend or a fan?
I'm both. But the two sides can contradict each other.
AKI: "Hm?"
SHIZUKU: "O-Oh!"
AKI: "Shizuku? Huh... I thought nobody else was here today."
SHIZUKU: "I, um..."
AKI: "Were you here for Theater Club duties?"
SHIZUKU: "Yes..."
AKI: "I'm glad to hear that you're back in the swing of things with them."
SHIZUKU: "Kinda."
AKI: "You're standing away from me again..."
SHIZUKU: "..."
AKI: "Are you afraid?"
SHIZUKU: "No, I just-"
AKI: "It's fine. I'm aware of just how badly I've messed things up. You must hate me."
SHIZUKU: "That's not true. But please forgive me for being...cautious."
AKI: "That hurts. God, my heart aches thinking about what I did. And after all that, Midori still agreed to give me some acting pointers for my Miyu Toda character..."
SHIZUKU: "She did owe you a favor for your help with Roman Holiday. It's only fair."
AKI: "..."
SHIZUKU: "Senpai?"
AKI: "Yes?"
SHIZUKU: "About Valentin..."
AKI: "Do you love him?"
SHIZUKU: "I thought I did. After we...parted ways, I confessed to him. He rejected me, and told me something similar to what you said."
AKI: "About the love not being real?"
SHIZUKU: "Yes."
AKI: "I see... I still owe him a favor for how he stood up for me, alongside Shiro and the other Club Presidents.
All this time I thought they were trying to undermine the School Idol Club... I couldn't see the truth."
SHIZUKU: "The truth?"
AKI: "The truth is, we have more in common than I thought. They're just like me. We're all fans of you girls."
SHIZUKU: "Right."
AKI: "If you want to stand on the other side of the room from me, that's fine. I'll keep my distance...
I put my hands on you, Shizuku. I'd chop them off, but..."
SHIZUKU: "Ch-Chop them off?! That's taking things too far."
AKI: "I would, but, then I wouldn't have them to fix this mess.
Little by little, I want to close this distance between us. No matter how long it takes, I'll fight for it until I can hold you close again, and tell you I'm sorry."
SHIZUKU: "..."
AKI: "Since we're both here, is there anything I can do for you? Anything at all?"
SHIZUKU: "Here."
Shizuku pulled a notebook out of the nearby bookshelf. She threw it to me from across the room, landing on the table in front of me.
AKI: "A notebook?"
SHIZUKU: "Could you...please take a look at it?"
AKI: "You're putting a lot of trust in me with this. Are you sure?"
SHIZUKU: "I'm certain."
AKI: "Very well."
I opened the notebook and it was filled with pages of character profiles.
Highly detailed character profiles.
AKI: "I see. This is a collection of roles that you'd like to play, huh?"
SHIZUKU: "Precisely. I've had many more ideas for the various girls I'd like to portray, so I was hoping that you might be able to take a look..."
AKI: "Sure. I can do that."
...
*ONE LONG LIST OF CHARACTERS LATER*
Phew...
SHIZUKU: "...What did you think?"
AKI: "Wow... They're all so charming, and adorable. I want to keep them safe from harm and help them thrive.
They've made me feel so many things that I'm getting all choked up."
SHIZUKU: "That's a relief. No matter the character, I had very similar feelings as I was making note of them."
AKI: "I'm excited to see how you'll act them out, Shizuku.
Still, you've got so many roles written out. How many books have you done now?"
SHIZUKU: "I think...three?"
AKI: "Th-Three? Uh, are you sure it's not higher than that? I've seen you with more notebooks than that before."
SHIZUKU: "Well, your memory is much better than mine.
My mind keeps filling up with different characters that I would like to portray.
And when I sing as one of them, we merge. I can turn into her.
So every time that I perform a song as one of those girls, I can layer my own feelings about school idols on top!"
AKI: "That's the sort of performance that only you could manage, Shizuku."
SHIZUKU: *Chuckle* "Maybe you're right."
It's been too long since I last heard her laugh...
AKI: "Yeah, that's what I find so entrancing about you."
SHIZUKU: "Senpai..."
AKI: "So, you're going to have to tell me more about this character notebook.
I'd love to sit down and listen to you all day."
SHIZUKU: "Naturally. Though it may take me more than one day!"
AKI: "Oh?"
SHIZUKU: "Huh? Is something wrong?"
AKI: "You've gotten closer..."
SHIZUKU: "I have?"
AKI: "That's a relief."
SHIZUKU: "..."
AKI: "The...Clubroom is running low on supplies. I'd send Yu out to take care of it, but she deserves a day off.
If you're not busy, would you like to join me?"
SHIZUKU: "I'm not sure."
AKI: "Please?"
SHIZUKU: "..."
AKI: "I won't force you. If you decline, then that's fine. But I want to close the distance sooner, rather than later. Before we drift too far apart and I...lose you forever."
SHIZUKU: "...Let's go."
AKI: "Huh?"
SHIZUKU: "I believe you. Because... I want to close this distance, too."
AKI: "Shizuku..."