[Warning 15+]
Part Three"―Seriously, Your Vibe Hasn't Changed a Bit Since the Old Days!"Chapter 111―Takura Mao
Clock Plaza at Shine Spirits City is this open space where a massive grandpa clock in the specialty shop district serves as the main landmark.
It's got this open-air atrium design stretchin' from the first basement floor all the way to the third, and since it's weatherproof, they're always holdin' all kinds of events there. It's a spot that pops up on the news pretty often.
The second Himeko saw the Clock Plaza, she shouted, "Hey, I've seen that before!" with total hype, only to shrivel up in embarrassment as everyone around her started gigglin' and starin'.
The plaza was absolutely packed with girls around their age.
They were all whisperin' to each other, gettin' hyped up for the event that was about to start.
On the massive screen set up over the stage, there was a logo they all recognized.
"Huh, that's the carrier we use for our smartphones..."
"Oh, you girls use that one too, Himeko-chan? But, I wonder what's goin' on?"
"...Well, it's not like it costs anything to watch."
They couldn't quite connect the dots between a smartphone cell carrier and all these girls. Still, they hesitantly grabbed a spot off to the side, lookin' a bit confused.
But that confusion melted away the moment a flashy-lookin' girl stepped out onto the stage.
'Hey, guys! Today, Airi's gonna show off the k*ller camera features on this new model, plus I'll reveal all my secrets on how to use editing apps Airi-style!'
"Whoa!", a deafenin' roar of high-pitched screams from the girls ripped through the Clock Plaza.
Haruki flinched, her whole body shakin' from the sheer volume of the cheers.
"Haru-chan, it's Airi! For real, Airi! Whoa, she's actually here in the flesh! Haru-chan!"
"Wait, no way, for real... ...so they're gonna edit the photos taken together... ...D*mn, it's a lottery system!?"
"Oh, I see how it is..."
Unlike Haruki, who was lowkey backin' away, both Himeko and Isami Ema were totally hyped up.
Up front, you could see the staff comin' out to hand out numbered tickets for the lineup.
Satō Airi was a reader-model who'd really made a name for herself over the last few months; Even Haruki knew who Airi was.
Haruki remembered seein' Airi a lot in the magazines Himeko lent her. Airi was obviously a big deal.
Still, to Haruki, Airi was just a face she recognized. Haruki didn't give a d*mn about Airi the way the other two did.
"Look, I'm feelin' kinda wiped out, so I'm gonna go take a breather over there. Hime-chan, Isami-san, you girls go ahead without me."
"Wait, you sure about that, Haru-chan!?"
"Oh, Nikaidō-san―"
Haruki bailed on the spot without waitin' for a reply.
Haruki took one last glance at the stage before walkin' away, her eyes lookin' cold and distant.
Once Haruki'd backed off far enough that Clock Plaza was barely in view, she let out a long, heavy sigh and leaned her back against the wall.
Haruki didn't have a bone to pick with Satō Airi specifically. But Haruki definitely had a problem with "celebrities."
(...Mom.)
Haruki pressed a hand tight against her chest, desperately tryin' to shove down the emotions that felt like they were about to boil over.
Haruki'd just been treated like garbage again a few days ago. Without even thinkin', she reached up and touched the cheek where she'd been slapped.
Satō Airi is just a model. She's not an actress, and she's got zero connection to any of this. There shouldn't even be a reason for 'em to cross paths.
But what if Haruki actually ran into her Mom here? —Just thinkin' about it made Haruki's heart ache with the urge to just go home.
And for some reason, the place Haruki pictured as "home" wasn't her own house, but Hayato's apartment.
Plus, in Haruki's head, Hayato was right there, welcomin' her back like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"...Pfft."
Haruki felt so ridiculous for even thinkin' like that that an awkward little laugh escaped her lips.
A few days ago, Haruki'd totally bailed the second she saw her Mom standin' right there. Part of it was 'cause she got blindsided and wasn't mentally ready for it. She was just thinkin' that even if they ran into each other right now—and even if a "discipline" session was waitin' for her later—she could handle it with a straight face. That's exactly when it happened.
"Aren't you gonna go join the crowd for Airi?"
"!?"
"I mean, Airi's supposed to be a total icon for your generation... ...then again, she does have a bit of a "challengin'" personality."
"...Wh-Who are you?"
Haruki's shoulders jumped, totally startled by the unexpected voice.
Lookin' up, Haruki saw a tall, well-built man in his early 30s, lookin' sharp in a perfectly tailored suit with a good-looking, refined face.
There wasn't a soul around 'em. Even if there were, everyone's eyes were glued to the Clock Plaza. Between the isolation and the man's sudden appearance, Haruki cranked her guard up to the max. But still, somethin' about him felt strangely familiar.
"Whoops, looks like I stumbled across you again by pure luck. Hey, sorry about bein' rude back at the hospital."
"...Oh."
The man put on a troubled look on his good-looking face and raised both hands like he was just jokin' around. Suddenly, it clicked—Haruki remembered seein' him at the hospital. Talk about an unexpected run-in. But still, she had no clue why the heck he was talkin' to her.
Haruki stared the man down, tryin' to size him up.
Haruki ran through her memories again, but the man was a total stranger. Naturally, her expression hardened.
"Haha, don't give me that look. It'd be a shame to waste a face as cute as yours."
"...Thanks, I guess, but this is just how I look. If you're tryin' to pick me up, I'm not interested."
"No, no, that's not it. Oh, I'm, well, I'm actually one of the people runnin' this event."
"And what does one of those 'people' want with me?"
"You're plenty gorgeous as you are now, but I think if you were polished up, you'd really shine. I mean, way more than Airi over there. Ever thought about gettin' into showbiz?"
"...! No. Not at all. Not even a little bit...!"
"Oh, my bad, my bad! Guess it's just a habit from work."
"Go... ...bother... ...someone else!"
Haruki's irritation was hittin' the roof.
Haruki hated everything about this. The man's seemingly flippant attitude, the topics he brought up—she didn't even wanna think about it.
Makin' no effort to hide how pissed she was, Haruki spun on her heel to walk away, only for the man's sharp voice to hit her from behind.
"—Takura Mao."
"!?"
Haruki's shoulders lurched with a violent flinch.
When Haruki spun back around, the man was a far cry from before. He was lookin' at her with a dead-serious—no, a grim expression, starin' her down with total certainty.
Author's Notes:
I just got some "Fan-Liquor"!
Wait, what am I even talkin' about? Yeah, don't worry, I don't get it either.
At the editorial office― instead of fan letters, a bunch of booze showed up. Hence, "Fan-Liquor." (Deadpan face.)
I mean, yeah, I do love to drink, and it's true the heroines' names are all based on Shochu brands. But still, if you're wonderin' what I gotta say about all this, it's just gonna be...
Meow!! (Please send some fan letters too! Even if the only thing you write is "Meow," just send 'em!)
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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Clock Plaza at Shine Spirits City is this open space where a massive grandpa clock in the specialty shop district serves as the main landmark.
It's got this open-air atrium design stretchin' from the first basement floor all the way to the third, and since it's weatherproof, they're always holdin' all kinds of events there. It's a spot that pops up on the news pretty often.
The second Himeko saw the Clock Plaza, she shouted, "Hey, I've seen that before!" with total hype, only to shrivel up in embarrassment as everyone around her started gigglin' and starin'.
The plaza was absolutely packed with girls around their age.
They were all whisperin' to each other, gettin' hyped up for the event that was about to start.
On the massive screen set up over the stage, there was a logo they all recognized.
"Huh, that's the carrier we use for our smartphones..."
"Oh, you girls use that one too, Himeko-chan? But, I wonder what's goin' on?"
"...Well, it's not like it costs anything to watch."
They couldn't quite connect the dots between a smartphone cell carrier and all these girls. Still, they hesitantly grabbed a spot off to the side, lookin' a bit confused.
But that confusion melted away the moment a flashy-lookin' girl stepped out onto the stage.
'Hey, guys! Today, Airi's gonna show off the k*ller camera features on this new model, plus I'll reveal all my secrets on how to use editing apps Airi-style!'
"Whoa!", a deafenin' roar of high-pitched screams from the girls ripped through the Clock Plaza.
Haruki flinched, her whole body shakin' from the sheer volume of the cheers.
"Haru-chan, it's Airi! For real, Airi! Whoa, she's actually here in the flesh! Haru-chan!"
"Wait, no way, for real... ...so they're gonna edit the photos taken together... ...D*mn, it's a lottery system!?"
"Oh, I see how it is..."
Unlike Haruki, who was lowkey backin' away, both Himeko and Isami Ema were totally hyped up.
Up front, you could see the staff comin' out to hand out numbered tickets for the lineup.
Satō Airi was a reader-model who'd really made a name for herself over the last few months; Even Haruki knew who Airi was.
Haruki remembered seein' Airi a lot in the magazines Himeko lent her. Airi was obviously a big deal.
Still, to Haruki, Airi was just a face she recognized. Haruki didn't give a d*mn about Airi the way the other two did.
"Look, I'm feelin' kinda wiped out, so I'm gonna go take a breather over there. Hime-chan, Isami-san, you girls go ahead without me."
"Wait, you sure about that, Haru-chan!?"
"Oh, Nikaidō-san―"
Haruki bailed on the spot without waitin' for a reply.
Haruki took one last glance at the stage before walkin' away, her eyes lookin' cold and distant.
Once Haruki'd backed off far enough that Clock Plaza was barely in view, she let out a long, heavy sigh and leaned her back against the wall.
Haruki didn't have a bone to pick with Satō Airi specifically. But Haruki definitely had a problem with "celebrities."
(...Mom.)
Haruki pressed a hand tight against her chest, desperately tryin' to shove down the emotions that felt like they were about to boil over.
Haruki'd just been treated like garbage again a few days ago. Without even thinkin', she reached up and touched the cheek where she'd been slapped.
Satō Airi is just a model. She's not an actress, and she's got zero connection to any of this. There shouldn't even be a reason for 'em to cross paths.
But what if Haruki actually ran into her Mom here? —Just thinkin' about it made Haruki's heart ache with the urge to just go home.
And for some reason, the place Haruki pictured as "home" wasn't her own house, but Hayato's apartment.
Plus, in Haruki's head, Hayato was right there, welcomin' her back like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"...Pfft."
Haruki felt so ridiculous for even thinkin' like that that an awkward little laugh escaped her lips.
A few days ago, Haruki'd totally bailed the second she saw her Mom standin' right there. Part of it was 'cause she got blindsided and wasn't mentally ready for it. She was just thinkin' that even if they ran into each other right now—and even if a "discipline" session was waitin' for her later—she could handle it with a straight face. That's exactly when it happened.
"Aren't you gonna go join the crowd for Airi?"
"!?"
"I mean, Airi's supposed to be a total icon for your generation... ...then again, she does have a bit of a "challengin'" personality."
"...Wh-Who are you?"
Haruki's shoulders jumped, totally startled by the unexpected voice.
Lookin' up, Haruki saw a tall, well-built man in his early 30s, lookin' sharp in a perfectly tailored suit with a good-looking, refined face.
There wasn't a soul around 'em. Even if there were, everyone's eyes were glued to the Clock Plaza. Between the isolation and the man's sudden appearance, Haruki cranked her guard up to the max. But still, somethin' about him felt strangely familiar.
"Whoops, looks like I stumbled across you again by pure luck. Hey, sorry about bein' rude back at the hospital."
"...Oh."
The man put on a troubled look on his good-looking face and raised both hands like he was just jokin' around. Suddenly, it clicked—Haruki remembered seein' him at the hospital. Talk about an unexpected run-in. But still, she had no clue why the heck he was talkin' to her.
Haruki stared the man down, tryin' to size him up.
Haruki ran through her memories again, but the man was a total stranger. Naturally, her expression hardened.
"Haha, don't give me that look. It'd be a shame to waste a face as cute as yours."
"...Thanks, I guess, but this is just how I look. If you're tryin' to pick me up, I'm not interested."
"No, no, that's not it. Oh, I'm, well, I'm actually one of the people runnin' this event."
"And what does one of those 'people' want with me?"
"You're plenty gorgeous as you are now, but I think if you were polished up, you'd really shine. I mean, way more than Airi over there. Ever thought about gettin' into showbiz?"
"...! No. Not at all. Not even a little bit...!"
"Oh, my bad, my bad! Guess it's just a habit from work."
"Go... ...bother... ...someone else!"
Haruki's irritation was hittin' the roof.
Haruki hated everything about this. The man's seemingly flippant attitude, the topics he brought up—she didn't even wanna think about it.
Makin' no effort to hide how pissed she was, Haruki spun on her heel to walk away, only for the man's sharp voice to hit her from behind.
"—Takura Mao."
"!?"
Haruki's shoulders lurched with a violent flinch.
When Haruki spun back around, the man was a far cry from before. He was lookin' at her with a dead-serious—no, a grim expression, starin' her down with total certainty.
Author's Notes:
I just got some "Fan-Liquor"!
Wait, what am I even talkin' about? Yeah, don't worry, I don't get it either.
At the editorial office― instead of fan letters, a bunch of booze showed up. Hence, "Fan-Liquor." (Deadpan face.)
I mean, yeah, I do love to drink, and it's true the heroines' names are all based on Shochu brands. But still, if you're wonderin' what I gotta say about all this, it's just gonna be...
Meow!! (Please send some fan letters too! Even if the only thing you write is "Meow," just send 'em!)
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
If you like our work, please consider supporting us on Ko-fi. 🙏
Support Us: https://ko-fi.com/ninjacross
Donations are very much appreciated.
Your donations really support us to finish this novel from here until the end, so please consider to support us.
Follow Our Official WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaRa6nHCsU9OAB0U370F
Read in other languages: