Before she realized it, most of her youthful summer vacation had already slipped away.
But for Misumi Uika, an idol from the group Sumimi, this rare break was anything but relaxing. In fact, her workload seemed to have only increased during the vacation. Her schedule was crammed from morning till night with nonstop tasks and events.
This kind of repetitive work might have become "routine" to her former self.
But lately, for reasons she couldn't quite name, she found herself growing more and more tired and fed up with it all.
Buzz—
The vibration from a Line message drew her attention. Dressed only in pajamas, she squinted at the screen from where she lay on her bed. Her elegant lilac eyes, vibrant as butterfly wings, fixed on the message.
Her bare, snow-white shoulder peeked out with a soft, silky sheen—but she didn't even want to move.
Still, Uika reflexively picked up her phone, her gaze heavy with exhaustion as she read the screen.
[Sumita Mana: Uika-chan, Uika-chan~ Our manager says we can set our own break schedule tomorrow! Since we don't have dance practice, wanna go shopping together? I've been dying to check out this new trendy dessert shop! They say their donuts are amazing!]
"Mana, huh…"
Even saying that much felt like it drained all her strength.
Lying motionless in bed, Misumi Uika quietly admired Mana's boundless energy. No matter how demanding their idol duties were, Mana always bounced back like it was nothing. Honestly, compared to herself, Mana felt more like the "real idol."
But shopping, the kind of thing high school girls were supposed to love, never really suited her. Feeling both mentally and physically drained, Uika gave a tired smile as she tapped out a reply on her phone.
[Misumi Uika: Sorry Mana-chan, I already have something planned tomorrow so I can't go shopping.]
[Sumita Mana: Ehh!? But summer break's almost over! You haven't even had any real fun yet, Uika-chan!]
[Sumita Mana: Ahhh~ I get it! You already have plans with someone else, huh? In that case~ I won't disturb your rare little date~]
[Sumita Mana: 😹]
"That's not it…"
Uika sighed and frowned slightly.
She had explained it to Mana many times before, but the girl never seemed to listen. With habitual patience, she typed out another explanation before turning off her phone and sinking deeper into the bed in her upscale apartment.
"A date, huh…"
That word didn't suit her at all.
But thanks to love-brained Mana randomly bringing it up, the fatigue clouding Uika's mind lifted just a little.
She found herself recalling conversations with a certain black-haired boy. Her soft, pink lips curved faintly.
"I want to eat red-braised pork…"
Half-lidded violet eyes twinkling, she reopened her phone. Before she realized it, her fingers had drifted to a certain someone's Line chat. Seeing the short exchange there, her lips lifted unconsciously.
Her mood slowly began to brighten, dulling the exhaustion in her body.
As her mind wandered, her pale, slender fingertips began tapping at the screen instinctively.
Tap tap tap…
But the moment she realized what she was doing, her pupils shrank, and she immediately deleted the message in a panic.
"…Maybe I'll go out tomorrow after all."
…
After the Summer Festival Live celebration, Kazami Haru finally had a rare stretch of free time. Neither the Kessoku Band nor the newly named MyGO seemed in any hurry to train before summer break ended.
Still, his buddy Taki had been bombarding him with scores lately, asking on Line how to best rearrange them.
How would Haru know what the best arrangement was?
The simulated arranging experience in his head merged with his actual skills, so now, composing ideas just popped up while eating or walking.
The only real hassle was transcribing those ideas from his head into the software.
Bzz bzz…
More messages from Shiina Taki kept buzzing his phone, and Haru clicked his tongue as he strolled through the supermarket with a shopping basket.
"Guess the last Live lit a fire under her, huh? Looks like MyGO's next Live isn't far off."
Taki had turned into a composition machine. When the band wasn't practicing, she locked herself at home, cranking out songs like a machine, relentlessly demanding his "essence."
At this rate, she was going to drain him dry.
After replying, Haru kept browsing through the aisles.
Passing by the drinks fridge again, he "happened" to spot that familiar cream puff-flavored oolong tea. It was here that he'd run into the great idol Misumi Uika last time and instinctively, Haru glanced around.
Thankfully, his "Soyo/Uika sensor" hadn't gone off.
After paying for a bunch of groceries, Haru headed out. But just as his left foot crossed the supermarket's threshold, he felt it. A strong, unmistakable sense of being watched.
He turned sharply.
There she was, a blonde girl in a beige baseball cap holding a pinkish bottle of cream puff oolong tea. The moment their eyes met, she froze… then quickly regained her composure and gave him a small wave.
As usual, Uika wore a hat that hid her identity. But today, she paired it with an off-shoulder white jacket and a light brown long skirt. Feminine yet playfully casual.
"Uika?"
A strange look crossed Haru's face.
He'd just been thinking about her and two minutes later, here she was?
How many times had he "coincidentally" run into her like this?
If today counted, he'd completed the CG event during morning, noon, and night encounters. Uika was like a wild Pokémon jumping from the tall grass… or maybe an Assassin in disguise.
It always felt like she'd show up out of nowhere.
"…Didn't expect to see you here, Haru-kun. What a coincidence."
Holding her tea, Uika's expression didn't change much but if you looked closely, her knuckles were white from gripping the bottle, and her violet eyes under the cap trembled ever so slightly.
She was clearly more flustered than she let on.
Of course, this wasn't a coincidence. Uika had been wandering the nearby streets for a while now.
When she spotted Haru inside the supermarket, she remembered how wary he was of being followed, so she didn't go in. Instead, she orchestrated a "natural" encounter at the exit.
"Don't you have work right now, Uika? Why are you here?"
"My manager gave me the day off. Normally I'd be dancing around this time, so I woke up automatically. Since I had nothing to do, I figured I'd take a walk… and suddenly got a craving for this tea, so I came here~"
With her soft, idol-like smile, Uika gently shook the bottle of cream puff oolong tea.
The flavor was so odd that most supermarkets didn't stock it, so there was no issue with her coming out of the way to buy it.
Still, Haru found it a little… off.
Kind of like a disguised alien getting punched to death by an Ultraman.
"Were you grocery shopping, Haru-kun?"
Without giving him a second to think, Uika peeked at the shopping bag in his hand.
"More or less. I've been going through food at home way too fast."
Haru's tone was subtly complicated.
He had just treated the great Uika to dinner not long ago, then immediately hosted Ryo, Mutsumi, and Sakiko at his place. The leftovers didn't even last him a few days.
The rapid pace of consumption had him wondering if he'd be broke again soon.
"I see…"
The stunning girl smiled softly, her expression holding a subtle hint of excitement. With her hands behind her back, she stepped lightly toward him like a dancer.
Then she deliberately removed her sunglasses, revealing the full perfection of a top-tier idol.
Haru couldn't help sighing inwardly. Every time he saw her face, the only word that came to mind was:
Sublime.
Misumi Uika felt like a Herald of Divine Radiance, no matter what teasing he would use, he'd probably just get countered.
"…If that's the case, can I come over for dinner today?"
See? She revealed her true motive that quickly.
Of course, this woman was just after his cooking. They'd only exchanged a few words and she already exposed her real intent!
Watching Misumi Uika gently brush her golden hair behind her ear, revealing the pale, delicate tip, Kazami Haru didn't even glance away. Holding a bag of groceries, he hesitated for less than three seconds before expressionlessly opening his hands.
He deliberately responded in a cold tone, "You're free to mooch, but Uika-san, you understand, don't you?"
"Meal fee, right? Got it."
As if she'd predicted that response, Uika wore her usual professional smile as she casually raised a hand and gave him an "OK" gesture. Even if Haru hadn't said it, she'd planned to pay him this time.
Feeling her mood gradually lifting, she walked lightly behind him with her hands behind her back. They chatted about trivial things and even tossed around a few dumb jokes.
Despite being idle small talk, it brought a natural smile to the golden-haired girl's face, no longer a crafted performance, but something real.
Her body felt so light.
Maybe it was simply the thought of enjoying that warm home-cooked food. A joy born purely of instinct and anticipation.
"That stuff really stinks, huh~"
"Yeah~ smells awful."
As Haru casually chatted with the idol beside him, he suddenly felt a chill run down his back.
His "spy radar" instinctively activated. A purple-haired woman wearing a sunhat and sunglasses turned her head as if just casually passing by, clearly pretending not to notice.
But with his Soyo's Recon and Counter-Recon Lv.3 passive skills, Haru instantly picked out her clumsy tailing attempt.
"Could that be… Yuutenji-san?"
With sharp observation, Uika instantly saw through the disguise. Her casual comment made the purple-haired woman's face freeze, and she stepped forward with an annoyed expression, jabbing her finger as she spoke, each word loaded with displeasure.
"Call me Nyamuchi. Nya↑mu↓chi↑!"
"So, why is Yuutenji-san here?"
Still holding his groceries, Haru completely ignored the maiden's twitching eyebrows. His tone was ice-cold, and Yuutenji Nyamu couldn't help but crack a smile.
In truth, she was just filming a video for her "hidden gem restaurant" series today. Who knew she'd run into this annoying black-haired punk here? If it had just been Haru, she'd have gone up to mess with him.
But then she spotted someone completely unexpected, Misumi Uika.
As fellow members of Ave Mujica, they had already met through Togawa Sakiko's introduction. Even with her face hidden under a cap, Uika's dazzling golden hair was unmistakable.
Nyamu hadn't expected to see Haru and Uika together like this in public.
As a Sumimi idol, Misumi Uika was a genuine A-list celebrity. And for idols, dating was an ironclad taboo!
If rumors spread that she was seeing a guy, she'd instantly become a scandal's spark.
"I just happened to be shooting in the area. But tell me, are Naru-kun and Uka-chan on a date?"
"What's with those weird names?"
With an unamused look, Haru voiced his annoyance at the strange new nicknames. But that only made Yuutenji Nyamu more gleeful. She wagged her finger and explained:
"I just came up with them! Adding '-chan' or '-kun' makes everything sound more intimate and cute, right? After all, we're fated allies now~"
"Ah! Don't change the subject~ Naru and Uka, are you two dating?"
Though she pretended to joke, Nyamu's heart wasn't calm at all. She'd always suspected Mujica's internal relationships were a bit messy.
But she hadn't expected Haru, their composer, to be connected not just to the keyboardist and bassist… but now even to the active idol Uika?
Nyamu now had every reason to believe that even Wakaba Mutsumi, daughter of superstar Mori Minami, might be tangled up with Haru too.
"It's not like that… We just 'ran into each other' on the street. Since Haru-kun's cooking is delicious, I thought I'd take the opportunity to grab a bite at his place."
"Wait, his place?"
Nyamu inhaled sharply at Uika's casual response. She couldn't wrap her head around how "tasty food" justified going to a teenage boy's house. Did Uika not realize she was an idol?
Also, was this "dinner" really just dinner or did it mean something more?
"Have you eaten, Yuutenji-san? If you don't mind, would you like to come too?"
As a proper person raised right in his household, Haru naturally extended a polite "have you eaten" invitation, even if it was to the ever-smiling Nyamu. But that simple courtesy hit different for Nyamu.
Her lips twitched.
Was this some kind of band-exclusive musical party?
"…I haven't had lunch yet. I'll take you up on that."
It was midday, and with an active idol present, even the slightly wary Nyamu decided to go along with it.
She still wasn't sure whether joining Ave Mujica had landed her in a den of chaos, but worst case, she had the emergency call app ready on her phone.
Wait, she's actually coming?
Even Haru hadn't expected Nyamu to accept the offer. At this point, all he could do was sigh and mentally charge her for another meal.
"…"
Standing silently nearby, Uika furrowed her brows ever so slightly.
Though she wore her usual soft idol smile, a flicker of sadness passed through her eyes. The moment was fleeting, gone before Haru even noticed, her expression returning to that flawless, serene look.
But none of the three noticed that on a nearby street, a blue-haired girl was passing by.
Togawa Sakiko, on her way to a customer service meeting, suddenly stopped mid-step. Even from a distance, catching only a glimpse, her heart shook.
She had no time to get a clear look before the group disappeared from sight.
"That was…"
She couldn't have mistaken it, she'd definitely seen Kazami Haru.
But with him… a blonde girl in a baseball cap, and another with purple hair, both hiding their faces. She knew those silhouettes, Uika and Nyamu.
Why was Haru with them?
"Uika…"
What was going on?
Sakiko bit her lip, her fingers clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms.
Focused on the fading figures in the distance, she didn't notice the black-clad girl behind her, silently watching her back. After a brief pause, the girl calmly resumed walking, passing Togawa without a word.
…
"I'll go prep dinner then. You two, make yourselves at home."
Kazami Haru had just arrived back at his apartment, arms full of groceries, and immediately headed for the kitchen, leaving Misumi Uika and Nyamu standing at the entrance. Before the stunned Nyamu could say anything, the golden-haired girl was already moving.
Though this was only her second time at Haru's apartment, Uika felt something completely different from before.
As she stepped through the door, her mood inexplicably lightened. Compared to the cold, lonely luxury apartment she lived in alone, his place, filled with greenery and life, felt far more comforting.
"Yuutenji-san, the slippers are over here, okay?"
"T-Thanks, nya…"
In stunned silence, Nyamu watched as Uika opened the shoe cabinet with practiced ease and laid out two pairs of slippers with a bright smile. Her casual, natural movements made it seem like she lived here.
It nearly broke Nyamu's brain.
Maybe her mind was working too fast, but she could swear her brain cells were about to fry. That said, Uika's ease did help ease Nyamu's own tension just a little.
After all, this was her first time entering a guy's apartment alone.
There were flower pots by the entryway, a neat shoe rack, and even the wood flooring, normally hard to clean, was spotless.
Was this really a teenage boy's apartment?
Before arriving, she'd pictured the place reeking of deodorizer, girls' clothes tossed everywhere, maybe even… uh… questionable stains in strategic spots like under the coffee table or shelf. Like some chaotic practice studio used by a band.
"Yuutenji-san?"
Uika, noticing Nyamu was still frozen in place, tilted her head slightly and asked with a touch of concern.
Her graceful, hostess-like demeanor made Nyamu's beautiful face freeze. This "idol" was far beyond what she'd imagined.
"Ahaha~ I was just shocked that Haru's place is so clean, that's all…"
"Well, yeah, most people would be surprised."
Uika laughed softly, her lilac eyes narrowing with amusement. Her upbeat tone made it feel like she was being complimented.
So, what was their relationship, really?!
Was Uika actually helping Haru somehow?
Nyamu was completely rattled. Even sitting on the couch in the living room made her feel tense. If she had known things would turn out like this, she never would've accepted that punk's invitation!
Now, even speaking a few words to this idol girl made her squirm!
Regret... Just deep, overwhelming regret!
If she had a do-over, she'd never—
"Meow?"
Nyamu's small, elegant nose twitched. The sudden aroma hit her like a bomb, it exploded through her sinuses, and even though she'd had breakfast not long ago, her stomach immediately began to growl.
Just from the smell alone, she knew this food was going to be amazing.
"Lunch is ready."
Haru, unaware of how panicked Nyamu truly was, casually called out.
After countless practice sessions, he was completely used to his Level 5 cooking skills. A meal for three was done in no time, and he set the steaming dishes on the table.
Gulp!
Shame. Nyamu had never felt so ashamed.
The spicy chicken on her plate was fiery red, just looking at it made her tongue twitch. As someone with a "cat's tongue," she didn't handle spicy food well.
But the rich aroma completely overpowered her hesitation. No matter what, she had to take a bite!
"So spicy! But so good!"
Nyamu, her tongue out, teared up from the heat. Her lightly made-up face turned crimson, and even as her chest heaved from the burn, she kept eating.
The pain on her tongue mixed with bliss. Her emotions were all over the place.
Delicious! Absolutely, impossibly delicious!
She was definitely coming back again.
"Tastes amazing."
Sitting nearby, Uika let out a satisfied sigh.
She had finally gotten to taste the home-cooked food she'd been craving. It was so good it made her want to relax and forget everything else. Slowly, she lifted her crystal-like violet eyes and gazed gently at the black-haired boy across from her.
But before she could keep staring—
"You two enjoy. I've got something to take care of."
Haru stood up mid-meal.
Though he wasn't currently involved in training with either Kessoku Band or MyGO, he was still Ave Mujica's composer. Now that the group was gearing up for their debut Live and promotion…
He needed to get to work. He had no intention of being some freeloading placeholder under Saki-sensei.
He scarfed down his lunch in a few bites, then stood up and headed toward his room. Uika, still holding her bowl, watched him leave with uncertainty in her eyes, she wanted to say something, but didn't know how.
"Mm…"
The elegant idol, always so confident on stage, now looked like a lost child, disappointed and unsure.
A wave of loneliness swelled in her chest, slowly pushing away the warmth she'd felt moments ago.
Why did it feel like this?
This was the very meal she'd been dreaming about, yet something felt missing. An aching absence that made her heart hollow.
It was like being wrapped in a thin, unbreakable plastic film. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't push through. Confusion and helplessness coiled tightly around her.
This strange sense of loss… made it hard to stay seated.
"…Yuutenji-san, I'm going to the bathroom."
"Okay, nya!"
Leaving Nyamu to continue devouring her food, Uika quietly slipped away, carrying a heart full of tangled feelings, as she made her way toward Haru's bedroom.
Inside, Haru was already seated at his desk, headphones on, typing away as he worked on composition and synthesis.
Only then did Uika notice the desk was scattered with printed sheet music. Many had red pen marks and notes all over them.
Songs for Ave Mujica?
"...Could this be…"
Misumi Uika couldn't help voicing her confusion aloud.
The sudden sound startled Kazami Haru, who had been deeply focused on his work. Uika had apparently walked over quietly and now stood right behind him.
But the golden-haired girl's attention seemed entirely fixed on him, so much so that she didn't notice the scattered sheets of sheet music at her feet.
Rustle!
The polished wood flooring made the thin paper slippery. The moment she stepped on it, she lost her balance and started to fall, her body hurtling toward the sharp edge of the desk.
She shut her eyes tightly.
But instead of pain, she was caught, pulled into a warm embrace.
No impact?
"…?"
Uika slowly opened her amethyst eyes, puzzled.
Her stunning face was now only inches from Haru's. A few strands of her brilliant blonde hair fell across her soft cheek, and just a single glance from her lifted lashes shimmered like magic.
"Are you okay?"
Haru's voice was laced with concern, but his expression was… complicated.
What was she doing suddenly speaking up behind him like that? Trying to tase him with surprise?
Thankfully, he caught her in time, though it left them in an awkwardly close position.
At this distance, he couldn't help but appreciate just how breathtaking the real-life idol was.
As the realization hit her, Uika's already gorgeous face turned bright red—like a freshly boiled crab. Even her flawless, snow-like skin blushed with a rosy hue.
A single glance from her could steal your soul…
So great. Truly great.
If Haru hadn't built up his willpower thanks to the beautiful girls from three different bands, he might've completely lost control with this soft, warm beauty in his arms.
"…."
Unlike Haru, Uika seemed to be having trouble breathing—not from physical pressure, but from being overwhelmed by the sensation of hugging him. Her mind drifted, logic dissolving like mist.
All that remained was pure instinct.
At this distance, she could clearly smell the faint scent of sunflowers on him. She subconsciously tightened her grip, wanting to feel more, more of that warmth filling her. Even her violet eyes shimmered with a light mist.
That comforting warmth and scent, it was irresistible.
"Uika? Are you hurt?"
Haru frowned, genuinely concerned.
This pure warmth… she didn't want to let go.
She had come to Tokyo chasing her childhood friend Sakiko, turning that hope into endless motivation.
But even after "catching up" to Sakiko, she didn't feel fulfilled.
True comfort and happiness… she first experienced it while sharing warm food with him.
Now, Uika realized...
What she'd been longing for wasn't the taste better than five-star hotels.
It was the time spent with him, chatting and eating, that she couldn't let go of.
"Uika?"
Seeing her close her eyes, Haru started to panic. Just as he was about to carry her to the bed, he felt her arms tighten.
Then, as he looked down, she rose on her toes—
And kissed him.
Caught completely off guard, Haru froze.
Still seated in his chair, he was pinned as the golden-haired girl leaned in, her eyes half-closed, breath mingling with his.
Only a few seconds passed before she pulled away. The air now felt hazy with something unspoken.
"…."
Just as Uika instinctively leaned forward again, her mind flashed—Togawa Sakiko.
Reality snapped back into place.
She realized what she'd done. Her enchanting eyes trembled.
She knew. Haru was the one Sakiko liked and she, Misumi Uika, was her childhood friend.
She was supposed to support Sakiko's happiness… So how did it turn into this?
Jumbled emotions and a deep sense of guilt filled her heart. She knew now, she had truly fallen for Haru. She couldn't control it. That's how this happened.
Did she… just steal Sakiko's first kiss?
A faint joy bubbled inside her, only to be crushed by self-loathing. Her brows furrowed sharply.
Thoughts and feelings tangled in chaos, Uika looked at Haru with conflicted eyes.
All she could do was force a smile and say—
"…Haru-kun, I'm sorry."
"I… I'm a bit overwhelmed, so I'm going home."
Leaving behind a shaky farewell, she turned and quickly walked to the entrance, opening the door and fleeing.
Haru was left sitting there, his mind spinning.
He could still faintly smell her scent in the air, and it completely unsettled him.
But eventually, rationality took over, and he made his way to the living room. Nyamu was still sitting contentedly, caught in the blissful aftertaste of the meal. She wiped her little cat-like mouth and cheerfully exclaimed:
"Haru, your cooking has my full approval!"
"Can I come back for another meal sometime?!"
The food was so good, she swore she'd remember it for the rest of her life.
Feeling mentally drained and completely disoriented, Haru just rubbed his temples and replied in the dullest, most tired tone:
"Uika just ran out. Nyamu, you're covering the cost for two meals."
"Why, nya?!"
---
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