Episode Fifty-Five

On the way home, Ibara murmured quietly on the train.

“Hiname is an incredible idol. She’s adorable, a brilliant actress, and so dedicated that her singing and dancing are flawless.”

“…Yeah.”

“But she’s always had one weakness. She lacks confidence.”

I’d sensed that vaguely.
Her fervour for Himeiba back then, and her reaching out to me this time – it all boils down to that, doesn’t it?
She was seeking a support because standing alone made her uneasy.
For Hiname-chan, I was that kind of presence.

“She’s far more suited to being an idol than someone like me who dropped out. That’s why she’s the centre, isn’t she? She should just carry herself with confidence.”

“…Then why didn’t you just tell her that honestly?”

“I’ve said it many times. But I’m Hiname’s friend. Things like this… when a friend says them, they don’t really land. It just comes across as mere consolation…”

“Ah…”

I could understand that.
Praise from someone a little distant carries more weight than compliments from those close by.
Like how a boss saying “You’re doing well” resonates more than a friend saying “You’re doing fine”.
I understood that feeling. The closer the person, the more you suspect they’re just saying it out of favouritism.

“I get that. But… are you really okay with it?”

“What?”

I lowered my voice.

“…I mean, about coming back.”

“It’s fine. Just like I told Hiname. I’m not thinking about that sort of thing right now.”

“…I see.”

“Returning to ‘Charles’ is the most unlikely option. Solo work or other units… not right now either, I’d say.”

Despite saying that, I couldn’t help but sense a lingering regret or nostalgia in Ibara’s eyes. Was that just a preconception playing tricks on me?

“Being an idol was fun, but it was also really tough a lot of the time. Now, meeting Shigure-san has got me thinking about things.”

“Me?”

“That there are all sorts of jobs out there. Shigure-san always seems busy, but you seem to enjoy your work quite a lot, don’t you?”

“…Hmm, well… outside the busy season, yes.”

“Seeing that made me realise the world I knew was probably narrower than I thought. There are all sorts of people in the world, all sorts of jobs. I just wanted to move to Tokyo and ended up becoming an idol. But I realised there must be other paths too.”

“…I see.”

“So now, I’m actually studying quite seriously. I’m behind in a lot of things. I want to catch up, go to university, and properly think about my future.”

“I-Ibara…”

Dangerous.
If this hadn’t been on the train, I would have hugged her tight without thinking.
She seemed so carefree, yet she was seriously thinking about her future.
Impressive. Too impressive.

“Sounds exciting.”

“Yeah.”

Ibara is still only seventeen.
And she’s trying to choose her own path, by her own will.
By making these irreplaceable choices, she’ll surely grow into an adult, bit by bit.
She’s right in the middle of her youth, so dazzling, so overwhelmingly bright, that sometimes I catch myself wondering.
Five years from now, ten years from now. Will there be a place for me in Ibara’s future?
　Ibara cleared her throat.

“Well, that aside—”

“Eh?”

“You haven’t forgotten, have you, Shigure-san?”

“W-what?”

“Today, Shigure-san told me a terrible lie, didn’t you? You said you’d do anything to apologise, didn’t you?”

“D-did I?”

“You did say so.”

Her eyes are fixed. It’s frightening.

“You’ll do anything I ask, won’t you?”

This is strange.
Where on earth did that ‘good girl’ who was there just moments ago disappear to?
The one beside me now is Ibara, fully transitioned into full-blown little devil mode.
She pinched my earlobe between her fingertips and whispered sweetly.

“Tonight, instead of Shigure-san’s place, let’s sleep at my room. That’s fine, right?”

“Th-that’s your request?”

“What are you talking about? Of course not.”

With a sadistic little smile, Ibara grabbed my arm.
As if to say, I won’t let you escape.
Eek…

　†

“So, Shigure-san, you’ll be wearing my uniform, alright?”

“Why⁉︎”

“Well, you see, I reckon it’s good to have all sorts of experiences for the future.”

“Eh, ah, yeah…”

That’s probably true.

“But I was active under my real name, so I thought it’d be a bit tricky with part-time jobs and such. I actually wanted to try being a tutor or something.”

“Ah, really… That’s surprising…”

“So today, I’ll be the teacher and Shigure-san will be the student.”

“That’s what you mean⁉︎ No way, a high school uniform is impossible, you know! I’m already twenty-four! I’ll be twenty-five next month! That’s criminal (?)!”

I thrust my hands out in front of the approaching Ibara, desperately resisting the uniform (a stylish blazer) being held out to me.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. It’ll be absolutely fine. Right?”

“Right, my foot! Couldn’t we at least switch the roles⁉︎”

“Me as the student, and Shigure-san as the tutor…?”

“Y-yeah. Exactly.”

Ibara let her gaze wander into space for a moment before giving a single shake of her head.

“No.”

“Why⁉︎”

“It’s a bit too risqué.”

“…What on earth do you think a tutor is, Ibara…?”

“Aww, that hurts. I thought today was a date with Shigure-san. Sniffle sniffle. I tried so hard to dress up nicely. Sob sob.”

“Ku, kuuuuuu…”

In the end, I lost to the tearful plea.
Using that face for a tearful plea is just too sneaky.

　With a heavy heart, I borrowed Aki-san’s room to change.
Ibara is just a little shorter than me, but she has a good figure (euphemism), so the blouse fit almost perfectly.
The checked pleated skirt, which I’d been most worried about, I managed to pull on by loosening the adjuster.
Seriously though, Ibara, how can you wear that? Your waist is so slim. Even with those big boobs.
　Tentatively stepping in front of the full-length mirror, I writhed in agony at the reality staring back. Bloody hell.
I thought I’d kept reasonably fit, but seeing it like this, my thighs are clearly plumper than they used to be. Ugh, oh no.
Also, the skirt length… I matched the crease position, but isn’t it a bit too short?
Ibara, is this always how short you wear it? I’m getting worried. I wish it were longer.
Since I’m wearing black tights, I’ll skip the socks. I tie the ribbon tie and throw on the jacket.
I stand before the mirror once more.
…Right.
Well, I knew it, but…
This is unmistakably cosplay.
What on earth does Ibara find enjoyable about seeing this?