Episode Fifty-Three

“…Something concerning Ibara’s future?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I don’t quite understand. But if that’s the case, couldn’t you just contact Ibara directly…?”

When I said that, a dark shadow fell over Hiname-chan’s face.

“The thing is, she won’t meet me.”

“Eh?”

“I’m still in contact with Ibara. But she won’t meet me.”

“Why? Oh, have you fallen out or something?”

“No!”

Hiname-chan raised her voice sharply.

“S-sorry. But it’s not that… it’s for my sake, you see.”

“Yours?”

“Hiname-chan?”

“Ah, sorry.”

The name I use in my heart slipped out.

“No, call me whatever you like. It’s just… I think Ibara is being considerate towards me. I’ve been instructed by Motomura-san not to meet with Ibara.”

Eh?

“R-really? Why? You’re friends, aren’t you?”

“…It’s to protect the brand image of ‘Haibara Hiname’.”

I still didn’t understand.
My face must have shown my confusion.
Hiname-chan continued.

“Did you know Ibara’s graduation was sudden?”

“Yeah, I knew that.”

I’d heard from my junior, Momono-chan, that it was a so-called lightning retirement.

“As you know, the real reason was severe insomnia. But the agency didn’t disclose that. They pushed it through as personal circumstances. You know… I think you can probably understand why.”

“…The agency’s reputation, that sort of thing?”

“Yes. If it came out they were putting excessive stress on a high school student, it would be problematic. It could give ‘Charles’ a bad name too.”

It clicked.

“It was Ibara who suggested keeping the real reason for her retirement under wraps, wasn’t it?”

Hiname-chan snapped her head up.

“You knew?”

“No. But I thought she’d probably say something like that.”

She was the one who’d spent sleepless nights, drenched in guilt.
I was sure she’d bring it up herself.

“…You’re right, Amami-san. Ibara’s reason for retiring hasn’t been made public. Right up until the end, Ibara performed flawlessly at every live show and recording. So I doubt any fans have guessed. But that’s precisely why…”

“That…” Hiname-chan faltered.
She lowered her eyes, her cheeks faintly tinged with a cherry blossom pink.

“…Well… a strange rumour started circulating…”

“A strange rumour?”

Hiname-chan cleared her throat with a soft cough.

“…That the reason Ibara quit was because of a romantic entanglement with me…”

“Huh?”

A rather dumbstruck sound escaped me.
Hiname-chan denied it, her face flushing bright red as if flustered.

“Of course it’s a misunderstanding! Ibara and I are friends, and I respected her as a colleague! It’s nothing like that at all! It was purely the agency’s policy, or something like that—”

“Yuri marketing?”

“…I’m surprised. You know that term, Amami-san?”

“Yeah, well, sort of.”

I see.
I’m starting to get it.
Hiname let out a heavy sigh.

“…Right after Ibara graduated, articles full of speculation popped up online. They wrote about that sort of thing in a sensational way. It spread, and then analysis videos and fan art started going viral one after another…”

“Ah…”

Isn’t that half the fault of people like Hibari-san and Momono-chan (the extreme Himeiba faction)?

“But you shouldn’t go too far with that sort of thing. Making fun of it in a weird way or pretending about your own sexuality isn’t good. That’s how things end up backfiring.”

“I see… So that’s why you shouldn’t meet Ibara.”

“Yes. If it were to come out that I’m meeting that girl now, it would only add fuel to the rumours that have finally started to die down. Ibara knows that too, which is why I think she won’t meet me.”

“…Hmm, that’s…”

How to put it.
It’s not really a question of who’s at fault.
If pressed, the reporter who wrote that shoddy article is to blame, but there’s no point saying that now.

“…I also think, if possible, it might be better not to meet Ibara. Couldn’t this important matter be dealt with over the phone or by email?”

“…If possible, I’d like to convey this one thing in person.”

“Hmm…”

I’m torn.
I can already guess the nature of Hiname-chan’s “request”. I could probably grant it.
　But I don’t know if it’s the right thing to do.
Depending on the situation, it could end up deceiving Ibara.

“──This place, you see, takes exclusive booking reservations.”

“Oh, really?”

“Actually, I’ve booked it for myself today. No other customers have come in, right?”

“…I see.”

No wonder I thought no customers were coming.

“It’s safe here. The manager knew me before I debuted and is someone I trust. I promise.”

Hiname-chan reached out and stroked the head of the white cat that had come over to her.
Unlike with me, the cat seemed to be actively seeking her out, rubbing its head against her palm.

“Please. Could you bring Ibara here? If you invited her, I’m sure she’d come.”

　In the end, that was her wish, wasn’t it?
Ever since she found the new design for “Rêve” in the vast sea of the internet, she’d been making this roundabout journey solely to meet Ibara.
After a moment, I asked.

“…If you’re willing to go to such lengths, may I ask what it is you need to discuss with Ibara?”

“…………I trust you, Amami-san.”

And so, I heard about the “circumstances” she was carrying.
　And I thought.
I see.
Indeed, this concerns Ibara’s future.
I understand why she wants to speak directly. I get it now.
It’s better this way.
Not just for Hiname-chan, but probably for Ibara too.

I agonised over it until my café latte grew completely cold, then said.

“──Alright. I’ll try.”

And so.