Part Two: Epilogue

Some time later, it was announced that Haibara Hiname would be appointed as the ambassador for ‘Cendrillon’.
At the same time, a television commercial began airing.
Though it’s a term not often heard these days, for Hiname-chan personally, this apparently marked her so-called terrestrial television debut.

── Even dry, ash-covered hair transforms into Cinderella’s beautiful locks with a single drop of magic.

　The familiar narration flowed in Hiname-chan’s voice.
In the final two seconds of the fifteen-second spot, the words ‘Limited Edition Collaboration Bottle Now On Sale!’ appeared alongside the bottle in question on screen.
So I’ve made my terrestrial broadcast debut too… or so I’d like to think.
The Hiname-chan on screen was filled with such captivating confidence, breathtakingly beautiful.

“Right then, shall we be off?”

I said, switching off the television.

“Yeah.”

Having finished getting ready, Ibara stood before the full-length mirror.
Today’s Ibara sported a completely different outfit. Full-on disguise mode.
She wore a wig, topped with a baseball cap and a black mask – thorough to the extreme.
Honestly, she didn’t look entirely unlike a suspicious character.
Even so, I felt compelled to reiterate.

“Ibara. I know you understand, but today, you absolutely mustn’t take off your cap or mask. Motomura-san specifically contacted us about it.”

“I know, I know.”

She gave the cap a firm tug to adjust its angle.

“Let’s hurry, Shigure-san. We’ll be late for the live.”

†

After I mentioned wanting to go to Charles’ live, Ibara immediately said, “I’m coming too.”
Apparently, she hadn’t been to a single live since leaving the group.

“I was scared to see ‘Charles’ without me in it. Especially a live, not videos or variety shows.”

That’s what Ibara said.

“Whether they were rubbish or doing well as a four-piece, I’d probably have felt down either way. And honestly, I couldn’t face them. Even though I know they couldn’t see me.”

A lingering sense of guilt still smoulders within Ibara.
It’s like letters carved into a hard stone slab – something that shouldn’t fade easily.
But, Ibara said.

“Still, I want to go and see them now.”

　Even so, all of us can only move forward.
If we don’t want to overlook the beauty ahead, even if the pain behind us doesn’t fade, we have no choice but to face forward.

The live venue was in Yokohama.
I didn’t quite grasp it, but I could tell it was an enormous venue.
There were loads of people dressed in outfits that screamed ‘obviously a fan’. Posters lined the stairs leading down from the platform.
　Incidentally, Momono-chan isn’t here today. No ticket was arranged for her. Poor thing.
Entering the venue, we head for our assigned seats. They’re on the second floor, quite a distance from the stage.
Arena seats, I suppose they’re called.
Apparently, even in the arena, some seats aren’t actually arena seats. I don’t quite get it.
Or rather, it’s vast.
Incredibly vast. How many people can this hold? I asked Ibara beside me,

“I think it was seventeen thousand people, wasn’t it?”

…and received this unbelievable answer.
Seventeen thousand people.
I couldn’t calculate off the top of my head how many companies that would be equivalent to.

“Ibara, you’ve sung in places like this too, haven’t you?”

“Honestly, this size is pretty rare.”

So that means maybe once or twice? Bloody hell.
I’d probably want to cry and run away.
I mean, seriously, isn’t that just impossible?
Is Hiname-chan really going to sing, dance, and talk for two hours in a place like this?
Oh dear. It hasn’t even started yet, and I’m the one getting nervous.
I clench the white penlight I’m holding (which Momono-chan shoved at me… I mean, gave me) tightly.
Ibara chuckled softly beside me.

“Why are you so tense, Shigure-san?”

“Well, Hiname-chan, she’s about to sing up there, isn’t she? What if she messes up or something?”

“It’ll be fine.”

“But—”

“It’ll be fine. You’ll know straight away, I’m sure.”

As if in sync with Ibara’s voice.
With a soft whoosh, the lights throughout the venue dimmed.
　Numerous laser beams illuminated the stage, dazzlingly bright.
On stage, before I knew it, there was Hiname-chan, and the members of ‘Charles’.
And then, the live performance began.
My first time witnessing a ‘Charles’ live performance, right before my eyes.
The next two hours were a torrent.
Through the opera glasses, Hiname-chan singing with all her might, and the idols of ‘Charles’.
　A torrent of sound and light.
Cheers that shook the body, and vocals that rose above them.
I understood perfectly what Momono-chan meant when she said a live performance had to be seen in person to be meaningful.
Before I knew it, I was wildly waving my penlight.
At the centre of the stage, Hiname-chan proclaimed loudly.

‘This is the last one! Thank you to everyone who came!’

　A roar of “Waaah!” erupted. Don’t stop, I’ll be lonely.
Don’t go.

“I love you all! Please keep supporting Charles from now on!”

The cheers turned to screams.
Glancing sideways, I saw Ibara standing up, gripping the railing in front of her.
Ibara pulled her mask down with her fingertips and

“Hang in there,”

she managed to say, her voice strained.

“Hang in there, Hiname. Hang in there, Toko-san. Hang in there, Shiro-chan. Hang in there, Tamaki. Hang in there…”

Beneath her cap, the corners of her eyes glistened.

“Everyone, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

It was an apology that felt like a tightening in the chest.
Words that could never reach anyone.
Words that only reached me and Ibara.
　Even if the whole world wouldn’t forgive Ibara’s weakness, I alone would stand by her. Someday, I had resolved that in my heart.
But the whole world being the enemy? That couldn’t possibly be true.
At the very least, Hiname-chan never blamed Ibara.
Surely the other members, even Motomura-san, felt the same.
Even so.

“…I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…”

　Even so, the wounds one carves into oneself don’t fade easily.
Just as rough stones wear smooth over repeated years, perhaps the only way is to gradually lessen them, day by day.

“Ibara”

I approached softly, pressing Ibara’s face, still apologising, against my shoulder.
Then, I held her close, as if to cling. Ibara didn’t resist.
The last song ended, and the encore began.
　In a corner of the frenzied venue, I simply stroked Ibara’s back, who was sobbing uncontrollably.

†

After the live. We were at a karaoke bar a short distance from the station.
Having cried it out, Ibara had regained her energy.

“‘Because it’s absolutely only you / Don’t take your eyes off me’”

I shake the tambourine, shaka shaka, in time with Ibara singing along with the choreography.

“‘Please watch me, till the very end’”

Clap clap clap. Applause.
Bloody hell, Ibara, you sing well.
Proper well.
I’d seen videos and listened to recordings, figured you were seriously good, but hearing it live, you really are brilliant.

“‘I haven’t done any vocal training, so I’m bloody awful now’”

She says that, but I can’t tell at all.
　Ibara tilted her head slightly, saying “Even so,” as she held the straw of the melon soda I’d ordered as part of the one-drink minimum.

“It’s kind of surprising that you want to go to karaoke, Shigure-san.”

“Eh? Ah, is that so?”

“I mean, you don’t really seem like that sort of person.”

“Well, I do go to karaoke sometimes.”

“I want to hear you sing, Shigure-san. I really want to hear you sing.”

“Eeeh. No way, why do I have to sing in front of a pro?”

“Then why did you come to karaoke?”

I flinched.

“Er… well, you know, I wanted to hear Ibara sing.”

“That’s nice to hear… but it sounds a bit dodgy.”

Sharp.
I secretly checked the time and my latest messages on my phone.
Not yet. Still not here.
Just then.
　Clunk. The thick soundproof door swung open.

“Oh, did you order anything—”

Ibara, who’d been looking towards the door, her eyes widened.

“Oh, hang on. You’ve got the wrong room, you know.”

I delivered the line I’d rehearsed.
Even I could tell it was a terrible, wooden delivery.
Seems I’ve no talent for acting.
The intruder was a woman.
　She’d changed her hairstyle with a wig, topped it with a knitted cap, and added a mask.
But Ibara seemed to recognise her immediately.
She whirred around.

“Shigure-san.”

“Eh? Wh-what?”

“You did it again, didn’t you?”

“Wh-what are you talking about? She just happened to get the wrong room, didn’t she?”

“You’ll be punished later, you know.”

Ibara stood up, leaving no room for argument.

“Hiname.”

Hiname-chan removed her mask and stepped forward.

“Ibara, listen—”

“Well done on the live. It was brilliant.”

The light from the display reflected in Hiname-chan’s eyes.
Which of them had sniffed quietly?

“So now you understand, don’t you? That Haibara Hiname is the best centre.”

Ibara continued in an unnaturally gentle voice.

“…That you’ll be fine without me.”

“Ibara, I… I…”

Hiname-chan grabbed the hem of Ibara’s clothes.
　Tears began to fall. Like a dam held back to its limit, finally bursting under the last push.

“I wanted to keep being an idol with you forever, Ibara.”

Along with that helpless truth.

“…Yes.”

“I loved everything about you. Your singing, your dancing, your laid-back banter, your seriousness, your cute moments. Being called ‘Himeiba’ made me so happy.”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

Hiname-chan’s face crumpled.

“Why are you quitting being an idol, Ibara-chan…”

“I’m sorry.”

Ibara wrapped an arm around Hiname-chan’s back.
Seeing her profile, I gently looked away.
I stood up.
An outsider shouldn’t be here from this point on.

　Beyond the soundproof door, there was indeed a girl wearing a hat.
Her presence here meant she was a member of ‘Charles’.
Given the atmosphere and her height, I could probably guess who she was.

“You’re Kisaka-san, right?”

“Ah, yes, that’s me.”

“And the others…”

“They’re waiting in another room for now. I just popped in to see how things were going.”

She pretended to glance at the peephole,

“Should I wait a bit longer?”

“Yes, just a little longer.”

Kisaka-san nodded.
Having stepped off the stage and changed her disguise, she looked just like an ordinary university student.
That’s why I couldn’t help asking.

“Um. Won’t Motomura-san get angry about us doing this?”

At my question, Kisaka-san widened her eyes, then chuckled, “Nyahaha.”

“She’ll be absolutely furious! When Motomura-san gets angry, she’s terrifying!”

“I-is that alright?”

“Not at all. An angry Motomura-san is terrifying. But—”

Kisaka-san continued matter-of-factly.

“Ibara’s one of the ‘Charles’ crew, a friend. Even if she quits being an idol, that won’t change.”

†

Stepping outside, the warm afternoon sunlight stung my eyes.
The temperature had risen considerably without me noticing. It had still felt a bit chilly when I left home this morning.
Coat draped over my arm, I set off for home.
The wind on my cheeks felt warm.
　Though the cold days had persisted, it was already mid-March.
Spring was coming. The long winter would end, giving way to the budding season.
Just once, I glanced back at the karaoke shop.
Today, Ibara would surely cry a lot. And laugh.
To bid farewell, in a sense, to everyone at ‘Charles’.
Yet still, to remain friends.
That is something I cannot do.
　I alone cannot give everything.

So cry your heart out, laugh your fill.
When you grow weary and sleepy, come home to me.