When the Soubu students arrived back at their school it was already eleven in the morning. They had gone a little late compared to last time, and the scorching heat of summer in Chiba seeped in like it never had before.

Hachi removed her long coat to reveal that her body was practically steaming. Yukino was even worse because, inside her racing suit, she was cooked and was getting minor heatstroke.

"I want to live in Gunma forever." Tobe stuck out his tongue, "Water!"

"Speaking of water." Yumiko said while flapping her clothes, "Sensei, are we allowed to use the school water supply at the moment?"

"Sure, but what for?" Hiratsuka asked.

"Washing our bikes." Yumiko pointed at her precious bike. It's subtle, golden shine has been dimmed by the pollution. Same went for Yukino's shiny, silvery microcar.

"Ah, if that's the case, you can borrow the school's pressure washer. I think we have some car shampoo as well."

Yumiko came in with a hose and sprayed the dirt off her bike and the accumulated grime from five hundred kilometers of travel. The high-pressure jet managed to do the job wonderfully. For the most part leaving Yumiko to simply rub and wipe the leftover stains with bubbly automotive soap.

Everyone else did the same thing, and half an hour later everyone was drenched because they had played around too much with the water.

The provocateurs: Tobe and Yui. Because they pointed the water upwards more than once and everyone got caught in the artificial rain in the process.

"Sorry, sorry." They clapped their hands apologetically.

"You guys might as well hit the shower, the pool can't be used at the moment though. We have no swimming club so the pool will remain dry for the remainder of the summer." Hiratsuka shook her head in disbelief.

"Communal shower in the middle of summer vacation. What scandal." Hina drooled again at her own imaginative thought.

Fortunately, they took their showers in swimsuits. Girls or not, they were all too embarrassed to use the communal pool showers naked.

"Hacchan, so what happened with Saika-senpai last night?" Iroha asked when she rubbed Hachi's hair with shampoo. "You didn't say anything when I asked you back in Chibamura."

"I was rejected," Hachi said flatly.

"Ehh?!" Iroha shrieked in surprise, she was pretty sure that Hachi would be accepted too!

Yumiko wanted to say she knew that Hachi was crying last night but she decided to stay quiet. So instead she decided to straight up ask something else, "So, what are you going to do?"

"Hmm? What am I'm going to do? Obviously, stop bothering him." Hachi smiled.

"I don't think 'bothering' is the right word here," Yui said, "What do you think, Yukinon?"

"I think putting a little distance between the both of you isn't wrong." Yukino commented, "Of course, some people can reconcile right away. It depends on the individuals I guess."

One hour later everyone was more or less clean and clothed. Their shiny, like-new rides waiting in front of them. All in all, it was a worthwhile journey that they would not soon forget.

"Hacchan, what about your birthday?" Iroha asked persistently, "We should celebrate it!"

"Ehh? Really?"

"Yeah, I think it would be nice if we could celebrate it." Hina smiled happily.

"I'm don't usually celebrate it. But, if you guys want, just come and visit my house tomorrow after lunch." Hachi smiled, "Everyone's invited, no need to bring a present. And please, message me if you're coming so I can be sure how many will come."

Yukino seemed to be hesitating for a moment, but she finally managed to say, "I'll come as well if you don't mind. Could I have your address, Hikigaya-san?"

"Hmm? Sure." Hachi gave Yukino a piece of paper with her address.

Yukino turned to her other friend, "Yuigahama-san, what kind of clothes should I wear?"

"Well, since it's summer, something thin and casual should be fine," Yui told her.

A limousine's sudden appearance cut off their conversation. Yui was the first one to react and gasped. She recognized that limousine. Hachi did too and squirmed.

It was the same limousine that had hit Hachiman a year ago.

The driver gracefully opened the door to the passenger cabin revealing the presence of a sensual and mature girl with dark purple hair. At first glance she looked so different, and yet at the same time she possessed an almost identical face to that of Yukinoshita Yukino.

Hachi had met this girl before. All the way back in June during her modeling gig.

It was Yukino's sister.

"Hi, Yukino-chan!" The young woman cheerfully waved as she stepped out.

Yukino responded with flabbergast and muttered in disbelief, "Neesan."

"You wouldn't come home at all, so I worried and came to pick you up." The woman said and then switched her attention to Hayato. "Heeh, you two being in the same group again, eh? Are you taking care of her properly this time, Hayato-kun?"

One could tell just how angry Yukino was, and how terrified and full of guilt Hayato was in the face of this mysterious young woman.

Prodding their past like that, even Hachi wanted to clap so hard in amazement, with how thick the woman's poisonous words are. Hachi wish her words can be that venomous. But since it was her friend who she was shit talking, Hachi felt she might have to intervene a bit.

"We're not some kids who need to be taken care off, Neesan." Yukino spat.

"I see, you're not kids anymore, huh?" The woman goaded, "You all still look like kids to me though."

"Haruno, just leave it at that, would you?" Hiratsuka sternly warned with a cold voice, something that not even Hachi heard all that often.

It wasn't her usual comedic bouts of anger or frustration, it was a clear and concise warning.

"Long time no see, Shizu-chan."

"Even if I'm not your Sensei anymore, it's just common courtesy to call me Sensei, Haruno." Hiratsuka shook her head.

Haruno.

Yukinoshita Haruno, huh?

"Let's go then, Yukino-chan." Haruno smiled, "Mother is waiting for us."

At that moment, one could just tell how helpless Yukino was when hearing that name. And yet it was Hayato who patted her shoulder slightly to jolt her up.

"Keep your head straight." He whispered it was so subtle that anyone would've missed it, but not Hachi who was right beside Yukino when it happened.

Yukino took a deep breath, "I'll come home tomorrow. I'll go home by car."

"Tomorrow huh." Haruno sharpened her eyes, "And why is that you have to come tomorrow? Mother will be disappointed, you know?"

If one would ignore context, it sounds like a normal big sister and little sister talking. However, Hachi could just read the vibe strongly.

It wasn't a warning.

It was a threat.

And Yukino almost caved in. She must be terrified a lot of her mother.

"Too bad, but Yukino-senpai will attend my birthday party tomorrow." Hachi stepped forward, her tall and solid figure between Yukino and Haruno, "So I shall apologize in her stead, Oneesan"

Haruno looked at Hayato, Yukino, and then Hachi. Then she grinned mischievously.

Hachi glared down at the shorter woman, but felt like if she kept staring she would be swallowed whole.

For a moment, it was like the tension had risen up even higher, but she finally let it go and smiled.

"I see. It's pretty rare for Yukino-chan to celebrate a friend's birthday. I'm pretty sure mother will be delighted." Haruno winked, "Then see you tomorrow, I'll return home ahead."

Yukino took a deep breath when the Limousine left with a trail of dust behind it.

"Man, that woman has always been scary." Yumiko finally blurted out, "How could you stand living with her, President?"

"The answer is that I couldn't, Miura-san." Yukino flatly said, "I'm living on my own at the moment."

Yumiko grimaced a bit.

"I see, that must be hard for you." Iroha-chan muttered, "If I have a big sister that scary I think I might cry all the time."

"You guys, that's rude." Yui chastised them all, "Like, I'm very sure she's just taking care of her sister."

"Yuigahama-chan is right." Hayato said loudly, "If nothing else, we need to respect President's privacy here."

Truthfully, Hayato had always disagreed with how Haruno acted all this time, but still, it was a fact that Yukino loved her all the same. One could not just dismiss sixteen years of a familial relationship so easily.

Hayato too still respected her all the same, even though he had grown apart from the Yukinoshita family ever since his falling out with Yukino.

"Well, tomorrow is Hikitani-san's birthday. I'll be sure to drop in at least. Are you sure that's fine?" Tobe asked shamelessly.

"Well, just in case I don't have enough parking, please come on foot." Hachi raised her hand, "But other than that, everyone is welcome. Also, my name is Hikigaya, Senpai."

"Nanigaya?"

"Can I punch him now?" Hachi asked everyone.

Of course, in the end, Hachi simply jumped on her bike and smiled. "See you tomorrow, everyone." She smiled brightly.

"Wait, Hikigaya-sa-"

Saika was cut off by Hachi turning on the engines and leaving the school hurriedly. Saika slumped down, again regretting his extremely slow uptake.

"I think Hikigaya-san hates me now."

"I'm not sure if that's the case." Yui said, "I think she just felt a little awkward."

"Is that true?"

"Yes, I'm very sure. After all, she likes you a lot." Iroha clenched her fist in encouragement, "Saika-senpai."

"Well, I think most girls would be like that after what happened." Yui said as she tried to cheer him up, "So Sai-chan shouldn't be sad like that."

No, Yui and Iroha didn't understand at all, or so Yumiko thought. Hikigaya Hachi wasn't like a normal girl. Her thought patterns were freaking bizarre.

But Yumiko herself had a hard time bringing it up to Saika. Like, she wouldn't call him a friend, but Yumiko sure didn't think of him as a stranger either. A close acquaintance?

"Nevermind about that, Totsuka, you need to retrieve our gift," Yumiko said.

"Our?" Yui raised her eyebrows.

"We already prepared a gift ahead of time, so you guys don't have to worry." Yumiko smiled, "A collaboration with Kawasaki and Hina."

"I and Yumiko designed it." Hina gave a thumbs up, "And SakiSaki made it based on our design."

It was a pretty strange team, to say the least. In fact, looking at Hayato, it seemed that he was a bit ... jealous? Or is that too strong a word? Envious? Perhaps that was the case here. Because he was being left out. And by Yumiko of all people.

Of course, it was even stranger for him to be envious. It wasn't as if he was close with Hachi anyway. Why would he give a gift?

"Alright, Yumiko-san." Saika smiled, "I'll bring it tomorrow."

And with that Saika left with his bike, somewhat calmer than before. Still, there was a hint of unease in his face.

"How about you, Iroha-chan?" Yui asked.

"I already bought it way ahead of time." Iroha proudly puffed out her chest.

"Well, even if we want to get her a gift, it's kind of hard to know what's the best option." Yukino pondered seriously.

"How about flowers?" Tobe asked.

"I wonder if that's good enough and appropriate considering the atmosphere." Yukino asked Hayato, "How about you, Hayama-kun?"

"That's..."

If it was any other girl, Hayato was sure they would be happy. But Hachi didn't seem to be the type to enjoy things like flower bouquets.

It also had to be something inexpensive because Hachi was an extremely cautious girl. Even if she accepted an expensive gift then she would question the motives behind why it was given in the first place.

"Irohasu, can you describe what Hikigaya-san's house is like?" Hayato asked, "You once told me you had a sleepover, right?"

"Ah yes. The Hikigaya family's house is pretty huge for a middle-class family. It's an apartment-styled western house with a sizable front yard and large amounts of space inside."

"So there should be enough room." Hayato nodded, "I have an idea. It's a bit silly, but I think Hikigaya-san would like it."

Iroha tilted her head in confusion while Yukino raised her eyebrows curiously, "You have my interest."


やはり, 俺の 女子高生 デビュー はまちがっている。
As Expected, My High-School Girl Debut is Wrong.

Disclaimer:
Original Story by Watari Wataru


Chapter 29: Black Mirror


Hachi opened the door to her house and yelled a greeting, but found herself getting no reply.

Since the door was unlocked that meant at least Komachi was home. But, if Komachi hadn't replied it meant she was in her room.

Probably studying.

Hachi didn't feel like getting into her room immediately because its cramped nature meant she couldn't be relaxed. Instead, she decided to put away the laundry and began washing up.

Then she went to cook some lunch.

She had always considered her cooking average at best. It lacked variety and texture, usually because the results were overcooked. While perfectly edible and not at all bad, Hachi always wondered if that alone was enough.

Or maybe her standards were warped because she was accustomed to Komachi's top tier cooking.

Komachi was a much better cook than she was. And that was why, when it came to breakfast and dinner, Komachi took the lion's share of work. In turn, Hachi mostly took care of other chores where her strong body could be put to better use.

But these days, in the time of vacation, Komachi spent her time holed up in her room studying. So Hachi took it upon herself to cook at least some lunch for her.

"Aneki, you're home."

Komachi stood at the door to the living room/kitchen area.

"Yeah." Hachi nodded, "Did you have lunch yet? I just cooked some for you."

"Really? Thanks."

For some reason, Komachi wasn't as enthusiastic as she normally would be. Every time Hachi had made her a lunch in the past Komachi always looked very happy.

Maybe it didn't really taste that good and Komachi simply didn't have enough energy left to flatter her.

But Hachi couldn't accept that explanation.

However, Hachi was surprised to see Komachi ravenously consume the lunch provided like she hadn't eaten for days. In fact, when Komachi started eating, she looked like she did enjoy it.

"Seconds please." Komachi extended out her hand with the empty bowl in it.

"Sorry it doesn't taste that good."

"What are you saying, Aneki? Your cooking is as good as usual." Komachi said flatly.

It didn't sound like she was lying, but it didn't seem that she was actually excited about it either. Which was it?

"Aneki, how was the summer camp? Was it fun?" Komachi asked as she ate her second serving of rice.

"Well, it was really fun. The journey was full of hilarity too." Hachi said lightly, "I wish you were there though."

Hachi actually asked Komachi if she wanted to join the camp as a volunteer. However, she was having a mock exam during that period and couldn't go.

...could it be that was the reason?

"I wish I was there myself."

Hachi was well aware of Komachi's academic limitations. Unlike her mother or father, Komachi wasn't especially studious. But she wasn't a genius either. Komachi was a school underachiever as far as Hachi was aware.

As Hachiman, it was the one thing that Hachiman had to boast over Komachi. That he always had high grades.

"What about that twerp? I mean, Taishi-kun?"

"He went to his relative's house," Komachi said bitterly.

Fuck, stepped on a landmine!

"Ah, yeah, Kawasaki-senpai too." Hachi awkwardly laughed.

"Everyone seems to have a lot of fun these days." Komachi scoffed, "Thank you for the food, I'm going back to study."

"Wait, Komachi, do you need any help with studying?"

"It's okay." Komachi said coldly, "If I can't do this myself then I'll be ashamed and can't face you anymore, Aneki."

Hachi was frozen. Not because of Komachi's cold, distant words, but because of Komachi's eyes.

Komachi's eyes were baggy. But more than that, also devoid of cuteness. Devoid of passion.

Devoid of life.

Those were the same eyes that Hachiman possessed a year ago when he had been bedridden from the accident he had suffered.

Those were eyes that Hachi felt uncomfortably far too familiar with.

Even now, when Hachi hit a point of extreme cynism in an argument, she always showed those same eyes. But seeing them from Komachi felt unreal.

It felt horrific and out of place.

"Komachi?"

There was no reply, and Hachi couldn't help but despair. Just what had happened with Komachi in the last three days?

Asking her parents would be too bothersome. They might have be a little more attentive to their children these days, since Hachiman had become Hachi, but even so they remained pretty busy with their jobs.

Not even washing the dishes calmed her down. Usually doing chores would allow Hachi to focus on the problem at hand.

So, in desperation, Hachi decided to call a third source, as unreliable as it might be.

"Good afternoon, Kawasaki-senpai?"

"[Afternoon.]"

"I just came back from Gunma with the others. Where are you at the moment?"

"[Eating watermelon with Taishi. Why?]"

"Can you pass the phone to him?"

After few moments passed, a young male voice could be heard from the speaker. "[Good afternoon, Oneesama.]"

"That sounds wrong ... nevermind." Hachi felt odd being actually called that, but then again she was the one who had told Taishi to call her that in the first place. He was too innocent for his own good.

Kind of like Totsuka really.

Maybe she and Komachi shared the exact same taste in men.

"[Oneesama, are you with Komachi-san?]"

"We had a lunch just now why?"

"[Well ... I'm kind of worried.]" Taishi muttered, "[Komachi-san haven't been replying my messages recently.]"

"What? Really?!" Hachi was actually shocked. Komachi was NEVER the type to not reply to a message when she saw one.

"[Yes. Really.]"

"I see. When did this first start?"

"[Probably around the time for the Mock Exam. Komachi-san didn't look at all confident about the results. When we were all having a post-exam discussion, she was quiet.]"

So it really was the mock exam.

"[What should I do, Oneesama?]"

"Beats me. I can hardly talk with her. That's why I'm asking you. Still, worst comes to worst, just come here and pick her up like a white prince. I'm sure she'd be happy at least." Hachi joked.

"[Please don't joke like that.]"

"I'm not joking," Hachi said, "I'll tell you when that time happens."

When someone's unsure of themselves someone else has to pickup and support them. Just like the case of Zaimokuza Yoshiteru, someone needed to help Komachi.

Hachi wanted to help Komachi too, but she was too afraid of making a mistake. It could possibly be the thing that drove them apart...

What should I do?

When Hachi awoke, she found herself sleeping on the sofa in the living room, a thin blanket over her.

She didn't remember purposely fetching a blanket, so either her parents had returned or Komachi saw her sleeping there unguarded.

For Hachi to fall asleep like that, it must have been the fatigue of riding for six hours getting to her.

"Ah shit, I haven't cooked dinner yet." She blinked and jumped up when she saw the clock on the wall. It was already past six.

However, delicious scents were coming from the kitchen making her realize someone had cooked one.

She went to the kitchen to check under the food covering. There were colorful, neatly arranged trays of food, plastic wrapped to keep them clean. There were three main trays, each for another member of the family.

Hachi could not possibly be able to cook this well and intricately. The only one who could cook this good in this household was Komachi.

"Komachi..." Hachi gloomily sighed.

"We're home."

The voice of her parents echoed from the front entrance, and Hachi went to greet them. "Welcome home, father and mother."

"Ah, Hachi, you've returned." Her mother smiled.

Hachi handed them both small paper bags, "Some souvenirs."

"Thank you." The tall father said with a subtle smile, though it doesn't quite match his intense, tired Hikigaya eyes.

"It's okay, it's your money anyway." Hachi snorted.

"Well, it's a rather early present but happy birthday." Her father handed her a big ... something wrapped in a simple plastic and paper wrapping.

"Domo." Hachi shook it and noticed something, "It's a bag?"

"Open it."

Hachi ripped it open to see a pair of bags that were usually present on the sides of American cruiser bikes. They were on the smaller side compared to normal, but just perfect for her relatively small Blue Rose. "Whoa, cruiser saddlebags!"

They were synthetic leather with plated buckling, so they must have cost maybe several thousand yen at most. Still, Hachi didn't dislike it. This was not like their usual. They had usually given her a bunch of yen notes instead of any birthday present. This was probably the first time since her early childhood that Hachi actually received an actual present from them.

They never had the time to do any shopping.

"I'm actually wondering what was missing in this picture." Her mother said as she raised a book, "Your father said it must be the bags, so we went to buy a set of cheap bags."

There was a magazine with Yumiko, Hayato, and Yukino on the cover, with Hayato's GPR50 as the main focus. It was the summer special edition of Ride On! Magazine that specifically covered Soubu High and it's bike culture.

On the back cover, there was Hiratsuka and her sidecar motorcycle with Iroha and Yui sitting in it. One may think Hachi was out of focus here.

But if one looked at the centerfold, they would find Saki and Hachi each had their own dedicated poster sheet. And there were Blue Rose with Hachi leaning on it in a suggestive position. The other centerfold has Tobe and Saika almost hugging each other, seemingly innocent yet could easily interpreted as homoerotic.

It was true that Hachi's Blue Rose didn't have side-bags on it. Hachi never actually thought about adding them before, even though they are extremely common with Cruisers.

"Where did you get that?" Hachi pointed at the magazine.

"Oh, a friend gave me this. I was kind of surprised to see you here." The father said.

"I got this one from Komachi." Her mother raised the monthly Sensible! Magazine which was also part of the summer collaboration issue, "Apparently Sensible! is popular with Tokyo Kids. So how do you like the bags?"

"Thank you, it should fit well." Hachi smiled as she hugged the bags.

"Well, since we got home early might as well eat dinner when it's fresh." The mother said, "It smells good."

"Komachi cooked it." Hachi looked a bit sad when she said that, "I fell asleep after I had had lunch and done some chores."

"Komachi huh..." The mother and father looked at each other with similarly sad expressions. "Is she still studying?"

"Maybe. I'm sure she ate her own dinner at least."

And so the three Hikigayas talked about the issue as they ate the dinner that Komachi had prepared beforehand.

"So it was like that." Hachi pondered when she heard the full story from her parents.

"Well, in all honesty I'm alright if she doesn't get to pass into Soubu. But in the end, it's Komachi's wish." The mother said offhandedly.

"I'm going to talk with her." Hachi stood up and went to Komachi's room upstairs.

She knocked.

"Komachi."

"What it is, Aneki?"

"Do you have any problems? I can help."

"I've told you before," Komachi said with a muffled voice, but it was clear that she was standing behind the door. "I need to do this myself."

"But why?"

"Because otherwise, I can't face you."

"And why is that?"

"Aneki, you can stand on your own feet without help." Komachi scoffed, "I mean, you never have bad grades. You're strong and athletic. And you do a lot of modeling these days."

Komachi was stupid.

Everything that Hachi had accomplished, it wasn't simply her own hard work and effort. It was because the people around her that lent her a shoulder to lean on.

And Komachi was one of them. In fact, until Hachi had met Hiratsuka, Komachi was the only person in the world that had ever lent her support.

"Are you kidding me?" Hachi asked, "I would never be a model if not for your encouragement."

"I know that." Komachi sobbed, "I know that. But still ... I think I would be happy if I could help you to move forward but ... in the end, I was the one left behind. I'm stupid. My grades are bad. I'm not that good at sports. And I'm nowhere near as beautiful and mature as you are, Aneki. If I can't accomplish even this then what do I have to be proud of about myself? How could I ever stand beside you again?"

"After all these years, you're saying that now?" Hachi growled, "I'm the one who envious of you all this time, idiot."

Hachi leaned on the door as she tried to keep her own anger and sadness in check.

"Even if we grew up together without our parents, you were the only one smiling. You were always doing most of the chores without complaining while I was lazing around being a dramatic asshole. Your cooking is so much better than mine. Even when I try hard to catch up with you ... I can't. And you have a beautiful singing voice, much better than my own."

Memories of their childhood flashed repeatedly in their minds as Hachi kept talking. As they grew up together it was Komachi who was always surrounded by friends, one after another.

"Komachi had always been cute and friendly. No one would hate you forever no matter what you did. Komachi can be close to anyone in no time at all. I found myself jealous whenever you brought your school friends with you. Father and Mother always paid so much more attention to you than to me. You can only guess what I felt about that after all this time."

Hachiman only got to watch from a distance. Full of grief and envy. It was always Komachi who got all the love in the world. Never him.

The grass is always greener on the other side. Whenever they looked at each other, they saw their own dark reflection in the mirror. They saw things that they personally lacked.

The Hikigaya siblings both possessed inferiority complex against each other, sharing a bond that many siblings lacked, yet opposing each other in every way, like two sides of a coin.

Komachi, after all these years, easily hid her insecurity because her older sibling was miserable and lonely person. But Hachi have changed, while Komachi did not, Komachi felt like she wouldn't be able to catch up with her if she didn't put more effort in things she wanted to accomplish.

"So don't say stupid things like you're unable to look me the my face anymore. Because, I've had no one else but you in my fifteen years of life you fucking idiot..." Hachi said weakly as she straightened her posture and walked away.

Only for Komachi to stop her by tackling her from behind.

"I'm sorry!" Komachi bawled, "I'm really sorry, Aneki! Please don't leave me alone!"

"...Silly Komachi." Hachi said as she turned back and hugged her, "I'm the one who should say that."

"...Help me study."

"Sure. Anytime you want." Hachi patted her head gently.

The parents who were distressed and worried about the tension and conflict between the siblings, breathed a sigh of relief as they quietly walked downstairs.

...

After some talking and a little bit of tutoring, the Hikigaya siblings walked down to get some snacks. What better refreshment to cleanse their minds after crying like that than a pair of cold pudding?

"Komachi-chan, Hachi, come here a bit." Her father called.

Hachi and Komachi looked at each other then sat on the sofa.

"Komachi, even if you weren't accepted in Soubu, mother and father wouldn't mind." He said, "So you don't have to stress yourself too much like that."

"No." Komachi said, "I'm entering Soubu no matter what."

"I see you're at least fully determined, but still." The mother held her chin, "It's always good to have a backup plan."

"Backup plan?"

"Yeah." The father said, "Would you like to debut as an idol?"

"Hahahaha!" Komachi laughed hysterically when their father said that with a serious face, "What? Are you drunk?"

Hachi, on the other hand, only squirmed.

Certainly, it wasn't as if Komachi was lacking anything that was needed to be an idol. She had the face. She had the voice. She had the social skills and personal charm.

"...I think it's very possible." Hachi said in agreement, "I mean, you're so much better than me at singing, it's enviable. And you're cute, so you'd have a lot of fans."

"Aneki, you're flattering me. But no. It's not possible." Komachi said, her eyes looked like Hachi as she cynically said, "Besides even if I get to debut, people would simply resent me because of nepotism."

"Well, the truth is, I've sent your recording to my superiors during a production meeting. I haven't told them we were related, but they were very impressed."

"Recording?" Komachi raised one eyebrow in confusion, "What recording?"

"Christmas celebration last year." The mother said, "We have a recording remember?"

"Ah, that one?" Hachi remembers, "Yeah, I thought it was pretty great too."

"D-daddy?! You sent that to an idol production committee?! What were you thinking?!" Komachi turned beet red and was steaming with embarrassment. "Uwaa, I've made a lot of mistakes too!"

"Precisely! You made a lot of mistakes, yet even my boss thinks highly of your performance. That says a lot of positive things about your potential if you ask me." The father shrugged.

"Listen to this one." The mother put a DVD in the player, "And pay attention."

The music that played afterward was decidedly retro. One could easily recognize it's semi-melancholic tune as something straight out of the eighties.

A young and beautiful girl in a fancy dress was shown on the screen. Hachi rubbed her eyes for a moment because she thought she was seeing Yukino on screen, but it wasn't her. There was a slight difference in facial shape. It was more like a mixture of the Yukinoshita sisters. A perfect balance in between super slender Yukino and curvy Haruno.

"Who?" Hachi balked.

"That's me. 1989." The mother pointed at herself.

"Are you kidding me-oh!"

Since her mom already resembled the Yukinoshita sisters, it was no real surprise that she resembled them when she was young too.

"Your mother was an idol back then." The father told them, "And I was a young, inexperienced producer. We came from different production offices and had met several times."

"Let me guess, you fell in love at first sight?" Komachi grinned teasingly, "How romantic."

"Not even close." The mother scoffed, "However, in the nineties, we were both got burned out and disillusioned with the idol world. Stress and tension drove us closer to each other."

"Living a miserable life. Fooling ourselves into a false sense of happiness. Even five-star food tasted like ashes." The father continued, "The lost decade wasn't kind to the idol industry, and by early 1990 your mother retired while I resigned. We weren't married but we lived together as a wage slave couple."

"And then ... August 8, 1992, Hachi was born." The mother closed her eyes, remembering the moment. "When it finally happened, we asked ourselves what's next. And before we knew it we had bought this house and gotten married."

"Whoops. So I'm a pre-marital bastard after all." Hachi rolled her eyes aside in disbelief.

"Don't get so dramatic." Her mother slapped the back of her head, annoyed. "Even without marriage, there's nothing shameful about being born into that kind of household in modern Japan."

Especially in the nineties. Old people like to talk as if millennials aren't prudish enough, but the eighties and nineties were when Japan was the most sexually liberated. Having children out of wedlock wasn't seen as that strange because the influence of the West was also at its strongest. It was after the Lost Decade* that less and less people in Japan were having sex at all due to the stagnant economy, increasingly toxic work culture, and the new surge of neoconservative views.

"Naturally, it's Hachi's birth that tied us closer together, but you're not the only reason." The father agreed, "Komachi was born two and half years later and the rest is history."

Being born in March, Komachi was practically one of the youngest children in her generation. That was why she practically looked fourteen. Because she WAS fourteen, turning fifteen next March shortly before she would enter high school.

"So what's the point of telling us this?" Hachi asked. She wasn't actually bothered by the story of her own birth, because she understood how harsh the Lost decade was to the people of Japan back then. "Mom was an idol. Are you saying that Komachi has the blood of an idol in her?"

"It's not that." The father shook his head, "What we're saying is that you should prepare yourself for the unexpected. Having a goal in life and pursuing it diligently is nice and all, but reality isn't that kind. There's always a chance that your efforts will go unrewarded."

"That's not to say you should give up pursuing your dreams. If anything, you absolutely should. Living without a dream to pursue is awful." The mother lovingly poked Komachi and Hachi's noses, "Because knowing you have a place to return to will keep your mind focused and your heart at ease. Because there's no reason to be afraid of failure in achieving your dreams."

Just like how their father and mother had had each other when they were at the deepest state of despair in their lives.

"Things that you're good at are not necessarily what you want to do, and things you want to do are not necessarily something you're good at." The father said aloud, "Achieving your dream is awesome, but it's also nice to be rewarded for things you're simply good at."

Being rewarded for things you're good at.

Hachi remembered ... when she managed to win a grade five tournament, and received the trophy, she felt calm and at ease too. Because it was something she was good at, and she was rewarded for it.

"So how about we make a bet, Komachi-chan." The father said, "If you fail to get into Soubu High, would you like to debut as an idol while going to private school?"

"Ufufufufu." Komachi's expression turned grim and menacing, "Is that a bet?"

"I'd like to call that ... insurance." The father crossed his arms in defiance.

"Then how about this, if I get into Soubu I'll be an idol as well!" Komachi climbed the sofa and stood proudly.

"Don't be greedy, you little shit." The mother yanked the girl's shirt and drag her down.

Still, Hachi was really happy. Even if she wasn't the only one who helped Komachi, she was happy that Komachi could fully regain her confidence once again.

Perhaps, she too, needed to rely on her parents once a while.

"Ano, father, mother, I need some ... advice," Hachi muttered, "Career advice I mean."

"What it is, Hachi?" The mother asked.

"You see, there's this Senpai who..."


* The recession period that hit Japan in 1991-1992, causing economic meltdown and massive restructure of business model. Japan didn't recover well until the turn of Millennium. That was when demographic shift hit Japan the hardest, result in very low birth and marriage rate today.