Chapter 38 My Favorite Idol
Saki's POV

The next day after school, I was blindfolded as Ichika was leading me somewhere.

"Are we there yet, Ichi-Chan", I asked.

"We're almost there, Saki", Ichika replied, before leading me up some steps. I then heard what sounded like a door being opened, and could now feel a breeze coming from outside.

"Almost there", Ichika said as she led me a little further. Then, she came to a stop "Okay, Saki. You can take off your blindfold now."

With this, I took off my blindfolded. We were on the school rooftop, and standing in front of me was Airi…wearing an idol outfit?!

"Airi-Senpai", I said in shock.

"Welcome, Saki", Airi greeted. "You're just in time for the show!"

"Show", I asked in confusion.

"Remember when you accidentally left your notebook behind with us yesterday", Ichika asked. "We decided to look through your list to see what entries still needed to be completed, and we saw that one of the things you wanted to do was 'Go to a concert featuring my favourite idol.'"

"Go to a concert featuring my favourite idol", I repeated. Then, I looked at the outfit Airi was wearing, and it clicked. "Wait a minute! Does this mean…"

"That's right", Airi replied. "Saki, this is a special concert just for you!"

"Really", I asked, my eyes lighting up with excitement.

"Yep", Airi replied. "But the surprise doesn't end there! Because I'm going to perform for you a special, never heard before song!"

"A never heard before song", I asked in confusion.

"Yep", Airi replied. "So just sit back and enjoy the show, Saki!"

With this, I sat down on one of the rooftop benches.

"Alright, I'm ready to go", Airi said. "Ena, start the music!"

"You've got it, Airi", Ena said. Then, she pressed a button on a boombox, and music started playing. Airi sang to it, and I looked at her in awe.

Amazing! Airi-Senpai is sparkling! She's truly an idol!

I continued to watch Airi's performance until it was done. Once it was, I stood up and clapped for her.

"Airi-Senpai, that was amazing", I exclaimed. "You were sparkling just like a true idol!"

"I was", Airi asked. Then, she smiled. "Thank you, Saki. I'm glad that you liked my performance."

"You were amazing, Airi", Ena said. "You never got to do a solo performance while you were in QT. So I'm so happy that I got to see it now!"

"Thanks, Ena", Airi said.

"Speaking of your performance", Ichika started. "Airi-Senpai, what was that song you performed?"

"That song was supposed to be my solo song while I was still a member of QT", Airi revealed. "But, I ended up leaving the group before I actually got the chance to sing it."

"I see", Ichika said.

"I'd figured the song would be given to one of the other members of QT at some point, but it never was", Airi added. "After I came up with the plan to put on a special concert for Saki, I decided to try my luck and call up my old agency to ask them about what happened to the song. To my surprise, they told me that, because the song was written for me specifically, it just didn't really suit any of the other members of the group. That's why they never ended up using it."

"So your agency was just holding onto the song without actually using it", Ena asked.

"You'd be surprised how often that actually happens", Airi replied. "But it ended up working out in this case, because my agency ended up giving me permission to perform the song!"

"Really", I said in awe. "That's amazing, Airi-Senpai!"

"I know, right", Airi said. "I was finally able to perform that song, and the person I got to perform it for was you, Saki! That makes me really happy!"

"Airi-Senpai", I said, getting emotional from what she said. Then, I practically jumped on her and wrapped my arms around her. "You're my favourite idol in the whole wide world, Airi-Senpai!"

"Saki", Airi said. She then pulled away from me, and looked at me with a smile. "Saki, thank you."

"Thank you", I asked in confusion. "For what?"

"To be honest, I thought the only way to be bring people hope was by performing on stage", Airi revealed. "However, when you told me that seeing me on variety shows helped you when you were in the hospital, it made me realise that there are other ways to give people hope! Thank you for helping me realise that, Saki."

"Airi-Senpai", I said in shock. Then, I smiled at her. "Thank you for helping me when I was going through a hard time, Airi-Senpai!

"You're welcome", Airi said. "So, can you check 'Go to a concert featuring my favourite idol' off of your list?"

"Yep", I replied. "That entry is getting a big check mark next to it!"

"Great", Airi said. "Then let's take a photo for your album! Ena, would you do the honours?"

"I'd be happy to", Ena replied. "Saki, can you please stand next to Airi?"

"You've got it", I replied, before standing next to Airi.

"Saki, can you form a 'C' with your right hand", she asked.

"Form a 'C' with my right hand? Like this", I asked. Then, I realised what was going on, and my eyes lit up with excitement. "Wait a minute, is this…"

"Yep", Airi replied, before forming a 'C' with her own hand. "If I hold up my left hand like this…now we're doing the Momoi pose!"

"I'm doing the Momoi pose with Airi-Senpai", I said in amazement. "This is a dream come true!"

"Airi, Saki, look at the camera", Ena instructed. "Now, say cheese!"

"Cheese", Airi and I said with big smiles on our faces.

This was another precious memory I would never forget.