Hachiman woke up in the morning, his body slightly heavy, but not exceptionally so. The prescription from his psychiatrist should easily take care of the leftover fatigue and stress from yesterday's training.
"What's your plan for today, Hachiman?" Saika asked.
"Ah, I'm going with Zaimokuza to Akihabara," Hachiman said. "Since we're in Tokyo anyway, it would be a waste not to at least go there once."
Totally not because Hachiman wants to spend his free day nerding out. Not at all!
"Akihabara... the Otaku holy land?" Saika concluded. "I wish we could go there together."
"Maybe you should make it a double date?" Yuutarou teased.
"Fuck off," Hachiman told Yuutarou. "I don't want to feel maidenless the entire time. I don't think Zaimokuza would disagree."
"Yeah, we don't want to be third and fourth wheels!" Zaimokuza huffed.
"Well, I'm going to get Anya. What about everyone else?" Saika asked the other two.
"Where are you going anyway?" Yuutarou asked.
"We plan to go to Kichijoji," Saika replied. "The bustling city is appealing, but Anya wants to wind down a little without going all the way to rural Chiba."
Kichijoji was a compact yet richly varied district where dense northern commercial grounds met rural preservation. It was considered one of the ideal places to live in Tokyo, close to Shibuya and Shinjuku.
The primary destination of the couple today was likely to be the famous 95 acres of Inokashira Park.
Anyway, going to rural Chiba is something the couple would do, considering how adventurous they were even as 'normal' cousins. The Hokkaido wilderness photos were hilarious to read about, and they were like 13 or 14 back then. Hachiman's father had to specifically warn them not to do that for safety reasons.
"I'm going to the hospital for my mini-concert. Wish me luck," Rei smiled. "To tell you the truth, my arms feel awful. But for some reason, I've never wanted to play this much in the past few months."
Whether it's the state of a refreshed mind or having the knots in his muscles removed yesterday, Kagura Rei seems excited about today's musical presentation. Or maybe because this time around, he doesn't need to show off around rich old farts, and instead, he has come to entertain unfortunate children.
"I'm going back to my studio and will dissect the training we've done so far piece by piece," Ryou said, full of determination. "I feel like I'll reach a breakthrough!"
Ryou, the only person in this group who underwent masculinity training with the intent of becoming an Idol (again), obviously gained the most. Of course, there are more things to digest, which is why he couldn't do it alone and has no time to relax.
It's far easier to start from scratch instead of unlearning something first. When everyone else started from zero, Ryou started from literal negatives.
"Good luck, everyone," Yuutarou pumped his fist. "See you next week, then."
Hachiman didn't know if it was the posture or the newfound confidence that changed him, but Yuutarou looked less and less like a child by the day. Sure, he's still short, but he doesn't look like a kid three years younger anymore.
Except for Hachiman, everyone here had drastically changed compared to last week.
"President, are they...?"
Hachiman looked aside to notice a member of 765 PRO there, standing with a shocked expression. It was...
It was none other than the number one teen Idol singer of Japan, Kisaragi Chihaya. The person who single-handedly kept 765 afloat during its economic crisis shortly after Yuutarou took over because everyone else had their jobs canceled.
The person who can win the Idol world with her singing alone.
The person that Komachi was supposed to take on somewhere in the near future.
"Ah, Chihaya-san," Yuutarou seemed a bit surprised by her appearance. "You came, after all."
"I hope my appearance here didn't impose on anyone," Chihaya smiled slightly. "Are they part of your training group?"
"Yeah, they are," Yuutarou nodded. "Our training finished yesterday, though. So you're free to use the studio to your heart's content."
"L-long time no see, Kisaragi-san," Ryou's skin was as pale as wall plaster, which means there was a history between him and Chihaya.
Hachiman wondered if this is the person Ryou talked about before. The person he admired and had a promise with...
"Long time no see, Ryou-san," Chihaya responded somewhat warmly. "... You're hurting? Was the training that intense?"
Ryou was an experienced idol, so what kind of exercise would ruin his body like that? Especially since Chihaya knew Ryou's training since the beginning of his career as a female Idol last year.
"It's growing pain," Ryou winced and grinned. "Oh, by the way, you haven't really been introduced to each other, right?"
"This is Hikigaya Hachiman, Production Assistant from 346 PRO 1st Idol Division. His mother is the one training us."
Hachiman nodded and questioningly looked at her. Judging from Chihaya's tone, it seems that there was not much in the way of a special attachment between her and Ryou, even if they're on friendly terms.
So Chihaya was unlikely to be the promised person.
"Ryou had close ties with 765 even before my arrival, so they're on good terms. Particularly because one of our producers is his cousin," Yuutarou told Hachiman.
"Is that so?"
That makes a lot of sense now.
"... A training exercise that could even push Akizuki Ryou, I'd like to see it for myself," Chihaya lost her smile. "Even if it's not music-related, I could really use more references."
"We have the DVD recording," Yuutarou raised his hand happily. "Anyway, this is Totsuka Saika and Zaimokuza Yoshiteru from Chiba. They're friends of Hikigaya-san."
"My name is Kisaragi Chihaya," she bowed. "And you... Kagura Rei, wasn't it?"
"Long time no see," Rei casually waved his hand. "Kisaragi Chihaya."
"I'm surprised you still remember. I've been out of the classical music scene for how long?" Chihaya sighed. "And I watched you in last year's Menuhin Competition. Congratulations on the 3rd place."
"Being in 3rd place means I still have a lot of work to do. Unfortunately, I won't be qualified for the Junior category this year. The competition will be even more fierce in the senior category, so I planned to skip this year and start preparing myself even better," Rei shrugged dejectedly, yet there was no disappointment in his voice.
"Menuhin?" Saika asked.
"The Menuhin Competition is one of the most elite violin competitions in the world. And apparently, Kagura managed to land 3rd place in the Junior violinist category," Hachiman told Saika.
Something like that was unthinkable for the average person. Yet, for the perfectionist boy, it was nothing but a setback to overcome.
"Is training as an Idol part of that?" Chihaya questioned.
"It's partly that, but because I'm also burned out by my routine," Rei pulled something from his bag. "If it's not too much of a bother, this is my rendition of your song set to the tune of Classical period pieces."
"My song?" Chihaya raised her eyebrows as she looked at the musical sheets. "This... you're basing this rendition on Haydn, right?"
"As expected of a genius, you noticed that quickly," Rei grinned, somewhat ashamed. "I made it in a rush job yesterday, so I'm afraid there might be a lot of mistakes there. So if you don't mind, please be frank."
"You only made this yesterday...?" Chihaya sharpened her eyes. "... Can I borrow a pen?"
Chihaya started writing on the sheets quickly, correcting parts she thought could be better.
However, she finished rather quickly. Meaning there wasn't much at all to be done.
"As expected of a genius, other than a few refinements, the rendition is amazingly well-made," Chihaya handed the sheets back to Rei. "Why my song, though?"
Rei looked at Hachiman. "Classical music has a long history and immeasurable value, but if we think of music as a message, then the simpler pop music will reach a wider audience."
"Because someone told me that there's no point to a song no one would listen to," Rei told her. "And everyone listened to your song, didn't they?"
Chihaya glared at Hachiman, then back at Rei. "Forsaking quality and depth for widespread appeal is nothing but lunacy."
"And I know more than anyone else how much effort you put into your song. That's why I chose it," Rei nodded in agreement.
"Kuh... is... is that so?" Chihaya blushed a bit, which Hachiman noticed was rather uncharacteristic. He was expecting an ice queen and not some awkward and passionate classical music nerd. "Then it would be an honor for you to play a rendition of my song in... whatever concert you're playing it at."
Rei told Chihaya the location and schedule of his mini-concert. The fact that it was made for charity impressed Chihaya even more.
"I'll try to find time and attend after my training today."
"It would be an honor if you came to watch it. Please excuse me."
A luxury car stopped nearby, which the boys recognized as the Kagura family's limo. Rei didn't waste his time and boarded it.
"Ahhh, I think I should go quickly as well. My Producer is waiting for me," Ryou immediately dodged as well. "See you later, everyone!"
It seems that while Chihaya didn't bear any ill feelings toward him, Ryou still felt somewhat guilty. So he decided to bail out as soon as possible.
This left Hachiman with a baffled Yuutarou, a confused Saika, and a clearly terrified Zaimokuza. The bespectacled chuuni was hiding behind the two shorter boys.
What a coward...
青春 の輝かしいステージ ひどく明るい感じ
The Shining Stage of Youth feels awfully bright
(Oregairu/Idolmaster - Cinderella Girls)
Original Story by: Watari Wataru/Bandai-Namco
Written by: ZeroXSEED
Chapter 18 - A tense exchange
"Hikigaya-san, wasn't it?" Chihaya approached Hachiman with cold eyes. "Was it true that you think a song that no one listens to has no value?"
"Yes," Hachiman answered firmly without showing his uneasiness. "As an Idol who focuses on your singing performance, you would understand more than anyone else."
"Not all songs and pieces are equal in value, but there's no such thing as a worthless song," Chihaya argued.
"Each and every single one of them represents time and effort invested into their creation, not to mention the ability of the creator matters. For example, a lot of Mozart's works were written in a short time, yet they're all valuable historical pieces worth preserving," she pointed out.
"Ultimately, values are subjective. No matter how well-made it is, if people forget it, then it's meaningless," Hachiman snarked. "No one today cares about the 800 pieces Vivaldi wrote because they only listen to Four Seasons."
"Pffftttt."
Chihaya spurted a laugh in response to Hachiman's sarcastic statement. This made Yuutarou and the others even more confused.
"... Why are you laughing?" Hachiman looked weirded out.
"... I'm surprised you even KNOW Vivaldi wrote 800 pieces; that's all," Chihaya looked away with a blush. Then she quickly composed herself and brought back her serious expression. "Kuh. He needs more recognition, considering his influence in European music history."
"Maybe," Hachiman shrugged.
Chihaya rambled further. "Maybe people need to listen more and not focus on superficial appeal. Like, everyone praises Paganini for his showy pieces instead of the brilliant combination of difficult techniques."
"Yeah. Only masochists listen to Paganini, claiming they want a pleasant experience," Hachiman scoffed.
Chihaya spurted a laugh again, breaking apart the ice queen image she desperately wanted to keep showing in front of the clearly unfriendly boy. Hachiman began to question his own sanity.
Maybe he was a good comedian after all? Or maybe Kisaragi Chihaya had a weird sense of humor.
Because Hachiman wasn't snarking to be funny.
"... I think that's the first time I've seen Chihaya-san laugh this much," Yuutarou laughed as well. "And trust me when I say that she's not easily amused when it comes to music talk."
"... This girl is too freaky for me," Hachiman took a step back. "I'm leaving."
"I'll also excuse myself," Saika nodded. "See you later."
"W-w-w-wait for me!" Zaimokuza immediately jumped on the backseat of Hachiman's bike.
"Wear your helmet, you ass!" Hachiman threw the spare helmet to him.
...
On the road to Akihabara, Hachiman was lost in deep thought about the enigmatic girl, Kisaragi Chihaya.
She was clearly not the cold and unapproachable ice queen that she appeared to be from a distance. Inside, she was really just that serious and passionate about music.
Hachiman never once judged her superficially like that. Not the moment she appeared.
For example, she came to Yuutarou's house to borrow the training studio for herself. This is an important matter to consider: 765 PRO's office facilities were shut down for maintenance today, while the idols were given a day off.
Meaning, while every other Idol enjoyed their one-day vacation, Chihaya deliberately kept trying to improve herself by training alone.
Secondly, the way she revised Rei's music sheet. She did her work quickly, but not haphazardly. While it was a testament to Rei's own skill as a genius violinist, it also showcased Chihaya's musical literacy level.
Thirdly, her passion for classical music hadn't disappeared at all. Especially when her humor bone connected to them, something that Hachiman found hilarious in hindsight.
From these facts alone, Hachiman found out that Kisaragi Chihaya is an entirely different breed of genius idol, unlike the people he had met before. Not only did she have talent and drive, but she also put her heart on the line. She had everything needed to succeed.
Komachi was a hard worker, but she had a complete lack of interest in Idol matters. The other potential genius, like Ichinose Shiki, was too scatterbrained and lazy to catch up with her. But then again, if it was that easy to beat Chihaya, 346 PRO would have done so a long time ago.
Finally, they arrived in Akihabara, yet Hachiman was still lost in his thoughts.
"...Hachiman, you're zoning out."
"Is that so? I'm still thinking about Kisaragi."
"Oho, so she's really your type then?" Zaimokuza rubbed his chin mischievously. "You sure have an incredibly high standard!"
"Not in that way. She's technically a rival Idol, after all," Hachiman clarified.
"I have the feeling you two hit it off well, though. I mean, you made Chihaya-tan laugh so hard without even trying!" Zaimokuza pointed out. "A little longer? You two might as well start flirting!"
What the hell is he saying?
Hachiman could only stare at him with confusion, uttering a single word of "HUH?" in response to Zaimokuza's absolutely zany observation from such an absurd and short interaction.
"Think about it. Not only can you engage Chihaya-tan in a complicated conversation, but you can also defuse Chihaya-tan's tension with simple remarks. That way, she immediately considers you someone worth talking to."
"Chihaya-tan is someone hard to approach, whether as fans, staffers, or even as fellow Idols," Zaimokuza pointed out. "This is a well-known and not entirely baseless rumor. Yet here, you immediately managed to entertain her and make her laugh in public."
"Yet you saw examples of that being wrong not only once but twice," Hachiman scoffed. "Don't be stupid."
"I am not! That's just my observation, okay?"
Hachiman slapped his face and sighed. It seems that even compared to him, Zaimokuza's lack of understanding toward women is incredibly lacking.
"Hey, Zaimokuza. You know what girls call a boy that they can get close to without concern and laugh along with?"
"What?"
"Girls don't call them boyfriend material. Girls call them class clowns."
Zaimokuza was visibly hurt by that statement. In fact, Hachiman knows very well that back in Soubu, Zaimokuza had a massive pool of girls he was in contact with, compared to Hachiman's zero.
Strictly as acquaintances, because he's goddamn gynophobic, and these girls considered him a harmless guy friend. Of course, Zaimokuza failed to realize this himself because he's so shy and awkward. Or perhaps he already subconsciously thought the same way.
"This is something that my mother taught me recently. I've been kicking myself over and over in the past few months for not realizing it sooner."
"Men are taught to rely on themselves and their partners, but women are different. Men are expected to be enduring and unmoving. We're expected to weather all sorts of problems and cope through external means like alcohol or tobacco. We are only allowed to share our concerns and problems with our closest friend and lover."
"But women are different. They carry no such social expectations and are expected to share their concerns and problems with friends. As such, you can very often find girls talking about seemingly important and private information with you, and you thought... Hey, maybe this girl likes me."
"You can't be more wrong. In fact, you're surrounded by girls in Soubu and have no male friends. You ought to understand this more than anyone else."
Zaimokuza gasped in realization. "Wait... that's... that's true!"
"Yes, what we men perceive as a signal of courtship is what girls send out as a green light for friendship," Hachiman smirked. "As a veteran of the battlefield of love with a record of 13 rejections... I feel stupid for not realizing that, too."
Of all Hachiman's 13 rejections, all of them shared the same trait. All confessions were made under the impression that the girls saw him as something special, when in fact, they were just being nice to him.
Hachiman thought nice girls were the worst for misleading him. But it was entirely his fault for being misguided by his own preconception of human relationships.
"When girls start seeing you as the sole source of comfort, then your prospect as a love interest is gone. When you think about it, girls are more concerned about being perceived as flawed in front of their love interest, aren't they?"
"Oho, that's indeed true," Zaimokuza nodded furiously. For all his wisdom, Zaimokuza had a lot more interaction with girls than Hachiman did. At least, before Hachiman moved to Tokyo. "Like they're sharing their concerns with random guys and their girlfriends, but desperately hiding it from their boyfriend!"
"The boyfriend might perceive it as emotional affairs, but that's just how girls are," Hachiman wiggled his fingers. "Understanding this fact, you have to consider that just because girls suddenly get closer to you, it doesn't mean they suddenly see you in a romantic light. It just means they consider you non-threatening."
In fact, Chihaya DID see Hachiman as threatening early on, and it's his sarcasm and her oddball sense of humor that defused things. In a sense, it's not incorrect to say they looked like they were flirting.
"In that case, how can you tell if a boy and a girl have potential as romantic partners?"
"I couldn't. If I could, I'd have a girlfriend now!"
"Not funny!"
"See, at minimum, they have to see eye to eye. They have to share enough interest or commonality to have natural chemistry, even if they're on the opposite spectrum of personality and often clash," Hachiman pointed out.
"If you think about it, Kagura and Kisaragi had it superb at that time. They talked smoothly with each other; they held each other with respect, and he managed to get her to attend his mini-concert without even trying."
Now that Zaimokuza pondered it, he was so focused on Hachiman that he failed to realize just how quick and steady that interaction was.
If Chihaya fans saw it, their eyes would bleed from jealousy. Hell, the tabloids would have a field day if they found out!
"I'm going to tell you right now, that guy is nowhere THAT smooth with girls at school. From MY point of view, they're more likely to form a couple," Hachiman concluded. "But just as likely that they become close friends with a deep understanding of each other, as geniuses sharing an interest in classical music."
"It's hard to know just how much a person loves another romantically," Hachiman sighed. "If I knew that, I'd be a love guru."
For example, Hachiman knows Anya loves Saika romantically, but just how much does she love him? Hachiman didn't expect it would be career-tanking.
And Saika reciprocated that feeling in kind. Going through these training and trials to understand her and become a man worthy of her, knowing just how much danger he placed himself in.
"... I think my brain just detonated this second," Zaimokuza muttered aloud. "My mind is expanding at cosmic speed!"
"Good for you," Hachiman patted Zaimokuza's back.
From his novel drafts, Hachiman could tell that Zaimokuza had a shallow and criminally unrealistic understanding of romance. Perhaps because Zaimokuza had always been a loner weirdo, but Hachiman wasn't that much better. In some respects, Hachiman was much worse.
Now that he said it, he thought about it again and finally understood why he befriended many 'effeminate' boys. It is not that they're pretty or girly. It's because they're all openly emotional.
Which Hachiman can relate to... a lot.
As much as he pretends he was always rational and appeared stoic on the outside, Hachiman was, and still is, very much emotionally driven, as they are.
It was also what connected Hachiman and Zaimokuza together. Zaimokuza was an honest and expressive individual. It was why they were isolated from other boys, who preferred to keep things at arm's length.
"Well then, my loyal retainer, where should we go first?"