Hachiman decided not to go too far from the venue itself, paying attention to the ongoing report as he started his job promoting the event.
The helmet might dampen his voice, so a microphone was put there and connected to a small Bluetooth speaker on the fake HANS collar. Harada Miyo really thought of everything...
"[Please watch the opening of the new kart venue—a fun ride for the whole family! There will be cute Idols there!]" Hachiman said aloud as he handed out the flyers. "[Please come in and watch!]"
"Cute idols, he said?"
"Let's go and watch!"
"Erm, I'm not into kids."
"[Psst, hey. Sexy Idols are there also]," Hachiman whispered with a thumbs up. "[Think of all the race queens]."
"ALRIGHT, LET'S GO AND WATCH!"
Well, that was easy. Since Hachiman wasn't dressed in a mascot suit, he had far more freedom in his approach. And since the polarized visor covered his face, he can be a little bit bolder.
"Onii-chan, Onii-chan, are you a racer?" A little boy tugged Hachiman's legs.
"[Oh no, I'm not a racer]."
"Then why are you dressed like a racer?"
Hachiman pointed at his red YZF 'Harada' custom. "[Because Onii-chan has a cool motorcycle, of course]!"
"Whoa, it's cool!" The boy and his friends nearby shouted. "Will it show up on the track?"
"[Of course not]."
"Lame!"
"[Eits, don't be so fast to judge]!" Hachiman stopped the whining boys. "[Do you like Formula Racing? Or perhaps Super GT is more to your liking? What about Rally? A lot of famous racers often began riding karts around your age]."
"Does that mean if we start karting now, we can be Formula Racers in the future?"
"[If only things were that easy, tsk-tsk]." Hachiman shook his head. "[Of course, it's not that easy. If you start racing with that kind of mindset, your dream will be crushed]."
Some adults who are passing by got surprised by Hachiman's sudden bout of cynicism. In fact, the kids themselves look shocked.
Some might even see Hachiman as a bully for doing so in broad daylight. They glare at him with a look of disapproval on their faces.
"[First, you have to win the regional Kart Championship. You might even need to rank high in the national championship. Only then will a team or a company sponsor you to race in the Formula 4 championship. Racing without a sponsor is expensive, and many racers gave up because of that.]"
"Ehhh, that sounds really troublesome!"
"[Of course, it's troublesome. These professional racers are cool because they went through all the trouble and got over their failings. Remember one thing: dreams betray many, but hard work betray no one!]" He declared aloud.
That was a surprisingly insightful take.
"[If you put some effort instead of indulging yourself with your daydream, you will surely achieve something important.]" Hachiman raised a thumbs up. "[The idol sisters inside are also putting their best effort into today's event, and it would be nice if you could watch them all.]"
"Uwah! Let's go watch the event then!"
"Mama, I want to go there!"
"Okay, let's go and watch the sisters there when it begins."
Hachiman's shockingly grounded outtakes seemed to gather even more attention than intended. He even got a woman to thank him for encouraging these kids more realistically instead of giving out empty hope.
If only Hachiman was that noble... he wasn't. He was being utterly glum all this time. Dreams are more likely to end up in failure, and he knows this very well.
However, at the very least, it seems that Hachiman's hard work started to pay off.
"It's up to you now, Komachi!"
Hachiman continued his promotional campaign for more than an hour until the event started. His throat was slightly sore, and the inside of his racing suit is damp, but he pays no mind.
Instead, he prayed.
Until the last second, please let his voice reach them all.
As the fireworks start, he knows his job here comes to an end, and he had to move elsewhere. It's time for him to work backstage and support the Third Division Producer.
"Good job, Hikigaya-kun."
Much to his surprise, the first person to congratulate him wasn't any of the staff or the Idol he's working with...
"Hayami?" He asked in complete bafflement. "Aren't you tired after finishing your concert?"
"Just looking at you makes me wide awake~!" She winked at him.
"Haha, very funny." Hachiman groaned. "Seriously, though, are you alright?"
"You don't have to worry about me. I slept early yesterday because all the LiPPS members skipped the after-party, and I just woke up half an hour ago after sleeping in our tour bus."
No wonder she looked somewhat disorderly.
"I see. The bus must be close by." Hachiman nodded. "Congratulations on the successful concert tour. I'm sure this is gone without saying, but everyone is working hard for it."
"Thank you." Kanade pulled something from behind her back. It was a small icebox. "Shiki-san wanted you to have this."
"Huh?" Hachiman opens it, and there's a bottle of yellowish liquid inside.
"She thought it would help a little, so she made it last night before she fell asleep. Some kind of herbal tonic? Or maybe it's a love potion, fufu."
Great. Two elusive people worked on it. Definitely a trustworthy item to drink... not!
Hachiman uncapped the bottle and took a sniff. It seems to be something different from what Shiki gave him before, but probably not dangerous. Shiki couldn't possibly be cruel enough to sabotage his first field job, right?
"By the way, I sneak a sip from it, so..." Kanade stuck her tongue out.
Okay, did she really? Hachiman looked at the opened bottle and wondered... is this yet another indirect kiss prank or what? Kanade is still hard to read, even though they sorted out their misunderstanding recently.
"I'm joking." She laughed at his suspicious stare. "Rather than an indirect kiss, maybe a real one would be nice, don't you think?"
"You know, maybe seeing a professional therapist was the right thing to do after all." Hachiman drank the content out in one go. "You girls will drive me insane, otherwise."
Hachiman reacted fast enough to notice Kanade slightly swaying and caught her by her shoulder. "Because you're super reckless, that's what."
That might be the first time Hachiman actually turned the table and made Hayami Kanade, the queen of teasing, blush from shock and embarrassment.
She clearly hasn't recovered at all. Probably not getting enough sleep, either.
"It's fine. I just need to lay down a bit." Kanade stammered a bit, desperately hiding her awkwardness.
"You sure do." He said in a deadpan tone.
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 15 - Forgiveness and understanding
The rational course of action was to bring her to the medical tent located inside the venue. It's not much of a tent and more like a light prefabricated building, however. It's there mostly for legal obligation, just in case there is a minor accident.
Or, more likely, some people get exhausted or have heatstroke. The park management already considered this and planned to build a more permanent infirmary in the next 3 months. Likely anticipating a summer heatwave.
Hachiman informs the rest of the 346 staff that Kanade is here, with the bus parked outside.
"My. It looks like I got dumped again." Kanade sighed.
"Not my fault you came in suboptimal condition." Hachiman tried to be harsh, but clearly felt a pang of second-hand guilt. "... Thanks for coming, though."
"Truthfully, Mika and others were in much better condition to visit anyway. And I'm sure you'll be less awkward with them." She shrugged.
"You know, you ARE weirdly cranky when you're weak. You should ask if Ichinose-senpai has some tonic for you."
His father sometimes told Hachiman how Kanade becomes irritable like this. But this is the first time Hachiman saw this side of her by himself. She looked like a grown-up Komachi, and that was hilarious beyond belief.
Unconsciously, Hachiman began to smile, which seemed to throw Kanade off. Hachiman never smiled that loosely, especially in Kanade's company. He only does that when Komachi or Anastasia is around.
Because he thought of Anastasia as a little sister.
"Yo, sorry, I'm late!" Mika barged into the area.
"What are you smiling for? Excited that your personal harem is here for you?" Shuuko teased him.
"Don't even joke about that. It'll ruin your career." Hachiman brushed it off with ease. "You should encourage your juniors instead."
He knew for sure that they wanted to support their fellow idols, mainly.
Especially since it was Shuuko. There has never been any single spark of sexual tension or romantic awkwardness between him and Shuuko, or Frederica for that matter. Among the five members of the LiPPS, these two are who Hachiman could safely call ordinary, casual friends.
He doesn't know for sure if a friendship between boys and girls is real, but he's content with the current status quo.
"... Where is Frederica-san?" Kanade asked the other two.
"You know what she's like." Shuuko shrugged. "Either she came back to the bus or ran around unchecked in the park, thinking it's a chance for a short vacation."
"... I'm betting 1000 yen on the latter." Hachiman mumbled.
"Sucker's bet." The three members of the LiPPS crossed their hands in refusal.
"Well then, I'm going." Hachiman took off, now fully dressed in his usual dark purple suit and ready for his next job.
...
"[And from the venue, we saw an intense race ongoing. So far, Anzu-chan from 346 is leading ahead of everyone else]!" The busty Idol from Chiba, Miura Azusa, spiritedly commented. "[What do you think, Harada Miyo-san?]"
"[I think the disparity of driving technique between them is unfair, just the difference of drift angle alone made that obvious]!" Miyo frantically responded, putting her heart and mind into the whole thing instead of simply acting her part.
"[Ooh, but you wouldn't know the result until you see the end! Look at Hayasaka Mirei-chan chasing Anzu-chan's tailpipe like it was nothing]!"
"[It is indeed true! Five laps into the race, and it's only heating up from there]!"
Hachiman watched from the control room calmly, he felt a sense of relief. It seemed that despite this being technically Komachi's first live appearance, it wasn't really her first public appearance at all.
Albeit under disguise, that is.
"How does it look on the web, Hikigaya-kun?" The third division Producer asked him since Hachiman also watches the monitors for Livestream, forums, and other social media.
"Things have been good so far. The antis were buried under the sheer weight of excited fans." Hachiman replied, "Putting Harada there is the correct decision."
"I'm glad to hear that, since we're gambling Komachi-chan's debut on this." The Producer laughed. "How about you, Takagi-san?"
"I mean, other than oppai posting, things are going along nicely over here too." Yuutarou snorted.
Oppai means breast, and oppai posting is really just spamming huge breast comments or emoticons. There was no deeper meaning to it.
"I mean, what else do you expect?" Hachiman eyed him. "Bringing Miura must be your idea, right? She had both the big sister aura and sexy body to pull that off."
"Other than Miki-chan, I can hardly think of anyone else who would fit this job better. Haruka-san doesn't have the personality and image, and Kisaragi-san is out of the question." Yuutaro rubbed his chin proudly. "But I can't just selfishly put her back into action without preparation. Miki-chan will fill in another job in the next two weeks after acclimating back to the company."
For the record, Kisaragi Chihaya, the so-called number 1 teen Idol in Japan, had small breasts for her age. And Hachiman knew just how sensitive girls are about their body profile, though Komachi was the oddball one.
"Is it the Super GT or Formula Race?" Hachiman asked.
"We're leaning super GT side of the things." Yuutaro pointed a thumb. "Hopefully, we can work together again."
"No guarantees on that."
"Right, you two can take a few minutes breaks. The race is reaching its conclusion soon, and you should be ready for the next phase in the schedule." The third division Producer says as he puts his hands on their shoulders.
Then he grimaced.
"Eh, well, I shouldn't be doing this to another company's President so, I apologize."
"I'm just a deputy President and also vice Producer." Yuutarou immediately stopped the youthful Producer from bowing.
As the Producer of the third division, he was too accustomed to handling child Idols instead of mid-teen or adult ones. Because Yuutarou really looked like a middle school student, and the Producer treats him like one.
Considering the Producer himself looked like a teen, the irony didn't escape everyone else in the room, and Hachiman struggled not to snark and keep things professional.
"How about I buy snacks for everyone instead?" Hachiman asked as he stood up. "My legs are stiff anyway, and it looks like everyone can use refreshment."
"That's a good idea." The Producer handed out an envelope with five thousand yen in it to him. "I'll put this on the budget, so bring back the tab with you. Anyone has a specific request?"
"Green tea for me."
"Some rice balls would be nice!"
"Might as well buy some beer for later." One of the staff whispered.
"We'll go to Izakaya later, so don't drink on the job, hey." The Producer chastised her.
"I'll go with you, Hikigaya." Yuutarou also stood up and followed Hachiman.
The two sophomore students walked out of the control room and to the nearby convenience store around the venue.
For some reason, though, Hachiman kept looking at the shorter boy weirdly.
"Is there something on my face?" Yuutaro cringed.
"You crashed Hoshii Miki's concert for 961 yesterday and then kidnapped her." Hachiman scoffed. "I've never seen any boy with balls that huge since Ryou's reveal in Old Whistle last year."
Hachiman practically clapped. He just found this out after he left the café after eating ice cream with Chihiro, too.
Takagi Yuutarou is fucking crazy.
"Kidnap is such a strong word." Yuutarou couldn't help but proverbially inflated his nose from the accumulated cockiness. "I'm just convincing her to come back, that's all."
"Even though she left you voluntarily?"
"We're still not entirely clear on that, but... Miki-san has good reason to leave us. It's just me who can't let her go." Yuutaro became sad as he continued. "What about you, Hikigaya-san? Would you really do the same thing?"
"... No. I'm not that stupid." Hachiman laughed. "Or maybe I am stupid enough to pull that off. Nevertheless, things won't be easy between you two from this point on."
"On the contrary, I feel weirded by myself with how easy for me to let this go. I don't think I'm a generous person at all, and yet I couldn't feel the slightest bit of hatred or disappointment with her."
"Miki-san... you see, people keep mistaking her age due to her mature appearance. But she's one year younger than both of us, not that much older than Komachi-chan even." Yuutaro looked at Hachiman. "She's incredibly childish, but she thought she did the right thing by leaving us. So I can forgive her."
"Would you feel the same way if your Idols did it and left you when things were going badly for your production?"
It seems that Hachiman was correct that the strength of 765 lies in their tiny size and the familial relationship between the Idols and the staff.
"Depends on her reason, I guess?" Hachiman responded somewhat halfheartedly at first. However, he sharpened his gaze as he continued. "If I think her reason was rational, I might just accept it, even if I don't like it. If I can relate to their feelings, then I might still accept them and call them stupid. Or maybe I don't because they're irrational AND stupid."
"I cannot, with confidence, say I would forgive everyone or won't forgive anyone. There are times when rational and emotional interest clash, and I honestly wouldn't know how to respond without knowing the big picture."
"Maybe it's the same with you, or maybe it's different," Hachiman told Yuutarou. "You can't argue against emotion with logic and vice versa."
"Sounds complicated." Yuutarou mumbled. "Are you saying there's no difference between selfless and selfish reasoning?"
"There is no such thing as selflessness, at least in my opinion. Self-satisfaction, happiness, pity, empathy... there are a lot of things you can feel as you try to do something for someone else's sake."
Hachiman was like that too when he saved Yuigahama Yui's dog. He was not doing it out of altruism.
"Even a little odd feeling like... that ain't right, and I have to do something... has its roots in selfishness. Because ultimately, you use your value to take action and experience the consequences of your action firsthand."
"The right to measure selflessness belongs to everyone else. Because we live in a cruel, unfair, and judgmental society." Hachiman smiled. "Even kindness can end up hurting others."
Yuutarou's eyes widen in surprise. Kindness... that hurt others? Yuutarou can hardly imagine it.
"The bottom line is, I have to answer that case by case. So I can't really say for sure without knowing what the situation between you and Hoshii is like." Hachiman tells him. "And honestly, it's better for me not to know."
"Ah, thanks."
The more they talk, the less Yuutarou understands him. But at the same time, Yuutarou felt he gained some insight to solve his own issues. Because Hachiman gave him an entirely alien perspective.
The perspective of a loner, an outcast of society.
And yet, at the same time, Yuutaro knew that Hachiman is also a kind and helpful person. He was simply acerbic by nature, and a lot of people shun him for it.
"Even so, I think there were times you really put aside your well-being for the sake of others, and I think that's good enough as any." Yuutarou guessed.
Hachiman froze for a moment and stopped walking. "How can you be sure?"
"I can't explain it... I mean rationally." Yuutarou pointed out. "I just feel that was something you'd do, even if you claim it was something you'd do on a whim."
This is why Hachiman hates this type of harem protagonist. The good-natured, straightforward, irrationally kind, and stupidly forgiving person. One time they look spineless and wishy-washy under your gaze, and then they slip past your defense and charm you with their honest and sweet words.
If Hachiman was a girl, he might blush really hard right now. As a matter of fact, Hachiman IS blushing right now. And he was disgusted by that reality.
"You're blind as hell, Takagi."
Nice girls are the worst... but nice boys are just as bad for his health!
...
"Congratulations!"
The closure of the events and cleanup took very little time and had been done by the time for the sun to start setting. Even though it was a relatively small event, it was a big step for many Idols.
Komachi and the fellow Chuuni friends served as background dancers to Anzu's closure concert. The opening concert to the event this morning was done by Miyo, then Azusa.
Bias aside, Hachiman was satisfied by Komachi's performance today. She really put it all together, especially since her task was one of the hardest among the pre-debut idols.
She had to keep up with the far more experienced Azusa and Miyo as commentators and emcees of the event. Hachiman wasn't sure he had the mental strength to do that for hours.
Although, it's not as if the Chuuni sisters were getting away with a small workload. They have to participate in the event games. And at the same time, to engage the audience with their unpolished charm.
However, as expected, Komachi really got the most spotlight among them all.
"You won this time. But next time, I won't lose!" Asuka pointed her fist forward in anger.
"Fufufu, I'd say Komachi-sama only reaped what she sows," Ranko hummed. "It was a shining display of boldness, something the gloomy I cannot match just yet."
"What are you even doing, trainee queen?" Mirei squeezed her eyes in disbelief. "Where's the confidence you show in public this afternoon?"
"Can you girls please help? My legs are shaking, AAAAA!" Komachi cried as she hugs the door frame because otherwise, she will collapse.
Hachiman knows she was merely acting to preserve her friends' dignity. Although Komachi's nervous and physical breakdown was genuine, she was exaggerating the symptom.
Of course, this ended up with her getting hauled around as a prank. Ami and Mami twins from 765 even get to join.
"Thanks for the hard work, Hikigaya!" Yuutarou offered his hand. "I know we're classmates and all, but it's been a good learning experience for me today."
"You can thank the Producer instead." Hachiman nudged his head toward the diminutive and youthful Producer of the third division. "But you're welcome, President Takagi."
Hachiman awkwardly grasped Yuutarou's hand. Even now, he was still not accustomed to physical contact. Not even with fellow guys of the same age and a classmate to boot.
"Of course, I'm grateful for his guidance as well." Yuutarou nodded. "But I really cannot wait for us to work together again."
"We're technically a rival company, though." Hachiman scoffed.
"All the more reason why!" Yuutarou let Hachiman's hand go. "I was invited to the drinking party, but well, I'm still technically underage. What about you?"
"Family dinner today; I can't go."
"I see." There's a hint of envy in Yuutarou's eyes. Nevertheless, he slapped himself to cheer up. "I'm sure they'll be proud."
"If they don't, I'll burn everything to ashes!" Hachiman howled so loudly that it startles the poor boy. "They better shower me with praises or else! Mwahahahahaha!"
It's not just Komachi who got a nervous breakdown, apparently. Hachiman might hide it well, but he really wants to scream and roll around from all the stress piled up.
"Oh, he has returned!" Mirei waved her claws happily. "He has returned!"
Asuka gasped in shock. "Dark Flame Wizard, Sage of the Purgatory!"
"Welcome back, Milord." Ranko courteously kneeled. "I've been waiting for you to come."
Hachiman immediately went back to his senses, but it was too late. But then again, the adults were drinking their asses off in the background, so...
Looking around and finding that there is no easy way out, Hachiman decided to play along with the chuuni game, albeit in moderation. Hachiman sits on a chair majestically as he holds his chin, philosopher style.
"Ahh, that's the feeling of relief I feel. Indeed, it would be disappointing if my parents didn't praise me for it." Hachiman grimly said.
"Even so, the flame of darkness inside me is screaming: hope is merely a road to despair! It is better to continue on with hope in your heart, so you can experience the ultimate suffering in the end."
"... Or not! Why bother hoping for something when you can pave your own road! I wouldn't let the darkness control me, for I AM the Sage of Purgatory. Darkness is nothing but my plaything, just like the fire in this heart."
Hachiman offered his hand to Ranko. "O beautiful fallen angel, rise and shine, for today you had shown me, your magnificence!"
Ranko grasped his hand and stands up, and anyone would notice the slight flush on her cheek.
Hachiman looked at Asuka. "Thy who possess a miserable yet enduring heart."
He switched to Mirei. "The fanged beast with the heart of a queen."
"And the devil masquerading as an innocent fairy." Hachiman finally looked at his little sister. "You've done a splendid job today!"
Komachi almost burst out laughing. The worst part of this kind of charade? Hachiman is a natural chuunibyou, and he actually looked handsome doing it.
Hachiman looked at Yuutarou, who stood there in complete shock. Hachiman winked at him, which seems to thaw the poor boy out of his surprised state.
Was it all an act?
"Surprising, right?" Producer of the third division said to Yuutarou. "Apparently, he's a decent actor on his own. His voice control is exceptionally splendid, though his expression could use more effort."
"Ah, I see. I'm just a little surprised, haha."
"I've been trained as an Idol for three months before I join 346 officially. The masculinity training you take part in was one of the lessons my mother arranged." Hachiman took a sip of zero-alcohol beer to cool himself. "Precisely so I can immerse myself in what kind of hurdles and challenges these Idols face. That way, I can support them with all my mind."
"Is that so? Interesting." Yuutarou became serious and gulped the glass of non-alcoholic beer in his hand. "I... I want to keep learning under your mother, in that case."
"Just don't push yourself too much because she's scary when she's being spartan." Hachiman poured a bottle of beer into the Producer's empty glass as a gesture of respect. Then, he refilled Yuutarou's glass with the safe stuff. "Please excuse me. I have a family dinner to attend."
Hachiman, Yuutarou, and the Producer exchanged a formal bow before he leaves.