Chapter 113: Vocals and Entrance Exams

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Translator: Soafp

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“Heh, so that’s what happened.”

Kokoa came over to our place again today, and we had dinner together.

While we were eating, I told everyone about what Takagi had asked me during lunch.

…I was clearly unhappy about it, while Nodoka, Airi, and Yui all seemed to be enjoying themselves.

“Ah! I just thought of a great idea!”

Kokoa’s face lit up.

I had a really bad feeling about this.

“I’ll personally train you to be a vocalist, Ren-sama!”

I knew it.

“I’d definitely appreciate the help, but… aren’t you busy, Kokoa-san?”

As far as I knew, she was juggling idol work, attending school, and preparing for high school entrance exams.

Honestly, twenty-four hours couldn’t possibly be enough for her.

If it were me, I’d have given up long ago.

“We can practice together during my own vocal training! But in exchange, I want you to do one thing for me.”

“If it’s something I can do, then of course.”

There was no questioning Kokoa’s ability as a vocalist.

Even if it was only crash-course training, she surely knew countless practical techniques that could be used immediately.

In a way, this was vocal coaching you couldn’t buy with money.

“Please help me study for my entrance exams!”

“…Me?”

“Yep! Because I’m applying to the same high school as you, Ren-sama. And you’re ranked third in your grade.”

I see.

That explained it.

Given her situation, it made sense that she’d feel anxious.

Our school wasn’t particularly prestigious.

Still, studying alone at home with no one to ask for help had to be lonely.

“All right. Though honestly, I think you’re capable of studying on your own already, so I don’t know how much help I’ll actually be.”

“You’ll definitely help! Thank you so much, Ren-sama!”

Kokoa happily jumped toward me, about to wrap her arms around mine.

But just before she reached me, Airi swiftly stepped between us and blocked her.

“Ehh? Secretary-san, that’s so unfair!”

“Ara, Miyoko-san, you’ve become quite calculating. From vocal practice to studying, you’ve managed to secure plenty of time with our president.”

“I don’t have any ulterior motives! It just happened that way!”

“If another girl heard you say that, she’d probably have punched you by now.”

At this point, Airi was already punching her with words.

“So, Secretary-san… are you the kind of legal wife who won’t allow any mistresses besides yourself?”

“Not really. If anything, I’m closer to someone who’s willing to accept a second mistress.”

…What?

I seriously wondered if I’d misheard.

Wait…

Had that whole “third heroine” conversation actually been serious?

“Then if Kokoa hugs Ren-sama like this, there shouldn’t be any problem, right?”

“Only if it’s someone both Nodoka-san and I approve of.”

“Ehh? You’re like a mother-in-law!”

“Ren-kun’s mother personally asked me to take good care of her son.”

…When had those two had that kind of conversation with my mom?

“So then, who is currently the leading candidate for second mistress?”

“Hmm… I’d say Yui-san.”

Yui flinched the instant her name was called.

I hadn’t even been thinking about anything like that.

Why was Airi racing ahead on her own?

“Then Yuzu-san is my rival!”

“If we’re talking rivals, Yui-san’s already way ahead of you.”

“It’s okay! In horse racing terms, I’m the type who comes from behind!”

Where had she even learned a phrase like that?

Maybe from a horse racing game?

…Though somehow I could actually picture Kokoa studying the racing form while holding a newspaper.

Turning back toward me, Kokoa changed the subject.

“Anyway! Starting today, we’ll begin your singing lessons and my study sessions!”

“We don’t even know what song I’m supposed to sing yet.”

I didn’t mind the studying.

Teaching someone else would help me review everything too.

“It doesn’t matter what song it is! The fundamentals are always the same!”

“Really?”

“Yep! First, we’ll properly train your breathing!”

This was sounding much more like professional vocal training than I’d expected.

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The next morning…

I somehow managed to drag myself into the classroom despite barely staying awake.

I’d been yawning nonstop.

Takagi looked at me suspiciously.

“You stay up late?”

“Yeah.”

“Your girlfriends are so cute that you stayed up fooling around all night?”

“What does ‘fooling around’ even mean? It wasn’t like that yesterday.”

“‘Yesterday’?”

Takagi frowned and shot me a jealous look.

Damn.

I was so sleepy I’d let that one slip.

…Well, after Airi openly announced everything in class, the three of us had already become famous around school anyway.

“This is your fault in the first place.”

“…Huh?”

Takagi placed a hand against his lips and turned away slightly, almost as if he were blushing.

“So even with two girlfriends, you spent the whole night thinking about me…?”

“That’s seriously disgusting. Stop. I’m not into that.”

I honestly felt nauseous for a completely different reason.

“You’re the one who asked me to replace your vocalist for the school festival. Because of that, I had singing practice and ended up going to bed later than usual.”

“Huh? You already started practicing?”

“Yeah.”

Honestly, I’d expected training to start a little later.

But Coach Kokoa had already scheduled the first session yesterday.

After vocal practice, I even helped her study.

By the time I got back to my room, it was already late at night.

…Did Kokoa really live like this all the time, sacrificing sleep?

“How’d you practice at night? Isn’t it hard to sing at home?”

“We rented a studio.”

“Huh? Isn’t that expensive? Someone’s taking this pretty seriously.”

“I didn’t pay for it. Someone I know reserved it.”

“Someone you know?”

“Yeah.”

Takagi narrowed his eyes again.

Then he leaned closer so the rest of the class couldn’t hear.

“…That ‘someone’ wouldn’t happen to be Kokoa-chan, would it?”

Why was he so ridiculously perceptive at times like this?

“No.”

That wasn’t entirely a lie.

I didn’t want to deceive him.

But for Kokoa’s sake…

I didn’t have much choice.

Even so, Takagi still looked skeptical.

“Well, I guess that’s the only answer you can give.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Tch. So this is how popular guys sweet-talk girls.”

“Not even close. No matter how crazy I got, I wouldn’t flirt with another girl while I already have girlfriends.”

Especially not a middle school idol who’s still active.

“If only my drum teacher were a beautiful girl, I’d get way better too!”

“The teacher who’d suit you best is a bald perfectionist. The kind who pushes you right to your limits.”

“Why!? It’s not like I want to become the freshman drummer from that movie!”

Figures.

Being a drummer, he’d actually watched that film.

I chuckled quietly.

Then Takagi continued.

“By the way, are you free after school today?”

“Why?”

“I thought I’d bring you to the light music club. You need to know what song we’re playing.”

“Oh, right.”

It wasn’t like I’d just walk onstage and sing by myself.

I nodded.

“Okay. But you told them already, right? That I’m not actually a good singer.”

“Of course.”

“…I also told them you’re insanely popular with girls.”

“…”

Now I was worried.

◇

After school, I headed to the light music club with Takagi.

Honestly, I’d never really belonged to a proper club before, so I felt strangely nervous.

When we arrived, the four club members were already holding their instruments.

Takagi introduced me.

“Hey, this is the guy I told you about. Fukagawa. He’s filling in as our vocalist for the school festival.”

“I’m Ren Fukagawa. I don’t have any band experience, so… please go easy on me.”

A girl holding a bass guitar nodded.

“Nice to meet you. Don’t worry, the vocal part isn’t that difficult. A little practice and you’ll be fine.”

Then she looked past me.

“…By the way, who are the girls behind you?”

“Ah, well…”

Right.

I hadn’t come alone.

Nodoka, Airi, and Yui had all followed me.

Airi smiled and answered for everyone.

“Don’t mind us. You can think of us as Ren-kun’s fans.”

“Wow, Fukagawa-kun. You’ve already got this many fans.”

“…”

I heard the boy holding the electric guitar quietly click his tongue.