Chapter 115: Car 2

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

---

Several days had passed since I received the detective’s interim report.

I still couldn’t decide what I should do.

The situation was even worse than I had imagined.

“Hey, Fukagawa. What’s wrong?”

In the light music club room, Takagi called out to me from behind while I stood absentmindedly holding the microphone.

“Oh, sorry. I’ve just been a little tired lately.”

“What’s going on? Something bothering you?”

“Well… I’d be lying if I said nothing was.”

“When you say it like that, it sounds pretty serious. If there’s anything I can do, just let me know.”

“Alright.”

To be honest, I wanted to dump everything on Takagi and let him carry the burden instead.

But that wouldn’t be asking for advice or help.

It would just be shirking my own responsibility.

The club president glanced at me.

“Then how about we call it a day here?”

“Huh? Is that okay?”

“You’re tired, aren’t you, Fukagawa-kun? Besides, your singing has become really stable. Since you’re already here… have you thought about joining the light music club?”

Before I could answer, Airi—who had come to watch practice again today—cut in from the side.

“Nope. Ren-kun is absolutely staying in the Going Home Club.”

“Aww, really? Don’t you want to see your boyfriend looking cool more often?”

“It’s enough to see that once in a while. If Ren-kun joins a club, he’ll have less time to spend with us. Absolutely not.”

“That’s a shame.”

Somehow, I felt like my opinion wasn’t being considered at all.

Still, I’d mainly agreed to this to make some memories during the school festival.

It wasn’t like I actually wanted to be in a band.

After giving the club members a small bow and leaving the clubroom, Nodoka immediately wrapped herself around my arm.

“Ren, at this rate you’re going to become super popular with the girls during the school festival.”

“There’s no way.”

Sure, after Kokoa-san taught me, even I could tell I’d gotten much better at singing.

But in the end, it was still just amateur-level singing that only passed because it was a school festival.

Then Airi clung to my other arm.

“That’s right. After the festival, we’ll have to keep a close eye on you.”

“Senpai, I think we should upload more pictures to Instagram.”

“Maybe we should even post some more daring ones. Like the three of us lying together in bed.”

“I-I think that’s a great idea!”

“What’s supposed to be great about that?”

I couldn’t help blurting it out.

“Once something’s uploaded to the internet, it could stay there forever. We need to be careful.”

“You’re always so serious about things like that, Ren-kun. But I don’t think it’d be a problem. After all, we’ll be by your side forever anyway. Right, Nodoka-san?”

“Exactly! After everything we’ve done together, you’re not planning to throw us away, are you, Ren?”

“N-No, it’s not like that…”

As always, neither of them seemed to have even the slightest concept that I might ever leave them.

I couldn’t honestly say that didn’t make me happy.

We had just left the school gates and were walking toward the station.

Ring…

“Ara.”

Airi took out her phone.

“…It’s from Miyoko-san’s agency.”

The moment she said that, all of us stopped walking.

This was the very source of the problem that had been weighing on my mind lately.

After talking for several minutes, Airi turned toward me.

“The president agreed to meet with us personally.”

“…I see.”

Several weeks had passed since Airi contacted them after learning that the agency was involved with a loan shark connected to organized crime.

During all that time, they’d kept avoiding a direct answer, always claiming they were busy.

Apparently they’d finally made up their minds.

“They asked when you’d like to meet.”

“They said anytime from tomorrow onward is fine.”

“Then Saturday morning.”

“Got it.”

Normally, I should have visited during weekday business hours.

But I had school.

Of course, if it came down to it, I would have skipped class or left early without hesitation.

Kokoa-san’s life was at stake.

My school record wasn’t something I could worry about.

After that, we rode the train in much quieter silence than usual.

(They’re probably trying to be considerate.)

I appreciated it, but at the same time I felt guilty.

From one perspective, I was agonizing over another girl.

Honestly, they would have had every right to be angry.

When we got home, I decided I’d properly tell them how grateful I was.

We were almost at our station.

“Oh!”

A familiar voice suddenly reached my ears.

“Everyone~”

It was Kokoa-san.

She approached us with a bright smile.

“What a coincidence!”

“It really is. Do you have the day off today?”

“Yep! So I thought maybe I’d run into you if I got on Car Number 2… and I really did!”

“Huh? Car Number 2?”

“Yes. Wait… don’t tell me you didn’t know? You usually ride in Car Number 2.”

I had simply walked down my usual staircase and boarded without thinking.

Kokoa-san really noticed the smallest details.

Or maybe I was just that oblivious.

“Were you practicing with the light music club again today, Ren-sama?”

“Yeah. Though I was feeling a little tired today, so they let me finish early.”

“Really? Then should we skip our vocal training today?”

“No, no. You’re already giving up your valuable time for me. I couldn’t ask that.”

There was no doubt that the reason my singing had improved so dramatically in such a short time was because of Kokoa-san.

The club president had even invited me to join.

“Then today we’ll just do a quick review of both singing and studying before we call it a day!”

“Sounds good.”

As for exam preparation, there really wasn’t much left for me to teach her.

With her current academic ability, she’d have no trouble getting into our school.

Honestly, she could probably aim for a school with much higher entrance standards.

“Ren-sama, you’ve seemed troubled lately… Is it because of me?”

“Huh? N-No…”

“Ah, that was a lie. Your face gives you away immediately, Ren-sama.”

…

Was I really that bad at lying?

I could hardly ever fool anyone.

“I don’t know why you’re worrying so much about me…”

She smiled gently.

“But I trust you, Ren-sama. I know you’ve been thinking very hard about what’s best for me.”

She continued smiling.

“Lately… I’ve been working hard because of you, Ren-sama.”

“Huh?”

“I never realized it before, but… I guess I’m the type who can’t really give it my all unless I have a clear goal.”

Back then, that goal had probably been reuniting with the Kokkun from her memories.

That was why she’d managed to endure all the conflict within the idol group.

“So, Ren-sama.”

“Yes?”

“If you’ll take responsibility for me… then I’m okay with quitting being an idol.”

“…What?”

Kokoa-san giggled softly.

“I’ve started thinking… maybe I’d be much happier being the idol of just one person than everyone’s idol.”

---

Saturday morning.

Airi and I arrived at Kokoa-san’s talent agency.

“This way, please.”

A manager immediately led us into a conference room.

“Please wait here for a moment.”

I wondered how the agency president would approach this.

If he agreed to our demands, that would already be a decent outcome.

But judging from the detective’s second report, that seemed unlikely.

Honestly, I had a feeling the meeting would end with nothing more than both sides confirming they stood on opposite sides.

“Ren-kun—or rather, President.”

Airi straightened my necktie.

“Don’t be so tense. If you look calm and confident, it’ll be easier for the other side to let something slip.”

“…You’re right.”

“By the way, Mr. President, that suit looks really good on you.”

Since this was an official meeting, I’d bought an affordable suit from a department store.

Not just me—Airi had also bought clothes that made her look the part of a secretary.

“You look great too, Airi. Like a capable career woman.”

“Hehe. In reality, I’m just your naughty secretary working hard under the president’s desk.”

“…”

“When we’re done and get home, should we do it while we’re still dressed like this? I bought one for Nodoka-san too.”

“When did you…”

Still, Airi didn’t seem nervous at all.

No…

She was probably bringing up topics like this to help me relax.

Grateful for her thoughtfulness, I gently patted her head.

“I like having my head patted, but I’d probably be even happier if you casually touched my thighs or my butt instead.”

…

Maybe she was just having fun after all.

Just then, the conference room door opened.

The manager entered alongside a middle-aged man.

We immediately stood up and greeted him.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Ren Fukagawa.”

I handed him a business card I’d prepared beforehand.

It listed the name of my company, though it was merely a hastily assembled dummy U.S. corporation.

“Oh my, how courteous.”

The agency president also took out his own business card and handed it to us.

At the very least, he didn’t seem to be treating us like children.

Perhaps because, officially, we were a potential sponsor.

As soon as everyone sat down, I got straight to the point.

“Mr. President, I’ll be direct. How do you intend to resolve the debt involving the organized crime–connected loan shark?”