Chapter 67: The Day of the Fan Meeting ①

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Translator: Soafp

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Event day of the special meet.

We got into the jumbo hire car we had called and headed to Kokoa-san's house. It was about an hour away from ours.

(I never thought the day would come when I'd visit the home of an active idol.)

I wondered if it was really okay to casually know an idol's address, but apparently she was already quite famous around this area.

Well, she walks around in that “jirai-kei” fashion all the time, so there's no way she wouldn't stand out.

The place Kokoa lived in was an obviously high-end apartment building.
As expected, the security looked tight.

“Uu… I'm kind of nervous…”

While we were calling Kokoa on the entrance intercom, Nodoka beside me had completely stiffened up.

Come to think of it, unlike Airi, this was Nodoka's first time meeting Kokoa in person. On top of that, she'd barely ever even gone over to a friend's house before.

Given that, her reaction was only natural.

I deliberately ruffled Nodoka's hair a bit roughly.

“H-Hey, what are you doing!? You'll mess up my hair! I-if you're going to pat me, at least be gentle!”

“Don't be so nervous. She's just a slightly unusual middle schooler, one year younger than us. And right now, you are my fiancée, so I'm counting on you.”

“F-fiancée… hehe, hehehe… Even if it's just a setting, it still makes me happy…”

In an instant, Nodoka switched into her introvert mode, clinging to my arm and rubbing her cheek against it.

Seeing her like this, she really does remind me of a cat. Including how prickly she usually is.

“Ren-kun, Nodoka-san, I've opened it. You can flirt all you want, but come in already.”

“F-flirt!?”

“If that's not flirting, then what is?”

“Ugh… hehe, hehehe… I was just acting like one of those lovey-dovey couples…”

Lately, it feels like Nodoka's introvert mode has been triggering more often.

Maybe it just means she's opening up to me and Airi more.

When we went inside through the auto-lock door, the elevator was already waiting.

Apparently, it goes directly to the floor where Kokoa's room is.

“A condo isn't bad either. If I ever live alone, a place like this wouldn't be so bad.”

“Oh? You're thinking of moving out, Ren-kun?”

“Not moving out, just living alone. Like if I go to a university far away or something.”

Come to think of it, I wonder what kind of future plans these two have.

We've talked about a lot of things, but not really about that.

“Ren-kun, there's one thing you should keep in mind.”

“What?”

“That you'll never be alone.”

“…Why?”

“Because I'll always be by your side. No matter where you go, I'll go with you.”

Airi smiled at me with a soft laugh.

It was the same gentle tone as always, yet for some reason, it sent a chill down my spine.

Not to be outdone, Nodoka raised her voice.

“I-I'll stay with Ren forever too! Don't leave me out!”

Before I knew it, I was sandwiched between the two of them again.

…Well, technically we're here for work.

Though calling it “work” might not be entirely accurate.

When we got off the elevator, Kokoa was already waiting with the door open.

“Sponsor-sama~!”

Even though we weren't that far away, she waved both hands energetically as she called out to me.

The grip of Nodoka's hand on my arm tightened more and more.

Was it from nervousness? Or jealousy…?

Kokoa approached us still in her roomwear.

It was a jirai-style outfit with black lace and pink ribbons. Even her loungewear was perfectly on-brand.

“So this is the sponsor's fiancée?”

Kokoa looked at Nodoka clinging to me, her gaze moving up and down as if appraising her.

“Wow, having such a cute fiancée—impressive, Sponsor-sama! What's your name?”

“N-n-nice to meet you. I-I'm Nodoka Komori.”

…Yeah, she's completely frozen.

Considering the other person is a cute, active idol, it's understandable.

Nodoka's grip on my arm kept tightening like it might rip it off.

Kokoa introduced herself in a slightly theatrical tone.

“I'm Kokoa from Landmine Syndrome! Nice to meet you, Nodo-san!”

“N-Nodo-san?”

“Isn't it cute?”

“A nickname…? hehe, hehehe…”

When I called her Nodo-chan before, she got mad though. Well, I guess the nuance is different.

Airi spoke in a slightly teasing tone.

“Oh? Wasn't your name Miyoko-san instead of Kokoa-san?”

“T-that's not true! There's no way such a lame name exists in Japan!”

Actually, it used to be a pretty common name.

More importantly, she should apologize to all the Miyokos out there.

“I'm Kokoa! Sweet and mellow, but with just a hint of bitterness!”

“But you explode like a landmine if someone touches you, right?”

“I-it's not that bad! It's more like… oh, like in movies where it explodes if you step on it and then lift your foot? Something like that!”

That still makes it a landmine.

And as far as I know, most anti-personnel mines explode the moment you touch them.

“Anyway!” Kokoa shouted.

“I need to do my hair and makeup now, so please help me!”

I blinked in surprise.

“Huh? You do it yourself? You're not hiring a pro?”

“I don't have that kind of money! And if I'm going to leave it to someone mediocre, I'd rather just do it myself!”

According to her manager, today's supposed to be an important event for her.

Even if not every time, you'd think the agency would arrange a professional for a special day like this.

Even if they didn't, it'd still be worth paying for herself.

I mean, she lives in a place this expensive—she shouldn't be short on money.

“An idol's hair and makeup!? I-I want to see! Please let me help!!”

But instead, Nodoka was totally into it.

Well, she's been trying hard to look like a gyaru, so it makes sense she'd be interested.

As far as I know, girls often share makeup techniques with each other.

“You're enthusiastic, Nodo-san! I've been waiting for someone like you!”

“R-really?”

“Yes! Just by looking at your makeup now, I can tell you're really good. I'd even want you to teach me! I want to try gyaru makeup too!”

“hehe, hehehe…”

Nodoka let out a strange laugh and looked at me with a proud face.

“Ren, Ren! Even an idol recognized me as a gyaru! Doesn't that make me like 50% gyaru now?”

“So you've finally evolved. Congrats.”

“Hehehe”

She was so innocently happy that I just patted her head and went along with it.

Honestly, while she looks like a gyaru, her personality is nowhere close.

But that gap is what makes her cute, so there's no need to say it out loud.

“N-now then, please come in! Aside from my dad and manager, you're the first guests ever to visit my home!”

I tilted my head slightly at that.

If she's an active idol, wouldn't she have at least some friends from school coming over?

Or maybe she was unknown until she went viral on TikTok?

(Well, digging into that probably won't lead to anything good.)

She must have her own circumstances.

What matters to me right now is making sure she doesn't die.

After reaffirming that in my mind, I stepped into her home.

““Whoa…””

The three of us all stood there with our mouths open the moment we saw inside.

Every inch of the interior was thoroughly decorated in jirai style.

Baby pink and black, hearts, lace, ribbons—everything.

But that wasn't the only issue.

“W-What is this mountain of trash!?”

Nodoka shouted in shock.

Yes, Kokoa's home was overflowing with garbage.

It had at least been stuffed into bags, but it looked like it had all been hastily packed after hearing guests were coming.

On top of that, a strong smell of perfume lingered, probably to mask the odor.

…Thinking this was her attempt to tidy up for guests made my head spin.

Yet Kokoa puffed out her chest without shame.

“This is what jirai style is!”

At this point, it just feels like she's using “jirai style” as an excuse.

I've heard her schedule suddenly got busier lately.

So it's not completely incomprehensible.

Still, this is too much.

And from what she said earlier, she lives with her father.

Does he just ignore all of this?

As I stood there at a loss for words, Nodoka clenched her fists tightly, trembling.

“Unforgivable…”

She muttered that over and over before suddenly lifting her head.

Her eyes wide, glaring at Kokoa.

“I cannot forgive turning such a nice home into a garbage house!!”

“H-huh…? S-sorry…?”

“Now is not the time for makeup or hairstyling! We need to clean this mess immediately!”

“Eh? B-but we don't have time…”

“We'll make it work in time, so don't worry! More importantly, this situation goes completely against my gyaru way of life! Do you understand!?”

“Y-yes…”

Even a landmine-type girl was no match for Nodoka's gyaru code—or rather, her housewife instincts.