Chapter 16: The Girls’ Determination

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

---

[Kagura PoV]

A high-rise tower apartment with a view of Tokyo’s nightscape. In the modern bathroom on the top floor, warm steam filled the air.

The warm water cascading from the ceiling in the glass-walled shower room spread across the space. As I ran my fingers through my wet hair, I gently tilted my head.

The flow of the shower trickled down my pale skin, flowing from my back to my waist. Droplets traced the line of my collarbone, moistening my chest.

I closed my eyes.

──Today, I met him.

Hajime Aizawa.

Thinking back, I couldn’t help but smile.

His confused gaze, his flushed cheeks, his voice trembling at the end of his sentences.

I never expected him to get so flustered so easily.

“……Fufu.”

I turned off the shower and quietly exhaled.

When I opened the glass door, the cold air touched my skin, making me instinctively shrug. I took the fluffy bath towel hanging on the wall and pressed it against my wet hair. After gently wiping away the moisture with my fingers, I left the bathroom.

As I walked down the hallway, I brushed away the dripping water with my fingers. Beyond the living room window, the winter nightscape of Tokyo unfolded.

The lights of the buildings twinkled like jewels, and the street trees along the river shimmered in the light, swaying in the wind.

I walked over to the window, still wearing the bath towel draped over my shoulder.

──Miyabi and Aoi.

The childhood friends of Haijme-sensei, whom I met for the first time today.

The way they looked at him was as if they were looking at a traitor.

“Why do they look at him like that…?”

Haijme-sensei was just a modest boy who hated standing out.

But there was more to it than that.

He had won so many awards. He had surely worked harder than anyone, gone through many struggles.

As someone who had worked hard as a professional, I understood that.

There are things that can’t be overcome with talent alone.

That's why he deserved more praise.

And yet, the way his childhood friends treated him, knowing his past—it really pissed me off.

They should know more about the real Haijme-sensei.

I gently bit my lip.

At that moment, my phone vibrated.

On the screen that glowed on the table, the name “Marin Kousaka” appeared.

She was an actress in the same agency as me, and my only close friend.

A little surprised, I answered the call.

“Hello?”

“…Kagura?”

Her voice was soft, somewhat anxious.

“What’s up?”

“I was thinking about a lot of things and couldn't sleep.”

…Heh. It seems Marin is thinking about the same thing as I am.

“What about you, Kagura?”

“I’ve been thinking about today too.”

“I see…”

A brief silence.

“Hey… Kagura, what do you think of Hajime-sensei?”

I began to twirl the edge of the towel around my fingers as I opened my mouth.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, it seemed like you were really interested in him today.”

“…Yeah.”

“Could it be that you like him?”

At those words, I froze.

“…I don't know. Maybe.”

“What's that… so unclear.”

“I don't even know myself.”

“…I see.”

Marin's voice sounded a little lonely.

“…Then, why do you like him?”

I stared at the nightscape and slowly exhaled.

“…You know, until recently, I was thinking about quitting being a singer.”

“Eh…?”

“You know I was in an idol band, right? But after some scandals involving the members, we disbanded… The president suggested I go solo, so I kept singing, but by then, I didn't understand why I was singing anymore.”

“…”

“Then, one day, the president mentioned there might be a novel that would be adapted into a movie, so I tried reading it… it was shocking.”

A natural smile spread across my face.

“I was so moved, I couldn't believe how much creative inspiration flooded in. I thought, ‘What lyrics would fit this story? What sound?’ and ideas kept coming. I wanted to sing again. And that made me want to meet the person who wrote that novel.”

“…!”

“That person was Hajime-sensei.”

Marin didn't say anything for a while.

Then, the next thing I heard was her voice, trembling slightly.

“……Kagura”

“What is it?”

“……I feel the same.”

“Eh…?”

“I was also thinking about quitting acting.”

Her eyes wavered.

“This industry turned out to be tougher and harder than I thought… I was just so tired. But then, the president told me, ‘Try reading this.'”

“…”

“And the moment I read it, I decided. If this novel gets adapted into a movie, I'll definitely play the lead role. And that made me think I want to continue again.”

“Marin…”

“So today, I met the author of that novel, and though it was different from what I imagined… he was really kind and a wonderful person.”

I looked up at the sky outside the window.

“We were the same, huh? Heh, we really have to thank the president.”

“Yeah…”

For a while, the two of us were silent.

But just knowing we shared the same feelings was enough to make me happy.

“…But.”

Marin's voice was quiet as she spoke.

“I can’t be as proactive as you, Kagura.”

“I know. But maybe you should just think about it in your own way?”

“…Yeah.”

Her voice softened just a little.

“Sorry for calling so late. Thanks for talking to me, Kagura.”

“It's fine, don't worry about it.”

“Goodnight…”

“Goodnight, Marin.”

The phone call ended, and the room returned to silence.

I lightly rolled my smartphone in my palm as I absentmindedly gazed out the window.

The city below, viewed from the high-rise apartment window, shone as if countless stars had fallen to the earth. Car headlights moved like streams, and distant buildings were illuminated with neon lights.

“…Fufu.”

I couldn't help but smile quietly.

What will happen from now on?

Meeting Hajime-sensei, the clash with his childhood friends, and sharing thoughts with Marin.

So many things happened in just one day, like a roller coaster ride.

But strangely, I didn't feel bad about it.

In fact, it felt like something was tickling the inside of my heart, and it was a little warm.

I removed the towel from my shoulder and slowly began drying my hair. The damp ends slid smoothly through my fingers.

…Whenever I think about him, I can't help but smile.

I glanced at my reflection in the window.

What exactly is this feeling?

When Marin asked me, “Did you fall in love with him?” I couldn't give a clear answer.

But I know for sure that I'm drawn to him.

Is it love? Or just admiration from respect?

I don't know yet.

But—

“…I want to know more.”

I want to know more about him.

I want to see more of his expressions.

I want to be closer to him.

That was the truth of my feelings right now.

I exhaled softly and sank into the sofa.

Before putting on my warm loungewear, I wanted to feel the quiet night air just a little longer.

As I gazed at the night view of Tokyo, I quietly narrowed my eyes.

──Will I see him again?

Just thinking about it made my heart beat a little faster.