Chapter 17

A few days after giving Kotori-san and the others an acting lesson, I called Daisho out to an empty classroom in the old school building during the mid-morning break. As I suspected, he’d been bottling up a lot of stress, and once he started venting, he just wouldn’t stop.

"I don’t want to be an idol anymore."

"If you want to quit, then quit."

He went on and on, unloading his frustrations, saying he wanted out. Well, if he hates it that much, quitting might not be the worst idea. Daisho’s still just a kid, after all. It’s not like he needs to force himself to keep going.

"Wait… I can really quit?"

"Sure, as long as you’re ready to throw everything away. But if you quit being an idol, there’s no going back to being a child actor."

"…Why not?"

"Because your agency’s invested in you, Daisho. They’ve already built a whole group around you, with people and money tied up in it. If you just walk away, there’s no way they’ll let you slide back into being a child actor like nothing happened."

Daisho’s current agency is the biggest name in the male idol industry. If he quits and tries to move elsewhere, they’ll almost certainly blacklist him, and any acting work will become impossible. If he really wants out, the only way is to give up everything he’s built so far, retire from the entertainment world completely, and go back to being a regular kid.

"So… it’s basically the same as saying I can’t quit…"

"Not exactly. You can quit whenever you want if you really mean it. That’s completely different. If you ever reach the point where you truly can’t stand it anymore, then just walk away."

"I… I just… want to act with Nana again… like before…"

Daisho bit his lip and lowered his head as he said that. I don’t get it. His acting’s gotten good enough that he doesn’t even need my help anymore, so why is he still so fixated on me?

"Then I guess you’ll just have to stick with being an idol. Who knows? Maybe someday you’ll get the chance to work with me again."

"You… really think so?"

"I can’t promise anything, but one thing’s certain: if you quit being an idol, your chances of working with me drop to zero. Plus, since you’re a special scholarship student, quitting means you’ll be treated like a regular student. That means paying tuition, and worst case, you might even have to transfer schools."

Among private academies, Sakuranagi Academy’s tuition and donations are notoriously high. Since Daisho’s earning money, I doubt he’d be forced to transfer right away, but the possibility is still there.

"I don’t want that…"

"Then deal with it and keep being an idol. I’ll even let you complain to me once in a while."

I said that and patted his head.

…That’s when I realized Daisho had gotten taller than me. We used to be about the same height, but he’s clearly hit a growth spurt. At this rate, he’s probably going to tower over me soon, and honestly, the thought of him looking down at me makes me a little jealous.

"Ouch! What was that for!?"

"Oh, sorry. I just noticed you’ve gotten taller, and, um… I kind of reacted without thinking."

Before I knew it, I’d put Daisho in an iron claw grip. Seriously—handsome, tall, and already making good money as an elementary schooler? He’s infuriating on every level.

"Anyway, we should head back. Third period’s about to start."

"Wait, head back from where?"

"From the window, obviously. If we walk, we’ll never make it in time. See ya!"

We were on the third floor of the old school building. The first floor’s used for cultural clubrooms, so we’d chosen this quiet, empty corner classroom on the third floor to talk.

The school rules say you can’t run in the hallways, but there’s no rule against jumping out of windows. Besides, this side of the building isn’t visible from the new school building, and the dense roadside trees make it impossible for anyone to see us from outside.

After checking to make sure the coast was clear, I jumped out the window, landed smoothly, and started walking toward the new school building. If I’m quick, I can make it back to the classroom before Daisho catches up.

That said, the empty classroom is great for being quiet and isolated, but the distance is a bit of a problem. It’s tight to squeeze in a conversation during mid-break, and since no one cleans it, it’s a little dusty too. If I plan on using it regularly, I should probably give it a quick clean during lunch.

"So anyway, I’m going to clean it up during lunch break."

"In that case, I’ll come help you."

"M-me too! I’ll help!"

"Nah, it’s fine. I’ll just do a quick sweep myself."

During lunch break, I pushed a few desks together and sat with Sayuri-chan and Ayano-chan, eating our lunches as I told them about meeting Daisho earlier. Both of them offered to help clean, but since Sakuranagi Academy hires professionals for that, I felt bad asking upper-class girls like them, who’ve probably never done chores, to pitch in.

"It’s really fine, but you know… I think it might be nicer to eat somewhere quieter than the classroom. How about we all clean it together and start having lunch in the old school building instead?" Sayuri-chan suggested in a soft whisper.

Most students use the cafeteria, so the classrooms are relatively empty during lunch, but there are still people around. We always have to speak in low voices so no one overhears us, and honestly, it gets tiring.

Plus, once everyone comes back from lunch, we can’t talk quietly at all anymore, and sometimes Ichinomiya-san’s group is there. Whenever they are, I can feel their stares, and it gets uncomfortable.

Eating lunch somewhere quieter in the old school building might actually be a good idea. But…

"Aren’t students who don’t belong there banned from entering the old school building?"

Sneaking in occasionally probably wouldn’t get us caught, but if we had lunch there every day, we’d almost certainly be found out.

"In that case, how about we start a new club and register the room as our clubroom?"

"Wait, you can actually do that?"

"I think so… probably."

What is this, the SOS Brigade? Do they really let elementary students register clubs that easily?

"U-um, actually, I used to be in the library club, but after the older members moved up to middle school, I ended up being the only one left… But the clubroom’s still there…"

"Don’t tell me… it’s in the old school building?"

"Yes! It’s in a corner on the second floor since we didn’t have many members."

"Perfect. Let’s go check it out later."

I had no idea Ayano-chan used to be in the library club. Well, thinking about it now, it fits—she’s always had that quiet, bookish vibe, and honestly, I can picture her surrounded by stacks of novels.

After finishing our lunches, we headed for the old school building. On the way, I glanced at the first floor through the hallway windows and spotted a few students eating inside what looked like the shogi and go clubrooms. Good to know. If other people are already using the old building during lunch, it shouldn’t be a problem for us to hang around here too.

Most of the active clubs seemed to be concentrated on the first floor. Once we climbed up to the second, it was practically deserted. Tucked away in a shadowy corner sat the abandoned library clubroom—its out-of-the-way location practically screamed “forgotten.”

Inside, there was a thin layer of dust, but aside from that, the place was surprisingly well-kept. The shelves were lined with books, probably left behind by the previous members. A sofa, a low table, an air conditioner, and even a hot water kettle were neatly set up. As expected from a rich private school—top-tier amenities, even for a neglected clubroom.

"This is perfect! We can eat lunch here without worrying about anyone overhearing us… and it’d be a good place to hang out with Daisho too."

"When the upperclassmen were still here, we used to eat lunch together in this room… but after they moved up, I was the only member left. Sometimes I’d hear strange noises, even though no one should’ve been here. And once, I swear I heard chanting—like some creepy sutra or something… I got scared and stopped coming."

…Great. Now that she’s said that, the whole room suddenly feels like the kind of place you’d expect to have ghosts lurking around. With how old the building is, though, it wouldn’t be surprising if one or two actually were hanging around.

"Even if there are ghosts, it’s not like they can hurt you. Just ignore them."

"You’re… not scared?"

"I’ve heard plenty of scary stories, sure, but I’ve never once heard of anyone actually being cursed to death. We’ll be fine."

There’s an old saying—"It’s only scary because you think it’s scary." If you convince yourself every little sound is paranormal, of course it feels haunted. Which means ghosts don’t exist. Nope. Not real. Definitely not.

…Then again, considering I’m someone who reincarnated and retained all my memories, I guess it’s hard to completely deny the possibility that souls exist. And if souls exist, maybe there are spirits out there wandering outside the cycle of reincarnation. …Okay, I’m scaring myself now.

"Anyway, forget it. Let’s just start cleaning."

The more I think about it, the creepier it feels, so better not dwell on it.

I hummed a silly “ghost-busting” song while cleaning to lighten the mood, but for some reason, Ayano-chan just got more nervous.

With the three of us splitting the work, the room was spotless in no time. Ayano-chan’s speed stood out in particular, so I asked about it. Turns out, the second floor and above are outside the school’s professional cleaning zone, so back when the club had members, they used to handle the cleaning themselves on a regular schedule.

"In that case, from now on, let’s make me and Sayuri-chan official library club members too! We’ll be in your care, President Ayano!"

"E-Eh!? M-me? President…?"

"Of course! You’re the senior member, so naturally, you’re the club president. We’re counting on you, Madam President!"

Sayuri-chan and I gave her a small round of applause, and Ayano-chan, flustered and bright red, waved her hands like she didn’t know what to do. Guess we’ll need to drop off our registration forms at the faculty office later.

After putting away the cleaning supplies in the locker, I was about to head back to the classroom when my phone started buzzing. Checking the screen, I saw a message from Shinozaki-san: "I’m waiting at the front gate. How long are you planning to keep me here?" Oh, right. I was supposed to leave early today for work right after lunch. Crap. Totally forgot.

"Sorry, guys. I’ve got work this afternoon. I’m heading out early, so you two go on ahead without me."

I quickly told them and then climbed out the window again. Since running in the halls was against the rules, I fast-walked back to the classroom, grabbed my backpack, and headed straight for the front gate—thankfully, I’d already informed my homeroom teacher about leaving early.

Out front, a car was parked by the rotary, and there was Shinozaki-san, tapping her foot impatiently like she’d been standing there for ages.

"Sorry I’m late!"

"You are late. I’d scold you properly, but we don’t have time for that right now. Get in."

She glared at me over the rim of her glasses and jerked her chin toward the car, motioning me inside. …Yup. There’s no escape. Guess I’m getting the lecture once we’re on the road.

“Cure-Cure♪ With the Miracle☆Musket, there’s nothing to be afraid of anymore!”

I strike a confident pose as the camera rolls—then, “Cut!”—and I reset my stance for yet another take. Over and over, we repeat the same scene.

It’s a commercial shoot for a magical-girl toy.

They’ve dressed me in a frilly pink costume and handed me a toy modeled after the protagonist’s weapon from this year’s new anime, the Miracle☆Musket. All I have to do is wave it around and look adorable.

Commercial shoots are funded directly by the sponsors, so the budget’s huge and the schedule’s tight. The pay is actually better than TV dramas or movies, and the shoot time’s shorter too. Basically, it’s the perfect job.

So, yeah—if it means good money, I’ll happily cosplay as a mini magical girl and endure a little public embarrassment.

Besides, this isn’t my first time. I’ve been doing this series since first grade, so this is my fourth year now. I’m used to it.

“Alright, that’s a wrap! Great job, everyone!”

Finally, all the cuts are done. I glance at the clock—6 p.m. already. Half a day’s worth of work… just for a thirty-second commercial.

After thanking the director and crew, I change in the dressing room and head out. Outside, Shinozaki-san’s car is already waiting to drive me to Shinmichi-sensei’s dojo. Since we wrapped early today, I can squeeze in a quick workout before heading home.

I settle into the passenger seat and pull a novel from my bag, but before I can start reading—

“Oh? You still haven’t finished To the You in the Future, Goodbye?” Shinozaki-san asks.

“I’m halfway through volume seven,” I reply.

“The drama’s first cast meeting is in two weeks, so make sure you finish it soon.”

She’d already given me the original novels when we accepted the role, but with school, work, and shoots, I haven’t had much time to read. Since the project hasn’t been officially announced yet, I also can’t exactly read it openly at school. So, I’ve been sneaking in a few chapters before bed whenever I can.

“But the drama only covers up to volume six, right? Volume seven’s going to be the movie, which won’t be out for a while.”

“That’s true,” she says, leaning back. “But volume seven’s where things really heat up. Trust me, read it.”

The story’s a youthful rom-com about students facing personal struggles and chasing their dreams for the future. I’ll be playing one of the three heroines who have feelings for the protagonist.

The drama will wrap up at the big Christmas event, and the movie’s planned to cover the “Detour Arc,” where the protagonist reunites with the parents who abandoned him. I’d planned to read the whole thing anyway, but judging by how fired up Shinozaki-san sounds, volume seven must be really something.

Still, there’s one thing that bugs me.

“Shinozaki-san… isn’t To the You in the Future, Goodbye set in high school?”

“Mm-hm. Why?”

“It’s just… I’m in elementary school. Don’t you think that’s… a bit of a stretch?”

“They’re adjusting the setting so the characters are middle schoolers instead,” she explains casually.

“…Wait, what?”

But wasn’t the protagonist’s big dream supposed to be “getting into college”? That feels… important. Changing their ages sounds like a recipe for disaster, but if Shinozaki-san says it’s fine… maybe it’s fine.

“Alright, fine. But there’s still one more thing.” I flip to a bookmarked page. “My character, Haruka Kashiwagi, is described as having an ‘unbelievably perfect figure,’ right? Like… for a high school freshman?”

I remember her being drawn with… uh… noticeable curves. Changing her to a middle schooler won’t change how readers imagine her.

Meanwhile, I’m ten. My growth isn’t bad, but I’m still very much a kid. I’d need at least six more years before I could naturally have Haruka’s… assets.

Mom looks delicate and slim, but secretly, she has an amazing figure for someone who’s had two kids. If I inherited her genes, maybe I’ll get there someday… hopefully.

“…Nana, just make it work with your acting,” Shinozaki-san says, deadpan.

“Yeah, no. That’s not happening.”

Maybe I should start drinking more milk.