V4: Chapter 27: The Hardcore Otaku and the Person in Question? (Part 1)

Chapter 27: The Hardcore Otaku and the Person in Question? (Part 1)

It happened on the way to school as usual, with Chloe-chan waiting in front of my house, even though she wasn't exactly in the neighborhood.

"What are you listening to?"

"I'm not listening to anything?"

"Then why are you wearing a headset to school...?"

Chloe-chan's question was understandable, but... there was a reason for it that was less than a mountain, but higher than the sea.

"W-well... isn't it embarrassing to have your ears seen?"

"...What's wrong all of a sudden?"

No matter what, I couldn't tell her what happened at the get-together after the meeting. From Chloe-chan's perspective, she was just cleaning my ears normally. Only Lux and Squire probably noticed at the time.

Even though it turned out like that, I managed to cover it up... right? I want to believe I managed to cover it up.

Just thinking about that day made my face burn. Besides, burying my face in that made me feel like I was developing a weird fetish.

I'm definitely not a scent fetishist. Definitely not!

"It's fine, but you'll have to take it off during class, okay?"

"What? You want me to take it off...? Chloe, you're so bold..."

"... Keep it up, and I'm really going to strip you naked, you know?"

I couldn't ask what she meant. It seemed like it was going to get serious, so I just apologized profusely. It was nothing serious...?

We continued our conversation as we headed to school.

★

Today... I have plans after school. It's my turn to return the favor, after receiving so many gifts. I'm not sure if Lux's gift counts as a present, but it would be unfair to leave her out, so I decided to choose one together.

Today... I'll prepare the first one.

I was really struggling to decide what to give her. And then I finally came up with something for Bell. Among them, she was the easiest to give a gift to, so there's no particular deep meaning to the order in which I gave them to her.

After all, she's a huge fan of Satellite, so I figured she'd be happy with any merchandise related to me. But she probably already owns most of the merchandise.

Therefore... this!

A special photobook with a large, smiling picture of Satellite printed on coated paper.

It's a photobook of me, specially made with a studio and a photographer. Of course, it's unique and one-of-a-kind, so there's no way she'll own it.

I did ask Chloe for her opinion, just for reference, and she said, "Giving your own photos as a gift, are you insane!?"

But there's supply and demand, so that's fine, right? At least there's demand.

I feel like I got a little carried away and included some risqué scenes, but it's within the R15 category... Wait, how old is Bell? Well, whatever... Junior idols release photobooks too, after all. 

She's bound to be thrilled that her favorite idol made a photobook just for her.

I racked my brain when I was asked to think of a present, but once I started thinking about it, it became fun... and I got a little carried away.

"Oh, I was going to contact Bell-chan, but I guess it's probably too late now?"

I finished the project and thought about contacting her to see if we could meet tomorrow, but it was a bit of a late hour to call. Knowing her, she might be happy to hear from me anytime, but she has her own life too.

LINE would be convenient in times like these. But having only a phone number as contact information is a bit inconvenient, so I'm hesitating.

But my LINE profile is my real name, and the picture is of my back... I could change it, but everyone in class would surely be disappointed.

Well, there's no way Bell-chan would suddenly switch sides and leak my information to a rival organization, even if the heavens turned upside down, so maybe it's okay to give it to her.

Actually, she's the kind of girl who would be the first to worry about my safety if the world turned upside down.

That's what I thought, and maybe giving her my LINE contact the next morning was a mistake.

It's fine that she sends "good morning" and "good night" every day without fail; I was prepared for her to contact me every hour or so. But she replies to my messages within a minute every time. It's a little scary.

And when I asked when we could meet, she replied, "I'm free anytime."

Her loyalty is frightening; I wish she'd prioritize her own privacy a little more.

★

I was supposed to meet Bell-chan that weekend, and of course, my LINE ID was my real name. Exchanging LINE addresses is kind of a rite of passage among close magical girls, so I guess the other girls have similar worries.

But still...

"Isn't it a bit too bold to meet at her house for the first time?"

I was surprised when Bell-chan sent me the address of what seemed to be her house when I asked where we should meet. I don't know if it's because she's a modern kid, or if her internet literacy is particularly low. In these situations, wouldn't it usually be something like an Aeon shopping mall?

Waiting in front of a house with a red roof, smiling and looking at me, was a girl with familiar light green hair. The possibility of having come to the wrong place was completely gone.

"S-Satelli...!"

"Amane-chan, it's not good to call me by my magical girl name when I'm not transformed, right?"

It's a residential area in the morning, and you never know who might hear. I didn't want to risk being identified in a place like this.

"H-Hoshino-san?"

"Are we that far?"

I feel like calling each other by our last names creates a lot of distance..

"S-Shizuku...-sama?"

"You don't really need to use 'sama,' do you?"

A middle schooler letting such a young girl call them by their last name with "sama" attached... that would probably cause a terrible rumor. 

"Shh, Shizu... I just can't do it!"

"Ah, wait a minute..."

She said that and opened the front door and went inside. I followed her into the house, but...

"Is calling someone by their first name really that difficult...?"

I don't really understand the feeling of being able to invite someone to your house but not being able to call them by their name...

Besides the present, I brought a box of sweets, but... the problem is how to greet her parents. We don't even go to the same middle school... she actually goes to elementary school. What kind of relationship do we have?

"Thank you for always taking care of our Amane." (Bell's mother)

"The pleasure is all mine... here. This is just a small token." (Shizuku)

"Thank you so much for coming all this way." (Bell's Father)

When I faced her parents, I was overwhelmed with guilt. It's definitely me who's been teaching your daughter bad habits.

"Where did you meet Amane?"

"I also like Magical Girl Satellite."

"Ah, I see..."

Her parents nodded in understanding. I do like Satellite (myself), so I wasn't lying.

We are Satellite's big fan. Thus is how got her family's approval.

My first impression upon entering her room, which was on the second floor, was "so me."

Amane-chan's (formerly Bell-chan's) room was filled with Magical Girl Satellite merchandise. There were even some expensive items like collaboration PCs, so the fact that she had so much must mean that Magical Girls can be profitable if they're talented. Or maybe her parents are just incredibly indulgent.

"S-Satellite-sama is really... in my room...!"

"Yes, yes, sorry to intrude...?"

It might be obvious, but it's my first time entering a fan's room, so it's quite interesting.

However, displaying a figure with visible panties is a sign of a very promising future. It's unofficial merchandise, by the way... I was aware of its existence, but it's not like they're selling anything erotic.

"I can't believe the 'beautiful lady' I saw at the bookstore was Satellite-sama..."

"I knew it, but I couldn't exactly say that, could I?"

"You're so kind even in private... I'm so touched!"

I just let a little girl go first because she happened to be a fan of mine, but I didn't want to shatter her illusions, so I kept quiet. I'm hopelessly discriminatory.

"Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Hoshino Shizuku."

"Yugiri Amane, with the 'Yu' from 'evening' and the 'Kiri' from 'mist'!"

I decided to give her the main gift for this occasion. I had a feeling that if I missed this opportunity, I wouldn't get another chance.

"Here's a present! I printed three copies—one for keeping, one for lending, and one to read—because it looked like it might end up on a shrine or something."

"This is... wait, a photobook of Satellite-sama that I didn't know about? Where did you buy it...?"

I'm happy she reacted just as I expected; it makes the present worthwhile.

"It's not for sale, so don't sell it, okay?"

"Wait, so that means...!"

However, actually, this photobook isn't finished. I was planning to add one last touch.

"What name should I put on it?"

"Ah, um...!? 'Amane', please!"

With practiced hands, I move the marker pen.

Autographs... fans love them, I don't really understand it.

Everyone's happy when I put their name on them, so I do it, but I don't really understand it myself since I don't have a favorite idol.

"Here you go?"

"Ah, ah..."

Amane-chan held out her hand, showing no sign of accepting it. Her expression was as if she couldn't accept reality. Even though we'd spent the night together, this must be the limit of her acting.

"I-I can't... My idol... my oshi... is too much!"

"Ah..."

Amane-chan collapsed onto the bed, headfirst, and stopped moving.

I was happy that she seemed pleased, but it seemed I'd gone a little too far.