Chapter 14: Our (Original Fans') Idol☆

"Snf… Uu… Uuu…"

"She’s crying."

"What is this, a chuuni meltdown…?"

Towa-chan’s spirit was in tatters—so much so that the snark wrote itself.

Idol tears? I’d only seen them like… three times in my life. Oh, make that four now.

"Hic… I haven’t had a single proper conversation with Yuuki all week…"

"You did, though? Like, ‘Ahh’ and ‘Uh-huh’—"

"THAT DOESN’T COUNT! I! DON’T! WANT! THAT!"

"Ack! Okay, okay!"

Wait, where’d the cool, composed Towa-chan from our first meeting go?!

Give us back our onee-sama, you fraud! Give back the emotional anchor of our heroines!

"...Hey. Manami’s giving me death glares over here. Can we please revert? I don’t wanna be here. OK?"

"...Got it."

Then, Towa-chan yanked her hood down hard—only to throw it off with a flourish and—

"...Nyah☆"

—planted both index fingers on her cheeks, flashing a deliberately cutesy smile.

"Ghk—! (Critical Hit)"

We OG otaku collapsed on the spot before our supreme idol. Yet our faces bore both gratitude and regret.

"YOU—!?!? Save that kinda fire for when we’ve got proper filming equipment!!!!"

"Cough—! Hah… hah… RARE CG GET! No regrets…! None…!"

Towa-chan eyed our nose-bleeding screams with disdain. God, even that look was perfect.

That—! That was the legendary "Unshackled Idol Smile"—a CG so rare it was mythical among fans!

Unlock Conditions:

• Towa/Yuuki affinity at MAX

• Yuuki ignores Towa for 10+ days

The catch? Yuuki never ignores Towa under normal circumstances.

Back then, I’d screamed: "Y’ALL ARE TOO WHOLESOME!!! TOO SWEET!!! BUT WRONG DIRECTION!!!!" No cap.

"Ah! The camera caught it by miracle!"

"Seriously!? Attagirl, Manami! I’ll pay 1 mil! …Later!"

"...No. This joy must be shared. (Sent)"

"MANAMIIIII! YOU—! Haahhh… I could live off this smile forever."

"I. Will. Literally. Die. For. This."

"Could you not monetize my expressions?"

"Ahh, that exasperated face is gold…"

"Seeing our oshi’s micro-expressions IRL… Peak fiction."

"I’m done. Done. (Terror)"

"Sorry for dragging you guys into this."

"No worries! Picking gifts for people is fun!"

"Yeah, totally!"

"Oh! What about this one?"

"So cute~!"

Hmm... It's been ten days since I started consulting with Tanaka-san and the others.

I did ask for their advice, but—

"Eek! This ribbon is adorable!"

"Huh? Let me see~"

"Ahhh! It would suit her!"

"Hmm~ But wouldn't this one look even better?"

""You're so right~!""

Yeah... Why are girls so obsessed with shopping? Though... can I even lump Towa in with "girls"? She's always been more of a tomboy...

Anyway, what would make Towa happy?

Games... She'd love those, but at our age, they're way too expensive.

How about a bag? But she's the type to say "Function over fashion!" and use that plain shoulder bag...

"Hey, Yuuki-kun."

"Hm?"

Ito-san turned to me.

"Have you really been seeing Edogawa-chan?"

"Yeah, that's why I'm trying to pick a—"

"Is giving a present really the point?"

What did she mean?

"You want to repay her, right? Then just handing over a gift and calling it done... isn't enough, is it?"

At that moment, it felt like a clogged drain had been kicked open—like a cool breeze rushing through. I can't explain it well, but... that's how it hit me.

"...I don't actually know much about Towa, do I?"

Until now, I'd been so sure I understood her better than anyone.

—The things she likes...She once said she liked watching my profile.

—The scenery she loves...She always took photos of those little mountain trails we hiked.

—Her favorite foods...She has a sweet tooth, but secretly craves greasy, salty junk.

—How she likes to spend time...Smash Bros. together was her "most fun".

Mornings walking to school, eating lunch together, just lazing around doing nothing—she loved all of it.

"...I'm an idiot."

These past ten days? I haven't accomplished anything. I got so obsessed with repaying her that I forgot—

The goal isn't the repayment. It's about conveying how I feel.

"...Yeah."

"Get it now?"

"Yeah. Let me help choose too."

""""Of course!""""

The sooner, the better. How about... this coming Saturday?