Chapter 6

Hoh—! Hup, hup—

~…… ♪

Hoh—hup, hup—

~…… ♪

A backflip! Round and rou~nd ♪

Round and rou~nd ♪

Ya~y, a huge success!

Aniki, you’ve got the pacing down better than before. Looking good, looking good~ ♪

Yeah. We couldn’t just go home like that. I sure am glad the practice room was empty~

We can practice here as much as we want. And I’m feeling much better after resting for a bit.

But we still can’t do everything Hibiki-senpai was asking from us. Let’s tackle the more difficult stuff next so we can have it mastered by tomorrow.

I’m glad you’re so excited, but… It’s probably better to just wrap this up on a more moderate level.

My body’s making all sorts of weird creaking sounds. Aren’t you super tired too, Aniki? Let’s just go home for today.

Y–yeah, okay… We can go home for to—ah!

Sorry, Yuuta-kun! I totally forgot I was on day duty today… Can you head home first?

Uh—yeah. Then I’ll head out, but make sure you apologize to the person you’re working with today, okay?

Ahaha, saying that makes you sound like the older brother, Yuuta-kun ♪

But yeah, I’ll go say sorry. …I’ll probably be home before it gets too late. Let’s make dinner together.

Okay, okay.

……

(…Okay, he’s gone.)

(Sorry for lying to you, Yuuta-kun, but you’re too kind. If I’d told you I was gonna keep practicing, I know you would have stayed behind too.)

(I can’t let you push yourself too hard. You’re already completely worn out.)

All right then, I’ll try juggling on top of the ball again~ Okay, and now while juggling, I’ve gotta move to another ball!

Wah—! Gwahh…

(Ngh~ I fell. Somehow I just can’t get it right~)

(If it’s just juggling on top of a ball, or just switching around from ball to ball, it’s not that big a deal. But doing both at the same time is so much harder.)

(I’ve been doing street performances for a long time, and I thought I was really good at juggling, but now I’m kinda losing my confidence…)

(But I can’t just get discouraged here. I’ve gotta show off an amazing performance and knock the socks off Hibiki-senpai.)

(…When I saw Hibiki-senpai’s performance at the Circus, I was surprised that such an amazing person could exist in this world…)

(He was moving so freely that I couldn’t help but wonder if he was even a human being… I wish I could move like that.)

(But I don’t know what I should do. If I keep putting in the effort, will you let me get closer to you, Hibiki-senpai?)

(No, I have to go to him. That’s what Hibiki-senpai is expecting from me.)

(We’ll add our own original elements in while doing everything he asks from us.)

(Since I’m the older brother, I have to work extra hard for Yuuta-kun’s sake until we can finally pull that off.)

A hello to you from the doorway! Hello—I am your very own Hibiki Wataru…☆

Ahh—! Uh—Hibiki-senpai? Why are you here? Weren’t we supposed to be done for the day?

Yes. But I’ve been searching for you two for some time now so that I can apologize.

I see that you are practicing on your own… Is Yuuta-kun not with you? Has he perhaps gone to get some refreshments?

Um, no. Yuuta-kun went home already.

But what do you mean about wanting to apologize? If anything, we should be the ones apologizing for not meeting your expectations.

Just as I said before, you have nothing to apologize for.

You are Aoi Hinata-kun, are you not?

Huh? Yeah, I am but…?

And I am Hibiki Wataru.

Umm, I’m sorry. I’m not really sure what you’re trying to do here…?

It’s very simple. I wanted to confirm that you are Aoi Hinata-kun, and that I am Hibiki Wataru.

I’m sorry. I was trying to force you to be Hibiki Wataru when that is not who you are. But I’ve reflected on that now.

Mm, I still don’t really get it.

Are you trying to apologize to us for misjudging our abilities?

No. I am apologizing because I thought that you two were Hibiki Wataru… that you were like me.

It was fun to watch you accept all of my demands, and I was so happy to be relied upon… It seems I lost my sense of restraint.

I’ve turned over a new leaf, so will you continue to let me guide you?

Huh? That’s everything I could have hoped for! Please keep helping and encouraging me!

That’s good~ Don’t look at your hands or your feet when you’re on the ball. Look, your center of gravity is starting to shift to the right. Bring it back!

Right! First, jump towards the ball! Then catch the club… I did it!

Wonderful! Then let’s take a break. I’m sure you’ve worked up quite the sweat, so make sure to stay hydrated.

Ah, thank you~ ♪ Fufu, I’ve started moving a lot better thanks to your one-on-one teaching.

No, not at all. It is simply that we are now focusing on each act one by one without doing too much at once, so you were able to draw out your full potential.

(…Hinata-kun is growing about as much as I expected. However, it still feels like something is missing…?)

(Could I be demanding too much from him again?)

Ughh! I knew you’d still be here, you stupid Aniki!

Uwah—Yuuta-kun?! Wh–why did you come back?

It was so fishy, the way you were trying to get me to leave by saying you had day duty… So I came back just in case.

And knowing you, you were probably thinking something like, you can’t force your little brother to work too hard, or you’re the older brother so you have to work harder for my sake, right?!

Geh—how’d you know?

Because you’re always like this, Aniki. …Why are you trying to do this all by yourself? If you’re going to practice, we should do it together.

Let’s go buy some toiletries and food so we can pull an all-nighter and do intensive training right up until the real thing. Just like we did for the Circus.

We’re capitalizing on the fact that we’re twins for this commercial, so you can’t just go at this alone, Aniki. We need to work together.

Because we’re the two-in-one twin idols, 2wink!

Yuuta-kun…

Sorry, you’re right. I get it now, so please forgive me…!

Jeez… Aniki, raise your head. I’ll forgive you this time, but I can’t promise I’ll let you off next time.

Y–yeah. Thank you, Yuuta-kun.

……

(Ah… I see now. That’s what it was.)

(Just as Yuuta-kun said, 2wink is two people working as one. That’s why Hinata couldn’t give 100% of his power on his own.)

(Not to sing my own praises, but I pride myself on being able to do just about anything to some extent.)

(However, not even I can ever hope to share a soul with someone the way they can. No matter how much I try, it’s impossible for me.)

(I may just be a teensy bit jealous of you two.)

Yuuta-kun, are you also willing to receive my guidance?

Ah—yes! Please don’t hold anything back!

Very well. Then I shall teach you with all that I possess! Please accompany me until the end…☆