Chapter 1

(Thank god, I’m finally back in town.)

(It’s always like this at New Year’s, but man, I’ve just been going all over the country visiting relatives and a bunch of rich people with connections to my family…)

(I’ve been forcing a smile for so long I feel like my cheeks are gonna fall off.)

(After StarFes, I tried feeling things out with Dad and everyone about my future.)

(But it’s not like I told them that I was definitely gonna be an idol.)

(And I’m still a little torn about it, myself.)

(We’d already made some headway in making the rounds, so I just went ahead and finished it off to avoid any conflict.)

(I didn’t want anyone thinking I was greeting certain people but not them… That’d be rude.)

(Man, all of this is such a pain.)

(If I’d been with a girl, it would’ve been fun to show her a good time, but they were all just a bunch of pompous big-shots.)

(I feel like I’m gonna suffocate. But, hopefully this means I’ve fulfilled all my obligations as the son of Mr. Hakaze. Now I can kick back and enjoy the new year in style.)

(Ahh, all of this is so nostalgic… All the cheap neon lights, the old chain stores, the girls decked out in glitz…)

(It’s not like I’ve been away for that long, especially since I spent almost all my free time last year hanging out here.)

(If you breathe in the same air for a long time, you’re sure to get at least a little attached to it.)

(But what should I even go do…?)

(I’m in the mood to go play around in a crowded place where I can just shut off my brain and enjoy myself. But ever since that scandal, I’ve kinda sorta been keeping my distance from girls.)¹

(And besides, there’s probably a ton of them with true loves or actual good, nice families.)

(I’m sure they’d rather spend New Year’s with their partners or relatives.)

(UNDEAD’s also on break. I heard Sakuma-san was also going around meeting with family or something. I guess our upbringings are kinda similar somehow.)²

(When you’ve got something in common, it makes you feel a little closer to them… And you see them as more human, just like you.)

Snzz, zzz… snort, snuff ♪

(Hnn? Huh~ Is that guy sleeping over there Sagami-sensei from our school?)

(I wonder if he was weaseled into drinking too much at a New Year’s party~? He’s totally gonna catch a cold if he just sleeps on the street like this~ He could even freeze to death if he’s not careful!)

(What do I do? It’s not like he’s some stranger, so I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I just left him here to die…)

(There’s plenty of people around, and yet none of them are even calling out to him. Aren’t they worried?)

(Fine, whatever. I’ll lend a hand in place of all these cold-hearted people.)

(He’s a teacher, so if I can get him in my debt, I might be able to ask him for advice on my career plans… or he might even lend me hand when I need it.)

(Sigh… If you go and say you have ulterior motives in hitting someone up, it sounds exciting, but it’s just some old guy with a five o’clock shadow.)

(I’ve got no motivation for this, but like, I guess I’m used to dealing with drunks when I’m working at the live house?)

He~yyy? Sagami-sensei, you okay? You awake?

Nn… Yaaawn, huh? ‘Sup~ You treatin’ m’like some drunk?

You’re slurring your words. Nazuna-kun’s fine, but you’re really getting up there in the years. Old guys with lisps are so not cute, y’know?

Sh–shaddup~ ‘S fine, go gemme a drink…

‘Mma get so wasted… So quit tellin’ me whatta do, y’should be feelin’ sorry fer me.

You’re in a bad mood, huh~ That can’t have been good booze. Did something bad happen~?

Or, from the looks of things, you’ve had way too much to drink. This isn’t a bar, okay~? C’mon, let’s get you up~…?

Hnn~? Don’tchu go naggin’ at me, or I’mma grab yer ass!

Uwah—?! What the—You shitty teacher…!

Gyah?!

Oh, sorry. I was so surprised, I just kneed you.

……

H–huh? Sagami-sensei~? I didn’t think I kicked him that hard. I must’ve hit a good spot. Did he faint?

(Crap… I was gonna try and take care of him so I could wrestle a favor out of him, but if it’s just gonna dissolve into violence it’s not just pointless, it’s completely the opposite of what I was going for!)

(Well, that was just in self-defense, though.)

Snzz, zzzzz… ♪

(Ngh~… Wait, maybe he didn’t pass out because I kicked him, and it’s just ‘cause he’s totally wasted?)

(…Brrr, it’s so cold!)

(If I keep wasting my time out here, I’m seriously gonna get sick! I’d better get him somewhere warm.)

(Hmm~ I’d say the nearest place from here is the underground live house~?)

(But the key… Okay yep, I’ve got it. It’s closed for today, and I was kinda in the mood to sing a bit.)

(I figured I’d use it as a karaoke place, so I brought the key with me. Man, seriously. You never know when fortune’ll hit, huh.)