Chapter 2

In any case, why are you here, Tori?

Huh? Was I not supposed to come…?

I mean yeah, it’s not like I performed in Starry Night Festival or anything, so if you want everyone who didn’t participate to leave I have to listen to you, but?

No, I’m not saying you can’t be here. In fact, it’s nice to be able to see your face, my adorable little Tori.

If I could, I’d be happy to carry you around in my pocket all the time.

But I am left wondering—Didn’t your parents come back from overseas just this morning?

I’d heard about it because our parents are very close.

So I assumed you’d be overjoyed to have met them at the airport…

And right about now, you’d be having a relaxing dinner with them at home.

Which is why I didn’t have you or Yuzuru perform in Starry Night Festival.

You seem to love your parents very much, and I didn’t want to deprive you of your time together with them.

And Yuzuru cares more about your happiness than he does about even his basic needs.

So I would have felt bad making only him join in the Festival.

Ehehe… About that, Mama and Papa got caught up with their work, so they can’t come home just yet.

Not like they can help it though. December’s… It’s the busiest time of the year, so.

So I heard this might happen. …I’m still kinda disappointed, though.

But since our plans were canceled, I decided to come show you guys my support. I heard you and Hajime and even Rapunzel were performing.

And obviously, I dragged Yuzuru along with me.

But he got caught up with Takamine from Ryuseitai while we were headed over, and he ended up helping them with their work…

So I ditched him and came here alone.

I even tried offering to help with their job, y’know.

But since this was where I was originally headed, Yuzuru told me to go on without him.

Oh yeah… Speaking of that, Takamine-kun hasn’t stopped talking about Fushimi-senpai in class lately.

It’s kind of an unexpected duo, don’t you think? I wonder when they got together?

Who knows? Yuzuru seems pretty confused about that, too. I don’t know what happened, but at some point they got friendly with each other… (grumbles)

Fufu, aww. Are you jealous of him for taking Yuzuru away from you?

Obviously not! But Mama and Papa haven’t come home yet, and now Yuzuru’s gone and left me too…? I can’t stand it!

Ehehe, so that’s why… Well, I was feeling pretty lonely, so I’m happy I got to talk with you guys like this. It’s like a breath of fresh air~ ♪

And Starry Night Festival was super good, too! You guys were like, divine or something!

If you were gonna put on such an awesome show, you should’ve let me in on it too!

Fufu, you would have been perfect for the role, Tori-kun. Such cute costumes would have looked great on you.

Eheh. Yeah? C’mon, what else? This is why I like you, Hajime—‘Cause you’re always fawning over me~ ♪

It’s not really that I’m fawning, more so that I admire you? After all, you’re my role model for learning how to be cute… I’m like your apprentice ♪

Wheeee! Look, look, Prez! I’ve got a cuteness apprentice~ ♪

Mhm, I’m happy for you. Try to set a good example for everyone.

…Cough, cough.

Eichi?! Are you all right? You don’t look very good…?

No, I’m okay… It’s just that I’ve worn myself out from the live.

On top of that, my health tends to decline in the winter. I even spent Christmas last year all alone in a hospital bed.

So I’ll have to take care not to end up that way this time.

This entire school will be participating in Starlight Festival come Christmas.

Fufu, I’d like to have more fun talking with everyone, but I should probably take my leave and get some rest…

Would you mind passing that message onto everyone else who performed in Starry Night Festival?

Hum… If you’d start talking this way without any prompt, it must be severe.

Are you sure you’re all right? If you’d like, I can escort you home?

I’ll be fine. I don’t want to be such an uncouth person as to lean on you so often I become a burden… especially not in front of my lovely Tori.

So I’m all right. I’ve been driving to and from school as much as possible lately to keep up my energy.

I’ll call a chauffeur to pick me up, so you don’t have to trouble yourselves.

Prez… You know you can rely on us more, right? Maybe I’m just talking big, but we are in the same unit, y’know?

You’re always so nice and friendly with us, but… sometimes, it feels like you’re fighting alone. It sounds lonely—and scary.

I just wanna support you as much as I can.

You’re always taking care of me and protecting me, and it bothers me that I can’t pay you back for even one of those times.

But I’m not a little baby bird who can’t even feed himself, y’know…?

He’s right, Eichi. Children do always speak the truth.

…Just because you’re capable of standing on your own, it does not mean you have to walk your path alone, right?

……