Chapter 3

(…Everyone ended up lecturing me.)

(Well, I’m the one making them worry. My companions, my unit—Because I looked so sick…)

(Of course they would worry about me.)

(I didn’t expect to be so happy about that. It used to irritate me when people would worry about me, as if they were treating me like an invalid.)

(I have a position to uphold. I’ve so arrogantly allowed myself to be called Emperor, and I rule over Yumenosaki as its top idol.)

(No one can criticize me openly without fear.)

(That’s who I am—That’s who my companions are scolding, worrying for…)

(I should treasure them more. Or at least, I shouldn’t pretend I can’t see their love.)

(So that I never make that mistake again. So that I never lose anyone again.)

(I’ve gotten a little stronger now. I think I can carry a bit more than just the weight of my own life.)

(Perhaps I don’t have to survive like I did back then, always sacrificing everything I had.)

(……)

Hmm? Hello, Eichi-kun ♪

What are you doing out here?

Since you performed in Starry Night Festival, I figured you would be out having fun with everyone at the afterparty?

Is something wrong? Why are you all alone in a place like this?

…Oh, hi Tsumugi. You always talk to me like it’s the most natural thing in the world, huh.

Huh? Is that a bad thing?!

…I wouldn’t say it’s bad, necessarily.

But to answer your question, I’m waiting here for a car to pick me up. I’m feeling a little under the weather…

So I’m heading straight home instead of going to the afterparty.

Oh, that makes sense… You always seem to get sick during the winter, Eichi-kun. Please make sure to take care of yourself. Or what I should say is, please make sure to live a long life.

I will. By the way, what are you doing here? You weren’t in Starry Night Festival, right? And we have today off from school.

I wouldn’t think you’d have any reason to be here.

Fufun. Naturally, I came to give you my support at the Festival ♪

…Did you, now. Th–thank you, Tsumugi. That makes me very happy.

Well, that was just an exaggeration. I did end up taking a peek at Starry Night Festival, but my original purpose was to help Natsume-kun with one of his experiments.

Excuse me? Don’t do anything questionable on the school grounds…?

Oh no, this was something we needed to do.

Switch uses chemicals and the like in our performances, and the properties of those chemicals will change as it gets colder.

It would be terrible if we had an accident on stage, so we decided to experiment before using them, just in case.

You know, things like exposing the chemicals to low temperatures and observing the changes.

Fufu, all of us in Switch came together to essentially have a staring contest with the test tubes.

But we also came up with a few new ideas, too, since we got our hands on some useful catalysts as well.

You three really are a strange unit… But you can give a unique performance that no one else can replicate, and that’s certainly one of your strengths.

But I imagine you’d still be able to produce results even if you acted as more traditional, upstanding idols.

So why do you even bother to go along with Sakasaki-kun’s occultism?

Ahaha, to tell you the truth, even I’m constantly being surprised by the eccentric things we do.

But you know, that’s just how it is with kids. I want to let Natsume-kun and Sora-kun do what they want to do.

I’m much more used to straightforward methods, but this is fun all the same.

I see. …Sorry. Please forget what I just said. I don’t have the right to tell you what to do, do I?

Ahaha, you really are under the weather, huh, Eichi-kun.

Sometimes it feels like you say pessimistic and gloomy things just so the people around you will try to cheer you up and tell you it’ll be okay.

I wonder. I never noticed… Am I that much of a spoiled brat?

I don’t mind if you act like a spoiled brat with me~ If you try to stand all alone, you’ll only break. So please lean on someone else every once in a while.

…It’ll be okay, Eichi-kun. The winter has long passed, and nothing but happiness awaits us in the future. That’s what I believe.

And those who believe will be saved. Santa brings presents to every dreaming child—I’m sure of that.

Fufu. At your core, you’re a boring, ordinary person. But every now and then, you say something quite sensible… That’s why I liked you, Tsumugi.

Huh? Liked? As in the past tense?

…Oh, it looks like your ride’s here; I’ll take my leave then.

All right. Thank you, Tsumugi. Talking keeps your body temperature up, so I didn’t get too cold because you were here.

Even now, you still unintentionally stick close to people to make sure they don’t break.

I’ve always admired that about you. And… I wish I could have been more like you.