Chapter 1

……

(HiMERU sure is all honky-dory while he’s playin’ with his phone. Maybe he’s looking for good beginner-level jobs again?)

(That was back around summer, wasn’t it? He said he couldn’t help but smile when he saw how earnest they all were…)¹

(But I still don’t get that at all. That kind of entertainment makes no sense to me.)

(…Whoops, this ain’t the time for my head to be in the clouds; I’ve still got work to do on my computer. I need to finish up the problem before me.)

(I still can’t think of anything, though. Figures…)

—Hey, HiMERU-han. Could I ask your advice real quick?

Sure. What do you need?

Actually, I finally got called on to get my personalized outfit.

I told Anzu-han I didn’t know the first thing about idol costumes, and she suggested we think it over together.

But compared to other units, Crazy:B ain’t too close to her, and I’d feel a little awkward relyin’ on her.

So I told her I’d talk to her after I came up with some ideas of my own, and we went our separate ways for the time being.

…And? Did you get an idea?

Not a single one. I underestimated this whole ordeal, thinkin’ I’d figure something out since I’m the one wearing it—

But I got nothing. I’d never thought about designing an outfit myself, so my mind is blank.

That’s why I wanted your advice. If you were me, what kind of outfit would you pick?

That’s a difficult question. HiMERU is HiMERU and no one else.

The same goes for you, as well. So isn’t it best to ask yourself that question?

Is that whatcha think? Urgh, but if I could just do that, I wouldn’t be flounderin’ like this.

…When I think of something an idol would wear, of course I think of Western-style clothes. But at home all I ever wore was kimonos, so I can’t make heads or tails of this.

I had to memorize all these weird, new words like outerwear and underwear and whatnot, y’know? This is a real tall order for me.

Don’t get so discouraged. When there are infinite options available, anyone would be paralyzed by them.

Just take your time to think it through carefully. You don’t have to make a decision today, or even tomorrow.

It’s a personalized outfit for you, Oukawa Kohaku.

Yeah, I get that, just… What am I supposed to do if I can’t get an idea, no matter how much I think about it? I don’t wanna keep worryin’ about it…

Yo, Kohaku-chan! Rinne-kun came over to give you a hand ♪

Eugh. You’re the number one last person I want helpin’ me right now. Whenever you get involved, everything turns out all twisted up like a pretzel.

Aww, you love me so much you even call me your number one~ ♪

But I overheard you saying you’re having trouble with your personalized outfit?

Here, gimme that sketchbook and I’ll have you looking like your Sunday best in no time.

You will? Can’t say I have high hopes.

Gyahaha! Just leave it to me!

(From where I’m standing, it doesn’t look all that good. But he’s drawin’ so freely, hummin’ a tune while he works.)

(Maybe it’s a sense of fashion? Does he just have a good eye for it or something…?)

♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪

…All righty, this sucker is done.

Lemme see…

What the—what’s up with this gaudy-lookin’ outfit? Actually, for some reason it looks like your personalized outfit, Rinne-han.

Nope, I don’t like it. If I wore it at Crazy:B’s live, people’d think I was stealin’ your look.

Ohh? Our live, you say…

So you remembered when I said we should have a concert when everyone’s outfits are finished? You got a good head on those shoulders, Kohaku-chan~ ♪

Th–that’s not what I said. It’s just that we’re in the same unit, so there’d probably be an opportunity for us to do that someday—

Sorry for the wait. Hashbrowns for four, comin’ atcha hot~ ♪

Isn’t that a little much for four servings?

Nah, it’s cool. I’ll eat half of this myself! All right, dig in~ ♪

Munch munch… I heard something about personalized outfits, right? Is it really Kohaku-chan’s turn already? Whatcha gonna wear?

I’m still deciding. Or more like, I can’t think of a single idea…

What do you think would look good, Niki-han?

Hmm. If I had to say, maybe something colorful? All-white clothes get dirty when you cook.

You’re focused on your own situation, Shiina; that isn’t relevant to Oukawa.

Well yeah, that’s why I can’t come up with any ideas! I can’t answer a thing like that. Fashion is out of my area of expertise!

Whenever I go to buy clothes, I just ask one of the store’s employees to find something that looks good on me…

If you’re that worried about it, why not leave this to the pros, Kohaku-chan? It’s a safer bet that way.

(So basically, let Anzu-han take care of it? I can’t do that. If I rely on her, then there’d have been no point in bringin’ this home with me.)

(Sigh. There’s nothing else I can do here…)

I’m gonna go think about my personalized outfit somewhere else. You can eat my share, Niki-han.

……

(I borrowed an idol magazine from the agency for reference… but all the clothes in there are things that have been worn by someone else. I don’t think they’d suit me, either.)

(Anzu-han told me to be free and design whatever I wanted, but I can’t even draw a single line. How pathetic.)

(People value freedom these days, but what does that even mean? Ain’t it just shacklin’ us instead…?)

—Oukawa-shi, how is your design coming along?

Vice Pres-han, Nagisa-han…

Hm. So you’ve hit a stalemate, I see.

Then as someone from your agency, allow me to offer some advice to you with my experience as a producer.

I would suggest incorporating something that represents the idol, themself—so in your case, why not try using amber in your design?²

Amber…? Ain’t that just some sap with dead bugs in it?

…That may be true, but it’s not the only value it has.

…Here, take this amber.

Um? Thanks… Oh, there’s a flower inside there instead of a bug.

…Yes. It’s estimated to have bloomed eleven million years ago.

…Had it existed under normal conditions, it would have disappeared off the face of the earth long ago. But it was protected by the sap, and now we can hold it in our hands even after so long has passed.

…Amber is a stone of miracles.