Chapter 4

Sigh…

(What am I even doing…?! I was just taking out my frustration on him!)

(If I really wanted to hear Aniki’s opinions, I should’ve just asked nicely!)

(But I couldn’t do that because of how weirdly submissive he was being about the whole thing… What’s even going on anymore?!)

(I thought I told Hinata-kun that we need to move forward together and stop fighting each other.)

(We’re so out of sync. I mean, it’s not like this is the first time we’ve had a falling out—)

(But just a little while back, we really were like one person in two bodies. But now we’ve turned out like this, and I really am…)

Hello hello~ Thanks for all your patience—Wait, huh?

I was wondering who was getting all these spicy dishes. Figures it’d be you, Yuuta-kun.

Shiina-senpai.

Yep, and here’s your tantanmen with a green chili slaw on top, aaaand the meat-stuffed habaneros. I’ll leave some cayenne pepper and Tabasco here for you, too. Use as much as you like.

Thanks a bunch ♪

Oh, I guess I should get you some more water, huh. Juuust a sec…

Oh, sorry for making you do this.

Don’t worry about it; it’s my job ♪

…Now look, I know you’ve got a thing for spicy food.

But I gotta admit, I’m worried that eating so much of this is gonna affect your body. Is something wrong maybe?

Nngh… Just some stuff about what direction Aniki and I should take with the unit.

Oh dang, you guys actually fight over stuff like that?

Is it really such a shock that we get into fights?

Nah, I knew you guys really went at it over the summer. It makes sense if you butt heads man-to-man, but I didn’t expect you to fight over your unit.

When I talk with Hinata-kun in our room, he always goes on and on about the jobs lined up for you guys, so I had this impression that it was smooth sailing in that department.

…Yeah, I’m glad we actually get work.

Right, right? That’s why I was so surprised. But if you guys’re able to share what’s on your mind to the point that you fight, that’s pretty awesome ♪

……

We pretty much live under a dictatorship with Rinne-kun! I don’t even know if we have a “direction” or not.

Ahaha…

But anyway, I hope you guys can make up soon. At least it’d be pretty bad if things took a turn for the worse and one of you brought out the kitchen knife ♪

A–a knife…?

Nahaha, well that one was all Rinne-kun’s fault~

Dude, you’re freaking me out here…!

Whoops, I shouldn’t go scaring the customers. I’ll head on back to the kitchen, so take your time~

Thanks, I’m sure I’ll love it.

(…Hm. I don’t know what Aniki’s been telling Shiina-senpai in their dorm room…)

(But I guess it looks like we’re doing pretty well for ourselves right now…?)

(I mean yeah, we’re fortunate enough to have plenty of work lined up for us. There’s no future for idols who can’t take on more and more work.)

(And when we’re up on stage, all the experience that’s been drilled into our bones makes us shine so bright.)

(…But that’s just when we’re the only ones on stage. It’s a different story when we’re facing off against other units, but…)

(Someone who knows us, someone who knows our circumstances—I wonder how people on the outside see us.)

(Are we still the star students at CosPro, never stirring the pot or causing trouble? Are we idols who are fun to watch, who are still selling well?)

(If there’s really no problem with the 2wink that everyone else sees—)

(That must mean the problem lies with “Aoi Hinata” and “Aoi Yuuta.”)

…This needs to be a little spicier. Should I try the cayenne pepper or the Tabasco…?

Hooty hoo~ Rinne-kun is in the house ☆ I’m so ready to shake Niki-kyun down for some grub ♪

Or maybe I should be using death sauce for this…?

Ohoho? I thought I caught a glimpse of a cutie over here. Well well, if it isn't Yuta ♪

We keep running into each other today, don’t we? Let’s toast to meeting back up after just a few hours! With some water on the house ♪

……

This is the worst. Is today just my unlucky day or something…?