Chapter 2

By the way, C-kun was transferred to another agency again at his parents’ request after the incident, so I don’t know the details of his activities following it.

I assume he was successful, though, since he’s still active as a model overseas.

He had quite the mouth on him, but he was beautiful and hardworking. Or rather, he devotes himself to what he loves, which is likely why he’s so beautiful.

That child is always sparkling brightly like a precious gemstone.

But it’s a shame about B-kun. He ended up leaving the industry when he was about the same age I was back then.

It’s too bad, really, since he was considered a genius, a wonder child the likes of which hadn’t been seen in a decade.

But he seemed like he was having a hard time, even back then. I don’t think there was any other option for him. Modeling isn’t something you should have to grit your teeth and bear at your own expense.

Oh, that was just a slip of the tongue. Please keep that off the record.

—The truth is that he endured a great deal of hardship.

Oh? Ahaha, even omitting his name can’t fool you. Yes, that’s right: B-kun is Yuuki Makoto-kun.

But since we talked about his family environment and other personal matters, I’ll ask you to keep his name out of the article, please.

He seems to be selling himself on his cheerful aura, so I wouldn’t want to give off too negative an impression of him.

…Well, I doubt this interview will actually make it into your article.

That child—Makoto was such a poor, unfortunate soul.

Because of his worthless parents, he endured a painful, difficult past.

Fufu, the parents of all three of those kids were worthless, in their own unique ways.

One couple neglected their child out of a laissez-faire policy, another treated their son like a doll under the guise of love—

I do share some sympathy with B-kun’s mother, though, since she was a poor, single parent. Every day was hard for her, and she wasn’t aware of her child’s situation.

But she should have acted more proactively. She should have supported him and kept him in mind, even if she had to ignore everything else.

I heard that B-kun only decided to become a model in the first place in order to live out his father’s dreams.

Even after his father was imprisoned due to a scandal, she had her hands full trying to make ends meet and ended up putting that matter on the back burner.

She let him continue his modeling career due to her own feelings.

And as a result, he could do nothing but toil away in a job he, himself, never wanted, all the while burdened by the dreams of his absent father.

That’s why he got so tired of it. There’s nothing more stressful than being forced to do something you don’t want to do.

Now, at least, it seems he’s living his own life.

I can say this same thing about all of their families, of course; I wish they had thought a little more about their children’s feelings.

It’s too late for an outsider like me to say anything about it.

But at the very least—Since I left them in the middle of things back then…

I’d like to do as much as possible for those kids now, not as a senpai at work, but as a teacher who can guide them forward.

They can talk to me if they’re worried about their futures. If they don’t understand something, I will teach them.

I can’t be their family, but I don’t really want to be, either.

Even a chance encounter is fated. Now that I’ve met those kids, I don’t want to simply ignore them. I’d like to stay involved with them, without making them too uncomfortable.

And if I could lighten the heavy burden on their shoulders, even just a little—

Then I want to believe that I won’t regret the life I’ve lived up to now.

……

…I envy you, Kunugi Akiomi.

Ahaha, C-kun told me the same thing back then.

Compared to Sagami Jin, I’d always thought I had an unimpressive, ordinary life.

But as it turns out, I was living a life to be proud of, even to the extent that others would envy me.

—Kunugi-sensei?

You wanted to see me? Umm, are you going to lecture me about me working too hard lately and letting my grades slip?

Oh, Yuuki-kun. Sorry to call you out here.

I’m not angry with you, so there’s no need to be worried. I want you to keep up with your studies, but it’s impossible for you to be perfect at everything.

After all, it seems your parents were unable to handle both work and childcare.

To the extent of being jailed for an incident from the stress of raising their child.

Huh? My mom was never arrested though.

My dad was, and he was in jail until just recently. But it doesn’t look good to the public, so I just say I live in a single-parent household and don’t let too much get out.

I haven’t told any of my friends, either… Especially not Akehoshi-kun, since he’s no stranger to that kinda thing.