Chapter 3

By the way, did you ever end up meeting with your father after his release?

Nah, my parents are divorced. Yuuki is my mom’s family name, so… I don’t know if he doesn’t like that or what, but he hasn’t contacted me.

But I do hope he’s alive and well, wherever he is.

I’m sure your father thinks the same of you.

…?

Wait, I’m sorry! Are you working, Kunugi-sensei?

It looks like you’re in the middle of an interview. Oops, I’m sorry, I’m interrupting.

……

Huh? What’s wrong? You’re staring at me?

Umm, actually, have we met somewhere before…?

—My apologies, Kunugi-sensei. I feel like we’ve reached the end of our conversation; it looks like you have other matters to attend to, so I’ll leave you be.

All right. …Did you not want to talk more?

I’m not qualified for that. It’s enough for me to know you’re happy and healthy.

If we didn’t seem happy, were you planning to go on another costumed rampage?

Costumed…?

The public believes that you’re the unidentified monster.

Really, you just wanted to be a hero.

You believed all of the criticism that C-kun’s parents were spreading around, and so you set out to rescue your precious son from the “bad guys”—

You really gave it your all. A series of misunderstandings and fruitless efforts resulted in you acting recklessly, and for that you were convicted under law. But I can’t really find it in me to blame you.

…The only “bad guy” was me.

At the time, I had been released on parole, but then there was the incident at the department store, and my sentence was extended—

And during that time, the whole world had changed.

That’s why you came to talk to me like this.

But I don’t think you need to be so uneasy. It’s fine.

Some things never change, no matter what happens or how much time passes. Right, Yuuki-kun?

Yes? Umm, what’s all this about…?

It’s about how beautiful and pure you are—enviously so.

No no no, I’m just… Ever since we first met, Kunugi-sensei, you’ve always been so beautiful. It’s really a shame you quit modeling.

Ahaha, I believe there are countless people in the world who would say the same of you.

…I’ll excuse myself.

All right. You’re always welcome again.

And next time, you don’t have to go through the trouble of pretending you’re a reporter. You can simply come and talk to me.

We can even make it a parent-teacher conference.

……

…? Who was that guy?

Mmn, I definitely remember seeing him somewhere before. He was really handsome, so maybe he’s an actor from a movie I saw… or something?

He was never an actor like you. It had been found out he’d gotten plastic surgery and it stirred up some controversy—but he was still beautiful even without messing around with his face.

Huh… I don’t particularly care about looks, but the world is pretty picky about that.

Fufu, you’ve never not been beautiful, so it makes sense for you to think that. I’m sure you’ll understand better when you get older, when you have wrinkles and gray hair.

When you’re an adult.

…?

Yuu-kuuuuuuuun ☆

What are you doing here with that Cuckoo Bee guy, alone? Are you cheating? You’re cheating on me? Even though I’m right here…?!

You just popped out of nowhere and you’re already going crazy, Izumi-san? Did you hit your head or something?

I used to think you were more of a sleek and cool guy, but now…

Sorries~ ♪ I was in the room next door listening in! When I saw Kunugi-sensei enter this room with a beautiful man, I thought he must be cheating on me.

There’s no possibility of cheating when it comes to you and me though, is there?

Seriously.

Ufufu. Well, Izumi-chan found me, and while I was making up excuses, suddenly Makoto-chan went into the room too—

And then mine and Izumi-chan’s interests aligned, so we both decided to crack down on you cheaters! Got it?

Not even a little.

Seriously… No matter how much time passes, you three will always be such incomprehensible, troublesome children.

Oh, how cruel! We’re all growing up bit by bit, you know? Right, Izumi-chan, Makoto-chan?

Obviously! And right now I’m at an all-time record for how beautiful I can be!

Yes. Of course I understand that much.

There are some things that get lost to time—

But we’ve also gained so much. Fortunately, as idols we’re in a position to capitalize on all that we have.

Now don’t waste your time dawdling around here—Go show yourselves off to the world. And always put your all into your work.

So that someone will see you, think highly of you, and love you.

—We were all born to be loved.

And so we can’t stop time until we’re satisfied with what we’ve gotten.