Chapter 6

(Urgh…?)

(What is even going on here? Hibiki-senpai won’t stop pretending he has amnesia.)

(Just a little while back, Mitsuru also lost his memory in the same way… what is this, some new trend?)

(No, that’s just stupid.)

(Anyway. I know it’s impossible, but…)

~… ♪

Ah—Tomoya-kun, was it? Thanks to you the pain has let up, and I can move around again. I can help you with something if you need it ♪

No, it’s fine. Just go back to sleep. That was a really serious wound, Hibiki-senpai.

Hibikisenpai…? Hmm~ Is that my name?

I can’t say it rings a bell.

(Ngh, I don’t get this at all. Did you seriously bump your head and get amnesia? Like something out of a manga? Like what happened to Mitsuru?)

(Or… maybe he was given an order along these lines?)

(All of the ES idols taking part in SS are given orders by the Administration.)

(Mine was to not crossdress, which… like? As if I would even do that without being told to?!)

(Acting like I’d just go and put on a dress if you left me alone—It’s so stupid!)

(I don’t know what everyone else’s orders are, since it’s against the rules to tell anyone.)

(But from what I could tell, Hajime, Mitsuru, and Nii~chan’s orders were all just as dumb.)

(Well actually, Mitsuru’s was probably something like “no dashing” which would be pretty hard for a guy who loves to run.)

(And Hajime’s is like, “don’t use spare change when shopping” I guess… Because he likes to save right down to the last cent.)

(But SSL$ is a digital currency, so we don’t even have to worry about “spare change” or anything in the first place.)

(Nii~chan’s orders are still a mystery. He’s really good at hiding stuff like that.)

(He’s the type to wear his heart on his sleeve, but he always tucks away the most important things.)

(Then, of course, there’s the secret orders given to the leader of each unit on top of their regular order.)

(In my case, it’d be harder to go against them! These secret orders make no sense at all—)

(But from what I’ve heard, there’s a lot of problems stirring up in other regions because of these orders and secret orders…)

(So I guess you could say we’re lucky, in a way.)

(It could be because we don’t go causing trouble on a regular basis that they don’t feel the need to tie us up with any annoying orders.)

(Or it could be that they don’t even think there’s any point in tying us up.)

(…Anyway. If anyone’s acting weird during the Qualifiers, it’s probably because of their orders.)

(So maybe Hibiki-senpai is—)

(No, it’s still possible it’s just a prank and he’s just pretending to have amnesia.)

(But even if that were the case, it’s not like I can see through his act if he’s serious about it. The things he does piss me off to no end, but he really is the real deal when it comes to performing.)

? What’s wrong, Tomoya-kun? You’ve been looking at me for some time now…

Oh, sorry…

Wait, why am I apologizing? You love when all eyes are on you.

Do I really? Mhm, I see…?

What’s that supposed to mean? This is you we’re talking about.

Ah, I was thinking I should collect some clues to help me remember who I am.

Now then, what kind of person was I?

What kind of person was Hibiki Wataru? There’s no way I can sum that up in just a few words.

I barely understand you at all, myself.

I see. Then I apologize. Were we not very close, Tomoya-kun? So that’s why you don’t know me well…?

…Well, I guess. We’re not even in the same unit, unlike everyone in fine. And we don’t have much going for us in terms of a personal relationship, either.

We haven’t really had that much to do with each other ever since you graduated. But when you were in school, you used to pop up right in front of me without even being asked to, and you’d mess around with me every chance you got.

Really…? Then… I’m sorry about that, too?

Don’t apologize. I’d been waiting for the chance to live a peaceful life without you.

(And that’s how it should be.)

(But why do I feel so unsatisfied now that Hibiki-senpai isn’t screwing around with me anymore?)