“I’ll ask you straight. Are you really that former top idol… *‘Kiraboshi Ayane’*?”
“Correct. So you did know.”
“There isn’t a single Japanese person who doesn’t know your name.”
Kiraboshi Ayane was the center of the national idol group *Genesistars*, but suddenly retired from the entertainment world two years ago—
Apparently she quit to focus on her studies, but…
“Kiraboshi Ayane was the unshakable center of a national idol group, right?”
“Wow, that’s some shallow knowledge. Don’t you know more about me?”
“You were the manager for the 109th High School Soccer Championship.”
“That’s only because you’re in the soccer club, right?”
“Well, what can I say… It’s not like I was a fan or anything. I don’t know much beyond that.”
“Then I’ll teach you myself.”
With that, Sasaki reached her hand out toward the starry sky.
“—Genesistars. A group formed by ninety sisters reaching for the very first shining star. And only the girl who shined like a true star became the center—That was me.”
“…So it’s just bragging.”
“Of course it is. Because I can shine just like the stars in this sky—”
Kiraboshi stood up and stretched her arms wide toward the night sky.
“—or at least, that’s what I thought.”
“Thought?”
“I ended up clashing with another member. She was the leader, I was the center. If rumors of a feud spread, the group could fall apart.”
“So the whole ‘focusing on studies’ thing wasn’t the real reason you quit?”
“Obviously. I can’t just say, ‘Kiraboshi Ayane quit because she fought with another member,’ can I? In the end, because of me, she ended up quitting too. Genesistars lost both its leader and its center. Totally hopeless, right?”
I couldn’t find the right words.
If I were a cool protagonist from a manga, I’d probably say something like “That’s not true!” or “You’re not at fault!” and defend her. But I’m not that kind of guy.
“Ahh, I haven’t run like that in ages. I’m drenched in sweat now. Wanna take a break somewhere?”
“By break… you mean a love hotel?”
“L–Love—!? No! How can you say that to a sacred idol!?”
“A *former* idol.”
“That doesn’t matter!”
Sasaki’s whole face turned bright red as she yelled.
Watching her emotions shift so freely… she felt surprisingly normal for someone who used to be an idol.
The spring night breeze, which had felt cold earlier, now felt pleasantly warm here by the riverside.
“You really have no delicacy, do you!?”
“Well, from the way you phrased it, it sounded like you were inviting me.”
“Haa!?”
Sasaki blushed again—so red that even the moonlight made it obvious.
“Idiot! As if I’d be inviting a guy like you right from the start!”
“Yeah… figured as much.”
Replying, I lay back in the grass.
“Even though I’m an athlete, I’m super sloppy in everyday life. I wear the same tracksuits all the time, and any money from part-time jobs or my allowance… all of it goes to new soccer spikes. I’m honestly a pretty hopeless guy.”
“Stop being self-deprecating! You’re a man, aren’t you!?”
“Well, yeah, technically.”
Maybe because she sensed my mood, Sasaki repositioned herself and sat beside me.
This moment, just the two of us in the breeze… it felt kind of like youth.
“Hey, I just realized something.”
“What?”
“Kiraboshi Ayane… you’re one year older than me, right?”
“…You just noticed?”
“…S-Sorry.”
“Quit the polite speech. We’re both first-year university students now.”
“S-Sorry… I mean—okay.”
“I said stop that.”
Sasaki pressed her finger against the tip of my nose and wiggled it.
“H-Hey, I get it! I’ll talk casually, okay, Kiraboshi?”
“Also stop calling me Kiraboshi. My real name is Sasaki Ayane.”
“Then… Sasaki. That better?”
“Good.”
She smiled, then flicked my nose with her finger.
“Even if you’re an idiot, you’re good at soccer, right? Fine, then—this former championship manager will go watch your match personally.”
“You don’t have to force yourself. I’ll probably be on the bench next game anyway.”
“Don’t be weak! Whether it’s soccer or anything else, people without drive get left behind!”
“Whoa, a former idol saying something super intense.”
“Listen carefully! Since I’m coming to watch your next match, you *have* to score a goal! If you don’t—punishment game!”
“P-Punishment… game?”
“Yup. The content is… let’s see. You’ll do *anything* I say. One thing. How’s that?”
Ugh. The classic kind of promise.
If anything, the pressure might make it harder to play…
“And what if I *do* score like promised?”
“…Th-Then… congrats. Yay.”
“That’s it!?”
“Fine, fine. I’ll treat you to dinner.”
“Dinner?”
“I’ll prepare an amazing dinner for you. How’s that?”
“Well… I guess…”
“If you refuse, I’ll tell Igarashi-san and the others that after we left, you forced yourself on me and did all kinds of things~”
…That might cause trouble… or maybe not…
“It was a hookup-potential mixer to begin with. Even if you said that, I don’t think it’d hurt me much…”
“Igarashi-san would be disappointed though.”
“Hey, Aihara’s the one Azaki is into.”
“What? You two looked so close while talking.”
“Sure, she’s cute. Great body, loves soccer, good kid… but Azaki’s after her. And she’s not really my type anyway.”
“Hmm.”
“What’s with that suspicious look?”
“Anyway. You’ll keep the promise, right?”
Sasaki poked my chest repeatedly with her finger.
Even if I don’t score, she probably won’t make me do anything awful. And if I *do* score, I get free dinner. Not a bad deal.
“…Alright. I promise. Whether I start or come off the bench, I’ll score next match.”
“Yes, yes! That’s how a man should be.”
After asking for the date of the match and jotting it down, Sasaki suddenly hopped up and dashed off.
“See you, Makishima!”
A former idol, weirdly passionate, oddly familiar.
From start to finish, she was strange in every possible way.
Should I have walked her home since it’s so late?
…Nah. The station’s close, and if I fuss too much she’ll think I’m creepy.
After watching her disappear into the night, I left the riverbank and returned to my apartment.
I took off the borrowed jacket, stretched out on the sofa, and checked my phone. There was a new message on the chat app “lime.”
“Azaki: I failed to take anyone home (cry). You’re the only one who got lucky! Not fair!”
Sigh… Here I am forming weird promises with a former idol, and these idiots couldn’t even take anyone home. (Though technically, neither did I.)
Even though I did way better than them, I should probably play along for now.
“I was just used as an excuse to leave early. That Sasaki girl was also just there as a stand-in.”
“Azaki: Really!? Thank god (relief). Guess a soccer-brained idiot like you can’t handle romance after all.”
…Yep. Azaki is annoying as hell.
I’m blocking him for a week.
✳︎✳︎
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