The day full of stomach-stretching sweets and endless stress finally came to an end. After walking Sasaki to the station and thinking I could finally head home, my phone started ringing.
This number… Mizuki-san.
“Hello, this is Makishima.”
“I’m waiting on the bench in the plaza nearby… the one in front of the clock tower.”
“How’s the song going? Was the date helpful?”
“More importantly, there’s something I want to talk about.”
And with that, Mizuki-san hung up.
From the sound of it… she probably figured out that Sasaki and I aren’t actually dating.
With someone as sharp as Mizuki-san, that much is probably obvious.
Prepared to be scolded, I headed toward the big park near the station and sat down on the bench in front of the clock tower.
After a moment, someone sat down with one seat of distance between us. They didn’t say a word.
This perfume… it’s Mizuki-san.
“G-good evening, Mizuki-san.”
Without facing each other, we both stared ahead and started talking.
“Did you lie to me?”
Straight to the point. Her voice was colder than usual.
A chill ran down my spine.
So she really did notice.
The consequence of going on a normal date and not acting like a couple hit me faster than expected.
“I—I’m really sorry.”
Under the sunset sky, I turned toward her and bowed deeply.
At this point, the only thing I could do was apologize honestly.
“I lied.”
“Yes… though I’d call it more of a hidden truth than a lie.”
“A hidden truth?”
“Why did you do that?”
She lifted her sunglasses slightly, her eyes quietly expressing irritation.
I needed to explain everything clearly.
I took a breath and confessed what was in my heart.
“…I w-was scared.”
“Scared?”
“If I go on a date with you and we get caught by a weekly magazine, I’ll lose everything… my soccer career, everything. That’s what scared me!”
The moment I said that, Mizuki-san started trembling slightly.
Was she… that angry?
“Are you seriously saying that?”
“I’m sorry!”
“No need to apologize. But if you’re truly afraid of the tabloids, then you two should break up immediately. Actually—why haven’t you?”
“Huh…?”
“You’re cautious around me, yet you still date that girl? You’re contradicting yourself.”
What… what is she talking about?
Contradicting how?
“Like I said, we’re not dating. That whole thing was a lie—”
“A lie…? And you’re telling me you two aren’t dating? What do you mean?”
“…Huh?”
Our conversation wasn’t lining up at all.
This is weird. Didn’t she figure out we weren’t dating?
“You keep saying ‘lie’—but what exactly are you talking about?”
“That we’re not dating. I only met her a few weeks ago.”
“…Huh!? You’re telling me you’re not dating!?”
Mizuki-san’s eyes widened more than I’d ever seen, her cool expression completely shattered.
“Even though you held hands?”
“Technically it was just our pinkies.”
“And you talked nonstop.”
“She’s just really talkative.”
“And yet you’re not dating?”
“Nope.”
Mizuki-san grabbed her head, clearly distressed.
“…Is my sense of romance broken…?”
“Um… but didn’t you want to confront me because I lied about having a girlfriend?”
“No.”
She turned toward me and narrowed her eyes.
“I wanted to talk about her.”
Her… meaning Sasaki?
“That girl… she’s Kiraboshi Ayane, isn’t she?”
The air froze instantly.
It was over.
The one thing I needed to avoid the most—Mizuki-san realizing Sasaki’s true identity.
“Y-you knew?”
“At first, I thought she just looked similar. But we spent two years together. There’s no way I wouldn’t notice.”
She stared off into the distance, as if revisiting old memories.
She was the leader, Sasaki was the center.
Two people who defined an era—no way they wouldn’t recognize each other.
“If you want to continue playing soccer… living a normal life… then let me give you advice.”
“Advice…?”
“Kiraboshi Ayane is already dead. But people worship legends even after death. Her legacy won’t fade. That means journalists will chase any possible lead forever.”
“You mean Sasaki will be hunted for life?”
“Of course. If news breaks about a girl who vanished after graduation, every TV station will make it headline news. Plenty of people still wish for her to return as an actress or talent.”
“That’s insane! She finally—finally got her freedom—”
“It’s not insane. She traded her private life for overwhelming popularity. Returning to normal life is nearly impossible.”
She was right.
No matter where Sasaki goes, she hides her face.
At university, outside, anywhere—she always wears a mask and glasses. She loves talking, yet falls silent around crowds.
Sasaki may no longer even have the right to live freely.
“Were you a fan of Kiraboshi Ayane? You’re lucky to have met your oshi.”
“No.”
“Then you have no reason to cling to her, right? It’s dangerous to stay involved with her.”
“Dangerous? Are you telling me to cut ties with her?”
“Exactly. She retired and must face loneliness. She knows that—it was her choice. But she’s relying on your kindness.”
“That’s not—Sasaki isn’t like that—”
“If an ordinary person like you stays involved, you’ll share her fate. Do you understand that weight?”
“Weight…?”
“If your connection becomes public, you’ll be attacked. I’m not threatening you—it’s a real warning.”
I understood her logic.
If the world finds out, even I’d be exposed. Fans of Kiraboshi would definitely attack me online.
But ending things because of fear—
That’s not an option.
“Besides… if you hadn’t fought with Sasaki, things wouldn’t be this messed up! Don’t you feel responsible!?”
“…No.”
Coldly, she stood up.
“I loved her, so I gave her a path to live. But she chose a man over her own life. That’s all.”
“A man? Who?”
“I don’t know. But she said she’d quit rather than go independent. She wanted to stop being someone who’s supported, and become someone who supports.”
Supported… to supporting?
“Rumor was, she kept a photo of some guy. After retiring, she flew overseas for him.”
“Wait—that’s what Sasaki said—”
Her first love…?
“You know something?”
“I do… but it’s something she told me privately. I can’t say.”
“I see. Well, I’m not involved with her anymore. I don’t care.”
Sasaki once said she saw her first love at a work location in high school and came to Tokyo to find him.
If the photo she kept was him—
“That rumor… when did it start?”
“About three years ago?”
Three years ago… Sasaki would’ve been in eleventh grade.
“Why are you asking? I warned you not to—”
“Sasaki is still searching for him.”
“…What?”
“Like you said, she’s suffering even after retiring. But that’s unfair. She brought hope to people, gave them courage—and she can’t be happy herself? That’s wrong. I’m going to find that man… and I want Sasaki to be happy.”
“…You’re really kind. If someone as kind as you had been around back then… maybe things wouldn’t have turned out this way.”
She adjusted her sunglasses and waved lightly.
“Tell her this… If she ever wants to come back, I’ll welcome her.”
For someone who claimed to have cut ties, she seemed genuinely concerned.
I didn’t know why they fought, but Mizuki-san didn’t seem like a bad person. Maybe her kindness backfired… that’s how it felt to me.
✳︎✳︎
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