CH 5

Arc-1 Chapter-5: What is Determination?

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Why would she go through the trouble of gathering the media just to reveal the truth?

While she was speaking, I kept thinking about it.

Perhaps the Weekly Journal found out that it was all a lie.

Even if Grandpa and I keep quiet, they still won't be able to completely contain any possible leaks of information.

There are other witnesses, live camera feeds, any number of possibilities.

Assuming that was the case, there was still something I didn't understand.

That is. Why am I here.

I don't need to be here for them so tell the world the truth, so why?

For Yukiho and her agency, my presence would be a risk.

I'm an amateur, so I don't know what I'll say.

I was unsure about this aspect of it.

Until the "time", as Yukiho calls it, comes, I'll just wait and see. 

"--After that, Mr.Y's grandfather drove us to the mainland and we met up with the people from the agency right after that. The above is the truth about this incident. Once again, I apologize for the false statement I made."

The sound of the camera shuttering echoed throughout the hall.

"Why did you decide to tell the truth at this time?" One of the reporters asked.

The others nodded in agreement.

"Not only did I not want to lie to my fans, but also because of the time I spent on the island, and the fact that Y-san is here today."

「ファンの方に嘘をつきたくなかったからです。それは島で過ごしたことだけではございません。今日、Yさんにこうして来ていただいたことも関係しています」Read line underneath to see my thoughts...❄️

"...What do you mean by that?"

I also put a question mark in my mind, "What does that mean?"

"I'm going to say Mr.Y's name now, but he's a civilian, so please keep his name to yourself."

When she finished, Yukiho turned her body toward me.

"You don't know what's going on, do you, Daikichi-kun?"

"A, Ah. I don't have any idea what this is about at all."

I choked on my words from nervousness.

Yukiho giggled and said, "Right."

"I called you here because I have something to tell you."

"Something you want to tell me...?"

"Daikichi-kun, I am in love with you and your manliness. And if you don't mind, I would like to be your lover. Please I beg of you."

Yukiho bowed deeply as she said that.

Everyone froze.

Some of the reporters even dropped their cameras.

"Eh, could this be... a confession...?"

"Yes. The way you took care of me on the island, the way you taught me so much about survival, everything was so new and so much fun and so wonderful. That's why I want to be with you forever. Up until now, my work came first, and I tried not to fall in love because of my professionalism as an idol. But now, I want to be with you even if I have to quit my job as an idol. That's why I confessed my feelings to you in front of the cameras. It wasn't a surprise performance or anything like that, but to cut off my own path of escape. I wanted to show you my determination by leaving no path to escape."¹

Yukiho's piercing but firm gaze was fixed straight on me.

(Oh, so that's what you meant...)

Now, everything is finally coming together.

There is a big difference between confessing behind the scenes and confessing in front of the camera.

Confessing behind the scenes is the same as not being out in the open.

Even though I'm not a TV expert, I could feel Yukiho's determination.

No matter how I responded here, her popularity as an Idol would fall.

Idols are the Idol of the masses, and it is forbidden for them to fall in love.

(She's serious, Yukiho-san.)

I don't know why she fell in love with me so much.

But it didn't matter.

The most important thing is that she is serious, above all else.

I was genuinely impressed.

The way she confesses her feelings with the determination to give up everything.

So I made a vow to myself.

I will make her happy, I told myself.

I absolutely must make it happen, I thought.

"I am still a little inexperienced and I am probably not the man you think I am. Once you get to know me better, you'll see a lot of things I'm not good at. You can tell me when you don't like me. Throw me away when you can't take it anymore. I will accept it graciously when the time comes. But until that time comes, no matter what anyone says, I will protect you."²

Tears formed in Yukiho's eyes.

"Thank you, Daikichi-kun..."

"Me too, Thank you. Sorry for my poor words. I wanted to say something cool, but you see, I'm just an amateur."

"No. It was cool enough. Well maybe a little bit foul."

"I'm sorry."

"You apologized, so Daikichi-kun lost."

Yukiho and I hugged each other.

The sound of the cameras made the loudest noise of the day.

◊◊◊

Yukiho's confession was all over the news that day. 

It was widely reported on all channels, and the Internet was abuzz with excitement.

The reaction from various sources was unexpectedly positive.

The mood was generally welcoming, though not to everyone.

Almost no one commented to slam the first false announcement made by her agency.

I guess it didn't matter to most of them.

Everyone was struck by the determination that Yukiho had shown.

My line was met with a laugh, with the words, "You suck."

Also, I had a mosaic of my face and speech.

The TV station took into consideration the fact that I was an ordinary high school student.

Still, it's impossible to hide something like that nowadays.

The information leaked out of nowhere, and I was instantly identified.

From there, it was tough going.

I received death threats every day and was harassed constantly.

Are you a crazed fan, or just a scoundrel pretending to be a fan?

Anyway, within a few days, the police were stationed in front of my house.

Then, this time, the neighbors were targeted instead of me.

I've had poop thrown on my laundry, and it's just awful.

Because of this, I was forced to move out of my house.

The house was sold and I moved to a more secure apartment with a loan.

I haven't been able to go to school since I was identified.

I never imagined that I would cause so much trouble for my parents.

I bowed my head with tears of apology.

"You showed me you,re man, so don't worry about it." (Probably Dad)

"It's not Daikichi that's bad, so hold your chest." (Mom?)

My parents smiled and forgave me.

Seeing my parents like that, I was glad to be their child.

Incidentally, my father was promoted because he was the father of Yukiho's boyfriend.

"--That's how I'm finally getting settled."

I spoke into my phone.

I've been talking to Yukiho on LINE.

I haven't been able to see her since that press conference.

But we kept in touch every day.

"I've been talking a lot about me. How about you, Yukiho-san? Are you okay?"

"No, I'm not okay, I'm getting more work than before!"

"That's what I call a former top idol."

Yukiho had retired from being an idol when she started dating me.

Now she is appearing on TV with the title of former top idol.

"Don't watch X right now, because I'm on it."

"Then I must see it."

"Mou~!"

"Haha, well, whatever it is, I'm glad to hear you're doing well."

"Thank you. So, I have a question for you today."

"What's the question?"

"I expected that my popularity would plummet and that I would lose all my work. Me and my agency."

"Uh-huh."

"But in fact, I've become more popular and I'm getting more work. The president of the agency is wondering about you too, Daikichi-kun."

"What do you mean by 'wondering?'"

I can hear Yukiho giggling.

"I think you'd be surprised." she said after a moment of hesitation.

"Why don't you debut in the entertainment industry, Daikichi-kun?" She said.

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¹　Snow's Words:

"Yes. The way you took care of me when I fell ill, everything we did together and everything you taught me, they were so new and wonderful, it made me see the world in new colors. Until now I always put my work as an Idol first, but now, I want to be by your side forever. And if that means abandoning everything then so be it. I love you Daikichi-kun and that is the truth. These feelings of mine aren't an act as an Idol but as a girl in love. I even did this in front of the cameras so thers won't be a way to me to escape. So please, let me be by your side forever and always."