CH 29

A place to practice and a promise made

Translated by HamletJr

Edited by Spynine01

“Umm… Let’s rise to the top…”

Fidgeting around nervously, I blurted those words out to Shiorin and the others as I stared down at the ground.

“Why weren’t you this nervous when you whispered into my ear? It felt like I was the only one whose heart was racing earlier.”

Rinka’s face was red and her cheeks were puffed out in displeasure.

No, no, I was actually really nervous too, you know?

Rinka’s hair also had this really nice fragrance coming from it.

“R-Rise to the top…? How can we do that?!”

Shiorin, Akarin, and Mihorin all looked at me with bewildered expressions.

Oh no, please don’t stare at me too much…

If you do, I might become one of those obsessive, hardcore fanboys.

Since I was a more reserved fan, I hid myself behind Rinka to avoid their gazes as I started explaining my plan to help them overcome their problem.

I feel like Conan when he reveals the culprit to everyone.

“You guys will have your first solo live “Synchro!” in two months. So, if you practice hard and perform your songs and dances flawlessly at the event, your seniors will recognize your hard work and become nicer to you… I think.”

I may have exaggerated with grandiose terms like “rising to the top,” but I was actually just suggesting a tame idea: that they practice and see what happens then.

However, in my opinion, that was what was best for the girls.

I think the reason why Hanami, the ringleader of the bullies, doesn’t like Shiorin and gang is probably because they are not good enough.

She had practiced hard to become a diva and had risen through the ranks with her singing ability, while Shiorin and the others managed to get popular and appear on TV solely by way of their superficial appearances.

If so, then Shiorin and the others should also practice hard and improve their skills in order to gain her approval.

“Ah, but practicing is―”

“Y-Yeah… That.”

Akarin and Mihorin’s expressions instantly darkened.

Noticing that her friends were having a hard time talking about it, Asamiya-san explained to us instead.

“There’s a studio for practice that’s under contract with our office, but we can’t use it. It’s, well… always booked to the brim.”

―I caught a glimpse of what Asamiya and the others were talking about when they said they were being bullied.

Asamiya-san has a kind heart, so I think it saddens her to doubt and mistrust other people.

That’s why she spoke about the studio being filled as if it were a coincidence.

However, it was likely that the practice studio was prioritizing slots to those who had more years of experience. What’s more, it was probably another form of harassment where they, Synchronicity, were being prevented from using the studio to practice.

They were stealing away the opportunity for newcomers to develop their talent.

The type of harassment I hated the most.

It was the only thing I deemed impermissible.

“Use my studio.”

“―Eh?”

Before I could calm myself down, I impulsively declared that to the girls.

There are several dedicated studios for Personia in various locations.

There, the girls can practice as much as they’d like whenever Personia isn’t using them.

In reality, I probably should have suggested that they practice in a regular rental studio.

However, renting a studio cost anywhere between 2,000 and 3,000 yen per hour, which was not cheap for a high school student.

Even I would have felt reluctant to pay that amount; plus, security was also an issue since they were being harassed by their entire office.

On the other hand, our studios were completely secret, not even showing up on Google Maps.

They would be able to practice without being disturbed by anyone.

Also… I got really mad back there.

Avoiding a fair and square competition by robbing the girls’ ability to practice freely.

Well, if that’s how they want to play, I thought.

My inexplicable statement caught everybody’s attention, so I hurriedly fabricated a story to explain what I’d just said.

“Uh, my father’s friend owns the studio! Apparently he used to be in a band a long time ago! If I ask him, I think he’ll let us use it!”

“R-Really?! That’s incredible! So that means we might be able to practice there!”

Shiorin and the others’ eyes lit up.

They definitely seemed to have the motivation and willpower.

It would be wrong to deny them the chance to even try.

I pondered over which of our studios would be the most suitable for Synchronicity.

A studio that wasn’t too far; one where they could practice dancing and singing…

I’ll decide on one before the end of the day and make the necessary preparations so we can use it.

“Alright, I’ll go reserve the place then! Tomorrow’s a holiday, so why don’t we all get together and go check it out as soon as we can?”

“Yeah! I’m looking forward to it!

When I saw the angelic Synchronicity members celebrating and high-fiving each other in joy, I pinched my arm in an attempt to restrain myself.

I have to resolve myself too.

I can’t support Shiorin and the others if I keep averting my eyes and saying things like, “Oh my God, they’re so precious… I can’t…”

I have to have the mental capacity to watch them from up close…!

Right now, I shouldn’t be supporting them as a fan, but rather, I should be supporting them as a sturdy pillar for a group of girls who are trying their best.

“―Okay, then could we please have you and your friends’ Line contacts, Sudou-kun?”

All three members of Synchronicity then took their phones out.

Despite having just resolved myself a few moments ago, I involuntarily froze in place.

…Huh? Seriously?

I’m going to be able to exchange contact information with Shiorin and the others?

I immediately took out my phone and changed my Line name from Suda to Sudou, my real name.

Then… since scanning Shiorin’s barcode would be impertinent of me (?), I had Shiorin scan mine instead.

“…Alright, I’ve added you as my friend! I look forward to working with you!”

Shiorin and the others smiled at me as they showed me the screens of their phones.

Damn… I think I’m gonna melt here.

Hasumi, who also witnessed their smiles after exchanging contact information, was staring at her phone.

The eyes peeking out from her long bangs were sparkling with happiness.

“That’s my Ritsuki! There’s probably nothing more I can do here, hmm~”

“U-Umm! Rinka-san… Could I please request your contact details too…?”

“Oh…? Ah! O-Of course!”

With a blush on her cheeks, Asamiya-san exchanged contact information with Rinka too.

Then she let out a happy sigh and stared lovingly at her phone’s screen.

No way! Is Shiorin part of Rinka’s harem too now…?!

And strangely, Rinka, who was supposed to have an obsession with cute girls, was instead flustered by Asamiya-san’s behavior.

Is she perhaps the type who’s weak against others being aggressive towards her?

“Well then, Sudou-kun, Hasumi-san, Rinka-san! See you tomorrow!”

Thus, after promising to meet up tomorrow, each of us made our way back to our own homes.

◇◇◇

―Later that night.

After deciding which studio to use, I sent a message to confirm with the rest of the Personia members.

Even though it was just one of our many studios, it was still going to be occupied for two whole months.

And just like the surprise greeting back then (in chapter 3), I was going to be inconveniencing everyone once more.

“―It’s probably just you trying to help someone out, right?”

“Whenever you act selfish, Shion-kun, it’s usually because of that.”

“I also have lots of friends… and they always ask me for help… so I understand how you feel, Shion…”

Despite everybody’s surprise, the Line group was filled with messages like those as the conversation proceeded in a peaceful tone.

Also, since I knew Shiina’s actual circumstances, it saddened me as always to see Shiina trying to appeal as a normie (riajuu).

“―But, it’d be boring to just unconditionally grant Shion’s request again, y’know?”

“I’d be fine with it if you let me do as I please to you for just one night, Shion-kun.”

“Rejected… because… I’ve already… slept together with Shion… in an infirmary bed before…”

“Hah?! Wait, what on earth?! Give us the details―!”

The two of them then proceeded to quarrel with each other, just as usual.

I’m guessing that Shiina’s referring to the badminton incident that happened the other day.

When I honestly confessed the underlying cause to be my desire to help my favorite idol out, the girls’ conversation went wild for some reason.

“―I see… Then, how about we do this?”

Before things got too out of hand, one of the members offered a condition.

“How about… in two months time, all of us receive tickets to the group’s live concert as audience members? I’m looking forward to watching Shion’s esteemed idol.”