CH 72

The Gloomy Me in Class is Actually the Vocalist of a Very Popular Band

Translated by HamletJr

Edited by

The concert had become a topic of conversation throughout Japan.

Every single newspaper and TV station picked up the story and reported it.

“Personia Unexpectedly Performs the Opening Act at a New Idol Group, Synchronicity’s, Live Concert?!”

Some fans speculated that Personia, who was there on a private visit, sensed that something was wrong and hurriedly started playing on stage to make up for the unexpected emergency.

But even if the exact truth wasn’t known, the fact still remained that Personia performed the opening act.

As a result, the idol group “Synchronicity” became the talk of the nation overnight.

Shiorin and her friends were flooded with requests to appear on TV programs, and even received offers for commercials and dramas. However, Shiorin and her friends had already left their agency, Chaldea Music.

As such, they were currently accepting work as a private entity.

Incidentally, Chaldea Music offered to refund the tickets, but no one took them up on their offer.

On the contrary, there were even some used, second-hand ticket stubs being sold at a premium on auction sites.

◇◇◇

“Good morning, everybody~!”

“―It’s Shiorin and the girls!”

“Is it true you actually spoke with Shion?!”

“Never mind that, you actually sang with him during the concert, right?!”

“The video of the concert uploaded on YuTube already has more than 10 million views on it!”

It was Monday morning, and Asamiya-san and her friends greeted their very inquisitive classmates with a wide smile.

As usual, I was secretly stealing glimpses of Asamiya-san’s smile in particular.

I’m so glad I was able to protect this smile…

After the concert, we, Personia, disappeared right away to head for our rehearsal at another venue.

For the record, we did make it in time for said rehearsal.

Shiorin and the others no longer belong to their old office anymore, so they won’t be facing any more bullying or harassment.

From now on, they should be able to go about their idol activities as they should: happily and freely.

◇◇◇

After I finished my high-class lunch meal in complete solitude, I headed down an inconspicuous stairway to make a phone call with Suzuki about work.

I also need to thank my bandmates for cooperating with my unreasonable request… What should I do for them, huh…

I turned the corner of the hallway, pondering this in my mind, when―

“Haah~, Shion-sama was so, so cool~. No matter how many times I recall what happened yesterday, I can’t help but feel myself just melt…”

“I saw him in my dream too. Gallantly rushing to save the day when we were in trouble, then just leaving the scene as if nothing had happened; just like the princes I read about in picture books when I was little…”

“We have to thank and repay Shion-sama someday, too! He might even be more wonderful than Rinka-sama, who coolly saw through my problems…”

Completely distracted by my thoughts, I bumped into 3 people who were in high spirits around the corner.

I let out a sigh of relief as I propped up one of the girls who almost fell over.

“I-I’m sorry! I was too immersed in my thoughts. Are you hur―”

“―Hiih?!”

The 3 of them turned out to be people I knew very well: my favorite idols.

“P-P-Please don’t violate me!”

Mihorin, who I’d caught in my arms, was terrified to the point of tears.

“You pervert, get your hands off her right this instant!”

Akarin pushed me away and glared at me.

Then, the last of the girls, Shiorin, whispered to me as I was on the floor.

“…You know, I really appreciate you helping us practice. Even though you’d helped us with the ulterior motive of doing “something” to us from the very beginning, and even though you lied, saying that you were doing it “for our sake.” Still, it is true that we’re better singers and dancers thanks to your help.”

She directed a broad smile at me.

“―But I still haven’t forgiven you for what you did to Hasumi. Don’t you dare make any more girls sad, you pervert.”

Then, even Shiorin, who always had a smile on her face, looked down on me with eyes as if she was looking at garbage as I was still on the floor, fallen on my backside.

(Thank you very much…)

Being given the cold treatment by my favorite idol made me feel gratitude for her deep down within me for some reason.

I think my brain has a bug somewhere. I want to believe that that’s the case.

I left the place almost as if I was trying to run away as I headed down the stairs…

After finishing my phone call with Suzuki, I was about to head back to the classroom when I heard someone talking from the upper floor coming down the stairs.

“Rinka, were you seriously in a front row seat during the Synchronicity concert?!”

“Yeah. Asamiya and the girls had some sort of trouble and were late to the venue. I think the Personia members were on a private visit, but hurriedly started playing on stage to help Synchronicity out of that situation.”

“Seriously?! Personia is like, so cool! S-So Rinka-san, that means you also had Shion right in front of you?!”

“Yeah, Shion was so cool~… ―Wait, not good, not good. I’ve already set my heart on someone else. I shouldn’t be getting distracted by Shion.”

With that, Rinka firmly slapped her own cheeks with her hands.

“You got that right! Rinka-san, do your best to make Fujimiya-kun fall for you!”

“…Fujimiya?”

I hid behind the stairs and made my way past a certain gang leader and her follower who were conversing with each other.

(Poor Fujimiya…)

I felt a little sorry for the man, seeing as he had already faded from Rinka’s memory.

◇◇◇

“And now for this week’s music rankings!”

The announcer announced the rankings of the music hit chart with an unusually high level of excitement, as he did every morning.

“―Next, the song that placed first again this morning! It’s Personia’s ‘Secret-days!’”

My sister Akane and I were watching this on the TV screen as we bit into our loaves of bread.

“Alright, Akane! It’s coming up right after this, so pay close attention!”

“Yes, yes.”

Watching me get all excited made Akane look at me with cold eyes as she replied as such.

“Second place goes to a promising idol group that has also performed with Personia! It’s Synchronicity’s ‘Connect’!”

Seeing the song of my favorite idol group make it into the rankings made me happy as I did a guts pose.

“Damnit, if only Personia wasn’t there, then they’d get first place…!”

“No, isn’t that your fault, Onii-chan?”

Akane seemed to be 10 percent colder to me this morning than usual.

She must’ve been very embarrassed by the fact that, after I came home from school yesterday, she for some reason jumped into and buried her face in my chest.

While thinking that that part of my little sister was very cute as well, I called out to her after I noticed she’d finished her breakfast.

“I’ll wash the dishes.”

“It’s fine, you go ahead and head to school first, Onii-chan. We’d be more conspicuous if we siblings left home together, no?”

“I-I see. My bad.”

I slung my bag over my back and opened the door to the corridor which led to the front door.

Then, as I was about to leave the house, I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten to say.

“Akane―”

I will make sure no one finds out about me.

For the sake of my peaceful life and for the sake of my beloved sister and family.

No matter what kind of trouble I get entangled in in the future, I will wear a mask and keep my identity well hidden.

“―Take care outside, okay?”

―This is the story of the gloomy me in class who’s actually the vocalist of a very popular band.

【”The Newbie Idols Get Back at Their Seniors” Arc】

～fin～

To be continued…