NOVEL NEXT Chapter 319
“Ah, Izumi. How about we grab a meal together after the recording ends?”
“Uh… I think it’ll take me a bit longer?”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. I’ll just wait a little at the cafe up front.”
Natsune’s sudden meal proposal.
I didn’t have any other plans, so time wasn’t an issue, but for some reason, this affection meter of hers was bothering me, making me hesitant.
So what should I do…
[Just in case, let’s decline, saying I have a dinner broadcast.]
[Well, this much should be okay, right? It’s been a while since we met.]
★
Well, this much should be okay, right?
It’s been a while since I’ve seen Natsune.
[Natsune Nanase (HatsuYuki Yoru) : 6
]
Natsune’s affection level isn’t rising much compared to the other members, so I didn’t think anything particularly weird would happen.
“…Okay. I’ll finish up as quickly as I can and come.”
“Great! So, after the recording, come to that cafe in front of the studio. I’ll be waiting!”
After saying that, Natsune turned around and walked away with a light step.
…So cute.
★
After finishing the recording, I immediately headed to the cafe where Natsune would be waiting.
The cafe was quite spacious and crowded, but finding Natsune was not difficult at all.
Many eyes were focused on her.
She wore a hat, but her flawless, long, pure white hair wasn’t completely concealed.
Even with her face covered by a mask, the charm of her ruby-colored eyes could not be hidden.
It was only natural for people’s gazes to be drawn to her.
“Um… Yoru Onee-san.”
“Oh! You’re here, Mina-chan?”
[Natsune Nanase (HatsuYuki Yoru) : 6]
Natsune, who was reading a book while sipping coffee, looked up at my call and gave me a cheerful wink.
“I made a reservation at an okonomiyaki place, just in case. Is that okay?”
“Oh, yes. That’s fine.”
Okonomiyaki, huh.
It feels like I haven’t had that in ages.
As I contemplated this, Natsune neatly put her book away, slipped it into her bag, and stood up.
“Alright, let’s go!”
“Huh…?”
Natsune said that and, as if it was natural, crossed her arms and grabbed my hand.
So I flinched in surprise, but Natsune didn’t let go; instead, she intertwined our fingers.
“Don’t like it?”
“It’s not that, I was just surprised…”
[Natsune Nanase (HatsuYuki Yoru) : 6]
Just to be sure, I checked Natsune’s affection level, but it was still 6 like it had been.
Well, it’s true that, while not as much as Ayaka, Natsune has always liked physical contact.
Normally, I wouldn’t think twice about it, but for some reason, because of this affection level, little details were making me overly conscious.
Anyway, we linked arms and headed to the okonomiyaki restaurant that Natsune had reserved.
Ignoring the occasional curious glances directed our way, I was listening to her when suddenly she brought this up.
“From a distance, do we look like some kind of couple?”
“…Huh?”
“If we did, I guess Mina-chan would have to play the guy role?”
Upon hearing that, I looked around and saw several couples walking by.
Natsune must have realized that too.
Right. There’s probably no other meaning behind it.
“Well, I don’t think we’ll look like anything more than normal friends… considering we’re both girls…”
“Eh? Do you think so? But still, there’s always a possibility, right? If we look like a couple, who would look more like the guy? Even though Mina-chan is shorter than me, I still think it’d be you.”
Ah, it probably doesn’t mean anything.
Natsune often jokes around like this, right?
It’s just this annoying affection system that’s got me on edge.
[Natsune Nanase (HatsuYuki Yoru) : 6]
Yeah, Natsune’s affection level is still the same…
As I fought with something inside me, we soon arrived at the okonomiyaki restaurant that Natsune had reserved in advance.
“Just in case, I booked a place that has private rooms.”
Natsune said that, shaking her head slightly from side to side.
She looked just like a little kid saying, ‘How’s it? How’s it?’ asking for compliments.
“Thank you…”
As I expressed my gratitude, I subconsciously tiptoed and patted Natsune on the head.
“Eh?”
“…Ah! I-I’m so sorry!”
I had truly not thought about it at all.
Subconsciously, and suddenly I found myself patting Natsune’s head.
Getting treated like a kid by someone younger and shorter than me is really quite disrespectful.
No matter how kind Natsune is, I’m sure she’d feel bad.
[Natsune Nanase (HatsuYuki Yoru) : 7]
…But for some reason, Natsune’s affection level went up.
Even though it’s just a small increase of 1, the fact that it went up doesn’t change.
Why did my affection level go up over that situation?
No matter how much I pondered, I couldn’t understand.
“…Hmph. I guess Mina-chan would look more like a guy.”
“Excuse me?”
That earlier conversation was still ongoing?!
★
After that little commotion, we entered the private room guided by the staff and sat down.
When asked whether we wanted to have the staff cook for us or if we wanted to cook it ourselves, I naturally chose to cook it myself, and after a moment of hesitation, Natsune chose the same way.
As the staff brought over the ingredients, the sizzling sound made its way to our ears, and the savory smell wafted in, making my mouth water.
“It looks delicious~.”
“Yeah, doesn’t it…?”
That was the last thing we said, both staring quietly at the okonomiyaki cooking before us.
After all, seeing okonomiyaki cooking is the most exciting part…
While thinking that, Natsune cleared her throat and started talking.
“Hey, Mina-chan?”
“Yes?”
“The reason I suddenly asked to have dinner together today was that I wanted to talk about something.”
“…Something you want to talk about?”
When I asked back, Natsune nodded.
“Yeah. It’s not really a super serious thing or anything.”
“Uh…”
“I’ve heard other members say that you seem a little different from usual lately.”
For a moment, my breath hitched at Natsune’s words.
Whether she knew what I was thinking or not, Natsune continued her story step by step.
“They said it feels like you’re trying to distance yourself from us… This might make you uncomfortable, but some of us are reminded of 3 years ago. Everyone was really struggling back then. We just thought it would have been nice if we could have talked more with you…”
“…Huh? It’s not like that! I want to continue being with the members…! The reason I’m acting like this is… it’s for another reason….”
At my reply, Natsune gave a somewhat awkward smile.
That’s probably because she was also recalling memories from 3 years ago.
‘So… that’s not going to work, right?’
‘I should support Mina-chan in finding her dream… I’m an idol for Izumi, after all. If I asked her not to go… that wouldn’t be possible, would it?’
‘Mina-chan said she liked seeing me shine in front of her… So I’ll keep working hard until Mina-chan comes back. I’ll remain the figure she admires. Yes, I’m an idol.’
I know now.
How selfish it was for me to ask Natsune such a difficult and painful request back then.
How much pain I left behind for everyone.
Knowing that, I just don’t want my members to be hurt because of me anymore.
I wanted to see her smile, who had worked hard without rest for me.
But now, I was… acting foolishly the same way as before.
That was only natural.
To the other members, the affection levels don’t show.
In that situation, if I suddenly distance myself, it’s bound to make them uneasy.
It’s only natural that the memory of my sudden graduation 3 years ago would come to mind…
“If there’s something difficult going on, I hope you’ll let us know. There may be things we can’t help with, but just being able to share it might… surely ease your mind.”
“That’s…”
“Everyone is really worried. So… please.”
Natsune smiled a gentle, fleeting smile, asking me to lean on them.
In the end, I slowly opened my mouth.
“…I guess I’m a little tired. A lot has been piling up recently…”
“Can you tell me about it?”
“I’m so sorry. I want to talk about it, but it might be a little difficult. But it’s really… just a trivial thing. I think I’m just tired from trying to maintain my usual self…”
“I see…”
There are members whose affection levels don’t change despite it going up, and members whose behaviors change drastically.
That realization would only tire me out more, making my wish to go back to how things were even more hazy.
And that seems to have made the other members uneasy.
“…Mina-chan, how about we meet more often for meals from now on?”
“Huh?”
“Since you can’t tell me what those difficulties are, I won’t pry any further. But now, I’ve realized that Mina-chan has been struggling lately, so… let’s have meals together like this. If you’re tired, I’ll comfort you. If something good happens, I’ll celebrate with you. If this can lessen Mina-chan’s burdens even a little, I want to help.”
“…That could work.”
Natsune knows nothing.
She doesn’t know why I’m feeling this way, or what I’m struggling with.
She can’t empathize or understand it.
…But just sharing that I feel tired right now.
‘Just being able to share it might… surely ease your mind.’
Just as she said, I felt a bit relieved inside.
So I quietly nodded.
“It might be a hassle, but I’d appreciate it.”
“It’s fine. As long as I can be of help, that’s truly a blessing.”
[Natsune Nanase (HatsuYuki Yoru) : 7]
And Natsune’s affection level remained the same.