Tokiya Ichinose - A day that felt like a dream

Things have gotten complicated.

To think that I’d be co-starring with HAYATO….

Saotome-san’s choices have me perplexed.

It was precisely because I wanted to avoid getting too involved with HAYATO that I went to the trouble of choosing and enrolling in Saotome Academy....

And yet….

"Wah, oh my gosh… HAYATO-sama is coming… HAYATO-sama is…."

The sparkle in Nanami-san’s eyes was….

I know you’re getting the opportunity to see your favorite idol in real life, but aren’t you getting a little too carried away?

Today was the first time in a week that we had a lesson in the recording room….

But Nanami-san had been acting like this ever since we received the news about Ohayaho~News earlier this morning.

She took her lessons seriously, but seemed to have her head in the clouds during recess and lunch breaks.

Even now, during the preparation for our lesson, her thoughts were completely occupied by HAYATO.

"Nanami-san… Aren’t you a bit too happy to be able to meet your favorite idol?"

"Eh?! Ah, aaaaaaaaaah, meeting him, that’s ridiculous. If I could catch a glimpse from afar, if only for a second… that would be more than enough to make me happy!"

What’s she going on about…?

If she’s his fan, wouldn’t it be obvious to want to talk to him?

"You can at least talk to him in some situations, can't you?"

"Eh… ah… no… that—I don’t want to intrude on him... and I wouldn’t want to end up bothering him either…."

She became extremely wary and made herself even smaller than she already was.

"In the meantime, since I’m going to be talking to HAYATO tomorrow, is there anything you want me to bring up?"

Suspecting she might ask for an autograph, I asked the question spitefully.

"Please do your best!"

She clenched her fists tightly and sounded as joyful as possible.

That wasn't what I was asking, but….

It looked like we weren’t quite on the same page.

"It’s his job. So, of course, he’ll do it perfectly. But you are HAYATO’s fan, right?"

"Yeah! I love him!"

An immediate answer….

And with a big smile, even….

She's quite remarkable.

"If you are a fan, then wouldn’t you want to talk to him personally?"

"Of course! But now isn’t the time. HAYATO-sama is my favorite idol, my inspiration, and… my dream…. Someday, when I’ve become a great composer, my dream is for him to sing my song. That’s why, until then, it’s enough for me to just be a fan who cheers him on from afar!"

Her eyes were shining even more than before as she talked about her dream.

The sight itself was beautiful, but for some reason it only irritated me.

"I see…. But the song you should be writing right now is mine. If you fail to debut, that dream won’t come true."

"I know! I’ll do my best! First is the recording test, right? Time to study, time to study ♪"

She prepared herself for the lesson in a good mood.

HAYATO’s impending arrival didn't distract me or interfere with my classes and lessons.

However….

Those sparkling eyes, in addition to her being so excited….

There was nothing I could do about it, was there?

"Are you ready? I’m going to sing."

She was doing precisely what she needed to do. And yet, why, why was this so frustrating…?

And so, the next day.

HAYATO came to our school.

There was still something small that needed to be done, so I asked Nanami-san to take care of it and came to school early.

Ohayaho~News filming started early in the morning.

In spite of having arrived at the academy much earlier than on a normal school day, Nanami-san had already made it to our meeting place.

"So this place is going to be featured on Ohayaho~News today. How lovely."

You’re looking quite chipper this morning.

She had been like this during yesterday’s lesson, and the excitement had still been there on the way back home. Had she sustained it all this time? If that was the case, that was some tremendous energy she had.

What was it about HAYATO that animated her so much?

What was it about HAYATO that was so charming…?

HAYATO and me….

Why was it that HAYATO was the only one who provided her energy when we looked almost exactly the same…?

It had been puzzling me ever since yesterday.

I have to focus and stop worrying about unnecessary problems… because… I have work to do.

"Ah. Ichinose-san! Good morning. I hope you have a good day at work today."

"Yeah, likewise, have a good day."

I wondered what exactly she thought of me.

HAYATO or me, whose existence would have the greatest meaning to her…?

I believed I had put in some of my own effort as her partner, but….

I'd been pretty strict and unrelenting with her ever since school started, so she might not think too highly of me.

I thought of something else and hurriedly denied it: the idea that maybe she was enduring it just because my face resembled Hayato's, but was actually suffering.

Let's forget about it for now.

Because this is an important job that has been given to me, Ichinose Tokiya….