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Minori always considered Haruka as a nice person. A kind and generous person. Shizuku and Airi did so too. Never once did they witness Haruka crack under pressure. They figured it was because of her time as an idol in ASRUN. They’re all aware of what the hardships of the idol industry can do to a person, yet Haruka seemed to keep it all together.
(Or is just incredibly good at pretending to keep it together. Either way, no one will know the difference really.)
She has a system to follow, and she does so gracefully, a familiar process she spent years mastering.
Even as the comments and antics could pass off as infuriating towards Haruka, she handled them properly, professionally. Not showing an ounce of anger or frustration. Or even a hint of hurt or sadness. Not one emotion deemed as un-idol-like entered the cool and practiced surface of Haruka Kiritiani’s professionalism. She handles it in the cool way she can, even with a genuine smile on her face, almost a practiced one. She did once mention that they should not let doubt creep into their fans’ feelings.
Minori thought maybe Haruka was just used to the hurtful comments she received throughout her years as a beginning idol, trained herself to smile despite it all, and viewed those words as mere criticism to help propel herself towards improvement, eventually developing her steely and cool disposition in the process. Maybe the idol industry piled their hefty expectations on her favorite idol’s once naive shoulders, forcing her to conform and adjust at inexplicable speed until one day she just got used to it.
Minori wants to understand it. Wants to.
Because in doing so, she is one step forward toward becoming the person who understands Haruka Kiritani the most.
Shizuki thinks that it’s a concerning matter – Haruka not expressing her emotions and frustrations the way normal people could. Minori thought so too. Airi even agrees with them but is reassured that if Haruka does have her frustrations, she will voice them out. It doesn’t quench their worries at all but they decided that it was enough for now.
As much as it was frustrating for Minori to see Haruka being calm and accepting toward the hate comments that she was receiving, she really can’t do anything about it. She trusts Haruka and she knows that if something was bothering her, she’ll talk to her or one of her friends.
Although, she is very curious about how Haruka reacted when she first received comments undermining her being as an idol. She's also curious about how she handled that. There’s bound to be a reaction to it.
Did she cry? Did she feel like giving up? Did she even consider stopping being an idol and just becoming a regular student?
Minori shook her head. The last one is obviously out of the question.
She was still curious though.
Her curiosity was well-appeased sooner rather than later.
Well, sort of.
They were at their usual practice location, their school rooftop. Airi and Haruka recently came up with a new dance routine they can work on so they all decided to polish that routine in order to have something to show to their viewers in their next stream, which was also on the same day.
They were sitting down, Haruka and Shizuku at her sides and Airi in front of her, while discussing the details of what they should do in their stream later on.
“Dance practice and steaming on the same day?” Shizuku reiterated. “It sounds fun! We can use it as a way to show our fans how extemporaneous we can be!”
“I don’t know, Shizuku-chan,” Minori replied, looking a bit slumped. “Remember what happened the last time I tried to be ‘extemporaneous’? I fell off Nanamin’s rug and I even got a lot of your fans disappointed in me. They told me that I don’t deserve to even be standing next to Haruka-chan.”
“Hey,” Haruka told her as she put her hand atop Minori’s shoulder as a sign of reassurance. “That was a long time ago, Minori, and you have improved immensely since then.”
“Haruka’s right,” Airi chimed in, offering a reassuring smile towards the concerned idol. “Your dancing has gotten sharper and your stamina is enduring more than what you can usually do before. With your flexibility gradually improving, your dancing skills can rival even Shizuku’s in no time.”
Shizuku nodded. “Your pitch and your breath control have refined themselves since we started with voice lessons and because of that, you’ve done such wonderful singing. I know your fans are proud of you too.”
“You think so?” Minori looked at the pink-haired girl with hopeful eyes. “You’re not just saying this to make me feel better, right?”
“Of course not,” Airi shook her head. “I would never tell you things that aren’t true.”
“Same as I,” Shizuku added, giving her a stern yet reassuring look.
“And what they said isn’t true,” Haruka unexpectedly said, her grip on Minori’s shoulder suddenly growing firmer yet remaining gentle.
“Haruka-chan?”
She looked to her side and saw Haruka’s eyebrows slightly furrowed and lips pursed in a straight line.
Minori wondered why Haruka was wearing such a worrisome expression.
Is Haruka-chan mad at me? What I said earlier must have upset her. I never should have said it–
“You do deserve to stand next to me,” Haruka told her with a pointed look. “And Shizuku, and Airi. Or even the greatest idol who ever existed.”
Even the greatest idol ever? Me?
“You deserve to stand next to idols, Minori because you are one. Please never forget that.”
Minori felt faint.
To have her favorite idol in the entire world, the very person who had inspired her to share the same profession to give hope to people, say genuine things about her with such earnestness gave her warmth.
Minori is not sure how to respond to any of that.
“You said your name twice,” Minori murmured silently but loud enough for Haruka to hear, the tip of her ears slowly tinting with pink as she bowed her head ever so slightly.
“Huh?” Haruka looked at her with absolute confusion. She retracted her hand that was settled on Minori’s shoulder as her eyebrows furrowed deeper now, looking at Minori for clarification. “I said my name twice? What do you mean?”
“You said I deserve to stand next to you and the greatest idol ever.”
“Minori, what are you talking– Oh.”
The brunette lifted her head up to look at her idol. Haruka seems to have been taken aback by Minori’s comment but nonetheless, still flustered as an obvious pink hue impeded on her cheeks, a smile playing itself into the idol’s lips.
“Minori…”
“Haruka-chan,” Shizuku spoke up, a serious expression written on her face after she did a lot of thinking. “I think what Minori-chan is talking about is she thinks that you are her greates–”
“Alright,” Airi declared before she stood up instantly, dragging the hand holding Shizuku’s up with her. “That’s enough of that.”
Haruka somehow found her voice again.
“You say that Airi but you’re holding–”
Airi instantly withdrew her hand back to her side, leaving Shizuku to pout at her, making the pink-haired girl even more flustered.
“Eh!? Why did you let go of my hand, Airi-chan? Yours is so soft in mine.”
“Shizuku!?”
Haruka gave off a little laugh at the display before standing up as well.
She reached a hand to Minori with a small smile on her face.
“Let’s practice then?”
Minori gave her the largest grin as she grabbed her idol’s hand.
“Of course!”
They practiced for about two hours and a half, with small breaks in between. Minori felt nothing but joy and relief as they trained for their routine. It wasn’t much of a tedious routine since there are no singing parts but that doesn’t mean it was any less challenging.
“Are you sure you’re up for the stream, Minori-chan?” Shizuku appeared so suddenly behind her, startling her as she dropped the bottled water she was drinking.
“Ah!? Shizuku-chan!” she exclaimed loudly.
“Oops! I’m sorry, Minori-chan,” the taller idol apologized before picking up the bottle Minori accidentally dropped. “You can always tell us if you don’t want to do the dance routine if you think you’re not ready. An idol always knows when to stay out of things that are out of their abilities.”
“It’s alright, Shizuku-chan,” said Minori, offering her a grateful smile. “I felt better after what you said earlier and after our practice. And I do agree, it is important for our fans to see how impromptu we can be.”
Minori heaved a short sigh before giving the other idol a small smile.
“I know I am not the sharpest idol in the industry nor the most talented but every day, I train to become more and more than what I was yesterday, and I have come so far. With you guys by my side believing in me, I will continue to improve more and more!”
Shizuku looked like she was going to cry.
“Minori-chan!” she suddenly hugged the smaller idol, a teary expression on her face. “You’ve grown so much! I am so, so proud of you, Minori-chan!”
“Wah! Shizuku-chan, too tight!” Minori told her, giggling at the older idol’s display of affection.
“Oi! What’s going on over there?” Airi asked them loudly.
“Minori, Shizuku,” Haruka called out to them. “Come on, the stream is about to start.”
“Let’s go, Minori-chan!”
Minori nodded enthusiastically before she and the other idol skipped over to where Haruka and Airi were.
Airi was setting up the camera whilst Haruka seemed to be practicing her greetings.
“Ready now?” Airi asked them.
Minori and the others nodded, signaling Airi to start the stream. Once the stream had started, the pink-haired idol immediately scooted over to where her fellow idols were, holding the camera and smiling at it brightly.
“Hello!” Shizuku started enthusiastically, looking at the camera. “We are…”
“MORE MORE JUMP!”
“I am Hinomori Shizuku.”
“This is Momoi Airi.”
“Good afternoon, this is Kiritani Haruka.”
“And I am Hanasato.. Minori!”
Minori almost stumbled on her words but it was unnoticeable.
“Today, we’re going to share something special with all of you,” Haruka began, beaming brightly while looking at the camera. “It’s something that we have been working on just very recently.”
“Just today!” Minori chimed in cheerily.
“That’s right!” Airi joined in. “It’s a dance routine we have been working hard on all day. We thought it was something we could share with all of you before our live soon!”
Minori could see the comments flooding in.
Dance routine?! Amazing! Cannot wait to see it! You guys are amazing dancers!
Does Airi-chan do a flip in the dance?!
I bet Shizuku-chan is going to look graceful!
Who do you guys think choreographed it? I bet it’s Haruka-chan!
Haruka laughed lightheartedly. “Yes, I did choreograph it, user Harukafan32273. Along with Airi-chan here. The girls and I practiced the whole day for this and I hope you would all enjoy it.”
“Also, I absolutely do not do a flip.”
The rest of the members gave off a laugh at Airi’s quip, and the viewers gave the same reactions via the comments section.
Airi put the phone on the already set up tripod as the rest of the members began their formation.
Minori took a deep breath.
Just inhale and exhale. It’ll be just fine if I follow the steps earlier.
“Guys, are you ready?!” Airi asked out loud after she went to her position.
An enthusiastic “Yeah!” was simultaneously yelled out.
The music started playing from the radio and Minori was sure she was doing just fine so far.
Okay, we’re getting near the end now. Minori told herself, relieved. I stretch my arms like this, and then my right leg needs to be extended like that, and then retract it like this. I move forward and then back again. Then, I should bow down and then do that thing with my neck. Wait, what!? What do I do with my neck!?
Minori’s smile was slowly getting replaced with dread, although unnoticeable to the viewers, it certainly captured the attention of Haruka behind her. She saw that Minori was slowly getting uncoordinated, albeit subtle. Her movements were slowly getting irrational.
Wah! I finally remembered. Okay, it’s almost finished now! I can do this. I just need to finish this. I need to perfect this. I don’t want to let them down. I have to perfect this! If I’m not perfect then I–
The music stopped not a second later.
Ah. It’s finished now.
Minori was heaving deep breaths as subtle as she could. Sweat felt like small sparks of fire dripped down on her face. She was too deep in her thoughts that she didn’t notice the other members were already in their finishing position.
Ah! I messed up… I messed up. I let them down. I messed up!
“Psst, Minori!” Airi whispered quietly, slight worry etched on her face, the same expression written on the other members’ faces.
“Wah! I’m sorry, everyone!” she said, a little too loud while giving a chuckle before walking over to where her other members were.
They formed a singular horizontal line and bowed at the camera. Airi immediately fetched the phone from the tripod. All members faced the camera now.
Despite the smile present on Haruka’s face, she feels immense worry towards her fellow idol who seemed to be out of it earlier.
“What did you all think?” Shizuku asked the viewers, the gleam in her eyes long gone, replaced with worry for her fellow member but she did an incredible job of not showing it. “Did you all enjoy it as much as we did?”
The comments come flooding in not a few moments later.
GREAT CHOREOGRAPHY! So smooth but challenging! As expected of Haruka-chan!
Shizuku-chan~~ You are such an ethereal dancer!
Airi-chan, your dances are so good! Please do a flip next time!
“Why do they keep asking me to do a flip?” Airi muttered to herself.
Minori looked over to the comments and she saw that they have received positive things so far.
As Airi scrolled down, all of their eyes widened at the next comments, horrified and saddened.
Hey, have you guys seen it in the end? Minori-chan was messing up :(
Yeah, I saw it too. And to think she’s dancing next to Haruka-chan of all people…..
LOL fix your dance Minori before dancing. It looks like a chicken dance xD even chickens dance better
please for the love of god Minori. pls practice more. youre embarrassing yourself and the rest of MORE MORE JUMP
Minori thought it would hurt less. She thought that receiving these types of comments every time they’re doing live streams would help her get used to it, and would probably help strengthen her for future criticisms.
But it didn’t.
Minori let out a low laugh, surprising the other three members. She smiled at the camera, a big grin plastered on her face as if the comments she received meant nothing to her.
“Don’t you worry, you guys!” Minori tried her best to make sure her voice didn't tremble.
“I promise I will never dance again without more practice.”
Minori let out a small laugh, Airi and Shizuku looking extremely worried.
Haruka felt something twitch within her heart, something broiling. A broiling, unfamiliar but distant emotion she feels very rarely, almost nonexistent. A scorch she tried her best to put into little boxes because the idol industry deemed it ugly and unnecessary.
She feels her face shift into an unfamiliar expression and somehow, all worries about what her fans think of her dissipated momentarily.
“I see your criticisms and I’ll follow them all and I promise to–”
“Stop that, Minori. Those are not criticisms.”
Minori, Shizuku, and Airi snapped to look at Haruka, all of their mouths hanging open at the sharp tone that matched the stoic expression written on the idol’s face.
Haruka-chan. Minori thought worriedly. I have never seen that face from you before.
“Haruka,” Airi quietly and carefully warned her.
“After the stream, please,” the pink-haired idol mouthed at her with pleading eyes.
Haruka’s expression does not change as she stares into the camera. She tried to put a smile on her face but for naught. A blank and stoic surface stayed instead. It was like her mind was forcing her face muscles not to form any other expression than disdain.
Shizuku cleared her throat and unlike Haruka, managed to put on a smile.
“Anyway!” she tried to clear the tensioned atmosphere with her cheery greeting. “We hope you all enjoyed our stream for today.”
A line of “goodbyes”, “farewells” and “take cares” were shared before Airi ended the stream. Haruka managed to let out a small smile, still mostly resembling a crooked line more than a smile before the stream ended.
They remained still at where they were standing, unsure of what to do next. The atmosphere was thick with tension and neither of them knew what to say.
Airi sighed exasperatedly and looked at Haruka pointedly.
“Do you want to explain what happened back there?” she asked Haruka, no annoyance or anger was present in her tone, just worry directed at her friend.
Haruka looked at her before she felt the expression on her face shift into an unfamiliar scowl.
“You know what happened,” she replied, not answering the question directly. “You saw it.”
“Haruka, that was not what I was asking.”
“Airi-chan,” Shizuku put her hand on Airi’s shoulder, in an attempt to calm her dear friend down.
“No, Shizuku,” Airi sighed and removed the taller idol’s hand from her shoulder. “What Haruka did would have almost cost us our fans and our support. It was a good thing almost no one noticed and pointed it out. What she did was unacceptable.”
“Unacceptable?” Haruka looked at Airi incredulously. “What I did was unacceptable but what they were saying towards Minori wasn’t?”
“Haruka-chan–”
“No,” Haruka stood her ground, she was sure her frown was deepening. “They were being unacceptable. Minori was wrongly divulging their awful requests and reactions. She isn’t supposed to do that. None of you should even–”
Haruka stopped talking when she felt a hand on her own and instantly looked at the brunette holding it. Minori was facing her with a worried expression, tears welled up in her eyes.
Haruka instantaneously felt the boiling scorch of an emotion disappear from her body as Minori carefully engulfed her in a gentle hug.
“Thank you, Haruka-chan,” Minori whispered by Haruka’s ear, blinking continuously, the tears welled up in her eyes, falling freely now as she buried her head on the shoulder of Haruka’s shirt.
Haruka closed her eyes, feeling the unwanted tears shed themselves down as she hugged Minori back.
“I’m sorry,” Haruka whispered to her.
She heard Minori sniffle a sob.
“It’s okay. It was nice seeing you protect me like that.”
The pair let go and looked at each other with a profound understanding. Minori wiped the tears on her cheeks rather messily.
“I should apologize to Airi now, huh?” asked Haruka.
Minori nodded at her.
Haruka sighed and glanced at Airi who was looking at her with a small smile now. She approached the shorter idol with an apologetic look. Shizuku gave Airi a concerned expression before walking over to where Minori was.
“I’m sorry,” Haruka started. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that. I know you were just looking out for me and the group. I know what I did was unacceptable and it would have cost us a lot of things so thank you so much for stopping me.”
Airi nodded at her with a contented smile and hugged her to which the blue-haired idol reciprocated.
“I have been used to such comments my entire life but when I read the mean,” Haruka stopped and almost sneered, which caused Airi to widen her eyes in surprise. “Terrible things they said about Minori, it just–”
“Hey,” Airi stopped her, looking at her with a smile, an understanding. “If there’s anybody here that could understand how you feel, it’s probably me.”
Airi looked at Shizuku, who was conversing with Minori. She figured it was about what just recently occurred. Haruka glanced over to what the pink-haired idol was staring at and gave a small smile.
“When the other members of CheerfulDays were bullying Shizuku,” Airi scowled at the memory, the annoyance and anger were still palpable. “I couldn’t take it. I was so furious with them. Hearing them say such awful things about Shizuku to Shizuku’s face made me so angry. I almost acted un-idol-like and that would’ve been the end for me. I would’ve beaten some physical sense into them if Shizuku and Minori didn’t stop me. I mean, I still want to.”
Haruka chuckled at the memory. “I remember, I was there.”
“What I’m trying to say is,” Airi sighed and looked at Haruka sternly. “You can’t control your feelings towards other people. You’ll do some stupid things because of those feelings.”
You can’t control your feelings towards other people.
Haruka nodded.
“That’s why we have each other,” she added to what Airi said.
“That’s why we have each other,” Airi reiterated. “To stop the other from doing stupid things that we may regret soon.”
Haruka offered her senior a smile. “Thank you, Airi-senpai.”
“Just,” the pink-haired girl frowned at her. “Don’t do that or say that again.”
Haruka let out a little laugh as she and Airi walked over to where Shizuku was.
“Airi-chan,” the taller idol called out to Airi.
“Yes, Shizuku?”
“Shii-chan told me that our mother needs me to come home now,” she told Airi dejectedly.
“You’re telling me this because?” she raised an eyebrow.
“Walk me home?” she pouted at her.
Airi groaned loudly. “Fine.”
Shizuku cheered happily and skipped over to where Airi was and gave her a tight hug.
“Ah! Shizuku! Stop that!”
Minori and Haruka laughed at the display, knowing Airi secretly enjoys Shizuku’s hugs.
Once the taller idol let go of Airi, she approached Haruka.
“Are you alright now, Haruka-chan?” Worry etched on her face.
“I’m all good now, Shizuku,” said Haruka as she glanced at Minori who was talking with Airi. “Thank you for earlier, Shizuku. I’m also very sorry for my state earlier and how I reacted during the stream.”
“It’s alright, Haruka-chan,” Shizuku gave her a quick hug. “I know how protective you are of Minori-chan. Some of those comments towards her were really, really mean, and not criticisms at all. They needed to be called out.”
Haruka nodded before stilling.
Wait, me? Protective of Minori?
“Yes, you are,” Shizuku giggled.
“Huh?” Haruka looked at her confused until she remembered her recent thought. She felt warmth on her cheeks once more. “Did I say that out loud?”
“You did,” Shizuku replied, still giggling.
Haruka merely shook her head as she hugged Shizuku one more time. Airi and Shizuku bid the two of them goodbye, the pink-haired idol telling them not to stay out on the roof for too long.
Now, it’s just them.
Alone.
Just the two of them.
Alone.
“So,” Minori began. “Do you want to talk about it?”
The brunette looked at Haruka with hopeful eyes.
“I guess I should,” Haruka gave a sigh and sat down at her usual spot, Minori following suit, and sat next to her.
“It hurt me,” Haruka began, her insides beginning to constrict every time she remembered what happened earlier.
“Seeing people say those things about me?”
“No,” Haruka shook her head. “Those types of people will always say things about you despite it all. It didn’t bother me in the past because you were always actively working towards making them believe otherwise.”
She took a deep breath and looked at the idol next to her, wearing a concerned look.
“It hurt me because this time, you were believing them.”
“Haruka-chan…”
Minori felt both of her hands on the hands of her favorite idol. She was now facing Haruka who was looking at her with so much admiration and care.
“Please, Minori,” With pleading eyes, Haruka begged. “Please never ever believe what they say. It hurts me to see that you’re hurt.”
Minori let go of one hand to wipe the tears that were forming in her eyes. She brought her hand back down to Haruka’s empty one and boldly intertwined their fingers together, the ministrations causing the other idol to have her cheeks slightly flushed.
“I promise that I will try my hardest to never believe what they say again,” Minori declared confidently, making Haruka smile. “I promise you, Haruka-chan.”
Haruka nodded and looked away, letting one hand go to wipe the tears forming in her eyes as well. She didn’t look at the brunette back, quite embarrassed of her state, but her other hand was still holding Minori’s.
“You make me feel so many things, Minori,” Haruka chuckled, not even ashamed. Her thumb gently brushes against the hand holding her own.
She later felt something soft but tremulous make contact with her left cheek. Her eyes widened as she looked to her left and saw Minori whipping her head back, her face inexplicably flustered.
Minori kissed my cheek.
Once she had absorbed what just happened, Haruka’s face was immediately flushed, her and Minori’s expressions almost similar.
She’s still holding my hand.
Comfortable silence engulfed both of them, stretching over a few minutes. Neither of them planned to let go of the other’s hand as they both sought comfort in them. Haruka felt pressure on the left side of her arm and looked over to see that Minori put her head on her shoulder, their hands intertwined atop both of their legs.
Haruka smiled.
A few moments later, she heard a quiet snore. The idol giggled shortly when she realized that Minori had fallen asleep.
“Oh, Minori.”
“Haruka-chan…” Minori spoke while still slumbering.
The blue-haired idol’s eyes widened slightly as a slight smile settled on her lips.
“What is it, Minori-chan?” she asked back, looking at the sleeping girl with a solemn expression.
“Mmm… thank you for defending me, Haruka-chan.”
Instead of immediately answering, Haruka closed her eyes and left a kiss atop Minori's head, feeling the brunette’s hair tickle the beneath of her nose.
“I will defend you always, Minori.”