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Akito is sitting on one side of the sofa, right hand resting on the sofa’s arm, the other changing whatever is showing up on the TV. Lounging next to him is Airi, the famous pink-haired idol of More More Jump!, just looking aimlessly around the TV. She is sitting uncomfortably close for someone whom he barely meets once a month, but he guess they are both not minding about that right now, after all the thing that just happened.
“What is Ena doing right now?” Akito asks, trying his best to appear calm.
“She’s sleeping, I guess all of that crying was kinda tiring for her.” Airi also totally calmly answers. “Is your hand good now? You can’t just ignore those cuts even if they aren’t deep, you know?”
“I’m not a child anymore Momoi-san, all cleanly bandaged here.” Akito raised his right hand from the sofa’s arm, revealing around 3 to 4 pieces of bandages, all of them seem sanitized and carefully laid down with no wrinkles. Guessed all the tips Ena taught him that day somewhat paid off.
Kind of ironic, considering she was the one that did this to him.
Their dad came home unexpectedly soon today at noon, apparently to “Get some painting equipment for his work”. Dad and Ena, both being in her room, why did he expect for nothing to happen? Akito was too busy planning for the afternoon practice that he figured her friends would help her just like every other time, not knowing that Ena rarely meets them outside of the usual midnight. If it wasn’t for Airi picking up something strange from all the missed calls she got, maybe the one bleeding wouldn’t be Akito after yanking that razor from Ena’s hand. She is no longer at a point to end everything over a talk with that stubborn dude, but Akito can’t help but be horrified at whatever she has done and will do to herself every time something like this happens. If only he was…
“How long has it been since the last time we sat alone together like this?” Airi asked, probably noticing that he was having weird thoughts again.
“It was around half a year ago, probably the same situation.” He wouldn’t be surprised if both of them don’t want to remember what happened at that time, but it’s true that this isn’t the first time they sit alone on the sofa in the Shinonome’s household.
“So I guess this isn’t a bad time for some update from you huh.” Airi said half-excitedly, “How is your group going?”
“We are about to hold our first event with everyone else there. Touya just wrote his first song too, he is always good at this kind of stuff. Kohane is getting ridiculously good at those high notes, and she is good at dancing enough to get the same choreography as everyone now. An is using her network to start advertising and making rumors around. That girl has some seriously big-mind strategy for everything that isn’t schoolwork hah…” Akito started rambling about his group. It was not even that long ago that he and Touya were singing day and night, aimlessly trying to beat RAD WEEKEND, and now he’s together with his partners, his friends, with the people of Vivids Street, trying to surpass the legend.
“Ah right, I haven’t told them that I won’t be there for practice this afternoon.” Akito realized, quickly got his phone out to start some text…
“I think your story is missing someone isn’t there?” Airi questioned.
“Ah..”
“You have been working a lot, don’t you? Kohane-chan talked quite a bit about you.” Airi said smugly, clearly not wanting him to feel worse. “Also, I saw the throat medicine in the bathroom, I don’t think Ena is the one using that.”
Airi was wrong though, Ena did ask him for some a week ago, but it’s true that it was him who used it most of the time. Anyway, he isn’t the type to talk big about himself in front of others, and Airi is totally trying to get him to do that.
“So what about you Momoi-san, is it fun basically directing your group over there?” Akito asked, trying to diverge the conversation.
“Heheh, of course it is fun, Haruka is as dazzling as she is, at least she is getting some rest now, and can start eating like a normal human being too. Shizuku and Minori are still as air-headed as they are, but Shizuku just learned how to use the map on her phone! I think she accidentally called me this morning instead but that’s some big progress right there. And Minori is still our hardworking idol, she kinda reminds me of..” Airi trailed off for a bit, before.. “You, Akito.”
“Heh? How does that even work?” Akito doesn't know if he should be happy or not, it’s not like he has met this Minori in-person before.
“A hardworking person who is constantly working to reach their dream, never gives up even when everything is against them. A kind-hearted person who cares about others while not asking for anything back. A surprisingly assertive person who understands others and gives them the words they need, even if it is painful. A strong-willed person who never gets swayed by the words of others. Those kinds of similarities, I guess”. Airi said straightly like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“Those kind words ain’t gonna make me feel better, Momoi-san.” Akito lied. He knows how much Airi knows about him even when they barely meet each other, and how good Airi is at praising others, considering she is friends with Ena. He knows deep inside that everything Airi said is truly from her heart, but he laughed off (inside) how much she thought highly of him.
“So when you called me a “director” it is totally fine but when it’s my turn to praise then apparently it’s sugar-coating? You are so you right now.” Airi said, clearly smiling smugly at the end of her sentences. The TV has been turned off completely, which makes the atmosphere even more quiet.
“It’s one word, and it’s obviously correct from your stream, isn’t it?”. Akito said smugly, even while his face was starting to get a bit red. “It doesn’t take a genius to see that you are the one planning everything. Whenever Hinomori-san was touching any electronics you would instantly jump up and stop whatever she was doing. You were always the first one to correct whatever Hanasato-san did in your practice, and you are almost always the one that shares the schedule at the start of the stream. I doubt all of your streams would start normally without you. The evidence is all there on the internet you know?”
“So you watched our stream too Akito? Congrat on meeting your idol in realtime today!” Airi said while laughing, before slowly tuning down again, “But I do get everything from your teammate though, so you can’t even deny what I said anyway. What about this, if I admit that I am the one directing and in charge of almost everything about More More Jump, would you admit that you are whatever I said?”
“....Momoi-san, you clearly spended too much time with Ena.” Akito grimaced for the nth time today.
“But this was fun wasn’t it.” Airi continued, “We were supposed to have a shopping trip today, apparently for a pancake sale and some art tools for Ena, but I won’t complain about whatever we are doing right now.” Airi said, her head started to rest on Akito's shoulder.
“I don’t know if the others in my squad are happy with me not coming though, but I guess catching up with you is a good way to clear my thoughts right now.”
“...”
“Thank you Momoi-san, for all of that.”
“Haha so you finally admit it, look like I got another win against the Shinonome!”
“Momoi-san you are kinda ruining the moment you know…”
“Heh, sorry about that… and thank you too, for all of that.”
"You helped with the physical stuff you know? That's like 75% of the work!"
"More like 25%, I just do what I'm capable of."
“Thank you for just giving me this calm day, I guess. Working with More More Jump, going shopping with Ena, doing schoolwork, everything and everyone here is moving so fast sometimes are they? But weirdly enough, when I am alone with a grumpy guy like you, everything feels… peaceful.”
“...”
“I guess I can see it, even when being with someone like you, Momoi-san.”
“Can you just say Airi already? How long have we known each other?”
“Okay okay… Airi-san.”
It’s weird, considering this is not the first time they have done something like this. Airi has been an idol for as long as Akito has known her, and Akito has barely ever missed a practice with Touya ever since that fateful day.
But this time, something was different, as both of them felt for the first time ever that their life was exhausting, even if every moment was something they will forever cherish and never forget.
Maybe that’s why this moment of tranquility feels like something that should be cherished for them, as a break to the exciting day they always have with everyone.
They sit there in silence for just a bit longer, Airi’s head still resting on Akito’s shoulder.
“I wouldn’t mind if we do something like this every once in a while”. Airi said, the sun is going down, and she needs to get up to start planning for More More Jump next stream soon.
“Just the two of us or what?”
“That sounds cheesy as hell, Akito…. Well that’s fine too, but it’s not a bad idea to have some other. Maybe Ena could join us next time”
“....Yea.” Akito said, maybe he should start talking with his sister like this too.
“Look after Ena okay?”. Airi said as she started walking to the door.
“You should know the answer from all of that already.”
“Hahah.. right. Then.. see you later Akito.”
“See you later too, Airi-san.”