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In late July, it’s always warm in Shibuya. There’s always a breeze here and there that carries the joys of kids and teens that jusy got out of school—and on Vivid Street, the wind carries the songs of the youth.
This evening was one of those nights. An unfamiliar song filled the neighborhood’s ears, a few strands of Airi’s hair caught in her lips as Shizuku pointed out random things she saw or heard on their walk.
“Airi-chan,” Shizuku, almost dropping her smoothie, tugged on her sleeve. “It’s An-chan and her teammates!”
Airi let out an involuntary hiss as she saw the glass tip towards the ground. “Shizuku, be careful—! Wait, really?”
When Shizuku’s words finally registered, she whipped her head around to find the source of the song she was hearing throughout the streets before.
And there he was, laughing with his friends and singing his heart out. His eyes crinkled when Toya pat him on the shoulder, not noticing that the idols were watching them.
“I’ve never heard An-chan sing before,” Shizuku mused, smiling as she saw the passionate glint in her eyes. “Would it be rude to interrupt and say hi?”
“Um,” Airi muttered, still not processing the image of Akito and his friends filled with joy. It was just a few years ago that he was some nobody with a dream that Airi knew. “I… I don’t know. Let’s just watch them for a bit.”
Shizuku hummed, shifting her weight as she sipped her leaking smoothie. Out the corner of her eye, she saw Airi smile, completely enamored. “Airi-chan?”
Airi shook her head, snapping out of her daze. “Oh, it’s nothing…“
I’m glad he found somewhere he belongs.
“ He ?” Shizuku murmured. “Akito-kun? You’ve talked about him before, I think.”
“Yeah,” Airi smiled yet again, yelping when she saw An running towards Shizuku, the rest of VBS tagging along.
Airi’s eyes met with Akito’s, grinning and walking towards her childhood friend. “Akito-kun! It’s so nice to see you guys. I hope you don’t mind that we watched you guys for a bit.”
“It’s no big deal,” Akito smiled in return, rubbing the back of his head. “How have you been, Momoi-san?“
Airi’s eye twitched. “Momoi-san…? I’ve known you for years, loosen up a bit.”
“Oh,” Akito sputtered a bit. “Uh… I mean, yeah, but…”
“It’s fine,” Airi waved her hand in dismissal, giggling a bit. “I was just teasing you. No need to call me anything you’re uncomfortable with.”
Akito blushed at that, rubbing the back of his mouth with his sleeve. “Alright… We need to get back to practicing, if you two don’t mind. I’d love to catch up later.”
“Okay,” Airi waved goodbye. “Expect a text from me later, okay? I want to hear all about your new endeavors.”
“Uh, yeah,” Akito coughed, practically scurrying back to the park bench.
Shizuku bid her farewells to An as well, the group reforming to practice their routine.
“I’m kind of curious as to what your relationship with Akito-kun is like,” Shizuku giggled, noticing the way An was teasing Akito and nudging his elbow.
Airi took one last glance at the group before making her way back home with Shizuku.
“Well, it all started in middle school…”