Vol. 1 Chapter 22 – We’re Similar, Aren’t We?

“Mornin’! Yuuto!” (Akari)

“Morning.” (Yuuto)

The next morning, I met up with Akari in front of the elevator, just like always.

Yesterday, my exchange with Nagisa continued until about 1 AM, so I was a little sleep-deprived. I truly, from the bottom of my heart, envied those so-called short sleepers.

“Mornin’~ Akari.” (Nagisa)

“Oh! Nagisa! You’re able to go to school this early today?” (Akari)

“Yep.” (Nagisa)

Just as we were waiting for the elevator to arrive, Nagisa came out of her apartment at the perfect time. Considering that several messages had arrived from Nagisa after I sent my last one, she must have stayed up later than me, but she didn’t look tired at all.

“Yuuto, too. Mornin’.” (Nagisa)

“Morning.” (Yuuto)

As I stepped into the elevator that had just arrived, I remembered something.

“Nagisa, by the way, last night, you unsent a message at the very end. What did you delete?” (Yuuto)

Nagisa’s eyes met mine in reaction to my voice.

“Hm? It was nothing in particular, so don’t worry about it. Just a mistake.” (Nagisa)

And then her eyes darted away. Intentionally. It wasn’t that I didn’t find it a little suspicious, but it wasn’t something to pursue. That sense of unease quickly dissipated, and the three of us moved on to other topics.

“By the way, Yuuto, you haven’t forgotten about this afternoon, have you?” (Akari)

“I know. Fourth floor of the practical studies building, right?” (Yuuto)

Today was the day we could use the lesson room we’d booked in advance.

“Hmm~? What’s this, what’s this? Are you going to confess or something?” (Akari)

She looked at me with a gaze that, while curious about what we were doing, clearly showed her intention to tease me.

“If it were something like that, I’d talk about it where Akari wasn’t around. It’s about practice for the exam.” (Yuuto)

“Aww! You’re doing it today? Can I come watch?” (Akari)

“No.” (Yuuto)

If this one came to watch, she’d be a nuisance nine times out of ten, and we wouldn’t be able to practice properly.

“Aww! Yuuto, you’re so mean! Fine! I’ll just get permission from Nagisa then~. Right? Nagisa.” (Akari)

“Well, I won’t give permission either, though.” (Nagisa)

“Nagisa, you’re being mean too~?” (Akari)

Honestly, to have her whine this much when she could see a more polished version in just a few weeks was quite something.

“I’ll record a video for you, so be content with that.” (Yuuto)

“Eh! Then it’s a viewing party at Yuuto’s house!” (Akari)

“Yes, yes…” (Yuuto)

When an idea she found acceptable came up, her attitude changed in a flash. She really was a fickle person. Though I thought that was also one of her good points.

“Well then, I look forward to working with you today, Aida-san.” (Nagisa)

“Yes, likewise, Minase-san.” (Yume)

Saying that, Aida-san smoothly extended her right hand. For a handshake, presumably. Nowadays, a handshake as a greeting seemed like something you’d only see overseas or in business dealings… She really did have a unique sense of personal space, as always.

After the mysterious few seconds of shaking hands and staring at each other ended, Nagisa stealthily approached me and spoke in a volume Aida-san couldn’t hear.

“She really is a strange person… Just like Akari.” (Nagisa)

Watching Aida-san currently doing vocal exercises she’d likely seen on TV or the internet, like “Amenbo akai na aiueo…,” conveyed that while she was strange, she was at least a serious and good person.

“Shall we give it a try then? Think you’re ready? Aida-san.” (Yuuto)

“Yes. Anytime.” (Yume)

I borrowed a tripod meant for dance lesson students and set up my smartphone to film the whole area.

“Alright, let’s begin.” (Nagisa)

Practice began with Nagisa clapping her hands as a signal, after confirming everyone was in position.

“That was pretty good, wasn’t it?” (Yuuto)

Feeling a solid response, I asked the two of them for their impressions while trying to catch my slightly ragged breath.

“Well, I was just reading the script, but watching Aoi-kun’s acting, I thought it was good. You weren’t being left behind by Minase-san at all.” (Yume)

Receiving the words I most wanted to hear right now, my cheeks relaxed a little.

“No, it’s thanks to Aida-san, who matched us perfectly on the first try.” (Yuuto)

“I believe the level of what’s required of me is lower compared to you two. I have to do at least this much.” (Yume)

Unlike a certain childhood friend who immediately got carried away when praised, I felt a liking for the ever-humble Aida-san. She must have practiced thoroughly at home too. There was a sense of realism as she changed her tone of voice subtly to match the scene without hesitation. Hearing Aida-san’s clear voice, which resonated firmly throughout the lesson room even without a microphone, I was convinced that asking her to be the narrator was not a mistake.

“With this… surely Yuuya-san will…” (Nagisa)

Did that mean Nagisa also felt a good response? From Nagisa beside me, I could sense her excitement about the future that might unfold.

“Aoi-kun, aren’t you going to stop the camera?” (Yume)

She gestured towards the tripod, and I remembered I was filming with my own smartphone.

I stopped the recording and turned to the front, meeting Aida-san’s suspicious gaze.

“This is just my intuition… or something like it, but isn’t Aoi-kun’s acting similar to Hokujou-san’s? Did you use him as a reference, perhaps?” (Yume)

My heart leaped a little at the sudden mention of my father’s name, but I consciously kept it from my expression and answered as if it were nothing.

“I am using him as a reference, sort of. I’ve watched a lot of his dramas and stuff. Hokujou Yuuya’s.” (Yuuto)

“The quality is quite high, isn’t it… Aoi-kun, your face is similar too, so it was like watching the man himself. I got excited.” (Yume)

This was no time to be thinking things like, ‘She was apparently excited while keeping a straight face…’ My heart leaped again at her words – the first time anyone other than Mom had said I looked like him.

“Really? I could tell you were referencing his acting, but isn’t Yuuya-san’s face more mature? I think Yuuto is a different type…” (Nagisa)

Nagisa, who should have been looking at the script, joined the conversation and refuted it. I was at a loss for words, so honestly, this support was helpful.

“No, there was a time in the past when Hokujou Yuuya was marketed as an idol, as a national treasure-level handsome man. His acting ability is highly praised now, but before, Hokujou Yuuya was all about his face, wasn’t he? It was around the time we were born… so maybe before he was 25?” (Yume)

“Hmm… You’re quite knowledgeable, aren’t you?” (Nagisa)

Nagisa, looking genuinely impressed by the slightly fast-talking Aida-san, nodded with interest at the content of her speech.

“Well, I call myself the world’s number one fan… Look, this area around his eyes, and…” (Yume)

Seeming a little pleased at being praised, she shattered the wall of my personal space and got so close our breaths could mingle.

“Hey, aren’t you a bit close? Aida-san.” (Nagisa)

Perhaps startled by Aida-san, who had been talking at an appropriate distance until now, suddenly messing up her sense of personal space, Nagisa let out a surprised voice.

“…Yes. Looking closely, you do resemble him more… My eyesight feels like it’s improving.” (Yume)

As Aida-san moved even closer, I, who would normally back away, was completely fixated on the word “resemble” and couldn’t move my body. Should I laugh it off…? As I was considering how to deal with it, time passed, and my body temperature rose due to my rapidly accelerating heartbeat…

“~~!!” (Nagisa)

My gradually deteriorating composure was forcibly halted by a sudden pain shooting through my leg.

“Why’s your face all red! Gross!” (Nagisa)

The source of the pain in my leg, Nagisa, looked down at me, who had collapsed to the floor, with her arms crossed. Apparently, she’d kicked me hard in the shin.

“Just so you know, if you misunderstand every little thing like that, you’re gonna get hurt!” (Nagisa)

I had just been shown what “getting hurt” meant.

“Let’s practice!” (Nagisa)

“Alright…?” (Yume)

Aida-san, bewildered by Nagisa’s sudden shift to a bad mood, also picked up her script and began to prepare.

“Hey! Yuuto, hurry up too!” (Nagisa)

While breathing a sigh of relief that the topic had somehow been forcibly changed, I hurriedly stood up and began to prepare, trying not to provoke the grumpy Nagisa any further…