Volume 6 - CH 18

Akechi Hideyroi doesn’t feel so good

When I screened the first-year student list, I couldn’t find any characters from [Breaking the Chain of Sadness] series.

It seems I get to have it easy this year so at least I should be able to concentrate on my training with Tatsuyuki-san for a while.

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“Let’s see what StarChild writes me this month.”

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Because of the incident where Emi and the others barged in on me, I now choose to be more modest in my StarChild’s letter reading.

My aunt did give me a warning too after all.

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“Let’s see here…….”

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I read her letter while suppressing the desire to start dancing in joy.

Of course, I also didn’t neglect to decipher the feelings StarChild packed into her letters.

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“…………..”

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When I was done reading, my mind turned blank.

………….eh?

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One week after that.

I invited Takeru over to my house.

I don’t feel so good because my head is filled with so many emotions recently.

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“So, What’s up with you?”

“…………”

“You’ve been acting strange these days you know?”

“…………”

“Risa and everyone is worried about you alright. Just what’s up with you lately!?”

“…….about that, you see………….”

“Spit it out already! Come on!?”

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I jumped a little at Takeru’s aggressiveness, the contents of StarChild’s letter that had been lingering on my mind started to flood my brain.

That’s right. I don’t have much time left.

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“Actually, today……….StarChild will be visiting my place. I was so nervous to see her alone so I invited you over.”

“There’s no way StarChild’s gonna come visit you right……..”

“Right!? An idol wouldn’t normally pay her fan a personal visit right!?”

“W, What happened exactly……..?”

“In her latest reply letter, she said [I’ll visit Akechi-san house before noon next Sunday]……”

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I showed Takeru the letter.

His face was saying [There’s no way right] as he took the letter from me but his face gradually went pale as he read her letter.

We both are big fans of StarChild.

Seeing her at her Live aside, we both understand that we would never be able to meet her privately.

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Besides, StarChild’s popularity has literally exploded this year.

Her song [You are Child☆] even plays on TV like 3 times a week these days.

Would such a famous idol like her visit a normal fan like me……..?

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“……..why would she be coming here personally though?”

“Well…..I thought that she might not come too but……when I thought that she might really come I got too nervous to meet her alone so I invited you to be my emotional support. Ahh, that was refreshing.”

“Don’t, ahh, that was refreshing, me! Now I’m getting nervous too! Don’t mess with me, man!? At least just keep it to yourself until the end of the day!”

“But if she actually comes then you’d get to meet her too you know.”

“C, Certainly…….”

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She also gave me a phone number in case I need to tell her that I won’t be home but I just don’t have the courage to dial it.

That’s why I was so out of it before today.

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“This letter, there’s a chance it might be fake right?”

“What? You’re saying it’s a scam……..?”

“Wait, you don’t know?”

“Know what?”

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*Ahem* Takeru returned the letter to me and cleared his throat.

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“There’s a buzzing rumor on the internet recently.”

“What kind?”

“There’s a scam where they sell you knock-off StarChild merches trying to pass them off as official ones. They usually sell them on shopping apps like Me*cari(TLN: Japanese online shopping app) for a high price. People even call it ‘StarChild-Scam’.”

“Hmm………and where the heck did the letter even mentioned Me*cari! This is totally different right.”

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Even if there’s such a scam out there, the context of this letter just doesn’t match it at all.

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“This is that kind of thing isn’t it. The one where a girl writes you a letter trying to trick you that she’s the real StarChild.”

“Eh? S, Seriously!? I will try using your address for my fan letter next time then.”

“Don’t just use someone else’s home address so nonchalantly like that, man. You’re such a freak when it comes to something like this you know………rather, if you suspect that she’s a fake then don’t use my address to test it.”

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Somehow, I started to think that the whole thing is a scam.

StarChild isn’t coming.

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“Right, I knew from the start that she wouldn’t come.”

“Bold words from a guy who went out of his way to dress up. Actually, this is the first time I see you put effort into your clothes, Hideyori.”

“I mean, don’t I usually dress like this?”

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Takeru called out how I dressed today.

Personally, I don’t think I put on anything different today though.

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“You liar! You’re obviously trying to put on air with that pendant right! And since when have you started wearing a bracelet! I can even smell some product on you.”

“I was just in the mood for an image change.”

“You obviously put thoughts into this! I came over wearing my casual outfit you know.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway right. It’s already 15 minutes before noon. If she’s really going to be here then she would be at the door already.”

“You know that StarChild might be here but you only told me 15 minutes before she arrives. At least tell me about it yesterday.”

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Honestly, my head was so blank that I don’t even remember what happened yesterday.

I can barely recall helping Sakuya study and that’s it.

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“This is bad, my stomach is starting to hurt..…”

“You fool! I was super nervous for a whole week you know. It’s just 15 minutes so just bear with it.”

“You endured this for a whole week? You really are strong…..”

“As I thought, her impression of me would be better if I’m alone huh?”

“Like hell I know. Whatever……….”

“Should I call her StarChild? Or is StarCha better since it’s shorter?”

“How should I know. Just get a grip already.”

“Should we call Risa too?”

“She said she was going to meet up with Miyamura at Master’s place today.”

“She’s in the same class as Eien-chan this year so she’s probably just trying to deepen her friendship huh.”

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It seems there’s nothing he doesn’t know about Risa.

It should be pretty difficult to keep track of all Risa’s daily schedule though…..

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Our anxiety continues to grow and 5 minutes have passed.

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The doorbell rang.

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“ “ ……No way?” “

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Takeru and I looked at each other.

Both of our faces are probably pale.

[Ye~~s], I can hear my aunt answering the door.

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“Shall we?”

“Let’s.”

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Takeru and I stand up and leave my room.

When I peek at the front door from the shadows, I can see that my aunt is about to open the door.

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*Gulp*.

My heart is racing like crazy.

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Did StarChild really come? 

There’s no way. 

My expectations and resignation are in conflict.

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*creak*, the moment of truth.

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“Hello, Auntie.”

“Emi-chan, welcome.”

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Both I and Takeru instantly collapsed.