And so, in the first week of high school, just when I thought things couldn’t get more problematic than they previously were, on a perfectly normal Friday, here she was, the former star-idol, Mizuki Shinobu, transferred to my class just for me.

  Sounds like a pretty nice dream, right?

  Just wait until I turn my head towards Akane and Kaguya.

  And…bingo. It was almost as if they were saying, “Go die, stupid womanizer.”

  I sit down and accept my defeat. The teacher goes on.

  “Present yourself, Mizuki-san.”

  “Sure thing! My name is Mizuki Shinobu, I transferred from the Koyonahama Girls School in hopes of being reunited with my friend, Kaito! As you may know, I’m a star idol, but I don’t need polite words. Talk to me like I’m your friend. That’s all, happy to meet each and every one of you guys!”

  The boys in class look all in love with her, just what you’d expect from a national-level idol who knows how to steal the spotlight in just a few seconds.

  “You may sit in front of Kaito, there’s a free seat there.”

  Huh? Really? Can this get any worse?

  “Thank you! Looking forward to working with you, Kaito-kun!”

  I’m a bit flustered, yet I respond cool and composed.

  “Sure, looking forward to it.”

  She casually sits in the desk in front of me, happy and cheerful as always. She then turns back to me.

  “What do you think of this?”

  I was trying to keep my facial expression neutral.

  “Uh…yeah, I have mixed feelings.”

  “Come on…don’t be mean.”

  “I’m sorry. Let’s work together in the next few years.”

  Her face lit up like a lantern.

  “That’s more like it! Sure, looking forward to it!”

  I lay my head on the desk. Why did she transfer here? Is she wanting to work with me that badly, that she needs to pursue me at my school?!

  I run my fingers through my hair as I’m thinking.

  I guess I will do it, for her. Or at least try to…since she did something like this…

  As soon as the first break started – Mizuki turned her head towards me. “Kaito-kun, want to go home together after school?”

  Silence. Pure silence. Such levels have not been recorded in the history of mankind.

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  The whole class was looking at me. Especially the boys.

  The group of geeks in the other corner of the classroom was the most offended.

  “You damn playboy! How many other girls are you going to keep for yourself?! You already have Akane and Mai!”

  I reply emotionless.

  “It’s not like I intend to keep her for myself.”

  But cheerfully, Mizuki responded quickly.

  “But I will keep myself just for you.”

  “What are you saying?! Stop teasing me.”

  The group of boys was even more offended.

  “Okay…but let’s go home together after school!”

  “No can do.”

  “You’re such a fool!”

  “I’m very aware of that.”

  Akane landed me a punch. Kaguya delivered a second blow (with her cool look, smiling).

  The rest of the classes go without further trouble.

  It’s finally time to leave the school, when Mizuki comes to me.

  “Come on. We have to talk about something.”

  “I told you already I’m not going with you towards home. Let it be.”

  “It’s about the voice acting industry.”

  “What about it?”

  “I asked Director Hagayama to have dinner with us. He wants to talk to you.”

  Director Hagayama was the last person I worked with before that incident. He was one of the most popular directors in Japan. Some of his works include 2 of the top 10 movies of the 21st century in the Japanese Film Industry.

  “That Hagayama? Uhh…”

  “We already have a reservation. Let’s go. No buts.”

  She grabs my hand as we stagger down to the central station. It was a fine dining restaurant in a 30-floor skyscraper. The ambience felt really nice.

  “I don’t really have a saying in this, do I?”

  “No, you don’t. It makes me happy to get you back on track.”

  Her happy face told me everything. I let my guard down, and just accept the situation. I smile and go along with her.

  “Okay. I already thought about coming back just for your sake.”

  Mizuki turns around and faces me. She was flustered.

  “Oh, really…thanks! Means a lot to me.”

  After 20 minutes, we reach the place.

  We see Hagayama-san at our reserved table and go on to meet him.

  “Good evening, Hagayama-san! Long time no see.”

  “Oh, Kaito-kun. I’m very glad to see that you’re doing good. Let’s settle down and talk a bit, shall we?”

  We have a bit of chatter about what we have been up to in the past years, and then his face turns slightly serious.

  “Now then, let’s talk business. If you turn it down, I won’t bug you anymore, I know your reasons for not wanting to be a part of the voicing industry anymore.”

  “What plans do you have in mind?”

  “You know the recent popular manga series? ‘Fight, Kyano!’ ?”

  “I’ve heard of it.”

  “We’d like you to feature along Mizuki-chan. She’s the voice actress of the main heroine in the anime adaptation. We’d like you to be the main character’s voice. The pay is really good too.”

  “It’s not about the money, I have plenty. I’m uncertain as to whether go back in the industry or not. I kind of lost my purpose in it. I lost my ambition, my driving motivation.”

  “I see. You can’t really force someone to return that suddenly in the industry.”

  “I didn’t say no. I’m just thinking about it.”

  Mizuki intervened.

  “Come on Kaito! Let’s have some fun there! I promise it’s going to be really awesome! If we pair our strength, we will take that anime to the number 1 on national charts. And I won’t tease you anymore at school.”

  “I’m going to think about it.”

  The director seems happy about it.

  “Well, can you give me an answer in about 2 weeks?”

  “Yes. I will make up my mind until then and will inform you. Try to search for a backup option anyways.”

  The rest of the dinner went well, we had some great steak with pommes frites and then we go home.

  On the way, Mizuki is interested about my motives of quitting the industry.

  “Kaito, what’s all that about quitting suddenly?”

  “I’d rather not remember it. Last time it took me one whole year to recover from that.”

  “Oh…so it’s deep. Then I won’t ask anymore. But you can always talk to me. If there’s strain on your heart, I’m going to help you overcome it.”

  I look at her childish, happy face surprised.

  “Thanks, Mizuki.”

  I was a bit shocked. It was the first time I heard those words, with such power. Is she just nice to me? Or deep down does she really care about me…

  I arrive home, wave Mizuki goodbye and go change up. I was already tired but I had one more thing to do.

  I grab my smartphone and search up Mizuki’s name on the web. Her name was related to all sorts of subjects. She seemed like a genuinely nice person, a true kind soul, so I decided not to pry into her life too much. I put the phone in its charger and went to sleep.