nazunyan427

Tomoya’s 3rd Idol Story

Season: Summer

Author: Yoshino Yuki

Location: Sky Garden

Tomoya:

...Whew.

(Coming up here really puts my heart at ease. I feel like all of my exhaustion just melts away.)

Tsukasa:

...Oh? Is that you over there, Mashiro-kun?

Tomoya:

Hm? Oh, hey, Suou! What a coincidence! ♪

Tsukasa:

Heheh. It certainly is, isn’t it. I thought I’d come up here to give myself some room to breathe. Might I assume the same for you, Mashiro-kun?

Tomoya:

Yeah. I figured I’d come up here to take it easy while enjoying the flowers. Ahaha, I sure sound like an old timer.

Tsukasa:

Nothing wrong with that, if you ask me, for I am here for quite similar reasons. Flowers do have quite a soothing effect on a weary soul.

Tomoya:

Oh yeah? Does that mean you’re feeling a little exhausted yourself, Suou? You’re Knights’ new leader now, right?

... It’s rough going, huh? Being the leader of a unit. I mean, I’m Ra*bits’ leader right now, so I kind of get how you feel.

Though I guess Knights have a whole bunch of newcomers to deal with, so it’s rough going in a different way than a Nii~chan-less Ra*bits.

When you’re the leader, there are some things you’re not always able to talk about with your unitmates. I don’t mind listening, so feel free to reach out to me if you need someone to lend an ear.

Tsukasa:

Heheh, that’s very considerate of you. It is indeed as you say: I’ve been entrusted with becoming the new Leader—the new King of Knights.

That said, the King of Knights is moreso an honorary title.

Furthermore, a rule has been established that the crown is to be entrusted to Leo-san—the previous King—while within ES. It’s a rather comfortable position for me.

I believe that you are in a far more stressful position than I am, Mashiro-kun... You just mentioned that when there are things I’m not able to discuss with my unitmates that I may turn to you, correct?

I shall return the sentiment. We seem to have met here today by some twist of fate, so I should be only too willing to listen to any of your worries.

Tomoya:

Suou... Ahaha, thanks.

I'm not so stuck that I feel the need to vent to somebody, really. It’s just that, when you’re the leader, it feels like you have to constantly be switched on.

Even in situations where I can afford to let my guard down a little, I find myself being hyper aware that I’m supposed to act like a leader. And I end up making myself unnecessarily exhausted.

Tsukasa:

Ah, I’m rather familiar with that feeling. As the leader—King, in my case—you must behave in an exemplary way to your subjects.

You never know who might be watching. I too am ever conscious of both my words and actions.

Tomoya:

Ahaha. You’re always so crazy polite that even if you weren’t paying extra attention, I don’t think it would matter too much.

Oh, change of subject, but when I turned on the TV to watch this animal documentary the other day, I saw a couple of familiar faces in a commercial! Turned out to be Knights!

It was some sort of advertisement for a suit company. Everyone looked super sharp in their suits. You were all so cool! ♪

Tsukasa:

My, thank you! Yes, we filmed it some time ago, so I do believe it's about time that it was aired.

Heheh. Right up until they began to film, the senior members of Knights were chatting away and composing songs without so much as a care in the world.

And yet once those cameras started rolling, the atmosphere changed completely. There was an air of grace and dignity as would be expected of Knights.

If only they had simply conducted themselves as such from the very beginning!

Tomoya:

I feel like I’m seeing Knights everywhere these days. I really wanna make sure the next job we take on goes successfully so that we can start to get Ra*bits’ name out there more.

Tsukasa:

Hmm... Incidentally, you mentioned that you intended to watch a documentary about animals. Did that have something to do with an upcoming job?

Or were you merely watching it out of your own interest?

I’m rather fond of animals myself, Mashiro-kun. I find the likes of kittens particularly adorable and lovely~ ♪

Tomoya:

Oh, I’m actually in the habit of watching that sort of thing, but I guess it’s kind of connected to work too. There are actually plans for us to appear on that program as guests.

Wait, have I ever talked to you about liking animals before?

Tsukasa:

Ah, no. I believe that that’s something I heard from your unitmate, Tenma-kun.

When you’re out together, you often have dogs and cats approach you, or so I've heard? I’m rather jealous.

Tomoya:

Mmm, I dunno if that’s something to be jealous of though? I do get dogs and cats following me around a lot, and once I start paying attention to them, they want me to keep playing with them forever.

But anyway. So you like animals too, huh?

We didn’t get that many chances to hang out while we were first years, so it’d be nice if the two of us could bond more from here on.

You may claim that you're in a pretty comfortable position even after becoming leader and all that, but you still came up here to the Sky Garden the same as I did. You were weary enough to want to come up here for a breather.

We’re both in the same position, so there’s bound to be topics we can sympathize with one another about, even if it’s just our mutual exhaustion.

We just happened to bump into one another today by chance. But the next time we’re both free, we should meet up like this to talk about how things are going and whatever stuff we’re into at the moment.

You said you were jealous of dogs and cats coming wandering over to me, so if we hang out together, that just might happen. Though it's not really possible right now, since there aren't any up here.

Tsukasa:

Very well... I shall have to take you up on that offer the next time we are both free! ♪

Tomoya:

Yeah! I hope we can talk about loads of stuff and encourage each other, too! ♪

Translation: nazunyan427

Proofreading: royalquintet