(*Sigh*

I don't have work today. That means I can have lunch at school for a change...)

It'd be nice to eat with someone...

Shizuku...isn't here.

Pretty sure she has that magazine shoot today.

Hmm... Who else is there...?

Oh, of course...!

Let's see... Class A should be...

Huh? Airi?

Ayumi, perfect! I was just looking for you! Wanna have lunch together today?

Wait, really?

Yes, really. I just happen to not have work today.

Wow, this is great!

We haven't been able to hang out at all since we entered high school and you switched courses...

Oh, is it okay if I invite a few others?

Remember the classmates I introduced you to the other day? We always eat together.

Yeah, of course!

They're welcome to join if they want.

Okay, I'll go ask them now.

Airi, you wait for us down in the courtyard!

You and Momoi went to the same junior high, Ayumi? When did you two become friends?

During our first year.

Our seats were next to each other and we just hit it off.

Yeah, we really did!

Wow. You must've been surprised when you saw a famous idol who's on TV all the time sitting next to you.

Actually, no.

That was before she debuted as an idol.

Really? Can you tell us what you were like back then?

Not all that different from now.

I was already in love with idols then...

Oh, but I was pretty rowdy when I was a kid. I preferred to play outside and even got into fights with some boys...

I put all that behind me when I decided to become an idol. Instead, I began learning more about fashion and started working on my singing and dancing.

And your dream actually came true?

That's so cool, Momoi!

I dunno.

It feels more like I've been given a chance to make it happen as opposed to it actually coming true.

Oh, while we're on the subject...

Ayumi helped me out a bunch when I was still trying to become an idol.

Wait, me? What did I do?

Hehe. I suppose it didn't seem like much from your perspective...

But you never put down my dream of becoming an idol. You always supported me.

What you said that time made me so happy. Most people tended to laugh or snicker when I told them how I wanted to become an idol.

So, it was nice to hear someone giving me their support. You gave me so much encouragement.

Wow, that really happened?

Way to go, Ayumi!

I-It meant that much to you...?

But I was just telling you how I felt...

Huh?

I mean, Airi, you've always had this brilliant aura about you.

On the day of the entrance ceremony, none of my friends were in my class and I had a lot of trouble talking to anyone else...

Everyone around was chatting and sounded like they were having so much fun... Without me... That made me feel so anxious...

Airi then noticed that I looked really concerned...

She was actually talking to someone else, but went out of her way to greet me.

She said, “Hi, I'm Airi Momoi. Nice to meet you.”

It was a really simple greeting, but it made me feel so much better for some reason...

After that, we kept talking and eventually became really close...

Yeah, I remember that now...

I won't ever forget.

I mean, when you first spoke to me that day, you were enveloped in this incredible aura...

Ayumi...

It's why I thought it was totally possible when you told me that you wanted to become an idol. If anything, I believed you were really cut out for it.

You did...?

It's a little embarrassing to hear that so directly... But thanks. I really appreciate it.

The Momoi in that story is exactly what we're used to seeing on TV!

You really are a friendly and caring person.

I wish I was that close with you.

Hehe. Thanks!

I'd like that as well.

I know. Why don't you all take this opportunity to start calling me by my first name? That should make things easier, right?

Really?! Then...!

I hope we get to hang out more, Airi!

Yeah, me too!

Okay, I have the meeting for that variety show tomorrow afternoon.

(I'm still not sure how I feel about appearing on one of these shows, but I have a duty to fulfill.)

I also have that test coming up. I'll need to make some time to study for it. But when...?

Oh, a message from Ayumi?

(Maybe she wants to have lunch.

Come to think of it, I haven't been able to join them lately because work has been so busy...)

(And yet, she's still inviting me...

I couldn't be more grateful.)

<Airi, have you heard about the field trip already?>

Field trip?

<Apparently, we're going to PXL and are gonna have some free time to ourselves.>

<We can go around the park with people from other classes during that time. Wanna hang out?>

Right, the field trip... It's really soon, but I'm pretty sure that I...

Yeah, I have a shoot that day.

<As fun as that sounds, I'm really sorry. I have a shoot that day and can't go...>

...

(She's taking a while to reply...)

<That's okay! I know you're really busy. We can always hang out another time!>

<Yeah, let's do that one of these days.>

One of these days...

(Is that day ever going to come...?)

*Sigh*

That shoot went quicker than I expected. If I head home now, I'll have some time to study.

(Oh, wait... Wasn't everyone supposed to go on that field trip today?)

(I hope Ayumi and the others had fun... I'll send her a message later when...)

Hehe. That was so much fun.

We should go again together sometime.

(Huh? That sounded like...)

Ayumi!

Huh? Airi?

What are you doing here? I thought you were working...

It ended sooner than expected, so I'm on my way home now. Are you guys just coming back?

Yeah! PXL was really fun!

It'd been a while since I last went, but it was even more fun than I remembered. I sort of couldn't help but go all out.

Oh, hang on.

We took a bunch of pictures, Airi. Wanna see?

Yeah, lemme see!

Where do we start? Oh, how about this one? It's the one of us just after we came out of the haunted house...

Oh, yeah... You were totally terrified, Ayumi. Remember when you screamed your lungs out and shoved us forward? You almost made us fall over.

H-Hey, no one else needs to know about that. Let's look at a different one...

Hehe. What else was there? Hmm...

Oh, here's when we went to watch that show...

Hey, this is the one we got to take with Phenny! He was so cute!

He really was! I took a bunch with him too!

Hehe. Looks like you all had a lot of fun.

We did!

Oh, how amazing was that show?

Yeah, the one at the Phoenix Stage?

They definitely weren't some run-of-the-mill troupe.

The churros we got after were also really good.

They even had some that were melon soda flavored. I wish I could've given that a try.

Hehe. We can get some the next time we go!

That includes you, Airi!

Huh? R-Right...!

Next time, we...

...

(If I raise their hopes again, only to dash them in the end...)

Um, Airi?

Huh? Oh, sorry.

I spaced out there for a second.

So, PXL...

Yeah, next time... Let's go together.

Oh...

...

Airi... I'm sorry.

I was so thoughtless...

Huh?

I knew you were busy with work and all, but I kept sending you messages and inviting you to hang out...

What...? N-No, don't worry about that.

I really appreciate how you've been inviting me out and stuff!

Okay, thanks.

I appreciate you being so polite about this, Airi.

No, I really do...

Oh, I almost forgot...!

I took some pictures too! Wanna see?

The view from the Ferris wheel was so pretty.

I hope those turned out okay...

Oh...

Whoa, hey, this one!

I have such a stupid look on my face...

When did you take this?!

Oh... Hehe. I couldn't help it. It was just too funny...

Really? That's your excuse...

Delete it right now...!

What?! No, wait! I wanna see!

You're not allowed to delete it until I do!

(I was just...)

(It's not a bother... Really...)

(But...)

Gimme your phone, Ayumi! I'm getting rid of that pic before anyone else has a chance to see it!

Hey, wait! Gimme back my phone!

(I guess there's nothing I can do about this...)

(I placed work before hanging out with my friends. And Ayumi said what she did just now because...)

(This is the path I chose...)

(Still...)

Oh, this is the last one we took together! It turned out a lot better than I realized!

(I didn't realize it'd feel this lonely not being included...)