Emotional Support

This SS is available as a bonus for buying Both Y3V1 and Y2 Guidebook. It was translated by discord user itriedeverything.
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~Emotional Support~


Late Thursday night, as the clock approached 1 AM.

I, Haruka Hasebe, sat in front of my computer, quietly waiting for the moment to arrive.

What kept running through my mind was Kiyo—no, Ayanokoji-kun’s transfer to another class.

At the celebration party at the end of spring break, he looked the same as always.
But I had no idea what was going on inside his heart.

Even though several days had passed since the opening ceremony, the class was still in chaos, and many people were struggling to grasp the situation.

Even Horikita-san hadn’t been informed about the transfer.

Could it be…

“…Was it my fault?”

I couldn’t help but think that.

When Airi was expelled, I resented Ayanokoji-kun.
I thought he had trampled on her feelings—and on our group’s feelings as well.

I don’t know what Ayanokoji-kun truly felt.
But… I’ve come to understand that in order to survive in this school, sacrifices are sometimes necessary.

I think I’ve at least learned that much.

So, the fact that Ayanokoji-kun chose to transfer didn’t really come as much of a surprise to me.

“…No, that’s just arrogance, isn’t it?”

Resenting Ayanokoji-kun, yet at the same time wanting to rebuild our group…

It wasn’t that I was disgusted by such convenient thoughts.

There’s no way Ayanokoji-kun transferred because of something like that.

I’m sure this is something beyond my understanding.
He has his own thoughts, thoughts that belong to him alone.

As the clock struck 1 AM, the screen automatically switched.

A cheap title appeared, followed by the sound of applause from the audience, and two male hosts came into view.

They were a comedy duo that had recently started gaining some popularity.

Even though I had school in the morning, this was the reason I was staying up late.

Every Thursday at this hour, a web show called “Idol no Tamago” (“Idol Egg”) was broadcast.

Ten aspiring idols were invited to the studio, where they tackled challenges set by the show while competing in an online popularity vote.
Every two months, the contestant who ranked first in the final results would graduate from the show and receive a new job opportunity.

Conversely, the contestant who ranked last would be eliminated and replaced with a new competitor.

It seemed to be a rather long-running show, having already passed its third anniversary.

That said, I only started watching it a few months ago.

Because… there was someone participating in this show.

The contestants’ numbers on their chests indicated how long they had been in the competition, with lower numbers belonging to the veterans.

The girl I was rooting for wore the number 9.

“Alright, let’s get started with our first challenge! Here it is! The Hot Oden Reaction Battle!”

A roughly written cue card was flipped over, revealing the challenge theme.

Last time, when she first appeared on the web show, she was still practically unknown.
But in the very first popularity poll, she managed to rank 6th—an impressive start.

Her talk skills weren’t exactly great, but her earnestness and the way she tackled every challenge with everything she had won over some fans.

I stared intently at the screen, waiting for her turn.

She watched the previous contestant’s reaction nervously, looking tense.

“Would it be okay if I talked to you just a little?” I muttered to myself and continued,

“Yeah, that’s right. He transferred, didn’t he?”

It was just me talking to myself. I knew my words wouldn’t reach her, yet I spoke to her through the screen.

It had been quite some time since we last saw each other face to face.

But even now, beyond the screen, her feelings hadn’t changed.

I recalled last week’s challenge.

“Confess to your first love.”

Blushing, she had spoken her true feelings.

She met that person in her first year of high school—
And even now, she was still in love.

That’s what she said.

It was someone she met in her first year of high school, and even now, she still has unrequited feelings for him.

To an outsider, it might seem like a painful experience, something she’d rather forget. But instead of dwelling on it, she’s moving forward.

I was supposed to be the one leading the way, holding her hand. Yet, before I knew it, I had been left behind.

She’s the one supporting me now—smiling from afar, waving, telling me to keep walking.

Then I have to move forward, too. As a friend she wouldn’t be ashamed of…

Even so, the things she blurts out are reckless, always making those around her panic.

As an idol, openly admitting to having someone she likes is still too naïve.

But it’s fine.

She’s still just an idol in training.

Besides, if it’s just a one-sided crush, maybe it’s okay?

“Should I have shown this side of her to Ayanokoji-kun sooner…?”

Her hard work.

Her bright, cheerful smile.

If he knew, would it have changed how he felt about his class?

”…No.”

Probably not.

By now, in Ayanokoji-kun’s heart, she has already—

Vanished completely.

And if those feelings were ever to return, it would be like turning a zero into a one.

“…No.”

It was probably impossible.

Ayanokoji-kun had already erased her existence from his heart.

If his feelings were ever to return, it would only be after she had changed from a zero to a one.

Not as the powerless girl she had been at Advanced Nurturing High School.

But as the idol fighting desperately on the other side of this screen—the zero who had transformed into a one.

If that time ever came, I’d want her to say it to his face.

“Thanks to you, I became stronger. But I have no interest in you anymore.”

Maybe then, even Ayanokoji-kun would be caught off guard.

“…No, she wouldn’t say something like that.”

She would probably just express her gratitude honestly.

She wasn’t the kind of idol who played both sides.

She was the kind of idol who fought earnestly, relying only on what was visible.

So, I cheered for her from behind the screen.

Right now, I could only watch her through the screen.

I couldn’t hear her voice.

And she couldn’t hear mine.

But I wouldn’t stop.

“Keep going!”

I’d cheer for her again and again.

“I’ll keep going for another year too… so that when we meet again outside, I won’t be someone she’d laugh at.”

I had already been left behind.

So no matter what, I couldn’t stop moving forward.
“Do your best!”

I cheered for her through the screen.

Right now, I could only see her from behind this screen.

I couldn’t hear her voice.

And she couldn’t hear mine.

But I wouldn’t stop.

“Do your best!” Over and over again.

No matter how many times, I would keep cheering for her.

“I’ll keep going for another year too… so that when we meet again outside, I won’t be someone she’d laugh at.”

She had already surpassed me.

That’s why, no matter what happens, I can’t afford to stand still.

I have to run and catch up.

I can’t let Ayanokoji-kun’s transfer break my spirit.

Let’s work hard together.

And in a year—

I’ll definitely go see her.

“Do your best, Airi.”

I called her name and smiled at the screen.