Budding Season

Yuuta: (Whoa, the agency got me some super spicy senbei.)

(I’ll just help myself, then~ Munch munch...)

(Ah, it’s so good! I just love the sting on my tongue... ☆)

(Since we’ve started pushing the whole “sweet tooth older brother” and “spice loving younger brother” shtick to make our twin characters stand out...)

(The people around us remember us better, and I’m always getting spicy treats now~)

(Like, “My client got me this souvenir, so I saved it for you, Yuuta-kun,” or “I saw this while I was on a business trip and got it for you.”)

(I’m so glad we made this our distinguishing feature... ☆)

(I have an interview with an idol magazine today. I’ll have to bring it up then, too ♪)

(...Tomorrow I’m pretty much swamped in solo work. I’ve been getting a ton of gigs just for me lately.)

(It makes sense, though, half of 2wink just changed his whole look, even though we usually market ourselves around being two peas in a pod.)

(It pisses me off when sleazy gossip magazines say that this is just some “late bloomer’s rebellion” or boil it down to the agency’s policies.)

(But I guess if I really thing about it, it’s better than no one talking about me at all.)

(...But I just can’t help it sometimes; it really pisses me off!)

(But anyway, all this buzz is only temporary, so I can’t let myself get too carried away with it.)

(It’s just the hot new thing. Everyone’s talking about it because it’s weird and unexpected, and people want to hear about it—)

(So I have to think longterm, what I’m going to do as part of 2wink and as Aoi Yuuta.)

(I know it’s not enough to just stay the same way I’ve always been. But how am I supposed to show everyone who I am now...?)

(......)

(Urgh, I can’t think of anything...)

(Maybe I could read some idol magazines for inspo.)

Rinne: Wassuuuup~ Crazy:B in da hoooouse ♪ No Niki, though.

Yuuta: (Eugh. A bunch of pests just walked in!)

(Maybe if I hide my face behind the magazine, they won’t see me...)

Rinne: Oho, cutie alert! Yuta~ ♪

Yuuta: (Ignore him...)

Rinne: Well hey, that’s the magazine Crazy:B did some gravure shots for.

Did I captivate you or something? Well shucks, now I’m all embarrassed! Gyahaha ☆

Yuuta: (I–ignore him...! Don’t respond or you’re letting him win!)

HiMERU: —Stop it, Amagi.

Kohaku: Seriously. Look, you’re botherin’ Yuuta-han.

Rinne: It’s fiiiiiine, Yuta and me are best buds.

C’mon Yuta, don’t ignore me. Don’tcha wanna have some fun with Onii-chan?

Yuuta: You are not my onii-chan!

Rinne: There, I finally gotcha looking at me.

Are you for realsies eating all that spicy as shit senbei again? You keep wolfing those down, your stomach’s gonna crap out on you.[1]

Yuuta: That’s none of your business.

Rinne: Hmm... you still growing your hair out?

Yuuta: ...I just haven’t cut it yet, that’s all.

As long as it doesn’t affect my work, I can do whatever I want with my hair, you know.

HiMERU: HiMERU agrees with this. If one grow out their hair, it can be styled in a number of ways, too.

Kohaku: Is that why Niki-han’s got long hair?

Rinne: Nah, he just decided to grow it out for some reason or another. Nothing special.

It was shorter when we first met, but it was still long enough to tie up.

Kohaku: Huh, okay. ...Yuuta-han, there’s something I’ve been wonderin’ about for a while now. Can I ask a stupid question?

Are you copyin’ Madara-han with that style?

Yuuta: Huh? Mikejima-senpai?

Kohaku: It’s like, half-up and half-down. Madara-han wears his the same way.

I thought you might’ve taken inspiration from him, but judgin’ from your reaction, I guess I was wrong.

Yuuta: Ahaha... I guess. It’s just a coincidence, really. I thought it would look too normal if all I did was grow it out.

And it’d get in my face when I was moving around, so I just pulled it back at the sides.

I didn’t expect anyone to think I was copying Mikejima-senpai. If I’m going to grow my hair out, I’ll need to try harder...

Rinne: You could always let Crazy:B do up your hair, how ‘bout that? We’ll make you a five-star meal.

Yuuta: Thanks for the offer~ If I ever need a hairdresser, I’ll definitely come to you~

Rinne: Oh, that’s never gonna happen.

Yuuta: Ahaha ♪ Well, would you look at the time? The journalist from the magazine’s here, so I guess I’d better be off.

HiMERU: Yes. Please try to excuse our Amagi.

Rinne: You suck.

Later, Yuta.

Kohaku: Good luck with work.

Yuuta: (Let them do my hair...? Crazy:B’s definitely changed, too. They weren’t like that back when they first debuted at all.)

(...Well, I’m the same way. When I debuted, I was... no. I’ve always been imitating Aniki ever since we were doing street performances.

(We were the two-in-one twin idols, 2wink.)

(Because that was our strongest weapon.)[2]

(...So how am I going to change? How will I keep growing, and who will I become?)

(......)

(I don’t know. So for now, I’ll just do what I can. Step by step, Aoi Yuuta-style.)

(If I keep that up, then someday—)

(I know I’ll reach the future I want.)

  1. “Again” refers back to Love Letter.
  2. A reference to Cinema Theater.