set theory 1

Makoto: ......

(Ahaha. The second Akehoshi-kun leaves, it gets all quiet again. It’s kind of lonely...)

(But I’m glad I got to laugh and smile and talk with people so much today.)

(It’s been so long, or it feels like it anyway. Akehoshi-kun probably doesn’t know anything about where I come from, so he didn’t have any trouble coming up to me.)

(Well, no, he’s the son of that super-famous idol, so maybe I’m no big deal to him.)

(Either way, it was a lucky break for me. At this rate, I might actually be able to blend with everyone.)

(Yumenosaki Academy is a pretty standard idol training school... but really, not many people here are actually passionate about achieving those dreams.)

(Or more like no one takes it seriously. They just lord over people, using the idol title they didn’t even earn as a shield to hide behind.)

(They don’t even work hard, but they’re still fawned over just because they’re idols.)

(It surprised me at first. But I should have expected it, honestly, since we’re all still students.)

(I come off as a total amateur, but that’s fine with me. If I get too carried away, I won’t be able to read the room around me.)

(But I can’t stop wondering if taking it so easy was actually okay...)

(When I was a model, I was working myself to the brink of insanity to survive, day in and day out.)

(Here? I get rewarded just for being alive. They give me compliments for breathing, like I’m some baby.)

(I’m being spoiled... It’s going to screw me over eventually, but man is it easy.)

(I’m sure it’s fine. It’s like being alive without actually being alive. Sort of this empty feeling...)

(The modeling industry was so insanely stressful, like a battlefield with everyone trying to crush each other underfoot. That’s gotta be the outlier here.)

(So I’ll accept this as it is and disappear into the crowd... I’ll adjust myself bit by bit until I’m indistinguishable.)

(If that’s what everyone else around me wants... then I’ll turn myself into the exact same unmotivated, useless, fake idol they are.)

(It’s easier to follow the current and not think too hard about it. So it’s fine, continuing like this.)

(I’ll just live the rest of my life in a daze.)

(Because I can’t put myself at risk anymore.)

(...?)

(Huh? I just heard a knock on the door.)

(Is it Akehoshi-kun? Maybe he forgot something here...?)

Oh, Akehoshi-kun? What’s up?

Mao: ...‘Sup. Uh, excuse me.

Makoto: Hm? Uh...?

Mao: Oh, hey. You’re Yuuki, from my class. So you’re in the game club? That’s cool, that’s cool. Awesome, even—at least I know someone here.

Well actually, it’d probably be way easier to do this if I didn’t know anyone here.

...Um, okay. So can I talk to you a sec, Yuuki?

Makoto: Huh? Me? I mean, sure, I guess...?

Mao: Can you speak a little more clearly? It’s really hard to hear you, so I have no idea what you’re saying.

Makoto: Oh, uh? Sorry...?

Mao: You don’t have to apologize. Mm, okay, sorry for doing this all of a sudden... but I’m never gonna get through it if I don’t just say it straight.

The game club has been formally disbanded. You have three days from now to get everything out of the clubroom and vacate it.

The student council will confiscate everything that’s left in the room.

Here’s the document, signed by a teacher. This one’s a copy, but the original is in the student council room, so it’s useless to try and rip it up.

Makoto: Hang on, what? I heard it was going to be shut down, but right now...?

Mao: Sorry, dude. Please don’t shoot the messenger, okay? If you have something to say, you can make a statement and submit it to the student council.

Makoto: W–well then, what do I do? You’re not even going to hear me out...?

How am I supposed to clear out the clubroom? All of this belongs to upperclassmen.

And none of them show up for club meetings.

But if I get rid of them without asking, they’re definitely going to be angry!

Mao: I don’t have an answer for you. It’s your problem, so you’ve gotta deal with it on your own.

You could cry and scream for all I care, but I don’t have any power to help you with this.

I’m just the gofer they sent to tell you about this. I do feel bad about it, but it’s really not my business to get into.

Makoto: Wh–what the... You’re heartless, Isara-kun. I always saw you as a nice and cheery guy who was always the center of attention in class.

Mao: Hate to break it to you, but I’m not really that nice. I just happen to be versatile.