Chapter 10
Subaru: Oh! Hey, look at that! They’ve got Eve’s commercial playing on the TV over there!
That’s so cool, I want us to be just like that! We’ve gotta work hard to get there~ ♪
Hokuto: Yeah. If we’re in collab commercials, we’ll become much more well known.
Our first step in that direction will be getting good results at Sunflower Live.
Makoto: Definitely! ...Ah—?!
Hokuto: What’s wrong, Yuuki? Did you forget something?
Makoto: No, it’s not that. I just remembered Isara-kun left his phone with me, and I forgot to give it back...
I have to return it! I think I can make it in time if I go now, so I’ll hurry to catch up to them!
Sorry, but can you go home with just Hidaka-kun and Akehoshi-kun, Anzu-chan?
Subaru: You got it~ Hope you catch up with them, Ukki!
Welp, see you tomorrow. Bye-bye~ ♪
Ritsu: Maa~kun.
Mao: Whoa—you freaked me out! We’re not home yet, so go back to sleep.
Ritsu: Mm, thanks. But I’m feeling better now that it’s night, so I’ll be fine.
I’m getting down... All right.
Ritsu: ......
Mao: Ritsuuu, what’s wrong? You said you were feeling better, but you’re totally in a bad mood. Or no, maybe it’s my imagination? I hope so...
Ritsu: Mhm, usually I am in a good mood at night, but not today. I’m actually really pissed off.
Hey Maa~kun. You know there isn’t much time left until Sunflower Live, right? How are you so easygoing about all this?
I told you I’d help you out, but you haven’t even talked to me or anything... What’s with that? Do you like pissing me off?
Mao: I don’t! Ugh, I mean, sorry for not talking to you about it. But you and Knights have been super busy with work too, right?
And besides, I can’t let you get caught up in Trickstar’s problems.
Ritsu: Hmm, so you’re fine with all your Trickstar buddies getting caught up in it then?
And yet you haven’t even told them about that, have you?
‘Cause you told me I had to keep it a secret.
Makoto: ...?!
(Wait, huh? Isara-kun, are you hiding something from us...?)
(What do I do? I shouldn’t just be eavesdropping—Maybe I should call out to them? But the atmosphere is so tense, I’m too scared to even try!)
Mao: I know. You’re right, Ritsu.
But don’t worry, everyone’s super motivated. We’ll get through Sunflower Live without a hitch.
Ritsu: That’s just the live part. What about the booth? You haven’t even decided what kind of merch you’ll have, so how do you expect to be top sales?
If you don’t come out on top, then I lose you. Remember?
Makoto: Huh...?!
Hang on—what do you mean, you’ll lose him?!
Mao: M–Makoto? Why’re you...? Didn’t you go home with Subaru and them?
Makoto: I was, but then I realized I still had your phone, so I chased after you to give it back.
Mao: Oh... Sorry, I totally forgot about that too. Thanks for coming all the way out here.
Makoto: ......
Mao: Makoto? Can I get my phone back?
Makoto: Before that, answer my question. What did he mean when he said he might lose you if we don’t get top sales with our booth?
Mao: Oh no no, Ritsu was just exaggerating, y’know? It’s not like I’ll disappear or anything.
Makoto: But it does mean that the price you had to pay was just as heavy, right?
Mao: Urgh... fine. Since we’re here, I’ll come clean.
Remember how I said before that our condition was that we had to be the best idols performing at Sunflower Live?
Well, there was also one more condition: We have to get top sales with our booth on top of that.
And if we don’t manage both of them... then I have to do whatever Hibiki-senpai says for the rest of summer break.
Makoto: ...? Why Hibiki-senpai?
Mao: Oh, ‘cause Hibiki-senpai’s the one competing with us for sales. There are gonna be other booths, but I’m pretty sure he’ll be our number one rival.
Makoto: Jeez... Why didn’t you tell us, Isara-kun?
Mao: I just didn’t want you guys to worry over nothing.
I’d hate to ruin all the fun you guys were gonna have at Sunflower Live.
Makoto: Worry over nothing? You don’t think it’d ruin our vacation if you weren’t there?
Mao: No, it’s more that I know you guys can come out on top. So I didn’t really think I needed to tell you about it.
Makoto: Yeah, ‘cause you trust us. So if you trust us so much, why didn’t you talk to us about this?
Did you think we’d turn tail and run if we found out we were up against Hibiki-senpai?
Mao: No way, for you guys it’d be more like the opposite...
Makoto: Exactly. We’d get all fired up and give it our all. And you still didn’t tell us anything.
Did you notice? You keep on saying “you guys,” not including yourself in there.
But that’s just how it is with you, isn’t it? You always take a step back and look at the big picture, thinking about what the best move is to get the best outcome.
And I’ve always supported you, but I can’t do that this time.
Mao: Makoto...
Makoto: Ah, right. I was supposed to give you your phone back. Here you go, sorry for holding onto it.
Mao: Umm, thanks but—that’s not what I was...
Makoto: Well, I’m gonna go. See you tomorrow, Isara-kun.
Mao: Oh—okay...
Ritsu: Woooow, he’s pissed.
I told you you should’ve let your buddies know. They care about you just as much as you care about them, you know.
You’ve gotta lie in the bed you made this time, Maa~kun. You better do some serious reflection on this one.
Mao: ......