iridesenescence

Season: Summer
Writer: Akira
Location: Staff Cafeteria

Niki: Ahaha, you've been going on about that since we first met, Rinne-kun. Saying things like, "I wanna be an idol! But I dunno how, do you?"

Rinne: ......

Niki: And did I know? 'Course not! 'Cos I'm a chef, not an idol.
On top of that, the entire topic of idols has been taboo in my household ever since my dad was left behind at the industry's convenience.
Talking about idols would make my dad angry. Getting angry means you get hungry, and getting hungry means you'll die!
So, because I didn't know, we worked together to find out, didn't we?
Reading books, surfing the net, asking the people in the industry who came to the shop I was working at...
When I told you the things I'd learned each day, you were always so happy, your eyes would shine.
Geez, you used to be so innocent and cute~...

Rinne: ......

Niki: Then we begged and pleaded with an acquaintance in the industry, who helped us find our way into CosPro...
And you managed to become an idol, didn't you, Rinne-kun? The idol you had always dreamed of being.
Even back then, I didn't know what you'd get up to if left alone, so I ended up tagging along for a bit.
Gosh, I'm so kind! You're really not gonna find anyone else like this, you know~?
Thanks to that, I even ended up arguing with my dad... Well, I guess he was just concerned.
Things didn't end well for him, after all~ He probably didn't want me making the same mistake.
'Cos of that mess, I became kinda averse to idols too, and slowly became less active...
In the end, you worked hard as a solo idol...
Your effort paid off, and you grew pretty successful as an idol.
I don't know why you put your mailing address as my house, but mountains of letters from your fans kept arriving, you know! I had a hard time dealing with them!
By the way, they're all still there, so if you're going back to your hometown, remember to take them with you.
If you leave them with me, I'll probably toss them into a bonfire to roast meat when I get hungry.

Rinne: ......

Niki: The number of new letters you received slowly decreased... Since you didn't join the flow of things, you lost your fame, and work stopped coming your way—
And the bigshot who helped us into the idol industry and supported us, lost all his power during last year's SS.
All the idols with ties to him were dragged into his mess too. So you ended up with nowhere to belong in the industry...
Well, you did have a good track record, so you didn't get fired immediately.
But you gave up, saying you wouldn't ever be able to shine the way you used to, lost hope and despaired...
Did you grow desperate and decide to make one last bang before you went out, Rinne-kun?
You used to be so obedient, but suddenly your persona flipped and you became so rowdy...
It's similar to how you are offstage, so I was used to it, but I bet your old fans from back when you were well-behaved were shocked.

Rinne: ......

Niki: Hey, are you satisfied, Rinne-kun? Have you done everything you wanted to?

Niki: You're really something, you know? Being able to mess with the entirety of ES like that...
You made the gamble of a lifetime, and you made it pay off. This whole time, everything's been going the way you wanted it to.
Nevermind what that means for an idol, but for a gambler, that's a big deal, isn't it?
You satisfied? So why haven't you gone back to your hometown? Why're you hanging around like you've still got regrets~?
You did everything you wanted, so all you gotta do now is happily head on home, right?
If that's not it, and you're not done yet — if you still wanna be an idol—

Rinne: —Mm~nn. I ain't qualified to do that anymore.

Niki: Oh, is that right. Being an idol is a job that needs qualifications and licences, huh.

Rinne: ... Sorry 'bout this, Niki. For makin' ya stick with me, even at the very end of things.

Niki: Yeurgh, that's so weird... If you're gonna just apologise for something and say "sorry 'bout that" at the end, I'd rather you not do it in the first place. Seriously.
'Sides, I've stuck with you 'cos I want to. If I didn't, I'd be lo~ng gone, since doing unnecessary things will make me starve to death.
Neither you nor my dad get to decide how I should use my life. It's always gonna be me deciding that for myself.

Rinne: ......

Niki: ... Here you go. I made some kinda fried rice, so let's eat.

Rinne: Whaddya mean "some kinda"...

Niki: Oh, don't mind that~ If it tastes good and it's got nutrition in it, the name doesn't matter!
Eating the leftovers from idols who couldn't finish their food is better than eating nothing at all, isn't it?
So y'know, I actually quite liked working here.
There was al~ways a ton of food, and stuff like rent was covered just by working as an idol.

Rinne: ......?

Niki: So, I'm a li'l sad about it, but... If you've got no strength to stand back up, then I'll go with you, Rinne-kun.
I'll hold your hand and pull you back onto your feet, help you walk, and bring you to your destination.

Rinne: ... My destination?

Niki: I mean, you're going back to your hometown, aren't you, Rinne-kun?

Rinne: Yeah, 's what I'm thinkin'... Are you... Gonna come with me?

Niki: Long as I've got food to eat, I'm fine with anything.
Your hometown sounds kinda like a strange, different world, but you gotta at least have food there, right?
Seems like you're gonna become a king or something too, so use that power and make it so I get to eat even without having to work, please!
I've been taking care of you all this while, so that's returning the favour.

Rinne: ... Well, feedin' one extra person ain't a problem. But are ya really okay with this, Niki?

Niki: With what? I mean, yeah, Himeru-kun and Kohaku-chan still seem like they've got stuff they want to do, so I feel kinda bad just up and disappearing on them.
But those two are idols, so they gotta keep living here.
I'm a chef, not an idol, so I can live anywhere.
'Sides. When I first found you, I already decided I'd look after you the whole way.
That's what it means to be responsible for a life — it's my pride as a chef!
I can't leave you on your own as you are right now, anyway. It's a pain, but oh well.
I've been unlucky since the moment I was born, so I'm sure this was always going to be my fate.
... Got a problem with that, Rinne-kun?