Chapter 43 It's Okay If You Want to Attack Me
It’s Okay If You Want to Attack Me
After school, I sat at my desk in my room and opened my PC. Today, I had an online meeting with Mika-san. As her face appeared on the screen, she greeted me in her usual friendly tone.
[Ten-cchi, long time no see~ How’s the progress on the new song~?]
Mika-san’s voice was always soft and relaxing to listen to.
“I think it’s going well so far. The melody is almost complete, and I’m working on the final adjustments now.”
[Oh, good to hear~ Honestly, it's not an exaggeration to say that the group’s fate depends on the songs Ten-cchi makes, so do your best! Ah, sorry if that adds pressure.]
“Not at all. There’s definitely pressure, but more than that, I’m happy that everyone has high expectations of me. That’s why I’ll make sure to create a great song and meet those expectations.”
Hearing my response, Mika-san smiled with relief on the other side of the screen.
[Ten-cchi, you’ve really grown up without me noticing~. I really have high expectations for you. We’ll give our all to support you, so let’s create something amazing together!]
“Y-Yeah!”
[Well, since the song is going well, let’s get to the main topic. It’s about the center for the next new song. To put it simply, both you and I have now been given the right to nominate which member should be the center next time.]
“…Eh?”
The moment I heard Mika-san’s words, I was so shocked that I couldn’t speak for a while. The right to nominate the center was a crucial decision that greatly impacted the group’s music and performance direction. Until now, this decision was made by the management team, so I never imagined such a significant responsibility would be entrusted to me.
“Isn’t the group center decided by the management?”
[It used to be. The president of the entertainment division, the department head of the management team, and the director were the ones making the decision. But under the president’s new policy, you and I will now join them, making it a five-person decision.]
Is it really okay for me to hold such a responsibility?
That was my honest thought.
The selection of the center not only influenced the group but also had a major impact on each member’s career. The sudden assignment of such an important role left me swirling with anxiety.
“Why was I chosen for this?”
It was a simple question.
While I worked with the group, I was also just a genuine fan of Luminous Stars.
That’s why I felt unworthy of holding this responsibility.
[Well, it’s because Ten-cchi is the one who creates almost all of Luminous Stars’ songs. Remember? You said before that you imagine who the center would be when composing a song. So it makes sense for you to have a say.]
I had shared with Mika-san how I approached composing songs.
Considering that, what Mika-san said did make sense.
[Anyway, you don’t have to overthink it. Just propose who you think should be the center for each song moving forward.]
And with that, the day’s meeting came to an end.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that something extraordinary had just happened.
The secluded room after school was wrapped in a stillness as if cut off from the outside world. At this hour, when the sun began to set, soft light streamed in through the window. In the usual clubroom, Kanade and I were spending a peaceful moment together.
Kanade sat on a cushion across from me, resting her elbows on the table as she smiled at me.
“Sou-kun~.”
Kanade suddenly called my name.
“What is it?”
When I asked, Kanade’s expression softened. Her eyes gazed steadily back into mine.
“I just wanted to say it~.”
That was her response, but I knew this was one of her ways of asking for attention. Since we started dating, I’d learned that Kanade often expressed herself in these roundabout ways.
Before I knew it, Kanade had moved to sit next to me, resting her head on my shoulder.
“You’re being more affectionate today, huh?”
“Well, we haven’t had much time to be close lately.”
“Y-Yeah, that’s true, but…”
Given Kanade’s position as an idol, even though we’re lovers, the places where we can be alone together are limited. In the first place, we’re both busy.
“So, Sou-kun, hug me~?”
At her words, I froze for a moment, unable to comprehend what she’d just asked. I hadn’t expected such a request from her.
“S-So sudden.”
“Come on, hurry~.”
Though flustered, I knelt in front of her, and without hesitation, she wrapped her arms tightly around me. As her arms encircled my back, we slowly leaned into each other, sharing each other’s warmth. A sweet fragrance wafted from her hair at that moment.
Kanade’s hair smells so nice.
As I thought that to myself, Kanade tightened her embrace even further.
Because of that, her chest pressed firmly against mine. The unexpected contact made my cheeks instantly flush with heat. There was no way I could endure this.
“Ah, sorry, but… something’s definitely pressing against me…”
When I spoke, Kanade met my gaze.
“Sou-kun, you perv~.”
“Isn’t this kind of unavoidable…?”
I mumbled awkwardly, trying gently to pull away from her. However, it seemed my words had the opposite effect on Kanade, as she hugged me even tighter.
“Just a little longer…”
Kanade’s voice was soft, but it carried a certain resolve.
Her tight embrace brought our bodies even closer, and the scent of her hair filled my consciousness even more strongly. My heart rate spiked, and a mix of nervousness and confusion coursed through me. As that tension reached its peak, I lost my balance, involving Kanade along with me.
“Whoa!?”
In the moment we fell, I desperately tried to steady myself, but it was too late—we tumbled onto the tatami floor. I managed to cushion Kanade’s head with my hand as we landed, but the result was that I ended up pinning her down.
“Kanade, are you okay?”
When I asked with concern, Kanade’s face initially showed surprise before she gave an embarrassed smile.
“Sou-kun, have you finally decided to make a move~?”
Kanade teased me with a playful tone, her voice carrying a hint of mischief.
“No, it’s not like I pushed you on purpose…”
As I explained, her expression shifted to a coy smile that seemed almost inviting.
“If you’re in the mood, Sou-kun, it’s okay if you want to… attack me~.”
“Eh? Wait, does that mean…?”
Her words clearly crossed the boundary of a joke, leaving my mind momentarily blank. Her inviting yet slightly challenging smile lingered, and the sweet tone of her voice echoed in my head.
Since we had only recently started dating, we hadn’t crossed any significant lines yet.
Of course, it’s not like I didn’t want to. But the first time only happens once… Also, doing something like this at school is just out of the question. I needed to stay calm.
“If we get caught, we’ll be expelled.”
Clumsily, I chose my words carefully and turned her down.
Kanade widened her eyes slightly at my response, then let out a soft laugh.
“That can’t be helped~. Then I guess it’s postponed until next time. Shall we go home soon?”
Kanade’s cheerful tone returned, and I could feel the temporary tension between us melt away completely.
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s already getting late.”
I replied.
And so, we left the clubroom together and decided to head home.