Chapter 45 Hoshikawa Kurumi's Past (1)

Hoshikawa Kurumi’s Past (1)

Today, as always, I was diligently practicing in the dance studio. Watching my reflection in the mirror that covered the wall, I carefully checked each movement.

Whispering to myself, “More… I have to work harder…” I moved to the rhythm, pondering how I could inch closer to the ideal I envisioned.

I poured my effort into infusing each dance move with a touch of personal flair, striving to amplify my stage presence and give meaning to every motion.

Just as I was deeply immersed in practice, while executing an intense step, I suddenly twisted my foot.

“Ah!”

Letting out a small gasp, I crouched down on the spot.

As the pain spread, I realized I couldn’t continue dancing right away. After the trainer administered first aid, I decided to take a break.

Sitting cross-legged in a corner of the studio with an ice pack pressed to my foot, my thoughts began to wander. Kanade-chan always shines so brightly, naturally drawing people in with her aura. In contrast, no matter how much I push myself, I can’t seem to reach that same radiance.

Looking back, I felt the gap between us had gradually widened since our debut. Kanade-chan quickly captured attention and amassed many fans. Meanwhile, although I worked hard to refine my skills, my efforts were rarely acknowledged. When did this chasm start forming between us?

Before I knew it, I was lost in memories of the past.

When I was little, I often imitated idols in the living room. One day, as I played pretend idol, Papa came home from work and saw me.

“Kurumi, you’re adorable as always! As expected of my daughter!”

When Papa said that, I felt so happy. Though he was always busy and rarely home, seeing him light up at my performance left a lasting impression. I think those words became one of the main reasons I aspired to be an idol later on.

I can still vividly remember the day I passed the idol audition.

“Entry number 17, Hoshikawa Kurumi.”

“Y-Yes!”

On the day my name was called, it was decided that I, along with two others, would join as the second-generation members of Luminous Stars.

That day, when I called Mama, she celebrated with me. The first person to congratulate me in person, however, was our producer, Mika-san.

“Congratulations, Kurumi-chan, Kanade-chan, Shiori-chan~. From now on, let’s all work hard together as a team~!”

The ones who passed were me, Shirasaki Kanade-chan, and Shiina Shiori-chan.

“Since you’re in the same generation, let’s encourage each other and do our best together!”

Mika-san said this while looking each of us in the eye, her words brimming with energy.

Her encouragement gave me genuine courage, but I also felt a slight tinge of anxiety. I’m sure Kanade-chan and Shiori-chan felt the same.

“Starting tomorrow, your idol activities will officially begin, so make sure you’re ready.”

“Yes!”

After saying this, Mika-san quickly left the room.

Once she left, only the three of us remained. Perhaps the tension eased, as Kanade-chan and Shiori-chan exchanged glances, both looking a little flustered. Their awkwardness was so endearing.

Still… seeing Kanade-chan up close, I thought again how refined her features were.

Her rare silver hair and striking light blue eyes captivated me. Her skin was also pure white.

To put it mildly, she’s ridiculously cute!?

What’s with this beautiful girl? I really just want her to be my friend…

Then there was Shiina Shiori-chan, sitting beside her.

She had semi-long brown hair and a soft, gentle presence. I think she was older than me, but her nurturing, protective charm made me want to care for her.

Personally, her face is exactly my type.

If I were a guy, I’m sure I’d fall for her instantly.

Looking at the two of them, I realized something: aren’t my fellow members way too attractive!?

Of course, it’s expected since we’re becoming idols, but these two feel like the crème de la crème of beautiful girls, even among idols.

While I was enjoying the rare privilege of being surrounded by such adorable girls, Kanade-chan suddenly said something unexpected.

“Um, why have you been staring at me like that for a while now?”

“Oh, well, I was just mesmerized by how cute you are…”

Because she said it defensively, I reflexively replied without thinking.

The look she gave me, like I was some kind of creep, made me panic a little. Maybe I had stared too much.

“Haa… is that so?”

Kanade-chan sighed in exasperation, twirling a strand of her hair with her finger.

I couldn’t help but notice that her cheeks were slightly flushed.

“Wait, are you embarrassed?”

“Huh? I’m not embarrassed or anything!”

“Oh, really~? Must just be my imagination then~.”

“It is your imagination. I was just caught off guard because a cute girl suddenly called me cute, that’s all.”

So she is embarrassed, isn’t she?

She acts all prickly, but that only makes her even cuter in my eyes.

Also, being casually called a “cute girl” by Kanade-chan made me secretly happy.

“Since we’re all here, why don’t the three of us go grab something to eat afterward?”

“Oh, that sounds great!”

Shiori-chan suggested it, and I decided to go along with the idea.

Kanade-chan, though fidgeting slightly, also agreed, so we decided to head out together.

As planned, we went out to eat together. At a casual restaurant, we had all sorts of lively conversations, ranging from hobbies and favorite music to our families.

In the midst of it all, when Kanade-chan started talking about her family, it came to light that she’s a quarter mixed-race.

That explained her porcelain skin and subtly exotic charm, which suddenly made perfect sense.

Meanwhile, Shiori-chan had just entered university this year, and it turned out to be a prestigious university I’d heard of, meaning she’s probably super smart. She mentioned her father is a diplomat and that her family owns a grand piano, so she’s the real deal—a proper Ojou-sama.

“So, Kurumi-chan, what about your parents?”

The focus of the conversation shifted to me. I knew this was coming, but now that it was my turn, I broke into a nervous sweat. Because…

“Um, Mama’s just an ordinary person. And Papa, well, he’s on business trips a lot, so he’s rarely home~.”

There’s no way I could mention in this atmosphere that Papa disappeared and went missing.

But technically, him not coming home is true, so it’s… safe, right?

“By the way, why did you two decide to become idols?”

Trying to change the subject, I asked the two of them.

Shiori-chan was the first to answer.

“Actually, I’m a huge fan of one of the members in this group. I thought that if I became an idol, I might be able to get closer to them.”

Shiori-chan said this with a slightly shy expression.

It turned out she was a die-hard fan of Luminous Stars.

Nervously, I decided to ask who it was.

“Who is it?”

“Uh, it’s Aoi-chan, the leader of Luminous Stars.”

Aoi-chan is known for her exceptional performance skills. Her charisma and leadership have earned her a massive fan base.

“Aoi-san is so cool as an idol. Shiori-chan must have decided to become an idol after seeing her on stage.”

Kanade-chan nodded in agreement, seemingly understanding Shiori-chan’s motivation to become an idol.

“Yes, that’s right. So, Kanade-chan, why did you decide to become an idol?”

Shiori-chan asked in return, and Kanade-chan revealed an unexpected reason with a slightly embarrassed smile.

“Well, there was this boy I liked who was a huge fan of Amane-chan from Luminous Stars. So, I kind of developed a sense of rivalry… and ended up applying for the audition, something like that…”

When Kanade-chan said that, I was utterly shocked. Everyone has their reasons for applying, but Kanade-chan’s might be one of the rarest cases. Amane-chan is arguably the most popular member of Luminous Stars, frequently chosen as the center of their songs, practically the ace of the group.

For Kanade-chan to feel such rivalry toward her and actually pass the audition—she’s amazing. Or maybe, she’s just incredibly dedicated. Is this the so-called power of love?

“So, what happened with that boy?”

“Hmm, I’m planning to tell him I’ve become an idol. If I can make it to the center of Luminous Stars, I might confess to him.”

“So, Kanade-chan’s goal is to surpass Amane-chan?”

“Well, I guess you could say that.”

“So you’re aiming to be the center someday. I plan to aim for that too, so I guess that makes us rivals.”

I joked, and Kanade-chan stared right back at me.

“Yeah. Then let’s see who can make it there first.”

As Kanade-chan and I talked cheerfully about being rivals, Shiori-chan murmured softly, almost wistfully.

“Having a rival sounds so nice~.”

Her voice seemed tinged with a hint of envy.

Noticing her reaction, I quickly turned to Shiori-chan and said,

“Shiori-chan, you should aim to be the center too! If we can all work hard together as rivals, I think we’ll grow even more as idols.”

Shiori-chan hesitated for a moment but then smiled shyly.

“That feels like too much for someone like me. But I’ll do my best to work as hard as Kurumi-chan and Kanade-chan.”

Shiori-chan’s answer was modest, reflecting her humble personality, but it also conveyed her strong determination to improve at her own pace.

“Alright. But let’s do our best together, okay? We’re all aiming higher, supporting each other along the way.”

With those words, our conversation about being idols came to an end.

We continued chatting about various topics, and before we knew it, night had fallen outside.

After leaving the restaurant, Kanade-chan and Shiori-chan headed toward the station to return to their family homes. As for me, I had to return to handle the procedures for moving into the idol dormitory, where I’d be living alone. Walking alone under the darkening sky, I made my way back.

Each step I took echoed the conversations of the day in my mind. Kanade-chan and Shiori-chan—both of them were truly admirable and charming in their own unique ways.

“They’re both such good people. I think we’ll get along just fine.”

I muttered to myself, feeling a sense of relief.

With stars beginning to twinkle in the night sky, walking home alone didn’t feel so lonely. I thought about how I needed to grow even more, so I wouldn’t lose to Kanade-chan or Shiori-chan, and someday, I’d stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the senior members as an idol. I really had to work hard!

With that, I solidified my new resolve.