Secrets, Aloud and Free

For a while, I rested in the lounging room. Every few minutes, Director Na sends me a text to go do something that doesn't take long to do at all. So, this is what I've been occupying my time with.

After my talk with Suguha, she went off to join the others in the fitting room, as cheerful as she usually is. Supposedly, they have like... a hundred different outfits to try on? Something like that.

I'll never understand how idols operate. What's the point of trying a bunch of outfits if they'll inevitably look great in everything?

All of a sudden, I'm imagining them in different outfits. What's gotten into me? Why am I thinking about something like that?

I put my hands over my face in shame. "Ugh..."

"Hm? What's wrong Yozora?"

"A-agh!"

My body flinched around, and there was Mitsuki, standing with her arms crossed and a brow raised.

"Godammit, Mitsuki..." I sighed. "What's your issue?"

"Pft, what? Did I scare you? Sent you crying off to your little mancave like a loser?"

"What the? Why am I being attacked?"

"Hehe." She lightly punched my shoulder with a relaxed smile. "Can you blame? It's fun. Don't worry, Yozora. I don't mean any of it. They're just things that I don't normally get to say because it'll hurt my image. But with you, I feel like I can say anything and not get in trouble."

"Oho, yeah? Then how about I do the same?" Suddenly, she yanked me by the ear. "Ow, ow, ow..."

"You don't get to do that to me. Only I get to do that to you."

"Then how about the others?" She pulled harder. "Ow... M-Mitsuki..."

"Just me."

Finally, she let go of my ear.

"A devil in sheep's clothing," I mumbled.

"What was that?"

"N-nothing..."

How can such a gorgeous smile look so... dangerous at the same time? It makes no sense, but if anyone could pull it off, it's definitely Mitsuki.

"Oh... Your outfit," I said.

"Finally noticing?" she asked as she gave me a twirl.

It's nothing too crazy, at least as far as I what'd consider 'idol outfits.' A dress with a short skirt, white on the surface with a black undergarment. What makes it stand out are the colorful accessories that dot the whole thing.

In Mitsuki's case, pearl gems and pins attached around her chest to match her pink hair. The others probably have different colored accessories, but they'll all ultimately be wearing the same dress.

"What do you think?" she smiled.

"It... It looks..."

"Oh?" She skipped over and leaned toward me. "Go on, Yozora. I asked you a question."

What is this? What is she expecting me to say here? If I answer with a flattery remark, then... I don't even know what would happen.

"You look... nice," I mumbled as steadily as I could.

"Hm? Just nice?"

"W-what else do you want me to say?"

"Whatever is on your mind."

The way she's looking at me right now is suffocating. I thought I could handle it by now after being around the girls for so long, but that's just a lie I've been telling myself. In reality, I can't even look at them in the eye without feeling... something.

"I'm waiting," Mitsuki smiled.

"Tch... Honestly, you look beautiful. It's a miracle that something like you is looking directly at someone like me."

"What's that supposed to mean? Sure, you're gloomy, depressed, and overly reserved, but that's not all there is about you. Why do you think we kept you around for this long despite the fact that we initially thought you were a stalker?"

"I mean, I've been asking that question since day one."

"Pft. Still acting like you don't enjoy being our assistant, Yozora? Come on. When are you gonna admit that it's actually a great job? You don't do that much, you get paid a decent amount, and you get to be surrounded by us—Sunayomi."

"No, you're right. It really isn't that bad. Just noisy."

"Calling us noisy?"

"Who else if not you?" She smacked me in the back of the head. "The hell?!"

"I'll pretend like I didn't hear that."

Mitsuki sat down on the couch next to me and loosened up. First, she threw her head on the back cushion, then she let out the most exhausted groan.

"Well, if it's not a bad job, then how come you're reluctant about extending your contract with us?" she asked.

"Eh? How did you know about that?"

"Manager Na told us."

"Of course he did... That bastard."

"Good thing he did. You... Why are you always so hard on yourself? Just now, you said it was a 'miracle' that I'd even bother to look at you. Don't think you're good enough or something?"

"I mean... Yeah. That's exactly it."

That's always been a thing with me. I'm not someone special. I don't have any valuable skills. I'm not in college, and I'm not trying to go back either, so I don't really have a future. I have nothing to offer, so how could I ever see myself as anything more than... a nobody?

"Well, you wanna know what I really think about you?" Mitsuki asked.

"Um... For some reason, I don't like the sound of that."

"Just say yes."

"Ha~ Alright. What do you think about me?"

Suddenly, Mitsuki grabbed my arm and pulled me closer to her with more force than I expected.

"M-Mitsu—...?!" I stammered, barely getting the word out before she leaned in.

Her lips brushed my cheek, too quickly for me to react, and by the time it was over, I was frozen in place, unable to process what had just happened. My mind scrambled in every direction at once.

Did she just...? No, she wouldn’t—wait, she did! What the hell?! What just happened?!

"It's Mira," she whispered, her voice soft yet filled with a teasing edge that sent a chill down my spine. Her breath lingered near my ear, each syllable carefully measured, as if she were savoring the moment.

I turned to look at her, and that was when she realized how absurd this was as well, both casually and professionally.

"Call me that from now," she added, pulling back slightly. "After all, since you're close enough to Yoko, you should be close to me as well, right... Noa?"

My brain short-circuited. It was like Mitsuki had singlehandedly flipped the world upside down. I couldn't tell if the heat rushing to my face was from the kiss, the way she said my name, or the fact that her usual abrasion was replaced by playfulness.

Before I could even attempt to form a coherent thought, she smirked, making it painfully obvious that she was enjoying every second of this.

"What’s wrong? Never had a kiss before?"

"I... I have... Just... not from—"

"From what? A beautiful idol such as myself? Is that what you were going to say?"

She took the words right out of my mouth, and she knew that because the smile on her face stretched wider.

"Mitsu... Mira... This isn't the first time you've been caught up in something like this, right? That scandal... If someone finds out about this..."

"Hehe~ No one is gonna find out. Unless... You open your mouth. You wouldn't do that, would you?"

"Eh?! Of course not, but that's not the point. How do you know you can trust me?"

Her eyes trailed off as she lifted a finger to her chin. "I just do. End of story."

How am I supposed to take this? Mitsuki just kissed me. It wasn't like... lips or anything, but a kiss is still a kiss, and a kiss means... She likes me...? For real?

No, no... Let's not get carried away. Maybe this is something else entirely... except that it's totally not! How else am I supposed to take this?!

"Mira... I—"

She quickly planted her finger on my lips, barring me from saying anymore. Our eyes locked, and maybe it's because I'm seeing her in an entirely new light now, but... I'm suddenly starting to think how beautiful she is up close.

"After," she said. "I was already anxious as is, and now I've gone ahead and added something else to the plate. So to keep myself sane, Noa... Whatever you want to say me to, say it after the show. Okay?"

"...Alright."

"Good."

Mitsuki stood up and made her way to the door, leaving me to think on my own.

Except... What even is there to think about? Mitsuki Mira of Sunayomi... likes me. How am I even supposed to rationalize that? I mean, I'm ecstatic, and my heart rate is a clear indication of that, but still...

I leaned back and let out a sigh. "Holy shit..."