Hushed Confession Pt. 2

After a long silence, Mira was the first to speak. "You... Are you still drunk?"

"…I don't get drunk."

"This isn't some kind of prank?" Nabi asked.

"Not at all."

Yoko mumbled as if the words were impossible to believe. "Then it's true? You want to stay with us?"

I let out a nervous chuckle. "W-why are you saying that like I’m someone more important than you? But… yeah. I do. I really do. But if… If you don’t want me around anymore, I'll understand."

The silence was nerve-racking. But the anticipation, the unknowing of their answer, made it that much more frightening.

I'm not used to being around people. That's what I always told myself, to convince this twisted mind that I don't belong anywhere around them. However, I always knew that it was just a weak attempt at escapism.

I've been hurt before, many times by people I cared about. That's why I shut myself off from everyone. Every relationship that could've happened, I let go of because I was scared... I was terrified of getting too close and eventually losing them, because that's how it always went.

Even now, facing these girls, that's exactly how it is.

I got used to being around them. I got too close to them, and without even realizing it before it was too late... I ended up letting them steal my heart away.

Now... I'm scared again. More than anything, I don't wanna lose them.

Yoko took a slow breath, her gaze locking onto mine. "Let me repeat my question, Noa. Just so we're on the same page. If you go through with this, you'll continue working with Sunayomi as our assistant. Over the last three months, you've only scratched the surface of what this job entails. From here on out, it'll only get harder, and we'll make sure of it."

Mira crossed her arms, raising a brow. "And, more importantly, you'll be stuck with us. Again. The contract will be renewed, meaning you won't be able to leave for however long we decide. Even knowing that… do you still want to stay?"

This goes against everything I ever believed about myself.

I took easy jobs because they were easy. I kept myself hidden because being seen was too bothersome. I stayed in the shadows because the spotlight wasn't for me.

But if it's with them… then maybe I can handle it.

"Yes," I said, my voice firm. "For as long as you'll have me… I'll be whatever model assistant you guys had in mind. Whatever you need done, whatever you want from me, just tell me. I'll probably say yes since I've got nothing better going on in my life."

Their eyes widened for a split second, and I knew why.

These words are the same exact ones I said to them back then—when I choked back my apprehension to be a real assistant for them. The only difference is that now... Rather than feeling forced to, it's more so that I actually want to.

Suddenly, Suzu suddenly sprinted toward me.

"Suzu—?!"

She slammed into me, gripping my hoodie with both hands, her face buried in my chest. Before I could question even it, Nabi rushed forward and clung to me too.

"H-Hey! Wait—!"

I can handle one person, but two? Yeah, no. That’s probably why—

The next thing I knew, I was on my back, the impact rattling through my bones. But the pain barely registered because when I looked up, Suzu and Nabi were staring down at me—faces streaked with tears, eyes full of... hope.

"Are you... s-serious, Noa?" Suzu whimpered.

"L-like... super serious?" Nabi chimed. "You... actually wanna stay with us?"

"I... I mean... Y-yeah...? But like I said... That's only if—"

At the same time, their lips curled into the brightest smiles.

"What are you saying, Noa?!" Suzu exclaimed. "Of course we want you to stay! That's obvious, isn't it?!"

"...What?" I gasped.

"Yeah!" Nabi beamed. "To be honest, just a moment ago... We were debating on whether or not we should've ask, and we ultimately decided against it. You see, Noa... We wanted you to stay. Really badly. But—"

"We wanted to give you the choice," Suzu said, finishing her sentence. "We didn't want you to feel pressured or anything, so... S-so...! Eee~!"

She threw herself down, rubbing her face against my chest in pure, undeterred excitement.

What is this...? Am I... imagining all of this right now? Because this is playing out way different than what I was expecting.

Suzu shot right back up and twisted her head around. "Yoko! Mira! Did you hear that?! Noa wants to stay with us! He's the one who asked! He made his decision without our interference! Isn't that weird?!"

"Yeah... Very," Mira replied, clearly stunned.

Nabi clutched my face, scanning it thoroughly. "Noa... Are you absolutely sure you're not drunk? Like, when you wake up tomorrow, you won't forget what you just said?"

"W-what the..." I mumbled. "Who do you take me for?"

"Hehe~ How interesting," Yoko giggled. "And here I was thinking he'd pack up his box and leave the moment he got the chance."

I gently pushed Suzu and Nabi away as I sat up. ""Wait, wait... Hold on. Let me get this straight. You guys... really thought that I would just leave?"

Mira scoffed at that question. "I mean, can you really blame us? Three months ago, you were singing a completely different tune as if you wanted nothing to do with us."

"Yeah, but... It's different now. I..."

To be honest, I was hoping one of them would cut me off, but none of them did. Instead, they were eyeballing me as if to peer into my soul, anticipating my next words.

"L-like I said... I actually enjoyed... being you around you guys..."

"Oho~?" Yoko scoffed. "And when exactly did this development happen? Noa? Enjoying his time with these 'annoying' girls? Seems like we've really rubbed off on you, hm? Noa?"

Now I feel like Nabi whenever she makes a weird remark and starts shrinking along with her confidence.

As it turns out, it was then Nabi who saved me from that brief moment of embarrassment, as she jumped back on top of me, throwing her arms around my neck.

"I'm glad," she said, low yet cheerfully. "I'm so glad that you decided to stay, Noa. Really..."

A warmth unlike anything I had ever felt before spread through my chest, wrapping around me like a force beyond comprehension.

For so long, I convinced myself that people would only ever push me aside. Attachment led to nothing but pain. But right now, in their arms, in their smiles, in their unshakable joy at my choice to stay… I finally understood.

Maybe I didn't have to keep running. Maybe I can finally let loose and stay. Maybe, for once... I could look forward to something—to them.

"Alright," Yoko said, breaking the short moment of silence. "I think we've been on a walk for long enough. Any moment now, we're gonna get a call from Manager Na asking what trouble we've stirred. After all, we're still a bit tipsy, no?"

"Yeah," Mira sighed as she reached up for a stretch. "Let's call it here for tonight. It was fun. Should totally do it again. Of course, since Noa has decided to stay with us, Little Nae can tag along too if she wants to."

I turned around to see Nae standing there, arms crossed and smiling as she watched that entire scene unfold. I had completely forgotten she was even there.

"Come on," Yoko smiled. "I'll call Manager Na to pick us up."

"You guys go on ahead," I said, catching their attention. "I... I wanna stay here for a bit longer."

"Pft~ Don't tell me you're starting to regret it," Mira scoffed.

"N-no! Of course not. I just... need a breather. That's all."

"Hm... Alright, weirdo. What about you, Little Nae? You coming with?"

"Nah," she replied. "I need to keep my brother out of trouble."

"Hah! Good luck. Even we had trouble doing just that. Then, we'll see you two later. Here's too many more days with Sunayomi, hm?"

"Yep! See ya."

With that, they left back toward the way we came. From afar, I could make out a whole unit of bodyguards patrolling the area, so they should be able to make it back safe and sound.

I picked myself up from the ground and walked over to the edge of the bridge, leaning my arms on the railings. Nae leaned back next to me, but not without turning to give me a sly smirk.

"Real~ smooth, Big Bro," she chuckled. "Who would've thought you'd have it in you to say all those cringe things?"

"Whatever," I mumbled.

"Heh. You know... Seeing them all and they way they act around you... I can totally see it now."

"See what?"

"Eh? Don't tell me you're that oblivious. Suguha Suzu, Natsume Nabi, Yoshino Yoko, and Mitsuki Mira... They all like you, dude. One hundred percent."

"W-wha...?! Do you even understand what you're saying right now?"

She crossed her arms. "Oh, yes I do. Take it from a girl who's had a couple of crushes in her life. The way Suguha and Natsume pounced on you the moment you said you wanted to stay? Yeah, nah. That's not normal at all."

"That's..."

"They were even crying over the fact that your contract had ended. Even the calm and collected Yoshino."

"Still—"

"And don't even get me started on Mitsuki. I was waiting for you outside the karaoke room, so I heard most of what she said. Come on, Big Bro, you cannot tell me they don't feel anything for you."

Honestly, I did entertain that idea for a short while, but I refused to believe it. Those idols... liking me? There's just no way.

At least, that's what I would've said not long ago, because after all this... I'm not so sure anymore.