Sombre News

"Good work today, girls," Manager Na said. "Let's call it there. Time to go come and get some rest."

In an instant, the girls collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air and drenched in sweat. I grabbed four small towels and made my way over to them, while Manager Na stepped away to take a phone call.

"Here," I said as I dropped the rag right on Mituski's face.

"Tch... Couldn't have just given it to me normally?"

"I could've, but I chose not to."

"Screw you."

Next was Natsume. Instead of doing the same thing, which I may or may not have intended to do, she stood up and politely reached her hands out.

"Thank you, Yozora."

"No problem," I replied. "You didn't have to get up."

"I didn't want to bother you."

"Don't worry about that. It's my job."

"Oh, wow," Mitsuki sarcastically exclaimed. "You're so~ kind. Couldn't have offered me the same treatment, though, huh?"

"You didn't deserve it."

"Say what?!"

I handed one to Suguha.

"Thanks, Yozora!" she grinned. "You're the best."

"Sure."

Yoshino sat up and let out a sigh as I gave the last one to her.

"Thank you," she smiled.

"What's with all of you thanking me? It isn't a big deal."

"It is to us."

"...Seriously? I don't really know how to feel about that."

"Is it that hard to believe?"

"Kind of."

I made my way to the side where a tangled mess of wires, equipment, and miscellaneous tools lay strewn about. The girls had been searching for something earlier, and this chaotic aftermath was the result. Who would have guessed that it would fall on me to clean it up?

"I always thought you guys had it all handled," I scoffed. "Take me, for instance. I’m the one running out for coffee, lugging around your bags, and now, here I am cleaning up the mess you made."

"Well, that's your job now, so suck it up," Mitsuki hummed.

"Tch..."

"Don't mind her, Yozora," Natsume giggled. "You really have done a lot for us, and we couldn't be more grateful."

"Yep!" Suguha agreed. "It really is funny, though. You're nothing like our previous assistants, and trust me. We had a lot. None of them would've done the little things that you did, like handing us towels after a tiring rehearsal."

"I vaguely remember Yoshino mentioning the last one when I was... Ahem. Promoted," I said. "It's a simple act, and he wasn't able to do it? Why'd he get fired anyway?"

The mood in the rehearsal room shifted abruptly. The once bright lights seemed to dim, casting a shadow over the space, and with it, the girls' expressions grew somber.

I felt a hint of regret, realizing I might have asked a question I shouldn't have. Judging by their reactions, it was clear I had stirred up some unwelcomed memories. Now, I was left with the burden of knowing I made them feel this way.

"Sorry for asking," I said, as I attempted to leave.

"Yozora," Yoshino called out. "It's fine. Just... stay."

Reluctantly, I complied with her request. Immediately after, Manager Na burst back into the room with a wide grin, but the moment he took in the scene, he faltered.

"Why is it that every time I stumble upon you guys alone, it's always depressing?" he mumbled. "What happened this time?"

The girls collectively turned their gazes toward me, as if silently urging me to speak up since they weren’t ready to.

"I asked about their previous assistant and why he got fired," I replied.

It became clear that their reaction wasn’t without cause, as Manager Na tilted his head back and let out a weary sigh.

"We don't have to talk about this," I said. "I was just curious. That's all. But it's not like I need to know."

"Well, you're Sunayomi's new assistant after all. You have a right to know."

"Not if it's causing a reaction like this. Just don't worry about it. I'm not curious anymore."

Again, I tried to escape this situation, but Manager Na caught me by the wrist.

"Assistant Tanaka," he said. "He was Sunayomi's most recent assistant. On the outside, he was a well-versed assistant. Been in the entertainment industry for decades, so he was good at his job. Did a lot for us—more than you, that's for sure. But..."

"...Only on the outside," I said.

"That's right."

"Assistant Tanaka was the very definition of a bully," Yoshino said, her voice carrying a mix of frustration and weariness. "He might have been good at his job, but respect? That was a foreign concept to him. Every personal request we made was shot down without a second thought. Every mistake we made was met with him yelling at us, calling us names, and subjecting us to his unwelcomed teasing. And that's not even the worst part. He... H-he..."

Although it was only for a second, I noticed that her eyes shifted to Natsume, who was visibly distressed upon hearing all of this.

I think I’ve heard enough. It’s clear this... assistant... mistreated Sunayomi to the point where it could've been considered criminal.

"We’re idols, sure, but we’re also human beings with dignities," Mitsuki said. "Assistant Tanaka crossed so many boundaries that made us feel uncomfortable, and he did it with this twisted sense of entitlement. What's more, he never once apologized or acknowledged how wrong he was. It’s like he thought he was above us, that he could treat us however he pleased without consequence."

"And what kills me is that it kept happening for so long, right under my nose..." Manager Na muttered.

"Manager Na! It wasn't your fault," Suguha exclaimed.

"No, it was. I was responsible for that asshole. I should've paid more attention. I should've known, and yet... I allowed him to continue his act."

They all looked down, their expressions heavy with sadness. I should have taken the hint and left as soon as I saw their reaction to my question. I never expected things to spiral into this, but now that they have, a harsh realization is setting in.

I always told myself that I didn't care about these girls. To me, they were just like everyone else—nothing special. But deep down, I guess I’d been putting them on a pedestal without even realizing it, completely contradicting what I believed.

They seem to have everything anyone could wish for, leading lives filled with luxury and freedom. From the outside, it looks like they’re untouched by struggles and worries... but who am I to judge their lives? What gives me the right to assume that they’re living effortlessly? After all, I’ve always claimed they’re just normal people, yet I forgot that they also have their own issues and burdens.

"Yozora. You once asked me... Why you. You remember that?" Manager Na asked.

"...Yeah."

"Because in a way... You reminded of these girls. You had your own problems and worries, and it was clearly affecting you. I knew that if I left you be, it would be no different than when I left the girls to fend for themselves against that bastard. I guess... Helping you was to sate my own selfish validation... that I could've done more but didn't."

Judging by the way everyone was looking at me, it was clear they were waiting for my response. I hadn’t prepared anything, but somehow, I knew exactly what I needed to say.

All of this weighed heavy on me, knowing that they’ve got their own stories worth telling, struggles that run deeper than the surface. In the end, they're just a reflection of what I see in myself.

Now, I'm stuck in the very position where it all went wrong. Me, a normal guy who's only purpose is to get by. I wonder... can I handle that? If I happen to hurt them somehow... No. I don't think I can.

But, at the very least, I think I know what I have to do now. I know what it’s like to be hopeless, to spiral down when everything falls apart. That’s why... even if it’s none of my business, I have to stay here... because I can’t stand the thought of anyone else feeling this way when I can possibly do something about it.

"Two months," I said.

The girls let out a collective, "Huh?"

"For the next two months, 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."