Worthless Quaver

I arrived at the studio early today, so early that only the cleaning crew and the security guards were around. Like clockwork, I flashed my ID, and they waved me through.

It’s supposed to be my unofficial day off. The girls are still coming in, but I asked for the day because… honestly, I’m not even sure why. I just didn’t feel like showing up today—especially not today.

And yet, here I am anyway, because if nothing else, I should at least prep the room for them. It’s not like I had any big plans other than lounging in bed all day. Once this is done, I’m home free for the rest of it.

I made my way through the branching hallways until I made it to the rehearsal rooms. Right as I was about to enter, I stopped.

There was someone inside. A cleaner perhaps? Then why are they dancing?

My eyes widened at the sight of flowing red hair. It was Yoshino Yoko, lost in the rhythm of her headphones, her body swaying gracefully to the music. Each twirl, every precise movement, made the routine seem effortless, but I knew better—those steps were anything but easy.

However, something felt off. Her expression caught me off guard. This wasn’t the Yoshino I was used to seeing on television, always smiling, always radiating joy. Instead, her face was drawn, her brow furrowed in frustration. It was unsettling, almost like the Yoshino I thought I knew had been replaced by someone else entirely.

Suddenly, Yoshino tripped on her own foot and fell on her knees. I was just about to rush in until I noticed her expression changing again. Instead of frustration... she seemed defeated and dejected.

"Damn..." her muffled voice echoed in my ears.

She sat on the ground and pulled out her phone, browsing through it for a short moment. All the while, her face kept getting darker and darker.

That was when I finally decided to open the door. The moment she saw me, her eyes lifted.

"Yozora...?" she said as I approached her.

"Oh. Hey, Yoshino."

"What are you doing here? I thought you were taking the day off."

"I still am. I just thought I'd clean the room up a bit before you guys came in."

"Hah. What a dedicated assistant you are."

"I try. Anyway, why are you here so early?"

"Ah... I just thought I'd come in and get some practice in."

At the same time, she lowered her phone to the ground. Despite her efforts to cover the screen, I caught a glimpse of it between her fingers. It looked like an article with the cover name 'Yoshino Yoko,' and then a few more words that I couldn't see.

"I see," I replied. "Well, don't let me distract you."

As I walked off to my little corner of wires and devices, my mind kept trailing off.

I knew it. Something is bothering her, but she won't say. I'd imagine the answer to that question is on that article page. What were the contents, I wonder? And why is Yoshino concerning herself with what it has to say?

There was also that phone call we had a few nights ago. Since then, I neglected to speak about it, and she did the same. It's almost as if that call never happened. At some point, I thought it was just a dream, but my phone records contradict that.

I took a deep breath and let it out, keeping my eyes on the ground. Why am I even worrying about someone else right now? That's not like me at all.

"Yozora?" Yoshino called out.

I turned around to see that she was already right in front of me. When did she get so close? Was I so distracted that I didn't even hear her footsteps?

"Ah, hey. What's up?"

"Nothing much. I just wanted to chat for a bit, if you'd be willing to."

"Yeah, of course."

"Oh?"

She took a step back as she let out a soft giggle.

"I honestly didn't think you would agree to that. So quickly too. You're not necessarily the type to chat if it's not important."

"Hah. Well, the things I consider important have changed recently."

"Is that to say that you think chatting with me is important?"

"Who knows?"

I shut the sound panel for the last time, sitting myself on one of the speakers on the ground.

"Phew. I'm tired," I sighed. "Kind of regretting coming in when I didn't need to."

"You always do anyway, but I wonder... It's been a month and a half already. How do you feel?"

"Me? I'm still not sure."

"Oh, come on. It's not even that bad. Sure, you need to clean the room, fetch us coffee, and follow us wherever we go, but don't you think it's an easy job?"

"I guess so. Apart from having to deal with you guys."

"Hey. Watch it."

I let out a faint chuckle. Thinking back, it really hasn't been that bad. Like Yoshino said, it is an easy job, and it pays well.

"Do you really find us annoying?" Yoshino asked.

"Hm... Do you want my honest answer?"

"Obviously."

I tilted my head up while thinking about a possible answer. Depending on what I say here, I can either walk away from this a free man, or in a body bag.

"I guess... Maybe just a little bit," I replied.

"Hah. Only a little bit? I expected it to be way worse than that."

"I find a lot of things annoying, so don't think too much about it. Apart from that, it's been kind of interesting. I'm doing a lot of new things I never imagined doing."

"Like what?"

My mouth clamped shut the moment it opened. There's no way I can tell her about my day out with Suguha or the run-in with Mitsuki at the mall. And I'm almost certain Natsume didn’t mention her visit to my apartment. Even so, Yoshino was staring me down with an unsettling, knowing smile—like she already had every piece of the puzzle.

"Just... stuff..." I gulped.

"Is that so? Then, would you like to add one more to these 'new things' you've been doing?"

"...Why do I not like the sound of that?"

"Tell me something you would like the sound of. I'm genuinely curious."

"Going home, sleeping, and maybe getting to leave work early."

"Oh?"

Yoshino leaned her entire body forward, and I instinctively flinched back. Her long, flowing red hair cascaded in front of me as she reached up to tuck one side behind her ear. The whole time, her squinted eyes never left mine, a subtle smile playing on her lips.

I could feel the edge of the speaker digging into my arm as I pressed down on it, trying to keep myself from toppling over. Had it not been for that small bit of support, I might've lost my balance completely.

"Hm... I'm surprised," she scoffed. "For once, you didn't tell me that you wanted to leave. Whatever happened to, 'Just fire me already,' or, 'How about you rip up my contract?' I wonder... What's changed?"

The way she was looking at me made my nerves flare up. I wanted to brush off her question, but I couldn't. She had a point. Ever since I became their assistant, quitting was always on my mind. I'd bring it up whenever I could, like it was my personal goal. But now? I don't know when or why, but somehow, the urge to leave just... faded. I can't even remember the last time I seriously thought about walking away.

"I... I don't know," I muttered.

"Hehe. Well, it was going to happen eventually, right? There's no way you would stay hating us forever."

"What? Who said that I hated you?"

"I just kind of assumed since you kept pushing us away."

"Huh?! T-that's not the case at all! It's not that I hate you or anything. It's just—"

I stopped at the sound of Yoshino's giggle, a light and carefree sound that lingered in the air longer than I expected. Her eyes fluttered shut for a brief moment, and a smile stretched across her face, radiating a warmth that reached all the way to me. It was in that moment that Nae's words echoed in my mind. Yoshino Yoko... really is beautiful.

"I'm just teasing you, Yozora," she said.

"...That's not funny..." I mumbled. "Don't go around accusing people of things like that."

"Yeah, because we know how the first time ended, don't we?"

She's talking about the first time we officially met in person. I'm surprised she even remembers it, but then again, how could she forget? It wasn't just a casual introduction—it was the kind of first encounter that leaves a mark, something neither of us could easily shake off.

"Anyway, I'll let you get back to it," Yoshino said. "Get some rest today, hm? And make sure you're here first thing in the morning tomorrow."

"Um... Y-yeah."