He is an idol and a childhood sweetheart.

"Excellent, perfect, dazzling... As expected of Toru."

"………………Gone?"

"Hey... still, do you need any other thoughts?"

"Well, I hope you can be proud of me, and I hope you can be proud of yourself."

Toru Asakura held the microphone in his hand and said in an extremely serious tone:

"Every live, every song, every movement and look in my eyes is only for one person. Someone said... When I sing, I always give people the feeling that I am looking at someone. That feeling is not their illusion. I am indeed looking at someone, and that person...is none other than you, sage."

"Whether it was the six months I was with you or the year and a half after that, whether it was in front of the video store or in the stadium. It makes no difference to me whether the stage is simple or luxurious, and whether the lighting is monotonous or colorful makes no difference to me. I don’t care at all. I just want you to see how active I am as an idol.”

"Have you noticed? Even though I have been away from you for a year and a half, my stage style and singing style have never changed. I have always been moving forward according to the plan you made for me, and I have always believed in it. The route you planned for me.”

"Perhaps your goal in cultivating idols is to discover their charm and make more people like them. But for me, the person I want to show to you, from two years ago to now, is you."

"I'm different from Higuchi. What I want to be is not some top idol that can support your ideals...but Kento Watanabe's favorite 'idol'! In a sense, maybe it can also be regarded as yours." Ideal'."

Ahh, that's right.

Compared with physical contact, compared with physical proximity, this idiot who only has idols in his mind should use this method to express his feelings.

With a hint of freedom and ease that he had finally come to a conclusion, Toru Asakura compared his hand to a pistol and pointed it at Kento Watanabe, who looked dull in front of him.

"In order to make you more truly understand the meaning of what I just said, I would like you to enjoy my live as always from the closest distance..."

........................

Carefully recalling her performance over the past year and a half, it seems that everything is just as Toru said. Her performance style... has been like this since she first stood on the Livehouse stage.

Perform songs with unique sensibility, bringing the most

Treat your true self as a typhoon and participate in various programs with a natural and relaxed attitude...

She was really simply following the route he had originally planned for her and growing up to where she is now.

Even now that she has become the most popular top idol, she has always been willing to believe in the future he once described for her.

Looking at this girl standing in front of the private room, always watching him singing...Kento Watanabe finally felt something different from his "childhood sweetheart" from Toru Asakura for the first time.

The stage they were on at this time... was not even as good as the entrance to a livehouse or a video store.

But Toru Asakura's singing is still as focused and hard-working as ever, and his eyes will follow his whereabouts as always...

It turned out to be the case.

From the beginning, she decided to become his idol out of selfish motives.

Maybe she does have the idea of ​​supporting his ideals, or wanting to cheer for him... But compared to this selfishness, these are not the key.

He only saw the applause and cheers she received below the stage, but ignored where her eyes were looking above the stage.

The five-year age difference, the relationship between childhood sweethearts, and his enthusiasm for the idol career made him finally realize this fact that should have been discovered long ago.

"through……"

"kindness?"

"You really... like me, right?"

Chapter 50: No longer just childhood sweethearts

It's not a love for my brother, nor a love for my friends, but...a love from the perspective of the opposite sex.

If this is the case, then Tohru Asakura's ongoing positivity and closeness will have a completely different explanation.

"…………Ah, as expected, I still have to use this method."

Toru Asakura released the microphone and looked at Kento Watanabe with a smile:

"I've been saying that I like sages the most since I was very young. I would say it almost every time we met during junior high school."

"But I have always regarded it as my love for my brother or my family..."

Recalling Asakura's countless "confession" in the past, and his slightly excessive clingy attitude... Watanabe Kento suddenly showed a wry smile.

The gap of five years is too big, and the filter of childhood sweethearts is too deep. (**

）

"...That's it. It turns out Toru has always looked at me in this way."

Now that things have happened, Kento Watanabe no longer regards this intention as an immature impulse.

If it started in junior high school, then so many years of unrequited love plus the year and a half of separation... would be enough to prove everything.

So, wouldn't it mean that he has been turning a blind eye to her thoughts?

She is obviously so active that she would take the initiative to hug her and tell her what she likes directly...

"Sorry, Tooru."

Kento Watanabe showed a somewhat guilty expression:

"It's always been hard... falling in love with a blind guy."

"No, compared to the hard work of unrequited love, what you bring to me is more important. Do you still remember the topic we talked about the day before yesterday? For me, love is something that rewards more than I pay. Because After falling in love with Kento, I have a clear goal and a reason to work hard for it... Whether it is everything I have gained as an idol or the growth I have gained as Toru Asakura, it can be said that everything I have gained so far , all because I can like you. So I have never doubted whether falling in love with you is right or wrong."

"…………"

Kento Watanabe didn't know what to say.

Compared to Toru Asakura, who had held this feeling for nearly five years, the time he had just realized her feelings was less than 5 minutes.

Under this huge time difference, Kento Watanabe felt that no matter what he said, it would be too light.

He does not have the experience to experience this feeling, nor the qualification to evaluate this intention.

Now, the only thing Kento Watanabe can do is probably give this girl a clear answer.

Ah, that's right.

Even if this feeling spans several years.

Even Toru Asakura regards it as a spiritual pillar.

Kento Watanabe still has to give the most serious and decisive response——

"I'm sorry, Tooru, I can't accept your feelings right now."

Kento Watanabe looked at that burning and focused gaze very seriously, and replied in an extremely firm tone:

"As I have always said, I have more important things to do now."

Asakura Toru's feelings really touched him deeply, and he did realize very clearly how deep her love for him was.

But precisely because of this, Ken Watanabe must reject the other party with the same attitude.

"The Watanabe Office has just resumed operations. There are still many, many things I have to do...and, as you should also know, becoming a qualified idol producer has always been my only dream. Now I already have the ability and opportunity to realize it, and there is no room in my heart for other things.”

"It's not because there's anything you didn't do well, nor is it because

I have doubts about your intentions... The reason for rejecting you is entirely due to my own shortcomings, my inability to take care of work and relationships at the same time... Please be sure to realize this. "

After saying these words in one breath, Watanabe Kento took another deep breath.

"And...you are still an active idol now. As...your producer, I cannot accept this intention in any case. This goes against my professional ethics...and principles. So...I'm sorry, Asakura."

"I see."

Without hesitation, Toru Asakura readily accepted Kento Watanabe's answer.

Based on his understanding of Kento Watanabe, his rejection can be said to be completely expected by Toru Asakura.

Even the lines that Kento Watanabe rejected had been rehearsed countless times in her mind.

Especially when she heard the words "It's not because of you...", she almost laughed out loud.

She had heard almost the same rejection lines when she was very young, and now, the person being rejected turned out to be herself...

"Well, that's right. This is what makes a wise man."

Asakura Toru said with a smile:

"You work hard for what you like, seriously consider the future of yourself and the other person, and you will never be ambiguous about other people's feelings. It is this kind of you that I like. Ah... you Don't feel so guilty. I'm not sad at all when you reject me. Rather... I'm happy to hear your signature lines in person."

Toru Asakura looked helplessly at the guy in front of him who was about to drop his head to his chest.

"The reason why I confess to you in this way is just to let you realize my feelings. As for your answer, I would have guessed it even if you didn't say it."

"And you also said that you can't accept it for the time being, right? Wait for a while... wait until the Watanabe Office has more members, wait until your work is no longer so onerous, wait until you have something in your heart that can be devoted to love. I have enough time to wait until the day my idol graduates. Until you accept me, I will always like you, and I will continue to confess my love to you."

"But... before today's date officially ends, I still have a question for you, sage."

"……what is the problem?"

"Even though we were separated for a year and a half, even during this period I was not able to accept your cultivation of me... But as I just showed you, did I... have I become your ideal idol? ?”

"...Ah, of course."

Kento Watanabe nodded and said to Toru Asakura in an extremely affirmative tone:

"As early as two years ago, Toru Asakura...has been my favorite idol."

In other words.

Whether it's the past, the present, or the future after this.

Toru Asakura... will always be Kento Watanabe's "ideal".

The date is over.

Chapter 51: It’s not envy, let alone jealousy

"…………………… Hey hey hey."

"……Ugh."

Looking at the idiot next to him who was constantly sluggish and occasionally giggling, Higuchi Enka shook his head speechlessly.

"I'm telling you...this is not the reaction you should have after being rejected, right?"

"But now he finally no longer treats me as just a childhood sweetheart."

Asakura stood up and said happily:

"On the way back, he even deliberately kept his distance from me!"

"...Is this something worth being happy about?"

"Compared to the unrequited love that was completely unanswered before, now I can finally feel the possibility of going further."

Toru Asakura's tone was extremely encouraging.

"If it were now, I can guarantee that he would never allow me to go to his bed again!"

"...I really don't understand what makes you happy."

Ever since the date ended, Kento Watanabe has never said a word to Toru Asakura...

No, not only talking, he rarely even looked at Toru Asakura.

As for Kento Watanabe's slightly reserved reaction, Toru Asakura felt the change in the relationship between the two more clearly.

For Toru Asakura, who has been in unrequited love for many years, this "zero" breakthrough makes her feel extremely excited.

Especially when he said goodbye to Kento Watanabe at night, looking at Kento Watanabe's sideways face, Asakura Toru felt an unprecedented sense of accomplishment...

"...Why don't you just graduate as an idol now and date a wise man?"

"…………"

"You're just kidding, I know I will definitely trouble the wise man if I do this."

Sensing Higuchi Enka's unkind gaze, Asakura Toru immediately laughed, then lay back on Higuchi Enka's bed again, and looked at the ceiling and said:

"And... even if I am no longer an idol, he will still be a producer... He has no time to date me now."

"That's great of you to understand."

Higuchi Enka continued to look down at the phone.

"Obviously, I have just been recognized by Xian Ren as my favorite idol. If I graduate like this, it will probably be a big blow to Xian Ren."