#umeda chitose common W

[yume-fanfare]

for some reason the title of this hajime idol story in the wiki rn is mistranslated (it's actually onaji kimochi, mutual feelings) and it is really funny to me that it's This story in particular because. oh i assure you this is a gay one

[hyenahunt]

Jun Sazanami - 5* Feature Scout: Traversing the Wilds, Towards the Horizon - 2 [END]

Writer: Umeda Chitose

Season: Autumn

Characters: Jun, Hiyori, Nagisa

Proofreading: royalquintet

Translation: hyenahunt

Jun: Those strong feelings I've always held in my heart... they haven't changed one bit, even throughout all my idol work nowadays.

Hiyori: You're late! I've had to start practicing all on my own, you know! Come now, Jun-kun, I want you to join me and get dancing right away!

Jun: Seriously? You're the one who suddenly called me over without any explanation—you're always doing whatever you want~!

[One hour later...]

Hiyori: Yes, yes ♪ Today we're perfectly in sync as always, aren't we? What fine weather ♪

Alright, Jun-kun, here's a towel and some water, just for you. Go on, accept my kindness!

Jun: They were already in the room, dammit.

But anyway, why'd you suddenly call me over? We didn't have any lessons planned for today, right?

Hiyori: I simply had a lot of free time on my hands—

...or so you expected me to say, didn't you?

Jun-kun, you're keeping a secret from me! You've got something of utter importance that you aren't discussing with me, don't you?

Jun: ....Sorry?

Hiyori: Jun-kun, you're so dense! Didn't I tell you to discuss your personalised outfit with me, once your turn came up?

And why, you ask? Aren't I your partner, Jun-kun? Aren't I your Ohii-san you respect so much?

You could say I'm even your senior in getting an outfit! Surely there's no one in the world more suited to advising you than I am...!

Jun: You say this with your whole chest, but I don't think I mentioned a thing about this to you. Didja hear it from Ibara?

Hiyori: Something like that ♪ Now then, what kind of outfit do you want to wear, Jun-kun? Go on, you can tell your Ohii-san anything... ♪

Jun: I'm seriously stuck on this, so please don't make fun of me for it, alright?

I talked with Mashiro-kun and Kagehira-san just now about it, but...

Coming up with something not in Eden or Eve's image but in my own, or rather an outfit that gives off my energy... I've been having a hard time trying to figure it all out.

Hiyori: …………

Jun: I'm pretty sure you've got a good idea of my past and all, but...

That gloomy past I spent as a nobody at the bottom of the barrel makes me who I am today.

Those strong feelings I've always held in my heart... they haven't changed one bit, even throughout all my idol work nowadays.

And that's why... um... I thought maybe I could express those feelings through my outfit, but then I got tripped up by another problem.

I've got fans who like me and cheer me on, but what if who they're actually fans of is specifically Eden and Eve's Jun Sazanami...

So I've been thinking maybe they'd be happier if I wore colours more suited for my unit than for me—

Hiyori: ...What, you mean that's it? That's what's got you stumped, Jun-kun?

Jun: W-What's wrong with that!? I've been seriously having a crisis over this, y'know!?

Hiyori: What a silly goose you are, Jun-kun... Developing your idol skills isn't all there is to it—you should develop your emotional awareness, as well.

You got all up in your head back when you had your hyena stageplay role too, didn't you?

Jun: Uuugh...

Hiyori: One would never guess it, Jun-kun, but overthinking yourself into a rut seems to be one of your bad habits.

You may have taken on the role of a hyena prince that one time, but right now, Jun-kun, you seem exactly like an armadillo!

Jun: A-an armadillo...?

Hiyori: You curl into a ball with your head in your hands, and your train of thought seizes up! There's no way you can run free in the wild like this!

And if you shut yourself away into your shell, not only will no one else be able to see you, but you'll lose sight of yourself, too.

Round and plump things are charming, yes, but when you're an idol, you must bask in the gazes of the people and show your brilliance.

Jun: Umm... I suck at reading between the lines, so can't you just spell it out for me~?

Hiyori: Fufu, impatient, aren't we? All the same, while I believe you've come along splendidly, the fact that it seems I still have much to teach you does put me at ease... ♪

With that, I'll ask my first question! How's Reimei Academy been [like] recently?

Jun: Why're you asking me questions when you said you'd teach me...? Umm, let's see...

Even Kazehaya-senpai told me that I'm the current hero of Reimei Academy, so the sense of recognition feels a lot more real, I guess...?

Hiyori: ... Jun-kun, you really are rather fond of Tatsumi-kun, aren't you?

But well, I'm more than happy to hear you're being appreciated!

Alrighty then, next question! Out of the jobs you've taken lately, which one left the strongest impression on you?

Jun: That's gotta be the stageplay for me. It was a real valuable experience, and I feel that by toughing it out through the performance I've really broadened my perspective.

Hiyori: Yes, yes, you did a brilliant job in learning from that experience! Well then, what do you keep in mind whenever you work?

Jun: Let's see... My work as Eden, or Eve, or Lilith or even when I go solo are all a lil' different from each other, but...

At heart, it's gotta be getting seen as an inspiration or goal for those who are just like how I used to be—

And maybe I kinda wanna be someone who can help others pave their own paths.

Hiyori: ... Indeed ♪

You wanted to become an idol, Jun-kun... and here you are now, your dream come true.

Keeping up in practice with me, holding out throughout our various jobs and recognising your own growth—you've come along so well that you can succeed in all of this.

Jun-kun, the virtue that's brought you this far is your hyena-esque determination and ambition. I've told you this before, but...

Those strengths of yours are deeply rooted within you—they're what give you merit. As long as you continue to hold them close to your heart, they'll last you your whole life.

Jun: Ohii-san...

Hiyori: Still, no one can say for sure what's in store for you now that you've become an idol. That's something you'll have to think about yourself, as you go about your days.

Jun-kun, the possibilities in front of you are endless... and one such way for you to express all that potential is through your personalised outfit.

You wouldn't want to let hesitation and indecisiveness hold you back, would you? Not when it concerns your own potential and self-expression.

Jun: ...It's gonna take some time to really digest all this complicated stuff you're saying, Ohii-san, but...

So what you're saying is.... if I've got it in me to become any kinda idol, then the only way my outfit would be worth it is if it'd suit that future version of me, no matter how I turn out.

... or something like that? Did I get that right?

Hiyori: If I were to confirm it, then it wouldn't be your answer but rather my own, no?

But if it's an answer that came from your own mind, and it's one that you yourself believe in, then that would be more than enough... ♪

[Several days later...]

[Location: Seisou Hall Common Room]

Jun: (I was so caught up brainstorming my personalised outfit over lunch that I'm cutting it real close for time. ES may be nearby, but I can't afford to stay here any longer...)

Nagisa: ...Jun, wait. You forgot this.

Jun: Oh man— I forgot the most important thing for the meeting. Thank you, Nagi-senpai.

I don't have my name written on the cover or anything, but you still knew it was mine, huh?

Nagisa: ...I figured it was yours once I looked inside it, Jun. Both the writing and the art felt like they'd be yours.

Jun: I feel kinda embarrassed that you saw, actually... Sorry for my cruddy drawings and the scribbly mess inside.

Nagisa: ...Why do you apologise?

...Jun, perhaps you may feel that you're standing in the wilderness, but...

...you can turn those surrounding plains into a land rich in harvest, or even into fields full of flowers. Within you, there's a path that continues towards such a future.

...That's the feeling I got from looking through your notebook. I'm looking forward to seeing how your outfit turns out, Jun.

Jun: ...Hehe. Thank you, Nagi-senpai.

If you can say all that about it, then there's no way it won't turn out all right~

This is the very first step I'm taking in my new journey forward. Mark my words: Jun Sazanami's gonna show the world all the potential he has~!

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[yume-fanfare]

cradle of turbulence was too good they should trap tori with kohaku in the elevator next

[yume-fanfare]

cradle of turbulence was the first ibara and tori interaction, wasn't it? what an absolutely genius move. first one-on-one conversation with yuzuru's protegé (someone he surely has complicated feelings about) in a place where he can't leave. and then he really can't leave and he is stuck protecting tori as tori calls for yuzuru's help instead. 10/10 no notes