Chapter 3: A New Threat
"I'm bored..."
While I appreciate anything given to me by young lady, there’s only one thing she gives that troubles me.
And that is a day off.
I rarely find myself wanting personal time. If possible, I’d prefer to serve young lady by her side at all times. Yet, for some reason, she insists on giving me breaks as though it were the most normal thing in the world.
I imagine she’s thinking that if I don’t take proper breaks, it might make it harder for the other servants to enjoy their own. I understand her considerate reasoning, but the reality is, I often don’t know what to do with my days off.
Since staying at the mansion means I inevitably find myself working, I was finally shoved into a car and unceremoniously dropped off in the city.
"Meow."
As I aimlessly wandered the streets, an adorable meow reached my ears.
Looking over, I saw a small cat curled up in a dim alley, visible through a gap between buildings.
"What’s this? Looking for attention?"
"Meow."
The cat yawned and then leisurely trotted deeper into the alley.
…Watching its capricious demeanor somehow reminds me of my lady.
With nowhere to go and nothing to do, I might as well follow that cat.
"Meow."
"Oh!"
The cat darted gracefully, slipping its slender body through a narrow gap.
There’s no way I can follow it in there. Too bad.
“…And now, where am I?”
Chasing the cat had led me deep into the alleyway, far from where I started.
Oh well. If I wander around aimlessly for long enough, I’ll eventually find my way out.
“――Out of the way…!”
“Huh?”
The voice came from above. A human-shaped silhouette was literally falling toward me.
Almost instinctively, I extended my arms to catch the mysterious figure descending from the sky.
“Oof!”
For a brief moment, the memory of the “Life Game (Provisional)” I played the other day with my lady flashed through my mind—when I had to carry her princess-style.
Just like back then, my arms now cradled a surprisingly light girl.
She was wearing a hat, so I couldn’t see her face clearly. Judging by her appearance, though, she seemed to be about my age.
“Uh… are you alright?”
I carefully lowered the girl to the ground.
Though she wobbled slightly, she managed to plant both feet firmly on the ground and stand.
“…I’m fine,” she replied softly.
After confirming she was unharmed, I looked up. A rope dangled from the rooftop, likely tied to a railing or something similar. She must have been trying to descend using that rope.
"…Are you okay? Your arms…”
“Please, don’t worry. I absorbed the shock with the ground.”
“…Can you really do that?”
“As someone who serves young lady, this much is only natural.”
“…”
The girl in front of me, wearing her hat, seemed startled—no, confused would be the better word to describe her reaction.
“…Haha.”
But soon, she let out a soft laugh, her lips curling into a faint smile.
“…What’s that? Haha.”
“I don’t recall saying anything funny.”
“…Sorry. It was just… kind of amusing.”
“Well, as long as you’re entertained. By the way, who exactly are you?”
“…”
Before she could answer, a sudden strong gust of wind swept through the alley. Her hat flew into the air, revealing her face along with her flowing hair.
Her long hair cascaded down her back, and her skin was as fair as freshly fallen snow. She had a delicate, cool beauty that gave her an ethereal quality, reminding me of a flower blooming in winter.
And that face—it was unmistakable. The enormous billboard visible beyond her floating hat bore the same features. A girl renowned as the Diva.
No, it wasn’t just similar. It was identical.
“That face… Your name is…”
“…Habataki Otoha,” she said, her tone tinged with resignation. Her voice confirmed what I already knew—this girl was the real Diva.
“…Nice to meet you.”
“Ah… Likewise.”
I found myself greeting her automatically. Meanwhile, the girl—the Diva, Habataki Otoha—picked up her fallen hat and pulled it low over her eyes again.
“Habataki-san, why exactly were you coming down from a rooftop like that?”
“…I’m currently in the middle of running away.”
Her answer was vague, lacking detail. Most likely, she’d fled from a hotel or some other location and was being chased by staff or security.
“I see. In that case, you should probably head back soon—before you fall again.”
“…That’s not an option.”
“And why is that?”
“…Because I’ve run away from home.”
"You're running away from home?"
All the more reason she should go back, I thought.
“…Thank you for helping me.”
“Where are you headed?”
“…I don’t know. I just need to keep running.”
With that, Habataki Otoha strode off, as if nothing had happened.
It would’ve been easy to let her go and leave things at that. But seeing her resort to something as reckless as climbing down a rooftop with a flimsy rope just to escape… well, it said a lot.
Having witnessed that and met her in this situation, it felt wrong to turn a blind eye. As someone who serves my lady, ignoring someone in need wasn’t the right thing to do.
For someone like me—a foundling fortunate enough to stand by young lady’s side—I must conduct myself in a manner befitting such a role.
“Please, wait.”
“…What is it?”
“I’m worried, so allow me to accompany you. At least until you safely return home.”
“…You’re quite the odd one, aren’t you?”
“Not at all. I simply strive to act in a manner befitting someone who serves young lady.”
“…”
Habataki Otoha fell silent for a moment before finally nodding.
“…Fine. You can come along.”
She had granted me permission to accompany her on her runaway adventure.
――――♪♪♪
Suddenly, the ringtone of my phone echoed from my pocket.
Glancing at the screen, I saw the caller’s name: Young Lady.
"…No."
Before I could react, Habataki Otoha snatched my phone and ended the call.
"Ah!"
“…It’s fine if you’re coming with me, but contacting anyone else is not allowed.”
“You’re quite cautious, aren’t you?”
“…I just want to avoid unnecessary trouble.”
Did she think I’d start spilling everything to someone else? Or was she worried about whoever might be chasing her? Either way, it couldn’t be helped. Leaving this reckless Diva, who thought a flimsy rope was a safe escape route, to her own devices would be irresponsible. For now, I’d comply.
(I’m sorry, young lady. I’ll explain later.)
Apologizing silently in my mind, I turned off my phone and slipped it back into my pocket.
“Is this acceptable?”
“…Yeah.”
Habataki Otoha nodded in satisfaction before walking away with purposeful strides, aiming to leave the alley behind.
I followed her without a word, resigned to whatever awaited us next.
"…Hey, have you managed to get in touch with Kagehito?"
"No, I tried calling him too, but no luck. Looks like his phone's off."
"Ugh…! I’ve got a really, really bad feeling about this…!"
"Well, Tendou-san, your intuition is usually spot on..."
This time, I desperately wanted that intuition to be wrong.
But at the same time, deep down, I knew it was probably right.
"Argh, seriously! Where on earth is Kagehito? We’ve got to find him before it’s too late…!"
Billboards, large screens, and posters all over the city featured Habataki Otoha’s face.
The surrealness of walking right next to the Diva herself was hard to ignore.
“So, you’re really the Diva.”
“…Were you doubting that?”
“Haha, sorry. I just never imagined the Diva herself would fall from a rooftop.”
It’s not unheard of for me to catch girls falling out of nowhere, but this was the first time one of them turned out to be a famous singer.
“By the way, Habataki-san, why did you run away from home?”
“…Rebellion phase?”
“Why does that sound like a question?”
“…Because I’m not even sure myself.”
I suppose that’s how it works. I’ve never really experienced a rebellion phase—I missed out on that after being abandoned by my parents—so I can’t say I understand it very well.
“I see. Well then, Habataki-san.”
“…What?”
“Have you noticed that we’ve been walking in circles for a while now?”
“…”
Judging by her silence, she hadn’t realized.
The plaza with the fountain where we currently stood—we had passed it about ten minutes ago.
“…Are you, perhaps, bad with directions?”
“…No. My sense of direction is just… unique.”
“Ah, I see. So, you’re bad with directions.”
“…I’m not.”
It's hard to tell because her expression doesn't change much, but she's sulking.
Or rather, this songstress isn’t cut out for running away from home in the slightest.
"Even if I say so myself, it was the right call to accompany you. You're so precarious that I could never leave you alone. I can understand the struggles of those looking after you."
"…You're surprisingly blunt, aren't you?"
"Am I?"
The young lady is straightforward in expressing herself, so perhaps I picked it up from her.
"If you'd prefer I go easy on you, I can do that."
"…No, it's fine. There aren't many people who speak so directly to me. It's kind of refreshing."
"Is that so?"
"…Yeah. Most people just try to keep me happy or carefully gauge my mood, since it would be a problem if I didn’t sing. Although, I also hear a fair amount of gossip about me. Stuff like, 'You never know what she’s thinking,' or 'She's creepy because she doesn't smile.' Things like that."
"Well, that's just because the people around you aren't very perceptive."
"Eh…?"
At my remark, she widened her eyes under her hat.
"While it's true that you come across as cool on the surface, you're surprisingly easy to read."
…At least, compared to how the young lady was when she was a child.
Back then, even though she seemed spoiled and mischievous, she had a tendency to bury her true feelings deep down. Like the time on her birthday when her parents couldn’t make it home due to unexpected work. She acted as if she was fine around others but ended up crying her heart out when she was alone.
"…Is that so?"
"Yes. You react naturally—whether you're surprised, smiling, or sulking. To me, you're a very straightforward person."
"…That's the first time anyone's said that to me."
"You must have been surrounded by rather dull people until now."
"…Heh, maybe so."
A faint smile breaks through her otherwise subdued expression.
"See, you're smiling now too."
"…Ah."
Perhaps even she was surprised by this, as her reaction was one of sudden realization.
"How strange... I don’t smile very often. Why now, I wonder?"
"In times like this, why not think about what’s different from usual?"
"What's different from usual…?"
For some reason, she looks intently into my eyes.
…Did I say something that upset her?
"…By the way, what's your name?"
"Forgive me for the late introduction. My name is Yagiri Kagehito."
"…Can I call you Kagehito?"
"I don't mind at all."
It seems I hadn’t said anything offensive after all. As I feel a quiet relief, she speaks again.
"You can call me Otoha too."
"Understood. Then, Otoha-san it is."
"…Yes, that’s fine."
Otoha-san nods, seemingly satisfied, then grabs my hand.
"…Let’s go, Kagehito. Let’s continue running away."
"I’d really appreciate it if we could avoid aimlessly circling around the same places again, though."
"Then, Kagehito, take me with you. That sounds like it’d be more fun."
"I can’t promise to entertain you since I’ve just been idling away my day off, but… alright. I’ll do my best in my own way."
"…I’m looking forward to it."
Driving around the city searching for Kagehito, but there’s no sign of him anywhere.
When I think about it calmly, it’s obvious. Frantically searching isn’t going to help; finding a single person in this vast city is nearly impossible.
What I need is a lead… but unfortunately, I don’t have one. His phone seems to be off since I can’t get through.
…No, it’s too soon to give up.
If there’s no lead, I’ll just have to form a hypothesis.
It’s almost unheard of for Kagehito to be unreachable. If he ever gets tied up with work for the Tendou family and becomes unavailable, he always informs me beforehand.
If that’s the case, let’s assume he’s been caught up in some unexpected trouble.
What kind of trouble could it be?
The likelihood of it being something violent is low. I’ve scanned the city, and there are no signs of such disturbances.
If not that… then—though I’d rather not consider it—the most likely cause would be something involving a girl. It’s just a hunch, but my intuition has never been wrong.
With no solid leads, relying on such an uncertain notion is my only option at this point.
If it is trouble involving a girl… it’s probably that songstress. I didn’t want to consider it, but it fits.
Based on past patterns and my intuition, my guess would be something like this: “A situation where Habataki Otoha fell from above, and Kagehito ended up catching her, leading them to spend time together.” (T/N: Bruh)
It’s happened a few times before… girls falling from above and Kagehito catching them.
As I stew in this uneasy feeling, my phone buzzes with an incoming call. It’s from Kazami.
“Yo! I looked into it using our connections and the Tendo family’s network. Got some info on Habataki Otoha.”
"How did it go?"
"Between you and me, it seems she escaped from the hotel where she was staying."
"…When did this happen?"
"This morning."
"………………………………"
I instinctively held my head in my hands.
"And from what I’ve heard, there were signs that she tried to climb down from the roof of the building she fled to using a rope…"
"Let me guess: the rope was old, and it snapped midway, didn’t it?"
"Uh, how’d you know that?"
"…Just a hunch. Call it experience."
My intuition had hit the mark. This was one time I really wished it hadn’t.
"Do you know where that building with the broken rope is? I need to head to the scene and follow the trail."
"I do, but… you sound super panicked."
"Of course I am! Every second we waste here, more flags are definitely being raised…!"
Even though we’re "running away," we don’t have any specific destination, and I’m not the type to go out for fun very often.
"…This is my first time in an arcade."
So, I decided to take her to a “place meant for playing.”
The area was less crowded compared to the main streets, which also served to lower the risk of anyone recognizing Otoha-san. Though she herself said, “If you act confidently, people surprisingly don’t notice,” it’s always better to err on the side of caution.
"Do you come here often, Kagehito?"
"Not very often, but occasionally, a friend invites me during my days off."
As we entered the arcade, we were greeted by the chaotic and lively sounds of electronic games.
It seemed like a few new games had been installed, but overall, the lineup of machines didn’t seem much different from the last time I came here with Yukimichi.
"Is there anything that catches your interest?"
"…That one. I want to try it."
Otoha-san pointed to a game at the back of the arcade.
It resembled a conveyor belt, with a large monitor set up in front of it.
"A dance game? That’s fine, but…"
When deciding on the arcade as our destination, this was one of the first things that came to mind.
I don’t know the full details of why she ran away from home, but if something unpleasant happened, getting her to move around and work up a sweat might help her feel better.
However, this songstress is currently on hiatus from her activities.
It doesn’t seem to be due to physical health. After all, she had the energy to escape from a hotel and attempt to climb down a rope from the rooftop. Even now, after observing her closely, I haven’t noticed any signs of illness, nor any indication that her health might deteriorate. Her walk shows no irregularities—in fact, her excellent core strength is evident at a glance, which I found rather impressive.
For that reason, I assumed the hiatus might be due to some mental or musical reason. That’s why I had initially thought to avoid suggesting a dance game… but I didn’t expect her to pick it herself.
"Are you sure about this?"
"Sure about what?"
Otoha-san tilted her head curiously, showing no sign of hesitation or concern.
"…Never mind. Let’s go."
Luckily, no one was playing that game at the moment.
"It seems like you can select a difficulty level. Should we start with the easiest one?"
"I want the hardest level."
What confidence. That kind of attitude reminds me a little of the young lady.
"Will you join me, Kagehito?"
"Sure. This will be my first time playing this game, so I’m not sure if I can keep up, but if that’s alright with you."
Apparently, this game also supports cooperative play.
The two of us would dance together, and our points would be combined to determine the final score.
After inserting the credits and navigating the menu, we reached the song selection screen. …Let’s see if we can find something interesting.
"Oh, look. There’s one of your songs here, Otoha-san. Should we go with this?"
"Yeah, that’s fine."
"Alright, let’s begin."
As the game started, music I’d heard in commercials began to play, and marks appeared on the screen. The gameplay involves stepping or jumping in time with the marks as they align with the rhythm, but since we selected the hardest difficulty, the timing was incredibly fast.
"Whoa…"
Relying on rhythm and my own reflexes, I stepped along with the beat. So far, so good—no mistakes in the early stages.
I was getting the hang of the game and didn’t foresee any major issues.
"――――…"
I glanced at Otoha-san beside me to check on her progress. She was flawlessly executing graceful steps, also without a single miss. Her movements were elegant and cool, a combination that almost made me lose focus for a moment—it was mesmerizing.
Unlike my technique, which relied heavily on practiced reflexes and a sturdy stance, hers was fundamentally different.
Her steps seemed perfectly in sync with the music itself, as if they were designed to harmonize with song and rhythm. There was a captivating power in the way she moved, one that touched the heart of anyone watching.
And above all—she looked like she was genuinely having fun.
Dancing to the music, she exuded joy that was infectious, making even the onlookers feel uplifted.
(Huh…?)
But amidst all that, I noticed something faint—a shadow of sorrow. No, this wasn’t just strain. It was sadness.
All the more reason she should go back, I thought.
“…Thank you for helping me.”
“Where are you headed?”
“…I don’t know. I just need to keep running.”
With that, Habataki Otoha strode off, as if nothing had happened.
It would’ve been easy to let her go and leave things at that. But seeing her resort to something as reckless as climbing down a rooftop with a flimsy rope just to escape… well, it said a lot.
Having witnessed that and met her in this situation, it felt wrong to turn a blind eye. As someone who serves my lady, ignoring someone in need wasn’t the right thing to do.
For someone like me—a foundling fortunate enough to stand by young lady’s side—I must conduct myself in a manner befitting such a role.
“Please, wait.”
“…What is it?”
“I’m worried, so allow me to accompany you. At least until you safely return home.”
“…You’re quite the odd one, aren’t you?”
“Not at all. I simply strive to act in a manner befitting someone who serves young lady.”
“…”
Habataki Otoha fell silent for a moment before finally nodding.
“…Fine. You can come along.”
She had granted me permission to accompany her on her runaway adventure.
――――♪♪♪
Suddenly, the ringtone of my phone echoed from my pocket.
Glancing at the screen, I saw the caller’s name: Young Lady.
"…No."
Before I could react, Habataki Otoha snatched my phone and ended the call.
"Ah!"
“…It’s fine if you’re coming with me, but contacting anyone else is not allowed.”
“You’re quite cautious, aren’t you?”
“…I just want to avoid unnecessary trouble.”
Did she think I’d start spilling everything to someone else? Or was she worried about whoever might be chasing her? Either way, it couldn’t be helped. Leaving this reckless Diva, who thought a flimsy rope was a safe escape route, to her own devices would be irresponsible. For now, I’d comply.
(I’m sorry, young lady. I’ll explain later.)
Apologizing silently in my mind, I turned off my phone and slipped it back into my pocket.
“Is this acceptable?”
“…Yeah.”
Habataki Otoha nodded in satisfaction before walking away with purposeful strides, aiming to leave the alley behind.
I followed her without a word, resigned to whatever awaited us next.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"…Hey, have you managed to get in touch with Kagehito?"
"No, I tried calling him too, but no luck. Looks like his phone's off."
"Ugh…! I’ve got a really, really bad feeling about this…!"
"Well, Tendou-san, your intuition is usually spot on..."
This time, I desperately wanted that intuition to be wrong.
But at the same time, deep down, I knew it was probably right.
"Argh, seriously! Where on earth is Kagehito? We’ve got to find him before it’s too late…!"
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
Billboards, large screens, and posters all over the city featured Habataki Otoha’s face.
The surrealness of walking right next to the Diva herself was hard to ignore.
“So, you’re really the Diva.”
“…Were you doubting that?”
“Haha, sorry. I just never imagined the Diva herself would fall from a rooftop.”
It’s not unheard of for me to catch girls falling out of nowhere, but this was the first time one of them turned out to be a famous singer.
“By the way, Habataki-san, why did you run away from home?”
“…Rebellion phase?”
“Why does that sound like a question?”
“…Because I’m not even sure myself.”
I suppose that’s how it works. I’ve never really experienced a rebellion phase—I missed out on that after being abandoned by my parents—so I can’t say I understand it very well.
“I see. Well then, Habataki-san.”
“…What?”
“Have you noticed that we’ve been walking in circles for a while now?”
“…”
Judging by her silence, she hadn’t realized.
The plaza with the fountain where we currently stood—we had passed it about ten minutes ago.
“…Are you, perhaps, bad with directions?”
“…No. My sense of direction is just… unique.”
“Ah, I see. So, you’re bad with directions.”
“…I’m not.”
It's hard to tell because her expression doesn't change much, but she's sulking.
Or rather, this songstress isn’t cut out for running away from home in the slightest.
"Even if I say so myself, it was the right call to accompany you. You're so precarious that I could never leave you alone. I can understand the struggles of those looking after you."
"…You're surprisingly blunt, aren't you?"
"Am I?"
The young lady is straightforward in expressing herself, so perhaps I picked it up from her.
"If you'd prefer I go easy on you, I can do that."
"…No, it's fine. There aren't many people who speak so directly to me. It's kind of refreshing."
"Is that so?"
"…Yeah. Most people just try to keep me happy or carefully gauge my mood, since it would be a problem if I didn’t sing. Although, I also hear a fair amount of gossip about me. Stuff like, 'You never know what she’s thinking,' or 'She's creepy because she doesn't smile.' Things like that."
"Well, that's just because the people around you aren't very perceptive."
"Eh…?"
At my remark, she widened her eyes under her hat.
"While it's true that you come across as cool on the surface, you're surprisingly easy to read."
…At least, compared to how the young lady was when she was a child.
Back then, even though she seemed spoiled and mischievous, she had a tendency to bury her true feelings deep down. Like the time on her birthday when her parents couldn’t make it home due to unexpected work. She acted as if she was fine around others but ended up crying her heart out when she was alone.
"…Is that so?"
"Yes. You react naturally—whether you're surprised, smiling, or sulking. To me, you're a very straightforward person."
"…That's the first time anyone's said that to me."
"You must have been surrounded by rather dull people until now."
"…Heh, maybe so."
A faint smile breaks through her otherwise subdued expression.
"See, you're smiling now too."
"…Ah."
Perhaps even she was surprised by this, as her reaction was one of sudden realization.
"How strange... I don’t smile very often. Why now, I wonder?"
"In times like this, why not think about what’s different from usual?"
"What's different from usual…?"
For some reason, she looks intently into my eyes.
…Did I say something that upset her?
"…By the way, what's your name?"
"Forgive me for the late introduction. My name is Yagiri Kagehito."
"…Can I call you Kagehito?"
"I don't mind at all."
It seems I hadn’t said anything offensive after all. As I feel a quiet relief, she speaks again.
"You can call me Otoha too."
"Understood. Then, Otoha-san it is."
"…Yes, that’s fine."
Otoha-san nods, seemingly satisfied, then grabs my hand.
"…Let’s go, Kagehito. Let’s continue running away."
"I’d really appreciate it if we could avoid aimlessly circling around the same places again, though."
"Then, Kagehito, take me with you. That sounds like it’d be more fun."
"I can’t promise to entertain you since I’ve just been idling away my day off, but… alright. I’ll do my best in my own way."
"…I’m looking forward to it."
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
Driving around the city searching for Kagehito, but there’s no sign of him anywhere.
When I think about it calmly, it’s obvious. Frantically searching isn’t going to help; finding a single person in this vast city is nearly impossible.
What I need is a lead… but unfortunately, I don’t have one. His phone seems to be off since I can’t get through.
…No, it’s too soon to give up.
If there’s no lead, I’ll just have to form a hypothesis.
It’s almost unheard of for Kagehito to be unreachable. If he ever gets tied up with work for the Tendou family and becomes unavailable, he always informs me beforehand.
If that’s the case, let’s assume he’s been caught up in some unexpected trouble.
What kind of trouble could it be?
The likelihood of it being something violent is low. I’ve scanned the city, and there are no signs of such disturbances.
If not that… then—though I’d rather not consider it—the most likely cause would be something involving a girl. It’s just a hunch, but my intuition has never been wrong.
With no solid leads, relying on such an uncertain notion is my only option at this point.
If it is trouble involving a girl… it’s probably that songstress. I didn’t want to consider it, but it fits.
Based on past patterns and my intuition, my guess would be something like this: “A situation where Habataki Otoha fell from above, and Kagehito ended up catching her, leading them to spend time together.” (T/N: Bruh)
It’s happened a few times before… girls falling from above and Kagehito catching them.
As I stew in this uneasy feeling, my phone buzzes with an incoming call. It’s from Kazami.
“Yo! I looked into it using our connections and the Tendo family’s network. Got some info on Habataki Otoha.”
"How did it go?"
"Between you and me, it seems she escaped from the hotel where she was staying."
"…When did this happen?"
"This morning."
"………………………………"
I instinctively held my head in my hands.
"And from what I’ve heard, there were signs that she tried to climb down from the roof of the building she fled to using a rope…"
"Let me guess: the rope was old, and it snapped midway, didn’t it?"
"Uh, how’d you know that?"
"…Just a hunch. Call it experience."
My intuition had hit the mark. This was one time I really wished it hadn’t.
"Do you know where that building with the broken rope is? I need to head to the scene and follow the trail."
"I do, but… you sound super panicked."
"Of course I am! Every second we waste here, more flags are definitely being raised…!"
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
Even though we’re "running away," we don’t have any specific destination, and I’m not the type to go out for fun very often.
"…This is my first time in an arcade."
So, I decided to take her to a “place meant for playing.”
The area was less crowded compared to the main streets, which also served to lower the risk of anyone recognizing Otoha-san. Though she herself said, “If you act confidently, people surprisingly don’t notice,” it’s always better to err on the side of caution.
"Do you come here often, Kagehito?"
"Not very often, but occasionally, a friend invites me during my days off."
As we entered the arcade, we were greeted by the chaotic and lively sounds of electronic games.
It seemed like a few new games had been installed, but overall, the lineup of machines didn’t seem much different from the last time I came here with Yukimichi.
"Is there anything that catches your interest?"
"…That one. I want to try it."
Otoha-san pointed to a game at the back of the arcade.
It resembled a conveyor belt, with a large monitor set up in front of it.
"A dance game? That’s fine, but…"
When deciding on the arcade as our destination, this was one of the first things that came to mind.
I don’t know the full details of why she ran away from home, but if something unpleasant happened, getting her to move around and work up a sweat might help her feel better.
However, this songstress is currently on hiatus from her activities.
It doesn’t seem to be due to physical health. After all, she had the energy to escape from a hotel and attempt to climb down a rope from the rooftop. Even now, after observing her closely, I haven’t noticed any signs of illness, nor any indication that her health might deteriorate. Her walk shows no irregularities—in fact, her excellent core strength is evident at a glance, which I found rather impressive.
For that reason, I assumed the hiatus might be due to some mental or musical reason. That’s why I had initially thought to avoid suggesting a dance game… but I didn’t expect her to pick it herself.
"Are you sure about this?"
"Sure about what?"
Otoha-san tilted her head curiously, showing no sign of hesitation or concern.
"…Never mind. Let’s go."
Luckily, no one was playing that game at the moment.
"It seems like you can select a difficulty level. Should we start with the easiest one?"
"I want the hardest level."
What confidence. That kind of attitude reminds me a little of the young lady.
"Will you join me, Kagehito?"
"Sure. This will be my first time playing this game, so I’m not sure if I can keep up, but if that’s alright with you."
Apparently, this game also supports cooperative play.
The two of us would dance together, and our points would be combined to determine the final score.
After inserting the credits and navigating the menu, we reached the song selection screen. …Let’s see if we can find something interesting.
"Oh, look. There’s one of your songs here, Otoha-san. Should we go with this?"
"Yeah, that’s fine."
"Alright, let’s begin."
As the game started, music I’d heard in commercials began to play, and marks appeared on the screen. The gameplay involves stepping or jumping in time with the marks as they align with the rhythm, but since we selected the hardest difficulty, the timing was incredibly fast.
"Whoa…"
Relying on rhythm and my own reflexes, I stepped along with the beat. So far, so good—no mistakes in the early stages.
I was getting the hang of the game and didn’t foresee any major issues.
"――――…"
I glanced at Otoha-san beside me to check on her progress. She was flawlessly executing graceful steps, also without a single miss. Her movements were elegant and cool, a combination that almost made me lose focus for a moment—it was mesmerizing.
Unlike my technique, which relied heavily on practiced reflexes and a sturdy stance, hers was fundamentally different.
Her steps seemed perfectly in sync with the music itself, as if they were designed to harmonize with song and rhythm. There was a captivating power in the way she moved, one that touched the heart of anyone watching.
And above all—she looked like she was genuinely having fun.
Dancing to the music, she exuded joy that was infectious, making even the onlookers feel uplifted.
(Huh…?)
But amidst all that, I noticed something faint—a shadow of sorrow. No, this wasn’t just strain. It was sadness.
There was a faint glimmer of sadness in her eyes—or at least, that’s how it seemed to me.
Eventually, the music faded, and the song came to an end.
As the machine calculated our scores and we took a brief moment to catch our breath,
"…Kagehito, that was amazing," she said.
"Really? I think you were the more impressive one, Otoha-san."
"Even though it was your first time dancing with me, you managed to keep up."
"I just relied on my trained reflexes and sturdy footing to bluff my way through."
"That’s not true. Your sense of rhythm isn’t bad either… with a bit of practice, you could even perform on stage with me."
"Ha ha, what an honor," I said, laughing.
But… her eyes were sparkling with excitement.
"One more time. Let’s dance together again."
"Sure, I’m up for it."
We played the game again and achieved a high score. However, as the crowd began to gather and we started drawing too much attention, we decided to leave the arcade.
"Huff… huff… I’m sorry. That was careless of me—I didn’t think so many people would gather."
"No, I wasn’t paying attention to my surroundings either."
Catching our breath, we found ourselves at a sprawling park with a large pond.
Since it was a holiday, there were more people around than usual, but it wasn’t as crowded as the arcade or the main streets. As long as we behaved normally, we probably wouldn’t stand out.
"…Thank you. It’s been a while since I’ve had so much fun."
"If you enjoyed yourself, then I’m glad."
From there, we didn’t do anything in particular. The two of us simply gazed at the large pond together.
In contrast to the lively atmosphere of the arcade earlier, a serene and tranquil moment passed between us.
"…Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"…Why did you come along with me when I ran away from home? You said you were worried about me, but… I feel like there's more to it."
"It's true that I was worried about you, Otoha-san. But… when I look at you, I can't help but be reminded of my young lady from the past."
"…The young lady you served?"
"Yes. She once tried to run away from home too. She wanted to get her busy parents’ attention—wanted them to notice her. That’s why I couldn’t just leave you alone either."
"…"
Otoha fell silent, lost in thought. The sound of the wind grazed their ears, and a faint stillness hung in the air.
"…Can I ask you something too? It might be a bit personal."
"…Okay."
"Right now, you’re on a break from your career, aren’t you?"
Without speaking, Otoha-san nodded quietly in affirmation.
"Could it be… that you can’t sing?"
At this, Otoha-san’s eyes widened in surprise.
"…How did you know?"
"Watching you today, I could tell it wasn’t a physical issue. That leaves a mental one. If it’s serious enough to make you pause your career… well, I had a hunch."
"You're amazing… Kagehito. Yes, you’re right."
Otoha gently placed a hand on her throat.
"I can talk normally. But when I try to sing… no matter what I do, my voice just won’t come out."
"…I see. I'm sorry for prying."
"No, it's fine. I don’t mind."
The faint sadness Otoha-san showed earlier during the dance game was likely connected to her inability to sing.
"Just as you guessed, my doctor also said it’s something psychological," she admitted.
"Do you have any idea what might have caused it?"
"…I don’t know. But right before I lost the ability to sing, my father told me, 'You don’t need to sing anymore.'"
"Telling a songstress not to sing… Your father certainly made quite a bold statement."
"My father… he never seemed particularly happy when I sang," Otoha-san replied softly.
With a distant and hazy expression, she began to walk slowly along the edge of the pond, her steps tracing its gentle curve.
"My mother was a singer, too. But she passed away when I was very young. My father was devastated… So I started singing for him. My father loved my mother’s singing."
It was likely the action of a young child, trying in her own way to comfort her grieving father.
"…For me, singing is a means to an end. A tool. Something I used to cheer my father up. Nothing more, nothing less. If my father says I don’t need to sing anymore, it means it’s no longer necessary. That’s why I think I can’t sing anymore. It’s something I no longer need…"
"I don’t think that’s true."
Without thinking, I interrupted Otoha-san as she tried to draw her conclusion.
"…Why?"
"Because, Otoha-san, you love singing, don’t you?"
"Love… singing? Me?"
Otoha-san looked bewildered by my words. It seemed she hadn’t realized it herself.
"…Why do you think that?"
"During the dance game earlier… you looked like you were having so much fun. You were shining so brightly it was mesmerizing to watch. But at the same time, you also looked sad. It seemed to me that you were enjoying the music because you truly love singing, and that’s why being unable to sing feels so painful. And also…"
I closed my eyes, recalling the memories slowly—the sound of her songs from commercials or giant screens in the city.
"…Your songs reach so many people, even in the course of everyday life. Every time I hear them, I can’t help but think, ‘This person truly loves singing from the bottom of their heart.’"
"That’s not… true…"
"Isn’t it? Have you really never enjoyed singing, even once?"
"……………………"
Otoha-san fell silent at my question. It was a silence meant for herself—a moment of self-reflection, questioning her feelings toward singing.
"……………………I see. I guess… I really do love singing."
"Only now you realize that?"
"…Yeah. Seems like it."
A soft, serene smile, as if a burden had been lifted, appeared on Otoha-san’s face.
"…All this time, I thought of singing as just a means to an end. A tool. Something to cheer my father up. Because of that, I believed I wasn’t allowed to enjoy it myself. But… at some point, I started to love it without even realizing it."
She spoke quietly, as though confirming her own feelings with each word.
"I think the reason you couldn’t sing anymore was because you love singing so much, and hearing your father reject it hurt you deeply," I said gently.
"…What should I do?"
"It’s simple. First, go home and talk to your father. Tell him how you truly feel."
"But… I think my father hates my singing."
"Do you really believe that? I don’t think so."
"…Why do you think that?"
"Even someone like me, who just met you today, can tell how much you love singing. There’s no way your father hasn’t noticed. I think he has his reasons—perhaps he said those things to push you away intentionally, in his own way."
"…………"
"Go home first, and take the time to talk with him. I’m sure he’s worried about you."
"…Alright. I’ll try talking to my father."
It seemed she had made up her mind. The hesitant, unsteady steps from earlier were gone; now, she stood firmly, grounded with purpose.
"Thank you… Kagehito. You helped me realize something very important."
"Don’t mention it. I didn’t do much."
"No, to me… it was something truly important."
Before I realized it, the sun had begun to set.
The gentle breeze swept past, playfully caressing the songstress's long hair. The scene felt almost ethereal, as though nature itself was celebrating her newfound resolve and determination.
"Well then, it looks like your runaway adventure has come to an end. I'll walk you home," I said.
"Yeah. Thank you."
Just as Otoha-san was about to take a step toward home, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"…Hey, Kagehito. If I ever feel like running away again… would you come with me?"
"Hopefully, it won’t come to that. But… if it’s what you truly want, I’ll take you away again."
"I see… hehe. In that case, I’ll count on you," she replied with a satisfied nod.
Her smile, this time, was not the polished, practiced expression I had seen in advertisements or on giant screens—it was the natural, radiant smile of a girl her age, far more captivating than anything she had shown before.
"――――Kagehito!"
A familiar voice, unmistakable, made me turn instinctively.
Running toward us was a girl with long, golden hair streaming behind her.
"Young Lady!? What are you doing here?" I asked, startled.
"Haah… haah… What am I doing here? You’ve been completely unreachable! I had a bad feeling, so I went looking for you. I heard about the commotion at the arcade and ended up using a full-scale search with every resource I could muster to gather information… and…"
As she caught her breath, her eyes landed on Otoha-san, standing beside me. Her body stiffened instantly, as though turned to stone.
"Oh, I forgot to explain. Young Lady, this person is..."
"...Habataki Otoha-san, right?"
"As expected, you know her, don't you? She’s famous, after all."
"Yes, that's right. ...Hehe... I thought so... Just as I suspected... It's obvious just by looking that it's already too late..."
Even the Young Lady seemed surprised to see the sudden appearance of the songstress.
The light seemed to have vanished from her eyes—surely because she was too shocked.
"It seems I’ve caused you some concern. I’ll take Otoha-san home now..."
"That’s unnecessary. She can ride in our car."
"...It’s fine. I'll walk home with Kagehito."
"Oh my. You don’t need to be so reserved. There’s plenty of space in the car, and more importantly, it’s much faster. If you’d prefer, I could even walk back with Kagehito instead."
"That’s true! I’m sure Otoha-san’s father is worried as well, so it would be better if she got home as quickly as possible."
As expected of the Young Lady, she quickly assessed the situation and made a logical decision.
"...Alright. I’ll let you take me in your car. But you don’t need to worry about me—let’s all three ride together."
"Oh, how thoughtful of you. Thank you."
With Otoha-san’s suggestion, the three of us got into the car together.
Inside, the Young Lady and Otoha-san were having a lively conversation. Watching them, I quietly thought that these two could become great friends.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
The memories I have of my mother are actually quite limited.
It’s because she passed away before we could create many memories together. Even so, I still remember her beautiful singing voice—a voice so enchanting that it softened the usually stern face of my father. To me, my mother’s songs were magical.
But that was only until my mother passed away. Back then, my father seemed to do nothing but cry.
I started singing because I wanted to ease my father’s sorrow.
I wanted to be able to sing magical songs like my mother did.
For me, singing was merely a means to an end, a tool—nothing more, nothing less. Being called a "songstress" was something that just happened along the way as I pursued my mother’s magical songs. It wasn’t something I desired.
If my father could regain his strength, then I didn’t care about myself.
"Tch... That songstress, I can’t figure out what’s going on in her head. She should think about how frustrating it is for us to have to appease her..."
——That’s why it doesn’t bother me, no matter what people say behind my back.
"She never smiles. It’s creepy... like she’s just a singing robot."
——That’s why it doesn’t bother me, even if I end up alone.
"Don’t sing anymore."
——But my father denied my singing.
"I don’t even want to hear your songs."
With his back turned to me, my father rejected and dismissed my songs without so much as glancing in my direction.
At that time, I didn’t feel anything—or rather, I pretended not to feel anything.
I went to work as usual, intending to sing as usual.
“——Ah... ah...?”
But I couldn’t sing anymore.
I could hold normal conversations and speak just fine. But when I tried to sing, no sound would come out.
The doctor told me it was psychological, but I couldn’t think of any cause.
Still, since I couldn’t sing, I had to put my activities on hold.
Looking back now... I think I was in shock. Being rejected by my father had hurt me more than I realized.
Running away from home was impulsive at first, but now I understand—it was because I wanted my father to notice me. I wanted my father, who never met my gaze and always turned his back to me, to finally look at me.
The one who saw through that and told me so... was Kagehito.
I met him by chance—a mysterious boy.
He treated me not as "the songstress" but as Habataki Otoha.
He wasn’t overly considerate, nor did he try to please me. Instead, he helped me recognize the feelings I had buried deep inside. He gently gave form to emotions I hadn’t even realized were there.
“...Father.”
It’s thanks to Kagehito that I was able to return home and face my father like this. The short time I spent with him gave me tremendous courage.
“I love singing. I love to sing. …That’s why I want to keep singing—not just for my father, but for myself too.”
When I said those words after returning home, my father listened silently.
“…I thought you were singing because you were trapped in the past. I believed that, to you, singing was a symbol of the past.”
But then, he continued.
“Because of my own shortcomings, I ended up binding you to the past. I isolated you… I wanted you to break free from the ‘past’ that singing represented and move toward the future. That’s what I thought...”
This time, my father looked me in the eyes.
“…It seems I was the one trapped in the past. You had already set your sights on the future. I’m sorry for cornering you unnecessarily.”
“It’s okay. I understand now. I understand how you felt.”
When he told me not to sing, it was his way of wishing for me to move forward into the future. At that time, when he turned his back on me, he must have been struggling too.
(…Thank you, Kagehito.)
As I pictured the boy in my mind, I held the warm feelings that had blossomed in my chest close to my heart.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
“Even though the break just ended, it doesn’t feel like I got much rest…”
The commotion caused by the songstress over the weekend had been safely resolved, and we managed to start the new week without incident.
But somehow, my heart feels more exhausted than it did before the break.
“Young Lady, if you’re not feeling well, perhaps you should take the day off. I can arrange a car for you immediately.”
“I’m fine. It’s more of a mental issue than a physical one.”
“?”
Kagehito, as usual, doesn’t seem to understand the source of my stress.
I often find myself crossing paths with him in significant ways, but this time it was a particularly big one.
After all, the other party involved, even if currently on hiatus, was none other than the famous “Songstress.”
The moment I saw her face when I arrived by Kagehito’s side, I instantly realized it.
The overwhelming feeling of “I was too late…!” still churns in my chest. Honestly, I think I deserve some praise for not collapsing on the spot back then.
…But the Songstress has gone home now.
Sure, she’s a formidable rival—like a giant rookie, a thieving cat—but precisely because of that, it’s unlikely we’ll meet again now that her issues have been resolved. It seems she’s found closure with her own problems.
“Anyway, I’m fine, really.”
“If you say so... But please don’t push yourself too hard.”
“Thanks.”
The chime signaling the start of homeroom rang, and as everyone scrambled to take their seats, the teacher entered the classroom.
“Alright, everyone, settle down. Today, we’ve got a new transfer student to introduce!”
The teacher's single announcement caused the classroom to instantly buzz with excitement.
A transfer student is a rare event in school life. It’s no wonder everyone was getting so noisy... and yet, I had a very bad feeling about this. For me, these feelings tend to hit the mark.
“You can come in now.”
At the teacher’s call, the classroom door opened, and a single girl stepped inside, immediately causing an uproar among the students.
Her long, flowing silver hair swayed with her movements. Her cool profile resembled a delicate snowflake.
These days, there isn’t a single day where she doesn’t appear on TV, social media, or in advertisements.
“...I’m Habataki Otoha. Nice to meet you.”
(Are you kidding me!?)
It goes without saying that I instinctively collapsed onto my desk in disbelief.
Chapter 3 END
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