A Pursuit Scene in Plain Sight

[mireiarchive]

JP Proofer : 310mc1
EN Proofer : Amagiiz

ES Hallway - One day in Summer

Rinne: Thank you for your hard work~, please treat us well next time as well~☆

—Aight then! Today's work is done! How’d ya rate lil ol’ me and my manners, Merumeru? It’s nothin’ less than a perfect score, if you ask me!

HiMERU: —HiMERU supposes it was right on the passing mark. The fact that you didn’t pick a fight was good enough.

But as usual, your wording was far too vulgar. How about you try studying manners a little?

Rinne: Nah, ain’t happening! If I were to act all goody-goody, it would overlap with your character trait.

We can’t be having half our unit be the same exact thing, yeah?

HiMERU: Please rest assured. You will never be capable of becoming HiMERU, Amagi—

The only one who can is "HiMERU", and HiMERU only.

Rinne: Hmm... Well, if you say so.

Aight then, what’re you gonna do now? Wanna hang out together in a pachinko house?

HiMERU: ーIf you want to go, you’re free to do so alone. HiMERU will not touch anything related to gambling, considering that he’s an idol.

Rinne: Idols are human too, y’know. They’ve all got times when they test their luck and bravery and compete, don’t they?

Oh, the elevator’s here just in time! Ya boy’s on a roll today! 

Smell ya later, Merumeru~ If I get to hit the jackpot today, don't be jealous! Kyahaha! ☆

HiMERU: Please don't worry. There was never once a time where HiMERU was jealous of you—

HiMERU: (HiMERU has a magazine interview in our agency in two hours, then a recording after that...)

(Let's have a meal now. The resting room should be close by.)

(... Hm? There are sounds of footsteps from behind...)

Mika: ......

HiMERU: (It's Valkyrie's Kagehira Mika... The person who called "me" with that name—)¹

(Why is he following me from behind? Just what is he planning to do?)

(—No, HiMERU must be overthinking it. It’s only natural for us to stumble upon each other here.)

(We’re doing nothing more than walking down the same hallway— Let’s just keep going without fretting over it.)

Resting Area

HiMERU: (—HiMERU ended up taking the yakisoba bread suggested by the staff because they mentioned that it's freshly made.)

(HiMERU prefers sandwiches that are easier to eat…)

(But well, this is fine. You can get the necessary calories in any type of bread.) 

(—-!)

Mika: ......

HiMERU: (Why is he also here...?)

(—No. It must be a coincidence. It’s past midday, so it's not strange for him to come here for a meal. )

(Our tables are far from each other, and HiMERU doesn't have to greet him. HiMERU will simply ignore him and check on his schedule...)

HiMERU: ......

HiMERU: (... HiMERU can sense a gaze from him. It's distracting, and it makes it hard to concentrate.)

(Let's finish this meal and go back to the agency—)

Mika: ...Uh.

HiMERU: (Deducing his actual objective would be nice, but HiMERU already has his schedule to deal with...)

 ES Staircase

Mika: ... Shoot. I lost sight of ‘im. But he was definitely goin' this way… 

This wouldn’t have happened if I just called out to ‘im earlier... I'm so stupid~!

HiMERU: (—-HiMERU is now certain that he was being followed. And since there is no one here...)

HiMERU: Good afternoon, Kagehira-san.

Mika: Nnha! Y-Y'scared me… 

HiMERU-san, ya were here~? W-What a coincidence~♪

HiMERU: Was it really a coincidence?

Mika: ... Nhha?

HiMERU: HiMERU knew you were in the resting room. You kept watching HiMERU while you were eating your meal. 

Not only that, but before that encounter, you started tailing HiMERU in the hallway the moment you saw him.

Mika: Tha-That was ‘cause...

HiMERU: (He glanced to the side... As HiMERU thought, he has something up his slee—-)

Mika: ...'s loose.

HiMERU: —Huh?

Mika: The sleeves of yer clothes’re loose...! 

 When I saw ya in the hallway, I noticed the thread was hangin'.  But we’re from different units so I didn't dare t'tell…

But I once got embarrassed 'cause my clothes were loose the whole time I was at work. So I thought it'd be better ta tell ya. 

Thought it'd make it awkward fer ya if I told ya 'bout it in the resting room where there’re alotta people... 'm real sorry for doin' somethin’ weird!

HiMERU: ... You’re right, it is loose. HiMERU understands what you were aiming for now.

Mika: Ah, wait! I'll fix it for ya.

I have my sewin’ bag with me. This little thing’ll be a piece a’ cake fer me~♪

HiMERU: Hm, that does help a lot— 

(... Valkyrie apparently learned of "my" identity from Vice President Saegusa. )

(Should I investigate how much he knows while I still have my chance? No— If I don’t think this through, it may backfire on me...)

Mika: ... Aight, I’m done. Yer free ta move again, HiMERU-san~♪

HiMERU: ("HiMERU-san", huh... That occasion was the one and only time he called "me" by that name. Asking him about it now might just make him more conscious of it than ever.)

(He didn't seem to have spread information about me. That’s a relief, but should I really leave it at that...?)

—How incredible, you finished in no time.

Mika: Nhaha... Yer gonna make me blush~ Yer really good at praisin' someone, eh?

HiMERU: Thank you for your assistance. We may be in different units, but we're still fellow idols of the same agency. 

You’re free to greet HiMERU whenever you like.

Mika: Fer real? Then I’ll do so! Thank ya kindly~ 

Yer roommates with Naru-chan, right? I’d love ta get along with ya too~♪

HiMERU: Yes, HiMERU also thinks that would be nice—

END

NOTE:

¹ In Main Story Chapter 181 - Dumping, Mika referred to HiMERU as 十条要 (Tōjou Kaname). He also refer himself with (俺) instead of usual HiMERU here.