verdantgrove

Location: ES Dorm Room (Hinata, Hiiro, Niki)

<A couple days later. Starmony Dorms, Hinata Aoi’s Dorm Room>

Hiiro: I've returned! What a pleasant morning it is!

Hinata: GyaAAH! Come on! What do you mean "this will be a great opportunity for you two," isn't this literally just bullying!?

Hiiro: ? What opportunity?

Hinata: Whoa! Hiiro-kun, could you please not appear behind me out of nowhere?!

Hiiro: Mhm, hiding my presence only to creep up behind a fellow housemate would be quite discourteous, wouldn’t it? Since it would mean I don’t trust the other party.

Hinata: Uh, y-yeah.

Hiiro: I end up doing it anyway out of habit, though, but you would always sense it and notice me anyway.

However, this time, you did not. In other words, you're facing something that's causing you to lose your composure, right? It's unusual for you to speak so loudly to yourself...

If there's anything causing you trouble, I will gladly lend you an ear. I know you'd do the same for me.

Hinata: R-right... Thanks. Then, can you hear me out real quick, Hiiro-kun?

Hiiro: Yes, I shall!

But before that, may I change my clothes first? I just got back from running my routine morning patrol around the building, so I'm sweaty.

Hinata: Why do you do patrols, actually? I'm pretty sure the Starmony Dorms have security.

Hiiro: Mhm, well, think of it like a cat sharpening its claws. If it can't keep its claws sharp, then it won't be able to relax, right?

Hinata: How noble! I also feel I gotta maintain my quality as an idol, so I try to keep a skincare routine and stuff.

Hiiro: You do? But aren't you always staying up all night with Shiina-senpai, eating sweets and playing games...?

Hinata: Huh? Ohh~, did that happen...? You sure remember things well, huh, Hiiro-kun!

Hiiro: Of course—I do have a good memory, after all.

Hinata: Even though one wouldn’t guess it from looking at you, Hiiro-kun...

Anyways, can you listen while you're changing? I want to elaborate on things a bit, too.

Hiiro: Okay. ...Just don't look over here too much, I don't really like showing my skin around others.

Hinata: Hmm? Perfect, perfect, that’s one of the basics of being an idol! ♪ You can't be selling it at a bargain, am I right~?

Hiiro: Yep! Somehow, the customs back at my hometown have been surprisingly beneficial to my idol experience.

I wonder if that is also why idols appealed so much to my brother back then.

Perhaps that's why he felt that becoming an idol wasn't just some daydream, but instead a "cherished aspiration" within his reach.

Hinata: Umm... I get that you really love your older brother, but could you listen to me now?

Hiiro: Okay!

Hinata: So, y’see, a few days ago, I was called over by our Vice Prez. And he told me about our next job.

Hiiro: Mhm. You're getting one job after another, huh. 2wink seems to be in great shape, it's enviable.

Hinata: You think so? But Alkaloid seems to be chuggin' along too—other than Crazy:B, aren't you guys the hottest rookies of the year?

Hiiro: Chuggin' along...?

Hinata: I feel like we were in the same position as yours 'til this summer, though... The "promising rookie group" stage.

Hiiro: ? But doesn't 2wink have a pretty lengthy history in performing arts? I heard you guys have been street performers since you were kids. If that’s the case, then you would have been newcomers back then, right?

Street performers weren’t a thing in my hometown, so it's difficult to imagine what that way of living must be like, but—

If you were performing for money—Doesn’t that mean you’ve been idols since you were kids?

Hinata: It was nothing special, really. Either way, that's why right now you guys are shining enviably to us.

Hiiro: Thank you. As underachievers who started from the bottom up, just being able to stand besides all of you brilliant idols at last brings us hope.

But we can't let our guards down yet. We must stay diligent!

Hinata: Yes, good boy, good boy. It's honestly somewhat appalling just how good you Alkaloid boys are, y'know... You’re sorta like Ra*bits, in a way?

Hiiro: Mhm, they're one of our inspirations, actually. We're not quite aiming for the "cute" image—rather, what we admire is how they achieved their goals.

Hinata: Huuh? You don't admire us 2wink, Hiiro-kun?

Hiiro: Haha, we certainly look up to you guys too, but, needless to say, we can't become "twins" no matter how hard we try.

Perhaps I just feel this way because I'm new to this, but aren't you guys a pretty unique existence? You have a rare individuality that nobody else can replicate.

Hinata: Nn~... But that's also our burden—we have no one else to look up to. Referring to the textbook doesn't do us any good.

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Translated by Mika_Enstars

Proofread by 310mc and meteorgreen