Regarding the Matter of Beautiful Girls Relentlessly Seeking My Body (Experience Points)
“Idol Diver” Trinity Spark’s Yura Hamano, known as Yuralin, has been on hiatus from idol activities for a month now. The agency has yet to make any statements about her return.”
“Wait, seriously?”
Hearing the voice from the TV that had been left on, I instinctively looked up. I thought I might have misheard, but the TV caption clearly read: “Yura Hamano, Idol Activities Temporarily Suspended.”
On the screen, a commentator spoke with a solemn expression.
“Even before her hiatus, fans were already concerned about Yuralin’s health. This is worrying.”
“No way… I had no idea. Hm. Maybe I should contact Nishimura-san?”
I opened my smartphone’s contact list and tapped on the number of Nishimura-san, Yura-chan’s manager. I was about to type a short message but stopped.
“Wait, wait. Isn’t it weird for just an old classmate to be reaching out to a popular idol’s manager?”
She was a rising star in the dazzling entertainment world. Meanwhile, I was just a pathetic, socially awkward loser who had never even had a girlfriend. If I sent a message, I’d just be bothering Nishimura-san.
“Yura-chan… As an old classmate, I’m cheering for you. Don’t push yourself too hard.”
There was nothing I could do. At the very least, I whispered words of support and stood up to go buy my breakfast-slash-lunch.
Stepping out of my apartment, I headed toward the nearest convenience store. It was mid-March, and the days were gradually getting warmer. The cherry trees, with their predicted bloom date approaching, were beginning to show a faint blush of pink.
“Tatsuya… kun…?”
As I strolled leisurely, someone called out from behind.
“Hm?”
I turned around to see a girl wearing a fluffy hat pulled low over her face. A well-defined face, pale skin. Her hair was strangely black, but there was no doubt—it was the face of Yuralin, Yura Hamano.
She wore a modestly colored mod coat, lacking the aura she had when seen on TV.
“Huh, Yura-chan? Um, are you feeling okay?”
Yura-chan didn’t answer my question. Instead, she looked at me with trembling eyes.
“Uh, Yura-chan?”
“Tatsuya-kun… I’m sorry, I’m so sorry… Please, don’t avoid me, don’t run away… I finally, finally found you…”
Something was clearly off. Yura-chan kept apologizing over and over, looking at me as if begging for forgiveness. Tears trickled down from her large, beautiful eyes.
“Hic… I’m s-sorry… Tatsuya-kun… I’m so, so sorry…”
“W-Wait, Yura-chan?! Calm down, okay? Um, um… let’s go somewhere else for now, okay?”
There weren’t many passersby, but if anyone realized she was Yuralin, a scene would definitely unfold. If they saw her crying, it would become an even bigger deal. And if people saw that I was the one who had made her cry, I’d absolutely get photographed and dragged all over social media.
I had no idea why a famous idol like Yura-chan was apologizing to me, but for now, I decided to move to a different location.
We entered a quiet nearby café and ordered coffee and tea.
The café’s old owner, watching Yura-chan sob while I flustered around, gave us a nostalgic look as if reminiscing about his own youthful days.
After a while, Yura-chan finally began to calm down.
“S-Sorry… I caused you trouble, didn’t I?”
“No, not at all. I was just going to grab some food, and I didn’t have any plans anyway.”
“Thank you… Thank you, Tatsuya-kun… You’re still kind to someone like me.”
“Someone like you…? Um, I really don’t understand what’s going on, though…”
Seeing my confusion, Yura-chan wiped her tears and gave a self-deprecating smile.
“You don’t have to pretend. You didn’t actually want to see me, did you…? And yet, I still came to see you. I’m really sorry. But I just wanted to see you. I just wanted to say sorry…”
“No, it’s not like I didn’t want to see you or anything…”
“Even though, the last time we met… I suddenly dragged you into karaoke and… tried to force myself on you… That must have disgusted you, right? You must have been so disappointed in me. That’s why… you blocked my number, didn’t you…? Sniff.”
“Blocked your number…?”
I had no memory of ever blocking Yura-chan’s number. Maybe it was some kind of mistake or misunderstanding?
“I wanted to see you so badly that I begged my manager to give me your contact info, but they said no because it was an important time for me… So, when my manager left their phone unattended, I secretly looked up your number. I’m sorry, I know it was wrong…”
“I mean, it’s just a phone number, so I don’t really mind…”
“I thought calling out of nowhere might be weird, so I sent you a text instead… But you never replied. When I finally gathered the courage to call, I… I couldn’t get through… sniff… No matter how many times I called, it just said the line was busy… And then, when I looked it up, I read that when someone blocks your number, it always says the line is busy… sob…”
“A text… blocked number… ………oh.”
I hurriedly pulled out my smartphone and checked my SMS messages.
I opened the trash folder.
And there, I found a message from a few months ago.
**”Hello. Sorry for the late message.
I actually wanted to contact you sooner, but I was busy with PV shoots and TV appearances…
But now my schedule has finally settled down, and I have more free time.
I know this is sudden, but would you be willing to meet up? I’ve also been cast in a drama next year, but until then, I have some time.
I’d really appreciate it if you could reply.
—Yura Hamano”**
As I finished reading, cold sweat ran down my back.
I had completely mistaken it for spam mail.
I thought it was one of those scams pretending to be a celebrity.
I had instantly blocked the number without a second thought.
But it was real.
A real message from a real celebrity.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry… I really am…”
Before me, a beautiful idol continued to weep sorrowfully.
There was no way I could just say, “Oh, I thought it was spam, lol.”
