Ishi and Otoya made their way to the stage where the concert was going to be performed. There was already a crowd brewing here, and not only just because Rinse was going to be one of the performers. Plenty of people had their personal favorite idols, and judging from the chatter he heard, a lot of them were going to be performing alongside his friend.
"I can see why the producer of their studio wanted to have an event today." Otoya commented as they showed off their badges that allowed them backstage. "This will definitely earn them tons of cash."
"Yeah, and it looks like it's a good way to garner some more publicity for people to be aware of their brand." Ishi agreed as they passed by multiple idols who were running around to get the show ready for the main event.
"Ah, isn't it so wonderful to be able to see so many beautiful ladies?" Otoya was enjoying himself as they wandered aimlessly around.
"I'm only here to see Rinse." He replied in a monotone fashion. There were way too many people back here and none of them were anyone that he cared about. "Speaking of, sounds like she's getting some warming up done." Ishi pointed over to the girl who was standing in front of a mic with a man watching over. That person must've been the producer as the boy approached to grab a taste of her singing.
Rinse had been in the middle of a number as she warmed up her voice. Even if this was only practice, her vocals mesmerized those who were listening in. Her range was incredible as the song called for some complex levels where less experienced singers would have issues with. Yet it seemed to be no problem for her as she also incorporated dance moves befitting of a top class idol.
"Wonderful job." The man clapped and praised her as she gave a gently curtsy. "You're almost ready for the concert tonight."
"Almost?" Asked Rinse. "What am I doing wrong?" She spoke in a formal tone that was nearly foreign to the pair of boys.
"Your voice." He answered. "There's just a little something off with you, but I'm sure that you'll figure it out by the time we start."
"What's wrong with her voice?" Asked Otoya. "She sounded amazing as usual."
"I think I noticed what he meant." Ishi agreed with the older man. "It's hard to explain, but she's not at top form right now."
"And I see that your friends are here now." Without turning his head, the producer acknowledged their presence.
"Oh, sorry if we were being too loud." Otoya apologized.
"It's not because we heard you or anything." When asked about how he figured them out, the producer simply pointed towards Rinse. "There's a mirror behind her." They nervously laughed about being found out so easily as Rinse excitedly greeted the pair.
"I'm so glad that you two were able to make it." She said, obviously directing her attention more towards Ishi. "Have you seen anyone else tonight?"
"Unfortunately, no." Ishi answered, thinking about Youna.
"We should make our proper first introductions." The man stood up from his seat and straightened his suit. "I'm Teruhisa Oba." He extended out a hand for them to shake. The two boys properly introduced themselves to the producer as well. "Anyway, you're all still young. So I'll let you all go for now, but remember to get yourself ready for the concert, Rinse."
"I will." She gave a respectful bow as he left them. There was still a lot of time before the start of the concert, but she really wanted to work on whatever it was that the producer believed to be lacking in her performance. Deep down, she was aware of what the problem was, but confronting it was a completely different matter.
"I don't know what your boss was talking about, but I thought you sounded great." Otoya gave his usual compliments and words of encouragement to her. "I bet everyone else watching will feel the same way."
"I'm sure the audience will enjoy it." Ishi spoke in his manner to give away his true feelings. Yet his poor ability to lie meant that it was clear he didn't agree with Otoya's assessment. "So, anything you got for us?" Sadly, it was unlikely for her to enjoy the festivities with everyone else. He felt bad that she wouldn't be able to do so, since this concert was going to be taking most of her attention.
"How about I show you the dressing room?" She led them to the makeshift location for the idols to make quick changes during the performance. Right now, there were only girls in here getting some makeup on. Of course, there was no chance she would ever let them in if there was anyone changing. "Let's be respectful, so please only hang around here." Rinse pointed out one of the tables with a mirror on it, that being her reserved spot.
"Wow, this looks so cool." Otoya commented on the impressive quality to the set despite this being only just created for the festival. "I guess everyone's been working real hard for it."
"Right." Rinse affirmed. "Pretty much everyone associated with the studio is here. Even Chiana, but she's with her dad right now." Since the latter idol was more minor, she had a small role in the concert that meant she didn't have to dedicate so much time on the production and preparations.
"I see. A shame that Chinae didn't want to come. I'm sure that Ishi would've loved to see the one girl he's actually dated in a cute yukata."
"That is a shame." Rinse agreed, not realizing why things were the way they were. "She should at least support her sister."
"I'm sure she's doing it in her own way." Otoya didn't pay too much mind to the problem. "By the way, where are the bathrooms?" Rinse informed him of their locations as he left them alone for the time being. Ishi breathed a sigh of relief that the boy left on his own. He needed an excuse to be alone with the idol right now.
"So, what's wrong?" He asked with nothing to set up the question.
"W-wrong?" She was caught off guard by his question. The pair weren't alone in this room, but everyone around them were so busy that no one paid any attention to their conversation. "I'm fine, why would you say that?'
"Because your producer saw the same thing I did." Which made sense, since the man was a professional. "You're amazing at putting on a fake face, so people don't notice when you're feeling down. But this is just like back at the tiki bar." He knew that her boss most likely knew that one of the boys were the cause of her troubles. Partially because Ishi was confident that he was the source of her problems, and also because that man somehow decided that her time was better spent with a pair of boys instead of getting her vocals right. "We don't have that much time before Otoya gets back, so let's not waste this chance."
"…" Rinse was at a loss for words as she sat down at her table and faced the mirror. Her face had shifted from the cheerful idol attitude to something more akin to one of pain. "You couldn't have expected me to just forget about what happened back then." She spoke without turning to look at him. Instead, her voice was directed towards his reflection in the mirror.
"About the snake?" He replied. "Look, it was nonvenomous, so things are fine now."
"But what if it wasn't!?" She asked, her voice raised a bit from the emotions rushing into her head of the moment. "Back then, when I saw that it bit you… I thought… I thought you were going to die."
The girl was confronted with the image of living her life with him no longer a part of it. Simply just a memory that she could no longer talk to. Someone that she wouldn't live next door to anymore. Someone that she wouldn't sit next to class anymore. A boy whose heart would never learn of the feelings she had still yet to convey. "I really didn't want you to die. I… I don't want you to leave me."
"Rinse…" For the first time in his life, Ishi felt nearly speechless. He was at a loss for words at hearing about her true feelings about the moment. It was always like him to downplay anything bad, because things usually turned out well for them. There was only one time in his life did he ever consider the possibilities of the worst.
"I don't want to sound mean, but you probably don't understand how I feel."
"People only say that when they don't want to explain how they feel." He responded. "But… I do get how you feel. Because I've felt it too." Ishi placed his hands onto each of her shoulders.
"What?" Tears had begun to form in Rinse's eyes as she was overcome from the emotions of living through the snake moment again.
"That day at the beach." He explained himself. "When you nearly drowned. Those same thoughts filled my mind when I was performing CPR." Even if anyone watching him thought he appeared to be fearless, the truth was that the boy was scared out of his mind as her life was left in his hands.
The same feeling that she felt when seeing him bit was within him during that time. Somehow this girl who he had first been annoyed had been inserted into his life. In that moment, he was worried that she was to be taken out of it just as quick as she came in.
"Then, could you just be able to move on from that?"
"It's simple." He leaned down onto her, wrapping his arms around the girl in a light hug. "I just realized that I need to value what I have now." As he had always stated with her. The boy was always looking forward to growing up so he wouldn't have to deal with high school drama anymore.
Maybe that wasn't the best way to live life after all. Because if you ignore what you have now, then you'll have nothing in the future.
But as much as Rinse wanted to be in this moment forever, that was impossible as he let go of her. Time wouldn't stop for them, and certainly the people around them wouldn't allow them to be alone for long.
"I'm back." Otoya announced his return from the restroom. "Hope I didn't anything important."
"Well, it wouldn't be anything that you would care about." Ishi answered in the same manner as he usually did. After all, it was true that this boy would probably not like what just occurred.