The next day, Saturday, I went to the cafeteria early in the morning since Kei wanted to introduce me to her team.
I entered the school building and walked toward the cafeteria which was on the second floor, however, as soon as I got onto the second floor, I heard something beautiful.
"Singing?"
It was a graceful voice. It was beautiful, yet sad.
It was so captivating that I couldn't resist finding the source of it.
It was coming from the third class on this floor. I opened the door.
Most of the classroom's windows were shut and all of the chairs and desks had been in a pile in the corner.
In the middle of the classroom was a girl, singing, illuminated by the only sunlight entering the classroom.
Her hair was emerald green, glistening in the sunlight. The girl clasped her hands while singing and her eyes were ruby red. It was almost like God was bathing her in sunlight. Like she was an angel...
The girl stopped singing and sighed.
I clapped.
She twitched and turned around, looking at me with a surprised expression.
"You heard?"
She asked me.
"Uh, yeah. I heard your beautiful singing. Didn't you sing to be heard?"
Her face flushed red.
She must be a first-year since she doesn't know that this is the corridor that leads to the cafeteria.
"It's kind of dark in here. I'll open the curtains."
I opened the curtains and let sunlight into the room. I like this better than the slightly gloomy atmosphere that the room had with most of the light blocked.
I looked back at the girl.
"This is better, isn't it..."
My voice faded away as I laid my hands on the girl. Though I saw her, I didn't see her whole face. I only saw her from the side and she was mostly in the dark. But now that the light poured into the room, I saw her face clearly.
She wasn't a first-year but a second-year, one of the two rumoured transfer students and the least-liked singer in the idol group, Queen's Voyage: Vienna.
"You're Vienna, aren't you, from Queen's Voyage?"
For some reason, she turned her head.
"Yes..."
"Can I get an autograph?"
I asked.
She sighed and looked up at me with a tired look and forced smile.
"For who?"
"Eh, for who, what'd you mean? You, of course."
"Me?"
Why is she so shocked? Is she that sad about me finding her singing that she doesn't want to sign an autograph? If that's so, that's bad, since she's my favourite idol out of the Queen's Voyage.
Suddenly, a pure smile appeared on Vienna's face. She looked extremely ecstatic.
"Hey, say it again!"
"Say what? That I want your autograph?"
Vienna began jumping around like a cute girl that no one would ever think she was the same one with a mad demeanour on stage and during songs.
"Say... Uh, what's your name?"
"Shoya. Shoya Sasaki."
"Shoya! Who's your favourite singer in Queen's Voyage?"
"You."
I replied without hesitation.
Vienna cheered with a large smile on her face.
Why am I suddenly getting flashbacks to the first time I met Akane? She also called me by my first name all of a sudden when we first met.
"Shoya!"
"Yes?!"
I shook from her suddenly shouting my name.
"Want to hang out?"
She's so cute...
I shook my head to set myself straight.
I can't think like that! I have two girlfriends already and just because they're not here doesn't mean I can start randomly flirting with other girls.
"I don't mind."
I can't turn her down because she's my favourite idol!
"Though, I'm going to meet someone right now. Maybe later?"
"No, I have something to do later. Now! It must be now!"
She insisted.
I sighed.
It doesn't seem like she'll leave me alone. Kei shouldn't mind, right? I mean, Vienna is an idol...
·———·
"So, that's what happened."
"That's how you met, Vienna? That's so cool..."
Kei muttered.
Honestly, I thought she would be madder about this but she was happy.
"Anyway, why're you so happy right now?"
"Eh?"
Vienna was slightly confused by Kei's question. I then whispered into her ear.
"Kei's Singularity is to read emotions."
Vienna understood after I said that to her.
"Oh, that's because of your brother."
"My brother?"
"Yup. He's my first true fan."
"True fan?"
Kei kept on repeating things before pondering.
"Shoya-nii does like you a lot compared to the other idols. But why does it make you happy? I heard lots of people asked for signatures."
That's when Vienna formed a bitter smile.
"You must've noticed that I'm different from the Vienna that's in songs, on live shows, and on the news, right?"
I nodded and so did the girls on the other side.
Mashiro seemed to be staring at me intently though. I ignored her stare.
"Uh, is it because of your members?"
Arisu asked.
"I remember reading an article about you arguing with Crest after one of your concerts."
"Yes. I did argue with her. Not only her but the others. Though we're perfect as a team, once we're off the stage, everyone is rotten. I won't say that I don't have any flaws but it was argument after argument and I decided to release my pent-up anger during songs and interviews. Even so, it was still slightly painful for me."
That's why I felt like whenever she sang, it was like a crying girl waiting for someone to comfort her. I sensed it even when she sang earlier.
"Whenever someone asked me for an autograph, it was always them asking me to introduce them to another member. Nobody truly wanted my autograph. Until Shoya asked me earlier. He wanted my autograph and nothing else. I felt loved by a fan."
She smiled.
"Of course, my brother doesn't have enough brains to try and trick a girl."
Kei teased me.
I glared at her, grudgingly.
I coughed.
"Ahem, well then, Kei, introduce me to your team."
"Okay!"
I already knew most of her team. I just wanted to change the subject.