An Unfamiliar Sight (HiMERU Idol Story)
Author: Kanata Haruka
Characters: Rinne, Niki, Kohaku, HiMERU
"—HiMERU also feels restless in his school uniform, you know."
Season: Winter
Location: Lounge in TV Station
Rinne: Hiya~ I got to the dressing room earlier than expected, huuh.
I've turned into a respectable member of society ♪
Niki: What're you talking about, Rinne-kun. A respectable member of society doesn't typically stroll into the dressing room right at the last minute.
Uh, wait? Is Kohaku-chan the only one here?
Rinne: Ain't it weird that Merumeru's runnin' late? Did he get a stomachache or somethin'?
Kohaku: Haah. You both just go at yer own pace as always. Didn't y'all see HiMERU-han's message?
HiMERU-han mentioned there were some procedures at Shuuetsu Academy he couldn't miss, so he'll be late.
Rinne: Academy? Oh, yeah, Merumeru's still a student.
Any way you look at it, he doesn't look like a student at all, so I totally forgot.
Niki: I completely forgot about it too. So HiMERU-kun's an earnest student, huh~
But, you know, it's kinda mysterious. I feel like I've never seen HiMERU-kun in his school uniform.
Even though we've already spent a bunch of time together?
Kohaku: Yeah, that's right. When Crazy:B got thrown into the same room, he and I both took a temporary absence from school.
He returned to school after movin' into the Seisoukan dorms, so we haven't had a straightforward chance to see it, y'know?
Rinne: Gotcha. Well, I guess Merumeru ain't tryna hide it either.
In that case, wouldn't it be interesting to see Merumeru in his uniform at least once?
HiMERU: —What about HiMERU's uniform?
Rinne: Oh, speak of the devil ♪ Hey, Merumeru. You're wearing your uniform this... time...
HiMERU: Apologies for the delay in getting here. HiMERU will get ready quickly.
Rinne & Kohaku: .........
HiMERU: Amagi, Oukawa, what's the matter? You look quite dumbfounded.
Rinne: Gyahahahahaha! Hey, hey, ain't that a bit too much, Merumeru?!
HiMERU: What is it with you laughing all of a sudden, Amagi?
Niki: Woah~ It's my first time seeing HiMERU-kun in his school uniform.
Yup, yup, I see. So it feels like that~ It's kinda refreshing.
HiMERU: —Right. Now that Shiina has said that, HiMERU gets the gist of it.
However, he finds it upsetting to be laughed at to this extent.
Kohaku: No, sorry, HiMERU-han... It ain't like I'm burstin' out laughin' like Rinne-han, but....
Seein' HiMERU-han in an unfamiliar outfit, I was at a loss for words to describe this strange feelin'...
Rinne: No matter how I look at it, you look like a cosplayer! For real, my stomach hurts! Gyahahahaha!
HiMERU: (...Is it really enough to warrant saying that?)
Rinne: Hey, hey, don't make that face, Merumeru.
I've never seen ya look like a proper highschooler before, so I just burst out laughing.
Kohaku: My bad, HiMERU-han. I'm in the same boat as Rinne-han.
There's a saying of "the clothes make the man", but in yer case, it's the opposite.
The uniform can't compete with yer mature atmosphere.
HiMERU: —Amagi, Oukawa, there's no need to force yourselves to keep talking.
It seems like you are desperately trying to patch it up, but the conclusion remains the same.
From now on, no matter how much of a hurry he's in, HiMERU will make sure not to come to work still in uniform.
Rinne: Don't get so pouty, Merumeru. It was my bad.
See, I never really went to school properly.
So it's prolly the norm for highschoolers like Merumeru to exist, yeah?
Niki: Well, besides HiMERU-kun, none of us are really attending school properly. Even I only graduated middle school.
Kohaku: I'm also just startin' to get back into school.
If you think 'bout it that way, the only one here who's leadin' a decent student life's HiMERU-han.
I wonder what kinda highschool life yer leadin'. I'm curious now...
HiMERU: —HiMERU can confidently say it hasn't been the youth that Oukawa is expecting.
Rinne: But, actually, you're havin' an exquisite time at school, ain'tcha?
Accordin' to our deputy director, Shuuetsu's a place with a well-established employee benefits system.
HiMERU: HiMERU hardly makes use of it. Naturally, HiMERU prioritizes idol activities.
—Ah, but some of the services available at Shuuetsu may indeed be described as "exquisite".
Kohaku: Oh~ If HiMERU-han says so, then they must be real good.
What the heck are they? I wanna know for reference.
HiMERU: Although it may have sounded grandiose, it's not such a big deal.
It is only a ryoutei—that is to say, a high class traditional restaurant. You can enjoy delicious dishes with well-balanced nutrition.
Niki: Please wait a second!
A ryoutei?! There's a place like that at Shuuetsu Academy?!
HiMERU: Yes, it seems that it is managed by the same affiliate company as CosPro.
A dedicated chef and nutritionist are assigned to each idol to provide the optimal menus.
It is reasonably inexpensive for students, so it has been helpful for HiMERU to utilize it several times when he eats meals.
Niki: ...I see. There's such a heavenly place in Shuuetsu, is there.
I've decided. I'm gonna transfer to Shuuetsu Academy! And I'll eat a bunch of food at the ryoutei!
Kohaku: That's a lousy motive, Niki-han...
Rinne: To begin with, Niki's a middle school graduate. You gotta start from the beginning, not as a transfer!
You'll be a first year in highschool and it'll just be too tough, so forget it, forget it.
You'd be better off securing your future by becoming my housewife and getting a permanent job at my place.
Niki: I hate that, I don't wanna be taken away by Rinne-kun for my whole life!
Please, HiMERU-kun! I don't like being pushy, but I wanna go to Shuuetsu's ryoutei too!
HiMERU: —HiMERU can't do anything about it single-handedly.
However, Shuuetsu Academy is a school for outstanding idols.
If Shiina can demonstrate exceptional talent as an idol, perhaps...
Niki: Are you for realsies?! You must be!
HiMERU: —Provided that you can demonstrate your ability. In that sense, this upcoming recording may be just the right chance for you.
Niki: Alriiight! Once it's decided like that, I'll get to work right away!
Rinne-kun and Kohaku-chan, we're going all out today!
The taste of ryoutei is waiting for me!
Kohaku: Niki-han really is a guy who only cares 'bout his stomach...
Rinne: ...Nice job baiting Niki, Merumeru.
But I won't take the blame for whatever happens later, aight?
HiMERU: —HiMERU understands that. That is why he didn't confirm anything either.
In the worst case scenario, he will take out a meal from the ryoutei and bring it back to the dormitory. It's humiliating, so he'd rather not, if possible.
Now, let's put an end to the chitchat. There's not much time left for the recording, so let's get ready quickly.
—HiMERU also feels restless in his school uniform, you know.
Note: About the housewife line... Yeah I don't know man. What it says on the tin. The page just talks about how women getting married used to be referred to as a permanent job, which is what Rinne says Niki should get with him.
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