Late at night, approaching midnight.
Rinto slid open the creaking, squeaky door and stepped into his shabby little doghouse.
"—We're home~!"
Miss Shrimp-and-Celery slipped first through the gap under his arm, cheerfully bouncing into the entryway.
She straightened up, stood on tiptoe, and took a deep breath of the musty, mildew-scented old house.
It definitely shouldn't smell good, yet this silly girl still grinned foolishly:
"Hehehe, it smells so cozy~ Rinto, Momoka-nee! Let's have a victory party!"
"It's too late now, no way."
Rinto fondly messed up her hair, lecturing her earnestly like some godfather.
Their performance at STARRY had been a huge hit, making them the most popular band of the evening.
Under those dim lights, the applause from dozens of audience members had filled all four girls with unbelievable joy.
Of course, they'd celebrated wildly afterward.
Only when Togawa Sakiko had to head home did Rinto and the others finally disperse.
Initially, Rinto had wanted to walk Sakiko back.
But that stubborn girl absolutely refused to tell him her exact address.
So Rinto could only accompany her to the train station, watching until she vanished into the distance, before returning home with Momoka and Nina.
Naturally, Nina had no intention of going back to her own rented place tonight either.
Rinto gently undid her twin braids, letting her soft, brown hair cascade loosely.
…Now that he looked closely, her hair reached just below her shoulders, making her seem more feminine than when it was tied up.
"Hm? Rinto, what's wrong? Why're you staring at me?"
Miss Shrimp-and-Celery-Cooked-to-Mush tilted her head, blinking up with large, round eyes.
...Suddenly, Rinto found her even cuter.
Ever since their desperate survival through the Palace a few months ago, this girl had remained incredibly resilient.
She'd stubbornly traveled all the way to Tokyo, managing to shine brightly despite having no one else to rely on.
Today's performance had moved Rinto deeply—her singing had truly been powerful.
Still, he restrained the urge to kiss her forehead.
Though she might be small, she wasn't actually younger than him, and would definitely get annoyed if he treated her like a child.
Instead, Rinto smirked mischievously, pinching her nose:
"I was just thinking how sweaty and smelly you are. Your hair's all wet."
"Hurry up and take a bath, then go to bed. Your cram school doesn't take weekends off, does it? You have class tomorrow, so don't fall asleep in class."
"Ugh... are you my dad or something?!"
As expected, Nina bristled at being bossed around.
She swatted away Rinto's arm, sticking her tongue out at him.
Fortunately, she was obedient enough, quickly dashing into the bathroom and slamming the door shut.
She'd even brought clothes to change into, clearly intending to move in long-term.
Rinto nodded in satisfaction.
Then… he finally glanced toward Momoka, who'd been silent the entire time.
Momoka was still sitting in the entryway, just now finishing taking off her boots.
A mature rocker-nee-san was exactly like this.
No matter how carefree and rough she seemed, a woman's outfits always took effort and time—unlike Nina, who could run around in sneakers all day.
"..."
Rinto didn't say much, simply wrapped an arm around her soft waist.
"Hmm...?"
Momoka was unusually responsive today.
She wrapped her arms around his neck in return, even more eager than Rinto.
He liked this a lot, mischievously teasing her:
"What's wrong? Seeing your juniors perform so brilliantly—did it get you excited too? …Really want it?"
"...Yeah, I do. Right now."
Momoka bit her lip gently, impatiently pulling Rinto upstairs into the bedroom.
(5,000 words of Tokyo shoujo literature omitted here~)
…An hour later, the two of them lay in bed without having even showered, savoring the gentle afterglow.
Nina, who'd already finished bathing earlier, kindly came upstairs to inform them the bathroom was now free, seeing they'd returned to the bedroom.
Momoka answered briefly through the door, luckily not raising Nina's suspicions.
That sensation was far more thrilling than usual.
Rinto was extremely happy today, too:
"I really didn't expect Bocchi to be Guitar Hero. But it's honestly fantastic."
"When you get to know each other better, maybe you two could deepen your communication? Who knows, you might even pull off some surprise collaboration, like recording a video together—I'm sure it'd get popular."
"...Yeah, maybe someday."
Momoka, soft and relaxed, enjoyed the warmth of intimacy, smiling ambiguously at Rinto's words.
This surprised him a bit.
Today Momoka was incredibly tender, even spoiling him with rare openness.
Before, she'd always acted prideful, saying stuff about being older and naturally taking the lead.
In reality, she was just a passive small fry who never openly admitted it, secretly loving when he took control—especially around her neck.
Rinto gently touched her choker, softly asking with a hint of concern:
"Momoka, you can tell me anything on your mind. I'll always stay with you."
"Hehe... 'always,' again?"
Momoka playfully raised her gaze, lightly biting his finger.
They'd definitely been using the phrase "forever" way too much lately.
Momoka didn't know about Rinto and Takamatsu Tomori's promise.
Actually, very few people knew the origin of that phrase "forever."
But Nina had also gotten influenced, constantly repeating "forever" whenever she opened her mouth. Momoka's ears had practically gone numb from hearing it.
It was such an ephemeral, dreamlike word.
Most people treated it as a joke, never taking it seriously.
…But Rinto meant it seriously, and so did Nina.
"I was serious too, actually… but in the end, it was someone worthless like me who broke the promise first."
Momoka's smile turned faint, her murmured voice barely audible.
The warmth of happiness disappeared instantly, leaving her increasingly cold.
Rinto's embrace was warm, but at this moment, it only felt painfully scorching.
After all, a passionate hug couldn't warm an ice cube—it would only melt it away.
"...I'll go shower first."
Momoka hid all her uncertainty deep inside, slipping out of Rinto's arms.
She quickly put her clothes back on, her turned back giving Rinto a sudden sense of loneliness.
He gently reminded her:
"You don't really need to get fully dressed, do you? Just go as you are."
Momoka shot him an annoyed glance: "Idiot. What if Nina sees? It's not good education for kids."
Are you her mom now...? Rinto chuckled, amused.
Momoka probably didn't realize herself, but she truly adored Nina.
It was as if she saw her past self—the passionate, determined girl she once was—in this stubborn girl who'd come to Tokyo alone.
There was nothing wrong with that, and Rinto was glad they were getting along well.
...But still, how should he put it…
Rinto also felt that Nina's presence might have actually made Momoka less confident.
At first, he'd thought Nina's positivity would gradually rub off on her, that Momoka would find her courage again and decide to give it another shot.
But maybe that would take more time… Rinto quietly watched as Momoka headed downstairs.
…Then, a few minutes later—
"Meow! Boss, meow!" ( >ω<)ﾉ
Morgana frantically scratched at the bedroom door, his panicked cries echoing through the room.
"Boss, it's bad! Momoka-san and Nina disappeared—they fell into the Metaverse!"
"…Huh?"
...
By the time Momoka's scattered mind snapped back into awareness, she realized she was somewhere strange.
She was standing in a faded room.
Everything around her looked like a pencil sketch, made up entirely of hazy black lines.
The surreal scene made her briefly think she was dreaming.
But when she noticed several neatly folded outfits stacked on the table in front of her, realization struck hard.
They were stage costumes prepared by her agency—cute, brightly colored idol outfits.
They were beautiful, Momoka had to admit that much.
Professionally designed, the matching blue-gray uniforms were customized for each member's figure and style, each with its own distinct charm.
Especially the set meant for her.
The asymmetrical stockings—one long, one short—were a nice touch.
Though she never said it aloud, she secretly had confidence in her legs.
They somewhat compensated for her less-than-ideal upper body…
…No. This wasn't the time to think about that.
Without thinking, the familiar words spilled from her mouth:
"This isn't my kind of music! I've said it so many times—I refuse!"
A familiar anger surged through her mind, making her fists tremble.
Diamond Dust had underperformed again and again, releasing new songs that drew barely any attention—each one weaker than their high school debut, Empty Box.
Even with professional management, why was every new song worse than the one she wrote as a student? The frustration ate away at her.
Naturally, their management wasn't a charity.
They demanded change.
They offered "suggestions" about the members' appearance, packaging, and marketing.
They wanted to exploit the "cute girl band" image, using youth and beauty to quickly boost popularity.
…and Momoka despised it. Fiercely.
It wasn't that she hated cute clothes—she didn't even mind showing off her looks.
Sure, skirts made her uncomfortable, the floaty feeling gave her anxiety.
But her tomboyish short-pants style had its own fans. It wasn't that she lacked confidence in her appearance.
…But dressing as herself was one thing.
Being forced to sell her looks instead of her music was an insult to her pride.
As her shame and fury simmered, her bandmates spoke behind her.
Nana: "Momoka, maybe we should just go along with it? It's only temporary. We'll get the chance to do things our way later."
Rin: "Yeah, exactly! Success comes first. Once we're popular, we can pick our own style again!"
Ai: "I don't mind whatever we wear… We all promised to stay together forever, right? Let's just endure this so our band can survive. Please, Momoka~!"
"...You're okay with selling yourselves like this?!"
Hurt, panic, frustration—then overwhelming anger.
Negative emotions flooded her, just as they always did when she dreamed of this moment.
She'd never managed to face it. Even developed insomnia because of it.
Right after turning twenty, she'd buried herself in alcohol, numbing her guilt just to keep breathing.
But nightmares never disappeared.
When Momoka turned around, she froze.
The three girls behind her weren't Nana, Rin, or Ai.
They were herself.
Three identical versions of her, fragments of her own broken self.
Their burning golden eyes stared mercilessly into her soul.
"What's wrong with compromising? Is that really such a sin?"
"You regret it, don't you? You've always regretted it."
"Why be so stubborn? Nana and the others were right—you should've just endured it."
"No… no, that's not…"
Momoka backed into a corner, trembling against the table.
Her hand brushed the idol costume on top—its fabric cold enough to sting.
But the three versions of herself kept closing in, slicing her open with their words.
"You're not noble. Rejecting idolization was just an excuse for your bruised pride."
"Because if your band had succeeded that way, it would prove your old songs just weren't good enough, wouldn't it?"
"You're terrified to admit your music isn't popular. That your 'talent' ended long ago. That Empty Box's success was never really yours."
"—Shut up!!"
Momoka screamed, hurling the costume away.
But the idol uniform unfurled mid-air—slipping smoothly onto another her.
Now the other her stood there: an idol Momoka.
Wearing a tailored cap, a pleated skirt, fingerless gloves, asymmetrical stockings, a teasing smile—a perfect gyaru idol.
If she just smiled for the camera, showing off her charm, maybe she'd finally be recognized.
The three Shadows merged into one, sneering at the shaken Momoka.
"You pretentious woman. You like feeling superior, don't you?"
"When Rinto confessed, he admitted it was your face and body that drew him in first. You loved hearing that, right? Being desired by the younger boy you secretly admired—it thrilled you."
"If he could love even your usual messy self, imagine how much more he'd adore you in an idol outfit. Ever since you got a boyfriend, you've been fussing over your makeup, haven't you? Dressing up for him, seeking his gaze—still think that's not degrading?"
"—That's only for Rinto! It's because I love him!"
Momoka shouted back, desperate to prove her sincerity.
Pfft~ The Shadow snorted.
"Love? Really? How do you define that?"
"He's a bright, handsome high schooler with a kind heart. He cares even for a worthless dropout like you—someone you could never reach otherwise. You know he'll surpass you one day."
"You call it love, but you're just his fangirl. You bask in his attention, flaunt yourself around him, taking pride in the idea that he wants you."
"And your little ploy worked. He fell for you. He confessed. You got what you wanted—and that victory still makes you feel good, doesn't it?"
No… Momoka tried to speak, but nothing came out.
Every word was true. She couldn't deny any of it.
She'd known all along—she wasn't suited for Rinto.
"That's not love. You just turned him into a trophy to validate yourself. You feed on his devotion, shamelessly enjoying his affection."
"But deep down, you're terrified he'll find someone better."
"So you cling tighter. You play the pitiful, melancholic act. You say being his lover is enough, but you're banking on his kindness to keep him from leaving."
Because… it was his fault for being too kind.
If he treated any woman that gently, how could she not fall for him?
"You're the worst woman alive. Friends, lovers, music—there's nothing you've ever faced honestly."
"You betrayed your bandmates for your pride. You sulk at the good girls around Rinto, betraying your own promise of being content just as his lover."
"You're truly disgusting. Why not just disappear already?"
"I… I'm not…"
Momoka crumpled, hugging her knees, hiding her face.
She didn't want to hear it—didn't want to admit it—but couldn't stop it.
Rage, guilt, and inferiority burned through her.
The Shadow didn't stop.
It crouched down, grabbed her hair, and forced her head up.
"Free Rinto and Nana's group already."
"Without you around, those three girls could all get close to him, right~?"
"If you've got any dignity left, surrender yourself. I'll end this for you."
Die…
Maybe dying would be better.
Nana, Rin, Ai… would they be free?
And Rinto… he…
"...Yeah. Maybe dying is better."
—Ha.
The Shadow's smile twisted, spreading wide as it turned to black mud.
Its gaping mouth opened, shrieking triumphantly—
"Give me—a break!"
…Huh?
Just before the black sludge swallowed her, Rinto's furious voice roared through the air.
Blazing white light tore through the monster, burning it away in agony!
With Persona Eros, Rinto landed and kicked the creature's head clean off!
Even so, the Shadow desperately grabbed Momoka, trying to flee.
Rinto shouted, "Nina!"
"—Persona! (•̀ω•́)"
Nina—somehow wearing a flashy stage outfit—summoned her own Persona:
"[Tin Woodman]!"
Her steel warrior split the Shadow apart in one clean strike!
What…?
Watching their perfect teamwork, Momoka could only stare.
Somewhere in her chest, something ached sharply.
She didn't understand them anymore.
But that quiet, painful jealousy still burned—proof that she was, at least, still alive.
---
T/N: "Mm. If you've read this far, I suppose you're at least a little invested."
"If you want to support the translator, there's a Patreon here: patreon.com/wisetl. It's optional—think of it as tossing a few extra coins on the counter. Early chapters are just a bonus side-effect of that support."
"This place also has its own strange currency… Powerstones. For every 100 Powerstones the story gets, you'll receive 1 bonus chapter. 100ps = 1 chp, 200ps = 2 chp, 300ps = 3 chp… you can do the math."
"If you'd rather talk than throw money or stones, there's a Discord: discord.gg/wisetl. Go there if you want to complain, theorize, or poke the translator for more updates. Just don't expect me to mediate your arguments."
Say thank you to Maomao guys