The next morning.
After leaving home, I found myself standing in the school principal's office.
By the way, there was no goodbye, no farewell, nothing from my former family.
I suppose that's only natural.
"I wonder if that story is really true…?" The lady asked solemnly.
"Yes, it's true. So please allow me to withdraw from school starting today."
"Why does Atsumu have to go through all that and then get expelled on top of it?!"
"Asuka, calm down."
"Mom! This is just weird!"
"Yes, but the school has to respect his wishes."
Sitting there was a girl with flawless white skin, bright cat-like eyes, and silky golden twin-tails that sparkled in the light.
Despite being average height, her slightly generous chest and perfectly cinched waist hinted at an enviable figure.
She was an unbelievably beautiful girl, the kind who could captivate anyone the moment she smiled.
She was none other than Asuka Ashiya, the center of the top idol group named "Asterisk."
Next to her sat the chairwoman in an imposing high-backed chair.
She had sharp, piercing eyes and a dignified, composed face so youthful she could easily pass for a new teacher.
From their appearance and the way they spoke, it was obvious they were mother and daughter.
(Um… I only came here to complete the withdrawal procedures. Why is this turning into a family meeting?)
When I gave my name to the office staff to process my withdrawal, the clerk's face instantly paled. She hurried to the back, and the next thing I knew, I was ushered into this room.
This is my first time ever quitting school, so maybe this is normal? I have no idea.
Anyway, I ended up explaining yesterday's events to the chairwoman… and that's how we arrived at this moment.
Fortunately, both the chairwoman and Asuka are among the very few people who know the full situation.
"Thank you for getting angry on my behalf. But honestly… I don't really care anymore. In fact, I feel kind of relieved."
"Even if you're okay with it, I can't stand it! And… I told you it was fine to rely on me…"
Asuka and I had met several times on set in the past.
As you'd expect from a top idol, she's a genuinely kind person who always looked out for someone like me—a mere behind-the-scenes staff member.
"Even though you won't have to support your family anymore, can't you just… keep going to school? You don't have to quit or anything…" Asuka quizzed.
"As I said before, I no longer have any reason to attend this school."
This was an integrated high school with a large number of entertainers enrolled. It provided a very flexible environment for students pursuing careers in the entertainment industry.
My sisters attended here too, and so did I.
Even though I was only support staff, my work was still recognized as "entertainment-related activity," so I received credits for it.
The school also offered a variety of courses designed to train future behind-the-scenes professionals in the industry.
But now that I've completely left the entertainment world… there's no point in me staying.
"Besides, even though I'm 'quitting,' today is practically the first time I've ever actually come to school. So it's more like I'm quitting from the very beginning!"
"Yes! Exactly! That's what's so strange about it!"
Asuka suddenly shouted.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"It's practically your first time coming to school! No matter how busy you are, you can't just never show up, right?!"
I glanced at the chairwoman, who gave a small nod.
Apparently it was true.
"I see…"
"I've always wondered… why didn't you come to school more often?"
"Well… I was supporting all my sisters, so it was only natural?"
I was busy with work from morning till night. There simply wasn't time to attend classes.
"You mean… all seven sisters? And you handled all of them by yourself?"
"Um… yeah, just me."
"Huh?"
"Yeah?"
"That's impossible… Even if they weren't top-tier talents, but they are—and in completely different fields…"
"Is that so? Back when no one was popular yet, I was the only one supporting them. And even after they blew up, things just kept dragging on… haha."
(In the beginning, the agency had neither jobs nor money, so Mom told me to take care of everything.)
The chairwoman, listening to the whole story, looked completely stunned.
(Yeah… I guess it is strange. I'm clearly not qualified to be supporting celebrities, so it makes sense she'd wonder why someone like me was even doing it.)
"By the way… why is Asuka here?"
"T-That was just a coincidence…!"
A coincidence? In the chairwoman's office? When she's her daughter?
"Asuka, you shouldn't lie. You told the security guard to contact you the moment Atsumu-kun arrived at school."
"Wahhh!"
"Atsumu-kun almost never comes to school, so whenever he does show up—even if it means taking time off work—you always make sure to come see him. But today, just when you thought he was finally here… he announces he's quitting. So you rushed over in a panic, right?"
"Wahhh! Wahhh! Mom, what are you saying?! That's not true at all!"
Asuka's face turned bright red as she flailed in embarrassment.
It felt warm… like watching a real family conversation.
And somehow, that sight sparkled in my eyes.
"…Cute."
The word slipped out before I could stop it.
"Huh!?"
"Uh, ah! I'm sorry! Asuka-san, the way you got all red-faced and flustered was just… so different from your perfect stage image, and it was really cute! I didn't mean to say it out loud! I'm sorry! That was so creepy of me! Really sorry!"
"…Did you just call me cute again?!"
Her face became even redder! She looked genuinely angry!
"Wow, I made you mad, huh? Sorry for calling you cute!"
"I-I-I-I'm not angry! Just… stop calling me cute already!"
"Yes! Understood! I won't say it again!"
"…Eh? You're really not going to say it anymore?"
Asuka tilted her head, eyes glistening with tears as she looked at me.
(What on earth do you want from me?! But isn't that reaction just way too cute?!)
"My, my. This is the first time I've seen Asuka get so embarrassed."
(Hey, Chairwoman! Don't just watch—help me out here!)
"Cough."
After a while, the chairwoman cleared her throat.
The mood shifted instantly.
"Well then, Atsumu. Let me ask you this. What are your plans from now on?"
The chairwoman looked straight into my eyes.
Asuka, who had been pointedly looking away with her ears still bright red, also turned toward me.
I took a deep breath.
And told them what I had been thinking all along.
"Yeah… From now on, I want to go to a normal school, study properly, make friends, maybe one day get a girlfriend… I just want to enjoy a completely ordinary youth."
It might not sound like a grand dream, but right now… that's exactly what I want.
"That's a very happy dream… As the school, we have no choice but to accept your withdrawal. But as a mother with a daughter… I cannot simply overlook this. So, there's a school that I think would suit you perfectly…"
"So this is the town I'll be living in from now on."
I had arrived in a completely unfamiliar place.
"Still… everything got decided so quickly. I really have to be grateful."
After that, things moved forward at an incredible pace. Now I was on my way to my new home.
Yes—my new home.
The chairwoman introduced me to a school run by one of her acquaintances, and I would be transferring there.
They had a student dormitory fully furnished with everything I'd need—furniture, appliances—and I could move in immediately.
Apparently the chairwoman would cover the costs for the time being.
"I was mentally prepared to do day labor just to survive… This is a huge relief."
"Oh, don't worry about it. Helping you might also be good for Asuka's future, you know?"
The chairwoman said something cryptic, but I figured she's just a very kind person toward students.
"I was even thinking I might end up homeless at worst…"
She said I could pay her back whenever I wanted, but I decided I'd start working part-time during school and repay her little by little.
Someday, I want to be able to live entirely on money I earn myself.
"Alright then. Time to head to the dorm. My new life starts now!"
A life where no one binds me. A life that belongs only to me.
Yesterday had been awful, and I'd been pretty down… but right now, I felt genuinely excited.
"Hm? What's that?"
A little further ahead, I saw a girl being harassed by two rough-looking men.
(Wait… is this town actually dangerous…?)
"No time to think about that! I have to help her!"
I broke into a run toward the girl.
My brand-new life was off to a pretty ominous start.