Chapter 33

Chapter 33: 033, Meeting Akina Nakamori Again

After washing away their fatigue, changing into new clothes, and resting for more than an hour, Tsuruko and Kana regained their full energy and impatiently insisted on going to see the cherry blossoms.

After taking a taxi to the Meguro River, the two girls, dressed in the beautiful outfits they had just bought, excitedly ran toward the blooming sakura.

April was peak cherry blossom season. Along the Meguro River, the sakura were already in full bloom. Trees on both sides of the river were covered with pale pink petals, forming an endless sea of blossoms. The originally elegant and delicate flowers, when gathered together, transformed into a brilliant ocean of color.

A gentle breeze passed through. Petals fell into the river like tiny flower boats; landed on budding branches like pink ornaments; and drifted into people’s eyes, turning into hazy dreams.

Unfortunately, this era still lacked landscape lighting and light shows. Otherwise, the nighttime cherry blossoms of the Meguro River would have been considered among the finest sights.

Naoki Nagayama walked along the sakura path, enjoying the rare scenery while occasionally taking photos at Tsuruko’s request.

He was even pulled in for several photos himself.

The girls carried small souvenirs and toys bought from roadside stalls, happily waving them around like elementary school students.

Along the less-than-four-kilometer stretch of the river, viewing bridges appeared at intervals. Many visitors stood on the bridges watching petals fall like snow, and the two girls were no exception.

Tsuruko and Kana leaned over the railing hand in hand, admiring the scenery while calling Naoki to take pictures.

While posing, they inevitably blocked pedestrians crossing the bridge. Naoki quickly snapped a few shots, then apologized to the waiting people.

He bowed slightly toward the crowd.

“Sumimasen, sorry for blocking the way. Please go ahead.”

Then he felt a pair of annoyed eyes staring at him.

Hostility?

After several people passed, four familiar faces remained. Two older and two younger sisters. One of them had a round little face and looked clearly angry.

Looking closer—

Wasn’t that Akina?

More than three months had passed since their last encounter near the New Year, and the memory of a brief meeting had faded somewhat. He hadn’t recognized her at first glance.

Without memories from his previous life, he might not even have recognized Akina Nakamori.

“Ah, isn’t this Akina-san?” Naoki greeted with a smile. “And the Nakamori sisters as well. Long time no see.”

“Oh? You still remember us? Naoki-san has quite a good memory,” said the eldest sister, Akie Nakamori, smiling.

Unlike Naoki’s vague recollection, the four Nakamori sisters remembered him clearly. Aside from being the “fan” Akina had acknowledged, his repeated appearances in commercials had reinforced their impression of him.

As for things like calling him a two-timing playboy, that was only family gossip. Meeting outside still required polite greetings.

“What a coincidence. Akie-san, you all came to enjoy the cherry blossoms together?” Then he turned toward Akina. “Akina-sensei has been well?”

“Hmph.”

Rejected.

Naoki felt confused. When had he offended this little round-cheeked girl?

He introduced both sides.

“Tsuruko, Kana, these are friends from the Nakamori family: Akie Nakamori, Akiko Nakamori, Akina Nakamori, and Mihoko Nakamori.”

Then to the sisters:

“This is my younger sister, Tsuruko Nagayama, and her friend Kana.”

“Nice to meet you.” ×6

Since they had met while viewing the blossoms, they naturally continued walking together.

Because they were close in age, Mihoko quickly became friends with Tsuruko and Kana, chatting endlessly. Akina stayed nearby, somewhat shy, occasionally joining the conversation.

Naoki began chatting with Akie and Akiko.

“Naoki-san has been very popular lately. We’ve seen you on television many times. You’ve become quite famous,” Akie said.

Akiko added, “Even your image has changed a lot. You look very fashionable and handsome now.”

“Hahaha, Akie-san, Akiko-san, you’ll make me embarrassed. I just happened to film a couple of commercials by coincidence. I owe a lot to the stylists on set who gave me guidance.”

“That’s still impressive. What kind of stylist advice can change someone so much?”

Were they asking for tips too?

“Haha, mainly because I already had a good foundation,” Naoki said shamelessly.

“Tch.”

That was Akina. She hadn’t joined the other girls after all.

“Eh? Akina-san thinks I’m wrong?”

“So thick-skinned,” Akina muttered, still looking annoyed before returning to the three girls.

“Akie-san, did I offend Akina somehow?” Naoki asked, puzzled. Since meeting again, she had been acting strangely.

“Hahaha, who told you to deceive a young girl?” Akie laughed.

“Deceive? When? I didn’t, impossible, don’t slander me,” Naoki denied immediately.

“Didn’t you say before that you were Akina’s fan?”

“Uh… yes… of course.”

It had been something said casually during their first meeting to avoid awkwardness. Had she actually taken it seriously? Even if he were a fan, it would be of the future legendary diva.

Akiko continued, “Naoki-san was the very first fan who recognized Akina offline and met her in person. She valued that a lot.”

“The first? She hasn’t met other fans? She’s already appeared twice on ‘STAR! Tanjō,’ her popularity should be pretty good,” Naoki said in surprise.

Akie looked slightly puzzled.

“Naoki-san works in the industry now, right? The fans in those programs are hired by the TV stations. Even if some viewers become fans afterward, they wouldn’t recognize contestants in daily life.”

That made sense. Unless someone paid special attention, who would recognize contestants eliminated from audition shows?

Who still remembers eliminated participants from talent shows when passing them on the street?

“I see… then how did I deceive Akina?” Naoki asked. This was only their second meeting, and he had recognized her immediately.

“Recently, didn’t you appear on the TV program ‘Yoru Hit’?” Akie prompted.

“Yes. What about it?”

“Didn’t you say there that you were Matsuda Seiko-san’s devoted fan? And even wrote a hit song for your idol?” she continued.

“I understand now,” Naoki realized. Akina felt deceived because of that. Being a fan of multiple idols was normal, but being someone’s first fan carried special meaning.

The older sisters understood, but for a sensitive teenage girl, such feelings were hard to resolve quickly.

“Onii-san, what are you doing? Come take photos for us!” Tsuruko and the others waved.

Knowing the reason, Naoki still had no way to immediately resolve the girl’s awkward feelings. He set the matter aside.

“Akie-san, Akiko-san, let’s take photos together. I’ll take some pictures for you too.”

The four Nakamori sisters happily agreed. Renting a camera was expensive, and they had not planned to take commemorative photos.

Six girls gathered together for pictures, their laughter echoing among the cherry blossom trees along the Meguro River.

Only Naoki’s workload instantly tripled.