The Top Idol Next Door Can't Help But Crave My Guilty Pleasure Meals-Chapter 7Volume 1 .1 - Thanks For Walking Me Home

ROUND 7 – Thanks For Walking Me Home 1

It’s been about a month since the start of my second year of high school life.

Golden Week passed by with speed reminiscent of the rapid turnover at the Jiromaru Ramen shop.

I spent my nights enduring Hozumi’s lengthy phone calls (mostly him bragging about his love life), helping with duct cleaning at ‘Aien Kien,’ and living a slow-paced life—while my neighbor seemed to be working full shifts regardless of weekends and holidays.

By the way, I couldn’t go to the aquarium with Rika.

It was because Rika fell ill just before. Apparently, she had played too much in the first half of the holiday and ran out of HP quite early.

She sent me an apology message, so I went to visit her instead.

『I’m sorry for being a bother… Even though I’m Suzu’s Onee-san…』

Rika was quite downcast, but she perked up and slurped happily when I made her some udon with plenty of spices.

With mid-term exams coming up in May and the next holiday more than two months away, the mood in Class 2-A is pretty low.

Hozumi, in particular, seemed as downcast as a river clogged with years of accumulated sludge because he had been told he’d be banned from dating if he failed the next test.

For the record, Hozumi had failed more than half his subjects in the final exams last year.

I agreed to help him study after school, but I wonder how long he’ll keep it up.

As for me, I haven’t been able to share a meal with Yuzuki for a week, so I’m not exactly in high spirits either.

Yuzuki’s group, 【Spotlights】, has been seen on variety shows lately, but their main gig is performing as idols, singing and dancing in front of people.

They’re apparently preparing for a big live show in Tokyo soon, and Yuzuki, along with the other members of 【Spotlights】, has been rehearsing late into the night every day.

Come to think of it, I’ve never actually seen them perform live since I’ve known Yuzuki.

I hear streaming tickets are available, so maybe I’ll buy one.

As the homeroom session ended, I spoke to a classmate slumped in the seat in front of me.

“Come on, you said you’d study. Let’s go to the library.”

“…Let’s start next week instead.”

A declaration of giving up on the first day, but I’m not so irresponsible as to back down now.

“It’s important to turn this into a habit. Come on, get up quickly.”

While other classmates were leaving the classroom one after another, Hozumi stubbornly clung to his desk.

“Suzufumi, you should learn to say no to people’s requests more often.”

He’s the one who asked for help, and now this attitude.

“Since our first year, you’ve always been the one to help out. Taking on committee roles no one else wanted, helping other groups with their campfires during the school trip, distributing sweets to classmates on Valentine’s and White Day, sewing a girl’s uniform button the moment it came off…”

“…It’s fine. I like doing those things.”

When someone close to me is in trouble, I want to lend a hand as much as I can.

Whether it’s the neighbor in the apartment next door or a classmate, I help because I want to, that’s all there is to it.

“It’s your freedom to take on whatever you want, but you should learn to rely on others sometimes. You don’t ask for opinions, which is why you end up confessing your love to an idol you fell in love with at first sight on the first day——”

“——Let’s forget about that.”

This story will probably haunt me even when I become a third-year student or maybe even at class reunions.

“Listen well, Hozumi. Just fifteen minutes today, that’s all. Just get over this first hurdle, and then studying becomes easier.”

I pulled Hozumi’s arm and forcibly dragged him to the library.

It’s sad to think that poor grades could prevent him from going out on dates with his girlfriend.

☆☆☆

In the end, I managed to make Hozumi study for an hour today.

As expected, once he starts, the rest follows with momentum.

By the end, he was excited, saying, ‘I’ve finally realized the profoundness of studying!’ But it’ll probably be reset by tomorrow.

I leave the library early and head out of school.

Now, which supermarket should I stop by today?

Maybe I’ll take a look at the individual stores in the shopping district for a change.

Also, I need to buy detergent, a toothbrush, and drain cleaner at the drugstore. It’s about time to pick up my coats from the dry cleaners…

Hozumi might have said that, but I like doing household chores.

I like being helpful to others. I’m not forcing myself, and I’m well aware of my own limits.

At first, Yuzuki seemed bothered by me cooking for her, but lately, she seems more accepting.

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Is it too much to hope that we can continue like this forever?

“…I want to see you, Yuzuki.”

That wish came out of nowhere.

Just having a face-to-face chat with her would be enough. But as she mentioned, the day of the live concert is approaching, and it seems like there’s also a fan meeting right after that.

Maybe we’ll just keep missing each other in May——

“Suzufumi.”

—Yuzuki’s parents live in their hometown, Niigata. I wonder if Yuzuki is keeping in touch with her parents—

“Suu-zuu-fuu-mii!”

—With Mother’s Day approaching, she would probably make her parents happy with a video call.

“Hey Suzufumi!!!”

My thoughts suddenly were blown away, like a house made of straw blown away by the wind.

——The one who appeared from that straw house was Yuzuki.