mandytl | enstars!! idol story [ hakaze kaoru ] 1

Season: Summer

Location: Front Desk

Kaoru: Right. Guess it's time to give it my best at work today. ♪

Good morniiing! UNDEAD's Hakaze Kaoru is here~!

.... hyah?! Crap!

( That was seriously close! Huh? What's "she" doing at ES's front desk? )

( She's totally sitting there like it's a routine thing. I almost didn't realize it was her and said hey! )

( I mean, not that I can't or anything! Why'm I the one cowering behind something here? )

( Did she hear me, though? Her gaze is darting curiously around the area, so~! )

( I-It's kinda getting harder and harder for me to make an entrance... so what now? Well, yeah, it's not like I can help how things ended up now! )

( I should've just waved without a second thought, gone in, and then headed straight to today's location! )

( Uuu.... it's getting hard for me to be elusive about having to meet her face-to-face. )

( Anzu-chan... I was avoiding you for a little bit since it's awkward when we work in the same building. This might be the first time I've seen you in ages. )

( You're getting prettier by the day. I wonder if working like this's the highlight of your youth? )

( That's great and all, but, well... what now? My heart sorta started pounding... )

( Ahhh, man. Was I always this bratty, immature kind of character who only just started noticing the opposite sex?! )

( Actually, isn't today a weekday? Anzu-chan's got school, so what's she doing in the ES building so early? )

( I don't get how a producer like her has the time to sit around at the front desk! )

( Uuu. I've got to hurry or I'll be late... )

( I don't want to cause any trouble, especially when UNDEAD's still in a difficult position within ES... )

( I'd rather meet Anzu-chan on a more romantic stage, so... )

( Augh, whatever! When in trouble, call in a partner favor! )

H-Hello, Rei-kun? I need a little favor...

Location: Stairway

Kaoru: ( Made it! Leave it to Rei-kun... looks like he made everything I asked for happen. )

( Like unlocking this door inside the building that's connected to the emergency exit. )

( I don't like asking Rei-kun for favors much since I feel bad, but... )

( It's nice, isn't it. Anytime I'm careless about something unremarkable he's there for me. )

( We help each other when we need it, give-or-take. )

( Anyway, now that I can enter the building through the back door I can pass the reception desk safely. I was really about to freak out there... )

( After she leaves the area I'll settle things and just tell them I "forgot" to get authorized for entry. )

( ... hiiih?! Huh? The emergency exit down the stairs opened! And the one poking their face inside is... Anzu-chan? )

( Eh? Huh? Why? She's climbing the stairs with a puzzled look on her face! I-I've gotta run! )

Location: Hallway

Kaoru: Ah, man. Suddenly I'm real tired.

( What was that, seriously... ? There's a lot of things I don't get here, but it looks like I'm gonna be able to make it to the site. )

( Case closed, then. It's a little depressing, but, well— )

—nhiih?!

Whoa, you scared me! Uh, huh? Anzu-chan?

W-Why are you behind me like that? Quit it with the surprise attacks, okay? It made the weirdest sound come out of me.

( ... which, isn't what I should be saying right now, uhh. Uhm. Ughh, I should have tons of signature phrases I prepared beforehand for our next meeting! )

( They're all gone! )

Uh, what? Oh, yeah—I'm supposed to call you "producer" and not by your name now, right?

But you know... wouldn't that feel super distant after we finally got close?

Eh? "We're not close"? I'm acting like I hate you or something... ?

Nonono, it's not like that! I love you tons, really really! ♪ What made you think that?

Eh? Because the moment I see you I end up running or hiding... ?

Y-You noticed that? Way to go, producer. Nothing gets past you. ☆

But uh, it's not like that. It's not like I hate you or anything! I-I just had a little something come up, so~?!

Uh, "what came up"? A-Are you angry with me, producer? You're making this really scary face~. Smile, smile. ♪

( Ugh! I can't explain what happened! )

( I'm supposed to be the cool, older onii-san here. If she knew I was thinking about all this stuff like some kid going through puberty she'd be disappointed in me! )

Uhm. I don't really want to talk about it that much~. L-Listen, everyone's got their circumstances, right?

If I had to touch on it, I guess I'd say it's like, an adult relationship thing?

A-Ahahah. You're still way too young to get stuff like that, Anzu-chan.

Eh? "Are we done here?" Just make sure they grant me permission to enter?

Is that why you were chasing me? Because I entered the building without handling all that?

I mean, why were you even working at the reception desk in the first place? Did someone force you into doing it?

That's no good. You want that no to really mean no, okay?

Huh? "It's got nothing to do with you."? I mean, yeah! But I'm worried about you. You're acting way more irritated than usual, Anzu-chan.

... ah. You're leaving already, so hand over my entrance ticket? Besides, it's not a good idea to leave the front desk empty?

Hm~m. So you came in the morning since your produce course lessons are in the afternoon...

To temporarily stand in for the person who's usually at the front desk so they could go get seen since they weren't feeling well?

As kind as ever. I really like that about you. ♪

Ah—wait wait, don't leave without even responding! You sure you're not mad at me?

I'm sorry. Let me at least apologize for being rude! Heeey, Anzu-chan... ?!