Rhapsody of a Mediocrity || Aira Shiratori Idol Story

[loveswan]

Rhapsody of a Mediocrity || Aira Shiratori Idol Story

Season: Summer 
Writer: Yuumasu
Proofreading:@nightreii

Aira: (Oh man, what do I do… I don’t think I’ll get suspended just because of a failed test.)

Aira: (But when the marks are THIS terrible, it is a big shocker.)

Aira: (It was just a quiz so the damage is still low, but if these were the results of the periodic exam…)

Aira: (AH~ Just imagining it is sending shivers down my spine.)

Aira: (I’ll try harder next time. I’ll study properly and make sure not to fail.)

Aira: (...is what I say whenever we get our answer sheets back. Actually doing it is something that has never happened.)

Aira: (I suck at studying… Yumenosaki is an idol training school so why don’t we have more idol-esque lessons(?))

Aira: (Memorising the names of idols and singing idol songs—If those were our lessons, then I’m confident my results would have been the best…♪)

Hiiro: —You seem quite happy, Aira.

Aira: H-Hiro-kun?!

Hiiro: Did something pleasant happen? If you don’t mind, I would like you to tell me as well… Let me partake in your joy.

Aira: Nothing nice happened… Why are you here though? This is a first year classroom?

Hiiro: Umu, I know. But classes ended a while ago and even after a long time passed, Aira didn’t appear… So I came to pick you up.

Hiiro: I’m grateful that you were in your classroom. Since I’m still unfamiliar with this building.

Aira: Ah… Yeah, didn’t I promise that I’ll show you around school?

Aira: But now’s a bad time so can I show you around tomorrow? I’m feeling down right now so I’m not really in the mood for it…

Hiiro: ? You are feeling down? Did something happen?

Aira: The results of my test were terrible, y’know. Well, it is my fault for doing nothing and just saying that I’m bad at it.

Aira: Ah… I’m glad I get to see idols here but yeah, I do hate school after all…

Hiiro: School is a fun place. It’s sad if you come to hate it just because your test results were bad.

Hiiro: Tests are something like aggregations of data. Isn’t it okay not to worry about numbers like that?

Aira: A mediocrity like me WILL worry.

Hiiro: Really? Then you should study hard in order to get good marks.

Aira: Agh… you’re touching my sore spot…

Aira: Even I know that much. I’m worried because I CAN’T do it!

Aira: …What about Hiro-kun? Second years also had tests, right?

Hiiro: Ah. We just got back our test papers today.

Aira: …WOAH, a perfect score for everything?! What’s this… You sure you didn’t cheat?

Hiiro: I didn’t. I just had to memorise the portions covered in class and enter them accordingly on paper. It was simple ♪

Aira: “Simple”, huh? This is why geniuses are…~

Aira: (But he “memorised”? He approached the tests in a way that’s most like him, huh.)

Aira: (Massively different from me who tried to escape reality by cleaning my room and organising my idol merch right before the tests…)

Aira: (...I keep procrastinating and making things harder for me.)

Aira: (It seems like the same questions from this test will appear for the periodic exam so maybe I should review the questions so that I don’t forget them…?)

Aira: ...So like I said earlier, is it okay if I show you around tomorrow? I wanted to go to the library to study.

Hiiro: Why? Isn’t the library a place where you read books, like the Book Room at Seisoukan?

Aira: Ah, that place is the best when it comes to studying. You can focus since it’s quiet.

Aira: (...I’ve never studied at the library myself, but I have seen people study there sometimes so… It should be fine, right?)

Aira: —And

Aira: Why did Hiro-kun follow me here?

Hiiro: Since the school tour has been cancelled, I have nothing to do.

Hiiro: You told me about the library but I’ve never actually used it. So I thought I’d use this as an opportunity to understand this place.

Aira: Ah, whatever. You’re free to decide how to spend your time, but don’t get in the way of my studies, ‘kay?

Aira: (Let’s forget about Hiro-kun and focus on studying… Focus…)

Aira: ….

Aira: (...I wonder what kind of books Hiro-kun will read? We’ve never talked about it so I can’t really guess.)

Aira: (Hm~ It’s not about them being easy but I feel like picture books would suit him. Oh, and encyclopaedias about edible plants)

Aira: (Are books like that available in this library?)

Aira: (...Wait, I’m getting thrown off track. Focus on studying! Focus!)

[One hour later]

Aira: …

Aira: (...Ah~ The grammar was wrong here.)

Aira: (I feel like I’ve gotten the knack of it. Fufu, with this, victory’s mine…♪)

Aira: (...Hm? I can feel someone’s gaze on me…)

Aira: WOAH, that scared me. When did Hiro-kun sit down opposite me?

Hiiro: …

Aira: Why the silence? No, explaining by waving your hands around won’t help me understand.

Aira: You’re taking my notebook and writing something on it… “Aira is the one who told me not to get in his way.”

Aira: Yeah, but… Talking by writing is a hassle so it’s okay… You can speak.

Hiiro: Thank you, that’s a huge help. I can convey my feelings better by mouth than through writing, you see.

Hiiro: You said you were bad at studying but it’s admirable how you are tackling it so earnestly.

Hiiro: I deeply respect the part of Aira that is such a hard worker.

Aira: Yeah, yeah…Thanks… If it’s just about working hard, anyone can do it.

Aira: But if you can’t get results, then it's meaningless no matter how much time you spend on it. It’s nothing but a waste of time.

Hiiro: The rate of growth is different for every person. If there are trees that grow more than a metre a day, there are also trees that take several years in order to establish their roots.

Hiiro: But if you continue to care for them without giving up, they will grow for sure. People are the same… Hard work will never betray you.

Aira: (I know that it’s impossible for a dropout like me to not take time.)

Aira: (But I can’t wait till the buds start sprouting. Ah~ How I wish I could say “It was simple” like Hiro-kun said…)

Aira: I’m beat so it’s time for a break~ Maybe I should go buy something sweet.

Hiiro: Something sweet?

Aira: Yeah. They say that sweet stuff's good for when you’re tired.

Hiiro: Why?

Aira: Dunno… It’s something like a common belief.

Hiiro: Umu. Let me join you so that I can confirm.

Aira: Huh~? Isn’t Hiro-kun following me around like a baby chick?

Hiiro: Umu. It’s because Aira knows a lot of things that I don’t. I can’t get tired of being together with you.

Aira: Hm~... Well, it’s not like I really mind.

Aira: (Hiro-kun really is strange. He can study but the rest is all yikes… To the point that he can’t do anything without me.)

Aira: (I’m just showing off in front of Hiro-kun’s lack of common sense though.)

Aira: (But sometimes–yeah, ju~st sometimes, he’ll say something nice.)

Aira: (You can’t get tired of being together… I guess even I feel the same…♪)