Maki’s voice as she spoke about Arisa Kiyono was not loud, but in the silent breakroom, her words pulled at Koharu Miura’s ears more than any other sound.
Although she appeared calm, only Koharu knew how much panic was surging through her heart.
Leaving the group.
This was originally just a rumor she had heard and wanted to verify. But hearing those words come directly from a member’s mouth made Koharu’s entire body tense.
The word felt like a melting ice cube in her heart, sending a chill spreading from her core to her limbs.
Even the surrounding air seemed to grow stagnant.
Koharu reflexively raised a hand to wipe the cold sweat from her forehead.
If Arisa Kiyono left the group now…
If she was no longer the ALISA who sought redemption and sanctuary in an underground livehouse…
Then, at that specific point during winter vacation where they were meant to meet, at that neon-lit corner of the store street, what kind of Arisa Kiyono would Sou Kanzaki encounter?
She would no longer be the Arisa Kiyono who held the identity of an underground idol and possessed a gentle, sun-like personality.
Instead, she would be a gloomy girl who believed in no one—a girl whose future plot progression was impossible to predict.
Arisa Kiyono’s Personal Route revolved entirely around her idol group.
If the core setting of being an idol was stripped away, what would even happen in her route?
Once the world entered that trajectory, she would have to face what the System had repeatedly warned her about — a World Logic Collapse, leading to the chaotic disorder of the future, time, and events.
When that happened, everything from the curry rice her mother made to her father’s gentle smile and her friends’ lively antics would vanish.
The life she had become familiar with and indulged in would cease to exist, disappearing like footprints in a heavy rain.
Everything would turn into a mass of garbled code.
‘This… this absolutely cannot happen.’
The moment she heard about the resignation, she immediately linked it to the consequences, and her heart leaped into her throat.
But, fortunately.
She had experienced so many emergencies along this journey that before the usual fear could swallow her reason, she used the stress-management instincts from her previous life to force the trembling down.
Taking a deep breath, Koharu pushed her black-framed glasses up the bridge of her nose, letting the reflection of the lenses hide the near-instantaneous flash of panic in her eyes.
When she looked up again, she was once more the somewhat awkward, even slightly timid girl.
“U-Um… Captain Maki — I think it’s better to call you that.”
Koharu’s voice carried a slight tremble, making it sound as if she were on the verge of tears, yet she seemed to be forcing herself to understand.
“Since everyone thinks ALISA won’t leave… then what exactly is the deal with the rumors?”
“There must be a reason why these rumors are spreading and affecting everyone. How did they start?”
She looked into Maki’s eyes, trying her best to make her tone sound sincere.
“I’m just a fan, so I probably shouldn’t ask this much… but I really want to know. Is it all just a misunderstanding?”
“If it is a misunderstanding, as long as it’s explained clearly and ALISA stays in the group, I think the fans of sugar starlight will support you even more passionately after the anniversary.”
Hearing this, Maki’s tense expression wavered.
Koharu’s words had touched the captain’s heart.
The girl in the gray hoodie let out a sigh.
“The reason for this is —”
“Maki, stop.”
Just as she was about to speak, Yuu, who had been part of the conversation earlier, suddenly stood up.
“Even if she is a fan, we can’t just tell her internal matters so easily.”
“What if she — you’re always so quick to trust others. Have you forgotten the last time you were tricked?”
“Yuu, don’t be like that.”
Maki frowned, her voice laced with exhaustion. “Does she look like a bad person to you? Besides, the rumors are already flying around out there. Being secretive only makes it look like we have something to hide.”
“That’s still not right…” Yuu walked over to Koharu.
Though she was a bit shorter than Koharu, her presence was actually more intimidating.
“Little sister, you understand that logic, don’t you?”
Forced by Yuu’s approach, Koharu instinctively took half a step back.
…But as soon as she was pushed back, she immediately stepped forward to close that stumbling distance.
“I — I am not a member of the paparazzi. Please do not doubt that.”
Koharu looked up, the timidness in her eyes gone, replaced by a firm persistence.
“I just… I have an incredibly sincere reason for wanting to support ALISA as she continues her activities with sugar starlight.”
“It has to be here. It won’t work if she doesn’t continue. I have such a strong wish, and I hope it comes true.”
These words were not a lie. Even though she didn’t disclose her motives, the emotions in Koharu’s voice resonated with her words, making them seem truly persuasive and moving.
She wove a web of half-truths that left the girls stunned for a moment.
“To me, ALISA is more than just an idol. I can’t accept her leaving the group so abruptly… but what can we fans, who can only watch her from the stage, believe in?”
“When I saw those rumors, I couldn’t hold back anymore.”
“I promise I will never spread this around. I just want to know… if I’ll be able to see her on this stage again.”
This heartfelt speech, which sounded exactly like that of a devoted fan, echoed in the silent breakroom.
This time, the sincere emotion in Koharu’s words left even Yuu speechless.
“Is that enough, Yuu? It doesn’t matter if she knows ahead of time. After all, if we can’t get Arisa to come back, everything will be revealed in 3 months at the latest anyway.”
“But…”
“Trust her, and trust me. I am the captain, after all.”
Maki smiled.
Then, as Yuu’s constant grumbling faded from the center of attention, Maki began to explain the origin of the departure news to Koharu.
Maki turned her gaze toward Koharu, her expression turning serious.
“Miss Fan, what is your name?”
“…Miura.”
Koharu replied. After a moment of thought, she decided not to give her full name.
“Miura… Mm, Miss Miura — that’s a good name.”
Maki spoke in a low voice, “I can tell you, but you have to promise me that you won’t tell a single soul what you hear today.”
“If I see an unfamiliar face on social media spreading internal secrets that only our members know… then I will make sure you never step foot in this shop again. I’ll also sue you for defamation.”
“I understand.”
After receiving Koharu’s simple, machine-like response, Maki remained silent for a while before she began to explain the origin of the rumors that had caused such a stir.