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[That little sigh doesn't escape his notice, Hiyori throwing his travel partner a glance. It doesn't take much reading between the lines to deduce that Elan-kun is still as lost as ever. Well, all this wandering around might be his attempt to find himself.]

Elan-kun still has some thinking to do, huh? Maybe you can do some in the bath again, while looking at the stars! I'm sure the view will be much lovelier this time around...

[Compared to last time.

... It's not like Hiyori can't understand. Nagisa also did a lot of wandering. That was also an attempt to find himself, wasn't it?

He, on the other hand, prefers not to do so much ruminating. If there's a problem or something he regrets, he'd rather distract himself with something fun. Elan-kun's approach might be different, but he could surely also use a little fun in his life.

Which is why his last statement makes Hiyori smile.]

I don't think they'll accept that as payment no matter how pretty your voice is. But I'll gladly accept it, and that's what matters! You're right that this is a happy accident, or rather, a wonderful coincidence, so we might as well make the most of it! ♪

[Which includes karaoke and food in his mind. Anything else, well... that might be difficult to accomplish with his unit hanging around. But one thing at a time!]

I'm sure real stars will look a hundred times better than that hotel.

[ He knows exactly what he's talking about and he's not afraid to be direct about it. He clasps his hands behind his head as he keeps on walking. ]

It's a good thing you're the only one I'm worried about paying off, then. Otherwise I'd have to start thinking of something else.

[ He glances at him with a little grin. ]

There's probably more I could talk about, though.

So Elan-kun's living a debt-free existence, huh? Congratulations ♪

[If he had a celebratory noisemaker, he'd blow it.

It isn't clear what that "something else" is that Elan is referring to. Something that can't be mentioned in polite company, perhaps...? Thank goodness it's only the winter wind and the trees out here to hear him reference that hotel, though Hiyori sort-of chides him anyway.]

Remember, we met at the amusement park! There wasn't any sort of hotel involved... But anyway, what more did you want to talk about?

Mmm. Maybe about how you told me all about your idol life and how glamorous it is.

[ He's teasing a little. ]

Wouldn't that be enough? Maybe they'd like to hear how you talk about them.

[Blink.]

Are you trying to blackmail me?

[His eyes widen in exaggerated shock and offense.]

How awful! What terrible betrayal...! But I'm afraid you're out of luck, since I haven't said anything the slightest bit incriminating. All I did was show you videos and share basic facts, such as Nagisa-kun's love of traveling! I'm always one step ahead of everyone, so you'll have to work harder than that to catch me saying something I shouldn't have.

[In reality, he loves running his mouth so much that it wouldn't be impossible. And this is of course ignoring the elephant in the room: that if Elan wanted to blackmail him, all he'd have to do is spread the word about that fling they had. Not everyone would believe him without proof, of course, but even mere rumors can sew doubt...

But there's no point in entertaining that "betrayal." Not when Elan-kun seems content with his peripatetic existence. He wouldn't go to a tabloid seeking fifteen minutes of fame; he seems to want to be left alone, really, which Hiyori thinks is sort of sad. But he won't be alone, since Hiyori and his unit will be at the inn with him! And he'll be on his best behavior around them.

... right?]

Blackmail? Never. What kind of person do you take me for?

[ Except he really is the kind of person to blackmail someone, oops. He's just teasing this time, though. He laughs at the response and then shakes his head. ]

Just want to see what their opinions of you are and how much of what you've told me holds true to life. That's all. I don't think you'd lie, but you are a little... larger than life. And some of your friends don't seem like the types.

Why, you're Elan-kun, of course!

[Then after a pause,]

Though I'm not sure what sort of business you got up to before we met... You weren't involved in some shady organization, were you?

[Imagine that.

Setting aside the issue of whether or not Elan-kun is a blackmailer by trade... Hiyori isn't an open book to everyone in his unit. He's never had a heart-to-heart with Ibara, for instance. And as for his own partner, well... there are things he won't tell him. Mostly because they're too sappy and it's embarrassing! But he doesn't think he revealed anything like that to Elan-kun. As for his exaggerations...]

Don't seem like what types?

[He arches one eyebrow, glancing at Elan sideways, before quickly moving on.]

This might be hard for you to accept, but I'm actually quite ordinary compared to those three. Not in terms of ability, social status, or looks, of course. But my life's been more ordinary than theirs—I won't go into detail since it's not my place to, but I'm the one who had the most normal childhood...

[He shrugs his shoulders.]

Anyway, they're much better at socializing these days. Except for Ibara, he just stays inside doing work all day, but hopefully you'll get along with Jun-kun and Nagisa-kun. And then we can all have a lovely evening together ♪

I wasn't running any kind of shady business, if that's what you mean.

[ Involved? Yes. But involuntarily. And not something he wants to discuss openly, honestly. So instead he just brushes it off and tries to move past it. Talking about his past isn't exactly pleasant. ]

The types to be so over the top. Then again, I just know what you've told me and seen in videos. So maybe I shouldn't judge... after all not everyone is the type to become an idol. I guess that does take a certain kind of willfulness and willingness to perform, doesn't it?

[ He hums softly, considering as they keep on walking. ]

I'm sure we'll do just fine, no matter what. I'm not exactly the most abrasive person, after all. I know how to behave myself when I need to. Although I'm curious about what they might ask me - or what they might tell me about you. Getting other perspectives is always interesting!

That's true, you didn't sound like you were your own boss. "Overworked lackey" sounded more like it...

[Which doesn't discount the possibility of the organization being shady. If anything, it supports it.

Hiyori's not completely oblivious, though, much as he might act like it sometimes. If Elan wanted to explain his previous job, he'd have already done so, and the fact he chose not to elaborate just now suggests he doesn't want to talk. And Hiyori much prefers to keep things cheerful, so it's time to move on!

To talking about his unitmates some more, apparently. This isn't something he objects to, since honestly, he could talk about his little makeshift family forever. As far as them being "over the top" goes:]

Yep, now you're getting it ♪ You won't get anywhere in our world if you're afraid to stand out. Though some people have a much larger presence onstage than they do off the stage. Like Nagisa-kun—you'll see for yourself, but he's not really the "dominant ruler" he acts like he is in interviews. He actually has a cute side!

Still, even if he was larger than life, he'd still be "over the top" in a different way than I am. No two people are exactly the same, after all. Not me, not Nagisa-kun, not Elan-kun ♪

[He's not trying to lecture. Honestly, he's glad Elan-kun has a positive attitude about all this. So glad he can't help but tease,]

Aww, you want to hear about me that much, huh? ♪

[With an obnoxious smirk to boot. But he's quick to move on.]

Well, I can more or less guess at what they'd say. Ibara would just call me a "business asset" if he were being honest about how he felt. Jun-kun, on the other hand, would say something completely dishonest and rude—something like "he's such a handful" or "I can never tell what he's thinking!" He doesn't want to admit how much he truly cares! Sad, isn't it?

[He shakes his head theatrically.]

[Before smiling softly again.]

But as for Nagisa-kun... if you ask him to describe me, I'm sure he'd say I'm like the sun.

[ It's that last comment that earns a glance from Elan. ]

Oh, really? Is he that fond of you?

[ He's fishing a little - and maybe trying to poke the conversation a little away from himself. He doesn't much enjoy talking about his past, after all - not that he thinks he has much of one to discuss. He's spent most of his life as a double for someone else. It's not a life to think about or build anything on. That's why he's currently trying to do something for himself, after all. Because he wants to, not because someone else is trying to make him into... a tool. Or something worse. ]

Or does he think you burn people after too much exposure?

[ He's teasing. Really. ]

No~pe! I might be capable of that second thing, but it's the first one! The two of us go all the way back to childhood, so we're wonderfully close friends. As close as family ♪

[The teasing remark rolls right off him. Hiyori is insincere at other times, but wholly sincere in this moment, still smiling fondly at the thought of Nagisa.]

He's the one who gave me the idea of becoming an idol all those years ago, so I suppose you could say it's thanks to him that I'm here right now. On this mountain for a shoot, that is. And if I weren't on this mountain, you wouldn't have run into me, which would've been quite a pity for you. Looks like we both owe a lot to him ♪

[It's a bit of unnecessary backstory. But they're still walking, and they've got nothing else to do for the moment, so he figures why not say it?]

I'll be sure to thank him for making our fated meeting possible.

[ He responds with a little drawl and a shrug. He's teasing back, after all. ]

Maybe he'll be happy to learn a little about us.

... huh?

[It's not the first line but the last one that makes his eyebrows raise.]

What does that mean... Do you mean as individuals? Or about how we met at the park? Elan-kun doesn't seem like the type to kiss and tell, so there's no way you meant anything related to space travel...

[Yes. "Space travel" is the metaphor we're going with here when talking about that spaceship room.]

I suppose you could tell him that after our fun-filled encounter at the amusement park, I've been on your mind ever since, and you were dearly hoping to run into me again. That sounds a tad embarrassing, but I do tend to have that effect on people. And I'm sure Nagisa-kun would understand, since he's drawn to me, too ♪

A little of both. I'm not going to spill any secrets, but I'm sure I could make up something about being held on to too tightly during a ride...

[ He smirks. ]

Nothing too scandalous, but enough to make life interesting.

[ He clicks his tongue in thought as they walk. ]

That last part isn't entirely a lie. You've never been far from my thoughts, you know. Even if I'm not really all that head-over-heels...

[He turns up his nose.]

Actually, Elan-kun's the one who held tight onto me! ✰

[So much for refusing to give in to that sort of talk. He's just a little huffy, even though he assumes it's all teasing on Elan's part. Nagisa doesn't get sad or jealous over his connections with other people these days (not like he used to, anyway), but the idea of flaunting their closeness in front of him seems somewhat crass. And there's no way they're telling him about the spaceship...

That last statement manages to catch him off-guard, though, him turning to Elan with genuine curiosity.]

Is that right?

[Well, he is memorable. And there's that saying that you always remember your first. Still, he's a tad surprised. Or maybe he's just surprised that Elan admitted he'd been thinking of him? It's easy fodder for more teasing, but for once he refrains.]

Well, I'm glad I could give you some pleasant memories to look back on. And now we're in the process of making new memories, which should comfort you on your next travels. But if you find yourself getting antsy, you can always send me a message. Maybe one that says "Thinking of you~" with a little heart next to it ♪

[Alright, so maybe he didn't completely hold himself back from teasing.]

I wouldn't mind receiving something cute like that. Or more of those scenic pictures, I suppose.

I don't send cutesy little messages like that.

[ He sighs, as if he's suffering through all of this - although he's clearly not since he hasn't just ditched Hiyori to find his own way out of the woods. He glances at him with a bit of a smug smile. ]

Maybe a scenic picture or two. You've earned that much, anyway.

[ He furrows his brow as something occurs to him. ]

So... I know you're a unit and you've talked a little about them, but how close are you to all of these people?

It's never too late to start ♪

[You can always learn to be more charming! Even he, who was already charming, picked up some new tricks while developing his idol persona. But Elan-kun isn't interested in sweet-talking others, or making himself more appealing to potential fans, is he?

Honestly, he's charming the way he is. Hiyori wouldn't have gone to bed with him if he hadn't thought so. And he still thinks of him from time to time, even though they'd fallen out of contact. Though it might be a lie to say he's "never far from his thoughts," since he keeps rather busy. Plus he has other people to focus on, like the members of his unit.

Which Elan is currently asking him about.

He frowns a little—not reproachfully, but something about the question combined with Elan's expression seems... suspicious. Like he meant it in a suggestive way. But he'll just ignore any implications there!]

Well, as I said, Nagisa-kun and I are wonderfully close. We're lifelong friends, after all. And Jun-kun is my partner who's expected to be in-sync with me at all times, so I'd say we're close, too!

[Close enough to fake-kiss onstage in that video Elan saw.]

Plus, I'm the one who taught him everything he knows, so he's heavily in debt to me. But as for Ibara, we're pretty much just colleagues, so there's not a lot to say there. I'm sure he'd claim our relationship is "strictly professional," which suits me just fine. Though Nagisa-kun is quite fond of him, and he and Jun-kun also seem rather close these days... Does any of that answer your question?

Hmm.

[ Five seems a little non-committal, but maybe that's just as suspicious, honestly. He gives Hiyori a little smile as he considers this information and turns it over in his head. He's not really trying to imply anything (but he thinks it's funny if Hiyori thinks he's trying to imply something, so he's not going to try and clear that up). ]

Oh, I think it does. I'm hoping meeting them all in person will tell me a lot about them, too. And I'm interested in seeing how they interact with you in person when you're not on stage! That should be just fascinating!

[Never ask a woman her age, a man his salary, or Hiyori Tomoe which member(s) of his idol unit he wants to sleep with.]

You're really interested, huh?

[Cue another brow raise. Just listen to all those exclamation marks! Was Elan always such an excitable character?]

But well, that's fine, I suppose. If I was about to meet someone you're close to, I'm sure I'd be excited to ask them questions, too. Like "What's Elan-kun like?" and "Isn't he cute?" and "Does he ever eat anything but ramen?"

Should I not be interested?

[ He smiles thinly and clasps his hands behind his head again. ]

Unfortunately, I don't think there aren't exactly a lot of people close to me left to meet.

[Well, no. It's only natural to be interested in him and Eden, since they are a top unit. And as for their relationships within the unit, well, it's normal to be interested in those, too. Their fans sure are! The relationship between him and Jun-kun is a huge selling point! Not to mention Ibara and Nagisa's... whatever they have. But he doesn't get the chance to say any of that before Elan's phrasing steals his attention.

Left to meet? What does that mean? That no one's ever been very close to him? Or that there were people who were close to him, but those people aren't around anymore? Because why?]

No?

[He eyes Elan for another moment before looking away, the teasing smile wiped clean off his face. Still he keeps his tone light, musing aloud as they walk beneath the chilly sky.]

Well, perhaps the next time we run into each other, things will have changed. But until then, I'll just have to get to know Elan-kun from Elan-kun.

[Which doesn't mean interrogating him. It can mean karaoke or little conversations like this. Even that thing they did in the hotel wasn't a horrible way to communicate with someone.]

Don't you think you know me now?

[ No, he doesn't, and Five knows it. He's being a pill, poking and prodding and seeing what he can draw out now that he's met him again. He might be fond, but he still has a tendency to throw little jabs here and there just to see what kind of reaction he can get. Or maybe it's a defense mechanism. It's hard to say and he certainly wouldn't give a solid answer if pressed. ]

Or am I still mysterious?

Well, we're not strangers, anyway. You do seem a bit mysterious, but that's not a bad thing. A little mystery adds allure ♪ Though, if I had to ask something...

[Hmm.

Of course there's a lot he doesn't know, from what sort of job Elan worked before to why he finally left. Why, Elan-kun could hail from outer space for all he knows! But again, he doesn't want to pry too much.

There must be some safe topics he can ask about, though. Something light and conversational like food (though they've already talked about that), school (though Elan-kun doesn't attend school, does he?), clothes...

Ah, that's it.]

Perhaps I'll ask where you got those earrings from? Those pointy ones you wore last time. Were they a gift, or just something you found in a store somewhere?

The earrings...?

[ He trails off with a little sigh and looking a bit thoughtful. There's another long, long pause while he seems to mull over the answer. ]

...they were a part of the job. Or that's where I got them, anyway. I might keep them around, though.

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Happy Christmas! Back at it again.

Merry Christmas! 🥳🎁🎄

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