I Drink Every Night With a Lookalike of a Popular Idol on the Riverbank
With earphones in my ears, I listened to Luminas Tears songs as I headed toward the riverbank.
Since the festival, thanks to Narumi’s evangelism, I had begun to listen to Luminas Tears songs in earnest.
At first, it was just to learn more about the real thing for Nanase, who was a lookalike. However, as I listened to their songs and watched their performances, I found myself drawn to their charm before I knew it.
In my mind, the dazzling stage and their perfect formations kept repeating themselves.
Nanase heard my footsteps and turned toward me from a distance. She waved her hand and took off her earbuds.
“Yousuke. What are you listening to?”
“Well, actually…”
Feeling a little embarrassed, I answered honestly.
“I was listening to Luminas Tears.”
At that answer, Nanase seemed to widen her eyes slightly.
“Huh. You started listening to them too, Yousuke?”
“Well, there were various reasons. My coworkers kept recommending them to me.”
“I see. …So, which song do you like?”
Her question was both testing and slightly playful. She might have expected me to say, “The most famous one, that song.” But the name that came out of my mouth was different.
“The song Night Dawn Monologue’
At that moment, Nanase’s expression clearly changed. It was a complex mix of surprise, confusion, and a soft joy I’d never seen before.
“Why that song?”
“Well, I don’t know why… I like upbeat songs too, but this one just has a different vibe. The lyrics aren’t just sparkly; they feel a bit painful, desperate. Especially the solo part by Yunagi before the second chorus. Her voice sounds like she’s crying. It’s like my heart is being squeezed when I listen to it.”
“Night Dawn Monologue” is not a single, but a track from an album. Narumi was passionate about how it has a strong fan base, but it’s not a flashy song.
“I see… You like that part, don’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you watch live videos or anything?”
“Yeah. Lately, I’ve been watching Asagiri-san’s ‘Clip’ videos a lot. Her dancing is amazing, isn’t it? She should be designated a Living National Treasure.”
As soon as I said that, the gentle atmosphere that had been around Nanase-san vanished. Instead, a clear flame of rivalry burned in her eyes.
“…Hiori…?”
“Huh? Yeah. Asagiri-san is amazing, isn’t she? She’s so delicate yet powerful and sharp.”
“Hmm. Well, Hiori is amazing too, though.”
She stood up abruptly and scanned the area with sharp eyes like a professional hunter. After confirming that no one was around, she turned back to me.
“Yousuke, play it on your smartphone.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Just do it.”
Overwhelmed by her forceful demand, I hurriedly operated my smartphone and played the song. The quiet intro began to ride the night breeze along the riverbank. Then, as if a switch had been flipped, she started moving.
It was different from the dance I had seen in the video earlier. It was more supple, more emotional, and each movement seemed to embody the scene of the song.
She sang the phrases with her breath. It wasn’t just humming. It was the voice of Yunagi Nagi flowing from the CD. No, it was even more urgent, with her soul poured into it.
The sharp turns, the fingertips pointing to the sky, the expression twisted with anguish. Those few minutes were a performance that was too perfect.
I couldn’t utter a sound, just staring at the scene before me. For a moment, I truly believed it. This is the real thing, I thought. Not Nanase-san. Yunagi herself.
However, when the song ended and I saw her bowing her head, out of breath, my mind returned to its usual “correct answer.” Yes, she is Nanase-san. She was Yunagi’s doppelganger.
A sigh of admiration escaped my lips.
“Nanase-san, you’re amazing! You’re just as good as the real thing… no, you’re even better than the real thing! That was incredible!”
As I said this with a big smile on my face, she slowly raised her head while catching her breath.
“Huh… You’re really something, Yousuke… Well, I’m just a look-alike, after all.”
Nanase laughed, but her face somehow showed not just a sense of accomplishment, but also a feeling of unfinished business, an incredibly complex expression.
Maiasa