I Drink Every Night With a Lookalike of a Popular Idol on the Riverbank
“…Ah, another week has ended.”
I muttered as I rolled the empty can of chuhai I had finished drinking around in my palm for no particular reason.
Nanase, sitting next to me, quietly agreed, “Yeah, that’s true.”
It was Friday night. For me, this time spent on the riverbank was a sign that the weekend had begun.
I decided to blurt out a sudden thought.
“If you had no plans for tomorrow and didn’t have to worry about money or time, how would you spend your day?”
It was such a childish question. She looked at me with a puzzled expression, then smiled happily.
“Wow, that’s sudden… What about you, Yosuke?”
“You’re the kind of person who answers a question with another question…”
“Yeah, you’re the kind of person who responds to a question with another question with a stock phrase like ‘answering a question with another question.’”
“You mean I should answer first.”
Nanase nodded and said, “Yeah, that’s right.”
I thought about it for a moment.
A perfect day off with unlimited money and time. How would you spend that day?
“Hmm… First, I’d sleep until noon. Without anyone waking me up, just letting myself wake up naturally.”
“Hmm, hmm.”
“Then, after waking up, I’d take a shower and head straight to Jinbocho.”
“Jinbocho?”
“Yeah. I’d go into a big bookstore and just wander around aimlessly for hours. Inhaling the scent of new books and old paper alternately. I wouldn’t have to buy anything.”
“Heee.”
“Then, when I get hungry, I’d go to that famous ramen shop that usually has a long line, so I usually give up. But since I have unlimited time, I could wait in line for hours.”
“Wow, that’s a luxurious way to spend your time.”
“Right? Then I come home and just stare blankly at my favorite movie, which I’ve seen at least 100 times, and eventually fall asleep on the sofa. …That’s my perfect day, I guess.”
My overly plain and modest weekend plan. Nanase listened to it with great interest.
“Haha. I can imagine it. It’s a perfect day. I want to do that too.”
“But it’s my plan…”
“I didn’t say you had to do it alone.”
“Well… then I’ll think about it after hearing your plan.”
When I said that, her expression changed.
It wasn’t the calm expression she had before.
It was as if she had opened a treasure chest she had kept hidden deep in her heart, her eyes sparkling.
She leaned forward slightly and began to speak. Her voice was a little more lively than usual.
“First, go to the theme park first thing in the morning.”
“The theme park!”
“Yeah. No disguises. No caps, no glasses, nothing. We’ll walk in through the main gate with our heads held high.”
She clenched her fists tightly.
“Then, we’ll eat junk food all day long. Churros, popcorn, turkey legs, and weird-colored sodas that are bad for your health. Don’t worry about calories, tomorrow’s condition, or swelling. Just eat whatever you want, as much as you want.”
Her words were filled with passion.
Usually, she must be restraining herself from eating what she wants to maintain her figure. It seems that dietary restrictions for weight loss are the same for idols and ordinary people.
“I ride the rides that make you scream over and over again. Until my voice gives out. Then I wait in line for the parade and watch from the front row.”
I was so engrossed in her story that I forgot to nod along.
“Lastly, souvenirs. I stay at the store until closing time, buying things for friends and family… even useless keychains that Hiyori would definitely say she doesn’t need. I buy plenty of them. I also buy some for myself. I hang the bags from both hands and have them put into the largest bag possible.”
After finishing her story in one go, she let out a satisfied sigh.
Her face looked truly happy, as if she had already experienced everything she wanted to do in her mind.
Theme parks. Junk food. Souvenirs.
For most people, these are ordinary, small pleasures that can be easily obtained.
But for her, they were dreams she wanted to fulfill.
(I see…)
I immediately understood the reason behind her desperate desire.
Being a stylist’s assistant is an irregular job. Weekends probably don’t matter either. Plus, as a lookalike for Yunagi Yuna, she has the pressure of maintaining her figure.
If she goes into a crowd, it might cause a commotion.
She’s bound by all those “can’t’s.”
I listened to her story about her ordinary yet distant dream, feeling a slight twinge of pain in my chest.
“I see… That’s nice. It’s a perfect day for Nanase-san.”
When I said that, she snapped out of her daydream and smiled shyly.
“…Sorry. I got carried away talking.”
“No, it was really fun to listen to. I hope you can go someday. That perfect day.”
When I said that sincerely, she looked like she was about to cry for a moment. Then she quickly returned to her usual gentle smile and nodded.
“…Yeah. Someday, maybe. By the way, I didn’t say I’d go alone.”
I don’t know if that “someday” will ever come.
But if it does, I can’t help but think, just a little, that I’d like to be the one by her side on that perfect day.
“Yousuke’s plan seems like it could be executed right away. Shall we do it?”
“Right now!?”
“Well, tomorrow… might be impossible. The day after tomorrow. Sunday… hmm, that works. We’ll sleep as long as we want without setting a time, then go to Book Off, eat cup ramen, and fall asleep while watching a low-rated B-movie.”
“Aren’t we downgrading a bit at a time!?”
“It’s economy class.”
“Let’s at least go for business class…”
“Hmm. Then clean the room first. I’m expecting business class-level treatment. See you later. See you the day after tomorrow.”
Nanase said that, stood up, and brushed the sand off her butt.
…Does that mean she’s coming over?
Maiasa