I Drink Every Night With a Lookalike of a Popular Idol on the Riverbank
Empty long cans lined the coffee table like tombstones. Only the hollow sound of the TV echoed through the quiet room.
“…Nanase, aren’t you drinking too much?”
“Mmm-hmm, rice ball, rice ball~”
Nanase said this, moving her facial muscles in a way that looked like they might melt away.
“You are saying ‘rice ball,’ not ‘I’m fine’…?”
“N-no, I’m not drunk at all. I’m in Taito Ward.”
“You think I’d mistake that for ‘I’m fine’!? You’re seriously underestimating me!”
“N-no, I’m not drunk!”
Beside the sofa, she purred like a cat. Her cheeks were flushed a beautiful pink, her unfocused eyes glazed and moist. To anyone watching, she was the picture of a perfect drunk.
Was it the relaxed ease of drinking at home, or the work stress she never showed? Tonight, she was clearly drinking faster than usual.
Four empty long cans sat lined up on the table where Nanase-san had been drinking.
“Hmm… one, two, three… I drank six bottles~!”
“You’re seeing four bottles as six!?”
This girl is hopeless. There’s no choice but to just put her to bed tonight.
“Mmm… sleepy…”
Before I could stop her, she flopped down on the sofa. Then she plopped her head right onto my lap.
“Huh? Wait, Nanase-san!?”
The soft feel of her hair and her definite weight. The scent of alcohol and her own sweet fragrance stole my thoughts away.
Using my lap as a pillow makes it hard for me to leave, even if I’m putting her to sleep!?
As I froze like a statue, she murmured something in a childishly slurred voice from atop my lap.
“Mmm… Ro-suke…”
“Wh-what?”
“…Pet my head…”
Her utterly defenseless, clingy request made me feel heat rush to my face. Impossible. There’s no way I can do that.
“I-I can’t, Nanase-san…! You should ask someone you’re actually dating to do that kind of thing.”
When I stammered out that refusal in a low voice, she muttered sulkily, “…cheapskate.”
“I’m an idol, so I can’t have a boyfriend, you know?”
“Did you get so drunk you finally identified as an idol!?”
“……”
Nanase-san didn’t react to my retort. Soon, she began to breathe softly and peacefully.
After Nanase-san, who had thrown that impossible demand at me, fell asleep, a quiet time began to flow.
Feeling the weight and warmth on my lap, I stared at the ceiling, unable to even shift.
After a while, small sleep-talking words began to spill from her lips.
“Hmm… Kuroda-san… How long is the line for the handshake event…”
Kuroda-san? Handshake event?
Those overly specific words made me prick up my ears.
“That variety show… the producer said… my reactions were too flat… but I tried so hard…”
A broken, sorrowful sleep-talk.
I see. She’s dreaming right now. Because! She’s become so perfectly Yunagi Yuna as a lookalike, she’s reliving the hardships of being a real idol even in her dreams.
Smiling at handshake events, giving insincere reactions on variety shows. What a noble, what a grueling dream.
I gazed once more at her peaceful sleeping face resting on my lap.
Earlier, she’d said, “Stroke my head.” I’d refused, embarrassed.
How coldly I’d treated her, even as she fought on in her dreams.
Regret and an overwhelming tenderness I’d never felt before welled up deep inside me.
I slowly raised my trembling right hand.
It’s okay. She’s asleep. Besides, she asked for it herself, so she must consent… I hope.
Gently, I placed my hand on her soft hair.
Then, as if touching something fragile, I began to stroke it gently, gently, slowly.
◆
This is bad. I drank too much.
My consciousness floated hazily along the border between reality and dreams. Feeling utterly hopeless, I was about to let go of my senses.
I had a brief dream about work… and now I should be back in reality.
Something warm and light was placed on top of my head. It was Yosuke’s hand.
I froze in surprise. My heart pounded so loudly it hurt.
(He’s stroking my head!? He’s stroking my head!? He’s stroking my head!? He’s stroking my head!? He’s stroking my head!? He’s stroking my head!? ――)
The hand hesitated once, then slowly began combing through my hair.
This means I won’t be able to get up for a while…
Maiasa