Once the Snow Melts (Event Story)
Chapter 1: About Hikari
Flashback to Xue's and Hikari's Gingaza orientation day (Narration: Xue)
(“An irritating person” is my first impression of Yonaguni Hikari.
The Hikari from Okinawa who got scouted despite just being a dancer,
While I have to work hard for my family’s sake, taking the international test to pass as a member.
I’m pretty sure that she won’t get a single idea back then,
About the weights that I have to carry, and the lots of determination that I’ve made.
The time was around an orientation meeting day. We happened to sit next to each other.
She smiled and extended her hand, while saying that she wants to get along with me.)
Hikari: Wah-! You’re also a Gingaza from today?
I’m Yonaguni Hikari! It’s nice to meet you!
Xue: …… Wang Xue.
Hikari: So you’re Xue-chan! Nice to meet you.
Here’s my hand. Let’s do a greeting handshake~!
Xue: I’m not doing it.
Hikari: Eh-? I… I see. Sorry, I should’ve been more careful.
(Every single person in the theatre was an enemy to me.
I was really aiming to become the theatre's top actress, so I have to brush everyone off.
It doesn’t matter who. The ones with great acting skill, the ones who possess great talent,
the ones who got recruited from popular theatre, the ones who finally passed after several auditions.
They’re all the enemies to defeat. I can’t spare the time to get along with others.
And I definitely won’t get along with a seeming-all-peaceful moron. That’s why I refused to shake hands with her.)
Hikari: So you see, this is my first time living in Tokyo.
It have to took me several turns to finally make my way here. Hehehe~...
Since I was scouted, it’s no good to make worries, right? I have to do better.
What about you? Where are you coming from?
Xue: ……
Hikari: O- Oh…
Maybe that was too sudden, even though we just met……
Xue: Seeming all peaceful, aren’t you?
Hikari: All peaceful?
(In Gingaza, as soon as we’re entering the room, there will be two main role grading systems.
If someone made even a single scar, they will be treated implicitly as an outsider.
And I thought it will be the same case for the “All-Peaceful Dancer Girl”,
She will just be swept away, covered by countless of the other stars.)
Director: That was not good at all! We’re doing it again.
Hikari, how many more times do I need to make you understand?!
Hikari: I– I’m sorry……
Please, give me another chance.
Xue: ……
Director: Give me more expressions!! Work harder on it!!
Hikari: R– Right!!
Xue: Ah– Koyomi Senju is getting another main role??
Daughter from distinguished family or whatever that was. It’s surely a good status to have.
And right after the role announcement, she just went back as if nothing happened.
Does she even know the people around her..?
… But also, there are actually even fewer colleagues now.
Surprisingly for Yonaguni, she’s still on the net despite how she kept getting scolded.
But at the end, it doesn’t matter if you excel in dances or acrobats. The main thing in a theatre is to act.
If she can’t do that, she should’ve just changed her career path to become an athlete. …
*stomach rumbles*
Xue: It’s no use if I give a damn to others.
…… I guess it’s about time to get some food.
Xue: Alright, let’s see. There’re some leftovers and breads, so no need to worry on expenses for tomorrow’s breakfast.
Then for dinner they may become a bit colder since I’ll eat by late, but the amount should be enough as well.
Well then, let’s ea–
Hikari: ……
Ah.. Umm… Xue-chan.
Are you going to have dinner?
Xue: … Yeah.
Hikari: I see…!
… Uh…… Can I… Also eat with you?
Xue: …… It’s your choice.
(The two of us somehow managed to pass the “second round”.
We’re not being excluded, but our positions were not the best either.
If the reality says A, even the most amount of will won’t change it to B.
But still, I thought that I have to keep my pace well, no matter how hard the hurdles were.
On the other hand, either due to the concerning positions, or the ‘atmosphere’ in Gingaza.
Even though she refused to resign, the brightness inside the Hikari kept fading out.
It’s the same as seeing a bright blue sky that slowly becomes dark, covered with heavy clouds.)
Hikari: Hey Xue, did ya finish the math homework?
I may be targeted by the teach tomorrow, so what if we compare our answers for a bit~!
Xue: Huh~, did you really just say that?
I doubt if you finished yours, or else I gotta hurry before a hurricane tomorrow.
Hikari: I mean, yeah… It’s not finished, but there are several blanks to fill~…
So if you’re still not doing ‘em, let’s just work together! The more the merrier we go!
Xue: Just as expected if coming from ya…
Wait ‘till I finish dinner. How about you though? Did you eat one?
Hikari: I in fact didn’t!
And I did think I want us eat together as well– Wait for me then!!
Xue: Oh geez, such a spoiled lad you are…
Better be careful while carrying those, don’t spill them okay?
The Hikari, who once became cloudy,
She regained her brightness thanks to Ramona Wolf, a meddlesome who suddenly appears in Gingaza.
Or should I say, The Germany that has a strong belief in fellowship.
She just went to her room during one of her streams, and she managed to pull her out.
Some time passed, and without realizing it, Germany’s kinda put Gingaza back in its shape.
All of us are also used to sit together while eating the hot pot.
Hikari then made friends across different theatres. With her streaming friends, they were going for autumn spot viewing, playing with snow, or maybe anything else for their videos. It seems that she’s having a lot of fun.
While I know that one can make some money from streaming,
The income from donations is not certain, so I’m not up to do the work.
So whether Hikari is still streaming or not,
it didn’t seem as a concern to me.
Kamira: Ah– There she is! Xie-Xie~!!
Xue: Kamira? Why so sudden, what’s up?
If you’re looking for Hikari, she’s currently buying something.
Kamira: Ahh– Then that’s actually good.
I actually have a matter to ask you, Xie-Xie…
Xue: You need to ask me..? What’s the matter about?
Kamira: You see… I wonder… About how Hikarin’s doin’ recently.
Xue: Huh, did something happen to her? She seems fine like usual to me though.
I thought you'd know better than me? Since you both often stream together right?
Kamira: Well~, I mean, ya.., we do get along.., and so……
Xue: What’s with the weird speech manner? Better make the points clear now.
Kamira: It’s that since we’re streaming pals, it then be harder to ask.
And like, what if I actually did somethin’ to her…
Xue: Huh…?
Kamira: Ya see…… It’s really been a while since her last stream.
Xue: ……
And so..? Is there a problem with that?
Kamira: I mean, perhaps you know somethin’ about it?
… Not to mention that she seems so not-like her in our last video shoot.
And I wanna help her in case she’s thinkin’ too much or in a bad head space.
But then our years and theatres are different..
Xue: Like hell I know. And as if she’s someone that does things like an undercover spy.
I mean, look at her face when we had delicious fried rice back then! ¹
Kamira: Ah.. Well, that is certainly not wrong…
… But that’s exactly why I’m keep hesitatin’ to ask. And the more time passes, it makes me feelin’ more anxious.
Xue: And that’s why you want me to ask her?
Sure then, I’ll go to her room and ask right away.
Kamira: Wait-wait-wait-! You shouldn’t just ask like that!
In case her matter is hard to tell anyone.
Xue: What do you mean hard to tell?
Literally no one else’s as easy to read as her, y’know?
Kamira: But I mean, everyone has a different side somewhere.
And you’ll be jaw dropped since you didn’t expect it beforehand.
So it’ll be nice if you can be more considerate to her…
Sorry to involve ya onto this concern of mine..
But since I thought that you’re the closest person to Hikarin. So…
Xue: I mean… …
……
… Okay then. I’ll keep an eye on her condition.
But don’t expect me to check the streaming matter.
Kamira: Okay.
Thanks a lot, Xie-Xie…!
TL notes:
[1] You can look more about this from Hot and Heartfelt Cooking event. (TL by kungfuchan13)
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