PPC a la Chii - Track 13

So~? Don’t your wedding photos look uber romantic!?

Wow, I can’t even believe it’s me. Is this what you call “photogenic”…?

You gotta tell my thanks to Oda-san too. Thanks to you two’s awesome modeling Chii’s photos are almost sold out!

This doesn’t feel real, but I’m happy. Okay… I’ll tell him.

…I’m sorry I ended up fighting with Mom on the day of your tour. Well, you ended up helping out anyway.

Hehe, good thing I bought the sunglasses. I’m pretty good, aren’t I?

…I was able to think things over a little, thanks to you.

I’m sure nothing will change between me and Mom. We’ll fight each time we meet, and we’ll never be able to like each other.

Yeah.

But I think that’s okay. There are some things in life that just won’t change. We just have to accept that as is, because we’re a family, anyway, with a bond that will never break. It’ll continue on naturally.

Right… Y’know, all this time I wanted Mom to look my way.

But it’s time for me to move on. I think I have to start thinking about the future, and how to be happy for my own sake…

……!

I’m thinking of becoming a pink panda! Pandas are popular, and pink’s perfect for me, don’tcha think?

Ahaha, what does that mean…?

… You’ve always been so patient for your family, Chii-chan. So it’s okay to be as selfish as you want from now on.

Live for yourself. I’ll do the same, too.

Mhmm, right…

There’s lots of people that’ll listen to my selfish wishes at the place I’m staying now… So I’ll do my best while trying to find a balance.

I’ve still got a long way to go as an idol! I’ll do my best until I become a national star! I’m aiming to become the best in Japan!

That’s the spirit! Ev3ns will only get more and more popular from now on! Speaking of, my partner has also fallen head over heels for Tao-kun~

FR!? I gotta tell Tao when I get back.

……

Hey, Big Sis. You… can’t send your wedding pics to Dad, can you?

……!

I bet even you don’t know Dad’s contact info.

Yeah… Sorry for making you fuss over me like this.

No worries! I was just curious!

(I typically don’t think about Dad at all… But I thought he might want to hear about his daughter’s marriage. I guess I was just being greedy.)

How much… do you remember about Dad, Chii-chan?

Ummm…

Sorry, I actually don’t remember anything.

I see…

You know… The truth is, he wasn’t that bad. I think. At least not as bad as Mom makes him sound.

……!

He had the same kind eyes you do.

Really…?

(I’m still not sure if I want to meet Dad after Ev3ns becomes famous…)

(I wonder if he’ll find me? Like how Tao wishes his little brother would find him…)

For now, I gotta do my best as an idol and an influencer. I wanna make sure Towa-chan goes on a school trip, too!

Mhmm… But Chii-chan, you don’t have to send Mom money anymore. She’s got a job and can cover her living expenses, after all.

Huh…? No, but… we’re connected by blood, so I can’t just ignore her, y’know…

Connected by blood, huh…?

Big Sis…?

Oh, it’s nothing. Anyways! She’ll just indulge herself if you send her money, so if you do send her money, make sure she sends back a detailed statement!

Ahaha… Rightie, guess I’ll consult Nayuuki on this one.

(I gotta start changing myself when it comes to things like that, too…)

I’m hooome… Hm? Wazzat?

Uhhh, I’ve kinda just ignored it up till now, so I’m not sure what to post…

Small, simple things from your everyday life would be fine. I’m sure the fans would love those.

Heya, Nayuuki, Taotao~ What’re you up to? Why are you standing around in the dining room?

Oh, good work today, Natsuyaki-kun.

I’m actually giving Kinouchi-kun some advice on how to use his social media account.

FR!? You wanna learn how to use social media, Tao!?

Well… This tour made me realize I’ve got to work harder too. Work harder and increase my exposure, so that anyone will find me.

……!

I think that’s awesome! I think lots of fans will be happy to see what you’re up to in your daily life!

But still, my daily life’s just video games…

I believe your fans would be happy if you were to post gameplay videos as well. It’d also let them know you’re still active.

Why not just make a streaming account?

Stimming? Uh, what’s that again? I hear about it all the time, but I’ve got no idea.

They’re people who upload vids and broadcast themselves playing games with commentary! You’d go viral with your skills!

That does sound good. I’m certain Kinouchi-kun would become quite the topic if he were to become a professional gamer alongside his idol activities.

Huh… A professional gamer!?

You’ve got this as long as you’ve got the results to back it up! Lots of pro teams aĺlow their members to have another job on the side.

I’ve only heard about it in passing, but there are professional gamers that earn billions of yen, I believe.

Taiki…

Hm…?

Oh! I mean–! My little brother once told me I’d be making millions if my job was to play games…

……!

You’ve just gotta make this dream come true then, don’t you!?

Billions, huh… No. Gotta make the account first, I can start daydreaming later…

Oh, it’s from Big Sis. I’m going back to our room, but I’ll support you regardless of what you wanna do, Tao!

If you’ve decided on this, I can help you set up your account. Also, I will need to know your emergency password for management purposes.

Oh, yes. But still, making money from gaming… That sure sounds weird.

Really? It’s a pretty common profession…

Huh, ah, no! I mean—for me! It sounds weird for me to be doing it… Haha.

……

Oh, Manager. What is it? Please say something if you’re just going to stand there.

Hm? Nah, I came here to grab a drink, but it sounded like y’all were talking about something serious.

Kinouchi-kun, we can decide on the details for your account tomorrow. If you’ve got any kind of expectations in mind, please note them all down.

A professional gamer… Who’d have thought this career path existed for real…

Oi, Kinouchi.

Huh? Ah, Iwabuchi-san. Is something wrong?

……

……?

So, what’s your registration number in the Organization? How many zeroes? Is it in the thousands? Ten thousands?

Uh? Organization? Registration number…?

……

Nah, it’s nothin’. Prolly drank too much. Man, I’m gonna need me a hair of the dog after this~

…? What was that all about?

(That reminds me, Yunyun-san asked me something strange a while back too. …If there was a place I want to go back to.¹)

Could it be…

Ahaha, Oda-san liked the pic too. I’m suuuper glad.

(I heard the sample pics for the platonic wedding photo plan popped off and were booked quickly too… I think it’s safe to say this time was a great success.)

(But… Hearing about that wouldn’t make Mom happy, huh.)

(I really don’t wanna think that bringing everyone together didn’t have a happy ending…)

(Although my heart hurts from facing that fact, I’ve got no choice but to move forward…)

(Even if that wound never heals.)

Facing my feelings, huh— Oh… Komupi.

(That reminds me… They added DM searching, didn’t they…?)

(I can search for the DMs from Komu-kun that I didn’t read.)

……

(I should just try searching for now. Komu-kun’s account name was simple, so I still remember it…)

I got one result…

……

(Oh, come on, I’m the gal-minded Chihiro Natsuyaki, who smiles and throws out a peace sign no matter what…!)

Here goes!

……

…Huh!?

“sorry, i saw a panda while filming ;_;”

Heh…

Pfft… Ahaha…!

Don’t scare me like that, Komupi…! I mean, Chii saw pandas too…~

(He mentioned this is his third collab in Wakayama… He might’ve sent this during the first one.)

……

(The past can’t be changed. That’s why, I might not be able to reply to this DM now, but…)

(If I get a little stronger… If I can finally think of only my happiness…)

Guess I’ll send Komupi a DM…

(I’ll be able to change the future. Right, God…?)