Never Love Me

Thanks for watching, everyone!

Today’s show was so good! We should go and see them tomorrow too!

Hah-hah-hah… This is actually my fifth Ev3ns show in a row.

Seriously? What are you, like, a stalker? We need to find out where they’re performing tomorrow!

They post hints on their Spinet account!

Tch. Why are they still around?

Hmph. I can’t believe people are crazy enough to stan them.

Our gig today went so well! ♪ We should have a drink to celebrate.

Only one drink? And nyuszi, this is juice. That’s not enough to quench my thirst.

There are more fans who have been following us from show to show lately.

I just need to upload a picture hinting towards the next gig location… Alright, have at it, investigation team.

Nayuuki, Chiefy, a whole lotta people are talking about Ev3ns on my personal social media accounts too. ♪ You guys wanna hear some comments?

“I know they’re criminals, but they’re so talented that you have to stan them,” “I actually really like how they don’t hide their dark pasts!” These are, like, so good!

The group has its own social media accounts, doesn’t it?

You have accounts on Spinet and dazzle… All the usual sites. Nayuki-kun usually manages them.

I looked us up, and lots of people are talking about us. You should all take a look. It’s really important to know what people think about us.

In that case, I could compile everything and give you some feedback based on it. It’s not completely safe for you to search on your own.

I can do it, Nayuki-kun. You’re already really busy, after all.

No, it’s okay. I want you to start working with the Evening Team’s leader to come up with the concept for their first tour.

Ah, you’re right! I forgot about that…!

Our concept? We’re going to be working on that together, Chief?

Master, please allow me to collect the relevant information for feedback. Data management is my specialty.

Huh? It’s okay, you’re a member, so you don’t have to…

I would like a new order from Master. Following Master’s orders is my purpose.

Master, your order, please.

W-Well, if you insist… Sure, go ahead!

…Order accepted.

(It’s not good for an idol to egosurf too much, but…)

I guess Kinyari could…handle it…

I see, so the Morning Team and the Noon Team both tended to their guests during their tours and capped them off with a concert.

Our tour concept… It’ll reflect on our idol careers, so we should think carefully about it.

Here are the documents for the Morning Team and Noon Team tours. The Evening Team tour is still a ways away, so we can take our time planning it.

Since Ev3ns is an idol group, I think a good place to start is to make the tour be a reflection of what it means to be idols.

Is there anything you want added to the tour in particular?

Well… I’d be fine with anything, as long as the guests enjoy it.

You can just blurt out anything that comes to mind!

Something interesting, something fun, something intriguing… I can really only think of things that align with my own interests.

That’s not a bad thing. It’s important for the tour has a lot of value to you as well.

Value…to me?

Yep! If the tour concept is something that you personally enjoy, I’m sure the tour itself will turn out great.

…You’re a very kind person, Chief.

Huh?!

Even though you know about my circumstances, you’re still treating me the same way. I’m quite fond of you.

Y-You’re what…?!

(I know he doesn’t mean anything crazy by that, but…he’s so charming that getting hit with that out of the blue is leaving me kinda flustered.)

……

Ah, here’s my report for this week, by the way.

Oh, thank you.

……

(I kind of wanna ask Raito-san what he meant with that part of his last report, but…)

It’s already lunchtime. Would you like to go buy something from the bento shop with me?

Oh, yeah, that sounds great! Let’s go!

(He’s feeling good about coming up with the tour concept…)

(So maybe I shouldn’t bring up his death prophecy for now…)

All of these look delicious. But it looks like they…don’t have any ramen bentos.

Wow, you really like ramen, Raito-san! Oh, the makunouchi bentos here are really good. You should try it.

Sure, I’ll take your word for it.

Well, aren’t you two close? Are you on a date?

Huh?! No, no, not at all…

Oh, is that so? I’m so sorry, you two just seemed like a great match.

(Raito-san is way out of my league anyway…)

……

I’m glad they gave us some free tea too. Woah, this karaage is so good…

……

(Hm? I wonder why Raito-san’s spacing out like that.)

Uh… Are you not a fan of the makunouchi bento?

Hm? Oh, no, it’s great. You chose very well.

Oh, really? That’s good to hear!

……

(He got quiet again. Did something happen?)

…I have something I wanted to ask. I’m sorry if it sounds selfish.

Uh… That’s okay. What is it?

Could I ask you to refrain from harboring any romantic feelings for me?

Um… What…?

(W-Where did that come from?! Is it because the lady at the bento shop thought we were dating?!)

I like what we have now, so I don’t want you to expect that out of me.

(He looks serious… There must be a deeper reason for this.)

Um, can I ask why you feel this way?

As you know, since I’ve received a death prophecy, I’ve made it my goal to enjoy life as much as I can. But…

I’ve never been romantically interested in anyone.

My parents loved each other very much, so our family was built with love as its foundation.

I was taught that loving others and being loved in return was the greatest joy you could ever receive.

So I was always sure that I would meet the love of my life one day. In turn, I’ve tried to get into some serious relationships with people who have confessed their feelings to me.

But…they never worked out. I just never found it in myself to fall in love with anybody.

So relationships just…aren’t your thing?

That’s right. I decided to give up on that idea and enjoy everything else life has to offer.

But… Maybe this is conceited of me to say, but people often fall for me.

(That makes sense… He’s friendly to pretty much everyone.)

Elites tend to call me Mr. Right and tout me as an ideal future husband.

Yeah, you’ve been on the JPN Most Desirable Person list a few times…

It always hurts me when someone I’ve grown close to starts seeing me in a romantic light. I can’t accept their feelings, because I can’t return them.

Even if I did end up going out with them while maintaining a comfortable distance, things would end up falling apart because of the gap between our feelings.

I always felt guilty about it, thinking that it was my fault for not loving them. I don’t want that to happen to us.

Raito-san…

Well, at least I won’t be considered an ideal future husband anymore, since I have a criminal record! That makes me feel a bit better.

And I’m destined to die in just three years. It’s a shame that I’ll die without knowing love, but…it feels better to die without having a partner.

(He’s trying to stay positive about it, but it looks like it hurts him.)

(He’s usually really casual about his death, but he’s so serious about this…)

You don’t, um…have to fall in love to enjoy life. I’m not dating anyone, but I’m having lots of fun!

…You’re right. Thank you, Chief.

(I don’t feel like that really helped… I’m sure that Raito-san doesn’t mind since he’s a mature adult, but…)

(That’s still really tough… I think I finally understand why he said what he did in his last weekly report.)

(This is what he meant by…dying without knowing of love.)

*typing* Connecting to Spira Network. Entering search terms. Searching…

“Chihiro’s so good at dancing.” “Kuguri-san and Raito-san have such good stage presence.” “I really like Tao-kun’s boy-next-door vibe in his singing…”

“Why does Azekawa Kinari never smile? Is he a robot?” “He sounds like a VOICELOID¹ when he sings. It’s so boring.”

…So this is what others think of me.

As expected, I am still lacking something.