I hope Shizuku's doing okay...

She took today off too saying she needed more time to think....

I'm sure she's having a hard time making a decision. We should wait a little longer for her to find her answer.

...

(Protecting the image that others expect of her...)

Is something wrong, Airi?

Huh? Oh, sorry...

I was just thinking that I sort of understand how Shizuku feels.

Huh?

When I was part of QT, the only job offers I would get were for variety shows.

The Airi Momoi that appeared on variety shows always wore a confident smile and never missed the opportunity for a clever quip no matter what anyone said to her.

After a while, the public started seeing me as nothing more than that girl from those shows...

Eventually, random people started saying things to me when I was just going about my own business, expecting me to have a good comeback or laugh it off...

I didn't know...

A person's image can be a powerful thing.

Well, in my case, the hardest part was having the agency and my fans expecting me to be Variety Show Airi Momoi...

It was pretty tough being told nobody wanted to see Airi Momoi the idol...

Airi...

I quit being an idol because I didn't like that version of myself.

But I always wondered afterwards whether or not I made the right decision...

By quitting like that, I most likely disappointed the people who liked the girl on those variety shows as well as the girl trying to be an idol.

I keep thinking that I wasn't considerate enough to my fans when I made that decision.

It's not easy to live up to others' expectations...

In my case, I was actually pretty good at playing the part they wanted me to. I sort of enjoyed all the stunts and conversations I was a part of...

But Shizuku... Her true personality is really different from the idol persona that was created for her, so her problem is a lot more serious.

...

The Shizuku from Cheerful*Days had a mysterious quality about her, but was so great at singing and dancing.

She felt like someone who was far out of anyone's reach, and it was always so wonderful seeing her like that...

But... I think I like Shizuku as she is now more.

Minori...

The way she struggles with electronics, how she can be clumsy or forgetful, her drive to always try her absolute hardest...

I think all the things about the real Shizuku that we never got to see on TV are wonderful too.

If only the fans got to know her better, I'm sure they'd fall in love with her more and more as well.

Hehe.

Huh? Did I say something weird?

No, I was just thinking that Shizuku would probably be happy to hear you say that.

Minori, one of the best things about you is the fact you genuinely mean what you say.

It's not like you embellish your words either.
You just have a natural talent for cheering others up.

Th-That's too much praise...!

It would be great if more people felt the same way you do, wouldn't it?

Yes! Exactly!

If only there was a way to show the fans all of her charms! Maybe we could do a livestream to...!

Minori, stop right there!

Huh?

While I agree that the idea of doing a stream to help emphasize Shizuku's charms is a good one...

We have to wait for Shizuku to find her own answer first.

Her answer...

Haruka's right. Whether she protects her image from when she was with Cheerful*Days or chooses to show everyone who she is now...

Shizuku is the one who has to make that decision, not us.

Yeah... I guess you're right...

But... It doesn't feel right to just sit around!
I want to do everything I can to help her!

Isn't there anything we can do before she finds her answer?

You're right. What do you say we start preparing what we can for whichever path Shizuku ultimately chooses?

Yeah!

Yeah.
...