I wasn't expecting the place to be so crowded that we'd be asked to share a table.

Ugh... Why do I have to start off the new year by eating pancakes with you?

If you don't wanna stay, then you're free to leave. I'll have the ones you ordered.

What? I am not leaving.
I've also been looking forward to having them.

Thank you for your patience.
I have three plates of our limited pancakes, and the toasted sandwich drink set.

Thank you. I ordered the sandwich set.
The pancakes are for these three.

Wow, these look amazing...!

Talk about photogenic! They clearly put a lot of effort into these toppings, and they're so colorful!

There's apparently white bean paste inside the pancakes. I'm really looking forward to this!

I see... So this is how they're making these pancakes look like kagami mochi...

Hehe. First, I'm gonna take some pics...

You're taking more pictures...?

Anyway...
I'm gonna have these while they're still hot.

So, let's eat.

(These are good...)

(I thought it'd be a lot sweeter since they covered this whole thing in white chocolate, but the fruit's acidity is doing a good job of balancing it out.)

(I definitely wouldn't mind getting more.)

You seem to like them very much.

Hm?
Yeah, I do.

You get the pictures you wanted, Ena?

Yeah!
Check it out. Don't they look amazing?

Yeah, they do!
These look better on your screen than they do in real life!

I know you're good at taking selfies, but you've become such a great photographer. I might have you take pictures of me sometime.

No problem! I feel like I know how to make you look the cutest, Airi!

Hehe. Then, I'll be looking forward to our shoot!

(Those two really are close.)

(But it still feels kinda weird that Ena has such a good friend.)

(As far as I know, Momoi's had Ena's best interests at heart ever since they first met.)

(Not only do they hang out like this, she's always been there to listen and cheer Ena up.)

(Including that time...)

Hey, how long do you plan on staying cooped up in there?

You can always try talking to Dad again about your future. For now, you should at least have something to eat...

Shut up! This has nothing to do with you!

Nothing to do with me? Do you know how worried Mom is about you right now...?!

I said stop talking!
Just go away!!

...

*Sigh*

Seriously, how long do I have to keep putting up with this...?

(Yeah, I get that she's mad at Dad for what he said about her future as an artist...)

(But she has to know that she can't keep sulking forever.)

(She's been leaving her art crap out in the hallway lately, and any time anyone tries to talk to her she starts throwing things.)

(I should probably just wash my hands of the whole thing.)

(Not like she's going to listen to anything I—)

Oh...! Akito!

Huh?

Momoi...?
What are you doing here?

Oh, so... I've actually been looking for you, Akito. There's something I'd like to discuss with you...

Sorry, I know this is really sudden.
But Ena told me a little while back that you like to hang out in this area.

I see..

So, what is it that you'd like to discuss...?

Yeah, so...

How's Ena doing...?

What?

She's just been kind of weird lately.

I haven't been able to talk to her much lately because of work, and she clams up whenever I ask if something's wrong.

Which is why I was hoping that you could tell me more, Akito.

I know I should wait until she's ready to tell me... But I'm worried about her...

Oh, I see...

So, is she okay?

...

Not exactly... Some stuff happened with our folks, and she's been kind of a mess ever since...

Your parents?

Wait a second... Did she get into a fight with your dad about her future?

She's been acting strange ever since we got those surveys regarding our plans for the future... So I figured that was probably it.

...

I'm sorry...
I know I'm being really nosy.

Hey, Akito...

Can you do me just one favor?

A favor?

Yes. I know this is asking a lot of you, and this is going to sound really weird.

But...

I want you to keep an eye on Ena for me.

Ena won't tell me anything.

Every single time I ask her about what happened between her and your guys' dad, she just says, “Nothing...”

Or even, “You made your dream come true, Airi, so you keep going...”

...

Ena was a huge part of me becoming an idol, but I haven't been able to give back at all. It feels like I haven't been there for her...

I know this might not sound right coming from me but...

I don't have anyone else that I can rely on like that... I don't think Ena does either...

So please... I need you to look after her...

...

Why do you care about her so much, Momoi?

What?

You're an idol. You're someone special.

So, why are you hanging out with someone as selfish as her...?

Because she's my best friend, and I owe her a lot.

You owe her?

Yeah.

Like I mentioned, she helped me get closer to my dream.

When I appeared on this one variety show a little while back, one of my classmates decided to make fun of me.

That was when Ena stepped in to help me.

It's not like they said anything that terribly mean.

But I was relieved to find out that others out there were willing to stand up for me.

Even now...
She's stuck between a rock and a hard place herself, but she told me to keep doing my best as an idol.

She's been a huge source of support...

She's helped me so much until now.
So, I can't just stand idly by while she suffers.

She really did those things...?

(She owes Ena this...)

(I sort of get what Momoi's trying to say...
Also...)

(She cares this much about Ena's well-being.)

(Which means...)

(I shouldn't be so quick to abandon her.)

(Compared to back then, Ena's like a different person now.)

(To be fair, making music as a group with Akiyama and the others has played a big role...)

(But so has Momoi.)

(And it seems like Momoi's been staying in regular contact with her...)

(Come to think of it, I haven't had a chance to talk to her about what happened back then.)

(I should try to thank her the next chance I get.)