Vol 2 Chapter 16 – Is Nozomi Shiramine a Meathead Idol?

“Why the sudden confession?”

The surprise was stronger than the happiness I felt from having an idol confess to me.

“Huh?! What was that?! You’re too far away, I can’t hear you at all!”

Since Shiramine was holding a microphone, her voice echoed throughout the entire gymnasium.

Actually, maybe because she’s shouting, she’s incredibly loud.

“I said! Why did you suddenly confess to me?! This is the first time we’ve met, right?!”

I yelled back at Shiramine.

“Wait! I still can’t hear you well, so I’m coming over there right now!”

Shiramine descended from the stage and started heading toward me at the far end of the gym.

And then, she was standing right in front of me.

I got a look at Shiramine up close.

She was a beautiful girl with long, silky black hair and sharp facial features.

She was about average height, but with her slender frame, she had a great figure.

Standing before me, Shiramine placed the hand that wasn’t holding the mic on her chest and caught her breath.

She had run from one end of the gym to the other; it was no wonder she was out of breath.

“Hah, hah. Sorry to keep you waiting, Yuuma-kun! So, are you going to give me your answer?”

Once she’d caught her breath, Shiramine looked at me with a sharp expression.

No, on closer look, she’s acting composed, but her cheeks are red and her hands and feet are trembling.

She was clearly nervous.

“Um… this is the first time we’ve met, right…?”

“Hmm, well, it’s our first time talking like this, but calling it our ‘first meeting’ is a little different, maybe? I’ve known about you for a while, Yuuma-kun, and the whole reason I came to this academy is because I want to become your bride.”

Shiramine spoke with a bright, beaming smile.

“Aren’t idols, like, banned from dating?”

“Mmm, I don’t think there’s really a rule like that? And even if there were, it wouldn’t matter, you know? If it means I can date you, Yuuma-kun, I’ll totally quit being an idol!”

With an unclouded smile, Shiramine declared she would quit being an idol.

She’s got some serious destructive power. Is this an idol’s smile?… Though what she’s saying is completely unbecoming of an idol…

“No, no, it’d be a waste to quit! You’re amazing at singing and dancing.”

“I’d hate giving up on you more, Yuuma-kun… hey! Are you trying to dodge my question? No way! You have to answer me properly! By the way, please answer with either ‘Yes’ or ‘YES’!”

Shiramine pressured me with a smile.

“Hey, those both mean the same thing!”

“Jeez, you’re so nitpicky, Yuuma-kun!”

“You’re not giving me any way out! You’ve already decided that we’re dating!”

“Yep, that’s right! Even if you turn me down, I’ll just keep confessing until you agree, so you can’t escape a future with me!”

“Is that what you call a confession? It sounds more like a threat!”

“Hmm, well then, since us dating is a sure thing… marry me!”

“Marriage?! Don’t say that so casually…”

It’s true that I have to get sixty brides, but… this is all so sudden, I can’t make a decision.

Shiramine is insanely cute. And since she’s an active idol, you can really feel her aura.

In fact, I was completely captivated watching her sing.

And there’s a part of me that’s happy she confessed.

“It’s not casual at all, you know? For me, it was love at first sight, too… but I wanted to know more about you, Yuuma-kun, so I looked into you a ton! And after learning all about you, I decided I wanted to marry you! I love you enough to quit being an idol, which was my whole reason for living! Besides… everyone in this Special District wants to marry you, Yuuma-kun… If I’m not aggressive, someone else will snatch you up… I mean, only sixty of us get to be chosen! With 60,000 rivals… I can’t afford to be picky about my methods!”

“O-Oh, I see…”

Faced with Shiramine’s desperate plea, all I could do was nod.

“If you get it, then I’d like your answer… Yuuma-kun♡.”

And so, Shiramine pressed me for a reply.

“Ah, umm. Well… can’t we start with being friends first?”

Being a total rookie at romance, I pathetically failed to accept her confession.

“…No! I won’t allow it unless we’re starting as bride and groom or husband and wife!”

I thought she might cry or get sad, but Shiramine’s mental fortitude was made of steel.

She wouldn’t forgive such a pathetic answer from me.

“No, no, friends is fine, isn’t it?! Let’s at least wait until we know each other a little better!”

“Absolutely not! I can’t afford to take things that slow! Or… do you hate me, Yuuma-kun?…”

Shiramine stared at me, her eyes welling up and glistening.

A woman’s tears at a time like this is a dirty trick!

Seeing those tears, my heart wavered.

Shiramine is cute… and she has a really bright personality; it seems like it would be fun to be with her.

Right now, I can’t find a single reason to turn her down.

Well, in the first place, there probably isn’t a guy alive who would be unhappy about a beautiful girl confessing to him…

Though I have no idea what the common sense for guys in this world is.

“I don’t hate you! In fact, you’ve made a great impression on me!”

“Really?! Yes! I’m so happy, Yuuma-kun!”

Shiramine’s face lit up with a joyful expression as she said that.

And then, she threw her arms around me with force.

“Gah!”

The point of impact was a little off, bruising my lung.

But a soft sensation and sweet scent washed over me, making me forget the damage.

Shiramine’s hair tickled my cheek.

She smells so good, and this actually feels kind of nice.

Oh no, my heart’s starting to pound like crazy… At this rate, it’s going to burst!!

I was frozen solid in her embrace.

“Jeez, you’re so cute, Yuuma-kun♡.”

Saying that, Shiramine squeezed even tighter, nuzzling her head against me as she held on.

“Ugh… Hey, Shiramine? Don’t you think you’re hugging a little too tight? Could you loosen up a bi—”

I managed to choke out the words.

“…I’m just so happy, you know… This was my first time ever confessing to someone! I was nervous, but more than that, I’m just so happy and excited and dizzy right now! Because it means I can marry you, Yuuma-kun!”

“Wait! Not only are you not listening to me, could you please stop twisting my words?! All I said was that you made a good impression on me! Also, why are you squeezing tighter and tighter?! …Gck!”

Shiramine hugged me with even more force.

That strength isn’t normal… It feels like I’m slowly being crushed by a vise.

Is this really a girl’s strength?!

I struggled desperately, but she didn’t budge an inch… This definitely isn’t human strength!

Is Shiramine a psychopath, smiling while she’s hurting the person she supposedly likes so much?!

“Honestly, Yuuma-kun, getting all shy. You’re just so cute.”

She’s not listening to me at all!… I’ll never forgive this woman!!

“Hey, Shiramine? Seriously, let go already! Please, let go!”

“You really are a shy one, Yuuma-kun. I didn’t know you had this cute side to you. I feel like I just got a special bonus.”

Shiramine was smiling.

…This girl, she’s doing this on purpose!!

I was sure of it. Shiramine was going to keep squeezing until I said I’d marry her!

What kind of meathead proposal is this!

“Shiramine… I was wrong, just please, let me go…”

“Ehh, what should I dooo?”

Shiramine put on a malicious expression.

“It really hurts! For real, let go… I’m gonna die!”

“…I see, it hurts… Okay, I get it. But this is your fault, you know? For trying to turn down my confession-slash-proposal… If I let you go, will you marry me?”

“Yes, yes! I will, so just let go!”

With not a second to spare, I had no choice but to answer immediately.

“Yay!! Then it’s a promise, okay? We’re getting married! No take-backs now, you hear?”

“I get it already!”

I gave a weak nod.

A huge smile spread across Shiramine’s face.

And then—

“Okay, very good!”

With those words, she finally released me.

The moment I was free, I collapsed right where I stood.

“I’m sorry, Yuuma-kun! I guess I went a little too far… I’ll make it up to you with lots of head pats♡.”

Shiramine apologized with a regretful look on her face.

Yeah, well if you’re going to apologize, I wish you hadn’t done it in the first place… I seriously thought I was going to die… The whiplash from the carrot and stick was so intense, I was about to get PTSD!

“Hah! Hah! I thought I was a dead man…”

“Oh, stop being so dramatic, Yuuma-kun~ But even that part of you is cute, and I love it! Darling!”

Saying that, Shiramine moved to hug me again.

“Eek! Wha-?! Stop it!?”

“Ahahaha, I’m not going to do it again, promise! But… you have to keep your promise to marry me. If you don’t… I might just have to hug you again♡.”

Shiramine was smiling, but there was no light in her eyes, and a fear so intense it was bone-chilling ran down my spine.

“Y-Yes, ma’am!”

Overwhelmed by how terrifying Shiramine was, I couldn’t help but agree. So I’m the type to be completely dominated, huh…

“Good! Now that I have your word, I guess we’re all set? It doesn’t look like you brought a ring today, so make sure you get one for me by tomorrow! My Darling♡.”

“Yes… I understand. My Honey…”

And that is how my first bride was decided: the top idol, Nozomi Shiramine.

Brides remaining:『59』