PHASE 69 - SHE JUST GAVE OUT MY DEAREST SECRET

Dradecim Festival lasts for two days and the subsequent days are Saturday and Sunday, so we have four free days. For the duration of this vacation, the Idol Club will have a Mall Tour in various cities.

And because I’m the Lucky Guy, I will be accompanying these noisy girls together with their photographer and driver, Macho Steel. So to put it all, there are only two of us guys compared to twelve girls. At least Macho Steel have some interest in video games, so we have some topics we can talk about. It’s not that awkward and boring, but it still is.

So right now, we’re inside a running van which is bursting with loud music. They even mixed their group acapella with it. I respect their love for music and appreciate their voices, but you’ll get tired of it after hearing the songs loop five times. If only I hadn’t made the promise to Tiara, I wouldn’t bother joining them in this waste-of-time mall tour.

“You’ll get used to it.” Macho Steel smiled at me. But that didn’t erase the frown on my face.

“First off, on our own city! Dradecim Mall!” The leader of the Idol Club shouted.

Since this is the special day of Dradecim City, there are lots of people in the mall. Most of our classmates and schoolmates attended and supported the club’s show.

While me… I just stayed in the backstage, playing on my phone until their show on this place got finished. Excuse me, I’m not a sheep.

When we were back in the van, some of the Idol Club members protested at me. “Hey, why didn’t you watch our gorgeous performance? You’re such an arrogant killjoy! You know that Tiara is looking for your support!”

“I-I’m n-not!” Tiara shrieked in denial. She’s just a background voice so we ignored her.

“Just because you’re entitled to give free opinions doesn’t mean that I give a crap about it,” I said lazily as I gaze the buildings pass by.

“So stingy!” The Idol answered.

“Oh, I know!” The Idol Club leader Awane had a lightbulb on her head. “Since Macho Steel is busy taking our photographs, I will assign you to be our bodyguard so that you can participate!”

“Aren’t the mall securities enough? You guys aren’t that famous to be guarded like a celebrity…” I answered.

Suddenly, there was this baseball bat that locked my neck! And it’s covered with barbed wires! If I move even a single millimeter, my throat will be punctured by spikes! What a psycho!

“You’ll be our bodyguard, right?” Awane gave a cute chuckle, but her eyes contain no amiability.

“Y-Yes ma’am!” I answered. Finally, she withdrew the bat which made me free to make a deep sigh.

The Idol Club shifted her mood to a cheerful one as she shifted the topic. She shouted so that every girl will be pumped up!

“Next stop, Brynheim City Mall! Let’s go, Idol Club!”

<>

After two hours of travel time, we reached the Brynheim Mall. There are still a lot of fans in this city that made me swallow my statement about the Idol Club “not being famous enough.” They even prepared glamorous banners, and there are even die-hard supporters that wanted to shake hands with Tiara.

Forget the whole Idol Club. Tiara is the only one famous and the rest of the girls are just having a share of her glory. She has the best voice and has the most charming movements during a dance number. Nobody in this place can defeat that adorable bagel girl.

I took part as a security, so I witnessed all these amazing things once again. I heard her sing like an angel and dance like a fairy.

But I didn’t quite enjoy it because some girls are taking pictures of me. I know that I’m a heartthrob, but please, turn that flashes off! Geez!

When we were back in the van, most of the Idols are frustrated. They are all angrily staring at me.

“I can’t believe our security guard got more selfies from the fans! This is our mall tour, and not for him, darn it!” One of the girls said.

Well, I’m gonna tell you a brief story. The Drama Club and Idol Club have a rivalry last year because they launched their own events at the very same time. Idol Club occupied the school grounds, and the Drama Club performed in the school amphitheater. The Drama Club hired me to cast King Arthur, which magnetized all the girl audiences. During that time, Idol Club only had a small number of spectators. Their concert is like an ignored cake swarming with flies in the middle of the sewers.

“Well, Alaric is now on our side!” Awane said. “Once the Tialaric Love Team starts sailing, we can trample the Drama Club!”

There were a lot of mumbles, but all agree with Awane’s plan. They murmured something like “That’s a smart move, Awane-Senpai!” and “That’s a genius idea, turning their own weapon against their own!” These girls are talking as if I’m not here.

I exercised my right to remain silent because I heard some interesting conversation… Between Tiara and Awane.

“Hey Tiara, how is our Operation Tialaric doing? Did it make any progress?” Awane said.

“W-W-Why do you keep merging our names, M-Miss Awane!? W-We’re not lovers!”

Awane got ticked off, so she made a strong elbow straight to Tiara’s stomach! Tiara cried “Gah!” and tears are about to fall off from her eyes due to the excruciating pain.

“Yeah, keep denying that and you’ll be defeated by that tiny vixen Jeannette. She already stole the first kiss.”

“Auuuu…” Tiara made an adorable cry. These girls are certainly polluting her innocent mind!

“So, what base are you in?” Awane continued to interrogate.

“I-I don’t know w-what that ‘base’ t-thing is, b-but… So f-far I have only seen his t-treasure…” Tiara said shyly.

This is my time to cut the conversation! “You girls are gross, you know that!!!” I cried. “Shift to another topic! Don’t talk about me! Gossip about somebody else!!!”

But nobody seemed to care about my protest!

Most of the girls are now freaking curious! “What size?” , “Is it clean?” , “Does it have a helmet?” , “What does it look like?” Those were the questions that sprang to this dirty shrine maiden!

“W-Well…” Tiara is blushing as she bumped her index fingers in a shy manner. “I-It’s peeled, and a-about s-seven…”

“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!”

All the girls opened their mouths due to amazement.

I noticed that Macho Steel is having his eyes wet while being busy driving. Is he dramatically crying? Suddenly, he patted my shoulder.

“I envy you, Mister Eisenhower. You are quite gifted!”

W-What the heck!

That darn Tiara! She’s destroying my reputation! What can I do to avenge myself? Wait...I know!

I turned to Macho Steel and mustered all the courage I got to make a great revelation!

“Hey, Mr. Kent! Tiara evolved from D into E Cu- Aack!”

Just before I could finish my sentence, a slim hand grabbed me and locked my neck with a monstrous strength. It was Tiara!

“P-Please refrain from continuing this dirty topic, Rikkun!” Tiara cried.

“Ack! Kcck!!! Kcck!!!”

It’s all her fault for revealing such a critical secret! I wanted to say that but all I can reply is a pig noise because her arms are squeezing my windpipes! I tapped out, but she didn’t want to release her grip! My face is getting pale! I need oxygen!

“Enough with that banana talk!” Awane said. “We should focus on our next performance! Next is Linder City Mall, our last destination for this day!”

<>

Linder City… It is the place nearest to Brightmore Town, as Tiara once stated.

The Mall Tour continued smoothly, just what have planned. Nothing extraordinary at all. After the last mall tour of this day, the Idol Club will be staying in a budget hotel in the city proper. Unfortunately, we won’t be joining them during the night.

Because once the sun sets, Tiara and I will go to Brightmore Town.

And we will learn some answers with a price. A far greater price that we could ever imagine.