Apparently so! Though I don't recall ever seeing him in the audience. Most of our lives were closed to Yumenosaki students, so it wouldn't make sense for him to be there. But if anyone can infiltrate rival schools, it's him, I suppose. Or maybe he sent spies to watch us on his behalf.
[All completely normal things to do in the world of idols. If you're Ibara, that is.
Anyway, that's all he'll say about his time at Yumenosaki for now. He'd rather not go into detail about what ex-fine's performances were like. Just like the rest of Eden, he prefers NOT to talk about the past and any unpleasantness that may have taken place there.
But perhaps he is glad Jun talked to him about his. The fact Jun felt comfortable enough to do that shows trust, and it speaks volumes about the intimacy between them. Real intimacy—not the House's fake version.
It's something they've all built in Eden. He's the one who's closest to Jun-kun, of course. But Jun-kun is friends with Ibara, and even he and Nagisa-kun seem to be getting along well nowadays. Hiyori laughs to himself as Jun bashfully shrugs off the part about Kohaku—who, by the way, is another example of someone Jun's forged a bond with. Someone Jun tries to look out for. How sweet, he'd thought back at the hotel. Jun really has grown a lot.
But he isn't done talking about the past yet, apparently. Reminiscing some more on the early days of their partnership, Jun tells him how he awkward he felt at first, which causes Hiyori to chime in agreement:]
Yep, it was super obvious you were uncomfortable! So I thought the last thing we needed was for you to call me "senpai," all stiff and formal-like. Though I hadn't expected you to give me a nickname like that...
[A pun on his name, and one that means "princess." They've had that conservation before. But then Jun's next words make him pause, rather than continue talking about the nickname.
His smile turns a little lopsided. "I was afraid you'd throw me out," Jun says. And his instinctive response, of course, is to ask "Whatever made you think that?" But he doesn't ask that. Because it's not like he doesn't know. Jun just gave him plenty of solid reasons for why he might have been trained to expect the worst, and why he might suffer from low self-esteem.
And it's not like Hiyori did much to convey the message that he wouldn't throw Jun away. On the contrary, didn't he used to joke that he would do that if Jun displeased him?
His lips thin out, teeth sinking into his lower one. He'd like to explain that it was just a joke, one he gave up once it became clear enough that he never really meant it to start with. But that hardly seems adequate, especially after what Jun just shared.
Jun at least doesn't linger on that idea. Quite the opposite—he goes on to apologize for not being "educated," to thank Hiyori for bringing him into the light. Which means Hiyori doesn't have to address that part of their past. Something like an apology would feel out-of-place anyway. Or so he thinks, but is that just a convenient excuse he's telling himself...?
There's a conspicuous moment of silence before he finally responds.]
... You're welcome.
[He moves the unused notebook off his lap and sets it on the table. His tea will get cold at this rate. But he doesn't pick that up yet, either.]
Though you don't have to apologize for the holes in your upbringing. That wasn't your fault, just as Nagisa-kun's unfortunate upbringing wasn't his fault.
[Raised in an empty room, raised in a broken household, raised in an orphanage and then a military facility. None of the other members had normal childhoods. It's not their fault they turned out rough around the edges. But what exactly is his excuse for turning out much the same?
The answer to that is simple, he figures. Everyone gets tainted by the world around them. Nagisa, Jun, Ibara, even him. There's no use endlessly berating themselves for it. He'd rather they all loved themselves. And it's with that thought in mind that he looks Jun in the eye and smiles, properly this time.]
But I'll gladly accept Jun-kun's thanks, anyway. Just as long as Jun-kun accepts my thanks for being such a good partner.
[A short pause, and then the corners of his lips tick further upward.]
And for putting up with my personality. Especially back in those days.
no subject
[All completely normal things to do in the world of idols. If you're Ibara, that is.
Anyway, that's all he'll say about his time at Yumenosaki for now. He'd rather not go into detail about what ex-fine's performances were like. Just like the rest of Eden, he prefers NOT to talk about the past and any unpleasantness that may have taken place there.
But perhaps he is glad Jun talked to him about his. The fact Jun felt comfortable enough to do that shows trust, and it speaks volumes about the intimacy between them. Real intimacy—not the House's fake version.
It's something they've all built in Eden. He's the one who's closest to Jun-kun, of course. But Jun-kun is friends with Ibara, and even he and Nagisa-kun seem to be getting along well nowadays. Hiyori laughs to himself as Jun bashfully shrugs off the part about Kohaku—who, by the way, is another example of someone Jun's forged a bond with. Someone Jun tries to look out for. How sweet, he'd thought back at the hotel. Jun really has grown a lot.
But he isn't done talking about the past yet, apparently. Reminiscing some more on the early days of their partnership, Jun tells him how he awkward he felt at first, which causes Hiyori to chime in agreement:]
Yep, it was super obvious you were uncomfortable! So I thought the last thing we needed was for you to call me "senpai," all stiff and formal-like. Though I hadn't expected you to give me a nickname like that...
[A pun on his name, and one that means "princess." They've had that conservation before. But then Jun's next words make him pause, rather than continue talking about the nickname.
His smile turns a little lopsided. "I was afraid you'd throw me out," Jun says. And his instinctive response, of course, is to ask "Whatever made you think that?" But he doesn't ask that. Because it's not like he doesn't know. Jun just gave him plenty of solid reasons for why he might have been trained to expect the worst, and why he might suffer from low self-esteem.
And it's not like Hiyori did much to convey the message that he wouldn't throw Jun away. On the contrary, didn't he used to joke that he would do that if Jun displeased him?
His lips thin out, teeth sinking into his lower one. He'd like to explain that it was just a joke, one he gave up once it became clear enough that he never really meant it to start with. But that hardly seems adequate, especially after what Jun just shared.
Jun at least doesn't linger on that idea. Quite the opposite—he goes on to apologize for not being "educated," to thank Hiyori for bringing him into the light. Which means Hiyori doesn't have to address that part of their past. Something like an apology would feel out-of-place anyway. Or so he thinks, but is that just a convenient excuse he's telling himself...?
There's a conspicuous moment of silence before he finally responds.]
... You're welcome.
[He moves the unused notebook off his lap and sets it on the table. His tea will get cold at this rate. But he doesn't pick that up yet, either.]
Though you don't have to apologize for the holes in your upbringing. That wasn't your fault, just as Nagisa-kun's unfortunate upbringing wasn't his fault.
[Raised in an empty room, raised in a broken household, raised in an orphanage and then a military facility. None of the other members had normal childhoods. It's not their fault they turned out rough around the edges. But what exactly is his excuse for turning out much the same?
The answer to that is simple, he figures. Everyone gets tainted by the world around them. Nagisa, Jun, Ibara, even him. There's no use endlessly berating themselves for it. He'd rather they all loved themselves. And it's with that thought in mind that he looks Jun in the eye and smiles, properly this time.]
But I'll gladly accept Jun-kun's thanks, anyway. Just as long as Jun-kun accepts my thanks for being such a good partner.
[A short pause, and then the corners of his lips tick further upward.]
And for putting up with my personality. Especially back in those days.