Aikatsu Era!

S1 E30: Golden☆Partners

Kiyoko Shibagaki 柴垣 きよこ

Hokkaidols' debut stage was spectacular!Their creamy pastel theme suits them very much. However, Kiniro☆Nadeshiko will soon show everyone our brilliance.

  But before that, I had to deal with Syurina. I don't know whether she's worried about the issue she caused with Yana due to me, but I'm not mad at her. It's been a long time since that happened.

One day after school, Yana and Sayako ran to me excitedly.

"Kiyoko-chan!" Yana began. "Our debut live was a hit! We were told that we'll be making our Hokkaido debut this weekend!"

  "We'll be going tomorrow morning though," Sayako noted. "I won't be going to my figure skating class today so that I can rest. An idol's life is really tiring, isn't it?"

  I nodded. "But I know you can do it! You two are so hardworking and motivated! Don't worry about it."

  Yana and Sayako glanced at each other in delight. I felt happy for them, but for some reason, I was also feeling lonely.

During dinner, the three of us ate together. A few minutes after we began eating, Syurina arrived.

"Syuri-chan!" I said cheerfully. "Welcome back!"

She smiled at me and began eating quietly. I wonder if anything was bothering her.

Syurina didn't talk for the whole dinner. Sayako, Yana and I looked at her in concern.

"You okay, Syurina?" Sayako asked.

Syurina nodded. "I'm tired from work. But I'm fine."

I returned to my room in slight irritation, squeezing my pillow. Syuri-chan seemed so off today, somewhat similar to Reyna-chan before her emotional breakdown.

As Sayako was packing her belongings for Hokkaido, I asked, "Do you think that Syurina-chan's a bit strange today?"

"She acts like that sometimes," my friend told me. "But I sense that something's going on. Why don't you ask her?"

I got up from my bed. "That's a great idea! And that reminds me, I was supposed to have a plan to help her. Arigato, Sayako-tan!"

My roommate sighed. "It's fine. Hopefully, she's alright."

I darted to Syurina's room and knocked on her door. As it opened, Syurina looked at me in confusion.

"Kiyoko-chan? What brings you here?"

I sat on the chair at Syurina's desk. Fidgeting, I said, "Hey, Syuri-chan, may I ask you a question?"

Syurina paused for a moment and nodded. "Do you think I'm acting strange lately?"

I didn't speak for a moment. When I did, I quickly told her, "Well... Yana-chan thinks you might be feeling guilty about that one moment we had this issue going on because I have eyes that look like Onii-chan's and that you might have hurt his feelings in the past so you are scared of me, you know what I mean? So I just wanted to ask if you're still, you know... bothered?"

Syurina's face reddened as she sat on her bed. "To be honest, I think about it sometimes. It's so ridiculous and I want to forget it, but because of this habit of hoarding my regrets, I can't."

My eyes were glued to the floor. I needed to help my friend.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" I asked her.

"I don't know," Syurina sighed. "But don't worry too much about me. I'm fine at the moment."

Pouting, I squeezed her face with my palms. "The last time Reyna-chan denied her feelings, she got a terrible emotional breakdown. I don't want that to happen to you too. So talk your feelings out."