Idol Reincarnation Academy: 765 Pro Assembles at School!
Shota Amagase, a first-year middle schooler who dreams of the entertainment world, is running late on the first day of the new semester. He bumps into a girl in uniform around the corner. With fluffy brown hair, she hurriedly apologizes. The next moment, Shota realizes: she looks exactly like the famous idol Haruka Amami. Actually, she IS her.
The truth: the idols of 765 Production have reincarnated as ordinary students at Nijigasaki Academy. Haruka, Chihaya, Yayoi, Iori, Azusa, Ritsuko, Yukiho
Idol Reincarnation Academy: 765 Pro Assembles at School! - Provisional Approval and the Shadow of the Thirteenth
The lunch bell echoed all the way down to the pit of Shouta's stomach.
He glanced up at the classroom clock. The long hand pointed at twelve, the short hand between eleven and twelve. Five more minutes until he had to go to the place where that man was waiting.
"…Alright."
Shouta shoved the envelope from his desk into the inner pocket of his uniform. Inside was the stage proposal Haruka had supposedly stayed up late finishing the night before. The round handwriting on the cover — "We want to sing together!" — looked almost painfully bright.
"Shouta-kun, are you ready?"
At some point, Haruka had appeared beside his desk. Her fluffy, light-brown semi-long hair caught the sunlight from the window and shimmered gold. Her big, round amber eyes looked straight up at him.
"Y-yeah. Are you okay, Haruka-san? Not nervous?"
"Not at all! If anything, I'm excited!"
Haruka clenched both hands in front of her chest and gave a tiny hop. Her smile had the power to force brightness into Shouta's perpetually cloudy heart, whether he wanted it or not.
(She's amazing, this girl.)
Shouta rose to his feet with a wry smile.
"Then let's go. The festival committee room is at the west end of the third floor, right?"
"Yep! Onigawara-sensei is a little scary, but… with you there, Shouta-kun, we'll be fine!"
Haruka grabbed his arm and held on tight.
Shouta's heart gave a single, hard thump.
(W-what is this? I'm the one who's nervous here.)
The two of them left the classroom and started down the hallway.
* * *
The door to the festival committee room looked heavy as iron.
Strictly speaking, it was just an ordinary wooden door. But the presence of the person waiting beyond it made Shouta's steps drag, just slightly.
"Onigawara Tesshin… sensei, huh."
Shouta muttered under his breath and glanced at Haruka beside him. Still clinging to his arm, she gave a small nod.
"It's okay. I'm right here with you."
Her voice trembled a little — as if she were trying to reassure herself as much as him.
Shouta knocked. Once, twice.
"Enter."
The voice that answered was low and flat.
Shouta pushed the door open.
The room was dim. The curtains were half-drawn, and the fluorescent light cast a weak glow over the desk.
Behind it, Onigawara Tesshin was flipping through documents.
Forty-five years old. The teacher in charge of the festival committee. His hair was streaked with white, his stubble thick. His deeply sculpted features might have been handsome once. But now deep wrinkles were carved into them, and his expression betrayed nothing at all.
"…What do you want?"
He didn't look up.
Shouta stepped forward.
"Um, I brought a proposal for the festival stage performance."
He pulled the envelope from his inner pocket and placed it on Onigawara's desk.
Onigawara slowly raised his head.
His eyes held a sharp light, as if they could see straight through to the bottom of Shouta's soul.
"…A stage performance?"
He picked up the envelope and skimmed its contents.
"Hmph. Amateurs playing idol."
He tossed the proposal back onto the desk.
Beside Shouta, Haruka's shoulders flinched.
"The festival stage has traditionally belonged to the third-years. Don't think a bunch of first-years can carve out a slot for themselves."
"B-but! We'll practice properly! We just want to deliver a song — all of us together!"
Haruka stepped forward.
Onigawara's cold gaze skewered her.
"Deliver a song? On this academy's stage? Don't make me laugh. What could any of you possibly do?"
Shouta saw Haruka's hand trembling, just slightly.
(Haruka-san…)
Something hot welled up inside him.
"Sensei."
Shouta looked Onigawara straight in the eye.
"We're serious. Haruka-san is genuinely talented. And there are plenty of others who want to sing, too. We want to build a stage together."
Onigawara stared at him.
A few seconds of silence.
"…What's your name?"
"Amagase Shouta."
The instant he answered, Onigawara's brow twitched — just barely.
Shouta didn't miss it.
(Just now… when he heard my name, did something shift?)
A cold sensation ran down his spine.
He didn't know why. But there was clearly something like observation mixed into Onigawara's gaze.
"…Provisional approval."
Onigawara pulled a form from his drawer and stamped it roughly.
"However, there will be a re-evaluation before the actual performance. If I judge that you haven't reached the required level, it's cancelled on the spot. Understood?"
"Th-thank you very much!"
Haruka's face lit up.
Shouta let out a breath of relief.
"…Excuse us."
He bowed and started to leave with Haruka.
That was when Onigawara murmured, low:
"Amagase… Shouta, huh."
Shouta didn't turn around.
But the inexplicable unease packed into those words stuck to the inside of his ears.
* * *
The moment they left the committee room, Shouta slumped against the wall.
"Haa… that was tense…"
"But we got provisional approval! Thanks to you, Shouta-kun!"
Haruka peered up into his face.
"No, it's because you bowed with everything you had, Haruka-san. I didn't do anything."
"That's not true! You were the one who said we want to build a stage together — that's why sensei gave in!"
She wrapped both hands around his.
His heart jumped again.
"U-um, Haruka-san. Your hands…"
"Huh? Oh — s-sorry!"
She let go instantly. Her cheeks were faintly pink.
Shouta's face was hot, too.
"…A-anyway, this."
He opened the performer roster Haruka had given him.
Name after name was lined up inside.
"Let's see… Amami Haruka, Takatsuki Yayoi, Minase Iori, Miura Azusa, Akizuki Ritsuko, Hagiwara Yukiho, Kikuchi Makoto, Futami Ami, Futami Mami, Shijou Takane, Ganaheru Hibiki, Hoshii Miki… and."
His finger stopped on the last name.
"Kisaragi Chihaya."
The moment he spoke it, a small pain pricked the back of his skull.
(Kisaragi Chihaya… I've heard that name somewhere. No — more than that…)
"There are thirteen of them?!"
He shouted, still staring at the roster.
"Yep! They all love to sing!"
She smiled happily.
"I want you to go around and greet each one of them, Shouta-kun. Their classes and contact info are on the list."
"Wait, me? All of them?"
"You're the producer! Go meet everyone and talk to them!"
Against her innocent smile, Shouta had no comeback.
(I can't say no… that's just my personality, isn't it.)
He clutched the roster and heaved a deep sigh.
* * *
After school.
Shouta walked the first-floor hallway where the first-year classrooms were lined up.
(Let's see, first is Takatsuki Yayoi-san. Class One, right?)
He stopped in front of Classroom One.
"Excuse me, is Takatsuki Yayoi-san here?"
A small girl chatting with friends in the corner of the room spun around.
"Yes! Yayoi here!"
The moment she saw his face, she shot toward him like a bullet.
"Onii-chan! I wanted to meet you!"
"Whoa?!"
She latched onto him.
Yayoi wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed tight.
(W-what is this?! We just met!)
"Y-Yayoi-san?! Let go for a second!"
"No! I finally got to see you, Onii-chan!"
She buried her face in his uniform.
Aware of the curious stares around them, Shouta turned bright red.
(S-someone help me…!)
* * *
After somehow prying Yayoi off, Shouta headed to Classroom Two.
"Is Minase Iori-san here?"
By the window, a girl with long black hair was gazing outside, looking thoroughly bored.
At the sound of his voice, she flicked her eyes toward him.
"…What?"
"Um, I'm Amagase Shouta. I came to greet you about the festival stage—"
Before he could finish, Iori stood up.
"I-it's not like I'm doing this for you! Don't get the wrong idea!"
"Huh? Y-yes?"
"I'll be on that stage. But only because I want to sing. Not because I want you to produce me!"
Face bright red, she pointed at him.
"…I-I see. Looking forward to working with you."
When he bowed, Iori turned away with a "hmph!"
(Somehow, I'm getting a really warm welcome…?)
* * *
Class Three.
"Is Miura Azusa-san here?"
At his call, a woman with a relaxed air who'd been reading at the back of the room looked up.
When she saw Shouta, she smiled softly.
"Oh my, so you're Shouta-kun. Haruka-chan told me about you."
She rose and walked over to him.
She was about a head taller than Shouta, her long black hair reaching her waist. Her mannerisms were somehow mature, with an allure unusual for a middle schooler.
"I've been looking forward to the festival stage. If I can be of help, let me lend a hand, okay?"
She gently took his hand.
"A-ah, yes! Likewise, please take care of me!"
He answered flustered, feeling the warmth of her hand.
(S-somehow, she really feels like a grown woman — my heart's racing…)
* * *
The next day.
Shouta used his lunch break to visit the remaining members.
Class Four.
"Is Akizuki Ritsuko-san here?"
"Oh, so you're the rumored producer?"
Sharp eyes behind glasses scrutinized him.
Akizuki Ritsuko crossed her arms and stood directly in front of him.
"I'll be collecting data on you. I'll determine for myself whether you can actually function as a producer."
"D-data?"
"Obviously. For a stage to succeed, analyzing the members' abilities and managing the schedule properly are essential."
She brandished the tablet in her hand, operating it as if to show off.
"I'll record your every action and statement. Don't do anything wasteful."
"R-right… I'll do my best."
Crushed by her pressure, he found himself slipping into formal speech.
* * *
Class Five.
"Is Hagiwara Yukiho-san here?"
"Eek?!"
A girl who'd been curled up small in the corner of the room jumped.
When she saw Shouta, Hagiwara Yukiho went pale and started fidgeting anxiously.
"I-I-I'm not worth… s-sorry! I'm sorry for being here!"
"Huh? Why are you apologizing?!"
"B-because I'm useless… and I'm terrible at singing…"
Tears welled in her eyes as she trembled.
"That's not true! You like singing, don't you, Yukiho-san? That's more than enough!"
He looked straight into her eyes.
Yukiho's head snapped up as if startled.
"…Really?"
"Yeah. Let's build a stage together."
At his smile, she gave a timid nod.
* * *
Class Six.
"Is Kikuchi Makoto-san here?"
"Yo! You're Shouta! Nice to meet ya!"
Kikuchi Makoto slapped him on the shoulder.
"Ow! …A-ah, nice to meet you too."
Makoto was a tomboyish girl. Short hair, an energetic grin. Her movements were as strong as a boy's.
"Let's make the festival stage look awesome! I'm counting on your skills!"
She flashed a grin.
(She's kind of… dashing.)
Shouta felt a touch of admiration for her refreshing confidence.
* * *
Class Seven.
"Are Futami Ami-san and Futami Mami-san here?"
"Yeees!"
Twin girls popped out from left and right at the same time.
With identical faces, they flanked him.
"Hey hey, Shouta-kun!"
"Which one of us is Ami, Shouta-kun?"
"Huh? Um…"
He looked back and forth between them.
Exactly the same face. The same hairstyle. The same uniform.
(I-I can't tell…!)
"Awa… um, this one is Ami-san, so…"
"Bzzt! Wrong!"
"The correct answer is — this one's Mami!"
"What?! It was the other way around?!"
As he floundered, the twins looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"Ahaha! Shouta-kun, you're hilarious!"
(They're messing with me…)
Shouta deflated.
* * *
Class Eight.
"Is Shijou Takane-san here?"
"…So you are Shouta."
Shijou Takane stood by the window, her long silver hair swaying in the breeze.
She looked like she'd stepped out of a painting — beautiful, and somehow removed from reality.
"My name is Shijou Takane. …And yours?"
"Huh? Amagase Shouta, but…"
"Hmm. Amagase Shouta. …I shall remember it."
She fixed her gaze on him.
Her eyes were a deep violet, mysterious enough to pull him in.
"With you, I feel we could create an interesting stage. I look forward to it."
She smiled faintly.
(S-she has an incredible aura…)
Shouta was completely swept up in her presence.
* * *
Class Nine.
"Is Ganaheru Hibiki-san here?"
"Oh! You're Shouta! The Tokyo wind sure is warm!"
Ganaheru Hibiki grabbed both his hands with a beaming smile.
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