Push

　　Café.

　　Bossa Nova-style background music plays slowly, but the atmosphere in one of the seats seems strange.

　　(A reason to escape from a dream?)

　　These words kept ringing in her ears, causing a momentary blank in Ichika's trance thoughts.

　　Then, she came back to she senses, and complained.

　　(Obviously I'm really begging you... Shinichi-kun bastard, you're still trying to open my mouth viciously?)

　　(And you just guessed it, and you still need me to say, what is this? Exposing people's wounds?)

　　(Really, not soft at all!)

　　(Can't you understand this fragile girl's heart? Even if it's me, even if the person sitting in front of me is you, in this atmosphere, how can you say such words)

　　"I actually--!"

　　Before the words fell, Ichika quickly covered her mouth.

　　(This is so risky I almost said it! Wooah, how shaken I am!)

　　Ichika lowered her head, pinched her yukata skirt, and reset her mood.

　　Can't say, really can't say.

　　Wanting to live up to her expectations, wanting to become a strong person she said, I have worked hard for this until now, but the result is that she is only getting better at accounting, and her acting skills are still average.

　　It was all her fault, saying this kind of thing in a serious tone...

　　Even though Shinichi might comfort herself and make herself feel better after this, there were some things that could only be kept as the deepest secret in her heart, and Ichika couldn't say anything to him who was just a "chairman" and "good friend".

　　So...

　　"There is only one thing to say."

　　Wearing another mask, Ichika deliberately kept her distance.

　　"I didn't run away from my dream, it's just that I didn't feel like going to auditions because I was in a bad state today and knew that I had no chance of auditioning success."

　　After telling the half truth, proceed to take a stand.

　　"Shinichi-kun, not only is this matter unrelated to you, but your guesses are all wrong, so for the sake of our friendship, let's stop here.

　　"If you want to keep talking…"

The voice was slightly threatening.

　　Maybe, Shinichi can also see that she's still acting now, right?

　　That's right, let Ichika understand directly like this – (Even if I lied, I don't want to tell you what's in my heart.)

　　(I've made up my mind, even if I fail the next audition, it's my own failure, please don't get involved.)

　　"Before I manage to stand on stage, please don't start my preliminaries without permission."

　　"I don't want you to see me so weak..."

　　In the end, the words were still spoken, but Ichika didn't let him hear them.

　　Only her lips moved, her eyes dimmed, and she whispered into the hands on her knees that held the hem of the yukata tightly.

　　Ichika looked up, she could smile at him pretending nothing happened.

　　"Then Shinichi-kun..."

　　Suddenly, Shinichi took a deep breath.

　　"Haaa~~ I finally know how troublesome it is for people who hold a lot of things in their heart but don't say it!"

　　He scratched his head.

　　"Me too, and you too. We all think that telling others what is in your heart is weakness. No matter the pain or loss, you have to face it alone, so you can be considered strong. .. There's nothing wrong with that, it's better to say that you always tell others. The person asking for help has a problem."

　　"Huh..." Ichika couldn't react because of the change in his attitude.

　　"But, you made a mistake—" Shinichi looked straight at Ichika, stopped talking, and just stared at her like this.

　　Pressured by the gaze, Ichika averted her eyes in panic, her face also slightly red from the stare, and she stuttered, "W-What is it..."

　　Shinichi pondered for three seconds, then said each word clearly.

　　"No, sue, you!"

　　"Eh—!? Is this a new way to flirt with people?"

　　Under Ichika's astonished gaze, Shinichi turned his head away, a lonely and sad smile on the corner of his mouth.

　　"Listen, I'm not this strong..."

　　(No, no, no, your statement is too far-fetched! Even if I don't have good grades in literature, I know that the logic of your first sentence and last sentence are completely inconsistent!)

　　Ichika complained inside her heart.

　　What are these people's brain circuits made of? Curvy ride on Mount Akina?

　　Even though Ichika knew that Shinichi would use strange ways to comfort herself, but what happened to the feeling of deciding to force her when there really was no other way!

　　His expression is too fake, and his acting is completely insincere, please show some respect towards the profession of an actor?

　　After complaining, Ichika noticed that Shinichi had returned to her normal expression,

　　"I thought about it and realized that from the start, my approach was wrong. For this, I must first apologize to you."

　　Shinichi picked up his coffee cup again, and after downing the entire cappuccino in one gulp, he spoke in a low voice.

　　"If you don't want to say it, I shouldn't force you to say it. It doesn't matter what method you use, it's your own business. I, an outsider, have no right to interfere… I was talking to myself, I'm really sorry."

　　Hearing his deliberate demarcation and alienation, Ichika felt uneasy, but this sentence was exactly what she wanted, and it would be great if she could put an end to this tense situation.

　　So Ichika let out a light breath, and smiled wholeheartedly.

　　"It's not that serious! Even if this audition should fail, there is still another time. As long as I don't give up, I will win the lead role one day! Please ask Shinichi-kun to listen to my petty complaints once in a while and give me some support~"

　　Ichika took a caramel macchiato, and drank.

　　Shinichi acts nonchalant.

　　"Someone once told me with action that for a man who lacks drive, what's the reason? Just pat his chest and support him."

　　"Pfft—" Immediately, a mouthful of coffee-colored liquid was sprayed out in an impolite manner, and Ichika ignored the smudges that splashed across her face, her face flushed with embarrassment, and she faintly covered her plump breasts with one hand.

　　"Isn't it too much to slap the chest... Even if it's a gesture made by a friend of encouragement, asking me to puff out my chest for you to pat..."

　　When Ichika said this, Shinichi's face quickly defended: "No, no, no, it's impossible to slap your breasts! Don't say this is just a way of describing, if I want to pat, I'll pat myself on the chest, okay?"

　　"Hey~ Are my boobs so unattractive? You don't even want to pat…"

　　Finding a topic to play with, Ichika smiled evilly, reflexively trying to tease him.

　　However, Shinichi stopped her first and coughed twice seriously.

　　"Is your agent coming soon? There isn't much time left, let me do it again."

　　He stretched out his hand towards her, palm opened up.

　　"Acting is your dream, right? This audition is very important to you, isn't it? If so, please hold my hand."