January 9. Coming-of-Age Day. Mai Sakurajima’s name was trending.
Crews from every TV station converged on Fujisawa. All were there to cover Mai Sakurajima in a long-sleeved kimono. It was a once-in-a-lifetime photo op.
The gathering of the twenty-year-olds was held near the civic hall and was packed with media crowds—the news was even covering how much attention she was drawing.
Sakuta watched the whole thing on TV.
Mai stood before a sea of cameras, delivering a speech—representing everyone there turning twenty. When she finished, the applause was thunderous.
One task down, but her real labors lay ahead.
After the ceremony, she moved to the venue lobby, where she was surrounded by the press.
The first questions she got asked how it felt to be twenty:
“Do you feel like an adult?”
“Have you had you first drink yet?”
Standard stuff.
Mai answered each politely, with a smile.
The question on everyone’s minds showed up after each crew got their first question in, when it looped back to the initial speaker.
Fumika Nanjou, an assistant announcer on an afternoon variety show.
“Social media is buzzing with claims that you’re the online singer Touko Kirishima. Mai, what is the truth behind these rumors?”
Mai faced the forest of microphones.
“That would be neat, right? Unfortunately, I am not Touko Kirishima. Sorry to disappoint.”
She flashed a smile, speaking softly but firmly.
“You’re aware of the dreaming hashtag?” someone else asked.
“Yes, it’s quite a hot topic.”
“There are a ton of posts under that tag saying you’ll claim to be Touko Kirishima.”
“Should I have my manager show you my schedule? I’m afraid I simply don’t have time for a music career.”
That was clearly a joke, and they all laughed.
Then their eyes turned to Ryouko.
“I can’t show them without approval!” she said, looking flustered. She crossed her arms, making an X. This got another laugh.
And with that cheery vibe, the Q and A session went on, regardless of her identity.
“What do you think of Touko Kirishima?”
“Do you believe dreams can come true?”
Lots of the inquiries were tangentially connected to the rumors.
After a while, Ryouko said, “Time for one more question.”
She seemed certain they’d managed to clear the air.
Fumika Nanjou’s hand shot up again, and Ryouko pointed at her.
“Are things going well with your boyfriend?”
A new angle. Mai smiled.
“I’ll leave that to your imaginations,” she said, placing her right hand on her chest. Her ring finger gleamed—with the ring Sakuta had bought her.
That got a flurry of shutter clicks from the cameras.
So many flashes were going off, he couldn’t even make Mai out.
Mai bowed her head low to the assembled press.
“Thank you all for coming today.”
With that, Ryouko led Mai out.
The whole conference was shown on the noon news, on the afternoon variety shows, and again on the evening and late-night news, over and over, on every channel, from every angle—Mai’s kimono.
Mai Sakurajima’s official social media accounts also refuted the rumors.
Her two-front strategy produced the desired results, Sakuta thought. From that day on, the media ceased to cover the rumors about her.
But on personal social media accounts?
Too late to deny it.
Her agencies are putting out fires.
She should just admit it. This is a farce.
Posts like those abounded.
Perhaps the only way to end the stories for good would be for the real one to emerge.
✦ ✦ ✦
A week after Coming-of-Age Day, college was back to normal. There were still eyes on Sakuta sometimes, but they were standard issue “Oh, that’s Mai Sakurajima’s boyfriend” looks.
Arguably, he’d kept his promise to Touko.
Monday, January 16.
Only a few days left in the term.
The last week in January was reserved for makeup lectures, so this was the final week of classes. He only had to attend until Friday; then it was time for a long spring vacation.
When college started back up two months later, in April, Sakuta would be a sophomore.
Plenty of students were already in vacation mode, and the vibe was quite a bit like the end of the actual year. Like sports teams playing a dead rubber match. No one could really put their hearts into it.
Sakuta wasn’t any better; he headed through the morning gates at a leisurely stroll. Most final exams were done, and he’d written all his reports, so there was no need to panic.
Yawning, he moved just fast enough to get to class on time.
He sensed someone beside him.
“Morning.”
He glanced over and was surprised to find Touko Kirishima there.
She was wearing boots, a skirt, and a high-necked sweater with a coat over it. Typical college girl attire, blending in with the crowds. Had she not spoken to him, he would likely never have noticed her.
“Good morning,” he said, figuring he should start there. “What brings you to campus at this hour?”
“I’ve got classes.”
She made that sound normal.
“Even though you’re invisible?”
“I’m paying for them. Seems like a waste not to attend.”
A very solid argument.
That made him wonder.
“Wait, have you been coming to classes every day?”
“That’s a stupid question,” Touko laughed. Her mocking tone was all the answer he needed.
Sakuta hadn’t noticed because she was in a different year and major. Their classes would never overlap. And she’d been dressed like she was today. Without the miniskirt Santa duds, Touko didn’t exactly stand out from the sea of college kids around her.
“Keep January thirtieth open,” she said, interrupting his thoughts. “I’ll let you have that date.”
“Looking forward to it.”
“You two-timing swine.”
Jeering at his answer, she vanished off toward the research building. Her retreating back blended right in with the crowd. Were it not for the fact that no one else could see her, she’d be a perfectly normal college girl.