Chapter 57
"You won't let me touch your feet or legs, lift your skirt, or even tell me what you're wearing underneath. What am I supposed to do?!"
"What am I supposed to do, then?!"
"Why are you asking me that?!"
"Why are you asking me that?!"
"Why have you been copying everything I say this whole time?!"
"You're the one asking questions like that, aren't you?!"
...The fight with Mia was more intense than I'd expected.
Whatever she was so curious about regarding Alice, she kept making absurd demands. Even when I shot one down, another came flying in, so it seemed like it would never end no matter how many I rejected.
By this point, I was starting to wonder if I was the strange one. Was this actually normal? Were idols really supposed to provide this much fan service?
'...There's no way?!'
Before I knew it, I was getting swept up in her rhythm.
"A-all right, that's enough! I... I'm grateful that you love Alice, but let's both respect each other's boundaries!"
"...Tch. I was going to ask you to go on a date with Senior Alice."
"Why didn't you ask for something wholesome like that in the first place?! Feet, legs, skirts..."
"Then will you go on a date with me?!"
"I won't! If you're going to ask something like that, at least do it in a somewhat serious atmosphere!"
"...All right, then. Why don't we stop joking around and have a serious conversation?"
"Don't make me laugh?!"
I regretted it as soon as I said it. She had been dragging me along at her pace this whole time.
Even after realizing what was happening, I'd gotten swept up in it again. It wasn't very professional. If I kept letting her take control like this, I might actually agree to something.
"...Hmph. Fine. Let's stop joking around and talk properly now."
"But are you going to keep talking in Senior Alice's voice and manner of speech? It's an act, isn't it tiring?"
"You told me to—! Ahem. I'm used to it, so it isn't very difficult. I've lived this way for ten years."
"Come to think of it, I'm curious. How did you come up with that concept? I mean, setting aside the concept itself, did you really have to go to such lengths to maintain it for ten years? Unless that's just your personality, the Sejin I know doesn't seem like she'd be fond of a concept like that."
"...Weren't we supposed to have a serious conversation?"
"Let's call it serious information sharing! I need to know you well so I don't make mistakes in other ways, don't you think? I have to protect your secret properly from now on, too. The more I know, the better I can look after you. That's just how it works."
...This woman. She usually just grinned obliviously, yet now she was pushing a surprisingly reasonable argument.
Did her brain become fully activated whenever Alice was involved?
"...It's nothing special. I chose a more provocative concept because I didn't want people to find out I was a man. I wanted to divert attention toward Alice so no one would focus on my gender."
It was, of course, a lie, but it was a plausible excuse I'd prepared long ago. It did sound fairly convincing, didn't it?
"Even without going that far with the concept, I doubt anyone would have thought you were a man..."
"It was an important issue. I had to do something, anything, to divert people's gaze even a little. And once I'd started, I couldn't stop midway because I was afraid it would make people even more suspicious."
They say that when you lie, it's more effective to mix truth and falsehood together.
The part about being unable to quit because I was afraid people would grow suspicious was true. If that hadn't been the case, I would have abandoned this ridiculous concept long ago.
"Then what about the design change midway through?"
"...The design?"
"Your outfit was a little different at first. It was a much more revealing outfit."
...Ah. So that's what she meant.
As I said, my current Alice design retains the same basic direction as the real Alice's, but increases the amount of fabric to reduce exposed skin as much as possible.
I had thought changing outfits was common among magical girls and that no one would be particularly suspicious... but I suppose she'd wanted to ask while she had the chance.
"At first, I designed the outfit by referring to the designs of other magical girls at the time. So I worked in that outfit for about two years, but..."
"But?"
"...I belatedly became embarrassed, so I increased the amount of fabric and stopped various activities. You know that, don't you, Ms. Mia? No, you asked because you were curious about this from the start, didn't you? You wanted to know about the period when Alice suddenly reduced her activities, right?"
"Hehe. You caught me."
I thought any ten-year Alice fan would naturally be curious. Since the person involved happened to be right in front of her, of course she'd want to ask.
"...Like I just said, I was embarrassed. At some point, it became difficult to keep working while vaguely thinking, 'This is what a magical girl should be.' So I quit it all."
"Then why did you recall even the music, merchandise, and everything?!"
"...Because I was afraid there might be people like you, Ms. Mia. Alice's judgment was right."
"Aww..."
"If Alice's underwear and all that were actually implemented, it wouldn't be an idol figurine anymore. Just look at Alice, okay? Don't covet anything beyond that."
"Hmph..."
In fact, I didn't know anything about how that figurine had been made. I'd seen the actual product when it was recalled, but there was no way I would have paid attention to whether the inside of its skirt was visible or not.
I hadn't even been Alice when the figurine was released, and I hadn't known it had been released at all. I learned about its existence later, after becoming Alice and cleaning up all the messes she had left behind.
The various canceled contracts and resulting penalties had caused a huge loss, but Alice had made enough money that I somehow managed to cover it.
And as for the justification for recalling all that merchandise... there was someone right in front of me who had just provided it.
"I expected that, but hearing it officially is still kind of fun. It feels like hearing a behind-the-scenes story."
"When I said I'd keep your secret, that naturally included things like this too. You mustn't tell anyone."
"Of course. This must be a precious secret too. Things like this only have value if I'm the only one who knows. Hehe..."
I sighed inwardly as I watched her grin happily at being the only person who knew Alice's secret.
Her intentions might be impure, but as long as she kept the secret, it probably wasn't a problem.
"That's all for today's questions. If you have any more, organize them on paper and bring them with you. If I answered every question on the spot, you'd probably keep asking all day."
"Uegh... I still have about forty-two questions I want to ask..."
"...Denied. I'm tired too, now."
-Flash.
It wasn't a good idea to casually talk about my affairs as Han Sejin while I was in Alice's form.
If it became a habit, I might talk about Han Sejin while being Alice, or about Alice while being Han Sejin, and give myself away.
"I enjoyed the meal. I think the answers I gave you today are enough to cover the cost of the meal."
"Oh! You'll answer questions if I pay?! I'll give you my account number right awa—"
"No, seriously."
Go away already.
I'm tired.
* * *
Separate from the difficulty of having my secret exposed, I still had things I needed to do.
"Now, everyone! You know today's class is almost the last one, right? The next class is already the final one! Have you all been satisfied with this class with Alice?"
"""Yes!!!!!"""
"I'm relieved Alice could make all of you happy. If I get another chance someday, I'd like to meet you again as your teacher and students."
-Flash!
"Yes, the student with the red hair over there."
"Is that a hint at a sequel?!"
"Unfortunately, there are no plans at present."
-Flash!
"Yes, the student with pink hair over there."
"Are you saying you'd do it if you received an offer?!"
"If the opportunity arises. But... after this shoot wraps up, Alice plans to take a break for a while, so even if we meet again, it will probably be quite some time from now."
"Aww..."
A sorrowful sigh rippled through the students.
What could I do? I was taking a break because I was tired.
I needed a break, too. They only had to attend class and be done, while I had to prepare the lessons and come out here to talk for two hours every filming day. Of course it was exhausting.
"By the time we meet again, you'll all be even more wonderful and powerful magical girls than you are now, right? May Alice look forward to it?"
"Of course!!"
"Good. Then today's class ends he—Yes, the student with green hair over there."
"I'm curious what happened to the date pass with the teacher you mentioned on the first day of class!"
...Date pass? Did I say that?
[You probably did? You didn't definitely promise to give it, but you did say something along the lines of being able to give one.]
-Glance
When I subtly turned my eyes toward Sapphire and met her gaze, she gave a small nod. I must have said something like that.
'...I don't want to give it.'
If I hadn't definitely promised, couldn't I just not give it? We hadn't signed and stamped a contract. Normally, things like this were invalid if you didn't stamp a contract...
'...Sigh.'
But regardless of what I really wanted, if I pretended not to know and slipped away here, Alice's image would be ruined.
Alice wasn't the kind of character to say one thing and do another.
"I did say something like that. I said I'd give one student who followed the class the best a chance to go for a walk with Alice, but... Um... If anyone would like to apply— All right. I suppose we'll need a rigorous screening process."
Seeing everyone poised to raise their hands before I had even finished speaking, I took back what I had been about to say.
...In any case, the next shoot would be the last.
"Following the class well means you've retained that much from it. If you'd like to apply for the chance to walk with Alice, write a review of this class in letter form and give it to Ms. Sapphire. Then Alice will read each of your letters filled with love and choose the one that moves her the most."
"""""Yes!!!!!!"""
"Oh, Ms. Sapphire and Ms. Mia aren't eligible to apply."
"I know."
"...I know."
Sapphire wore her usual cool expression, as though she wasn't particularly interested, while Mia looked slightly guilty.
Mia already had plenty of experience for someone who was supposedly a rookie. Letting her join would completely destroy the balance.
"...Aia isn't eligible either."
"Lady Aia isn't here, though."
"I just had a feeling she might be listening from somewhere..."
That woman was the type who could barge through the door and say, 'Oh dear. What a shame—I had just prepared about 3,700 characters,' so I thought I'd get ahead of her, but fortunately, it seemed she wasn't here.
"Oh, then what about viewers who watch the broadcast when it airs or the uploaded video? Are they eligible?"
"Huh? It takes two or three days for our broadcast to air. By the time this one comes out, there'll only be one day left before the next broadcast's shoot, right? Are they supposed to write and submit a letter in that time?"
"Hmm... That would certainly be difficult. Then shall we limit eligibility to those here...?"
"The viewers are all Alice's precious students too, but it would be right to give this opportunity to those who joined us at this filming location. I'm sorry, but everyone else will have to wait for another opportunity. Ah, but I'd still be grateful if you sent me letters."
...Should I have said I wouldn't accept them?
Well, how many would they send anyway? Few people without eligibility would go out of their way to spend time writing Alice a letter out of pure fan devotion.
They might as well do something else with that time. Who would waste their precious time on something like that?