[There’s a pep in your step as you walk into the office, riding off the high of your successful performance. You were the star of the musical, and everyone was impressed by your talent and dedication even though you’re so young. Good enough to go pro, even, and that’s what’s in the back of your mind.]

Kujo-san, did you see the musical I starred in?!

[He doesn’t seem moved, even though he says he heard the praise from your teachers. You’re still so excited, and he’s always like this, so you don’t let his attitude bother you. You’ve worked so hard - harder than everyone else. You’ve done everything Kujou’s said, and you’ve pushed and pushed yourself.]

Did I manage to become your ideal idol?

[You have to have, right? You’ve worked so hard! You’ve followed every piece of advice and you’ve worked yourself to the bone to become his ideal, and then once you’ve proven yourself… You can finally be a family. He promised, after all, that he’d be your new father. You’ve never had one before, but you’re still thinking of all the ways it’ll make your grandmother happy.

Then, he sighs.]

No… I doubt you ever will.

[It feels like you’ve had a bucket of ice water dumped on you.

Huh…?]

It’s not your fault. I was using the wrong methods. The audience will never be moved, no matter how amazing you are, because you feel nothing for the audience.

[He’s disappointed. Truly disappointed, this time, not like the time he said it was just a lie.

Unless… Unless that wasn’t just a lie…]

You’re kidding, right…? I mean, that’s what you told me to…

That’s true. I apologize. I was raising you the wrong way.

[It’s hard to take in - you did everything right, you did everything that was asked of you, you went above and beyond, so why…?]

What are you going to do?

[What?]

Will you return to Japan? You may continue your lessons, but you’ll never succeed. It’s best to quit while you’re ahead.

[Wait, wait - what did you do wrong? Is there something you failed at and didn’t realize? Can you fix things?]

I’ll do it properly this time! I’ll even retake my lessons! Please give me another chance!

[He turns away, dismissing you entirely.]

Sorry. I don’t want to look at a failure like you any longer. Idols who feel nothing for their audience are such a twisted, sad, and irritating thing.

[Kujou sighs, shaking his head.]

I thought you were no good, and it seems I was right. Tenn really is the only idol for me.

[Who…? You’ve never heard of you before, and Kujo seems to take pity on your confusion. You wish you hadn’t. You wish you never knew.]

He’s an idol you’ll never surpass. My beloved son.

[But you were supposed to be his son! That’s what he said, all those years ago! Has he been lying to you this whole time? Everything he said and everything you’ve done, all of it means nothing. You’ve just been thrown away, just like that?

A failure. You’ve failed, but you don’t know what you’ve done wrong, you don’t know why you don’t get a second chance. Kujou leaves you, and you have no idea what to do with yourself.




You… you should call your grandmother. You’ll be back in Japan soon, so she should know. You can just… you can just pretend that everything is fine. The truth will only hurt her, and the whole reason you’re here is to make her happy. You can’t ruin all of that now. So when she answers, you lie, saying you’ll be coming back with your dad and little sister. You’re fine. You lie to her and tell her you’re fine, pretending your best.

You wish you had never called at all.]

What do you mean you were hospitalized? Why didn’t you say anything?!

[She didn’t want to get in the way of your dreams - your dreams? That’s not the point of all of this! There’s no reason for this if she’s not happy! All you want to do is make her and Kujou and everyone else happy, but you’ve managed nothing at all.

All you’ve done is lose everything.]