>>5624666<span class="mu-g">“I guess you’ll be busy with those new idols,”</span> says Kaiba while stirring the contents of her bowl.
<span class="mu-g">“Yes,”</span> says Nagata, <span class="mu-g">“At least for a while. I have to give them a proper start.”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“I see, I see,”</span> says Kaiba, fishing out a piece dried kelp from her bowl before lowering it back in.
The habit of repeating words like that might be something she picked up from interacting with EmikoDesu.
<span class="mu-g">“Starting a job as an idol can feel overwhelming, scary even,”</span> says Nagata, then laughs, <span class="mu-g">“Though I probably don’t need to tell you that.”</span>
Nagata sighs, <span class="mu-g">“But It’ll probably be easier this time around.”</span>
A moment of dread washes over Kaiba, <span class="mu-g">“Was it m-- was I difficult to manage?”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“No, no, not at all,”</span> says Nagata as she shakes her head, <span class="mu-g">“It is because I have you now. I expect you to be a dependable idol that these new girls can learn from, okay?”</span>
Kaiba drops her chopsticks, they clatter the floor, <span class="mu-g">“M-me?”</span> she stammers, <span class="mu-g">“I don’t know anything! I’ve only been an idol for a few months!”</span>
Other patrons mumble alarm from the noise, the waitress is clutching a menu to her chest.
Nagata mouths a quick apology to the people here then picks up Kaiba’s chopsticks from the floor.
<span class="mu-g">“True, but you’ve done very well so I think you can do it,”</span> she says, <span class="mu-g">“Besides, a few months is still a lot more than what these new girls have.”</span>
Fidgeting in place, Kaiba goes quiets while she mulls over the words.
Nagata leans in, her chin resting on the palm of a propped-up hand, <span class="mu-g">“They might even call you <span class="mu-i">'Senpai'</span>, you know?”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“Eh?”</span> says Kaiba, <span class="mu-g">“Me? Senpai…?”</span>
<span class="mu-g">”…Senpai,”</span> she repeats quietly, then chuckles to herself, <span class="mu-g">“…e-he-he-HehehHehe~“</span>
Once again Nagata turns her attention to the other patrons to calm them down.
The waitress is leaning away, her face equal measure concern and unease from Kaiba’s sudden, warped laugh.
Kaiba coughs into a fist, <span class="mu-g">“Ah, well, I suppose I can try,”</span> she says, trying hard to prevent a smile.
<span class="mu-g">”I mean, I should help them if I can, right?”</span> she adds, her knee bouncing up and down beneath the table.
Nagata nods, <span class="mu-g">“mMmm, you would really be helping me out,”</span> she says.
Whatever restraint she had falls away and Kaiba breaks into a smile, <span class="mu-g">“Well, I suppose it can’t be helped then!”</span> she says.
