Kazuho sat crossed-legged on her bed, half buried under a mountain of discarded hoodies, her Idol outfit, and a bag of pudding. Her laptop sat open on her lap, screen still paused on a half-edited video from her last performance. The lighting sucked, her makeup was crooked, and she was pretty sure a bee was out to get her.

Her glasses were slightly askew, not that she needed to wear them, BUT SHE"D BE DAMNED if any of her classmates recognized her! Her pink hair, loose from its usual pigtails, fanned out in lazy curls down the upper part of her back. One side of her uniform collar was sticking up, and she'd kicked off her socks hors ago.

The walls of her room are just as bland as her appearance. Two shelves next to the door with two cat plushies, a desk that barely reached past the floor, a four-panel shelf with a few books, and a clothes rack with no other outfits.

Kazuho flopped backwards with a groan, letting her laptop slide off to the side. The ceiling was boring and blank. Too quiet in here.

— 'I should be doing something. Anything.'

Her thoughts drifted, annoyingly, to Koichi's dumb face. That soft, awkward smile. The way he always looked surprised when people needed help. Like he didn't get why anyone would rely on him, even though he was probably more decent than half the Pro Heros out there.

She clicked her tongue, annoyed at the warmth sneaking into her chest.

"Ugh. Why's he gotta be such a dumb good guy."

The words fell flat in silence. She wasn't expecting anything to answer. Or, hoped nobody would? It'd be creepy if someone answered from her own room.

She reached up, taking off her glasses by the edges. The frames were covered in a few fingerprints. 'I'll wipe them later' She thought, before propping them on the dresser next to her.

Being Pop☆Step was easier. Louder. Flashier. She didn't have to think too much when the music was blasting and the crowd was watching.

But Kazuho... was not even close to that radiance. She had few friends, a few plans on what to do after school, and was stuck playing self-proclaimed 'Idol'. Maybe that's why she kept the Vigilante work alongside Koichi and the old man. Not just to help Koichi as repayment for something he'd never remember...

But because she felt like there was more happening in her life whenever she went out with them.