Explore the Possibilities

Yuzuru: A solo live project, highlighting an idol’s individual strengths… I had heard the rumors, but I would have never thought that my turn would arrive before the Young Master’s.

…Anzu-san, might I ask you a question?

Fufu, I am most grateful. Then, if you would allow me…

For this program, I have heard that the featured idols are to produce their own songs, outfits, and the like to promote aspects of themselves that they wish to express.

As the performance will be presented as a livestream, it is an opportunity to convey one’s charms to a great deal of people, or so I assume... 

It seems that these circumstances are quite similar to that of the “Feature Live”. Would it be feasible, then, if I desired to express my position as the Young Master’s unequivocally flawless butler?

Hm? If that is what my present self wishes to convey, then there is no issue?

……

(Until now, I concluded that it would be too soon to take action, and had simply been observing my surroundings... Perhaps this would be an excellent opportunity.)

Anzu-san, I have been thinking about this for quite some time. You see…

Outside

(Alright. For now, Anzu-san mentioned that I have some time before the deadline arrives.)

(I only told her my intentions in taking part in this program, and I decided to give some consideration to the exact details of the project, but…)

(The question is, how to apply what I wish to express into an outfit and a song… I suppose.)

Izumi: Ugh, this is unbelievable. Where did he wander off to this time?

Yuzuru: Oh? That voice is…

I knew it. If it isn’t Sena-sama.

Izuru: Uwah-? Can you not call out to somebody from behind like that!? You spooked me, you know.

Yuzuru: My sincerest apologies. I had no intention of startling you. Sena-sama appeared to be looking around for something–I was curious and so I called out to you.

Izumi: …wait, Fushimi? How long’ve you been here?

Yuzuru: For about thirty minutes prior to your arrival, Sena-sama.

Izumi: Can you do a better job of making yourself known next time?

Yuzuru: That’s quite the rude thing to say. Well, I suppose I was the one who frightened you, so let’s simply call this even.

Izumi: Works for me. Anyways, have you seen Leo-kun?

Apparently, he’s been hanging around outside of the Megasphere. I haven’t run into him anywhere, though.

Yuzuru: I have not caught sight of him, unfortunately. The members of Ryuseitai are the only ones that have passed by here…

Izumi: Hah, I came all this way here for not even a single clue? So annoying.

Well, complaining to you will get me nowhere.

Yuzuru: In that case, how about using the livestream to inform Tsukinaga-sama of your whereabouts?

If luck would have it, and he happens upon the livestream, Tsukinaga-sama may come to meet you instead.

Using the livestream for your own personal needs is not terribly favorable, but I am certain there are many viewers who would be delighted to see the both of you going at it…

Izumi: Nah~, that won’t work. That would have the opposite effect on Leo-kun. He’d think I’m mad at him and just avoid me even more.

Anyhow, what gives? Momo-kun isn’t with you?

Yuzuru: That’s right. Young Master took on a separate job today. He will not be returning until the evening, at the earliest…

Izumi: Yeah? Seems like Momo-kun’s been growing up like crazy as of late. Y’know? Up ‘til now he’s always felt like a cheeky little brat.

Yuzuru: …I will assume that Sena-sama is giving him a compliment, and will choose to ignore the latter half of what you said. This will not happen again, though.

Izumi: Yeah, yeah. You can stop threatening me with a smile, now~.

Yuzuru: I suppose we should leave the jokes aside, then. If you would like, shall I aid you in your search for Tsukinaga-sama?

Izumi: Appreciate it, but I’ll pass.

Yuzuru: Oh, is that so? I believe that many hands make lighter work, but…

Izumi: It’s fine. Kasa-kun already changed our meeting time to this evening. As long as I find him before then, it’s no big deal.

Besides, it’s one thing if it’s someone in Knights, but using someone from another unit is a bit…

Yuzuru: Understood. I will contact you if I happen to catch sight of Tsukinaga-sama. There is always the possibility that he will come here and just narrowly miss you, Sena-sama.

Izumi: Yeah, if you could do that, it’d be a big help.

Hah. If he could just become a responsible adult already…

If Leo-kun could be a fraction like you, things would be much easier.

Yuzuru: …Like me, you say.

Izumi: Hm? Did you say something?

Yuzuru: Oh, nothing. It must have been your imagination, Sena-sama.

Izumi: Yeah? Alright, then.

…Talking to you made me feel a bit better, I guess. Okay, time to get back to searching for Leo-kun.

Yuzuru: Of course. I hope you find him posthaste. 

……

(Become an adult, he says…)

(I suppose that is the image that everyone must have of the idol “Fushimi Yuzuru”.)

(Most certainly. I have always been careful of how I present myself, due to my role as a butler.)

(Moreover, I am often considered to be more mature and composed than my peers.)

(I do take pride in that as a charm of mine, but…)

(Every day, I am watching over the Young Master, who is swiftly undergoing growth. It is almost as if I now desire to highlight my new potential.)

(Regardless, I don’t believe thinking upon this further here will lead to any ideas surfacing. Perhaps I shall go search for something to serve as inspiration, in a bookstore or a boutique.)

Shopping center

Yuzuru: (...Now then, where shall I start?)

(I have passed through here quite a few times now, but I am not terribly well-versed in this area. For now, I’ll solicit whichever store catches my eye…)

(Oh? Coming out of that boutique, is that possibly…?)

...... (Yuzuru is reading a magazine with an earnest expression.)

(I consulted with Anzu-san for her viewpoints, and I have perused through these magazines, and still… Just as I thought, it is not enough to simply select a color that is a stark contrast to what I normally wear.)

(It would have an impact, yes, but the feeling would fizzle out in a moment, just like a firework. The change must be enough to remain in people’s memories, in order for it to be meaningful.)

Hm? It is easy to detect your gaze, Anzu-san. What might have caught your attention?

I see, this style of accessory is prolific as of late. Certainly, the feeling of the outfit changes depending on where you wear them and their design…?

Hmm. Why don’t we leave the base of the outfit as a more subdued color, and instead play around with the accessories?

I cannot say I have seen a butler adorned in swaths of accessories before. It seems quite feasible to arrange them, as well…

Fufu, it appears that Anzu-san is in agreement with that course of action…. ♪

Also, this one has a particular gloominess to it. I believe it would showcase a different type of maturity than that I have typically displayed.

―Oh, I received a message from the Young Master. Forgive me. Is it alright if I check what it says?

Please excuse me for a moment, then. Let’s see… ”eye ill bee bag sun”?

(Is this some sort of code? No, it is too short for that to be the case.)

(In the time I took to consider that, another message has arrived.

I must read this one as well…)

Aah, that is what it is.

My apologies. It seems that the Young Master mistakenly sent me a message while still half asleep. He meant to write “I’ll be back soon”.

Yesterday, he was involved in another person’s livestream until late–that is why. He must have been on the verge of falling asleep.

This morning, while I was doing his hair, he was even starting to doze off…

(Speaking of hair… there was a time when I grew mine out, wasn’t there…)

(Bearing in mind the ideas from just before, if I were to make some alterations… Yes, it definitely seems worth trying.)

Next day

Izumi: Hm? I was wondering who it was, but it’s you, Fushimi… wait. Didn’t we just have this conversation before? I feel like I’ve been running into you all the time, lately.

Yuzuru: What a coincidence–I was thinking the same myself.

Did you happen to find Tsukinaga-sama?

Izumi: Oh, yeah. I found him on the training grounds after I left yesterday. He was sleeping, looking like he didn’t have a care in the world. Wish he’d think for once about the person who has to look for him, y’know.

Yuzuru: Fufu. Well, I am glad to hear that you found him.

Izumi: We made our meeting in time, too. Well, I guess that’s just how things go for us.

Anyways. I just happened to see, but… are those the rough sketches for your outfit you’ve got there?

Yuzuru: That’s right. It took quite some time for us to arrive at this design, but… With Anzu-san’s advice, it finally turned out to our satisfaction.

Izumi: Hmm? Didn’t think you’d go in this sort of direction.

This isn’t half bad for someone like you, whose self-presence is barely there.

Yuzuru: It gives me confidence to know that I have surprised even you, Sena-sama, who is well-acquainted with the world of fashion.

(That’s right–the Young Master is completely in the dark about this outfit, too…. It appears that he is eagerly awaiting the live performance, so he must have been blocking out any information about the program.)

(What will the Young Master think, seeing me adorned in this outfit and standing upon the stage?)

(Fufu, I am looking forward to the Young Master’s reaction… ♪)