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Aira had 10 minutes to finish their makeup before they had to go to a Pretty 5 meeting. They really didn't want to be late, considering how Himemiya-senpai might chew him out if they are. Despite that, they just… stare at themself in the mirror.
He had just put on some simple makeup, knowing that it would probably be wiped off by either Narukami-senpai and/or Tomoe-senpai for a more extravagant look. Despite the simplicity of it… it doesn't look right on Aira's face. After a moment, he grabs a makeup wipe and rubs it all off. After he does, he looks up at his face.
She's noticed little things about her appearance since becoming an idol. Things like her slightly crooked nose or slight chub on her stomach. But in moments like this, where there's no one and nothing besides her and a mirror… she notices it all.
Their slightly yellowed teeth and awkward smile, the bags under their eyes from staying up too late watching idol videos, their hands being a bit too big, and even some stretch marks that are peaking out from under the crop top they're wearing. They continue to notice all of the imperfect parts of their body. This isn't the body of an idol.
His hands are shaking as he puts down the makeup wipe (they don't look right, not like the graceful hands of an idol). He continues looking at himself, noticing how everything looks wrong.
She immediately grabs some more makeup. Maybe she just needs to put some on. It usually helps cover everything up.
They put some on, but just like before, it looks wrong. It looks unnatural. It truly looks like they covered something awful with makeup. Maybe they are. They don't look right. Nothing looks right.
Tears start to fill his eyes, and he wipes them away with hands that are shaking even more. Another makeup wipe is used as he wipes the makeup off his face again.
She jumps as she hears a knock. Both Tenshouin-senpai and Sakuma-senpai are gone, so that must mean…
“Ara, Aira-chan? Are you in there? Everyone is waiting!”
Narukami-senpai is at their dorm? How long have they been standing there? They grab their phone from the bathroom counter, paling as they realize it's 15 minutes since they planned to meet up.
“Aira-chan? Are you in there?”
Aira wipes more tears from his face, trying to make himself look presentable (as presentable as he can be, considering how-)
Another knock.
“I'm coming, Narukami-senpai! Sorry for making you wait!”
She opens her door, seeing Narukami-senpai looking down at her. As always, her senpai looked amazing, the perfect example of what an idol should be (and everything Aira is not).
As Narukami-senpai looks down at them, they can see her eyebrows furrow and expression turn concerned.
“Aira-chan… is everything okay? You don't look so well.”
Aira tries to nod, to brush it all off, but he can feel tears fill his eyes. Narukami-senpai kneels down slightly, wiping their tears from their face. Her hands are soft against his skin.
Aira feels even worse now. She's worrying her senpai, when she should've just pretended that everything was alright. This thought made her cry even more.
Narukami-senpai pulls Aira into a deep hug, rubbing their back as they start to sob in her shoulder. “Shh… darling, it's okay… Tell me, what's wrong?”
Aira shakes his head, his entire body shaking as he continues to cry. He's already bothering her, he can't make her listen to his stupid problems as well!
“Aira-chan, sweetie, don't worry about bothering me. Tell onee-chan what's wrong.”
Before she could process it, all of the words were spelling out of her. The feeling of not looking right, the feeling of looking ugly, of not being pretty enough to be an idol.
Narukami-senpai continues to rub their back. “That’s not true… not at all. Your brain is being harsh. You're very pretty, very cute, very handsome, I could go on and on.”
Aira feels his face flush red. “Thank you, Narukami-senpai.” He still didn't feel great, but knowing that someone was here for him, it made him feel better.