When Nanami Hashimoto and Mai Shiraishi left the shrine here, it was already the time when the lights were on.

In early February, the weather on the streets of Tokyo was still a little cold, but Nanami Hashimoto, who was born in the snowy country of Hokkaido, was still wearing thin clothes. For the girls of the northern country, the weather in Tokyo is much better than in their hometown. In contrast to Tokyo, where there is almost no snow in winter, snow can still be seen in Hokkaido in early February. Perhaps because she was born in the northern country and was used to the cold, Nanami Hashimoto didn't feel anything wrong with the thin clothes on her body. As a girl idol, her meager income also made it impossible for Nana Hashimoto to buy new clothes after sending most of her salary back to her hometown and paying the tuition fees of Musashino Art University.

Fortunately, as an artist, you can have a free box lunch! Nana Hashimoto couldn't help but think of her thoughts when she signed up for the selection of Nogizaka 46, and while feeling a little shy, she also felt a sense of powerlessness, and the pressure of life was prematurely pressed on Nana Hashimoto's immature shoulders. Although her mother and younger brother still need to send money back every month, Nana Hashimoto did not understand that her willful behavior of coming to Tokyo to study has added great pressure to the family.

On the phone with her brother, Nana Hashimoto did not learn that last winter, in order to provide for her tuition and living expenses in Tokyo, the family no longer even had heating bills. Nana Hashimoto couldn't imagine how her mother and younger brother survived the cold winter in such a cold place in Hokkaido, where there was no heating in winter. Nana Hashimoto silently prayed to the gods, if the last prayer ceremony really conveyed the wish to the gods, please ask the gods to bless Nogizaka 46 This time the debut single can get good results, so that he can earn a little more.

Just when Nanami Hashimoto was praying silently, Mai Shiraishi rubbed her hands, took a breath of hot air on her hands, and after warming her cold fingers, she pulled Nanami Hashimoto's sleeve and asked, "Nanamin, you wear so little, is it really not cold?" Why don't you wear more? ”

Nana Hashimoto didn't hold Mai Shiraishi's hand and felt a chill, so she stuffed Mai's hand into her pocket, looked at her and said, "I'm used to it, the winter in Hokkaido is much colder than in Tokyo." In winter, the snow can be several meters thick. Besides, you don't know my salary, and it's all sent back to your hometown. How can there be extra money to buy new clothes. ”

"Then you can't wear so little!" Although Nana Hashimoto put her hand in her pocket, Mai Shiraishi felt the body temperature on Nanami Hashimoto's body that was not warm, and said urgently: "Nanamin, you are not in good health, what if you get sick?" ”

Nanami Hashimoto patted her chest and made a energetic expression: "Peace of mind, Mai." In Asahikawa's hometown, I only have more coats than I do now, so I won't get sick. ”

"No, spring is the most common place to catch a cold. I still have a few old clothes there, Nanamin, if you don't dislike it, I'll give it to you tomorrow. You're going to have to wear a little more in this season, and if you get sick, you'll be missing the campaign for our new single! Mai Shiraishi said to Nanami Hashimoto with a concerned face, and her tone was full of an attitude that could not be refused.

Looking at Mai Shiraishi's serious expression, Nana Hashimoto had no choice but to nod.

Holding hands, the two of them strolled through the winter streets of Tokyo towards the subway station. As we walked, we talked about a variety of topics.

"Nanamin, did you see the latest 'Where's Nogizaka?' Is it? The content of our prayers has been broadcast. Mai Shiraishi said with a smile on her face.

Nana Hashimoto shook her head, looked at Mai Shiraishi angrily and said, "I'm like you, lying in the hospital for a week, and I have time to watch TV." Recently, I have been busy with single promotion, and I have to practice, and school is also a bunch of things, and I sleep when I get home every day, and I don't have time to watch late-night shows at all. ”

Mai Shiraishi didn't get angry when she heard Nanami Hashimoto's complaints, she looked at Nanami Hashimoto with a smile, and the smile on her face made anyone who saw this smiling face lose her temper.

Nana Hashimoto, who didn't have any resentment, looked at Mai Shiraishi's smiling face, and couldn't help but feel better, and took the initiative to chat about the TV series that Nogizaka 46 participated in filming: "Mai, have you seen the "Fraud Idol" that we Nogizaka 46 participated in filming? ”

Mai Shiraishi nodded a little excitedly: "Of course I watched it, we Nogizaka 46 starred in a TV series for the first time!" Speaking of which, Mayou-san is really powerful, and he can't see it at all when he is 38 years old. ”

"With such a powerful opponent as Matomo-san, can our Nogizaka 46 really defeat AKB48-san?" Nanami Hashimoto is more worried about the future of Nogizaka 46.

Speaking of this topic, Mai Shiraishi also felt a little heavy.

In the past 11 years, AKB48 has won the 2011 annual singles sales, album sales and total revenue charts announced on the Japanese public trust chart with "Flying", "Everyday, Headband", "The Wind is Blowing", "Advocating Mariko" and "Becoming a Cherry Blossom Tree" Won the 53rd Japan Record Awards and the Outstanding Work Award, and even appeared in NHK's Red and White Song Club for the third year in a row. Nana Hashimoto didn't think about AKB48 and its sister group, which had a total of 210 people at the Red and White Song Party, and felt a heavy pressure.

Although Nogizaka 46 exists as a formula rival to AKB48 and is produced by Mr. Yasushi Akimoto, does Nogizaka 46, which has only released singles so far, really have a chance to beat AKB48, which had five consecutive million-selling singles in 2011?

Nanami Hashimoto and Mai Shiraishi obviously thought about this question and couldn't help but fall silent.

"I'm afraid I'm carrying unimaginable pressure on my back, so that's why I cried at that time, right?" Mai Shiraishi's tone was a little heavy.

Nana Hashimoto didn't know what Mai Shiraishi was talking about, but a few days ago, Nogizaka 46 appeared on the first day of "AKB48 Relive Time Best Track 100 2012" and sang his debut song "ぐるぐるカーテン". After the performance, Rina Ikoma as the center was moved to tears. Although Nanami Hashimoto was not in the center, she also felt the pressure, and she can imagine what kind of courage it would take for Rina Ikoma to say something like "We have a goal that we must surpass, and that is AKB48".

"It's not easy for a Kuma sauce, what she is carrying is our entire team." Nanami Hashimoto's words carried a hint of emotion and admiration.

"I'm afraid this kind of pressure can only be experienced when standing in the position of the center, right?" Mai Shiraishi couldn't help but show a hint of envy in her eyes when she mentioned Center.

Nana Hashimoto didn't hear the envy in Mai Shiraishi's tone, yes, who doesn't want to stand in the center and get everyone's attention? Even when I came to the audition with the idea that "I can eat a free lunch box if I become an artist", I didn't think that I would pass at all, but I fantasized that I was standing in the center and accepting everyone's gaze. But Nana Hashimoto didn't ask herself, can she withstand that pressure? The answer, I'm afraid, is no.

"Stop talking about such a heavy topic, let's talk about something else." Nana Hashimoto didn't feel the heaviness of the atmosphere, so she took the initiative to change the topic: "Mai, can you control your demonic power now?" Is there anything wrong with becoming a youkai? ”

Mai Shiraishi heard this topic, and immediately made a bitter face: "Nanamin! This habit of gloating of yours is really the worst! ”

"Hahaha, if you encounter something bad and can't face it with a smile, the bad thing will really become unfortunate." Nanami Hashimoto smiled and told Mai Shiraishi about her life creed. In the face of suffering, Nana Hashimoto has always faced it with a smile, because in this way she can laugh at the ups and downs she has to go through in life.

"Nanamin, you can really see it!" Mai Shiraishi lamented Nanami Hashimoto's open-mindedness at the same time, she also lamented herself: "Becoming a monster or something, it's not in my life plan at all!" ”

"Since it's already happened, you better look at Mai." While Nana Hashimoto comforted Mai Shiraishi who was distressed, she was also curious about what Tamamo had taught her: "You have talked to Miss Tamamo for so long, what did she teach you?" ”

"Tamamo-san passed on her memories to me, some common knowledge about being a youkai and things that only the nine-tailed fox knows." Mai Shiraishi explained to Nanami Hashimoto: "Although I can't control the demon freely now, Sister Tamamo helped me seal the demon power, and until I can control the demon power freely, there will be no problem." ”

"Is that so? That would be great. While Nana Hashimoto was insincerely happy for Mai Shiraishi, she remembered what she saw in front of Tamamo talking in Mai Shiraishi's ear, so she asked, "Mai, what was Miss Tamamo talking to you when I went to look for you?" Are you blushing so much? ”

Hearing that Nana Hashimoto didn't ask about that incident, Mai Shiraishi blushed when she recalled what Tamamo had said to her before, and Ai Ai didn't know how to talk about it.

Seeing Mai Shiraishi's shy face, Nana Hashimoto didn't think it was a private matter, so she took the initiative to say: "If it involves Mai's privacy, forget it." ”

Mai Shiraishi shook her head, forcibly held back her shame, and said in a low voice: "Actually, it has something to do with Nanamin, Sister Yuzao hopes that I can lift the curse set by Sister Yuzao on Senye-san's body." ”

"Mai-like, how did you know about the curse on Chiya?" Hearing Mai Shiraishi mention this, Nanami Hashimoto's face suddenly changed.