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POV Hitori
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"Onee-chan! Onee-chan! Wake up, Onee-chan! Your friends are already here to pick you up!"
With difficulty, I opened my eyes, only to find my little sister impatiently tugging at my pajamas.
"Eh? Futari? What's going on so early in the morning?" I asked while lazily sitting up in bed.
"Early? Onee-chan, it's 10 o'clock! And weren't you supposed to have a performance today? Your friends are waiting downstairs!" my little sister said exasperatedly.
"10? Oh my god!" I screamed in horror.
When I saw the clock on the wall reading 10:05 a.m., my face went pale. I looked at my phone beside me—it was completely dead.
Damn it! I forgot to charge it last night!
In a rush, I got dressed and grabbed my guitar before running downstairs.
"Onee-chan! You forgot your panties!" Futari shouted while waving my pink panties like a surrender flag.
"…"
Is she really my little sister?That question keeps me up some nights…
…
"Ah! There she is!" Kita said, pointing at me.
"Moo～ You're so slow, Pochi-chan!" Nijika scolded.
Ryo, on the other hand, was sitting in front of the TV watching a variety show while eating chips.
whack
"You too! Stop getting comfortable and grab your things! Now that Pochi-chan is awake, we need to go. Mr. Tomoya has been waiting in the car for a while now," Nijika scolded.
"You didn't have to be so violent…" Ryo complained, holding her head where a large bump had formed.
Ryo looked unwilling to get up from her cozy spot, but when Nijika raised her mighty fist of love, Ryo decided to behave.
…
"See you later, Futari-chan. Big sis will bring back souvenirs next time," said Nijika with a warm smile as she waved goodbye to my little sister.Futari nodded.
"Mm! Please take care of my sister. I know she can be a bit clumsy and socially awkward, but she's a good person," she said sweetly.
Ugh…Futari-chan, do you really love your sister?
Why do your words cut deeper than a sharp sword…?
Even though… you're right.
"Come on, Pochi-chan, stop spacing out. We'll be late—remember, the concert starts at noon," said Kita, pulling me toward the van where Ryo was already sitting comfortably, eating octopus bites from a bag she pulled out of who-knows-where.
"Uhm… okay. Instruments ready, sheet music and guides packed… All right, I think we're set, Tomoya-san! Worst case, we can get some help from Ichigo-san, who's waiting for us backstage," Nijika said responsibly after double-checking everything.
I looked ahead and saw Tomoya-san, who nodded at Nijika's words and started the vehicle.
"All right, buckle up, girls, I'm driving a little fast. And by the way, Ryo—stop eating this old man's fried octopus snacks! You've already stolen six bags this week!"
Ryo avoided Tomoya's gaze and stared out the window as if it were the most interesting thing in the world, while she discreetly hid a couple of snack bags behind her.
Tomoya was one of our three bodyguards.Tadano-san had three bodyguards who protected the high-level staff at the company.
Those three were:Tomoya-san, who had light blue hair, a bit lighter than Ryo's.He's a bit sarcastic and jokes a lot, but he's a good person.
Then there's Shinomiya-san, who is cold and taciturn. Despite that demeanor, he's actually the easiest to deal with. He often watches over us from the shadows and only shows himself when absolutely necessary.
Last but not least, there's Nagisa-san.
She's sweet and kind. She and Nijika seem to get along really well. Both give off that warm, maternal aura.
"Chi… Pochi!" Nijika shouted, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Ah! Eh? What is it!?" I asked, startled.
Nijika gave a helpless smile at how often I spaced out, but she quickly recovered and put on a determined expression.
"Let's do our best, okay? Let's show the president that we're worthy of his trust," said Nijika.
"Yes! I-I'll prove I'm trustworthy!" I shouted, though I felt a little embarrassed at the end.
"Yes, we'll show how capable we are!" Kita declared, raising her fist
"Yes," nodded Ryo. While her tone was her usual calm one, she seemed a bit more energized than usual.
…
Tokyo – Comiket
A huge crowd had gathered with one purpose: a shared passion for manga, anime, and video games.
That's right. This unique place, full of people in cosplay and authors promoting their doujins of popular series or games, was Comiket.
And not far from the entrance of the venue hosting this festival,a stage was being set up with the logo of Strawberry Productions, proudly displayed like a beautiful swan among a group of ugly ducklings.
Many people recognized the logo instantly, and full of curiosity and anticipation, they approached.One had to know that Strawberry Productions had become synonymous with quality when it came to entertainment.Their artists deeply resonated in modern pop culture and were super viral online.
First was the one and only undisputed queen of the new generation of idols, Hoshino Ai.With hundreds of millions of fans not just in Japan but all over the world.
Her revolutionary method of singing allowed people—regardless of language—to understand what she was trying to express. This helped her amass a massive global following.Her songs, dances, and occasional comedic moments—uploaded as short videos—flooded social media.
An indisputable star who remained very active, performing concerts and making appearances in popular media and venues.
Behind her was the rising star Ado.She caught the public's attention with her unique style and incredible voice.Her songs touched the hearts of many, and her powerful voice enchanted audiences. Her confirmation as the voice actress for a new character in the upcoming One Piece movie sparked even more interest in her, and her fanbase has only continued to grow.
Following these two was the latest phenomenon taking the internet by storm—virtual idols.
A fresh concept that quickly gained attention.
These new idols were also under the Strawberry Productions banner, as part of the Hololive program.These idols were Inugami Korone and Nekomata Okayu.
Korone, an adorable dog girl, charmed many viewers with her energetic personality and funny reactions—especially when playing old FPS games.
Okayu, with her calm yet playful personality, perfectly embodied her character—a cat girl with enchanting violet eyes and a captivating voice.Many fans spent a significant chunk of their savings just to listen to one of her ASMR streams.
…
Behind the stage.
"I-Is it really o-okay for us to be here?" asked the pink-haired girl nervously as she tuned her guitar.
"Moooh～ Pochi-chan, don't lose heart now. Remember why we're here. We have to show Tadano-san what we're capable of! Don't you want him to praise you?" said Nijika, pointing her drumstick at the pink-haired girl.
Hearing the blonde girl's words, Hitori looked down at the black bandage wrapped around her hand.Her face, though still showing some fear, now held a spark of determination.
Author's Note:Hello to everyone who's still here—it's been a long time, hasn't it?I won't go into too much detail, but you should know that this author had a few setbacks.That said, I still stand by my word and will do my best not to let this book die.To anyone who's still willing to read the work of this humble author, all I have left to say is…Remember to drink plenty of water, and I love you very much.
--------- nwnr