Lin Ye's eyes stayed fixed on the girl up on the stage.
Sayaka Maizono.
Up there, she had grown bolder, freer, far more at home in everything an idol's life demanded of her.
Someday, Lin Ye thought, this girl might well surpass Ai Hoshino and become a national idol. After all, this was the girl who in the future would be crowned with the title of Super High School Level.
But if the choice were his, he would of course rather Ai Hoshino stood at the top. Ai-chan loved this profession with everything she had.
He wouldn't oppose her. He would back her, shield her, escort her through it all, so that she never had to worry about a single thing outside of being an idol.
Buying up companies, cultivating connections — he had already set Haruno to work on all of it. The Yukinoshita family's strength counted for little across the whole of Japan; at best they carried some weight in Chiba.
But it was more than enough to protect one idol.
And as for the future…
Lin Ye knew that was where his own effort came in.
Only if he pushed himself, only if he climbed, would the Yukinoshita family that followed him rise along with him.
And if he ever reached the very summit, it wasn't impossible that the Yukinoshita family would become the most powerful house in all of Japan.
Lin Ye shook his head and let the thought go.
These things had to be done step by step. Imagination alone accomplished nothing.
Ten minutes later, the girls on stage broke for intermission.
Ai Hoshino wiped the sweat from her face with her right hand and walked over at an unhurried pace.
"I'm dead on my feet."
Every dance number burned through a considerable amount of Stamina.
Being an idol simply didn't work without enough Stamina to carry you.
So even on her days off, Ai Hoshino kept up a certain amount of training — all the more so because of the Strange Game. As a player, she needed a strong body to handle whatever emergencies came at her.
She had taken part in the Strange Game twice. The first time hadn't been so bad; the arena was confined to a hotel, and it didn't demand prolonged, violent exertion. The second time was another story entirely.
Hiding, and facing the Strange monsters when they came, both ate through enormous amounts of Stamina. If your Stamina ran short, nothing good waited for you at the end.
So Ai Hoshino paid special attention to that part of herself.
As for brains, well — she knew she was slow, that her head didn't move quickly enough. She figured all she had to do was trust Lin-kun. Whatever Lin-kun told her to do, she'd do, and that would be plenty.
"Hoshino-senpai, your dancing today was amazing! Not one mistake!"
Sayaka Maizono came bounding over to Ai Hoshino's side, damp with sweat, her forehead beaded with it, each droplet catching the stage lights.
Ai Hoshino caught a pleasant scent almost at once. Not perfume — the girl's own natural fragrance.
Envy welled up in her instantly.
She wanted a natural scent like that too!
If she had one, surely Lin-kun would like her even more.
"Just keep training and studying every day. Sayaka, you're definitely going to be better than me one day. You'll be the idol who shines brightest of all."
"No way!"
Sayaka Maizono laughed, embarrassed, waving both hands to say the praise was far too much.
"I'm nowhere near as amazing as you, Senpai. As long as I can stay at your side, as long as I can be your companion, that's enough for me. There's no way I could ever surpass you! I know myself well enough for that."
Sayaka Maizono watched her with a smile.
To her, Ai Hoshino was practically a god — someone she could never reach no matter how hard she worked.
Whether it was looks and sheer cuteness or dancing and singing, none of it was something she could ever exceed.
After these past days together, she had become a full-blown fan of Ai Hoshino, without a shred of desire to beat or overtake her.
"That's not true!"
Ai Hoshino stopped walking, laid both hands on Sayaka Maizono's shoulders, and spoke with complete seriousness. "Sayaka, you have the talent and the potential. Really. Lin-kun even gave you an evaluation once."
"Hm? What did Mr. Lin say?"
Sayaka Maizono was intensely curious about that man, who clearly shared something out of the ordinary with Ai Hoshino.
Part of her wanted to know what the real relationship between her Senpai and Lin Ye was; part of her wanted to know how he talked about her in private.
In that moment Sayaka Maizono turned into a bundle of curiosity, wide eyes fixed on Ai Hoshino, waiting for the answer.
"You'll never guess the words he used."
"Hm?"
Sayaka Maizono grew even more curious.
What words?
National idol?
"Super High School Level idol."
"Uh… Super High School Level?"
What did that even mean?
Sayaka Maizono had no feel for it at all.
But somehow the title sounded cool. Immeasurably cooler than the "national idol" she'd been imagining.
"Right? So? Pretty cool phrase, isn't it!"
Sayaka Maizono nodded before she thought about it. It really was cool.
"See, see! When I first heard it I thought Lin-kun was giving the title to me, and it turned out it was for you, Sayaka. Boo hoo, I was so hurt. If Lin-kun thinks that highly of Sayaka, he must like Sayaka a lot."
By the end her voice had slid into an aggrieved, sulky whine, and hearing it left Sayaka Maizono tense from head to toe.
"N-no, he doesn't!"
"There's no way Mr. Lin likes me! The one he likes best is definitely you, Senpai!"
"Hardly."
But Ai Hoshino shook her head. "Compared to me, Sayaka, you're pretty and cute. Lin-kun would definitely like a girl like that more."
"Ah, ugh…"
Something else occurred to Sayaka Maizono at once. "There's no way I'd ever fall for Mr. Lin. Please don't worry, Senpai."
"Wha— Sayaka, are you looking down on Lin-kun?"
"Uh…"
Sayaka Maizono's mind ran straight into a dead end. "No, no, that's — I mean — Mr. Lin is very nice, but I'm not going to have that kind of romance. Right now I need to focus on becoming a professional idol."
That was the honest truth.
Sayaka Maizono wanted to become an outstanding idol as fast as she could — a dazzling, radiant one like Ai Hoshino.
For that, she had to pour all her energy and attention into it.
Which meant romance was something to be kept at a distance.
And more than that, an idol couldn't have a boyfriend or a romance at all. If it ever leaked, her career in the industry would be finished.
Not even the biggest stars were exempt. Cases like Mai Sakurajima's — a boyfriend exposed and her popularity rising instead of falling — were vanishingly rare, countable on one hand.
"You're the one who should be careful, Senpai. If fans see how close you and Mr. Lin are, it could really—"
"It's fine, I don't care."
Ai Hoshino shook her head. "Though Lin-kun and I aren't lovers or anything right now! Ha ha ha. I'd love to be Lin-kun's girlfriend, but… haaah."
"Li— Mr. Lin!"
All at once Sayaka Maizono spotted the figure walking toward them from below the stage.
She'd met Lin Ye before, so of course she recognized him.
She truly hadn't expected him to turn up today, and from the look of things he had probably been standing there for quite a while.
Ai Hoshino froze. The reflex to turn rose in her and was clamped down by reason.
Because Sayaka Maizono had pulled this exact trick on her more times than she could count, until she simply didn't believe it anymore.
"Hmph hmph. I'm not falling for it."
Ai Hoshino planted her hands on her hips. "This time, Sayaka, don't even think about tricking me."
"It's true, Mr. Lin really is here!"
"Nope, nope, I don't believe you."
Ai Hoshino straightened her back, not a trace of belief anywhere on her.
The look Sayaka Maizono aimed at Lin Ye carried a small measure of embarrassment and awkwardness.
Meanwhile Lin Ye braced his right hand on the stage edge, pushed lightly, and swung himself up, coming to stand behind Ai Hoshino.
Footsteps sounded behind her, but Ai Hoshino still didn't turn around. Turning now, she was sure, meant walking right into the trap and getting laughed at by Sayaka the way she had last time.
It was all just play between friends, but she truly didn't want to go through it again. She really… really didn't want to be taken in one more time.
And Lin Ye had already reached her back, looking at the slender, petite girl in front of him.
With every breath he caught that pleasant scent of hers, and something in him answered it.
Ai Hoshino was, after all, the first girl he'd met after crossing into this world.
And the girl he'd once spent a night with in a love hotel.
"Guess who."
Lin Ye covered Ai Hoshino's eyes with both hands, pitching his voice low.
But even without him speaking, the feel of those hands alone told Ai Hoshino exactly who had come.
The bickering mood she'd been in with Sayaka Maizono a heartbeat ago dissolved into pure, overflowing joy.
Lin Ye. It was Lin Ye!
The boy she liked had come all this way, out of nowhere, just to see her.
"Lin-kun!"
She spun around, heedless of everyone else present, threw her arms wide and hugged him with all her strength, pressing her delicate cheek to his chest and nuzzling it there.
She breathed in deeply at the same time, taking in that familiar scent, and it settled her more with every breath.
It was Lin Ye. Even without seeing his face, the familiar smell and touch were enough.
The man she thought about day and night, the one she loved.
"Lin-kun, waaah—"
Her hands fisted in his clothes, holding on tight.
"You came without telling me first."
Lin Ye stroked her back lightly with one hand. "Wouldn't be much of a surprise then, would it?"
"Then please have more surprises like this from now on."
Ai Hoshino wasn't shy about asking.
She didn't need to be. What she needed was Lin Ye beside her.
If Lin Ye weren't still in school, still attending high school in Chiba, she would honestly have wanted him in Tokyo, where the two of them could live together.
That way they could see each other every day, instead of waiting ages between meetings like this.
"Greedy."
"With Lin-kun I have to be greedy. If I'm not greedy, I'll never get my chance."
As she said it Ai Hoshino tilted her head up, gazing at his face, and an impulse surged through her.
A kiss. She wanted to kiss him.
Yes — she wanted to kiss him hard, to press her lips to the man in front of her and tell him through it how much she'd missed him, how much she cared.
Lin Ye didn't mind in the slightest.
But he'd noticed Sayaka Maizono standing right there.
He was afraid that once the kiss was over, the girl would be too mortified to show her face.
And of course there were others further off as well, including the manager. The manager knew about Lin Ye, and had been given instructions from higher up, so he had nothing to say about the two of them being close. He only hoped nothing would be discovered that might damage Ai Hoshino's career as an idol.
The girl closed her eyes, and when Lin Ye still didn't move she couldn't help opening them again, rising up onto her toes.
Sayaka Maizono's eyes went wide with shock.
She clapped both hands over them on reflex — then spread her fingers as wide as they'd go, her gaze landing on the two overlapping figures.
Her line of sight drifted upward, and she met Lin Ye's eyes.
Their gazes locked.
She let out a startled squeak and looked away at once — but curiosity dragged her eyes back a moment later all the same.
Ai Hoshino leaned in for the kiss, and before she reached him a single finger blocked her.
She kissed a finger.
"…"
Ai Hoshino stared at that finger, and it might as well have been a thousand miles of distance, separating her from Lin Ye completely.
"Lin-kun… you don't want to?"
The hurt in her was enormous.
She was wounded enough to cry.
"There are people right next to us."
That made Ai Hoshino blink.
People. Oh, right.
People — there were people all around. Not just Sayaka Maizono, but the rest of the group too.
Ai Hoshino's eyes swept sideways and found the figures tucked into the corner not far off, sneaking looks their way.
"Eep."
Embarrassment crashed over her in an instant.
Her arms loosened around him — then it struck her that letting go might leave Lin Ye with a bad impression, so she clamped down tight again.
And so she went back and forth, torn between holding on and letting go.
It was awful. It was mortifying.
But at least Ai Hoshino understood there was no kissing Lin-kun here.
"This is all your fault for showing up out of nowhere, Lin-kun."
"Fine, I'll leave. That work for you?"
With that, Lin Ye moved to push her away — but the cute girl with the long purple hair locked her arms around him instantly, giving him no opening at all.
"No."
Ai Hoshino refused.
"You're not allowed to go. I don't want Lin-kun to go."
She squeezed tighter, hanging off him outright, not the slightest chance of her letting go.
Lin Ye laughed helplessly.
"All right."
He patted her a couple of times. "Let go. Let's go get a late supper."
Late supper gave Ai Hoshino a moment's hesitation. But considering how rarely Lin Ye came out here, one supper wasn't a big deal. She could eat a little less afterward and exercise a little more, and burn tonight's calories right back off.
"Okay."
"Um… Senpai?"
Sayaka Maizono spoke up then.
She only meant to say goodbye and leave.
"Sayaka wants to come eat with us too?"
"Ah!"
All she'd wanted was to excuse herself first. How had it turned into coming along for supper?
"Sure, come with us! Lin Ye likes Sayaka quite a lot anyway, don't you?"
As she said it, Ai Hoshino tapped lightly on Lin Ye's back — a hint, a nudge.
The gesture was entirely outside anything Lin Ye had anticipated. He had no idea why she was doing it.
Did she actually believe he had feelings for Sayaka Maizono, and was trying to push them together?
But that made no sense. Ai Hoshino liked him. Since when did anyone play matchmaker between the man they loved and another woman?
It wasn't normal in the least, which was exactly why Lin Ye found himself curious about her reasons.
"I like Ai-chan more."
"Eep."
Ai Hoshino was delighted first — and then caught the implication buried in the sentence.
"I knew it, Lin Ye does have ideas about Sayaka! Waaah, I knew it, Lin-kun is a fickle playboy who tosses the old aside for the new."
She complained, though her tone leaned more toward pleased than anything.
"True enough. Ai-chan's an old woman already. No point making a special trip out here for an old woman anymore."
"Wh— hey! That's not— you can't just—!"
Ai Hoshino was aghast.
Off to one side, Sayaka Maizono had watched their whole exchange and been thoroughly amused by it.
Days like this, a way of being together like this — it must be so happy, so easy.
No wonder her Senpai liked Lin Ye.
If she had a boyfriend like Lin Ye, she thought she'd like him and treasure him too, and would want to be with him properly.
Sayaka Maizono's gaze lingered on Lin Ye's face.
It was a face you could call handsome, the kind that grew on you the longer you looked, and it left a deeper impression on her than before.
"Ai-chan is only sixteen! What part of that is old? I'm young and pretty, and I've got at least another twenty years!"
Ai Hoshino defended herself fiercely.
She was not old. Not the slightest bit old.
She kept her grip on him as she went on. "Lin-kun, you have to come see me from now on. If you don't, I'll go to Chiba and find you. I'll go to your school and camp outside your classroom door and let all your classmates and friends get a good look at you."
Ai Hoshino delivered it with a huff.
It wasn't beyond her to do such a thing — but in practice she never would.
Because she knew doing it would make Lin Ye dislike her, tire of her.
No man liked a woman who pulled extreme stunts like that. Even she didn't like women who did that, never mind other men.
"Go ahead."
Lin Ye's answer left Ai Hoshino stunned again.
She'd assumed he would refuse, maybe even glare at her. She hadn't imagined for a second that he would agree so easily.
"Though I can't make any promises about how Ai-chan gets treated when that happens, or what might follow."
His words were perfectly mild, but the glint in his eyes told Ai Hoshino she absolutely must not do it.
That was a line that would genuinely provoke Lin Ye.
"Then never mind, I won't go, it'd be boring anyway. I'll just wait here for Lin-kun and play with Lin-kun when he comes."
Unlike Haruno, Ai Hoshino accepted reality easily, then bent and compromised and made do.
In this relationship with Lin Ye, she had always been the one in the lower position, always the weaker side.
But what could she do? Ai Hoshino liked the boy standing in front of her, this boy named Lin Ye.
She was even willing to give up the idol career she loved for his sake.
…
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