Jealousy is something everyone carries to some degree.
And a woman's jealousy burns hotter still.
School bullying in Japan can be brutal when girls are the ones doing it, especially at the High School Student age.
And idols of Ai Hoshino's age happen to be right in the middle of adolescence, their bodies still growing.
Bodies maturing, hormones surging, minds restless.
With Ai Hoshino singled out for special treatment again and again, it wasn't out of the question that the other girls would grow jealous, or even do something extreme.
Even if the girls never showed it, all that bottled-up resentment would eventually take its toll.
Ai Hoshino was outstanding, gifted, an idol at the height of her popularity, and she could climb higher still.
You could say Ai Hoshino would bring in more revenue, but the hidden risks that came with her were just as considerable.
So for the people running the agency, rather than chase that money, they'd rather lower the risk and avoid provoking anyone.
As for profits, it was better to cultivate other new idols who had no backing, no powerful man's eye on them. Far easier to manage.
Naturally, they couldn't simply propose sending Ai Hoshino away either. That would offend even more people. All they could do was hope that one day Ai Hoshino would want to leave on her own, that she'd tire of being an idol.
That way everyone could breathe easy. That was their thinking.
In practice, though, it was hopeless. Ai Hoshino loved this job. She loved that moment under the spotlight, standing on stage with every eye on her.
Ai Hoshino wasn't in it for the money, she was in it for the dream. Getting her to walk away on her own, to give up her idol career, was about as likely as climbing to heaven.
Of course, Sayaka Maizono had never once entertained the idea that Ai Hoshino leaving would be her chance to soar.
She had always had Ai Hoshino's attention, always been looked after. Without Ai-senpai watching over her, life would have been miserable, and she'd never have gotten a chance to stand on stage the way she had.
All of it came down to Ai Hoshino. Sayaka Maizono understood that much.
So if Ai Hoshino left, life would turn hard for Sayaka Maizono. She'd be bullied for real, and there would be every kind of casting couch waiting.
That sort of thing was everywhere.
The moment Sayaka Maizono thought about that casting couch, the pressure crashed down on her.
The pressure she'd felt last night made her realize how likely it was that she'd face exactly that someday.
Without backing, in her current situation, sooner or later they'd chew her up and leave nothing behind.
As for becoming a top idol, bringing the company enormous profits, and using that to stay untouched, honestly, Sayaka Maizono didn't really believe it.
Even huge stars got put on the casting couch. Plenty of them. Let alone an idol like her.
The entertainment industry was riddled with it. In a business built on handsome men and beautiful women, it was unavoidable.
And if she wanted to avoid it… then…
Either she left this world entirely, or she found backing that made people think twice…
In the end, Sayaka Maizono realized that all roads led back to finding someone. There was no other way.
And once again, Sayaka Maizono's thoughts landed on Lin Ye. Of everyone she knew, only Lin Ye had that kind of power.
The others… had no chance at all.
Sayaka Maizono's feelings tangled up inside her.
What kind of situation was this?!
How had she ended up discovering that the only person she could turn to was Lin Ye?
Of course, it wasn't that Sayaka Maizono had never considered asking Ai Hoshino for help, but why on earth would Ai-senpai go that far for her?
There was simply no reason to.
She and Senpai were close, but not close enough for Senpai to go head to head with the agency's executives on her behalf.
Sayaka Maizono hadn't even agreed to Senpai's request. Last night, when Senpai asked that of her, she'd refused. She'd refused to become Senpai's most intimate sister, so how could she possibly turn around and ask Senpai for something more?
And she had no right to ask, not after that.
If she did open her mouth and ask, what would she offer in return?
Senpai would surely bring up that request again.
Sayaka Maizono let out a sigh.
Meanwhile, faced with Ai Hoshino's request, Lin Ye naturally turned her down.
"Ai-chan, I've got plans both days this weekend."
One sentence, and Ai Hoshino's hopes shattered.
So Lin-kun really had come to Tokyo to meet someone else, not for her.
Who could it be?
A figure she wasn't particularly fond of rose in her mind.
"Is... is it her?"
Ai Hoshino didn't say the name, but Lin Ye already understood.
Who else could it be but Mai Sakurajima?
"Yeah."
Lin Ye said it plainly.
There was no need to lie. Since Ai Hoshino had already guessed, he might as well admit it outright. There was no point in denying it now, and besides, Lin Ye had never intended to lie in the first place.
Ai Hoshino, as she was now, could handle this much just fine.
Ai Hoshino let out a faint sigh. She'd already been certain of it, but honestly, in that moment, she still wished Lin-kun would have lied to her, just this once.
Sometimes a lie meant he cared.
But Lin Ye's indifferent expression left her with nothing to do but accept it.
Still, at least her relationship with Lin-kun had moved forward.
At least she'd earned Lin Ye's acknowledgment.
And the most important thing of all, she knew, was that things between Lin-kun and those two women hadn't gone all the way yet.
Lin Ye had told her that himself, directly. There was no reason for him to lie, and if anything, lying would have made her happier, since it would mean he cared about her feelings and didn't want to upset her.
So Ai Hoshino was certain this was the truth.
Next time, she told herself, she would seize her chance and claim the first time for herself.
Last night had been the best opportunity, but she'd missed it, let it slip away.
Now she regretted it bitterly.
Next time, she wouldn't let it go.
The exchange between the two had been brief, and Sayaka Maizono looked on blankly, but the expression on Ai Hoshino's face made her think of someone.
Mai Sakurajima. That big star.
So Lin Ye was going to meet Mai Sakurajima this weekend!
This... this... how many people out there would envy that.
Even she, another girl, felt a pang of envy.
Honestly, she'd always wanted to meet Mai Sakurajima in person, had never had the chance, and yet Lin Ye could already meet her in real life, go on dates with her, hold her hand while strolling around, enjoying life together.
That... that really was something to envy.
"It's about time, I'll head out now."
"Mm, Lin-kun, stay safe out there."
She said it with a bright smile.
No matter how much gloom and heartache churned inside her, when it mattered, she still had to put on a smile, still had to let Lin Ye see her at her most beautiful.
"Stay safe."
Sayaka Maizono added her own words too.
It was understanding, but it was also something she needed to do for herself, no matter what, to keep her relationship with Lin Ye on solid ground.
Even though yesterday's events had put a small crack between the two of them, she still had to see to what she needed to do.
"See you."
Lin Ye left.
The door swung shut behind him.
The apartment now held only Ai Hoshino and Sayaka Maizono.
Neither girl said a word. The apartment fell completely silent.
...
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