"Ohayou~!"
In front of the camera, Hoshino Ai slid into view like she was skating.
"Hello everyone! I'm temporary reporter Hoshino Ai from Nippon TV. You can call me Ai-chan."
"I'm currently standing in front of Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture."
"Today is the final match of Koshien, and as you can see, it's packed with people."
Her last interview with Takashi went unexpectedly viral, gaining great reception. Seeing that, Nippon TV decided to collaborate with her again.
Once might be a fluke.
Though still on a temporary contract, Hoshino Ai believed repeated engagements could lead to a long-term partnership.
Nippon TV, being one of the Big Five private broadcasters with wide coverage and high-quality content, would give her the exposure she needed.
Hoshino Ai treasured this opportunity.
She understood that if she wanted to survive in the Japanese entertainment industry, she had to transform.
Idol work wouldn't last forever.
Japanese idols typically retire between 20–30 years old. It's a youth-based career.
After that, looks fade, audience interest wanes, and most idols consider retiring or switching fields.
Though only 15, Hoshino Ai knew the window for success was often much shorter.
Idol life is brutally competitive. New groups debut daily, and many dissolve just as quickly. Small agencies like B-Komachi rarely survive beyond 3–5 years.
Time was running out for B-Komachi.
She had to strike while she was still hot.
"Now, let's randomly interview someone from the crowd."
As she spoke, Hoshino Ai scanned the area.
She had to choose the interviewee carefully.
Her eyes landed on a tall blonde girl with a stunning silhouette and long legs.
She couldn't see the girl's face, but her instincts screamed: Interview her. You won't regret it.
She quickly approached the girl and greeted her sweetly, "Hi! I'm from Tokyo TV—Hoshino…"
As she spoke, Hoshino Ai suddenly fell silent.
Because she recognized who this woman was.
"Eh? Interviewing me? Wait, I'm not ready yet! Gojo-kun, help me check if my makeup is okay!"
"Don't worry, Kitagawa-san, it's perfect."
"Whew, that's a relief."
Looking at Kitagawa Marin, Hoshino Ai wasn't sure if she was lucky or not.
She'd randomly picked Takashi's rumored girlfriend.
No—if it was Takashi, maybe it wasn't just a rumor.
"Okay, I'm ready. Let's do this."
Marin was not the shy type. She quickly composed herself.
"My name is—"
"Kitagawa-san, can I ask what's your relationship with Kitahara-kun?"
Hoshino Ai cut in, handing over the mic.
"Eh? Do you know me? Have we met before?"
Marin looked at her in surprise.
'Know you? Every girl connected to Takashi has been exposed online. It's basically a never-ending tabloid scandal.'
Hoshino Ai thought to herself, but simply smiled.
"Well… my relationship with Kitahara-kun?"
Marin didn't dwell on it. She gave a shocking answer after a moment: "He's my master, I guess."
Hoshino Ai: "…Huh???"
Was that something you could just say out loud?
This was a public broadcast, not a place to flaunt your kinks. You're going to corrupt the kids watching this.
"I'm telling you, Kitahara-kun really knows how to play—he can make your body and soul go all whoooo—hey, where are you going?!"
Hoshino Ai turned and walked away.
Cursed!
She'd just interviewed a certified thirst trap from the simping circle.
She doubted this clip would even air.
A few steps later, Hoshino Ai had a sudden thought: if Takashi was her "master," then who was the guy standing next to her?
Another "servant"?
That poor guy…
She wandered on, looking for her next interview subject, and her eyes soon landed on a short-haired, pretty girl with delicate features.
"Hi, can I interview you for a moment?"
Yasuraoka Hanabi glanced at Hoshino Ai's press badge, thought for a moment, then nodded slightly.
"What's your name?"
"Yasuraoka Hanabi."
"May I ask which team you're here to support?"
"Aoba."
"Who's your favorite player on the Aoba team?"
"I don't have a favorite, but someone on Aoba likes me."
"Oh? Who?"
"Kitahara Takashi."
Hoshino Ai's expression froze like an old man discovering smartphone emojis on the subway.
"Who did you say?"
"Kitahara Takashi, what's wrong?"
Yasuraoka Hanabi blinked her autumn-water-like eyes quickly, sparkling with little lights.
"Pfft!"
Hoshino Ai couldn't hold back a laugh.
Takashi likes you?
What's he into, poverty or short hair?
What do you have that would attract him?
She didn't even dare imagine that Takashi would like her.
"What do you mean?"
Yasuraoka Hanabi frowned, suspecting that Hoshino Ai was mocking her.
Thank goodness Hoshino Ai didn't say it aloud, otherwise she definitely would've told Yasuraoka Hanabi not to be so naïve.
"Takashi likes you?"
Someone else voiced what Hoshino Ai couldn't say.
Yasuraoka Hanabi turned her head and saw a flashy gyaru not far away—hair tied in a bun, earrings dangling, a huge bow on her chest, and a smoking-hot figure.
"And why couldn't he like me?"
Yasuraoka Hanabi asked coldly.
"Did he tell you himself that he likes you?"
Watanabe Akari didn't believe for a second that Takashi would go for someone as plain and watery as Yasuraoka Hanabi.
If she lost to Hitomi, Narii, or Umaru, she could accept that.
Because she truly wasn't a match for those girls.
But to lose to Yasuraoka Hanabi? Absolutely unacceptable.
Come on, tell me—what makes you better than them?
Are you prettier than me? Are your boobs bigger? Are you hotter?
What gives you the right to attract him?
Just because you're cute?
Sorry, but cute means nothing when it comes to personality.
Even she couldn't win him over—you think you can?
Go cut some keys, girl.
"No, but he approached me first."
Yasuraoka Hanabi felt Takashi must like her a little—otherwise, why would he add her contact?
"I get it, I get it. A guy asks for directions and you think it's flirting. Helps with your suitcase and you think he has a crush on you. Shrimp-head girls be like that~"
Watanabe Akari's best friend, Ohashi Natsumi, jumped in to help.
"Who are you calling shrimp-head?!"
Watanabe Akari wasn't the only one with friends—Yasuraoka Hanabi had hers too.
Sanae Ebato stared daggers at the trio.
"She wasn't even talking about you—why are you so pressed?"
Takamiya Sachi joined the bickering.
"Ha? Pressed about what?"
"See? You're pressed again!"
Hoshino Ai didn't say anything, just whispered under her breath: "Fight, fight…"
If a fight broke out, the viewership would spike.
As the quarrel escalated and a brawl seemed imminent, someone shouted:
"Aoba's bus is here!"
In the next second, the whole crowd surged toward the Aoba team bus.
"Step back! Everyone back!"
A police officer shouted loudly.
But it was no use.
The crowd swarmed toward the bus, forcing the Japanese police to raise riot shields to hold them back.
SCREECH!
The bus came to a halt, and the door opened.
The Aoba coach got off first.
Then came Takashi.
It was obvious he had dressed up today.
His hair was slicked back in a dragon whisker style, sunglasses perched on his head, wireless earbuds in his ears, wearing an Italian-cut school uniform suit as he stepped off the bus like a celebrity on a red carpet.
And honestly?
Takashi was already decently good-looking. All dressed up like that?
Handsome—that was the only word for it.
The fans on site went wild at his appearance, especially the girls who screamed even louder.
"Kitahara! I'm your fan!"
"Gege, I love you!"
"Big bro, I'm your fangirl! I don't mind being your lover! Want some fried rice noodles?"
Fried noodles?
Takashi shot a quick glance at the girl. Not gonna lie—she was kinda cute.
If it were before, he definitely would've gotten her contact info.
He loved spoiling fans, after all.
But not anymore.
Now that he had fame, too many eyes were on him. Even if it was offered freely, he couldn't accept it.
A bit of a shame.
But maybe that's the price of fame.
Takashi quickly looked away and walked straight ahead, aloof and unbothered.
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