The streets of Tokyo shimmered with neon lights. As the largest city in Asia and the political, economic, and cultural center of the country, most Tokyoites had no qualms about labeling anywhere outside the city as the countryside.
Just as Sarina Tendouji could proudly say that her parents worked in the heart of Tokyo, for many people, Tokyo had transcended being just a city. It had become a unique, prestigious cultural symbol.
And everything associated with Tokyo naturally carried an air of superiority—not just people, but even animals.
"No matter how many times I see her, Princess Xiangxiang is absolutely adorable, right? Right?"
In a fast-food restaurant near Ueno Station, four girls around twelve or thirteen years old were sitting around a table. One of them, a round-faced girl, excitedly brought up the topic.
The Princess Xiangxiang she mentioned was the panda at Ueno Zoo. As the offspring of the Chinese pandas "Bili" and "Xiannu," Xiangxiang had spent her entire life in Ueno Zoo.
Thanks to this unique background, Tokyoites saw her as having genuine "Tokyo pedigree." Not only was her name chosen through a public vote, but many people affectionately added the title "Princess" when referring to her.
Ah, the exclusivity of it all.
"She really is adorable."
"Even though the line was long, I got some great photos."
The other two girls chimed in.
"Let's hope the panda brings us some good luck. B-Komachi will definitely become Tokyo's best idol group!" The round-faced girl placed her hand over her heart, closing her eyes in a prayer-like gesture.
"By the way, Ai-chan, is this your first time seeing a panda?"
"Huh?"
The girl who had been silent and not participating in the conversation heard her name and looked up in confusion. Her eyes, a mesmerizing blend of sapphire and ruby, always left people in awe, as if they held the stars themselves.
"Um... Watanabe, yes, it's my first time."
"I'm Takamine Kazu! Are you in elementary school, Ai-chan? How can you still not remember names?"
Takamine laughed at Ai's cluelessness, then pointed to the other two girls:
"This is Fuyuko Niino, and that's Watanabe, Watanabe Seiko."
"We're all members of the same idol group now."
Takamine raised the index finger of her left hand and pressed the index, middle, and ring fingers of her right hand against it, forming the shape of a "B":
"B-Komachi!"
"Clap, clap—"
Watanabe and Fuyuko Niino joined in, clapping along.
As the newly formed middle school idol group under Ichigo Pro, the four girls, all aged twelve to thirteen, had been personally selected by the agency's president, Ichigo Saitou.
Unlike the Showa era, when idols were treated like treasured children, carefully nurtured and protected by their agencies, Japan's idol industry had undergone a seismic shift since the rise of a man named Akimoto Yasushi.
A flood of idol groups of varying quality debuted one after another. While most faded into obscurity within a year or two, leaving no trace, every year, an astonishing number of girls still threw themselves into idol auditions.
To be honest, Ichigo Pro wasn't a particularly well-known agency, but it was at least legitimate. Plus, having heard rumors of overnight success stories, Takamine Kazu, who had previously worked as a model for a middle school fashion magazine, decided to join this project.
"By the way, how did the job I recommended for Ai-chan go? Did it go well?"
Takamine Kazu was a forward-thinking girl. She knew that the most important position in an idol group was the center, so from the very beginning, she had been working on building relationships within the group.
For example, she had helped Hoshino Ai, a girl from a poor, even dire, background, find a job.
"Ahaha... I didn't get it, and I think I caused some trouble for the staff."
Hoshino Ai answered nervously, fumbling as if she was about to stand up and apologize to Takamine.
"You know, Ai-chan's airhead persona might actually be really popular."
"Even though her face looks mature, she gives off this... vibe of lacking common sense?"
Watanabe and Fuyuko Niino both laughed, the atmosphere seeming quite harmonious.
"Hey, should we create a shared blog account? Like an official one! Everyone can post their own content."
Takamine suddenly proposed this idea, and Watanabe and Fuyuko Niino thought it sounded fun. Hoshino Ai, who had no idea what a blog was, just nodded along.
She bit into her hamburger, watching the three girls excitedly create the account.
Although she had been tricked into becoming an idol by a strange man who offered her a matcha Frappuccino, Hoshino Ai still didn't fully understand her job.
"The account name will be B-Komachi-official. As for the password... how about 45510?"
"Huh? Does 45510 have any special meaning?"
"It's the numbers corresponding to the first letters of our last names on a phone keypad. That way, every time we log in, it'll feel like the four of us are connected forever."
Takamine explained smoothly, as if she had thought of it in advance, earning herself some goodwill points from Fuyuko Niino and Watanabe.
"Takamine, Fuyuko Niino, Ai, Watanabe."
"4—5—5—1—0."
"Account created!"
Takamine excitedly showed the blank page on her phone. Though it was empty, the emptiness itself perhaps symbolized a new beginning and a promising future.
"How should we write the self-introduction?"
"We're the middle school idol group B-Komachi! Friendship, effort, and our goal is to be number one! How's that?"
"Sounds more like a slogan from a shonen manga..."
"Then how about just listing all our names?"
"Simple, but not bad."
Hoshino Ai finished her hamburger and started nibbling on her fries. She wanted to remind the others that the fries in their combo meals were getting cold and soggy, but seeing how excited they were, she held back.
It was like they had all moved into a new house together, busy cleaning, decorating, and arranging furniture, while she just stood there watching. She wanted to join in but didn't know what to do.
But cold fries really aren't as good as hot ones.
"Hmm... Next, let's follow some accounts. First, our agency's official blog—total visits: 450. So low... ugh."
"Totally looks like no one's paying attention."
"Think of it this way: the agency will pay more attention to our group then."
Takamine comforted and encouraged the others while navigating her phone to another account's page.
[Kitagawa Ryo—Actor affiliated with LALALAI Theater (Verified)]
[Posts: 147]
[Total visits: 341,789,488]
[Visits yesterday: 245,489]
[Went to Miyazaki today. The air is fresh, and the scenery is beautiful. (Photo) (Photo) (Photo)]
One photo of the sky, one of the forest, and one selfie of Kitagawa Ryo. Though it had only been posted ten minutes ago, the comments had already reached an astonishing 10,000.
[Ryo, Ryo, my baby, come to Mama's arms!]
[Kiss kiss my little baby, Miyazaki has strong UV rays, remember to wear sunscreen!]
[Since Ryo's in Miyazaki, why not visit Kumamoto too? First, Kumamoto has Mount Aso; second, Kumamoto has Kumamon; third, I'm in Kumamoto, I'm in Kumamoto, I'm in Kumamoto...]
[This trip to Miyazaki seems to be for promoting a new movie. I hope Ryo's next movie is a hit! I'll be first in line to support it at the theater!]
"Wait, Kazu-chan, are you a fan of Ryo too?"
"I became an idol hoping to work with Ryo someday."
Takamine smiled as she followed Kitagawa Ryo's account with their new profile.
"If we get to work with Ryo, that means we'll have become a pretty famous idol group, right?"
Watanabe Seiko replied with a grin.
"By the way, didn't LALALAI Theater recently start some kind of WorkShop (acting training program)? I heard there's a chance to meet Ryo there. He's their star actor, after all."
"Don't even mention it... The spots are impossible to get. Besides internal recommendations, only the most talented people can get in. At the end of the day, idols and actors are just different."
Takamine said with a hint of frustration.
Then, after beating around the bush for so long, Takamine finally revealed her true intention:
"Um... if the president asks us to recommend who should be the center later, even though it's a bit embarrassing, I hope you'll all choose me."
After all, she was just a twelve-year-old girl, so she couldn't help but feel a bit shy. She looked at the others with a mix of hope and nervousness.
Takamine knew very well that even within an idol group, resources and attention were unevenly distributed. If she could secure the center position, she would easily become the focal point on stage.
Hoshino Ai had finished her fries. She carefully tucked an extra packet of ketchup she had asked the server for into her pocket, planning to take it home.
Abandoned by her mother and raised in an orphanage, Hoshino Ai was currently living in an apartment rented for her by President Ichigo Saitou. Before her idol work officially began, her income was meager, and life wasn't easy.
"What about you, Ai-chan?"
When Hoshino Ai snapped out of her thoughts, she realized all three girls were looking at her. Besides Takamine, the other two had already raised their hands, seemingly voting in favor.
"I..."
Just as Hoshino Ai was about to raise her hand in agreement, Ichigo Saitou's call came through.
The founder of B-Komachi and president of Ichigo Pro announced in a matter-of-fact tone:
Hoshino Ai would be the center of B-Komachi. Additionally, to receive systematic stage and acting training—
She would be sent to LALALAI Theater's acting workshop.
The gathering that had started with pandas ended on a less than harmonious note. Hoshino Ai, who had been blatantly favored, suddenly seemed to the others like she had been pretending to be clueless all along. They each made excuses and left.
In the end, only Hoshino Ai remained.
She didn't dislike the other three members of B-Komachi. If possible, she even hoped to become friends with them. Even if they treated her like the airhead character, it was fine.
Perhaps President Saitou was right. Maybe sometimes lies were necessary to build relationships based on love.
Next time they met, she would try to be more approachable and join in their conversations.
Hoshino Ai blinked her dazzling eyes and clasped her hands together, asking the fast-food employee who came to clean the table:
"Could you pack up the remaining hamburgers for me? They're too embarrassed to ask, so they left it to me. Really, there's no need to be so shy."
Carrying the paper bag of leftovers, Hoshino Ai walked out of the fast-food restaurant alone.
The bus stop's billboard featured an advertisement for children's toothpaste endorsed by Kitagawa Ryo. While waiting for the bus, Hoshino Ai turned around and consciously imitated the smile of the child in the poster.
She adjusted the corners of her mouth to match his.
Hoshino Ai thought she had made a pretty good expression. She gently stroked the paper bag in her hands, feeling that her mood today wasn't too bad.
After all, even if the hamburgers were cold, they probably wouldn't have glass shards in them.
But if there were glass shards, could she go back to the store and demand compensation?
Like a never-expiring meal voucher?
No, no, after becoming an idol, she probably wouldn't go hungry like before. That wish was too ordinary.
But then again, were there really idols like her? Sly and dirty, even though President Saitou had told her from the start that she would be the group's center.
But she hadn't told Watanabe Seiko about it, letting her build unnecessary hopes only to be disappointed.
Wait, was it Watanabe? What was that girl's name again?
Fuyuko Niino? Or Takamine?
As always, she couldn't remember names or faces.
It had started in the orphanage. Everyone's faces seemed blurry, maybe because she thought remembering them was pointless?
What if she couldn't remember fans' names during handshake events? Wouldn't that be awkward?
The bus arrived. Lost in thought, Hoshino Ai boarded and found a seat by the window.
Her reflection appeared in the glass.
So cute.
Hoshino Ai tilted her head, staring at herself.
But it was only her appearance that was cute.
Whether you split "cute" into "able to love" or "able to be loved," she couldn't do either.
She had no one to love and had never been loved.
From that perspective...
Her cuteness only highlighted her wretchedness.
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Will be uploaded more tomorrow. So stay tuned.