Unsurprisingly, when Miyazawa Yuu poked his head around the stacks of junk, he saw that the guy parrot-mimicking and whimpering was indeed that punk, Kouhei.
This was strange. He was the only one who had offended his mother-in-law and been banished to "exile." Why wasn't this guy diving? Why was he here?
And...
"You bastard, when did you dye your hair? Did you finally realize the era where blond hair was the 'meta' answer is over?"
"Hello, sorry to bother you..."
"Hello?"
The punk in front of him turned around. His gaze was sincere, and his tone actually held a trace of timidness. It was the first time Yuu had heard Kouhei use honorifics with him. He frowned and walked quickly toward him.
Accompanying the screams, he placed a large hand on "Kouhei's" head and the other on his own for two seconds.
"Hmm... no fever. What the hell is going on? Did Aina reject your dyed hair? Is such a small thing worth coming here to whine about?"
"No... no, it's not that. I... you... your underwear!"
From a distance, it wasn't much, but until the stranger approached, Ichigoe Yuuichi didn't realize just how sturdy this guy was.
Setting aside the bulging muscles, the sheer "capital" the man projected outward with zero concern was enough to make him feel ashamed!
Yes, he had indeed wanted a person with an abnormal behavioral pattern to appear, but that didn't include a pervert who looked like he'd "lock onto a man" and leave him with zero power to resist!
"Panty? In this heat, of course I've 'disarmed.' Otherwise, I'd die of heatstroke! As for you..."
Narrowing his eyes, Yuu leaned in close to "Kouhei's" face, forcing eye contact. He found the fear was actually genuine!
This was impossible. Kouhei was definitely not the type to panic at the sight of a man's naked body, unless...
"Could it be, Kouhei... were you rejected by Aina? Over 'size' or something?!"
That was it! He wouldn't mistake that look—fear mixed with an inferiority complex. It looked exactly like the reaction of someone whose "assets" had been mocked, seeing a massive accumulation of capital.
Could it be that this guy made a move on Aina? In just two hours, he had done something so subhuman?! No wonder he was kicked out!
"Man~ you idiot. Daily life isn't a Galgame. Even if the favorability is high enough, you have to wait for the plot. Starting a 'raid' randomly is just too much!"
"Eh?"
Completely unable to understand what the naked man was talking about, Ichigoe Yuuichi just wanted to escape. But again, if what just happened was leaked by this guy, he'd be in trouble!
Japan's tolerance for entertainers is very low. If he was deemed to have no "backbone," his idol career would be over!
"Ugh... exactly! It's all my fault. I'll definitely fix it next time!"
A drop of cold sweat slid down his forehead. Thinking of this, he could only hope to stabilize the man.
Since this hunk thought he was someone else, he might as well use the name to protect his reputation!
And...
Looking at the guy who was so naturally naked, he smelled the scent of someone who would definitely go viral on a variety show. Aside from the nudity, maybe there was no harm in learning a bit?
"Um, what should I be doing right now?"
"Need you even ask?! Get over here and help me work! If everything isn't categorized by nightfall, Mother-in-law will be furious!"
Certain that the guy in front of him was Kouhei, Miyazawa Yuu flashed two middle fingers at the "idiot" pretending not to know, letting him reflect on the price of playing dumb!
He could finish the warehouse work on his own, but it would take until after dark!
Given he'd offended his mother-in-law, whether she'd even stay at the shop to wait for him was a question. Right now, their primary task was work! Work at any cost!
...
"What's going on? Is Ichigoe still not back?"
"Sorry, Ichigoe-san said he wanted to be alone for a bit, so we don't know where he went!"
At the beach set, the Director sat behind the camera. He had waited and waited but the lead was a no-show. Getting an answer that the guy was "playing the diva" and disappearing made him blow his top.
They had done so much preparation for Ichigoe's new persona—all to highlight his requirements as a professional diver!
The program was to be officially recorded tomorrow; today was the only time they had to film "behind-the-scenes footage." Was this guy crazy to go missing now?!
"Um, Director, please calm down. The makeup team said they saw Ichigoe-san going toward the warehouse shack alone!"
"The warehouse shack?"
The Director paused for two seconds, then remembered he had indeed—at Sayaka-san's request—assigned the heavy labor there to her "son-in-law."
Japanese parents are so strict nowadays. Giving a kid such heavy physical labor... even for a college student, it's a bit much!
Fortunately, that kid Yuu was tall and sturdy, built like he grew up eating fertilizer, so the Director felt safe letting him work in the shack alone.
"I see. Since the staff was pulled away, no one reported it..."
"Director, should we go get him back?"
"Of course! We can't start without the lead! And bring the camera. The footage needs to be realistic and dynamic, otherwise the audience won't buy it."
Lifting himself off his beach chair, the Director waved over a few trusted cameramen to follow him, hoping to capture some "real and spicy" footage.
Meanwhile, inside the warehouse, because the holes in the wooden roof were only covered with plastic sheets, the place was not only sweltering but also baking in the sun in certain spots!
Carrying bundles of timber, Ichigoe Yuuichi had the same question as Miyazawa Yuu: Is the lady boss of this shop keeping this junk to carve into beads and sell as souvenirs? Why not just throw it away!
He wasn't exactly pampered, but this intensity of work was beyond the pale!
"Hey, Kouhei! You alright?"
"Huff... I feel like I'm dying. Yuu, how are you still standing?"
Though only a few minutes had passed, Ichigoe Yuuichi was an idol after all. He quickly adapted to his current identity and replied without a hitch.
"Of course I'm fine. I say, is there something wrong with your head? It's hot like this—of course you'll be sweltering if you keep your clothes on!"
Carrying a crate of beer, Miyazawa Yuu returned from outside, looking at "Kouhei"—still wrapped in his jacket—with utter disgust.
Honestly, this guy is usually so open when there are lots of people around. Is he afraid he'll be "forced" if they're alone? He's a completely different species from that scum Iori!
"Alright! Stop being fussy. Take them off, now!"
"Wait! Aaa—"
With zero room for resistance, Ichigoe Yuuichi didn't even have time to finish his refusal. The Yuu in front of him just reached out and flicked his hands up and down, and he suddenly found all his clothes had vanished!
But just as he was halfway through a scream, a sea breeze blew in. As his "capital" fluttered in the wind, his sweat was rapidly evaporated by the moving air.
His armpits and certain other heavily wrapped areas were instantly covered by a refreshing coolness. A sense of freedom, as if he had ascended to heaven, struck his brain stem through his meridians.
"Ahhh~—! So refreshing!"
"So disgusting. Please stop making girl sounds, alright? You've been doing it since a moment ago..."
Shocked by "Kouhei's" face full of disgusting smiles, Miyazawa Yuu shivered. He reached back and jammed a freshly bought beer bottle into that still-moaning mouth.
"Gulp, gulp, gulp~ Ha! Heaven!"
As several gulps of beer went down, Ichigoe Yuuichi, who was usually opposed to drinking, was turned into a cross-eyed mess of bliss. The unhappiness of being "pressed into service" vanished instantly!
"Man~ I forgive you, you bastard. The junk is mostly organized, right? Then I'm heading back!"
"Chotto matte! Iori and the others will definitely be diving for a long time. It's useless to go back now! Help my mother-in-law tidy up the place. Labor isn't cheap around here!"
"Oh, that's very filial!"
...
"It's here. Honestly, this warehouse is a bit too remote. Where's Ichigoe?"
"Uh... Director..."
Near the warehouse, having crossed the green belt, the Director finally arrived near the shack with his team. But at his question, the young man leading the way had an awkward expression.
Looking back at the shack again, the crew member truly found it hard to describe what his eyes were seeing.
"Director-san, can our crew's eye drops be filed as a workplace injury?"
"Huh? What are you talking about? Of course not!"
Completely missing the crew member's subtle hint, the Director pushed past him and looked toward the distance. There, on the yellow beach, two piles of snowy white were shining brilliantly.
Sizzle!
The sound of eyes being corroded echoed. He quickly lowered his head and muttered a change of heart, "Actually, I think eye drops should be included in workplace injuries. Yamamoto, go file a report and get a reimbursement!"
"Di... Director..."
As top-tier professionals, the cameramen were shocked by the "naked men in the sunset," but they still quickly set up their gear and recorded the scene, while asking the boss for instructions.
"Shouldn't we... find someone to go warn Ichigoe? This isn't okay, right?"
"...No!"
Rubbing his brow, the Director finished digesting the signal from his retinas and slowly looked up. Two rays of wisdom shone from his weathered eyes—
"It's bizarre, but with some mosaics, it's usable. Besides, although the persona is weird, it's at least better than Ichigoe's 'plain handsome guy' persona! This might go viral. But if that's all..."
Gazing deeply at the two naked men below, he muttered to himself: "It's not enough. Not weird enough! Not unique enough!"
"I get it. Like those 'Naked and Afraid' shows in America, right?"
"Exactly. Just naked drinking has too little impact. To go viral, we need something even more intense!"
"Wait, Director! They're moving!"