"I... I'm sorry! To have accidentally hurt you, I'm truly..."
With a ninety-degree bow, her long hair falling forward to cover her face, Muranaka Yukari pressed her hands together, eyes teary as she desperately apologized to her victim. The level of sincerity was so high that if the plot called for it, she could have played a wife performing a dogeza to save her husband's job without any issue!
"I am terribly sorry!"
"Aha~ it's fine, it was all just a misunderstanding!"
Smug. For some reason, he was just incredibly smug. Imamura Kohei, with red marks all over his face, let his "M-personality" explode with a hideously disgusting smile.
"Disgusting!"
"She's telling the truth!"
"Completely irrefutable!"
Unpleasant! For no reason at all, it was just very unpleasant. Yoshiwara Aina had the phrase "I was here first!" stuck in her throat. Kohei's attitude toward this seiyuu was far too making-her-jealous. Seeing that smug face—was being mistaken by a cute seiyuu really that making-him-happy!
"Ugh..."
Her cheeks puffed out instantly. However, this cute little display was like throwing a wink at a blind man; the overly dense Imamura Kohei didn't notice Aina's state at all.
Muranaka Yukari, a famous anime voice actress known for soft, moe, younger-sister type roles, was right in Kohei's "strike zone"!
"Anyway, this is Yukari, my fiancée, and also the surprise guest helping with today's recording!"
"Hello everyone, thank you for taking care of my fiancé, my name is Muranaka Yukari..."
Bowing again, Miyazawa Yuu felt that—excluding her slight neuroticism—the girl at least had very polite manners. She seemed quite normal...
"I have no hobbies. I hope everyone can stay away from my fiancé, otherwise I will die from a stomachache!"
"Never mind! As expected, there's a big problem!"
Clutching his forehead as he looked at Yukari's eyes flickering behind her bangs, Miyazawa Yuu regretfully took back his previous thought. As they say, one takes on the color of one's company. To hang out with the PaB club, you have to be at least a little "sick" to fit in. Exhibit A: the innocently suffering Ikekoshi Yuuichi.
"Forget it. Welcome! Welcome to Dolphin Diving Shop. We hope to provide you with the highest quality service!"
"Ah? Oh, right, welcome!"
"Our odd-jobs crew shouldn't have any lines. Cut this part out..."
"Tsk, go die!"
The responses were certainly varied. The director was hit with an "opening lightning strike" the moment he stepped through the door. Normally, if a shop clerk spoke to his lead actor like that, he would have exposed them! But when his gaze swept over Miyazawa Yuu, his stern expression softened.
"Isn't this the weird muscular guy from yesterday? Where did your muscles go? Are you twins?"
"Oh, Director, can we start filming?"
Being pulled into a shoulder-hug by the overly familiar older man, Miyazawa Yuu saw it was getting late. If they didn't start soon, they might run out of daylight!
"Mmm! No problem. Everyone follow what we discussed last night. Non-essential personnel, please clear the area!"
"Good luck, Ikekoshi. We're heading out."
"I'll kill you when you get back!"
"Kohei, be normal for once!"
Watching Imamura Kohei and the others leave noisily, Ikekoshi Yuuichi nodded to the director, then patted Muranaka Yukari's shoulder. "You go get your makeup done too. Remember to act surprised when it's time to go on!"
"Mmh! Yuuichi, just remember not to have contact with other women..."
With teary eyes, she nodded, then added with a heavy-handed smile: "Otherwise, I'll die with you, okay?"
...
The odd jobs were incredibly exhausting. Although Yuu had moved most of the junk to the outdoor warehouse yesterday, transporting various necessities still left the three of them—Iori, Kohei, and Aina—frazzled.
Three hours later, as they squatted by the shore panting for breath, the boat that had just gone out for diving actually returned!
"Oh? They seem to be back already! What happened?"
"I hope Ikekoshi fell into the sea to feed the fish, or Miss Yukari wants to break up with him!"
Resentful as a ghost, Imamura Kohei grumpily went to meet them. After all, unloading the boat was part of their job.
"Yuu, what happened? Why is it so noisy?"
"Kohei? Actually, there's been a small problem..."
Unable to stand the heavy atmosphere on the boat, Miyazawa Yuu stood on the deck with his hands on his hips, looking at Kohei and Iori. He spread his hands helplessly. "It's no good. No matter how we film it, we can't get the 'flavor' right!"
"The flavor?"
"Mmh!"
He pointed to Ikekoshi Yuuichi, who was sitting with his head buried in his legs, silent. Miyazawa Yuu could only say that however confident the guy had been when they set out, he was that depressed now.
It couldn't be helped. While Kohei was one of the less "perverted" characters in PaB, how could a mere human easily imitate a god? Yesterday, Yuu had interacted with him under the assumption he was Kohei, and Ikekoshi had only managed to capture a third of Kohei's essence with Yuu's prompting.
But now, after meeting the real Kohei, Ikekoshi couldn't maintain a calm mind, and his attempts to replicate yesterday's state had failed.
"I see. Makes sense. It would be weirder if someone could easily adapt to the PaB style."
"Mmh-mmh!"
Poking her head out, Yoshiwara Aina's eyes sparkled in agreement with Iori. Kohei was the bastard she had her eye on; he wasn't someone just anyone could copy!
"I've already said, you need to show the surprise of seeing an idol, and you're being too hesitant when stripping! Is it that hard to sit there without turning your knees inward?"
"Sorry! Mr. Director..."
"This was an excellent project. Missing this chance for a title sponsorship and promotion might really hurt your chances of a successful rebrand!"
"I understand..."
On the boat, Ikekoshi Yuuichi lowered his head and accepted the director's criticism, his heart bleeding as he suffered in silence...
Yesterday, he could display his muscles so naturally while fixing the roof because there was no audience; the only person there, Miyazawa Yuu, was even more unashamedly naked than him! But now, his fiancée was on the boat. To be told to strip naked by himself without any hesitation was asking for the impossible!
Was there no easier way to establish a persona?
"If you ask me, the 'otaku' persona is enough. You'll definitely get a lot of support!"
"How could it be that simple? The 'otaku' persona is overused. These days, if a Japanese entertainer doesn't have some otaku traits, it's like they're ignoring the market!"
"Really, Aina?"
"Mmh! After all, Japanese youth these days are practically all 'NEETs'~"
Aina nodded to Kohei. She was the only one among them who followed idols, so her words carried more weight than Yuu's. As a "solo-stan" for games and seiyuu, Kohei hadn't paid attention to the Japanese entertainment circle. To think his fellow enthusiasts were spread all over the country—what an honor!
"But it's all just a persona; people see what they want to see... what's wrong?"
The world wasn't as beautiful as Kohei thought. Miyazawa Yuu saw his expression and knew he was finding a "sense of belonging" again, so he poured cold water on him before Kohei could turn into an idol-chaser too.
Just then, he felt a couple of pokes on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw Ikekoshi Yuuichi looking troubled with his head down, and instantly understood.
"You want me to strip with you? No problem, easy!"
Sh-sh! Healthy muscles gleamed in the sunlight. Muranaka Yukari, standing behind her boyfriend, felt a wave of heat and let out a scream: "Kyaa!"
"You bastard! You stripped instantly in front of Miss Yukari! I'll kill you!"
"Kohei, you're letting your bias for women cloud your friendship!"
Inhaling, the muscles in his neck expanded. Miyazawa Yuu easily shrugged off the terrifying glare and choking grip of the "teleporting" Kohei. As the latter's hands were shaken off, the corners of his mouth curled into a slight, mocking arc—little Kohei actually wanted to be a hero against him? Laughable! Laughable!
"How about it, Yuuichi? Shall we try again?"
"...Um, Yuu, actually that was only part of the request!!"
A task progress bar (1/2) appeared in his mind, but it wasn't enough! Gritting his teeth, his resolve hardened behind his sunglasses. Ikekoshi Yuuichi didn't hesitate any longer; he bowed deeply and shouted his final request: "Mr. Kohei, if you take the lead, it will definitely work! Please stand in for me to complete the debut of this rebranding!"
"Eh?"
"Wait! But Yukari has scenes with Mr. Ikekoshi, right?"
Before Kohei could react, a small figure blocked the space between him and Ikekoshi Yuuichi. Her brain had never moved so fast—Yoshiwara Aina immediately raised the most fatal question.
"Is Miss Yukari okay with that? I mean, acting as a couple with someone who isn't her boyfriend!"