Chapter 67: The Greasy Tokyo Pretty Boy
Hikaru Hoshino's grand "feeding plan" collapsed halfway through. After only two attempts at feeding him, Ai surrendered under the weight of his eager gaze and decided it was better for him to use his own hands.
The two strolled leisurely along the street, snacks in hand. Hikaru watched the girl with long purple hair at his side; her way of eating in small, delicate bites was genuinely captivating, and the smiles she flashed afterward were as bright as a colorful painting. The slight lingering regret in his heart quickly faded into peace.
"It's wonderful to see you two again. Are you enjoying the festival?"
A couple dressed in traditional yukatas approached them. The woman waved warmly at Hikaru and Ai.
The middle-aged man beside her added gently, "Since you've come from so far away, we hope you have a pleasant stay in Miyazaki."
While Hikaru was still in the process of identifying them, a high-energy voice rang out in his ear. "Mhm, we're having a great time!"
"That's good to hear. I heard the film crew was invited as special guests; I'm looking forward to your performance."
The couple shared a look, nodded, and went on their way.
"I don't think I know them," Hikaru said, rubbing his forehead.
"It's that shop assistant! Hikaru, your memory is so bad."
Hearing Ai's words, Hikaru's troubled expression shifted into a look of helplessness. In all his years, this was the first time anyone had said that about him.
Then again, Ai wasn't entirely wrong. He remembered so many things that cross-referencing for a match could be a chore. In a sense, that *did* look like a bad memory.
"So it was her," Hikaru mused. "But she looks different from my impression. She looked young the first time we met, then she seemed ten years older, and now she's a young girl again."
"That's just normal makeup skills. If you're interested, Hikaru, I could do yours too."
"Uh, I'll pass."
The *boom-boom* of drums continued to drift from the stage as the festival atmosphere grew more heated. Some people were even dancing right in the middle of the street.
"It looks like it's about that time." Hikaru checked his phone. "We should head over early to discuss details with the band members and check the equipment."
"Mnumph!"
Ai scooped a large spoonful of shaved ice into her mouth, answering with a muffled "Paji" sound.
Hikaru waited patiently for her to finish the ice before speaking. "Don't eat so fast; you'll get a stomachache later."
"I won't! I know a lot about things like ice cream."
"Do you feel like you could eat two more helpings?" Hikaru asked dryly.
"Of course I—!" Ai started to answer instinctively before catching herself after a few seconds. "Haha, I mean... um, we could buy two more to give to Aqua and the others."
"I've noticed you seem to prefer cold things," Hikaru teased. "Chugging ice pops at home and unable to pass by a shaved ice stall when we're out."
Ai's face flushed. "It's not that I like them *that* much. See, isn't the weather hot? Eating ice helps me relax!"
"I just hope there aren't any 'accidents' when you go on stage." Hikaru sighed, staring at a nearby restroom sign. "Do you need to go? I can wait for you here."
"Hikaru, you're so rude! Why do you always ask girls that kind of question?" Ai huffed lightly, handed all her snacks to him, and dashed toward the restroom. "But I'll go anyway, just so your 'kindness' doesn't go to waste."
When she returned, she was surprised to find Hikaru surrounded by a group of girls.
"You're from Tokyo, right?" a blonde girl asked boldly. Hikaru nodded with a brilliant smile. "Absolutely."
"Are you in university yet? Where at?" another girl with long black hair in a blue yukata asked curiously.
"To be honest, my deviation score has always been above 80. Last year, I was lucky enough to be admitted to a national comprehensive university in Japan."
"Isn't that Tokyo University?" "No way!" "That's amazing!"
The girls chattered excitedly until Norika Takegawa reached her limit and stepped forward.
They had originally been enjoying a quiet summer stroll, but after Norika spotted Hikaru, she muttered, "I think I've seen that guy somewhere," which prompted her high-school friends to egg her on to go talk to him.
She remembered Hikaru's face well—handsome guys tend to stay in the memory longer. She recalled seeing him with a purple-haired girl and two blonde kids. She had assumed they were a family, but looking at them now, that didn't seem likely.
Both Hikaru and the purple-haired girl looked so young that it was hard to imagine them having children. *Then again, you never know,* Norika thought. She knew all about her mother's makeup tricks; one could easily fake an external age.
"Don't lie," Norika said gloomily. "Why would a Todai student be wandering around a festival here? They should all be studying hard."
"That's a stereotype," Hikaru said solemnly. "Who says good students can't enjoy life? Though, I'm actually not at Todai. To be precise, I'm not a student at all. I hate to admit it, but I'm already a pathetic, boring member of society."
"Not at all! Hoshino-san, you're so witty; it's fun talking to you," the blonde girl from earlier praised immediately, pulling out her phone. "Can I add you on Line? I'm really curious about Tokyo."
That wasn't a total lie; she *was* interested in Tokyo, but she was far more interested in Hikaru.
A "pretty boy" of this caliber was something you'd never find at a local Miyazaki mixer! Just looking at him, he could pass for a male idol.
Hikaru pulled out his phone and added every girl who crowded around.
The girls continued to swarm him with questions, and he answered each in his own way. For a moment, the scene looked quite harmonious.
"In the future, I want to find a boyfriend as funny and charming as Hoshino-san!" one girl even declared publicly.
"Someone as handsome as Hoshino-san must have a girlfriend already, right?" another prodded subtly.
Meanwhile, Hikaru was actually thinking: *Do I have a girlfriend?*
If he said yes, he didn't exactly have one; if he said no, it didn't quite feel right either. In this situation, he couldn't just say he was a loser who had never dated—that was a social death sentence. It seemed that even if he didn't have one, he *had* to have one now! Hikaru made his decision.
He was just about to speak when a familiar voice came from behind him, accompanied by a cool, refreshing scent—like sea-salt ice cream.
Hikaru turned around smoothly.
Ai had her hands placed in front of her chest, fingertips touching to form a small steeple. She wore her signature 45-degree smile, and the two stars in her eyes were shining brilliantly.
"Everyone..." her voice paused. "What are you all chatting about?"
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