Chapter 68: Something of an Entertainment Pro
"I've been meaning to ask—what exactly is the relationship between this older sister and Hoshino-kun?"
Norika Takegawa's gaze turned pointedly inquisitive. She took a natural step forward, closing the distance to Hikaru as she pressed for an answer.
Hikaru subtly retreated half a step and answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world: "Probably... very good friends, I guess?"
Since they were scheduled to perform soon, neither of them had made a conscious effort to disguise their identities today. The festival was a sea of people; everywhere you looked, there were young men and women in yukatas, their features enhanced by heavy makeup to an average "visual score" of well over 80. As a result, the two were submerged in a tide of handsome faces, making them less conspicuous than usual—so much so that no fans had recognized them yet.
However, that didn't mean he could ignore a potential PR crisis. If he publicly admitted they were dating and someone happened to snap a photo, they'd likely be pinned to the top of the trending topics by tomorrow morning.
Moreover, Hikaru wasn't lying.
At this stage, he and Ai truly couldn't be called a couple. As for the only other label that might fit... he certainly couldn't say "ex-husband," could he?
"Hikaru is a fan of mine," Ai said with a radiant smile.
She walked over gracefully and took her place by Hikaru's side. Watching from the corner of his eye, Hikaru noted that Ai had seamlessly entered her unique "Idol Mode."
*Her professional business persona is far too polished. It seems the road to getting Ai to 'graduate' from being an idol is still a long and arduous one,* Hikaru thought.
"A fan? What's that about? Are you some kind of super popular star or something?" the blonde girl joked, finding Ai's phrasing odd. "I know all the famous celebrities in the industry. If one actually stood in front of me, I'd definitely recognize them in a heartbeat."
"Oh boy, here she goes again." "Is this what a fangirl is like? Scary." "But you probably don't know many idols, do you?"
"What is there to like about idols? It's just singing and dancing. Their professional skills can't compare to actual singers and dancers; they just have pretty faces."
Seemingly harboring a deep prejudice against idols, the blonde girl curled her lip and began to critique the entire industry.
Norika Takegawa thought to herself: *She's just jealous, she just doesn't dare say it out loud.*
"Idols still have a lot of charm. The way they shine on stage... just watching them can give people a real boost," Hikaru offered.
He seemed to be countering her argument, but in reality, his gaze remained fixed on Ai until the girl, unable to withstand the intensity of his stare, turned her head away.
"You look like a total 'normie,' but your tastes are actually super lame. Only otaku like idols. Why don't I introduce you to some high-quality stars? You'll definitely like them better," the blonde girl said enthusiastically. The other girls looked a bit helpless but didn't say much, occasionally nodding along. It was clear she was the leader of this little clique.
As they began discussing the inner workings of the entertainment world, Hikaru found it uninteresting and was preparing to take his leave when he heard a name that caught his attention.
"If we're talking about singers who have been rising lately, it has to be Hikari. Have you heard his song *Dry Flower*? It feels so full of story, like a heartbreak anthem. I wonder what his actual dating history is like," said a girl with short chestnut hair wearing a pale pink yukata.
Another girl nearby chimed in immediately: "I've heard of him too, but don't you think he has too few songs? Is he still a rookie?"
"Not sure," the short-haired girl shook her head. "I don't know much either; I just heard it by chance and thought the song and the voice were both great."
The blonde girl, feeling she had drifted from the center of the conversation, tried to jump back in. "Sounds decent. But stanning a rookie singer like that... feels like an investment, right? Like a 'growth-type' artist? I guess I'll check out his songs when I get back."
Hikaru found this quite amusing and couldn't help but interject: "Actually, his channel already has nearly 600,000 subscribers. Getting in now isn't exactly 'early investment.'"
"That many?" The high school girl gasped, quickly letting out a couple of coughs to hide her loss of composure. "How do you know so much? Don't tell me you're a fan of his, too."
"Of course," Hikaru said smugly. "You know, he's really a special kind of singer. Great voice, very talented, and incredibly handsome. I honestly can't find a reason *not* to fan him."
"Have you heard the song *Idol*? Oh wait, you probably wouldn't know—you don't follow the idol world."
The chestnut-haired girl raised her hand. "I know it! It's that super popular song the national idol Ai performed for the first time at her Tokyo Dome concert. It's basically her signature track now."
Hikaru picked up the thread immediately: "That song was also written by Hikari. To produce multiple hits in such a short time... clearly, he has unparalleled potential."
"He wrote that song too?" Surprise flashed across the chestnut girl's face. "That's an amazing track record. Doesn't that mean every single work he's released so far is a massive hit? He's a total genius. Now I really have to check him out."
"Indeed, indeed."
The blonde girl, as if discovering a new continent, chimed in with a sigh: "Hoshino-san, you really are a pure fan. You look so happy when your favorite artist is praised, it's almost like you're the one being complimented!"
"Uh..."
"I thought you were just a hardcore 'solo-stan' for idols. To be honest, part of the reason I don't like idols is because of their fans." The girl began to shift her fire. "I've seen recordings of those handshake events. The state of those fans... how should I put it? It's too fanatical. It makes you wonder if they're all harboring disgusting fantasies about the idols on stage."
"Sorry," the blonde girl suddenly realized she had accidentally blurted out her true thoughts. Her face reddened as she covered her mouth. "I said too much."
"While I don't completely agree with your view on idol fans, there certainly are some extremists among them," Hikaru nodded in agreement. "The idols themselves obviously don't want to see that happen, but it's very hard for them to restrain their own fanbases. It's something I've always found quite troubling."
Gradually, the topic moved deeper into the entertainment industry. Ai stood to the side, realizing she couldn't get a word in edgewise.
Once she realized none of these people recognized her, she had dropped out of "Idol Mode." Seeing Hikaru surrounded by girls made her feel a strange sense of gloom. She lowered her head, mindlessly staring at her own fair ankles like a wilted piece of foxtail grass.
"Actually, a top-tier idol is about to perform in a bit. Once you see her with your own eyes, you'll definitely change your mind about idols. You might even become a fan," Hikaru's voice drifted into Ai's ears.
"I think I saw a really pretty girl on the promotional poster... she had purple hair, and I think her group was B..."
"It's Ai from B-Komachi," Hikaru replied with a smile. "See? She's right here next to me."
"EH?!!!"
For a moment, the group couldn't process it, letting out instinctive cries of shock.
Ai slowly snapped back to reality, realizing everyone's eyes were glued to her.
"Is there something on my face?" Even though her mood was still a bit off, she made an effort to show them her radiant, signature smile.
Hikaru was momentarily dazed by the sight of Ai's smile. "It's nothing, it's just almost time," he said quickly.
At the same time, a member of the organizing staff found them.
Emerging from the crowd, he precisely locked onto Hikaru and Ai and walked up to them.
"I've finally found you, Ai-san," the large man in a white yukata panted. "There's about half an hour left until your set. If you need any minor adjustments to your look, you can head backstage to find the stylist."
Hikaru was happily watching the scene unfold from the sidelines, but the man's gaze then landed on him.
"And you as well, Mr. Hikari. Your playtime is over."
"The band wants to confirm the opening sequence. Please follow me back to the stage."
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