Hiro! I found the most amazing girl today!" The door burst open with a bang.
A man in his thirties stumbled inside like he'd just won the lottery, tossing his coat onto the rack with zero accuracy and a grin that screamed delusional confidence. "You damn lolicon. Picked up another kid?"
Hiro Saitou didn't even glance up. He was sprawled out on the living room couch, eyes locked onto his phone, thumbs flying as Tetris blocks dropped into place with deadly precision.
"I'm not a lolicon!" the man barked, storming over to smack the back of Hiro's head—lightly, but dramatically. "I'm a talent scout, okay? This girl is special. She's like a raw diamond—just needs a little polish and boom! Stardom!"
"Mm-hmm. " Hiro shifted, unimpressed. "So how old is this one?"
" "
...Twelve.
The man scratched his cheek and looked away. "But I swear I'm not a lolicon!" "Excuse me~"
A soft voice floated in from the entryway.
That got Hiro's attention. He glanced up—and there she was.
A girl about his age stood in the doorway. She wore a casual jacket, loose-fitting pants, and a baseball cap low over long, dark hair. Her eyes sparkled, her expression unreadable. And behind her?
The very same idiot: Ichigo Saitou, president of Berry Pro talent agency—and Hiro's uncle. The guy who never mixed work and home. The guy who just broke every rule he made. "You actually brought someone here?" Hiro deadpanned. "That's a new low, Uncle. "
"Don't give me that look!" Ichigo flailed. "She's from an orphanage! I didn't do anything shady—I just wanted to talk!"
"Even though I am from an orphanage," the girl spoke, her voice airy but calm, "the president told me I had a bright future ahead of me… if I came with him. " Hiro raised an eyebrow.
" "
…Scum.
"Waitwaitwaitwait—Ai-chan! C'mon!" Ichigo panicked, waving his arms like a drowning man. "If you say stuff like that, I'll get arrested before I can even sign her!" "You're not my guardian yet~," she sang sweetly.
She walked in casually, standing tall despite her small frame. The cap shaded her face just enough to keep you guessing—but when she smiled, the room seemed brighter.
"I just thought your conversation was hilarious," she said. "Wasn't trying to ruin your family or anything. "
"I figured," Hiro replied flatly. "If he was that kind of guy, he wouldn't have brought you here in the first place. "
He eyed her with quiet curiosity.
"So… You're the girl he wants to turn into an idol?" "I told you not to underestimate me!" Ichigo huffed.
"Well~ he did say he'd make me an idol," she teased, "and he also said he'd add me to his family registry~. "
Hiro's thumb hovered over the call button on his phone.
"Hold up! I—it's not like that!" Ichigo stumbled over his words. "She's in an orphanage! Minors need guardians to work in entertainment legally! I was just trying to help—!" "Hello? Aunt Miyako?" Hiro said into the phone with a straight face. The screen hadn't even lit up.
Ichigo crumpled onto the couch like his soul left his body.
"Ah, sorry, President!" The girl jumped in. "He didn't do anything weird. We just talked about idols!"
Hiro casually flipped his phone around, showing the blank screen. "So, Aunt Miyako, what's for dinner?"
He never planned to tattle—he just wanted to mess with his uncle. The girl giggled, her smile brightening.
"Wait, again? Didn't we have that yesterday?" Hiro whined into the phone. "I want fried chicken tonight~"
He glanced at the girl, a mischievous light in his eyes.
"How about this—trade you one scandalous story about Uncle for fried chicken?" He held the phone out to her. "Better if the source tells it herself. " She took the phone like it was a mic on stage. "Where should I start… "
Ichigo clasped his hands together in silent prayer.
"Shame there's only one phone," Hiro muttered. "Guess the call's over. "
The girl tilted her head. "Can I call you Aunt Miyako? I'm Hoshino Ai. Just Ai is fine. " Ichigo's jaw dropped.
"Aunt Miyako, the president tried to flirt with a girl from the company today," Ai announced in full diva mode.
Ichigo slumped so hard into the couch he practically vanished.
Satisfied, Ai tapped the power button and gently placed the phone on the table, face down. "Hiro Saitou!!" Ichigo exploded.
Hiro snatched his phone back. "Hey, can't take a joke? You should be grateful I didn't actually call her. "
"One of these days, I swear, you're going to get me killed… "
"I've got good judgment," Hiro said coolly. "Don't worry about it. "
He turned to Ai. "I'm Hiro Saitou—Ichigo's nephew. Since we've got the same last name, just call me Hiro. "
"That's too soon," she replied with a grin. "I'll stick with Saitou-kun. And him? Yeah, the president feels safer. "
She stepped forward and gave a little bow.
"I'm Ai Hoshino. I grew up in an orphanage. Starting today, I'm with Berry Pro to become an idol. "
Hoshino Ai… Berry Pro… Idol…
The name echoed in Hiro's mind, louder with each repetition. Suitable host detected. Bind to system?
"
...Bind,"
he whispered.
Connection established.
(This was the first anime I ever caught up on by reading the manga. The more I read, the sadder it got. So I decided—this time, she's getting the happy ending she never had.)