"Hiro-kun?" Ai's voice was so soft it barely reached him.
Hiro blinked. "Didn't you just say you didn't want to call me that?"
Ai lowered her gaze, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"…This is the first time someone's ever cared about my safety," she murmured. "It doesn't feel bad… being noticed."
Her fingers tightened around the talisman he'd given her. She looked at it for a beat longer.
"I'll keep this with me. Always."
She hesitated, her voice a bit shaky now. "But I… don't have anything to give you in return…"
"Don't worry about it," Hiro said, waving it off. "It's not like it was a present or anything."
The atmosphere lingered for a second—quiet, almost too intimate—before Ichigo's voice cut through the air like a needle popping a balloon.
"Well, well," Ichigo said with a smirk as he walked in. "You two got close real fast, huh?"
Ai blinked in surprise. Hiro quickly looked away, pretending to check something in his pocket.
"I just got off the phone with Miyako," Ichigo added, his usual swagger returning. "The transfer's greenlit, Ai. We'll head to the welfare office and finish your paperwork."
"I'm coming too," Hiro said immediately, raising his hand like it was obvious.
Ai tilted her head. "You're interested in the orphanage?"
"…Not really," Hiro replied, eyes softening. "It's just where I grew up. I want to see it again."
Ichigo gave the boy a curious look but didn't press. "Before I forget—what were you two talking about before I walked in?"
Ai offered a small nod, almost like she was brushing the question away with a gentle "nothing."
Ichigo raised a brow but didn't argue. He gathered the paperwork, and they headed out.
In the car, Ichigo took the wheel. Hiro called shotgun without asking. Ai slid into the back seat, quiet, resting her cheek against the glass as the city passed by in blurs of color.
Ichigo shot a look at Hiro, smirking.
"I called it, didn't I? Ai hasn't even debuted yet, and she's already got you wrapped around her finger."
Hiro looked out the window, unfazed. "Maybe I'm just weak to idols."
Ichigo laughed. "Careful. Once you fall for them, it's game over."
"I'll keep it hidden," Hiro replied flatly. "That's what you adults want, right? Use idols as dream-sellers. Keep them smiling. Even if it breaks them."
Ichigo's grin faded. "It's not that simple, kid."
He tapped the steering wheel.
"I'm not just in this for the money. I've always wanted to raise an idol who can stand on the Tokyo Dome stage."
From the back, Ai lifted her head. "The Dome?"
"Yeah," Ichigo said, eyes glinting. "The big leagues. But this industry's a monster. We're just a small agency, and the climb is brutal."
[System Notification]
"Why is the bound target being handed over for external training?"
"Seize the right to cultivate Ai Hoshino."
—
Ichigo's voice lowered, almost like he was talking to himself.
"I saw her potential before anyone else."
"If that's true…" Hiro leaned back in his seat, eyes sharp. "Then hand her over to me."
Ichigo did a double take. "You what?"
"I'll train her."
Ichigo hit the brakes just a little too hard. "You're twelve. Do you even know what an idol is?"
"I know enough to see your limits."
"…What did you say?" Ichigo's voice was tight.
"If you were capable of raising top-tier idols," Hiro said coolly, "your agency wouldn't still be running on scraps."
"You little—!" Ichigo snapped. "Where's all this attitude coming from?!"
Hiro didn't back down. "It's not about attitude. You just don't execute."
Ichigo gritted his teeth. "Oh, and you think you can?"
"Do you know why I get perfect scores on every test?" Hiro asked.
"It's elementary school," Ichigo grumbled. "Don't act like you're Einstein."
"Have you ever gotten a 100 in your life?" Hiro asked, tone sharp.
"Tch. I don't remember stuff like that."
"I checked," Hiro added casually. "Your old records."
"WHAT?! You stalked my grades?!"
"You're too obsessed with controlling Ai," Hiro said, tone suddenly serious. "But if you're just going to mishandle her… then I'll take the responsibility."
The car went silent. The tension hung heavy.
Hiro sighed and leaned back.
"…This wasn't supposed to be my life. I just wanted to be a normal kid."
After a long pause, Ichigo cleared his throat. "Oi, Ai. Do you even know how much idols make?"
Ai blinked. "No… The president only just told me today that I had potential."
Hiro turned toward her, his tone almost analytical now.
"Idols earn the lowest salary in the entertainment world. Even after debut, most make under 200,000 yen."
Ichigo gave a weak chuckle. "That's still pretty good, isn't it?"
"It sounds like a lot," Hiro replied. "But it's not stable. You only earn that much if you sell enough merch. Without that, most can't even make rent."
Ai looked down at her lap. "But… I didn't become an idol for money."
"I know," Hiro said, meeting her gaze. "If you did, you wouldn't take it this seriously."
Ichigo nodded. "Right? No one becomes an idol for a paycheck. But in this messed-up world, more money means better trainers, better chances—"
"Better control," Hiro muttered.