The two took a train and then walked for a while before finally arriving at the bottom of a high-end apartment building.
Hoshino Miru pressed the doorbell, and soon heard a girl's voice with a hint of cheerfulness.
"Wait a moment, Mana will be ready soon!"
"How long do we need to wait?"
"Five minutes... no wait, another ten minutes. Ah wu, there are too many things, Mana needs to organize properly!"
"Isn't Aunt Yoko home?"
"Mom isn't here, but it has nothing to do with Mom. It's because Miru came too quickly. I can't let Miru see a girl's bad side!"
Hoshino Miru was somewhat speechless. If she didn't want people to know, she should have come up with a good excuse instead of saying it so carelessly like this, right?
Toyokawa Sakiko watched his expression from the side. So the friend he mentioned earlier was a girl, and they seemed to have a good relationship.
"Let's take the elevator up first." Hoshino Miru led the way. The security level here was quite high, making it difficult to enter without authorization from residents.
Toyokawa Sakiko followed behind him and entered the elevator together.
"Was that a job interview earlier?" Hoshino Miru asked. "Why would they refuse you?"
"Probably... because I'm a minor." Toyokawa Sakiko bit her lip. She had been looking for work these past days, but almost no one would hire her.
Japan was quite strict about child labor - those under 16 couldn't work, and even high school students looking for jobs could only find temporary work like convenience store clerk positions at most.
Moreover, Toyokawa Sakiko was currently just a middle school student.
Hoshino Miru didn't ask why she needed to find work, but said: "Mana probably won't mind your age issue. Like you, she's about to enter high school. I think you two should have a lot in common."
Since she had already come this far, Toyokawa Sakiko couldn't back down. She immediately perked up and asked seriously: "Has she studied piano before? What's her level?"
"Don't worry, apart from singing and dancing, she doesn't understand instruments at all." Hoshino Miru thought for a moment. "For specifics, you'll know once you meet her."
Toyokawa Sakiko was very nervous because this was her first time working as a private tutor. She didn't know if her performance would satisfy the other party and their parents.
At this moment, Toyokawa Sakiko unconsciously clenched her fists, secretly praying that her mother's spirit in heaven would bless her with success.
Otherwise, she really didn't know what to do. Would she have to go back to delivering newspapers?
"Don't be nervous. Your level is definitely better than hers." Seeing Toyokawa Sakiko's mood, Hoshino Miru casually disparaged a certain girl without concern.
"I'm sorry for being impolite." Toyokawa Sakiko took a deep breath. Although she had studied piano, she didn't know if she could handle this job.
Hoshino Miru smiled slightly and didn't continue.
Soon, the elevator reached the appropriate floor.
Toyokawa Sakiko followed Hoshino Miru out of the elevator, looking around with slight curiosity. Suddenly she heard the sound of someone opening a door and turned to look.
She saw a very pretty girl standing at the doorway, wearing a white dress with long hair draped over her round shoulders, delicate collarbones, a budding chest, a slender waist - her figure soft and graceful.
The girl wore a delighted smile as she greeted Hoshino Miru.
"Miru, come in quickly! My mom isn't home!"
While Toyokawa Sakiko was still in a daze, Hoshino Miru had already skillfully approached, so she had to jog to catch up.
"Why are you so happy that Aunt Yoko isn't here?"
"Because you rarely come over!"
"Even if you say that, I won't cook for you tonight."
"Damn it, Mana hasn't even asked yet!"
Looking at the girl's huffing expression, Hoshino Miru took a moment to check her status panel.
[Target: Sumita Mana] [Intimacy: 62] [Status: Donuts, idol, the person she likes - she won't let go of any of them...]
This girl's intimacy had also been stuck for a long time, but Hoshino Miru felt it should be his own fault.
Since Hoshino Miru had entered high school, he rarely had opportunities to increase Sumita Mana's intimacy.
"Toyokawa-san, this is my good friend and former junior, Sumita Mana." Hoshino Miru began making introductions. "Mana, this is Toyokawa-san I mentioned to you earlier."
As soon as he finished speaking, Sumita Mana immediately puffed out her cheeks at him.
"What's that supposed to be? The introduction of Mana is way too ordinary!" The girl looked indignant. "Mana is a national champion at least. Can't Miru put some heart into it!"
"National singing contest champion?" Seeing her reaction, Hoshino Miru couldn't help poking her cheek. "Is that the five-time champion who loves donuts the most?"
"Donuts are champion-exclusive!" Sumita Mana seriously refuted Hoshino Miru. She was a five-time national champion - the significance went without saying. Even donuts had limited edition merchandise.
"Don't add random settings to yourself." Hoshino Miru withdrew his finger. Honestly, the girl's cheek was soft and fun to poke.
Sumita Mana rolled her eyes at him, then looked at Toyokawa Sakiko nearby and immediately showed a sincere, gentle smile.
"Nice to meet you! Hello, I'm Mana!" Sumita Mana enthusiastically grasped Toyokawa Sakiko's small hand, startling the latter.
"H-hello, nice to meet you, please take care of me. I'm Toyokawa Sakiko..."
As she spoke, Toyokawa Sakiko looked puzzled. She felt the other person looked familiar, as if she'd seen her somewhere before.
"Wait, could you be Miss Sumita from the idol group SUMIMI?!" Toyokawa Sakiko suddenly realized and couldn't help but widen her eyes.
Her reaction was so exaggerated that Sumita Mana, who had been emphasizing being a five-time champion, now became somewhat embarrassed.
"Although it is Mana, this makes Mana a bit shy too."
Toyokawa Sakiko looked at Hoshino Miru beside her in disbelief. The friend you mentioned is one of today's hottest little idols?
"How, how do you two know each other?" Toyokawa Sakiko still couldn't believe that the stranger she had randomly encountered could actually know a popular idol.
"Didn't I just say?" Hoshino Miru knew he was being a bit excessive, so he kept it brief. "Mana and I were middle school classmates. I occasionally saw her at school, so we got to know each other."
Toyokawa Sakiko was momentarily speechless. This guy made it sound way too casual!
The other person was one of the most popular idols right now, not only cute but also with first-rate singing ability - one of today's most promising beautiful girl idols in the industry.
Yet Hoshino Miru not only knew Sumita Mana but could also openly visit her home. Just thinking about it made one's scalp tingle.
Plus, judging from their earlier interaction, could this boy have a little idol girlfriend?
However, Toyokawa Sakiko couldn't dwell on this because she quickly thought of another figure.
"Could you also know Uika?" Toyokawa Sakiko almost blurted out.
"Uika?" Hoshino Miru was stunned, then thought for a moment. "If you mean Mana's partner, I have indeed met her a few times, but I'm not very familiar with her."
Toyokawa Sakiko's expression was quite colorful. She had always thought Hoshino Miru was just a stranger, but it turned out he actually knew her childhood playmate. How could such a coincidence exist!
In other words, she would be able to see Misumu Uika soon?
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