"Hiko, I discovered a very beautiful girl today." A man in his thirties returned home, took off his coat, and excitedly shouted into the inner room.
"You lolicon uncle, did you corrupt another one today?"
Hiko was playing Tetris on his phone in the living room and replied without looking up.
"I'm not a lolicon! And I haven't corrupted anyone! Discovering talented boys and girls is my job! Besides, she's an unpolished gem; with a little refining, she'll definitely become a rare treasure!"
The man retorted loudly, walked up to Hiko, and gave him a knuckle rap on the head. "Show some respect for your uncle!"
"So, how old is this one?"
"Twelve years old... I'm really not a lolicon!"
"Excuse me~" A pleasant girlish voice came from outside.
Hiko put down his phone and looked at the man in front of him, his uncle, Saito Ichigo.
Although he was indeed the chairman of Strawberry Production Company, Ichigo usually wouldn't bring people home; he would only take them to the company to sign contracts.
This time was clearly different, so Hiko looked at him with a gaze one would give to trash, enunciating each word: "You even brought her home!"
"Hiko, she's a child from an orphanage... It's definitely not what you're thinking!" Ichigo continued to explain, but he was at a loss for words, not knowing where to begin.
"Although I am a child from an orphanage, that's true, but the President[1] suddenly approached me and said that if I followed him, my future would be bright..." the girl's choked voice came through.
"Scum!"
Hiko's gaze at the man hardened into one of disgust. He exited the game on his phone, preparing to dial a certain number.
"Ai! Don't do this to me!" The man looked at the girl with a helpless expression. "If you don't explain, you're going to lose your guardian."
"President, you haven't become my guardian yet~"
A long-haired girl wearing a light jacket, casual pants, and a hat walked into the living room with a smile. She then noticed a boy about her age sitting there and explained, "I found your conversation just now very interesting, so I just went along with it. I absolutely didn't mean to disrupt your family harmony."
"Hmm, I know. Even if he were to make a move, he wouldn't bring it here."
Hiko responded to the girl and looked at her. "You wouldn't be his private-"
"Ahem... Are you the idol he wants to cultivate?" He had originally intended to tease, but remembering the information in her words just now, he quickly stopped himself and asked.
"Don't underestimate me!" The President roared, having understood what Hiko was about to say.
"Well~ although the President said he wanted to cultivate me to be an idol~ he also said he wanted my name to appear on the President's family register." The girl stated the facts with a smile.
Hiko dialed a certain number.
"It's not what you're thinking! It's because idol activities require a guardian, and it's inconvenient for her at the orphanage, which is why I want to become her legal guardian!" The President quickly explained, then looked at the girl with a pleading gaze. "Ai, stop playing around!"
"Hello? Is this Aunt Miyako?"
Hiko waited for the President to see that his phone had already dialed, then immediately hung up and continued to pretend to be on the phone.
The President showed a 'it's over' expression and slumped onto the sofa.
"President, I'm really sorry~" The girl saw the tense atmosphere and quickly explained, "The President didn't have any intention of making a move on me. He just treated me to a meal and had a long chat with me, inviting me to become an idol, that's all."
"Hmm, I know." Hiko nodded in agreement, placed his phone screen in front of the girl for her to see, then pretended to receive confirmation from the other end and asked, "Aunt Miyako, what delicious dishes are there tonight?"
He had never intended to expose the President from the start; he was just trying to scare him.
The girl saw that the phone wasn't actually dialing, felt relieved, and her smile became even brighter.
The President felt a little relieved that Hiko hadn't exposed him, assuming Hiko wouldn't exaggerate things to his wife.
"Eh? Eating those again? But I want fried chicken~"
Hiko said in a spoiled tone, "Aunt Miyako, I have some explosive news about Uncle. I wonder if I can exchange it for some fried chicken?"
"You can? Hmm... I think it's better to let the person involved say it~" He said, handing the phone to the girl, then gestured for her to sit.
"Where should I start?" The girl took the phone and acted as if she were recalling something. Seeing Hiko invite her to sit, she hesitated for a moment and sat next to him.
The President pressed his palms together in a pleading gesture, constantly begging the girl not to tease him at this moment.
"It's a pity there's only one phone." Hiko looked at the scene with interest and sighed, then hinted, "You can end the call too, you know~"
"Aunt Miyako? May I call you that?" the girl said with a humble expression.
The President watched Hoshino Ai eagerly.
"Aunt Miyako, the President finally couldn't resist making a move on a girl in the company!" Ai suddenly dropped a bombshell.
The President deeply felt that the situation was lost and that he would soon face a storm. His eyes vacant, he slumped back into the sofa.
Seeing the President in this state, Ai felt it was time to end it. She took the phone, placed it in front of him, and turned on the screen.
"Hiko!" The President immediately realized he had been tricked and roared.
Hiko quickly snatched the phone from the girl's hand and said mockingly, "Is an adult's magnanimity only this much? And you should be grateful Aunt Miyako knows nothing."
"You'll be beaten to death sooner or later acting like this!" The President could only sit on the sofa and sulk upon hearing this.
"No, I have good judgment."
Hiko replied, then turned to the girl and said, "Just a brief introduction. My name is Saito Hiko, Saito Ichigo's nephew. He is my uncle. Since he and I share the same surname, to distinguish us, you can just call me by my name."
"Calling you by your name directly is moving too fast, isn't it? I'll just call you Saito-kun. As for your uncle, I'll call him President."
The girl naturally used the boy's surname, then thought it would be better to introduce herself again: "My name is Hoshino Ai, a child who grew up in an orphanage. Today, I'm joining Strawberry Production to become an idol."
Hoshino Ai? Strawberry Production? Strawberry Entertainment?
Isn't that the character from the anime called Oshi no Ko?
Idol, Hoshino Ai!
Hiko's memories, hidden deep in his consciousness, matched the girl in front of him.
[1] In Japan, a company chairman is referred to as ‘President’.