"Ah! Sorry—could you move over just a little?"
Ring ring
The girl shifted as a bicycle whisked past, the back wheel throwing a faint spray of water onto the polished tiles of Shibuya Crossing, barely missing her skirt.
A gust followed in the bicycle's wake, ruffling her hair—cool for a Tokyo afternoon.
"Yikes..."
Her black sling bag bumped against her hip as she adjusted her pace, phone balanced loosely in one hand.
It was another ordinary shoot this time around, the usual tilt, the clicks, and her manager getting a little too close for comfort.
"Tokyo traffic is insane," she muttered, eyes squinting under the sun.
It was a typical afternoon in Tokyo, and the end of the lunch break meant students and office workers alike were crowding the streets after buying overpriced lattes – not that the latter could afford it anyway.
A vendor shouted over the noise of the afternoon rush. A man was frantically checking his watch as if he were about to be late. A group of students was happily joking around like their finals weren't two weeks from now.
Buzz
She flicked her eyes down.
"Not him again..." she sighed, thumb swiping the message away. "Persistent little—"
"Excuse me, miss."
She looked up.
A young man in a dark suit had stepped into her path. He looked barely older than her—maybe sixteen at most—but wore the jacket and slim tie like a professional. His smile was polite, practiced, and just a little too bright for a stranger in a crowded street. And his hair, unnaturally black, slightly wavy, bangs framing his face—she didn't know what to say.
He's pretty cute... She thought.
He stepped closer, a gloved hand reaching into his coat pockets. "Do you have a minute?"
The girl blinked. "Uh... depends. Are you selling something?"
"Not exactly." He produced a simple white card between two fingers before handing it over to her effortlessly.
LimeLight Entertainment gleamed in gold lettering. "I'm scouting for new talent. Your look caught my eye."
The girl's fingers tightened around her bag when she saw the name.
"My... look?" Her eyebrows lifted. "That's the kind of line my mom tells me not to fall for."
"Normally, yes," he said. "But I work for a talent agency, and normally I don't get nearly run over by bicycles while spotting potential." He said, looking down at the small puddle behind her.
Despite herself, a small laugh slipped out.
"Now that the whole ice-breaking part is out of the way," he tilted his eyes towards the streets, "care for a walk?"
She hesitated, her gaze flicking from the card to his face.
A LimeLight scout.
This has got to be a scam, right?
Isn't she supposed to be part of LimeLight?!
There's no way they'd trust a kid with hiring, she thought. Not at a company like that.
Unless...
She looked up at him one more time. Her mind spun with the possibilities and the risks. This chance could be the breakthrough she needed, but the thought of stepping into the unknown made her stomach twist.
Was she being reckless?
Did her instincts tell her to trust this stranger for a reason?
She recalled stories of people who had taken similar risks and emerged changed.
Still, it's not like him being charming automatically makes him trustworthy.
With a deep breath, she steadied her nerves. There might be danger, but the potential reward was too great to ignore.
"..Fine," she said at last. "But if you try anything weird, I'll scream."
He chuckled. "I'd recommend screaming in that direction," he said, nodding toward a nearby police car. "But tell me, do I look like someone who would try anything weird with a stranger I'd just met?"
"No...?"
"You might be wrong, who knows?" He teased, "Maybe I'm just a creep in disguise preying on some random girls on the street—in public."
She laughed and they started walking, falling into step together.
"So," she said, "LimeLight Entertainment, huh? Don't you guys usually manage streamers?"
"Mostly," he admitted. "But we make exceptions. Especially when we notice someone with potential." He crossed his arms behind his back, slowing the pace. "You mentioned traffic—are you coming from work? Part-time job? Or maybe... an agency meeting?"
Her steps faltered for a split second. "Why would you guess 'agency'?"
He tilted his head towards her before winking. "Call it instinct."
They kept the stride as the sounds of the city roads faded behind them.
"...I do some modeling," she said carefully. "Just some small shoots. Nothing big."
"Looks like I was right." He said, smirking. "At which agency, then?"
She hesitated for a brief moment before giving a name—the young man kept smiling through it as he looked at her face once more.
"Interesting," he said lightly. "They've been... ambitious lately."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Ambition that can be dangerous if you sign the wrong papers." He flashed that disarming grin again. "But let's save contract law for a place with air-conditioning."
He took out his smartphone, placing it against his ear, then gazing at her. "Shall we?"
The girl tilted her head, weighing him. The streetlight above turned green, washing his black hair in emerald glow as the sound of a taxi coming to a stop neared them.
She looked at the taxi for a moment before looking back at the boy.
If this scout really is from LimeLight, it could change her life.
If not, what sort of trouble did she just get herself into?
The girl shifted, clutching her bag close to her chest, and then she stepped forward.
"Alright, Mr. Scout. Lead the way."
The young man's smile widened just enough to make her forget that he was a scout. "Call me Miyato," he said.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To think it would be this easy to convince someone...
Well, almost anyone can be fooled if your face looks good enough.
I stepped into the taxi, flashing the girl another smile as she sat next to me.
"Sakuragaoka Annex Building."
The driver gave me a nod. The engine started, and the taxi began moving.
For a moment, I took the time to gaze at Tokyo's beauty.
A convenience store there, a small cafe here, and your usual fast-food chain somewhere near an office building—the only thing the average salary man could afford, even then, most of the food there is probably overpriced.
I pressed a button, and the window slowly dropped down.
You see, I've always liked the air blowing against me; it's refreshing if you think about it. The air's cool, neat, and soothing; all you can hear is the wind blowing past your ears. It's my quiet place of sorts.
And besides I have a guest sitting next to me now, don't I?
I turned my head to face her. She was still looking down, which makes sense.
To her, I'm just a stranger after all. Apart from being told to not fall for people who call her out for her "look", I guess her mother also told her to be wary of strangers.
Good move. You never know when someone's an actual creep.
It could be worse if they're actively following you.
Or horrible, when they manage to corner you.
"Are you having doubts?" I said.
She shifted a little. It's easy to spot once you read her face. "About what?"
I gave her a sly grin. "That you might be wrong and I've been a creep this whole time?"
She chuckled for a brief moment—good.
"Don't worry about it." I leaned back into the seat. "Most people have the same reaction when they first meet me, it's almost a given, you know?"
I continued, "Besides, I know the president personally. She may look intimidating at first, but she's a big softie when it comes to me and my sister."
She finally looked up. "You have a sister?"
"Oops", I smirked, "Did I say that out loud?"
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A woman slumped into her office chair, face drained, coffee mug empty, and only the sound of the air conditioner was keeping her sane.
"Honestly, what is this mess?"
She sat up in her chair, stretching her arms before letting out a groan.
Crack
Right at the spot.
"Ah..." She said. "That's the only applause I'm getting today."
Buzz
She turned to see her phone screen glowing again.
It was just one o'clock and she was already this tired?
She picked up her phone, expecting another message from her staff—until she saw the caller ID.
Miyato Shizuka calling...
She answered.
"Elise." Came a boy's voice.
"Did you convince her?"
No answer.
"I'll take that as a yes."
Elise sat back down on her office chair, reaching into her drawer before tying up her hair. She grabbed the mug and set it aside before putting the phone beside her ear once more.
"How long until you two arrive?"
"In a minute, we're past the bridge area."
She looked behind her, and there was a shelf filled with several photos.
One was her and a little girl. She was still a young adult at a time, perhaps around 18 years old, a talent scout searching for a star. The girl beside her looked to be about 13, calm, and uninterested in the lens.
It's been around 20 years since then. What a wild ride.
"Seriously, this kid..." She muttered, pressing her palm onto her forehead.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The moment I spotted that comedically large logo of a lime, I knew we were here.
"Mr. Driver, you can stop here now."
The wheels screeched as the driver hit the brakes, and both the girl and I stepped out of the taxi as we began walking towards the building.
She turned to me. "So..."
"Hm?"
"I thought LimeLight Entertainment was this big agency, but wow, your office seems pretty modest compared to what I've heard."
I couldn't help but laugh. True, LimeLight is pretty influential, but it's usually Elise who runs the place by herself.
The actual reason why LimeLight's so famous...
We came to a stop as the doors opened. I said hello to the security guard as the girl went in by herself.
"Oh my God!" Stars formed in her eyes as she saw what seemed to be a movie poster.
"What's wrong?" I stepped beside her, hands in my pockets.
"What's wrong? What's wrong?! You seriously don't recognize her?!"
What she was referring to most likely was "Yuki". LimeLight's biggest and brightest star. Elise once told me that she actually raised her by herself after scouting her out.
To be honest, I kind of agree with this girl.
After all, no one can take their eyes off once they see a glimpse of Yuki.
"Wait..." She looked at the poster and then back at me. "You look pretty similar to her, now that I think about it."
"Really?" I gave her a sly grin as we continued our stride.
"Yeah! I've always wondered if hair could be that deep a shade of black, and I've tried out her hairstyle too!"
"But..." She looked away, seemingly embarrassed. "It didn't really look good on me."
"Oh?" I replied as we went up the stairs.
"Yuki is supposed to have long hair, right?" She gently grabbed her own as if weighing it. "I tried going for the same slight waves of it, but yeah, mine doesn't do hers justice!"
I gave her a nod, still smiling as we approached the president's office. As I opened the door, Elise was already seated there—though it's obvious she rushed this, considering the empty coffee mug by her nameplate.
I took my seat on the right side of the desk, crossing my legs over the other. Elise gave me a glare before turning to face the girl.
"Welcome to LimeLight Entertainment, miss...?"
"Kanae, Sugimori Kanae."
Kanae straightened up as she took her seat across from mine. I guess Elise's aura still has that same effect on people.
"Of course." Elise folded her hands on the table. "Miyato tells me you're currently signed with an agency. May I ask which one?"
Kanae hesitated for a brief moment.
"Starveil Productions."
I was right.
Elise's brows tightened. "I see. And how long have you been with them?"
"Almost a year," Kanae said. "Mostly small modeling jobs. Street fashion, online catalogs. Nothing... big."
"Have they discussed a long-term contract with you?" Elise leaned forward slightly. "Any clauses about exclusivity or penalties for leaving?"
Kanae blinked. "They... mentioned a renewal. But my manager says not to worry, that they'll 'take care of everything.'"
"Whew," I interrupted, "that usually means you should worry. There's been enough shows to teach you that thing's completely fake."
Elise glared at me again, and I froze for a moment before looking away. "Sorry~"
"Now that that's out of the way," She rested her chin over her hands, "tell me, Kanae, doesn't that whole ordeal feel suspicious?"
Kanae nodded.
Elise turned to look at me. "Miyato."
"Right..." I nodded. "About this audition, before we start, could you tell us a bit more about Starveil Productions? I'm not asking for anything personal, but did you spot anything suspicious during your shoots?"
Kanae shifted slightly for a moment.
"Well... The agency's not that big, so I share a manager with a few of my colleagues."
"Go on," Elise said.
"There's been a lot of rumors going around saying that he's dating the agency's golden girl. The girl's also 16 years old, which is pretty creepy if the rumors are actually true."
Oh?
"And," she continued, "The contract they gave me was pretty shady too."
"Elaborate." Said Elise.
"My 'training fees' were deducted from my pay, and the money that I already get is just enough to get by. I haven't even seen them actually 'train' anyone now that I think about it..."
I stood up from my seat, stretching my arms.
"I guess that does it. You're free to go now."
Kanae looked at me, confused. "Eh? What about the audition—"
"The audition?" I turned to face her. "You've passed from the beginning."
Elise spoke up. "However, LimeLight isn't currently looking for new talents. I've contacted a few of my connections to see if they would be willing to take on your contract—as compensation for the actions of a certain someone, of course."
I could feel her staring daggers at me right now.
I leaned closer towards Kanae as we headed for the door. "See?" I whispered. "I told you she's a softie."
After a few more minutes of walking, we were back at the agency's front door.
"You should be receiving notifications right about now." I said, the glass door closing behind me. "People are terrified of Elise, so her connections probably wouldn't waste any time."
Kanae looked down at her phone; sure enough, it started buzzing.
"Are you sure about this? I'm not really familiar with contracts, but wouldn't this breach the contract with my agency?"
"Agency?" I grinned as we began descending the stairs. "As I said before, Elise's connections don't waste any time. An 'agency' allowing its staff to groom minors and basically scamming their talents would be in serious legal trouble if it got out now, wouldn't it?"
Kanae's shoulders tightened. "What about proof? Don't you need proof to—"
I reached into my pocket as I unlocked my phone. "Take a good look."
The photo I showed her was pretty convincing, if I do say so myself.
An adult man wearing an agency uniform, exiting Starveil Production's office building in the middle of the night with a 16-year-old girl, even if they try to come up with some cover story behind it, it's already pretty hard evidence, considering the rumors Kanae gave.
"How did you—"
"Get the picture?"
She nodded.
"Trade secret~"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When I arrived back in Elise's office, she was 'not happy' with me. Despite her calm demeanor, only someone who's spent 15 years with her can tell when they're about to get an earful.
"So, tell me, Miyato."
I went over to the couch and started lounging on it. "Hm?"
"Don't 'Hm?' Me. This kid," She muttered, "did you really have to drag that girl into this?"
"I just needed to confirm if my suspicions were right." I said, tone flat as I reached out for one of the book shelves.
Elise sighed and stood up from her chair before walking towards me.
"But I guess I'll still have to praise you at least. Starveil Productions has been making some suspicious moves recently."
She raised her hand and ruffled my hair.
Obviously, I didn't like it.
"You and your detective streak. Sooner or later, it's going to come back to bite you if you keep being so reckless."
She continued. "You had me worried when you came back home late last night, too. What exactly were you doing?"
I ignored the gesture before looking back at the window. "Collecting evidence. You said so yourself that we need proof if we want them to back down—or in case they decide to go further."
"And besides," I continued, "they contacted Minami too, right? I won't let her join some shady agency."
Elise stopped ruffling my hair, walking towards her table as she began packing her things.
"You're right." She grabbed her keys. "But that doesn't mean you can just go around late at night, you're still a kid, and you and I both know that I won't let anything happen to Minami."
She flicked my forehead before walking past me.
"Come on, we're going home."
I looked at the clock. It was still quarter to two. "This early?"
"You have your finals next week, don't you? You'll have to prepare for your entrance exams as well."
Well, I can't argue with that...
She was already downstairs when I was getting ready.
Only me, the poster, and the refreshing gust that refused to stop remained.
...Right—the window.
Before following closing it, I took a moment to look at the poster beside the shelf.
It read: "Yuki", From First Step To Center Stage!
As I stood there, the stillness was broken by the insistent buzzing of my phone.
"Miyato! Hurry up!" Elise shouted.
"Wait a minute!"
I quickly closed the window, answering the call as I made my way through the halls. I put it against my ear until I heard an all-too familiar voice.
And the voice?
How do I put this?
You could describe it as icy, cold, or intimidating.
"Mom?" I said.
But for me,
"Miyato."
I'd describe it as "star power"
"Don't cause any trouble."