Third-person: Hoshino Aquamarine
Aqua, having taken a business card from Ichigo Production, walked out onto the street with a purpose.
After changing his clothes and adopting a slight disguise, he spotted a young woman on the street. Using his uncanny resemblance to both Ai and Yume, he approached her, feigning a flirtatious demeanor.
"Hello. Do you have a moment?"
"What is it?"
The woman looked slightly embarrassed but wary at being addressed by such a handsome stranger. Aqua smoothly pulled out the business card he had prepared earlier.
"I'm with this agency."
When he handed it to her, the woman looked at the card and gasped.
"Huh? Ichigo Production!?"
"You know it?"
"Yes, yes!! Of course! Ichigo Production is the company behind the former B-Komachi, right!! And now, the famous 'actress with a thousand faces', Hoshino Ai, is affiliated with it, isn't she!! I'm a huge fan of both..."
In the end, Aqua successfully sweet-talked the woman and brought her back to the Ichigo Production office.
"Wow~! So this is the Ichigo Production office!? I thought the scout was some young, shady solicitor!"
"Pfft!?"
When Yume saw Aqua walking in with a strange woman, he spat out the tea he was drinking. Miyako, startled, patted his back.
"Are you okay!?"
"Cough... cough!? Gulp, gulp!!"
"Wow!! Are you really Hoshino Yume!? I'm a fan! Please give me your autograph!!!"
Seeing Yume coughing violently, the woman cautiously approached him from behind to ask for an autograph. Aqua watched the scene unfold calmly, while Miyako thought to herself:
[What kind of shady nightmare is this....]
Before leaving the office earlier, Aqua had told Yume and Miyako:
"First, I need to check out the reality of the group that scouted Ruby. Even if it's an underground idol group, there's all sorts of shady stuff out there."
"I could look into that...."
"It might take too long if Dad checks through official channels, so this way is faster."
"Right..."
Unexpectedly stopped by Aqua, Yume had been left in a gloomy state, sipping his tea.
Aqua, deliberately ignoring Yume's sullen expression, had continued:
"Anyway, if that group's management is messed up, there's no room for discussion. I'll investigate everything about Ruby's potential debut myself, and then we'll rethink our stance."
After saying that, Aqua had left the office and returned with a member of that very idol group... quite the bold move.
In the end, the woman who got Yume's autograph sat across from Aqua and introduced herself.
"Lala-chan, are you currently active at an agency called Elive?"
"Yes!"
"We're planning to offer better conditions than they do. Could you tell us your current working conditions?"
"Well... first, on the premise of attending all live shows, they pay a bit above minimum wage. After the shows, at photo sessions, they give a cut based on the number of photos taken—that's the main income."
"From that, they deduct costume fees and other expenses. We also have to pay for our own transportation and makeup. So most months, the salary doesn't even reach 100,000 yen."
In reality, this was unfortunately common for minor productions.
"By any chance, do you have any complaints about your current group?"
Aqua brought up the main point, and naturally, Lala took the bait.
"Of course I do!! There's a member the management pushes heavily, and they really favor her a lot!! I wondered why, and it turns out that girl is dating the manager or something?"
[Wow....]
'This is the worst.'
Those were the simultaneous inner thoughts of Miyako and Yume.
"She's not particularly good at singing or that pretty, but she acts all lovey-dovey and steals other members' fans... I work hard, but the management doesn't support me properly, so I can't get popular!"
"The atmosphere within the group is terrible. There's a feeling that several members might leave, so I heard the management is desperately scouting around to fill spots...."
"If I could transfer to Ichigo Production, I would in a heartbeat...."
After listening to her complaints and politely sending her away, Yume looked half-dead. Miyako sighed heavily as she returned to her work.
"Among underground idol management, there are definitely people with actual results... but there are also many who do it half as a hobby because they like idols."
"Of course, it's suspicious whether everything that girl said is true. It's not uncommon for internal jealousy or complaints to create rumors that aren't even real."
After saying that, Miyako looked at Yume.
"In the first place, leading a group of young girls is incredibly tough on its own. When B-Komachi was active, only Ai was popular, so people constantly cried favoritism... Ah, thinking about this makes my stomach hurt..."
"Shall I get you some stomach medicine?"
"Thanks, Yume."
Thinking about B-Komachi's early days gave Miyako a stomachache, and Yume dutifully handed her the medicine. They really get along well. By the way, Miyako calls Yume 'Yume,' and Yume calls her 'Miyako'—or sometimes 'Senior' out of habit.
"Well, that doesn't matter now. I have no intention of putting Ruby in a group with such rumors. You agree with this, right, Dad?"
"Right."
At Aqua's words, Yume thought, 'Certainly, we can't send Ruby to such a place. Even if it's a stretch, we should bring her to our side...'
His personal feelings were creeping in, but behind that...
"So, what do you plan to do?" Miyako asked.
"There are plenty of ways. Use the detectives affiliated with Dad's company to spread the dirt online..."
"Don't joke like that."
"I'm not joking. I have no intention of letting Ruby become an idol. Absolutely not—unless it's a place I and Dad can trust."
At Aqua's words, Miyako glanced at him and then shifted her gaze to Yume. Yume met her eyes firmly.
"Yes. Unless it's a place I can cleanly approve of, I have no intention of allowing it. If it really doesn't work out anywhere else... then at our company."
"Dad..."
"S...sorry."
Lately, Yume's rank in the household hierarchy was steadily dropping to the bottom.
Seeing Miyako sigh at the firm stance of the father and son duo, Aqua spoke up.
"By the way, what about it? Actually hiring that girl from earlier?"
"You know we're not really in the idol business anymore. Just managing Ai alone is already overwhelming. If Yume didn't help occasionally, I would have collapsed long ago."
"What about Saito?"
"He's focusing on a new YouTube venture these days. I heard he's almost at his peak in terms of recognition?"
"Ah...."
At Miyako's words, Yume recalled the muscular duck he had once met and immediately erased the image from his mind.
It didn't match. It was better not to think about it.
In the end, Ruby arrived at Miyako's office, all dressed up to visit the underground idol venue that had scouted her.
First-person: Hoshino Yume
Ruby, wearing full makeup and inexplicably mature clothes, was striking various poses in front of me.
"Hey, hey, Papa! How do I look? On important days, you have to dress up, right!? I even borrowed Mama's clothes!!"
Miyako, of course, chimed in immediately.
"Yeah, you look cute."
"Ruby is always cute!! So, Papa!? Is Ruby cute!?"
"Yeah, you're cute, Ruby. But isn't it a bit early to wear such clothes? At least wait until you become an adult... Ugh... ugh!?"
"Ahh~! Papa, you're so noisy!! You usually let me do what I want, but only at times like this, you talk so much!"
"Ugh..."
Ruby... even so, as a father, I wish you'd understand my worried heart.
By the way, I deliberately ignored Aqua's gaze, which was fixed on me and Ruby with a sour expression.
Aqua, even if it doesn't show, your father is a great person. He's a top executive at a major company. He can use his authority all he wants. So, could you stop looking at your father with that expression?
I slowly approached Aqua, but for every step I took, Aqua took a step back. Seeing Aqua retreat...
Thump!?
I felt a massive wound open in my heart.
I guess I'm a useless father. What am I lacking?
"First... let's leave Yume aside for now."
Please don't leave me aside. Miyako, Senior... at least comfort me.
"Ruby, are you serious? The idol world you're about to enter is a tough place, you know?"
Certainly, Miyako's words made sense. Ai had charisma from the start, so it was possible for her. But for Ruby, whose talent hasn't clearly manifested yet...
"You might face miserable things if you don't become popular. Financially... well, honestly, with Yume or Ai around, we can handle that part."
If Ruby needs anything, I'll buy it for her no matter what.
"Your personal life will always have to consider the eyes of others. Of course, where you live now, ordinary people can hardly enter, so that's fine. But you won't always be at home, right?"
Miyako's words were right. Ruby can't stay at home forever; she needs a personal life, too.
Now, since Ai and I have publicly announced our relationship, it doesn't matter for us. But in Ruby's case, if it's discovered that we're related, troublesome things could happen.
"And most importantly, Ruby... you might suffer from stalkers like Ai did. You know that risk better than anyone, right?"
If Ruby becomes an idol, I'll personally assign guards to her 24/7. But there's always the possibility of the unexpected, so I can never be fully at ease. That's why I'm even more worried.
"Even so."
"Of course! I'll work hard! I finally have the chance!! Finally, I can become an idol like Mama...! I'll definitely become like Mama!!!!"
Ruby. In the end, despite my and Aqua's interference, you haven't given up on your idol dream.
Then, what I have to do is just one thing.
I looked at Aqua. Aqua let out a small sigh and nodded. Then Miyako, checking my and Aqua's gazes, spoke up.
"Alright. In that case, don't join that group."
"Huh... why? I'm serious!? Hey, Papa!? I can really do well!!"
"Calm down, Ruby."
I embraced the rapidly panicking Ruby and slowly stroked her head. As she seemed to calm down, Ruby looked up at me with childlike eyes.
"Hey, Papa... why... why are you telling me not to join?"
"Because..."
"Ruby, if you're serious, join our office."
Ruby, your seriousness has reached me and Aqua. So I want to entrust you to a place we can truly trust and rely on. You must have had a hard time because of this stubborn father's insistence. I'm sorry.
"Ichigo Production is going to form a new idol group for the first time in years."
Now that I know your dream isn't broken, all that's left is for this father to support you from the shadows as much as possible.