A day began as peacefully as any other, until the famous British tabloid, The Sun, began distributing an extra edition.
An 'extra edition' refers to an emergency print issued by a newspaper to break urgent news—usually reserved for historical events. Even for a rag like The Sun, the fact that they issued one meant something massive had occurred.
People across the streets began to panic as they saw the articles. It was extremely rare for an entertainment story to warrant an extra edition, but the logo for the [Entertainment Division] was proudly stamped at the top of the page.
"What the? Is it even legal to issue an extra for something this trivial?"
Tom Yorke, picking up a discarded paper on his way to work, assumed The Sun was just chasing engagement like usual and was about to tear it up.
'Wait... isn't this Hide from Enfants Terribles?'
As he looked closer, he saw a photo of Hide, the leader of the world-renowned Enfants Terribles, holding hands with an Asian woman. It was certainly something that would grab attention, but Tom thought it hardly deserved an extra edition.
Fans of Enfants Terribles cared about their music, not their private lives. While a few groupies might feel differently, most fans just wanted them to stay alive and keep releasing albums instead of dropping dead in the street.
'Oh...? This isn't actually bad at all.'
In fact, Tom thought Hide being in a relationship was a good thing. Lately, Hide had seemed a bit low on energy; if he started a family, wouldn't the 'newlywed buff' and 'parenting buff' help him pump out even more songs?
From a fan's perspective, nothing was better than an artist being prolific. Didn't the band's bald bassist churn out the masterpiece OK Computer right after he started dating?
"Oh... she's a beauty, too. Looks like a celebrity?"
While he felt a twinge of jealousy that Hide was rich and dating such a beautiful woman, honestly, as long as Hide didn't use a Remington to blow his brains out and stop writing music, what the artist did was none of his business.
If this woman could inspire Hide to write more legendary tracks, he'd be willing to lick her boots. Similar to his reaction, the general response in the UK toward the extra edition was lukewarm.
"A singer just needs to write songs. Who cares?"
"It's not like he committed a crime. Wait, isn't Hide a minor?"
Rather than obsessing over the romance, the British public was fuming at The Sun for failing to protect the privacy of a minor and instead chasing him all the way to his home country of Japan. It had only been eleven years since they lost their beloved Princess to the excessive privacy violations of the paparazzi.
The British public had not forgotten the tragedy that took the woman they admired, nor had they forgotten The Sun's atrocities committed under the guise of the 'right to know.'
"Those bastards!!! This is another form of oppression!!!"
"Have a Molotov cocktail made of whiskey!!"
Furthermore, because the 'September Movement' sparked by Enfants Terribles was in full swing across the UK, the dawn after the extra was published saw The Sun's building scorched black by arson.
"It's forbidden to forbid!"
"Did you get in touch with The Sun? What? They can't answer the phone because their building is on fire?"
Saito Ichigo, president of Strawberry Productions—the major label housing both Enfants Terribles and B-Komachi—was losing his mind over the extra issued across the ocean in the UK while he was asleep.
If it had been a Japanese media outlet, he could have controlled it through his connections, but there was no stopping an article breaking in England.
"Damn it... think, Saito Ichigo. Turning crisis into opportunity is your life philosophy."
Ignoring his trademark sunglasses sliding down his nose, Saito sat indoors with a cigarette, carefully plotting his next move.
But honestly, who could have expected it?
A dating scandal between Ai and Hide.
Truth be told, he had a hunch. Both Ai and Hide headed toward each other whenever their schedules cleared, and lately, they had even started to resemble one another. He had simply brushed it off, thinking they were just busy, and that lack of foresight had led to this mess.
'Damn it... if I'd known, I would've prepared.'
He continued calculating the gains and losses in his head. First, there would be no damage to Enfants Terribles. Their fandom loved them for their raw authenticity and music, not as pseudo-boyfriends. Aside from Hide, the group didn't exactly have 'visual appeal' anyway.
'The problem is B-Komachi...'
The fandom for B-Komachi was different. He was currently in the middle of transitioning their fanatical idol base into an artist-following fandom as Strawberry Productions gained capital and Ai's songwriting matured.
"Fine, it's a bit early, but I have no choice."
Saito decided to accelerate the plan he had to turn B-Komachi into a long-running group. Being known as the group containing the partner of Enfants Terribles' leader would generate massive noise marketing, so the outlook wasn't entirely negative.
After all, hadn't Kichijoji Yoriko—the partner of the band's bald bassist—received explosive global attention after her dating rumor broke?
"Because our Ai is a genuine liar!"
To Saito, Ai was a true 'star' with the charm to convert the spotlight into popularity. While the other members of B-Komachi were excellent, Ai, who had learned performance and composition from the members of Enfants Terribles, was on a different level.
"Still, damn you, Hide!!!! I'm definitely going to punch you once!!!"
The relationship between Saito Ichigo and Hoshino Ai wasn't just a business contract. On paper, Ai was legally Saito Ichigo's daughter.
Not just a 'daughter' on a document, but a real daughter tied by a bond of love. Saito felt an urge to beat Hide for taking his daughter away from his protective wing.
"Still, with this incident as a catalyst, B-Komachi might actually hit the Billboard charts."
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.
.
The protagonists of the scandal, Hide and Ai, were enjoying a date in Asakusa, Daito-gu, Tokyo, as if none of it mattered.
They had already finished discussing the response strategy with President Saito Ichigo. While the fandom was split, more fans were showing a positive reaction than not.
"Hehe— do you think we'll be caught walking like this, holding hands?"
"Ai, don't worry about that. I already beat the ones following us half to death this morning and sent them to the ER."
Enfants Terribles was originally famous for hospitalizing paparazzi. While things had been quiet lately because no one dared to follow them, beating paparazzi and sending them to the doctor was part of Hide's daily routine.
"Eh? Is that allowed?"
"Don't worry. I didn't get a single scratch since I just smashed their car window, dragged them out, and gave them a thrashing."
"That's kind of a shame— I was planning on giving a peace sign if we got snapped! ☆"
Hide smiled at Ai's reaction and began to think. Some stars deliberately hired paparazzi to create hype. It satisfied the public's curiosity and the hired paparazzi would chase away other rivals to protect their exclusive, so it wasn't a bad deal.
"Should I hire one? There's probably one dedicated paparazzi even Enfants Terribles doesn't know about. Makoto is usually good at handling things like that."
"Hide! If you say such a terrifying thing again, I might just kiss you right here in public! ୧(๑•̀ᗝ•́)૭"
"Oh... that doesn't sound too bad."
Amidst their banter, more and more people began to recognize the gorgeous couple radiating a star's aura. They usually wore masks and hats, but currently, they were walking the streets without any disguise.
Since the news was out, they were fully participating in Saito Ichigo's plan to show off their date and maximize the buzz.
"Ah~ Hello~"
"This is Ai from B-Komachi!"
They enjoyed their date, waving as if snapping back at the minority of 'internet keyboard warriors' who acted as if dating were a crime.
The rage of the keyboard warriors? It would surely be buried without any traction. The massive Enfants Terribles fandom would pour concentrated fire on anyone insulting their 'Star.'
"See? Ai, just like I said, it's no big deal, right?"
Hide intended to properly wrap up the incident involving the paparazzi he had failed to spot and subsequently sent to the ER. Enfants Terribles' concerts wouldn't be an issue for now, as they had hired the newcomer, Sakamoto Ryuichi.
'I'll show you what 2020s-style media play looks like.'
Hide was about to show the world of 2008 what 'couple YouTubers' were all about.
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- Damn, is this real life? Look at the honey dripping from their eyes. My heart hurts.
↳ Damn, now I want to date too.
↳ I'm inspired, I'm going to go confess to my girl friend right now.
↳ Now you're gonna be 'just friends' forever LOL
- I didn't even know who B-Komachi was, but isn't Ai way too cute?
↳ They say Hide was the one who confessed first. I can see why.
↳ Their history is even better. They've been together since the band started. At this point, should the guys on the 2ch EF board call her the Holy Mother?
↳ Hey, watch your tongue. Show some respect. It's 'Holy Mother Ai-sama.'
↳ lololololol
- Apparently, Ai is super close with the other members too. Shuji and Yokishi treat her like a younger sister and adore her.
↳ Honestly, if you write a hate comment about Ai now, I feel like all three members of Enfants Terribles will track you down and beat you.
↳ Hey you, did you write a hate comment? You want to be folded in half by these muscles?
↳ EEEK!!! I'm sorry, big brother!!!
- So Ai writes songs so well because she learned from Enfants Terribles?
↳ I heard she even learned guitar from Hide.
↳ The level of her tutor is insane.
- I'm a fan of B-Komachi Ai. Honestly, if it's Hide, I can accept this.
↳ If it's a super alpha male like Hide, you have to admit it.
↳ Is there anyone else who could make Ai happier than Hide?
↳ I actually like it. Even if I feel 'NTR-ed,' if it's him, I'll allow it. I would've been mad if it were some nobody, but since it's Hide, I feel like my own status went up?
↳ You crazy bastard lololol
- Isn't Ai's bare face crazy beautiful too?
↳ Fact.
↳ I really want to know what skincare she uses. Her skin is glowing.
- Their height difference is so heart-fluttering!! Watching Ai-san look up at Hide-kun!!! Even though I'm not her, my heart skipped a beat!
↳ Hide-kun looked like he was dying of cuteness, too.
↳ Didn't you feel how much he adores her?
↳ I wish my boyfriend would treat me like that! Hide-kun is so expressive with his affection...
- I'm a man in my 50s just passing by. Leaving a comment because they look like such a lovely couple.
↳ I also loved seeing them respect and care for each other.
↳ They aren't like kids these days; they meet so gracefully, don't they?
↳ They seem like kids with their heads on straight. I think I'll start rooting for them.
- I recently started dating and your video motivated me, Hide-hyung. I need to do better for my partner.
- POST MORE!!!!! I ALREADY LIKED, SHARED, AND SUBSCRIBED!!!!!!!!
The reaction to Hide and Ai's YouTube video was explosive—enough to turn what little criticism Ai received into chants of "Holy Mother Ai-sama."
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