Chapter 14: On Air
Ai's gaze quickly swept across the classroom, finding the other four gathered in a lively circle. The blonde boy clutched his guitar, exuding energy; the black-haired boy sat bolt upright, looking a bit stiff; and the girl with the heavy makeup was talking animatedly, her expressions vivid. Meanwhile, Hikaru stood among them with a gentle smile, looking as if he had already blended in perfectly.
"Everyone's here~" Ai offered a light greeting, her purple eyes curving into crescent moons.
Koromo Shiranui, following behind her, lowered her head shyly. "Something came up; we're a bit late."
Ai had dressed with exceptional care today. Her smooth, long hair was pinned on the left with a small ribbon clip, with stray locks framing her face and shimmering under the studio lights. Her delicate features, enhanced by light makeup, appeared even more moving, her deep purple eyes clear and bright. She wore a pale pink short-sleeved top made of a light, form-fitting fabric that perfectly traced her slender waist.
Below, she wore a white pleated miniskirt that rested mid-thigh, revealing a pair of long, fair legs. Her slender thighs peeked out from beneath the hem, and she wore black calf-high socks topped with delicate lace. On her feet were black leather shoes with a warm, polished luster, creating an elegant, unified look with her socks. She looked youthful and cute, yet undeniably graceful.
Koromo Shiranui wore a light blue mini-dress with intricate lace at the collar. The ends of her short hair were slightly curled inward, and her straight bangs neatly covered her forehead, giving her hair a smooth, layered look. Most striking were the decorative tassels on either side of her head, lending a rich Japanese flair that swayed gently as she moved. With her large, well-defined eyes, she radiated a fresh, student-like aura. Both girls brought a vibrant energy that seemed to brighten the entire classroom.
Takuya Taira's eyes lit up instantly, and his guitar nearly slipped from his hands. He tried to stay composed but couldn't resist stealing several glances at Ai. Though Jin Fuyuno remained seated upright, his gaze was clearly drawn to Ai, and he even relaxed his rigid "interview" posture slightly.
Hikaru, pretending they weren't well-acquainted, asked with feigned curiosity, "You're idols, right? Why would you join a reality show?"
*Exactly,* Takuya thought, *why are idols here?* Jin had the same doubt, and even the talkative Emi Sai was internally wondering the same thing. They all knew the definition of an idol: usually no dating allowed, lots of restrictions. A dating reality show should, by all accounts, be a forbidden zone for idols.
Koromo blinked and explained, "I'm not just a pure idol, and I don't belong to a fixed group, so I don't actually have that many restrictions."
In truth, it was because Koromo was the daughter of a wealthy, prestigious family; her entire agency revolved around her, allowing her to do as she pleased without the shackles of a typical idol.
Ai smiled and added, "The production team invited me. I mainly wanted to meet more people my age, so I didn't come purely for romance." She paused, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Of course, it's a different matter if one of you can move my heart..."
The six soon engaged in a relaxed private chat to get to know each other. Since this was a dating show aimed at "pairing up," they needed to understand one another. Everyone introduced themselves in more detail, while firing follow-up questions at those who piqued their interest.
Emi Sai showed interest in Hikaru's songwriting, occasionally asking music-related questions. Koromo remained polite but didn't show a clear preference, choosing instead to observe the group's dynamics. Takuya and Jin engaged in friendly conversation with Ai; the atmosphere was light and natural, with no obvious sense of competition yet.
Just as the conversation was hitting its stride, Masaya Kaburagi appeared at the door.
"You all know the general requirements. Just wait a moment and we'll start filming officially," he said, scanning the group. "The first episode is about the 'getting to know each other' process. What you just did was private; once we start, there will be a formal self-introduction segment."
Kaburagi emphasized, "The filming is very free. Just perform naturally; don't feel too much pressure."
Soon, the cameras began recording, and the red lights flickered on. The six adjusted their states immediately. A hint of tension filled the air as they prepared to re-introduce themselves for the lens. Unlike their casual chat, everyone now displayed "camera awareness," appearing less spontaneous. Even the boisterous Takuya became more polite, subconsciously glancing at the camera as he spoke.
The formulaic introductions ended quickly, moving into a deeper communication phase.
On camera, Emi Sai displayed an overt interest in Hikaru—quite different from the moderate attention she had shown earlier. She now acted as if she had developed a sudden, profound fascination with music composition, peppering him with questions in a proactive "offensive" manner. To her, Hikaru had the looks, the wit, and as a rising singer-songwriter, he brought significant "traffic." He was a prime candidate for a potential romantic storyline.
Koromo, as an idol with a sharp sense for the camera, noticed Emi's move. After a moment's thought, she decided that a "rivalry between girls" script would be quite compelling. She decided to join Emi in the "offensive," adding more dramatic flair to the show.
Before the cameras, the six began to drift into sub-groups. Hikaru, Emi, and Koromo sat close together, while the other three—Ai, Takuya, and Jin—clustered elsewhere.
Takuya, using his Kansai accent, said half-jokingly to Jin, "Jin, you're way too stiff! You'll never catch a girl's eye like that!"
Jin responded with total sincerity, "I believe being genuine is more important than silver-tongued words."
The two traded boasts, declaring they would show off their charms to see who could actually make Ai's heart flutter.
It took Ai a moment to realize—*Wait, they're going to openly compete to pursue me?*
She suddenly blinked. "Actually, in a romantic relationship, 'Ai' (Love) should be the most important thing."
The two boys froze, failing to react in time, standing there in an awkward silence.
Ai looked genuinely confused. "Was it not funny? You see, my name is Ai, so the 'Ai' in that sentence can also refer to me." As she spoke, she pointed at herself with a perfectly serious face.
"That's a bit of a 'cold' joke," Jin said, crossing his arms. His black bangs swayed, and one could almost see a "Gloomy" status effect floating over his head.
Takuya finally got it and doubled over laughing, clutching his stomach.
The scene was suddenly filled with a jovial, happy atmosphere.
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LanLi: In Japanese culture, a joke that is so bad it makes the room feel silent is called a "Samui" (cold) joke. Jin crossing his arms and the "gloomy" atmosphere appearing over his head is the classic anime reaction to a pun that missed its mark.
Takuya eventually finds the absurdity of a top idol making such a dorky pun hilarious, which breaks the tension and makes the atmosphere "jovial."
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