"Any news?" I asked Aya just as I sat at my desk.

"Yes, in fact," she answered. "A TV channel invited us to their show."

My head snapped toward her. "Wait, really? Did it arrive while I was gone?"

She nodded. "Five minutes ago, to be exact. I'm making sure I read it properly, so I don't have much to tell you yet."

"That's alright. I'll check it now as well."

It took less than ten seconds for me to open the QMail app and find the qmail at the top of our company's business account inbox. I hadn't even opened it and the happiness drained from my body.

The invitation was from Fame Gain, the local TV program I hated the most. Their topics were always famous people's controversies and they would ask uncomfortable questions of the individuals they had invited to their live show.

"Your face says it all," smirked Aya.

I merely glanced at her before looking back down at my desk.

"What is it?" wondered Tomokazu.

Aya answered, "The TV program we were invited to is Fame Gain."

A sneer came out of Tomokazu. "Now, that is going to be interesting."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Although I like the show, I know their sole objective is to get spectators from other people's fame. It's strange being on the other side of the coin. However, I'd say we should give it a go."

My brain began to consider the idea, but it promptly flushed it away.

"It's still too risky…"

"Kaito," Aya suddenly called. She nodded at me then turned toward Tomokazu to ask him, "Please elaborate."

Tomokazu replied, "In my opinion, there are two options. The girls could simply avoid the malicious questions or refuse to answer them directly, but knowing their target audience is people like me, that would be boring."

"What do you suggest, then?" I asked.

A smirk formed on his face. "I suggest we play their game."

The more he described his plan, the bolder it got, but it wasn't until he showed me examples of interviewees that had done the same that the idea started to form in my mind.

There was one problem, however. In order to play their game, the girls needed to be aggressive and agile in order to counterattack the questions. Aki and Umi weren't going to struggle with that, but I was worried about Astra, Sanae, and Risa.

So, we formulated a proper plan with the girls. They didn't like the idea in the beginning, just like me, but it slowly grew in their heads even though we wouldn't force them to do it.

By the end of the day, we had decided to accept the invitation. Luckily, it was going to take place a couple of days before the tour began. Although the ticket sales were going alright, they weren't great, so being in the show was the perfect push. We even wondered if the TV channel had done it on purpose.

Only one day passed and the news was already spreading throughout the QNet and the city's advertisement screens and holograms. Several friends and family members even called us to ask us if we were sure that going to that show was safe; we were more than sure it was.

Because there were six people already, I could only bring one more person with me. Of course, I chose Aya since she was the PR manager.

We arrived at the TV channel building in an SUV we rented. Although we had been given the option to park on an exclusive platform on a higher floor, we chose to go in through the main entrance in case there were fans waiting for the girls. There were a few standing behind the fences installed in front of the building, so the girls took the time to take pictures with them and give them signatures.

We stepped into the building a few minutes later. The lobby's snobby appearance reminded me of how out of place I felt the first time I stepped onto the university campus. It was a nostalgic feeling, weirdly enough.

A man wearing a gray buttoned shirt and black pants approached us. The holographic badge on his chest clarified he was a studio assistant of Fame Gain.

"Welcome," he bowed. Before any of us could reply, he continued, "Please follow me."

Without a choice, we followed him down a hallway in silence until we reached an elevator. He pressed a button high up on the panel and the elevator started moving.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

His behavior didn't feel hostile or rude, he was simply direct. Still, we weren't off to a good start.

After an awkward minute, we stepped out of the elevator and walked down another hallway until the assistant stopped in front of a door.

"This will be your dressing room for today," the man said. "The makeup artists will arrive shortly. I'll come back in fifteen minutes to guide you to the next step of the process."

Not even asking if we understood, he walked around the corner of the hallway and disappeared. Aya and I glanced at each other before I opened the door for everyone to step inside.

The room was… disappointing, to say the least. Not only was it tiny, but it also didn't have enough seats for the seven of us and there were only two makeup tables. Luckily, the girls were already wearing their costumes per Aya's suggestion to be careful with their public image as idols.

"We don't even deserve a green room, huh?" grumbled Umi.

I placed my finger on my lips to ask her to be quiet. She stared at me for a moment then looked away with her arms crossed.

We hadn't even attempted to sit down when the makeup artists arrived. They seemed to be in good humor and more polite than the assistant.

They asked Aki and Astra to sit at the makeup tables first. I worried there wasn't going to be enough time for all of the girls, but they were done in only five minutes. The makeup artists explained the makeup wasn't to make them look prettier, but it was to make them look good on camera by covering the oily spots on their faces and stuff like that.

Sanae and Risa were next. The makeup artists wouldn't stop praising their skin and the shape of their faces. Risa bashfully accepted the compliments, while Sanae tried to act mature, but the pink cheeks betrayed her.

Only Umi remained, so one of the makeup artists called her. Then, something expected happened.

"Mr. Miyahara, it's your turn," the other makeup artist said.

"Eh? Me?"

"Yes, you. Aren't you going to be on the show as well?"

"Ah…"

I glanced at Aya, who merely smirked back at me.

Without saying anything else, I approached the makeup table and sat down. Even though I had let Aki try her makeup on me, it still felt weird to let someone touch my face; especially a stranger. To top it off, she started praising my skin and face too. I couldn't see Aki, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to.

Once the makeup artists were done with Umi and me, they left the room. The door hadn't even closed when the assistant called us from outside to follow him again.

More and more people walked around the hallways the deeper we went into the building. Eventually, the hallway widened until it became a room. One of the walls was completely white and there were dozens of cameras being operated by several people.

Suddenly, a somewhat familiar voice surprised us from the side.

"Hello, hello!"

It was one of the two presenters of the show. He approached each one of us and shook our hands vigorously.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm sure you know me already. I did my homework so I also know you." He extended his arm and pointed at each of the girls. "Astra, Aki, Sanae, Risa and Umi."

"I'm Risa."

"And I'm Sanae."

He got them mixed up. He could've just memorized their hair color.

The presenter snapped his fingers. "Dang it! I almost had it."

"It's time for the photo shoot," the assistant said.

"Then what are we waiting for?"

They both walked toward the cameras, so we followed them. The girls and I stood in front of the cameras along with the presenter, while Aya waited behind.

Wait, weren't there two presenters?

The other presenter walked into the room as soon as the thought crossed my mind. She walked along with two other suited men, who stopped behind the cameras. She hastily bowed in front of us before standing next to me, just like the other presenter. The girls stood in front of us.

As soon as one of the camera operators asked us to get ready, the presenter's deadpan expression turned into a grin. It was even a little scary.

After what felt like a hundred pictures were taken, the presenter that had just arrived left with the two suited men without saying a word. Even though I knew people's personalities changed behind the cameras, it was shocking to see how different she was.

"The pre-show will begin in four minutes," the assistant said.

Pre-show?

"Wonderful," the presenter smiled.

He chatted with the girls while we walked down yet another hallway. The light dimmed a little as we approached the exit to the stage, where the other presenter was being wired a microphone. We exchanged glances. Hers felt threatening, but I didn't let myself be intimidated.

They began to put microphones on the girls and the other presenter.

"May I ask what the pre-show is?" asked Aya.

The energetic presenter answered while being wired, "We like to warm up the audience before the show truly begins. They loosen up and we also make sure everything is working nicely."

"Thank—"

"Are you so new that you don't know what a pre-show is?" the rude presenter smiled in a condescending manner.

"She wouldn't have asked if she knew what it was," I smiled at her.

Even though her expression didn't change, her stare gave away her anger.

She approached me and said, "I hope you're ready."

"I hope you're too," I replied.

She headed to the exit as people asked her to get ready to go out.

Aya placed her hand on my shoulder and said, "Calm down."

"I'm the most calm I have ever been."

We smirked at each other.