Meanwhile, you return to your own office where she receives an update from Matsui-san that both prospective idols will be available tomorrow afternoon.
Since you mentioned that you’d prefer talking with them one-on-one, the interviews are scheduled one after the other.
Staring at the far wall of her office, a thought occurs to you.
The conversations that Kaiba is having with EmikoDesu55 are happening from her official account.
An account issued to her by the company for the stream.
There’s a good chance the login credentials used are on file somewhere.
It wouldn’t exactly be ethical, but she could login to that account and check the private chats if Kaiba starts acting strangely.
For now, she’ll just have to hope that everything she said to Kaiba is going to help the girl make the right decisions.
You send a quick request to Matsui to collect some possible jobs for Kaiba and then spends the remainder of the day preparing for tomorrow’s interviews.
----------------------------------------
April 16, 2015 (Thursday)
It’s the dawn of a new day.
Today’s the day you meet your new idols.
Though that’ll have to wait until later today.
As expected, Matsui-san is already in the office by the time you arrive.
She hands you a folder with some possible jobs for Kaiba.
----------------------------------------
Voice acting required for a promotional drama CD (DC 120, Rank C Rank)
We’re looking for a voice actress with little to no limits.
As part of our promotional campaign, we plan to launch a drama CD that’ll be included when spending over $100 at any of our stores.
This drama CD will not be for sale anywhere else, the only way to acquire it is through the promo.
The actress should be ready to embody the kind of lifestyle Ichida Swimwear is known to represent.
Stress: 70
Payment: $5.000
Skill: Acting
About:
Ichida Swimwear is known to be a company with no morals.
----------------------------------------
Need model for night-time advert (DC 80, Rank E Rank)
The Greyhound Casino is looking for a well-endowed woman for a night-time advert.
No acting skills required, we just need somebody to look pretty.
Stress: 40
Payment: $3.800
Skill: Looks
About:
The Greyhound Casino is known to be a sleazy company.
----------------------------------------
Swimsuit Model (Gravure) (DC 60, Rank F Rank)
Ichida Swimwear is launching its new summer line filled with bikinis and bathing suits.
We are in dire need of beautiful women to put them on display in a promo video.
Stress: 50
Payment: $5.400
Skill: Dancing
About:
Ichida Swimwear is known to be a company with no morals.
----------------------------------------
Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works 2nd Season (DC 100, Rank D Rank)
We’re looking for a voice actress to star in the role of “Sella” for our on-going production.
Stress: 50
Payment: $7.700
Skill: Acting
About:
Ufotable Animation is known to be a respected company.
----------------------------------------
> Winner
> >4 - Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works 2nd Season (Ufotable Animation)
You send a quick message to Matsui to try and get Kaiba an audition for a part in Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works.
Ufotable Animation is a well-known company with quite a bit of renown, so there’s likely to be a ton of competition.
Then again, Kaiba has been practicing her acting for months now so she should be able to keep up with the other applicants.
It’s only 9 AM at the moment and there’s several hours left before the first new idol comes in for an interview with your second and third idol.
The privilege to manage up to three idols was acquired after her successful performance review.
The other two managers, Yukimori Kyoden and Matsuno Kojiro, weren’t that lucky.
What have those two have been up to these past few weeks?
You’ve been so busy with everything that you’ve barely had any time to keep track of those who should’ve been your competition.
Well, there’s one easy way to find out, but that requires a trip to HR.
It requires meeting up with Kitabayashi Yui.
The two of them have barely spoken since the karaoke night.
You sigh, “Well,” you proclaim to the empty office, “I’ll have to face her at some point.”
Then you begin the short journey to the HR office.
Once there you idle in front of the door, you’re strangely nervous.
Even though you usually don’t, you decide to knock.
Perhaps Mori Kotone is in today, rather tha…
“Come on in,” replies the voice of Kitabayashi Yui.
You crack open the door a bit and pokes your head inside, “Good morning,” you say.
Kitabayashi blinks, “Good morning,” she says, returning her attention to the computer, “Nagata-san.”
You sheepishly walk into the room, “How…” you begin, “Have you been?”
“I’ve been well,” replies Kitabayashi, “Thank you for asking. Can I help you with something?”
You wince, then rub the back of your neck, “Well,” you say, “I was hoping you could let me have another peek at the other managers. To see what they’ve been up to?”
Kitabayashi replies with a flat stare, “Nagata-san,” she says, “I can’t allow non-HR personnel to view restricted company records.”
“Of course,” you reply, feigning a chuckle, “I was just… you know… like last time?”
Kitabayashi offers you little more than a glance, “I do hope you won’t press the matter and force me to put this violation on record?”
You tense up, “No, ah, that won’t be necessary,” you say, “…I’ll be going now…”
Turning towards the door, you make it halfway there before Kitabayashi bursts out laughing.
“Mihooo!” she cries, between laughs, “I can’t believe you fell for that!”
Face flush, you stomp in place, eyes downcast, “You almost made me cry!” you shout, “I was going to walk out that door thinking you hated me!”
Kitabayashi recovers from her laughing fit and wags a finger, “Tch, tch, tch,” she says, clicking her tongue, “Like I’d ever treat you like that for real.”
You sniffle, “I wouldn’t have blamed you,” she says, “After what happened…”
Kitabayashi rolls her eyes, gets up, and walks over, placing her hands on your shoulders, “Should I be mad because you’re straight?”
She waves a dismissive hand, “Was I disappointed? Yes,” she says, “But I’m not mad or anything!”
Kitabayashi bellows out an exaggerated sigh, “Paaaah, we would’ve been so cute together,” she cries, head tilted towards the ceiling, “You could be making me miso soup every day…”
Relief washing over you, you smile. This is the Kitabayashi that you know.
You raise a playful eyebrow, “I see, so that was your endgame,” she says, “Using me as your soup servant.”
“Not gonna lie, that was a pretty big part of it,” replies Kitabayashi, nodding sagely.
She pats you on the shoulders before letting go, “Let’s spy on people, yeah?”
Never before have you been so happy to engage in borderline criminal activity, “mMmm,” you say, nodding eagerly.
The both of them move towards the computer where Kitabayashi sits down.
“Let’s see…” begins Kitabayashi, clicking away at the computer, “I heard that Matsuno-kun acquired himself a fancy idol…”
“Eh?” you say, “I didn’t know he had auditions done?”
“He didn’t,” says Kitabayashi, “His dad pulled some strings and made his uncle swipe away a fancy idol from some other agency. Veeeerrrry expensive. The company had to buy out her contract.”
So that’s the route they took when they couldn’t acquire Kaiba from you.
Suppose that’s one of the perks of being related to the owner of the company.
“Can I see her file?” you ask.
“Yep, yep,” says Kitabayashi.
One flurry of keystrokes later, the new idol’s file appears on the screen.
[https://assets.legendkeeper.com/c64439ac-e076-4689-a53b-8f36409ed4d0.jpg]
Watase Yoko (Age 22, Rank B)
Looks: 66 (77)
Vocals: 75 (88)
Dance: 53 (58)
Acting: 35 (43)
Personality: 39 (61)
Trait: Job-hopper
Quick to leave the agency if a better offer appears.
Requires constant boosts in salary to retain.
Fame: 5 (Celebrity (B))
This idol is recognized in public at times.
Costs $21,000 per month
“Uwwwaaa,” says Kitabayashi with a open mouth, “She looks intense.”
She stares at the screen for a long moment, “I bet her nipples are pierced.”
“Yui-chan!” you say with a gasp.
“What? Oh, it seems like she’s pretty famous,” says Kitabayashi, “But since she’s twenty-two she’s probably been at it for a while.”
”Seems like she started at Matsuno Inc. only a few days ago,” adds Kitabayashi.
You nod along. This is the oldest idol you’ve seen on file.
”What age do idols typically retire?” you ask.
Kitabayashi shrugs, “Usually in their late twenties,” she says, “If no scandals or stuff force them out …haha.”
You stroke her head briefly, “There, there,” you say.
“Ah,” says Kitabayashi as the hand is lifted away, “I’m still very sad! More!”
You lean away, sporting an undisguised look of disgust.
Kitabayashi pouts, “…how about the other managers…”
Her typing speed is noticeably less energetic.
”Here’s Yukimori Kyoden,” she says.
Yukimori Kyoden Budget
Week
Description
In
Out
Week 1-2
Initial budget of $100.000
+$100.000
Week 1-2
Did a job for Aoki Education
+$7.200
Week 3-4
Did a job for Sapphire Jewels
+$3.200
Week 5-6
Pay Ichihara Riko Salary
-$8.000
Week 5-6
Paid for Maki’s severance package
-$15.000
Week 7-8
Paid for consultant for PERSONALITY
-$10.000
Week 9-10
Pay Ichihara Riko Salary
-$8.000
Week 11-12
Did a job for Fair Maiden Clothing
+$6.500
Week 13-14
Pay Ichihara Riko Salary
-$8.000
Week 13-14
Paid for consultant for VOCALS
-$10.000
Week 15-16
Did a job for Wit Studio (Vocals)
+$12.000
Current
$69.900
Nothing seems out of the ordinary.
Then again you haven’t heard from Ichihara Riko in a while and you’re not sure how to feel about it.
Did Yukimori finally gain a measure of control over her or is she still plotting?
“….and here’s the golden boy himself, Matsuno Kojiro,” says Kitabayashi.
Matsuno Kojiro Budget
Week
Description
In
Out
Week 1-2
Initial budget of $100.000
+$100.000
Week 1-2
Maki did a job for Genki Clothing
+$4.000
Week 3-4
Maki did a job for Genki Clothing
+$3.800
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Week 5-6
Pay Maki Sumi (Retired) Salary
-$5.000
Week 5-6
Maki did a job with Genki Clothing
+$7.200
*
LONG ABSENCE BECAUSE OF TRAINING
Week 15-16
Did a job for Wit Studio (Vocals)
+$15.000
Current
$125.000
You glance over the list of income and expenses, “Hmm,” you say, “Can you go back to Yukimori’s budget for a moment?”
“Aye, aye,” replies Kitabayashi and does so.
Your eyes narrow, “Both managers took a job at the same studio at the same time.”
Kitabayashi stretches her arms above her head for a moment, making a small noise, “Maybe it was a group thing. Isn’t that strange for a job to feature multiple idols.”
“I suppose you’re right,” you reply, then face Kitabayashi, “Thanks again, Yui.”
Kitabayashi smiles, “You’re welcome,” she says, “Anything else?”
> Decision
> >1 - Nope, that’s all.
> >2 - Confide what you saw in Kaiba’s chatlogs to Kitabayashi
> >3 - Write-in
>
> Winner
> >2 - Confide what you saw in Kaiba’s chatlogs to Kitabayashi
There’s of course the matter of Kaiba’s chat logs.
Whether or not it’s a good idea to share that you’ve been violating your idol’s privacy is a different matter entirely.
You press your lips together and glance off towards the side, 'Well…”
Recognizing the first signs of a juicy secret, Kitabayashi’s eyes nearly sparkle, “…Yes…?”
It feels like confessing a crime, “It’s about Kaiba-san…” you say.
“Go on…” says Kitabayashi.
“The thing is…” you say, struggling.
Kitabayashi gets up, “Miho, stop teasing and just tell me!” she cries, “My heart can’t take this!”
“I think a fan is trying to get with Kaiba-chan!” you shout, far louder than she intentioned.
That’s perhaps a bit of an oversimplification, but that seems to be ErikoDesu55’s goal.
Kitabayashi stares for a long moment, “Yes,” she says eventually, “That’s, like, half the fanbase. Probably. No, no. More like most of the fanbase. She’s an idol after all.”
“This fan has been chatting with Kaiba-san a lot and I’m not sure what to do!” you say.
After taking a moment to chuckle knowingly, Kitabayashi shakes her head, “Just have her block him. Really, Miho. I know you’re a big softie, but really?”
“But I think Kaiba-san might be really into it, she’s been responding from her official account each time,” you say, “And it’s a girl!”
Kitabayashi eyes widen, “No way!” she cries.
“Yes!” you shout, “I think it might’ve been a fan she met at the handshaking event! They’ve been chatting a lot ever since!”
Office chair creaking as Kitabayashi sags wide-eyed into her chair, she quiets for just a moment, “I never figured her the type,” she says, then side-eyes you, “Then again my … sense for that has been kinda off lately.”
Kitabayashi exhales noisily, “I can’t believe a timid girl like Kaiba would come forward and share this sort of stuff with you. The two of you must be close.”
You scratch your cheek, then chuckle quietly, “Eh-heh-he, actually…”
Her face a mask of disappointment, Kitabayashi speaks, “Miho…”
The jig is up. Confronted with the moral crime, you blush fiercely.
”I didn’t mean to peek!” you cry, “At first! It was just …there on the screen.”
”After I clicked it,” you add quietly, pressing your index fingers together.
“I can’t believe you’d spy on your own idol like that,” says Kitabayashi, shaking her head.
You turn away, “I’m sorry!” you cry.
“Now, I, well, I would spy in a heartbeat,” continues Kitabayashi, then points an accusing finger at you, “But I expected better from you!”
“I knooww,” you shout, swaying from side-to-side under the torment of guilt, “I’m sorry!”
“How does it feel?” says Kitabayashi, “Knowing you’re as bad as me?”
Your only response is a whimper.
“On your knees,” shouts Kitabayashi, “Repent!”
The weight of sin and shame too much to bear, you buckle at the knees and uses your hands to hide your face.
It must’ve been years since you’ve been reprimanded like this.
[https://assets.legendkeeper.com/6964ae02-0d40-4841-b69a-e732b76ffc94.png]
“What has this world come to,” says Kitabayashi as she continues to admonish you, “That I have to talk sense into YOU instead of the other way around!”
Kitabayashi taps a foot impatiently.
“Did you really think you could do something like that and keep it a secret?” she says, “You can’t even call in sick without feeling guilty! …And that’s when you’re actually sick!”
“I’m sorry…” you mumble.
“Say it like you mean it!” cries Kitabayashi.
Eyes closed, you tilt your head upwards, “I’M SORRY!” you shout, then returns your gaze to the office floor.
Kitabayashi sighs, “That’ll have to do,” she says, walking over to her desk, “You’re lucky you confessed this to me. Knowing you you’d accidentally reveal that you know more than you should before long.”
There’s a click and a brief flash.
Your jaw drops as she looks up to see Kitabayashi with her phone in hand.
“Don’t look at me like that,” says Kitabayashi, motioning for you to get up, “You’re not getting off that easy. Consider it insurance for making me keep a secret and helping you with this.”
“Help?” you ask, hastily getting up and adjusting your clothing, “How?”
Kitabayashi grins painfully, “Let’s just say I have some experience with scandals.”
”You said she used her official account, yeah?” she asks.
You nod, “KaibaAoiOfficial”
“We’re on the clock then,” says Kitabayashi, “Social media wasn’t as big back when I was an idol, but even back then marketing used my official accounts to promote events and stuff. It’s only a matter of time before somebody logs into her account and clicks on the wrong thing and sees her chat history.”
Kitabayashi walks over to her computer, retrieves Kaiba’s account credentials from the company records, and locks the screen, “First I need to see the complete chat to see how bad things really are,” she says, “We’ll use your computer to check the chat.”
You fidget, “But I thought you said looking at her private chat was bad…”
“You’ve already seen it,” says Kitabayashi, “So at the very least we should try and make something good happen because of it. Kaiba-chan’s career could be in danger.”
Kitabayashi ushers you out of the room and you both exit into the hallway and set off towards your office.
Both of them walk with quiet determination until you break the silence.
“…I’m going to be seeing that picture again, aren’t I?” you ask.
“Yes,” replies Kitabayashi, “Yes, you are.”
----------------------------------------
Once in your office, Kitabayashi logs into Kaiba’s account and slowly reads through the chat logs.
Kitabayashi presses her back into the chair and makes a sharp whistling noise.
“What a creep,” says Kitabayashi, “There’s good and bad news.”
”The good news, if you wanna call it that, is that Kaiba-san is probably not in love or anything,” she says.
“How can you tell?” you reply.
“She’s just very lonely, I think,” replies Kitabayashi, “I’ve seen it happen all the time. First in the all-girls school I attended and then later during my time as an idol. It happens in prisons a lot, too.”
”People get isolated away from people they would ordinarily be into and instead turn to whatever is available,” she adds, “Throw in the fact that this bitch is swinging Kaiba-chan from highs to lows and I’m not surprised Kaiba-chan is so eager to please her. This EmikoDesu’s approval makes the happy chemicals flow and Kaiba’s not used to those. It probably feels special to her.”
You blink, “You seem to know a lot about this.”
Kitabayashi sighs, then frowns, “I don’t want to talk about it.”
This just raises more questions, but you drop the matter as requested.
“So, eh,” you try, “When you say … during your time as an idol…?”
Kitabayashi nods, “Idols get put on a pedestal, out of reach of fans, and the only people on the pedestal with you are the other idols. Throw in the fact that they usually spend a lot of time together, are forbidden from outside relationships, and you can probably imagine where a lonely girl will turn.”
“Kaiba-san has some new idols joining her soon,” you say, “Perhaps that’ll help with the loneliness, but I do hope nothing has, er, awakened inside Kaiba-san because of this. I shouldn’t be worried for the new idols, right?”
Kitabayashi flashes a smug smile, “Even if it did, I wouldn't worry. She’s not the type to chase after anyone.”
Talking about your idol like this is honestly making you uncomfortable.
”So, the good news is that Kaiba-san is just painfully lonely,” she says, “What’s the bad news?”
“It seems like they’re about to meet,” says Kitabayashi, “That’ll be the end of Kaiba-san.”
”Even the best-case scenario is horrible for her career,” she says, “What if they kiss? You think Kaiba-chan will be able to walk away from that if you demand they stop meeting?”
“K-kiss?” you say, blushing like a maiden, “They barely know each other!”
Kitabayashi raises an eyebrow, “You read the same chat I did, yes?” she says, “This EmikoDesu clearly has some kind of plan. It’s all grooming, manipulation, and gaslighting. Constantly pushing Kaiba-chan, putting ideas in her head and trying to make her think they were her own, being nice and then cold?”
The consequences are nerve-wracking. Kaiba-san doesn’t deserve any of this.
“Yui-chan, what do I do?” you ask, hands shaking.
Kitabayashi taps the desk with a finger to emphasize each word, “They. Cannot. Meet.”
She watches you panic in silence, not mentioning the fact that the worst-case scenario would probably end Kaiba Aoi’s career in an instant.
Arms folded tightly, you pace the room, “It’s in the weekend,” you say, “If there was a special thing going on like the handshaking event then I might be able to keep her from the meeting, but there isn’t one.”
“Then make one up,” says Kitabayashi, shrugging, “You have two new idols coming in, right? Host a 'Welcome event' party somewhere far away from this Sarutahiko Café.”
You pout, “Wouldn’t Kaiba-san simply go to the meeting afterwards?”
Kitabayashi throws up her hands, “Then plan an event that takes the entire day!” she cries, “Take all the idols, put them in a bus, then move them somewhere else. You can even take the new idol, Watase Yoko, and Ichihara Riko and say it’s a company event. All the idols get to meet each other. Huray.”
You frown, “That’d be very short notice though… and expensive…”
Kitabayashi clicks her tongue, “Tch, just call it a surprise,” she says, her face stern, “You gonna come up with some ideas yourself or just keep breaking down mine?”
She seems to be taking this all very seriously -- almost personally.
“Ah,” you say, taken aback by the sudden harsh tone, “I’m sorry…”
”It’s just…” you continue, trembling, “Yui… I’m so scared for Kaiba-san!”
Swivelling her desk chair to face you, Kitabayashi's face is the picture of pity and she opens her arms wide as you hurry forward to accept the hug. “This is all part of the life of an idol,” says Kitabayashi, as she embraces you tightly, “I know it’s all new to you, but this was my life for several years, y’know?”
“I don’t like it,” you reply, your voice strained, “Why couldn’t this EmikoDesu just be nice?”
“That’d be even worse,” says Kitabayashi, “It would be your job to destroy that happiness. Idols can’t have relationships, remember? Being a manager can be hard, too.”
“I tried to tell Kaiba-san to be careful around people like EmikoDesu in a roundabout way after I saw the chat,” you say, “I didn’t want to say that I peeked at her private chat.”
“Well,” says Kitabayashi, “I still think you should confess what you did, but I can understand that you don’t want to damage her trust. I mean, you already did, but she just doesn’t know it.”
“Yui-chan,” you say, sniffling, “Not helping.”
“Suppose you can tell her that somebody that has access to her business-issued account noticed the chat and made an anonymous statement to HR. Which would mean it would get to me and I, with you being Kaiba-chan’s manager, would’ve told it to you,” she says.
It feels a bit like running away, but pinning the blame on a faceless man from marketing might be an option.
“Or…” says Kitabayashi with a sly grin, “If you do the whole idol ‘welcome party’ and make Kaiba-chan miss the first meet-up, we can keep an eye on the chat and see if there’s gonna be a next one.”
You tilt your head to the side, “And then…?”
Kitabayashi reaches for a notebook on the desk and holds it front of her face, her eyes barely peeking over, “Spy on them,” she says, “Or get somebody to spy on them.”
For the first time since what feels like forever, you laugh, “Yui,” you say, “Spying on a date? That’s something high school girls do! I’ve never heard of adults spying on people.”
Well. In person at least.
Kitabayashi wiggles her eyebrows, the lower part of her face still hidden by the notebook, “Exactly,” she says, “That’s because we’re a lot better at it than highschoolgirls.”
”They shouldn’t meet, but if we can’t prevent it, then we should at least be ready help if needed,” she adds.
That decision will have to wait until EmikoDesu55 suggest a future meet-up date.
> Replacement Event on Saturday
> >1 - Find a small restaurant within Tokyo to introduce your idols to each other. (-$200, very short event)
> >2 - Rent a bus and take your idols on a weekend trip to Mt. Fuji + Onsen (-$2,000, long event)
> >3 - Rent a bus and take your idols on a day trip to an Amusement Park (-$1,000, very short event)
> >4 - Rent a bus and take your idols on a day trip to a nearby beach (-$1,000, short event)
> >5 - Rent a bus and take ALL the idols on a short trip to an Mt. Fuji + Onsen (-$5,000, long event)
> >6 - Rent a bus and take ALL the idols on a day trip to an Amusement Park (-$2,000, very short event)
> >7 - Rent a bus and take ALL the idols on a day trip to nearby beach (-$2,000, short event)
>
> Winner
> >5 - Rent a bus and take ALL the idols on a weekend trip to an Mt. Fuji + Onsen (Hot Spring) (-$5,000, long event)
Pinching your chin between your fingers, you think it over for a moment.
Allowing all the idols to meet up as suggested might actually be a good idea.
It’ll allow both you and Kaiba-san to get to know the new idols in a casual environment and might even speed them through that initial awkwardness that comes with meeting new co-workers.
You look at Kitabayashi for a long moment, the smile, “You’re right, I’m sorry, Yui-chan,” you say, “These are all good ideas, well maybe not the spying…but the welcome party, at least.”
Kitabayashi places her hands in her side, “Obviously,” she says, confidence radiating from her.
She leans forward, her mouth hidden behind a hand, “Impressed?” she says, smugly, “Fallen deeply in love with me? Ready to elope?”
“Not so much, no,” you reply, “Sorry.”
Kitabayashi snaps her fingers, “Dang,” she says, “Someday.”
You sigh, then shake your head dryly, leaving the comment for what it is.
“Where do you think we should go?” you ask, “Mountains? Beach? Somewhere in the city, maybe?”
Kitabayashi shrugs, “Bit cold for the beach this time of year,” she says, “And taking a group of idols into the busiest city in the world is probably asking for trouble.”
“Mountains it is then,” you reply, “Can’t go wrong with Mt. Fuji, I suppose. Find a place with a hot spring, maybe. Just relax. You think I should ask the other managers and idols, too?”
“Miho,” says Kitabayashi with a small laugh, “You know they’re your competition, right?”
She sighs, “That’s so like you, but I suppose you could. You’re all part of the same generation of idols.”
Although you understand the perks of healthy competition, you’d rather wish everybody got along.
There’s no need for bullying, backstabbing, or sabotaging each other, right?
Perhaps meeting eachother face to face will make the other idols less likely to undermine yours.
A deep, deep sigh floods out from Kitabayashi, “Aaaah…” she says dreamily, “Going with Miho-chan to a hot spring… wish I was still an idol.”
You wrap your hands around your body, turning away slightly, “Geh,” you say, frowning, “I might go to HR if you keep at it like that…”
“What a coincidence,” says Kitabayashi.
She smirks, then walks over and pats an empty chair, “Nagata-san,” she says, “Please tell me everything you think this attractive, green-haired woman wants to do to you. Leave out no details.”
You roll your eyes, knowing Kitabayashi would happily continue this back and forth for another hour, you return to the earlier discussion, “Putting that aside…” you say, with a motion of your hands.
“Putting it aside,” repeats Kitabayashi, mimicking your motion.
“Jeesh, Yui-chan,” you shout, “This is serious, y’know? I want my idols to like each other.”
“Okay, okay,” says Kitabayashi, putting up her hands in defence.
“You think, it’ll be hard to get a place at this time of year on such short notice?” you ask.
“Well, it’s not the busy season and if you simply sell out a little then it should be fine,” replies Kitabayashi.
“Sell out?” you ask.
“Just promise that you’ll ask your idols to mention the resort you end up staying at in an interview if it ever comes up,” says Kitabayashi, with a shrug of the shoulders, “Bit of marketing.”
That doesn’t sound too bad. You might even do the owners of the resort a big favour.
There’s a lot of small hot springs and hotels that dot the surroundings of the mountain and they’re all competing for the same set of tourists.
The best course of action is probably to ask your assistant, Matsui-san, to make a few calls while you ask the other managers and their idols if they feel like attending.
“Thanks, Yui-chan,” you say, “I guess I should get to work!”
You turn and make for the exit, ready to head to your own office.
“You’re gonna tell Kaiba-chan you know about her conversation, right?” asks Kitabayashi from behind.
You look over your shoulder like a deer caught in the headlights, “Y-yeah,” you say, “Eventually. Once all this trouble with EmikoDesu is over with. Yeah. I need to sorta know what she’s up to if I want to have a handle on this whole thing. As her manager, y’know? If she knows she might stick to phone calls or use a different account…”
“Having her private chats in private,” says Kitabayashi in a mocking tone, “How dare she.”
She graces you with a forgiving smile, “I’ll look away for now because this Emiko is such a creep and Kaiba-chan doesn’t know any better, but you better tell her eventually!”
“I know,” you reply sheepishly, “I will.”
“You better,” says Kitabayashi stern, holding up her phone, “Or a certain embarrassing picture is going to do it for you.”
”The Miho I know would’ve never spied like that,” she adds, her face softening, “I won’t let this job change you for the worse. What kind of friend would I be if I did?”
Knowing there’s nothing you can say to excuse what you’ve done, you simply nod and leave.
Talking to Kitabayashi did lessen your feeling of guilt somewhat, but she’s right and what you did was wrong.
You know you’re acting in the best interests of your idol, but does the goal justify the means?
Kitabayashi doesn’t seem to think so and now she’s put a timer on you to come clean.
As the saying goes: If you do something for the right reasons, you’ll eventually do it for the wrong ones.
Still, you feel like you needed that conversation. To talk about the things that have been happening.
All the uncertainty, the dubious future of your idol, the unknown intentions of this fan.
It felt like something had an iron grip on your guts.
Like a weight in your stomach that was getting heavier the more you thought about this whole development.
Talking about these problems doesn’t fix them, but they do seem a bit more manageable now.
As you walk back to your office, you feel all the stress you ware scarcely aware off begin to dissipate, and you walk a little taller.
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Once there you get to work. Matsui Tomo will call to various hotels on Mt. Fuji and try and get you a reservation for eight people, three managers and five idols.
If somebody opts-out, you can always call in and make the change.
You type out a quick email to Yukimori Kyoden and Matsuno Kojiro asking if they’d like to join and to extend this invitation to their respective idols.
Some minutes later, you receive a reply from the both of them.
Matsuno Kojiro mentions that his idol, Watase Yoko, is very eager and can’t wait to join.
Kojiro himself only plans to join himself if Yukimori also joins as he would otherwise be the only man and he says he’s too young to sit in an empty room by himself and drink.
Yukimori tells you in a very polite, office-appropriate way that this invitation is annoyingly short notice.
However, he says he will talk it over with his wife this evening as he ordinarily spends the weekend with his family.
You glance at the clock. Is it already this late?
Suppose you can ask your new idols about their attendance in person soon enough.
Rolling your shoulder, you become aware of your fatigue.
Walking on eggshells as you try to help Kaiba without tipping her off and getting guilt-tripped by Kitabayashi is exhausting.
Hopefully a coffee and something sweet out of a vending machine will help your energy levels.
You set on off toward the break room.
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It seems like you weren’t the only person we could use a pick-me-up.
You haven’t met in person, but a young girl with two long twin-drills is currently trying to bully the coffee machine into giving her the beverage she wants.
Though, bullying might be too strong a word for it, she’s practically pleading with the machine.
“Stop adding cream,” the girls shouts, “Please!”
The machine finishes what seems to be the wrong order and the girl sighs.
She only notices you when she turns to pour the coffee down the drain.
Ichihara Riko is a girl that unceremoniously ended a different idol’s career.
It was chalked up to mistakes and youthful ignorance, but the fact she later skulked around Kaiba’s chatrooms tells a different story.
Naturally, you expected somebody haughty or full of themselves.
The girl in front of you is nothing like that at all, instead she’s struggling to retain eye-contact with you.
”Ah,” she says, “N-nagata-san, right?”
“Yes,” you reply, folding your arms, “If I’m not mistaken, you’re Ichihara Riko, right?”
There are no pleasantries here, you both know what she did.
She nods, then bows a little, “Nice to meet you,” she says, “I apologize for my past behaviour, I’ve been working on myself since and I’m hoping we can leave the past in the past.”
An apology won’t bring back Maki Sumi’s career, but you suppose it’s a start.
You’re not one to hold a grudge, but you can’t get yourself to simply forgive the girl – even if she seems to regret her actions.
Perhaps she’s only sorry because you caught her on her second account and tipped off her manager.
Stil, whatever the reason, she seems far more timid than anticipated.
“Just try and do better from here on out, “you say, then sigh and relax, “I look forward to working with you.”
You glance at the small stack of empty paper cups on the counter next to her, “Coffee machine giving you trouble?”
Ichihara Riko nods, “I’m trying to get an espresso with a bunch of sugar and no milk,” she says, “But the machine is being difficult…”
It’s not a big deal, but you can actually see the girl tremble.
[https://assets.legendkeeper.com/877315fd-6d0a-478c-90c9-87a27407da40.png]
You should tell her to sort it out herself. Or maybe tell her to get Maki Sumi to help her.
That’s what she deserves, right? Somebody’s lifelong dream was destroyed because of her.
But you can’t bring yourself to do it. You WANT to be petty, but you’re just not.
Maybe Kitabayashi was right – you are too soft.
“Let me help you,” you say instead, “The machine can be a pain sometimes.”
Ichihara smiles, but it’s one of relief more than happiness.
The coffee machine is an older model that should’ve been replaced years ago.
Sometimes it gets stuck on the previous drink setup and you need to perform a series of commands to reset it.
It’s one of those things that should’ve been fixed, but the work-around has become so ingrained in the long-time workers that it only trips up newer employees.
Ichihara Riko might’ve been an idol here at Matsuno Inc. for a few months, but she’s only sixteen and probably spends most of her time at school or on jobs.
Still, it’s somewhat odd that you’re only running into her for the first time now.
You explain how to reset the machine and watch her form that tell-tale frown that basically screams ‘Why hasn’t this been fixed yet?'.
But she’ll remember the workaround, will become so used to it that she forgets the initial problem, and eventually pass it on the next fresh employee.
It is the cycle.
“…And there you go,” you say, pressing the final button and watching the espresso drip into the cup.
Ichihara Riko sighs in relief, “I was worried for a while,” she says, “Watase-sama will be happy.”
The new girl? Well, you did learn today the both of them having been working together.
You press some buttons and get some coffee of your own, no sugar with a touch of milk.
“Watasa-san? That’s the new girl, right?” you ask, stirring your coffee, “Are you working together?”
Once again caught in a situation where you know but have to pretend that you don’t.
At least this is safe information now. Something you have a valid reason for knowing.
~Ah, keeping track of the all the lies and the sneaking is so tiresome.
“In a way,” replies Ichihara, then opens her mouth to say something, but instead falls silent.
”I s-should go,” she says, picking up the espresso, “Before the coffee gets cold.”
You take a sip of your coffee and nod, “Alright,” you say, “Do your best.”
Ichihara Riko seems to leave in a hurry.
Ah, you forget to invite her to the welcome party.
Oh, well. Her manager will tell her.
You finish your coffee and then get an energy bar from the break room vending machine before walking back to your office.