> Solo debut: Enatsu Mari
> >1 - A simple announcement on the company’s Instagram page
> >2 - Livestream: Debut Enatsu Mari as a sport and fitness streamer
> >3 - Livestream: Debut Enatsu Mari as a dance and fashion streamer
> >4 - Make an idol announcement video about…
> >5 - Write-in
>
> Solo debut: Chigusa Iki
> >1 - A simple announcement on the company’s Instagram page
> >2 - Livestream: Debut Chigusa Iki as a cooking and health streamer
> >3 - Livestream: Debut Chigusa Iki as a cooking and health streamer that wears cosplay
> >4 - Make an idol announcement video about…
> >5 - Write-in
>
> Winner
> >2 - Livestream: Debut Enatsu Mari as a sport and fitness streamer
> >3 - Livestream: Debut Chigusa Iki as a cooking and health streamer that wears cosplay
Radio shows and TV appearances are a fairly standard way for people to get a dose of their favourite idol, but a livestream where they can see them on the daily is fairly novel.
If Kaiba’s live vlogging was an experiment, then you can safely say that it was a success.
It’s time to see how far you can take this.
Enatsu Mari will debut as a sport and fitness streamer.
A channel where she visits various places, sports, and stores.
If she gets popular enough, then there’s even a chance proper sport associations might pay her big money to highlight and endorse their sport on her channel in an effort to draw new members.
Stores might hire her to showcase new equipment.
And all of that is done while Enatsu Mari engages in what she probably loves most.
A ton of highly varied, athletic activities – she’ll have loads of fun.
Chigusa Iki will perform in a health and cooking stream.
Her idol persona as a “Strict Childhood Friend” lends itself well to a show where the character fusses over the health of their viewers.
Sit up straight! No slouching! Are you drinking plenty of water?
Although people might tire of getting called out like that constantly.
You looks left and right, then write a small note to ensure viewer retention – it’ll all be done in cosplay.
Chigusa probably isn’t going to like it, but she’s a professional idol, right?
Those dancers and singers she used to see on TV growing up must’ve worn costumes as well.
Perhaps you can get Isekai Cosplay to sponsor the stream.
Or maybe that one Maid Café you saw a few jobs for.
With these ideas solidified, you send a message to Matsui Tomo to get some feedback.
She says doubling down on the novel streaming part is a wise decision, but that you should probably be a bit more hands-on if it’s going to take up such a large part of your idols' time.
Matsui sends some messages to marketing since they seem to work closely with Kaiba on her streams.
Marketing will then work out the details and get other departments involved to get everything set up.
You sigh loudly in the privacy of your office.
That’s one less thing to worry about.
Having picked the jobs for this week and decided on how your new idols will debut, there’s only one decision left to make before you can get to work – Kitabayashi’s birthday.
Not really a work decision in the strictest sense, but an important and short-notice one.
After all, her birthday is today.
A surprise party at her home is a safe bet and you can chat, celebrate, and drink in the privacy of her own apartment.
Kitabayashi did mention she already knew a way to utilize the favour you owe her.
It could be that she already has some plans of her own.
Perhaps it’s best to avoid any surprises and simply call her, congratulate her, and ask if there’s somewhere she’d like to go.
Leaving things to her probably means you're in for a wild time, but you could indulge her -- it's her birthday after all.
You could also opt for the usual work-friend routine where you take some coworkers and go out drinking after work and celebrate at a nomikai.
As you glance over your agenda, you do notice it’s become a bit crowded after including all the new job events.
Just as you’re thinking it, more meeting requests suddenly pop-up in your calendar from marketing to discuss the specifics of your idols' debut.
It’s Kitabayashi’s birthday and you owe her a lot, but mid-week celebration that’ll likely involve drinks might not be the best idea.
Perhaps you can put off the celebration until the weekend?
> Event: Kitabayashi’s Birthday
> >1 - Work with Kaiba Aoi to set up a surprise party with friends at Kitabayashi’s apartment.
> >2 - Call Kitabayashi, congratulate her, and ask if she wants to celebrate anywhere.
> >3 - Make some rounds at the office to see who is up for some after-work drinking at a nomikai.
> >4 - Congratulate Kitabayashi on her birthday and promise to celebrate it in the weekend as you’re busy right now.
> >5 - Write-in
>
> Winner
> >1 - Work with Kaiba Aoi to set up a surprise party with friends at Kitabayashi’s apartment.
A surprise party at her home is probably the best course of action.
Since Kaiba is currently staying at Kitabayashi’s place, you can work with her to try and get Kitabayashi out of the house.
She can make up an excuse like wanting to go to the store to so you can sneak in and set things up.
You send a quick message to Kaiba Aoi to meet you in your office since you have some other stuff to talk about beside the birthday party anyway.
Right before you’re about to hit send you stop, think, and make sure to include the reason for the chat to avoid any unnecessary anxiety.
She arrives in your office before long.
“A surprise birthday party?” says Kaiba as she pokes her head into the room.
[https://assets.legendkeeper.com/f7ac220d-bfdb-41bb-a0d7-5be43873811d.jpg]
Seeing Kaiba again, you can’t help but smile.
It’s obvious that Kitabayashi has been helping Kaiba out with her clothing and make-up.
Kitabayashi called you a mother then, but it’s abundantly clear that she’s been fawning over Kaiba herself.
“Yes,” you say, “Take a seat, but we have to discuss the debut of Enatsu Mari and Chigusa Iki first.”
“I did see the calendar that it was Yui-chan’s birthday today, but I felt awkward celebrating it since I haven’t known her that long…” says Kaiba, “But I do want to do something nice for her, she’s been helping me a lot…”
She then notices your expression at the casual way she refers to Kitabayashi, “She told me to call her that. I didn’t want to at first, but she got mad that I kept being so formal with her…”
That sounds like Yui-chan, yeah.
“Fine, we’ll discuss the birthday party first,” you say, “Do you happen to know if she had anything planned yet?”
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“She does,” says Kaiba, “But she didn’t say what. I asked, but she would just … sort of.. smirk?… and then go 'Fufufu~'. She did say it involved you, manager-san, but also that I was too young to join… “
Uwaa… You might’ve just escaped a very dangerous night.
Considering that Kaiba-san was too young it must’ve involved some heavy drinking.
The best thing to do is pre-emptively cancel on Kitabayashi with an excuse.
“I see,” you say, trying to hide your concern as you wonder what she might’ve had planned, “Do you have a key to the apartment?”
Kaiba nods, “I do, she gave me a spare key shortly after I moved in. So I could get in if she had to work late.”
“Good,” you say. That solves one thing.
”I need you to help me, Aoi-chan,” you say, “Can you think of a reason to get Kitabayashi out of the house for a while? So I can put up some decorations?”
“Ehh…” says Kaiba, nervously considering her options, “I don’t know…”
“Just lure her to a small café or something to celebrate her birthday, I’ll need like thirty minutes,” you say, “Some grocery shopping. Browsing clothes at the mall. Anything will do.”
Kaiba nods, somewhat determined, “I’ll try,” she says.
You fold your arms as you think.
Considering that Kitabayashi wanted to go somewhere with you today then that must’ve meant she didn’t have any other plans.
If she has any friends other than you, then it seems she was prepared to celebrate her birthday with those friends some other day – possibly the weekend.
This works out great for you, because you would’ve had to track down and contact all those potential friends.
Now you can just have a small gathering at her apartment with some people you both know.
At least that reduces the chances of things getting out of hand.
You pull up a word processor on your computer to compile a guest list when, suddenly, your phone rings.
After glancing at the screen, you look towards Kaiba.
“It’s Yui-chan,” you say, “I’ll put it on speaker, but don’t say anything, alright?”
Kaiba nods.
“Hey, hey~” says the voice of Kitabayashi, “Miho, how are you?”
“Hello, Yui-chan,” you say, leaning in slightly towards the phone, “I’m good. Happy Birthday.”
On the other side of the phone Kitabayashi squeals with delight.
”Eehh, you remembered,” she says, her voice somewhat giddy, “Thank you!”
“Of course, I did,” you say, giving Kaiba a thumbs-up, “I don’t wanna cut our chat short, Yui-chan, but I have a meeting soon. Can I ask why you called?”
“Fufufu~” says the voice of Kitabayashi, trying her hardest to sound menacing.
Kaiba silently points at the phone, then nods.
That’s the noise she made, officer.
“I’ve come to call in my favour… Tonight. You and I,” says Kitabayashi.
Kaiba looks somewhat taken aback and eyes you suspiciously.
You dismiss her concerns with a shake of the head and a wave before turning your attention back to Kitabayashi.
“Eh? Tonight? Sorry, can’t make that. I’ve got some other plans,” you reply casually.
Those other plans being organizing Kitabayashi’s surprise party.
There’s a long moment of quiet.
“….Ah, I see,” says the voice of Kitabayashi carrying obvious disappointment, “I mean, I should’ve asked earlier…”
“I’m sorry, Yui-chan,” you say, “I hope you didn’t make reservations or anything?”
“Hmm… Ah, no. No, not really,” replies the voice of Kitabayashi, “Don’t worry about it.”
“We can go some other time, okay?” you say, “But I have to hang up now.”
“Sounds good,” says Kitabayashi, forcing some cheer in her voice, “Talk to you later~”
Click.
Kaiba gives you a look.
”She sounded sad,” she says.
“I know,” you reply, “She probably wanted to go out drinking.”
Kaiba tilts her head, “I didn’t know Yui-chan drank.”
Oi. Oi.
You remember Kitabayashi saying she should stock the fridge with something other than beer in preparation of Kaiba’s arrival.
Did she clear it all out and stop drinking at home completely?
“Well, sometimes,” you say, trying not to destroy Yui’s carefully crafted image, “What’s she like at home?”
Kaiba thinks for a moment, pressing a finger to her lip as she does so.
That’s one of Kitabayashi’s mannerisms. It’s like when she copied EmikoDesu55’s speech patterns.
Does Kaiba unconsciously copy others?
”Very… caring?” says Kaiba.
Hah?
Miss nothing-but-beer-in-the-fridge?
Madam spend-all-her-money-on-host-clubs?
The same Kitabayashi that survives on take-out meals?
“She makes breakfast in the morning and dinner at night,” says Kaiba, “She helps me with my hair, clothes, and make-up… I tell her she doesn’t need to, that I can help out as well, but she always refuses saying she likes doing it…”
You lean back in your chair, dumb founded.
It seems that when it’s just her, Kitabayashi is content to subsist on the bare minimum, but when there’s somebody else to care for then she goes above and beyond.
It’s conflicting.
On the one hand it feels bad that Kitabayashi puts in all this effort to accommodate Kaiba, but at the same time …. it’s probably a good thing for her, right?
Ordering take-out and drinking every day couldn’t have been healthy for Kitabayashi.
Still, it has you wondering which lifestyle was preferable to her.
“We’ve only known each other for a short while, but she’s very kind and easy to get along with,” says Kaiba, then balls up her fists, “That’s why I was so happy you asked me to help you with the party. Yui-chan does so much for me, I want to return the favour somehow!”
“Great,” you say, pulling up the guest list again, “I can manage to get some things for the party. Decorations, snacks, and those sorts of things. As you’ve lived with Yui-chan for a few days, does she mention any people from work at all? I don’t want to accidentally invite somebody she doesn’t like…”
Kaiba thinks for a moment, “She mentions Mori Kotone sometimes…”
Ah. Mori Kotone. The other HR worker.
The enemy.
“Good things or…?” you say, doubting that.
“Mostly complaints, how she already works part-time and got pregnant on top of that,” says Kaiba somewhat apologetically, “…Is this Mori-san a bad person?”
“No. Not, really,” you say, scratching a cheek, “I’ll explain some other time, when Mori-san gets back to the office.”
“So, who do invite?” you say.
“…Matsui-san?” says Kaiba.
They used to work together, but as far as you know they don’t really talk outside of work.
As their relationship is mostly professional, formality would probably slip into the celebration.
Besides, it seems like Kitabayashi has made it a point not to drink in front of Kaiba so you can’t expect booze to loosen them up either.
Kitabayashi used to be an idol, right?
She’s nice, supportive, and a great friend!
This sort of list should’ve been one where you have to cross people out instead because of capacity issues.
You tap the desk a few times with a finger.
Maybe it’s a good idea to involve some of those non-work friends.
“Anyone else she mentions?” you ask, “From outside of work?”
Kaiba shakes her head, “Not really… manager-san, I’ve only been living with her for a few days. I wish I could be of more help, but I really don’t know her all that well yet.”
“Yes, of course. I’m sorry, Aoi-chan. I just…” you say.
You just don’t know Kitabayashi that well either.
It was only recently that you found out that Kitabayashi isn’t even her original name.
According to Matsui-san there was entire other life she has closed the door on.
A few weeks ago, when you dragged her into her apartment after a night of drinking, you remember a large wall of her apartment being entirely covered with photos of her time as an idol.
Dozens of photos featuring her standing next to all these people in the industry.
Dozens of photos which she then hid away when Kaiba moved in.
All these people she either willingly or was forced to cut contact with.
It’s clear that she’s trying to hide her previous life from you and you might’ve never found out if Matsui hadn’t revealed it during that karaoke night as Kitabayashi hid it from you for years.
Which begs the question – Why did Matsui reveal it to you?
She must’ve known how important it was to Kitabayashi that that secret was kept.
“…anger-san,” says Kaiba, “Hello?”
“Eh? Ah, sorry, Aoi-chan, did you say something?” you say, returning to reality.
“I mean, we can just celebrate with the three of us? No?” she says, carefully.
“Well…” you begin, then pause.
You can. You totally can. Kitabayashi was satisfied with just heading off with you somewhere.
For some reason you felt a need to throw Kitabayashi this big party, but that was never what she wanted to begin with.
“You’re right, Aoi-chan,” you say, “I’ve been overthinking things… I just wanted to throw Yui-chan the big party she deserves, but she probably doesn’t want that anyway…”
Should you ask Kitabayashi about this hidden past of her?
You have to assume she hid it for a reason.
It’ll have to wait.
You lean from side to side in your chair, “Hmmm, I just feel like I should be something more…” you say, “Maybe we can include something that Yui-chan likes. Like a certain cake or snack… A movie, I don’t know… Just something extra…”
Suddenly, Kaiba’s face flushes, and she looks away.
”Well,” says Kaiba quietly, “There is something…”
“…What is it…?” you ask.
“Last weekend… No, I shouldn’t say…” says Kaiba, hiding her face between her hands.
“Aoi-chan, please. You want to make it a great party for Yui-chan as well, right?” you ask, “I need ideas. Any ideas!”
Struggling to retain eye-contract, Kaiba speaks, “You know how last week… Chigusa-san did a photoshoot with, like, cosplay… and, well, it seems like some people in the office got the images for internal approval and they got shared… Yui-chan seemed to really like those…”
“Are you suggesting that I…” you ask carefully.
Kaiba nods severely, “…She’ll never forget…”