Chapter 3: Dignified and Beautiful
Capsule Planets' popularity continued to skyrocket.
Despite having just debuted, they were climbing the ranks at a blistering pace—not through calculated gimmicks or heavy promotion, but through their raw, unfiltered talent.
It was refreshing to witness, and honestly, it felt good to watch.
President Meno had apparently picked the group name on a whim, but Yoruno and the others were certainly living up to it. They were special lights, floating high in the sky.
However, that was only on stage. In their daily lives, they remained absolute disasters.
My summer vacation was disappearing, consumed by the chaos of looking after them. I spent my days chasing bugs for them, playing tug-of-war with futons, helping with DIY projects, and literally grabbing the girls with no sense of direction by the scruffs of their necks to lead them where they needed to go.
Yoruno, on the other hand, was surprisingly low-maintenance.
She was the dignified, beautiful, perfect center.
The symbol of the group.
I’d let my guard down, thinking she was the one I didn't need to worry about. But there’s no such thing as a flawless human being. Naturally, Yoruno had a weakness, and it was about to be laid bare.
It all started when I made her cry her eyes out.
◇
It was a rare day off with no scheduled work. It was a beautiful, clear day, and my sister was at the front door, tying up cardboard boxes with packing twine.
"Tomorrow is paper recycling day, so I’m putting these out now so I don't forget~" my clever little sister announced. "The forecast says no rain, so it should be fine."
I looked up at the shining sun and headed back to my room. I dragged out a mountain of old manga from the back of my closet, along with a bag filled with self-produced merch from Leo—the masked singer I’d been obsessed with in middle school—and set them down next to my sister’s boxes.
My sister watched me work. "Wow, Onii-chan. Your professional awareness as a Planet manager is really growing."
'Planets' was the nickname for Capsule Planets that had started trending among the fans.
"So," my sister said, her tone suddenly very flat. "When are you and Maya-chan going to start dating?"
"That’s a hell of a question to ask out of nowhere," I retorted.
"Maya-chan is super cute, you know? When she sleeps, she hugs this giant panda plushie."
"The Chocomin Panda-chan?"
"You know about it?"
"I’m an idol manager, aren't I?"
"More like a glorified babysitter, though," she teased. "But seriously," my sister continued, "a lot of the girls I know who like Chocomin Panda-chan tend to have 'heavy love.' They’re the types who get super possessive."
"That is information I really didn't want to have."
In any case—
"There’s no way Yoruno and I are dating. Romance is strictly forbidden for idols. This 'Idol Perpetual Motion Plan' is designed specifically to avoid those kinds of scandals."
"True. I’d hate it if something happened to Capsule Planets." My sister’s expression turned uncharacteristically somber. "Before Capsule Planets came along, all the idol groups I followed kept disbanding one after another."
Apparently, several groups had recently dissolved just as they were starting to get popular, and without any public explanation.
"Dissolving for unknown reasons... that smells fishy," I muttered.
As an idol manager—or babysitter—I felt I should probably keep that in mind.
"I was so sad when the girls I was rooting for disappeared," my sister said, before looking up at me with a sharp gaze. "So, no matter how much Maya-chan likes you, Onii-chan, you absolutely cannot turn into a pile of mush. Capsule Planets cannot have a dating scandal."
"I know, I know."
As we were talking, my sister suddenly let out a small "Oh."
"It’s Maya-chan."
I looked over to see the door of the sharehouse crack open. Yoruno was peeking out at us. She was dressed casually in a T-shirt and track pants, her face completely undisguised. It was Yoruno in private mode.
She hesitated for a while, fidgeting by the door, before finally seemingly making up her mind. She marched toward us, her face turning bright red as usual, and thrust a Tupperware container she’d been clutching to her chest toward me.
"Hananome-kun, h-h-h-h-here, th-this—"
But then, it happened.
Yoruno’s gaze suddenly shifted to the side.
She saw the cardboard boxes tied with twine, the mountain of old manga, and the bag of Leo merchandise.
The moment she saw them, her expression froze. Then, it began to darken, turning sharp and cold. I could almost feel the temperature around us drop.
Then, in a voice colder than anything I’d ever heard from her, she spoke.
"What is that?"
She looked at me with eyes full of utter disappointment.
"So that’s it, Hananome-kun. You’re that kind of person."
A look of intense frustration washed over her face.
"As long as there are new girls, you’re happy. But once you have a bunch of cute girls around, you just... throw away the old ones because you don't need them anymore..."
Yoruno was clearly furious. This wasn't her usual playful pouting. This was anger and sorrow coming from deep within her soul.
"I don't like you anymore, Hananome-kun. I don't like you at all!"
And then—
"I HATE YOU, HANANOME-KUN!"
She threw the Tupperware container at me and sprinted back into the sharehouse.
My sister and I stood there in stunned silence, unable to find words.
Because—
"Maya-chan was crying..." my sister whispered.
I looked down at the Tupperware that had been pelted at me.
Inside was a helping of homemade green pepper steak.
I realized then that Yoruno was surprisingly old-fashioned.
◇
"Excuse me!?" President Meno’s voice rang out through the office.
This was later that day.
"Maya showed up to the shoot with her eyes all swollen! I’m pretty sure she was crying all night! She flat-out refused to let you escort her, so I had to go to the site myself!"
And that was the reality of the situation.
Hananome-kun should just look after the other four. I don't need someone like Hananome-kun around anymore.
That’s what Yoruno had said, and she’d stopped coming anywhere near me.
"What on earth happened?" President Meno demanded.
I told her exactly what happened.
"I somehow managed to get a girl to fall for me and get dumped by her without even realizing either thing was happening."
"I figured as much!" President Meno sighed.
Apparently, Yoruno was acting like her usual self in front of the cameras and on stage. However, the moment she was off the clock, she’d spend her time staring blankly into the distance or burying her face in her hands at her desk.
"I’ve tried everything—offering her delicious food, trying to cheer her up—but nothing works."
"Please, do something to get Maya back to normal," the President pleaded. "I don't care if you have to use her feelings for you—pat her on the head or something!"
"I don't think exploiting her feelings is going to end well in the long run!" I argued.
Regardless, having the group's center in such a slump was a major problem.
I tried to reconcile with her by bribing her with sweets or trying to lure her out with Chocomin Panda-chan plushies, but Yoruno was in full 'Anti-Hananome' mode. She was as wary as a wild animal, leaving me no opening to even talk to her.
Because she was usually so self-sufficient, once she started avoiding me, I had no way to interact with her at all.
Yoruno ran, and Hananome pursued.
This went on for several days until President Meno contacted me again.
"About next Wednesday... I can't make it, so I need you to accompany Maya, Hananome-kun. It’s her first time at this particular studio, and she’ll be nervous. I’ve made it a point to make sure someone is always with her for new gigs."
I went to the sharehouse living room and found Yoruno eating dinner. I tried to speak to her.
"President Meno can’t make it on Wednesday, so I’ll be going with you."
"............"
Yoruno didn't say a word. She simply picked up her plate and retreated to her room.
And so, the days passed without a single word between us.
"What am I going to do!?"
It was finally the night before the gig, and I was rolling around on my bed in agony.
Reconciling with Yoruno was one thing, but there was a bigger issue. Ever since I’d met her, she’d been targeted by someone. It was dangerous for her to be alone; it felt like she needed someone by her side.
How could I make up with her? If I just followed her without permission, she’d probably just get angrier...
As I was brooding in my room, the doorbell rang. When I went to the door, Yakumo was standing there. She was the tallest member of the group, and a bit on the shy side.
"Hananome-san, let’s go to Maya-chan’s room," Yakumo said.
"As you know, tomorrow is Maya-chan’s first time at this studio."
It was a TV program recording. They’d recognized her singing talent and invited her as a guest to perform a solo song.
"She won't know any of the staff there, so she must be feeling really anxious deep down."
In other words, Yakumo was telling me this was the perfect situation to initiate a reconciliation.
"Yakumo, thank you..." I said, genuinely moved. "Out of everyone in the group, you’re the only one I feel a sense of cooperation from..."
"Ehehe." Yakumo shrank back a bit, looking embarrassed. "I want to be of use to you too, Hananome-san."
"Well, let’s go right now. Tonight is our only chance!"
So, led by Yakumo, I entered the sharehouse and stood in front of Yoruno’s door.
"Maya-chan, can we come in~?"
"Sure~"
The two of them were always like this. Yakumo opened the door.
Yoruno was sitting on the floor in her pajamas, hugging a massive Chocomin Panda-chan plushie.
The moment she saw me, she practically threw the plushie onto her bed.
"W-W-What are you doing here!?" she barked, glaring at me like a cornered animal.
I resisted the urge to comment on the fact that the Chocomin Panda-chan was even bigger than I’d imagined. Instead, I said, "I really think I should go with you tomorrow. It’s your first time at that studio, right?"
"I don't care," Yoruno replied, her voice icy. "I’m going to be busy from now on, and this kind of thing will happen all the time. Besides, tomorrow you’re supposed to be escorting Sorano-chan, right? Go do that. I’m perfectly fine without you."
"Maya-chan..." Yakumo murmured, looking troubled by Yoruno’s stubbornness.
That was when I brought out my final, secret weapon for reconciliation.
An empty Tupperware container.
"Thank you. I ate it all. The green pepper steak was delicious."
I spoke with as much sincerity as I could muster. For a split second, Yoruno’s face brightened. But then—
"But... you’re just going to throw me away," she whispered.
"Huh?"
"You’re just going to throw me away..." Yoruno glared at me, her eyes stinging. "You act all nice, but in the end, you’re just going to discard me! You make people fall for you, you play with them, and then as soon as a new, cuter girl comes along, you won't need me anymore! You’ll just throw me away! You’re just using me!"
"W-W-Wait, what!?"
"Get out! Just get out!"
And with that, she shoved us both out of the room.
Yakumo and I were left standing in the hallway.
"Um... Hananome-san..." Yakumo asked hesitantly. "Did you... play with Maya-chan and then throw her away?"
I just slumped my shoulders. "The character assassination is real. It really is."
◇
The next day, I was on a train with Aoyama-san. We were heading to a coastal location for a fashion magazine shoot—a bit of a trek. With several transfers involved, if I didn't escort her, there was a real chance Aoyama-san would end up overshooting Shanghai and winding up in Tibet or the Mogao Caves.
"Are you worried about Maya?" Aoyama-san asked as she sat beside me.
I was thinking back to this morning. Our departure times from the sharehouse had overlapped. While I was waiting for Aoyama-san, Yoruno had come out first.
She ignored me and hurried toward the station.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" I’d called out.
Yoruno had turned around. "I hate you, Hananome-kun!"
She turned her back on me and started walking again. But after a few steps, she turned around once more.
"Don't you dare come!"
She faced forward again, walked a bit more, and then turned back a third time.
"I’m not lonely or anxious at all, you hear me!?"
She’d repeated this every few steps until she turned the corner and disappeared. It really felt like the classic 'I'm saying don't come, but I actually want you to come' vibe.
"You could probably still catch up to her, you know," Aoyama-san said, sensing my inner conflict.
"Is that okay?" I asked.
Aoyama-san nodded. "I think Maya’s recording today is going to be an 'away' game for her."
For song recordings, they usually brought in a studio audience. However, because a famous boy band was also performing, the audience was likely to be packed with their fans, Aoyama-san explained.
"We kind of blew up a little too fast, right?"
Because of their sudden success, they hadn't had time to prepare properly. They’d only just started making merchandise. Naturally, they didn't have an official fan club yet, and their PR was still weak. The information about the TV recording hadn't even reached their fans yet.
"I’ll be fine. Maya is the center. Ever since the debut, she’s been the face of the group, working her heart out without ever complaining."
So, go to her, Aoyama-san’s eyes seemed to say.
"Got it."
"But only this once," Aoyama-san added with a mischievous grin. "I’m an idol too, after all. Next time you’re by my side, make sure you aren't thinking about any other girls, okay?"
◇
I got off at the next station, hopped on a train headed in the opposite direction, and managed to catch up to Yoruno at the transfer station.
The reason I caught her so easily was because she was busy staring at a bakery display window, practically drooling.
And, just as I’d feared, Yoruno was being followed by a suspicious-looking man. A man in a suit was standing in the middle of the station crowd, staring intently at her. He was trying to pass for a businessman, but he couldn't quite hide the predatory aura beneath the suit.
I slipped into the bakery, keeping myself out of both Yoruno’s and the man’s line of sight, and bought a baguette while keeping an eye on the situation.
Eventually, Yoruno checked her watch and started moving toward her train.
As the man moved to follow her, I lunged forward and grabbed his shoulder.
"You’re one of the guys trying to snatch Yoruno, aren't you?"
The moment I spoke, the man grabbed my arm and tried to twist it back. I jammed the freshly bought baguette into his mouth to keep him from shouting and followed up with a sharp blow to the solar plexus. The man collapsed, creating a perfect scene of a hungry businessman who had decided to sit down by a station pillar and start eating a baguette like a recorder.
"Perfectly normal!"
I continued following Yoruno.
From there, I spent the rest of the trip taking down every suspicious character that approached her.
Yoruno sat on a station bench, playing a mobile game while waiting for her train.
On the opposite bench, a man disguised as a homeless person was eyeing her. I grabbed him by the collar, tossed him aside to knock him out, and then propped him back up on the bench as if he were just sleeping.
Yoruno boarded the train and went to the lead car, excitedly peering into the driver’s cabin.
In the car behind her, I engaged in a brawl with four or five men who were closing in on her, taking them all out before she could notice a thing.
Judging by the numbers, it seemed the people targeting Yoruno were determined to finish the job today.
The final confrontation took place on the uphill slope leading to the recording studio.
A delivery truck was parked on the side of the road. As Yoruno passed by, a man in a delivery driver’s uniform started to step out of the cab.
I slammed my foot against the door, pinning him inside.
The man rolled down the window and came flying out, leading with a double-kick.
He caught me right in the face, sending me rolling backward. It was the first clean hit I’d taken all day.
As I scrambled back to my feet, I noticed the man had a very disciplined, stoic look about him.
"So, you’re the boss, huh?"
The man didn't respond.
"I like that. I’m a serious guy myself."
I threw a punch aimed straight for his face. The man caught my fist with both hands, leaped up, wrapped his legs around my arm, and flipped me over in a textbook throw. As I scrambled to recover, I saw his knee flying toward my head. I crossed my arms to block the blow and shoved him back. He lost his balance, and now it was my turn to go on the offensive.
I aimed for his face, stomach, and shins, but his guard was ironclad.
He was clearly a pro—this was his job. What he was trying to do—kidnap a teenage girl—was despicable, but his movements, both offensive and defensive, were beautiful. So, I went rough. I smashed my elbow against his fist to break it and grabbed him by the collar to deliver a headbutt.
The man gradually retreated until his back was against the delivery truck. Cornered, he smoothly drew a knife from his pocket. I grabbed his hand, yanked the truck door open, slammed it shut on his wrist, and made him drop the blade.
Finally, I grabbed his head and slammed his face into the side of the truck repeatedly until he went limp.
Just then, Yoruno reached the top of the hill and entered the studio grounds, completely oblivious to the brawl behind her.
I propped the man up in the driver’s seat with his head on the steering wheel, making him look like a tired driver taking a nap. Even so—
"Being an idol manager is a lot of work," I sighed.
I wanted to take a breather, but taking down the bad guys was just a bonus. The real reason I’d come all this way was different.
When Aoyama-san told me Yoruno had to sing alone today, an image had flickered into my mind.
It was an image of Yoruno as a little girl.
A young Yoruno, waiting at home all alone for her mother to return. The sun sets, the room grows dark, and the loneliness starts to creep in. So, she goes to her computer and plays a video of a song.
With tears in her eyes, she sings along with all her might to drive away the loneliness.
That was the image Yoruno had of why Leo became such a good singer, but for some reason, it overlapped perfectly with Yoruno herself.
Yoruno Maya, who hugs a plushie to sleep.
Yoruno Maya, who is all alone.
Yoruno Maya, who is desperate for company.
Those words kept echoing in my head. I just couldn't sit still. I felt like I had to be by her side, so I’d chased after her.
◇
I slipped quietly through the studio doors. Yoruno was standing in front of a microphone, preparing to sing her solo. But—
Something was wrong.
She looked anxious, her eyes darting around the room. Every time she leaned toward the mic, she’d immediately pull back. A staff member adjusted the microphone height, and Yoruno bowed apologetically.
"She’s taking her time, isn't she?"
"I wonder what’s wrong with Maya-chan?"
I heard the staff murmuring along the walls.
Yoruno approached the mic again, her beautiful eyebrows knitted in distress. She couldn't seem to give the signal that she was ready to start.
Because there was a live performance involved, the studio audience was present. But they were all female fans waiting for the boy band, and they were starting to get restless.
"Is it because it’s her first time singing solo?"
"This might be a bit much for her."
The whispers continued. Then, an older man who looked like he had some authority on set spoke up.
"They say she’s a good singer, but in the end, she’s just an idol, I guess."
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a sample of the official penlight that President Meno had recently ordered. I clicked it on, and it emitted a soft, mint-green glow.
I gave it a tiny, subtle wave.
It was a small, insignificant light—a gesture of support so faint that no one else in the room would even notice.
But Yoruno saw it.
"You’ll be fine," I whispered, believing the sentiment would reach her even if my voice didn't. "I know you will."
I saw a spark ignite in Yoruno’s eyes.
Her posture straightened. Her expression hardened with resolve.
She was no longer a lonely, trembling child.
The dignified, beautiful, perfect center, Yoruno Maya, stood before the microphone.
◇
"It’s not like I’m the lonely type or anything, okay?"
Yoruno spoke up as we were heading home from the studio. We were taking a shortcut through a large public park. The sun was beginning to set, and the streetlights were just starting to flicker to life.
"When I’m doing solo work for magazine shoots or things like that, I’m totally fine. But singing... singing is special," Yoruno continued, walking close by my side. "If President Meno or the other members are there, I’m okay."
Up until now, Yoruno had always had the President or her groupmates with her at every new venue. This had been her first time performing in a completely "away" environment, all on her own.
"The truth is... I can’t sing if there isn't at least one person rooting for me."
There it was. The fatal flaw of the seemingly "perfect" Yoruno Maya.
"I mean, it’s scary, isn't it? Knowing that you might sing and no one will listen... that your voice might not reach anyone. When I think about that, my legs just freeze up."
But—
"One person is enough. If there’s even one person there to cheer for me, I can sing. I know that now."
"You’ll be fine from now on," I told her. "The Planets fanbase is growing every day. President Meno was even stressing over what to name the official fan club the other day."
"Yeah."
"Plus... you’ve got me."
"............Yeah."
Yoruno fell silent for a beat before speaking again.
"The girl you used to root for... Leo-chan. I bet she was the same way, wasn't she? Maybe you were the only one listening at first, but because that one person was there, she was able to keep singing."
I thought back to the days when Leo was still active. "I hope so."
"But you’re just going to throw her away, aren't you?"
"Huh?"
"The Leo-chan merch. You had it all lined up next to the cardboard boxes, didn't you? Stuffed into garbage bags."
"Oh, that? The weather was nice, so I was just airing them out. And those weren't garbage bags; they were vacuum-sealed storage bags."
I usually kept my Leo gear tucked away in the back of the closet. That day, I’d simply brought them out into the sun to make sure no silverfish or moths got to them.
"The thing about Leo’s merch is... the CDs are fine, but the T-shirts and towels were made of really cheap material."
"............"
"I can’t wash them too often, so I keep them in vacuum bags and air them out occasionally. I don't even know how much longer they'll last. They’re just... so incredibly cheap."
"You don't have to keep calling them cheap! I bet Leo-chan worked really hard to make those! She probably had to roll around on the floor in front of her mom and beg for extra allowance just to get them printed!"
"I don't think Leo would roll around on the floor like you do, Yoruno..."
In any case—
"I might end up becoming a bigger fan of the Planets than President Meno herself, but even then, I could never throw away my Leo merch."
"I’m sorry," I added.
"It’s fine," Yoruno said, her tone softening.
As we walked, she started leaning toward me. Our shoulders brushed, so I took a half-step to the side to give her space. Curiously, Yoruno followed, closing the gap again. It wasn't just her arm anymore; the back of her hand started grazing mine.
"I ended up getting saved by Hananome-kun again."
It seemed that by rescuing her from her slump, we had managed to reconcile. But it felt like things were progressing beyond just "making up." Yoruno wasn't just walking beside me; she was practically clinging to me. She even started trying to hook her pinky around my finger.
I wasn't that oblivious. Even I could tell.
Yoruno really wants to hold hands.
But she was an idol. Doing something like that would be crossing a serious line. I decided to play dumb and kept walking.
Suddenly, Yoruno came to a dead stop.
"Is something wrong?" I asked, turning back.
Yoruno waited a moment. Then, with a perfectly calm expression and in an unbelievably casual tone, she dropped a bombshell.
"I want to go out with you, Hananome-kun."
"You really don't believe in 'gradual' progression, do you? The speed and momentum of that curveball was so intense I don't even know how to catch it."
"I know the truth," Yoruno said, staring directly into my eyes. "Hananome-kun... you have a weakness for cute girls, don't you?"
"That is literally the first time anyone has ever said that to me. Seriously."
"When you came to introduce yourself with President Meno, I heard you outside the sharehouse. You called us 'just idols.'"
"You heard that?"
"But the moment you saw my face for the first time, you turned into total mush."
"I did not! Really! I’m not like other guys."
"Hmm."
Yoruno reached up and pulled off her hat and glasses, tossing them aside to reveal her full face.
"Look at that. You looked away. Hananome-kun, you only ever look at me when I’m hiding my face. It’s the same when you talk to the other girls. You make a point of never looking them in the eye. It’s because you have no resistance to cute girls, isn't it?"
"This is troublesome. You shouldn't go around making groundless accusations like that. You’re an idol, Yoruno; you of all people should know how much trouble rumors can cause."
"Then look at me properly."
Yoruno stepped closer—so close we were almost touching. She tilted her head back and looked up at me with those wide, upturned eyes.
I looked at her face and—
Hnnngh... she’s so damn cute. I want to hold hands. I want to go out with her. Honestly, I want to skip the 'going out' part and just kiss her and hold her right now.
"They say that whenever a man looks at me, he immediately wants to kiss me and hold me," she whispered.
"............"
"It’s been like that since I was little. Even now, actors, producers... even the ones with wives or girlfriends, they all make moves on me."
I realized then that Yoruno was acutely aware of her own beauty. And then—
"It’s okay," she said. "If it’s Hananome-kun, it’s okay. You can do all those things men want to do to me. You can hold me, kiss me... whatever you want. If it’s Hananome-kun, I don't mind at all."
"Wow, quite the special offer, Yoruno," I joked, trying to deflect the tension.
But Yoruno took another step into my personal space. I could feel her breath on my skin. Her eyes were mesmerizing, she smelled amazing, and being told "whatever you want" by a girl with a surprisingly impressive bust was starting to carry some very significant weight.
If I hugged her and kissed her right now, I’d definitely be the happiest guy on earth. Yoruno looked like she’d be very huggable, and for some reason, she liked me unconditionally. If I kissed her, she’d probably like me even more. The thought was incredibly tempting.
But—
"GRAAAAH! MANAGER SOUL, ACTIVATE!"
I fought back my primal urges, lunged for the hat and glasses she’d discarded, and shoved them back onto her head and face. I planted my hands firmly on her shoulders.
"You can't do that! Absolutely not!"
"Why? Hananome-kun, you like cute girls. You’re practically melting."
"No! I am not the kind of guy who turns into mush just because a cute girl is in front of him!"
"So you don't want to go out with me?"
"That’s—"
It felt like a colossal waste of a golden opportunity, but I spoke with iron resolve.
"I don't! Because I’m your manager!"
Yoruno looked stunned for a moment. Then, she glared at me.
"Wait, why are you the one getting mad, Yoruno?"
"............You."
"Huh?"
"You’re the one who made me fall for you, Hananome-kun..."
"This is my fault?"
"You made me like you! You made me fall in love! This is the first time I’ve ever liked a boy! My first! Yes, I gave you my 'first'! Since you took my first time falling in love, you have to take responsibility! Responsibility!"
"Your phrasing is incredibly misleading!" I yelled.
In the middle of the park, Yoruno was shouting about giving me her "first" and demanding I take responsibility.
"Calm down! Just calm down!" I tried to soothe the rampaging idol. "Yoruno, you work so hard as the center. You care about the group more than anyone, don't you?"
"......Yeah," she muttered, finally settling down a bit. "I work hard. I care about the group."
"And you love singing, right?"
"Yeah. I love singing. When I sing, I feel connected to everyone. I’m not alone. That’s why I want to keep singing—for President Meno, who put me on that stage, and for the members who sing with me."
"Then romance is a bad idea right now."
No matter how popular Yoruno or the Capsule Planets were, they were still idols—and rookies at that. A dating scandal would be a devastating blow. It could ruin everything they’d worked for. It might even lead to the group disbanding.
"You’re an idol, Yoruno. You’re the center."
"Oh... that’s right. I forgot. I’m an idol. I’m the center."
"That is a very important thing to forget!"
Anyway—
"I’ve come to really love the Capsule Planets too, and I don't want to see you guys trip up. That’s why this is a bad idea."
"I suppose you’re right... I’m an idol, so I can’t betray everyone’s expectations..."
"I’ll forget everything that just happened. Come on, let’s go."
I started to walk away. But Yoruno remained standing there, looking conflicted.
I could tell exactly what was going on in her head. She was caught between "I’m an idol" and "Hananome, take responsibility." Naturally, her professional side won out, but she was looking for a way to save face after her outburst.
The option she chose was—
"Piggyback."
"What?"
"I’ve walked too much. I can’t move another inch. Give me a piggyback ride."
"We’ve barely walked at all!" I argued, but Yoruno was already kicking off her sneakers.
"If you don't give me a piggyback ride, I’m going to roll around on the ground and throw a tantrum!"
"Trying to solve every problem by rolling on the floor is a very bad habit, you know!"
"Just give me a ride! A piggyback ride! Piggybaaaack!"
At this rate, she really was going to sprawl out on the grass like a spoiled child. I checked to make sure no one was around and then crouched down in front of her.
"Only until we get out of the park!"
I picked up her cute sneakers and let her climb onto my back. She clung to me with everything she had.
Yoruno really was a special girl. Carrying her, I could feel her softness through my clothes, and the sensation alone made me feel strangely happy.
She squeezed her arms around my neck from behind. "Hananome-kun... you’re my manager, okay?"
"Yeah, I know."
"You’re my manager. Only mine."
"I’m everyone’s manager, actually!"
After our silly exchange, Yoruno went quiet. She’d probably exhausted herself performing solo in front of that mic.
I walked in silence. The summer night breeze carried the scent of the season, and the insects began their evening chorus. It was a comfortable sort of fatigue. Our days were always chaotic, but the group was doing well. It felt like a wonderful life.
I found myself wishing these days would go on forever.
The girls were the stars of the show, of course, but seeing them so happy made me happy too. Their momentum was refreshing, and I wanted to see them go as far as they possibly could.
As I was lost in thought, after we’d walked for a while, Yoruno spoke in a voice so tiny it was almost a whisper—one I might have missed if the night weren't so still.
"Hananome-kun... promise you’ll always be my fan."
I adjusted my grip on her and gave a firm nod.
"Leave it to me."
◇
"Well done."
In a small room in a modest office building, President Meno gave me a nod. After dropping Yoruno off at the sharehouse, I’d headed to the office to report on the day's events.
"I’m relieved to hear Maya is feeling better. Though, I must say, I’m surprised you turned down her confession. I fully expected you to turn into mush."
"............"
"I was actually already considering 'Plan B' for the Idol Perpetual Motion Plan."
"Plan B?"
"You and Maya dating. If you two are a couple behind the scenes and manage to keep it a total secret, then technically, there’s no scandal, right?"
"Excuse me, but what about my feelings in all this?"
"No man alive could turn Maya down once she sets her sights on him."
"I turned her down."
"Even though you secretly wanted to say yes."
"............"
"Well, it’s for the best," President Meno said. "I never imagined that the responsible, serious Maya would turn into a 'landmine girl' when it comes to romance. I was prepared to allow a middle-school-level relationship if it came down to it."
"A 'middle-school-level' relationship..."
"On second thought, maybe not. Maya doesn't seem to have any brakes. For the sake of the Idol Perpetual Motion Plan, it’s better if she stays in a state of unrequited love."
"About that plan..." I said. "Yoruno has her own sheet music."
"What?"
Previously, President Meno had found sheet music with Hananome-kun and Me written inside a heart under an umbrella doodle and assumed it was Maya’s. However, I’d asked Yoruno about it during a break.
"Apparently, when it first went missing, she was mortified because she’s the center and she’d lost her music. She was blushing because she was embarrassed, not because of the doodles."
She’d been relieved when she eventually found her actual copy in her room.
"So the owner of the doodled sheet music is someone else? That means... that means there’s another member who likes Hananome-kun!"
President Meno’s eyes went wide. "This is bad! This is very bad!"
"Is it?"
"These are teenage girls living on the razor's edge of their emotions! If they start fighting over the same guy, the discord will ruin their harmony. At worst, the group will disband!"
The President fell silent, tapping her chin as she thought. "Wait... actually, this might be an opportunity."
"An opportunity?"
"If there are two members infatuated with Hananome-kun, and we keep them both in a state of unrequited love, then we have two members who will never have a dating scandal with an outsider!"
"It sounds more like we just doubled the number of landmines we’ve stepped on."
"If you keep patting Maya on the head while making sure not to offend the owner of the sheet music—treating all the members equally—we’ll be one step closer to the perfect Idol Perpetual Motion Plan!"
"I see. So you want me to go for a stroll across a minefield."
"You cannot turn into mush for any one girl, nor can you show favoritism. It will lead to disaster." President Meno placed a hand on my shoulder. "I’m counting on you."
"The future of Capsule Planets rests on Hananome-kun’s self-restraint!"
◇
I walked home from President Meno’s office, lost in thought.
I wasn't the type of guy to lose his head over a cute girl. But if I did somehow succumb to temptation, it would be a disaster. I could intuitively feel how dangerous romantic drama within the group would be.
To be honest, knowing that a girl like Yoruno—and potentially another member—liked me was incredibly flattering. A part of me wanted to experience a little bit of that "youthful romance."
But I’m a simple guy. After looking after them all this time, my desire to see the group succeed had become my top priority. If there really was another girl who liked me, I had to see the President's plan through to the end. I couldn't afford to get distracted by Yoruno just because she was being forward.
"But treating everyone equally... that should be the standard anyway, right?"
I figured I could handle that. As I reached the station platform, a voice called out to me.
"Long time no see, Ittetsu-san."
It was a slender man in a gray suit.
Yamakawa Kotora.
Like Okuma, he was a man my father had relied on. He currently worked for an advertising agency. According to Okuma, he spent most of his time doing promotions for struggling regional amusement parks.
"I heard you’re an idol manager now."
"More like a babysitter."
"Okuma asked me to look into something. Those idol groups that kept disbanding one after another."
He was referring to what my sister had mentioned—the string of groups that dissolved right before Capsule Planets debuted.
"Every one of them was on the verge of a breakout. And interestingly, they weren't under traditional talent agencies. They were all independent productions."
I’d learned from helping President Meno that we live in an era where anyone can start an idol group.
"Because they were independent, most of the people involved left the industry after the disbandments, making it hard to track down anyone associated with them."
However, he’d managed to get a response from one person who had been in a producer-like role.
"Well, calling it a 'conversation' is a stretch. I only managed to get an email. It was simple: They found my weakness and threatened me. I had no choice but to disband. Please don't contact the former members. That was it."
"If someone says that to you, you aren't the type to keep digging, are you, Kotora?"
"I have no interest in being tactless."
"Besides," Kotora continued, "bad actors targeting idols is an old story. Especially now, idols are like the ultimate influencers. Everyone wants to use them."
It was clear that the predators who had preyed on those other groups had set their sights on Capsule Planets next.
"Maybe this President Meno person has been fighting all this time to protect the group," Kotora mused.
"What?"
"If she’s using a high schooler who happens to be her landlord's son as a manager, at least she knows he isn't one of the bad guys."
The group had blown up so fast that the President was desperately short-handed. Yet, she hadn't posted job listings for experienced staff. The only new person she’d brought in was me—a part-timer.
"It feels like she’s trying to prevent any moles from infiltrating the inner circle."
I remembered the time I’d been on the bike with Yoruno and we were chased by that rogue taxi. The people we were dealing with knew exactly how much Capsule Planets was worth, and they were willing to do anything to get their hands on them.
What should I do? As I was pondering—
"Ittetsu-san, if you really want to protect them, you should use the Family's power."
Kotora’s voice was cold. "Force them to understand. Make it so they never even think about laying a finger on those girls again."
"That’s—"
For a split second, I considered it. Then, I shook my head vigorously.
"No, that’s no good. That kind of thing..."
"Is it 'not the era' for it?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Using force to solve problems... it’s just not right. There are rules in this world, and everyone has to follow them. No matter the circumstances, you can't just try to muscle your way through. People would be terrified of us."
There’s a trend of people lamenting the disappearance of outlaws and misfits—saying the world was better when there was more "leeway." But I truly believe that’s wrong.
Society should be a comfortable place for people who live correctly. People who work hard should be rewarded, and no one should have things taken from them by force. It is only right that it becomes harder for outlaws to operate.
"My Father understood that. That’s why he disbanded the Family."
Kotora didn't say anything to that. He reached into his pocket for a cigarette, realized he was on a station platform, and tucked it back away.
"Then, Ittetsu-san... what will you do if those young ladies from Capsule Planets are put in danger?"
"If there’s a problem... I’ll handle it by the rules."
"I see."
Kotora shrugged. "By the way, there’s a company in Nakano that poses as a delivery service but handles kidnappings on the side. Rumor has it the president and all the employees ended up in the hospital with serious injuries recently."
"............"
"They were a tough crew, quite famous in the industry. I wonder who did it?"
Kotora looked at me out of the corner of his eye. I looked off into the distance.
"Well, never mind."
"Anyway," Kotora said, "I got a call from the guy at the motorcycle shop. Apparently, a bike identical to the one I used to cherish was brought in completely trashed. I believe I gave that bike to someone as a hand-me-down on the condition they’d take care of it."
"Oh, look, my train is here!"
I scurried onto the train before he could say another word.
Post a Comment