"So, what's this new concept about?"
Surprisingly, the jobs coming to me and Ai were more from Ichigo Production than from our own company.
I didn't particularly mind, but rather, I felt it might be better this way. Because the more it happens, the more our relationship—mine and Ai's—can be made known to everyone, or so I think.
"Well, this time it's a variety show. Of course, with you two appearing, it's hard to call it a typical variety show. It's more like a concept-based show where you do a job fitting that concept for a day."
"Figuring out what job to do after knowing the concept sounds like quite a task."
As long as it's not killing someone, I'm confident I can handle anything, so I wasn't too concerned. But the person I was worried about... I cautiously turned my gaze toward Ai.
"Huh? Why are you looking at me like that, Yume?"
"Nothing, don't worry about it."
I guess I hoped the job would be something Ai could handle.
"Hold on, they said they sent the concept along... Oh, here it is. Look, this is the concept you two have to do."
"...Bartender?"
"If it matches this concept, it's probably a bar... But can anyone just be a bartender?"
Miyako asked me, but I didn't know the details either. However, given three days, I was confident I could master bartending perfectly. It's not to brag, but my talent is all-round. In our company, probably only me and my senior could do it.
"Hmm... I can do it perfectly with about three days. But Ai..."
"Ai can do it too!! If Yume makes it, Ai will serve it!"
"...Yume, can you handle it?"
At Ai's outburst, Miyako rubbed her head as if it hurt and looked at me, and I had to cautiously avoid her gaze. Honestly, comparing Ai and me is a mistake. Ai has talent, but if hers is about captivating people with an aura, I'm an all-rounder. I'm literally a talent freak, so what should I say...?
"It's impossible."
"It is impossible."
"Yume!?"
I said it, but since it was clearly impossible, I confidently stated it. Miyako nodded in agreement, and Ai, looking shocked, distanced herself from me and plopped down with a thud. Still, impossible is impossible...
"First, I can handle the bartending role sufficiently, and let's have Ai make only light cocktails."
There probably won't be many people ordering complicated things, so no need to worry much. But just in case, I'll memorize everything.
"If you say so, that should be fine. So, where do you plan to do it?"
"Well... Our company manages plenty of hotels and bars. I'll pick a suitable one from those."
Maybe it's better to do it somewhere near our company.
"I say this often, but your company isn't normal either."
"I suppose... Starting with the Director, he's a bit off, so the executives under him are all the same."
Among them, the exceptions would be me and my senior.
"Wow!! So when do we start?"
"I'll start looking into it today."
They say three days, but three hours a day should be enough to memorize it.
"We'll do three hours a day. Of course, Ai, you have to join in, got it?"
"Yeah!"
Seeing Ai respond, I patted her head and looked at Miyako.
"When does it start?"
"Friday. Today's Monday, so is that okay?"
"Yes, no problem. I'll sort out the location and details and send them to your email by tomorrow."
"Thanks for that. Now, you two head on home. I should get going too... and I need to see my useless husband's face as a bonus."
"You're going to our company?"
"Yeah, he asked to grab a drink nearby. Seems like he wants to complain, so as his wife, I should listen."
With a light smile, Miyako went into the office, and Ai and I headed home. On the way, I felt uneasy and turned to see a crow that only I could notice. In front of the house, I said,
"Ai, want to go in first?"
"Huh? Why, Yume?"
"Ah, I just remembered something to do. It'll be quick, I want to make a call before coming in."
"Mmm... okay~"
Leaving Ai to enter the house, I slowly walked toward the crow watching me. Naturally, the person—no, the girl—waiting there stood.
"What is it this time? Is it okay for a deity to just descend like this?"
"Call me a deity, but in a way, I'm not so different from you all."
"Not different?"
I had no idea what she was talking about, but I kept a straight face. Staying expressionless is key when gathering information.
"Don't look at me like that. You're trying to decipher my words, but I'm a being who can't live without faith."
"Faith... So if faith weakens, the deity's power weakens too?"
"Bingo."
She giggled and clapped at my answer, which somehow irritated me, so I frowned.
"Enough chatter. Why did you come find me this time?"
"I'm not doing anything to your family. I told you, I'm just a reader, a plain old reader aiming for a happy ending."
"Then shouldn't you just watch quietly? Is it okay for a reader to keep meddling?"
"Don't worry. Meeting and chatting with you like this occasionally is allowed."
"Allowed... You seem to listen well to the higher-up who reincarnated me."
How powerful must they be to control a 'deity' like this...
"Of course~ If I make even one mistake, I'll be deleted from this world. So I'm always careful."
"And telling me all this is also part of what the higher-up wants?"
"Correct. You're smart, after all? You're worth their attention."
My answer was right. So the higher-up is conveying something through this deity... I don't like being watched like this.
"Anyway, bartending—it suits you, don't you think?"
"Eavesdropping is a crime."
"Sorry, human laws don't apply to deities~"
"Sigh..."
It seems privacy is only guaranteed when we're inside the house.
"Ahahaha, don't sigh like that~ It was accidental, I swear!"
"Accidental, my foot... If you have nothing more to say, I'm going in."
"Okay, take care. Next time you're bartending, I'll drop by."
"Looking like that?"
I pointed at the girl-shaped deity with my finger. She giggled.
"Don't worry. Only the Hoshino family sees me like this. To other humans, I look like an ordinary office worker."
"You know Ai and I are filming together, right?"
"Hmm... Should I change my appearance just for that time?"
"Do as you like. I'm going in."
"Bye-bye~"
Half-listening to her farewell, I returned home.
SIDE Hoshino Aqua.
Hoshino Aqua was talking alone with Director Kaburagi Masaya at a sushi restaurant he recommended.
"What I'm about to say is essentially digging into the relationship between Yume and Ai now and even before. Why are you so eager to know about Ai? Since you're from the same agency, if you're curious, you could just ask. Plus, with your connection to Yume, he'd probably tell you more than enough."
"...Before being from the same agency, I'm a fan. So much so that it's unavoidable... Do I need another reason?"
Aqua, who could never say he was their child.
"The illusion fans see tends to shatter when they learn the truth. There's no exception in this regard... Well, except maybe Yume. Anyway, an entertainer's job is like a contest of bluffs. Charming material tells charming lies to project charisma that doesn't exist in reality. In short, we're doing business with what job seekers do to get into good companies."
"Even so, I want to know."
If it brings me closer to revenge, I can't afford to miss any information.
"As a fan, it's better not to know... Fine, I can't stop you. I told you before that I had ties with Ai and entrusted her with work, but back then, she was a country bumpkin fresh from the countryside. Or rather, one of the kids just out of an institution. The other one, I assume you know who."
"...Senpai Yume?"
"Correct. Those two were always together. At first, he even acted as Ai's manager, so he was around more than Ai. But let's get back to Ai's story. Unlike Yume, Ai had zero professionalism and didn't blend in. With Yume by her side, she improved a bit, but without him, she acted like it was meaningless. Her fashion was cheap casual wear, to the point Yume always carried spare clothes. Wanting to help Yume, who was always struggling, I introduced her to a theater workshop."
"A workshop?"
Yume had mentioned that Ai attended some theater group while idol activities.
"It's a place I was part of in college. 'Lalaly Theatrical Company'... the one Akane Kurokawa belongs to. It wasn't famous back then, but love changes people, they say. That's probably where Ai fell in love. It could be Yume, or someone else."
It was 100% Yume. From what Ai said directly, she always had eyes only for Yume, with no lies. So who did she meet that changed her?
"After attending the workshop, Ai started paying attention to her appearance bit by bit, even without Yume's input. She also began asking about places to eat out. Of course, whether it was Yume or someone else, I remember her suddenly looking more mature. If you're interested, I'll introduce you to Lalaly's operator. There, you might get a step closer to the answer you're seeking."
"...Why go to such lengths to cooperate? I'm a failed actor with no achievements."
"Hahaha! A failed actor... Do you think Yume would care about failures? Yume has sharp eyes, and in you, Aqua, I sense potential. This industry is give and take. As you know, in Japanese showbiz, the give and take between agencies and producers heavily influences casting. Simply put, to reel in Yume, you reel in Ai—that's the biggest answer. And casting changes profits by billions. Casting the Yume-Ai couple could double that. Money moves in amounts that make a 40,000 yen sushi like this feel like pocket change. By putting you in debt here, when you hit your peak and shine, I gain big in the casting wars. Plus, if Yume and Ai come along, even better. That's a producer's job. And I'm not just doing this for you. I see potential in Arima Kana and MEM-cho too. You all seem to have started something interesting. You revived B-Komachi, which ended with Ai, right? I think you're quite a promising investment."
"No way..."