On the way back, the young children talked about the current hot topics.
For example... that website.
"Making a wish... is that kind of thing believable?"
"It's just like a mall promotion lottery—" Aki Tomoya didn't really believe it anyway. "And game gacha. Tch, they say if you buy the collector's edition you might win an autograph. I bought five—sets! I saved up for so long."
"You should spend money on something to supplement your brain," Eriri mocked. "Someone like you will never win things that rely on 'probability'."
"And you can?" Aki Tomoya retorted.
"I never spend money on things that rely on 'probability'."
"I saw you buy over ten copies of this month's art magazine just to draw a certain artist's'special collection manual'."
Silence.
The evening streetlights shone on an embarrassed face, making the blonde hair even more brilliant—and making the girl, who had been speaking so righteously a few seconds ago, even more embarrassed.
Sometimes the speed of being slapped in the face is so fast that even the person involved can't react.
The group walked in silence until Tsukisa finally couldn't help but let out a 'pfft,' and then laughter rang out one after another throughout the long street.
"Ya! Aki Tomoya!"
"You said it yourself..."
The huffy girl with tiger teeth counterattacked unwillingly, "Did you leave a message on that 'wish' website to turn into a woman? Maid Miss?"
Aki Tomoya pushed his glasses, "I wished for you to like ox tongue."
Eriri:...Accept it, until the ox tongue joke passes, you won't be able to win against anyone... The little blonde girl and the glasses Boy said goodbye to Tsukisa at the intersection, and the girl then led Machida Mariko and Yuno Gasai straight to the convenience store—
Aoyama Nanami was on the night shift, humming a popular song out of boredom and tapping her toes. She continued until Tsukisa pushed the door open.
"Hey! Nanami!"
"Machida! Tsukisa! Ah—Yuno is here too!"
Yuno Gasai didn't say much. Seeing the three girls chatting excitedly, she swung her pale pink braids and turned to walk toward the kitchenware shelves... "I recently got a voice acting job!" Aoyama Nanami held Tsukisa's sleeve excitedly. "It's the number three female supporting role! How about that? I'll soon be able to stop working part-time!"
Machida Mariko gave a thumbs up.
"Hey! I am Aoyama Nanami after all..."
Tsukisa could only nod and smile. Both she and Machida Mariko clearly remembered that on the way home, Aki Tomoya had been non-stop bashing the 'trashy works' that had recently come out or were about to be released—
The name of the animation Aoyama Nanami was voicing was among them.
And it had been heavily criticized by Mr. Maid... so... she could only smile.
"Keep it up... if my Dragon Ball gets an animation, I'll definitely invite little Nanami," Tsukisa promised. However, the long road to the manga had no end in sight. Writer Sen, who got bored after drawing just a few volumes, didn't know when it would ever be animated.
At least... not while she was constantly procrastinating like now.
Miss Peace Dove had now grown pure white wings and flown away.
"Eh... have you already written the outline for that and given it to someone else to draw?" Aoyama Nanami knew Tsukisa and was well aware of what this lazy girl, who rarely did anything productive, was like in private... but she still underestimated Tsukisa.
"I could give it to someone else to draw," the girl nodded, her face full of woe, "but what if I'm even too lazy to write the outline?"
Aoyama Nanami fell silent for a moment. Thinking about how she spent her days either working part-time or racing between various companies in Tokyo, while the lazy girl in front of her sat on a manga with millions of fans but was too lazy to even move her pen... "Maybe you should just go back. The joy I just got from my supporting role is all gone... Tsukisa, is bringing others down what you're truly best at?"
"Hee... oh, don't be like that. If it wasn't for Gaban today, I would have invited you to celebrate. Let's make another date?"
Aoyama Nanami ignored Tsukisa as she tried to sneak behind the counter and turned to look at Machida Mariko: "What did you eat?"
Mariko mentioned a place.
"Eh? Eh?!"
"Isn't that the restaurant Miss Kotoko went to?!" A rare moment of fan-girling appeared on Aoyama Nanami. The girl grabbed Mariko's hand, her eyes wide. "Was it good? How was it?"
"It's... it's very delicious..."
"I knew it! I knew Miss Koto's taste would be absolutely flawless!"
What does this have to do with that idol? I'm clearly the one who picked it... Mori Tsukisa pouted, leaning against the checkout counter—she had already quietly slipped inside.
"Miss Koto is the perfect idol; anything she recommends can't possibly be wrong!" Aoyama Nanami wagged a finger in front of her face. "And that website, I check it during my breaks too."
Website...?
"The wishing website. Haven't you noticed, Tsukisa? Lots of idols have been recommending it lately."
Recalling the advertisements playing incessantly on the giant LED screens at the commercial buildings and plazas, Mori Tsukisa shook her head. "Some people say it's fake. The odds of winning are impossible."
"Oh," Aoyama Nanami said dismissively. "People who say that must be entering the lottery in secret all the time. They're definitely—definitely just unlucky losers."
You always hit the nail on the head, little Nanami.
But... Zeli Gaoqin, the World-class star—is this the one Aoyama Nanami admires? She was talented in both singing and songwriting, and later shot to fame with 'The Infatuated Lady's Sunday,' launching her acting career.
I heard she's holding a fan meeting in Tokyo recently?
"When I have time, I'll go get an autograph for you."
Mori Tsukisa knew that besides her part-time job, Aoyama Nanami had to attend voice acting classes. Combined with running around to various companies every day looking for opportunities, she shouldn't have much time to attend.
"Re-really?!"
Aoyama Nanami let go of Machida Mariko and grabbed Mori Tsukisa's hand. "Really?! Can you really help me get an autograph from Miss Gaoqin?!"
The girl's voice became high-pitched with uncontrollable excitement. She shook her hands while excitedly doing high-knees on the spot. "I've wanted one for so long! I have Miss Gaoqin's entire set of limited edition CDs! All I'm missing is an autograph!"
Mori Tsukisa didn't quite understand, but she could feel her joyful mood. As they spoke, Aoyama Nanami pulled out her phone and began educating Mori Tsukisa on the superstar's achievements—then she opened the webpage and started cursing at one of the top five 'wishes.'
That one read:
'Why doesn't a two-faced woman like Zeli Gaoqin just die! Let an earthquake come quickly!'
Mori Tsukisa saw the website for the first time: on a large banner, the words "Leave Your Wish!" were written in flowing golden font, with various amounts of likes below. One only needed to verify their identity information and then write down their heart's desire.
A very simple operation.
Beneath the banner, a black tree with vigorous, thick, spreading branches had its roots embedded in every message. Once a wish was written, it would appear on a root—as if drawing nutrients, it would absorb from the roots and feed back to the top, sprouting more lush black leaves.
And when a final lucky winner was chosen, a fruit would grow on the treetops.
A black tree... very strange.
Mori Tsukisa stared at the tree for a long time. No matter how she looked at it, it felt uncomfortable.
Well... but a wish like 'Zeli Gaoqin dies in an earthquake' surely wouldn't be selected, right?
"Monsters hiding behind the internet," Aoyama Nanami said with disdain as she closed the screen. "Miss Gaoqin is the best!"
Mori Tsukisa didn't know if she was the best or not, but the girl discovered that this currently trending website lived up to its reputation... new wishes were being born every second.
---------------------------------
I hope you enjoy this fanfiction! If you're having fun and want to read 30 chapters in advance, feel free to check out my Patreon: patreon.com/TLScarlet
Your support means a lot so if you like the story, don't forget to drop a Power Stone.