Chapter 13: The Disbanding of B-Komachi
The following day, everyone gathered once again at Strawberry Productions.
The President flipped open his laptop, and the hot search interface appeared clearly on the screen:
1. B-Komachi Tokyo Dome Performance
2. "Idol"
3. B-Komachi Announces Disbandment
Ichigo Saitou pointed at the screen and began to vent his fury.
"Do you girls have any idea that active contract termination requires a sky-high penalty fee?! Who gave you permission to announce your withdrawal from B-Komachi on your own?!"
The girls were visibly startled. Nino stammered, "We've... we've saved some money from being idols over the years..."
The President was exasperated. "So you're going to spend all the money you earned as idols just to pay for a contract break?"
Watanabe whispered, "But the words are already out there, and it's all over the hot searches. I'm afraid there's no room for regret now."
"That's right."
"Strawberry Pro has a responsibility to the public. Since you've announced your withdrawal in front of everyone, we naturally won't force you to stay."
"Then... the penalty fee?" Takamine asked cautiously.
"The penalty fee is, of course, waived!"
Ai pushed the door open and entered, wrapping her arms around the President's neck with a beaming smile.
"President, stop scaring them. You weren't planning on pursuing the breach of contract anyway, were you?"
Ichigo's stern face immediately collapsed. He said helplessly, "You didn't have to expose me like that, Ai."
Hearing the President's words, smiles returned to the faces of the other three.
"I thought the President only had eyes for Ai."
"That's true," Ichigo Saitou nodded. "But that doesn't mean I want to drive you into a corner. You're all veterans of Strawberry Productions; I couldn't bring myself to chase you down for penalty fees now. Pack your things, and you're free to go."
One by one, the three stepped forward to bow, thanking the President for his years of cultivation, and then left without a hint of lingering attachment.
Ai chased them to the doorway and called out to them.
"—So, why did you leave B-Komachi? At this stage, I won't ask that anymore. Takamine, Nino, Watanabe... I wish you all the best for the future."
"You've grown a lot too," Takamine said, looking at Ai.
"The old you wouldn't have spoken like that. You probably would have used every means possible to make us stay."
"Even though that kind of pleading would have only made us resent you more," Watanabe added. "That song, *Idol*... it was so incredibly fitting. Yes, I've always been jealous of you."
"Why was the President so biased toward you? Why were you the only one who could capture everyone's gaze? Why did I have to be just a supporting role?"
"Why... were you so perfect?"
"But now, I've made my peace with it. Actually, if you weren't perfect anymore, I'd find it even harder to accept."
Watanabe gave a smile of liberation.
"Without even realizing it, I guess I became your fan long ago."
Nino silently pulled up a website—it was the official B-Komachi blog from a long, long time ago.
"This post... you uploaded it, didn't you? I had a sudden whim to check it yesterday, and I found it." Ai looked surprised. It was something she had secretly uploaded years ago—a post full of self-reproach and apologies, taking all the blame upon herself and humbly praying that the relationship between B-Komachi members could return to the way it was.
"Well then," Nino said breezily. "I accept your apology."
"Just keep on shining forever, Miss First-Magnitude Star."
"We won't be holding you back anymore."
The three walked away with smiles on their faces. Ai's eyes felt a bit stinging; for a moment, she seemed to see a vision of the four of them holding hands—back then, they were just young girls, and in the blink of an eye, everyone had grown up.
"We can't go back, can we?" Ai murmured to herself.
"What can't you go back to?" Hikaru Hoshino suddenly pushed the door open and asked, giving Ai quite a shock.
"If you're reminiscing about the past, I'll tell you there's nothing worth missing. The current you is better than you've ever been."
"Acting on impulse and exposing your surname... that kind of reckless behavior makes me wonder if you've regressed to sixteen."
Ai began to twiddle her thumbs. "Why is Biyoo still teasing me? I already apologized."
"No, I'm not blaming you. Quite the opposite—I'm happy about your change. It's just that the mess is indeed a bit hard to clean up. Anyway, go on in; the President is waiting for you."
The two walked back into the office together. The President was still sitting at his computer. Seeing them return, he motioned for them to sit down.
The hot search interface was still on the screen.
4. Ai Hoshino (Hoshino Ai)
"The surname we hid for so long has been exposed just like that."
"It's not a big deal right now, but it could cause massive problems later."
"What problems?" Ai looked at the President in confusion.
Hikaru Hoshino reminded her: "The twins."
"The stage name Aqua registered when filming is 'Hoshino Aqua.' His surname is already out. Ruby will also enter the entertainment industry in the future; their names can't be hidden. As Aqua and Ruby grow more popular, people will definitely notice the surname."
"Connecting them to you is only a matter of time. Once people start suspecting, the fact that you are their mother will eventually be exposed. It would be fine if they weren't in the industry, but once they become insiders, this relationship can't be kept secret. There is no privacy in show business. The only reason it stayed hidden before is because no one was looking."
Hikaru Hoshino informed Ai of this reality in a flat tone.
Ai suddenly became panicked. "Eh? Then what should we do? If the relationship is exposed, it will cause trouble for Aqua and Ruby, won't it?"
Hikaru was almost moved to laughter by her reaction. "So now you're completely unconcerned about yourself, aren't you?"
"Because I finally understand the meaning of love," Ai said sheepishly, acting like a little schoolgirl. "So... I don't necessarily *have* to be an idol anymore."
Hikaru didn't react much, but the President was horrified.
"No way! Ai, your career is still on the rise; you can definitely go further. The buzz from the Tokyo Dome is just heating up—this is the best time to grow your fanbase. Don't you dare do anything foolish!"
"The President is right," Hikaru Hoshino nodded. "You can't just give up on your idol career."
"Not for some boring reason like 'dreams,' but for a very realistic factor."
"Ai, your annual income is currently 200 million yen, and it will only increase. The entirety of Strawberry Productions depends on you to survive; if you just quit, it would be a colossal loss."
"Aqua and Ruby have to go to school later. Don't you want to give them a more comfortable living environment?"
"I never said I was quitting show business," Ai said, caught between laughter and tears. "Did you guys misunderstand?"
"Then how are we going to solve the kids' problem? Ai, you're actually planning on sending them into the industry too, aren't you?"
The President slumped into his chair, falling into deep worry.
"I used to think that way, but now I just want Aqua and Ruby to be happy. Whatever they want to do in the future, I'll support them!"
"Then let's do this."
Hikaru Hoshino looked up and locked eyes with Ai.
"If they enter the entertainment industry in the future, register them directly under my name."