A guide to survival in a heavy girl's world

"Actually, the main reason I let you sit there is because this is my own car."

Having said this, she paused for a moment before continuing:

"And the passenger seat of this car has always been occupied by my president. So... you should understand what I mean, right?"

"Eh? Ah, um..."

Because he didn't know what the relationship between this agent and the president was, Chihaya Tetsu just nodded vaguely.

"It's okay. I was just worried if you would mind me sitting with them. Since you don't mind, there's no problem on my end."

"You're such a jokester, how could I possibly mind?"

The agent twitched his lips.

"Instead, I should ask for your forgiveness... After all, it's truly inhumane to randomly place 'live bait' into the 'animal cage.'"

"???"

Live bait? Animal cage? I always feel like this agent's metaphor is rather offensive...

On the other side, Sanjiao Chuhua finally couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing.

"Hahaha, Higuchi-san, this metaphor is too extreme, isn't it?"

"Do you think my analogy is appropriate?"

"It's absolutely perfect!"

"Isn't that okay?"

The agent's expression and tone were extremely calm.

"However, I really didn't expect that you would be so close to Mr. Chihaya."

"This is just to supervise love!"

Sanjiao Chuhua smiled and explained:

"To prevent this important 'live bait' from being eaten, there has to be a 'keeper' keeping a close eye on it, right?"

After hearing what Sanjiao Chuhua said, before the agent could respond, Hoshino Ai frowned:

"...Huh? Breeder? You mean, I'm the one being 'bred'?"

"Eh? I didn't say that."

Sanjiao Chuhua tilted his head and spoke in an innocent tone.

"I never said someone who lacks patience and is full of dirty thoughts is a beast."

"Isn't this already being said?"

"Don't be so quick to assume. Even so, it was Higuchi-san who first proposed this metaphor. You should go and settle the score with her."

"I'm driving, don't talk to me."

"Well……"

Feeling that she was being fooled, Hoshino Ai immediately glared at Sanjiao Chuhua with gritted teeth.

Sanjiao Chuhua just continued to smile and look at her.

As for Chihaya Tetsuya, who was caught between the two—

(…Why are these two people clinging even closer than before?!)

Feeling the increasing pressure from both sides, Chihaya Tetsu felt himself breaking out in a cold sweat.

Although he really wanted to protest about the description of "live bait", when he once again felt the aggressiveness from both sides and the agent's indifferent attitude, he immediately shut his mouth wisely.

However, it is obvious that no one can stay out of it in this small space.

The two men, who had been arguing in vain, suddenly grabbed his arms and asked in unison:

"Zhe! (Mr. Tetsuya), who are you going to help!"

"???"

Chihaya Tetsuya was completely confused.

Putting aside the fact that their quarrel was completely illogical, he should have been the most offended, right? Why were these two arguing so fiercely?

And... aren't these two hugging each other a little too tightly? Doing that in front of their manager is a bit too dangerous, no matter how you think about it!?

Thinking of this, Chihaya Tetsuya hurriedly looked at the rearview mirror and cast a pleading look to the agent in front of him, trying to get her help.

However, the agent who was the instigator had no intention of paying attention to the subsequent dispute, but just continued driving with concentration and responsibility.

(Maybe I shouldn't have agreed to this business trip...)

Looking at the road ahead that seemed to be so long, the "live bait" trapped in the cage and helpless suddenly sighed silently in his heart.

60

Chapter 60: Agents always favor their own artists.

The destination of this journey is a high-end hotel that has cooperated with multiple performing arts companies. Its strict security and complicated check-in process are enough to prove its confidentiality and safety.

However, the agent was obviously already familiar with this. She first made a phone call, then negotiated with the front desk staff for a while, and then received two key cards from the front desk staff.

"This is for Chihaya-san, and this is for both of you."

Naturally, the agent prepared two rooms for them.

When Hoshino Ai saw the key card in Chihaya Tetsuya's hand, her eyes turned slightly, and then she lowered her head quietly as before.

"You can go back to your rooms and rest for an hour. I'll take you to greet the K-Arena stage manager later."

The agent meticulously followed the schedule he had set and instructed everyone:

"As for Mr. Chihaya, I will send all of their outfits for the day to your room. Please help check them."

"understood."

Chihaya Tetsuya readily agreed, and then he specifically asked his agent:

"Regarding the rehearsal time—"

"The rehearsal starts at 8:00 tomorrow morning, and I will pick you up directly from the hotel like I did today."

The agent replied:

"Until then, please rest well here, Chihaya-san. Also, to prevent any leaks, if possible... I hope you can stay in your hotel room."

"Yes."

Chihaya Tetsuya, who had no reason to travel, had no objection to this, not to mention that the agent's proposal was originally intended to protect Hoshino Ai and Mikado Hatsuka.

"I'll stay in my room."

"Well, thank you for your cooperation. Well... I have to go see the president next. I'll excuse myself for now."

After saying that, the agent turned around and prepared to leave.

However, before she reached the door, she suddenly stopped and turned back to wave at Hoshino Ai——

"Love, come here for a moment."

"???"

Hoshino Ai, suddenly called by name, walked over with a confused look on her face. Then, her agent led her directly to the door, seemingly intending to have a private chat with her. Chihaya Tetsuya and Sankaku Hatsuka were left alone at the front desk, staring at each other in bewilderment.

"...By the way, has Mr. Tetsuya ever been to the hotel before?"

Realizing that the two would not end the conversation immediately, Sankaku Hatsuka took the initiative to talk to Chihaya Tetsuya.

Chihaya Tetsu also shook his head after hearing this:

"Not really... After all, I rarely travel far. The only time I did was when I attended a fashion show in Tokyo with my director, and I was able to return home the same day."

"Come to think of it."

Sanjiao Chuhua was not surprised by this.

The more you get to know Chihaya Tetsuya, the more you will find that his experience in all aspects is basically equivalent to that of a junior high school student or even an elementary school student.

Although she knew that a large part of the reason was that he came from an orphanage, even so, what he had experienced in the seven years after leaving the orphanage was really too little.

If there is a chance in the future... I should take him out more often.

It wasn't a business trip like this, but simply going out to have fun together.

"Mr. Tetsuya, is there any place you'd like to go? Like an amusement park, the beach, or something like that."

"Well……"

After hearing this question, Chihaya Tetsuya thought for a moment before saying:

"For now, it's probably the joint exhibition with APHRO in the second half of the year. If possible, I'd also like to watch Tokyo Fashion Week up close from the audience... Hmm? What's wrong, Chuhua? You look a little disappointed."

"Nothing... I just felt your workaholic nature once again."

"Huh? I'm not kidding you, I'm really interested in these!"

"Yes, yes, I know. I don't think being passionate about work is a bad thing."

Sanjiao Chuhua sighed.

"Anyway, just pretend I never mentioned this. It's better for me to discuss this kind of thing with Xiangzi and Nagasaki-san."

"Oh."

Although he didn't know why, his answer didn't seem to satisfy the other party...

As for the amusement park she just mentioned, although he was indeed interested, he really didn't have the opportunity or reason to go there specifically...

At the same time, just as this topic was about to end, Hoshino Ai had completed the negotiations with her agent and returned to the two of them.

"Well, then let's go back to the room and rest. Mr. Tetsuya, let me see the key card."

Considering that Chihaya Tetsuya had never been to such a place, Sankaku Hatsuka decided to help him find his own room first.

And when he saw the number on Chihaya Tetsuya's key card, she nodded as expected.

"...Well, it's next door after all. Then let's go together."

Having said that, Sankaku Hatsuka suddenly turned his head and looked at Hoshino Ai:

"Let me make this clear, we have to go to work in an hour, so you are not allowed to sneak directly into Mr. Tetsuya's room."

"..."

However, in the face of Sanjiao Chuhua's reminder, Xingye Ai seemed to have heard nothing, and just stared at the ground in a daze...

"Love? Did you hear what I said?"

"Eh? Ah..."

It was not until Sanjiao Chuhua called her name for the second time that she raised her head as if waking from a dream.

"What's wrong? Chuhua? What did you say just now?"

"...Nothing. Anyway, before the agent comes to pick us up, please come back to the room with me."

Faced with Hoshino Ai's slow reaction, Sanjiao Hatsuka couldn't help but show a look of incomprehensible confusion on her face.

"Could it be that she's tired from the car ride? That's impossible. With her energy and strength, it shouldn't be possible..."

"..."

Faced with Mikado Hatsuka's questions, Hoshino Ai still chose to remain silent.

The reason why her reaction was so strange was naturally because of the conversation she had just had with her agent.

……

"You should be very happy, right? About the fact that I specially invited Mr. Chihaya to go on a business trip with us."

"Yeah! Very happy!"

In response to her agent's question, Hoshino Ai nodded frankly and admitted:

“I’m so happy that I don’t even have time to think about the next job!”

"That won't do. The president and I called him here to improve the performance of this live performance. If he causes your condition to decline, that would be putting the cart before the horse."